ON THE BOARD
MICHAEL LEWIS
Michael, a.k.a., “Late Night,”
love the fact that Baylor Scott & White
Tell our readers about your family.
when he sees it. Case in point: in the
That’s key. And the more research I
have three children. We have Ellie and
three partners launched Velocis, a
is the type of organization I want to be
Peak Preparatory near the Baylor
on office space, retail, data centers
It helped, too, that Baylor was a
studying to be a physician’s assistant at
been the easiest time to launch a new
in Paris, Texas. His father, a general
Our youngest, Katie, is studying
right time has paid off for Velocis,
with complex needs to Baylor.
my kids went to The University of Texas.
fund this past July. Since 2010, Velocis
Lewis knows a good opportunity
Health is a faith-based organization.
I married my wife, Lisa, in 1987, and we
midst of the Great Recession, he and
did, the more it confirmed that Baylor
Courtney, who are twins. Ellie teaches at
national real estate equity fund focused
affiliated with,” Mike said.
campus, and Courtney is currently
and medical offices. It may not have
familiar name to him while growing up
Baylor School of Medicine in Houston.
fund, but seizing the opportunity at the
surgeon, often referred his patients
communications in college. All three of
which successfully closed its second
Since joining the Foundation board in
2013, Mike has enjoyed his role as a
What sorts of things do you enjoy
doing when you’re all together?
has purchased nearly two dozen
member. “Baylor has all the things that
We have always loved sports. Our
properties located in major markets in
I look for in a first-class, top-rate system.
kids were very active in sports
Texas, Colorado, Georgia, Florida,
Not only is Baylor’s patient-centric
throughout high school, and I think all
Arizona, Virginia and North Carolina.
mission noble, its mission from a
five of us love The University of Texas
“I love dealing with tangible assets.
business perspective is also very solid.”
football and basketball teams. And the
I’ve always liked the challenge of
What brought you to Dallas?
four of them love the “sport” of shop-
finding a property that is undervalued
I got my B.B.A. from The University
or broken in some way and identifying
of Texas in Austin in 1982. After I
Do you serve on any other boards?
We look at what kind of creative capital
different directions. I looked at all the
Club of Dallas. I’m on the Dallas Country
an asset for the user, and ultimately,
that the best business opportunity I had
Benchmark Bank board. I’m also on the
performance,” Mike said.
What was the business opportunity?
Council at The University of Texas.
outside of work, he’s also open to
company, and they wanted to bring me
Robinson, president of Baylor Health
on a consistent basis is Psalms. It’s very
Care System Foundation, invited Mike
to join the board, he considered it
What type of career would you
have if you had not pursued real
estate investment?
carefully and decided it was a good fit:
I’ve always liked investing. If it wasn’t
a heart for God. It’s good at grounding
“I wanted to make sure that my passion
in real estate, it’d be something else.
ping. I let them do that on their own.
I do. I’m involved in the Salesmanship
opportunities to unlock hidden value.
graduated, I had friends moving in all
improvements we can make to improve
major cities in Texas, and it turned out
Club Board of Governors, and I’m on the
take it from a dormant state to its peak
was in Dallas. I’ve been here ever since.
executive committee of the Chancellor’s
When it comes to investing his time
It was a real estate development
good opportunities. After Rowland K.
would truly be behind it,” he said. “I
in to handle the marketing side of it.
Maybe oil and gas.
W hat book has been most
influential in your life?
The Bible. My favorite book that I read
calming to me because David really
struggled with a lot of things and yet had
me. Of course, if I could only read one
book, it would be the Gospel of John.
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