Howie Nestel has spent four decades creating an extraordinary life by serving through non-profit leadership and philanthropy in his position as Founder and President of San Antonio-based Sharkmatic Advertising. Since 1991, he has provided sales and marketing services to more than 1,500 companies nationwide including Coca-Cola, MTV, and Procter & Gamble, as well as to regional businesses including Brake Check, Methodist Healthcare, and The Wash Tub. Sharkmatic has created more than 1,200 websites for clients across the United States.

Marketing is Howie’s professional passion, but he has also launched and owned more than 20 small businesses. These enterprises provided a range of services including meal prep, video production, and automobile brokering and sales.

He has made an unwavering commitment to community service and philanthropic causes by collaborating with or serving on more than 100 non-profit boards. What started as a pastime has now become a passion.

Raised in Laredo, Texas and Mexico City, Howie is bicultural and fluent in English and Spanish. He graduated from the University of Texas Business School in Austin and has worked in Canada, Central America, Europe, Israel, Mexico, and across the United States.

In addition to running Sharkmatic, Howie currently holds leadership positions with numerous non-profit organizations and has donated his time, talents, and treasure to more than 100 charitable organizations. Of all his endeavors, Howie is proudest of his legacy of launching and leading the largest annual collection drive in San Antonio, called Gotcha Covered, which is now celebrating its 28th year.

Howie is a proud father of three children and enjoys traveling, exploring, scuba diving, and destroying the Law of Familiarity.