Cardinal take flight

Lamar University Class of ’12 and ’13 alumni Fred R. Vernon II started welding while still a student at Memorial High School in Port Arthur and, for a while, it looked like the industrial sector was where he would ultimately earn his bread and butter.

After graduating high school in 2006, Vernon worked full-time at the Triple S Industrial Corp., along with attending two welding schools on the side in his “free” time. By early 2007, the ambitious Vernon was off to attend Tyler Junior College, where the young co-ed persevered for two semesters.

“I came back home because I ran out of money, and that’s when I enrolled in the Safety Star Industrial Co-Op program at Lamar Institute of Technology (LIT) in 2008,” Vernon shared of his journey. At LIT, Vernon worked to graduate from the program as a combination welder – “a very difficult thing to do,” but handily secured by the studious scholar.

From there, Vernon continued to work – and learn. He worked as a welder for Austin Industrial Inc. for 18 months; he worked as a correctional officer with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office for a year; he earned an associate’s degree from Lamar State College-Port Arthur; he earned his bachelor’s in accounting from Lamar University; he earned a dual master’s degree in accounting and business administration; and he founded his company, KLV Ventures – all by 2013, and all before he turned 30 years old.

Vernon said the success he’s enjoyed has not been secured all on his own.

“I raised $52,000 from people – family, friends, church members and from anyone who would give me a dollar,” Vernon said. “I bought the exclusive rights to deliver mail and synthetics in the Vidor area. I launched my business while being a full-time student at Lamar.”

In 2013, Vernon earned a Master of Business Administration (MBA) and, after graduation, started working for the prestigious multinational accounting and professional services firm, Price Waterhouse Coopers, as a business analyst and valuations specialist. Still, even corporate success on someone else’s payroll was surpassed by the growth he has seen in his asset-based motor carrier business that provides industrial transportation services throughout Southeast Texas, Houston and Dallas.

Vernon is the founder and CEO of KLV Ventures Incorporated, a transportation and logistics company that specializes in mid- to last-mile delivery with a unique focus in transporting industrial applications and parcel mail.

After establishing his footprint in transportation, Vernon began to diversify his business holdings to include a residential service company and a real-estate portfolio with more than 30 residential and commercial properties. KLV currently employs 37 people across three states with a list of clients that includes FedEx, BNSF, JB Hunt and the U.S. military.

“Focus on success and be open-minded,” Vernon recommends to others looking to advance their future earning potential. “You don’t necessarily have to love what you do. You don’t necessarily have to be chasing a dream.

“If your goal and your mind is oriented to success, chase success. Go for success and go for excellence in everything that you do.”

“The things that you are excellent at, or that you excel at, may not necessarily be what you love. And, the things that you love may not be the things are excellent at,” he explained. “Just strive to be excellent. You will have dreams about what you are passionate about and love to do, but you may be really good at something else.”

In 2017, Vernon established an endowment at Lamar University in honor of his mother to benefit students in the School of Accounting and Information Systems. He is a member of the Lamar University President’s Circle, served as a host of the “A Dinner and Conversation” program, and served as the LU commencement speaker in 2020.

Today, Vernon is the youngest member of LU’s donor society, the President’s Circle, and is giving back in many ways to his alma mater as he runs his company’s fleet of 18 trucks.

“The university recognized my efforts. It’s always encouraging when you put in a lot of work over the years and it doesn’t go unnoticed,” Vernon said. “It makes you want to work even harder.”

Vernon and his wife, Wafa, have three children. He is a former board member of Family Services of Southeast Texas and a past president of the Lamar University Alumni Advisory Board.

“I appreciate The Examiner showing some support for me,” a humble Vernon added.

The LU grad that rose to the upper echelons of industrial carrier transport will be honored as one of four 2023 Distinguished Alumni inductees, the highest award Lamar University bestows upon its graduates, alongside Hester Bell, Carl Griffith and George Hirasaki, at the annual Distinguished Alumni dinner on Friday, Feb. 24, at 6:30 p.m. on the eighth floor of the Mary and John Gray Library.

In honor of Black History Month, Lamar University will celebrate with a series of events organized and sponsored by a variety of organizations, departments, clubs and student organizations that highlight and pay tribute to the achievements of African Americans and important events that contributed to U.S. history.

Among planned events are: The National Society of Black Engineers will exhibit images and descriptions of the Golden Triangle’s African American STEM community leaders in the Cherry Engineering Building hallways, as well as sponsor a month-long Professional Clothing Drive to provide appropriate attire for students who cannot purchase clothing for job and internship interviews.