Steve was elected President of The Financial Services Roundtable in June 1999. Roundtable membership is 100 premier companies including Wells Fargo, J. P. Morgan Chase, State Farm, Comerica, Goldman Sachs, Fidelity Investments, Wachovia, Ford Motor Credit, and Edward Jones. At the Roundtable, Steve has had a major impact on legislation including financial services modernization (Gramm-Leach-Bliley), electronic signatures, IRA expansion, Bankruptcy Reform, and Permanent Normal Trade Relations with China.

While in Congress, Steve served on the House Banking Committee and was a leader in financial modernization. He served as a Deputy Whip and was a sponsor or principal co-sponsor of 18 major pieces of legislation, including the Enhanced Secondary Mortgage Market Act, FHA deregulation, Fair Labor Standards Act Reforms, and the Americans with Disabilities Act.

While Mayor, Steve led Dallas to reduce violent crime, adopt a $5 billion capital improvements plan, and achieve significant economic revitalization, major corporate relocations, a downtown renaissance, and 30,000 new residential units within or adjacent to downtown Dallas.

Combining dual careers in politics and business, he founded Meridian Products Corporation, a manufacturer of injection molded plastics in 1976. In 1996, he acquired a similar company, Saranda Corporation. He has divested his interest in both. Steve has served on the Boards of Directors of IMCO Recycling, Inc. (NYSE), Kaufman and Broad Home Corporation (NYSE), and Sun Coast Industries (NYSE) (Chair of Compensation Committee). He has served on the Fannie Mae National Advisory Council and the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport Board. He is on the Board of Directors of the YMCA of Metropolitan Washington, Urban Center of the Brookings Institute, National Consensus Task Force, and Guest Choice. He has served on the Board of Governors of the National YMCA, Dallas Can!, Grace Presbyterian Village, Co-chair of Character Counts of Dallas, and Chair of the Trinity Trails.

Steve's leadership has been recognized by the National Association of Manufacturers, National Federation of Independent Business, Ebony, Essence and Jet Magazines, Texas Association for Retarded Citizens, Anti-Defamation League, National Council of La Raza, American Electronics Association, and Watchdogs of the Treasury.

Steve graduated with a BA from the University of Texas, Austin in 1971. He has served as an adjunct professor and guest lecturer at the LBJ school of Public Affairs. He is married to Gail Coke Bartlett and they are parents of three excellent children.