Board Chair

Kathy Smith-Willman is currently the Senior Director of People and Talent, at Bazaarvoice – a leading software company in Austin, TX. While Kathy’s career has spanned various industries (education, entrepreneurism and, for the last 15 years human resources) her commitment and desire to help other succeed has remained constant. Kathy has exemplified this at Bazaarvoice through advancing and championing employee engagement, community involvement and corporate giving.

Kathy has worked at Bazaarvoice since late 2007 and during this time she has navigated the employee base through meteoric growth, including an IPO and several acquisitions. Additionally, she has been a driving force behind such achievements as winning Austin’s Best Place to Work and Austin’s Entrepreneur Foundation’s Community Award. She is a motivating power behind Bazaarvoice’s extensive, employee-led community involvement and corporate giving. In 2011, Kathy met a personal and professional goal when she helped found the Bazaarvoice Foundation – an organization dedicated to motivating and propelling the next generation of entrepreneurial youth. In 2011 it was granted 501(c) (3) status and she currently sits on the Foundations’ Board of Directors.
In 2015, Kathy was asked to participate in a SXSW panel focused on Social Good, entitled: “Elevate: How Businesses & Entrepreneurs are Taking Social Good to the Next Level”.

Blake joined BB&T in 2007 where he currently serves as the Austin Market President. Prior to joining BB&T, Blake served as the Retail Sales Manager for IBC Bank in Austin. He has worked in Commercial Lending roles with BB&T in Austin, Houston, and The Woodlands, TX areas. He also has served in several roles in BB&T’s Retail & Small Business Lending areas in the Austin market. In early 2013, he was given the opportunity to become the North Houston Market President to lead the Bank’s expansion efforts in North Houston and surrounding areas. He served in that role until November 2014 when he became the Austin Market President. Blake and his wife, Christine, enjoy the local performing arts and being active in several non-profits & causes.

Blake also serves on the board of directors at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Texas and Make-A-Wish of Central & South Texas.

Stories connect us all. They are the thread by which we all grow, learn, and prosper. The hero’s journey from obscurity to triumph is something we can all relate with. Ruben has established this caveat at the center of his, and CORE Media Enterprise’s, mission, which is to change the world through social entrepreneurship and thought-provoking content.

Defining himself more specifically as a “mediapreneur,” Ruben has been working in media since he was 14 when he hosted his first weekly radio show. During this early period, he established his first company at 18 and won national recognition for his college television show in 2002-2003. In 2004, he gained a clearer perspective on inner workings of the media industry while working at MTV and Sony Music. He decided that the power of media could still be profitable if it was harnessed to bring awareness to social and environmental issues instead of just selling sensationalism. That idea sparked CORE Media Enterprises which launched in 2007. CORE Media Strategies is the commercial arm of CORE, that creates strategies and marketing campaigns through web, high-end video production, and experiential activations. He takes these methods and specializes in cause branding, strategic storytelling and sparking cross-cultural conversations. This work provides the foundation for CORE’s mission of impacting hearts and minds by creating remarkable campaigns for brands that are changing the world. The company’s film division, COREageous Films, reflects Cantu’s extensive background in filmmaking and provides a path for these socially aware and progressive projects to come to light.

Ruben is a first-generation college graduate. He holds a B.S. in Radio-TV-Film from the Moody College of Communications and an M.S. in Technology Commercialization from the McCombs School of Business, both from The University of Texas at Austin. As a social entrepreneur, his ambitions are focused on establishing a platform through media that allows society to reflect on its condition and spur progressive change.

He is also the Executive Director of Austin+SocialGood a community-based action tank and accelerator which is part of the Social Good Summit where he serves as a global connector and Director of Business Development. Also, he is a co-founder of WeAreAustinTech.com a video series which covers the tech community in Austin Texas. Ruben graduated from Leadership Austin’s Essential class of ‘14. He was nominated as Entrepreneur of the Year for Austin Under 40 in 2015. He also was nominated for Changemaker of the Year in 2016 by the Austin Young Chamber. As an international speaker and trainer on startups and social innovation, he is helping shift the focus onto triple bottom line economics. When not working he is focusing on fostering entrepreneurship with the youth.

Rich Coffey was born and raised in San Angelo, Texas. In 2002, he graduated from Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas where he received a degree in Finance while playing two collegiate sports (football and track).  Early in his career, he worked for large national public and private corporations alongside many C-level executives. These industries included durable medical equipment, supplemental health insurance, and commercial real estate. In 2006, he returned to Austin to attend St. Edward’s University where he earned a Masters in Business Administration with a concentration in Operations.

Since returning to Austin, Rich has worked for smaller to mid-sized companies in the legal, real estate, and advertising fields. It is here that he realized that these companies were being underserved when it came to advisory services. These companies typically have a great product or service and are led by very passionate owners that are very skilled in their trade but may have limited experience in business operations, finance, and accounting. Having been part of very large corporations He implements best practices that are scalable as the company grows while also providing financial analysis and a strategic mindset to help grow the business and maximize profits.

In his downtime, Rich enjoys spending time with his wife Megan, and son Will, while also spending time with numerous other family members living in the Austin area. He also coaches middle school football at Regents School of Austin and serves on numerous nonprofit boards throughout Austin.

For his work and contributions both in and out of the office, Rich was a 2014 and 2016 finalist for the Austin Business Journal’s “Best CFO in Austin Award” and most recently, he has won the 2017 Austin Under 40 (AU40) Award in the Financial Services and Insurance category.

Karen Frost is principal and owner of Frost Media Relations, and currently serves on the Board of I Live Here, I Give Here. A few of Frost’s public relations clients include Whole Foods Market, Keller Williams Realty International, The Red Twist, The Nobelity Project, Zachary Scott Theatre, The Texas Medal of Arts Awards and American Mensa.

Karen currently serves on the board of The Long Center and served as alumni president of the Bob Schieffer School of Journalism at Texas Christian University, as well as the executive board for CreateAustin, Impact Austin and Leadership Austin. In 2006 Karen was honored with Austin Business Journal’s Profiles in Power Award and in 2008 she received the Austin Under 40 Award for business entrepreneurship and philanthropy. Karen was raised in Houston, but spent a number of years living in Dallas, Fort Worth and Washington, D.C. Since April 2002, she has claimed Austin as home and lives in the central part of town with her husband, Charles Levy, and their border collie/golden retriever mix, Melvin, and their rhodesian ridgeback, Athena.

Following the tragedy of September 11, 2001, Karen collaborated with one of her clients – Jackie Waldman – and together they co-authored America, September 11th; The Courage to Give, which ultimately raised over $100 thousand for the American Red Cross.

With more than 20 years of marketing and business leadership experience, Tim Hayden has been a founder of new ventures (NION Interactive, GamePlan, 44Doors) and a catalyst for innovative change within some of the world’s largest brands (Dell, Bacardi, AMD, ExxonMobil, Hilton Worldwide, Kraft Foods, Edelman, and others).Part social anthropologist, part strategic marketing executive, Tim studies communications behavior and how new media and mobility are reshaping all of business. From operations to marketing and customer service, he assembles technology, adoption and communications initiatives that lead to efficiency and profitability.A past and current investor/advisor to technology startups, Tim actively consults with entrepreneurs and ventures to capitalize on opportunities and shifts across many different industries.

Tim has also served on several local boards of directors including: Meals on Wheels of Central Texas (Board Chair), Austin Technology Council (Exec), Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce (Exec) and Ballet Austin. In 2006, he was winner of the “Business & Entrepreneurship” in the Austin Under Forty Awards.

Founder, I Live Here I Give Here

Patsy is the founder and former Executive Director of I Live Here I Give Here. Through its outreach and educational campaigns, Patsy designed the organization’s programs to inspire a movement to grow the culture of philanthropy in Central Texas. Under her leadership, I Live Here, I Give Here has changed the definition of philanthropy in Texas, making it fun and accessible. The organization’s newest program, Amplify Austin Day, a 24-hour online fundraiser, is a leading example of this innovative approach.

Before assuming her role at I Live Here, I Give Here, Patsy was the Vice President of Resource Development for United Way Capital Area. She has been a key fundraiser and volunteer for a wide range of Austin nonprofit organizations for over twenty years. Patsy currently serves on the board of the Long Center for the Performing Arts, the Women’s Fund of Central Texas and the advisory board of the newly created Legacy of Giving, initiatives to expose children to philanthropy. She is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Junior League of Austin, Leadership Austin, and is a founding member of Impact Austin and UWCA’s Women’s Leadership Council. She has also co-chaired galas for the Helping Hand Home for Children and Hospice Austin and was a member of the Board of Regents at Texas Tech University. Patsy has been recognized by Ballet Austin as a “Woman on Her Toes”; by the Junior League of Austin as “Volunteer Extraordinaire” and by the Girl Scouts of Central Texas as a “Woman of Distinction.”

A fourth-generation rancher in Montague County, Texas, Patsy is active in her family ranching and oil business.

Patsy and her husband Jack have three grown children and have called Austin home for over 30 years.

Erica Saenz joined The University of Texas at Austin in 2008 and currently serves as Assistant Vice President for Community and External Relations (CER) in the Division of Diversity and Community Engagement. The CER portfolio includes the Communications Unit, the Community Engagement Center and Special Events. CER is also responsible for providing program and sponsorship management for campus and community partnerships. Erica holds a Bachelors degree from The University of Texas at Austin and a Masters degree from UCLA. Prior to coming to UT-Austin, Erica held various positions at UCLA including serving in the Chancellor’s Office where she liaised with campus and community constituencies on behalf of the Assistant Chancellor and Assistant Provost and gained experience in managing emerging areas of campus concern of both external and internal origin. Erica is a proud member of Austin Creative Alliance, Austin Script Works, FuturoFund Austin, Hispanic Women’s Network of Texas- Austin branch, Las Comadres Para Las Americas, and the Screen Actors Guild. Erica’s current board and service commitments include the Austin Involved Advisory Council, Community Action Network, Goodwill Industries of Central Texas, Hispanic Scholarship Consortium Advisory Council, I Live Here I Give Here, The Long Center for the Performing Arts, Teatro Vivo, and the Texas Exes Hispanic Alumni Network.

Marisa Secco is a commercial trial lawyer at Vinson & Elkins. She represents individuals and entities in contract disputes, tax controversies, and restructuring litigation. Marisa was named by Texas Lawyer as one of twenty “Winning Women” litigation and appellate attorneys in Texas and has also been named a Texas Rising Star in Business Litigation by Super Lawyers.

From 2011-13, Marisa served as the Rules Attorney for the Supreme Court of Texas, where she helped the Court draft the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure. Marisa received her BA in Government (high honors) from the University of Texas at Austin in 2004 and her JD (high honors, Texas Law Review, Chancellors, Order of the Coif) from the University of Texas School of Law in 2007. After law school, she served as a law clerk to the Hon. Fortunato P. Benavides of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. Marisa is a member of the Austin Bar Association, the American Bar Association, and serves as an Officer of the Austin Chapter of the Federal Bar Association.

Marisa has served on the planning committee for I Live Here I Give Here’s Big Give annual gala since 2016. She was the co-chair elect for this year’s Big Give, and will serve as co-chair for the 2019 Big Give. Vinson & Elkins has sponsored the Big Give for the past several years, and Marisa has also personally sponsored the event for the past two years. In addition, Marisa works with other charitable organizations such as Access to Justice Foundation and Texas Appleseed.

Jackie Sekiguchi has spent 12 years in non-profit fundraising for both higher education and at the American Heart Association. For the last six of those years, Jackie served as the Senior Director of the Austin Heart & Stroke Walk where she turned the American Heart Association’s premiere event into a year-long campaign around corporate wellness and doubled the Austin Heart & Stroke Walk revenue through a strategic focus on mission and relationships. Jackie is a current member of the Leadership Austin 2018 Emerge Class. She currently works as the Community Affairs Program Administrator for Texas Mutual Insurance Company where she is focused on creating a strategic community vision to maximize Texas Mutual’s impact throughout Austin the entire state.

T.J. Turner is a partner in the Austin law firm of Cain & Skarnulis PLLC where his practice focuses on business litigation. He has previously served as an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Texas, as Assistant General Counsel in the Office of the Governor, and as a Briefing Attorney at the Eleventh Court of Appeals.

Mr. Turner is a proud graduate of Texas Tech University, where he earned a bachelor of arts in Public Relations, and Baylor University School of Law, where he earned his juris doctorate.

In 2012, Mr. Turner received a gubernatorial appointment the Texas Real Estate Commission where he continues to serve as a public member commissioner. He is also involved with I Live Here I Give Here, Austin Young Lawyers Association, Baylor Business Network, Texas Tech University Alumni Association and First United Methodist Church of Austin where he has served on the Administrative Board and Board of Trustees. Mr. Turner resides in Austin with his wife, Jamie, and their two children.

K.C. Waldron is the Vice President of Compliance for Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. Advisor Services. In this role, she leads the team responsible for compliance and regulatory risk related to brokerage account transactions by independent investment advisors. She has extensive legal and compliance experience in the financial services industry. She has previously been in-house counsel with Schwab; an enforcement attorney for the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission; and a securities law attorney with Morrison & Foerster LLP. KC graduated from Texas A&M University, and the University of Texas School of Law. Her Austin community involvement includes Texas Wall Street Women, the Junior League of Austin (sustainer), and Women’s Symphony League.

Ted Wasserman is a product leader at Tableau Software responsible for Tableau’s Enterprise strategy and business. This includes product planning, setting the strategic vision, and leading the execution of new product capabilities. Ted also served on the Tableau Foundation’s inaugural employee workgroup, setting the direction and strategy for the Foundation’s activities. Prior to joining Tableau, Ted worked at IBM for seven years in the Information Management division in a number of different roles including technical consulting, channel marketing, and business development. Ted holds a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in computer science from Queen’s University.
 
In order for growing communities like Austin to thrive, they must have an active culture of service and giving back. Ted is passionate about ILHIGH’s mission and wants to help make giving an integral part of Austin’s DNA. Ted resides in Austin with his wife Lindsay and twin boys Alex and Charlie.
 

Terri Broussard Williams is the National Director of Strategic Partnerships and Alliances, Government Relations for the American Heart Association. In this role, she oversees partnerships and alliances for the AHA’s local, state and federal legislative portfolio. Prior to this role, Terri served as the Vice President of Government Relations for the SouthWest Affiliate for one decade. Under her leadership the SouthWest Affiliate Advocacy Team has successfully passed laws that improve the region’s cardiovascular health. She has a long list of American Heart Association honors including being named 2013 Rome Betts-Advocacy (highest honor given to an AHA employee by the association), 2013 & 2014 National Team of the Year, and 2013 Affiliate Team of the Year and was named Affiliate Manager of the Year in 2012. Terri has been with the AHA for nearly twelve years beginning her career as the Louisiana Government Relations Director. She lives in Austin, Texas where she is an active member of the non-profit community and volunteers between 10-20 hours each week. Terri is a strong believer of servant leadership and has served as a member of several community boards including but not limited to Leadership Austin, The Association of Junior Leagues International, Austin Area Urban League The Junior League of Austin, Concordia University, Austin Travis County Integral Care, and Giving City Magazine. The Greater Black Austin Chamber of Commerce named Terri the 2014 Executive of the Year. Concordia University conferred its Inaugural Emerging Leader award to Terri and her husband, Lemuel Williams in 2013. Terri was named one of the Most Influential Women in Central Texas by Austin Business Journal in 2012. She is also an active volunteer of the American Red Cross of Central Texas she chaired their signature gala- Luminaria 2013 and was the founder of Club Red, the young professionals’ arm of the organization. In 2012, Terri and Lemuel launched a scholarship for minority young professionals under the age of 40 to participate in Leadership Austin’s Emerge Program She and Lemuel served as the inaugural honorary chairs for the 2015 Austin Under 40 Awards. Terri believes in paying things forward and founded a social impact blog www.movementmakertribe.com to inspire others who want to lead to change their communities.