We welcome these thought-provoking speakers who represent San Antonio’s diverse communities, and who are vested in empowering the next generation of leaders. Their unwavering commitment and vision has helped shape our beautiful city, create possibilities where there were none before, and challenged us to act for a better tomorrow.
We thank them for the learning experiences they are sharing with us!
Belinda Garza Hartwig is the Vice President of Economic Development at the San Antonio Chamber of Commerce. She supports the growth and success of several of San Antonio’s major industries, including aerospace, health care/bioscience and tourism. Belinda leads the annual SA to DC fly-in, pulling through her professional experience from Washington, DC. Prior to joining the Chamber in 2016, Belinda worked in our Nation’s Capital as the Vice President of Government Relations and Public Engagement at Univision Communications Inc., and spent more than a decade in the Federal Government Relations office for Walmart Stores, Inc. where she managed a number of policy issues for the company. She began her career on Capitol Hill working for San Antonio Congressman Ciro Rodriguez and has served on many boards including the Capital Area Food Bank and Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute. Belinda has a bachelor’s degree in international business from the University of Texas at San Antonio.
Seasoned executive equally capable and comfortable in the Board Room or the Operations Center. Strong national and international experience both with the public and private sector. Trusted to lead some of the US Government’s most sensitive intelligence programs. Highly effective business executive and CEO leading organizations to innovate and achieve profitable growth. Strong Corporate Security Executive with proven capability and industry certifications in Information Security, Physical Security and Investigations. Proven Chief Security Officer/Corporate Information Security Officer having served Fortune 100 companies. Highly sought out by both private industry and the US Government to share perspectives and solve challenges. Advisor the several Fortune 100 companies. Strong character – selected as one of 10 Global Winners out of 167,000 employees for the Ernst & Young’s Chairman’s Values Award. Contributing Author “Navigating The Digital Age”. A frequent speaker at International/national conferences and industry commentator from news programs such as Sky News, CNBC, and CNN.
DAVID MEREDITH currently serves as Chief Operating Officer (COO) for Rackspace (an Apollo Private Equity company). Rackspace, the leading multi-cloud IT-as-a-Service provider with $2.5B of revenue, serves customers in over 100 countries including more than half of the Fortune 100.
In 2018, Forbes named Rackspace one of America’s Best Midsize Employers and Rackspace ranked #25 on the “Companies that Care” list compiled by People Magazine and Great Place to Work.
Prior to Rackspace, David served as a President at CenturyLink where he led the successful multibillion-dollar spin-out for the Global Data Center Hosting business. His previous experience spans board and leadership roles for venture-backed firms such as NeuPals in China to large public companies such as VeriSign, CGI and Capital One.
As an industry thought leader, Meredith has provided insights for leading media outlets such as BusinessWeek, USA Today and The Washington Post. CIO Magazine, Wireless Week and The Huffington Post have published his articles. David has spoken on industry topics for NBC’s Carson Daly Show, NPR’s Morning Edition, Seoul Broadcasting System, PBS’ Nightly Business Report and at analyst forums such as Gartner, Bloomberg, Yankee and Cantor Fitzgerald.
In December 2016, the respected Uptime Institute recognized Meredith’s contributions to the Industry by selecting him for their Change Leader Award. David was named “Top 40 under 40 – Best and Brightest Leaders” by Georgia Trend Magazine in 2008.
David earned his master’s degree from the University of Virginia, where he previously served as Chairperson for the MIT Advisory Board.
Jonathan Perry is the CEO of Ractive, where he is developing a virtual reality training platform with the goal of improving performance and saving lives across a variety of industries. Prior to starting Ractive, Jonathan worked as a Cinematic Director at BioWare for 8 years, working on the ‘Mass Effect’ and ‘Dragon Age’ franchises with a focus on high-quality cinematics, interactive narrative, and procedural generation systems.
As a Briefing Program Manager, Ryan Jordan facilitates Fanatical Experiences, briefings, and events for customers.
His job duties include securing appropriate discussion leaders for briefings, developing effective agendas and content that meets the customer’s expectations, leading tours of the corporate headquarters, and leading planning calls in order to facilitate information exchange about the customer and to identify key messages for each discussion leader.
Ryan Jordan’s role as a Program Manager has allowed him to achieve highly developed skills in the areas of networking, relationship building, oral and written communication and the ability to collaborate across multiple business units. He has also had the privilege of working directly with C-level executives both internally and externally.
Aaron Hackney is a Principal Architect in Network Security at Rackspace Hosting. Aaron holds a B.S. and an M.S. in Computer Science from the University of Illinois and an LSA Class 38 alum. Aaron’s passion is networking and cybersecurity. You can follow him at @syn_synack_ack on twitter and he blogs at https://hacksbrain.com on cybersecurity, beer, travel, and photography.
Dr. Briggs has been active in IC engine R&D for 24 years within academia, industry, and R&D labs. His specialty is advanced combustion, having investigated alternative fuels, combustion computational fluid dynamics, low temperature combustion, and advanced spark- and compression-ignited combustion systems. Dr. Briggs is a recognized expert in Low Speed Pre-Ignition and has been invited to speak at multiple events regarding the impact of this phenomenon on future developments for automotive engines. He has authored over thirty papers and presentations on his research and has presented at a wide range of technical and government conferences.
Dr. Briggs received his Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin – Madison, where he developed a two-wavelength diagnostic method for imaging dense liquid sprays. His M.S. and B.S. degrees were from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign where he investigated natural gas and biodiesel engine combustion.
Dr. Briggs’ began his career at Caterpillar. There, he developed computer codes for 1-D and 3-D engine combustion simulation and worked with universities and outside laboratories to perform optical diagnostics of diesel combustion systems. He later was on the research staff at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, where he led programs on waste heat recovery system development and low-temperature diesel combustion. Dr. Briggs has also taught courses on energy conversion systems and future powertrain technology at the University of Wisconsin – Madison.
Dr. Briggs joined Southwest Research Institute in 2011 in the Advanced Combustion and Emissions Section. He led the P3 research consortium which developed the first test methods for evaluating Low Speed Pre-Ignition, now widely used by the lubricant industry to develop new products. As the manager of the Engine Systems Research and Development section, Dr. Briggs began the Advanced Engine Fluids research consortium and guided programs for fuels, lubricants, and engine component development. Dr. Briggs currently is a task leader and technical specialist on the HEDGE consortium for gasoline engines and the CHEDE consortium for diesel engines. He also runs the Powertrain Consulting Service, providing specialized engineering consulting to clients in the transportation industry. His most recent area of research is the development of advanced waste heat recovery technologies for engines using supercritical CO2 working cycles.
PATENTS & PUBLICATIONS: Dr. Briggs has published over 30 papers and presentations on fuels, emissions, combustion, and engine systems. He holds two patents on engine technologies.
PROFESSIONAL CHRONOLOGY: Caterpillar, Inc.: research engineer, 1997-2002; University of Wisconsin- Madison: 2002-2008 (graduate student, 2002-7; lecturer, 2006; senior lecturer, 2008); Oak Ridge National Laboratory: postdoctoral research associate, 2007-8; member of the research staff, 2008-11; Southwest Research Institute: 2011-[principal engineer, 2011-13; manager, 2013-16; program manager, 2016-17; staff engineer, 2017- present].
MEMBERSHIPS: Society of Automotive Engineers; The Combustion Institute (past Treasurer of the Board of Directors of the Central States Section).
EDUCATION:
Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2007
M.S., Agricultural Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1998
B.S., Mechanical Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1995
Dr. Martin has extensive expertise in technical and corporate communications, with a doctorate degree in persuasive speaking and writing. He is a pragmatic, results-oriented leader and team builder.
Dr. Martin began his professional career as an officer in the U.S. Air Force. As a Weapon Systems Officer in the F–4E aircraft, he completed a number of operational flying tours in the U.S. and overseas as a mission-ready aircrew. The USAF twice sponsored him for graduate school programs, enabling him to earn his M.A. and Ph.D. degrees with follow-on assignments to the USAF Academy faculty. As an Assistant Professor in the USAF Academy’s Department of English, Dr. Martin also served as the department’s Director of Operations supervising 24 courses, 34 instructors, more than 3300 students and 10,000 hours of instruction. As Director of the Academy’s Executive Writing Program, he was responsible for presentations worldwide to Department of Defense (DOD) audiences providing practical tools for clear communications for over 12,000 annually. He has served as speechwriter for Air Force and senior government executives.
Upon leaving the USAF in 1997, Dr. Martin began a 14-year tenure with Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), a global semiconductor company, working in a number of corporate and product Public Relations and Marketing positions, including two expat assignments to Beijing, China. He was repeatedly promoted, ending as Director, Global Communications and Public Affairs for the company.
In July 2012, Dr. Martin began working as a Senior Strategic Consultant with National Security Partners (NSP), a premier strategic consulting firm to the military, civilian and academic communities in the Washington D.C. area. As a member of the National Security Agency (NSA) Cyber Task Force Policy Division, Dr. Martin worked on a number of key cybersecurity issues with stakeholders in the Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, the Intelligence Community and the White House.
In October 2013, Dr. Martin joined SwRI as Director of the Communications Department. Promoted to Executive Director, Corporate Communications in 2014, he reports directly to Executive Management on public relations and corporate image issues and is responsible for creating the Institute’s communications strategy. Dr. Martin manages public and media relations for the Institute, both internal and external websites, the Institute’s social media presence, SwRI tradeshows and exhibits, and the Institute’s archival collections. He also serves as the official clearing point for all external promotional products; manages business development and advertising promotion of products and services; and is responsible for managing Media Production Services tasked with designing and producing Institute collateral marketing materials.
PROFESSIONAL CHRONOLOGY: U.S. Air Force: career officer, retired Lieutenant Colonel, 1976-97; AMD: 1998-2011 (various corporate and product public relations and marketing positions, 1998-2004; China regional director of Public Relations, 2004-5; Corporate Branding, Communications & Sports Marketing: 2005-8; Corporate & Product Marketing, China: director, 2008-10; Global Communications and Public Affairs: director, 2011); National Security Partners: senior strategic consultant, 2012; Southwest Research Institute: director, 2013-14; executive director, 2014-present.
EDUCATION:
Ph.D., Rhetorical Studies, University of Texas at Austin, 1994
M.A., English, California State University – Sacramento, 1984
B.S., Humanities, U.S. Air Force Academy, 1976
Dr. Allison’s research interests include advanced energy systems, turbomachinery design and testing, oxy-combustion, instrumentation and control, blade and impeller dynamics, valve dynamics, finite element analysis, system identification, condition monitoring, and time and frequency domain signal processing methods. He is experienced in applying these capabilities to analyze, design, and solve problems with rotating machinery including gas turbines, centrifugal compressors, turboexpanders, reciprocating compressors, steam turbines, wind turbines, bearing and transmission test rigs, rocket pumps, industrial fans, and pressure safety valves. He also has skills and experience with test rig design, fabrication, and operation from the 1 kW to 3 MW scale, including modal testing, machinery vibration testing, trim balancing, compressor, turbine, and pump performance testing, and failure analysis of machinery.
While at Southwest Research Institute, Dr. Allison has developed new methods for analysis of turbomachinery blade stresses, gas foil bearing force coefficients, pressure safety valve dynamic instabilities, and high-frequency piping vibrations. He has successfully managed numerous projects, including development and test projects, root cause failure analyses, research programs involving reciprocating compressor valves and bolted joints in high vibration environments, and a study and comparison of existing and proposed gas turbine starter options. His development and test experience encompasses new turbomachinery technologies, including novel supercritical CO2 turbines and compressors, a high-pressure oxy-fuel combustor, a high-temperature gas turbine recuperator, internally cooled diaphragms for CO2 compression, a downhole processing and compression tool, gas foil bearings, and reciprocating compressor valves. He has also developed instrumentation setups and LabVIEW programs to manage the operation, condition monitoring, data acquisition, and data reduction for compressor, pump, and turbine test rigs.
Dr. Allison’s doctoral work dealt with constructing black-box predictive models for time-varying and nonlinear vibratory systems from experimental measurements. A new identification method based on the proper orthogonal decomposition was developed and validated with experimental test data. His master’s thesis focused on developing and implementing efficient structural dynamics analysis algorithms for multiprocessor computers. During two internships at Sandia National Laboratories, he participated in the validation of existing finite element models with experimental data and researched new methods for constructing predictive dynamics models from test data.
PATENTS & PUBLICATIONS: Co-Inventor of a squeeze film damper valve for reciprocating compressors; Authored and co-authored 10 journal papers, 49 conference papers and three book chapters; Presented 52 tutorials, no-paper presentations, and short course modules on turbomachinery and structural dynamics topics; Associate Editor of the ASME Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power.
HONORS & AWARDS: ASME International Gas Turbine Institute Oil & Gas Committee Best Paper/Tutorial Awards in 2015/2014; ASME International Gas Turbine Institute Young Engineer Travel Award, 2011; ASME International Gas Turbine Institute Best Application Tutorial Award, 2010; National Physical Science Consortium Fellow (funded by Sandia National Laboratories), 2006-7; Virginia Space Grant Consortium Fellow, 2006-7.
PROFESSIONAL CHRONOLOGY: Sandia National Laboratories: graduate student intern, 2005-6; Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University: Ph.D. candidate, 2006-7; Southwest Research Institute: 2007-[research engineer, 2007-11; senior research engineer, 2011-14; group leader, 2014-15; manager, 2015-present].
MEMBERSHIPS: American Society of Mechanical Engineers, American Institute for Aeronautics and Astronautics, Society for Experimental Mechanics, Phi Beta Kappa (Honor Society), Sigma Gamma Tau (Honor Society).
EDUCATION:
Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 2007 M.S., Aerospace Engineering, University of Texas at Austin, 2005
B.S., Aerospace Engineering with High Honors, University of Texas at Austin, 2004
Mr. Argo is responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of the Energy Storage Technology testing facilities, including designing and implementing manufacturing, characterization, life, and abuse tests on individual cells and battery packs targeted for use on electric vehicles and space flight.
Mr. Argo has experience as a software developer with projects ranging from small plug-ins to enterprise-level command and control systems. Additionally, he has extensive experience as a software tester.
Mr. Argo has worked on the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) Statewide Development and IntegrationTM (SDI) program and Development, Integration, Implementation, and Maintenance Services (DIIMS) Lonestar traffic management software. Mr. Argo was responsible for the software development and maintenance of the statewide Dynamic Message Sign (DMS) subsystem, the Message Queuing Application (MQA), and the Message Scheduling Application (MSA). He was the liaison for the Austin, Texas Traffic Management operators, providing on-site training and guidance in the use of the software.
Mr. Argo has been involved with Home Automation (HA) since 1995 and has participated in an Open Source HA program since 1999. He has utilized X-10, Insteon, and Z-Wave protocols to control equipment. He is currently investigating how to integrate smart grid and Home Energy Management using HA.
During his 22 years in the Air Force, Mr. Argo managed many programs and filled numerous roles, including supervisor, manager, trainer, assessor, and inspector. As a First Sergeant, he managed support of airfield operations (including weather, air traffic control, and life support) for Lackland Air Force Base in Texas. He provided coordination, management, troubleshooting, and analysis. During his time as an Aviation Resource Manager, he managed aviation resources at 16 Air Force bases with over 250 people assigned.
Mr. Argo has software experience in several languages including Visual Basic (VB), C#, and Java. He has also worked with C++, Perl, JavaScript, Visual Basic Application (VBA), SQL, XML, and HTML.
PROFESSIONAL CHRONOLOGY: U.S. Air Force: 1983-2005 (air traffic control, 1983-9; aviation resource management, 1989-2002; first sergeant, 2002-5); Southwest Research Institute: 2005-[Automation and Data Systems Division: analyst, 2005-7; research analyst, 2007-12; Powertrain Engineering Division (before 2017 was named the Engine, Emissions, and Vehicle Research Division): research analyst, 2012-2018; assistant manager, 2018 – present].
EDUCATION:
B.S., Computer Science, Park University, 2004
A.A., Business Administration Aviation Management, Community College of the Air Force, 2003
Mr. Chadwell is an Assistant Director in the Automotive Propulsion Systems Department. In this role, he oversees several technology areas including spark ignition engine R&D, transmission and driveline testing, energy storage R&D and vehicle testing. He is also the Acting Manager of the Spark Ignition Engine R&D Section that focuses on in-cylinder combustion related research. The team of engineers and technologists are tasked with running projects that advance the understanding of SI combustion and supporting technologies enabling manufactures and suppliers to produce engines and vehicles with improved efficiency and reduced emissions.
Included in the section’s scope is the High Efficiency Dilute Gasoline Engine consortium, or HEDGE. HEDGE, now in its 14th year, is chartered with improving the efficiency and reducing the emissions of gasoline engines using cooled exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) and other technologies. The program currently has 27 members including 15 engine and vehicle manufacturers and 12 Tier 1 suppliers and a research budget exceeding $2.5M per year. Mr. Chadwell was the project manager from 2013-2016 before delegating management to staff within the section.
The HEDGE team developed a technology called Dedicated EGR (D-EGR) that uses cooled EGR and in-cylinder reforming to produce hydrogen and carbon monoxide to promote efficient combustion. Mr. Chadwell developed a vehicle demonstrator to show that the technology can improve fuel economy by more than 10% while also reducing emissions. The demonstrator required significant changes the vehicle’s air handling system and the inclusion of prototype controls to operate the engine with D-EGR technology.
Mr. Chadwell previously managed the Vehicle Electrification and Energy Storage Technology section. The VE&EST section is responsible for the performance, safety and abuse testing of battery cells, modules and packs. They run the EssEs consortium which is a group of eight companies analyzing batteries for the aforementioned parameters. The section is also responsible for the design, development and testing of electrified powertrains and components.
In 2011, Mr. Chadwell was tasked with starting a consortium to study abnormal combustion in boosted engines. The program eventually grew to include many of the worlds high volume vehicle manufacturers, most major oil companies and all of the major lubricant formulators. The studies involved fundamental assessments of the mechanisms that caused Low Speed Pre-Ignition (LSPI). The program successfully identified the significant factors that affected the frequency of LSPI and a testable hypothesis for the mechanism. The program lasted three years with a budget exceeding $8M and led to the follow-on Advanced Engine Fluids (AEF) consortium.
Before moving to the Spark Ignition part of the business, Mr. Chadwell spent 10 years working on the Clean High Efficiency Diesel Engine (CHEDE) consortium. He has done extensive work in model-based control of diesel engines and diesel aftertreatment systems. The models include NOx and PM estimators for input to multivariable system controllers for fuel, turbocharging, and exhaust gas recirculation, and a urea storage model for selective catalytic reduction. Additionally, Mr. Chadwell developed SwRI’s latest control code for spark ignited, port injected and direct injected gasoline engines as well as homogenous charge compression ignition gasoline and diesel engines.
PROFESSIONAL CHRONOLOGY: Texas A&M University Energy Systems Lab: student technician, 1996-2000; Southwest Research Institute: 2000-[engineer, 2000-2; research engineer, 2002-6; senior research engineer, 2006- 10; assistant manager, 2010-12; manager, 2012-18; assistant director, 2018-present].
MEMBERSHIPS: Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE)
EDUCATION:
B.S., Mechanical Engineering, Texas A&M University, 2000
Dr. Surampudi’s experience includes mathematical modeling, testing, communication and control system
development for energy storage systems, engines, transmissions, automotive accessories, hybrid, electric and military vehicles. He is versed in several engineering tools such as Matlab/Simulink, dSPACE suite, GT-Power, Delphi-VISU, EASY5 and ETAS suite. Dr. Surampudi has managed projects worth more than $12 million over the course of his tenure at SwRI. He is interested in pursuing new testing, control and analysis technologies for transportation and stationary energy storage systems.
Dr. Surampudi has worked with power plant process instrumentation and control with Tata Consulting Engineers in India in 1987. He served the Combat Vehicle Research and Development Establishment in India from 1987 to 1991 as a Control System Scientist. He led a team of engineers to specify, design, build and evaluate various aspects of the Integrated Fire Control System which stabilized both the gun and line of vision from terrain movements. He evaluated the root causes of many deficiencies using FEA simulations that were validated with data from various components during firing experiments.
Dr. Surampudi’s Ph.D. dissertation (1991-1995) involved developing mathematical models to simulate and compensate for friction induced oscillations in brush type DC motors. He has developed and applied modern control theory skills including fuzzy logic, adaptive and QFT techniques during this period.
Dr. Surampudi worked for Caterpillar Hydraulics for one year after his Ph.D. as a design engineer. His work involved mathematical model building for swash plate piston pump valve timing, control system design for load sensing, and finite element analysis for dynamic mode simulation to understand retraction plate failures.
Since joining Southwest Research Institute in 1996, Dr. Surampudi has been involved with energy storage system and powertrain control projects. He has developed control systems for diesel engines, transmissions, electric hybrid powertrains, electric vehicles, hydraulic hybrid powertrains and autonomous vehicles. He has led control system development for optimal operation of electrified engine accessories powered by fuel cells in a class-8 tractor which resulted in significant improvements in fuel economy. He was also involved in control system development for Lean NOx traps and Cold Starts for light duty diesel engines. He has been managing the Energy Storage Systems Evaluation and Safety (EssEs) consortium since 2011. The EssEs consortium has successfully tested more than 24 commercially available Lithium ion batteries for its members generating a very unique data base of life, safety and characterization information. He has also successfully completed an in-situ instrumentation and battery management system characterization project for a Tesla Model S electric vehicle. He is currently managing several commercial and government projects in the area of Lithium ion battery testing and modeling.
PROFESSIONAL CHRONOLOGY: Tata Consulting Engineers: instrument engineer, 1987-8; Combat Vehicle Research and Development Establishment: scientist, 1988-91; Caterpillar, Inc.: design engineer, 1995-6; Southwest Research Institute: 1996-[research engineer, 1996-9; senior research engineer, 1999-2002; principal engineer, 2002- 14; staff engineer, 2014-present].
MEMBERSHIPS: Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE); Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE).
EDUCATION:
Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering, Texas A&M University, 1995
M.Tech., Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, India, 1987
B.E., Mechanical Engineering, NIT Surathkal, India 1985
Phil Hardberger served as Mayor of San Antonio from 2005-2009, before he was term limited out of office. During Phil’s tenure as San Antonio Mayor, he carried an approval rating of 86 percent and captured 77 percent of the vote during his re-election. While he was Mayor, he was responsible for extending the San Antonio River Walk from two to four miles on the Museum Reach and beginning the work on the eight-mile stretch of the Mission Reach. Working with San Antonio businessman Bill Greehey, he opened a transformational facility for the homeless called Haven for Hope that became a national model. He celebrated the opening of Toyota’s assembly plant in San Antonio and was one of the first Mayors who provided assistance and housing for thousands of evacuees of Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita. In recognition of his leadership and foresight in championing quality of life projects, the City of San Antonio changed the name of Voelcker Farm to Phil Hardberger Park, a 330-acre nature and fitness-oriented park that includes hiking trails, dog parks, picnic areas, basketball courts, multi- use fields and a savannah restoration project. As he left office, he led a successful referendum to extend term limits from four to eight years, while excluding himself from the expansion. Prior to serving as Mayor, he was elected to the Fourth Court of Appeals where he served as Associate Justice and Chief Justice. Phil was recognized and honored by the Texas Bar Foundation as one of five 2015 Outstanding 50-Year Lawyers in the State. In addition to his legal practice, he is actively involved in external affairs and community relations. Mayor Hardberger is one of the three founding members of the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts, along with Nelson Wolff and Bruce Bugg.
Mayor Hardberger is a Senior Counsel at the Dykema Gossett law firm in San Antonio.
Councilwoman Sandoval leads the council’s Community Health and Equity Committee. She works to advance policies that enhance quality of life, protect natural resources, and prepare responsibly for the future.
(LEED AP BD+C)
For Brody, there are two things that give him purpose: being a positive influence in the lives of others and working with his hands. He has found that the world of design is where he gets to do both. What started at an early age with tree forts and sand castles, became furniture and musical instruments, sculpture and architecture. In whatever medium it calls for, he loves getting his hands on his work, and is motivated by the idea that what he makes has the potential to inspire those who experience it.
As an Architectural Designer at Overland, Brody sees his position as a platform to impact people’s lives with inspiring spaces. He loves working with others who have a vision and is fascinated and challenged by the process of bringing that idea into a physical reality.
Outside of the office, Brody enjoys woodworking, photography and basically every outdoor activity. While he thrives in a productive, high-intensity lifestyle most of the time, Brody finds great pleasure in stepping out of the race of life, to the all-to-unfamiliar pace of the natural world. Some of his most cherished time is spent hiking, biking, climbing or simply having a think, in the wilderness.
Clarissa Ramon is a Government and Community Affairs Manager for Google Fiber in San Antonio, Texas. In this role, she invests in partnerships focused on digital inclusion, promoting academic interests in STEM and entrepreneurship. Her responsibilities include driving external engagement on behalf of Google Fiber as well as supporting product adoption across the market.
Prior to joining Google Fiber, Clarissa served as a Government Affairs & Outreach Associate for Public Knowledge, a public interest advocacy organization focused on telecommunications and copyright policy in Washington, D.C. Clarissa is a graduate of St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, TX and a student of the LBJ School of Public Affairs, Executive Masters in Public Leadership program at the University of Texas, Austin.
(LEED AP BD+C)
Madison’s passion lies at the crux of architecture and urban design. She approaches every design with the intention of making a positive contribution to the local community through Placemaking strategies and a rigorous attention to detail. Madison believes that architecture can extend beyond a structure’s physicality to the socio-psychological and be transformative in the lives of others.
Once a Pheasant in 2015 as an architectural intern, Madison returned to Overland as an Urban Designer. In the two years since her tenure in San Antonio, she was an editor’s assistant at PRAXIS, an architectural journal; worked at a firm in Portland, OR; facilitated a 6-week study-abroad seminar in Italy on “Embodied Time in Architecture and Urbanism”; volunteered her design skillset to a secondary school in rural Kenya; and graduated from Northeastern University in Boston, MA. Madison received the Alpha Rho Chi Award for professional promise, along with various other university awards for her on-going commitment to the service of others.
Madison hypothesizes that the best way to get to know a place is to get lost and explore the culture through the people you meet, the food you eat, and the hidden nooks you discover. When she’s not out and about, she’s at home cooking up a delicious meal, making a killer mojito, or snuggled up reading with her rescue pup.
Dax Moreno is a highly accomplished leader with extensive experience providing strategic vision and leadership to local tech companies like Rackspace, Cogeco Peer 1, Scaleworks, and Geekdom. Dax brings a unique, talent-centric perspective and strong background in program development to his role as the Chief Talent Officer of Tech Bloc. His mission is two-fold; to help top talent, from San Antonio and beyond, connect with opportunities in our city’s growing tech community and to help technology employers in SA find, cultivate, and retain top tech talent for their organizations.
Dax is a strong believer in the power of community and has served as a co-founder for a number of organizations & programs that serve to help grow the technology community in San Antonio; namely Tech Bloc, CivTech SA, and the Geekdom Community Fund. He’s also an active mentor for Geekdom, Tech Stars, and Startup NEXT communities as well as numerous entrepreneurs and emerging leaders. Dax serves as a board member for the Promesa Academy Charter School, has a seat on the SA Works Industry Council, and was recently recognized by the San Antonio Business Journal as a “40 Under 40” award honoree.
Brian Dillard is a third-generation Eastside San Antonio native. Born and raised in the former Wheatley Courts area, Brian attended Wheatley Middle School and graduated from Sam Houston High School in 2001. Mr. Dillard holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force where he served ten years on active duty. Brian currently works in the City of San Antonio Office of Innovation as the Smart City Administrator.
Brian is the former President of the Dignowity Hill Neighborhood Association and has served as a Board Member for VIA, the Ella Austin Community Center, and the San Antonio Centro Partnership. Brian is an alumnus of Leadership San Antonio (LSA43), Leadership SAISD, and San Antonio New Leaders Council.
Adam L. Hamilton, P.E., serves as president and CEO of Southwest Research Institute (SwRI®), one of the nation’s largest independent providers of advanced scientific and applied technology solutions.
Hamilton holds a master’s of science degree in aerospace engineering and engineering mechanics, and a bachelor’s of science degree in aerospace engineering, both from The University of Texas at
Austin. He is a certified Professional Engineer in Texas. During his career, Hamilton has provided technical expertise to a myriad of projects in government and industry while also providing business and community leadership. His multidisciplinary technical expertise includes engineering, science, and risk assessment.
Previously, Hamilton was the founding president and CEO of Signature Science, LLC, in Austin, Texas, a wholly-owned subsidiary of SwRI. Hamilton is currently the chairman of Signature Science. He serves on the Executive Committee of the United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County. He served as the co-Chair of the 2015 United Way Volunteer of the Year (VOYA) event and as part of the Campaign Cabinet in 2016. Hamilton is currently serving on the External Advisory Committee (EAC) of The University of Texas at Austin Department of Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics. He is also on the board of the Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce and The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) College of Sciences Advancement Council. He is a trustee of the San Antonio Medical Foundation and a special trustee of the Texas Biomedical Research Institute. Hamilton is a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers Industry Advisory Board and a member of the Industry and Community Affiliates of The Academy of Medicine, Engineering & Science of Texas (TAMEST). He has served as a board member of the Greater Austin Crime Commission and the Training Advisory Board for the Office of the Texas Attorney General.
Hamilton reached the rank of lieutenant commander and has served as the future plans officer for the Texas State Guard Maritime Regiment and as the Deputy Director for Risk Assessment for the Texas Engineers Task Force on Homeland Security. He is a graduate of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Citizens’ Academy and a graduate of Leadership Austin.
Hamilton is certified in Homeland Security Level-V; American College of Forensic Examiners Institute; as a Firearms Instructor; Texas Commission on Law Enforcement; and Incident Command System (ICS), National Incident Management System (NIMS), and National Response Plan (NRP); and FEMA.
He has been awarded the Texas Outstanding Service Medal (Texas State Guard), the Corporate Achievement Award (Radian), and an Exceptional Service in the Public Interest (FBI).
Britton is the CEO of EPIcenter, a nonprofit created by CPS Energy, OCI Solar, Silver Spring Networks and Lyndis+Gyr as a catalyst for energy innovation and technological advancement.
Douglas Melnick was named the City of San Antonio’s first Chief Sustainability Officer in March 2014. He oversaw the development, as well as the implementation of the SA Tomorrow Sustainability Plan, and is leading the development of the SA Climate Ready Climate Action and Adaptation Plan, San Antonio’s first plan designed to meet the objectives of the Paris Climate Agreement. He has fifteen years of local government experience and previously served as Director of Planning & Sustainability for the City of Albany, NY, the capitol of New York State. Mr. Melnick serves as a core member of the Urban Sustainability Director’s Network (USDN), serves on the Board of the International Society of Sustainability Professionals (ISSP), the San Antonio 2030 District, and is Chairman of the Board for Build San Antonio Green. He is member of the American Institute of Certified Planners, a CNU-Accredited Professional, and an ISSP- Sustainability Associate.
Growing up in a national park in Wales, Principal James Andrews gained an early appreciation of the natural world. Because of this, he believes that the requirements for architecture have moved beyond the Vitruvian concepts of good building—sturdiness, functionality, and beauty—and it is now our duty to create buildings that are also restorative. The need for strategic, systemic solutions has never been so critical. Because nature solves the most complex problems itself, we must gain a greater understanding of its solutions and use this knowledge to create more harmonious systems and relationships—not only with nature but with each other.
James believes we need to create a greater culture of sharing and listening, which informs his own practice of architecture. Influenced by his passion for rugby and other sports, he delights in the process of team building, bringing the right people to the table to solve complex problems together. He finds that whether working with others in China, New Zealand, or San Antonio, the methods of implementation may be different, but the fundamental motivation is the same—creating a healthy environment for future generations. James values the unique strengths others bring and knows that by working together, any challenge can be overcome.
John Agather has served in numerous leadership positions since forming his investment company in 1991. Currently, John is the 2019 Chair for the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. The SAHCC is America’s First Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. A strong advocate for Hispanic business and Hispanics in business for 85 years, the Hispanic Chamber has been officially notified of its designation as a 5-Star Accredited Chamber from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
Agather has an extensive understanding of the historic and luxury home market. It’s his unique perspective and knowledge that set him apart from other realtors. His experience in a variety of different business settings results in marketing expertise that can only be learned through real-life education.
Additionally, John formed the acclaimed rock band The Juantanamos in 2009 that regularly tours and releases new music. The Juantanamos is an eclectic San Antonio, Texas rock band with a wide variety of musical influences.
As President and former Vice President of the South Texas Energy & Economic Roundtable (STEER), Ashcraft facilitates communication, education and public advocacy surrounding the production of energy resources in South Texas. An experienced industry leader, Ashcraft works directly with the oil and natural gas industry, local officials, community members, regional stakeholders, educational institutions and economic development organizations to ensure that the oil and natural gas industry in South Texas is advancing in a positive way that is mutually beneficial to both the community and the industry.
Prior to joining STEER, Ashcraft served as the Alternative Energy Transportation Manager with the Alamo Area Council of Governments. There he founded the South Central Texas Natural Gas Vehicle Consortium and managed the Alamo Area Clean Cities Coalition where he helped lead the development of natural gas and electric vehicle charging infrastructure. Ashcraft has provided environmental, alternative energy and agricultural analysis to the federal government and numerous state and local organizations. While employed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, he assisted with issues related to agriculture, rural communities, and alternative energy.
Ashcraft holds an Executive MBA from the University of Texas at Austin McCombs School of Business and a Bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Maine with a minor in military science and leadership development. Upon graduation, Ashcraft received a Commission as an Officer in the United States Army where he completed his military service obligations with an honorable discharge. Ashcraft has twin daughters, Aurelia and Francesca.
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