Member Speaker Directory
The Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce has created a Speaker Directory to provide a list of Austin area speakers who have expertise on business-related topics. Speaker participation is limited to representatives of our highest level of membership.
Disclaimer: This Speaker Directory is provided as a source of information only. The goal is to help connect organizations with prospective speakers. All arrangements must be made directly between the organization and the speaker. The views and opinions expressed by speakers are not necessarily those of the Austin Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber is not responsible for any statements or actions of the speakers.
Business & Finance
Balazs Barna
Balazs Barna is the Head of US Engineering and Austin Site Lead at global technology company Wise. Balazs oversees Wise's US engineering team, which is building the tech and infrastructure needed to facilitate instant, convenient and affordable cross border transactions. He also leads Wise’s Austin office and serves as a board member on the Austin Technology Council.
Over his 7 years at Wise, Balazs has led and helped his team build the company’s historic direct access integration to the Hungarian banking sector’s instant payment system, the first of its kind for a company with a payment service license. He also oversaw and built Wise’s core infrastructure that enables the company’s European operations. He can
Prior to joining Wise, Balazs worked at MSCI and Morgan Stanley. He graduated from Corvinus University of Budapest in Business Information Systems (BSc), and Computer Engineering (MSc) from Pannon University.
Steven D. González
Steven D. González is regional president of PNC Bank, Austin. In this role, he has direct oversight of business development, building and maintaining client relationships and leading philanthropic initiatives in support of the Austin community.
González currently serves as market leader for PNC's Corporate Banking business in Austin and will continue in the role in addition to the regional president position. With more than 15 years of financial industry experience in Austin, González's background includes a range of middle market and corporate banking roles, with responsibilities that included credit analysis, treasury management and business development.
As the market leader for Corporate Banking, he and his team help companies with annual revenue greater than $50 million grow their businesses while delivering products and services, along with well-informed and timely advice to help them accomplish their business goals.
He prioritizes community involvement and is an active participant in the region currently serving on the board of Opportunity Austin, Austin Theatre Alliance and the Andy Roddick Foundation Leadership Council. Gonzalez received a Bachelor of Business Administration specializing in accounting and finance from The University of Texas at El Paso.
Kerry Hall
Kerry Hall has 35 years of experience in banking in Austin and recently joined the board of directors of Susser Bank. She has also been involved in economic development throughout her career.
Hall has been active in civic organizations across Central Texas. She has served as the chair of the Austin Chapter of the American Heart Association and on Caritas and Visit Austin boards. In 2005, Governor Rick Perry appointed her to Texas One, the Texas Economic Development Corporation Board, where she served as a board member until 2011. Hall also served on the advisory board of Big Brothers Big Sisters and E3 Alliance.
Hall graduated from the University of Texas with a BBA in finance.
Michael Irlbeck
Michael Irlbeck has served as the Director of Business Development for EPCOR USA since August 2015. Located in Austin, Mike focuses on the origination of water-related infrastructure for municipal supply and industrial treatment applications in the Southwest. These business opportunities are primarily structured through Public-Private Partnerships (P3) or long-term company-owned facilities.
Before joining EPCOR, Mike served seven years as the Business Development Director for Spanish multinational firm Abengoa Water, S.A., where he was responsible for building the company’s American P3 business. Mike has been instrumental in developing private financing solutions for water projects in Texas and the United States, and was the commercial architect for the Vista Ridge Project contracted by the San Antonio Water System in 2014. Vista Ridge is the largest P3 water project in the U.S. representing a total private investment of $928 million USD.
Prior to Abengoa, Mike served two years with NRS Consulting Engineers and 16 years with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. Mike earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Wildlife Fisheries Sciences from Texas A&M University in 1991.
Jessica Scanlon
As the founder of Hot Dog Marketing, I have helped over 350 businesses develop their brand and establish a reputation online. It's been 20 years since my first marketing job working at a band instrument manufacturer as a marketing coordinator. Since then, I have handled admissions and development marketing for a non-profit; communication, social media and public relations for a local small business; and I directed local marketing efforts for a large global corporation.
In 2008, I started helping Austin, TX small business owners with their marketing projects as a hobby. It wasn't long before I realized that helping small business owners with my unique set of skills and experience was much more fulfilling than what my corporate life could offer. Hot Dog Marketing serves 150 businesses a year, and the company continues to grow because of our loyal customers and great referrals. Hot Dog Marketing has been named a top-rated agency on several lists, including #12 digital/website agencies by The Austin Business Journal and one of Austin's Fastest Growing Companies. We were also named one of the nation’s best branding agencies in the nation by Clutch.co. I
am passionate about branding, making smart investments, and connecting with other small business owners that went through the struggles of growing from a self-employed status to company CEO. I occasionally write and contribute articles to business publications. I speak regularly at conferences and events. I am a business book junkie, and I am obsessed with Marcus Lemonis. I’ve been nominated for Profiles in Power 2017, an Austin Under 40 Finalist in 2018 and won Austin Under 40 for Marketing in 2019
Carter Stern
Tech policy expert, focused on transportation.
Contact Carter
Diversity & Inclusion
Emily Foulkes
Emily Foulkes leads the North America People team at Wise, partnering with senior leaders to align business objectives with talent solutions. In her role, Emily develops strategies across key areas including talent, engagement, hiring and more, with an eye to attracting and inspiring talented people to help achieve Wise’s vision of Money Without Borders. Emily has a wide range of experience in the HR space and has previously worked at companies ranging from small tech startups to Fortune 500 companies in a variety of international HR roles.
Dr. Montserrat Fuentes
Dr. Montserrat “Montse” Fuentes began her tenure as the 24th President of St. Edward’s University on July 1, 2021, serving as the first Hispanic and second female president. Dr. Fuentes also holds an appointment as Professor of Mathematics. Before this appointment, she served as executive vice president and provost and professor of Statistics and Actuarial Science at the University of Iowa.
President Fuentes has a rich history of academic and administrative leadership in higher education. She is a first-generation college student and received a dual bachelor’s degree in mathematics and music (piano performance) from the University of Valladolid in Spain and a Ph.D. in statistics from the University of Chicago. Dr. Fuentes has authored more than 100 scientific publications and served as principal or co- principal investigator on more than 20 research grants, with total funding of more than $28 million.
Since 2019, she has been a principal investigator of $3M NSF ADVANCE award to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion. In 2008, Fuentes was named an American Statistical Association Fellow and in 2012, she received the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Scientific and Technological Achievement Award. President Fuentes is actively involved in the greater Austin community, serving as a member of the Austin Community Foundation Board of Governors, Austin Area Research Organization (AARO), Austin Diocesan School Advisory Board, Ballet Austin Board of Directors, Austin Symphony Advisory Council, Frost Bank Board of Directors, the Austin Catholic Cemeteries Board of Directors, and the Ascension Seton Board of Trustees.
Pete Phillips
Multi-talented professional possessing a broad range of expertise in strategic and operational levels of planning in disaster recovery/response, project management, community development, community revitalization, homeland security (anti-terrorism/force protection), homeland defense, continuity of operations, contingency operations, information analysis, inter-agency coordination, legislative affairs, aviation operations, technology assessment, and strategic communication.
Education & Talent
Dr. Montserrat Fuentes
Dr. Montserrat “Montse” Fuentes began her tenure as the 24th President of St. Edward’s University on July 1, 2021, serving as the first Hispanic and second female president. Dr. Fuentes also holds an appointment as Professor of Mathematics. Before this appointment, she served as executive vice president and provost and professor of Statistics and Actuarial Science at the University of Iowa.
President Fuentes has a rich history of academic and administrative leadership in higher education. She is a first-generation college student and received a dual bachelor’s degree in mathematics and music (piano performance) from the University of Valladolid in Spain and a Ph.D. in statistics from the University of Chicago. Dr. Fuentes has authored more than 100 scientific publications and served as principal or co- principal investigator on more than 20 research grants, with total funding of more than $28 million.
Since 2019, she has been a principal investigator of $3M NSF ADVANCE award to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion. In 2008, Fuentes was named an American Statistical Association Fellow and in 2012, she received the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Scientific and Technological Achievement Award. President Fuentes is actively involved in the greater Austin community, serving as a member of the Austin Community Foundation Board of Governors, Austin Area Research Organization (AARO), Austin Diocesan School Advisory Board, Ballet Austin Board of Directors, Austin Symphony Advisory Council, Frost Bank Board of Directors, the Austin Catholic Cemeteries Board of Directors, and the Ascension Seton Board of Trustees.
Pete Phillips
Multi-talented professional possessing a broad range of expertise in strategic and operational levels of planning in disaster recovery/response, project management, community development, community revitalization, homeland security (anti-terrorism/force protection), homeland defense, continuity of operations, contingency operations, information analysis, inter-agency coordination, legislative affairs, aviation operations, technology assessment, and strategic communication.
Thad Price
Thad Price is Chief Executive Officer at Talroo and ReadySetHire, where he provides leadership, strategy, and guidance to all departments to ensure the company is moving in the right direction with the right talent.
With more than 17 years of experience in online recruitment and the job search vertical, Thad uses his cross-functional experience to turn client feedback into innovative products that help companies hire better.
Under Thad’s leadership, Talroo continues its mission of disruption in the industry. Prior to joining Talroo, he was a VP of Business Development at Job.com
Thad holds a B.A. in Economics from the University of Mary Washington.
Leadership, Entrepreneurship, & Innovation
Michael Irlbeck
Michael Irlbeck has served as the Director of Business Development for EPCOR USA since August 2015. Located in Austin, Mike focuses on the origination of water-related infrastructure for municipal supply and industrial treatment applications in the Southwest. These business opportunities are primarily structured through Public-Private Partnerships (P3) or long-term company-owned facilities.
Before joining EPCOR, Mike served seven years as the Business Development Director for Spanish multinational firm Abengoa Water, S.A., where he was responsible for building the company’s American P3 business. Mike has been instrumental in developing private financing solutions for water projects in Texas and the United States, and was the commercial architect for the Vista Ridge Project contracted by the San Antonio Water System in 2014. Vista Ridge is the largest P3 water project in the U.S. representing a total private investment of $928 million USD.
Prior to Abengoa, Mike served two years with NRS Consulting Engineers and 16 years with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. Mike earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Wildlife Fisheries Sciences from Texas A&M University in 1991.
Thad Price
Thad Price is Chief Executive Officer at Talroo and ReadySetHire, where he where he provides leadership, strategy, and guidance to all departments to ensure the company is moving in the right direction with the right talent.
With more than 17 years of experience in online recruitment and the job search vertical, Thad uses his cross-functional experience to turn client feedback into innovative products that help companies hire better.
Under Thad’s leadership, Talroo continues its mission of disruption in the industry. Prior to joining Talroo, he was a VP of Business Development at Job.com
Thad holds a B.A. in Economics from the University of Mary Washington.
Carter Stern
Tech policy expert, focused on transportation.
Contact Carter
June Yuan
June Yuan is Wise Business Product Lead in North America for Wise. In her role she focuses on defining product strategy to grow Wise Business in the US and Canada, working directly with customers to better understand their needs, build new product innovations, and unlock new growth opportunities. June is extremely knowledgeable about the challenges facing SMBs locally in Austin, and more broadly across the US, when it comes to managing money across borders.
Prior to Wise, June has built up a decade of experience in product management in various industries at companies like Warner Bros. Games and Hopper.
Policy
Rina Wulfing
Rina Wulfing leads Policy & Campaigns in North America for Wise. Rina advocates for policies that further the mission of money without borders: instant, convenient, transparent and eventually free. Prior to Wise, she worked on financial services policy for two Members of Congress, most recently for Congressman Denny Heck of Washington state as his Chief of Staff.