McBee Fellowship
AARO created the McBee Fellowship in honor of founding member and civic leader, Frank McBee Jr. This Fellowship offers aspiring professionals a seat at the AARO table and an opportunity to work with exceptional regional leaders on a variety of issues and AARO research projects.
Stewards for the Greater Common Good
The Frank McBee Jr. Fellows Program is a rigorous, 13-month program for civic leadership development. The Fellowship is designed to seed Central Texas with leaders who think regionally and act as stewards for the greater common good.
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Leadership
Lead with integrity - individually and collectively.
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Fellowship
Establish and nurture relationships of trust.
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Mindset
Think and act systemically, considering the interdependency of issues.
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Partnership
Engage in collaborative, non-partisan efforts that honor the wisdom inside and outside of AARO.
A McBee Fellowship Year
During the program year, Fellows actively engage with many of the region’s most influential business and community leaders through AARO committee and membership meetings. In addition, each Fellow meets regularly with two AARO mentors throughout the year. AARO carefully selects the mentors for each Fellow to maximize their growth as leaders and enhance the quality of the Fellowship experience.
Fellows are expected to repay the privilege of participating in the Fellowship year by contributing to the region as future leaders. AARO hopes McBee alumni will inspire others in their spheres of influence to think and act in the long-term best interest of the region.
McBee Fellowship Application Information
The McBee program looks for early to mid-career leaders working to enhance the social and/or economic well-being of Central Texans. Individuals giving their time in more than one sector, policy area or community and are interested in engaging in similar work at a regional level are well positioned to get the most out of this Fellowship. Scholarships are available for candidates needing financial assistance.
Applications accepted through September 5th, 2023. For questions about the application process or McBee Fellowship please contact: Alandra Brown at [email protected]
2024 McBee Fellows
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Beth Almost
Assistant Vice President Central National Bank -
Tina Cannon
CEO Austin LGBT Chamber of Commerce -
Chelsea Elliott
Founder and Executive Director half Helen -
Cat Gonzalez
Vice President of Operations & Organizational Culture Ending Community Homelessness Organization (ECHO) -
Shelly Mitchell
Vice President Pape-Dawson Engineers, LLC -
Fisher Reynolds
Chief of Staff Lower Colorado River Authority -
Liz Schoenfeld
Chief Research & Evaluation Officer LifeWorks -
Monica Williams
Manager, Strategic Partnerships UFCU
McBee Fellow Alumni
| Name | Title | Affiliation | Fellowship Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rodney Ahart | Executive Director | Keep Austin Beautiful | 2013 |
| Theresa Alvarez | Community Development Officer, VP | Wells Fargo | 2013 |
| Dave Anderson | Director of Land Use Policy | Drenner Group | 2009 |
| Zach Anderson | President | TicketCity | 2011 |
| Stacy Armijo | Sr. VP - Chief Experience Officer | Amplify Credit Union | 2016 |
| Becky Arreaga | President, Partner | The Arreaga Agency | 2010 |
| William Askew | Program Manager | Capital IDEA | 2022 |
| Tamara Atkinson | Chief Executive Officer | Workforce Solutions - Capital Area Workforce Board | 2015 |
| Writ Baese | President | Hill Country Payroll | 2014 |
| Shilpa Bakre | Communications Strategist | University Communications, The University of Texas at Austin | 2017 |
| Brett Barnes | Senior Director of Development - Central & West Texas | Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas, Inc. | 2009 |
| Jeff Barton | Principal and Co-Founder | Gap Strategies | 2014 |
| Jeremiah Bentley | Vice President, Marketing and Community Affairs | Texas Mutual Insurance Company | 2018 |
| Fayruz Benyousef | Founder & Principal | FBC | Generosity Experts | 2014 |
| Marina Bhargava | Executive Director | Greater Austin Asian Chamber of Commerce | 2015 |
| A.J. Bingham | Founder & CEO | The Bingham Group, LLC | 2021 |
| Ann Boren | Manager, Market Rules and Stakeholder Support | ERCOT | 2022 |
| Rebecca Bray | Senior Planning Supervisor | WSP | 2013 |
| Wes Breyfogle | CEO | ScanData Systems, Inc. | 2017 |
| Jed Buie | Partner | Buie & Co. | 2007 |
| Eric Bustos | Federal Relations Manager | WMATA | 2021 |
| Katherine Caffrey | Assistant City Manager | City of Cedar Park | 2018 |
| Ruben Cantu | Executive Director of Inclusive Innovation and Entrepreneurship | University of Texas | 2022 |
| Daniel Carl | Principal & Regional Director | BSA LifeStructures | 2019 |
| Gerardo Castillo | 2009 | ||
| Andrew Cates | General Counsel & Director of Government Affairs | Bingham Group LLC | 2022 |
| Edward Charrier | CEO & President | Fractilia | 2010 |
| Sarah Churchill Llamas | Principal | Michael Best Strategies | 2019 |
| Merrill Davis | Senior Vice President | Mercury LLC | 2018 |
| Ramiro Diaz | Lead Software Engineer | 2021 | |
| Robert Doerr | Account Executive/Commercial Lines Manager | Alliant Insurance Services, Inc. | 2012 |
| John Donisi | Attorney | Drenner Group | 2011 |
| Michelle Earley | Partner | O’Melveny & Myers LLP | 2016 |
| Chris Edwards | Assistant City Attorney | City of Austin - Law Department | 2008 |
| Valerie Esparza | Deputy Director | Center for Women in Law | 2023 |
| Mario Espinoza | Consultant | Strategic Partnerships, Inc. | 2012 |
| Fang Fang | Founder and CEO | Big Plan LLC | 2023 |
| Jimmy Ferguson | President | Maxtab, Inc. | 2008 |
| Scott Flack | President | Live Oak | 2009 |
| Christian Fletcher | Executive Director | Marble Falls Economic Development Corporation | 2017 |
| Angelo Foadey | Vice President - Corporate Banking | Frost Bank | 2022 |
| Samuel Franco | President and Founder | Infravest Strategies, LLC | 2023 |
| Erin Franz | Executive Director | Texan by Nature | 2013 |
| Karen Friese | President | K Friese + Associates, Inc. | 2010 |
| Christie Garbe | Owner | Serasana Bee Cave | 2011 |
| Myndi Garrett | Consultant | 2008 | |
| Kate Garza | Chief of Staff | Office of Travis County Judge Andy Brown | 2021 |
| Rebecca Geier | CEO | RIVE | 2010 |
| David Glass | Founder and Owner | Silverado Business Systems Inc. | 2008 |
| Patty Gonzales | Communications Director | Port of Brownsville | 2008 |
| Hannah Gourgey | Independent Consultant | 2017 | |
| Dan Graham | CEO, Founder | BuildASign.com | 2013 |
| Larry Graham | Manager - Regulatory Affairs | Texas Gas Service | 2013 |
| Teresa Granillo | Chief Executive Officer | AVANCE Inc. | 2019 |
| Joel Gross | CEO | Austin Monitor | 2023 |
| Beth Guillot | Principal, President | Fuse Architecture Studio | 2010 |
| Jeff Hahn | Principal | Hahn Public | 2007 |
| Clint Harp | Chief of Staff | Lower Colorado River Authority | 2017 |
| Michelle Harper | President and CEO | United Way of Hays and Caldwell Counties | 2018 |
| August Harris | President | Covenant Financial Solutions LLC | 2014 |
| David Hartman | Attorney | DuBOIS BRYANT & CAMPBELL | 2008 |
| Sara Hickman | Texas State Musician | 2015 | |
| Heath Hignight | Chief Advancement Officer | Hong Kong International School | 2009 |
| Nhat Ho | President | Civilitude | 2021 |
| Amy Holloway | President and CEO | Avalanche Consulting | 2010 |
| Daryl Horton | Assistant Pastor/Youth Pastor | Mt. Zion Baptist Church | 2018 |
| Gerardo Interiano | 2016 | ||
| Camille Jobe | Partner | Jobe Corral Architects | 2016 |
| Debbie Johnson | Principal | Successful Giving | 2017 |
| Liz Johnson | Director of External Affairs | St. Edward's University | 2023 |
| Amy Jones | President/CEO | O'Connell Robertson | 2011 |
| Frances Jordan | Director, Communications and Strategy | Rifeline | 2023 |
| Karen Kennard | Shareholder | Greenberg Traurig, LLP | 2010 |
| Steve Kester | Director State & Local Government Affairs | Apple | 2010 |
| Amy Knop-Narbutis | Senior Research and Evaluation Officer | Hector and Gloria Lopez Foundation | 2023 |
| Wayne Knox | Vice President & Chief Operating Officer | Huston-Tillotson University | 2018 |
| Kelly Kocurek | Partner | DuBois Bryant & Campbell LLP | 2012 |
| Lindsey Leaverton | BB&T Wealth Private Advisor, VP | BB&T, Branch Banking and Trust Co. | 2016 |
| Andrew Levak | Sr. Program Officer | St. David's Foundation | 2020 |
| Lonnie Limon | Managing Director | Dieste Inc. | 2020 |
| Carmen Luevanos | Community Relations Manager | Texas Gas Service | 2022 |
| Mark Madrid | CEO | Latino Business Action Networks | 2016 |
| Karen Magid | Director of Sustainability and STEM | Huston-Tillotson University | 2021 |
| Sly Majid | Chief Service Officer | City of Austin | 2015 |
| Kristin Marcum | CEO/Owner | Elizabeth Christian Public Relations | 2016 |
| Cynthia Martinez | Communications Director | Travis Central Appraisal District | 2023 |
| Michael McGill | Senior Auditor | City of Austin | 2013 |
| Cathy McHorse | Success by 6 Early Childhood Education Project Manager | United Way for Greater Austin | 2014 |
| Shannon Meroney | President | Meroney Public Affairs | 2012 |
| Rudolph Metayer | Attorney | Chamberlain McHaney | 2017 |
| Leah Meunier | Chief Strategy Officer | Workforce Solutions Captial Area | 2020 |
| Thomas Miranda | President & CEO | Sparkovation Advisors, Topline Ventures | 2011 |
| Janet Mitchell | CEO | M Group Agency | 2009 |
| Meg Moore | Chief Development Officer | Austin Strategic Planning | 2022 |
| Tom Nesbitt | Founder & Partner | DeShazo and Nesbitt LLP | 2007 |
| Howard Nirken | Partner | DuBois, Bryant & Campbell LLP | 2011 |
| James Nortey | Associate Attorney | Morgan Lewis LLP | 2017 |
| Mike Odom | President and CEO | Knoxville Chamber of Commerce | 2016 |
| Tracy Parker | Senior Vice President, Business Development | Parker Solutions Group | 2016 |
| Kyle Parks | Partner | Maxwell Locke & Ritter LLP | 2009 |
| Becky Pastner | Chief Impact and Metrics Officer | St. David's Foundation | 2018 |
| Lauren Paver | Sr. Director, Operations | CLS Partners | 2012 |
| Alan Peters | Senior Managing Director | Savills Studley | 2014 |
| J. Pieratt | Partner | DLA Piper LLC | 2023 |
| Hondo Powell | Chief of Staff | Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative | 2015 |
| Rebecca Powers | Founder | Impact Austin | 2008 |
| Kerri Qunell | Chief Marketing Officer | Trinity Episcopal School | 2008 |
| Nico Ramsey | Senior Account Executive | Elizabeth Christian Public Relations | 2022 |
| Karen Ranus | Trauma Informed Program Administrator | Travis County Sheriff's Office | 2020 |
| Ruth Rechis | Director of Healthy Communities | MD Anderson Cancer Center | 2015 |
| Sarah Richards | Water Program Officer | Cynthia and George Mitchell Foundation | 2016 |
| Christopher Rios | Community Development Officer | Wells Fargo | 2020 |
| Eva Rios-Lleverino | Deputy Executive Director | Capital IDEA | 2014 |
| Shuronda Robinson | President and CEO | Adisa Communications | 2021 |
| Lourdes Rodríguez | Senior Program Officer | David Rockerfeller Fund | 2022 |
| Gabriel Rojas | President | Rojas Planning, LLC | 2018 |
| Miguel Romano | President | Seton and Ascension Texas Foundations | 2015 |
| Katie Romano | Executive Director | The University of Texas System - The Archer Center | 2019 |
| J.R. Ruiz | Senior Consultant | Deloitte Consulting LLP | 2009 |
| Llyas Salahud-din | Director of Major Gifts | Texas Empowerment Academy | 2017 |
| Pilar Sanchez | Vice President of Housing and Community Development | Housing Authority of the City of Austin | 2013 |
| Josh Schroeder | Shareholder | Sneed, Vine & Perry, P.C. | 2019 |
| Carolyn Schwarz | CEO | Ronald McDonald House Charities of Austin & Central Texas | 2012 |
| Jackie Sekiguchi | Community Affairs Manager | Texas Mutual Insurance Company | 2023 |
| Dave Shaw | President | Arrow | 2008 |
| Jill Siler | Superintendent | Gunter ISD | 2011 |
| Stuart Smith | Partner | Maxwell Locke & Ritter LLP | 2008 |
| Bryant Smith | Executive Director | McCreary Veselka Bragg & Allen P.C. | 2015 |
| Parc Smith | CEO | American YouthWorks | 2015 |
| Ronnye Stidvent | Executive Director | Center for Women in Law | 2019 |
| Missy Strittmatter | Chief Development Officer | Leadership Austin | 2020 |
| Meme Styles | President | MEASURE | 2020 |
| Leslie Sweet | Director of Public Affairs | H-E-B | 2018 |
| Ryan Therrell | Director of Client Services | The Beck Group | 2012 |
| Juan Tornoe | Partner & Chief Marketing Officer | Cultural Strategies, Inc. | 2017 |
| Tara Trower | Chief Strategy Officer | CommUnityCare | 2019 |
| Stephanie Tsen | President | Tsen Engineering | 2022 |
| Alex Valdes | Shareholder | Winstead PC | 2019 |
| Javier Valdez | Chief Operations Officer & Co-Creator | Karisha | 2012 |
| Matthew Valdez | Partner | DEN Property Group | 2014 |
| Rosina Valle | Associate Dire I ctor - Center for P-16 Initiatives | Texas State University | 2019 |
| Wendy Varnell | Deputy Executive Director | LifeWorks | 2010 |
| Sharon Vigil | Chief Executive Officer | Communities in Schools of Central Texas | 2021 |
| Michelle Wallis | Executive Director of Innovation and Development | Austin ISD | 2011 |
| Deirdre Walsh | CEO and Co-Founder | IGC | 2021 |
| Andy Webb | Partner | Watkins Insurance | 2020 |
| Meghan Weller | Director of Government Relations | HCA Texas/St. David's Healthcare | 2020 |
| Katy Wells | Vice President of Licensing | Motivo, Inc. | 2008 |
| Casie Wenmohs | External Affairs Manager | Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute | 2013 |
| Lloyd Wilson | Director of Healthcare Practice | Burson-Marsteller | 2008 |
| Ashley Wilson | Chief Strategy Officer | Seton Foundations | 2020 |
| Kennard Wright | Client Relationship Analyst | City of Austin | 2007 |
| Lourdes Zuniga | Executive Director | Financial Health Pathways | 2021 |