Act as stewards for the greater common good.
The Frank McBee Jr. Fellows Program is a rigorous, 13-month program for civic leadership development. Frank McBee Jr. Fellowships offer exceptional Central Texas leaders first-hand, practical experience working with regional civic entrepreneurs on a variety of public policy issues to improve the long-term economic and social quality of life for all Central Texans.
The Fellowship is designed to seed Central Texas with leaders who think regionally and act as stewards for the greater common good. Like AARO members, McBee Fellows:
Lead with integrity - individually and collectively.
Establish and nurture relationships of trust.
Think and act systemically, considering the interdependency of issues.
Engage in collaborative, non-partisan efforts that honor the wisdom inside and outside of AARO.
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.
Application Information
Closed: Applications for the class of 2023 McBee Fellows are now closed. Please email aaro@aaroregion.com if you would like to be notified when the application window opens in the summer of 2023 for the Class of 2024. Thank you!
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. Review the information packet here.
Contact aaro@aaroregion.com with any questions about the application process or McBee Fellowship.
2023 McBee Fellows
Valerie Esparza
Deputy DirectorCenter for Women in Law
Frances Jordan
Director, Communications & StrategyRifeline
Fang Fang
CEOGreater Austin Asian Chamber of Commerce
Amy Knop-Narbutis
Senior Research & Evaluation OfficerHector and Gloria Lopez Foundation
Samuel Franco
President and FounderInfravest Strategies, LLC
Cynthia Martinez
Communications DirectorTravis Central Appraisal District
Joel Gross
CEOAustin Monitor
J. Pieratt
PartnerDLA Piper, LLC
Liz Johnson
Director of External AffairsSt. Edward's University
Jackie Sekiguchi
Community Affairs ManagerTexas Mutual Insurance Company
2022 McBee Fellows
Current AARO McBee Fellows
William Askew, Jr.
Program ManagerCapital IDEA
Ann Boren
Manager Market Rules and Stakeholder SupportERCOT
Ruben Cantu
Executive Director of Inclusive Innovation & EntrepreneurshiptThe University of Texas at Austin
Andrew Cates
General Counsel & Managing Partner - State AffairsThe Bingham Group
Angelo Foadey
Vice President Corporate BankingFrost Bank
Carmen Luevanos
Community Relations Manager Texas Gas ServiceMeg Moore
PrincipalAustin Strategic Planning
Nico Ramsey
Senior Account ExecutiveECPR Texas
Lourdes Rodriguez
Senior Program OfficerSt. David's Foundation
Stephanie Tsen
PresidentTsen Engineering
Name | Title | Affiliation | Year |
---|---|---|---|
Rodney Ahart | Executive Director | Keep Austin Beautiful | 2013 |
Theresa Alvarez | Senior Vice President of Community Relations for Central Texas | Wells Fargo | 2013 |
David Anderson | Director of Land Use Policy | Drenner Group | 2009 |
Zach Anderson | President | TicketCity | 2011 |
Stacy Armijo | Chief Experience Officer | Amplify Credit Union | 2016 |
Becky Arreaga | President, Partner | Mercury Mambo | 2010 |
William Askew | Program Manager | Capital IDEA | 2022 |
Tamara Atkinson | Executive Director | Workforce Solutions – Capital Area Workforce Board | 2015 |
Writ Baese | President/Owner | Hill Country Payroll | 2014 |
Shilpa Bakre | Communications Strategist | The University of Texas at Austin | 2017 |
Brett J. Barnes | Vice President of Development | Long Center for the Performing Arts | 2009 |
Jeff Barton | Principal & Co-Founder | Gap Strategies | 2014 |
Jeremiah Bentley | Vice President, Marketing & Customer Engagement | Texas Mutual Insurance Company | 2018 |
Fayruz Benyousef | Founder & Principal | Fayruz Benyousef Consulting LLC | 2014 |
Marina Bhargava | Executive Director | Greater Austin Asian Chamber of Commerce | 2015 |
A.J. Bingham | Founder & CEO | The Bingham Group LLC | 2021 |
Rebecca Bray | Senior Traffic Engineer/Planner | RS&H | 2013 |
Ann Boren | Manager, Market Rules and Stakeholder Support | ERCOT | 2022 |
Wes Breyfogle | Chief Executive Officer | ScanData Systems, Inc. | 2017 |
Jed Buie | Partner | Buie & Co. | 2007 |
Eric Bustos | Senior Legislative Representative | American Public Transportation Association | 2021 |
Ruben Cantu | Executive Director of Inclusive Innovation and Entrepreneurship | The Univeristy of Texas at Austin | 2022 |
Daniel G. Carl | Principal & Regional Director | BSA LifeStructures | 2019 |
Katherine Caffrey | Assistant City Manager | City of Cedar Park | 2018 |
Gerardo Castillo | Senior Vice President/Chief of Staff | Capital Metro Transportation Authority | 2009 |
Andrew Cates | General Counsel & Director of Government Affairs | Bingham Group LLC | 2022 |
Edward Charrier | CEO & President | Fractilia | 2010 |
Merrill Davis | Managing Director, Austin | Hill+Knowlton Strategies | 2018 |
Ramiro Diaz | Staff Software Engineer | Saks Fifth Avenue | 2021 |
Robert T. Doerr | Account Executive/Commercial Lines Manager | TCOR Insurance Management | 2012 |
John P. Donisi | Attorney/Civic Volunteer | 2011 | |
Tara A. Doolittle | Chief Of Staff | University of Texas at Austin | 2019 |
Michael Doss | Executive Vice President - Area President | Independent Bank Group | 2018 |
Michelle Earley | Partner | Locke Lord LLP | 2016 |
Chris Edwards | Assistant City Attorney | City of Austin – Law Department | 2008 |
Mario A. Espinoza | Civic Leader | 2012 | |
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 |
Erin O’Neil Franz | Founder and Principal | EOF Consulting | 2013 |
Karen Friese | President | K Friese + Associates | 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 | TREW Marketing | 2010 |
David Glass | Founder and Owner | Silverado Business Systems Inc. | 2008 |
Steve Goldsmith | Head of Communications Products | Atlassian | 2014 |
Patricia E. Gonzales | Communications Manager | Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority | 2008 |
Hannah Gourgey | Consultant | 2017 | |
Dan Graham | Founder | Notely | 2013 |
Larry Graham | Manager – Regulatory Affairs | Texas Gas Service | 2013 |
Teresa Granillo, Ph.D. | Chief Executive Officer | Avance | 2019 |
Beth Guillot | Principal, President | Fuse Architecture Studio | 2010 |
Jeff Hahn | Principal | Hahn Public | 2007 |
Clint Harp | Vice President, Transition Strategic Services | Lower Colorado River Authority | 2017 |
Michelle Harper | President and CEO | United Way of Hays and Caldwell Counties | 2018 |
August Harris | President | Covenant Financial Solutions | 2014 |
David Hartman | Partner | Smith, Robertson | 2008 |
Sara Hickman | Texas State Musician | 2015 | |
Heath K. Hignight | Center Business Director – Upstream Petroleum Engineering Research Center | King Abdullah University of Science and Technology | 2009 |
Nhat Ho | Vice President | Civilitude | 2021 |
Amy Holloway | President and CEO | Avalanche Consulting | 2010 |
Daryl Horton | Assistant Pastor/Youth Pastor | Mt. Zion Baptist Church | 2018 |
Peter Inman | Principal | Camino Real Financial Strategies | 2013 |
Gerardo Interiano | Founder and Managing Director | Pericles Strategies | 2016 |
Camille Jobe | Partner | Jobe Corral Architects | 2016 |
Debbie Johnson | Principal | Successful Giving | 2017 |
Amy J. Jones | Chief Executive Officer, President | O’Connell Robertson | 2011 |
Edward Kargbo | Civic Leader | 2014 | |
Karen Kennard | Shareholder | Greenberg Traurig, LLP | 2010 |
Christopher Kennedy | Chief Executive Officer | Leadership Austin | 2007 |
Steve Kester | State & Local Government Affairs | Apple | 2010 |
Wayne Knox | Vice President & Chief Operating Officer | Huston-Tillotson University | 2018 |
Kelly C. Kocurek | Partner | DuBois, Bryant & Campbell LLP | 2012 |
David Laibovitz | Formerly, Assistant District Attorney | Travis County District Attorney | 2008 |
Lindsey Leaverton | Vice President, Wealth Private Advisor | BB&T Bank | 2016 |
Frank L. Leffingwell | President | Leffingwell & Associates, P.C. | 2012 |
Andrew Levack | Senior Program Officer | St. David's Foundation | 2020 |
Lonnie Limon | Managing Director | Dieste, Inc. | 2020 |
Sarah Churchill Llamas | Shareholder | Winstead PC | 2019 |
Carmen Lluevanos | Community Relations Manager | Texas Gas Service | 2022 |
Mark Madrid | CEO/Executive Director | LBAN/Latino Business Action Network | 2016 |
Karen Magid | Director of Sustainability and STEM | Huston-Tillotson University | 2021 |
Sly Majid | Chief Services Officer | Mayor’s Office – City of Austin | 2015 |
Kristin Marcum | Chief Executive Officer | ECPR Texas | 2016 |
Mark Mayfield | President/CEO | Texas Housing Foundation | 2015 |
Michael McGill | Senior Policy Advisor | Mayor's Office - City of Austin | 2013 |
Catherine Knapp McHorse | Success by 6 Earl Childhood Education Project Manager | United Way for Greater Austin | 2014 |
Shannon P. Meroney | President | Meroney Public Affairs | 2012 |
Rudolph Metayer | Attorney | Chamberlain McHaney | 2017 |
Dr. Leah Meunier | CEO | Big Brothers BIg Sisters of Central Texas | 2020 |
Thomas Miranda | Founder and Principal | Sparkovation Advisors | 2011 |
Janet M. Mitchell | CEO | M Group Agency | 2009 |
Dr. Meg Moore | Chief Development Officer | Austin Strategic Planning | 2022 |
Tom Nesbitt | Founder and Partner | DeShazo & Nesbitt LLP | 2007 |
Howard D. Nirken | Partner | DuBois, Bryant & Campbell LLP | 2011 |
James A. Nortey II | Associate Attorney | Duggins Wren Mann & Romero LLP | 2017 |
Mike Odom | President & CEO | Knoxville Chamber of Commerce | 2016 |
Tracy LaQuey Parker | Senior Vice President, Business Development | Parker Solutions Group | 2016 |
Kyle Parks | Leading Partner | Maxwell Locke & Ritter LLP | 2009 |
Becky Pastner | Chief Impact and Metrics Officer | St. David's Foundation | 2018 |
Lauren Paver | Founder & Principal Consultant | Higher Order Consulting | 2012 |
Alan Peters | Senior Managing Director – Austin Office | Savills Studley | 2014 |
Hondo Powell | Chief of Staff | Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative | 2015 |
Rebecca Powers | Founder | Impact Austin | 2008 |
Nico Ramsey | Senior Account Executive | ECPR Texas | 2022 |
Kerri Qunell | Chief Marketing Officer | Trinity Episcopal School | 2008 |
Karen Ranus | Director of Workplace Programming | NAMI Central Texas | 2020 |
Shannon H. Ratliff II | Founding Principal | Policy + Design Partners | 2008 |
Dr. Ruth Rechis | Director, Healthy Communities | MD Anderson Cancer Center | 2015 |
Sarah Richards | Principal | Richards Consulting | 2016 |
Shuronda Robinson | President & CEO | Adisa Communications | 2021 |
Lourdes Rodriguez | Chief Executive Officer | David Rockefeller Fund | 2022 |
Christopher Rios | Community Development Officer | Texas Capital Bank | 2020 |
Gabriel Rojas | President | Rojas Planning, LLC | 2018 |
Eva Rios-Lleverino | Deputy Executive Director | Capital IDEA | 2014 |
Katie Cook Romano | Executive Director | The University of Texas System - The Archer Center | 2019 |
Miguel Romano | President | Seton and Ascension Texas Foundations | 2015 |
J.R. Ruiz | Senior Manager, Human Capital | Deloitte Consulting LLP | |
Llyas Salahud-din | Director of Major Gifts | LifeWorks | 2017 |
Pilar Sanchez | Vice President of Housing & Community Development | Housing Authority of the City of Austin | 2013 |
Josh Schoeder | Shareholder | Sneed, Vine & Perry, P.C. | 2019 |
Carolyn H. Schwarz | CEO | Ronald McDonald House Charities of Austin & Central Texas | 2012 |
Scott Sellers | City Manager | City of Kyl | 2019 |
David R. Shaw | President | Arrow | 2008 |
Dr. Jill Siler | Superintendent | Gunter ISD | 2011 |
Bryant Smith | Executive Director | McCreary Veselka Bragg & Allen, P.C. | 2015 |
Parc Smith | CEO | American YouthWorks | 2015 |
Stuart Vick Smith | Wealth Management Partner | Maxwell Locke & Ritter LLP | 2008 |
Veronica Vargas Stidvent | President | Stidvent Partners | 2019 |
Missy Strittmatter | Director of Development and Engagement | Leadership Austin | 2020 |
Meme Styles | President | MEASURE | 2020 |
Leslie Sweet | Director of Public Affairs | H-E-B | 2018 |
Ryan Therrell | Director of Client Services, Austin | The Beck Group | 2012 |
Juan Tornoe | Partner & Chief Marketing Officer | Cultural Strategies, Inc. | 2017 |
Stephanie Tsen | President | Tsen Engineering | 2022 |
Alex Valdes | Shareholder | WInstead PC | 2019 |
Javier Valdez | Chief Operations Officer & Co-Creator | Karisha | 2012 |
Matthew Valdez | Director of Business Development | Paramount Specialty Finance | 2014 |
Rosina Ruiz Valle, Ph.D. | Associate Director - Center for P-16 Initiatives | Texas State University | 2019 |
Wendy Varnell | Chief Strategy Officer | LifeWorks | 2010 |
Madge Vasquez | Chief Executive Officer | Mission Capital | 2011 |
Sharon Vigil | Chief Executive Officer | Communities in Schools of Central Texas | 2021 |
Michelle Wallis | Executive Director of Innovation & Development | Austin Independent School District | 2011 |
Deirdre Walsh | CEO & Co-Founcer | IGC | 2021 |
Andy Webb | Shareholder | Watkins Insurance | 2020 |
Meghan Weller | Director of Government Relations | HCA/St. David's Healthcare | 2020 |
Katy Wells | Civic Leader | 2008 | |
Casie Wenmohs | Assistant Director of External Affairs | Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute | 2013 |
Terri Broussard Williams | National Director of Strategic Partnerships and Alliances, Government Relations | American Heart Association | 2012 |
Ashley Wilson | Chief Strategy Officer | Seton Foundations | 2020 |
James Paul Wilson | Formerly, VP – East Region | Texas Gas Service | 2009 |
Lloyd Wilson | Chief Operating Officer | Imperium Health | 2008 |
Kennard Wright | City of Austin | 2007 | |
Lourdes Zuniga | Executive Director | Financial Health Pathways | 2021 |