Austin Tech Connect: The Podcast For The Austin Technology Ecosystem, Business Leaders, and Tech Entrepreneurs!

Welcome to 2024 at Austin Tech Connect.  In this episode Thom Singer sits down with long-time Austinite George Bonelli.  George moved to Austin 25 years ago with Motorola, and soon went out on his own to consult with companies on program and project management and growth. Along the way he started a shared asset sailboat company, and worked to help companies understand the complex and consultative sales process.  Today he is the managing director at Acceleratize, a boutique consultancy focused on helping aerospace, marine, and emergency services companies with growth.   In this episode he shares his eclectic career and an outlook on why being engaged in the community and building long-term relationships is both beneficial and fun.    About George Bonelli   George is a natural leader who thrives in challenging, ambiguous environments with a unique blend of sales, corporate, entrepreneurial, and consulting experience. George brings senior management-level skills, high EQ proven leadership, team-building experience, business acumen, and sound decision-making with energy and enthusiasm. George is a big fan of working in an environment that fosters creativity, integrity, dynamic decision-making, and excellence in business execution.   About Acceleratize   Acceleratize is a boutique consulting firm that will accelerate and prioritize your revenue enhancement, cost reduction, and operational effectiveness. We bring a deep bench of subject matter experts with decades of real-world problem-solving to quantify and address your mission-critical business problems.  Currently, we are focused on the aerospace, EVTOL, marine manufacturing & leisure, shared economy, and emergency services industries through consulting, fractional executive, and Senior and SME staffing services   About Austin Technology Council Austin Tech Connect is the official podcast of the Austin Technology Council.  ATC was founded in 1992 to help promote the growth of Austin technology companies and to help create more community in the growth tech ecosystem.  Today the organization is a leading organization and a major voice for the continued growth of tech in Central Texas.

In this episode we talk to an local entrepreneur and former Marine who is building a company in the CyberSecurity space.  Tom Pace is the co-founder and CEO of NetRise.  In this episode he talks about all the work it takes to launch a tech company, and his reasons for being here in Austin   About Tom Pace Prior to founding NetRise, Thomas Pace spent 16 years working in security across multiple roles and disciplines. From serving in the United States Marine Corps, being responsible for ICS security within the Department of Energy and most recently serving as Global Vice President for Cylance, Thomas has been a proven leader and innovator within cybersecurity. Thomas has also responded to hundreds of security incidents globally and shared his experience at multiple security conferences such as RSA and Black Hat.   About NetRise   The NetRise Platform is a next-generation product security solution for XIoT devices. Through ML-driven binary analysis, our platform generates industry-best Software Bills of Material (SBOMs), identifies and prioritizes vulnerabilities, and uncovers non-CVE risk that would otherwise go undetected. NetRise is here to help you ship more secure products and simplify your product security strategy.   About Austin Technology Council Austin Tech Connect is the official podcast of the Austin Technology Council.  ATC was founded in 1992 to help promote the growth of Austin technology companies and to help create more community in the growth tech ecosystem.  Today the organization is a leading organization and a major voice for the continued growth of tech in Central Texas.

In this episode the Austin Technology Council CEO, Thom Singer, sits down with Lonnty Stern from Movability.  As Austin grows we often hear people complain about traffic... but that person in the car IS THE TRAFFIC.     What can we do as a community, and a tech community to help lessen the traffic, support other modes of transportation, and do our parts to keep Austin poised for more economic success?  Lonny Stern has ideas, and he is very passionate about helping find the solutions.   ABOUT LONNY STERN Commutes: MetroBus, MetroRapid, MetroBike, telework, flex time, bike Lonny Stern is an Enterprising Austinist focused on the economic vitality of Central Texas. A resident of Austin since 1999, he is serving as the Executive Director of Movability after serving the Community Engagement team at the Austin Transit Partnership, which is designing and building Austin's first light rail system. Lonny has worked in a variety of roles, including as a Community Engagement Administrator for Capital Metro, Senior Director of the STEM Council at Skillpoint Alliance; as an Outreach Director at Empower Texans (formerly CPPP) and Communications & Outreach Director for Hope Street Group -- both nonpartisan policy organizations. He has held additional roles at aGLIFF, 91.7FM - KOOP Radio, and Project Transitions, and he has been a member of Movability's board of directors since 2019. Lonny earned his Masters at the LBJ School of Public Affairs at UT-Austin. He earned a BA in English & Communications at Florida State University. He has been recognized with various awards, including: IAP2 - Core Values Award "Project Connect" (2022); ACT - Commuting Options - Public Transit - "Transit Adventures" (2019); Austin Under 40 Award for Community Service & Non-profit  (2015); The Austin American-Statesman - Fortunate 500 (2006); and Austin Chronicle " Mover & Shaker" (2002) & "Hardest Working Man in the Non-Profit Business" (2001). In his spare time, Lonny loves international travel and hiking. Among his favorite trips was a 4-day hike along the Inca Trail to Macchu Picchu, camping for three nights at the Indian Garden campsite in the Grand Canyon, and an off-trail exploration of Pigeon Valley in Cappadocia, Turkey. For more: https://linkedin.com/in/lonnystern   ABOUT MOVABILITY Movability is Central Texas’ first and only transportation management association (TMA), working hand-in-hand with individuals and organizations to improve the region through commuter options that save time and money. We envision leading our region to a culture shift toward stress-free, affordable commute options. As the Central Texas region grows, so too does its traffic congestion. While mobility improvements from the City and new service offerings from Capital Metro all help improve the efficiency of our transportation networks, many employers and their employees still feel the strain that congestion puts on their time, their bottom lines, and their health. Movability works with employers all over Central Texas to help them make connections and learn best practices, and to develop and implement custom mobility plans. That means that employers don’t have to wait for new infrastructure – they can make changes right now that maximize productivity and help boost recruiting and retention rates. And that means the economic engine of Central Texas keeps accelerating. For more: https://movabilitytx.org/

Welcome to Austin Tech Connect.  Today's episode looks at the upcoming UN World Logic Day in Austin, Texas.  This is an international event that will take place in 33 countries in the month of January.... and like all things Austin....our event is unique and we want the whole tech community to participate.   In this episode we visit with the Austin hosts and one of the Austin co-chairs for the event.  Emily Gupton and Chris Fronda have both been on this podcast in the past, and they are joined by Chelsea Toler.     Listen to this episode and register for World Logic Day.     Aout World Logic Day:   Despite its undeniable relevance to the development of knowledge, sciences and technologies, there is little public awareness on the importance of logic. The proclamation of World Logic Day by UNESCO, in association with the International Council for Philosophy and Human Sciences (CIPSH), intends to bring the intellectual history, conceptual significance and practical implications of logic to the attention of interdisciplinary science communities and the broader public. World Logic Day is hosted in 33+ countries around the world during the month of January as a reminder of the importance of UN SDG 16 around world peace and UN SDG 17 around better collaboration.   Logictry looks forward to serving as the only corporate host in the US for UN World Logic Day in Austin, TX on January 21st. They expect over 1,500+ attendees that will gather in Austin’s beloved Long Center for the Performing Arts. Over 50+ community local and global partners have already committed to celebrating and joining us for UN World Logic Day in Austin, TX this year. We are thrilled to announce our Local Co-Chairs Anika Chokhavatia (UT McCombs & 2023 World Logic Day Award Winner) & Emily Gupton (Austin Women & Technology) & our Global Co-Chairs Nisaa Jetha (Founding Chief UK Member), Olivia Dell (Cometa Collective & NOVA Impact),  Brandyn Keating (CEO & Founder of YOUnify), & Sofia Sunaga (Intergen.Family) who embody and champion logic and impact in their professional and personal lives. Join us this year to engage, collaborate with, and learn alongside the decision makers building a brighter future together   About Chelsea Toler:   Passion for supporting impact movements and accelerating impact journeys through technology has been the driving force behind Chelsea Toler’s career. Chelsea has always been excited about lifelong learning and helping the learner’s journey to ensure they have access to the mentorship, capital, technology, and tools they need to succeed.  Chelsea serves as the Co-Founder & Chief Impact Officer for Logictry alongside Chief Logic Officer, Chris Fronda, and is a Founding Partner at NOVA Impact along with her co-founder Olivia Dell. A true Longhorn, Chelsea grew up in Austin, TX where she graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Texas. Chelsea has been able to help move $100+ million towards impact initiatives in alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and served as the first fundraising team member for I Live Here I Give Here where she helped to raise $20+ million in 24 hours for 750 nonprofit organizations.    It is most important to Chelsea that people have access to the information, education, technology, communities, resources, and platform’s necessary to reach their full potential and to share their purpose with the world. For those that are ready to take the next leap in their purpose, UN World Logic Day is for you.   About Chris Fronda:  Chris Fronda is the creator of the LOGIC MOVEMENT, empowering others to make better decisions while making logic accessible for everyone. Natural born teacher and educator, former Product Manager at a Fortune 1000 organization, and a self-taught software developer and entrepreneur, Chris is considered an expert on logic and deep tech. His goal is to democratize access to knowledge, education, expertise, and opportunity.     In 2018 in search of a deeper meaning beyond just building technology, Chris started researching Formal Logic and its importance in education. This research focused on the issues we face in society regarding the growing mis-information problem, the growing wealth and education gap, and the future of education. Through this, Chris found his purpose- to empower anyone with a desire to learn, to provide the tools and resources they need so they can thrive with equal opportunity. LOGIC should be free and accessible to all- this is why Logic.Wiki exists. Chris looks forward to hosting UN World Logic Day annually to help drive better public awareness of the value of Logic.   About Emily Gupton:   Emily Gupton resides in Austin, and is the COO of a local technology company FOLIO, a platform that allows commercial real estate, architecture and design, and furniture providers align with their clients on furniture budgets, aesthetic, and more, early on in a commercial real estate project life cycle. She serves on the board as Director of Community Partnerships for Austin Women in Technology and the Director of Technology for The League of Women Voters of Texas.    Community involvement and giving back are integral to Emily's day-to-day life. This passion began early in life. Throughout high school and college, she volunteered for many years with various organizations championing equity and inclusivity, including the Design Industry Foundation Fighting AIDS, Legacy Counseling Center, and many other impactful, grassroots organizations.    Emily is one of the Austin co-chairs of UN World Logic Day, working with the team to bring together the Austin community to be part of this amazing event. The event and its initiatives align with Emily's passion and commitment to community, the power of collaboration, and sharing knowledge to drive a better future for all - locally and globally.

In this episode we talk to Ross Meglathery, the CRO at Integritek.  Ross moved to Austin with Integritek eighteen months ago, and is enjoying getting connected in Austin.  In this conversation Thom Singer talks to Ross about his career Journey from the Marines to the CRO role in a growing tech company.  They also discuss the state of tech in Austin and a look to the future.   About Intergitek Founded in 2007 and headquartered in Austin, Texas, Integritek was created for one simple goal: to combine “integrity with technology.” Integritek is passionate about helping its partners achieve their business goals. Integritek simplifies technology by providing best-in-class managed services at the right price.  Integritek frees up time and resources so partners can focus on what they do best.   Integritek facilitates the success of businesses as a strategic thought partner. Integritek provides local support across Texas, Southern California, and Wisconsin. Further, Integritek is able to provide nationwide support through its partner ecosystem.   Integritek is available 24/7 with certified technicians that are here to help.   About Ross Meglathery Ross Meglathery was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and spent his formative years there and in New York City. Following graduation from Trinity College, he served in the Marines where he deployed to Western Sahara, Africa as a United Nations Military Observer and served two combat tours in Iraq (where he was wounded in action).  Following active-duty, he transitioned to the Marine Corps Reserve, where he continues to serve, and concurrently began his civilian career. He initially began his civilian employment as a National Defense consultant where he worked with Federal Sector clients.  During this time, he earned a Masters of Science in the Management of IT from the University of Virginia.   While working as a consultant at the Department of Homeland Security, he was selected to go back on active-duty to be a 2010 Congressional Marine Fellow.  Following a year on Capitol Hill, and seeking to contribute further in the public policy realm, he earned a Masters in Public Administration degree from Harvard Kennedy School. He then ran a Veterans Service Organization where he lobbied for veterans and their caretakers and testified before Congress on veteran and disability issues.  He was later hired to lead the Public Sector practice at Berlitz Corporation. Interested in furthering his knowledge of business and hoping to transition into the technology sector, he earned a Masters of Business Administration from University’s Darden School of Business.  In 2022, he moved to Austin, Texas and is now the Chief Revenue Officer of the Managed Service Provide, Integritek. About Austin Technology Council Austin Tech Connect is the official podcast of the Austin Technology Council.  ATC was founded in 1992 to help promote the growth of Austin technology companies and to help create more community in the growth tech ecosystem.  Today the organization is a leading organization and a major voice for the continued growth of tech in Central Texas.

This episode is the third panel from the Austin Technology Council "CEO/C-Suite Summit" on November 6, 2023.  This panel looks at the changes in culture happening around workforce changes, and the introduction of AI into how we do business.     This panel featured the following local leaders:   Joyce Durst, Founder and CEO at Growth Acceleration Partners Darin HIcks, CEO at Litlingo Linda Ginac, Founder and CEO at TalentGuard Joel Trammell, Founder and CEO at CEO-S (Moderator) (This panel is sponsored by Growth Acceleration Partners) For the audio recording from all the panels at the Summit, please check out the last two episodes of this podcast. The Austin Technology Council host the CEO/C-Suite Summit each year to bring leaders in the community together to have conversations that matter as we work to keep Austin's tech ecosystem growing.  

This episode is the recording from the 2nd panel at the ATC 2023 CEO/C-Suite Summit on November 6th. "Building Inclusive Employment Practices: Addressing Biases and Promoting Diversity".  The panel was sponsored by CRUISE, and hosted / facilitated by Austin Women in Technology.    Panelists include: Joy Wiggins, Founder and CEO, Equity and Inclusion Consulting LLC Ronnie Sheth, CEO, Senen Group Vaishali Jadhav, Leadership and Team Development Facilitator, Sanrekhana, LLC and Kendra Scott Women's Entrepreneurial Leadership Institute Kitty McLeod, Chief Solutions Officer & Master Facilitator, Illumine Wellness Nicole Pletka, Director of Programs, Austin Women in Technology (moderator of panel)   Please enjoy this special episode from our Summit.  Be sure to make you plans now to be at the 2024 ATC C-Suite Summit. About Austin Technology Council Austin Tech Connect is the official podcast of the Austin Technology Council.  ATC was founded in 1992 to help promote the growth of Austin technology companies and to help create more community in the growth tech ecosystem.  Today the organization is a leading organization and a major voice for the continued growth of tech in Central Texas.

This episode is the recording from the keynote panel at the 2023 CEO/C-Suite Summit on November 6, 2023: "Austin: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow".  This panel is a conversation between some of the legends that have helped shape the Austin tech scene over the past 30+ years.   At the summit for this panel we were joined my Laura Kilcrease, Bill Bock, Cotter Cunningham, Krishna Srinivasan, and James Beecham (panel moderator and ATC Board Member).      From the 1990s through the present, Austin's tech ecosystem has been built by company leaders and civic entrepreneurs how not only created companies, but created a community that is recognized around the world.  But the future will not happen by accident.    LIsten to this episode, and please share your thoughts with the Austin Technology Council.

We hear a lot around Austin about how many people live here and work for companies with no presence in Austin. Working from home is often great, and choosing the city where you want to live is a wonderful thing for your lifestyle, but there is more to it than there seems.  To thrive in a community you need to find some ways to make friends, connect with people in similar industries (like tech), and to keep connected to your company's HQ so you don't get passed over for opportunities.   In this week's episode of Austin Tech Connect we talk with Jake Pusch, Regional Sales Manager at Dealer Image Pro.  Jake has been in tech sales for many years, and has worked remotely from Austin for three different companies.  In the conversation he shares "Why Austin?" and what someone working far from their boss and co-workers needs to do to have a balanced life, and be successful in their career.    About Jake Pusch   Over the past decade, Jake Pusch has been on the front lines of the sales world, working tirelessly to empower critical players in various industries to transform their business operations with cutting-edge technology. But that's not all – Jake's real passion lies in the automotive industry, where he's made remarkable strides in improving everything from time to market to the quality of merchandising. With a unique blend of industry insights and an unyielding commitment to excellence, Jake has helped guide businesses toward peak performance and outstanding results. On the side, Jake hosts the Pusching Limits show, where he explores the vibrant city of Austin, Texas, delves into travel adventures, and gets a taste of the thrilling entrepreneur lifestyle. The Pusching Limits show is under renovation and will return in 2024.  About Austin Technology Council Austin Tech Connect is the official podcast of the Austin Technology Council.  ATC was founded in 1992 to help promote the growth of Austin technology companies and to help create more community in the growth tech ecosystem.  Today the organization is a leading organization and a major voice for the continued growth of tech in Central Texas.

This week on Austin Tech Connect we chat with Zach Wright, co-founder of Syft.  Zach spent the early days of his career in sales at a major global tech company, and is now working to make a mark in the sales tech space with his new company.   The company is growing fast, and Zach has a unique perspective on making connections in the local tech scene, finding mentors, and helping others.  He realizes that the people side of business is as important as ever, even in our digital world.   Also...just as the startup was starting to take off, Zach and his wife had a new baby, so he currently has TWO startups!   About Zach Wright   Zach Wright is a seasoned enterprise sales professional and cofounder of Syft AI. Prior to co-founding Syft, Zach held leadership roles in sales at Oracle and Informatica. Zach has been living in Austin for 10 years, recently married his wife Marion Wright, and they recently welcomed their son, Charlie, into the world.   About Syft   Syft AI is a SaaS application that automates and scales Value Selling for B2B revenue teams. Their vision is to accelerate the connection of companies around value. Syft AI generates what they call a "value matrix" that creates a relationship between problems, solutions, and value created. Syft guides its users to focus on the right accounts where there is a value match, understand the problems their prospects are facing, and how they could add value. They take this value matrix to create value-based content that will guide a user to create meaningful interactions with the right audience. About Austin Technology Council Austin Tech Connect is the official podcast of the Austin Technology Council.  ATC was founded in 1992 to help promote the growth of Austin technology companies and to help create more community in the growth tech ecosystem.  Today the organization is a leading organization and a major voice for the continued growth of tech in Central Texas.