#ymbl

Congratulations to all of the nominees for the 2015 AustinUnder 40 Awards!

Join us at the JW Marriott on March 7 when the winners in the 14 categories, plus the new “Mentor Of The Year” category will be unveiled.

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Arts, Sports, Media & Entertainment

Matthew Hinsley, Austin Classical Guitar

Matt Swinney Fashion & Style Events, LLC

Laura Villagran-Johnson, KLRU-TV, Austin PBS, Austin Social Planner

Sally Hernandez, KXAN-TV

Aaron Ross, Professional BMX Rider

 Community Service & Non-profit

William Meredith, MFI Real Estate, Ax5 Resources

Angela-Jo Touza-Medina, Caritas of Austin

Amy Mills, Emancipet

Lonny Stern, Skillpoint Alliance

Hannah Nokes, EZCorp

 Culinary Arts & Hospitality

Phillip Brown, Vince Young Steakhouse

Natalie Paramore, The Cameleon Group

Shaady Ghadessy, W Hotel

Allison Stevens, Prep Dish

Mason Ayer, Kerby Lane Café

 Energy, Cleantech & Environmental Services

Jose Beceiro, Cockrell School of Engineering, University of Texas

Michael Dadashi, MHD Enterprises/Infinite Recovery

Chad Blevins, The Butler Firm/GeoCF

Zeina El-Azzi, SUNEDISON, INC.

Tim Greeff, The National Security Technology Accelerator

 Engineering, Architecture & Design

Keri Burchard-Juarez, City of Austin Public Works Department

Matt Fajkus, MF Architecture, University of Texas

Allison Jaffe, Allison Jaffe Interior Design

Stefan Molina Duncan, G. Stroik Architect

Matt Pickens, Beck

Entrepreneurship & Start Up

Leon Chen, Tiff’s Treats

Ashley Clauer, Wanderlust Yoga

Jessica Honegger, Noonday Collection

Ruben Cantu, The Core Media Enterprises

Pepper Ammann, Tidbits Media Group

 Financial Services & Insurance

Blake Absher, BB&T

Rich Coffey, The Hay Legal Group

Brian May, Pioneer Bank, SSB

Adam Flagg, Upstream Investment Partners

Jonathan Levy, Oxbow Advisors, LLC

 Government & Public Affairs

Gregorio Casar, Austin City Council

Gerardo Interiano, Google

Veronica Lara, City of Austin’s Small & Minority Business Resources Dept.

Matthew Giannini, U.S. Dept. of Commerce, Economic Development Admin.

Elizabeth Hadley, Greenberg Traurig, LLP

 Legal

Kevin Terrazas, Weisbart Springer Hayes LLP

Evan Young, Baker Botts LLP

Carlos Romo, Baker Botts LLP

James Nortey, Duggins Wren

Sujata Ajmera, Jackson Lewis, PC

 Marketing, PR & Advertising

Melissa Anthony Sinn, anthonyBarnum

Jennifer Gooding, Prime Tech PR

Jenna Oltersdorf, Snackbox

Maria Orozova, The MOD Studio

Jenifer Sarver, Sarver Strategies

 Medicine, Healthcare & Sciences

Kate Henderson, Seton Healthcare Family

Sujit Iyer, Dell Children’s Medical Center

Andrea Campaigne, Nurture

Shailee Gupta, St. David’s Foundation – Dental Program

Christie Johnson, Communities in Schools Central Texas

 Real Estate 

Jason Crabtree, Premier Partners, LLC

Chris Skyles, Skylee Bayne

Patrick Ley, ECR

Kristi Simmons, AQUILA Commercial

Jonny Rodgers, DEN Property Group

 Technology & Science

Chelsea McCullough, Texans for Economic Progress

Luke Martinez, Bank of America

Todd Nienkerk, Four Kitchens

Jeffrey Palermo, Clear Measure, Inc.

Dustin Wells, Headspring

Guihua Yu, The University of Texas – Austin

 Youth & Education

Matthew Abbott, Wayside Schools

Kerry Leeders-Moll, Intersection Education

Marisa Limon, LIMON CONSULTING

Eva Maria Garza-Nyer, Texas College Advisor

Teresa Granillo, Con Mi Madre

 Mentor of the Year

Heather McKissick, UFCU

Mitch Jacobson, Austin Technology Incubator

Carol Thompson, The Thompson Group

Amber Carden, U.S. Trust/Bank of America Private Wealth Management

Before the 2015 Austin Under 40 Awards are held March 7, two former winners, and this year’s honorary hosts, Lemuel Williams and Terri Broussard Williams, share some words of wisdom about what the awards really mean.

Lemuel, you won an Austin Under 40 award in 2010 in the Technology category, can you describe a little about how you felt on the evening of the awards?

Lemuel Williams:  Being nominated for a technology award at that particular time in Austin's technology scene was an amazing honor.  I was honored to be a finalist but more importantly to be in the same discussion with Michael Dell, Corey Bell, etc., whom have won previously.  When all the names were called, I learned over to my, at the time fiancée and told her, "I am going to win.”  She said, "Are you sure?”  No doubt!   And, the rest was history.

What sort of impact did winning an Au40 award have for you?

LW:  Winning the award was good for the first couple of months then I realized, not too many people will win this award and I should take this and go make something of it.  I knew I could be an ambassador to other up and coming young professionals within the Austin community.  The award placed me within a special group of alumni, but more importantly it allowed me to raise the profile for the tech industry.

Terri, you won in 2014 in the Government and Public Affairs category, how did you feel the evening of the awards?

Terri Broussard Williams:  T​he crowd was energetic, so many servant leaders were in the room, and everyone was there to support the Austin community. That was the best part of the night.  It was all about where we lived and those who serve with compassion.

What sort of impact has winning an Au40 award had for you?

TBW:  It was truly a humbling experience. I received man​y congratulatory notes from individuals I'd never met.  I took the time to have coffee or schedule a conference call with those that reached out to me.  It was a great opportunity to share my journey, the mission of the American Heart Association, and love for The Junior League of Austin.

What can people expect from this year’s event that might be different from previous events?

LW:  People can expect more categories, more finalists and new people to Austin.  This is the time to put yourself out there and meet amazing people that you would not elsewhere.

TBW:  This year's event will be spectacular.  Not only will it be in the new JW Marriott, but there will be a new format.  You can expect some new partnerships with some of Austin's most giving companies like Tiffany & Co.  I won't spill all the beans and save some surprises for the big day.

What are you most looking forward to at this year’s event?​

TBW:  Austin Under 40 brings so many people to one venue.  I am looking forward to seeing my contemporaries.  It always feels like a big family reunion.  I am also looking forward to hearing about YMBL's Sunshine Camps and the scholarships ​recently given out by YWA.

Any advice for this year’s nominees?  ​

TBW:  Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, "Life's most urgent question is 'What are you doing for others?'”  Don't forget the night is not just about awards.  It's a time to recognize those who have lead their industry, but most importantly have exhibited a solid commitment to serving the Austin community.  While some will walk out with hardware, everyone who is nominated is truly the reason Austin is a phenomenal place to live.

Anything else that you’d like to mention?

LW:  I want individuals to know whether you are a finalist, past, or current winner, Austin Under 40 is group you will always be associated with, but this should not be your final stop.  You are being recognized because you care about causes that are keeping you awake all hours of the night and sacrificing important events in your life.  Be humble and stay humble.  Generations after generations will thank you for it!

Find out more about the 2015 Austin Under 40 Awards.

Have you put the Austin Under 40 Awards on your calendar yet?  Taking place March 7, this year’s gala relocates to the brand new JW Marriott.  One of the biggest events of the year for YWA and the Young Men’s Business League, the annual ceremony brings together some of the most influential members of the Austin community.  You won’t want to miss it.

But before the big night, you can help celebrate the more than 200 Austinites who received nominations this year.  Say cheers to the outstanding business and community leaders at Porter Ale House & Gastropub on Tuesday, January 27 from 5:30 – 7:30PM.  Hope to see you there!

Tickets for the awards will go on sale soon...  Stay tuned!

So it’s been over a month of non-stop craziness, but I think things are finally getting back to “normal.” You all know what I’m talking about…with the whirlwind of the Au40 gala, the weeks-long SXSW invasion, the ever so needed SXSW recovery week, spring break, Easter, Passover and just spring time in general…it’s no wonder I was living in a haze of over stimulation and FOMO all at the same time.

It now seems that things are getting back into normal as spring rolls in. Days are getting longer and hotter, and Barton Springs has finally reopened and I feel like I can finally refocus my energies on things I like doing best - being outside, meeting new people, volunteering, yoga-ing, Zilker-ing, YWA-ing, blogging, Vespa-ing and the list goes on. But before moving on to these great exciting 'old' things, I’d like to take a moment to reflect. I don’t mean a write-in-your-journal-and-give-thanks moment of reflection. More of a slap-in-the-face-what-the-heck-just-happened-blank-stare moment of reflection.

Drifting off into the space on this rainy Tuesday - it's not like I can go out and enjoy Barton Springs in the rain - one of the highlights of the past couple of months was the Au40 gala.  What a great night! I volunteered back stage so I got to watch it all unfold from the sidelines. The evening went smoothly and the energy was incredible. There were the silent auctions, games, food, alcohol and generally good vibes all around.  We also recognized some of the most outstanding people of Austin. And if you didn’t hear, Kendra Scott was named Austinite of the year!

All of this fabulousness was the 15th anniversary celebration to help raise money for the YWAF and YMBL - funds for the YWAF are used to distribute to local scholarships, as well as provide grants to organizations, and funds raised for the YMBL are utilized to operate the Austin Sunshine Camps. 

How much was raised you ask? Only a mere $64,512 in net revenue, which will be donated directly back to the YWA Foundation and the YMBL.

Amazing. Definitely makes the last few months of craziness worthwhile.

And that's all the "spring cleaning" of the thoughts in my head I can handle for the day.