As part of our 90-day celebration of UWATX’s 90th anniversary, we’re working on 10 lists of 9 highlighting influential and impactful people in the Austin community. In the sixth part of our series, we bring you nine young professionals changing Austin.
Austin’s a city of entrepreneurs, innovators and philanthropists – and we’re a great city for young professionals, so it was difficult to determine who to highlight with so many talented Austinites. We chose to focus on individuals who made an impact on our community with a commitment to what makes Austin unique AND philanthropic efforts.
1. Dan Graham
Dan Graham is founder and CEO of BuildASign.com. Dan has been named Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2013 Central Texas, a 2012 best CEO by the Austin Business Journal, and Austin Under 40’s 2012 Austinite of the Year. He is on the Board of Directors for United Way for Greater Austin, Caritas of Austin and the Austin Chamber of Commerce. He is a mentor through Capital Factory and Incubation Station.
2. Julie Fisher
Julie Fisher is the Public Affairs and Community Relations Specialist at Samsung Austin Semiconductor. Julie is heavily involved with UWATX. She mentors students weekly, is an Employee Campaign Leader for Samsung’s Employee Campaign, and on the Young Leaders Society Founding Committee.
Photo: UWATX photo of Julie volunteering at Decker Middle School.
3. Luke Martinez
Luke Martinez is Senior Vice President; Process Design Consultant at Bank of America. Very involved with UWATX, Luke is a Campaign Co-Chair for Bank of America’s Employee Campaign, and on both the Young Leaders Society Founding Committee and Hands On Central Texas Advisory Council.
Photo: UWATX photo of Luke at YLS Happy Hour.
4. Kendra Scott
Kendra Scott is founder and CEO of Kendra Scott Jewelry. She was named one of Austin Business Journal’s 14 people to watch in 2014 and in 2013, both Austinite of the Year and Lady Bird Johnson Humanitarian of the Year.
5. Colin Pope
Colin Pope is Editor of the Austin Business Journal. He was named 2014 Austinite of the Year by Austin Under 40 and is a Austin Young Chamber of Commerce Founding Board Member,
6. Rachel Clemens
Rachel Clemens is President and Founder of Creative Suitcase. Although a worldly traveler, Rachel has made many contributions to the Austin community, having done branding for The Long Center, KUT, Amy’s Ice Creams, and even helped us rebrand here at UWATX.
Photo: UWATX photo of Rachel helping us paint the Butter Half mural on our building!
7. Leon Chen & Tiffany Taylor
As co-founders of Tiff’s Treats, Leon Chen and Tiffany Taylor have certainly left a mark on the Austin community. Beyond making warm cookies delivered to your door a staple of Austin life, they’ve also made an impact with a strong commitment to philanthropy: every Tiff’s location opens with a philanthropic event.
8. Mollie Duckworth
We might be biased because she’s a member of the UWATX Women’s Leadership Council, but Mollie Duckworth is a truly remarkable Austinite. A finalist of Austin’s Under 40 Awards in 2014, Mollie serves on the Executive Committee for the WLC and the Development Council for the Austin Children’s Shelter – she’s a true advocate for Austin’s youngest and most vulnerable children.
Photo: UWATX photo of Mollie at WLC Sneak Peek event at Nordstrom.
9. Joah Spearman
Joah Spearman is co-founder and CEO of Localeur – “a curated community of local insiders who want to help you experience local in their city.” The company’s focus on the local community definitely makes Austin greater, but Joah also serves as vice chair of the Austin Music Commission and a member of its Downtown Commission and serves on the board of directors for AIDS Services of Austin. He was recently named Emerging Business Leader of the Year by the Capital City African American Chamber of Commerce, and is a three-time finalist for Austin’s Under 40 Awards.
BONUS: Winkelman sisters
Alex Winkelman – founder of Citizen Generation and Charity Bash – has definitely made an impact on Austin’s philanthropic community at a young age, as has her sister Eli, founder of Challah for Hunger. We featured their family in our list of 9 philanthropists making Austin greater.