Board & Leadership Team

Marissa Mendez is a magnetic marketing professional experienced in field, demand generation, and corporate marketing. She is currently the Senior Director of Growth Marketing for Unravel Data, focusing on events, lead gen, and corporate branding. Marissa is committed to the American Marketing Association, leading the Austin Chapter as President, and has held a few VP of Event positions with several AMA chapters. Previously, she worked for a global accounting firm where she executed events for the West Coast, and managed marketing strategy for two national service groups.
Marissa lives in Austin with her fiancé and tiny Pomeranian. When she is not working or volunteering, she can be found on the trails of Lady Bird Lake training for her next marathon.

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Aaron Rayner, Director of Marketing at Mensor, a WIKA Group subsidiary, is a dynamic marketing executive known for driving innovation and fostering team success. His expertise in B2B marketing, content strategy, and integrated campaigns has earned recognition from the numerous prestigious marketing organizations. Aaron's leadership style, characterized by team-building and cross-functional collaboration, is evident in his role as President-Elect of the American Marketing Association Austin chapter.

With a strong foundation in organizational leadership and a keen eye for emerging trends, Aaron continues to push the boundaries of marketing in the industrial and technology sectors. His innovative approach has resulted in award-winning campaigns, including the 2024 Muse Gold Award for Integrated Marketing, the 2024 Hermes Award and several American Marketing Association Awards. Aaron's executive leadership is marked by his commitment to fostering creativity and continuous improvement, leveraging his extensive experience in digital marketing, content creation, and strategic planning to guide teams towards ambitious goals.

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More than 27 years in strategic leadership and execution, serving as Board Member for publicly traded Clientele Life South Africa, the Organizational Board of IFA, 4Life Direct London, 4Life Direct Poland and 4Life Direct Hungary. Francois cut his teeth at Clientele Life where he won several awards in growing their insurance business for the group and very shortly afterwards took over as CEO of the IFA Organization, a distribution business for Clientele Life in South Africa. After growing this business to over 2 million members and more than 25,000 distributors, he moved his family to Oxford UK and joined 4Life Direct International as a partner to expand insurance operations in Europe. After a stint as CEO of 4Life Direct Poland, Francois took over the role as SVP of Recruitment, Training and New Business Development to expand the business into Hungary, Czech, Slovakia, and Greece, whilst remaining on as President for 4Life Direct Poland.

In 2019, Francois exited out of the insurance operations in Europe, took a sabbatical to finish his 2^nd Master’s degree and spend time with his family after which business interests drew Francois and his family to Austin Texas, where he is now involved with the Better Business Bureau, as well as, several startups including a pet retail and insurance business, as well as, an electric vehicle conversion concept. 

Francois graduated from HULT INternational Business School with an MBA and from King’s College London with a MSC in Marketing. He is also Alumni Chapter Lead for Hult in Texas. Francois took over the role of Strategic Partnership at American Marketing Association Austin in 2021 and was appointed as President in 2022.

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Enrique P Becerra, PhD, is a tenured professor in the Department of Marketing at Texas State University; he served as the chair of the department from 2019 to 2023. He has published in several well-respected peer reviewed journals including Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, Journal of Business Research, Journal of Advertising Research, and the European Journal of Marketing among others. He serves on the editorial board of the Journal of Advertising Research, Journal of Marketing Analytics, and The International Journal of Hispanic Media. He researches the effects of culture and ethnicity on consumers as well as retailers. He serves as the Chief Financial Officer of the Austin American Marketing Association, and Board Member and Vice-President of Association for Latino Media, Markets & Communication Research.

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Kim Coelho is a senior product leader in the enterprise technology space, currently leading product management at Paylocity, a leading HCM software provider. Known for building innovative, inclusive, data-driven teams, Kim is also the founder and managing director of Barton First Consulting, which helps technology companies optimize their product strategies. 

An alumna of Yale University, her experience uniquely combines in-depth business ethics consulting, product development, and comprehensive go-to-market leadership. Kim serves as the Director of Finance for the Austin  chapter of the American Marketing Association, where she is committed to growing the chapter to advance marketing talent in Austin.

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Amanda Wood, founder and CEO of Avail Marketing, a digital marketing agency works with small businesses as a Fractional CMO to create or further develop their marketing efforts to increase sales opportunities. She specializes in building relationships with people across organizations and businesses. Amanda’s philosophy is that every business has a story, and those who carefully craft that story into branded messages will be successful.

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Kaitlyn Trowbridge, Advertising Marketing Strategist at LERMA, brings a wealth of expertise in digital media, advertising strategy, and cross-channel campaign management. As a part-time MBA student at Kellogg and experienced professional, Kaitlyn combines academic insight with real-world application, excelling in roles that demand creativity, precision, and collaboration. Dedicated to advancing the industry, Kaitlyn is passionate about leveraging emerging trends to drive innovation in digital media. 

Outside the workplace, Kaitlyn tends to find herself at the soccer fields refereeing various leagues from professional to recreational soccer. She currently holds certifications as a National USSF referee and a National NISOA referee and aims to continue progressing as an official.

As a lifelong Austinite, Kaitlyn is proud to be a longhorn as she holds a bachelor’s degree in Advertising and Human Dimensions of Organizations from UT Austin. As a new Recruitment Manager for AMA Austin, Kaitlyn is eager to engage with fellow marketers, share her perspective, and connect with the local community.

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Elysabethe Borzilleri is a passionate Field Marketing Manager at Gainsight, where she seamlessly blends her marketing expertise with over a decade of event management experience. After relocating from Pennsylvania to Austin in 2019, she has dedicated her career to creating impactful events that resonate with diverse audiences.

Holding a Bachelor’s degree in Entertainment Business, Elysabethe brings a unique mix of creativity and strategic insight to her work. Her focus on AI and digital self-service tools positions her as an innovative marketer who leverages technology to enhance brand engagement. Elysabethe thrives on collaboration and routinely teams up with sales organizations to optimize pipeline performance and devise successful engagement strategies.

Elysabethe is eager to connect with fellow marketers, share her knowledge, and contribute to the local marketing community. In her spare time, she enjoys exploring the rich cultural offerings of Austin and seeking out new adventures with her dog, Cowboy.

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David Solis is a seasoned webinar marketing professional with extensive experience in B2B lead generation, webinar production, and promotion with companies such as Spiceworks Ziff Davis, IHS Markit, Wiley and George P Johnson.

He specializes in creating engaging virtual experiences that drive customer engagement and revenue growth. 

David is based in Austin, TX, and  holds a Bachelor of Science in Radio-Television-Film from The University of Texas at Austin.

When he is not producing top-tier webinars, He enjoys life with his better half, Graciela, and two wonderful sons. 

A lifelong foodie and film enthusiast, David is also a devoted Steelers fan, cheering on the Black & Gold every game day.

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Natalie Schuyler is a Senior Marketing Professional with a proven track record of delivering impactful global communication campaigns that support key sales, marketing, and stakeholder engagement objectives. With extensive experience in designing, planning, and executing high-performing campaigns and events, she specializes in driving brand engagement and business growth for both B2B enterprises and dynamic startups.

Her expertise spans all stages of campaign management, from strategic development and budgeting to team leadership and post-event analysis. Natalie has successfully managed both large-scale corporate events and intimate gatherings, always focused on creating memorable, results-driven experiences that resonate with audiences and generate measurable business outcomes.

As a Event Director for AMA, Austin, Natalie is passionate about innovation and creativity. She thrives in fast-paced, high-pressure environments ensure that each initiative exceeds expectations.

Natalie is based in Austin, TX  and hold a Bachelor of Science in Business Management.

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Amber is a creative and driven marketing professional with a strong background in digital marketing, brand strategy, and event coordination. As the Manager of Events for the AMA Austin Chapter, she brings enthusiasm and attention to detail to every event, helping create meaningful opportunities for connection and professional growth within Austin’s marketing community.

Amber earned her degree in Marketing from the University of Texas at San Antonio and currently serves as the Marketing Coordinator for McGinnis Lochridge. Her experience spans industries such as real estate, finance, and law, with a focus on enhancing brand presence and engaging audiences through thoughtful storytelling and strategy.

Now based in Austin, Amber enjoys exploring the city, participating in local run clubs, and working on creative projects in her free time.

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Luis Jose “Lui” Villagomez is a marketing leader with over 15 years of experience across hospitality, telecommunications, tech, and agency work. He’s worked on brands in banking, insurance, and tourism, with a focus on strategy, brand building, and communications.

He’s currently the Area Marketing Director at Chick-fil-A, where he works closely with Operators and partners to develop local marketing strategies for 30+ restaurants across the Greater Austin area. Lui is all about building strong relationships and doing meaningful work that connects brands with their communities.

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Chanté is a strategic marketing professional with a deep passion for the intersection of creativity, consumer psychology, and data-driven storytelling. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in business administration from Huston-Tillotson University in Austin, TX, and an MBA in Marketing from American Intercontinental University.

With expertise in brand management, digital marketing, and social media strategy, Chanté excels at crafting compelling campaigns that not only capture attention but also deliver measurable impact. She has a particular interest in the relationship between marketing and neuroscience—exploring how messaging influences brain responses and how those effects vary across regions and cultures.

Chanté is also the former owner of Hers × Kuhl, a custom womenswear brand she built from the ground up. Through that experience, she gained a unique perspective on branding, customer engagement, and the power of storytelling through design.

Outside of her professional work, Chanté enjoys diving into books on psychology and neuroscience, visiting her favorite coffee and marketing muse, Dutch Bros Coffee, and going on fun walks with her spirited corgi, Naz. She is also a proud member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., where she continues her commitment to service and sisterhood.

As AMA Austin’s Director of Web Communications, Chanté leads the creation of event landing pages, manages website updates, and monitors site analytics to ensure a seamless and engaging user experience.

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Mikayla Romano has a Bachelor of Arts from Grand Canyon University in Advertising and Graphic Design with GCU’s Honors College, and is currently working on a Master of Marketing degree with an emphasis in Digital Advertising & Marketing.

Currently working for Marcus & Millichap as a Marketing Specialist, she assists brokers with social media strategies and postings to enhance their online presence.

Mikayla’s design philosophy is to turn clients’ passions into designs that accelerate and enhance their own creativity and development in whatever field they operate. She believes anything can be transformed or magnified artistically to better express and communicate those ideas and inspirations rher clients are passionate about.

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Sammy is a new emerging professional in the marketing industry with a passion in advertising strategy. Sammy specializes in consumer research and getting to the heart of brand expression, having created campaign strategies spanning industries from amusement to laundry. As she begins her career, Sammy is eagerly continuing to learn and explore. consumer communication.

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Herbie Price is a double-degree alumni of Texas State University where he earned a BBA in Marketing and MBA. During his master’s program he worked as a Graduate Assistant in the Department of Marketing at McCoy College and led the Sales Ambassador program, coaching marketing and sales students as they completed their academic careers and transition to professional. 

Herbie is now an Account Manager with TEKsystems, providing business transformation services in Austin.

A 10-year resident of Austin, Herbie is passionate about emerging business and marketing trends, personal & professional development, and a connector of all things ATX.

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Jenaro Diaz is an innovative bicultural entrepreneur, industry leader and community volunteer whose work helps drive client growth and strengthen the organizations he serves.

Jenaro is the Founder and CEO of Minero Inc. —an award-winning digital agency where he leads a diverse team of designers and developers creating imaginative, cost-effective and timely web-based solutions that exceed ad agency partner and client expectations.

He has earned a reputation as a developer who combines artistry, technology and business understanding to bring projects to life and surpass goals. This has led to successful campaigns across platforms in both English and Spanish for industry-leading brands such as AT&T, Cricket, DIRECTV, Aston Martin, Facebook, Samsung, Square Enix and Starbucks. His work has been recognized by the American Advertising Federation (ADDYs), SXSW Web Awards, The FWA and others.

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Amy has over 20 years of experience in all aspects of business-to-business marketing for professional services and technology firms. With a passion for brand building via strategic storytelling, she leads innovative, comprehensive marketing programs that drive revenue while positioning subject matter experts as eminent thought leaders. Amy is the VP of Membership for the Austin AMA, where she leads a team responsible for growing and retaining membership. 

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