What I Do: Career Stories

Josh Silberstein is currently the CEO of Social Venture Partners, Boulder County; he's spent almost two decades in the nonprofit world and was previously a professional musician.

Dr. Edward Brodkin is a tenured Professor of Psychiatry at UPenn and a co-author of the bestselling book Missing Each Other: How to Cultivate Meaningful Connections.

Ann Messer, MD, is an educator and family practice doctor. She's found One Good Turn, a nonprofit providing global health workers tools and knowledge to build self-sustaining, healthy communities. 

Nic Moe is Data Visualization Engineer at Lumere. He's worked in a variety of roles in the healthcare world and received his Master's in public health in 2018.

Dave Wells is a Program Manager at Cisco, and was previously at HP for decades as a project and supply chain manager; he holds both a BS in Engineering, an MBA and a PMP.

Alex Lau is a Senior Software Engineer at Mystery Science and has been a programmer for over a decade.

Mindy Jensen is a real estate agent, investor, author in Colorado, and the online community manager for BiggerPockets.com.

Miriam & Candice are co-entrepreneur casting directors in Los Angeles, CA

Daniela Iannello started Milwickee Candles, a luxury candle company during the first month of COVID.

Lisa Kettyle is the COO at Marfa Public Radio (MPR), and has always been involved with her local, artistic community.

Kimber White Erlinger is a co-founder and co-owner of E3 Properties, a real estate brokerage firm she's run for 12 years. Previously, she was a writer and researcher at National Geographic and Discovery in DC.  

Tanya Grinblat works in the nonprofit fundraising world (aka development).

Diana Chavez works in higher education, heading global university recruiting and promoting diversity and inclusion. 

Alexa Humberson is a special education high school teacher.

Kelly Herrington is a creative filmmaker for charity: water, a nonprofit working to eliminate the water crisis around the world.

Sarah Flores is an HVACR installer and “handy ma'am”, previously she was a plumber’s apprentice and served for 7 years in the Marine Corps.

Julia Moon is the Head of Operations at Seafair. She’s worked at Uber, 2 of the Big 4, and is a recent Wharton MBA grad.

Gunnery Sergeant Harry Ong is a clarinetist in “The President’s Own” U.S. Marine Band.

Jess Warren is an artistic and creative Product Designer. She started her career as a graphic designer, ran a design consulting business, and taught herself UX/UI.

Liana Nicklaus is a Senior Design Engineer at Arm. She has both her BS and MS in Electrical Engineering.

Susie Vulpas works in international Marine Conservation in Indonesia. She was a Fulbright Research Scholar in Java researching mangroves, a U.S. State Dept Critical Language Scholar, and did the Peace Corps in Mali.

Julianna LaRosa is a Producer. She’s currently the VP, Head of Development and Production at ChangeUp Productions in LA. She’s previously worked in TV development and casting.

Scott Yeates is the founder and president of Mythology Distillery, a craft distillery in Denver. His whiskey, gin, vodka and other spirits have been named Best CO Distillery two years in a row and its spirits have been awarded many Medals.

Zach Olschwanger is the founder of The Austin Bouldering Project (the largest bouldering gym in the country) and he recently cofounded Crafted Energy, as well as finishing his MBA from LSE this year.

Sean Woods is a Literary Manager and Development Executive at Fourward, a management firm in LA. He works closely with writers to put their creative work into production.

Alicia Kort is a journalist. She’s based in NYC, has written for 15 magazines and online publications. She's currently a full-time eCommerce Writer at SHE Media's sites.

Claire Hoverman is a medical doctor of obstetrics and gynecology (OBGYN) in Austin. She treats all ages of women from adolescence to menopause, and all diagnoses from irregular periods and pregnancy to prolapse. If she’s not in clinic, then she's probably out delivering babies (like mine, last December!) and previously has volunteered with Doctors Without Borders in Sierra Leone. She got her bachelor's from Swarthmore College, received her medical degree from The University of Texas Health Science Center and did her residency at ETSU James H Quillen College of Medicine in Tennessee.

Amanda Maltz is a manager for learning and organizational development at Warner Brothers Entertainment in Los Angeles. Previously, she was a Senior HR Manager at Legendary Entertainment, did Talent Development at Netflix, and headed Learning and Development at Lionsgate. She got her degree in Marketing Communication from Emerson College in 2010 and since then has also gone to the UCLA Extension program for an HR Management Certificate in 2014.

Bowen Vernan is a US Navy Officer and helicopter pilot! He’s currently transitioning to the civilian sector as a commercial airline pilot. Previously, he worked on the operational side of the Navy with policy as well as doing international planning and security cooperation, representing the Navy with NATO and facilitating security cooperation engagements with government and military organizations of multiple Middle Eastern countries. He graduated from George Washington University in 2009 with a degree in Middle Eastern Studies, and then went on to get his graduate degree in Professional Studies of Homeland Security in 2017.

Carson Sartain is the Senior Media Relations Manager for The Nature Conservancy’s Texas Chapter. Previously she was an Account Lead at an agency, did freelance brand and content development work, and worked a few jobs in L.A. as a Production Office Manager, a PR Coordinator, and a Production and Writer's Assistant on TV shows. She got her degree in Journalism and Global Media Studies from UT Austin in 2012.

Tanna Thomas works in medical oncology and was previously worked on a cancer unit at a hospital. She started her career as an oncology nurse at a hospital, doing outpatient chemotherapy infusions. She now works at Texas Oncology Central Austin as their Senior RN for Clinical Research. Tanna went to school at UT Austin and graduated with her bachelor of science in nursing in 2008 and has also been a part of the Central Texas Oncology Nursing Society.

Emily Larson Kubiak is an energy efficiency enthusiast and Certified Energy Manager. She leads the Energy Efficiency & Advising as well as the Renewables Program at Sustainable Connections in northern WA state. Previously she educated residents around recycling and worked with low-income weatherization projects. Emily got her bachelor's in Environmental Science and Sustainable Design from Western Washington University, and is also a mentor with Women in Energy Mentoring Network, helping to inspire the next generation of change-makers and innovators.

Matt Henry serves in the Air Force as an officer and a JAG. What is that, you may ask- it stands for Judge Advocate General in every branch of the service expect the marine corps- so the term JAG and judge advocate are interchangeable. He’s been with the Air Force as an Assistant Staff Judge Advocate for almost three years, first stationed in New Mexico and recently relocated (known as a PCS or permanent change of station, fun fact) with his family to Japan! He first received his bachelor's in international relations from George Washington University, went on to graduate from NYU with his masters in global affairs in 2011 (where we met when we were roomies!), and then finally received his J.D. from Brooklyn Law School in 2014. He was a commercial litigator and intellectual property attorney for over two years in New York and L.A. before going into the service as a judge advocate (the military’s term for lawyer). He is currently the Chief of Military Justice for Yokota Air Base legal office in Tokyo.

Matt Schwartz is a foley artist, which means he is a sound re-recording mixer and sound designer. Based in LA, he's run his own business for over a decade designing countless films, web-series, commercials, documentaries, etc. He’s worked as a regular freelancer for Netflix, DirecTV, Funny or Die and many other production companies and independent filmmakers. Matt's also currently teaching advanced post-production at the Los Angeles Recording School. He got his BFA in 2010 for Film Production from Chapman University in southern California.

Katherine Watier Ong is a self-professed digital media geek; she loves all things search engine optimization (SEO). She lives near Washington DC and runs WO Strategies, focused on online marketing strategy and SEO. Previously she worked at Ketchum doing online marketing and analytics. She got her bachelor's from Hampshire College and her masters from Georgetown University in 2003 in Tech Marketing & Business.

Erin Gurak is the District Director for U.S. Congressman Lloyd Doggett, where she’s worked for almost two years. Erin’s office liaisons between Doggett’s constituents in TX district 35 and the Democratic Congressman himself. Erin manages five employees and thirty interns, as well as overseeing all operations including constituent services, district outreach, communications, and special projects. Previously, she was the Development Director at an environmental nonprofit, worked at AIDS Services of Austin, College Forward, and the Texas Education Agency. She graduated from Beloit College in Wisconsin with a major in International Relations.

Brett Haginas is a labor and birth doula, as well as being a yoga teacher. She has a passion for healing and being of service, and extend the powerful tool of healing and connection, whether that’s on a yoga mat or in the delivery room! She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Spanish from St. Edward’s University in Austin.

Tara Chapman is a beekeeper in Austin. She started Two Hives Honey just over four years ago (which now has over 200 hives!). She has had an unusual career path, as her first job after graduating from Duke University was with the Central Intelligence Agency working in operations in Pakistan. She spends a couple of her workdays outside with the beehives, and most of her weekends are spent teaching beekeeping classes to interested community members.

Hannah Halliday works at NASA measuring air pollution and greenhouse gasses. She got her masters and PhD from Penn State in atmospheric science, after starting college at Western Washington University majoring in chemistry. She has worked at the NASA Langley Research Center in Hampton VA as a postdoc for the past three years, and is transferring to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in Durham, NC later this month to continue her atmospheric chemistry and air quality work.

Josh Wilkinson has planned and executed over a thousand events in his career. He works events at the Austin Public Library’s gorgeous new downtown Central Library branch. Previously, he ran a business for over twenty years as a master of ceremonies for weddings, private events, and galas; he’s also hired, trained, and coached 15 entertainers in public speaking and customer relations skills. He got his bachelors from UT in Radio/TV/Film.

Wilton Person is an attorney who runs his own law office in Chicago, focusing on providing legal services to small and medium size businesses. Wilton earned his undergrad degree, then played baseball with the Atlanta Braves for three years before going back to school to earn his MBA from DePaul University, and then his J.D. from Northern Illinois University's College of Law.

Jessica Salerno-Woodbury has loved music and been a musician all her life. She's run her music teaching business, Salerno Strings, for the past 15 years from the Big Island of Hawaii. She teaches students of all ages (both in-person and virtually) many different instruments, including piano, violin, cello, drums, guitar, etc. She went to Western Washington University, north of Seattle and received her undergraduate degree in music education, where she had to study and learn to play a different instrument every during ever quarter!

Collin McMichael heads education programs for environmental nonprofit, TreeFolks. He loves plants, trees, insects and generally the biology of the natural world. He graduated with both a Bachelors and a Masters in 2010 in Biology, with a focus on plant-insect interactions.

Renee Fouquet wanted to help others be the best version of themselves, and 2 years ago she launched CLEAN.FIT- a subscription box service for people who want to incorporate healthy eating into their busy lives. A self-proclaimed health nut and personal growth junkie, she earned her bachelors from Georgia State University, and also has her MBA.

Sandra Goldenberg is an associate veterinarian at Spicewood Springs Animal Hospital in Austin and she’s been a practicing vet for 4 years. She went to UPenn for an undergrad in biology and then went on to become a doctor of veterinary medicine.

Susan Alfs works in biotech in L.A. as a Process Validation Specialist at Atara Biotherapeutics, focused on setting up manufacturing of their first product. She's worked for 6 years doing QA, validation, and project management. Susan got her degree in Biological Sciences at Carnegie Mellon and then went on to earn her masters of Biosciences, in Medical Devices at Keck Graduate Institute.

Rachel Berkowitz is a software engineer who started her career in tech, but was on the client and operations side originally. She decided in 2017 to go into programming and completed an intensive programming bootcamp, the Grace Hopper Program. She now works at Lifion by ADP in NYC and also volunteers to teach Brooklyn public high school students HTML, CSS, jQuery & JavaScript.

Carrie Yoder and her husband got into the world of credit card points before most people knew it existed- they then spent 5 years traveling the world FOR FREE!

A deep dive with renowned residential architect Joe Fisher. Joe describes his career, with an in depth guide through his story, and a description of how he creates people's houses.

Listen in as Elle Pace, who has worked at advertising firms McGarrah Jessee and GSD&M, talks about her career path in advertising with some of the most iconic southern brands on the market.

Ilyssa Herrington is a personal wardrobe stylist. Two years ago she decided to pursue her entrepreneurial dreams and now works with women who desire to have a seamless wardrobe that represents who they truly are. She worked at Anthropologie for 7 years as a Merchandiser, Stylist, & Visual Manager. She has a love of all things design and went to the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in LA, which is basically the Harvard of fashion schools.