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• Mando Rayo, Taco Journalist

  • When
    November 04, 2026
  •  
    7:00 AM - 8:30 AM
  • Location
    Chez Zee, 5406 Balcones Dr, Austin TX 78731

  Register

  

  Mando Rayo, Taco Journalist

  Tacos of Texas Podcast

  United Tacos of America

  About the Program:

  Tacos of Texas: A Journey Through Foodways, People and Traditions

  About the Speaker: 

  Mando Rayo’s experience is deep-rooted in Latinx & BIPOC communities and is a James Beard Foundation Awards finalist and winner of two Signal Awards for podcasting. Mando is a digital story-teller and uses his Latinx identity to inspire and build bridges through his production company, IDENTITY. From working with PBS ITVS, El Rey Network, 7-Eleven/Laredo Taco Company, Beef Loving Texans, Whataburger, People en Español y más, Mando shares stories through food, culture, documentaries and digital platforms. As a Taco Journalist, food explorer and street ethnographer, Mando has traveled across the U.S. to uncover the tastiest tacos, from the Rio Grande Valley in Texas to L.A. and New Orleans to New York City. Mando is the producer and co-author of the books, 'Austin Breakfast Tacos' and ‘The Tacos of Texas' (University of Texas Press) & docu-series with PBS Digital Studios, United Tacos of America TV Show on El Rey Network and the Vitamina T for Tacos children’s book series (Jade Publishing). Mando’s work has been featured on Bon Appetit Magazine, The Food Network, NPR, The New York Times and SXSW. You can listen to El Seis - Season 6 of the Tacos of Texas Podcast on KUT, Austin's NPR Station and Texas Standard, or wherever you get your podcasts. 

  
  

  Agenda:
  

  6:45am - Coffee & Networking

  7:10am - Breakfast Buffet

  7:25am - Introductions & Announcements

  7:50am - Speaker Introduction

  8:20am - Q&A

  8:30am - Leave inspired or curious!

  
  

  Show details
• Jeremi Suri, UT Global Affairs Professor

  • When
    November 11, 2026
  •  
    7:00 AM - 8:30 AM
  • Location
    Chez Zee, 5406 Balcones Dr, Austin TX 78731

  Register

  Jeremi Suri, UT Global Affairs Professor

  About the Program:

  Mid-term Elections: A Historical Perspective and View Forward

  About the Speaker: 

  Jeremi Suri holds the Mack Brown Distinguished Chair for Leadership in Global Affairs at The University of Texas at Austin. He is a professor in the University's Department of History and the LBJ School of Public Affairs. Dr. Suri is the author and editor of eleven books on contemporary politics and foreign policy, most recently Civil War By Other Means: America's Long and Unfinished Fight for Democracy. His other books include The Impossible Presidency: The Rise and Fall of America's Highest Office; Henry Kissinger and the American Century; Liberty's Surest Guardian: American Nation-Building from the Founders to Obama; and Foreign Policy Breakthroughs: Cases in Successful Diplomacy (with Robert Hutchings).

  Dr. Suri writes for major newspapers and magazines including the New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, New York Daily News, Dallas Morning News, Houston Chronicle, Boston Globe, The Atlantic, Foreign Policy, Foreign Affairs, Fortune, The American Prospect and Wired — as well as for various online sites and blogs. He is a popular public lecturer, and appears frequently on radio and television.

  Dr. Suri teaches courses on strategy and decision-making, leadership, globalization, international relations and modern history. He teaches graduate and undergraduate courses, and he teaches and serves as academic director for the Executive Master in Public Leadership program (EMPL) at LBJ. His research and teaching have received numerous prizes. In 2007 Smithsonian magazine named him one of America's "Top Young Innovators" in the arts and sciences. In 2018 he received the Pro Bene Meritis Award for Contributions to the Liberal Arts. In the same year also received the President’s Associates Teaching Excellence Award from the University of Texas at Austin.

  
  

  Agenda:
  

  6:45am - Coffee & Networking

  7:10am - Breakfast Buffet

  7:25am - Introductions & Announcements

  7:50am - Speaker Introduction

  8:20am - Q&A

  8:30am - Leave inspired or curious!

  
  

  Show details
• Bridget Grumet, Statesman Editorial Page Editor

  • When
    November 18, 2026
  •  
    7:00 AM - 8:30 AM
  • Location
    Chez Zee, 5406 Balcones Dr, Austin TX 78731

  Register

  Bridget Grumet, Editorial Page Editor, Austin American-Statesman

  About the Program:

  What's the latest in Austin and in Texas? Come hear award-winning journalist, three-time recipient of the Carmage Walls Commentary Prize (most recently this year!), and Statesman Editorial Page Editor Bridget Grumet to find out!

  About the Speaker: 

  Bridget Grumet is the Editorial Page Editor for the Austin American-Statesman, where she has served as an editorial board member since 2018. She has received numerous national awards, including the National Headliner Award for local newspaper columns and the Sigma Delta Chi Award for general column writing, and she's a three-time winner of the Carmage Walls Commentary Prize. Her work covers a wide range of issues, including police use of force, efforts to address homelessness, access to health care and ensuring voters can participate in their democracy. In her previous role as Metro columnist, and now running the editorial page, she seeks to highlight untold stories and hold leaders accountable.

  
  

  Agenda:
  

  6:45am - Coffee & Networking

  7:10am - Breakfast Buffet

  7:25am - Introductions & Announcements

  7:50am - Speaker Introduction

  8:20am - Q&A

  8:30am - Leave inspired or curious!

  
  

  Show details
• Holiday: No Meeting

  • When
    November 25, 2026
  •  
    7:00 AM - 8:30 AM

  No meeting this week! 
  
  Happy Thanksgiving!

  
  

  Show details
• Leana Mann, Chief Appraiser, TCAD

  • When
    December 02, 2026
  •  
    7:00 AM - 8:30 AM
  • Location
    Chez Zee, 5406 Balcones Dr, Austin TX 78731

  Register

  Leana Mann, Chief Appraiser, Travis Central  Appraisal District

  How the Appraisal District Works For You

  About the Program:

  Chief Appraiser Leana Mann will break down the property tax system and the work of the Travis Central Appraisal District into actionable insights that property owners can actually use:

  • Discover the distinct roles of the Appraisal District versus the County Tax Office  and local taxing entities
  • Learn how to leverage exemptions to significantly lower your taxable value.
  • Understand the direct link between the budget decisions made by cities, counties, and school districts and the tax bill that lands in your mailbox in October. 

  About the Speaker: 

  Leana Mann currently serves as the Chief Appraiser of the Travis Central Appraisal District. 

  A graduate of Texas State University, Mann has more than a decade of experience with TCAD and has held a variety of positions with the District, including staff accountant, Finance and Facilities Director, Deputy Chief of Operations, and Deputy Chief Appraiser. She is a Certified Government Finance Officer (CGFO), Certified Chief Appraiser (CCA), and Registered Professional Appraiser (RPA). 

  She has served as Chief Appraiser since March 2024.

  
  

  Agenda:
  

  6:45am - Coffee & Networking

  7:10am - Breakfast Buffet

  7:25am - Introductions & Announcements

  7:50am - Speaker Introduction

  8:20am - Q&A

  8:30am - Leave inspired or curious!

  
  

  Show details
• Thaddeus Foster, Wildlife Prevention Corp

  • When
    December 09, 2026
  •  
    7:00 AM - 8:30 AM
  • Location
    Chez Zee, 5406 Balcones Dr, Austin TX 78731

  Register

  Thaddeus Foster, Wildlife Prevention Corp

  Protecting Texas from Wildfires: Understanding the Risks, Reducing the Threat, and Building More Resilient Communities

  About the Program:

  Thaddeus Foster of Wildfire Prevention Corp. will discuss the current state of wildfires in Texas, proactive prevention strategies to reduce wildfire risk, and practical, actionable steps that homeowners, landowners, businesses, and communities can take to better protect their properties and improve resilience against future wildfires.
  

  Thaddeus Foster, founder of Wildfire Prevention Corp., is a native Texan with over 40 years of customer service and executive experience. He has a passion for helping his community. He is the Founder of First Responder Operations Support Team, Inc. (FROSTI), a nonprofit committed to 100% of contributions directly benefiting first responders. Formerly, Thaddeus served as COO / Operating Partner of Prometheus Restaurant Franchise Holdings, operating 200+ restaurants across the Southeast.

  Wildfire Prevention Corporation (WPC) is a family-owned and operated business based in Wimberley, Texas, with a combined 60+ years of experience in business operations, leadership, customer service, and executive management. WPC is committed to safeguarding people and properties from the devastating impact of wildfire through preventative action. We provide expert wildfire protection services to homeowners, businesses, and communities across Texas. Our services include wildfire risk assessments, home hardening, defensible space planning, tree and landscape management, and annual inspections to ensure ongoing wildfire mitigation. WPC is Texas’ exclusive provider of Phos-Chek® fire-retardant and, together with BrandGuard™ ember-resistant vents and Wildfire Defense Mesh™, WPC helps safeguard properties from the increasing threat of wildfires. With wildfires on the rise and insurance coverage becoming harder to secure, proactive prevention is more critical than ever, and WPC is here to help.

  
  

  Agenda:
  

  6:45am - Coffee & Networking

  7:10am - Breakfast Buffet

  7:25am - Introductions & Announcements

  7:50am - Speaker Introduction

  8:20am - Q&A

  8:30am - Leave inspired or curious!

  
  

  Show details
• Bryce Bencivengo, Austin-Bergstrom Airport

  • When
    December 16, 2026
  •  
    7:00 AM - 8:30 AM
  • Location
    Chez Zee, 5406 Balcones Dr, Austin TX 78731

  Register

  Bryce Bencivengo - Journey with AUS: The Future of Austin's Airport

  About the Program:

  Austin-Bergstrom International Airport will present about the future of our Airport. Austin-Bergstrom International Airport has a more than $5 billion expansion program underway to reshape every facet of the airport. This program is designed to enhance connections to the world and drive our economy. Join us to find out how the airport is planning to grow and change to continue to serve our region.

  Bryce Bencivengo leads efforts at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) to connect the business community and key stakeholders with one of the fastest-growing airports in the country and telling the story of its major expansion. Before AUS, Bryce served as Director of Public Affairs for the Austin Chamber of Commerce and spent a decade in communications for the City of Austin, including at City Hall. A graduate of St. Edward's University and the University of Texas LBJ School of Public Affairs, Bryce holds his private pilot rating and brings a genuine passion for aviation to everything he does at AUS.

  
  

  Agenda:
  

  6:45am - Coffee & Networking

  7:10am - Breakfast Buffet

  7:25am - Introductions & Announcements

  7:50am - Speaker Introduction

  8:20am - Q&A

  8:30am - Leave inspired or curious!

  
  

  Show details