Vanguard Partners

Vanguard refers to "a group of people leading the new in new developments or ideas." To expose students to diverse, real world perspectives, we enlist assorted parent professionals to visit the students for guest lectures, mentoring, and to provide feedback.

2022-23 Vanguard

• Anne Harrington

• Susan Espinoza

• Erin Portman

• Randall DeBastiani

• Becky Fliss

• Ryan Larson

• Nadia Plascencia

• Susan Scafati

2021-22 Vanguard

• Madelyn Arnold

• Sarah Churchill Llamas

• Laura Craddick

• Randall DeBastiani

• Elizabeth De Montfort Walker

• Simon De Montfort Walker

• Emily Donahue Brown

• Monique Duncan

• Susan Espinoza

• Kristi Katz

• Cathy O'Neill

• Agatha Precourt

• Han Shen

• Maribel Sierra

• Jim Urhausen

2020-21 Vanguard

• Erin Portman, Director of PR, Birds Barbershop

• Thomas Minor, Software Hardware International

• Mike Kadyan,  CEO Iodine Software

• Cathy O'Neil, Writer

• Michele Cline, Business Talent Group special advisor

• Ron Olfers, Incubator Consultant and Chief Partner

• Darin Brannan

2019 Guest Speakers

• Aysa Province from Beautifully Loved

• Laila Scott from Pop-Up Birthday

2019 Shark Tank and Round Robin Idea Brainstorm Guests

• Ron Olfers, Incubator Consultant and Chief Partner

• Emily Donahue Brown, Stratfor Director of Public Relations

• Nigel Prentice, IBM Design

• Bryan Burkhart, CEO Worksmith

• Candace Leak, Loanables CEO

• Michael Portman, Owner, Birds Barbershop

• Erin Portman, Director of PR, Birds Barbershop

• Dan Ahearn, Business Consultant

• Craig Cummings, Moonshot Capital, Serial Entrepreneur

• Joe Meersman, IBM Director of Design Strategy

• Aysa Province, Founder & CEO, Beautifully Love

• Jeremy Arnone, CEO Sesha Skin

2018 Guest Speakers

• Michael Portman, Birds Barbershop: Entrepreneurial Persona & Finding One's Passion

• Amos Schwartzfarb and Michael Harrington: New Business Models

• Dan Ahearn: Group Dynamics

• Paul Bell: Value Proposition

• Emily Donahue Brown, KUT News, and The Texas Standard: The Process of Creating

• Matt Lipstein, Dir. of Technology, St. Andrews, host of "Free Samples" Radio Show: Communication and Public Speaking (Shark Tank preparation)

• Kerri Qunell, Director of Marketing and Communication, Trinity: Marketing

• Kristi Simmons, Aquila Real Estate: Final Pitch and Convention Prep

• Doreen Lorenzo, Executive Director of UT's Center for Integrated Design: Symposium Remarks: Solving Problems Through Design Thinking and Leadership.