Our Speakers
Adam Moore
Adam Moore is the founder and editor of Lost in Waco magazine. He also organizes the local storytelling event Analog Waco. He has been in Waco for over 20 years and works in the Honors College at Baylor University.
Lauren da Silva
Lauren da Silva is a wife, mother, writer, entrepreneur, and empath obsessed with learning as much as she can about the world and the people who live in it. She is a South African living in Waco, Texas, and spends her free time creating or enjoying the outdoors.
Cory Dickman
Originally, from Portland, Oregon, Cory came to Waco in 2006 to attend Baylor University. He graduated with a degree in Communications and Film and later earned his master’s in Sports Management. In 2015, he opened the Waco Escape Room and has since launched Rogue Capital, which invests in local businesses. After collaborating with Rapoport through Waco Pedal Tours, he joined Triple Win as an instructor in 2020, teaching and coordinating our entrepreneurship classes.
Jason Lavendar
Jason officially serves as Director of Strategic Initiatives & Business Development of TFNB Your Bank for Life. As an officer of the bank, he can work in a lending capacity, his primary focus right now is to work with the executive team on initiatives to improve and grow the organization. He also attended Baylor where he played football for coach Grant Teaff.
Gib Reynolds
As a serial entrepreneur and part-time educator, Gib is passionate about empowering aspiring entrepreneurs. Gib currently leads the BizLAB, an Industry, Research, and Education (I-REd) Core at Baylor University, focused on helping our industry partners solve business problems. Leading a team of talented interns, they support technology companies, in a variety of industries, analyze and execute their market opportunities. Gib graduated from Baylor University in 2012 with a BBA and earned his MBA from Acton School of Business in 2013.
Raymond Curtis
Engineering Manager, ProtoLAB
Fiona Bond
Fiona is founding Executive Director of Creative Waco. She came to Waco from the UK, where she directed arts and cultural initiatives in higher education, faith, and economic development. She has a BA in Theology from Durham University (UK) and an MBA (hons) from Baylor University. She is author of 'The Arts in Your Church' (Piquant, 2001), serves as a panelist for Texas Commission on the Arts and National Endowment for the Arts, was named "Wacoan of the Year" in December 2020, and was elected President of Texans For The Arts in November 2021.
Fiona is passionate about creating well-rounded, vibrant communities in which all participants can create and thrive - and that's what she strives to do at Creative Waco. She juggles her role as Executive Director of Creative Waco with family life, and plays bagpipes with her younger son for relaxation.
Sol Bautista
Soledad "Sol" Bautista was born and raised in Guadalajara, Jalisco, México, where she grew up surrounded by a rich culture of art and creativity. Sol studied Psychology at ITESO where she was also a member of the university's theater company. She went on to practice in psychology and education in Mexico and the USA, and also pursued various opportunities in theater and film as an actor. Sol has walked two red carpets, thanks to her first experience in film. Her new role in Waco weaves together her passions and curiosity as she helps launch the AIR Institute in Waco and across Texas, bringing the talents and strengths of arts, business, and community together.
Hunter Harlow
Sendero Provisions Co. makes quality outdoor provisions inspired by the landscapes and cultures of wild, wild America. We cut our teeth roaming the bare deserts of the Southwest looking for geologic wonders and glorious adventure. From our old-school days as geologists mapping in the field to new-school days spent on a cold mountain stream chasing native rainbows, our inspiration comes from our connection to the land and the cultures that represent it. This is the basic calling of Sendero. We make gear that embodies this- super slick products reminiscent of a time long past that will call you to the wild. SPIRIT of the WEST // SOUL of the WILD
Trey Bowles
Trey was the founder of multiple companies in the verticals of media, e-commerce, consumer-based technology and experienced two exits. He founded Startup Texas as a branch of the Obama administration's Startup America, as well as starting the entrepreneurship program at Southern Methodist University (SMU). In 2022, Trey launched the first Techstars program in North Texas (Fort Worth).
Chris Gonzales
Chris Gonzales serves as the Executive Director at McCIF. He is a graduate of Texas Tech University with a Bachelor of Business Administration and the Texas Tech School of Banking. From there, he began his 14-year career with Wells Fargo Bank, most recently as branch manager for the Waco Wooded Acres branch for the past 8 years. Through his role as a business owner, Chris found his passion for helping small businesses reach their full potential. He grew up in Lubbock, Texas, and moved to Waco with his family in 2013. He and his wife, Angela, have been married for 15 years and have 5 children.
Ilda Sabido
Ilda serves as the Assistant Program Manager at McCIF. As a native Wacoan, she attended University High School and McLennan Community College. Ilda has worked in the banking/lending industry for nearly a decade. In 2020, Ilda completed the Leadership Plenty Training Course, started by the Cooper Foundation. She enjoys giving back to the Waco community, including roles with The City of Waco’s Park and Recreation Board, The Hispanic Leaders’ Network Board, The Alta Vista Neighborhood Association Board of Directors, and The Art Center of Waco’s Children’s Exhibits committee.
Jon Passavant
Jon Passavant is the CEO of Startup Waco, a position he has held since 2019. In this position, Jon is responsible for leading Startup Waco’s efforts to build Waco’s entrepreneurial ecosystems as a public/private partnership organization. He is a visionary that spearheads the organization’s initiatives to provide resources, education, and advocacy to entrepreneurs throughout Central Texas. Before taking on the leadership of Startup Waco, Jon had an esteemed 15-year modeling career appearing for notable brands such as Ralph Lauren, Giorgio Armani, Christian Dior and eventually signing a landmark deal with Estée Lauder. Jon was an early investor in multiple technology startups based in New York and received a bachelor’s in business management from Grove City College in western Pennsylvania.
Jacob Kehoe
Jacob Graduated from Baylor University in 2019 with a BBA. He had a successful exit from a tech company he founded while in college (Aerial Intelligence and Report / AIR). Over the past three years, he has worked in various startups in a range of sectors including machine learning (AIR), tech (Samsung), and logistics (Ford Motor Company). Jacob currently works for Startup Waco, where he works with hundreds of startups; consulting, advising, and providing investor strategy, while concurrently providing soft diligence for investors and VC firms. He also serves as the Capital Access Manager for Kiva in Central Texas.