TEDxSanAntonio is supported by Fiesta for the Mind, a nonprofit organization that also supports User Experience San Antonio and Creative Mornings San Antonio.
We produce idea-focused community events where people to co-create the world that we want to live, work, and thrive in.
- Our programs attract and retain the engaged, skilled people that make San Antonio a welcoming, sustainable community.
- We provide youth and career development opportunities to San Antonians.
- We help people connect, share, and explore ideas effectively.
- We foster dialog that deepens understanding and helps people take action together.
- The content we share worldwide showcases San Antonio’s vibrant diversity, creativity, and open-minded community.
Interested in learning more about Fiesta for the Mind, our programs? Reach out to us at Sponsors@TEDxSanAntonio.com.
Fiesta for the Mind Outreach Presentation
Volunteer Leaders
Our idea-focused communities are labors of love. Meet the people who make these programs what they are.
Angelica Cordero
Board Vice President, Fiesta for the Mind
Licensee, TEDxSanAntonio
After serving as a member and leader of the Programming Committee for TEDxSanAntonio for more than five years, Angelica assumed the lead role in TEDxSanAntonio, where she is responsible to TED for all our program activities.
Angelica has broad interests in all things TED and TEDx, and has attended multiple TED conferences. Angelica keeps a pulse of what the public is talking about and enjoys the discovery of unique, novel perspectives. She is a ninja collaborator, mentoring TEDxSanAntonio’s speaker curators, advisors, and coaches to bring the finest minds to our stage and help them shine.
As a professional film producer, Angelica is an expert storyteller, visionary, efficient process manager, and proactive solution-seeker. Angelica elevates TEDxSanAntonio in every way.
Susan Price
Board President, Fiesta for the Mind
Susan co-founded the TEDxSanAntonio community in 2009 and established our nonprofit Fiesta for the Mind in 2014. From 2012–2015 she was our TEDxSanAntonio licensee, and broadened TEDxSanAntonio to include Live, Youth, Women, and Salon series. As Board President, Susan extended Fiesta for the Mind’s support to User Experience San Antonio (UXSA) and Creative Mornings San Antonio (CMSA).
Susan is an original Internet pioneer. She co-founded the award-winning Austin Free-Net nonprofit to promote digital access and equity in 1996, and brought digital accessibility training to San Antonio in 1998. She runs Firecat Studio, an experience research, design, and strategy agency.
Michele Koch
Board Secretary, Fiesta for the Mind
Michele was on the first-ever programming committee for TEDxSanAntonio in 2009, and has steadily taken on more and more responsibility. She brings more than 20 years’ experience in nonprofit and church administration, with expertise in marketing, project management, social networking, volunteer recruitment and management, and strategic planning.
Michele is a professional voice actress with a specialty in animation, video games and commercials. You may have heard Michele’s voice representing professional organizations and brands. Her credits include voicing Paul, the purple octopus, in the animated series “Lukas Storyteller” from CCC of America.
Byron Friedrich
Board Treasurer, Fiesta for the Mind
Byron joined Fiesta for the Mind’s Board in 2019 to oversee our financial planning and management. As a Certified Public Accountant and Certified Fraud Examiner, he provides oversight of all budgets, taxes, and accounting for the organization. He advises us on financial planning and growth.
Byron is Director of Financial Planning and Analysis at Randolph Brooks Federal Credit Union.
Jonathan Stovall
Board Member at Large, Fiesta for the Mind
Creative Director, TEDxSanAntonio
Thanks to an old colleague and friend who happens to be a TEDxSanAntonio founder, Jonathan has been a TEDxSanAntonio attendee since 2009. After offering his services in art direction for numerous events, he was elected Creative Director in 2015. Jon provides creative visual solutions for our programs and oversees Attendee Experience evaluations.
Jonathan is a senior product designer at H-E-B Grocery.
Bob Hotard
Board Member at Large, Fiesta for the Mind
Program Mentor & VP of Outreach, User Experience San Antonio
Bob Hotard has been involved with TEDxSanAntonio for many years, putting his video production and communications/experience design expertise to work. Bob also co-founded User Experience San Antonio.
An alumnus of St. Mary’s University, Bob enjoys networking and developing community connections. He leads outreach activities for our programs.
Bob is an independent experience design consultant. He has worked at USAA and AT&T.
Caitie Skaggs
Board Member at Large, Fiesta for the Mind
Caitie got involved with TEDxSanAntonio while working at Key Coworking, an organization that provides meeting space to our supported programs. Caitie assumed leadership of a TEDxSanAntonio Women event, and subsequently expanded her role to assume Board leadership duties.
An entrepreneur in spirit, Caitie started and operated a thriving business supporting businesses and nonprofits with expert strategic and social media marketing. She’s a Marketing and Program Manager at Farm Bureau Bank.
Cherri Pitts
President, User Experience San Antonio
Cherri is passionate about developing robust career paths that make a difference in San Antonio. As a professional user experience researcher and seasoned product/service design professional, Cherri invests in creating a welcoming community for San Antonians to share knowledge, mentor others, and learn.
Cherri is an IT Program Manager at H-E-B Grocery.
Tim Fielder
Program Manager, Fiesta for the Mind
Tim Fielder is a Senior Technical Project Manager for Zachry Group with over thirty years of experience. In that time, both his career and his family have grown; he is a father of five, stepfather of one, and grandfather of seven. Tim enjoys many creative hobbies including woodworking, home renovation, tinkering/engineering, guitar playing, writing songs, watercolor painting, and writing. One of Tim’s greatest joys is making a difference in the lives of others by helping them to develop through servant leadership and leadership by example.
Chris McDermott
Technology & Production Chair, TEDxSanAntonio
A vital volunteer since the inception of TEDxSanAntonio, Chris “McD” McDermott is our institutional memory and keeper of our data, processes and assets. McD oversees the production of our live events and all talk videos post event. He also manages our website and collaboration tools, keeping them updated and running efficiently. He earned a Computer Science degree from the University of Texas at San Antonio, focusing in multimedia. McD was a pioneer of USAA’s first intranet and other digital efforts for more than 10 years. He now spends his days as a freelance website developer and firmly believes in having fun!
Xavier Ramirez
Production Committee Co-Chair, TEDxSanAntonio
Xavier Ramirez is an award winning producer with credits that include films “Step Up” and “Blackfish.” He works as an entertainment consultant for Beverly Hills-based JWE, and he heads up the “Diversity in Media” division for DEKO 37. Ramirez has been a field producer with CTSA-15 since 2013. While there he has produced numerous high-profile stories, including coverage of the largest mass shooting in Texas history at Sutherland Springs and other stories. Ramirez directs and edits several TV shows/news for CTSA and his previous employment includes Hearst Publications/San Antonio Express News, Clear Channel Communications, and numerous others.
Jacqueline Carmona
RedDotCafe Executive Producer, TEDxSanAntonio
Jacqueline Carmona’s career started in government, where she discovered the art of Public Relations while working with the public and politicians. She was in charge of coordinating events, public forums, workshops, and public speaking engagements. Ms. Carmona transitioned into the world of finance, where she had the number one sales in investments. She also worked for the National Association of College Stores— the leading source and advocate for higher education in the retail market. She transitioned into entertainment, worked in several productions, and now works in public relations under Isabela Public Relations.
Troy Sandidge
TEDx RedDotCafe Technical Producer, TEDxSanAntonio
Troy Sandidge is a Growth Marketing Strategist with over 10 years of experience maximizing revenue, increasing brand authority, and developing social communities through cutting-edge growth marketing strategies and social media solutions. His work portfolio consists of Entrepreneurs, Startups, SMBs, NGOs, and Fortune 500 brands with results surpassing $100 Million. He has a B.A. in Digital Media & Communications with a minor in Electrical Engineering. Troy is the Chief Strategy Officer at Vult Lab, a national brand agency for social good as well as the Founder & CEO of Strategy Hackers, a strategy consulting firm. He is a keynote speaker, host of the iDigress Podcast, a Twitter power user, and currently resides out of the Greater Chicagoland area.
Please feel free to reach out to us and find out more about the event. And thanks for being a part of our TEDxSanAntonio community!
Previous Leaders
- 2018-2020 Organizers »
- 2016 Committee Chairs & Special Thanks »
- 2013 Organizers, Committee Chairs and Special Volunteers »
Founders & Leaders — Thank You!
These dedicated founders and former board members continue to inform Fiesta for the Mind’s vital strategic vision and provide Board advice and guidance.
Original Founders:
Debbie Curtis, Deborah Martin, Todd O’Neill, Susan Price, George Riley, Donna Tuttle
Retired Board Members:
Jenia Espe, Chris Sandoval, Ana Grace, Rebecca Helterbrand
