TEDxSanAntonio is a labor of love. With a few exceptions for specific, must-have skillsets, resources or assets, it’s an all-volunteer organization. And the people who put in the most time, all year long, are the Organizers. Each organizer basically has a second, unpaid job — and if you ask us, we find it very worthwhile.
Chris Sandoval
President, Fiesta for the Mind
Co-Licensee, TEDxSanAntonio
Chris began volunteering on TEDxSanAntonio’s Programming Committee for 2013’s “Minds Wide Open” event. Since joining, he’s individually worked with a very diverse group of speakers including an organic chemist, an immigration activist, a technology evangelist, a management scientist, a restaurateur, two artists. Chris assumed the role of Licensee from founder Susan Price in 2016 and looks forward to being part of the TEDxSanAntonio community for a long time to come. Chris thinks that anyone who’s still reading this page should consider getting involved with TEDxSanAntonio. Maybe you have an Idea Worth Spreading (you probably do); or maybe you have a little spare time you could volunteer to help bring future TEDxSanAntonio events to life; maybe you are part of an organization that could help sponsor future events; or at the very least, you can commit to attending our events in 2017 and beyond. Enjoy the show!
Susan Price
Board, Fiesta for the Mind
Co-Licensee, TEDxSanAntonio
Susan co-founded the TEDxSanAntonio community in 2009 and established our nonprofit Fiesta for the Mind in 2014. As TEDxSanAntonio licensee, she broadened TEDxSanAntonio to include Live, Youth, Women, and Salon series. She is very active in UX/UI and user empowerment communities and events worldwide, in Austin, and San Antonio. Susan runs Firecat Studio, a digital strategy agency, and works at USAA as an experience strategist.
Jenia Espe
Vice President, Fiesta for the Mind
Organizer, TEDxSanAntonio
Jenia led the Partnership Committee for TEDx for three years, and currently serves as Board Member for Fiesta for the Mind. She discovered TED Talks through her creative co-workers and young daughters, and has been hooked ever since. As an owner of RedSquared Consulting LLC, a customer experience and innovation company, she helps businesses to connect and understand their customers by creating meaningful interactions and experiences. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, running, cooking, and coaching young women leaders in how to advance their careers. She also runs a local LeanIn.org organization.
Wayne Lieby
Treasurer, Fiesta for the Mind
Organizer, TEDxSanAntonio
Wayne Lieby was first introduced to TED Talks on NPR. A quick Google search and TED had another fan. After relocating back to San Antonio, Wayne and his wife attended TEDx San Antonio’s You Think You Know event in March, 2016 and wanted to get involved. Wayne has served as Treasurer for the TEDx San Antonio Board since June.
Tony Bryden
VP of the Board
Organizer, TEDxSanAntonio
Tony began volunteering for TEDxSanAntonio following the 2014 main event. He was elected Secretary of the Board in 2015. He’s rapidly approaching his 5-year anniversary at Rackspace and currently serves as an international product liaison. Tony is an avid vegetable gardener, writer, father, and husband, and spends any other free time in the outdoors, preferably on a mountain bike.
George Riley
Board, Fiesta for the Mind
Organizer, TEDxSanAntonio
George has been a Software Architect at TED Conferences since 2007. He designs and builds software that manages the conference and its videos, and makes it all available on TED.com. He was fortunate to enter the computing profession at the dawn of the Internet Age and has worked at organizations such as Allaire, Macromedia, and Adobe, all companies that pushed the boundaries of what was possible with the Worldwide Web. George graduated from the University of Texas at San Antonio with a BS in Computer Science and has been involved in TEDxSanAntonio since 2010. Talk to him about beer, BBQ, and software.
Chris McDermott
Technical Director, TEDxSanAntonio
A vital volunteer since the inception of TEDxSanAntonio, McD is our institutional memory and keeper of our data, processes and assets, invitations and ticketing. McD keeps our website and collaboration tools updated and working. He earned a Computer Science degree from the University of Texas at San Antonio, focusing in multimedia, and was a pioneer of USAA’s first intranet and other digital efforts for more than 10 years. McD now spends his days designing and developing websites and apps, and firmly believes in having fun!
Jonathan Stovall
Creative Director, TEDxSanAntonio
Thanks to an old colleague and friend who happens to be a TEDxSanAntonio founder, Jon has been an attendee from the start. After offering his services in art direction for numerous events, he was elected Creative Director in 2015. When asked what he thinks about TEDxSanAntonio, he will often reply, “I’m just happy to be here.”
Caitlin Hille
Board Member, Head of Partnerships
Caitlin first began volunteering with TEDxSanAntonio in 2013 supporting the logistics and became an Operations Committee Chair managing multiple events in 2015 and 2016. She was elected Board Member in Spring 2017 and is currently spearheading partnerships for TEDxSanAntonio. Outside of TEDxSanAntonio Caitlin is a wife, a mother, a crafter, an Aggie, and enjoys hosting get-togethers with friends and family.
We also like to recognize our Committee Chairs and special volunteers »
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 Organizers
Founding Organizers
The original founding organizers team began meeting in 2009, just after TED announced the TEDx program. Some of them have moved on, but continue to provide vital vision and strategic guidance.
Debbie Curtis, Deborah Martin, Todd O’Neill, Susan Price, George Riley, Donna Tuttle
