Annual Meeting
This event celebrates our successes of the past year, looks ahead to the future, honors the Austinites of the Year and recognizes the change of leadership at the Board of Directors. The Chamber also recognizes the Volunteers of the Year in areas such as Communications, Education, Government Relations, Regional Infrastructure, Economic Development, Communications, the Ambassador Program, and Small Business.
The Austin Chamber of Commerce has announced that Lynn and Tom Meredith were honored as the 2012 Austinites of the Year during the Chamber's 135th Annual Meeting on February 15, 2013.
As co-founders of the MFI Foundation, Lynn and Tom Meredith are dedicated to improving the well-being of the community and have been actively promoting excellence in education, healthcare, the arts, and stewardship of the natural environment.
"Austin's unique character continues to be enriched through the community leadership of Tom and Lynn Meredith" said 2012 Board Chair Clarke Heidrick, Attorney and Chairman, Graves, Dougherty, Hearon & Moody. "From building great businesses, to providing critical support for the arts, education and unique resources such as the Lady Bird Johnson Wild Flower Center and the Dell Children's Museum, to amazing civic entrepreneurship in affordable housing, urban design and the Waller Creek Conservancy, Tom and Lynn are at the heart of what makes Austin a great place to live and work."
In addition to honoring the Austinites of the year, the Chamber recognized its most outstanding volunteers for 2012, review successes and outline priorities for 2013.
2012 Austinites of the Year
Tom and Lynn Meredith
Tom and Lynn Meredith have received numerous accolades and awards for their generous support throughout the years including the 2010 Austin Community Foundation Philanthropy Award; the Torch of Liberty Award given by the Anti-Defamation League in 2006; Outstanding Philanthropist of the Year given by the Association of Professional Fundraisers in 2004; and an Honorary Alumni Award given by Leadership Austin in 2003. Lynn also received the Woman of Distinction Award by the Long Star Girl Scout Council in 1999.
Lynn Meredith currently serves as President of the Board of Directors for the MFI Foundation, established and endowed in 1998. She is a founding member and Chairman of the Board for L3 - Lives of Leadership and Legacy, a non-profit organization engaging accomplished individuals in the prime of life in activities, conversations and relations that drive members from success to significance.
Lynn has served as the Austin Children's Museum President of the Board of Directors, 1995–2012, chairing the 1996-98 capital campaign. Currently, she presides as Honorary Chair of the $20 million capital campaign for the new Museum site at Mueller. A member of the Board of Trustees at St. Stephen's Episcopal School, Lynn has also served as the Parent's Association President.
Additionally, Lynn is a Member of the Board of Directors and Advisory Council for the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. She led the strategic planning committee that set the stage for the Center to be acquired as an organizational research unit of the University of Texas at Austin, and served as Chair of the Board during the acquisition transition year.
Lynn co-founded the first Austin Chapter of the National Charity League, a mother-daughter philanthropic organization. Active in the Association of Junior Leagues International, she is a sustaining member of the Junior Leagues of Palo Alto, CA and Austin, TX.
Tom Meredith is a co-founder and general partner of Meritage Capital, L.P., an investment management firm specializing in multi-manager hedge funds. He is also chief executive officer of MFI Capital, the Meredith family's private investment arm. He has served as Acting Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Motorola, Inc. Formerly, he was managing director of Dell Ventures and senior vice president of business development and strategy of Dell Inc., from 2000 to 2001, and Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Dell from 1992 to 2000. Prior to joining Dell, Tom served as a Vice President and Treasurer at Sun Microsystems, Inc.
He currently serves on the board of directors of Bazaarvoice, Brightstar Corp, Rallyhood, Inc., and The Nature Conservancy. In addition, Tom plays a leading role as one of the founders and Chairman of The Waller Creek Conservancy. The Conservancy acts as a steward of Waller Creek by playing a vital role in the preservation, redevelopment and maintenance of the creek's surrounding parks, nearby businesses, adjoining neighborhoods and the community at large.
In addition, Tom is a supporter of PeopleFund, which works to create economic opportunity and financial stability for underserved people by providing access to capital, education and resources to build healthy small businesses. Last year, PeopleFund cut the ribbon on its new, Silver LEED-certified headquarters on land donated in 2009 by the MFI Real Estate, LLC and the Meredith Family.
Tom is an adjunct professor at the McCombs School of Business at The University of Texas and also serves on the advisory board of the LBJ School of Public Affairs at The University of Texas.
Married for 40 years, Lynn and Tom enjoy spending time with their four children and one grandchild.
Seven out of Ten consumers believe being actively involved in the Chamber is an effective strategy for enhancing a company’s reputation and for demonstrating that it uses good business practices (Shapiro).
