Ellen Wood named Chair-Elect; 2016 Executive Committee Leaders Announced

AUSTIN, Texas – Dec. 18, 2015 – The Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce today announced that its Board of Directors has selected Tony Budet, President and CEO of University Federal Credit Union, as the Chamber's 2016 Chairman of the Board. In addition, Co-Founder, President and CEO of vcfo Ellen Wood, was selected as the Chamber's Chair-Elect. The Board also announced its Executive Committee which includes 16 business leaders selected as Vice Chairs, and three members-at-large.

"We are honored that Tony and Ellen will share their time and talents with the Austin Chamber," said Gene Austin, 2015 Chairman of the Austin Chamber of Commerce, and CEO, President and Director of Bazaarvoice. "Both of these esteemed professionals have proven to be valuable partners of the Austin Chamber and its members. We are grateful for their continued efforts and we look forward to working together to make 2016 a successful year for the Central Texas community."

In 2015, Budet served as Chair-Elect and participated in 20/20 Mobility Solutions. He has chaired the Chamber's Austin Community College Progress Report Task Force and served as a member of the Board of Directors. Ellen is a past two-term Board member of the Austin Chamber and past Vice Chair of Finance.

"I’m excited to serve the community through this role in 2016,” said Budet. "As the voice of business in Greater Austin, the Chamber helps to position Central Texas as one of the most dynamic economies in our nation. I look forward to working with leaders across the region to ensure a strong business climate and skilled workforce."

About the New Chair and Chair-Elect

Budet is a seasoned executive, strategist, and innovator who, during his 30-year tenure with UFCU has held several executive roles, including Chief Financial Officer, and has successfully guided the organization through a variety of regulatory, economic and competitive conditions.

Budet holds a BA in Economics from the University of Texas at Austin and has been active as a director or committee member with the Credit Union National Association, Texas Credit Union League, Catalyst Corporate FCU, the Austin Chamber of Commerce, and other trade, higher education, and community organizations. UFCU has assets under management totaling $2.5 billion, serves 200,000 members, employs approximately 600 people and operates 25 proprietary facilities in Austin and Galveston, TX.

Wood is a driven professional with a depth of experience in finance and entrepreneurship throughout a career that spans over 30 years. In 1996, Wood co-founded the financial consulting firm vcfo in Austin and has since expanded in Dallas, Denver, Houston and Seattle. She has diversified the company’s services to include interim and project finance, technology, executive placement and human resources. Vcfo has worked with more than 3,000 entrepreneurial companies since formation.

An active member of the business community, Wood is a member of AARO, serves as the Chairman of the Board for University Federal Credit Union, as the Treasurer for the Entrepreneurs Foundation and as an Advisory board member and past Treasurer for the Capital Area Boy Scouts board. She is the past chair of the Central Texas RCIC, Texchange, and a winner of the ABJ Profiles in Power Award. A graduate of UT Austin, Wood is a Texas CPA.

The following leaders will join Budet and Wood as the 2016 Chamber Board of Directors' Executive Committee:

2016 Executive Committee of the Board - Vice Chairs

Communications: Jennifer Stevens, President & CEO, JHL Company

Economic Development: Phil Wilson, General Manager, Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA)

Education: Shaun Cranston, Senior Vice President, Brookfield Residential

Federal Policy: Mike Peterson, Vice President External Affairs, AT&T

Finance: Kendel Martin, Vice President Accounting, Luminex Corporation

Innovation: Akshay Sabhikhi, CEO, CognitiveScale

Legal Counsel: Cale McDowell, Corporate and Securities Attorney, Jackson Walker

Membership Development: Stephen Coulston, Principal, Perkins + Will

Member Relations: Paul Trylko, President & CEO, Amplify Credit Union

Regional and Local Policy: Jerry Davis, President and CEO, Goodwill Industries of Central Texas

Regional Mobility: Anne Wynne, Partner, Ikard Wynne

Small Business: Charmane Sellers, President and CEO, ALEON Properties

Special Events & Partnerships: Denise Bradley, Vice President Communication & Community Affairs, St. David’s HealthCare

State Policy: Gerardo Interiano, Head of Google Fiber Community Affairs, Google

Talent Development: Doug Gray, Senior Vice President, Indeed.com

Technology: Tony Ross, Senior Director of Americas Operations, Apple Inc.

Med Tech Innovation: Mini Kahlon, Vice Dean of Partnerships & Strategy, Dell Medical School – University of Texas at Austin

Executive Committee, Members-At-Large

Nikki Graham, Austin Market President, Bank of America

Ray Wilkerson, President, Ray Wilkerson Companies

James Wood, Vice President and General Manager, Sterling Acura of Austin

The full Board of Directors, including the 2015 Executive Committee, is available here.

About the Austin Chamber

The mission of the Austin Chamber of Commerce is to provide leadership that facilitates the creation of a prosperous regional economy and effective advocacy for its 3,000+ members. For more information about the Austin Chamber of Commerce visit AustinChamber.com.

Media Inquiries:

Jenny Steward

Public Relations Manager

Austin Chamber of Commerce

O: 512.322.5637

jsteward@austinchamber.com

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