Our Team

Marissa Rivera is a Psychotherapist, Leadership Consultant, and Creative in Austin, Texas. She is the Founder and CEO of Ola Wellness, a private psychotherapy practice where she provides clinical supervision to early career therapists and proudly serves Austin's LGBTQ+ communities of Color. As a Queer Native Tejana and Austinite, Marissa is especially passionate about weaving healing and liberation into all her work. Through her roles as a Board Chair for SIMS Foundation and Co-Founder of OFC Creatives, she uses her expertise and resources to create opportunities and thoughtful collaborations across higher education, business, tech, music, and art to empower under-resourced communities. When not supporting the Austin community and lecturing at The University of Texas at Austin, you can usually find Marissa hosting events and enjoying nature with her pup.

Prior to starting entertainment publicity agency kj pr in 2022, Kayla spent over a decade in agency life where she led teams in developing creative campaigns and curated press strategies that obtained the tailored narrative and goals of her clients. Kayla’s work includes successful campaigns for Meta including talent work with Post Malone, Foo Fighters and many more, Amazon Prime Video, Crypt TV, Smosh, the Oscar Nominated Short Films as well as for veteran unscripted production companies; executive visibility for Nickelodeon, ShortsTV and Starz; and concert PR for legendary acts and events including Elton John, Taylor Swift, Willie Nelson, Formula 1, SXSW, Texas Medal of Arts Awards, X Games, Moontower Comedy Festival and many more. Kayla, currently based in Austin and is a proud member of both the Television Academy and The Recording Academy.

Pat is an employment and intellectual property lawyer. He handles all types of employment litigation matters, from single plaintiff employment cases to class and collective actions. On the intellectual property side, he has considerable experience with misappropriation of trade secrets and non-compete/non-solicitation cases as well as patent, copyright, and trademark litigation.

Ryan has spent 15+ years leading operations at Austin-based startups and global technology companies, building the processes, systems, and infrastructure businesses need to scale into the next growth stage. He has deep experience working closely with CEOs, founders, and functional leaders as their right-hand and strategic partner, driving the execution of high-impact, cross-functional transformation initiatives from beginning to end. He is equally passionate about music and supporting Austin’s local music community—attending concerts weekly, playing guitar, and expanding his vinyl collection. Ryan began his career in management consulting at Deloitte and holds an MBA from the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas at Austin.

Gina Whittington is THE go-to professional for creating extraordinary experiences and luxury events in Austin, Texas. Gina has over 20 years experience in the event industry and quickly realized her innate ability to curate unique experiences and started her own event company in 2013. Gina's creative prowess and meticulous attention to detail have earned her the trust of discerning clients, luxury brands, and Fortune 500 companies. Gina is actively engaged with the Highland Park PTA, where her daughter, Scarlett (8), is a proud Scottie! Her husband, Michael "Stix" Tashnick’s zest for life complements Gina's passion and drive, motivating her to keep pushing boundaries and striving for excellence in both her personal and professional life.

Patty Drew is a professional singer and songwriter with over 15 years of experience in the music industry. She is a founding member of two internationally recognized bands, The Wind and The Wave (U.S.) and Far From Saints (U.K.). Her work includes chart success, international touring, major festival performances, and placements in television and film. In addition to her music career, Patty is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Texas State University. She is particularly interested in the relationship between creativity and mental health, and in supporting the well-being of creative communities. She joined the board in 2020 and now serves on the Clinical Committee, where she brings a valuable dual perspective as both an artist and an emerging clinician.

Bio coming soon.

Across whatever it is – partnerships, communities, client engagements, festivals – David is a connector. He connects dots. Fuses ideas. Brings people and companies together. With years of proven achievement and dozens of examples that cross industries, cultures, and geographies, David knows how to deliver profitable, measurable, and transformational change across markets and sectors.

Nikki is an Associate Portfolio Manager based in Austin, Texas. She works with the portfolio management team to help manage the portfolios of their private clients, endowments and foundations. Nikki joined Brown Advisory in 2019. Prior to joining the firm, she worked as a Financial Advisor at AXA Advisors, LLC. Community Involvement: Board Member, Loyola University of Maryland Sellinger School of Business. Education: Loyola University of Maryland, BBA.

Ravi Govind serves as the Senior Director of Mental Health Services for the Texas Alliance of Child and Family Services, and in that role he leads the Texas Partnership for Mental Health Services. He spearheads efforts to expand access to quality healthcare through innovative policy research, advocacy, and groundbreaking reimbursement mechanisms, directly benefiting vulnerable individuals and families within the child welfare system. A dedicated leader, he has been instrumental in crafting forward-thinking strategies and policies that empower communities and improve lives across Texas. A native Austinite, Ravi graduated summa cum laude with high honors in finance from Hofstra University. When not serving the people of Texas, he unwinds by watching cooking shows with his rescued black Lab mix.

Katie Rose is a filmmaker and producer at Cold Collaborative, dedicated to telling human-centered stories through film and photography. As a live music documentarian, she supports Austin musicians who carry forward the city’s roots-driven, homegrown sound. She’s currently producing a tribute album and visual history honoring her mother and godfather’s club, Castle Creek — a cornerstone of Austin’s legacy as the Live Music Capital of the World. Katie Rose also leads mindfulness retreats worldwide, blending creativity and healing in service of community wellbeing.

Dr. Greg Keilin completed his doctoral degree in Counseling Psychology at Colorado State University and is a Licensed Psychologist in Texas. He was an Associate Director and the Director of Psychology Training at the Counseling and Mental Health Center at The University of Texas at Austin. He is a Fellow of Division 17 of the American Psychological Association and was the recipient of the 2012 APA Distinguished Contributions to Education and Training in Psychology Award. He has extensive experience serving on the Boards of various national and local non-profit organizations. Currently, Dr. Keilin maintains a part-time private practice in Austin, Texas, and oversees the APPIC Match, a process that places more than 4,000 students into predoctoral internship positions each year in the U.S. and Canada.

Garrett is a Senior Event Producer with over a decade of experience in the world of festivals and experiential activations. He began his career volunteering with organizations that support local artists and the Austin music community, including the SIMS Foundation. In his free time, you can find him kayaking on Lady Bird Lake, catching a show on Red River, or enjoying time at home with his dog, Tobi.

Meet Emily Waldmann Ortiz – an Austinite with 14 years of deep roots in the city's vibrant culture and a knack for bringing people and ideas together. Working successfully in residential real estate, Emily is immersed in the unique rhythm of Austin, understanding its pulse from charming corners to breezy neighborhoods. Her connection to Austin's hospitality scene runs deep, having previously been instrumental in crafting memorable experiences and events for brands and clients at Bunkhouse Hotels, which honed her intuitive understanding of creating soulful spaces and experiences. When not working, you’ll find her out with her dogs Lola and Lu, or enjoying a patio with her husband, restauranteur Rene Ortiz. Emily is a genuine connector, a friend, and a fellow lover of all things local, known for her ability to foster connections that truly matter.

Steph Swartz began her career in events and entertainment at Live Nation, where she developed an early passion for creating experiences that connect people and communities.

She went on to hold marketing roles at Procter & Gamble and PetSmart HQ before moving to Austin to work for Whole Foods Market / Amazon, building expertise across brand strategy, consumer engagement, and integrated marketing.

Today, Steph serves as Director of Marketing at Texicare, where she leads marketing efforts supporting the company’s mission to make quality healthcare coverage more affordable and accessible for Texas small businesses and their employees. She holds an MBA from Arizona State University.

Drawing on her roots in live entertainment and her commitment to the Austin community, Steph proudly supports The SIMS Foundation and its work advancing emotional wellness for the local music community.

Amos first moved to Austin, TX in 2008, he was a gigging musician by night. Shortly after starting Moontower Entertainment's flagship band, Matchmaker Band, he realized that it was possible to make a living with music only. The band's success was transformative for its 13 members and sent Amos on a journey to help transform the lives of other Austin, TX-based musicians who weren't able to make it playing music only. Since then, the company has expanded into a full-blown booking agency with five award-winning party bands, hundreds of roster artists and an in-house weekly payroll consisting of 80+ full-time musicians, sound techs and lighting directors. In addition to running the company and playing music live almost nightly, Amos enjoys spending time with his wife and business partner, Drew, their son, Marvin, and their three rescue dogs, eating his way through Austin's amazing food scene.

A third generation Longhorn, Dr. Walker received her Bachelor of Arts in the Plan II Honors Program from The University of Texas at Austin, followed by her medical degree from The University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston. Walker is a Clinical Associate Professor of Psychiatry with Dell Medical School, the Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry service line lead for Ascension Seton hospitals and Chief of Psychiatry at Dell Seton Medical Center at The University of Texas at Austin.  Dr Walker has a particular interest in withdrawal syndromes and toxidromes, perinatal psychiatric care, heart and other whole organ transplant evaluation, delirium, managing agitation and navigating systems of care including the mental health courts and carceral system in Texas.

Dr Walker teaches medical students and residents from many different specialties. She has been the recipient of numerous awards over her career including the Humanism in Psychiatry award during medical school, the Van Dao best resident award, and more recently several teaching awards and Physician of the Year 2026 at Dell Seton Medical Center. Her newest endevor "Sound Minds" involves bringing music to the hospital in the forms of interactive hospital staff ham sessions, pro musician performances and direct visits to paitents, all to improve staff and patient wellness.