About

The Alliance leverages the tremendous AI professional presence, resources, opportunities, and talent in Austin, building on Austin's unique culture of innovation, creativity, and desire for social impact. The Austin AI Alliance is a 501(c)(6) non-profit consortium with formalized bylaws and formal membership options for organizations and professionals located in the Capital Region of Texas.

Leadership

Board of Directors

  • Mike Hollinger is Chief Architect for Applied AI and Solutions in IBM Sustainability Software. As an IBM Distinguished Engineer, he is responsible for IBM's Maximo Application Suite, and infusing differentiated AI capabilities into the suite. Mike spent two years in Taipei, Taiwan as Lead Software Architect for IBM’s Power Systems Taiwan firmware development team. Mike is also an IBM Master Inventor, recognizing his contributions to the IBM intellectual property portfolio, and has authored or co-authored more than 60 patents and invention disclosures. Outside of work, Mike’s often found running on a trail in Austin, TX alongside his husband, or playing with and reading to their daughter.

  • Kicked out of college while studying AI at UT Austin many years ago - before the compute power and datasets were prevalent. Built career around data analytics rising to serve as EVP of Marketing for Reuters and Director, Worldwide Market Intelligence and Competitive Strategy for IBM. Served on multiple boards including to formation of the Human Dimensions of Organizations degree at UT Austin, BloxMob, and Turail, as well as various other startups and nonprofit associations. I serve in leadership roles for some boards including Treasurer for some, a capacity I currently serve as a current board member for Austin AI Alliance.

    I run the New Ventures accelerator at TXST for which half my annual cohort is AI companies and am part of the TXST Center for Analytics and Data Sciences. I also serve as Chief Experiment Officer of spxk where I help clients achieve their growth and transformation goals by applying data-driven and AI/ML optimization frameworks as well as leadership and change processes. I leverage my background in game theory, decision sciences, Bayesian statistics, and systems dynamics to create and execute effective strategies, launch innovative products, and optimize business models for established and emerging businesses in order to grow.

  • In 2015, Jameila "Meme" Styles founded Measure to use evidence-based projects and tools for authentic storytelling through data. Under her leadership, Measure has provided thousands of hours of data support to Black and Brown-led organizations, government agencies, and universities, fostering strategic partnerships to advance BIPOC-led research methodologies. Recognized as an MIT SOLVER for anti-racist technology, chair for the HBCU Ai Conference, and awarded a fellowship by the Social Science Research Council, Styles champions the responsible use of artificial intelligence to drive systemic change. With extensive academic credentials and a background in leadership, she continues to advance her field through a doctorate in Strategic Leadership.

  • J's background spans product management, cloud security, and research operations. He's a Navy veteran and member of the DEFCON AI Village. A proud resident of Buda, TX, he enjoys Bar-B-Que, baseball, and spending time with his wife and son as well as 2 dogs and 2 cats.

    Currently, he manages the strategic planning and financial oversight of three Austin-based research institutions: UT Austin’s Machine Learning Lab, Center for Generative AI, and Institute for Foundations of Machine Learning (IFML), overseeing a budget that includes a $20M NSF grant, and the country’s largest dedicated academic GPU cluster of 600 NVIDIA H100s.

  • Zen serves as the AI Implementation Liaison for the Workforce Development Division at the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC), where she drives strategic AI initiatives. She manages a portfolio of grant projects and policy initiatives within the division.
Zen is also an Adjunct Professor at Texas State University, where she designs and delivers online courses in Management, Leadership, and AI for the Organization, Workforce, and Leadership Studies (OWLS) department. Her focus is on workforce development and leveraging technology to enhance educational outcomes. She also serves on the Advisory Boards for STEEAM and the Texas State University Center for Analytics and Data Science (TXST CADS). Zen spearheads innovative course offerings and speaks publicly about AI's impact on business and education.
Previously serving as Vice President of Social Impact, Zen is now the Vice President of Training and Education on the Board of Directors of the Austin AI Alliance.
With over 10 years of experience optimizing processes in both the public and private sectors, Zen brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to these roles.

  • Kristen Hassen is the Principal of Outcomes for Pets Consulting, LLC, a premier consultancy in the animal shelter and welfare industry. With a strong focus on data-driven strategies for lifesaving and humane care, Kristen also serves as a Faculty Fellow at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, mentoring students and guiding the next generation of animal welfare leaders. Over the past decade, Kristen has led some of the largest and most complex animal shelters in the country, including the Fairfax County Animal Shelter, Austin Animal Center, and Pima Animal Care Center in Tucson, Arizona. She is the only shelter director to have achieved a sustained 90% live outcomes rate at three different shelters, two of which take in nearly 20,000 animals annually. 

    As a consultant, Kristen has worked with government animal shelters in some of the largest cities in the United States, including Los Angeles City, Riverside County, San Diego County, Miami-Dade, Dallas, San Antonio, and Maui. Her clients also include renowned national organizations and nonprofits like the ASPCA, Petco Love, Pedigree Foundation, Banfield Foundation, VCA Charities, Best Friends Animal Society, Jackson Galaxy Enterprises, the Kitten Lady, and Maddie’s Fund. Kristen is an advisory board member for Petszel and serves on the board of the Austin AI Alliance. 

  • Megan Murray, with over 15 years of experience in financial services, relationship management, and operations, recently founded Leoluna Finance Collective. This venture extends her expertise in outsourced CFO services to startups in emerging tech like AI and blockchain, helping them scale efficiently and manage resources effectively. Leoluna offers finance, accounting, tax, compliance, and HR services to growth-stage companies. Megan also serves as the Operations Manager for ATX DAO, contributing to Austin's blockchain community and global decentralized governance. Additionally, as Co-Founder of ATX Women in Web3, she hosts community events and is launching the Femme Founder Bootcamp this fall. Megan's impact has earned her recognition as one of the Most Inspirational Women in Web3 & AI, with her efforts featured in Axios and Forbes.

  • Shree is a seasoned global entrepreneurial P&L leader with over 25 years of expertise in Software, Professional Services, Research and Development, and Discrete manufacturing. As a C-suite thought leader, he brings extensive global experience in building products, managing pre-sales, consulting, and delivery. He has consulted to CXOs at marquee manufacturing sector clients across a variety of industries (Auto, Aero, Machinery, CPG, Power, Med Devices) in 19 countries. He is an evangelist for emerging technologies and successfully built a boutique 750-person consulting and enterprise software delivery global organization with a presence in 11 countries. He has also been a CIO for a large organization in the recent past. Shree serves on advisory boards of several early-stage companies focused on using AI to solve difficult problems that plague the manufacturing industry bringing skills in Product Market fit, SaaS, GTM strategies, and Business Development.

  • Mike Ignatowski is a Senior Fellow in the Research department at AMD with over 40 years of experience in the industry. His main focus area is future hardware for HPC and AI applications.  Mike is also involved with AMD's Responsible AI efforts and has a strong interest in the impact of AI Technology on society. Mike serves on the board of the Austin Forum on Technology and Society and has a strong interest in working with others to promote the socially beneficial use of technology and to understand and mitigate any potential harmful effects. Mike hopes to use his involvement in the Austin AI Alliance to promote such collaboration in the greater Austin area.

  • Clayton Cromer advises a wide array of technology and life sciences companies, as well as prominent venture capital firms. He offers comprehensive transactional and operational guidance throughout the corporate lifecycle, from inception to exit. Mr. Cromer's expertise extends to a diverse array of sectors, including enterprise software, artificial intelligence, digital media and entertainment, clinical research and development, energy solutions, real estate development, fintech, web3/blockchain, and interactive gaming.

    Mr. Cromer is deeply involved in Latham's initiatives for recruitment, mentorship, training, and professional development, as well as the firm's efforts in embracing and implementing technological innovations, such as cutting-edge AI tools to streamline his practice while ensuring excellent client outcomes. Additionally, he is a dynamic participant in Austin's vibrant startup and technology community. Mr. Cromer maintains an active pro bono practice, advising small business owners in the Austin and Houston metro areas in partnership with Houston Small Business Legal Consultations.

Executive Director

  • Jay Boisseau is an experienced, recognized leader and strategist in advanced computing technologies, with over 25 years in the field. Jay is the executive director and founder of The Austin Forum on Technology & Society, which he created in 2006 and is the leading monthly technology outreach and engagement event in Austin--and now attracts national and international attendees online. The Austin Forum is one of the pillars of the Austin tech scene, providing connections to information, ideas, collaborations, and community overall. In addition, Jay is CEO, co-founder (June 2014), and a partner in Vizias, a small team of passionate professionals with expertise in high-performance computing (HPC), artificial intelligence (AI), technology community building, and technology outreach & event planning. Vizias staff lead, execute, and support the Austin Forum through Vizias Research, Education, and Outreach, a non-profit dedicated to using technology for positive social impact. Jay has held previous leadership positions at Dell Technologies, the Texas Advanced Computing Center (TACC) at The University of Texas at Austin, the San Diego Supercomputer Center, and the Arctic Region Supercomputing Center. He received his doctorate in astronomy from UT Austin, and his undergraduate degree in astronomy and physics from the University of Virginia.

    For Jay's full professional bio, visit here.

Vision

The Austin AI Alliance vision is to make Austin a world-class city in advancing the understanding, capabilities, usage, and positive impact of AI by coordinating the collective AI design, development, engineering, application, and education expertise in Austin and by leveraging Austin’s culture of innovation, creativity, and collaboration.

Objectives

Capabilities
Accelerate the efforts, success, and growth of Austin’s AI-focused companies and organizations in AI research, development, services, sales, and other efforts leading to AI adoption and impact, including national/global AI companies and organizations with an Austin presence.

Usage
Support the success of companies and organizations in the effective adoption and usage of AI to improve innovation, efficiency, and quality of products and services.

Skills
Enhance the AI knowledge, expertise, and career opportunities of the Austin workforce, and support the development of the future workforce in AI understanding, usage, and career development.

Social Impact
Demonstrate the positive social impact of AI—in business, health, energy, environment, education, safety, etc.—and address myths and fears with facts, logic, data, and education.

Responsibilities
Develop and promote responsible AI design, usage, and collaboration policies, including ethical considerations, addressing bias and fairness, protecting privacy, and promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Working Groups

The Austin AI Alliance is forming working groups now in the following areas:

  • Membership & Partnerships

  • Communications & Coordination

  • Workforce Development, Training & Education

  • Initiatives & Projects

  • Events