Core Team

"The staff at ATI is committed to passionately moving forward the idea of the entrepreneur." Dennis McWilliams

Core Team

Isaac Barchas, Director, Austin Technology Incubator

  • Heading up ATI since 2006
  • Built team that has grown ATI 3x and enhanced ATI value proposition
  • 8 years with McKinsey & Company, focused on business building (start-up and spin-out support) in industries such as biotechnology, software, wireless telecoms, Internet retail
  • On leadership teams of McKinsey’s North American Healthcare Practice and Global Organization Practice
  • Regularly published and interviewed in media including Wall Street Journal, CBS Evening News, Austin American Statesman, Austin Business Journal and others
  • Active board member in Central Texas tech support organizations, including Pecan Street Project, Austin Technology Council, and Central Texas Emerging Technology Fund
  • Stanford undergrad, University of Chicago master’s and law degrees

Lisa Bowen, ATI Grants and Admin

  • Grants and contracts specialist
  • 8 years of experience in semiconductor industry
  • Lead admin for key lab group Center for Petroleum and Geosystems Engineering
  •  BAA Public Administration from University of North Texas

 Bertha Castro, ATI Finance and Accounting

  • University of Texas employee for 25 years, working in the offices of Accounting, LBJ School of Public Affairs, College of Pharmacy and IC2
  • Manages ATI accounting and UT accounting and HR interface 
  • Leader in UT/ATI integration and cooperation, with expertise in UT policies and procedures
  •  Earned the University of Texas Staff Excellence Award twice 

 

Kyle Cox, Director, IT/Wireless & University
                   Development Portfolios

  • Lead advisor to the ATI IT/Wireless & University Development portfolio companies
  • Will continue to build on existing successes of campus entrepreneurship programs, including ATI-SEAL program (Student Entrepreneur Acceleration & Launch), the “From Innovation to Intellectual Property" class in Engineering, the I2P global competition, 3 Day Startup, Texas Venture Labs, and 1SemesterStartup
  • 14 years’ experience investing in and working with emerging technology companies as a venture capitalist, board member, CEO and consultant
  • Founder of multiple firms in areas ranging from distribution and e-commerce to medical devices and healthcare technology
  • Previously in business development and marketing with $15B medical device company, clinical certification in cardiac pacing and defibrillation
  • Georgia Tech engineering undergraduate degree and MBA from Emory University

Mitch Jacobson, Co-Director, ATI Clean Energy

  • Lead advisor to all ATI Clean Energy companies since 2009.
  • 30 years in technology, including running European and Direct sales for Dell and a $6 billion P&L for Tech Data Corporation
  • Founder of Eyes of Texas Partners angel investment group
  • 10 years’ experience investing in and working with emerging technology companies as limited partner, board member and consultant.
  • Active community service, including board of Austin Habitat for Humanity and Zach Theater
  • BA in Business and Marketing from University of Florida

Shannon Lundquist, ATI Office Manager

  • Face and soul of ATI since 2005
  • Winner of 2011 University of Texas Staff Excellence Award 
  • Manages the front office
  • Liaison between ATI and guests
  • Provides administrative support to ATI companies and colleagues
  • Runs internally focused special projects
  • Facilities and member company contracts manager
  • Administrator of real estate operations
  • Billing supervisor
  • Veteran of the U.S. Navy
  •   Awarded  the Navy Achievement medal twice for meritorious service 
     

Robin E. Murphy, Events Coordinator

  • Seasoned special events and marketing executive with over 12 years’ experience working in the nonprofit sector
  • 8 years of professional fundraising experience in the Austin area (Previously held positions as Director of Development for Girlstart and AIDS Services of Austin)
  • Two-time International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) Maxi Award Finalist for outstanding event and promotional planning
  • Active community service volunteer for Animal Trustees of Austin, Hill Country Ride for AIDS, Human Rights Campaign (HRC), and  Texas Mamma Jamma Ride
  • Graduate from New Mexico State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies 

Dr. Cindy WalkerPeach, Director, ATI Bioscience

  • Lead advisor to all ATI Bioscience companies since early 2010
  • 20 years bio tech experience, including founding teams of Ambion Diagnositcs and Asuragen
  • Special expertise in business development, partnerships, licensing, and regulatory and reimbursement strategy
  • Inventor on multiple issued and pending patents on clinical assay innovations
  • Author of numerous scientific publications
  •  BS with focus on Chemistry, Creighton University, PhD in Molecular Biology and Chemistry, New Mexico State University, post doc fellowship at Monsanto Company.

Dr. Michael Webber, Co-Director, ATI Clean Energy

  • Leadership support for ATI Clean Energy companies
  • Associate Director of the Center for International Energy and Environmental Policy in the Jackson School of Geosciences
  • Fellow of the Strauss Center for International Security and Law at the LBJ School of Public Affairs
  • Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Texas at Austin
  • Author of more than 75 scientific articles, columns, books, including a compendium of his commentary titled Changing the Way America Thinks About Energy, published May 2009.
  • BA (Plan II Liberal Arts) and BS (Aerospace Engineering), both with High Honors, from UT-Austin, M.S. (Mechanical Engineering) and Ph.D. (Mechanical Engineering, Minor in Electrical Engineering) from Stanford University, where he was a National Science Foundation Fellow from 1995-1998.