INCUBATION STATION MENTORS ARE NOTABLE ENTREPRENEURS, INVESTORS AND ADVISORS WHO WORK AS A TEAM TO PROPEL OUR CPG PARTICIPANT COMPANIES INTO A NEW LEVEL OF SUCCESS.

We are passionate about supporting our entrepreneur community, and investing our time and resources to make an impact.

SHARI WYNNE

Shari Wynne is Co-founder, CEO + Managing Partner of MWR Legal, a business law firm representing entrepreneurs, investors, start-ups and emerging companies. Ms. Wynne focuses her practice on legal-related business growth and development matters, and connects MWR Legal clients with critical resources. Ms. Wynne is also the founder of 6Degrees Connect (a referral match company) and developed Incubation Station with the goal of giving entrepreneurs access to industry expertise and preparation for funding and growth. Ms. Wynne is the current President of RISE:Women and past-president of the Entrepreneurs' Organization (EO) Austin chapter.

CLAYTON CHRISTOPHER

Clayton Christopher is the Founder and former CEO of Sweet Leaf Tea Company, which he started in 1998 with $10,000 in savings, an old delivery van and a recipe from his grandmother. Sweet Leaf Tea is one of the fastest growing beverage companies in the US, with over $60M in sales and 100+ employees. Nestle purchased Sweet Leaf in June of 2011. Clayton is passionate about entrepreneurship and loves helping small food and beverage brands grow. Clayton is currently co-founder and CEO of Deep Eddy Vodka and co-founder and Chairman of Rhythm Superfoods. He also sits on the boards of several other food and beverage companies. Clayton won the 2006 Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year award for Central Texas, the 2010 AU40 Austinite of the Year Award, AU40 Business and Entrepreneurship Award, as well as the Austin Business Journal's Best CEO Award for 2011. He is an active member of the Young Presidents Organization and serves on the board of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Texas where he has also been a "Big" to his "Little" Andrew San Miguel for 7 years.

HALL MARTIN

Hall T. Martin is the Director of the Texas Entrepreneur Network based in Austin, Texas, providing assistance for startup and early stage companies. He serves on the board of the Baylor Angel Network. Previously he served as the Director of the Central Texas Angel Network, where he established the network and grew the membership to 50+ with $4.5M invested in 20 deals. Hall T. Martin has worked at National Instruments for over twenty-four years in various positions, including Corporate Development Director- Emerging Technologies, in which he focused on research into new technologies and markets. Other positions at National Instruments included Market Development Director, International Marketing Manager, and European Sales Manager. He joined the company in 1986 as an Applications Engineer. He holds a B.A. in computer science from Baylor University and an M.B.A. from the University of Texas at Austin. He is a member of Upsilon Phi Epsilon, the Computer Science Honor Society. He has a wife named Victoria, and they have a daughter named Lili.

joe ross

Joe Ross is the President and Co-founder of CSID. With more than 15 years of global corporate management experience, Ross directs all aspects of CSID's operations, sales, marketing and client services. Ross is a frequent speaker and contributor for industry events and publications. Previously serving as president of Grande Communications, Ross is a member of the Young President's Organization and is on the board of Austin non-profit LifeWorks.

RICHARD (RICK) RESSLER

Richard Ressler is a premier corporate and securities attorney. Mr. Ressler has broad experience as an attorney with two internationally recognized law firms, Sullivan and Cromwell and Skadden Arps, and as in-house counsel to several public and private companies, including Union Pacific and Centex. Mr. Ressler serves MWR Legal as Managing General Counsel, applying his experience and knowledge for the firm's entrepreneur, investor and emerging company clients.

Dan graham

Austin native Dan Graham serves as CEO of BuildASign.com, a three-time ABJ Fast 50 award winning and two-time INC5000 company. Dan earned undergraduate degrees in Computer Science and Philosophy from the University of Texas at Austin and a J.D. from the School of Law at UT Austin. In March 2005, he co-founded BuildASign.com and bootstrapped the company to great success. Since then, BuildASign.com has grown to operations in four countries with 170+ employees and $30Million in revenue, having taken zero funding. Dan also serves the Austin community in a variety of capacities including the Board of Directors of Austin Pro Bono and Lights. Camera. Help.; as a member of the Cities of Service Steering Committee for the City of Austin; incoming 2012 Board of Directors Vice Chair of Small Business for Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce; Chair for UT's Innovation & Science Enterprise Advisory Board; Executive Chair of the UT Law Non-Practicing Alumni Advisory Council; City of Austin Sign Review Board Member; and as a mentor at Tech Ranch Austin, St. Michael's Academy and UT’s 1 Semester Startup.

Alan Blake

Alan Blake, CEO of GloFish, is an animal biotechnology pioneer. Through Alan's leadership, his company overcame enormous hurdles to commercialize GloFish, the first mass-marketed biotech animal. GloFish are now among the most popular aquarium fish on the market and have introduced the public to biotechnology as never before. Alan currently serves as the Austin chapter president of the Entrepreneurs' Organization (EO) and is the 2011 winner of Austin Under 40 Award in the Technology/Sciences category.

Rob McMahan

Robb McMahan is the founder and CEO of Let's Gel, Inc. (LGI). LGI invents, develops and sells products under the GelPro and Bon Home brands. Prior to founding LGI, Mr. McMahan was VP of Engineering for medical device manufacturer Barton Medical. Before that, Mr. McMahan held senior engineering positions at Dell Computer and Lexmark International. Mr. McMahan is an avid inventor and has approximately 20 granted and pending patents. Mr. McMahan has degrees in both Physics and Mechanical Engineering from Western Kentucky University, and the University of Kentucky, respectively.

scott jensen

Scott Jensen is CEO of Rhythm Superfoods; manufacturer of organic veggie-based superfoods snacks.  He is the former President & CEO of One World Foods (Stubb’s Bar-B-Q), which he co-founded 20 years ago with C.B. Stubblefield, and two close friends. He continues to help lead the Company on its board of directors. Scott led Stubb’s in its national and international expansion to be the largest Super-Premium Bar-B-Q and Marinade brand in the country.  He also co-founded, and sits on the board of Stubb’s Austin Restaurant Company, the famous Bar-B-Q and Live Music Venue in Austin, Texas. Scott is a member of the Austin Chapter of YPO and the head of the Specialty Food Executive Forum.  Scott graduated with a BS in Psychology and a BA in Business Communication from SMU and received his MBA from NYU.

Before co-founding Stubbs, Scott was a marketing manager at James River Corporation (Dixie Cups & Plates, Brawny Paper towels and Northern Bathroom Tissue brands). Prior to NYU, he spent two years at the Bloom Advertising Agency (Publicis, USA) in Dallas working on several national consumer products advertising campaigns for Church’s Fried Chicken, Nestle Specialty Foods, Carnation, Ross Laboratories Juicy Juice, Kern’s among others.

Michael renna

Michael Angelo Renna is the Founder and CEO of Michael Angelo’s Gourmet Foods, Inc. based in Austin, TX.  Michael founded Michael Angelo’s in 1982 in Southern Califonia and moved it to Austin, TX in 1993 where he built a 142,000 sq ft facility. He has since built and created a dry pasta manufacturing plant in Austin, TX and is co-founder of Michael Angelo’s Importing.

GARY FORNI

Gary Forni is an active member of both the Central Texas Angel Network, and the Austin Technology Council and acts as a mentor to five local startups. Prior to this he was the CEO of HeatGenie, the world's first solid-state self-heating technology company. Before heading up HeatGenie, Mr. Forni ran the Embedded Business Unit at Marvell Semiconductor and earlier still was a Worldwide Director of Marketing for Intel.

Perry Abbenante

Perry Abbenante is the Vice President of Marketing for the Pretzel Crisps ® brand at Snack Factory, LLC. Prior to his current role at Pretzel Crisps he held a number of senior positions at Whole Foods Market including Senior Global Grocery Director and piloted a vendor innovation program that guided the product innovation process from inception to activation. He has over 13 years of procurement and marketing experience in the food industry. 

John Rowe

Prior to joining LGI in 2010, John was CMO for Michaels Stores. John also spent seven years at Circuit City as Vice President of Merchandising and five years in marketing roles at Frito-Lay. John has an A.B. in economics from Harvard College and a Master's of Management Degree from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University.

Mike elhaj

Mike Elhaj is the CMO of Iron Energy, a retail electric provider (REP) focused on the residential electricity market in the northeastern United States. Prior to Iron Energy, Mike was the CMO of Simple Power, a Texas REP that he and his partners grew from business plan to over $20 MM in sales over 4 years. Simple Power won several marketing and advertising awards and was sold in 2011. Mike has worked in marketing and sales for almost 20 years in Austin and is also an investor in several local businesses. He is active in the community as a founder of LifeWorks Executives and Professionals a partnership with the local nonprofit, and recently sat on the board of The Trail Foundation. Mike earned his MBA from the University of Texas at Austin.

Leon Chen

Leon Chen is co-founder and CEO of Tiff's Treats Cookie Delivery, the nation's first warm cookie delivery concept. Along with his wife and co-founder Tiffany Taylor Chen, he started Tiff's Treats as a sophomore from his college apartment in 1999 and has grown the company to over 8 locations with plans of opening at least 5 more before the end of 2012 for a total of 13 retail locations. A University of Texas McCombs graduate, Mr. Chen is also on the Board of Directors for Fosters Angels of Central Texas.

alissa bayer

Alissa is the owner and founder of milk + honey spa and SALON by milk + honey. Since opening in 2006 milk + honey has rapidly grown to four successful locations and has won multiple awards, not just for its outstanding spa and salon services, but also for how it treats its employees. Alissa attended business school at UT-Austin (’04) focusing on Entrepreneurship and Management.

PAul Janowitz

Paul Janowitz is the founder and CEO of Sentient Services, a global market research, usability and innovation firm. Paul is also the founder of icanmakeitbetter.com – a revolutionary social innovation and research software platform. Prior to founding Sentient Services in 2003 Paul was a Research Director for The Gallup Organization, a founding employee of a leading technology research consultancy acquired by Market Strategies International and a branding director on the agency side. Paul specializes in market research, innovation, branding and marketing strategy.

Paul holds a MA in Government (human behavior and research methodology) and a dual BA in Economics and Government from the University of Texas at Austin. Paul is actively involved in the Austin community as the founder of AustinProBono.org and through partnerships with LifeWorks, The Trail Foundation and other local charities.

Kullen Kifer

Kullen Kifer is the CFO of Tiff’s Treats Cookie Delivery. Prior to joining Tiff’s Treats, Kullen was a founding member and President of Austin Acquisitions and First Turn Strategies. Austin Acquisitions was a boutique consulting company that specialized in small and medium sized business acquisitions and First Turn Strategies offered financial consulting, investor relations and other professional services to small and medium businesses.  Kullen earned a BBA and an MBA in Finance from The University of Texas at Austin and is a member of the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Institute.

mehlam bhiwandiwala

Mehlam Bhiwandiwala is a Sr. Finance Consultant at Dell working in the Global Operations and Supply Chain Design Strategy Group. Prior to Dell Mehlam worked as a Sr. Financial Analyst at RigNet, Inc. (a Technology Startup in Houston) which successfully IPO’ed in December 2010. Mehlam has also worked in KPMG’s Transaction Services & Audit Groups as well as the Houston Texans Financial Planning & Analysis Group.  Mehlam holds a Bachelors in Business Administration in Finance with a minor in Accounting from the University of Houston.

lisa williamson

Lisa is Co-Founder of UpSpring Ltd., based in Austin, Texas, a premiere parenting and child consumer brand that consists of popular labels such as Walking Wings® and Milkscreen™. Founded by mompreneurs, the company is dedicated to offering parents and children the most innovative and trustworthy health, wellness, and safety products available in the baby care industry.  The founders are inspired by how many unmet needs still exist in the childcare industry and how many great ideas other parents have to offer. Lisa has over 18 years of Marketing, Sales, Finance and Accounting experience.  Prior to UpSpring, she worked for two other start-up companies: one in the International Trade industry and the other in the Home Improvement Services industry.  Lisa spent the first portion of her career at PepsiCo including Pepsi-Cola and Frito-Lay in marketing, national account management, accounting and finance. She was also the VP of Marketing for American Achievement Corporation, a $300 million consumer products company focused on scholastic and jewelry products.

Warburg Lee

Warburg Lee is the CEO of Alen Corp, an INC5000 company whose mission is to help people Live Better by improving their indoor air quality. For more than 15 years, Lee held positions in engineering, marketing, sales and corporate strategy for Fortune 100 companies. He then pursued his entrepreneurial passion and founded three profitable companies, including Alen. His commitment to building trust and producing high marginal value with his customers and teams is what differentiates him as an uncommon CEO.

Rick Wittenbraker

Rick Wittenbraker is the VP of Marketing for YETI Coolers, maker of ultra-durable, super-insulated premium coolers for serious outdoor enthusiasts. YETI Coolers are wildly stronger, keep ice longer and are certified grizzly bear proof. He is also co-founder of The SEAM, Society for the Encouragement of Authentic Marketing, and Stage One Capital, an early stage venture capital firm focused on online brands and technologies.

Brian Goldberg

Brian Goldberg is CFO of Badlands Energy, LLC, a leading oilfield services company in the Bakken oil shale formation in North Dakota.  Previously, Brian was an executive officer (CFO/COO) of Sweet Leaf Tea, a consumer beverage brand based in Austin, TX.  Over a 6 year period, Brian was instrumental in growing the company from $2m to over $60m in revenue, leading to the sale of the company to Nestle in 2011 generating significant returns to institutional growth equity investors.  Brian managed equity and debt financing activities, M&A and integration activities, corporate infrastructure development, and the finance, supply chain, HR, IT functions.  Prior to Sweet Leaf, Brian was a VP at New Capital Partners, a private equity investment firm, as well as served in financial planning strategy roles at Pfizer (NY, CT, Ireland) and international corporate tax planning roles at Ernst & Young (Atlanta, Paris, Zurich).  Brian is a CPA and has an MBA in Finance/General Management from The University of Virginia, a Masters in Taxation from The University of Georgia, and a BSM in Accounting from Tulane University, New Orleans, LA. 

David Wieland

David Wieland is the co-founder of Centrist Capital, an Austin-based, boutique private equity firm. Prior to Centrist Capital, David co-founded Mission Residential, a multifamily owner-operator that acquired more 12,500 apartment units in the southeastern US, representing an aggregate investment of approximately $975MM.  Prior thereto, David co-founded Forward Capital, a structured finance and credit derivatives firm that accumulated synthetic equity interests in ninety-two (92) properties nationwide. In 1998, David founded Convenience Retail Group, a start-up REIT and wholesale gasoline distributorship sold to a public company.  During the early portion of his career David worked for a number of the premier real estate capital markets firms in the US. David serves on the Board of Governors of the Austin charity LifeWorks and is involved in various other community activities.  He received his MS in Land Economics and Real Estate and B.B.A. in Finance from Texas A&M University.