Austin Forum Advisory Board

Dr. Angela Dalton is a Director at AMD Research and Advanced Development (RAD), where she serves as Chief of Staff and Director of Strategic Research Engagements. Angela oversees operations within the RAD organization and leads strategic initiatives on innovative new hardware and software technologies for high performance computing, artificial intelligence, security, and future computing capabilities.

Prior to joining AMD in November 2020, Angela spent twelve years at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (JHU/APL), where she was both the technical leader for strategic DOD projects and deputy director of a branch of approximately 250 scientists and engineers across four technical groups working to develop and advance capabilities that assure mission critical communications for US Government sponsors. Angela has a B.S. in computer engineering from Virginia Tech as well as an M.S. and a Ph.D. in computer science from Duke University. She was an instructor and postdoctoral fellow at the University of Texas at Austin before joining JHU/APL.

As an entrepreneur, investor, and creator, Adam has been involved in numerous ventures over the years. As the Founder of Ionic Security, he has been recognized by Forbes as a 30-under-30 thought leader in technology and by the World Economic Forum as a Technology Pioneer. Additionally, he served on the inaugural Global Future Council on Cybersecurity on behalf of the World Economic Forum.

He currently serves as a member of the Advisory Board of the Centre for Cybersecurity at the World Economic Forum, an elected member of the Council on Foreign Relations, a member of both the advisory board for the College of Computing and the Institute for Information Security and Privacy at Georgia Tech, a charter member of TiE, a Distinguished Lecturer for the Robson Program at Emory University, and as a board member for Savvy Cyber Kids, a 501(c)(3) providing educational materials for families navigating the digital world safely.

Nancy built a formidable career at several of the most influential ad agencies in NY, Chicago, and LA and for more than a decade has been the Founder/CEO of Play Big Inc., a strategic inspiration company. Her current work dives deeply into the emerging intersection of tech, business, and society. Her expertise and experiences range from A.I. to frozen foods, to reinventing the internet, and all of her projects have a key common denominator: transitioning away from extractive operating systems and outdated business thinking to create more sustainable, inclusive, and dynamic solutions the future demands.

Author of the Amazon bestselling book “Leadering: The Ways Visionary Leaders Play Bigger,” Nancy is a frequent panelist at South by Southwest, global keynote speaker, Singularity University guest lecturer, and the world's first TEDx licensee. She is recognized as one of the world's top female futurists and is co-Founder of the Femme Futurists Society.

Sherri R. Greenberg is a professor of practice and fellow of the Max Sherman Chair in State and Local Government at the LBJ School of Public Affairs, and she is a professor of practice at the Steve Hicks School of Social Work. Additionally, she is the LBJ School Assistant Dean for State and Local Government Engagement. She is a primary researcher for, and Chairperson of, Good Systems, Ethical AI at UT Austin. Greenberg serves on the Austin Smart City Alliance Board of Directors, and the Austin Forum on Technology & Society Advisory Board. Previously, she was a member of the Central Health Board of Managers, and a member of the City of Austin Housing Investment Review Committee.

Greenberg has served as a senior advisor to Austin Mayor Steve Adler. She was a Texas state representative from 1991 to 2001, and she chaired the House Pensions and Investments Committee and the Select Committee on Teacher Health Insurance. She also served on the House Appropriations, Economic Development, Elections, and Science and Technology Committees. Previously, Greenberg was the City of Austin capital finance manager and a public finance officer at Standard & Poor's.

Houli serves as lead instructor, Product Management & Design, for Flatiron School, where she is currently assigned to the Army Software Factory (US Army Institute for Software Development). She also facilitates design sprints and workshops for select government agencies and nonprofit organizations. Previously, she served as lead instructor in the User Experience Design Immersive program at General Assembly.

Houli has also served as Managing Director of the Austin Forum on Technology & Society and Managing Director of Austin Smart City Alliance. Additionally, she has served as executive director and chief lobbyist for Austin Music People, the trade association for Austin's $2 billion music industry. She is a certified facilitator and an award-winning public speaker and writer, with recent appearances at ProductCamp, Control the Room, Austin Design Week, Hire Women Week, and AIGA Changemakers.

John Kump is a retired U.S. Army Officer with over 24 years of service, including combat deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. He began his career as an Infantry Officer before transitioning to acquisition and program management, ultimately concluding his military service in Austin with Army Futures Command. As part of his professional development, he completed a one-year fellowship at Founders Fund in San Francisco, where he worked alongside venture capital leaders and gained insight into emerging technologies and startup innovation.

Today, John serves as Senior Manager of Strategic Operations for AMD Research and Advanced Development (RAD), where he leads strategic planning, cross-functional execution, and portfolio management to drive high-impact R&D. He holds degrees from the University of Alaska Fairbanks and Webster University and is certified by both the Project Management Institute and the National Contract Management Association.

Harold has more than 30 years of leadership experience in consulting, public accounting, and the U.S. Air Force. He earned his Bachelor of Business Administration in accounting from Texas State University. Prior to becoming a partner at Atchley & Associates, LLP in 2005, Harold managed his own accounting practice and later merged with Faske Lay & Co., LLP as a partner. Harold is retired from the Air Force and the Air Force Reserves.

Harold centralizes his practice in mergers and acquisitions, business valuations, litigation support, expert witness consulting, and forensic accounting. He has extensive expertise in these practice areas in addition to succession planning, taxation, attestation, and general business consulting. As the managing partner of the consulting services group, he has the ability to evaluate and explain complex business transactions as well as see them through to success.

Bryan Port is the Director of the Center for Government & Civic Service at Austin Community College, having retired from a 30 year career with the Department of Defense where he served as an intelligence officer and then as the Director of Strategy to multiple four-star generals. He also teaches history at ACC and is working on a PhD in history at UT Austin.

Alex Casolaro is the Director of Credential Sales at SXSW, where she leads all B2C, B2B, and B2G badge sales strategies for SXSW EDU and the SXSW Conference & Festivals. As the first to hold this role, she drives cross-functional collaboration to grow individual and group credential sales, aligning with marketing, programming, and strategic teams to exceed company goals.

Prior to SXSW, Alex built a robust career in New York City at ViacomCBS, supporting major brands like Nickelodeon, MTV, and CMT in sales, marketing, and event production. She has also brought her expertise to Forefront Networks and The LINE Hotels, building a dynamic background across media, hospitality, and live events.