Woman’s Way 2024 Finalist Women to Watch

Kassi Longoria is the CEO for MAYA Consulting. Longoria is an equity and systems strategist with more than 15 years of experience in education and child welfare and is driven by her values of equity, justice and belonging. A proud Latina, Longoria is inspired by liberatory design and believes the key to systems change is to authentically shift power to families and communities. In her role as CEO, she leads MAYA’s strategic direction and supports the team in collaborating with schools, nonprofits, philanthropy and public agencies to strengthen the social capital, economic mobility and overall well-being of children and families across the U.S. Additionally, she is passionate about the connection between workplace well-being and community impact. Outside of work, she enjoys reading, cooking, yoga, traveling and Austin’s live music scene. Longoria resides in Austin with her husband, Matt, and their three dogs, Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and Dolly Parton.

mayaconsultingllc.com

Shannan Hale, Jessica Campos and Micki Gram: the powerhouse team at The Greatness Agency and You Are Magic Media. These businesswomen are experts in transforming brands through innovative social content, engaging community management and compelling storytelling via video. They work with businesses looking to enhance their digital footprint and want a practical alternative to hiring a full marketing team, reducing overhead while effectively boosting brand presence and impact. When not creating some magic, you’ll find the team immersed in the community through HeyATX, where they host dynamic events that connect professionals and entrepreneurs.“Let’s connect!”

thegreatnessagency.com

Marisel Ballard’s journey from Lima, Peru, to the vibrant streets of Austin is a testament to resilience, determination and the unwavering pursuit of dreams. Arriving in the U.S.with a newborn in her arms, Ballard faced daunting challenges as a single mother, with no knowledge of English and no familial support. Fueled by her ambition to build a better life for her family, and with only a broom and a vacuum cleaner, she founded Trustworthy Cleaning Services in 2004. Over the years, she diversified her ventures, expanding into event design with Colorina Party Events and real estate investment with Pink Power Properties. Transitioning into real estate, Ballard’s mission extends to helping others achieve homeownership and making a difference in impoverished neighborhoods. Marisel Ballard is a beacon of hope, lighting the way for others to turn their dreams into reality.

trustworthycleaningserv.com

Heather Wagner Reed is the founder and CEO of Juice Consulting, a boutique PR and marketing agency that specializes in sectors including music, film, tech, international government, nonprofit, the arts and more. Founded in 2007 (and after building a hard-working dream team over the last 17 years!), SPIN magazine recently hailed Juice as “Austin’s premier marketing & PR firm.” With a heartfelt passion for mentorship, Wagner Reed is an adjunct faculty member at Austin Community College teaching Marketing and PR for Creatives. Before launching Juice in 2007, she served as senior product manager for 32-time GRAMMY-winning artist Beyoncé, handling her day-to-day management and global marketing coordination. She also spent many years in The Netherlands and some time in France, working for international brands such as Universal Music. She is a very proud mom to Livingston and Lotus, is active on a number of boards and is also a vintage goods purveyor on the side.

juiceconsulting.com

Carina Coel is the founder and principal architect of Austin-based residential architecture firm Restructure Studio and sustainable home plan provider Arbor Plans. A graduate of Rice University, she has worked in the architectural field in Austin since 2003 and launched Restructure Studio in 2010. Restructure Studio’s work has been featured on two AIA Austin Homes Tours as well as in the pages of the Wall Street Journal and Austin Energy Green Building case studies. Coel is proud to have served Austin’s thriving design community as chair for AIA Austin’s Women in Architecture committee, where she was invited to lead the “Call to Action” initiative, which now provides an annual scholarship for minority women at the University of Texas School of Architecture. Coel happily resides in South Austin where she enjoys taking dance classes, listening to live music with her husband and trying to keep up with her two active children.

restructurestudio.com | arbor-plans.com