Sponsored Content
Get to know our Woman’s Way 2024 finalists!
These phenomenal women have paved new paths and ignited change, embodying the spirit of innovation and leadership in our community.
Contact us at sales@atxwoman.com for sponsorship opportunities.
Kassi Longoria
MAYA Consulting | CEO
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.
Shannan Hale, Jessica Campos and Micki Gram
The Greatness Agency and You Are Magic Media
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!”
Marisel Ballard
Trustworthy Cleaning Services |Owner and CEO
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.
Heather Wagner Reed
Juice Consulting | Founder and CEO
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.
Carina Coel, AIA
Restructure Studio and Arbor Plans | Founder and Principal Architect
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.
Julie Myrtille
Julie Myrtille Bakery and The Rose Bakery by Julie Myrtille | Executive Pastry Chef and Founder
Award-winning pastry chef Julie Myrtille is regarded as the most talented pastry chef who transitioned to the culinary world after a successful career in the fashion industry. She is considered the first international award-winning pastry chef to grace the Austin culinary scene and became an important figure as a longtime member of the farmers market in Austin and founder of Julie Myrtille Bakery and The Rose Bakery. Dubbed “The Golden Pastry” chef by the French media, Myrtille has shaken up the pastry degree exam in France, spreading all the fundamentals of French techniques and recipes in her blog (winner of the International Golden Blog Award 2015). In 2017, she joined the Academie Culinaire de France, becoming the youngest woman to receive the prestigious recognition. She received various accolades, including the French Minister in 2018. In addition to nomination for six gastronomy prizes, she won Austin Monthly’s 2020 Best Bakery and Best Pastry Chef by the Girl Scouts in 2024. She is a member of Austin Dames d’Escoffier, American Culinary Federation.
Shalou Barth
GhostLine Kitchens | Co-Founder and CEO
Shalou Barth is the co-founder and CEO of GhostLine Kitchens, revolutionizing the food industry with innovative shared-use commercial kitchen spaces. Designed to empower food and beverage producers of all kinds, GhostLine offers purpose-built facilities, abundant daylight and a range of amenities, services and flexible plans to elevate productivity and success rates. The unique demonstration kitchen and event space allow chefs to connect with clients and offer experiences like cooking classes, team building and dinner parties. Under Barth’s leadership, GhostLine’s 18,000-square-foot facility in South Austin has supported more than 200 food and beverage businesses within its first two years of operation. Barth’s entrepreneurial spirit has been evident throughout her career, from her roles at large companies like 3M in strategy, business development and product management, to independent ventures in commercial real estate development and launching a restaurant. Barth holds an MBA from McCombs and is a dedicated mother to two young boys.
Jill Gonzalez
Women’s Storybook Project of Texas | Executive Director
Jill Gonzalez is the executive director at Women’s Storybook Project of Texas, where she helps propel the mission of connecting children to their incarcerated mothers through the joy of literature. Originally from Wisconsin, Gonzalez moved to Austin in 1989 as a volunteer coordinator for statewide nonprofit. She has come full circle after teaching and serving as a reading specialist for 20 years. At the Storybook Project, Gonzalez promotes growth and diversity in programs, volunteers and staff. She is dedicated to excellence and strives to serve and lead by example