Colin Kendrick:

In 1997 Colin wrote a business plan for what became the Austin Music Foundation (AMF). He served as the founding Executive Director of that organization between 2001 and 2003 and has served as a member of its board of directors ever since. Under his guidance AMF has raised and invested more than $1,500,000 into business education for Austin’s working musicians. Colin currently works for SunPower, the third largest global manufacturer of solar panels. His previous work experience includes a decade as a strategist for Dell, several years in business development for Apple and as an executive officer of a start-up in the Austin Technology Incubator. Prior to that, Colin was a consultant for high net-worth individuals at Pricewaterhouse. His work there included portfolio management and tax compliance for individuals and family foundations.

Colin holds a Master of Business Administration degree with a dual concentration in finance and accounting and a Bachelor of Science degree in radio, television, and film with a concentration in audio engineering from the University of Texas at Austin. During his undergraduate studies, Colin worked two seasons at KLRU public television as an audio intern for the award winning, nationally televised music program Austin City Limits. His experiences there and his graduate studies on sustainable funding for non-profits served as the catalyst for the concepts underlying the Austin Music Foundation and Black Fret.

Gavin Lance Garcia is a native Austinite recognized for his ability to create consensus among divergent groups and individuals. Honored by the City of Austin and several charity organizations for his advocacy, Garcia has led strategic initiatives and campaigns to promote Austin’s entertainment industry. He currently serves as Chair of the Austin Music Commission and sits on the Joint Cultural Committee and Visitors Impact Task Force. For 40 years, he has fostered numerous private, public, and non-profit sector endeavors as a musician, promoter, journalist/publisher (Austin Chronicle, Austin American-Statesman, TODO Austin), and in various positions at the University of Texas at Austin.During his longtime involvement in Austin music, he has collaborated with artists as diverse as Roky Erickson, Ruben Ramos, Willie Nelson and Stevie Ray Vaughan. Garcia produced some of Austin’s earliest punk, indie, metal, dance, rap and hip hop shows in the 1980s at legendary venues including Antone’s, Liberty Lunch, the Ritz, Austin Opry House, City Coliseum and more recently, SXSW Latin music showcases. At UT, he has been instrumental in a partnership of Austin music, Butler School of Music and Longhorn Athletics.

Garcia is also involved in project management and economic development as Executive Director of Austin Dia de los Muertos and as Assistant Director of the UT Project on Conflict Resolution. Additionally, he serves as a board member of the Pecan Street Association, Bellas Artes Alliance, Humanitarians in the Arts and Dialogue Institute of the Southwest, among other civic and professional organizations.