Austin’s Finest


Austin's Finest Honoree's are Central Texas professionals who strive to make a difference both professionally and personally through their dedication, innovation, and self-starter attitude.

Selected nominees will be provided the opportunity to grow, connect and celebrate while being surprised and highlighted from start to finish. Our 10-week program is designed to expand their network, develop professional skills, and generate experience impacting a mission with measurable outcomes.


2025 Austin’s Finest Honorees

jAMIE mOSER

Jamie joined the pediatric Cystic Fibrosis Care team at Dell Children's Medical Center as a Registered Dietitian in April 2025. She holds a Master's of Science degree in Nutrition from Bastyr University, as well as a Master's of Science degree in Chemical Biology from the University of Michigan. Jamie has been a practicing Registered Dietitian since 2019, with a wide variety of pediatric experience in the areas of hematology, oncology, and gastroenterology. Interestingly, Jamie also holds a culinary degree from the San Diego Culinary Institute and has worked in various areas of the culinary industry. It is this experience that allows Jamie to provide families with approachable ways to incorporate evidence-based, medical nutrition therapy recommendations into meals that the whole family will enjoy.

Jamie was born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico, but has lived all throughout the US. In her free time she enjoys gardening, cooking, reading, learning the cello, and taking care of her two dogs and 12 chickens!


John Burkhalter

Rooted in Christian faith, John Burkhalter lives by sacrificial, servant-hearted leadership - putting community needs first and letting actions speak louder than words. For nearly three years he has championed the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in Central Texas and is humbled to be named one of Austin's Finest Honorees for 2025.

A mission volunteer and ongoing supporter of Arise Africa in Zambia, John helped build schools and mentor youth, deepening his resolve to uplift the vulnerable.

Professionally, John safeguards hundreds of millions of dollars in assets nationwide as a Commercial Insurance Specialist at Higginbotham, advising private-equity and real-estate firms on risk strategies that protect both people and property. Being featured among this year's "Top 100 People in Real Estate," is one of his biggest achievements, in addition to, earning Higginbotham's Sales Goal Honors twice, as he continues to reach new heights in his role.

John's greatest blessings are at home: his wife, Jamie, and their nine-month-old daughter, Joelle, whose love and support inspire him to pursue every dream in service to God and neighbor.


Kailyn Jopling

Kailyn is a Registered Dietician who has been serving the Austin and Lake Travis community for over 13 years. Passionate about fostering a healthy relationship with food and body image with her clients, Kailyn strives to be a resource in the community, supporting individuals in their journey toward better mental and physical health. Kailyn has been a member of the Central Texas Eating Disorder Specialist organization for over 10 years, serving as a board member for 5 years. Kailyn is also a resource on mombrain.com and a collaborator at Elevated Wellness.

A strong advocate for finding a cure for cystic fibrosis, Kailyn has been deeply influenced by the loss of two cousins to the disease. Their unwavering strength, determination, and the tireless efforts of Kailyn's aunt and uncle to improve their lives left an indelible mark. Today, Kailyn continues this mission, working to create a future where children, like the two young girls of close friends who now battle cystic fibrosis, can grow up with hope for a cure.


Kathy Vazquez

Kathy Vazquez has been a practicing Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) since 2007 and currently serves as the Program Coordinator and RRT for the Adult Cystic Fibrosis (CF) Care Center of Central Texas. She joined Ascension Seton/Dell Children's Medical Center of Central Texas CF Center from 2016 to 2018 as a pulmonary function test therapist, then Adult CF team of Central Texas in 2018 not only to perform pulmonary function tests, but also to help educate and support patients with their respiratory care needs.

Kathy is an active member of the local CF community. She has participated in the CF Foundation Mentoring Programs in 2019 as a respiratory therapist and program coordinator apprentice and mentor and has worked with her team on Quality Improvement initiatives, such as the VIP-F8. She has served as a speaker and moderating chair for the North American Cystic Fibrosis Conference in 2022-2025, participates in the CF Care Center’s Patient Family Advisory Board, and continues to attend various local CF Foundation chapter events to support the Central TX CF community.


Krista Evans

Krista is an experienced operations & administrative leader based in Austin, Texas, with a background in public service, law, and strategic management. Most recently serving as Chief Administrative Officer at Bojorquez Law Firm, she has led firm-wide operations, strategic planning, and client engagement across Texas. With over a decade of experience supporting C-level executives, city officials, & legal professionals, she is known for her precision, poise, and problem-solving skills. She holds a Master of Public Administration from Texas Tech University and a BA in Political Science & History from Simmons College.

Krista is heavily involved with volunteer engagements, including the Junior Achievement Executive Board, Austin Junior League, Austin Women’s Club, Young Women’s Alliance Austin, Association of Legal Administrators, Dallas Cotillion Club, Dallas Slipper Club, Dallas Junior League, New York Junior League, Arete Living Arts, and Global ServiceDay. Additionally, Krista’s work has been published in Seventeen Magazine, USA Today, and Boston.com on common myths about Women's Colleges.


megan mrazek

Crisis communicator turned real estate advisor, Megan Mrazek joined the real estate community after a long-stint in corporate America. Formerly a crisis management consultant, Megan's superpower is confidently guiding clients through complex situations, and making what could otherwise be a stressful experience a comfortable and enjoyable one. She has a passion for interior design and brings a love for aesthetics to the table in all of her work.

Megan serves as a member of the Philanthropy Council for St. Louise House, championing access to health, housing, and education for women and children. A long-time resident of Bee Cave, Megan is passionate about welcoming others into the thriving West Austin community. When she isn't selling or remodeling homes, you can find Megan, along with her husband, Bill, and two children, Tatum and Campbell, enjoying live music outside in the Texas hill country, likely with a drink in hand.


Patrice Beiswanger

Patrice is a dynamic leader and connector, currently serving as the President of the Ellevate Women's Network Austin chapter, where she plays a pivotal role in forging meaningful relationships among ambitious women. Through her leadership, the network thrives as a supportive community that unlocks doors and shares insights @EllevateAUS. Her commitment to community extends to her role as President of the Patient and Family Advisory Board for the Adult Cystic Fibrosis clinic in Austin, leading efforts to ensure exceptional patient care and education within the CF community.

With a career spanning over 19 years, Patrice has emerged as an innovative force in the sales industry, primarily focusing on Fortune 500 companies in a B2B context. Her analytical mind, coupled with a knack for building authentic executive relationships, has enabled her to devise transformational strategies and spearhead effective execution. As an HCM Sales Consultant for iSolved HCM, she continues to inspire her team as a top producer and visionary sales leader.

Outside of her professional endeavors, Patrice is a vivacious spirit who loves to travel, savor red wine, and immerse herself in the energy of live concerts. She recently embarked on a new journey as a homeowner, dedicating herself to infuse her living space with personal touches that reflect her unique style. Above all, Patrice cherishes her role as the beloved 'Fun Aunt' to six nieces and one nephew, a title she wears with pride and joy.


Rebecca Bassett

Rebecca Bassett is a passionate product marketing leader focused on launch strategy for Coda-now, part of Grammarly. She's spent her career bringing innovative tech to market while championing inclusive, collaborative cultures along the way.

Rebecca founded and served as VP of the Women's Network at National Instruments and was a regional lead for Miro's Women's Employee Resource Group, where she was recognized as a Culture Champion for her collaborative spirit. It was at Miro that she met her friend Stephanie Solomon, with whom she served as a leader for the ERG. Through Stephanie-and her husband Sean, who lives with cystic fibrosis-Rebecca and her family became passionate supporters of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. They've proudly participated in Great Strides the last two years.

She's also been involved in community work through her church - First Presbyterian Church of Austin, and is an active member of the Product Marketing Alliance and Austin Women in Technology. Outside of work, you'll find her enjoying life with her husband Philip and their two boys, Emmett (7) and Sutton (2), who keep things joyful and just a little bit wild.


Sunny Nelson

Sunny is a Senior ISV Account Manager at Amazon Web Services who has been deeply connected to Austin's business and community landscape for nearly a decade. A Texas Hill Country native who has been visiting Austin her entire life, she made the city her official home four years ago.

Her commitment to Austin's tech community runs deep-she took over leadership of the local AWS User Group in 2017, fostering connections and knowledge-sharing among the city's growing cloud computing professionals. At AWS, she goes beyond her account management role by actively leading workplace culture initiatives and committees focused on bringing people together and cultivating meaningful in-office connections.

As an active member of the Junior League of Austin, she currently serves on the recruitment and outreach committee, building on over a decade of service that began when she joined the organization in San Francisco in 2013. Her dedication to personal and professional development extends to her membership in Alluviance, a leadership organization for sales professionals, where she continues to grow while contributing to the advancement of others in her field. Through her unique combination of business leadership, community engagement, and genuine passion for bringing people together, she exemplifies the collaborative spirit that makes Austin thrive.



THANK YOU TO OUR 2024 CLASS OF AUSTIN’S FINEST


Thank You to our 2023 Class of Austin’s Finest

THANK YOU TO OUR 2022 CLASS OF AUSTIN’S FINEST

THANK YOU TO OUR 2021 CLASS OF AUSTIN’S FINEST

THANK YOU TO OUR 2020 CLASS OF AUSTIN’S FINEST

THANK YOU TO OUR 2019 CLASS OF AUSTIN’S FINEST