This episode of Austin Tech Connect dives into one of the city’s most impactful youth programs: Camp Enterprise, a Rotary Club of Austin initiative that has been shaping young entrepreneurs for more than four decades. Hosted each February, Camp Enterprise brings together high school juniors from across Central Texas for an immersive, three-day experience focused on building real-world business skills.

Our guests, Rick Rowell and Gaines Bagby, share how the program works and why it continues to have such a lasting influence. Students are placed into teams, assigned key leadership roles like CEO, CMO, or CFO, and given the challenge of creating a physical product-based business from scratch. Over the weekend, they develop business plans, refine their ideas, and present them in a high-energy, “Shark Tank”-style pitch competition. Along the way, they discover hidden strengths... whether it’s a knack for numbers, a talent for marketing, or the confidence to lead a team.

Rick and Gaines talk about the importance of exposing students to entrepreneurship early, especially those who might not have access to such opportunities through their schools or communities. While many participants come from schools with established business programs, the Rotary team works hard to reach a diverse mix of students, including those from underrepresented areas. They share stories of parents beaming with pride as their children discover new passions, and of students who leave the weekend seeing an entirely new path for their future.

We also explore the broader mission of Rotary in Austin... how service above self, community engagement, and leadership development are woven into programs like Camp Enterprise. This episode is an invitation to the tech community to get involved, help spread the word, and ensure that every young person with an entrepreneurial spark has a chance to see what’s possible.

This Week's Guest: Bonnie Caver, Founder of Reputation Lighthouse

In this episode, Thom Singer welcomes Bonnie Caver, a respected communications strategist and longtime Austin tech leader, to explore the topic of responsible AI implementation. With decades of experience in reputation management, change strategy, and executive leadership support, Bonnie shares how AI is reshaping the way organizations operate... and why the smartest companies are approaching implementation with caution, clarity, and care.

Bonnie traces her career path from college athletics and Special Olympics Texas to launching her own firm and helping mid-sized growth companies across industries protect and grow what she calls their “reputation currency.” She discusses why her company chose not to focus on AI tools but instead on helping businesses make smarter, more aligned decisions around how and when to use AI.

The conversation covers how companies can avoid reputational risk, how to stay competitive while maintaining a human-centered brand promise, and why AI implementation should start with understanding business problems, not tool selection. Bonnie and Thom also reflect on how Austin’s tech ecosystem has changed over the years, from its early days of organic community building to today’s sprawling and more fragmented landscape.

Bonnie offers a clear warning: companies that chase AI without purpose will either waste money or end up looking like everyone else. The path forward, she argues, is through vision, values, and strong internal processes that make AI adoption effective and responsible. From corporate governance to team retraining, from customer experience to brand alignment, responsible AI is not a tech initiative—it’s a leadership mandate.

They close the episode with a discussion on the future of talent, mergers and acquisitions, and the pressure on startups to build sustainable businesses instead of just sellable products. Bonnie also shares concerns about Austin’s tendency to build with the goal of acquisition rather than long-term growth, and how that mindset must evolve if the region wants to stay competitive in an AI-driven era.

This conversation is a must-listen for founders, executives, marketers, and anyone navigating the intersection of innovation, responsibility, and reputation in today’s fast-moving business landscape.

If you’re finding value in these conversations, please share the podcast with your colleagues. The Austin tech community grows stronger when we amplify the voices of leaders who are doing meaningful, thoughtful work. That’s why we call this podcast Austin Tech Connect.

Austin Tecnology Council

In this episode of Austin Tech Connect, Thom Singer sits down with Joe Wolfel, CEO of Terradepth and former Navy SEAL, to explore the intersection of military discipline, ocean technology, and entrepreneurship. Joe shares his journey from leading special operations missions to building one of the most innovative ocean data companies in the world... right here in Austin, Texas.

Joe opens up about the founding of Terradepth and its mission to create a “Google Earth for the oceans.” Teradepth is pioneering ocean transparency through autonomous robotics, real-time data collection, and advanced software platforms. From supporting NOAA to major oil and gas companies, their work has the potential to redefine how we understand and manage our oceans.

The conversation covers the challenges of building a deep tech company in a landlocked city, the overlap between space and ocean technologies, and the cultural and strategic advantages Austin brings to emerging industries. Joe and Thom also reflect on environmental responsibility, data sharing, and how next-gen ocean tech can drive smarter global decision-making.

If you're interested in blue tech, data-driven sustainability, or the future of Austin’s tech ecosystem, this is an episode you don’t want to miss.

About Joe Wolfel:

Joe Wolfel is the CEO of Terradepth, leading the company's mission to unlock the potential of subsea data for industries such as energy, environmental science, and defense. Prior to his leadership role at Terradepth, Joe served as a Navy SEAL, gaining valuable experience in teamwork, resilience, and operational excellence. His time in the SEALs has shaped his approach to leadership and his commitment to tackling complex, high-stakes challenges. Additionally, Joe has been involved with Exbellum, further broadening his impact in advancing innovative solutions for both national security and commercial markets. At Terradepth, he continues to drive forward-thinking strategies and partnerships to reshape the future of ocean exploration and data accessibility.

About Terradepth:

Terradepth, Inc. delivers ocean data better than humanly possible through innovative subsea-to-cloud technologies. By combining autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), low-carbon survey services, and the Absolute Ocean cloud-native data platform, Terradepth is redefining how the world explores and understands the ocean. From scalable seabed mapping to intuitive data management and analysis, Terradepth enables faster, smarter maritime decisions across energy, infrastructure, and defense sectors. Headquartered in Austin, Texas, Terradepth is pushing the boundaries of ocean exploration to unlock deeper insights for a sustainable future.