We ensure the success of our clients through creative collaboration and supportive partnerships.
At Maven Strategic, we work with diverse clients across a breadth of industries. From energy and natural resource clients focused on serving customers and communities to new technology firms bringing innovation to the market, we can tailor our services to meet your needs.
Maven Strategic has a wealth of experience building bridges across legislative, political, and business interests and connecting clients with key players to ensure the success of the project.
When we first launched 13 years ago, public affairs made up a large portion of the services we offered. Our capabilities have expanded, and we now provide comprehensive operational strategies and business support for our clients.
We will do whatever we need to do to support you
because your success is paramount.
Put simply: We love to say “yes”.
The combination of our unbridled enthusiasm paired with our vast expertise makes us your new greatest asset. With our infectious yes mentality, we find creative solutions to counter your toughest challenges.
We feel deeply that your success is our success. Your passion is our passion. We value trust, respect, hard work, and teamwork, and we bring these values to the forefront of every project we take on.
When developing a partnership with you, we feel ownership of your success. In fact, we get so into it that we often refer to the client’s organization as “our business!” It’s because we really are in this with you. We are committed to working side-by-side with you to ensure you are wildly successful.
Why Maven?
After 13 years in the industry as Mandell & Associates, in 2020 we decided it was time for an update that more accurately describes who we are as a team and the services we provide our clients and partners. Hence, the name Maven Strategic was born.
Maven speaks to the dynamic experience and expertise we offer our clients and partners. We bring our distinct blend of reliable, honest, steady professionalism with modern, innovative, and pragmatic, forward-thinking to each engagement. We are especially adept at keeping your high-level strategy in mind, while also knowing the inner workings of your organization.
At Maven, our collective expertise as a team is unparalleled, and that’s because we value the diverse experience that each member brings.
“Samantha is an effective leader, strategic thinker and a powerful executor. I’ve had the pleasure of working with her for nearly five years, and could not ask for a better partner. Her breadth of skills – from operations management to public relations to financial analysis – has made our organization stronger and more successful. Sam knows how to lead a team to deliver on increasingly complex projects, on time and on budget, and she is the glue that holds our team together.”
Meet Our Team
Samantha Robledo, President
Sam serves as the President of Maven Strategic. She provides strategic leadership to the firm, as well as public relations and nonprofit management expertise to her clients. Sam has worked in a variety of industries including energy, water, and social services.
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Called a “master juggler” by clients, Sam excels at organizational development, building consensus, and empowering stakeholders at every level within an organization by fostering opportunities and strong communication.
Sam is lead on all client accounts at Maven Strategic and is known for being direct and honest. Sam focuses on providing excellence in the details and prides herself on acting with integrity. She has mastered the art and skill of translating vision to reality and brings a passion to every organization and cause with whom she collaborates.
In 2015, Sam helped to establish the Texas Energy Poverty Research Institute (TEPRI), a nonprofit focused on developing clean energy solutions to serve low-income communities in Texas. In her time with TEPRI, she has helped raise over $1.2m for the organization.
Since 2016, she has been engaged as the Director of Operations for the Large Public Power Council (LPPC), an organization of the 27 largest community-owned utilities across the nation. Other notable clients include The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Texas, The Cynthia and George Mitchell Foundation, the University of Texas at Austin, and Boy Scouts of America.
Sam holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Relations from The University of Texas at Austin. Sam enjoys traveling, playing tennis, and spending time with her husband and son.
Connect with Sam on LinkedIn
Mary Mitchell, Senior Account Director
Mary Mitchell joined the Maven Strategic team in March 2022, bringing a diverse background in strategic communications, business management, and creative communications.
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An optimist and a people person, she enjoys partnering with and empowering clients to reach their highest potential. Mary supports all clients at Maven while she leads our firm’s event and creative communication services.
Mary began her career in the office of Anneliese Dodds in the UK Parliament and moved on to support the startup of a diagnostics lab in San Antonio during the pandemic, Mary has worn many hats. Her diverse experience in communications and government affairs gives her the ability to build bridges, manage complex relationships, and enable progress across professional divides.
Mary is known for her creative solutions and resourcefulness under pressure. Skilled in all forms of communication, Mary is known for transforming abstruse, jargon-filled writings into comprehensive, inclusive bodies of work. Equally, she is a savvy communicator and spokesperson, always bringing a calm presence and a bit of humor.
Mary graduated from The University of Texas at Austin with a bachelor’s degree in both journalism and government. Outside of the office, Mary enjoys watching movies with her friends and husband. In the springtime, you’ll find her in San Antonio celebrating Fiesta with her family.
Connect with Mary on LinkedIn
Kate Dacy, Account Manager
Kate Dacy has been part of the Maven Strategic team since January 2023. Kate plays a vital role in our core team, providing strategic support to our energy trade association accounts.
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Her collaborative approach enables her to work closely with clients, delivering exceptional member services, managing internal and external communications, and ensuring the provision of quality services that meet our clients' objectives. With her expertise in government relations and environmental strategies in the energy and natural resource industry, Kate is a valuable asset to the Maven team. Her specialty lies in creating meeting content and cultivating relationships with integrity and creativity, bringing your vision to fruition. We are confident that you will enjoy collaborating with Kate just as much as we do.
Kate’s career is rooted in the public sector where her work helping various entities across the state of Texas achieve compliance with air regulations earned her a well-respected reputation for being thoughtful and effective. Skillful in managing competing priorities, Kate is proactive, adaptable, and optimistic, always delivering quality results for clients.
Kate enjoys fostering healthy and productive communication styles and helping businesses reach both short and long-term goals. Her strategy of coming alongside businesses to support the execution of everyday goals helps to pave the way to success for our clients.
An Environmental Studies graduate from Texas A&M University in 2019, Kate was selected out of thousands of applicants to serve as a logistical planner for her sorority’s yearly recruitment events. When she’s not volunteering in the Kid’s Ministry at her community church, Kate enjoys hiking, swimming, and practicing yoga. The owner of an impressive vinyl record collection, Kate can often be found attending live music concerts in her hometown of Austin, Texas.
Connect with Kate on LinkedIn
Taylor Neal, Operations Director
Taylor Neal joined the Maven team in September 2021. They provide quality operations services and administrative support to our clients.
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Taylor has a background in the nonprofit sector working previously with multiple mission-driven national organizations. Building from this experience, Taylor has developed an impressive toolbelt of services they deploy to provide integral services needed to run and grow a nonprofit.
Taylor’s talents lie in both developing tailored solutions and executing vision. They are known for being both proactive and agile in client collaborations. A problem solver, Taylor remains results-oriented in their work to meet and exceed client expectations.
Taylor oversees operations management at Maven Strategic including event implementation, logistics management, and technical services. Priding themselves in reliability, Taylor shows up daily for our clients to ensure we are meeting deadlines and delivering successful outcomes.
Taylor has a bachelor’s degree in History from Texas State University. Quality time with friends and hiking with their dog Augustine are some favorite after-work activities, often combining both while exploring the Green Belt in Austin, TX.
Connect with Taylor on LinkedIn
Matthew Courtright, Technical Coordinator
Matt Courtright brings over 13 years of utility industry experience to help Maven’s clients stay abreast of evolving technologies and successfully address the challenges facing the public power sector.
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Matt’s broad base of knowledge ranges from energy generation and distribution, commercial & residential customer energy usage, and peak energy demand strategies.
Joining the team as Technical Coordinator in April 2023, Matt facilitates collaboration, provides support and analysis, and develops reporting that communicates the impact of our client’s work. Matt is driven to provide quality support to our clients through his passion for supporting our client’s strategic initiatives through the energy transition and ensuring equitable access to clean, reliable power for all.
Prior to joining Maven, Matt worked with public power and investor-owned utilities to design and implement utility-scale energy efficiency programs. Matt’s programs often had the beneficial outcomes of reducing low-income customers’ energy burden, providing access to innovative technologies to those customers, and providing a cleaner, healthier home. His experience with utility customers ensures they are always central to the priorities of our clients.
Matt graduated from the University of Houston with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. An avid nature enthusiast, Matt can often be found running at Austin’s Town Lake, traveling to a challenging hiking trail, and camping at one of Texas’ state parks.
Audra Hurd, Account Manager
Audra Hurd joined Maven Strategic in August 2023 as an Account Coordinator. She is a strategic and core team member supporting our energy trade association clients.
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Audra works with clients to set up strategic member services, oversee internal communications, implement strategic priorities, and deliver quality services to meet our clients’ goals.
Her corporate communications and management operations background gives her a unique ability to think soundly in high-pressure situations and react with a steady mind. Audra is known for being a creative thinker, team player, and valuable contributor.
Audra specializes in client communications, bringing a fresh perspective of the changing communication landscape to benefit to our clients. While in college, she worked alongside the Texas A&M Athletic Communications Office and was vital in the creation and distribution of mass communications campaigns. Audra started her professional career as a management trainee working for an operations and facility services company and eventually transitioned into high-volume recruiting. Her diverse background has honed her ability to oversee multiple projects with consistent success.
She graduated from Texas A&M University with a bachelor’s degree in communications and a minor in English. In her free time, Audra enjoys cooking meals with her fiancé and spending time with her dog.
Alex Hayman, Meetings and Events Manager
Alex Hayman serves as the Events and Operations Manager for all of Maven’s clients – coordinating almost 50 events per year. Her position requires a disciplined approach, a strong work ethic, and exceptional time management skills.
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With a natural ability to work effectively with people, build lasting relationships, and achieve exceptional results in any event, Alex has honed her skills through her life experiences.
Alex is an expert in scheduling, planning, coordination, vendor relations, and negotiations. She skillfully manages teams to ensure the seamless execution of successful events. A natural leader, Alex has a deep understanding of sales processes and a talent for coaching and mentoring. Her extensive experience in account management has equipped her to secure high-value accounts, surpass sales goals, and consistently deliver unparalleled customer service.
A former college athlete, Alex holds a bachelor's degree in Sports Management and a minor in Legal Studies from The University of West Florida. She is excited to tackle new challenges and bring her formidable skills and experience to the table, both on and off the field. In her free time, Alex enjoys going to the gym, spending time outdoors, relaxing nights in, and hanging out with her dogs.
Rebeca Villalobos, Senior Executive Assistant
Rebeca Villalobos joined the Maven Strategic team in November 2023. Her career path has been marked by diverse roles in administrative positions, higher education and research.
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Rebeca is a committed multitasker and an enthusiastic team player, always willing to be the reliable "go-to" person for any task. Her primary responsibility is to provide executive assistance and administrative support to the Maven Strategic President and key clients, a role that demands exceptional organization, meticulous attention to detail, and adaptability.
Rebeca has an Associate of Arts degree from Miami Dade College. Outside of work, she enjoys spending quality time with her husband and her two fur children. Her interests vary from creating art, exploring culinary delights, and playing pickleball.