CAROL THOMPSON BIO
Carol Thompson is an entrepreneur, economic development strategist, mentor and business advisor. After serving as CEO of a five-store Computerland franchise, co-founding Hiretech (a recruiting firm), and concurrently Thompson Executive Search, Carol founded Thompson Group in 1993. The Thompson Group has since served upwards of 100 clients ranging from local to Fortune 500, from Services to Technology, from Manufacturing to Healthcare, from Legal to Education.
Thompson has played a significant role in bridging of Austin’s new and traditional economies. As a Leader on the first Austin Chamber of Commerce business recruiting trip to California in the late 80s, Carol and the Chamber Team laid the groundwork for a future influx of those companies into Austin . In 1990, Thompson chaired the Chamber Board and that year 35 companies expanded to Austin, while twenty-five local companies expanded as well.
Carol served a six year term on the San Antonio Branch of the Dallas Federal reserve Board. Her term as board chair ended with a Dallas Federal Reserve Board dinner in Dallas with a keynote speech by Chairman Greenspan. Soon thereafter, Mr. Greenspan sent a hand-written note to Carol Thompson thanking her for her service to the country! Thompson has served on 30 boards, including the World Congress of Information Technology Advisory Board, a Board assembled when Austin hosted 83 countries at the WCIT Conference.
Carol has been recognized by the Austin Business Journal as "one of Austin's 5 most powerful women" and named by the Austin American-Statesman as one of Austin's "top 25 tech players to know." She was on the cover of Digital South Magazine, which named her "A Real Hero of Southern Technology", and was lauded in an October issue of eCompany as one of the "Nine People to See in Austin." She received the Women in Communication Liz Carpenter's Lifetime Achievement Award. In addition, Carol was the recipient of the Office Depot National Woman in Technology Award presented by the Office Depot National President.
Bard Press of Atlanta and Austin published the book, Masters of Networking, which included an article authored by Ms. Thompson: “Relationships Count More Than Ever”.. This book debuted on the New York Times Best Seller list. Additionally, University of Texas Moot Corp. Director Gary Cadenhead discussed Carol and her company's FACE TO FACE Strategic Business Networking Event in his book.
In the book, entitled NO LONGER MOOT: The Premier New Venture Competition from Idea to Global Impact, Carol and her FACE TO FACE event are cited as the origin for the relationship that made the creation of the book a reality. More recently, the book entitled A Cup of Cappuccino for the Entrepreneur’s Spirit authored by B. Nord and Cindy Patterson-Thompson includes Carol’s entrepreneurial journey.
Vision, connections, know-how, energy, commitment, ethics, experience –
Carol Thompson is the distillation of multiple pathways to success.

Speaking Engagements have included:

Arkansas Venture Forum
National Council of University Researchers Conference
Profiles in Power-Keynote for Austin Business Journal’s Annual Event
Women in Technology International- Annual National conference speaker
St Edward’s University –Graduation keynote
University of Texas School of Engineering (Cockrell School) Graduation keynote

Current Boards and Committees

Formula One 2012 Host Committee
University of Texas Cockrell School of Engineering Advisory Board
Texans for Economic Progress: Technology Advance Texas Board member
St Edward’s University School of Management and Business Advisory Board
Junior Achievement
Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year Advisory Board
Young Women’s Alliance, Founder and Advisory Board
RISE Austin Board of Advisors

Past Boards and Committees

Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce, Board Chair
Federal Reserve Board, San Antonio Branch of the Dallas FRB, Board Chair
Wells Fargo Bank Advisory Board
University of Texas College of Communications Executive Board
Association for Corporate Growth (ACG) National Board
Leadership Texas Boards Committee
Austin Technology Incubator Board
Austin Convention & Visitors Bureau Executive Board

John Arrow, Founder & Chairman of the Board
John Arrow is a veteran of entrepreneurship with a passion for harnessing disruptive and emerging technologies. His ability to combine market vision with methodical execution has propelled Mutual Mobile, Inc. to become the world’s largest mobile consulting company.

Over the last ten years, John founded successful businesses in the online payment processing industry and the consumer and enterprise software spaces. He also created one of the first site targeted PPC advertising networks. An adventurer and an innovator, John guides Mutual Mobile with a continuously evolving vision for the future.