Congratulations to our 2026 Rising Star recipients! Each of these alumni have exemplified the McCombs spirit in their workplace and communities.

Michael Daehne

BBA Business Honors/Finance, ’12; B.S. Mathematics, ’12
Founder and CEO, FlexPoint Consulting

Michael Daehne is the founder and CEO of FlexPoint Consulting, an Austin-based business transformation consulting firm. Throughout his career, he has helped organizations navigate complex transformations involving major technology implementations, organizational change, and evolving business processes.

Before founding FlexPoint, Daehne spent nearly a decade at Sense Corp, rising from analyst to partner in seven years and becoming the youngest partner in the firm’s history. He also established the firm’s Transformation Practice. In 2021, he launched FlexPoint to take a different approach to consulting, emphasizing meaningful outcomes and lasting client relationships.

At FlexPoint, Daehne and his team help organizations envision, plan, and execute transformations, often centered on modern technology. His approach rests on three principles: Clients are best positioned to sustain their own success; people, rather than technology or processes, drive lasting change; and strong relationships are essential to achieving exceptional results. He believes successful consulting should equip clients to lead confidently long after engagements end.

Daehne earned a BBA in Business Honors and finance and a B.S. in actuarial mathematics from The University of Texas at Austin in 2012. He remains engaged with the McCombs School of Business and the University, having served on the BBA/MPA Alumni Advisory Board and on the Canfield Business Honors Program Alumni Advisory Board, as both a member and chair for the latter.

Outside of work, Daehne enjoys spending time in Austin with his wife, Courtney, their child, and their golden retriever. He also enjoys cooking, listening to live music, volunteering with Central Texas organizations, and cheering on the Longhorns.

Brian McDermott

MBA, Entrepreneurship, ’14
President and CRO, Frönen

Brian McDermott is the president and chief revenue officer of Frönen, one of the nation’s largest dairy-free frozen dessert brands. At Frönen, he leads all sales and marketing functions, including brand strategy and commercialization efforts. Since his joining, the brand has expanded itsproduct lines, established itself as a leader across multiple categories, and secured placement with major retailers nationwide.

Before joining Frönen, McDermott built his career launching and scaling businesses across the technology, food, and real estate sectors. He held growth and strategy roles at several early-stage companies, including as a co-founder of Boutiq, a property tech startup. He is also a co-founder of City Oak Films, a film production company.

McDermott is an active mentor to MBA students at Texas McCombs.

He holds an MBA from McCombs and a B.A. in international business from The George Washington University. He lives in Bethesda, Maryland, with his wife and their two sons.

Hunter Wilcox

BBA Marketing, ’12; M.S. Business Analytics, ’14
AI and Data Science Engineer, Deloitte Consulting

Hunter Wilcox is a distinguished leader in Deloitte Consulting’s AI & Data practice with over a decade of experience driving innovation in emerging technologies. As a technology consultant and AI leader, he is focused on helping enterprises adopt agentic AI through pragmatic strategy and modern architecture. He excels in guiding organizations through the complexities of next-generation AI strategies, transformative data-driven customer acquisition, and seamless system integration by using his robust background in data science, behavioral science, and strategic innovation.

Throughout his career, Wilcox has directed large-scale agentic AI implementations for a variety of clients, ranging from global technology giants and premier entertainment conglomerates to federal government agencies and professional sports franchises. He combines technical depth, executive storytelling, and alliance leadership to build solutions that create lasting business impact while
developing high-performing teams.

Wilcox joined Deloitte after earning a bachelor’s degree in marketing and a master’s degree in business analytics from The University of Texas at Austin, where he was also a letter winner on the Longhorns baseball team. He remains involved with his alma mater, serving as a junior member
on the MSBA Advisory Council. Outside of his professional endeavors, Wilcox channels his drive for excellence into a passion for fitness, history, and continuous learning.

2014-15

David Busker, MBA ’07
Jack Nelson, BBA ’98

2013-14

Scott Mattei, MBA ’95
Vivek Shah, BBA ’03

2012-13

Cindy Lo, BBA ’98
Jeremy Smitheal, BBA ’94, MBA ’03

2011-12

Ryan Oliver, MBA ’06
Dominic Sung, BBA ’03

2010-11

Matt Chasen, MBA ’04
David Anthony Murrell, BBA ’01

2009-10

Daniel B. Nelson, BA ’96, MBA ’06
Matt Polze, BBA & MPA ’99, JD ’03

2008-09

M. Christina Clayton, BBA ’02
Gregory H. Johnson, MBA ’05

2007-08

Holly Goodrich McMullan, MBA ’04

2006-07

Tony Rogers, BBA ’90, MBA ’97

2005-06

Ted Wang, MBA ’96

2004-05

Jeff Hoogendam, MBA ’95