A New Chapter for Me — and for Tech Bloc
Why stepping away is actually a step forward
Two months ago, I stepped down as CEO of Tech Bloc. It’s been an honor to lead this organization through one of its most transformative periods. Over the past two years, we’ve seen incredible momentum in San Antonio’s tech community—from startup activity and investment to new partnerships and public-sector energy. And through it all, Tech Bloc has remained a steady platform for connection, visibility, and collective voice.
A few milestones I’m proud we accomplished together:
Rebuilt and expanded our Board of Directors to reflect all the profiles in our ecosystem—from startups and enterprise to talent, students, and capital—ensuring those building San Antonio’s future have a seat at the table.
Launched our first-ever online Community Platform, where tech professionals, founders, students, and supporters now share jobs, resources, events, and opportunities daily.
Kicked off Tech Day, which has quickly become a signature event for our city—a day of celebration, storytelling, and inspiration for the entire tech ecosystem.
Continued to fund early-stage companies through Tech Fuel, a pitch competition and grant program that’s been fueling founders since 2016.
Introduced Tech Conclaves, our monthly member events that have fostered deeper, more personal connections among the people building tech in SA.
Hosted founder- and techie-focused experiences—dinners, wine tours, immersive retreats—because community is built one conversation at a time.
Distributed over 1,000 laptops in partnership with AT&T and other civic organizations, helping bridge the digital divide and include more San Antonians in our tech future.
Backed the birth and growth of new grassroots tech groups, supporting them with venues, food, and encouragement to make the ecosystem theirs.
These milestones didn’t happen because of one person—they happened because of all of us.
When I took on this role, I knew it wasn’t forever—but I did know I wanted to leave the organization stronger, more sustainable, and more reflective of the community it serves. That’s why, over the past months, I’ve worked closely with our board to transition Tech Bloc into something it’s never had before: a governance-based model rooted in collaborative leadership.
What’s Next: A Community-Driven Model
Building on the progress we’ve made together, Tech Bloc is now entering a new phase. We’re moving forward with a committee-led model designed to reflect the evolving needs of our community and tech ecosystem. Each committee is chaired by a Board Member and focused on a key area—from startups to students—and empowered to shape programming, lead initiatives, and organize events aligned with their focus.
Here’s how we’re structured:
Startups Committee → startups@satechbloc.com
Mid-to-Large Tech Companies Committee → companies@satechbloc.com
Tech Professionals Committee → techies@satechbloc.com
Students Committee → students@satechbloc.com
Events Committee → events@satechbloc.com
Admin Support & Coordination → admin@satechbloc.com
Each committee includes up to 6 members and meets regularly to:
Identify and act on ecosystem needs
Plan programs and events
Forge partnerships
Share opportunities through Tech Bloc’s platform
Meet the Leaders of This Next Chapter
We’re proud to share the names of the committee leaders helping shape this new phase of Tech Bloc:
Startups Committee – Alfonso Garcia, CTO & Co-Founder of Parlevel
Mid-to-Large Tech Companies Committee – Travis Runty, CTO of Rackspace Cloud
Events Committee – Hajar Moshirsadri, Director of Technical Operations & Strategic Partnerships at Maverick MRI
Board Chair – Will Conway, former CEO of Mailgun
Fundraising Chair - Ileana Gonzalez (👋🏻 me)
➡️ We are currently seeking new board members to help lead two critical areas:
The Students Committee, focused on talent pipeline and student engagement
The Tech Professionals Committee, focused on the experience and growth of SA’s tech workforce
If you or someone you know would be a great fit, we’d love to hear from you.
This transition doesn’t diminish the importance of strong leadership—it strengthens it. The board’s increased involvement and the broader participation of community leaders have made Tech Bloc more resilient and responsive than ever. We’re building a flexible foundation—one that can evolve, including the possibility of welcoming future executive leadership if and when the time is right.
Want to Get Involved?
If you’re a founder, tech employee, student, or someone who wants to roll up your sleeves and help shape San Antonio’s tech future, we’d love to have you.
📩 Reach out to the committee that best fits your background or interest.
📅 Join our Community Platform to stay up to date on events and opportunities.
🤝 Share your ideas—we’re building this together.
As for me — I’m not going far.
I’ve transitioned into a role on Tech Bloc’s Board and will stay involved in this next chapter. I’m also thrilled to continue supporting our city through my new position as Director of Innovation and Emerging Technology at H-E-B, where I’ll keep doing the work I love—advocating for San Antonio’s tech future from within one of its most iconic companies.
Thank you to everyone who’s been part of this journey—from founders and engineers to students, civic leaders, volunteers, and neighborhood champions. The vision is working. The momentum is real. And the next chapter is only just beginning.
With love and momentum,
Ileana Gonzalez