The Team

“We have a strategic plan. It’s called doing things.”
​Herb Kelleher, Co-Founder of Southwest Airlines

Marcie Trevino Ripper
Founder & CEO
marcie@satxconsultants.com

Marcie Trevino Ripper is the CEO of SATX Consultants, a fundraising, political and public affairs consulting firm. Marcie was born and raised in San Antonio, Texas.  She loves and values her community and created SATX Consultants as a way to influence and evolve the greater San Antonio area.  Marcie is also a founder of and of-counsel attorney at Bell Ripper PLLC.

Prior to opening her businesses, Marcie served as Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff’s Chief of Staff, worked with Tracy Wolff at the Hidalgo Foundation of Bexar County, Inc., the Bexar County Childrens Court, and Bexar County Civil District Courts. Marcie has a Juris Doctorate and Masters in Public Administration from St. Mary’s University and a Bachelors Degree in Sociology from the University of Texas, Austin.  Marcie is active within the community through service as Chair of the Bexar County Child Welfare Board; Executive Committee for Bexar Facts; and Fellow with the Texas Bar Foundation.

​Marcie and her husband Phillip have been together since 8th grade and their most recent adventure together has been tackling the world of parenting and home ownership as they welcomed their son Lincoln Thomas in April 2016, their daughter Austen Alicia in May 2018, and bought their first home in April 2018.

Liza Barratachea
Chief Operating Officer
liza@satxconsultants.com

Liza Barratachea (\le-sa\ \bar-ra-ta-[chay]-a\) has more than 20 years of advocacy experience in public policy and public affairs, working local, regional, state and federal policy issues. Liza’s most recent endeavor is co-founding the Bexar Facts poll, a quarterly public opinion poll on local policy and area issues. From 2015 to 2019, Liza was the President of the San Antonio Hotel & Lodging Association where she led the effort to strengthen SAHLA’s relevance and change the narrative on who and what the hotel & hospitality industry means to our community. Most significantly, she led the effort to create a San Antonio Tourism Public Improvement District, increasing demand for area hotel activity by boosting the marketing and sales budget by more than $10M annually to attract more meetings, conventions, business and transient travel activity to San Antonio. 

Liza served as the Vice President of Public Affairs at The San Antonio Chamber of Commerce for almost 10 years. In this position, she managed and led the business community’s advocacy efforts on a wide variety of issues that include: water, transportation, education, energy and business development. Before joining The Chamber, Barratachea served as a policy analyst for Texas Governor Rick Perry. Her experience includes work at local, county and state officials. She also has strong campaign experience having worked gubernatorial, County Judge and mayoral campaigns.  ​Liza and her husband Peter have one young daughter, Emelia Kina.

Audrey Brunner
Creative Director
audrey@satxconsultants.com

Made in Russia, born in Switzerland, raised in France, and altered in Texas.  As Creative Director, Audrey Brunner brings an international perspective to SATX Consultants.

​With law school on her radar, Audrey is finishing a B.A. in Politics and Law at UTSA, and is fiercely focused on offering her unique skills, network, and perspective to continue highlighting San Antonio’s zestful and resilient culture. 

Cultivating a passion for art, and adrenaline rushes, Audrey can be found overseas admiring exhibitions, sailing, and visiting Armand, her beloved little brother, when she is not savoring the Alamo City lifestyle. 

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Alejandro Zapien
Technical Director
alejandro@satxconsultants.com

Born in Mexico, raised in Texas. Alejandro graduated from The University of Texas, San Antonio with his Bachelor's degree in computer science in 2018. He worked hard to pay his way through college by waiting tables in downtown San Antonio.

Alejandro is a full stack developer who builds and implements software and data management solutions for SATX Consultants and our clients. 
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As a musician himself, you can find him front row at music festivals and local venues taking in the live music scene in San Antonio and Austin. The guitar is his instrument of choice as he derives influence from the blues, rock, and psychedelic sounds of Jimi Hendrix, the Doors, and Tame Impala.