Rebecca was proud to support Mariachi Rock Revolution through LaunchPad The Center, an event celebrating Hispanic heritage, music, and opportunities for young people. Mariachi Rock Revolution is an annual event benefiting Austin Soundwaves and its Mariachi Para Todos program, which provides music education, mentorship, and performance opportunities for students throughout Central Texas. The program helps young people develop confidence, leadership skills, cultural pride, and

"From Lost Girl to Legacy Builder: Poverty, the White House, and VEO’s Main Stage" Rebecca Contreras did not come to VEO with a tidy origin story. She came with the kind of journey that makes a room go quiet. Contreras is the president and CEO of AvantGarde (AG), the women-owned human capital, IT, and strategy consulting firm she co-founded in 2011 and scaled across multiple states. Before joining AG, she spent 15 years in public service, from Austin to Washington, culminatin

Each year, from September 15 to October 15, we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month — a time to honor the extraordinary impact of Hispanic...

Rebecca recently returned to Sidewalk Conversations with host Piet Van Waarde , a long-time pastor and deeply trusted family friend to Rebecca and David. Their history and mutual respect set the stage for a powerful, heartfelt conversation that reached far beyond a traditional interview. Piet invited Rebecca to revisit her remarkable journey—from the barrio to the White House and now to leading a thriving multimillion-dollar company. Together, they explored the defining mome

Rebecca was honored to serve as a featured panelist at Together We Rise: Women United for T.R.U.T.H. , an inspiring gathering designed to elevate the voices and leadership of women across business, media, government, and community sectors. During the event, Rebecca shared her journey from welfare to the West Wing and offered powerful insights on resilience, reinvention, and leading with purpose. Her message encouraged attendees to rise above adversity, embrace their influence

Just 30 minutes from my AvantGarde office and our home, Liberty Hill families were in need and hurting after the devastating July 4th Texas floods. David and I had the privilege of showing up, rolling up our sleeves, and helping with clean-up efforts in a city led by someone I deeply admire — Mayor Crystal Mancilla, a former AG Project Manager turned bold leader who’s been working nonstop for her city and people.

By Gloria Park Featuring insights from Rebecca Contreras , entrepreneur, mentor, and founder of AvantGarde When Rebecca Contreras made the leap to start her own firm, she wasn’t chasing a dream. She was waking up from one. “I was generating 90% of the revenue,” she told me, describing her role as a senior executive at a private firm. “But I wasn’t a partner. I didn’t own anything.” The numbers were great. The title sounded impressive. But none of it was hers. So she

Girls of Legacy Recap 2025! What a night Girls of Legacy 2025 Fundraiser Recap On July 17th, the annual Girls of Legacy fundraising...

“Navigating the Pivot: Expanding Our Impact in a Shifting Landscape,” Celebrating 25 years as the voice of women entrepreneurs, Rebecca is featured in this special edition of Enterprising Women magazine.

Back in March 2022, I launched the Girls of Legacy Scholarship and Mentorship Program through my nonprofit, LaunchPad , right here in...

On June 26th, Rebecca attended the 2025 Governor’s Small Business Summit in Bastrop, an inspiring gathering dedicated to celebrating and supporting entrepreneurs across Texas. Hosted by the Bastrop Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the Office of the Governor, Texas Economic Development & Tourism , the event brought together small business owners, community leaders, and civic partners for a full day of dialogue on economic priorities, community growth, and the opportunit

Sponsorship: Latina Foundation’s “Jefa on the Move” Pitch Competition Rebecca was proud to sponsor the Latina Foundation’s “Jefa on the Move” Pitch Competition, a fantastic event focused on empowering the next generation of Latina entrepreneurs. The event brought together amazing women to share their ideas, connect, and build community all to help grow Latina-owned businesses. Rebecca is passionate about supporting and investing in future Latina leaders, and we’re excited to

“A dream without a plan is just a wish.” In Part 1 of my series on the topic of Pivot released on April 3rd, we tackled mindset—learning to embrace change and believe that a pivot is possible. If you missed this blog, you can read it here : In Part 2 of my series on the topic of Pivot released May 1st, we faced the truth—getting brutally honest about what’s broken, misaligned, or no longer serving you. if you missed this blog, you can read it here : Now as we transition

Mothers are the heart of every home and the force behind every dream. This Mother's Day, our team celebrates you and all that you make...

The LaunchPad team is once again honored and excited to celebrate the true heroes of our community—our educators! This year, for...

Post Event: Tim Tebow, Jimmy Garza, Adrienne Peña Garza, Rebecca and David Contreras Rebecca Contreras returned to Washington, D.C., for the 2025 National Day of Prayer, joining national leaders for a powerful week of prayer, unity, and reflection across Capitol Hill. Rebecca delivering the prayer on Capitol Hill This year, Rebecca was honored to once again deliver the Business Sector Prayer during the National Day of Prayer Ceremony—speaking into the needs, challenges, and

“The truth will set you free—but first, it will make you uncomfortable.”

Key Truths for Your Life Pivot #1: Embracing Change

I was honored to be a part of this year’s conference in my home state of Texas in Dallas, to welcome and address participants as a...

Rebecca participated as a featured panelist at “Beyond the Badge: Turning Federal Experience into Entrepreneurship,” hosted by the SBA’s San Antonio District Office at LaunchSA inside the San Antonio Central Library. The morning session— “From Federal Employee to Entrepreneur” —focused on the challenges, advantages, and lessons learned when transitioning from federal service into business ownership. Moderated by Georgia Gabriella , Outreach & Marketing Specialist for the San

Celebrating International Women’s Day – Paying it Forward – NexGen Goodness On this International Women’s Day, we celebrate the power of...

Panel: Navigating Values in a Borderless World: Leadership, Ethics, and Impact SXSW 2025: Faith, Leadership & Global Impact Rebecca Contreras joined global innovators and purpose-driven leaders at SXSW 2025, serving both as a featured speaker and sponsor for two standout SVC at SXSW sessions exploring values-based leadership on a global stage. Navigating Values in a Borderless World Featuring: Henry Kaestner — Entrepreneur and Co-Founder, Sovereign’s Capital Ilaria Chan —

Rebecca Contreras was honored to serve as the Friday evening keynote speaker for the Generations Church Women’s Conference in Leander, Texas, a beautifully curated gathering hosted by her longtime friend and Co-Pastor, Tammy Brydon . Rebecca shared her journey of reinvention and leadership, offering practical insights on purpose, resilience, and stepping into new seasons with confidence. The conference brought together a passionate community of women whose faith, authenticity

On March 6th, Not on Our Watch Texas (NOWTX) brought together 15+ women at the Texas Capitol for a powerful day of advocacy, raising...