About Exchange Park Toastmasters

Exchange Park Toastmasters, is a community club, chartered in 1986 to provide a supportive environment for individuals who fear public speaking or want to improve their speaking skills.

Over the past 39 years, hundreds of people have learned to become better speakers through the mutual support of all members.

Members past and present have become more proficient at their jobs and as community leaders.

The club has won many awards and is the home club of four distinguished toastmasters.

Meet our current Club Officers ...

President

Carol Biedrzycki joined Exchange Park Toastmasters when the club was chartered in June 1986. She worked in the field of energy policy specializing in energy efficiency and residential consumer issues. She has worked for the state of Texas, consulting firms and as a non profit executive director. Her work often required testifying at hearings, speaking to groups and TV interviews. She continued her journey with the club and received her DTM in January 2011. Carol retired in May 2018 and is still an active member because she doesn't want to get "rusty."

VP Public Relations

Dr. Tina Balderrama Kubicek is a Distinguished Toastmaster, Professional Coach, Branding Expert, Author and Speaker. She is also a member of the National Speakers Association. Dr. Kubicek is a product of Corporate America in management positions at GTE (now Verizon), EXXON Company, USA and 3M. Her upbringing, education, skills, knowledge and experience make the foundation upon which she bases her books on “Life’s Lessons in Leadership Series.”

VP Membership

Chelsea Watabe, PMP, CSM aligns AI solutions with B2B product strategies to optimize growth. Outside of work, she is an Active member of the Junior League of Austin serving on the A Christmas Affair committee. She has danced professionally with celebrities in front of 80,000 people and televised broadcasts, and later became a company ballet dancer. Chelsea joined Toastmasters not to learn how to perform, but to learn how to connect—to speak from the heart, be heard clearly, and stop shrinking her voice in small spaces.

VP Education/Secretary

Mickey Michaels, a Distinguished Toastmaster, recently retired from a long and varied career that included consumer market research, banking industry research, financial management, human resources consulting and even running an old-time Western saloon in the mountains of Colorado. She has also published two parenting books: Survival Guide for Parents and Successful Divorce and Single Parenting. Publicizing these books, she made several TV appearances and was interviewed on over 40 radio shows across the country. Her Toastmasters experience greatly enhanced her effectiveness. She now speaks publicly on behalf of worthy causes and organizations.

Sargeant-of-Arms/Webmaster

John Swyers is a long-time Austin resident and Semiconductor Industry veteran with experience in manufacturing, service, and sensor development. He currently runs a small business building Green Walls modules. In addition, has been developing applications as a citizen Data Scientist. His specific interests include applying machine learning to horticulture.

Treasurer

Reba Bassett Reba is a Certified Professional Organizer®, with a background in Clinical Exercise Physiology in healthcare. She is the current president of the Austin chapter of NAPO, where she presides over monthly board and chapter meetings, as well as speaking in front of audiences about organizing, downsizing, and resting well. She joined Exchange Park Toastmasters in early 2025.

Coach - Youth Leadership

Elisabeth “Lis” Schiller A trilingual professional, native of France, Lis holds a Bachelor’s Degree in exterior commerce from the Université de Tours as well as an MBA with a concentration in languages applied to business and commerce. She is also a licensed Customs Broker. Toastmasters has been part of her career for the past 10 years, where she has held different officer roles. She joined Exchange Park in 2019.

In Memoriam, past club leaders...

Joyce McDowell, a Distinguished Toastmaster, joined Toastmasters in October 2014 and quickly became Assistant Area Director, under Tina Kubicek. That experience interacting with seven clubs along with her own progess with the Toastmasters curriculum encouraged Joyce to later complete certifications in Holistic health and Iridology at The Southern Institute of Natural Health.

Richard Small, a Distinguished Toastmaster,had a truly diverse career in a variety of fields, including additional military service in the US Army from 1989-1993. After his discharge, Richard worked in real estate and mortgages. He enjoyed learning and loved to share his knowledge with others. Richard was a member of the John Maxwell Group and an active member of the Exchange Park Toastmasters, both of which he thoroughly enjoyed. Richard never met a stranger and was always eager to engage with anyone he encountered. He also loved good, clean humor and made others laugh at every opportunity, especially his wife. Later in life he attended Riverbend Church in Austin for a number of years.