Meet Our Staff

Nick Fomin - Director

Nick arrived at the Commons in 2021 after working in program and event management in higher education across Washington, Georgia, and at UT.  Over the course of 20 years working at colleges and universities, he has enjoyed working with a diverse mix of clients, vendors, and stakeholders at all levels of industry to deliver high quality outcomes across thousands of events and initiatives.  He is always seeking improvement, feedback from customers, and opportunities to make the Commons an even greater resource to the UT community.

Erika Flippo - Manager

Erika joined the Commons team in April 2025, bringing a strong background in hospitality and service to her role. She has successfully coordinated a wide range of events, including conferences, corporate functions, and social gatherings, and takes pride in getting to know each client and ensuring their event is smooth, seamless, and memorable. With her experience and knowledge of event operations, Erika is able to lead her team, oversee daily operations and activities, and step in wherever she is needed to support both her team and clients. She is dedicated to creating positive experiences, maintaining a high level of service, and helping each event run successfully from start to finish.

Jess Ruvalcaba - Senior Event Coordinator

Jess joined the Commons team in January 2023 as a Program Coordinator, bringing more than 10 years of experience in the hospitality and service industry. In November 2024, she transitioned into the role of Senior Event Coordinator, where she continues to support clients and the Commons team through her extensive event expertise and operational knowledge. Throughout her career, Jess has played a key role in executing large-scale and high-profile events, including SXSW, Formula 1, and the Super Bowl, as well as numerous weddings, conferences, and conventions. Drawing on her experience and the strong relationships she has built at the Commons, Jess is dedicated to enhancing the client experience at every opportunity. She is passionate about creating seamless, successful events while continuing to support and collaborate with her team to deliver the highest level of service.

Karen Tavira-Sereno - Event Coordinator

Karen joined the Commons team in August 2026, bringing with her several years of hospitality experience and a strong passion for hospitality, events, and customer service. She loves connecting with people and creating welcoming, genuine experiences, whether she is helping with an event or simply sharing a conversation. She is always eager to learn, grow, and collaborate with the Commons team. She believes the best experiences are built through kindness, teamwork, and meaningful connections. In her role, she will work closely with clients to plan and coordinate events, and help ensure each event runs smoothly from start to finish.

Andy Sharp - Technical Services

Andy joined the Commons team with more than 25 years of experience in event, music, and video production. He handles the Audio/Visual needs for events at Commons and also serves as the Building Manager, helping oversee the day-to-day operations and ensuring the building is ready to support a wide range of events and activities. In addition to his AV expertise, Andy can often be found helping with room flips, Cafe events, event setups, and wherever else support is needed throughout the building. He is always willing to lend a hand and assist the team to help ensure events run smoothly from start to finish. Andy graduated from the University of Texas with a Bachelor of Science in Radio-Television-Film. His extensive experience, versatility, and willingness to help wherever needed make him an invaluable part of the Commons team.

Jessica Van Amburgh - Assistant Director

Jessica Van Amburgh brings nearly 15 years of higher education experience, focusing on operational excellence, customer experience, and revenue growth through program management and enterprise software adoption. As Assistant Director of Commons Event Software Services at the University of Texas at Austin, she leads cross-functional initiatives that align technology, business processes, and stakeholder needs to achieve measurable results across the organization.

Daydrian Burton - Senior Administrative Program Coordinator

Daydrian has been with Commons since April 2024. Her previous experience in managerial roles in the hospitality industry, coupled with her experience working with UT in various accountant positions, have equipped her with a unique skill set to excel in the Senior Administrative Program Coordinator role.

Seth Curlee - UT Cvent Administrator

Seth joined Commons Event Services in November 2023, bringing diverse professional experience spanning hospitality, professional development, social media management and staffing. Seth is passionate about both people and technology, which positions him to be an excellent Cvent Administrator for the UT System. He holds deep appreciation for the meaningful connections he has cultivated with his team at Commons Event Services as well as his customers.

Amanda Congdon - UT Momentus Administrator

Amanda worked in various roles before joining the University of Texas at Austin in the fall of 2017 as an Administrative Associate for the McCombs School of Business MBA Program. In 2019, she became the MBA Program’s Events Coordinator before transitioning to the Commons Event Services team in the Spring of 2021. Currently, she is the Training and Implementation Specialist for the venue space management solution.

Chris Starche - Food Service Unit Manager

Chris manages the food service operations for the Cafe and Conference Center. He came to the Commons as a Cook after graduating from Texas Culinary Academy in 2006 and worked his way through various roles until moving into the Chef's office in 2020. Chris and the kitchen staff at Commons take pride in serving quality comfort food and being a bright part of our patrons' day.

"I came to food-service because I love food, I stayed because I love people"

Soo Han - Sous Chef

Soo started at Commons in 2018 under Chef Dai at the garde mange station, then moved to the pastry chef position. When Commons reopened in fall 2021, Soo came back as chef assistant and creates all the wonderful sauces and vegetables from the kitchen. She has over 25 years of kitchen experience.

Emmitt - Assistant Food Service Supervisor

An Austin native, Emmitt comes to the Commons with wide scope of culinary experience from pastry work at Austin Country Club to restaurant management at Baker's Street Pub. You can now find Emmitt on the Commons Café line during lunch, happy to help you make your lunch selections. Behind the scenes, Emmitt could be working on catered events, proteins, salads or just lending a hand to whoever needs an assist.

Gregory Kamoono - Cook

Gregory started at Commons in October 2022 as prep cook. Gregory started kitchen work at the Marriott during covid and decided to stay in the industry. You can see Gregory on the grill during lunchtime.

Cristina Daza - Line Cook

Cristina started at Commons in January 2023. Previously she bartended in Chile and was a fry cook in Columbia. She has been in hospitality for the last three years and currently enjoys working garden manger station, creating the most beautiful fruit and cheese platters for events, and interacting with cafe patrons on the line during lunchtime.

Luz Pallares - Prep Cook

Luz has been with Commons since January 2023. Previously she worked in accounting but made the move to the hospitality world and loves it! Her willingness to help wherever needed, to learn new things and keeps the kitchen organized has been a huge help to Chef Chris and the rest of the kitchen staff.

Neil Kalloo - Catering Services Coordinator

Neil joined the Commons team in fall 2021, bringing with him an 18-year career in Catering, Conference, and Banqueting Operations. A part-time job at Hilton International as a teenager blossomed into a career where he managed events hosting world leaders, local and international sporting competitions, high-profile personalities, entertainers, and athletes.

At Commons, Neil oversees day-to-day catering operations, organizing and planning daily activities, coordinating and supervising staff, and ensuring food and service areas meet our standards for quality, cleanliness, and presentation. He also oversees food ordering and storage, provides guidance to staff on food safety and preparation, and works directly with clients to address feedback and ensure a positive experience.

“Being a part of this team, I have no doubt that we will continue to do great things and that you will keep coming back time and time again. Hospitality, to me, is my pleasure and opportunity to provide special care to each visitor who crosses my path.”

Liliana Ramirez (Lili) - Catering Lead

Lili re-joined the Commons team full time in spring 2023 as our conference center continued to grow busier. With more than 20 years of experience in the food and service industry, Lili brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the Commons team. Many of our long-time clients will recognize Lili, as she previously worked at Commons from 2007–2016, and we were thrilled when she agreed to come back onboard! Lili takes the lead with staffing and scheduling the team and assists with conference room and furniture setups, café cashiering, food preparation, and catering service throughout the dining room, conference center, and meeting rooms. Her experience, leadership, and dedication make her a valuable part of the Commons team.

Destiny Chairez - Cafe Attendant

Destiny started at the University of Austin in 2016 with PTS and moved to Commons Cafe in 2018. When Commons reopened in fall 2021, Destiny was thrilled to return to Commons Cafe! As the main cashier, Destiny enjoys assisting guests and maintaining the café throughout the day. She helps keep the café clean, organized, and well-stocked, ensuring everything is ready for our guests.

Bruce Duncan - Jack of All Trades

When Commons reopened in fall 2021, Bruce was one of Commons’ first employees. He has worked in nearly every position at Commons, from dishwasher and prep cook to server, bartender, and cashier. He also assists with receiving deliveries and keeping the café and kitchen stocked and organized. His versatility and willingness to jump in wherever he is needed have made him an invaluable part of the Commons team.