Saying Farewell to TACC

 

Since I can't keep working for the Texas Advanced Computing Center from Barcelona, two weeks ago I had to say farewell to TACC. When I started there in July 2006, there were only ~60 of us, working in the rabbit-warren of offices and cubicles in the Commons building. Now there are almost 200 TACCsters, many of whom have become like family. (And one of whom I married!) 

I was hired to do Corporate and Government Relations, moved up to External Relations Manager, and then became Director of Industry Programs in 2010. 

Watching TACC grow and succeed has been amazing, as we kept winning grants and supporting research breakthroughs across every scientific domain, in ways that will have impact for years to come. I can't wait to see what they do next! Fortunately, I'm not leaving the industry, so I'll get to watch from the sidelines as they keep 'Powering Discoveries that Change the World.'

Working for TACC also gave me the opportunity to participate in volunteer organizations and committees like CASC, DellXL, the HPC-AI Society, and the SC Conference planning committee. More places where I've made lifelong friends! 

A couple of my favorite memories: 

1. Giving a presentation about the power of advanced computing (and TACC) to a State-Department-led group of Ambassadors from 20+ countries in March 2020. It was the week before we shut down for the pandemic, and they told me I couldn't talk about Covid (ah, politics). What was the first thing the Ambassadors raised their hands and asked about? Covid!   

2. Driving to Austin from Houston-Hobby airport with Christine F after our flight back from Baltimore (for the DellXL meeting at NASA-Goddard) was cancelled (at 1am). We had to hustle to find a new flight, and a hotel near BWI for a few hours of shut-eye before coming back to catch the substitute flight to Houston the next day. I didn't know until later that Christine had taken something to calm her nerves for the flight... and then rented the car and drove us those 160 miles! We started calling ourselves Thelma and Louise! (Oct 2011)

3. My first presentation back after the pandemic was a Vislab presentation for the President of Panama, in Spanish (<-- see pic). He was excited to learn that I had gone to school at Oyster Elementary in DC, which is right across the street from his residence. (July 2021)

4. Introducing our industry partners to the amazing students who took our scientific computing classes with "Speed Networking" sessions - something I wish I'd been able to do as an undergrad: meet some people from industries that could really use your skills, and practice your 'elevator speech' at the same time. 

5. Traveling to Costa Rica (2008), Germany (2011), France (2019), and the UK (2015, 2023), giving talks about TACC, how we worked with industry partners, and how we were supporting Women in HPC - and diversity in general. I was so lucky to have a job that gave me the opportunity to travel all over the world!  

Clearly, travel (and workforce development) are a big part of my life. I dreamed I'd someday get the chance to go back to Spain full time and work there, but it just seemed like too much to hope for. I mean, I've "felt like a Spaniard" since I lived there for college in the 90's, but now that we're actually doing it, I'm absolutely amazed. It doesn't seem real, but I do have a one-way plane ticket for a few weeks from now! 

Current status: residency permit received, just waiting for the Spanish Consulate in Houston to send us back our passports and approve our visa applications. There's a deadline on this piece, because John is supposed to start work on June 16, and my start date is July 1. So please think happy thoughts for us and cross your fingers and toes! 

Hasta luego, amigos!