AAF Speaker Series: Fireside Chat with Matt Dawson

Join us for a unique luncheon featuring Matt Dawson, founder of Crop, a grassroots creative conference based in Austin that brings together creatives from across the country. Matt will be joined by former AAF-BR President Jonathan Palmisano for an engaging roundtable discussion — with participation from you. Together, they will explore themes of creativity, entrepreneurship, and the power of building meaningful communities. Don’t miss this special opportunity to learn, contribute, and connect with fellow members over lunch.

Matt Dawson: Designer, Illustrator + Founder, Crop Cons
Matt Dawson is an Austin-based Creative Director and designer known for bold, polished work across branding, illustration, and typography. He’s collaborated with clients like Jeep, Major LeagueBaseball, Pearl Jam, Phish, Toyota, and Disney, bringing a sharp eye and strong visual voice to every project. Over the past 20 years, he’s worked with global brands, scrappy startups, and yes,maybe even one of your favorite bands. The quality and respect of his work has led to features in books, magazines, and blogs, as well as invitations to speak on stages across the country.He’s also the founder of Crop, a grassroots creative conference in Austin with a punk rock spirit and a focus on building genuine creative community. The event features keynote talks, hands-on workshops, vendors, live music, parties, creative activations, and more. Since launching in 2016,Crop has brought together over 3,000 creatives from 35 states and 6 countries. It’s become known for its “come as you are” vibe where first-timers and longtime attendees alike immediately feel part of the community.

Participate in Our Food Drive
Donate non-perishable food items at our November luncheon and you’ll be supporting the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank. Every contribution brings hope, nourishment, and a brighter future to our community. Together, we can make a lasting difference — one meal at a time!