From Words to Movements

In 2013, McLane founded the Mach 1 Group — leveraging decades of experience in communications and crisis management to provide outstanding service to brands and organizations whose issues are on the front pages every day. Today, Mach 1 has assembled a nationally-recognized team recruited out of newsrooms and the halls of government providing a wide range of public relations and public affairs services.

McLane formerly served as Vice President for Communications & External Affairs for the LIVESTRONG Foundation. She is a veteran of California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s administration and a former Press Secretary for the U.S. Department of Education during the George W. Bush administration. McLane’s roots are in Texas where she began her career at Public Strategies, Inc.

McLane has built a reputation both locally and nationally as an innovative content creator, insightful and compassionate business owner and steadfast community advocate. She was named to the Top Women in PR, Business Entrepreneurs list by PRNEWS (’23), PR Professional of the Year by Public Relations Society of America (’13), Outstanding Communicator of the Year by Women Communicators of Austin (’22), an Austin Business Journal Profiles in Power Finalist, the Female Entrepreneur of the Year award at the 18th Annual Stevie Awards for Women in Business (’21), and was also named one of Insight Success’ Most Disruptive Women Entrepreneurs to Watch (’21). McLane is a proud pro-bono PR partner for Keep Austin Fed, member of the Austin Women’s Symphony League, former chair of the Ann Richards School Foundation Board of Directors, and serves on the Austin Business Journal Leadership Trust and Capitol Area Council of the BSA, formerly Boy Scouts of America.

McLane is a graduate of Texas A&M University and she and her husband Brett are proud parents to Jack and Ian.

Love is a public affairs expert with extensive media relations, political strategy, crisis management and strategic communication expertise. Love manages a wide breadth of clients for Mach 1 – from higher education institutions and non-profits to trade associations – and, as director of the firm’s natural resources practice, specializes in oil and gas, water and electric industry communications.

Before joining the Mach 1 Group, Love served as Director of Public Affairs for the Texas Railroad Commission (RRC) Chairman, where she was nominated for Outstanding Women in Texas Government.

Love’s experience and savvy have received attention locally and nationally. She has been recognized as one of the country’s Top 50 Women Chief Operating Officers by Women We Admire (’24) and received a Bronze Stevie award for Female Executive of the Year (’23) and Agency Planner of the Year (’23) from the Austin Alliance for Women in Media, as well as a nomination for Austin Business Journal’s Women in Business (’22), which celebrates Central Texas women at the top of their industry.

Love is a 7th-generation Texan who is passionate about sharing her talents to serve her local community. She is the co-founder and board member of the American Energy Institute. She also serves on the Board of Directors for the Pink Granite Foundation and Women’s Symphony League of Austin. She’s served as a Commissioner on the City of Austin’s Water and Wastewater Commission (appointed by former City Council Member Ellen Troxclair) and as a board member for both the Austin Alliance for Women in Media and the KLRU Community Advisory Board. In addition, she serves on the Austin Business Journal Leadership Trust and is an active member of Women Communicators of Austin and the Public Relations Society of America.

Love earned her Bachelor’s and Masters of Fine Arts degrees from Texas State University. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling the world with her husband, Jarod, and spending time at her family’s ranch with their dogs, Henry and Rory.

Brett Fey is an operations expert with 30 years of experience managing teams big and small. His strengths in financial planning, strategy and resourcing keep Mach 1 thriving.

Tyminski is a crisis communication expert and public affairs professional with experience in the public and private sectors. She has over half a decade of experience in and around Texas state government. Prior to joining Mach 1, she led the Texas Workforce Commission’s Crisis Communications response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Her quick rise in the public relations world has been recognized nationally, earning her a spot as a PRNEWS Rising Star (’23) and Ragan Communications / PR Daily Rising Star (’23).

Tyminski holds a Bachelor of Science in Political Science and Economics from Bradley University, where she was a three-time national runner-up in informative and impromptu speaking. She received her master’s degree in communications studies from Texas State University and attended the University of Texas at Austin’s Lyndon B. Johnson Women’s Campaign School where she currently serves as Marketing Co-Chair of the Alumni Board.

She is an active member of Austin’s Young Women’s Alliance, Emerge America’s Young Leaders Cabinet, Women Communicators of Austin and the Pink Granite Foundation. In 2021, she was appointed to the City of Austin’s Minority-Owned Business, Women-Owned Business, Small Business Enterprise Procurement Program Advisory Committee.

Claiborne is a seasoned professional with a decade of experience in the media communications industry. She has worked in the public and private sector, building expertise in pitching, message development, brand awareness and targeted marketing. She began her career as a television news producer in East Texas and then transitioned to state and local political communications. Before joining Mach 1, Claiborne served as Communications Director for Texas State Senator Donna Campbell, and prior to that role, as Communications Director for former Austin City Council Member Ellen Troxclair.

Claiborne’s impressive knowledge of city and state government and strong media connections across Texas helps Mach 1 clients target their messaging and achieve their public relations goals. She has led award-winning campaigns and her dedication to her craft was recognized on a global scale at the 20th Annual Stevie Awards for Women in Business — where Alice won the Gold Prize for Female Employee of the Year (’23).

Claiborne is a graduate of Oklahoma State University, adoring wife to Casey and mom to little boys Carson and Henry.

Chapman is a veteran journalist and talented storyteller with extensive experience steering coverage of breaking news and major events. Before joining The Mach 1 Group, she was executive features editor at the Austin American-Statesman, where she developed relationships with public officials, private entrepreneurs and communication specialists across Texas and the country. One of her skills is remaining calm and focused in a crisis or quickly evolving situation. She brings this and her expert insight into newsrooms and media to Mach 1. With her leadership, her team won multiple storytelling and writing awards from major journalism groups during her tenure. She’s a past president and a member of the board of the Society for Features Journalism, where she continues to build her network of media relationships.

Chapman graduated from the University of Kansas with a bachelor’s of science degree in journalism. Previous experience includes The Kansas City Star and the Salem (OR) Statesman-Journal. In her spare time, she enjoys travel, live music and hiking with her rescue dog Dottie.

Jamie Billman McCormick is a seasoned public affairs professional with nearly 20 years of experience in communications, external relations, and public policy. She has a strong track record of developing and executing strategies for complex issues across public, private, and non-profit sectors.

Most recently, McCormick was the Vice President of Public Affairs for the Texas Alliance of Child and Family Services, where she led policy, communications, and design efforts. Her key achievements include securing major funding reforms and leading a campaign for federal pandemic relief for former foster youth in Texas. A veteran Texas Senate staffer, she previously served as Communications Director and Analyst for Senator John Carona. McCormick’s background also includes campaign work, advancing state and federal initiatives, and collaborating with public agencies.

A graduate of Oklahoma State University, McCormick is a proud mom to Suzanna and Milo and wife to Shaun. In her spare time, she enjoys swimming, climbing, and playing with their dogs, Floyd and Bessie. When alone, she can be found reading or painting.

Payne is an accomplished communications professional with extensive knowledge about the intricate workings of state government. Before joining The Mach 1 Group, she served as Government Relations Manager at the University of St. Thomas, where she expanded and cultivated relationships with elected officials, monitored legislation and communicated with external stakeholders. She also has an impressive background in political consulting, collaborating with teams at every level of government on proactive strategies while providing counsel on complex challenges.

Payne graduated from Texas A&M University and holds a master’s in public policy and administration from the University of St. Thomas.

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Sarah Allen is a seasoned strategic communications professional with extensive experience in media relations. With a diverse background across multiple industries, Sarah drives impactful media coverage and translates complex concepts into compelling narratives. Across her career, her savvy media outreach has landed coverage for clients in top entertainment, tech, and business news outlets.

After relocating to Texas from California to be closer to family, Sarah developed communications strategies and secured earned media coverage as a Senior Account Executive at KGBTexas Communications. Her clients included a Fortune 1000 company and several agencies within Harris County government. As a result of her earned media efforts, she was featured by Qwoted twice as one of the top PR professionals leveraging the platform.

Prior to her move to Houston, Sarah honed her media relations skills in Los Angeles, working for top entertainment PR firms Rogers and Cowan PMK and BWR Public Relations. She supported media relations and influencer campaigns and ran social media accounts for major entertainment brands, including YouTube Music and Originals, Hasbro Toys, Godzilla, and Sanrio. When not working from the office, she delighted in shepherding her favorite celebrities down the red carpet at award shows, galas, and press events.

Sarah holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a minor in Spanish from the University of Southern California, graduating summa cum laude. Outside of her professional life, she is actively involved in the Junior League of Houston and enjoys running at Rice Loop.

Young is a distinguished communications professional with experience in national cable broadcast news, federal and state government, and campaign strategy. She began her career at The Fox News Channel in New York City, where she helped produce hit cable news shows such as ‘Glenn Beck,’ ‘The Five,’ and ‘Hannity.’ While in Washington, D.C., Young worked as a Communications Director on Capitol Hill and later as the Director of TV and Radio for the National Republican Congressional Committee. Prior to moving to Texas, Young was Director of Communications for the North Carolina Speaker of the House, worked in Gov. Pat McCrory’s Administration and helped run a Gubernatorial primary campaign in South Carolina.

At Mach 1, Young’s unique expertise and sharp senses have helped craft and lead award-winning communications campaigns and advise clients on national outreach. Young actively consults on client projects while directing marketing for the firm.

A graduate of the University at Buffalo, Young now enjoys exploring the world with her husband Brian and three young children — Harrison, Adeline and Amelia.

Carsyn Collins is a rising policy and communications professional with a passion for advocacy and public affairs. She has cultivated a robust skill set through her work with diverse organizations. Prior to joining The Mach 1 Group, Carsyn served as a Graduate Assistant at UT Austin’s newly established Disability Cultural Center where she quickly gained recognition for her ability to develop outreach strategies, manage comprehensive communications efforts, and spearhead events that promote disability advocacy within higher education.

Carsyn brings multifaceted experience in digital fundraising, legislative affairs and strategic communications, having worked across multiple sectors. As a Public Policy Intern at the Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities, she contributed to advancing pro-disability policy during the 88th Texas Legislative session. Her background also includes digital fundraising at Mothership Strategies and strategic communications for political campaigns where she applied her marketing skills to engage diverse audiences for nationally recognized PACs.

Carsyn holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing from Texas State University and a Master of Public Affairs from The University of Texas at Austin. In her spare time, she enjoys taking dance classes and exploring the live music scene in Austin.