Our Founders

Heather is CEO and co-founder of Orrick Industries, based in Austin, Texas. She sets the company’s strategy and drives its execution. Orrick Industries develops and licenses technologies that make AI, cybersecurity, scientific computing, and other computationally demanding applications faster and more energy efficient—saving time, reducing costs and energy consumption, and lessening environmental impact.

Her career spans enterprise software product leadership, staffing and recruiting, small business ownership, nonprofit grants and program management, and oil and gas. Across these roles, her strength is bringing structure to organizations whose growth has outpaced their processes—without losing the creativity that got them there. She turns broad goals into clear priorities and workable plans, helping people understand how their work contributes to the larger vision. At Orrick Industries, she connects the company’s technical ambitions with the practical demands of building and running a business.

Heather holds a BA in Communications and a Master of Divinity in Pastoral Counseling. An ordained chaplain and former military officer, she brings a background that combines organizational leadership with service to others. She also mentors women moving into leadership, helping others navigate new responsibilities and opportunities.

She and Brian have three adult children and call Austin home. Away from work, they enjoy getting on the road in their Airstream with their two dogs.

Brian Orrick is co-founder and Chief Technology Officer of Orrick Industries and Chief Scientist at Orrick Research & Development. He is the inventor behind the company’s technologies, which make AI training and inference, cybersecurity, scientific computing, and other demanding computational applications faster and more energy efficient—reducing processing time, costs, energy consumption, and environmental impact.

Brian brings 25 years of experience in high technology, including 20 years in executive management. His technical background spans programming, software and hardware optimization, security, and networking. He has also operated and managed nuclear reactors for the United States Navy and the Department of Energy. His work combines practical technology development with fundamental research in physics, mathematics, computer science, and information theory.

Brian holds a Bachelor of Science degree. He earned his MBA in Information Systems from the University of Texas at Austin, whose graduate Information Systems program is ranked No. 1 nationally by U.S. News & World Report in 2026. He is currently pursuing a Master of Liberal Arts in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence through Harvard University’s Extension School.

Brian and Heather live in Austin and have three adult children. Away from work, he enjoys time with family, Airstream adventures with their two dogs, piña coladas, and getting caught in the rain with Heather.