Meet the Oakwood Team
From L to R: Ryan Schibi, Clint Elmore, Laura Licone, Conor Smith
At the center of Oakwood Public Market is a team of passionate neighbors, builders and dreamers. They’re experts in their respective fields who share a vision of creating a welcoming space for guests to gather, connect and have some fun. To bring this vision to life, the team has drawn inspiration from Dripping Springs itself and worked hard to reflect the community’s warmth and lively spirit in every corner of the Oakwood experience.
As we prepare to (finally!) open our doors, we’re excited to introduce you here to the Oakwood “fam” and look forward to raising a glass with everyone soon.
Clint Elmore, executive chef
Clint Elmore didn’t take the traditional path to the kitchen. In a past life, he was a New York lawyer with a secure job and a serious suit collection. Then he traded all that in — for pizza. And thank goodness he did.
With years of experience honed at some of the best pizzerias in the country — and even in Naples, Italy, where he attained near-Jedi status from a master Neapolitan pizzaiolo — Clint brings a world-class pedigree to our small-town dream. His culinary approach is equal parts technique and heart.
At Oakwood, he’s shaping something that reflects his love of food and the community it can create.
As executive chef, Clint is designing a menu and experience that will make Oakwood a true destination for Hill Country dining. His roots may be in Mississippi, but his vision is deeply tied to Texas — a place where wood-fired pizzas meet porch-side conversations and family meals stretch way into the evening.
Clint is not just feeding people; he’s bringing them together. Whether it’s sourcing the perfect local ingredient or obsessing over dough hydration levels, his commitment to excellence (and fun) is something you can taste in every bite.
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Laura Licona, retail market & coffee shop manager
Let’s just say if there were a “most interesting woman in the Hill Country” contest, Laura Licona would be a serious contender. She’s got a doctorate in anthropology, a red hot culinary résumé and a heart for community-building that’s downright contagious.
“If you’re in the world of making businesses thrive and you genuinely want to generate wealth, you have to ensure the system you create supports community health and well-being,” Laura says. “So I might be creating the coffee shop and the market experience, but I’m also an applied food anthropologist, studying and intentionally building a culture centered on the health of the hospitality community — and by extension, the health of the community as a whole.”
Born in El Paso and raised mostly in New Mexico, Laura sharpened her knives in New York City’s food world hustle (hello, Fairway Market) and recently moved back to Texas to be closer to her family — and to grow a new one at Oakwood.
She’s a proud Chicana, a mom, a chef, a community advocate and a big believer that coffee can change the world (or at least your morning).
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Conor Smith, culinary operations
With more than a decade of hands-on experience in artisan bread, viennoiserie and full-scale bakery operations, Conor Smith’s journey spans everything from laminated doughs to laminated spreadsheets — leading teams, developing menus and streamlining production for some of the most recognized bakeries in California and Texas.
He gained widespread recognition as the co-founder and head baker of Gemini Bakehouse, the cult-favorite Los Angeles bakery he launched with his wife in 2020. What began as an Instagram home-baking project quickly turned into a media favorite, featured by ABC7, Time Out LA, The Infatuation, LA Weekly and Eater LA.
Gemini Bakehouse became known for its nostalgic treats with a modern twist — and for selling out faster than a Taylor Swift concert.
Beyond the oven, Conor runs his own culinary consulting business, helping startups and seasoned kitchens alike improve their recipes, systems and bottom lines. Whether he’s leading a 15-person team or inventing the next can’t-miss pastry, Conor blends creativity, precision and just the right amount of irreverence to keep things interesting.
At Oakwood, he’s overseeing culinary operations — meaning he’s got a hand in making sure what ends up on your plate is both beautiful and bangin’. You’ll probably never see him sweat, but rest assured — he’s always hustling behind the scenes to make the magic happen.
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Alexis Gallivan, owner of Over Yonder
As the saying goes, Alexis may not have been born in Texas, but she got here as fast as she could. Her road was long and winding, leading her across Africa and the Pacific Islands then later through New York City and Silicon Valley. Along the way, she worked at the United Nations, built and sold an organic ice cream business, and led big tech marketing teams before settling happily into Dripping Springs in 2019, where she now lives with her husband and three very good dogs.
Over Yonder represents her latest adventure and a tribute to her love of design, craft, and all things pretty. The shop will offer a curated collection of upscale home goods and specialty gifts, from handwoven textiles and interesting pottery to kitchen wares, candles, dried florals, women’s accessories, and much more - all carefully sourced from talented makers near and far.
“Over Yonder isn’t about filling our spaces with stuff,” Alexis shared. “It’s about making room in our lives for the things that matter - lovely, meaningful pieces that tell stories and spark delight.” With this shared focus on slowing down and simple joys, Over Yonder is a perfect complement to the Oakwood experience.
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Ryan Schibi, director of operations
Ryan Schibi brings a whole lot of heart, a little rock 'n’ roll, and more than two decades of hospitality experience to Oakwood. He’s the guy who’s always thinking about how to make things better — for the guests, the team, and the community. From running operations at Alamo Drafthouse’s South Lamar location to helping shape the vibe at some of Austin’s best-loved restaurants with Happy Goods, Schibi has spent his career creating places where memories are made and good times are guaranteed.
A vinyl junkie, national parks explorer, and full-time food and drink enthusiast, Schibi’s passion is bringing people together — and doing it with style. Whether you’re raising a glass at a long-table dinner or grabbing a casual coffee with a friend, he wants Oakwood to feel like the kind of place you stumble into and never want to leave.
In his words: “My passion is the passionate.” In ours: The guy just gets it.
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But wait, there’s more …
Behind this dream team is a cast of even more food lovers, community champions and seasoned pros who are pitching in to make Oakwood an exceptional destination for good times and great food. This includes creative culinary minds from Hai Hospitality (Uchi, Loro), De Nada Cantina, Old Thousand, Electric Gravy and other local hotspots. And quarterbacking it all is the developer duo behind the Headwaters community, who have helped make Dripping Springs a happy home for so many.
Oakwood is our collective love letter to this great town and the Hill Country beyond. It’s not just a place to shop, eat or relax. It’s a place for all of us to be together and belong. We can’t wait to welcome you in and have some fun.
P.S. Feeling inspired to join the crew and be part of something special? We’re hiring! Check out our jobs page for info, and/or reach out to hello@overyonderatx.com with your resume and introduction.