Leadership in Action: John Kuykendall Traded Newcaster Dream for Success in Luxury Retail
Oct. 8, 2024
John Kuykendall, Showroom Manager, Sub-Zero, Wolf and Cove
How did you get to where you are today? Growing up I had envisioned myself as a news anchor, living in NY and enthusiastically saying into the camera “Good Morning America!”. To this day, I am still a news/political junkie. My mother owned fur salons so specialty retail, luxury retail was in my blood through the family business. Eventually, mom shuttered the stores and I was recruited to a large specialty retailer. Over the next 30 years, I was in commissioned sales on the sales floor, became a department manager, worked my way up to buyer and store manager. Although I never became a newscaster, I did live in NYC for a few years. But Texas is home and with aging grandparents, I felt the pull to come back to my roots. A headhunter approached me. I never envisioned myself in the high-end appliance market, but there are so many similarities. Clients want a memorable experience; whether shopping for diamonds and fur or remodeling their kitchen.
What lessons have you learned that might enlighten and inspire others? The best advice I ever received was “Hire happy people”. There is a wealth of knowledge to be absorbed in any specialty field. Most companies have various trainings and on boarding practices to ensure all that knowledge gets shared. But even the best trainers cannot impart the fundamentals of being happy, in your workplace or personal life.
I believe happiness comes from within and is an active practice. I became a widower in my 40’s and at the time, my son was still in high school. Navigating the devastating effects of cancer from diagnosis to hospice takes a toll. But self-pity, doubt, and negativity could not creep into our lives. There had been so much hardship, it was my responsibility to ensure he saw optimism, and enthusiasm for the life we have now. I could not dwell on the loss but chose to move forward with gratitude. I now try to carry that attitude in everything I do.
The pandemic was a prime example of why hiring happy people matters. With everyone spending significantly more time in their homes, we saw a huge surge of kitchen remodels and demand, while keeping our USA manufacturing moving forward became a challenge. The work and dedication from everyone in this organization, down to my very own team, are what got us through, and we are now stronger than ever. That hard, dedicated work had its origins in happy people coming together, and I am so proud of the efforts made by everyone to keep us moving forward.
What’s new or upcoming for Sub-Zero, Wolf, and Cove? In recent years, our engineering teams have put significant innovation into the aesthetics of our appliances. From a complete revamp on the features of Sub-Zero Classic Series Refrigeration last year, to the introduction of Wolf’s Accent Door Collection this year, featuring white and black ranges to accompany an assortment of knob and bezel options that help personalize your cooking appliances to your design style. Both lines look incredible, and we are thrilled to see where this will lead us in the future. We have all of these new appliances on display, so we welcome folks to make an appointment and see them in person.
What do you like most about what you do? I strongly value working for a company whose values align with their product. Sub-Zero, Wolf, and Cove appliances are built to last 20+ years of daily use and the performance is incredible. Whether a customer is looking for our iconic red knobs, or the equipment to make their culinary dreams a reality, we help find the best configurations for their space and are confident in the appliances we put in their home.
What drives you? My mom instilled a great work ethic in my siblings and me. Working alongside my team to surpass expectations keeps me motivated. The Sub-Zero, Wolf, and Cove showroom has a hard-earned reputation in the market for elevated experiences from client demonstration dinners to happy hour for our dealer partners, and events for the designer community.
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All That Jazz: With ‘Moonlight’ Theme, Mercury Mixes Up Musical Medley, Goes Glam for 2025 Gala
Jacob Power
Mar. 31, 2025
Ally Shell and Martijn van Koolwijk
BLAME IT ON the Moon! Mercury Chamber Orchestra’s 2025 gala at the Thompson hotel — themed “Moonlight Serenade and chaired by Ally Shell and Martijn Van Koolwijk — was a night of glamour and big band vibes, raising more than $350,000 for the company.
“The event featured a spectacular night of live music, exquisite dining and generous philanthropy,” said a rep for the orchestra. “Mercury musicians, along with performers from Houston Jazz Orchestra, delighted the crowd with a unique fusion of classical and jazz influences, bringing fresh energy to the orchestra’s signature style.” The theme was a nod to Glenn Miller’s iconic “Moonlight Serenade.”
Johnny Bravo led the auction, scoring big bucks for items such as golfing adventures and a fabulous Mexico getaway. A yellow gold necklace with diamonds and yellow beads was raffled off.
“This year’s gala was a true testament to the power of music to unite and inspire,” said Antoine Plante, Artistic Director of Mercury.
Bucks raised at the posh affair will support Mercury’s concerts, community engagement programs, and educational initiatives, which reach thousands of students across the Greater Houston area each year, Mercury says.
Jen Grigsby, Kimberly Rawlins, Anna Winter, Vanessa Weeke and Sherry Weiner
Shane and Marissa Gilroy
Antoine Plante
Kim Padgett, Sarah Leftwich and Donae Chramosta
Mary Foster and Don DeSimone
Brian Ritter, Steve Barth, June Barth and Antoine Plante
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Glenda and Russell Gordy and Alicia and Garrett Gordy (photo by Wilson Parish)
EVEN AS RODEO season winds down, the party people at the Stage Houston theater company were still donning boots and shouting yahoo — and taking in a record haul of $1.4 million!
With a glittery theme — Rhinestone Cowboys and Golden Vikings — Stages welcomes a fun group of loyal supporters to a tented gala dinner on the grounds of its Gordy theater. Myrtle Jones chaired the ball, with longtime company champion George Lancaster serving as honorary chair.
“Mirrored disco balls, intricate gold chandeliers, and accents of silver and gold sequins set the stage for a chic Western ambiance,” said a Stages rep. “Dazzling floral arrangements of roses, hydrangeas, tulips, and snapdragons adorned tables draped in gold and black linens.”
The dinner menu features beef tenderloin medallion with a rich Zinfandel glace, served up with yellow squash casserole, rainbow baby carrots, and asparagus. For dessert: chocolate pecan tarts, topped with cinnamon-whipped mascarpone, blackberries, and bourbon caramel sauce.
Among many emotional moments, longtime Stages star Denise Fennell gave moving remarks in accepting an award for artistic excellence. “Best known for her role as “Sister” [in the Late Nite Catechismseries], Denise has spent 17 years in the Stages spotlight, where she has also created and premiered original works, including Lessons Learned, which will make its world premiere at Stages this May,” the rep said.
The cast of the western-flavored Das Barbecü musical performed, and Johnny Bravo officiated a boisterous auction. Popular items in the latter included Oscar watching with Elton John and a visit to a posh Montana ranch with Yellowstone cast members.
Guests included Jo Furr, Ralph Burch, Vicki West, Brad and Brenda Jones, theater namesakes Glenda and Russell Gordy, Beth Madison, Ed Finger, and new Stage execs Gwen Watkins and Derek Livingston.
Brenda and Brad Jones (photo by Wilson Parish)
The cowgirl welcome committee (photo by Wilson Parish)
George C. Lancaster and Gwen Watkins (photo by Wilson Parish)
Myrtle Jones (photo by Wilson Parish)
Dean Putterman and Ed Finger (photo by Wilson Parish)
Debra and Mike Dishberger (photo by Jacob Power)
Denise Fennell and Risk Pasqualone (photo by Wilson Parish)
Carey Kirkpatrick and Neil Hershey (photo by Wilson Parish)
Cabrina and Steven Owsley (photo by Wilson Parish)
Luis and Stacy Gomar (photo by Jacob Power)
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