Holiday 2016: On Location
Welcome back for round two! Here's your intimate behind-the-scenes look at the sophomore issue of the most exciting new magazine in Houston.
Nov. 21, 2016
How did you get to where you are today? A few key principles integrated into my life: setting clear goals, maintaining a growth mindset, building strong habits, and surrounding myself with the right people. Goals provided direction, while a growth mindset helped me turn challenges into opportunities for learning. Consistent habits, like disciplined work and effective communication, kept me moving forward. Being surrounded by motivated, supportive individuals has elevated my standards and kept me accountable. They’ve provided advice, encouragement, and sometimes that extra push I needed to stay on track. With these elements, I’ve been able to create a framework that helps me succeed and ensures I continue to grow and evolve.
What lessons have you learned that might enlighten and inspire others? I’ve learned to honor the struggle and see challenges not as obstacles meant to stop me but as opportunities to grow stronger and wiser. Every setback, every difficulty, carries a lesson that can propel you forward if you choose to learn from it. Clarity about goals, who you are and where you want to go acts as a compass during times of chaos and confusion, helping to steer life back on course. Surrounding myself with people who uplift and inspire has dramatically enhanced my resilience and ability to bounce back from life’s challenges. The commitment to lifelong learning has also been a game-changer for me. Being a perpetual student of life keeps me humble and open to new possibilities. It builds confidence because I know I can adapt and handle whatever comes my way.
What’s new in your life or work that you’re excited about? I’m thrilled to be launching a new 12-episode podcast series with LaGina Harris, the founder of LaRae Infinity LLC, where we’ll dive into the challenges and resilience of entrepreneurship. In addition, I’m working with a publisher on a book set to be released in 2025!
What gives you the leadership edge? What truly gives me the leadership edge is a deep commitment to personal growth, a focus on service, and a profound empathy for my clients and team. Leadership, at its core, is about constantly adapting and growing. It’s about stepping into challenges and using them as opportunities to gain confidence and develop skills. This mindset of embracing growth and being open to learning has been pivotal. Understanding the core concerns of those I work with is crucial, as it allows me to tailor the support and guidance to their specific needs and situations. It’s about meeting them where they are, recognizing the effort they’ve put in, and understanding the context of their challenges. Creating with them, not just for them, which is a cornerstone of effective leadership. These elements, combined with a consistent practice of self-reflection and a commitment to embodying the values I preach, provide the leadership edge.
“Leadership is about being a role model, not just in success but in resilience, integrity, and compassion.”
Brigitte Kalai, Alicia Smith and Deborah Duncan
A WHOPPING 2,100 people showed up to toast the 25th annivesrary of the Trailblazers Awards Luncheon and Fashion Show, one of the Houston Livestock and Rodeo's most successful events.
There was no shortage of cowboy boots, hats or fashionable fringe at the Hilton Americas-Houston, where the fourth-floor ballroom was transformed to display the splashy, colorful "Paint the Town" theme. The event offered a chance for supporters to applaud all of the Trailblazer honorees over the years, plus the class of 2025, which included Beth Briscoe, Christy Stern, Lisa Schutzenhofer, Michelle Verbois, Rainey Janke and Teresa Jordan.
The fashion show featured spring styles from Saks Fifth Avenue, and took place against a vibrant backdrop and light tubes hanging from the ceiling. KHOU's Mia Gradney and Len Cannon emceed the program, which had Rodeo representative Pat Mann Phillips and Trailblazer honchos Wendy Lewis Armstrong and Ann Massey give remarks to the crowd.
In the past decade or so, the Trailblazer ladies have supported education and literary in Houston with two programs: Rodeo ROPES (Reading Opens the Path to Education Success) has collected and distributed 620,000 children’s books through the nonprofit Books Between Kids. The group also created SPURS (Students Pursuing Unlimited Reading and Writing Success), a program that organizes a writing competition and leads Rodeo Read Along, a weekend storytime on Rodeo grounds.
Alison Cravey, Heather Kolos, Kim Price
Vanessa Kriegel, Roxy Sanford, Heather Lebure, Amanda Baldwin
Charity Stone, Lisa Schutzenhofer, David Stone
Susannah and Edd Compton, Matt Perrien, Susan Whller Scott
Christina Greene McAllen and David McAllen
Stedman Grigsby, Breston Hall, Kirby Janke, Ryan O'Smith
Darlene Dye, Kelly Larkin, Terry Agris
Cynthia Wolff, Heidi Rockecharlie, Karen Payne, Elsie Eckert
Stacy Behringer, Christy Maloy, Allison Smolik, Jaclyn Diaz
Erin Jackson, Katie Clapp, Autumn Jackson, Stacee Howse
Sandra Crook, Jennifer Hoff, Denise Blonde, Kathleen Mach
Romeo Saenz, Chris Miller
Heidi Turney, Nicole Lasseter
Lesley Briones, Cinthya Reade, Nina Altuve
Robin Young Ellis, Tina Bradley, Dominique Bartholett
Honorees Lisa Schutzenhofer, Beth Briscoe, Christy Stern, Michelle Verbois, Teresa Jordan, Rainey Janke
Rachel Regan and Jayne Johnston
Jan Rountree, Susan Coburn, Chelsea Coburn
Jim Wynne, Pat Mann Phillips and Keith Steffek
Megan Strickland and Sheryl McAndrew
Kristina Somerville, Julia Morales and April Salazar
Kirby and David Lodholz and Ann Massey
Lisa Rich, Jessica Givens, Coco Lu
BETWEEN AN EXCITING raffle and runway show, Homemade Hope's fash bash at Tootsies was a truly tasteful success! More than 160 well heeled attendees also enjoyed browsing the season's most stylish offerings and chatting with Homemade Hope's executive director, Blair Bentley Ozenbaugh, about its mission to support at-risk children via mentoring and culinary lessons.
Festive balloons wrapped the store, courtesy of Topped Off, and Johnny Bravo kept the beats spinning all evening long — and emceed the fashion show! It featured community leaders and Homemade Hope supporters strutting their stuff in the latest looks from Tootsies and Festari for Men.
Following the runway presentation, Johnny Bravo announced winners of raffle prizes — tickets to see Luke Bryan at the Rodeo, a Tootsies shopping spree, and Astros' Diamond Club seats were highly coveted items! More than $75,000 was raised to further Homemade Hope's mission.
Tiffany Halik, Trent Kelley, Laurie Cacioppo
Adam Greer
Bart and Beverly Bentley
Scarlett Hankey and Brooke Bentley Gunst
Calvin Krall and Monica Patel
Oliver Stevenson and Mary Lou Pringle
Michelle Leal, Rome Street
Blair Bentley and Brooke Bentley Gunst
Chelsea Collmer and Laurie Sanders
Lisa Woods
Debbie and Rudy Festari
Brittany Owen
Linda Bischoff, Alex Heins, Ryan Thanos
Kendall Monroe, Katie Tsuru
Julie Thomas, Kathleen Graf, lila Sherifan
Ellecia Knolle
Haniyeh Mirdamadi and Young Son
Heidi Feller, Sandy Patout
Heidi Feller, Sandy Patout
Jessica Givens, Melissa McDavid, Rae Solberg