Business Champions

Companies and corporate principals that help keep our community at the commercial forefront

Valerie Landry

Valerie Landry, General Manager of The Sanford House Inn and Spa, has been involved with the storied local institution almost as long as she has been around. In fact, she began working there when her grandparents built The Sanford House some two and a half decades ago.

“I’ve done just about every job that could be done, from pulling the weeds to cleaning the rooms to serving the Rooney family [of Pittsburgh Steeler fame] during the Super Bowl,” Landry says. “After I graduated from college, I moved back to Arlington and began working as the Spa Director and Marketing Director for the company. Soon after that, we remodeled the property to accommodate our restaurant and bar, and I shifted into my current role as General Manager.”

Most recently, she worked to ensure that Restaurant506 remains one of the best restaurants in the city and helped launch a marketing campaign for the inn and its various facets to keep them front and center in peoples’ minds – during a pandemic, no less.

On the restaurant front, Landry and The Sanford House team have undertaken a variety of endeavors to continually enhance the renowned eatery, which has won Diner’s Choice awards from Open Table each of the past four years and which was also honored by Open Table for offering one of the top 100 brunches in the nation. Restaurant506 is open to the public for dining and is located in The Sanford House Manor.

“Restaurant506 combines classic cooking methods with fresh ingredients to create delicious tasting food that is artfully presented,” Landry notes. “Together with our attentive team of servers, we strive to be sure that your experience at our restaurant is absolutely perfect.”

Landry schedules regular themed events at the restaurant to attract guests and to enhance the bond Restaurant506 has with the community. The restaurant hosts wine dinners in concert with local wineries, teams two favorites with its “Brunch and Yoga” specials and makes a big splash each year to help local patrons celebrate Restaurant Week. There’s something for someone, pretty much every month of the year.

While ensuring that Restaurant506 remains a focal point for Landry, it’s just one of the hats she wears as General Manager of The Sanford House. She also handles administration and promotion of the inn, which offers luxurious accommodations for overnight stays. The Sanford House also has the capability to host magnifcent outdoor events on the Grand Courtyard or smaller intimate social affairs indoors. Then there is the Sanford Spa, which is a full-service spa and salon that offers full body, facial, and nail services for special occasions or “just because.” Landry says she is devoted to making sure that people who visit The Sanford House – any facet of it – come away not only pleased with their “Sanford House experience” but so enamored that they make a point to return.

“Our passion for customer service is what sets us apart as special,” she says.

In addition to her career, Landry is very active in the community, serving as a past Chair of the Downtown Arlington Management Corporation Board, and she was a member of the Leadership North Texas Class 9. She has also served on the Board of Directors for the Greater Arlington Chamber of Commerce and has served in various capacities with the Chamber of Commerce Women’s Alliance and with the Junior League of Arlington.

She is past president of the Downtown Arlington Rotary and previously served as Assistant Governor for Rotary District 5790. She has also served on the Board of Symphony Arlington and was in Leadership Arlington’s Class of 2009.

The Sanford House

506 N. Center St. • 817-861-2129 • thesanfordhouse.com

The Future of Financial Services Is Female

Since 1964, this full-service accounting frm has distinguished itself by serving North Texas with personalized service for business fnancial matters. The women who lead PSK bring their unique perspectives and knack for nurturing long-lasting relationships to create a fresh client management approach.

Stephanie Buduhan delivers comprehensive auditing services to church and nonproft clients. Kylie Lindsey provides reliable service for a wide array of accounting, business tax and personal tax needs. Marie Bosillo handles detailed audits, reviews and agreed-upon procedures for commercial and nonproft clients. And Kathy Howlett distinguishes herself with 30 years of accounting, tax and business consulting to family-owned businesses and a variety of industries.

Kathy Howlett, CPA & Partner; Kylie Lindsey, CPA & Principal; Marie Bosillo, CPA & Partner; and Stephanie Buduhan, CPA & Principal, are all on the leadership team at PSK LLP.

At its core, PSK is a close-knit group which treats its clients with personalized one-onone care. The frm is dedicated to developing

its team members and staying true to its core values.

To this end, PSK’s female leadership team is deeply committed to not only serving clients but also numerous organizations and nonprofts in Arlington and Mansfeld, including the Women’s Alliance of the Greater Arlington Chamber of Commerce, Mission Arlington, Higher Education Servicing Corporation and TXCPA.

PSK is invested in cultivating future certifed public accountants. The frm has a strong relationship with the University of Texas at Arlington and the UTA alumni on staff have tailor-made an internship program to provide experience in diverse practice areas.

“Decades ago my parents chose PSK for their accounting work. As a young professional banker, again decades ago, I saw the character, culture, professionalism and successful results of the frm. Kathy Howlett and the PSK team provide expertise and comfort for me by managing my personal tax needs as well as those of my businesses. No matter how busy she is, Kathy consistently gets back to me when I have questions. I trust PSK to handle the tax side of business so I may focus on the real estate business!”

– Brandee Kelley, Owner, Brandee Kelley Group

As an Arlington-based CPA, consulting and advisory frm, PSK LLP works for national and local clients and provides accounting, tax, auditing and payroll services. Clients span transportation, healthcare, construction, manufacturing, faith-based and many other industries.

PSK LLP

Andrew Duininck, Headmaster of Great Hearts Arlington, following a successful launch of their newest campus in August 2021.

Great Hearts Arlington: A classical public school G

reat Hearts Arlington, the newest addition to a revolutionary network of tuition-free, in person and online public schools dedicated to improving education nationwide, successfully opened in August 2021 to grades Kindergarten-7th – and will add a grade each year until it is a full K-12 campus.

Located at 6701 S. Cooper St., Great Hearts Arlington provides an honors level liberal arts curriculum in the tradition of the fnest independent private schools. As such, they offer an outstanding opportunity for families who want the very best in a college preparatory institution.

A Great Hearts education prepares students to be more than just profcient test takers, but, rather, to become great-hearted leaders capable of success throughout their higher education and professional careers. Great Hearts emphasizes that in order for students to become great-hearted leaders they must share in a knowledge that is rooted in the classical liberal arts tradition. The life of a Great Hearts Arlington scholar is one that is rich and varied and gives them the opportunity to build relationships with their peers outside of the classroom, contribute to their school community, and develop healthy habits and virtues like friendship, citizenship, and humility.

At Great Hearts, the primary tool of cultivating knowledge and virtue in their students is the Socratic Method. In this timeless teaching technique, the teacher uses questions and conversation to guide students from what they already know to what they do not yet know in all subjects. The development of the academic habit of logical inquiry feeds students’ sense of wonder and creates life-long learners. In the end, the communal pursuit of truth, goodness, and beauty inspires and shapes students into the best versions of themselves, setting in motion growth that will continue the rest of their lives.

Great Hearts Arlington

Prince Lebanese Grill Y

ears from now, the good folks who make Prince Lebanese Grill one of

Arlington's favorite restaurants will likely recall the fall of 2021 with great fondness. The vastly popular eatery was featured in Texas Monthly magazine, restaurant Manager Aziz Kobty and the team were chosen to serve as the celebrity chef for the Dallas Cowboys' home opener at AT&T Stadium, and the Kobty family was inducted into the Arlington Highlands Rotary Club as honorary members.

And those were just September highlights.

They are also testaments to way the community embraces the restaurant, known for its outstanding food, superior service and a heart for paying back those with whom they live and work.

In August, Prince Lebanese Grill earned its fourth straight Arlington Today readers’ choice All Star honor. It has been earning – and maintaining – the business of hungry Texans since 1989, providing a veritable home away from home for virtually every one who dines there.

That’s likely because of the family atmosphere at the heart of the eatery. Patriarch Francis Kobty, who recently passed, started the restaurant; his son Aziz became the manager after graduating from college and handles marketing; and daughter Elizabeth heads day-to-day operations. Completing the team is mother Amira, who makes sure everyone involved with Prince Lebanese Grill is devoted to both the quality of the dining experience and to the customers who get to experience it.

“Our vision at Prince is top-quality food, reasonable prices and a family environment,” Aziz says. “Prince Lebanese Grill’s philosophy is to take care of others. From the customers to the staff we strive to treat everyone like family.”

Prince Lebanese Grill

Stephanie A. Foster S

tephanie Foster started her legal firm, The Law Offices of Stephanie A.

Foster, P.C., in 1992 and for the nearly three decades since, she has been devoted to the practice of family law.

The practice concentrates in family legal issues, including divorce, modifications, custody, child support, spousal support, visitation, enforcement of custody/support, paternity and stepparent adoption.

Stephanie says her dream of having her own law practice was nurtured as a child by her father, John Foster, who is an attorney.

“When I was a child,” she recalls, “I would beg him to take me to work with him at his law firm every summer.”

Throughout her career, Stephanie has focused on family law.

“My professional philosophy is divorce with dignity,” she says, noting that she has taken many special measures to serve her clients in the best manner possible. “I was one of the first attorneys trained in collaborative law in 2008. Collaborative Law is a way to divorce with dignity with no court and no war.”

She believes the collaborative law process is a powerful way to generate creative solutions in family law disputes while minimizing financial and emotional damage to the couple and their children, all the while promoting post-divorce psychological and financial health of the restructured family.

A graduate of Arlington Martin High School, Southern Methodist University and St. Mary’s Law School in San Antonio, Stephanie was named a “Top Attorney” by Fort Worth, Texas magazine in 2003, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020.

The Law Offces of Stephanie A. Foster, P.C.

Brenda Cureton-Hunt Great Skin Spa & Facial Club

Great Skin Spa & Facial Club has been an All Star every year Arlington Today has had skin care as a category. Owner Brenda Cureton-Hunt began her career in the skin care and beauty business 15 years ago as the frst U.S. franchisee of Canadian-based Faces cosmetics. Taking that experience, she founded Great Skin Spa & Facial Club 11 years ago in Arlington, where the company has continued to grow and gain notoriety as an exceptional day spa and skin care provider.

At Great Skin she not only shares her experience in creating and maintaining beautiful skin via state-of-the-industry technology and products; she also has championed the practice of receiving professional spa services as part of personal care, as opposed to a special occasional visit or gift due to affordability. Great Skin Facial Club members receive a wide range of treatment options at the spa, as well as guidance and products they can use at home. “I developed the concept of Great Skin based on the goals of the thousands of clients – men and women – wanting to have more beautiful skin and manage the signs of aging skin through treatments, knowledge and skin care,” Cureton-Hunt says.

As a result, Great Skin offers a full line of award-winning skin care products for anti-aging, acne, hyperpigmentation and general skin care, as well as skin and body care for men, women and teens, and waxing, teeth whitening and massage. New services include microneedling, non-needle lip plumping and enhancement, non-surgical Brazilian Butt Lifting and contouring, cellulite and fat melting treatments, along with body contouring, foot detoxing and an extensive line of skin and body care. Cureton-Hunt also offers “Hemp Healing Cream” for skin and body care to pay homage to her mother, Mattie, who was afficted with Alzheimer’s. GS is also known for its instant slimming treatments, and it now offers @ accept care, which is a credit card for health & beauty.

Great Skin implements operating principals of disease control to keep clients and staff safe and healthy. “Also,” she notes, “we specialize in treating every skin type, tone and texture with excellent results from knowledge, education and experience. It’s about partnership at Great Skin. Our slogan is ‘Relax, Rewind, Renew!’”

Customers rave about the calming and happy atmosphere, services, results and knowledge of staff – “A gem in Arlington!”

Be our guest and receive a free eye treatment with any facial on our menu with the mention of this profle.

Great Skin Spa & Facial Club

Dr. Kenyon Godwin T

hese are exciting times for Dr. Kenyon Godwin, both with regard to his popular wellness practice and to his role as one of the area's foremost commercial leaders. On the former front, Dr. Godwin recently joined the Curis Functional Health team, which will now count his two Arlington offces among its healthcare resource centers located in the North Texas area. Just as importantly, Dr. Godwin is the Chair Elect for The Greater Arlington Chamber of Commerce.

Dr. Godwin says the move to Curis Functional Health was a natural extension of his long-held quest to improve the lives of area residents. "Curis Functional Health is growing and focused on providing complete holistic patient-centered care within the communities they serve," he says. "Several of the offces that have joined the group reached out and invited us to join this prestigious group. I love the model: chiropractic, counseling, and functional nutrition. The model is in alignment with my model of mind, body, and spirit. The people and teams involved are awesome, and the potential to advance the health status of our community leveraging the resources of a group is exciting.

Though the practice isn't called Active Family Wellness Center any more, Dr. Godwin says the change for practice members is minimal. "The name and branding is changing," he says. "It is the same team, same excellent service, but with additional services and team members!"

Curis Functional Health has four offces, including Dr. Godwin's two offces in Arlington. "What that means," he says, "is that we can now leverage each other's strengths and refer for specifc issues."

The other big news regarding the good doctor is his new role with the Chamber. "I will be helping our business community continue to develop and grow economically," he explains. "I'm excited to be involved on this level to provide insight and ideas to the business community of the American Dream City. This extends to our partners in education and other non-proft organizations."

When Dr. Godwin says he is excited, that's no exaggeration. Rare is the moment that he doesn't have a smile on his face or pep in his step. He says that's simply because he feels called to do all the positive things he does. "I'm inspired by the God I serve, I am made in His image and I'm sure it's a positive one," he says. "I love people, and there's so much negativity in the world, we should be intentional on being grateful and spreading love whenever we can."

Curis Functional Health

Gracie Lane S

ince opening in 2014, Gracie Lane has rapidly become recognized as the

Arlington area’s premier shopping destination for pretty much anything that ends with “and more.”

As long-time connoisseurs of the best shopping venues, the members of the Gracie Lane team have gathered the most impressive local collections – featuring all manner of delightful items that generally fall under the category of “the perfect something for the perfect someone.”

And, get this: They put them for sale under one delightful roof.

When you visit Gracie Lane, you will be pleased with the quality and excited by the experience – plus you get an added bonus that comes in the satisfaction of supporting local businesses.

Gracie Lane’s inventory runs the gamut, from children’s clothing and accessories to stand-out pieces for women, from gifts that express true personal connections to home décor that will become focal conversation pieces, from a wide variety of jewelry items to the aforementioned proverbial “more.”

Manager Mary Macken says the real key to Gracie Lane’s success, though, is the relationships she and the team build: “I believe our philosophy of treating every person that walks through our doors as a family member really resonates with our customers.”

Gracie Lane

R'haan Thai Cuisine

While R'haan Thai Cuisine offcially opened its doors in early August, owners Wanna and Surat Banthupong have always had a passion for cooking. They have been in the restaurant industry for over three decades as the family behind Simply Burgers, a local establishment with locations in Arlington, Mansfeld and Fort Worth.

With the lease on the North Arlington location nearing its renewal date, the couple decided to explore a new direction and revisit their passion for cooking Thai food (the couple emigrated to Texas over 40 years ago).

Beginning in early summer 2021, an overhaul of the interior was initiated to create a more open and sophisticated experience for diners. The restaurant decor features a muted, simple color scheme and clean lines throughout but with a handpainted mural (by Sheri Lopez of That's Flippin' Smart Art) to give an unexpected burst of color. To recognize the hardwork of each of those individuals involved with the project (from the initial design to the completed project), and to welcome guests with a sampling of a few signature favors, R'haan held an open house on August 9th. Doors offcially opened on August 12th (Thai Mother's Day).

Since opening, guests have come from all over the DFW Metroplex (and beyond). Five-star reviews are beginning to pour in on Yelp, Google, and the restaurant's Facebook page. Favorite dishes include the Drunken Noodles (Pad Kee Mow), Salmon Curry, Garlic Prawns, and of course, Pad Thai. The desert menu features unique offerings such as Sticky Rice with Mango, Fried Ice Cream, and Black Rice Pudding. And, of course, no Thai meal would be complete without Thai Tea!

The R'hann family hopes that guests (especially the residents of Arlington and surrounding areas) will discover that they can have exceptional food and service without traveling far from home.

R'haan Thai Cuisine currently services Dine-In and Take-Out orders. With the ability to hold approximately 80 people in its dining room, large parties, celebrations, and other events are always welcome. Lunch is served from 11am3pm and dinner is served from 5pm-9pm Monday through Saturday. Closed on Sunday. BYOB is also welcome!

R'haan Thai Cuisine

Anything Goes

Anything Goes has become a go-to place for North Texas-area shoppers who are looking for that “special something” for everyone from infants to adults.

Fun and unique products line the shelves and are hand-selected by owner Mary Davis, whose keen eye brings the fun into shopping from visit to visit.

Anything Goes started out as a dream and has far exceeded Mary’s expectations. Beginning with 1,200 square feet, Anything Goes has gone through two expansions and now occupies over 3,600 square feet of showroom space. The growth has been exciting and is attracting customers from all over the Metroplex.

Though Anything Goes is closed on Sunday and Monday, you can shop pretty much any time the lights are on. Although Mary’s responsibilities include the overall operations of the store, her main philosophy is to keep the customer first and ensure that each person who comes to Anything Goes has a great shopping experience.

Traveling to different markets such as Las Vegas, New York and Atlanta allows Anything Goes to bring diverse and unique products from across the country.

“I work hard to find our customers new products so they have the diversity in the gifts that they’re giving, and there’s always something new and fresh for them on the shelves,” Mary says. “Anything Goes prides itself in the level of customer service that we provide and making everyone feel at home the minute they walk in the door.”

Anything Goes

Donna Smiedt

Donna Smiedt graduated from SMU Law School at the age of 21, becoming one of the youngest women to graduate at a time when less than a quarter of practicing lawyers were women. Ms. Smiedt opened her family law practice as a Solo Practitioner immediately after graduation. Since that time she has devoted her practice entirely to the area of Family Law, becoming Board Certified by the Texas Board of Specialization. Ms. Smiedt has practiced exclusively in this area for over 30 years, assisting families suffering divorce and the break up of their families, always seeking to make this process as least devastating as possible. Among the many accolades in her career: Twice selected by her peers as a Superlawyer (an honor reserved for 5% of practicing lawyers in Texas) ... Voted by clients as an Avvo “Top Rated Lawyer” for many years, including 2020 and 2021 most recently ... Voted by peers as a Top Attorney in Fort Worth every year for over a decade. She also was named the favorite family lawyer by Arlington Today readers the past three years.

As an outspoken advocate for the best interest of the children going through high-conflict family law custody battles, Ms. Smiedt and her Non-Equity Partner, Desaray R. Muma, are both specially trained as Collaborative Lawyers, a form of family law litigation structured toward assisting parties in negotiating their own family agreements in private meetings removed from the courthouse application of judicial rulings and or jury decisions that can be arbitrary and unreliable. However, if all alternate dispute resolution methods fail, Ms. Smiedt has built her reputation as a specialist in the area of high-conflict custody litigation, especially with the explosion of Parental Alienation cases filed against the other parent peppered with false abuse claims in order to obtain an “upper hand “ in custody or divorce proceedings. Not easy cases for the novice litigator, these intense and damaging allegations must be met with the rare but requisite expertise and experience Ms. Smiedt has in this burgeoning area of the law. This specialization coupled with her equally extensive knowledge of separate tracing and characterization cases, as well as representing wealthy clients with large complex estates or closely held family businesses, make her the first choice for many clients needing this level of superlative representation in the field of family law.

The Family Law Firm of Donna J. Smiedt, PLLC

C&W Antiques

You know you're doing something right with your company when it garners Arlington Today Readers' Choice awards for four consecutive years. C&W Antiques has done just that – both doing the something right and earning our readers' appreciation year after year.

C&W Antiques offers unique, rare and interesting furniture and accessories not found at most stores stateside.

From their flagship showroom in Grand Prairie, Co-proprietors Jim Carpenter and Patrick Walsh create an inviting ambiance with fragrant Market candles, music and vignettes of old-world rooms that stimulate the senses.

“C&W Antiques’ philosophy is to make each customer feel welcome,” Walsh says. “With our passion for antiques, we welcome each customer and provide a friendly atmosphere for their unique shopping experience. We treat each customer like family.”

C&W Antiques specializes in 17th, 18th and 19th century English and French furniture. It also has an exquisite collection of original fine art by Italian, French, Russian, English and U.S. artists, and its Faberge Collection is the largest in the state of Texas and perhaps the world.

C&W Antiques

Catalyst Creative Arts C

atalyst Creative Arts, located in the heart of Downtown Arlington, is an art studio that offers art classes in multiple media, private events, lessons, commissioned artwork, murals, summer camp and after school courses, home school packages, gallery events, local artist retail events and listening room music events.

The studio has been operating since December 2016 and has been located in Arlington's Urban Union since January 2020. The studio's four owners started the business because they love to share, with others, the joy of creating. They serve the DFW community by offering opportunities to learn a new craft as well as partnering with local businesses to bring unique events to the area.

The studio offers scheduled workshops, classes and special events, with information available on their website. Their most popular workshop is water marbling on silk. This craft has garnered them a robust social media following and people from all over the state and other parts of the country visit the studio to take this class.

Check out their Instagram and TikTok accounts to learn more about their services.

Catalyst Creative Arts

400 E. Division St., Suite 100 • 972-446-0444 • catalystcreativearts.com facebook.com/catalystcreativeart • tiktok.com/@catalystcreativearts? instagram.com/catalystcreativearts

The Abbey Estate W

hen Arlington residents John and Kathryn Rhadigan purchased the renowned wedding/party/celebration location, The Abbey Estate, in Waxahachie in December of 2019, the transaction served as the culmination of a variety of family goals.

A celebration venue had long been a part of the couple's "Chapter Two - Empty Nest' plans, says Kathryn, who came into the venture with more than 20 years coordinating fundraising galas, banquets and receptions – just the sort of events for which The Abbey Estate is ideally suited. Additionally, John had served as one of the more requested Master of Ceremonies/Auctioneers in DFW for more than three decades – again, an ideal background for a business opportunity of this ilk. “It doesn’t hurt,” Kathryn adds, “that we both LOVE a good party!” Once the Abbey was acquired, Kathryn and John commenced tailoring the storied site to match their respective family members’ talents and tastes. She takes care of venue operations, and John is responsible for fnances and property maintenance. Friends and former coworkers rotate for events, and the Rhadigans’ two young-adult children pitch in when their professional schedules allow.

While the pandemic wreaked havoc on conventional weddings initially, it did offer the Rhadigans time to work on property updates and to create and host COVID-compliant Elopement and Micro-Wedding Packages (celebrations for under 50 guests). Eventually, the couple has plans to add a Beer Pavilion and Graffti Garden.

“We also look forward to welcoming retreats and small-ticketed events to our annual schedule,” Kathryn notes. “Most of all, we look forward to future celebrations without masks or social distancing!”

While all forms of revelry will eventually take root at The Abbey Estate, it will always be known as “a great place to get married.” To that end, brides and grooms will discover, if they haven’t already, that there is a familiar face eager to help them exchange vows.

“Shortly before we purchased The Abbey, John was thrilled to serve as the offciant at the wedding of a dear family friend,” Kathryn says. “We never imagined how useful his ordination papers would become! When the pandemic hit in March of 2020, our venue was limited to events of 10 guests or less. We had dozens of distraught couples whose long-planned celebrations were put on indefnite hold and who were looking for refunds. When one sobbing bride told me that she and her fancé were going to the courthouse to get married because her grandmother had already embroidered their wedding date on a pillow – an idea was born. We immediately started offering complimentary elopements – complete with a local sportscaster offciant and cake and champagne reception – if couples agreed to move their larger celebration to a later date. It worked! I’m pretty sure most venue elopements don’t include vows, cake and impromptu Q&A’s about the Rangers. But ours did at The Abbey Estate!”

The Abbey Estate

Texas Oncology

Texas Breast Specialists

As the nation turns its focus to Breast Cancer Awareness this month, the focus of the team at Texas Oncology's Texas Breast Specialists - with offces in Arlington and Mansfeld – remains where it always has been: tirelessly and comprehensively helping Texans fght the disease. The collective practice is one of the nation's premier resources, providing education, treatment and support for individuals and family members affected by breast cancer.

Texas Breast Specialists' comprehensive cancer centers are staffed with knowledgeable and supportive teams to tend to chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and other vital services. Diagnostic imaging, laboratory services, and a pharmacy are close-at-hand to make the process more manageable.

Texas Breast Specialists provide offce and outpatient services that include abscess drainage, breast sonography and ultrasound, cyst aspiration, high risk management, lymphedema screening and prevention program, management of all diseases of breast (malignant and benign), mediport removal, needle biopsy of breast lesions - US Guided, partial breast radiation catheter insertion (SAVI, Contura, Mammosite) and skin biopsies.

The team also offers surgical procedures, including axillary lymph node dissection, excision of chest wall tumors, excisional breast biopsy, hidden scar lumpectomy and mastectomy, hidden scar surgery, lumpectomy - partial mastectomy - quadrantectomy, mastectomy, mediport placement, nipple duct excision, nipple sparing mastectomy, oncoplastic tissue rearrangement, radical excision of metastatic lesions, sentinel lymph node biopsy, and wire localization excisional biopsy.

The physicians and other healthcare team members will be by your side for every step of your cancer treatment. They have years of extensive experience in treating cancer and blood disorders, and you are their sole focus. Treating the whole person, not just the disease, the team customizes treatments for each patient’s specifc condition, including support services to help you meet the personal challenges you may face as a result of your illness.

Texas Oncology

Texas Breast Specialists

906 W. Randol Mill Road, Suite 200 • 817-664-9600 252 Matlock Road, Suite 140, Mansfeld • 844-636-4673 • texasoncology.com

HOME SWEET! HOME

Welcome to the dark side of the rustic force (It's all the rage now!)

Just when you think you have seen every type of farmhouse style in existence, we bring you the sleek and sophisticated dark side. Ebony, onyx, sable, raven, slate ... pick a color any color, just make sure it's dark. This is all the new rage in the modern farmhouse style, and we like it.

It is a refreshing switch from the white and gray to see bold colors inside and out. In addition to the great colors in this new build, notice the genius window placement in the master shower. While windows in the shower are not a new idea, the placement of these particular windows is what makes them unique.

You will also want to make note of the long, linear shampoo niche that is backlit to add innovation to the design. Mixing the new and modern design elements with some of the tried and true, such as the rustic wood beams, is a show stopper in this project. Don't be afraid to step out of the box when it is time for your project.

– Julie Short

Mansfeld Custom Homes

WE’RE WE’RE NO. 1! NO. 1!

Washington Monthly ranks UTA as the top national university in North Texas • By Jeff Carlton

Washington Monthly magazine recently ranked The University of Texas at Arlington the top national university in North Texas, based on a methodology that emphasizes contributions to the public good in three broad categories of social mobility, research and promoting public service.

The magazine also ranked UTA favorably in its list of America’s Best Bang for the Buck colleges, which attempts to measure social mobility by how well a university helps non-wealthy students attain marketable degrees at afordable prices. UTA was frst in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex on this list and ninth in the south region, a seven-state area comprising Kentucky, Tennessee, Texas, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana. “UTA remains the university of choice for thousands of students from North Texas and beyond who are looking to have an outstanding academic experience and to credential themselves for their future careers,” says Troy Johnson, vice president for enrollment management. “Our university provides students with a vibrant campus, compelling academic and research opportunities and a dedication to improving our community.” UTA ranked No. 108 nationally Photo: utsystems.edu among more than 1,400 colleges and universities surveyed. The magazine’s rankings consist of three equally weighted portions: social mobility, research, and community and national service, meaning that “top-ranked colleges needed to be excellent across the full breadth of our measures, rather than excelling in just one measure,” according to Washington Monthly’s methodology.

The magazine’s rankings focus on how universities “recruit and graduate students of modest means, produce the scholarship and scholars that drive economic growth and human fourishing, and encourage students to be active citizens and serve their country,” the magazine said in a story introducing the rankings.

UT Arlington recently became the fourth institution in Texas, and the frst since 2018, to achieve designation as a Texas Tier One university, a milestone signifying excellence in academics and research. It is also among an elite group of 131 institutions nationally designated as R-1: Doctoral Universities – Very High Research Activity, the highest designation, by the Carnegie Classifcation of Institutions of Higher Education.

In addition, UTA is a beacon for thousands of Texans working to transform their lives through the power of higher education. In fall 2020, the University enrolled the largest and one of the most academically talented freshman classes in UTA history. It is recognized nationally by U.S. News and World Report both as a leading destination for transfer students (ffth-most transfer students nationally) and as having the ffth-highest undergraduate diversity index in the nation.

‘ADVANCE-DESIGN’ MAKES ‘ADVANCE-DESIGN’ MAKES TRUCK HISTORY TRUCK HISTORY

• By Richard Greene • By Richard Greene

Former Mansfeld Mayor Wayne Wilshire stands with his 1954 “Advance-Design” Chevy Truck, a model with an innovative body style that put General Motors ahead of the competition.

It was 1947 and time for Chevrolet to restart truck production, so the big company introduced its frst major redesign since the end of World War II.

So transformative was their new truck that they called it the “Advance-Design” model, and it would go on to dominate truck sales for most of the next decade.

Various minor changes would be made until its successor was introduced in 1955, making the 1954 model the last of the innovative body style that had put General Motors ahead of all the competition.

That bit of automotive history may help us understand why former Mansfeld Mayor Wayne Wilshire is so proud of his that’s restored to original factory specifcations.

During a quick trip across town with me riding shotgun, he explains the 12,000-plus miles he has put on it since the engine was rebuilt: “I drive it anywhere (wife) Betty and I want to go.”

Our destination was to set it up for the photo shoot in front of the Man House built by Mansfeld founder Ralph S. Man in 1865 and today remains the oldest known building in the city that bears his name.

Beyond all the car talk, Mayor Wilshire brought me up to date on Mansfeld’s origins and early history. Understandable pride was revealed in that discussion as I also learned that he had served for 16 years on the city’s planning and zoning commission, 12 years on the school board, and another 16 years with the Tarrant Appraisal District.

During all that public service, he started his car hobby in 1980, acquiring a 1946 Ford coupe like his frst car that he drove when dating Betty in high school. Since then, he has managed to buy, sell, and collect an array of classic Chevys and has the trophies to prove his commitment to maintaining them in showroom condition.

Chevrolet was so proud of the basic design of the new truck that it was used in Suburbans, panel trucks and cab overs. But those vehicles couldn’t sport one of the principal

With its unique styling, practical interior and an advanced, 235-inch, straight six engine, this classic truck made a bold statement when it came out in 1954 – and still turns heads today. Wayne Wilshire’s model has been restored to original factory specifcations and is one of the crown jewels in the former Mansfeld mayor’s automobile collection.

Wayne Wilshire started his car hobby in 1980, acquiring a 1946 Ford coupe like his frst car that he drove when dating Betty in high school. Since then, he has managed to buy, sell, and collect an array of classic Chevys and has the trophies to prove his commitment to maintaining them in showroom condition.

design features of the pickup’s fve windows and, with the introduction of the ’54 model, the elimination of the windshield’s center dividing strip.

There was also a revised steering wheel, updated dashboard (still rather utilitarian), and round tail lights instead of rectangular. The front grille changed from fve horizontal slats to the threeslat, crossbar design that resulted in what was soon to be called the “bull nose” front end. It’s easy to see how that came about when looking head on at the imposing statement it still makes.

And the 3100 badge on the side of the front fender – that identifes the truck as having ½ ton of cargo capacity powered by the advanced, 235-inch, straight six engine.

In-dash radios had been a factory option since the model’s introduction in 1947 – all part of the innovative style. While Mayor Wilshire’s truck didn’t come with a radio, he’s not dissuaded from the possibility of adding one ... But it must be an original, and they are not so easy to fnd.

Find one, he did, however. Right now, it’s sitting on the shelf in the garage where the truck lives, and you can see from the photo the kind of challenge of getting it installed. It came out of one of the era’s trucks in a junkyard. Wayne found someone who could get it restored to working order, but there’s still some work to be done before he can get it into the dashboard behind the speaker grill and the tuner into its proper slot. “I’m also needing the correct knobs, but I’ll fnd them somewhere,” he says with confdence that this missing part will one day fll in the one remaining element to make his truck as complete as he wants it.

In the meantime, heads turn when he’s driving it – I was witness to that as we drove across town and down Mansfeld’s Main Street. People point and smile as they have been doing since Chevrolet brought the frst of the “Advance Design” to market almost 75 years ago.

THIS IS WHAT TEAMWORK LOOKS LIKE

How The Nehemiah Company, the Arlington How The Nehemiah Company, the Arlington Independent School District and one very Independent School District and one very talented artist helped create a local masterpiece talented artist helped create a local masterpiece

Photo: The Nehemiah Company

As if there weren't already amenities aplenty at The Truman Arlington Commons luxury apartment complex, project developers decided to include a stunning, massive mural to enhance the look of the least attractive portion of the project. Now people are even talking about how special the parking garage is.

Located at 505 E. Lamar Boulevard, The Truman Arlington Commons feature expansive foor plans, luxurious kitchens, LED lighting fxtures, a state-of-the-art swimming pool, e-gaming room, ftness center, and a cofee shop with a co-working space on-site. Thanks to the stellar artistry of Arlington native Christopher Gonzales, where people park is also where a lot of people gaze in appreciation.

Jake McGlaun, assistant project manager for the Nehemiah Company, which developed The Truman Arlington Commons, says the mural was the product of an interesting evolutionary process that served to defne what corporate partnerships are all about. "We originally planned a screening system consisting of painted protruding fns coming of the side of the parking garage," McGlaun says. "The thought was always to screen the backside of the garage facing the adjacent Jones Academy and the neighborhood."

After the fn screening was designed and the contract was out, project architect JHP Architecture/Urban Design suggested a giant treescape mural might be a better way to decorate the garage. When Nehemiah approached the Arlington ISD to approve the fn screening system, the alternate idea of a mural was also presented. AISD Superintendent Dr. Marcello Cavazos loved the idea, and Nehemiah decided to proceed with the mural, which, in addition to enhancing the aesthetics of the project, enabled the developers to partner with the Jones Academy and AISD Visual Arts Coordinator Linh Nguyen by allowing students to do an art project on a small portion of the garage mural each year.

Enter Gonzales, a Bowie High School graduate whose talents have been tapped by the likes of Warner Brothers, DreamWorks, Marriott International (and more), and "Wilderness" was born. "I chose this name because I wanted to capture the unknown possibilities that wait beyond the trees," Gonzales says. "It’s like a wild feld that hasn’t been touched around a growing city/ community with endless possibilities. Even though wilderness can mean uninhabited or abandoned area, ironically, this area has new life, and I wanted to express that for those who live there, nearby, or for those who go to school right next door."

Just as Nehemiah Company ofcials were intent on forging a relationship with AISD and Jones Academy, the project featured another valuable partnership, between Gonzales and KWA construction to coordinate the project. The artist did such a stellar job on the mural and was so easy to work with that he was asked to do another inside the building. He says he was simply "paying back" the community in which he was raised. "It’s always been a dream to have an art piece in my hometown and to top it all of an opportunity to share my art and collaborate with kids in some capacity," he says. "This mural is not only for myself but for the community where I grew up, the students next door, and the people living at The Truman. As someone said recently on my Facebook page, 'the home town boy gets it done.'”

BECAUSE WE CAN!

Thasunda Brown-Duckett channels her parents' indomitable spirit to show that anyone and everyone can be extraordinary

Arlington native Thasunda Brown-Duckett established the Otis and Rosie Brown Foundation in 2013 to advance the legacy of her parents, who instilled in their three children a recognition that all things are possible through love and stewardship and a belief that all have the duty to extend a hand to help lift up our fellow man. Over the past eight years the foundation, with the help of like-minded patrons, has undertaken dozens of projects that have improved the lives of people in the Arlington area. This month, Brown-Duckett shares what the foundation is all about.

How did the Otis and Rosie Brown Foundation come to be?

The Foundation was created in 2013 to advance the legacy of my parents, Mr. and Mrs. Otis and Rosie Brown. From a young age, they instilled in my brothers and me the belief that all things are possible through love and this idea that we all have a duty to extend a hand to help lift up others. My parents were not wealthy, so it was not that they had so much more materially than others, but they were a real-life example of giving from what they did have, of knowing that what truly matters is what’s on the inside and that love, kindness, and the spirit of generosity can always – always – be used to the beneft of someone less fortunate than you. I really wanted to fnd a way to uplift and celebrate that spirit in other people and the Otis and Rosie Brown Foundation was born.

We are a grant-making institution, and so in addition to a couple of signature events that we do every year, we also award scholarships to graduating seniors and community grants to schools and nonproft organizations annually. These are our mainstays that we will always do, but in the last couple of years, as we have grown our presence and partnerships in the region, we have had the opportunity to support some fantastic projects in the city. In 2019, we unveiled Rosie’s Reading Nook in the new library downtown. In 2020, in addition to increasing our grants made to meet the needs from the pandemic, we rolled out a new initiative in partnership with Mayor Williams to install Kindness Benches at each elementary school in Arlington.

ensure our eforts are aligned to achieving just that. We serve high-school students through our annual character-based scholarship program. We bring old and new friends and family together each August for friendly competition on the basketball court while at the same time donating funds and supplies to elementary and middle school students. Our grants have ranged from organizations serving young children, to teen girls, to seniors experiencing homelessness and beyond.

Back to our mission, the theme that runs through it all is our driving belief that what is inside of each one of us is something powerful, and, no matter your circumstance, we want to help you tap into that and use it for the good of others. Some of us are aware of this truth and are loudly (or quietly) sharing our gifts with the world – and those are the people we want to celebrate. Some of us have forgotten the importance of what’s inside of us, and some of us have never known –- and those are the people we want to encourage.

The foundation initiated the ExtraordinaryIs movement. What is at the heart of this powerful platform?

We take inspiration from the belief that within each and every one of us, there lies something extraordinary. That individuals who fnd and use their extraordinary are those who touch our lives and change the world. We envision a world where all people have the tools to unlock their extraordinary and are provided the encouragement and investment to unleash it. What is it that makes a person extraordinary? Extraordinary is Kindness. Extraordinary is intellectual curiosity. Extraordinary is giving. With ExtraordinaryIs, we aim to inspire a global movement where people are celebrated because of their character and where we invest in people based on their potential.

Who are the principals of the foundation and of the movement?

Now we are on to one of my favorite parts, and that is the people who make the Otis and Rosie Brown Foundation what it is! We are a young organization, small but mighty, run with the help of our amazing Executive Director, Ms. Shannon Flowers, and an equally amazing and dedicated Board of Directors composed of Richard Duckett, Otis Jamaal Brown, Reggie Brown, Anick Brown, Gara Hill and Erin Parisi, who give of their time and talents to make our programs such a special experience for everyone who comes in contact with the Foundation.

How can people become involved with the movement?

There are several ways to get involved with the ExtraordinaryIs movement, and we love to add new volunteers to the ExtraordinaryIs family! Each year, we have volunteers help us surprise our Extraordinary Scholars with their scholarship awards; it takes a strong core of volunteers to put on SlamFest each August and the ExtraordinaryIs Awards Gala in the Fall. We are always raising funds to help support and grow the scholarships and grants we are able to make. And, of course, a way that any and everyone can get involved is by helping us amplify the ExtraordinaryIs message; by fnding and unleashing their own extraordinary and encouraging others to do the same. To sign up, you can visit us at extraordinaryis.org or email us (info@extraordinaryis.org).

You have a fundraising gala coming up. Please share the particulars about that, so our readers can become involved in the project, should they so desire?

Yes! Our 7th Annual ExtraordinaryIs Awards Gala will be held on Nov. 12 at Live! By Loews in Arlington. We are so excited to be back after sitting out 2020 due to the pandemic. We call it a gala because it’s beautifully decorated, and we try to pull out all the stops, but it feels more like a family reunion or a block party. We want you to come, feel comfortable, eat a good meal, maybe hit the dance foor and make some new friends, as we celebrate some of the hidden heroes in our community ... people who are using what they have to serve others ... who have found their Extraordinary and are using it as a gift for someone else. In addition to highlighting community grant recipients and other amazing community members, we also raise funds through a silent auction and other fun activities throughout the night. Tickets, tables and sponsorship packages are available on our website at extroardinaryis.org or you can email us (info@extraordinaryis.org), and we’d love to help you get involved.