Maritime Business Aggies Serve UTMB Staff

Movers&Shakers

Name: Kippy Caraway

Occupation: Public policy strategist / governmental relations

Hometown: Andrews, Texas

Current home: Houston (Clear Lake)

Family: Daughter, Kristy; son-in-law Mike Brown; grandsons Grayson and Graham

My favorite writer is: John Grisham

Someone I’d like to meet: Mark Cuban, he enjoys life and is smart and driven

If I could switch places with someone

for just one day, I’d choose: Bill Gates

My favorite performers are: Maroon Five, Barbara Streisand and Garth Brooks

I like to spend my leisure time: With family and friends. Always in a good political discussion or going to an athletic game or musical. Reading or walking

If I could travel any place, I’d go to:

Kenya on Safari

My favorite meal is: My Mom’s fried okra, mashed potatoes, pork chops, salad and peach cobbler

As a youngster, I wanted to grow up

to be: A professional tennis player

You’ll never catch me: Not doing my best

The thing that bugs me the most is:

Negative people

My favorite movie is: The American President

Few people know: I was the first woman to work at the major level in the Harris County Sheriffs Department; was Assistant Superintendent in the Houston Independent School District, and was Deputy Chief of Staff to the Houston Mayor, before opening my own company, Global Relations.

A good deed, indeed

By Alisa Star

On the morning of Wednesday, April 21, a Texas A&M Galveston student organization, Maritime Business Aggies, provided breakfast for the staff of all the intensive care units at UTMB Galveston. This good deed was sponsored by League city resident, Seth Alford through his company IPS Pump Services, where he is a partner. With the support from Michelle Beckwith of the San Luis Resort, coordination was made and nearly 100 UTMB employees were served a delicious breakfast made in the San Luis Resort kitchen.

“Selfless service is one of our Aggie core values.

We just felt that we had to do something for those serving at the frontlines of this Covid-19 crisis in our community,” said Kaitlin Hall, the student organization’s president. They are also very grateful for the sponsorship of Seth Alford and IPS Pump Services, as well as that of Michelle Beckwith and the San Luis Resort.

Seth Alford was a major in the Marine Corps and he is very familiar with the toll a crisis can take on individuals over time. “It doesn’t take much time to recognize the folks that are committed to the service of others, usually a decent night’s sleep and a kind gesture will do it,” stated Alford. Seth contacted his good friend Michelle Beckwith from the San Luis Resort because he knew she was connected with people at UTMB, and could get the kindness of those that needed it. “Our community owes the UTMB a debt of gratitude 12 months a year, not just in the time of a crisis,” said Alford.

Kaitlin Hall is the President of the Maritime Business Aggies (MBA), a student organization which develops future leaders in the Maritime business industry through a structured program focused on professional development, networking, philanthropy, and social well being.

Kaitlin contacted Seth, and like the rest of us was frustrated with the disruption that the coronavirus was having on the community and the organization that Hall and the other officers had worked so hard to build this semester. Hall and Alford brainstormed different ways to be able to add a bit of joy into the lives of some of those at the front lines of this situation. So they both agreed to sponsor breakfast through Alford’s company for NICU, SICU,and MICU staff at UTMB. Seth contacted Michelle Beckwith at the San Luis Resort, and came to terms with the idea that the kitchen would be making breakfast tacos, for which Seth’s company IPS Pump Services footed the bill.

Thank you so much for your kind gesture, the world needs more people like you. It takes good hearted people to do good things for others, and doing it so selflessly is a true good deed. The student organization, Maritime Business Aggies, in conjunction with IPS Pump Services and the San Luis Resort, all came together to provide free breakfast for UTMB staff during this pandemic.