LEADING WOMEN “L
ocal business is just a good-old boys’ club.” Maybe you’ve heard that complaint in years past. Maybe you’ve said it yourself. But times are changing, and thankfully, we’re leaving those days behind. At Brick & Elm, on a weekly basis, we encounter thriving womenowned businesses. We meet women in powerful management or educational positions. We see women leading their industries forward and bringing about necessary transformation. You’ll meet some of them in the following pages, and it delights us to call attention to their success.
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LEADING WOMEN
DR. JESSICA MALLARD
ANGELA ALLEN
DR. EMILY HUNT
West Texas A&M University Dr. Jessica Mallard Dean of the Sybil B. Harrington College of Fine Arts and Humanities How do your roles shape the culture at WT? My goal is to help students and faculty have the resources they need to be successful. For students, that might be help understanding a situation or helping them with financial barriers. For faculty, that involves making sure they have the resources they need to achieve promotion and tenure. That support might include funding specialized training or funding national or international travel for research and conferences.
Dr. Emily Hunt Dean of the College of Engineering What do you enjoy most about your work? Research. I love research. It is the purest form, from idea to investigation to failure to success. Every step of the way, I love learning and growing. My most impactful technical work to date has been the creation and development of a new material that is antimicrobial, Copper Clean. This material has been patented and commercialized and continues to generate research funds for a decade.
Angela Allen Chief Officer for Diversity and Inclusion
DR. ANGELA SPAULDING
What challenges have you overcome to get where you are today? I knew early in my career that I would have few colleagues, mentors and peers who looked like me and that I would probably experience a lack of systemic support. Growing up in a military family, I was taught at a very young age to adapt to the environment without losing your culture, values and beliefs. We also were taught to learn all you can about other people and teach others as much as you can about your culture. And I’ve also learned good mentors and colleagues don’t have to look like you. They just need to believe in you. Together, that is key to your success.
Dr. Angela Spaulding Vice President for Research and Compliance and Dean of Graduate School What are your goals for 2022? I serve with a committed University community that is collectively engaged in attaining Carnegie doctoral status with a powerfully distinctive mission to be a Regional Research University. Through my roles in both Graduate School and Research, we are creating more student opportunities focused on applied research unique to the region we serve.
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LEADING WOMEN
Jennifer L. Webber Gaut Whittenburg Emerson Commercial Real Estate What is your primary title, business or expertise? I’m the Director of Property Management for Gaut Whittenburg Emerson Commercial Real Estate. How long have you been in commercial real estate? I worked in commercial real estate in the Dallas area for 15 years, and have been back home in Amarillo for the last 6 ½ years. What skills do you bring to your position? I am certainly grateful for my ability to juggle multiple things at one time and for my attention to detail. It sounds cliche, but I know I wouldn’t be able to do my job without both skills. What do you love about what you do? The GWE team makes it fun to come to work every day. I wouldn’t be able to do this without them. I love that I never stop learning something new. The industry is always evolving, which leads to more opportunity for growth. What challenges have you overcome to get where you are today? I’ve been blessed with great mentors, who were willing to show me the ropes throughout my career; therefore, the challenges have been few and far between. But when we found out the company we previously worked for was pulling out of Amarillo, there was certainly cause for alarm. Thankfully, Aaron Emerson and Ben Whittenburg stepped right in, kept the existing team in place, and developed a Property Management Division. Who are some powerful women you look up to? My mother is the most powerful woman I know, and I admire her more than anyone. She meets life’s challenges with grace and humor and is the most selfless person I know. I strive to be more like her every day. How do you seek a healthy work/life balance? Spending time with my family and friends is my outlet, but I have to admit, I’m not the best at balancing everything. I have a wonderful husband who supports my career and is just as excited as I am to see the opportunities ahead.
600 S. TYLER ST, SUITE 1509 8 0 6 .731 . 4 8 8 8 | G WA M A R I L LO.C O M
LEADING WOMEN
Dr. Summer Clark Proffer Surgical Associates What is your primary title, business or expertise? I am a board certified dermatologist and fellowship-trained Mohs surgeon, and the primary focus of my practice is the diagnosis and treatment of skin cancer. I specialize in Mohs micrographic surgery, which has the highest rate of cure for skin cancer of any treatment method. How long have you been practicing dermatology? I graduated medical school in 2014, and subsequently completed residency in dermatology at the University of Oklahoma, followed by a Mohs surgery fellowship at Vanderbilt University, graduating in 2019. My family and I moved to Amarillo in 2019, when I began working at Proffer Surgical Associates. What do you love about what you do? My husband and I were both raised in the Oklahoma Panhandle just north of Amarillo, and one of the things I enjoy most about my work is being able to offer a specialized service to the community where I was raised. Dr. Liana Proffer and I are the only fellowship-trained and board certified Mohs surgeons in the Texas Panhandle, and skin cancer is prevalent in this region; it is very fulfilling to me that my skills can be used in the area where I was raised, which is also an area of high need. What challenges have you overcome to get where you are today? One of the biggest challenges I faced during my medical training was trying to balance being a physician with being a mother. I had my first child just after graduating medical school and about one month into my internship year. Balancing the rigorous work and long hours with a newborn at home was very challenging, but with the help of my husband and family, we made it through. Who are some powerful women you look up to? For me, women in medicine who came before me have been the most influential. I have been fortunate to have a number of women physicians and surgeons who have guided me along the way and still serve as mentors, though now they have become more like friends.
1 61 1 WA L L A C E B LV D. 806.354.4900 | DRPROFFER.COM
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LEADING WOMEN
Dr. Tamara Thornton Clunis Amarillo College What is your primary title, business or expertise? Vice President Academic Affairs Senior Higher Education Administrator Teaching and learning in higher education with a special emphasis on underprepared students (students not ready for college level work). How long have you been working in higher education? I started working in higher education as an instructor in 1999. Prior to that, I worked as a community adult educator, helping adult learners obtain a high school diploma or learn English for academic purposes. I was fortunate to transition from instruction to instructional administration over the past decade, and worked in both the community college and university setting. My heart and first love is the community college setting. What skills do you bring to your position? First and foremost, I’m a strategist. I work to create pathways for students through partnerships with the faculty and downline academic leaders. My communication skills (verbal and written) are a core asset to excel in my position. In my role, you have to be knowledgeable about many different areas. Thus, my commitment to lifelong learning is also essential. What do you love about what you do? I love helping students write their success story. This is done through creating an academic learning system that removes barriers and integrates academic and daily support throughout the system. Graduation Day is the best part of the job. You shake the hands of students you support directly through mentorship and indirectly through strong academic programs. What challenges have you overcome to get where you are today? The hardest challenge was earning my doctorate. I am the first person in my family to earn a doctorate. I never stopped working full time while going to school. It has not been an easy road. A doctorate is the key qualification for the VPAA position, and there is not a clear career path to this position. Women are occupying more VPAA roles in the last decade, but this hasn’t always been the case. The majority of higher education administration positions are filled by men. I’m only the second female and the first woman of color to fill the VPAA role at AC. Who are some powerful women you look up to? I must give credit to Dr. Barbara G. Lyman. She has served as my academic and professional mentor since 1999. She was the first woman of color that I knew in a senior higher education administration position. She has supported me every step of the way. Of course, I have to include my mother. She’s not famous but she saw something in me from a young age and has pushed me and encouraged me to not give up. She’s powerful in her own right. How do you seek a healthy work/life balance? The issue of work/ life balance is so important. Currently, I focus on having interests and activities that have nothing to do with work. This includes reading for pleasure rather than for work. I’m also very engaged in community service organizations, such as the Maverick Boys and Girls Club of Amarillo and my church. I love teaching Bible classes. My focus is on feeding my spirit and caring for my body in the morning before coming to work.
806.371.5000 | ACTX.EDU
LEADING WOMEN
Mary Fuller & Leslie Fuller Meier OHMS Cafe & Bar What are your titles or leadership roles? Mary: I have owned OHMS since July 1, 1992. Leslie: I am the front-of-house manager, making all the desserts and handling the wine orders. How long have you been in the restaurant business? M: We both learned how to cook as children. I learned from my mother, whose first job in Amarillo was as a cook for a ranching family when she moved from Missouri in the early 1930s, before she was married. L: I have worked at our family restaurant since I was a little girl. I started out bussing tables, and then catering once I could drive. I started full-time work about 14 years ago, and began to focus on my skills as a baker. What do you enjoy most about your work? M: The café is an extension of how I grew up, a place for people to come and spend time together, eat good food and enjoy their meal. I have met so many people and they are like my family, especially the young people who have worked at OHMS. L: I love working with people and take great joy in knowing that guests have a wonderful time when they walk through the doors. Part of my joy comes from making delicious desserts to complement the phenomenal food and menu that my brother Josh Fuller has created.
What challenges have each of you overcome to get where you are today? M: As a divorced woman in the late ’80s, it was hard to establish a business without a credit history or funding. I wouldn’t have been able to get the café without people giving me very good advice and emotional support. L: One of my biggest challenges is proving that I am capable of many things, as well making desserts. I left a career that I enjoyed to help run my family’s restaurant. Working with family has its own set of challenges, but at the end of the day we all want the same thing, so we set our differences aside and get the job done. Who are some powerful women you look up to? M: Women who persevere to accomplish their dreams and goals, no matter how small or large, whether personally or just trying to get their children raised, deserve support from each other. L: My mother is my greatest role model and I have always looked up to her. She ran a successful business while raising four children as a single mother. She gave back to the community when possible and made sure that her restaurant provided a welcoming environment for everyone, free from discrimination.
619 S. TYLER ST. 806.373.3233 | OHMSCAFE.COM
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LEADING WOMEN
Caron Sansing & Taylor Van Valkenburg U.S. Cleaners What are your titles or leadership roles? Caron Sansing: Owner/President Taylor Van Valkenburg: VP of Operations How do your roles shape the culture at U.S. Cleaners? This is a multi-generational business and the culture is modeled after family values. In 1995, when we first opened and had one location, our entire family was involved in everything from customer service to manual labor. After doubling in volume, we doubled the size of our flagship location, and then expanded to six locations throughout Amarillo and Canyon. Our employees are like family to us. We know that our success is due, in part, to our wonderful team of employees. What do you enjoy most about your work? This has changed with each new role. While working the storefront, we most enjoyed getting to know our customers. We have our “regulars” who come in several times a week and have made lasting friendships with us. I guess you can say there is something intimate about handling someone’s dirty laundry. As business leaders we enjoy the creativity and problemsolving that come with a business this size. There are many moving parts, and no day is the same. Between six locations, 40-plus employees, a fleet of vehicles, a production facility that houses two boilers, six chillers, many high-tech machines, automated assembly and so much more, there is always something keeping us busy.
What challenges have each of you overcome? The biggest challenge we have faced as of late, has been overcoming the obstacles created by the COVID-19 pandemic. Quarantines, staffing shortages and supply shortages have been a struggle as a production-based business. We are a high-volume cleaners and being short handed affects every aspect of our business. While this pandemic caused shortages of all sorts, a shortage of hangers came as a total surprise. That was an obstacle that we hadn’t planned on, but we have learned how to pivot and work around these challenges. We are grateful for the things we have overcome and embracing our new normal. What are your goals for 2022? We are excited about 2022 and we have big goals to prove it. We are always working hard to continue our Best of Amarillo winning streak. We have won every Best Dry Cleaner category and we are proud of that accomplishment. We truly believe that gaining the trust of our customers is what keeps us earning that No. 1 spot. We have exciting service expansions planned in the coming months to continue to keep up with the demands of our busy customers. We are passionate about giving back to the community and plan to do even more this year. Our community has been wonderful to us, and it is an honor to give back and get involved.
USCLEANERSAMARILLO.COM
LEADING WOMEN
Jackie Kingston KAMR Local 4 News What is your primary title, business or expertise? My title is Evening Anchor and Executive Producer for KAMR Local 4 News. How long have you been a journalist? I have been working in local news in Amarillo for 14 years. I got an entry-level position while I was still in college at WTAMU, and I knew my career had to be in journalism. What skills do you bring to your position? This position demands great communication skills, creative problem-solving, poise under pressure, endless curiosity, and a love of our community. What do you love about what you do? I love getting to tell our viewers’ stories. It is my privilege to share in their joyful moments, and my duty to report fairly and accurately what is sometimes their worst day. I love empowering my viewers with the knowledge they need to engage with their elected officials at the ballot box and beyond, especially during my Sunday morning show, Politics Today. I love the challenge of figuring out how a newscast fits together, and what elements we can use to better tell the stories of our area day after day. I love the excitement in news—each day and each newscast bring their unique challenges and opportunities for creativity and communication. Overall, I love that the news, as the name implies, is new each day. While stories may be similar in subject day-to-day, they are never the same, with journalists working tirelessly to advance the story, and find deeper truths. What challenges have you overcome to get where you are today? While there are many challenges for women, especially queer women, who work in the news industry, my biggest concern in the past six or so years has been increasing harassment and threats against the media. While there are still changes to be made, I have been grateful to see the industry make adjustments to keep journalists safer. Who are some powerful women you look up to? I am constantly in awe of the remarkable things women accomplish and achieve. From women who are breaking barriers in my industry and others, to those who are raising remarkable kids, I am fortunate that some of my best friends are women whom I revere and admire. How do you seek a healthy work/life balance? News never stops, but at some point, humans have to. I prioritize rest, meditation, therapy, exercise, and most importantly, fun, to help achieve a work-life balance. I try to focus on activities that require my careful attention, like cooking, when I need a break from near-constant notifications and scrolling social media.
1015 S. FILLMORE ST. 806.383.3321 MYHIGHPLAINS.COM [ SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION ]
LEADING WOMEN
Kimberly Griggs Ignite Coaching & Consulting What is your primary title, business or expertise? Ignite Consulting concentrates its services in the field of communication, developing messaging and delivery strategies that connect a business to its best potential customers online. Additionally, we teach and train business owners, leadership or teams how to spot behavioral patterns in people and adapt their communication style in order to become more influential and achieve better outcomes. How long have you been doing in marketing? 20-plus years What skills do you bring to your position? • Interpersonal Communication • Data Analysis • Content Creation • Search Engine Optimization Expertise • Media Planning and Buying • Leadership Development What do you love about what you do? I love working creatively with small businesses. The entrepreneurial journey is fascinating to me. Most business owners I’ve worked with over the years can tell you as much as you could ever want to learn about their field, but often have challenges communicating the reasons why someone should choose them. It is often difficult to “market” oneself. By collaborating, we help them to see what they don’t see, and create effective messaging, placed on the right channels to increase sales opportunities. What challenges have you overcome to get where you are today? Fearing my ideas would not create positive results, selflimiting beliefs and the fear of failure. Who are some powerful women you look up to? There are so many women I look up to and admire like Sara Blakely, the founder of Spanx, youngest self-made billionaire; Brene Brown, an author and speaker; and my mentor, Molly Davis. How do you seek a healthy work/life balance? Two pillars help me pursue a healthy work-life balance: family and fitness. These two things are my life pursuits and where I find purpose. When work goes out of whack, returning to these two pillars in my life help me regain the mental energy it takes to get back up on the horse so-to-speak, and keep building my business.
806.584.6505 I G N I T E C O N S U LT I N G . B I Z
Jennifer Rosenbach Amarillo’s Parkview Realty, LLC
LEADING WOMEN
What is your primary title, business or expertise? I am a full-time real estate agent with Amarillo’s Parkview Realty. How long have you been a REALTOR? This will be my 13th year in the real estate industry. What skills do you bring to your position? I believe that I am very empathetic and relatable and it helps create a strong bond between my clients and me. I am also really great at one-on-one interactions, which allows me to hone in on my clients, so that I know how to help them. What do you love about what you do? I love the challenges that I face with each transaction. No person, house or situation is ever the same, so it requires creative strategies from start to finish. Most importantly, I love the relationships built from being in this industry and helping my clients achieve their financial and real estate goals. What challenges have you overcome to get where you are today? Becoming an entrepreneur is literally taking a leap of faith. It is scary because you don’t have someone telling you what to do day in and day out. It is all about self reliance, mind set and knowing what motivates you. That being said, taking that leap of faith is what I feared for so long. It was a challenge, yet exhilarating, because I did it and never looked back. Who are some powerful women you look up to? I look up to my mom, my grandmother and my best friend. The common denominator with them is that they are grounded in their faith and goals, and have excellent work ethic. How do you seek a healthy work/life balance? To have a healthy work/life balance, I believe it is important to be surrounded by people who support you and your dreams. I have wonderful family and friends who always encourage and support me, no matter what my goals are.
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