Brick & Elm | May/June 2024

As a specialized clinic for residents of the Texas Panhandle, the Center for Mental Wellness provides a warm and welcoming environment for addressing a wide variety of mental health conditions. The licensed providers there use evidence-based treatments to help decrease symptoms and improve overall quality of life.

Conditions may include:

• Anxiety

• Depression

• Personality Disorders

• Grief and Loss

• Postpartum Depression

• Trauma

• PTSD

Services Include:

• Individual Therapy

• Group Therapy

• Support Groups

• EMDR

• VRET

• Biofeedback

• Medication Management

or a loved one is struggling,

42

50 | FOUNDING MOTHERS

PHOTO BY VENICE MINCEY

PHOTO BY JASON BOGGS

PHOTO BY TANNER BEGGS

AMARILLO’S PREMIER LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

When I look back over the past few months, it feels like ages since I last wrote an editor’s note, and then at other times the weeks have flown by. In the middle of January, it seemed my days of typing up my last-minute thoughts prior to printing a magazine were over. And then … a miracle.

PUBLISHERS

Michele McAffrey mm@brickandelm.com

Jason Boyett jb@brickandelm.com

DESIGNER

Kayla Morris km@brickandelm.com

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Tanner Beggs

Kait Bradford Bellmon

Angelina Marie

Venice Mincey

With this issue, we officially have three full years under our belts! Three years full of highs and lows, laughter and tears, and hours and hours spent learning more about this city. I am so grateful for the opportunity to publish Brick & Elm. I’m even more grateful for the support we’ve received from so many people who have helped us along the way. I always say that I have the best job in Amarillo. And it’s true!

My longtime writing partner Jason Boyett became my new business partner and Brick & Elm was born. This “hyper-local” magazine was created in meetings at our respective homes, and it’s the compilation of everything we’ve ever hoped a Panhandle-focused publication could be. The community outpouring for our new project has been overwhelming in the best way. My friends and local businesses have sent streams of encouraging messages of support. Now I truly know what it means to say my cup overflows

Shannon Richardson

This is the first of many fantastic Amarillo-centric issues created by a true dream team—Jason and the incomparable Kayla Morris. I’m thrilled beyond measure to share Brick & Elm with you. Thanks for reading.

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Jon Mark Beilue

Chip Chandler

Meaghan Collier

Andy Chase Cundiff

Nancy García-Franken

Nick Gerlich

Janna Kiehl

Ruthie Martinez

Ryan McSwain

Patrick Miller

Wes Reeves

All the best parts of my career began in the Amarillo College Journalism Department. There, in the mid1990s, I learned to write fast. I learned to edit. I learned desktop publishing, design and photography. But what I learned most of all is that I really liked magazines. I ended up the editor of AC’s award-winning campus magazine, AC Current, and fell in love with the process of creating a publication, start to finish.

TO SUBSCRIBE: brickandelm.com

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ADVERTISING INQUIRIES: mm@brickandelm.com

806.414.5235

As Jason notes in his letter, this issue is full (a whopping 128 pages) of in-depth coverage that ranges from Panhandle-wide influence to smaller corners of the city. But let me tell you how much The Founding Mothers (see page 50) and our 2024 Leading Women (see page 89) have impressed me and changed my perspective. If you need wisdom, encouragement or validation, hurry and flip to these features and sit with them awhile. It was an honor to spend time with and learn from each young person and strong woman that we feature in this issue. To these leaders: Thank you for sharing your hearts and insight with us.

This issue represents the conclusion of our third full year of publishing Brick & Elm. Michele and I introduced this magazine in May 2021. It’s been such an honor to highlight the people, businesses and nonprofits working for the benefit of a place that means so much to us.

Personally, I love the scope of this particular issue, our 19th. On one hand, it tells really big stories about weather, Palo Duro Canyon adventures, and the enormously impactful Texas Tech University School of Veterinary Medicine. At a smaller, more personal level, you’ll find features about a group of girls at Fannin Middle School who wanted mentorship and leadership opportunities and took the steps to make it happen. And one about state programs designed to help young mothers, infants and preschoolers. This kind of diversity in subject matter reflects something that has been our goal from the beginning: to tell meaningful stories, big or small, about all corners of the city and all kinds of residents.

Here I am again, more than a quarter-century later. For years, Michele and I have worked together telling stories about our city. A few months ago we decided the time was right to launch a new, sophisticated, independent magazine about Amarillo. It feels appropriate that our first issue covers topics like trail-building, business reopenings, creative problem-solving and breathing new life into historic structures. We feel like all of those are metaphors for Brick & Elm, and maybe for print magazines in general.

I want to say thanks to our friend and longtime contributor Patrick Miller, who is wrapping up his time as a columnist with this issue. We’re so grateful for his willingness to share his perspective on education, politics and other issues. We’ll miss his voice in Brick & Elm!

So here’s to fresh starts and a new way to shine a spotlight on the city we love. Thanks for reading. We’re honored that you’re here with us, at the beginning.

Photos by Jenny Edwards Portrait

Stephanie McAdoo Optimum

Caylar Harper Amarillo EDC

Amy Henderson Amarillo National Bank

Michael Hughes AW Broadband

Wendi Swope Double U Marketing

Barbara VerWey LifeGift

contributors

KAYLA MORRIS

Kayla has been designing professionally for more than 10 years. She was raised in the Panhandle and graduated with a design degree from West Texas A&M University.

SHANNON RICHARDSON

Shannon has been a commercial/ advertising photographer for almost 35 years. His work can be seen at shannonrichardson.com.

ANGELINA MARIE

Angelina has been a photographer in the Amarillo area for 13 years. She is the editor of the Hey Amarillo podcast. Angelina is co-director of Make Space, an Amarillo nonprofit focused on local artists. See her work at shorteareddog.com or find her on Instagram.

NICK GERLICH

Nick is Hickman Professor of Marketing at West Texas A&M University, where he has taught since 1989. In his spare time, he travels around the country, including his beloved Route 66, in search of vintage signage and other outdoor advertising. He can be found on Instagram @nickgerlich.

WES REEVES

Wes was raised in Wellington and has lived in Amarillo since the early 90s. He serves as chairman of the Potter County Historical Commission and as a member of the Friends of the Texas Historical Commission board of directors.

NANCY GARCÍA-FRANKEN

Nancy teaches journalism and media communication and advises the student newspaper at West Texas A&M University. In her spare time, she enjoys gardening, chess, live music and playing golf.

MEAGHAN COLLIER

Meaghan works in communications and marketing for Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in Amarillo and spent 15 years as an anchor, reporter and producer in local television news. She and husband Cody live in Amarillo with their dog, Bradford.

KAIT BRADFORD BELLMON

Kait is the owner of Three Feather Photo Co, a local lifestyle and wedding brand that specializes in destination elopements. See her work at threefeatherpho.co and @threefeatherphotoco.

JON MARK BEILUE

Jon Mark worked at the Amarillo Globe-News from 1981 until his retirement in 2018. He spent 17 of those years as sports editor, and the last 12 as the newspaper’s general columnist. He received 16 statewide and national awards for his work.

Beilue is a native of Groom and graduate of Texas Tech University. He and wife Sandy have two adult sons

RYAN MCSWAIN

Ryan is the author of Monsters All the Way Down and Four Color Bleed He’s written for the best industries in Texas. You can find him at ryanmcswain.com.

Amarillo-area fun reaches a boiling point in the summer, with a full slate of outdoor music opportunities, Sod Poodles games, museum and other arts events and plenty of festivals, including another round of the Texas Route 66 Festival (see p. 68).

Here are your highlights for May and June, and don’t forget to subscribe to the free weekly Brickly and biweekly Flavorillo newsletters for my entertainment picks all summer long.

May:

EVENTS

Muttfest: Bring your pups out to Starlight Ranch Event Center, 1415 Sunrise Drive, to celebrate the 30th anniversary from noon to 5 p.m. May 19. Other events include comedian Felipe Esparza’s Bigfoot tour May 2 in the Amarillo Civic Center Complex Auditorium, 401 S. Buchanan St.; 107 Golf Academy’s Tee Off Gala at 6 p.m. May 2 in the Amarillo Club, 600 S. Tyler St., 30th floor; Amarillo Sod Poodles home games against the Midland RockHounds (May 1 to 5) and the Frisco RoughRiders (May 14 to 19) at Hodgetown, 701 S. Buchanan St.; Panhandle PBS’s Savor the Goods: Italian al Fresco dinner May 2 at the Barn on Willow Creek, 4801 E. Willow Creek Drive; Cinco de Mayo Celebration May 4 at El Alamo Park, 1621 S. Houston St.; May the Fourth Be With You activities May 4 at Don Harrington Discovery Center, 1200 Streit Drive; Amarillo Hispanic Chamber of Commerce’s Cinco de Mayo Fajita Festival on May 10 at Hodgetown; The Hope & Healing Place’s halfmarathon May 11 at Amarillo National Bank Plaza One, Fourth Avenue and Polk Street; Amarillo Railroad Museum’s spring open house May 11 at 3160 Avenue I; the North Plains Iris Show on May 11 at Amarillo Botanical Gardens, 1400 Streit Drive; Amarillo Venom games against the Corpus Christi Tritons (May 11) and the Mississippi Raiders (May 18), both in the Civic Center Complex Coliseum; Picklemania Pickleball Tournament from May 17 to 19 at Amarillo Netplex, 3723 SW 58th Ave.; The Oz Escape: An Interactive Amarillo Experience on May 18 in various locations; and the family-friendly Fam Fest on May 18 at Sam Houston Park, 4101 Line Ave.

ARTS

MONTY PYTHON’S SPAMALOT: Amarillo Little Theatre closes out its 96th season with sure-to-be-silly performances of this “Holy Grail” quest from May 2 to 19 in the Allen Shankles MainStage, 2019 Civic Circle (Fun news: Brick & Elm’s own Jason Boyett is making his ALT debut in this musical). Other arts events will include First Friday Artwalk on May 3 at Arts in the Sunset, 3701 Plains Blvd.; West Texas A&M University Concert and Symphonic Band concer ts May 1 and the spring Bachelor of Fine Arts exhibition from May 2 to 18, both in Mary Moody Northen Hall; continuing performances of TheatreAC’s The Hello Girls from May 2 to 5 in the Experimental Theatre; Amarillo College Guitar Ensemble and Chamber Orchestra’s spring concerts May 2, the AC Community Concert Band on May 6, and the AC Brass Ensemble spring concert May 7, all in the AC Concert Hall Theatre on the Washington Street campus; the High Plains Choral Society’s spring concert May 5 at Westminster: The Church at Austin Park, 2525 Wimberly Road; Amarillo Youth Choir spring concert on May 5 in the Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts, 500 S. Buchanan St.; Chamber Music Amarillo’s Bossa Nova Festa fundraiser on May 10 at Amarillo Area Foundation, 919 S. Polk St.; and the Photography Is Art exhibition opening May 25 at Amarillo Museum of Art, 2200 S. Van Buren St.

MUSIC

The Josh Abbott Band: The Texas country stars open up the new event center The Lumberyard, 21801 N. U.S. Highway 87 in Canyon, on May 18. And don’t miss the annual Bad Magik Music Festival, featuring an all-star lineup of Amarillo bands, all day at Sam Houston Park. Other music options include rockers Hinder on May 3 and rapper Kevin Gates on May 4, both at Azteca Music Hall, 500 N. FM 1912; Lost Mind Lumber Company with The Obvious Few on May 3 and metal band Victera on May 11, both at Zombiez Bar & Grill, 711 SW 10th Ave.; Penny and The Flamethrowers on May 3 at Hoots Pub, 2424 Hobbs Road; the Sunset Underground Music and Art Fest, featuring local rockers and artisans, on May 4 at the AJ Swope Performance Plaza at Arts in the Sunset; country singer Zach Williams’ A Hundred Highways Tour on May 9 in the Amarillo Civic Center Complex Auditorium, 401 S. Buchanan St.; country singers Slade Coulter on May 5 and Josh Morningstar on May 10 at Golden Light Cantina, 2908 SW Sixth Ave.; country singers Ian Munsick on May 10, Charles Wesley Godwin with Calder Allen on May 13, Kameron Marlowe on May 17 and Tracy Byrd at 8 p.m.

May 31 at Starlight Ranch Event Center; and Jimmy Buffett tribute act Lost Shaker of Salt on May 11, rockers Black Tie Revolt and Deep Diver on May 24, Lynyrd Skynyrd tribute act Lone Star Skynyrd on May 25, and Chris Stapleton tribute act Traveller and Lady A tribute band Antebellum on May 26 at Shark Beach, 1505 E. FM 1151.

MOVIES

THE FALL GUY: Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt star in this highly anticipated update of the ’80s TV show (May 3). Other films on the release slate include animated feature Dragonkeeper, horror flick Tarot and biopic Wildcat on May 3; Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes on May 10; Amy Winehouse biopic Back to Black, animated film IF and horror film The Strangers: Chapter 1 on May 17; and Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga and The Garfield Movie on May 24. Special engagements will include 35th-anniversary screenings of Steel Magnolias on May 5 and 8, The Met: Live in HD screenings of Madama Butterfly on May 11 and 15; Studio Ghibli Fest screenings of Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind on May 19 and 21 and Castle in the Sky on May 20 and 22; and 65th-anniversary screenings of North by Northwest on May 19 and 22.

Visit brickandelm.com for Chip’s expanded event coverage and movie reviews. Better yet, subscribe to our email newsletters for breaking entertainment news every week!

CHIP CHANDLER

Chip is the city’s arts and entertainment expert, having covered area events since 1998. Stay up to date on local happenings with Chip’s Can’t Miss picks in every issue.

can’t miss

WITH CHIP CHANDLER

June:

EVENTS

Texas Route 66 Festival: Panhandle-wide celebrations of the Mother Road’s impending centennial continue with activities running June 6 to 15, including the Disco in the Desert party June 7 at Cactus Cove Inn & Suites, 2501 I-40 East; the Coors Cowboy Club Cattle Drive on June 8 in downtown Amarillo and the Ranch Rodeo June 6 to 8 in the Amarillo National Center on the Tri-State Fairgrounds, 3301 SE 10th Ave.; and the festival finale along Historic Route 66 on June 15. Other scheduled highlights include Amarillo Sod Poodles home games against the Tulsa Drillers (June 4 to 9) and the San Antonio Missions (June 18 to 23) at Hodgetown; Juneteenth celebrations June 9 to 21 in the North Heights; comedian Mike Salazar’s Mix XV tour on June 14 in the Globe-News Center; collectibles expo Amarillo Super Mini Con on June 15 and 16 in the Civic Center Complex North Exhibit Hall; Sesame Street Live! Say Hello on June 26 in the Civic Center Complex Auditorium; hometown comic Kristen Key on June 27 in the Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts; the Props and Pistons Car Show on June 29 at Tradewinds Airport, 4105 Tradewind St.; and Smile Big Texas’ Pride on the Plains on June 30 at Thompson Park, 2401 Dumas Drive.

MUSIC

Sounds of the Summer: Amarillo’s outdoor music season returns once more, including Starlight Theatre (Tuesdays in June and July in Sam Houston Park, Line Avenue and Western Street); June Jazz (Tuesdays in June at Amarillo College); High Noon on the Square (Wednesdays in June and July at the Old Potter County Courthouse, 501 S. Fillmore St.); and Music in the Gardens (June 6 to Aug. 29 at the gardens, 1400 Streit Drive). Other music highlights include ’90s country star Suzy Boggus on June 6 and 7 at Buffalo Grass Music Hall, 123 Main St. in Panhandle; indie touring band Brightwire on June 7 at The 806 Coffee + Lounge, 2812 SW Sixth Ave; Journey tribute band Journey of a Lifetime on June 8 and Bob Seger tribute act Seger System on June 22 at Shark Beach; The Marshall Tucker Band on June 8, Braxton Keith on June 14, homegrown country star Aaron Watson on June 15, Corey Kent on June 20 and Chris Young on June 28, all at Starlight Ranch Event Center; country singer Don Louis on June 15 in the Civic Center Auditorium; the Diamond Gold: A Tribute to Neil Diamond on June 15 in the Globe-News Center; and Darby Sparkman on June 22 at Golden Light Cantina.

ARTS

TEXAS: The outdoor musical drama returns for a 58th season Tuesdays through Sundays from June 6 to Aug. 3 in Pioneer Amphitheatre in Palo Duro Canyon State Park. Plus, AMoA celebrates Cadillac Ranch at 50 beginning June 1, and Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, 2503 Fourth Ave. in Canyon, hosts Night at PPHM on June 14 and a movie on the lawn on June 21.

MOVIES

INSIDE OUT 2: The Pixar hit gets a sequel packed full of teenage hormones on June 14. Also scheduled to open are action thriller Ballerina on June 6; action sequel Bad Boys: Ride or Die on June 7; thriller The Watchers on June 14; crime drama The Bikeriders and romantic drama It Ends with Us on June 21; Western drama Horizon: An American Saga–Chapter 1 and horror prequel A Quiet Place: Day One on June 28. Special engagements include 45th-anniversary screenings of The Muppet Movie on June 2 and 3; Studio Ghibli Fest screenings of The Secret World of Arrietty on June 9 and 11 and When Marnie Was There on June 10 and 12; and 25th-anniversary singalong screenings of South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut on June 23 and 26.

spotlight

In early 2023, Brick & Elm highlighted the new Tiger Flight Golf Club at Hamlet Elementary. The school’s then-principal R.J. Soleyjacks had teamed up with community volunteer and golf enthusiast Justin Thompson to use Hamlet’s response-to-intervention (RTI) hour to introduce several dozen students to the game of golf.

Every Tuesday, Thompson used a grassy expanse on the school property to let kids hit plastic golf training balls while teaching them swing mechanics, golf etiquette and scoring. Soleyjacks explained that universities across the country offer golf scholarships, but thousands go unclaimed. “What an opportunity this could be,” he said, noting that his students’ average family income was well below the poverty line.

At the same time, the club introduced them to a sport they might view as inaccessible. “This helps them begin to see that they can be part of many things the world has to offer,” Soleyjacks said last year. Meanwhile, golf teaches a number of significant life lessons, from patience and resilience to the importance of time spent away from technology.

and has the highest crime rate percentage in Amarillo. Why not stretch beyond Hamlet?

Starting this year, the Tiger Flight Club has established official designation as a nonprofit organization, with a new name: 107 Golf Academy, based on the last three digits of the north Amarillo zip code, which includes other elementary schools like Eastridge, Emerson, Forest Hill, Mesa Verde, and George Washington Carver Academy.

Learning golf was helping kids learn those broader skills while having fun.

The success of Hamlet’s program and the community interest it gained set Thompson and Soleyjacks to thoughts of expansion. The larger 79107 zip code can be considered economically disadvantaged,

“Hamlet provided us with a lot of learning opportunities,” says Thompson, now the new organization’s executive director. “Expanding to an afterschool program allows 107 Golf Academy to reach more schools in the 79107 area, and allows us to stay with them through middle school.” He has assembled a board of directors that includes Soleyjacks as chair.

The organization’s goal is to empower underserved youth in the 79107 area by creating access to golf and the community built around it, with fundraising efforts hopefully leading to a permanent facility for tutoring and comprehensive golf training.

107 Golf Academy is celebrating the organization’s launch at an official “Tee Off” gala from 6 to 9 p.m. May 2 at the Amarillo Club, 600 S. Tyler St., 30th floor. General admission for the event is $107, and it includes a raffle for a variety of donated prizes. Learn more about the academy by searching 107 Golf Academy on Facebook.

PHOTO BY ADAM BAKER

Burrowing Owl RECOMMENDS

TABLE FOR TWO BY AMOR TOWLES

Named a Most Anticipated Book of 2024 by the New York Times Book Review Podcast, Reader’s Digest, Time, and more.

From the bestselling author of The Lincoln Highway, A Gentleman in Moscow, and Rules of Civility, a richly detailed and sharply drawn collection of stories, including a novella featuring one of his most beloved characters.

Millions of Amor Towles fans are in for a treat as he shares some of his shorter fiction: six stories based in New York City and a novella set in Golden Age Hollywood.

The New York stories, most of which take place around the year 2000, consider the fateful consequences that can spring from brief encounters and the delicate mechanics of compromise that operate at the heart of modern marriages.

In Towles’s novel Rules of Civility, the indomitable Evelyn Ross leaves New York City in September 1938 with the intention of returning home to Indiana. But as her train pulls into Chicago, where her parents are waiting, she instead extends her ticket to Los Angeles. Told from seven points of view, “Eve in Hollywood” describes how Eve crafts a new future for herself—and others—in a noirish tale that takes us through the movie sets, bungalows, and dive bars of Los Angeles.

Written with his signature wit, humor and sophistication, Table for Two is another glittering addition to Towles’s canon of stylish and transporting fiction.

Filiberto Avila, a senior digital media and communication major at WTAMU, recently won a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship Program award from the U.S. Department of State and the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board. He will study, conduct research and teach abroad for the upcoming academic year through the Fulbright U.S. Student Program.

WTAMU will launch a new psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner degree program in fall 2024, pending final approval by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. The degree is an expansion of a post-master’s certificate program at WT.

Caden Bonilla, a senior biology major at WTAMU, was named 2024 Undergraduate Student Employee of the Year for his role as student director of New Student Orientations. Zane Platter, a graduate student in animal science, was named 2024 Graduate Student Employee of the Year for his work at the Paul Engler College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences.

The Rockefeller Foundation announced that Xcel Energy joined the Economic Opportunity Coalition. Xcel committed to allocating 15 percent of its U.S.-based contract spending in the areas of energy supply, distribution and transmission, and clean energy to small and underserved businesses by 2025.

Canda Henry, a 23-year Xcel Energy employee based in Amarillo, has been named vice president over Xcel Energy’s Customer Care, which provides customer service for Xcel Energy’s 3.8 million electric customers and 2.1 million natural gas customers across eight states.

Stephanie Peña has been named Xcel Energy’s manager for Social Investments in Texas and New Mexico. Peña will be responsible for Xcel Energy Foundation grant partnerships in Xcel Energy’s Texas and New Mexico service area.

Expio Digital Marketing Chief Relationship Officer Jody Reynolds was awarded the AAF Silver Medal in February at the Amarillo American Advertising Awards Gala.

Michael Alexander of Brown & Fortunato’s Health Care Group was promoted to Shareholder in 2023. Michael is based in Amarillo and is licensed in both Texas and Minnesota.

John Hinders was promoted to Shareholder in Brown & Fortunato’s Corporate Group, where he assists clients with the sale and acquisition of business entities, with a particular focus on health care providers.

Bradley S. Byars joined Brown & Fortunato as a Senior Attorney in the Health Care Group. Brad’s health law experience spans more than a decade.

Melinda R. Newman joined Brown & Fortunato as a Senior Attorney in the Labor and Employment Group, where she represents clients in employment counseling and litigation matters.

Andrew Burgoon recently retired from Canyon Independent School District. He served as the first (and only) principal at City View Elementary for 13 years.

Amarillo City Council appointed Assistant City Manager Floyd Hartman to the position of Interim City Manager in March.

The City of Amarillo announced Katrina Owens as finance director in April. Owens has worked as an external auditor on city finances since 2012.

The ECU Foundation announced a $29,000 donation to assist organizations in Borger, Fritch and Stinnett in their wildfire relief efforts.

Lauren Fritzler has been appointed as the new marketing director at the Tri-State Fair & Rodeo

FirstBank Southwest has donated a total of $56,759.45 this year through its School Spirit Card Program

John C. DeToledo, M.D., has been named the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine dean and executive vice president for clinical affairs.

U.S. News & World Report ranked Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center’s School of Nursing among the nation’s top nursing schools at No. 8 for the best online graduate program in the Veteran’s Graduate Nursing field.

The Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Simulation Program has achieved accreditation as a multisite institution, a distinction achieved by only 10 percent of programs globally.

Northwest Texas Healthcare System announced a new treatment option for Peripheral Artery Disease, Percutaneous Transmural Arterial Bypass with the DETOUR System. The technology is the first of its kind in the state of Texas.

Physicians Surgical Hospitals now offers Zimmer Biomet’s ROSA Knee System, which brings together robotic technology with knee implants to help surgeons personalize surgical procedures for their patients.

Jaret Schulte joined Estacar in November 2023 as an Advisory Executive in its expanded FP&A Division.

The Better Business Bureau of Amarillo & the Texas Panhandle announced the winners of the 2024 Torch Awards for Ethics in April: Small Business Category, Price Roofing; Medium Business Category, Renu Painting, Inc.; Large Business Category, 1-800 Plumber+Air & Electric Chris Rhynehart was awarded the Excellence in Community Service Award for his outstanding work in the community.

Alicia Pickens has been named as a new equity partner at Johnson & Sheldon PC

The Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Jerry H. Hodge School of Pharmacy received the 2024 Lawrence C. Weaver Transformative Community Service Award from the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy. The award is presented annually to one college or school of pharmacy demonstrating a major institutional commitment to addressing unmet community needs through education, practice and research.

Americas’ SBDC at WTAMU recently honored Creek House Honey Farm owners Paige and George Nester with its annual Small Business Persons of the Year award for the West Texas District; Brady Clark and Donna Dorman-Madison of Square Mile Community Development were named Community Champions of the Year.

De’Arno De’Armond recently assumed the role of associate vice president for university branding and chief marketing officer at WTAMU

Christine Prichard of Estacar Companies has been promoted from Senior Advisory Executive to Vice President of Advisory Services.

Jim Womack has joined Oceans Healthcare Amarillo as the new community liaison director.

Patrick Lovelady has joined Hilltop Securities as a financial advisor.

Amarillo College’s Communications and Marketing Department recently won seven EduAwards, six gold and one bronze.

Interstate Bank announced the promotion of Pam Chisum to Market President in Perryton. She has worked for Interstate for 32 years.

Family Support Services announced the selection of Kirk Daniels as the organization’s chief executive officer. Daniels began official duties in March.

Texas Mutual Insurance Company awarded a $100,000 grant to Amarillo College to continue funding AC’s Safety and Environmental Technology program, which provides workplace safety and health courses for community employers, employees and the general public.

To highlight your business briefs, promotions or awards in this section, email a press release or your information to mm@brickandelm.com.

Artists and Artisans Market & Golden Spread Farmers Market

Shop local artists, artisans, and growers each week and enjoy a variety of items including: paintings, soaps, candles, pottery, produce, baked goods, screenprinted items, knitted and crocheted items, planters, home decor, and more!

Saturdays 8 am-Noon

ARTS

TX

June 8 - September 28, 2024

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ENSURING A GOOD EXPERIENCE

BY JANNA KIEHL

One of the BBB’s main services is providing information on companies in the form of BBB business profiles. Business profiles are helpful when selecting a company to do business with. After all, that is the work of the BBB—driving consumers to trustworthy businesses. The best time to check on a business is before you buy or sign. Early research is always more beneficial than telling BBB of a bad experience later. Once money is given to a company before any work is done, it may be harder to get the work completed.

Unfortunately, there are times when consumers reach out to BBB after the business transaction has taken place. The consumer realizes something isn’t quite right. They have provided money up-front, signed an agreement or already allowed the company to do some work—and the company doesn’t return to finish the project, won’t return calls or texts, or fails to keep repeated promises to complete the work.

What can a consumer do at this point?

Contact BBB for information on the company. Check with building safety in the city the company is located to make sure the company is registered and bonded, when required. Contact local or state industry associations. If all else fails, file a complaint. BBB will try to locate the company and request that they resolve the issues. BBB’s top priority is saving the relationship between consumers and businesses.

Know the company before you do business with them. Check with BBB first to get started on the right track for a successful project. BBB Business Profiles have ratings, complaint history and detail, and customer reviews. BBB can offer tips on hiring a contractor in several different industries and we can help with questions to ask before you get started.

What will BBB do?

When BBB lacks information on a company, it usually means the company is new or has not had inquiries from consumers that would warrant developing a file. If BBB has little or no information, BBB will contact the business to develop information for their report.

A low rating usually means the company has not resolved or answered a complaint or has a high volume of complaints

compared to other businesses in their industry. BBB is always willing to work with companies to improve their BBB profile.

When a business is accredited with BBB, that means they have pre-committed to BBB’s Standards for Trust. Accredited Businesses are established businesses with a positive track record and have committed to resolving issues that may come up. They are licensed in their industry and have a solid reputation.

BBB helps consumers develop relationships with good businesses, helps you understand the process so you know what to expect, and provides tips on how to avoid bad business. Services are free at www.BBB.org. BBB also has live operators in Amarillo that can help guide you through the process. BBB of Amarillo & the Texas Panhandle serves the 26-county region, and Accredited Businesses are located or provide services throughout the Panhandle. With local BBB professionals, it’s fast and easy to check on companies before entering into a contract. A reputable company will appreciate the time you take to call or go online to look at their report.

Research at BBB.org

On the BBB’s website, you can look up a specific company and view their profile. Enter the company name in the FIND window at the top of the page. In the NEAR window, enter Amarillo or your city if you are looking for businesses in the Texas Panhandle area.

If you prefer an industry list, enter the industry in the FIND window. Turn on the accredited business only button below the search window.

When you have selected companies you are interested in talking to, ask for bids, making sure to specify the same scope of work to be done in each bid. Outline the job and the specific work. Ask if they can do your job, when they will be available to start, and an approximate timeframe for completion.

Be Prepared

There’s much more to selecting a contractor than price alone. Always consider the professional relationship you will develop with the company and its representatives. Will you be able to work with the individuals? Will they respect your ideas, your home and specific requests you may have? Can you

respect their professionalism and expertise? Consider that they will be in your home and/or on your property for a period of time. Think about the details of your project: Describe the work to be done, supplies and products to be used. Establish who will be responsible for picking up the necessary items to complete the job. How and when payment will be made is another important component to include. Remember not to pay for the entire job up front, before work has started. And don’t pay the final installment until all work is completed and inspected.

Be Flexible

Leave room in the contract for changes. Flexibility is very important and it’s good to have an understanding of this up front. Contract changes are a major reason for complaints. You might change your mind about a particular detail, requiring the contract to be altered. The company may discover an underlying issue that must be resolved before moving forward. When this happens, it may affect changes in pricing and require adjustments to the contract.

The services of your local BBB are fast, easy and free. Remember: A little effort at the beginning is much easier than navigating a bad experience later.

IMAGINARY ANIMAL FRIENDS

Cryptozoology is not something I am really into.

The belief in monsters, fairies, giants, etc. is fun to read about, in my opinion, for the sake of finding out about the lore of different cultures. But that’s as far as it goes with me. I have enough on my plate trying to deal with reality, without worrying about cryptozoology—a word that is described as “anecdotal stories and other claims rejected by the scientific community.”

Wikipedia’s definition is carefully worded and explains that science comes up with new critters all the time. (“Critters” is my word, not theirs.) At that point, these critters become “real.” Interesting, yes? I mean, were they there before?

In other words, there is, arguably, a spot between reality and the unknown that could be as narrow as a razor, or as wide as Kansas.

I’m not trying to make a case here, for any imaginary creature. I gave that up when I was 10 or 11. (Yes, Puff the Magic Dragon.)

What I am trying to make the case here for is my wife. She speaks frequently of these things as if they were her pets. She wears T-shirts that advertise them. She loves movies about them.

She really needs help.

I guess I first noticed this little tendency of hers when we were just friends, Danielle and me. She had a Bigfoot T-shirt that I thought was unusual for a young lady of her education and bearing. I asked her about it, and I spent the rest of the evening hearing about Bigfoot in all his incarnations: Skunk Ape, Yeti, Yowie, Sasquatch, Wood Booger, and many, MANY more. These days, when I give her a hard time about knowing so much about Bigfoot, she just smiles slyly and says, “Remember who I married, and try to connect the dots.” It’s that “try” part that really burns me up.

The next of her crypto obsessions that I became aware of was the Loch Ness monster, “Nessie” as she calls it. Most people are familiar with the story of the English physician who photographed the alleged monster, only to be revealed as a hoax years later. However, since that time—in the 1930s—scores of people have taken photos, given eyewitness testimony, and sworn their blood oath that the monster was right there, in front of their eyes. There are some who refuse to give up on their belief that Nessie is some real, uncatalogued biological species of earth’s fauna. My wife being one of those (people, not uncatalogued species). Personally, I believe those people could have quite possibly been more in the proximity of some good scotch than of the Loch Ness Monster. Just a theory.

Then came Godzilla. Not necessarily a crypto critter, but to the extent that in Danielle’s mind he is real, not imagined, he still works for this story. To me, oaf that I am, the entire Godzilla franchise was

merely a scornful joke. A shameful side note about bad cinema. An entire genre that could be, with much relief, dismissed out of hand. That is an attitude that will not fly around my beloved partner.

She, somehow, is a critic of the Gojira (Godzilla in Japanese) body of work and is capable of educating you (or me) way beyond your capacity on the subject. She knows every year that a Godzilla movie was made; every twin-billed movie, like Godzilla vs. Giraffe Man (or whatever); and every time they tried to “improve” one of the movies with technology. This is a sore subject with her, being a purist and all. Because somehow, to her, Godzilla is a pet. Once I asked her what her perfect dream job would be, and Danielle, with no hesitation replied, “I would have loved to be in the movies. I would be wearing the Godzilla suit.” I thought she was kidding. She was not.

We have had many discussions over the years about Moth Man, Chupacabra, the Lake Champlain Monster, leprechauns and other territorial critters, but, in my estimation, Danielle’s favorite by a good margin is the Hodag. Since 1893, Rhinelander, Wisconsin, has been the home of a strange little being called the Hodag. It has the head of a frog, the face of a giant elephant, thick short legs, huge claws, the back of a dinosaur, and a long tail with spears at the end. It has no knees, according to local legend, and must lean against a tree to sleep.

Eugene Shepard, land surveyor— and known prankster—turned out to be the fabricator of the Hodag, leading a bunch of townspeople on a wild Hodag chase before fessing up. But, in Rhinelander, they still have a Hodag festival every year to celebrate it.

There’s also a small party of Hodag fans in a certain town in Texas.

ANDY CHASE CUNDIFF

Andy is an artist, singersongwriter, music producer and musician. In every issue, his column explores the parts of his life that don’t always make it into his songs, accompanied by his own illustration.

June 9

JUNETEENTH

PAGEANT

4:30 p.m.; Palo Duro High School

Auditorium, 1400 N. Grant St.

Admission: $5

June 15

2024 PARADE

Lineup 8 a.m., parade begins at 10 a.m.; Black Historical Cultural Center, 901 N. Hayden St.

June 16

FATHER’S DAY CHURCH IN THE PARK

10:30 a.m.; Bones Hooks Park, 2000 N. Hughes St.

June 13

“WE ARE CARVER”

CELEBRATION

6:30 p.m.; George Washington

Carver Elementary, 1905 NW 12th Ave.

June 15

2024 PARK CELEBRATION

11:30 a.m.

June 14

ALPHAS ALL-WHITE

LINEN PARTY

7:06 p.m. cocktail hour, 7:36 p.m.; dinner, Reed Beverage Hospitality Room, 3701 SE 25th Ave.$40 presale tickets, $50 at the door, $400/reserved table

June 15

JUNETEENTH COMEDY JAM

FEATURING KERWIN CLAIBORNE Doors open at 6:30 p.m., show starts at 7:30 p.m.; general admission $30, VIP meet-and-greet $40; In this Moment, 707 S. Polk St.

June 17- 21

EMPOWERMENT WEEK

MONDAY, 6:30 p.m.; Social Services Fair, Carver Elementary School

TUESDAY, 6:30 p.m.; Path to Financial Stability, Carver Elementary School

WEDNESDAY, 11a.m.; Juneteenth Celebration and Brunch, Black Historical Cultural Center

WEDNESDAY, 6:30 p.m.; Solidifying The Vision, Carver Elementary School

THURSDAY, 6:30 p.m.; Education Night, Carver Elementary School

WITH PATRICK MILLER

Well, my friends, we’ve reached the conclusion of my time as a columnist for Brick & Elm. For three years, I’ve had the outstanding privilege of sharing my thoughts on a myriad of topics with you. Goodbyes suck. There’s no sense in avoiding the obvious. However, just as I knew it was time to forego another term as a Regent at Amarillo College or President of the Amarillo Branch NAACP, I have also decided to end my time as a columnist for Brick & Elm.

A lot has changed since I was introduced to the subscribers of this magazine. My personal journey resulted in exponential growth and introspection while sharing this column with you, with many life experiences inspiring the content. Throughout it all, we have weathered the storms of life together and welcomed each opportunity with faith and optimism. This time will be no different. As a child from northeast Amarillo, I could hardly imagine there’d be a day in which my words would be featured in a local magazine with regional circulation. I’ll always cherish the email I received from Jason on May 16, 2021, inquiring about my interest in becoming a part of this amazing journey. Together, Michele and Jason delivered what was promised to me, and for that I am grateful.

I hope I served you well with my thoughts and inspirations. With each column, I attempted to share a broader voice with those who may not have otherwise heard it. My goal was always to help build bridges and overcome the barriers we often construct out of fear. I highlighted issues related to public education or voting, and gave you a glimpse into my own personal adversity and opportunities. You helped me put words to every emotion, which allowed me to fully process the evolution within. For this I thank you. You may have disagreed with what I opined. Even if that was the case, thank you for taking time to consider a different perspective. If you read in agreement, well, I am humbled by our mutual understanding of pertinent personal and public policy issues.

Amarillo is a city of vast opportunities. It’s a city that has its shortcomings, but it remains determined to resolve those most important matters. From its days as a settlement called Oneida to its becoming an established city of more than 200,000 people, Amarillo

continues to reign as the metropolis of the Texas Panhandle. In 2024, we have the unique opportunity to capitalize on our technological advantages and scientific developments to ensure our region is built for the prosperity of our posterity. Strengthening our infrastructure and water conservation will continue to be important issues. Ensuring reliable public transportation options—from the most rural to the most densely-populated urban areas—will need to be prioritized. Advocating for public education and creating job opportunities for our highly qualified, post-secondary graduates will continue to be important, especially if we are going to become a city of interest to future generations of entrepreneurs and public servants. We must find a common ground that allows us to build consensus through thoughtful collaboration if we are going to root out divisiveness from within the public square.

We are capable, if only we are willing. When natural disasters strike, the people of Amarillo and the Panhandle respond accordingly. In times of crisis, we give assistance without regard to ideological or partisan beliefs. Imagine if that were the norm rather than the exception. We are not bound by monolithic, foregone conclusions of the past. The solutions to our problems exist in our ability to overcome that which divides us to achieve what should unite us. Our history is still being written, my friends. Whatever happens next, let us resolve to move forward together. Our forward momentum will take us farther than we have previously ever known.

Thank you, Amarillo. I anxiously await the opportunity to share my thoughts with you again very soon— perhaps on consequential matters related to our collective desire to pursue what is best for Amarillo. Until then, keep moving forward.

PATRICK MILLER

A passionate local educator, Past President and current executive officer of Amarillo Branch NAACP, Patrick writes about education, faith and forward momentum.

Education, Awareness & BREAKING DOWN STIGMA

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. It’s a time to recognize the impact of mental illness and break down stigma through education and awareness. One in five adults in the United States experiences mental illness, which means that even if you have never experienced mental illness yourself, there’s a good chance someone you care about has. Of those who experience mental illness, less than half seek treatment.

As a psychiatrist, my job is to care for people who have mental illnesses—from anxiety to schizophrenia, depression to substance use disorders, ADHD to PTSD, and many things in between. My patients come from all walks of life, with unique experiences and cultures that impact how they understand and live with mental illness. Many mental illnesses, like physical illnesses, can respond well to medications. Some conditions are best treated with therapy and behavioral interventions. Often, the best approach is a mix of the two. In Amarillo, as in most parts of our country, there aren’t enough psychiatrists to treat all the patients who need care.

That’s the bad news, but there is good news, too. Psychiatrists are only one component of whole teams of health care workers who can help patients struggling with mental illness. Primary care physicians like family medicine doctors, internists and pediatricians also are skilled at treating mental illnesses. Psychologists, therapists and counselors help patients understand how they experience their illness and the world around them, and also help them develop coping skills so they can thrive.

If you or a loved one is struggling with mental health, please ask for help. Starting a conversation with your primary care doctor is a great jumping-off point. They can help you start treatment if needed, access specialists, and be an important part of your support system. Sometimes people aren’t sure if they need to talk to someone about their mental health. If you are worried about your mental health—even a little bit—that is a good enough reason to talk about it with someone.

Changes in your usual patterns of behaviors can be good clues, too. Have you noticed changes in your sleep or appetite? Are you having a harder time functioning at work or at home? Have you noticed that you don’t want to do the things that you usually like to do? Have you noticed changes in your thought patterns? Any of these signs would be worth talking about with a professional. There are also signs and experiences that warrant more immediate treatment. If you or a loved one is in crisis, or struggling with thoughts of self-harm or suicide, that can be an emergency. Help is available—you can call or text the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 at any time.

My message to my patients (and to you!) is that mental health is health. In today’s busy world, it’s easy to put ourselves on the

backburner, but this is a great time to reflect on how we all keep ourselves well. Even if you don’t experience mental illness, prioritizing your mental wellness can go a long way in helping you stay well and thrive. There are so many things people can do in their personal lives that have a positive and powerful impact on mental health. Some of these things may sound easy, but putting them into consistent practice is the challenge.

Pay attention to your sleep. Most adults need eight to 10 hours per night, and most of us don’t get it. That being said, everyone is different and you know your body. Pay attention to the days you feel particularly well-rested. How many hours did you sleep? Was anything different? Establishing a regular bedtime and wake-up time everyday can help you get into a good rhythm.

Pay attention to how you fuel your body. Eat foods that nourish you and make you feel good. Of course, we want everyone to eat their fruits and veggies, but balance is key. Strive to make sustainable, healthy changes and avoid very strict diets that may leave you feeling deprived.

Get moving! Physical activity is one of the best things we can do for our physical and mental health. Find ways to move your body that bring you joy. Not everyone loves to pound out miles on the treadmill, and that’s OK! Find types of exercise that fit your lifestyle and you enjoy doing. And remember: Some is better than none. Even 15 minutes a day can have health benefits.

Make time for the things that bring you joy. It’s easy to get wrapped up in our jobs and the stresses of everyday life, but make time to nurture the parts of yourself that make you feel whole. Protect time spent with family and friends and really connect. Resting and relaxing is productive, and we need that time to be at our best.

Mental Health Awareness Month provides us an opportunity to check in with ourselves, our loved ones and our community to make sure we are all getting the help and support we need. This month, take time to care for yourself and encourage those you love to do the same.

AMY STARK, M.D.

Amy is board certified in both general and addiction psychiatry and practices at Texas Tech Physicians Psychiatry in Amarillo. After earning her medical degree from the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Dr. Stark completed residency in general psychiatry at the Mayo Clinic. Following residency, Dr. Stark completed fellowship training in addiction psychiatry at Yale University.

Dr. Stark is the regional chair of psychiatry at the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine in Amarillo. Her areas of expertise and professional interests include substance use disorders, harm reduction interventions and psychiatry for specialty populations, including peripartum women and the LGBTQIA community.

WICKED WEATHER Wild &

West Texas Storm Chasing Stories from Local Experts

LOW PRECIPITATION

SUPERCELL NEAR

EARTH, TEXAS

PHOTO BY JASON BOGGS

If you’ve lived in the Panhandle for any length of time, you have your share of severe weather stories. From paper boats in the street gutter to muddy football games to tornado warnings spent in the bathtub, severe weather is as much a part of the West Texas experience as sunsets and prairies. If you’ve ever searched the sky for a funnel cloud or rolled the dice on an outdoor wedding, you understand that we have weather like nowhere else on Earth. And if anyone doubts you, now you can tell them you heard it from the experts.

“Doppler” Dave Oliver has been the chief meteorologist at Amarillo’s NewsChannel 10 since 1987. He also teaches meteorology down at West Texas A&M University. “You could not have picked a better place in the world to study meteorology,” he tells his students. “Everything in the text—we get to watch it happen. We have the craziest weather in the country. There’s a little saying, ‘If you don’t like the weather, wait five minutes.’ We wrote that. We own that. That’s one of the things about my career here. I never get tired of it, I never burn out, because of the chaotic nature of the weather.”

Jason Boggs and Dan Skoff were chasing a funnel cloud near Campo, Colorado. Boggs hopped out of his truck and was getting his camera ready. Glancing in a different direction, a tornado neither of them had seen was on the ground about a mile away. “It was the most beautiful tornado either of us had ever seen.”

Unlike most storm chasers, Jason Boggs focuses on photography rather than video. He likes Canon cameras, but he recommends focusing on lenses. He leaves a 2470mm lens on his camera and keeps a wide-angle lens ready.

PHOTO BY JASON BOGGS

PHOTO BY JAY MCCOY

PHOTO COURTESY OF ANB

“ We have the craziest weather in the country. There’s a little saying, ‘If you don’t like the weather, wait five minutes.’ We wrote that. We own that.”

Dave Oliver

John Harris is another meteorology mainstay. As of June this year, Harris will have been on the air in Amarillo for 32 years, serving as the chief meteorologist for KAMR Local 4 News and Fox 14 News since 2009. I asked Harris and Oliver to share their thoughts on memorable storms—“How long do you have?” jokes Oliver.

I also spoke with Jay McCoy and Jason Boggs, longtime storm chasers. Along with their own memorable storms, they explain the right and wrong ways to get involved chasing storms on the prairie. And at the National Weather Service, meteorologist A.J. Harrel explains why Amarillo weather takes the cake ... and often blows it away.

Talking Tornadoes

Asked about memorable tornadoes, Oliver immediately recalls June 1995, when “our sky just ripped open with repetitive tornado outbreaks,” he says. “Some of the biggest tornadoes in America that year were in our area. We’re talking half-mile to a mile-wide tornadoes.” Dimmitt and Pampa both sustained direct hits. “We had mile-wide stuff out in Wheeler County. It was just unbelievable.”

The Dimmitt tornado of June 2, 1995, registered as an F2 on the Fujita scale, with winds above 100 miles per hour—strong enough to rip the roof from a house. Days later, on June 8, two F4 tornadoes formed around Pampa, with one passing through town. (An F4 tornado, with winds of more than 200 miles per hour, can level a home or throw a car.) Two more destructive tornadoes formed near Allison and Kellerville on the eastern side of the Panhandle that

month. Fortunately, none of these storms produced fatalities.

Storm chaser McCoy recalls how the Dimmitt tornado pulled crops out of the surrounding fields. “It just left a path of mud,” he says. “It had smashed the telephone poles off at the ground level and the poles were gone. They weren’t laying over, they were just gone.” That wasn’t all that had disappeared. “It had actually scoured the road. The pavement for about a hundred yards was gone. It had pulled the asphalt off the ground. I had never seen that in my life.”

Boggs describes the challenges of chasing tornadoes after dark: “Damon Shaw and I were in Clovis at night in March 2007. We were sitting on a dirt road, looking at radar. You depend on your radar when you can’t see the storm.” At night, storm chasers use lightning flashes to spot tornadoes. Power flashes are another strong indicator of a tornado’s location. “When a tornado or strong wind hits utility poles or a transformer, you see power flashes,” Boggs says. “We started seeing power flashes and lightning strikes that lit up the tornado and it was a wedge tornado, which is a tornado as wide as it is tall. We were the only TV station [KAMR] there that night. We called in and told the people of Clovis to take cover.” The tornado caused two fatalities. “Hopefully, us being there and getting the word out saved some lives.”

The most memorable tornado for Harris occurred on May 28, 2013, in Amarillo. “I remember telling folks this is one of these nights you want to stay awake,” he says. “I was on TV that night and we had a thunderstorm that developed over Friona and it went supercellular.” A supercell thunderstorm can last for hours and is more likely to produce severe weather. “The M.O. of this thunderstorm was that

about every 20 minutes, it would drop a brief tornado or a funnel cloud. Then it turned into a hail producer,” he says. A damaging tornado formed near Bushland—the National Weather Service issued a tornado warning for Amarillo—and it then entered the city’s southwest corner, causing damage to some homes in the Sleepy Hollow neighborhood.

The same supercell then marched toward downtown Amarillo. While Harris was still on the air, KAMR News Director Ny Lynn Nichols told him it was time for everyone to head to the storm shelter—which happened to be a restroom in the center of the building. The news team continued their live coverage from the bathroom and made national news. Al Roker even gave them a shoutout the next morning on the Today Show. “It’s the first time I ever made it on national TV,” Harris remembers, “and they caught me in the men’s restroom!”

All Hail the Hail Storms

Recalling his most memorable hail storm, Harris points to 2004. “It was June 21, the first day of summer astronomically speaking. We had anywhere from golf ball- to softball-size hail that pummeled the west side of Amarillo,” he says. Car lots on Soncy discovered holes in the roofs of vehicles. “The mesocyclone—the rotating part of the thunderstorm—was actually tossing hailstones into the windows at BSA on the north and northwest sides of the hospital,” Harris says. “So, the hail had a vertical and horizontal component, which made it doubly bad for people.” Hailstones ravaged the Sleepy Hollow neighborhood, where Harris lives.

“We’ve had some humdingers,” Oliver says. Harris spoke of the tornado on May 28, 2013, but Doppler Dave says it was also an incredible hail event. “We had gosh-awful baseball- to softballsize stuff slowly move across Amarillo. It generated $600 million in damage in about an hour,” he says. Nationwide, he says, the Panhandle sees an average of $1 billion in annual hail damage. That single storm resulted in more than half the year’s damage.

The Windiest City

Amarillo is known for its constant, powerful winds. According to Oliver, “It’s usually generated by what we call a mid-latitude cyclone, a low-pressure system. The stronger the low-pressure drop is, the stronger the wind. A few years ago, we had a day with winds gusting 70 to 80 miles an hour all day. That’s as strong as a Category 2 hurricane. We had all kinds of wind damage. No rain, like you’d have in a hurricane, but it was like being in a hurricane wind field all day long!”

Ever had your umbrella blown inside out? McCoy explains the raw power of straight-line winds created by thunderstorm downbursts. “When we have these elevated thunderstorms, where it’s drier down at the lower levels, it creates downbursts. The air hits the ground and has nowhere to go but to spread out. Those winds can be a hundred miles an hour plus.”

Boggs shares his most memorable example of West Texas wind. “I was on Highway 70, north of Pampa. There was a thunderstorm to the west producing severe winds. There was a tractor trailer, a semi.

His tires on the whole driver side came up off the ground. He came back down and just kept going. It was crazy.”

From Snow to Thundersnow

Dave Oliver says “weather whiplash” is also a defining part of Panhandle weather. “How many times have you seen it be 80 degrees one day and you wake up to snow the next?” he asks.

John Harris remembers the heavy Thanksgiving snowstorm in 1992. According to the Associated Press, 175 miles of I-40 were closed after a 200-car pileup in the early morning. “We had drifts up to 12 feet. Actual snowfall was upwards of 3 to 4 feet,” Harris says. He had just started working at NewsChannel 10 and the other meteorologists were all out of town. “I ended up working non-stop, doing the mornings, the noons and the evenings. I thought, ‘Oh gosh, this is something else!’”

Oliver remembers the more recent storm of Feb. 25, 2013, which was Amarillo’s third-largest snowfall on record. “We had a combination of 17 to 19 inches of snow and 75 mile-an-hour wind gusts,” he says. “We basically had a foot-and-a-half of snow and hurricane-force winds.” It stranded motorists and brought the city to a standstill. The extreme blizzard conditions even produced thundersnow, an unusual form of severe weather combining snow and lightning. A photo of Hillside Road in Amarillo went viral nationwide. “It looked like Chicago with all those abandoned cars in the drifting snow,” Oliver says.

Floods, Flow and Fish

Last spring reminded residents that, occasionally, the Panhandle can be a victim of extreme flooding. Severe flooding led to evacuations, water rescues, and a disaster declaration for 13 counties in the Panhandle. A viral video by Michael Botello showed a kayaker rowing down the middle of Olsen Boulevard.

“If Amarillo gets repetitive rainfall, we lose our ability to get rid of it,” Oliver explains. “Our drainage system is a group of playa lakes—a group of big ponds, if you will—that start to build up when there’s rainfall. They’ll pump water from one to another to distribute it. But when we get an overwhelming rain, like we had last May and early June, all of the ponds fill up and then there’s no place to put it. There was just too much rain in too short a time.”

Oliver has seen a lot of local weather, and that flood event still surprised him. “Those were two things I never thought I’d see: They were sandbagging homes down at Greyhawk Landing, and there were fish swimming in the streets of Amarillo,” he says.

Storm Chasing on the Great Plains

Oliver and Harris have been around forever, but so have Boggs and McCoy. Boggs started storm chasing in his hometown of Lefors, Texas, around 1997, and he’s loved it ever since. McCoy may have been involved with West Texas weather longer than anyone else. Along with McCoy’s own decades of experience, he also carries on the legacy of his father. Roy McCoy forecasted on KAMR Local 4 News for nearly 30 years, and his son Jay continues to work with Harris and other meteorologists as a professional storm chaser.

“My dad got me into loving weather,” remembers McCoy. “When I was a little kid, I was terrified of lightning and thunder. It scared me to death.

PHOTO COURTESY OF KFDA-TV

JASON BOGGS

“DOPPLER” DAVE OLIVER

DIMMITT, TEXAS, JUNE 2, 1995

NOAA PHOTO LIBRARY, NOAA CENTRAL LIBRARY; OAR/ERL/NATIONAL SEVERE STORMS LABORATORY (NSSL)

And then one time my dad just had me sit out on the porch with him in this big thunderstorm, lightning everywhere. All of a sudden, it just clicked. After that I just became fascinated with thunderstorms and lightning. I still love a good lightning storm anytime.”

He began chasing storms in 1985 before he was old enough to drive. A license wasn’t the only thing he was missing. “There was no such thing as onboard radars or cell phones. I had a CB radio, a paper map and an AM radio, which I used to listen to the thunderstorm warnings and tornado warnings on KGNC. And that was all I had.”

Technology for tracking storms has become much more accessible. Unfortunately, untrained and inexperienced storm chasers are also now common. “This all started with the movie Twister,” McCoy says “After that, the chase community exploded.” Social media may also encourage unsafe storm chasing. “When people go out and take their family, especially kids, that is so unsafe. They don’t realize they can get themselves into a lot of dangerous situations.”

Many longtime storm chasers understand the importance of safety. “To me, ethics are doing what’s right when nobody’s looking,” Boggs says. “When you’re going down that dirt road in the middle of nowhere and there’s a stop sign there, do you keep going or do you stop at that stop sign? A lot of chasers speed and do dangerous stunts to get to the tornado. If you kill yourself or somebody else trying to get to a tornado just because you want to see it, your priorities are out of whack.”

McCoy says even knowledgeable storm chasers can be taken by surprise. The 2013 El Reno tornado in Oklahoma—the largest ever recorded, at 2.6 miles wide—made that clear. It was the notorious storm that took the lives of prominent researchers and television personalities Tim Samaras, his son Paul Samaras, and their colleague Carl Young. “At one point it was coming right at me,” says McCoy, who found himself in the storm’s path first. “I’m moving down a dirt road as fast as I can, trying to get out of the way. When it was just a few hundred yards from me, it changed direction and caught [the researchers]. We lost three good friends that day.”

In fact, untrained storm chasers created unnecessary dangers during the recent Texas wildfires. As an Amarillo Emergency Services volunteer, McCoy understands the need for thrill seekers to stay out of harm’s way. “Anytime you get a big fire with huge black smoke, people come from everywhere just to see it. It interferes with the job of trying to get the fire out and to protect the surrounding community,” he says. Citizens can block emergency responders and prevent firefighters from laying fire lines across certain roads. “Wildfires are a huge hazard because visibility gets so low. You may drive right into the back of a fire truck, or if you stopped to shoot video the fire truck may run into you. Even professional storm chasers shouldn’t try and get in the middle of fires. You can get trapped so easily.”

Still, those interested in storms can get involved in a safe and positive way. The National Weather Service hosts free spotter training classes all over the Panhandle and online, McCoy says . “They’ll give you books and manuals on storm structure and the safe places to spot. You don’t have to go and figure it all out yourself. That’s the very first place to start.”

Storm spotting is one of the essential roles for storm chasers. “It’s not just about getting video so John Harris can show footage of storms on the air,” McCoy says. Everything spotters report to the stations also goes directly to the National Weather Service. According to Boggs, “The guys and gals at the National Weather Service look at radar

PROVIDED PHOTO

JAY MCCOY AND MARIA PASILLAS, KAMR

and they can say there might be a tornado on the ground. But spotters are still the eyes in the field and giving them the ground truth. We tell them which way it’s headed and how big or how small the tornado is, stuff like that.”

Part of being safe on a chase is being prepared. “I have a go-to box and a go-to bag that I leave in my vehicle,” says Boggs. “It has safety stuff, like a tire repair kit. We’re out on dirt roads a lot. If you get a flat tire and there’s a storm close, you’re going to have to get it fixed quick. There are tow ropes, because we go down dirt roads and get stuck sometimes when it rains. I will not chase without that stuff.”

McCoy hopes locals will avoid risky behaviors. “Let the professionals go out there,” he says. “We’ll get the video for you, we’ll show you what’s happening. You don’t want to get your vehicle destroyed. Even we don’t like getting our windshields broken all the time!”

The Perfect Storm

Originally from the Dallas-Fort Worth area, A.J. Harrel moved to Amarillo 18 months ago to work as a meteorologist for the National Weather Service. He was familiar with Texas weather, but says the “extra craziness” of Panhandle weather has been an adjustment. “It’s a lot sometimes, but it’s really rewarding whenever you get to do your job well and help people out. It’s also quite a challenge whenever things don’t go quite the way you expected,” he says. “It can be very humbling.”

Harrel says our location relative to the Rocky Mountains is what makes local weather unusual. “The models we use to predict the weather have a good handle on weather systems as they approach the Rockies,” Harrel says. “But as soon as they get to and cross over the Rockies, those systems tend to change. Our models end up having to play catch-up, and we have to play

catch-up along with them.”

The dry line also contributes to severe weather on the Great Plains, putting the skills of local meteorologists to the test. This boundary divides areas of warmer, moist air from the east of the United States and drier air from the west and acts as a focal point for severe weather during the spring and early summer. Many factors contribute to the dry line’s location, so predicting where it sets up is yet another challenge. “The dry line varies its position throughout any given day,” Harrel says, “and that plays a role in severe weather risks.” These quickly shifting factors make for a dynamic working situation throughout the year.

That’s why Harrel and other meteorologists share a common message to the public: Stay prepared. “Most people here are well-equipped for severe weather, but it can always catch you off guard. It’s always best to have a safety plan in place.” Know where to go when severe weather threatens, and have multiple ways to receive weather information beyond social media or a phone. Weather radios are a good idea. “Have backups and stay informed,” he says.

Harrell points out that local meteorologists are communicating the most accurate information they have, but weather systems change fast. “Things evolve,” says Harrel. “At the end of the day, it’s a very crazy place weather-wise. We’re all just trying to get through it together.”

There’s no denying that all of these lively elements combine to make Amarillo a memorable place to live and an exciting place for weather aficionados. “That’s why my dad loved it so much,” says Jay McCoy. “A lot of reporters and anchors rotate through our area. But the weather guys, they’re here for a career. It’s because this is one of the most fun and challenging places to do weather. That’s why they stay. You can’t get rid of them.”

PHOTO BY JAY MCCOY

PHOTO BY JAY MCCOY

SPIRIT OF ADVENTURE

A PRIVATE ADVENTURE PARK OFFERS A NEW EXPERIENCE OF PALO DURO CANYON

PROVIDED PHOTOS

BY JASON BOYETT

Park Road 5, in Palo Duro Canyon State Park, stretches around 8 miles from the park entrance at the rim to the turnaround near the Mesquite Camp Area on the canyon floor, where it loops back around. That 8-mile stretch of public access represents just a fraction of the canyon’s approximately 120-mile length.

Palo Duro Canyon extends far beyond what’s available to park visitors. Most of it is privately held, used by local ranchers for cattle grazing with extremely limited public access.

A new private company, Merus Adventure Park, is now giving the public recreational access to a once-inaccessible part of this natural wonder. Quietly opened in 2021, Merus now attracts guests from across the United States.

The Overlanding Connection

“It’s just such an amazing geological place in Texas,” says Dirk van Reenen, the visionary entrepreneur behind Merus, about the second-largest canyon in America. “We’ve got Palo Duro Canyon State Park, and we’ve got Caprock Canyons State Park. But both of those parks together are only 3 percent of the entire canyon system.” His adventure park is an attempt to give people more opportunity to “see how special this canyon is.”

Located on 7,500 acres of explorable canyon terrain 13 miles west of the state park, Merus offers guided off-road tours, Jeep

rentals, hiking and backpacking, caving, mountain biking and camping opportunities—including RV hookups, boondocking sites, cabins and comfy, furnished “glamping” tents.

Like so much of today’s world, the existence of Merus Adventure Park has a lot to do with the pandemic in 2020.

Van Reenen is no stranger to Amarillo. He was born and raised in South Africa, where the outdoors and vehicle-based adventures are a significant part of the lifestyle. He immigrated to the U.S. with his family when he was 14, and arrived in the area to attend WTAMU starting in 1999. After graduation, van Reenen stayed in Amarillo, eventually finding his way into real estate. He founded the land- and real estate-focused Caprock Auctions before getting relocated to Houston to manage a large Keller Williams brokerage. Eighteen months later, the enormous real estate company sent him to Columbia, Maryland, to run one of the largest Keller Williams offices in the world.

His team was enormously successful, but van Reenen began to burn out. By 2016, “I was just really kind of done with the whole corporate big-business type deal,” he says. “My heart is in small business.”

He resigned and moved his young family back to Friendswood—part of the Houston metro area—where he used that entrepreneurial mindset to launch two other successful companies.

In late 2019, van Reenen began feeling a desire to get his son

and daughter more immersed into nature. “For several years, we had been living in the city, and a lot of the trips we were taking were kind of city-based trips,” he says. As his priorities shifted, van Reenan took action. He bought a Jeep. He pivoted his businesses to make them virtual. He and his wife, Kristin, began homeschooling the kids.

The changes were fortuitous, of course, because they took these steps just months before COVID-19 shut down the United States.

They discovered freedom during the pandemic lockdowns. “We started doing a lot of traveling and visiting different places in the U.S., and meeting people and just having this amazing experience with other people outdoors, with kids,” he says. It left them with “a really cool sense of connection.”

Central to the experience was their embrace of the quickly growing type of adventure travel called overlanding, in which families drive rugged off-road vehicles—think Toyota Land Cruisers, Jeeps and high-clearance 4x4 trucks—over diverse and challenging terrain, camping out of those vehicles away from traditional parks or facilities.

“It’s started becoming really popular in the U.S. We kind of jumped onto that trend,” van Reenen says.

He’d had a state park pass during most of his time living in Amarillo, and loved spending time at Palo Duro Canyon State Park—even on days the canyon was incredibly busy. Years earlier, he’d imagined opening an outdoor adventure park near the canyon: a quieter, private version without the crowds.

The family’s experiences during 2020 convinced van Reenen it was time.

Nature Undiluted

“A lot of people thought I was pretty crazy for having this idea and probably thought it wasn’t going to come to fruition,” van Reenen says. “But for me, it was a calling. There was no option but to make it happen.”

He enlisted a local real estate agent and began looking at ranches for sale near Palo Duro Canyon. When the agent called and told him to get in his car and come look at a newly available property on the canyon’s edge, van Reenen jumped.

“I mean, 30 minutes after being on this property, I was like, ‘This is the place,’” van Reenen says.

The property was once known as Ransom Canyon Ranch and had originally been a small part of the historic JA Ranch, which was founded in 1876 by Charles Goodnight and John Adair. Acquiring the land, van Reenen says, felt a little bit sacred, like a divine appointment.

He and his team have spent the past three years building trails, campsites, cabins, an office and rec center, and adding amenities and other infrastructure to create the concept.

“You come to a place like this to connect with nature, connect with others, connect with yourself and connect with God,” he says of Merus, which comes from a Latin word meaning “pure” or “undiluted.”

Despite the presence of vehicles on the property, van Reenen is intentional about maintaining that purity. While thousands of visitors may enter the nearby State Park every summer weekend, Merus limits its daily admissions to 200 people. Hiking day passes start

at $15 for adults, with off-road passes at $25 per vehicle (plus another $15 per adult).

Vehicle use is equally restricted. Dirt-bikes and motorcycles are prohibited, as are all-terrain vehicles and the kinds of utility task vehicles (UTVs) or recreational off-highway vehicles (ROTVs)— sometimes known as “side by sides”—often encountered along the Canadian River. “We allow off-roading, but it’s mainly for street-legal vehicles. We set it up to be low-noise and slow speed,” van Reenen says. “We really wanted to maintain the integrity of the land. We look at this project through the lens of conservation. How do we do this in a responsible way?”

At higher-traffic outdoor spaces, like the accessible riverbeds north of Amarillo, heavy vehicle use deteriorates the land. “People go off trail or start pirating new trails, and the whole experience starts going downhill. So we set a lot of rules in place,” he says. In other words, no one’s out at Merus turning noisy donuts in the sand before cracking open a cooler full of beer.

It wasn’t long before Merus got the attention of overlanding YouTube influencers, who checked out the property and began posting videos to their sizable audiences. “We thought we would be a big draw in Texas, but we were really surprised how many people from outside the state started coming here,” van Reenen says of the previous season. “We’ve had visitors from just about every state in the U.S. I mean, people driving 20 hours one way to come here for an event.”

They come for the purity of the adventure. They come for the customer service and family-oriented vibe, which van Reenen

says is a critical component of his business. And they come for the canyon itself. “Everybody just says it’s unique and stunning and unbelievable. They say parts of it felt like Colorado and parts of it felt like northern Arizona or southern Utah. It’s just a great, great geological ecosystem.”

Plus, it’s a place where hikers, mountain bikers and overlanders aren’t sharing trails with dirt bikes or side-by-sides.

The relative privacy of the property makes it special. “You get a different experience at Merus than you get at the state park,” he says. “We still have tons of petrified wood everywhere. You can still find seashells in the creek beds. The flora and fauna here are just very different than the state park.”

Visitors may be coming from across the U.S., but this property just 35 minutes from Amarillo hasn’t quite embedded itself within the public consciousness. “We’d love to see more local people out here,” van Reenen admits. He envisions it as a private initiative that gives the public more access to a truly unforgettable place— another way to experience the glory of Palo Duro Canyon apart from the state park. Van Reenen wants to see friends and families deepen bonds while immersed in the best kind of adventure the Panhandle has to offer.

“It feels like what the outdoors must have been like in the 1960s and 70s, you know, where you don’t really have to worry about your kids running around,” he says. “It’s carefree and relaxing. You can put the worries of the world on the back burner.”

MERUS ADVENTURE PARK FOUNDER DIRK VAN REENEN

he exterior of the building matches the Spanish Renaissance style of the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center immediately to the south, as well as the buildings on the Tech campus in Lubbock—right down to the same four colors of brick and three colors of Spanish tiles.

VET the FARM

A Closer Look at Amarillo’s Vet School

BY JASON BOYETT

Three years after opening its doors in the fall of 2021, the Texas Tech University School of Veterinary Medicine in Amarillo celebrated its first white-coat ceremony this spring. The event marks a student’s passage from pre-clinical training to actual veterinary care—in the form of clinical rotations—on their way to working more directly with animals.

The milestone represents the school’s first steps toward fulfilling the goal that drove its existence in the first place. When it opened in northwest Amarillo, near the medical district, it represented the first new veterinary school in Texas in more than a century. It addresses a growing shortage of rural and agricultural veterinarians and has quickly become a center for research in veterinary sciences.

“There is a huge need for veterinarians in the United States,” says

John Dascanio, the school’s Senior Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs. “We’re trying to put veterinarians into some of the underserved areas of Texas and New Mexico.”

The numbers support that need. Since opening in late 2021, the school has admitted around 100 students per class out of nearly a thousand applicants. “There’s still a big demand for programs,” he says. Texas Tech hopes to offer not just a world-class veterinary education, he explains, but one that is also affordable for students from rural, and regional communities.

With the first class of vet school students moving into the final clinical year of their four-year education, Brick & Elm toured the $90 million, 185,000-square-foot facility to better understand how students are learning in the school’s state-of-the-art classrooms, laboratories and clinical spaces.

After entering through one of three archways, students arrive in ASCO Hall, a 5,000-square-foot lobby connecting east and west wings (many of the destinations within the facility are named for donating businesses). In the two-story building, most of the staff and faculty offices take up the upper floor, with educational and laboratory space on the bottom floor. Appropriately, an enormous wall sculpture uses panels from cattle trucks.

“ [Ours is a] very traditional program in that they go through three years of pre-clinical education, and then they have a one-year clinical,” explains Dascanio. In most cases, that year will be spent in private practices, with students performing primary care. They graduate with the ability to go directly into practice. “We’ve got to pack everything in four years that a human doctor would typically do in seven years,” Dascanio says. “We’ve really got to push their skills and get them ready to be independent.”

PHOTOS BY TANNER BEGGS

The ceiling height of these first floor labs and classrooms is a spacious 18 feet. That’s to accommodate hoists that can pick up an adult cow or horse. But even a large-animal veterinary practice includes much smaller components, including microscopic analysis at the cellular level.

“In bulls, we do a lot of semen analysis,” says Dascanio, who also serves as a professor of theriogenology, the study and practice of animal reproduction. “If somebody has a young bull that they want to turn out with a bunch of cows, we’ll collect a semen sample, look at the sperm and make sure they’re normal.” That means a greater chance the bull can impregnate cows.

Ahigh-tech, 400-seat lecture hall at the main campus, known as the Happy State Bank & Trust Co. Auditorium, allows the school to gather all its students and staff in a single room.

“We can have meetings of the entire school in here,” Dascanio says, along with continuing education activities and other gatherings.

Students access dozens of surgical and procedural models that simulate everything from obstetrical deliveries to IV insertion. The school employs a full-time model builder and operates a synthetic model lab which uses 3D printers, silicone rubber, epoxy resin molds and other materials. “The idea is to practice on something like this and then transition to a live animal after you’ve learned all the manual skills and instrumentation,” Dascanio says. Students learn to draw blood, insert catheters or even place cattle ear tags. Live animals bleed during procedures, so students practice proper technique multiple times with lifelike skins and materials before moving to that stage.

The model in this image is a spay simulator.

“Before they ever spay a live animal, for example, they use a model like this to do the complete simulated surgery,” he says.

“ We’ve really got to push their skills and get them ready to be independent.”

—John Dascanio

Arail system in the animal anatomy laboratory allows preserved livestock cadavers to be hung for examination and dissection, then easily stored and refrigerated. A nearby lab includes skeletal models of major species, along with preserved specimens— like the hoof below—which show muscles, tendons, arteries, veins and nerves. “They have to learn the insertions of all the tendons and ligaments,” Dascanio says. “They have to know the pathways for the nerves. So if I want to do a nerve block to deaden something, I have to know where to put my needle.”

The porcine lungs shown in the photo to the right are plastinated versions of actual animal lungs. The plastination process uses a type of liquid polymer to replace water and fat in tissues. The end result is durable and odorless but retains the texture and anatomical details of the original.

Training rooms like this lab help students learn clinical skills, including animal handling, physical exams, basic surgery and dental procedures. “It’s the same kind of monitoring equipment you’d find in a human hospital: anesthesia machines, heart monitors, blood pressure,” Dascanio says. Cameras and monitors allow an instructor to broadcast a procedure in front of students.

Another part of the campus simulates a veterinary clinic, complete with a reception area and exam rooms. With students under supervision, the school works with Amarillo Animal Management and Welfare to spay and neuter dogs and cats. “We usually keep them for a few days, do the surgeries, then return them back to the shelter,” he says. Students also work alongside the Amarillo Meals on Wheels to care for the pets of homebound senior adults.

Private practices across Texas use advanced CT scanners and ultrasound machines to diagnose smaller animals like dogs and cats. Veterinary students learn to use this equipment as well. The model dogs shown in these photos are equipped with synthetic bones, allowing students to perform X-rays. “Instead of having a live animal be there all the time for students to figure out the right position, we can practice with several model species,” Dascanio says.

Located a couple miles west of the main campus and outside the Loop, the Vet School’s 80,000-squarefoot Mariposa Station gives students hands-on access to horses and cattle just outside the city limits, in line with municipal regulations. This large animal facility includes a 100-seat classroom, but much of the learning takes place in the facility’s arena and a 24-stall horse barn. The first horse to stay overnight in the barn was Fearless Champion, one of the mascot horses ridden by Tech’s Masked Rider.

In addition to the horse herd, a number of cows live at the Mariposa Station. “We have cows out there that are kind of residents for a semester,” Dascanio says. The school buys cattle from local ranchers so students can learn to diagnose and treat live animals. “At the end of the semester, the cows are sold,” says Dascanio.

Bovine and equine stalls—and live “patients”—at Mariposa allow budding large-animal veterinarians to learn how to conduct physical exams, collect blood, examine hooves, give injections and vaccinations, and perform other procedures safely. This kind of hands-on, practical experience is highly valuable to prepare students for careers in veterinary medicine.

In addition to producing veterinarians, the Texas Tech University School of Veterinary Medicine also offers a PhD graduate program in its One Health Sciences collaboration with the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. The curriculum, which includes more than 30 students from 15 countries, trains scientists to develop research and strategies “addressing the intersection between human, animal and environment,” says Thu Annelise Nguyen, Associate Dean for Research and Professor of Toxicology at the Vet School.

For instance, many of the world’s infectious diseases—including COVID-19—have origins in the animal world. The One Health program allows the Vet School to work closely with medical schools in studying the ways human biology interacts with animal biology. It also opens up important career pathways for students. “This is one program [for students] to see other horizons besides being a clinician,” she says.

A significant influx of state funding is already helping the school produce a portfolio of research—from studies about pathogens causing intra-mammary infections to dietary modifications to reduce the impact of salmonella among beef cattle. Nguyen and the rest of the school’s scientists benefit from technologically advanced equipment, including gene sequencing machines and a cold storage laboratory with freezer units that keep biological samples at a cool -112 degrees Fahrenheit

THE FOUNDING Mothers

Fannin Students Organize Their Own Mentorship Program

BY MEAGHAN COLLIER

“Honestly, I’m glad we did this because we’re leaving something behind for the seventh and sixth graders coming up. It’s hard for a lot of people to step up and change something, so I think we’re really helping them.”

A sage perspective coming from Bella Garcia, a preteen. Leaving a legacy is important for her. She wants things to be different for the girls who come after her. Arianna Martinez, an eighth grader at Fannin Middle School, feels the same way.

“At times, because I’m a girl or I’m a certain race, some people don’t see that I could accomplish certain goals I have, and they just don’t believe that I could do it.” Martinez says.

That was the prevailing feeling for several girls in the eighth grade at Fannin Middle School this year. Their male counterparts have had a regular mentorship program in place thanks to organizations like 101 Elite Men, a community group focused on empowering young men through mentorship, personal development and leadership training. Watching the boys leave class to meet with male leaders from the community, while they were left behind, was frustrating.

“We got together and just talked about how we didn’t like what was going on in the school,” classmate Micah Logan says. “The boys were getting certain advantages. It made the boys look like they were better than us. They could see they were getting these advantages, so they acted better than us, as well. So, we just thought we’d try to change it—at least try.”

Petitions and Connections

A social studies lesson about petitions gave the girls the inspiration they needed. They established their own petition, collected signatures, and made a formal presentation to their principal advocating for a female mentorship program. They’d need a group name, of course, so they decided to call themselves “The Founding Mothers.”

“You know, historically, our girls mature faster than our boys; they just have different needs, and in school specifically, they see things differently,” Fannin Middle School Principal Amy Sellmyer says. “They have different struggles. It’s something that they recognized as a gap. We recognized it as a gap, but we were just stuck on how to fix it. They were the ones who spearheaded the whole thing.”

(L-R): LANITRA BARRINGER, ARIANNA MARTINEZ, DEVONEE ROMO, BELLA GARCIA, PRINCIPAL AMY SELLMYER, NIESHA ADTOON, DASEJA D’SPAIN AND MICAH LOGAN

WRITER MEAGHAN COLLIER JOINED THE FOUNDING MOTHERS FOR A ROUND TABLE DISCUSSION IN APRIL.

After Sellmyer saw the work her students put in on the presentation and petition, she reached out for reinforcements.

“She called me and said, ‘I know you have community connections with women,’” says Lanitra Barringer, Amarillo Independent School District director of family and community engagement. “She told me about their petition. She told me how she wanted to give them a way to really express their feelings more positively, and she really wanted their ideas to come to fruition.”

Barringer dug into her contact list and delivered. She invited women from different sectors of the community to come and hear from the girls and collaborate on how they could mentor them. She knew they, like her, would be committed to the cause after they heard their stories. [Disclosure: Brick & Elm co-publisher Michele McAffrey is one of these mentors.]

“The ladies really poured into them that day, and it’s just grown from that,” she says. “Today, I told my parent involvement liaisons at the other Title I schools that they will have a database of professional women with their contact information and what niche they prefer to speak about, or if they prefer to just assist with activities. That will become AISD’s Title I Girls’ Day Initiative.”

Title I schools receive federal funding under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act to provide additional support for students from low-income families. These funds are used to improve academic achievement and ensure all students have equal access to quality education. Title I schools often implement programs like extra tutoring, professional development for teachers and other educational resources to help students succeed. There are 46 Title I schools in AISD.

Barringer and her team created a curriculum that will roll out to those schools next school year. The hourlong sessions happen twice a month during the school’s built-in Response to Intervention period. The Girls’ Day Initiative will stay true to what the Fannin students intended. That’s important to Barringer.

“When the ladies were in the room and the girls presented, we all cried,” she says. “To see such leadership at a young age. To think about the leadership potential they have that they don’t even realize, how great they’re going to be later and how much of a difference they’re going to make in other women’s lives is just amazing. Unbelievable.”

Vulnerability and Feedback

Several of the adult women in the room reflected on the embarrassment they felt having never realized the lack of opportunity for middle school girls in AISD. Instead of making excuses, Barringer and Sellmyer took action.

“She really opened herself up to say, ‘Hey, I care enough about you,’” Barringer says. “So, this isn’t something that could happen at any school. They knew she could easily say, ‘This isn’t what school is about, and we can’t take our time to focus on this,’ but she let them really speak.”

Sellmyer’s open communication and vulnerability, Barringer says, is what makes her an exceptional leader for the students at Fannin Middle School.

“It’s evolved into them being able to recognize how to make change and how true change comes about,” Sellmyer says. “They were bold enough to stand up and say there was a problem, but also, they were reflective enough to take feedback.”

The girls have learned from the mentors how to dress professionally, how to speak professionally, how to eat, how to adjust their vocal tone and how to write presentations. The students, though, were adamant about having mentors who looked like them— women who could relate to their experiences because of their backgrounds.

“What we have to go through because of who we are as a person, different struggles they had to face because of what they look like and how society saw them as a person and treated them,” Martinez shares.

Circling Up

It’s worth noting the students come from different friend groups at school. They are racially diverse and interested in a variety of activities, but Sellmyer says she has been struck by their ability to see and support one another throughout the process.

“Middle schoolers’ social language at times can be cutting and

hurtful toward each other,” the principal explains. “To see them circle up and say, ‘You are valued. I appreciate how you had a great idea.’ It wasn’t just, ‘You look pretty today.’ It was very tangible, specific things that they valued about their contribution to this group.”

The lessons and topics cover a wide range—social changes, dating violence, responsibility, vision boards, goals and dreams—but the girls themselves drive the subject matter.

“Most of the topics are about how we can put this into our future, but we can also put it into the present,” says Devonee Romo, one of the participants. “They are things we want to learn before we become adults. We want to learn about hormones, actions, reactions and emotions. Our emotions impact the way we learn and experience things. So we want to learn how we control them in environments where we need to control them, and how we can learn how to communicate better with other people in a professional way. We want to learn how we can put that into our own perspective, and that’s a lot coming from a group of 13- and 14-year-olds who don’t know exactly everything.”

There is still plenty to learn for these Founding Mothers, but they agreed they are more prepared than ever for what they’ll face in high school. The lessons they’ve learned about friendship, justice and equity are forever etched in their educational experiences. Their commitment to one another is inextricably linked within the walls of Fannin and beyond. A legacy to be proud of, indeed.

THE JIM LAUGHLIN

SERIES

9:00

JUNE 4

The 77th Army Band

JUNE 11

Daruma from Denver, Colorado

JUNE 18

Jim Laughlin and Friends

JUNE 25 Polk Street Jazz

AParental Fundamentals

IN-HOME VISITING PROGRAMS USE NURSES AND MENTORS TO EMPOWER CONFIDENT PARENTS

BY NANCY GARCÍA-FRANKEN

mid Amarillo’s bustling daily routine, our local nurses, the backbone of our health care system, are committed to healing the community. They tirelessly provide medical care, emotional support and health education, touching countless lives and embodying the true essence of kindness and empathy. Their work is a labor of love and a constant flow of compassion and expertise that often goes unnoticed.

Meanwhile, young parents are facing the uncertainty of a child’s earliest years: Am I doing this right? Are they meeting the right milestones? Shouldn’t they be able to recognize shapes and colors by now? Experienced nurses and mentors can help answer those questions outside the traditional medical setting.

Two innovative new programs in Potter and Randall counties are helping first-time mothers and young parents navigate those doubts with expert support. Backed by state funds, these evidencebased home-visiting programs stand as beacons of hope for moms, parents and families navigating the early stages of their children’s development. The Nurse-Family Partnership and Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters support mothers, parents and families who want to promote their children’s early development. These programs provide expert guidance and support from pregnancy to preschool.

Nurses for New Moms

The NFP program provides first-time mothers with a personal nurse to guide and support them from pregnancy until the child’s second birthday. Liz Favela, a former neonatal intensive care unit nurse, is the nurse supervisor for the NFP program.

“It is free for women who are pregnant with their first baby,” she says. “When they enroll, they are connected and partnered with a registered nurse, who will provide support, advice and information to the mom for a healthy pregnancy, a healthy baby and just to be the best mom they can be.”

The nurses who provide home visits to new mothers have expertise in areas including maternal health, pediatric health, neonatal intensive care unit, labor and delivery, or community public health. During home visits, nurses teach first-time mothers about essential topics, including nutrition, health development, sleep techniques and breastfeeding.

“We are trying to look at the big picture,” Favela says. “We are not just nurses. We’re educators. We look for resources and set goals. Nurses wear a lot of hats to make the mom feel valued and more confident in their ability to be a mom.”

The program is voluntary; anyone in the mother’s support system can attend the home visiting sessions, including dads. “The majority of the time, it will be the father of the baby,” Favela says. “And we really want to get them involved as much as possible because, while our program is geared towards the moms, we look at the family unit as a whole.”

The NFP program can provide a free nurse to 150 families in Potter and Randall counties. Women less than 28 weeks pregnant and eligible for Medicaid or WIC can apply for the program.

Favela and the nurses ensure that every mother referred to the program receives a detailed explanation. A team of six nurses receives the referrals based on their availability and the referral’s needs. Sometimes, the outreach coordinator contacts the mother to provide an overview of the program, and a nurse follows up with more details.

“I always tell them, you know, you get a free nurse,” Favela says. “Not everyone can say that. Babies don’t come with a manual, so

we’re there to provide that professional support. We’re not there to take the place of moms, their families or their doctors. We’re just there to give that additional support to them.”

Mentorship as Kids Mature

After completing the NFP program, moms who want to continue receiving support for their child’s development after age 2 are encouraged to join HIPPY, a home visiting program focused on early childhood education and development.

The HIPPY program provides families with a comprehensive curriculum over 30 weeks. Weekly sessions include at least five activities covering diverse subjects like language, math, science, motor skills and literacy. Participating families receive at least eight books specifically chosen to complement the curriculum activities. Each book lasts three to four weeks, ensuring the families have ample time to engage with the content and get the most out of the program. Families who register for the program can request books in either English or Spanish.

The free program requires a time commitment: The parent meets with a HIPPY mentor for at least 45 minutes weekly. During these meetings, parents review the curriculum and lessons and ask any questions to empower them to become their children’s first educators. This approach allows parents to actively engage in their children’s learning, which builds a strong foundation for their academic success.

The parents are then responsible for conducting the lesson for 15 to 20 minutes daily with their children. At the next home visiting session, they discuss the activity’s challenges and successes with their HIPPY mentor.

Veronica Elizalde coordinates HIPPY and helps parents prepare their children for success in preschool as they take an active role in their child’s education.

She says the curriculum is flexible enough to adapt to each child’s needs and abilities. For instance, if a child has mastered the basic shapes, the curriculum can be modified to teach more complex shapes. Additionally, children can learn to recognize letters and numbers, which are crucial for their cognitive development and academic success. The curriculum also helps a child develop writing skills, including writing their name—an essential milestone in their early childhood education.

In 2012, between jobs, Elizalde attended a community event after finding herself spending more time with her young daughter. She discovered HIPPY, which ultimately became a catalyst for her personal and professional growth.

“My other kids went to Head Start, and [my daughter] did not,” she says. “So, I decided ‘I’m going to try and see what I can teach her while she is at home with me.’”

Elizalde was encouraged by her daughter’s eagerness to learn. “She was so proud of the bond we had,” she says. “She would tell everybody I was her teacher.”

The mentor assigned to Elizalde through the HIPPY program offered significant support and consistently requested feedback on the activities. Elizalde established a structured routine for her daughter during the sessions and assisted her in concentrating.

Elizalde’s daughter, now 14, has a passion for science and math that blossomed after participation in HIPPY science experiments.

To Elizalde, it shows the effectiveness of educational programs that encourage hands-on learning and spark curiosity in young minds. “Those were the two subjects that she was interested in the most and did very well,” she says.

To pay it forward, Elizalde became a HIPPY mentor in 2014.

“The model is that we try to recruit parents that have gone through the program to become home visitors, since they’ve already completed the program and know and understand the model,” she says.

As parents complete their journey with the HIPPY program and transition into a new chapter in the school system, they forge a powerful connection with their children. They gain a deeper understanding of their child’s learning style and are empowered to become strong advocates for their child in the classroom. Parents can continue supporting their child’s growth and success by staying actively involved in their child’s education and communicating openly with their teachers.

The HIPPY program is available for parents with children ages 2 (before Sept. 1 of the current year) to 4, and it can serve 121 families in Potter and Randall counties.

Celebrations and Joy

At the end of each program, both NFP and HIPPY offer a graduation-like celebration for the moms, parents and families—an opportunity for the local community to invest further in these young learners. Both programs seek food donations, gifts for the mothers, and door prizes for family members who attend the event. They also need donations for special events like Christmas and Mother’s Day. Financial contributions to HIPPY help purchase books and supplies. HIPPY also needs proactive community members willing to advocate for the advisory board, dedicated volunteers who can assist with the HIPPY programming, and reliable locations that can consistently be utilized for meetings.

Both NFP and HIPPY are programs funded by the Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting grant and managed by the Coalition of Health Services. These programs aim to assist at-risk communities by promoting maternal, infant and early childhood health, safety, development and strong parent-child relationships. Together, they contribute to a comprehensive early childhood system that benefits these communities.

Both Favela and Elizalde have witnessed the progress of both parents and children firsthand, from seeing young mothers graduate from college to parents expressing their joy and surprise at their ability to teach their children.

“I usually just tell parents that we know that their goal is for their child to succeed and that we’re here to support them and get that goal accomplished,” Elizalde says. “And that they can do it.”

By acknowledging their goals and offering her own story as a source of inspiration, Elizalde instills confidence in parents that they, too, can achieve success for their children. She emphasizes that HIPPY is committed to partnering with parents to provide the tools and resources necessary for their child’s academic success, motivating them to work toward their shared goals.

“They have a goal for their children, no matter what parent, no matter if they’re busy or not busy, whatever background they have, they want their child to succeed,” she says. “And we’re here to partner with you to help with that.”

Mothers in Potter and Randall counties interested in the NurseFamily Partnership program or community members who want to donate or support the program can contact Liz Favela at 806-337-1700. Parents and families interested in the Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters program or community members who want to donate or support the program can contact Veronica Elizalde at 806-376-3520.

THE INCREDIBLE VALUE OF MUSEUM MEMBERSHIP

With more than 285,000 square feet of space housing and displaying millions of artifacts and art, experiencing the largest history museum in Texas in a single visit can be a challenge. That’s why many local families visit Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum multiple times a year. The best way to do this is to become a member.

“Members get free regular admission throughout the year,” explains PPHM Director Andrew Hay. A $100 Friends & Family Membership allows free standard admission for four people all year long. (Other membership levels include additional perks.) But Hay says a membership at PPHM is about more than admission. “It also includes invitations to all of our activities and programs, like members-only major exhibit openings, receptions, lectures and other special events. Basically, you become part of our family.”

KEY EVENTS

Summer hours at PPHM begin May 30, 2024, and the Museum will be open daily, Monday to Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., plus 1 to 5 p.m. on Sundays. A majority of the Museum’s 100,000 annual visitors will tour its permanent and special exhibits during the summer months.

Beyond exhibits, other special events include Summer Fun Gallery Programs for kids on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays (May 30 to Aug. 10) inside galleries including Paleontology, People of the Plains, Transportation and Petroleum, as well as within the Maker Space and STEAM Lab.

June 14 brings the annual Night at PPHM, from 8 to 11 p.m. “This is a one-night-only opportunity for adults and kids alike to experience the Museum in the dark, after hours, using flashlights,” says Hay. “It’s incredibly fun to watch PPHM come to life—and it’s not just for kids.” Other summer camp events include the educational Boulders, Brands and Bones Camp (June 25) and STEAM Camp (July 16). Museum members receive a substantial discount on camp fees.

SPECIAL USE

Several tiers of PPHM membership offer discounted rental fees for Museum spaces. In fact, many community members may not even

realize the space is available for private events.

“We actually have several spectacular indoor event sites that can be used for weddings, fundraising events, corporate events and other social activities,” explains Hay. From the privacy of the Education Credit Union History Studio to the dramatic Derrick Room and Paleontology gallery, no other event center in the Texas Panhandle offers such an unforgettable setting.

COMMUNITY IMPACT

Membership is also an investment in PPHM’s ability to give back to the community. During the school year, the Museum helps educate local school districts and school children through field trips and hands-on educational experiences.

In the summer months, the Museum serves the local community via its highly anticipated Movie on the Lawn, which takes place June 21, 2024, on the east lawn of PPHM. The event is free but donations are welcome. “The whole community is invited. We’ll show a family-friendly film and ask everyone to bring their own blanket or lawn chair so they can spread out,” says Heather Friemel, Director of Finance and Business. (The movie will be announced soon.) PPHM store merchandise and candy are available for purchase, and donations are always welcome.

THE PPHM FAMILY

“Our Museum is focused on three key audiences: families, tourists and West Texas A&M University,” says Hay. “For families, we believe our membership levels definitely offer more bang for the buck. If you plan to visit more than once a year, it’s such a great value compared to the daily admission prices for multiple members of the family.”

To learn more about membership, visit panhandleplains.org, or call 806-651-2249 today to become part of the family and make the most of one of the most unique settings in the Texas Panhandle.

NURSES

If you’ve ever spent time in a hospital, you know the value of a caring, attentive nurse. And the pandemic definitely put the dedication of these health professionals on full display. Surveys regularly identify nursing as one of the most trusted professions in the nation, and as a career, nursing offers more opportunities than ever before. May is National Nurses Month, recognizing the valuable contributions of these professionals. In this special section, we highlight some of the nurses and nursing educators changing lives in this area.

Andrea

Line Director Northwest Texas Healthcare System

What is your specialty? Since graduating nursing school, I have worked as an emergency room nurse. One might expect me to answer that the ER is my specialty; however, in my current role as manager, I would like to think my real specialty is my ability to adapt and change!

What inspired you to pursue a career as a nurse? I previously was a lab manager at a specialty chemical company—nursing is a second career for me. When I married my husband, Derrell, 30 years ago, he was a nurse. Listening to him piqued my interest in the field. Few careers afford the opportunity nursing does to make a difference in the life of someone who may be having a terrible day. After staying home for a season with my children, I attended nursing school and reentered the workforce. It has been a great career fit for me and has been a shared interest for us as a couple.

What are the most important qualities of a successful nurse? The qualities of active listening, empathy, patience, speaking in a manner the listener can understand, and an all-encompassing kindness to patients and colleagues are required for success.

The manager in me says one-third of the career is being clinically competent with skills and assessment, one-third is showing up regarding attendance and engagement, and one-third is taking care of the required aspects of the position in relation to education, certifications and charting. Also, a good attitude is a must for the patient and team experience.

What do you like most about being a nurse? I truly love talking to people in all stages of life and varieties of situations and hearing their stories. Even as a manager, the best part of my day is having a chance to make a patient’s day better in some small way. I thrive on change, so the ER is a great environment that offers endless interesting patients and situations, which I enjoy.

What has been the most surprising aspect of your field? I received an excellent education at AC, but nursing school only grazed the surface of education for the field of nursing. I have been surprised at the rapidity of changes in the medical field. It is absolutely necessary to be a lifelong learner in order to provide the most current, evidence-based practices in nursing.

What challenges have you overcome in your career? The balance of work and home life was a challenge when my children were little. It is difficult to be in a career that requires 24/7 coverage. I was the charge nurse at NWTHS in the ER the night we made the transition from paper charting to electronic medical records. This change has been positive in many aspects and allows for tracking and trending of care and concomitant outcomes. It has also created a challenge for nurses to balance the time they want to spend at the bedside with the requirements of charting.

How do you relate to each patient you care for? I may not know every patient on a personal level, but I’ve lived long enough and been exposed to enough situations that I can recognize and relate to fear, anxiety, frustration, loneliness, or a lack of understanding or peace. Regardless of the situation, it is important to relate to and empathize with the emotions caused by illness or injury.

What advice would you give to a new or aspiring nurse? Nursing is a great career. It is portable to every part of the country and can be a part-time or full-time commitment, depending on the needs of each stage of your life or career. I would especially emphasize to new graduates that starting a new job will probably be quite stressful; every job I’ve had, nursing or otherwise, has taken a season to be able to feel competent and comfortable. Also, it is absolutely OK if the first job out of school is not a perfect fit! The possibilities are endless—try different nursing positions until you find what you are passionate about, then become the best at it!

(L-R): GINA GAINES, LVN; MEGAN YOUNG, RN; VERONICA GONZALES, RN; CHRIS DELEON, RN; ROCHELLE DANNHEIM, RN

Oceans Behavioral Hospital Amarillo

What inspired you to pursue a career as a nurse? Lisa Schulz, RN: Growing up, my dad was in and out of the hospital with earlyonset Parkinson’s disease. It was scary and hard being a child and watching your loved one struggle like that. The nurses were always so patient with us and helped us understand what was happening. I knew I wanted to grow up and be able to provide that same level of compassionate care to patients and their families.

What are the most important qualities of a successful nurse? Gina Gaines, LVN: Some of the most important qualities for a successful nurse are listening, compassion and integrity.

What do you like most about being a nurse? Haley Houghton, RN: The thing I like most about nursing is seeing patients get better. We never meet them on their best day, so seeing them improve is rewarding.

What has been the most surprising aspect of your field? Candice Arguelles, RN: The degree to which patients rely on us for quality care and advocacy, and trust us as their care team.

What challenges have you overcome in your career? Megan Cobb, LVN: I have overcome many challenges, from learning new skills to how to cope with this side of nursing, which often involves deescalating a behavior to redirect the patient’s attention to something else, so other behaviors won’t get elevated.

How do you relate to each patient you care for? Megan Young, RN: By listening to each patient, having empathy and compassion, and trying to put myself in their shoes to help understand some of the emotions they may be experiencing.

What advice would you give to a new or aspiring nurse? Stephany Phagan, LVN: Be open to learning new things, wear comfortable shoes, be compassionate, listen with open ears, hold hands when needed, and remember to smile even through the tears. Most importantly, don’t lose who YOU are.

Walter J. Adams Student Learning and Licensure Specialist Amarillo College

What is your specialty? In the past, I have worked in medicalsurgical nursing and focused on electrophysiology. I have also done some local travel nursing, going to towns within an hour radius of Amarillo to help there; however, I’m currently transitioning and plan soon to specialize in diabetic nursing. Currently, I’m a student learning licensure specialist helping students grasp concepts and prepare for their boards exam.

What inspired you to pursue a career in nursing? Entering a medical field always appealed to me. After earning my GED, I sat down and wrote out the attributes I desired for a career. I wanted a profession that could take me around the world; one that could offer me a lot of variety; and one that would allow me to both serve the public and make a good living. When I compared my list to a long list of health care careers, nursing beat out all the other options!

What are the most important qualities of a successful nurse? You must be calm under pressure, possess people skills and a positive outlook, and be an instinctive decision-maker. If you combine these qualities, you have a project manager, and that’s exactly what a nurse has to be. We juggle so many moving parts, and we do it with the health and well-being of our patients in mind.

What do you like most about working with students in an education setting? I like building confidence in nursing students, helping them with personal development, and helping them find their purpose while they are navigating nursing school.

What has been the most surprising aspect of your field? How impactful, influential and prestigious the nursing profession can be. You can take care of a patient once and they will remember you forever! Patients and their families sometimes cry when they see you in public and express deep gratitude for the help you gave them—for being the arm that lifted them during a time of pain, anxiety and uncertainty.

What challenges have you overcome in your career? Throughout my time as a nurse, I have overcome the chaos of COVID-19, the nursing shortage (which is still in effect), the potential for nursing burnout, and the danger of becoming a jaded health care professional.

How do you relate to the students that you serve? I’m intentional about being approachable, and have learned how to challenge students while making sure I maintain their dignity. Once I’ve earned their respect, I’m able to influence them as someone who has been where they are seeking to go.

What advice would you give to a new or aspiring nurse? Don’t rush the process. Enjoy the journey. If you focus on what you are becoming, you will never lose sight of where you are going. I encourage new nurses to make friends and make time for themselves and their loved ones, so they will have support for coping in a highly stressful environment.

Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Nursing

What do you consider the most important qualities of a successful nurse? A successful nurse embodies service and dedication, providing compassionate care and positively impacting patients’ lives. Continuous learning, flexibility, critical thinking and professionalism are vital. In order to influence policy, being involved in professional organizations is very important.

What do you like most about being a nurse educator? The opportunity to make a tangible difference in someone’s life. Nurses find fulfillment in witnessing patients’ recovery and offering comfort during difficult times. Interacting with patients and their families, despite challenges, is rewarding. Trust from patients is cherished, and nurturing future nurses is fulfilling. Nurses play a crucial role in interdisciplinary care teams, contributing to patients’ recovery. The nursing profession offers diverse career paths, a chance to work with an interdisciplinary team and growth opportunities.

What challenges have been overcome in the field of nursing and nursing education? Challenges such as technology advancements, evidence-based practices, and nursing shortages persist. The COVID-19 pandemic posed significant emotional challenges, but also highlighted the importance of teamwork in nursing. Nursing is inherently a collaborative endeavor, and teamwork proved indispensable during the pandemic. By banding together and extending assistance to one another, nurses triumphed over the adversities that COVID-19 presented.

As nurse educators, we balance many roles and responsibilities to prepare the next generation of nurses. Amidst changes in the profession, the focus remains on nurturing the next generation of nurses, ensuring they receive the necessary skills and knowledge to excel in their roles

What do you view as the most important aspect of nursing education? You only have one opportunity to be a positive role model; being a mentor and educator must be taken seriously. We want students to take what they are doing seriously and understand the importance of putting patients first and treating others as you would want to be treated.

Every patient a student nurse encounters is someone’s beloved family member—a mother, father, brother, sister, aunt or uncle— and approaching each learning experience with the utmost dedication is important. Fostering learning opportunities through positive experiences ensures students are building confidence and competency in their nursing school journey. As educators, we must ensure a nursing student is prepared for practice upon graduation. What advice would you give to a new or aspiring nurse? Recognize the gift you possess and wield it with care and dedication. Embrace challenges, remain passionate about serving others and never underestimate the impact you can have on the lives of those in your care.

One of the most valuable pieces of advice to new or aspiring nurses is the importance of self-care. You cannot effectively care for others if you neglect your own well-being.

Continue your formal education and become involved in professional organizations. Embrace learning with an open mind, ask for help as soon as you need it, communicate clearly and effectively, develop time management and organization skills, and remember to celebrate your successes.

SCHOOL OF NURSING FACULTY: AMANDA HEDTKE, MSN; MANDY GUERRERO, MSN; LOUISE RICE, DNP; LIZ MATOS, PH.D.; REGIONAL DEAN VALERIE KIPER, DNP; SHARON BREWER, MSN; SHARON SHELTON, MSN; SHELLY SETH, DNP; DEBORAH CASIDA, MSN

Alee Friemel

King Professor of Nursing West Texas A&M University

Laura and Joe Street School of Nursing

What is your specialty? I have been a nurse for about 10 years, mainly within a women’s medical-surgical unit and nursing academia.

What inspired you to pursue a career as a nurse? Nursing has been an interest of mine since I was a little girl. Every time I stepped foot in a doctor’s office or hospital, I imagined myself on the other side providing care for people in need. I guess you could say I felt called to work in a field where I can use my faith to serve others and make a difference in individuals’ everyday lives.

What are the most important qualities of a successful nurse? Nurses are called to play so many roles. I would say there are three qualities that really matter in being able to juggle all those roles successfully: living with empathy, being able to think critically, and having a sense of humor.

What do you like most about being a nurse educator? Nursing education is the cornerstone to nursing practice. Without strong nurses, health care would suffer. I am proud to educate students to live up to their potential role as a caregiver.

What has been the most surprising aspect of your field? Even though my responsibilities are to teach aspiring nurses, I actually learn something new every day from my students.

What challenges have you overcome in your career? My personal life took off at the same time as my career, so I would say the biggest challenge has been finding the joy of working while raising a young family. Some days are hard, but I have to remember I am here to serve others and that can be both my family and my patients and students.

What advice would you give to a new or aspiring nurse? The work is hard, but the reward makes it worth it.

SHERIL BLACKBURN BO WULFMAN

CCIM

GABE IRVING

CCIM

J GAUT CCIM SIOR

BEN WHITTENBURG AARON EMERSON

CCIM SIOR KRISTEN

CATHY DERR

CCIM

JENNIFER WEBBER

Jazz + Pizzazz

JIM LAUGHLIN’S ‘JUNE JAZZ’ HITS THE RIGHT SUMMER NOTES

BY JON MARK BEILUE

school band director years ago. He was barely scraping by.

As the sun starts to drop on Tuesday evenings in June, the crowds on the grass in front of the music building at Amarillo College begin to swell. There are millennial couples with young children and octogenarians in khaki shorts and shortsleeved buttoned shirts. Middle-school kids are laughing.

Dogs on leashes are never far away.

They sit in their lawn chairs, sometimes next to friends, but often next to strangers simply in the search for a good spot. Some have coolers to open a drink or a sack of munchies. A few open up a paperback book they’ve been reading.

On calm evenings with temperatures hovering around 90 degrees, the crowd can push to 1,200. They are as relaxed and mellow as the music they came to listen to.

“It’s almost iconic,” says Mark White, executive vice-president and general counsel at Amarillo College. “It’s just a well-loved event.”

It goes by the alliterative title of June Jazz, and it’s just what the two words say it is. It’s jazz music and only in the month of June. It is the idea and inspiration of AC Music Professor Dr. Jim Laughlin, who has done almost everything in the 27 years of the event except name it.

“The name came from one of our English teachers who suggested ‘June Jazz,’” he says. “It kinda stuck.”

So has the event, free to the public, for more than a quarter of a century. Each Tuesday in June, from approximately 7:30 to 9 p.m., local jazz musicians and a few from elsewhere perform this uniquely American genre of music for aficionados or just those who like to unwind with others in the dusk of a summer evening.

“The biggest thing I get is communicating something,” says Sean Vokes, a jazz pianist who once upon a time was noted for the flute. “You’re communicating an idea with the people you’re playing with and get to have fun with the people in the audience. Maybe ‘fun’ is not the right word, but an emotional connection musically.”

The Improvisation

There would be no June Jazz without Laughlin, for whom seemingly spur-of-the-moment major life decisions have seemed to work out swimmingly. McLaughlin, a native of Oklahoma City, was a young high

The school district’s lawyer, himself a former band director, was well aware of his intellect. He encouraged him to take the LSAT, the admissions test for law school candidates. It would be a career change, but one that seemed to fit his aptitude and a chance to make much more money as an attorney.

Laughlin aced the LSAT and was accepted to the University of Texas Law School. What was to be his first day of law school was almost like a scene from a cheesy movie.

“I was walking to the law school from the parking lot. I was on a sidewalk that became a ‘Y,’” he says. “To the right was the school of law and to the left was the school of music. I already had my master’s in music and I stood at that Y. I thought, ‘Do I want to go to law school or stay in music?’”

Laughlin remembered what a friend told him once, that we don’t choose music as much as music chooses us. Laughlin never made it to law school.

“I just couldn’t get away from music,” he says.

It wasn’t long after that Laughlin came through Amarillo from Oklahoma City. He was headed to San Angelo to see a friend, and then on to Austin. He stopped for gas at I-40 and Washington Street. Maybe it was fate, coincidence, or divine providence, but while getting gas he ran into a fellow saxophone player. In conversation, he told Laughlin there was a job opening teaching woodwinds at Amarillo College, which was two to three blocks to the south.

Much like the fork in the sidewalk at UT, Laughlin headed south on Washington and filled out an application. He was hired about the time he handed in the application. Laughlin never made it to Austin.

He thought he eventually would. He could see himself in Amarillo for two years. That was in 1989. He and wife Tammy now have a home in Timbercreek Canyon with Palo Duro Canyon as their backyard.

“Jim deserves some kind of medal,” says Dee Miller. “First of all, he’s a talented musician. He’s humble—he doesn’t want the accolades that go with arranging the bands. He’s considerate, gracious. He’s the kind of person you would want as your next-door neighbor. You can count on him.”

Miller and his twin brother, Oth, who turned 90 in November, endowed June Jazz with sponsorship money in 2018. The money, among other perks, allows for Laughlin to pay the musicians for their

time and talent. The Millers have been faithful attendees since 2008.

“It’s the diversity of jazz, No. 1, and the bands have some very talented people,” Dee says. “You get a little bit of everything, and it’s the largest crowd that attends a performance of local bands in Amarillo. You see all kinds of people out there. You start talking to people you don’t know, introduce yourself, and you have a connection.”

The Introduction

The introductions didn’t take long in the early days of June Jazz. Those performing numbered about as many as those who listened. Laughlin had spent a summer in graduate school at the University of North Texas in the mid-1990s, where he enjoyed a Dallas-area series called “Jazz Under The Stars.”

Laughlin wanted to try something similar here. In 1996, he invited five or six musicians to perform in the amphitheater space connected to the music building at AC. About a dozen people stopped to listen— some out of appreciation, some out of curiosity.

Laughlin was motivated to continue the series on his own time, during the summer vacation between semesters. The series was not part of his job, but part of his being.

“I just love jazz,” he says. “I’m that person that won’t go away. I just kept on and on and on. Every summer I hit the morning shows. I hit other media and put flyers out. I kept people talking about it, and really it’s been yard signs and word of mouth more than anything.

“First, it’s a free gift to the community. It’s in a safe environment and a nice location. Everyone can spread out. Kids can run around. It’s just a different kind of crowd. June Jazz is really a family crowd.”

It also gives Laughlin a chance to showcase his favorite genre of music in the heart of country music with rock ‘n’ roll not far behind. It’s hard to pin down the exact origins of jazz, though New Orleans and the late 1800s when Buddy Bolden started his first band in the Crescent City seem to be the accepted beginning.

“It’s a developed taste,” Laughlin says. “There are as many different styles of jazz as there are performers. You can get into instrumental jazz, modern jazz, jazz that originates from different cities. It’s like food. People develop a taste to certain kinds of food. If you go to a restaurant, there are so many different dishes and flavors. That’s jazz. There are so many different styles.”

Vokes is from a musical family. His parents are both trained musicians and music teachers. His father, Robert, was Juilliard-trained in New York. He went to high school in North Plainfield, New Jersey, with influential jazz pianist and composer Bill Evans.

A former band director at Amarillo High School, Sean Vokes has played all genres, but jazz is unique. He describes the tension and release of a piece, much like that in a movie or book. And then there’s something else, too.

“Jazz is different because of the improvisation to it,” he says. “You have these musicians creating ideas. Some are pre-scripted, but you respond musically in a certain way. In order to have improv, there has to be more than one person. These people need each other to exist in that context.”

The Experience

Who knows how many among 1,000 in the audience can dissect jazz in that manner? But it doesn’t really matter. So many from different walks are there because they enjoy the experience.

Former West Texas A&M President Dr. Russell Long and wife Natrelle rarely miss.

“We love every bit of it,” Natrelle says. “The attraction, of course,

is the music. It’s the kind of music Russell and I really like. They are so good, and we’ve listened to them for a long time. But also, just being outside in the shade and the little kids are great to watch.”

This year, June has four Tuesdays. The last five-Tuesday month was in 2021. A couple of summers before COVID, Laughlin tried to stretch June Jazz into an abbreviated July Jazz, just without the name. In addition to added expenses, crowds dwindled.

“That’s one of the top 10 questions I get—‘Why is June Jazz just in June?’” Laughlin says. “Well, it’s because of the name.”

So, beginning June 4 throughout the month, musicians including Polk Street Jazz, The Martinis and others will set up while many spread out. June Jazz has come a long way from the early days when Vokes was among those who played for a handful of listeners.

“I guess a lot of the growth has to do with consistency and quality and Jim has been just determined to make it work,” Vokes says. “I mean, who doesn’t want to sit out on a nice June evening in the Texas Panhandle, hang out with family and friends and listen to some good music?”

Army jazz band to open June Jazz

June Jazz is always known as a showcase for talented local musicians, but this year’s season kicks off with a little outside talent in the form of the heralded 77th U.S. Army Jazz Band.

“There’s certainly plenty of opportunities for local groups, but an outside band is bringing in an outside culture, some new things to the community,” says Mark Clark, development officer at Amarillo College, whose focus is arts and entertainment. “We know the military bands are world class, so that’s something we’re going to try to continue in the future with the other branches.”

The 40 musicians of the full 77th Army Band are based out of Fort Sill in Lawton, Oklahoma, but regularly splinter off into smaller groups. For June Jazz, the “Pride of Fort Sill” will bring 14 musicians to the outside stage at Amarillo College—three saxophones, four trombones, three trumpets and a rhythm section.

“We’re excited about it,” says Sgt. Daniel Rogers, press officer for the 77th Army Band. “We can play a lot more jazzy stuff and it gives us an opportunity to get deeper into the music.”

The 77th Army band has performed 491 “missions,” or events, since the start of 2023. These range from a bugler playing “Taps” at a memorial service to a variety of school and holiday concerts.

“Those in the jazz band enjoy traveling,” Rogers says. “We have people who are music educators and some who were musical performance majors. This is what they signed up to do.”

The life of a gig musician in the civilian world can be a tough job, and he says the military option offers more than just income. “Now you get paid and have benefits. So if you want to get paid for a living, this is not a bad gig. Instead of us sitting in the office or playing at a military ceremony, we can also be a traveling group of professional musicians. It’s really cool,” he says.

According to Army policy, the taxpayer-funded band will perform at no cost for free-to-the-public events like June Jazz.

Texas RouTe 66 FesTival

The inaugural 2023 Route 66 Festival was a big success, but this year’s event features even more fun, with 10 new events on the calendar, including an update to the Hodgetown Route 66 Night, which got rained out last year. At the ballpark on June 7 and 8, festival goers will enjoy a drone show—the first in Amarillo history—for back-to-back nights following the games.

Other updates include more classic cars and parade floats at the Coors Cowboy Club Downtown Cattle Drive & Parade, which will extend the parade time. Also, on the TX 66 Bus Tours (east and west), attendees will receive a Coin Cruise Album, with purchase, to start collecting TX 66 coins. Lunch is also provided with ticket purchase.

The TX 66 Festival Finale, presented by Amarillo National Bank, also brings a variety of new activities and events on Saturday, June 15, in Amarillo’s Route 66 Historic District. A few highlights:

• Entry gates on the west and east ends of Sixth Ave.

• Cooling stations with misting and free water, plus a pet relief station.

Friday, May 31

Official Pre-Party Featuring Tracy Byrd and special guests Chad Miller & The Good Fortune. (Gates open at 6 p.m., showtime 8 p.m.; Starlight Ranch Event Center, 1415 Sunrise Drive)

Thursday, June 6

Coors Ranch Rodeo Kick-Off (Time TBA; Amarillo Tri-State Fairgrounds, 3301 SE 10th Ave.)

First Thursday Art Walk (4-7 p.m.; Amarillo Route 66 Historic District, Sixth Avenue between Georgia and Western Streets)

Music in the Gardens (6-9 p.m.; Amarillo Botanical Gardens, 1400 Streit Drive)

Night Under the Neon Live music from Texas Crossroads Band, diner-style food, music and fun for the whole family. (6:30 p.m.; U-Drop Inn Cafe, 105 E. 12th St., Shamrock)

Friday, June 7

Disco in the Desert Immerse yourself in a Route 66-themed celebration with live music, a Corvette car show, and the unveiling of a new mural. The celebrations will last late, so don’t overlook the special $66 rate at the Cactus

• Food truck park moved closer to the main stage, including tables, chairs and shading.

• More centralized, expanded main stage performances including festival host Guy Bell, Chill Son, Giddy Up Go and Elvis Impersonators. Shows include a Pinup Pageant hosted by Annalee Bell, Corn Dog Eating Contest sponsored by Sonic, and Car Show Awards.

• Expanded car show along Sixth from Belleview to just east of Maryland St.

• Expanded kids area and activities sponsored by Amarillo Parks & Recreation.

See the full schedule at visitamarillo.com/events/route-66.

Cove Inn & Suites. (11 a.m.-1 a.m.; Cactus Cove Inn & Suites and The Western Horseman Club, 2501 I-40 East)

Celebrity Fast-Draw Shoot Out (3 p.m.; Rex Baxter Building on the Tri-State Fairgrounds, 3301 SE 10th Ave.)

Coors Ranch Rodeo (7 p.m.; Amarillo National Center on the Tri-State Fairgrounds, 3301 SE 10th Ave.)

Star Watch Party Hosted by the Amarillo Astronomy Club, this event includes food trucks, live music and celestial wonders; family- and pet-friendly, weather permitting. (5 p.m.-12 a.m.; Jericho on 66, 5989 State Hwy 70)

Embassy Suites Route 66 Tailgate Party Stop by The Embassy before the ballgame for drinks and snacks, cornhole, live music and prizes. (5-7 p.m.; The Embassy Suites Downtown Amarillo, 550 S. Buchanan St.)

Hodgetown Route 66 Night & Drone Show Hodgetown will be lit up by drones in two back-to-back nights. (7 p.m.; Hodgetown Stadium, 715 S. Buchanan St.)

Friday, June 8

CCC Downtown Cattle Drive & Parade (10 a.m.; 11th Avenue and Polk Street to the Tri-State Fairgrounds)

Dream Maker Station Presents Route 66 Motor Tour Car Show 2024 (12-4 p.m.; Midpoint Cafe, 305 Historic Rt. 66, Adrian)

Coors Ranch Rodeo Brats & Brews (5 p.m.; Amarillo National Center on the Tri-State Fairgrounds, 3301 SE 10th Ave.)

Coors Ranch Rodeo (7 p.m.; Amarillo National Center on the Tri-State Fairgrounds, 3301 SE 10th Ave.) Coors Ranch Rodeo Dance will follow at 10 p.m.

Hodgetown Route 66 Night & Drone Show: (7 p.m.; Hodgetown Stadium, 715 S. Buchanan St.)

Sunday, June 9

LowRider Cruise (6-7:30 p.m. ; Amarillo Boulevard)

Monday, June 10

Amarillo Film Society Screening (Doors open at 6 p.m.; film starts at 7 p.m; Goldenlight Cantina, 2906 SW Sixth Ave.)

Tuesday, June 11

June Jazz ( 7-9 p.m.; Amarillo College Clock Tower, West 24th Ave.)

Wednesday, June 12

TX 66 East Bus Tour (8:30 a.m.- 5 p.m.; starts at 1000 S. Polk St.; tickets required)

High Noon on the Square (12-1 p.m.; Potter County Courthouse Lawn, 501 S. Fillmore St.)

Cactus Rose Taphouse Soiree (5-8 p.m.; Cactus Rose Taphouse, 218 Main St., McLean)

Thursday, June 13

TX 66 West Bus Tour (8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.; starts at 1000 S. Polk St.; tickets required)

Texas Route 66 Visitor Center Celebration (6-8 p.m.; Texas Route 66 Visitor Center, 1900 SW Sixth Ave.)

Friday, June 14

The Shops on the Square: The Shops at Wolflin Square are celebrating 60 years with a Route 66-themed celebration, live music, food trucks, marching bands and sales at participating stores. (10 a.m.- 5 p.m.; The Shops at Wolflin Square, 1932 Civic Circle)

Braxton Keith—Slug Bug Ranch Christening (TBA; concerts start at 7 p.m.; Starlight Ranch Event Center, 1415 Sunrise Drive)

Saturday, June 15

TX 66 Festival Finale Presented by Amarillo National Bank (11 a.m.-7 p.m.; Amarillo Route 66 Historic District, Sixth Avenue between Georgia and Western Streets)

Sign up to receive festival updates at visitamarillo.com/events/route-66

66

June 8 – Route 66 Motor Tour Car Show in Adrian

July 4 – Independence Day Flag Celebration and Fireworks show in Adrian

July 19-20 – Comancheros Community-Wide Garage Sales and Christmas in July

July 25 – First Responders Celebration

Aug. 10 – Round-Up and Water Color Run

Sept. 9, 16 & 23 – Movie Night at the Museum

Oct. 12 – Annual Boys Ranch Rodeo

Nov. 4 – Shop Small/Small Business Saturday

Dec. 9 – Oldham County Community Christmas

While lurking around Old 66, don’t forget to creep into Aunt EEk’s.

Mention this ad for 15% off your purchase!

2900 SW 6th Ave. 806.420.0021 aunteeksonline.com

The City of Shamrock and the Wheeler County Historical Commission welcome all Route 66 travelers!

Texas 66 Coin CruiseAlbum

The Amarillo CVB has developed the Texas 66 Coin Cruise Album Program in honor of the upcoming centennial. Route 66 enthusiasts can embark on an extraordinary journey through legendary Route 66 with the Texas 66 Coin Cruise Album. As they traverse the iconic East and West stretches of the highway through the Texas Panhandle, they’ll collect nine uniquely crafted coins at select destinations. They’ll explore hidden gems, embrace the spirit of adventure, and unlock the stories of each coin— making this thrilling experience an unforgettable ode to the spirit of the open road.

The Coin Cruise Album artwork was designed by a local Amarillo artist, Gabrielle Bivins of Fresh Press Designs, to look like a classic vinyl record. It includes, actually, a genuine vinyl record with coin slots punched into it. Collectors can place the nine unique coins into its corresponding slot as they obtain them. Along with the record, the package includes QR codes for self-guided tours, a curated playlist, festival information, and a custom map to guide visitors along Texas Route 66.

The Texas 66 Coin Cruise Album is available for purchase online ($24.99) or at any of the selected, marked album stops in the following locations:

• U-Drop Inn & Western Motel (Shamrock)

• McLean/Alanreed Museum, Devil’s Rope Museum, Cactus Inn (McLean/Alanreed)

• Cross of Our Lord Jesus Christ Ministries (Groom)

• The Big Texan (Amarillo)

• Route 66 Association/From 6th Collective (Amarillo)

• Milburn-Price Museum & Mama Jo’s Pies (Magnolia Station/Vega)

• Midpoint Cafe (Midpoint)

• Jericho Ghost Town (Jericho)

Learn more at visitamarillo.com/things-to-do/ route-66/coin-cruise-album.

Texas RouTe 66 FesTival

The Barfield, Autograph Collection

Housed in the historic Barfield Building in Downtown Amarillo, where Polk Street meets the iconic Route 66, The Barfield is the full-service boutique hotel West Texas deserves. Part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection, the historic hotel boasts 112 stylish guest rooms, an Italian Steakhouse, and hidden speakeasy.

For almost 100 years, the Barfield Building has stood witness to the ebb and flow of travelers along Route 66 as it became a true symbol of adventure, freedom and the pursuit of the American Dream. Working closely with the Texas Historical Commission, The Barfield embraced much of the building’s historic character and adorned its walls with interior design that reflects the cattle-ranching culture of the Texas Panhandle.

With a storied past and some of this community’s best-kept secrets hidden within its walls, The Barfield transformed Amarillo into a world-class destination while once again pushing the limits of progress. As the centennial year of the Historic Route 66 draws near, we encourage you to stop in at The Barfield to reminisce on the history of the pioneers that paved the way for generations of adventurers.

Texas RouTe 66 FesTival

BILL AND LINDA PRATT OPENED HIS PRIVATE CAR COLLECTION TO THE PUBLIC IN 2015.

BILL’S LOVE FOR CLASSIC CARS BEGAN WHEN WORKING ON THIS 1931 FORD MODEL A VICTORIA AT THE AGE OF 14. IT WAS HIS FIRST HIGH SCHOOL CAR.

THE FRONT SHOWROOM FEATURES OLDER MODEL VEHICLES LIKE A 1928 “PADDY WAGON,” CARS FROM THROUGHOUT THE 1930S, AND EVEN A FULLY-RESTORED 1945 WILLYS U.S. ARMY JEEP COMPLETE WITH MACHINE GUN!

BILL’S SCCA FORMULA ATLANTIC RACE CAR IS ON DISPLAY WITH A VIDEO FROM HIS VERY SUCCESSFUL RACING DAYS.

AN ORIGINAL LATE 1940S WURLITZER

JUKE BOX SPINS

OLD-TIME ROCK ’N ROLL AGAINST THE BACKDROP OF THE EXPANSIVE PRATT MEMORIAL MURAL.

Bill’s Backyard Classics

Inventor Bill Pratt is known as “The Thomas Edison of the Beef Industry” for his transformative computerized and machinery management systems for which he was awarded 88 U.S. and foreign patents. His name ranks among the great Trailblazers of the West. And he had a passion for classic cars.

Bill’s love for classic cars began as a boy of 14 in Pawhuska, Oklahoma, when he bought his first car, an old, beat-up 1931 Ford Model A Victoria. He worked on it for two years in his backyard, making it his first high school car. When he sold his company Micro Beef Technologies in 2011, Bill began collecting cars. But not just any old cars. He found cars with a connection to his and his wife Linda’s lives—a 1931 Ford Model A Victoria of his youth; a black ’57 Chevy, like the one he was driving when he first saw his future wife, Linda, crossing the street with a bag of groceries; a white ’61 Pontiac like he had when they first married (complete with their ironing board between the seats); and Linda’s first car, a maroon ’67 Chevy. Bill enjoyed surprising Linda with these cars from their shared past. Then, Bill began collecting “pairs” of vehicles, meaning a stock version of a car paired with a street rod version. At 178 cars, Linda finally took the checkbook away from him! Undeterred, he slipped one last purchase under her nose for a total of 179. They opened his collection to the public in 2015.

THE SECOND SHOWROOM FEATURES MORE “MODERN” CARS MOSTLY FROM THE 1940S TO THE 1970S.

Today, the museum features more than 100 autos from all over North America in two showrooms. The bulk of the collection centers on cars from the heyday of Route 66, dating from the 1930s to the 1970s. Visitors come into Bill’s “backyard,” surrounded by residential yard fencing decorated with smiley faces reminiscent of the backyard where he got his first car running as a teenager. Classic rock ‘n’ roll plays from a 1949 Wurlitzer jukebox. Bill wished for generations of visitors’ families to share happy memories evoked by the cars and their eras.

Route 66 is vital to the success of the museum, starting with Bill’s memories traveling it from Oklahoma to California as a boy in the 1940s and ’50s, to the interests of museum visitors today. Eighty-seven percent of the museum’s traffic comes from outof-towners “doing Route 66,” with 12 percent coming from other countries across six continents. The museum gives travelers a unique kind of Texas experience. It’s becoming known as “The Real Cadillac Ranch” and “the best-kept secret in Amarillo.”

Amarillo is a great place not only for a Route 66-oriented classic car museum, but also a great place to live and work. Good people and their kindness and work ethic are at the heart of it. Bill always said, “There’s something in the environment here that makes people want to work.” It’s Texas, family, roots, the beauty of the plains and canyons, and the people. “It’s the people that make the difference.”

Craft Beer in the Heart of the Route 66 Historic District

Locally brewed craft beer has built a big following in Amarillo, and now a new business is bringing it to one of the city’s most popular destinations: Historic Route 66 along Sixth Avenue. The Old Tascosa Brewing Company is named for Tascosa, Texas—one of the oldest settlements in the Texas Panhandle and a ghost town on the property of Cal Farley’s Boys Ranch near the Canadian River.

“The Old Tascosa name is steeped in local history and we aim to carry on the West Texas spirit with it,” says Matt Welch, company president and brew master. “We have a back-to-basics mentality. We focus on non-gimmicky, professionally made lagers and ales for our flagship brand that have a wide appeal for both the adventurous craft beer enthusiast and the Bud-in-the-bottle stalwart. We’re for everyone.”

Welch co-owns the brewery and taproom with Larry Mobley, who serves as head brewer. The two have years of experience in the industry, having worked together at a local microbrewery. They have been developing their own brewing techniques and styles of beer for several years. Welch’s career, however, hasn’t always been “micro” in scope. After serving in the United States Air Force, he worked as a brewing supervisor at Anheuser-Busch InBev, which owns global brands including Budweiser, Corona and Stella Artois. “My first batch of beer was actually in a thousand-barrel brewhouse, so that’s a bit of an opposite track from what most crafters take,” Welch says. “I learned the ins and outs of brewing from some of the best brew masters in the industry. We’re fortunate to have that experience and we’re proud to bring that expertise to our own facility.”

The brewery is already earning raves for its beers, from hoppy IPAs to a delicious honey blonde, served in a laid-back, family-friendly atmosphere where, Welch says, “everyone feels welcome and at home.” Live music is common here during the evenings, and food trucks frequently park outside the premises to complete the experience.

Apart from the beer itself, Welch adds that the brewery’s Route 66 location will always be one of its major draws. “Some might say Amarillo’s in the middle of nowhere, but really, we’re in the middle of everywhere. We’re situated right along I-40. Millions of people travel to our area, many of them along Route 66, looking for local craft beer to try,” he says. “Amarillo is growing fast, which is why we are so excited to have opened our doors on historic Sixth Street.”

Tascosa is a name attached to Amarillo history, and this Route 66 brewery intends to provide hospitality and products that do justice to that western mindset and culture. “We want to be the beer that’s synonymous with this area,” Welch says, “the one that everyone reaches for and orders, almost by instinct.”

Old Tascosa Brewing Company

MATT WELCH, PRESIDENT AND BREW MASTER LARRY MOBLEY, CO-OWNER AND HEAD BREWER

The Echoes of Myer’s Drumstick

In the heart of Amarillo, where the sun paints the sky in warm hues, there stood an old fried chicken restaurant—a relic of a bygone era. Myer’s Drumstick, its name whispered through the winds of time, held a special place in local history.

From 1948 to 1968, it graced the iconic Route 66, a ribbon of asphalt that wove dreams across the American landscape.

During the heyday of Route 66, Myer’s Drumstick defied the clock. Its neon sign flickered tirelessly, beckoning weary travelers day and night. The aroma of crispy chicken wafted through the air, a siren call to those journeying along this historic roadway. The doors swung open, revealing a haven for wanderers—a place where hunger met nostalgia, and stories unfolded over shared meals.

In fall 2019, a new chapter began. Myer’s Drumstick transformed into the Texas Route 66 Visitor Center. The old building, weathered by time, embraced its new purpose. Visitors stepped inside, their footsteps echoing memories. The walls whispered tales of cross-country adventures, of families huddled around tables, and of the model train that circled the perimeter—an enchanting diversion for hungry patrons. Myer’s Drumstick may no longer sizzle in hot oil, but its legacy endures. It lives on as part of Amarillo’s rich tapestry—a testament to resilience and community. The gallery walls now showcase Route 66 creations—local artists breathing life into forgotten stories. Some items were donated, others inherited—a bridge connecting generations. Family members, honoring their departed loved ones, find solace in sharing memorabilia that once adorned their walls.

Today, the Texas Route 66 Visitor Center welcomes travelers from distant lands. They arrive, passports in hand, drawn by the allure of The Mother Road and the promise of adventure. Eighty percent of those who step through the door are wanderers seeking a piece of history. They hail from countries across the globe, their accents blending with the echoes of Route 66.

And so, as the sun sets over the vast Texas plains, the future unfolds. The Texas Route 66 Visitor Center prepares to expand, its backyard stretching toward horizons unknown, and the sounds of celebrating the 100th anniversary of Route 66 are in the air. The spirit of Myer’s Drumstick lives on—a beacon for those who seek not just a destination, but a journey etched in memory.

May your road be ever winding, and your stories forever told.

QElevated S�m� Cock�i�

uietly, the family fun facility immediately south of Cinemark Amarillo Hollywood 16 is being transformed.

Once known as Sports World Family Fun Center—home to 18 holes of mini-golf, batting cages and go-kart tracks—the 5-acre facility was taken over by Halee and Jonathan DeSimone in 2022. The couple operated it as Sports World for two seasons before launching the property under a new brand: Mesa.

The Park at Mesa includes the same family attractions. A new restaurant, Mesa Bar & Grill, serves burgers and street food favorites in an intimate space that seats 90. “Everything has a Spanish- or Mexican-inspired flair,” Halee says.

Another atmosphere awaits in the basement: Mesa Underground, where guests can enjoy games and craft cocktails in a lively lounge with pop-art-style murals, mid century-inspired furniture, traditional table games and retro gaming consoles. (Super Mario World on the original Super Nintendo Entertainment System is a local favorite.)

“In every space you go into, there’s a different cocktail experience. In our resort-style concept, this is the adults area you’d experience in a resort,” Halee says of Mesa Underground.

property’s interior and exterior.)

“You can come during the day, have lunch, do go-kart and minigolf, and then Mom and Dad can get a sitter and come back and go down to the Underground,” she says.

With few bars or lounges serving southwest Amarillo, Mesa is hoping to become a destination for young couples and families in this part of town. Regardless of location, bars in the Texas Panhandle tend to operate on more of a beer-and-margaritas mindset, so Mesa intends to carve out a craft cocktail niche. “We want to give Amarillo the opportunity to experience craft cocktails, but without leaving anybody out—you can also come get a Dos Equis or [Michelob] Ultra on a date night,” she adds. Beers from local brewery Pondaseta are also available on tap.

The overall concept, Halee says, is meant to evoke a locally accessible getaway. “Think about when you go on vacation.

If you go to an all-inclusive type resort, this is something we’re building onto. We want to help people catch the vision of having different spaces that serve the family, and offer all that activity and fun but without the overnight stay.”

That means family-friendly activities outside, cocktails and small bites at the bar and grill, and a downstairs getaway. (The DeSimones are still very early in a strategic five-year plan that will add multiple new elements to the

Mesa’s beverage director, Michael Hoy, is a familiar face to locals. He once worked at the late, great Royal Bar in the Wolflin Square location of Palace Coffee. At Mesa, Hoy continues to embrace his passion for hospitality and creative concoctions.

“There is nothing I love more in the world than somebody taking a sip of a drink and tasting something unexpected and familiar at the same time,” he says. “The force that drives our cocktail program comes from the want to serve, with the need to create.”

He admits that not every cocktail on Mesa’s menus will be beloved by every guest, “but every single person has their cocktail on our menu.” Regardless, the customers come first. “The people are the most important ingredient in the experience,” he says.

With the late spring and early summer patio season in full bloom, we asked Hoy and the Mesa team to suggest summer cocktails for readers to mix at home. (Or, at least, to try at Mesa.) These aren’t simple Chilton cocktails or gin-and-tonics, but refreshing, elevated, resort-style drinks that turn a warm, relaxing moment into a vacation-style experience.

HALEE AND JONATHAN DESIMONE

See No Evil, Hear No Evil, Speak No Evil

“Resort-style” in every way—right down to the large-format tiki-style container—this lavish cocktail is centered around what Hoy describes as “the mystification of the South Pacific” dating back to the 1930s and 1940s: “The tiki movement is a traditional and pivotal point for the American cocktail movement.” Don’t attempt this one solo (It’s meant to serve 3 to 4). “There’s a lot of alcohol in this,” he says.

4 ounces lime juice

4 ounces pineapple juice

1 ounce passion fruit puree

3 ounces cinnamon syrup

1 ounce Luxardo Maraschino Originale liqueur

4 ounces Appleton Estate Jamaican Rum

2 ounces Flor de Cana 7

2 ounces Flor de Cana White

6 dashes Angostura bitters

PHOTOS

A’Peelin’

Incredibly, this rum-based drink offers hints of banana bread. Hoy describes it as his take on a classic cocktail called the Hotel Nacional, made popular at a hotel by the same name in Cuba.

Fresh pineapple and a house-made Jamaican Jerk syrup contribute to the fruit-forward notes.

½ ounce lime juice

¼ ounce Giffard apricot liqueur

½ ounce house-made Jamaican jerk syrup

1 ounce pineapple juice

1 ½ ounces Plantation (Planteray) pineapple rum

MICHAEL HOY

Rye Chai Mai Tai

This version of the classic mai tai replaces blended rum with chai tea-infused rye, giving it a unique chai tea flavoring. A cashew orgeat replaces the traditional almond orgeat. “This is a tropical classic with some updated love,” says Hoy.

¾ ounce lime juice

1 ounce Giffard Blue Curaçao liqueur

¾ ounce cashew orgeat

2 ounces chai tea-infused Rittenhouse Rye Mint sprig for garnish

Nai-Tai (mocktail)

This drink offers a similar taste to the rye chai mai tai but without the bite of alcohol. Hoy suggests the non-alcoholic spirit Seedlip Spice 94 “to bolster the suggestion of alcohol.”

½ ounce lime juice

1 ounce orange juice

1 ounce cashew orgeat

½ ounce non-alcoholic Blue Curaçao

2 ounces Seedlip Spice 94

Blood orange wheel for garnish

W Grill Power SIZZLING OPTIONS BEYOND BEEF

hen you fire up a grill in the Texas Panhandle, it’s not unlikely that some sort of beef is on the menu. Here in the Beef Capital of the World, no one would dare criticize the choice of steak or hamburger sizzling on a summer evening on a backyard cooker.

But some of the most mouth-watering dishes you can prepare on the grill don’t involve steak at all, and we’re always fans of culinary expansion. From the smoky sweetness of fruit to the satisfaction of seafood, outdoor grilling adds texture and flavor that make dishes come alive in surprising ways.

We spoke to Brick & Elm food contributor Ruthie Martinez, a personal chef and the caterer behind Black Fig Food, who shared her beyond-beef grilling tips. “It’s a summer staple,” she says of firing up the grill. (She prefers charcoal to gas.) The smoke, she says, adds an element “you can’t replicate using an oven,” and she loves that grilling forces individuals to abandon a passive approach to cooking.

“Get outside and connect with the food in any way possible,” she says.

PAY ATTENTION. First things first: Never turn your back on an outdoor grill. “Don’t walk away from it,” she says. It’s not just a fire-prevention issue. Maintaining temperature, monitoring char and actively managing the grill ensures food will cook evenly, especially since different parts of the grill surface may have different temperatures.

GIVE VEGGIES A TRY. Brush portobello mushroom caps with olive oil and grill them 8 to 10 minutes a side. Cut peppers in half, lengthwise, brush with olive oil and grill skin-side down for 6 to 8 minutes, with 3 to 4 minutes on the other side.

Grilling can transform corn-on-the-cob from a side dish into a highlight. Pull down the corn husks, remove the silk, and then tie the husks back. Soak the cobs in water for 15 minutes and then grill at 350 degrees for 18 minutes, turning frequently.

EMBRACE KABOBS. Ruthie prepared chicken thighs for us, topped with a zingy lemon gremolata (top photo at right). “For a picnic or backyard party, it’s easier to use a skewer,” she says. It turns a traditional plated meal into more of an hors d’oeuvre. She prefers the juiciness of chicken thighs on the grill.

And almost any cut vegetable works well on a skewer. “Toss your favorite cut veggies with marinade, olive oil, salt and pepper,” Ruthie says. “Grill each for 5 to 8 minutes, turning frequently.”

GET CRUSTY. Grilled pizza is amazing, she says, and an ideal way to get a perfectly crispy crust. “A lot of people tend to cook their grilled pizzas on the grates, but I like to cook mine on a baking sheet,” she says. “I put cornmeal on the bottom so it gets that crusty bottom—it doesn’t burn but it’s still crispy.”

Watch the temps, too. “You want to get it at least up to 500 or 525 degrees,” she adds. And if you want to cook on the grates rather than a pizza stone or baking sheet, move the pizza off the direct flames to avoid burning.

Don’t be afraid to experiment with ingredients, like the dates and grapes on the pizza Ruthie grilled for us.

GO FISHING. Grilled seafood is also delightful. Ruthie prepared a cedar plank salmon accompanied by grilled Brussels sprouts and radishes, and topped with a zesty guava barbecue sauce (bottom photo at right). The plank infuses a smoky, woody flavor while providing even heat distribution and helping to retain moisture. Plus, there’s no need to flip it and watch the fish flake apart.

“Soak your wood first for about 30 minutes before you put your salmon on. You want to cook it at 325 [degrees],” she says. “Don’t go above that or your wood will catch fire.” With salmon, aim for an internal temperature of 145 degrees. The resulting flavor is beautifully smoky.

BONUS CONTENT:

Find the “Kitch” tab at brickandelm.com for bonus summer food content from Ruthie, including her recipes for homemade dressings and marinades, a vegetable grilling guide and how to make a homemade veggie burger.

RUTHIE MARTINEZ

Arugula and Basil Pesto

1 cup fresh basil

3 cups fresh arugula

⅓ cup pine nuts

2 cloves fresh garlic

½ cup nutritional yeast or 3 tablespoons Parmesan cheese, shredded

¼ cup olive oil

2 tablespoons lemon juice

Freshly cracked pepper to taste

1 teaspoon salt

For No-Oil Pesto

Swap the olive oil for ¼ to ⅓ cup aquafaba (liquid from canned chickpeas)

Heat a small pan over medium heat. Lightly roast pine nuts in the pan to help release their natural oil. Set aside to cool for 1 to 2 minutes. Place arugula, basil and pine nuts in a food processor and blend to combine. Add Parmesan, garlic, lemon juice and black pepper to processor. Blend again. Open the top of processor and slowly add oil or aquafaba with processor running. Blend until slightly smooth. Smear on homemade pizza dough or toss with pasta or roasted vegetables. Or store in an air-tight container for up to 5 days in the refrigerator or 6 months in the freezer.

RUTHIE ROLLS OUT PIZZA DOUGH USING A DECIDEDLY UNFANCY FAMILY HEIRLOOM: “THE ROLLING PIN I USE IS A SAWED-OFF PIPE,” SHE LAUGHS. SHE ACTUALLY PREFERS IT TO A TRADITIONAL WOODEN ROLLING PIN. “IT’S BEEN IN MY FAMILY FOR A COUPLE GENERATIONS. MY MOM WOULD USE IT TO MAKE HOMEMADE TORTILLAS.”

2 ¼ teaspoons active dry yeast

½ cup warm water

4 cups bread flour

2 teaspoons kosher salt

1 cup cold water

Pizza Dough

¼ cup olive oil

Add yeast, warm water and ½ cup bread flour to the bowl of stand mixer; set remaining 3 ½ cups of flour aside. Mix well with a small whisk and let sit for 30 minutes until bubbly.

Whisk together remaining 3 ½ cups bread flour and salt in separate bowl. Once the yeast mixture looks foamy, add 1 cup cold water and olive oil. Using a dough hook, turn the mixer on and add flour in increments. Mix dough for

about 5 minutes, until it starts creeping up the dough hook and comes away from the sides of the bowl. If the dough feels too sticky, sprinkle a bit more flour onto the counter, add the dough, and knead until you can shape into a ball.

Place dough in a large bowl lightly greased with olive oil. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap. Let it rise until doubled in size, about 2 hours. Punch the dough down, and let it rise another hour. Divide dough into 4 equal disks. Lightly flour a work surface. Using your fingers or heels of your hands (and a rolling pin, if you prefer) stretch the disks out to a 10-inch round. Repeat with the remaining 3 pizza dough disks.

Makes 4 medium pizzas

ELEVATE AMARILLO MEMBERSHIP SPOTLIGHT

MEET SKYLAR GALLOP!

Actually, you probably have met Skylar, as she’s the President of Elevate Amarillo and loves serving her community. You’ve likely seen her at a variety of events, working to increase voter engagement and education surrounding the critical issues facing Texas public schools in her role as Regional Advocacy Director at Raise Your Hand Texas. We’re proud of her recent honor as a 2023 Citizens on the Move. Keep moving forward, Skylar. We appreciate your passion for the city and its children!

MEET BRICE HICKS!

After a challenging career in farming and ranching, Brice decided to go back to school, graduating from WTAMU with a degree in business in 2020. Afterwards, he stumbled into his mortgage career as a Loan Processor with Happy State Bank at the height of the COVID pandemic. That challenge was a great learning opportunity, which ultimately led to a promotion to Mortgage Loan Officer at Happy. This is truly a career Brice loves! Serving people is always his focus, whether it’s first-time home buyers, or someone looking to build their dream home. Congratulations, Brice, on being named a Top 10 Mortgage Loan Officer at Happy State Bank for three months in a row!

KNOWLEDGE. CONNECTIONS. OPPORTUNITIES.

Elevate Amarillo is an organization of emerging leaders rooted in Amarillo and rooting for Amarillo. Our community of young professionals, ages 20 to 40, are the future leaders of Amarillo. We enjoy unique experiences, grow professionally and personally, and make a difference in the community. Our members are involved in a wide variety of Amarillo’s business, civic and service endeavors. For more information or to join, visit elevateamarillo.org .

LEADING WOMEN

From company boardrooms to the corridors of academia and health care institutions, local women are redefining leadership in Amarillo. (Our magazine itself is woman-owned.) The stories of these leaders are as diverse as their backgrounds, yet they share a common thread: a relentless drive to uplift the people around them while challenging the status quo. In this special section, we celebrate their achievements and explore how their leadership is impacting this area.

Angeline Hernandez Banking Officer/Manager of Merchant Processing Amarillo National Bank

What lessons and experiences can you share as a leader? As a leader, I have learned to stay humble, open-minded and to always find ways to encourage and support my team.

Is there a key moment that helped you become a leader? A lot of little moments added up, and I reached a point when I knew I wanted more for my daughters and myself. I specifically remember a conversation with one of my supervisors and leaving that conversation with a sense of encouragement and support that gave me the self-realization that I knew I was capable of more. There are so many women in leadership roles at Amarillo National Bank. I’m grateful for an employer that believes in me and provides opportunities for me to thrive.

How have you built self-confidence? Being a mother to the two most amazing girls has taught me so much about myself. I want to be the best role model for them and show them that they are capable of anything!

What’s the biggest risk you’ve ever taken? When the opportunity presented itself, I took a risk and asked for a chance to prove myself.

What advice have you been given by other inspiring leaders? “Be nice and don’t steal!” (That’s a phrase you’ll hear all the time at ANB.) Also, be kind, always go the extra mile and be open to constructive criticism.

What important leadership styles do women bring? Women think outside the box. Women have bright minds and bring spunk, vitality and passion to the workplace.

What leadership opportunities for women do you see in Amarillo? I have been introduced to various organizations that, as employees of ANB, we are encouraged to participate in. For example, Women’s Business Association, Leadership Amarillo & Canyon, and boards and committees for various local charities.

What advice would you give aspiring leaders? First off, stay faithful with God. It’s why I am here today. And, make yourself comfortable with being uncomfortable because that is where growth happens. Anyone wanting to inspire others as a leader needs to be humble, kind and always willing to show grace—to yourself and to others.

Christa Gutierrez Vice President –People Development Amarillo National Bank

What lessons and experiences can you share as a leader?

Learn as much as you can from others. Everyone has a unique perspective, so there is always knowledge to gain. Approach each interaction with eagerness to learn from those around you.

Is there a key moment that helped you become a leader?

When I shifted my focus away from my own success and began concentrating on others, I found great fulfillment in helping others grow. When you share in the excitement of another’s achievements, you always have a reason to celebrate!

How have you built self-confidence? My confidence has grown by embracing how much I don’t know. For every question that I don’t have an answer, there’s an opportunity to engage with someone who does. This allows me to grow my own knowledge and build relationships.

What’s the biggest risk you’ve ever taken? I left a career I loved and transitioned into a role in which I had no idea what it fully entailed, but I have loved all the possibilities it brought. The leap of faith paid off. I have found what I consider to be my calling, more than my career. (But it was scary!)

What advice have you been given by other inspiring leaders?

Always encourage the growth and development of your team. When you invest in the achievements of others, you’ll find more personal growth than you can imagine. The best leaders are the ones that continuously empower those around them.

What important leadership styles do women bring? Most women are naturally empathetic and desire to build lasting relationships. In a leadership role, it allows us to empower others, encourage them to reach their potential, and then share in the joy of their success.

What leadership opportunities for women do you see in Amarillo? Leadership opportunities are around us every day. If you take the time to fully engage with others, you will find each interaction has the potential for impact.

What advice would you give aspiring leaders? Never stop learning. Pour into others by sharing your knowledge and experience. Find ways to help someone every day; even small acts of kindness can make a difference.

LEADING WOMEN

(L-R): BEVERLY BUTLER, NEW TITLE CLERK; CASSIE OWENS, OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR; JENNIFER ENRIQUEZ, OFFICE CLERK; BRITTANY MILLIGAN, HR MANAGER; CARMEN RUIZ, INVENTORY CLERK; SINDY ORTIZ, CONTROLLER

Street Volkswagen of Amarillo

What lessons and experiences can you share? One of life’s most valuable lessons we have all had to learn is how to be humble. We know we have all made mistakes, but instead of letting those mistakes define us in our careers or personal lives, we did our best to correct what we could and learn as we progressed.

Is there a key moment that helped you become leaders? Leadership isn’t just about taking on a role of authority. We learn leadership from roles throughout life, such as being a mother, daughter or sibling. And even roles as students and volunteers have taught us key tools that we can bring into leadership positions— always having an eagerness to learn and grow with our community, and bringing empathy, patience and understanding into difficult situations we may face.

How have you built self-confidence? Building self-confidence is a battle everyone has fought. Even if some of us seem to radiate self-confidence naturally with our unbreakable personalities, it is an ability we have had to learn through trials. For some of us, it was finding a safe space where we could truly be ourselves, and growing in that space until we were ready to face the world. Others had the support of family and friends that allowed them to speak their minds freely and learn never to censor who they were on the inside or out.

What’s the biggest risk you’ve ever taken? We each took risks by accepting our positions at Street Volkswagen. Everyone in this office began as a receptionist and, through the years, made the choice to take on a larger role in the company. Knowing that we might be asked to take on responsibilities we didn’t feel qualified for, we decided to take the risk to better ourselves and learn what we could for the good of the company. It might not be the biggest risk we have ever taken, but it is a shared risk that we all faced.

What advice have you been given by other inspiring leaders? Be accountable. It’s OK to make mistakes—in fact, it’s the best way to learn—but don’t be afraid to own up to them.

What important leadership styles do women bring? Most women have a servant’s heart and bring that into their leadership roles. Women are never strangers to sacrifice and tend to prioritize serving the greater good over their own agenda.

What leadership opportunities for women do you see in Amarillo? There is no shortage of opportunities for women to lead in Amarillo. We see it daily in our community and companies we do business with, from news anchors to charity organizers who help us as we help them, to department heads of our lenders and those who lead councils for advertising and chamber events. And women also play a leadership role in our local government and education system.

What advice would you give aspiring leaders? Never stop evolving. There is always something new to learn, so be open to new possibilities in life and in business.

Erica Allen Controller Street Toyota

What lessons and experiences can you share as a leader? Being a leader is an active choice you have to make every day, and it’s not always easy. Every decision you make has the potential to impact others. So it is important that your actions set a good example, spread positivity and help uplift others.

Is there a key moment that helped you become a leader? A series of combined moments helped me become the leader I am today. I have worked in several team environments throughout my career. In challenging times for my teammates, I have strived to step up and help out in any way possible. Team environments have also allowed me to learn from other great leaders and implement what I have learned into my daily practices.

How have you built self-confidence? I have grown self-confidence by forming a strong foundation of knowledge and skills that I can fall back on. I do this through asking questions and doing independent research to ensure I make confident and educated decisions when it comes to the workplace and what is best for my team.

What’s the biggest risk you’ve ever taken? Switching career paths from auditing to taking on my current controller position, while simultaneously moving from Dallas to Amarillo. I entered a new field while moving away from my hometown.

What advice have you been given by other inspiring leaders? Be bold and push yourself out of your comfort zone to continue to grow as a person and as a leader. You will never stop growing if you continue to challenge yourself.

What important leadership styles do women bring? Women leaders bring authentic empathy and compassion to the table, which helps us grow strong bonds and relationships with our teams. By putting ourselves in others’ shoes, we are able to relate to our team members and help them thrive.

What leadership opportunities for women do you see in Amarillo? Working in a largely male-dominated industry, I see endless opportunities for women to break through and provide value and a unique perspective, not only in the auto industry, but also in many other local male-dominated industries like agriculture, manufacturing or financial services.

What advice would you give aspiring leaders? You can be a leader regardless of the position you hold at work, as well as in any area of your life. Leadership is more than just being the boss. You can be a leader for your coworkers, friends and family members every day.

Cayla Maestas Senior Vice President, Controller FirstBank Southwest

What lessons and experiences can you share as a leader?

It is crucial to build trust within your team. I tell my team that I will never ask them to do something that I haven’t done myself (or wouldn’t be comfortable doing myself). I encourage open communication and let my team know I value their ideas and feedback. Open communication helps build trust and respect.

Is there a key moment that helped you become a leader?

I don’t believe it was a key moment. Every decision I’ve made throughout my career helped lead me to where I am today. I’ve learned important lessons with each step I’ve taken, and all of them have prepared me to lead others.

How have you built self-confidence? I have been fortunate to have worked with great leaders who believed in me and taught me that it is okay to not always know the answer. Once I learned that, it helped build my self-confidence.

What’s the biggest risk you’ve ever taken? Moving back to my hometown of Spearman is the biggest risk I’ve ever taken. That decision eventually led to me becoming the Controller at FirstBank Southwest.

What advice have you been given by other inspiring leaders? Always be yourself and trust your gut. If something doesn’t feel right, don’t be afraid to say something.

What important leadership styles do women bring?

Women bring empathy and emotional intelligence to leadership roles. It is important to be able to understand and manage emotions effectively, as well as to be able to empathize with others.

What leadership opportunities for women do you see in Amarillo? Amarillo, and the Panhandle in general, has many areas where women have proven their ability to lead.

FBSW is just one of many organizations that has strong female leadership.

What advice would you give aspiring leaders? Believe in yourself, but don’t be afraid to ask questions. There is always an opportunity to broaden your knowledge.

Cheryl Jones Vice President Human Resources Amarillo College

What lessons and experiences can you share as a leader? Only a few people know from a young age exactly what their career aspirations and objectives are and where they will end up. Most of us have a career path that is curvy, bumpy, and leads us to places we never imagined. My younger self would never have imagined I would have the leadership positions I’ve held for the past 20 years. The lesson for me is to always work hard so you are the candidate someone thinks of when they have an opportunity available. And pay attention so you don’t miss opportunities when they show up!

Is there a key moment that helped you become a leader? The moment that my director, Dr. Iris Hicks, recognized my value as an individual contributor and my leadership potential, and hired me for a management position in Human Resources at BSA Health System.

How have you built self-confidence? Building and maintaining selfconfidence is a lifelong pursuit. I surround myself with learning and networking opportunities with other professionals. I seek feedback. I press myself to do hard things, make mistakes, and improve. I often have to consciously shut down the voice inside my head that loves negative talk.

What’s the biggest risk you’ve ever taken? After 17 years growing my career in the health care industry, I took a job in higher education.

What advice have you been given by other inspiring leaders? As you progress up the ladder to higher levels of leadership, make room for “thinking time,” where you can learn, plan and develop ideas to lead your team to greater levels. Don’t be afraid to surround yourself with a team of people who are smarter than you; you don’t have to be the smartest person in the room. You don’t need to know how to do the jobs of every person on your team better than they do.

What important leadership styles do women bring? All women are different and bring many different values. A few that resonate with me are: openness to others’ ideas, willingness to give credit and recognition where they are due, and the natural ability to listen, empathize and nurture relationships.

What leadership opportunities for women do you see in Amarillo? There are many great organizations and companies in Amarillo, with plenty of opportunities for high-level leadership roles to be filled by women who have worked hard to be ready for opportunities when they appear. I see Amarillo as a good place for women entrepreneurs to launch their ideas, build their own companies, and have a positive impact on the community.

What advice would you give aspiring leaders? Work hard. Surround yourself with positive people who want to see you succeed and will challenge you. Work hard. Continue your education, whatever that looks like for you. Work hard. Once you get a leadership position, you’ll be a better leader having had the experience of working hard, being encouraged and developed by others, and increasing your knowledge and skills.

806.371.5000

Amanda Castillo, RNC, IBCLC Breastfriends

What lessons and experiences can you share as a leader?

Nursing has been a big part of my journey. I’ve seen the impact of nursing as a young mother on bedrest in the hospital and then as a mother/baby nurse since 2012. Those experiences led me to this role and the idea behind my company. Not all nurses own businesses, but all nurses can be leaders. Everyday nursing promotes educating others, helping in times of crisis, putting others’ needs above your own and responding quickly to changing environments. This is leadership at its essence.

Is there a key moment that helped you become a leader?

I don’t always feel like I am a leader. I just felt driven by what God has spoken in my heart—to help each mother meet their personal feeding goals and for them to feel seen, supported and confident. The desire to empower others helped me along this path.

How have you built self-confidence? My confidence comes from trusting in God’s plans for me and my future, knowing His will is best. When I leave a new mother feeling confident in her lactation choices and knowledge, I feel I am making a difference.

What’s the biggest risk you’ve ever taken? Trusting in God and myself enough to jump in to start Breastfriends, my lactation therapy business, from the ground up.

What advice have you been given by other inspiring leaders?

I have the pleasure of working with doctors who have launched similar business ventures. They have shared what no one teaches you in medical school: How to run a business. Expect to fail, but failing doesn’t mean this is not your calling. You cannot grow and learn without failure. And I’m always inspired by the mothers I serve. I’ve been there. Every mom is a leader in her own way.

What important leadership styles do women bring? In my opinion, leadership is not based on gender types. All leaders should bring compassion, factual education, flexibility and kindness. Generosity guides us to serve others well.

What leadership opportunities for women do you see in Amarillo? I think the opportunity for women in business is limitless. Amarillo feels like a small town, but with the population, revenue, resources and opportunities of a larger city.

What advice would you give aspiring leaders? Pray about it. We all have been given special gifts and skills that can be used to benefit others and bring glory to God. Sometimes we just have to stop and listen to what His plans are and trust Him along the way.

2300 N. WESTERN ST. | 806.491.1401

Jennifer Ufford Senior Vice President of Member Experience Education Credit Union

What lessons and experiences can you share as a leader? There’s more than one way to get to the end result; let others take their own paths. Allowing people to bring their own thoughts and ideas to the process allows them to grow in ways they wouldn’t otherwise be able to.

Is there a key moment that helped you become a leader? I don’t think there has been just a single moment for me. It has been an accumulation of being surrounded by so many influential leaders in my life and the impacts they have made on me.

How have you built self-confidence? Time and experience, both personally and professionally. Failing has also been a big part of my journey; the leaders that have allowed me to fail and then helped build me back up have added such depth to me and my path.

What’s the biggest risk you’ve ever taken? Seven years ago, I switched industries. I was in retail for 12 years and switched to the financial industry—into compliance of all things. It was a culture and knowledge shock that challenged me to my core. I am so thankful God led me to ECU. I have so much gratitude for my journey and what it has taught me along the way.

What advice have you been given by other inspiring leaders? Don’t avoid hard conversations. There is so much good that comes from honest and direct communication.

What important leadership styles do women bring? Women bring a level of thoughtfulness to the workplace that isn’t as strongly present without us. It’s our human nature, and balanced with a business mindset, can bring fruit to the teams and peers who surround us.

What leadership opportunities for women do you see in Amarillo? There are many more networking opportunities available today versus several years ago. It allows us to come together to support and encourage one another. I encourage women to take the opportunity to attend some of these events, put themselves out there, and meet new people.

What advice would you give aspiring leaders? Always be inquisitive. Ask questions. So many are afraid to ask, fearing it may make them look less competent in some way. If nothing else, you get the clarity you need to be fully present in conversations, but it could also stir other necessary discussions that wouldn’t have happened without your inquisitive mind. And never forget: You earned your seat at that table.

Brenna Smiley Designer/Owner CoCo Curtain Studio and Interiors

What lessons and experiences can you share as a leader?

Leading is important, but it isn’t about being important. Leaders need to be a source of inspiration and strength, never above any task and able to work alongside those following them. It’s vital for leaders to communicate, to listen and to involve the group.

Is there a key moment that helped you become a leader?

There wasn’t one key moment, but a lifetime of observing and learning. When I was younger, I used to look at leadership as a grand and illustrious position. Over the past 10 or so years, I started to recognize that a good leader is someone who lives what they want to teach and serves those around them without a lot of recognition. These people lead with integrity, grace and dignity and never demand anything from anyone. People want to follow them or work for them because they respect them, see their strength and patience, and want to be a part of what they are doing. I looked up to these people and wanted to be like them.

How have you built self-confidence? By learning to measure my success by God’s standards and not by the standards set by the world.

What’s the biggest risk you’ve ever taken? Buying CoCo Interiors!

What advice have you been given by other inspiring leaders? To positively influence, positively motivate, and empower others.

What important leadership styles do women bring? The most important leadership role a woman will ever fill is to be a mother. Good mothers are given the gift to supply what their children need to grow, thrive and fly away to become leaders themselves. This gift isn’t limited to our children; it can be applied in any relationship.

What leadership opportunities for women do you see in Amarillo? Every woman has the opportunity to lead others regardless of her age, job, title or position. By living a life with honesty, strength, integrity, grit and respect, we teach and lead those around us. Look around: You will find someone who needs encouragement or a positive role model and leader. The best way to influence and help those in need is to dedicate time to them.

Whitney Dowd, DNP Owner Blumologie

What lessons and experiences can you share as a leader? That it’s OK not to know everything. I take this lesson into every aspect of my life: when I parent, talk to a friend, and even when I talk to my patients. Today’s society has a lot of unrealistic expectations. As a doctorally prepared Nurse Practitioner, I feel pressure to be perfect and immediately able to answer a patient’s questions—this should not be the expectation. I strive to be open and honest in my interactions and offer care that follows best practices, even if I need to take time to do research before giving my answer.

Is there a key moment that helped you become a leader? I cannot pinpoint a specific moment, but I have noticed that becoming more active in my community and completing a terminal degree has placed me in a position where I have more of an opportunity to lead.

How have you built self-confidence? Building self-confidence is a constant work in progress for me. Honestly, some days are better than others. Self-confidence can be tricky—finding that sweet spot of being sure of yourself without being over-confident or conceited is important, especially when working with patients in health care. The best way to build self-confidence, from this perspective, is to keep up on education and gain as much experience as possible.

What’s the biggest risk you’ve ever taken? Starting my own private practice business. Offering care as a Licensed Nurse Practitioner in a comfortable setting without the constraints of being associated with a large for-profit company has allowed me to work with my patients on a personal level and offer them options—regardless of insurance coverage. Although I have 10-plus years of experience treating patients, I have had no firsthand experience of owning/operating a business. Prior to this past year, I had no one close to use as a guide. But the regret of not taking this entrepreneurial risk would have haunted me for the rest of my life. Based on that, I thank God every day for this opportunity.

What advice have you been given by other inspiring leaders? Spend time developing yourself and figuring out what your why is, and where your passions lie.

What important leadership styles do women bring? I believe women leaders tend to be more compassionate. Women leaders offer the balance, personality and femininity that tend to be lacking in traditional leadership styles.

What leadership opportunities for women do you see in Amarillo? The world is changing—younger people are being raised to be openminded, accepting and they are far more tenacious than they know. I think this will support a new era of women leaders that our city, state and world has never before seen, women who can accomplish things that were previously unheard of.

What advice would you give aspiring leaders? Be yourself, and be genuine in your interactions.

Kimberly Griggs Owner/Senior Consultant Ignite Coaching & Consulting

What lessons and experiences can you share as a leader?

In my experience, people are often promoted to a leadership position based on successful individual contributions. But success in their field doesn’t always translate to success as a leader. Being a good leader requires letting go of ego and the need for personal accolades in exchange for learning what motivates others. Developing a strong team is about helping others get what they want—it requires empathy, openness, failure, resilience and resolve.

Is there a key moment that helped you become a leader? It was when I realized I didn’t know enough about what it meant to be a good leader. I needed to study communication and the art of connection. I needed to be more aware of myself so I could learn to see patterns in others. I had to build that muscle to become an effective leader.

How have you built self-confidence? I’ve struggled with self-confidence because of my need for security and comfort. It took losing someone significant to me and being forced to confront my fear of abandonment before I understood how to build self-confidence. I had been trapped in a negative cycle of paralyzing fear. When life pushed me toward vulnerability, I would shut people out—causing my own abandonment. I finally revealed this unhealthy pattern to others, and that’s when it lost power. People were willing to help and support me. Repeating the cycle of vulnerability, trust, and then taking small actions helped me build self-confidence. This healthier pattern allows me to take more risks, be more open, and not fear temporary discomfort.

What’s the biggest risk you’ve ever taken? Starting my consulting business. For a risk-averse person, this was a huge challenge. Ultimately, I decided I was more afraid of regret than the potential failure of trying something new. I decided the “what if” thoughts in my head didn’t have to be negative. They could be positive!

What advice have you been given by other inspiring leaders? Listen twice as much as you speak, practice what you preach, and look for the good in others. Find common ground.

What important leadership styles do women bring? Women offer perseverance, empathy and an instinct to nurture. It teaches us

fortitude: a persistent patience that develops only from accepting the fact that transformation takes time. The process requires a willingness to go deep with someone.

What leadership opportunities for women do you see in Amarillo? I see great opportunities for local women who desire to break barriers. From local politics to skilled trades, many industries are looking for skills that women naturally bring to the table. I see women’s voices bringing fresh perspectives to old ways of thinking.

What advice would you give aspiring leaders? First ask yourself Why? Why do you want to be a leader? If your answer aligns with a servant’s heart—go for it and start studying the art and science of leadership.

(L-R) JENNIFER KRUSING, CREATIVE DIRECTOR; KIMBERLY GRIGGS, OWNER; ANSLEY SIMS, ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

Tonya Lambert Owner Pescaraz Italian Restaurant

What lessons and experiences can you share as a leader?

Be prepared. Not everyone is going to share your passion and understanding or be as committed to your business as you are. It is up to a strong leader to drive employees’ focus and energy toward success.

Is there a key moment that helped you become a leader?

When we had to shut down during COVID, I was forced to fully step into my leadership role in a way I never had before. There were so many people counting on me to help them feel less afraid in a time where fear was all most people felt. My mom told me that I knew what I needed to do and I just needed to go do it. I’ll always remember her advice.

How have you built self-confidence? I have surrounded myself with other like-minded local business owners who share my dream of building a successful and lasting business. I also couldn’t do what I do without the constant support of my family.

What’s the biggest risk you’ve ever taken? Fourteen years ago, I dared to go out on my own to follow my dream and open my own restaurant. Being a female restaurateur in a predominantly male-oriented market has been the hardest thing I’ve yet tackled. But that risk has paid off, because here I am all these years later with my dream coming true every day.

What advice have you been given by other inspiring leaders? Every day is a new day! Never give up hope, and never quit. I am a strong, independent woman who has what it takes to succeed. Failure simply isn’t an option.

What important leadership styles do women bring? Women’s leadership styles are so diverse. Women tend to lead with their hearts as well as their brains. They offer compassion to those who need it most and guidance for those who are lost.

What leadership opportunities for women do you see in Amarillo? The sky’s the limit for women who will put their mind toward their goals. There’s nothing women can’t accomplish with the right support system and the drive to succeed.

What advice would you give aspiring leaders? Always follow your dreams! Never let anyone convince you that your dreams are too big or too much. Figure out what you want and don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t have it.

Sonja Clark Amarillo Site Leader Bell

What lessons and experiences can you share as a leader?

Relationships matter. Don’t underestimate the importance of building a strong network inside your organization, as well as externally. Be adaptable—the ability to flex and adjust is critical to navigating uncertainties. Change is constant and the sooner you can get through the change curve and clearly communicate to others the need for change, the sooner everyone can accomplish their objectives. Surround yourself with great people. The beauty of leading (no matter how great or small) can come from the uniqueness of the individuals participating.

Is there a key moment that helped you become a leader?

I don’t recall a specific moment. Being raised in a small town, I was involved in many organizations at an early age, so I’ve seen a variety of leadership styles and chose to emulate those that inspired me.

How have you built self-confidence? I’ve experienced both large and small growth moments over the years. I believe in playing to one’s strengths. As we identify the strengths and talents of ourselves and those on our team, we are better positioned to be successful. I have an amazing tribe of family and other women close to me who provide honest feedback, encouragement and offer support.

What’s the biggest risk you’ve ever taken? Changing industries with my career. Almost 18 years ago, I moved from health care to a manufacturing environment.

What advice have you been given by other inspiring leaders? Saying no is a really good thing. I once had a preacher remind me that saying yes to one thing meant I was saying no to something else. I only have so many hours in the day, so I try to be purposeful in how I allocate my time.

What important leadership styles do women bring?

Women leaders can have a strong sense of collaboration. I also believe they are transformative in the sense they inspire and motivate others to reach their full potential.

What leadership opportunities for women do you see in Amarillo? Professional organizations, numerous nonprofit and volunteer opportunities, business leaders, political leadership roles—by leading and participating in our community, women in Amarillo can contribute to our city, advance their career, and inspire future generations of leaders.

What advice would you give aspiring leaders? Nice matters. I have absolutely found that delivering news/messages with tact and grace makes it easier for the recipient to accept.

401 TILTROTOR DRIVE 806.341.3200 | BELLFLIGHT.COM

Danielle Skaggs Owner/Founder Three Ale Custom Homes

What lessons and experiences can you share as a leader? My leadership journey began during my career in the United States Air Force. I served from 2009 to 2016 and achieved the rank of staff sergeant. Military service offers many opportunities to lead others, but also exposes you to leadership examples to learn from and emulate.

Is there a key moment that helped you become a leader? While I was in the Air Force, I pursued an education at Amarillo College and received my degree in 2015, and then started my custom home company the same year I retired from service. This business started when I designed my own farmhouse home, but I ended up falling in love with the process. If I could realize my own dream, I could help clients realize their dreams, too. That’s so rewarding.

How have you built self-confidence? I’m the mother of three children. Abel, Luke and Edith (the “Ale” in my business name) are my inspiration and give me the confidence to pursue a big and beautiful life for them. Right now, I collaborate with more than 50 subcontractors and, at any given moment, am managing multiple job sites and all the details of a construction company. You can’t do that without self-confidence—especially in a primarily male industry. What’s the biggest risk you’ve ever taken? In 2016, I would have said it was the process of designing my own dream home. But then so many people encouraged me not to let that be the only home I ever built, so I chased what was setting my soul on fire. Starting my home construction business was my biggest risk. It has paid off.

What advice have you been given by other inspiring leaders? My time in the military taught me to always be up for a challenge. When you overcome an obstacle, you earn respect for your talent, determination and success.

What important leadership styles do women bring? In my work, I think my own personality has helped me create unique spaces and superior attention to detail, which may set me apart stylistically from other builders. Overall, I think women have a creative intuition and collaborative mindset that helps them think out of the box.

What leadership opportunities for women do you see in Amarillo? Long ago in the Panhandle, pioneer wives and mothers had to build a home in a harsh environment. That legacy has produced generations of strong, capable women—leaders whether they gave themselves that label or not—and I continue to meet hard-working local women who are building on that legacy.

What advice would you give aspiring leaders? Define your own style, lean into it, and don’t be afraid of a challenge. Look at every challenge as an opportunity to learn, innovate, and give yourself a competitive edge.

806.341.2767

Jerra Graves, PT, DPT Owner FYZICAL Therapy & Balance Centers

What lessons and experiences can you share as a leader? Lead with kindness and grace. When making decisions, think about long-term goals and not just what makes you or others happy in the present.

Is there a key moment that helped you become a leader? In college, I competed on meat judging teams, first at Clarendon College and then at Texas Tech University. I was one of four people—of all team members nationwide— who were named to the first All-American Judging Team each year. My Texas Tech team was National Champions. We also competed in Australia, where we were named International Champions. I was able to see team members focus on accomplishing a common goal for success. Judging allowed me to work with a diverse group of people and lead our team to the championship level.

How have you built self-confidence? I find confidence in Christ and know I can always lean on Him. God has blessed me with certain traits that have allowed me to grow into the person I am today. I have a strong work ethic and truly care for others. I feel good when I am helping others improve their health. I have built self-confidence as I aim to improve and do the best job I can. Over the past several years, I recognized the need for both vestibular and pelvic health therapists. I have taken hours of classes to become confident in my ability. Never stop learning and striving to do a better job.

What’s the biggest risk you’ve ever taken? Opening FYZICAL Therapy & Balance Centers has been the biggest risk I have ever taken. We opened in March, and it has been a period of personal growth and self-discovery. I feel confident in my choice and believe this personal risk is going to be a benefit to the community. Even though I have practiced physical therapy for 10 years, I saw a benefit to the paradigm that FYZICAL Therapy & Balance Centers offers and wanted to bring that to Amarillo. I am excited to see the change I can continue to make in people’s lives.

What advice have you been given by other inspiring leaders? The best leaders, who have gained my respect, are those who would never expect you to do something they wouldn’t do.

What important leadership styles do women bring? A lot of women, including myself, would be considered transformational leaders. We endeavor to create a work environment that is dynamic and open, where we are all focused on a common goal.

What advice would you give aspiring leaders? Sometimes leadership opportunities come from unexpected events. When I was in high school, I was airlifted from a car accident. Although it was a terrible experience, it opened my eyes to the world of physical therapy and the difference a physical therapist can make. After majoring in animal science at Texas Tech, I was accepted into the physical therapy program. In PT school, I worked as a lab instructor—another opportunity to build leadership skills. You can be a leader even if you aren’t in a leadership role. Lead by example and work hard, including picking up the trash and sweeping the floors. Experiences can prepare you to be the leader you are destined to be.

2207 S. WESTERN ST., SUITE 110 | 806.718.5399

Jennifer Staggs Owner Champion BBQ Supply

What lessons and experiences can you share as a leader? Your team is always watching how you behave and handle every situation. You must remain professional and make sure you are putting your client’s or customer’s needs first. You are setting an example of how you want your staff to lead their team.

Is there a key moment that helped you become a leader? I was fortunate enough to have a role model early in my career who inspired me to take on greater leadership roles within the company. I was asked to travel with her and I saw how she inspired other managers and teams with a positive attitude, and supported her team to better them and the company. She pushed me to become a better leader every day and stretch myself. She had me take on roles within the company that I felt I was not ready for, but I became a stronger leader for it.

How have you built self-confidence? I decided to take what my husband taught me in barbecue and compete in steak cookoffs myself. This was a way to build self-confidence to lead my team and educate my customers about barbecue techniques. I competed against him at the Steak Cookoff Association World Championship. Educating yourself on what you are promoting is key when leading a team. This has given me more confidence in how I present myself and promote my business.

What’s the biggest risk you’ve ever taken? Quitting my job to start my own business with my husband in a field that no one, locally, had started a business in. We loved competing in barbecue, but were not sure that a barbecue supply store would be a viable business. We did our research, got a business plan together and took a chance by building a new business.

What advice have you been given by other inspiring leaders? Listen and take advice from others who have more experience. This has been the biggest advantage throughout my journey as a leader and business owner. Don’t be afraid to ask for advice from others to help you along your journey.

What important leadership styles do women bring? Women in leadership roles have many styles, but I have seen women seek collaboration, invest in education and foster empowerment. Women have strength when it comes to reaching out and collaborating with others.

What advice would you give aspiring leaders? Make sure you are doing what inspires you and what you are passionate about. If you excel at communicating, planning, problem-solving and delegating, you will be a great leader. Leadership is a process of selfdevelopment. You will become a better leader from your experiences. Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone.

7306 SW 34TH AVE., SUITE 10 806.418.6647

Brandy Sanchez Vice President/ General Manager KAMR Local 4

What lessons and experiences can you share as a leader? Never stop learning about your organization, industry and your team members. Leadership requires a particular finesse. There’s no “right” way to navigate it, but there is absolutely a wrong way, and I believe that is to lead from the 10,000-foot level. You need to learn the details of your organization and team’s needs, growth path desires, issues and situations. Engage in the process, always!

Is there a critical moment that helped you become a leader? I do not recall a pivotal moment, but I knew exactly what I didn’t want to be. I have spent my 30 years in broadcasting observing other leaders and leadership styles. When I accepted the opportunity to lead the station in 2012, I was nervous but ready. I had put in the time and done the work throughout my different roles at the station. That’s what you do when you have a strong desire for growth and advancement.

How have you built self-confidence? I have always believed in myself and how I wanted my life to flow. However, in the changing business landscape, I evaluate my thoughts almost daily. Did I do enough? Did I say that the correct way? Am I moving in tandem with my team and their needs? Can I be more intentional and genuine? When it’s time to GO FOR IT, do I? My mother used to say, “When in doubt, leave it out.” That’s accurate, but I’ve been moving toward a new version of her advice: When in doubt, figure it out.

What’s the biggest risk you’ve ever taken? I am not generally a risktaker. I approach things differently than most people; however, I would rather operate in that manner than have the mindset of, well, this is the way it’s always been, so it needs to stay that way.

What advice have other inspiring leaders given you? My predecessor and dear friend, Mark McKay, taught me long ago, “Your gut will never steer you wrong.” His advice has been helpful along the way.

What important leadership styles do women bring? Women bring a softer side to leadership, which can mean more approachability— leading with love, appreciation and gratitude.

What leadership opportunities for women do you see in Amarillo? If you’re seeking a leadership role, no matter your gender, dive into your community and connect with other leaders and mentors.

What advice would you give aspiring leaders? So many times, the leader only looks at the big picture, but leadership is not all for one and one for all. You MUST lead with intention and be specific to each team member, their needs, work style, and expectations. Pinpoint and know precisely who you are leading.

806.383.3321

Brittani Ross Owner Sips & Giggles Mobile Bar

What lessons and experiences can you share as a leader? As both a leader and business owner, I’ve discovered that failure serves as one of the most potent teachers. In the past, I may have avoided daunting challenges, but I’ve come to realize that they often harbor the most valuable lessons. These experiences, once intimidating, have now become the cornerstone of my growth and development. Is there a key moment that helped you become a leader? Becoming a parent served as a pivotal moment in my journey toward leadership. It illuminated the need for a profound refocus, compelling me to realign my priorities. It wasn’t just about enhancing my own life anymore; it became a commitment to crafting the ideal life for my family, embodying the values and aspirations I hold dear.

How have you built self-confidence? Relocating to a town where I was unknown proved instrumental in fostering my selfassurance. It granted me the freedom to shape myself into the individual I aspired to become, free from any preconceived limitations. I owe immense gratitude to the Amarillo community for this transformative experience. It compelled me to step out of my comfort zone, forging new friendships, connections and professional relationships along the way.

What’s the biggest risk you’ve ever taken? Relocating to Amarillo and venturing into entrepreneurship, uncertain of its potential success, stands as the most significant risk I’ve ever embraced.

What advice have you been given by other inspiring leaders? The most impactful advice I’ve received may sound cliché, but it holds profound truth: Always remain authentic to yourself and your roots. I’ve learned that success isn’t solely about the product or service you provide, but rather about the genuine connection forged between people.

What important leadership styles do women bring? Women contribute a multitude of leadership styles, but one that particularly stands out to me is their meticulous attention to detail. They recognize the significance of even the minutest aspects, understanding that every detail holds weight. This emphasis on detail is a quality we highly value in leadership, which is why we actively seek to hire women who embody and appreciate this trait.

What leadership opportunities for women do you see in Amarillo? In Amarillo, there’s a wealth of leadership opportunities awaiting women at every turn.

What advice would you give aspiring leaders? Again, seems cliche, but so very true: Stay authentic to yourself above all else.

Kim May Owner NoBox Creative

What lessons and experiences can you share as a leader? There is a lie the world wants you to believe: You can have it all. It’s wrapped in chaos, inadequacy, emphasis on works and mistaken identity. It sets us up for failure. Because when you’re busy juggling IT ALL, something always has to give and it is always you—and your family. Refuse to pick up guilt when family comes first. Juggle what you love the most and juggle it well. Say no to everything else.

Is there a key moment that helped you become a leader? I became a business owner when I didn’t let fear stop me. I became a leader because other leaders empowered me to lead. Those moments go far back into my childhood. Youth pastors, teachers and my parents shaped me into a leader. Adults in my life saw something, called it out and cultivated it. The power of believing in someone takes my breath away.

How have you built self-confidence? My biggest source of selfconfidence as an adult came when someone empowered me to lead. But fundamentally, my personal self-confidence was instilled by my parents, who believed in me, encouraged me, and taught me that I could do anything I set my mind to. At 86, my dad is still my biggest fan.

What’s the biggest risk you’ve ever taken? Deciding not to apply for a job (after losing mine in a merger/acquisition) and start my own business. Eighteen years later, in spite of the long hours, tears and hard lessons learned, I have no regrets.

What advice have you been given by other inspiring leaders? “Take the stick away.” When someone is bothering you (an employee, boss, difficult person), you can complain about it or find the stick and take it away. Thank you, Coco Duckworth!

What important leadership styles do women bring? Women have superpowers. We can manage multiple projects, cook dinner while on

a business call and remember the smallest details. Most importantly, women bring empathy, internal strength and compassion to leadership roles. It’s a joy to be around and work for this type of leader.

What leadership opportunities for women do you see in Amarillo? There are a lack of women role models in Amarillo. Our community needs bold women to step up, be visible and empower the next generation of leaders. It’s time to break the mold that says, “You’re too young or too old; you have to earn your place and pay your dues.” Leaders have an opportunity to model leadership to other women. It’s the most beautiful gift we can leave to the people who are following our steps. What if we show them the pathway we created and let them walk there, too?

What advice would you give aspiring leaders? Find a role model and mentor! It’s difficult to lead if you don’t have a strong role model for inspiration and guidance. Find someone you look up to and don’t be afraid to ask for help. Your role model might be busy, but she will be flattered and honored to know she can share past experiences and wisdom gleaned along the way. Leading as a woman is hard work and it helps to have someone in your corner.

Validate people (cheer for someone else). Be mindful of tearing someone down to build yourself up. One of the hardest things I’ve faced in business is finding inclusive women who are genuinely happy with another woman’s success. Comparison is the thief of joy. When you stop comparing yourself to others, you can be happy and rejoice when other strong, brilliant women succeed. There’s room at the table.

4211 I-40 WEST, SUITE 201

806.356.0400

Kasey Tam Founder + Creative Director From 6th Collective

What lessons and experiences can you share as a leader? It took me years to feel comfortable acting as a leader inside and outside of my business. I’m more confident now because I look at the longterm gain. I love when I get to reconnect with young ladies years after they’ve either worked for me or attended a conference I spoke at. Hearing how they took lessons from those interactions and applied them is so gratifying.

Is there a key moment that helped you become a leader? Looking back, I can see that I’ve always been a leader in some way. Whether I was organizing street-wide events at my former shop on Sixth, interviewing local makers to share their stories with a wider audience, or launching our Collective Cares campaigns to donate profits to various local women’s organizations.

How have you built self-confidence? Time and experience. I see a lot of young people launch incredible businesses then close only a year or so later. Not having constant success crushes their confidence. Understanding that building a business is like riding a roller coaster gives me more confidence. I’ve had my own retail store and interior design business going on 15 years in Amarillo. Knowing that I can adapt, change my style, switch locations and still maintain loyal customers and clients has solidified my own selfconfidence in recent years.

What’s the biggest risk you’ve ever taken? Purchasing and launching From 6th Collective has by far been my biggest professional risk. For the first time, I would be the landowner with a 15,000-square-foot building in what some think is the middle of nowhere if it failed. Almost four years into it, I’m more proud of this company than any other I’ve owned. It is constantly evolving, and I’m looking forward to expanding my interior design services under the umbrella of the retail store by allowing my team to offer customization and design advice to everyday customers.

What advice have you been given by other inspiring leaders? One of my mentors recently reminded me that we all live multiple lives, so don’t quit when something fails. What may not happen in the immediate future can still happen years down the road. Having small children often limits what we’re able to commit to, but that won’t last forever. Remembering this helps me maintain optimism when things don’t go according to my current plan.

What important leadership styles do women bring? Women often bring more heart to everyday business operations. Setting strict boundaries is important, and understanding that work is not always the most important thing has landed me incredible employees. Flexibility for working moms is a priority, especially since my own children are often on the job site or at the shop with me.

What leadership opportunities for women do you see in Amarillo? I find myself working more with companies and organizations where women hold the reins, like Visit Amarillo, Eveline Rivers Sunshine Cottage, Amarillo Art Force, and dozens of others.

What advice would you give aspiring leaders? Get involved! Sit on local boards that inspire you. Attend various networking events. Don’t be afraid to participate in conversations about our city’s future.

Kaytie Gann Owner/Designer Hollow Dot

What lessons and experiences can you share as a leader? While I don’t supervise a team of people daily, I’ve still learned about leadership through my experiences. Leadership, to me, is trying new things, challenging the status quo, and hopefully motivating those around me to do the same.

Is there a key moment that helped you become a leader? The key moment that helped me become a leader was trying something new during the pandemic. I began offering permanent jewelry in December 2020. It was a new concept in Amarillo and could have failed miserably, but I’ve found great success.

How have you built self-confidence? The journey to having selfconfidence has not been an easy one for me. It has taken years of ups and downs and a lot of trial and error. I’ve learned that I have to stand behind every decision I make and move forward with grit and tenacity. In personal life and business, you can’t have one foot in and one foot out—you have to be all in.

What’s the biggest risk you’ve ever taken? I am about to welcome my first child this spring. So, right now, what feels risky to me is learning how to continue operating at the same pace I have for the past several years. I want to be the best possible mom to my son and the best possible owner of Hollow Dot. Seeing fellow mombusiness owners continuing to crush their goals and grow their businesses while they do an incredible job of navigating motherhood gives me hope.

What advice have you been given by other inspiring leaders? A few things stand out from outstanding leaders that I’ve observed through the years: It’s important to show up consistently and always show gratitude. This combination has a beneficial impact, not only for those who are following you as a leader, but also to clients and customers.

What important leadership styles do women bring? Femininity in leadership is pretty powerful, and this journey to becoming a mother has helped me realize how strong a woman’s intuition is. I believe the combination of intuition with qualities such as empathy, emotional intelligence and authenticity help women thrive in leadership roles.

What leadership opportunities for women do you see in Amarillo? Amarillo has proven to be the best place to have a small business. Our community is incredibly loyal to local businesses, and the amount of women-led businesses here proves just how dedicated Amarilloans are. I think there are endless opportunities for any local woman wanting to start her own business, which is incredibly inspiring.

What advice would you give aspiring leaders? When I’m often asked how to start a business similar to mine, my favorite response to share is do your research, get as much practice as possible, put your own heart, mind and ideas into it, and work as hard as you can! Hard work will always pay off and authenticity rarely goes unnoticed.

Janey Morgan and Michelle Urbanczyk Janey’s at 2500

What lessons and experiences can you share as leaders?

Our history goes all the way back to 1985, so we have learned many lessons over the years and weathered our share of challenges. A few recent experiences stand out. Like every local, public-facing small business, finding our way through the uncertainty of the pandemic required some difficult decisions. Our employees looked to our leadership during COVID, when we took responsibility for keeping the store open and keeping them employed. Then, last June, we faced severe flooding in our neighborhood, along with a lot of other businesses. We had to make quick decisions and lead our team through two different moves. We ended up completely gutting and remodeling our boutique.

Is there a key moment that helped you become a leader? Being a mom. Every mom knows this, but motherhood is a constant series of important decisions that don’t just affect your personal life, but the lives of your children and the health of your family. You are always “on display” as an example for your children. They’re always watching you and learning from how you interact with the world. We use those lessons every day when we relate to others.

How have you built self-confidence? Well, it’s always a work in progress. However, you have to believe in yourself and your decisions and take action. You can’t always be too concerned with what others have to say. You have to do you—and know that what you are doing is right for you and your family or team.

What’s the biggest risk you’ve ever taken? First of all, I bought the store in 1985. I didn’t have any retail experience, but I thought it would be fun to own a store. Since then, I have learned a lot about leadership and business. The second biggest risk was moving from 34th and Coulter to Paramount after 16 years, and bringing in more high-end designer brands.

What advice have you been given by other inspiring leaders? Never quit learning. This applies in multiple directions, from business strategies to market trends to listening to customer feedback.

What important leadership styles do women bring? Women bring a lot of natural gifts and abilities to leadership, but one of the best is empathy—especially for those who may be just starting out in a new venture.

What leadership opportunities for women do you see in Amarillo? There are so many. We believe women can do anything they want. Just go for it!

What advice would you give aspiring leaders? You are never criticized by those doing more than you—you’ll always be criticized by someone doing less. Remember that.

Sharla Valdez, BSN, RN Founder/President Crown of Texas Hospice Foundation

What lessons and experiences can you share as a leader? As a nurse leader, the biggest lesson I can share is to create a culture of excellence. Striving for excellence as a team and believing that together we can make a difference is the way to achieve success.

Is there a key moment that helped you become a leader? I grew up on a multi-generational, family-owned-and-operated farm and ranch. I often wonder how many women who were raised in that environment become entrepreneurs? It taught me that hard work is part of life and doing what you enjoy brings satisfaction. That background has provided a strong foundation for leadership.

During nursing school, I met Sister Olivia Prendergast. I fell in love with her passion for people and decided to follow her example and become a hospice nurse. A pivotal moment in my journey was when I recognized the need for improvement in hospice care and decided to step up as an advocate for patients and families in hospice.

How have you built self-confidence? Understanding our strengths, weaknesses, passions and purpose can help us confidently lead others. Acquiring new skills and knowledge boosts competence, but maintaining self-confidence is not always easy. It is natural to have moments of doubt, but when others count on you it is important to show confidence—even if you are not always feeling it.

What’s the biggest risk you’ve ever taken? Starting a hospice program before I was 30! Against all odds, I decided to start a business knowing that I could easily fail, but also feeling in my heart it was God’s plan. I had witnessed the fear and abandonment that dying patients and families seemed to experience and wanted to make a difference. I was not a business expert; after all, I went to nursing school, not business school. I was successful by surrounding myself with others who taught me business expertise.

What advice have you been given by other inspiring leaders? Sister Olivia taught me so much about loving people without condition or judgment. She wrote on the dry-erase boards for all to see, “God is in charge of this program,” which gave us a sense of peace. My parents have inspired me and encouraged me throughout my career.

What important leadership styles do women bring? Women in leadership roles often show compassion and empathy for others. They tend to be good listeners and can collaborate with team members openly. Family comes first, but women’s ability to balance life and multiple roles is impressive. In the workplace, that ability helps create a positive work culture.

What leadership opportunities for women do you see in Amarillo? We have many resources for women in business and so many great women have been business pioneers in our community. For me, it is important to seek out other women leaders and entrepreneurs. I have gained so much from their wisdom.

What advice would you give aspiring leaders? Find your passion and purpose. It is impossible to have all the answers and owning a business can be very stressful. Surround yourself with excellence, give yourself the grace to be confident in your abilities, love yourself, seek balance, and always be willing to learn from others.

MARHABA ERITREAN AND ETHIOPIAN CUISINE

Apart from popular Asian and Mexican cuisine, ethnic food can be difficult to find, especially away from Amarillo Boulevard. But Marhaba Eritrean and Ethiopian Cuisine on Paramount has slowly been introducing local diners to the complex spices and traditions of a less familiar culture.

The restaurant’s regular patrons also include, of course, Amarillo’s sizable population of East African refugees and immigrants, who also shop for supplies and ingredients in the market adjacent to the restaurant. The two nations, Eritrea and Ethiopia, don’t share a language but do share major cultural, religious and culinary traditions (Eritrea gained independence from Ethiopia in 1993).

Owners Zaid Kiflemariam (at left), who operates the restaurant, and husband Allem Teklehaimanot, a local nurse, are originally from Eritrea. They opened in 2019, successfully navigated the pandemic, and have seen their business begin to thrive in recent years.

“We just wanted to serve the community from that part of the world and introduce something different for Amarillo,” Allem says. Marhaba is an Arabic greeting that means hello or welcome, and the couple have centered that hospitality at their restaurant.

The menu items are everyday dishes prepared using traditional spices and methods. Common meat dishes include beef, chicken, goat or lamb, often served as a stew-like dish. And because religious fasting is common in Eritrea—which is home to substantial Christian and Islamic communities—vegetarian and vegan dishes are a staple, combining lentils, chickpeas and beans with extensive spices and herbs. One common mixture of traditional spices is known as berbere, which provides a flavorful base to many of Marhaba’s dishes. “The spices are very distinct,” Allem says. The use of garlic, chili peppers, fenugreek and other ingredients make each dish rich and complex.

Community and sharing are prominent within the culture. Most meals are served on a communal platter alongside injera, a spongy flatbread made from fermented teff flour. Teff, a tiny grain native to East Africa, is gluten-free and high in fiber and protein. Traditionally served without utensils, the various dishes—stews, salads and vegetables—are meant to be scooped up by hand using a torn piece of injera. “I tell [customers] this is the way we eat it traditionally, but there’s not a right or wrong way,” Allem says. The restaurant will gladly provide utensils when asked. “It’s whatever makes you comfortable.”

Coffee is thought to have originated in Ethiopia and carries a lot of respect in the couple’s culture. For East Africans, coffee is traditionally enjoyed after the meal—and drinking it is best understood as a ceremony. Zaid roasts and grinds coffee daily at Marhaba, brewing it in a traditional container called a jebena, then serving it in small espressosize cups called finjal, often alongside popcorn. It’s strong and flavorful and shouldn’t be missed after a meal at Marhaba. This experience is meant to be savored, sometimes for hours following the meal, to enjoy the ritual, fragrance and taste.

PHOTOS BY SHANNON RICHARDSON

PROTECT YOUR FAMILY’S FUTURE with

70X7 HYDRO BAR

This unique nutrition shop near the intersection of North Osage and Amarillo Boulevard offers energy teas, low-calorie protein shakes, keto-friendly donuts, sandwiches, waffles and more. It opened in early 2024, hoping to introduce healthier habits and food options to the northeast quadrant of the city. 1806 Amarillo Blvd. East, 806.471.0784 $

9TH INNING BREWS & BITES

Billing itself as “Amarillo’s Newest Sports Bar,” this west-side location represents the rebranding of what once was J’s Bar & Grill in the Shops at Soncy. It offers 57 TVs, dozens of draft beers on tap, a reliable pub-style menu and a family-friendly environment for watching the game. 3130 S. Soncy Road, Suite 100, 806.358.2222, $

ALDACO’S TACOS

Look, if your name rhymes with “taco,” then it’s pretty much just fate. Tucked away on Sixth Street in one of those iconic, recognizable old Toot-n-Totum buildings, this is the spot for affordable, authentic tacos and tamales. 3623 SW Sixth Ave., 806.374.4945 $$

ALOHA KITCHEN

Spam is on the menu at Aloha Kitchen, an authentic Hawaiian eatery located inside From 6th Collective in Bushland. A former food truck, Aloha Kitchen serves breakfast items like Moons Over Spammy, a breakfast sandwich with Spam, and egg and cheese on delectable malasada, a type of frybread. The Aloha Kitchen menu changes frequently, so check the menu before you visit. 18100 I-40 West, 806.557.8036 $

BEEF BURGER BARREL

Hands-down this is the most unique restaurant design in Amarillo, and this classic walk-up joint has held down the same spot since 1952. You can’t miss it. Because, y’all, it’s a giant white barrel. Not in the mood for beef and/or burgers? Try a fish, ham or grilled cheese sandwich. 3102 Plains Blvd., 806.374.0101 $

BLACK BEAR DINER

farmersagent.com/mmassey

Part of a restaurant chain mostly located west of the Mississippi, the Amarillo location takes advantage of the abundant traffic along I-40 headed east. It serves traditional, homestyle comfort food including burgers, sandwiches, chicken-fried steak, meatloaf and breakfast all day. Customers love the huge portions. We hear good things about the pie. 7000 I-40 East, 806.342.3080, blackbeardiner.com $$

This is not a comprehensive list of local restaurants. From issue to issue, we will try to include a wide variety of dining options based on the space available. If you notice an error, please email mm@brickandelm.com.

Most entrees over $21 $ $$ $$$

Most entrees under $10

Most entrees $11 to $20

CERVECERIA 18

The concept is new, but the building isn’t.

Cerveceria 18 revives the empty building once occupied by Kushi Yama. C18 offers reliable Mexican options including tacos, quesadillas and burritos, along with pizza, salad and wings. On the drink side, expect creative shots plus beer and aguas frescas. Interestingly, every item on the menu is $4. (Off-menu items will be more expensive.) 3319 I-40 West, 432.934.6801 $-$$

CHICKEN SALAD CHICK

The Amarillo franchise of this chain made a splash when it opened in Wolflin Square, serving chicken-salad flavors named after the friends of the Alabama stay-at-home mom who first launched the business. We advise trying all the flavors, but for non-fans of chicken salad, the chicken tortilla soup is delicious. 2620 Wolflin Ave., 806.808.0709, chickensaladchick.com $$

DANIEL’S DRIVE IN

In business for at least 40 years, this old-school drive-in off old Route 66 is pure nostalgia. The menu is simple but everything you want in a throwback, cash-only diner: fresh-cooked burgers, grilled cheese, Frito pie, tots, onion rings and soda fountain drinks. 2911 Amarillo Blvd. East, 806.383.0066 $

DYER’S BAR-B-QUE

Locals are loyal to Dyer’s, and the Dyer’s family has been serving its original recipes in the Panhandle for decades. (In addition to the Amarillo fixture at Wellington Square, there’s also a location in Pampa.) Come for the family-style, all-you-can-eat lunch on Fridays and Saturdays. Or eat your fill of premium smoked prime rib, which is very popular. 1619 S. Kentucky St., Suite E526, 806.358.7104, dyersbbq.com $$

EL RINCÓN DE LA CRUDA

First things first: The name is Spanish for “the Hangover Corner.” That’s intentional. The owners hail from Arandas, Mexico, and designed the traditional menu of this restaurant/bar to offer rich dishes to help out with hangovers. And if that doesn’t work, delicious drinks will help put off dealing with the feeling. 2706 S. Osage St., rincondelacruda.com $$

Cheers to 60 incredible years of small business success at The

community, growth and prosperity

SAVE

THE DATE!

June

14

10 a.m.- 5 p.m. The Shops at Wolflin Square I-40 & Georgia

Come celebrate Route 66 and 60 years of Wolflin Square with a Route 66-themed celebration, live music, food trucks, marching bands and sales at participating stores.

Shops at Wolflin Square! We’re looking forward to many more years of

FENG CHA BUBBLE TEA

Tea is a big deal in the Panhandle, but this isn’t just another place for blueberry green iced tea. Feng Cha offers bubble tea and milk foam teas with decidedly not-quite-Texan flavors like cream cheese, matcha, taru and durian. Add-ins include boba, lychee jelly, grass jelly and more. Enjoy the sleek Instagrammable atmosphere, and try the dessert menu. 5611 Gem Lake Road, 806.437.1556, fengchausa.com $

GEORGIA STREET TAPHOUSE

This locally owned sports bar in Wolflin Village offers a really solid bar and a nice outdoor patio. The craft beer selection is diverse, with daily drink specials, making it a popular place to kick back for Happy Hour. Foodwise, expect typical pub fare. The fries are tasty, and the pizza, burger and app menus never disappoint. 2001 S. Georgia St., 806.803.7000, georgiastreettaphouse.com $$

LA PASADITA

You don’t really expect to find this little, walk-up restaurant in the middle of a residential area, but just get in line and go for it (the line moves quickly). The menu is limited but the Chihuahua-style food is fresh, traditional and fast. Takeout only. Try a breakfast burrito, menudo, barbacoa or chile rellenos. 2730 NE 16th Ave., 806.381.2309 $

MY THAI

One of the original Thai food restaurants in a city famous for them. My Thai has been family-owned since 1986 and is absolutely a local favorite. In fact, My Thai is probably the standard for comparing the quality of the rest of the city’s Thai restaurants. Lunch specials daily. 2029 Coulter St., 355.9541, mythaiamarillo.com $

NOMAD NAPOLETANA

Nomad Napoletana has turned up the temperature on an iconic stretch of Polk Street. Diners can expect East Coast-style pizza in an upscale dining area and bar. Beyond pizza, feast on a complimentary dish of stecca, a Sicilian version of the baguette drizzled in olive oil and served with tender, spreadable garlic confit. Don’t miss the scratch-made meatballs, braised all day in California tomatoes and tomato sauce, then served with a dollop of ricotta. 601 S. Polk St., 806.376.4700, nomadnapoletana.com $-$$

OISHII JAPANESE SUSHI & SAKE

Oishii elevates the local sushi experience with creative flavor combinations and presentation. The menu is huge. The seafood is fresh. The dishes are designed to induce gasps as they arrive at the table. All the sauces are made from scratch in-house. If sushi’s not your thing, the traditional Asian staples are just as worthwhile. 2721 Virginia Circle, 806.877.2464 $$-$$$

PORK N THINGS BBQ

Owner Denny Antel has expanded his successful food truck business into the old Outlaws Supper Club building east of town. Summer visitors to Pork n Things BBQ will enjoy a beer garden, outdoor activities like cornhole, a fantastic open-air patio and a lot of televisions.

Amarillo

Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in Amarillo stands at the forefront of health education, fueled by the same grit and spirit that has remained at the heart of the High Plains for half a century.

Serving the people of the Panhandle is a call to service that we hold proudly. Our TTUHSC community creates a fabric of skills and experiences that can only be achieved with the discipline, collaboration and courage to face even the toughest challenges.

Our determination drives change. We are The Future of Health

ROUTE 66 · OLD WEST HISTORY DINOSAURS · RAILROADS

HISTORY YOU CAN TOUCH.

Come explore Tucumcari’s four iconic interactive museums which showcase the town’s old west history, Route 66 Americana heritage, railroad roots, and its

Heart of Texas Romance Get Away without Going Away

• Private hot tubs

• Moonlight massages

• Cabin dinners

• Romance package

• Picnics

• Candlelight dinners

• Wellness retreats

• Couples retreats

• Family-friendly

• Concerts in the Canyon

• Weddings

• Songwriter retreats

• Baby showers

• Birthday parties

• Anniversary celebrations

• Vow renewals

• Family reunions

• Company parties

• Gift certificates

• and more!

100 BRENTWOOD ROAD

806.622.2382

STARLIGHTCANYON.COM

Patrons rave about Antel’s brisket, Kansas City-style ribs, burnt ends and green chile hominy. Everything on the menu is tender and flavorful thanks to the massive smoker out back. 10816 SE Third Ave., 806.699.7675, facebook.com/PorkNThingsBbq $$

RED RIVER STEAKHOUSE

It’s not hard to find a decent steak in the Panhandle, so when a local steakhouse earns a reputation for its hand-cut steaks, you pay attention. The Amarillo version of the owner’s original Red River Steakhouse in McLean, this old-fashioned establishment may be one of the area’s best-kept secrets. 4332 SW 45th Ave., 806.316.5082, redriversteakhouse.net $$

TOSCANA ITALIAN STEAKHOUSE

Housed in The Barfield Hotel, Toscana Italian Steakhouse offers authentic Texas steakhouse fare with savory Italian flair. Heavy on premium Panhandle beef and locally grown vegetables, Toscana’s menu also includes scratch-made pastas and sauces made in house. Don’t miss the melt-in-your-mouth zeppoles. Think of them as tiny Italian doughnuts, available with a variety of toppings. 600 S. Polk St., 806.414.2200, toscanaamarillo.com $$-$$$

TAQUERIA EL TAPATIO MEXICAN RESTAURANT

Most locals assume the most authentic Mexican food is on the city’s east side, but this joint serves authentic Jalisco-style Mexican food near 34th and Coulter. The menu is huge, but we love the breakfast, massive parrillada meals and seafood. (There’s also a Dumas location.) 3410 S. Coulter St., 806.331.6248; 5630 Amarillo Blvd. West, 806.803.3220, tapatiotx.com $

THE WESTERN HORSEMAN CLUB

In the 1980s, the Western Horseman Club was one of the hottest country-and-western bars in the city. Now, prominent local chef Rory Schepisi has taken on the task of breathing new life into the storied club. Schepisi has transformed the once-dingy, sprawling space with a swanky, modern-saloon vibe. The menu is western-focused, with options like Angus Beef burgers and sandwiches, Prime Certified Angus Beef steaks, chicken-fried steak, catfish and more. 2501 I-40 East, 806.877-1600, westernhorsemanclub.com $$-$$$

YOUNGBLOOD’S CAFE

An Amarillo classic, where you can grab a hearty breakfast starting every day at 6 a.m. or wait a few hours to try its illustrious chickenfried steaks. Our favorite thing at Youngblood’s? It’s gotta be the free banana pudding for dessert (while supplies last). 620 SW 16th Ave., 806.342.9411, youngbloodscafe.com $$

X– STEAKHOUSE

The name is a play on cattle brands—say “X-Bar”—and this Town Square steakhouse definitely knows beef. It’s locally owned, has a full bar, and the prices are extremely reasonable for such a swanky atmosphere. We hear great things about the weekend brunch, too. 9181 Town Square Blvd., Suite 1311, 806.322.4227, xbarsteakhouse.com $$-$$$

OVER 300 CAMPS FOR ALL AGES

REGISTER NOW: info.actx.edu/kids

CAMPS BEGIN AS EARLY AS JUNE 3RD

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Amarillo College • Kids’ College

(806) 371-2920

MEET ANDREW HALL

Board Chairman of Amarillo Economic Development

Are you originally from Amarillo? If so, where did you attend high school/college?

“ Yes, Tascosa High School Class ‘04, BBA and MBA from Cox School of Business at Southern Methodist University.”

What was your motivation for moving back to Amarillo?

“Truthfully, it was unplanned. I graduated from grad school and decided to see what it would take to sell our Dallas house. It sold quickly and we didn’t have a plan on where to move to. So, we used Amarillo as a homebase while we traveled and job searched. I worked for our family business during this time and never left. We have been back for 10 years and love it!”

What are some of your favorite things about Amarillo, and what would you like to see in the future?

“Amarillo is the ideal size to still be able to truly make a difference and impact in our community. We are always focused on increasing our quality of life by bringing ideas we have experienced outside of Amarillo to our city. I hope to continue to see the growth and new faces that move to Amarillo. We look forward to getting that balance of moving Amarillo forward while still respecting our panhandle spirit of the past!”

Do you know someone interested in returning to Amarillo? We would love to send them a gift to remind them of the great things happening in our community. Provide their info below and we will get in touch!

An initiative of Amarillo Economic Development

It’s one thing for a city to realize it’s not all that bad being a pass-through town, because there’s still plenty of money to be made from the standard touristy things like gas, food and lodging. But it is quite another when a pass-through town takes the alien by the spaceship and decides it wants to become a destination city.

That place would be Roswell, New Mexico, the city of 48,000 that has chosen not to worry about whether the UFO legend surrounding the area is true, but rather has embraced it for all it is worth. Those aliens—real or not—have been a gold mine. Roswell, with its UFO Museum, numerous alien statues, and much more, is a short 215-mile trip southwest of Amarillo on Highways 60 and 70.

The legend, known as the Roswell Incident, dates to 1947. As the story goes, a spaceship crashed nearby. Debris found in a field was declared by the U.S. Army to be from a flying saucer, but they later reclassified it as from a weather balloon. Skeptical minds weren’t having it, though, and the story grew from there. Conspiracy theorists were in their glory.

It didn’t help matters that we had just entered the Cold War, with World War II in the rearview mirror. The true story goes like this: The government’s top-secret Project Mogul had started launching thousands of weather balloons from Alamogordo Army Air Field. The balloon’s purpose was to detect the sound waves caused by Soviet nuclear tests. On June 4, 1947, the air field lost track of a balloon train;

Nick’s Picks

The International UFO Museum & Research Center is a mustsee. Some of the exhibits stretch the imagination, but it is still all done tastefully.

Be sure to watch for aliens everywhere. Just like Amarillo has horse statues, Roswell displays aliens of all shapes and sizes (though all maintain vaguely humanoid features). Businesses have woven aliens into the tapestry of their corporate identity, including chains like McDonald’s and Dunkin Donuts.

The Spring River Park and Zoo features native animals and an antique carousel, but no aliens.

South of town along US 285 (Southeast Main Street)—beside the northbound lanes—is the Welcome to Roswell roadside attraction. It features a large, cut-out spaceship with human and alien figures standing in front, and makes for a great photo op.

There are many old neon-era signs throughout town. My favorite is the Crane Motel, featuring a—you guessed it—gigantic sandhill crane. These aren’t alien to the region.

one ultimately came crashing down on Mac Brazel’s ranch between Roswell and Corona.

Brazel found a debris field littered with large pieces of foil, rubber, tape and wooden slats, which could quite easily be explained as components of a weather balloon. He kept his finding secret for a while, until he learned of the flying saucer mania that had swept the nation by storm—the result of breathless news reports and sightings of aircraft with other-worldly capabilities. Brazel put two and two together, and contacted the Roswell Army Air Field, who sent someone out for a look-see.

At first, the RAAF issued a press release saying it had found a flying disc. Big mistake. Then they packed up the debris and sent it off to Fort Worth Army Air Field, even telling a flight engineer that it was a flying saucer. A Roswell radio station then read the press release over the airwaves, which unleashed a torrent of phone calls from fearful citizens as well as other media outlets. The alien was out of the bag, so to speak.

Suddenly the Army Air Base found itself in the middle of a media feeding frenzy, and hastily called together a press conference. They tried to walk it all back, stating that the debris found was from a weather balloon, all the while not divulging details of Project Mogul. Unfortunately, it’s hard to walk back anything of this size, and the machinations of conspiracy thinking had been set loose on an American populace convinced they should fear the Russians. It’s just that they also concluded they should not trust their own government.

Starting the next year, flying saucer hoaxes popped up with

The Anderson Museum of Contemporary Art and Roswell Museum and Art Center provide opportunities to enjoy southwestern art.

Cattle Baron, Peppers Grill & Bar and Martin’s Capitol Cafe are among the many locally owned eateries. The usual fast-food suspects are clustered along US 285 on the north side of town. You won’t go hungry in Roswell.

Back toward Amarillo on the north side of US 70 are the ruins of the Old Frazier Schoolhouse. It’s worth a quick stop. The Frazier Cemetery is a short walk to the west. Frazier, and its companion settlement Acme on the south side of the highway, were both bustling until WWII, then practically dried up.

On the return to Amarillo, stop in Keene, a long speck on the road with a large, abandoned gas station. This was once the intersection of the Ozark Trails Highway, a dirt road coming from Texas, where it met what became US 70. Closer to Portales, Elida is a much larger ghost town, with several abandoned structures to photograph.

alarming regularity, and often centered around Roswell. These included tales of recovered alien bodies from a crash near Aztec, New Mexico, as well as the fictitious Hangar 18, ostensibly located near Dayton, Ohio, which contained extraterrestrial aircraft and bodies recovered from Roswell. Other conspiracy theories followed, as well as a cottage book industry nearly as popular as JFK assassination theories.

Not one to look a gift alien in the mouth, Roswell has made itself the alien capital of the world, going so far as to host a UFO Festival each July. People from coast to coast converge on Roswell mid-summer, attending parades, parties, UFO seminars and touring the crash site north of town. It’s a hoot. The festival—and its 40,000 visitors— generates north of $2.2 million in direct economic impact. Not bad for something that may or may not be true.

The Roswell Incident has also vaulted the city into the pop culture zeitgeist. First, it inspired the book series Roswell High. From this came two television shows, Roswell, which started in 1999 with 61 episodes over three seasons, and Roswell, New Mexico, which started in 2019 and spanned 52 episodes.

Regardless of whether you believe in aliens or flying saucers, there’s probably nothing better that could have fallen from the sky to benefit a place like Roswell. Weather balloon or not, Roswell is now on the tourism map, worthy of its destination town status a half-day’s drive from Amarillo.

And other cities are green with envy.

take the off-ramp

WITH NICK GERLICH

PRESENTED BY

Fuel up before you travel at a convenient Pak-ASak store location in Amarillo or Canyon

Roswell

NANNETTE PILCHER

This body of work is all about freedom—the freedom of movement, freedom of expression and the freedom of the imagination,” says Nannette Pilcher, an Amarillo artist and educator who exhibits and sells her work at Arts in the Sunset.

The sculptures in her large-scale canvas birds series—many of which are several feet wide—give creative expression to that desire for freedom. For one thing, birds “possess ultimate freedom” in the form of flight, she says. But Pilcher also finds freedom in the material she uses for the sculptures and the opportunity to bring flat imagery into three dimensions. Rather than painting on a stretched canvas, Pilcher sculpted painters’ drop cloths into these works of art. “I wanted the freedom to transform a material that originally had no purpose of becoming art,” she says. “Its purpose was simply to protect one’s floor from receiving paint. Painting it intentionally and transforming the purpose was very freeing.”

Each bird, she says, was created with thought and planning devoted to individuality, personality and freedom.

After attending The Bradley Academy for the Visual Arts in Pennsylvania, Pilcher moved to Amarillo in 1998. She spent several years as a graphic designer before returning to Amarillo College and West Texas A&M University to earn a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. In addition to her own art, she has worked as an art instructor at Ascension Academy since 2008 and teaches courses at the Amarillo Art Institute.

“Art is such a big part of my life,” she says. “Sometimes it can be difficult to strike a balance between teaching and creating my own art, but fortunately it all feeds that need to make.”

AND THE

WALLS

HPresented by

(ALMOST) CAME TUMBLING DOWN

ere in Texas, we tend to paint our genesis stories in bold, colorful strokes imbued with divine providence. But the reality of how modern Texas came to be is often quite gritty to look at. Sometimes even smelly, with a not-so-subtle bouquet of dumb luck and blind ambition of those who might not ever have attended Sunday School.

The retelling of Panhandle history follows a similar pattern. Our preferred version of how we got started in these parts looks much like the H.D. Bugbee mural of a dashing Charles Goodnight claiming the Promised Land as he drives his herd into Palo Duro Canyon—a scene almost every kid in the Panhandle has viewed on the walls of the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum. What we often forget is before the cattlemen arrived, and even before the New Mexican pastores first drove sheep into the Canadian River Valley, the Panhandle was occupied by native people who weren’t planning to leave without a fight. It took a ragged band of unwashed buffalo hunters not planning anything much bigger than a good time in Dodge to set in motion a series of events that, within a span of a few months, ended one age and began another.

On the windswept prairie northeast of Stinnett in Hutchinson

County, a simple marker bears witness to a pivotal five days in June 1874—150 years ago—remembered as the Second Battle of Adobe Walls. The battle takes its name from a trading outpost first established by William Bent in 1848. That it was the second battle points to an earlier battle at this site in 1864, when Col. Kit Carson led the New Mexico Cavalry against a combined Comanche, Kiowa and Plains Apache force of more than 1,000. The 1864 battle doesn’t get much attention these days outside of someone wanting to know what came before the second battle. It’s quite possible most Panhandle folk can’t recall much about the second one either, but they do tend to remember the name of its most famous combatant: Billy Dixon.

Dixon was a buffalo hunter, one of a small but effective force that by 1874 had nearly wiped out the great buffalo herds in Kansas, cashing in on the demand for hides that fetched as much as $4 apiece at times. But buffalo could still be found farther south on the hunting grounds of remaining Plains Indians who believed their buffalo were protected by treaty. When a group of Kansas buffalo hunters established a post near the abandoned remains of the original Adobe Walls compound, in order to poach the Panhandle’s more abundant buffalo, warriors from multiple Plains tribes decided to combine forces and make a last stand for their rights.

BILLY DIXON

Emboldened by Isatai’i, a Comanche medicine man who prophesied that the warriors would be unharmed by white men’s bullets, an estimated 250 or more Comanche, Kiowa and other allied Plains Indians warriors led by Quahada Comanche Chief Quanah Parker and Lone Wolf, chief of the Kiowas, surprised the inhabitants of Adobe Walls in the early light of June 27. In the initial siege, the outpost’s defenders numbered 28 men, including Dixon and a 20-year-old Bat Masterson, along with one woman. For the next five days, the besieged inhabitants repelled multiple attacks as more hunters in the area slipped in to render aid.

With a name like Adobe Walls, we might imagine the battle site was some type of Adobe fort. The original Adobe Walls trading post did, in fact, evolve into a fortification with walls estimated to be 9 feet high. But by 1848 it became too dangerous for traders to remain year-round. Bent destroyed the adobe structure and abandoned the outpost in 1849. When the post was reestablished by the Kansas hunters, they constructed several standalone buildings out of adobe and logs north of the original site, one of which was enclosed by a picket stockade. The massive Panhandle wildfires in late February burned away the vegetation to shed new light on where some of these buildings stood.

From one of these adobe buildings, about midway through the multiple-day standoff, Dixon fired his famous “shot of the century” from his Sharps .50-caliber rifle. He picked off a mounted warrior, reportedly from almost a mile away. Whether it was truly that far or not, Dixon was known as an expert marksman, and as his later written accounts attest, a colorful storyteller.

After five days of failing to breach the fortifications, the warriors retreated, possibly realizing they were outgunned and perhaps wondering how many Billy Dixons might be hiding behind those walls. Word of the battle quickly reached President Ulysses S. Grant, who empowered Army Gen. Philip Sheridan to send in the Cavalry with the aim of forcing the remaining bands of Plains Indians onto reservations in Oklahoma.

In what became known as the Red River War, Col. Ranald S. Mackenzie commanded three of the five Army columns dispatched to the Panhandle, where he pursued the holdouts throughout the late summer. On Sept. 28, his Fourth Cavalry located winter camps of Comanche, Kiowa and Cheyenne in Palo Duro Canyon. The soldiers chased out the defenders and their families, destroyed their winter food supplies and captured 1,400 horses, which they later slaughtered in Tule Canyon.

The Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, which manages and maintains the battle site for the Second Battle of Adobe Walls, is planning a late June exhibition to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the battle that sparked the Red River War. Members of the Comanche Nation are planning to attend a public reception on June 28, helping provide a more complete understanding of what took place at Adobe Walls and beyond— and how these events affect us all to this day.

While the Red River War lasted into the following year, the loss of food and transportation in Palo Duro Canyon was a crushing blow to the tribes. The last of the starving native population eventually left for Oklahoma and life started happening in its own new way. It’s not entirely clear, though, that many people were yearning to live here permanently in 1874. The buffalo hunters got back to their business until the herds dwindled to the point it wasn’t worth the effort. The pastores and cattlemen came for the ample grass, but there wasn’t an immediate rush of people wanting to break the sod or start homeowner associations.

Eventually, the Panhandle did become a more desirable destination, and we assigned Adobe Walls to just a thing in our early history involving that one incredible rifle shot. But the notion that modern Panhandle history actually began in a less-thancaptivating locale with people who hadn’t likely bathed in a month of Sundays doesn’t diminish our fascinating past. And feeling remorse for the native women and children who suffered in the aftermath doesn’t make us weak. It just helps us see our origins more clearly and to credit all those, the vanquished included, who brought us to the here and now.

QUAHADA

COMANCHE CHIEF QUANAH PARKER

SUZANNE TALLEY Executive Director

THE 100 CLUB OF THE TEXAS PANHANDLE

The best advice I ever heard is: People don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care.

My three most recommended books are: My go-to book is the Bible (NIV). After that, I’m not a big reader. However, recently I completed the program 75 Hard and one assignment was to read 10 pages of a book every day. I was able to read some good ones: The Way of The Shepherd (Kevin Leman and Bill Pentak), Daring Greatly (Brené Brown) and The Energy Bus (Jon Gordon).

To me, success means: I have never been one to find success in accolades or financial gain. Money is a necessity, but I would much rather feel reward and fulfillment in my work. To me, success is getting to the end of your days and to have peace and joy in believing you did your best to make a difference in the lives of others.

People who know me might be surprised that I: don’t like being at big social gatherings or speaking to large groups of people. I’m much more comfortable with a small group of friends and acquaintances.

My biggest pet peeve is: bad drivers! I try to contain my road rage, but passing someone on I-40 who is going 38 mph while watching a video on their phone is a little much.

Everyone in Amarillo needs to experience: our skies, whether it is a sunrise, sunset, or a sky with a big bright moon and hundreds of stars. Stop to take it all in. If you take a minute to look up, God’s artwork is always right there.

If I could change any one local thing it would be: I know this is controversial, but eventually we need a new, bigger Civic Center that can attract more concerts and other entertainment. I remember when growing up, there was always a great concert to enjoy! While we have a great local music scene, I would love to attract some big-name entertainers.

This city is amazing at: coming together in a crisis! And this isn’t just Amarillo, but the Texas Panhandle as a whole. Whether that is simply responding to the call to donate blood during a blood shortage or responding to help others after the recent wildfires, we truly are neighbors helping neighbors. When there is a need, people respond.

My favorite place in Amarillo is: at my home or at a friend’s home on the patio, on a (non-windy) summer evening with a group of friends. Great company, great conversation, great way to relax!

A local organization I love right now: It’s the organization I lead, but I love serving area firefighters and law enforcement officers through the 100 Club of the Texas Panhandle! The more I get to know them, the more I love and respect them. I don’t know many people who go to work every day and put their lives on the line to serve others. I learned a lot about that when working with the SWAT team to help them obtain their new SWAT vehicle. They see the worst of the worst and keep going back every day. After these recent, record-breaking wildfires, I learned more about those who volunteer their time to save lives and property. It is so inspiring to get to know all the first responders in our area. I am truly humbled and honored to stand behind the men and women behind the badge. I also want to express my gratitude to all those who help me do so!

Laura and Joe Street School of Nursing