Leading Women | 2023

LEADING WOMEN

Our media company is a woman-owned business, and as we meet with local enterprises and encounter new stories to tell, it’s clear we’re not alone. We continue meeting influential women in the Amarillo and Canyon workforce. From entrepreneurs to bankers, marketing professionals and architects, these women are propelling their industries forward and contributing in significant ways to the region. We’re honored to tell their stories and highlight their successes in the following pages.

LEADING WOMEN

Street Volkswagen

Sindy Ortiz, Comptroller and Office Administrator

Dawn Owens, BDC Director

Merlie Moore, Parts Manager

Christie Sims, Customer Care Manager

What skills and experience does your team bring to Street VW? Each of these women has worked in a previous career field—separate from the automotive world—giving each one a unique perspective regarding customer service, business building and leadership style. Collectively, these women have years of experience in leadership, accounting, customer service, business development, and parts and inventory management.

How does your team maintain its expertise? Our dealership believes in continuing education for each employee. We believe personal development increases growth, both individually and collectively. Street VW invests time and money in each employee so they can become the best in the industry.

These women are constantly improving personal development through training on site, attending classes and conferences, studying content presented by other experts in the industry, and meeting regularly with other dealership leaders to expand and learn different techniques and processes.

Who inspired you to take leadership roles and why? Each woman started in a previous dealership role before moving into leadership. They earned their roles based on hard work, perseverance and skills specific to their roles. Each one was promoted into her current position because she presented willingness, promise and determination to improve her position and department. Each of these women have also had mentors throughout their careers that inspired them to become leaders.

What has been a significant barrier in your careers and how have you overcome it? The automotive industry primarily remains a male-dominated career field, but more and more women join the ranks every day. Still, overcoming pre-determined stigmas from both coworkers and customers can be challenging at times. To overcome these barriers, these women have dedicated hours of time, training and industry education to become experts. How do you balance your career, personal life and interests? Balance is directly related to time management and a great support system. As long as personal and professional roles are managed well, it creates life balance. It also helps to have a great support system both at work and at home, with people who are understanding and encouraging of both professional and personal lives.

What are the primary benefits of having women in leadership roles?

Women encourage diversity of thought and foster leadership roles in others, making women the definition of the new buzz word “Servant Leadership.” In leadership roles, the leader is responsible to their employees, not the other way around. Women tend to be encouraging and supportive of others in their goals and achievements, and help to create a culture of quality leaders throughout the organization.

(L-R) DAWN OWENS, SINDY ORTIZ, CHRISTIE SIMS AND MERLIE MOORE

LEADING WOMEN

Karen Roberts Owner Get Fit

Who are you and what do you do? I am the owner of Get Fit, a running specialty store open for more than 13 years in Amarillo. We specialize in personalized foot and gait analysis for our customers, which allows us to recommend the most appropriate shoe for their chosen activity.

What skills and experience do you bring to this position?

I was in education for more than 20 years—teaching is my passion. I enjoy teaching my team how to fit a customer in proper footwear and how to create a great customer experience. I have worked with others within the running industry, who selflessly mentor and encourage me.

How do you maintain your expertise? My team and I sharpen our skills at industry trade shows, where we hear about the latest and greatest products. Our vendor reps keep us abreast of new technology and allow us to try a variety of products before we present them to our customers.

Who inspired you to take a leadership role and why? I have been interested in leadership since high school, where I was the president of five organizations and had teachers who encouraged me to seek those positions. I coached with Jim Wilcoxson, Mike Miller, and Joe Lombard, all of whom had a strong influence on me. I saw how they led with confidence and passion, and wanted to do that as well. And I believe I do.

What has been a significant barrier in your career and how have you overcome it? I wanted more as a teacher and coach so I got my counseling degree, then I got my administration degree. After my kids were born, I wanted to start a running store, even though there were naysayers and the economy was not great. But I was determined and we are still going strong.

How do you balance your career, personal life and interests?

My triplets attend three colleges in three states, so I stay busy with them. I love to travel and experience beautiful places. God has blessed me with a great partner, team, customers and health. Those factors allow me to “live life to the fullest” every day and I am thankful!

What are the primary benefits to having women in leadership roles? Many women lead with their heart, which allows them to be compassionate leaders who have buy-in when it comes to decision-making. I encourage the women leaders on my team to dream big and be confident in their decisions.

LEADING WOMEN

American Quarter Horse Association

Kyla Jones

Who are you and what do you do? I am the Manager of Communications for AQHA. I am responsible for written and spoken communications for the world’s largest breed organization. I work directly with the AQHA CEO and five-member executive committee, along with AQHA staff, to ensure the communication of consistent positive messaging about our breed and brand.

What skills do you bring to this position? My career at AQHA started with an internship and I have learned many things in each role. My greatest skill in this industry has been the ability to adapt and learn.

How do you maintain your expertise? Focusing on learning and being flexible in hard situations has allowed me to maintain expertise in the field of communications. It is also important to stay up-to-date on other breedand discipline-specific organizations.

Who inspired you to take a leadership role and why?I have had several mentors, primarily my riding coaches and trainers and my supervisor, Sarah Davisson, when I first started as an intern at AQHA. She led through service and education and created an environment of collaboration where everyone had a seat at the table. She has inspired me to strive to do the same.

Helen Hardy

Who are you and what do you do? I am the Manager of Youth Development and AQHYA for AQHA. My responsibilities include the management, development, and implementation of new and existing youth and young adult programs, contests and educational, leadership and horsemanship resources that benefit members and non-members, the equine industry, and the Association.

What skills do you bring to this position? From growing up showing Quarter Horses, to pursuing degrees in animal science and equine science, I bring a comprehensive knowledge of the western and equine industries to my current position. Through internships in college, I was able to learn about different aspects of the industry. Working as a County Extension Agent before coming to AQHA helped me gain experience with hands-on youth development—a skill set I call upon every day in my current role.

How do you maintain your expertise? I challenge myself and utilize the network surrounding me.

Serving young adult members challenges my way of thinking and pivots long-term goals to best meet their needs. Additionally, I seek out positions of leadership, such as board of director positions with the American Youth Horse Council and the Panhandle Quarter Horse Association.

Who inspired you to take a leadership role and why? I would not be the industry professional that I am without the guidance I received during my time as an undergraduate at Texas A&M University from the late Dr. Josie Coverdale. Dr. Coverdale provided me with the environment to grow, learn and find confidence in myself and my path forward. To this day, she inspires me to seek out roles that, while challenging, can also be the most rewarding.

Kylynn Copeland

Who are you and what do you do? I am the Corporate Partner Manager for AQHA. I am responsible for building and maintaining relationships with our team of corporate partners and sponsors. I also manage marketing deliverables to ensure partners receive the utmost value for their sponsorship dollars.

What skills do you bring to this position? I started developing my communication skills and learned the importance of responsibility through my involvement in 4-H and FFA. My AQHA career started with a communication internship that sparked my interest in the horse industry. Eight years later, I have refined my communication, organization, and digital marketing skills inside and outside the office. I am also a proud rancher’s wife—not only do I get to work in an industry I love, I live in an industry I love.

How do you maintain your expertise? By learning from who I am around. Everyone has something to teach you, good or bad. It is our job to use what we learn to grow.

How do you balance your career, personal life and interests? I believe if you give your all, that is all you can do. I try to be present in whatever I am doing, whether that’s talking to clients or being the best wife and mom I can be. If you enjoy what you are doing at work or home, balance comes a lot easier

What are the primary benefits to having women in leadership roles? A woman is used to juggling 23 things at once, so often they can help give encouragement along the way. It excites me to see a shift toward showcasing strong women leaders and motivates me to strive to be someone looked up to.

HELEN HARDY

KYLA JONES

Roxanne Grabbe Vice President, Commercial Lender

Amarillo National Bank

Who are you and what do you do? I am Roxanne Grabbe, Vice President and Commercial Lender at Amarillo National Bank.

What skills and/or experience do you bring to this position?

I started at ANB in 2010, which gives me 13 years of specific banking experience. But I’ve worked in the world of customer service for at least two decades, and meeting customer needs is central to my role at the bank.

How do you maintain your expertise? To start, I make sure I get out of the office to visit customers. I’m always impressed with how well they know their businesses and industries, and listening to them is the best kind of education I can get. I also draw from the expertise of my colleagues and coworkers at ANB. There are so many long-term employees here, with 20-plus years’ experience in banking. That’s invaluable. Of course, I always try to keep up with current news and listen to a lot of podcasts.

Who inspired you to take a leadership role and why? My kids! I’m trying to show them what it looks like to make your own future by working hard, building relationships and challenging yourself every day. My goal is to set a high bar for them before they get to college.

What has been a significant barrier in your career and how have you overcome it? Knowing that I don’t have all the answers, and understanding that it’s OK to admit that. One of the reasons I’m in my position today is my willingness to build a capable team of people who have the skills that I lack. I wouldn’t be where I am today without my family, friends and coworkers.

How do you balance your career, personal life and interests? My motto is Work Hard, Play Hard, Love Hard. When I’m at work, I try to do the best job I can and give my full attention to serving my customers. But when I’m home, I never miss an opportunity to play with my kids and give them the attention they deserve. Beyond that, working out, running and date nights are also a necessity.

What are the primary benefits to having women in leadership roles? Where do I start? Women are great multitaskers. I think we have a natural ability to take care of the people around us. That’s one of the things I love most about ANB: six out of every 10 of our banking officers, assistant vice presidents and VPs are women. And based on my experience with an incredible team of women around me everyday, it’s not smart to tell us we can’t do something! Challenge accepted!

Alisha Milam Vice President of

Professional and Executive Private Banking Amarillo National Bank

Who are you and what do you do? I am Alisha Milam, Vice President of Professional and Executive Private Banking at Amarillo National Bank. My job looks different almost every day, but the main thread is that I provide exceptional private banking service to the local medical community.

What skills and/or experience do you bring to this position?

I’ve been with ANB for 22 years, which means I’ve spent more than two decades working within a culture built around outstanding customer service. I’ve spent that time serving and meeting the needs of local businesses and professionals. I’m people-oriented and I enjoy getting to know about customers and other employees.

How do you maintain your expertise? Mentorship is huge at ANB, so I’ve kept my skills current by learning from individuals who have a truly deep knowledge of banking and service. They know this community, know how to meet its needs, and are invested in making sure that expertise gets passed along to each member of our team. I’m so grateful to be a beneficiary of it. I also benefit from regulatory training from ANB’s compliance department, of course.

Who inspired you to take a leadership role and why? I knew early in my ANB career that I wanted to be a “lifer.” Every year, we have employees celebrating their 25th or 30th anniversary with Amarillo National. That says a lot. ANB’s family-oriented atmosphere has become my home during the past 22 years. I’m especially thankful for the women colleagues I’ve been privileged to work alongside for so many years.

What has been a significant barrier in your career and how have you overcome it? It’s always a challenge to find balance as a working mom. My husband is very supportive of my career.

How do you balance your career, personal life and interests?

I think it’s possible to give 100 percent to my career without taking away from the things I value outside of work, so I definitely make time to get away. I prioritize God, family and my hobbies, which include drag racing and enjoying the lake.

What are the primary benefits to having women in leadership roles? A strong support system from other working women is essential to family development, and I love that there are so many smart, capable women in leadership at ANB. I learn from their example every day. Beyond that, in every decision, I strive to be a positive role model for my daughter.

Denese Skinner

Vice

President of Student Affairs Amarillo College

What skills and experience do you bring to this position? I have 29 years of leadership experience in higher education and seven years of public school teaching and coaching experience. I am a licensed professional counselor. I am Six Sigma Black Belt certified as well as a Gallup-certified CliftonStrengths coach. I hold a M.Ed. in School Counseling from West Texas A&M University. My specialty is process improvement and employee engagement.

How do you maintain your expertise? I surround myself with professionals who are innovative, big thinkers. I keep my saw sharp by being exposed to new ideas, ways of doing things and, most importantly, seeing the world from different viewpoints. Who inspired you to take a leadership role and why? My inspiration was a what: basketball. I wanted to be a head coach. I worked my way up the ranks, where I learned valuable lessons about how you inspire young people to believe in a vision and motivate them to work hard to master the skills necessary to win. I learned to put individuals in the right positions to best utilize their talent. It works the same in my industry, higher education.

What has been a significant barrier in your career and how have you overcome it? Initially, wanting to be a teacher, I was a woman in a teaching field where football coaches held the jobs. I had to be willing to take positions where I taught outside of my field to get my foot in the door. I proved that I could develop winning teams and quickly establish rapport with students, parents and colleagues. Soon, I moved into roles that fit my credentials, aspirations and talents.

How do you balance your career, personal life and interests? Early in my career, I was awful at this. I am not willing to make the sacrifices I did when I coached. Give and take—not balance—is my goal. I have seasons where I dedicate more time and energy to work, but there are also times when my personal life gets my focus.

What are the primary benefits to having women in leadership roles? We have genuine empathy for employees who are juggling multiple roles between work and home to make it all fit into 24 hours. We are role models for younger women that they, too, can drive the bus.

Lindsay Gomez Owner 41 Productions

Who are you and what do you do? My name is Lindsay Gomez and I am the owner and primary content creator for 41 Productions Videography. I’ve been in business for more than 17 years. We specialize in wedding films and small business video marketing campaigns, but we also produce a plethora of training and safety videos, real estate, and nonprofit videos. I’m also a certified drone pilot through the FAA.

What skills and experience do you bring to this position? I graduated from WTAMU in 2006 with a degree in Mass Communications-Broadcasting. There is a level of confidence that my clients have in me that stems from the length of time I’ve been a videographer. I genuinely love getting to know people, along with documenting weddings and elevating video marketing content for small businesses. It’s a technical field, so having knowledge of operating equipment is paramount. Learning to shoot is one thing, but making the footage come to life in a video is another.

How do you maintain your expertise? I’ve always loved to learn and continue growing, no matter how long I’ve been in business. I enjoy attending workshops and trading ideas/ learning from other colleagues, locally and nationally.

Who inspired you to take a leadership role and why? I come from a family of entrepreneurs so it was “in my blood,” so to speak. I’ve always wanted to be my own boss.

What has been a significant barrier in your career and how have you overcome it? Technology! It’s constantly changing and evolving. There’s always something new, so staying up-to-date with cameras, lenses, lighting, and audio can be challenging at times—another reason why networking within my industry is so important.

How do you balance your career, personal life and interests? Do what you love and you never work a day in your life! Plus, the flexibility of being self-employed is amazing. I’m very organized, which allows me to focus when I need to meet a deadline and relax when I need to recharge.

What are the primary benefits to having women in leadership roles? Women are multitaskers and we bring a diverse perspective to the workplace from our experiences in everyday life.

Kristin Babbitt Owner Dotsy’s Boutique

Who are you and what do you do? I’m Kristin Babbitt, owner of Dotsy’s Boutique, a women’s clothing, accessories and gift shop in Wolflin Square.

What skills and experience do you bring to this position? My desire to help others, a love of fashion, a knack for business and 15 years in this industry helps me in this position. My degree is in social work but I have always had an entrepreneurial spirit.

How do you maintain your expertise? I attend seminars, take part in online workshops, stay in touch with current trends and have a desire to grow daily as a person, boss, wife and mother.

Who inspired you to take a leadership role and why? My father did. I watched him take his knowledge in his career and turn it into his own business. He led by examples of hard work, integrity and honesty. He taught me that with hard work and the Lord’s guidance, I was able to do anything I put my mind to. My mother’s best friend also showed me that women were capable of being their own boss. Through her hard work and example, I saw her open and maintain several successful businesses.

What has been a significant barrier in your career and how have you overcome it? COVID has been the biggest barrier we have faced so far. Instead of giving up, we worked! I decided I would do whatever it took to keep my employees by doing the hard work and trusting that the Lord would see us through it. We had to navigate a new way of doing business and work harder on our online sales, while adjusting to our customers’ needs. Through lots of prayer and trust, we made it through and grew our business in the meantime. We worked on our website and came out stronger.

How do you balance your career, personal life and interests? That’s tough. Sometimes I feel it’s going OK and other times I don’t. There almost always has to be sacrifice in one of those areas. But, I try to schedule time for family vacations and I try my hardest to set apart the weekends for my family.

What are the primary benefits to having women in leadership roles? I believe women are more approachable and have a better understanding of individual needs. We are more relational and that is important when leading— especially when leading other women.

Jamie Beckham Owner Trip Spots

Who are you and what do you do? Hello! My name is Jamie Beckham. I am the owner and creator of Trip Spots, a new tour company in Amarillo. I am an expert on travel and history for the Panhandle Area.

What skills and experience do you bring to this position? Having a genuine love for the Texas Panhandle, I have the opportunity to introduce people to our incredible community, history and beautiful landscape. Whether you are just traveling through, thinking about relocating or have lived here your entire life, there is something new and exciting for everyone.

How do you maintain your expertise? I maintain my expertise by being out in the community and visiting with its residents. I love exploring our area and learning about all of its hidden gems.

Who inspired you to take a leadership role and why? Growing up in a family business where both my parents worked tirelessly, I learned all about hard work and treating people with respect.

What has been a significant barrier in your career and how have you overcome it? Mental health. Mental health is a thing and I have realized how debilitating it can be. I think it’s important to recognize the signs and get help. It’s also OK to ask for help. Surrounding yourself with people that realize the struggles and are able to help may be the most important thing. Also, Vitamin D is totally underrated. (I’m not a doctor!)

How do you balance your career, personal life and interests?

I don’t think there is a real answer to this. However, I do think women need to recognize that they are better people, moms, wives, when they have a purpose and do what they love. There are things that won’t get done. You will miss something. Just make sure you don’t miss the important things. I find I am a better mom, wife, friend, when I’m doing things that feed my soul.

What are the primary benefits to having women in leadership roles? Women have so much to overcome. It’s helpful when you have a woman as a mentor and you can see how she handles work, marriage, family, parenting, faith, and everything else.

I had an incredible female mentor in my life, my mom. She was a working woman who always had time for her children and her employees, among countless other things in the community. She led with love, but she had a lot of grit. As a woman in leadership, I strive to lead with love, passion and grit. We also need to see how women master the art of failure so we aren’t so hard on ourselves. Failure is a huge part of success, and we must be in each other’s corner to get through the low times.

Taylor Van Valkenburg & Caron Sansing Owners U.S. Cleaners

Who are you and what do you do? Caron Sansing (owner/President) and Taylor Van Valkenburg (VP of operations). We are a mother-and-daughter team that owns and operates U.S. Cleaners.

What skills and experience do you bring to this position? Caron has a degree in home economics and fashion/design, and has always been passionate about fashion and clothing. When the opportunity arose to purchase U.S. Cleaners in 1995, pairing those interests with her business background seemed meant to be.

With a degree in social and cultural anthropology, Taylor’s experience is all about people: their cultures, their behaviors, how our differences make us who we are. When she earned that degree, she had no intentions of taking over the family business. Her training, however, has helped her manage the different personalities that she deals with on a daily basis and fostering empathy.

How do you maintain your expertise? We are members of the Dry Cleaning and Laundry Institute (DLI), which offers a wealth of resources for all things dry cleaning and laundry. We attend yearly dry-cleaning conventions (The Clean Show) and are always excited to learn ways to improve. At the last show, we acquired advanced new technology, including two new dry-cleaning machines, a new laundry machine and a new laundry shirt press. We are proud to have the only completely odorless dry-cleaning machines in town.

Who inspired you to take a leadership role and why? Taylor was inspired by watching her parents’ success in starting the business. She was 14 when they purchased U.S. Cleaners, starting with one location and a handful of employees. Now there are four locations and more than 40 employees. It has been a labor of love for the whole family.

What has been a significant barrier in your career and how have you overcome it? The pandemic was the most significant challenge in our 28 years in business. Like so many others, our business was greatly impacted by shortages of all kinds. We couldn’t get supplies—including hangers—that we depend on for our day-to-day operations. We have a fleet of five vehicles, and still have two that are out of order while we wait on parts. We are still navigating the labor shortage, and had to close two locations last year due to these challenges. We are still recovering, but look forward to announcing the reopening of one of our locations in the near future!

How do you balance your career, personal life and interests? We have an outstanding team. We are involved in our community and have busy personal lives, but we are able to manage it all due to our amazing employees. Melissa, a face most of our customers will recognize, has been with our company for 10 years. It’s because of her and employees like her that we are able to thrive.

What are the primary benefits to having women in leadership roles? As women, we offer a different skill set and perspective. There are more women in the cleaning industry, and we can relate to our employees on a very personal level. Many of us are juggling family life, careers and a personal life. We make our employees’ personal lives a priority, and ensure they are able to attend their kids’ school events and sporting events, etc. We can empathize with our customers and their needs, as well. We learn from our mistakes and are always trying to improve. Women are multitaskers—you have to be to run a business!

Julie Doty Owner Nothing Bundt Cakes Amarillo

Who are you and what do you do? I’m Julie Doty, owner of Nothing Bundt Cakes Amarillo, and I bring joy to others through cake!

What skills and experience do you bring to this position? I am the “queen of organized chaos” and have been self-employed since the day my son was born 24 years ago. I have run and worked in all of our businesses, putting in 80-plus hours a week. I’ve never been afraid of hard work or scared of being adaptable in this ever-changing society.

How do you maintain your expertise? I maintain my expertise by continuously learning from women business owners around me, as well as within our Nothing Bundt Cakes brand and from community leaders.

Who inspired you to take a leadership role and why? My son is the inspiration behind being a leader. I knew I wanted to be an involved mother while still working outside the home. From the day he was born, he has been taught what hard work looks like and he doesn’t know any other way. My husband has always been my biggest supporter. When I was first introduced to Nothing Bundt Cakes, I met the woman who owned the bakery and she showed me what culture and positive leadership looks like. She continues to mentor me and my team. Once I saw it in her bakery, I knew that was the leader I wanted to be!

What has been a significant barrier in your career and how have you overcome it? The constant changing of our society and resultant hurdles have been the biggest barriers, along with the change in how the younger generation learns, works and leads. COVID changed so much for them and I feel it’s our responsibility to teach them how to succeed beyond the basic fundamentals of schooling. There are so many things like using a landline phone, carrying on face-to-face conversations, as well as manners, respect, and teamwork.

How do you balance your career, personal life and interests? Work/ life balance is tough, especially when you work with your husband and son. We try to do a “vacation a month,” in which we take a couple of days and leave town, even if it’s the next town over. Occasionally we still talk work and answer calls and texts, but it allows us to leave work behind for a little bit and have fun and enjoy each other. We started this last year and it really does make a difference.

What are the primary benefits to having women in leadership roles? There are so many strong women in leadership roles, and it’s important to teach our younger generation how to be great and how to lead greatly. In addition to bringing joy to our community through delicious cake, I want to inspire and grow young leaders. I want whoever works for me to leave better than they were when they started with me. How can I strive for greatness if I’m not pushing my team to be great right along with me?

2303 S. GEORGIA ST. | 806.242.2253

Arlette J. Back, M.Ed., LPC-S Owner Arlette J. Back Counseling and Consulting, PLLC

Who are you and what do you do? I am a Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor (LPC-S) and Certified School Counselor and Educator in the State of Texas. I am the owner of Arlette J. Back Counseling and Consulting, PLLC. My specialties are couples counseling, trauma, anxiety, eating disorders, and depression. I work with adults, children (ages 5+), families, and couples.

What skills and experience do you bring to this position? I am reliable and dependable. I believe in building rapport with my clients first and foremost. Fidelity—following through with my commitment to their treatment—is a core value I hold dear and is one of the six core values of my profession. I am also versatile. I am not interested in being a “one-trick pony” and I do not believe my clients desire that either. I believe in finding creative ways to help my clients discover peace, whatever that looks like for them.

How do you maintain your expertise? I attend training on multiple psychotherapeutic subjects monthly. I do not believe one could ever learn “enough” in this field. It is always growing and changing and that is what I love about it. I want to learn everything I possibly can and more.

Who inspired you to take a leadership role and why? I have had several female mentors in my personal and professional life that have told me not to settle for less than what I deserve, and I intend to pay it forward.

What has been a significant barrier in your career and how have you overcome it? The most significant barrier was switching from a steady-paying job to the unpredictability of owning a business. I have learned so much about being a business-owner, but the most important is self-compassion. We make mistakes. Giving ourselves grace is essential.

How do you balance your career, personal life, and interests? My family grounds me. I could not stay in balance without the support of my husband and children. What fuels me is the fun we have together, traveling, and my dogs!

What are the primary benefits to having women in leadership roles? Women have made positive changes in the field of mental health, such as improving accessibility and breaking down barriers around stigma. I believe women are skilled at integration, interpretation, influence, inclusiveness, and insight. They will continue to positively impact the profession, and in turn, the relational aspects of humanity.

Jennifer Akerman Owner designTEN 1 Interiors

Who are you and what do you do? My name is Jennifer Akerman. I am an interior designer and the owner of designTEN 1 Interiors, a boutique with home decor and a full interior design studio that caters to remodels, new builds or existing interior updates. We specialize in 3D floor plans and sourcing tiles, fabrics, wallpapers, furniture selections and paint colors.

What skills do you bring to this position? I have been in the interior design field for 16 years. My specialty is creating interiors that represent my client’s style using modern and classic elements—not trends. I coined the word modASSIC, meaning to mix classic and modern elements. I have a broad knowledge of the inner workings of home building. designTEN 1 can provide a complete remodel or work with your contractor on a new build or remodel.

How do you maintain your expertise? By participating in conferences, going to market and meeting with experts in the field. Regularly reading industry journals and meeting with vendors to learn about new products and technology is also important.

Who inspired you to take a leadership role and why? My grandmother. Her house was beautiful and immaculate. She drew her own blueprints for her home and created a welcoming interior that was warm, classic and stunning! She also owned her own mail order catalog, which was one of the first back then. She did everything with such grace and class. A love of retail and design is in my blood thanks to my accomplished grandmother.

What has been a significant barrier in your career and how have you overcome it? I first went out on my own in Dallas, where my industry is pretty competitive. I didn’t have many clients. I grew my business by taking smaller jobs that eventually grew into larger ones across the United States, such as Aspen, New York City, North Carolina, New Mexico, Florida and, of course, Texas.

How do you balance your career, personal life and interests? I set aside hours during the week to focus on each of my clients and their projects, so no detail goes unnoticed. Each of my clients are important to me—I want each project to turn out just how the client desires, to give them a curated space they are excited to wake up to everyday. I take weekends off to be with my family.

What are the primary benefits to having women in leadership roles? As a woman, I believe it’s important to set an example and show younger generations that they can make a difference. With vision and hard work, you can make dreams come true and build a sense of accomplishment, involvement and pride. This makes any woman feel independent and, in turn, creates a cycle of success. I have three daughters and want to set an example for them, so they know they can be successful on their own and make their way in this world. Leadership, no matter how you do it—owning a business, volunteering, raising successful children—has influence on others.

2921 I-40 WEST, SUITE 800

806.641.1945 | DESIGNTEN1.COM

Sheila Sims, AIA Architect Sims + Architects

Who are you and what do you do? My name is Sheila Sims and I am an architect and President of Sims Architects. We are a fullservice commercial architecture firm in Amarillo.

What skills and experience do you bring to this position? I have more than 35 years of experience in the architectural field, with almost 33 of those at this firm. I began working here while I was a student at Texas A&M University.

How do you maintain your expertise? Hopefully, we are all learning all the time. I am constantly inspired by things I see traveling, and I love historical buildings.

Who inspired you to take a leadership role and why? My dad was one of my biggest role models and heroes. He was my high school drafting teacher and taught me to love what I do. He was the hardest-working person I’ve ever known and he always pushed me to do my best. This has also been a little bit of a curse, as I have spent many long hours and late nights getting things just right! But it has paid off for me in more ways than I could imagine, and I hope others can learn from that and do the same.

What has been a significant barrier in your career and how have you overcome it? Being a woman in a male-dominated field always has its challenges. In my early days, I wasn’t always taken seriously on construction sites. But I’ve learned that if you have integrity and always do your best—thanks, Dad!—people respect that, and it has helped me to build relationships with everyone I work with.

How do you balance your career, personal life and interests? Balance? What’s that? Seriously, it’s difficult sometimes but you make it work when it’s important to you. I have three daughters who have been very active in school and club volleyball. That has meant tons of travel and school programs, which I’m proud to say I’ve always attended. We only get one shot at it, right?

What are the primary benefits to having women in leadership roles? Men and women are so different and that’s a good thing! When it comes to leadership, I think women tend to be more relational and team-oriented. I love collaboration and sharing ideas. I also think women tend to be better communicators and problem-solvers. I believe to be an effective leader, you have to truly be part of the team and not someone who simply directs people. I have an incredible team and couldn’t imagine trying to make it without them.

Kaytie Gann

Owner/Designer Hollow Dot

Who are you and what do you do? I am Kaytie Gann, jewelry maker and owner of Hollow Dot. I design, create and curate Hollow Dot’s retail line of jewelry, alongside welding jewelry for our Welded Forever permanent jewelry line.

What skills and experience do you bring to this position? I have been making jewelry in some capacity for most of my life, starting at a very young age. This, as well as my strong customer service background, has been integral in helping Hollow Dot grow. I have always prioritized people over jewelry, and Hollow Dot would be nothing without all of our amazing customers.

How do you maintain your expertise? Maintaining expertise in the jewelry industry requires constant growth and learning. As styles and trends evolve, it is important that I evolve, too. But it is important that I continue to design and create what resonates with me and not fall into a “trend trap,” which is sometimes easy to do. I am constantly trying new things to see what works and what doesn’t. Not being afraid to think outside of the box or take a risk has helped me grow as a person in this industry.

Who inspired you to take a leadership role and why? I am inspired by the women around me, especially in our community. I have so many friends and peers who are women leaders and business owners, in addition to being mothers. I am in awe of their ability to multitask, delegate, and overcome obstacles professionally while maintaining their homes and personal lives.

What has been a significant barrier in your career and how have you overcome it? Recently, my most significant barrier has been maintaining an edge over the vast amounts of local businesses entering the permanent jewelry market. I introduced this unique product nearly three years ago—before most people had ever heard of the concept of permanent jewelry. The success of year two was both invigorating and exhausting. Now, in year three, we are working to continue to create a great product that our customers love, while doubling down on the customer experience.

How do you balance your career, personal life and interests?

While learning the art of saying “no” has been a struggle, I have realized how important it is for myself and my business to maintain a positive work/life balance. Prioritizing the people in my life as well as my personal interests helps me get back to who I am at my core. This allows me to feel fulfilled in all aspects of my life, not just in my business.

What are the primary benefits to having women in leadership roles? Anyone in a leadership position—man or woman—must possess empathy, self-awareness, respect, and the willingness to adapt. I believe women, in particular, naturally use this diverse and unique skill set by introducing creative solutions to continue to move forward.

Cindi Barela Graham Owner Law Office of Cynthia Barela Graham, PLLC

Who are you and what do you do? I am Cindi Barela Graham, a Family Law attorney and owner of my business, Law Office of Cynthia Barela Graham, PLLC. I am board certified in family law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, and have been since 2002. Currently, I am Chair of the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and the Collaborative Divorce Texas Board. I was one of three founding members of the Amarillo Area Women’s Bar Association.

What skills and experience do you bring to this position? I have been practicing law for more than 33 years. I have represented both men and women in contested and uncontested divorces, custody cases, paternity cases, adoptions and other family law matters. I am also trained in the Collaborative Divorce Process, which helps couples resolve their legal issues without court intervention by working as a team to create a resolution that is customized to their children and family needs and also divides the marital estate in a manner beneficial to both parties.

How do you maintain your expertise? By volunteering in Family Law organizations both locally and statewide, I often know about changes in the law before the change becomes official. This has allowed me to stay current in Texas Family Law. And, because of my involvement with these organizations, I am often asked to write papers and speak to other Family Lawyers on Family Law issues. attend and also speak at continuing legal education courses on Family Law. Additionally, I attend continuing legal education seminars several times a year.

Who inspired you to take a leadership role? My sister, Kathi, taught me, when I was in junior high, that being involved and giving back is fun and rewarding. Certainly too, the many mentors from whom I have been fortunate to learn have taught me the importance of giving back to my profession and my community. I cannot thank my lawyer father and my mother enough for teaching me to use my strong personality to help benefit others.

What has been a significant barrier in your career and how have you overcome it? While it has greatly improved with younger generations, in the past I have experienced inappropriate comments and actions by male lawyers and some male judges. Luckily, most of those attorneys have passed away and all of those judges have retired.

How do you balance your career, personal life and interests? A mentor once told me that you can’t solve most legal problems after hours and so I turn my phone off once I get home. When I am at home or doing non-work activities, I focus on what I am doing. When I am at work, I focus on my clients and their cases.

What are the primary benefits to having women in leadership roles? Women often bring different perspectives than men; these different perspectives, when combined with male perspectives, typically lead to better outcomes.

Lora Brown Founder and Owner The Salon by Lora Brown

Who are you and what do you do? I am Lora Brown, founder and owner of The Salon by Lora Brown. I will celebrate 17 years in business in 2023.

What skills and experience do you bring to this position? I am a Master Stylist, with 38 years’ experience in haircutting, chemical services, salon management and training. In 2021, I launched The Total Stylist, an online e-learning business program, which helps beginning and struggling hairstylists become successful.

How do you maintain your expertise? I maintain my expertise with continuing education through Thrivers Society, an online marketing program for hairstylists. I also lead biweekly education classes, attend hair shows and have hired a business coach who I meet with weekly, in addition to reading numerous business-focused books.

Who inspired you to take a leadership role and why? Watching both of my parents pursue their careers and growing up in my mother’s dry-cleaning business taught me a lot about customer service. I knew that I wanted to own my own business. I enrolled in cosmetology school at Amarillo High School and graduated with my licenses.

What has been a significant barrier in your career and how have you overcome it? Being a hairstylist was not a “career” in my father’s eyes because he was an attorney, but college was never in my plans. In retrospect, I wish I would have listened and earned a business degree. Instead, I received a degree in the school of hard knocks, but failure was not an option. Knowledge is the key to any success in life. Good or bad, it is what you do with that knowledge that keeps you moving forward.

How do you balance your career, personal life and interests? At the age of 55, I have realized for me there is no life balance. During one of my coaching sessions, my husband and business coach told me that everything I choose to spend time on is my choice, and I would not do it if I did not get something out of it. As much as I wanted to disagree, I really thought about it for several days, and he was right. My clients and coworkers are my friends and my family. I love sharing my God-given gifts, helping others reach their potential, and having a community to call my own. This is my life and I am blessed by all my relationships.

What are the primary benefits to having women in leadership roles? Having women in leadership roles has helped me feel like I am not alone. Our connection in leadership benefits our businesses, because our life experiences give us the ability to see things from a different perspective. They give us compassion and understanding.