WOMEN WHO LEAD

by Cassidie Cox • photos courtesy of interviewees Women Who Lead

LIBERTY HILL IS HOME TO WOMEN WHO LEAD—FROM POLITICS TO BUSINESS TO PERSONAL SERVICE. MEET SOME THOSE WHO HELP OUR CITY PROSPER EVERY DAY.

ANASTASIA CORKER uses her leadership, empathy, and mental health care experience to help others through life’s toughest stages. A veteran who toured in Afghanistan in 2006, she suffered some hard losses while serving our country, but instead of giving up, she decided to do something about her grief. “It became a driving force behind my advocacy for good mental health,” Ana says, “along with the reason that I’ll be providing mental health care as long as I am able.”

It has also become a ministry for her. “Every morning I get out of bed wanting to make a difference,” says Ana, who moved to Liberty Hill with her husband in 2014 to start a family. “I want to get to the end of my life and be told, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant.’”

As Ana strives to bring life-changing mental health services to Liberty Hill, she also makes time to balance her own well being in addition to her family. She acknowledges it is sometimes easier said than done since, in addition to her family and practice, she is still on active reserve duty and sometimes is called on to travel away from home.

Her advice to herself and others is to learn when to say 'no', create firm boundaries, and lean on the community for help. “I may not be able to volunteer at every local event,” Ana says, “but if I’m asked to read in my kids’ classroom, it will be the highlight of my week.”

BRYLEE BURICH is all about giving people the knowledge and confidence to live their best lives. In 2019, when she was just 19, Brylee and her mother opened Royal Bliss Day Spa with a mission to uplift people through skin care, beauty, and massage. “I wanted to wake up every day excited to love on my clients,” Brylee says. She grew up in Leander just outside of Liberty Hill and made her home here five years ago. Clients rave about Brylee’s ability to connect with them and provide the best possible service. In fact—after faith and family—seeing and meeting new clients are what get her out of bed in the morning.

Having struggled to maintain healthy skin herself throughout her teenage and young adult years, she understands how trying it can be for others. “Fulfillment for me is when a client is able to use the knowledge I have to share and fall in love with their own skin,” she says.

As a young business owner, Brylee is open about how challenging it can be to balance work and her personal life. She is grateful to be able to lean on her mother, who is also her business partner, for support that allows her to step away from her business and take time for herself.

With a knack for keeping the community engaged and up to date on the latest happenings around town, Katie Amsler has her finger on the pulse of Liberty Hill. Growing up in East Texas, she has always been drawn to small towns, which became her motivation for eventually moving to Liberty Hill.

As communications manager for the city, Katie is responsible for delivering the news to the people of Liberty Hill and keeping an open line of communication between the city and its citizens. “Real people are affected by government communication,” Katie says, “and transparency and empathy are key.”

That dedication and work ethic don’t stop when she’s off the clock. Every day, she strives to make her daughters a priority and her planner is her lifesaver when it comes to keeping track of everything. “My entire life is organized and color-coded between the pages of a six-month notebook,” Katie says. “It’s a puzzle every day to get it all done.”

One of her favorite parts of working and living in Liberty Hill is the annual festivals she gets to plan and attend. Being part of bringing the town together for a fun celebration is one of the most rewarding tasks in her job description and being able to put her creative fingerprints on them is the icing on the cake.

COUNCILWOMAN CRYSTAL MANCILLA grew up in Leander and found herself in Liberty Hill while looking for a new place she and her children could call home after her divorce. “Liberty Hill was very welcoming to us and it didn’t take me long to fall in love with the people in it," she says.

After spending time here, she began to see ways she could apply her skills to meet the needs of her growing town and help it flourish. “I had no experience in elected office, but I knew I wanted to make a difference. I knew I had character, ethics, and a good listening ear for the people, which is what citizen leadership is about.” Eager to serve, she was elected in 2021.

Crystal wants residents to know that their voices are the best tool to make an impact. “I would love to encourage everyone, whether living in the city limits or not, to use their voice—email a council member if you have questions or concerns. I also encourage people to make suggestions for new developments, changes, or things they would like to see more of in the city.” Residents can follow Crystal on social media to provide feedback on initiatives and projects. "Knowing what the citizens of Liberty Hill want helps us plan and determine how to spend our tax dollars," she adds. “I am a servant at heart and I am honored to be a voice for people in Liberty Hill. I find fulfillment in playing my part to build a legacy for my family and yours. Liberty means freedom. Freedom brings joy, peace, and fulfillment. Together, we can create a town that defines its name. Change starts with you and me.”