PeopleNewspapers A SUPPLEMENT TO PARK CITIES PEOPLE AND PRESTON HOLLOW PEOPLE
JULY 2019
20 Under 40 | People Newspapers | July 2019 3B
PROUD TO PRESENT OUR 20 UNDER 40
I
IMANI CHET LYTLE
MAYA DELGADO HEARTS OF MAYA* Education: Home School
By Bianca R. Montes People Newspapers
M
aya Delgado is filled with a passion for the arts – it oozes out in her singsong voice and animated energy as she talks about reading a script or crooning her favorite songs. She’s that little girl who was performing for family and friends, singing her favorite songs and acting out her favorite shows, as soon as she could walk and talk. “Everyone has that feeling where something gets their blood rushing, and they would do anything for that; mine just happens to be music and dancing,” Maya said. “I feel like if I got the arts taken away from me, I don’t know who I would be.” However, early in life, Maya realized that luxuries like acting classes and vocal coaches are things that are taken away from children every day. “From a very young age, I started taking classes and would notice that some of my friends wouldn’t come back. I realized it’s because they didn’t have enough money to pay for the classes.” Maya took her concerns to her father, a business executive, and at 9 years old learned what a nonprofit was. Later that night she did something one usually wouldn’t expect from a girl her age, she called a business meeting during a family dinner and told her mom, dad, and
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brother that “I know this is a problem, and it doesn’t make sense to know you can do something and not do it.” Since creating Hearts of Maya, the Park Cities preteen has given out more than $20,000 in scholarships to youth in financial need. Maya and her ambassadors often raise the money by teaming up with local businesses like Kidbiz at Inwood Village and Swoozie’s, and Kendra Scott, both in The Plaza at Preston Center, for pop-up events, or through donations made on her website, heartsofmaya.org. Through it all Maya said she has learned everyone is born with a passion and anyone can make a difference, “there is no excuse that you can’t make a difference because you can,” she said. Thinking back to the first time she gave a scholarship, Maya said she wasn’t able
to fully grasp the impact she was making on the recipient’s life, “but after giving scholarships to 34 kids, I am very proud to say that I am making a difference.” One recipient she fondly remembers is a young girl who had a beautiful voice with a soft tone but lacked confidence. After one semester of classes the nonprofit put her through, Maya said the same girl returned with certainty to her voice and a dynamic stage presence. Her hope for the nonprofit’s future is to grow large enough to reach children all over the country. “I feel like the arts is more important than people make it out to be,” she said. “Creating is the most important thing, and it is the highest level of thinking you can do.”
Q: If someone made a movie of your life, what would the title be and who would play you?
A: “World Changer” because ultimately, that’s my goal.
I want to change the world for the better, even if it’s one person at a time. I would love for Ana Villafane (who recently portrayed Gloria Estefan in the Broadway Musical “On Your Feet”) to play as my character because she’s of Cuban
can still fondly remember one of my first interviews after being hired to work for People Newspapers B I A N C A R . M O N T E S nearly two years ago. It was at a plaque dedication for a beloved Highland Park ISD teacher who was tragically killed in 1995 when rushing waters flooded McFarlin Boulevard. I first realized that day, how much our readers cared about their communities and how impressed they were with their neighbors – as they should be. Nearly every person I spoke with at the dedication took a moment to lavish about someone “I needed to meet,” and that community boast has continued through the hundreds of interviews I’ve had since then. It’s why creating our 20 Under 40 special section last year was well deserved and why we chose to continue the tradition. The Park Cities and Preston Hollow neighborhoods are filled with locals who are changing the game in a list of industries, who give tirelessly to improving the lives of others through philanthropy work and volunteering, and who continue to make their respective communities flourish. Like last year, this year I was blown away with the stellar nominations that poured into our office and am so proud to present the 20 young professionals our panel, which was comprised of a voice from each department at the newspaper, has selected. Some standouts include a woman who turned her own personal tragedy into a burgeoning nonprofit; those in the real estate game benchmarking innovative ways to propel the industry; and the youngest principal hired in Dallas ISD who led the first elementary school into the district to achieve IB authorization. In addition to our 20 Under 40, we also highlight two power couples (page 9B and 10B) that take squad goals to the next level and three local students as Youth on the Rise (pages 3B, 4B, and 6B). Bianca R. Montes, Managing Editor
bianca.montes@peoplenewspapers.com
descent like me and is an amazing actress and singer.
SOCIAL MEDIA
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4B July 2019 | People Newspapers | 20 Under 40
JACK SMITH JACK SMITH PAINTINGS Education: Highland Park High School
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By Timothy Glaze
People Newspapers
J
ack Smith made $100 when he was a child by selling a painting he made to a friend of his parents. That’s not chump change for an elementary student, and at an early age, Jack knew what he wanted to do when he grew up. Or, continue doing immediately. “The business just sort of fell into my lap,” he said. “It really snowballed when I began having art shows.” Now officially a professional artist – he recently turned 18 – the Blue Print Gallery represents Jack in Uptown for his sculpture work, keeping a portion of the proceeds. He also regularly provides commissioned paintings for individuals in and around Dallas. Jack also said his paintings are usually requested by clients that want to hang them in their offices or homes. For other orders, he has a printmaker who scans his paintings to sell. Many clients request specific types of paintings, but more often than not, Jack creates the pieces all on his own. “While commissions comprise a large portion of my revenue, I would say more often than not I sell paintings that were not commissioned by anyone but came from my own head,” he said. “Every artist is different in technique, style, and taste. My business is unique because my artwork is unique to me.” Recently, Jack had what he called the
Daren Dunkel
McAfee Education: Oklahoma State, SMU
27
When Daren Dunkel was in high school, he worked at a moving warehouse where he unloaded tractor trailers that sizzled inside at 120 degrees in the middle of the summer. On his last day of work, a front-line veteran told him to go and get his degree and graduate college because this wasn’t a job he wanted to do his entire life. “That really stuck with me,” the Preston Hollow resident said. In high school, he started studying cybersecurity – a topic you could barely research at
most successful art show of his young career: In October, Blue Print sold 100 percent of his sculptures and, he estimates, 75 percent of his paintings. “I had been working for months on finishing all the pieces and getting prints made, and the show was a massive success,” Jack said. As a high school student working full-time on art, scheduling conflicts can make things tricky – not to mention, the day-to-day activities that come with being an 18-year-old. Jack still has homework, always goes to school, and still lives with his parents. But, he said, the ability to interact with adults and work in “the real world” has been exciting – a challenge he embraces. “I don’t really notice the age gap between my clients and me,” he said. “I have done business for thousands of dollars and even tens of thousands of dollars with careered adults throughout high school. I will say that running my own business while I am still a student has its challenges. While my peers are playing video games or relaxing, I work in my studio, organize, and price inventory, and talk to clients. But I would say I rather enjoy doing business with mature adults because it provides me experience in the real world of business, and [offers] experience in cultivating professional relationships.”
the time – and was the first incoming student at Oklahoma State to ask the business school about their cybersecurity program. Today, he is the manager for the global strategy of McAfee’s commercial sales business unit and holds a seat on SMU’s cybersecurity advisory board. His continued efforts to excel in an industry that today has a 2 million-person job shortage allowed Darren to make McAfee’s President Club and be the only person in his Executive MBA class at SMU working for a cybersecurity company. “I am passionate about cybersecurity because it is so critical to everything we do, personally and professionally.” Q: What is your favorite local store? A: I really enjoy supporting local retailers. Everything from Lucky Dog Barkery in Preston Center to men’s attire at Mizzen + Main. I was raised in a family that had an appreciation for shopping local, and it is still very important to me. Q: If you could, what advice would you have for your teenage self and why? A: Be the hardest worker in the room and continue to stay true to my roots and ethics, and good things will continue to happen.
Did You Know?
I once won a Golden Ticket at work that allowed me to meet Ted Koppel and Ashton Kutcher.
COURTESY PHOTOS
Q : What advice would you give yourself? A : I am still learning all kinds of lessons from my
failures and anxieties. I often find myself bogged down in worry about my future, and I seem to forget sometimes that the best cure to mental pain is prayer and family. In times of worry and pain, I ask Christ to walk with me and guide my life in his image.
Erin England
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Haynes and Boone Education: SMU Dedman School of Law A native Texan, Erin England knows what makes the Midway Hollow community so energizing. “You combine the neighborhood pride with the pride of being a Texan and living in the Big D, and it makes you feel unstoppable.” Erin has worked at Haynes and Boone since 2008 and is now a partner in the finance practice group. Her dedication and strong work ethic helped her make D Magazine’s Best Lawyers in Dallas list, but she doesn’t stop at prac-
ticing law. Erin is also on the board of several community organizations, such as the Town North YMCA and the Dallas Women Lawyers Association. Though she considers delegation the hardest leadership skill she has had to learn, Erin knows it is necessary to keep her life manageable, especially as part of a two-attorney household and a mom to 3-year-old daughter, Alexandra. Though her younger self may roll her eyes, Erin now considers parenthood as her most rewarding accomplishment, or at least tied for first with becoming a partner at Haynes and Boone. Q: What was your first job, and what did you learn from it? A: Working the cash register and folding clothes at a store called County Seat in the Longview Mall. I learned to be a more considerate customer; always refold the shirt you pick up to inspect and always bring your clothes out of the dressing room when you’re finished. Q: If you could buy a book for your neighbor, what would it be and why? A: All seven Harry Potter books. No explanation needed.
Did You Know?
My favorite place in the Park Cities for lunch is Rise. “The entrée is not nearly as important as the cheese cart and the chocolate soufflé.”
20 Under 40 | People Newspapers | July 2019 5B
Heath Cheek
Bell Nunnally & Martin Education: Baylor Law School
38 Meg Fahrenbrook 36 John Paul Merritt 39
If you had told Heath Cheek in high school that he’d be recognized as one of D Magazine’s “Best Lawyers Under 40 in Dallas,” representing a wide range of clients from start-up businesses to Fortune 500 companies, he wouldn’t have believed you. As a first-generation college student who grew up in the small town of Chillicothe, Heath is no stranger to hard work. In fact, his first job began at 8 years old when he would help his father and grandfather on the family farm. It helped develop his strong work ethic, as well as teach him that work isn’t nearly as hard when there’s an air conditioner running. His love of family has transferred over to his life in the Park Cities, where he and his wife Andrea are raising their two children, Charlotte and Gage. Living here has allowed Heath to give his children the small-town feel he grew up with combined with living in the fourth largest metropolitan area in America. Q: What leadership skills were the most challenging for you to develop and why? A: I’m an introvert, so socializing is not something that comes naturally to me. So since moving to Dallas, I’ve ended up joining a lot of organizations to force me into situations where I have to socialize and make connections that I normally would not make. Q: If there was one thing that you could change or improve in the community, what would it be? A: My philanthropic passion is raising money for scholarships for needy kids. I was a first-generation college graduate, and I would not have been able to achieve that without the generosity of scholarship donors. I want the door of opportunity to be open for every student in Dallas who is willing to put forward the effort to advance his or her education.
Did You Know?
I have a Corgi named Rosie.
The Episcopal School of Dallas Education: Wheaton College
Pony Oil Education: University of Oklahoma
As both the assistant head of middle school and history at The Episcopal School of Dallas and a course instructor for the nonprofit Students Shoulder-to-Shoulder, it’s safe to say that Meg Fahrenbrook is a born educator. Her journey started in high school, working as a nanny for two young children. “The experience gave me the confirmation that I love being around children. I love learning beside them, and that I wanted to pursue a degree in education.” Her decision to work with nonprofit organizations came from her summer teaching English to students in a rural community in South Africa. She remembers being jittery with excitement and nerves and just knew that this is what she wanted to do. She wanted to help others. Meg also is growing her own nonprofit Expeditions of Hope, for which she hopes to establish in partnership with a Nepali nonprofit sustainably run medical clinics in Nepal’s remote communities in the next few years. It’s tough work, but her husband Michael, rescue dog Aster, a “total mutt,” and her students make it all worth it. Q: If you could, what advice would you have for your teenage self and why? A: Don’t be so serious about everything — lighten up, keep an open mind, and be open to new things and new people. Q: What, to date, has been your most rewarding accomplishment in both your professional personal life? A: Having the opportunity to work as a teacher and now the assistant head of the middle school that I attended and graduated from.
From growing up in Oklahoma City where he learned all about hard work as a fifth-grader helping his father make and sell Christmas wreaths out of wire grid panels and cedar tree branches to building his own company, John Paul Merritt’s journey can easily be summed up as an All-American success story. With its headquarters firmly rooted in Dallas, Merritt has built his land-focused oil and gas company, Pony Oil, from a laptop in Starbucks five years ago to more than 35 employees and $145 million in revenue for 2018. He also opened a family office, Merritt Plus that invests in Dallas businesses like Unleavened Fresh Kitchen in Snider Plaza. The Highland Park father of four also is heavily involved in his children’s schools (Armstrong Elementary and Westminster Presbyterian), Christ the King Catholic Church, and several nonprofits. His Golden Rule: Work and live like your children are watching. “My faith and family is the most important thing in this world to me, and just as I followed my father’s examples, so will my children. Q: What was your “lightbulb moment” that lead you to your career? A: Not sure there was a “lightbulb moment,” but I truly believe that my failures and my ability to learn from them have provided me a unique skill set that has helped propel Pony Oil to what it is today. Q: What do you love most about the Park Cities? A: This is an easy one. Community. (My wife) Kriti and I constantly tell ourselves how lucky we are to be able to live in a community that cares so much about their city, friends, and families.
Did You Know?
Meg is a member of the Church of Incarnation, where she served as a member of the Vestry for three years, She and her husband teach a Sunday School class on marriage and help run the pre-marriage course.
Courtney Bristow
39
Cassin & Cassin Education: SMU Dedman School of Law
Two things you can tell immediately about Courtney Bristow from her Facebook account are that she loves posting about her children, Davis, 8, and Taylor, 7, and that she’s always decluttering the house. She is also the managing partner of Cassin & Cassin and has been since she was hired to open their Dallas office in 2013. A fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation and named a Texas Rising Star from 2014-2016 and in 2019, one would think that her focus is her career, but in fact, her real joy comes from spending time in her community. Having grown up in the Park Cities area,
Did You Know?
If there were one thing I could change about the community, it would be that by law all Mexican restaurants have to give free queso along with the salsa and chips. where she now lives with her husband, James, she considers the community full of wonderful people, some of whom she has known since high school. “It’s a little town in a huge city,” she said. Courtney is part of the University Park PTA and Highland Park United Methodist Church, donating her free time in any way she can. Despite the busy schedule, though, you can often find her at Hillstone, munching on her favorite cheeseburger. Q: What was your “lightbulb moment” that led you to your career? A: When I was growing up, both of my parents invested in real estate, and we were always driving around to various properties. While an SMU undergrad, I was in a business law class, and that’s when the lightbulb turned
Katrina Eash
36
Winston & Strawn Education: SMU Dedman School of Law
Katrina Eash originally wanted to be an investigative reporter; that is until she realized her journalism skills made her an even better lawyer. At Winston & Strawn, Katrina consistently goes above and beyond the amount of pro bono hours her firm requires and considers that work to be one of her greatest professional accomplishments. Advocating for her clients’ lives and showing their humanity makes the hard work she has put into her career worth it. Outside of her legal life, Katrina is also a mom to two daughters, Reagan and Logan, whom she enjoys taking out with her husband, Dustin. Having grown up in Dallas, she is no stranger to the many wonderful places that make the Park Cities home to thousands of families, but she also has her personal favorites, too. Carlo’s Bakery is one of her go-to spots. “I have a massive sweet tooth,” she said. Though Katrina would love if the sidewalks in the area could get more attention, the community in Park Cities and smiles of her many friends and neighbors make her call the area home. Q: If we looked at your social media accounts, what would we learn and why? A: I am absolutely in love with my children and husband, and I think they are all really cute. Yes, I am one of those moms! Q: Where do you see your career 10 years from now? A: I see myself in the courtroom battling for my clients when the company knows that the stakes are high, and only the best will do.
Did You Know?
Growing up, I was a competitive gymnast. on, and I knew I wanted to go to law school. It wasn’t until I was enrolled in several real estate transaction classes that I realized that real estate finance law was a perfect fit for me. Q: If there was one thing that you could change or improve in the community, what would it be? A: More parking spaces. Everywhere I go, I feel like there is not enough parking.
Did You Know?
In high school, I had to get a job to pay for the damage I caused after backing my car into two parked cars at the old Blockbuster across from SMU. At 17, I learned the importance of customer service; even minimum wage earners have to pay taxes, and to always make sure I look twice when driving in reverse.
6B July 2019 | People Newspapers | 20 Under 40
Matthew Ruffner
Preston Hollow Presbyterian Church Education: Presbyterian College
35
It was on a train in Munich his senior year of college that the now Rev. Matthew Ruffner realized he had no idea, metaphorically, where he was going. “We got off the train, went hiking in the Bavarian Alps, and I thought to myself, ‘Have I been on a train my whole life with no idea where I’m going?’” Reflecting on a time when his life where he did know, the moments that came up were when he was discussing – or debating – theology and politics. That moment led to him taking a year off after college to live in a tiny Honduras town for three months where he worked on a dairy farm in the morning and helped build desks for the elementary school and taught English at night. When he returned to the states, Matthew enrolled in seminary. About four years ago, the Zick Preaching Scholar was named senior pastor at Preston Hollow Presbyterian Church where he leads a staff of 33 and a congregation of 2,700 – and knows exactly where he is going in life, “shaping the trajectory of our great city through the life and ministry of ” his church. Q: What is the best advice you’ve ever received? A: Being a leader is trying to decide whether to overreact or underreact. Underreacting is the right answer 90 percent of the time. Q: What is your favorite place to eat, and what do you order? A: Meso Maya and Herradura salmon.
Did you know?
REAGAN VAN EATON
I learned the value of hard work and education” through my first job where “I hauled hay in South Carolina for $6 an hour.
18
BEAM BRACELET Education: Highland Park High School
IMANI CHET LYTLE
By Bianca R. Montes People Newspapers
H
er mother calls it an entrepreneurial heart, she calls it being stubborn, but whatever the adjective, Highland Park High School senior Reagan Van Eaton has always used her creativity to solve problems. Most recently, she took a challenge and locked up a provisional patent on a bright idea that tackles a problem that’s relatable to anyone who’s worn a retainer or Invisalign adjuster. And it all began in the trash can. “It was embarrassing,” she said about the act of furtively recovering her retainer at the lunch table as a freshman and then carefully wrapping it in a napkin while she ate. The awkward way of dealing with her retainer worked until she accidentally threw it away. That incident – and a stern lecture from her mother – was the lightbulb moment that led to the creation of what Reagan has named a BeAM Bracelet. Simple in design, almost resembling a headband, the fashionable bracelet lined with food-grade material
Courtney Underwood
36
Underwood Commercial Properties, The SANE Initiative Education: SMU This year marks the 16th that Courtney Underwood has fought to expand services for victims of sexual violence, both in our community and across the state. Deemed “the Dallas area’s most prominent advocate for sex crimes” by the Dallas Morning News, the Highland Park resident still remembers how terrified she felt the first time she publically shared her story about being a rape victim. In the March 2009 issue of D
serves as a storage device. After researching patents and the process, Reagan took it upon herself to write her own and was recently awarded a provisional patent for her creation and is going into mass production this summer – all while battling typical high school deadlines, managing an award-winning yearbook, interning with a communitywide interdenominational Christian ministry, and catering to clients from her digital scrapbook business. “I like a project, and I like a challenge,” Reagan said. “I’m the kind of person that
once I have something, I’m like this is what I’m doing now.” Preparing to attend the University of Missouri to study journalism next year, Reagan doesn’t just stand out as a youth on the rise because of her tenacity to invent something meaningful before graduating high school. Her heart for others also is impressive. As she prepares to commercialize her bracelet, Meagan already has promised to donate 10 percent of profits to those who do not have access to dental care. Reagan also was awarded a Presidential Service Award for her community service and completed a life-changing mission trip to Haiti. She is adventurous and curious about the world around her. She is a Cornerstone Scholar Athlete and a member of the National Honor Society and Quill & Scroll International Journalism Honor Society. With myriad interests and the rest of her life in front of her, Reagan said developing her bracelet is a passion she wants to keep for life. “That is the one thing that I don’t have to do,” she said. “This is the one thing I am doing because I enjoy it.”
Q : If you could buy a book (or rent a movie) for your neighbor, what would it be and why?
A : “Leaders Eat Last” by Simon Sinek. Reading this
book has changed my perspective on leadership and caused me to begin to become more passionate and have a better understanding of what it means to be a leader in and out of the workplace. Magazine, she talked about her mission and bringing SANE’s (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner) to the city – and she would still do it all “to help one single survivor.” Between her work with the initiative and becoming the owner and CEO of Underwood Commercial Properties four years ago after closing out her mother’s estate, Courtney calls her day-to-day life crazy but blessed. And she’s dreaming big for the future; her goal is to establish the first Family Advocacy Center in Dallas – the largest city in the country without one, open more SAFE Clinics across the U.S., and ensure all hospitals have SANEs in their ERs. Q: What leadership skills were the most challenging for you to develop?
A: Definitely patience in addition to learning that success is built upon the back of failure. Q: What did you learn from your first job? A: Working in the service industry not only gave me an enormous appreciation for everyone who works in the industry but it also taught me that one of the best ways to judge a person’s character is to watch how they treat servers in those in the industry. Did You Know?
Brooks was a therapy dog for sexual assault victims before being trained as my service dog. He’s also the mascot for Courtney’s SAFE Place, and he’s always sporting a bow tie.
20 Under 40 | People Newspapers | July 2019 7B
Kevin Shtofman
38
Deloitte Consulting Education: University of Texas at Austin
Being named the CoreNet Global Luminary in 2018 and completing two Ironman triathlons are what Kevin Shtofman considers his most significant accomplishments professionally and personally, respectively. “And although I wouldn’t call the birth of my daughter an ‘accomplishment,’ it has been the greatest single moment of my life. However, those in his industry know him as a digital technology evangelist. For the past two years, he’s traveled to 31 cities and eight countries to tell executives in the real estate space why Blockchain Technology is the future – think of it like a general ledger that has transaction histories, purchases, sales of assets, and other data. Kevin said he found himself passionate about the space two weeks into his MBA program. “Lehman Brothers collapsed. This company, which had been around for over 150 years, was brought down because of an opaque real estate market. I knew right then that the industry was going to experience a ton of change over the ensuing decades.” With technology now sought after in the industry, Kevin said he has his eyes set on running a company at the executive level in the real estate space within the next decade. Q: What big issue are you watching in the community? A: The Preston Center parking garage – very closely. After the success of Klyde Warren Park, I’d love to see an active project that supports more residential development and green space for community events. Q: What is the best place for a power lunch, and what do you order? A: Pretty hard to beat the Thai Steak Salad at Hillstone in Preston Center, although Montlake Cut comes a close second.
Did You Know?
I am a member of Gen Next, a small, invitation-only network across the U.S. advocating for criminal justice reform, education reform, and common sense national security efforts.
Jill Ombrello
37
Central Dentist Education: UT Houston Dental Branch
A fourth-generation dentist, it’s no surprise where Jill Ombrello developed a passion for oral healthcare. However, her confident decision-making skills were developed at TCBY at Preston/Forest – her first job. “I would patiently wonder how in the world these people would function in their jobs and life when it would take them 15 minutes to choose between four flavors and six toppings,” she said. “I was always impressed with those customers that would walk right in with confidence and order their yogurt with a specific topping. I decided at that job that I would be one of the confident decision makers who walked in and knew what she wanted.” Today, the Preston Hollow mother of four has used her sharp instincts and heart for giving back to others in both her private dental practice and in her family-run mobile dental company that services those who cannot travel to a traditional dental office. Jill also is an international lecturer, trainer, and consultant for Healthy Start/Orthotrain and travels around the world to teach and train other dentists in how to evaluate a child’s growth and development to provide a holistic, comprehensive approach to their needs. Q: If you could improve one thing about your community, what would it be? A: The litter in our community. I live off Northaven and witness drivers throw trash out of their windows. I would also make Preston Hollow a smoke-free community. Q: If we looked at your social media accounts, what would we learn about you? A: You would see that I am not afraid to throw out a motivational Monday quote now and then.
Did You Know?
I have the most amazing 15-year-old Maltese named Notorious BIG, but we call him “Biggie” for short.
Lauren Morehead
Gartner Education: Pepperdine University
24
If Lauren Griffin Morehead could choose any actress to portray her in a movie, it would be Reese Witherspoon, whom she says strikes the perfect balance between an adventurous spirit and a giving soul, traits that match up pretty well to the real deal. For example, if you scrolled through Lauren’s social media, you’d see that she’s a foodie, travel, and adventure junkie and that her family dogs are the center of her world. Professionally, you’d be impressed with how fast this 24-year-old has climbed the ranks at Gartner from an associate to a manager in her first 11 months. She considers herself
Kyle Coburn
The Photo Bus DFW, Coburn Photography Education: University of Missouri
35
Kyle Coburn learned a lot about the photo industry from a photographer most Park Cities residents remember and love, the late Phil Stephens. “Learning the journalism industry from Phil and other journalism professionals on the sidelines of Scots sporting events, and the encouragement from my Bagpipe newspaper advisor, Sandy Hall-Chiles, led me to pursue journalism and photography in college. While starting his career as a sports photographer, Kyle’s talents took him around the world as a wedding photographer. He also launched The Photo Bus DFW, a mobile photo booth in a vintage VW Bus, with his college roommate. Their first event was at the HPISD Centennial Celebration in October 2014. The duo has since licensed the concept across the country to 11 cities. You might have seen it at local events like the Snider Plaza Christmas Tree Lighting, the Fourth of July Parade, and HP National Night Out. While Coburn loves to travel and find beauty in random corners of the world, he also has a heart for giving back to the community. Each year he volunteers for the Take Steps Walk of Dallas and Fort Worth, benefitting the Crohns and Colitis Foundation, a disease that affects his girlfriend. Q: What do you love about the Park Cities community? A: I love that it is a timeless community that is consistent in its values and more progressive than people give it credit for. Whether you are inspired or intimidated by success, you may find your motivation in this North Dallas community. Q: Which is your favorite local store? A: JDs Chippery. Don’t order from the counter. Just ask what is fresh out of the oven and get a dozen of those. You won’t regret it.
Did You Know?
Rawles Bell
Benchmark Private Wealth Management Education: Texas A&M Univeristy
30
Rawles F. Bell learned all about hard work and responsibility working as a ranch hand in Colorado, where he spent most of his days bailing hay. “As a high school kid, experiencing the satisfaction of a hard day’s work and having to take responsibility for my job were two excellent growth opportunities,” the Park Cities native said. Today, he is an associate director and client advisor, specializing in wealth advisory services and portfolio management – a career he fell in love with during an internship nearly a decade ago. Getting to see how wealth management marries the world of investing with the world of personal counseling and helping people is why he said he loves the profession. “It sounds dramatic, but from that moment, I knew what I was going to do with my life.” When he’s not working, spending time with his wife and newborn daughter, or shopping at Saint Bernard, Rawles serves on the board of PureHope, a nonprofit seeking to equip parents and leaders to point people to Jesus amid an over-sexualized culture. Q: Which leadership skills were the most challenging for you to develop and why? A: The skill of delegating. I am a terrible delegator. Maybe I’m controlling or arrogant – probably both – but I have always found it hard to hand off or teach tasks to others when it would be faster to do it myself. It is still something I am learning. Q: If we looked at your social media accounts, what would we learn about you? A: I don’t use social media. I can be a very non-millennial, millennial.
Did you know?
While I don’t have any pets of my own, I am the ‘uncle’ to my neighbor’s dog, Winnie.
If I were to win the lottery, I would still do what I am doing right now.
lucky to have had mentors at the beginning of her corporate world career – mentorships she said helped steward her early career and instill in her a passion for helping others in the same way. “From the moment I started here, I’ve felt the genuine interest of surrounding leaders in my own life, aspirations, and well-being, and I plan to pay that forward throughout the rest of my time here and across my career,” she said. Lauren also pays it forward in her personal life, from serving on the Children’s Health One Society Board – having volunteered with the Jr. Leadership Board through high school – and on the board of directors for Students Shoulder to Shoulder, a nonprofit that partners with global nonprofits to do service work. Q: If you could, what advice would you
have for your teenage self, and why? A: I would tell myself to enjoy the lack of responsibility more and spend more time with family and friends. Your teenage years are a time to learn and grow and develop … to begin to flex leadership skills … but they’re also a time to simply enjoy the small things. Q: If you could rent your neighbor a movie, what would it be? A: “Father of the Bride.” They have a tightknit family, and their granddaughters would love it.
Did You Know?
In addition to her Preston Hollow neighborhood, Griffin’s heart also belongs to East Texas, where her family ranch is, and Switzerland where she studied abroad.
8B July 2019 | People Newspapers | 20 Under 40
Tim Newman
Haynes and Boone Education: Texas A&M University
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Two things you’d learn looking at Tim Newman’s social media presence is that he’s ardent about being a parent to his 19-monthold son and that he recently traveled the state campaigning for president-elect of the Texas Young Lawyers Association after being nominated to run. What you might not realize is that he’s wanted to be a lawyer for as long as he can remember. Growing up in a small East Texas town, he said, “lawyers were the movers and shakers and had a real impact on the community.” Now a partner at Haynes and Boone investigations group, Tim began his career with the firm in 2008 as a summer associate and went full time after graduating from law school in 2009 and working for a federal judge for one year. He is the current president of the Texas Aggie Bar Association and serves on the boards of the Dallas Association-Young Lawyers and Texas Young Lawyers Association. Tim also serves on the CONNECT Board of Capital for Kids, a network of volunteer professionals who support an organization that educates, protects, and encourages the development of North Texas children. Q: What has been your most rewarding accomplishment in both your professional and personal life? A: My professional and personal lives converged in a special way on Thursday, Nov. 30, 2017. My son had just been born and was spending a few days in NICU. My wife was holding him for the first time when I got the news that I had made partner at Haynes and Boone. There was a real sense of personal and professional abundance. Q: What is your favorite local store? A: Hands down, Interabang Books. I love that place and wish I could go there every day. Our son Danny loves the kids’ section.
Did You Know?
I worked at a Christmas tree farm in high school.
Katie Eska
32 Jason Saucedo 36
North Dallas High School Education: Harvard Graduate School of Education
Hewitt & Habgood Group with Dave Perry-Miller Real Estate Education: University of Dallas
Katie Eska may have been the youngest principal of her time hired by Dallas Independent School District, but her accomplishments quickly measure up to the most tenured of staff. During her first year as principal, Katie launched the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme at Arthur Kramer Elementary, which soon became the first elementary school in DISD to achieve IB Authorization and is still only one of four to offer an IB education to the district’s youngest learners. Last year, she was one of 11 principals selected to participate in the Superintendent’s Principal Group. Daily, she is responsible for 116 employees and the safety, well-being, and progress toward graduation of nearly 1,100 students. “A leader has to be thinking ahead to ensure that every short-term decision aligns to the long-term goal by “sweating the small stuff ” and absolutely taking care of their people,” she said. Katie’s passion for education also can be seen in her community civic work with Incarnation House through North Dallas High School. Q: If you could, what advice would you have for your teenage self and why? A: Enjoy the journey. Driven and goal-oriented people love to rush the process, but the path is an enormous part of making us ready for the challenges and success we have in the future. Q: If you could buy a book for your neighbor, what would it be and why? A: A book I am loving right now is “Just Mercy” by Bryan Stevenson, as it reminds us all that “each of us in more than the worst thing we have ever done.”
Jason Saucedo’s lightbulb moment that propelled him into his career was realizing the only person that could hold him back from accomplishing anything in life was himself. Once that was clear, setting and achieving goals became second nature. Ten years from now, Jason hopes to look back on his life and know he’s continued efforts to grow and help as many people as he can – not just as a partner at his job, but also through philanthropic work raising money for Alzheimer research and community service through his alma mater, Jesuit College Preparatory. “I want to look back and know that I’ve made this world a better place … and hopefully, have a positive impact on those around me,” he said. The 2017 Five Star Professional Rising Star and three-yearin-a-row D Magazine top producer, among other accolades, also is a strong advocate for top-notch education and donates to Jesuit’s scholarship fund because he believes all children “should have the same opportunities that I was so fortunate to receive, regardless of cost, if they qualify.” Q: If you could buy a book for your neighbor, what would it be and why? A: “Winning with People” by John C Maxwell. This is a great book on how to communicate that will help anyone in all facets of life. Communication is so important whether it is with your spouse, friends, children, boss, or employee. Q: If you could, what advice would you have for your teenage self? A: Trust in yourself. God built you the way you are for a reason, and while you don’t see it now, he put everything you need inside of you. It’s your responsibility to learn and grow to be the best version of yourself.
Did You Know?
My very first job was working as a gymnastics coach in my hometown of Marietta, Georgia. This is where I solidified my love for working with children.
Michael Wong
Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s International Realty Education: Texas Tech University
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Life came into focus for Michael Wong after closing his first real estate deal. “I now had a purpose and decided to learn everything I possibly could and fully immerse myself in the world of residential real estate. It’s what God put me on this Earth to do.” His passion for real estate can also be seen on his Instagram feed (@michaelwongdallas). In fact, he’d be the first to tell you that social media has revolutionized his career in the industry. “You have to make it as little about you and bring something to
Did You Know?
My first job was at the YMCA as an umpire for tee-ball games. the table that appeals to everyone; and who doesn’t like looking at a pretty house.” The Turtle Creek resident began his feed in 2012 by taking photos of homes he liked. That quickly grew to him turning down every street to photograph as many homes possible – looking up the stats; the year built, the owner, and architecture on each home. Today, that page boasts 19,000 followers. Michael’s love for homes also spills over into his philanthropic work, serving as a member of Preservation Dallas and Park Cities Historic and Preservation Society. Q: What do you love about the Park Cities? A: I love the old homes and architecture. I can’t imagine growing up with-
Holly Aldredge
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Perry-Miller Streiff Group Education: Savannah College of Arts & Design
Holly Aldredge leads the development and implementation of marketing for The Perry-Miller Streiff Group, the top producing real estate group at Dave Perry-Miller Real Estate. Her career lightbulb moment “was knowing a marketing presentation and strategy I spearheaded and designed helped the company earn business that may not have happened otherwise,” she said. While her day job allows Holly to help real estate agents showcase the beauty of the Park Cities and Preston Hollow, the foundation she started in the wake of losing her first child during a full term reminds her of what’s essential in life. One Wing Foundation raises and distributes funds to other nonprofits that provide resources to bereaved parents who have or will endure pregnancy or infancy loss. “It is important to the family that just had their third miscarriage, and to the parents who have to explain to a child that the little brother or sister they thought they were getting is in Heaven,” the now mother of two said. Q: If we looked at your social media accounts, what would we learn about you? A: Family and Friends are the most important thing to me. After losing both of my parents by the age of 29 and then our first child, I’ve learned you cannot take them for granted. Every day is precious. Q: If someone made a movie of your life, what would the title be and who would play you? A: “Imperfectly Balanced” with Kristen Bell. I love her because she brings real emotion, rawness, but with a relatable way with some underlying humor.
Did you know?
My husband is from the Park Cities, and his families are old Dallas names. Aldredge House on Swiss was his great grandparent’s house, and Munger is his great grandmother’s maiden name. out mature trees and being surrounded by houses that differ from each other so much. I don’t do cookie-cutter. I believe that every home should be different and reflect each owner’s personality. Q: Where is the best place for a power lunch, and what do you order? A: Bistro 31 in Highland Park Village. My team gets a lot of business done there, and it’s always great running into clients or people you know. I usually get the Nicoise Salad – seared Ahi tuna – what could be better?
Did You Know?
My first job was painting address numbers on curbs throughout the Park Cities area? I loved it because I was my own boss.
20 Under 40 | People Newspapers | July 2019 9B
Jing Leng
Q A:
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: What was your first
job, and what did you learn from it?
I was a food service sales representative in charge of the Beijing Hotel niche for Hormel China. Working in a big corporate company, I learned how to coordinate with a different department, from the factory to accounting, and always find my way to reaching the sales goals and solving problems.
Brian Li
Q: A:
33
Where do you see yourself and career 10 years from now?
I see growing ModeSens into the next Google and becoming the digital shopping assistant for everyone. Shoppers will just need to tell ModeSens what they wish to buy, and ModeSens will take care of the rest. ModeSens Education (both): Bejing Union University VELVET AND WIRE
Keith Conlon
Allie Beth Allman & Associates Education: TCU
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If you think being a real estate agent is a tough job in the Dallas industry, try being the general manager of a large firm. Keith Conlon oversees 400 local agents, runs the sales department at Allie Beth Allman & Associates, and manages three offices. He does that all while serving as a board member at the Shelton School, on the advisory committee of Young Chancellor, and as a volunteer with Genesis Women’s Shelter and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. So where exactly did he learn how to be disciplined,
have a good work ethic, character, mental toughness, and hard work? Playing professional baseball. “Baseball is a game of failure, and you can get too high or too low, and I felt like mentally, it was very similar to real estate … You have to stay evenkeeled at all times.” However, that doesn’t mean he doesn’t dream big; the father of two said 10 years from now he would like to become the CEO of Allie Beth Allman & Associates, growing the brand’s footprint by expanding into other markets. Q: If you could, what advice would you have for your teenage self and why? A: That just because you have dyslexia, it doesn’t mean you won’t be able to accomplish everything you want in life. When I transferred into Highland Park High School from the Shelton School, I was told that I wouldn’t go to a great college because I didn’t take AP classes. However, I graduated with a 3.4 from TCU and was a student-athlete, so I feel like I have overcome some adversity in my life. I was always worried about my future when I was a teen. Q: What do you love most about the Park Cities? A: I love how supportive the community is of the schools and the local businesses.
Did you know?
If I could rent his neighbor any movie, it would be the original ‘Karate Kid’ because that movie is greatness.
By Timothy Glaze People Newspapers
T
he marriage of Jing Leng and Brian Li brought together an ideal business model. Jing, a personal fashion shopper, struggled for years juggling the amount of time spent finding the perfect outfit for her clients, often going to several stores for one contact. Brian, a software engineer, knew an internet platform would help speed the process along. So, he built one. That grew into ModeSens, a thriving digital shopping assistant helping people shop for fashion around the world. “ModeSens aggregates information from more than 200 global luxury stores, and adds a service layer to help our users shop efficiently, save time, and save money on the styles they love,” Jing said. The company has been a revelation not only for the Highland Park couple but for their clients, as well. ModeSens helps shoppers who visit the site every step of the way, and purchase decisions are also made “pretty quickly,” Jing said. “Everything they wish to know or do during the shopping process is available to them in one place,” she said. “We now serve more people, who also love fashion, by allowing them to feel more knowledgeable and smarter when shopping online, or in store, with ModeSens on their side.”
Working for themselves, Brian said, has been fulfilling, exciting, and rewarding. “There is always so much to do, and you never feel bored,” he said. “We have a big vision for the future and are working hard to make it happen. Seeing people using ModeSens and saving time and money with our help makes all the hard work worth it and makes me feel very accomplished.” Once completed, Brian introduced the site to Jing with a rather romantic gesture. On the day ModeSens launched, Brian sent Jing a link. It was to a page on the site that had a pair of shoes Jing had been looking for: a pair of LeSilla crystal sandals, in her size, marked down 60 percent from the original price. Immediately, ModeSens had come through. “I felt so surprised and lucky that my husband, using the website he coded by himself, found exactly the right style I wanted,” she said. Later, Jing said, she began receiving member comments on how easy it was to use ModeSens, and how the site led directly to finding designer items for fair prices. “[Members] were finding their loved pieces too, such as Valentino dresses, and Jimmy Choo shoes,” she said. “Working for myself was my dream since I was in middle school. I feel so lucky that I could turn my love of fashion into a career and a profitable business.”
10B July 2019 | People Newspapers | 20 Under 40
MARISSA ALVARADO
By Marissa Alvarado People Newspapers
I
n 2006, Lilly and Markus Neubauer found themselves working together at a Domino’s Pizza in Lubbock where they spent time at a large sink, washing pots and pans at the end of the workday. Years later they found themselves at another sink – the one in their first home – washing dirty bottles for their daughter, Heidi. “We should all have to meet our life partner next to a sink in a commercial kitchen washing dishes because if you can respect each other, talk, have gratitude, and find fun in that, that’s more of what marriage is like than dates in helicopters,” Lilly said. The Preston Hollow couple will soon be married a decade, a journey that has brought them to their latest endeavor, the family and lifestyle blog “Open Hearted Home.” Lilly works in marketing and business development for Frame, a dance fitness studio, and Markus works as an associate principal and civil engineer at Pacheco Koch. Together they own and co-author their blog about family life, mindfulness, and their lessons in life. Raised in Preston Hollow, Lilly graduated from Ursuline Academy and said she inherited a particular definition of success. “I was a successful person if I grew up and had the corner office, and the biggest house on the block, and a boat, or awesome vacation photos, and I think all of that is amazing,” she said. “We learned through our 20s that we were working in overdrive to earn these things. They weren’t even really things we wanted, we just kind of felt that once we had them, we would be validated, and we would feel like we were good.” Lilly and Markus were at the height of their professions, volunteering in the city, reading all of the parenting books but were both unhappy. Despite having these textbook definitions of success, something was missing from their home. They had to reevaluate their relationship with their parents’ definition of success. “Maybe that’s not ours anymore,” Markus, an SMU alumnus, said. “Well, what is ours? Where do we create that? It starts here at home with the family and
Markus Neubauer
Q A:
36
: What has been your most rewarding accomplishment in your personal life.
Creating the open family that Lilly, Heidi, and I share. It’s a space where we can each express what we feel and need and where we help each other grow and improve. Most of all, it’s a place where we can share the biggest laugh about something or absolutely nothing – and every time, it’s the best, most heartwarming moment of my life.
Lilly Neubauer
Q A:
33
: If you could, what advice would you have for your teenage self and why?
Grace, authenticity, and integrity will take you a lot farther than hustle. Hard work and self-sacrificing values were propped up in my academic upbringing as qualities of a successful person, but I’ve found those come naturally when I’m honoring myself and using my creativity. Open Hearted Home Markus’ Education: SMU Lilly’s Education: Texas Tech having that be the first priority.” Through their blog and a new approach towards life, the duo has created their definitions of accomplishment. “American families just really aren’t in tune with their feelings anymore and so since we’re not following our feelings and our hearts, and our intuition, we’ve built and idolized these versions of success that aren’t attainable,” Lilly said. The blog was a way for the couple to start a dialogue of following an authentic path, rather than finding gratification through outwards goals, approval, or objects. While they continue to work as a couple and family, they said their desire to keep creating content is sparking more indepth conversations in their marriage. “We’re just inviting people in to see hopefully themselves and just the regular struggles and triumphs,” Lilly said. “To end every day and be thankful for any failures we had and proud of any efforts that we put forth.”
We’re an under
standout too!
People Newspapers will turn 38 in August
We’ve been honored with awards from the National Newspaper Association in the following categories:
General Excellence (1st Place)
Story Series - ESD Algae (1st Place)
Best Multiple Advertiser Section - 20 Under 40 (2nd Place)
Best Special Section - 2018 Scots Chamionship (Honorable Mention) ..and more! Special honors go to Bianca R. Montes, who was individually recognized. Additionally, congratulations to our entire team for outstanding work and accomplishments. 9