Park Cities People April 2022 by People Newspapers

SECTION B: THESE 20 UNDER 40 YOUNG ADULTS ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE

APRIL 2022 VOLUME 42 NO. 4

“THE BEST COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER IN TEXAS”

PARKCITIESPEOPLE.COM

PRAY FOR UKRAINE

• Saint Seraphim iconographer impressed with stand against invaders • Ukie Style store owner offers ways to show support, send relief PAGE 10

PHOTO: COURTESY VLADIMIR GRYGORENKO

NEWS

CAMPS

LIVING

Contents

SMU mourns compassionate slain journalist

Learn coding, life skills at UTD

Visit Parigi to enjoy Paris vibe

News ......................................... 4

Camps ..................................... 28

Obituaries................................. 44

Crime ......................................... 8

Schools .................................... 30

Classifieds ............................... 47

Community .............................. 10

Society .................................... 36

20 Under 40 .................. Section B

Sports ...................................... 14

Living........................................ 40

Family Night Six Flags ....... Insert

Business .................................. 18

Wedding................................... 41

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zes and options.

2 April 2022 | parkcitiespeople.com

University Park

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Guess what? We all get to go vote in the midterm primaries again. (PHOTO: RACHEL SNYDER)

NOT QUITE DONE WITH PRIMARY SEASON

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ust call it Primary Season: The Sequel. Our dynamic news duo of digital editor Bethany Erickson and deputy editor Rachel Snyder stayed up until the wee hours of the night March 1. Still, early on, it became clear that some races would be tight enough that we’d all be heading back to the ballot box for a runoff election before the end of spring. Let this also serve as a gentle reminder to pencil in time to vote. The primary runoff election will be May 24, with early voting beginning May 16. Locally, neither Andrew Sommerman nor Michelle Ocker got more than 50% of the vote in the Dallas County Commissioner, District 2 Democratic Party race, staying within two or three percentage points of each other all night. Incumbent Dallas County Clerk John Warren has found himself in a runoff against Ann Cruz. The runoff winner will have the job, as there were no Republican challengers. For the state representative District 114 seat, John Bryant or Alexandra Guio are still vying for the Democratic spot on the ballot. Democrats Jan McDowell and Derrik Gay will continue to campaign for their spot on the ballot for Congressional District 24. U.S. Rep. Colin Allred and Libertarian Nathan Bosley will face either Antonio Swad or Justin Webb in November, depending on the District 32 Republican runoff election outcome. Congressional District 30 finds runoffs

on both sides of the aisle. Democrats Jasmine Crockett and Jane Hamilton and Republicans James Rodgers and James Harris will be campaigning for their positions on the November ballot, where they will also face Libertarian Phil Gray. Statewide, both parties face runoffs for Attorney General and Land Commissioner. The Democrats will have a runoff for Comptroller, and the Republicans will have one for Railroad Commissioner. And — as always — we’ll be staying up to cover the results on May 24. Follow along with us on Twitter at pcpeople and online at peoplenewspapers.com. Need to know more about the candidates? Several have filled out our five-question Hot Seat questionnaire, and those responses are also online. In other news: Check out our special 20 Under 40 section in this month’s issue, and then head to the website to see more of our discussions and video interviews with our latest honorees. Learn more about HPISD school board candidates. The midterm primaries aren’t the only election coming up for Park Cities voters. The election for two seats on the Highland Park ISD board of trustees is May 7. Readers have submitted questions for the candidates, so make sure you check the website for their answers. Help for Ukraine. A pair of siblings who readers may recognize from our 20 Under 40 section are selling bracelets to raise money for UNICEF to help children in Ukraine.

EDITORIAL

A DV E R T I S I N G

O P E R AT I O N S

Editor William Taylor

Senior Account Executive Kim Hurmis

Distribution Manager Mike Reinboldt

Account Executives Tana Hunter Quita Johnson Evelyn Wolff

Distribution Consultant Don Hancock

Digital Editor Bethany Erickson Deputy Editor Rachel Snyder Sports Editor Todd Jorgenson Art & Production Director Melanie Thornton

Client Relations & Marketing Coordinator Maddie Spera

Interns Amber Billops Emilea McCutchan Carl Morgan, Jr. Greg Nielsen

Digital & Production Assistant Mia Carrera Park Cities People is printed on recycled paper. Help us show love for the earth by recycling this newspaper and any magazines from the D family to which you subscribe.

Publisher: Patricia Martin

Park Cities People is published monthly by CITY NEWSPAPERS LP, an affiliate of D Magazine Partners LP, 750 N. Saint Paul St., Suite 2100, Dallas, TX 75201. Copyright 2021. All rights reserved. No reproduction without permission. Submissions to the editor may be sent via e-mail to editor@ peoplenewspapers.com. Correspondence must include writer’s name and contact number. Main phone number, 214-739-2244

parkcitiespeople.com | April 2022

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4 April 2022 | parkcitiespeople.com

News

SMU COMMUNITY, COLLEAGUES REMEMBER SLAIN JOURNALIST

Brent Renaud, known as a kind, compassionate mentor, killed in Ukraine By Rachel Snyder

His death is a reminder to us of the danger that exists to tell these important stories. Elle Toussi

rachel.snyder@peoplenewspapers.com

embers of the SMU community remember Brent Renaud, an award-winning journalist and filmmaker killed while covering the war in Ukraine, as a “kind” and “compassionate” alumnus who mentored at-risk children in Dallas. Renaud, 50, graduated from SMU in 1994 with a major in English and a minor in sociology, spokeswoman Kimberly Cobb confirmed. According to Ukrainian authorities, the Little Rock, Arkansas-native was fatally shot March 13 in Irpin, a suburb of the Ukrainian capital Kyiv. Renaud had worked for numerous media organizations. At the time of his death, though, he was working on a TIME Studios project “focused on the global refugee crisis,” TIME executives confirmed. “His death is a reminder to us of the danger that exists to tell these important stories,” said Society of Professional Journalists International Community co-chair Elle Toussi. “We are all diminished by his passing.” “A talented and brave journalist, Brent lost his life while documenting human tragedy, devastation, and suffering of millions of Ukrainians,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said. “With all his courage and determination, he traveled to the most dangerous war zones to film the unprecedented ruthlessness and evil, also inflicted upon our nation by the aggressor state.”

Thear Suzuki and journalist Brent Renaud attended SMU in the ‘90s, where they were part of a program mentoring Dallas children. (PHOTOS: COURTESY THEAR SUZUKI)

Members of the SMU community say the empathy shown in his work was evident during his time at the university. While at SMU, Renaud was part of the Inter-Community Experience program, in which he lived with other students in a Habitat for Humanity home, volunteering and working with children in an Old East Dallas neighborhood. Bruce Levy, the SMU professor who ran the program, said Renaud was important to growing that program. “(He was) very kind and compassionate …

he was all in,” Levy recalled. “The kids loved him.” Thear Suzuki took part in the program with Renaud as an SMU student and remembered him as “very worldly” and “conscientious about people who were suffering or lacking access to opportunity.” “He loved getting to know the kids and their families. He would always go the extra mile,” Suzuki said. “I learned from him in terms of how to serve (others).” She said they kept in touch over the years, and he told her about some of his projects.

Podium Pecan

Christmas tree lighting ceremony in Dallas County. Still, age and disease had raised concerns about its safety, prompting its removal in October 2019.

Big monarch’s wood could go to schools

We just want to share the beauty of this wonderful tree. Margo Goodwin

By William Taylor

william.taylor@peoplenewspapers.com

The wood harvested from the historic “Big Pecan” could stand again as podiums in every Highland Park ISD campus. Rather than make money off the tree, town leaders want to use the wood to benefit schools. “We just want to share the beauty of this wonderful tree,” Mayor Margo Goodwin said. The mayor said she talked to Highland Park ISD Superintendent Tom Trigg, who confirmed that the schools could and would

“What was shocking about the news is I knew he would go into dangerous areas to do his work, but he always came back,” Suzuki said. “We had great memories of him. He is so loved, and he loved us.” With his brother, Craig Renaud, Brent won a Peabody Award in 2014 for Last Chance High, a series about a school for at-risk children in Chicago. The brothers’ achievements also include two duPont-Columbia journalism awards and productions for HBO, NBC, Discovery, PBS, The New York Times, and VICE News, the Dallas Morning News reported.

Holly Russell of the town of Highland Park says the Big Pecan provided enough lumber for several podiums plus smaller projects such as commemorative gavels, food serving boards, bowls, drink coasters, and writing pens. (PHOTO: WILLIAM TAYLOR) use additional podiums. “He thought it was a good idea.” Council members Marc Myers and Craig Penfold also called it a good idea, and Mayor Pro Tem David Dowler suggested the podiums

include plaques detailing the tree’s history. The more than 150-year-old monarch at Armstrong Parkway and Preston Road served for decades as the site of the oldest

A nearby pecan, grafted from the famous monarch, planted in 1951, and dubbed the Landmark Tree in 2019, serves as the location of the annual tree lighting now. The Big Pecan, an enduring symbol of Highland Park, served as inspiration for the logo on the Park Cities People masthead. However, Goodwin noted its importance extends beyond the town limits.

“It’s really a community tree,” she said. The town’s website tells how Joseph Cole, a Civil War veteran who had seen too much death, saved a pencil-thin sapling he had accidentally plowed over, allowing it to grow into a colossal landmark, once topping 75 feet, and symbol of resilience. Its lumber went to Urban Timber Harvest for milling, treatment, and storage. Holly Russell, a management assistant in the town’s Parks Department, reported to council members how a recent visit to UTH found ample wood for many projects. “This company can make anything from large tables such as this [one in the study session conference room at town hall] to anything teeny tiny,” Russell said. “Subject to bidding requirements, if UTH were selected to be the craftsmen of choice, the only cost to any project is the labor.”

parkcitiespeople.com | April 2022

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6 April 2022 | parkcitiespeople.com

This file photograph dates back to 2015, the last year the town of Highland Park revised its ordinance regulating horse-drawn carriages. (PHOTO: CHRIS MCGATHEY)

Carriage Conundrum

Resident asks council to revise horse-drawn holiday tradition By William Taylor

william.taylor@peoplenewspapers.com

Months have passed since horse-drawn carriages rolled through Highland Park filled with Christmas revelers making merry. But for some, annoyance at the noise and traffic lingers. “With each passing year, I feel like Highland Park is becoming a holiday sideshow,” said Tomima Edmark, who lives at Euclid Avenue and Highland Drive. Edmark, an author, entrepreneur, and inventor of the 1990s cult hair styling tool Topsy Tail, took her complaints to the Town Council earlier this year and continues to correspond with Chief Paul Sandman, director of public safety. “In the evening hours, I hear lots of noise and see lots of unsafe driving,” she said. “I don’t think [carriage riders] understand they are within earshot of the neighbors.” Edmark has urged council members to reevaluate the hours allowed for carriage rides and speak to more residents about them. The number of carriages is too high, the allowed hours are too long, and the lighting on them is insufficient to make them safely visible during rush hour traffic, she said. The council hasn’t acted on her suggestions but heard from Sandman on the issue at its only study session in March. “Carriage tours are enjoyed by residents

and visitors alike, adding to the community’s festive spirit during the Christmas Season,” the chief reported. Highland Park has regulated the carriages since 2008. The council amended the code in 2015 to levy a franchise fee of 5% of gross sales for commercial use in the town limits, hike the license fee to $100, up from $50; and limit hours of operation to 11 p.m., instead of 12:30 a.m., from Sunday through Thursday while Highland Park ISD schools are in session. The town also charges $40 to cover driver background checks. The town doesn’t regulate carriage size. “What limits them right now is the weight two horses can pull,” Sandman said. “We get three to five complaints per year,” Sandman said. “Last year, we had three complaints related to the carriages, but no reported mishaps between carriages and motorists.” During the 2021 season, four vendors employed 70 drivers and 55 carriages in town, collecting more than $942,000 in gross revenues and paying the town more than $52,000 in fees. Councilman Marc Myers wondered about the merits of increasing the franchise fee to 5.5%. “The carriage is a legal vehicle on the street,” Mayor Margo Goodwin noted while encouraging Sandman to continue discussing the matter with Edmark and others who may have concerns. “If she has any good suggestions, we are open.”

With each passing year, I feel like Highland Park is becoming a holiday sideshow. Tomima Edmark

parkcitiespeople.com | April 2022

8 April 2022 | parkcitiespeople.com

Crime Reports Feb. 7 – March 5

For More Crimes Visit: peoplenewspapers.com/ category/crime/ Feb. 7 Reported at 12:18 p.m.: a smash and grab. A burglar shattered a window of a Mercedes ML350 in the 5500 block of Preston Road and grabbed a folder containing miscellaneous documents. Feb. 10 Identified no-longer flying object: A homeowner in the 3600 block of Mockingbird Lane found a crashed drone in the backyard at 1:29 p.m.

Feb. 18 Reported at 10:21 a.m.: A burglar got into a Toyota Tundra parked in the 4300 block of Edmondson Avenue and took $4,090 worth of airsoft magazines, airsoft guns, and other equipment. Feb. 21 A burglar found easy pickings in a bag containing various tools, including a screwdriver set, a DeWalt hammer drill, and more, totaling $1,240, in a Chevrolet van left unlocked in the 4200 block of

March 4 A ne’er do well took $2,200 worth of plumbing tools from a Ford E250 van in the 4400 block of McFarlin Boulevard before 10:30 a.m. March 5 A pilferer picked up a pair of shoes and three packages from residences in the 4700 block of Abbott Avenue before 6 a.m. but ended up leaving the items – and a red Mongoose mountain bicycle – nearby.

35 30 25 20 15

March 2 An intruder got into a Porsche Macan in the 4300 block of Lovers Lane and nabbed an $8,000 fur coat, an $8,000 Hermes purse, a $600 pair of Chanel sunglasses, and $3,100 of additional clothes from inside.

PROPERTY CRIMES

Feb. 16 How easy was it for a thief to take a briefcase from a Mercedes parked in the 4000 block of Villanova Street before 4:49 p.m. Feb. 16? The Mercedes was unlocked

Feb. 28 Reported at 6:30 p.m.: A blasphemous burglar took a catalytic converter from a Ford El Dorado church bus at Christ Lutheran Church in the 3000 block of Lovers Lane.

A lunch-starved stealer appears to have taken the ‘eat more chikin’ slogan sadly too seriously by swiping a sandwich from the Chick-fil-A in the 6400 block of Hillcrest Avenue before 1:11 p.m. March 1.

Feb. 15 The driver of an 18-wheeler hit a tree at the corner of a lawn at the intersection of Roland Avenue and Belfort Place, knocking it over and uprooting it at 8:30 a.m.

Feb. 23 A jerk threw a brick and broke the outer pane of a window of a home in the 3500 block of Normandy Avenue “without consent” around 10:35 a.m.

Feb. 13 An intruder got into the backyard of a home in the 4400 block of S. Versailles Avenue and left a screen door damaged at 12:16 a.m.

Versailles Avenue at noon.

‘ JAN

FEB

‘21

MAR

‘21 PR ‘21 AY ‘21 N ‘21 L ‘21 UG ‘21 EP ‘21 CT ‘21 OV ‘21 EC ‘21 AN ‘22 J N D JU O JU S A A M

VIOLENT CRIMES

Feb. 12 A thief took $400, documents, and more from a BMW X6 in the 3000 block of Mockingbird Lane.

(PHOTOS: PEXELS/ VICTORIA BORODINOVA, ILLUSTRATION: MELANIE THORNTON)

SKULDUGGERY of the MONTH: SANDWICH SWIPER

Park Cities Crime Stats

‘ JAN

FEB

‘21

MAR

‘21 PR ‘21 AY ‘21 N ‘21 L ‘21 UG ‘21 EP ‘21 CT ‘21 OV ‘21 EC ‘21 N ‘22 JA JU O JU S N D A A M

UNIVERSITY PARK

HIGHLAND PARK

Property crimes include burglaries, thefts, and vehicle thefts. Violent crimes include assaults and robberies. (SOURCES: HIGHLAND PARK DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY, UNIVERSITY PARK POLICE DEPARTMENT, ILLUSTRATION: MELANIE THORNTON)

Benchmark Bank Welcomes New Directors Benchmark Bank is pleased to announce that Megan Filgo, Ryan Moss and Joe Nolan have been appointed to the Board of Directors which is led by Chairman Mike Barnett. The board has recently guided Benchmark through an era of unprecedented growth, with the bank now exceeding $1Billion in assets. Benchmark embraces thoughtful expansion and technology, yet remains true to the foundation on which it was established in 1964; integrity, security and exceptional service. Family owned and operated from inception until today, you can rest assured that your banker will serve as an advocate for you and your financial goals.

Megan Filgo The great granddaughter of bank founder Bruce Clardy, Megan has been an integral part of Benchmark since graduating from the University of Texas in 2002, currently serving as manager of corporate philanthropic giving. Megan is dedicated to personally serving the community through her involvement in the Momentous Institute, Interfaith Family Services, the Woman’s Auxiliary to Children’s Medical Center, her children’s schools and many other charitable endeavors.

Joe Nolan As a certified Financial Planner with over 38 years of business, investment management, and financial planning expertise, Joe joined Roberson, Griege and Thoele Wealth Advisors in 1994 and was named Managing Director in 2001. An active member of the community, Joe serves on both the Bishops and Magis Golf Tournament committees which benefit area Catholic school tuition scholarships for undeserved students.

Ryan Moss Ryan serves as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Lucid Energy Group, which is the largest privately held natural gas processor in the Permian Basin. Ryan earned a BBA in Finance from the University of Texas in 1997 and an MBA from Columbia Business School in 2001. A member of the Development Board and Chancellor’s Council Executive Committee at the University of Texas, he is also an active member of the Salesmanship Club of Dallas.

BenchmarkBank.com Benchmark Bank Board of Directors 2022 Family owned. Community focus. Personal service.

parkcitiespeople.com | April 2022

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10 April 2022 | parkcitiespeople.com

Community ARTIST ADMIRES ZELENSKY’S STAND AGAINST RUSSIAN INVADERS Ukrainian-born iconographer decorated Saint Seraphim Orthodox Cathedral

By Rachel Snyder

rachel.snyder@peoplenewspapers.com

ladimir Grygorenko came to Dallas from his native Ukraine in 2000 to paint the iconography that adorns the Saint Seraphim Orthodox Cathedral – a process that took nine years. Grygorenko, 56, grew up in Dnipro, Ukraine, in the south-central part of the country, when it was part of the old Soviet Union and trained in mechanical engineering. Through his painting and religious iconography, his faith grew.

Vladimir Grygorenko was hired to paint the iconography at Saint Seraphim Cathedral around 2000.

(PHOTOS: COURTESY VLADIMIR GRYGORENKO, AND RACHEL SNYDER)

I know that people are united around him. Vladimir Grygorenko “Eventually, I found God,” said Grygorenko, who was baptized in 1991 around the time Ukraine gained independence from the Soviet Union. His work as a professional iconographer in the traditional Byzantine style eventually brought an invitation in 2000 to decorate the Dallas cathedral. The artist lived

close to the cathedral located on Wycliff Avenue, near Oak Lawn Avenue, for 14 years and continues to attend services there. He’s gone on to work for various other churches around the country. The Saint Seraphim congregation is decades old and remains the hub of devotional life for more than 300 Christians, many of Ukrainian

and Russian descent. Grygorenko is among at least 15 congregation members with relatives and friends in Ukraine. Some of his have joined the war efforts during the Russian invasion that began on Feb. 24. He phones Ukraine every day. Ukraine has “become extremely united,” said the artist, who, like

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, is of Jewish descent and speaks Russian as his first language. Grygorenko had reservations after Zelensky’s election in 2019 but now praises the Ukrainian president’s leadership. “He is not going to give up,” Grygorenko said. “He stays in the war zone. I know that people are

united around him.” The Orthodox Church in America, of which Saint Seraphim is a part, has collected donations for Ukrainian refugee relief. The donations go to a humanitarian agency of the Polish Orthodox Church, which is registered with the Polish government and assisting with the refugee crisis. “None of it’s good,” Bishop Gerasim of Saint Seraphim said of the war. “It’s all painful. it’s destructive to our church community as well. … Right now, our focus is on helping the faithful from Ukraine.”

‘Ukrainians Are Very Brave’ But Need Our Help Olena Jacobs bustled around Ukie Style on a recent Saturday afternoon, fielding questions from shoppers and BETHANY others at her increasE R I C KS O N ingly busy store in Preston Valley Shopping Center. The store, catering to all things Ukrainian culture, has drawn new attention in recent weeks. Many come to buy yellow and blue signs of support and pick up photocopied lists of medical supplies Jacob and other Ukrainian immigrants are collecting. Her fellow Ukrainians, some Americans, and “even some Russians” come to help pack everything up for shipping. As Jacobs spoke with Dallasites eager to help, her friend Oksana Toporina also fielded calls and questions. Toporina has anxiously watched the news and social media and talked to family and friends back in Ukraine when she can. “I couldn’t get a hold of a couple of my aunts for a couple of days, and that worried me a lot,” she said. “I have friends all over Ukraine — some are on the move, and some are afraid to come out. Ukrainians are very brave.” An Airbnb host in Ukraine echoed that sentiment when we spoke about renting his spare room. I had no intention of staying there but, like many others, wanted to support

Ukrainians directly. “We are stronger every day,” Andrey said. “Believe in us. This war will end someday, and you are welcome any time here.”

We’re overwhelmed, but American people are good people. We’re doing what we can to help, and I think it’s great that people are coming together on this side of the world. Oksana Toporina Iryna Fedorets, another Ukrainian I reached, had to take down her crochet stuffed animals from her Etsy shop, HandmadeByIrynaToys, when the war began because shipping from Ukraine became impossible. She pivoted to offering digital prints that buyers can download. Her daughter, Anastasia, created a painting before the war that she felt embodied the “free and independent” Ukraine she loves. “There are many people here in Ukraine who have suffered from the war,” Fedorets said. “They lost their homes, relatives, children, friends — everything they had. All that is left is a backpack with documents and essentials.”

Ukie Style owner Olena Jacobs has been collecting medical supplies to send back home. Ukrainians remaining in their country have praised American efforts to help, including purchasing their artwork online. (PHOTO: COURTESY UKIE STYLE, UKRAINIAN ART: ANASTASIA FEDORETS/HANDMADEBYIRYNATOYS)

She said her family was OK, “but the situation is very unstable and changing very quickly.” “Nobody knows what will happen tomorrow,” she added. “I just start crying when I see how much people are trying to support our country and our people. I hope this awful war ends soon and everyone can come here and see our beautiful country and people.”

In the meantime, Jacobs and Toporina continue collecting medical supplies. “It’s very fluid right now — but for right now, it’s only medical supplies that can be shipped,” Toporina said. “We’re overwhelmed, but American people are good people. We’re doing what we can to help, and I think it’s great that people are coming together on this side of the world.”

parkcitiespeople.com | April 2022

From Finland With Love As our kids age and start their own lives, we’ve decided we need a bigger pool of playmates. So, a year ago, when asked to join a group of middle-aged Harvard graduates on a journey to the Arctic Circle, we leaped at the chance. Tr u t h is, we fancy ourselves pseudo intelMICHELE VALDEZ lects and figured we could handle the schmoozing in mixed company (Ivy Leaguers vs. state schoolers). Just to be sure, my husband studied up on the World Bank, Federal Reserve, and financial markets. I took on the classics, beginning with Anna Karenina. After a month and little progress, I found a film version of the best novel ever written and watched that. Then, to round out my preparation, I watched Pride and Prejudice, and The Great Gatsby. We were ready for brainy banter. At this point, you may be wondering what dummies (college alma mater aside) go to the Arctic Circle in the middle of winter? These “Vardians” had their sights set on snowshoeing in Sweden and Finland, with the highlight being a night at the Ice Hotel, all the reindeer we could eat, and dog sledding. We were all in and, like a Rose Ceremony on The Bachelor, dripping with desire to be a part of the group. So, with paper, digital, and screenshot copies of vaccine cards and every other piece of ID (including my Costco membership card), we ventured north to a deep freeze. Donning battery-powered hand warmers and socks, balaclavas, thermal unmentionables, and Michelin man snow pants (they are black, so somewhat slimming), I never doubted our reasoning in spending thousands to sleep on an ice bed. And, as it turns out, Sweden and Finland have a simple but palpable beauty in winter and are cultural treasures. Sure, it was as cold as a gold digger’s heart, and one night in the Ice Hotel is plenty for most anyone. But, it was for a good cause, expanding our circle of friends. After all, we need more friends as we age, and when it comes to friends, smart friends are better than the alternative, right? And, the best part, the Ivy Leaguers are humble and funny. They told bad jokes and never mentioned the Federal Reserve or Leo Tolstoy. When the trip ended, I came home feeling good about our new friends and our state school pedigrees. Michele Valdez, a slightly compulsive, mildly angry feminist, has been an attorney and volunteer. She has four demanding adult children and a patient husband.

12 April 2022 | parkcitiespeople.com

UP Celebrates Murzin Family Coffee Park playground named to honor special needs advocacy

University Park built the recently named barrier-free Murzin Playground at Coffee Park in the mid-2000s. (PHOTO: RACHEL SNYDER) The late Chris Murzin, known for special needs advocacy, was often seen with his son Jack. (PHOTO: CHRIS MCGATHEY)

By Rachel Snyder

rachel.snyder@peoplenewspapers.com

University Park’s first barrier-free playground has a new name, one honoring a family’s legacy of advocacy for children with special needs. The unanimous vote by the University Park City Council naming Murzin Playground at Coffee Park came on March 1, just more than a year after Chris Murzin, 53, was fatally shot while driving on I-20 before the S. Polk Street exit ramp at 1 p.m. Feb. 11, 2021. “After he was killed, and some of the initial shock wore off, I knew that there should be some way to honor Chris,” said UP resident George Chandler, who requested the naming. “His advocacy of the playground was where most people first learned about Chris and got to know him,” Chandler said. “So, some connection to the playground seemed like an obvious possibility.” Chris, a medical salesman, his wife, Christina, and their children – Caroline, Dutch, and Jack – moved to University Park in 2006. Chris quickly became known as a champion for people with special needs, including their son, Jack. Christina said the family was honored that Chandler wanted to name the playground for their family and that the city council agreed.

“Naming the playground Murzin Playground is the perfect tribute to all the work Chris did to help make our city more accessible and inclusive for everyone,” she said. Chandler, who has a daughter with Down syndrome, got to know Chris shortly after the city unveiled the playground. “He and I had several telephone discussions and exchanged emails about the effort that he had to put into getting the playground built,” Chandler said. “We loved the playground but at that time had concerns because it was relatively open to Hillcrest Avenue. At the time, my daughter was about 8 years old and very mobile.” Chris and Chandler discussed the matter with city officials, and eventually, a fence and bushes were added to the Hillcrest Avenue side of the park. On an application form asking the city to name the playground, Chandler wrote: “Chris was known as a fierce advocate for children with special needs and was actively involved with anything and everything that supported the lives of those children. Chris was strongly involved with the local school district and the community. “In the mid-2000s, during a renovation of the park now known as Coffee Park, Chris began a movement, spending countless hours, to have the children’s playground designed for all children, regardless of physical or intellectual abilities.”

His advocacy of the playground was where most people first learned about Chris and got to know him. George Chandler

parkcitiespeople.com | April 2022

Ellen Lee (PHOTO: DAVID RUBIN)

Spencer Siino (PHOTO: HAYNESWORTH PHOTOGRAPHY)

Tyler Beeson (PHOTO: COURTESY WPA FAMILY OFFICE, LLC)

Jae Ellis (PHOTO: DAVID RUBIN)

Pick Two

Four vie for HPISD board seats By Rachel Snyder

rachel.snyder@peoplenewspapers.com

After the May election, the Highland Park ISD board of trustees will have at least one new face. With Place 5 trustee Edward Herring not seeking re-election, district volunteer Ellen Lee and insurance executive Spencer Siino are vying for the open seat. Lee, 48, who is involved with the Highland Park Education Foundation, served on the district’s boundary rezoning committee in 2019, the district’s parent education committee in 2019-2021, and on the high school literature review committees from 2016 until 2020. Siino, 41, is a co-founder of Park Cities Parents Unite, a 501c4 organization established last fall that has called for the district to phase out mask wearing and other COVID-19 restrictions. In spring 2021, he filed a court petition asking for pre-suit depositions from staff and school board members about the mask policy before the HPISD announced masks would be optional for the 2021-2022 school year. In Place 4, Tyler Beeson, 44, who works in

wealth management, is challenging incumbent Jae Ellis. Beeson serves on the board of Interfaith Family Services and as chairman of the agency’s annual Charity Golf Tournament. He’s also a member of the Dallas Foundation’s Advisory Council and the Dallas Estate Planning Council. Ellis, 50, has served on the board since 2019 and as secretary since 2021. A legal consultant by trade, he has served the Highland Park Education Foundation as a director and board secretary and in various other roles, including on its Finance/Investment and Strategic Planning committees. He also served the Highland Park Alumni Association as vice president, treasurer, membership chairman, director, and class representative. Ellis co-chaired the Highland Park ISD Centennial Celebration in 2014. Before becoming an HPISD trustee, Ellis served as board chairman for Project Unity.

GO VOTE Election Day: May 7 Early Voting: April 25-May 3.

Where Does Tyler Beeson Live? An anonymous letter and an email from a Highland Park ISD mother to Park Cities People raised questions about a Place 4 trustee candidate’s residency. On his ballot application, Tyler Beeson, 44, listed a duplex owned by the school district in University Park, but he has a homestead exemption in Henderson County on a property listed as owned via a family living trust. “It’s just a lake house,” Beeson said. “It’s irrelevant to the school board.” HPISD Chief of Staff Jon Dahlander confirmed that all candidates met the district’s residency requirements, including: • Living in the state for a year and the district for six months before the filing date,

which was Feb. 18; • Registering to vote within the district. Texas Secretary of State records show Beeson registered to vote using his University Park address. As for the homestead exemption, Texas Comptroller’s Office website says only a homeowner’s “primary residence” qualifies. That’s the technical requirement, real estate attorney Lauren Cadilac explained. “However, if there is only one homestead on file (such as when a resident rents a second place), then there probably isn’t an issue.” The homestead on file in Henderson County is the only one confirmed for Beeson. – By Rachel Snyder

It’s just a lake house. It’s irrelevant to the school board. Tyler Beeson

14 April 2022 | parkcitiespeople.com

Sports

VERSATILE HP MIDFIELDER CONTINUES FAMILY LEGACY

Krejs hopes senior class can help Scots achieve historic playoff success By Todd Jorgenson People Newspapers

ack Krejs has played just about every conceivable position on the soccer field for Highland Park, which is appropriate considering his multifaceted devotion to the program. Krejs is eager to help lead Scots back to playoff prominence in his senior year, which also will be the latest campaign for a family legacy that spans multiple generations. His father, Patrick, played for the Scots’ state runner-up team in 1987, which still is the best season in school history. His uncle played for HP, too, and so did older brother, Patrick Jr., who graduated in 2020. One of his cousins plays for the HP girls squad. “That’s always been in my mind, to carry on what my dad and my older brother did,” said

Jack Krejs. He played alongside his brother for a few games during his sophomore season when Jack split the year between the varsity and junior varsity levels. “I remember my mom got a little emotional because it was the only time Patrick and I got to play together,” he said. “That was a really cool experience.” That was in the first season for HP head coach Salvador Richie, who has engineered a turnaround that resulted in the Scots earning their first district title in more than two decades in 2021. One key to that success has been the versatility and toughness of Krejs, who lines up primarily at center midfielder. Although slightly undersized for his position, the senior’s energy and tenacity are infectious. “I would like to have 10 of Jack and a goalkeeper, and we’ll be fine,” Richie said. “If there’s an in-

We still have a lot more that we can accomplish. Jack Krejs

dividual battle to be won, Jack will do it. He knows he’s going to get hammered, but he’s fearless and keeps battling.” As this year’s team closes in on another District 13-5A championship, Krejs said the Scots are determined to make amends after an early playoff exit last season. “That’s been the mentality all year,” he said. “Nobody wanted to feel how we felt after last season. We still have a lot more that we can accomplish.” HP’s collective hunger adds to the personal motivation for Krejs, whose brother endured some rough seasons that helped provide a foundation for the program’s current upward trajectory. The ultimate prize would be avenging his father’s 1-0 loss to San Antonio Alamo Heights in 1987 — well before Jack was even born. “Hearing him talk about that throughout my childhood makes me want to get there and finish what he started,” Krejs said. “I truly believe that we’re capable of going that far.”

Senior midfielder Jack Krejs is the fourth member of his family to play for the boys soccer program at Highland Park. (PHOTO: CHRIS MCGATHEY)

Championship Drive: Scots Look to Extend Record Streak at State By Todd Jorgenson People Newspapers

CMY

Last spring, Highland Park sent 10 golfers to the boys golf state tournament, and all 10 wound up on the podium. Repeating that feat — and continuing its unprecedented run of Class 5A dominance — will require a younger lineup to step to the fore. Only half of last year’s state participants are back for a Scots roster that includes just three seniors. However, for a program that prides itself on reloading, a fifth consecutive 5A state title and state-record 23rd overall is still the goal and the expectation. “None of our seniors have had to be at the forefront of the program, and they’ve really responded,” said HP head coach Erik Henson. FROM LEFT: Mack Duvall, Will Blankenship, Robert Boyce, Christian Clark, Jacob Pletcher, He credits Division I college sign- Preston Cooper, Martin Kemp, Brooks Simmons, Jackson Muncy, and Joe Stover. (COURTESY PHOTO) ees Christian Clark (SMU) and Joe Stover (Texas A&M), as well as fellow seHP appears to have rounded into form Cooper, who played on HP’s second team nior Mack Duvall, for steering the Scots during the spring, convincingly capturing at the 2021 state tournament yet emerged through some rough results in the fall. a team title at the 5A State Preview tour- as the individual champion. “When Preston is playing with free“It was a little rocky. We didn’t play up nament in Georgetown in early March. to our expectations,” Henson said. “Last That enabled the Scots to experience suc- dom and belief in what he’s doing, the year, we leaned on our seniors pretty heav- cess on the same course — White Wing hole is as big as a basketball hoop,” Henily, and Christian and Joe were1 able to play Golf Club — where they will look to de- son said. “He’s another guy we can lean PCP_Apr2022_Banner-Final.pdf 2/28/2022 11:17:17 AM with a little more freedom. They’ve found fend their crown on May 9-10. on.” their footing.” Another golfer to watch is junior Preston Then there’s freshman Brooks Simmons,

D AT E S T O K N O W Highland Park’s road to another 5A state golf championship will feature three hurdles: Tournament

Date

Site

District 13-5A Mar. 29-30

Rusted Rail, Crandall

5A Region II Apr. 18-19

Rockwall Golf & Athletic Club

5A State May 9-10

White Wing, Georgetown

who has become a staple in the HP lineup at just 14, showing the poise and maturity of a seasoned veteran. “He’s figured out the hard part of the game,” Henson said. “As he continues to develop his swing, he’s going to be dangerous in the next few years.” Many of their 5A foes might be relieved that the Scots are jumping to Class 6A after this season. But HP hopes to use its depth to claim one more title on the way out. “Whoever is in the lineup believes they can be relied upon. The guys have done a great job of playing team golf — putting the team before yourself,” Henson said. “We have a tradition to uphold and protect.”

PCP_April2022-SuccessionTable_Final.pdf 1 2/23/2022 6:14:05 PM

parkcitiespeople.com | April 2022

CMY

16 April 2022 | parkcitiespeople.com

Isner Brings Star Power to Inaugural Pro Tournament at SMU

HP resident fills multiple roles by serving as player and ambassador at Dallas Open By Todd Jorgenson People Newspapers

John Isner’s tennis legacy includes more than a decade as a top player and fan favorite on the ATP Tour and philanthropic contributions off the court. In February, the Highland Park resident expanded his efforts as an ambassador for the sport as the unofficial host of the Dallas Open at SMU. Hard-hitting Reilly Opelka won the singles title in the inaugural event, formerly known as the New York Open, in straight sets over fellow American standout Jenson Brooksby. Former President George W. Bush participated in the pre-match coin toss. Isner was eliminated in the semifinals in both singles and doubles, where he was partnered with Jack Sock. But the lanky 36-yearold provided plenty of thrills for his supporters at the Styslinger/ Altec Tennis Center, especially during a semifinal thriller against Opelka. With both players standing nearly 7 feet tall, the two men traded 60 aces over two sets and set a new ATP Tour record with a second-set tiebreak that lasted

The crowd was definitely behind me. John Isner

Highland Park resident John Isner looks forward to helping the Dallas Open grow in a tennis-loving community. (PHOTO: CHRIS MCGATHEY) for 46 points. Opelka, 24, won the marathon 24-22 after also securing a first-set tiebreak. “The crowd was definitely behind me,” Isner said. “It’s kind of extra disappointing to not be able to get over the line in my backyard.” With multiple international players withdrawing shortly before the tournament, it became a

showcase for elite American players. Opelka, Isner, and Taylor Fritz are all ranked among the top 30 in the world. The Dallas Open was the first ATP event with four American singles semifinalists since 2004. “You love any tournament you win, but Dallas has been great,” said Opelka, who won his third career ATP title. “I look forward to

being back here next year.” Isner helped recruit the field to the tournament held only minutes from the house he shares with his wife, Madison, and their three children. He practices at the SMU facility regularly when he’s in town, and his foundation was one of the event’s beneficiaries. “It’s cool at this stage of my

career to be involved and be a small part of making this event successful. It has a lot of room to grow,” Isner said. “This is my home. This is where all of our family roots are now. It’s pretty amazing to have this tournament here. To see it come to fruition like this and to see it be so successful fan-wise is excellent.”

Market Matters with Meredith The market is tight and inventory is moving fast. 67% of my business last year was Compass is a licensed real estate broker and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only. Information is compiled from sources deemed reliable but is subject to errors, omissions, changes in price, condition, sale, or withdrawal without notice. Photos may be virtually staged or digitally enhanced and may not reflect actual property conditions.

from representing buyers and 50% of the buyer-side transactions were off market. In this market, multiple offers are the norm and now more than ever, it's crucial to have a trusted agent who knows your neighborhood.

C H A N G ES I N TH E PA R K C ITI ES M A R K E T : 20 20 VS 20 2 1

16% Avg Price Per SF *

26% Days on Market

26% Avg Price Per Home

Data Sourced from MLS, representative of HPISD, single-family homes.

CO NTAC T meredith.ferrell@compass.com 214.868.1177 mferrellhomes

parkcitiespeople.com | April 2022

No need to hunt for a delicious Easter feast — we have everything you need! Celebrate the season with fire-glazed hams, fresh quiche, scratch-made pies, and an incredible array of chef-prepared sides and appetizers.

DALLAS PRESTON ROYAL 10720 PRESTON RD. | 972-860-6500 DALLAS MIDWAY 4349 W. NORTHWEST HWY. | 469-697-7800

18 April 2022 | parkcitiespeople.com

Business

COUPLE NOT DOING IT ALONE IN RIPE, BUT DIFFICULT MARKET For Capital Renovations, Alair Homes’ offer came at the right time By Bethany Erickson

bethany.erickson@peoplenewspapers.com

he first time Alair Homes came knocking on Paul and Sherry Zuch’s door, the construction management network wasn’t successful in attracting the couple’s business. Paul has owned his home building and renovations company, Capital Renovations Group, since 1999, and Sherry joined the business and became a co-owner in 2012. The company has been building and remodeling homes in the Park Cities, Preston Hollow, Greenway Parks, Bluffview, North Dallas, Richardson, Lakewood, and Northwest Dallas for decades. A couple of years ago, he said, Alair contacted the couple to see if they would consider joining their network of independently owned custom builders and remodelers. “At the time, we were not interested and passed on the opportunity,” he said. But last year, a golf tournament serendipitously reconnected them with a couple of remodelers who had joined Alair a few years before. “We had lunch with them the following week where they shared their story with us, and we were even more compelled to learn more about this opportunity,” Paul said.

After attending a regional meeting in Naples, Florida, in July, the couple became convinced that joining the network “would be a great strategic move for the future of our business.” The ability to combine forces with other member builders in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, plus the company culture at Alair, attracted the Zuchs. The fact that they’d still own their business while doing so sealed the deal. “The residential building and remodeling industry is changing rapidly and is widely driven by what homeowners expect, specifically how they prefer to engage in the building process and the relationship they have with their builder,” Paul said. “Most home-

owners want a builder that is a trusted advisor, a client advocate, fully transparent with budgets, actual costs, mark-ups, and plenty of options.” Even pre-pandemic access to materials, subcontractors, and other vendors could be difficult for an independent builder, and having a larger group’s purchasing and hiring power is advantageous, said Alair DFW regional partner James Hammel. “It’s about just being more efficient with your back-of-house resources,” he said. “As a builder, I have a lot more going on behind the scenes as you get bigger and bigger, and you do less of what you actually love to do.” And for Paul and Sherry, the net-

Wulf Burger

Comings and Goings

Mockingbird Station The burger joint known for locally-sourced ingredients and distinct red hamburger buns created using a natural beet extract recently opened a second North Texas location near Rush Bowls.

REOPENED Heim BBQ (PHOTO: RACHEL SNYDER)

NOW OPEN Teak Tearoom

Highland Park Village

Teak Tearoom

(PHOTO: COURTESY BECKLEY AT WWW.BECKLEYPHOTO.COM)

The lunch spot within the Conservatory on Two, a retail concept by Brian Bolke, serves up a mix of such classics as the tuna melt and chicken tortilla soup plus new favorites like the roast chicken tartine and the Brian Bowl chopped salad.

Heim BBQ

3130 W. Mockingbird Lane Barbecue fans, rejoice! The popular eatery’s location near Love Field reopened after repairs necessitated by a fire in November.

COMING 360 Brunch House

Mockingbird Station As one might expect from a brunch menu, the eatery, which opened its first location in Mansfield,

Capital Renovations Group owners Paul and Sherry Zuch build and remodel homes in the Park Cities, Preston Hollow, Greenway Parks, Bluffview, North Dallas, Richardson, Lakewood, and Northwest Dallas. (PHOTOS: COURTESY ALAIR HOMES)

work’s support comes when opportunities are ripe in Dallas, but the ability to execute is more difficult. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen a more challenging time,” Paul said. “There’s more opportunity right now because the market is so great here, and there’s so much work and projects. But there’s a severe shortage of labor, and the supply chain issues were impacting our business,

too, and permitting.” Now that they’re part of the Alair network, they have better buying power and a “much broader bench of potential trade partners,” he said. “Now, we’re actively doing a lot more volume at work. We’re getting the attention of a lot of suppliers. Major manufacturers want to do business with us.”

offers plenty of omelets, skillets, benedicts, avocado toast, and more.

make participants feel like they’re in an action movie. The store will offer immersive virtual reality experiences for groups of up to six participants.

Hack Shack

Mockingbird Station The indoor golf simulator bar coming to the shopping center will showcase 10 indoor hitting bays, golf-themed cocktails and bites, and three private suites for events or golf lessons.

Hydrate IV Bar

Mockingbird Station The collection of spas coming in May provides registered nurse-administered services, ranging from IV Therapy, NAD+ IV Therapy, and injections.

Sandbox VR

Mockingbird Station The Hong Kong and Silicon Valley-based company, founded by CEO Steve Zhao, created technology to

Sekushi

Mockingbird Station A Japanese eatery with specialty sushi, fresh seafood, happy hour, and more is coming to a corner of the shopping center near Urban Taco.

StretchLab

Mockingbird Station The wellness concept offers customized one-on-one or group assisted-stretch sessions. The concept combines the Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) approach with dynamic and static stretching to increase range of motion. – Compiled by Rachel Snyder and Greg Nielsen

parkcitiespeople.com | April 2022

$350M+ sold and under contract in 2021

AMY DETWILER 214.536.8680 MICHELLE WOOD 214.564.0234 detwiler-wood.com

∙

@ detwiler_wood_realestate

Compass is a licensed real estate broker and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only. Information is compiled from sources deemed reliable but is subject to errors, omissions, changes in price, condition, sale, or withdrawal without notice. Photos may be virtually staged or digitally enhanced and may not reflect actual property conditions. *#1 team in Texas, per 2021 WSJ Real Trends.

20 April 2022 | parkcitiespeople.com

From The Big Easy And Back to Big D

Art, antiques appraiser Rachel Weathers talks about coming home By Josh Hickman

Special Contributor After 20 years of fine art and antiques appraising in the historical and cultural mecca of New Orleans, Preston Hollow’s Rachel Weathers of Weathers Appraisal Associates is glad to be back home. “I live only about a mile and a half from the house where I grew up,” she comments on her home of five years now. “Dallas has always been a dynamic city. I love being back in my childhood neighborhood. I’m home.” Her love of the arts blossomed at the Booker T. Washington High School for Performing Arts and the University of Texas at Austin. Then she worked in several Dallas galleries before heading to graduate school at Tulane. Not seeing her future in academia, Weathers landed a job at a New Orleans auction house, eventually working for the prestigious Neal Auction Company for 15 years — working her way up to director of furniture, then director of paintings for five years. “New Orleans is a historic, beautiful place, but not a good place to have a health issue,” Weathers said. The increasing

medical care of her special needs son necessitated a return to Dallas. “I was having trouble finding a good neurologist,” she said, which prompted flights to Children’s Hospital in Dallas for better care. Her parents encouraged the move back and helped her family find a house close by in the old neighborhood. Back in Dallas, Weathers joined the team at Heritage Auctions. “I’m grateful for my three and a half years at Heritage,” Weathers said. “After 20 years in New Orleans, I was able to come home and have dinner with my mom and dad any night of the week. I am a licensed auctioneer in the State of Texas through Heritage. I worked full-time as senior appraiser, a concentration I did not have time for in New Orleans. “Heritage is a pretty jet-set company, and they tried to accommodate my obligations at home and minimized my travel,” she said. “As Heritage made plans to move the headquarters near DFW airport, I worried about the logistics of care for my special needs child and being available for my parents. When the tornado of 2019 flew over my house and scrambled homes on the blocks

B E F O R E YO U B U Y

Buy what’s meaningful to you. People think they can make a lot of money flipping art, but it’s impossible to know what’s going to be selling for a lot in 10 years. You just don’t know. Don’t assume your kids will want it. If you end up with a multi-generational collection that gets handed down, then great. But a lot of people build up a collection not thinking that it’s eventually going to get sold piece by piece. Rachel Weathers’ love of the arts blossomed at the Booker T. Washington High School for Performing Arts. (PHOTO: JOSH HICKMAN) on both sides of us, it was time to step back.” Friend Brant Laird gave Weathers a part-time job at Consignment Heaven. “He has taught me so much about Park Cities collecting and decorating.” No longer constrained by remote learning with her children, she procured an office in the J Garrett Auctioneers building at 9203 Diplomacy Row in the warehouse district. She is a con-

sultant operating as Weathers Appraisal Associates. “It’s great to have collaboration instead of just one person working alone,” she said. J Garrett is “a family business. They’ve done the T. Boone Pickens and Bo Pilgrim estates and will soon host a signing of Preston Hollow resident John Phifer Marrs’s new book Interiors for Collectors and the accompanying auction of part of his collection.”

There are a lot more tools available today to the average person than there were when I started decades ago. But be mindful of your sources. LiveAuctioneers will have one price for an item, and 1st Dibs will have a completely different price for the same item. So, know what your market is.

Source: Rachel Weathers

parkcitiespeople.com | April 2022

DART ON-DEMAND

Get Moving With GoLink Get On-Demand Service On Your Schedule With GoLink, you get curb-to-curb service within your zone or a connection to DART’s larger network in a few simple steps:

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Maximize mobility. Minimize pain. If you’re thinking about knee or hip replacement, turn to the experienced professionals at Methodist Dallas Medical Center. Methodist Dallas has orthopedic specialists on its medical staff who use advanced therapies and treatments to find a customized joint solution for each patient. The Methodist Joint Academy is a free educational workshop that helps prepare joint replacement patients for surgery, giving them every opportunity for a faster return to normal daily activities. Trust Methodist.

For more information about orthopedic services, visit MethodistHealthSystem.org/Dallas-Ortho or call 214-947-0000. Texas law prohibits hospitals from practicing medicine. The physicians on the Methodist Health System medical staff are independent practitioners who are not employees or agents of Methodist Dallas Medical Center, Methodist Health System, or any of its affiliated hospitals. Methodist Health System complies with applicable federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex.

22 April 2022 | parkcitiespeople.com

Supply Chain Challenges Prompt Creation of Trucking Academy

Preston Hollow couple aims to recruit more women, people of color into the industry By Emilea McCutchan People Newspapers

Preston Hollow husband-andwife trucking duo Austin Carter and Sierra Nicole have seen the brunt of ongoing supply chain woes and are opening a trade school to combat it. Carter, a trucking veteran of seven years, sees a truck driver shortage contributing to the problem. The pandemic has exacerbated the pre-existing shortage, and new regulations have made it challenging to obtain the proper certifications to move freight, he said. “A lot of people, especially in California, [can’t] even get into the ports unless they have certain certifications to be in a port [and] to be able to get freight,” said

Carter. “[Due] to that right there, we’re really suffering.” That means shipping delays and barren store shelves, Nicole added. They are starting Elite Trade Academy to bring more people into the trucking industry. The academy will operate as a four-week program where students spend two weeks studying online to attain their permit before learning how to shift and maneuver in an actual semi-truck. Students would then take a test to achieve their Commercial Driving License. So far, they have helped students with online classes but are still putting the funding together to attain the physical elements of the school, such as the semi-truck.

It is our mission to be able to get more drivers out. Austin Carter

Sierra Nicole and Austin Carter (COURTESY PHOTO) “It is our mission to be able to get more drivers out,” Carter said. They are especially focused on introducing more people of color to trucking, he said. “We’re

Easter

[also] trying to get more women inside the trucking industry because they make up about 40% of the workforce, but in trucking, it’s about 7%.”

Nicole also wants to target ex-felons, people in low-income communities, and adults who have aged out of the foster care system. The academy has given scholarships to people within these demographics, she said. They also hope to show how trucking is a good career opportunity. For Carter and Nicole, a career in trucking has provided for their family for seven years. “The fact that [Carter] was able to [learn] a trade, have a good career, and provide for our family [is] what really sparked [Elite Trade Academy],” Nicole said. They want to give that same opportunity to others. “Having a career in trucking [is] not just a career,” said Nicole, “but it’s a lifestyle.”

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parkcitiespeople.com | April 2022

Resort Style Living! 4833 Walnut Hill Lane $4,549,000 5 Bed / 6.2 Bath / 1.006 Acres Doris Jacobs 214.537.3399 doris.jacobs@alliebeth.com

Susan Baldwin’s

Market Insight

Tenacity, patience and excellent negotiation skills are all key to navigating in today’s market. We work to connect you with the right home and then come in strong to win the transaction. Buyers need to be ready to act fast and be flexible. Susan Baldwin 214.763.1591 susan.baldwin@alliebeth.com

24 April 2022 | parkcitiespeople.com

Cocotos-Scott Group’s

Market Insight The Dallas housing market took a big leap in 2021 with a 13% increase in median home prices. The number of buyers relocating to the area continues to increase with more demand expected in 2022. We expect the market to remain strong with properties selling both on and off the market.

Kimberly Cocotos and Kristen Scott 214.682.5754 / 214.202.2660 cocotosscott@alliebeth.com

University Park Estate 7243 Baxtershire Drive Offered for $1,349,000 4 Bed / 4 Bath / 3,150 Sq.Ft. Marc Ching 214.728.4069 marc.ching@alliebeth.com

parkcitiespeople.com | April 2022

Designed to Perfection 5138 Deloache Avenue $10,995,000 6 Bed / 7.2 Bath / 11,185 Sq.Ft. Alex Perry 214.926.0158 alex.perry@alliebeth.com

University Park Estate 3005 Rosedale Avenue Offered for $2,895,000 5 Bed / 6,034 Sq.Ft. / Pool Susan Bradley 214.674.5518 susan.bradley@alliebeth.com

All listing information, either in print or electronic format, is deemed reliable but not guaranteed and listing broker is not responsible for any typographical errors or misinformation. Prospective buyers are instructed to independently verify all information furnished in connection with a listing. This information is current as of the distribution of this material, but is subject to revisions, price changes, or withdrawal without any further notice. Allie Beth Allman & Associates strictly adheres to all Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity laws and regulations.

26 April 2022 | parkcitiespeople.com

Hear from My Clients Clarke found an off market property for us before listing ours which meant everything to us. Winning out in multiple offers and managing both unique closings was a credit to her knowledge and ability in this crazy market. — JL, Preston Hollow Client

Clarke Landry 214.316.7416 clarke.landry@alliebeth.com

7327 Lane Park Court — SOLD $974,900 3 Bed / 3.5 Bath / 3,190 Sq. Ft.

3901 Shenandoah Street — CONTRACT PENDING $7,500,000 4 Bed / 4.4 Bath / 8,814 Sq.Ft..

Tim Schutze | 214.507.6699 tim.schutze@alliebeth.com

Beth Parks & Kelley Winsor 214.444.4176 | beth.parks@alliebeth.com

alliebethallman alliebeth.com All listing information, either in print or electronic format, is deemed reliable but not guaranteed and listing broker is not responsible for any typographical errors or misinformation. Prospective buyers are instructed to independently verify all information furnished in connection with a listing. This information is current as of the distribution of this material, but is subject to revisions, price changes, or withdrawal without any further notice. Allie Beth Allman & Associates strictly adheres to all Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity laws and regulations.

parkcitiespeople.com | April 2022

HOUSE OF THE MONTH

Real Talk: Sue Berk Sue Berk is one-half of the husband and wife team of Berk Walters Homes. With her husband, Brad Walters, the company builds new construction luxury houses in the Dallas area — especially the Park Cities, Preston Hollow, Devonshire, Midway Hollow, and the Bird Streets. How long have you been in real estate, and what led you to this career? On and off for 30 years. I started my career in marketing and adver tising for For tune 500 companies. I got into real estate in a roundabout way. I was working at Texas Instruments and had just bought my first condo in North Dallas. I wanted to renovate it and could not get a contractor to do the work. The engineers at TI told me, “Do it yourself!” Some of them helped me out by showing me how to change out a light fixture, and I also lear ned how to tile by myself. I ended up renovating the entire condo myself in my spare time (paint, tile, wallpaper, etc.). I was featured on The Discovery Channel on a show called Interior Motives. I love being creative, and custom home building allows me to combine creativity, project management, and finance. It is the perfect career for me.

What is the best thing about being a builder? I love so many things about being a builder. Seeing my vision come to life. Picking out all the tile, paint, light fixtures, plumbing fixtures, and more. That is my favorite part — being creative. But I also enjoy working with so many of my subcontractors. They are good people, mostly Hispanic, and it’s satisfying to see them do good work. They really are masters at their craft. I only wish I spoke Spanish!

9727 Audubon Place

Seeing my vision come to life. Picking out all the tile, paint, light fixtures, plumbing fixtures, and more. That is my favorite part — being creative. Sue Berk

Now that you’ve been a real estate professional for a while, if you could go back in time and give yourself any advice, what would it be? Buy houses/lots in Midway Hollow and especially The Bird Streets! They were so cheap 20 years ago!

What is your outlook on the Dallas market? I honestly do not see it slowing down. I sort of wish it would because the traffic from all the new people moving here is insane. And it ’s also getting more and more expensive to find lots and to pay for raw material and labor. But it is an exciting time to be a builder in the Metroplex. I love coming up with new designs and new ideas. Dallas is very cutting edge when it comes to new construction and design. Can you give us a fun fact about yourself? I grew up in South Africa, and I lived in Israel for a year during my junior year of college. So, I consider myself an immigrant, although most people do not realize it because I have an American accent. I believe that travel is the most important thing anyone can do — to learn about other cultures so you can understand their point of view. – Compiled by Bethany Erickson

(PHOTOS: COURTESY EBBY HALLIDAY REALTORS)

riginally designed by Robbie Fusch, then reimagined and transformed in 2020 by the current owner, this stunning home includes an addition that clocks in at more than 7,000 square feet. The commanding 1.3-acre gated estate in the heart of Old Preston Hollow comprises an 18,769 square foot main house with seven bedrooms, 10 full and four half-baths, seven fireplaces, four kitchens, a media room, tasting room with chilled wine storage for approximately 1,000 bottles, an exercise/

spa/beauty room, billiard room, a catering kitchen with commercial appliances, and much more. The square footage excludes the 2,026 square-foot climate-controlled auto collector’s showroom with custom lighting. Overlooking a Bachman Creek tributary, the new infinity-edge pool with sunken fire pit rivals any 5-star resort. Just a few of the additional amenities include light-andbright living spaces, Venetian plaster walls, Lutron Smart Home system, a backup generator, elevator, and central vacuum system.

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28 April 2022 | parkcitiespeople.com

Camps

CODING IS FOR MORE THAN JUST YOUR FAVORITE APP UTD professor also aims to teach life skills to children ages 5 and up By Greg Nielsen

People Newspapers

oding camp students at the University of Texas at Dallas keep getting younger and younger. UTD started with high school students in 2012 and expanded to include younger campers two years later. Now, coding camps options include children as young as 5 years old.

Some kids come in with zero knowledge, but they can climb to a near freshman in college-level of knowledge based on how many weeks they take. Jey Veerasamy “We’re a public university, so we need to do the public good,” said Dr. Jey Veerasamy, an associate

Students learn coding and problem-solving skills through summer camps at The University of Texas at Dallas. Associate professor Dr. Jey Veerasamy is the director of UTD’s Center for Computer Science Education & Outreach. (PHOTOS: COURTESY UTD) professor who sees the potential for coding to benefit youth beyond computer applications. As director of UTD’s Center for Computer Science Education & Outreach, he wanted to help

children build critical thinking skills. “We get these smart kids with good grades that will come in and be disappointed due to a lack of instant success,” Veerasamy said.

“They’ve never been told that they are wrong or experienced trial and error.” But coding camps demonstrate how working through mistakes is normal and advantageous, he said. “It helps them by learning how to deal with being wrong and how they can learn from that and not take it personally,” Veerasamy said. “I’ve been coding for 35 years, and sometimes I get told I’m wrong by the computer. I don’t take it personally but learn how to fix it and not make the same mistake.” The critical thinking and problem-solving skills necessary to do coding also apply to other fields such as the arts, he said. Veerasamy hopes to combine UTD’s coding program with a music program at another university. And for technically inclined children, the coding camps offer a huge upside, he said. “Some kids come in with zero knowledge, but they can climb to a near freshman in college-level of knowledge based on how many weeks they take.” To reach a wide range of grade school students, UTD provides

materials to schools in low-income neighborhoods and offers discounted camp rates to some families. But young campers aren’t the only ones benefiting from the summer coding programs. UTD computer science students gain, too, as they staff the camps. Leading camps takes college students beyond their technical skills to practicing and refining communication skills, Veerasamy said. It’s one thing to communicate peer to peer but another to impart that information to a child. UTD’s international students, especially, have plenty to gain, he said. “They go from not introducing themselves and just typing away at the computer to overcoming their shyness and being friendly.”

SIGN UP FOR CAMP Registration for the coding camps has already begun at events.circuitree.com. For more information, visit k12. utdallas.edu/summer/, email csk12@utdallas.edu, or text 214-924-2148

Hey College Students, Want to Spend Summer in Texas Parks? Apply Soon What’s a history, chemistry, business, or education major who yearns to spend more time outdoors to do over the summer? How about hanging out with Texas Game Wardens. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department encourages college students of all backgrounds and fields of study to apply for one of the 12 available openings to intern with Texas Game Wardens. But hurry, the deadline is March 31.

We provide college students with a realistic view of a game warden’s day-to-day activities, including time spent on patrol. Lt. Rachel Kellner “This is a great opportunity for individuals who are curious about conservation law enforcement and interested in a higher level of community engagement,” said Lt. Rachel Kellner, Texas Game Warden program coordinator. “We provide college students with a realistic view of a game warden’s day-to-day activities, including time spent on patrol.” While an internship is not necessary to become an official Texas Game Warden, Lt. Kellner noted the experience can be a

helpful first step. “Successfully completing an internship may booster a cadet applicant in the long run, but more importantly, it will enable students to understand the level of commitment that is required to protect the state’s wildlife and wild spaces,” Kellner said. Find the application, eligibility requirements, specific locations, compensation, and additional information on the TPWD website, tpwd.texas.gov.

Texas Game Wardens summer internships help college students understand the commitment required to protect the state’s wildlife and wild spaces. (PHOTO: COURTESY TPWD) This year, applicants may only apply to a single position in a single county. The counties of Angelina, Aransas, Bexar, Brown, Cameron, Dallas, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Potter, Nueces, and Tom Green all have available positions. – Staff report

CURIOUS? Interested applicants seeking more information may contact Texas Game Warden Recruiter Chelsea Bailey at (361) 571-9877. Visit tpwd.texas.gov.

parkcitiespeople.com | April 2022

Associate of Applied Arts Degrees

Acting Musical Theatre Filmmaking

(PHOTO: 123RF.COM/ SERGEY NOVIKOV)

Overnight Camps in The Time of Covid Are you looking to send your child to an overnight camp this summer but concerned about COVID? If so, you’re not alone. Many parents are evaluating whether sending their children away during these times is a good idea. HELENE ABRAMS You should know that the camps that I work with have learned what they need to do to keep campers and staff safe – and have done a great job accomplishing that. Some camps took on this responsibility in the summer of 2020. They followed CDC and state guidelines. For 2021, they shared these best practices with others and remained aware of changes as they occurred. The result was a very successful 2021 camp season. I have every confidence that summer 2022 will be the same. This summer’s major difference is that most overnight camps require all campers and all staff to be vaccinated. This will allow camps to run, for the most part, as normal. What is not clear is whether those camps that offer inter-camp competition will do so. There is still a concern about breaking the camp bubble. Most of the ones offering inter-camp tournaments are back east or in the Midwest. Our kids need a camp experience now more than ever.

Last fall, when we thought the pandemic was under control and a glimmer of normalcy was in sight, Delta and Omicron quickly took over. Now many children are tested weekly. They are in school, out of school, and back in school. The tension and confusion are real. How are your children doing in this scenario? Sending your child away this summer will provide them with a carefree environment where they can be with friends, participate in fun activities, and enjoy freedom and a sense of accomplishment. Many parents have reached the same conclusion, and as a result, this year, camps are filling faster than ever before. Every day I receive emails about camps now waitlisting applicants. Parents are realizing more than ever how vital that overnight camp is. Summer camp can be one of the most rewarding, unforgettable experiences in a child’s life, now more than ever. The camp enrollments reflect this. If you haven’t started researching your child’s summer experience yet, do so now and find that special place for your child to thrive next summer. Reach Helene Abrams, with Tips on Trips and Camps, a free advisory service that helps parents find enriching summer overnight experiences for their children, ages 7 -18, at 214-4848141 or Helene@TipsonTripsandCamps.com.

KD Conservatory offers Associate Degrees in Acting, Musical Theatre and Filmmaking. KD Conservatory is accredited through NAST. Financial Aid is available for those who qualify.

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30 April 2022 | parkcitiespeople.com

Schools

STUDENT ACHIEVEMENTS: RUN, PLAY, DRAW, SING

(PHOTOS: WILLIAM TAYLOR AND COURTESY HPISD)

1. Eligible to run in 12 years

3. Covering up the numbers

5. Spell victory C-A-N-O-L-A

FRONT ROW, FROM LEFT: Nineyear-old Bradfield Elementary School fourth-graders Sloane and Taylor Stephens presided at the Feb. 15 Highland Park Town Council meeting as “Mayors for a Day.” The daughters of Brad and Rachel Stephens read from the agenda as instructed by Mayor Margo Goodwin. BACK ROW: Craig Penfold, Lydia Novakov, Jimmy Grisham, Goodwin, David Dowler, and Marc Myers.

Before wading through the numbers and fine print in HPISD’s 2021 Annual Comprehensive Finance Report, enjoy the cover art by University Park Elementary School student Douglas Cooper. He used colored pencils, a tempera paint print, and a Gelli plate to create his Texas-themed piece.

After 11 competitive rounds pitting 32 MIS/HPMS students in grades five through eight, seventh-grader Amelia Ghosh became “HPISD’s Champion Speller” by spelling “canola” correctly. BACK ROW, FROM LEFT: Educators Meg Bassett, Shannon Taliaferro, David Mires, Jill Bellomy, and Sandy Cruz stand behind Amelia Ghosh.

4. In the medal hunt

6. Education on education

9. Art students win Gold Keys

Add 2022 U.S. Presidential Scholar Candidate to the impressive resume of senior Christopher Ryan Carmack, pictured with principal Jeremy Gilbert. Of 5,000 candidates nationwide, 161 will receive a Presidential Medal. Other Carmack accomplishments: a perfect 1600 SAT score, 4.69 GPA, National Academic Decathlon Silver Medalist, National Merit Semi-Finalist, Boys State Supreme Court Justice, and several medals in Computer Science, Math, Science, and Academic Decathlon.

Armstrong Elementary School first-grader Brooke Pridham [center], serving as “principal for a day,” met with HPISD Superintendent Tom Trigg and principal Betsy Cummins.

Four HPHS students won Gold Keys at the Southwest Region Scholastic Arts and Writing Competition: Joyce Jiang, for Corn, [pictured] drawing and illustration; Anthony Ngo, for CHAOS, CHAOS #2, and Programmed, (pictured) digital art; and Yincheng Qian, one for Crack, comic art; and Xinke Wang, for Totoro Inspired Chess Set, ceramics/ glass, and Vase of Flowers in a Niche, painting.

2. Best of the band The Highland Park High School band program set a school record with nine students making the Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) All-State Band. FROM LEFT: Spencer Dalton, French horn; Andrew Liao, percussion; Merrick Ellison, trumpet; Olivia Kight, flute; Reuben Obel, alto saxophone; Ava Mitchell, piccolo; Brandon Luk, trumpet; Amy Xu, oboe; and Vincenzo Guandolo, bassoon.

7. Glad scientists CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: With his project “Restoring and Cataloging a Native Texas Ecosystem using DNA Barcoding,” GB Stalnaker emerged as the overall winner of the HP Science and Technology Festival. Other winners: Brian Fowler, engineering

division; Caitlin Samson, science division; and Jake Wood, technology division.

8. A singing Scot repeats Three Singing Scots made Texas All-State Choir, including Juliet Allan, who did so for the second time. FROM LEFT: Callie Seabolt, seventh chair, alto 2; Allan, first chair, alto 1; and Dylan Woodward, third chair, tenor 2.

– Compiled by Greg Nielsen and William Taylor

parkcitiespeople.com | April 2022

Photo by Kate Allen

"Once a Scot, always a Scot!" "Since 1945, our family has looked to Highland Park schools to produce life-long learners rooted in academic excellence and servant leadership. I am running for HPISD Trustee Place 5 because I believe the HP of tomorrow can be as great as the HP of our past. Together, we can ensure our students and educators have everything they need to thrive in the classroom and beyond."

FISCAL CONSERVATIVE * COMMITTED TO ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE * COMMUNITY-MINDED Graduated from Highland Park High School, ranked in the Top Ten, Class of 1992 Graduated with Honors from the University of Virginia with a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature Holds a State of Texas Teaching Certificate for Secondary Education, English 15 years of volunteer service in HPISD schools Member, 2019 HPISD Boundary Redistricting Committee 2021 Golden Pennies Campaign Committee Parent Education Committee, 2019-2021 Member, HP Education Foundation Member, City of UP's 100-year Master Plan HPISD/SMU/UP Focus Group

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Voting Info Early Voting: April 25th-May 3rd Election Day: Saturday, May 7th Political Advertising Campaign paid for by Ellen Lee for HPISD campaign Pete Flowers - Treasurer

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32 April 2022 | parkcitiespeople.com

Brewing Up Opportunities

Student-run Scottie Joe’s coffee shop opens at Highland Park High School By Rachel Snyder

rachel.snyder@peoplenewspapers.com

After months of brewing up business plans and sourcing java, the student-run Scottie Joe’s coffee bar is open on the third floor of Highland Park High School. Junior and senior students from the Moody Advanced Professional Studies (MAPS) program manage the business operations and marketing, and young adults from the school’s 18+ transition program staff the coffee shop. The shop was made possible through a partnership with Credit Union of Texas. “This is really what it’s all about – real-world experiences for kids,” said HPISD Superintendent Tom Trigg. “And kids, it’s great to have a grand opening, but you know what? The hard work really starts now, because you guys are going to be working together, you’re going to be collaborating, you’re going to have to have schedules, you’re going to have to follow the profits … on and on and on, things that are really going to prepare you for real-world experience.” District officials, students, and staff celebrated the shop’s grand opening on March 7. Students in the business design

and leadership program have worked on mission statements, done market research via surveys among students and teachers to learn about the types of coffee and price points that would do best, and learned about supply chain issues. Credit Union of Texas vice president of community engagement Desmond Bibbs said the project aligns with the type of projects the credit union supports, and he’s excited to see it come to fruition. “I’ve had an opportunity to come into the classroom settings, and these students are way smarter than me,” Bibbs said. “The ideals, the level of creativity is overwhelming, and so we couldn’t be more proud of this partnership, and we’re looking forward to seeing how we can continue to build on this foundation.” Brooke Benedict of the district’s Moody Innovation Institute said, “It’s really fun, and (the students) are some of the best salespeople I’ve ever met.” Junior Paul Flowers said he’s excited.

“We find ourselves amazed at how Scottie Joe’s gives and keeps on giving – a treasure trove of opportunities,” said Flowers. “The 18+ students have from this business accumulated real-time job experience. This experience … became the seed for another fruit – increased social interaction. This blessing has boosted their confidence and has produced results sweeter than the ice caramel latte (I had).”

This is really what it’s all about – real-world experiences for kids. Tom Trigg

Young adults from Highland Park High School’s 18+ program serve up drinks during the grand opening celebration for Scottie Joe’s coffee shop. (PHOTO: RACHEL SNYDER)

parkcitiespeople.com | April 2022

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34 April 2022 | parkcitiespeople.com

CLOCKWISE, FROM TOP: Laboratory prototypes use infrared light to illuminate hidden objects. (PHOTO: FLORIAN WILLOMITZER/NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY) Elizabeth G. Loboa, Zhong Lu, and R. Gerald Turner; Kelvin and Jessica Beachum’s art collection includes The Night is Our Friend, oil on canvas by Dominic Chambers. (PHOTOS: COURTESY SMU)

Can’t hide from these cameras

Black art, black joy

Researchers at SMU and Northwestern University are working on Synthetic Wavelength Holography, a technology that uses cameras to record high-resolution images and holograms of objects beyond standard lines of sight. Imagine seeing around a corner without having to go over and look. It works by computationally transforming real-world surfaces into imaging portals to then indirectly illuminate hidden objects and intercept the tiny fraction of light scattered by them. “Our current sensor prototypes use visible (or invisible) infrared light, but the principle is universal and could be extended to other wavelengths,” said Northwestern’s Florian Willomitzer, who’s working with SMU’s Prasanna Rangarajan on the research. “For example, the same method could be applied to radio waves for space exploration or underwater acoustic imaging.” They hope to develop NonLine of Site (NLoS) cameras that are compact, fast, and easy to use. Such cameras could allow users to get images through fog and use facial identification around corners and barriers. Applications could include early-warning navigation systems for vehicles and industrial inspection in tightly confined and potentially dangerous spaces and medical imaging.

Kelvin and Jessica Beachum lent 10 paintings to SMU’s Hamon Arts Library for an exhibit open through May 22 in Mildred Hawn Gallery. “We are sharing these pieces from our collection to bring recognition to the artists,” said SMU graduate Kelvin Beachum, an offensive tackle for the Arizona Cardinals. “We believe that their brilliant work and shared insights will start a conversation and bring people together in a new way.” “Narrative as Reality: A World Reimagined/ Selections from the Jessica and Kelvin Beachum Family Collection” showcases work from several artists, including Dominic Chambers, Ryan Cosbert, and Robert Hodge, who also are engaging with students in studio art and U.S. civil rights history classes. “A glimpse into the Jessica and Kelvin Beachum Family Collection reveals an artistic world of hope, Black joy, reality, and aspiration,” curator Valerie Gillespie said.

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Champions of science Elizabeth G. Loboa, SMU’s provost and vice president for academic affairs, and Zhong Lu, the Shuler-Foscue Chair in SMU’s Roy M. Huffington Department of Earth Sciences, have been named fellows of the American Association for the Advancement

of Science (AAAS). “The AAAS recognition from their peers is well deserved, and SMU is fortunate to benefit from their expertise and commitment to excellence in teaching, research, and scientific discovery,” SMU President R. Gerald Turner said. The AAAS, the world’s largest general scientific society and publisher of the journal Science, is recognizing the scientific and social achievements of 564 individuals across 24 scientific disciplines.

Honored by King of Spain SMU President R. Gerald Turner received the Encomienda de la Orden de Isabel la Católica, a decoration granted by King Felipe VI of Spain in recognition of extraordinary civil character and accomplishments benefiting Spain. Santiago Cabanas, ambassador of Spain to the United States, and Julia Olmo y Romero, consul general of Spain, presented the honor on Feb. 18 at SMU’s Meadows Museum. “Dr. Turner’s unwavering support of the Meadows Museum and steadfast support of Spain through his backing of numerous Spanish programs has enabled SMU to become a beacon for the promotion of Spanish culture in America,” said Janet Kafka, honorary consul for Dallas-Fort Worth. – Compiled by Greg Nielsen

parkcitiespeople.com | April 2022

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36 April 2022 | parkcitiespeople.com

Society

MAD HATTER’S INTRODUCES JUDGES, Looking Ahead CATEGORIES FOR APRIL 20 TEA PARTY Golf with a cause

The Huntington’s Disease Society of America’s (HDSA) Greater North Texas Affiliate will host the inaugural JCH Golf Classic beginning at 7 a.m. May 2 at Bear Creek Golf Club. The event coordinated by Haley Pearce will recognize those who have impacted the community and helped inspire others to fight the disease. Visit greaterntx.hdsa.org/golf.

Give pets a home Dallas Pets Alive! has partnered with The Bandwagon Tour for a concert on May 7 at the Dos Equis Pavilion. Miranda Lambert, Little Big Town, and The Cadillac Three will perform to promote the fostering and saving of homeless pets. Visit dallaspetsalive.org.

Barbara Bigham and Emilynn Wilson

Karl Chiao, Addison Sloane, Diana Brosseau, and Kallie Hauschild

New dates

Trisha Sims and Cindy Avroch Rosenthal

Lisa Loy Laughlin, Claire Catrino, and Allison Brodnax (PHOTOS BY ROB WYTHE/WYTHE PORTRAIT STUDIO)

Nerissa von Helpenstill and Linda Spina

Vanessa Logan and Elizabeth Selzer

Gail Warrior

Get those bonnets and bowlers, cloches and cartwheels, and fascinators and fedoras ready. Allison Brodnax chaired the Feb. 24 Reveal party in Tootsies’ recently renovated Preston Center space, where Mad Hatter’s Tea Party organizers introduced the judges and categories for the April 20 affair at the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden. The judges: Mary Brinegar, Best Use of Botanical Components: “Bluebonnets;” Kim Noltemy, Most True to Theme: “Flying Horse;” Barbara Bigham, Best Big Over the Top Texas Hat: “Everything is Bigger in Texas;” Vanessa Logan, Best Fascinator: “Uptown Girl;” Amy Hofland, Best Group Hats: “Dallas Dynasty;” and Tanya Taylor, Best in Show: “Don’t Mess with Dallas.” Those attending the tea will choose the People’s Choice Award: “Deep in the Hat of Texas” winner. – Staff report

Flexibility has remained an ongoing theme during the COVID-19 era as charitable social events have returned to Steve Eagar the calendar. These events would have already happened but got new dates because of concerns about surging case numbers from the Omicron variant: • The masquerade-themed Gala, An Event to Remember, moved from Feb. 19 to May 7 at the Verona Villa in Frisco. Steve Eagar, from Channel 4 KDFW, will emcee. “The safety of our constituents, supporters, and guests during the current omicron surge drove this decision, and we are hopeful that by moving the event to May 7, we will be able to resume the in-person Gala we are all looking forward to enjoying,” said Nicole Garrison, manager of relationship events for the Dallas and Northeast Texas Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association. Visit https://e.givesmart.com/events/og4/ or call 972-752-0233. • The Center for Vital Longevity’s 10th Anniversary Dinner, initially scheduled for Jan. 29, was moved to May 20. The event will honor Dr. Denise C. Clark, director of research and distinguished university chair in behavioral and brain sciences. Watch calendar.utdallas.edu for event updates or call Erin Dougherty at (972) 883-3938. (COURTESY PHOTOS)

– Compiled by Greg Nielsen

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parkcitiespeople.com | April 2022

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38 April 2022 | parkcitiespeople.com

DSOL Presentation Ball Brings Families Together

Grand Tableau

Elizabeth Walsh

Madigan Jacoby and Spencer Hardin

Julia Hicks and Vance Miller

Todd Clendening and Sherwood Wagner (PHOTOS: GITTINGS)

FRONT ROW: Karen Cox, Venise Stuart, and Sarah Mills. BACK ROW: Claire Catrino, Elizabeth Gambrell, Courtney Slater, Nancy Labadie, and Cynthia Beaird

Eric and Elizabeth Gambrell

Chris, Sydney and Susan Goodiel

Larry and Venise Stuart, and Kim Noltemy

Mary Margaret, Barry, Katherine, Margaret, and James Hancock

Fallon Bock

Dallas Symphony Orchestra League’s annual Presentation Ball has raised more than $12 million for the Dallas Symphony Orchestra through the years and created many family legacies along the way. For example, Margaret and Barry Hancock met when she was a debutant, a year after he had served in the 1987 honor guard. With this year’s 36th annual ball, all their children have participated, too: Mary Margaret in 2016, James in 2020, and Katherine in 2022. Elizabeth Gambrell served as ball chair with Sherwood Wagner as honorary chair for the Feb. 12 event at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center. The 2021-2022 debutantes: Nora Arnold, Virginia Baker, Bailey Beaird, Cambridge Bender, London Boscamp, Abigail Brannon, Riley Cheek, Grace Condon, Amelia Cox, Erin Daugherty, Eliza Davis, Katherine Downing, Katherine Edwards, Katie Elliott, Virginia Fielder, Sydney Goodiel, Katherine Hancock, Emily Hea, Reva Henderson, Ava Heppner, Julia Hicks, Stephanie Hirschbrich, Sophie Hung, Madigan Jacoby, Grace Judin, Claire Koonsman, Story Langston, Ashley Laughlin, McKinley Lawson, Brooke Marvel, Ashlyn Meuse, Anna Mikeska, Kate Murray, Ashlee Newton, Abbey Perry, Mary Tarver Reid, Anna Robinowitz, Annie Sawers, Bella Scott, Sarah Smith, Lydia Szuwalski, Margaret Thompson, Samantha Ungerman, Ella Varel, Annie Walker, Elizabeth Walsh, Tory Wicklund, and Kelsey Wittmann. – Staff report

parkcitiespeople.com | April 2022

French Châteaus For Beginners

De Vouge brings tales of Vaux-le-Vicomte to Woman’s Club, Aldredge House By Daniel Lalley

Special Contributor Growing up amid the opulence of an ancient French chateau seems more like a fantasy than any feasible upbringing. However, for Alexandre de Vogue, director of patronage and external relations for Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte, it was all part of a greater calling he’s come to accept as his family duty. Preston Hollow resident Susan Cox helped arrange his recent visit to North Texas, where de Vogue spoke at the Dallas Woman’s Club and Aldredge House as well as to journalists and others about the intricate history of his home in France, the s i g n i fi c a n c e of the estate, and his journey as a steward for the next generation. “In 1875, my great, great grandfather, who had built his fortune through the sugar industry, fell in love with Vaux-le-Vicomte. He decided to purchase the estate in

an auction and dedicate the rest of his life to restoring it.” De Vogue’s great, great grandfather brought his family to live at the chateau for six months out of the year. They furnished it, restored the house, resuscitated the grounds and garden, and effectively saved this estate which had been abandoned for 20 years. The history of Vaux-le-Vicomte is as intricate as its architecture, beginning with a wealthy parliamentarian, Nicholas Fouquet, who built the estate but was soon after sentenced to life imprisonment by King Louis XIV. “It was a myth that Fouquet stole money f rom the treasur y and raised an army to overthrow the king,” said de Vouge. “When Fouquet invited Louis XIV to the estate upon its inauguration, the king was so jealous that he threw him in prison.” Enduring multiple generations in de Vogue’s family, Alexandre’s father received the estate as a

I thought maybe it was time to face what I called my family duty. Alexandre De Vogue

Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte is known for its rich French history and impressive architecture. (COURTESY PHOTO, FARIDA BRECHEMIER)

wedding gift in 1967 then opened it to the public in 1968. “My father cared for it until 2011, before turning the company over to me and my twin brother. In 2015 our younger brother joined us as well, and now we are all three in charge of caring for the estate.” But this wasn’t always the plan for de Vouge. Having been raised in Vaux-le-Vicomte, Alexandre grew bored of his life there and wanted to embark on a journey all his own. “My brother and I spent our youth in the chateau,” said de Vouge. “I then went to study in

Paris, completed my compulsory military service in the Alpine Troops where I discovered a love for skiing and mountaineering. I decided to make it my profession, so I became a mountain guide in the Alps and did that for over 20 years. I traveled and lived in Canada, South America, and Patagonia, earning my living.” Then, something unexpected happened. He broke his leg in 2008 which gave him some time to reflect. “I thought maybe it was time to face what I called my family duty.”

In 2010, de Vouge returned to Vaux-le-Vicomte to begin carving his part in the legacy of this magnificent place. Today, he travels the world sharing the story of his home and an incredible piece of history.

DISCOVER THE E S TAT E Visit vaux-le-vicomte.com for detailed information on events, history, tours, and more.

Party Hopping Cooking up hope The 12th annual Symphony of Chefs on Feb. 28 at SMU’s Armstrong Fieldhouse raised more than $300,000 to help KidLinks connect children to healing, hope, and happiness through music and media therapy. Roni Proter, a TV personality, chef, and creator of Dinner Re-invented (dinnerreinvented.com), emceed. Christina and Chase Sanders and Lisa and Stuart Sides served as co-chairs, and John Kleifgen and Eric Dreyer as Honorary Chef Chairs. Booker T. Strings Trio performed as guests enjoyed chef-prepared food, starting with hors d’oeuvres, f resh focaccia and classic rustic bread, and several courses. Prodigal exhibit SMU’s Meadows Museum celebrated the opening of “Murillo: Picturing the Prodigal Son” and honored the exhibit’s lenders as well as dignitaries and others at a Feb. 18 dinner held within the museum galleries. On loan from the National Gallery of Ireland, a series of six paintings by Bartolomé Esteban Murillo (1617–1682) is in the U.S. for the first time. The exhibit illustrates the popular biblical parable and runs through June 16.

Healing the Mind The Meadows Mental Health Institute

celebrated members of its new f riends’ group, the Texas State of Mind Society, during a Feb. 17 welcome reception at The Pumphouse, a private event space at the home of institute board member Deedie Rose. The society, co-chaired by Caren and Peter Kline, will support the institute’s goal of making Texas the national leader in mental healthcare. Guest speakers were Meadows Institute President and CEO Andy Keller, Dr. Madhukar Trivedi, and Peter O’Donnell Jr.

Boogie for Nexus With Disco and Dessert, the Dallas Nexus Recovery Center and its patrons celebrated 50 years of bringing substance abuse treatments to women and honored recently retired former CEO Becca Crowell for 30 years of service. Jan Madigan, Carolyn Waghorne, and Angie and Rush Waghorne chaired the Nov. 17 event. Guests fully embraced the theme, sporting boogie attire including gold sequins, platform shoes, and ’70s inspired fashions for the agency’s first in-person fundraising event in nearly two years. The evening at the Joule began with an invitation-only Honorary Reception, chaired by Jan Madigan and Carolyn Waghorne, for 50 For 50 donors and sponsors. – Compiled by Greg Nielsen

Roni Proter and Diana Crawford (Photo: Courtesy KidLinks)

Nicholas Weege, Jay and Pilar Henry, Michael Domke, and Terri Provencal

(Photo: Courtesy SMU)

Deedie Rose [center] with Peter and Caren Kline (Photo: Celeste Cass)

John and Sunny Ackerman (Photo: Shana Anderson)

40 April 2022 | parkcitiespeople.com

Living

ENJOY CITY OF LIGHT VIBES AT ENDURING NEIGHBORHOOD BISTRO April in Paris, chestnuts in blossom Holiday tables under the trees April in Paris, this is a feeling That no one can ever reprise -Yip Harburg If you can’t make it to Paris in April, the next best thing might just be to visit Parigi, the Oak Avenue K E R ST E N R ET TI G Lawn restaurant named after the City of Light. Parigi, the Italian word for Paris, has been a Dallas dining institution since 1984, making it one of the more enduring upscale restaurants in Dallas, alongside Café Pacific (1980) and Dakota’s Steakhouse (1984). The original owner sold the restaurant in 1995 to owners who ended up selling Parigi to Janice Provost and her husband of 27 years, Roger. Janice started working at Parigi in 1998 as a prep cook. She left a successful career in telecom after more than a decade to pursue a culinary career. She sold long-distance and point-to-point communication services and then left her job and enrolled in the culinary program at El Centro, now Dallas College. Parigi is, at its heart, a neighborhood bistro. “It belongs to the neighborhood,” Janice told me. In fact, so much so that Parigi was awarded a James Beard Foundation Relief Fund Grant that select community restaurants received to help prevent closure.

Visitors to Parigi on Oak Lawn Avenue can’t miss Janice Provost’s love for hot pink – including XOXO artwork by artist in residence Shane Pennington – and shouldn’t miss the bistro’s top selling deviled eggs. (PHOTOS: MANNY RODRIGUEZ AND KERSTEN RETTIG)

Though it wasn’t meant to be, some say it’s karma for the many different charitable causes that Janice and Parigi support. From Cotes du Coeur to Zoo-to-Do, Janice’s signature hot pink chef ’s jacket and fiery red hair stand out in the crowds at Dallas’ top food events. So, what about the food? Chef Daniel Munoz and the long-serving culinary team create immaculately prepared French Bistro fare such as Boeuf Bourguignon, Chicken au Poivre, and Pomme Frites. Flavors for the risotto, pasta, burger, soup, pizza, fish, deviled eggs, and dessert change daily, which suits a couple of regulars who, with their pooch, Peaches, dine there four to

five times a week. Top sellers include the deviled eggs (she serves almost 1,600 of them a month) and the Chocolate Glob, a 1984 original menu item that was, like many of the world’s best inventions, a mistake. It was created when a pan of brownies was prematurely removed from the oven, and the hot silken chocolate mess won the heart and mind of the displeased chef who added it to the menu. Janice’s signature pink graces the restaurant throughout, most notably in the illuminated XOXO artwork by Parigi’s artist in residence Shane Pennington, who, along with employee artists, has work lining

the milky white walls of the restaurant. The sleek banquettes and enrobed tables provide the perfect slate for the clientele and the artful plates that reach the tables. Janice’s long-term dream is to own a pied-a-terre in Paris, her spiritual home. In the meantime, she and her team will continue to be a place where diners can imagine themselves dining in St. Germaine, enjoying country paté beneath string lights and enjoying a swath of the City of Light in our backyard. Follow Kersten Rettig, a Park Cities-based writer with 30-plus years of experience in food and beverage marketing and public relations, on Instagram @KerstenEats.

‘This is Dallas’ Explores Histories, Contributions of the Disenfranchised The late Marcellus Clayton “M.C.” Cooper is Dallas. On Feb. 12, 1862, Cooper was born to an enslaved person, Sallie Lively, and a white man, also named M.C. Cooper. He spent his childhood on the Caruth Farm, a massive estate once stretching over 30,000 acres north from downtown and covering where SMU, Highland Park, University Park, and NorthPark Center are now. After attending school in East Dallas black settlements near White Rock Lake, Cooper got a job at Sanger Brothers Department Store. He worked for 11 years saving money to study dentistry at Meharry Medical

College in Nashville, Tennessee. Cooper returned to Dallas in 1896 and opened a dentist office on Commerce Street. The formerly enslaved person’s story is one of eight featured in “This is Dallas,” an exhibit running through May 30 in Dallas Heritage Village at Old City Park, 1515 S. Harwood St. Visit dallasheritagevillage.org. The exhibit explores the impact of disenfranchised individuals and groups on “big picture” history. Others highlighted include Anita N. Martinez, Rodd Gray [Patti Le Plae Safe], Maggie Wu, Alexander Sanger, Antonio Maceo Smith, Grace Danforth, and Quahana Parker. – Staff report Rodd Gray, one of those highlighted in “This is Dallas,” checked out the exhibit during a recent visit to Old City Park. The displayed artifacts explore the history and contributions of people of color, women, and LGBTQ+ individuals. (PHOTOS: COURTESY DALLAS HERITAGE VILLAGE) The late Marcellus Clayton Cooper, 18621929, a formerly enslaved person who became a dentist, is the namesake for the M.C. Cooper Dental Society, founded in 1954. Cooper Street in South Dallas also commemorates him. (IMAGE: COURTESY VITAL RECORD NEWS FROM TEXAS A&M HEALTH)

parkcitiespeople.com | April 2022 WEDDING

SARAH RYERSON CONANT - VIKTOR VOJO TASEVSKI

a r a h R ye r s on C on a n t and Viktor Vojo Tasevski exchanged wedding vows on the fifth of February 2022 at the Hotel Crescent Court in Dallas. Reverend Greg Pickens of St. Michael and All Angels Church officiated the ceremony. A reception followed at the Hotel Crescent Court. The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Kimball Conant of University Park. She is the granddaughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Richard Jenkins and the late Mr. and Mrs. George Conant. The groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Vojo Tasevski of Skopje, North Macedonia. He is the grandson of the late Mr. and Mrs. Petre Miladinovski and the late Mr. and Mrs. Ilija Tasevski.

Sarah chose a wedding gown created by London designer Caroline Castigliano for Stanley Korshak Bridal. The corseted ball gown was made of ivory Alencon lace delicately embellished with metallic threadwork and crystal beadwork. The bride wore her mother’s veil. Lindsay Betancourt and Brooke Conant assisted the bride as matrons of honor. Attending the groom as best man was Goce Sosanoski. Groomsmen inc luded Sol Betancourt, Andrew Conant, Kemal Demirci, and Jovica Kostovski. In addition, Charles Betancourt, George Betancourt, Henry Conant, and William Conant served as ring bearers. The bride is a graduate of Fountain Valley School

of Colorado. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Union College in Schenectady, New York in 2006, and a Masters of Social Work from Boston College. She is employed as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker at Children’s Medical Center Dallas. The groom is a graduate of Electrotechnical High School in Skopje, North Macedonia. He received his undergraduate degree from Saints Cyril and Methodius University in 2006 and a Masters Degree in Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences from Kent State University. He is employed by Texas Instruments as an Applications Engineer. After a wedding trip to St. Lucia, the newlyweds will reside in Richardson, Texas.

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42 April 2022 | parkcitiespeople.com

Starting Spring Off Fresh With Soft Hues And Braid Breads SPRINGTIME SWEET ALMOND BRAID Ingredients: 1 cup milk ½ cup unsalted butter ¼ cup water 5 ½ to 6 cups bread flour ½ cup sugar (PHOTOS: CHRISTY ROST)

Each year, I embrace April with unrestricted optimism. The temperature swings of North Texas’ late winter and early spring are but a memory, and a new season is here to stay. It’s impossible for me to drive past a garden shop without stopping to “take a peek,” and that CHRISTY ROST usually results in a carload of geraniums in shades of light and deep pink. I love the feel and smell of fresh potting soil as I nestle each plant into its pot, anticipating the visual impact as they grow and mature. The flowers’ colors, painted by nature, complement Easter’s soft hues of petal green, robin’s egg blue, sunny yellow, and soft pink. In my kitchen, I display those same colors in the accessories that dot my countertops, the dinnerware and serving pieces I select, and the breads and desserts I bake. Easter is April 17, and I’m already planning Easter brunch for our family. The table, draped in white linens accented with pastel cotton napkins, will display pale yellow dinnerware, my ceramic bunny collection, and a centerpiece of Springtime Sweet Almond Braid. This pretty, braided yeast bread, drizzled with icing and garnished with pastel sprinkles, is an Easter tradition in our home. Since the recipe yields two loaves, it’s also a thoughtful gift to share. For years, I baked Springtime Sweet Almond Braids for the Junior Charity League Spring Benefit bake sale – a beloved fundraiser

for Parkland Hospital’s Rehabilitation Unit. Whether I baked 10 or 16 loaves, they were all sold within minutes. I can still see the smiles on the faces of those who managed to purchase one before they were gone. If you’ve never baked yeast breads, this recipe is a good starting point. Plus, I can be there in your kitchen to guide you through the steps, thanks to my Celebrating Home video series. The Springtime Sweet Almond Braid tutorial will be on my YouTube channel and my website beginning in early April. I’d love to see your photos if you give it a try. Happy Easter! Happy Spring! Cookbook author and PBS chef Christy Rost is a longtime resident of the Park Cities and Preston Hollow. See her ‘Celebrating Home’ 4-minute cooking videos at youtube.com/ChristyRostCooks or christyrost.com.

1 ½ teaspoons salt 2 packages active dry yeast (2 scant tablespoons) 2 eggs ½ teaspoon almond extract ½ cup raisins 1 recipe Decorative Glaze Directions: In a medium saucepan, heat milk, butter, and water over medium heat until small bubbles form around the edges. Remove from heat and set aside until lukewarm. Combine 2 cups of flour, sugar, salt, and yeast in the bowl of an electric mixer. Pour in the milk mixture and beat 2 minutes at medium speed. Add eggs and almond extract and beat well. Stir in raisins and enough of the remaining flour to form a soft dough. Turn it out onto a floured counter and knead until smooth. Divide the dough in half. Slice each half into 3 pieces and roll the first 3 into 12inch ropes with your hands. Braid the ropes

to form a long loaf, tuck the ends under, and transfer to a greased cookie sheet. Repeat with the remaining bread dough. Cover loaves with a towel and set aside in a warm place to rise. When the breads have almost doubled in size, preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Bake loaves 18 to 20 minutes, or until they are golden and sound hollow when tapped with a finger. Remove the breads from the oven and transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely. When cool, drizzle with decorative glaze and garnish with pastel sprinkles. Serve when the glaze has dried, or wrap breads in freezer wrap and freeze up to several weeks. DECORATIVE GLAZE Ingredients: 1 ½ cups sifted confectioners’ sugar 2 to 3 tablespoons milk ¼ teaspoon vanilla Directions: Whisk together confectioners’ sugar, milk, and vanilla until the glaze is smooth and thick. Yield: 2 loaves

parkcitiespeople.com | April 2022

Hardware 101: Choosing Styles, Shapes, and Finishes Hardware is something that you’ ll be looking at and putting M A R G A R E T your hands C H A M B E R S on every day, so it needs to be both stylish and comfortable to use. However, finding the right hardware isn’t always easy. Here are some things I consider when helping a client choose their hardware.

1. Make a list of everything you need To begin, go through and count how many new handles, knobs, towel rods, pulls, hinges, and faucets you will need in total. Determine your budget and how large you want the new hardware to be. Whenever possible, try out samples at the hardware store so you can see how they fit your hand. It doesn’t matter how beautiful the hardware is if it’s cumbersome to use.

2. Learn about the different kinds available Levers are usually used in contemporary homes, while knobs are great in traditional-and transitional-style homes. Keep in mind that

LEFT: Brass hardware, a classic choice for traditional architecture, also is trendy and timeless. RIGHT: This kitchen provides an example of combining mixed metals effectively with polished nickel, brass pendant chandeliers are brass, and a vent hood made of steel and brass. (PHOTOS: MICHAEL HUNTER DESIGNS: MARGARET CHAMBERS) knobs are more difficult to handle for those with mobility issues, the elderly, and young children. Knobs, unlike levers, can be easily childproofed. As far as style goes, traditional homes usually look best with hardware that has rounded curves and intricate details instead of sharp angles. Meanwhile, simple, angular hardware is suited for contemporary homes. These days, I see modern kitchens using very long drawer

handles. Pot fillers have been a fad for the last five years, but I try to steer my clients away from them because they distract from the cooktop and backsplash.

3. Pick up to four finishes Believe it or not, it’s perfectly acceptable to mix finishes. The ideal range is three to four finishes in a home, with no more than two different finishes per room. Your hardware finish choices

should reflect your home’s style of architecture. For example, I would use oil-rubbed bronze in an Italian home, brass in a French, English, or Federal home, and either satin nickel or chrome in a contemporary home. Brass, by the way, is having a huge comeback. Hardware is front and center of all your doors and cabinetry, so pick a simple and timeless style when in doubt. If this is your first time choosing hardware, you may

want to reach out to a designer. I select and place the hardware with almost every job, so I have a lot of experience mixing different styles and finishes in a single home. Margaret Chambers, a registered interior designer (RID) and member of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID), leads Chambers Interiors and Associates. Her colleague Caitlin Crowley helped edit this column. Visit chambersinteriors. com/blog for more design advice.

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44 April 2022 | parkcitiespeople.com

EarthX’s Green Gathering Returns With Artsy New Location Move over COVID-19. Earth Day fun is back. The world-renowned green gathering hosted by the international environmental organization EarthX returns in person for the first time since 2019. Earthx2022 will run from April 20 to 24 in the Dallas Arts District. The 11th annual event brings together world leaders, government officials, NGOs, scientists, business executives, youth advocates, educators, and experts to inspire action toward a more sustainable future worldwide. “Earth is our home, and each of us must play a part to ensure that it is here and inhabitable for future generations,” said founder Trammell S. Crow. Earthx2022 is also the exclusive host for the United Nations SDG Media Summit, UNFCCC Global Youth Summit, and United Nations Family Offices for Sustainable Development Summit, as announced at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow, Scotland. “The reach of our annual event surrounding Earth Day grew by going virtual over the past

two years, due to the pandemic, and we are excited to offer rich in-person and online experiences this year,” Michael Fletcher, EarthX CEO, said. Exhibitors/sponsors include AAA, City of Dallas, Columbia University’s Earth Institute, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Dallas Cowboys, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, Half Price Books, The Nature Conservancy, Hilton Worldwide, Rainforest Trust, State Farm, Texas A&M University, Yale School of Forestry, Trust for Public Land, TXU, and UPS. Highlights of Earthx2022 include three UN summits addressing climate change: United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Youth Summit, United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Media Summit, and United Nations Family Offices for Sustainable Development Summit. Visit www.EarthX.org or follow @earthxorg on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. – Staff report

The annual festival brings people together through fun activities, exhibits, and educational experiences focused on how to help the environment. (PHOTOS: COURTESY EARTHX).

OBITUARIES

RICHARD ALFRED FURST

1953 –2022

ichard Alf red Furst, son of Harry Furst and Magie Furst, peacefully passed away on Monday, January 3, 2022. Richard graduated from W.T. White High School in 1972. He then attended the University of Texas at Austin—majoring in Economics. He was a member of the AEPI fraternity, where he made lifelong friends. After college, Richard was first employed by Commercial Metals Co. Thereafter, he formed his own business, Furst Metal Co. He then pursued a career in the sports agency business—where he lived out his dream of scouting and prospecting

NFL players. He enjoyed all sports, especially Football, Baseball, Running, and Skiing—and loved nothing more than watching and playing with his two sons. He was a lifelong Cowboys fan. His sons, Augie and Manie, were the joy of his life. Richard loved the Almighty and lived his life in devotion to God. The Jewish Holidays and family get-togethers were the highlights of the year. The family received loved ones and friends for visitation and burial services at Shearith Israel Memorial Park in Dallas, Texas, on Wednesday, January 5, 2022. Richard is survived by his mother, Magie Furst, his sons Augie Furst and Manie Furst, his daughter-in-law Shannon Furst, his granddaughter Blakelee Furst, his sister Robin (David Boden) Furst, the mother of his children Debbie Furst, along with many loving aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends. He is preceded in death by his father, Harry Furst. If desired, the family asks that memorial contributions be made to The Dallas Holocaust Museum and Center for Education, Hadassah, or the Boys and Girls Clubs of America.

GEORGE A. FILAK 1932-2022

eorge A. Filak, 89, passed away at home on January 31, 2022, surrounded by his loving family. For 65 years, he was married to the love of his life, Georgann, who preceded him in death. They lived in Dallas, London, and Virginia before retiring to Houston. After graduating from MIT, George began a successful career at Texas Instruments. He and Georgann were active members of Highland Park United Methodist Church and Palmer Memorial Episcopal Church. They served on the Dallas Opera Guild and were avid fans of classical music. He also received an MBA from SMU. George enjoyed watching football games with family, fixing everything with

machine shop precision, adding a second level to their home, solving crossword puzzles, and traveling around the world with Georgann. George is survived by his daughter Stefani J. Filak MD and wife Barbara Rice; son Blanten Filak and wife Diane Tanking; daughter Carolyn Royan and husband James Royan; and grandchildren Austin Filak, Leonie Royan, and Kai Royan. A private funeral service will be held. In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made to MIT in memory of George Albert Filak. Checks may be made payable to MIT and mailed to Memorial Gifts Office, 600 Memorial Drive, W98-500, Cambridge, MA 02139, or processed using MIT’s secure online giving website.

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SPECIAL ADVERTISING CONTENT THE PERRY-MILLER STREIFF GROUP

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While the real estate market continues to heat up in DFW, the expert agents at Allie Beth Allman & Associates suggest a simple success formula for their clients: Give us the time, and we’ll find you the right home. The top luxury brokerage in Dallas has achieved that sweet spot needed in a market like this one, closing transactions for about as many buyer clients as seller clients. That balance means brokerage agents are finding the right homes for buyers – even when the internet searches say no homes are available. Brokerage President Keith Conlon said what makes the team’s performance so impressive is that it’s not just the dollar figure that is up – agents closed on a recordsetting $3.8 billion in 2021. Conlon credits Allman agents’ tenacity and their community connections for their impressive sales performance. With homes selling as quickly as they are today – and many of them changing hands via private sales – working with a well-connected agent is a must if you want to find the right home, he said. “Now more than ever, the agent is important in a market like this,” he said. Call if you’d like to see the brokerage’s private list of homes on the market. Visit alliebeth.com.

To find your new estate home, turn to Allie Beth Allman & Associates, the luxury real estate leader in DFW, selling more premier properties in the region than any other brokerage. The firm’s expert agents handled $3.8 billion in transactions last year, up almost 50% over 2020. The brokerage led all residential real estate firms in the sale of homes valued at $2 million to more than $5 million. And it sold the most expensive estate in DFW in 2021, listed at $21.5 million. “Your continued confidence and trust in Allie Beth Allman & Associates have allowed us to be the luxury leader again for 2021,” said Allie Beth Allman, executive director and founder. “We are so grateful that you have chosen our team to bring you home year after year.” Allman agents were particularly dominant in selling the Park Cities. They sold 56% more homes in Highland Park than any other firm. “We couldn’t achieve this success without having the best team,” said Keith Conlon, brokerage president. Allman experts are ready to find your dream home. To learn about the brokerage’s list of exclusive private offerings, connect with an expert agent. Visit alliebeth.com.

Where others might see a tough real estate market in the Park Cities, the neighborhood experts at Allie Beth Allman & Associates welcome the challenge – and they’re finding homes for buyer clients. Highland Park and University Park have street after street lined with beautiful homes, only a few miles north of downtown Dallas. They feature some of the area’s best shops and restaurants. And maybe the most important draw for the Park Cities are its schools, which are among the best in Texas. The brokerage, which sold more than 500 homes valued at more than $1 billion total in the Park Cities last year, can help you find a home in these acclaimed neighborhoods or a community nearby. It might be a newly constructed home or one that never makes it to the public websites. Every week, Allie Beth Allman & Associates agents announce private listings that only they have access to. Luxury leader Allie Beth Allman & Associates sells more homes priced at $2 million and above than any other brokerage, according to Multiple Listing Service statistics. Please call if you’d like to see our private list of luxury homes on the market. Visit alliebeth.com.

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With the real estate market continuing to record low inventory throughout the Metroplex, getting in front of the good opportunities early and quickly is more critical than ever for those looking to find that sought after home. The synergistic collaboration of the 9-agent Perry-Miller Streiff Group has propelled them to the #1 ranking according to the Wall Street Journal’s Real Trends in all of North Texas by getting their clients in front of the most sought-after homes…first. Over a quarter of the homes pending or Sold by the PerryMiller Streiff Group in 2022 are off-market. 2020 was the year that The Perry-Miller Streiff Group reached a significant team milestone: #1 Medium Team in Dallas, according to Wall Street Journal and Real Trends, #2 team in Texas and #49 Team nationwide. They closed with over $169,000,000-plus in real estate sales. Though the rankings for 2021 are not yet finalized, the Perry-Miller Streiff Group has successfully beat themselves by an incredible 83%, with $310,000,000 in sales closed in 2021. And 2022 is already looking to continue the upward trend. The team, whose nine members include Ryan Streiff, Jason Bates, Karen Fry, Charles Gregory, Lance Hancock, Courtney Jubinsky, Jamie Kohlmann, Laura Michelle and Dave Perry-Miller, specializes in luxury homes in Preston Hollow, North Dallas, Park Cities, Lakewood, Lake Highlands and anywhere else their clients need them to be. Contact the Perry-Miller Streiff Group today to discuss getting your property prepared for market before the highly anticipated spring selling season, or to get connected to terrific listings. Visit DPMFineHomes. com to learn more or call 214.799.1488.

From one of the highest elevations on Cedar Creek Lake, primary and secondary homes with amazing views are going up at the luxury gated community Beacon Hill. Many of these homes are being designed with home offices in mind. Our location on the northwestern tip of the lake, only 45 minutes from Dallas, makes Beacon Hill the perfect location to work from home and commute when necessary. If building a second home, you’ll spend more time enjoying your weekend getaway as we’re 30 minutes to an hour closer than locations on the southern end of the lake. To schedule a personal tour, call 903-498-LAKE (5253) or online at www.liveatbeaconhill.com.

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7638 Southwestern Boulevard, represented by Ralph Randall for $1,585,000. The Ebby Halliday Companies have acquired Homes & Properties Realty, based in the East Texas town of Jacksonville. “Timing is everything, and the timing of this move meets current market needs and positions our combined companies to better serve current and future residents, as well as second-home buyers and sellers, in East Texas,” says President & CEO of the Ebby Halliday Companies Chris Kelly. Travis Mathews, Vice President of Operations, adds, “Over our 77-year history, our company has been built on strategic moves and we believe the addition of the outstanding real estate professionals of Homes & Properties Realty will help ensure our leading market position for many years to come.” In addition to the latest and most relevant real estate technologies, as well as an integrated mortgage, title and insurance experience, agents in Ebby’s new Jacksonville office and their clients will benefit from the firm’s longtime affiliation with Leading Real Estate Companies of the World, a global network of more than 550 premier real estate brokers, and its luxury division, Luxury Portfolio International. For more information about Ebby’s Jacksonville office, visit ebby.com.

Where classic meets cool: 7638 Southwestern Boulevard is a picture-perfect Dutch Colonial charmer in Caruth Hills. This 3,810-square-foot home comprises four bedrooms and three and a half baths — and is within the Highland Park Independent School District boundaries. Downstairs, the center-hall floor plan includes elegant formal areas, a large den with a fireplace and built-ins, an open kitchen and a powder room. A service-hall mudroom and laundry room lead to the two-car garage. Upstairs, you’ll find four bedrooms and three full baths, with two of the bedrooms boasting en suite bathrooms. This home was clearly designed with outdoor living in mind, as evidenced by the pool and spa, sport court, turfed lawn and screened porch with a fireplace. The fully fenced yard offers plenty of sitting areas as well as recreational space. 7638 Southwestern Boulevard is represented by Ralph Randall for $1,585,000. Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s International Realty, founded in the Park Cities in 1960, represents luxury homes, high-rises, ranches, land and commercial properties. Its briggsfreeman.com website is a cutting-edge portal featuring properties, neighborhoods, schools, virtual tours, architecture guides and more.

Fall in love with the open spaces of 10405 Somerton Drive, listed by Marti Voorhies for $2,749,000. Built by Cy Barcus in 2015, the six-bedroom, 6.1bath home on .36 acres features 12-ft. coffered ceilings, hardwood floors, solid wood doors and generously sized rooms. Not only is it sized for large families and entertaining, it’s equipped for them, too. In the gourmet kitchen are marble countertops, a large island, three ovens (plus a steam oven and microwave), an overflow pantry, catering kitchen and built-in desk. Escape after the entertaining to the owner’s suite, with sitting area, fireplace, French doors, and a private office, also with fireplace – ideal for a cozy work-fromhome situation. Spa vibes and custom features abound in all baths. Other highlights include laundry room with two sets of washers/dryers, pool surrounded by turf, mosquito system and covered space, and private sixth bedroom with access to pool and garage. To schedule a showing, contact Voorhies at 214870-6864 or marti@daveperrymiller.com. Dave Perry-Miller Real Estate (dpmre.com) is a division of the Ebby Halliday Companies, a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate, with four locations that specialize in Preston Hollow, Park Cities, North Dallas, Lakewood, East Dallas, Uptown, Kessler Park and Farm & Ranch properties.

parkcitiespeople.com | April 2022

SPECIAL ADVERTISING CONTENT LENTZ LANDSCAPE LIGHTING

Dallas, TX— Homeowners who are buying, selling, or renovating a residence, often visualize how living spaces, both outside and inside a home, will be used for different occa-

sions. They may imagine a quiet moonlit night on a patio or deck, or a more festive backdrop for gatherings and celebrations. Either way, creating the right lighting can change a home’s mood with the flip of a switch. Adding customized mood lighting in and outside of residences is becoming more desirable, especially by younger homeowners, according to Richard Lentz, owner of Lentz Landscape Lighting. “Many people want controlled lighting by phone, but it can be expensive and unpredictable.” says Lentz. “We usually recommend you have a strategizing meeting first to determine what you hope to accomplish; then design a custom lighting plan accordingly. We find most residents choose to have a nightly look, but when they entertain outdoors, they bring it up a level.” he added “At Lentz, we design plans homeowners can control, zone by zone, room by room or with a central panel set up; creating lighting “scenes” as simple or as intricate as they want. “, said Richard. To find out more information about customized exterior and interior lighting, contact Lentz Landscape Lighting @ 972-241-0622 or go to their website www.lentzlighting.com.

ALLIE BETH ALLMAN URBAN

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C L ASSIFIEDS To place your ad in People Newspapers, please call us at 214-523-5239, fax to 214-594-5779, or e-mail to classified@peoplenewspapers.com. All ads will run in Park Cities People and Preston Hollow People and online. Prepayment is required on all ads. Deadline for our next edition is Monday, Apr 4. People Newspapers reserves the right to edit or reject ads. We assume no liability for errors or omissions in advertisements and no responsibility beyond the cost of the ad. We are responsible only for the first incorrect insertion.

5335 Meaders Lane 6 Bedrooms | 6.2 Baths | 12,612 SqFt Offered For $9,250,000 Designed by architect Elby Martin, a Tus-

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ALLIE BETH ALLMAN

Find Your Outdoor Oasis at These New Listings

With spring in the air, the outdoors are beginning to beckon – and homes with wonderful outdoor spaces provide a perfect backdrop for barbecues, pool parties and other warm-weather gatherings. But the effort you take to landscape offers monetary return on investment, too. A 2018 study by Virginia Tech shows that sophisticated landscaping can significantly

turfed back yard, private guest house. Home is equipped with Geothermal HVAC and natural gas generator. For more information please contact Kyle Crews (214) 538-1310.

increase the perceived value of a home and result in a higher selling price. Looking for your own outdoor oasis? Consider these homes, now available through @Allie Beth Allman & Associates. Harold Leidner designed grounds surrounding the pool, pool house and sport court at 5424 Edlen Drive, a new estate listing offered by Kelli Green. More than an acre of lush greenery provides plenty of space for entertaining outdoors. Serve cocktails on the covered patio at 6443 Lakehurst Ave. in Preston Hollow – or simply lounge beside the heated pool while the sound of the waterfall soothes you. Marketed by Fiona Richards. Luxury leader Allie Beth Allman & Associates sells more homes priced at $2 million and above than any other brokerage, according to Multiple Listing Service statistics. Please call if you’d like to see our private list of homes on the market. Visit alliebeth.com.

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© 2022 Sotheby’s International Realty. All Rights Reserved.The Sotheby’s International Realty trademark is licensed and used with permission. Each Sotheby’s International Realty ofﬁce is independently owned and operated, except those operated by Sotheby’s International Realty, Inc.The Sotheby’s International Realty network fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. All offerings are subject to errors, omissions, changes including price or withdrawal without notice.

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PeopleNewspapers

A SUPPLEMENT TO PARK CITIES PEOPLE AND PRESTON HOLLOW PEOPLE

APRIL 2022

2B April 2022 | People Newspapers | 20 Under 40

PROUD TO PRESENT OUR 20 UNDER 40

Rachel Snyder, Deputy Editor rachel.snyder@peoplenewspapers.com

FOLLOW MORE ON

PHOTO: RACHEL SNYDER

first became involved in our 20 Under 40 section in 2019 when we were preparing the 2020 section, and I continue to be amazed by the young professionals from the Park Cities and Preston Hollow. From sports, to business, to the North Texas philanthropy scene, our 2022 honorees have made a difference in their communities, workplaces, and career fields in the North Texas region and beyond. I’m proud to be able to see firsthand and share the stories of how people across age groups in the Park Cities and Preston Hollow are working to solve some of the world’s most intractable problems and help their neighbors. I can say I’ve been inspired by our honorees’ dedication to their various projects, and I hope our readers are, too. Some standouts this year include: A sports star whose charitable endeavors are making a difference in his new home of Dallas, An SMU law student whose family overcame homelessness during his teen years after a snowstorm in Pittsburgh. He now works with organizations helping students and others in poverty, And People Newspapers’ first posthumous 20 Under 40 honoree, a nonprofit leader who helped create more compassionate and inclusive communities for all through his disability awareness education. In addition to our 20 Under 40, we highlight a pair of young siblings. They aren’t yet teenagers but are already making a difference through their nonprofit work. We hope you enjoy meeting your neighbors and come away uplifted.

Sebastian and Valentina Calderon Shining Brownies Education: Episcopal School of Dallas

ebastian and Valentina Calderon may only be 6 and 9, respectively, but the siblings are already making a difference through their nonprofit Shining Brownies. The brother and sister have provided food, Christmas and Mother’s Day gifts, Halloween candy, and Thanksgiving meals to clients of Family Gateway, a nonprofit serving children and families impacted by homelessness. “Shining Brownies is our favorite nonprofit cause because we created it with our family in 2020 during the pandemic,” the siblings said. “We love helping families in need and seeing them smile.” Valentina is also a published author. Her first book, Unipaw’s Adventures: The Friends of the Forest, came out on Amazon in January of 2021. Valentina plans to donate 25% of the profits from the book to their nonprofit work.

SOCIAL MEDIA

“I motivate others because I have written and published a book which talks about the power of friendship. It took a lot of dedication, love, and patience,” Valentina said. “I hope I inspire kids like me to follow their dreams.” As for what they plan to do in the future, Valentina hopes to become a pediatrician or an actress, and Sebastian hopes to become a scientist or an artist. “I see myself writing more books and going to college,” Valentina said. “I also want to keep helping kids in need in the U.S. and abroad.”

What are you most excited about for the future? Valentina: I am most excited to travel and see the world. I love to experience new things and meet new people. I want to keep helping people in need. I would also love for Shining Brownies to reach

more people beyond Texas.

If you could buy a book (or rent a movie) for your neighbor, what would it be and why? Valentina: A book I would give to my neighbor is called Out of My Mind, by Sharon M. Draper. I choose this book because it is very inspiring. A girl named Melody cannot move or speak on her own, but she is the smartest in her class and accomplishes great things despite her disabilities. She speaks by computer, and she is in a wheelchair. The lesson of the book is that no matter what limitations you have, you can achieve your goals with perseverance and patience. Sebastian: I would give my neighbors the Who Would Win book series by Jerry Pallotta. These books are very cool and teach about animals.

For the full Q&A’s of the honorees and more 20 Under 40 content, follow us online at peoplenewspaper.com and on our Instagram page @PeopleNewspapers. Help share content – and even your own rising stars – by using #peoplenewspapers20under40

Andrew Lauck

Andrea Cheek

Redbird Capital Partners Education: Indiana University | Kelley School of Business

Junior League of Dallas Education: Texas Tech University

COURTESY PHOTO

Andrea Cheek brings the same formula for success to her nonprofit work and professional endeavors. “In owning a business and volunteering in the community, my lightbulb moments have always involved believing in what you’re selling,” Cheek said. “No matter if that’s a product your business sells or a nonprofit you’re raising money for if you aren’t passionate and stand behind it, you can’t expect others to.” Junior League of Dallas ( JLD) was the first nonprofit the former Newk’s Eatery franchise owner got involved in upon moving to Dallas 13 years ago. It served as the catalyst for her involvement with other organizations, including Cattle Baron’s Ball and the Family Place. “Thirteen years later, I have met lifelong friends of all ages and backgrounds. I also learned about our city and the different issue areas,” Cheek said. “My involvement in the Junior League and the training I received through it has introduced me to all the other nonprofits I love and volunteer with.” She is co-chairing with Highland Park Mayor Margo Goodwin JLD’s Centennial Gala, set for April 23 at the Hilton Anatole. The art nouveau-inspired gala will commemorate the 100th anniversary of an organization of women committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women, and improving the community. Cheek supports her children’s schools

Fun fact that someone wouldn’t know about you: I’m a private pilot and have been flying for fun since I was a senior in college. I’ve flown a few hundred hours, have an instrument rating, and have been slowly working on a commercial rating. How do you motivate others? I believe the best way to motivate others is through your own work ethic. My belief is that if I am willing to work as hard or harder than what I ask of my teams, it will pay dividends and set the right example and culture for our firm.

I love volunteering in our community, and I will always spend my extra time giving back to nonprofits and our children’s schools - that will never change.

by volunteering with the Highland Park United Methodist Church Day School, Armstrong Elementary, and the Armstrong-Bradfield Preschool Association. “I love volunteering in our community, and I will always spend my extra time giving back to nonprofits and our children’s schools - that will never change,” she said.

What was your first job, and what did you learn from it? I worked at a flower shop in high school and drove a delivery van. It taught me to be quick on my feet and efficient. Most floral orders come in the day of, and you must process the order, put it together, and have it out the door within an hour.

Toughest business/personal challenge. Deciding when/if to sell my former restaurants. Being a business owner was a large part of my personal identity, and my stores were like children. It was a challenge for me to make that decision. (She hopes to start another business venture soon.) Fun fact that someone wouldn’t know about you: The year after I graduated from college, I was a travel consultant for my sorority, Alpha Phi. I traveled the country for a year living out of my suitcase and in a new city every four days.

Isabelle Galko Education: SMU PHOTO: RACHEL SNYDER

hen he’s not at work as a partner with the local office of the private investment firm RedBird Capital, you can find Andrew Lauck working to support Vogel Alcove and the Cotton Bowl Athletic Association or coaching his children at the Moody Family YMCA. “My wife and I moved to the Park Cities shortly after we relocated to Dallas. We love raising our two kids, Theo (6) and Cassidy (4), in this community. A lot of my community involvement has centered around our kids’ activities,” Lauck said. “I’ve been a coach for both my kids as a part of the Moody YMCA, including T-ball and soccer, and with PCBC’s Upward Basketball program. I also volunteer pretty regularly helping out at Hyer, where my son is in kindergarten.” He moved to Dallas in 2014 after working for BDT Capital in Chicago and Goldman Sachs in New York City. During his tenure with RedBird, he’s helped lead a number of the firm’s investments, including the partnerships with Dallas-based Main Event Entertainment, Jet Linx, Ampler Restaurants, and EquipmentShare. Outside of work, Lauck is co-chairing Vogel Alcove’s 30th annual arts performance event featuring Clint Black and Lisa Hartman Black, April 30 at Gilley’s Dallas. The nonprofit provides services to children and families experiencing homelessness. “I’ve been on the board of Vogel for a few years now and continued to be so moved by the organization’s mission,” Lauck said. “It’s easy for us, especially in the Park Cities, to be unaware of how many families within our broader community struggle with the effects of homelessness.”

SMU student Isabelle Galko is already teaching others about environmental issues via her research, international conference speaking engagements, and short documentary Sunburnt Reef on how traditional sunscreens affect coral reefs in the Florida Keys. “I lived in Australia when I was younger and had the opportunity to swim on the Great Barrier Reef when I was 10 years old. I remember seeing the beautiful and vibrant ecosystem just inches from my goggles,” Galko said. She said learning in high school about coral bleaching, a process by which corals become white because of stressors like changes in temperature or light, inspired her future studies. “Realizing that coral reefs and other

ecosystems around the world were changing, often negatively, due to climate change is what motivated me to become involved in local conservation projects and eventually pursue environment science studies at SMU,” Galko said. Her work has included doing research in Louisiana and interning for the city of Dallas, where she did policy research about how to increase renewable energy. The SMU senior environmental science major and Tower Scholar (a competitive minor in public policy and international affairs) was the only student from a Texas university named a Marshall Scholar for 2022. She’ll use the two-year scholarship to further her studies on climate and policymaking at Oxford and Durham Universities in England.

Toughest business/personal challenge: Talking about climate change can be difficult because of the psychological distance of climate change. I initially approached this by talking about facts or making it about education, when in fact, presenting people with scary facts actually just makes them feel hopeless. What I found is key was connecting with people first by talking about how climate change impacts something we both care about (for example, the winter storm Texas experienced last February, when many of us lost power and couldn’t go to work or school). When you show people that we all care about climate change because it affects our water, food, security, and health, then it can be easier to talk about solutions and empower people to be part of the solution. What was your first job, and what did you learn from it? I was a summer camp counselor for Girl Scouts. I learned a lot about my leadership style, and it taught me organizational skills, responsibility, and confidence that I now bring to both school and work. Where do you see yourself and/or your career 10 years from now? Advising environmental policy for the U.S. State Department or working for an environmental non-profit. I want to work on secure and low-carbon policies that will help communities directly impacted by climate change.

PHOTO: RACHEL SNYDER

20 Under 40 | People Newspapers | April 2022

4B April 2022 | People Newspapers | 20 Under 40

Bret Alexander

Thomas Laughlin

Ernst & Young Education: University of Southern California

Kirkland & Ellis Education: University of Texas School of Law | Baylor University

ret Alexander is honoring the memory of a childhood friend by helping others through nonprofit

Toughest business/personal challenge: Toughest personal challenges were watching my best friend succumb to cancer at 19 and then, a few years later, watching my little brother battle leukemia (thankfully, he fully recovered). These experiences have really informed my passion for my work at QuadW and OSI.

work. Willie Tichenor died of osteosarcoma in 2006 at the age of 19, prompting Alexander to become a founding member and advisory board director for the What was your first job, and what What Would Willie Want Foundation did you learn from it? My first job was delivering flowers for (QuadW ). Alexander also serves on the strategic advisory board of the Osteosar- Park Cities Petals in high school. I learned coma Institute. that accountability, responsibility, and “Helping found and lead both of these having fun can all happen in the same job. organizations has been the privilege of my lifetime and instilled within me a deep What is your favorite local store? There are too many to choose from passion for philanthropy and improving outcomes for others,” Alexander said. as I’m a frequent visitor to Bubba’s and Q uadW supBurger House, ports osteosarcoma which are instiresearch and educatutions in our The lightbulb tion with the Willie neighborhood. Tichenor scholarOne more I think moment was ship at the Univerwe should add realizing the sity of Texas and to the list of lothe Willie Tichenor cal institutions is opportunity I and Arts Scholarship LDU Coffee. It’s my fellow board a relatively recent at Highland Park High School. addition to the members had to “For my work in neighborhood make a real impact QuadW and OSI, that, besides making great cofon Osteosarcoma. the lightbulb moment was realizing fee, always makes you feel at home the opportunity I and my fellow board members had to make and (like) everyone knows your name.

Outside of work, Laughlin serves on the board of Camp John Marc, which provides programming for campers living with chronic medical and physical challenges, on the Cerebral Palsy Alliance Research Foundation council of governors, and the Day School at Highland Park Presbyterian Church board. He and his wife Caitlin are on the host committee for the Blue Ribbon Ball for Equest. “(The Cerebral Palsy Alliance Research Foundation) is incredibly important to our family because our 7-year-old daughter Elizabeth lives with CP,” Laughlin added.

PHOTO: RACHEL SNYDER

a real impact on Osteosarcoma through asking hard questions, driving collaboration, and relentlessly pursuing better answers to difficult problems,” Alexander said. “That realization made me realize that even though I was not a scientist, that I could still be a part of driving progress forward and making a real impact through my work with both QuadW and OSI.” His day job is as a management consultant in EY’s business transformation practice serving clients in the technology and media industries.

Thomas Laughlin joined Kirkland & Ellis in 2018, helping found a Dallas office that has grown from five lawyers to more than 100 in the years since. He enjoys giving back to the Park Cities, where he grew up – his three children are third-generation Hyer Elementary School students – and well remembers a potentially awkward conversation with Paul Dauterive. The former neighbor gave Laughlin his first summer internship when one sought at Archon Group didn’t work out. “But literally my second day driving into work at (First American Field Services), Archon called and said they had changed their minds and had a spot for me if I was available,” Laughlin said. “I braced myself for what I thought would be a hard conversation with Paul, but he could not have been more gracious. He told me that if my goal was a career with Archon, I’d be crazy not to take their internship offer because it was the better path to that goal. “The lesson I learned that day from Paul - that you must take ownership of your own career because no one else will do it for you - is a lesson I have carried ever since, and it is something I constantly stress to more junior lawyers.”

Fun fact that someone wouldn’t know about you: Although some readers will know this, I hold the UIL state record for fewest receiving yards in a season. My only catch my junior year at Highland Park was a very ill-fated tight end screen against JJ Pearce (in a game we lost in 5 overtimes) that was poorly blocked and even more poorly executed by me, resulting in a 13-yard loss. What would you tell an 18-year-old you? “Listen to people who’ve walked where you want to walk. Your path won’t be the same as theirs, and what worked for them may not necessarily work for you, but there is no better wisdom than what you learn by doing, and you’ve got a lot to learn.” What’s on your bucket list? Someday when the kids are older, I want to take Caitlin to see some of the major cultural and historical sites in Europe. I’ve been lucky enough to go over there a few times, but she has never been. If you could buy a book (or rent a movie) for your neighbor, what would it be and why? The Only Rule Is It Has To Work by Ben Lindbergh and Sam Miller teaches really important lessons - namely that “we’ve always done it this way” is not a reason to do anything, and that purposeful creative risk taking can pay big dividends in any endeavor.

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Luka Doncic

LUKA DONCIC CELEBRATES THE DEDICATION OF A BASKETBALL COURT IN HIS NATIVE SLOVENIA.

Dallas Mavericks

ince joining the Dallas Mavericks after the 2018 NBA draft, the Slovenian-born Dončić has made an impact in his new home that goes far beyond the historic numbers he put up in the court through his first four NBA seasons. Dončić began playing basketball at the age of 8, signed a five-year contract with Real Madrid when he was only 13, and made his professional debut at 16, becoming the youngest person to play for Real Madrid. With the Mavericks, he earned Rookie of the Year honors in 2018-19 and became the youngest European-born player to start an All-Star Game when suited up for Team LeBron at All-Star 2020 in Chicago. Dončić has earned back-toback All-NBA First Team honors, becoming the youngest player in league history to accomplish the feat. His dedication to his new home of Dallas and his hometown of Ljubljana run deep. Dončić represented Slovenia in the country’s historic first appearance at the Summer Olympic Games. After leading his team to the semifinals in Tokyo, Dončić returned to Slovenia to refurbish two basketball courts that he played on growing up, as part of a partnership with the 2K Foundations. Dončić recently launched the Luka Dončić Foundation with a focus on helping children in need in Dallas and Ljubljana. “Growing my foundation, doing more to help those in need – that’s what really excites me,” Dončić said. Last October, Dončić arranged for 80 patients at Children’s Health hospitals in Dallas and Plano to receive a pair of Jordan sneakers, a Jordan drawstring bag, a hoodie, socks, a letter from Dončić, and a signed photo. He also donated to help Texans during the February 2021 winter storm and provided Air Jordan 1 shoes and Mavericks swag to healthcare workers who administered vaccinations during the COVID-19 pandemic. For Christmas 2021, he devised a surprise for nearly 200 children at the Children’s Hospital of the University Medical

Center Ljubljana, arranging the delivery of hundreds of toys and goodies.

What do you do in your free time? To be honest, I’m on the road so much, I just enjoy relaxing at home. I have three dogs and enjoy playing with them and walking them in the neighborhood. Favorite place for lunch: I usually eat lunch at home after practice, but Nick & Sam’s and Mi Cocina are my favorite spots for dinner. How do you motivate others? I work really hard every day. I love the game of basketball and am passionate about it. I hope I motivate and lead by example.

What makes the Park Cities or Preston Hollow home? I am so happy to be here in Dallas – it has everything! The people are kind and nice. The Mavs fans are the best. It means a lot to be here in Dallas. I just want to thank everyone for their support in making a kid f rom Slovenia feel so good and welcome. You recently participated in a Make-A-Wish grant. What advice did you give? I told them to do what they love. For me, it’s basketball. I have so much fun every time I have a ball in my hand or am on the court. I told the kids to find that thing they love, because it will make them the most happy!

5B PHOTOS: COURTESY THE LUKA DONCIC FOUNDATION AND DALLAS MAVERICKS

20 Under 40 | People Newspapers | April 2022

6B April 2022 | People Newspapers | 20 Under 40

Taylor Custer Crosby

Community volunteer Education: Texas A&M University | SMU

Women’s Business Council - Southwest Education: SMU

PHOTO: ROB WYTHE

Orchestra League executive board for more than four years and helped plan the annual presentation ball. She’s also served on the leadership council for the Junior League of Dallas and on the board of the Notre Dame School of Dallas, which serves students with developmental disabilities ages 6 through 21.

laire Catrino’s desire to help others prompted her to leave a career in sales. “In 2014, I faced a tragic family loss and felt a calling to focus on mental health and giving back to others in need,” she said. “It was during the hardest time of grief where God gave me clarity for my future.” Catrino became a licensed, nationally certified therapist and got involved with such nonprofits as the Women’s Council of the Dallas Arboretum, Junior League of Dallas, and Dallas Symphony Orchestra League. "I plan to continue giving my time as a volunteer and focusing more on establishing my own private counseling practice focused on adolescent women and women and couples navigating life changes," Catrino said. Catrino is the youngest woman to chair the Mad Hatter’s Tea, set for April 20 at the arboretum and in its 34th year benefiting the Women’s Council of the Dallas Arboretum. She’s also chairing the fashion show for the 2022 Children’s Cancer Fund gala. Catrino served on Dallas Symphony

Toughest business/personal challenge: Managing my time between kids, nonprofit commitments, and transitioning into the field of counseling has been a balancing act. I think the pandemic has also definitely made fundraising more difficult, and some people are hesitant to gather in larger groups. Likewise, from an organizational perspective, I think many are cautious not to alienate their member base by making political decisions. It is unfortunate that COVID has become so political and divisive when we should be supporting each other and showing kindness now, more than ever. Fun fact that someone wouldn’t know about you: I studied abroad in India through the Honors Business Program at Texas A&M. I love traveling to new places and doing activities outdoors like downhill skiing and horseback riding. I am an Advanced Open Water PADI certified scuba diver and love spending time on the water. What are you most excited about for the future? In the long term I am most excited for the day where nobody is living in fear. We can look back on this time with gratitude that we all made it through. My hope is that it gives me and my loved ones a new appreciation and excitement about life. I have seen an outpouring of support from many people in our community eager to help even during this hard time and this is so encouraging! I am excited when we can plan events and gather without stress or division.

PHOTO: RACHEL SNYDER

Claire Catrino

Marie Gregory in McKinney. The Preston Hollow native gives back to the community as a member of the Junior League of Dallas and the board of the University Park Preschool Association. She volunteers at the Rise School, which serves children ages 6 months to 6 years with and without disabilities.

Toughest business/personal challenge: I think it’s always tough to manage home and work life. When my daughter was born, I was very overwhelmed by this, as most firsttime moms are. I really think employers and society at-large need to provide more support for working moms. This would help to keep more women in the job market. I think there are a lot of women out there who would like to continue working, but when the support isn’t there, and employers aren’t flexible, it takes their skills and talent out of the workforce.

Taylor Custer Crosby uses her marketing experience to help connect women business owners to government and corporate supply chain opportunities. Custer Crosby started her career at a marketing agency and went on to work for education technology start-up companies Study Fun fact that someone wouldn’t know Island and OrgSync. about you: “I find it really fulfilling to be around enI used to work at a summer camp in high trepreneurial women and to watch their busi- school, teaching kids to water ski. nesses grow. We have women business owners I also love photography and was the winin all different industries from start-ups to $50 ner of a People Newspapers photography million-plus businesses,” she said. “I also real- contest back in 1995 or 1996. ly enjoy working with our corporate members from the major corporations headquartered in What is your favorite local store? DFW. Now in my executive director of marI love Gemma Collection in Snider Plaketing position, I realza for jewelry and Hip ly enjoy having a say Hip Hooray for children’s clothing. Bubba’s in the future direction I find it really has been a lifelong faand strategy of the council.” vorite since I was really fulfilling to As a creative outyoung. Also, Short Stop let, Custer Crosby for sandwiches. be around has made and sold entrepreneurial What’s on your jewelry since 2010. bucket list? women and She started selling Traveling to all sevher earrings, neckto watch their laces, and bracelets en continents, I only businesses grow. on Etsy, then craft have three more to go. I would also like to vismarkets and local it all of the national boutiques. Find her Taylor Custer Jewelparks. I have a plan this ry on Instagram, at Mosaic Makers Collec- year to visit a few with my daughter, sistertive in Bishop Arts and the Galleria, and in-law, and niece.

Service. Above. Self.

You may know the Rotary Club of Park Cities from the Park Cities Fourth of July Parade, but our club members serve the community all year long. Working through our foundation and with such strategic partners as the North Texas Food Bank, Salvation Army, and others, we strive to address hunger, make health care more readily available, and train leaders. We also have fun. Join us for happy hours, community outings, and Friday luncheons, where we celebrate, network, and learn. Visit parkcitiesrotary.org to learn more.

20 Under 40 | People Newspapers | April 2022

To Be Like Me Education: Dallas Baptist University

Bank of Texas Education: SMU

rian Spann, People Newspapers’ first posthumous 20 Under 40 honoree, died in December 2021 at the age of 27 after a nearly lifelong battle with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. He left a lasting legacy as a leader with the nonprofit To Be Like Me and Preston Hollow Presbyterian Church’s Epiphany Ministry. To Be Like Me’s disability awareness program is geared toward school-aged children, graduate students, and special groups. Hollis Owens, founder and executive director of the nonprofit, said it was Brian that sparked the idea for the organization as a means of disability awareness education. “Brian entered into my life about 21

years ago when I was working as a research physical therapist for Scottish Rite Hospital in Dallas. Brian was 6 years old, and he had just been diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Over the years, though my career took me to other pediatric hospitals, Brian and I kept in touch. Brian was especially good at messaging me and keeping me up to date on barriers that exist in the community for people with disabilities as well as accessibility challenges he faced along the way,” Owens said. “I remember meeting with Brian at his house about my ‘idea’ for To Be Like Me. He was thrilled with the idea of people with disabilities sharing their stories with school-age children.” One common thread throughout his life was his desire to connect with people, as shown in his church and nonprofit work. “He was a brilliant speaker, and after interacting with him, people would often comment that they had never met anyone with a gentler spirit or sweeter soul,” Owens added. Spann also served on the board of YoungLife Capernaum North Texas, a faith-based organization also meant to celebrate people of all abilities, and with the Disability Ministry Network of Dallas. “I love getting to connect with other people and getting to teach them something new,” he said in a video shared by To Be Like Me. “One big thing is I like to give back to the community and grow in fellowship with other people.”

PHOTO: JOHN CAIN

Mattson H. Uihlein

PHOTO: SEVYN EZRA PHOTOGRAPHY

Brian Spann

Mattson Uihlein worked his way up from an internship after his junior year at SMU to senior vice president and treasury services manager at Bank of Texas. A panel at SMU about careers in commercial banking sparked Uihlein’s interest in the field. “I realized commercial banking utilizes a variety of business skills including finance, accounting, marketing, and negotiations,” he said. “My entire career has been with Bank of Texas. I interned with the bank the summer after my junior year at SMU and then entered into a formal credit training program after graduating from SMU. I have held a variety of roles within the bank including credit analyst, corporate banker, treasury management

officer, and now manage the treasury services team for north Texas.” His coworkers say Uihlein has taken on a leadership role with the bank’s accelerated career track program, which educates and trains people for careers in the industry. Uihlein doesn’t just help his colleagues, though. He served as president of Bank of Texas Club Dallas. The employee-led club focuses on charitable efforts, including volunteer events with organizations such as the North Texas Food Bank, Feed My Starving Children, Dr. Seuss Reading Days, Susan G Komen, and Ronald McDonald House of Dallas. Uihlein, a member of the young alumni board at SMU, served as a raffle committee member for the State Fair of Texas’ general scholarship fund and on the board of the Young Professionals Auxiliary for the American Red Cross.

What are you most excited about for the future? Watching my daughter grow, creating more family memories, traveling the world, and experiencing new cultures, and growing my career with Bank of Texas. How do you motivate others? Leading by example. I am willing to roll up my sleeves to help the team. I give those that deserve credit the credit. On the other hand, I take responsibility for when things don’t go right.

CONGRATULATIONS Bret Alexander The WWWW Foundation (QuadW) and the Osteosarcoma Institute congratulate Bret Alexander on being recognized by People Newspapers as one of Dallas’ 20 Under Forty. We appreciate your leadership and generous donation of your time and talent in support of our work.

www.osinst.org

8B April 2022 | People Newspapers | 20 Under 40

Bora Laci

Carter Weinstein

SMU Tower Center for Public Policy Education: SMU

Attend LLC Education: Georgetown University PHOTO: TIMOTHY DEVINE

PHOTO: RACHEL SNYDER

at Union Coffee, with 15% of sales going to the charity.

Biggest business/career success in the past 12 months: My brother and I launched a podcast called VentureWorlds … We are beginning the journey by highlighting stories from successful Albanian-Americans and beyond to many other cultures. We started this podcast to honor my father, Gezim Laci, a storyteller at heart, who inspired us to share impactful stories that could create (change and) new ideas.

ora Laci was 4 in 1996 when her Albanian-immigrant parents immigrated to the U.S., bringing with them an emphasis on the importance of education that would inspire her career and desire to get involved in her community. “My family understood the endless opportunities education would open for my brother and me. So, during my first year of college, I signed up and participated in all the events that SMU offered,” she said. “During this experience, I finally realized the power of being involved in a community.” Laci went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in corporate communications from SMU in 2013 and an M.B.A. in finance from SMU’s Cox School of Business in 2019. Her connection to SMU continues with

her work as assistant director of programs and director of studies at the Tower Center for Public Policy and International Affairs. “I grew up with two cultures (Albanian and American). I found it difficult to understand how to utilize these identities to share my voice, especially in a leadership setting during college,” Laci said. “But I embraced my cultural diversity and used it as an advantage.” She remains involved with SMU’s Young Alumni Board, but her community service extends beyond campus. As a Crayon Club member, she supports Scottish Rite Hospital for Children. She also got involved with the Think Ahead Group at the Center for Brain Health and helped start Shot of Generosity to spotlight different nonprofits each month

What was your first job, and what did you learn from it? My first job was interning at a law firm at 14. … The firm was jam-packed with many tasks, and I learned how to build responsibility and execute my work with little guidance. At first, it was frightening, but with time, I walked out with the ability to adapt and take on responsibilities with an entrepreneurial mindset. Where do you see yourself and your career 10 years from now? I see myself working with start-ups in an investor relations role and helping guide their way to the right investors, mentors, and resources. … Dallas is growing in the entrepreneurship realm. I want to make someone’s dreams come true and create the next generational leaders. PHOTO: RACHEL SNYDER

Kevin Lee Education: Paul Quinn College | SMU Kevin Lee has gone from homelessness after a snowstorm while a teenager in Pittsburgh to studying at SMU’s Dedman School of Law. He graduated valedictorian of his class and was inspired to look into schools in Texas when he and his mom watched The Great Debaters, based on the story of a professor at Wiley College in Marshall, Texas, who started a debate team there. Now, as part of the steering committee of the nonprofit After8toEducate, the SMU law student works to help unsheltered high school students navigate their journeys. “Our mission is to improve life outcomes and promote self-sufficiency by giving unsheltered high school students a safe place to live and offering as a pathway out of homelessness and poverty,” Lee said. “I love this organization because we are helping change the lives of homeless Dallas ISD students, giving them hope for the future, and offering them resources and a pathway for success.” His work with After8toEducate fits into his larger goal of giving others a hand up. “Whether their need is $100 or $1 million, I want to be a part of their solution. People are told ‘no’ all the time,” he said. “I want others to have a chance.” Lee serves on the CoAct North Texas steering committee, helping homeless college students share their stories, and as a partner with Social Venture Partners Dallas and advisory board member

Ultimately, I want people to look at me and be inspired to do great things in their lives.

of OneCommunity USA. He volunteers with Tarrant County schools to help homeless students graduate high school, obtain jobs, and go to college. As a student ambassador to the White House, he helped develop an initiative to assist college students across the nation experiencing homelessness.

know that it’s not about how you start, but it’s about how you finish. Obstacles will come up all throughout life, and learning how to go through change instead of against change, can help people grow and move forward in life. Ultimately, I want people to look at me and be inspired to do great things in their lives.

How do you motivate others? Telling people how I got to where I am today helps me motivate other people who go through struggles, and are going through hard times, such as dealing with the loss of family and friends to the global COVID-19 pandemic. I let people

What’s on your bucket list? I’d like to travel to a few more countries. I’d like to become a partner at a law firm. I’d like to be a judge one day. And I’d like to get my mom her dream house so that when I’m gone traveling, I know that she is comfortable.

At 19, Carter Weinstein has co-founded his first business and written his first book. “While working through my own anxiety journey, I was given many resources penned by an adult/professional though I had hoped to find something written by a peer,” he said. “When I could not find something, I decided to write my own book.” Conquering Fear: One Teen’s Guide to Overcoming Anxiety is endorsed by Mark Cuban. Weinstein interned at Shark Tank and the Mark Cuban Companies, helping research startups seeking investments. Weinstein’s company, Attend LLC, offers software designed to track classroom attendance. A Preston Hollow resident since moving from New York City when he was 15 months old, Weinstein enjoys giving back to his community. As a high school freshman, he founded a teen board for Heroes for Children, a nonprofit that supports families battling childhood cancer. “The board amassed students from both public and private schools in the area and today continues to support families who have a child being treated at Children’s Medical Center and Medical City Children’s,” Weinstein said. Weinstein, the great-grandson of an Auschwitz survivor, also sat on the executive committee for the Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum’s teen board when the museum opened in the new building in the city’s West End in 2019.

What was your first job, and what did you learn from it? My first job was at the Jewish Community Center as a summer camp counselor. The camp’s director, Laura Seymour, had been at The J for many years, and it was immediately apparent that she loved her job. From the first day of orientation, Laura made it clear that while the campers were there to have a great experience, she wanted the very same for the counselors. She said that as soon as we put on our camp T-shirts, we were part of a team – we were part of something bigger than we knew something special. Fun fact that someone wouldn’t know about you? Not many people know that I am super musical. I love to listen to music across many genres and can also sit down at the piano at any point – no matter how long it’s been since I was there last – and crank out some fun stuff. Also, the spontaneous acapella harmonizing that happens amongst my good friends gets rave reviews (by the dogs in the neighborhood).

20 Under 40 | People Newspapers | April 2022

SculptHouse Education: University of Georgia

Home Tax Solutions Education: SMU

atherine Mason merged her love of fashion and fitness with the creation of SculptHouse, a fitness studio and boutique with shoes, athleisure wear, and accessories that opened its Dallas location in 2019. The North Carolina native previously worked at luxury fitness studios in New York City and with Wilhelmina Models Fitness Division. “I learned the operations of these fitness studios, was a fitness instructor, worked with some of the world’s most well-known fitness brands – including Nike, Under Armour, and Adidas,” Mason said. “During my work in NYC, I conceptualized the idea of combining the Megaformer with a Woodway Curve treadmill to create a low-impact

but high-intensity workout that combines strength training and cardio intervals in a way that had never been done before.” The combination became integral to creating SculptHouse’s signature regimen. SculptHouse opened its first studio in Atlanta in 2016 when Mason was 25. Since 2019, Mason has become immersed in the Dallas community, including the Junior League of Dallas, The Family Place, Community Partners of Dallas, and Gracelyn’s Hope. Nationally, SculptHouse has supported the Alzheimer’s Association, and for the past three years, SculptHouse Dallas has raised money for The Trevor Project. “As the owner, there are nonprofits that pull at my personal heartstrings (anything that has to do with children, animals and helping mothers in need) but I also see the importance of SculptHouse supporting lots of local charities throughout the year(s) with silent auction donations, give back events, fundraisers, etc.,” Mason said.

What was your first job, and what did you learn from it? My first job was when I was 16, and I worked for a women’s store called Sloan in Charlotte, North Carolina. . . . I really enjoyed working with women, styling them, and helping them find confidence through understanding their unique styles, what shapes and cuts flattered their bodies and understanding what colors, prints, etc. made them feel great and empowered.

Jessica Bass Bolander

Vice President | jlbass@lockton.com | 214.969.6184 Congratulations Jess! Lockton Dunning is passionately committed to our clients’ most valuable asset: their people. Your commitment to our clients and our community makes us proud.

PHOTO: DANNY CAMPBELL

Trey Rome

PHOTO: ALEXANDRIA MURRAY PHOTOGRAPHY

Katherine Mason

Trey Rome has always wanted his own company, so after starting a career in banking, he founded Home Tax Solutions, a property tax lending company, in 2012. “I always knew that I wanted to start my own company where I could improve an industry, help people, and make money while doing it,” Rome said. “When I discovered the property tax loan industry and did my homework, I knew right away that launching a property tax lending company was something I needed to do, as delinquent property taxes are becoming a growing problem for hundreds of thousands of Texans each year.” Since its founding, Home Tax Solutions was recognized as “one of the fastest-growing private companies in America” by Inc. 5000, one of the “Top 250 Most Inspiring

Companies in Texas” by Inc. , and for the third year was named “One of The Top 100 Dallas Privately Held Entrepreneurial Companies” by SMU Cox School’s Caruth Institute for Entrepreneurship. “I hope to have a greater platform in the North Texas community through expanding HTS to offer a larger umbrella of services, as well as increasing my philanthropy – both with the purpose of helping more Texans,” Rome said. Rome personally and through his company has supported such organizations as The Family Place, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and Wipe Out Kids Cancer. "I have been blessed in life and believe it’s our obligation to give back," Rome said. "Jenna and I live in Preston Hollow and started our family five years ago, now we have two young boys, so when you look at the work organizations like The Family Place and the Salvation Army do to help our community, their work is vital. It’s great to be part of a business where everyone gets out of the office and joyfully works together helping others less fortunate."

What are you most excited about for the future? I discovered that I can go to the office to work with my team members as I always have, but that I also can work from home to spend more time with my wife and two young boys and want to continue that. Because of the securitization we successfully obtained this past year, we are able to broaden our offers to our customers as well as grow bigger and better.

10B April 2022 | People Newspapers | 20 Under 40

Texas Capital Bank Education: Baylor University PHOTO: RACHEL SNYDER

The Family Place Education: Texas A&M University As a student at Texas A&M University, Heather Street Baker realized she wanted her work to have a greater purpose. She has worked in the nonprofit sector ever since. “I decided that working and making a paycheck alone wasn’t enough for me,” Street Baker said. “I needed a greater purpose behind my job.” She worked at a children’s museum, the Muscular Dystrophy Association, and the North Texas Food Bank before joining The Family Place as an assistant director of development. The Family Place is the largest family violence service provider in Texas. “I have loved fundraising, building relationships, and improving the community that I live in,” she said. A personal highlight of the last year was the record-setting 2021 Trailblazer Awards event in November, honoring former longtime CEO Paige Flink, Street Baker said. “Not only was the event a success financially, it also was a beautiful celebration of Paige’s work and The Family Place.” Street Baker’s community service goes beyond her role at the Family Place, though. She is a member of the Junior League of Dallas and was on the 2021 Cattle Baron’s Ball Committee. Cattle Baron’s Ball is the largest single-night fundraiser for the American Cancer Society and raised $3.6 million from the 2021 event.

Fun fact that someone wouldn’t know about you: I love to paint – acrylic on canvas mainly – but I rarely feel like I have time to do it these days. I don’t even think I’m very good at it, but it’s soothing, and it transports my mind somewhere else. The best part is that there’s some sense of progress and completion when it is finished. What was your first job, and what did you learn from it? Babysitting was my first job as a young girl, and you definitely learn a lot from that. The main takeaway being that things don’t always go as planned. I also worked in a mailroom as my first job at a company, and you quickly learn that a good attitude and finding joy no matter what you are doing is important. How do you motivate others? I’ve always felt the most motivated when I’m empowered and trusted by the people asking me to do something. I also think giving people the benefit of the doubt is important. I hope I do that for people that work with me.

I have loved fundraising, building relationships, and improving the community that I live in.

The American Cancer Society’s mission is personal to Street Baker. “My husband is a firefighter, and the cancer rate is extremely high in their profession because of what they are exposed to,” she said. “I work now to provide prevention and awareness.”

What is your favorite local store? I love St. Michael’s Woman’s Exchange. They always have great, new, and unique products. The women who work there are so sweet and helpful, and I love that the money ultimately goes to a greater cause within the community.

What are you most excited about for the future? We welcome our second child in March and are so excited to expand our family and see what impact we can continue to make on our friends, community, and world.

What’s on your bucket list? I would love to visit all seven continents of the world before I die. I’ve been to three so far – North America, Europe, and Australia. I’m excited to meet new people and see new places.

Javier Burkle Burkle Creative Education: University of Dallas

What was your first job, and what did you learn from it? My first large-scale project was for the general manager of Ralph Lauren Home in Highland Park Village. I oversaw the design and renovation of his West Highland Park townhome one summer — it was a privilege to be given complete trust for such a large design, and the end product left me energized and eager for a future in design.

PHOTO: RACHEL SNYDER

ulie Woidneck enjoys being at the intersection of finance and relationship building as senior vice president over corporate banking at Texas Capital Bank. Woidneck joined Texas Capital Bank last year after three years as a senior vice president over commercial banking in the Dallas-Fort Worth region for SunTrust (now Truist) and more than 11 years with JP Morgan Chase, where she started as an intern in 2006. “The lightbulb went off when I realized that banking was a great mix of finance and interpersonal relationships,” Woidneck said. “I was worried that I would be bored before starting my job (so naïve!), and I was wrong. I love the people, energy, and the companies I got to work with.” The Highland Park High School alumnae volunteers at the Day School at Highland Park Presbyterian Church and on the board of the Junior Group of the Dallas Garden Club. “The church does a great job finding an immediate need in the community and making it easy to volunteer or give to these causes,” Woidneck said. She served on the Young Friends of Ronald McDonald House board and the Friends of Klyde Warren Park, and volunteered with Genesis Women’s Shelter. “I will always have a special place in my heart for Genesis Women’s Shelter,” Woidneck said. “Hearing Jan Langbein talk about the women and families being helped by this organization is impactful, and I can’t forget it.”

PHOTO: RACHEL SNYDER

Heather Street Baker

Julie Woidneck

Javier Burkle’s interest in interior design and architecture began before he started collecting Architectural Digest as a child. It runs in his family, too. “My grandmother and mom were both involved in art and design, so I grew up surrounded by the excitement and creativity of the design world,” Burkle said. “It didn’t take long for me to come to a crossroad and decide to just go all in.” And ‘go all in’ he did. He was a designer for the 2021 Kips Bay Decorator Show House in Dallas at 5138 Deloache Ave. The Show House doubles as the nation’s leading design event of the year and Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club’s top fundraiser. “I am so honored to have had the oppor-

tunity to participate with such a great organization as well as work alongside many of the designers I’ve idolized throughout my career,” Burkle said. He also uses his skills to help the nonprofit Dwell With Dignity, which designs and installs complete home interiors for families in need. This year, he’s involved with the agency’s Thrift Studio event set for Aug. 26 to Sept. 24. Thrift Studio is a pop-up shop featuring donated furniture, housewares, accessories, and high-end designer finds. Burkle also uses his design skills to help his mother, who operates the nonprofit Mater Filius Dallas, provide provisional housing for pregnant women in need.

Where do you see yourself and/or your career 10 years from now? In the next decade, I’d love to launch my own line of furnishings, fabrics, and home accessories to even better deliver turnkey designs for my clients and their projects. My goal is also to maintain the boutique feel of the firm — a tone that enables us to form deep, personal relationships with vendors, clients, and the design community. What are you most excited for in the future? As a firm, we have such a range of projects coming up in the future, from commercial projects (a new restaurant in Snider Plaza) and the official opening of Miron Crosby’s showroom in Aspen, and we’re also donating a decorated table for a dinner party to the Bradfield Elementary auction this spring. Next month, we’ll be designing a table for the New York Botanical Garden’s annual gala, The Orchid Dinner, at The Plaza Hotel.

20 Under 40 | People Newspapers | April 2022

Holden Lunsford

Lockton Dunning Benefits Education: Westminster College

Holt Lunsford Commercial Education: Texas A&M University

s vice president at Lockton Dunning Benefits, Jessica Bass Bolander has spent the last two years helping clients navigate the COVID-19 pandemic. Lockton Dunning Benefits specializes in the design, implementation, communication, and year-round service of medical, dental, life, disability, and other employer-sponsored benefit programs. “The last 24 months have been extremely challenging for businesses in our community. At Lockton Dunning, we helped clients deploy return-to-work strategies that kept their businesses open and, more importantly, their employees safe,” Bass Bolander said. “Now we’re helping clients modify their employee benefit perks and rewards programs to compete in a

post-pandemic labor market.” Her company is also involved with the corporate work-study program of Cristo Rey Dallas College Prep, a Catholic college preparatory school for students from low to moderate-income households. “I’ve had the privilege of mentoring a young man who would like to study engineering and be the first in his home to attend college,” Bass Bolander said. “It has been an incredible honor to meet with the students in our Lockton Dunning/Cristo Rey work-study program, and I know these students will become future leaders of our community.” The mother of two co-chaired the Armstrong Bradfield Preschool Association Home Tour in 2019 and will chair the Bradfield auction next year.

Toughest business/personal challenge: Going back to work after my kids were born. I remember giving myself pep talks on the way to work, reminding myself that I’m a better mom and wife because I have my career. It was brutal leaving small babies at home and dragging a breast pump to every client meeting or work trip, but fortunately, I had the most amazing support system. Where do you see yourself and/or your career 10 years from now? Learning and growing and hopefully inspiring the next generation of female leaders to stay in the workforce.

“There, I developed a passion for the brokerage business and was exposed to the beauty of a well-run enterprise and exceptional leadership, which was life-changing for me,” Lunsford said. “From that experience, I became focused on dedicating my career to pursuing those three goals.” The Preston Hollow-area native also gives back to his community. Lunsford serves on the board of directors of The Real Estate Council (TREC), Friends of the Dallas Police, and the EastWest Ministries Partnership Board. He is also actively involved with Urban Land Institute (ULI) and the Planning and Development Committee at First Baptist Church of Dallas.

PHOTO: RACHEL SNYDER

Jessica Bass Bolander

11B

Holden Lunsford has been instrumental in growing over 8 million square feet of office assets from 2014-to 2019. His family’s commercial real estate business, Holt Lunsford Commercial, now oversees 96 million square feet of properties. “I have always been inspired by my father, Holt, to start a business and learn to run it well, and fortunately, we were able to build a sizable office business,” Holden said. “I now focus on leading our brokerage teams firm-wide, and it has been a joy to prepare for and implement growth, operational and cultural initiatives with our teams.” Before joining Holt Lunsford Commercial in 2014, he was a commercial real estate investment banking professional with Holliday Fenoglio Fowler (HFF).

How do you motivate others? With a coach-player-cheerleader approach. Set a demanding goal, cast the vision to achieve it, resource the effort (including yourself first), encourage a lot, and celebrate. You simply have to win a lot too. What makes the Park Cities or Preston Hollow home? Preston Hollow is where my heart and roots are. I grew up here and feel privileged that I get to raise my own family in this community. What would you tell an 18-year-old you? Be intentional, patient, and have faith that the future will unfold according to His plan.

BANK OF TEXAS CONGRATULATES

Mattson Uihlein for being recognized as a 20 Under Forty honoree for 2022. Mattson Uihlein SVP, Treasury Sales Manager muihlein@bankoftexas.com 214.987.8863 bankoftexas.com

12B April 2022 | People Newspapers | 20 Under 40

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Park Cities People April 2022

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