Tips for Starting a Home-Based Business
Women Balancing Family and Career
Girl Scouts Encourage Girls to Lead SAWOMAN.COM
US $3.95
Spring 2013 Fashion Trends
Susan G. Komen Strives for the Cure
Lana Duke Restaurateur, Entrepreneur, Philanthropist
W EDITOR
10 | sawoman.com
EDITOR W
march/april 2013 |
11
CONTENTS MARCH/APRIL//2013
88
41 30
122
26
COLUMNS
SPECIAL SECTIONS
Features
14
Editor’s Letter
46 Shop SA
16
Contributors
20 Career Moms
18
What’s New
Shopping in San Antonio made easy
Women balancing family and career
52 Beauty & Fitness
26 A Self-Made Woman Lana Duke overcame troubled childhood to become a successful business woman and role model
30 A Labor of Love in The Dominon McNeils find home that suits their lifestyle
59 Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure
75 Dollars & Sense 78 Businesswoman Spotlight 85 Health Matters 97 Dining 130 Restaurants 133 Weddings
41 Spring Trends 2013 81 Women In Business Five women who turned their dreams into successful careers
136 Women on the Move 137 AstroForecast
99 Girl Scouts
138 Looking Back
CALENDARS
88 Focus on Food
40 Fashion
Itallian accents
128 Entertainment
92 Women’s Wellness
134 Events
80 SA Woman Connect
Fighting the battle of the bulge
122 Role Model Kathleen Mayes of MaGi Foods
125 ArtBeat Kellen Kee McIntyre’s efforts result in new arts center
COVER Lana Duke Restaurateur, Entrepreneur, Philanthropist Photography Liz Garza Williams
www.sawoman.com 12 | sawoman.com
W EDITOR
Liz Garza Williams
Letter from the Editor
MARCH/APRIL 2013 PUBLISHER J. Michael Gaffney EDITOR Beverly Purcell-Guerra
Lana Duke, profiled in this issue of SAN ANTONIO WOMAN, is a stellar example of pulling yourself up by your bootstraps. Placed in foster care when she was nine months old, she suffered parental neglect and abusive situations, and then — determined to better her lot in life — landed a job with the Bank of Montreal at age 15. Three years later she moved to New Orleans and eventually opened an ad agency. Her first client was Ruth Fertel, founder of Ruth’s Chris Steak House.
GRAPHIC DESIGN Kevin Herrera, Maria Jenicek, Jonathan Lee, Eric Weidner SENIOR WRITER Jasmina Wellinghoff CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Paula Allen, Robyn Barnes, Ron Bechtol, Mary Anne Cole, Kelly A. Goff, Anne Moore, Pat Mozersky, Lance K. Rodriguez, Janis Turk
Today, Duke owns four Ruth’s Christ franchises, two of them in San Antonio. And she devotes her time, talent and resources to Roy Maas’ Youth Alternatives, which has provided a home for thousands of abused or neglected kids. It’s her way to give back, she explains. Our feature spotlights four women — Jennifer Shemwell, Tina Zillmann, Courtney Pena and Andrea Cavazos Prescott — who are engaged in the delicate act of balancing career and family. Read how they achieve this tricky equilibrium, trying to have it all.
COPY EDITOR Kathryn Cocke FASHION Robert Mitchell PHOTOGRAPHY Liz Garza Williams, Al Rendon, Janet Rogers, Greg Harrison, Casey Howell, Ric Johnson
Environments takes you to the Dominion home of a couple who are actively involved in social and nonprofit organizations. They chose a residence whose expansive floor plan accommodated their busy lifestyles. Fashion reveals the spring trends for 2013 — texture, color and vintage appeal. Shopping will put you in a mood to purchase colorful clothing, shoes and household goods
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT & MARKETING Mike Carreon Jen Earhart Cedric D. Fisher Madeleine Justice Sheryl Lee Hawkinson
to welcome the new season. Dining explores the growing sophistication of (and respect for) Tex-Mex food, now considered by some as one of Mexico’s regional cuisines. Credit is given to San Antonio’s iconic restaurants that have been leaders in this movement. Focus on Food features another popular cuisine, Italian, with pasta recipes that are quick and delicious.
ADMINISTRATION & CUSTOMER SERVICE Nancy A. Gaffney Josephine Guzman PRINTING Shweiki Media, San Antonio, Texas
Women in Business introduces five entrepreneurs who are making names for themselves in varied fields: Kathleen Sommers of Kathleen Sommers retail store and Kathleen Sommers Designs (wholesale), Laura Nicosia of ShelfGenie of San Antonio, Carol Bly
For advertising information in
of Purity Botanicals Organic Beauty Bar and Spa, and Mallory Moorman and Kourtney
San Antonio Woman
Kanaly of Smart Barre San Antonio.
call (210) 826-5375
Another successful entrepreneur is Role Model Kathleen Mayes, who has started
email: info@sawoman.com
MaGi Foods with her husband to offer quick, healthy foods for busy families. This new career gives her more time with her two daughters. (There’s that urge to seek balance
Published by
between family and career again.) And don’t miss the insight from Debi Lamb-Burrows, president of Penguin Suits, Inc., in the Businesswoman Spotlight. In Artbeat you’ll meet Kellen Kee McIntyre, executive director of Bihl Haus Arts, a
8603 Botts Lane, San Antonio, TX 78217 FAX 210-826-2856 • www.pixelworkscorporation.com
contemporary art gallery and multidisciplinary center. She tells the fascinating story of a dilapidated home that proved to have connections with the Alamo and survived would-be wreckers to live again as an arts center. Beauty and Fitness focuses on skin care for all seasons; Health Matters, on taking care of your vision; Women’s Wellness, on weight loss, whether by diet or surgery; and Dollars & Sense, on starting a home-based business while avoiding the pitfalls. Be sure to read the special sections on Girl Scouts and Susan G. Komen for the Cure; visit our website, www.sanantoniowoman.com; and come to our Facebook page. Enjoy spring and have a great Fiesta!
BEVERLY PURCELL-GUERRA , EDITOR 14 | sawoman.com
San Antonio Woman is published bimonthly by PixelWorks Corporation (Publisher). Reproduction in any manner in whole or part is prohibited without the express written consent of the Publisher. Material contained herein does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the publisher or its staff. San Antonio Woman reserves the right to edit all materials for clarity and space and assumes no responsibility for accuracy, errors or omissions. San Antonio Woman does not knowingly accept false or misleading advertisements or editorial, nor does the Publisher assume responsibility should such advertising or editorial appear. Articles and photographs are welcome and may be submitted to our offices to be used subject to the discretion and review of the Publisher. All real estate advertising is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act of 1968, which makes it illegal to advertise “any preference limitation or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin, or an intention to make such preference, limitation or discrimination.” Printed in the U.S.A.
W CONTRIBUTORS
Contributors Liz Garza Williams Robert Mitchell has been the fashion stylist for SAN ANTONIO WOMAN since its inception. As owner/founder of Mitchell Productions, he provides styling and fashion production services internationally for print, advertising, television, editorial and live events. He has served on the adjunct faculty for the fashion management program at the University of the Incarnate Word and as consultant for more than a decade. His clients represent regional, national and international advertising and editorial firms. Mitchell has also been on the production team for Oscar de la Renta in New York and Pierre Balmain in Paris, and he produced Pamella Roland's New York fashion week show for seven years, along with events for every major retailer, including Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Macy's and Dillard's.
"Photography is my passion, but not in the way you might think," says Casey Howell. "Don't get me wrong, I love image making. What really drives me is getting to meet new and interesting people and being able to help them with the skills I have gained over the years. I love to hear the stories of what drives others to succeed and create great products and services. To learn that a chef was inspired by his grandmother to own a traditional restaurant leaves me hoping that someday my photographs and actions will inspire another to chase one of their own dreams. Working with SAN ANTONIO WOMAN has given me many opportunities to meet such people, and I have been blessed when I can play a small role in helping these fine people attain their goals."
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W WHAT’S NEW
What’s New KOCH RANCHES OPEN GOURMET COUNTRY STORE Gourmet Country Store, 2114 Mannix Drive, offers farm-fresh meat, including all cuts of grass-fed beef, plus lamb, goat and venison. Fresh fruits and vegetables are also available as well as other food and grocery products grown or made in Texas. Operated by the Koch family, the store offers all-natural products raised on the family's 4,400-acre ranch. Store hours are 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Saturdays. Visit them online at www.gourmetcountrystore.com. BALANCED HEALTH ADDS AESTHETICIAN Balanced Health SA Wellness Center owners Kay Spears, nutritionist, and Stephanie Ecke, life transformation counselor, announce the addition of aesthetician Gabriele Rocha. She joins a team dedicated to providing the resources and tools necessary to make positive changes in everyday life. Balanced Health focuses on the balance between the physical and emotional aspects of healing. Bringing these two components together can lead to a positive transformation of the mind, body and spirit. The wellness center is located at 16350 Blanco Road, Suite 111, (210) 764-2121. NEW YOU SMILE CENTER GOING NATIONAL New You Smile Center Inc., a San Antonio-based corporation, is expanding to a national market, positioning its affiliated dental practices as a price-competitive domestic alternative to dental tourism by offering discounted dental implants and full-mouth reconstruction.
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New You Smile Center has appointed longtime San Antonio dentist and clinic director Felipe Morales, D.D.S., as CEO of its two affiliated San Antonio practices, Li Dental Care PC and New You Smile Dental Center PC. BRAIN BALANCE ACHIEVEMENT CENTER TO OPEN Brain Balance Achievement Center of San Antonio will open March 25, offering individualized, comprehensive approaches to helping children with neurobehavioral, developmental and learning difficulties. This proprietary nonmedical evidence-based program has been successful in helping thousands of youngsters reach their physical, social/behavioral health and academic potential. These include children who suffer with ADD/ADHD, dyslexia, Tourette’s, Asperger’s, PDD-NOS and other related learning disorders. The center will be open weekdays from 9 a.m. until 7 p.m. To learn more, call (210) 620-7378. PELLEVÉ® SMOOTHS, TIGHTENS SKIN Pellevé®is an FDA-cleared innovation for treating wrinkles without surgery for smoother, tighter skin. Using advanced radio frequency technology, Pellevé precisely heats the deep layer of the skin without damaging the epidermis, causing the skin’s collagen to contract and tighten. The skin then starts producing new collagen for a visible improvement in firmness and tightness. For a free consultation, contact the office of David G. Shulman, M.D., 999 E. Basse Road, Suite 127, at (210) 821-6901, or go to www.eyeshulman.com.
W UP FRONT
Career Moms By JASMINA WELLINGHOFF, Senior Writer
Photography by LIZ GARZA WILLIAMS
Can a woman pursue a career and be a good mother at the same time? A lot of print and airtime has been spent on this topic. Today, the answer is pretty clear. The majority of women want to have both a professional and a family life, and they find ways to make it happen. Below, four successful San Antonio women share their experiences with us. ONLY GOOD OPTIONS Jennifer Shemwell, president of Phyllis Browning Real Estate, advocates putting only good options before her clients and also before her children, Paris, Reed and Browning.
Asked what her parenting rules are, Jennifer Shemwell, president of Phyllis Browning Real Estate, chuckles and goes to retrieve a list from the kitchen bulletin board where she keeps it for everyone to see. It’s titled “School and Home Responsibilities,” and it’s practically a comprehensive guide to leading a good life. “Your father and I expect you to give God your best and to give us your best in everything you do both at school and at home,” states one entry that’s later followed by specific suggestions on how to fulfill the expectations, including: Wake up on time; Thank God for the day and what he has given you; Show love to your family at breakfast; Eat something good for you; Try your hardest in school, no late assignments, no excuses … This is followed by a list of consequences that would follow if the kids fail to fulfill their responsibilities. A couple of relevant biblical verses are also on the sheet. Clearly, faith is important to this family.
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Shemwell has followed her mother, Phyllis Browning, into the real estate business. She was already a star saleswoman in the field before her first child was born.
Outside of work, the Shemwells spend as much time as possible with the kids. Together, they enjoy hiking in the Hill Country, visiting the farmers’ market at the Pearl, playing cards and other games and cooking dinner together on weekends. A lot of what she does as a parent was learned from her mother, she points out, but times have changed and families have had to adapt. “What’s different is that I had a lot of freedom growing up; I rode my bike to school and all over the neighborhood. No one does that today,” she says. “It’s harder for kids to learn independence. I am challenged to find ways for kids to explore independence. The other big difference is technology. When my Mom took me out for ice cream, it was just the two of us. Now I carry my cell phone at all times, and the time with the children gets interrupted. But I try to spend some time with each child one-on-one every week. I like to surprise them with things they enjoy. Sometimes, however, they end up in my office.” She also finds time to get involved with the children’s schools. Though her own mother stayed home until Jennifer was 12, Shemwell says that her parents “raised her to work,” and her husband likes her professional success. To help her manage everything, the children’s nanny still comes over to cook weekday dinners and lend a hand around the house. Since a good saleswoman must have insight into human psychology, we ask Shemwell if any of her professional skills come in handy in the parenting arena. “Good question!” she comments. “Well, with my clients I put only good options in front of them. It’s the same with my kids. I want them to make choices, but I only put good options in front of them.”
MOTHERHOOD CHANGED HER Many San Antonians know Tina Zillmann as the tall, pretty owner of the Skin Rejuvenation Clinic in Alamo Heights that offers a plethora of “We want the children to know that God loves them and made them
skin care treatments, from waxing and chemical peels to ultrasound and
each unique in the world. We want them to be grateful and also to see
IPL photofacials. An aesthetician by training, Zillmann is also a savvy
other people as unique and special,” says the chic and slim Shemwell.
businesswoman who, with her husband, Matthew, runs four establish-
“They are kids and they fight and get into things, but deep down inside,
ments in town — two skin clinics and two hair salons — in addition to
they are listening.”
producing an internationally distributed skin care product line called
Shemwell and her architect husband, Robert Shemwell, have three children ages 9, 11 and 12. She was already a star saleswoman in the real
Advanced Rejuvenating Concepts. Her advice is sought on TV, and she frequently speaks at trade meetings and trains other aestheticians.
estate field when her first child, daughter Paris, was born, but she took
By all standards, Zillmann’s is an American story of hard work, good
time off to nurture her firstborn. After seven months, however, her boss
instincts and willingness to take a chance. A native of Southhampton,
— who happens to be her mother and the agency’s namesake — sum-
Mass., in 1991 21-year-old Tina moved to San Antonio, where her mother
moned her back. “I always knew I would go back to work, but I was having
had been transferred by her company. “I was looking for a change, and
a good time at home and would have stayed longer if I could,” she notes.
I liked it here,” she says. While working at the Prescriptives counter at
Like so many women today, Shemwell takes for granted that she can
Foley’s, she became aware of the many customers who shopped at the
manage both the work and home fronts. Her job is not only important
adjacent Dermablend stand, where they bought heavy makeup to cover
in terms of remuneration but also as a source of personal fulfillment.
skin discoloration and scars.
With five offices, 25 employees and 150 agents, the president is a busy
That sparked an idea. There was clearly a need to treat cosmetic
executive who spends her mornings in meetings and training new
problems of people with melasma or acne and burn scarring. Already a
agents and her afternoons selling houses. “I really love selling real es-
trained aesthetician, the enterprising young woman contacted five doc-
tate,” she explains. “People think I have a great job because I get to see
tors offering to work with their post-surgical and laser treatment patients.
so many beautiful houses, but what I love more is working with people
Dr. LeBaron Dennis responded, eventually inviting her to start her prac-
to help them achieve their dreams.”
tice in his office. “I learned a lot about skin there,” she notes. “We worked
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W UP FRONT At left, Tina Zillmann runs two skin care clinics and two hair salons and produces an internationally distributed skin care product line with her husband, Matthew. Below, they are pictured with their daughter, Morgan, and their son, Jarrett.
were going to take our parental rights away, and they refused to talk to the baby’s pediatrician.” Desperate, the parents engaged lawyer Stephani Walsh to fight for them, and within days the judge who handled the case dismissed the charges and made CPS apologize to the parents. Not surprisingly, there is still anger in Zillmann’s voice as she recounts these events. The couple subsequently found a more competent and more sympathetic neurosurgeon, Dr. Micam Tullous, to take care of Morgan. As her brain grew, the little girl had to have several more operations to enlarge her skull. For a young mother this was a challenging time. “If I didn’t have my husband to help me cope, I don’t know how I would have made it through it all,” admits Zillmann. “We never asked why that happened to us and never blamed each other. Also, we didn’t want Morgan to feel like a victim. These were the cards we were dealt, and we just had to get through it.” Work-wise, it helped that their staff was understanding and supportive. “We couldn’t have held jobs if we didn’t have our own business,” she adds. “We took shifts to be in the hospital with our daughter, and there was always that fear of E.R. trips and hospitals.” As Morgan’s condition stabilized, Zillmann was able to bring the toddler to work with her a great deal with burn patients on smoothing out and retexturing skin.”
and later enrolled the child in a nearby day care.
About that time she also married Matthew, asking him to buy her a
During those early years, the Zillmanns had pretty much decided not
washer and dryer instead of an engagement ring. Though money was
to have more children, but their son, Matthew Jarrett, made his healthy
tight, the couple “had a ball” starting and growing their business and enjoying young married life. But things changed three years later when their daughter, Morgan, was born. The baby was six weeks early and after a 13-hour labor had to be vacuum extracted. To the new parents’ dismay, the newborn was soon diagnosed with hydrocephalus — a building of fluid inside the skull that causes brain swelling — and needed an operation to insert a drainage shunt under her skull. That was the beginning of an ordeal of emergencies, operations, not always helpful doctors and even an accusation of child abuse. Because the original shunt did not have appropriate controls, the baby’s skull collapsed at one point, necessitating a trip to the emergency room. The doctor there mistook an internal bleeding caused by the first operation for abuse and refused to listen to the Zillmanns’ explanation. “CPS (Child Protective Services) came, and they wanted me to say that my husband had done it,” recalls Zillmann, referring to the bleeding wound. “They
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Courtney Skarda Pena, vice president of online sales and marketing at Rackspace, enjoys an outing with her sons Jackson, standing, and Brady.
entrance into the world three and a half years after Morgan was born. “I didn’t let any OBGYN near me the second time. I did it the natural way,” says Tina. “He’s the happiest, easiest child. His big sister looks after him, but she also envies him, I think, because he’s had such an easy time.” Now 17, Morgan is a bright and active teen who loves running, skiing and track and field, and even cooks dinner for the family frequently, but she will always need her shunt. Her ambition is to study neurochemistry. Being a mother has taught Zillman a few things. “Before I was a mother, I was a businesswoman; I was not very tolerant of other people’s family needs,“ she admits. “I was like, ‘I am working through dinner, you can miss dinner, too!’ I was a workaholic; work was my identity. Now both my husband and I are much more tolerant; we know people need family time, days off. We try to make people who work for us happy. So I learned tolerance and patience. Employees like me better; most of them are women and mothers.” And she believes that her children benefit from having a successful working mother. “I have stronger children because I work,” she states with conviction. “They can wash their own clothes, cook their own meals, they can do a lot of things for themselves. My kids also know the value of the dollar. They know Mom and Dad have to work, and they’ve watched us work hard. I think they will be better prepared for life.”
BORN TO BE A MOMMY Growing up in San Antonio as an only
cloud computing services to a great variety of business clients.
in 2006 to 190,000 today. Yet she always wanted to be a mom, too. “I
child, Courtney Skarda Pena watched her
“I am one of those people who need to
was born to be a mommy,” says the willowy VP
mother, who never went to college, build a
go-go nonstop, with many irons in the fire.
with enthusiasm. As an only child who longed
successful career in the insurance business.
That keeps me moving and charged,” she tells
for a sibling, she also knew that she wanted
Having a working mom was normal to her.
me even before we sit down in a corner area
more than one child. Today, Pena and her hus-
Today she, too, is a working mother, who
of the company’s food court to talk. Rack-
band, Matthew, are blessed with two boys,
spends her days at San Antonio’s largest IT
space occupies a huge building that once
ages 8 and 5. When they fight, as all kids do,
company, Rackspace, where she is the VP of
housed Windsor Park Mall. As a child, Pena
their mother is always dismayed. “Don’t you
online sales and marketing at age 37. In 2012,
often came here to shop, so she is in familiar
know that your brother is the greatest gift that your father and I gave you?” she asks them.
the company nominated her, and the Business
territory. “My passion is to figure out how to
Journal chose her, as one of the 40 Under 40
motivate my people and create an environ-
With so many responsibilities, Pena’s days
rising business stars in town. Her responsibil-
ment where they can fulfill our mission,” she
are long, starting at 4:45 a.m., when she rises
ities include managing and training a sales
adds a moment later. She’s clearly good at
to make breakfast for the family and drive the
force of about 100, developing sales strate-
that. Her strategies have helped increase
children to school. To allow their boys to enjoy
gies and collaborating with other depart-
monthly revenues by 250 percent while the
and explore nature, the Penas chose to live on
ments to provide the best web hosting and
number of customers has grown from 12,000
a rural property in Bulverde, which unfortu-
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W UP FRONT
In 2012 Pena was selected by the San Antonio Business Journal as one of the 40 Under 40 rising business stars in town. At Rackspace she manages the sales force and collaborates with other departments to provide exemplary web hosting and cloud computing to their many business clients. nately means long daily commutes for the parents. After a day spent largely in meetings, she leaves around 6 p.m. for the drive back. A student-helper picks up the kids from school and gets them going on their chores and homework before their dad takes over at 5:30. Dinner is “catch as catch can,” admits Pena, a combination of sandwiches and going out. Nevertheless, every night, there’s always time for the family’s “Roses and Thorns” discussion. Everyone shares the best (roses) and worst (thorns) moments of the day. “I discuss with my older son, Jack, the things that he experienced and how he would fix certain things that he was unhappy about,” explains Pena. “I want my kids to be able to solve problems, to be equipped to see 10 steps ahead.” This is particularly relevant today, she adds, because our brave new digitally connected world allows for fewer mistakes and failures. “The best lessons I learned were from my own failures. Now the question is, how do we let kids explore and fail without those failures haunting them for the rest of their lives?” Another issue that concerns her is, ironically, the product of her and her husband’s financial success. Though they can provide a richer, better life for their off-
Asked whether she ever experiences the
friends who were miserable being away from
spring than they had as children, they would
often-mentioned guilt of working mothers,
their children, couldn’t concentrate on work.
like the boys to still have “that hunger to go
she responds promptly: “Absolutely. I strug-
Other people miss work. Each woman has to
out and do things for themselves.”
gled with it for a long time. I talked to Mom
figure it out for herself and make sure she has a support system in place for either choice.”
To lessen sibling rivalry, Pena has also
about it. She always made it look so easy. I
started “dates” with each boy alone. A recent
eventually learned that things are not going
pair of dates consisted of going to Home
to be perfect. I don’t believe in perfect bal-
Depot to buy Valentine’s card supplies and lit-
ance. Life is a series of imbalances. Some-
BEING A SINGLE MOM CAN BRING GROWTH
tle gifts for their school friends. “Just a silly
times my family needs 75 percent of my time,
Andrea Cavazos Prescott was happy
thing” but a good excuse to spend a little one-
sometimes work does. Fortunately, Rack-
working as a school nurse, a job that allowed
on-one time together.
space is flexible in that regard. My boys have
her to be home when her own children re-
just started to play baseball, so on Wednes-
turned from school, but a divorce in 2008
Returning to work after giving birth to her first son was hard, she admits. At the time she
days, I have to leave work at 4 to be at the
forced her out of her comfort zone. Though
was in sales at Dell, Inc. in Austin, and her fam-
game, and that’s fine. I can also work from
she continued to live in the family’s Cibolo house with her son and daughter, she eventu-
ily needed her income. “Financially, I had to
home on occasion.” Still, in an ideal world, she
make sure that it made sense for me to work
would prefer to work four days a week rather
ally realized that as a single mother she would
there. I had to feel that the time spent away
than five.
need a higher-paying job.
from my child was time well spent. And I had
“I do have friends who are staying home
So Prescott now drives an hour each way
the need to do something meaningful.” Her
with their kids, and I think I am somewhat en-
to and from her job at the Audie Murphy VA
present job definitely qualifies. What makes
vious of them, but they are envious of me,”
Hospital in the Medical Center, but she is not
her happy is the ability to promote the well-
she says. Then she pauses before continuing
complaining. A whole new world has opened
being and professional success of the “Rack-
on a philosophical note: “A woman needs to
up to her. “It has given me an opportunity to
ers” she mentors.
do what she feels comfortable with. I have
flourish in my career,” she notes. “When I
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UP FRONT W
chose to be a nurse, I felt it was a calling that God put in my life. I never felt it was just a job. But here (at the VA) I feel honored to be able to take care of veterans who have sacrificed for our country and therefore for me and my family. I work in the rehabilitation unit, where patients stay for weeks and months, so we get to really know them well, and you begin to feel like they are your family.” Her dedication has been recognized this year with the Outstanding Nurse Award for her unit, and she’s been put in charge of training incoming nursing staff. It’s been “surprisingly rewarding,” she admits. Nevertheless, adjusting to single parenthood after 14 years of marriage wasn’t easy for either her or the kids. Faith in God and counseling helped them navigate the first treacherous
year
despite
bouts
of
fear
and
loneliness. Also helpful to her personally was a mandatory course the divorcing spouses were required to take on how to interact with each other in post-divorce life. “I learned a lot from it,” says Prescott, a pretty brunette with an easy, low-key manner. “Basically you have to treat the other person as a business partner (in raising children), and you can’t let your emotions take over, especially in front of the kids.” The teens see their father every other weekend and once during the week. Photo by JANET ROGERS
And then there were all the practical little things that she had to handle all by herself, like paying bills and fixing things around the house. Home Depot and neighbors helped in the latter situation, and her extended family provided emotional support. Though her former husband has quickly moved into a new relationship, Prescott chose not to rush into dating. She also decided not to see men who
best mom in the world,’” recounts the still
made her children uncomfortable. “The man I
amused mom. “I said, ‘I just took your cell
am seeing now treats my children as his own,”
phone away and told you that you couldn’t go
she notes with satisfaction.
to the movies.’ She said, ‘I needed that. I feel
An especially challenging aspect of her new life has been how to discipline growing
like you love me so much.’” Wisdom from the mouths of babes!
youngsters while avoiding becoming too le-
With all that’s happened in the last few
nient in order to compensate for the hurt
years, Prescott estimates that both she and
caused by divorce. What works well, she
her kids have grown in many ways. This fall,
found, is withdrawing certain privileges — like
she will be returning to school to get her
going out or using the cell phone — until they
master’s, eventually hoping to become a
fulfill their school and home responsibilities.
nurse practitioner. And she’s gained a new
Recently, Prescott imposed just such a penalty
understanding of marriage: “When I was in
on her daughter, who angrily marched off to
my 20s, I just wanted to get married and have
her room. “Half an hour later, she came out
that security. Now I want someone to enjoy
and gave me a big hug and said, ‘You are the
my life with.”
Following a divorce in 2008, Andrea Cavazos Prescott and her children, Sabrina and Alec, had to make adjustments in their lives. They stayed in their Cibolo home, but Andrea changed jobs to work at the Audie Murphy VA Hospital across town.
march/april 2013 |
25
W PROFILE
A Self-Made
WOMAN Lana Duke overcame troubled childhood to become a successful businesswoman and role model
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PROFILE W By JASMINA WELLINGHOFF, Senior Writer
Photography by LIZ GARZA WILLIAMS
O
n January 20 of this year, a couple of hundred people gathered at the Concord
Plaza Ruth‘s Chris Steak House to mark the restaurant’s 20th anniversary in San Antonio. With tables laden with food and a New Orleans-style jazz band playing, everyone appeared to have a good time, but for owner Lana Duke it was a meaningful moment well beyond just having fun. “It’s wonderful to be celebrating the 20th anniversary, but at the same time, where the heck did the last 20 years go?” Duke asked us just before the guests were about to arrive.
“When you do
what you love, time flies. When we opened, we were the 36th restaurant in
Lana Duke, who owns four Ruth's Chris Steak House franchises, including two in San Antonio, is pictured with her son, R. David Duke. She also co-owns a business in New Orleans and maintains her marketing firm Lana Duke Consulting.
the chain, and just the other day the 136th franchise opened in Las Vegas. It‘s
steak, with its signature sizzle under-
added just before the plates are brought
been quite a journey!”
neath. And the rest is history. People
to the table.
Though Duke owns only four of the 136 locations, she has been involved with
would walk into the restaurants saying, ‘I want that steak like on TV.’”
And the steaks are not the only orders that come with a sizzle. The restaurants
the Ruth‘s Chris journey since 1968. It was
In 1992, Duke finally gathered the
offer a range of other specialties, includ-
then that she first met Ruth Fertel, who
courage to ask her friend for a franchise.
ing seafood, chicken and lamb as well as
ran a popular little steak house on Broad
She picked San Antonio because she had
familiar side dishes done right, such as
Street in New Orleans. At the time, Duke
visited once for a Catholic press confer-
creamed spinach, potatoes au gratin and
was a saleswoman for a New Orleans
ence in the late 1970s and thought “this
mashed potatoes. Of the two locations,
Catholic newspaper, and she wanted to
was the most beautiful, romantic city.”
the Concord Plaza is more profitable,
see if Fertel would advertise with her
Conveniently, the Alamo City was the
notes the owner, probably because it
paper. The two women hit it off right
only major city in Texas without a Ruth’s
does not depend on the ups and downs
away and gradually developed both a
Chris Steak House. Today, Duke and her
of tourism that afflict the St. Paul Square establishment. In fact, the Concord Plaza
friendship and a business relationship
son, David Duke, co-own four franchises
that lasted till the day Fertel died, in
— a second local restaurant in St. Paul
was named the best franchise of 2011 by
2002. Starting in 1975, when Duke
Square and two in Canada.
the corporate headquarters, now located
opened her own ad agency, the two
“Ruth Fertel changed my life,” says
women worked together to create a suc-
the businesswoman matter-of-factly.“I
What makes a restaurant successful is
cessful marketing strategy that turned
believe it was God’s plan. She became
consistency, notes Duke: “If someone
in Florida.
the Louisiana eatery from a favorite local
my dearest friend, and I miss her. But I
dines here today and likes how things
spot to a national and international chain
continue to build this brand and share
taste, they want everything to taste the
with locations in Tokyo, Taiwan, Hong
her legacy.”
same when they come back two weeks
Kong, Aruba, El Salvador and other far-
That legacy is probably familiar to
flung places. At the center of that strat-
many San Antonians who love a good
to change recipes. Our secret is simple —
egy was Fertel‘s product itself, “the steak
steak. Though a few changes have oc-
you know what you are going to get. An-
with a sizzle.”
later. Restaurants fail because they start
curred over the years, Ruth‘s Chris con-
other thing that Ruth taught me is that
”I loved her product, and when you
tinues to serve the fare that it became
the kitchen is the heart of the house. Peo-
have a good product, you focus on that,”
famous for: classic USDA prime steaks
ple will forgive bad service and other
says Duke, who became a long-term con-
seared at 1,800 degrees and served on
things, but you have to get the food right.
sultant for Fertel’s growing company.
ceramic plates heated to 500 degrees. To
Also, it‘s very important to make your
“For the marketing campaign, we created
provide that signature “sizzle” that cus-
employees happy; then they‘ll make the
a straightforward, close-up image of the
tomers love, a tablespoon of butter is
customers happy.” march/april 2013 |
27
W PROFILE
Duke confers with executive chef Sander Edmondson. Every year at Thanksgiving she invites youngsters from Roy Maas' Youth Alternatives to an elaborate dinner at her restaurant. As one who was placed in a foster home in infancy, she encourages these boys and girls to stay in school and remain motivated. A couple of them have come to work at Ruth's Chris.
Though she continues to live in New
deal lasted only six months, as Dad was
Orleans, Duke says she feels like she’s
unable to support her and ended up
Duke was in New Orleans for only
from San Antonio. “I am here a lot, and I
abusing her as well. The next three years
three years when her real mother re-entered her life.
whose first client was Ruth Fertel.
know a lot of people here, and I am very
were spent in various foster homes
involved in the community,” she states.
while the young girl dreamed of getting
“When I turned 21, I received a
While she considered moving for good at
away from the chaos of her life. She fi-
telegram from my mother. I couldn’t be-
one point, after Hurricane Katrina devas-
nally managed it at 15, landing a job with
lieve it. I had tried to forget her; I even
tated the Big Easy, she stayed in the rav-
the Bank of Montreal and sharing a
threw the one picture of her that I had
aged city out of loyalty. In addition to the
Toronto apartment with three other
in the garbage,” she explains. “I went to
four restaurants, Duke is also a co-owner
girls. At 18 she moved to New Orleans
see her in Montreal, and she later came
of the Palace Truck Stop and Casino in
on the invitation of a former roommate
to visit in New Orleans and never went
New Orleans and maintains her market-
who had become a flight attendant
back. She died three years ago.”
ing firm Lana Duke Consulting.
based in that city. “I looked up New Or-
Though mother and daughter recon-
leans in National Geographic, and it
nected, the pain of childhood always lin-
looked like a good place to start my new
gered as a sort of barrier between them.
FROM FOSTER CHILD TO BUSINESSWOMAN AND PHILANTHROPIST Lana Duke‘s life story is a true rags-to-
life,” recalls Duke lightheartedly. But
“The pain never leaves you; you just
finding work was not easy for a girl
learn how to work around it to make life
without a high school diploma.
work for you,” she says. Her father also
riches saga. Born in St. Catharines, On-
Still, youth and determination were
sought her forgiveness.
tario, little Lana was taken to a foster care
on her side. From her first American job
Unfortunate family experiences, in-
home when she was only nine months
selling pots and pans door to door, she
cluding a brief marriage that ended in a
old. Her divorced mother maintained in-
advanced to cook and server and even-
separation, taught Duke to create a new
termittent contact for a while before she
tually to bookkeeping and advertising.
family with her friends, who became
moved away from the area. Though the
The latter fit her preference for dealing
“aunts” and “uncles” to her son. Her
foster couple took good care of her for
with people rather than figures, and she
early life also motivates her to help chil-
years, when she grew older, the foster fa-
rapidly advanced to director of advertis-
dren who find themselves parentless like
ther started molesting her.
ing for the Clarion-Herald newspaper in
she was. She’s a big supporter of the Roy
At age 12 1/2, the pre-teen went to
the Big Easy. A few years later, the young
Maas’ Youth Alternatives, a local non-
live with her biological father, but the
woman opened her own ad agency
profit that provides a home for thousands
28 | sawoman.com
PROFILE W of abused or neglected kids. Every Thanksgiving, the Ruth’s Chris Steak House invites these youngsters to a classy formal meal and offers other activities for them throughout the year, such as graduation celebrations and etiquette and culinary classes for those who may consider a hospitality career. And she always tells them her own story to encourage them to stay in school and stay motivated. Duke feels that these wounded boys and girls can be “marvelous” in this field “if they can let go of the
Lana Duke’s WISDOM
Lana Duke is frequently asked to speak to entrepreneur and business groups. She‘s put her core success philosophy on a laminate card in the form of Ten Tips for Success. Several are listed below:
pain,” because they know how to empathize with people. A couple of former Roy Maas residents now work at Ruth’s Chris. Similar programs help the Toronto area foster children. To encourage others in the business world to do
- Even when things go bad, remember that out of something bad comes something good. - You don’t do business with a company, you do business with a person.
their part for the community, in 2008 Duke and businessman Harvey Najim launched the Make a Difference Award, which recognizes both individuals and companies that help San Antonio charitable organizations. The proceeds from the award gala, held, of course, at Ruth’s Chris, benefit Roy Maas. ”The abused children organizations are the only
- Figure out what’s important in your business, the one or two things that are really different and special, and focus on that. Keep it simple, keep it focused. - Have a vision. Be sure to have goals. If you don’t, you won’t know where you are going or when you will get there.
charities I am involved with. That’s what I want to do with my time, though I donate money to others, too,” says the friendly businesswoman, who has recently become a grandmother. “I want to make a difference
- Put the five P’s to work for you — Product, Price, People, Place and Promotion. With an understanding of those interrelated parts of the marketing mix, you can analyze any business and fix almost any problem.
in their lives. I think that’s why God put me here.”
march/april 2013 |
29
W ENVIRONMENTS
A Labor of Love in The Dominion McNeils find a home that suits their lifestyle
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ENVIRONMENTS W
By ROBYN BARNES Photography AL RENDON
The great room in Sherry and Laird McNeil's home in The Dominion offers comfortable seating for numerous guests. At the left is a reproduction of a 15th-century tapestry that hangs in a chateau in France.
Sherry and Laird McNeil had very specific ideas of what they
Their Realtor, Herb Spoon with Kuper Realty, was very patient
wanted for a new home, but as their Realtor could confirm, theirs
and said there was one more listing left to see, but he cautioned
was a long and difficult search. The couple wanted a home with
them that the home was not finished and, anyway, was probably not
an open floor plan with the flexibility for entertaining large
their style. He took them to the Cottage Estates in The Dominion.
groups or intimate dinner parties, with no yard to care for and a downstairs master suite.
“I took one look at it and groaned,” Laird said. “All I could think was, ‘I hope Sherry does not like it.’ My first impression was
That doesn’t sound so difficult, does it?
that this was a massive amount of space that looked more like a
“We viewed numerous homes,” Sherry said. “We looked at older
site for a roller derby than a home. I could not begin to imagine
homes as well as new ones, but none of them felt right for us.”
living here. Just as I was dreading, Sherry loved it! Those who
march/april 2013 |
31
W EVIRONMENTS
Above, sunlight streams through the towering cupola in the great room. Stained glass pictures add a further accent. At right, a comfortable sitting room in royal red opens off the home's entryway.
know my wife will agree that she is enthusiastic and charming and can be very persuasive when she makes up her mind about something.� Thus began months of renovation before they could move into the home in November 2003. They added architectural details, faux painting, lighting and other features to make their home welcoming and comfortable. They replaced carpeting with wood flooring in the living room, dining room, bedrooms and study. They also added and placed furnishings to create intimate seating areas and at the same time maintain the great openness of the floor plan. The floors in the remainder of the house are a cream tile, on which several Oriental rugs are placed, separating the various areas of the home. The renovation was critical because space for entertaining is important to the McNeils. Sherry is actively involved in community activities and serves on boards of several nonprofit organizations in the city. This past October she was co-chair of the San Antonio Express-News Book and Author Luncheon and presently is co-chair of the Cancer Center Council annual spring luncheon as well as chair of the Friends of Hospice annual spring membership meeting. Sherry has delighted in opening their home for functions of numerous charities such as the American Red Cross, Cancer Center Council, Friends of Hospice and San Antonio Assistance League.
32 | sawoman.com
W ENVIRONMENTS
One table does double duty for breakfast and bridge games in the breakfast area overlooking the patio. Side chairs are upholstered in Italian silk. Various areas of the home are set off by Oriental rugs atop cream tile floors.
arched window, a chandelier and recessed lighting brighten the room. A powder room was recently wallpapered in gray paper with red floral diamond patterns centered with individual rhinestones. A crystal chandelier and a silvery leather French bench with black fixtures create a most elegant and dramatic effect. Open to the entryway on the right is the dining room, a mirror image of the sitting room in royal red. The coffered ceiling, in silver and gold faux finish, is accented with crown molding. The color theme of the ceiling is carried out in the gold flecks in the granite surface of the buffet, above which is a gold-leaf mirror. The apron and legs of the dining table were faux-painted in black with gold rub. The captain’s chairs were upholstered with black and gold stripes to complement the finish of the table. A large grandfather clock in the corner keeps time for guests. Side chairs were upholstered in a black and gold diamond pattern. Straight ahead of the entryway is a large open area, which the McNeils call the great room, flanked by tall columns finished to appear to be natural stone that lead the eye to the towering cupola in the center. Beneath the cupola’s ceiling, sunlight streams through the Laird is an attorney with a general practice, focusing on pro-
windows, from which stained glass pictures are suspended, and
bate and guardianship. He is past president of Friends of Hospice.
bounces down the towering faux-painted shaft and along the
DETAILS PROVIDE DESIGN PUNCH
light blue velvet and several chairs provide seating beneath the
domed ceiling of the room below. A comfortable curved sofa in Most recently, Laird and Sherry hired Best Concepts Contrac-
dome and serve to anchor the large room.
tors for a six-month updating and improvement project. The first
Several reproductions of 15th-century French tapestries, a
suggestion by contractor Fausto Velasco was custom-made
rarity in San Antonio, hang in the McNeil home. The original of
metal double front doors, handcrafted in Mexico. The doors fea-
the one in the great room is featured in the Chateau de Pau in
ture wrought iron scrollwork, behind which are glass panes that,
the French Pyrenees. The one in the dining room is a still life de-
at first glance, appear to be immovable. However, these panes
picting grapes surrounding an urn similar to the one set as a cen-
swing open to provide fresh air.
terpiece on the dining table.
The entryway, where the tile floor is set off with brown gran-
A free-standing granite-topped hand-carved bar and match-
ite accents, is accented by a hand-carved round table. A tall flo-
ing chairs are in the back of the great room, beneath a modern
ral arrangement leads the eye to the barrel ceiling, which
mirror by Christopher Guy, in a gold sunburst frame.
appears to be antique tin, but is actually faux-painted wallpaper.
The family room, located to the right rear of the great room,
Open to the entryway on the left is a comfortable sitting
is delineated by its ceiling faux-painted in green and gold tones.
room in royal red, with crown molding accentuating the different
The area is set off by a kidney-shaped sofa upholstered in a
levels of the coffered ceiling, faux-painted in gold and silver. An
pewter silk fabric, custom-made for the room. Custom cabinetry
34 | sawoman.com
ENVIRONMENTS W
march/april 2013 |
35
W ENVIRONMENTS
surrounds a flat-screen television and a
ing meals or refreshments,” says Sherry.
natural fireplace. Between the family room and the kitchen is a breakfast area overlooking
ELEGANT MASTER SUITE The master suite walls in a soft pow-
French doors to the patio. “I love to play
der blue have a soothing effect on every-
bridge,” Sherry says. “I wanted to com-
one who enters. The room is elegantly
bine our need for a breakfast table with
furnished with a king-size French Provin-
the practicality of a game table. I found
cial bed with matching granite-topped
the perfect combination. We added Ital-
end tables, a chaise longue, an armoire,
ian silk skirted side chairs.”
a writing desk and a French tapestry de-
The kitchen features mahoganycolored cabinets, countertops of brown and black granite and a copper-toned light fixture. The sink is angled to face the great room so that the cook can remain fully engaged with guests.
The kitchen is located in the front
picting Roman ruins. The windows over-
right corner of the great room. Ma-
looking magnolia trees in the side yard
tops, which match the tub surround, line
hogany-colored cabinets, some with
are set off by floor-length gold silk
the walls of the room.
glass fronts, hang over brown and black
draperies hung from gold rosettes. LIVELY LAUNDRY ROOM
granite countertops. The walls are faux
The master bath is thoroughly mod-
painted in cream, with a distressed look,
ern. It features a large black whirlpool
Many laundry rooms are purely
and the backsplash is a cream natural
tub set in a black and brown granite sur-
functional, but the McNeils’ is based on
stone with brown tile accents. The sink is
round with a custom-made base faux-
fun. The walls are covered with black and
in a split-level counter angled to face the
painted
rub.
white diamond-patterned paper. Abun-
great room, so the cook never misses a
Twenty-four karat gold bath fixtures
dant cabinetry is finished in a cream-col-
minute of activity. A large copper-col-
sparkle in the light reflected from a crys-
ored glaze. The candy apple red washer
in
cream
and
gold
ored light fixture above the sink sets off
tal chandelier overhead. A glass block
and dryer pick up the color in the art-
the kitchen perfectly. “I love to cook, and
wall rises from the far side of the tub,
work hung on the walls. The room re-
the kitchen is ideally configured so I can
separating it from the double walk-in
flects Sherry’s motto: “Above all, have a
be involved with my guests while prepar-
shower. His and her vanities with granite
good time!”
36 | sawoman.com
W ENVIRONMENTS
Above, the master bedroom in soothing tones of blue with gold silk draperies. At right, one of the guest suites with decor inspired by vintage movies. The adjoining bathroom is wallpapered in a colorful collage of animal prints.
GUEST SUITES A faux leopard-toned runner covers the curved stairs leading to the guest suites. The stairwell, once papered in a silver tone, is now faux-painted in copper. The upstairs loft is decorated in a modern Venetian glamour look. Two red leather swivel chairs on chrome pedestals face each other across a small mirrored table and can turn for viewing the flat-panel television on the wall. A mink-upholstered bench
doll. “Since we do not have grandchildren, I bought the doll and
provides additional seating. A wine bar armoire with a Rembrandt
named her Amanda in a nostalgic moment,” Sherry says.
design in the Hemingway style at the back of the loft holds scrapbooks and other memorabilia. One Hollywood guest room is Sherry’s nod to old movies. The
The wallpaper in the connecting bath is a colorful collage of leopard, tiger, zebra and giraffe patterns. To save space, the McNeils removed the bathroom doors and installed swinging shutter doors.
wallpaper features photos of vintage movie stars, and monochrome pictures of Audrey Hepburn and Marilyn Monroe accent the walls.
A VISION FULFILLED
A black dresser supports a long rectangular chrome-framed mirror.
“When I first saw it, I could not imagine us living here,” says
A small pair of sparkly ruby slippers, depicting those worn by
Laird. “I am so grateful that from the beginning Sherry had the vi-
Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, serves as a doorstop. The second guest bedroom is more traditional, with soft yellow walls and a black four-poster bed. A child-size rocker holds a lifelike
38 | sawoman.com
sion to make this a perfect home for both of us.” Adds Sherry, “Working together in a labor of love, I cannot imagine living anywhere else.”
AROUND TOWN W
CANCER CENTER COUNCIL PRESENTS
APPRECIATION COFFEE 1. Rose Marie Banack, Mary Brook, Nancy Hillis and Lora Watts 2. Pam Burdick, Charline McCombs and Caroline Seay 1
3. Karen Heintz, Helen West
4
and Beverly Birnbaum
FRIENDS OF HOSPICE PRESENTS
VALENTINE LUNCHEON AND JULIAN GOLD STYLE SHOW 2
4. Tenchita Flores, Beverly Purcell-Guerra
5
and Caro Canales 5. Seated: Margie Klesse, Pam Burdick, Laura Davis and Sherry McNeil Standing: Sara Kliewer, Mary Brook, Adriana Biggs and Courtney Schultz 6. Laurie Kaplan, Barbara Winship, Bonnie Reed and Siobahn Anders
3
6
march/april 2013 |
39
W FASHION CALENDAR
SAN ANTONIO FASHION EVE NTS March 6 Julian Gold Henry and Belle 2013 Denim Event Contemporary Styles
March 21-22 Julian Gold St. John 2013 Trunk Show Designer Knit Sportswear
March 28-30 Neiman Marcus Manolo Blahnik Trunk Show Shoes
March 7-8 Julian Gold Terani 2013 Trunk Show Eveningwear
March 21-24 Neiman Marcus Multi Up-Close Event Featuring Escada, Etro and Armani
March 30 Nordstrom Beauty Trend Show Newest Spring Trends Reservation Required
March 9 Nordstrom Best Prom Ever! Fashion Show Hottest New Dresses, Shoes and Accessories
March 22 Neiman Marcus David Yurman 2013 Trunk Show Jewelry
March 30 Nordstrom MAC Beauty Event Personal Appearance by Amie Pena By Reservation
March 14 Saks Fifth Avenue Ippolita Trunk Show Jewelry
March 25 Saks Fifth Avenue IOMA Paris Skin Care Products Exclusive To Saks Fifth Avenue
April 16-17 Saks Fifth Avenue AKRIS 2013 Trunk Show Newest Fall Trends
March 19-20 Julian Gold Christine Moore 2013 Trunk Show Hats
March 27-28 Saks Fifth Avenue Tom and Linda Platt 2013 Trunk Show Designer Wear
April 16-17 Saks Fifth Avenue H. Stern Trunk Show Fine Jewelry
40 | sawoman.com
SPRING TRENDS
2013 Creative Direction Robert Mitchell Photography Liz Garza Williams Stylist Krista Ynostrosa Short sleeve cropped leather jacket and python print skirt by Yigal Azrouel, at Saks Fifth Avenue. Red caged sandal by Jimmy Choo, at Neiman Marcus. Green silicone tote by Furla, at Nordstrom. Steel with gold earrings and silver cuff with jade by Agnes Seebass, at Kathleen Sommers.
Black and white sheath dress by Stella McCartney, at Neiman Marcus. Black and red patent peep-toe sling-back stilettos by Christian Louboutin, at Saks Fifth Avenue. Green and bronze painted Lucite earrings with copper studs by Alexis Bittar. at Julian Gold. Scarf by Kate Spade; sunglasses by Miu Miu; multicolored bangle by Spring Street; color-blocked envelope clutch by Nila Anthony, all at Nordstrom.
Flower print wrap-blouse by Etro; yellow flower ring by Alexis Bittar; yellow patent cage sandal by Yves Saint Laurent, all at Saks Fifth Avenue. Bermuda shorts by Vince Camuto, at Nordstrom. Gold and green petal earrings by Kendra Scott; patent satchel by Iuzi, both at Julian Gold.
Emerald and gold print cocktail dress with gold python belt by Michael Kors; yellow knit crop cardigan by Akris; crimson suede platform shoes by Miu Miu, all at Saks Fifth Avenue. Green and bronze Lucite earrings with copper studs by Alexis Bittar, at Julian Gold. Dragonfly print satin and leather clutch by Alexander McQueen, at Neiman Marcus. Fuchsia painted Lucite necklace by Alexis Bittar, at Nordstrom.
Blue jumpsuit with gold belt by Escada, at Neiman Marcus. Coral blazer by DVF; studded fluorescent pink and yellow stilettos by Christian Louboutin, both at Saks Fifth Avenue. Gold and emerald petal earrings by Kendra Scott; green clutch by DVF, both at Julian Gold. Square colored glass ring by Anne Marie Chagnon, at Kathleen Sommers.
Production by Mitchell Productions Fashion Assistant Chris Cantoya Photography Assistant Robert Amador Makeup & Hair Donna Horner Hair by Marguerite Najera Hair Assistant Paul Lopez Nail Color (OPI – “Don’t Talk Bach to Me”) courtesy of Medusa.The Salon Model Todiana Vasquez for Kim Dawson Agency Location courtesy of Stacy Hill at The Monterey
W SHOPPING
Spring Forward
Into the fresh colors of spring Each spring, San Antonio’s calendar is awash with color, beginning with the wearing o’ the green on St. Patrick’s Day to Fiesta’s rainbow-colored cascarones and dazzling River Parade floats, to Easter’s delicate eggs dyed robin’s egg blue, set in pink plastic Easter grass alongside yellow marshmallow
Spring is all about sunny daffodils in the garden and white lilies at church. It’s about Easter bonnets and sundresses, cute sandals and floral print scarves. It’s about afternoon tea parties, beach weekends and backyard barbecues. It’s about soft pastel palettes and cool sherbet colors. And, of course, there’s always our wildflowers, the bluebonnets and Indian paintbrush that edge the highways and byways and take our breath away. Yes, spring is all about color, so ditch those pale winter whites and that dreary basic black and spring forward. Let the year’s freshest season bring a bright splash of color into your life.
St. Patrick’s Day (Sunday, March 17) Get your green on this spring. This Mandarin-style shirt keeps things cool and simple and brings a little color into your wardrobe without making you look like a leprechaun. Understated and classic, this top can be dressed up or down with the right accessories. Available at kathleensommers.com.
Fiesta! (April 18-28) You’re going to do a lot of walking during the Fiesta fun, so why not step out in style with some colorful flats by Dolce Vita?These bright colorful sandals will put a spring in your step. Prefer a colorful walking shoe instead? I love Dolce Vita’s preppy striped Manx Oxfords. Available at dolcevita.com.
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SHOPPING W
march/april 2013 |
47
W SHOPPING
Easter (Sunday, March 31) In the old days, Easter bonnets and lily corsages were Mom’s go-to accessories on Easter morning, but now a little pink clutch will do the trick. You don’t want to be showy, but you do want to be stylish. So how about carrying this little pink number by
Chanel?
Good
things
come in small packages, and with its bright punch of color this classic little bag makes the perfect spring accessory. All things Chanel available at Saks Fifth Avenue, saks.com.
Light everyday fun Simple, breezy scarves in spring colors can carry you through summer. Lightweight and lovely, this hand-painted silk scarf in cobalt blue is by Fine Art Silk, at etsy.com; however, great spring scarves are also available at any of your favorite San Antonio boutiques,
like
Kathleen
Sommers.
Just shea yes! Spring means keeping everything light and fresh—including your beauty products. Keep skin soft as a lamb with a buttery touch of shea. The handmade organic products from Just Shea won’t lighten your wallet, but they may lighten the load of others in need. Just Shea is a social business created
to
leverage,
increase income
the and
safety of the 600,000 women in Ghana who participate in the global shea trade. So you’re not only
treating
yourself
beautifully, you’re making the world better too with every Just Shea product you buy. Available at justshea.com.
48 | sawoman.com
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march/april 2013 |
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W SHOPPING
Beachy keen Bring the beauty of the beach into your home this season. How about a conch print pillow from 123 Creations? Or why not throw in some fabrics that suggest the crisp fresh colors of beach glass and the sea, like this turquoise geometric-shaped print pillow from etsy.com? Maybe this oyster shellframed mirror by Wisteria will wow you and bring spring into your home (wisteria.com). Or make one of your own — I did!
Spring cleaning Spring cleaning isn’t just for closets—it’s for purses, too. Use this colorful TRUFFLE Clarity Pouch to consolidate your clutter in a chic PVC pouch that keeps everything clean and easy to find. TRUFFLE styles are available in colors inspired by the Spring 2013 brights: Nude, Bold Red and Turquoise. www.onetruffle.com.
Time for color With its clean lines and bold colors, this Rumba Time Delancey watch is just as vibrant, exciting and eclectic as the hip boutiques, restaurants, galleries and classic New York scenes that inspired it. Just in time for spring at non-NY prices, San Antonio style: rumbatime.com. 50 | sawoman.com
FabulousFinds
Painted Pony aPParel & antiques
Come by for unique clothing designed and made in San Antonio and sold at high-end boutiques across the US and Canada. You'll also find an eclectic mix of antiques, fabrics, jewelry and collectibles. Hours: M - Th 10 am - 4:30pm.
5615 san Pedro (210) 377-3335
Peñaloza & sons
Come in and let us create an heirloom for you. Remodeling an older piece of jewelry updates the look while enhancing the sentimental value of generations past. (Also see back cover) For all your jewelry needs ...
2001 n.W. Military Hwy. (210) 340-3536 www.penalozaandsons.com
Vinously sPeakinG Wine sHoP & BloG
THE red wine for spring! This 2009 Quinta do Alqueve “Tradicional” from Tejo, Portugal, is a blend of four traditional red Portuguese varieties: Touriga Nacional, Trincadeira, Tinta Roriz and Castelão. It provides lovely aromas of red fruits, smooth tannins and balanced acidity.
7271 Wurzbach, ste. 117 (210) 793-4078 www.vinouslyspeaking.com
san antonio Man
The perfect gift for your special guy. Give him a one-year subscription to SAN ANTONIO MAN, San Antonio’s newest magazine for men from the publishers of SAN ANTONIO WOMAN.
subscribe now for $15.95/year (210) 826-5375 www.sanantonioman.com
ColleCtor’s Gallery and CHristMas Gallery
Hop on over to Collector's Gallery to see Mr. & Mrs. Cottontail and find out what they left behind. They are only part of the new Mark Roberts Collection for spring. Many other fun Easter goodies available. Come quick before they all hop away! Like us on Facebook.
13500 West avenue (210) 497-2525 www.colgal.com
visit us online at www.shopsa.com
W BEAUTY & FITNESS
Sunny
San Antonio The majority of the time, we are blessed with sunshine and moderate to hot temperatures. As the days grow longer, the sun doesn’t set until 9 or 10 p.m.! So for us Alamo City dwellers, sun damage prevention and treatment is a year-long process. UV rays damage the cells of our skin, causing uneven skin tone, brown spots, wrinkled and sometimes leathery-looking (tanned) skin.
COMBAT Skin Damage IN THE WINTER WE DRY UP, IN THE SUMMER WE BURN BY ANNE MOORE
Prevention: better than any treatment You must wear a sunscreen product, preferably one with an SPF protection rating of 30 or higher to block damaging UV rays. These powerful rays can pene-
“Winter” Skin Rejuvenation
trate long sleeves and pant legs. They can sneak through the windshield
Even though we’re not known for our long, hard, extremely cold winters here in San
and windows of your car as you’re driv-
Antonio, many of us still suffer with dry, itchy, flaky, tight, irritated, dull or rough skin
ing or riding. They’re the cause of accel-
at this time of the year. We do have some cold or windy days causing us to rev up the
erated aging of your skin (as much as 12
heat in our homes, at restaurants, stores, movies, etc. And many of us travel to places
years), a process known as photoaging.
like the Texas Hill Country or the Panhandle, where we are exposed to “real” winter
More distressing than the cosmetic
weather conditions.
damages is the fact that exposure to UV
There are measures we can take to minimize wintry skin problems. Included are
rays increases your risk of developing
using mild cleansers without scrubbing your skin, lowering the time and water tem-
skin cancer, particularly on the face,
perature when showering, using a humidifier, purchasing natural cleaning products and
head, hands, arms, neck and shoulders.
wearing gloves when cleaning.
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W BEAUTY & FITNESS
Goals: Rejuvenation, rehydration and stimulation of healthy new skin growth.
Numerous products and services are available to treat these environmental assaults, ranging from over-the-counter products to prescription products and services from your dermatologist.
Home Treatments Include: Exfoliate, using a serum (better than rougher granules) containing glycolic acid to remove dead skin cells and reveal smoother, brighter skin. Remove brown spots with a bleaching product containing a 2-percent concentration of hydroquinone, like Murad Age Spot and Pigment Gel. Apply a topical antioxidant cream or serum (containing Vitamin C, hydroxy acids like glycolic acid and lactic acid) at bedtime to fight off those pesky wrinkle- and sagging-causing free radicals. Sunscreen. Every day.
Spa skin treatments Massage therapy is considered an anti-aging tool because the manipulation of muscle tissue improves blood circulation, bringing oxygen and nutrients to your face and body, thus helping collagen fibers in your skin retain elasticity. Using products comprising natural
ingredients
like
seaweed,
algae, plants and vitamins helps hydrate and tone.
Treatments at the Dermatology Office Sometimes correction of your sun-damaged skin — dry, sagging, wrinkled, discolored/uneven skin — requires treatments from a medical professional. Dermatologists can: Use a laser to correct sun damage to the skin and encourage collagen production. Apply chemical peels on the face, neck and hands to reduce fine lines and wrinkles, remove age spots and improve skin texture and color. Prescribe topical medications containing vitamins or other ingredients proven effective in reversing sun damage and smoothing the skin. Offer specially formulated makeup bases, sold only at a dermatologist’s office, and said to moisturize, provide SPF 45 protection and reduce fine lines, wrinkles and pores. Use injections to fill our collagen-depleted, wrinkled, damaged skin.
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BEAUTY & FITNESS W
A cautionary tale of fun in the sun Viva Fiesta! It’s that time of year again when we have a week-long city-wide Fiesta celebration. That means more sunshine exposure than we, and probably our guests/visitors, are accustomed to as we try to attend as many of the over 100 events — mostly outdoors — as we can. Following are a few other sunny-weather-in-San Antonio-related beauty and wellness options to consider:
1. Hats. Wear one to protect your skin and hair and to
1
keep cooler.
2. Hair will be susceptible to sun and humidity every day with a few hours of rain sometimes thrown in. But it doesn’t affect our parade(s)! Get your hair off your neck and
2
out of your eyes in a ponytail, a headband or some clips. Hair that has been colored requires some additional protection from the sun and heat to prevent dryness and discoloration.
3 3. Hydrate!
Drink lots of water to fend off thirst and
to hydrate your skin. Remember that alcohol, some medications and certain illnesses can increase your susceptibility to becoming dehydrated.
4. Makeup
4
may require some adjustments. You
might use tinted moisturizer instead of heavier foundation, along with your sunscreen. Waterproof mascara and cream blush will be better choices to avoid the “melted” look.
Continued on page 56
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5 6
7
5. Tanning should come from a tube, bottle, spray can, shower/spritzer, towelette or brush-on bronzer and not from a tanning bed or by frying yourself in the sun.
6. Sunglasses. Wear when outside. Be sure the label states the lenses block 99 percent of the UV rays. Wraparound frame styles or those with wide side pieces afford you even more protection. Don’t buy/use blue lenses because they emit UV rays. Try to avoid toxic, smoky areas.
7. Clothing can now be found made with fabrics which protect you from UV rays. Search online, keying UV protection/clothing.
8. Feet
will more than
likely be more visible when we plop on our “go-aheads” and sandals. Go for that pedicure gusto! Get wild and crazy with colors. But — according to a Dr. Oz TV program guest dermatology expert — step away from manis and pedis using gel polish, because (a) the process requires the use of too many chemicals and too much UV light exposure; (b) the rough way of “peeling off” required to remove the gel polish also peels off a layer of your own nail; (c) small leaks or breaks in your nails could occur, allowing bacteria to enter and produce a fungal or staph infection.
Remember to wear comfy shoes for all the walking, dancing and parade watching you’ll be doing at Fiesta!
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RACE SaturdDAY:
ay, April 6, 201 kome nsana ntonio 3 .org
16th annual race for the Cure
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Thank you, San Antonio, for incredible years!
16
TOP RACE SPONSORS TITLE H-E-B
PRESENTING Clear Channel Media + Entertainment Time Warner Cable Saturday, April 6th, will mark 16 years that Susan G. Komen San Antonio has been serving our community. thanks to donor support and race for the Cure participation, the san antonio affiliate has invested more than $14 million in local breast cancer screening, treatment, education and research. nancy G. Brinker promised her dying sister susan G. komen that she would do everything in her power to end breast cancer forever. in 1982 that promise became susan G. komen for the Cure, and launched the global breast cancer movement. thanks to events like komen race for the Cure and 3-day for the Cure, we have invested nearly $2 billion to fulfill our promise, becoming the largest source of nonprofit funds dedicated to the fight to end breast cancer in the world. established in 1997 by a small group of survivors in honor of a friend that had lost the battle, the san antonio affiliate is proud of our humble beginnings. the first san antonio race had 1,800 participants and raised $50,000. today, the race for the Cure is the largest event of its kind in san antonio with more than 30,000 participants, volunteers and spectators running and walking the downtown streets. annually, this event helps raise more than $1 million for our mission to end breast cancer.
DIAMOND SAN ANTONIO WOMAN Magazine Univision Radio PLATINUM Baptist Breast Center Magi Real Estate Services The RK Group University Health System
Check out additional sponsors at www.komensanantonio.org PARTICIPANT DEMOGRAPHICS Ages 25-34
Ages 35-44
Ages 13-24
Ages 45-54
Ages 0-12
Ages 65+ Ages 55-64
2012 RACE PARTICIPANTS • 80 percent female; 20 percent male • 1,200 breast cancer survivors • 46 percent part of a Race team 2012 TOP RACE TEAMS
Largest Fundraising Team: Cindy’s Pink Ninjas - $25,728 Largest Corporate Team: H-E-B with 336 Team Members
Largest Non-Corporate Team: 96-Minute Miler’s with 207 Team Members
Largest Hospital Team: University Health System with 128 Team Members
Largest School Team: San Antonio Independent School District with 126 Team Members
A Special Supplement to SAN ANTONIO WOMAN
OUR VISION a world without breast cancer! OUR PROMISE to save lives and end breast cancer by empowering people, ensuring quality care for all and energizing science to find the cures. OUR MISSION CONTINUES... WITH OUR COMMUNITY’S SUPPORT
the san antonio affiliate of susan G. komen for the Cure is dedicated to serving the breast health needs of all women, men and families regardless of age, race, gender or socioeconomic status. our top priority is to fund local programs with the best outcomes and community impact. We will continue to do this, as we have for 16 years, by working in collaboration with excellent service providers, demonstrating role model performance that deserves your trust and loyalty. since inception in 1997, the san antonio affiliate has invested more than $14 million in our community. of the money raised by komen san antonio through events like the race for the Cure, 75 percent of net funds stay in Bexar County to support annual grant programs. the remaining 25 percent is sent to komen Headquarters for the komen award and research Grant Program, which funds research on an international level.typically, more than 100 percent of affiliate funds sent to komen Headquarters for research programs return to our community in the form of research grants taking place at the university of texas Health science Center at san antonio.
YOUR MONEY AT WORK IN SAN ANTONIO MONEY RAISED 25 percent Breast Cancer Research 75 percent Screening, Treatment and Education Grants
GRANT DOLLARS AWARDED Screening/Diagnostics 40 percent Treatment 24 percent Research 25 percent Education 11 percent
We all know someone touched by breast cancer… the race for the Cure raises funds and rallies support around our grandmothers, mothers, wives, daughters, sisters, aunts, friends, and even men who have been affected by this disease. With your continued support, activism and participation, komen san antonio looks forward to further developing leadership and service in our mission to end breast cancer. We are working diligently to save lives and build a future where breast cancer is no longer a threat to the quality or length of one’s life. For more information, visit www.komensanantonio.org.
san antonio affiliate of susan G. komen for the Cure P.o. Box 6678, san antonio, texas 78209 • (210) 222-9009 • www.komensanantonio.org
A Special Supplement to SAN ANTONIO WOMAN
AT WORK
DONATIONS AND RACE DOLLARS in 2012, the san antonio affiliate of susan G. komen for the Cure awarded grants totaling $900,000 to local nonprofit programs providing breast cancer services for the medically underserved of our community. additionally, $325,000 was invested in breast cancer research. Funds generated primarily through the komen san antonio race for the Cure supported grants that specifically addressed breast cancer screening, treatment and education.
To learn more about Komen San Antonio and the many ways to get involved in our mission to end breast cancer, visit www.komensanantonio.org.
2012-2013 KOMEN SAN ANTONIO FUNDED PROGRAMS American Cancer Society – Women diagnosed with breast cancer in need of transportation for treatment, screening or diagnostic appointments. CentroMed – education, screening, diagnostic and case management services for prevention and detection of breast cancer for low-income, uninsured women. CommuniCare Health Centers – Provides breast cancer screening and diagnostic treatment for medically underserved women.
“This ACS transportation program funded by Komen is a lifesaver. I don’t have a car so it is a comfort knowing you have a ride to the doctor. I thank God for it.” Gloria, Breast Cancer Patient
Martinez Street Women's Center – Breast cancer education, outreach and support services for low-income, minority women.
“When I found a lump, I was unemployed. A friend told me about CommuniCare’s Komensupported program. I never thought this would happen to me.Without help, my cancer would have likely spread. I thank everyone involved in assisting me.” Janice, Survivor
SLEW (Support Lending for Emotional Well-Being) Wellness Center – emotional and physical support for low-income women who are recovering from and/or undergoing breast cancer treatment. ThriveWell Cancer Foundation – the diVa program helps women with breast cancer incorporate exercise and healthy eating into their lifestyles. University Health System – assists low-income, at-risk women with breast cancer screening and diagnostic services. WINGS (Women Involved in Nurturing, Giving, Sharing) – no-cost patient navigator services and comprehensive treatment for uninsured women diagnosed with breast cancer
“If it wasn’t for Susan G. Komen and their support of SLEW, I’m not sure where I’d be today. Thank you! SLEW is a haven for people who feel like they can be themselves. Bald, short hair, long hair, we got each other’s back. No judgment. We heal together.” Amanda, Survivor
A Special Supplement to SAN ANTONIO WOMAN
How to Save a Life Chris on Co-Surviving Cancer
one cancer diagnosis is enough to make even the strongest people dispirited. imagine watching your spouse endure three diagnoses while building a career and raising a family. Breast cancer patients undergo harsh cancer treatments, radical changes and worries about the future. Co-survivors stand steadily by their side, seeing them through fears and keeping them focused on overcoming. Chris louviere knows this all too well—co-surviving breast cancer with his wife, Julie, on more than one occasion.
the couple met in Corpus Christi and 26 years later are still going strong with three cancer victories. With her larger-thanlife and vibrant personality, it’s easy to see why Chris fell for Julie. even to this day, he says her “spirit, resolve and spunk” still attract him.
in the early years of their lives together, they received unwelcome news: breast cancer. a needle biopsy confirmed it and Chris was blindsided, afraid for her life. as a young lieutenant in the u.s. navy flying a4s in Puerto rico, not to mention raising four-year old daughter ava, he recalls the mental anguish that comes with diagnosis. the perpetual weight of going through cancer with his bride felt overwhelming. eventually, through family support and uplifting words, optimistic thinking balanced the situation. as Julie endured treatment, the family grew stronger, learning the most essential aspects of their worlds: life and love. Chris admits to sounding a bit cliché, but insists that even though life seemed upside down, the end result is a fuller life—one where you take nothing for granted.
Perhaps this initial victory over cancer for tified them for what would come next; the second diagnosis returned as before, moving beyond the breast and into other locations. only this time, things in the louviere home were a little more complicated. Julie was pregnant with her second child. Cancer. Pregnancy.treatment options. Chris and Julie had much to consider and made a decision they describe as “surprisingly easy.”this Valentine’s day, February 14th, alis lou-
viere will turn 15, and ambitiously plans to become a medical professional.
By the time the third cancer notice came, the news was easier to handle. they knew the ropes, understood the process and remained confident that when dr. sharon Wilkes said everything would be ok…everything would be ok. ava and alis were older at this juncture, and Chris remembers them strong, composed and fact-oriented, possibly due to living with the “‘whatif ’ cancer game” over the years.
the louvieres developed a tough fiber, surviving the disease three times and closely bonded as a family. Julie remains a 20-year survivor and is still larger-than-life. Without question, nothing could bring them down, not even invasive breast cancer. Chris and Julie make that known every year at the susan G. komen san antonio race for the Cure with their team, “Julie’s sole sisters and Bros.” over the past 12 years, nieces, nephews, cousins, in-laws, brothers and sisters gather at the alamodome to celebrate Julie’s survival and ownership of cancer.to some, komen elicits race images and glimpses of pink. to Chris, it signifies vision and support to those affected by breast cancer when they need it the most. an organization with a visible power of mission and sisterhood.
Straight Talk: Chris’ Advice for Co-Survivors
• Love them. No matter what. • Listen to them. • Don’t pretend to know what they’re going through. Get them in touch with a breast cancer survivor who does. • Keep your eyes and theirs on the silver linings. Stay positive. • Keep busy. Encourage them to give of themselves in a meaningful way, perhaps through Komen. Julie is happy when she’s busy and giving to others. It takes them out of their immediate concerns.
A Special Supplement to SAN ANTONIO WOMAN
How to Save a Life Amber’s Story
amber Gillespie, a san antonio native, remembers the day she was diagnosed with breast cancer. “the Monday before was a rainy day, i'll never forget. My doctor said it might be a good idea for me to bring my sister along. i knew it was bad news. that next day, January 10, 2012, will forever be a day that changed my life in so many ways.”
at the age of 26, she was a graduate of texas a&M university, had landed a full-time job in Houston and was well on her way to becoming a successful professional. after a mammogram and ultrasound, Gillespie’s doctor delivered the news that women of any age, especially those in their mid-20s, are often not ready to hear. “i knew i wasn't going to die,” Gillespie said. “i knew i was going to kick breast cancer's ass.telling people about it and being completely open about my experience really helped me a lot. i’ll be honest, there were times when ‘i have cancer’ was hard to swallow,” she said. “depression did set in after a few months of chemo. loneliness and self-pity got me, but thankfully they were short-lived.”
she was introduced to susan G. komen for the Cure, where she became actively involved in supporting their cause to raise money for breast cancer research. she championed the goals of early detection, hoping to spread the word that breast cancer can affect women of all ages. “i want other young women to know that breast cancer affects women of all ages and self-breast exams are so important,” Gillespie said.
Her oncologist set her up with another young woman to be her "cancer coach" this past summer, and she will continue to mentor new, young patients. Gillespie has had the privilege of speaking to groups of college students, and she is active in Bright Pink.
“i am an advocate for women now,” she said. “i want to share my story and information with as many women as possible.”
on october 29, 2012, Gillespie returned to the same doctor to receive the news that she was cancer-free. she will spend the 2013 race for the Cure walking alongside her peers who gave the support to fight it.
“i kicked its butt by the grace of God, a loving family, amazingly supportive friends and co-workers and a positive attitude,” she said. “now, i just want to live my life to the fullest each day and use my story to help others. Breast cancer sucks, but i have met so many incredible people since my diagnosis, including survivors, media, and just people who care who have made all the difference.”
Jennifer and Amy’s Story
Jennifer Franz held her sister amber’s hand while the doctor delivered the news to 26-year old amber that the results from the mammogram and ultrasound showed amber had breast cancer. Jennifer called their mother, amy Gillespie, who sprang into action. “When [Jennifer] called me after they saw the doctor, i stopped everything and found the oncologist in my clinic for any information i could get, made plans to be with them next day for her appointment and biopsy,” said amy. as co-survivors, the two took on as much of amber’s burden as possible: taking her to doctors’ appointments, chemotherapy and emotionally supporting her through the complex and overwhelming disease as much as they could while coping with the gravity of the diagnosis themselves.
“i kind of just took everything step by step,” said Jennifer. “dealing with each day and each bit of new information as it came. i don’t know that i could have handled it any other way.”
although their struggle was nothing like amber’s, Jennifer and amy assumed the difficult task of being amber’s “brave ones” while she battled the disease that claims the lives of 39,000 american women each year.
Co-survivors often feel they need to be everything for their loved one, but Jennifer and amy conceded that it is important to not be everywhere, but to be there where they need you.
“My sister turned to different people in different ways,” said Jennifer. “there’s no need to be everything to your friend, sister, wife or mother, just be what they need you to be.”
amber said it was the support from her family and friends that gave her the strength to beat the disease. after completing four months of chemotherapy, amber, Jennifer and amy walked the susan G. komen race for the Cure as a family in May 2012.
“it is always inspiring to see that many people coming out to support the cause,” said Jennifer. “i remember being astounded by the survivors.their strength was just so awe-inspiring. i never suspected that i would be walking alongside one so near and dear to me one day. My advice to anyone who is trying to support a friend or relative with cancer is very simple, and the most difficult thing, all at once: Just be there.”
A Special Supplement to SAN ANTONIO WOMAN
Strength Instilled: The story of Isis Romero and her mother’s fight against breast cancer
twelve year-old girls look up to their mothers for fashion advice, makeup tips and all the questions and guidance that come along with becoming a woman.the young isis romero looked up to her mother’s determination and strength when faced with adversity.
although the prognosis of stage 4 breast cancer did not sound good, romero’s mother pulled through, continuing to work as a teacher, volunteer and support her family.
“even at the time when she was so sick that she could barely function, she was a woman of grace, intelligence and compassion,” said romero.
romero supported her mother by continuing to be the best daughter possible.
“i think all parents want the best for their children,” said romero. “so for me to do well in school, reach my goals and make strides toward a successful future meant i was ensuring my mother’s wish for me would come true.”
at the age of 54, after a mastectomy, radiation and numerous rounds of chemotherapy, romero’s mother lost her 16year battle with cancer. romero flew to her mother’s bedside before she passed. “i will never forget the last day i ever saw her alive,” she said. “she was in the hospital. We had an emotional private chat between the two of us. in the back of my mind, i knew this would be my last opportunity to tell her everything i
ever wanted to say to her. i am so grateful i got that time. Her nickname for me was, ‘baby doll,’ and when i got up to leave, she smiled at me, and said sweetly, ‘i love you, baby doll.’ that memory will be with me forever.”
romero kept focused on the determination and goals her mother instilled in her. now an anchorwoman in charge of the nightly 10 p.m. newscast for aBC affiliate ksat-12, isis attributes the person she is today to her mother’s strength.
“My mother’s fight against cancer has inspired me to be more like the woman she was – full of strength, love and kindness,” romero said.
every year for her mother’s birthday, romero has committed to do something in her honor.
“Whether it’s to demonstrate more patience, do something kind for a stranger or provide help to someone who needs it, i made a commitment that day to see it through,” said romero. “My mother was just that kind of woman, and i’m inspired to be a better person because of her. “
A Special Supplement to SAN ANTONIO WOMAN
Breast
Self-Awareness 1.Know your risk
• Talk to your family to learn about your family’s health history
• Talk to your doctor about your personal risk of breast cancer
2. Get screened
• Ask your doctor which screening tests are right for you and if you are at a higher risk
• Have a mammogram every year starting at age 40, if you are at average risk • Have a clinical breast exam at least every 3 years starting at 20, and every year starting at 40
3.Know what is normal for you
See your health care provider right away if you notice any of these breast changes: • Lump, hard knot or thickening
• Swelling, warmth, redness or darkening
• Change in the size or shape of the breast • Dimpling or puckering of the skin
• Itchy, scaly sore or rash on the nipple
• Pulling in of nipple or other parts
• Nipple discharge that starts suddenly
• New pain in one spot that does not go away
4.Make healthy lifestyle choices • Maintain a healthy weight
• Add exercise into your routine • Limit alcohol intake
For more information, visit www.komen.org or www.komensanantonio.org
Call 1-877 GO KOMEN
Register Today! Join us on Saturday, April 6, 2013, for the 16th Annual Susan G. Komen San Antonio Race for the Cure® Help us fulfill our promise to save lives and end breast cancer forever by empowering people, ensuring quality care for all and energizing science to find the cures!
Help us go Green.
Visit www.komensanantonio.org to sign up online today. thank you to our local title sponsor:
(1-877-465-6636) or 210-222-9009
A Special Supplement to SAN ANTONIO WOMAN
DOLLARS & SENSE W
Thinking of a Home-Based Business? How to avoid the pitfalls
By MARY ANNE COLE
N
ow that the recent recession is finally easing, many of us are rethinking how we handle money. We’re paying off debt (and swearing never to go there again), building a legitimate six-month emergency
fund and diversifying our investments. If (when) another deep recession hits, we say, this time we’re going to be ready. We’re also recognizing that maybe there’s no such thing as job security any more. Those of us who lost jobs during the recession were hit hard. If you’re re-employed, still unemployed, or even if you never lost your job, you may be thinking about how to “recession-proof” your income. A tactic some people use is to have more than one source of income so not all their beer is in one kayak, so to speak. A second, part-time job is an option, but many people prefer the idea of a job they could do from home and the potential that it could take off and get them out of that cubicle forever. If you’re thinking along those lines, good for you, but be careful: You can be successful if you work hard and work smart, but you can just as easily end up a sucker.
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
SCAMS & SCHEMES Almost every online or telephone-pole
posting
you see that offers you a chance to “make $1000s at home!” is a scam. What they want is your credit card information so they can charge you monthly fees or sell you something you must have before you can start the business, which doesn’t really offer you much chance to make money after you’ve invested. If you’re asked to buy supplies, client lists, training materials, products, starter kits or certifications, walk away. If you’re asked to do more than a tiny amount of work to prove your qualifications for free before you can start being paid, walk away. If you’re asked for your credit card information for any reason at all, walk away. After all, when have you ever been hired for a legitimate job that asked you for your credit card? Many seemingly legitimate product-sales “opportunities” come awfully close to being pyramid schemes. These companies let you sell their products directly, but they also encourage you to recruit others to work under you, and you get a percentage of everything they sell and a percentage of everything everyone they recruit sells. When people make more money recruiting others to sell than they do selling the products, those who got in at the top early make all the money. And if you’re only just now getting into it, you’re not at the top. Before signing up to sell one of these products — and certainly before you invest big bucks in products — decide whether you’re really ready to have your family and all your friends start avoiding you and your pitch. When was the last time you took a legitimate job that offered you a permanent percentage of the salary of anyone you recruited to join the company? The Federal Trade Commission has investigated more than 500 of these scams and schemes, and more are invented every day. If you think something you see advertised online or in the newspaper looks too good to be true, it is. Try Googling the company’s name followed by “complaint” or “scam” and see what others have to say about it. Except for a few positive comments the company itself has placed, you’re likely to see a lot of sad stories of hopes dashed, money lost and time wasted. If you fall for one of these schemes, you may be looking for an easy way to make money: You turn on your computer and the work — and the money — rolls in. But if you really want to make money with a home-based business, there’s no shortcut. You’re going to have to build your business — large or small — from the ground up.
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Here are some basic pointers to keep in mind as you contemplate a home-based business: DO WHAT YOU’RE GOOD AT The first step is to find something that a) you like to do, b) you’re good at, and c) other people don’t like to do and aren’t good at. Love kids? Try tutoring. A whiz at home decorating or fung shui? Some people make money buying and selling on eBay. There are as many possible fields as there are people. Ask around — what do people wish they had someone else to do for them? Grocery shopping? Party planning? DO YOUR HOMEWORK There are lots of resources available to help you learn what you need to know and give you ideas. Start with some of the on-line tutorials offered on the Small Business Association website (sba.gov). They can walk you through everything from creating a business plan to getting business licenses and permits to filing taxes to marketing your business. (see box below). WATCH YOUR WALLET Don’t rush out and spend gobs of money on home office supplies or new equipment or supplies before you’ve landed a single job. Start small until you learn what you’re really going to need to make it work, and don’t go into the red buying stuff that makes you feel like you’ve accomplished something when you really haven’t. DON’T SHORTCHANGE YOUR DAY JOB If you have a full-time job and are starting a home-based business to diversify your income, don’t shortchange your full-time job. You’ll have to work hard at both to be successful at both. Some employers don’t like “moonlighting” at all because they believe it saps employees’ energy, while others appreciate the initiative. In any case, don’t choose a home-based business that competes with your other job, or your employer may think you’re trying to steal customers. BE PROFESSIONAL If you’re going to do it, don’t dabble: Commit. Just because it’s a home-based business doesn’t mean you can meet clients in your sweatpants or work only when you feel like it. Use all of the professional skills you’ve learned in other jobs: Work hard, keep regular work hours, be on time, dress well, be reliable, be pleasant, do a great job. A successful home-based business can give you a sense of security that you have a second income stream and a sense of accomplishment that you’ve built something on your own with your own skills, hard work and commitment. It may grow in directions you never expected when you started it, and if you’re lucky and good at what you do, it may even turn into something you can do full time.
Mentoring, counseling, coaching and advice are readily available for people who are starting up a business:
76 | sawoman.com
San Antonio Small Business Association District Office 615 E. Houston, Suite 298 (210) 403-5900
UTSA Small Business Development Center 501 West Cesar E. Chavez Blvd. (210) 458-2020
San Antonio SCORE 17319 San Pedro, Building 2, Suite 200 (210) 403-5931
ACCION Texas, Inc./South Texas Women’s Business Center 2014 S. Hackberry (210) 226-3664
BUSINESS WOMAN SPOTLIGHT W
march/april 2013 |
77
W BUSINESS WOMAN SPOTLIGHT
Debi Lamb-Burrows Penguin Suits, Inc. Head Storyteller/ President
What do you do? We tell our clients’ stories through marketing to help them effectively reach their target audiences and grow their businesses.
Currently I admire some of my clients, Susan Nash and Nancy Victor. With style and grace these ladies work to achieve their dreams. They are go-getters.
What is it that you like best about your job? Learning about my clients and developing creative marketing stories that highlight their businesses and allow them to grow bigger, better and stronger. I still get this same great feeling every time I create a logo, a website or a marketing campaign that effectively tells my client’s story.
What do you like to do in your spare time? I love to sing in my church choir, to create jewelry, to Zumba and to hang with my lovely husband, Tom, and my three kids — Drew, Cecilie and Aaron.
Education/Major: B.A. in communications with concentration in marketing, advertising and public relations. What career path led you to where you are today? At 9 years old, I wrote my first press release. I did not know it was a press release, but I took my loose-leaf paper and Polaroid picture to the newspaper, and they surprisingly printed it. The story became about the little girl who brought them this story, and voila, my dad's restaurant was packed on Friday night: I pleased my dad, it was like winning a prize. The exhilarating feeling hooked me for life. After that, my dad would ask my opinion on his ideas, and I just kept thinking about new promotions we could do. It made me feel 10 feet tall. When did you know that you were in the right place in your career? When I opened my office 10 years ago, my lights did not work right, all my desks were not set up, and my phone was not connected yet. But I had my desk and my computer working. So I sat down quietly in my little inner office and said, "God, I need a sign. I think I listened, I think I am in the right place, but a sign would help." Within the hour He sent me my first client. I built my first website and had my first month's rent paid the hour I opened. I figured that was a good sign. Who were your mentors? I came from humble beginnings. My family all worked together in small family businesses. My dad was the head. He worked tirelessly to help everyone and tried to never let anyone down. He tried to never give the “no” answer but instead to lead in a better alternative way and give better options. He was loved for who he was and what he did. Even though he is no longer with us, I draw on his energy, and I work every day to make him and my family proud of me. What person do you most admire? Growing up, I always admired Erma Bombeck and Lucille Ball. They were ladies with quirky senses of humor who looked at the world a little bit differently. Photography Casey Howell
78 | sawoman.com
Who has been the biggest influence in your life personally and professionally? My family is my biggest influence. Coming from a large Italian family, you would think one could get lost in the shuffle. But not me. I learned how to stand out and be remembered. I learned to think big and dream bigger by listening to their stories of achievements and failures. You are only limited by the size of your dream, and dreams are boundless. What community or not-for-profit groups are you involved with as a volunteer?I am on the board at NAWBO SA, as chair of the Entrepreneurial Spirit Awards committee. I am a graduate and protege in the City of San Antonio Small Business Boot Camp, which is part of the SA Small Business Empowerment Initiative. I serve on the boards of the Boerne Community Theatre and the Moonlight Fund, a nonprofit organization to assist burn survivors. I am a baseball coach with my daughter. How do you find balance in your life? I am very lucky. When I opened my business 10 years ago, I located my office right in the center of Boerne near my kids’ activities and schools. This gave me the ability to work alongside and grow with them. We share similar loves of music and theater. I try to remember that work is what I do so that I can enjoy life with my family. They are the joys of my life. What are your goals? To make a difference and be the agent of happy change. To show women that you CAN be who you are, pursue your dreams, and make an impact in business. And to have my family be proud of my accomplishments. What is the best advice that you have ever received? Never limit yourself, and never let anyone else tell you that you can't do something! People would be surprised to know that I ... have had my own television show — Discover the Hill Country — and as part of that I have ridden a camel and a water buffalo, been tackled by a football team and passed the riders edge class, giving me my motorcycle license.
Women in Business Directory
SA Woman Connect
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SA Woman Connect.com
Women in Business Directory
Advertising and Marketing Penguin Suits
Home Improvement CertaPro Painters
Debi Lamb-Burrows 100 West Hosack Street, Suite 102 Boerne, TX 78006 Phone: (830) 816-8238 Email: Debi@penguinsuits.com Website: www.penguinsuits.com
Amie Reynolds 8235 Agora Parkway, Suite 111, Box 993 Selma, TX 78154 Phone: (210) 490-0460 Email: nicolareynolds@certapro.com Website: http://ne-san-antonio.certapro.com
Penguin Suits uniquely brands your business by creating the essentials for your marketing sucess: websites with a call to action, distinctive logos, unforgettable business cards and brochures specifically designed to tell your story. A certified woman-owned business, we are a graduate of and marketing instructor for the BE San Antonio program. We love to tell stories, let us tell yours.
CertaPro Painters specializes in professional residential and commercial painting services. Their painting process will provide the best possible painting experience for your home or business.
Photography Langmore Photography
Estate Sales Professional Estate Sales, LLC. Peggy Calhoun 900 N.E. Loop 410, Suite E-102 San Antonio, Texas 78209 Phone: (210) 826-SOLD (7653) Email: sales@professionalestatesales.com Website: www.professionalestatesales.com Professional Estate Sales is the company that the professionals use for estate liquidations, downsizing and appraisals. Banks, trust departments, real estate companies, attorneys and CPAs are among our satisfied clients. We belong to the Better Business Bureau, the International Society of Appraisers and the American Society of Estate Liquidators.
Professional Estate Sales, LLC. Joy Curnutt 900 N.E. Loop 410, Suite E-102 San Antonio, Texas 78209 Phone: (210) 826-SOLD (7653) Email: sales@professionalestatesales.com Website: www.professionalestatesales.com Professional Estate Sales ensures that clients receive the maximum profit when liquidating an estate or downsizing by providing the best estate sales in San Antonio. Our expert staff, knowledgeable in art, antiques and collectibles, can achieve optimum results. Our company is licensed, bonded and insured.
Marie Langmore – Co-Owner 5800 Broadway #203 San Antonio, TX 78209 Phone: (210) 826-6300 Website: www.langomore.com For the last 25 years, Langmore Photography has committed itself to matching state of the art technology with classic technique to produce outstanding archival and museum quality prints. Today, siblings Will and Marie Langmore continue to enhance the Langmore legacy creating timeless portraits of children and families.
Real Estate Kuper Sotheby's International Realty Jakey Weilbacher, GREEN — Realtor® 6606 N. New Braunfels San Antonio, TX 78209 Phone: (210) 394-2210 Email: jakey.weilbacher@sothebysrealty.com Website: kuperrealty.com Jakey is a lifelong resident of San Antonio and blends an active lifestyle and love for San Antonio with dedication for Buyers and Sellers. She is relocation certified with experience selling the exciting destinations of San Antonio, the Hill Country and resort properties on the Texas coast. She is also a member of the National Trust of Historic Preservation/Real Estate program.
First Responder/Staffing U.S. Safety Services Cristina Morales Heaney 5525 Blanco Road, Suite 124 San Antonio, Texas 78216 Phone: (210) 687-1604 Email: cmheaney@ussafetyservices.com Website: www.ussafetyservices.com A Certified First Responder Organization with the Texas Department of State Health Services, U.S. Safety Services consists of a well-organized structure of dedicated personnel and experienced Emergency Medical Technicians that provide Onsite First Responder, Emergency Services, and event staffing. We are a proven “outsourcing” solution that is customized and cost-effective. 80 | sawoman.com
Get connected! List your business in the next issue of San Antonio Woman and online at www.SAWomanConnect.com For more information call (210) 826-5375 or email info@sawomanconnect.com
he nt r epreneurs E T
WOMEN IN BUSINESS W
Five self-made women who turned their dreams into successful careers
BY JANIS TURK
PHOTOGRAPHY BY RIC JOHNSON
It is a great undertaking, all right — starting your own business, taking it from dream to inception, and it requires a special kind of person to be a true entrepreneur. We spoke to several successful San Antonio entrepreneurs and asked them to share bits of wisdom that they‘ve picked up along the way. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Kathleen Sommers, Owner/designer Kathleen Sommers Retail Store and Kathleen Sommers Designs (wholesale) 33 years in business
Tell us about your store—and your business in general. My Kathleen Sommers retail store sells an eclectic mix of clothing, jewelry, accessories, bath/body products and gifts. I also own and operate a manufacturing facility that creates and manufactures the Kathleen Sommers wholesale line sold nationwide. How did you get started in this career? I started making bikinis, caftans and evening wear in Acapulco, in the early ‘70s. Later, I returned to the United States and started making a line of skirts and dresses that was carried in stores in New Mexico. I moved to San Antonio in 1977. In
in San Antonio, not to mention
the afternoons I handle mer-
pair of white pants in the summer.
1979 I opened a retail store, pio-
our South Texas weather.
chandising, making the “buys”
By June the big stores are already
and attending to the customers.
neering here on Main Street, and also expanded my line of sportswear to sell nationwide. Why do you feel your company has enjoyed such tremen-
into deep markdowns. It is hard to compete, so it is better to find
How can other women learn from what you’ve done so far?
What is one bit of advice you
and buy unique items. In the
Be true to yourself. I don’t try to
got or you’d give another woman
wholesale business, it is hard to
figure
who wants to start her own busi-
compete with the stream of
out
the
customer.
I
buy/design what I like.
dous success? Over the years I learned to be true to myself,
What does a typical day
which directed my buying as well
look like in your world? It is
as my designing. I look for prod-
quite changeable. I do try to
ucts that are unique — things that
spend the mornings at the
make me smile. The Kathleen Sommers line is easy to wear and fits our relaxed environment here
ness? Get your experience and
goods made off-shore. The Kath-
make your mistakes on someone
leen Sommers line is made here
else’s dime, and start out with an
in San Antonio.
accountant on day one. Who or what inspires you What has been your biggest
most? Seeing young people who
wholesale company while at-
challenge in this career? The Big
dare to be different and who are
tending to design and produc-
Box stores dictate prices and
willing to risk ridicule to do what
tion of the products, and then in
markdowns. It is hard to find a
pleases them the most.
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W WOMEN IN BUISNESS
Laura Nicosia, Franchise owner Why do you think that your product is so
ShelfGenie of San Antonio 3.5 years in business
popular? It meets the needs of customers
ness travel for regional and franchise advisory council meetings.
who are frustrated with inaccessible and poorly organized cabinets. They often have
What is one bit of advice you got or
physical challenges that keep them from
you’d give another woman who wants to
Tell us about your business. ShelfGenie
reaching the items they need daily. A Shelf-
start her own business? Balance is important.
designs, builds and installs custom glide-out
Genie solution allows them to function better
A business consumes a lot of your time (more
shelving for existing cabinets in kitchens, util-
and stay in their homes longer. The quality of
than you think), and when you are the owner,
ity rooms and bathrooms. Our designers
our product is outstanding. We use top-of-
you often bring it home with you. Schedule
work with each customer to create a plan
the-line materials and are able to offer a life-
your time so important areas are not short-
that gives them more space, easier access
time warranty on products and installation. I
changed. Family, friends, and downtime are
and better organization — a truly permanent
have yet to meet someone who doesn’t want
important too.
solution for the customer’s storage needs.
“Glide-Outs.” What has been your biggest challenge
How did you get started in this career? I suppose I’ve had more than one career.
I
How can other women learn from what
in this career? Launching the business, start-
you’ve done so far? Find something you are
ing from scratch and learning by experience.
started working in the banking industry after
passionate about!
graduating from college, stayed home for a
found a business for which I have a passion. I
What do you do off the clock, just for fun?
number of years after my two daughters were
find it fulfilling to work with a customer to pro-
I love to cook, which is handy since I spend
born and was busy at that time doing volun-
vide a solution that makes his or her life easier.
I am fortunate to have
teer work and raising my girls. When they grew
much of my time in customer kitchens and know how to organize them.
older, I re-entered the workforce at our family-
What does a typical day look like in your
owned staffing firm. We sold the business in
world? “Typical” does not describe many of
What’s your one weakness or guilty pleas-
2008 and began looking for other opportuni-
my workdays. I like the variety and flexibility
ure? Anything involving Texas A&M. I love
ties. My husband, Rick, and I discovered Shelf-
of my work. Some days are spent with cus-
watching the Aggies play football. This has
Genie with the help of a franchise broker. We
tomers, while others are spent training de-
been a good year for us.
were impressed by the product, the business
signers or networking with other business
plan and the people. We purchased the San
owners. The routine duties associated with
If you had it to do over again, what would
Antonio territory in July 2009.
running a business take time, as does busi-
you do differently? I wouldn’t change a thing.
82 | sawoman.com
WOMEN IN BUSINESS W
Carol Bly, Owner and founder Purity Botanicals Organic Beauty Bar and Spa 7 years in business
How did you get started? As a teen and through my 30s I suffered from a very severe and disfiguring case of cystic acne that multiple doctors could not help. I was on every form of medication and had tried everything but still found no relief. At 35 I decided to take matters into my own hands. I studied under an herbalist and shaman for three years while creating my own makeup and skin care in order to calm my skin issues. To my amazement it worked completely, and I am now acne-free and am sharing my knowledge with San Antonio. Why do you think that your product is such a success? It works wonders and helps all skin types return to a healthy state. We have dozens of success stories from people with many different skin afflictions, including acne, eczema, seborrheic dermatitis, rosacea and many others. What does a typical day look like in your world?
I am always developing and re-
searching products, and that takes up a good part of my day. During business hours I help my aestheticians identify and treat clients with their skin issues, and then there’s always paperwork and such. What is one bit of advice you got or you’d give another woman who wants to start her own business? Don’t be afraid to go for it. If you feel you have a great idea, run with it. What has been your biggest challenge in this career? Marketing — getting the word out. What has been your biggest joy? Seeing clients who have suffered with issues all their lives end up with healthy, beautiful skin. If you had it to do over again, what would you do differently? Listen more carefully to my instincts. What does entrepreneur mean to you? It means chasing your dreams and finally catching them. Where do you see yourself in the next five years? I would like to see our products in spas and stores all over the country so that we can help more people. Then I would like to see myself on a beach somewhere in Bora Bora!
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W WOMEN IN BUSINESS
Mallory Moorman and Kourtney Kanaly, Owners, managing partners Smart Barre San Antonio 1 year in business
How can other women learn from what
make to your business, because if a day feels
you’ve done so far — any pearls of wisdom
very long already and then you get thrown a
to impart? MM: Kourtney and I are fairly
curveball, it will just take so much more out of
young entrepreneurs — 25 and 27 years old
you. Keep a positive attitude, and surround
— so women can definitely learn that you
yourself with supportive people. KK: Always
Describe your business. We own and op-
don’t have to be a certain age to be ready to
know your exit strategy first. It’s important to
erate Smart Barre San Antonio, a “barre” fit-
have your own business as long as you are
understand the entire life cycle of your busi-
ness studio for women.
thoughtful in your approach, remain organ-
ness before you start.
ized and are always ready to give wholeHow did you get started in this career?
heartedly to your business. KK: Don’t let
What has been your biggest joy? MM: Cre-
MM: Kourtney was one of the first clients of
uncertainties or associated risk discourage
ating a business that makes other people
the original Smart Barre in Fort Worth and
you. Rather, let them motivate you to dig
happy. They are happy to be in the studio and
spent a year developing a relationship with the
deeper and ask all the questions.
happy with the results and their bodies. Their energy rubs off on us every day, and we con-
founder, Allison Poston, just through taking
sider ourselves very fortunate for that.
classes. Upon moving from Fort Worth, Allison
What does a typical day look like for you
and Kourtney joked about opening a second
two? MM: My alarm clock goes off at 4:45 a.m.,
KK: Watching our clients’ bodies change in
location, and realized it was a very real possi-
we open up the studio at 5:30 a.m., and classes
ways they never before could achieve. There’s
bility. KK: San Antonio seemed like the best
start at 6 a.m. From 6 a.m. until noon we keep
nothing better than hearing about their happi-
place to open, and that’s where Mallory came
busy with clients, various administrative tasks,
ness, whether it’s through Facebook posts, a
in. A native of San Antonio and one of the
phone calls, accounting, sourcing new instruc-
husband’s comments or just straight client
owners of 5 Broads Off Broadway, a furniture
tors, marketing, tidying and lots of vacuuming,
feedback telling us that Smart Barre has truly
store in Alamo Heights, she knew the commu-
etc. By noon it feels like we‘ve had a full day.
changed someone’s life.
nity and already had experience as a small
Then we enjoy a healthful lunch and we take
business owner.
showers. Currently we are trying to grow
Why San Antonio? MM: I’m from San Anto-
Smart Barre, so often enough our afternoons
nio, so the thought of bringing a new business
Why do you think that your company is
are filled with meetings with our silent but very
concept back to the city I grew up in was very
such a success? MM: Good news travels fast.
helpful partners, Johnny Moorman (husband)
appealing to me. I am also one of the owners,
Our focus from inception of Smart Barre San
and Taylor Little (fiancé), as well as on confer-
with my sister-in-law, Amelita Mauze, in the fur-
Antonio was to bring this method that we felt
ence calls with the founder of Smart Barre.
niture store 5 Broads Off Broadway, so San An-
compelled to share with a community that
Classes start back up in the afternoon and go
tonio has proven to be a fun place to have a
didn’t have access to anything like it. We have
until about 8 p.m. We are lucky to have each
business. I hope this is just the beginning for me
a beautiful spa-like space, and the results you
other and a dependable group of instructors
and for other young entrepreneurs who have
achieve from taking Smart Barre are amazing.
to divvy up the schedule a bit.
great ideas for ways to continue to improve the already great city of San Antonio. KK: This form
KK: Smart Barre is unique. It’s a women-only club that provides a product with real, desir-
What is one bit of advice you got or
of exercise has spread like wildfire across the
able and attainable results, all while develop-
you’d give another woman who wants to
nation, and it was time that the women of San
ing an environment where women look
start her own business? MM: Don’t underes-
Antonio got to participate in something about
forward to retreating.
timate the commitment that you need to
which everyone else has been raving.
84 | sawoman.com
HEALTH MATTERS W
THE EYES HAVE IT Take care of your vision BY KELLY A. GOFF
I
’ve always thought it funny how various body parts get paramount protection depending on what type of physician is in the house. For instance, one of our friends is a neurologist. Helmets
are a BIG deal at his house. Another family we hang with is covered head to toe with long sleeves and zinc oxide when outdoors. Yup —
mom is a dermatologist. My husband is an eye surgeon, so at our house we’re constantly on alert for potential eye trauma: “Don’t throw wooden blocks at your brother’s head — you’ll hurt his eyes!” “Roll up your window while we’re driving by a lawn mower — you never know when a microscopic piece of metal will pierce your eye!” “Don’t put rubber bands around your head and snap them. You’ll scratch your cornea!” Yes, it’s a veritable geek fest at our house, but at least we can all see. Preventing traumatic eye injury is a no-brainer, but what about preserving vision throughout a lifetime? It’s easy to take our eyes for granted since they tend to function without much upkeep, unlike teeth, where biannual visits are drummed into us from a young age. However, general screening of eye health and early detection of disease are just as important as immunizations and regular physical exams. The following is a general overview of the types of eye screening and tests recommended for each life stage.
EYE SCREENING AGES/STAGES
Proactive health care means detecting changes or problems early. Include these recommendations in your “must-do” care list.
Ages 3-19 Before 3
Your child’s physician will continue to screen your child’s
Make sure your child’s
eyes during regular check-ups every one to two years, and
eyes are screened during
your child may already be seeing an ophthalmologist for
regular checkups with the
continuing vision correction or treatment of a disease or
pediatrician.
condition. Be sure to alert your doctor if you notice sudden
Consult
an
ophthalmologist (eye M.D.) if
redness or swelling, unequal pupils or a drooping eyelid.
your child’s eyes appear crossed, if Childhood: A particularly hazardous time for eye injuries you notice a “lazy” eye or if the upper eyelid droops. Most children have healthy eyes and normal vision, but a few babies are born with serious disorders or diseases.
For children and teenagers participating in sports, make sure your children use appropriate protective eyewear. Baseball is the No. 1 cause of sports-related injuries in the 5- to
Your pediatrician will thoroughly examine
14-year-old age group. For a complete list of recommended eye protection for a variety
your baby at well-baby checkups, but if you no-
of sports, visit the National Institute of Health website www.nei.nih.gov/sports/finding-
tice any of the following, you should bring your
protection.asp.
child to the doctor soon:
Additional cautions for children and teens:
• White pupil • No “red eye” in photos taken with a flash • Lump swelling or drooping of lid
• Be sure to supervise your young children handling potentially dangerous items, including pencils, scissors, forks and knives. • Keep all chemicals and sprays, such as cleaning fluids, secured and out of reach
• Large cornea of young children. • Tearing, discharge or redness • “Dancing eyes” – eye(s) jiggles or rotates • Eye turns inward or outward • Head tilted to one shoulder, forward (chin down) or to one side • Pupil defect (part of the iris is missing) • Unequal pupils
• Be aware many common household items (paper clips, coat hangers, fish hooks, rubber bands, etc.) can cause serious eye injury. • Avoid or impose extra rules and supervision on projectile toys, such as darts, bows and arrows, rocket launchers, etc. • Never allow your children to play with non-powder rifles, pellet guns or BB guns. They are extremely dangerous and have been reclassified as firearms and removed from toy departments.
march/april 2013 |
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W HEALTH MATTERS Ages 20-39 Most young adults have healthy eyes. Nevertheless, occasional eye exams are still needed to be sure to catch any problems and to make sure any refractive errors are appropriately corrected. Have a complete eye exam with an ophthalmologist at least one time between ages 20 and 29 and at least two times
Generations of Optical Service
Dietz-McLean Optical’s roots
go back to 1938. The company
started
in
the
Medical
Arts
Building, now the Emily Morgan
Hotel. Through its 75 year history
Dietz-McLean Optical has served
many generations of San Antonians and their families.
Today the company is owned
by the McLean Family, Jim and
Laurie and their two sons Drake
and Cliff. Three generations of the
McLean family have operated the
company, all having the same
goal; providing excellent products
and excellent service.
Dietz-McLean has seen many
changes in eyewear during their rich
history. While frame styles change and circle back as seen with todays
retro designs, it is the lenses that
have evolved the most. From an era
where all lenses were made from glass and all bifocals had lines, to
today where lightweight plastics
comprise most of lens market, and
with each lens custom designed to meet the wearer’s needs.
Through all of the changes,
Dietz-McLean has remained steadfast in their dedication to their cus-
tomers. Come in and let the McLean
family, treat you like family.
Promotion
86 | sawoman.com
in your 30s. See an ophthalmologist if you experience any of the following symptoms:
Choose sunglasses with 100-percent UV protection UV radiation from the sun can dam-
• Changes in your vision
age not only the skin of your eyelid but
• Eye pain
also the cornea, lens and other parts of
• Flashes of light
the eye.
• Seeing spots or ghost-like images
Choose sunglasses that block 99 to
• Lines appear distorted or wavy
100 percent of both UVA and UVB rays.
• Dry eyes with itching and burning
Skip sunglasses labeled “cosmetic” and
Most importantly, take care of your vi-
those without UV protection details on
sion by protecting your eyes from the sun
the label. Opt for larger lenses rather
and from injury at work, home or in sports
than smaller lenses — or, better yet, the
activities.
wraparound variety.
Ages 40-64
isn't the only consideration when it comes
It’s important to know UV protection Somewhere around age 40, many people start to find that their arms aren’t long
to selecting sunglasses. Here's the lowdown on other options:
enough to hold a book far enough from their
BLUE-BLOCKING LENSES — which are
eyes to focus. This inability to focus on close
generally tinted amber — can make distant
objects is a most common — and cor-
objects easier to see, especially in low light.
rectable — condition that marks the begin-
Blue-blocking plastic lenses may make it
ning of a new phase in your eye-health cycle.
difficult to discriminate the hues in traffic
The American Academy of Ophthalmol-
lights, however, and not all blue-blocking
ogy recommends all adults have a baseline
lenses offer adequate UV protection.
eye-disease screening at age 40. This means
POLARIZED LENSES reduce glare.
having a complete eye examination by an
Unless they’re specifically treated with
ophthalmologist, even if you have no symp-
UV coating, polarized lenses don't offer
toms. Why? Because this is the time when
UV protection.
early signs of disease and changes in vision
PHOTOCHROMIC
LENSES
reduce
may start. Based on the results of this screen-
glare and help maintain clarity, although
ing, the doctor will recommend when you
they may take time to adjust to different
should return for follow-up exams.
light conditions. Not all photochromic
You should also continue regular visits to the ophthalmologist to treat ongoing disease
lenses offer adequate UV protection. Check the label for details.
or injuries, or for vision examinations for eye-
POLYCARBONATE LENSES offer pro-
glasses or contact lenses. Continue protect-
tection from impact injuries sustained
ing your eyes from the sun and injury.
during physical activities. They also adequately shield the eyes from UV radiation.
Ages 65 and over People age 65 and over face an increasing risk of cataracts, glaucoma, age-related mac-
MIRROR-COATED LENSES help block visible light, but they don't necessarily block UV radiation.
ular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy.
STANDARD PRESCRIPTION EYE-
Many of these conditions can be treated if
GLASSES can be treated with a material
identified early. Left unrecognized and un-
that provides UV protection while re-
treated, these conditions threaten your vision.
taining a clear, non-tinted appearance.
If you are 65 or older, have a complete
SOME CONTACT LENSES also offer UV
eye exam with an ophthalmologist at least
protection, but because contact lenses
every year or two. Early diagnosis and treat-
don't cover the entire eye, it's still impor-
ment are extremely important for protecting
tant to wear sunglasses for UV protection
your vision and, when possible, preventing
when you're outdoors.
permanent vision loss.
W
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W FOCUS ON FOOD
Italian Accents
Make it pasta and make it quick By PAT MOZERSKY Photography CASEY HOWELL
A
sk any Italian mama, “What’s the single most important item on your pantry shelf?” Invariably, her answer will be pasta.
Whether it plays a minor role in a major dinner, or serves as a quick dish to quell ravenous appetites, a bowl of pasta is always gladly received. And whether Italy is or is not the originator of pasta, she has taken the concept and run with it. There are two basic categories of pasta: dried, factory-made
pasta made with flour and water, and fresh pasta, made with egg and flour. Neither is superior, they’re just different. Each type lends itself to different kinds of sauces and preparations. Our markets now carry good-quality fresh pastas, so making your own pasta at
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FOCUS ON FOOD W
Pasta can be prepared in
30 minutes or less, making it a boon to harried cooks.
Joe Buonincontri, chef/owner of Luce Ristorante E Enoteca, recently traveled to Tuscany, where he discovered this authentic recipe for Wild Boar Ragu. It’s a hearty dish that’s perfect for these cold winter months, and he serves it as a special at the restaurant. The term ragù (pronounced rah GOO) refers to sauces made from a variety of chopped meats, sautéed vegetables and one or more liquids such as water, stock, wine, tomato or milk or cream. Buonincontri’s version is ethereal. He prepares it with wild boar that can easily be ordered from Broken Arrow Ranch in Ingram, Texas, but Buonincontri says you can use other meats if preferred. He also notes that you could serve this sauce over soft polenta. No matter how it’s served, his Italian mama would approve.
Luce’s Wild Boar Ragù Pasta (Pasta al Ragù di Cinghiale) SAUCE • 2 ounces (1/4 cup) extra-virgin olive oil • 1 pound ground or cubed wild boar, or other meat *See Note • 1 teaspoon fine salt • 1 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper • 1 cup diced onions • 1/2 cup diced carrots • 1/2 cup diced celery • 2 tablespoons minced garlic • 4 ounces tomato paste • 1 quart red wine • 1 bay leaf • 1 sprig rosemary • 1 sprig thyme • 1 sprig sage PASTA 1 to 1 1/2 pounds fresh or dry pasta (for 4- to 6-ounce portions per person), cooked al dente (fettuccine, pappardelle or tagliatelle)
home isn’t essential. That’s not to say you shouldn’t try. For a complete guide to making your own pasta, consult Marcella Hazan’s Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking. Her instructions are impeccable. There are many reasons to love pasta in addition to the comfort and satisfaction that come with a steaming bowl placed before you. Pasta is very economical. Even the fancy artisanal brands shouldn’t break the bank. Meat lovers and vegetarians alike can find satisfying pasta recipes. And pasta can be prepared in 30 minutes or less, making it a boon to harried cooks. Despite the varying food trends, pasta always manages to prevail.
Heat the oil in a large saucepan over high heat. Season the meat with salt and pepper and add to the pan. (You may need to cook the meat in batches so as not to crowd the pan.) Once all of the meat is browned, add the onions, carrots, celery and garlic. Reduce the heat and cook until the moisture is gone. Stir in the tomato paste. Add the red wine, bay leaf, rosemary, thyme and sage. Cover the pan and simmer gently for 2 hours, stirring occasionally. The sauce is done when the meat is fork-tender. Remove the meat from the sauce and set aside. Strain the sauce and discard the stems from the herbs and the bay leaf. Purée the vegetables in a blender, and add them back into the sauce in the pan. Set aside. Pull the meat apart and add it back into the blended sauce. Makes about 4 to 6 servings of sauce. The sauce can be made ahead and refrigerated if preferred. When ready to serve, heat the sauce gently while cooking the pasta of your choice al dente. *Note: Chef Buonincontri purchases his wild boar from Broken Arrow Ranch in Ingram, Texas. You can reach them at (800) 962-2463. You may substitute ground beef or beef brisket for the boar.
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Chef Jason Dady is owner of two locations of Tre Trattoria, Bin 555, Two Bros BBQ Market, and the DUK Truck, so he’s one busy guy. Dady says this pasta recipe is “likely my all-time fave easy pasta recipe,” since it involves just a few simple ingredients. With a recipe like this, it’s essential to use the best ingredients you can find — ripe tomatoes, pristine shrimp (buy them frozen and defrost them yourself right before cooking), and the best Parmesan cheese, Parmigiano-Reggiano. One of the secrets to this dish is the delicate-flavored Olio Santo basil oil — an herb-infused oil that imparts a subtle hint of summer-fresh basil, even in the dead of winter. Many cutting-edge chefs are using such infused oils to effortlessly add great flavor to dishes. At Tre Trattoria, they make their own exquisite pasta, but you can find the wide ribbons of pasta called pappardelle at most grocery stores.
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FOCUS ON FOOD W
While traveling in Italy several years ago, I came across an exquisitely simple and utterly delicious pasta preparation called Pasta alla Gricia (in the style of the Greeks). It’s an ancient dish that dates back to the time before Columbus introduced the tomato to the Old World. It comes from Amatrice, in the province of Lazio. The shepherds in the hills surrounding Rome would carry with them a piece of cured hog jowl, called guanciale; a chunk of the local cheese, pecorino romano; some pepper (black or red); and olive oil, along with the sturdy pasta called bucatini (aka perciatelli), a thick, hollow spaghetti. The dish is hearty and filling, and all it needs is a green salad to accompany it for a truly satisfying, fast meal. Guanciale is available at some markets, but the Italian version of bacon, called pancetta, works beautifully in this dish. The “modern” post-Columbus version includes tomatoes, and it’s referred to as all’amatriciana.
ricia Bucatini alla G
2 teaspoons salt hollow spaghetti) n bucatini (thick, 1 pound dried Italia oil 2 tablespoons olive bacon (unsmoked Italian a ett nc pa ps cu 1 1/2 1/4-inch d ce sli s), ice d mild sp cured with salt an . 1/4-inch squares thick and cut into tituted.) bacon can be subs lity ua -q top n, (A lea o an rom o grated pecorin • 2 cups freshly lk cheese) (Italian sheep’s mi ck pepper bla d un gro • Coarsely s, if preferred) ke fla ili (or hot red ch
• • • •
Chef Jason Dady’s Fresh Pappardelle with Tiger Shrimp, Cherry Tomatoes, Olio Santo and Parmigiano-Reggiano • • • •
1 pound fresh (preferred), or dried pappardelle 10 ounces tiger shrimp, peeled and deveined 4 ounces cherry tomatoes 4 ounces (1/2 cup) Olio Santo basil oil (several brands available at Central Market) • Grated Parmigiano-Reggiano, to taste • Salt and fresh cracked pepper, to taste
Bring a large pot of water to the boil. Add salt and cook pasta al dente, about 3 to 4 minutes. Meanwhile, heat a large sauté pan over medium heat. Add 2 tablespoons of the basil oil, add the shrimp and sauté until cooked. Do not overcook. Add the tomatoes. Drain the pasta and add it to the pan. Transfer all to a large mixing bowl, add the remaining Olio Santo and grate 2 tablespoons Parmigiano into the bowl. Toss, and divide the pasta among four large warm pasta bowls. Grate additional fresh Parmigiano on top of each serving and serve immediately. Makes 4 servings.
Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil, add salt and pasta, and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender but still firm to the bite — al dente. Drain, reserving some of the pasta water. (Al dente is translated as “to the tooth” — the pasta is still slightly chewy and gives slight resistance to the tooth.) Meanwhile, in a large skillet, heat the oil, add the pancetta and cook over moderate heat, stirring frequently, for about 5-6 minutes, or until pancetta is not quite crisp. Add the drained pasta to the skillet along with a few tablespoons of the reserved pasta water, and toss quickly with the pancetta. Add the cheese and plenty of coarsely ground black pepper (or red pepper flakes) and toss again. Cover and cook over very low heat for 1 to 2 minutes more. Add more of the reserved pasta water if the pasta is too dry. Serve immediately in warmed pasta bowls. Makes 4 servings.
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FIGHTING
THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE BY ANNE MOORE You might be chompin’ at the bit to attack those extra pounds you put on during the annual holiday celebrations last November and December. This war on wider girths becomes even more hard-fought down here in San Antonio, where the beat goes on ... as do the festivities. During the first five or six months of our New Year, we have a Rodeo, Valentine’s Day, Luminaria SA, Easter, Fiesta and Folklife Festival, which all bring with them crowds of people, herds of cattle and a bazillion opportunities to pig out on foods of every variety. And lots of it. Whoa now. Then, there are all those brewskis and ‘dogs at the Spurs, Scorpions, Silver Stars, Missions, American Basketball League, Talons and Rampage games. And the nightly river revelry. You can see now that we have a “problem” other cities can only dream about. Party!
So how do we blast those po unds off?
1
Here are some of the ways:
2
Detox?
Ask yourself if it is really necessary.
After
all,
your
body has a built-in detox system. It’s called the liver and the kidneys. Sure, we’re all exposed to many environmental pollutants. But according to experts, there’s no
“Friending” food through diet plans, programs and pills. Longing for meals that are fast and easy? Opt for one of the
magic potion. As a matter of fact, as with fasting, there are potential consequences, such as headaches, low blood sugar, deterioration of muscle matter or imbalances in nutrients and electrolytes. If you’re pregnant,
programs where pre-packaged foods are just a few microwaves
diabetic or have other diseases, you’re at even higher risk. Most
away. Check out those familiar programs like Nutrisystem, Jenny
detox materials — pills, liquids, laxatives and diet ingredients
Craig, Medifast and ediets.com. Even though Weight Watchers is
— work because they are low in calories, almost to semi-star-
known for using fresh ingredients and a point system to guide
vation stage and sometimes disguised as portion control. Ac-
your food choices and quantities, they also have frozen foods
cording to one Manhattan nutritionist, if you eat junk food and
available at grocery stores.
occasionally detox for a week, you needn’t bother. You can, of
Then, there are the myriad diets that are based upon the
course, help detox yourself by giving up smoking cigarettes,
types of foods you eat: the French, Mediterranean, cabbage
adding fiber to your diet and eating organic, nonprocessed
soups, watermelon, low everything — calories, fats, carbs — Dr.
foods. Be sure to wash all of your fruits and veggies well. It’s a
this or that diets, and on and on.
good thing.
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W WOMENS WELLNESS
3
Diet Pills
The FDA has recently approved a new diet pill for those who are obese or those who have health problems caused by obesity. This prescription weight loss drug does carry with it the potential for serious side effects when you’re taking drugs to treat depression. Examples are migraine headaches and difficulty paying attention or with memory.
4
Now there is a trusted choice for successful, long-term weight loss. Headed by bariatric surgeon Dr. Richard Peterson in partnership with UT Medicine San Antonio, the CHRISTUS Weight Loss Institute at Westover Hills offers a complete program designed to help you lose weight with the education and support you need for lifelong success.
Vegans/vegetarians True vegans have a lengthy list of things they
don’t eat or wear or smear on their faces, but just giving up meat and other foods containing satu-
CHRISTUS Weight Loss Institute — Westover Hills offers a full spectrum of services for bariatric patients. The Institute offers patients in San Antonio and beyond access to a weightmanagement facility that adheres to center-ofexcellence guidelines. A dedicated multidisciplinary bariatric team — which incorporates the expertise of a dietitian, a bariatric nurse, a psychologist, an insurance specialist, physical therapists, and Dr. Peterson — guide patients through what can be, due to insurance requirements, a lengthy process from presurgical weight loss to postsurgical recovery. After entering the program, either by attending an informational seminar or individual consultation with Dr. Peterson, patients discuss each procedure’s risks and benefits to identify which best addresses their medical needs. Morbid obesity brings with it an increased risk for shorter life expectancy. The risk of death from diabetes or heart attack is five to seven times greater. Yet an early death is not the only potential consequence. Social, psychological, and economic effects of morbid obesity; however unfair, are real and can be especially difficult. If you have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 40 or greater, or a BMI of at least 35 with other existing medical problems, or you are facing other health risks due to obesity, and you have tried other weight loss programs without success, the CHRISTUS Weight Loss Institute at Westover Hills may have the answer for you.
rated fat and going with veggies and fruits will make you lose weight. You do have to be sure to get your daily requirement of protein, vitamins and minerals with supplements or other means to keep
5
your body running efficiently and stay healthy.
Supplements
Some of the latest supplements for dieting found at health stores include
Green-Coffee-Bean (GCB) Extract, Human Growth Hormone (HGH). Red Raspberry Ketones (RRK) and Gogi Berry Juice (GBJ). Since there are so many herbs and berry extracts and pills available, and they can be quite strong, even dangerous for some, it would really be wise to check with your physician before adding them to your diet, particularly if you regularly take other prescription medicines. Please remember the “buyer beware” warning when watching those TV ads offering “free trials,” “automatic shipment” and those with short-term guarantees or none at all.
6
Nutritionists
The most recommended way of eating is the bal-
anced diet containing the protein, vegetables, fruits and dairy products that provide the necessary minerals and vitamins found in natural foods. This is where the services of a nutritionist can be very helpful. Nutritionists are degreed, highly trained experts in food and nutrition. You’ll find these professionals working in hospitals, schools or in their own private practice advising people on how to eat healthy and ways to lose, maintain or even gain weight. They assess a client’s health requirements and diet, explain
If your dream is to once again enjoy a full life, take the first step with a phone call to 210.438.8446 or a visit to WhyWeightSA.org. You’ll receive complete information on upcoming FREE seminars with our staff and surgeon. These seminars cover how to decide which procedure is right for you, specific details on preparing for surgery, and life after the procedure, plus the opportunity for one-on-one counseling. Most of all, you’ll be with a group of caring professionals who understand your situation and are here to help. We’re available 24 hours a day to take your call. A Special Advertising Section
94 | sawoman.com
nutrition issues and develop meal plans around preferences, mindful of prices. They evaluate the effects of these meal plans, adjusting as needed. They must keep current and interpret the latest nutritional research. Holistic nutritionists are committed to treating the whole person, including the environment, emotions, values and other physical symptoms. Some types of holistic practitioners are chiropractors, acupuncturists, herbalists and, of course, nutritionists, all with the goal of helping people use their own capacity for self-healing.
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W WOMEN’S WELLNESS
Surgery for weight loss
struments and a tiny camera. The band can be adjusted, and the procedure can be reversed. Two brands of bands are LAP-BAND or REALIZE. Sleeve gastrectomy. Another form of restrictive weight loss surgery
To be considered a candidate for weight loss surgery, you must is also performed laparoscopically, where 75 percent of the stomach is meet the following criteria: removed, leaving a narrow tube (sleeve) connected to the intestines. • Be medically obese, with 80 to 100 pounds or more to lose. Around 50 percent of the excess weight can be lost with the sleeve tech• Be 70 or more pounds overweight with another serious weight-renique. Absorption of food and nutrients is not affected by this surgery. lated health problem, such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, high choIf more weight loss is needed, another surgical procedure, such as a gaslesterol or severe sleep apnea. tric bypass can be performed. The sleeve gastrectomy is not reversible. • Have seriously tried and failed to lose weight by other means. Gastric bypass. The most common weight loss procedure basically creates a shortcut for food, bypassing sections of the stomach and the In addition, a candidate needs to understand the risks and be mensmall intestine. The result is a large amount of weight loss in a small tally prepared to commit to a lifetime of permanent changes in how he amount of time. This helps obesity-related health problems to improve or she eats, exercises and lives. As one resource put it, ”The surgery can rapidly as well. This surgery is irreversible, but long-term results appear be lifesaving, but it is not a cure.” Please note: The risks of complicato be good. tions are lowered when these surgical procedures are performed by an Biliopancreatic diversion. This surgery is a more complicated proexperienced weight loss surgeon at a medical center specializing in cedure than a gastric bypass. There is potentially more risk because of weight loss surgery. the loss of nutritional elements. When a duodenal switch is also perOne basic type of weight loss surgery is restrictive surgeries, which, formed, the danger is reduced because less of the stomach and small well, restrict the size of the stomach and slow down digestion. The other intestine are removed. type is the malabsorptive/restrictive surgeries. These are more invasive because, in addition to restricting the stomach size as above, parts of Weight loss surgery is a serious matter with serious risks your digestive tract are also surgically removed or bypassed, making it requiring serious consideration. Discuss all aspects — pros harder for your body to absorb calories. Within these types, there are many different surgical procedures.
and cons — with your surgeon. Remember, with some willpower and research, you can
Adjustable gastric banding. The least invasive uses an inflatable
find the right weapons to fight this war on (extra) weight.
band to squeeze a small stomach passageway that physically restricts
Whatever it takes, you are worth it, you can do it, you are
the amount of food you can take in. Banding is simpler and safer than a
woman, and YOU’RE A WINNER!
bypass. It is performed laparoscopically, using a small incision, small in-
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MexSA
I
DINING W
Sophistication comes to Tex-Mex restaurants By Ron Bechtol
Photography Janet Rogers
n the world of widely respected cuisines, Tex-Mex doesn’t get any — respect, that is. Historically, some of the problem has been simple exposure: The food didn’t travel well beyond its natural habitat, and when it did end up elsewhere, it was tarred by the Taco-Bell effect. To be honest, it
also settled here at home into an if-it’s-Thursday-it-must-mean-Mexican cafeteria trap, one that wasn’t ameliorated by lazy restaurant owners churning out No. 2 Dinners glazed with oil-slick enchilada sauce or drenched in drab gravy. But recently, there has been a subtle shift in the wind, urged along by Texas authors such as Robb Walsh and his The Tex-Mex Cookbook, and local luminaries such as Diana Barrios Treviño and the publication celebrating her culinary heritage, The
Barrios Family Cookbook. It didn’t hurt, either, that Barrios Treviño bested celebrity chef Bobby Flay in a nationally viewed puffy taco throwdown. Turns out that, all along, some folks were keeping the flame alive of what’s called, by some, one of MexBelow, Bowtie Pasta Dario with grilled tuna and ancho cream sauce is a menu specialty at El Jarro de Arturo. At right, an array of baked goods and dulces available 24 hours a day at Mi Tierra.
ico’s many regional cuisines — never mind that its home is across the border. Though there were market vendors and jacales serving up “Mexican” dishes well before Pete and Cruz Cortez opened a three-table café in San Antonio’s Mercado in 1941, this iconic family, now with three thriving restaurants, can lay claim to being
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W DINING
Tex-Mex royalty in this,
restaurants when she was growing up) shows no signs
the capital of the cuisine.
of slowing down. If they suggest Arturo’s margarita as a
With “we never close” the
starter, don’t resist; if a creamy roasted corn and
Mi
poblano soup should beckon, give in; and if a plate of
Tierra, the family contin-
modest chicken enchiladas in a tart tomatillo sauce
motto
flagship
ues to cement its claim to
presents itself, well, you know the drill. As at most of the
hall-of-fame
city’s titans of Tex-Mex, we tend to prefer the simpler
status,
a
claim bolstered by the in-
dishes, but Arturo also does a bowtie pasta Dario with
troduction of the fajita to
grilled tuna and ancho cream sauce that strays just far
a broader audience, the
enough from the tried and true to be of special interest.
promulgation of Mexican
It was in 1992 that Lisa Wong took over a failing but
baked goods and dulces,
well-regarded Mexican restaurant in King William, only
the atmosphere brought
to move it a couple of blocks north after it outgrew the
about by perennial Christ-
space. Today, colorful and still-crowded Rosario’s at-
decorations
and
tracts both old-line regulars and adventurers from the
peripatetic mariachis …
northern ‘burbs — don’t be surprised to be handed a
mas
At top, the fajita plate as presented by Mi Tierra; below, a classic enchilada plate at Los Barrios.
of
and iconic dishes such as
buzzer, even at lunch, which will signal your table’s
the chicken in mole and
ready. The menu at Rosario’s skews a little more toward
the Deluxe Mexican Din-
the Mex side of the hyphen with dishes such as the pan-
ner boasting beefsteak
grilled sweetbreads and the enchiladas mexicanas in
ranchero y mucho mas.
their sauce of both pasilla and guajillo chiles. But Tex-
Frosty margaritas from
types should take heart in plates serving the likes of the
the Mariachi Bar only add
classic chile relleno and chorizo quesadillas. Pair these
luster to the experience
and almost anything else with an icy (though not frozen)
of being at Mi Tierra, an
margarita; here they’re both large and legendary.
experience that can be
Cielito Lindo comes by its more-Mex-than-most
had with variations at La
creds legitimately: The Stone Oak restaurant is operated
Margarita and Pico de
by Mexicans and, to a degree, for the many Mexicans
Gallo, all anchors of El
that have made the area their home in recent years.
Mercado and surrounds.
Look for plates such as cochinita pibil from the Yucatan,
Humble beginnings are part and parcel of the Tex-
not-your-usual masa shapes such as the oblong
Mex story; local favorite La Fogata started from a sim-
huarache and the pinched-rim sope, and distinctive
ple service station (if memory serves) and now consists
stuffings on the order of chicharron prensado (don’t ask,
of a compound featuring lush patios and equally opu-
just order the gorditas de la plaza). The grilled arrachera
lent margaritas afloat with orchid blossoms. Los Barrios
steak as served here can be said to be an ancestor of
is also no exception to the Horacio Alger story line. The
the now-ubiquitous fajita; try it in the original form. But
restaurant launched, in 1979, in an old boat garage on
in true Tex-Mex fashion, there’s also the weekend ritual
Avenue B and the San Antonio River near what is now
of barbacoa and menudo to be followed. And there is
the San Antonio Museum of Art. Quickly moving to an
even a Tex-Mex section of the menu on which one can
old Dairy Queen (another Texas icon) north of down-
find the Alamo Special and the Longhorn Combo.
town, Los Barrios began to expand in place, gradually
They’re a generous gesture at the very least.
becoming the community gathering spot over which founder Viola Barrios’ portrait presides today.
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One of the most recent restaurants to open touting food with an interior-of-Mexico slant is La Gloria,
From the beginning, “casero” dishes such as the re-
creation of C.I.A.-trained chef Johnny Hernandez. Lo-
gionally inspired cortadillo Zuazua style and the then-
cated on the banks of the San Antonio River in the
to-us unfamiliar churrasco steak prevailed. Many of us
blossoming Pearl development, La Gloria features
came to know and love Monterrey-style baby goat
Mexican street food, and so unusual are some of the
here, and to anticipate “the world’s only gourmet sour
dishes hereabouts that a glossary of terms has
nachos” as the only fitting prelude to a classic enchi-
thoughtfully been provided. Sopes there are in abun-
lada assortment. La Hacienda de Los Barrios near 1604
dance. Tlayudas, too, and panuchos. The molcajetes
and 281 and a new restaurant, Viola’s Ventanas, located
feature ingredients such as queso and cactus, ar-
near Sea World, continue the family’s quest to make
rachera, and puerco simmered in sizzling sauces kept
Tex-Mex at once familiar and just fine enough.
piping by the heated mortars of volcanic stone.
Though a relative newcomer at age 38, El Jarro de
Hernandez has just opened another concept, The
Arturo nevertheless seems to have settled comfortably
Fruteria, in the emerging loft district on South Flores,
into its present location at 281 and Bitters. It’s here that
proof that even as Tex-Mex continues to burnish its
Arturo and Sandy Cerna hold court, while also holding
image, the cuisine of interior Mexico has begun to give
down the front and back of the house; it’s from here that
it a run for its money. The city that once served as a
they have gained national attention from the likes of Bon
capital-in-exile of fomenters of Mexico’s revolution
Appetit and local affection from the likes of the rest of
may soon be known for a less-political changing of the
us. And the duo (her father owned several Mexican
guard. Stay tuned.
A Special Section from
EDITOR W
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TO GET HER THERE .ORG To strengthen support beyond the boundaries of Girl Scouting, Girl Scouts of the USA launched the ToGetHerThere cause with the goal of reaching gender-balanced leadership in one generation.
We all have a role to play in helping her reach a successful future. What is yours?
A special section from SAN ANTONIO WOMAN
SHE WAS BORN TO LEAD. BUT SOMETHING HAPPENS.
WHAT MUST WE DO TOGETHERTHERE? Studies reveal that girls idealize leadership qualities and skills, such as being talented, caring, honest, hard-working, confident, good listeners and team players. But only 21 percent of girls believe they have the qualities required to be a good leader, and a whopping 61 percent of girls are either ambivalent about leadership or say it's not important to them at all. In other words, she knows what it takes to lead, but lacks the confidence and encouragement to do so. What is happening? What’s stopping her from stepping up? She’s lacking role models and mentors, especially in highpaying STEM careers. She is confronted by unhealthy images about female beauty. The bullying mentality of peers holds her back. An unsupportive environment gives her discouraging messages, starting in grade school and continuing beyond. If this situation goes unchecked, millions of girls will never realize their full leadership potential. They'll opt out of pursuing their ambitions and never dare to push through their comfort zone. Girl Scouts is uniquely positioned to help policymakers, educators and the public advance girls’ education to ensure the country can access the talents and resources of the next generation of female leaders. To strengthen support beyond the boundaries of Girl Scouting, Girl Scouts of the USA launched the ToGetHerThere cause in 2012, with the goal of reaching genderbalanced leadership in one generation. The campaign is a broad and prolonged effort to break down barriers that hinder girls from leading and succeeding in technology, government, science, business and industry. American leadership can’t be transformed in a year, but expectations can. We all have a role to play in helping her reach a successful future. What is yours? If you work in a high-tech industry where women are underrepresented, show girls how to take their place in the jobs of the future.
If you work in retail, the fashion industry or in media, take a stand for healthy body images and the portrayal of women in advertising and television. Teachers are uniquely positioned to partner with other educators in the community to change the way girls are mentored and how women are represented through reading materials, on career days and in school assemblies. Girls can't be what they can't see, and they need to see female mathematicians, entrepreneurs, superintendents, mayors and CEOs before they'll know that they can be one, too. When girls succeed, so does society. As a girl, she needs confidence, encouragement and support to realize her full potential. As a woman, she needs only the opportunity to lead. Together, we will get her there. To learn more about ToGetHerThere — and to take the pledge to support girls and girls’ leadership — visit ToGetHerThere.org. Want to contribute to the local Girl Scout council’s work to provide leadership opportunities for girls in your community? Visit www.girlscouts-swtx.org/Donate today.
A special section from SAN ANTONIO WOMAN
DO IT FOR HER:
GIRL SCOUT ALUMNAE AND THE MENTOR-EFFECT According to a new Girl Scout Research Institute report, Girl Scouting Works: The Alumnae Impact Study, women who were Girl Scouts as children display significantly more positive life outcomes than non-Girl Scout alumnae. Since its founding in 2000, the Girl Scout Research Institute has become an internationally recognized center for research and public policy information on the development and well-being of girls. Not just Girl Scouts, but all girls. According to a new Girl Scout Research Institute report, Girl Scouting Works: The Alumnae Impact Study, women who were Girl Scouts as children display significantly more positive life outcomes than non-Girl Scout alumnae. Approximately one in every two adult women (49 percent) in the U.S. has at some point been a member of Girl Scouts, and the average length of time a girl spends in Girl Scouting is four years. There are currently more than 59 million Girl Scout alumnae living in the U.S. today.
More than half of America’s girls hope to have an effect on the world beyond the communities where they live. How do we know? We listen.
The study, which was not identified to participants as a Girl Scout project, surveyed a sample of 3,550 women aged 18 and older, roughly half of whom were Girl Scout alumnae and half drawn from the general population. The sample was chosen to be representative of the U.S. population in terms of race/ethnicity, household income, education, marital status and type of residence. The positive effects of Girl Scouting seem particularly pronounced for women who were Girl Scouts longer, as well as for African-American and Hispanic women. However, there is no Girl Scouting without Girl Scout volunteers.
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COMPARED TO NON-ALUMNAE, GIRL SCOUT ALUMNAE DISPLAY SIGNIFICANTLY MORE POSITIVE LIFE OUTCOMES ON SEVERAL INDICATORS OF SUCCESS. • PERCEPTIONS OF SELF. Of Girl Scout alumnae, 63 percent consider themselves competent and capable, compared to 55 percent of non-alumnae. • VOLUNTEERISM AND COMMUNITY WORK. Of Girl Scout alumnae who are mothers, 66 percent have been a mentor/volunteer in their child’s youth organization, compared to 48 percent of non-alumnae mothers. • CIVIC ENGAGEMENT. Of Girl Scout alumnae, 77 percent vote regularly, compared to 63 percent of non-alumnae.
“There is no group of women better suited to mentor our girls than Girl Scout alumnae.” –Rose González Pérez, CEO Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas
Four in 10 girls say that they have not had the opportunity to interact with successful women in the last school year. The statistics regarding girls and leadership today have a predicting effect on all our futures. “One kind of support we know a girl needs is role models— successful women she can learn from and emulate,” said Rose González Pérez, chief executive officer for Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas. “There is no group of women better suited to mentor our girls than Girl Scout alumnae.” More than 95 percent of adult members in Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas are unpaid volunteers who navigate the state-of-the-art Mobile Leadership Center, conduct troop meetings and manage administrative work. Whether you
• EDUCATION. Of Girl Scout alumnae, 38 percent have attained college degrees, compared to 28 percent of non-alumnae. • INCOME/SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS. Girl Scout alumnae report a significantly higher household income ($51,700) than non-alumnae ($42,200).
have one weekend a year or several nights per week to contribute to the cause of furthering girl leadership, Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas has a place for you. With your help, she's one step closer to breaking through barriers and blossoming into her full potential. Your time as a volunteer and mentor will give her the environment she needs to pursue the interests, causes and leadership roles that are most important to her. She'll learn from you that being a scientist, a CEO or a stay-at-home mom are all paths she can take to change the world. With your support, she'll stand up, stand out and stand tall. Calling all Girl Scout alumnae: With your help, we can get her there.
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STORY BEHIND THE SASH: NOTABLE ALUMNAE Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas recognizes that one out of every two women has had a Girl Scout experience. Hear what four San Antonio women have to say about their involvement in the nation’s top leadership development program for girls. These are their stories behind the sash. The Volunteer:
She is a member of your board of directors. She’s an account manager, business executive or information analyst. She edits, audits, creates and discovers. She’s someone who credits Girl Scouting for providing the tools she needed to find her voice. She’s someone who makes a difference. She might even be you.
Liz Zeno
Senior Associate, RVK Architects A background in Girl Scouting and her mother’s active role in her Girl Scout experience laid the foundation for Liz Zeno’s volunteer work with Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas as an adult.
The Professional:
Elaine Mendoza
President and CEO, Conceptual MindWorks, Inc. Elaine Mendoza knows what it takes to shatter the glass ceiling. As founder, president and chief executive officer of Conceptual MindWorks, Inc., a biotechnology and medical informatics company located in San Antonio, Elaine has put the leadership and collaboration skills she learned as a Girl Scout to work. “The fellowship, activities, expansion of your knowledge and creativity, the confidence Girl Scouting builds in you— it will give you more than you know and last longer than you think,” Elaine said. After receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering from Texas A&M University, she founded Conceptual MindWorks in 1990 and has grown it into a multimillion-dollar business. “Girl Scouts inspired confidence and showed me there is nothing a girl cannot do. It was a great experience that taught me the importance of teamwork, how to set goals and how to work toward them.”
“My mother was my troop leader,” Liz said. “She was a stayat-home mom and always active in our activities. As a child, I did not like that my mom was always around. Now, I appreciate that my mother took the time to invest in us.” Liz became a Girl Scout volunteer when her daughter entered first grade and led a troop that would stay together for nine years. “We not only completed badge work, but we talked through situations that occurred at school, discussed how to deal with their changing lives, and the girls were a good influence on each other. I am thankful that I was able to be a mentor and a part of their development into young adults.” Liz has since served as a Service Unit Director with the council, and currently functions as a Regional Coordinator for her area, a position that guides other volunteers within the region in their responsibilities. “You have to remember that you are not a product of your environment, but you instead create your own success with the right opportunities and determination. Girl Scouts provides you with mentors of all fields to help you develop the values and confidence needed to be successful.”
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The Grown-up Girl Scout:
Sara Goudge Brouillard Marketing Communications Specialist, Broadway Bank
As a young girl, Sara Goudge Brouillard enjoyed Girl Scouting because of the opportunity to sell Girl Scout cookies and hang out with close friends. As she got older, the role of Girl Scouts in her life changed. “As I reached junior high, many of my friends dropped out of Girl Scouts, so it became about a community of girls who were unique and learning how to work with each other and be friends in a different way,” Sara said. Sara is a third-generation Girl Scout: her grandmother, Sally Cheever, is the namesake of the building that houses the Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas headquarters. Her mother, Suzanne Goudge, was named the council’s 2011 Trefoil Honoree for her work as a community leader and volunteer. “Looking back, it’s fun to see how Girl Scouts changed with me and never at any point has it become irrelevant. Even today as I advance in my career, there is always a place for Girl Scouting and how it affects my job, my home life and my future.” The Green Blood:
Adrienne King
Adrienne King has been a Girl Scout for more than 50 years. Like others who have been Girl Scouts for a lifetime, her blood runs green for the movement. “We memorized the Girl Scout Law as girls and I try hard to live my life by it,” Adrienne said. “They are just like my Ten Commandments—I try to ‘do a good turn daily,’ having lived my life in service to others.” Adrienne was a girl member for 11 years and rejoined the organization when her daughter was old enough to join. Adrienne belongs to many national and international Girl Scouting associations, including the Order of the Silver Trefoil, and serves as the volunteer chair for the local council’s 100th Anniversary History Committee. “My girl experience laid the foundation for my love of the organization and helped me take care of myself in travel and accomplishing projects. But the opportunities I've had as an adult Girl Scout have continued to help me grow with speaking, organizing skills and opportunities never experienced as a girl—canoeing, backpacking, rappelling and sailing.”
OTHER NOTABLE ALUMNAE: GIRL SCOUT GREATS In 2012, Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas selected 10 local women to highlight as the council’s first-ever Girl Scout Greats. Every leader has a story, and we are proud to feature these women who are former Girl Scouts and serve as inspiration to us all in their respective leadership roles. Sylvia Benitez, Fine Artist, Founder/President, Gentileschi Aegis Gallery Association Jelynne LeBlanc Burley, Executive Vice President, Corporate Support Services and Chief Administrative Officer, CPS Energy Lee S. Carlisle, M.D., Medical Director of the Medical Arts & Research Center (MARC) Day Surgery Center, UT Medicine San Antonio Janie Martinez Gonzalez, President and CEO, Webhead Dr. Ana Margarita “Cha” Guzman, Former President, Palo Alto College (President of Santa Fe Community College) Lisa Sanchez-Wong, Owner, Rosario’s Mexican Café y Cantina, Ácenar on The River Walk; and R Sala Bebida Botana Bar at the San Antonio International Airport. Sheryl Sculley, City Manager, City of San Antonio Leticia Van de Putte, State Senator for District 26, Texas Legislature Suzanne Wade, President, San Antonio Food/Drug Division, H-E-B Carri Baker Wells, Chief Operations Officer (San Antonio Office) for Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, LLP
TREFOIL HONOREES For 25 years, Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas has selected an outstanding woman and dedicated community leader who embodies the beliefs and principles of the Girl Scout Movement. This exceptional woman is presented with the celebrated Trefoil Award. Past award recipients include: Cyndi Taylor Krier-1988 Irene S. Wischer-1989 Edith S. McAllister-1990 Mary Nan West-1991 Elizabeth H. Maddux-1992 Josephine Musselman-1993 Sally Cheever-1994 Aaronetta H. Pierce-1995 Amy Freeman Lee-1996 Suzy Finesilver-1997 Janey Briscoe-1998 Charline McCombs-1999 Veronica Salazar Escobedo-2000 Jocelyn L. Straus-2001
Vikki Carr-2002 Rosemary Kowalski-2003 Lila Cockrell-2004 Nancy Zachry-2005 Nancy Loeffler-2006 Jimmie Ruth Evans-2007 Dela W. White-2008 Linda Whitacre-2009 Harriet Helmle-2010 Suzanne Goudge-2011 Esperanza “Hope” Andrade-2012
What is your story behind the sash? Tell us now at www.girlscouts-swtx.org/Alumnae!
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BUSINESS PATCH PARTNERS FOR SUCCESFUL GIRLS
With a combined contribution of $150,000 to Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas, CPS Energy, H-E-B, SWBC, Valero Energy Corporation and Wells Fargo have all taken the lead in supporting patch programs for each company’s area of expertise. From standing out in the classroom, to joining top ranks in corporate boardrooms, operating rooms, Silicon Valley and Capitol Hill, girls are backing down. Why? They are constantly fed the message that mind doesn’t matter and image is everything. The strength of the nation is reliant on developing girls’ critical thinking, problem solving and collaboration skills. To meet the interests of today’s girls, Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas has partnered with the area’s leading businesses to offer activities focused on what girls need to thrive in a rapidly changing world. More than 10,790 girls in 15 area school districts are currently served through in-school and after-school programs, as are collaborative troops with other youth-serving agencies through these business patch initiatives. CPS ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS For today’s girls, reversing environmental threats and improving quality of life will be the work of their generation. CPS Energy’s Environmental Awareness Initiative combines environmental education and community action on a regional scale. Did you know? For girls ages 11-12, 73 percent reported improving the world around them as their favorite activity (e.g., activities related to the environment or helping others). H-E-B AND HEALTHY LIVING Girl Scout programs recognize that physical health, emotional health and self-esteem are all connected. To further support the “whole girl,” H-E-B’s Healthy Living Initiative educates girls about keeping their bodies healthy, their minds engaged and their spirits alive. Did you know? Over the past 25 years, the percentage of overweight girls has more than doubled. Thirty-one percent of girls admit to starving themselves or refusing to eat as a strategy to lose weight.
SWBC AND ENVISION YOUR FUTURE BUILDING LEADERS Through SWBC’s Envision Your Future Building Leaders Initiative, girls set up their own business and work together as a team to develop entrepreneurial skills. By participating in hands-on activities, they will see that being a leader in their community is possible because they already possess the skills necessary to achieve their leadership potential. Did you know? Companies with more female senior executives consistently outperform their industry peers by 40%. The officers and directors of Fortune 500 companies are 85 % male. Only 15 % have a female CEO. VALERO ENERGY CORPORATION AND STEM Though these fields are traditionally male-dominated, women continue to have a greater impact in science, technology, engineering and math than ever before. Whether they’re building robots, learning the mechanics of a car’s engine or creating a chemical reaction, girls are unlocking unexpected talents through Valero Energy Corporation’s STEM Initiative. Did you know? When today’s girls graduate from college, America will need 3 million more scientists and engineers. However, girls tend to leave science to boys as early as the 5th grade. WELLS FARGO AND FINANCIAL LITERACY Today’s girls are not exempt from the long-lasting effects of economic crises. Wells Fargo’s Financial Literacy Initiative provides girls the resources and knowledge on how to set fiscal goals and become financially accountable when earning and managing money. Did you know? Women-owned funds significantly outperform funds in general, even during tough economic times. Yet women managed only 3 percent of hedge funds and 10 percent of mutual funds in the year leading to the 2008 recession.
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WHO WE ARE Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) is dedicated solely to girls between the ages of 5 and 17. For 100 years, we have enabled girls to build character and skills for success. • Founded in 1912 by Juliette Gordon Low • GSUSA is a member of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS)
• More than 3.2 million members throughout the United States* • WAGGGS is a family of 10 million girls and adults in 145 countries (*including U.S. territories, and in more than 90 countries through USA Girl Scouts Overseas)
Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas (GSSWT) is chartered by GSUSA to provide programs in 21 counties. We are headquartered at the Sally Cheever Girl Scout Leadership Center in north central San Antonio.
TO VISIT OR CONTACT GSSWT
Sally Cheever Girl Scout Leadership Center 811 N. Coker Loop | San Antonio, Texas 78216 Phone 210-349-2404 | 1-800-580-7247 Fax 210-349-2666
West Side Girl Scout Leadership Center 5622 W. César E. Chávez Blvd. | San Antonio, Texas 78237 Phone 210-319-5775 Fax 210-349-2666
HOW TO BECOME FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS A GIRL SCOUT Call 210-349-2404/1-800-580-7247 or visit girlscouts-swtx.org to find out about Girl Scouts in your neighborhood! • Be a girl in grades K-12 • Accept the Girl Scout Promise and Law • Pay national membership dues of $12 (financial assistance is available)
PARTICIPATE IN GIRL SCOUTS THROUGH ONE OR MORE PATHWAYS: CAMP. By day or overnight, she can explore nature on two wheels, by the light of the moon or through the lens of a camera. EVENTS. Most girls have more than one passion—maybe storytelling and acting or dancing. Choose events centered on your daughter’s favorites. SERIES. Everything’s more fun when you’re sharing it with others who love the same things. Our series let girls explore interests together in a way that fits their schedules. TRAVEL. Want your daughter to go places? Girl Scouts do. When they see and experience new things, it’s always an adventure they’ll never forget. TROOP. Meeting regularly, girls can share amazing experiences, learn to make a difference in their community and have lots of fun! GIRL SCOUT GRADE LEVELS: GSUSA program at all levels emphasizes development of personal values, appreciation of others, decision-making, leadership and service. Program is adapted for each grade level and for the needs and interests of individual girls. • • • • • •
Girl Scout Daisy—grades Kindergarten-1 Girl Scout Brownie—grades 2-3 Girl Scout Junior—grades 4-5 Girl Scout Cadette—grades 6-8 Girl Scout Senior—grades 9-10 Girl Scout Ambassador—grades 11-12
GIRL SCOUTS OFFERS MORE CHOICES AND MORE REASONS THAN EVER TO JOIN. GET STARTED TODAY!
Q: What happens after a girl becomes a Girl Scout? A: When a girl joins the organization, she becomes a Girl Scout member. All members may choose one, all or some of the flexible pathways to participate in during a single year. Q: How can I support my daughter’s Girl Scout journey? A: Parents/guardians should be familiar with the flexible pathways your daughter can experience. Help her identify her interests and encourage her to participate in various activities. All the information a parent needs to support his or her daughter’s Girl Scout journey may be found at girlscouts-swtx.org. Q: Where do funds come from to pay for books, pins and awards? A: Through participation in product sales, such as the annual Girl Scout Cookie Program, which provides troops or individual girls with proceeds to help pay for books, earned awards, or uniform pieces. Proceeds may also be used to pay for attendance at camp or to travel, as well as various activities offered by the council. Parents/guardians of girls will often pay some of the costs. If a troop is newly formed, a troop leader may request a small amount from the parents to begin the program year. Limited financial assistance for books, membership pins and uniform components is available. Q: Are uniforms required in Girl Scouting? A: Uniforms are not required, but are encouraged for visibility and Girl Scout spirit. The Girl Scout membership pin can be worn with or without the uniform. Girls are encouraged to purchase a sash or vest on which to display earned awards and other official insignia. Q: Is financial assistance available? A: Yes. GSSWT believes no girl should ever be denied the opportunity to participate in Girl Scouts because of financial need. Q: Who can be a Girl Scout volunteer? A: Anyone over the age of 18 and willing to accept the Girl Scout Promise and Law is welcome to volunteer for the organization. Adults go through the following steps when applying to become Girl Scout volunteers: application with criminal background check, appointment for one year, placement and required training. GSSWT offers adult learning opportunities online and in a live-class format to provide volunteers with a solid foundation for guiding the leadership development of girls.
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Is There Healthy Fast Food? Ask Kathleen Mayes of MaGi Foods BY PAULA ALLEN
PHOTOGRAPHY JANET ROGERS
Despite the bland appearance of its office-park headquarters,
the world. Born in Brazil, she got used to moving from one glamorous
there’s a spicy aroma in the air at MaGi Foods that says something rich
posting to the next, including Lima, Milan, Athens, Jamaica, Portugal
and complex is going on there. “Those are the flavors of my life,” says
and London.
Kathleen Mayes, president of the company she and her husband, Matthew, founded in 2007.
Surprisingly, she says, “It was seamless. Wherever we went, we were enrolled in school and Scouts and joined a church. We were always part
No wonder it’s a multifarious blend: As the daughter of a U.S. For-
of a huge expatriate and local community, and there was always an
eign Service officer and his Peruvian-born wife, Mayes grew up global
American Club.” Attending American or international schools, “You’re
as her father’s diplomatic and corporate careers took the family all over
über-patriotic, you flew your colors proud,” she says. “We celebrated
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the Fourth of July like John Philip Sousa was living with us,” while enjoying other expats’ traditions of Bastille Day, the English Queen’s Birth-
KATHLEEN MAYES
day and Scottish Caledonian Day. She also absorbed American values Age: 40 and customs through such diverse sources as Archie comic books and classic films. “In any city, there’s always some small theater where
Occupation: President, MaGi Foods
Casablanca is playing,” says Mayes, who “grew up with Cary Grant,
Personal: Married for 13 years to Matthew Mayes; two daughters, Jamie, age 9, and Abbey, age 8.
Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy.” During R and R — rest and relaxation — vacations, her family often visited relatives in San Antonio. Except for those few weeks at a time, she says, “I never lived in the United States until I was a sophomore in
Why she’s a Role Model: With her husband, developed a business that offers quick-and-healthy food products for busy families and allows her to spend more time with her own children.
high school” at Saint Mary’s Hall, which had a boarding program at that time. For college, she chose the University of Texas at Austin and a history major. After graduating from the university’s School of Liberal Arts in 1994, she considered taking the examinations for Civil Service and the Foreign Service, but a hiring freeze at the time made her look elsewhere. For several months, Mayes waited tables and worked at a law firm while searching for a more career-oriented position. “I had student loans, and I was getting job offers that paid only a dollar more an hour than the work I was doing,” she says. “I made the decision that fall to take the GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test) and apply to graduate school in business.” By that time, her father had retired, and her parents had moved to San Antonio, so when she was accepted by St. Mary’s University, she decided to pursue an MBA degree there while living at home. Used to taking cross-continental moves in stride, Mayes experienced some cul-
Her own role model: “My aunt, who recently celebrated 60 years in her (religious) order – she was a medical missionary who started a field hospital in India and ran clinics throughout the world. Day in and day out, she was able to summon the courage to persevere.” Best advice ever given: “Two mantras have stuck with me: From my mother, ‘Whatever you do, do it well,’ and from my husband, ‘It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish.’” Favorite relaxation strategies: Cooking for family and friends, bike riding with her husband and children, pedicures with girlfriends. What she’s reading: Bucolic Plague, by Josh Kilmer-Purcell, a memoir about a couple who buy a fixer-upper mansion on a goat farm and start producing their own line of goat’s-milk soaps.
ture shock as she settled into the study of business. “Coming from history and liberal arts, you’re used to analyzing the past. But in business,
Mayes would drop the infant at day care at 6:30 a.m., return at noon to
you don’t look back, you look forward to determine how to be success-
give her a breathing treatment and sometimes had to rush her baby to
ful in a crowded marketplace.” In academia, she learned, “You write
the doctor’s office. Jamie also had nine ear infections in four months,
lengthy papers to prove your points,” while in business, “You write a
as well as a rotovirus she passed to her mother.
brief executive summary, and you rely on bullet points.” Businesses, she
“When I went back for my six-month checkup after giving birth, I
learned, “tell their story through mathematics,” so she had to learn to
told the doctor I felt terribly exhausted and sick, as if I were coming
analyze numbers and what they tell about profitability and the future
down with something all the time,” she recalls. At that exam she
of a company.
learned she was three months pregnant with her second child, a girl
At St. Mary’s, she met her husband, Matthew Mayes, who had grown
they’d name Abbey. “Having children has been the most rewarding and
up in San Antonio and was earning a dual master’s in business admin-
exhausting experience of my life,” she says. At work, she was part of a
istration and accounting. Although he had attended Churchill High
corporate culture “where you’re compensated extremely well, but
School while she was at Saint Mary’s Hall and had also gone to UT-
you’re expected to give your best in return.”
Austin, they had never met before. They weren’t married at the time
After consulting with her husband, she decided to take a leave of
she graduated, so she accepted an offer to join the management-train-
absence. “I told my husband, ‘We have some things to figure out.’”
ing program of the RG Barry Corp., best known for manufacturing a
Mayes worked part time as a consultant — “I had to have something to
popular brand of slippers.
do” — and with two young children to take care of, was frequently too
Although the company was headquartered in San Antonio, the pro-
tired to make the kind of “wonderful dinners with wine” she had made
gram brought many opportunities for international travel. Through the
when she and her husband were in graduate school. “He’d come home
six-month program, Mayes visited the company’s maquiladoras, worked
at 7 or 8 o’clock, and I’d tell him, ‘Go to Bill Miller’s,’ while I’d already
in a distribution plant and visited molding centers. She was offered a
had some Goldfish (crackers) and a Diet Coke,” she says. For her chil-
job as a corporate planner, working with factories in the Dominican Re-
dren, she made food from scratch and resisted convenience products.
public that made components for the company’s products as well as
“I ate home-cooked food all my life and lived in countries where the
with assembly facilities in China.
food is incredible,” she says. “The smells in our kitchen were terrific.”
After she and her husband, who worked for H-E-B, married in 2000,
Hoping to find quick-and-easy products that were more palatable
she says, “I made the decision that was best for our family” when she
and healthier than fast food, Matthew Mayes, a buyer on the condi-
applied for and accepted a job at Southwestern Bell (later AT&T) in San
ments desk at H-E-B, started asking his peers at work for suggestions.
Antonio. With two female mentors who both had children, she was con-
“One day, he brought home Louisiana Purchase (dried) beans and rice,”
fident that she could make it work, even after the couple’s elder daugh-
she remembers. “I wasn’t sure. Black beans have to soak, then cook for
ter, Jamie, now age 9, was born.
hours in the pot.” The dish, however, reminded her of a Peruvian tradi-
“I went back to work, not knowing that she was genetically predis-
tion of serving fried eggs over black beans and rice — a simple meal
posed to being severely asthmatic,” says Mayes. When her daughter
usually rounded out with a piece of fruit. She served the product to
had breathing problems associated with changing seasonal allergens,
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W ROLE MODEL cilantro flavor profile I remembered. That’s when it opened my eyes to what’s out there.” Encouraged that there were convenience foods she would feel comfortable feeding her family, Mayes began to wonder if she could continue her career in that area, producing products she could feel good about that would also provide a sustainable living. Through the broker who handled Louisiana Purchase foods, she contacted the company’s owners in Austin and asked if they’d be interested in selling. By that time, Mayes was 35, and her children were “older and healthier” than when she had left her last full-time position. While her husband continued in his job for the steady income and benefits, the couple bought the Louisiana Purchase brand in late 2007. “The original business plan was to have a co-packer do all the manufacturing, while I’d do the marketing,” says Mayes. “Then with the economic downturn of 2008, things started exploding in the commodities market. We were getting price increases from the co-packer until we came to the point where we had to make a decision: Close up shop or bring (the manufacturing) in-house.” They decided to assume responsibility for producing the food, acquired the equipment and leased a space about the size of her current office where they would receive the finished goods and ship them out. Using her recipes, starting in 2009, a longtime local business, Bolner’s spice house, made a custom blend of her ingredients — beans and rice and spices. The result was so successful that after a year and a half, the couple had extended their product line, leased additional space and bought new equipment, thanks to a loan from Accion Texas, a microlender that provides affordable credit to approved small businesses and community organizations. The couple also sold part of the company to a private investor to maintain its level of growth. “That helped us increase our capacity,” says Mayes, whose husband resigned from his former job to take the position of CEO of MaGi Foods — a name that blends elements of his last name with her maiden name, Gilland, “for divine inspiration.” Matthew Mayes “was the silent partner, and now he’s the road warrior,” marketing their product line to customers including H-E-B, Department of Defense commissaries, Kroger, Sprouts and other large retail grocery chains. A former H-E-B colleague, Roger Davidson, serves as the company’s chief operating officer. “We’re keeping it lean as we’re learning and growing,” says Kathleen Mayes. Their line has expanded beyond the packaged Louisiana Purchase rice-and-bean combinations to include her namesake, the newer Kathleen’s cups — single-serving, microwavable portions of similar foods. There are only a few other brands for products in this category; Mayes keeps samples in her office for comparison. “My ingredients deck (on the labels) is shorter and simpler,” she says. “We’re bean believers. We got into this to provide an income for our family, but it has evolved into something more.” With a suggested price of 99 cents per cup, these convenience items are positioned as an affordable alternative to fast food. “When we went down to one income, we were that family, looking for healthy, tasty foods that are affordable and quick to prepare,” says Mayes. The recipes used in Louisiana Purchase and Kathleen’s are criolla comida (Creole cuisine), “true Americana cooking that fuses oldcountry European elements with New World finds.” The flavor profile is “who I am, inspired by my family, my youth and my travels,” she says. “I am thankful for my roots, for my family’s adventurous spirit and that the adventure continues. There’s a lot of pride in understanding where you come from in the things you make.”
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ARTS
FIGHTING FOR THE Kellen Kee McIntyre’s efforts result in new arts center By JASMINA WELLINGHOFF
B
Photography JANET ROGERS
ack in 1996, newcomers Kellen Kee
Less than a year later the couple de-
McIntyre and her husband, Eric
cided to settle in San Antonio for good
Lane, were exploring around one
after McIntyre accepted a full-time teaching
day when road repairs on Fredericksburg
position at UTSA. Back then, the building
Road forced them to detour through the
known as the Bihl Haus — at 2803 Freder-
surrounding neighborhoods.
icksburg Road — was a forlorn, abandoned
Art historian Kellen Kee McIntyre is executive director of Bill Haus Arts in the Deco District area. The gallery and multidisciplinary center occupies a historic house with connections to the Alamo.
“I became enchanted by the architec-
structure, completely enclosed in metal
chance to see what was hiding beneath that
ture of the Monticello-Woodlawn-Jefferson
sheeting. Originally built in 1920 by busi-
metal envelope when workers dismantled
neighborhoods,” says McIntyre, who is
nessman George David Bihl as a home for
the covering, allowing the old residence to
today the executive director of Bihl Haus
his family “way out of town,” the imposing
re-emerge in all its dilapidated glory. The
Arts, a contemporary art gallery and multi-
edifice was constructed with stones that
couple promptly joined an informal group
disciplinary center that has brought new life
the U.S. military used to erect a barricade
of Monticello Park neighbors to fight for the
into the Deco District area. “I told my hus-
around the Alamo. But no one knew that in
preservation of the edifice that developers
band ‘If we stay in San Antonio, I want to
the late ‘90s.
were itching to demolish. Then, in 2003,
live here.’”
The Lanes (and others) finally got a
Dallas developer Brian Potashnik, owner of
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Southwest Housing, approached the Deco District neighborhood associations with a proposal to build a gated retirement complex on the semi-vacant lot just behind Bihl Haus and invited the activists to decide how best to use the Bihl residence. A professor of art history and an art lover, McIntyre voiced her opinion. “I said, ‘We need an arts center,’” she recalls. “I saw Brian kind of close in on himself for a moment, but then he looked up and said, ‘That’s a good idea.’ I quickly put a committee together, and in a couple of months we had a proposal for him, which the company accepted. In the meantime Eric was doing some research, and he found the daughter of the man who built the house, Aileen Bihl Locklar. She was the one who told us about the stones from the Alamo barricade. That changed everyone’s attitude toward the building. Southwest Housing paid for the restoration. It was altogether a perfect example of private, public and corporate collaboration. This is how all projects in existing communities should be done.” The project won the Conservation Society’s award for restoration and innovative reuse. Today Bihl Haus Arts is a thriving gallery that mounts seven to eight exhibits a year and hosts 20 or so poetry and music events, plus discussions on socially relevant topics. Altogether, McIntyre estimates that since Bihl Haus opened its doors in 2005, some 500 artists have taken part in its often multidisciplinary programs — visual artists, poets and writers, musicians and theater artists. About 60 percent have been women, who still don’t have the same opportunities as men to show their work, notes McIntyre. “It’s important to me to give opportunities to women,” she says. Under her leadership, Bihl Haus has also forged a close relationship with the residents of the retirement community, the Primrose at Monticello Park Senior Apartments, with whom it shares the gated property. Residents serve as gallery docents and help in many other ways, and they also take art classes for free and exhibit their work through the Go!Arts program, now supported by the WellMed Charitable Foundation. The successful program, which will be expanded to other retirement settings, fits perfectly with Bihl Haus’ mission to “create community through the arts,” whose other component is the participation of professional artists who live in the area. About 70 of them took part in another Bihl Haus initiative, the On and Off Fredericksburg Studio Tour in February, a three-day event that also engaged other nearby organizations and businesses. Among the participating artists were well-known names such as Danville Chadbourne, David Zamora Casas, Angel Rodriguez-Diaz, Carol Cisneros, Kathleen Trenchard, Dale Jenssen, Laurel Gibson and David Rubin, who ls the curator of contemporary art at the San Antonio Museum of Art. Art by each participant will be on exhibit at Bihl Haus through March 24.
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Among the works on display at Bill Haus Arts is this painting by Eric Lane. One of the gallery's missions is to spotlight artists who live in the area.
ART HAS ALWAYS BEEN PART OF HER LIFE Growing up in the shadow of the El Paso Museum of Art with a mother who plastered the walls of their house with reproductions of famous paintings, young Kellen was immersed in art all through childhood and adolescence. She taught school in El Paso for a while and worked as an assistant to an art history professor at UT El Paso. The latter experience ultimately decided her choice to pursue art history through both a master’s degree and a Ph.D. While working on her doctoral thesis in Albuquerque, N.M., she met and married Lane, whom she credits for being instrumental in guiding the negotiations to save the Bihl Haus. As an art historian, McIntyre focused primarily on Latin American art, with a secondary focus on the art of women and minorities. She taught both at UTSA (eight years) and briefly at the University of the Incarnate Word but considers herself fortunate to be doing what she is doing now. “I love working with so many hard-working artists,” she says. “San Antonio is a great place for making art but a terrible place to make a living from art.” Bihl Haus helps whenever possible. Artists are never asked to donate work for any purpose, and the gallery tries to shoulder both the costs of installation and offer a stipend to the artist, at least for larger, one-person installations. The director’s goal is to “pay every artist for their show.” While that may not yet be possible, the exposure artists get at Bihl Haus — and potential sales — are a great help. As to what guides her in selecting what to show, she says, “I like the big production, when the whole gallery is one coherent concept show, like what we just did with Jane Madrigal. The other thing I like is artwork that has meaning, social commentary, something that’s deeply meaningful to the artist. Of course, the art has to be good. Too much contemporary art has no meaning.”
For information about upcoming shows and events at Bihl Haus Arts, go to www.bihlhausarts.org.
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Entertainment & The Arts
Performance
rming Arts Shen Yun Perfo tre ea Lila Cockrell Th 13 20 , -17 14 April
Music Robert Earl-Keen-Porch Tables Floore’s Country Store 3/9 Sat, 9 pm Willie Nelson and Family Majestic Theatre 3/11 Mon, 7:30 pm The Moody Blues Majestic Theatre 3/12 Tue, 8 pm Merle Haggard Floore’s Country Store 3/14 Thu, 8 pm Rodney Foster and Jack Ingram Featuring Bruce Robison and Kelly Willis Empire Theatre 3/22 Fri, 7:30 pm Band of Heathens Floore’s Country Store 3/22 Fri, 9 pm Winter Jam Tour Spectacular AT&T Center 3/30 Sat Carrie Underwood Freeman Coliseum 4/25 Thu, 7:30 pm Million Dollar Quartet Majestic Theatre 4/2-7 www.majesticempire.com Two Cellos Majestic Theatre 4/14 Sun, 7:30 pm Foreigner Majestic Theatre 4/15 Mon, 7:30 pm Chicago Majestic Theatre 4/16 Tue, 8 pm The Gypsy Kings Majestic Theatre 4/26 Fri, 8 pm
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Events
Comedy
FIESTA San Antonio 4/18-28 (210) 227-51 91
George Lopez Majestic Theatre 3/28-30 Thu-Sat, 8 pm
Little Big Town: The Tornado Tour Majestic Theatre 4/28 Sun, 7:30 pm
Symphony Fire & Blood Majestic Theatre 3/8-9 Fri and Sat, 8 pm The Four Seasons Majestic Theatre 3/22-23 Fri and Sat, 8 pm Verdi Requiem Majestic Theatre 4/12-13 Fri and Sat, 8 pm Fiesta Pops Majestic Theatre 4/19-20 Fri and Sat, 8 pm
Theater
Rainbow Fish Empire Theatre 3/7 Thu, 9:45 am, 11:45 am, 6:30 pm YO Gabba Gabba: Get the Sillies Out Majestic Theatre 3/16 Sat, 2 pm and 5 pm Laura Ingalls Wilder Children’s Fine Art Series Empire Theatre 3/19 Tue, 9:45 am, 11:45 am, 6:30 pm Menopause: The Musical Empire Theatre 3/23-24 www.majesticempire.com
Comedy Jim Gaffigan Majestic Theatre 3/20 Wed, 7 pm
Art SOUTHWEST SCHOOL OF ART Mock/Bite Thru 4/28 Julie Speed: Cut-Up Thru 4/28
Museums
INSTITUTE OF TEXAN CULTURES Arte Chihuahua Thru 5/5 Fiesta Medal Mania 3/25-7/8 Girl Power! Thru 7/14 MCNAY ART MUSEUM Printed in San Antonio Thru 5/12 Real/Surreal Selections from the Whitney Museum of American Art Thru 5/19 The Human Face and Form Thru 5/19
Monty Python’s Spamalot Majestic Theatre 3/24 Sun, 2 pm and 7 pm
Majority Rules: A Decade of Contemporary Art Acquisitions Thru 9/15
Super Why Live: You’ve got the Power Majestic Theatre 4/17 Wed, 6 pm
SAN ANTONIO MUSEUM OF ART Pasión Popular: Spanish and Latin American Folk Art from Cecere Collection 4/6-8/18
Luminous Impressions Thru 4/7 WITTE MUSEUM Patriotism and Pageantry: Fiesta Honors the Military 4/18- 8/18 Dinosaurs Unearthed: Bigger. Better. Feathered… Thru 9/2
Events Orchid Reflections Alamo Orchid Society San Antonio Garden Center 3/8-10 Fri-Sun Sand Sculptures Exhibit San Antonio Botanical Garden 3/8-15 www.sabot.com Luminaria Arts Night Hemisfair Park 3/9 Sat (210) 212-4999 St. Patrick’s Day Arts and Crafts Show River Walk Extension 3/15-17 (210) 227-4262 St. Patrick’s Day Parade River Walk Extension 3/17 Sun, (210) 227-4262 Texas Cavaliers River Parade San Antonio River Walk 4/22 Mon, 7 pm - 9:30 pm Night in Old San Antonio (NIOSA) La Villita 4/23-26 Tue-Fri, 5:30 pm - 10:30 pm Battle of Flowers Parade Parade Route 4/26 12:30 pm - 4 pm Fiesta Flambeau Night Parade Parade Route 4/27 Sat, 7:45 pm - 11 pm
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American
BIGA ON THE BANKS BOUDRO’S CAPPY’S CAPPYCCINO’S BISTRO CYPRESS GRILL ANNE MARIES’S BISTRO SAN ANTONIO CAFÉ CHEESECAKE FACTORY THE GRILL AT LEON SPRINGS GUENTHER HOUSE HOULIHAN'S J. ALEXANDER’S JOSEPHINE STREET KONA GRILL LIBERTY BAR MADRID ROOM MAGIC TIME MACHINE MAMA'S CAFE RAINFOREST CAFÉ SCENIC LOOP CAFE SILO ELEVATED CUISINE VINEYARD
203 S. St. Mary’s 225-0722 314 E. Commerce 224-1313 5011 Broadway 828-9669 5003 Broadway 828-6860 170 S. Main St., #A, Boerne (830) 248-1353 555 Funston Place 826-5800 1150 S. Alamo 271-7791 7400 San Pedro 798-0769 24116 IH-10 W. 698-8797 205 E. Guenther 227-1061 14601 IH-35 N. 651-4744 494-3371 385 N. Loop 1604 W. 555 E. Basse 824-0275 400 E. Josephine 224-6169 15900 La Cantera Pkwy 877-5355 1111 S. Alamo 227-1187 300 E. Travis 227-4392 902 N.E. Loop 410 828-1470 2442 Nacogdoches 826-8303 7929 Pat Booker Rd 653-2002 517 N. Presa 223-3297 25615 Boerne Stage Rd. 687-1818 1133 Austin Highway 824-8686 483-8989 434 N. Loop 1604 27315 FM 3009 (830) 980-8033
Asian Hsiu Yu 8338 Broadway St San Antonio, TX 78209 (210) 828-2273 BIG KAHUNAS TOKYO STEAKHOUSE CHINA BISTRO DING HOW FORMOSA GARDENS FUJIYA GOLDEN WOK HSIU YU ILSONG GARDEN INDIA OVEN INDIA PALACE KOI KAWA MENCIUS’S GOURMET MON THAI BISTRO P. F. CHANG’S SUSHIHANA SUSHI ZUSHI
TAIPEI THAI KITCHEN THAI LAO RESTAURANT TOKYO STEAK HOUSE TONG’S THAI
RUDY’S COUNTRY STORE
TWO BROTHERS BBQ
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ACADIANA BOURBON STREET SEAFOOD PAT O’BRIEN’S
1289 S.W. Loop 410 2815 N. Loop 1604 121 Alamo Plaza
674-0019 545-0666 212-8698
European Crumpets 3920 Harry Wurzbach San Antonio, TX 78209 (210) 821-5600 ANAQUA GRILL BISTRO VATEL BOARDWALK BISTRO CITRUS COCO CHOCOLATE CRUMPETS FIG TREE FREDERICK’S FREDERICK’S BISTRO THE GAZEBO AT LOS PATIOS HOUSTON STREET BISTRO LAS CANARIAS LA FRITE BELGIAN BISTRO LION & ROSE ENGLISH PUB
LÜKE MESON EUROPEAN DINING WAXY O’CONNOR’S
555 S. Alamo 218 E. Olmos 4011 Broadway 150 E. Houston 18402 Hwy. 281,#114 3920 Harry Wurzbach 515 Villita 7701 Broadway 14439 N.W. Military #100 2015 N.E. Loop 410 204 E. Houston 112 College 728 S. Alamo 5148 Broadway 842 N.W. Loop 410 700 E. Sonterra Blvd. 125 E. Houston 923 N. Loop 1604 E. 234 Riverwalk
229-1000 828-3141 824-0100 227-9700 491-4480 821-5454 224-1976 828-9050 888-1500 655-6171 476-8600 518-1000 224-7555 822-7673 798-4154 798-5466 227-5853 690-5811 229-9299
Hamburgers 741 W. Ashby Pl 8342 W. IH-10 10103 Huebner Road 4531 N.W. Loop 410 1011 N. E. Loop 410 9030 Wurzbach 8822 Wurzbach 8230 Marbach 8338 Broadway 6905 Blanco Rd. 1031 Patricia 8440 Fredericksburg 4051 Broadway 7959 Fredericksburg 4901 Broadway 255 E. Basse 15900 La Cantera Pkwy 1810 N.W. Military IH-10 W. and Wurzbach 203 S. St. Mary’s 999 E. Basse 18720 Stone Oak 2211 N.W. Military 18802 Stone Oak 445 McCarty 126 W. Rector 9405 San Pedro 1146 Austin Highway
733-8473 541-8100 340-7944 340-7944 828-9988 615-7553 615-8282 674-2577 828-2273 366-4508 366-1033 692-5262 805-8111 615-1288 822-3253 507-1000 507-6500 340-7808 691-3332 472-2900 826-8500 545-6100 366-3012 403-3316 344-8366 524-9908 341-4461 829-7345
Barbecue
BUN ‘N’ BARREL THE BARBEQUE STATION CHIT CHAT BBQ THE COUNTY LINE
Cajun/Creole
1150 Austin Hwy. 610 N.E. Loop 410 218 N. Cherry 111 W. Crockett 10101 I-10 W. 24152 IH-10 W. 15560 I-35 N. 10623 Westover Hills 12656 West Ave .
828-2829 691-3332 271-2888 229-1491 641-1998 698-2141 653-7839 520-5552 496-0222
BIG’Z BURGER JOINT BOBBY J’S BUCKHORN SALOON BURGER BOY CHRIS MADRID’S CHEESY JANE’S CHESTER’S HAMBURGERS
FATTY’S FUDDRUCKERS GOURMET BURGER GRILL LONGHORN CAFE MO MAK’S RED ROBIN SAM’S BURGER JOINT TEXAS HAMBURGER CO
2303 N. Loop 1604 W. 13247 Bandera Rd. 318 E. Houston St. 2323 N. St. Marys 1900 Blanco 4200 Broadway 1006 N.E. Loop 410 9980 IH-10 W. 16609 San Pedro 621 Pat Booker 1624 E.Commerce 115 Alamo Plaza. 8602 Botts Ln. 18414 Hwy. 281 N. 17625 Blanco Rd. 13838 Jones Maltsberger. 1750 N. 1604 330 E. Grayson St. 9010 Huebner Rd.
408-2029 695-4941 247-4000 735-1955 735-3552 826-0800 805-8600 699-1222 494-3333 658-3000 299-8110 223-9944 824-6703 545-3800 492-0301 481-3600 494-2500 223-2830 699-1189
Italian Scuzzi’s 4035 N Loop 1604 W San Antonio, TX (210) 493-8884 ALDINO AT THE VINEYARD ALDO'S RISTORANTE BRAVO CUCINA ITALIANA CAPPARELLI’S ON MAIN CARRABBA’S ITALIAN GRILL DOUGH PIZZERIA IL SOGNO OSTERIA LORENZO’S
1203 N. Loop 1604 W. 8539 Fredericksburg 15900 La Cantera Pkwy. 2524 N. Main 12507 IH-10 W. 6989 Blanco 200 E. Grayson, #100 8032 Fredericksburg Rd.
340-0000 696-2536 877-9300 735-5757 694-4191 979-6363 223-3900 692-9900
FOOD & WINE W LA FOCACCIA ITALIAN GRILL LITTLE ITALY LUCE RISTORANTE E ENOTECA LUCIANO’S MICHELINO’S MILANO RISTORANTE PAESANOS
PIATTI PICCOLO’S POMPEII ITALIAN GRILL RISTORANTE LUCIANO SCUZZI’S ITALIAN GRILL TRE TRATTORIA
800 S. Alamo 824 Afterglow 11255 Huebner 849 E. Commerce 401 South Alamo 521 River Walk 11802 Wurzbach 1907 Nacogdoches 555 E. Basse 111 W. Crockett Loop 1604 at N.W. Military 255 E. Basse 5703 Evers Rd. 16019 Nacogdoches 7400 San Pedro 4035 N. 1604 W. 4003 Broadway 401 S. Alamo
223-5353 349-2060 561-9700 223-0500 888-7030 223-2939 493-3611 821-6373 828-5191 227-2782 493-1604 832-0300 647-5524 946-5518 377-0022 493-8884 805-0333 223-0401
Pizza
CALIFORNIA PIZZA KITCHEN FLORIO’S PIZZA GUILLERMO’S MISS ELLIE’S SORRENTO TRILOGY PIZZA BISTRO VOLARE GOURMET PIZZA
DEMO’S
7115 Blanco 2501 N. St. Mary’s 555 Bitters 12651 Vance Jackson 19141 Stone Oak Pkwy. 5440 Babcock Rd. 16602 San Pedro 7159 W US Hiwy 90 8250 Agora Pkwy., #120 255 E. Basse, #384 11224 Huebner, #201
342-2772 732-7777 496-0555 877-5001 495-2672 699-6688 403-0565 674-3464 659-2244 804-1118 641-1313
Mexican/Latin El Jarro 13421 San Pedro San Antonio, TX 78216 (210) 494-5084 ÁCENAR MODERN TEX-MEX AJUÚA! CUISINE DE MEXICO ALAMO CAFÉ ALDACO'S AZUCA NUEVO LATINO CASA RIO CIELITO LINDO EL CHAPARRAL EL JARRO DE ARTURO EL MIRADOR EL MIRASOL ALTA COCINA FRIDA’S MEXICAN CUISINE IRON CACTUS MEXICAN GRILL LA FOGATA LA FONDA ON MAIN LA FONDA SUNSET RIDGE LA FONDA OAK HILLS LA HACIENDA DE LOS BARRIOS LA MARGARITA LA POSADA DEL REY LOS BARRIOS MAMACITA’S MI TIERRA CAFE AND BAKERY ORIGINAL MEXICAN PALOMA BLANCA PALOMA RIVER WALK PAPPASITO’S CANTINA PERICO’S BAR AND GRILL PICANTE GRILL PICO DE GALLO RIO RIO CANTINA ROSARIO’S SALSALITO’S SAZO’S LATIN GRILL SOLUNA COCINA MEXICANA TOMATILLOS CANTINA
699-4275 424-2014 805-8646 223-5587 499-1258 824-0055 404-1818 828-3354
Seafood
Mediterranean
BIN 555 COOL CAFÉ COPA WINE BAR GREEK TO ME JOHN THE GREEK MIMI & DIMI’S PAPOULI’S GRILL
11745 IH-10 W. 255 E. Basse Rd. 7701 Broadway 618 McCullough 903 E. Bitters Rd 5146 Broadway 19141 Stone Oak Pkwy. 5054 Broadway
FISH CITY GRILL FUSION SEAFOOD, STEAK LANDRY’S SEAFOOD PAPPADEAUX SEAFOOD OSTRA ON THE RIVER WILDFISH SEAFOOD GRILLE
18130 Hwy. 281 N. 11703 Huebner Road 517 N. Presa 76 N.E. Loop 410 212 W. Crockett 1834 N.W. Loop 1604
495-3474 694-4201 527-1845 340-7143 396-5817 493-1600
Southwestern
CALIZA GRILL CANYON CAFE FRANCESCA’S AT SUNSET ORO RESTAURANT AND BAR ROARING FORK ZUNI GRILL
420 W. Market 225 E. Basse 16641 La Cantera Pkwy. 705 E. Houston 1806 N.W. Loop 1604 223 Losoya
224-6500 225-0722 558-6500 225-5100 479-9700 227-0864
Soul Food 146 E. Houston 11703 Huebner 10060 IH-10 W. 14250 San Pedro 100 Hoefgen 20079 Stone Oak Pkwy. 713 S. Alamo 430 E. Commerce 19141 Stone Oak Pkwy. 15103 Bandera 2838 N. Loop 1604 13421 San Pedro 722 S. St. Mary’s 13489 Blanco 3023 Thousand Oaks 200 River Walk 2427 Vance Jackson 2415 N. Main 6402 N. New Braunfels 350 Northaven 18747 Redland Rd. 120 Produce Row 999 E. Basse 4223 Blanco 8030 IH-10 W. 218 Produce Row 528 River Walk 5800 Broadway 215 Losoya 10501 IH-10 W. 10820 Bandera 1439 E. Sonterra Blvd. 3810 Broadway 111 S. Leona 421 E. Commerce 910 S. Alamo 14535 Nacogdoches 11523 Bandera 101 Bowie 7959 Broadway 3210 Broadway
222-2362 877-0600 691-8827 495-2233 222-0561 494-0561 225-5550 225-6718 545-6965 695-8302 490-8302 494-5084 225-9444 479-8765 496-3023 224-9835 340-1337 733-0621 824-4231 342-8981 497-8000 227-7140 828-5666 732-6017 341-5424 225-1262 224-9951 822-6151 212-0566 691-8974 684-5376 402-6006 822-3797 225-6060 226-8462 223-1806 646-8088 558-6788 223-1000 930-8070 824-3005
MAMA LEE'S SOUL FOOD
6060 Montgomery
653-6262
Steaks Chama Gaucha 18318 Sonterra Place San Antonio, TX 78258 (210) 564-9400
Fleming’s 255 East Basse Rd. San Antonio, TX 78209 (210) 824-9463 ANTLERS LODGE THE BARN DOOR BOLO’S ROTISSERIE GRILLE CHAUMA GAUCHA FLEMING’S STEAKHOUSE GREY MOSS INN KIRBY’S STEAKHOUSE LITTLE RHEIN STEAKHOUSE MORTON’S STEAKHOUSE MYRON’S STEAKHOUSE OUNCE STEAKHOUSE THE PALM PERRY’S STEAKHOUSE RUTH'S CHRIS
9800 Hyatt Resort Dr. 8400 N. New Braunfels 9821 Colonnade 18318 Sonterra Place 255 E. Basse 10901 Scenic Loop 123 N. Loop 1604 E. 231 S. Alamo 849 E. Commerce 10003 NW Military 1401 N. Loop 1604 W. 233 E. Houston 15900 LaCantera Pkwy 7720 Jones Maltsberger 1170 E. Commerce
520-4001 824-0116 691-8888 564-9400 824-9463 695-8301 404-2221 225-1212 228-0700 493-3031 493-6200 226-7256 558-6161 821-5051 227-8847
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WEDDINGS W
Parish Photography
Mr. and Mrs. Cullen James Vetter (Courtney Leigh Wendel) December 29, 2012
Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin James Ruttenberg (Doren Marisa Fein) December 31,2012
David Sixt
David Sixt
Mr. and Mrs. Curtis Varley (Catharine Collar) December 15, 2012
Parish Photography
Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Matthew Troncoso (Cynthia Ashley Bagnetto) November 17, 2012
Straughan Photography
Straughan PhotographyÂ
Mr. and Mrs. Javier Jesse Hernandez (Keri Alexandra Renfro) September 1, 2012
Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Alanis (Melissa Quinones) January 12, 2013
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W CALENDAR OF EVENTS
HOPE FOR THE FUTURE PRESENTS
KHAKI & PLAID GALA Northeast Education Foundation Starlight Gala March 2 Omni Hotel Colonnade (210) 493-7151
North Star North Star Gives March 21 Saks Fifth Avenue Wing (210) 342-2325
San Antonio Symphony League 43rd Annual Symphony Ball March 2 J.W. Marriott Resort (210) 680-2760
Village at Incarnate Word Champagne and Shamrock Gala March 21 Oak Hills Country Club (210) 829-7561 x150
Any Baby Can Angel Society Breakfast March 6 Oblate School of Theology (210) 227-0170
Zeta Tau Alpha Crown Affair Luncheon March 21 San Antonio Country Club (210) 262-4698
World Affairs Council International Citizen of the Year Awards Honoring Dick Evans March 6 Marriott Rivercenter (210) 308-9494
Say Sí Small-Scale Works for a Larger Cause March 22 Say Si (210) 212-8666
Sylvia Gaona, David Robinson, Archbishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller and Dave Rettinger
Dr. Paul Saenz, Bishop Oscar Cantu with Mary Alice and Henry Cisneros
OPERA PICCOLA PRESENTS
ARTS San Antonio Gala Benefit with the Joffrey Ballet March 7 McNay Art Museum (210) 226-2891
Boystown of Texas Race for Prevention of Child Abuse March 23 Valero (210) 271-1010
City Year San Antonio Ripples of Hope Gala March 7 Jack Guenther Pavilion at the Briscoe Museum (210) 247-4430
Clarity Child Guidance Center Pinwheel Run for Hope 5K Trail Run, Walk and Fun Run March 23 Medical Foundation Trails (210) 582-6406
Gardenia and Musical Club Julian Gold Style Show and Luncheon March 7 Oak Hills Country Club (210) 824-2493
Culinaria Walk/Run: 5K Wine and Beer Run The Shops at La Cantera March 23 (210) 822-9555
American Heart Association Heart of Gold Gala March 9 Westin La Cantera (210) 617-2609
Foundation Fighting Blindness Vision Walk March 23 City of Olmos Park Gun Club (972) 378-3555
NAWBO Entrepreneurial Spirit Awards March 20 Oak Hills Country Club (210) 408-1220
Providence Catholic High School Reaching for the Stars Gala March 23 Providence High School (210) 224-6651
THE PHANTOM’S BALL
Drs. Harriett and Ricardo Romo, Mark Richter, Mary Jane McMahon and Carol Karotkin
Janet and Ben Adams
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SAN ANTONIO RODEO PRESENTS St. Peter’s-St. Joseph’s Red Shoes Gala March 23 Grand Hyatt Hotel (210) 531-8554
Dress for Success Something to Share Gala April 11 Grand Hyatt (210) 737-1515
The Briscoe Western Art Museum Night of Artists Art Sale and Exhibition March 23 The Briscoe Western Art Museum (210) 299-4499
San Antonio Public Library Foundation 30th Annual Gala April 12 The Briscoe Western Art Museum (210) 225-4728
The Winston School 27th Annual Auction and Dinner March 23 Don Strange Ranch (210) 615-6544
Ronald McDonald House 3rd Annual CHAIR-ity April 13 Westin La Cantera (210) 614-2554
Junior Achievement 2013 Business Hall of Fame Awards April 1 Marriott Rivercenter (210) 490-2007
Sembradores of San Antonio Fashion Show and Luncheon April 14 Omni Hotel Colonnade (210) 658-0212
Cancer Center Council Spring Luncheon April 2 Omni Hotel Colonnade (210) 450-5571
TMI-The Episcopal School of Texas Panther Scramble April 15 Fair Oaks Ranch (210) 698-7171
CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Foundation National Speakers Luncheon with Capt. Chesley B. Sullenberger, III April 3 Omni Hotel Colonnade (210) 704-3726
Fiesta San Antonio Commission Fiesta San Antonio April 18-28 Various Locations (210) 227-5191
Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure April 6 Alamodome (210) 222-9009
Alamo Heights Rotary Club Heights Night April 19 University of the Incarnate Word (210) 824-2462
COWGIRLS LIVE FOREVER
Rosemary Kowalski, Lila Cockrell and Debby Valdez
Bonnie Korbel and Sue McClane with Weezie Chesney and Caroline Carrington
Tracie and Keith Martin with Nancy Loeffler
Catholic Charities 10th Annual Lifetime of Faith and Service Awards April 10 Grand Hyatt (210) 242-3110 Respite Care of San Antonio Celebration of Love and Children Dinner April 10 The Vista at Valero (210) 737-1212
San Antonio Food Bank Taste of The Dominion May 2 Dominion Country Club (210) 337-3663
University of the Incarnate Word Swing-in-Auction Party May 2 Rosenberg Sky Room (210) 829-6013 Lee Marie Lee, Heather Kraft, Alice Welder and Sara Walker
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W WOMEN ON THE MOVE
WOMEN ON THE MOVE
Lynette Best-Gray
Kelly Blaskowsky
Marilyn Hartmann
Lynette Best-Gray has joined First Call Restoration at their new San Antonio office as a marketing representative. Previously she was with IESI/Progressive Waste in Seguin for 11 years and the City of Seguin prior to that. Best-Gray graduated from Incarnate Word College with a bachelor’s degree in communication arts.
Kelly Blaskowsky was recently promoted to senior regional manager by the NRP Group, overseeing 23 multifamily projects. She was recently elected president of the IREM chapter in San Antonio and serves on three national committees within the IREM organization. She joined the NRP Group and obtained her CPM through the IREM San Antonio chapter in 2008.
Security Service Federal Credit Union announces the selection of Marilyn Hartmann as commercial loan production manager. She will contribute to strategic planning in the commercial services department and manage the loan production staff in the credit union’s market in Texas, Colorado and Utah. She joined SSFCU in 2004 and served as a senior commercial loan officer for eight years.
Cristina Corbo Jennings Cristina Corbo Jennings has joined Schmoyer Reinhard LLP as senior counsel, focusing on ERISA and employee benefits, including plan design, administration and compliance. She will also advise on employment and benefit issues in business transactions, executive compensation and nonqualified plans. She received her J.D. from St. Mary’s University and her B.S. in economics from Texas A&M, with honors.
Ruby Mata
Renetta Quintana
Security Service Federal Credit Union announces that Ruby Mata has been selected as branch manager of its Highland Hills location. She is responsible for the overall operation of the branch, including cash operations, member service and facility maintenance. She has 18 years of experience in the financial services industry.
Renetta Quintana, regional property manager for the NRP Group, is the president of the San Antonio Apartment Association for 2013. Having managed all types of multifamily properties for over 20 years, she now focuses on the market rate division for NRP. The winner of numerous awards, she serves on the board of directors for Texas Apartment Association and National Apartment Association.
Send your announcements to: SAN ANTONIO WOMAN 8603 Botts Lane San Antonio, TX 78217 • For information, please call (210) 826-5375. 136 | sawoman.com
ASTROFORECAST W
PISCES February 19-March 20 Double-check all your facts and sources of information before you make any public presentations, as you can inadvertently contribute to confusion and fuzziness with people totally misunderstanding you. By mid-March you recover your poise and grace. Learn to appreciate and encourage yourself to a well-deserved retreat and respite from the everyday hubbub of life. Unexpected financial windfalls are strong at the end of March; celebrate!
ARIES March 21-April 20 Pay heed to unconscious messages coming from your dream states. Although at first they may mystify you, you will finally connect the dots and realize you are ready to roll up your sleeves and manifest your highest ideals. You are famously known to take quick actions; you’ll be amazed at how much quicker your responses and actions are that leave you breathless, especially toward the end of March. Community causes galvanize you; lead the way!
AstroForecast By LANCE K. RODRÍGUEZ
VIRGO August 23-September 22 You are defining yourself and all partners in life with the month of March. Be wary of ego conflicts erupting because of an individual playing out an “I’m always right in spite of how wrong I may appear” game. Grudge matches can ensue with these behaviors, and the eventual development of resentments, regrets and remorse can overwhelm all parties involved. The latter half of April is a better time period for finances, recreation and lighthearted gatherings.
SAGITTARIUS November 23-December 20 You are now taking robust strides in attracting a greater sense of peace, balance and harmony in your life. The following mantra will work well with you: “I attract the best people into my life daily.” Broaden your communications and information skills, as you will be a touchstone to many. Appreciate your inner creativity, as you are very confident of what you can produce. Above all, you deserve the best, and the best deserve you!
TAURUS April 21-May 20 Be compassionate with a dear friend who may be experiencing some trials and tribulations. No matter how emotional stress creates chaos, guide your friend to clear the mental cobwebs so clearer goals and objectives can be better met. You are like the treasure chest that keeps on giving. Mid-April will witness the spotlight on you and your personal projects. Gather friends and family to a sumptuous dinner that will provide lasting warm memories.
CANCER June 22-July 22 If you can’t even think of what you want in the now, here and present moment, you are less prepared for the future. Well, the future is beckoning you to target future aspirations you can cultivate now; you will harvest those aspirations later around your birthday. Be alert to passive-aggressive behaviors from other individuals, as they are not supporting you as you think you understand. April is a good month for acquiring antiques and collectibles.
LIBRA September 23-October 22 You are amazed at how some of your co-workers are like a dog chasing its own tail. Round and round they go ceaselessly, and then you become disoriented, dizzy and disconcerted. You are known for your natural grace and diplomacy; wield them more assertively to resolve the workplace issues. Flashy and spontaneous individuals are attracted to you, and they enjoy your company. If they are temporary in your life, at least they aren’t chasing canine tail!
CAPRICORN December 21-January 19 Hindsight has its purpose, too, for you now. Yes, you prefer foresight, but if you didn’t experience the hindsight, you wouldn’t learn from past mistakes. You will thrive with your priorities, as you are acquiring greater determination and endurance to get you to the finish line. Late April is a challenge involving impatience. You usually have great patience naturally, but something deflects you off course. Refrain from rash and reckless actions.
GEMINI May 21-June 21 Confusion, uncertainty and outright miscommunications, especially involving management, plague you through the first half of March. You feel like the boat lost in a sea of fog without a lighthouse within sight. The second half of April your bearings will return, and you will definitely know what course of actions are required of you to aggressively pursue. Late April your brain is like a broiler plate: hot and sizzling with innovative ideas. Be daring!
LEO July 23-August 22 You are experiencing a lot of mental adjustments in your life currently. What has become stale and stagnant in your life is ready to be surrendered. At first you may consider them sacrifices, yet you know on a deep level you’re ready for soulful transformation. Exciting and innovative individuals are coming into your life; they stimulate as well as enthrall you. Promote a “Yes, I can!” philosophy, and you will feel more alive than ever.
SCORPIO October 23-November 22 In anything and everything you do, is your heart really into it? You may question your motivations, and if you do, practice meditation to clear the air so your soul comforts and guides you. Argumentative individuals can pop into the scene in late April. You may at first feel challenged, yet you can defuse situations by maintaining a sense of fairness, cooperation and what is right as well as appropriate for all parties concerned. You are a guiding light.
AQUARIUS January 20-February 18 You are like the cat’s meow, so lap it up while you can! Unusual connections and links with people astound you. Small ideas grow into big ones just like kernels of popcorn become larger when exposed to heat. Trendy, intellectual locations where individuals gather to openly discuss ideas capture your imagination. A revolution of the mind is occurring, and you are bristling with eagerness to step into your future. Keep it all popping fresh!
Lance K. Rodríguez is a professional Astrology/Tarot Consultant as well as a Usui/Karuna® Reiki Master. He can be reached at AstroLance.net. march/april 2013 |
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1944 San Antonians bring out their bicycles as spring arrives.
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