San Antonio Woman Magazine May/June 2023

May/June 2023

JENNY MARSHALL

Business Owner, Mentor, and Mom Making a Positive Impact on Others

INSPIRING WOMEN IN HOSPITALITY

DOSSIER: ADVERTISING & PR

BEAUTY FOR ALL AGES

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14 Cover Story

24 Guy to Know

44 Women in Business

C O N T R I B U T O R S

Suzanne Pack Photographer

David Teran Photographer

Bill Murphy, MD Writer

Linda Ratner, RN, MBA Writer

Dawn Robinette Writer

Paul J. Watkins Writer

Janis Turk Writer

Welcome back to the latest edition of San Antonio Woman! Inside this issue - and every issue - you’ll find stories of women embracing their unique gifts and talents to make a difference in others and our city.

Our cover woman, Jenny Marshall, brings passion and determination to everything she does. From impacting the lives of others by advocating for them in their career journey to mentoring young women pursuing a pageant title, Jenny thrives on helping others find success. I know you’ll love reading Jenny’s story of being a young business owner and mom who pushes herself to impact everyone she meets positively.

Also, in this issue, we hear from some of San Antonio’s top women in Hospitality, DEI Leadership, and Advertising & PR firms. And in health, you’ll find insight into caring for those suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease, as well as a look at the potential for mental health issues that can accompany bariatric surgery.

I hope you are inspired reading the stories of these incredible San Antonio women! I certainly grow each time I have the opportunity to hear how others are following their passion to make a difference.

Cheers to you all!

Cathleen

Cathleen Lane Publisher and Editor-in-Chief

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Cathleen Lane cathleen@sawoman.com

DIRECTOR OF SALES & PARTNERSHIPS

Dale Lane dale@sawoman.com

ADVERTISING SALES

Cindy Jennings cindy@sawoman.com

WRITERS

Cover: Dawn Robinette

Antonio Gutierrez, Bill Murphy, MD, Linda Ratner, RN MBA, Dawn Robinette, Janis Turk, Paul J. Watkins, Blithe Wiley

PHOTOGRAPHY

Cover: Suzanne Pack Suzanne Pack, Daivd Teran

PRINTING

Shweiki Media

PUBLISHED BY Las Tres Muchachas, LLC.

NOMINATIONS & ADVERTISING INFORMATION

Email: info@sawoman.com

A Las Tres Muchachas Production Cathleen & Dale Lane 300 E Ramsey, Suite 2 San Antonio, Texas 78216 (210) 236-5834

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On the cover:

Photography by Susanne Pack with Celebrated Reflections

Makeup by The Look Beauty Studio @thelook.beautystudio

San Antonio Woman is published bimonthly by Las Tres Muchachas Enterprises (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.

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Your children. Your family. Our purpose.

Jenny Marshall

“Always wear a smile, because you never know how that smile can change someone’s day.”

Creating Success one Person at a Time

By Dawn Robinette APR |

The familiar refrain that San Antonio is the biggest small town is spot-on when you chat with Jenny Marshall, partner and co-owner of Preferred Counsel Legal Placement Services. You’ve barely said hello before the native San Antonian with a bright smile quickly finds common connections.

“San Antonio? It’s special. We have a small community, especially in the legal field,” she explains. With her beaming smile and outgoing personality, it’s easy to see why she is great at connecting.

“Networking is my favorite thing! The opportunity to meet new people excites me. That could be social networking, that could be event networking, that could be anything. What I think is important is to always have a smile and always think about something that can make yourself relatable to the person you’re talking to,” she explains as tips for networking success. “Being relatable sets you up for being memorable. Then when something comes up, they think of you. People call me all the time, and if I’m not able to help, I’m able to pass them on to the right person. That opens it up for other opportunities.”

And opportunities are what she fills at Preferred Counsel Legal Placement Services. “I’m essentially a realtor of people. Companies and law firms hire me to find staff or lawyers for their business. It could be temporary, a contract position or full-time. Most of our work is fulltime opportunities. We work with big corporations, we work with small solo firms, international law firms, people that have offices in San Antonio and around the world.”

Much of her work is focused on administrative positions in San Antonio. “Secretarial, paralegal, legal secretary, firm administrator, office manager – anything that falls on the administrative side,” she explains, her face

Photography by Suzanne Pack

lighting up as she describes the process of matching the right candidate to a position.

“I get the opportunity to change people’s lives. I’ve had the chance to help college graduates get their first job out of college, mentor them and help them grow. I’ve been doing this for ten years now, so I’ve had the opportunity to mentor a few candidates who were once a paralegal, then moved into HR, and now they’re the firm administrator for a large law firm. I’ve had the opportunity to change their life in the ways of not just career growth but monetarily. Opportunities where you’ve got a person who goes to work for a private law firm, doubling their salary – changing their life in the sense of growth and getting out of the bubble and being able to work on small transitions to make a big impact in their long term goals.”

“That’s why I say I’m a realtor of people. When you buy your first home, you invest that equity into your home, and then in five years, you move on to a bigger home. It’s a very similar transition with your career. There are people that go to one place, and they stay their entire career –and that’s wonderful. They move up within the ranks. But these days, our careers are different. Some people are getting a better opportunity by making a move.”

She notes that the pandemic shifted the job market. “A very big trend since COVID is the option to work remotely, or the option to go in three days a week and work two days remotely. It is a candidate’s market right now – or in real estate terms, it’s a seller’s market –because there’s low inventory. We have a low inventory of people right now.”

She also sees a shift in the typically male-dominated legal world. “I think it’s important that women, job candidates and clients really understand that we’re in

a season of change. It’s something I’m really passionate about. There are more women graduating from law school. There are more women moving up in the ranks of partnerships. There are more women really leveling the playing field for management positions and attorney positions. It is not male-dominated anymore. Companies are setting standards where there must be a woman on the team, or there has to be a woman who is trying the case. Women are seen as equals,” she explains.

“But women are still paid less for the work that they do. But we’re heading in the right direction. I do everything in my power to work on those transitions and help set these women up for success long term and mentor them to get that next right job. That’s important to me.”

Listening to Marshall talk about the market and the challenge of finding the right fit for the right position, it’s clear that she absolutely loves putting people together.

“I’ve met people that at one point were paralegals and they said, ‘Hey, I’m going to go to law school,’ And I’m like, absolutely, if you need to work during law school, you can take the night program at St. Mary’s. And now

they are lawyers at the same firm where they were they were paralegals. The opportunity to see that person grow and to see that person change their life – that inspires me, and that makes me tick.

“That’s what gets me excited – the opportunity for people to reach their fullest potential. That really makes me very happy. And it inspires me to do better. And do more.”

Doing more includes using her skills in recruiting, interviewing, and public speaking to help professionals and young women learn the importance of carrying yourself with confidence. As a former Miss Helotes and a Miss Fiesta Princess, she was Miss Greater Helotes in the Miss Texas USA Pageant. She now uses her skills to help the contestants of the Miss Helotes Scholarship Pageant. She credits her time in pageants with starting her on the path to where she is now.

“The women are cheerleaders for each other. If you needed something, they would be happy to give it to you. The mentorship I received through pageants was something that really shaped my life. I want to help other women, and to have the opportunity to help

people, creating that sense that you are worth it. If you work hard and you keep working at it, you will get there. That is what pageants taught me.”

With three children ages 8, 5, and 3, Marshall juggles work with family commitments along with her high school sweetheart-turned-husband, Cody. “I’m afforded the awesome opportunity to co-own my company with someone who also has three kids and understands that work/life balance is important – being able to go to my son’s swim meet or to be at a baseball game is important. Sticking to a schedule is important, too, and it’s something I think I do well. Everything, and I do mean everything – is calendared because if it’s not, I’m going to miss something. So prioritizing things when I get to the office and prioritizing tasks is really important for me, and that’s how I kind of manage my work and my personal life.”

Marshall makes time for herself to help keep her positive outlook going. “I work out four to five times during the week, kickboxing or cycling, or I just go to the gym, and they have all these awesome classes that I love. Taking an hour out of my day to do that really does set me up for success for the rest of the day.”

She also believes in starting everything with a positive mindset. “It’s important to me. I try to see the positive in anything that happens in our business because there’s always an option to relationship build. If I meet a candidate and they don’t get the job, I’m able to think about them for another position that might come up in three to six months or in a year and say, ‘This is the perfect position for you.’ We have to see the positive. There’s always another opportunity around the corner.”

“I think if you work hard, you will be given opportunities to make good decisions. And those good decisions will reflect positive outcomes in your life. And if you set a goal and you work really hard for that goal, you can achieve that. You will get to where you need or want to be.

“And always wear a smile, because you never know how that smile can change someone’s day.”

Women are cheerleaders for each other. If you needed something, they would be happy to give it to you.

Women Making an Impact in San Antonio’s Hospitality Leadership

According to the San Antonio Hotel & Lodging Association, hospitality is the third largest industry in San Antonio, representing $16.2 billion annually in economic impact to San Antonio. One of every eight individuals in San Antonio is employed in the hotel industry.

Historically, women have filled the bulk of hourly positions in the hospitality industry, while leadership roles have been traditionally male-dominated. Those trends are starting to change, as evidenced by a May 2023 study conducted by The Penn State School of Hospitality Management, the 2023 Women in Hospitality research report. The report assesses the state of women’s representation in leadership in the hotel industry. Findings show women’s advancement to executive-level roles in 2022 was steady, yet slow.

The study’s key findings include:

• Representation of women at the top levels of hospitality leadership continues to increase, with women making modest gains at the CEO and president levels.

• Women now hold one in four of all chief-level positions at hotel companies, concentrated primarily in human resources and sales/marketing roles.

• At the director level, women and men now occupy an equal number of positions.

The San Antonio hospitality industry reflects these findings, with women continuing to advance into management roles. Read on to meet four of these dynamic local hotel leaders.

By Blithe Wiley | Photography by David Teran

Crystal Resto

Director of Sales and Marketing AC and Element Hotels

Crystal Resto was in her early 20s when she began working as a front desk clerk at a hotel in her hometown of El Paso. She quickly became intrigued by the creativity the sales team brought to the weddings, parties, and other events held at the property, and she soon moved into the sales department. After moving to San Antonio in 2014, Resto continued her career in hotel sales and marketing and has served as the Director of Sales and Marketing for AC and Element Hotels for the past two years.

Resto noted that she is encouraged to see more women moving into leadership roles in the hospitality industry. “Today, it is becoming more common to see women as general managers, directors of food and beverage, and in other leadership positions,” she said. “We are the next generation of leaders in the hospitality industry, and we are proving that you can excel in a leadership role and still have a family.”

Resto is passionate about all things related to travel and tourism. “I love to travel, and I love meeting people who are traveling here from all over the world,” she said. “Every day is different in my job, and I get to meet people from all walks of life.

“I also love being able to create experiences for our guests. In our hotel, we can create anything imaginable for our guests and make it a memorable and special experience. Since the beginning of my hospitality career, I’ve hosted everything from a

rodeo beauty pageant to a barbershop haircutting competition to a three-day Indian wedding event. At the AC and Element, I’m having a great time planning private parties for my customers at our breathtaking rooftop bar, 1Watson.”

According to Resto, the travel industry has definitely changed in the post-pandemic era. “We are seeing a lot more travelers who are focused on mixing business with pleasure,” she explained. “Our guests want to continue living their life with their routines when they aren’t home. To meet their needs, we offer more healthy dining options, top-notch workout facilities, and pet-friendly accommodations. Guests also want to be able to work from anywhere, so we have USB charging ports throughout our properties.”

Resto also noted that one of the best aspects of her job is being able to motivate her team. “I always tell them that I want them to be winners in life, not just at their job. There is nothing better than hiring someone and seeing them grow and get promoted.”

Yojainna Otero

Director of Catering & Conference Services

Yojainna Otero began her career in the hospitality industry in 1998 when she graduated from UTSA with a business management degree with a concentration in tourism management. “My degree program required 700 hours in three different hospitality internships, so I interned at Six Flags Fiesta Texas, the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, and at the Omni La Mansión del Rio hotel,” Otero said. “When I graduated, the Omni La Mansión del Rio General Manager created a management trainee position for me where I had the opportunity to work in all hotel operations departments.”

After working at the Omni La Mansión de Rio for ten years, Otero worked as Director of Catering & Conference Services at the Westin Riverwalk for 14 years. She returned to the Omni La Mansión and Mokara Hotel & Spa in January of this year as Director of Catering & Conference Services.

“I think that it’s crucial for the hotel industry to promote diversity and gender equity,” she said. “It’s important to have women in leadership in our business because we lead with emotional intelligence, which is essential for working with employees and guests.”

When asked about some of the trends in hospitality she is seeing, Otero noted that social media and other online platforms play an increasingly important role in promoting a property and

finding new business opportunities. “Reputation management is huge for us in this industry,” she said. “Positive online reviews are valued now more than ever.”

Otero said that one of her favorite aspects of her job is making memories for clients and guests with her team. “I am blessed to have such a fabulous team of employees,” she said. “We have a group of young and very talented women in our Catering & Conference Services Department. I’m honored to help my team members develop in their careers and professional growth. In fact, the best part of my job is to be able to mentor employees and share what I’ve learned over 25 years in the business.”

For young women who are considering a career in the hospitality industry, Otero has some advice. She emphasized that the number one priority is to develop a strong and professional relationship with everyone they interact with. “As big as the hospitality industry is, it’s also really small, and your reputation is so important.”

Omni La Mansión del Rio and Mokara Hotel & Spa

Stacy Seaborn

Director of Sales and Marketing Hotel Valencia Riverwalk

Hotel Valencia Riverwalk Sales and Marketing Director Stacy Seaborn’s original career goal was to become an architect. Then, at the last minute, during her senior year in high school, she decided to go to culinary school and was accepted into the program at Johnson & Wales in Rhode Island. While there, she gained experience working in the hotel industry, as the school owned two hotels and several restaurants where students were required to work as part of their practicum.

After graduation, she began her hospitality career in catering management, working for several hotels for over a decade. Seaborn was hired eight years ago by Hotel Valencia Riverwalk as Director of Catering but soon moved into her present position.

Seaborn noted several trends in the hospitality industry that have emerged post-COVID. “I think the industry is starting to change,” Seaborn said. “More hotels and their managements are becoming aware that they are running their people ragged with 14-hour days. This had to change to get people to come back to work in hospitality post-COVID. There’s more awareness of the importance of family time for their employees.”

Seaborn also noted that people are traveling differently today. “I see Gen Z leading the trend of valuing experiences over things,” she said. “They are looking at, ‘What is the experience of the travel, of the stay?’ Overall, more travel is taking place in the leisure market, with people taking more trips and emphasizing the total experience.

We are seeing our room packages with add-ons like River Barge Tours and Breakfast in Bed becoming increasingly popular.”

Another hospitality trend Seaborn has seen in 2023 is a huge uptick in group travel. Companies and organizations are holding destination meetings and conferences at nearly pre-COVID levels. “At Hotel Valencia Riverwalk, our group travel is way up,” Seaborn noted. “What’s interesting is these attendees are traveling more like our leisure guests. It’s no longer sitting in meetings for three days – people are also wrapping around personal experiences during their stay at a destination.”

Seaborn said that her passion for working in hospitality stems from her love of working with people and getting to be part of their special experiences, be it a trip, an event, or a wedding. “I also love going to a place I enjoy being at every day,” she said. “And, I like to problem solve. As an independent property, we don’t have the huge corporate name behind us, so we have to be very grassroots and intentional about resolving our issues.”

Amaris Brinks

El Paso native Amaris Brinks moved to San Antonio in 2019 to be closer to family. After graduating from high school, she began working for a chain restaurant as a hostess. The company quickly recognized her passion for people and providing outstanding customer service and offered her the opportunity to travel to different states and locations to train its newest team members and prepare them for grand openings. Eventually, she moved up within the company to the corporate office, overseeing four separate locations.

“As much as I loved this role, it was time for me to move on, which is where my journey with Hotel Havana began,” Brinks explained. “While I’m still relatively new to the hotel industry, by sharing my energy and passion with our guests, I was able to work my way up to the position of Rooms Director. In this role, I oversee the front desk agents and housekeeping departments and ensure that operations run smoothly and efficiently. Each day at Havana, I strive to go above and beyond by inspecting rooms, minibars, and resolving issues if any arise to ensure complete guest satisfaction.”

Brinks noted that she believes it is so important to have women well represented in the hospitality industry, particularly in leadership roles. “Having women in leadership positions brings a diverse set of skills, unique perspectives, and innovative ideas that contribute to improved decision-making for the hospitality industry,” she said. “Female leaders can inspire and encourage other women to pursue

their goals, leading to greater gender equality in the workplace.”

Brinks shared the reasons she loves working in the hospitality industry. “For one, I thrive on the everyday interaction with people – I love meeting all kinds of guests and hearing their stories, she said. “My most important reason, however, is the happiness and comfort we bring to our guests. Knowing that we provide exceptional service, making our hotel a home away from home, is such a warm reward. Last, I love the numerous opportunities for growth in this industry, and the hands-on experience that I have gained at Hotel Havana is priceless.”

Her advice for young women considering a career in hospitality? “Always remain confident in yourself,” she said. “Develop your skills by utilizing available resources, take every opportunity that will help you grow, and go that extra mile. The hospitality industry is always changing, so just be adaptable like a chameleon, by adjusting to any circumstances that arise.”

Rooms Director Hotel Havana

Marc Anderson

President & CEO of Visit San Antonio

By Antonio Gutierrez | Photography by David Teran

During May 20-24, it was “all hands on deck” for Marc Anderson and his talented team at Visit San Antonio. They were caught up in a flurry of activity while San Antonio played host to the U.S. Travel Association’s IPW, the premiere international inbound travel trade show, which showcased the Alamo City on a global level. About 5,100 attendees from more than 60 countries attended, not to mention 600 local volunteers who made our visitors feel at home.

“It’s important because we’ve been working hard over the past 24 months to build San Antonio into a global brand,” Anderson, president & CEO of Visit San Antonio, said during a break from the recent conference. “This conference will assist in driving nearly 400,000 global travelers to San Antonio over the next three years and generating more than $600 million in tourist spend back into our city.”

May 24th also marked Anderson’s official two-year anniversary on the job, having hailed from the Windy City. Prior to relocating to San Antonio, he was chief operating officer for Choose Chicago, the sales and marketing arm for the City of Chicago (his hometown), as well as McCormick Place, the largest convention center in North America.

Since arriving here in 2021, Anderson has wasted no time in rolling up his sleeves and getting to work. “Shortly after I started, we made the decision to make storytelling the main pillar of our organization,” he said. “It encompasses marketing, paid media, earned media and a global development plan. It also included us opening our first overseas representation in the United Kingdom in October 2022.”

How is the tourism and convention industry looking for San Antonio this summer?

We are optimistic. If our hotel occupancy continues to pace, we will reach historic highs. We are already experiencing historic highs with average daily rate and revenue per available room, which is very important if you are a hotel manager. We’re investing 30 percent more in our marketing dollars spend for our summer advertising to ensure the pace continues, and that we not only attract more leisure travelers but more conventions to our city.

What attracted you to San Antonio?

It’s actually unusual in my career for someone to spend their whole life in one city. I’ve always been the type of marketer and sales professional who has to truly believe in the product I’m representing, and I felt San Antonio has so many stories to tell locally and globally. I also felt my experience with Choose Chicago and the Peninsula Hotels, along with my global marketing and public relations background, that I can add value to this city by showcasing our culture, our history and our stories.

What do you enjoy about your role as president and CEO? It makes me proud to represent such a diverse city like San Antonio, which is a historic city and 305 years old. We celebrate our city and are also evolving at such an incredible pace.

What was some of the feedback from visitors who attended the IPW Conference?

The feedback has been phenomenal. Many attendees expressed that this was the best IPW they had ever attended. Delegates from nearly every continent mentioned how they enjoyed our city and the warmth, smiles, and passion of our residents. They had no idea how diverse our community was. It was important for the attendees to experience and explore the city because it is our culture that makes San Antonio unique. The President of the U.S. Travel Association, Geoff Freeman, praised the community for coming together and showcasing our city’s distinctiveness, charm and incredible cuisine. I heard we set the bar high for other cities to follow.

What is the impact of San Antonio’s hospitality industry on our economy?

We are the third largest industry in our city. One in seven San Antonians are employed in hospitality. The money we generate from our city and state boils down to tax revenue. It keeps our schools, police, and fire, for instance, in operation.

Why is San Antonio a great destination for tourists and conventions?

We are a completely walkable city. We are also home to the No. 1 and No. 2 tourist attractions in Texas, the River Walk and the Alamo, which has embarked on a $50 million expansion. The River Walk is something our locals need to experience, as well as visitors from the U.S. and all over the world. It is well maintained with beautiful lights and foliage. We’re also one of the only UNESCO heritage sites in the U.S. and also a UNESCO City of Gastronomy. From a convention standpoint, we have 14,000 hotel rooms downtown at every price point. We have a beautiful Convention Center expanded in 2015, as well as a new expansion and renovation of the Alamodome. The $2.5 billion expansion of our airport is key to growing our convention and leisure market.

Chicago certainly gets cold. So, what are your thoughts about San Antonio’s warm weather?

My wife and I definitely enjoy the weather since we have 300 days of sunshine. It’s nice to be able to get outdoors during the winter.

30, 40,…or 70 AGING REQUIRED….. GROWTH AND CHANGE OPTIONAL

By Bill Murphy, MD, Medical Director, Turquoise Springs Medical Spa

I am told I had a milestone birthday last weekend as I begin my 70th year and 8th decade of life. Or, as Jimmy Buffett says, I am beginning another year to “Just enjoy this ride on my trip around the sun.” I must first count my blessings. I have had a very easy life compared to most people alive today and, indeed, compared to most people who have ever lived. Each decade has had heartache, growth, change, loss, resolution to change, failure, more growth, and much help and advice from others. The last sentence can be summarized as “Life.” Some of us, unfortunately, have more of the “bad words” than the “good words” in the sentence.

I have women and some men of all ages come to the spa and tell me something like the following: “I have a special event coming, and I wish to make a change in my life to coincide with the date of the wedding, reunion, birthday, or anniversary I have coming up.” There is absolutely nothing wrong with this, as it is normal human behavior.

How do you divide the timeline of your life?

I started this exercise by looking at my new decade. My patients are setting goals by their events coming up. No matter your age now, you are looking ahead each day to a goal. Are you trying to make it through each day, to your payday next week, to retirement, to a special vacation you have planned? Your needs are different than the next person, but one thing is the same for everyone. You cannot take care of your needs or

those you love or those who need you if you do not take care of yourself. What does it mean to take care of yourself while setting goals? Self-care helps you acquire some armor or “good words” to help deflect or soften the “bad words” when they appear.

Forty years ago, I would hear from patients, “You look too young to be a doctor. Are you sure you know what you’re doing?” Now, I hear, “You’re not going to retire on me, are you?” I have never

been better at what I do. I am healthy, and I love helping my patients in my pain practice and my medical spa. I love being CMO of my medical group and mentoring young doctors. The 60’s were good; the 70’s will be great.

My goal is to help you set your goal to be happy, healthy, and to be the best person you can be for yourself, so you can be there for those important to you.

When I created Turquoise Springs Medical Spa almost six years ago, I wanted it to be more than an average place to get Botox, filler, and laser treatments.

I have integrated my experience in medicine, pharmacy, holistic treatments, naturopathic medicine, botanicals, and my specialty of anesthesiology and pain management into our treatment menu. We are able to meet not only the aesthetic requests of my patients but also other health, wellness, medical, or hormonal issues which might be part of your plan to improve yourself.

Whether your goal is weight loss, improving your immune system, better sleep, restoration of your skin, more energy and less fatigue, or just a little Botox in the forehead, there is a plan for you. We have a new website that details our Health and Wellness, Weight loss plan, Body contouring techniques, and our new Platinum VIP membership. Schedule a consultation with me, and let’s plan your next month, your next year, your next event, or, like me, your next decade. More importantly, let’s talk about what you want and need to be the best YOU for today. Go to turquoisesprings.com to see what can help.

KNOW AND BE KNOWN

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does not discriminate in admission or educational programs against quali ed students on the basis of race, color, sex, religion,

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sexual orientation, or national/ethnic origin.

Why You Need to Invest in an Interior Designer

By Melissa Fields, Founder + CEO, Shades of Gray Design Studio Photography by Mallory Hewitt

Let’s face it, your home is a reflection of your personality, style, and taste. It’s where you spend most of your time, and it should be a place that brings you joy, comfort, and inspiration. Please don’t try to achieve this daunting task alone! Everyone seems to think they can be a designer because they have a Pinterest account. I may think that I can create food like a professional chef with years of experience, but that doesn’t mean I actually can, and that certainly doesn’t make me a professional chef.

The importance of investing in the right interior designer cannot be overstated. Let’s explore why it’s essential to choose the right interior designer and how we can truly transform your living space.

An experienced and skilled interior designer can help you save time and money. Designing or remodeling a space can be a huge undertaking, especially if you don’t have any experience or knowledge in the field. An interior designer can help you make informed decisions about what specific materials, colors, and textures will work best in your space. We can also guide you on where to source the best products and services within your level of investment. By avoiding costly mistakes and streamlining the design process, you can save time and money in the long run.

A professional interior designer can help you achieve a cohesive and harmonious look. When it comes to designing a space, it’s important to create a cohesive look that flows seamlessly from room to room. An interior designer has an

eye for detail (the details matter, friend!) and can create a unified design scheme that works together in perfect harmony. We also create a focal point in each room, which will draw attention and create interest.

An interior designer can help you add value to your property. Investing in a professional interior designer can increase the value of your property. A well-designed space can attract potential buyers and increase the resale value of your home. We can also help you make the most of your space by maximizing its potential and creating a functional and practical layout for how you live.

Lastly, interior designers can help create a stunning space that reflects your unique personality and style. Your home should look and feel like you. A professional designer can help you achieve this by creating a customized design that suits your individual needs and preferences. We can also add personal touches to your space that will make it feel unique and special.

I’ll leave you with this – interior design is an investment in your home. It’s crucial that you invest in the right designer if you want to create a beautiful, functional space that reflects your unique personality and style. Don’t cut corners and go the cheap route to “save” money. Don’t be deceived. If you have discerning taste and value a well-designed space, hire an interior designer. We are your guide and your storyteller. Let us show you what’s possible.

Hancock Whitney Bank Serina Perez Business Banker

What career path led you to where you are today?

I started my banking career in High School, working as a clerk in check reconcilement - which is a fancy way to say “filing checks.” It was just a job at that time, but I continued working in banking while I was attending college, and it became my career. I have been fortunate enough to work in many roles within the Retail Branch: part-time Teller, fulltime Teller, Teller Supervisor, Assistant Manager, and then Branch Manager. All of these roles have contributed to the growth into my current role as a Business Banker.

What is the best advice you’ve ever received?

I was having a hard day a long time ago - one of those days that you couldn’t even hide it when trying. Someone I did not know came up to me and said, “Everything has a solution, don’t worry.” That really resonated with me both in my professional and personal life. I try not to get too caught up in the depth of the situation and focus on finding the solution.

What sets you apart from other bankers?

I would say that what sets me apart from other bankers is my relationship-based approach. I believe thoroughly in knowing my clients so that I can best understand their needs. I also think of myself as a connector of people - when I meet someone and I think they could benefit from meeting someone else in my network, I gladly introduce them.

What do you enjoy most about your work?

My clients and meeting new people. I love hearing their stories, understanding where they are in life and career, and the satisfaction of assisting them in achieving their financial goals and dreams.

What was the most inspirational book you read over the past year?

‘The Five People you meet in Heaven.’ The main character meets five people in Heaven who he did not realize he had a connection with on Earth. This really speaks to me because I believe that even the slightest interactions can have an impact, so it is important to live with purpose.

What do you do to relax outside of work?

Spending time with my family, playing board games, camping, hiking, swimming…anything fun in the sun. As a solitary pastime, I enjoy reading.

Dossier

PR & Advertising

You’re busy running a business. How do you know the best way to make your business stand out? Picking an Ad agency or PR Firm that fits your company’s culture and knows the best tools and strategies to help you grow your business and stand out from the crowd is complicated. We’re here to help! Read on to meet some of the top Marketing, PR and Advertising agencies in San Antonio.

KGBTexas C ommunications

Katie Harvey, CEO

What services does your agency offer?

Since I started the agency as a PR company in 1994, we’ve evolved into a full-service agency that offers a range of in-house communications services. I’m proud to say that we are one of the largest woman-owned agencies in Texas. Our team of 55 are innovators and problem-solvers. While we excel at solving business challenges, engaging customers, and building brand affinity, our work is all about making an impact and creating positive change in our community.

Do you specialize in specific industries or types of business?

We have experience working with clients in a variety of industries, including

energy, financial services, transportation, nonprofit, economic development and more. The agency has played an integral role in some of our city’s most significant public- and private-sector initiatives that had significant consequences in our community. Across all industries, our passion for innovative marketing, public relations and public affairs shapes our client work.

What makes your business unique?

A hallmark of our agency is our ability to identify and secure strategic partnerships that benefit our clients’ missions and goals. With nearly 30 years in communications in and around San Antonio, we are uniquely positioned to bring together partnerships to benefit our community. It’s not uncommon for client missions to intersect to help shape

the future of our city. It’s these strategic partnerships that allow us to support progress in economic development, transportation, and other areas that drive positive change.

What keeps you inspired?

My team inspires me. That’s why I’ve elevated my senior leadership to partners and why I invest in my people, especially the youngest team members. I encourage them to take part in leadership programs like Leadership San Antonio and the Alexander Briseño Leadership Development Program, which shape the future stewards of our community. It’s that investment that supports our mission of positive change and allows us to work on transformative projects that shape our city.

Penguin Suits Advertising Agency

Debi Rose Burrows, CEO

CEO of Penguin Suits Advertising Agency, Debi Rose Burrows, began her journey more than 20 years ago when selling her creative clothing designs. She wanted something fresh, fun, and different for her infant son. Upon creating her first designs, others fell in love with the idea and wanted their own Penguin Suit for their little ones! Fast forward to today, Debi’s creativity is stronger than ever. Now she focuses her crafty energy into unique and effective strategic marketing to help her clients grow their businesses.

Now Penguin Suits is an award-winning, client-centered, Marketing and Advertising Agency. They are known for getting to know their client’s needs and goals. Then they begin to brainstorm and collaborate to discover what best suits the business. Penguin Suits has used a vast number of different Marketing Strategies to tackle the challenges over the past two decades and looks forward to taking on new opportunities to help their clients continue to succeed. Many of their clients come in curious about the new age of Social and Digital Media. Penguin Suits is passionate about helping their clients understand everything from Google Analytics to successful Hulu campaigns.

Penguin Suits is unique and distinctive amongst the other Advertising and Marketing Agencies by the incredible examples CEO/Owner Debi Burrows sets with her team to examine the client’s needs in relation to target markets. Penguin Suits wants the clients to focus on what they do best and leave the lead generation and marketing to them.

Penguin Suits is an award-winning, client-centered, Marketing and Advertising Agency. They focus on creating and establishing impressive Digital footprints, viral Social Media campaigns and eye-catching Branding and Websites. Penguin Suits Grows Businesses.

Penguin Suits is launching Red Penguin Studios to explore the world of podcasts. We will be relaunching Discover The Hill Country and introducing our new show Respectful Marketing. The shows will feature different businesses sharing their story and the ins and outs of their marketing strategies.

Noisy Trumpet Digital & PR

Clarissa Castaneda, Director of Public Relations, Sarah Strunk Meyers, VP of Digital and Fran Freeland Yanity, CEO/Founder,

1. What services does your agency offer?

Noisy Trumpet specializes in innovative marketing and advertising solutions, specifically in the areas of digital media and marketing, public relations, social media, and website design, development, and maintenance.

2. Do you specialize in specific industries or types of business?

The agency works with clients in many verticals, spanning numerous industries: from nonprofit to business-tobusiness and business-to-consumer.

3. How do you get to know your clients? How do you know if you are a fit for your client?

We vet potential clients as much as they vet the agency prior to working together. As part of our exploration and discovery process, we first align on goals. After analysis of the business and existing marketing assets, we provide strategic direction and tactics for how to get there based on our experience and industry expertise. Through years of doing this work, our processes and approaches yield the results our clients are looking for.

4. How do you measure success with your clients?

Success boils down to thorough communication and alignment on goals. What is the client’s objective, and how can we achieve those results? Success for a client may mean increased brand awareness, money raised, website traffic, tickets sold, phone calls received, or appointments booked. Each client’s needs are different. With a variety of services and tactics in our repertoire, our solutions are tailored for each situation.

5. What makes your business unique?

While we are a boutique agency focusing on specialty marketing approaches in the digital & PR realm, we can flex resources from our sister marketing companies (traditional advertising, events, production, etc.) as clients’ needs evolve and grow. We can be as big or as small as a client needs us to be, with one point of contact for all deliverables. Whether your company’s needs span the gamut across a variety of marketing and advertising channels or simply with one specialty service, we offer a seamless one-stop shop that streamlines the everevolving and complicated marketing space.

2ten Marketing & 2ten Media

1. What services does your agency offer?

2ten Marketing is a full-service agency focusing on content creation that feeds all aspects of a business’s marketing needs. With the onset of AI, it’s more important than ever to tell stories and educate clients/patients with original, relevant content from the business.

2. Do you specialize in specific industries or types of business? Aesthetic and specialty medicine, industrial services, restaurants, and automotive.

3. How do you get to know your clients? How do you know if you are a fit for your client? Questions! Our first meeting is a fact-finding mission. Many business owners are playing whack-a-mole with different marketing strategies/solutions and have become frustrated and untrusting with the marketing industry. An effective strategy must be comprehensive and requires multiple marketing mediums, which typically start with understanding their existing clientele.

4. How do you measure success with your clients?

Sales and Patient Acquisition. At the end of the day, if your bottom line doesn’t increase, we haven’t done our job. Likes and followers come and go; money in the bank keeps doors open.

5. What makes your business unique?

We say NO! Everything we do, and every client we take, can become best in class. We only partner with committed clients who are focused on growth.

6. What is your vision for your firm for the coming year?

2023 is the year of change. AI created a proverbial fork in the road. Going left would simplify our business by utilizing the tools to speed up our processes. Going right would be to double down, providing more value because of improved efficiencies. We’ve chosen the latter. AI is leveling up all aspects of business, and effective marketing is more critical than ever.

Jaclyn Fawcett-Bustos, Founder

BTYcreative

1. What services does your agency offer?

We can help with logo development, graphic design, signage, marketing and media strategy, promotional collateral, event coordination, video/photo production, overall brand management and more. In 2021, we expanded our media production services to include an in-house studio available for anyone needing studio space for video, audio, or photography services.

2. Do you specialize in specific industries or types of business? Our clients reach all industries: retail, healthcare, financial, restaurants, startups, franchises, education, and more. We truly thrive working with brands that value collaboration.

3.How do you get to know your clients? How do you know if you are a fit for your client? Developing relationships with our clients is a crucial component of our success. Our clients are part of our BTY family.

4. How do you measure success with your clients?

Success is defined differently for each of our brands. Whether it’s tracking the number of sales that occurred in a week, the number of patients seen in a month, or the number of applications submitted in a year – our team remains focused on the specific outcome and goals identified by our clients. We collaborate with our clients to determine what measurement gives us the best indication of success.

5. What makes your business unique?

We believe powerful brands set themselves apart by leveraging what makes them unique and doing all they can with all they have today. All businesses and brands should be their BOLDEST, TRUEST versions of themselves. We do not believe that the traditional ad agency model is effective, we function as a marketing department for hire. We don’t bill by the hour; we focus on determining the needs of our clients and deliver services and fees based on a scope of work.

Gwynn Deaver, VP of Brand Strategy (Sitting); Rachel Witkowski, VP of Operations & Execution (Standing)

Photography by David Teran

The A-Team: Hiring Top Talent in the Post-Covid Era

By Linda Ratner, RN MBA

Recruiting the right team is a cornerstone of any successful business venture. In a rapidly changing business environment, the personnel you choose to bring on board can profoundly impact your organization’s trajectory. As a business coach and business owner, I lean on two key philosophies to guide the leadership teams I work with: Jim Collins’s concept of “the right people in the right seats” and Brad Smart’s methodology of recruiting ‘A Players.’

Jim Collins’s groundbreaking work “Good to Great” introduced us to the transformative concept of getting “the right people in the right seats.” The ‘right people’ are those who align with the company’s values, exhibit a passion for the mission, and bring valuable skills and experiences to the table. They aren’t merely employees but strategic partners in the business, contributing their talents, creativity, and commitment toward helping the organization flourish.

‘The right seats’ represent roles that best utilize these individuals’ unique strengths. They aren’t just job titles but platforms for productivity, satisfaction, and personal growth. When a person’s role matches their aptitudes and aspirations, they are more likely to excel and contribute significantly to the company’s success. The thing is, you have to have both. Right people in the right seats.

Brad Smart’s “Topgrading” methodology offers a distinct but complementary perspective. He identifies ‘A Players’ as those individuals who live the company values consistently and rank in the top 10% of talent for a given role at a particular salary level. ‘A Players’ stand apart from the rest with their exceptional motivation, high competency, and adaptability. They consistently deliver superior results, fit seamlessly into the company culture, and have a track record of continual progression in their careers. ‘A Players’ can do the work of 3-4 people and like being around other ‘A Players.’

There are distinct parallels between these two philosophies. Both advocate for individuals who not only excel in their roles but also fit well within the company culture. Both emphasize the alignment of personal and organizational goals and highlight the importance of performance. Indeed, often, the ‘right people’ in Collins’s framework would also qualify as ‘A Players’ in Smart’s methodology.

As a business coach, I’ve seen firsthand how these philosophies can revolutionize hiring strategies. However, effectively implementing these strategies requires powerful tools, one of which is the Predictive Index (PI). The PI is a scientifically validated tool that offers insights into a candidate’s core behaviors and motivations. It aids in identifying whether a candidate could be the ‘right person’ for the ‘right seat’ and also if they exhibit the traits of an ‘A Player.’

But the hiring process isn’t just about identifying potential ‘A Players’ or placing the ‘right people’ in the ‘right seats.’ It involves strategically creating accurate job descriptions and advertisements to attract suitable candidates. It requires leveraging technology, like Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), and professional networks like LinkedIn to manage applications and reach a broad talent pool. Predictive Index (PI) Job Targets can be game changers in the hiring process. By outlining the behavioral and cognitive requirements for each role, they streamline the selection process, reducing workload and preventing ‘square peg, round hole’ scenarios. This scientific approach increases the probability of identifying candidates who are ‘right seat fits,’ enhancing hiring efficiency and overall team success.

In summary, successful recruiting isn’t about simply filling a vacancy. It is a deliberate and strategic process of investing in your business’s future by ensuring the right people are in the right seats and recruiting ‘A Players.’ As we navigate the dynamic world of business today, having the right team in place sets the foundation for innovation, growth, and longterm success.

Intrigued about how these philosophies can transform your hiring process? Eager to learn more about how to attract ‘A Players’? Write to me at lratner@ratnerconsult.com to connect or join me next issue as we delve deeper into the art of the interview and learn how to utilize tools like the Predictive Index to identify potential ‘A Players’ and find the ‘right people for the right seats.’

MAKE THE OUR Differences

DIFFERENCE

As a born-and-bred Texas company, H-E-B is committed to fostering a culture of diversity & inclusion in Texas, both in our workplaces and the communities we serve. Celebrating the differences and similarities of all Texans is integral to everything H-E-B does, every day, from employee recruitment to supplier registration, store locations to in-store product selection.

Women in Business: DEI Leadership

Jenny Mendoza

Human Resources + DEI Leader

DEI is a hot topic - and a new one to a lot of folks. It has evolved to mean a lot of things to a lot of people.

Photography by David Teran

As far back as I can remember, there has always been a woman who helped me get to my next big thing: My mom drove me to excel in school so I could be the first in our family to graduate college (shoutout UTSA!). One of my Alpha Sigma Alpha sorority sisters referred me to my first job out of college. I had managers who were women that took chances on me, coached me, and gave me confidence to step into that next big thing. Even today, in my DEI role at Google, I was connected to the opportunity by a woman.

My journey to DEI started before it was even a concept. It started in my Grandma Epi’s tiny house, an inclusive place where everyone was accepted -all races, religions, ethnicities, gender identities, and sexual orientations. She was poor, but we never felt poor because her house was abundantly overflowing with love.

To me, DEI (diversity + equity + inclusion) is a unique expression of love: A specific way to use data to inform strategies to make your workplace, team, community, or even family a place where everyone feels like they belong.

I always knew the best outputs come from the most diverse, equitable, and inclusive organizations, yet as I moved further up corporate ladders, I found myself often being the only woman of color in the room. I never felt like I was a part of the team because I was different, and a fire was lit in me to change that.

Volunteering was a key entry into DEI for me. I started by offering to help lead employee resource groups when I worked at Rackspace and in the local community with organizations like Latinitas. I invested time by reading books, watching shows, and engaging in conversations with people who were different from me. I learned about my privileges, the importance of allyship, and how it can show up in various ways, like being encouraged by my Dad to break the boundaries set on what an Indigenous Latina like myself can be. He taught me that being “chingona” could be a compliment, not an insult. I grew to be an ally to those with less privilege than me so they could be safe to lean into their inner chingona too.

I learned new things and built new relationships that broadened my DEI connections and my cultural

acumen. And it was invigorating! I could feel myself grow into a better human, and I was ready to grow as a professional as well.

Google had long been a dream company of mine, and I admired their early investment in and commitment to DEI. Google began releasing data on the demographic of the overall company back in 2014, and almost ten years later, the tradition continues in the Google Diversity Annual Report. In 2014, massive global tech firms like Google weren’t doing anything like that, and I found the transparency admirable.

Google understood that in order to create the best, most universally used products by billions of people around the world - Search, Maps, YouTube, Pixel, and more - they needed a diverse team that represented the world to build those products. Moreover, the company needed to be a place where a diverse group of employees had access to equitable processes and inclusive teams to do their best work.

I finally began my Google career in 2017 as part of the Google Cloud sales team and once again found volunteering critical to grow my DEI practice. Immediately, I was facilitating training and leading conversations for over 9,000 Googlers worldwide that focused on antiracist awareness, building equitable systems, promoting allyship practices, and more. I assisted with campus outreach at Hispanic Serving Institutions (including UTSA!) to encourage students to apply to Google. Through that volunteer work, I built a reputation as a passionate DEI advocate and soon moved into Human Resources as a full-time DEI agent.

Today, DEI is a hot topic- and a new one to a lot of folks. It has evolved to mean a lot of things to a lot of people. To some, DEI means change, and change can be hard, but change is the strongest agent to a new human connection. To me, DEI is still a special type of love: A resource to make your company, family, or community a place where every person (regardless of race, religion, ethnicity, gender identity, or sexual orientation) feels like they belong, can thrive and create the best place for generations to come.

For more information, visit thejennymendoza.com

Longtime banker Karen White became Frost’s chief diversity and inclusion officer in June 2021 but had been a banker with Frost for eight years before that. This is her first position as a diversity and inclusion official, but it’s something that has been important to her throughout her life.

After growing up in New Orleans, she completed a degree in music education from Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, La., and an MBA from Texas Southern University. Along the way, White worked at a couple of credit unions and with the National Credit Union Administration. She served as the chief financial officer at two nonprofits and worked at the United Way of Greater Houston and NationsBank before joining Frost Bank. At Frost, she drew on her experience working in nonprofits to help serve them as Frost customers.

“When I heard that our CEO was creating a position for a chief diversity and inclusion officer, I was interested in it right away,” White said. “I’d built a reputation as a person who’s inclusive and respectful of everyone. I treat everyone with dignity and grace. I felt like this was something that I wanted to do, that I could help fulfill the vision that the CEO has.”

White feels her mandate is to help us make all people’s lives better every single day. “It’s right in line with our core values, and it’s about making sure that everyone belongs.”

Since taking on the role, White has worked with all of Frost’s lines of businesses to promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging both inside the bank and in the bank’s interactions with the public. “Diversity, equity, and inclusion follow all the lines of our businesses,” she says. “It’s not like a piece over here that we just pulled into the picture.

The fact that I’m reporting to the CEO says a lot to me — that I will have the authority that I need, and I will have his backing. And that’s why I’m extremely proud to have been offered this position. When it comes from executive leadership, that says to everyone that this is a priority.”

CPS Energy is committed to a strong supplier diversity program and partners with local, small, and diverse vendors to deliver service to our growing community. Maria Stanton, VP of Supply Chain at CPS Energy, oversees procurement, warehousing, and supplier development and is passionate about providing business opportunities to our community.

“We provide multiple opportunities for our local Small, Minority, Women, and Veteran Business Enterprises (SMWVBE) to compete in our procurement process to help us keep our dollars local.”

Maria’s team is dedicated to educating and providing guidance to vendors about how to register to conduct business with CPS Energy. Her team also participates in business support fairs throughout the year to provide helpful information for local SMWVBE on the registration, bidding, and procurement process. In 2022, the Supplier Development team coordinated more than 140 separate outreach events resulting in direct communication and engagement with hundreds of potential local vendors.

“I’m really proud that over the last calendar year, these proactive outreach efforts have resulted in over $260 million local and diverse supplier spend right here in our San Antonio community.”

Prior to this role, Maria served as Vice President of Community Engagement & Corporate Responsibility, delivering to our community the first Customer Response Unit, Community Outreach team, Public Safety & Education team, and the Casa Verde Weatherization Program.

Maria has brought this community focused lens to Supply Chain with intentionality, targeting SMWVBE opportunities and virtual workshops to help guide the procurement bidding process in addition to expanding a dedicated Supplier Diversity team.

“There is no question our city is experiencing significant residential and commercial growth and we are committed to overcoming global Supply Chain challenges to support the exciting developments throughout our community.”

For more information on doing business with CPS Energy, email SupplierDevelopment@cpsenergy.com

Photography by Vincent McDonald

Helping others.

It’s what the staff at San Antonio Metropolitan Ministries does every day through their work with the homeless. Impact San Antonio is proud to have awarded two of our annual grants to this nonprofit so they could buy a new van and upgrade their Teen Center. SAMMinistries is one of many agencies that have received a total of more than $5.3 million in grants since our first one in 2005. We’ll be awarding more grants this year. Stay tuned!

impactsanantonio.org Follow us on: in

Know the Signs, Know Your Risk

Someone in the U.S. has a stroke every 40 seconds. When a stroke occurs, parts of the brain don’t receive blood or oxygen, causing brain cells to die. To spot a stroke, it’s essential to BE FAST.

B Balance or coordination loss. Do you notice any trouble walking or standing? Is there any dizziness or feeling like your head is spinning?

E Eyesight trouble. Is there any sudden blurred or lost vision?

F Face drooping. Do you notice that one side of the face droops or feel numbness? Does it look lopsided when your loved one smiles?

A Arm weakness. Does one arm drift down when your loved one has both arms raised? Is there any numbness?

S Speech difficulty. Do you notice any slurred speech? Do you find your love one difficult to understand when he or she says a simple phrase?

T Time to call 911. If you or a loved one is experiencing any of these symptoms, call 911 and seek medical attention immediately.

To learn more about the signs and symptoms, and your risk for a stroke, visit SAHealth.com/stroke.

Adriana Rosero, MD Vascular Neurologist Stroke Specialist

Methodist Healthcare is the Largest Provider of Stroke Care in South Texas

To Your Health connects you with experts and resources in medical care, mental health, nutrition, fitness, and wellness, providing insight into all aspects of a woman’s health.

Empowering you to advocate for yourself - mind, body and soul. Salud!

Sudha Seshadri, MD, Stands at the Forefront of Alzheimer’s Research and Treatment

By Paul J. Watkins

Sudha Seshadri, MD, a board-certified and fellowship-trained neurologist and founding director of the Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases at UT Health San Antonio, recalls why she chose a career in medicine. “My mother became ill with a severe form of multiple sclerosis when I was four years old, so I grew up around doctors, many of whom I admired for their knowledge and humanity. My mother had a form of brain and spinal cord disease characterized by recovery and good function for many months, and then, unexpectedly, never-before-seen symptoms would develop. Over time, this very vivacious mother I adored became unable to walk or talk.

“I grew up reading all I could about brain disease to better understand the mysteries of normal and abnormal brain function. I chose to become a physician and neurologist because the intellectual challenge of diagnosis and the deep satisfaction of connecting with patients and families appealed to me.”

Dr. Seshadri adds that, in addition to her personal story, she was attracted to neurology because of the huge amount science still doesn’t know about brain diseases. “On any given day, you might learn something from a patient or from a research study you are doing that will lead to defining a new type of disease or point to a new treatment approach. The clinical and research aspects of neurology interact very closely, and we have so many new diagnostic methods and treatments compared to when I first became a neurologist 30 years ago.”

The neurologist has focused her career on researching and treating Alzheimer’s disease, a form of dementia. Alzheimer’s disease, she ex-

plains, can be a devastating illness that attacks a patient’s memory, thinking, and personality, and it affects patients, their families, and society. She says helping these patients and families requires a physician to employ all of his or her knowledge, common sense, and humanity.

“When I started in the Alzheimer’s disease field in 1993, there were many exciting advances that had just been made, like learning that genes such as APP and APOE played an important role in the development of the disease,” Dr. Seshadri remembers. “Since then, we have learned much about Alzheimer’s and related dementias. I do believe we will find treatments in my lifetime that will allow persons at risk of dementia to live long and well.”

Dr. Seshadri says that her research involves working with normal older adults and with Alzheimer’s patients, what is called “clinical and translational research.” She says it directly affects what she is able to offer patients in the form of advice and treatments. If medicine can’t offer an effective treatment, she invites patients and families to enroll in clinical trials to speed up researchers’ ability to find such treatments.

She believes the next significant breakthrough in treating Alzheimer’s disease will be the development of precision diagnosis (based on blood, spinal fluid, and imaging biomarkers) and precision treatments, with several drugs or other interventions targeted to each patient’s genetic and environmental background, disease, and stage of illness.

“This is the personalized approach we already take for most cancers, and it has revolutionized the treatment of diseases like leukemias and melanomas. We are already testing drug combinations in an inherited form of Alzheimer disease and finding biomarkers of various types of brain injury and of resilience. These combinations may be able to treat the disease and to reduce simultaneously the side effects of such treatments. I expect we will find drug and non-drug therapy combinations that work over the next decade.”

As with many medical issues, says Dr. Seshadri, living a healthy lifestyle can play an important role in reducing a person’s risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. “We neurologists believe people can reduce the risk – or slow the progression – by keeping their blood pressure, blood sugar, and bad cholesterol in a healthy range, not smoking, eating vegetables and fish, staying as physically active and cognitively and socially engaged as possible, getting seven to eight hours of restful sleep each night, avoiding head injury, and correcting any vision or hearing problems.

“I encourage people worried about developing dementia to continue enjoying the things they love to do and to keep learning new skills and making new friends.”

For more information or to join a clinical trial, please call (210) 450-9960 or visit https://biggsinstitute.org/clinical-trials/.

Choosing a Memory Care Community for Your Loved One: Essential Considerations and Key Questions

When searching for a memory care community for a loved one, it’s crucial to make an informed decision that ensures their safety, comfort, and overall well-being. This article aims to provide guidance on how to choose the right memory care community by highlighting important factors to consider and key questions to ask during the selection process.

Questions to Ask

During visits or discussions with memory care communities, consider asking the following important questions:

1. What specific memory care services and programs are offered?

2. How does the community ensure the safety and security of residents?

3. What is the staff-to-resident ratio, and what training do the staff members receive?

4. Are there LVNs in the building 24/7 or on-call?

Experience care that makes all the difference.

5. What types of activities and socialization opportunities are available?

6. Can my loved one stay here through the end of their journey, or do they have to move if their care becomes too extensive?

Conclusion

Selecting the right memory care community for your loved one requires thorough research and asking the right questions. By evaluating specialized memory care services, considering safety measures, assessing staff training, and inquiring about engaging activities, you can make an informed decision that ensures the well-being and quality of life for your loved one in a nurturing and supportive environment.

If you would like additional information, we are happy to support you. Call Poet’s Walk Memory Care Community at (210) 839-2199.

I understand the pain of losing someone to Alzheimer's. My father, my grandmother, and my father-in-law all suffered from this terrible disease. My father suffered with it for eight years. I've been practicing estate planning in San Antonio since 1987. The sooner your loved one can see me, the better.

Laura D. Heard Attorney at Law, Family Lawyer and Mediator

Tips for Caregivers: Taking Care of Yourself

Being a caregiver can be extremely rewarding, but it can also be overwhelming. Caring for a person with Alzheimer’s or a related dementia takes time and effort. It can feel lonely and frustrating. You might even feel angry, which could be a sign you are trying to take on too much. It is important to find time to take care of yourself.

• Take breaks each day. Try making a cup of tea or calling a friend.

• Spend time with friends and keep up with hobbies.

Get exercise as often as you can. Try doing

Try practicing meditation. Research suggests that practicing meditation may reduce blood pressure, anxiety and depression, and

Consider seeking help from mental health professionals to help you cope with stress and anxiety. Talk with your doctor about

Take Care of Yourself as a Caregiver

Take a short walk outside.

Go to sleep a half-hour earlier.

Make time for a hobby you enjoy.

Activities like these can lower your stress, boost your mood, and help make you a better caregiver, too.

Learn more about caregiving at www.nia.nih.gov/caregiving.

Mental Health Is a Critical Consideration in Bariatric Surgery Success

By Paul J. Watkins

Bariatric surgery is a safe, effective tool for patients who want help achieving their weight-loss goals. However, an excessive amount of weight is not the only determinant of a patient’s eligibility for surgery. The patient’s mental health is another important consideration.

“Anxiety, for example, can be a driver for failure to lose weight after bariatric surgery,” says Guillermo Medrano del Rosal, MD, a board-certified general surgeon who is fellowship trained in bariatric surgery and bariatric revision surgery. He practices at Alamo City Bariatrics in San Antonio. “It can also be a cause for people to gain weight because they use food as a soothing mechanism.

“The same goes for depression, for which food can be a soothing mechanism as well as a reward mechanism to help the patient feel better. Depression also tends to have a component of poor motivation. People who are depressed tend not to seek help because they feel tired and unmotivated to get better. Being able to identify mental health issues prior to surgery helps ensure the best possible results from any bariatric procedure.”

The surgeon adds that mental health also includes substance abuse, and patients considering bariatric surgery shouldn’t be using any illegal drugs. “We’re less strict with recreational drugs,” he notes. “As long as the substance, such as alcohol or marijuana, isn’t being abused, we can work with the patient, but we do have to make sure the patient isn’t on any drug that might deviate them from losing weight.”

According to Dr. Medrano del Rosal, most patients do not have to undergo an evaluation by a mental health professional prior to being approved for bariatric surgery, unless their medical insurance requires it. “Otherwise, we just do a screening while talking with the patient, assessing their needs and concerns, and going over their medical history. If we do see signs of a mental health issue, we refer the patient to a specialist for evaluation and possible treatment. After the patient is stable, we can proceed with the surgery.”

Patients who have severe morbid obesity, meaning a body mass index (BMI) greater than fifty, may not achieve their weight-loss goals with their initial bariatric procedures, and their comorbidities often remain relatively the same. In such cases, Dr. Medrano del Rosal may perform a duodenal switch, a bariatric procedure that can help these patients lose the remaining weight.

“The remission rates of Type 2 diabetes at two years after surgery tend to improve diabetes to ninety-nine percent, making the duodenal switch virtually a cure for the disease.”

Dr. Medrano del Rosal says that once patients undergo bariatric surgery, most experience improved mental health as well as physical health.

“These patients are walking rather than using a motorized wheelchair, they’re wearing different clothes, and their faces look different – not just because of the weight loss but because they’re happy,” the surgeon concludes. “They’re able to chase their kids or their grandkids, get out into the world, and enjoy their lives. It’s one of the reasons it’s worth it to me to keep doing this work.”

For more information or to make an appointment, please call (210) 625-3167 or visit BaptistMedicalNetwork.com/BariatricOptions.

MD

Guillermo Medrano del Rosal,

Don’t Let Physical Health Affect

It may come as no surprise that adults with a medical illness are more likely to experience depression. The reverse is also true: People of all ages with depression are at higher risk of developing certain physical illnesses

If you or your family has delayed care, act now and start with Men’s Health Awareness in June! Not only do women see the doctor more often, but they’re also more likely to get routine health screenings. Without these screenings, symptoms of serious health conditions can be potentially overlooked.

NUMBERS TO KNOW

MEN

13% of men weren’t able to seek care due to not taking time off for work

33% of men delayed care for an entire year

46% of men delayed or went without care

WOMEN

Women are 33% more likely than men to visit a doctor

Women seek preventative care at 100% the rate of men

FAMILIES

10% of families in the United States did not receive health care

UROLOGICAL SERVICES

Men are more likely to experience urological issues than women, but two in five men won’t bring it up with a doctor due to embarrassment.

Here are some of the urological symptoms to look for:

• 1 Waking up more than twice per night to urinate

• 2 Change in urine color

• 3 Involuntary urine loss

• 4 Difficulty emptying bladder

If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 9-1-1 or go to your nearest emergency room. If you’re ready to start your healthcare journey, schedule an appointment with one of our urologists.

If you’re ready to take your health into your hands, schedule your appointment today! BaptistMedicalNetwork.com/BookAnAppointment

Affect Your Overall Health!

SUSPECTED HERNIA? DON’T DELAY TREATMENT

Hernias may be a pain in the gut, but delaying care may result in an increased rate of major complications, longer operation times, longer post-operative stays or the likelihood of needing additional surgery. Baptist Medical Network is proud to announce that both Donald Dilworth, MD, FACS, and Michael C. Albrecht, MD, FACS achieved accreditation as Master Surgeon & Surgeon of Excellence in Hernia & Robotic Surgery.

What does a Surgical Review Corporation (SRC) Mean for Patients?

SRC is an independent, nonprofit, patient safety organization that works diligently on the patient’s behalf. Each designee is rigorously inspected to help ensure that patients receive safer procedures, fewer complications and a better overall experience.

Donald D. Dilworth, MD Craig S. See, MD Michael C. Albrecht, MD John Admire, MD Mark Gunst, MD

Ahmad Azzawe, MD Arpan Satsangi, MD Librado Valadez, MD Ryan Donahue, MD Ghassan Freiha, MD Patrick Williams, MD Michael Sedlak, MD

Discover New Experiences for 2023 in Ruidoso, New Mexico

This year, it’s not just about where— but why.

If your travel goals for 2023 are to do, see, explore, and eat more, it’s time to head for Ruidoso, New Mexico. Whether you’re looking to connect responsibly with nature and wildlife, celebrate Indigenous culture, chase new active adventures, explore beyond the hotspots, or are just ready to relax someplace different, Ruidoso has a trip for every type of traveler.

From EV-charge-equipped hotels to small, locally-owned businesses and intergenerational family adventures, the ultimate Ruidoso getaway is about great views, great food, and all-around great experiences for people and the planet.

CONNECT RESPONSIBLY WITH NATURE & WILDLIFE

Nature is just outside the door in Ruidoso. Choose from an array of multi-use trails for outings with the family, or check out routes laden with historical sights. And Ruidoso has wildlife in spades, with the chance to see deer, elk, bears, free-roaming horses, and more. But remember, everything we do impacts our wild places, from the environment to animal welfare. So, let’s do our part to keep Ruidoso wild.

CELEBRATE INDIGENOUS CULTURE

Long before the Europeans discovered the Southwest, south-central New Mexico was Mescalero Apache territory—and still is. The Mescalero Apache Tribe owns and operates both Ski Apache and the Inn of the Mountain Gods Resort and Casino. Don’t miss the opportunity to visit the Mescalero Apache

Cultural Center and Museum. This museum provides an insightful look into the historic Apache People, with ancient artifacts like tools, weapons, clothing, and impressive woven baskets.

CHASE NEW ACTIVE ADVENTURES

Get active for a chance to win. Biking, hiking, disc golf, 4x4, fishing, and motorcycle adventures await as part of the Third Annual Ruidoso Adventure Tours sweepstakes. Complete any or all of the six self-guided adventure tours on the Discover Ruidoso travel app between March 11 and October 7, 2023, and be entered to win one of our Grand Prizes!

EXPLORE BEYOND THE HOTSPOTS

Visitors looking for a place to embrace their creativity and create connections can find an exciting indie art scene in Ruidoso. Access live music venues and unique galleries, or kickstart your creativity with inspiring classes, groups, and workshops. Explore our Events Calendar to never miss out.

RELAX IN SOMEPLACE DIFFERENT

With nighttime skies painted in dancing stars, constellations, and the Milky Way, a mountain town steeped in outdoor adventure, and plenty of indie shops, cafes, brewpubs, and wineries, there’s much more to this south-central village than skiing and horse racing.

Start your travel planning today at DiscoverRuidoso.com

BIG BIB BBQ

JOY & BARBECUE – THEY’RE KIND OF THE SAME THING

By Janis Turk

“Barbecue is celebration. It’s being outdoors, running through a sprinkler, and playing volleyball with the kids. It’s like no other food. It’s festive. It’s family. You’re going to get your shirt dirty if you’re eating it right,” says Stanley Shropshire, the friendly owner/founder of Big Bib Barbecue on Austin Highway; “You’re going to need a big bib.”

“Fire up a barbecue pit, and people start gathering. What other food is so communal and fun? Barbecue is joy. It’s a lifestyle,” says Shropshire. He should know: he has been living the barbecue life for two-plus decades.

“Even as a kid, I wanted to barbecue. My family didn’t cook out, but I heard about it from kids at school whose families would have backyard barbecues on weekends and holidays. I’d see people grilling burgers, hotdogs, or brisket in Brackenridge Park, and they didn’t have a care in the world. I wanted to be a part of that,” the big-hearted Big Bib BBQ owner recalls.

So in late 1999, Shropshire went to H-E-B, bought a barrelstyle barbecue grill, some beef, a few bags of charcoal, and far too much lighter fluid. Then he set up his grill by an East Side car wash and began teaching himself to barbecue.

“I didn’t know what I was doing—didn’t know anything about grades or cuts of meat, didn’t know what wood to use. I couldn’t even get the grill lit; I used up six fans of lighter fluid and then squirted on some more! Ha! The meat smelled and tasted like fuel. I messed up a lot of meat, but I ate it, and I learned,” he grinned. “A friend named Kenny Palmer knew about barbecue and taught me a lot. With tons of trial and error, I learned and honed my skills. I catered for nine years before I opened Big Bib BBQ a decade ago. I put my heart into it, and it just got better and better,” says Shropshire with a winning smile. Heart and hard work paid off: Today, he not only owns one of San Antonio’s most popular barbecue joints, but he also opened a Big Bib BBQ in New Braunfels last October and boasts Big Bib BBQ stands at the Alamodome.

An enticing aroma greets guests at the door, as does a family-like team. The friendly staff had me smiling as I stepped up to the sparkling-clean front counter. “We all just love, love, love, love barbecue,” says Shropshire, who wants customers to “leave with a side order of joy.”

Barbecue has long been a male-dominated business, but just notice the number of women behind the scenes at

“When she set out to learn barbecue, Gonzales took the thing, grabbed it, embraced it, and ran away with it. I’m so proud of her,” remarks Shropshire. Not many women, especially women of color, are pro pit masters in Texas, but Gonzales doesn’t think about that. Her fiery focus is on mastering meat with consistency, quality, patience, and love.

Big Bib’s menu offers smoked meats, including prime brisket, both mild and jalapeño sausage, pulled pork, chicken, baby-back ribs, rib tips, turkey legs (on Saturdays and Sundays only), turkey breast, and more. Enjoy the many sides, like sweet potato and baked potato casseroles, pinto beans, hot mac-n-cheese, green beans, and collard greens. Try loaded spuds and fried catfish. Then get a dessert, like cake and banana pudding. Big Bib has a full liquor license and serves margaritas and more.

It’s remarkable how sparkling clean Big Bibb restaurants are. In fact, they’ve been named “San Antonio’s Cleanest Kitchen” and thrice won WOAI News4 SA’s “Blue Plate” award.

Big Bib’s adjacent covered patio offers live jazz every month.

Yesterday I was wearing a silk blouse as I greedily grabbed a slice of brisket with my fingers. Reaching for more napkins, I thought, “I’m gonna need a bigger bib!”

After a warm goodbye from Shropshire and the ladies behind the counter, I left with a big barbeque plate for my husband, a little sauce on my sleeve, and, yes, a generous side of joy.

IF YOU GO:

BIG BIB BBQ is located in the North Hills Shopping Center at 104 Lanark Drive, San Antonio (210) 654-8400. The SA location is closed on Mondays & Tuesdays, while the New Braunfels location, at 508 Landa Street, is closed only on Mondays. www.thebigbib.com

Big Bib. General Manager and professional pit-master Tamu Gonzales is their 4’ 11” female hand that rocks the cradle, bringing a high level of excellence and skill to the table.

Signature

If you find yourself dreaming of the Texas Hill Country, savory comforts, spice, and the sultry depth of a fine burgundy - discover Signature Restaurant. Local and organic ingredients change the menu as the seasons peak and wane, but the constants are quality, flavor, artistry in the kitchen and a warm welcome when you walk in the door.

16401 La Cantera Pkwy | (210) 247-0176

Paesanos 1604

When Mediterranean is on your mind, treat yourself to the best San Antonio has to offer. Where the finest in imagination and tradition are always on the menu. Where Hill Country hospitality meets Tuscan taste. Only at Paesanos 1604, inspiration comes from the world’s greatest cuisines, seasoned with fresh, seasonal ingredients and decades of Paesanos’ unique Italian taste to bring you some of the most sublime Mediterranean dining and thoughtfully curated menus in the Southwest.

3622 Paesanos Parkway | (210) 493-1604

Toro Kitchen + Bar

They follow their concept throughout all aspects of the restaurant, from their carefully chosen wine selection to daily promotions and happy hour. They bring traditional Spanish flavors to the menu lineup while providing some creativity from their chef with their regular specials. A lively casual yet sophisticated mature atmosphere having live music and flamenco from time to time.

115 N Loop 1604 E #1105 | (210) 592-1075

Looking for ideas on how to celebrate an anniversary with the one you love? Here are a few of San Antonio Woman’s favorite restaurants to help create a night to remember.

Bohanan’s Prime Steaks and Seafood

Located in the heart of San Antonio on historic Houston Street, Bohanan’s beautiful upstairs dining room has an Old-World steakhouse charm with modern attention to detail. Late-night small plates and hors d’oeuvres accompany an extravagant variety of hand-crafted cocktails, craft beers, excellent wines, and top-shelf spirits.

219 E Houston St #275 | (210) 472-2600

Brasserie Mon Chou Chou

The brainchild of its three Frenchmen founders, Mon Chou Chou’s menu highlights the cuisine of their homeland, enriched with fond memories of meals shared with family and friends throughout their lives. Many of the featured dishes are directly influenced by the trio’s respective grandmothers, as well as the many inspiring cities and diverse regions of France. Together they developed an epicurean friendship. Today, the Brasserie brings their dream to life. Mon Chou Chou introduces their passion for French comfort food in the beautiful Historic Pearl and the city they love to call home.

312 Pearl Pkwy | (210) 469-3743

The Moon’s Daughters

Floating high above the River Walk is The Moon’s Daughters, an enchanting indoor-outdoor rooftop lounge and bar that dazzles from its 20th-story perch over the city. Inspired by the Greek goddess of the moon, the lounge and bar offers indoor-outdoor seating with twinkling city lights and all the magic of starry San Antonio nights.

115 Lexington Ave | (210) 942-6032

Lucy Peveto

Dancing Ladies

Acrylic, gold leaf, butterfly wings, and resin on wood panel 30 x 60 in.

2023

INSIDE OUT, BUDDING BLOOMS

“My current body of work materialized during my sabbatical where I worked in a dimly lit mountain studio. I was drawn to texture and a mix of finishes, whereas on sunnier days, I could see how the movement of shadow and light, with texture, created a new dimension that was both a joyful and vulnerable expression of nature and myself.”

Lucy Peveto

YOUR IDEA OF FUN

Simple changes can improve your outlook, your well-being, even the rest of your life. At University Health, we believe in the power of change. Because that’s where healthier begins. To explore the power of change, visit UHchange.com

Your partner for healthy change.