San Antonio Woman November/December 2022

16 Cover Story

From humble beginnings, three generations of the Kowalski family work side-by-side to deliver impeccable service around the world.

21 Feature Story

Find out what some of San Antonio Woman’s inspiring past Cover Women are up to today.

40 At Home

This 10,000 square foot barn is ready to get you in the wonderful and warm holiday spirit.

57 Women in Business

NAWBO-SA is passionate about supporting women business owners of all stages and giving back to our community.

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16 Cover Story: The Kowalski Family 21 Feature Story: Cover Women - Where are they now? 30 Looking Back: Mike & Nancy Gaffney 32 Role Model: Linsey Lindberg 34 Guy to Know: Mayor Ron Nirenberg 100 Nonprofit Spotlight: Blue Cares’ Blue Santa 36 Beauty: Time to Sparkle! 37 Beauty Talk: Memories 38 Best Practices: Dr. Murphy 40 At Home: Joyeux Home & Decor 46 Designer’s Tips: Hollywood Crawford Doors 50 Dossier: Transformation Professionals 54 Spotlight: Powers Professional Partners 55 Women in Business: NAWBO-SA 72 Expert Advice: Ed Guerrero, CPA 74 Women on the Move 86 Breast Cancer Advocates at SABCS 88 Primary Care Through All Stages of Life 92 Sports Medicine at UT Health 96 Betty’s Co: Is This Normal? 98 Self Examination: Effective Leadership 103 Gift Guide 106 HC Curated: Christmas in the Hill Country 108 Dining: Signature Restaurant 110 SA Curated Dining: Specialty Bars 112 Entertainment 114 Art Beat: Heather Gauthier 116 Wedding: Mr. & Mrs. Mueller 118 Final Thoughts 76 Women in STEM 106 Step Into STEM with TRTF

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

Suzanne Pack, Photographer

I loved hearing the words of wisdom, the stories, and the continued aspirations and motivation from the previous cover women of San Antonio Woman Magazine. I consider it a privilege to get the opportunities to share space with such inspirational women! Happy holidays to all! May you have abundance in your life, blessings on all your endeavors, peace to lift your heavy burdens, and gratitude for the loved ones who surround you.

David Teran, Photographer

Working with the Kowalski ladies again was a dream come true. The whole team worked together and helped to make this photoshoot go smoothly, and the end product shows what a unified team can produce. Merry Christmas to one and all! I pray your 2022 holiday season be full of Peace, good health and Joy!

Dawn Robinette, Writer

Looking at 20 years of San Antonio Woman, you see the story of San Antonio itself. The stories shared and the women featured reflect the strength, talent and diversity of our city and it’s exciting to imagine what the next 20 years will bring.

Janis Turk, Writer

Janis Turk has written for San Antonio Woman since January 2015, and is a popular food and travel writer and author. Her favorite SA holiday traditions? A family dinner at the revolving restaurant in the Hemisfair Tower of the Americas, a stroll along the River Walk to see the holiday lights, and a drive to the University of the Incarnate Word to see lights in the trees. Then she loves to watch “It’s a Wonderful Life.” Janis’ one wish for Christmas is to attend midnight mass with her son Reid at St. James Church. My christmas wish is for my family and all the readers of San Antonio Woman to all be together and to feel love, joy, peace, and hope this season.

Blithe Wiley, Writer

Congratulations to San Antonio Woman Magazine for celebrating its 20th anniversary! I am honored to be a regular contributor to this outstanding publication and am continually fascinated by learning the stories of the accomplished and trailblazing women I get to interview and write about. Here’s to many more years of success, San Antonio Woman!

Meredith Kay, Writer

Half Texan on her mother’s side, Meredith was born and raised in Southern California, where she graduated from Pepperdine University with a degree in Advertising. She has called San Antonio home for over 25 years now and is raising a son and a daughter as a single mom with a pack of rescue dogs. Meredith is passionate about writing, cooking, landscaping, and music of all genres.

Paul J. Watkins, Writer

Having the opportunity to research and write articles about healthrelated topics of interest to you is tremendously gratifying for me. I’ve written about health-related topics for nearly twenty-five years, and I have yet to get bored with it. Talking with healthcare providers allows me to hear firsthand the enthusiasm they have for the work they do and the tremendous care and compassion they provide to their patients – often when those people need it the most. I hope you enjoy reading our healthrelated articles as much as I enjoy writing them.

San Antonio Woman has been celebrating the incredible women of San Antonio for twenty years! We couldn’t have done it without the help of talented writers and photographers, supportive advertisers, and the gracious community that we live in. And of course, the founder of San Antonio Woman, Mike Gaffney, and the Editors who have lovingly nurtured this brand.

It was an honor to meet the legendary Rosemary Kowalski and see how her hard work and love of life have continued to the third generation of leadership at The RK Group. I’m grateful to our good friend, Linda Elliott, for introducing me to the Kowalski family!

We would have loved to hear from all 118 of the incredible past Cover Women! In this issue, we visit with eight women who have not stopped making an impact on our community. I’m sure you will enjoy finding out what they’re up to these days.

A special thank you to our small but mighty team - Cindy, Miriam, Taylor, and Dale - for making this issue a beautiful celebration of 20 years of publication and continuing the tradition of inspiring the women of San Antonio!

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays - and all the best in 2023!

Cathleen Lane Publisher and Editor-in-Chief

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Cathleen Lane cathleen@sawoman.com

CREATIVE DIRECTOR & GRAPHIC DESIGN

Miriam Jesaijes miriam@sawoman.com

DIRECTOR OF DIGITAL MEDIA Taylor Lane taylor@sawoman.com

DIRECTOR OF SALES & PARTNERSHIPS Dale Lane dale@sawoman.com

ADVERTISING SALES Cindy Jennings cindy@sawoman.com

WRITERS

Cover: Dawn Robinette Alexis James; Meredith Kay; Jillian Lopiano, MD MPH FACOG; Bill Murphy, MD; Dawn Robinette; Janis Turk; Dora Vera; Paul J. Watkins; Blithe Wiley

PHOTOGRAPHY

Cover: David Teran Suzanne Pack, David Teran

PRINTING SmithPrint, San Antonio, Texas

EDITOR EMERITUS Beverly Purcell-Guerra

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 335 San Antonio, Texas 78216 (210) 236-5834

sawoman.com | @sanantoniowoman

On the cover:

Photography by David Teran davidteranphotography.com

Makeup by Dora Vera @thelook.beautystudio

Wardrobe by Julian Gold juliangold.com

Photography by Suzanne Pack

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.

From left to right:

Rosemary

Kowalski Jennifer Heinz Jamie Kowalski

Attitude and Service Span Generations

By Dawn Robinette APR | Photography by David Teran Wardrobe Styling by Julian Gold, juliangold.com

Attitude is everything. It’s an oft-used expression, but for the Kowalski family, it’s a “Rosemary-ism.” And it’s something that is baked into everything that has sprouted from the seeds that Rosemary Kowalski and her husband planted when they opened their first restaurant in 1946. “I didn’t even know how to boil water, but we served plenty of barbecue and lots of beer for 25 cents a bottle,” she explains.

“One day, a customer asked if I’d do the catering for his church bazaar. To tell the truth, I wasn’t even sure what ‘catering’ was!”

But attitude is indeed everything, and Rosemary’s always-positive attitude, paired with a dynamic work ethic and a passion for always exceeding expectations, fueled what is now known as The RK Group, a family of culinary and hospitality service companies that has grown over 75 years to span Texas, the U.S. and now, international services.

“I was a young woman trying to make her way in business. I even drove a truck, and that was really a no-no, as far as men were concerned. I guess driving a truck was not appropriate for a woman. My philosophy was just push ‘em aside and do the job.”

While her attitude, impeccable service, and undeniably fantastic food started it all, The RK Group has never been a one-woman show. Husband Hank grew up with a family-owned bar in Hamtramck, Michigan, and that helped spur the young couple to start their own restaurant. Then son Greg grew from working events to becoming CEO and President, and daughter Mary Carrington worked for the company through school and continues to be a trusted advisor.

And then there’s the third generation, where grandson Travis serves as Chief Administrative Officer, granddaughter Jennifer Heinz is Chief Strategy Officer, and granddaughter-in-law Jamie is Vice President of

Corporate Relations. And they all work side-by-side with RK herself. At 98, Rosemary serves as Chairman Emeritus of The RK Group, still going into the office two to three days a week.

“I’m so blessed to be in my 90s. But I told somebody I was 78. Honestly, I just said I’m 78, and then I corrected myself,” she explains. “It’s a matter of how you feel. I have such a positive attitude about life that I feel more 78 than I do 98.”

And the second and third generations of the family are carrying her legacy and positive attitude into The RK Group’s next 75 years.

“Even before Travis and I got married, he said, ‘Hey, there’s a party in Horseshoe Bay, and they need all these linens. Can you run all these up there?” explains Jamie.

“We were testing out if she was going to fit in,” laughs Rosemary before noting how important the entire family is to the business. “I am thankful to have a family that is so capable, who also realized the ethics of hard work. They’ve expanded our company tremendously,” explains Rosemary.

“Unlike the game of tennis, you only get one serve in catering, one event, one special occasion. You have to get it right the first time. You must always strive for perfection,” is another Rosemary-ism.

“Her attention to detail made her successful, and she’s passed that on to her family. And not just the children and grandchildren. It’s the work family too. Everyone has this real attention to detail,” notes Jamie. “What guides the family is continuing to offer the top service, not just in San Antonio but around the globe.”

“We don’t like to tell people no. If we’re asked something, and it’s not something that we’re necessarily familiar with or that we’ve not done before, we’re going to

figure it out. We have subject matter experts within the organization that have historical experience doing a myriad of different things. Here’s how we’re going to execute it, and here are lessons learned from previous experiences that we can apply to this, pushing forward with our attention to detail, with our customer service, with the respect we have for all of our colleagues,” explains Jennifer.

“It all comes down to just being part of a team. The ‘Rosemary-isms’ are written all over our building. ‘Always say please and thank you,’ ‘The back door is just as important as the front door,’ ‘Treat everyone with a smile,’ and yes, ‘Attitude is everything.’ All of that is instilled in us and all of the employees that work for RK. It’s incredible when you get to work with people who understand that and who want to have that success and want to keep pushing and figure out what’s our next challenge and how can we work together to make it successful,” Jennifer adds.

Some would say successful is an understatement. The RK Group is woven into the fabric of San Antonio’s history. From a key role in HemisFair 68, where Rosemary worked for more than a year to help the city secure the event, then provided service and staffing for more than 100 of the pavilion booths, to more than 40 years of

servicing events like the Witte Game Dinner, Zoo Ball, Charity Ball and more, including being the food service provider for the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center for the past 50 years, there’s little that The RK Group hasn’t touched. And Rosemary herself served Pope John Paul II during his visit.

“Rosemary was able to serve breakfast to the Pope. She had this big spread and huge elaborate breakfast. But all he wanted was a simple apple. So, she had to find an apple, polish it up and deliver it to him,” explains Jamie.

That encounter was the inspiration for the logo of RK Cares, the company’s philanthropy initiative that Jamie spearheads, formalizing what Rosemary has been committed to since the beginning. “That’s the way I was brought up. I was born and raised on the south side of San Antonio. This city means so much to me. Giving back has been important since we first started.”

“The RK Cares logo has a hand serving an apple with a little halo over it. That’s a nod to Pope John Paul II and Rosemary,” explains Jamie.

Rosemary also served Queen Elizabeth II when she visited San Antonio. “Before the Queen had her lunch, she drank a gin and tonic. Instead of one of the

waitresses serving her, it was me. So that’s the way I met the queen,” laughs Rosemary.

She’s quick to point out that VIPs receive the same treatment as every guest. It’s a Rosemary-ism. “Treat every person the same. Whether they open the back door or enter on a red carpet through the front door, everyone is important.”

That includes everyone on the RK team. “We’re a familyowned and operated business, and we’re a big business, but we’re really a small business inside. We can’t do any of it without the team members that we have that work for us. Some of them have been with us for 40 years, for 50 years. I really think that’s a testament to everything that Rosemary has taught, that Greg has taught, that we –Travis, Jamie, and I, and other members of our leadership team – try to continue to teach,” explains Jennifer, who, as Chief Strategy Officer for The RK Group is charged with directing the effort to further broaden the reach and impact of its diverse programming.

“We are one big team, and we can’t do anything that we do without the individuals that are part of our team. We all really take pride in knowing if I don’t have that answer, I know that this person on my team does. It’s really a mutual respect.”

While the team and the company have grown, its roots and commitment to San Antonio are stronger than ever. Jamie works to support public affairs and corporate communications while driving business development through brand awareness and media relations, a role that has her deeply involved across San Antonio.

“It’s really about continuing Rosemary’s legacy and commitment to San Antonio. Look at HemisFair 68. She knew it was a difficult position to put herself in, but she took that risk. I just want to emulate that as much as I can,” explains Jamie.

At 98 years young, what habits are a must for Rosemary? “I start my day with a visit to the beauty shop and a good breakfast,” she shares with a smile.

And what would she tell her younger self if she could go back in time? “Don’t wait until you’re 70 to start exercising!”

But the best Rosemary-ism of all may be one that reflects Rosemary’s infectious positive attitude and love of fun. “Be nice and drink tequila.”

“Attitude is everything.” ~ Rosemary-ism.

Jennifer Heinz

Jamie Kowalski

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San Antonio Woman Covers:

Where Are They Now?

Cover W oman : N o v / ceD 0102

Janet Holliday

What do you remember most about your experience of being on the cover of San Antonio Woman?

First, I remember being so honored and humbled for this recognition. I was happy that the story reflected all the hats that I proudly wear from a wife and mom to a business owner and community leader. For me this story captured not just what I do, but the way I try to do it with service, excellence, and creativity.

Tell us about your current endeavors and passions.

I am a thrilled grandmother of a wonderful 16-month-old grandson. He and his wonderful parents and my husband are my biggest blessing. I am also an 8-year breast cancer survivor and health champion in mind, body, and soul. I live everyday with gratitude and presence. The CE Group is thriving 32 years later with a dynamic team, projects, and clients. I am so glad for our “love for what we do” attitude. We create experiences and connections that are relevant and needed as we deal with an ever-changing world.

What do you think San Antonio Woman means for our community?

San Antonio Woman gives a voice to the myriads of stories and lessons learned as well as success and significance achieved by our deep tapestry of women of all ages, paths, and cultures. Women are amazing in all they do, and San Antonio Woman is a meaningful spotlight for these incredible efforts.

Photography by Suzanne Pack. A special thank you to Hotel Estancia Del Norte.

CoverW oman : N o v / D e c 2002

Sarah Lucero

What do you remember most about your experience of being on the cover of San Antonio Woman?

It was an exciting time to be part of a new magazine that exuded all the right tones: professionalism, confidence, inner and outer beauty, creativity, vision, and passion. I was at a time in my life where I felt I was blazing a trail for other young women and young Latinas following in my footsteps, and SA Woman was the perfect platform to help spread that message which I still work to share to this day.

Tell us about your current endeavors and passions.

I left a career I loved to do the things we don’t have time to do when we are committed full-time to a demanding career. I love fitness and sharing my passion for fitness with others, which I have done through Sarah Lucero Fitness. I plan to bring back new and re-energized programs to help women be their best selves, physically and mentally.

I also love working with organizations and companies that share a vision or have a passion for giving back to the community in some way. I do video production, host/emcee, and help with the marketing of different events through my company, The Spotlight Multimedia, and also as a freelancer.

What do you think San Antonio Woman means for our community?

We are lucky to have a magazine like San Antonio Woman that serves as an excellent platform to highlight the accomplishments of outstanding women in our community, women who are making a difference, trailblazers, and outside-the-box thinkers.

Photography by Suzanne Pack

years 20

CoverWoman : Nov/D e c 2 210

Beverly Purcell-Guerra

What do you remember most about being Editor of San Antonio Woman and being on the cover?

As the original editor who of San Antonio Woman, it was a challenge and a pleasure. Our goal was to promote talented women in San Antonio. We featured women who serve our Community, Businesswomen, and Artistic Women. These feature women who contributed to San Antonio also showed what a diverse and exceptional city it is. Then, for our 10th Anniversary issue, I was selected to be on the cover and honored to be considered one of the talented women we usually feature.

Tell us about your current endeavors and passions.

I have continued my community involvement and commitment to inform, educate and help people by serving on several committees and boards. They include the Advisory Council for the UTSA College of Sciences, the Texas Organ Sharing Alliance, and the South Texas Blood & Tissue Center Foundation, to name a few. Philanthropy and volunteering benefit the giver and the recipient; you feel a sense of pride for being helpful and productive. I have also enjoyed mentoring several young women in the early stages of their careers.

What do you think San Antonio Woman means for our community?

The San Antonio women featured in SA Woman are continually making positive changes in our Community. They support and advance causes and organizations in San Antonio that are important to our Community. I believe that if San Antonio Woman continues to feature strong and accomplished women, it will continue to be an essential magazine in our City.

Photography by Suzanne Pack

CoverW oman : N o v / D e c 8102

Siobhain Anders

What do you remember most about your experience of being on the cover of San Antonio Woman? It was such an honor to be on the cover of such an iconic magazine. San Antonio Woman is a very important magazine for our community. We have so many wonderful women with amazing stories to tell.

Tell us about your current endeavors and passions. I am still working as a fill-in Meteorologist at News 4 / Fox. However, in the last eight months, I also have taken on traffic duties at both stations.

I’m still very excited about my DIY segments on Thursdays on the SA Living show. The segments tie in with my love for repurposing and vintage. I have my Shopping With Siobhain stores still in Comfort and Boerne but have just opened a store in Rockport a few months ago. I still have Carpet City, my father’s business of 55 years. And we are also finishing another amazing casita in Comfort that is on VRBO. Life is good and busy! What an amazing ride!

What do you think San Antonio Woman means for our community? We are blessed to have a woman’s magazine in San Antonio of this quality. Thank you for showing the beautiful and intelligent women of SA. Happy anniversary!!! Many more years to come!

Photography by Suzanne Pack

years

Dianna M. Burns Banks, MD

What do you remember most about your experience of being on the cover of San Antonio Woman?

I think I was awed by the personal recognition and the acknowledgment from people that I did not know. However, I was most humbled by the pride expressed by my eastside patients and families that I was their “doctor.”

Tell us about your current endeavors and passions.

I am now transitioning from the day-to-day involvement in the management of my private practice. I am really excited about the opportunity to devote more time to my passions. I have always believed that quality medicine does not have to be expensive; it just needs to be “personal.” I would like to consult more with organizations to design effective mental health services for our children, to integrate the social determinants of health in defining health equity, and to reincorporate “prevention” as the cornerstone of quality, cost efficient medical care. However, my secret passion is to spend more time with my two absolutely fabulous grandsons.

What do you think San Antonio Woman means for our community?

It has become an institution. It provides a wonderful opportunity to showcase the diversity, the talents, and accomplishments of the women in our community.

Photography by Suzanne Pack

CoverW oman

an/

Erika Prosper-Nirenberg

What do you remember most about your experience of being on the cover of San Antonio Woman?

I remember thinking that if even one little brown girl in San Antonio saw anything reflected back to her in my face, my hair, my clothes, or my story, I could face down my own insecurities about those things as I took on the mantle of an unconventional First Lady. Little did I know that boost in confidence would help me through almost 6 years of carrying that title and possibly 2 more.

Tell us about your current endeavors and passions.

My passions remain stable in purpose. One, is to be steadfastly proud of my Hispanic heritage and loud about its value and additive boon to this country, especially of Latina women. Two, is to champion a growth mindset among all our children and help them and their parents embrace resiliency, entrepreneurship, and compassion as part of that journey. And Three, to always share my story and the role of books and literacy in my life. As far as current endeavors, our son is now 14, and he takes up all my endeavoring both intellectually and emotionally! Lord, am I blessed to have such a great kid and be able to spend time with him.

What do

you

think San Antonio Woman means for our community?

We are 51% of the population, so in some ways, San Antonio Woman has done its rightful diligence in ensuring that the majority of San Antonian’s see themselves, know themselves, and find out what is possible through a lens that considers their contribution paramount in the building and sustainability of this city. Simply stated: Our stories matter. And as you move forward and diversify those stories even more, I know you also stand to one day help other girls of color see themselves and know they matter, too.

Photography by Suzanne Pack

years

Tracy Wolff

What do you remember most about your experience of being on the cover of San Antonio Woman?

When I created the Hidalgo Foundation in 2002, I set only three goals, but they required raising a great deal of money. Being on the cover helped open doors for those fundraising efforts.

The Hidalgo goals were 1.) Restoring the Bexar County Courthouse; 2.) Creating the Children’s Courts; 3.) Creating the Bibliotech, the first all-digital public library in the U.S. with free online service. Our fourth location opens this fall.

Tell us about your current endeavors and passions.

My greatest passion is helping children and families with issues such as child abuse and family violence. The Children’s Courts have been incredibly successful and have been named a model for our nation. Over the years, we have been able to add programs that help families, including the Drug Court, the College Bound Docket for older foster care children, and the Family Preservation Docket.

I’m honored to serve on the Remember the Alamo Foundation, helping raise funds for the restoration of the Alamo, and along with my husband, was honored with the Briscoe Western Art Museum Legacy Award for our support of its founding and growth.

What do you think San Antonio Woman means for our community?

More than ever, women are very significant to our economy. San Antonio Woman is an excellent way for women to connect! Having my work featured helped me reach out to the community, raise funds, and build a reputation of trust and accomplishment. Hopefully, I can continue to help more children and families in the future.

Photo courtesy of Briscoe Western Art Museum

years

CoverW oman

M a y/ J u n e 3102

What do you remember most about your experience of being on the cover of San Antonio Woman?

It seems like yesterday when San Antonio Woman sent Liz Garza Williams to photograph live shots of me in my “element” performing with my band. It was followed up by a wonderful studio photo shoot and a thoughtful and attentive interview conducted by Jasmina Wellinghoff. As a result, one of the pics was utilized for my next album cover, and the article has been cited several times on Wikipedia. I was thrilled and honored to end up on the cover! I autographed countless magazines and received heartwarming compliments about the content and quality!

Tell us about your current endeavors and passions.

I continue to perform and tour with my band, do presentations as a motivational speaker, have a radio show, and give back to my community. I write most of my songs, including gospel songs for my ministry. I am also performing a 90-minute tribute show about Patsy Cline called “Sweet Dreams Of Patsy.” At present, I am the president of a new nonprofit called “Tejano Legends of San Antonio” and recording my 19th album. My last album won Album of the Year for The Tejano Music Awards in San Antonio. My latest single, “Baila Como La Culebra (Dance like the Snake),” is up for Song of the Year, as well as my music video, “Noticias Falsas (Fake News).” I’ll be performing on National TV Galavision for “Serenata para La Virgen” this December.

Thank you to San Antonio Woman for highlighting and supporting San Antonio women and providing quality information and entertainment to our community!

Photo courtesy of Patsy Torres

From a Wise Man Sprang San Antonio Woman

Life is serendipity. Sometimes the most interesting opportunities can come out of places that you would least expect them to when you curiously walk through a door that opens while you are focused on another path.

By Meredith Kay | Photography by Suzanne Pack

This is what happened to Mike Gaffney. He was enjoying a 10-year career in banking, working as a Commercial Lender at Broadway Bank in the early 1990s, when he was approached by one of the bank’s clients, a graphic design company. He learned about computers, printing, and graphic design in short order.

In 1993, Gaffney had the opportunity to start PixelWorks Media, and in 1995 he moved his career into publishing with a bi-monthly new homes guide that highlighted new home builders throughout the San Antonio area. A second magazine was launched in Austin, and both publications were sold to Primedia Corp in 2000.

Gaffney had always kicked around the idea of starting a San Antonio city magazine, and when an auto dealer expressed an interest in reaching more women, the publishing lightbulb turned on. Studies showed that women influenced nearly 80% of household buying decisions in the U.S., and after consulting with his wife, Nancy, Mike decided to change the title from San Antonio Monthly to San Antonio Woman

It was then that the stars aligned again, as Gaffney had recently met Beverly Purcell-Guerra when he was invited to publish the Medical Society magazine. When Gaffney learned about Beverly’s extensive publishing background with Vogue magazine and, more recently, with the San Antonio Express-News, he convinced her to join him as the first editor of San Antonio Woman, and their 12-year adventure together began. The timing was good as the city was growing into one of the largest metropolitan markets in the country.

“Men have a tendency to trumpet their own horns about their successes, but women quietly build careers and become the top in their field, running successful businesses while also balancing their family lives and other endeavors. I have had the extreme pleasure of meeting so many dynamic smart, and fun women throughout the years.”

They say that behind every great man is an amazing woman, and Gaffney’s publishing empire could not have been possible without the love, support, and ongoing strength of his wife, Nancy. The couple met as students at S.M.U. and will celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary next March. For years, Nancy quietly handled the mechanics of the burgeoning publishing business, acting as the business administrator and corporate cheerleader.

Nancy says, “Working with Mike gave me an incredible opportunity to meet some wonderfully talented women in San Antonio, many of whom are now dear friends. I am proud to have been a part of the success of San Antonio

Woman. It has been an honor to be a part of the longestrunning magazine in San Antonio and a privilege to see that the torch has passed to very capable local hands.”

Gaffney also credits the magazine’s long-term success to a fantastic group of writers, photographers, and editors, including his own sister, Susan Thornton, who stepped down as the editor two years ago to pursue her exciting new role as a grandmother.

Gaffney recalls some of his favorite personalities and moments with San Antonio Woman fondly. “In the early days, we pulled all-nighters to get the magazine to press on time. Slowly, we were able to avoid those. The brainstorming sessions for creating new next issue were always challenging and fun.” He says that some of the most interesting women and their stories came equally from celebrities as well as high-achieving professional women like former Sheriff Susan Parmaleau, Singer Patsy Torres, Actress Cheryl Ladd, Dr. Lillian Chou, Commercial Realtor Deborah Bauer, Banker Suzanne Goudge, and Judge Sandee Bryan Marion, among many, many others.

The magazine actually “birthed” several other titles, including Denver Woman, San Antonio At Home, as well as San Antonio Man; the latter only lasted a couple of years. “No one was really interested in reading about guys,” laughs Gaffney, “and the advertisers continued to be more interested in supporting San Antonio Woman.”

Although Gaffney sold San Antonio Woman in 2020, he reflects on his career as the magazine celebrates its 20th anniversary, and he is proud of the impact this publication has made on the city. He and Nancy still call San Antonio home; however, they split their time with a home in Fort Worth to be with their son and daughter and five grandchildren.

Today the Gaffneys run almost 200 websites and are active in buying, selling, and brokering domain names across the country. Their daughter continues in the family business as the popular influencer, Fort Worth Woman.

Gaffney smiles when he says, “I loved sometimes being the only guy walking into an event filled with influential women that have shaped our city, and to know that our magazine had the chance to tell their stories and inspired other women to learn from them as well. In the end, we were successful because I was able to surround myself with smart women and listen to them.” As Gaffney sums it up, “I learned a lot about women that I did not know I didn’t know!”

“I learned a lot about women that I did not know I didn’t know!”

Linsey Lindberg

By Alexis James | Photography by David Teran

Creating an Extraordinary Life of Her Own.

“Be strong always. You never know who you’re inspiring.”

- Linsey Lindberg

Strong Woman, Guinness World Record Holder, and now a successful San Antonio business owner, Linsey Lindberg is her own Ringmaster creating a life full of entertainment, innovation, and inspiration.

Within the first few minutes of meeting Linsey, you immediately sense her love for life, and her positivity is genuine and contagious. You can’t help but immediately smile and look around in “awe” when you walk into the remarkable Artisan Oddities & Entertainment headquarters and showroom. The rooms are filled with stunning custom costumes, and there’s a designer hard at work sewing a beautiful historical gown for one of their clients.

no need to stress because what’s meant for you can’t miss you.”

She laughs when she recounts the many times she’s had to start over in life, and she gives this advice for other women in a moment of reinvention, “Don’t limit yourself.” She continues, “To be in a place where you get to start over is a very powerful place to be. Now you get to rebuild the world around you, to create a life you love. What an awesome opportunity. The greatest thing in life is that there isn’t only one right prescribed way that your life should go.”

Linsey started Artisan Oddities & Entertainment eight years ago, and it’s now one of the leading Entertainment Agencies in San Antonio. Originally from Kansas, she has fully converted to being a San Antonian and deeply loves breakfast tacos, local coffee shops, and the community. “I wanted to live in a place where I could put down roots, make friends, and impact my community,” says Linsey.

Her favorite thing about being a business owner is that she gets to help independent artists & performers make their art. “I’m thankful that my job creates opportunities for artists to earn a living wage. I also love providing working environments where I can ensure they feel protected, valued, and are placed in good situations.”

Linsey has enjoyed a life full of incredible and fulfilling accomplishments, including traveling the world as Mama Lou, one of the only performing Strong Women in the world, and being a 5-time Guinness World Records holder… Yes, 5!

But she admits that life didn’t give her a straight path to success. When her dream of joining a European Circus didn’t go as planned, she didn’t let it define her and instead turned it into an opportunity to live out her passion.

“Nobody gets to tell you if you’re good enough to practice more and get better at what you want to do in life. If you’re going to be great, you can’t wait for someone else to give you permission to live your dream,” says Linsey. “I believe that your perfect path, what you’re meant to do, will combine all your best skills effortlessly. There’s

Linsey learned one of her most valuable leadership lessons during the COVID-19 Pandemic. “When things get hard in our individual lives, it’s easy to become overwhelmed. But really and truly, we have the power to figure it out and become stronger because of the challenge. I believe if I’m only a good leader on the good days, then I’m not a good leader at all. It’s easy to be a good leader when the sunshine is out. What matters most is if you’re a good leader when things go wrong; or when the weather is not great. That’s when you find out who you are as a boss, a mentor, and a leader. My goal is always to emerge from the storm shining.“

She smiles when asked about the future and says, “I’m living my best life. I enjoy spending time with my neighbors and riding my bike to work.” She continues, “But I always have a next thing I’m looking forward to. I’m very in love with life and all the opportunities that life has to offer. And I believe something new and exciting is always on the horizon.”

Mayor Ron Nirenberg

By Dawn Robinette APR | Photography by David Teran

Serving with Heart

-- And a Side of Heavy Metal

Rocking to Joan Jett, Mötley Crüe, Def Leppard, and Poison at the Alamodome? Cruising down the highway while Heart’s “Barracuda” blares from the speakers? Watching the AC/DC website for long-awaited concert news?

That’s probably not the image that most people have of San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg. But ask him about his taste in music or his favorite bands, and Nirenberg lights up. The Stadium Tour at the Alamodome was a night to remember. “I met Joan Jett. And I was awestruck. She’s such a legend.”

The Doors are his favorite band, but his taste crosses all genres. Before joining city government, Nirenberg was general manager of KRTU-FM. But his time as a program director for the Annenberg Public Policy Center is what put him on the path to service.

“Working to grow civic engagement in 22 cities got me involved in local government, how it works and why it’s important,” explains Nirenberg. “When we decided to start a family, we decided to set our roots in San Antonio permanently. And I became interested in what I could do to improve the city around me.”

If you’ve ever wondered if the mayor of the seventh largest city in the country also tackles household chores, you can thank First Lady Erika Prosper for a peek behind the scenes via her social media channels. “Unless she’s laughing and I ask her, ‘What did you do?’ and she shows me, I don’t know what she posts,” he laughs.

Nirenberg will be running for re-election next spring. But that’s as far ahead as he looks. “I’m committed to this city. Whatever comes next is predicated on me being as good me as I possibly can be and doing as good a job as I possibly can.”

What’s your dream job?

My dream job was to be the beat writer for the Boston Red Sox, so I was in hot pursuit of a career in sports

journalism. I had an offer from NFL Films to go into a program that might have put me on the sports path. I had to choose whether to pursue that or move to San Antonio. I chose the latter. But what I’ve found is my dream is to serve.

What are people surprised to learn about you?

That I like pretty normal stuff. I love to go to rock and roll concerts. My Sundays are spent doing laundry. What I really imagined doing with my life was being a sportswriter. My favorite movie is “Terminator.” All the things you don’t see by just following the political affairs in the paper.

If you had 24 hours to fill in San Antonio, what would you do?

Assuming I could do everything on the same day, I’d go get a drink at Library Bar. Then kayak down the Mission Reach. I’d watch the Missions play. I’d visit the 733rd Training Squadron at Lackland and fly the C-5 simulator. I’d catch a San Antonio FC game. I’d see the Stadium Tour concert. I’d eat dinner at Bohanan’s and go to First Friday in Southtown.

It’s no secret that you’re a fitness buff. But what’s your guilty pleasure? Dark chocolate. And beer. Not together, though!

What don’t people understand about San Antonio?

We run at our own pace. There’s an authenticity and sincerity about the way we go about our lives that I think other places actually wish they would emulate. We’re San Antonio. Take us or leave us. If you love us, join us.

What do you look forward to each day?

Every day provides an opportunity to move this city forward, improve it, and help someone. This is the best job in the world. I get to wake up, and I know that by the end of the day, I’m going to hopefully do my part to help make someone’s life better in my city. There’s no better feeling.

Photography by: Ultrae

Photo, @ultraephoto. Hair & Makeup: Dora Vera, @thelook.beautystudio.

Model: Hayley Nicile, @tapscottmgmt.

Creating Memories

Happy to be back with you all; I hope everyone is taking time for themselves and remembering to show themselves love!

Well, not sure how this year flew by so fast, but here we are. The holidays are upon us, and precious memories are bound to be created. But between the busy day-to-day and adding years to my life, it gets harder to remember all the times I want to hold dear. I don’t know about you, but I’m not ready to allow that to happen to me!

Want to join me in a little challenge? How about this Holiday season, we create memories and hold on to them through a fragrance? Have you ever smelt something that took you right back to a specific moment? I didn’t realize that this could happen until, as an adult, I sprayed a fragrance I used to wear when I was 17, and as soon as that scent hit my nostrils, I immediately went back to my high school senior year. This gave me a thought for this article. What if you pick a specific fragrance that will hold onto the memory of this year’s festivities? That way, you relive the moment every time you spray this fragrance.

I would suggest a new fragrance purchased specifically for this holiday season. Life can change quickly, and unfortunate circumstances happen; I feel like designating a fragrance through our sense of smell is such a creative way to hold on to the memory and even relive it! It can be whatever scent you want! My hope for you is that you can cherish this year’s gatherings with loved ones and relive them through the scent you chose. Great way to give yourself a little pick me up!

Happy Holidays!

Dora Vera

Dora Vera

Owner, The Look | Makeup & Hair Studio @thelook.beautystudio

Dora is a San Antonio native with 10+ years in the hair & makeup application industry. Specializing in the “no makeup, makeup look” and one-on-one makeup lessons for women of all ages.

Lawn Maintenance

for YoyrSkin

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

If you wish to have a lush, healthy front lawn that is green and beautiful, then aeration is a must. Every spring, we puncture the grass and soil and deliver to the roots oxygen, water, and fertilizer through channels or cores from the surface down to the roots. We then add new soil with fertilizer, mixed with water, and grow new roots, a thicker turf, and a gorgeous green surface emerges to impress our neighbors and visitors to our home.

Perhaps you have heard of microneedling, laser resurfacing, the Vampire facial, or the injection of Sculptra or other collagenstimulating substances to refresh or renew the skin, especially the facial skin. Why do we injure the surface or the sub-surface of the skin to create a more youthful, healthy appearance? The answer lies in the miraculous way our body is able to heal with stem cells and peptides and other natural healing serums circulating in our bloodstream.

In our blood, there are cells called platelets. They circulate 24 hours a day, on patrol, like police officers looking for trouble to arise suddenly. When an injury occurs, chemicals are released at the site, which activate platelets to send out an “all hands on deck!!!” alert. Nerves are activated, other chemicals like cytokines and tissue stimulating factors are released, and other platelets and cells called adult stem cells or Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSC’s) arrive, which begin to heal and form new, healing tissue in the area. The tissue healing factors, cells, MSC’s, and platelets all contribute to healing and refreshing the tissue which has been injured.

So how do we take advantage of controlled injury to make our patient’s skin more healthy, glowing, supple, and youthful in appearance? The workhorse of our spa

is micro-needling with radiofrequency (Secret RF). We introduce small channels with tiny needles to the dermal layer of the skin with RF heat along the surface of the channel to alert the platelets to send out the signal. The magic begins at that point. The inflammatory cascade springs into action to heal, restore, and grow new cells, tissue, collagen, and thicken the dermal layer and brighten the surface of the skin. This works on all of the skin of the body, face, neck, arms, stomach, and legs. If you have heard the terms PRP, PRF, or Vampire facial, now you will know what the terms mean. Platelet-rich plasma or plateletrich fibrin is merely where we draw your blood and spin it at special speeds in a centrifuge so we can concentrate the stimulating serums and platelets in your blood with and without fibrin. We can then use it as the fertilizer to put on your skin (Vampire facial) while doing microneedling. Sounds like aerating your lawn, right? Thus, the title of this article.

Micro-needling RF (Secret RF), Micro-needling (Rejuvapen), PRX-T33, Sculptra injections, Hyperdilute Radiesse, and Smooth and Barbed threads coated with Sculptra are ways to take advantage of the wonderful way your body can heal and turn back time. As a specialist in anesthesia, the procedure can be done comfortably and safely with topical anesthesia, inhaled nitrous oxide, or even an oral pre-procedure medication for your comfort. I prefer to see each patient for a consultation to discuss a customized plan that is best for you. No matter the age of your lawn, it is able to heal itself if given moisture, the right treatment, and the right nutrients. Your skin and your body are similar to your lawn. Call for a consultation, and we will decide together what is best for your maintenance plan.

To learn more about Turquoise Springs Medical Spa or to schedule a consultation, visit turquoisesprings.com or call (210) 253-3313

Joyeux Home Decor

By Dy Lynne Dabney | Photography by Frederick Wilson

San Antonio Woman sat down with Dy Lynne Dabney, owner of Joyeux Home Decor, to get an insider’s scoop on this year’s holiday decorating trends. We know you’ll be inspired!

How and when did you start Joyeux?

While we opened our doors for business on July 1, 2016, we worked for over a year building the barn, hiring a fabulous team, and curating the store.

Does the name Joyeux have a special meaning to you?

Yes, the name has a very special meaning to us! We searched for over a year to find a place to build our business. While biking in Olmos Park, my husband found a lot for sale and quickly called me to join him. I got to the site, and it just checked all the boxes for us, incredible drive-by accessibility, a small town within a large city, and when we looked up and saw it was at the corner of Joy st., we got chills! It turned out that a very special family had owned and operated a business for many years in that exact location. When their beloved patriarch passed away, the siblings decided to sell the property, and we were the fortunate ones to have a chance to build another family business on that same property. Joy is one of my favorite words! It is used 165 times in the Bible and perfectly describes what we wanted our clients to feel when they visited and shopped. The only thing I liked more was the French spelling of it and the chance to honor my husband’s French roots.

Can you tell us a little about holiday trends this year, colors, themes and materials?

Santa ornaments, nutcrackers, and all things nostalgic.

Trends for the 2022 holiday season are what we consider the classic Christmas! Deep greens and bright reds are back in a big way. We love to showcase a classic silver and gold tree each year for tonal lovers. We added a traditional red and green, and on our wild card tree, we showcased zebra ribbon and large citrine orna-ments mixed with deep burgundy and pink! Whimsical ornaments, such as mini champagne bottles, cute little dressed-up mice, and even gnomes, are trendy now.

Can you give maybe three tips to design the perfect table setting for a holiday brunch or dinner?

An easy way to spruce up your Holiday table is to add fresh (or faux) Christmas greens or magnolia leaf garland in the center of the table, add a few ivory taper candles in gilded gold candle stick holders and simply attach a few ornaments from your tree to the garland or fill a beautiful bowl full of ornaments to tie the tree and table together!

What do you love most about the holiday season in the store?

We LOVE Christmas and bringing joy and excitement to our customers each holiday season. It is so much fun to see customers’ faces walking through our doors and taking in the Christmas sights! From the scent of a Douglas fir candle to being offered a gingerbread latte. Christmas brings a sense of hope and love, something we all really need and crave right now.

What are you thankful for this season?

I’m very thankful for good health, family, God, and our amazing team at Joyeux! We are truly blessed.

I’m dreaming ofa white Christmas

Happy Holidays!

Hollywood-Crawford Door Company Celebrates 75 Years

Any business that’s been around 75 years has seen dramatic changes. Hollywood-Crawford Door Company, founded in San Antonio in 1947 and still going strong today, is no exception.

Doyle Benton started installing garage doors at Hollywood-Crawford in 1959. Back then, garage doors were constructed of wood and installed without the help of power tools. Garage door openers were a cuttingedge luxury available only to the very wealthy.

As decades went by, pagers and electric typewriters were the height of business efficiency. When steel garage doors became popular in the late 1980s, they were only available in a white raised-panel design. Garage door openers became more widely available and were a popular Christmas gift, so the company offered them on sale during the holidays.

Doyle Benton went from installer to company owner in 1979 when he bought Hollywood-Crawford from his longtime bosses, Harry and Merle Crosland, the couple that had founded the business.

Today, at 86 years old, Doyle Benton is still the CEO, signing paychecks, helping with planning, and greeting employees. His son-in-law, Randy Oliver, is the company president, overseeing the day-to-day operations with his wife, Becky. Their two sons, Chris and Jonathan, work there, too, representing the third generation of leadership of the family business.

With more than 100 years at Hollywood-Crawford between them, Benton and Oliver, who began working for the company in 1981 and became president around 1996, have helped Hollywood-Crawford survive by adapting to changing conditions.

Garage doors have gone from a purely practical necessity to a design element, comprising up to 40% of a home’s

elevation. They often serve as the main entrance into and out of a home. Homeowners now control and monitor their garage door openers from their smartphones, with some featuring built-in battery backups, cameras and two-way audio and more.

The company has seen changing trends in San Antonio’s construction industry as well. Overall housing numbers have increased each year, and their customers now include builders constructing homes to rent directly to individuals. More multi-family homes are incorporating garages into their designs, sometimes attached to individual apartments. Word of mouth, always a vital source of referrals, has taken on a new significance with online reviews and social media. As the labor market has gotten more competitive, the company has spent a lot of time and money increasing employee benefits and improving its culture, including higher pay, more paid time off and a healthy profit-sharing program, among other perks.

Some things have stayed consistent over the years. Customer service is the key to the company’s longevity. The company has received the prestigious Angi (formerly Angie’s List) Super Service Award for the past 15 consecutive years – something no other garage door company in San Antonio can say. With more than 1,700 Google reviews with an average of 5.0, the company’s focus on happy customers keeps it ahead of competitors. The company also believes in giving back, providing significant financial gifts to local nonprofit organizations each year.

After 75 years in business, Hollywood-Crawford’s story offers a unique perspective on San Antonio’s construction industry as it positions itself to continue to grow in San Antonio.

For more information please visit: hollywoodcrawford.com | (210) 494-3434

KNOW AND BE KNOWN

Saint Mary’s Hall offers students age 3 through 12th grade a rich liberal arts curriculum in a supportive environment where they are known - by faculty, each other, and themselves. Graduates go forth confidently armed with the skills, knowledge, and self-awareness needed to thrive in college and in life.

Experience Saint Mary’s Hall

Upper School Preview: 11/3

Middle School Preview: 11/10

Lower School Preview: 12/1

Learn more and RSVP: smhall.org/admission/tours-previews-events

Saint Mary’s Hall does not discriminate in admission or educational programs against qualified students on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, or national/ethnic origin.

Dossier

Transformation Professionals

It’s that time of year when the question “what’s your New Years’ resolution?” comes around. The time when we find it necessary to focus on that list of important transformations designed to improve our habits and ensure the coming year gets off to a fresh start. For many, the answer might be eating healthier, exercising more, traveling, or learning a new skill. For others, the time to set resolutions comes and goes without a second thought. This edition’s Dossier section offers a collection of area professionals equipped to support transformational goals in all areas of life. From health and wellness to organizing, financial matters, and more. Cheers to transformation!

Photography by David Teran

Building Financial Success in 2023 and Beyond

Financial empowerment is not about how much money you have but how you manage it. Leaders from Jefferson Bank share advice for empowering yourself to become an expert in your finances!

• Know where your money is and how to access it. Have ongoing conversations with your spouse or business partner about where accounts are so you can access them.

• You can’t start a budget until you know what you have. Look at your bank statements to learn about your spending habits. Evaluate how much money is coming in, how much is going out and where it is going. Weed out unnecessary automatic payments.

• Be realistic and intentional about spending. Remember to enjoy life: add treating yourself to your budget.

• Create and regularly check on your emergency fund. You might need to increase it in different life stages- buying a house, having a child, retiring, etc.

• Protect your child’s financial future. Freeze your child’s credit until they are ready to use it. Teach the value of a dollar - have your child use physical cash for purchases.

• Create a will, designate a power of attorney, and update regularly. Review every five years or at any major life event.

• Consider a corporate fiduciary to administer your family’s assets. Whether you are at the point where you want to be hands-off with your assets, planning for incapacity or attempting to ease the burden on your loved ones, a corporate fiduciary can help manage your affairs.

• Never be afraid to ask your banker questions. We are here to support and educate you in all of your life phases!

Feeling confident in your financial planning, understanding what is happening with your money, and having peace of mind that you and your family are financially covered will help you live the life you want.

Erica Gay, J.D., VP, Trust Officer | Anais Hernandez, Assistant VP, Trust Officer Whitney Pigg, VP, Private Banking | Betsy Baker, Senior VP, Division Manager | Mary Ellen Archer,VP, Private Banking

Transformation of your Legal Issues

Laura D. Heard

Law Firm

Laura D. Heard, Attorney/CEO

Describe the services your business offers to clients.

Family Law Firm

Inc.

We change lives by helping people in what is often the most traumatic times of their lives: when they have suffered the loss of a loved one through death or the end of a marriage. We defend people through custody battles, property division disputes, and inheritance issues. We help people plan for the future. I am also a family law mediator and have 35 years of experience as a family lawyer in San Antonio, Texas. I have made hundreds of law videos available on YouTube and written a book on everyday legal issues.

What sets your business apart from others in your industry?

My team and I focus on listening to our clients and taking the time to understand each situation. Often attorneys become calloused to the fact that their clients are hurting. We offer a calm perspective and even pray with our clients if that is what they desire. We care about doing things right.

What do you love most about your work?

I love restoring people’s hope that life will get better despite things that are happening now beyond their control. The most satisfying thing is helping people prepare estate plans so that their families can deal with an unexpected death as smoothly as possible. No matter the situation, the probate court is a process that no one should try to navigate without a lawyer. Divorce court is just as complex. We can help people navigate legal traps they would otherwise not know to avoid.

Laura D. Heard Law Firm Inc. 14607 San Pedro Ave., Ste. 205, San Antonio TX 78232 (210) 655-9090 | www.LDHeard.com

People Whisperer Solutions

Dr. Marisol Weymouth, President & CEO

Describe the services your business offers to clients.

People Whisperer Solutions is in the business of partnering with people, teams, and organizations to prepare for change and transformation. Change comes in various forms, including organizational re-design, technological transformation, professional growth, and first-time manager preparedness, to name a few.

What benefits might someone gain from working with your business?

Benefits from working with People Whisperer Solutions include the value of integrating decades of experience, proven practices, research, and theory into our client’s tailored solutions. Solutions are designed based on where the client is in their journey and are strategic, actionable, agile, and realistic. We aim to serve alongside our clients as life-long partners!

What sets your business apart from others in your industry?

We possess over 25 years of managing teams in corporate environments, specifically in male-dominated industries, and served in a variety of capacities, including strategic and business planning, portfolio management, change management/people-readiness, program management office, balanced scorecard, process improvement, supply chain, corporate communications, corporate affairs, operations, and IT.

More specifically, we integrate experience, theory, research, and application in helping individuals, teams, and organizations tailor programs and solutions to accelerate the speed of transformation.

How do you define success in working with your clients?

We aim to measure client success both subjectively and objectively. We strive for our clients to feel confident in the value they receive from People Whisperer Solutions. Our approach is to actively listen to client needs, share proven practices, build a tailored solution, and integrate key effectiveness measures; ultimately, we align, execute, measure, and report back.

The by-product of our client value-proposition approach is repeat business and referrals.

Powers Professional Partners, LLC

Kelly Kljajic-Powers

Owner

to your team or if you are about to start your job search. It would be our honor and privilege to represent you.

To what do you attribute your success as a talent acquisition expert?

I believe that my success is due to my deep passion for helping others. I pride myself on meeting people wherever they are in their journey. I feel that, in a small way, I am bettering lives, impacting others, and creating dream jobs.

What do you enjoy most about your work?

I enjoy connecting with people. I believe that every person has their unique strengths they bring to the table. I enjoy helping others uncover hidden strengths or realizing untapped potential. The look on their face is priceless and motivates me to work hard to find them their next role.

What is the best advice you have ever received?

Surround yourself with positive words, people, and images. Your mindset is your most powerful tool. Protect it, and never stop learning.

What do you do to relax outside of work? I read a lot. Probably 30+ pages per day of nonfiction. I love learning and growing in all aspects of my life. Reading is how I unwind and is part of my nightly ritual.

What sets Powers Professional Partners apart from other hiring firms?

Powers Professional Partners was founded during the global pandemic (2020) when I realized there had to be a better way to approach recruitment. I wanted to create an agency that connected people from a place of transparency, compassion, and strategy. We are passionate about people and believe that people are not numbers or sheets of paper (resumes). People deserve better. People deserve feedback and advice that is impartial without ulterior motives. We advocate for our candidates and assist with job searches. We offer relevant market data; multiple opportunities to consider; and set realistic expectations. We don’t take making career moves lightly; we understand it is a big decision. We want to be your preferred choice if you are looking to add staff

What is the most inspirational book you have read this year?

Outwitting the Devil by Napoleon Hill. It is an oldie but a goodie. It was written in 1939 in the wake of the Great Depression. The morals and themes of the book still resonate in many aspects to our current landscape. The words I read indeed shook my world and helped me find definitive purpose in my life, work, and mission. I highly recommend this book.

What are you thankful for this holiday season?

I am beyond grateful for my family. Their unwavering love and support make the dream work. I am so thankful for my loyal clients, candidates, and followers. It is a tough job market, but all of it is worth it because of the wonderful people in my life. It truly is a beautiful world.

Powers Professional Partners, LLC San Antonio, TX | Phone number (210) 475-2534 www.powersprofessionalpartners.com

Photography by Stella Haus Films

Women in

The San Antonio Chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners

By Blithe Wiley | Photography by Suzanne Pack | A special thank you to Cellars at Pearl

From left to right: Yvette Allen, Nisi Bennett, Graciela Urruchua, Melissa Bedard

Today, The San Antonio chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO-SA) is the second largest chapter in the country, with more than 200 members. NAWBO’s vision is to serve as a one-stop resource propelling women entrepreneurs into economic and political spheres of power.

The local chapter was established in 1997, with 30 San Antonio women business owners joining the national organization. It was the brainchild of San Antonio businesswomen Dixie Kingston, Lynn Weirich, and Pat Stout, who were inspired by attending the national NAWBO conference in 1996.

NAWBO-SA holds more than 70 public events and more than 30 smaller events each year. It also operates several programs designed to benefit local women entrepreneurs, including Million Up, a prestigious forum exclusive to NAWBO-SA Premiere Members whose businesses generate $1 million or more in annual revenue; Scale Up, a program aimed at women business owners who are striving to meet and exceed the $1 million mark in sales; and Digital Up, a program that encourages the growth of women business owners in the digital space.

NAWBO-SA also actively gives back to the local community. Through the NAWBO-SA Foundation, it runs a high school girls mentorship program. Developed in 1999, this program encourages young women to explore entrepreneurship as a means to financial independence and learn what it takes to be a successful entrepreneur. In addition, NAWBO-SA recently launched its Service Saturdays program, where once a quarter, members volunteer at a local nonprofit organization.

For four members of NAWBO-SA, their involvement with the organization has inspired them to set the bar higher for themselves and the work that they do.

“We are very much aligned with the mission of NAWBO HQ, which is to serve as a go-to resource for women at all stages of their businesses,” Urruchua explained. “Our mission is to be a place where women can connect through relationships and mentorship.”

She noted that NAWBO-SA provides support and connections to women business owners, regardless of what stage they are at in their business. “It’s the place where women can get the most support and encouragement as female entrepreneurs.

“Our members range from brand-new business owners to 30+-year veterans,” she said. “They are operating businesses in industries ranging from beauty to trucking. Connecting with all of these talented women business owners has inspired me to really up my game!”

Urruchua’s responsibilities range from serving as the liaison between the Board members and the chapter members to serving as the bridge between the chapter and its corporate partners. She also works with the NAWBO-SA Foundation activities and spearheads the execution of the chapter’s numerous events throughout the year.

Graciela Urruchua has served as the Executive Director of NAWBO-SA since 2016. In her role, she supports the NAWBO-SA Board of Directors in providing the resources and events to serve the chapter members.

Bedard is the 2022-2023 President of the NAWBO-SA Board of Directors. She joined the chapter in 2019 and quickly found it to have a remarkable impact on her professional path.

“When I joined NAWBO-SA, I was a brand-new entrepreneur,” she said. “Getting involved with NAWBOSA gave me a lot of confidence in my business. I got to know women further along in their entrepreneurial journey – women who were so eager to help me to learn and grow in my business.”

She noted that, for many women business owners, it’s very easy for them to find themselves working in a silo. “Joining an organization like NAWBO-SA prevents that

Graciela Urruchua, Executive Director, NAWBO-SA

Melissa Bedard, Principal, Certified High Performance Coach™️ & Style Strategist, Melissa Bedard Coaching, 2022-2023 President of NAWBO-SA

from happening. This organization provides its members with a wonderful sense of community.”

Bedard observed that when a woman is working for a corporation or large company, she has access to IT support, marketing support, HR support, and more, to help her to succeed in her work. “NAWBO-SA offers women those resources in terms of our fellow members,” she said. “We have members who are attorneys, marketing professionals, IT specialists, HR consultants, you name it. There’s always someone you can call on for advice and support,” she explained.

“I wish I had found NAWBO-SA as soon as I launched my business,” she said. “It’s so wonderful to find a place like this that offers collaboration, professional growth, and personal development. Being involved with NAWBO-SA has been so good for me in so many ways.”

with and learn from women in other industries. “Being part of NAWBO-SA has turned out to be a gift for me,” she said. “It’s all about amazing women cheering other women on. I always tell other women that NAWBO-SA is a community of women with open arms welcoming other women from all walks of life.”

Yvette Allen, who joined NAWBO-SA in 2018, is the 20222023 President of the NAWBO-SA Foundation, a 501c3 organization. In her role as President of the Foundation, she oversees the High School Mentorship Program.

The High School Mentorship Program is a six-month program where interested female high school students are matched one-on-one with NAWBO-SA mentors to learn about entrepreneurship. Each student develops a business plan, which is entered into a competition for four college scholarships ranging from $2,500 to $10,000. The program currently has more than 90 female students at 12 area high schools who are working with 13 NAWBOSA mentors.

“Some of these girls have never been told that they could even think about owning a business,” Allen explained. “We encourage them to think big and believe that they can be anything they want to be. We want to plant that seed and encourage and empower them.”

Allen said she originally joined NAWBO-SA because she realized it would be a positive experience to network

Nisi Bennett, Chief Community Inclusion Officer, All Hearts Initiative, Director of NAWBO-SA’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Division

Bennett was introduced to NAWBO-SA in the fall of 2021 and quickly became involved with the chapter. She is currently a member of the NAWBO-SA Digital Up group and also serves as the Director of the chapter’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Division.

“In NAWBO-SA, we are focused on expanding the chapter’s diversity in terms of industry, age, race, location, and duration of business operations,” she explained. “We don’t want all our members in the same space. Diversity in all aspects of the organization enriches the experience for all of our members.”

In terms of equity, the committee works to get corporate funding to subsidize or pay for the chapter’s membership dues for women who can’t afford it. “In addition, inclusion means we make sure we are creating a space that accommodates and welcomes everyone,” Bennett said. “Our focus on belonging is making sure we encourage members and prospective members to show up as their full and authentic selves. We want them to know we welcome and appreciate that.”

Bennett emphasized that NAWBO-SA members reap so many benefits in terms of community connections, networking, and advocacy. “We are a group of women who wholeheartedly believe in our fellow member business owners. We believe in you and are your champions,” she said.

“NAWBO-SA is different from a Chamber of Commerce because when you become part of NAWBO-SA, you take it with you always. It becomes part of your DNA, and it’s a sisterhood that is very hard to find.”

Yvette Allen, Broker-Owner, Real Estate 210, President of the NAWBO-SA Foundation

Noisy Trumpet: Rising Above the Noise

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

By Alexis James | Photography by David Teran

Noisy Trumpet wants to help your organization stand out and rise above the noise! From website development and digital marketing to holistic PR campaigns, they are in your corner to successfully elevate your brand. It’s their goal for your message to “BE HEARD” as they incorporate a blend of strategy, creative ideas, and in-depth industry expertise to get you results.

Established in 2017, Noisy Trumpet was recently ranked as one of San Antonio’s fastest-growing companies and an Honoree of the 2021 San Antonio Business Journal Fast Track Awards.

The agency serves local, regional, and national businesses, organizations, and nonprofits across every industry. A woman-owned company, Noisy Trumpet is a fully integrated digital marketing and PR agency led by Fran Freeland Yanity, Founder, and CEO. With over 30 years of marketing and advertising experience, Fran obtained her MBA from Southern Methodist University. She honed her marketing expertise at The PM Group, where she rose from account service to the current Chief Operating Officer and President of The PM Group, the sister agency to Noisy Trumpet. She leads Noisy Trumpet with Partner Sarah Strunk, VP of Digital Strategy, and Partner Clarissa Castaneda, Director of Public Relations.

Fran and her team realized the industry was evolving. The demand for digital marketing was becoming too big to ignore, so they decided to start an agency that would bring digital marketing and public relations services under one roof. “There was an opportunity to help our clients grow in the rapidly shifting market. As demand increased, we knew the timing was right. The market was ready for our services,” says Fran.

Noisy Trumpet leverages strategy, creative ideas, and indepth industry expertise to drive results for its clients. “We have amazing clients,” raves Mrs. Yanity. “We collaborate with our clients to develop something new and innovative for their event, product launch, or fundraiser.” “Trust is also very important to us. We believe that if we promise a client results, we do it! If we say we’re going to do something, then we deliver.”

When asked what the top three things a client can expect from Noisy Trumpet are, Fran said enthusiastically, “We are a Best in Class Agency. Innovation, Results, and

Service. That’s what we have to offer.” She continues, “We’re a one-stop shop for business owners, and our goal is to meet the needs of our clients and take care of their digital marketing or PR needs.”

Fran imminently praises her team when asked how Noisy Trumpet has reached so many achievements over the past five years. “Our team is highly skilled and filled with great people who care about our clients and the city of San Antonio.” “Our team is amazing and truly knows how to resonate with people. We have the most innovative and passionate team collaborating to develop the best marketing solutions for our clients.”

When asked how she feels about leading her team, Fran replies, “My job is to help my employees find their strengths and the best place in the organization.” “I tell my employees that I’m not going to leave them where they are, and they understand that they will be pushed to grow. I want to help my employees get to where they want to go, come out of their comfort zones, and flourish.”

Noisy Trumpet also prides itself on being a Community First Agency, but those aren’t just words on their website; it’s a value that starts at the top with Fran and runs through the organization. In fact, in 2019, Noisy Trumpet added a program called “Volunteerism Matters,” an agency-wide program that rewards its staff for volunteering with local nonprofits. And they had 100% staff participation! Altogether, their staff logged over 1,100 volunteer hours in their initial year. “There are many needs in our community, and the resources we can bring are impactful,” says Fran.

Fran is proud of the advancements that Noisy Trumpet has made in just five years and is looking forward to the future. “We want to continue to grow and serve our San Antonio community. We’ll continue hiring the best talent and creating the best team to help facilitate the growth.”

Noisy Trumpet

7550 Interstate 10 West, Suite 505, San Antonio, TX 78229 | (210) 582-0505 | noisytrumpet.com

Atlas Floors

President Jessica Mahone McCarthy & Katelyn McCarthy, Marketing and Merchandising Specialist.

By Blithe Wiley | Photography by David Teran

“Great Floors Done Right” is the motto of Atlas Floors Carpet One, and it has epitomized the company’s approach to quality materials and craftsmanship since its inception in 1948. William Mahone Sr., a World War II veteran, alongside his wife, Laura Mahone, opened Atlas Floors in a modest house on Hildebrand near IH10 after he returned from the war. They named the company Atlas Floors in homage to the Greek titan Atlas, a symbol of strength and endurance. Bill Mahone Jr. joined his parents in the business right after high school and continued in the family business until his retirement six years ago.

Today, Atlas Floors Carpet One is a full-service floorcovering company serving San Antonio and South Texas. It offers customers a wide array of quality flooring products in carpet, hardwood, laminate, vinyl, ceramic & porcelain tile. It has remained a family-owned and operated business and today is run by the Mahones’ daughter, company President Jessica Mahone McCarthy, and her son, Matt McCarthy, Vice President of Sales & Marketing. Rounding out the family affair is Jessica’s daughter, Katelyn McCarthy, who today works as the company’s Marketing and Merchandising Specialist.

McCarthy recalls how the business grew from the small house on Hildebrand. “My parents had a showroom in the front of the house and lived in the back,” she said. “Over time, we have expanded our operations, first adding a warehouse in 1982, and then in 1984, we expanded the warehouse and built a new showroom, offices, and lease areas on Hildebrand. After that, we built a showroom off of 281 and Donella. In 2001, we joined the industry’s largest cooperative, Carpet One, as a way to leverage the company’s buying power and more effectively compete with the big box stores. Then in 2008, we opened our second showroom in Northwest San Antonio on 1604 near Braun Road. We also have a new office/warehouse facility on Poss Road in Leon Valley.”

According to McCarthy, a great deal of Atlas’ business comes from repeat customers and referrals. “It’s not unusual to have customers come in to select new flooring and tell us, ‘you did my grandparents’ house’ or ‘you did my parents’ house,’” she said.

The company’s product lines have significantly expanded over time to meet the evolving tastes of customers and changing trends in residential flooring. “In remodeling, the trend now is for people to take up their carpeting and replace it with hard surface floors such as tile, wood, and laminate,” McCarthy noted.

“The reason we have stayed in business so long is our total commitment to customer service and satisfaction,” McCarthy explained. “We have a guarantee that if a customer

isn’t happy with their flooring after we install it, we will replace it for free. We call this ‘The Beautiful Guarantee.’”

The company is also very committed to giving back to the community. “My family believes in giving back to our community because it has given us so much,” said McCarthy. Atlas Floors donates materials and volunteer hours to numerous community entities, ranging from Bill’s Elves to Veterans of San Antonio and Tunnel to Towers. The company also provides financial support to community entities, including a sponsorship for the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo.

“We have donated area rugs and carpet mats for classrooms in various school districts across San Antonio, and we also have donated carpeting to “The Chosen Foundation,” McCarthy noted. The company has also donated flooring and installation services to the Mi Casa Makeover program, where homes that were in need of repair were renovated.

The company, which will celebrate its 75th anniversary next year, is currently rolling out “Retail 2.0,” a hightech product merchandising system. Its features include digital “room visualizers” and QR code price tags for showroom products.

“With the room visualizers, customers can bring in photos of their living room, and we can show them digitally exactly what various floor samples will look like,” McCarthy explained. “We are implementing new technology in every aspect of our business,” We are thrilled to be one of the first 100 stores in the country to be selected by Carpet One to launch Retail 2.0.”

McCarthy noted that it’s very rare for a business to continue operating into the third generation of family members. “We have been very blessed to be able to grow and succeed with Atlas Floors Carpet One,” she said.

McCarthy takes pride in the longevity of many of the company’s installers and sales personnel. We have installers who have been with us as long as 30 years and several sales staff members who have been with us for over 20 years,” she said. “We like to treat our customers and our personnel like they are family.”

17100 San Pedro Avenue| (210) 444-2039 10242 West Loop 1604 N | (210) 569-0479 atlasfloors.com

Erin Callahan

President

Amy Moody

Vice-President

Some Elbow Room

19302 N. 281 Hwy. San Antonio, TX 78258 (210) 854-4023 www.SomeElbowRoom.com

On the eve of the New Year in 1988, a freshly minted 10-year-old and her kindergarten sister moved to San Antonio from Duncanville, TX. Erin Morgan Callahan and Amy Morgan Moody were little girls who played together in the creek, rode bikes, and invented their version of broom ball on skates to play on the back patio during rainy days.

The sisters would grow up to become close friends, eventually acting as the other’s Maid-of-Honor, later becoming next-door neighbors and, best of all, business partners.

Both went to Incarnate Word High School and the University of Texas at Austin. Erin would earn a BBA in Marketing, and Amy left with a degree and license from the School of Nursing.

Now, after twenty years of pursuing their respective careers, family, and motherhood, they run Some Elbow Room as President and Vice-President. Callahan heads up the marketing and strategy, while Moody helms the operations wheel.

Word is spreading fast about this dynamic duo who have as easy a way with customers as they do with one another. Their company, Some Elbow Room, is becoming ubiquitous for ADU, granny pods, guesthouses, and mini-house all along the I-35 corridor. “Construction is an industry that needs women,” Moody says. “We bring a perspective that offers a personal, practical, and aesthetic touch.”

“When we created our business model, I thought of my sister,” says Callahan. “She wants it all, the best. And she doesn’t like to think too hard about making decisions.” Elbow Room’s unique full-service approach is based on providing everything from design tools, architectural plans, HOA advocacy, permitting approvals, foundation, electrical, & plumbing engineering, project management, four separate inspections, and a year-long warranty.

Callahan and Moody’s long-term vision is to develop multiple divisions within Some Elbow Room. “I’d love to build a neighborhood full of multi-generational living lots,” says Callahan. When they aren’t working together, they frequently travel with their families or hang out in the backyard with neighbors. Whatever it is, they are bound to be making a stir.

Photography by Jessica Mewborne of Mewborne Photography

Leesa Harper Rispoli President, Broker/Owner

Coldwell Banker D’Ann Harper, REALTORS®

18756 Stone Oak Parkway, Suite 102 San Antonio, TX 78258 (210) 483-7004 cbharper.com

Leesa Harper Rispoli is honored to be the second generation running the most iconic and wellrespected real estate brokerage in San Antonio. Coldwell Banker D’Ann Harper, REALTORS® (CBDHR) is wholly-women-owned!

She followed in the footsteps of her father and worked in education for 16 years before joining her mother, D’Ann, at CBDHR. Leesa worked with D’Ann for several years before being promoted to president and Broker of Record.

Since Leesa took the helm, the company has grown in sales to over $1.4 billion. Today, CBDHR is the #1 largest woman-owned franchise in central and south Texas and the second largest woman-owned Coldwell Banker franchise in the United States. CBDHR has over 500 REALTORS® and 12 offices. Leesa has expanded the reach of the company beyond San Antonio to include Spring Branch, San Marcos, New Braunfels, Bandera, Boerne, and Laredo. These offices are home to their residential sales agents and seven specialized divisions, which include Global Luxury, Harper Property Management, Coldwell Banker Commercial (CBC), Alamo & CBC International Gateway (Laredo), Land and Ranch, and an award-winning Relocation division, making it the most concierge brokerage in San Antonio.

CBDHR has always had a philanthropic heart. Every year the company donates a portion of their sales to local charities. “We support Any Baby Can, Ray Maas Youth Alternatives and Communities in Schools,” Leesa said. “Our company has been blessed for over 36 years. It is our responsibility to give back to the community that created us. It’s the right thing to do and I take great pride in doing this year after year.”

CBDHR is a real estate leader in San Antonio built on integrity, professionalism and innovation. Having a family culture that thrives is the secret to many of their successes!

Tammie Rowe

Regional Director of Clinical Services

Lisa McGuire Director of Sales &

Marketing

Franklin Park Sonterra 18323 Sonterra Pl. San Antonio, TX 78258

FranklinPark.org

Tammie Rowe

When asked why I so love Assisted Living, my answer is always the same. Seeing residents overcome obstacles to improve quality of life is truly heartwarming. That, along with the support of my wonderful husband, three boys, beautiful daughter-in-law and the sweetest grandson have helped me along the way.

I have now enjoyed 37 years of nursing. I have been in the senior living industry since 2004 and continue to find my job rewarding each day.

I have had the pleasure of opening senior living communities in two countries and learned immensely during my travels. I joined the Franklin Park Senior Living team 12 years ago. Many care staff have been here 5 to 12 years and I count that a blessing, especially as the industry has struggled as of late. It is a great feeling to watch so many staff members grow and be promoted from within.

Our team works hard to maintain compliance and provide educational opportunities. Under my leadership, Franklin Park Sonterra Assisted Living has maintained a deficiency free survey for 12 consecutive years. I am a firm believer that trusting my staff and allowing them to use their judgment will not only encourage growth, but benefit our residents tenfold.

Lisa McGuire

I have had the pleasure of knowing Tammie throughout her 12 years of tenure. I have been in Sales and Marketing with Franklin Park for 13 years and cannot commend Tammie enough regarding the amazing way she has managed Assisted Living. Consulting for multiple communities and receiving NO state deficiencies for twelve consecutive years at Sonterra is an amazing feat.

Most management staff have been with Franklin Park Sonterra since its inception, which speaks volumes! We encourage you to visit this beautiful Independent and Assisted Living Community. You will find both great residents and staff alike!

Originally from West Texas, San Antonio is now Robbie’s home. She graduated from St. Mary’s School of Law in 2001 and immediately began working at the District Attorney’s office. Although she knew she wanted to be a criminal defense attorney, she had been told by mentors that the best defense attorneys were prosecutors first.

After working at the Bexar County District Attorney’s office, she became an Assistant United States Attorney, which helped increase her knowledge of evaluating and trying cases effectively.

Robbie left the U.S. Attorney’s office to become a criminal defense attorney and has been highly successful in her representation of clients. She has tried many state and federal cases as a prosecutor and a defense attorney. As a defense attorney, her efforts and wins for her clients have earned her the nickname “The Beast” among many of her clients. It’s a nickname she laughs off but has said it does make her feel proud that her clients know she will always fight hard, and they appreciate the efforts she puts into each case.

Robbie has successfully defended doctors, lawyers, other professionals, and people from all walks of life in both State and Federal courts. Most recently, she tried a murder case in April of this year and won a not guilty verdict for her client.

Being able to do what you love and have a real passion for is vital to her success. Robbie said although the work is hard and can require lots of long hours, the ability to help people in their most trying times is worth it.

As a single mom running her practice, Robbie said it makes her proud that her daughter knows that what she is doing makes a real difference in people’s lives, and her daughter is learning the same values Robbie was taught by her parents: to be anything great, you have to work hard.

Robbie is a Board member of the San Antonio Criminal Lawyers Association, a member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, and is on the Board of her HOA.

Robbie

Kathy Ripps REALTOR®

Kathy Ripps REALTOR®

Kuper Sotheby’s International Realty

Kuper Sotheby’s International Realty

4 Dominion Drive, Building 2 San Antonio, Texas 78257 C (210) 240 -4464

4 Dominion Drive, Building 2 San Antonio, Texas 78257 C (210) 240 -4464

kathy.ripps@kupersir.com kathysa.com

kathy.ripps@kupersir.com kathysa.com

San Antonio Realtor Kathy Ripps has dedicated much of her life to giving compassionate, dedicated care to her clients. With a background as a professional counselor and years of experience in real estate investing and property management, Kathy made a natural transition to a real estate agent and luxury home specialist offering dedication and understanding to every transaction.

San Antonio Realtor Kathy Ripps has dedicated much of her life to giving compassionate, dedicated care to her clients. With a background as a professional counselor and years of experience in real estate investing and property management, Kathy made a natural transition to a real estate agent and luxury home specialist offering dedication and understanding to every transaction.

Kathy spent 31 years in the education system first as a special education teacher and then as a counselor for middle and high school students. This extensive background has given her a strong ability to understand and relate to the needs of others, allowing her to truly recognize the significant impact buying or selling a home has on a person’s life. Kathy looks forward to serving you with integrity, honesty, and transparency in your homebuying experience!

Kathy spent 31 years in the education system first as a special education teacher and then as a counselor for middle and high school students. This extensive background has given her a strong ability to understand and relate to the needs of others, allowing her to truly recognize the significant impact buying or selling a home has on a person’s life. Kathy looks forward to serving you with integrity, honesty, and transparency in your homebuying experience!

Kay Harig

Owner + CEO OfficeSource, Ltd.

Molly Sowry President/CEO

OfficeSource, Ltd. 1133 Broadway San Antonio, TX 78215 O (210) 212-7742

Virtuoso Builders P.O. Box 690730 San Antonio, TX 78269 (210) 694-0707 www.dennys.com

www.officesourceltd.com

Dawn is one of the largest restaurant franchisees in America owning over 110 restaurants in career. She bought her first from Denny’s at 23 and presently owns 80 of their restaurants and employs over 3,000 in her 7-state operation.

She has been featured in countless radio interviews, podcasts, and publications, such as Entrepreneur, The Wall Street Journal and Multi Unit Franchisee. She has received numerous awards and is involved in many charities.

Dawn was a recurring judge on the web-series “Entrepreneur Elevator Pitch” which provides entrepreneurs a chance to pitch their idea in a 60 second elevator ride to a board of successful investors who will help them take their business to the next level.

Kay and the OfficeSource, Ltd. team are industry experts in COMMERCIAL FURNITURE. OfficeSource, Ltd. provides furniture space planning, product specifications, procurement, and installation services to the most highly publicized projects in South and Central Texas – NASA, TXDOT, Texas Facilities Commission, The AT&T Center, Henry B. Gonzales Convention Center, Bexar County Bibliotech, Alamo Colleges, University Health Systems, and the list goes on. Kay is a renowned state of Texas Registered Interior Designer and is known for assembling the very best design talent to create award winning projects. Under Kay’s leadership, OfficeSource, Ltd is the only 100% WOMAN-OWNED contract furniture dealership in San Antonio! Come visit the big green building at 1133 Broadway and meet Kay the OfficeSource, Ltd. team.

She is the largest female employer in San Antonio as well as one of San Antonio’s largest private companies.

Meg Walker

Vice President – Master Rug Cleaner (MRC)

Aladdin

Cleaning & Restoration San Antonio, TX 78212

O (210) 736-1821

Multiple locations www.aladdincleans.com

Meg Walker is Vice President of Aladdin Cleaning & Restoration in San Antonio, TX. Aladdin has been in business since 1956, with 3 locations and over 30 employees. Aladdin specializes in the cleaning of Oriental Rugs, carpets, Upholstery, Air Ducts, and more. After graduating from Texas Christian University in 2004, Meg began her career at Aladdin in accounting, marketing, and HR. She completed the UTSA Building Business Excellence Program in 2009. In 2016 Meg graduated from the Master Rug Cleaner Program. Meg has served on the Board of the Association of Rug Care Specialists since 2016 and is the current Past-President.

Rachel Reuter

Attorney at Law

Reuter Law Group, PC

112 East Pecan St., Ste 2920 San Antonio, Texas 78205

O (210) 812-4239 C (210) 284-8866

rachel@reuterlaw.com www.reuterlaw.com

Rachel Reuter is Board Certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. With over 20 years of experience, she established Reuter Law Group, PC as a boutique family law firm specializing in divorce and child custody disputes. Understanding that each client has different needs, Reuter Law Group was created as a premier family law firm dedicated to providing individualized attention to each client.

With integrity, creativity, diligence and passion, her team at Reuter Law Group will fight for their clients and help them come up with a plan that works best for his or her family.

Cynthia Parsons Real Estate Consultant

Cynthia Parsons

Residential

+ Commercial Realty Group

15510 Vance Jackson Rd., Ste. 101 San Antonio, Texas 78249

O (210) 620-6449

cynthiaRparsons@gmail.com cynthiaparsonsrealtygroup.com

Cynthia’s success as a seasoned real estate consultant is attributed to her responsiveness, firm negotiation, and uncompromised integrity. Simply put, she gives her clients the leading edge and always ensures her clients’ goals are met. In the commercial realm, Cynthia works with business owners to purchase or lease office and warehouse space for their growing businesses. She also utilizes her 25 years of healthcare experience when working with clients that require commercial property within the healthcare space. Cynthia’s experience within the residential arena includes starter homes, luxury properties, condominiums, acreage, and investment properties. Clients appreciate her flexibility, low pressure sales, ability to listen, negotiation and analytic skills. Cynthia holds her Masters of Business Administration from DeVry University, Keller Graduate School of Management. She has also earned the prestigious residential designation, GRI, Graduate Realtor Institute as well as the Military Relocation Professional (MRP) Certificate.

Kelli Cubeta PARTNER

Cubeta Law Group 322 Martinez Street San Antonio, Texas 78205 O (210) 934-4500

kelli.cubeta@cubetalaw.com www.cubetalaw.com

Kelli Cubeta is a Partner at Cubeta Law Group, a certified woman-owned business based in San Antonio that focuses exclusively on representing businesses in the areas of litigation, employment, and transactional matters. For over 18 years, Kelli has represented businesses of all sizes including serving as General Counsel and head of Human Resources for two publicly traded companies.

Kelli has been recognized nationally by the Association of Corporate Counsel as one of the top 10 business attorneys in the nation and by the San Antonio Business Journal as one of the top business leaders in San Antonio. Kelli is a proud wife and mother of two precious girls and serves on several non-profit Boards.

You Could Save Thousands on Your Taxes!

By Ed Guerrero, CPA

As you probably know, we have two different tax systems. The first is for people who are informed about their taxes and take a proactive approach toward them. The second is for people who are not informed and take a reactive approach. So, what’s the difference between these two approaches? Proactive taxpayers are usually better at managing their finances and keeping up with tax laws. They often have a tax professional help them prepare their return, so they can be sure they’re taking advantage of all the deductions and credits they’re entitled to. Reactive taxpayers, on the other hand, often don’t have a good handle on their finances or don’t keep up with tax law changes. As a result, they may end up paying more in taxes than they need to.

Are you one of the many people who wait until tax season to start thinking about your taxes? If so, you’re not alone. The average taxpayer takes a reactive approach to taxes. They have not learned the proactive piece of it. So part of the proactive is the nine-step process. It’s not the eightstep process but the nine steps. And again, understand that most people who prepare taxes stop at eight steps. Eight steps mean we prepare your taxes. And now, informally, not formally, you go away.

We know that taxes can be confusing and overwhelming. That’s why we have a nine-step process to help you get through it. Once you finish your taxes, we actually have you scheduled for the tax checkup. Tax checkup is where 90% of our clients are, and 10% are in tax surgeries. These are two different products for tax strategies. The tax checkup is a great way to make sure you’re on track with your taxes and to find any areas where you may need help. We’ll go over your return with you and make sure everything is in order. We’ll also look at your financial situation as a whole and see if there are any areas where we can help you save money on your taxes.

Do you know what the number one fear is for taxpayers? The IRS. That’s right, more people are afraid of the IRS than they are of clowns, heights, or even public speaking. And

it’s no wonder, because the IRS has a lot of power. They can garnish your wages, seize your property, and even put you in jail. So it’s no surprise that people would rather do nothing about their taxes than risk getting in trouble with the IRS. But here’s the thing: the IRS is not out to get you. Yes, they have a lot of power, but they also have a lot of procedures in place to make sure that people are treated fairly. If you’re honest and cooperative, there’s no need to be afraid of the IRS. So if you’re one of the millions of Americans who have been putting off dealing with your taxes because you’re afraid of the IRS, it’s time to face your fears and take care of business. The sooner you do, the sooner you’ll be able to breathe a sigh of relief.

Many people think that avoiding taxes is the problem. But the truth is, if you do it correctly, there’s nothing wrong with embracing the IRS. We’re in virtual times now, so it’s important to understand how to do this correctly.

It’s already November, which means the end of the year is fast approaching. And that means it’s time to take a look at your business and see where you want to be by the end of the year. Now is the perfect time to analyze your data and see where you’re at for the year. This will give you a good projection of where you should be by December 31st. So take a look at your numbers and see where you can make some improvements. There’s still time to make changes and end the year on a high note. So don’t wait; act now!

If you’re ready to get started on your tax strategies, or if you just have questions about our process, please give us a call at (210) 490-7100 or schedule an appointment online at guerrerocpa.com. We’re here to help you every step of the way!

Melanie Bruce

Director of Sales and Marketing, Thompson San Antonio - Riverwalk

Melanie Bruce joins Thompson San Antonio – Riverwalk from various Hyatt hotels, serving as Area Director of Sales at Grand Hyatt San Antonio River Walk and Hyatt Regency San Antonio Riverwalk. In addition to leading sales teams to drive strategic campaigns and achieve optimal revenue growth, Bruce is an award-winning sales professional, having earlier served in strategic sales roles at Hyatt Regency San Antonio and at Hyatt properties in Houston and throughout Southern California. She is a graduate of Trend College, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

Natalie Fournier

Director of Revenue, Thompson San Antonio - Riverwalk

Natalie Fournier joins Thompson San Antonio – Riverwalk as Director of Revenue, overseeing revenue growth strategy. Previously, she served as Director of Revenue at Wild Dunes Resort, a Destination by Hyatt property, in Isle of Palms, S.C. and, prior to that, as Area Director of Revenue at Two Roads Hospitality, Vail, Colo. She began her career as Revenue and Marketing Manager at Christiana at Vail and graduated from Colorado State University, Fort Collins. Fournier has both Certified Revenue Management Executive and Certified Digital Marketer certifications from the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International.

Melissa Mireles

Director of Marketing & Development, Clarity Child Guidance Center

Clarity Child Guidance Center—the only nonprofit in South Texas serving children with mental health conditions—has named Melissa Mireles, M.A., as Director of Marketing & Development, overseeing community outreach, marketing, PR and development. “I have worked with children and in healthcare for my entire career, so I look forward to helping children in crisis, regardless of their ability to pay.” Melissa previously worked at UT Health San Antonio—recently serving as its Director of Development for the School of Nursing.

Ryley Hoffman Salinas

Account Coordinator, Noisy Trumpet Digital Marketing & Public Relations

Ryley Salinas recently joined the Noisy Trumpet Digital Marketing and Public Relations team as an Account Coordinator. Ryley assists with internal and client communications, provides account team support and manages the workflow of various projects. Ryley is a recent University of Texas at Austin graduate receiving her Bachelor of Science in Communication Studies. Ryley’s experience in communication and her love of promoting brands through various social media platforms are sure to deliver meaningful results for the agency. Following her May 2022 graduation, Ryley married her husband Tristin and relocated to San Antonio.

Gina Jackson

Senior Account Executive, The PM Group Advertising and Marketing Agency

Gina Jackson recently joined The PM Group, the largest advertising agency in San Antonio. She brings more than 25 years of marketing and advertising experience, and a deep passion for all things creative. Gina’s championed brands across very diverse industries and has a history of assembling tight-knit teams, managing their dynamics, account service, strategic planning, brand development and producing award-winning work. In addition, her roots bring an entrepreneurial hustle, always willing to go above and beyond, to elevate the consumer experience and grow business! Gina is a San Antonio native and has two children who are both in college.

Congratulations to these amazing women making moves in their industries!

San Antonio Woman & The San Antonio Report

have partnered to produce this third installment of a three part series looking into San Antonio's STEM ecosystem from education to career.

We want to thank the organizations listed below for their support of this series.

The San Antonio Report and San Antonio Woman Magazine have partnered to create a series of three in-depth articles looking at the STEM ecosystem in San Antonio. This is the third article in that series, examining how blue-collar STEM workers are finding well-paying jobs in San Antonio.

Blue-collar STEM workers tout well-paying, in-demand jobs without the advanced degree

By Lindsey Carnett, San Antonio Report | Kaylee Greenlee Beal for the San Antonio Report

Patty Garcia started her career as a lineworker for CPS Energy in 1988, when it was still known as City Public Service.

She worked to help manually install the underground steel gas pipes and conduits that bring electricity and natural gas into people’s homes.

“I’ve always been a blue-collar worker,” said Garcia, who graduated from Lanier High School. “I always wanted to work for CPS Energy, even back then.”

Patricia “Patty” Garcia operates a small backhoe at the CPS Calaveras Power Plant on Oct. 7, 2022.

Patty Garcia started her career as a lineworker for CPS Energy in 1988, when it was still known as City Public Service. She worked to help manually install the underground steel gas pipes and conduits that bring electricity and natural gas into people’s homes.

“I’ve always been a blue-collar worker,” said Garcia, who graduated from Lanier High School. “I always wanted to work for CPS Energy, even back then.”

Today, Garcia is one of just two fully-trained women on the utility’s 143-person underground integrated operations team. She and Letty Ortiz have worked their way up to foremen, leading three- to six-man teams on job sites regularly.

Their jobs are considered blue-collar, or “skilled technical” STEM positions — those under the science, technology, engineering and mathematics umbrella that don’t require four-year college degrees but do still demand a certain level of technical training. These types of careers can be found across industries, including IT, computer science, engineering, energy, and more.

While STEM careers are often white-collar — think coders, engineers, and doctors — jobs in energy,

construction, and technology that don’t require an advanced degree are in high demand in the San Antonio region, according to Workforce Solutions Alamo. These jobs are considered critical to the metro region’s economic stability. They require a variety of skills and certifications, and many entry-level positions offer onthe-job training.

Ready to Work SA, San Antonio’s ambitious, taxpayerfunded jobs program, includes training for these types of jobs, recognizing their importance to the local economy. In addition to CPS Energy, other major employers who’ve pledged to hire workers from the program locally include companies like heavy equipment maker Holt Cat and truck builder Navistar.

Garcia said she would love to see more women, especially Latinas, become utility workers. The pay is substantial: first-line supervisors in constructioncan make roughly $75,000 to $95,000 per year.

“They’ve opened so many opportunities for women — there are so many positions that have come open,” Garcia said. “[CPS Energy] gives you the opportunity to get trained. They guide you, and they give you the opportunity to grow within the company — that’s why I jumped on the bandwagon.”

Leticia “Letty” Ortiz fills in a narrow line ditch at the CPS Calaveras Power Plant on Oct. 7, 2022.

Today, only about3% of first-line supervisors in construction are women. Despite the challenges stacked against Garcia and Ortiz, both women spoke humbly about their careers and leadership positions at the utility.

Five years after she was hired, Garcia was promoted to a gas trainee in the construction department, where she assisted supervisors in mapping new infrastructure and securing tools needed for each job. She obtained her commercial driver’s license, which allows her to drive and operate large machinery, and learned how to be a

team leader. Six years after that, she could run all the heavy equipment needed to dig trenches and install underground piping.

She has now been a foreman for 22 years.

Ortiz tells a similar story. An Edison High School graduate, she followed in her father’s footsteps by becoming a utility worker. Her dad worked in construction “all his life,” she said, and was proud to see his daughter do the same.

He even followed her to a job in Fort Worth. They worked there together for more than a decade before Ortiz decided to return home to San Antonio. She began working for CPS Energy in 1992, and she’s been there ever since.

Ortiz recalls dealing with men who made it clear they didn’t want her there in those early years. These “machismos” tried to bully her and make her work harder, she said, but she found that by doing her job well, she was able to overcome their antagonizing.

Both Garcia and Ortiz are retiring in the next few years and said they’d love to train more women in this bluecollar profession before saying goodbye to CPS Energy. “I hope and foresee that there’ll be more women here,” Garcia said. “We’d love to see more women in the field.”

Leticia “Letty” Ortiz fills in a narrow line ditch at the CPS Calaveras Power Plant on Oct. 7, 2022.

Bottom: Patricia “Patty” Garcia operates a small backhoe at the CPS Calaveras Power Plant on Oct. 7, 2022.

Research Institute

National

“I didn’t have a Plan B or C,” says Dr. Gonzalez, a professor of veterinary pathology at Texas Biomedical

and the Southwest

Primate Research Center. “Plan A was to go to veterinary school.”

Olga Gonzalez, DVM, diplomate ACVP Professor, Veterinary Pathology Texas Biomedical Research Institute

Dr. Olga Gonzalez is one of the few people who knew as a child the career she wanted to pursue – and actually did it.

“I didn’t have a Plan B or C,” says Dr. Gonzalez, a professor of veterinary pathology at Texas Biomedical Research Institute and the Southwest National Primate Research Center. “Plan A was to go to veterinary school.”

After studying biology at the University of Puerto Rico, she got into her first-choice vet school at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.

Plan A, success! But, she was open-minded about what to specialize in.

Undergraduate research in a parasite lab had sparked her interest in pathology – looking for hard evidence that explains the causes or progression of diseases. This often involves hours at the microscope analyzing razor-thin tissue slices.

“Once I start doing it, I don’t feel time passing by,” Dr. Gonzalez says.

She was drawn to pathology because it provides definitive diagnoses. “In the end, it’s what you see in the tissues. That’s where you answer all the questions: Why was the animal sick? Why wasn’t it responding to treatment? How did a vaccine work?”

At Texas Biomed, Dr. Gonzalez helps answer those questions about various diseases to improve animal and human health, including COVID-19. She gathered and analyzed data to explain how SARS-CoV-2 behaves in different parts of the body. She was among the first to see what this looked like in multiple primate species, and how the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine neutralized the virus during preclinical trials.

“It was surreal,” Dr. Gonzalez says. “I was blessed to be in the right place at the right time.”

For more information about Texas Biomedical Research Institute, visit Txbiomed.org Biomedical Research Institute | 8715 W. Military Dr. | San Antonio, TX 78227

Encouraging Middle School Students to Step Into STEM

By Jessica L. Harris

Step Into STEM is a unique career awareness program that inspires middle school students to choose an education focused on science, technology, engineering, or mathematics to prepare for future STEM careers. A STEM education is an empowering interdisciplinary approach that generates lifelong career opportunities.

An estimated 1,000 biotech-related jobs are expected to be created in San Antonio over the next five years. To meet this need, the Texas Research and Technology Foundation (TRTF) forged a partnership with Communities in Schools of San Antonio (CIS-SA) to prepare the next generation of employees in biosciences and technology.

In 2021, the Step Into STEM program provided two middle schools in San Antonio’s near east side with an opportunity to participate in stimulating activities to enhance career awareness, including in-class science lessons, full-day science workshops, and STEM family nights. The program was a success and reached over 1,100 students.

TRTF continued its partnership with CIS-SA in 2022 and scaled the program with a goal of increasing the participation to over 6,000 students in over 50 schools across the San Antonio area.

The 2022 Career Awareness Program includes:

· STEM Career Toolkits: classroom activities designed

to integrate STEM lessons with career awareness, including USB microscope activity, hydraulic robotic claw activity, STEM career BINGO game, classroom posters, and stickers with a QR code linking to the Step Into STEM Instagram account highlighting local STEM career professionals through videos and photos.

· STEM Workshops: hands-on STEM learning activities and on-site career mentoring opportunities, including a bioengineering activity to design a robotic hand, a biosciences lab experiment to extract DNA, a tour of the innovation center, and a leadership luncheon speaker.

· STEM Family Nights: events for the entire school to experience hands-on activities and provide parents the opportunity to work with their children to launch rockets, program robots, explore with microscopes, and more.

Step Into STEM seeks to build a skilled workforce in the San Antonio region by inspiring middle school students from economically disadvantaged schools to engage in a STEM education and meet the demand for highly skilled STEM professionals in San Antonio.

The goal of Step Into STEM is to expand its reach to include more middle school students and follow them through high school and beyond. The success of Step Into STEM is made possible through generous donors, partners, and sponsors.

To become a STEM supporter, contact Jessica Harris, TRTF Chief Administrative Officer, at jharris@trtf-id.org or visit texasresearchfoundation.com

TRTF

The Texas Research and Technology Foundation (TRTF) is a visionary economic development generator investing and leading a transformative Innovation Hub redevelopment in the near east side of San Antonio. Fueled by the emerging biosciences ecosystem, the redevelopment includes the historic Merchants Ice and Cold Storage Complex and Sutton Property located on the twelve-acre property owned by TRTF. The idea is to create a campus woven with the existing neighborhood, which hosts companies and start-ups in the bioscience and technology industry and researchers in military medicine. The Innovation Hub currently houses companies specializing in the biosciences, including Scorpion Biological Services, a gene-therapy company, and GenCure, a bio-manufacturing company specializing in stem cell research. TRTF recently launched the construction of the Co-Labs, the region’s first-ever shared laboratory facility.

TRTF’s mission includes encouraging education in STEM — Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math—in underserved areas of the community. The larger vision is to evolve the twelve-acre Innovation Hub into a much larger Innovation District, elevating the quality of life for San Antonio residents by advancing the bioscience and technology industry sectors by attracting new businesses, retaining and expanding existing businesses, creating workforce opportunities, and fostering the entrepreneurs of today and future generations.

TRTF is a champion for delivering sustainable economic and community growth, connecting, developing, and funding innovative ventures that enhance our bioscience and technology ecosystem.

For more information, visit texasresearchfoundation.com

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.

Patient Advocates Inform Critical Insight to Improve Breast Cancer Research and Treatment at SABCS

By Sean M. Wood

The halls of the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center are expected to be packed December 6th – 10th as crowds return for the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.

The 45th symposium will reflect significant input from advocates who have left their impression on the event over the last half-century.

Above right: Virginia Kaklamani, M.D. of the Mays Cancer Center and SABCS co-director, says that input from patient advocates helps improve clinical care and supports important funding for breast cancer patients.

What was started as solely a scientific conference focused on the dissemination of information on the biology, etiology, prevention, diagnosis, and therapy of breast cancer and premalignant breast disease has evolved to include input from the people who live with it.

“Back in the day when we started this, there were very few women or men who wanted to know the science or cared about the science,” says Sandi Stanford of the Alamo Breast Cancer Foundation. “Their doctor told them what to do, and they did it without question. Today breast cancer affects more people — men, women, younger, and older. They are all active in wanting to be more knowledgeable.”

Advocates have been included in the programming at SABCS since the late 20th century, starting with the Alamo Breast Cancer Foundation. They were the first group invited to participate. The amount of advocacy programming has continued to increase since then, with registration fees waived for advocates. Some organizations will even provide scholarships to cover travel costs.

“Advocates are making critical contributions to advancing breast cancer treatment,” says Virginia Kaklamani, M.D. of the Mays Cancer Center and SABCS co-director. “Their testimony helps to pass legislation that assists us in caring for our patients, they help us to recruit patients for clinical trials, and they help us focus on what’s important to them. This is for them.”

Patient advocacy has evolved from a handful of grassroots organizations to highly organized networks

of knowledgeable, trained, passionate champions for advancement in the understanding and treatment of breast cancer. They have evolved around special interests based on cancer type, domestic situation, ethnicity, gender, location, etc. All share a common enemy — breast cancer.

Education all around

Breast cancer patients and advocates have a steep learning curve at the start. But over the last few decades, there are a multitude of resources. Support organizations, advocacy, and education programs provide information on a much larger scale.

Once again, advocacy will play a major role at SABCS, with groups like the Alamo Breast Cancer Foundation, Guiding Researchers and Advocates for Scientific Partnerships (GRASP), the Tigerlily Foundation, and the Metastatic Breast Cancer Alliance participating in programming before, during, and after the symposium. Each group and its members support and inspire each other. They build on the efforts of those who have come before.

This year, thousands of advocates will attend, in person and virtually. They will participate, learn, advocate, and educate, all to advance breast cancer care, therapies, and treatment for those who are paying the physical and emotional costs of living with this disease.

The Mays Cancer Center at UT Health San Antonio began and owns SABCS, the world’s largest breast cancer symposium. The Mays Cancer Center hosts SABCS in collaboration with the American Association for Cancer Research.

SABCS welcomes attendance by informed patient advocates representing recognized patient advocacy, education & survivor support organizations. For more information about the SABCS Patient Advocate Program and to register please visit https://www.sabcs.org/2022-PatientAdvocates

By Paul J. Watkins

People need to have a skilled healthcare provider on which to depend in every stage of life, particularly as they grow older and often develop ongoing health issues.

They benefit from having a medical professional who can diagnose and manage those issues and also provide preventative care through annual screenings. A primary care physician, or PCP, is specially trained to fill that role for a lifetime.

“Primary care physicians are the first stop for a whole breadth of care, whether it’s pediatric care, women’s health, or geriatric care,” says Monica Chopra-Miller, MD, a primary care physician board certified in family medicine. She is the medical director at MedFirst Primary Care in San Antonio.

“My goal is to see you through the longevity of your life. I start when you’re younger. When you have children, I take care of your family. I help you navigate through middle age and the medical problems that often come with it. In the final stage of life, I talk with you about your end-of-life decisions. You form a relationship with me – someone who knows your goals as a patient but also knows you as a person.”

Primary care physicians conduct annual screenings for diseases such as breast cancer and cervical cancer.

“The annual wellness visit, or yearly physical, allows us to diagnose conditions early. Women who have primary care physicians and are diagnosed with breast cancer tend to be diagnosed at a much earlier stage. Research shows that populations that have more PCPs per capita tend to have a longer life expectancy.

“The wellness visit allows us to discuss issues that we may not have time to discuss during an acute illness visit. For women, we talk about bone density testing, which starts at age sixty-five, depending on risk factors. We talk about depression and other mental health issues and discuss support services that might be pertinent to our elderly or disabled population.”

Medicare recipients are eligible for an additional annual screening, but Dr. Chopra-Miller says patients often don’t understand how it differs from other PCP visits. “First, there are the regular visits to address either acute problems, like a sore throat, or chronic conditions, like diabetes. Then, there are the yearly physicals. These are health maintenance visits to make sure your colonoscopy,

Pap smear, and mammogram screenings are up to date, and I ask questions about symptoms you may be having.

“Finally, there’s the Medicare annual wellness visit, which focuses on health maintenance as well, but I also review your activities of daily living, or ADLs, which includes evaluating how well you’re maintaining your independence at home. This visit reviews what types of social support you have or may need, as well as other issues that could be pertinent to an older patient. An evaluation for fall risk and a cognitive evaluation are also part of the visit.

“The Medicare wellness visit includes a discussion of advanced directives. These concern your overall goals for your plan of treatment and your wishes as you near the end of life or are in an emergency situation. It’s important to discuss these before an incident occurs so that you or your loved ones don’t have to make critical decisions in the heat of the moment.

“Sometimes, as PCPs, we’re the ones who are really champions for our patients,” Dr. Chopra-Miller concludes. “We can guide them and advise them through some difficult diagnoses and conditions. I like being that quarterback for my patient’s care and that person to go to and rely on.”

For more information or to make an appointment, please call (844) 8 MY DOCS (844) 869-3627) or visit baptistmedicalnetwork.com.

Monica Chopra-Miller, MD

DID YOU KNOW?

1 in 3 people age 18-64 have arthritis

23.5%

of women have arthritis

4M

Nearly 4 million Hispanic adults had doctordiagnosed arthritis

#1

Arthritis is the #1 cause of disability among adults in the U.S.

BONE HEALTH MATTERS

Of the more than 100 types of arthritis, most types of arthritis occur more often in women, including the two most common forms of arthritis: osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Osteoarthritis occurs when the protective cartilage that cushions the ends of the bones wears down over time causing pain, stiffness and swelling. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune and inflammatory disease, where the immune system mistakenly attacks the joints, causing painful inflammation and joint deformity.

Both types of arthritis can cause joint pain, swelling and oss of mobility

In addition, women with rheumatoid arthritis have a greater-than-average risk of developing osteoporosis which increases the risk of fractures.

You may need to consider reaching out for orthopedic help if you have:

• Difficulty using a particular body part to perform daily functions

• Pain in muscles, tendons or joints that lasts for more than a few days

• Joint pain that gets more intense during periods of rest

• Swelling or bruising around the joint or the location of an injury

• Limited range of motion, such as an inability to straighten the back

• Joint deformity

• Signs of infection including heat, inflammation, fever and/or redness

The orthopedic surgeons and specialists at Baptist Medical Network are experienced in the evaluation, diagnosis and treatment of all types of musculoskeletal injuries and conditions — and our experts treat all the bones from your head to your toes.

10010

Bryce Karulak, DPM, FACFAS Surgery: Foot and Ankle

Alexander Kreines, DO Surgery: Orthopedic; Sports Medicine

Benjamin O. Hooker, MD Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Dmitry Tuder, MD Surgery: Orthopedic, Hand Surgery

Chris Warmath FNP-C

8715

18707

John Chance III, MD General; Joint Replacement; Sports Medicine

David Fox, MD Joint Replacement; Hip, Knee

Matthew Napierala, MD General; Sports Medicine; Shoulder Arthroscopy/ Rotator Cuff Repair; Shoulder Joint Replacement

Patrick Osborn, MD Trauma; Foot & Ankle

Patrick Simon, MD General; Joint Replacement; Sports Medicine; Shoulder Reconstruction & Hand Surgery

6704

Your health can’t wait. Start 2023 with less pain! Now is the time to check your insurance deductible as your out-of-pocket costs could be significantly reduced. Schedule any elective orthopedic procedures you’ve been putting off. Make an appointment and start saving today!

Visit our website at baptistmedicalnetwork.com/orthoservices to make an appointment.

Rogers Crossing, #308 San Antonio, TX

Village Dr., #120 San Antonio, TX

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Randolph Blvd. Live Oak, TX

Rex Wilcox, MD General; Sports Medicine; Back (Non-Surgical) James Brown II, PA

Adam Suchecki, PA Ashley Tubb, PA

Orthopaedic Surgeon Draws on Personal Experience to Treat Athletes

By Paul J. Watkins

Katherine Bartush, MD, is a fellowship-trained orthopaedic surgeon specializing in sports medicine and foot and ankle surgery. She’s the director of sports medicine at UT Health San Antonio and the official sports medicine surgeon for UTSA Athletics.

Dr. Bartush is a former athlete who began playing soccer at about five years old. “I tried other sports, but soccer was my first love, so I played it right through college.”

Among the most common injuries soccer players suffer is a torn anterior cruciate ligament, or ACL. This ligament helps stabilize the knee joint. Dr. Bartush experienced her first ACL tear in middle school at age thirteen. “I had a couple more tears in high school and one in college. I underwent about five different surgeries between each of my knees and was able to continue playing. I thought one of the orthopaedic surgeons who took care of me when I was thirteen had a really cool job and thought being an orthopaedic surgeon might be a good fit for me.”

Today, Dr. Bartush treats collegiate, amateur, and professional athletes and says her own experiences allow her to relate to her athlete patients in ways that perhaps other orthopaedic surgeons and sports medicine specialists cannot.

“There’s a psychological component that I understand personally. Athletes’ sporting endeavors become part of their identities, and having an injury is devastating to their mental state. They’re no longer part of the team, and they may feel left behind. It changes the way they think of themselves and, in some cases, what that means for their future.”

“Several months down the road, they say to me, ‘Thank you so much. You understood not just my knee or my shoulder, but you got me through this whole process.’ It takes more than just a surgery and physical therapy to recover. That’s where I feel I have a unique skill set in comparison to orthopaedic surgeons who may not have had experience as a competitive athlete.”

Dr. Bartush no longer plays soccer. Now, she’s a member of a tennis team. “I like it because it gets me outside and active, and I’ve met some really wonderful women. It’s just competitive enough to keep that drive and fun streak alive, and my chances of getting hurt playing tennis are a whole lot less than they are playing soccer.”

The Texas native says a career in orthopaedic surgery continues to suit her. “It’s very gratifying to see someone go from a really low day to a really high day, having their injury behind them and going on to succeed at whatever they like to do,” Dr. Bartush concludes. “Today, I got a text from a high school athlete’s mom saying her child is back to playing after two foot surgeries. That makes my day.”

She’s especially sensitive to her athlete patients’ concerns. “With knee injuries, they want to know if they’ll have the same power and speed they had before the injury. With ACL injuries specifically, they ask, ‘Why did this happen to me?’ ‘Will this happen to my other knee?’

“After surgery, most athletes want to know if the way they’re feeling is the way they’re supposed to feel, and if they’re where they’re supposed to be at a given point in their recovery process. And, of course, they ask, ‘How soon am I going to be cleared to return to play?’ I asked those same questions and had those same concerns when I experienced my knee injuries, so I empathize with my athletes and spend a lot of time listening to them and reassuring them that they can return to their sports and be competitive.

For more information or to make an appointment, please visit UTHealthCare.org/Ortho.

Katherine Bartush, MD

Is This Normal?

- Mental Health, Endometriosis, PC

By Jillian Lopiano, MD, MPH, FACOG Betty’s Co. Medical Director

Betty’s Co. is the next generation of integrative healthcare – providing gynecology, mental health, and wellness care for the period-havers up to pregnancy-planners. Women’s health is surrounded by stigmas and taboo topics, often preventing them from accessing the care they need. “Is This Normal?” is an ongoing Q&A series we host to give our “Betties” the space to ask the awkward questions, develop body literacy and ultimately, normalize women’s health.

Is it normal to have extreme PMS symptoms?

Quick refresher: Pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS) is a cluster of symptoms that show up somewhere around five days before your period. Period-havers might experience a range of pains – from mood swings and cramps to cravings and fatigue. Think of these real physiological expressions as your body’s weather forecast, giving you a heads-up that your period is on its way.

So while PMS is a pain, most experiences fall within the “normal” range. And usually, there’s a simple solution to managing symptoms – light exercise, rest, healthy nutrition (plus craving extras!), and over-the-counter medications for relief. But for some, the hormone fluctuations can be extreme and life-interfering.

Pre-menstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is a severe type of PMS. Think: all the symptoms of PMS with the dial turned way up. This underdiagnosed and undertreated condition differs from PMS in symptom intensity and its impact on your daily life.

If you’re looking to hack your PMS, first things first: track that cycle, Betties! Keep a tab on your physical and mental well-being – mood, energy levels, pains, and cravings! This is a great way to figure out if your unique symptoms are crossing into PMDD territory. Tracking is one of the best tools for body literacy, allowing you to learn your “normal” and notice any concerning trends. If/when you loop in your provider, this cycle diary provides the insight for them to create a you-centric care plan for managing PMS/PMDD.

Is it normal to have very painful periods?

Cramping, throbbing, and aching are unfortunate regulars for most Betties’ cycles that can typically be selfremedied (see above!). But if you’re experiencing pain that is life-disruptive, listen to your body and contact your provider. This type of pain before + during your period could be indicative of a more serious issue, such as uterine fibroids and endometriosis. These conditions, and menstrual pains in general, are under-researched,

underdiagnosed, and undertreated, but not uncommon. Period pain is linked to nearly 9 days of lost productivity for a woman in a year! The stats are staggering and highlight the need for further research, wider awareness, and deeper patient-to-provider discussions. Half of my job as a Betty’s Co. provider is simply listening and affirming Betties’ experiences, so we can work together to find them relief.

Is it normal to see a doctor every year if I’m healthy?

I love this question because it points to why Betty’s Co. exists. By seeking preventative care, you invest in your future self!

Many conditions (too many to list here without blowing our word count!) are entirely treatable when detected early. So even though an annual visit might seem like the same song and dance, your primary care provider makes an assessment tailored to where you are right now – age, demographic, and lifestyle.

For example, we typically screen younger women for sexually transmitted infections and cervical cancer. As you age, these screenings will come to include mammograms, hypertension, and diabetes. A primary care physician will also make sure you’re up to date on your vaccines – a simple and critical component of disease prevention.

Additionally, many providers will screen for mental health and lifestyle conditions to make interventions, such as counseling, behavioral medication, or smoking cessation. Think of your annual check-up as a whole-self health scan!

And look, even I, a medical provider, can admit it’s hard to make room in the planner for that appointment. But you have more than a few reasons to make it a priority, and healthcare has come a long way to make it more convenient to do so. Virtual care and a mobile clinic are a few ways Betty’s Co. has revolutionized care to meet you where you truly are. With more accessible options for care, you can be more intentional in taking action to protect your health.

To learn more about Betty’s Co. visit bettysco.com or call (210) 572-4931. Follow us on Instagram @bettysco

Leadership is Transcending yourself

Lester Levenson

By Angel Santiago

Louis Carter, the founder and CEO of Best Practice Institute and an organizational psychologist and top advisor to C-level executives of Fortune 1000 companies, says the ego is the enemy of good leadership because it distorts your sense of reality. He further states that “leaders with inflated egos struggle to take on constructive feedback. They might also overestimate their abilities while underestimating the skills, efforts, and people required to achieve a goal.” A big ego can lead to a strong confirmation bias – favoring information that confirms our views. The leader’s perspective can become too limited, creating tunnel vision that prevents the leader from seeing how people are actually performing and how their actions might impact others.

According to vocabulary.com, your ego is your conscious mind, the part of your identity that you consider “yourself.” To say someone has a “big ego” is to say they are full of themselves, which is rarely a quality you want to see in a leader.

To become the best version of yourself, you must go through a process of transformation, a self-cleansing, so to speak, also known as transcending the ego. This is key to releasing and letting go of limiting aspects of yourself that, for a long time, have created so much conflict and suffering in your life. When this happens, you’ll start living more from your heart and less from your head.

Heather O’Neill, owner of CryoFit Alamo Heights, is no stranger to this process. She understands that life can be hard for everybody at some point or another, and this process has made it very clear to her how important it

is to take time for yourself every day to focus on what you need on a personal level. Because if you don’t, you cannot be there for others. “My understanding of selfleadership is letting go of pride and ego. And to be able to really take an honest, deep dive look at yourself and not be ashamed of what you see, but learn from what you see so you can apply that to what you would consider your new self. Being true to yourself and presenting that true self to others.”

To truly understand and accept yourself, you must let go of any limiting beliefs that have led to your false sense of identity or ego. This process is essential for growth. This transformation process allows you to see yourself more clearly to better understand and accept yourself, with all your strengths and weaknesses, so that you can do something about it. So you can grow. Choosing to grow and improve ourselves is a process we can do on our own through our desire to achieve great things, or we can wait for life to grow us through challenge and difficulty; more often than not, it’s the latter.

I invite you to self-reflect and recognize when your ego is getting in the way of your ability to lead effectively. A great leader is the first to accept their flaws and find a way to turn them into strengths. Great leaders first remove their masks and let their guard down to encourage others to do the same. And those are signs of a healthy ego.

Blessings, LifeCoachAngel

My name is Angel Santiago, and I’m a teacher of transformation, a mindset coach, and a leadership facilitator. Feel free to connect with me via social media under the hashtag #LifeCoachAngel, or you can email me at angsanti@icloud.com

“Growth is transcending yourself, your habitual self, which is none other than ego.” -

In the Spotlight:

Blue Cares’ Blue Santa

A simple gift can change a life, and Blue Santa is our way of saying “we care.”

The Blue Cares’ Blue Santa is dedicated to making sure all of the children in need on his list receive gifts this holiday season. Since its inception in 1976, the Blue Cares’ Blue Santa Program has been bringing holiday happiness to thousands of families across San Antonio. Blue Cares is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and the community outreach program of the San Antonio Police Officers’ Association (SAPOA). Blue Cares’ mission is to provide year-round services and assistance to underprivileged, low-income, at-risk children and their families.

Blue Cares’ Blue Santa shares gifts with families struggling to make ends meet. Police officers are in a unique position to see the struggles families endure throughout the year, so SAPOA began partnering with local businesses, organizations and volunteers to collect food, clothes, toys, and monetary donations to assist thousands of families.

Last year alone, the Blue Cares’ Blue Santa program provided toys to over 1,500 children. That’s more than 10,000 since 2015. They are working to increase that number in 2022. To ensure success in the month of December, our Blue Santa Program is a year-round initiative.

During the Holidays, San Antonio police officers, volunteers, and Blue Santa, work very hard to deliver all the necessary items to underprivileged children and their families.

How can you help?

Blue Cares welcomes new, unwrapped toy donations all year long, but especially during the Holiday Season. For a

list of toy drop-off locations and a way to make a donation can be found on our website www.bluecaresicare.com.

Blue Cares Executive Director, Amanda Gonzalez answers a few of our questions:

Describe your organization’s mission in your own words. Our mission is to support underprivileged and lowincome families throughout the community by providing signature Blue Santa, and Patricia Calderon Scholarship programs. Most recently, we opened a grant program this year that provided over $70,000 in assistance to fourteen San Antonio nonprofits that are recovering from the challenges of the pandemic.

What is a common misconception about your organization or the mission you serve?

A common misconception about our organization is that our funding source is solely from the members of the San Antonio Police Officers Association (SAPOA). While we are appreciative of the support of volunteers we receive from SAPOA, we work diligently to try and fundraise throughout the year to support our organization.

What does $100 support when donating to your organization?

With the cost of inflation creating more challenges for families to make ends meet, we are in dire need of donations to help bring holiday joy to families. The average cost of a toy is $15. With a $100 donation, you will bless three children with two new toys for Christmas. Our program provides two new toys to each child that applies for the program, as well as a food box in partnership with the San Antonio Food Bank.

For more information please visit www.bluecaresicare.com.

HOLIDAY Gift Guide 2022

HILL COUNTRY CHRISTMAS

Old Town Christmas Market

New Braunfels, TX | December 8

This Christmas Market will have gift baskets galore, filled with all kinds of goods, gift items, and many other treats. Find themed baskets, pre-made picnics, or even a cozy night in! You are sure to find the perfect present for everyone on your list.

playinnewbraunfels.com

Christmas at the Caverns 2022

Natural Bridge Caverns | December 3

Hear your favorite carols echo through Texas’ largest underground cavern. As the sun sets behind their 30-foot Christmas tree, take a stroll through a 1/3-mile trail of lights. Don’t forget to roast s’mores, enjoy live music, and shop for your holiday gifts!

naturalbridgecaverns.com/christmas

Old West Christmas Light Fest 2022

Boerne, TX | December 10

Get your fill of holiday magic, flavors, and family fun under the lights at Old West Christmas Light Fest. Located 20 minutes outside San Antonio off of IH-10 West at exit 540 in Boerne. christmaslightfest.com

Christmas in Comfort

Comfort, TX | November 27

The event, which started with a handful of local residents manning a few booths in the historic district, now offers more than 125 art and craft vendors and a full day of holiday activities from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., and the lighted night parade begins at 7:00 p.m.

comfortchamber.com

Lights Spectacular

Johnson City, TX | November 26 - January 8

Imagine a light display with over a million lights. And it’s so big NASA reported seeing it from the International Space Station! Yes, that would be the Johnson City Texas Lights Spectacular. johnsoncitytexas.info

Dickens on Main

Boerne, TX | November 26 - 27

Enjoy two days of holiday fun in downtown Boerne, TX, this Thanksgiving weekend! Ice sculpting shows, live entertainment, late-night shopping, kids’ crafts, and surprises all along the Hill Country Mile! adickenscelebration.com

Fredericksburg Trade Days Holiday Encore

Fredericksburg, TX | November 25

Shop twice in November for the holidays with over 350 vendors in seven barns and acres of antiques, collectibles, tools, crafts, shabby chic, primitives, ranch furniture, hunting accessories, candles, unique clothing, jewelry, food, and so much more. Relax in the Biergarten while listening to live music. visitfredericksburgtx.com

Hill Country Curated brings you the best events, SA Woman staff favorites, things to know, and places to be in the Hill Country!

Date Night Delight Signature Restaurant

at La Cantera

By

An anniversary should be celebrated in a special way, and since San Antonio WOMAN magazine is commemorating its own 20th anniversary this month with this special issue, it seemed a celebratory feast was in order.

So, where to go for a memorable date-night dinner? In San Antonio, there’s perhaps no place nicer than Signature Restaurant, a large, lovely, stand-alone Texassized restaurant set on the grounds of La Cantera Resort & Spa. Overlooking the golf course, with vistas of rugged natural Hill Country beauty, yet acres away from the hotel, Signature is an outstanding choice. Voted as a USA Today’s Reader’s Choice best restaurant last year, it has become one of San Antonio’s new favorite spots.

Fine china is the traditional 20th-anniversary gift, of course, but you won’t find white table cloths and Limoges china at Signature. It’s lovely but laid-back. The ambiance is like that of one of those new high-end Hill Country wineries near Fredericksburg, only with a French accent; it’s a sparkling, casual kind of place. There is something extraordinary about its upstairs lounge, bar, dining room, open kitchen, patio, menu, and décor that makes it a stand-out spot. Signature doesn’t look or feel like anyplace else in San Antonio.

Enter a winding cedar and cypress-shaded drive atop a hill on the edge of the city to find a big, Jackson Holestyled lodge with big picture windows. Stately, strong,

classically Texan (kind of like the old YO Ranch restaurant once was decades ago), Signature feels tucked away far from town. However, it’s really right near The Rim, just a quick drive from downtown.

From the chill atmosphere — French country meets Texas wine country — to the menu’s spirited take on Texas comfort food to the array of curated wine selections and craft cocktails, Signature is ideal for special occasions. Still, I plan to return often with friends.

The menu is simple yet inspired, featuring New World interpretations of classic Old World dishes. Executive Chef John Carpenter enjoys traditional foods “enlivened with unconventional Texas spirit,” as he says.

For instance, the menu offers fresh Texas Gulf seafood and fresh Atlantic Coast oysters. Carpenter relies on local ranchers for his menu’s proteins for the finest houseaged sirloin, but he also turns to the Pacific Northwest for tender lamb. His Hill Country-inspired menu, with vegetables and herbs grown in the kitchen’s garden, features Texas venison, dove, and quail. Local and organic ingredients are sourced seasonally, but the menu’s quality remains consistent year-round.

The rabbit is the best example of how Chef Carpenter can turn a dish on its head and make it outstanding when you’d least expect it. Yes, rabbit is not what most Texans tend to order, but at Signature they should. It’s called “Rabbit Vol au Vent,” and, yes, the name sounds fancy; however, there’s nothing pretentious about this dish. Even the pickiest man or child would love it. Picture a square of puffed pastry topped with a rich cream-sauce “chicken pot pie”-type topping, only it’s really tender rabbit. Divine! There are many things like this on the menu you might miss unless you ask the waiter before deciding.

Another outstanding surprise was the generous-sized plate of fried oysters and caviar labeled as an appetizer. Don’t let the caviar fool you — this is as casual and comforting as any Texas-fried dish you’ve ever tried. Set atop fresh house-made brioche with a lite dollop of crème fraiche, tomato jam, and a topping of caviar, this was the best thing I’ve eaten in a long time. Order this.

Janis Turk | Photography compliments of La Cantera Resort & Spa

Left to right: Chef Jaime Torres, Executive Sous Chef | Chef John Carpenter, Executive Chef | Chef Stéphane Leopoldo, Executive Pastry Chef

I was reluctant to try it but ended up loving the Octopus a la Plancha, a fresh sort of Veracruz-style dish served with romesco, confit potatoes, and salsa verde. Ordering octopus or squid in Texas can be iffy: so often, it’s overcooked and rubbery. So I was delighted when it was perfectly grilled, light, and fresh.

This date also marked our own wedding anniversary: 27 years! So we splurged and ordered two main courses (though we could have shared one). My husband ordered the Gulf Redfish with Prince Edward Island mussels, mashed potatoes, Spanish chorizo topped in a red pepper broth. I ordered the Axis Venison served with baby carrots, potato pave, and cherry jus. This is another dish I would never have ordered on my own, but the chef recommended it. I made embarrassingly gleeful sounds with every bite. The cherries were an exceptional complement to the perfectly grilled venison, which wasn’t gamey—it could easily have been mistaken for prime rib. Once again, Signature took the unexpected and made it exceptional.

Executive chef John Carpenter is young, but he’s cooked in the kitchens of Beat Street Bistro and the former Culinary Institute of America NAO at Pearl. He was also executive chef at Botika at Pearl, working with chef Geronimo Lopez. Carpenter is pure Texan (even though he was born on an American Air Force Base in Germany). He’s lived in San Antonio since he was three, and his menu seems more Texan than French.

However, to our delight, that’s not true of the pastry, thanks to Signature’s executive pastry chef, Stephane Leopoldo, who began his career as a pastry apprentice in Paris at age 15. With his degrees in both pastry and chocolate, save room for dessert. His dessert menus change with the season, so there is likely pumpkin cinnamon crème Brule on the menu today; however, Leopoldo’s go-to is chocolate, like his Royal Chocolate dish, comprising an almond, hazelnut sponge cake, a praline crunch, milk and dark chocolate mousse, served with a ball of raspberry basil sorbet.

Simply put, Signature offers an unforgettable everyday dining experience yet is a good choice for special dates, too. Happy anniversary, San Antonio Woman!

Signature Restaurant

Located northwest of the Shops at La Cantera along La Cantera Parkway 16401 La Cantera Pkwy | San Antonio, TX 78256 (210) 247-0176 | signaturerestaurant.com

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What better time than the holidays to celebrate with a toast? San Antonio

Woman found some of the most popular and unique spots to enjoy craft coctails in the city. Of course, be safe and drink responsibly!

Havana Bar

Enjoy cocktails in the dimly candlelit basement under the Hotel Havana and feel like you’re transported back in time.

1015 Navarro St., 78205 (210) 222-2008 havanasanantonio.com

Cellar Mixology

Located in St. Paul’s Square downtown, Cellar is a unique speak-easy concept with basement walls that date back to the 1920’s.

1142 East Commerce, 78205 (210) 463-5386 cellarmixology.com

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Rock & Rye

Classic drinks and new variations, all made with top-shelf liquors, poured by masters who are bringing back the art of bartending.

17631 La Cantera Pkwy., Ste. 103, 78257 (210) 721-7753 rockandryebar.com

Bar 1919

Located down a dimly lit flight of stairs in the Blue Star Complex, Bar 1919 believes that there is one spirit that has a special place among the best, and that is whisk(e)y.

1420 S. Alamo St., 78204 (210) 227-1420 bar1919.com

The Edison Experiment

Enjoy beautifully crafted cocktails and live music in a hip, retro-inspired haunt with vintage artwork & accents.

1846 N. Loop 1604 E., 78248 (210) 479-9600 @edisonsatx

The Esquire Tavern

The Esquire Tavern, the oldest bar on the Riverwalk, opened in 1933 to celebrate the end of Prohibition and boasts the longest wooden bar top in Texas.

155 E. Commerce St. (210) 222-2521 esquiretavern-sa.com

SPECIALTY BARS

The Modernist

Midcentury-inspired cocktail bar offering custom & classic creations, along made-to-order non-alcoholic drinks in swank, modish digs.

516 E. Grayson, 78215 (210) 901-8646 @themodernistsa

HASH - Vegan Eats SA

Spirit-free drinks and vegan comfort food in an inviting, community atmosphere.

5007 South Flores St., 78214 (210) 332-9244 @hash.veganeats.sa

George’s Keep

Expertly crafted cocktails in an upscale atmosphere make this the perfect happy-hour or late-night spot.

17101 La Cantera Pkwy., 78256 (210) 310-3733 georgeskeep.com

Bar du mon ami

Knowledgeable bartenders serve up drinks in this cozy neighborhood bar and cocktail joint in Alamo Heights.

4901 Broadway, 78209 (330) 565-5445 @bardumonami

The Martini Club

However you drink it -- straight up, dirty, shaken, stirred, or with a twist -- your martini here will be the best you’ve ever had.

8507 McCullough Ave. Ste. A9, 78216 (210) 595-7626 themartiniclubsatx.com

Sternewirth

Hotel Emma’s club room offers an authentic city bar atmosphere and classic cocktails with a dramatic 25-foot vaulted ceiling that soars over intimate groupings of sofas and easy chairs.

136 E. Grayson St., 78215 (844) 845-7384 thehotelemma.com

The Bang Bang Bar

The Bang Bang Bar is your friendly neighborhood vinyl-spinning, cocktailslinging, vintage dive bar heaven.

119 El Mio St, 78216 (210) 320-1187 thebangbangbartx.com

Be Kind & Rewind

You can relive the days at the arcade while enjoying one of their specialty cocktails, sing along to your favorite jams or dance like no one’s watching on the immersive dance floor.

115 Alamo Plaza, 78205 (210) 951-1980 bekindandrewindsa.com

Lightscape

November 11, 2022 – January 8, 2023

San Antonio Botanical Garden

San Antonio’s newest holiday tradition set to dazzle for a second year! Over one million lights and festive displays return to San Antonio Botanical Garden for Lightscape. In its second year, the outdoor illuminated trail includes stunning new installations in addition to well-loved favorites set to seasonal music along a 1-mile path that winds through the Garden. Favorites like the Winter Cathedral will return alongside reimagined installations, including Fire Garden and an even more spectacular display of Bluebonnets, an installation only seen in Texas.

sabot.org

Holiday Tree Lighting

at La Cantera Resort & Spa

benefitting Children’s Bereavement Center of South Texas

December 1 | 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.

Plaza San Saba at La Cantera Resort & Spa

Contemporary jazz saxophonist Michael Lington takes center stage at the Holiday Tree Lighting at La Cantera Resort & Spa. The Grinch wants to steal hearts, so be on guard when he takes the stage with his dancing troupe – the Grinchettes.

Tickets are $5 for adults, $2 for children, with 100 percent of the proceeds benefitting Children’s Bereavement Center of South Texas. Guests will enjoy free light bites, festive cocktails, themed Holiday children’s activities, and photos with Santa.

LaCanteraResort.com

Thomas D. Mangelsen A Life In The Wild

On view

through January 29, 2023

The Briscoe Western Art Museum

The Briscoe Western Art Museum welcomes Thomas D. Mangelsen – A Life In The Wild, an exhibition containing 40 of the renowned nature photographer’s most resonant photographs—images that take viewers on a journey across the West and around the globe.

briscoemuseum.org

Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical!

November 29 - December 4 | Majestic Theatre

This holiday season, audiences will discover the magic of Dr. Seuss’ classic Christmas tale as it comes to life live on the Majestic stage! Featuring the hit songs “You’re A Mean One, Mr. Grinch” and “Welcome Christmas.”

majesticempire.com

The Nutcracker

Ballet San Antonio

December 2 - 11

Tobin Center for the Performing Arts

The holidays aren’t complete until you experience the magic of Ballet San Antonio’s The Nutcracker, originally commissioned by Ballet San Antonio and choreographed by Easton and Haley Smith. Ballet San Antonio’s The Nutcracker features a children’s cast of over 100 children, community heroes in the role of Mother Ginger, and is a magical holiday tradition for the community of San Antonio and their families!

balletsanantonio.org

Divas of Eastwood present Making a Joyful Noise: A Musical Holiday Journey

December 3 | 8:00 p.m.

San Antonio’s favorite Divas return to the Carver stage with an all-new performance full of holiday spirit! Join the Divas on a musical journey that traverses time and landscapes from the far east to our own East Side. This new show features original works written by Jessica “Jess Mahogany” Mitchell and Lainey Starr with direction by Andrew Jacobi Jeter. The cast includes Cassandra Small, Evonne Nathanial, Nerryl Williams, Briana Epps, Ellen Washington, Jessica Mitchell and Danielle King accompanied by live band under the musical direction of Darrin Newhart.

thecarver.org

Ford Holiday River Parade and River Lighting Ceremony 2022

November 25 | 6:00 - 9:00 p.m.

Santa and Mrs. Claus are back in 2022 with more glitter, glee, and toys to carry on this wonderful tradition of turning on the holidays! The 41st Annual Ford Holiday River Parade is a San Antonio tradition that offers a spectacular one-hour parade along the San Antonio River Walk. This year’s theme, Tastes & Traditions Around the World will kick off the San Antonio tradition of ringing in the holiday season. We are excited to announce that our Grand Marshal is none other than the Grinch – all the way from Whoville to delight us!!

thesanantonioriverwalk.com/events/ford-holiday-river-parade

Heather Gauthier Art

Heather Gauthier has been painting various things since she was a young teenager. “I was homeschooled in Lubbock in the ‘80s. I wasn’t exposed to much, and my first experience with a paintbrush came when I got a job painting houses at 13 years old. I could make things happen with paint. Since then, I’ve been painting everything. Everything.”

After a decade of living in Chicago and South Africa, Heather, her husband, and her son moved to San Antonio in 2010. With her second son’s birth came the burning desire to be an artist. She began with a collection of paintings in 2013, and by 2015 Heather was working as a full-time artist.

“By 2018, I was begging my husband to retire so I could paint more. I was selling in galleries in Napa, Aspen, NOLA, Santa Fe, Austin, and even Singapore,” she says. “It’s been an artist’s dream.”

But by 2019, the demand was far exceeding what Heather could produce. A strange thing happened as she began to scale back and slow down.

“I suddenly started getting better. After years of painting for sixty-hour weeks, new skills emerged. It was like leveling up in a video game. I might have learned skills in Painting 101 had I taken it.” Her pace slowed, and as it did, her work became more realistic and the colors more saturated.

“It’s slow food now,” she says. “But I am excited that change is possible, and I can’t wait to see my art in 20 years.”

Heather’s galleries sold out of her work during the pandemic, and in an effort to slow life down, she began selling exclusively on Instagram, Facebook, and her website. “I have a tiny home studio in which we spend a lot of time. I’ll have a different pace when my boys are out of school. But for now, I paint what I love. How lucky am I?”

For more information please visit @heathergauthierart on social media or heathergauthier.com online.

Mr. & Mrs. Mueller

April 30th, 2022

What was the most memorable moment of your wedding day?

We wanted to ensure we could spend some uninterrupted time together after the ceremony. During cocktail hour, we broke off and had dinner together, just the two of us. It was a perfect moment of quiet before jumping back into the energy of the reception.

What was the most stressful part of your wedding day?

Feeling like we weren’t able to spend quality time with every person who came. There is so much going on and not enough time in the night for those personal moments.

Where was your Honeymoon?

We spent a week car camping around Costa Rica. It was gorgeous and the perfect mix of adventure and relaxation.

Do you have any words of advice for brides-to-be?

Elope. Kidding! But keep true to what you all want out of the day. It is normal to be flooded with everyone’s opinions which can get overwhelming. Before opening up the discussion to friends and family, a firm idea of what you all want will help guide your planning.

What was your first dance song?

“You Are the Best Thing,” Ray Lamontagne. On our first date, we stumbled on a local “American Idol” competition, and one of the finalists sang that as their song. I remember looking at Tee and thinking this was it, and he was the one. That song has been special ever since.

Laura Fusselman Mueller & Tee Mueller

From San Antonio Woman:

Photography by Suzanne Pack | A special thank you to Hotel Estancia Del Norte

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