HER

LIBBY AVERYT

Woman of the Year

Libby Averyt doesn’t consider herself the “creative type” — though anyone familiar with her noteworthy career and journalistic gift for eloquently putting words together to share stories with others would beg to differ. Now, in what some might call a second act, Averyt’s vision continues to shine. Today, she serves as the president and CEO of United Way of the Coastal Bend. She and the organization are responsible for distributing millions of donated dollars to local nonprofits annually. However, to understand Averyt now and the vital role she plays in our community, we must first understand how she got here. Averyt spent just over 30 years rising the ranks at the Corpus ChristiCaller Times. From a young, eager reporter working three to midnight — covering cops and sleeping with a police scanner next to her pillow — to serving as the paper’s publisher, and later its first female president, Averyt’s career in journalism is both rare and remarkable. She led the paper through three ownership changes in three years. That, paired with the digital landscape taking over newsprint, ultimately led Averyt to feel she wasn’t the person to lead the paper into its next chapter. So, in early 2017, she signed her name in marker on the walls of the distribution center, a tradition of past presidents dating back to 1945. As the paper's president and publisher, she embodied the idea that working to better the community is just as much a duty as the reporting itself. “While I may have gotten into journalism hoping I’d change the world, I became jaded about that very quickly,” she said. “But along the way, I realized life is more about trying to change the world one person at a time. You’re never going to change the whole world, but if I can live my life in a way that changes even one person’s world, then I think that’s a successful day.” Now at United Way, the same sentiment guides Averyt’s leadership. United Way’s Community Investment Fund, one of the single largest charitable contributions regularly made in the Coastal Bend, gave more than $2.6 million to 60 nonprofits in 2020-2021. In addition, the organization raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to distribute during the pandemic and aided significantly in the wake of the 2021 winter freeze. The annual Operation Supply our Students fundraiser raised a record-breaking amount of funds this year to help local students in need. For Averyt, this type of work has become her duty. “I have been given so much in this community. It’s the longest I have ever lived somewhere, and I literally grew up here,” she said. “I have become a better person here. And I truly feel it is my responsibility, because I am so fortunate in a lot of ways, to help other people in this community.” In the last two years, Averyt has been faced with her toughest job yet: Grief. Her husband Charles was diagnosed with an extremely aggressive form of liver cancer in February 2020 and died shortly after in June. Later that year, her mother passed, and in December 2021, she lost her sister. “Grief is the hardest work you’ll ever have to do,” she said. “It isn’t something we ever get over; I think we learn to carry it and move through life differently because of it. There were a lot of gut-wrenching, drop to my knees and sob moments, but I’ve learned so much about myself and the way I want to move through this world because of these painful moments.” Be it in sharing the stories of others or openly sharing her own journey, connecting with people and sharing life experiences have always been at the root of Averyt’s purpose in life. “The moments I treasure most in life, and in my career, are the moments of real human connection where we are vulnerable with one another and help one another,” she said. “At the end of the day, I think that's why we're here.” Averyt got her first and only tattoo last January. Beautifully illustrated on her left forearm is a mandala filled in with jewel tones, which remind her of her beloved Charles, and the word “bloom” in script underneath. The last thing Averyt’s mother said to her before passing was to “go bloom.” Though the tattoo holds a specific meaning for Averyt, it’s symbolic of how she inspires others. Averyt’s unique dedication to this community, in all capacities, has made room for countless others to bloom in their own right.

CASSIE BONILLA

Rising Star

The last name Bonilla holds a certain prestige in this town — it’s shared by some of the most influential business owners and changemakers in South Texas. So it’s fitting that Cassie Bonilla was nominated for this honor for her extraordinary accomplishments as an attorney…and for being an all-around phenomenal woman. Born and raised in the Rio Grande Valley, education was a cornerstone of her upbringing. “I graduated high school at 16 and became a licensed attorney by 23,” she said. Something about working rather than having to be in school all day was a huge motivator for Bonilla to get through her education as quickly as possible. She comes from a family full of attorneys and worked in one of their law offices as soon as she graduated high school. “I always knew I wanted to be an attorney.” She started out in private practice as a criminal defense attorney and learned quickly that her purpose in life was in public service. “Being a mom highlighted my passion for helping kids,” Bonilla explained.

As an Assistant District Attorney for the Nueces County District Attorney’s office, Bonilla eventually became the Chief Juvenile Prosecutor, working to rehabilitate youth who were facing Class C misdemeanors all the way up to capital felonies. After several years with the DA’s office, Bonilla moved on to working with the State of Texas, where she is the Guardianship Attorney looking after the rights of the elderly population in 23 counties across South Texas. What stands out immediately about Bonilla’s career journey is her advocacy for those who often cannot advocate for themselves. While she carries herself as the professional, sophisticated and accomplished attorney that she is, it is the caretaker in her that lights up the room (not to mention her incredibly warm and friendly smile). Bonilla’s drive to help others comes from growing up in a single-parent household. “I saw how hard my mom worked and she went to school at night,” she said. “My sisters and I relied on family and friends and neighbors sometimes while my mom was striving to give me and my sisters everything we needed.” This is why she fully understands the saying “it takes a village.” Both the youth and the elderly communities are considered vulnerable — and it’s Bonilla’s mission to make sure those individuals have people they can count on. In her downtime, Bonilla is a mom to three children and wife to her life partner, Bill. She also serves on several boards, including the Corpus Christi Young Lawyers Association, CASA of the Coastal Bend and the Corpus Christi Education Foundation. She even makes time to volunteer as a guest judge for spelling bees at elementary and middle schools from time to time, which speaks to Bonilla’s love for this community and its next generation. And while she makes it all look easy, those close to Bonilla know firsthand how much effort and dedication she gives to each commitment. So, one can only wonder how she found the time to make a run for Nueces County Court at Law #1 Judge. Though she lost the primary race, her career has included so many achievements that her pursuit of a position as an elected official only cements the fact that Bonilla is going to do the professional and personal work to see that the community she loves soars to new heights.

ROCHELLE LOWERY

Entrepreneur

In just two short years, Rochelle Lowery went from design concept to full-blown business, launching Lemonade Stand Cosmetics out of her home during the pandemic in 2020. The former graphic designer turned beauty entrepreneur specializes in handmade beauty products — makeup, skincare, haircare and bath and body goodies that are vegan and cruelty-free. Out of a need for products that could not be found on store shelves at the time, she began to mix formulas for beauty products such as lip balms containing strictly allnatural, vegan elements. Lowery was strategic in selecting which ingredients would make the cut. “I try not to use anything that isn’t necessary in the making of each product,” she said, “and in doing so, the quality of the end result is better than items you’ll find made with animal byproducts.” Her brand almost immediately gained an enthusiastic following, and her supporters have been right by her side since day one. “I remember my first pop-up in October 2020. I was feeling nervous, wondering if people were going to like the products,” Lowery recalled, “and the community response was instantly positive.” That was the motivation she needed to go all in and dedicate her full attention to seeing Lemonade Stand Cosmetics grow. Her hard work paid off ten-fold considering that within less than a year, she began wholesaling her products to various local businesses, opened a retail location that included a proprietary DIY Lipgloss Bar experience (which sold out consistently) and recently launched several product lines in none other than H-E-B. “When we got into H-E-B, it was time to reevaluate the goals for the business and for our family,” said Lowery. Outside of being a dynamic businesswoman, Lowery is also a mother to four-year-old Nola, whom she shares with her husband, Marcus. While it can be done, Lowery explains, retailing and wholesaling are tough. Ultimately, the decision was made to close the retail location and pour all of her resources into wholesale.

This shift has made it possible for Lowery to get back into the community by doing pop-ups and connecting with her customers face-to-face. Chances are, if you find yourself at any local market, you’ll come across Lowery — and if you’re lucky, you may get a glimpse of little Nola, too. Being a mom and a business owner are two jobs Lowery takes to heart. “Being an entrepreneur gives me more time to be with my daughter,” she says. “Maybe not necessarily one on one, but she is always observing and watching me.” Having little eyes absorbing her every move, Lowery hopes her daughter gains the ability to take initiative and problemsolve — something her mother excels in and does with calm energy and grace. Lowery is grateful for the opportunity to include her daughter in business experiences that will hopefully result in a well-rounded upbringing. In person, Lowery has an unassuming confidence and a warm, hospitable demeanor. She is modest in her explanation of her work to the point that her husband chimes in to make sure her undeniable talent as an artisan and businesswoman doesn’t go unnoticed. It’s just a matter of time before this beauty entrepreneur becomes a beauty mogul; but knowing Lowery, she’ll never get too big for her britches. Her appreciation for the community that gave her this platform runs deep. And we can’t wait to see what she will do next.

ROSIE TORRES

Humanitarian

For Rosie Torres, everything changed by the alltoo-common military practice of burn pits — in which hundreds of tons of waste (including dangerous chemicals) are destroyed by being set ablaze, often with severely hazardous effects on the health of any personnel nearby. Torres’ husband LeRoy served as a Captain in the U.S. Army for 23 years, and over time, after being exposed to toxic fumes during his service in post-9/11 Iraq, he began suffering from breathing complications and neurological damage. The onset of these symptoms, which were later diagnosed as Constrictive Bronchiolitis and Toxic Brain Injury, have lasting impacts not only on the life of the service member, but on their family’s life as well. This was no different for the Torres family; after getting the runaround from physicians, delays in benefits and denial of health care in some cases, they were determined to make sure no other service member had to endure a similar experience — one of feeling invisible. It was then they decided to start a non-profit to protect veterans and their families from this incredible disservice, and Burn Pits 360 was born. Burn Pits 360 is the only nonprofit organization dedicated to offering an independent burn pit exposure registry. The registry, which was signed into law in 2013 by President Obama, serves as a way for family members to record the names of veterans who served our country but have passed away from illnesses related to toxic injuries suffered as a result of burn pits. Since its inception, the organization has built an alliance of health experts, researchers, scientists, legal experts and doctors specializing in deployment-related exposure in an effort to bring the serious effects toxic chemicals have on veterans’ health to light. Their advocacy is rooted in evidence. The invisible wounds veterans face upon exposure include injuries to the respiratory, gastrointestinal and cardiovascular systems, chronic pain, certain rare cancers, Post Traumatic Stress and Toxic Brain Injury.

Torres couldn’t bear to see her husband on oxygen every single day without taking action. And for the 13 years since Burn Pits 360’s inception, Torres says every forward movement, as well as every step back, has been worth it. “It took years and years of us spending and exhausting our life savings to get the answers we needed,” said Torres, but “it has been worth every minute, every hour, every day.” The Warrior Support Center, which serves as Burn Pits 360’s national headquarters, is a place of refuge for veterans suffering from toxic injuries. Its new Warrior Hope Network HBOT program aims to provide veterans with a network of resources they can use to find alternative treatment options that may not be available to them through the VA at zero cost; and the organization recently partnered with Grunt Style to deliver 12 veterans hyperbaric oxygen therapy chambers that, over time, stimulate the body’s healing processes and allow most patients to experience rapid recovery of cognitive and neurological functioning. Torres’ dedication to advocating for veterans is finally receiving the long-overdue attention it deserves. In late July, Torres and Burn Pits 360 allies spent six days outside the U.S. Capitol advocating for the PACT Act to pass in the Senate. In late August, President Biden officially signed the PACT Act into law, with the Torreses proudly standing by his side. The PACT Act is a historic piece of legislation that will expand VA health care and benefits for veterans exposed to burn pits and other toxic substances. This new law empowers the VA to provide generations of veterans — and their survivors — with the care and benefits they have earned. Torres might not consider her nonstop advocacy as “philanthropic work,” as she truly feels it is what she’s been called to do. Her professional background working for the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs for 23 years made her the perfect champion for this cause. The recent triumph of the PACT Act is a result of the years of hard work Burn Pits 360 has put into this cause, but she knows the work doesn’t end there. A true humanitarian at heart, Torres is already actively working on the next milestone goals to ensure proper care and access are given to those who have fought for our freedom.

DR. MARY DALE PETERSON

Medical Hero

Mary Dale Peterson, MD, MSHCA, FACHE gets bored easily. She craves innovation and new experiences — on any given day, you might find her sharing a photo of her in a glittering ballgown from a dance competition, working with the Nueces County Opioid Task Force, traveling across the world to share her vast knowledge with others, learning to play a new song on the piano or helping to save lives right here in our community. Regardless of where she puts her energy, she never stops. Dr. Peterson serves as the executive vice president and Chief Operating Officer of the Driscoll Health System. At her core, she is a problem solver. Asking questions and coming up with solutions is her superpower. “There’s never a shortage of problems to solve or ideas to solve those problems,” she said. “If anything, I’m just short on time.” As the EVP and COO of the Driscoll Health System, Dr. Peterson is responsible for overseeing all operations and quality for the hospital, the health plan and the physician practice group. Her goal is to ensure an integrated system working in synergy to create frictionless barriers for the community to access the care they need.

Though she’s held various impressive leadership roles throughout her tenure at Driscoll, some of Dr. Peterson’s proudest moments took place around the same time in her career. When she became the president of the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) in October 2019, she had no idea the challenges awaiting come March 2020. As the ASA president, she formed a crisis COVID council of leaders from key committees to begin tackling issues related to the pandemic. She’d created a plan largely centered around people and patients. To ensure patients had access to proper equipment, the anticipated shortage of ventilators needed to be addressed. Under Dr. Peterson’s guidance, the ASA worked with the FDA and found there were around 80,000 anesthesia gas machines in operating rooms across the nation that could be repurposed into ICU ventilators by making a few equipment adjustments — Vice President Pence and White House Coronavirus Response Coordinator Dr. Birx commended Dr. Peterson and the ASA for this effort. Her ability to listen to people’s problems and then jump into action to solve them has been key throughout the pandemic. Taking phone calls with government officials and medical leaders in Washington, New York, other Texas cities and everywhere in between, Dr. Peterson knew getting a grasp on what was needed on a larger scale was crucial. All the while, Dr. Peterson was on the ground here in the Coastal Bend helping to protect her staff, patients and the community at large. She was on emergency calls with the city every week, and once vaccines became available, she accepted the challenge to help with vaccine drives, working to efficiently help the most vulnerable populations first. She did what she does best: evaluated a problem and made a plan of action to solve it. Leading the way in trying times is a responsibility Dr. Peterson does not take lightly. Her commitment to serving this community speaks to why she is in the medical field to begin with. “I care. I care about you, and I want to make sure you’re around to see tomorrow for yourself and your family,” she said. “I think, with the right systems in place, we can get all people the care they need and deserve.” From breaking barriers as a female leader in her fields to resiliently propelling our local health systems forward, the Coastal Bend is lucky to have someone like Dr. Peterson solving our puzzles.

ELIZABETH CHU RICHTER

Industry Leader

Elizabeth Chu Richter is what some might call a “late bloomer.” She had lived a whole life prior to becoming a licensed architect in her 40s, but that is not to say her architectural dreams came as a sudden decision. Starting her career as an architect later in life allowed Chu Richter to bring along vast knowledge and worldly wisdom. In a lot of ways, the insight she gained through life’s experiences made for a clear and sound approach to business, and created a confidence that manifested in successful projects and numerous industry accolades.

Throughout her personal and professional life, there is a clear common thread of living history. Born in Nanjing, China, Chu Richter spent her childhood years residing in Hong Kong before moving to Dallas at the age of 13 with her mother and five siblings. Though she obtained her bachelor’s degree in architecture from the University of Texas at Austin in 1974, she decided to stay home to raise her first child and continue to take care of her family. Twelve years later, she jumped back into her career. Chu Richter joined Kipp Richter & Associates as an intern and quickly began making waves for her work, garnering an incredible amount of industry attention. Now, she is the CEO of Richter Architects, a firm she coowns with her husband, David. The Harte Research Institute, the new Port of Corpus Christi Administration Building and the recently completed General Academic enclave on the Del Mar East Campus are among the many local projects for which the firm are responsible. Despite her humility, she is the architectural equivalent of an Oscar winner: Chu Richter was named a fellow of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada in 2019. “It was an astounding surprise and a huge honor,” she said. “The honor signals how much we have in common across borders. We face similar challenges as architects and as people; we are motivated to achieve similar goals to make a difference and build a better world, one dream at a time and one building at a time. [Plus], it’s a phenomenal feeling sharing a spotlight with some of world’s most renowned and iconic architects.” Of all her accomplishments, Chu Richter’s appointment as the National President for the American Institute of Architects (AIA) in 2015 holds a special place for her. “[It was an] honor to be elected and serve as National President of the American Institute of Architects,” she says. “It was an incredible opportunity to represent America’s architects across the world and to provide leadership to elevate a beloved profession.” Beyond the awards and prestigious recognition is a true desire to enrich the lives of people in the community through designing high-quality, high-functioning buildings that are meant to last a lifetime. “One of our design strengths is to approach every project as if it is the first one we have ever designed,” Chu Richter said. “Understanding function is only the beginning; it is followed by interpretation and the art of design that instills the added value of robustness, efficiency, dignity, sustainability, beauty and a sense of place.” Much like her approach to life, Chu Richter’s approach to the work she does is simple and profound: “Be present. Keep an eye on the future, but most of all, make the most of opportunities at hand. They are stepping stones to hone your skills for enduring success.” As for the future, Chu Richter is setting her sights on “greener” pastures. Sustainability in architecture has been a hot topic for quite some time and Chu Richter sees “thinking green” as a mindset that should be implemented with a disciplined design strategy. “In architecture, bigger and taller is not always better,” she said. “When a building is right sized, well built and well maintained, it has value for at least half a century.” This mindset influences Chu Richter’s life both at home and in the workplace. It’s why she has become an influential voice in the world of architecture, and an inspiring woman quite literally building the future of our community.

JO ANNE HOWELL

Community Visionary

Entertaining is in Jo Anne Howell’s blood. She describes her upbringing as that of a quintessential entertaining family — one in which no life moment was too small to celebrate. She credits a lot of this to her two grandmothers. When she was a teenager and Martha Stewart’s magazine came out, she collected every single issue. “I had towering stacks of her magazines in my room. I’d look at every single one of them and just think, ‘I want to do this one day; I want to bring people joy in the way she does.’” As the owner and creative vision behind Oh Goodie Design + Events began to create a family of her own, Howell’s innate entertaining skills flourished. In Laredo, she sat on the board of what she calls the “newcomers club,” and was responsible for organizing play dates and bunco nights. She spent three years planning exhibits and programming for a children’s museum, and it was there Howell really began to discover just how much she loved making things work for the enjoyment of others. “If we couldn’t afford something, we’d build it ourselves,” she said. “We would do whatever it took to make sure the kids had an enriching place to be, and that was one of the first times I had the feeling of putting my skills to use and seeing the fruits of my labor in other people’s faces.”

With years of experience from planning birthday parties for her three children and friends, by the time Howell and her family moved to San Antonio in the early 2000s, she was more than ready to keep the ball rolling. Oh Goodie Design + Events is now a full-service event planning and styling service. If you’ve attended an event in the Coastal Bend in the last eight years, chances are Howell’s abilities were behind it. While her love for the craft knows no bounds, her outlook on this city and the community of local vendors is notable. Howell didn’t know a single person when she moved to Corpus Christi in 2011, but with hard work and determination, her contact book filled up and she began to make a name for herself among clients and vendors in the area. When she and her husband split, she had a choice to make: Move to be with family or continue as a trailblazer in the local event planning industry. The reason she stayed, both then and to this day, has everything to do with this community. “Why would I turn my back on this community that gave me everything I have?” she said. “I couldn’t have built Oh Goodie into what it is today if it weren’t for the Coastal Bend. When I think about this community, and especially the community of vendors I work within, I think about the people who own these businesses, and it just means so much more to me than collecting a check. I can’t turn my back on something like that.” When COVID hit, that same love for people played a part in Howell’s “Party in a Box.” Howell partnered with several local businesses to deliver the perfect entertaining kit straight to customers’ doorsteps — allowing people to gather (even if it just meant having a party for four in the living room) and support various local businesses at the same time. Howell has devoted her time, energy, passion, talents and resources to making this community a better place to play. Her compelling vision for what entertaining means goes far beyond pretty tables and chairs. Parties don’t plan themselves and Howell eats, sleeps and breathes her work, until the very last moment of the party. “It’s a living, breathing experience,” she said. “Every minute detail is a part of the big picture and it’s my job to put the puzzle pieces together.” There’s no problem or client request too complex for Howell. She makes the job seem easy, but don’t mistake her confidence for a lack of hard work. This job is no piece of cake. Talent is a part of the success formula for Howell and her thriving business, but it often takes more determination and dedication than anything else to achieve what she’s been able to. At the end of the day, her love for entertaining knows no bounds, and speaks to why she got into the industry to begin with: It always comes back to the people. There isn’t a bride she’s sent down the aisle without shedding a tear; in nearly 10 years of business, she’s hardly raised the price for kids’ parties; and the community of businesses, vendors and clients she works with have become a chosen family, for which she is incredibly grateful.

Wome of e e n CORPUS CHRISTI SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

Established in 1946, the Corpus Christi Symphony Orchestra has been inspiring, engaging, and educating diverse audiences through live, high quality musical performances throughout the Coastal Bend region.

The Corpus Christi Symphony Orchestra has included women since the beginning. This is particularly unique as women were almost nonexistent in classical symphony orchestras in larger cities until the late 1960’s. Harpist Patricia Furley, for example, joined the Corpus Christi Symphony Orchestra in the 1950’s when she was only fifteen years old. Violinist Nina Mavrinac and bassist Melba Chatham are two other examples of women who joined the CCSO in its early days.

Now, the Corpus Christi Symphony Orchestra has many amazingly talented female musicians. Featured here are some of our local female artists, and below is a complete list of the wonderful women in our current membership.

The Corpus Christi Symphony Orchestra is so grateful for the women that bless our community through live orchestral music, and hopes to continue adding more women to the organization.

Flute: Diana Sipes, Jasmine Kienne, Izumi Miyahara; Oboe: Serena Finnigan, Jennifer Bernard; Clarinet: Julie Linder; Horn: Wanda Avila (retired in 2021-2); Trumpet: Mary Thornton; Harp: Naomi Hoffmeyer; Violin 1: Elisabeth Adkins, Medea Guldedava, Libby Frederick, Helen Patricia Karakis; Violin 2: Nina Mavrinac, Lynn Butler, Nancy Reyes, Terri Hammons; Violas: Jennifer Clark, Melissa Melendez, Stephanie Phillips, Jen Alger, Carrie Howell, Teresa Nguyen; Cellos: Susan Sturman (retired in 2021-2), Carrie Pierce, Ying Zhang, Sarah Milnarich, Phyllis Kline

CCSYMPHONY.ORG @CORPUSCHRISTISYMPHONY (361) 883-NOTE (6683)

The Coastal Bend Blood Center has proudly served our community for more than 50 years. Our team provides a second chance at life for the Coastal Bend community through the invaluable gift of blood provided by volunteer donors. The Coastal Bend Blood Center covers 10 counties and supplies blood products to 22 local medical facilities. In order to provide a safe and adequate blood supply, the Blood Center must collect at least 120 units a day.

From recruiting donors to collecting blood products, processing, testing, and delivering to local hospitals, our empowering team provides the gift of life to our Coastal Bend community. This lifesaving effort wouldn’t be possible without the amazing women that help make up two-thirds of our team. Blood is needed in our community every day and we are grateful for the wonderful women we work besides and amongst at the Coastal Bend Blood Center. To witness the impact of saving lives yourself, donate blood at a blood drive near you or at the Coastal Bend Blood Center.

ALEXANDRIA MAYHANE BASKIN'S GO-TO SELF-CARE ROUTINE

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Local beauty brand owner shares her skincare journey and how beauty can always be found even in the darkest moments

LILLIAN REITZ photography by

HEALTH

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