Amarillo Magazine | December 2020

DECEMBER 2020

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CONTENTS 7 CONTRIBUTORS 8 ANDY’S WORLD 10 CHIP’S CORNER

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DRESS CODE 12 TREAT YOURSELF COVER STORY 14 GLAD TIDINGS

Making the best of an unusual holiday season

FEATURES 20 2020 VISION

We asked city leaders across a variety of industries about the impact of 2020 on their area of expertise, what they saw, and how they’re thinking about the future.

26 A HOME Cover Story FOR THE HOLIDAYS

Homes For Our Troops builds a new home for an injured Amarillo veteran

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29 41 WHAT’S COOKING? 29 ROUND YON’ BOURBON 41 LET’S EAT! 48 PANHANDLE PERSPECTIVE 52 20 QUESTIONS

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Celebrate the Season

JOHNNY TERRA, SMALL BUSINESS CPA AND FOUNDER, TERRA ACCOUNTING & We see this year as a chance to create new traditions, to think creatively, and to remember what matters most. Whether CONSULTING, PLLCyou’re strolling

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through the wonderland of lights at the Amarillo Botanical Gardens or watching balloons light up the night sky in the canyon, this year, let’s all remember to look for the light that shines within us.

Amarillo Botanical Gardens

If you’re looking traditional fun this holiday season, look no further than Amarillo Botanical Gardens. The elegant site will host its annual Christmas in the Gardens, which features more than 350,000 Christmas Lights, through Dec. 20, 6-8:30 p.m. (9 p.m. on Saturdays). Marvel at the lights and the beauty of nature, as you sip on hot chocolate, munch popcorn and cotton candy, and get your picture taken with Santa. 1400 Streit Drive, 352.6513, amarillobotanicalgardens.org

ALT Academy

The Amarillo Little Theatre Academy and Sparkman Orthodontics will present a holiday production of “It’s a Wonderful Life,” based on Frank Capra’s classic film. The show will feature 25 talented Academy students, onstage Dec. 11-13. Director Jason Crespin says of the production, “With everything our world has gone through this past year, this show is a great reminder that with the help of friends and family, we all still have a wonderful life to live. I’m proud that we’ll be able to still provide theater safely to our community through our COVID safety protocols, and I hope our patrons understand how important it is to support the arts now more than ever.” Performances will take place at the ALT Adventure Space, 2751 Civic Circle, and all audiences members will be required to

ALT Main Stage ONIf you’re THE COVER looking for a fun family musical, the “Winter

Wonderettes” are here for you! This year’s show has the ILLUSTRATION

BY KAYLA MORRIS Wonderettes entertaining at the annual Harper’s Hardware

Holiday Party – until Santa turns up missing. Using their talent and ingenuity, the girls set out to save the holiday party. The DECEMBER show will feature sixties versions of holiday classics such as “Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town,” “Jingle Bell Rock,” “Run, Rudolph, Run,” and “Winter Wonderland.” Numerous protocols

2020 • AMARILLOMAGONLINE.COM

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Editor’s Letter

Regional Director of Specialty Products/Editor Michele McAffrey 806.345.3256 mmcaffrey@amarillo.com Regional Designer Kayla Morris Contributing Writers Jonathan Baker Jason Boyett Chip Chandler Andy Chase Cundiff

Contributing Photographer Shannon Richardson

Regional Advertising Director Shoni Wiseman Account Representative Jaime Pipkin To advertise in Amarillo Magazine or on amarillomagonline.com, please contact Shoni Wiseman at 766.8631.

Regional Executive Editor Jill Nevels-Haun Regional Distribution Director David Morel Regional Accounting Manager Sheryl Rycerz

600 S. Tyler St., Suite 2300, Amarillo, TX 79101 806.376.4488 • amarillomagonline.com Amarillo Magazine is a monthly publication of AGN Media. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without prior written consent. Letters to the Editor are welcome but may be edited due to space limitations.

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Who else is holding their breath, hoping we can make it out of 2020 reasonably sane and safe? I do not say that in jest. These past few months have been a heartbreak, a stressor beyond anything we’ve ever experienced. Too many people have lost loved ones and have had their lives forever changed.

Our final issue of 2020 is filled with ideas to help bring a sense of hope, a little TLC and holiday cheer.

As we’ve continued to work from home, we’ve found that items of comfort help sustain our bodies and spirits. I’m fortunate to have a lovely vintage tub, and I have never taken as many baths as I have the past few months, especially as the temperatures cool. Enjoying a nice, long soak has given me time to get my thoughts in order, calm my nerves, and warm my body. With that in mind, we asked for self-care product recommendations from a few of our favorite local boutiques. Find a new way to pamper yourself or a loved one on page 12.

There are still a few local options left for holiday celebrations. We don’t know what December will hold, but we’ve listed family-friendly events that include safety protocols and that we’re confident will move ahead as planned. Our “Glad Tidings” feature (see page 14) also lists ways that you and your family can make a difference in someone’s life this Christmas, from giving trees, to feeding programs, to monetary donations.

We introduce the nonprofit Homes For Our Troops this month, along with the deserving veteran that the organization helped, Harry Stokes. Homes For Our Troops builds specialized custom homes for injured veterans to honor their service to our country. Harry lost both legs in the conflict in Afghanistan, and returned home to months of surgeries and rehab. His new home will help him to navigate daily life a little easier, and hopefully enable him to enjoy a brighter future in Amarillo. Learn more about Homes For Our Troops beginning on page 26.

In our “2020 Vision” feature (see page 20) we hear from city leaders from a variety of vital local industries about how the pandemic has affected their area of expertise, how they’ve coped, and their plans for the future. Overall, most of them expect a positive turnaround for the city in 2021. We’re hopeful for the same.

A bright spot in the past year has been the emergence of beautiful public art throughout the city, created by the high school students of Blank Spaces. There’s nothing quite like seeing the colorful, encouraging images they’ve created for local businesses, restaurants and nonprofits. Learn more on page 48.

In my last letter of 2020, I want to express my extreme gratitude to our team for persevering through the trials we’ve experienced this year, for continuing to create a beautiful magazine every month, and for steadfastly uplifting me along the way. We hope Amarillo Magazine continues to be a source of information and encouragement to our readers for many years to come.

I hope for abundant peace, joy and blessings for all of you this holiday season and beyond,

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Contributors

SHANNON RICHARDSON

JONATHAN BAKER

JASON BOYETT

CHIP CHANDLER

Jonathan’s copywriting has appeared in Esquire, Men’s Journal, and Popular Mechanics. In his spare time, he writes crime novels.

Jason has written more than a dozen books and is the host and creator of “Hey Amarillo,” a local interview podcast.

Visit heyamarillo.com and jasonboyett.com.

Chip Chandler is the senior communications specialist at West Texas A&M University. An awardwinning journalist, he has covered arts and entertainment in Amarillo since 1998 and is a member of the Amarillo Convention & Visitor Council arts committee. He is a 2020 Golden Nail Award winner and a 2017 National Philanthropy Day award winner. He is a member of the national GALECA critics group.

Writer

Writer

Writer

Photographer

Shannon has been photographing commercial/advertising work for more than 30 years.

See Shannon’s work at shannonrichardson.com and route66americanicon.com.

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Andy’s World

Counting Blessings in a Tough Year

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here are all kinds of quips, puns and jokes about the year, and the phrase, 2020. Hindsight, perfect vision, etc. My personal favorite was that an extra hour of daylight savings in 2020 was like a bonus track on a Yoko Ono album. Mean, I know. But sort of a gallows humor. I am sure you have plenty of access to all of that on social media, so I’ll just leave it at that.

Life is good. Life is sweet. These facts are never more obvious than when life is difficult. “Trying,” I believe, is a good word for 2020. There have been a metric ton of trials.

Our world has seen loss this year, precious and irreplaceable people that touched us, some from afar, and some from not so far away. People that we grew up watching on the silver screen or TV, or who worked behind the scenes to fire our imagination and keep us laughing with their creative work. Carl Reiner, for instance. Writer, actor, director and comedian, the kind of show business renaissance man that is one in a million in any lifetime. One blessing, for him, and all of us who enjoyed his work, is that he lived to the ripe old age of 98. I watched some of his television work, “The Dick Van Dyke Show,” as a preschooler.

Then there are the people who brought information, entertainment and fun into our homes. I can’t remember a time without Hugh Downs in my house, which sounds creepy except for the fact that it was Hugh Downs. His voice was calm, friendly, and somehow it intimated that everything was going to be all right. He sounded like everybody’s grandfather.

Regis Philbin, who, as hard as I tried to dislike him, always got the better of me. Don’t ask me why he rubbed me the wrong way; I don’t have a decent answer. Shame on me. He always seemed to have a good punchline, or a little ray of sunshine to end the segment, commercial or show, and he eventually won me over. It could be that he, for many years, showed the self-deprecating humor that I had to mature into. As a young person, I had a terrible case of take-yourself-too-seriously-itis.

My heart actually hurts over the loss of Alex Trebek. He was, literally for decades, a welcome guest in my house, home, dorm room, hotel room, or restaurant every day “Jeopardy” was on. He always seemed to have a genuine concern for every contestant on the show, and he had to be ridiculously intelligent. Just to read all of those questions and to stay on top of all that rapid-fire information had to be like finals week every 30 minutes. The most impressive thing about him

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was that he was always excited about his job. I don’t think that could have been manufactured, and I don’t know if he can be replaced.

Some of my favorite actors passed on, like Ben Cross, who I remember best from “Chariots of Fire,” but a host of “Trekkies” would certainly differ with me there. Wilford Brimley, who was always a stern guy with a mustache, I will dearly miss. He always seemed to be a cowboy, whether he was in a cowboy movie or not. He spoke with horse sense, and brought that to the screen, I felt.

Sean Connery was “my” James Bond. I remember going with my parents and baby brother in our Chevrolet station wagon to see “Thunderball” at the Pawnee drive-in theater in Wichita, Kansas. He was always the same character, same voice, same demeanor, but somehow that didn’t bother me at all.

Losses in the world of sports are saddening: Whitey Ford, a great among greats, who pitched for 16 years with the Yankees; Gale Sayers, who ran with a football like nobody I have ever seen, and I’ve seen a lot of them. Lou Brock, the Rocket, who could steal a base with the whole stadium watching. And of course, the one and only Kobe Bryant.

Musicians that we will never forget, like Charlie Daniels and Johnny Nash, Peter Green and Mac Davis all take a piece of our hearts with them.

Especially, for me, Jerry Jeff Walker, and Eddie Van Halen. Two people I admired greatly, and actually got to spend some time with on this little blue planet. I will miss them.

Along with the fires, hurricanes, and the ever- present COVID-19 virus, this has been a year to remember. While we lost some of our heroes, the blessing is this: that we were touched by them, we carry part of them with us, and in that way we will never lose them.

As we look forward to Christmas Day, it is good to remember that life is even sweeter when we think of it as a gift.

May God bless you and yours!

ANDY CHASE CUNDIFF Andy is a local artist, singer and songwriter, and has called Amarillo home for more than 20 years. He plays at a variety of live music venues throughout the Panhandle. Contact Andy at 376-7918.

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Chip’s Corner

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appy holidays! May you avoid COVID and find ways to still celebrate with your loved ones safely and with some kind of joy.

While waiting for Santa to arrive, mask surely covering his nose like a cherry (because Santa is what? Smart), consider these entertainment options this month. They’re all subject to change, naturally, because 2020 still isn’t over and won’t be for some time, no matter what the calendar says.

MOVIES Reviews “MANK”

Director David Fincher explores the Golden Age of Hollywood – clear-eyed, but still a little bit in love – in this sparkling look at the creation of one of the finest films ever made.

Filmed in luminescent black and white, “Mank” explores the career of screenwriter Herman J. Mankiewicz (Gary Oldman), primarily the 60-day period in which he wrote “Citizen Kane” for director Orson Welles. Like “Kane,” “Mank” flashes back and forth across its central character’s life and career, not only as he writes the magnum opus, but primarily in the times he crosses swords with the film’s inspiration, oligarch newspaper publisher William Randolph Hearst (Charles Dance), and with the film’s director, Welles, with whom he battles for credit.

Fincher’s late father, Jack, wrote the screenplay in 2003, and it’s filled with biting bon mots, as if Mank were embodying his brother’s script for “All About Eve.” It folds in a political subplot, about the ways Hearst conspired with Hollywood players to sink the gubernatorial candidacy of author Upton Sinclair, which feels straight out of 2020, or at least 2016. And it rehabilitates the reputation of Hearst’s lady love, Marion Davies (Amanda Seyfried, sensational), as a talented actress, not just Hearst’s plus-one. I’m not sure it all entirely coheres – I’m already primed for a rewatch – but it’s a cracking good time anyway. (Netflix, Dec. 4)

“AMMONITE”

As unceasingly weird as this year has been, there’s something comforting about the arrival of pure, unfiltered Oscar bait like this forbidden-love story from writerdirector Francis Lee (“God’s Own Country”).

Kate Winslet and Saoirse Ronan star as unlikely lovers in this dour period piece about real-life paleontologist Mary Anning (Winslet), who is reduced to selling fossils as souvenirs because, as a woman, she’s mostly excluded from scientific circles. She lives a solitary life with her ailing mother (Gemma Jones), ground down by routine but possessing surprising facets.

Enter wealthy Roderick Murchison (James McArdle) and his young wife, Charlotte (Ronan): Roderick’s fascinated by the titular ammonites, the remains of mollusks that appear as spiral fossils that Mary digs out of the rocks on the rough shores of her home. When Charlotte takes ill, Roderick leaves her behind in Mary’s care as he heads out on a business trip. Eventually, in an almost maddeningly measured way, Mary’s stern resolve cracks, Charlotte’s health returns and they enter a passionate love affair.

Winslet, as always, is terrifically compelling, even in such an interior role as this; it’s really one of her best performances. Ronan sparkles as Charlotte throws herself into the affair with abandon, particularly in the film’s unexpected but sharp conclusion.

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See more of Chip’s recommendations for local fun on our website this month.

As noted, Mary was a real woman, as was Charlotte, but there’s no evidence that such a relationship actually occurred. I wasn’t aware there was lesbian paleontologist fanfic, but if it’s as well-acted as this, let’s have more. (In limited theatrical release; available for premium video on demand Dec. 4)

“BLACK BEAR”

You probably know Aubrey Plaza best as the dark imp April Ludgate on “Parks and Recreation.” In this scathingly funny, brazen new indie, though, she gives the best performance of her career – but to talk about what makes it so very good would be to give away the film’s greatest accomplishment.

I can say that the film opens by focusing on an actress-turned-director (Plaza) who decamps to a rural lakehouse to focus on writing her next project. The home is a new B&B run by a couple (Christopher Abbot and Sarah Gadon) who are dating, expecting a child and clearly unprepared to run an inn, much less their own home. As wine flows and pot wafts, tensions (sexual and otherwise) rise in a kind of three-handed riff on “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf,” culminating in a bitterly funny and exceedingly queasy argument.

Suddenly, the film shifts gears in a way that I absolutely did not expect, opening a new avenue of exploration. I’ll say no more, other than it’s quite a ride. (In limited theatrical release; available for premium video on demand Dec. 4)

Brief Takes “NOMADLAND”: Chloé Zhao’s “The Rider,” a lyrical Western starring

non-professional actors, was a hauntingly intimate, unfiltered gem. She’s back with a rapturously received film about a woman (Frances McDormand) whose life is ripped away from her, forcing her to live in a van and travel the country to find work. (In limited theatrical release Dec. 4)

“THE PROM”: Ryan Murphy adapts this recent Broadway hit about a group

of out-of-work, egotistical actors who converge on a small town to raise hell over a lesbian teen who’s told she can’t bring a female date to her prom (and to net them some good press along the way). Packed with delightful songs and what look to be candy-coated visuals, Murphy loads up the cast with heavy

“MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM”: Oscar-winner Viola Davis stars as a fiery blues singer in this 1920s-set adaptation of an acclaimed August Wilson play. The late Chadwick Boseman gives his final film performance as Levee, a trumpeter with ambition and an eye for Ma’s girlfriend. (Netflix, Dec. 18)

“ONE NIGHT IN MIAMI”: Emmy-winning actress Regina King, who has

found great success in television directing lately, makes her feature debut with this adaptation of a 2013 play that imagines an evening conversation about civil rights and national upheaval between Malcolm X (Kingsley Ben-Adir), Sam Cooke (Leslie Odom Jr.), Jim Brown (Aldis Hodge) and the future Muhammad Ali, Cassius Clay (Eli Goree). (In limited theatrical release Dec. 25)

KATE WINSLET AND SAOIRSE RONAN STAR IN THE PERIOD ROMANTIC DRAMA “AMMONITE.” (COURTESY NEON FILMS)

SEE THE HOPE OF THE HOLIDAYS More than ever, we understand the strength we gain from the presence of friends and family. We value the presence of hope—hope for good health, a prosperous future, and a supportive community. As the holidays approach after an uncertain year, may you see those gifts with more clarity than ever before.

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DECEMBER 2020 • AMARILLOMAGONLINE.COM

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Dress Code

Harper+Ari Exfoliating Sugar Cubes $15, Et Cetera

Stress-fix Concentrate rollerball $24; Stress-fix Soaking Salts $43, Natural Bliss Aveda Salon Niven Morgan Lavender Mint Body Wash $28, Et Cetera

Treat Yourself W

hat does “self-care” mean for you? For some, it’s a long walk. It’s saying “no” to unnecessary commitments. It’s eating healthy foods, wearing that comfy set of yoga pants, or scheduling a spa day.

And for a lot of us right now, self-care means enjoying luxurious spa products in the safety of our homes. As we reach the holiday season at the end of an incredibly stressful year, we are turning our focus toward stress-relieving products that are perfect for some at-home pampering. Whether you’re male or female, buying for yourself or as a gift, these items are designed to send you into a state of calm as we celebrate the holidays and roll into a longawaited new year.

PROVIDED PHOTOS Spongelle Shimmer Buffer $28, English Rose Boutique

Roosevelt Supply Co. Men’s Care Kit $134, The Roseberry

Sarah Happ Vanilla Bean Lip Scrub $27, Purpose + Passion Boutique

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DECEMBER 2020 • AMARILLOMAGONLINE.COM

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Cover Story

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By Jonathan Baker

hings are going to be different this holiday, no question. But different doesn’t have to mean worse; in fact, you might find yourself having the best Christmas in memory. How? By returning to what the holidays were always supposed to be about: kindness, love, good works, stillness, patience, giving. And there are still plenty of options that will allow you to have a little fun while keeping your family safe this season. Here, we list some of our favorite suggestions for holiday fun – and some great options for ways that you can safely give back to community, in a year when everyone could use a little holiday spirit.

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Celebrate the Season

We see this year as a chance to create new traditions, to think creatively, and to remember what matters most. Whether you’re strolling through the wonderland of lights at the Amarillo Botanical Gardens or watching balloons light up the night sky in the canyon, this year, let’s all remember to look for the light that shines within us.

Amarillo Botanical Gardens

If you’re looking for traditional fun this holiday season, look no further than the Amarillo Botanical Gardens. The elegant site will host its annual Christmas in the Gardens, which features more than 350,000 Christmas Lights, through Dec. 20, 6-8:30 p.m. (9 p.m. on Saturdays). Marvel at the lights and the beauty of nature, as you sip on hot chocolate, munch popcorn and cotton candy, and get your picture taken with Santa. 1400 Streit Drive, 352.6513, amarillobotanicalgardens.org

ALT Academy

The Amarillo Little Theatre Academy and Sparkman Orthodontics will present a holiday production of “It’s a Wonderful Life,” based on Frank Capra’s classic film. The show will feature 25 talented Academy students, onstage Dec. 11-13.

Director Jason Crespin says of the production, “With everything our world has gone through this past year, this show is a great reminder that with the help of friends and family, we all still have a wonderful life to live. I’m proud that we’ll be able to still provide theater safely to our community through our COVID safety protocols, and I hope our patrons understand how important it is to support the arts now more than ever.” Performances will take place at the ALT Adventure Space, 2751 Civic Circle, and all audience members will be required to wear face coverings while at the theater and during the performance. In addition, patrons will be tested for fever with a no-touch forehead thermometer, and hand sanitizer will be placed throughout the theater. For tickets and information, visit amarillolittletheatre.org or call the ALT Box Office, 355.9991.

ALT Main Stage

If you’re looking for a fun family musical, the “Winter Wonderettes” are here for you! This year’s show has the Wonderettes entertaining at the annual Harper’s Hardware Holiday Party – until Santa turns up missing. Using their talent and ingenuity, the girls set out to save the holiday party. The show will feature sixties versions of holiday classics such as “Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town,” “Jingle Bell Rock,” “Run, Rudolph, Run,” and “Winter Wonderland.”

Numerous protocols are in place to keep patrons safe; mainstage visitors will enter through assigned doors based on their seat number. Upon entering the building, theatergoers will be tested for fever with a no-touch forehead thermometer. The show will run through Dec. 20.

For tickets and information, visit amarillolittletheatre.org or call the ALT Box Office, 355.9991.

DECEMBER 2020 • AMARILLOMAGONLINE.COM

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Electric Light Parade

This year’s Electric Light Parade is going to look a little different than in years past – and we’re here for it. Center City Amarillo will host a “reverse” parade, with floats parked along the parade route. Grab the kids and drive along the route, marveling at the bright and colorful displays from the safety of your car. This year’s theme is “An Old-Fashioned Christmas,” and best of all, a socially distanced Santa and Mrs. Claus will visit children on the steps of the Bivins Mansion from 6-8 p.m. The parade on Dec. 4 will start at 14th and Tyler Streets at 6 p.m., continuing down to Seventh Avenue, where you’ll turn left and then turn south on Harrison and head back to 10th Avenue. 372.6744, centercity.org

Maxwell’s Pumpkin Farm

Since 2007, Maxwell’s Pumpkin Farm has been known as THE place to be when the leaves start to change. This year, given the unique nature of this holiday season, Maxwell’s will host winter festivities as well. Santa will make a grand entrance every day that the farm is open, at 6 p.m. The farm will feature a trail of lights, Christmas movies, and more than 20 attractions, including giant slides, pedal carts, snacks and paintball. Open Dec. 13-23, 5-9 p.m. 12908 Bell St., 373.9600, maxwellspumpkinfarm.com/christmas

Starlight Canyon

This stunning outdoor event area, tucked away near Timbercreek, provides a delightful and safe holiday setting. Owner Nate Green says Starlight will be hosting “Build an Ornament and Have a Cookie with Santa” on Dec. 19, from 3-6 p.m.

The event will feature live Christmas music and a holiday marketplace. 100 Brentwood Road, 622.2382, starlightcanyon.com

West Texas A&M University

The orchestra and university choirs are rehearsing pieces for the annual University Christmas concert. The show will be pre-recorded for a broadcast in December on Panhandle PBS (broadcast time TBA).

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Lend a Helping Hand

This year offers an opportunity for our community to return to a Christmas spirit of giving, loving and volunteering. To that end, we’ve compiled a list of opportunities for Amarilloans of all ages to give back, so that we can all get through this crisis together – and come out on the other side stronger than ever.

Amarillo Candle Company

This family-owned and -operated popular local business is undertaking a giving tree this year, to benefit The Pearl Longbine Emergency Youth Shelter – a local shelter for children who are in between foster homes. Every person that participates in the giving tree (by bringing a gift and ensuring that a child won’t be forgotten this holiday) will be entered into a drawing for a $100 gift card to the Candle Company shop, 2300 SW Sixth Ave., between Georgia and Washington. Hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m..

Amarillo Housing First

Since the beginning of this year, Amarillo Housing First has assisted dozens of formerly homeless households in signing permanent leases for housing. Currently, AHF is helping to keep 42 households safe, warm and housed. The organization is always seeking volunteers – to help in the office or to aid in its furniture program, helping to furnish the homes of clients. AHF also administrates a “Code Blue” warming station – along with more than a dozen other local organizations – ensuring that Amarillo’s homeless have a warm place to go when the weather turns bad. Volunteers are needed to help with the warming station, along with donations of warming supplies, coffee, snacks and pantry items.

And of course, financial help is always needed. Donations can be delivered to AHF at 207 N. Tyler St., weekdays between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Call 414.2243 or visit amarillohousingfirst.org for more information, or contact AHF on Facebook.

Blue Santa

Stand 4 LEOs, an organization dedicated to improving community relations between police officers and citizens, will host its third Blue Santa drive this year. The group has selected several families to help directly this Christmas; in addition, the organization needs cold weather gear (gloves, hats) for children it encounters on delivery day. Donation areas for the miscellaneous toy and cold weather gear drop-off can be found at: Amarillo Police Department (200 SE Third Ave.), Lovett Chiropractic, (2230 Paramount Blvd.), and the Potter County Sheriff’s Office (608 S. Pierce St.). Delivery day is Dec. 16 at 1 p.m.

ADVO

ADVO provides a variety of services for a community of 150 individuals in Amarillo, including offering 22 group homes in the Amarillo area. The organization also offers vocational training and workshops, teaching Amarilloans real skills to help them move forward in life. ADVO has Giving Trees set up in three local businesses, in order to ensure their clients have the best Christmas possible. The trees contain cards listing items clients need to help make day-to-day living possible. Giving trees for ADVO are located in Raffkind’s (now in its sixth year of partnering with ADVO), Wyn’s Boutique and Texas Trio.

DECEMBER 2020 • AMARILLOMAGONLINE.COM

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Catholic Charities of the Texas Panhandle

Founded in 1932 by Bishop Rudolph A. Gerken, the first Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Amarillo, Catholic Charities has grown into a powerhouse of caring and giving. This year alone, the organization has helped to feed more than 7,000 Panhandle residents. Since the start of the pandemic, Catholic Charities has been helping supply low-income and struggling families with groceries. Financial resources are always needed, and they’re always looking for volunteers for the Hunger Project, Bags of Hope, ESL and other programs. To learn more, call 376.4571 or visit cctxp.org.

Eveline Rivers Christmas Project

Since its inception in 1979, the Eveline Rivers Christmas Project has grown from serving 43 children in 1979 to providing more than 6,300 children and adolescents with Christmas gifts and more than 2,300 children with warm coats each year. During the Christmas season, the Eveline Rivers Christmas Project places more than 14,000 books into homes where books are considered a luxury. And, through the work of the Eveline Rivers Christmas Project, children wake up on Christmas morning with a special gift just for them. It’s important work – and it wouldn’t be possible without volunteers. Each year, members of the Amarillo community join in to ensure that each child is guaranteed a warm and welcome winter holiday. In addition, monetary donations are always needed. This year’s “delivery day” will be Dec. 14. To help out, visit evelineriversproject.org or call 372.3985.

Faith City Mission

The tireless homeless shelter staff will be hosting their annual Christmas Outreach for those in the community this year, featuring a guest speaker, a candlelight Christmas service, and a hot holiday meal. Historically, Faith City has served more than 300 guests and about 100 volunteers each Christmas – all due to generous donations. In addition, the Mission will give out new winter items to all guests, including coats, thermals, gloves, socks, scarves, backpacks, and hygiene bags. Donor Relations Coordinator Maddie Gatlin says Faith City “gratefully accepts” volunteers for Christmas Outreach. Volunteers will have the opportunity to greet and host, help serve the Christmas meal to guests in the dining room, and serve in the winter outreach giveaway. “We’ve been so overwhelmed by the support of the community over the years,” says Gatlin, “and the people who have gathered from near and far to be a part of this event. For all volunteer inquiries, call 373.6402 or visit faithcity.org.

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Family Support Services

FSS has long been a source of hope on the High Plains, performing a stunning array of services to a wide range of groups and individuals in need – from counseling services to veteran resources to running a safe house for those in need of protection from domestic abuse. Brandi Reed, Director of Education at Family Support Services, says, “Our biggest request this year is for people to adopt a family to help in areas such as gifts and a holiday meal. We’ll be organizing some holiday drive thru/pick-up donation days, so if anyone would like to adopt a family at our safe house, a HOPES family, or a family in our Strengthening Families Program – [or they can] volunteer to deliver donated food and other items.” To help, call 342.2530 or visit fss-ama.org.

High Plains Food Bank

Due to the COVID pandemic, the High Plains Food Bank is currently closed to all volunteers and community service. However, the pandemic continues to impact those struggling with hunger, and the Food Bank has faced a sharp increase in demand. And there’s good news: Due to the way the food bank accesses food, it’s able to stretch a one-dollar donation 10 times further. That means a $50 donation has a $500 impact. In addition, food donations may be left in the cart located in the HPFB foyer at 815 Ross St., Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. For retail and other large/bulk donations, call 374.8562.

Meals on Wheels

During the COVID pandemic, Meals on Wheels has become vital to its clients – safely delivering meals to the homebound elderly and severely disabled, providing them with nourishment and a bit of socialization and comfort during difficult times.

The storied organization is always looking for volunteers, especially during the holiday season. Call 374.1451 or visit amarillomealsonwheels.org for more information.

The Salvation Army

Once again, Amarillo’s Salvation Army will be accepting Angel Tree gifts this holiday season, which will help provide Christmas gifts to more than 2,000 children in the Panhandle. All donations must be made before Dec. 17. For more information about The Salvation Army programs, services, or to volunteer, call the main office at 373.6631.

Secure donations can be made online at salvationarmytexas.org/amarillo or by calling 1-800-SAL-ARMY (specify Amarillo).

Texas Panhandle 100 Club

An organization that benefits city, county, state and federal law enforcement officers, firefighters and certified peace officers operating within the top 26 counties of the Texas Panhandle, the 100 Club responds immediately to the financial aid of families of public safety personnel who are seriously injured or killed in the line of duty. This holiday, you can make a donation or honor a loved one with a membership in their name. Call 331.4100 or visit texaspanhandle100club.org.

United Way of Amarillo and Canyon

The United Way provides myriad resources in the Panhandle, working tirelessly to advance the areas of health, income, education and basic needs, “the building blocks for a good quality of life.” The United Way partners with many agencies in the region, making a difference in all kinds of ways, large and small. Call 376.6359 or visit unitedwayama.org to donate or volunteer this holiday season.

DECEMBER 2020 • AMARILLOMAGONLINE.COM

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Feature

2020 Vision

By Jason Boyett

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ell, the year’s almost over. None of us will be particularly sad to put 2020 behind us. It started with a worldwide pandemic and an economic shutdown in early spring. The summer brought us racial tension and widespread civil rights protests. With the fall came a terrifying spike in COVID-19 infections and a disputed national election.

Panhandle people gritted their teeth, put on their masks, and kept doing what they do. They pulled together. They supported local businesses. They found ways to help, identified opportunities to innovate, and kept pushing forward.

Like the pioneers of old, they endured.

A generation from now, those of us who lived through this period will still be telling the story of 2020 – how it upended our lives and how it redefined our perspectives of the world around us. With that in mind, we checked in with city leaders across a variety of industries. We asked them about the impact of 2020 on their area of expertise, what they saw, and how they’re thinking about the future.

They told a story of hardship and resilience, a story of creativity and collaboration. They told of hard work, bravery and sacrifice. They told of optimism for tomorrow. These are the stories of 2020.

Business Jason Harrison

For the local business community, the biggest issues in March and April were the unknowns. In late March, Governor Abbot asked Texans to stay home for the next month. Essential businesses remained open, but everything else closed entirely or transitioned to virtual. Companies didn’t know how long the shutdown would last or whether the virus would get worse.

“Anytime you have unknowns, it tends to make things worse than they truly are. The unknown crippled a lot of Amarillo,” Harrison says. Though industries like landscaping and real estate thrived during the stay-at-home period, others struggled.

A few businesses found success by adjusting how they operate. Harrison points to restaurants like Chick-Fil-A, which still hadn’t reopened its dining rooms this fall but still hasn’t seen sales decline. “What this has caused is for them to review their sales model. They’re actually doing better through delivery and drive-thru than before this all happened.”

Despite the slow recovery, Harrison believes our multifaceted local economy is poised for a major rebound. “I’ve never been worried about the city of Amarillo bouncing back from a crisis because we’re so diverse,” he says. “Once we get through the winter, we’ll be ready to go come early spring. All of our businesses are excited for 2021. We look at it to be a banner year for Amarillo.”

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PROVIDED PHOTOS

Interim President & CEO, Amarillo Chamber of Commerce

Health Care Dr. Mark B. Sigler

Texas Tech Physicians Pulmonologist and Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Obviously, the primary story of 2020 has been the impact of COVID-19 on the health of Panhandle people, and that health crisis has severely stretched Amarillo’s hospital system.

During the first part of the year, medical personnel at BSA Health System and Northwest Texas Healthcare System studied the disease, prepared for an influx of patients, and then managed the initial surge when it arrived. “Both hospitals were working together to try to handle the initial patients we had, because they just tended to be so sick,” says Dr. Sigler, who spearheaded efforts to get pharmaceutical trials, including Regeneron, into the local community. “Every patient we get through ICU is a battle.”

He says the last couple of months and the start of 2021 will represent a test for the city. “The hospitals are the busiest they’ve ever been right now. That’s going to be the story of the next few months – the health care system in Amarillo really being put to a maximal stress test. This is what we train for. It’s going to be a challenge for all of us, and I’m confident we’re going to come through stronger on the other side.”

Sigler remains hopeful that new therapeutics and a vaccine will provide continued tools to help patients. Looking forward, one bright spot of the previous year has been the forced collaboration between BSA, Northwest, and TTUSC. “I think ultimately it’s going to make health care stronger in the end. The collaboration we’ve seen with COVID can easily be extended to other areas outside of COVID. I hope it extends to how we treat patients with heart conditions, lung conditions and how we can all work together for the community.”

Education Dr. Walter Wendler

President of West Texas A&M University “2020 started as a normal year and then that was the end of that,” says Wendler, who has led the university since 2016. “By March, we were fully ensconced in COVID-19 and very concerned how we’d complete the semester.” As the 2019-2020 school year moved online, Wendler and his staff called 6,000 students individually to check in on their satisfaction with online course delivery. Only a hundred or so shared that they were struggling with the change.

Over the summer, Wendler worried about fall semester enrollment, but WTAMU ended up, in his words, “breaking every enrollment record we ever had.” After several years of relatively flat numbers, the Fall 2020 semester enrolled 10,169 students, the largest number in school history. Almost every class has been conducted in a hybridized format, with students able to choose between online or in-person attendance.

“I’m very pleased with the response of our students. The young men and women of the Panhandle are very responsive to masking and keeping social distance,” he says. In terms of on-campus outbreaks, “We are still doing reasonably well for an institution our size.”

Wendler is hopeful about the coming year, especially as the pandemic has made more students comfortable with online learning – which propels WT toward meeting one of his goals for the university. “My long-term goal is to be a university that’s 50% online. We’ve been forced into a situation where we’ve had to be innovative and respond,” he says. “Higher education is going to change because of this and we want to be at the forefront of the change here at WT.”

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Public Education Dr. Darryl Flusche

Superintendent, Canyon Independent School District Canyon ISD entered 2020 with excitement and momentum, in pursuit of an aggressive academic performance goal. “We had a lot of optimism,” says superintendent Flusche.

When the virus hit and Texas schools were forced to close for the end of the semester, he and his team spent time conferring with other districts in Texas. “We were taking lessons from our counterparts in Dallas and Austin, because they were a week or two ahead of what we were about to face,” he says.

As the district planned for the resumption of school in August, it offered virtual and in-person school choices, along with extensive health protocols for those that chose the latter option. The restrictions were effective. As of mid-November, CISD had never exceeded half of a percent of positive COVID cases among students. “That tells us our protocols are working. Any given day, more than 99.5% of our kids are not positive for COVID. That’s the truth of the data,” says Flusche.

However, the data also showed unexpectedly poor performance rates for students who opted for virtual learning. In late October, CISD discontinued remote learning and reinstated in-person attendance for all students beginning Nov. 9.

Flusche is optimistic about next year – two new elementary schools are slated to open in August 2021 – but says the district will remain vigilant. “We expect that we are going to be continuing in a health-conscious pathway through the spring semester. Our outlook for the future is one of continued growth, continued high expectations for our student learning and creating opportunities for our kids in the world in front of them,” he says.

Lisa Morgan

Assistant Superintendent, Elementary Schools, Amarillo Independent School District “When COVID hit in March, our first priority was serving our students and ensuring that they didn’t miss out due to a lack of instructional opportunity. Upon getting them back in our buildings in September, our goal was to make sure we had a safe environment for them [and one] that their parents felt comfortable sending them to each day,” Morgan says.

For the fall semester, AISD turned its attention to closing any educational gaps that had developed in the wake of the spring’s mandated school closures. Families could choose between face-to-face attendance – including multiple health protocols – or online instruction. Other school districts have since dropped remote learning, but AISD still offers it. “We know some kids need to be at home due to compromised health conditions and/or someone in the home [is immune-compromised],” says Morgan, who taught elementary school for 10 years before moving into curriculum and administration. “Our teachers want to give students in both environments the most optimal experience, but it takes a lot of extra work.”

She and her colleagues meet regularly with teacher representatives about the results. “They’re in the trenches working with our online platforms and serving our face-to-face kids,” she says of teachers. “It’s challenging because kids at home are on a very different schedule than kids in the buildings. It may not follow teachers’ schedules.

They’re trying to support the kids at home and be available for those families anytime they need them, while also being available for their own families.”

Morgan says her teachers remain hopeful that there’s a light at the end of the tunnel. “They’re tired and they’re working so hard. They wear that heavily on their hearts,” she says. “It’s a lot of work but it’s worth it to ensure our kids are safe and learning.”

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Restaurants Kevin Hawkins

President, Panhandle Chapter, Texas Restaurant Association “March 20th was scary. Our restaurants were empty and dark and we couldn’t do anything,” remembers Hawkins, who is also manager of Panhandle Restaurant Group, which includes Macaroni Joe’s and Joe Taco locations. After the initial COVID-19 shutdown, individual restaurants began to innovate so they could continue to operate safely. “That really woke us up.”

The end result is that those restaurants have become a lot more customer-friendly. For years, many restaurants had treated takeout orders as a bit of a novelty. “In the past, we concentrated on the inside and curbside was just an add-on,” Hawkins says. But the pandemic put carryout service front and center. Restaurants adapted, upgrading their phone systems and websites, streamlining their kitchens and investing in customer convenience above everything else. That allowed these businesses to keep their doors open until in-house dining returned, even with capacity limitations. The takeout numbers are still going strong.

“We haven’t been afraid to take on these costs if they’ll benefit the customers and ourselves,” says Hawkins, “Amarillo has really helped.

The city, the media, the Chamber – they all got out the word to support local restaurants. Amarillo really supported us during a time when it was scary.” As society emerges from the pandemic, Hawkins expects the next year to be one of the best in local history. “Once this thing starts subsiding, you’ll see all these people who’ve been at home start coming back out. You know they want to. We’re hoping for a great 2021.”

Oil & Gas Judy Stark

President, Panhandle Producer & Royalty Owners Association “This has probably been the worst year I can remember in oil and gas history,” says Stark, who has held this position for six years and worked in the petroleum world for four decades. “Prices ebb and flow in our industry all the time, so we’ve always seen price fluctuations.”

This year, however, was different, and not just because of low prices for barrels of oil. When states began to lock down in March, the transportation industry – buses, trucks, airplanes and more – came to a near standstill. The reduced demand meant 107,000 lost jobs in the industry itself, along with thousands more among petroleum-related service businesses.

Those numbers have been creeping up, as has the price-perbarrel. “I think we’ll see an upswing, even with the [incoming] Biden administration,” Stark predicts. “We’re seeing a little bit of light at the end of a dark tunnel. We do believe that with the COVID vaccine coming out and the country opening back up, we’ll see an increase in prosecuting, pricing and the industry as a whole.”

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Travel & Tourism Hope Stokes

Director of Marketing, Amarillo Convention & Visitors Bureau “For the tourism industry, COVID has definitely been devastating,” says Stokes. “Getting out and traveling has not been encouraged, for the right reasons.” However, Amarillo has fared better than a lot of other cities.

Our 2020 hotel occupancy has dropped compared to previous years, but remains 30% above the national average right now.

Why? By way of explanation, she points to similar-sized cities like Frisco, Texas, which has relied on air travel, sports and conventions for its tourism dollars. Those things largely disappeared for 2020. But Amarillo has always been what the tourism industry calls a “drive” market. People arrive here by car. “We can thank I-40 and I-27 for keeping us afloat. Road trips have made a major comeback,” Stokes says.

Local attractions like Palo Duro Canyon or Cadillac Ranch are outdoors and large enough to allow social distancing. Stokes also suspects that smaller cities like ours simply feel safer than high-population centers like Dallas or Houston. “But it’s going to take years of data and looking back to understand” these travel trends, she adds.

Stokes anticipates leisure travel will return slowly throughout 2021 as people begin to feel safer. Business travel, however, may resume all at once when corporations and businesses decide to allow it again.

Cattle Industry Ross Wilson

President & CEO, Texas Cattle Feeders Association “COVID had a significant effect on our industry,” says Wilson, whose association represents almost a third of the fed cattle produced in the United States. “But through it all, these cattle feeders proved again that they are incredibly resilient and really good at providing a safe supply of beef, not only to citizens of Amarillo and the surrounding region, but to the entire nation and a lot of areas of the world. And they did this throughout the pandemic – and continue to do it – in a way that takes care of their employees and obviously takes care of the animals under their care.”

He points to that care as the “human side” of the story, while noting that the business side of the cattle market endured months of turmoil.

“We saw market disruptions and extreme volatility in the marketplace,” he says. Early panic-buying among retailers and consumers led to fluctuations in the processing and retailing sector of the supply chain.

“Which is understandable,” Wilson adds. “That’s not a criticism. But we got through it. The pandemic’s not behind us, so everybody is very vigilant and focused going into this fall and winter.”

Despite the closure of many restaurants, beef demand remained strong as people went back to preparing meals at home. Still, Wilson says, “we need to get back to a more normal business operation for restaurants because that’s an important part of the beef consumption chain.” Cases are surging again this fall, but he remains hopeful about the coming months. “We’re very fortunate that beef demand remained and will remain strong into 2021. We’re going to continue to produce a safe beef supply.”

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Higher Education Dr. Russell Lowery-Hart President, Amarillo College

Agriculture Megan Eikner

County Extension Agent, Ag & Natural Resources, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service While the beef industry saw an enormous COVID-related impact due to food purchasing fluctuations at the start of the pandemic, local frontline farmers saw less volatility. Initially, the closure of schools and in-restaurant dining reached into the agricultural supply chain, but those results were mostly felt in fruit and vegetable production rather than the grain production common in this area.

“Most of those crops were already sold when it happened, so farmers were not really impacted by the [increased] food demand.

They had already sold that grain,” Eikner says. Of much larger consequence was the ongoing uncertainty related to U.S. trade agreements with China. “It didn’t largely affect [local producers] but it still made everybody nervous. Those that hadn’t sold had a heck of a time deciding what to do with their grain.”

The climate brought additional headaches. Early moisture during the planting period was followed by a drought over the summer.

The fall piled on, bringing an early ice storm in October while many crops – including cotton, corn and sorghum – were still in the field.

“They had a hard year,” Eikner says, and that combination of factors wreaked havoc with local yields.

She says local producers remain unsure what to expect in 2021, given the chaotic transfer of power between President Trump and President-Elect Biden. Politics always has an undue impact on commodity prices and the overall agriculture industry. “It’s all pretty uncertain for ag,” she says. “Every election year brings that, though.

It’s not just the heightened amount of crazy this year.”

Most locals may not realize that Amarillo College began in 1929, at the height of the Great Depression. “Communities weren’t thinking of investing in the future in the middle of [the Depression], but ours was,” says Dr. Lowery-Hart. That foresight has been on his mind as AC navigates a different kind of crisis in 2020. “The last few months have been really difficult and painful and uncertain. I’m so proud of my colleagues at AC because I’ve seen them just be heroes on a daily basis, making sure students are getting what they need in every modality they might need it.”

The college moved to tech-supported learning in the spring.

Going into the fall semester, most national community college data suggested enrollment would be down as much as 15%, but AC only saw a 5% decline. Despite initially offering in-person and online attendance options, the college decided to transition back to tech-supported learning at the end of October, apart from a few hands-on classes and labs. “Faculty were teaching face-to-face for a socially distanced number of students, livestreaming the class for students online, then creating an online experience of the same course for students who couldn’t log in,” he says. “They were teaching each class three or four different ways. It was heroic but exhausting, and just not sustainable.”

As the fall semester ends, Lowery-Hart believes our city’s resilience will propel us past the current crisis, especially at a place like Amarillo College. “The things we’ve learned from COVID will stay with us. I think 2021 will give us clarity on the role technology will play beyond COVID. I think it will give us a deeper appreciation of what it’s like to come to campus and share a coffee, or share a face-to-face meeting with students, faculty and staff,” he says. “I miss those.”

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Feature

PROVIDED PHOTOS

Feature

SPC HARRY STOKES DURING HIS TOUR AND IN PHYSICAL THERAPY.

A Home for the Holidays HOMES FOR OUR TROOPS BUILDS A NEW HOME FOR AN INJURED AMARILLO VETERAN

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By Jonathan Baker

his time of year, it’s important that we remember those who might be struggling with greater-than-average burdens. That lesson is especially true for those who have sacrificed their health and wellbeing to keep us safe. One such person is Army Specialist Harry Stokes, who risked his life to protect our freedom, and lost both legs while serving in Afghanistan.

To honor SPC Stokes for his sacrifice, the national nonprofit Homes For Our Troops has built a specially adapted custom home for him in Amarillo. This Christmas, SPC Stokes will be able to enjoy a house that suits his needs – an important and necessary “thank you” from a grateful community and nation.

A Harrowing Event, A Promising Future

Army Specialist Stokes has a heart for service, having served as an EMT in his civilian life. But Stokes had always looked up to his brother, a U.S. Marine, and he wanted to experience the pride his brother displayed while serving in the armed forces. So Harry

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Stokes joined the Army, where he was deployed as a line medic to Afghanistan, joining the 3-2 Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 1-23 Infantry. On June 3, 2012 – only three months into that first deployment – SPC Stokes was on patrol in the Panjwai District when he stepped on an improvised explosive device, the blast instantly amputating his right leg and left foot. To make a terrifying situation even more difficult, the IED blast was immediately followed by an enemy ambush. Using his skills as a medic while under fire, SPC Stokes applied tourniquets to his legs and administered his own morphine until another medic came to his aid.

Laid up in the hospital, SPC Stokes underwent several surgeries to his legs. While his right leg was already gone, surgeons saw no choice but to amputate Stokes’s left leg below the knee. After these intricate surgeries, SPC Stokes went on to undergo physical therapy at the Center for the Intrepid in San Antonio and Balboa Naval Medical Center in San Diego. Today, Stokes is able to walk on his prosthetics for short periods of time – and he has chosen to make his home in

Amarillo, where he’s supported by family and a community that love him and honor his sacrifice, providing him with strength during his recovery. “Family and friends give you hope and remind you the world is bigger than yourself,” Harry says.

However, even as Stokes was healing, things weren’t easy. Living on his own was difficult for him. Simple daily tasks, things he used to take for granted like climbing stairs, became much more difficult.

“Everything I used to do is 10 times harder now,” he says.

Looking Up

Then things began to take a turn for the better. Upon his return stateside, SPC Stokes realized that his injury qualified him for the Homes For Our Troops program. To qualify for the program, veterans must have been injured in the theater of the Iraq-Afghanistan war, post 9/11/01, be retired or in the process of retiring from military service, pass a criminal and credit background check, and receive a letter of eligibility for the VA Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) Grant program. In addition, veterans must accept the responsibility of home ownership and have the resources to maintain a home.

And finally, after so much pain and sacrifice, Stokes was granted a new home in Amarillo – a home that was dedicated with a community celebration last month. Homes For Our Troops rose to the occasion, building SPC Stokes a single-level, specially adapted home with an automatic entrance and an open floor plan, alleviating many of the challenges he faces. Today, Stokes looks forward to the stability of a permanent home near Amarillo’s VA Healthcare System. He’s planning a return to school, and the future looks bright for Army Specialist Harry Stokes, who says he’s extremely grateful to have received a specially adapted home and promises to pay it forward

to his own community. “I want to give back everything that has been given to me.”

Now medically retired, SPC Stocks enjoys hunting, fishing, brewing beer, and spending time with loved ones.

A Worthy Program

To date, Homes For Our Troops has built 312 homes in 42 states.

The organization currently has 62 builds underway nationwide. “Our goal,” says HFOT spokesperson Teresa Verity, “is to make sure every veteran who qualifies for our program receives one.”

To ensure that goal is possible, Homes For Our Troops has earmarked 90 cents of each dollar received toward supporting veterans. “We made a deliberate decision to minimize the amount of money we spend on advertising,” says Verity. “While we’re working to develop more national exposure, including public service announcements on television and radio, as well as social media, we firmly believe our success in growth is due to our outreach at the local community level where our veterans live. Having community members help us get the word out definitely helps expand our reach and makes it easier for us to connect with a community – especially since we’re based in Massachusetts but build all over the country.”

Veterans who believe they might be eligible for a home can apply through the Homes For Our Troops website at hfotusa.org/help, or call 508.823.3300, ext. 501. And the rest of us can help out too: There are many ways people can support the organization’s mission, including making donations, holding fundraisers, or attending a build event to welcome a veteran into the community. Find out more about how to get involved at hfotusa.org/get-involved/support_our_mission.

DECEMBER 2020 • AMARILLOMAGONLINE.COM

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What’s Cooking?

Round Yon’Bourbon

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PHOTOS BY LUIS MALAGON, COURTESY OF STILL AUSTIN

hen Still Austin introduced its flagship straight bourbon whiskey this year, the independent distillery called attention to the fact that it was produced using 100% Texas grains. The whiskey-appreciating public – along with the media – responded with excitement. “The thing we consistently hear back from people is this is one of the best bourbons to ever come out of Texas in terms of its flavor,” says CEO Chris Seals, who lives in Amarillo. “People have really latched onto the quality. It’s winning a lot of awards and has just developed an incredible online following.”

Also known as The Musician because of its label art, this bourbon represents one of the state’s most successful bourbon launches over the past five years. To celebrate, Seals and his team are highlighting two holiday drink recipes designed to take advantage of the whiskey’s natural combination of sweetness and spice. “These really make the bourbon shine,” he says of the cocktails.

That taste is a direct result of the grains used to make The Musician that were grown in the Panhandle. “In a product that’s really well-made, you don’t just taste the place, but you also get a sense of the people. That aspect of who we are comes across and that’s what we’re most proud of,” Seals says.

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Still Nog 2 cups milk ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon, plus more for garnish ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract 6 large egg yolks ½ cup granulated sugar 1 cup heavy cream 1 cup Still Austin Bourbon In small saucepan over low heat, combine milk, cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla; slowly bring mixture to a low boil. Meanwhile, in large bowl, whisk egg yolks with sugar until yolks are pale in color. Slowly add hot milk mixture to egg yolks in batches to temper the eggs; whisk until combined. Return mixture to saucepan and cook over medium heat until slightly thick (and it coats the back of a spoon) but does not boil. (If using a candy thermometer, mixture should reach 160 degrees.)

Remove from heat and stir in heavy cream; refrigerate until chilled. When ready to serve, garnish with fresh ground nutmeg. *It’s totally OK to cheat and buy your favorite bottled eggnog instead of the above directions. Just add Still Austin Straight Bourbon and grated nutmeg and call it a festive day!

Makes 4 to 5 servings

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Fall Ball 1 ½ ounces Still Austin Straight Bourbon 1 ounce Apple and Cinnamon infused Still Austin Straight Bourbon ½ ounce honey syrup Top with Rambler Sparkling Water Garnish with lemon, apple slice and a cherry In Collins glass with ice, combine Bourbon, infused Bourbon and honey syrup; stir, top with ice and Rambler. Garnish.

Makes 1 cocktail

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Boulevardier 1 ½ ounces Still Austin Straight Bourbon 1 ounce sweet vermouth 1 ounce Campari Twist of orange peel, for garnish Stir ingredients well with ice in a mixing glass; strain into chilled glass. Garnish.

Makes 1 cocktail

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Vieux Carré ¾ ounce Still Austin Straight Bourbon ¾ ounce cognac ¾ ounce sweet vermouth 1 barspoon Bénédictine 2 dashes Peychaud’s bitters 2 dashes Angostura bitters Combine ingredients in a mixing glass and fill with ice. Stir well; strain into an ice-filled Old Fashioned glass and garnish.

Makes 1 cocktail

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Meet the Mixologist Chris Seals of Still Austin

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till Austin CEO Chris Seals has a deep family connection to farming. He was born in northwest Missouri, where his greatgreat-grandfather homesteaded a farm north of Kansas City.

That farm has remained in the family for nearly 130 years and gave Seals an appreciation for locally grown products and the supply chain that connects consumers to the land surrounding them.

Seals moved to Texas in second grade and spent most of his childhood in the Metroplex area before attending the University of Texas at Austin. It was there – working as a barista – where Seals met the renowned economist Ray Duch, who is now a fellow at the University of Oxford. The friendship with Duch sent Seals, who’d earned a degree in English, into the world of economics. He returned to school to study finance and business with a focus on statistics and quantitative methods.

After a brief stint at J.P. Morgan in Houston, Seals had the opportunity to help Duch establish a consulting practice – Raymond Duch and Associates. Eventually that work brought him to Amarillo, and for 15 years, Seals worked as an economist assisting clients like AT&T, Research in Motion, ECO Canada and prominent tourist destinations. “When you’re an economist, you have to be a jack-ofall-trades,” he says. “It was a hodgepodge of different stuff. I did a lot of feasibility studies. Those can be pretty broad: What do you need to do to make something work?”

Then, a few years ago, his retired father came to Seals with an idea. “I want to start a craft whiskey distillery. Would you help me?” his dad asked. Seals was skeptical. “Putting on my hat as an economist, I thought this was one of the worst ideas I’d heard in my life. Risk assessment is a big part of feasibility, and I couldn’t think of a project that I considered more risky than this one. It was likely to fail,” he remembers.

At the time, alcohol production in Texas was tightly regulated.

You could spend thousands of dollars making barrels of bourbon that might sit in a warehouse for a decade before ever seeing the market.

“It seemed like a long shot,” Seals admits. But he saw that his father wanted to spend time with him and jumped at the chance for them to pursue a hobby together. The two began taking classes, visiting distilleries and investigating whether a craft whiskey distillery could work despite the state’s highly restrictive laws.

Then, in 2013, Texas eased its distillery regulations. Suddenly the Seals’ craft whiskey idea became much more realistic and the two men jumped in with both feet. Still Austin opened six years ago, funded by the family’s friends and colleagues in Amarillo, Austin and throughout the state. The craft distillery took on a grain-to-glass concept, building relationships with Texas farmers so it could produce high-quality spirits made with 100% Texas-grown grains. After six

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years of perfecting taste and technique, Still Austin released its flagship straight bourbon whiskey, The Musician, in 2020 to rave reviews.

DECEMBER 2020 • AMARILLOMAGONLINE.COM

35

Holiday Gift Guide

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39

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Let’s Eat!

Restaurants • Food • Spirits

Pizzeria Nomad

T

he beloved food truck has new a brickand-mortar location at 34th and Georgia, where it will serve an expanded menu.

With the newly completed, eye-catching mural created by the artists at Blank Spaces, it’s certainly hard to miss.

Feast on a staggering variety of red and white pies, like customer favorites The Professional (the pizzeria’s take on a deluxe pizza), or The Meat Sweat, which is piled high with meat (even brisket and bratwurst!). You’ll find everything from pickled onions and pablanos to butter chicken and mac n’ beer cheese as toppings, which means it’s to your benefit to be adventurous when you order.

The diverse menu also includes a NY strip, hummus, meatballs, salads, sliders, and fried chicken. The Nomad is definitely not your typical pizza joint.

Convenient call-in and online ordering, with curbside pickup or delivery (dine-in, too) ensures that your cravings will be quickly satisfied.

2648 SW 34th Ave. 477.2660 pizzanomad.co Open Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m.-8 p.m.

PROVIDED PHOTOS

PRICING GUIDE $ most entrees less than $10 $$ most entrees $11 to $20 $$$ most entrees more than $21 NEW New to Let’s Eat! UPDATE

Updated entry

THE LET’S EAT! GUIDE IS A READER SERVICE COMPILED BY THE AMARILLO MAGAZINE EDITORIAL STAFF. THE MAGAZINE DOES NOT ACCEPT ADVERTISING OR OTHER COMPENSATION IN EXCHANGE FOR A LISTING. THE GUIDE IS UPDATED REGULARLY. TO CORRECT A LISTING OR RECOMMEND A RESTAURANT FOR CONSIDERATION, CONTACT MICHELE MCAFFREY AT MMCAFFREY@AMARILLO.COM.

DECEMBER 2020 • AMARILLOMAGONLINE.COM

41

Amarillo THE 806 COFFEE + LOUNGE

In addition to its vast organic, fair trade coffee and tea offerings, The 806 caters to local vegetarians and vegans with its “foodie” menu. The limited (but tasty) menu includes omelets, bagels, sandwiches, and nachos along with made-from-scratch desserts, a few which are also gluten-free. Don’t miss brunch served on Saturdays and Sundays. Regulars go for coffee that packs a punch and the healthy eats. 2812 SW Sixth Ave., 322.1806, the806.com $

ABUELO’S

The authentic atmosphere and generous portions make for an enjoyable lunch or fun evening out. If you’re stumped by all the choices, try the Enchiladas de Cozumel, three crepes filled with guacamole and topped with bountiful seafood, fresh spinach and roasted peppers. As a rule, always get the queso. 3501 W. 45th Ave., 354.8294, abuelos.com $$

BUTTERLOVE BISCUITS

Eye-popping big biscuits are the draw at Butterlove Biscuits. And we’re not exaggerating – these things are gigantic. Comfort all of your cravings with savory and sweet biscuits, grab-and-go biscuits, waffles, and perfect brunch-inspired cocktails. 3440 S. Bell, Suite 130, 418.8966, butterlove.com $$

CRAZY LARRY’S FINE TEXAS BBQ

A visit to Larry’s isn’t complete without an order of Frito pie – make it a “moose” with the works. The authentic Texas-style barbecue is finger-licking good, and everything on the menu is delivered with some of the friendliest service in town. The prices are reasonable, too. 4315 Teckla Blvd., 359.3176, crazylarrysbbq.com $$

THE DRUNKEN OYSTER

Open Monday through Saturday 11 a.m.-2 a.m. and Sunday 11 a.m.-9 p.m., The Drunken Oyster features Louisiana-style cuisine in a unique and sophisticated setting. Fill up on fresh oysters, crawfish etouffee, gumbo, jambalaya, po’boys, and plenty of shrimp entrees. Craft cocktails and an excellent wine list ensure you’ll stay awhile. 7606 SW 45th Ave., Suite 100, 418.6668, drunkenoysteramarillo.com $$

EL BRACERO MEXICAN GRILL

Home-cooked flavor and excellent service make El Bracero Homecooked flavor and excellent service make El Bracero a popular stop for authentic Mexican food. You’ll find a full menu of Mexican favorites like fajitas, carne asada, and enchiladas that keep local patrons satisfied. 2116 S. Grand St., 373.4788/2028 Paramount Blvd., 398.4440 $$

FURRBIE’S

You’ll find old-fashioned grilled onion burgers and an array of sandwiches, salads, seafood and ice cream treats at Furrbie’s.

Hot dog enthusiasts will love the famous Nathan’s Hot Dogs, the originals from Coney Island, New York, made with 100-percent kosher American beef. Looking to cool off ? Choose from fruityflavored ice treats or ice cream. 210 SW Sixth Ave., 220.0841 $

GIRASOL CAFE & BAKERY

If you’ve missed having an artisan bakery in Amarillo, you’re in luck.

Head over to Girasol Cafe and enjoy fresh baked goods along with a rotating menu of salads, soups, sandwiches and entrees – many 42

AMARILLOMAGONLINE.COM • DECEMBER 2020

with a Latin influence. Check the bakery’s Facebook page for daily featured items.

3201 S. Coulter St., 322.0023 $

HOUSE DIVIDED RESTAURANT & SPORTS GRILL

Open for lunch and dinner Monday through Sunday, House Divided splits its interior into a dedicated bar area and separate dining room (hence the name). But you’ll see a “divided” theme in its menu as well, with popular Texas college rivalries set on opposing pages. The diverse menu is full of plenty of pub grub, steaks, Texas-style entrees, pizza, Italian and Mexican food, salads, sandwiches and burgers to make a return trip a necessity. 7609 Hillside Road, 350.4377, housedividedamarillo.com $$

INDIAN OVEN

The moment you enter Indian Oven, you’ll be enveloped by the fragrances of cardamom, ginger, anise, garlic and chili wafting from the kitchen. Start your meal with a generous portion of naan as you work your way through the extensive menu. Select a chef special such as chicken tandoori or chicken tikka masala or try a little of everything on the lunch buffet.

Finish up with the to-die-for rice pudding.

Don’t leave without sipping the mango lassi.

2406 Paramount Blvd., 335.3600, indian-oven.com $$

JIMMY JOHN’S GOURMET SANDWICHES

Jimmy John’s prides itself on fresh ingredients and friendly service. Feel like eating healthy, but can’t bear to pass up the homemade French bread? Then try the 8-inch vegetarian sub layered with provolone cheese and packed with alfalfa sprouts, cucumber, lettuce, tomato and real avocado spread. 2330 Soncy Road, Suite 500, 354.9200/2807 S. Western St., 352.4540/790 S. Buchanan St., 803.9070, jimmyjohns.com $

KATHY’S KITCHEN

This is the simple, Texas Panhandle homestyle food locals crave. Grab the napkins and tackle the brisket burger, a hamburger patty topped with brisket and smothered in barbecue sauce, cheese, and two stuffed jalapeños. Generous portions, daily specials, and low prices will keep you going back for more. 4517 Highway 136, 383.2513 $

DECEMBER 2020 • AMARILLOMAGONLINE.COM

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LAS PARRILLADAS NORTEÑAS

With cuisine typical of northern Mexico, Las Parrilladas Norteñas features parrilladas, mixed grill items designed to feed more than one person. Grill plates come with chicken, beef and pork. Or feast on the parillada de mariscos, a plate brimming with shrimp, crab legs, oysters, lobster, tilapia, and ceviche, which feeds four people.

Customers love the buffet with traditional Mexican entrees and sides. 1706 Amarillo Blvd. East, 418.8321 $$

MACARONI JOE’S

Macaroni Joe’s isn’t just a place to eat a great meal. The Tuscaninspired rooms are the perfect place for creating memories.

Whether for a first date, the start of a new life together, or celebrating important milestones, the restaurant offers excellent service and an exquisite food and wine menu. It’s at the top of our list. 1619 S. Kentucky St., Suite D1500, 358.8990, macaronijoes.com $$-$$$

NAPOLI’S FINE ITALIAN RESTAURANT

Napoli’s has created an oasis in downtown Amarillo. Indulge yourself with the house-baked bread while you browse the ample menu. Try the hearty lasagna or one of the over-sized calzones while enjoying live music on the spacious patio. 700 S. Taylor St., 220.2588, napolisofamarillo.com $$

OHMS CAFE & BAR

Set in downtown Amarillo, OHMS serves a buffet-style lunch then switches to wait service in the evenings. The chef features specials each week that range from seafood and smoked duck to beef tenderloin. Start with daily Happy Hour and give the Bar Burger a try. (It’s not on the menu, but it might be the best burger in town.)

Excellent cuisine and service make this a delightful place to linger.

619 S. Tyler St., 373.3233, ohmscafe.com $$-$$$

PIZZERIA NOMAD

The beloved food truck now has a brick-and-mortar location, where it will serve an expanded menu. Convenient call-in and online ordering ensures that your cravings will be quickly satisfied.

2648 SW 34th Ave., 477.2660, pizzanomad.co $$

RIBCRIB BBQ & GRILL

RibCrib has your hankering for smoky barbecue covered. Choose from chicken, pork and beef on the Crib’s extensive menu, with a variety of sauces as well. Visit early for Happy Hour and stay to enjoy the Pigman, a half-pound sandwich heaped with slowsmoked brisket, pulled pork and sausage, then covered in sauce, pickles and onions. Quench your thirst with a glass of refreshing lemonade. 5050 S. Coulter St., 803.9360, ribcrib.com $$

ROOSTERS RESTAURANT AND CATERING

Roosters offers more than just a good cup of Joe. Stop in and plan on staying for a hot breakfast pastry or one of the delicious lunch specialties. It’s the perfect place to relax with friends for lunch.

3440 S. Bell St., Unit 110, 353.7309, silver-fork.com $

SCRATCH MADE BAKERY & CAFE

Conveniently located in downtown Amarillo, Scratch Made has the solution for your sugar cravings. This small bakery features cupcakes, along with a variety of from-scratch cookies, pastries, pies and cakes. Feast on some of the best biscuits and gravy in town during the weekday and Saturday brunch, from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. 118 SW Sixth Ave., 731.4477, scratchmadebakery.com $ 44

AMARILLOMAGONLINE.COM • DECEMBER 2020

SUSHI HOUSE

You’ll see Thai, Lao and Japanese influences on Sushi House’s ample menu. Start with one of the many sushi offerings or choose an appetizer like marinated short ribs. Feast on filling teppanyaki entrees (the fillet mignon and scallops caught our eye), or choose a traditional Thai favorite like fried rice. With most menu items priced at less than $10 each, it’s the perfect place to grab a tasty lunch or dinner. 2630 Wolflin Ave., 803.9470 $

TEDDY JACK’S ARMADILLO GRILL

Teddy Jack’s is known for its Texas-style comfort food featuring gourmet burgers, brick-oven pizza, and Tex-Mex. But the ample menu doesn’t stop there – fill up on Italian entrees, seafood and wraps and sandwiches. There’s plenty of items to make you go back for more. 5080 S. Coulter St., 322.0113, amarillo.teddyjacks.com $$

THAI PALACE

With more than 100 entrees available, your first visit to Thai Palace might feel somewhat overwhelming. Rather than settling for boring chicken fried rice, mix things up and opt for something from the curry menu. With red, green, yellow, Panang, or Masaman, there’s a flavor for every palate. 4723 S. Western St., Suite F, 331.6011 $

TSUNAMI JAPANESE STEAKHOUSE & THAI CUISINE

Tsunami offers traditional Japanese-steakhouse fare at affordable prices. Start with gyoza (Japanese potstickers) then fill up on the yellow fin tuna teppan meal or teppanyaki steak. We guarantee you won’t leave hungry. 1108 Bell St., 352.2688 $

URBANA COFFEE WORKS

Southwest Amarillo can get its caffeine fix a little closer to home with the opening of Urbana Coffee Works. Hang out with a fresh brew and breakfast pastry, or enjoy lunch from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. daily with hearty, hot sandwiches, tapas, soups and salads, and desserts like gelato or cupcakes. 5215 S. Coulter St., Suite 100, 803.9022 $

VINCE’S ITALIAN PIZZA

Vince’s calzones are some of the best we’ve had. The pizzeria also offers huge Greek salads, gyro and an even larger familysized pizza. Enjoy the quirky atmosphere or get your food to go at the convenient drive-up. 2413 S. Western St., 352.2656, vincesitalianpizza.com $

WALK-ON’S SPORTS BISTREAUX

You’ll find Cajun-style cuisine at Walk-On’s, including seafood, traditional favorites, enormous burgers and more. Voted the no. 1 Sports Bar in America by ESPN, enjoy the big game with a taste of Louisiana. 3506 S. Soncy Road, 398.2003, walk-ons.com $$

YE OLDE PANCAKE STATION

With breakfast this good, you’ll be glad to know the Pancake Station serves it all day long. The restaurant also offers great dinerstyle entrees for lunch. We recommend the over-sized omelets, fresh pancakes, and southern fried chicken. 2800 Virginia Circle, 355.0211, pancakestation.com $

DECEMBER 2020 • AMARILLOMAGONLINE.COM

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AMARILLOMAGONLINE.COM • DECEMBER 2020

,

,

PROVIDED PHOTOS

Panhandle Perspective

THE BLANK SPACES TEAM WITH EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SHAWN KENNEDY (CENTER) AT THE SHOPS AT 34TH

Young at Art

By Jason Boyett

A

ttentive locals will have noticed the abundance of largescale, public artwork appearing in Amarillo over the past couple of years. Those paying especially close attention know that a vast majority of these works were produced by a group called Blank Spaces Murals.

But what many may not know is that Blank Spaces is a group of high schoolers.

The art program came together in 2018 under the leadership of Shawn Kennedy, a Caprock High School art teacher who has become the executive director of Blank Spaces. Shanda O’Neill, a professional and practicing Amarillo artist, serves as the group’s project director. With a core of 12 female students – a single male joined the team this past summer – the Blank Spaces team has produced at least 14 murals across Amarillo.

These include the brightly colored exterior of the Snack Pak 4 Kids building, a three-story mural at The Shops at 34th, the “HUMANkind, Be Both” downtown mural at 414 S. Polk St., a mural 48

AMARILLOMAGONLINE.COM • DECEMBER 2020

celebrating Kids Inc.’s 75th anniversary and a variety of work inside the new From 6th Collective near Bushland.

For each project, students participate in everything from meetings with the clients and business owners to development of the design to execution of the mural.

“From an education standpoint, we’re always trying to make real-world connections,” says Kennedy. “As a professional artist myself, I always try to bring that experience into the classroom.”

The introduction to public-service art through Blank Spaces gives students a combination of practical skills and business experience – along with the opportunity to do something important for their community.

As Blank Spaces interns, students actually get paid, by way of college scholarships, for the hours of labor they invest in every mural. “Most of our interns have worked two seasons with us and earned close to five or six thousand dollars in the form of scholarships,” he says.

Production of each mural takes around six months start to finish, with up to three weeks for the actual painting process.

“Every job is a little different,” O’Neill says. “We have a lot of conversations about how it’s not a normal high school job like working in the food industry or retail. It’s something they can take to college with them. We have that conversation often, that they’re very grateful they can make money while doing what they love.”

Both Kennedy and O’Neill say the process of collaborating to produce something so big and attentiongetting is an important tool in building these students’ confidence. “We start with these kids and some are shy and quiet, not really knowing where they fit in,” says O’Neill. “After a couple of months they’re completely different. Not a lot of people can say they’ve worked with a crew of people doing public art, appearing on the news doing interviews. They

THIS MURAL CELEBRATES THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF KIDS INC.

THE ARTISTS CREATED THIS MURAL FOR NUKE CITY VEG IN ITS GARDEN AT THE VINEYARDS OF AMARILLO.

DECEMBER 2020 • AMARILLOMAGONLINE.COM

49

CARRIE’S CAKES & CUPCAKES TOO COMMISSIONED THIS “SWEET” MURAL.

should be confident.”

She points out that completing a mural in the heat of the summer is not easy for the 16- and 17-year-old young women who make up the core of the team. “They use machinery.

They’re in the elements. We look like a wreck at the end of the day,” she says. “Public art is tough. It’s brought out a different side of all of us.”

Kennedy says getting to watch these high school students blossom – while simultaneously adding something of lasting beauty to Amarillo – has been particularly fulfilling. “They’re put into those leadership roles. They’re getting leadership training in so many other ways, like service and giving back.

That’s what we’re trying to ingrain,” he adds. “It’s not just about putting paint on a wall. The murals are sort of a side product of the stories we are trying to tell with these kids.”

It’s a beautiful, colorful story – and, thankfully, the end is not yet in sight.

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AMARILLOMAGONLINE.COM • DECEMBER 2020

“

Not a lot of people can say they’ve worked with a crew of people doing public art, appearing on the news doing interviews.

”

– Shanda O’Neill

THE “HUMANKIND, BE BOTH” MURAL DEPICTS POPULAR GAME CHARACTERS AND IS LOCATED AT 414 S. POLK ST.

DECEMBER 2020 • AMARILLOMAGONLINE.COM

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PROVIDED PHOTO

20 Questions

JOHNNY TERRA SMALL BUSINESS CPA AND FOUNDER, TERRA ACCOUNTING & CONSULTING, PLLC What is the best advice you received when you were beginning your career? People don’t leave companies. People leave people.

So don’t ever treat people with a “cookie-cutter” leadership style.

Learn about them, what drives them, what motivates them to take action, and do more of it. How do you use social media to grow your network? Believe it or not, I’m new to social media. I’ve built my network by having lots of cups of coffee and lunches with interesting people. However, I’m currently using social media to build my rapport as the go-to CPA for small business owners in Amarillo. How do you maintain balance? Respecting the invisible boundaries of work and personal life. When it’s family time, it’s family time and nothing else (a.k.a cellphone). When it’s worktime, I’m fully engaged and mindful of what I’m doing. What has been your wisest investment? Investing in the only true recession-proof asset: myself. The constant and neverending improvement mindset. How has your past work experience shaped you into a leader? It taught me how to lead up and lead down.

It helped me understand to protect my leader’s time, while at the same time to help others realize their full potential. What is the best part about your job? I get to work with the most intelligent, actiondriven, and successful entrepreneurs in Amarillo. I get to experience firsthand how they build something out of nothing into something that impacts my community. How has mentorship made a difference in your professional and private life? Mentorship has been the reason why I am where I am today. My mentor has allowed me to believe it’s possible, to break the barriers of my mindset, and to align my actions with results. Which living person do you most admire and why? My mother. Despite all the curve balls life has thrown at her, she continued to push through with unwavering faith. Which overused word or phrase makes you cringe? “Let me pray about it!” I’m a believer and follower of Jesus Christ. Some Christians use this phrase as an excuse to not take action. If my heart and my soul is aligned with God’s plan and I’m talking to God every day, then I know my next step is aligned with His plan for my life and that the Holy Spirit living within me will help me make the right decision at that time. I don’t need to pause or be afraid. What is your business philosophy? Be the go-to CPA (services and resources) for small business owners.

Which quality do you most value in an employee? The mindset of there is no such thing as “It’s not my job.” There is no such thing as a job that is below you. Show that servant’s heart and get the job done.

What personality trait has most helped you succeed? I’m a learner

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AMARILLOMAGONLINE.COM • DECEMBER 2020

by heart. I love learning new things and most importantly, about people.

Who is your favorite author? Seth Godin. What did you learn from your best boss? How to get from point A to point B as fast as possible. Often, I was doing things but they weren’t creating results or outcomes. My best boss, who is now my mentor and best friend, has taught me to define what’s important to get the job done. How can Amarillo improve its business environment? Amarillo has done a phenomenal job at building an entrepreneurial environment within the city. We need to continue to build and improve this human capital so that more people can start their own successful business. Most important tech tool: Google Workspace.

Best time management tool: my calendar - if it’s in my calendar, it’s official – from client appointments, to sleep, to taking out the trash. I can’t live without: sleep and a good cup of hazelnut coffee. My favorite thing about Amarillo is: the people and their hospitality. This city has truly become a place I call a home away from home. Most unusual job or task: When I was working for another CPA firm, I once had to count the inventory of one of our client’s grain elevators. I had to climb to the top of his grain elevator in the middle of January with freezing cold wind chills. I longed for my small heated office!

5000 South Soncy Road - Amarillo, Texas 79119 StreetVW.com - 806.350.8999