8
2
17
13
24 4 / K at y To d a y / M a r c h 2 0 1 7
Katy Today MAGAZINE MARCH 2017
PUBLISHER Terry Schaub 281.391.3141 tschaub@katytimes.com MANAGING EDITOR Jimmy Galvan 281.391.3141 news@katytimes.com LAYOUT & GRAPHICS Sandra Boyer 254.220.6498 sandra@april-mariedesign.com ADVERTISING 281.391.3141 sales@katytimes.com CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Jimmy Galvan Dennis Silva II Noreen Stavinoha
ENJOY READING Katy
Today?
We hope you enjoy reading this issue of Katy Today Magazine. Please let us know what you think about our bi-monthly publication by sending your comments to tschaub@katytimes.com
NEWS TIPS & Story
Ideas
Email us at news@katytimes.com
Katy Today is a Publication of the Katy Times Newspaper • Katy, Texas
y t a K t s Ju Y " < Ş < ĸ Y
ĸŞ ;
Check out our NEW sports app Just Katy Sports It’s now available for FREE on Google Play & the App Store!
We cover ALL Katy ISD Schools & features include: • Every school sport • Latest scores • Schedules for all sports • News from our site katytimes.com • Video and audio features • And much MUCH more …
Visit us online ANYTIME for breaking news and sports at www.katytimes.com 5319 East Fifth Street, Katy, Texas 77493 • 281-391-3141 Connect with us! The Katy Times @KatyTimes and @KatyTimesSports
Lathrop Dental promises unique dentist experience By Jimmy Galvan
W
hen it comes to dentist offices in the Katy area, you can find one in just about every strip shopping center. But when it comes to a dentist experience that is far different than you have experienced before, then look no farther than Lathrop Dental, located at 5929 FM 1463 Ste. 130 in Katy. “Most of our patients come from word of mouth referrals from other patients,” said Dr. Colin Lathrop. “So there is a high level of trust with the patients that come in here. We talk about what is best for the lifetime for each of our patients and not a cookie cutter approach to their dental care. “We have the highest technology that is available in this area,” Lathrop said. “We want to make a trip to a dentist a better experience than what they are used to it being. We are a team here that protects each other’s backs. If you truly want a different experience than what you have been used to and want to see how dentistry can really be done with pain and fear, then come by and talk to our team. “We are trying to provide a much different dental experience than what people are used to experiencing,” Lathrop said. “Look at our reviews on our website and tells our story better than anything I can say.” Lathrop has worked in the dentistry field since 1994 when he was in high school. “I have worked in every job in the office from janitor to owner so I have a real unique appreciation for everything that goes on in the dentist office,” Lathrop said. “I like working with my hands and fixing things. I started working in a dentist office when I was in high school and was real institutive of how it worked and it seemed like a good fit.” In December of 2015, Lathrop opened up Lathrop Dental after working since 2009 in dentist
6 / K at y To d a y / M a r c h 2 0 1 7
offices in the area. “I worked for other dentists and practice models in order to figure out what I wanted to do and what I was really good at,” Lathrop said. “I wanted to take care of my patients in a nice, clean environment. I wanted customers to be able to walk through the office and see that it was very calm and peaceful. “I really wanted to focus on keeping my patients as comfortable as possible,” Lathrop said. “My goal is not do as much to the teeth which is very different from many dentist around as they want to drill on everything. We try to fix things without drilling on people’s teeth. The less we do to the teeth, the better they are which is a unique direction in this profession but our patients seem to really respond to that approach.” Lathrop said it is important that the patients’ needs are met every time they come into the office and that each visit is catered to fit their personal needs. “We try to figure out what it is that they don’t like and avoid doing those things,” Lathrop said. “We try to incorporate technology to help prevent the stuff they don’t like. At Lathrop Dental, time and comfort are as important to the office as is the patient’s continued good dental health. To help make procedures more effective and more efficient, Lathrop Dental utilize a variety of advanced dental technologies, including digital radiography, the LightWalker® dental laser, and the advanced Tekscan occlusal pressure mapping system. Lasers and digital imaging equipment can provide quicker, more accurate diagnoses, and help Lathrop provide highly personalized treatment options for every patient. “We have incorporated a laser that allows us to do fillings without numbing them,” Lathrop said.
Lathrop Dental is committed to helping its patients obtain and understand the information they need to make well-informed choices about the health and beauty of their teeth and gums. Research demonstrates that well-informed patients enjoy fewer complications after treatment, improved treatment outcomes, improved self-care at home, and a more positive overall outlook on both their treatment and the results of treatment. Before moving forward with any treatment plan, Lathrop Dental will discuss options with the patients and walk through what to expect from the treatment plan. “Most dental offices that I worked in there Local dentist Dr. Colin Lathrop has been working in the dental industry since he was a was not much of a personKLJK VFKRRO VWXGHQW LQ 1RZ KH KDV KLV RZQ GHQWDO RIĂ€FH /DWKURS 'HQWDO &HQWHU alized approach to each located at 5929 FM 1463 Ste. 130 in Katy. patient,â€? Lathrop said. “It Lathrop knows that most people have a was more of a cookie-cutter pre-conceived belief of what a trip to the dentist office is approach and every person that comes in has a unique like and most don’t like going to the dentist at all. and different set of issues and concerns. Some people “A trip to the dentist doesn’t have to be scary,â€? need 15-40 minutes to talk about their issues and others Lathrop said. “We can help get rid of the fear of anxiety can come in and out in 15 minutes. about visiting the dentist and we will custom tailor “We try to give high valued attention to paappointment times to fit your needs. What we offer is tients to make them comfortable,â€? Lathrop said. “When an experience that most have never had when they visit the first phone call comes in and they talk to Miranda a dentist. or Shelby, they are such happy, happy people that peo“We really pride ourselves in that,â€? Lathrop ple can sense that and it really puts them at ease. said. “Dentistry doesn’t have to be difficult, hard or “We just try to walk people through the whole scary or painful. We just try to run a very good local process,â€? Lathrop said. “A lot of our new customers business that gives back to its community and take the realize that maybe they have been missing out in their best care of our neighbors and friends that we can give dental care. We just strive for a high quality of care and them.â€? accurate diagnosis for what we are doing.â€?
M a r c h 2 0 1 7 / K at y To d ay / 7
Photo Courtesty of YMCA The YMCA at Katy Main Street offers a state-of-the art outdoor swimming pool for its new and existing patrons.
Opening of YMCA at Katy Main Street ushers in new era By Jimmy Galvan
W
ith the opening of YMCA at Katy Main Street earlier this year, Katy residents now have two different YMCA locations to chose from when it comes exercising and working on those New Year’s resolutions. “This has been a vision of ours for over four years,” said Brian Haynes, district executive director for the YMCA. “The Monte Ballard YMCA at Cinco Ranch is an extremely popular location and since this area has grown so fast, we originally thought about a third expansion of that building but our board thought it might be better to have a second facility here in the Katy area.
8 / K at y To d a y / M a r c h 2 0 1 7
“The YMCA is excited to grow with Katy,” Haynes said. “We are really pleased that we are able to offer another state of the art facility to the Katy area and be a nice match for the west and north communities Feasibility studies indicate that 3,000 new families will utilize the new YMCA at Katy Main Street, and that 1,000 current family memberships would relocate for the convenience of the new location. A study was put together to check to see if a second YMCA would be viable and those positive results netted the YMCA at Katy Main Street, located at 1350 Main Street. By taking the best designs from YMCA centers around the nation and incorporating them
M a r c h 2 0 1 7 / K at y To d ay / 9
Photo Courtesty of YMCA +
into one 41,000 square-foot facility, the YMCA of Greater Houston has responded to Katy’s burgeoning
1 0 / K at y To d a y / M a r c h 2 0 1 7
population with extra modern amenities and a sleek, airy design. After nine months of construction, the YMCA at Katy Main Street opened its doors on Feb. 4 and offers the latest exercise crazes including TRX and aerial yoga. Its outdoor pool is heated and connected to private changing rooms. “We did assessments on how much funding could be raised and that all came back positive so when we knew we could raise a significant amount of money, we decided to move forward with the project,” Haynes said. Those are just some of the special features at the $12 million center. The center is expected to be a hub for Katy’s growing needs for childcare, health and fitness, and educational programs. Located at the intersection of Main Street and Kingsland Boulevard (near Interstate 10 and Pin Oak Road), the two-story facility aims to serve residents in west and north Katy and in neighboring communities. “One amazing thing about the YMCA is the
scope of our work, which can be seen at all of our centers, but is especially evident in ever-expanding Katy,” said Paul McEntire, president and CEO of The YMCA of Greater Houston. “Katy’s population is expected to grow from 300,000 people to nearly 550,000 by 2035. In just three years, this new center is expected to serve 20,000 people.” The YMCA at Katy Main Street features strength training and cardio equipment, group exercise rooms, a basketball gym, Child Watch rooms to accommodate children from six weeks to 11 years old, an outdoor playground and sports fields, a cycle studio and coffee bar. It also includes health and wellness activities, aquatics, youth sports, after-school care, summer day camp, summer sports clinics, teen programs, senior activities and more. The Monty Ballard YMCA at Cinco Ranch is currently the largest provider of childcare in the Katy area, serving more than 1,500 children each year at before- and after-school care sites in Katy Independent School District. It also offers the YMCA Diabetes Prevention Program and LIVESTRONG for those recovering from cancer. In addition, more than 5,000 children participate in the center’s youth sports program. The center serves approximately 50,000 people. “Anyone that is a member of the Monty Ballard YMCA is welcome to come here as well,” Haynes said. “Anyone that is looking for a place to join, we would like to invite them in to take a tour.” The new center is expected to receive more than 400,000 visits a year. Projected to be self-sustaining in 12 to 18 months, it will provide approximately $250,000 in community assistance and program/ membership scholarships as well as create more than 200 area jobs. “People need the YMCA at Katy Main Street for their health, for social interaction, and to improve their spirits,” said Brian Haines, district executive director at the YMCA of Greater Houston. “We will make sure we stay true to our commitment to make sure that no one is ever turned away.”
M a r c h 2 0 1 7 / K at y To d ay / 1 1
Aundre Dean poses for a portrait photo for his acting resume. > Photo Courtesy of Aundre Dean
Former Katy football star goes Hollywood By Dennis Silva II
F
rom selling newspapers as a 10-year-old to help support his two sisters, to state champion at Katy High and Rose Bowl winner at TCU. And now the star of “Carter High,” an increasingly-popular 2015 movie making the rounds on Netflix, and a promising talent in Los Angeles. Aundre Dean has had quite the journey. “Livin’ large and trying to get in charge,” Dean, 27, said. Dean, who has never met his father and whose mother lost custody of him and his two sisters when he was 10 years old, ran for 5,488 yards and a schoolrecord 62 touchdowns during his spectacular career at Katy High, which culminated in a state championship in 2007. Dean was rated the No. 7 running back and No. 6 player in the nation by ESPN. He spent a season at UCLA, where he was limited by injuries, before finishing his career at TCU. But an NFL career never panned out for Dean. Instead, he went Hollywood. That’s where the next chapter of his story begins. Dean, now based in Los Angeles and is married with a son, recently sat down for a phone interview with the Katy Times to discuss where he is now and how far he’s come. 4XHVWLRQ :KHQ GLG \RX ÀUVW NQRZ \RX ZDQWHG WR EH LQ HQWHUWDLQPHQW" “I’ve always wanted to do acting, film and television. More so, I wanted to host. I wanted to have my own
talk show. The acting goes hand in hand, and that’s originally why I went to UCLA. It had one of the top film programs in the country. I got a chance to see what L.A. was like a little bit, take some acting classes.” Question: What is it about acting that draws you to it? “I’ve always been a class clown. I’ve always been a person making everybody laugh. You go back to Trent (Hunter) and my other buddies at Katy High School, they’ll tell you. At the Mr. Katy High School pageant, I was funny, I was hosting. I’ve always been that guy. I like the attention, I like being in front of the camera, and I like making people laugh.” 4XHVWLRQ :KDW DUH \RXU WKRXJKWV RQ ´&DUWHU +LJK"µ Dean played a lead role in Derric Evans in a movie about the 1988 Dallas Carter high school football team that was considered one of the greatest until scandal hit. “I was comfortable with sports, I was comfortable with football. I’m comfortable especially with Texas football. I thought it was a great first project for me because it allowed me to really be comfortable. I knew about what happened. I knew the story. I’d always wondered why they were portrayed as thugs when they weren’t. They were just good kids who were in an environment where they got too comfortable. When you’re a star athlete, especially in Texas, you get breaks. You keep thinking you’ll get breaks and get chances,
M a r c h 2 0 1 7 / K at y To d ay / 1 3
and all it takes is that one opportunity where you don’t get that break. There’s times where I can tell you I was stopped by a police officer at Katy High School and they knew me, and they were like, ‘Aw, man. You were driving a little bit too fast. Let me get an autograph.’ My senior year in high school, I had a job working for Target and I got in trouble for swiping gift cards for $300 when friends would give me $30, just to get some video games. Stupid, young, dumb. I’ve lived, I’ve learned. It was a mistake. It was almost $1,000 in merchandise and anything over $500 is a felony. That could’ve been it for me. The movie was great for me and perfect. I could relate. I think it was some of my best work.” Question: How has the response been since ´&DUWHU +LJKµ KLW 1HWÁL[ ODWH ODVW \HDU" “Every single day, I have one person come up to me and say they saw me in ‘Carter High.’ That’s just great for me, great confirmation. (Former NFL star running back) Eddie George’s manager saw the movie for the first time, called Eddie to get my number and told me how well I did in the film. Eddie wants to do a bio film for TV and wants me to play him in the film. That’s great, just the connection. It being on Netflix, anybody can see it at any time. I’m definitely getting more exposure. But I don’t want to just play thugs. I want to do superhero stuff, Marvel. I don’t want to just be a black actor. I’m working every day to have the talent and technique to do that.” “Carter High” depicts kids who got seduced by stardom in their own city. You made it out of that, but did you ever feel trapped by the stardom of playing football at Katy High? “I never felt trapped. I believe God will never put anything on your plate that you can’t eat. I’ve always been a strong-minded person. I had a job when I was 10 years old, selling newspapers at K-Mart to support my sisters because my dad wasn’t around and my mom was on the street doing drugs. I was a bigger kid and they bought that I was 16-years old. Everything on my plate, I just embrace it and try and do the best at everything I do.”
1 4 / K at y To d a y / M a r c h 2 0 1 7
Aundre Dean poses for a photo with “Carter High” co-star Vivica
Question: What did playing at Katy High mean to you? “I looked at football as an escape and relished it because people counted on me, people believed in me. Katy helped me so much because I felt like the whole city of Katy believed in me. It’s an amazing feeling when you’re playing in a stadium of 20,000 people and they’re screaming and yelling for you because they believe in you. I get that same feeling in acting when people talk about ‘Carter High’ and how it made them feel.” Question: What advice would you give to star athletes in Katy ISD and how to handle that responsibility? “My thing is whatever you try to do, be the best. That’s my advice. Stay focused. It’s so easy to get caught up in the alcohol and weed and those become bad habits. To get what you want, you have to be focused. Me personally, I want to be an actor that inspires people to laugh and cry. I want to move people. So, to those kids, figure out what you want to do and move closer to that. Because anything that’s not moving you closer to it is moving you further away.” Question: A goal of yours is to have your own talk show one day. What would your ideal situation be? “My ideal show is one I call ‘Glad Story.’ It’s a talk show bringing on athletes, actors, successful people who have stories to tell about how they got there. Have them tell their back story, what the public doesn’t know, and what they went through that made them stronger as a person. Let people know that no matter where you come from, it’s not how you start it’s how you finish.”
M a r c h 2 0 1 7 / K at y To d ay / 1 5
1 6 / K at y To d a y / M a r c h 2 0 1 7
.DW\ ,QGHSHQGHQW 6FKRRO 'LVWULFW 6XSHULQWHQGHQW 'U /DQFH +LQGW VODSV KLJK ÀYH ZLWK D VWXGHQW DV WKH QHZ VXSHULQWHQGHQW YLVLWHG school
Growth provides challenges for Katy ISD By Noreen Stavinoha
I
f the Katy ISD board and superintendent had no other tasks but to manage the growth of the district, they would be busy. As it is, there are other items on their agendas as well, so they employ the demographic services of Population and Survey Analysts (PASA) to make the projections that guide the District in planning for future campuses. The projections provided by PASA over the last 10 years have an accuracy rate of almost 99 percent. “The district works closely with demographers, planners, and developers to identify future school
facilities to serve the rapid residential developments as they are being built. When selecting school sites, one of the key components is to ensure drainage, utilities and road infrastructure will be available in a timely manner to parallel the construction of the new school,” said Katy ISD’s Manager of Media Relations Maria DiPetta. DiPetta also cites the long-time working relationship with Fort Bend County Precinct 3 and Harris County Precinct 3 engineering departments as being important to the development of new school district facilities. The process of determining the needs of the schools in the school district is called Attendance
M a r c h 2 0 1 7 / K at y To d ay / 1 7
Dr. Lance Hindt takes an up close and personal approach to dealing with students in the school district.
Boundary Modification (ABM), and those modifications are determined by some surprising statistics, analysis by PASA, as well as feedback from parents.
1 8 / K at y To d a y / M a r c h 2 0 1 7
For instance, Katy Elementary was built for 643 students, currently has 804, and is projected to have an enrollment of 956 by 2019. Katy Junior High was built for 1,231 students, and the projected 2019 enrollment is 1,964. Similar growth is occurring in nearly every school in the district. Some growth can be accommodated by temporary buildings, but eventually new schools have to be built to serve the students well by keeping class size reasonable. Three new schools will open this year, and they are: Bryant Elementary, Stockdick Junior High, and Paetow High School. The existing schools that will be affected by the new schools are Katy Elementary, Wolman Elementary, Katy Junior High, McDonald Junior High, Katy High School and Morton Ranch High School. The new schools are named for former Katy ISD educators. Elementary School No. 40, south of I-10 and Pederson Road and Kingsland Blvd, was named Robert
and Felice Bryant Elementary School. Felice Bryant, who retired in 2012, spent 25 years as a kindergarten and first-grade teacher at Winborn Elementary School and a kindergarten teacher at Katy Elementary School. Bob Bryant, who retired in August last year, was most recently the district’s executive director of fine arts, and before that band director at Katy High School. He worked for the district for 32 years. Junior High No. 15, located west of the Grand Parkway and north of I-10 at 4777 Peek Road, was named Stockdick Junior High School in recognition of the legacy of a pioneering family in the Katy area. Their association with education began with Adam Henry Stockdick, a teacher and farmer who came to Katy from Ohio in 1895. High School No. 8, at 23111 Stockdick School Road, was named Paricia E. Paetow High School. Praetow spent 28 years in Katy ISD, starting as an educational diagnostician and advancing to assistant principal at Hutsell Elementary, followed by a term as principal of Wolfe Elementary. In 2000, she became the principal at Creek Elementary School. The current design capacity for new schools are 1,030 students for an elementary school, 1,400 for junior high, and 3,000 for high school. DiPetta emphasizes that students coming into the new schools will enjoy the same high quality instruction, state of the art facilities and extracurricular activities KISD is known for. “In Katy ISD we’re all one big family,” says DiPetta, “and no matter where our students attend school, our staff is fully devoted to their success and we will receive each child with open arms.” A bond to assist with the continuing growth in the district is in the planning stage, based strictly on needs, and will include new schools, renovations, technology updates, safety and security, athletic needs (no stadium), etc. There will not be a tax increase with bond. Last year Katy residents enjoyed a penny decrease in the tax rate, and there is a possibility of a 1/10 of a penny reduction in the future.
M a r c h 2 0 1 7 / K at y To d ay / 1 9
8 / K at y To d a y / M a r c h 2 0 1 7
The Katy Cowgirls have been a long-standing tradition in the Katy area since 1943 and have participated in the Katy ISD Livestock Show
A tradition like no other Katy Cowgirls show their presence at Katy FFA Livestock Show and Rodeo By Jimmy Galvan
K
aty is an area that is deep in its tradition and one such tradition that makes its presence felt every year are the Katy Cowgirls at the annual Katy FFA Livestock Show and Rodeo. “If you just talk about this community, this is a tradition that Katy has had since 1943,” said Anita Mancini, who has led the Cowgirls for the last 15 years. “When you talk about the traditions of this rodeo and there is a lot of pride in our community. There is pride for our state and country and our main goals is the present the state and American flag at events.
“The Katy Cowgirls are a mounted drill team with their main function being to present the flag at the Katy rodeo,” Mancini said. “There is a lot of patriotism that goes into the formation and history of this team.” The Cowgirls are made up of Katy ISD students with ages ranging from nine to 18 years of age. And presently there are six boys on the team. The boys are called Cowhands and they actually present the flags to the girls while they are on their horses and take them away after the presentation is finished. In order to be a member of the Katy Cowgirls,
M a r c h 2 0 1 7 / K at y To d ay / 2 1
members have to be able to walk, trot and lope with a mounted horse. The members have to tryout to make the team in the summer while captains also tryout with an added three-part essay, interview and riding test. The Katy Cowgirls will participate in the rodeo parade along with presenting the flags at the rodeo for its three nights. Another event that the Cowgirls participate in ended last week, when members served as waitresses at the Katy Elks Lodge annual banquet. Mancini said the event serves as a community service event and allows the Cowgirls to earn money, which is used to send kids to summer camps. The Cowgirls direct a lot of their non-rodeo attention to special needs including participating in special needs rodeos. In those events, the Cowgirls work with special needs children in allowing them to ride their horses. “We are a huge community service group as well,” Mancini said. Mancini’s involvement with the Cowgirls started 15 years ago when the director decided
2 2 / K at y To d a y / M a r c h 2 0 1 7
to step down. Her daughter had worked under the previous director and Mancini believed she would step in and continue the tradition of the Cowgirls. “I had shown interest in the Cowgirls because I am a horse woman,” Mancini said, who owns a horse ranch in Katy. “I got a phone call and they asked if I wanted to do it and I said absolutely.” Now, Mancini is the director of the Cowgirls with a granddaughter serving as a present Cowgirl. “My granddaughter joined four years ago and she is 12 so I plan on staying on until she graduates,” Mancini said. Even though she serves as director to the squad, Mancini believes her role has provided her with a deep blessing in her life as well. “It has been a huge blessing to be involved with kids like this,” Mancini said. “To be able to be a part of a kid’s life like this has been amazing. At this point, there have been 100s of girls that been on the team and they always come back to visit so this has been a lifelong blessing to me.”
CALL TODAY, 281.391.3141
M a r c h 2 0 1 7 / K at y To d ay / 2 3
A tribute to Katy
2017 Annual Katy Area Chamber of Commerce Gala
The Katy Area Chamber of Commerce celebrated its Annual Gala, “A Tribute to Katy” on, Feb. 17 with a record crowd. The event was chaired by Lori Gunn and held at the Safari Texas Ballroom. The elegant evening included a seated dinner. The Gala guests enjoyed complimentary commemorative portraits sponsored by Houston Methodist West Hospital. Sponsors of the Valet Parking were Modern Pest Control and Silver Eagle sponsored the beverages for the evening. Floral Arrangements were provided by Randall’s and graphic and printing design was provided by CAS Graphics. Custom Signage was provided by DL Creations – Custom Chalkboards. A dancing exhibition was provided by Arthur Murray during dinner for our guests. Entertainment was provided by Password and the guests danced until after midnight to the sounds of Password. The Katy Area Chamber of Commerce recognized and thanked their outgoing Directors – Lisa Houghton, Alton Frailey, and Woody. As a token of appreciation each outgoing Director was given an engraved clock to recognize their service to the chamber. The Katy Area Chamber of Commerce inducted the 2017 Board of Directors and Officers at the Annual Gala. City of Katy Mayor Fabol Hughes administered the Oath of Office to the 2016 Officers and Directors.
2 4 / K at y To d a y / M a r c h 2 0 1 7
The Katy Area Chamber of Commerce 2017 Chairman of the Board - Marcus Henneke (Dagley Insurance & Financial Services), Vice Chairman of the Board - Sam Schultze (Country Park Portraits), Secretary - Christa Clifton (Memorial Hermann Katy Hospital), and Treasurer - Richard White (AXA Advisors LLC). The Immediate Past Chair is Tad Adams (Adams Law Firm, L.L.P.). City of Katy Mayor Fabol Hughes is Ex-Officio and Ann Hodge serves as President/CEO. The Board of Directors for 2017 are Craig Brooks (Prosperity Bank), Marcus Dillon (Dillon CPAs, PLLC), Denise Einkauf (Waggin’ Tails Pet Ranch), Cristy Fontanilla (Fontanilla Accounting Solutions), Ida Franklin (Venus Construction), Kelly Gaines (Members Choice Credit Union), Greg Henry (XperNet Services, Inc.), Schottsie Hill (Epiphany of the Lord Catholic Church), Dr. Lance Hindt (Katy Independent School District), Jason Hodge (Medical Fitness Pros), Margaret Laney (BP), Del Lawson (Modern Pest Control), Barbara Lazor (Lazor Healthcare Consultants, LLC), Nicole LeBoeuf (AMP Lending), Linda Nichols (Dahl Team Properties), A. Kevin Troutman (Fisher & Phillips, LLP), and Wayne Voss (Houston Methodist West Hospital). The chamber recognized our 2017 Volunteers of the Year, Business of the Year and Citizen of the Year. A new Award was added this year in honor of Patsy and Stan Stanley. The Stan and Patsy Stanley Entrepreneur
The Katy Area Chamber of Commerce held its annual gala last week. Honorees included Peter McElwain, citizen of the year; Chaille Voelkel,
Award was presented for the first time. These awards were presented at the Gala: Volunteer of the Year – Chaille Voelkel Chaille (Williams) Voelkel was born and raised in Houston. She married her husband Bob in 1977. They moved to Katy in 1992, to allow their children Kolby and Kelsey to attend Katy ISD schools and be near family. Kolby and Kelsey are both married now and still live in the area, along with Chaille’s three sisters, one brother, and her mother. Chaille’s volunteering started at church when their children were young, she and Bob were on the church council and youth sponsors for 16 years. When she joined the Katy Area Chamber of Commerce in
1993, Chaille became an active volunteer, helping with the Rice Harvest Festival, golf tournament, and annual galas. She has served on the Membership Committee and is past Chairman of the Ambassador’s Committee. Chaille has volunteered at the Krause Center and with the Amobi Okoye Foundation. She is a member of the KISD Leadership, Katy Rodeo and an honorary member of the Taylor FFA and Mayde Creek FFA. She is a Lifetime Vice-President at the Houston Farm & Ranch where she has chaired many committees including the Law Enforcement & Firefighters Wild game Cook-off and the Harris County Fair & Rodeo. She has been a volunteer for the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo for the past 16 years, serving on the Katy Go Texan Committee and Wine Committee.
M a r c h 2 0 1 7 / K at y To d ay / 2 5
Chaille will be a lifetime member at the end of this year. She is the co-founder of Support the Girls with Bonny Green, an event that raises money for women who could not afford mammograms in the Katy Area. In 2014, she also co-founded with Norman Walker, a 501(c)3 organization called Friends for Wishes. The group raises funds through an annual BBQ Cook-off and Wine Tasting for Make-A-Wish, an organization that grants wishes to children with life threatening medical conditions. Chaille’s group has raised $250,000 sponsored wishes for over 35 children in the Houston area. When she is not volunteering, she enjoys gardening and traveling with Bob, quilting and crafts. Chaille has donated beautiful quilts for local fund raising auctions. Volunteers who’ve worked with Chaille say she makes it look easy and fun; bringing great enthusiasm to every committee she serves on. Chaille is honored for this recognition and says she enjoys trying to make
2 6 / K at y To d a y / M a r c h 2 0 1 7
a difference in other people’s lives, “My volunteering comes from the heart! I volunteer because it makes me feel good inside helping others. I enjoy working with people, but could not have volunteered all these years without the support of my husband Bob and my children. “ Chaille Voelkel has demonstrated a remarkable level of service and volunteerism and she is richly deserving of this recognition. The Katy Area Chamber of Commerce is honored to recognize Chaille for her outstanding contributions to the Katy community and as the 2017 Volunteer of the Year. Business of the Year – Rover Oaks Pet Resort Steve Smith and his original business partner spent years researching the pet care industry and local pet owners’ desires. They found that pet owners who truly feel their dog or cat is a family member deserving the very best care were challenged when seeking boarding, training, and day care options. Rover Oaks
Pet Resort became a solution for these clients when it opened a state-of-the-art facility in Houston offering boarding for dogs and cats, training, grooming and doggie daycare on Oct. 15, 2001. Rover Oaks quickly secured a reputation as one of the most trusted pet resorts in the Houston metropolitan area and clients encouraged the team to develop another location on the west side of town. Steve partnered with pet lover/businesswoman Joy Lee to open Rover Oaks Pet Resort in Katy on Sept. 11, 2006. There is nothing ordinary about Rover Oaks Pet Resort. Boarding options include private luxury suites furnished with televisions, soft pet sofa beds, and toys chosen for each individual guest. Guests enjoy custom meals with room service, gourmet “yappy hour” treats, one-on-one interactive playtimes in large grassy fields, group play, and nightly tuck-ins with bedtime stories and snuggle time. Feline clients are accommodated in comfy “Meow Manor” cat condos. More than 75 pets are dropped off for Doggie
M a r c h 2 0 1 7 / K at y To d ay / 2 7
Daycare at Rover Oaks each day. They enjoy a full day of professionally supervised activities including play time with their best friends, pool parties and birthday celebrations at fully equipped dog parks, pavilions, and indoor play areas. Some enjoy the Grooming Salon & Spa, where services include show-quality haircuts, simple wash-and go-baths, shed control treatments, whitening facials, and even doggie “peticures”. Rover Oaks provides coaching and support that pet owners need to develop a long-lasting relationship with their dog. The highly trained and educated staff offers private lessons, puppy classes, obedience training classes and agility classes and a “Lodge & Learn” program that allows dogs to stay for several weeks while working with a professional trainer. Rover Oaks Pet Resort has won more than 30 awards in recognition of exceptional service and humanitarian efforts including the Better Business Bureau’s highest honors for the last six years. Owners and staff are also active volunteers in the community. For non-profit organizations and rescue groups, and particularly with Citizens for Animal Protection, Rover Oaks has donated thousands of service hours, fostered hundreds of dogs and cats, and raised hundreds of thousands of dollars. Rover Oaks recently wrapped up its sixth annual Operation: War Dogs fundraiser, cumulatively raising more than $90,000 for that organization. Since 2001, the Rover Oaks team has built an unrivalled depth of reliability, trust and connection with clients and pets. The demand for superior pet care and exceptional customer service, and pet owners’ eagerness to patronize a business that embodies such a standard, is the reason Rover Oaks has done so well since its inception. The Katy Area Chamber of Commerce is grateful to Steve and Joy for their leadership and commitment to our community. The chamber is honored to recognize Rover Oaks Pet Resort as the 2017 Business of the Year. Citizen of the Year – Peter McElwain Peter McElwain was born in Philadelphia and
2 8 / K at y To d a y / M a r c h 2 0 1 7
raised in Toronto, but now considers himself a Texan with deep Katy roots. He graduated from the School of Architecture in Ottawa, Ontario in 1978. Three years later, he married and in 1988, he and wife Darlene welcomed a daughter, Kristen. In 1998, McElwain was leading the facilities department at the London Board of Education in London, Ontario. It was an extremely fast growing school district and Peter McElwain’s success there prompted an invitation from Katy ISD Superintendent Dr. Leonard Merrell and the Board of Trustees to move his family to Katy and join Katy ISD as District Architect/Planner. At that time there were approximately 27,000 students in the district and rapid growth on the horizon. To accommodate that growth, Peter McElwain has worked for the last 19 years with a talented and dedicated team to open 25 elementary schools, nine junior high schools and six high schools along with several comprehensive renovations and additions at existing campuses all in support of excellent student learning. He also led the department to open educational support and administrative support facilities including: the Performing Arts Centers, the Leonard Merrell Center, the L.D. Robinson Pavilion and Billy Morgan Arena, the Gerald D Young Agricultural Sciences Center, the Robert Shaw STEAM center, the Education Support Complex, the Student Activity Facility Stadium Complex, the South Transportation Center, the Maintenance and Operations Center, the Mark Hopkins Law Enforcement Center and the Franz Road Support Services Complex. An additional high school, junior high school, elementary school, and the Student Activity Facility and second Stadium are scheduled for completion this summer. During McElwain’s tenure, school facility projects have been the recipients of several design related recognitions but every project has benefitted from his of great devotion and pride, regardless of the size. Peter McElwain has served on the Katy Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and the
Katy Area YMCA Boards of Directors for six years, and the Katy EDC Place Committee for four years. He has been a member of the Katy EDC Mobility and Public Infrastructure Committee and volunteered hundreds of hours as a mentor to two Katy ISD students for seven and four years respectively. The rapid growth anticipated when Peter McElwain came to Katy has surpassed expectations. McElwain said: “My time at Katy ISD has been the most rewarding of my life. Katy ISD is recognized as one of the main reasons that families move to Katy and on behalf of our team I am proud of the contribution which we have had in creating exciting and supportive academic, special education, fine arts, athletics and career and technology environments for our students.” The Katy Area Chamber of Commerce is proud to name Peter McElwain as the 2017 Citizen of the Year, and they extend their sincere congratulations on retirement after 19 years with Katy ISD, and thank the McElwain family for all they’ve done for Katy. Stan and Patsy Stanley Entrepreneur Award – Greg Henry In honor of the incredible legacy of service and entrepreneurship demonstrated by Patsy Stanley and Stan Stanley, the Katy Area Chamber of Commerce is introducing a new recognition award this year - the Stan and Patsy Stanley Entrepreneur Award. The first recipient of this award is Gregory J. Henry. Greg Henry graduated from the University of Houston in 1984, and immediately embarked his career as a computer engineer. He began installing complete computer networks and was instrumental in developing an automated design program for engineering companies that aided engineers in design of electrical diagrams, SCADA systems and pipeline design. Greg worked his way up to become the lead engineer for Air Liquide America - a Corporation Fortune 500 Company before founding his own company, XperNet Services in 1995. XperNet Services, Inc. delivers enterprise level solutions that include the development of computerbased infrastructures and business plans, design, rollouts, maintenance and upgrades; IT outsourcing, project management and prepaid blocks of maintenance time; experienced computer consultants to meet the myriad of needs
M a r c h 2 0 1 7 / K at y To d ay / 2 9
We are here to earn your business and satisfaction every single time.
Come see us at our new location! 25545 Westheimer Pkwy Katy, TX 77494 Hours: Mon-Fri 7:00am - 6:00pm, Saturday: 8:00am-5:00pm
24 Hour Drop-off • Call 281-665-7371 10
Wee Service Seerv ervic rvic ice ic ce All Allll Makes Maake akes kees and and nd Models! Mo Mode odeels els ls! s!!
Katy Freeway
Katy Freeway
99
Auto Care USA
Visit us today at... MyAutoCareUSA.com
Grand Parkway
ay rkw
r Pa
me
hei
3 0 / K at y To d a y / M a r c h 2 0 1 7
A neighborhood friendly and trustworthy automotive services company here to serve your needs.
st We
imposed by complex software and hardware; bundled business programs; and high-quality web development solutions for both large and small corporations. The company was ranked by the Houston Business Journal in late 1998 in the Top 25 percent of fastest growing small businesses in Houston. Today, XperNet is recognized as a leader in integrated system technologies offering clients the best computer support in the market. Greg attributes the success of his company to a focus on service: “We listen to their needs and respond directly, honestly, and consistently. We cultivate a client’s business growth by developing high-quality customized solutions, and providing them on their timetable, needs and budgets, not ours.” Today, as the president of XperNet Services, Greg enjoys working in partnership with his clients ensuring their successful business endeavors pertaining to technology; bringing big-business capabilities to small businesses. Henry also owns KPM Management, an association property management company. -KPM Management serves the business and nonprofit communities in all aspects of management. Greg Henry is involved in the Katy community. He is a board member of the Katy Area Chamber of Commerce and Chair the Technology Committee. He also serves on the boards for Grand Lakes MUD #2 and Katy ISD Partners in Education. He is a Lifetime Member of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo and volunteers his time and talent for his church, schools, Boy Scouts of America, and more. Greg is also a licensed Amateur Radio Operator and holds a lifetime FCC 3rd Class Radiotelephone Operator permit. Greg Henry has demonstrated an outstanding commitment to his wife Tracy, children Kyle and Katrina, the Katy community, and the growth and development of his business. Greg is well-known for bringing the highest level of integrity, honesty, and credibility to all his endeavors. The Katy Area Chamber of Commerce is proud to award the inaugural Stan and Patsy Stanley Entrepreneur Award to Greg Henry and XperNet Services.
99