Victoria Advocate's Business Review June 26, 2022 by mrobertsdigital

SUNDAY, JUNE 26, 2022

A special publication featuring 12 nominated business professionals

2 — VICTORIA ADVOCATE • SUNDAY, JUNE 26, 2022

PROFILES:

VictoriaAdvocate.com

GENERAL MANAGER

BRET BALDWIN �� 3 DR. MIKE ETIENNE �� 4

EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Keith Kohn 361-574-1223 kkohn@vicad.com

MANAGING EDITOR

Becky Cooper 361-574-1285 bcooper@vicad.com

DARIELLE GARTICA �� 4 HILARY KOFRON �� 5 STEPHANIE LEDWIG �� 5 MARISSA MEAD �� 6 KYLE MOTAL �� 6 TERI R. MOTEN �� 7 TESS SMALLEY �� 7

FEATURES EDITOR

Catherine Kohn 361-580-6585 ckohn@vicad.com

SPECIAL PROJECTS COORDINATOR

Wendy Duke 361-574-1238 wduke@vicad.com

KARISSA WINTERS �� 8 MIKE YOKUM �� 8

ADVERTISING SALES MANAGER

TROY YORK �� 9 GRAPHIC DESIGNER

CONTENT: COMMON MID-CAREER CHALLENGES AND

George Coleman 361-574-1236 gcoleman@vicad.com

Kevin Alstrom 361-580-6317 kalstrom@vicad.com Katie Case

THE BUSINESS REVIEW IS PUBLISHED BY THE

WHAT TO DO ABOUT THEM �� 9 HOW MENTORING BENEFITS MENTORS �� 10

“You must be very patient, very persistent. The world isn’t going to shower gold coins on you just because you have a good idea. You’re going to have to work like crazy to bring that idea to the attention of people.” - Herb Kelleher

Life Insurance • Disability Income • Long Term Care Financial Planning • College Funds • Wealth Management

5103 E. Airline Rd • Victoria, TX 77904 • 361-570-0920 Securities, investment advisory and financial planning services offered through qualified registered representatives of MML Investors Services, LLC, Member SIPC. Supervisory Office 10101 Reunion Place, Suite 300, San Antonio, TX 78216 (210) 342-4141. LodeStone Financial Services is not a subsidiary or affiliate of MML Investors Services, LLC or its affiliated companies. CRN202506-2569171

VictoriaAdvocate.com

AGE: 58 EDUCATION: Graduate Diploma in Law - International Law from the National University of Singapore; M.B.A. – International Marketing from Thunderbird School of Global Management (Arizona State); B.B.A. – Management from Texas State University (Southwest Texas State University) CITY OF RESIDENCE: Victoria OCCUPATION/TITLE: Senior Consultant COMPANY: Straet Global Consulting, LLC

VICTORIA ADVOCATE • SUNDAY, JUNE 26, 2022 —

BRET BALDWIN

HOW DID YOU BECOME INVOLVED IN THIS INDUSTRY? Started consulting with central-Texas company’s operational and optimization development while in college through a work-based learning Small Business Management course. That led to market expansion consulting work internationally for south Texas farmers, which resulted in propelling my management consulting work around the world – predominately for corporations’ strategic planning and sales development. WHAT DRIVES YOU TO SUCCEED? I get extremely excited to help guide, develop, and sometimes implement solutions through collaborative consulting for businesses (small to corporate, local and international), organizations (non-profit and associations) and educational entities (decision-makers) to deliver results and value to those who wouldn’t normally see the need to work together. WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES YOU HAVE FACED DURING YOUR CAREER? HOW DID YOU OVERCOME THESE CHALLENGES? The biggest challenges I have most often faced are consulting with closed-minded doubters who refuse assistance due to their pride and/ or their lack of confidence. This most often translates into them choosing to view a truly good thing, or valuable opportunity, as a “can’t do” or “that’s not the way we do things.” My teams and I overcome these challenges by bringing acceptable and re-positioned (doubter-approved) viewpoint to the situation – whereby such doubters soon believe, and can then envision, a renewed value and later realized as a prosperous advantage. WHAT EXCITES YOU ABOUT THE CURRENT AND FUTURE STATE OF YOUR CAREER? Consulting is very rewarding. It helps clients and customers see, realize, understand, and embrace change, especially the many new technological opportunities created for them, and a better understanding of the globalization of their situation, business, purpose, and livelihood. IN WHAT WAYS DO YOU SERVE AND GIVE BACK TO YOUR COMMUNITY? I most sincerely believe that my mission in life is to always strive to give my best following my leader, Jesus Christ, as “he did not come to be served, but to serve…” Therefore, I am service-focused in my faith, volunteering, especially to my community, and to my consulting business. A few past and current examples are: Local Workforce Development and Improvement: UHV and Victoria College Instructor; Train-the-Trainer; Area High Schools’ Career & Technical Education (CTE) Advisor; Project Management: Facilitator; Strategic Planner. WHAT CHARITY OR NONPROFITS DO YOU SUPPORT AND WHY? Past and current examples include: Church: Deacon; Youth Director; Sunday School Teacher; Committees, Education, Personnel, Missions/ Local Outreach, Building and Operations; VBS. Rotary International: Local President; Board Member; Early Act First Knight (EAFK) - Student Character Development Program; Program Speaker. Local Sports: Little League Coach; Upward Sports; Director; Coaches Commissioner; Basketball Coach; Football Coach; Referee. Chamber of Commerce: Board Member; Education Committee; Marketing Committee. Victoria ISD: School Board Trustee; Watch Dog Dad – Dudley Elementary; PTO support.

YOUR FUTURE STARTS HERE! It’s time to think about what you want for your life and the ones you love. At UHV, we’re ready to help. Whether you have a student close to graduating from high school who wants a traditional university experience while earning a bachelor’s degree or you’re a busy professional who wants to finish up a bachelor’s or start a master’s degree, UHV is here to guide you and provide encouragement. Start your degree this spring and take face-to-face or online classes at convenient times. UHV also has some of the state’s lowest tuition rates and offers more than 80 academic programs in popular areas. What are you waiting for? Apply now to start this spring! Contact us now at (361) 570-4848 or recruitment@uhv.edu to learn more about becoming a UHV Jaguar, or go to UHV.edu!

UHV.edu

(361) 570-4848

4 — VICTORIA ADVOCATE • SUNDAY, JUNE 26, 2022

VictoriaAdvocate.com

DR. MIKE ETIENNE

AGE: Over 40 EDUCATION: B.A. in political science from James Madison University; Master’s in Urban & Regional Planning; and PhD in public policy and administration from Virginia Commonwealth University CITY OF RESIDENCE: Victoria OCCUPATION/TITLE: Assistant City Manager COMPANY: City of Victoria

HOW DID YOU BECOME INVOLVED IN THIS INDUSTRY? I started out as an intern with the City of Richmond, Virginia, during my graduate studies. I coordinated the City’s family self-sufficiency program, connecting public housing residents with resources such as GED classes and job training. After my internship, the department director promoted me to senior planner. WHAT DRIVES YOU TO SUCCEED? As a servant leader, I am motivated by a desire to make a difference in people’s lives and improve their quality of life at the family level and citywide. I am also grateful to my father who told me that I could accomplish anything through hard work, dedication, and perseverance. WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES YOU HAVE FACED DURING YOUR CAREER? HOW DID YOU OVERCOME THESE CHALLENGES? Often, federal resources and programs that address poverty are difficult to tailor to local needs, or they don’t really help low-income families and the homeless become self-sufficient. I believe the best way to alleviate poverty is by creating programs that promote selfsufficiency: that is, “teaching a man how to fish.” The slow pace of bureaucracy can also be a hindrance. I try to overcome both of these problems by working with private-sector and nonprofit partners to develop solutions that fit our community. WHAT EXCITES YOU ABOUT THE CURRENT AND FUTURE STATE OF YOUR CAREER? I’m excited by the potential in this community and the support from city management, City Council and residents who want to see Victoria move forward and become a destination city. That support will help us pursue many exciting initiatives in the future, such as increasing our supply of affordable workforce housing and improving our overall infrastructure. IN WHAT WAYS DO YOU SERVE AND GIVE BACK TO YOUR COMMUNITY? I volunteer with many local nonprofits that are active in community development and neighborhood revitalization. I serve as staff to the Victoria Housing Finance Corporation, liaison to the Victoria Housing Authority, and I’m also on the boards of the Salvation Army and Habitat for Humanity. I’m also active with the Southside Coalition, Be Well Victoria, Keep Victoria Beautiful, and the Victoria Chamber of Commerce. WHAT CHARITY OR NONPROFITS DO YOU SUPPORT AND WHY? I support the organizations listed above as well as the United Way in their service to the community. I also frequently donate to Catholic Charities because they are aligned with my values, my faith, as well as my desire to create opportunities for underserved populations.

DARIELLE GARTICA

AGE: 32 EDUCATION: Bachelors in Mass Communication CITY OF RESIDENCE: Victoria OCCUPATION/TITLE: Owner of Barhop Bartender Event Hospitality COMPANY: Cajun Wok

HOW DID YOU BECOME INVOLVED IN THIS INDUSTRY? After college I struggled to find a job in the field of sports journalism, so I took a job as bartender at Applebee’s in Bay City where I found myself more comfortable than ever before. From there I started offering event bar service, then added catering, and now we’ve opened a kitchen, Cajun Wok. WHAT DRIVES YOU TO SUCCEED? What drives me to succeed is motivating my family and others to believe they can achieve the dreams of their heart. I believe that by building my business to its highest level I will be able to build the community and other small businesses and create better opportunities for future generations. WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES YOU HAVE FACED DURING YOUR CAREER? HOW DID YOU OVERCOME THESE CHALLENGES? The biggest challenge I faced was growing my business from the ground up with little to no advertising budget. Because most advertisements require a large budget I had to create ways to market my business with no budget. In doing so I mastered social media marketing in a way that can grow many small businesses large enough to buy advertising and focus on growing their company. WHAT EXCITES YOU ABOUT THE CURRENT AND FUTURE STATE OF YOUR CAREER? I’m excited now because we just opened our brand new kitchen, Cajun Wok, located at 1202 N. Ben Wilson St. We began in 2015 as a bar service company into what is now a full hospitality company. Not only do we still offer bar service and catering for weddings and large events, but we can now make memories on a regular basis through our kitchen, Cajun Wok. We’re open Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. and 4-9 p.m. IN WHAT WAYS DO YOU SERVE AND GIVE BACK TO YOUR COMMUNITY? Barhop thrives on giving back to the community. Since being in business we have partnered with I.M.P.A.C.T. non-profit organizations to provide mentorship, tutoring, and clothing drives. Barhop gave trophies to all A/AB honor roll students in Bay City, and Halloween Trunkor-Treats for Victoria kids. I volunteer at Christ’s Kitchen, contribute to providing Thanksgiving meals for families, and more. WHAT CHARITY OR NONPROFITS DO YOU SUPPORT AND WHY? Barhop supports the Sistas In Action organization led by Ingrid Williams. We support this organization because they are always first to donate to help others in need. Through this organization we are able to feed 20-plus families for the Thanksgiving holiday. We also enjoy meeting every first Saturday of the month for Bible Study and breakfast with God fearing women.

VICTORIA ADVOCATE • SUNDAY, JUNE 26, 2022 —

VictoriaAdvocate.com

HILARY KOFRON

AGE: 39 EDUCATION: Master of Science in Family & Child Studies CITY OF RESIDENCE: Victoria OCCUPATION/TITLE: Director of Student Life COMPANY: University of Houston-Victoria

HOW DID YOU BECOME INVOLVED IN THIS INDUSTRY? As a native Victorian who moved away to attend college and begin my career, I wasn’t sure of my path when I moved back home. My passion has always been to impact others and when I discovered the opportunities and impacts I could make at UHV, I knew that’s where I wanted to be. WHAT DRIVES YOU TO SUCCEED? My passion and drive have always been to positively impact others. At UHV, I feel I can make those positive impacts regularly. The opportunities I have to make valuable connections with students and coworkers is something I wouldn’t trade, and it drives me to success daily. WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES YOU HAVE FACED DURING YOUR CAREER? HOW DID YOU OVERCOME THESE CHALLENGES? As with most individuals, the pandemic has been one of the biggest challenges I’ve faced in my career. In Student Life, one of our goals is helping students enhance their social development through a variety of involvement opportunities. During the pandemic, we had to rethink our programming efforts and how to get students involved when in-person opportunities were not an option. Despite the challenges, everyone’s safety was our first priority, and so we came together and developed a variety of virtual opportunities to encourage student involvement and social interactions during the pandemic. WHAT EXCITES YOU ABOUT THE CURRENT AND FUTURE STATE OF YOUR CAREER? During my six-year career at UHV, the growth and development that has taken place there is astounding. When I began, UHV had three residence halls and three academic/office buildings. We now have a beautiful new residence hall — Smith Hall — as well as three more incredible academic/office buildings. Academics and programs continue to grow as UHV pursues its goal of becoming a destination university. As you can imagine, the development happening at UHV makes it a very exciting place to work, as well as a great place to further my career. IN WHAT WAYS DO YOU SERVE AND GIVE BACK TO YOUR COMMUNITY? I strive to serve the Victoria community in a number of ways. I’ve been an active board member on the Crossroads Business and Education Connection (CBEC) for more than three years. CBEC’s mission is to bring business and community members together to connect students to the workforce as well as higher education and training — a mission I value for our community. In Student Life, we offer a variety of involvement opportunities but one that I always value is educating and providing volunteer experiences for students. We collaborate with multiple service partners throughout the year, and I always encourage students and myself to join whenever possible. WHAT CHARITY OR NONPROFITS DO YOU SUPPORT AND WHY? Supporting a variety of nonprofits is important to me, whether it’s assisting individuals in need, through the Food Bank of the Golden Crescent (FBGC), enriching the community through art at The Nave Museum, or beautifying where we live with the Victoria Main Street Program. I value these efforts and more because I believe it enhances our community and members.

STEPHANIE LEDWIG HOW DID YOU BECOME INVOLVED IN THIS INDUSTRY?

My parents put me in dance class when I was 2 years old. By the time I was 5, I knew I wanted to teach dance one day and own a studio. WHAT DRIVES YOU TO SUCCEED? I have always been a driven person. If I set my mind to something, I do it. My parents are a big part of that. They taught me that hard work and perseverance are key. WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES YOU HAVE FACED DURING YOUR CAREER? HOW DID YOU OVERCOME THESE CHALLENGES? Our biggest year was the year COVID-19 hit (2019-20). It was devastating when we had to stop in-person classes that year, two months before our end of the year performance. The following year (2020-21) was probably the hardest of my career as we were trying to rebuild during the pandemic. We worked so hard that year to make the best of a difficult situation. This past dance season we grew tremendously. Our families supported us through the pandemic and continue to support us now. WHAT EXCITES YOU ABOUT THE CURRENT AND FUTURE STATE OF YOUR CAREER? AGE: 29 EDUCATION: Bachelor of Science in Communication CITY OF RESIDENCE: Victoria OCCUPATION/TITLE: Dance Studio Owner COMPANY: Ledwig Dance Academy

Dance is always evolving. Because of this, dance teachers need to attend workshops and obtain certifications. There are many certification programs and more continue to be developed. My staff and I attend workshops throughout the year and look for programs and new ways to teach our students. IN WHAT WAYS DO YOU SERVE AND GIVE BACK TO YOUR COMMUNITY? I’m very passionate about education and supporting our schools. I signed on as a substitute teacher a few years ago and sub when I can. It’s not much, but I know it’s appreciated. I feel that that’s what I can give to serve and support. WHAT CHARITY OR NONPROFITS DO YOU SUPPORT AND WHY? We donate to Region 3’s Early Childhood Intervention Program often. We donate equipment we no longer use. They use it for their classes that they host for children from birth to 3 years of age. Our studio participates in the events they host throughout the year. Each year we make generous donations to fundraisers hosted by schools, students, and organizations.

6 — VICTORIA ADVOCATE • SUNDAY, JUNE 26, 2022

VictoriaAdvocate.com

MARISSA MEAD

AGE: 35 EDUCATION: High School CITY OF RESIDENCE: Victoria OCCUPATION/TITLE: Owner COMPANY: Sweet Joy Candles LLC

HOW DID YOU BECOME INVOLVED IN THIS INDUSTRY? This all started as a temporary venture — as an extra fundraising endeavor for my daughter Avery’s gymnastics in November 2019. When COVID-19 put a stop to everything I decided to put my faith to the test and try candle making full-time. WHAT DRIVES YOU TO SUCCEED? Family is my number one. Avery, Abigail, and my husband Blake, over the past two years have been able to watch me grow from not knowing a thing about candle making or running a candle business to being able to now help others with what I am able to do and create. WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES YOU HAVE FACED DURING YOUR CAREER? HOW DID YOU OVERCOME THESE CHALLENGES? Starting a new small business came with many challenges, but the biggest challenge was learning how to properly make my own candles that not only smelled good, but were also safe to burn. This came with a lot of trial and error and many long hours of testing in my candle room with different wicks, oils, wax, perfecting burns, and research. Being self-taught, I enrolled in various classes to help further my knowledge on candle making. WHAT EXCITES YOU ABOUT THE CURRENT AND FUTURE STATE OF YOUR CAREER? As a small business owner my continuous growth in the candle industry excites me. Having the support of other small businesses that have welcomed my candles into their shops has been a huge blessing in helping me grow. The future looks bright as I continuously try to improve my wait times and being able to supply the demand that is being asked for. IN WHAT WAYS DO YOU SERVE AND GIVE BACK TO YOUR COMMUNITY? I make special candles for fundraisers or events in the area so that donations can be made to help a cause. One recent fundraiser I was able to help with involved creating an Uvalde candle and portions of the profits went to SoulShine Industries out of Edna to help where needed. Prior to this I did another big fundraiser for The Vine School/Branching Out Program, where I made autism candles to help with donations. These are just two of the recent ones, but I rarely turn down help when asked. WHAT CHARITY OR NONPROFITS DO YOU SUPPORT AND WHY? I support several charities and nonprofits over the last few years with The Vine School/Branching out program being the most recent. I am always open to talking with charities and nonprofits to see where I can help show support.

KYLE MOTAL

AGE: 28 EDUCATION: Bachelors of Business Administration in Finance, University of HoustonVictoria CITY OF RESIDENCE: Victoria OCCUPATION/TITLE: Financial Services Representative COMPANY: LodeStone Financial Services

HOW DID YOU BECOME INVOLVED IN THIS INDUSTRY? Networking and associating myself with successful people who have been in the investment industry helped me to decide to pursue opportunities. My family has been a huge supporter of me as I pursue my goals. WHAT DRIVES YOU TO SUCCEED? I enjoy meeting individuals, families, and businesses and walking with them to discover what they are hoping for in their financial future. I have many resources I can share that helps them in the process of determining their goals. It is so rewarding to see their hopes and dreams take shape and to see them working actively to achieve them. WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES YOU HAVE FACED DURING YOUR CAREER? HOW DID YOU OVERCOME THESE CHALLENGES? The biggest challenge is keeping clients committed to their financial independence journey and staying on track to reach their goals. I help my clients navigate unpredictable circumstances, while keeping their emotions intact through communication and support. Working with a great team is the driving force behind my ability to confront challenges. WHAT EXCITES YOU ABOUT THE CURRENT AND FUTURE STATE OF YOUR CAREER? Learning to provide opportunities to create unique solutions for individuals and families. I am enthusiastic about sharing my knowledge and skills with individuals, families, and businesses in their efforts to build a solid foundation and future. People inherently have the vision and optimism to succeed, and I am humbled to work with clients to help apply their vision on paper so they can start the process of bringing it to fruition. IN WHAT WAYS DO YOU SERVE AND GIVE BACK TO YOUR COMMUNITY? I am involved in the community, including as Chapter President of the Victoria – Crossroads Independent Cattleman’s Association, to increase awareness and involvement of the local ranching community. I assist as moderator and team member for UHV Bridge to Brilliance programs to help students grow and connect with mentors and business professionals. I am involved in supporting local businesses through Victoria Chamber of Commerce local ribbon cuttings. I attend the VEDC meetings to support and be informed of our community and I am involved with Innovation Collective through Fireside Chat events to provide support and be a resource for entrepreneurship and innovative ideas to make Victoria a better place. WHAT CHARITY OR NONPROFITS DO YOU SUPPORT AND WHY? As a parishioner and lector of The Cathedral of Our Lady of Victory, I support the mission of our church and am a firm believer in my Catholic faith. As a 3rd-degree Knight of the Knights of Columbus Council 1329, I support activities in raising funds for our charities. I also support the Food Bank of the Golden Crescent because of their initiatives, as I believe no one should go hungry.

VICTORIA ADVOCATE • SUNDAY, JUNE 26, 2022 —

VictoriaAdvocate.com

TERI R. MOTEN

AGE: 49 EDUCATION: MBA, University of Houston-Victoria; BBA, University of Texas at Austin CITY OF RESIDENCE: Victoria OCCUPATION/TITLE: Digital Marketing Consultant, Business Growth Strategist COMPANY: M. Roberts Digital, Your Business Problem Solver, LLC

HOW DID YOU BECOME INVOLVED IN THIS INDUSTRY? I became involved in digital marketing after working in medical sales for nine years and financial services for seven years. After transitioning out of medical sales, I wanted to make a direct impact helping business owners. I’ve been able to have that impact by marrying digital marketing with business consulting. WHAT DRIVES YOU TO SUCCEED? Growing up, my parents instilled in me a spirit of achievement. At this time in my life, I strive for success so I can be a role model to our daughter. I have been teaching her the things that have led me to success and the things that hindered me. WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES YOU HAVE FACED DURING YOUR CAREER? HOW DID YOU OVERCOME THESE CHALLENGES? For the past 17 years, my husband has had several major health events which began 13 months after we were married, and had a 4-month-old daughter. During times of health crises, I had to balance taking care of a child, taking care of the household, taking care of bills, and working full-time. What has gotten me through the multiple deathbed situations with my husband has been my faith that God did not give me the husband He made for me to take him away from me and my daughter. God has performed miracles and indeed been the Chief Physician. WHAT EXCITES YOU ABOUT THE CURRENT AND FUTURE STATE OF YOUR CAREER? I am very excited about my career in marketing and business consulting because there are so many changes and trends, especially in digital. There is never a dull moment. Each business owner I encounter has hopes and dreams to provide a better life for their family, better economic opportunities for their community, and I just love hearing the stories they have to tell. Then to top it off, I am blessed to have knowledge, resources, and connections to share with them so they can reach their goals more quickly and with a lower likelihood of failure. IN WHAT WAYS DO YOU SERVE AND GIVE BACK TO YOUR COMMUNITY? I give back to the community by always making myself available to assist business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs. My superpower is connecting people to the referrals, resources, and knowledge they need. One of the other ways I serve is by uplifting and empowering women in our community. We live in a time where women don’t always receive the support and encouragement they should from one another. I want to demonstrate that celebrating and lauding the accomplishments of other women doesn’t diminish your opportunities or dim your light. We can all rise together. WHAT CHARITY OR NONPROFITS DO YOU SUPPORT AND WHY? I sit on the boards of several nonprofit and business-based organizations in our community including United Way of the Crossroads, the two local chapters of the American Business Women’s Association (VPEN and WGTEN), and the Success Team for the Innovation Collective-Victoria. I’m also an active member of the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce and the Golden Crescent Urban Chamber of Commerce. Since I love working with businesses in the Crossroads, I am drawn to help organizations that support local businesses. There are so many amazing organizations to support, it can be hard to say no when you know you can help.

TESS SMALLEY

HOW DID YOU BECOME INVOLVED IN THIS INDUSTRY?

Before I graduated I was trying to figure out exactly what I wanted to do. My mom mentioned a cosmetology school she thought I should tour just to see, and the rest was history. After that visit I instantly fell in love with the environment and knew it was meant to be. WHAT DRIVES YOU TO SUCCEED? Making my parents proud and showing younger individuals that you can succeed in any career you’re passionate about. WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES YOU HAVE FACED DURING YOUR CAREER? HOW DID YOU OVERCOME THESE CHALLENGES? One of the biggest challenges I think in the beauty industry is understanding not every client is going to be forever and that’s okay. I wouldn’t say anything made me overcome this, however growth as a stylist made me realize that it isn’t anything personal and opens up a new door for new clients. WHAT EXCITES YOU ABOUT THE CURRENT AND FUTURE STATE OF YOUR CAREER? Most excited about earning Best Of The Best, and being featured on Redkin online, as well as being honored in the Crossroads and being AGE: 27 EDUCATION: Paul Mitchell The School Houston CITY OF RESIDENCE: Victoria OCCUPATION/TITLE: Hair Stylist COMPANY: The Vanity Room

able to help style for the Victoria 361 magazine. It’s just a really good feeling that’s unexplainable. My future state? Well that’s the fun part about the industry — every day is a new opportunity with every new guest and continuing guests that come in. You never really know what could be next besides continued growth. IN WHAT WAYS DO YOU SERVE AND GIVE BACK TO YOUR COMMUNITY? One of my favorite ways to give back is donating school supplies to help fill teachers’ Amazon wish lists or helping fill backpacks for a case worker. I also am a sucker for school fundraisers and donation baskets. I’m hoping to increase my community give back in other ways in the future. WHAT CHARITY OR NONPROFITS DO YOU SUPPORT AND WHY? Every year for the last five years I sign up for at least two charity races. Rock and Roll, which benefits St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing, and food, is one of my favorite races. It helps raise money so families just have to worry about their children and not stress about financial hardships.

8 — VICTORIA ADVOCATE • SUNDAY, JUNE 26, 2022

VictoriaAdvocate.com

KARISSA WINTERS

AGE: 38 EDUCATION: Attended Stephen F. Austin State University CITY OF RESIDENCE: Victoria OCCUPATION/TITLE: Community Lead COMPANY: Innovation Collective

HOW DID YOU BECOME INVOLVED IN THIS INDUSTRY? I was fortunate enough to learn about Innovation Collective coming to Victoria, which is my hometown. I was recommended to apply for the position based on my experience as an entrepreneur and my passion for the community. WHAT DRIVES YOU TO SUCCEED? Helping people, helping my city. I am passionate about helping people find themselves as entrepreneurs, connecting them with the right people — those who share like-minded passions — and helping guide them to accomplish their dreams. When people in my community excel and add to the community, we all benefit. WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES YOU HAVE FACED DURING YOUR CAREER? HOW DID YOU OVERCOME THESE CHALLENGES? I have had some of my creative content stolen and replicated for profit. It was very devastating to me and it almost extinguished my spark for creating and pursuing entrepreneurial opportunities. I overcame these challenges by continuing to move forward, while focusing on creating and helping people for the right reasons and a belief that by giving you will receive. Today I continue to create and help people pursue their dreams and the rewards for doing so are fulfilling on many levels. WHAT EXCITES YOU ABOUT THE CURRENT AND FUTURE STATE OF YOUR CAREER? I’m very excited about the opportunities my present career is creating in my community. As we come out of the standstill that COVID-19 created, people are eager to get out, network and pursue new opportunities in entrepreneurship. With the success of my community, and the pathways I am helping with, our city stands to greatly benefit from the future growth of small and local business. IN WHAT WAYS DO YOU SERVE AND GIVE BACK TO YOUR COMMUNITY? Time and attendance. I am a strong believer that if you want impactful things in your community you have to show up. Show up for events and show up for people. When people feel like you are giving them your time and support, they stay motivated to create and do great things in and for the community. Mentoring is also an important part of how I give back. WHAT CHARITY OR NONPROFITS DO YOU SUPPORT AND WHY? There are so many that I support locally, but I would like to highlight the Vine School, Golden Groove, The Teen Center and the Food Bank of the Golden Crescent. The Vine School makes an amazing impact on the lives of families who feel lost in their children’s education. Golden Groove and Teen Center are nonprofits that grew out of an idea that started within my Innovation Collective events and is run by a very special friends. The Food Bank helps so many people who are desperately in need of a helping hand. Non-locally I have a long affiliation with Good Dog Service Canines.

MIKE YOKUM

AGE: 56 EDUCATION: Some College CITY OF RESIDENCE: Victoria OCCUPATION/TITLE: Vice President/General Manager COMPANY: Victoria Generals

HOW DID YOU BECOME INVOLVED IN THIS INDUSTRY? My wife began working for the Generals in 2009 and we also signed on as a host family for the Generals. I would spend my evenings at the games volunteering. After a 30 year career in retail (Target) I decided to retire. After about a year of retirement the VP/GM position opened up and it was offered to me. WHAT DRIVES YOU TO SUCCEED? Watching these young athletes excel in baseball and advance to the next level (Major League Baseball). Seeing them make improvements as the season rolls on is quite rewarding. Winning baseball games. WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES YOU HAVE FACED DURING YOUR CAREER? HOW DID YOU OVERCOME THESE CHALLENGES? The cost of running this operation is a challenge and that especially holds true during the economic situation that we are facing as we speak. To overcome this, I push harder to find new sponsors to support the Generals financially. We have many small businesses and corporations that have signed on with the Generals and they continue to stay connected with us year after year. WHAT EXCITES YOU ABOUT THE CURRENT AND FUTURE STATE OF YOUR CAREER? Baseball is an amazing sport to be a part of and at the collegiate level, I have an opportunity to watch young men ages 18-24 develop as players. Nothing excites me more than to hear the name of one of the players that we have worked with get called by Major League Baseball on draft day. We have had more than 50 players have their name called, with several currently playing at the major league level. IN WHAT WAYS DO YOU SERVE AND GIVE BACK TO YOUR COMMUNITY? As part of my commitment to the Generals when I came aboard, I wanted to give back to the community. In my previous career, that company did an outstanding job supporting the community. in 2014 we started our charity jersey auctions. We support three organizations with that: Warriors Weekend, Alzheimer’s Association and Cancer Research. These jerseys are auctioned off following the game with 100% of the money raised going to these organizations. In eight seasons, the Generals have given back almost $280,000 to these organizations. WHAT CHARITY OR NONPROFITS DO YOU SUPPORT AND WHY? Warrior’s Weekend — This is an outstanding organization committed to the well-being of our wounded veterans. Ron Kocian is amazing making sure the money raised goes to taking care of the vets. Alzheimer’s Association — I think everyone knows someone who has battled this terrible disease. To find a cure for this would be remarkable and the money we raise goes to support this. Cancer — Cancer is also a disease that we are making incredible strides in finding new ways of treatment. We have partnered with Citizens Medical Center to support programs that help those that can’t afford screening processes for cancer.

VICTORIA ADVOCATE • SUNDAY, JUNE 26, 2022 —

VictoriaAdvocate.com

TROY YORK

HOW DID YOU BECOME INVOLVED IN THIS INDUSTRY?

I grew up in Corpus Christi. My father, Paul York, owned Paul York Toyota and I started selling cars at 15 years old. I always knew I would be in the car business. WHAT DRIVES YOU TO SUCCEED? Every day I get up and am happy to get to work and trying to excel in growing our dealerships. Treating customers right, exceeding expectations. WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES YOU HAVE FACED DURING YOUR CAREER? HOW DID YOU OVERCOME THESE CHALLENGES? We have had several economic challenges in the last 15 years but if you stay consistent and treat people right I have learned you will triumph. WHAT EXCITES YOU ABOUT THE CURRENT AND FUTURE STATE OF YOUR CAREER? AGE: 41 EDUCATION: Bachelor’s Texas A&M University CITY OF RESIDENCE: Victoria OCCUPATION/TITLE: General Manager COMPANY: Victory Buick, GMC, Kia

Victory Auto Group has an exciting future and we plan to grow, expand and bring new exciting things to Victoria. I believe the growth in Victoria over the next 10 years will be extremely exciting. IN WHAT WAYS DO YOU SERVE AND GIVE BACK TO YOUR COMMUNITY? At Victory, we always are trying to support our local schools and give back. We developed Lean On Me just for that purpose. WHAT CHARITY OR NONPROFITS DO YOU SUPPORT AND WHY? We always try to support our local schools, Toys for Tots, Boys & Girls Club, Rotary and many more. We know we can’t do it all, but we try our hardest to do as much as possible.

COMMON MID-CAREER CHALLENGES AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT THEM Courtesy of Metro Challenges abound in the professional arena. Whether an individual is an executive with a lengthy track record of success or a newly minted graduate just starting out, the next challenge is never too far off. And for mid-career professionals, those challenges could be accompanied by uncertainty about the direction of their careers and what their next step should be. Around the time they turn 50, many professionals face similar challenges that can lead them to question much about their professional lives. The following challenges won’t affect every person over 50, but recognition of them could help midcareer professionals make the most of their remaining years in the workforce. • Motivation: Professional motivation can wane by the time many professionals reach 50. At this point in their careers, professionals may have decades of experience in a given field, and some may have reached management level within their firms. That combination of lengthy experience and achievement can make it hard to stay motivated, especially for professionals who feel they’ve gotten as high up the ladder as they can get in their companies. In such instances, individuals can ask themselves what they want next. Identifying professional goals can provide the motivation to go and achieve them. That spark can reignite the passion that helped mid-career professionals get where they are today. • Hesitancy: Mid-career professionals often have

significant obligations at work and at home. Individuals with a family may still have to provide for their children and save for costly college tuition. The pressure to provide for a family, coupled with responsibilities to colleagues at the office, can make some professionals hesitant to pursue professional changes that could positively affect their lives. Individuals who want to make a change but are hesitant to do so can devote considerable effort to finding a solution that won’t upset the apple cart. For example, professionals over 50 who feel a career change is in order can begin taking small steps to make that a reality. Doing so while continuing to work ensures personal and professional obligations are met and gets individuals on the road to change they think will provide more fulfillment than their current careers. • Underutilization: Mid-career professionals who feel they’re underutilized at work may feel helpless to remedy their situations. Some might not welcome the upheaval to their routines that a career change would require, while others may question the wisdom of seeking more responsibility at their current firms. In such instances, professionals can look for opportunities to do more. Offer to help when new work projects arise or mentor younger colleagues just starting out. Mid-career challenges unique to their situations could await professionals over 50. Recognition of these challenges and a willingness to overcome them could lead to greater professional satisfaction.

10 — VICTORIA ADVOCATE • SUNDAY, JUNE 26, 2022

VictoriaAdvocate.com

HOW MENTORING BENEFITS MENTORS • Mentoring can benefit your bottom line. Mentors typically pursue mentoring to give back. However, becoming a mentor can benefit your bottom line. The Sun Mentors tend to be unsung heroes. If asked to explain their success, many who have Microsystems analysis found that 28 percent of managers who took on the role of reached the pinnacle of their professions would cite the influence of a valuable mentor mentor received a raise, while just 5 percent of those who did not mentor anyone among the many factors that helped them achieve their goals. received a bump in pay. Mentoring is often discussed in terms that note its value to those being mentored, but Mentoring can help young professionals in myriad ways. But experienced professionals mentors also gain much from the experience of helping the people they advise. That’s also benefit in some surprising ways from advising younger colleagues. worth noting for successful individuals over 50 who are looking to make the most of their professional experience by giving back to others. Professionals thinking of becoming a mentor can consider the many ways the experience could be as beneficial for them as it is for the people they will help. • Mentoring provides a sense of satisfaction. An analysis by the human resources department at Sun Microsystems found that mentees are promoted five times more often than colleagues who do not have mentors. Many mentors gain significant satisfaction from watching someone they helped advance through the professional ranks. • Mentoring is effective. Professionals over 50 who are hesitant to become a mentor because they suspect it might not be effective can rest easy knowing that it has a profound and positive impact on mentees. According to a recent CNBC/ SurveyMonkey Workplace Happiness Survey, nine in 10 workers who have a mentor reported being satisfied with their jobs. In fact, 57 percent of such individuals reported being ‘very satisfied.’ The percentage of individuals without a mentor who report being satisfied or very satisfied is significantly lower. The implication of that disparity is significant, suggesting that mentoring has a very real and positive effect on mentees. Professionals on the fence about mentoring due to doubts about its efficacy can rest easy knowing that it is highly beneficial to young workers. • Mentoring helps a diverse group of professionals. Professionals hoping for more diversity and inclusion in the workforce should know that workers in groups that have historically been adversely affected by a lack of diversity are more likely to have mentors. For example, data from the CNBC survey indicates that women are more likely than men to have a mentor, while members of various minority groups, including Hispanics and African Americans, are more likely to have mentors than whites. Prospective mentors who want to create a more inclusive workplace can utilize mentoring as a tool to help various minority groups further their careers. Courtesy of Metro

BEST WISHES

TO ALL OF OUR FEATURED LOCAL PROFESSIONALS

VictoriaAdvocate.com

VICTORIA ADVOCATE • SUNDAY, JUNE 26, 2022 —

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Call Cynthia 361.574.1234 Cynthia Guzman-Fernandes Employment Specialist Victoria Advocate – From Here. For Here. Since 1846. Phone: 361-580-6508 | Fax:361-574-1274 Email: cguzman-fernandes@vicad.com Website: victoriaadvocate.com Address: 101 W. Goodwin Ste. 1200, Victoria, TX 77901 Se Habla Español