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CONTENTS

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

13 TOP ATTORNEYS

THE WEIRD WATERS OF LAKE TRAVIS

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28

MEET AUSTIN’S LEGAL ELITE

AN OASIS WITH STRANGE, UNSOLVED, AND “PARANORMAL” ACTIVITY

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FEATURE STORY

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FEATURE STORY

DINING AND ENTERTAINMENT

BUSINESS

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CARRIE UNDERWOOD

17 25 18 DELECTABLE DINING EXPERIENCES THROUGHOUT AUSTIN

AUSTIN MEANS BUSINESS

5 THINGS YOU DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT CARRIE UNDERWOOD

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PAGES 8-16

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attorneys

TOP 10

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MICHELLE CABRET, MD

A

ustin Cosmetic Surgery is a leading cosmetic surgery practice that specializes in surgical and non surgical procedures, as well as health and wellness services for both men and women. Led by the stunning Michelle Cabret, M.D, DDS, Austin Cosmetic Surgery provides services in 5 major areas: body, face, and breasts surgically, nonsurgical aesthetics for the face & body, and wellness to include hormone optimization and medically assisted weight loss. This includes breast augmentation, tummy tuck, mommy makeover, jaw augmentation and more. Dr Cabret is a premier cosmetic and reconstructive surgeon in both Scottsdale, Arizona and Austin, Texas.

Born on an Air Force Base in Puerto Rico, Dr. Cabret spent much of her childhood (9 months a year) in foreign countries, including Japan, Philippines, and the United Kingdom due to her parents’ careers working for the Department of Defense (DOD). Additionally, her parents felt traveling provided an education in and of itself and she had the fortune of traveling the world- Europe, Asia, and Russia. The highlight of her young life was always coming home to Central Texas and visiting family in Southern California.

Educationally, starting around age 15, Dr. Cabret thought she wanted to be a craniofacial surgeon so tracked the fastest path and found that if she went to dental school first and then medical school she could get to the residency portion much sooner. Dr. Cabret studied with the Young Scholars program at the University of California, Santa Barbara while still technically a high school student. She did her undergrad at UC San Diego and UCLA for Dental School. The highly intelligent Michelle Cabret became the first female ever to be granted an academic scholarship and accepted into the prestigious double degree program at the University of Texas, Southwestern School of Medicine. She went on to complete her residency at UT Southwestern in Dallas as well.

In 2002, Dr. Cabret started her private practice in Scottsdale followed by the opening of Austin Cosmetic Surgery in Austin in 2018 and opening The Spa at Rough Hollow, a med-spa at the exclusive marina on the gorgeous Lake Travis in Austin, TX over the holidays.

Dr Cabret has performed hundreds of thousands of procedures over the course of 21 years; 90-95% cosmetic and 5-10% reconstructive at this point. Breast lifts seem to be the most common surgery performed in both locations.

MYAUSTIN Magazine applauds Michelle Cabret M.D DDS for her nominations as a Top Cosmetic Surgeon in Austin Texas. She is extremely educated, a beautiful person inside and out, and even more, a highly regarded cosmetic surgeon with a diverse and unique background.

SCAN TO VISIT WEBSITE

AUSTINCOSMETICSURGERY.COM 512.688.8000

PUBLISHER MARK ALAN SHAFFER

FROM THE

ADVERTISING EXECUTIVES LESLIE LAGUARDIA CHIP BECKER STACEY BECKER WRITERS DARYL K. JONES C. REG​I RODGERS JAQUELIN ANTHONY PHOTOGRAPHERS DANIEL TREVINO HEATHER BECKHAM MICHAEL FRANCO SVETLANA FROLOVA

Welcome to our new issue, we’re so happy to have you here! In this issue, MyAustin is congratulating the Top Ten Attorneys in Austin. I hope you enjoy our special featured attorneys and firms, including Kara O’Shaughnessy, Lincoln-Goldfinch, Todd Kelly, Douglas O’Connell, Cristina Garcia-Chappell, Thomas J Henry, and Amber Vazquez, as well as country music star, Carrie Underwood. You’ll also find some amazing local stories, the best restaurants in the city, small businesses you’ll love to support, and content you’ll love to read.

MyAustin Magazine does not and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, political views or military status. We are committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all our clients, staff, volunteers, subcontractors and vendors. The views expressed or held by those featured in MyAustin Magazine do not necessarily reflect the views of MyAustin Magazine, it’s publishers or its employees.

If you know someone who you think should be featured in the next issue, let us know!! Please email us at info@myaustinmagazine. com or visit us online at www.myaustinmagazine.com and vote for someone you know! In our next issue, look out for the Top 100 Women of Influence and the Top Doctors in Austin. We are accepting nominations now from YOU, our lovely readers. We look forward to bringing you the Best of Austin in every issue!

MYAUSTINMAGAZINE.COM

In the event of any errors or omissions on any ads or articles in this issue, will be cured in a future issue at publisher’s discretion. Any materials submitted after publishing deadline are not guaranteed to make the current issue. Next Issue: MyAustin Issue 223 deadline is May 20th, 2023. For advertising inquiries, call 1-855-274-3375 or email: info@myaustinmagazine.com *All ads and content must be submitted by this date in order to be included in the next issue.

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MEET THE TEAM

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INTRODUCING THE

TOP TEN ATTORNEYS IN AUSTIN

MYAUSTIN MAGAZINE IS PROUD TO SHOWCASE AUSTIN’S TOP TEN LEGAL PROFESSIONALS. (in alphabetical order by first name) AMBER VAZQUEZ KARA L. O’SHAUGHNESSY CRISTINA GARCIA-CHAPPELL KATE LINCOLN-GOLDFINCH DOUGLAS O’CONNELL TODD KELLY THOMAS J. HENRY

HONORABLE MENTIONS AMBER LOAR | JEFF DAVIS | TED LORENZ 9

DOUGLAS O’CONNELL OF O’CONNELL WEST, PLLC:

A Battle-Tested Law Firm Focused on Results

I

n the world of litigation, one finds few attorneys as qualified as Douglas O’Connell. Doug (as he likes to be called) is a former Army Special Forces operative and retired Colonel of the United States Army. This training has served Doug O’Connell and his team extremely well, as they are accustomed to waging battle, whether the field of battle is a desert or a courtroom.

Additionally, as a Special Forces Officer (Green Beret), the Army spent millions of dollars training Doug to wage unconventional warfare and asymmetrical campaigns. Doug and his team use these skills and mindset when battling against the government or powerful adversaries.

“Our adversaries, including the government, have more money and resources, but we often can find a way to victory using unconventional strategies”, explains Doug O’Connell. “We believe action beats reaction and strive always to be on the offense in any case.” Doug O’Connell and his team place their focus on criminal defense, military, and veteran’s issues as well as family law and civil lawsuits, with Douglas O’Connell completing more than 100 jury trials in state and federal courts across multiple states. Of his many cases, about two dozen of them have been in defense of clients under investigation for federal white-collar fraud, and all of them avoided criminal charges.

The highest award they’ve received for a client in a civil case is $2.7 million dollars, and that’s nothing to shake a stick at.

There are many factors to which one can attribute the firm’s success, however, none are as integral as the core values of O’Connell West. “We believe in fighting for our clients and delivering extraordinary re-

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By Daryl K. Jones

sults. We love America, freedom, dogs, the outdoors, the Veteran community, and having fun,” states Doug. “We are passionate about our clients and fighting for justice. We’re grateful for Law Enforcement Officers and first responders.

We value teamwork, integrity, initiative, and going the extra mile to accomplish the mission.”

Doug considers attracting exceptional attorneys and team members to practice law with him as his greatest accomplishment.

He highly values building a firm that’s committed to fighting for clients and delivering exceptional results. The attorneys who are hired by the firm are held to these standards and are willing, ready, and able to serve. They don’t care about the color of your skin, whom you love, what God you pray to, or how old you are. What they do expect out of their attorneys is to treat people well, to have an exemplary work ethic, and to thrive in their company culture. This translates to the best service that they could possibly provide.

Being the straight shooter that he is, for those looking to hire an attorney of Mr. O’Connell’s caliber, he advises only this: “Results matter. You can always find a less expensive attorney.”

Doug O’Connell is a man who has devoted his entire life to the service of others and has done so under the most extreme of circumstances at times. He prides himself on getting the job done regardless of the odds, and will not shy away when things get rough. If you need to go to battle, we couldn’t think of a better person to have with you in the trenches.

O’Connell West, PLLC 505 W 12th St #200 OConnellWest.com 512.547.7265 VISIT WEBSITE

FROM DOUBLE MINORITY TO DOUBLE LICENSED

By Daryl K. Jones

C

ristina Garcia-Chappell is Managing Partner of Pastrana & Garcia, a personal injury law firm located in Pflugerville at 305 N. Heatherwilde Blvd (Suite 240). Growing up in a country with as much inequality as Mexico, she felt the desire to seek the truth in situations of injustice, which she saw daily around her. This, coupled with the fact that her father’s four brothers and her paternal grandfather are lawyers, formed her life as she knows it today. Meaning, inspiration, and love for her profession come from her father and his example.

Cristina’s father was a doctor, so she chose a profession where, like him, she could have the opportunity to help others. She wasn’t interested in medicine, but when she decided to become a lawyer, she decided that she would only use her profession as a tool to truly help others.

Cristina Garcia-Chappell finds the opportunity to help families going through a traumatic event (ranging from a complex auto accident to the death of a loved one) as well as the opportunity to give a voice to people who would not know they have rights if it were not for her representation, as the most rewarding part of her profession. What differentiates her from other attorneys is the empathy that she displays for what her clients are going through. “Being a Hispanic woman in a country that was not always my home makes me understand exactly the sense of

belonging that my clients yearn for,” intimates Cristina. “It (empathy) multiplies when they have a difficult situation that puts their health and the health of their families at risk.” Her extensive familiarity with Texas personal injury law is of equal importance, as it enables her to provide support to the Hispanic community, given her more than a decade-long experience in studying and enforcing the law.

Cristina cites that one of her most challenging hurdles to clear has been the fact that for decades, her industry was dominated by men. These were mostly White men, which means new generations of attorneys like herself who were a double minority (Woman and Hispanic), were sorely underrepresented. This did not make her bitter or angry, but it did mean that it was a great challenge for her to obtain the mentorship of senior Latina women attorneys who were successful, and who were familiar with the same challenges. Concerning this, Cristina states “I believe that as the years go by, each generation of graduating attorneys is loaded with Latinas, so it seems that it will be my generation’s turn to lead the way.” Despite the perceived limitations, Cristina managed to rise above the circumstances of history and industry to become a dual licensed attorney for both Mexico and Texas. This was an undertaking that was very satisfying for her to see come to fruition.

Oddly enough, Cristina’s experience as a double minority is the same experience that gives her the strength to efficiently serve clients. “My Latina women clientele feel much more comfortable with me than they might feel with a man who doesn’t understand their culture or needs,” explains Mrs. Garcia-Chappell. “The feedback I have obtained from my male clients is that they feel I genuinely care for their cases as if they were my family.”

Speaking of family, Cristina works closely with her husband. This experience has taught her the true value of the old African proverb: “If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together.” She has learned that you will always do better when you are accompanied by the people you love the most, and succeed most when the right people join you along for the ride.

Cristina proudly refers to this partnership as “solid and unbreakable.”

When Cristina was asked about her greatest successes, she had two ways of defining a “win.” “It is true that in the world of injury law, the only possible recovery from the negligent party who does wrong to the victim is money, so if we are talking about a “win” as a monetary term, I recently had one of my biggest wins when I settled a trench collapse case for $3.8 million. However, if we are talking about a win as something more transcendent, my greatest triumph has been finding a career in an area of law that gives meaning to my life.” Certainly, an attorney who approaches her profession with this state of mind is someone who truly embodies service and is worthy of being celebrated as one of the top lawyers in Central Texas.

MyAustin Magazine salutes Cristina Garcia-Chappell for her important and tireless work.

Pastrana & Garcia Injury Law 305 N Heatherwilde Blvd Suite 240 Pflugerville, TX 78660 pastranagarcia.com 512.474.4487

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THE FAITH-DRIVEN LEGAL ADVOCATE: TODD KELLY

and The Carlson Law Firm’s Pursuit of Justice and Service

By Daryl K. Jones

Attorney Kelly’s inspiration for venturing into the field of personal injury law is the fulfillment that he receives from helping a client (particularly a child) to get back some semblance of normalcy.

T

odd Kelly, Partner, is a member of the extremely talented team of lawyers and legal professionals in the North Austin office at The Carlson Law Firm. He believes that providing quality legal service to the clients that his team serves, and furthermore, being willing to be honest when they cannot help is just one factor that differentiates The Carlson Law Firm from their counterparts. Todd Kelly draws his motivation from several sources.

His mother and father, who instilled in him a work ethic to push through hard times. His wife and children, who give him a reason to continue when the pressure mounts. His fellow trial lawyers, who display heroic acts of selflessness on a daily basis in the service of others.

His clients, whose trust in him inspires dedication and a desire to live up to that trust. Mostly, he is motivated by his desire to serve in a manner approved by a loving God and His son, Jesus.

Todd makes his personal objective quite clear, stating: “taking care of the future financial, medical and emotional needs of clients that were put upon him or her by no fault of their own, and to bring closure to their journey, provides tremendous job satisfaction” he reveals.

Todd Kelly is a true servant and man of faith who considers his work to be a sort of ministry. Actually, he would like to consider going into ministry after he has had enough of the courtroom battle that his profession entails. To facilitate that, he recently graduated from a bible college course through his church. Todd’s faith is something that is extremely dear to him and informs his decisions when interacting with his clients. “My goal is to treat others as I would want to be treated”, states Mr. Kelly. “Particularly when they are coming to me at a time in their lives when they have been neglected or harmed by the neglect or intentional acts of another person.”

For Todd Kelly, to help individual people who have been harmed against the more powerful, better funded, corporate entities that harmed them, has been his calling for as long as he can remember. When discussing this, he recalls his childhood images of Perry Mason and Matlock. “As a child I saw these television icons as truth seekers who answered to a higher calling both ethically and diligently”, reveals Todd.

These programs left a lasting impression on young Todd. Its influence is evident in how he goes about ensuring everyone he tries to help. Not only does he care about the case, but also about his clients as people. Helping others is a reward that cannot compare to anything else for Todd, and his clients are very fortunate to be in his proverbial hands.

Although he has won several multi-million-dollar verdicts, he considers his biggest wins to be those rooted in char-

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ity and philanthropy. Foremost, Celebration Church in Georgetown, as it provides an avenue to serve people who are in need of a church home and allows Todd to give back to the Father who has done so much in his life. “Because I owe everything that I am and everything that I have to a Loving God, serving Him is my favorite cause by far”, Todd submits. He serves in a number of roles at the church, and essentially feels blessed to be able to serve his heavenly master in whatever capacity he is able.

For their vision, tireless service to their fellow man (and woman), and their interminable spirit, Todd Kelly and The Carlson Law firm have earned a spot among the Top Attorneys in Austin. We can hardly wait to see what is next for them, as they continue their efforts to practice law in the most just and sympathetic manner.

The Carlson Law Firm North Austin Office 11606 N Interstate Hwy 35 carlsonattorneys.com

IMMIGRATION SUPERHERO:

How Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch Fights for Justice

K

ate Lincoln-Goldfinch could easily be considered a maverick in the field of immigration law. Her inspiration is drawn from having represented a family of asylum seekers in a detention center as a law student.

Bearing witness to a five-month-old baby who wore a prison uniform made her realize how broken our system actually is.

After that experience, she dedicated her career to immigration law. Nothing was more important to her than pursuing the dignity of her clients, and to advocate for a better system here in America. To Kate, nothing is more fulfilling than watching a client pick up their first work permit, or get their green card, or win their asylum case. She is eternally driven by the fact that the policies and anti-immigrant sentiment in our culture stops lawmakers from passing the legislation that we need. She is well aware that the American economy is driven, and even fortified by the efforts of migrant workers­—especially those who are willing to become lawful citizens of the U.S. “Restrictive and outdated laws are bad for all of us. The United States needs immigrants more than ever,” contends Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch. “The goal is to give our clients the best customer experience they can imagine. We want them to feel

By Daryl K. Jones

loved, cared for, respected, empowered, and informed during their time with us,” states Kate. “Of course, we want to achieve the ultimate outcome that they desire, but the goal is to make the journey there as easy and fast as possible.”

Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch has represented a number of clients who were detained and set to be deported, to countries they were not safe returning to. Getting those deportations stopped, last minute, can be lifesaving. Those wins, embodied by the relief felt by her clients and their families, definitely made a lasting impression on her.

On the subject of families, as well as being a devoted attorney, Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch is a devoted mother and wife. “Running a business and raising a family is a big, weighty, wild ride,” contends Kate. Concerning her efforts to carve out a work-life balance, she simply states, “I would choose it all over again.”

Kate works closely with her husband as an attorney. She explains that the biggest benefit to working together is the message to her kids about living the life they want, doing fulfilling work together that supports their family. Kate also knows the importance of having smart and reliable people on your team. She prides herself on finding good people to join her in fur-

therance of a shared mission. “My team at the law firm is knowledgeable, devoted, and dedicated to our clients,” submits Kate. “It’s an honor to work together with them in the important and life changing work that we do.”

Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch has made it her life’s work to bring peace to immigrant families. Fighting against the unjust tide of outdated and biased policy and legislation, and catering to her clients empathetically, she is undoubtedly leaving her mark and making a true difference. Her relentless efforts have sparked change in the lives of unknown many, and have restored a sense of dignity and self-worth to those who need it most, during the most uncertain times of their lives. MyAustin Magazine salutes Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch as one of the Top Attorneys in Austin, and we wish her continued success in her mission.

Lincoln-Goldfinch Law: An Immigration & Bankruptcy Firm 1005 E 40th St lincolngoldfinch.com

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THE “QUEEN OF ACQUITTALS”:

AMBER VAZQUEZ LAW

T

he Vazquez Law Firm was started in 2005 by Amber Vazquez. Amber’s inspiration to practice law can be traced back to a tumultuous event from her childhood. She saw firsthand how crushing the criminal justice system could be on a family, and not only the person against which it is applied. Amber’s senior year in high school, her best friend’s brother developed a crippling drug addiction that led to him getting arrested with a large amount of drugs.

“He ended up going to federal prison, and it broke him in a way that I did not understand, and irreparably changed not only the course of his life, but their whole family,” explains Ms. Vazquez. “It was beyond devastating, and I wanted to make it better. I know I cannot save the world, but I have the opportunity to change one person’s life at a time.”

Being a fifth generation Texan, mother of boys, and cancer survivor, Amber Vazquez has not only a “can-do”, but a “will-do” attitude. It is with this mindset that she attended the University of Texas for her undergraduate studies, and the University of Denver College of Law for law school. Amber later went back to UT Law (her third year) in order to participate in the Death Penalty Clinic. Currently, Amber is Board Certified from the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in Criminal Law, meaning she is a criminal defense specialist. “I love my job,” boasts Ms. Vazquez. “I get to do what lawyers do on TV every day. I try the hardest cases in the hardest places all over Texas and around the country. I have had the opportunity to solve 40-year-old cold cases and work on some of the most fascinating cases imaginable.”

By Daryl K. Jones

Since founding her law firm almost 20 years ago, Amber Vazquez now has two lawyers and an amazing office manager. Their offices are located in a historic house in downtown Austin, two blocks from the courthouse. Amber and her team have distinguished themselves by winning hard trials and getting the absolute best results possible, in every single case.

Things have gone so well, Texas Monthly recently referred to Amber as the “Queen of Acquittals.” This is a designation that any defense attorney would kill to have, but few are worthy to carry.

To earn her accolades, Attorney Vazquez has won trials for murder, attempted capital murder, aggravated assault, sexual assault of a child, burglary of a habitation, thefts, many driving while intoxicated(s), family violence assaults and drug possession cases. She was named a Super Lawyer in Texas Lawyer, won the Criminal Justice Award from the Travis County Women’s Bar, Best Criminal Defense Attorney by the Austin Bar Association, and was named one of the 20 Top “Winning Women in Texas.” She also sits on the Judicial Committee and Police Oversight Committee for the City of Austin. Another area of service in which Amber Vazquez inserts herself is non-profit work and volunteering in her community. She also donates her time and expertise by taking cases pro bono on a regular basis.

Amber Vazquez is an attorney who knows that the quality and preparation of the lawyers in trial could make a dramatic difference in people’s lives. She has seen how a vigorous defense could literally save a person’s life, and keep a family together. Amber Vazquez is well-deserving of the honor of defending the United States Constitution and the rights it affords us. MyAustin Magazine congratulates Amber Vazquez as being one of the Top Ten Best Lawyers of Austin, 2023.

512.220.8507 608 W 12th St criminallawaustin.com

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EXPERT Q&A with THOMAS J. HENRY Q: What inspired you to get into the practice of law?

I wanted to do better for myself and my family, so I was driven to succeed from a very early age. I have always been a natural protector. Someone willing to stand up for those in need. Once I was introduced to personal injury law and helping injured people, I never looked back.

Q: What separates your firm from others?

Experience – Thomas J Henry Law has 30 years of experience helping injured clients secure life-changing results.

Philanthropy - My law firm is not just committed to helping our clients, we are also committed to bettering our communities. I am living proof of how an accomplished business owner can reinvest their own success into improving their local, national, and even global communities. Through our philanthropic work, my law firm and I have been able to help tens of thousands of people across the world.

Meticulous and Methodical Development of Cases – Thomas J Henry Law has established itself by the meticulous and methodical way we develop our cases, and this approach has allowed us to achieve record-breaking results year after year. What we like to say is that “the only case that matters is yours.”

Training – Dedication to serving others has been my passion. I am also very passionate about making sure that other legal professionals that work at the firm can provide the highest level of service possible to people in need, whether injured or having lost a loved one.

Q: What are the core values of your law firm?

Tenacity, perseverance and “know how” – I have developed policies, procedures, and methodologies that allow members of my firm to win multi-million-dollar lawsuits and settlements day in and day out.

Q: What was the highest award that you’ve received for a client in a civil case?

Most of the awards my law firm has received for our clients are confidential. Suffice it to say, we have recovered billions and billions of dollars over my career. What I prefer to measure my firm’s success on is the number of people we have helped and the number of people we have had a positive impact on.

Q: What do you feel is your greatest success as an attorney?

As an attorney, my greatest successes are 2-fold. First, Thomas J Henry Law has been fortunate enough to help tens of thousands of people over the years.

Second, we currently employ over 700 employees, 300 of which are attorneys.

Impacting so many professionals by helping them advance their career while making a meaningful impact on clients’ lives is rewarding.

Q: What do you feel are your greatest obstacles as an attorney?

Every case can have its own challenges and difficulties, but one thing is for certain: using a proper methodology to develop cases gives clients the best chance at obtaining positive results. Thomas J Henry Law clients deserve the best and brightest legal talent available, so that is what I hire. We have grown our workforce by at least 20% due in large part to the high level of attention the law firm receives from the legal community across the country because of our reputation for securing record-breaking results.

Q: What advice do you have for someone who is looking to acquire the services of an attorney of your caliber?

It’s simple, don’t hesitate, just call. At Thomas J Henry Law, you don’t pay unless we win your case. Take advantage of our experience, our commitment to service, and our reputation.

Q: What advice would you have for future attorneys looking to follow in your footsteps?

My advice would be to put the client first. Always do what’s in the best interest of the client. I am proud and honored to serve so many people and families all over Texas and the United States, handling cases for the past 30 years. Dedication to serving others has been my passion and driving force.

Make sure it’s yours as well if you want to be a successful personal injury lawyer.

THOMAS J. HENRY LAW 512.520.0221 4401 West Gate Blvd. Suite 200 thomasjhenrylaw.com

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Rising Star of the Legal Industry:

MEET ATTORNEY KARA L. O’SHAUGHNESSY

K

ara L. O’Shaughnessy, a highly respected attorney based in Austin, Texas, is a force to be reckoned with in the legal industry. Her passion for the law and her dedication to her clients have earned her a reputation as a fierce advocate and trial attorney. With a focus on civil litigation, oil and gas, estate planning, and real property law, Kara consistently exceeds expectations, even when the stakes are high, and time is short.

Kara’s passion for law is evident in her dedication. Working as a paralegal before attending law school gave her a unique perspective and the drive to do more for her clients. For Kara, litigation involves lifelong learning, as she needs to understand the details of a specific contract, how a particular process works, or a sequence of events, in order to explain it later to a judge or jury. In particular, she finds litigation rewarding because it requires her to delve into the details of a case and use her knowledge to advocate for her client.

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Of course, being a lawyer is not without its challenges. For Kara, the biggest challenge is balancing the personalities involved in a case to achieve a settlement. But her ability to multitask and empathize with her clients makes her well-equipped to handle this challenge. Kara sees these—and the fact that she is often underestimated—as some of her greatest strengths as a female lawyer. And when it comes to winning cases, she assisted with several notable wins, including the resolution of the Saucedo v. Kerlin case, where she helped Hispanic families reacquire their mineral estate under Padre Island, which was featured in the Texas Monthly article “Return to Padre” by Cecilia Ballí.

Despite the demands of her career, Kara is also a loving single mother of three.

She’s found ways to balance work and family life, like going on road trips and having family movie nights. And for new attorneys just starting out, Kara’s advice is simple but effective: stay humble, work hard, and don’t be afraid to ask questions.

Whether she’s volunteering as a pro bono attorney or taking her kids on outdoor safaris, Kara brings her all to everything she does. Kara’s clients know they can count on her to take great care of their case. As part of an amazing law firm, she has been working with the same four attorneys in her litigation section for 20 years. They are a well-oiled machine and “work-family” with 100+ years of combined legal experience. For any individual or business in need of legal representation, Kara L O’Shaughnessy of Gray Becker PC is a name you can trust for the utmost care and attention to your case.

Kara L. O’Shaughnessy Gray Becker, PC 900 West Avenue Austin, Texas 78701

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CARRIE

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UNDERWOOD

5 THINGS YOU DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT CARRIE UNDERWOOD

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arrie Underwood has become such a household name in country music, and all music for that matter. She has ventured in so many projects inside and outside of music that it’s hard to remember her as just the small-town girl that was on American Idol 17 years ago. Little did she- or anyone- know the amount of success that would come her way because of the outcome of one show.

With bestselling records like “Jesus, Take the Wheel” and “Before He Cheats,” and a newer favorite, “If I Didn’t Love You” featuring Jason Aldean, Carrie Underwood has a likability to her that appeals to a wide audience range. Being a nationwide and international touring artist, she remains humble, relatable, and always ready to serve her community. While tapping into her incredible career as a musician, we found that she is much more than a singer. Here are 5 things that you didn’t know about Carrie Underwood!

1. FITNESS

Carrie Underwood is an avid fitness enthusiast. This is arguably one of the things you can tell she feels very passionately about outside of her music. She makes being healthy a top priority no matter how busy her life gets. She models how a busy working mom who also nurtures a career, hobbies, relationship, can make living healthy a year-round thing.

Carrie Underwood’s passion for fitness led her to a partnership with Creative Labs & CAA, in collaboration with her personal trainer Eve Overland, to create a fitness app called Fit52. The fitness app is designed for the person that is balancing a family, work, friends, hobbies, etc. It contains workouts for beginners to more advanced fit conscious people, and best yet, can be completed in as little as 30 minutes. The app claims to eliminate the complexity of creating your own workout routines. Any person who makes working out a part of their lifestyle will tell you that it’s important to change things up to continue to challenge your body with different work outs. With Fit52, you get a different workout each time. A card is randomly revealed to provide you with a different full body work out each time.

2. WRITING

In 2020, Carrie Underwood released her first book. The book, called “Find Your Path: Honor Your Body, Fuel Your Soul,

and Get Strong with the Fit52 Life,” is a gentle approach to trying your best to be the best you 52 out of 52 weeks in the year. It’s a practical way of incorporating diet and exercise into your busy lifestyle every week. She believes that health and fitness is a lifelong journey and although we are human and may have our bad days, it is important to try and be healthy overall. In her book, she lays out recipes, work out plans, and introduces you to Fit52.

Carrie explains that the essence of Fit52 is to adopt a lifelong healthy lifestyle so if you do have an off-day and cave into the sweets or comfort foods, it won’t throw you completely off path and it’s easier to pick back up your healthy habits.

3. MOVIES/TV

The country singer has dabbled in acting.

She was on the TV show “How I Met Your Mother” and made her film debut “Soul Surfer” an inspiring true story of surfing champion Bethany Hamilton who survived a shark attack in 2003. Carrie Underwood played a small, but important role. She played Sarah Hill, a religious leader who was key in helping Bethany through her healing journey. Staying true to her Christian faith, Carrie Underwood has said she is very selective of the roles she chooses to play. She hasn’t been in any recent roles but has said in the past that she isn’t ruling out acting.

4. ENDORSEMENTS

Companies are eager to have Carrie be the face of their brands. This is shown through various endorsement deals, including a nail polish collection with Nicole by O.P.I., which includes a signature golden shade called Carrie’d Away. Then there was the global endorsement by Skechers, Olay Skin Care, and the fitness apparel line “Calia, by Carrie Underwood”created exclusively for Dicks Sporting Goods. Most recently, she became a member and joined the likes of Jennifer Lopez for the hydration sports drink Body Armor, and it’s no surprise that she’d put her name stamp on it given her passion for fitness and health. Carrie is pretty much everywhere! She has had a string of endorsement deals since shooting to fame and the songstress doesn’t show signs of slowing down.

5. PHILANTHROPY

Part of what makes Carrie Underwood so likable is that she is still and will always be the same hometown girl from Oklahoma.

Her values and the things she cares for remain with her to this day. She demonstrates this through her involvement with her philanthropic work. She has supported numerous causes as she believes it is important to give back to the community. She created C.A.T.S. in 2009. C.A.T.S - Checotah Animal, Town, and School Foundation to thank her hometown, who she says has been very supportive of her. The foundation directly impacts the community in a variety of areas. Some of the ways the foundation has helped has been by opening a shelter so dogs can be rescued, and she strongly supports spaying or neutering. The foundation is also committed to helping children in the community reach their goals by awarding scholarships and giving donations like equipment to the schools in the community. Merchandise for the C.A.T.S foundation can be found on the website https:// www.thecatsfoundation.com/. The web site states that all proceeds from purchases benefit the C.A.T.S. foundation. Carrie is also donating $1 from every ticket sale of her new US tour to benefit and support U.S. military veterans through the Tunnel to Towers Foundation. More info and to support this cause, please visit trt.org.

Visit carrieunderwoodofficial.com to view her tour dates and to join the Carrie Underwood Fan Club!

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THE OASIS ON LAKE TRAVIS A Team To Build A Dream On

The Oasis on Lake Travis, under the ownership of Beau Theriot, is home to some of the best management in the world! Here we will meet a few of the amazing people that make this incredible operation run like clockwork on a day-to-day basis.

Virginia Ramsey

Jody Theriot

Executive Director

General Manager

Virginia has been with The Oasis since 1997, starting her career as the General Manager for Theriot Retail Interests. She has earned titles of Executive Director, Director of Human Resources, Consultant and Strategist for The Oasis, Marketing and Public Relations, Retail General Manager Buyer and sometimes even Hostess when needed.

The accomplishment Virginia is most proud of occurred after the devastating fire in 2005 that almost ended The Oasis. She relocated 119 Oasis employees to different positions around the city, many of which returned to The Oasis after it was rebuilt. She lives by her mantra, “The way we go about it, matters.”

Jody moved to Austin with his family when he was 11 years old, where he began helping at his family’s restaurant, The Oasis. Upon graduating high school, Jody served 5 years in the United States Marine Corps, 7 years as a Travis Peace Officer, and 8 years as a Public Safety Diver. In 2011, Jody decided to leave policing for a managerial position at The Oasis Restaurant and Event Center. Jody considers this to be his highest honor yet, to be able to return to his family’s restaurant and serve every guest at what will forever be “The Sunset Capital of the World.”

Vincente Moreno

Billy Enney

Chef and Executive Kitchen Director

Front of the House Manager

Vincente began working at The Oasis when he was just 16 years old. With The Oasis being his first job, Vincente started as a dishwasher and prep cook. Vincente was recognized for his impressive work ethic and was quickly promoted to a line cook after mastering every position in the kitchen. Now, as the Executive Kitchen Director, there is not a single position in the kitchen that he has not spent years perfecting. Moreno’s respect and kindness towards his staff and his bilingual skills have proven invaluable to both Virginia Ramsey and the Human Resources Department.

Vincente Moreno has been a loyal and dedicated member of The Oasis team for over 2 decades.

Billy Enney has been with The Oasis since the early 90’s. He has had the benefit of watching The Oasis grow from a nostalgic Austin icon to the rebuilt post-fire marvel it is today. While fulfilling his front-of-house management responsibilities, Billy is also responsible for creating and accommodating work schedules for over 400 employees-no easy task! Billy has also taken on the role of the OSHA Compliance Officer and his combined expertise is invaluable in keeping The Oasis humming. His even temperament and calm demeanor make him a favorite among the staff and guests. Billy enjoys learning from one of the most dynamic work environments that one could imagine at The Oasis.

MyAustin Magazine looks forward to highlighting more of the amazing staff at The Oasis in our next issue. What this team accomplishes in one day is equal to what most restaurants accomplish in a week. Stay tuned!

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istilled by Austin Vodka Company, Goodnight Loving Vodka is the most palate pleasing and refreshing vodka that you may ever taste. Conceptualized by father, son, and family friends, GLV is made with corn and is 100% gluten-free. What’s more, it is made with Texas artisanal spring water from the 1000-year-old Goodnight Loving Spring that runs through the family ranch in Mason County.

Austin is the proud home of many creatives, major corporations, and local small businesses. However, when it comes to distilleries located in Austin, what people may not realize is the heavy competition that exists between them. Austin is the live music capital of the world, and most of these performances are held in entertainment venues that make the majority of their sales serving alcoholic beverages. A study conducted in June of 2019 places Austin as one of the top cities for consuming alcohol, with 90.6 % of its residents choosing to partake. What sets Goodnight Loving Vodka apart from others is how simply smooth it is. This can be credited to the source of their spirit. Initially conceptualized to produce beer, the father and son team quickly realized that the 1000-year-old Goodnight Loving Spring running through their property was much better suited for distilling vodka. This was later confirmed by an LCRA study of the water. This could also explain why Goodnight Loving Vodka refuses to add flavors to their vodkas. “We prefer to focus on unflavored vodka because it truly highlights the clean uncomplicated finish of our vodka,” states Megan, the marketing representative for the company.

While available at most large liquor store chains and independent retailers across Austin, the beverage is also in many fine restaurants and bars as well. You can check availability on their website and order the vodka to be shipped directly to your door! They can schedule a private tour if you contact them. They occasionally have Bottling Parties throughout the year, and they are always a great time! Additionally, supporting their brand is to support the community. Through their many initiatives, Goodnight Loving Vodka supports a wide range of causes from The Girl Scouts to Autism Awareness.

Goodnight Loving Vodka is handmade in Austin, TX. at their distillery off of Fitzhugh Rd. The natural qualities and the high mineral content of the water are the secret to its smoothness. The water is so pure that it imparts a slight sweetness to the finish of the vodka. Whether you fancy a great screwdriver, or you desire the perfect martini, Goodnight Loving Vodka hits the mark every time.

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DISPUTE SMART.

E

arly in Howard Kline’s career of 47 years as an attorney advocating for his clients, he considered mediation to be a waste of time and his client’s money. Whenever a judge ordered the parties to attend mediation, it would be typical to go to the court cafeteria with a volunteer attorney acting as a mediator, spend about an hour with each attorney arguing their clients’ position and trying to convince the mediator of the righteousness of their client’s case.

They would then walk back to the court and proceed to trial. Rarely did mediation work in those situations. However, mediator training back then was not as sophisticated and pervasive as it is now.

Over the years, the mediation process and Howard’s preparation as an attorney dealing with mediation changed. There became an emphasis on mediator training with more non-lawyer mediators. Today, mediators rely heavily on their psychological skills seeking to understand each party’s mind, emotions and behavior in order to better help them reach a mutually beneficial resolution of their dispute. The skills necessary to be a good mediator do not, necessarily require good lawyering skills. With that being said, a lawyer’s training allowing them to see and understand both sides of a disagreement is a fundamental tool of a mediator.

“Later in my legal career, my cases that went into mediation began to settle at a higher rate, which was a significant benefit to my clients. I developed an open attitude towards mediation. In many of my cases, I found myself looking to mediate early, and I recognized that early settlement is often less aggravating, distracting and less expensive to my clients,” says Howard.

As a mediator, Howard focuses far less on who is right or who is wrong. While the facts are important to a successful result, the predominant focus is on each party’s “true” and underlying motivations. The goal is to get both parties to have an open dialogue, minimize the emotions of the situation, and to then seek solutions to the dispute that they may not have previously considered. Howard adds, “I am and must remain impartial. Any settlement that is reached is owned by the parties. I only control the process.”

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Howard Kline is currently a mediator and arbitrator. He has been a California licensed attorney since 1976.

He has served as general counsel for two international technology companies, a regional supermarket chain, a shopping center owner and developer, as well as a national education corporation. He has significant experience in commercial real estate, commercial landlord tenant disputes, and contract, employment, labor, technology, construction and consumer matters.

Howard is also the founder and host of a number of podcasts, including CRE Radio & TV, Uncommon Sense and the Las Vegas Business Journal. His publications can be found at:

CRE RADIO & TV TKGADR MEDIATION & ARBITRATION LINKEDIN

“I admit it. I haven’t always been a fan of mediation. But my thoughts have changed, and not just because I now serve as a mediator.” -Howard Kline

austin business means

By Daryl Jones

ELON MUSK: From Your Cars, to Your Social Media, to Your Brain

M

any people don’t know, but some do, about the neural implant company co-owned by Elon Musk called Neuralink.

Musk described his long-term goals with Neuralink in November, stating that said goals may sound a little “esoteric.”

Neuralink works by digital interfacing directly with the brain, via a microchip implanted in the brain just beneath the skull. You can’t see the neural implant; it is miniaturized to the point where it matches the thickness of the piece of the skull that was removed.

Immediately upon hearing this, one might draw some dark conclusions concerning the implications that Neuralink presents. What would happen if the implant malfunctioned? Are we taking Artificial Intelligence too far in its journey, and trying to develop superintelligence?

These are important questions that cannot be ignored. However, Musk asserts that he is confident that they will solve many brain and spine injury issues along the way to the final development of Neuralink. One of the major medical applications of Neuralink, for instance, is to help cure quadriplegics by reading the signals from the brain, as well as writing signals from the brain. This means that Neuralink can be used to communicate with the nervous system, if you have a severed spinal cord or neck.

In a 30-minute presentation that can be seen on YouTube, Musk tells his audience that we are all “de-facto cyborgs anyway,” citing the fact that our devices are now essentially extensions of ourselves. As such, we have become accustomed to having access to information almost instantaneously. But what if we could access it even faster? One benefit of direct interfacing with the brain is the elimination of limitations.

He cites that although our devices are extensions of ourselves, (thus the cyborg comparison) we are still limited by (quite literally) how quickly we can “move our

26

thumbs,” meaning how fast we can actually type to send or receive information on these devices. Neuralink does away with physical limitations such as these.

stuck in your head, when the iPhone 14 is available,” states Musk as he addresses the crowd at his Neuralink Show and Tell in November.

GOING FROM PROTOTYPE TO PRODUCT

HUMAN APPLICATIONS AND POSSIBLE IMPLICATIONS

Musk compares this process to going to the moon. The idea of it is easy, but the execution is 100 times more difficult.

1% inspiration, 99% perspiration. The difficulty comes from balancing quality control with the economics of developing such a complex concept. The product must be safe, reliable, must work under a wide range of circumstances, must be affordable and done at scale. Similar to our everyday devices, the neural implant consists of software, batteries, radio, and conductive charging. The hypothesis being that the best thing to interpret the signals from a bio-neural net is a digital neural net. However, another part of this process is, inevitably, testing and clinical trials.

The first two applications for humans will be to give original sight to those that were born blind (or restore the sight of those who were blinded), and to enable those who have no ability to operate their muscles to make neural connections in the motor cortex. These are lofty and noble goals that would no doubt create a quality of life that some who are affected have never experienced, but what about what could go wrong? Aren’t the stakes too high to make even the simplest of mistakes anywhere in the process? Does the prospect of scientific discovery make the risks worth it? What about privacy?

In regard to transmitting digital signals directly from my brain, can it be hacked?

These are interesting questions, but we are assured that the Neuralink neural device is no less safe than an artificial heart.

It can’t be hacked, because it only sends signals, not receives them. It is aesthetically undetectable. No one would ever know you had an implant unless you told them.

Neuralink remains cautious and careful about testing the device on humans.

They’ve performed a range of offline testing before even implanting in animals.

They have brain simulators that emulate the aesthetic and the texture of the brain, for instance. The company has submitted most of its paperwork for approval to the FDA and expects to install Neuralink in the first human within 6 months. Once Neuralink was implanted in animals, they could complete tasks such as telegraphic typing; the ability to move the cursor to the highlighted keys on a computer monitor, without using a keyboard. This is one of the functions that inspired Neuralink’s medical applications. The neural implant is designed to get better over time, as well. Similar to a cell phone, the implanted device can also be upgraded.

Musk makes a comparison to the iPhone.

“I’m sure you wouldn’t want an iPhone 1

The more interesting question is what do we do with A.I.? What are we doing in the way of mitigating the risk of having digital superintelligence? Can devices stop taking orders from us and become cognitive of themselves? Is that even possible? With self-driving automobiles, and self navigating flight systems, it would seem like the answer is obvious. Smart homes getting smarter, smart T.V.s with predictive programming, and The Internet of Things as we know it pales in comparison to what is on the horizon.

Whatever happens, I’m excited to see what’s next for Neuralink.

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THE WEIRD WATERS OF LAKE TRAVIS

BY: Aaron Deese

L

ake Travis is well known as an oasis for those seeking a reprieve from the Texas heat. The location is a popular destination for recreational pursuits.

It is a tourist draw, and even boasts a nudist park known as Hippie Hollo. The Mansfield Dam has kept the Colorado River in check since 1937, giving shape to Lake Travis and creating a paradise for visitors.

It is also a hub for strange, unsolved and “paranormal” activity. You need not dig too deeply to find stories of ghosts, UFOs, lake monsters and much, much more.

In 2021 football player Baker Mayfield reported a UFO sighting over Lake Travis, describing a large object moving downwards towards the water. He shared the encounter on Twitter, and his wife Emily corroborated the story. In fact, Mayfield was not the only one who would report strange lights in the sky that night.

The American Meteor Association would receive 20 similar reports from across Texas.

The existence of “phantom alligators” was recently confirmed when a deceased specimen was found. There had long been chatter of a lakeside resident who procured two or more alligators and released them into the waters of the reservoir when they became too difficult to care for. More outlandish takes included accounts of dogs and even people being dragged beneath the surface to their deaths, and when NPR affiliate KUT 90.5 broke the story in June of 2011 Austin residents could at least point to one source as the potential root of these stories. There were, in fact – and may still be - alligators in Austin.

Numerous people have disappeared while visiting the lake. Caution should be taken not to equivocate human tragedy with interest in the paranormal, and the sad reality of aquatic recreation is that drownings – and disappearances – do happen. Perhaps this is a cautionary tale in water-safety, but in one chilling case, a couple’s empty vessel was discovered in an area known as Devil’s Cove.

Many have heard of the Loch Ness Monster, but Lake Travis has its own ambiguously described sub-nautical beast.

Reports depict a plesiosaur-like creature (much like Nessie), and more modern

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sightings describe a large eel-like form.

Catfish can reach massive proportions and are common in Lake Travis, but to reach “50 feet in length,” would require a special fish indeed. This monster goes by Ole Hippie, and sightings seem to originate – you guessed it – around Hippie Hollow.

heavy loss of life. Is this the ghost of some long-lost Austinite? Folklore in nearby Marble Falls tells of a creature called The Bear King, a monster said to possess the physical traits of an ape and bear. Marble Falls connects to Lake Travis via the river – perhaps the Bear King is still around?

This photo is believed to have first emerged on Reddit in 2007, and has been shared countless times. A quick inspection draws the eye to a strange figure on the righthand side. According to estimates, the figure in the photo stands somewhere between eleven and fourteen feet tall.

What other secrets does Lake Travis hide? Dinosaur tracks normally covered by the Paluxy River recently reappeared in Dinosaur Valley State Park near Dallas. Historic drought has shrunk the river, revealing the tracks for the first time since 2000. Rock collectors frequently find small fossils in the Lake Travis area, such as ancient seashells and fossilized barnacles.

To date, no one has claimed responsibility for the picture and its nature is unknown.

Extreme flooding occurred around Lake Travis in the early 1900s, resulting in

Perhaps more secrets lurk beneath the weird waters of Lake Travis.

Sources: https://www.nj.com/news/2021/03/nfl-star-baker-mayfield-wasnt-the-only-one-who-saw-strange-lights-in-the-sky.html https://www.kut.org/energy-environment/2011-06-17/dead-alligator-found-on-shores-of-lake-travis https://www.kxan.com/news/unsolved-the-mysteries-lurking-in-lake-travis/ https://mysteriousuniverse.org/2019/03/weird-tales-from-lake-travis-texas/ https://laketravislifestyle.com/lake-travis-area-history-mansfield-dam-and-lake-travis/ https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/drought-exposes-dinosaur-tracks-in-texas-180980647/ https://medium.com/freaklore/monstrous-humanoid-photo-from-lake-travis-remains-a-mystery-69dafc289f74

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