San Antonio Woman May/June 2022

May/June 2022

COURTNEY PERCY

Bringing Community and Family Together in Style

WOMEN BUILDING THE FUTURE OF STEM POWER COUPLES! - INNOVATIVE STROKE TREATMENT MOM & ME FASHION - ADVERTISING & PR - MARKET DAYS

IN THIS ISSUE

MAY/JUNE

2022

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16 Cover Story

Community connections and an eye to the future keep Courtney Percy in fashion at Julian Gold.

21 Feature Story

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Three power couples share secrets to their success as life and business partners.

38 At Home From French to farmhouse, Diana Deitrick of Crafthouse Interiors adapts her design vocabulary to her clients’ needs and wants.

42 Designer’s Tips

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Create a special place for your child that they can grow with and have fun in.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

MAY/JUNE

Stories

Business

Lifestyle

2022

16 21 26 28 96

Cover Story: Courtney Percy Feature Story: Power Couples!

R o l e M o d e l : K i m Wo l f e Guy to Know: David Mongeau In the Spotlight: Karrie Fristoe

48 49 56 90

Spotlight: McKenna Quinn Dossier: Advertising & PR N o n p r o f i t S p o t l i g h t : Wo m e n & G i r l s D e v e l o p m e n t F u n d Wo m e n o n t h e M o v e

31 34 35 36

Fa s h i o n : M o m & M e B e a u t y : S a n A n t o n i o Wo m a n ’s Fa v o r i t e S c e n t s B e a u t y Ta l k : Te e n s & M a ke u p

60 64 68 73 76

I n n o v a t i v e S t r o ke Tr e a t m e n t C a n c e r Tr e a t m e n t : P r e c i s i o n M e d i c i n e S t a t e - o f- t h e - A r t B r e a s t C a n c e r Tr e a t m e n t B e t t y ’s C o : I s t h i s N o r m a l ?

M e n t a l H e a l t h : Tr u e S e l f- C a r e

B e s t P ra c t i c e s : D r. M u r p h y 3 8 At H o m e : 1 8 9 0 H i s t o r i c a l H o m e 4 2 D e s i g n e r ’s T i p s : D e s i g n i n g t h e Pe r fe c t K i d s ’ S p a c e s 4 6 We l l n e s s M a t t e r s

To Your Health

Food & Entertainment

Special Section

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9 2 D e s t i n a t i o n s : A n t i q u e S h o w s & M a r ke t s 98 Dining: Battalion 1 0 0 S A C u ra t e d D i n i n g : M o t h e r ’s D a y B r u n c h 1 0 2 A r t B e a t : I m m e r s i v e Va n G o g h P r o d u c e r 1 0 4 We d d i n g : M r. & M r s . D e L e o n - O f s o w 106 Final Thoughts 7 8 Wo m e n i n S T E M

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CO N T R I BU TORS Brittany Paul, Photographer I love to capture beautiful women in our city. I still pinch myself each time I get to meet, learn about and photograph a San Antonio woman who is making an impact in our city.

David Teran, Photographer Ever since I found out Kim was from San Antonio, it became my lifelong dream to photograph with her. By lifelong, I mean coincidentally I saw her Survivor winning season for the first time 3 months before this magazine shoot.

Dreams do come true if you follow your passions.

Steve Bennett, Writer Diana Deitrick is one of the most talented young interior designers in San Antonio. What’s most interesting about her is her versatility. She listens to clients and translates that into a style -- whether classic or modern -- into living spaces. She even designed a really cool garage/ showroom where a wealthy client could park his collection of Ferraris!

Dawn Robinette, Writer San Antonio is overflowing with smart, talented women, and I’m lucky enough to cross paths with so many of them through “San Antonio Woman.” Our subjects share life lessons I always take to heart. The opportunity to sit down and chat with each of them, then share those stories with our readers is something I treasure. I look forward to each issue because I know I’ll learn something, be inspired, or simply laugh at the humor, wisdom, grit, and grace these amazing women bring to our community.

Janis Turk, Writer Eating and shopping: these are favorite pastimes of longtime SA WOMAN contributor Janis Turk. That’s why for this issue, she sought out the best shops and market day booths in communities across South-Central Texas for our travel feature and tasted quite nearly everything on the menu at Southtown’s hot spot fire station turned restaurant Battalion for the dining spread. In this issue, follow her travels to towns like Round Top for antique and flea-market finds, or follow her advice and dine at a fab local restaurant. As an award-winning travel and food writer/guidebook author, Turk knows all the best spots.

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Meredith Kay, Writer It was an absolute pleasure to speak to these couples about their endeavors and what they do to create a successful partnership, both within their workplaces, and in their own relationships and lives.

Paul J. Watkins, Writer Having the opportunity to research and write articles about health-related topics of interest to you is tremendously gratifying for me. I’ve written about health-related topics for nearly twenty-five years, and I have yet to get bored with it. Talking with healthcare providers allows me to hear firsthand the enthusiasm they have for the work they do and the tremendous care and compassion they provide to their patients – often when those people need it the most. I hope you enjoy reading our healthrelated articles as much as I enjoy writing them.

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EDITOR’S LETTER

MAY/JUNE 2022 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Cathleen Lane cathleen@sawoman.com CREATIVE DIRECTOR & GRAPHIC DESIGN Miriam Jesaijes miriam@sawoman.com DIRECTOR OF DIGITAL MEDIA Taylor Lane taylor@sawoman.com

Welcome to the unofficial

“family edition” of San Antonio Woman! What started as an idea for a feature about couples who work together turned into multiple stories that found a common theme of celebrating all things family! From our cover story to the feature, fashion, and home designer’s tips, I think you can see that “family” is a favorite theme at San Antonio Woman!

On the cover of this issue is Courtney Percy, Vice President of Marketing at Julian Gold. Growing up with both parents working in the retail industry, Courtney learned all aspects of the business before arriving at her current role. With so much responsibility - the iconic store recently opened its fifth Texas location - Courtney is amazingly relaxed and confident. I know you will enjoy reading about the importance of family and giving back to the community in this powerhouse woman’s life!

Our feature story is all about power couples who have figured out the secret to combining marriage and business with great success. You will love reading about how Herb Watts first fell for his wife, De Havalan, in the second grade and their path to creating “Herb from the Curb” barbecue sauce!

We are so excited to introduce the first in a series of features on the STEM ecosystem in our city. Special thanks to the San Antonio Report for their insightful perspective on how opportunities in STEM education directly affect our local workforce. Also, in this section, we offer incredible real-life examples of the diverse opportunities in STEMrelated fields.

Be sure to visit the To Your Health section for an update on the latest Stroke and Oncology treatments available from top health care providers in our city.

Happy reading!

Cathleen Cathleen Lane Publisher and Editor-in-Chief 12

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DIRECTOR OF SALES & PARTNERSHIPS Dale Lane dale@sawoman.com ADVERTISING SALES Cindy Jennings cindy@sawoman.com Caitlin Heck caitlin@sawoman.com WRITERS Cover: Dawn Robinette Steve Bennett, Camille Cuellar, Olivia Evans, Antonio Gutierrez, Alexis James, Jenny Jurica, Meredith Kay, Jillian Lopiano, MD MPH FACOG, Dr. Bill Murphy, Michelli Ramon, Dawn Robinette, Angel Santiago, Janis Turk, Jana Valdez Allied ASID, Dora Vera, Paul J. Watkins SA Report: Lindsey Carnett, Brooke Crum PHOTOGRAPHY Cover: Brittany Paul Photography MarElly Medina, Matthew Niemann, Suzanne Pack, Brittany Paul, Joey Solis, David Teran, TX Troublemaker SA Report: Bria Woods PRINTING Shweiki Media, San Antonio, Texas EDITOR EMERITUS Beverly Purcell-Guerra PUBLISHED BY Las Tres Muchachas, LLC. NOMINATIONS & ADVERTISING INFORMATION Email: info@sawoman.com A Las Tres Muchachas Production Cathleen & Dale Lane 300 E Ramsey, Suite 335 San Antonio, Texas 78216 (210) 236-5834 sawoman.com | @sanantoniowoman May/June 2022

COURTNEY PERCY

On the cover: Photography by Brittany Paul @brittanypaulphotography

Bringing Community and Family Together in Style

WOMEN BUILDING THE FUTURE OF STEM POWER COUPLES! - INNOVATIVE STROKE TREATMENT MOM & ME FASHION - ADVERTISING & PR - MARKET DAYS

San Antonio Woman is published bimonthly by Las Tres Muchachas Enterprises (Publisher). Reproduction in any manner in whole or part is prohibited without the express written consent of the Publisher. Material contained herein does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the publisher or its staff. San Antonio Woman reserves the right to edit all materials for clarity and space and assumes no responsibility for accuracy, errors or omissions. San Antonio Woman does not knowingly accept false or misleading advertisements or editorial, nor does the Publisher assume responsibility should such advertising or editorial appear. Articles and photographs are welcome and may be submitted to our offices to be used subject to the discretion and review of the Publisher. All real estate advertising is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act of 1968, which makes it illegal to advertise “any preference limitation or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin, or an intention to make such preference, limitation or discrimination.” Printed in the U.S.A.

SA CURATED

SA CURATED SA Curated brings you the best events, announcements, SA Woman staff favorites, things to know, and places to be in San Antonio!

Bra cken r i d g e P a r k Co ns e rv a n c y “P a r ty i n th e P ar k” The Brackenridge Park Conservancy (BPC) honored Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff and his wife Tracy at their annual “Party in the Park” gala. The Wolffs have been instrumental in supporting the BPC and San Antonio River improvements projects.

Photo by Keri Atkins

TASTE of the North Side BPC Past Chair Joe Calvert, Rhonda Calvert, Judge Nelson Wolff, Tracy Wolff, Mayor Ron Nirenberg.

Esperanza Eating Disorders Center moved to 140 Heimer Rd., Bldg 4, Suite 400.

They serve adolescents and adults with all types of eating disorders in partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient programs.

To arrange a tour, contact Beth Confer, Director of Outreach, at BethC@EsperanzaEDC.com.

Saint Mary’s Hall Scholar as the Singular Recipient of the Chip Roy Exceptional Senior Award Saint Mary’s Hall scholar Lauren Vegas ’22 was selected as the singular recipient of the Chip Roy Exceptional Senior Award. The award winner is selected based on “philanthropic activities, academic success, and their reputation among peers and teachers. These students have displayed high levels of character, leadership, integrity, and diligence.” Only one senior is selected from public, private, and home school organizations in TX-21. Congratulations, Lauren!

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After a two-year hiatus, we were ecstatic to attend TASTE of the North Side during Fiesta 2022! Festivities took place at the Dominion Country Club and featured a stacked vendor lineup.

Some of our favorites from the evening included Summer Moon Coffee’s take on a White Russian and brick oven pizza from Stone Bros!

Texas Cavaliers Honor Haven for Hope The Texas Cavaliers presented the 2022 Texas Cavaliers Charitable Honoree, Haven for Hope, with a donation of over $1,000,000 on April 4, 2022. The check presentation occurred at the King’s Council Reception prior to the River Parade at the Jack Guenther Pavilion at the Briscoe Western Arts Museum.

This annual event is hosted by the Texas Cavaliers in honor of the local charities, sponsors, and community partners that participated in the 2022 Texas Cavaliers River Parade. A grand total of 2.2 million was given to over 80 charities; of that, 1.2 million will go to Haven for Hope.

The Cavaliers’ donation will help support two learning centers for children on the Haven for Hope campus that will be named in recognition of the Texas Cavaliers.

STAFF PICK: Beauty Haus SA

A collaborative beauty studio with an emphasis on self-care and healing. You can book services such as lash and brow enhancements, teeth bling, permanent jewelry, and so much more. This beauty oasis is located in historic St. Paul Square.

Follow @beautyhaussa

COVER STORY “I credit my dad. He was very particular about it. ‘If you’re going to learn the business, you’re going to learn everything about the business.’ He told me, ‘You can’t walk out onto the floor and expect to have this presence that you haven’t earned.’”

Family and Community

Always Fashionable are

By Dawn Robinette | Photography by Brittany Paul

If you think working alongside your mother and father means you’re allowed to skip to the head of the line when you become part of the team, don’t look at Courtney Percy’s path at Julian Gold. As Vice President of Marketing, she oversees strategy, public relations and communication for the five Julian Gold stores in Texas.

But her COO dad made her start from the ground up, long before she ever considered a career in retail, gift wrapping in high school, then college, where she helped in the Austin store when it opened. “I grew up in the industry, and it was very much a part of my life. My mom also grew up in a retail family and so it’s just something that’s always been around for me. They never pushed me in this direction. That was not the expectation. But as I started to learn different aspects of the business, it became very engaging to me.

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After stints in all of Julian Gold’s departments, Percy took on the marketing role, ultimately bringing marketing efforts in-house. “It’s so relationship-driven, there’s so much opportunity to engage with the community – I love all of those personal connections. I love when clients come in and we know everything about them. And I love developing new relationships with people that are not familiar with Julian Gold. I think we position ourselves to do that just in the involvement that we have with the community and how we try to support and embrace the causes that are important to San Antonio.”

Of course, Julian Gold has grown beyond San Antonio, recently opening a new location in Lubbock, giving them five stores across Texas. And they work to know their customers in each location. “I feel like every store has its own identity. We’re able to cater to each market differently. Being able to go out and target what each community really gravitates toward is incredibly important. It’s very special that we’re just small enough to be able to do that, but just big enough to have the reach that we want to have.”

That flexibility helped Julian Gold weather the pandemic.

“The last few years have been pretty challenging. I think it’s all in how you approach and look at it. I like to look at any situation and think, ‘We can overcome this.’ Whether it is something that’s going to take time to overcome or whether it’s a quick fix, you have to go into it with the right mentality. Covid is a perfect example.”

The new Lubbock store and the continued growth of the company are a testament to how well that mentality worked. And Percy credits the full Julian Gold team for making it happen. “Everybody had to work harder. We were asking people to do things that were outside of what their normal responsibilities were.

“We’re not one for titles around here. I feel like sometimes, when you have a title, you feel like you’re kind of confined to that role. When you’re here, it’s all hands

Courtney Percy “Inspirations don’t have to be grand.

They can be just simple little things that you see every day.“

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on deck all the time; go where you’re needed. To have everybody work together as a team to carry the company through was really neat to watch. Some of these people I have grown up with my entire life, so to be a part of that together, in the sense of an extended family, was so important to us.”

She feels the family ties strengthen the business. “Not everyone has the opportunity to work alongside their parents. I am grateful that I have the relationship that I do with my parents, that we can work alongside each other every day and, at the end of the day, still be family.

I think that contributes a lot to the kind of culture and feel of the store itself for our staff and our clients. They feel that family aspect. We have staff here that have been with me my entire life. To be able to work alongside them is a privilege.”

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But work talk ends when they leave the store. “When we’re home, we’re able to turn off and just enjoy time as a family, which I think sometimes people don’t think would be possible. But we value that time. Just like my growing up, my kids are up here all the time. They run around the store. They come sit in my office. They have decorated my office. It’s very much the way I grew up. There’s nothing that they can’t be included in, much the way my parents included my brothers and me in what they did.”

She and her husband Charles also prioritize family time with their two children, Charlie and Caroline, making time for dinner as a family each night. “As our kids get older, it gets harder, but as much as we can, sitting down together at the same time and having a meal. Just to have that moment where we can all sit down, share about our day, even if it’s quick. Being there for our kids as much

as possible and hearing the things that are important to them in their lives right now, because this space, or the season of life, is not going to last much longer. And we want to be a part of it as much as we can right now.”

Percy makes time for herself by prioritizing her mornings.

“I love the morning. It’s just incredibly quiet and peaceful to me. I get up at 5 a.m. That’s my rise and shine time.

From 5 a.m. to about 6:30 a.m. is a little bit of my time.

I’ll read and reflect on a few things. I also take the time to exercise in the morning. It’s just a good chance to kind of clear my head and set the tone for the day.”

President-Elect of the Woodridge Elementary School PTO. She has also been actively involved in the Children’s Bereavement Center and the Alamo Heights School Foundation, which may seem like a lot to juggle. But she sees it a different way.

“You can ever say no to an opportunity. Whether you are nervous, whether you feel like you don’t have time, you have to embrace and accept those opportunities that are put in front of you. Whether it be career-related, travelrelated, or family-related, to look back and think, ‘I wish I would’ve done that.’ That’s a feeling that you don’t want to have. Just go for it and try something.”

Part of that tone is looking ahead. “I think in business, you constantly need to be looking forward. Learn from what you’re doing but be looking forward. Condoleezza Rice said, ‘What you know today can affect what you do tomorrow. But what you know today cannot affect what you did yesterday.’ If you continue to reflect or dwell on things that are finished, you are not helping yourself.”

She also looks at success beyond what happens in business. “So often, I think we look at success just in terms of your professional career. But I like to use the word ambition because it applies to everything. Ambition in your career, ambition for your family, ambition for your community, and how you commit your time to the things that are important to you. When I am at Julian Gold, what can I focus on and improve here? And then, out in the community, how can I involve myself, and where can I best serve? And of course, at home with family, I think you have to really be able to focus on creating the home and life balance for your children, for your spouse, for yourself,” she explains.

“I am inspired when I come to work. I’m inspired when I’m out in the community. San Antonio has so much to offer and the people and the culture, and beyond San Antonio, even in Texas – there is an opportunity and so much around us. Inspirations don’t have to be grand. They can be just simple little things that you see every day.”

Being an active part of that community is something she takes seriously. Percy has served on the boards of the Cancer Center Council and Texas Biomedical Forum, where she led the board of directors as president. She is currently a Sponsor of the Charity Ball Association and

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FEATURE STORY

The Balance of the Power Couple Ask any couple who works together what makes their partnership successful, and you might get many different answers, but for three local San Antonio couples, the common thread that runs through their stories is respect for one another and never losing sight that their relationship always comes first.

By Meredith Kay | Photography by David Teran

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Mike & Molly Sowry Virtuoso Builders In order to build something great, you must always start with a solid foundation. This is as true in construction as it is in life, and one San Antonio couple has mastered this principle to create not only a thriving home improvement business but also a successful marriage for 28 years.

Mike and Molly Sowry are the owners of Virtuoso Builders, specializing in home remodels with high-end designer features. They have been in business since 2001, and together they continue to put customer service as the number one priority when working with homeowners and trade partners alike to make remodeling dreams come true.

Mike, originally from Dallas, is a graduate of U.T. Austin.

Molly is a native San Antonian, attended Clark High School, and is a graduate of the University of Arizona.

The couple met at a wedding in San Antonio during Molly’s senior year of college. Mike had come down from Dallas to attend the wedding of a friend, and Molly was a bridesmaid.

They were married and living in Austin when Mike took a leap of faith and told Molly that he wanted to start his own remodeling company. He was working in the lighting industry at the time, and Molly was working for an advertising agency. They began their new venture with grassroots marketing, asking friends and family for referrals, and introducing the company with holiday gift bags full of branded specialty items.

Virtuoso Builders has built a stellar reputation in the San Antonio area with their hands-on approach to working closely with the homeowners who contract them. Mike and Molly take the meetings themselves, working to uncover the homeowners’ visions and bringing those visions to reality with careful planning, bi-weekly progress meetings, and managed expectations.

The couple works in tandem, but they are very good at setting boundaries with their clients in order to 22

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maintain their work/life balance. Molly says, “We strive to maintain mutual respect with our clients. We have to make sure that we are a good fit for each other because our crews will be in their homes for extended periods of time, and that can get pretty personal.”

When you ask the couple how they have managed to remain so successful, they both respond, “You have to have a shared end goal, even though each person may do the same job differently. You have to trust each other to make the right decisions for the good of the company.

The partnership is in the checks and balances.”

Virtuoso Builders has the team and the trade partners to orchestrate the perfect home remodel, and their client testimonials speak volumes. Mike and Molly work closely with each individual homeowner in a way that creates a symbiotic relationship for everyone involved.

They truly listen to what the homeowner wants, how they live in their space, and what they want the end result to look like. They are also masters of social media marketing and have their own YouTube channels called “Remodel Your Thinking” and “Behind the Drywall.”

Herb & De Havalan

Watts

Herb From the Curb Gourmet BBQ Sauce They say that life is what happens when you’re busy making plans, and for Herb and De Havalan Watts, life has taken some interesting turns during their 32-year marriage. Their story began in the second grade. They both attended Tynan Elementary on the east side, and Herb was smitten with De Havalan from the start, but he was too shy to really speak to her.

It wasn’t until high school that he worked up the nerve to ask her to the military ball when he was a student athlete at T.M.I. She said yes, and they remained friends keeping in touch through letters after Herb joined the Army and shipped off to Korea. They finally began dating when he returned home, and they were married in 1990.

Herb began his career in the warehouse at H-E-B and then moved into a security role at the San Antonio Airport before landing a job with Southwest Airlines as a baggage handler. This is where his nickname, “Herb from the Curb,” came from.

Herb has built friendly relationships with frequent passengers over the years, but he always dreamed of owning his own business. The couple moved to Floresville to build their home in 2001, and together they raised their son, Herb III (29) and De Havalan II (26).

Herb recalls stopping off at a local Floresville barbecue restaurant one day when the owner asked him if he wanted to buy the place. The couple decided to take a leap of faith and eventually renamed it Watts BBQ. They also consulted with De Havalan’s mother to formulate a new barbecue sauce recipe, and it was met with rave reviews from customers. In fact, it became so popular that the couple began to bottle the sauce as well. Herb made it well known that his goal was to eventually massproduce the sauce and make a name for it, and when the restaurant closed, they continued to fine-tune their recipe, cleaning up the ingredients to make it healthier.

One day, Herb was talking to a frequent passenger about his plans, and the man promised to put him in touch with

a product development specialist at H-E-B. The grocery store executive saw something special in the couple, and they set them up to distribute their barbecue sauce in 150 stores to start.

De Havalan recalls, “We had no start-up capital, so we had to get family and friends to invest, find a commercial kitchen, and begin production immediately.”

Today, Herb From the Curb gourmet BBQ Sauce features a Spicy Mesquite sauce and a Sweet-n-Tangy Hickory sauce. When asked what the secret has been to working together successfully, they will tell you that it is imperative to listen to one another and to seek help when faced with challenges that could threaten the relationship. Herb says that it was a church counselor that told them early on in their endeavor, “This company can fail. Your marriage cannot.” They both took this advice to heart, and this commitment to their dream and to each other has led to their growing success. In fact, their barbecue sauce was named one of H-E-B’s favorite products of the year for 2021, so the future is most definitely looking very sweet - and a little spicy - for Herb and De Havalan Watts.

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Doug & Latina Isaacks Krysus Human Performance & Recovery For the men and women that serve our country in the military, active duty can take its toll on the human body.

Military personnel are required to remain in excellent physical condition, but even the strongest soldiers require a respite from the physicality of their professions so that their bodies can rest and recover, just like athletes.

It was this realization and thorough research into the correlation between human performance and recovery that led one dynamic and ambitious couple to create not only a business but a haven for those going through physical and psychological trauma.

Doug and Latina Isaacks met early in their military career while stationed at Dyess Air Force Base in Abilene. Doug was born and raised in Southern California, and Latina was brought up in Kansas City. They both began their military career in the security forces, but Doug later trained and transitioned into Pararescue, becoming a parajumper, which is an elite team of medically trained soldiers who risk their lives to save others in humanitarian and combat environments.

When the couple transitioned from active duty to reserve duty, they both began to conceptualize a way that they could help other career military men and women recover from years of physical damage to their bodies. Doug, specifically, suffered through years of back pain from repeated parajumper landings, and in 2009 they founded Rescue Athlete, which later became Guardian Premier Solutions, providing innovative training, education, and research in optimizing human performance to military and tactical communities. This practice allowed them to realize that the same psychological and physical stressors affect those outside of the military as well, and they 24

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began to look into ways to help anyone needing a physical recovery program.

The idea for Krysus Human Performance and Recovery was launched when Doug and Latina experienced a flotation chamber treatment in Austin. The treatment was so successful for Doug’s back pain that the couple decided to create a multi-faceted recovery clinic in San Antonio. The clinic is located in the Alamo Ranch area and features four different recovery treatment solutions available to anyone experiencing severe stress and pain from injuries, illness, or trauma. Treatments offered include: Vibroacoustic Sound Therapy, Whole-Body Red-Light, Flotation Therapy, and Dry Salt Therapy, or Halotherapy.

When asked how their recovery programs can help, Latina states, “Our recovery treatments are capable of affecting people’s lives in a visible way. Krysus is a place where anyone can come to destress and heal.”

Doug and Latina have two sons, Christian (25) and Kadin (21), who are currently learning the business, and they have very clear goals for how they want to expand and bring the gift of healing, recovery, and increased human performance to everyone.

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 2022 SENIORS OF THE YMSL MISSION CHAPTER CAPABLE, CONFIDENT AND COMPASSIONATE LEADERS OF TOMORROW

For more information visit chapters.ymsl.org/chapter/alamo

ROLE MODEL

Kim Wolfe

Designing a Life Full of Transformation & Adventure Survivor, Designer, and now Host of her own HGTV show, an inspirational San Antonio home renovator says the key to transforming your life is first, saying Yes!

By Alexis James | Photography by David Teran 26

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When you meet Kim Wolfe, you can instantly recognize her genuine love for people. And it’s easy to understand how her captivating personality and powerhouse outlook on life led her to win Survivor and land her new HGTV show, “Why the Heck Did I Buy This House?”

“I was a huge fan of Survivor before I went on the show and would have watch parties with my friends from college,” Kim says, smiling. “At a tough time in my life, and just for fun, my friends recorded an audition tape of me, and I sent it in. I never thought I would hear back, but I got a callback two weeks later!” Not only did she get a callback, but she went on to win 2012’s Survivor, One World, and take home the impressive million-dollar prize.

Kim acknowledges she never could have imagined winning Survivor or the life transformation that would take place on the show. “I gained a lot of trust in myself throughout the show, and I came back a different, better version of myself.”

Shortly after her time on Survivor, she returned home to San Antonio and married her husband, Bryan Wolfe.

Together they purchased a 1940s home that needed a complete overhaul. And it was that initial home that began their family’s home renovation journey.

“After we renovated that first home, I was hooked! I couldn’t wait to do it again. After renovating our fourth house, my husband gave me the idea of potentially doing interior designing and home renovating full time.

Mostly because he was tired of moving our family from house to house.” she laughs. “But also, because he saw that I really loved it.”

Kim is a self-taught designer with a minimalist approach and has always loved turning worn spaces into something new. She thanks her mom for nurturing her creativity at a young age. “I learned from my mom that you can transform a house into your vision for it. She gave us total

creative freedom to decorate our rooms growing up, and she provided us opportunities to play and create.”

“Family is my inspiration, and my family plays a key role in this journey.” As a mom of three, Kim says her kids significantly influence her work. “It’s a lot of hard work, but we have a lot of fun together! I always want my kids to see me saying yes to new opportunities. I want them to see me go for it!”

She continues with a word of advice that she herself follows, “You should always throw a line in the water.

Always send the e-mail.

Always say thank you. Always say hi. Give yourself the opportunity to say yes (or no) to something you want to do.

You never know what might come from taking a chance on yourself.”

If you’re looking to transform an area of your life or design a new space of your own, Kim’s recommendation is to “Start small, take action, and don’t be afraid to make mistakes.

Because mistakes are how you learn.” And, “Don’t do it alone.

It’s important to surround yourself with women who are for each other, creating opportunities for one another, and lifting each other up.”

There’s no doubt in Kim’s mind that there will be more adventure in her future.

“What’s Next? I feel that we could be doing this, the show, for a while. I love getting the opportunity to showcase homes in San Antonio while highlighting the beauty and community in our city. I’m also excited about some fun collaborations I have coming out soon, and I want to keep creating and trying new things.

“But most importantly, I want to prioritize my family.”

You can find Kim’s designs at wolfehome.com and watch her in action Wednesdays on “Why the Heck Did I Buy This House?” on HGTV at 8:00 pm local time.

May/June 2022 27

GUY TO KNOW

David Mongeau Committed to Putting San Antonio on the National Map for Data Science

By Antonio Gutierrez | Photography by David Teran

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When David Mongeau was tapped to lead the UTSA School of Data Science in May 2021, the university could not have selected a better candidate for the job.

The new school is the first of its kind in Texas, according to UTSA’s website. It’s a key component in UTSA’s 10year vision of establishing its Downtown Campus as a destination for producing highly skilled professionals in data science and analytics, promoting economic development, and creating prosperity for the Alamo City.

Mongeau, who hails from the University of California, Berkeley, where he was executive director of the Berkeley Institute for Data Science, is poised to lead the way with a wealth of experience under his belt. He is known for successfully leading data science and analytics research institutes and training programs. He also has a knack for developing partnerships with government, industry, academia, and philanthropic communities to build collaboration in data science.

Incidentally, Mongeau credits his wife for his foray into data science, which you’ll read about shortly. He has also adapted quite nicely to his new home here and has a list of favorite haunts to relax and enjoy a good cup of coffee.

What are your role and goals as founding director of the School of Data Science? My role is to lead the UTSA School of Data Science to the forefront of the next generation of data science as the school expands into new areas of inquiry and teaching. To fulfill this leadership role requires a lot of building. It literally involves occupying and opening a new building for the school, as well as the National Security Collaboration Center, in downtown San Antonio on Dolorosa Street next to City Hall. It involves building the academic, professional, and research teams that we need to create an impact in the building. It involves building relationships and trust in the community so UTSA can bring its data and data scientists to bear on the challenges and opportunities that San Antonio faces. Overall, my role involves both imagining and implementing, and I enjoy both.

Goals? There are many underlying visions that I set for the school: to inspire and prepare a generation of data scientists who can make the world more equitable, informed, and secure. Notice that the vision is focused on people. With that focus, we’ll create opportunity locally so we can have impact nationally. My goals are to serve San Antonio and to put us on the national map as a data science go-to city.

What exactly is data science? Data science is a field dedicated to extracting insights from data in all its forms, such as images, sound, and text. Data scientists

are people with the knowledge – the facts, information, and skills – needed to work with the data. That work includes generating, collecting, processing, analyzing, and interpreting the data. Data science is not new. In 1962, John Tukey, a mathematician at Bell Labs, coined “data analysis” as an unrecognized science. Later, in 2001, William Cleveland, a statistician at Bell Labs, where I worked for over 25 years, coined “data science.”

What’s new is the amount of data that we have in 2022 because of our highly connected, networked world.

Now, you can think of data science as the triumvirate of math + statistics + computing, and unmeasurable amounts of digitized data combined with specific knowledge of climate, education, poverty, and so on.

The combination makes it possible to address economic and social problems, reach business goals, and even explore new performing and visual arts in ways we could not do in 1962.

What drew you to data science? My wife, Jewell. I was studying poetry as an undergraduate at Carnegie Mellon University. This transfer student showed up in my statistics and my programming class, who attracted me and seemed to understand what was going on in class way better than me. I used to offer to buy Jewell bagels before class so I could learn from her or sometimes copy her homework. We also spent many a late night together in computer labs learning C and other programming languages. She was so comfortable with empirical methods and logic. I ended up minoring in data analysis at CMU and marrying Jewell. I came to see the power of both lyrical and logical thinking.

How does data science contribute to the workforce or economic development of a city? Data science contributes growth. It can be a growth engine for the economy and for the workforce that builds and benefits from the economy. Since arriving in San Antonio 10 months ago, I have met with many civic, corporate, and government leaders and workers. All of them have or know how to get data that they are counting on to grow their endeavors and to solve problems standing in the way of growth and social mobility in San Antonio. If we inspire and prepare our students at UTSA to stand on the foundations of math + statistics + computing, and lots of data combined with topics that they care about, we can contribute to the future wellbeing of the city.

What are some of the things you enjoy about the Alamo City? The history and gardens and museums along the Broadway corridor and Mission Trails. The people in the community and at the university who have gone out of their way to help me plug in and learn what it’s going to take to achieve the vision for the school. Coffee and caloric pastries at Commonwealth Coffee, Olmos Perk, and La Panaderia, and my first Fiesta.

May/June 2022 29

Style Of..

In The

1.

2.

3.

Dale Lane

Owner & Publisher, San Antonio Woman

4.

5.

1. Hat $215 Stetson 2. Jacket $770 J.Hilburn 3. Shirt $128 J.Hilburn 4. Jeans $130 Banana Republic 5. Boots $349.99 Red Wing Shoes

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FASHION

MOM

& Me

Moms, let’s pat ourselves on the back! Early

morning battles getting little ones out the door, after-school practice, sick days, homework, growing piles of laundry, the list goes on. All while maintaining work, relationships, finances, chores, and most importantly, ourselves! Yet, we power through and always make it look easy. We hope the fashion inspiration on the following pages help you get out the door feeling extra fabulous!

Photography by Suzanne Pack with Celebrated Reflections

Mom of 6, wife, yoga instructor and lifestyle coach Tracy Ross-Garcia wears a striped maxi dress with puffed sleeves and matching belt from Julian Gold. By her side, Leilani wears a twirl-worthy cotton buttondown dress from Zara and butterfly headband from H&M. May/June 2022 31

Stepping Out Tracy steps out solo wearing a one-shoulder patterned top with a puffed sleeve, light wash wide-leg jeans, and a Havana straw hat from Julian Gold.

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On the Go Setting the tone and ready for the day, Tracy wears a pink and orange a-line dress with a multicolor beaded belt and fringe straw tote bag from Julian Gold. In mom’s arms, Zenorah wears a pale pink cotton two-piece set from H&M to match big sister Leilani wears a pale pink cotton top

Styling: Miriam Jesaijes & Taylor Lane. For more information visit Juliangold.com

and denim skirt from Zara.

May/June 2022 33

BEAUTY

W h a t We’re We a r i n g Classics rule the list! Check out this lineup of the San Antonio Woman team’s all-time favorites. What’s your signature scent?

Miriam: This classic is my favorite for years now. It’s a sultry oriental fragrance with a bright citrus side. The scents brings me back to my days at the fashion shows in Paris Chanel - Coco Mademoiselle

Taylor: This is my go-to scent! It’s bright, crisp, and floral, great for every day wear. When I have this on, someone always asks what the perfume is!

Versace - Yellow Diamond

Cindy:

1 2 3

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6

This scent brings back memories..sitting in the honeysuckle bushes when I was a kid, being with family and love. And it stays on me all day!

Le Labo - LYS 41

Caitlin: It’s sweet, but not overpowering, it’s unique and elegant. Not your every day perfume so I wear it for those special occasions. Every time I wear it I make new beautiful memories.

Le Labo - Santal 33

Dale:

Tom Ford Noir Extreme eau de parfum spray gives men a dynamic woody scent to match their daring personalities. This scent that takes you beyond ordinary. Show your bold side!

Tom Ford - Noir Extreme

Cathleen: I love this perfume because it lasts all day and smells sophisticated to me.

Jimmy Choo - Eau de Parfum

BEAUTY TALK

Teens & Makeup?

When your teen is becoming interested in wearing makeup, I would start by explaining that caring for her skin is the most important thing. Starting her off with an oil or cream cleanser, an alcohol-free toner, and a moisturizer will ensure she has hydrated skin for the makeup application. I personally love the brand Coco Kind. Not only do they pack a lot of their products in glass, but they also don’t have 10+ ingredients you cannot pronounce.

With teens, a little goes a long way! Most applications during these years depend on how much coverage they need, how much time they have, and what their style is.

The makeup routine I am going to share will work for just about everyone!

To start, I recommend doing a light layer of concealer wherever they need the coverage. If one area needs heavier coverage, do not cover the entire face with heavy coverage. Next, they should find a cream blush that works with their skin tone. Cream blushes may be intimidating, but with a small synthetic brush or even their fingers, they can blend a cream blush without problems. Lastly, the lightest amount of translucent powder will be necessary to set the creams and lock in the makeup for longevity. Now that the skin is looking good, they can go to the brows. One of my go-to brow products for the no makeup, makeup look is a tinted brow gel. Anastacia of Beverly Hills and Benefit are two brands that make tinted brow gels. If your teen’s brows already have a lot of color and fullness, then a clear brow gel will be fine! Sometimes brushing your brows is all you need and sometimes we need just a tad bit of color. It all depends on how light or dark their brows are. To complete the look your teen will just need to apply her favorite mascara to accentuate the eyes and a tinted lip balm or gloss that matches their lip tone, and your teen is good to go!

TEXAS SUPER LAWYERS TOP 10 ATTORNEYS STATEWIDE 2014, 2013, 2012, 2010 & 2009

BEST LAWYERS IN AMERICA 1987 - 2021

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FOR AUTHORING THE BEST CLE ARTICLE - TWICE 2009 - 2013

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STATE BAR OF TEXAS FAMILY LAW SECTION 2021 Board Certified in both Family Law and Civil Appellate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization

Dora Vera

Owner, The Look | Makeup & Hair Studio @thelook.beautystudio Dora is a San Antonio native with 10+ years in the hair & makeup application industry.

Specializing in the “no makeup, makeup look” and one-on-one makeup lessons for women of all ages.

26th Floor, Tower Life Bldg, | San Antonio, Texas 210 225 5567 | www.orsinger.com

BEST PRACTICES: DR. MURPHY

The Secrets of Aging:

Discover

How to Look and Feel Your Best

By Dr. Bill Murphy | Photography by MarElly Medina

A young girl, a daughter, a mother…..All age one day at a time, one birthday after another, year after year, equally and fairly. The “process of aging” is a very different topic with more variability and choices and much less equitably. However, with proper knowledge as your tools, you can manage how you and your family plan your individual aging process and journey.

Three of the most important women in my life are pictured here. My wife, my daughter, and my granddaughter are all at different stages of life and face different challenges and opportunities. Even if you are starting later than desired, it is never too late to restore, reverse, and roll back the effects of the aging process. With the use of modern medical and aesthetic formulas and treatments, the sky is the limit with what you can achieve.

I am Dr. Bill Murphy, the medical director and owner of Turquoise Springs Medical Spa. I am a physician, an anesthesiologist, a pain specialist, a surgeon, an aesthetics specialist, a pharmacist, but most importantly, a life time student and a student of life. Over the next several editions, I will discuss topics in modern aesthetics and wellness medicine.

At Turquoise Springs Medical Spa, we know that your skin is only a visual or outward clue to your health. There are also many changes we cannot see, sitting below the skin. This is why it is also important to understand how what we eat, breathe and drink matters. Body wellness plays a major role in our skin’s health, and at Turquoise Springs, we respect the full-body process of aging.

We aren’t anti-aging; we are proactive in helping your body age in a healthy and beautiful way. We work with our clients to achieve their authentic beauty, feeling good about the process, not just the results.

As such, we ask many questions related to your health. Helping you to understand the process is important to us. We are happy to answer questions such as: why would what we eat, drink, and breathe have an effect on our skin? Is Vitamin D a vitamin, hormone, or both? What is micro-needling, and how does it stimulate our stem cells to heal damaged skin cells? What questions should I ask at a medical spa consultation? How can I alter the aging process and restore vitality to my life? How can I first prevent or later restore the effects of damage and aging in various areas of my body? These are all questions that will also be addressed in the coming months in this column.

Allow me to introduce the three beautiful ladies in the picture. My wife, Tisa, is my best friend and a director/co-owner of Turquoise Springs. My daughter, Dr. Erin Ross, is a Marriage and Family Therapist, a clinician, and an author. She will be contributing to my column over the next few months, and it will be a treat for all of you. My granddaughter Chloe loves all things horses, has an irrepressible personality, is the kindest person I know, and loves Hydrafacials at Turquoise Springs.

My goal here is to make you feel better, healthier, and have love for and confidence in yourself and your appearance. If you feel good about yourself, it is easier to love all the other people in your life. I look forward to the time in this column we will spend together over the next few months.

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AT HOME

A Historic 1890 Complete Renovation in Monte Vista

By Steve Bennett | Photography by Joey Solis

Designer: Diana Dietrick of Crafthouse Interiors Builder: Theresa McFaul of Mai Vu Plumbing & Construction SA Woman: Let’s talk about the 1890 house on Woodlawn, which you worked on with Theresa McFaul of Mai Vu Plumbing & Construction. (The home has since been sold to private residents.) You had to gut the house entirely, giving you a sort of blank slate to work with.

Diana: Working with a “blank canvas” is a designer’s dream! However, it could be a challenge in regard to selecting the right style, coming up with the right concept that makes sense for the market, the budget, the existing architecture and neighborhood aesthetics, and the needs of the potential homeowner. In this project, one of the challenges was coming up with an interior layout/floor plan that worked with the existing exterior architecture of the house while preserving the historical details.

SA Woman: In your various home interior projects, you cover a lot of styles, from Farmhouse Chic to Hollywood Glam. You seem to be very versatile.

Diana: There are a lot of designers today with a branded style, and that is how they’ve become known and successful. For me, my strength is actually the opposite! I am very good at designing different styles, fusing styles, and coming up with something unique or very distinctive. I love many styles, and part of what makes me excited about my work is the challenge to create something custom, unique and different every 38

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time. I hardly ever repeat the same design twice; I treat every project as if it was its own story and with its own identity.

SA Woman: When working with a private homeowner, what’s the approach?

Diana: Ask a lot of questions, a lot of listening, informing the client, and a lot of pictures! LOL. Part of being a good designer is the ability to ask the proper questions in front and listen very carefully to what the client wants vs. what they need, and how that translates to their budget. I also make my clients show me their Pinterest boards, or show me pictures of what they love or hate, what their dream space would look like if there were no budget. Sometimes clients don’t know how to communicate the feeling or style they want, and it always works best when they show me pictures and tell me what they love or hate about it. This shows me their visual directions, which helps me create a customized plan for them.

SA Woman: How did you get into interior design?

Diana: I was always a creative child, loved to draw, was good with craft projects, and appreciated art, music, dance, and anything that was creative. At a very young age, I knew that I was meant to work or do something in the creative field. In junior high, I had a math teacher that had us do a floor plan of a house and build a model out of cardboard. I loved and enjoyed the project so much and got an A+ for being the best model in the class! I am also analytical; I like to plan, I like technology, I like drawing, meeting different people, I love creating experiences, working in teams or independently and Interior design allowed me to do

May/June 2022 39

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and experience all that. I knew after that workshop that Interior design was my calling.

SA Woman: How would you define your design philosophy or vocabulary?

Diana: I believe that interior design is the art of creating an experience. Being a designer is a big responsibility because we determine the parameters of how

people will experience that space. As designers, our commitment and mission is to elevate and improve the quality of life of the people using and living in the space. I believe aesthetics, basic principles of design like balance, proportion, color, and cohesiveness are very important, but the space fails to be a great design without functionality. An essential part of being a designer is solving problems and creatively coming up with solutions that solve those problems.

May/June 2022 41

DESIGNER’S TIPS

Designing the Perfect Kids’ Spaces

By Jana Valdez, Allied ASID | Photography by Matthew Niemann

Designing a kids’ space doesn’t have to be a daunting task! These little balls of energy deserve a space to call their own. I’d like to share a few designer tips with you for creating unique and amazing kids’ spaces for your little ones.

Tip 1: Design for Longevity Although we would love for our kiddos to stay young forever, they grow up on us! When planning a children’s space, think long-term. The more expensive elements of the room should be able to grow with your child through their teenage years. So, avoid the fairy and cartoon wallpaper and opt for something with long-term appeal, such as a painted wood accent wall or a functional reading nook. You can always incorporate fairies and cartoon characters into your bedding or artwork—items that are easy to update and replace over time.

Tip 2: Encourage Creativity When designing for a child’s space, give them room to express their creativity and to create their own “adventures” in their space. A chalkboard wall and builtin bookshelves provide for hours of creative play and learning through reading. What about incorporating a map of the world on the wall and pinning places that you have traveled together? Little minds love to create and learn.

Tip 3: Incorporate Color Bright colors stimulate little minds and keep the room from becoming too stuffy and grown-up. Color is the 42

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perfect opportunity to express your child’s personality and playfulness. Take the opportunity to use bright colors in artwork, bedding, and furniture pieces. Make it fun!

Tip 4: Make it Personal What are your child’s interests? Do they love dinosaurs, or space exploration, or maybe butterflies? Build a room around specific interests that your child has to give them a sense of ownership of the room. Think outside of the box…such as a campsite or a painter’s studio. Allow the room to highlight what’s unique about your child’s interests.

Tip 5: Make it Functional OK, so cute and cozy is great, but don’t forget function!

In a nursery, incorporate blackout window treatments to help baby sleep at naptime and include a comfortable chair in the corner for midnight feedings. In a playroom, add storage for toys and books. Having a functional and organized room can go a long way in easing the mind and the workload of a busy parent.

So, don’t be afraid to go for it! Design a special place for your child that they can grow with and have fun in. After all, they are not little for long!

Jana Valdez

Principal Interior Designer Haven Design and Construction For more information please visit havendesignandconstruction.com

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WELLNESS

Curating Your Work of Art Called Life Be Your Life’s Master Curator

By Angel Santiago

“You are a product of your environment. So, choose the environment that will best develop you toward your objective. Analyze your life in terms of its environment. Are the things around you helping you toward success - or are they holding you back?”

- W. Clement Stone

Have you ever seen an episode of Queer Eye? If you haven’t, I encourage you to do so. You will learn some great tips on how to improve your life. On the show, five experts called the Fab Five set out to help individuals refine their wardrobes, grooming, diet, cultural pursuits, and home décor. In essence, they help people become curators of their own lives.

Curators are people who select, organize, and look after items in a collection or exhibition, so if you have ever attended an art gallery, a curator was responsible for its development and care. I want to invite you to take on this role in your life. Select, organize, and look after your life as if it were a priceless collection in development. Curate every aspect and pay special attention to your environment.

The surroundings and conditions in which you live and operate, including the natural world as a whole, are crucial to curating a precious work of art out of your life.

And if you are like most people, it is likely that you are already invested in and intentional with your business, relationships, fitness, and spirituality. Why not become a master of your environment, as well? If you are a driven person, you know exactly what you want and where you’re going. That’s great, but does your environment support that?

It is said that you are a product of your environment. So, if your environment can influence you, then you also have

the ability to influence and curate it as well. How you dress, eat, groom, and decorate your home, for example, says a lot about who you are and your internal state - as within, so without.

Think about yourself in each of these areas. Are you presenting yourself in a way worthy of a priceless exhibition? You must also understand that how you present yourself to the world has nothing to do with the world and everything to do with you. It has to do with having a sense of pride in who you are. And there is a difference between having a virtue of pride and being prideful.

Pride is a commitment to achieve self-esteem by taking credit and responsibility for acting on one’s judgment in accordance with principles and values. Pride is about feeling gratified and honored by something, feeling satisfied or happy about a fact or event, while prideful is feeling superior or arrogant. Can you think of something you feel a great sense of pride in? What is it about that thing that makes you feel that way? Once you figure that out, I invite you to bring that same quality into becoming a master curator in every aspect of your life.

Blessings, An g el

My name is Angel Santiago, and I’m a Transformational Coach.

Feel free to connect with me via social media under the hashtag #LifeCoachAngel.

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May/June 2022 47

BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT

McKenna Quinn

Amber Haynes, President and Founder of McKenna Quinn who enjoyed hunting and shooting but struggled with finding other like-minded ladies to enjoy these activities with. I decided to host a ladies’ sporting clay event at Joshua Creek Ranch, and we had 100 ladies attend.

Since then, McKenna Quinn has hosted ladies’ events across the country, including sporting clay shoots, dove hunts, duck hunts, quail hunts, pheasant hunts, cast and blasts, a goose hunt, and a long-range shooting event.

Photography by Sarah Farnsworth

What is the best review or feedback from customers you’ve received?

My favorite feedback is from husbands. Every so often, I will get an email from a husband whose wife recently bought some clothing or attended an event and realizes how much she enjoyed hunting and being outdoors and then decides to follow up the experience by joining her husband in the field. The excitement husbands have when they get to share their passion for the outdoors with their wives is one of the sweetest things to hear.

These are my favorite reviews and compliments ever.

Why did you decide to start McKenna Quinn?

When I started McKenna Quinn, there were very limited options for women’s hunting apparel. I wanted to create clothing that women felt confident wearing and clothing that functioned appropriately in the field.

But I also wanted to create something that was entirely made in Texas.

At what point did you know McKenna Quinn was a success?

When the clothing started to get recognized. When I would go to a hunt and people I didn’t know would ask me if my shirt was a McKenna Quinn. That was a really great feeling.

What sets your business apart from your competitors?

The quality of the products. There is a quality and craftmanship about American-made products. These pieces are made to last; they are durable and also beautifully tailored. That is something that can’t be replicated in mass production overseas.

What do you enjoy most about your work?

I enjoy getting to create. Designing the clothing and seeing it through production to completion is pretty amazing. I also really enjoy the platform McKenna Quinn has become in providing opportunities for women to enjoy the outdoors together.

Tell us about guided hunts and blast & cast?

When McKenna Quinn first started, I met many ladies

How do you spend your time outside of work?

I am blessed to be a mom to two amazing girls. I have one who is incredibly creative and one who deeply loves the outdoors. I am completely enamored watching them pursue their passions and seeing what they develop their passions into.

ShopMcKennaQuinn.com Retail location(s): Los Cazadores, Gordy and Sons, Joseph and Sons, Joshua Creek Ranch, Sportsmans Finest 48

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DOSSIER

Dossier Public Relations, Advertising & Marketing Growth and brand recognition are top priorities when it comes to running a business, but knowing how to do that is not always easy. We’re here to help you find a PR Firm or Advertising Agency that fits your company’s culture and knows the best tools and strategies to help you grow your business and stand out from the crowd. Read on to meet some of the leaders in Public Relations, Advertising, and Marketing in San Antonio.

Photography by David Teran

May/June 2022 49

Helen Thompson Media Brandon Thompson, President

Tell us a little bit about Helen Thompson Media Since the inception of HTM in 1989, Media has always been our focus. HTM’s core competency is putting our clients’ message anywhere their target audience is consuming media. Measurement is also a pillar for HTM, and with some fancy mapping and attribution modeling, HTM can track traditional media buys the same way we track digital media buys. It enables HTM to ensure we are spending our clients’ advertising dollars optimally.

How would you describe HTM’s culture?

Our Chief People Officer would argue that having rich relationships with our team, clients and vendors plays a bigger role in our continued success than our expertise in the industry. Continually building strong, personal relationships is at the forefront of what HTM is about.

What new trends have you been seeing over the past year?

Probably the craziest thing we have seen is the transition of our clients’ consumer spending into recruitment spending. Almost every one of our clients has some type of recruitment initiative, and some are spending 100% of their marketing dollars in recruitment. It is intriguing to see and has allowed us to learn and become gurus in an entirely new vertical.

What else do you want our readers to know about HTM? One thing HTM is very proud of is that we were named one of Inc. Magazine’s 5000 fastest growing private companies. This is a great honor for HTM, especially after consistent growth over 33 years in business. HTM is extremely blessed to work with some fantastic clients who allow us to continuously implement new, exciting marketing tactics to drive big results! It is such a fun time to be in the industry!

Helen Thompson Media

110 E. Houston St. 7th Floor, San Antonio, Texas 78205 | (210) 822-2158 Business Inquiries (210) 687-9471 | helentmedia.com 50

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Creative Blend Design Stephanie Farber, President

In what types of businesses or industries does your agency specialize?

Creative Blend Design has a diverse client portfolio of retail, real estate, construction, healthcare, nonprofits, and professional services. We are experienced with start-ups as well as national companies.

What services do you offer?

Website Design & Development, Advertising & Promotion, Marketing Communications, Graphic Design, Brand Message, Public Relations.

What are the greatest strengths of your agency?

We cultivate personalized relationships. We listen first to understand each client’s unique needs and place in their market, which allows us to not only deliver solutions but to create long-standing partnerships.

Our collective ability to learn, adapt, and grow. We are constantly evolving our marketing technologies, skillsets, design, and workflow to match industry trends to best serve our clients.

How would you describe your company culture?

We are a highly engaged, collaborative culture. We are motivated creatives invested in our clients’ positive outcomes. Every team member brings highly specialized skills to the table, which are celebrated as strengths that bring success to our team.

We believe in health and wellness, and our office includes a gym space for staff and group classes led by professional trainers. While classes (from yoga to boxing and mixed martial arts) are elective, the sessions promote teamwork, fun, and personal growth.

What makes your business unique?

We strive to find unique solutions that work for our clients. It is never one-size-fits-all. We map out individualized plans that pinpoint a need, solution, timeline, budget, and measurable results for each client.

Creative Blend Design

12722 O’Connor Road, San Antonio, Texas 78233 | (210) 602-7533 | Toll Free (844) 223-8326 creativeblenddesign.com May/June 2022 51

The Wood Agency Paula Andrade, Senior Copywriter and Producer Melody Goeken, Director of Public Relations Dalia Ayala, Media Director Christina Medina, VP of Creative Services In what types of businesses or industries does your agency specialize?

In our 35-year history, we’ve worked in most industries; Hospitality/Tourism, Healthcare, B2B, Real Estate, Food Service/ QSR…you name it, we’ve probably done it. One of our favorite aspects of the business is working with our clients to help them realize their value and marketing potential and to create newsworthy events to help tell their story.

What services do you offer?

We’re a “full-service agency.” That’s industry jargon for “we do it all.” In the ad business, you never know what types of tactics you’ll be using tomorrow; that keeps us on our toes. Technology is constantly evolving, which allows our team to continue to grow.

That said, we do everything from Strategic Planning, Paid Media, Creative Development, Public and Media Relations, Crisis Communications, Social Media, and Digital Communication to Design, Web Development. Lately, we are doing a ton of Event Management and Onsite Activation, helping our clients grow through grassroots projects.

What is the greatest strength of your agency?

Our greatest strength is our ability to develop and nurture relationships, both with our staff and our clients. We take the time to truly understand the challenges and goals that are important to their success. Many of our clients have been with us for decades and some for multi-generations. Some of our employees have been here for more than 20 years!

What makes your business unique?

We’re doing unique and unprecedented things with data and business intelligence that agencies of our size and in our region aren’t. We’re in our clients’ CRMs, POS systems and inventing new reporting methodologies every day.

What new trends in advertising/PR are you most excited about and why?

Another cool thing about advertising is that there are always -- always, always – new trends, new tactics, new media, and new feedback loops around every corner. To reflect on today’s “new thing” is to narrow your view too nearsighted and risk missing what’s tomorrow. And “tomorrow” is not a metaphor in this case. It is literally ‘the day after today, this week.’

The Wood Agency

7550 IH-10 W, Suite 505, San Antonio, Texas 78233 | (210) 474-7400 TheWoodAgency.com | Info@TheWoodAgency.com 52

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1797 Creative Sandra Richards, CEO

Passionate. Advocate. Tenacious. Witty. Female Business Leader. These are just a few ways to describe Sandra Castro-Richards, CEO of 1797 Creative, a San Antonio advertising agency. 1797 Creative is a full-service marketing agency that has been voted as a Top Advertising Agency by the San Antonio Business Journal year after year and over 75 advertising and design awards.

Sandra has a rich history of agency experience, working with many industries with public entities throughout her career, including healthcare, tourism, automotive, retail, restaurants/QSR, legal, financial, real estate/hotels, Hispanic Marketing, education, technology, government entities, city municipalities, B2B (business to business) and more. She brings to 1797 Creative an in-depth knowledge of brand marketing research and media strategy.

1797 Creative clients have access to the latest technology in digital marketing and OTT streaming TV buying and placement. 1797 Creative uses the newest tools to manage mobile, desktop, video, and social campaigns through planning, reporting, and optimization with results-driven ROI in mind. 1797 Creative customizes our digital ads for each client; we don’t believe in cookie-cutter advertisements that look like your competitors.

Combining nearly six decades of experience, our staff has some of the best graphic and web designers, in-house digital marketers, social media experts, copywriters, media strategists, and production support – everything our clients need. 1797 Creative work includes marketing plans, media strategy, planning and buying, graphic design, branding, logo designs, website creation, TV, video, and radio productions. 1797 does everything under the fullservice agency umbrella.

Sandra is not only passionate about 1797 Creative, her own woman-owned business, but she is also passionate about her client’s business. When her clients grow their businesses, she feels successful.

1797 Creative

311 W Mistletoe Ave, San Antonio, Texas 78212 | (210) 822-2224 1797creative.com May/June 2022 53

Anderson Marketing Group Kim Gresham, President

What services do you offer?

We’re idea people and problem solvers. Brands come to us with a problem or a marketing goal, and we take them from initial concept to launch and analytics. We use the right tools to engage the right people, whether we build a new website or do a complete brand refresh.

What industries does your agency specialize in?

We serve businesses from every industry across the region—higher education, banking, healthcare, foodservice, B2B, automotive, you name it. What we specialize in is attentive account service, compelling creative, and proven strategies backed by 52 years of experience.

What are your agency’s greatest strengths?

Our longevity gives us an edge. We’ve been creating great advertising for over half a century, and very few can claim the depth of expertise that experience gives us. Another strength is the advanced analytic tools we use to focus our digital efforts on the tactics that actually bring in results.

How would you describe your company culture?

We hustle hard to deliver our best, but we have fun doing it. We’re very flexible as family needs come up because we recognize a great work life starts with a great home life. Management often goes around at the end of the day, encouraging us to get home. You don’t see that everywhere.

What makes your agency unique?

We strive to deliver more than expected. We don’t just launch a campaign and walk away. We are constantly monitoring effectiveness and making adjustments to ensure success.

What new trends in advertising are you excited about?

All these new online communities where people express themselves and share value with the world are interesting to follow.

We’re always looking at how we can create content native to these platforms that contributes to the conversation instead of interrupting it.

Anderson Marketing Group

85 NE Loop 410, Suite 501, San Antonio, Texas 78216-5866 | (210) 223-6233 andersonmarketing.com 54

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Marketing Initiative Worx, Inc. Liz Papagni, CEO

In what types of businesses or industries does your agency specialize?

We work primarily with small to mid-tier companies that are looking to take their business to the next level and need the marketing knowledge, expertise, plans, and programs to scale. Whether companies are looking for the next phase of expansion with a new target audience, product, service, or market extension; evolution of an existing business line; needing to solidify a strong company brand for the next generation of leaders; or escalating company valuation for sale, we help drive growth.

What services do you offer?

We provide Fractional CMO (Chief Marketing Officer) and agency services across the entire spectrum of marketing, from branding all the way to amplification, with digital, traditional, content, creative, website, and social media strategies as prescribed by the specific needs of our clients.

What are the greatest strengths of your agency?

Whether serving as a Fractional CMO or providing agency services, we work first to understand our clients’ business objectives so that all our activities are focused on the business and to convince and convert buyers— never just marketing for the sake of marketing. Our main purpose is to help our clients meet, and even exceed, their goals through stellar marketing. Period.

How would you describe your company culture?

Our company is rooted in four key values– kindness, compassion, integrity, and always helping others. From our team members and partners, to the clients we serve, we strive to always be present, support our community, build strong, genuine relationships, deliver excellence, and exceed expectations.

Marketing Initiative Worx, Inc. (714) 595-0963 | marketingiw.com

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NONPROFIT SPOTLIGHT In the Spotlight:

San Antonio Area Foundation Boosts Girl Power Through Women & Girls Development Fund

By San Antonio Area Foundation

WGDF Steering Committee Erika Borrego San Antonio Food Bank, Chief Operating Officer Tessa Benavides-Cooper Charles Butt Foundation, Communications & Community Director Kelli Cubeta Cubeta Law Group, Partner Andrea Figueroa Empower House, Executive Director Monica Garza H-E-B, Wellness Sales Leader Erin Huddleston Notely, Vice President of Growth & Partnerships Jamie Kowalski The RK Group, Vice President of Corporate Relations Johnette Lee San Antonio Lighthouse for the Blind, Vice President of Sales Beverly McClure Co-Chair of WGDF Grant Review Celina Montoya Calm Mediation, Mediator & Arbitrator Angie Salinas Girls Scouts of Southwest Texas, CEO Anamaria Suescun-Fast talkStrategy, CEO Yorka Velasco Keurig Dr Pepper, National Field Sales Manager

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When business consultant Celina Montoya joined the Steering Committee of the San Antonio Area Foundation’s Women & Girls Development Fund, she was surprised to discover that there didn’t seem to be a concerted community effort to boost young women and girls.

“One of the first things we did when I joined the Committee was to conduct an assessment of who in the community was providing services specifically targeted to women and girls,” Montoya said. “What we found was – just like at the national level – there were not many local organizations supporting women and girls’ empowerment. We know that, for girls to develop into women in leadership roles, we have to invest in them.”

Founded in 2009, the Women & Girls Development Fund (WGDF) is a community outreach fund of the Area Foundation that promotes philanthropy and supports nonprofit organizations that serve women and girls in the San Antonio community. It is one of three Area Foundation community outreach funds that promote philanthropy for under-represented and under-served communities – the other two being the San Antonio Area African American Community Fund and the Latino Foundation of San Antonio.

WGDF’s mission is to build a community of women who bring positive change through participation as leaders in their schools, jobs, communities, and eventually through philanthropy. Since its inception, the fund has awarded more than $200,000 in grants to worthwhile charitable organizations serving women and girls in the greater San Antonio area.

Some of the local organizations that WGDF has supported include Girls, Inc. of San Antonio, the YWCA San Antonio, Communities in Schools San Antonio, Visitation House Ministries, and Crosspoint, Inc. In November 2021, WGDF awarded a $10,000 grant to Austinbased Girls Empowerment Network (GEN). This grant provides seed money to establish GEN’s Girl Connect program in San Antonio. This program partners with schools to meet the needs of high-risk girls ages eight to 18. Its overarching goal is to develop self-efficacy and spark internal belief that girls can be successful.

“The Girl Connect program is our flagship school partnership program,” said Chloé LaPorte, GEN’s Program Director. “We have established Girl Connect programs in the Austin, Houston, and Dallas areas, but this grant enables us to launch a presence in San Antonio and Bexar County.”

Andrea Figueroa, Executive Director of nonprofit organization Empower House (formerly Martinez Street Women’s Center) and member of the WGDF Steering Committee for the past four years, noted that establishing the Girl Connect program in San Antonio is a milestone for WGDF. “Being able to bring such a well-established women and girls-focused organization to San Antonio is extremely meaningful,” Figueroa observed. “We never have enough resources like this for women and girls in our community.”

Montoya noted that the past two years of dealing with the pandemic forced many community groups to face financial struggle – WGDF being no different. But now, at least, things seem to be looking up.

“We are realizing a swift recovery and increased enthusiasm for this work,” said Montoya. Therefore, we

have accepted a challenge to raise $10,000 this year, which will be matched by an investment of an additional $10,000 by the Area Foundation. This will allow the WGDF to double its impact this year.”

As an incentive for current fundraising efforts, WGDF is highlighting its 365-donor level. Donors who give $1 per day will have the opportunity to be a part of WGDF’s grantmaking process and celebrate selected nonprofits during the 2022 grant recipient reception. Whether it’s a one-time or a recurring donation, the process is easy and quick – just visit wgdf.org.

Looking ahead, Figueroa and Montoya agree that WGDF will grow its profile as a community leader investing in programs focused on women and girls in San Antonio.

“In time, we hope WGDF will be considered the premiere investment opportunity for new and experienced philanthropists in San Antonio and will play a role in developing leaders in philanthropy,” Montoya explained.

For that to happen, the fund needs its own support system – whether people want to donate or volunteer their time by joining the Steering Committee, the door is open.

For more information, visit Women & Girls Development Fund at wgdf.org.

May/June 2022 57

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To Your Health connects you with experts and resources in medical care, mental health, nutrition, fitness, and wellness, providing insight into all aspects of a woman’s health.

Empowering you to advocate for yourself - mind, body and soul.

Salud!

TO YOUR HEALTH

Anthony Alvarado-Ortiz, DO

Suman Nalluri, MD, MPH

Innovative Stroke Treatment Technology Gains Ground in San Antonio

By Paul J. Watkins

A stroke is a dangerous condition that develops when a blockage or bleeding occurs in a blood vessel in the brain. The effects of a blockage, called an “ischemic stroke,” or bleeding, called a “hemorrhagic stroke,” can be devastating, resulting in severe and permanent disability and even death.

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When a stroke occurs, time is of the essence. The sooner the blockage can be removed or the bleeding stopped, the better the patient’s chance of avoiding brain damage and making a full recovery.

BHS Physicians Network and affiliated with Baptist Health System. “We were able to open the blood vessel with medications in fifteen percent to twenty-five percent of the cases.

“From 1990 to 2015, we were using medication to manage stroke, but the effectiveness was limited,” explains Suman Nalluri, MD, MPH, a board-certified stroke, interventional, and critical care neurologist with South Texas Stroke and Endovascular Institute, part of

“In 2015, there were many clinical trials published which showed that for patients who had a blockage in the large vessel that populates the brain, we could actually use catheter-based technology to put suction at that clot to remove it or put a retrieval device into the clot and pull

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the device out along with the clot. Based on the clinical trials, among one hundred patients who received the treatment, fifty percent to sixty percent of the patients got better. With the old treatment, only ten percent to twenty percent of the patients got better.

“This catheter-based technology allowing stroke treatment from inside the veins or arteries is called a ‘thrombectomy procedure,’” states Dr. Nalluri. “It was a major breakthrough and quickly became the standard of care for patients who have a large-vessel occlusion that’s causing a stroke. These are the strokes that are the most severe.

“Along with ischemic stroke, through catheter-based treatment, we’re also able to treat hemorrhagic stroke,” adds Dr. Nalluri. “This is where the blood vessel is weakened – it’s called an ‘aneurysm’ – and it causes bleeding in the brain. We guide the catheter through the patient’s vascular system to the aneurysm and place metal coils to close the aneurysm, preventing it from leaking or bursting. Sometimes, we place a glue-like substance to close the blood vessels that are causing the bleeding in the brain.”

Anthony Alvarado-Ortiz, DO, is a board-certified vascular and interventional neurologist, also with South Texas Stroke and Neurovascular Institute. He explains that although this catheter-based technology has become the nationwide standard of care for stroke, its availability in San Antonio has, until recently, been limited.

“San Antonio has had three hospitals with this catheterbased technology, all in close proximity to one another in one geographic corridor,” Dr. Alvarado-Ortiz notes.

“Additionally, there was a finite number of specially trained medical staff and ICU capacity at each. These realities limited access.

“However, as San Antonio continues to grow in all directions, access to this newer standard of stroke care needs to meet the needs of our expanding population,” he adds. “So now we’re expanding access.

“In addition to St. Luke’s Baptist Hospital, the city’s first comprehensive stroke center, thrombectomy stroke centers are now at other Baptist hospitals at key points across the city: in the east at Northeast Baptist Hospital – which supports the IH-35N corridor; and at Baptist Medical Center in downtown San Antonio – serving downtown and south San Antonio – and standing as the last thrombectomy stroke center until McAllen.”

Dr. Alvarado-Ortiz notes that one of the independent risk factors for stroke is age. Since women tend to live longer than men, the prevalence of the disease is significant in women, and specialists see a considerable number of women in their stroke population. Innovative, catheterbased technology can be effective in preserving their quality of life.

“For both men and women, improving mortality is one thing. But for most of us, living with all of our faculties intact is very important,” says Dr. Alvarado-Ortiz. “We can now treat the most aggressive and dangerous strokes, mitigating morbidity in those patients who are living longer, and helping ensure quality of life post stroke.

“It’s satisfying to see an innovative technology in use,” Dr. Alvarado-Ortiz concludes. “Stroke is one of the principle chronic diseases in America, so any technology that addresses it in its acute care is going to be an extreme benefit to a large number of people. That is our goal: to not only be providing treatments that are at the forefront of healthcare innovation, but to be providing greater access to the people who need it.”

To learn more about your risk for stroke, speak with your primary care physician. You can also call 210-201-8990 or visit bhsphysiciansnetwork.com to find a provider or for a referral to a neurological specialist.

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TO YOUR HEALTH

Melissa Ann Crawley, MD

Precision Medicine Targets Cancer Treatment at the Genetic Level

By Paul J. Watkins

Cancer is perhaps one of the most feared diagnoses, and according to the American Cancer Society, this year in the U.S., there will be 1,918,030 new cancer cases.

The encouraging news is that advances in treatment are a regular occurrence. One of those is called “precision medicine” or “precision oncology.”

“Precision medicine, the way I define it, is anything you can do to help target a patient’s treatment to the patient themselves,” says Melissa Ann Crawley, MD, who is board-certified in internal medicine, hematology, and medical oncology. She is one of the area medical directors at Texas Oncology in San Antonio.

“Sometimes, precision medicine looks at pieces of the tumor’s genetic footprint to help decide whether or not chemotherapy is indicated, such as with breast cancer.

That means we may be able to spare a patient the side effects of chemotherapy.

“Other times, it looks to see if there’s a specific treatment type that can be guided toward the genetic expression of a particular tumor, such as with lung cancer. Precision medicine is highly customized to the individual, and in terms of leading-edge therapy, it’s the newest of the new.”

Another important benefit of the precision medicine approach, notes Dr. Crawley, is that it helps identify patients eligible for clinical trials. “We can get these

therapies into their hands faster,” she explains, “and we can know as quickly as possible whether or not these therapies are going to have clinical benefits for them.”

The medical oncologist speaks favorably about patient outcomes resulting from precision medicine compared to those from a traditional treatment approach, explaining that side effects from treatment tend to be more readily manageable. She reports fewer patients with treatment-related alopecia, or hair loss, and the incidence of nausea tends to be decreased overall.

Dr. Crawley considers precision medicine the beginning of a renaissance in cancer therapy. She adds, “I fully expect that by the time I’m at the midpoint of my career, we’ll have enough targetable therapies to treat cancers, not just by what they are but by what kind of genes they express, which is a really exciting thing to be able to say.”

She’s passionate about being a medical oncologist and bringing both healthcare and hope to people diagnosed with cancer. “What I love about oncology is that I get to take care of patients whom I adore and work with the best staff in the world,” Dr. Crawley relates. “Everybody at Texas Oncology is working to do the right thing for our patients every day. We make sure that they get to have as many great moments as possible. I tell people that I’m in the birthday business – that it’s my job to make sure that birthdays happen.”

Please email clinic manager Leeann Harris at leeannharris@usoncology.com to make an appointment at Texas Oncology in San Antonio. Learn more at TexasOncology.com. Find additional information about precision medicine at http://texasoncology.com/precision-medicine.

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Texas Oncology Texas Oncology in San Antonio A cancer diagnosis is a life-changing, often overwhelming experience. As a compassionate, patient-focused practice, Texas Oncology provides treatment options and resources to help you in your fight against cancer from diagnosis, through treatment, and into survivorship.

Texas Oncology in the San Antonio area is comprised of a team of 43 physicians, offering treatment at 15 locations, including four comprehensive cancer centers. We offer medical oncology, hematology, radiation oncology, gynecologic oncology, breast surgery, surgical oncology, thoracic surgery, hepato-pancreaticobiliary surgery, and colorectal surgery. The practice provides the full spectrum of oncology and hematology care, including laboratory services, diagnostic evaluation services, specialty drug and retail pharmacy services, clinical research trials, outpatient chemotherapy, and radiation therapy, including intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), high dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy, and stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT).

Growing in San Antonio Texas Oncology’s growing practice in San Antonio includes the area’s newest and largest comprehensive cancer center, located at 5206 Research Drive. The 40,000-square-foot center includes seven procedure rooms and more than 30 exam rooms, with capacity to treat up to 300 patients per day. In addition to advanced surgical

and medical oncology services, the center offers leading edge radiation treatment and imaging technology.

Leading Innovation in Quality Cancer Care Texas Oncology physicians support genetic risk assessment, disease management, cancer survivorship, and advance care planning to improve the quality of the patients’ cancer journey. At our comprehensive cancer centers, our patients access much of their treatment under one roof from a knowledgeable and supportive cancer care team.

Clinical Trials Patients who are treated at Texas Oncology in San Antonio have the opportunity to participate in some of the most promising national clinical trials for a broad range of cancers. Texas Oncology is a primary participant in US Oncology Research, which has played a role in more than 100 FDAapproved cancer therapies. At any given time, more than 150 national clinical trials are open throughout the Texas Oncology network. The San Antonio area has clinical trials available at five locations, including phase 1 clinical trials.

Genetic Testing Texas Oncology’s Genetic Risk Evaluation and Testing Program, offered at all San Antonio area locations, provides an in-depth cancer risk assessment for individuals with a significant personal and/or family history of cancer.

Visit us at TexasOncology.com to learn more about our locations in the San Antonio area.

BOERNE • FLORESVILLE • FREDERICKSBURG • HONDO • JOURDANTON • KERRVILLE • NEW BRAUNFELS • SAN ANTONIO

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TO YOUR HEALTH

State-of-the-Art Breast Cancer Treatment Safeguards the Heart

By Paul J. Watkins

Oncology is continually producing advances in treatment techniques and technologies. These advances not only result in better patient outcomes but also result in less discomfort, fewer side effects, increased safety, and less interruption of the patient’s life.

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One such advancement in breast cancer treatment is deep inspiration breath hold (DIBH) radiation therapy.

“We’re one of the only centers in the region performing this innovative type of radiation therapy,” says Timothy D. Wagner, MD, MBA, a board-certified radiation oncologist at Mays Cancer Center, home to UT Health San Antonio MD Anderson Cancer Center. “It’s for patients with leftsided breast cancer, though patients with right-sided breast cancer may also benefit from the therapy. It spares the heart from receiving radiation so patients have a reduced risk of getting heart disease later in life. This therapy also minimizes harm to other internal organs, such as the lungs and liver, as well as the soft tissues surrounding the breast.”

Due to the close proximity of the left breast to the heart, radiation oncologists have been challenged to deliver radiation to breast tumors while avoiding irradiation of the heart as well. DIBH radiation therapy makes this goal much easier to achieve.

The diaphragm is a large, dome-shaped muscle below the lungs. When a person inhales deeply and holds that breath, the diaphragm moves the heart away from the chest wall. When a patient holds her breath during DIBH radiation therapy, this increased distance cuts the radiation dose to the heart by fifty percent in comparison to normal breathing. Even low doses of radiation can adversely affect the heart, so minimizing the dose is always advisable.

“During DIBH radiation therapy, a lighting system in the treatment room uses different colors to give feedback to the patient regarding how she’s holding her breath,” Dr. Wagner explains. “This feedback tells the patient if she’s maximizing the distance between the breast and the heart. When that distance is maximized, the radiation can be administered with the highest degree of safety and accuracy.”

Prior to treatment, the patient practices holding her breath for the necessary amount of time – twenty seconds – and becomes familiar with the color-coded lights.

During treatment, the patient draws in a deep breath and holds it. The DIBH radiation therapy technology focuses the radiation on the targeted tumor in the breast and delivers the dosage. The patient then exhales.

DIBH radiation therapy delivers the same radiation dose as traditional radiation therapy and requires just a few additional minutes of treatment time. The outcomes are equal to traditional radiation therapy outcomes for breast cancer.

“Mays Cancer Center has been offering DIBH radiation therapy for eight years,” concludes Dr. Wagner. “We encourage patients with left-sided breast cancer to consider this highly effective radiation therapy method for treating their cancer while also safeguarding their heart.”

Timothy D. Wagner, MD, MBA Please call (210) 450-1000 to make an appointment at Mays Cancer Center.

Learn more about deep inspiration breath hold radiation therapy at MaysCancerCenter.org.

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Born and raised in San Antonio Dr. Analise Sanchez always knew she would pursue a career in health care after being heavily inspired by her father PA Paul Sanchez.

Throughout life she says God opened and closed many doors which finally lead her to becoming a Board Certified Licensed Doctor of Chiropractic in Texas.

She has a heavy education which consists of a Bachelors in Athletic Medicine from UTSA, a Masters in Exercise Science and Nutrition from the University of Houston at Clear Lake which was obtained simultaneously while she was completing her Doctorate Degree at Texas Chiropractic College.

Photography by Regan Elizabeth, www.elizabeth-rey.com

After graduation she became a Strength and Conditioning Specialist through the NSCA which gave her the training necessary to safely and effectively improve performance in athletes and competitors.

Dr. Sanchez is also Certified in Webster Technique through the ICPA which provides Chiropractors advanced training and knowledge in prenatal care. She has advanced training in dry needling, acupuncture, instrument assisted soft tissue such as cupping, scrapping, and other therapies that can help speed up recovery in musculoskeletal injuries.

With a heavy background in athletics, bodybuilding, marathons, and health and fitness, Dr. Sanchez has a passion for treating athletes so they are able to perform at their optimal level pain and injury free. She says her new clinic will give patients the opportunity to get chiropractic care as well as other therapies in a more relaxed and enjoyable setting. Dr. Sanchez always had the intention on opening up her own private practice that would allow Chiropractic to be seen in a new light.

Dr. Analise Sanchez, DC MS CSCS

Strength Chiropratic 22250 Bulverde Rd Suite 110 San Antonio, TX 78261 www.strengthchiropractic.com

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“It’ won’t be your typical white walled, chiropractic clinic” she says. Dr. Sanchez says her treatments are developed and focused around evidence-based therapies that are proven to work. The clinic will have a very modern feel with a more energetic and athletic environment. Dr. Sanchez enjoys treating a wide array of athletes and competitors, families, and children.

“I practice what I preach on a daily basis, and I take pride in my health and wellness in hopes that all of my patients will do the same.” This will be the first of multiple locations coming to San Antonio. Strength Chiropractic will be changing lives and the way people view Chiropractic for the better.

Julie Lewis is one of the managing partners with Evolution Consultants and brings private practice administration experience for both specialty and primary care practice environments. She works in many areas of Evolution but really enjoys the Electronic Health Records selection and implementations in addition to knowing the rules to the medical game, client onboarding, and understanding the flow of a medical practice. The first step of playing the game accurately is knowing the rules.

Misty L. Chance is the other managing partner with statistical benchmarking and cash-flow acceleration experience. Misty has a bachelor’s degree from Texas Tech University in Chemical Engineering. It is to this education that she contributes her analytical fundamentals.

The application of process control fundamentals and diligence to medical revenue cycles have made Evolution unlike any other Medical Practice Management Firm.

Misty and Julie both have two daughters each and enjoy family time. Julie has one daughter who is a Junior at Texas Tech University and one on the way to TTU this fall. Misty is an avid writer and painter in her spare time. The two meet professionally and have combined their expertise into a full service, business of medicine consulting firm.

Evolution places emphasis on a scientific approach to practice management, which includes observing the practice with fresh eyes, data trending, and strategy planning. Successful private practice is possible and Evolution clients are proving it!

Misty L. Chance and Julie L. Lewis Co-Owners

Evolution Consultants LLC 568 S. Business IH-35, New Braunfels, TX 78130 O (866) 819-2816 MChance@MDevolution.com| MDevolution.com

Evolution is a wonderful place to grow a career! As the business side of medicine, there are many avenues for career exploration. “We invest in people, and when you have happy, competent, tenured people working together for a common purpose, the sky is the limit,” remarks Misty.

Evolution has been in business for almost 16 years and has a reputation built on start-up project management and cash flow improvements for existing practices.

“Private practice can still be viable in today’s medical market, they just need to be watched closer than ever before,” states Julie.

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Minerva L. Mendoza, MBA, CFm, CFo, COF, CDME

Co-Owner

Dynamic Medical Solutions/ Intimate Choice Mastectomy 13807 Red Maple Wood suite 201B San Antonio, TX 78249 O (210) 876-1130 | C (210) 687-4726

dynamicmedicaldme.com minerva@dynamicmedicaldme.com With 27+ years of experience and a niche in medical equipment, Minerva is known as an industry expert.

She’s the owner of a healthcare consulting business offering industry continuing education and facility accreditation preparation. In 2021 Minerva also opened a family business focused on medical equipment retail and wholesale medical supply. In the process of serving community clients, she discovered her passion – mastectomy fitting. Minerva explains, “My mother is a dearly beloved breast cancer survivor so my clients mean the world to me. I see beauty and triumph in the women who visit Intimate Choice Mastectomy Boutique, whether they see it in themselves or not.”

Minerva enjoys lifting up other women and the life-long relationships she’s able to nurture in the process. She believes in the impact she can make in women through each and every appointment.

Southwest Children’s Center

Southwest Children’s Center (SWCC) has been caring for the children of South Texas for 45 years. In 2021, for the first time since its founding in 1977, SWCC is an all-women-owned practice. All SWCC physicians, men, and women strive to offer our patients the care we want our own children to receive. We are there when you and your family need us the most, offering availability seven days a week and on most holidays. As pediatricians and parents, we love the ease of having an in-office laboratory, referral department, and pediatric phone triage nurse line. Our pediatricians have all been honored with numerous awards and accolades. We pride ourselves on staying up to date with the latest pediatric medical care and treatment options, and we would be honored to be your child’s medical home.

Tina Boylston, Shelly McNair, Shannon Austin Marshall Benbow, Krista Vizuete, KaraLin Root Gregory Hanson, Tiffany Ponzio, Liz Vazquez Smith Karen Guillory, Sarah Alpini 72

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Southwest Children’s Center 5282 Medical Drive Suite 310 San Antonio TX 78229 (210) 614-8687 southwestchildrenscenter.com

TO YOUR HEALTH to teach, interview, hire and mentor young women that have proved to be equally powerful and fulfilling as the MD aspects of this work.

What are you looking forward to in the future of health and medicine?

Is

This

Normal?

Women in Medicine

Betty’s Co. is the next generation of integrative healthcare – providing gynecology, mental health, and healthy living care for the period-havers up to pregnancy-planners.

Women’s health is surrounded by stigmas and taboo topics, often preventing women from accessing the care we need. “Is This Normal?” is an ongoing Q&A series we host to give our “Betties” the space to ask the awkward questions, develop body literacy, and ultimately normalize women’s health.

For this special edition of “Is This Normal?” Betty’s Medical Director, Dr. LoPiano, answered three questions submitted by female pre-med students at UTSA about her role as something once considered very abnormal – a woman in medicine.

Inclusivity in healthcare is in the middle of a tremendous revolution. Let me be clear, we still have a lot of work to do! However, in comparison to the start of my career, I’m seeing awareness and tangible actions taken to provide equal care for women of color, trans-women and men, women in same-sex relationships, or different types of relationships. Only now are we beginning to acknowledge and understand the unique needs of each population and, as we say at Betty’s Co., “Normalize to Revolutionize” women’s healthcare.

What are a few tips + advice for women going into medicine?

Stay true to yourself – your ideas, values, career vision, and unique you-ness! Because not everyone will “get it,” in fact, most won’t – and that’s okay! Remain authentic to who you are and what you want, and allow it to power you through hard seasons.

Also, if you work an overnight shift, always get out of bed to see the patient. Wherever you work, find the patient water machine and bathrooms. Give positivity and generosity, and say “Good morning!” to everyone, no matter how early. Thank the cleaning staff, the techs, and the nurses. Be the occasional bearer of donuts to the office. Invest in a good coffeemaker and large travel mug.

Last but not least, medicine can be hard, so take the win and relish a good belly laugh every chance you get.

To learn more about Betty’s Co. visit bettysco.com or call (210) 572-4931.

Follow us on Instagram @bettysco

What is your favorite thing about being a woman in medicine?

Using my medical skills and life experiences to protect, educate and empower other women brings me the deepest joy. From medical school, residency, and marriage to motherhood and sexism in the workplace – I get to draw from a rich pool of experiences and come alongside patients to connect with them, wherever they are in their lives and health journeys.

When I started my career, I wanted to treat women. But as I’ve grown into leadership positions, I’ve had the privilege

Jillian Lopiano, MD, MPH, FACOG Betty’s Co. Medical Director

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BUSINESS WOMAN SHOWCASE

Mother-Daughter Duo & Co-Owners of CycleBar Stone Oak Sandra Dillard & Angelina Dillard

By Alexis James | Photography by David Teran

Sandra and Angelina, a motivating mother-daughter duo, started as members of CycleBar Stone Oak and fell in love with the community, environment, and cycling classes offered. In fact, it was after a ride at CycleBar that Sandra learned the studio was for sale and called her daughter right away. “Wouldn’t it be fun to do this together?” Sandra remembers saying to her daughter over the phone. And it was that phone call that sparked business conversations and led them to buy CycleBar Stone Oak and officially become business partners in December of 2021.

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Sandra has taught cycling and workout classes worldwide, including in Hawaii & Japan, and she’s passed down her mission of keeping a healthy lifestyle to her children. Since taking over, Sandra has used her notable experience to make updates and procedures that have enhanced members’ experiences. “We have lived the experience and truly believe in it. Our family enjoys cycling together, and we’re passionate about the benefits of cycling.

We want to give back to our community by helping people create a healthy lifestyle.”

Angelina is an endurance cycler and athlete but aspired to own a cycling studio that offered an experience more people could enjoy.

She loves that CycleBar Stone Oak is a place where all can feel welcome. “This is a place where you can come, find friends, and find a community that supports you,” says Angelina. “You can’t expect people to start their fitness journey at an expert level, so even if all you can do is pedal, you can join a class and know that you’re welcomed and will have a great time!”

Walking through the doors of CycleBar Stone Oak, you immediately feel energized and welcomed. You’re greeted by a friendly host who gives you all the details you need to know about your class & gets you ready for your ride experience. The gym is spotless, and the atmosphere feels excellent. Don’t worry if you forget your hair-tie because they have essentials prepared for you! And if you’re catching a class before work or during lunchtime, they have lockers, showers, and an area for you to get ready in.

Rides at CycleBar are designed to meet the needs of beginners & advanced cyclers. Classes are 45 minutes and are taught by passionate trainers who love what they do and are determined to give you a great workout while having fun! With class titles from “’80s, ‘90s, and 00’s” and “Wine Down Wednesday,” it’s easy to understand why they’re proud to say, “There’s no party like a CycleBar party!”

They pride themselves on being community-focused and celebrate their member’s accomplishments and life events. Sandra’s eyes light up when she says, “We truly love to help people and want to see them achieve their goals. We believe in people and cheer on our members and celebrate their milestones. Many people want to start a fitness journey and don’t know where to start.

Our goal is to help our community start & build a fun fitness routine in their life.”

Sandra and Angelina enjoy working together and have an inspiring Mother-Daughter bond you can see as they

talk with one another. “We make a good team!” they say at the same time and laugh. “We enjoy working with each other, and we do our best to hear each other out and make decisions together. It was a no-brainer for us to start this journey together,” says Sandra.

Angelina, a finance major, handles the studio’s finances and is an instructor at the studio, so you can join her for a fun ride! Sandra oversees the operations & communications, and you can often find her taking a class or greeting members. They both praise their team, who they agree make the day-to-day operations possible. “We love our team!”

They both agree that the CycleBar Experience is about you, the member. It’s about your body, mind, and soul and taking time for yourself. “We love seeing the incredible life changes that our members continue to make, and we want more people to experience it,” says Angelina. “Give yourself some time for you to get your head together, just 45 minutes!”

Sandra wants San Antonio to know, “The secret to fitness is finding something you enjoy. Find what you love and something fun.” And, of course, “All you have to do is ride!”

22602 US Highway 281 North, Suite 104 San Antonio, Texas, 78258 (210) 775-5199 | cyclebar.com/location/stone-oak IG: @cyclebarstoneoak | FB: @CycleBarStoneOak

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TO YOUR HEALTH

True Self-Care: The Search for Sisterhood

By Michelli Ramon

I wanted to give you a brilliant piece about self-care, something you’d never heard before. But as I researched, I realized, “They’ve literally heard it all before.” The luxury spas, the exotic oils, stretch labs, cryo chambers, serums, and crystals. You can lean in, you can dare greatly, and you can read books (soooo many books) on the ins, outs, how’s and why’s of caring for the Self. It seemed there was nothing new or evocative I could offer you.

Twelve hours before the article was due, I laid in my bed, defeated. I took a deep breath, placed my hand on my heart, and suddenly, like magic, I remembered there is something I can give you - not a new self-care idea, but the original self-care idea. Weighed down by hashtags and algorithms, I forgot that true self-care resides in places we already know: In our bodies, in nature, and in sisterhood.

In Our Bodies Inhale, exhale, relax your jaw and release your shoulders.

This is self-care. We are comprised of trillions of cells.

These cells work together to become tissue that becomes organs that become systems. All of your body’s systems have one purpose: Your well-being. There is no greater self-care regiment than the one you created.

In Nature Take off your shoes, stand in the grass, let the sun bathe you. This is self-care. In addition to the world inside you, there is also a world around you that is committed to your care. Every woman intuitively knows that the purest love comes from Mother Nature. We like to imagine ourselves as very complex, but the truth is we are no more complicated than a tall blade of grass.

In Sisterhood Think of your truest friend, the one you call when life is eating you alive. She is self-care. Self-care wasn’t invented

by Instagram; it has radical feminist roots and has always belonged to women. The term was popularized by activists in the 1960s. As they worked to revolutionize civil rights, they learned that in order to change the world, women had to take care of themselves and, inherently, one another. Their battle cry was sisterhood: When she wins, I win.

What About Spas, Oils, Serums, and Crystals?

I read an article estimating U.S. women spent $10 billion on self-care last year, mostly on beauty and fitness.

At first glance, this reads superficial. It sounds like all women want is to look better, but I see more than that.

Full disclosure, I’ve spent a lot of money on beauty and fitness. I’m a big fan of facials, but I’m an even bigger fan of Melissa Stoltz, my aesthetician. She’s an angel, and when I’m with her, I feel connected. Same with Sarah who does my nails, Mayra who colors my hair, and Sissy, who would work out with me if a miracle occurred and I decided to work out again. I think that $10 billion was really a bid for connection. The spas, oils, serums and crystals - all attempts at restoring our relationship with the body, the Earth and the sisterhood.

My Wish For You Women have never been more awake than we are right now. We are revolutionaries. Two hundred years ago, we’d be burned at the stake for the work we’re doing. We are orchestrating a bold, new future while simultaneously healing centuries of generational trauma. If ever there was a time to take care, it’s now. Everything you do for yourself, you do for me. Your self-care practice is an act of solidarity with other women, and it is as close as your next breath.

Take care, Sister Relax your jaw.

Drop your shoulders.

Buy some flowers.

Cry. Make an old family recipe.

Splurge on fancy bedding.

Stretch.

Hang twinkle lights about your house.

See Melissa Stoltz about a facial.

Read a magazine about women.

Hydrate.

Say “yes” to help.

Say “no” to fake smiling.

Cuss.

Add extra cheese.

Inhale, exhale.

Repeat.

Michelli Ramon is a clinical social worker and nationally recognized educator on mental health.

Her work has been featured on a variety of media platforms, including A&E’s Emmy Award-winning program, “Intervention.” To learn more, visit michelliramon.com.

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San Antonio Woman & The San Antonio Report have partnered to produce this first installment of a three-part series looking into San Antonio's STEM ecosystem from education to career.

We want to thank the organizations listed below for their support of this series.

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STEM

The San Antonio Report and San Antonio Woman Magazine have partnered to create a series of three in-depth articles looking at the STEM ecosystem in San Antonio.

This is the first article in that series, examining where STEM opportunities begin: in schools.

How can San Antonio build the STEM workforce it desperately needs?

By Brooke Crum and Lindsey Carnett, San Antonio Report Photography by Bria Woods, San Antonio Report

Three years ago, San Antonio ninth-grader Audrie Torres would not have been able to attend a medical magnet high school anywhere on the South Side that would set her up for a career path in health care.

The 15-year-old would have had to travel downtown or to the North Side to attend a similar school — not an option for many in her situation.

“Being more toward the South Side of San Antonio, many of us students struggle. We’re lower income,” Audrie, 15, said. “Many high schools don’t offer this many opportunities.”

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CAST Med High School is one of five high schools that make up the Centers for Applied Science and Technology Network, all focused on careers in STEM-related fields.

In San Antonio, CAST schools are trying to create a local pipeline of young people prepared to fill these soughtafter roles.

As a nonprofit, the CAST School Network operates its schools within four independent school districts: East Central, Northside, San Antonio and Southwest. Students from across the city can apply to the tuition-free schools, which each serve several hundred students.

“When we created CAST, superintendents and business leaders came together, and they said, particularly in parts of our city, nobody is drawing those connections for students,” Russell said. “We need to build much more intentional bridges.”

The first CAST school opened in 2017 — CAST Tech High — on the former campus of Fox Tech High School downtown, and was designed to serve as an entry point for students into these high-demand, high-wage fields, said Jeanne Russell, CAST Network’s executive director.

For example, many high school students already work, so schools should be connecting them to jobs in the fields they’re interested in pursuing after high school, she said.

That way, students develop networks and connections that will help them even if they don’t go to college.

To put into context just how in-demand these jobs are, Workforce Solutions Alamo, which researches workforce trends and connects job-seekers to open positions, reports that local employers are looking to hire for jobs related to science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), more than any other career paths they measure.

From the classroom to the workforce

The high-growth occupations their analysts have identified run the gamut and include jobs in finance, health care, cybersecurity, aerospace and manufacturing.

Not all of these jobs require a college education, but most need some amount of specialized training.

Building a pipeline from scratch It was always a challenge to fill STEM roles, say many local employers, and the current ultra-tight job market has made it even more difficult.

For example, CPS Energy, which employs 3,000 people across the city, is struggling to hire engineers, data scientists, accounting professionals, cybersecurity and IT specialists, said Lisa Lewis, the utility’s chief administrative officer.

And San Antonio businesses aren’t just competing locally anymore. In a world changed by the pandemic, CPS Energy is now competing with companies like Apple and Amazon, since many workers can now log in from home, Lewis said.

Plus, prospective employees can be even more choosy in this market: Worker shortages across the country have made finding the right fit for any role more challenging than in the past. And for technical jobs that require technical skills, multiply that.

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Connecting San Antonio students from their K-12 schools into STEM fields requires making sure educators, business leaders and entrepreneurs are working together, said Will Garrett, vice president of talent and technology development and integration at Port San Antonio.

Built on the 1,900-acre site of the former Kelly Air Force Base, today Port San Antonio boasts more than 80 companies that employ more than 12,000 people, largely in STEM fields like advanced manufacturing, cybersecurity, global logistics, aerospace and defense.

San Antonio has made solid strides toward developing more STEM-focused curriculums, Garrett said, from middle schools to the local community college system and even at local four-year universities. But there’s an “inherent bureaucracy” in academic institutions that can make it difficult for them to keep up with the pace of technology and change in these high-demand fields, he noted.

Of course, no educational effort will matter if young people don’t feel like San Antonio is a place where they can find a fulfilling life and career. That is a messaging challenge, Garrett said.

CAST is an amazing example of a program that is “launching kids out to the best of the best universities,” he said. “But how do we ensure that before they leave, they understand there’s a career for them here when they’re done?”

Today’s reality is that more than half of San Antonio high school graduates — 53% — don’t pursue a higher

education, according to SA2020. By only focusing on college graduates, Russell said, “we’re missing the majority of our young people. Let’s assume that some of them are not going to go to [college], and let’s plan for that.”

It’s critical to build these schools realistically, Russell said, not for “this sort of mystical middle class, four-year, living-in-a-dorm scenario that isn’t really true.”

A great opportunity, but for the very few Given the opportunities that exist at CAST schools, it’s no surprise how hard students who are interested in them will work just to get to class.

She and Jesus, with the encouragement and guidance of staff, recently applied to the Max and Minnie Tomerlin Voelcker Fund Biomedical Research Academy at UT Health San Antonio, a three-year biomedical research college preparatory program.

But they are among the lucky few who are firmly within a supportive pipeline to high-demand, well-paying STEM careers, and will likely have their pick of jobs.

Just 2,000 students are enrolled in the CAST high schools, however, out of roughly 101,000 high school-aged students throughout Bexar County.

Ninth-grader Jesus Lopez chose to attend CAST Med because he wants to become an anesthesiologist. Every day, he carpools with a friend just to get to the bus line that actually takes him to school.

Every CAST campus employs a partnership coordinator whose job is to work with industry leaders and nonprofits to create opportunities for students, acting as an open door to get experienced workers into schools and expose students to careers that may not require a college degree.

Making sure CAST students get those opportunities is very labor-intensive, Russell acknowledged, “but that’s the intentionality you have to have.”

In April, the graduating class of roughly 150 seniors from the CAST network met with 19 local employers for the opportunity to get a job or internship, fulfilling the CAST promise that every student will have a job interview prior to graduation.

Collectively, these students have earned more than 200 industry-recognized certificates that verify competence in a particular skill set, and have gained experience in coding, logistics, robotics and more.

“CAST Med really does make you feel seen as a learner instead of just a random name on the attendance sheet being checked off,” Audrie said. “They know my skills, and they know my capabilities.”

The hope is that CAST schools will act as “idea incubators” for curriculum and programming that can be implemented in other schools. But that has proven difficult, given that there are no incentives for school districts in San Antonio to create these sorts of opportunities for students.

And though lessons have been learned about what works in San Antonio, there is still a lot of work to be done.

“Will we ever be there?” Garrett asked. “I think the work will continue to be cut out for us to continue to adapt education, training and hands-on learning to the jobs that are coming a year from now, three years from now, five years from now.”

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STEM: SHOWCASE

Vivian Bouet Chief Information Officer, CPS Energy Vivian Bouet has lived in many places across the globe, from Europe to Africa and the United States. San Antonio is now her family’s home, and she loves it. In 2018, Vivian became Chief Information Officer at CPS Energy, the nation’s largest municipally-owned electric and natural gas utility.

She oversees the utility’s vast technology strategy and roadmap to help improve the employee and customer digital experience.

Prior to joining CPS Energy, Vivian served as Executive Senior Director of Business Transformation for Walgreens, which currently operates more than 9,200 retail locations across America, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

At CPS Energy, Vivian leads the Digital Transformation initiative focused on finding customer-centric solutions while also upgrading the aging technology platforms currently in use. Her team will incorporate more robust systems to assist the utility with growth in its service territory which includes San Antonio and surrounding areas. Are people surprised to find a woman in this mostly male-dominated role?

“Not really, especially since I am part of an incredibly diverse and talented leadership team at CPS Energy.

However, I did face surprised faces earlier in my career because Computer Science and Software Engineering were such male-dominated fields. In those instances, I focused on delivering outcomes and let my work speak for itself.”

With so many technological and analytical duties, she is ever mindful to connect with the human aspect of the job.

“It is not just a technology issue. It’s a business issue.

How do we deliver value to our customers? So, we’re looking at it from a customer-centric perspective.

But you can’t do customer-centricity and leave your employees out of it.”

“We are bringing all our employees along in this process of such a major overhaul of technology transformation.

It just doesn’t exist without them.”

Vivian’s diverse background in digital technology and literature helped her on a very personal level. In 2022, she published an interactive children’s book to help her five-year-old son, who was struggling with reading. The book, “Tristin and the Magic Tin,” is the whimsical tale of a magician’s assistant, and it includes music and activities.

“It was a lot of work, especially since I had a full-time job, but I persisted. I persisted because I believe reading is the gift that keeps on giving. It fuels the imagination, enriches the soul, and can open the world for you.”

Vivian also gives her time to encourage students and particularly young women, to help them find their space in STEM careers.

“I want them thinking, if she can do it, I can do it!”

Personally, I had great mentors throughout my career, and I would like to pay their investment forward.”

For more information please visit cpsenergy.com.

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STEM: SHOWCASE

Verónica ContrerasShannon, Ph.D. Professor of Biological Sciences and MARC U*STAR Program Director, St. Mary’s University What path led you to where you are in your career/education today?

As an undergraduate student, I had a work-study position in an ecology research lab studying various agricultural pests. I attended the weekly lab meeting, where I was intrigued by the back and forth between the researchers even though I didn’t fully understand all of the science. However, in those meetings, I was keenly aware that these scientists were generating ideas and trying to solve a puzzle. I love puzzles and knew, in that moment, that I wanted to be an idea maker and have a career solving puzzles. The puzzles I solve today focus on understanding how certain changes in cells can lead to disease or how to best train the next generation of biomedical scientists.

What do you love most about your career/ education?

My job as a biomedical scientist and educator at St. Mary’s University allows me to be creative and technical, express myself in words and also be a

“number cruncher,” an expert while reimagining myself as a beginner. Every experiment, each day in the classroom and each student I encounter is another chance to do better. I love this duality, variety, and opportunity. It means that dull moments are rare. I love interacting with students and helping them make connections between ideas in a book and the world we live in.

What advice do you have for a young woman considering a career/education in a STEM-related field?

The stereotypical scientist is a myth. The many scientists I know have their own unique combination of talents and personal qualities. They have varied and personally fulfilling lives. If you hear yourself saying or thinking that you’re not the right type of person to be in STEM, think about why you are disqualifying yourself. If you feel you don’t fit the mold, then that is precisely the reason why you belong in STEM. STEMrelated fields need a diversity of ideas, abilities and approaches to solve the world’s problems.

For more information please visit stmarytx.edu.

St. Mary’s University | One Camino Santa Maria | San Antonio, TX 78228 | (210) 431-4324

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STEM: SHOWCASE

Karen Mendiondo UTSA Environmental Science and Engineering Student

By Antonio Gutierrez

As a child, Karen Mendiondo found great fascination in the rocks and minerals she found and tucked in her pocket while hiking the White Mountains of her native New Hampshire and marveling at the scenic views.

mentor a diverse group of undergraduate and graduate interdisciplinary students to become leaders in earth system sciences, remote sensing technologies, computational fluid dynamics, and experimental fluid mechanics.

“I’ve always enjoyed nature, being outdoors, and climbing mountains to look down and view the earth from a different perspective,” she said.

And what more can Mendiondo ask for? Her STEM-related career choice sometimes has her working outdoors, right where she is most comfortable. “It doesn’t feel like work when we’re doing geological investigations outside – even when it’s 100 degrees,” she said. “I also enjoy the challenge of communicating difficult STEM concepts in simple terms so anyone can understand, and the reward of mentoring undergraduate students and seeing their progress and successes.”

Mendiondo hasn’t entirely left those carefree childhood explorations behind or her interest in all the wonders that Mother Nature offers. Today, she continues to follow the calling of the wind, or rather her heart, in pursuit of her doctoral degree at UTSA in environmental science and engineering.

Her full-time studies are funded by UTSA’s NASA MIRO Center for Advanced Measurements in Extreme Environments. Its mission is to recruit, educate, and 86

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The idea of exploring and learning about the Earth through research projects is especially appealing to Mendiondo, and there is a variety of exciting research possibilities. “You can map the inside of a cave, get a

view above from a drone to digitize dinosaur tracks, or use remotely-operated vehicles to learn more about the ocean.”

Currently, she is working with an underwater glider on ocean-related research projects. However, some of her favorite projects have been geophysics investigations, Mendiondo explained, that help “see” into the Earth’s subsurface using non-invasive equipment at the surface.

One particularly rewarding project helped a family in West Texas establish baseline information about their large property by using various types of geophysics equipment and surveys.

“The project helped identify the underground water level, rock and soil layer thicknesses, and faults or shifting in those layers which may affect underground water flow,” she said. “This project was essential due to the property’s proximity to both underground springs and oil/gas drilling sites.”

She hopes more young girls and women will choose a STEM career and offers a few words of encouragement.

“Discover who you are and follow your heart,” Mendiondo said. “Be inquisitive, and don’t be afraid to ask questions or for help. Be open-minded to accept opportunities if they align with your values. It can open doors for you. And

don’t be intimidated if you’re one of a small percentage of females in your class.”

And a STEM career leaves no time to be bored. “There’s always something new to learn,” Mendiondo advises.

“There is a career for every type of person in a STEM field, whether you’re an introvert or extrovert, and you can travel to do research.”

When she’s not studying or doing research, Mendiondo is a mom to three children, ages 26, 23, and 15. Two of them seem inclined to follow their mother’s STEM-related field of study. “My youngest is in high school and taking an AP science course. Soon he may be able to help me,” she said. “My older son is finishing his engineering degree and has previously helped me debug a programming script for my underwater glider research.”

Mendiondo, meanwhile, is looking to the horizon for what the future may hold after she completes her Ph.D. program. She is keeping an open mind for opportunities in environmental/geophysical research that align with her values and incorporate a combination of field, lab, and educational outreach.

“I have many ideas for a potential career, but I am just taking this journey one step at a time,” she said.

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STEM: SHOWCASE

Tara Lujan Co-Founder, HydroTek

By Oliva Evans | Photography by White Cloud Media Group

“Being a goalkeeper, things get chaotic. I tend to always focus back to the core on simple things I can control and do right,” says Tara Lujan as she reflects on her time playing soccer. A former collegiate and semi-professional athlete, Tara is the co-founder of HydroTek, a startup focused on personalizing and simplifying the science and technology behind hydration.

In May, Tara will graduate from Trinity University with a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration and a concentration in management. This 22-year-old entrepreneur has spent the last two years juggling her life as a student and startup founder.

Tara’s journey into the tech startup world began in 2019 when she observed that she and many of her teammates were complaining about being dehydrated.

“I thought, ‘Why are we as athletes struggling to stay hydrated?’” shared Tara. “This is something we should be good at.”

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Her initial idea was to develop a smart water bottle that could track how much water a person consumed, but it wasn’t until she met her co-founder, Zach Taylor, that the idea evolved into what is now HydroTek’s first product, the Sapphire Smart Lid. The lid they are developing replaces the user’s original water bottle lid and links to an app that tracks consumption, unlocking improved performance and daily health.

Tara and Zach entered Trinity University’s Louis H. Stumberg Venture Competition in 2020, where they earned first place, a $25,000 prize, and the validation to take their startup to the next level. They continued their startup journey at Geekdom, a collaborative startup community in the heart of downtown San Antonio.

“HydroTek has become more of a software company,” Tara explained. “We are working to incorporate health metrics, kind of get a whole look into a person’s habits, and then recommend how much water they should be drinking in a day.”

While Tara originally sought to solve the problem of hydration for athletes, she believes this technology can help a greater audience of consumers.

“If we can build the product right, build the software right, we can make it versatile to help a wide range of people.

That was my aha moment. This is not a single product for a single problem. There are many more applications beyond our original idea.”

Tara and her team are currently working to develop the software behind the Sapphire Smart Lid, conducting research and development to test their product design and understand consumer needs. As Tara looks to the future of HydroTek, she is ready to adapt and meet the evolving needs of her company.

“Since we’re so early in a startup, in three years, we could be in a completely different place. I want to grow and meet the demands of HydroTek. If that means I must pick up a new specialized skill or learn a new area that I’m unfamiliar with, I can start now so that I’m ready when HydroTek needs me to deliver.”

Tara is also interested and invested in giving back to the tech startup community.

“After winning Stumberg, I told myself I am now in the position to give back and help raise others to that level. I always use my achievements and accomplishments as an opportunity to help others, especially since I know that the significant things I achieved, I didn’t do alone.”

As a startup founder, Tara is prepared to face the everchanging landscape of science and technology and take on every new and chaotic challenge that comes her way.

“I find when I get flustered, or I don’t know what the right next step is, I break it down into simple tasks. Small wins come from achieving those tiny simple tasks.”

It’s the same process she used when making calls on the soccer field as the goalkeeper. It’s the same process when understanding how to navigate the day-to-day challenges and triumphs of startup life. It’s taking the chaos of science and technology and presenting it to the consumer, giving them the tools to simply drink water. It’s simply hydration by HydroTek. If you would like to be the first to use HydroTek’s product or would like to follow along on their journey, sign up on their email list to be notified of their launch this summer at hydrotek.io/.

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WOMEN ON THE MOVE

Sydney Kerr

Clinical Liaison, Nexus Health Systems’ NeuroRecovery Center Sydney Kerr joined Nexus Health Systems bringing her energy and passion as the clinical liaison for the new NeuroRecovery Center opening in San Antonio. Sydney began her career as a registered respiratory therapist, where she witnessed the need for long term care among client with brain injuries. In addition to covering San Antonio Sydney also oversees South and all of West Texas. As the San Antonio location begins to open, her goal is to educate and bring awareness of brain injury recovery and the treatment that Nexus NeuroRecovery can offer.

Leah Peterson

General Manager, CycleBar/Stone Oak Leah Peterson was named General Manager and CycleStar instructor at CycleBar/ Stone Oak. Leah began her career at CycleBar/Stone Oak as the Assistant General Manager in 2019. She became General Manager, where she managed the Alamo Heights location and the New Braunfels location. Leah returned to the Stone Oak location, where she was promoted to Regional Director for CycleBar’s largest Franchise owners, The BridgeFit Group, managing 3 Dallas and 1 San Antonio CycleBar studios. In December 2021, the Stone Oak location was purchased by S&A Fitness. Leah received her instructor certification in September 2021.

Lizzy Aranibar

Assistant Campaign Manager After many years of helping her husband run their small business, Lizzy recently accepted a position on a campaign team for a local election. She has served the San Antonio community for many years by volunteering for various non-profits, one of which she still serves as an active board member. These experiences have inspired Lizzy’s passion for supporting meaningful causes that impact the community and make a difference in the lives of many. As a member of the Trish DeBerry for County Judge Campaign, Lizzy once again has a great opportunity to make a difference in the community by raising support for a candidate amid rapid growth and challenging economics. Lizzy loves her new position and is excited to continue serving the people of San Antonio!

Michelle Lugalia-Hollon

Chief Strategy Officer, San Antonio for Growth on the Eastside (SAGE) Michelle Lugalia-Hollon joins SAGE after serving as Mayor Nirenberg’s Director of Policy since 2020. She has worked in government, philanthropy and with nonprofits focused on addressing maternal and infant HIV/AIDS prevention, violence prevention, homelessness, restorative justice, public health as well as youth, community, and workforce development. She has a master’s degree from the Harvard School of Public Health, ‘10, and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Chicago, ‘07. She was born in Kenya and has lived in Houston, Chicago, and Boston, relocating to San Antonio with her family in 2015.

Chief Stephanie Schoenborn

Chief of Police, The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) Stephanie Schoenborn serves as Chief of Police at The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA). She joined UTSA PD in 1993, becoming a police officer in 1995. For two decades, Schoenborn served in Patrol Operations, Training, Quartermaster, Fleet Services, and Investigations. In 2016, she was promoted to Captain and, in April 2021, was named Interim Chief. She was elevated to the rank of Chief of Police in February 2022. A two-time UTSA alumna, Schoenborn is dedicated to developing greater community partnerships and involvement.

Congratulations to these amazing women making moves in their industries!

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DESTINATIONS

MADE YOU LOOK! Antiques anyone? Where to look for South Central Texas’ best antiques, fabulous finds, knick-knacks, bric-a-brac, retro furnishings, salvage materials, and more.

By Janis Turk

So many of us love a fun girls’ shopping trip. It’s not so much about buying anything; it’s about being together.

Besides, it’s just fun to look.

Texas is filled with so many great antique shows, flea market fairs, market days, and sweet little boutique shops that it’d be impossible to name all our favorites here. Still, we thought we’d mention a few that make you stop and look.

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and wonderful leans toward shabby chic. Then take a look around downtown Seguin, which has a few cute antique malls and shops (the Father Christmas Shop is a favorite!) a mere steps from the courthouse and the “World’s Largest Pecan.” There the “Third Thursday” nights keep downtown shops open late. TIP: Line up early for some of the best barbecue in the state at the James Beard-nominated Burnt Bean or at an old-school favorite, Davila’s Barbecue.

Round Top & Warrenton Twice a year, more than 100,000 shoppers descend on small towns in rural Texas, not far from LaGrange, to shop at more than 60 antique, collector, decor, and fashion shows in barns, dance halls, tents, and fields for the biannual Round Top - Warrenton Texas Antique Shows.

Here you’ll find an almost overwhelming array of vintage collectibles, jewelry, apparel, home decor, furniture, architectural and industrial salvage, antiques, and more.

According to the Antique Shows’ website, “All the great shopping takes place in more than a half dozen small rural Texas communities at a midpoint between Houston and Austin.” Peruse the treasures of 2,000 antique, collectible, and craft vendors and dealers and make a long weekend of it. Shows take place in spring and fall each year, and popular spots like the Marburger Farm Antique Show at Round Top are teeming with shoppers. Perhaps just begin in LaGrange and head toward Round Top, stopping along the way. TIP: Wear comfortable walking shoes, bring a light jacket and umbrella, and pack bottled water; this kind of hard-core shopping trip is a marathon, not a sprint. It’s often hot, and it’s always crowded. Finding a hotel or B&B isn’t easy, so book months ahead. Don’t miss a stop for pie at Royer’s Round Top Café.

Gonzales Serious shoppers, especially those restoring antique homes and buildings, have all heard about Discovery Architectural Antiques in Gonzales. There you’ll find antique doors and hardware, old windows and stained glass, antique tubs and sinks, reclaimed lumber and antique lighting, antique furniture, and more. Discovery is but one of several great spots in Luling for antiques, boutiques, home décor, and more.

Geronimo & Seguin Five adjacent buildings and numerous different vendors call home the Blue Hills Antique Mall in the tiny hamlet of Geronimo. This is a one-flashing-light-type town just northwest of Seguin off Interstate 10 along North Highway 123. While there, look for another adorable shop, Glory B! The owner’s great taste in all things old

Wimberley The “Gateway to the Hill Country,” Wimberley is an adorable little town known for its busy First Saturday Market Days each month, March through December. This is the Hill Country’s largest outdoor market. Numerous other boutique shops, antique barns, artists’ markets, and boutique shops are scattered throughout the downtown

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Comfort & Boerne Little downtown Comfort northwest of San Antonio along I-10 has several darling shops you’ll want to see. Although the town is tiny, spread out over a few short blocks are a lot of great shops. Spend a day shopping in both Boerne and Comfort for a full day of fun. TIP: Stay in Comfort at the delightful, historic, downtown Hotel Giles. Most San Antonio Women already know all about Boerne. It’s time you went back! Start your stroll on Main Street: shops here hold more high-end style than flea market finds, though there are antique malls and mom-and-pop shops with bargains, too. On the second weekend of each month in the downtown plaza, Boerne hosts its popular Market Days on Saturdays and Sundays.

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area, as well. TIP: Stop at one of Wimberley’s ice cream shops, the Wimberley Pie Company, or a popular new Charcuterie eatery, Los Olivos Market.

Gruene & New Braunfels In the tiny former “ghost town” (now a popular tourist spot) of Gruene, Old Gruene Market Days are held the third full weekend of each month, February through November, and the first weekend of December. In neighboring New Braunfels, visit its many antique shops and home décor, clothing, and jewelry boutiques within steps of its circular town plaza. TIP: Visit 2Tarts Bakery or the historic Naegelin’s German Bakery if you have a sweet tooth.

Fredericksburg Fredericksburg’s Main Street (and surrounding streets too) are lined with unique and interesting shops, and on the weekend of the Third Saturday of each month, Fredericksburg hosts trade days at “Sunday Farms” seven miles east of downtown on Highway 290. Look through the goods of 350 vendors in seven barns for acres and acres of shopping, food, drinks, and live music fun. TIP: Be sure to stop and check out a Hill Country winery on the way if you have a designated driver.

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Tuesdays, June 7th and August, 16th

Thursday, May 19 and Thursday, June 16

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IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Karrie Fristoe Building a Bridge Between the Civilian and Military Communities

By Jenny Jurica

Karrie Fristoe is on a mission. As an Army Veteran, Karrie served for 27 years in the Medical Service Corp, where she retired as Colonel. So, when Karrie and her husband, COL (Ret) Jon Fristoe, retired to San Antonio, they both knew that their new mission was to serve their community…and what better way to get to know their new community than to lead and serve?

Karrie and Jon met in Saudi Arabia while both were serving during Operation Desert Shield. After years of living the military life, all the while raising a son (who is now a 29-year-old airline pilot living in Louisville, Kentucky), Jon and Karrie have thrown themselves into serving their San Antonio community--most recently on the Fiesta San Antonio Commission.

“While in the Army, I spent a lot of time recruiting. I had the pleasure of going around the United States, telling Army stories and sharing my experiences.

Everyone has a different experience in the military, and it’s important to bring awareness and to keep that going,” said Karrie.

This year, Jon served as the President of the Fiesta San Antonio Commission. Coincidentally, Fristoe is the first military retiree in “Military City USA” to actually hold that title.

Right away, when the Fristoes retired to San Antonio, Karrie joined the Military-Civilian Club, which recently celebrated its 100th anniversary. The Military-Civilian Club serves to foster patriotism and integration of the military and civilian communities in San Antonio.

“The military ladies help to educate the civilian ladies on what the military does. It’s vital as you look back in history that you have the support of the American people--it makes a big difference,” said Karrie of her experience at the Military-Civilian Club.

“I was fortunate that I came to the Army in the late 1980s, post-Vietnam. I’ve been told a thousand times, ‘Thank you for your service,’ and it breaks my heart that those who went before me didn’t always have that experience,” said Fristoe.

“It’s important to have the community supporting the service members. It helps morale, recruiting, and helps everyone to understand what’s going on,” she added.

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“We really tried to focus on and bring attention to some of the military functions that are happening during Fiesta,” said Karrie.

In addition to serving as a lifetime member of the Fiesta Commission, Karrie also penned a children’s book entitled Rise of El Rey Feo that was passed out at area schools by Rey Feo 73, Augie Cortez, ahead of the Fiesta festivities. The book promotes the organization’s message of the importance of education.

“If it reaches even one person, then it was worth it,” said Karrie of her children’s book.

The Fristoes look forward to many more years of service to the San Antonio community and credit their military training for helping them to succinctly lead in the organizations that they serve.

“There are so many opportunities here in San Antonio. The Army spent a lot of money to train us on leadership, and if we can share that with anyone in these organizations, that’s a good thing,” said Karrie.

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DINING

Battalion RESTAURATEUR ANDREW GOODMAN AND CHEF JOSH DAVIS

JOIN RANKS IN SOUTHTOWN TO LIGHT OUR FIRE

By Janis Turk Photography by TX Troublemaker

It took two years to renovate Southtown’s historic Firehouse No. 7 into a space for a new restaurant in 2017, but it only took me about two seconds to decide Battalion was a place I might really like.

Named for the brave battalions of firefighters that once manned the building, Battalion is a “modern American restaurant doing our own play on Italian food,” says executive chef Josh Davis.

Launched by restaurateur Andrew Goodman and former business partner chef Stefan Bowers and named one of the “100 Best Restaurants in America” in 2018, Battalion is a smokin’ hot Southtown spot.

Standing regally at the “Gateway to Southtown,” this handsome firehouse set my heart aflame. Perhaps it’s the enormous arched windows with gleaming night vistas of the downtown skyline and the Tower of Americas that takes my breath. Maybe it’s the second-floor open kitchen with flames shooting to the ceiling that lights my fire. Or perhaps it’s Goodman’s signature chic décor, curated with bold flashes of red light and whimsy, like pop-art pieces (for starters, a giant-sized lollypop set on the kitchen counter) that vaunts a youthful ambiance. It’s even got a sleek glass elevator and authentic fire pole.

Cement floors could make things noisy, but this Thursday night, it wasn’t loud.

The building has great bones, but the menu is the real winner, as I adore all things Italian.

Sure, I’m a pushover for pasta. I’ve eaten my way through Italy more than once, and I’ve rarely met a plate of carbonara I didn’t like. However, I am discriminating about what constitutes authentic Italian cuisine. Italians eat simple, peasant fare: vegetables in season, wild rabbits and fat chickens, fresh eggs, and other foods foraged from nearby farms. Pasta should never be found floating face-down in Alfredo sauce or drowning in marinara. It should be hand-made and cooked al dente.

Of course, Chef Davis knows all this, and with Goodman and him leading the Battalion, only locally-sourced, properly prepared dishes would do. I also knew enough 98

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about both of these guys not to expect they’d offer a typical Italian restaurant. Like so many other eateries and bars Goodman and Bowers have launched over the years (Feast, Haunt, Rebelle, to name a few), Battalion would be different. So when Bowers left the partnership to focus on his downtown pizza kitchen, Playland, just over a year ago, Goodman had the good sense to name Josh Davis executive chef.

Since then, Davis has created an extensive menu of fresh pastas, grilled meats, inventive sides, and vegetarian dishes, as well as Italian staples done in unexpected ways. A wide-ranging wine list and a sassy cocktail program complement his simple yet somewhat eclectic menu. Davis would have it no other way.

Inspired by his mom, who encouraged his broad palate at an early age, and his dad, an avid hunter who taught him to “respect his proteins” and the land, Davis cooked at a barbecue joint in the Hill Country at 16, graduated from the Culinary Institute of America in San Antonio, and stayed in SA. “It’s such a great city,” he says. He then cooked for Andrew Weissman at Il Sogno and Sandbar and went to cook with Mark Bliss before Battalion.

Here he worked his way from line cook, to sous chef, to executive chef.

At Il Sogno, Davis sought to master pasta-making. “It is an art, not a science. So many factors go into making it perfect,” he explains.

On this, my second visit to Battalion, our meal didn’t start with pasta, though. First, we broke locally-made bread served with a dollop of herbed parmesan butter and a bowl of garlic-infused olive oil. We nibbled on spicy olives marinated in garlic, citrus, Sambuca (anise-flavored Italian liqueur), and a Chile de Arbol sauce.

Battalion is the kind of place friends come together to order lots of small plates, sip cocktails, and nosh all night long. You’ll want to share: there’s so much to try.

Take the steak tartare, served with house-made pickles, parmesan, and whole-grain mustard. My husband,

never would order steak tartare on his own, kept scooping it on his bread as if it were pâté. “We make ours using the best trim from steak and tenderloin tips,” says Davis.

Next, we sampled Chef’s three cheese, beef and pork meatballs in house-made marinara and topped with cheese. Divine. People nearby recommended the spinach dumplings, so we ordered those, too. Cubes of baked spinach and parmesan, these vegetarian treats had an almost gnocchi texture when served in sauce—they weren’t dumplings, per se. Alone, they might have just been OK, but Chef Davis brilliantly elevated this unusual dish by tossing the cubes in truffle cream sauce topped with chopped walnuts and prosciutto.

For the pasta course, we chose mushroom casareccia in a light cream/white wine sauce. This simple dish was my favorite: hand-made short split pasta tubes tossed in a light white sauce with tiny Nameko mushrooms.

Next time we’ll try lasagna in pork ragu, spaghetti al pesto, or whipped mortadella ravioli, but we’d already eaten an embarrassing amount of food before ending our meal with the parmesan-crusted lamb chops uncommonly and deliciously adorned with a fontina, parmesan custard, besciamella, Pomodoro, basil dusting. Vying for best bet on the menu was the thick-cut eggplant parmesan: a mustorder. The caramelized carrot side dish and the grilled beets in Dijon and dill vinaigrette are unexpected treasures, too, I’m told. I’ll try them next time.

Starting with a splashy “FH7” cocktail (Tito’s vodka, peach liqueur, lemon, and rosemary) and sips of Cabernet between bites, I left happy and full (with a designated driver).

A few blocks away, Fiesta was reaching a feverish frenzy, but on this Thursday night in Southtown, Chef Davis was happily firing up the grill for the next battalion of hungry guests.

Battalion 604 S Alamo, San Antonio, TX 78205 battalionsa.com

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SA CURATED: DINING

Mother’s Day Brunch with

Camille Conchita The iconic hamburger airstream is now a brickand-mortar restaurant open daily for champagne brunch. Located off of St. Mary’s St., this hidden gem is the only spot with a menu where you can treat yourself to escargot, an espresso martini, and a smoked brisket breakfast sandwich all at once. MustCullum’s Attaboy 111 Kings Ct. @Cullumsattaboy Cullumsattaboy.com

try menu items are the eggs benedict with caviar and the classic cocktail, Ramos gin fizz.

Pancake Joe’s is a local favorite breakfast restaurant with a variety of unique offerings. With two locations in town, you can enjoy large portions of delicious comfort food.

Choose one of the many different pancake and omelet creations such as peanut butter banana Pancake Joe’s 1011 Donaldson Ave. 6703 Ingram Rd. @pancakejoes_sa Pancakejoes-sa.com

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pancakes, bacon pancakes, chile relleno omelet, cowboy omelet, or create your own combination!

My name is Camille, and I am a lifestyle content creator with an emphasis on supporting local businesses in San Antonio. On my page, you can find style inspo, new restaurants to try, and beautiful places to visit in our community.

I enjoy photography and try to incorporate highquality and aesthetic photos in all my posts. @CamilleConchita

Located in the South town Arts District, Künstler is a craft brewery with a full kitchen offering German and Texas fusion.

On Sunday only, you can experience the best brunch of any brewery.

Be sure to order their rendition of avocado toast, the avocado pretzel. Other Künstler Brewing 302 E Lachapelle @Kuenstlerbrew Kuenstlerbrewing.com

brunch favorites include potato pancakes, brunch burger on a pretzel bun, micheladas, and mimosas.

This modern French Brasserie in the heart of Alamo Heights features a full bar with craft cocktails, dinner menu, brick over “Pizza on the Patio,” Happy Hour, rotating prix-fixe menus, and brunch on Sunday until 2! Whether you prefer a classic French Bistr09 6106 Broadway @Bistr09 Bistr09.com

omelet or mix it up with the Chilaquiles Benedict, Bistr09 is a must-try!

ART BEAT

Svetlana Dvoretsky Producer, Immersive Van Gogh exhibition, Lighthouse Immersive Photography by Nina Westervelt

Immersive Van Gogh invites audiences to “step inside” the iconic works of post-Impressionist artist Vincent van Gogh, evoking his highly emotional and chaotic inner consciousness through art, light, music, movement and imagination.

In my role, I am responsible for working with the creative team, led by creator Massimiliano Siccardi and composer Luca Longobardi, to produce content that is reflective of the artist and entices audiences to learn more. Lighthouse Immersive has produced many of these exhibitions that bring renowned works to life, but we also want it to honor the artist’s work by merging art and technology.

San Antonio has such a rich art culture. It’s a vibrant city with people who appreciate art and creative outlets. The city felt like a natural fit for the Van Gogh exhibit.

Growing up, I studied piano, but I had a fascination with the management and presentation of artists. When I moved to Toronto from St. Petersburg in the late 90s, I knew that it was something I wanted to pursue professionally. I started working on small projects and eventually encountered violinist-conductor Vladimir Spivakov, and I began to present his concerts throughout Canada, which kickstarted my career in this industry.

The arts are my passion. I understand they are what bring us together and make life meaningful. They have been so powerful for me personally, and my mission is to bring them to a larger audience.

Introducing younger audiences to art and instilling a lifelong passion is one outcome of producing these immersive experiences. Multiple generations enter our spaces daily and are transported to bygone eras in ways they would never get to imagine while still enjoying modern interpretations of a traditional art form.

The new Lighthouse ArtSpace San Antonio will open at 221 Burleson in Dignowity Hill, a few blocks from the San Antonio Museum of Art, on Thursday, May 26 and will run through Sept. 5, 2022.

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WEDDING

Mr. & Mrs.

DeLeon - Ofsow March 6th, 2022

What was the most memorable moment from your wedding day?

Walking down the aisle and seeing the groom and my son both crying happy tears. As soon as I reached the groom, my son ran up from the pews and hugged us both. It was such a beautiful moment.

What was the most stressful part of your wedding day?

Not getting to see the groom before the ceremony. I’m so glad we waited to see each other until I was walking down the aisle, but, he is also my best friend and I wanted to show him everything! Also, the logistics of setting up and trying to coordinate hiding from each other all morning was tricky.

What are/were your Honeymoon plans?

We plan on having a beach honeymoon over the summer.

What was your “theme”?

Country/Rustic Do you have any words of advice for brides-to-be?

Enjoy every minute, the day-of goes by SO fast.

Eat when you can. Use the bathroom before you put on the dress. And lastly, don’t sweat the small details - you will be the ONLY one who notices them anyway. Enjoy celebrating your love!

What was your first dance song, and why is it significant?

“In Case You Didn’t Know” by Brett Young. This song really described our feelings toward each other. The chorus of “ Baby, I’m crazy ‘bout you. I would be lying if I said that I could live this life without you” was a line we both felt strongly about. It also fit our Country theme and was easy to dance to.

Groom’s response: In the hustle and bustle of everyday life, I don’t feel like I tell you enough how much I love you and how much you mean to me. You’re everything. I like that the song says that.

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Bride: Whitney Elyse Jones Groom: Justin Robert DeLeon-Ofsow Wedding date: March 6th, 2022 Photographer/Videographer: Maples Heart Photography Venue: Chandelier of Gruene Wedding Dress: Fiancée Bridal Boutique Grooms Tuxedo: Cavender’s Engagement Ring: Americus Diamond Wedding Bands: Elwood Crafts (His) FacetsandKarats (Hers) Bridesmades Dresses Azazie Hair and Makeup: Southern Tease Planner: Debra Reece Weddings Bar & Catering: Bartenders4you Blanco BBQ Cake: Thin Blue Line Bakery Florist: Reiley & Rose DJ/Band: DJ Brian Weber

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FINAL THOUGHTS

Artwork by:

Carol Devereaux, “Mother and Child” Graphite and White Pastel

“In giving birth to our babies, we may find that we give birth to new possibilities within ourselves.”

—Myla and Jon Kabat-Zinn

Courtesy of Felder Gallery

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