SUGAR LAND EXECUTIVES ELECTED TO SOTX’S BOARD OF DIRECTORS

City of Sugar Land’s First Assistant City Manager Steve Griffith (Sugar Land) has been re-elected an officer on Special Olympics Texas’ (SOTX) board of directors. He will serve a two-year term in an at-large position as the board’s treasurer. Prior to his most recent appointment to this position, Griffith served the board as a law enforcement torch run (LETR) representative. Griffith has been actively involved with Special Olympics Texas for more than 24 years.

He is the former Greater Houston Area (Area 4) chairman, a position he served in for six years. During four of those years, revenue for Area 4 surpassed $100,000. Griffith served SOTX’s Law Enforcement Torch Run director for the state for two years. During his tenure as state director, he worked to integrate the state prison system into the Torch Run and generated $2 million annually for the Texas Torch Runners. The Texas Torch Run received national awards for revenue growth and totals. Griffith served on the SOTX Board of Directors for 10 years, including serving as the Chairman of the Board for two years.

A Houston-area native and a 35-year law enforcement veteran, Griffith was named the City of Sugar Land’s chief of police in August 2005 and was promoted to first assistant city manager in 2014. He oversees police, fire, public safety dispatch, municipal courts, the airport and communications.

Western Container Corporation Chief Financial Officer Dale Hosack (Houston) also has been elected to the SOTX Board of Directors, a year after being appointed to the nonprofit organization’s President’s Advisory Council. He will serve a two-year term in an at-large position.

Hosack, who holds a degree in accounting from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, has spent his entire career working in manufacturing and driving lean accounting organizations. He is only the second CFO Western Container Corporation of Sugar Land has had in the company’s 35-year history. Western Container is the second-largest producer of plastic bottles for the Coca-Cola Bottling System in the world.

_________________________________________________________________________________

SKEETERS NAME JAY LUCAS AS VICE PRESIDENT OF MARKETING AND PUBLIC RELATIONS

The Sugar Land Skeeters have announced that Jay Lucas has been named vice president of marketing and public relations for the Skeeters organization. Jay Miller, president for the organization, made the announcement.

“We are excited to bring Jay on board with us and back to the Greater Houston area,” said Miller. “His vast baseball knowledge and experience with the local media make him a great addition to our organization.”

Lucas brings a wealth of marketing and communications experience, including nearly 20 years in major league baseball. He served as the vice president of communications for the Houston Astros (2003-2012) where he was responsible for all external and internal club communications.

Before joining the Astros, Lucas’ career as a professional communicator spanned 23 years in Southern California. He came to Houston from the now Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim where he served as director of publicity and broadcasting in 2002 and 2003, managing strategic communication plans for the marketing, broadcasting and community relations departments. Lucas began his major league baseball career with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1988 (1988-1996). As director of publicity, he coordinated all public relations efforts for the organization and was in charge of all media relations activities. He has planned and executed media relations efforts for three World Series (1988, 2002, 2005), six League Championship Series (1988, 1995, 1996, 2002, 2004 and 2005), the 2004 All-Star Game in Houston, and was the San Diego venue press chief for the World Baseball Classic in 2009. He also worked for Penske Motorsports and helped open the California Speedway in 1996.

_________________________________________________________________________________

VANDANA KHERA, M.D., JOINS HOUSTON METHODIST PRIMARY CARE GROUP

Houston Methodist Primary Care Group recently welcomed internal medicine physician Dr. Vandana Khera to the new Riverstone location. Khera joins Dr. Deepshika Sharda at the practice located at 18717 South University Boulevard, Suite 105, where they will continue to provide quality primary care to patients in the Sugar Land and Missouri City communities.

Khera earned her medical degree at Government Medical College in Patiala, India, before completing both her internship and internal medicine residency at Roger Williams Medical Center in Providence, Rhode Island. She is board certified in internal medicine—treating a variety of acute and chronic conditions with special interests in geriatrics and endocrinology. In addition to English, Khera speaks Hindi and Punjabi.

Prior to joining Houston Methodist Primary Care Group, Khera practiced outpatient medicine at a physician led organization in Norwood, Mass., where she collaborated with a multidisciplinary team to meet the health care needs of her patients.

“I consider it an honor to be joining Houston Methodist Primary Care Group,” Khera said. “And I am fortunate that my patients trust me with their most valuable asset –– their health. My purpose is to care for my patients’ physical and mental well-being by helping them achieve health goals through preventive care.”

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Khera, visit houstonmethodist.org/pcg or call 713-394-MPCG (6724).

_________________________________________________________________________________

SIENNA HOAS WIN COMMUNITY OF THE YEAR AWARD

Sienna Plantation Associations took home three awards in the Community Associations Institute Greater Houston Chapter’s inaugural awards gala, including Community of the Year. The award is given to the community association that exhibits excellence in management, governance, finance and lifestyle. The Sienna associations won in the 3,000-plus units category.

The associations also received an Innovations in Communication award for their combination of print and digital efforts to keep residents fully informed of community news. Sienna’s third honor, the Community Spirit Award, was given for the development’s annual Fall Family Camp Out, a collaborative effort of homeowner associations’ staff, community patrol officers, resident volunteers and community business sponsors. Hundreds attend the sell-out event each year, enjoying traditional cookout fare, a tent-decorating contest, tent trick-or-treating, pumpkin carving and other camping activities.

“We were thrilled to take home these three prestigious awards given by the industry’s leading organizations,” said Sandy Denton, general manager of the Sienna Plantation Associations. “Our dedicated team and continued support from our board members have catapulted us on the road to success, and while we may have received the trophies, it’s really Sienna residents who are the true winners.”

The Community Associations Institute (CAI) is the only national organization dedicated to fostering vibrant, responsive and competent community associations. In Houston, the CAI is a resource for education and information regarding best practices and professionalism for homeowners associations.

_________________________________________________________________________________

SUGAR LAND RECEIVES A+ IN CITIZEN SATISFACTION SURVEY

Citizens gave Sugar Land unprecedented marks for public safety, quality of life, infrastructure, planning for growth, parks/recreation and more in a statistically valid Citizen Satisfaction Survey. The survey is conducted every two years to ensure City services meet citizen expectations, and the results help identify resources necessary to address community concerns.

ETC Institute, one of the nation’s leading community-based market research firms, conducted the survey in 2015 and utilized the data to benchmark Sugar Land against similar communities throughout the nation. The random survey was conducted by phone, mail and website; it targeted a cross section of respondents consistent with the community’s demographic composition (i.e., gender, age, ethnicity, and geographic location).

A summary of key findings shows that 99 percent rated Sugar Land as an excellent or good place to raise children; 97 percent rated Sugar Land as an excellent or good place to live; the city rated above the U.S. and Southwest Regional Average in 60 of the 61 areas that were compared; the city rated 26 percent above the U.S. and Southwest Regional Average in the overall quality of city services; 87 percent rated the city as doing an excellent or good job moving in the right direction; the effectiveness of City communications was 26 percent higher than other cities across the country.

The major categories of municipal services with the highest levels of satisfaction were quality of police, fire and ambulance services at 95 percent; quality of parks and recreation programs and facilities at 89 percent; ensuring the community is prepared for emergencies at 88 percent; and quality of trash and yard waste services at 88 percent.

“Since we began conducting these surveys in 2004, the city has received high ratings on almost all factors rated,” said City Manager Allen Bogard. “However, we will by no means remain complacent with the high marks received. We intend to scrutinize the results to find opportunities for ongoing improvement.”

Read more at sugarlandtx.gov/css.

_________________________________________________________________________________

TEXAS CHILDREN’S PEDIATRICS MISSOURI CITY JOINS LARGEST PEDIATRIC PRIMARY CARE NETWORK

Texas Children’s Pediatrics is pleased to announce Texas Children’s Pediatrics Missouri City as its newest practice. This will mark the 52nd location for the nation’s largest pediatric primary care network. Texas Children’s Pediatrics offers convenient locations with more than 250 physicians throughout the greater Houston area.

Located at 5819 Highway 6 South, Suite 300 in Missouri City, Texas Children’s Pediatrics Missouri City upholds the standards of Texas Children’s and its mission of providing the best pediatric care to the community. The location is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to noon; 2 to 5 p.m. and will provide a wide range of services for infants, children and adolescents, including prenatal counseling, acute and chronic illness treatment, emergency care, immu­­ni­za- ­­tions and physicals.

“What an exciting opportunity to welcome Texas Children’s Pediatrics Missouri City as our 52nd location,” says Kay Tittle, president of Texas Children’s Pediatrics. “It is a privilege for our teams to serve the quickly growing pediatric population across the Houston community.”

The team of physicians includes Dr. Dean J. Gmoser and Dr. Maryann Tholany. Both are certified by the American Board of Pediatrics and have received specialized training in the unique health care needs of pediatric patients.

New patients are currently being accepted. To make an appointment, or to learn more, visit texaschildrenspediatrics.org or call 281-499-4301.

_________________________________________________________________________________

DANIEL STYF NAMED SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF MEMORIAL HERMANN HEALTH PLANS

Following a comprehensive and nationwide search, Memorial Hermann Health System has hired Daniel (Dan) Styf as its new Senior Vice President and CEO to lead its health plan business. Memorial Hermann Health Plans are backed by Memorial Hermann, a full-service system that has been advancing health in the Houston region for more than 100 years.

Styf brings a wealth of health insurance experience and leadership to the organization. Most recently, Styf was an executive with the Piedmont WellStar Health Plans in Atlanta where he served as senior vice president and head of operations for the joint venture be­tween WellStar Health System and Piedmont Health Care.

“Dan is an accomplished health insurance leader with extensive experience in provider-sponsored health plans affiliated with some of the most well-respected health systems across the country,” said Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at Memorial Hermann Dennis Laraway. “He’s a strategic thinker who brings considerable leadership skills as well as business, team and product development abilities to our health plans. Dan’s expertise and vision will serve him well in building the health plan side of our growing health system.”

Styf’s professional experience includes more than five years as vice president for regional & marketing strategy for Kaiser Permanente in Georgia. He also served in various leadership roles with the Alliance of Community Health Plans (ACHP) in Washington, D.C., and Health Alliance Plan in Detroit, Michigan.

“The Memorial Hermann Health System is one of the most respected health systems in the country,” said Styf. “I’m incredibly honored to bring that world renowned care directly to the people and businesses of Houston through our affordable and high quality coverage options. The most exciting part of my role is enabling our physicians and care teams to practice medicine the way they were trained, without the hassles of a national health plan.

“Our health plan is unique in the Houston market because of the way we partner with Memorial Hermann’s 4,000 affiliated doctors and 13, soon to be 15, hospitals,” Styf continued. “Combining care and coverage allows Memorial Hermann to take more proactive steps to invest in the health of our community and provide better care for the members we serve.”

Styf holds a master’s in evaluative clinical science from Dartmouth Medical School, and an undergraduate degree in biology and chemistry from Hope College in Michigan.

_________________________________________________________________________________

LAMAR ISD OBSERVES SCHOOL BOARD RECOGNITION MONTH

January 2016 was School Board Recognition Month and Lamar CISD joined other districts across the state in honoring the countless contributions of these locally elected advocates for public education.

“Serving on a local school board is no easy task, particularly in today’s climate of rapid change,” said Lamar CISD Superintendent Dr. Thomas Randle. “These men and women establish the policies providing the framework for our public schools. They tackle a difficult job and shoulder enormous responsibilities. “Too often we neglect to recognize the dedication of these local citizens who work without pay,” Randle continued. “So each year the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) encourages communities to show appreciation to these individuals for their unfailing commitment to the success of all students. The staff and students of Lamar CISD applaud our board members for their vision and voice to help shape a better tomorrow.”

Lamar CISD’s school trustees are Board President Kathryn Kaminski, Vice President Kay Danziger, Secretary Anna Gonzales, Dr. Tyson Harrell, Melisa Roberts, James Steenbergen and Frank Torres.

_________________________________________________________________________________

CROCHET CLUB BRINGS WARMTH TO SENIORS AT OAK BEND MEDICAL CENTER

The patients of the Skilled Nursing Unit of OakBend Medical Center received a pleasant surprise when the volunteers of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church’s Crochet Club delivered beanies and blankets to help keep them warm.

The Crochet Club is a group of ladies which lovingly make items for the church sewing guild. Dorothy Meczali is the volunteer leader of the church’s Crochet Club.

“We are very thankful we can provide some warmth to our patients by their thoughtful efforts,” said Dee Holmes, Skilled Nursing coordinator. OakBend’s Skilled Nursing Facilities offer a place for those who need short-term rehabilitation following a hospital stay or long-term nursing supervision because of health issues or disabilities. They are equipped to care for individuals needing 24-hour nursing care, post-operative recuperation, or complex medical care demands, as well as chronically ill individuals who can no longer live independently. All patients are under the care of physicians, who visit regularly and are responsible for each patient’s overall plan of care. OakBend’s goal is to restore each patient as quickly as possible to their highest level of functioning and independence.

_________________________________________________________________________________

FORT BEND COUNTY JUDGE WELCOMES CHINESE LAW ENFORCEMENT CADETS

On Jan. 7, County Judge Bob Hebert joined Rosenberg Police Department in welcoming nine law enforcement cadets from the Zhejiang Police College in Hangzhou, China. The cadets are visiting the Houston area as a part of an international exchange through Sam Houston State University, of which Rosenberg has been a participant for the last couple of years. Families in the community volunteer to host the international guests which offers an additional opportunity to exchange culturally.

Judge Hebert commended the local police on their commitment to global exchange and acknowledging the valuable lessons to be learned from one another. Judge Hebert said, “The cadets are very bright and energetic. These exchanges benefit both communities and reinforce my commitment to our global initiatives.”

_________________________________________________________________________________

JOHNSON DEVELOPMENT NAMES LATEST COMMUNITY

A chance historical photograph solidified the naming of the newest project of The Johnson Development Corp., Veranda.

General manager Trey Reichert and his team had been contemplating the name Veranda for the 590-acre Richmond property near the northwest corner of Williams Way Boulevard and U.S. 59 before happening upon the photo.

“We want this community to reflect the rich heritage of Richmond, both visually and figuratively,” Reichert said. “Builders will be encouraged to incorporate timeless elements such as expansive porches ­­– verandas – into their home designs. This was the seed that led to our considering the name Veranda for the development.”

Before air conditioning, homes often featured large porches in the front and back, where doors could be opened, allowing air to better circulate through the home. Develop­ment team members visited the Fort Bend Museum for inspiration regarding the vision for the community and while there, saw several photos of structures with broad porches dating back to the early 1800s. During their research, they found an old photograph that truly caught them by surprise. They learned that Jane Long, considered the “Mother of Texas,” opened a boarding house in Richmond in 1837 that became a dwelling place for local leadership. This boarding house, called “The Veranda Hotel,” was located at the corner of Morton and Fourth streets in downtown Richmond, which is currently home to Sandy McGee’s restaurant.

“Seeing that photograph sealed our decision to name the development Veranda,” Reichert said.

Development activity in Veranda is expected to begin mid-year, with home construction estimated for early 2017. Veranda is Johnson Development’s seventh Fort Bend community.

_________________________________________________________________________________

FORT BEND WOMEN NAMED TO “HOUSTON’S 50 MOST INFLUENTIAL WOMEN OF 2015”

Deb Vangellow, LPGA national president and master teaching professional at Riverbend Country Club, and Sharon Saunders, vice president for university relations and chief of staff to the president at Houston Baptist University, have been named to “Houston’s 50 Most Influential Women of 2015.”

Each of the honorees was nominated for inclusion on the “50 Women” list by a subscriber of Houston Woman Magazine and then selected by the staff of the publication. The recipients were honored at La Columbe d’or Mansion in front of an audience of 260 guests at an afternoon tea on Jan. 24.

According to Beverly Denver, publisher, “Those selected as Houston’s 50 Most Influential Women of 2015 are accomplished individuals with vast networks of social and professional connections. They have earned an enviable reputation for their expertise in a particular field or arena. They are passionate, knowledgeable, credible and trustworthy. The thoughts and actions of these women influence the thoughts and actions of others. It is our distinct pleasure to introduce these remarkable women to our readers and to others in our community.”

In addition to teaching men, women, senior and junior golfers of all skill levels individually and in groups at Riverbend Country Club, Vangellow was the first ever national vice-president for the LPGA teaching and club professional membership and is now the serving as the elected national president. She is a longtime lead instructor in the LPGA Global Education Program, the industry leading teacher training program for golf professionals in the U.S. and Korea. Vangellow is also a member of the Proponent Group for the top golf instructors in the world and served on their first advisory board, and she is the first female professional named to the GolfMDS Pro Advisory Team. Serving on the LPGA Board of Directors, the National Advisory Council for Junior League Golf, the Golf Advisory Committee for The First Tee, and the Journal of Applied Golf Research Advisory Board are additional opportunities Vangellow participates in and enjoys. She served six years on the LPGA Foundation Board, the charitable pillar of the LPGA.

A busy golf educator who has given thousands of learning sessions over her career for improvement in and enjoyment of the game, Vangellow believes in teaching to the whole person. Her wellness based, student-centered teaching philosophy includes intuitive golf education programming in the areas of skill development, equipment evaluation and recommendation, peak performance awareness/implementation with the GolfPsych and ThinQ Golf mind/body systems, and overall health and fitness ideals. She is a U.S. Kids Golf Certified Coach and a longtime loyal Titleist/Footjoy staff member, appearing on The Golf Chan­nel in two commercials in 2013.

Saunders was recognized for her work as HBU as well as her work in other organizations and community endeavors. She serves as executive director of The Guild, a group of civic-minded, dedicated Christian women of many denominations whose mission is to serve the president, Dr. Robert Sloan, Jr., and the university. Under her leadership, The Guild has contributed more than $1.7 million to HBU for graduate scholarships in education, special projects, and The Guild Institute for Family Studies. Saunders was named honoree of The Guild’s 2015 Silver Tea in recognition of her leadership to The Guild and the University and her passion for Chris­tian higher education. The Guild also recognized her efforts with the naming of the Sharon Saunders Endowed Scholarship in Graduate Education.

Saunders has also served on a number of professional boards, including leadership positions as president of the Texas Baptist Public Relations Association and president of the Association of Communicators in Baptist Education. She has also served on the board of directors of Fort Bend Chris­tian Academy, and she was a member of the Education Foundation for Fort Bend ISD. She has also served on the board of the Women’s Fund, where she is a lifetime member.

_________________________________________________________________________________

FORT BEND ISD APPROVES 2016-17 DISTRICT CALENDAR

During a regular board meeting on Jan. 19, the Fort Bend ISD Board of Trustees approved a 2016-17 District Calendar that includes 176 days of instruction and an additional 20 daily instructional minutes at all levels.

The 2016-17 District Calendar was created in compliance with new state legislation that requires at least 75,600 minutes of instruction. House Bill 2610, passed by the 84th Texas Legislature, amended the Texas Education Code to require a minimum of instructional minutes, rather than the former requirement of 180 days of instruction. House Bill 2610 also allows districts flexibility to add minutes to the school day to compensate for instruction lost due to school closures caused by bad weather.

The 2016-17 District calendar has added 20 minutes to the length of the school day at all levels. This means should Fort Bend ISD need to cancel school up to two times during the year, students will not have to make-up the days at another designated time.

Highlights of the calendar include maintaining Fort Bend County Fair Holiday; main­taining week off at Thanksgiving Break; avoid entering into week of Dec. 19 for Winter Break; avoid having students return on Jan. 2 from Winter Break; maintaining early dismissals; final exams before Winter Break; absorption of two bad weather make-up days; aligning Spring Break with surrounding districts; a built-in fall break between Labor Day and Thanksgiving; and assurance of adequate time to insure UIL eligibility in the fall.

Visit fortbendisd.com to view Fort Bend ISD’s 2016-17 District Calendar. Following the calendar’s adoption, a separate group of stakeholders will now determine the exact start and stop times for all levels.