JOE RODRIGUEZ NAMED FORT BEND ISD ASST. SUPERINTENDENT

Dr. Joe Rodriguez has been named an assistant superintendent in Fort Bend ISD. He replaces Dr. Mark Foust, who is currently in his new role as the District’s Chief of Schools.

Rodriguez comes to FBISD from Harlingen Consolidated Independent School District where he served as Administrator for Secondary Education. Prior to that, he was a principal at Harlingen High School and Travis Elementary, both in HCISD. He began his career as a grade-school teacher.

“I am extremely honored to join the FBISD team,” Rodriguez said. “The District’s statewide reputation of excellence and making students their highest priority was critical in my decision to join this highly-respected organization. As a member of the Depart­ment of School Leadership, I look forward to serving the Fort Bend community and becoming a system of support for the students, educators, and parents in order to help our students reach their full potential as 21st century learners.”

Rodriguez earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology at the University of Texas at Austin, and his master’s degree in educational administration and a doctorate of educational leadership at Texas A&M University.

Rodriguez also advocates for underprivileged youth by serving on the Board of Directors at the Boys and Girls Club and volunteering at the Ronald McDonald House.

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BOWIE ELEMENTARY PE TEACHER HONORED BY STATEWIDE GROUP

The Texas Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (TAHPERD) has chosen Bowie Elementary PE teacher Jessica Risien as its Emerging Professional for 2016.

This will be Risien’s fifth year teaching at Bowie. She is chairing TAHPERD’s Health Promotions Committee. This is her third year on the committee.

“I dedicate this award to all of my kids at Bowie Elementary that run into my gym all excited, work hard and leave a sweaty mess,” she said. “They are the reason I won this award. Their smiles, their love and their sweaty faces are what motivates me to work hard and to try and be the best P.E. teacher that I can be.”

Risien will be recognized at the group’s annual conference in December in Galveston.

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FORT BEND ISD NAMES MELISSA KING-KNOWLES PRINCIPAL OF SARTARTIA MIDDLE SCHOOL

Melissa King-Knowles has been named the new principal of Fort Bend ISD’s Sartartia Middle School. Since 2010, she has held the role of assistant principal at both the middle and high school levels, most recently in Leander ISD.

King-Knowles began her 17-year career as a theater teacher at Pflugerville High School in Pflugerville ISD. Her honors include Texas Association of Secondary School Principals (TASSP) State Assistant Principal of the Year, TASSP Region XIII Middle School Assistant Principal of the Year, and Teacher of the Year for the 2009-10 school year.

King-Knowles earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree at Southwest Texas State University and her Master of Arts degree at Texas State University-San Marcos. In 2011, she completed the Principal Certification program with Region XIII.

“I am elated to be the new principal of Sartartia Middle School and am so excited to meet all of our students, staff, and families in our community,” Knowles-King said. “I am already a very proud Jaguar because I know that we inspire one another to achieve more than we have ever imagined each and every day!”

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JULIE GUILLORY NEW FBISD ATTENDANCE OFFICER FOR INFORMATION SYSTEMS
The FBISD Board of Trustees recently appointed Dr. Julie Guillory as the new Attendance Officer for Information Systems (IS). The new position is part of the reorganization of Student Information Systems (SIS) and Business Information Systems (BIS). In her new role, Guillory will oversee PEIMS data quality, campus attendance data, and state reporting requirements.

“I am excited to work in a district where examples of exemplary attendance are a fundamentally sound practice,” Guillory said.

She began her 30-year career as a teacher at Sacred Heart School in Lake Charles, Louisiana. After moving to the Houston area, Guillory taught high school biology and went on to become assistant principal and principal at Westfield High School in Spring ISD. In 2003, she opened Westfield High School Ninth-Grade Center as principal. Before leaving Spring ISD, she served as PEIMS coordinator, director and executive director.

Guillory earned her Bachelor of Education at McNeese State University, her Masters of Educational Administration at Prairie View A&M University, and her Doctorate of Educational Leadership at Nova Southeastern University.

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COST OF BRAZOS RIVER FLOOD CRISIS

In response to the devastating infrastructure damage the Brazos River Flood Crisis caused to the region, President Barack Obama granted Gov. Greg Abbott’s federal disaster request for Individual Assistance for the 12 impacted counties: Austin, Brazoria, Brazos, Fort Bend, Grimes, Hidalgo, Hood, Montgomery, San Jacinto, Travis, Waller, and Washington. Additional counties may be added to list as they meet the threshold required by the federal government.

Fort Bend County Emergency Management Officials have estimated that infrastructure damages in the area total $13,921,530; about 1,245 homes were damaged, 17 percent (148 miles) of the County flooded and about 50,000 people or 7 percent of the population has been impacted.

In Fort Bend County, residents may report residential damages to fbcoem.org.

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RIVERSTONE ADDS EMERALD HOMES TO BUILDER LINE-UP

Master-planned Riverstone is adding Texas-based Emerald Homes to its extensive line-up of community builders. The luxury division of DR Horton, Inc., will offer a series of high-end patio homes in the Fort Bend community’s new “Villas at Riverstone” neighborhood.

Design details have yet to be released, but pricing is expected to start in the $390,000s for a 2,450-square-foot home in the 10-acre section along University Boulevard. Homes will have a Sugar Land address.

“We are excited to add Emerald Homes to our community,” said Trey Reichert, vice president and general manager of Riverstone. “Their reputation for quality craftsmanship, elegant features and personalized service align perfectly with the values already shared by our family of builders.”

Darling Homes, Westport Homes, Sitterle Homes and Taylor Morrison Homes already offer low-maintenance patio homes within Riverstone. Currently, 18 builders offer a wide range of home designs in Riverstone. Pricing is from the $300,000s to the millions.

“It is an honor to be offering homes in such a remarkable community,” said Calvin Sowa with Emerald Homes. “We are looking forward to showing prospective buyers how luxury and function can be combined to create a highly livable home.”

Riverstone is the top-selling master-planned community in Texas. It is located near U.S. 59 and Highway 6, The Fort Bend Parkway Toll Road and Texas 288.

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MISSOURI CITY POLICE CHIEF ATTENDS WHITE HOUSE BRIEFING

Missouri City Chief of Police Mike Berezin traveled to Washington, D.C. on July 22 to attend the White House “Advancing 21st Century Policing” Briefing, which included a surprise appearance and speech from President Barack Obama.

“I wanted to come by to make sure that all of you knew how grateful the American people are for your service, how appreciative we are of your sacrifice,” President Obama told the briefing group. “As a general proposition, you guys are not looking for the spotlight; you just want to do your jobs and keep your community safe. And you also want to come home to your own families at the end of a tough day. And for you to put yourself out there like that is one of the greatest gifts that you could give your fellow citizens.”

The Missouri City Police Department has strong community-oriented policing initiatives, and Berezin’s participation in the briefing provided the City with an opportunity to not only give input to the President’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing and President Obama, but also to learn from other communities throughout the nation. Following the presentation, Berezin and representatives from other national public safety agencies participated in an open dialogue with the president.

“The President did a fine job of expressing his support of the efforts of law enforcement to preserve the values we all, regardless of any type of difference, hold dear,” said Berezin. “All of us had equal opportunity to speak frankly about challenges we face and many success stories and some failures were discussed. The honor and privilege of representing the citizens of Missouri City in the greatest of all venues in the world will always be a very big highlight of my career.”

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HOUSTON METHODIST SUGAR LAND HOSPITAL ON “BEST HOSPITAL” ANNUAL CITY/STATE RANKINGS

Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital is one of the leading hospitals in the Houston area and the state of Texas in U.S. News & World Report magazine’s prestigious “Best Hospital” annual rankings. Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital is ranked No. 9 in the Houston area and No. 23 in Texas in the magazine’s 2016 list.

“This recognition is a testament to the incredible progress we’ve made in bringing complex, sophisticated medical care to the community,” said Chris Siebenaler, CEO of Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital. “The teamwork between our physicians and our staff – with a focus on continuously improving quality and safety – is making a significant difference in the lives of patients from across Fort Bend and surrounding areas. We are all very proud to be recognized by U.S. News & World Report .”

The magazine’s annual analysis of hospitals includes data from nearly 5,000 centers across multiple clinical specialties, procedures and conditions. Scores are based on a variety of patient outcome and care-related factors, including patient safety and nurse staffing. During 2015, Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital had 13,132 admissions and physicians on staff performed 4,149 inpatient and 7,684 outpatient surgeries.

Houston Methodist Hospital is also named the No. 1 hospital in Texas for the fifth consecutive year, and is the only hospital in Texas to earn a spot on the “Best Hospitals” Honor Roll. The Honor Roll, which includes 20 hospitals throughout the country, recognizes hospitals that are the “best of the best” in patient care, patient safety, outcomes, nursing, advanced technology and reputation.

To view the hospital rankings, visit usnews.com/best-hospitals. Visit houstonmethodist.org/sugarland to learn more about the hospital or call 281-274-7500 for a physician referral.

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AEROSMITH DRUMMER ANNOUNCES COFFEE PARTNERSHIP WITH SMART FINANCIAL CENTRE AT SUGAR LAND

Aerosmith drummer Joey Kramer recently announced a multi-year marketing sponsorship for his fresh brewed organic coffee line, Rockin’ & Roastin’, with Smart Financial Centre at Sugar Land, which is scheduled to open in January 2017. Smart Financial Centre will exclusively serve Kramer’s coffee.

“I’m amped about having Rockin’ & Roastin’ in our brand’s first concert venue in Texas,” said Kramer, a Texas transplant.

Rockin’ & Roastin’ will be brewed and served onsite at each of the concession locations in the Centre, the Grand Suites and the VIP Lounge. Additionally, the coffee will be available at a unique, rock ‘n roll-themed coffee cart in the lobby that has been custom-designed for the venue.

After suffering through years of bad coffee on the road while touring with Aerosmith, Kramer developed his 100 percent, USDA Organic Certified coffee line that has become a rapidly growing retail and foodservice brand. He started the business in April 2012. It was only available online until the summer of 2013 when Joey partnered with a new roasting and distribution partner that allowed him to scale the business in the retail, wholesale and food service sectors.

Kramer serves as founder and chairman of Rockin’ & Roastin’; his business partners are CEO Ron Mann and Frank Cimler, president.

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RICHMOND RECEIVES SCENIC CITY BRONZE CERTIFICATION

The City of Richmond applied for and received the Bronze level of certification through the Scenic City Certification Program, a project of Scenic Texas. The Scenic City program supports and recognizes cities for commitment to high-quality scenic standards for public roadways and public spaces. Cities apply to the program for a rigorous evaluation and scoring of existing municipal standards against the model. Those with the highest evaluation scores earn certification. These standards evaluate streetscapes –– the protection of trees and landscape as well as sidewalks; ordinances, design standards and new development; utilities and cable line programs; historic district preservation programs and beautification programs such as Keep Richmond Beautiful, among other things.

This year 23 municipalities in Texas were awarded this certification, of which nine cities, including Richmond, are new to the program. Cities continue to recertify and/ or upgrade existing certification status, as Richmond will do next year. Scenic Texas will award all 23 municipalities at its annual Awards Reception on Oct. 6 at Hilton Austin, in Austin.

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CENTRAL FORT BEND CHAMBER’S AUGUST BREAKFAST

The Central Fort Bend Chamber’s monthly networking breakfast was hosted at Wells Fargo Bank on Avenue H in Rosenberg. Jim Russ with EHRA Engineering thanked the members who attended the breakfast and introduced the Superintendent of Brazos Bend State Park, Chris Bishop.

Bishop shared, “The mission of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is to manage and conserve the natural and cultural resources of Texas and to provide hunting, fishing and outdoor recreation opportunities for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.” Brazos Bend State Park opened to the public in 1984 and has provided 32 years of recreational and educational opportunities. Bishop gave an overview of the park: With 4,975 acres, Brazos Bend provides 121 campsites, 13 screened shelters, and bathroom and laundry facilities. The park also holds major events throughout the year. Bishop closed by stating, “Brazos Bend State Park has some of the most accessible, high quality wildlife viewing opportunities in North America. Only 45 minutes from Downtown Houston and 30 minutes from Richmond–Rosenberg; we are ready to serve our community.”

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NEWMARK HOMES MAKES SCHOOL SUPPLIES DONATIONS

Newmark Homes helped students throughout Fort Bend County get ready for a successful first day of school through a host of recent charitable endeavors. The long-time Fort Bend builder is a “Dean’s List” sponsor of the Fort Bend Women’s Center’s “Measure Up 4 Kids Back-2-School” program, which gives free backpacks stuffed with school supplies to children at the center.

Newmark Homes’ employees also became personally involved in helping students be prepared for the new school year by collecting school supplies for three high school students who are clients of Child Advocates of Fort Bend. The organization is an advocate for abused and neglected children in Fort Bend County.

“It is one thing for Newmark as a company to make a donation in support of a local organization, but our employees personally ‘adopting’ these three high school students by providing them with school supplies they might not otherwise have demonstrates their kind heart and concern for the community, something that is central to our corporate culture,” said Mike Moody, president of Newmark Homes.

The company also recently sponsored a Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new WIDE school in Missouri City. The first large-scale, Reggio Emilia-inspired school in Fort Bend County, the new campus houses the WIDE Preschool and the WIDE School for students in grades kindergarten through fifth, as well as an art studio, full-service kitchen, on-site aquaponics system, garden and chicken coop.

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OAKBEND MEDICAL CENTER ADDS NEW BOARD MEMBER

OakBend Medical Center is pleased to announce the addition of Jeff Haley to the 2016 Board of Directors for the hospital. Haley fills the vacancy left by Barry Beard who was elected in May of this year to serve as a Commissioner for the City of Richmond.

Haley is a native of Rosenberg/Richmond and is very active in the community. He is the Chairman of the Central Fort Bend County Chamber Board and also serves on the Lamar Educa­tion Awards Foundation and the Fort Bend Country Club Boards.

Haley is the President of Si Environmental, LLC, a local water and wastewater service company located in Rosenberg.

Beard was also the President of OakBend Medical Center’s Board when he resigned, and Jeff Council stepped up to fill the remainder of his term.

“OakBend is extremely fortunate to have the addition of Jeff Haley to its Board of Directors,” expressed Joe Freudenberger, OakBend Medical Center’s CEO. “Jeff and the other members of the Board are committed to helping OakBend be the community’s first choice in healthcare.”

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OAKBEND MEDICAL GROUP ADDS INTERVENTIONAL CARDIOLOGIST

OakBend Medical Group is pleased to announce the addition of Dr. Sachin Jain as the newest doctor to join the OakBend Medical Group family of physicians.

Jain comes to OakBend Medical Group as an interventional cardiologist. These doctors have one to two years of additional education and training in diagnosing and treating cardiovascular disease as well as congenital (present at birth) and structural heart conditions through catheter-based procedures, such as angioplasty and stenting.

Jain received a Post Graduate Diploma in Hospital Management from Annamalai University in India. He did his Internal Med­icine residency and his General Cardi­ology fellowship at Providence Hospital in South­field, Michigan. Immediately following, he did his Interventional Cardiology fellowship then his Endovascular Cardiology fellowship at Mount Sinai Heart in New York City.

Jain is board certified in Nuclear Card­iology, Registered Peripheral Vascular Inter­pretation, Adult Echocardiography, and is a Dip­lomat of American Board of Internal Med­icine in both Internal Medicine and Cardi­ovascular Diseases.

Dr. Jain speaks English, Hindi, Tamil and Marwari and enjoys playing chess, swimming and golf.

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“NEW OPENINGS”

SOFT SURROUNDINGS NOW OPEN IN FIRST COLONY MALL

Soft Surroundings, a leading luxury lifestyle brand for busy women of all ages, is now open in its third Houston-area location at First Colony Mall in Sugar Land. The grand opening was held on Friday, Sept. 23.

Soft Surroundings is committed to helping its customers look and feel their best by providing stylish and comfortable clothing, accessories, beauty and home goods while giving them an effortless shopping experience. The brand is best known for its extremely soft fabrics, global inspiration, customer service and convenience. Most of the apparel and home goods are designed exclusively by and for the brand. The beauty department in the store features complimentary cosmetic and skincare consultations as well as regular beauty events.

“Soft Surroundings is all about slowing down life’s rigorous pace and taking the time to rejuvenate and take care of one’s self,” said Danny Boddy, senior vice president of retail.

The First Colony Mall location is the 38th store for Soft Surroundings and is part of a 15-store expansion planned for 2016.