Westchase NL 1St Qtr 2018 2-18.Indd
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WESTCHASETODAY YEAR 20 | ISSUE 1 | SPRING 2018 Higher Ed Options Abound at Nearby Schools College degrees, certifi cates off ered at several institutions in Westchase District School’s in Session (Clockwise from top left): Classes at the Interactive School of Technology are tailored for the busy schedules of adult students; Houston Community College’s Robin Dahms stands in front of a green screen soundstage; Michael Murray can always recommend a Good Book at Fuller Theological Seminary; Danny Rinehart, criminal justice program chair at American InterContinental University shows students how to dust for fi ngerprints; and Eric Happe, Tom Swanson, Doyle Happe and James Scheff er are part of the administration at the Center for Advanced Legal Studies. hether you’re graduating from high school, looking my work, which allowed me to make it in time to attend for many area students. The media arts and technology to take your career to the next level, returning to evening classes. Plus, I felt I had the opportunity to get center of excellence off ers certifi cates and degrees in au- W the workforce or simply wanting to explore new to know my course instructors personally.” dio recording/video production, digital communication, directions, Westchase District off ers several degree- Convenience and class size are just two of the fi lmmaking and music business. HCC has partnered granting higher education options that are worth attractions for area working students seeking to further with the University of Texas at Tyler so that students considering. their education. Here’s a roundup of what’s out there:: may earn a UT Tyler Bachelor’s degree in either civil, “I had looked at other schools downtown, but I electrical or mechanical engineering at a cost of less didn’t want to commute more than an hour each way Arts, engineering and entrepreneurship than $20,000. Through the visual and performing arts for night school,” said Rayshell Ford, a recent graduate With state-of-the art facilities and centers of excel- programs, students can earn associate of arts degrees of American InterContinental University, one of fi ve lence focusing on engineering, media arts and technolo- with emphasis in either art, dance, drama or music. undergraduate institutions located in the District. gy, and visual and performing arts, Houston Community Courses run between $67 and $156 per hour and fi nancial “AIU was about 15 minutes away from both my home and College’s Hayes Road campus is the preferred choice aid is available for qualifi ed students. (Continued on Page 8) IN THIS ISSUE: 2 Meet Dave Gilkeson 5 Lockton Companies 3 Farmers Market News 6 Accent Screen Printing westchasedistrict.com 4 Logan Farms Returns 7 Meet the Jorsches Houston, Texas 77042 Texas Houston, Suite 1350 Suite 10370 Richmond 10370 4 Smart Financial Credit Union 8 Corporate Challenge Preview WESTCHASE TODAY WESTCHASE TODAY is published The Story Within The Story quarterly by Westchase District, a municipal management district funded any folks of a certain age may remember radio commentator Paul by local property owners in a 4.2 square- M Harvey’s famous sign off, “Now you mile area centered on the Sam Houston know, the REST of the story.” His stories ran the gamut and he always managed Tollway between I-10 and US-59 on the to find that wrinkle or angle that was west side of Houston, Texas. We promote insightful, surprising, or heartwarming – and sometimes all three. economic growth by enhancing mobility, Looking at the articles in this edition beautifi cation, public safety, planning of Westchase Today inspired us to channel and development of the District. a bit of our inner Paul Harveys. And as he often did, we have a challenge for you at the end of this article. Let’s start with our new “Rock Star,” Smart Financial Credit Union. The article Westchase District Board Chair Philip Schneidau (left) and talks about what you might already know, General Manager Jim Murphy. which is that they secured the naming rights for the new performing arts facility garments they embroidered, printed etc. last in Sugar Land. But what you will also learn in year. This makes us realize that “small business” the article is that their corporate headquarters is a relative term – and often misses the point. are located here. And while some would classify Here’s a trivia number for you – five. That is Smart Financial as a small business, we were the number of degree-granting institutions of ecstatic when they moved here with “only” 100 higher education here. They are a springboard employees on site. It sure seems that they are for area residents and an amenity for companies now having an oversized impact on raising our looking to train or retrain their employees. But profile and we could not be more pleased for more significantly, they are a talent pool for a them. growing economy and can augment business Frost Bank is announced in this issue as and technical research and development the new underwriter of the Westchase District activities. Corporate Challenge and that is great news. But Now for the last story within – yours. If reading the article also reveals that the event you are reading this, you likely live, work or do has run for 21 years and raised nearly $250,000 business here. Westchase Today is our vehicle for charity (all proceeds to local causes). That is to drill down a bit, and get into the weeds a story in itself and if you want to be part of it, regarding the people and companies here. As act immediately – it is traditionally a sellout. a stakeholder, we encourage you to share this We must admit that we did not know newsletter and its stories with your friends, Jim Murphy Dave Gilkeson about Accent Screen Printing and its twelve neighbors and co-workers. And we ask you to General Manager VP, COO share your story with us. If there are companies employees here. They have grown from a garage operation to a 3,000 square-foot production or people that you would like to see featured Sherry Fox Irma Sanchez facility but here’s a number that caught our in a future issue here, please let us know by VP, Communications VP, Projects attention – one million. That is the number of sending an email to [email protected]. Don McKinney Jonathan Lowe Public Safety Director Assistant Communications Director Louis Jullien Meet Our Chief Everything Offi cer Projects Director John Carey Farmers Market Manager Whatever the task, COO Dave Gilkeson is game to play ball Rayshell Ford Kathy Kaufman Operations Assistant self-described jack of all trades, Westchase February 5, 1978. “I remember the date because Administrative Assistant District’s Vice President and Chief Operating I recently popped some champagne and AOffi cer Dave Gilkeson has served the District celebrated 40 years that I’ve been living in the since November 1999. In that time, he’s discovered Houston area,” he said. that offi ce operations encompass a wide range of While working other jobs, Gilkeson accumulated fi nance and accounting Receive The Wire, our e-newsletter, twice monthly. skills, well beyond those of balancing the books and experience. Through his involvement with the Three quick and easy ways to subscribe: forecasting budgets. And for 18 years, this sports Junior Chamber – also known as the Jaycees, 1. Visit www.westchasedistrict.com/signups, fan has kept the District moving forward to meet a leadership training and civic organization for 2. Text WESTCHASE to 22828, or its goals in whatever way he can. young professionals – he met Jim Murphy in 3. Use your mobile device to scan the code below. Forty years in Houston 1986. The two kept in touch over the years and when an opening occurred with the District in A Pennsylvania native, Gilkeson is a proud 1999, Gilkeson requested an interview and was alumnus of William Penn Charter School in hired as fi nancial director. “That was so last Germantown. “It’s older than our country; century,” he said jokingly. it was founded in 1689 and it has the oldest Gilkeson later was promoted to vice continuous football rivalry in the nation with president of operations then chief operating Germantown Academy,” he said. “Alumni offi cer. “Back then, the property value of the include many famous athletes, mayors and area – which was more vacant land than land David Leebron, president of Rice University. 713-780-9434 with buildings – was about $900 million, today It’s a pretty neat school and I’m proud to have westchasedistrict.com it’s around $5.2 billion,” he said. “I recognized been a part of it.” that Westchase was a growing area and I sensed Copyright © Westchase District. All Rights Reserved. After graduating from Cornell University, that this was something I could anchor onto for Gilkeson was working in the hospitality a while. I had no idea I would still be with the industry when he was relocated to Houston on District 18 years later.” 2 WESTCHASE TODAY Tiny, Crunchy and Insanely Healthy Home-based vendors grow microgreens in suburban environments maller than baby greens and bigger than sprouts, microgreens are the tiny, natural disaster: edible greens grown from the seeds of vegetables and herbs. Harvested the couple was S when they’re seven to 14 days old, their fl avor is often more intense than that ready to start of mature greens and can contain up to fi ve times more nutrients than found selling in late in the leaves of the same full-grown plants. While Westchase District Farmers August when Market has several vendors who sell microgreens, two new vendors have made Hurricane Harvey a splash in recent months with their delicious blends.