Category Archives: Uncategorized

(Community Matters) My brother-in-law is a ham 🙂

Craig Tomlinson

(Community Matters) I’m kinda glad we didn’t find a date in December for the foundation staff/board dinner. Was nice gathering outside the craziness of the holidays.

Janet Harman & David Sooch

Janet’s the founder, CEO and Chairman of the foundation. David’s a junior board member (also on his way to DC on Saturday).

Last year, we granted over $1mm to Austin-based nonprofits in order to break the cycle of poverty through education while promoting a culture of giving excellence. I joined the board of this foundation in 2008. The staff works extraordinarily hard, are leaders in their field and serve as collaborators with other philanthropists and community initiatives. I’ve been impressed by the “holisticness” of our grantee relationships. Erica (pictured below) is a full-time, on staff consultant who assists our clients with many initiatives, sometimes even assisting non-awarded grantees.

Program manager Jennifer Esterline and her husband (good gosh, brain freeze on name)

KDK in-house grantee consultant, Erica Villarreal Ekwurzel, John Ivester & board colleague, Jo Ivester (not pictured: Erica’s very groovy hubbie, Jarrod)

Bob & Jackie Malta (Jackie’s our COO)

KDK media specialist, Tania & Paco Cantrell

Kelly Sooch, Steven & Kent Mayes

ugh, why did I let Steven and Kent (my trainer) sit together. Sounds like they conspired about my diet and my workout schedule. 🙂 btw, my protests notwithstanding, Kent’s one of the best fitness trainers in the business – don’t judge by me though remember I should be 400 lbs + considering my diet and wine thirst. He’s a triathlete himself and holds multiple certifications. mayesmethod@gmail.com

(Community Matters) A favorite image captured in Marfa by our dear friend Margaret Keys:

Michael Mitchell, Tana & Joe Christie

Are Tana & Joe pledging allegiance to the DQ flag? Michael ambiguous about ordering

(Community Matters) Perficient CEO Jack McDonald will be awarded the Entrepreneurs Foundation’s 2009 Community Leadership Award at our Texas Independence Day celebration at the Four Seasons Hotel on March 2.

Jack’s a tremendous community leader, serving as vice chair of the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce, chairman of the AusTech Alliance, as chair of PeopleFund, chairman of the Central Texas Regional Center for Innovation and Commercialization, on the board of KIPP, People’s Community Clinic & the Hill Country Conservancy and as past advisory board chair for American Youth Works and, of course, as a co-chair of EF’s Austin Invitational Poker Tournament which has been a tremendously successful fundraiser. And, he’s a great friend. Congratulations, Jack. Thanks for everything you (and Carla) do for Central Texas!

(Community Matters) Ana Sisnet passed away yesterday. She’ll be missed more than many will ever realize. She was passionate about social justice and quality of life issues. In the early 90s, we served together on the Austin-Travis County HIV Commission. As a late 20 & early 30 yo, Ana taught me a great deal about East Austin and the nuances of social service delivery in communities of color. A few years ago, my students consulted to her Austin FreeNet nonprofit.

Ana impacted many peoples’ lives without their ever knowing – as a community activist, an artist, a poet, a mom & a friend. We’ll miss you, Ana.

(Community Matters) Jaclyn Pryor’s Floodlines

site specific performance art. Loved it last year.

(Community Matters) Maybe my internal clock is finally resetting after maybe a little too much traveling.

I’ve been up for half an hour, have a big fire going. Lately, I’m sleeping too much – 7 and 8 hours. Feeling as if wasting too many hours. It works great for Steven, but I count on the extra hours to get stuff done. Consequently, according to Outlook, I’m behind on 11,490 emails. I’ve read many on blackberry and just not deleted or filed, but if you’re waiting, I’d resend. I always read from most recently received.

(Community Matters) Hard to describe the logistical hurdles still underway for DC, including transporting 12 folks to events Monday night. Why they moved the Black Tie & Boots event so far out of the city into Maryland . . . . well, I suppose for space, nevertheless . . . .

Loved meeting Jason Heffron’s mother, Ruth Heffron, over breakfast this morning. She has lots of nonprofit management experience, is new to Austin and will be a great help to Austin nonprofits. High prospect board member for some.

Hmm, I was either stood up or messed up my appointment with the Salesforce.com guy.

Conference call with the national Anti-Defamation League office about Israel-Gaza and why local support shouldn’t be impacted by political perspectives. The vast majority of ADL’s work has nothing to do with the Middle East. Especially in Texas, where the programs and work of ADL are mostly fighting hate and discrimination, as well, advocating for separation of church and state.

Lunch with Laura Beck and Josh Jones-Dilworth from Porter Novelli. Can’t believe we’d never met. Many thanks to Bryan Jones for connecting us. They get CSR at a granular level.

Confirmed my appointment to celebrate DJ Cimbala’s 5th birthday on Friday over the biggest ice cream Amy’s can make. Not able to take up Marion’s suggestion that I stay with DJ until he comes off his sugar high – sorry, have 5pm drinks 🙂

Charles Schwab – Kelli Keough, who runs their Austin offices, is terrific. Hope she’ll be one of our panelists at the CSR Conference. Wow, they put their money where their mouth is re: financial literacy.

Prepping a experiential Acton session on networking tonight with my hubby over dinner – hmm, Greek, Thai or Salvation Pizza?

(Community Matters) Good gosh, I sure love my morning pilates sessions with Amy & Liz

(Community Matters) Wow, Warren Buffett just signed up to follow the Entrepreneurs Foundation on twitter. What’s he reading? GiveToAustin

(Community Matters) The Entrepreneurs Foundation’s Corporate Social Responsibility Opportunity Conference

Successful corporate cultures and strong reputations win customers, attract & retain the best employees and help build profitable markets. Join us to share success stories and to learn how other Austin corporate executives and companies build successful corporate cultures and do good for our communities.

February 27, 2009

Keynote: Prof. Mark Kramer, Harvard University

panels include:

Employee engagement as leadership development
Cause related marketing
Beyond Greenwashing: effective corporate environmental strategies
Engaging the global mobile workforce
Measuring the value of corporate citizenship
HR policies

EF members $25/ non-members $65

more information here

(community matters – continued from Jan 25, Dells Childrens Hospital Gala)

Jessica D’Arcy

James Leonard

James gave a brief testimonial. He suffered a spinal break diving into the lake while attending camp in Austin from Colorado. He wasn’t expected to ever walk again. The hospital’s neurosurgery unit saved his life.

Vaughn & Jeri Brock

After dinner (the event was held at the convention center), the next room opened up for poker and dancing.

Kirk & Amy Rudy and Lance Avery Morgan

And, after poker & dancing, a way fun after party at the Four Seasons.

David Kurio & Victoria Henrich

Big surprise (not) florist/designer to the stars David Kurio & international event planner, Victoria Henrich were behind the planning of everything. I loved catching up briefly with these two and talking about a glorious event we worked on together in the early 90s honoring Tana Christie and Ann Richards.

Armando Zambrano & Bryan Gardner

Well, as development lead at Dells, Armando Zambrano had a lot to do with it all as well 🙂 No doubt hubby, Bryan Gardner (a Four Seasons exec) had a hand in the magic as well.

Bill Fitzgerald & Steve Kluver

Won’t surprise anyone that I especially liked the cigars & cognac outside on the warmed terrace of the Four Seasons. And, Steve was quite the showman warming up our brandies.

nice touch, Armando. Thank you