By Elizabeth McGuire Of the many attributes listed on Ron Kessler’s bio, a very important one is missing: he writes bad poetry really well. Kessler takes great pride in this skill, although many of his colleagues may not know about it. One recent poem, crafted…
By: Elizabeth McGuire Cookie Ruiz grew up a child of the world. The daughter of a U-2 pilot who flew high-altitude reconnaissance, she lived in remote locations all over the globe. That childhood gave Ruiz a sense of worldliness and connection that she still carries…
By: Elizabeth McGuire Rich DePalma has a newsflash for you: life is too short. Too short to chase a law degree when you know it’s not the field for you, too short to live in a town that doesn’t feed your soul, too short to…
By: Elizabeth McGuire Mark Williams is the type of busy person who somehow still makes you feel like he has all the time in the world for you. Case in point: when our schedules didn’t allow for a face-to-face interview, he genially promised a phone…
By Elizabeth McGuire Yvette Ruiz may live 300 miles away from the small South Texas town where she grew up, but her home is never far from her heart. In fact, it is this anchor to her childhood community that gives Ruiz perspective in her…
By Elizabeth McGuire You name it, Joene Grissom has done it. Over the course of her 40-plus-year career, Joene has worked as an educator, marketer, entrepreneur, political campaigner and community organizer. She has served too many non-profit boards to name, focusing her efforts on education,…
By Elizabeth McGuire This month, we are highlighting Leslie Wingo; an alumna who is humble though talented, scientific but personable, who clearly admits she does not have all the answers. Wingo is a business woman and leader who has learned to ask for help and she…
By: Elizabeth McGuire KLRU-TV, Austin’s venerable public television station known for shining a light on new artists and new ideas, has been guided the last 12 years by someone likely to avoid a spotlight cast his way. It’s just not Bill Stotesbery’s style. Originally from…