On Crisp Fall Night, Friends of Buffalo Bayou Gather Outdoors to Toast Riverside Development

On Crisp Fall Night, Friends of Buffalo Bayou Gather Outdoors to Toast Riverside Development

Soraya and Scott McClelland, John Eddie and Sheridan Williams

ON A CRISP, cool fall night, under twinkling lights, supporters of the Buffalo Bayou Partnership gathered on the historic Sabine Street Bridge to raise money for the continuing revitalization of Buffalo Bayou. It was an exceptionally lovely night for an al fresco affair in Houston.


"On arrival, guests enjoyed cocktails and hors d'oeuvres in the entry court of The Water Works at Buffalo Bayou Park," explained a rep for the organization. "They could also tour the Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern featuring "Time No Longer," an innovative art installation by Anri Sala. DJ Gracie Chávez and drummer Coffee Guzman provided lively music during cocktail hour."

For dinner, guests moved into a beautiful tent on the bridge for three-course dinner and a program featuring remarks from BBP Board Chair Shawn Cloonan, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo and others.

The partnership's work "is vital as Buffalo Bayou Partnership heads eastward, developing trails and green spaces along the waterfront in Greater East End and Fifth Ward," said the rep.

Boldface names in the crowd included BBP President Anne Olson, Guy Hagstette, Soraya and Scott McClelland, Judge Victor Treviño III and State Representative Ana Hernandez.

George and Bonner Ball

Michael Skelly and Anne Whitlock

Tarsha Jackson and Juan Antonio Sorto

Curtis Flowers, Andrea Ashford, Allen and Caroline Douglas

Tom and Donna Theriot, Lisa Helfman, Lee Haverman

Suzanne Richardson and Richard Dawson

Judy Nyquist and Hannah Siegel-Gardner

Vinod Pathrose and Jennifer Nelsen

Anne Olson, Bob Eury, Kris Larson, Kathy Flanagan Payton, Gwen Tillotson

Ileana Treviño, Leigh Smith, Gaynell Floyd Drexler

Parties
Leadership in Action: John Kuykendall Traded Newcaster Dream for Success in Luxury Retail

John Kuykendall, Showroom Manager, Sub-Zero, Wolf and Cove

How did you get to where you are today? Growing up I had envisioned myself as a news anchor, living in NY and enthusiastically saying into the camera “Good Morning America!”. To this day, I am still a news/political junkie. My mother owned fur salons so specialty retail, luxury retail was in my blood through the family business. Eventually, mom shuttered the stores and I was recruited to a large specialty retailer. Over the next 30 years, I was in commissioned sales on the sales floor, became a department manager, worked my way up to buyer and store manager. Although I never became a newscaster, I did live in NYC for a few years. But Texas is home and with aging grandparents, I felt the pull to come back to my roots. A headhunter approached me. I never envisioned myself in the high-end appliance market, but there are so many similarities. Clients want a memorable experience; whether shopping for diamonds and fur or remodeling their kitchen.

Keep Reading Show less

What year was your organization launched? Founded in Houston in 1947, as the Cerebral Palsy Treatment Center, the organization provided services to individuals with disabilities living in Houston and Harris County. In 1989, the organization changed its name and greatly expanded its services to meet the needs of its clientele. Today as Easter Seals Greater Houston, the organization provides multiple outstanding service programs to children, adults, veterans, and service members with all types of disabilities and their families in Harris and sixteen surrounding counties.

Keep Reading Show less

How did you get to where you are today? My journey to where I am today is built on a foundation of hard work, dedication, and perseverance. Every step along the way, I faced obstacles, but I approached each one with determination and a “never give up” mindset. Instead of being discouraged by challenges, I used them as opportunities to grow and improve. Consistency was key—I committed to showing up and giving my best effort every day. I also learned not to take “no” as a final answer. Instead, I saw it as a chance to push harder, adapt, and find another way forward. It’s this combination of persistence, resilience, and unwavering focus that has brought me to where I am today.

Keep Reading Show less