The All-Nighters
Some of the season’s hottest looks are inspired by work clothes with an edgy ’80s vibe. Suit up sexy, work late if you have to, and, by all means, take care of business.
Sep. 19, 2017

Bianca Bucaram, founder of The Bucaram PR Group and BXM Music
Get to Know Bianca:
Bianca Bucaram, founder of The Bucaram PR Group and BXM Music, is a dynamic force in the public relations industry. She is known for her tenacity, empathy, and bilingual communication skills. As a local publicist with national reach, she blends local insights with broader impact, telling compelling stories that foster business growth and create opportunities.
Her ability to connect influencers, businesses, and nonprofits has set her apart, promoting prominent personalities while supporting meaningful causes.
How did you get to where you are today?
Bianca’s journey to success is marked by passion, persistence, and strategic storytelling. She founded The Bucaram PR Group, focusing on lifestyle clients, celebrities, and community leaders. Her firm has grown by blending traditional media outreach with relationship building, event management, artist development and more achieving significant results for her clients across various industries, including entertainment, fashion, sports, and music.
Who do you credit?
Bianca credits her success to her strong network of mentors, her family, and the community she serves. She acknowledges the support of her clients and the invaluable partnerships she has built over the years. Bianca is also deeply inspired by her commitment to giving back to her community, which continues to fuel her work in public relations and philanthropy.
What lessons have you learned that might enlighten and inspire others?
Bianca emphasizes the importance of showing up with kindness, resilience, and authenticity in everything you do. She has learned that building strong relationships and maintaining a positive attitude can open doors to opportunities that might otherwise remain closed. Bianca’s work ethic and dedication to her clients underscore her belief in the power of consistency, strategic planning, and adaptability in the ever-changing PR landscape.
What’s new in your life or work that you’re excited about?
Bianca is excited about her ongoing philanthropic work, including her involvement with the Global Empowerment Mission, where she has helped raise millions for disaster relief efforts. She is also thrilled about expanding her PR firm’s reach, after starting BXM music -- working with a diverse range of clients, and continuing to make an impact both locally in Houston and globally. Her efforts in supporting organizations like Maestro Cares, Marc Anthony’s nonprofit and creating successful campaigns reflect her passion for creating real change through her work.
She has been recognized as one of Houston Business Journal’s 40 Under 40, named among the 100 Coolest People in the City by Houston CityBook, and received awards including the Woman of the Year in Advertising & Public Relations by the Ecuadorian American Chamber of Commerce. Her dynamic leadership continues to influence the industry while supporting charitable causes close to her heart.
Betty Hrncir, Sidney Faust, Julie Baker Finck
ACTUAL WINTER WEATHER was in the forecast the night of the Winter Ball, benefiting the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation and honoring the Women of Distinction, a festive and fitting detail that sparked a flurry of conversation at the Omni Hotel.
With a theme of "Up, Up, and Away," the gala was an uplifting display of hope and determination, and featured a vibrant palette of blues, coral, and gold brought to life by Blooming Gallery. Upon arrival, guests passed through a "hallway of honor," a display of photos of previous honorees and the event over the past four decades.
Mistress of Ceremonies Leisa Holland-Nelson Bowman conducted a charming program, and galagoers enjoyed a polished runway show coordinated by Todd Ramos. The honorees included Bincy Abraham, Alice Mao Brams, Sharon Albert Brier, Julie Baker Finck, Stephanie von Stein Schusterman, Jacquie Baly, plus Honored Hero Bayle Goldman and Healthcare Partner Honoree Keith Fiman.
Chairs Elizabeth DeLuca and Lauren Gow were thrilled with the turnout of 270 and the evening's total till, which topped $575K. Funds will fuel research, education, and patient support programs, propelling the Foundation’s mission forward.
2025 Women of Distinction
Stephanie von Stein Schusterman and Dr. Mark Schusterman
Anthony DeLuca, Katherine and Jeff Smith
Nora Jarrard, Maria Bassa, Whitney Kuhn Lawson, Beth Muecke
Beth Wolff, Jane Page-Crump, Cheryl Byington
Mitch Feinberg, Brian Atlas, Mike Brier, Scott Frisbie, Scott Drysdale
Chairs Elizabeth DeLuca and Lauren Gow
Daniel Irion, Jerre Williams, Kirk Kveton
Michele Hosko, Scott Drysdale
Sippi Khurana, Jacquie Baly, Terri Wang
Leila Perrin, Leisa Holland-Nelson Bowman, Zane Carruth
2025 Women of Distinction
Stephanie von Stein Schusterman and Dr. Mark Schusterman
Anthony DeLuca, Katherine and Jeff Smith
Nora Jarrard, Maria Bassa, Whitney Kuhn Lawson, Beth Muecke
Beth Wolff, Jane Page-Crump, Cheryl Byington
Mitch Feinberg, Brian Atlas, Mike Brier, Scott Frisbie, Scott Drysdale
Chairs Elizabeth DeLuca and Lauren Gow
Daniel Irion, Jerre Williams, Kirk Kveton
Michele Hosko, Scott Drysdale
Sippi Khurana, Jacquie Baly, Terri Wang
Leila Perrin, Leisa Holland-Nelson Bowman, Zane Carruth
Concert of Arias finalists on the Wortham stage, including first place and audience choice winner Geonho Lee of South Korea, third from left. (Photo by Michael Bishop)
LONG ONE OF the HGO’s most exciting evenings on the calendar — Artistic and Music Director Patrick Summers called it the best night of the year — the 37th Annual Concert of Arias and gala dinner afterward dazzled and inspired opera fans.
The Wortham Center concert — which serves as the finals of the Eleanor McCollum Competition for Young Singers, pitting the world’s best young singers against each other for high honors and big money — was even more spectacular this year. The young opera performers were accompanied by a full orchestra for the first time, and not just a lone piano per the tradition. And a full orchestra requires a big-shot conductor. Enter Maestro James Gaffigan, the general music director of Komische Oper Berlin, music director of the Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía in Valencia and music director of the Verbier Festival Junior Orchestra in Switzerland.
Other operatic glitterati also participated in the rousing affair. Judges included Michael Heaston, the deputy general manager of the Metropolitan Opera and the former music director of HGO’s Butler Studio school; Khori Dastoor, HGO general director and CEO; and Summers. World-famous, Houston-based diva Ana María Martínez selected the recipient of her Ana María Martínez Encouragement Award.
But of course, the real stars were the performers, each of whom performed two numbers for the judges — and for the audiences gathered in the hall and watching the live stream hosted by Ernie Manouse. The audience, by the way, participated in the dolling out of awards, voting by phone for the coveted Audience Choice Award.
Jim Loftis and Alexa Chally (photo by Michelle Watson)
Beth Madison and Steve Hamilton (photo by Michelle Watson)
Misook Doolittle, Stephen Beaudoin and Charlotte Lee (photo by Michelle Watson)
Albert Chao and Anne Chao (photo by Michelle Watson)
Megha Karkera and Mayur Kanjia, Warren and Rachel Ellsworth, Jaclyn Goodell, and Brad and Meagan Glover (photo by Michelle Watson)
Mark Walker and Thomas DeNapoli (photo by Michelle Watson)
Loren Meeker, Barbara Labatt and Blair Labatt (photo by Michelle Watson)
Harry and Diane Gendel (photo by Michelle Watson)
Janet Carrig and John Carrig (photo by Michelle Watson)
Roberto Kalb, Gloria Portela and Navasard Hakobyan (photo by Michelle Watson)
Angela Lee and Myrtle Jones (photo by Michelle Watson)
When the winners were announced, it was cute young baritone Geonho Lee of South Korea, with his warm buttery voice and impish charm, who walked away with both the first place award and the audience prize. That’s $30,000 in the total purse!
After the competition, event chairs Reinnette and Stan Marek welcomed nearly 500 opera lovers into the Wortham’s grand foyer for a dinner party celebrating the beaming contestants. In all, more than $775,000 was raised. “Proceeds from the Concert of Arias support the Butler Studio’s mission to recruit, develop and champion world-class young artists,” noted an HGO rep. “These funds also help bring opera to communities across Greater Houston, offering accessible programming for people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds.”
Guests for the evening included Estela Cockrell, Sarah and Ernest Butler, Molly and Jim Crownover, Cynthia and Tony Petrello, Theresa and Peter Chang, Stephen Klineberg, Anne and Albert Chao, Matthew and Kristen Loden, Robert Sakowitz and Mindy and Joshua Davidson.