July / August 2012 InFluential Magazine

IN FLUENTIAL 1July / August 2012

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C o n t e n t s July / August 2012

Features

Austin green homes.............................................36A green dream becomes a reality

Austin ChiC..................................................................40Beating the Heat in Style

FeAtureD Designer...............................................47Theresa Kopecky: The Creative Force Behind Tess Designs

publisher’s note.......................................................2

letter from the editor......................................5

Contributing Writers..........................................6

meet the team...........................................................12

IN FluenCe

The Power of the Flower.........................16LIFESTYLE

Say “I do” With a Look You Love...........19STYLE

Collaborative Performance......................24BUSINESS ETIQUETTE

Emma S. Barrientos Center..................... 28CULTURE

Austin Partners in Education................. 30EDUCATION

History of Mint Julep.............................. 34THE ART OF LIVING WELL

IN network

Juliette Farrell......................................... 52

IN Dulge

Perfect Skin Revealed...............................55BEAUTY

Tour of Wine Bars ...................................56LIFESTYLE

events

STRUT 5.12..........................................58House Party...........................................60

this issue’s fashion story came together at a gnm lorhr home custom designed

and built green home located in the rolling hills of northwest austin, texas. models

brittany and Cile wear the season’s most sophisticated getaway looks styled by

fashion stylist and Wardrobe Consultant leonardo d’almagro, well known for his

recent work with tv azteca & telemundo. the mood created on set, according to

InFluential magazine creative director marcia nelson, is described as “austin Chic!”

Austin ChiC Pg. 40 Photo by FotoRenzo Images

Wardrobe and accessories for female model: Cile’s own

Wardrobe for male model: Dillard’s

accessories for male model: William Jackson

female model: Cile, Wilhelmina Brown

male model: Cabil

make up: Robert Crawford

hair: Rafael Virguez

photography: Adam Moroz Photography

director: William Jackson

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the positive words of commendation you share

with us which reaffirms we are making a positive

impact. thus, it’s appropriate with this issue we’re

celebrating the joy of sharing.

for starters, we’re pleased to share with you, with

this issue, we’re launching the InFluential blog

influential-magazine.com/blog/ which is another

exciting way we reach out to our readers who we

affectionately call our friends. We invite you to

access the influential blog here and subscribe to

it to remain current with everything InFluential.

as well, this issue features a fashion spread

shot on location at a beautiful green home in

northwest austin. We collaborated with our

friends at saks fifth avenue who shared with

us beautiful clothing and accessories, modeled

by some of the most talented, professional and

stunning models in austin. We were pleased

with how each model brought our vision to life,

and we’re sure you will be, too. mind you we

had the assistance of a very talented team of

20 professionals to pull this off. What an epic

sunday this photo shoot proved to be!

of course, there’s so much more this issue

will share with you, and i’ll let you uncover

each interesting morsel of influence yourself.

hopefully, your interest is peaked. Jump into

this issue already! We hope something in these

virtual pages catches your eyes and influences

you to make it your own.

all my best,

William Jackson

p u b l i s h e r ’ s n o t e

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Photo by Adam Moroz photography

ne of the many reasons i enjoy my

job as publisher? i get the chance

to meet our readers in person. now,

don’t get me wrong, i certainly

enjoy our conversations with you on facebook,

twitter and other social media, but there’s so

much more of a positive vibe with face to face

greetings. When we’re fortunate to have those,

friends share with us how well they enjoy each

issue of influential. how inspired they are after

reading the fascinating stories. how beautifully

stunning are the pictures that complement the

stories. again, i’m grateful and speak on behalf

of the entire InFluential team in saying loudly,

“thank You.” We take great pleasure in putting

each issue together and are deeply touched by

the compliments we receive from you.

over the course of the past year, you’ve

demonstrated that you share similar values to

ours - namely the tremendous joy in sharing.

We are honored to be a positive conduit of

information, resources and support in your quest

to living well. in return we are appreciative of all

O

founder & publisher

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s I sat thinking about my first letter

from the editor, i debated many things.

should i be serious? should i just

use this letter as an introduction of myself to our

readers? should i keep it short and sweet or long

and informative? Well, in keeping with the theme

of the current issue “the Joy of sharing,” i decided

i would use this space to share with you just how i

felt about stepping into the shoes of Editor-in-Chief.

I took the call from our fine Publisher, and I was

offered the role of Editor-in-Chief. I accepted and

hung up the phone. i then jumped up, starting

whooping it up with giddiness, and did a dance

around my living room. Certainly, not the most

professional acceptance dance as it looked much

like a disco chicken, but i couldn’t have been more

excited. i have to share that i am still excited.

once i my giddiness waned a bit, i put on my

grammar girl pants and took the job to heart. i want

to share with you, the readers, that i will do all i can

do to help keep InFluential the fabulous periodical

that it is. though i have been part of this team since

day one, i am so happy to have a larger part in the

final product. I hope to keep it correctly spelled and

grammatically accurate!

Keeping with our theme, i would also like to let you

know that you can share anything with me. if you

have a comment or question, send it my way at

[email protected]. Check out the

issue. go read our blog. We want to share them

with you. and, i would love for you to share any

thoughts you might have with us. so share! it would

make your kindergarten teacher proud.

happily yours,

laura ferguson

Editor-in-Chief

l e t t e r f r o m t h e e d i t o r

a

influential-magazine.com

Photo by Jody Suarez

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C o n t r i b u t i n g W r i t e r s www.influential.com

MS. Sofia avila

Co-Founder of Mandarin Flower Co. | www.mandarinflower.comSofia Avila earned degrees in Plan II Honors and Chinese Language and Culture at

the University of Texas at Austin. She is co-founder of Mandarin Flower Co., a floral and

event design company. Along with her sister Victoria, their floral design work has been on

display internationally in the United States, Mexico, and China at the official reception at the

Embassy of Mexico in Beijing during the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Sofia serves on the Board of

Directors of Mexic-Arte Museum; and is also a member of the Young Women’s Alliance. Sofia

was a finalist for the 2011 Austin Under 40 Awards.

MS. iNGRiD GaRNER

Since moving to Austin in 1995, Ms. Garner has served in the public, private, and non-profit

sectors. her primary focus has been in project management, and she acquired her project

Management Professional certification in 2005. Utilizing her diverse work background and

project management skills, she has extended her support in various activities within her

church and community. in her spare time ingrid can be found practicing yoga, doing core

and weight training, reading stephanie plum novels, and participating in the wine club at her

favorite wine bar Vino 100.

MS. liNDa GiNaC

CEO, TalentGuard, Inc. | www.talentguard.comlinda is the founder and Ceo of talentguard, an organizational talent management firm

headquartered in Austin, TX. With more than 14 years of experience in organizational

development, people strategy and career development, she supports individuals and

corporations in developing, planning and managing a range of career management

and worklife issues. particular areas of expertise include career development, change

management, career transition, professional development coaching and performance

improvement.

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MS. MaRTHa lYNN KalE

Owner and Hair Stylist, Mirror Mirror Salon | www.mirrormirroraustin.commartha lynn Kale is the owner and hair stylist behind mirror mirror salon. leading a talented

team of beauty experts, she brings elevated style and an incredible salon experience to

austinites. recognized as an exceptional artist, martha lynn has won accolades such as

“Best Hairstylist” at the 2010 and 2011 Austin Fashion Awards. She has styled for Extreme

Makeover: Home Edition, ballet austin, and bmW of austin. her work has been featured in

publications such as Austin Monthly, INsite, and Austin American-Statesman’s Glossy.

MS. YENiS SCHiCHT

Realtor with Keller Williams Realty | www.KWAustin.comYenis schicht has a multicultural background having lived in india, spain, and south

america. she has a law degree from south america and has a masters degree in finance.

She is a Realtor at Keller Williams and finds that real estate is a great opportunity to share

her passion for helping other people and market the value of a property for her clients.

She is bilingual in Spanish and English. Yenis is also an actress and has been on TV, in films,

commercials and has done voice-over work. She’s in love with Austin and all the culture it

offers.

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e d i t o r i a l C r e d i t s www.influential.comInFluential

the art of living Well

We express hearty words of thank you to our

talented team for their generous contributions.

for without them sharing their expertise this

publication would not be possible.

PuBlisher

William Jackson

W. Jackson & associates, llC

austin, texas

Consulting

Consultant leonardo d’almagro

eDitoriAl

editor-in-Chief laura ferguson

Assistant editor William Jackson

Fashion editor leonardo d’almagro

Contributing writers Sofia Avila, Tony Cruz,

ingrid garner, linda ginac, martha lynn Kale,

Yenis schicht

guest Contributing writer William Jackson

Art & ProDuCtion

Creative Director

marcia nelson

Creative services

the mod studio

Contributing Photographers

lorenzo brizeno of fotorenzo images

adam moroz of adam moroz photography

Jody suarez

website Administration

Zachary pierce

sAles & mArketing

Business Development

James nelson

For advertising information, please e-mail

[email protected]

letters to the eDitor

shall be signed with full name and include

daytime phone number, full mailing address, or

e-mail address. Letters shall be no longer than

300 words. We reserve the right to edit all

submissions. letters may not be edited, added

to, or changed by sender once we receive them.

General e-mail address:

[email protected]

mailing address:

InFluential Magazine, P.O. Box 1307, Round Rock,

TX 78680

all rights reserved. no part of this publication may be repro-duced or transmitted in any form or by any means without written permission from the publisher. all artwork and pho-tography are the rights of the publisher.

InFluential magazine is austin owned and

operated.

Published by W. Jackson & Associates, LLC.

“A smile is the light in your window that tells others that there is a caring, sharing person inside.”

- Denis Waitley

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lauRa S. fERGuSoN

[email protected]

laura holds a bachelor’s degree in Communications and a master’s of liberal arts in hu-

manities and english with a focus in creative writing. this training has helped her excel

in her career path, which includes staffing coordination of a large family of hospitals and

community outreach and education for an environmental organization. an avid writer,

laura has built a collection of short stories some of which are included in her work In

a House Where the Rooms Don’t Lock. laura also has a passion for records. she has an

eclectic collection that includes everything from the beatles to richard pryor’s entire

discography to motley Crue.

jaMES NElSoN

Editorial [email protected]

James is our technical ‘go to’ guy, applying skills obtained through education and

practice at well-known companies such as General Motors and Apple. James consis-

tently applies appropriate business techniques to take an idea from vision to success-

ful implementation. James has employed his innate entrepreneurial skills to develop

several interesting businesses and is dedicated to seeing them grow and influence. In

addition to planning activities for his very busy family, James enjoys savoring the out-

door lifestyle living in austin affords, particularly playing tennis with his son.

m e e t t h e t e a m

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MaRCia NElSoN

Creative [email protected]

Joining with an aligned background working with industry leaders such as dell and Key bank,

Marcia is an expert in conflict resolution and identifying win-win solutions. She applies these

skills to create and execute new opportunities for our client roster and assists with negotiating

the most lucrative deal. Marcia has always had a passion for style, making her a natural fit for a

foray into personal wardrobe styling. most recently she has directed photo shoots for our cli-

ent roster including performing as the wardrobe stylist. in her spare time, marcia can be found

enjoying activities with her family and, of course, reading fashion magazines.

ZaCHaRY PiERCE

Web [email protected] comes to us with a strong background in software and web development, having spent

several years running a successful freelance development business. he maintains and opti-

mizes back-end solutions for InFluential Magazine, always looking for cost-effective answers to

expensive questions. on the weekends, Zac enjoys a low key lifestyle that includes spending

time with his wife and three children, indulging in a bit of street photography, and using his

knowledge of C/Objective-C, PHP, and Ruby to make life easier.


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remember the day when i had this exact

epiphany. i was about eleven years old

and one afternoon, as i came home from

school, I opened the front door to find that

my mother had placed a beautiful vase full of tuberose

on the table in the foyer. no elaborate design, just

simple, elegant, stems of tuberose in a vase. their

sweet scent filled the air; they reminded me of my

grandmother who also loved the simple beauty of

tuberose. I was home. I recall it being the first time I

ever reflected on how much I loved flowers; how their

fragrance and beauty filled the soul and how I must

never, ever live a life without them.

how can something so small and delicate be so

powerful? Much like music or art, flowers have the

power to elicit emotions and convey unspoken

messages. they are a language of their own. Without

a single word, flowers seduce. The heart and the

imagination blooms as they inspire, thrill, and bring

instant happiness to the beholder.

flowers have the power to transform a room like

no other element aesthetically, as well as in their

positive influence on moods. A study conducted

by Dr. Haviland-Jones of Rutgers University reveals

that flowers have a positive impact on emotional

health and heighten feelings of life satisfaction. in

the workplace, men who participated in the study

generated 30% more ideas when being around

flowers. Women who participated in the study

generated more creative solutions to problems

when they worked in environments with flowers.

To enjoy flowers is instinctive; to share flowers is

an art. across time and cultures, the joy of sharing

flowers is a form of expression that is uniquely human

and spiritual. the capacity to appreciate beauty, and

our desire to share this beauty with others, has made

flowers a universal symbol of humanity’s highest

values: peace, respect, love, strength, and wisdom.

Whether in massive quantities or by observing the

unique personality of a single bloom, we all surrender

to the powerful beauty of flowers as we become

captivated by the splendor in the vase.

THE POWER OF THE FlOwer

By Sofia Avila

“More than anything, I must have flowers. Always, always.”- Claude Monet

IN FluenCe: the Art oF liVing well influential-magazine.com

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saY “I DO”WITH A LOOK

YOU LOVEBy Martha Lynn Kale

photo by CoRy RyAn

IN FluenCe: stYle

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Your wedding day is the ultimate excuse to

enhance your look. over the years, i have

learned some tips that i’m eager to share with

brides-to-be:

Book EARLy

Check with your regular stylist to see if they do

weddings. if they don’t, collect referrals and peruse

portfolios. highly sought after stylists may book

months in advance, so get on their radar to see if

your date is available.

GEt to knoW youR StyLiSt

With A tESt Run

allowing you to collaborate and try out concepts

from romantic to glamorous, a test run is a must

prior to your wedding. arrive with your hair and

makeup as you typically wear it. after seeing your

everyday look, your stylist can help you determine

how to best enhance it for your wedding.

Do youR hoMEWoRk AnD BE honESt

flipping through magazines or blogs and selecting

hairstyles that appeal to you can help your stylist

tremendously. ask questions and provide feedback

during your test run so you can solidify a look you

love.

BE inSPiRED By WhAt iS CuRREnt!

Over the past year, we’ve witnessed the influence of

Bride Sidni Winetroub

photographed by Cory Ryan

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Kate middleton’s royal Wedding with curls half up

and a resurgence of the tiara. this trend is actually a

modern twist on a classic and will stand the test of

time. i think every 80s bride would wholeheartedly

agree that brides should avoid going super trendy.

With the great gatsby remake coming to the big

screen, we’ll see nods to the 20s with brooches and

finger waves in the upcoming year.

BE REALiStiC

If you’re a brunette with fine, shoulder length hair,

don’t aspire to transform into taylor swift without a

little work. looks varying from your natural hair color

or length can be achieved, but with some effort. for

example, extensions are perfect for creating volume,

length and the perfect updo!

hAVE thEM CoME to you

if your budget allows, ask your stylist to come to

you on your wedding day, whether at your house

or the venue. relaxing and spending time with

loved ones will help you enjoy the hours leading

up to your wedding.

With all bridal beauty, create a plan and spend

quality time with those involved to create your

best look. it’s your big day so make sure you feel

like a million bucks and can sit back and create

beautiful memories.

Bride Rachel McCoy

photographed by Kate Mefford

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COLLABORATIVE PERFORmANCE mANAGEmENT

ThE WaVE OF THE FUTURE

By Linda Ginac

IN FluenCe: Business etiQuette

life is about building bridges not walls. this

applies to the workplace, too. if performance

management is the ongoing process of creating a

work environment that enables people to perform

to the best of their abilities then collaborative

performance management is working together to

achieve and realize a shared goal or goals. how do

you maximize employee performance so all parties

are on the same plane and goals are aligned? You

must humanize performance reviews, but that

begins by humanizing the workplace first. You

build bridges.

begin by remembering we are all human beings. in

the workplace, it is natural for the human aspect of

the picture to become blurred in the background

while the work becomes the focus. it is easy to lose

sight of the basic instincts that attract and drive

business, which build walls by creating a robotic-

like environment.

While there are limitless ways to humanize your

workplace, start by greeting employees

by name. this goes a long way by showing

you recognize and appreciate people.

Have an open-door policy so as to engage

employees and convey you are available

when they need you. empathize when

correcting mistakes as to err is human and

no one is perfect. there is no need to make

someone feel inferior; rather, reinforce the

good work they do. don’t underestimate

the power of what humor, joy, and

laughter can do for a workplace. examine

the difference in yourself between when

you are at work and when you are not. While there

may be a slight variance, it certainly shouldn’t be a

complete paradox.

if you have humanized your workplace then

performance reviews should just be an extension

of your everyday interactions. the performance

review won’t be rigid or judgmental. by default,

you review performance, but the main focus should

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be an alignment of goals between employer and

employee. allow the employee to do much of the

talking and express what they achieved over the

review period, what they didn’t achieve, what they

had hoped to achieve, and what their goals are for

the next review period. as the employer, you should

discuss the employee’s strengths, weaknesses,

and developmental recommendations. the review

should always end on a positive note.

begin humanizing your workplace today. Challenge

yourself to greet people by name. ask how their

weekend was. show a human interest in others.

be sincere. be genuine. Charge the human spirit,

and you just may notice higher morale and job

satisfaction both of which can’t help but lead

to employee productivity and a more profitable

business, making you a better person in the process.

build bridges not walls.

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the emma s. barrientos mexican american Cultural

Center (MACC), which opened September 15,

2007, is dedicated to the preservation, creation,

presentation and promotion of mexican american

cultural arts and heritage. Classes, programming

and events are aimed at fostering a meaningful

understanding and appreciation of all latin cultures.

the building is named after the late wife of retired state

senator gonzalo barrientos. emma s. barrientos, an

advocate of latino rights and art education in austin,

played a vital role in the opening of the center.

ARChitECtuRE

the building was designed by mexican architect

teodoro gonzález de león. de león has designed

buildings in mexico, europe, and two buildings in the

United States-one being in San Jose, California and

the other being the maCC.

the architecture of the building was inspired by

traditional ancient mexican architecture.

the circular shape of the building references the

Mayan calendar, and it is specifically positioned

according to the position and movement of the sun

Emma S. barriEntoS MExiCan aMERiCan CuLTuRaL CEnTERBy William Jackson

IN FluenCe: Culture

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to create visually stimulating and

practical shadows.

the white rock used in the building

was imported from mexico

and hand chiseled by mexican

craftsmen and other hispanic

construction workers.

the maCC Zocalo also makes

reference to el Zocalo in the

center of mexico City.

the building includes:

administration offices, classrooms, a

black box theatre, a rehearsal lab,

an auditorium, a main gallery, a

community gallery, a library and a

conference room.

the maCC is still growing, and

eventually there will be a larger

theatre, more classrooms, another

gallery, administrative offices and

a parking garage.

MACC ARt

the City of austin works with art in public places to

recruit artists to make site specific works:

“Snake Path” by Benito Huerta - The milk snake, a

species that is found specifically on the border of

Texas and Mexico, lives on both sides; therefore,

representative of the mexican american Culture and

of the maCC.

“As de Oro” by Jose Guerra - This is located outside

the community gallery. it was donated by the artist

through a cultural exchange program in which

austin and saltillo, mexico are sister cities. guerra

will be exhibiting in the main gallery in 2012.

“una Cancion de fe y familia” (a song of faith

and Family) by Connie Arismendi - This musician

sculpture honors the deep musical traditions and

cultural contributions of the perez and ramos

families, represented by ruben and ernest perez

and alfonso and ruben ramos. the sculpture is part

of the trail of tejano music legends of the austin

community in the 1940s and 50s.

PRoGRAMMinG

The MACC programming offers health and fitness

classes, workshops, camps, and collaborations with

local non-profit cultural organizations in music,

theatre, dance, and the like.

SiGnAtuRE EVEntS

Cine de oro (last tuesday of each month): this is

a unique senior program. seniors are invited to see

a classic Mexican film at 9:30 a.m. and are served a

healthy lunch.

16 de Septiembre: Mexican Independence Day!

father hidalgo launched the mexican War of

independence against spain in dolores, mexico

(near Guanajuato) on September 16, 1810. “El Grito

de la independencia” or “el grito de dolores” is

given at 11pm on the 16th in El Zocalo in the heart

of mexico City. it is the biggest and most important

holiday in mexico and is celebrated in Zocalos

across the country. Visit the official website for the

maCC at www.maccaustin.org.


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IN FluenCe: eDuCAtion

austin Partners in Education (APIE) is nonprofit

organization founded in 1983 as Austin’s Adopt-

a-School program by the Greater Austin Chamber

of Commerce and the austin independent school

district (aisd). the work of apie is guided by their

commitment to aid and enhance the educational

purposes, goals and programs of austin isd to

benefit its students.

the apie vision is one where the austin community

and classrooms work together to ensure academic

excellence and personal success for all students.

the mission creates and fosters effective community

and school partnerships that provide all austin isd

students preparation for college and career.

APIE provides innovative volunteer-driven programs

in reading and math designed to improve student

academic performance at key intervals. the key

is the interactive learning teams involving trained

coaches. Coaches work with the same groups of

children for 45 minutes, once, weekly throughout

the school year.

The benefits are students are supported with high

engagement learning activities in reading or math

that are targeted to their individual needs, and

because this support is integrated into the classroom,

a deep connection with the aisd curriculum and

teacher-led instruction is established. In 2010-2011,

APIE provided Classroom Coaching to 1,852 students

at 36 schools in 105 classrooms in Austin ISD with

the support of 783 coaches trained and managed by

APIE staff to fill 883 coaching opportunities.

are the apie programs delivering positive results?

Absolutely! During the 2010-2011 school year there

are a number of noteworthy improvements:

• improvements in reading performance

AUSTIN PARTNERS IN EDUCATION:

ConneCting the Community and the

ClassroomBy William Jackson

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• improvements in math performance

• increasing the number of college ready

graduates

• extending capacity for aisd

• matching caring volunteers with students

• improved student achievement and attitudes

toward school

austin isd principals and teachers describe the

benefits of Classroom Coaching to include:

students get to interact with positive role models in

a learning / mentoring setting who encourage them

to do their best in school.

students are able to have more reading time during

the day, and because it is with someone from outside

the school, the students’ enthusiasm level is usually

heightened.

The program increased reading fluency, reading

comprehension, and increased student self-esteem.

Ms. Valerie Torres-Solis, Assistant Principal at Webb

Middle School, sees firsthand the extraordinary

impact that apie programming has on her students

and the school community. Ms. Torres-Solis sees the

way “apie angels” form consistent, invested bonds

with students, and how those bonds shape the tone

and outcomes of entire classes. among the positive

impacts apie programming has on her students are

increased attendance, a love of reading, and social-

emotional growth.

Ms. Torres-Solis goes on to express Austin Partners

in education’s work at Webb “provides students

with an opportunity to see that people outside of

their neighborhood are invested in their success and

care so much about them that they invest weekly via

their time.” Ms. Torres-Solis emphasizes the value of

that contribution of energy, time, and dedication to

the success of Webb students.

What do volunteers have to say about apie? When

asked about how she describes apie to friends and

family members, sarah stroube says the experience

is “not a one-sided benefit,” but that as a volunteer

you have a sense of “strengthening the community.”

becoming a coach is something “anyone can do

because the curriculum and training make it such

an easy process” right from the start. apie staff

members share ways to engage students and make

challenging concepts clear, supporting volunteers

each step of the way.

are you ready to make a difference in a child’s life

and in your own? visit www.austinpartners.org to

get started.

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Every man

CITY MANCOUNTRY MAN

2012 THIS IS YOUR YEAR TO STEP UP

TO A NEW IMAGE

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IN FLUENTIAL 33

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IN FLUENTIAL 34

IN FluenCe: the Art oF liVing well

o Kentucky derby would be complete

without the venerable mint Julep on

the first Saturday in May. According to

the derby museum, mint Julep became

Churchill Downs’ signature drink in 1938 when they

started to serve the drink in souvenir glasses for 75

cents a drink. today Kentucky derby serves more

than 80,000 juleps over the two-day event.

Mint Julep first appeared in print in 1803 described as

a “dram of spirituous liquor that has mint in it, taken

by virginians in the morning.” some historians say

Mint Julep was born in the early 1700s somewhere

in east coast. first mint Juleps weren’t mixed with

bourbon, rather rye whiskey or rum or other available

spirits.

Chris morris from Woodford reserve bourbon says,

“Centuries ago, there was an arabic drink called julab,

made with water and rose petals. the beverage had

a delicate and refreshing scent that people thought

would instantly enhance the quality of their lives.”

When the julab was introduced to the mediterranean

region, the native population replaced the rose

petals with mint, a plant indigenous to the area. the

mint Julep, as it was now called, grew in popularity

throughout europe.

mint Julep’s popularity came to rest in the

agricultural regions of the east and southeast where

farmers awakened at dawn. morris says the julep was

originally a morning drink as the spirited equivalent

of coffee in today’s society. “one sip and pow! the

farmers were ready to face the long day.”

the main ingredient of the mint Julep is bourbon

Whiskey. “the biggest change for the julep

was the addition of american whiskey to the

recipe,” says morris. “the julep was quickly

transformed into a mixture of water, sugar,

mint leaves, and good american whiskey.”

for an extensive reading of mint Julep, there’s a

great small book titled The Kentucky Mint Julep

written by Joe nickell. this book covers everything

you want to know about the Derby’s official drink,

from various mint Julep recipes to the Kentucky

bourbon trail.

History of Mint Julep

As Published by Cocktail Times | www.CocktailTimes.com

N

IN FLUENTIAL 35


IN FLUENTIAL 36

ost likely you have seen or heard of green

design, or green architecture, and it has

piqued your interest. essentially, the

practice of green building and design is

part of a globally growing attitude toward the way

we live, work, build, and play in which concern for

our natural surroundings is equally as important as

what we build among them.

austin energy green building (aegb) is the oldest

green building program in the nation having

celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2011 and just

rated its 10,000th home in the greater austin area

in April, 2012. Green homes are most often thought

of in terms of new home construction, but many

are remodels of existing housing stock. in fact, the

10,000th rated home was a “deep energy retrofit” on

a 1920’s bungalow in south Austin.

AUstiN

GReen HOMeSBy Yenis Schicht

f e a t u r e

M

IN FLUENTIAL 37

green homes are sometimes individual homes but

also represent entire developments. the most

well-known of these developments in Austin is

the mueller which was mandated green built by

austin’s City Council when the old mueller airport

was decommissioned. All residential, multi-family,

and commercials buildings in the development have

achieved either aegb or leed (leadership in energy

and Environmental Design) certification, or both.

Many other new developments, including new high-

rise downtown condos, have also been mandated

green built. habitat for humanity has consistently

achieved 4-Star ratings on the homes that they are

building in austin recognizing that the total cost of

ownership and other benefits are significant to the

homeowners and their families.

the hamilton pool project or the barn house project

is a custom home by gnm lohr homes located in the

hill Country of austin, texas. the beautiful views and

healing waters serve as the inspiration in bringing

this home to life.

the owner of the stunning yet practical green home

is Jorge herrero who moved to austin after living

in Vancouver, Canada. When Herrero first met with

the builder he had a clear vision. he wanted his

home to be a green built farm house over 5 acres

near hamilton pool. he wanted to grow everything

he and his family were going to consume on his land.

michelle lohr says, “the great thing about

building green homes is that every time we

encounter a new challenge. every client wants

different things. in this particular case, our client

also wanted a water harvesting system, a well,

a composting system, a gray water recycling

system, a pond, a pool etc. the home itself was an

architectural undertaking with many

elements. he was looking for a particular

look, and the tower, to overlook the land was

important.”

the 3,300sq ft home incorporates the features

necessary for 3-4 green stars according to the Austin

energy green program. these include:


The hamilton Pool Project.

photo by FotoRenzo images

IN FLUENTIAL 38

Covered awnings, large overhangs, and oversized

porches blocks any direct sun in summer and,

in winter, allow for the retention of heat. large

windows in back also allow the flow of natural light

to living and dining. Thermal Enclosure System-

foam insulation was used, and all decking has a

radiant barrier.

the metal roof was designed to have a solar panel

system as an option in the future. roof overhangs

shields most windows from direct sunlight reducing

solar heat gain.

Windows over the staircase allow sunlight, as well

as windows in tower. all windows in home are

strategically positioned for the natural flow of light.

100% of lighting is high efficiency.

a rain water harvesting system is installed on the

property.

recycling of gray water on the property is used

for irrigations purposes. the fencing of the home is

made of raw cedar, a sustainable low-

toxin materials and finishes.

since they will grow almost everything

on their 5 acres in Hamilton pool

(vegetables, fruits, and cattle) a

composting kitchen will serve a main

purpose in this property.

the design of the house is described

by the builder as a tower house that

is a focal point where at the top of

the tower the owner has a cozy small office for his

own privacy. there he can also view and appreciate

the beauty of his land and enjoy the delightful

sun orientation during the gorgeous sunrise and

splendid sunset. the house has a very elegant feel

that unquestionably fits the green fashion. Building

his home with organic materials has made herrero’s

green dream a reality.

tiPS to MAkE A CuRREnt hoME GREEn:

install weather-stripping around exterior doors

f e a t u r e

IN FLUENTIAL 39


and caulk around windows, wall penetrations, and

recessed can lights in ceilings.

install new, energy efficient air conditioning and

heating equipment, property sized (not oversized).

Install an energy efficient water heater.

Replace old single-pane windows with new energy-

efficient windows or add solar screens.

replace refrigerators and toilets that are more than

ten years old with new, energy efficient models.

replace old showerheads with new, low-flow models.

replace landscape plants with high watering needs

with native or drought-resistant species.

install gutters and downspouts on your home and

capture and collect the rainwater in a cistern to be

used for irrigation.

photos by FotoRenzo images

IN FLUENTIAL 40

For day-to-night dressing in paradise, chic clothing is paired with tastefully classic jewelry and accessories and complemented with the majesty of rolling hills. Being Austin Chic was never so decadent. photoGraphy FotoREnzo iMAGES

StylE & FaShion DirEctor LEonARDo D’ALMAGRo aSSiStant MAyRA JAnEt | pictUrED MoDELS BRittAny AnD CiLE

IN FLUENTIAL 41

IN FLUENTIAL 42

IN FluenCe: entertAinment eXClusiVe

Photo by Seth Neblett

Queen of the pool SWiMWEAR: Key resort & swimwear

hAt: milli starr

MoDEL: Cile, Wilhelmina Brown

MAkE uP & hAiR: Vanity salon

IN FLUENTIAL 43


Photo by Seth Neblett

Chic in the sunshineWARDRoBE, ACCESSoRiES AnD

ShoES: saks Fifth avenue

MoDEL: Cabil


IN FLUENTIAL 44

Red HotSWiMWEAR DESiGnED: Key resort

& swimwear

hAt DESiGnED By: milli starr



IN FLUENTIAL 45

It’s in the bagWARDRoBE, ACCESSoRiES, hAnDBAG

AnD ShoES: saks Fifth avenue

MoDEL: Brittany, agence red Wall


IN FLUENTIAL 46

Bright & breezyWARDRoBE AnD ACCESSoRiES: saks

Fifth avenue



IN FLUENTIAL 47

VINtageglaMOur For the modern Woman

Classic without being

a costume; feminine

without being frilly! tess

designs is creating the

vintage clothing of the

future; timeless, high-end

and versatile, capturing a

lost age of glamour and

grace.

IN stYle: FeAtureD Designer


By Ingrid Garner

Mellow YellowtESS SEPARAtES ‘tess dress

‘Brigitte’ in Butter yellow english

tweed

PhotoGRAPhER mark guerra

MoDEL emma

JEWELS Kendra scott

IN FLUENTIAL 48

IN stYle: FeAtureD Designer www.influen-tial.com

IN FLUENTIAL 49


he tess Woman is a grownup,” says

founder theresa Kopecky. “she’s a

professional. she may or may not be a

mother. She’s the go-to woman in the

office. Strong, but always a lady. She always cares

for her family.” these are just a few of the qualities

that theresa envisioned when she decided to create

her own fashion design company. having started

tess designs a little over a year ago you can now

find her stunning dresses hanging in stores across

texas.

When Theresa was asked what influences her

when making her creations, she quickly answers

hattie Carnegie. “i admire her because she had no

formal training, but saw what she wanted to be and

molded herself to that. She pioneered ready-to-

wear, brought in clothing from european designers

to stock her store and mentored young designers.

she was mistress of her own destiny!”

With dresses for day and cocktail, as well as essential

blouses and skirts, tess recaptures the glamor

of classic femininity while embracing the best of

modern fabrics and production techniques. the fall

/ Winter 2012 collection can best be described as

the meeting of femininity and strength. Soft-focus,

early 60s pastels, exotic prints in moody hues and

warm, luxurious earth tones provide a classic mix.

With the rich weave of a tweed pencil skirt tess

brings you its signature tailored fit. The whimsy of

sunshine yellow or a pop of playful polka dot plays

against the sleek sophistication of these more classic

pieces. separates provide versatility, and statement

dresses reflect the ethereal beauty of Julie Christie

or the sweet and sophisticated sass of doris day on

madison avenue…timeless, smart, and optimistic!

the photo shoot was done in the historic town of

Flatonia, TX known for its 19th century limestone

buildings and family owned businesses.

to see the latest collection, visit floy farm &

Gardens Gift Shop (6020 FM 154) in Flatonia,

Etcetera Boutique (411 W. 2nd Street) in Austin, or

shop online at tessdress.com.

thErESa kopEckythe creative force behind Tess Designs

t

IN FLUENTIAL 50

IN network www.influential.com

Polka dot powertESS SEPARAtES ‘Claire’ blouse in

Flame & saffron with ‘Carol’ skirt in

Butter yellow english tweed


MoDEL: emma

JEWELS: Kendra scott

IN FLUENTIAL 51

influential-magazine.comIn ChecktESS SEPARAtES ‘Clarice’ blouse

in ivory with ‘Carol’ skirt in italian

linen Check


MoDEL rebecca Price

JEWELS Kendra scott

IN FLUENTIAL 52

IN network www.influential.com

Who ShE iS:

Juliette farrell is a singer songwriter from the united

Kingdom who sings Neo Soul / Nu Jazz. She is best

known for her duet “two hearts” with u.s. singer

myron. she is now signed to nuvybe records in the

uK and Cb music group in the us.

MuSiCAL inSPiRAtionS:

Juliette’s inspirations are motown artists diana ross,

marvin gaye, the four tops and the temptations.

“my mum and dad sang a great deal around the

house growing up; my mum sang jazz done by such

legends as billie holiday and dad played the blues

and folk. I loved Soul / Funk artists like James Brown,

more recent soul artists, such as: shirley murdock

and melissa morgan,” says Juliette.

MEMoRABLE MoMEnt:

Juliette’s crowning professional achievement is

performing at the Jazz Café, london. her most

memorable moment is getting married in 2010.

WhAt ShE’S DoinG noW:

Juliette has just released a 16 track free mix tape

called The Take Over. also, she is releasing her new

single “love me and my hair” from the forthcoming

album Keys of Love which is produced by nuvybe

records’ herb middleton. middleton has worked

with the likes of r&b and pop artists mary J. blige,

usher and sWv.

GiVinG BACk:

Juliette is working closely with various efforts

focused on finding a cure for cancer. A percentage

of proceeds from the sale of her new single, “love me

and my hair” are being donated to the sarcoma trust

(www.sarcomatrust.org.uk), one of the fundraising

efforts to which Juliette lends her support.

the video for “love me and my hair” captured here.

Learn more about Juliette Farrell by visiting her official website at

www.juliettefarrell.co.uk.

JUliEttE FarrEllpErFormEr | UnitED kinGDom

IN FLUENTIAL 53


IN FLUENTIAL 54

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IN FLUENTIAL 55

Mr. tony Cruz, lancôme product manager at saks

fifth avenue, austin, texas explains absolue

l’extrait is made with the latest technology from

Lancôme Laboratories; Absolue L’Extrait is the elusive

fountain of Youth for your skin. the technology,

which borrows from stem cell research and is years

in development, allows skin to reveal its potential self.

lancôme has taken stem cell technology to new

heights in their research of the lancôme rose – a stem

bred especially for lancôme which required the cross

breeding of over 2,000 species, and was “selected

for its resilience, vivacity, and adaptability.”

fermogenesis, a

biotechnological

process used

to extract rose native cells, keeps the integrity and

capacity of the cells and ensures maximum cellular

replication. two million rose native cells are in each jar

of the new elixir. light in texture, allowing maximum

absorption into the skin, the elixir boasts a 67% increase

in the skins cellular replication after 4 weeks of use.

Based on in-vitriol testing, research confirms “rose

native cells can extend their exceptional properties

to enhance skin’s regenerative potential,” according

to lancôme. the regenerative power in this elixir in

unparalleled, leaving a satiny finish behind, revealing

firmer, more elastic, more radiant skin....your skin.

Lancôme Absolue L’Extrait sells for $350, available

exclusively at saks fifth avenue and neiman marcus.

- Tony Cruz


1 2

3 4

PerFect skIN...reVealeD

thiS iS thE promiSE oF thE nEw miraclE crEam From

lancômE...abSolUE l’Extrait

IN Dulge: BeAutY www.influential.com

IN FLUENTIAL 56

1

IN Dulge: liFestYle www.influential.com

as much fun as it can be experiencing something

new, there’s something to be said for enjoying

the familiar. Every now and then; however, even the

familiar can bring a little hint of change to keep things

from becoming stagnate that’s how i feel whenever i

walk into Vino 100 located in the Round Rock Crossing

shopping Center. there you experience the comfort

of going someplace where “everybody knows your

name” along with the anticipation of finding out what’s

new on the menu or taking part in a special event.

a bright spot of this cozy place is the owner and chef

bryan gano who comes from a long line of talented

cooks who don’t write down family recipes, just pass

them along generation to generation. With his every

food creation he remembers what his mom taught him.

“You can always add seasoning and spice, but you can

never take it away.”

so great is bryan’s culinary talent that during this

year’s taste of austin event, his smoked andouille

sausage and shrimp Creole savory Cheesecake (yes,

you read that right) came in 1st place. Second place

was his traditional mac n’ Cheese. this dish is not

the mac and cheese you grew

up on. it’s loaded with black

forest ham, italian parsley,

egg noodles, and topped with

smoked gruyere. both dishes

are favorites at Vino 100.

not only is the food superb,

but bryan changes up the wine

menu every two weeks. there

are always new wines (to drink

at the bar or take home) on the

wall. for those wanting a cold

beer during these summer days

there is an incredible texas

Craft beer selection available.

“my wife says i get bored easily.

that’s probably true because i

have to keep changing things all the time.”

it’s certainly working for him because there is always

something going at Vino 100: wine dinners, grand

tastings, live music. You can also participate in the

monthly wine club. as a member, you can participate in

Vive La Vida AT VINO 100A WINEAUx’S THOUGHTS

By Ingrid Garner

IN FLUENTIAL 57


tastings for two, have a light dinner and take home two

bottles of wine. Wine club members enjoy discounts on

special events and special pricing on wine club wines.

Yes, you can certainly live the life at Vino 100 with

tasty morsels to eat, a scrumptious glass of wine (or a

whole bottle!) or frothy cold beer, and live music while

you kick it with your friends, are out on a date, or just

want to chill by yourself. to keep up with the latest

happenings, you can sign up for the weekly newsletter

on their website vino100roundrock.com or find them

on facebook.

inSDiDE Vino “You can always add seasoning and

spice, but you can never take it away.” - owner and chef

bryan gano

IN FLUENTIAL 58

eVents

toP: leonardo d’almagro and Cile Cook. MiDDLE: lindsay Jensen and rachel Jud. RiGht: bochi evans and

diana miranda. ABoVE LEFt: nicole and natalie varner of dolce blu. ABoVE RiGht: valerie velazquez,

martha morales, Carol scott.

IN FLUENTIAL 59


On Saturday, May 12, MKV Productions hosted

the STRUT 5.12 at Lytle Pressley Contemporary

and house + earth galleries. the event was a huge

success, raising over $3,500 for CapCityKids! Michele

utt and valerie velazquez of mKv productions

would like to thank all of the sponsors who gave so

generously and the guests who attended in support

of this philanthropic event.

CapCityKids is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization

that develops innovative programs and provides

direct resources to help homeless students stay in

school. Administrative costs for their programs are

absorbed by the board (dobson foundation) and

austin independent school district.

Thanks to this close partnership, 100% of donations

go directly to the students. Funds from STRUT 5.12

will help provide basic school supplies and support

campus based specialists for at-risk students,

afterschool tutoring at homeless shelters, and helps

connect kids with social services. Thank you for

directly contributing to improving the lives of these

children. visit CapCityKids at www.capcitykids.org.

strut 5.12 raiSES $3,500 For capcitykiDS

By William Jackson

IN FLUENTIAL 60

eVents

HOuse PartY

House Party 2012 hosted by Friends of the House

on May 19th blew past their fundraising goal,

bringing in over $19,000 for Ronald McDonald House

Charities of austin and Central texas. lytle pressley

Contemporary art gallery was packed with nearly

150 young professionals for this fundraising event.

Shannon Ferguson, co-chair for the event said,

“House Party 2012 was a great success across the

board. We exceeded our fundraising goal, spread

the word about friends of the house and raised

awareness for ronald mcdonald house Charities all

while enjoying a truly fabulous party. i am already

looking forward to House Party 2013!”

In 2011, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Austin

served over 1,300 families. The funds raised from

the event’s silent auction and ticket sales continue

raiSES ovEr $19k For ronalD mcDonalD hoUSE charitiES oF aUStin

By William Jackson

IN FLUENTIAL 61


LEFt: lindsey levin, packrick ley, beth ley.

RiGht: Jenny boone, sarah mcintyre and

ginny lewis.

to help them support Central texas families with

critically ill or hospitalized children.

Guests enjoyed music by DJ el john Selector while

sampling hors d’oeuvres from Apothecary Café. The

open bar featured cocktails provided by bacardi and

beer provided by KEG 1. Attendees also got access

to an after party at Tacos and Tequila (TNT) where

the fun continued into the evening with exclusive

drink and food specials. Corporate sponsors Kimbia,

platinum travel inc., sole source technology and

World Wide Technology, Inc. provided financial

support that helped make the party a success.

monica Williams from giving City said house party

was “a hotspot and a must attend for next year if

you missed it this year!” Friends of the House will

host House Party 2013 next June. Information will be

available at www.rmhc-austin.org/friends.

IN FLUENTIAL 62

www.suzannecourt.com 512.762.5447 [email protected]

YOU ARE THE STAR...with Suzanne Court Catering and Events

July / August 2012 InFluential Magazine

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