Comings and Goings…and Stayings
We launched Hahn, Texas this past week. A new brand that helps tell the bigger story about our place. During the launch week, it was terrifically gratifying to have many friends come by for a visit. We saw quite a few of our wonderful clients and partners, and even some folks who used to hang their shingle here. That got me thinking about those that have just recently come and gone from our place.
Patty Gonzales is the newest arrival to Hahn, Texas and I couldn’t be more pleased to have her move in. She’s been helping the Texas Council on Family Violence for the past year. Before that, she spent six years working as the government affairs director for Time Warner Cable, three years as a Public Information Officer for the City of Austin and way back in the day, was a reporter for KGBT-TV in Harlingen. She’s a graduate of UT-Pan Am in Edinburg. That school is a gem in the UT system, now just over 18,000 kids, graduating nearly 3,500 every year.
I love that Patty is rooted in south Texas. If ever there were an area of our state that is poised to grow and prosper faster than others, I think it’s the Lower Rio Grande Valley. We have two very cool clients in the LRGV: Texas Gas and a reorganized bank that we’re helping prepare for a new launch. Patty’s understanding of the terrain and the unique culture in that area are going to be a big help to us as we move forward. And she still has family in Raymondville that I hope we’ll visit together in the near future.
In the category of “goings,” we’ve finished our fond farewells to our friend Gene Acuna. Gene came to work for us on the heels of working at the City of Austin’s Public Information Officer, made a great contribution to clients like Central Health and helped us understand why people who eat like he does need Central Health. His TV reporter diet is something to behold. On any given day, at any given time, Gene can tell you where to go to get the best fast-food meal deal in town. He’s been called to a new challenge: the Texas High School Project, a public-private alliance that includes the Texas Education Agency, Office of the Governor, the Coordinating Board, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Michael & Susan Dell Foundation and several other Foundations. Their job is simply this: increase the number of kids who graduate from high school. That’s a straightforward assignment, but it is a big challenge. One in four of our high school freshman will not graduate with a diploma – not good enough. Obviously we miss him, but are happy Gene has taken on such an important cause.
Finally, after several people asked about her, I think it’s worth mentioning that Kerry Tate is a “stay-er.” Kerry’s name may have left the sign, but her presence is as important here as ever. It’s not an overstatement to say we’re close. In fact, I used a tape to measure the distance from my office chair to hers: 23 feet, 7 ½ inches (give or take a bit depending on how you swivel) is the answer. I threw a wad of paper towards her, but it didn’t quite make it. Then I tried shooting a rubber band and I got close. A watermelon seed, perfectly projected would get all the way there. The record seed spit is 68 feet 9 1/8 inches, so I’ll give that a try when they’re back in season. The important thing is that Kerry is still here advising, thinking and cheerleading. She’s a great mentor and friend to me —always at the ready for a back porch talk about big ideas.
Like Kerry, most everyone here is a “stay-er.” Brian Dolezal, Russ Rhea, Greg Barton, just to name a few, have each been here more than a decade and a half. That’s not very typical of an agency, but it helps tell a story about our place that I like and that I think most people appreciate.
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