< Previous20 | The Daily News | 40 Under 40 | 2018Age: 25City of residence: GalvestonCurrent title: Director of eventsPlace of busi-ness: Galves-ton Regional Chamber of CommerceFamily: Parents, Ingrid and Bobby Moody; brother, Robert Moody IIIWhy did you go into your particular field? I have always had a passion for community service. I started hosting parties, taking leadership opportunities and organizing events for school and extracurricular functions at a very young age. Eventually my community service Frances Moodyinvolvement evolved into volunteering at nonprofits and taking on larger roles involved with planning, fundraising and chairing of events. It was my experience with organizing the 25th anniversary Children’s Party for the Ronald McDonald House of Galveston that helped me realize my desire to pursue a career in event plan-ning and nonprofit work. I was raised in a business-focused family that has long been committed to improving the community of Galveston. Both my upbringing and my passion of event planning coalesced perfectly in my position as events director for the Galveston Regional Chamber of Commerce, an organization that has been promoting and advocating for business and community development since 1845.As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? I knew from a very young age that I wanted to make a positive differ-ence in the lives of both people and ani-mals. I thought that this might manifest as a career in either counseling school-aged children with special needs or operating an animal rescue shelter. I still cherish the opportunity to help abused animals and individuals with disabilities.What’s the best advice you’ve ever received? There are no guarantees in life — work hard, be honest, stay kind. Always stand up for what is right. Life is a mara-thon, not a sprint!What’s your favorite thing about your job? I love my job so I can go on and on. If I had to pick three I would say: To work for an organization that contributes so much to the community; getting to work and build relationships with so many wonder-ful people in the Galveston region and beyond; my colleagues and my boss. The chamber is such a positive and supportive work environment.Who do you consider to be your greatest mentor and why? My mother and father. I have the best parents in the world. They are my biggest cheerleaders and support system. They have taught me to never compromise on my principles and morals and to always stand up for what is right. They have taught me to be strong and resilient.What is something about you that most people don’t know? I am half Norwegian!Age: 35City of residence: GalvestonCurrent title: OwnerPlace of busi-ness: Clay Cup StudiosFamily: I have a loving husband, Justin Owens, and three children: Caidyn, Kaylie and Weston.Why did you go into your particular field? I come from a family of artists but I’m also a mother of three. I wanted to bring something like Clay Cup Studios to the island. A place where friends and families could laugh, have fun and make memories.As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? I wanted to be an actress like my Aunt Anne but I have horrible stage Amy Owensfright, so that ended pretty quickly.What was your first job? I worked in a hair salon in Florida as a shampoo girl at 14.What’s the best advice you’ve ever re-ceived? Make life about memories with the ones you love. When you are on your death bed, do you want to think about all the hours you put into work or about spending time with the people who truly matter?What do you know now that you wish you knew when you first started your career? I guess how long it takes to estab-lish your business. You hear that it takes a bit from others when you begin but I don’t think it really sinks in until you are doing it. It takes a lot of time and sacrifice, much more than you ever anticipate.What’s your favorite thing about your job? I love meeting new people but my favorite is the look on people’s faces, young and old, when they make something pretty and they didn’t know they could. They are so proud of themselves. I love that.Who do you consider to be your greatest mentor and why? My father, Keith. He has the best advice of anyone I know. I know he’s my dad and that’s very cliché for me to say but it’s the truth. He’s one of the smartest men I know, both in life and business. I always call him when I have an issue or something I can’t figure out. He always seems to have an answer that gets me through that bump in the road.What is something about you that most people don’t know? Wow that’s a hard one. I’m an open book, so there’s not much probably. I am a huge Jimmy Buffet fan. I grew up with Buffet music always in my home. Going to concerts with my dad. I’m from south Florida, so I suppose it’s in my blood. I think it’s one of the reasons my husband started talking to me when we first met. I was singing “Come Monday” and he took notice. He’s a big fan, too, and at our age, that’s not really normal.If you couldn’t do what you’re doing now, what would you be doing? I don’t really know to be honest. I can’t see myself doing anything else. Maybe go back to school and get a degree in teaching. I would love to teach. I do that now a little bit with the camps we have. I love it.2018 | 40 Under 40 | The Daily News | 21Age: 35City of residence: GalvestonCurrent title: Communications coordinator (also mom and wife)Place of business: Coastal Conservation AssociationFamily: Husband, Ben Peterek; sons, Townes, 6; and Will, 2; daughter, Daisy (Jan. 23, 2013 to July 1, 2013)Heather PeterekWhy did you go into your particular field? Since I was a child, I’ve always loved and participated in art, design, drawing, painting, spacial organization and visual communication in some form or another. It wasn’t until some trial and error in my early 20s that I realized that turning my love of these things into a career was actually a reality. And thankfully, my fear that turning the things I loved into a career would “ruin” them or make them “work,” turned out to be wrong.As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? Growing up, veterinarian was on the top of my future job list for a long time.What was your first job? My first-ever real job was a Moody Gardens Aquarium cashier. I will never forget those ill-fitting blue polyester pants and long-sleeve polyester shirts in the middle of summer and going home smelling like the sea lion exhibit. Surprisingly despite the stinky uniforms and angry tourists, I have only good memories from working there and it definitely opened my eyes to real responsibility, hard work and excelling at a task.What’s the best advice you’ve ever received? You can’t wait for opportunities to come to you; you have to go out and find them.What’s your favorite thing about your job? Creative freedom is my favorite thing about my job! There is nothing better to a creative person than having a task and being told by your client or coworkers, “We trust you. You have full control of this project.” Music to my ears. I wear several hats in my communications/marketing/graphic design role, and with all of them, I have very little creative restriction. My work becomes ultra-rewarding not only because I’m trusted to deliver a great end result, but also it’s essentially an outlet for my passion.What do you know now that you wish you knew when you first started your career? Things that seem out of your realm of ability are only that if you think it; don’t let the feeling of being overwhelmed stop you from trying something.If you couldn’t do what you’re doing now, what would you be doing? Maybe traveling the country in a Winnebago.Age: 34City of residence: League CityCurrent title: Assistant professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology; Fellow of The American Congress of Obstetricians and GynecologistsPlace of business: UTMB HealthKimberlyn RobinsonFamily: Husband, Joseph Robinson Sr.; children, Joseph Robinson Jr., 6, and Kiersten Robinson, 2; mother, Regina Roy; father, Reginald Fitchett; dad, Mark RoyWhy did you go into your particular field? I decided to pursue a career as a phy-sician (particularly as an obstetrician and gynecologist) because I have a true passion for women’s health care.As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? When I was a child, I wanted to be a veterinarian, but during my adoles-cence, I decided I wanted to be a physician.What was your first job? My first job was as a hostess at Moody Gardens’ Garden Restaurant.What’s the best advice you’ve ever re-ceived? “You will never know what you can do until you try.”What do you know now that you wish you knew when you first started your career? I wish I had known the importance of better financial planning, especially in regard to the management of student loans.What’s your favorite thing about your job? I enjoy taking care of women throughout the different stages of life and delivering babies bring me so much joy.Who do you consider to be your greatest mentor and why? My mother is my great-est mentor because she has always taught me to work hard, never give up and keep God first.When you’re not at work, what do you do to relax? When I am not at work, I enjoy spending time with my spouse (Joseph Robinson Sr.), my children (Joseph and Kiersten) and my other family members. I also love traveling.What is something about you that most people don’t know? Most people don’t know that I am a survivor of Hodgkin’s lymphoma (1.5 years in remission).How do you hope to grow in your career? I hope that I am granted the op-portunity to continue to care for women as I do every day, as it is indeed my passion.If you couldn’t do what you’re doing now, what would you be doing? Traveling the world.22 | The Daily News | 40 Under 40 | 2018Age: 27City of residence: GalvestonCurrent title: Diversity education specialistPlace of business: Texas A&M University at GalvestonFamily: Spouse, Christin RoeDanny RoeWhy did you go into your particular field? In my youth, I did not know the words to express my identity, or advocate for myself. Now I am teaching students, and their educators, how to talk about these identities in personal and profession-al life. I have a passion for self and commu-nity advocacy, so that is what fuels my fire in my profession.As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? As a child, I wanted to be an astronaut until I found a fear in heights. I then found a love in mathematics, anything to get my ticket into working for NASA.What’s the best advice you’ve ever received? The best advice I’d ever received would have to be from a coworker. “Don’t let problems die buried on your desk.” He talked to me about finding a committee to help in tough situations, and bringing it to supervisors as soon as possible. This has saved me in professional settings, and has helped others by reaching out when I need help.What’s your favorite thing about your job? My favorite thing about my job is com-munity advocacy and working closely with students. Seeing their growth is inspiring!What do you know now that you wish you knew when you first started your career? I can be who I am, and open about who I am while in a professional career. I do not have to hide myself, my family, or my life from anyone.Who do you consider to be your greatest mentor and why? My greatest mentor is Dr. Todd Sutherland, the assistant vice president of student affairs at Texas A&M University at Galveston. He has taught me so much in the past nine years that I have known him, and has stood up for me when I needed someone most. The way he talks with students and always has advice on any situation makes him the best mentor I could ask for.What is something about you that most people don’t know? Most people see me advocating for LGBTQ rights, but don’t realize my identity by looking at me. I have gotten “What’s a straight guy doing in a gay bar?” or “What’s that gay guy doing married to her?” A Lot of the community does not realize I am a transgender man, and I love seeing the look on their face when they realize it!Age: 31City of residence: GalvestonCurrent title: Vice president and loan officerPlace of business: HomeTown Bank, N.A.Family: My wife is Vanessa Fullen Rog-ers. She teaches second grade at Parker Brandon RogersElementary and is the love of my life. My mother is Marcie Rogers. She is the assistant principle at Austin Middle School. My father is Douglas Rogers. He is the executive director for the Sealy & Smith Foundation. My sister is Dr. Cassie Rogers. She is an optometrist working at a practice in Ft. Worth. My grandfather is D. Gale Rogers. He is a retired insurance agent but is still very active in the community.Why did you go into your particular field? Growing up, I always wanted a job that would not only challenge me but would also allow me to interact with and help new people every day. Being a loan officer at a community bank checks all of those boxes. Every day, I get to help people accomplish their respective goals. For some people, that may be purchasing their first homestead while for others, it may be helping secure capital to finally start their own business.As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? Like most kids I wanted to play in the NBA or the NFL. The plan was to play in either league (possibly both) before retiring as a Hall of Famer and becoming a SportsCenter anchor. However, I can honestly say that being a banker was on that list as well. My dad worked as a banker when I was young and there are pictures of me dressing up as a banker for Halloween when I was 7 or 8 years old. My costume consisted of suspenders, glasses and a calculator in my front pocket. Even though my dad never wore any of those things, I was convinced that was how all bankers dressed once they got to work.What was your first job? When I was in sixth grade, I worked for the Ashton Place Condos on 69th St. My grandmother lived there and served on their homeowners association board. My job was to patrol the three or four streets where the condos were located and pick up any loose trash on the sidewalks or in the front yards. They supplied me with a pair of gloves, and I used part of my first paycheck to buy a long claw-grabber so that I didn’t have to bend over to pick up every single piece of trash.What’s your favorite thing about your job? Running into people around town af-ter you have helped them with a loan. They are always so grateful and, as their loan officer, I am able to share in that happiness knowing that I helped them take that next step in their lives.2018 | 40 Under 40 | The Daily News | 23Congrats Michael “Sharky” Marquez(owner)Out Cast Fishing Charters (In & Close Offshore from Yacht Basin)outcastfishincharters.comMonstaApparel Corporation(UV Protectant Gear for the entire family)monstafishin.com No matter how big or small your business is, we’ve got all the banking your business needs! Make every day easier with our new Business Banking Internet platform.Contact HomeTown Bank to learn more about how Business Banking can help you! OOOOO Five-Star “Superior” rating by BauerFinancial, Inc., awarded March, 2018 BUSINESSBANKINGSimple and Easy: Exceptional usability provides a superior customer experience that meets your unique business needs.Scalable: Add features as your business grows.Security and Control: Delegate permissions and specific tasks to other employees.Electronic Payments: Pay your vendors seamlessly with our easy-to-use Bill Pay system within Business Banking.Top Timesavers:www.htbna.bankCONGRATULATIONSDANNY ROEDanny Roe ‘13Diversity Education SpecialistHis support is helping to shape the leaders of tomorrowDanny Roe is part of our fearless front, working tirelessly to instill the Aggie Core Values within our students.LOCAL. NEWS. FIRST.Start your subscription today Call 409.683.526024 | The Daily News | 40 Under 40 | 2018Age: 39City of residence: GalvestonCurrent title: Executive directorPlace of busi-ness: Harris and Eliza Kempner FundFamily: My husband and I moved to Galveston in 2005 after Hurricane Rita to restore a 1870s historic cottage. After Hurricane Ike deepened our commitment to Galveston, commuting to Houston was no longer an option. We decided we couldn’t imagine living anywhere else, and we didn’t want to. I’m lucky enough to now live, grow, work, play and to be rearing a family in Galveston for nearly 13 years. I’m even luckier to get to do so with my husband/co-parent/partner in crime of 17 years, Kevin Scott, and our three wild Lauren Scottand wonderful kids. My oldest daughter, Georgia, is 7 years old (going on 30), finish-ing first grade at Oppe Elementary, and is the Scott household CEO. Lola is nearly 5 years old and is our fiercely independent firecracker who loves animals, art and inde-pendence. And our youngest, Peter, is 2½ years old and is a ball of sunshine, smiles and Star Wars. Both of our youngest attend Children’s Coalition of Galveston.Why did you go into your particular field? I went into social work and into mis-sion-driven work more broadly because I want to help people. I started my career as a high school teacher, driven by a desire to show up for people as others had done for me, and then went to graduate school with the intention of becoming a youth counselor. What I discovered was that what excited and terrified me — what made me come alive — was macro social work, or the study and practice of how interventions on a larger scale than an in-dividual can impact entire community sys-tems. I love the challenge and excitement of creative organizational and community work toward improving the health and vitality of people and communities. I’m so grateful to be sharing my passion in this space with those who are committed to this work in Galveston.What was your first job? My first job while in high school was working at a local bak-ery and restaurant where I did a little bit of everything from taking orders and working the cash register to making sandwiches and busing tables. My favorite part of the job was the personal interactions with cus-tomers, especially the regulars who came in for coffee and donuts. I always thought I got a peek into the best of people at Satur-day morning breakfast.What is something about you that most people don’t know? I’m actually an introvert who just so happens to really like and enjoy people. I love talking, creating, discovering and engaging with people, I just need some alone time afterward ... and maybe a nap.How do you hope to grow in your career? I hope I get surprised! I do my best work when I get to learn and grow by pushing and supporting ideas that better our community and promote social justice. I love fostering connections and relation-ships among people and ideas.Age: 36City of residence: DickinsonCurrent ti-tle: Associate professor of governmentPlace of business: College of the Main-land; I also teach part time as an adjunct for Galveston CollegeFamily: Melissa Skipworth, wife and College of the Mainland trustee represent-ing District 5 since June 2017 (portions of western Dickinson, northern portion of Santa Fe and unincorporated areas of western Galveston County); Christopher Skipworth, son, 6Sean SkipworthWhy did you go into your particular field? I was interested in politics from a young age, and by the time I began taking upper level courses in political science during my undergraduate work, I knew that I wasn’t ready for that academic discussion of political science to end. I felt called to share my passion for political life with students in the classroom.As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? The president, a lawyer and, according to my mother, He-Man.What’s the best advice you’ve ever re-ceived? Poor leaders boss people around while good leaders work with others to craft a shared vision.What’s your favorite thing about your job? Building lasting connections with students and impacting their lives outside of the classroom.What was your first job? A legal assistant for the law firm of Purdue, Brandon & Fielder, LLC. They are tax attorneys, and I usually brought paperwork to and from the courthouse, but sometimes participated in delinquent tax seizures and collections.What do you know now that you wish you knew when you first started your career? Don’t assume that every student fails due to a lack of effort.Who do you consider to be your greatest mentor and why? Dr. Watson, one of my un-dergraduate political science professors. He was the sharpest and most difficult professor in the department. I admired his intellect and appreciated that his high standards pushed me to work harder in order to succeed.What is something about you that most people don’t know? I am a descendant of Thomas Jefferson Rusk, who was the first Secretary of War of the Republic of Texas and joined Sam Houston as the first U.S. senators from the annexed State of Texas.If you couldn’t do what you’re doing now, what would you be doing? I would probably be involved in politics in some capacity either as a part of some gov-ernment entity, as a lawyer or in political campaign strategy.2018 | 40 Under 40 | The Daily News | 25Discover the leader in you!LeadershipGALVEST N• Develop a deeper understanding of issues affecting our community• Learn ways to make a difference by giving back• Tap into a powerful network of leaders• Increase awareness of your leadership style and teamwork skillsNOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR THE LEADERSHIP GALVESTON CLASS OF 2019! Apply online now at www.galvestonchamber.com/leadership-galveston Questions? Email us at leadershipgalveston@galvestonchamber.comClassesstart in SeptemberPivotal PartnerAge: 39City of residence: GalvestonCurrent title: Vice president of market-ing and communi-cationsPlace of business: Galveston Regional Chamber of CommerceFamily: Parents, Vic and Janice Pierson; brother, Frankie Touchy; sister, Laurie Popovich; grandfather, Don Kirkland; 17-year old nephew, Noah; and 5-year old niece, AbigailWhy did you go into your particular field? After Hurricane Ike, I started working Lindsay Touchyas a project secretary for Vaughn Con-struction in Galveston. Vaughn’s culture is to promote from within and my boss recognized my potential as a prospect for a marketing opportunity at the corpo-rate office. I took his advice, relocated to Houston and started a new position. It was a wonderful experience and an integral part of my development as a marketing professional.As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? I wanted to be an artist. I don’t know how I imagined myself doing that — I’m a terrible drawer.What was your first job? I worked at a family-owned sign shop in League City where I dabbled a little in graphic design, made signs and learned the meaning of delivering excellent customer service. The owners encouraged me to follow my dreams and I eventually left to attend Texas A&M University at Galveston. I still have a framed picture they gave me as a gift with a hand-written message on the back to always remember that wherever I go, and I whatever I do, I will always be a part of their family. I will never forget them.What’s the best advice you’ve ever received? Never underestimate the pow-er of face-to-face conversations. In the digital world we live in, we tend to forget that those personal interactions build meaningful relationships and form strong connections.What’s your favorite thing about your job? I get to be as creative as I want. Right now, I’m crafting new marketing collateral to refresh our brand and developing new strategies to keep up with digital advances. I couldn’t be a happier nerd. And I have the BEST co-workers!Who do you consider to be your greatest mentor and why? My dad. He gives honest advice and never sugarcoats a response. I admire his leadership and commitment not only to where he works, but to Galveston Island. He inspires me to want to make a difference.When you’re not at work, what do you do to relax? I cook every night but when I really need to relax, Southern cooking soothes my soul. We have a secret, family recipe for chicken fried steak and jalapeño cream gravy that puts any mind to rest.26 | The Daily News | 40 Under 40 | 2018Age: 31City of residence: GalvestonCurrent title: Executive administrator of operationsPlace of business: Galveston Island Brewing, LLCFamily: I currently reside on Galveston Is-land with my husband, David VanOrstrand.Charday VanOrstrandWhy did you go into your particular field? I came into my career on a leap of faith. I quit my job without another one lined up and my good friend got me an interview at the brew-ery as a bartender. It’s all downhill from there. Now my life is beer, and not just drinking it!As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? I wanted to be a computa-tional fluids dynamic engineer. Seriously!What was your first job? My first job was serving up the freshest flavored crushed ice in town. AKA I worked at a sno-cone stand.What’s the best advice you’ve ever received? To think of your challenges as little hills. Don’t think of challenges as a big mountain to trek across but instead con-quer your challenges in little hills celebrat-ing your accomplishments along the way.What do you know now that you wish you knew when you first started your career? To stand tall as a woman in an industry full of bearded men.What’s your favorite thing about your job? My favorite part of my job is the abil-ity to be creative. I come up with a crazy event or idea and it’s not knocked down. Instead, as a team, we brainstorm how we can make it happen and together execute, bringing my ideas to life.Who do you consider to be your greatest mentor and why? My father. I’ve looked up to him for many years, not only as my dad but as a well-rounded business man. He’s always been there to answer my personal or professional questions without any judgment, just the facts.When you’re not at work, what do you do to relax? I enjoy going out on the boat, spending time with family or just putting down my phone and enjoying an ice cold GIB brew.What is something about you that most people don’t know? I am also a personal trainer and boot camp instructor at Galves-ton Gyms.How do you hope to grow in your ca-reer? I hope to continue to grow our brand to be a household name. When someone plans their trip to Galveston, I want Galves-ton Island Brewing to be a place that you have to stop at when you are in town. Not only for the good brew, but also for the environment that we have created.Age: 28City of residence: League CityCurrent title: Business development associatePlace of business: Hilltop SecuritiesFamily: I am a fifth generation Galvesto-nian who grew up in League City. I just recently got married in Galveston to my beautiful wife, Ashley.Rolando VillarrealWhy did you go into your particular field? I first started out my career in banking as a part-time teller and thought it would just be a temporary job for some extra cash while I was in college. It quickly turned into a passion, and I was fortunate to grow my career in consumer banking, then to commercial banking and now at financial advising. I love being able to use previous experiences I have encountered in my career to help people with their current financial needs. Banking and numbers are not always exciting to people and can sometime be intimidating. It is my goal to take away the stress and simplify overall financial needs for relationships built.As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? Just like a lot of boys who grow up in Texas, I wanted to be a profes-sional football player.What’s the best advice you’ve ever received? That you are never too good (important, special and entitled) to do the little things. I heard this from my high school basketball coach, and it has stuck with me since then. I believe it can apply to so many other areas of life other than sports. The little things can be showing up early, picking up trash around the area, serving others, even something as small as going out of your way to be nice to someone. I also believe these little things can make the biggest impact in life.What was your first job? My first job was working at a local ice cream parlor. I loved it because it is a proven fact that you cannot have a bad day when ice cream is in the picture!What do you know now that you wish you knew when you first started your career? That I will make mistakes, and I will fail at things. But those mistakes and failures do not define me. I wish I knew that and knew how to take those mistakes and failures and use them as life lessons.When you’re not at work, what do you do to relax? I just got married in April, and my wife and I love to travel and explore new things. We are also huge Houston sports fans, so we love finding a good restaurant or sports bar to hang out and enjoy watching whoever is playing. GO ASTROS, TEXANS and ROCKETS!2018 | 40 Under 40 | The Daily News | 27Congratulations Erin from your friends over at Elite Care ER! Elite Care 24/7 ER 2530 Gulf Freeway South League City, TX 77573 www.elite24er.com We work with most insurances. Dr. James VincentMedical DirectorGloria GreeneMarketing Director2530 Gulf Freeway, League Citywww.elite24er.comFrom 11AM —NOONAug. 18thSept. 15thOct. 13th Registration Once a Month All proceeds of the event will go to Anchor Point. For more information contact David Sabot, Race Director at 713-705-7038www.anchorpoint.us and www.facebook.com/AnchorPoint4HopeRun for Health will host it’s 6th Annual 5K Run/Walk On November 3, 2018Only 5 Platinum Sponsorship levels availableCALL TODAY 713-705-7038SIGN UP TODAY!Https://www.facebook.com/ECERLeaguesCity/Register on line at: tiny.cc/run4health2018The Run Starts at: Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, 18220 Upper Bay Road, Houston, TX.The race course is USATF certified. There is a $200 cash prize for the overall male/female winner, medals to all finishers, trophies to top three in 9 age divisions, and 22 vendors with lots of giveaways. Elite Care 24/7 ER-League City is a Elite Platinum sponsor and has donated a bicycle. One of Galveston County’s 40 under 40HANK DUGIEFor CouncilmanErin & Rolando, We are so proud of the both of you! The League City Regional Chamber Board & Staff28 | The Daily News | 40 Under 40 | 2018Age: 35City of resi-dence: League CityCurrent title: Communica-tions and media directorPlace of busi-ness: League City Regional Chamber of CommerceFamily: Two children, Tyler Matthew, 16; and Anabella Faith, 10Why did you go into your particular field? I always had a dream of being the next Oprah Winfrey or Ellen DeGeneres. I was fortunate enough to have been chosen to work for a local media compa-ny, YourTownTV, when I went to a group interview with more than 40 people. That is where I really got my start in this industry.Erin WebbAs a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? A news reporter.What was your first job? Marketing assis-tant for a dental practice.What’s the best advice you’ve ever received? You cannot change how other people feel about you and act toward you. Don’t spend your life trying to please everyone. Be the best version you can be of yourself, trust in yourself and others will naturally follow your lead.What’s your favorite thing about your job? Being able to play a small part in helping small- to medium-sized businesses grow and expand. When someone comes to me and says that my work helped their business grow, there is no better feeling than that.What do you know now that you wish you knew when you first started your ca-reer? That I can’t be perfect at everything. I spent so much time at the beginning of my career trying to be a perfectionist with every aspect of my job. It put such a high level of stress on me that I couldn’t ever possibly live up to my own expectations.Who do you consider to be your greatest mentor and why? Bonnie Lem. She was the first person who ever took the time to help me bring out the best version of my-self. She sat me down when I first started working for her and told me she saw some-thing very unique and special inside of me. There were days when she was tougher on me than I liked, but I now realize why she did what she did. She taught me so much during the years I worked for her. I will never forget all that she did for me.When you’re not at work, what do you do to relax? I enjoy running, being by the water and being with my children, Tyler and Anabella. I have also been blessed with amazing friends who I cherish my time with.What is something about you that most people don’t know? Most people think that I am such a girly-girl. Little do they know I like fishing, sports and other boy-type activities. As long as I have a shower nearby to get back to my girly self when I’m done.Age: 37City of residence: GalvestonCurrent title: Executive di-rectorPlace of business: United Way of GalvestonFamily: Maya Angelou said it best, “I sustain myself with the love of family.” My partner, Maryanne Termini, and I live in a quiet Galveston neighborhood with our beloved maltipoo, Khloe. Although most of my family lives in Fort Worth and Los An-geles, we remain very close to my parents, grandparents, sister, nieces and nephews, aunts and uncles, and all of Maryanne’s family here, too.Lindsey WhiteWhy did you go into your particular field? Working in this field is emotionally fulfilling. I knew from an early age that I wanted to have a job that gave me an opportunity to help others. This field is challenging in many ways, and working for a nonprofit is not for the faint of heart, but every day brings something new and it is always interesting.As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? I’ve always loved animals, and I thought that I would be a veterinarian when I grew up until I was in high school and realized that I was way too squeamish to deal with most of the aspects of that entire profession.What was your first job? I did chores for allowance money when I was a kid, and that included all kinds of work, from emptying the dishwasher to cleaning the barn to mowing the yard. When I was 16, I was the first-ever public relations coordinator at Reata Restaurant in downtown Fort Worth.What’s your favorite thing about your job? The people, hands down. In every facet of my work, from our donors, to our volunteers, to our partner nonprofits, I get to work with the most inspiring, creative and giving people in our community on a daily basis.What’s the best advice you’ve ever received? Prepare for the worst and hope for the best.What do you know now that you wish you knew when you first started your career? Make it a practice to lean into your weaknesses; it is the only way to grow as a person and as a professional. It is easy to fall back on your natural talents or training, but it is transformative to push yourself on your greatest areas of weakness.When you’re not at work, what do you do to relax? I am at my happiest when I am outside, so I look for opportunities to spend time outdoors whenever I can. I also read every day. Nothing excites me more than a new novel and some free time to get lost in it.How do you hope to grow in your career? There are some big-thinkers in philanthropy in Galveston working together to make systematic change in our community and I want to continue to work alongside them and explore every opportunity to make a bigger impact here on the island. 2018 | 40 Under 40 | The Daily News | 29CONGRATULATIONS,Lindsey!Love, your family Maryanne & Khloe, Mom, Dad & Jennifer, Kristin, Ben, Turner & Reed, Chris, Camille, Christian, Taylor & Andrew, Harry & Angie CONGRATULATIONS,Lindsey White!Galveston County Daily News top “40 UNDER 40” honoreeWe are very proud of you! Thank you for your strong leadership and heartfelt commitment to our community.~ United Way of Galveston Board Of Directors“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” ~ Margaret Mead, cultural anthropologistNext >