< PreviousWE ARE SO PROUD OF YOU AND YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS LOVE, YOUR GIA FAMILY WWW.GIA-TX.COM FOR BEING NAMED ONE OF C o n g r a t u l a t i o n s M E G A N M A L L O R Y C H I E F F I N A N C I A L O F F I C E R + H R D I R E C T O R 20 | The Daily News | 40 Under 40 | 2022 LIVES: GALVESTON WORKS: UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS MEDICAL BRANCH AT GALVESTON J. Alberto Maldonado, 26 Medical Student Why did you go into your particular field? I am going to give the cliché answer here: I love helping people! It was a pairing of my love for STEM and my need to interact with everyday people. I was born in a town where the nearest doctor was 15 miles away. My parents don’t speak much English. My siblings and I spent a lot of our childhood translating for them and helping them navigate government documents. I was fortunate enough to benefit from many government assistance programs as a U.S. citizen, but my parents weren’t as lucky. With scarce resources, my parents minimized their own health and often delayed preventative care. Now, as a future physician myself, I see many patients in similar situations. I truly believe that I am uniquely fitted to relate to underserved patients and provide a guiding support as an ally. As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? I was kind of all over the place with my professional aspirations as a child. I distinctly remember wanting to become a writer after reading the entire “Magic Tree House” collection. I later considered becoming a judge after spending one summer convincing my brother I was going to sue him for defamation of character, which I learned watching “The People’s Court.” Neither aspiration came to fruition. What was your first job? My very first job was cutting trees with my dad in the Texas summer heat. My dad is an expert on trees and let’s just say he’s really fast at his job despite turning 60 in December. A decade ago, he was even faster. These summers were spent dressed in head-to-toe clothing with long sleeve shirts, jeans, gloves and a hat. In the Dallas area, we were seeing record-high temperatures during my teenage years. Additionally, I found out I was highly allergic to poison ivy and poison oak to the point that I had steroid shots in my glutes. Neither my dad nor brother were allergic. All in all, I did not have fun and my brother loves to remind me about it! After a couple of months, I left my dad to work with my mom instead as a waiter. Would choose waiting tables a million times over. What’s the best advice you’ve ever received? “Even though you’re about to be a doctor, you’re still one of us!” — my cousin, Alma What’s your favorite thing about your job? I love interacting with community members every single day. I was a civil and environmental engineering major in college. When I first arrived at college, I went for the first engineering major that offered classes past the standard STEM courses during freshman year. I fell into the major and really loved it. My first professional job came during the summer after sophomore year as an environmental engineering intern for Shell. It was an amazing opportunity, but I quickly found that I was still missing interaction with people outside of coworkers. I then came back to college junior year, dropped all my engineering classes, and switched into pre-medical classes. It was a scary and abrupt decision. Nonetheless, I am now assured that I chose the right profession when I get the opportunity to work directly with a patient. Read full profile at galvnews.com. I LOVE INTERACTING WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS EVERY SINGLE DAY.2022 | 40 Under 40 | The Daily News | 21 LIVES: LA MARQUE WORKS: GALVESTON INSURANCE ASSOCIATES Megan Mallory, 37 CFO and HR Director Why did you go into your particular field? When I was working at the school district, I took a temporary position in the finance department after Hurricane Ike to assist with FEMA and insurance claims. I really enjoyed the accounting work and decided to pursue that as a career. As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? Growing up, I loved animals and aspired to be a veterinarian. But, if you ask my family, I loved to sing and dance and wanted to be an actress. What was your first job? My first job was at a boutique on The Strand called La Vida Clothing. Within a few months, I was promoted to manager and learned a lot about finance and leadership. What’s the best advice you’ve ever received? The best advice I have received comes from my boss, Garry. Anytime anything negative comes your way don’t let it affect you. Let it roll off you like water on a duck’s back, and it will go away. What’s your favorite thing about your job? I can honestly say I have found my forever job. Not only do I thoroughly enjoy what I do, I work for an amazing organization. GIA is most definitely the best place I have ever worked. I am absolutely blessed to consider my co- workers as a second family. What do you know now that you wish you knew when you first started your career? Honestly, I have come to terms that the field I am in changes frequently. Times change, people change. It’s all about how you accept that and move forward with a positive attitude. Who do you consider to be your greatest mentor and why? Most definitely my mom. I have watched her go through college, start her career as a nurse, and excel into leadership as a vice president at UTMB. Her setting an example for me and always supporting me in all that I do is the main reason I have been able to accomplish so much. When you’re not at work, what do you do to relax? I absolutely love to spend time at home with my family. I am the true definition of a homebody. We relax, cook together and watch movies. Just having that quality time with them fills my heart with joy. What is something about you that most people don’t know? When I was 17 years old, I was in a car accident that changed my life. I sustained injuries and had to have two fingers amputated. This car accident was a real wakeup call to get my life together and start living my life with a sense of purpose. After that, I dedicated myself to working and going to school until I found a career that suited me. How do you hope to grow in your career? I hope to continue to gain success on the financial side and perfect my Excel skills. As far as HR, that is an ever-changing field. I plan to grow my knowledge and obtain certifications. If you couldn’t do what you’re doing now, what would you be doing? I would really love to be a chef. I have a deep passion for cooking and sharing my food with others. I have been told numerous times I should open a restaurant; however, I really enjoy my day job! LIVES: LEAGUE CITY WORKS: JIMMY HAYLEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL/TEXAS CITY ISD Rachel McAdam, 39 Principal Why did you go into your particular field? I knew growing up I wanted to do something that made a difference in the world. At first, when I entered college at Texas A&M University, I thought I was going to become a lawyer who represented the underprivileged. However, I started substitute teaching my senior year in college and I fell in love with teaching, especially in the special education classrooms. After graduating that December, I entered an alternative education program to become a special education teacher and I have never looked back. Truly, every day I get to have an impact on students, staff, families and the community I serve as principal. I tell my staff we have the greatest gift in the world: “We get to shape a community!” As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? I had to ask my father this question because I could not remember as a child what I wanted to do. My father looked at me and said: “You never had a particular job you wanted to do when you were growing up. You just knew you wanted to do something to help those without a voice. You always wanted to fight for justice in this world. You wanted to ensure each, and every person had equal rights.” My father went on to say from an early age I have always stood up for what I thought was right no matter the cost. What was your first job? A clerk for Texas Parks and Wildlife at Bastrop State Park. What’s the best advice you’ve ever received? Be who you are, not who the world wants you to be. What’s your favorite thing about your job? There are so many favorite things about my job. The smiles and hugs of students, experiencing the excitement of students as they enter the school building, or seeing a teacher celebrate success with their students. But, if I must pick one favorite, it is that I can have an impact beyond the building I work in every day, I get to serve an entire community. What do you know now that you wish you knew when you first started your career? The foundation of a great classroom is relationships. If you get to know your students from day one, you will have fewer issues in the classroom. Who do you consider to be your greatest mentor and why? Lauren Ambeau, assistant superintendent of Friendswood ISD. From the moment I met Ms. Ambeau years ago, I aspired to be her. She leads with such passion, vulnerability and heart. Ms. Ambeau modeled for me that to lead means to serve. She taught me as a campus leader we are there for those around us. We are there to support, coach, model and ensure every student, staff, parent and family have what they need to be successful. When you’re not at work, what do you do to relax? When I am not at work, you will find me with my husband and two boys, most likely on a sports field. We are a huge sports family. I am either watching my boys play sports, watching a game on television or going to a sporting event. What is something about you that most people don’t know? I have a goal of visiting every one of the 423 national park sites in the United States. To this date, I have visited 113 sites in just the last eight years. Read full profile at galvnews.com.22 | The Daily News | 40 Under 40 | 2022 LIVES: LEAGUE CITY WORKS: MERRILL LYNCH WEALTH MANAGEMENT Patrick McDonald, 37 VP - Portfolio Manager Why did you go into your particular field? My parents allowed me to buy some stock when I was 10 years old into a small cap nuclear company where I doubled the $100 they gave me. I was intrigued ever since. As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? If there’s an intersection where Tiger Woods, James Bond and Michael Jordan meet, then that’s where’d you find my mind when I was younger. What was your first job? I worked at a golf course in northeast Texas where I grew up. It was the Links at Lands End and it was a new course. I was 15, it was a 30-minute drive, and I worked from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. What’s the best advice you’ve ever received? Don’t follow your dreams, follow what you’re good at then your dreams will follow. What’s your favorite thing about your job? My role involves the interaction with lots of people around the country. Imagine a mix of all kinds of personalities, cultural beliefs, limits and interests then trying to problem solve for each of them. It’s never boring. What do you know now that you wish you knew when you first started your career? It’s OK to fail and it’s OK to fail a lot! Learn from failing, ask questions, and don’t be the smartest person in the room. It’s better to say “I don’t know” than be confidently wrong. Who do you consider to be your greatest mentor and why? My business partner at Merrill Lynch, Gary Davis, brought me into the business and taught me that when the families we work with succeed, we succeed. Their success is our success and that’s a really unselfish way to work as well as a way to live. When you’re not at work, what do you do to relax? I relax by stressing out at the golf course. What is something about you that most people don’t know? My family lineage in Galveston goes back to the 1800s, but I grew up in a great little town called Sulphur Springs. It was a great place to grow up with the nicest people. How do you hope to grow in your career? I hope to help more of those people who need help navigating their financial path. If you couldn’t do what you’re doing now, what would you be doing? I don’t know. LIVES: BACLIFF WORKS: AMOCO FEDERAL CREDIT UNION Morgan Muraca, 37 HR Compensation & Benefits Manager Why did you go into your particular field? I did not choose this field; the HR (human resources) life chose me. But now that I am fully invested, I wish I had found it earlier in life. I tell my children all the time to find what you are passionate about, continue to learn about yourself, because it makes such a dramatic difference in your overall happiness when your career is something you enjoy. As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? Growing up, I wanted to be a high school English teacher because I loved to read and write. Then I went through a phase where I wanted to be a paralegal because I loved learning about government and law. Then life happens and your decisions become more about supporting your family, so I chose positions based on pay, benefits and work/life balance. This eventually led me to human resources where I was able to combine all my “loves” into one career. What was your first job? When I was in middle school, my Mom signed me up to “barn tobacco” at a farm close to my house. The farmer would pick us up in the early morning, and we’d work in the fields riding a tractor and picking tobacco leaves to be dried out and sold to the tobacco companies. Afterward, the farmer’s wife would provide lunch, homemade soap to clean up, and pay us in cash and then take us home. Keep in mind, I was probably 13 or 14 and this was summer break. While I did not see the value in this experience then, I am now very aware that this set the tone for my future work ethic. What’s the best advice you’ve ever received? From Dory in “Finding Nemo”: “Just keep swimming.” Literally. Just keep swimming. Life is not a plan, and it can sometimes seem very overwhelming. Life consists of goals and a journey, and plans change. You must keep your focus on growth through your journey and your goals. What’s your favorite thing about your job? My favorite aspect of HR is that each phase continues to challenge me in multiple ways. In my earlier phase, I was challenged to learn all that was possible about compensation, benefits, payroll, human resources, etc. As I continue to progress, I’m now challenged to be an effective leader and am responsible for my team’s success and failures. The HR field continues to provide learning opportunities, no matter the phase. What do you know now that you wish you knew when you first started your career? In keeping with my theme of life being a journey, I wish I had realized this at a younger age. Over the years, I continued to worry and felt that I was in a race to be an expert in my field, making no mistakes, and that this would eventually lead to a time when I could relax. I now realize that at no point in my career will I ever know it all, and that is perfectly OK. The end goal, for me, is what I have learned and accomplished along the journey. When you’re not at work, what do you do to relax? Between work, being a wife and mother, there isn’t much time to relax. However, I do like to spend time with my family, garden, float in the pool on Sunday Fun-day, and read. What is something about you that most people don’t know? Most people don’t know that I am an extroverted introvert, meaning I am a “people person” when necessary, but I really value my alone time. I’m also deathly afraid of tree frogs. Read full profile at galvnews.com. IT’S OK TO FAIL AND IT’S OK TO FAIL A LOT! LEARN FROM FAILING, ASK QUESTIONS, AND DON’T BE THE SMARTEST PERSON IN THE ROOM.2022 | 40 Under 40 | The Daily News | 23 LIVES: LA MARQUE WORKS: BALL HIGH SCHOOL/GALVESTON ISD Darren Muren, 38 Special education teacher and department chair Why did you go into your particular field? I began working in special education because of my passion for teaching students of all ability levels. As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? When I was a kid, I wanted to follow in my father’s footsteps and become a police officer. What was your first job? My first job was making pizzas at Pizza Barn in Gardnerville, Nevada. What’s the best advice you’ve ever received? If it has never been done, that doesn’t mean that it can’t be done. What’s your favorite thing about your job? My favorite thing about my job is being able to watch my students grow to their full potential. What do you know now that you wish you knew when you first started your career? You don’t have to do things the way they have always been done. Sometimes you have to think outside the box. Who do you consider to be your greatest mentor and why? I can’t pick one specific mentor. I have had numerous people in my life who have helped me grow as a person and as a teacher, including my wife, my mom and dad, my brothers and a few of my coworkers: Rob Lewis, Annette Johnson and Mignon Stanley. When you’re not at work, what do you do to relax? I love going to the beach, and going on road trips with my wife and my two daughters. What is something about you that most people don’t know? I have a cat named Freddie Mercury. How do you hope to grow in your career? My goal is to work with my coworker, Rob Lewis, to build an off-campus storefront where our students, upon graduation, will have an opportunity to work at. If you couldn’t do what you’re doing now, what would you be doing? I would probably be working in construction in some capacity. LIVES: KEMAH WORKS: CASA OF GALVESTON COUNTY Alaine nix, 29 Special Programs Manager Why did you go into your particular field? I feel like my current field chose me in a way. I always loved helping others and I always loved working with children. Putting these two things together and now advocating for children has been the best decision for my career path. As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? As a child, I wanted to be a teacher. I got halfway through my alternative certification and was given the opportunity that I currently have and have not looked back. What was your first job? My first job was while I was in high school. I began babysitting after school and weekends and working at Red Robin part-time. What’s the best advice you’ve ever received? The best advice I have ever received was from my mom and it was to “act like a duck and let it roll off of your back.” Meaning to let it go and not let what others say or do impact your happiness. What’s your favorite thing about your job? My favorite thing about my current job is that I get to work with a diverse group of advocates, children and families. I get to hopefully make a positive impact. What do you know now that you wish you knew when you first started your career? A child development associate’s degree and a human science bachelor’s degree will teach you the basics of human development but won’t give you the tools you need to make connections with people outside of what-if scenarios. You should really pick an internship that cultivates what you want to do long term. Who do you consider to be your greatest mentor and why? My greatest mentor has been a mixture of those close to me. I cannot pick just one person because there have been several people teach me valuable lessons throughout my life. When you’re not at work, what do you do to relax? In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my daughter and family, spoiling my dogs — Marshal and Oreo — and drinking a good coffee with a good book in hand. What is something about you that most people don’t know? Something about me that most people do not know is that I prefer rainy days over sunny days. How do you hope to grow in your career? I hope to grow in my career and continue to be a voice for children as they navigate their late teens and early adulthood in care. I would like to complete my master’s degree and provide a greater understanding of children in care and their rights as well as their benefits and resources. If you couldn’t do what you’re doing now, what would you be doing? If I could not do what I am doing now, I would be teaching. Being an educator is something that I have wished for since I was little. YOU DON’T HAVE TO DO THINGS THE WAY THEY HAVE ALWAYS BEEN DONE. SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX. ACT LIKE A DUCK AND LET IT ROLL OFF OF YOUR BACK.Shout out to Dr. Stacia Pfost! Your unbounded love, energy and enthusiasm is inspirational. Your biggest fan club! Momma, Daddy, Oliver, Corbin, Teagan, Pepper, Xan, Lacey and Grandma 40 40 40 UNDER UNDER UNDER 40 40 40 JEFF OSSENKOP Congratulations GeneralManagerofTheTremontHouse Sincerely -the GGT Group, Casey Haney, Nikki Gonzales, Brad Tegeler Congratulations Jeffrey 24 | The Daily News | 40 Under 40 | 2022 LIVES: GALVESTON WORKS: THE TREMONT HOUSE HOTEL, ROSENBERG RESIDENCES AND THOMPSON LOFTS Jeff Ossenkop, 39 Area general manager Why did you go into your particular field? I took a hospitality and tourism class my sophomore year of high school. The only reason I signed up for the class was because it got you off campus every other day for two periods. Little did I know, that after my second year in the program, I would love the hospitality industry. I graduated with a two-year scholarship to Tarrant County College that was awarded to me through the program. After I graduated, I was offered my first full-time job for the summer in the hotel that I completed my internship at. From there, I worked in various full-service hotels around the Dallas-Fort Worth area and began to grow my career. As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? My childhood dreams of a career were mixed feelings between an architect or a musician on a cruise ship. What was your first job? My first paying job was a bellman at the Wyndham Arlington Ballpark. I would carry luggage up and down to the guest rooms and park cars. The highlight of that job was the hotel being the host hotel to all visiting teams that played the Texas Rangers. The hotel operated a courtesy shuttle, and as a bellman, I drove the visiting teams to the ballpark, through the underground tunnels, to the players club. It was the coolest job ever! What’s the best advice you’ve ever received? In my business, you deal with all types of cultures and personalities. I learned from one of my greatest mentors to never take anything personally. Do what you do best and if you do it right, things will always work out. What’s your favorite thing about your job? I am very fortunate to be operating one of Galveston’s cherished treasures, The Tremont House, a staple in the community. It’s known as one of the top 100 hotels in Texas. I love that I get to continue the legacy Mr. George Mitchell started when The Tremont opened in 1985. I love seeing our community come and enjoy the hotel’s outlets and jazz nights. Knowing that we are a place for both locals and visitors, with a reputation for service, keeps me excited about that we do day to day. What do you know now that you wish you knew when you first started your career? I wish I had known that in our business we can bend the “rules.” I worked for one of the first lifestyle hotel brands that pushed the envelope and broke the “rules.” The brand culture was whatever you want, whenever you want it, as long as it is not illegal, immoral or just plain wrong. I live by this today, I think this a great mindset when in the hospitality business. Who do you consider to be your greatest mentor and why? Well I would like to say my father is most certainly one. He was very dedicated to success with his career, and I learned my work ethic from him. He found ways to balance out his family time with his career; however, he always finished what needed to be done to complete the job, even if it meant occasional late nights and calls over vacation etc. The other mentor in my career is our CFO. He helped push me to get my first general manager position back in 2016. We worked together at a previous company, and he recruited me to the company I currently work for. Read full profile at galvnews.com.Wearesoproudofyour achievements&thankyou foryourdedicationtoCASA ALAINENIX &PATRICKMCDONALD www . CASAgalveston . org C o n g r a t u l a t i o n s ! C o n g r a t u l a t i o n s ! C o n g r a t u l a t i o n s ! We are so proud of you and know that you are an amazing young woman and very deserving of this accolade. With Love, Mom, Dad, all of the Overton/Sullivan family and Uno. Congratulations Lizzie! 2022 | 40 Under 40 | The Daily News | 25 LIVES: GALVESTON WORKS: RYSON VACATION RENTALS Elizabeth Overton, 36 General Manager Why did you go into your particular field? I have worked in various sectors of the housing industry since I was 20; however, I fell into vacation rentals part time while going to school to be a teacher. But after working in the vacation rental industry, I realized that here is where I wanted to be. I love the island where I grew up and now I get to share it with millions of visitors a year. As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? As a child, I wanted to be a teacher. What was your first job? As a young teen I babysat, but my first paycheck was from Hummel’s General Store in Pirates’ Beach. What’s the best advice you’ve ever received? Make a decision. And once you have decided what you are going to do, do it. Don’t look back and second guess. What’s your favorite thing about your job? My favorite thing about my job is the people I work with. I show up every day for them. My goal is to lift everyone up to be successful because the same was done for me. What do you know now that you wish you knew when you first started your career? Follow up important conversations with an email. Who do you consider to be your greatest mentor and why? My parents. They have worked hard their entire lives and built a strong, loving family in the process. Life has not been easy for them but they make it look effortless to show up every day for their family and do what needs to be done to provide for those they love. I hope that when I am their age that my family and friends will say the same thing about me because it would be my greatest honor to be compared to them. When you’re not at work, what do you do to relax? Read, spend time with my husband and my family, and plan real and imaginary vacations. What is something about you that most people don’t know? While I will talk to anybody in my vicinity like they are my long lost family, I am actually pretty shy. How do you hope to grow in your career? Growth in my career would be for me to continue to educate the public about vacation rentals and their benefits to the local economy while balancing the need for preservation of local communities. I would also like to dedicate more time to the growth of the Galveston tourism industry as a whole. If you couldn’t do what you’re doing now, what would you be doing? Either teaching middle/high school or finding a remote position that would allow me to live out of a van with my husband vagabonding around. MY GOAL IS TO LIFT EVERYONE UP TO BE SUCCESSFUL BECAUSE THE SAME WAS DONE FOR ME. 26 | The Daily News | 40 Under 40 | 2022 LIVES: GALVESTON WORKS: UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS MEDICAL BRANCH AT GALVESTON Stacia Pfost, 36 Surgeon Why did you go into your particular field? As a breast surgeon, I am able to help women (and the occasional men) with fighting cancer as well as being an advocate for them to be successful. In this field of cancer, we work as a big team to be successful, and I think this team approach is ideal for people to deal with their prognosis and in fighting this disease. As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? I always dreamed of working in health care and being a doctor was top of my list. I love to help others. Throughout high school, college and medical school, I was a part of many volunteer experiences. I enjoyed going to St. Vincent’s to provide free health care. It took me many years to achieve this goal to become a doctor and I feel so fortunate to be able to do it. What was your first job? Jungle Surf under the Sasser family. I loved the family feel this job had. I was able to play with children and make sure they were safe as we listened to the Bob Marley soundtrack and ate free snowcones. It was one of the best jobs I’ve ever had! What’s the best advice you’ve ever received? The best advice I every received came from my husband, Oliver. Many years ago, before we were married, he convinced me to always fight for what I wanted and for what is right. Through his encouragement, I applied to medical school. Through his support, I was able to be successful through the 10 years of training. He took care of our children while I worked 14- to 28-hour shifts six to seven days a week. And his advice continues to be paramount. What’s your favorite thing about your job? My absolute favorite thing about my job is coordinating care with patients based upon their particular biology and life situation. I believe in the holistic approach to treating a person. I like to spend time with them on diagnosis and creating a plan to fight their cancer and plan to make them whole by the end of the experience. And this can include so many things from cosmetic reconstruction after removing the cancer to how to deal with chemotherapy side effects to end-of-life care. What do you know now that you wish you knew when you first started your career? When beginning surgery residency after medical school, I had no idea what kind of surgeon I wanted to be. I enjoyed taking out appendices and gallbladders; doing intestinal resections and performing life-saving procedures after traumas and so much more. I do wish I knew earlier just how rewarding becoming a surgeon could be. I imagined the field to be full of very callous people when in reality, it can make one utterly happy. It clearly was my calling. Who do you consider to be your greatest mentor and why? I am so fortunate to say that I have had a large number of mentors and there is no way I could only mention one. My mother and father continue to be great mentors for me. They taught me to work hard and be kind to others. Dr. Bill Mileski, the head of trauma at UTMB; Dr. Pat Walker, the surgical head of the OR; and Dr. Ravi Radhakrishnan, pediatric surgeon and program director for the residency, all taught me so much about treating patients with every aspect of your being while being there when I needed them. When you’re not at work, what do you do to relax? I have had children at many different times in my life. My son, Corbin, was born when I was in college; my daughter, Teagan, was born when I was in medical school and my youngest daughter, Pepper, was born while I was in residency working 80-hour weeks at Shriners Hospital in 80- to 90-degree operating rooms in sterile gowns, caps and masks. They are so very important to me and the person that I am. I spend as much time with my family and friends as I can. We love to be on the water and experience everything Galveston has to offer. What is something about you that most people don’t know? Unfortunately, I am a fairly open book. I like to say that I tell everyone my whole life story. I love to talk to people. However, I enjoy art very much. I love to go to art museums and draw and sketch. Read full profile at galvnews.com.2022 | 40 Under 40 | The Daily News | 27 LIVES: GALVESTON WORKS: DEL PAPA DISTRIBUTING Trey Pruitt, 32 Marketing Manager Why did you go into your particular field? I started getting into craft beer while in college and once I graduated I figured why not apply to work for a beer distributor. I started at an entry-level position and soon found out I was working for a company with a great culture that valued its employees. I have held a variety of positions since then and the rest is history. As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? From a professional skateboarder to a professional baseball player. I was all over the board. What was your first job? Bagging groceries at Arlan’s Market. What’s the best advice you’ve ever received? Great leaders don’t tell you what to do. They show you how it’s done. What’s your favorite thing about your job? I enjoy the community involvement along with the people and suppliers I interact with on a day-to-day basis. I also get to work around beer, and I mean a lot of beer, every day, which is fun. What do you know now that you wish you knew when you first started your career? Don’t allow yourself to become overwhelmed. Slow down and complete each project or task one at a time. Who do you consider to be your greatest mentor and why? My father, John Pruitt Jr., has an incredible work ethic that he instilled in me at a young age. It has helped me tremendously in my life and career. When you’re not at work, what do you do to relax? I enjoy hanging out with friends and family, especially my wife and son on the island where I grew up. I also enjoy hunting whenever I’m able to. What is something about you that most people don’t know? I love to cook and enjoy reading crime novels. How do you hope to grow in your career? To become a better leader and leave a positive impact on those around me. If you couldn’t do what you’re doing now, what would you be doing? I’m not exactly sure. I enjoy what I do now, but if I could office part-time from a ranch in the Hill Country that would make my job even better. LIVES: LEAGUE CITY WORKS: GENESIS ENERGY; MUSICAL CHEERS MOBILE DISC JOCKEYS Mike Robertson, 33 Vessel scheduler; owner/operator Why did you go into your particular field? I grew up on the water going out on my grandpa’s boat. I knew I always wanted to do something involving boats. As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? Professional baseball player. What was your first job? Working for my dad as his DJ assistant. What’s the best advice you’ve ever received? My grandpa would always tell me “Mind over matter.” That quote has stuck with me since the first time I heard it. What’s your favorite thing about your job? Every day is different and brings a new set of challenges. You get to problem solve and multitask each day. What do you know now that you wish you knew when you first started your career? Internships are key to getting a head start in the maritime Industry. The amount of practical knowledge you gain is incredible. Who do you consider to be your greatest mentor and why? I would say its a tie between my Grandpa Bill and Grandpa Carroll. I got to spend most of the school year with my grandparents on my dad’s side. During the summer, I would spend most of my time with my grandparents on my mom’s side. They helped me with school, taught me how to drive both a car and boat, took me fishing, drove me to baseball practice and games and just great life lessons. When you’re not at work, what do you do to relax? Offshore fishing, barbecue cook-offs and spending time with family and friends. What is something about you that most people don’t know? Even with my involvement, I have a quiet and shy side. How do you hope to grow in your career? I hope to keep challenging myself and always keep learning. My goal is to keep progressing in my company and climbing the ladder. If you couldn’t do what you’re doing now, what would you be doing? I would probably be an attorney or some sort of boat captain. GREAT LEADERS DON’T TELL YOU WHAT TO DO. THEY SHOW YOU HOW IT’S DONE. INTERNSHIPS ARE KEY TO GETTING A HEAD START IN THE MARITIME INDUSTRY. THE AMOUNT OF PRACTICAL KNOWLEDGE YOU GAIN IS INCREDIBLE. 28 | The Daily News | 40 Under 40 | 2022 LIVES: TEXAS CITY WORKS: GALVESTON ISLAND HUMANE SOCIETY; LIGHTBULB DOG TRAINING Katrina Ross, 26 Animal health manager; owner/head trainer Why did you go into your particular field? I have always been surrounded by animals my entire life. Going into the animal welfare space was a natural transition for me. As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? Growing up, I wanted to be either a musician or to do something, really anything, with animals. What was your first job? My first job was pet-sitting for various neighbors and families so I could have some spending cash. My first “on the books” job was at the Pleasure Pier in the rides department. That was definitely a character-building experience! What’s the best advice you’ve ever received? One of the best pieces of advice I have received was to “Celebrate the wins and accept the losses.” Working with animals, I have learned to appreciate this advice. What’s your favorite thing about your job? I love helping the community and the animals. It is the most fulfilling feeling to see my hard work, both in the shelter and with Lightbulb, pay off with positive outcomes. What do you know now that you wish you knew when you first started your career? I wish I knew how to say “no” more often when I first started. I have now learned that if I try to say “yes” to everything, I spread myself too thin and am not able to deliver the quality that folks deserve. Who do you consider to be your greatest mentor and why? One of my biggest mentors, especially at the humane society, would be Dr. Lea Fistein. Without her guidance, I would not be able to help nearly the amount of animals that I do every day. When you’re not at work, what do you do to relax? In my off time, I love getting to express my creativity. Whether it’s music, dancing, aerial arts, embroidery, digital content creation (my fancy way of saying I make TikToks) — any creative avenue is my way to decompress. What is something about you that most people don’t know? Most people don’t know that I can eat more than a linebacker. I love food. Eating is one of my favorite activities. How do you hope to grow in your career? I hope to grow my capacity to teach and mentor others. Knowledge is so powerful and best when shared. If you couldn’t do what you’re doing now, what would you be doing? If I couldn’t be doing what I’m doing now, I would probably still be doing it anyways. I would find some way to continue to promote animal welfare, but perhaps on a larger scale with policy and governments. LIVES: GALVESTON WORKS: GALVESTON UNSCRIPTED PODCAST AND GALVESTON RUNNING TOURS J.R. Shaw, 30 Owner Why did you go into your particular field? I got into podcasting and virtual education because I love talking to people and learning new things. With the technology and access to information that is available to people today, there are endless opportunities to bring lasting value to society as a whole. I feel it is important to make it easy for others to absorb information and quit building paywalls and barriers for information that should be free and easily accessible. As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? I really wanted to be a travel show host or a professional skateboarder. I wanted freedom to explore and be active. To this day, I love exploring other cultures and cities all over the place. One of those dreams could still be in the cards! What was your first job? When I was 14, I worked the concession stands at the local ballpark. I loved it. I got to hang with the older kids and get the hang of customer service pretty early on. I lived off fried food, Snickers and Gatorade. At 16, I became a lifeguard at the local pool, which ended up leading me to Galveston Beach Patrol. What’s the best advice you’ve ever received? “Start With Why,” a book by Simon Sinek. You don’t want to work with someone just for their money or the service they provide. You want to work with someone whose believes align with yours. When it comes to business, every company can tell you what they do. They can probably tell you how they do it. What is most important is why a person or company does what they do. For instance, why: I believe in challenging the status quo and approaching education differently; how: I make my platform user friendly, free to access, easy to consume and provide all related resources in one place; what: I create short history podcasts. Everything should fall in that frame of “why.” What’s your favorite thing about your job? I enjoy the creative freedom and ability to be myself, all while bringing historical content to the masses. I also really enjoy sitting down with authors, historians and passionate people. A podcast is a great excuse to invite strangers to join me in a conversation. What do you know now that you wish you knew when you first started your career? People can not predict life, careers or the economy. Your college professors, your parents, your boss, your financial advisor — no one. Things change fast and just because a cookie-cutter college class or position at a job makes sense today, it may not in the near future. Life and the economy are dynamic, and as long as you can stay flexible and adapt to change, you can be successful. Who do you consider to be your greatest mentor and why? My grandfather. He grew up living in a barn with a dirt floor. He moved to Texas and worked at a dairy and made lead weights to make money for his young family. He attained his plumbing license and began working for himself and grew the business beyond what anyone could have expected. I got to spend enough time with him to learn that it does not matter where you come from. You can change your life and circumstances, you just have to be willing to hustle. Read full profile at galvnews.com. IT IS THE MOST FULFILLING FEELING TO SEE MY HARD WORK PAY OFF WITH POSITIVE OUTCOMES. ADRI RICHEY PHOTOGRAPHYCongratulationsKatrinaRoss onbeingnamedintheTop40 under40inGalvestonCounty! Fromyourfriendsandfamilyatthe GalvestonIslandHumaneSociety. 2022 | 40 Under 40 | The Daily News | 29 LIVES: HOUSTON WORKS: AMOCO FEDERAL CREDIT UNION Weston Tucker, 29 General Counsel and vice president of Audit, Compliance, & Risk Management Why did you go into your particular field? I chose the legal profession because it is intrinsic to our system of government and is dynamic — what is law, regulation or rule today may not be so in the future. Together, these aspects create many opportunities to advise individuals and companies through the ever-changing legal landscape. As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? My childhood dream was to become a professional golfer. I am not. What was your first job? The first job I had growing up was at my family’s small business, Gus’ Restaurant in Texas City. What’s the best advice you’ve ever received? The most impactful career advice I have received is simply to “anticipate.” What’s your favorite thing about your job? Aside from working with kind, intelligent and driven people, the most enjoyable part of my job is approaching a research project for the first time and learning new concepts. What do you know now that you wish you knew when you first started your career? I wish I knew that time is the most valuable commodity and how important it is to manage time efficiently. Who do you consider to be your greatest mentor and why? My greatest mentors are, collectively, my parents. When you’re not at work, what do you do to relax? When not working, I’m usually on the golf course, traveling, watching sports or exercising. What is something about you that most people don’t know? Most people are surprised to learn that I enjoy photography. How do you hope to grow in your career? I hope to grow my knowledge base and advance my personal and professional development in a way that benefits my organization’s mission: Serving the financial needs of our members. If you couldn’t do what you’re doing now, what would you be doing? My alternative career would likely be in cybersecurity. THE MOST IMPACTFUL CAREER ADVICE I HAVE RECEIVED IS SIMPLY TO ‘ANTICIPATE.’Next >