2021 FINALISTSDENNIS BYRD! · All new beachfront property | 134 guestrooms & suites · Spacious rooms featuring private balconies & beach views · Complimentary Express Start Breakfast · Meeting Space & Salon | Catering Services Available · Corporate Preferred | Project | Extended Stay Rates · Featuring THE SPOT | In Room Dining & Delivery Service Stay Smart- The Smart Choice for Travelers 3228 SEAWALL BOULEVARD GALVESTON, TEXAS 77555 hiexpress.com/galvestonbchtx glsgv_sales@amliberty.com HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS & SUITES GALVESTON BEACH Contact Us: 409.621.5100 DOUBLETREE BY HILTON Welcomes You To... galvestonbeach.doubletree.com ·97 room beachfront property with private balconies ·Commercial Vehicle Parking ·Preferred Corporate | Project Rates Available ·Foxtail Restaurant | Longboard Beach Bar | In Room Dining ·Meeting Space: Boardroom| Island Room |Outdoor Event Lawn Contact Sales & Catering glsdt_sm@hilton.com 409.632.7648 1702 Seawall Blvd, Galveston, TX 77550 409.762.4141 main 2021 | Citizen of the Year Finalists | The Daily News | 3 MEET THE FINALISTS DR. WILLIAM M. JOHNSON 2021 Lifetime Achievement Award P. 12-13 4 Mary Bass 4 Craig Brown 5 Dennis Byrd 6 James Clark 7 Jordan Collins 8 Hank Dugie 8 Jimmy Flex 9 Michael Gienger 10 Tonia Griffin 10 Bobby Hocking 11 Lee Esther Holmes 14 Carrie Hunnicutt 14 Judy Johnson 15 Dr. Philip Keiser 16 Doug McLean 17 Dr. Janak Patel 18 Nakisha Paul 19 Mark Ravelli 20 Judy Slocumb 21 Justine St. Cyr PLUS:4 | The Daily News | Citizen of the Year Finalists | 2021 In what ways are you involved with the community? I am the president and founder of Chef’s Table Charities. We are a Galveston County-based charitable group that helps in times of crisis but stepping up with large scale aid to people in need focused around families, front- line responders, teachers and children. We also perform random acts of kindness throughout the community. Chef Mary Bass is a company that works with several local groups — Galveston ACE, Ronald McDonald House of Galveston, Galveston’s Own Farmers Market, Galveston Central Church and more — to help aid the community through food donations and education. We feed on a weekly basis, at no-cost, both first- responders (police, nurses, fire fighters, etc.) and low-income families. What motivates you to get involved in your community? The only way I can show my three children how to be a better citizen is to prove it by being a better citizen. I take the time to look at what our community needs to be successful. By showing kindness and paying attention to your environment while actively looking for ways to help are the small changes we need to make in order to improve our community. I always want to honor the legacy of my Grandmother while teaching my children how to be good stewards of this place we call home. If you could go back in time and do one thing over, what would that be? I have a life well lived, and I would not go back and change a thing. I wouldn’t want to see the potential ripple effect. What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever heard? “There is no crying in catering.” – Lester Lee Lewis Read full profile at galvnews.com. In what ways are you involved with the community? Currently serving as mayor of the City of Galveston. What do you like most about serving the community? The people — I know that sounds simple, but while serving my community, I have met the most interesting and dedicated people who deeply care, not only about their own personal needs but also about the needs of Galveston, the environment, our children and our future. What motivates you to get involved in your community? For me it was falling in love with Galveston. Not being a BOI (Born on the Island), I started my romance with Galveston Island at 21 years of age when I moved to Houston for dental school. If you love a city, you want to get to know her better, so you get involved. What does it mean to be named a finalist for Citizen of the Year? It is humbling. There are so many people in Galveston who dedicate their time and lives to our community. We are very blessed in our community. Why do you think it’s important to give back to the community? Without people investing a portion of their time into their community, their city will become someone else’s vision. If you could go back in time and do one thing over, what would that be? Insulate the water pipes in my house better and have a fireplace before our winter storm. What’s something that most people don’t know about you? I’ve always had a secret desire to be a disc jockey. I’m always planning on what would be the right music mix for any occasion I attend. DR. CRAIG BROWN CITY OF RESIDENCE » Galveston OCCUPATION » Retired pediatric dentist 2021 CITIZEN OF THE YEAR FINALISTS MARY BASS CITY OF RESIDENCE » Dickinson OCCUPATION » Chef/ownerVisit us at www.texasf irst.bank or stop by any one of our 26 locations to learn more. For more than 40 years, we’ve been a part of your community, providing nancial services for you, your family, and your business. As community bankers, we exist to help make your dreams a reality. Be it opening your child’s rst savings account, getting a loan to buy your rst house, setting up treasury services to help your business succeed, or anything in between, we can help you. Banking You, of You. fo Becaus 2021 | Citizen of the Year Finalists | The Daily News | 5 In what ways are you involved with the community? The Spot Restaurant is our flagship property on Galveston’s beachfront and is widely known among locals for our commitment to our team, guests and community. We recently launched our Business with Byrd video segments. These 90-second videos are filmed by Ball High School’s Media Arts Department and are shared with both the students and the world, via our Facebook Page. We also have partnered with both Ball High School and Odyssey Academy where we meet monthly, via Zoom, and work with the educators to bridge the gap between what is taught in the textbook and how that relates to real-life business applications. In 2019, I was honored to be the keynote speaker at O’Connell High School’s graduation ceremony. I do many closed-door sessions with other business owners and businesses of all sizes. These discussions have wide-ranging topics from growing their business, selling their business, making their business more profitable and everything in between. These business owners may think that meeting with me is benefiting them; however, it is mutually beneficial, and I really enjoy it. What do you like most about serving the community? This community has given me so much that I feel obligated to give back. I have 1,440 minutes in a day; the minutes that I carve out for the community are the most impactful. If our community outreach positively impacts just one person, I’ll consider it a big success. Read full profile at galvnews.com. 2021 CITIZEN OF THE YEAR FINALISTS DENNIS BYRD CITY OF RESIDENCE » Galveston OCCUPATION » President of Island Famous Inc.C ongratulations James Clark on becoming a finalist for the Citizen of the Year award! We are so proud of you and your dedication to our community! Love, Sasha, Benjamin, Josephine, Kyla, Ron, Hannah Rose, Patricia, Stephen, Mom, and Dad 6 | The Daily News | Citizen of the Year Finalists | 2021 In what ways are you involved with the community? President of the Galveston Chapter of the Texas Restaurant Association, board member of the Galveston Regional Chamber of Commerce, board member for the Advisory Committee for Galveston College Culinary Arts, board member for the Tourism Development Advisory Committee for the Park Board of Trustees, volunteer panelist for the Galveston-Houston Immigrant Representation Project What do you like most about serving the community? Helping contribute to a brighter future for our youth, the underserved population, and continuing to work toward providing a great quality of life for the members of our community What motivates you to get involved in your community? Being able to contribute to groups that want to see our community thrive, participating in groups that take actionable steps to make improvements What does it mean to be named a finalist for Citizen of the Year? It is truly an honor. I was pleasantly surprised to have been nominated and even more flattered to have been named a finalist. Why do you think it’s important to give back to the community? I do it because I want to contribute and make improvements for the greater good of all members of Galveston County. If you could go back in time and do one thing over, what would that be? I wouldn’t change a thing because otherwise I might not be where I am today. 2021 CITIZEN OF THE YEAR FINALISTS JAMES CLARK CITY OF RESIDENCE » Galveston OCCUPATION » Director of Operations for Mosquito Cafe and PattyCakes BakeryWe’re honored to honor you. Congratulations to this year’s Citizens of the Year finalists. Your dedication and selfless service to others help make our community shine and the world a much better place. Thank you for being a true inspiration beyond measure. www.MoodyBank.com | 409.632.5016 MEMBER FDIC 2021 | Citizen of the Year Finalists | The Daily News | 7 In what ways are you involved with the community? I offer lunches to our first responders, help families in need with meals or groceries and help with youth sports. What do you like most about serving the community? I enjoy the people, seeing that smile for that 10-15 seconds is everything to me. You never know what people are going through, but when they receive that meal, in that moment nothing else matters. What motivates you to get involved in your community? I have always loved my community and vowed once I became a business owner I would give back to where I started. What does it mean to be named a finalist for Citizen of the Year? Being named a finalist means a lot. It’s nice to know that my work is not going unnoticed by the community. Why do you think it’s important to give back to the community? For me, the city of Galveston made me the person I am today. I love helping because when I needed help building my business, the people of Galveston were there to help me grow to what I am today. If you could go back in time and do one thing over, what would that be? I would have finished culinary arts school. What’s something that most people don’t know about you? A lot of the food, supplies and clothes I have bought to donate came out of the register of my food truck. Not everyone is fortunate, and I was not raised to be selfish. 2021 CITIZEN OF THE YEAR FINALISTS JORDAN COLLINS CITY OF RESIDENCE » Galveston OCCUPATION » Mobile food operator8 | The Daily News | Citizen of the Year Finalists | 2021 In what ways are you involved with the community? • Chair – Galveston County COVID-19 Business Task Force • Chair – Dickinson Bayou Watershed Steering Committee • Chair – United States Quidditch • Board member – League City Regional Chamber of Commerce • Board member – Anchor Point • Youth ministry leader – Bay Harbour Church • Member – League City Lions Club • Member – Bay Harbour Church Reopening Task Force • Member – League City Finance Committee What do you like most about serving the community? Interacting with my neighbors and hearing their stories. When you volunteer, you get to experience the world in new ways. It’s also very difficult to be in a bad mood while helping someone else. What motivates you to get involved in your community? So many people have poured into me to make me the person I am today. It is only right and fair that I pass that care along to others. We all win when we work together. What does it mean to be named a finalist for Citizen of the Year? We live in the best community in the world, and it is an honor to even be considered. The trust placed in me by constituents, family and friends to represent them and address important issues is humbling, especially during such politically polarizing times. What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever heard? If you do what you’ve always done, you’ll get what you’ve always gotten. In what ways are you involved with the community? Youth sports, VFW and Santa at Festival of Lights. What do you like most about serving the community? Helps keep me grounded. What motivates you to get involved in your community? There’s always a need. I do what I can. There are so many good people out there who help others without notoriety. My philosophy in life is just to do and act like my grandpa is always watching. He had a big heart, just like my dad. I had the best examples. Growing up, I thought everyone had the type of dad I did, but the older I got, the more I saw him helping others. It became second nature. What does it mean to be named a finalist for Citizen of the Year? I think it’s a great honor. There are plenty of deserving people. I appreciate whoever thought of me. Why do you think it’s important to give back to the community? One thing I learned from playing Santa for the last 12 years is that there are truly some unfortunate home lives for kids. The simplest requests are so heartbreaking. Youth sports and public parks are always underfunded. Wish I could do more. If you could go back in time and do one thing over, what would that be? Everything happens for a reason, but I wouldn’t mind one last ravioli dinner with my grandparents, cousins and family. What’s something that most people don’t know about you? I have anxiety, and I talk to my dogs like they are my infant children. JIMMY FLEX CITY OF RESIDENCE » Dickinson OCCUPATION » Business owner 2021 CITIZEN OF THE YEAR FINALISTS HANK DUGIE CITY OF RESIDENCE » League City OCCUPATION » CEO/owner – Kiki Landscaping & Construction LLC; Realtor – Brockway Realty LLC; mayor pro tem – City of League CityCongratulations Jimmy Flex From the staff at CCSI Spray Foam Insulation and your loving family. Daddy we are so proud of you. You are the most important role model in our lives. Anyone who asks Izzy where her daddy is, she holds up her pinkie and says “right here”! We love you and couldn’t be more proud. 2021 | Citizen of the Year Finalists | The Daily News | 9 In what ways are you involved with the community? For the last six years, I’ve served as one of the co-pastors at Galveston Central Church. In addition to serving the spiritual needs of the congregation, our community work has focused on four areas: homelessness, immigration, LGBTQ+ inclusion and racial justice. During the pandemic, this work has included providing uninterrupted services — meals, showers, laundry, bicycle repair, computer assistance, etc. — to those experiencing homelessness (including a pop-up, emergency shelter during the recent freeze), operating a clinic to ensure underserved populations receive access to the COVID-19 vaccine, assisting our Spanish-speaking families with a variety of pandemic-related needs, and establishing creative partnerships with UTMB to provide care for those most in need. What motivates you to get involved in your community? Mother Teresa correctly diagnosed the problems of our world when she said that “we have forgotten that we belong to each other.” Martin Luther King Jr. called this the Beloved Community. Ada Maria Isasi-Diaz calls it the Kin-dom of God. Whatever you want to call it, my communal involvement stems from these radical visions that see the world turned right side up — a more just world. I’ve come to believe that this vision can only become reality if we adopt a tenacious solidarity with the poor and the oppressed, standing at the margins until the very margins are erased. Every so often you get a taste of the world as it could be. Those moments are fleeting — the world is too often a cruel and unjust place — but they are sustaining and motivating. Read full profile at galvnews.com. 2021 CITIZEN OF THE YEAR FINALISTS MICHAEL GIENGER CITY OF RESIDENCE » Galveston OCCUPATION » Pastor Galveston • Pearland • League City Alvin • Friendswood • HomeTown.Bank We salute the 2021 Citizen of the Year nominees and thank them for all they’ve done to earn the honor. These finalists stand for what makes us a community, and their spirit, talent and hard work are among the reasons we are proud to be your community bank. 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