january 2017 ewi newsletter

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CHARTERED 1957 HOUSTON’S 2017 JANUARY EDITION President’s Message: 1-2 Upcoming Event Flyers: 3-4 Calendar of Events, Did You Know: 5 Birthdays and Anniversaries: 6 Firm Spotlight—Lexis Florist: 7-9 Have You Met Our Newest Members: 10 EWI December Meeting Recap: 11-15 Professional Development—Coping with Stress at Work: 16-17 Mission, Vision Statement, Values, Strategic Goals: 18 EWI of Houston Board Recaps: 19-20 Officers and Directors, Advisors: 21 Committee Chairs: 22 2016-2017 Officers & Directors President Donna Gurney JLT Specialty USA Vice President President Elect Marji Zamora Minuteman Press Post Oak Secretary Carole Pitts John Daugherty, Realtors Treasurer Stephanie Cleary Martha Turner Sotheby’s International Realty Communications Rebekah Robles Jackson and Company Director-at-Large, B/C/DP Elisa Garcia Houston First Corporation Fundraising Sarah Smith JW Marriott Houston Downtown Membership Jessica Witek The Houstonian Hotel, Club and Spa Program Tasha Pirzad Sewell Automotive Companies Sergeant-at-Arms Lindsey Duhon Hilcorp Energy Company President’s Message President’s Message President’s Message Happy New Year! For me 2016 was a very busy and active year! Besides my commitments for EWI, I had several life events, some planned and others unplanned, that kept me extremely busy this year. There were times when I wondered if I was going to make it through the last three months of this year. Whether you know it or not, each of you helped me get through those stressful and busy times! I received many emails, cards and encouraging words usually at the perfect times – times when I felt badly when I missed something or was late making a commitment. We don’t always get to plan our circumstances in life and sometimes we are thrown a curveball; but many times, it is a special someone who helps us through tricky times. I am proud I made it through 2016 and I am ready to roll in 2017! Thank you for your undying support of me this year – as I have said many times, you all inspire me to achieve greatness! Our key to success this month is Legacy which is important as our Chapter softly celebrates its 60 th Anniversary at the January meeting. What Legacy did the founding members of the Houston Chapter leave us? What did we learn from them? What will our Legacy be for years to come? First, our Chapter started with a good foundation. We had Member Firms who were among the finest companies in Houston and those Member Firms had stellar Representatives. I have no knowledge if our founding members knew or planned the Legacy they would leave but what I do know is that year after year, our Chapter became great, greater and is now the greatest Chapter in the organization. The hard work, superior commitment, and loyal and dedicated actions helped make our Chapter what it is today. Now, we must strive to continue these successes and make sure the Chapter is around another 60 years. At the beginning of the New Year, it is always a great time to reflect on our own lives. What is your Legacy going to be? What will people remember about you? What things will you leave for those following you in life? Will people be inspired by your actions and will they yearn to be like you? What sacrifices will you make to help others? What time will you invest in making a difference? Will you achieve greatness or just be on the fringe waiting for others to lead and be trailblazers? The choice is yours! You can be whatever you want to be, just think about it, make a plan, and DO IT! Donna Gurney, JTL Specialty USA

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Page 1: January 2017 EWI Newsletter

CHARTERED 1957 HOUSTON’S 2017 JANUARY EDITION

President’s Message: 1-2 • Upcoming Event Flyers: 3-4 • Calendar of Events, Did You Know: 5

Birthdays and Anniversaries: 6 • Firm Spotlight—Lexis Florist: 7-9

Have You Met Our Newest Members: 10 • EWI December Meeting Recap: 11-15

Professional Development—Coping with Stress at Work: 16-17

Mission, Vision Statement, Values, Strategic Goals: 18 • EWI of Houston Board Recaps: 19-20

Officers and Directors, Advisors: 21 • Committee Chairs: 22

2016-2017 Officers & Directors

President Donna Gurney

JLT Specialty USA

Vice President President Elect

Marji Zamora Minuteman Press

Post Oak

Secretary Carole Pitts

John Daugherty, Realtors

Treasurer Stephanie Cleary

Martha Turner Sotheby’s

International Realty

Communications Rebekah Robles

Jackson and Company

Director-at-Large, B/C/DP

Elisa Garcia Houston First Corporation

Fundraising Sarah Smith

JW Marriott Houston Downtown

Membership Jessica Witek

The Houstonian Hotel, Club and Spa

Program Tasha Pirzad

Sewell Automotive Companies

Sergeant-at-Arms Lindsey Duhon Hilcorp Energy

Company

President’s Message President’s Message President’s Message Happy New Year!

For me 2016 was a very busy and active year! Besides my

commitments for EWI, I had several life events, some planned and

others unplanned, that kept me extremely busy this year. There were

times when I wondered if I was going to make it through the last three

months of this year. Whether you know it or not, each of you helped

me get through those stressful and busy times! I received many

emails, cards and encouraging words usually at the perfect times –

times when I felt badly when I missed something or was late making a

commitment.

We don’t always get to plan our circumstances in life and sometimes

we are thrown a curveball; but many times, it is a special someone who helps us through

tricky times. I am proud I made it through 2016 and I am ready to roll in 2017! Thank

you for your undying support of me this year – as I have said many times, you all inspire

me to achieve greatness!

Our key to success this month is Legacy which is important as our Chapter softly

celebrates its 60th Anniversary at the January meeting. What Legacy did the founding

members of the Houston Chapter leave us? What did we learn from them? What will our

Legacy be for years to come? First, our Chapter started with a good foundation. We had

Member Firms who were among the finest companies in Houston and those Member

Firms had stellar Representatives. I have no knowledge if our founding members knew or

planned the Legacy they would leave but what I do know is that year after year, our

Chapter became great, greater and is now the greatest Chapter in the organization. The

hard work, superior commitment, and loyal and dedicated actions helped make our

Chapter what it is today. Now, we must strive to continue these successes and make sure

the Chapter is around another 60 years.

At the beginning of the New Year, it is always a great time to reflect on our own lives.

What is your Legacy going to be? What will people remember about you? What things

will you leave for those following you in life? Will people be inspired by your actions and

will they yearn to be like you? What sacrifices will you make to help others? What time

will you invest in making a difference? Will you achieve greatness or just be on the fringe

waiting for others to lead and be trailblazers? The choice is yours! You can be whatever

you want to be, just think about it, make a plan, and DO IT!

Donna Gurney,

JTL Specialty USA

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President’s MessagePresident’s MessagePresident’s Message CONTINUED

With the swift passing of Gail McWilliams, our Professional Development Speaker in

November, it made me again realize how precious life is! It is so important to have a full

and happy life, and I hope that your EWI involvement is something that you cherish and

makes you happy. What we do to serve others is one of the most important things…we must

always challenge ourselves to help those less fortunate! Our Philanthropy and Scholarship

Programs are two shining areas of EWI, and I hope you value our Chapter’s commitment to

helping those less fortunate. Also, enlightening and empowering our members is an

important part of our Legacy. Get involved, become part of the Leadership Team, and try

your best to make people feel special and a part of a greater goal.

In closing, I will share with you what I hope my Legacy to the Chapter will be; I aspire to help my Leadership Team

achieve new heights – to be even better leaders than they are now and to look at their own roles and make them

more efficient and effective. I want them to achieve their dreams and goals for themselves personally and in EWI.

For each of you, I meant what I said during my acceptance speech. Though I want you to remember the things I

have said and done, it is more important how I make you feel this year. I want you to be excited to be a part of a

Chapter whose goal is to give…we give to our community, our students and to our members. Also, please consider

helping me achieve my goal of giving a significant scholarship through the $60 for 60 campaign….any amount, large

or small, will make a difference.

Thank you again for being one of the keys to our Chapter’s success. I can’t wait to see all we accomplish in 2017!

GET EXCITED!

In your service,

D.

Legacy is anything handed down from the past - - - as from an ancestor or predecessor. As we celebrate our

Chapter’s 60th anniversary, we recognize the Legacy handed down from our founding members. Our 59 Past

Presidents served the Chapter well and set a wonderful example of how to lead, and led well. Each one of them left

the organization better than when they started and those improvements were as unique as each

individual. Sometimes we forget to be thankful to those who have served the Chapter before us. So today, we give

homage and say thank you to all our past leaders for giving us a lasting Legacy of excellence. It is one of the most

remarkable keys to our Chapter’s success.

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Upcoming Event for PhilanthropyUpcoming Event for PhilanthropyUpcoming Event for Philanthropy

Submitted by Shari Schiffman, 2016-2017 Philanthropy Chair, representing John Daugherty Realtors

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Upcoming Event for FundraisingUpcoming Event for FundraisingUpcoming Event for Fundraising

Submitted by Sarah Smith, 2016-2017 Fundraising Chair, representing JW Marriott Houston Downtown

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Houston’s Calendar of Events

Thursday, January 12—Omni Houston Hotel January Chapter Meeting

Saturday, January 14—Philanthropy’s Fleece Blankets Project

50 Briar Hollow Lane #700, Houston, Texas 77027 10:00 AM—2:00 PM

Wednesday, January 18—Hilcorp Energy Company

Board Meeting with Committee Chairs

Thursday, January 19—Kendra Scott Rice Village Join the Fundraising Committee and Kendra Scott Gives Back benefiting BCDP

2411 Times Boulevard #120, Houston, Texas 77005 6:00 PM—8:00 PM

Thursday, February 9—Rebels Honky Tonk

February Chapter Meeting

Corporate’s Calendar of Events

Tuesday, January 10—2:00 PM CST Professional Development Webinar

Unlock the Wellness Code: The Secret to Being

Happy, Healthy, and Energized Everyday

Register Here

Did You Know?

$60 for 60 is full underway!

We have already received close to $1,500 in donations. Thank you for helping us get closer

to our goal!

Donations can be made in any increment on the EWI Houston webpage.

Please click here to donate!

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FebruaryFebruary Delynn WalkerDelynn Walker 2nd2nd Lily PortalesLily Portales 6th6th Debbie CaseyDebbie Casey 10th10th Diane MaoDiane Mao 15th15th Michele VotanoMichele Votano 15th15th Erica ZackErica Zack 16th16th Carole PittsCarole Pitts 21st21st Cindy JoutrawCindy Joutraw 25th25th Nellie KerbowNellie Kerbow 26th26th Sandy GraciaSandy Gracia 28th28th

JanuaryJanuary ConocoPhillipsConocoPhillips 15 Years15 Years CenterPoint Energy, Inc. CenterPoint Energy, Inc. 14 Years14 Years Houston Symphony SocietyHouston Symphony Society 12 Years12 Years James J. Postl InterestsJames J. Postl Interests 4 Years4 Years

JanuaryJanuary Lynn RipleyLynn Ripley 1st1st Evan CampEvan Camp 2nd2nd Mary SpeltzMary Speltz 6th6th Marji ZamoraMarji Zamora 6th6th Virginia Schneider IloffVirginia Schneider Iloff 10th10th Rene AzingerRene Azinger 15th15th Cordelia OrozcoCordelia Orozco 26th26th

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FIRM SPOTLIGHTFIRM SPOTLIGHTFIRM SPOTLIGHT

Discover a luxurious oasis at Omni Houston Hotel. Situated on impeccably manicured grounds, the Houston

Galleria hotel features the finest in Houston accommodations with 378 spacious guest rooms, including 33

luxury suites. Omni Houston Hotel is centrally located in the prestigious Uptown Post Oak/Galleria area and

is just minutes from all of the excitement that Houston, Texas has to offer. You are just 10 minutes by car

from the central business district and 30 minutes from George Bush Intercontinental Airport or 25 minutes

from William P. Hobby Airport. Of course, our exceptional amenities and Four Diamond service may make it

hard to leave your room.

Each spacious room welcomes you with graceful décor and

exquisite appointments. Outside your window, enjoy

magnificent skyline views or look upon one of our outdoor

pools. Inside, from our Deluxe Rooms to the Presidential Suite,

you’ll find comforts beyond compare.

For room reservations: www.omnihotels.com

Dining

Beyond our stylish accommodations, Omni Houston Hotel offers a number of signature dining options:

NOÉ GRILL: Is open for Dinner and offers a sustainable menu with globally inspired cuisine featuring Pan

Asia undertones.

Café on the Green: Offers delectable American cuisine for breakfast or lunch.

Reservations for NOE GRILL can be made using the Open Table App.

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FIRM SPOTLIGHTFIRM SPOTLIGHTFIRM SPOTLIGHT CONTINUED

Nightlife

If you’re looking for an upscale, energetic, nightlife experience, look no farther than the Black Swan night

club. The silver-and-black motif radiates glamour and edge, and offers a layer of seduction by way of dark and

textured walls. Black Swan’s open design allows for a constant flow of club-goers and encourages dancing with

a recessed and LED lit dancefloor. The opulent Nest VIP lounge features streamlined bench and free-standing

seating that is as comfortable as it is beautiful.

The Black Swan is open from 8:00pm – 2:00am Friday and Saturday evening. It is also available for private

receptions, events or parties. For more information, contact the team at [email protected]

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FIRM SPOTLIGHTFIRM SPOTLIGHTFIRM SPOTLIGHT CONTINUED

Spa

Open daily, Mokara Spa contains more than 7,100 square feet

of treatment space including a relaxation lounge. Mokara Spa

offers a full range of face and body treatments and is the only

facility in Houston that offers the highly effective and non-

invasive SKINI Quantum Lifting Facial Treatment.

All appointments include complimentary access to the spa's

whirlpools, saunas, relaxation lounge and other facilities. After

your service, enjoy a glass of Chardonnay or one of our

signature full-leaf teas in our meditation lounge.

Complimentary self-parking is available for our spa guests.

For appointments: 713.624.4876

The Omni Houston Hotel is truly an escape from the mundane,

an urban oasis with two outdoor swimming pools, one which is

saltwater and heated for your enjoyment as well as a state-of-

the art fitness center which is available for complimentary use

by our guests. Tucked away at 4 Riverway, we offer the quiet

solitude of an untouched natural environment paired with the

convenience of a desirable uptown location.

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Have You Met Our Newest Members?Have You Met Our Newest Members?Have You Met Our Newest Members? Submitted by Jessica Witek, 2016—2017 Membership Director, representing The Houstonian Hotel, Club and Spa

Kelsie Frommel, representing Lasco Enterprises, is the Event Sales Manager at The

Tasting Room. She oversees the coordination of event sales for The Tasting Room at

City Centre in addition to being responsible for selling, marketing and coordination

of all the event spaces, handling inquiries, and event details from start to finish.

The Tasting Room offers guests a wide selection of wines from around the world. In

addition to their superior service, they create a comfortable atmosphere for guests to

get serious about their wine.

Kelsie was born and raised in the Houston area and proud to call Houston home.

Coming from a very large and loud family, that can sometimes be overwhelming, not

a day goes by that she’s not thankful for such a large support system. For three years,

she lived in Alaska and quickly realized she needed to get back to Texas! She loves

Houston because there is always something new to experience whether it’s checking

out a new restaurant or going to one of the many festivals happening around town.

Kelsie enjoys the great outdoors whether it’s riding her bike or checking out a new

patio. When time allows, she enjoys going to Austin and the surrounding areas to check out new trails and experience new

adventures. In the past couple of years, she has found a new love for flipping furniture and DIY, being hands on and creating

trash into treasure!

EWI stands out to Kelsie because she wants to be part of an organization that will help her grow in her personal and

professional life. She feels becoming an EWI member will give her the motivation and empowerment she has been seeking.

Kelsie looks forward to creating and building relationships with members who are on similar paths as well as members who

are already established in their career.

Megan Henderson, representing Lasco Enterprises, is the Director of Sales & Events.

She works with all their restaurants and Event Sales Managers to market their

concept and services to the public as well as creating a memorable experience for

everyone that enters their restaurants.

Lasco Enterprises strives to provide exceptional experiences for all of their guests in

all of their restaurants through exquisite cuisine and impeccable service. At Lasco,

they passionately create, innovate, revolutionize, and strive to be the best; always

improving and maintaining trust in the community. They focus on the daily

successes and impact they make in the community. There’s nothing better than

hosting a wedding reception or baby shower and knowing Lasco played a part in that

joyous occasion.

Megan is originally from Brenham, home of Blue Bell, but has happily called

Houston home for 11 years! She has been married to Don for 2 1/2 years and has a

family of 4 fur babies, 2 of which are rescues. They spend their weekends at their

ranch in Crockett, Texas, raising their Watusi cattle and Sunday nights with her

sisters and nieces who live 5 minutes away from them in Tomball. Her favorite part

about Houston is it’s diversity. No matter what area you are in, there is always

something new and interesting whether it’s eclectic restaurants, educational

museums or interactive festivals hosted through Houston. She is an entertainer at heart. She never feels like she has a job

because hosting parties for family and friends is one of her favorite things. Along with the party planning, she is a lover of

wine...all wines, in fact!

Megan has been a member of the Greater Houston Partnership for 3 years and an ambassador for 2 years.

She is looking forward to women empowering and supporting each other in their professional and personal endeavors.

Megan believes that we all have something to teach each other, and she looks forward to learning how she can be more

successful at her job and life.

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December Meeting RecapDecember Meeting RecapDecember Meeting Recap Submitted by Shannon McNair, representing The Rose

The beautiful and historic Hotel ICON hosted the December Chapter Meeting

starting with a networking reception featuring tasty treats from Hotel ICON and

the ever growing toy donation pile for Blue Santa.

Everyone was seated and President Donna Gurney, representing JLT Specialty

USA, opened the meeting with an update on the health of November meeting guest

speaker Gail McWilliams.

Donna also discussed the key of the month – Passion, the new exhibitor

program for member firms, and the $60 for 60 scholarship fundraising project.

There are a few more volunteers needed for the ASIST scholarship selection

panel.

Anniversaries were recognized:

Seven years - Austin Industrial and Dressed For Success Two years – Alley Theatre, Amegy Bank, and Junior Achievement One year – Pape-Dawson Engineers and Global Ground Transport To accommodate some last minute scheduling, the meeting began with our guest speaker. Following an

invocation by Lily Portales, representing Austin Industrial, guests enjoyed their lovely meal.

Donna introduced Elena Davis from I Am Waters Foundation, a local nonprofit providing water to the area

homeless.

Each water bottle includes an inspirational message and was provided to all guests

at their table. Our EWI Key Word Passion matched perfectly to Elena, a former

supermodel, who followed her passion.

Elena shared her story. Her story begins with a transient childhood, living on food

stamps, moving frequently, and a mother battling addiction and mental illness. She

was discovered and introduced to famed modeling agent Eileen Ford and

successfully pursued a career as a super model working for top fashion houses and

magazines around the world.

After her successful modeling career and settling in Houston with her husband

Gregg Davis, Elena had a chance encounter at an intersection with a homeless

woman who would provide her with a passion to serve. This homeless woman didn’t

want money, she only wanted water. Elena happened to have a bottle of water with

her. Elena couldn’t get her out of her mind and felt a physical push, the feeling of a

hand on her chest. She knew she had to do something.

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December Meeting RecapDecember Meeting RecapDecember Meeting Recap CONTINUED

Thus began I Am Waters - a foundation providing bottled water to area homeless through shelters and

churches acting as distribution centers. To sustain the funding, Elena created a water company, I Am Brands,

which would sell bottled water to consumers through area Whole Foods. 100% of funds from the sale of water

bottles to consumers is put into the non-profit foundation providing bottled water to the homeless.

All bottles of water also feature a positive message offering hope and compassion to the recipient.

At the end of Elena’s moving story, EWI Philanthropy committee proudly presented I Am Waters Foundation

with a $1,000 donation to support their work.

Donna then introduced Sergeant Georgane Davis and Officer Martha Bailey from HPD’s Blue Santa program.

The Blue Santa program began in 1984 with one officer wanting to help a shoplifter who was shoplifting to

provide gifts to his family. Now more than 1,500 police officers donate from their paychecks throughout the

year to fund the purchasing of toys to approximately

10,000 economically disadvantaged children each year.

This program also offers an opportunity for officers to

build relationships to those in the community they serve.

There were amazing “Ugly” Christmas sweaters on display

on representatives, both ugly and not so ugly.

This year’s Ugly Sweater winners were Charlotte Daigle,

Katherine Brown, and Marji Zamora.

This month there were many great door prizes and many

happy winners!

This month’s member promote table was Hilton Post Oak

who also provided special raffle.

All guests were also treated to a jar of famous Hotel ICON candied pecans.

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Past President Priscilla Massey, Sustaining Member Lily Portales, Austin Industrial, Inc.

Past President Kay Bart, Skerl & Associates

Past President Delynn Walker, Texas Southern University Elisa Garcia, Houston First Corporation

Sandy Gracia, Houston First Corporation

Sara Waguespack, John Daugherty, Realtors Deborah Jones, CenterPoint Energy, Inc.

Vanessa Lazalde, TransCanada Past President Linda Petticrew, Shell Energy Resources Company

Liz Palacios, TransCanada

Past President Carolyn Noack, LINBECK Susan Silverman, MetroMarketing Services, Inc.

Executive Becky Dunn, MetroMarketing Services, Inc.

Barbara Stokes, Amegy Bank Tasha Pirzad, Sewell Automotive Companies Shari Schiffman, John Daugherty, Realtors

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Executive Mary Margaret Carroll, MMCarroll & Associates Cherie Fontenot, Petroleum Club of Houston

President Donna Gurney, JLT Specialty USA Guest Speaker Elena Davis, I Am Waters Foundation

Jessica Irey, Guest Jessica Witek, The Houstonian Hotel, Club and Spa

Ashley Burney, Pape-Dawson Engineers, Inc. Lindsey Duhon, Hilcorp Energy Company

Patricia Martin, Memorial Hermann Suzanne Trevino, Sheraton Suites Houston Near the Galleria

Carolyn Toriggino, Sustaining Member Cindy Joutrow, CenterPoint Energy

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Everyone who has ever held a job has, at some point, felt the pressure of work-related stress. Any job can have

stressful elements, even if you love what you do. In the short-term, you may experience pressure to meet a deadline

or to fulfill a challenging obligation. But when work stress becomes chronic, it can be overwhelming — and harmful to

both physical and emotional health.

Unfortunately such long-term stress is all too common. In 2012, 65 percent of Americans cited work as a top source

of stress, according to the American Psychological Association's (APA) annual Stress in America Survey. Only 37

percent of Americans surveyed said they were doing an excellent or very good job managing stress.

A 2013 survey by APA's Center for Organizational Excellence also found that job-related stress is a serious issue.

More than one-third of working Americans reported experiencing chronic work stress and just 36 percent said their

organizations provide sufficient resources to help them manage that stress.

You can't always avoid the tensions that occur on the job. Yet you can take steps to manage work-related stress.

Common Sources of Work Stress

Certain factors tend to go hand-in-hand with work-related stress. Some common workplace stressors are:

Low salaries.

Excessive workloads.

Few opportunities for growth or advancement.

Work that isn't engaging or challenging.

Lack of social support.

Not having enough control over job-related decisions.

Conflicting demands or unclear performance expectations.

Effects of Uncontrolled Stress

Unfortunately, work-related stress doesn't just disappear when you head home for the day. When stress persists, it

can take a toll on your health and well-being.

In the short term, a stressful work environment can contribute to problems such as headache, stomachache, sleep

disturbances, short temper and difficulty concentrating. Chronic stress can result in anxiety, insomnia, high blood

pressure and a weakened immune system. It can also contribute to health conditions such as depression, obesity and

heart disease. Compounding the problem, people who experience excessive stress often deal with it in unhealthy ways

such as overeating, eating unhealthy foods, smoking cigarettes or abusing drugs and alcohol.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENTPROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENTPROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Submitted by Barbara Stokes, 2016-2017 Professional Development Chair, representing Amegy Bank

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Taking Steps to Manage Stress

Track your stressors. Keep a journal for a week or two to identify which situations create the most stress and

how you respond to them. Record your thoughts, feelings and information about the environment, including the

people and circumstances involved, the physical setting and how you reacted. Did you raise your voice? Get a

snack from the vending machine? Go for a walk? Taking notes can help you find patterns among your stressors

and your reactions to them.

Develop healthy responses. Instead of attempting to fight stress with fast food or alcohol, do your best to

make healthy choices when you feel the tension rise. Exercise is a great stress-buster. Yoga can be an excellent

choice, but any form of physical activity is beneficial. Also make time for hobbies and favorite activities. Whether

it's reading a novel, going to concerts or playing games with your family, make sure to set aside time for the

things that bring you pleasure. Getting enough good-quality sleep is also important for effective stress

management. Build healthy sleep habits by limiting your caffeine intake late in the day and minimizing

stimulating activities, such as computer and television use, at night.

Establish boundaries. In today's digital world, it's easy to feel pressure to be available 24 hours a day.

Establish some work-life boundaries for yourself. That might mean making a rule not to check email from home

in the evening, or not answering the phone during dinner. Although people have different preferences when it

comes to how much they blend their work and home life, creating some clear boundaries between these realms

can reduce the potential for work-life conflict and the stress that goes with it.

Take time to recharge. To avoid the negative effects of chronic stress and burnout, we need time to replenish

and return to our pre-stress level of functioning. This recovery process requires “switching off” from work by

having periods of time when you are neither engaging in work-related activities, nor thinking about work. That's

why it's critical that you disconnect from time to time, in a way that fits your needs and preferences. Don't let

your vacation days go to waste. When possible, take time off to relax and unwind, so you come back to work

feeling reinvigorated and ready to perform at your best. When you're not able to take time off, get a quick boost

by turning off your smartphone and focusing your attention on non-work activities for a while.

Learn how to relax. Techniques such as meditation, deep breathing exercises and mindfulness (a state in

which you actively observe present experiences and thoughts without judging them) can help melt away stress.

Start by taking a few minutes each day to focus on a simple activity like breathing, walking or enjoying a meal.

The skill of being able to focus purposefully on a single activity without distraction will get stronger with practice

and you'll find that you can apply it to many different aspects of your life.

Talk to your supervisor. Healthy employees are typically more productive, so your boss has an incentive to

create a work environment that promotes employee well-being. Start by having an open conversation with your

supervisor. The purpose of this isn't to lay out a list of complaints, but rather to come up with an effective plan for

managing the stressors you've identified, so you can perform at your best on the job. While some parts of the plan

may be designed to help you improve your skills in areas such as time management, other elements might include

identifying employer-sponsored wellness resources you can tap into, clarifying what's expected of you, getting

necessary resources or support from colleagues, enriching your job to include more challenging or meaningful

tasks, or making changes to your physical workspace to make it more comfortable and reduce strain.

Get some support. Accepting help from trusted friends and family members can improve your ability to

manage stress. Your employer may also have stress management resources available through an employee

assistance program (EAP), including online information, available counseling and referral to mental health

professionals, if needed. If you continue to feel overwhelmed by work stress, you may want to talk to a

psychologist, who can help you better manage stress and change unhealthy behavior.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENTPROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENTPROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CONTINUTED

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Houston Chapter Vision Statement

EWI® of Houston aspires to be the premier business

organization of choice for member firms and their key

individuals. Recognized by the Houston community as an

avenue to achieve personal and professional excellence, every

activity of the Houston Chapter will fulfill at least one of the

objectives of the EWI Mission Statement.

Our Mission

EWI brings together key individuals from

diverse businesses for the purpose of

promoting member firms, enhancing

personal and professional development, and

encouraging community involvement.

Our Vision

To be a global women’s organization of

engaged members empowering others for

positive change.

Our Strategic Goals

To strengthen, expand, and broaden

membership.

To provide member firms with

meaningful benefits.

To actively promote education for all

representatives.

To achieve a high level of community

EWI Corporate Offices

3860 South 2300 East, Suite 211

Salt Lake City, Utah 84019

Email: [email protected]

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EWI of Houston Monthly Newsletter

January 2017

ewihouston.org

EWI of HOUSTON BOARD RECAPSEWI of HOUSTON BOARD RECAPSEWI of HOUSTON BOARD RECAPS

Communications Report Communications Report Communications Report Submitted by Rebekah Robles, 2016-2017 Communications Director, representing Jackson and Company

The December Connect was distributed on Friday, December 9th, 2016.

The deadline to submit information for December Connect is Monday, December 19th, 2016.

The January Connect will be distributed by Friday, January 6th, 2016.

Membership Report Membership Report Membership Report Submitted by Jessica Witek, 2016-2017 Membership Director, representing The Houstonian Hotel, Club and Spa

Firm Resignations: None Representative Resignations: Rachel Carranza—Sewell Automotive Companies Suzanne Humphrey—Arch-Con Corporation Rene Cardy—ConocoPhillips New Reps: Lynn Ripley—Oakwood Worldwide Vanessa Lazalde—TransCanada

Replacement Reps: None Reps Pending: Arch-Con Corporation Anadarko ChaseSource LP Mustang Machinery Company, Ltd. Sewell Automotive Companies Shell Energy Resources Company Wells Fargo Bank

Membership Status as of December 13, 2016

94 Total Representatives

75 Member Firms 94 Representatives (10 Pending) 21 Sustaining Members

Life Member 1 Honorary Members 5 Transitional Members 2

5 Firms with 3 Representatives 23 Firms with 2 Representatives 66 Firms with 1 Representative 4 Member Firms with All Rep(s) Pending

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EWI of HOUSTON BOARD RECAPSEWI of HOUSTON BOARD RECAPSEWI of HOUSTON BOARD RECAPS

Fundraising Report Fundraising Report Fundraising Report Submitted by Sarah Smith, 2016-2017 Fundraising Director, representing JW Marriott Houston Downtown

Committee Meeting Recap Committee Meeting is scheduled of 12/19 at 6pm at the JW Marriott Houston Downtown Renoir Board Room.

Looking Ahead: Kendra Scott Give Back event is scheduled for 1/19 at the Rice Village location.

Board Report The Fundraising Committee held a successful door prize drawing on the evening of Thursday, December 8, at Hotel ICON. Many thanks to Katherine Brown and LaTonya Edmeade for selling door prize tickets. We raised $625 in door prize tickets sales!!! Thank you to LaTonya Edmeade and Tasha Pirzad for assisting with handing out door prizes. The credit card option really helps! Thank you to our generous door prize contributors: November Door Prizes:

“Trim the Tree” Holiday Basket (Courtesy of Katherine Brown, representing Martha Turner Sotheby’s International Realty)

One complimentary overnight stay at Hotel ICON (Courtesy of Hotel ICON)

Red Sawyer Street Declan Kate Spade Purse (Courtesy of Donna Gurney, representing JLT Specialty USA)

One complimentary full make up lesson by a Jentry Kelley Makeup Artist at the plush Cameo Plastic Surgery West Avenue Beauty Studio (Courtesy of Jentry Kelley Cosmetics)

Four tickets to Society for the Performing Arts Presents Odd Squad – LIVE! On January 21, 2017, at Jones Hall (Courtesy of Society for the Performing Arts)

Ann Taylor Crystal and Gold Bracelet (Courtesy of Cherie Fontenot, representing Petroleum Club of Houston)

Sheraton Plush Robe (Courtesy of Suzanne Trevino, representing Sheraton Suites Houston Near the Galleria)

Serente Spa gift card and an Aveda gift set. (The gift set includes an 8.5 oz Rosemary Mint hand and body wash, 1.7 oz Rosemary Mint Body Lotion, 1.4 oz Hand Relief Moisturizing Crème, 1.4 oz Foot Relief Moisturizing Crème, and .5 oz Botanical Kinetics Energizing Eye Crème)

(Courtesy of Marlene Meyers, representing Junior Achievement of Southeast Texas, Inc.) Two Red and Black Zebra Patterned Pashminas

(Courtesy of Chris Noble, representing The Rose) I Need Help With: I will be traveling the night of the Kendra Scott event, I am asking my committee for assistance.

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Officers and DirectorsOfficers and DirectorsOfficers and Directors

SECRETARY

Carole Pitts John Daugherty, Realtors [email protected] 713.626.3930

MEMBERSHIP DIRECTOR Jessica Witek The Houstonian Hotel, Club and Spa [email protected] 713.685.6714

FUNDRAISING DIRECTOR Sarah Smith JW Marriott Downtown [email protected] 713.927.3663

DIRECTOR-AT-LARGE Elisa Garcia Houston First Corporation [email protected] 713.437.5207

AdvisorsAdvisorsAdvisors

Kay Bart Skerl & Associates [email protected] 713.858.6200 Past President 2003

Kori Peters Hilcorp Energy Company [email protected] 713.209.2496 Past President 2013

Linda Petticrew Shell Energy Resources Com-pany [email protected] 832.337.3121 Past President 2015

Delynn Walker Texas Southern University [email protected] 713.313.6874 Past President 2012

TREASURER Stephanie Cleary Martha Turner Sotheby’s International Realty stephanie.cleary@sothebys homes.com 713.558.3271

SERGEANT-AT-ARMS Lindsey Duhon Hilcorp Energy Company [email protected] 713-289-2626

PROGRAM DIRECTOR Tasha Pirzad Sewell Automotive Companies [email protected] 281.496.8797

VICE PRESIDENT PRESIDENT ELECT Marji Zamora Minuteman Press [email protected] 713.623.0703

PRESIDENT Donna Gurney JLT Specialty USA [email protected] 713.325.7594

COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR Rebekah Robles Jackson and Company [email protected] 713.523.5780

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Committee ChairsCommittee ChairsCommittee Chairs

EWISP Stephanie Hill Recipe For Success [email protected] 713.520.0443

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT Barbara Stokes Amegy Bank N.A. [email protected] 713.232.2114

HISTORIAN Shayne Abramowitz ConocoPhillips [email protected] 281.293.1259

PUBLIC RELATIONS SOCIAL MEDIA Terri Lemons Martha Turner Sotheby’s International Realty [email protected] 713.558.1996

PARLIAMENTARIAN Kay Bart Skerl & Associates [email protected] 713.858.6200

NOMINATING Linda Petticrew Shell Energy Resources Company [email protected] 832.337.3121

STRATEGIC PLANNING Carolyn Noack LINBECK [email protected] 713.966.5811

WEB Cheri Ferguson Schlumberger Limited [email protected] 713.375.3423

MENTOR RETENTION Lily Portales Austin Industrial, Inc. [email protected] 713.641.3400

HOSPITALITY Mary Speltz CIMA ENERGY, LTD. [email protected] 713.739.6629

PHILANTHROPY Shari Schiffman John Daugherty, Realtors [email protected] 713.626.3930

ASIST Jamila Owens Metro Star [email protected] 713.739.4883

BYLAWS Erlinda Quintanilla H-E-B [email protected] 713.329.3924

COURTESY Liz Palacios TransCanada [email protected] 832.320.5488