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Affirmative ActionA warm welcome to Donald Black. A fond farewell to Cuong Nguyen. Congratulations to Isaiah Osazuwa on his promotion. The city adopted a small business enterprise classification for construction projects. Under the classification, certified SBEs will be able to pursue city projects. The city’s overall SBE construction goal is 15 percent minority/women business enterprise and 5 percent SBE. The affirmative action and contract compliance division issues the certification. – Patsy Jackson Aviation
Halfway through the year, Houston airports served 2 million more passengers than in 2005. Another 4 million travelers will bring 2006’s total traffic for the year to an all time high, 52 million. JetBlue Airways received a warm Texas welcome Sept. 7 at Hobby. JetBlue provides low-cost nonstop service between Houston and New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport. Two United Services Organizations lounges at Bush and Hobby airports make more than 24,000 military personnel per year feel right at home. The nonprofit USO provides morale, welfare and recreation services to the men and women in the United States military. A J.D. Power & Associates survey selected William P. Hobby Airport the number one small airport in the country for customer satisfaction. More than 8.2 million passengers used Hobby in 2005. Passengers chose Hobby because of its terminals, the study revealed. – Juan Alanis Building ServicesThe department received a 2005 Award of Honor in the Public Employee Section Occupational Safety & Health Contest from the Texas Safety Association. TSA recognizes departments with high safety performance and a 10 percent reduction in loss time. Welcome new team members: Lisa Alaniz, Ralph DeLeon, Mary Gibbs, Ruben Lopez, Clifford Perry, Deyanira Rodriguez, Timothy Ramirez, Tito Segouia, and Greg Shaw. Felix C. Johnson was promoted to assistant director of the new energy division. The division procures and manages electricity and natural gas and bulk vehicle fuel. Welcome to the Fleet Management Group that transferred from Finance & Administration: Victor Ayres, Ted DesForges, Albert Pimento, Mike Hall, Janet Fleck, Gita Patel, Carolyn Peterson, Barbara Johnson, and Brenda Riggan. Also, a warm welcome to Kathy Theus, Frank Antene, Rupa Bhalla and Forest R. “Bob” Christy, who heads the department’s new real estate division. – Jacquelyn Nisby City CouncilNo submission from this office. City SecretaryNo submission from this office. Controller's OfficeNo submission from this office.Convention & Entertainment
Congratulations and good-bye to Ed King. King was named the department’s Employee of the Year and then retired after 16 years. Demi Hoang, John Gonzalez, Stephanie Bell-Williams, Mitch Miszkowski, Liliana Rambo, Alexander Palacios, Shawn Hauptmann and Charles Cox were honored for workplace excellence. Sandra Dyeak, Raymond Neal and Charmaine Pilgrim are recent additions to the team. Best wishes to Deborah Price, who retired after 22 years. – Pete Radowick Finance & AdministrationNo submission from this office. FireThe department announced the establishment of the Fire Fighters Foundation of Houston, a nonprofit organization to provide nongovernmental support to Houston’s firefighters. In June, 375 applicants took the fire trainee civil service exam. That same evening, Chief Phil Boriskie gave 21 trainees the oath of office during their graduation from the training academy. Boriskie gave the oath of office to 30 new firefighters during a graduation ceremony Aug. 17 at the Wortham Center. During a special service Aug. 3, the department paid respect to and reburied the bones from graves that were accidentally dug up in the 1980s. After the remains were unearthed, they were taken to the University of Houston for study. A flower arrangement provided by the Houston Firefighters Relief and Retirement Fund was placed at the grave where a donated casket was interned with the bones. The service concluded with taps by the HFD Honor Guard. Also on Aug. 3, HFD, Houston Building Owners and Management Association and Crescent Real Estate Equities announced an effort to increase high-rise firefighter training. The training will benefit not only firefighters, but also the owners, managers and occupants of high-rise buildings in Houston. Sixteen Brazilian fire captains learned about HFD during a two-day visit that began at the training academy and continued to a special training session in College Station. The Brazilian firefighters also met with Boriskie and toured the HFD fire museum. On Aug. 8, firefighters from HFD’s community outreach gave residents of a northeast Houston neighborhood fire safety tips, fire safety information and reminded them to get a working smoke alarm. On Sept. 5, construction officially began on the new downtown fire station, located at St. Joseph Parkway and Louisiana, across from the temporary Station 8. The department established a network of decontamination task forces and trailers throughout the city. In the event hazardous materials are released into the environment, HFD will deploy these units to rapidly remove the majority of contaminants from the body, lessening the toxic effects. The task force is one of several projects supported by the Homeland Security Urban Area Initiative Grant. During the past two years, HFD has received approximately $3.5 million in SUAI grants. On Sept. 8, five to 10 volunteers from Houston H-E-B stores helped with around-the-station projects, such as yard work, cleaning, and washing equipment, at several HFD fire stations. On the morning of Sept. 11, fire stations simultaneously commemorated the fifth anniversary of the Sept.11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Firefighters conducted a single citywide salute to fallen firefighters, law enforcement, and civilians, and saluted the extraordinary response of the American fire service to the tragic events. – Alicia Whitehead Health & Human ServicesIn an effort to tackle obesity, the Women, Infants and Children program sponsored smart shopping tours through grocery stores. The tours, led by nutritionists, helped WIC recipients decipher food labels and learn about the sugar, fats and calories in the foods they purchase. It also offered “Cooking with Flair” classes to teach participants how to prepare healthy, quick, tasty and low-cost meals. The neighborhood services division created the Bureau of Human Services to help identify and coordinate services that promote healthy behaviors, manage multi-service centers, conduct and facilitate individual and family assessments, and lease office space to targeted social-service organizations. The bureau will also offer training, work on community mobilization initiatives, and provide aging services. Osaro Mgbere of the Bureau of Epidemiology has been appointed an external member of the Houston Area HIV Services Ryan White Planning Council. Mgbere will use his experience in data mining and information sharing to support the decision-making tasks of the council. The Texas Safety Association presented the department with a merit award for reducing workers’ compensation employee lost time by 15 percent in 2005. The department saved $200,000 in workers’ compensation costs. – Porfirio Villarreal Housing & Community Development
David Mincberg was named special assistant to the mayor for multi-family housing. Mincberg, a dollar-a-year executive, coordinates the policies of the city’s Department of Housing and Community Development, the Housing Authority of the city of Houston, and the Houston Housing Finance Corp. Henry L. Hadnot was named assistant director for single-family housing and inspection services. At the first Home Ownership: Multicultural event, Homebuyers Assistance Program staff, local realtors and brokers presented seminars addressing affordable housing for potential homebuyers. More than 3,200 attendees and 70 exhibitors attended the event June 17 at the George R. Brown Convention Center. Homebuyer classes were offered in Spanish, Chinese and Vietnamese. – Lester Whiteing Houston Emergency CenterNo submission from this office. Human ResourcesAnother successful Combined Municipal Campaign drive wrapped up Oct. 13 … Assistant Director Ramiro Cano and Workers’ Comp Safety manager Paul Garcia were guest lecturers at the 3rd annual Texas Workers’ Comp Forum, Sept. 13-15 in Dallas … The benefits division hosted educational health seminars in the 611 Walker Garden Level Auditorium. Veronica Juarez, supervisor of Kelsey-Seybold’s nutritional services, discussed the benefits of making informed food choices, and Dr. Dana Evans of Glaxo-Smith-Kline addressed strategies for controlling diabetes … Selection Services went live in early October with NEOGOV, which automates and streamlines employee recruitment, selections and applicant tracking … Welcome Judy Fisher, Antonio Demars, Bobby Hawkins, Doug Wellhausen, Kathryn Patrick, Alicia Solis and Sharon Blum … Congratulations on your promotions to Connie Silerio and Joyce Taylor ... Candy Clarke Aldridge is acting director. – John Perry Information TechnologyA fond farewell to Janice Johnson on her retirement after 30 years. – Bob Nowak LegalPaulette Wolfson and Ceil Price co-authored “Watch Out for the City: Local Government Can Enforce,” which was published in the State Bar of Texas Environmental Law Journal (Vol. 36, No. 2). The article explains the role of a municipality under Texas Environmental Law. Kudos to Mary McKerall, who spoke at Suing & Defending Governmental Entities Boot Camp. Goodbye to Mary Moffitt, retiring after 15 years. Special recognition to: Connie Acosta, Randy Rivin, Martin Buzak, Stephanie Lake, Brenda Mazzone, Carolyn Lacye, Robert Johnson, Mary McKerall, Susan Taylor, Josephine Griffin, Julia Sage, Tonya Willis, Yolanda Woods, Cora Garcia, Debra Caldwell, Elinore Tecson, Patricia Harris, Nydin Watlington, Cynthia King, Alice Kipple and Nelda Jerrols, who gave the gift of life during a recent blood drive. Special recognition to Sokkhorn Tan and Ben Araiza for completing the Fire Prevention & Life Safety Training Course and being certified by the Fire Department. Also, good job to Jill Massin, Samantha Green, Brenda Mazzone, Marilyn Gonzales, JoDyce Ward, Paula Slaughter-Harris, Elizabeth Jennings, Jonathan Michaels, and Nelda Jerrols on completing the AED training course and being certified in CPR and AED. Celebrating milestones are: Paula Slaugher-Harris, 25 years; Dennis Yaksich, 20 years; Penn Phillips-Price and Mary Moffitt, 15 years; Don Fleming, Kimberly Gamble, and Ernie Solas, 10 years; Mia Settle-Vinson and Dennis Beedon, 5 years. Welcome Nydin Watlington, Jennifer Watson, Bobbye Oliver, Tracy Calabrase, Angela Reed, Yvonne Luckett, Tara Shaw, Donna Capps, Elizabeth Martin, Larissa Lynch, Carol Holloway, and Jon Bradford. – Vachel Henry LibraryGoodbye to Toni Lambert, who left to become deputy director at the Austin Public Library. The Julia Ideson Building auditorium is now the HPL Express Library Downtown. Customers will find a sophisticated library center with circulation desks, self-check units, browsing and hold shelves, and free wireless Internet access. The Institute of Museum and Library Services awarded HPL a $435,200 grant as part of the Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program. The grants help offset shortages of school library media specialists, library school faculty, and librarians working in underserved communities, as well as looming shortages of library directors and other senior librarians. HPL is one of 35 recipients nationwide. The Fountain of Youth project offers outstanding youth services to Houston’s youngest readers by giving participants scholarships to enroll in the University of North Texas’ Master of Library Science online degree program. In addition, participants will attend training related to youth services and receive ongoing mentoring from library staff. Nationally and locally, public libraries are experiencing a shortage of librarians specializing in children and youth services. The library will recruit 10 candidates internally. Five candidates will be recruited from local universities or community organizations. For more information, visit www.houstonlibrary.org or call (832) 393-1313. The first class is expected to graduate by 2009. Susan Kaufman was appointed manager for the Clayton Library Center for Genealogical Research. Clayton contains a noncirculating collection that includes family histories, county histories, state and local records, lineages of various patriotic societies, books on methods of general research, and federal and state census records from 1790-1930. Family Tree Magazine recognized Clayton as one of the top 10 public libraries in the nation for genealogy research … In 2007, a new 20,000-square-foot Looscan Neighborhood Library will replace the library that has been at 2510 Willowick since 1956. The new building will double the size and include spaces for adults, teens and children, additional public access computer workstations, conference and meeting rooms, and an Internet café. Welcome: Denise L. Carter; Leah Sutherland; Troy Black; Anna Reyes; Dana Sullivan; and Patricia Miley. Gilbert Crawford earned the IPMA-CP credential from the International Public Management Association for Human Resources by meeting standards of excellence in public-sector human resources and demonstrating commitment to public sector HR. Congratulations on a well-deserved promotions to: Karen Williams; Darcy Casavant; Simon Holcroft; Darrell Blevins; Billy Hoya; Zrhysa Heath; Javier Gutierrez; Tyze-Hong Wong; Melissa Hayes; Mieka Hill; Richard Estrada; Daniel Pillow; Ana L. Fuentes; Onda Githoro; Robert Bliss; Kimberly Sowell; and Erin Cody. Happy retirement wishes to: Florence Wilkison-Baily; Terence R. Lynch; Margaret Harris; Bhavana Mistry; Sheila Leahy; Ellen Hanlon; Brenda Tirrell; Albert Clerc; and Mary Crocker. – Blanca Quezada Mayor's Office
Welcome aboard Sharon Stewart, Nicole Murphy, and Jesse Bounds. Farewell to John Walsh, deputy chief of staff for Neighborhoods and Housing. Mayor Bill White and hundreds of volunteers participated in the 3rd annual Reach Out to Dropouts Walk, a component of Expectation: GRADUATION. They walked to the homes of high school students in the Houston and Aldine independent school districts who had not returned to school at the start of the year and encouraged them to go back to earn their diploma. White was presented with a 2006 City Livability Award for Outstanding Achievement. The City Livability Awards, sponsored by the U.S. Conference of Mayors and Solid Waste Management, honor mayors for exemplary leadership in developing and implementing programs that improve the quality of life in America’s cities. White was recognized for Expectation: GRADUATION. – Debra Veal Municipal Courts AdministrationWelcome Sahira Abdool, deputy director for operations, who joins the department from Library, and Rex Billings, deputy assistant director for systems support. Congratulations on your promotions to Blanca Wells, Maribel Gomez, Sheila Graves, Alex Trevino, Avia Banks-Thomas, Aundrea Scales, Sabrina Fransaw, Kendra Nelson, Stephen Vega, Bertha Hopkins, Angelia Ivory, Sharon Jones, Li-Yu Lee and Marjorie Osborne. – Rebekah Peterson Municipal Courts JudicialFormer assistant city attorney Bonita Tolbert is the new assistant director. She replaced Randy Zamora, who was appointed chief prosecutor. The homeless docket will be held once a month in Court 8/16 at 1400 Lubbock to help remove legal barriers for defendants who are homeless and have outstanding and/or delinquent cases before the court. Defendents can perform community service in lieu of paying a fine and get or renew their Texas driver’s license or identification card, both necessary for employment and housing. The docket was implemented in conjunction with the Mayor’s Office and the Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County Inc. Goodbye Dora “Jeni” Almengor, who retired after 17 years. You’ll be dearly missed. Welcome Carl Browning and Mary Truman, and welcome back Lilly Warden. – Lilly Warden Parks & RecreationOn Aug. 25, Texas Parks and Wildlife signed over Lake Houston State Park to the city. The nearly 5,000-acre park is a beautiful forest crossed by creeks and trails. Long-time employee Joe Bill Cochran was named the park’s director. Thanks to all the aquatics division employees for a successful season. Es Tu Cancha, the NBA’s U.S. Hispanic initiative, and Tyson Foods are refurbishing the basketball court at De Zavala Park as part of their campaign to promote better health among America’s youth. Rockets legend Clyde Drexler, Rockets Spanish announcer Adrian Chavarria, City Councilwoman Carol Alvarado, and Parks’ recreation and wellness deputy director Doug Earle attended the groundbreaking Sept. 7. Work should be finished by the start of the NBA season. Parks teamed with ESPN 790AM and Clear Channel Communications to promote city-owned golf courses with Play Two Win. Throughout September, players at Brock Park, Memorial Park, Gus Wortham, and Sharpstown courses were eligible to receive passes to the Administaff Small Business Classic. ESPN 790’s “Tee to Green” golf show with radio personality Doug Pike broadcast live from the courses Saturday mornings in September. Be sure to pick up your copy of the Fall Activities in the Park catalog in December, or look for it at www.houstontx.gov/parks/index.html. – Don Whitaker Planning & DevelopmentThe department began reviewing and changing development rules for Houston’s urban transit corridors. Transit corridors are areas that are being changed by growth, increasing density, rapid transit or major road construction. These rule changes help shape the future commercial and residential character in these areas. For more information, visit www.houstonplanning.com. – Suzy Hartgrove PoliceNo submission from this office. Public Works & EngineeringBicycling Magazine selected Houston as a 2006 BikeTown USA participant. Fifty Houstonians were chosen to receive a Giant bicycle, helmet and gear. BikeTown USA aims to change people’s lives one bicycle at a time. Participants log their experience and Bicycling chronicles their story. For more information, visit www.bicycling.com/biketown. – Lilibeth Andre Solid Waste ManagementNo submission from this office. | 
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