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Summer 07
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Affirmative ActionNo submission from this office. Aviation
Passengers, air cargo and aircraft operations registered dramatic increases in 2006. George Bush Intercontinental and William P. Hobby airports served more than 51 million passengers, marking a 6.5 percent increase, or more than three million more travelers, from 2005. International passenger traffic from Bush increased by more than 7.3 percent. At Ellington Field, total aircraft operations increased by 21 percent. Houston is only months away from historic air service between Bush and Dubai International Airport in the United Arab Emirates. Emirates Airlines announced it will begin the new passenger service in December 2007, with flights three times a week and plans for daily service by February 2008. This makes Houston the second U.S. city to receive direct passenger service to Dubai. The band was in full swing, refreshments were served and the official logo was unfurled as the department kicked off the year-long celebration of Hobby’s 80th anniversary. Neighbors, airport tenants, travelers and guests gathered to hear stories shared by some who saw Hobby get its start. The party featured remarks by director Richard Vacar and Councilwoman Carol Alvarado, and a mini-museum display and vintage photographs from the 1940’s Terminal Museum. As part of Mayor Bill White’s homage to the 75th annual Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, a series of 6-foot-high boots popped up at Bush in February. The boots walked off when the rodeo ended. In February, the department conducted the largest tree planting in the history of Bush Intercontinental. More than 20,000 5-gallon trees were planted in one day at the event that was organized by Congressman Ted Poe’s Houston Area Freeway Forestation Project. – Juan Alanis Building ServicesWelcome new team members Eduardo Jimenez, Ana Martinez, Janeshia Johnson, Ruby Villalabos, Diana Do Carmo, Stephen Chamberlain, Kermit Haag, Johnny Phillips, Jacquelyn Martin, Alisa Washington, and Melissa Williams. Best Wishes to Bobby Rivers, deputy director, who retired after 34 years. – Jacquelyn Nisby City CouncilNo submission from this office. City SecretaryNo submission from this office. Controller's OfficeNo submission from this office.Convention & EntertainmentAlbert Garcia, Lynda Hughes, and Jimmie Cauley were honored in the department’s monthly employee recognition program. Welcome Steve Ursprung, Susan Tucker, Keisha Lopez, Faroque Quazi, and Laura Montemayor; Assistant directors Russ Clark and Liliana Rambo completed the Aramco Half-Marathon Jan. 14. Debra Ramon, Pete Radowick, Shawn Hauptmann and Mark Dolney braved miserable weather Jan. 27 to participate in the Arbor Day tree-planting near Bush Intercontinental Airport. – Pete Radowick Finance & AdministrationNo submission from this office. Fire
On March 17, more than 300 firefighters, friends and family members attended the annual Houston Firefighters’ Memorial Ceremony at the Houston Firefighters’ Relief and Retirement Fund Memorial Garden, 4225 Interwood N. Parkway. The ceremony honored all Houston firefighters who are gone but not forgotten and featured a number of special guests, including Chief Phil Boriskie, councilmen Ronald Green and Jarvis Johnson, state Rep. Gene Green, and Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee. For the second year, the department honored its trailblazers during a breakfast ceremony at the Wortham Center Feb. 27. This year’s ceremony recognized members and sought to establish a scholarship fund for deserving students. During a ceremony Feb. 19, 28 members of the department were recognized for completing the six-month TEEX paramedic course. This was the first of two pilot classes with HFD firefighters. All future HFD trainees will be required to attend this school as part of their training. – Alicia Whitehead Health & Human ServicesThe Immunizations Bureau received national recognition from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in March during the National Immunization Conference. The bureau received an outstanding achievement award for helping improve Houston’s child immunization coverage rate by 21 percent since 2002. The CDC announced last year that Houston had the largest increase of any city or state it surveyed. The CDC conducts annual surveys to gauge the percentage of children under the age of 3 who have received the 15 immunization doses recommended for protection from childhood diseases. Houston’s immunization rate has improved to 76.6 percent. The department opened the 25,000-square-foot, $4.1 million Southwest Multi-Service Center, 6400 High Star, in February. The center houses a WIC clinic, Neighborhood Centers Inc., Mayor’s Assistance Office and Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs. An e-library with a computer lab will also be added. Multi-service centers offer space to social services and other agencies in a single facility that is accessible to the community… The department will spearhead an assessment and intervention project in May to identify health and environmental concerns in Magnolia Park, a neighborhood in Houston’s east end. The department, community-based organizations and community volunteers will visit about 4,000 homes and survey the residents on issues that surfaced at earlier meetings. The project will evaluate and improve the ability of residents to manage their health and well-being and link residents to needed health care or human services. Welcome to David Ellison, the new bureau chief for Public Health Preparedness. Congratulations to Jo Marie August, Carolyn Paige, Nawita Hardy and Suzanne Terry, who passed the Association of Information and Referral Specialists’ certification exam as aging-information specialists. – Porfirio Villarreal Housing & Community DevelopmentWelcome director Richard Celli. Celli is a retired J.P. Morgan Chase senior vice president and managed the community development lending, outreach and small business banking sections. Matthew Jenkins was presented with a 2006 Harris County Young Democrats’ Cassie Gooden Volunteer of the Year Award by the Harris County Young Democrats. During the 2006 Democratic political campaigns, Jenkins posted signs, encouraged voter turnout, walked blocks and worked the phone banks for the Hubert Vo and Ellen Cohen campaigns. On March 3, Mayor Bill White, David Mincberg, Judge Ruben Guerrero, John Palmer and Lester Whiteing joined Councilman Peter Brown, former Councilman Gordon Quan, representatives from Indian Americans of Greater Houston, local dignitaries, religious leaders and more than 800 members of the Indian community in a ceremony as the Jindal family donated $1 million for the India House Community Center. Phase one of the 10-acre community center, scheduled for completion in February, will include a senior citizen center, game room, full-service medical clinic, immigration assistance center and classrooms. Phases two and three will feature a cultural library and museum, ballroom and performing arts center. On Feb. 19, Benavidez Elementary School dancers dazzled the crowd, which included White, Guerrero, Quan, Councilman M.J. Khan, department staff and other city representatives, at the dedication of the Southwest Multi-Service Center, 6400 High Star. Community outreach provided a booth highlighting services available for the community. The 25,000-square-foot, $4.1 million center was supported by a $1.7 million community development block grant. The center will feature an e-library with a computer lab, senior and after-school programs, daycare, and a multi-purpose room. The department partnered with the Houston Association of Realtors to present a workshop on the increased opportunities for homeownership for the affordable home market to realtors at the Fifth Ward Multi-Service Center. Qualified affordable homebuyers can get $10,000 to $40,000 for down payment assistance and closing costs. For a list of proposed homebuyers classes, visit www.houstonhousing.org. – Lester Whiteing Houston Emergency CenterWelcome to students from the High School of Law Enforcement. Cindy Arzola, Ayala Hiram, Morris Broussard, Nicole Curtis, Nicole Flores, Andrea Gonzales, Jerry Holland, Ricardo Lizalde, Nicolas Mandiola, Isaura Pineda, Jessica Valdez, and Beatrice Vargas are handling calls out of the Houston Emergency Center. Gonzales, an honor roll student who will graduate this year, said, “my call handling experience has taught me patience to deal with difficult people. Hopefully, these lessons will allow me to handle different situations that may occur as I pursue my career.” The students will continue to work in the center through at least the summer. Kudos to Colleen Bush, senior telecommunicator, from 911 supervisor Rudy de la Fuente. Bush handled the call for HPD Officer Rodney Johnson’s shooting in September 2006. “Colleen’s quick thinking in getting all the necessary information from the reporting citizen enabled responding units to arrive in a timely manner. Colleen kept her cool and professional tone while she assisted the citizen,” de la Fuente remarked. HEC and the Information Technology Deparment are teaming to capture the 2007 Mayor’s Cup. The Cup is an Employee Wellness Advisory Council initiative to maintain and promote the health and morale of employees. The challenge involves all city employees and elected officials. HEC’s team captain is Councilman M. J. Khan. Activities for this yearlong, interdepartmental competition include bowling, the Biggest Loser weight challenge, basketball, tennis, golf, and track. Employees may also participate in or volunteer for the Rodeo Run, Tour de Houston, Runway Race for Life, Race for the Cure, Heart Association Walk and more. Each team earns points for participation. On March 7, the Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center was at HEC for the facility’s first blood drive. HEC’s original donation goal of 30 units was surpassed by nine units. There were a total of 26 first-time donors. HEC will hold blood drives quarterly to reinforce awareness that blood supplies are in demand. – Joe Laud Human ResourcesCathie Wagner and Alissa Gordon helped kick off the SAP paycheck conversion. Mack Eisenberg transferred to Finance & Administration as senior HR specialist. Welcome new hires: Maria Gomez, Alisa Franklin Brocks, Robbin Dupplessis, Nichole Robinson and Cynthia Simon. – John Perry Information Technology
Three department employees retired recently: Carmen Van Meter, who started in December 2000; Varughese Abraham, who began in December 1995; and Harlan McNinch, whose first day was in July 1996. – Bob Nowak
LegalNo submission from this office. LibraryWelcome Virginia Williams, Rogelio Padron, Rhoneshia Brewster, Britney Walker, Jason Gaskamp, Elizabeth Cortez, Sydney Colwell, Keisha Harrison, Shauna Hope, Melody Scurlock, Doreen Singh, Darele Taylor, Connie Rose, Katherine Fan, Lorin Ashley Qualls, Luis Gonzales, Irma Ayala, Nancy Chavez, Patrick Atkins, Ruby Robinson, AritEdna Ekpro, Samora Guillory, Chanel Newman, Donovan Boson, Shakeshia LeDay, Lucullus Condor, and Jeffery Wooten. Welcome back Teresa Rodriguez, Gregory Snyder, and Laura Costilla. Congratulations on well-deserved promotions: Donna Roy, Bernetta Robins, Jerele Taylor, Catherine Duplessis, and Sarah Worthern. Happy retirement wishes to Anna Horn and Mattie Hicks. Congratulates to Hiawatha Henry for being recognized by Mayor Bill White with the Bravo Award. She was selected for her outstanding service to the city and the community. Customers can pay fines and fees online by going to the catalog and clicking on “My Library Account.” Enter your name and library card number, which gives you access to several options, including “Pay Online.” For details, see the FAQs section at www.houstonlibrary.org. Grove Music Online covers the entire history of music from Bach to the blues. Patrons can access more than 50,000 articles including more than 28,000 biographies, listen to more than 500 examples of different types of music, view 3-D interactive images of musical instruments, and find links to more than 3,000 music-related Web sites. Access to these databases is provided to all PowerCard holders through the support of the Greenberg Endowment. For more information call (832) 393-1313 or visit www.houstonlibrary.org/ research/greenbrg.html. – Blanca Quezada Mayor's OfficeWelcome aboard Dolly Marchena, Shmeka Midell, Jade Johnson and Elia Acuna. Mayor Bill White appointed Cristopher C. Eugster, a former partner at McKinsey & Co., as chief officer for sustainable growth. Eugster will work with leaders within city government and across the community to drive energy efficiency, optimize waste-disposal capacity, and address environmental challenges to save taxpayer dollars and foster continued growth for the city. White also welcomed Nicole H. Robinson as director of the Digital Inclusion Project. The former executive director for The Technology Opportunity Institute will develop partnerships among the business, philanthropic, education, health and nonprofit sectors to create technology-based opportunities for Houston’s underserved residents. EarthLink was chosen to build a citywide WiFIi network. The company also committed to providing discounted Internet service for 40,000 low-income residents. – Debra Veal Municipal Courts AdministrationNo submission from this office. Municipal Courts JudicialOn Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, Court 18 at the Westside Command Station is open longer to accommodate an increasing volume of cases and off-docket matters. Its new hours are 8 a.m. - 9 p.m. Welcome to three newly appointed associate judges: Ray L. Cox Jr., Kathryn Diaz-Garcia, and Tola Oresusi. – Lilly Warden Parks & RecreationOn Jan. 27, the forestry division and other department staff joined the Aviation Department, the Texas Department of Transportation, Trees for Houston, Congressman Ted Poe’s office, and an army of 1,300 volunteers to plant a forest in one day. The empty esplanades of Will Clayton Parkway were dressed up with 35,000 trees that will bear environmental benefits for decades. In partnership with the Houston Parks Board Inc., the city answered the dreams of conservation-minded Houstonians when it bought the 20-acre West 11th Street Park from the Houston Independent School District. This was the last stand of native forest in the 610 Loop not already protected as a park. The greenspace management division graduated its second class from the leadership academy. The academy trains and develops the administrative skills of field supervisors, horticulturists, irrigation leaders, foresters, and others recommended by their division managers. This year’s graduates include Manuel Barraza, Daniel Cerda, Shiryl Chambers, Johnny Dancy, Sam Fernandez, Antonio Gonzales, James Harris, Kimberly Iozzio, Matthew Jaramillo, Clayton Jones, Raymond Larkins, Brent Moon, Kathy Navarre, Carol Pompilo, Earl Robinson, Juan Rodriguez, Clifton Ross, Jimmie Saddler, LaDedrick Smith, Eric Spurgeon, Steve Streams, Leroy Sykes, George Thomas, Lara Ura, Roderick Williams, and Brian Wilmer. At the Summer Job Fair March 17 at the Judson Robinson Jr. Community Center, job seekers applied for summer employment at aquatics facilities, community centers, and the summer food service program. The drive to collect Sunny Delight universal product codes ends April 30. The community center that brings in the most labels will receive $1,000 for its programs. Then, Houston will go up against 10 other cities, with the winning city’s community centers enjoying a $10,000 prize. As part of the initiative, 10- to 14-year-olds received free instruction and had lots of fun on the court at the Sunny D basketball program in March. – Don Whitaker Planning & DevelopmentIn partnership with METRO and the Main Street Coalition, the department is embarking on a community-participation process that will shape the neighborhoods and commercial areas along Houston’s urban transit corridors. The Urban Corridor Planning initiative is concentrated in the areas surrounding the light rail and guided rapid transit being developed by METRO. It will focus on changing the city’s land development regulations and infrastructure standards to accommodate a broad range of mobility options. Workshops in April will lead to proposed changes in city ordinances and policy guidelines. For more information, log on to www.houstonplanning.com and click on Urban Corridor Planning. – Suzy Hartgrove PoliceNo submission from this office. Public Works & EngineeringCongratulations to Anh Hunter and Rowaidah Ayoub, who got their professional engineer licenses. At the 2006 Gulf Coast Green Symposium organized by the American Institute of Architects Houston Chapter, the department was applauded for its Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program, which is part of the U.S. Green Building Council in the city’s capital improvement plan. BSD’s design and construction division has eight projects underway seeking LEED certification, and four using LEED without seeking certification. These projects include libraries, police facilities, fire stations, health centers, and the parks headquarters renovation project. The first to be completed and ready for final certification will be the new Looscan Branch. On May 24, the right-of-way and fleet maintenance division will hold its first Field Employee Education and Development Conference to help meet the need for a work force to operate and maintain the city’s street, bridge, and storm water infrastructure using increasingly complex technologies. The conference, which coincides with the American Public Works Association’s “National Public Works Week,” will inform employees about professional and personal development, help them understand the value of a career in Public Works, and convey the important role they play in the division, department, and city. Cyclist safety coupled with Houston motorist awareness is the focus of “Watch for cyclists!” a new safety campaign aimed at reducing injuries among bike riders. Between 1998 and 2000, 28 percent of Texas bicycle crashes occurred in the Houston region. Almost 2 percent were fatalities. “Watch For Cyclists!” is an educational effort created to teach drivers to share the roadway with cyclists. For more information, visit ww.houstonbikeways.org or call (713) 837-0003. The Engineering and Construction Division Library opened March 9 on the 5th floor of 611 Walker. The following 33 technicians in the fleet maintenance group received certificates for completing courses in ignition systems, fuel systems and engine management systems: Adam Wade, Kenneth Ervin, Manuel Castillo, Tu Hoang, Minh Tran, Noel Fenis, Wilfredo Maranan, Richard Taylor, Florentino Herrera, Jim Tanner, Uvaldo Macias, Juan Francisco, Jose R. Mejia, Damian Joya, Manuel Ramilez, Kenneth Copeland, Kenneth Davis, Joe Teamer, Danny Davis, Arthur Grothe, Gerardo Sanchez, Ulysess Liggins, Gary Caskey, Brad Simpson, Romeo Mendez, Leeundaus Bennett, Ollie Lee Williams, Jr., Tuan Tu, Pedro Rodriguez, Marcus Patrick, Joseph Wiltz, Jr., Craig Henry and Alfredo Hernandez. Betzi De La Rosa won first place in the two competition categories of the Lunch Bunch Toastmasters #9511 speech competition. She will move on to the next level of competition where she will compete with other first place Toastmasters winners from the area. – Alvin Wright Solid Waste ManagementNo submission from this office.
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