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Get to Know our SRH Staff: Mindy Brown, Donations Processing Manager

Get to Know our SRH Staff: Mindy Brown, Donations Processing Manager

by | Dec 27, 2018 | Spotlight

What is your role at the hospital? What do you do on a daily basis?
I’m the donations processing manager for the Development department. I have the privilege of working with an amazing team that handles all of the hospital’s donations. This includes donor correspondence, reporting and appreciation projects.
 
What skills do you need for your job?
I believe that communication is key. In addition to being able to effectively communicate, it is necessary to have an understanding of systems and data from a global perspective, in order to assist in the oversight of all our procedures. We want the care we give our donors to match that of our excellent patient care!
 
What led you to Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children? How long have you worked here?  
To be honest, God! After graduating from college, I had dreams of living in Austin, TX – just like every other young person says they are heading. However, a random turn of events landed me in Dallas and I accepted a job at Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children. I have never loved a place more or felt more called to plant roots in a specific place professionally than I have here! God has been so good and it has been an amazing nine years as of October 2018. 
 
What do you enjoy most about Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children?
Words cannot begin to express the amount of pride and joy I have to be able to work with such an amazing staff and to be at a place where our mission provides health care to all children, regardless of what their families can afford.
 
What drives or motivates you to do what you do every day?
I love serving with those around me to ensure that our mission is fulfilled every day. The opportunity to help more people come to know not only of Scottish Rite Hospital, but believing in our life-changing work!
 
What was your first job?
Schlotzsky’s. I could make a serious sandwich back in the day! I also loved talking over the loud speaker.
 
What do you like to do in your spare time?
I love to spend my time with my husband, Derek, and our new puppy, Doc. Besides exploring Dallas with my family, I enjoy my church, Lakewood Fellowship, as well as being with all of my family and friends, working out, home projects, reading and traveling!
 
What is your favorite…

  • Hospital event: Treasure Street
  • Food in the cafeteria: Stephan’s vegetable stir fry
  • Place in the hospital: Shiver’s Park
  • Place to travel: Europe
  • Type of food: American cuisine
  • TV show: Survivor

What did you want to be when you grew up?
I wanted to be a vet or architect.
 
What’s the most adventurous thing you’ve ever done?
I studied abroad in Europe for a couple of months when I was in college. To be able to engage in a different culture and experience life independent of everything I have ever known, made a huge impact on my life. Not to mention the kindness people had on my attempts to speak their language!

What’s the last book you read?
Leaders Eat Last by Simon Sinek
To contribute to our mission of giving children back their childhood, please call our Development department at 214-559-8374 or learn more on our website. 

Get to Know our SRH Staff: Mike Stimpson, Development Officer

Get to Know our SRH Staff: Mike Stimpson, Development Officer

by | Dec 20, 2018 | Spotlight

What is your role at the hospital? What do you do on a daily basis?
As a development officer, my role is to represent the hospital in the community and across the state, as well as nurture, steward and build relationships with friends of the hospital. My specialty is to work with donors that want to make a planned gift. My daily activities vary a lot, but primarily I’m meeting or talking with donors and planning how to build additional relationships that benefit donors and the hospital.
 
What skills do you need for your job?   
Strong skills in relationship building, people, communication, time management and a good memory.
 
What led you to Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children? How long have you worked here? 
I started in the Volunteer Services department as the assistant director, more than 18 years ago.
 
What do you enjoy most about Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children? 
The positive spirit of the people I work with.
 
What drives or motivates you to do what you do every day?
The joy of getting people involved and seeing the impact it makes.
 
What was your first job? What path did you take to get here?
I was a bag boy at my hometown grocery store. 
 
What do you like to do in your spare time? 
I like to garden.
 
What is your favorite…

  • Hospital event: The Legacy Scholarship Awards presentation
  • Food in the cafeteria: Kim’s sandwiches
  • Place in the hospital: The Atrium
  • Place to travel: Napa Valley
  • Type of food: Mexican
  • TV show: Netflix’s Ozark

What did you want to be when you grew up?
The kind of person that other people want to be around.
 
What’s the most adventurous thing you’ve ever done?
Moving to Texas
 
What’s the last book you read? 

The Help
To contribute to our mission of giving children back their childhood, please call our Development department at 214-559-8374 or learn more on our website. 

Summer Colors Artist Spotlights: Part IV

by | Jun 27, 2018 | Events

Summer Colors, now in its 10th year, was an idea born out of passion for both art and the patients of Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children. Founded in 2009 by Jenny and Loren Koziol and Jill and Dupree Scovell, this silent art auction raises awareness about the hospital, while also exposing the Dallas community to up and coming local artists. Each year, local artists donate original pieces of art to be featured in the auction, with all the proceeds benefiting our hospital. Over the next few weeks, we will be introducing you to all of the artists. This year’s event will be held on Thursday, July 26, at Scottish Rite Hospital. Additional information and tickets can be found at scottishritehospital.org/summercolors

 

JENNY GRUMBLES KOZIOL

Dallas entrepreneur, Jenny Grumbles, obtained her degree in journalism and studio art from Southern Methodist University in 2002.  Her work-life is threefold; artist, shop-owner, and buyer for A&E’s hit series, Storage Wars Texas.  Jenny’s paintings have been sold in galleries and shops throughout Georgia, Texas, and California.  She is the proprietor to her very own vintage home furnishings shop, Uptown Country Home. 

Since realizing her passion in painting in 1994, she has created an impressionist style with loose brush strokes and an emphasis on light and color. There is never black on her palette. Her subject matter includes everything from children on the beach, home interiors, florals, and commissioned work. Jenny attributes much of her success to her mentor, the renowned Claudia Hartley of Arizona, and to gallery owner, Anne Irwin, of Atlanta. 


Jenny also spends much of her time searching for treasures to recycle, repurpose, and repaint for sale in her shop. 

In addition to her shop and artwork, Jenny has a passion for politics and major league baseball. 

Jenny’s main aspiration is to make the world a better place through political advocacy, creative art and home decor, because she truly believes, whether it’s the whole world, or a little cottage in Dallas, home is where the heart is.

HELEN GREEN

Helen Green’s work was described by a local Dallas store as “simplistic beauty with light and airy colors that will add a touch of summer to any room”. Raised in Boerne, Texas under her mom’s easel, Helen has developed her graceful style, which has caught the attention of area stores, cafes and followers on Facebook site called GraceFilledNestTumblr.com

Her education began at the University of Texas but chose to graduate at the Art Institute of Dallas. She left the stressful corporate world environment after beginning her career in a high-end specialty store in the visual communications department and ending as a senior art director for a national retailer. Now she finds true joy and peace as a stay at home mom with her precious 6-year-old daughter where she takes time to paint in her studio.

 

She also has mini art camps from home to encourage children to find joy in painting during a 2 hour sessions. Each with devotion, inspiration and snacks. They leave with their painted canvases and a smile! Facebook site called “Grace Filled Nest Mini Art Camps” 

Sweetly rooted in her faith, Helen is moved daily by the beauty that she sees in the world through the eyes of the LORD. It’s amazing the following that she is blessed with in like-minded people and others that recognize a still small voice in her work.

LAURA RUNGE

I am a Texas native and earned a BA in Journalism from Baylor University. After many years in the corporate world, I took the leap of faith to pursue my lifelong passion as a self-taught artist. I am now a full time, working artist and dedicate my days to painting and searching for creative avenues in everything I do.

My passions are creating and inspiring, and I wake up each day in hopes of combining the two in every endeavor. I paint in acrylics, often combining stains and metallic leafs and powders into my pieces. I am drawn to objects that reflect movement, and this is incorporated into my works. Finding beauty in unusual objects and places, I use unconventional tools and techniques to create imaginative, one-of-a-kind works of art. My goal is to create a painting for the buyer that will add flair and a special dimension to the space where it will reside.

Madison Slusher

Madison has been a jewelry designer since 2006 and newly developed abstractpainter.

Madison’s inspiration is knowing that someone will treasure my art as much as she does and bring them joy!

Abigail Law

In 7th grade, I was diagnosed with Scoliosis and became a patient here at TSRHC. I had to wear a back brace for 20 hours a day for most of 7th and 8th grade. On the last week of 8th grade, I underwent Scoliosis surgery with Dr. Sucato. I will forever be grateful for the angels here at Scottish Rite and I decided that I wanted to give back. I have been holding my own Art Show annually since the year of my surgery. My 3rd annual Art Show was on May 11 at Christy M Boutique in Snider Plaza which benefited the hospital. I do this because It’s my own way of giving back to the place that has given me so much. I’m honored to be a part of Summer Colors! It gives me another opportunity to show my love and respect for Scottish Rite.

HEATHER GALLAGHER

I am a mom of three beautiful children, a wife, a sister, a daughter, and a friend to many. I have lived in Texas my whole life and North Texas for most of that. I work for locally based non-profit ambulance service Careflite. I am a paramedic and enjoy taking care of my patients and their families. I paint as a hobby. I never really considered myself and artist, but I truly enjoy creating art, so I guess that makes me one

I love seeing what colors work together, and never really know what is going to end up on the canvas. I love abstract art, as it can mean many different things to many different people. I love blues and greens, and fluid movement. I take inspiration from my children’s drawings and paintings that they make because they are truly random and beautiful.

Matt Esparza

Matt Esparza is a Dallas based visual artist, film maker and photographer. As a graduate of Oral Roberts University (ORU), in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Matt obtained a degree in Art Graphic Design, with a concentration in Video. He was also a key player on the ORU Men’s Soccer team, and went on to train with professional clubs in Brazil. As a gifted artist, Matt has displayed and sold works across the United States, including Dallas, Fort Worth, Tulsa, New York and Los Angeles. After living in L.A. for a year, and apprenticing under highly respected artist, Andy Anh Ha, Matt relocated to Dallas in 2012 to establish his studio.Matt is continually getting inspiration from the world around him, drawing equally from urban and rural textures, international travels, and famous artists.

The artists who have most influenced him include: Jackson Pollock, Jean- Michel Basquiat, Andy Warhol, Gerhard Richter, Georges Mathieu and Franz Kline. His main source of inspiration,however, is his faith in God, and the effect that has had on his life.

Matt is a highly travelled individual and has visited over 18 countries in the past 10 years. He has recently returned from an 8 month sabbatical in which he lived and travelled around the world and visited 12 different countries including, India, Jordan, Lebanon, Uganda, Vietnam, Myanmar, Ecuador, Hong Kong, Costa Rica and Mexico. Esparza’s preferred medium is a variety of acrylic and oils, on board, with regular use of polymers, spray paints, stains, epoxy resin and sheet metal. When Esparza is not painting or traveling the world filming, he is busy volunteering at his church, enjoying local eats, working out, dancing or enjoying the outdoors.

KRISTIN O’KEEFE

B.A. in art from Hastings College in Hastings, NE. I’m a jack of all trades and a master of none. 

Inspired by ordinary moments, rainy days, and quietness.

Rachel Nash

Rachel Nash is an artist and art therapist. She recieved her undergraduate degree from Southern Methodist University and her Masters from The Scho ol of the Art Institute of Chicago.

Rachel is drawn to color, she loves mixing paint and seeks to create colors that are found in nature. She is also drawn to people and human nature, a common theme she explores in her work.

BRITTNEY WELLS

I have been painting and drawing since I was 5 years old. I am a former patient of TSRH. I received my BFA in graphic design from Texas A&M University-Commerce in 2010. I will paint or draw on anything that will hold paint. The world is my canvas, from walls (murals) to shoes to printing t-shirts to paint on making my own canvases; I’m blessed to say I do it all!

I get my inspiration from everyday life and sometimes even my dreams. Most times I’ll let my imagination run wild on a canvas.

Summer Colors Artist Spotlights: Part III

by | Jun 20, 2018 | Events

Summer Colors, now in its 10th year, was an idea born out of passion for both art and the patients of Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children. Founded in 2009 by Jenny and Loren Koziol and Jill and Dupree Scovell, this silent art auction raises awareness about the hospital, while also exposing the Dallas community to up and coming local artists. Each year, local artists donate original pieces of art to be featured in the auction, with all the proceeds benefiting our hospital. Over the next few weeks, we will be introducing you to all of the artists. This year’s event will be held on Thursday, July 26, at Scottish Rite Hospital. Additional information and tickets can be found at scottishritehospital.org/summercolors

CAROLINE QUISENBERRY

Constantly in need of a “creative outlet”, I would often find new project and hobbies to test drive. The day I was introduced to jewelry, jewelry design, and a paintbrush was the day I realized I could put my biggest passions of creative design, the arts, and crafting into a tangible product to give back to the world. 

My personal relationship with design has evolved into a love and passion I incorporate into every aspect of my life, both personally and professionally. Throughout my professional life, I have broadened my creative abilities through even planning, jewelry designs, painting, branding, business development, client relations, and marketing. Alongside my professional life, I have grown my design skills through my jewelry and painting business, CLQ Designs. 

CLQ Designs offers custom jewelry design, jewelry redesign, and abstract acrylic paintings, while catering to the client’s style, need and budget! CLQ Designs offers the best of both worlds – unique handcrafted jewelry and art sure to make you and your home the statement piece at your next event and a price point that won’t send you running for the hills! I want my clients to be able to call me on a random Tuesday and ask if I can design them something new because they need to “spoil” themselves. 

Since childhood, my creativity and passion for design has fueled my drive to explore new experiences, learn new skill sets, and cultivate meaningful relationships. For me, the most exciting and rewarding part of CLQ Designs is knowing that I am not limited to what I can learn, design and create. I love getting together with my clients to get our creative wheels turning together in order to design their one of a kind piece from CLQ Designs. I love the challenge of design and thrive off creativity (I can’t get enough of it!). 

CHRISTI MERIL

Christi Meril has been creating mixed media art filled with simple and connectable images since 2006. She has devoted herself as an artist to create images that speak to the eye and heart of the beholder. Her artwork is filled with modern yet timeless pieces full of life, self-reflection and love.

Over the years, her work has appeared in ArtHouse Dallas, The Thrift Studio, Dallas, The Dallas Flea, The Jewish Art Fest of Dallas, Arts and Tarts, open shows at the 500X Gallery and sold locally. She is also found in personal collections from California to New York and abroad. Christi resides in Dallas, Texas with her husband, two daughters, two standard poodles and English bulldog.

JOANNE “JOJO” HERDA

Rocket scientist turned self-taught abstract artist utilizing a blend of the analytical mind and artistic passion to create harmonious balance of color on canvas with compassion and diligence. Artwork is created for the individual collector, clients of leading interior design and non-profit organizations. JoJo was honored to be named a Fashion Group Internal of Dallas 2016 Rising Star Nominee in Art. 
 
JoJo’s artwork inspiration is drawn from life experiences, 80’s flare, and the color found in everyday objects. 
 

MEGAN ADAMS BROOKS

Inspired by patterns and textures in the natural world, Megan Adams Brooks creates abstract paintings on silk that reflect the beauty found throughout nature. Brooks began painting interior scapes on canvas early in her career. It was through depicting the fabrics and patterns in a room that she discovered her fascination with fabrics, which led her to designing custom textiles. From there, Brooks found her true passion for the silk medium. Painting on silk, similar to watercolor, provides many opportunities for unexpected challenges and happy accidents. The process is time-sensitive, multi-layered and endlessly inventive. Brooks’ unique method of self-expression fulfills her unending obsession to create. 

Brooks’ work has been exhibited at Art Basel in Miami and McKinney Avenue Contemporary (The MAC) at 3120 McKinney Ave, Dallas, TX. Her work hangs in public and private collections, nationally and internationally. Brooks holds a Bachelor’s of Fine Art degree in painting and drawing from Southern Methodist University and a Master’s of Fine Art degree from the University of North Texas. She lives and works in Dallas, TX.

LORI CUSICK

In 2002, Lori decided to follow her life’s passion and recommitted herself to painting. At this time, she first engaged in plein air painting. “The challenges presented by painting nature while being part of that nature have taught me a tremendous amount about studying light and manipulating paint.” The one constant through her paintings: her energetic spontaneous brushstroke, applying paint with a confident contemporary approach.

Lori resides in Dallas, a long way from the mountains of New York where she was born and raised. She attended Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, earning a bachelor’s degree in Fine Art. Over the following years, Lori successfully pursued a career as a commercial artist designing for advertising agencies and running her own design studio. She is currently Design Director for the award-winning Private Clubsmagazine. You see the influence of her commercial career in her exciting compositions … silhouettes of the world.
 
Lori’s inspired by nature and the ever changing light.

 

CHARLSIE DOAN

I am a self-taught landscape artist, primarily using oils and sometimes watercolors.
Inspiration: My inspirations are the colors of the sky. My grandparents live on a farm in rural New Mexico, and I love being there because the sky is so wide and huge that it is possible to see everything, the stars, the clouds, the sunrises, and the sunsets. I especially love the vibrant oranges and reds of sunset, and these are the colors that you can see most in my paintings.

Fran Di Giacomo

Artist, Author, Speaker

1970 was a pivotal year for Fran Di Giacomo; she found two passions – her husband and her art.  She pursued her passion for art by studying with living masters, including Paul Leveille, David Leffel, and a unique opportunity at Scottsdale Artist School with Howard Terpning. 

Striving to establish her career in oil painting, Fran Di Giacomo found herself most excited by the methods and concepts of the Dutch masters.  “I focused on seeking out living masters to study with.  Perfecting the drama of light, shadow, and mystery has been a constant theme.  Fad and fashion will ebb and flow, but classical realism is endless and enduring.”  Her paintings are represented by galleries in several states, and are in demand for their lush colors and dramatic lighting.

Today her portraits are renowned, and her still life paintings are in great demand for their lush colors and dramatic lighting.  Her portraits include private collectors, precious children, sports figures such as Dallas Cowboys’ Emmitt Smith and Mavericks’ Dirk Nowitzki, and dignitaries such as Former Supreme Court Chief Justice Warren E. Burger and President George W.Bush.  

She has been published in books, magazines, and newspapers, as well as Who’s Who in American Art and Who’s Who of American Women, and The Best of Portrait Painting.   In today’s fast-paced world, our senses are constantly assaulted. When you behold a Di Giacomo painting, you return to the world of quiet elegance.   

Fran is represented by Southwest Gallery in Dallas, and Gallerie Amsterdam in Carmel. She is a member of Associated Creative Artists and Oil Painters of America.  

Michelle Elwazir

The interplay of natural and man-made geometric forms and textures is a unifying theme in Michelle Elwazir’s photographic work. She has always been amazed and surprised by the beauty of nature.  The subjects of artistic observation, interpretation, and discipline surrounded her from an early age.  Her fascination with color and texture as well as the urge to fix her observations artistically was informed by her childhood surrounded by the art and sculpture of her artist parents (her mother is a sculptor of exotic pottery and her father is a watercolorist and sculptor).  

Michelle has a bachelor’s degree in biology and a master’s in education development. Her projects have included commercial fashion and product photography, portraiture, and abstract art photography.  She has taught photography related workshops at the Dallas Center for Photography.   

Meagan Johnson

Lil’ d Dog Works is operated by Meagan Johnson in Denton, TX. Meagan has been teaching art in Dallas for 6 years and is the Artist in Residence at the Scottish Rite Hospital for Children.

Meagan’s private business began as a pet portrait artist doing commissions for close friends. Since then she has completed works that span a large variety of subject matter working with acrylics, watercolors, colored pencils, and inks. Meagan’s style incorporates vibrant colors, expressive lines, and fun compositions to create unique works of art with the client in mind.

Get to Know our SRH Staff: Jennifer Bowden RN, Clinical Manager, Ambulatory Care, Orthopedics

Get to Know our SRH Staff: Jennifer Bowden RN, Clinical Manager, Ambulatory Care, Orthopedics

by | Jun 14, 2018 | Spotlight

Meet Jennifer – clinical manager of Ambulatory Care who works closely with our scoliosis patients. Get to know more about her in our #SRHstaff Spotlight below.​
What’s your favorite part of your job?
The patients! The daily opportunity to help our patients and their families never gets old.
 
What’s your favorite thing about the hospital?
It’s a tie between the staff and the patient population.

Describe a typical day.
As soon as I get to work, I am checking email and messages in order to prepare for the day. I am continuously touching base with staff to make sure everyone has what they need to complete their day and take care of their patients. Throughout the day, I work on several different patient situations and communicate/coordinate the needs of our patients to/with the entire hospital. Meetings, meetings, meetings are also a big part of my day!
How long have you been working at the hospital?
12 years.
 
How did you find out about the hospital?
I was a patient here from birth to 18 years of age. I loved coming to the hospital when I was a patient. I had a leg length discrepancy and Hemihypertrophy. I had surgery with Dr. Birch when I was 13 years old. Scottish Rite Hospital was a big part of my childhood!
 
What made you want to work here?
My experience as a patient and my love and respect for the hospital. 
 
What skills do you need for your job?
Communication, coordination, creativity, flexibility, patience and kindness. Of course, sharp nursing skills are definitely required!
 
What was your first job? What path did you take to get here?
My very first job was working at a sales associate at Pier 1 Imports. I had always admired people in health care when I was younger. I had a family friend that was a hot shot OR nurse and she inspired me to become a nurse. Nursing is something that I was meant to do! I have been at the hospital since I graduated from nursing school. I worked on the Inpatient Unit for eight years prior to coming down to Ambulatory Care.
 
What is your favorite…

  • Hospital event: ALL of our Christmas events
  • Food in the cafeteria: Fried shrimp and chicken parmesan
  • Place in the hospital: Inpatient Unit and the playground
What’s your favorite…

  • Place to travel: Florida
  • Type of food: Junk food
  • TV show:The Office

If you could have a super power, what would it be?
Rewind!
 
What did you want to be when you grew up?
I had always wanted to be a marine biologist when I was a kid. The ocean and marine life fascinate me. As I got older, I quickly realized becoming a nurse would be awesome! I learned how nursing could provide a stable, diverse and rewarding career.

What’s the most adventurous thing you’ve ever done?
Becoming a mom

What’s the last book you read?
I’ve started about three or four recently, but haven’t finished any of them!

What kind of animal would you be?
An elephant or a crab. Elephants are so smart and protective of their families. Crabs are independent and cute!
 
How long is your commute? What do you do on the drive?
I live in Lewisville. It takes 30 minutes to get to the hospital. I chat with my daughter and most of the time we are singing to our favorite songs. Lately we’ve been singing along to The Greatest Showman soundtrack!
 
What is something people don’t know about you?
I’m a very picky eater! People are always shocked at how picky I am.
 
What’s your go-to karaoke song?
“Manic Monday” by the Bangles