The Junior League of Dallas, and sponsor Baker Botts, L.L.P., invites the community to participate in a free virtual Summit “Finding Your Voice – Embracing Your Authenticity” featuring Marshawn Evans Daniels Friday, April 23, 2021, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. 

Why authenticity? Authenticity is a core pillar of inclusion and helps us to appreciate our personal and others’ diversity. One of the things commonly missing from conversations and work related to diversity and inclusion is an appreciation of authenticity. To some extent, the work of inclusion should be about the inclusion of authentic, true, whole people who are naturally going to be different from each other.

The Junior League of Dallas is committed to finding strength in the diverse ideas, backgrounds, and perspectives everyone brings. The League hopes this Summit inspires us all, challenges us with new ideas, and empowers us to harness our authentic selves as a pathway to diversity and inclusion. 

To learn more about this virtual Summit, and to sign up, visit http://bit.ly/JLDSummit.

The National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) North Texas Chapter awarded Alair Dallas-Fort Worth 12 Contractor of the Year (CotY) awards during its Evening of Excellence celebration held in November at the Renaissance Hotel in Addison, Texas. The CotY Awards are the highest form of recognition by industry leaders and peers and celebrates members who are committed to design, best practices, integrity, high standards, and professionalism. 

This year, NARI North Texas received a record-breaking number of entries with nearly 65 entries from 16 different contractors in 33 different categories.Winners are selected by an impartial panel of judges who are experts from within the industry. Entries are judged on functionality, problem solving, aesthetics, craftsmanship, innovation, degree of difficulty and entry presentation.

Alair Dallas received 2021 NARI North Texas Awards in the following categories:

• Residential Kitchen over $150,000– Team Entry: Alair Dallas and Bentwood of Dallas
• Residential Interior $100,001 to $250,000
• Residential Interior $250,001 to $500,000– Team Entry: Alair Dallas and Bentwood of Dallas
• Residential Interior Element under $30,000– Team Entry: Alair Dallas and J Wiley Designs
• Residential Addition $100,000 to $250,000
• Residential Addition over $250,000– Team Entry; Alair Dallas with Active Granite, Intex Electrical Contractors and Yates Design
• Residential Detached Structure– Team Entry: Alair Dallas with Active Granite and Davis-Hawn Lumber
• Entire House under $250,000
• Entire House over $1,000,000– Team Entry: Alair Dallas with Active Granite, Bentwood of Dallas, Davis-Hawn Lumber, Intex Electrical Contractors, Pella and Renaissance Painting
• Residential Historical Renovation/Restoration under $250,000– Team Entry: Alair Dallas with Active Granite
• Commercial Interior– Team Entry: Alair Dallas with Bentwood of Dallas
• Landscape Design/Outdoor Living under $100,000– Team Entry: Alair Dallas with Kitchen Design Concepts 

“It is incredibly gratifying that our projects were recognized by NARI North Texas and this year’s team of esteemed judges,” said James Hammel, regional partner of Alair Homes Dallas-Fort Worth. “Winning 12 of the 33 possible awards is truly inspiring.  These award-winning projects would not have been possible without Alair’s solid relationships with our industry and trade partners, the design community, our fabulous homeowners and most importantly, our amazing Alair DFW team. It is a true honor to be able to work with so many talented people in our industry, which allows us to make our client’s dreams a reality.”

Alair Dallas-Fort Worth is an award-winning custom home building and renovation company currently serving the great communities of Park Cities, Preston Hollow, North Dallas, East Dallas, Plano, Frisco, Prosper, Salina, Rockwall, Richardson and surrounding areas.  Alair Dallas-Fort Worth is led by the North Texas Regional Partner, James Hammel, and Partners Lisa Hammel, Diane and Chad Hatfield, and Mike Scarlett.  Utilizing their proprietary construction management system, Client Control™, Alair builds a full-disclosure partnership with its clients by allowing customers to maximize their involvement in the home building and renovation process.  Alair truly believes that Living Better Starts Here™; from multi-million dollar whole home remodels, additions and custom new builds to major kitchen and bath renovations, all with the same level of care, craftsmanship, and top-notch customer service. For more information, visitwww.alairhomes.com/dfw/.            

Former Park Cities resident Patrick McNulty was officially sworn in on Wednesday, July 17, as Mayor of South Padre Island (SPI) after winning in a run-off election, which was held Saturday, June 29, 2019. McNulty, who previously served as chairman of SPI’s Planning & Zoning Commission, won a run-off election with 488 votes to his opponent’s 388.  McNulty also has served as a member of the Shoreline Task Force, Interview Committee – Planning Director and Comprehensive Plan Committee, as well as a past member of the Capital Improvement Plan Committee.

“I care greatly for South Padre Island, and I am honored to be elected as Mayor. My siblings and I started coming to this beach as children on family vacations. One of the main reasons I moved from Dallas to South Padre Island is because of my love for the Island and its people, and I could see its great economic potential, especially with expanded tourism initiatives,” McNulty said.

“I look forward to working closely with our City Staff and the Tourism Team, and as we work together to facilitate an expansion of the Convention Centre, establishment of the Quiet Water Sport Park and continuing to market our island nationally and internationally,” McNulty added. “In 2018, SPI had more than 5.1 million visitors, producing almost $96.5 million in hotel/rental sales and $165 million in gross sales.  Our city has the best beach in Texas and is commonly known as ‘Texas’ Beach Playground’.”

“The most important aspect of tourism on this island is that it supports year-round jobs in our community,” McNulty concluded. 

Born and raised in Dallas, Texas, McNulty is a graduate of Highland Park High School and a graduate of the University of Mississippi. He started working on South Padre Island in 1997 with the Villas of South Padre Development Team and eventually became vice president of development.

He is a licensed Texas Real Estate Broker who joined Troy Giles Realty & Management in 2006 as a minority partner.  In 2004, McNulty started Willis Development, LLC, which has been building and developing in the Rio Grande Valley, with the majority of its business on South Padre Island.  He has constructed more than $20 million in projects in the last 15 years.  Some of his most recent projects on South Padre Island include the Sisters Interiors building and the new Ace Hardware, as well as several custom homes. In 2012, McNulty became an original founder of SPI Rentals, LLC with Will Greenwood and Troy Giles.

Square Peg Design (SQPEG), an international award-winning, architectural graphic design firm with offices in Oakland, Dallas, Dubai and Singapore, recently tapped Eileen Simeonovto serve as senior design manager of the firm’s Dallas office. SQPEG offers a broad array of design activities such as wayfinding, signage, branded environments, exhibits and public art.

With more than 23 years of experience, Eileen began her journey in the environmental graphic design industry after graduating from Texas Woman’s University in 1995. Her friendly personality, deep connections throughout the community and strong work ethic make her a key contributor to the SQPEG senior leadership team. Over the years, she has exemplified great success in her field with her ability to effectively design and manage programs for healthcare, sports, retail and corporate clients, all while combining her artistic background with her architectural experience.

Eileen raises the bar in the Dallas marketplace with her forward thinking, detail-oriented and tenacious nature. She applies her expertise in project analysis, programming, code research, schematic design, design development, client presentations, budgeting, contract documentation and coordination of signage fabrication and installation to lead the SQPEG Dallas office.

“We are thrilled to have Eileen on our team as senior design manager of our Dallas office, where she has quickly become a key contributor to Square Peg Design’s leadership team. Drawing on her 23 years of experience in designing and managing signage and wayfinding projects, Eileen plays an integral role in the strategy, design development and overall management of our client projects,” said Mike Moore, principal and managing director of Square Peg Design. “Her work ethic and experience, especially in the Dallas market, combined with Square Peg’s reputation of integrity, persistence and attention to detail, make her a tremendous asset to our team.” 

ABOUT SQUARE PEG DESIGN

Square Peg Design (SQPEG) is an international award-winning, architectural graphic design firm with offices in Oakland, Dallas, Dubai and Singapore. For more than 20 years, SQPEG has worked in partnership with its clients to create exceptional experiences in a vast array of environments around the world. SQPEG sees every project as an opportunity to celebrate its uniqueness and create a sense of place. From branding and wayfinding to signage and placemaking, SQPEG designs the visual layer that enhances the human experience in the spaces their clients create. SQPEG’s work clarifies, guides, entices and excites, always with an eye toward creating a lasting sense of purpose and belonging.  For additional information, please visit www.sqpeg.comor call 510.596.8810. 

Written in raw, masterful, heart-rending prose, Maid is the story of one woman’s tenacity to survive and break free of the grips of the system to give her child a better life. Stephanie Land’s work gives voice to the working poor. Her compassionate, unflinching writing is fueled by her own struggle as a low-income single mother who aspired to use her stories to expose the reality of pursuing the American Dream while being held under the poverty line.

Join Half Price Books as they host social justice advocate, journalist and author Stephanie Land for a conversation and signing event featuring her book, Maid: Hard Work, Low Pay, and a Mother’s Will to Survive, on January, 31, 2019, at Wilshire Baptist Church.  A portion of the proceeds from this event will benefit CitySquare, a nonprofit organization dedicated to fighting the causes and effects of poverty through service, advocacy and friendship.  

Land’s work has been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Guardian, Vox, Salon, among others. She focuses on social and economic justice as a writing fellow through both the Center for Community Change and the Economic Hardship Reporting Project. 

General admission tickets are $30 and include a copy of the book.VIP tickets are $45 each and include preferred seating, early access to the signing line, a special pre-event meet and greet with the author and a copy of the book. To purchase tickets, visit https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/3915657.

About CitySquare:

CitySquare fights the causes and effects of poverty through service, advocacy and friendship. Working together as a community for three decades, CitySquare feeds the hungry, heals the sick, houses the homeless,and renews hope through 22 unique programs. For more information, visit www.CitySquare.org.

About Half Price Books:

Half Price Books is the largest family-owned new and used bookstore chain with 125 retail locations in 17 states. Stores are open seven days a week and buy and sell new and used books, magazines, comics, records, CDs, DVDs and collectible items. Half Price Books has been dedicated to environmental and literacy efforts for more than 46 years and supports hundreds of local, national and international programs. Each year the company sponsors the Half Pint Library Book Drive at each of its stores, donating and distributing thousands of books to non-profit organizations and schools throughout the United States. Half Price Books is a founding contributor to Laura Bush's National Book Festival, and a continuing supporter of the National Center for Family Literacy and Feed the Children. For more information about Half Price Books, its store locations and corporate initiatives, please visit www.hpb.com, and follow us on Facebook,Twitterand Instagram.