We were fortunate to catch up with some brilliant artists, creatives and entrepreneurs from throughout the Houston area and they share the wisdom with us below.

Dr. Marieka Thomas | Event and Hospitality Strategist

Putting my children first in all aspects of my life was the most important decision I made that ultimately contributed to my success. By prioritizing their well-being, happiness, and needs above all else, I was able to create a stable and supportive environment for them to thrive in, which in turn allowed me to focus on my own personal and professional growth. This mindset helped me stay motivated, inspired, and driven to achieve my goals, knowing that my children were always my top priority. Read more>>

Amanda Dockum | Owner and Managing Broker

Being willing to set aside self-imposed limitations and explore my full potential was a challenging lesson for me to grasp. For most of my adult life before entering real estate, I focused on merely getting by and caring for my family. Once I realized that I am not defined by any limitations and can achieve whatever I set my mind to, it opened up new opportunities for growth and revealed a newfound power within myself in the business world. As my career progressed, it took me some time to accept that my success was the result of hard work, rather than luck. Now, when I look back, I find myself saying, “WOW! Look how far I’ve come.” Read more>>

Patrick Burkholder | President

No risk, no reward as cliché as that may sound. I grew up with one side of my family being engineers and entrepreneurs, the other, farmers. When I made it out of my adolescent days, I found myself stuck in working 12-16 hour days. Hating every second. About 8 years in, I had an associate of mine bring up roofing. I thought on it for about a week. At the time I was working in a machine shop that was on their 5th round of lay offs. I didn’t want to feel what those others felt when they got that call to come into the office. Some had worked there for a decade and just like that, “you’re done”. I went into work that Monday morning, there was a crazy storm going on outside. Hail and everything. It stopped early afternoon. This guy called me and said, “could there be anymore of a sign?!”. Read more>>

Natalie Hobock | Certified Academic Language Therapist (CALT) and Reading Therapist

That’s a great question. Regarding Houston Dyslexia LLC, commitment and passion are the values that stand out to me. Due to my high level of commitment and passion for what I do, I provide quality services for my students and their families. All of my other values align with the commitment and passion I provide. This includes integrity, advocacy, work ethic, continuous learning, accountability, continuous improvement, and quality. Read more>>

Krystal Aziz | Director of Operations

One thing outsiders are probably unaware of is how deeply the travel industry relies on technology, yet there’s a significant tech gap, especially for travel agencies. While travelers see the seamless booking experience, they don’t realize the complexities behind the scene, like managing client relationships, coordinating with suppliers, and handling ever-changing logistics. Many agencies still use outdated systems, which can limit their ability to provide the best service. Building Trazel has highlighted the need for modern, efficient tools that streamline these processes, allowing agencies to focus more on creating memorable travel experiences for their clients. Read more>>

Kayla Washington | Entrepreneur

The most difficult decision I ever had to make in my life, was walking away from a marriage that I held very dear to my heart I loved and also cherished. However, if it wasn’t for that difficult decision, I wouldn’t be the woman that I am today. Read more>>

Jasmine Hicks | Executive Event Specialist

Starting my business! In 2015, after being hospitalized on complete bed-rest for two and a half months, my husband and I welcomed a precious baby boy into the world. However, he was born prematurely with many health
issues ranging from Hydrocephalus to Cerebral Palsy. In Wesley’s first year of life, he endured 3 brain surgeries, debilitating epilepsy, pneumonia, countless doctor visits and therapy sessions. Due to Wesley’s medical needs, my husband and I decided that it was best that I not go back to my traditional Monday-Friday work schedule because he required so much attention. Of course, change can be great, but it can be scary as well. Not knowing what I would do, I had to make peace with the fact that my son needed me more than anything else. Read more>>

Giusse Sicoli | Owner

There is no replacement for good old Customer Service. Going above and beyond the call to make sure that your customers are extremely satisfied is the best you can do for your business. It also feels good when customers appreciate your products and services! Read more>>

Leydi Gonzalez | Photographer and Music Journalist

Photography kind of fell on my lap. I took my first photography class in high school because I needed an art elective and instantly fell in love. I then got my first digital camera at 15 and began taking pictures of anything and everything. I used those first years to find my own style. I chose to purse photography because I love the process of thinking with my eyes. The colors, scenery, editing presenting, and sharing are all so visually satisfying for me. Read more>>