Plano Profile March 2010 : Page 26
panorama A career of leadership: Hogan retires after 35 years M ORE THAN 200 friends, family, and well-wishers were on hand at Plano Centre in January to say goodbye to retiring Deputy City Manager Rod Hogan. Hogan, who joined the city staff in 1975, had served in a number of leadership roles includ- ing stints with Parks and Recreation and Public Works before assuming the deputy city manager title in 1999. An avid outdoorsman, Hogan was presented with a variety of fishing gear to enjoy in retirement. At left, Hogan poses with other retired public servants; from left are former city councilman Shep Stahel, retired director of Parks & Rec DonWendell and former councilman Scott Johnson. Former Director of Parks & Recreation DonWendell came out of retirement to emcee the ceremonies. Hogan with friend and former colleague at the Parks and Recreation Department, Danny Muzyka. 26 PLANO PROFILE MARCH 2010 Above, Rod Hogan Day in Plano was declared by Mayor Phil Dyer. At left, Director of PublicWorks Nancy Nevill jokes with her former boss and presents him with a street sign indicating he finally got his way.
Around Town
Cindy Boykin
A career of leadership: Hogan retires after 35 years
M!"# $%&' 200 friends, family, and well-wishers were on hand at Plano Centre in January to say goodbye to retiring Deputy City Manager Rod Hogan. Hogan, who joined the city staff in 1975, had served in a number of leadership roles including stints with Parks and Recreation and Public Works before assuming the deputy city manager title in 1999. An avid outdoorsman, Hogan was presented with a variety of fishing gear to enjoy in retirement. At left, Hogan poses with other retired public servants; from left are former city councilman Shep Stahel, retired director of Parks & Rec Don Wendell and former councilman Scott Johnson. Hogan with friend and former colleague at the Parks and Recreation Department, Danny Muzyka. Above, Rod Hogan Day in Plano was declared by Mayor Phil Dyer. At left, Director of Public Works Nancy Nevill jokes with her former boss and presents him with a street sign indicating he finally got his way. O!ering her best wishes was Baumbach’s predecessor Maribelle Davis, namesake of the library where the ceremonies were held. S!"#$ 1988, Joyce Baumbach has watched and helped the Plano Public Library System grow. Fellow city staffers, friends, and colleagues filled the meeting room at the Davis Library to capacity to wish the director of libraries since 1999 well in retirement. Baumbach assured the crowd hers would be a familiar face around the library, this time as a patron.
Joyce Baumbach helped the libraries grow
Profile photos Since the library system is famous for their children’s puppet shows, entertainment for the afternoon came in the form of a show spoofing retired life at home for Joyce and her husband Klaus. The library’s Bookettes book cart drill team closed out the program with a musical number.
Plano First… Although our nation is enduring one of the greatest economic recessions in 75 years, Plano is faring much better than most cities. That was the takeaway message from the Plano Chamber of Commerce year-in-review luncheon on January 22. Speakers at the “Plano First” 64th Annual Meeting presented an overview of the city’s vibrant quality of life, ongoing economic development, and educational achievements from elementary school to post-graduate programs.
Incoming chairman for the chamber, Kelly Palmer, made welcoming remarks on behalf of Chairman Jamie Schell, who was not in attendance. His father, Alex Schell III, passed away days prior. Palmer dedicated the meeting to Alex and the entire Schell family who have been business and civic leaders in Plano for generations.
Palmer then turned to matters facing the chamber, saying that like all nonprofits, the chamber had challenges in 2009. But he believes that businesses and nonprofits alike that survive this difficult time will emerge poised to excel.
Plano Mayor Phil Dyer echoed these sentiments. He said, “We’ve been experiencing the worst economy in 75 years, yet we passed a $128 million bond program to maintain our infrastructure—roads, water lines and sewer lines—and to make additions or improvements to our parks, libraries, and new fire station. We are maintaining a high quality of life by investing in our future through the approval of this bond program.” He reported that in 2009, Plano had one million square feet of real estate development and over $150 million was spent on new construction or finish-out projects. Twenty-one Commercial ventures were built, expanded upon, or relocated to Plano last year, including Pizza Hut, Dr Pepper Snapple Groups, Inc., and Hope Center Foundation.
Mayor Dyer noted that November saw an uptick in sales tax revenue for the first time in 18 months, and City Council is closely watching the budget, which stands at $400 million plus another $100 million for capital projects. “We’ve got a lot of work to do, but this is a great, great place to be.” PISD Board President Skip Jenkins, Collin College President Cary Israel, and SMU-in-Plano Campus Director Kate Livingston addressed educational growth, challenges and opportunities ahead. U.S. Rep. Sam Johnson concluded the lineup, praising city leaders for maintaining the high standard of life in Plano.
For additional information about the Plano Chamber of Commerce, visit planochamber.org or call
972. 424.7547. Joining forces… Martha H. James and Lori A. Leu have combined their law practices, forming James & Leu, LLP.
Leu practiced civil litigation for over 20 years, but personal family matters dealing with elder-law issues led her in a new direction. She now focuses on legal issues affecting seniors and long-term planning, from simple wills to more complicated estate planning, financing of long-term care, including Medicaid eligibility, advance directives, guardianships, and estate administration.
James works with companies and individuals to obtain immigration benefits.
She has helped people obtain visas and also works with foreign physicians to obtain J1 waivers. She has obtained labor certifications and national interest waivers for those seeking permanent residence and naturalization for clients wishing to establish permanent ties with the United States.
Bunny hop… Bring the kids and take Easter photos with live bunnies at The Shops of Legacy between Jasper’s and Naan throughout March. Hop to it! Saigling shines… Congratulations to Saigling Elementary on a host of awards they have received this school year. Prior to the school’s 5th Annual Fine Arts Night, principal Kellie Latimer shared with parents and visitors some of the school’s recent achievements.
They received a 2009 All Kids Can Award from ARC of Dallas honoring them for demonstrating the value and spirit of inclusion and for respecting people with disabilities.
For sustained academic excellence, Saigling was named a 2009 TBEC Honor Roll School. This honor recognizes schools that have demonstrated three years of consistent high performance in all subjects compared to other schools serving similar student populations.
After the awards recap, it was the students’ time to shine, as third-, fourth- and fifth-graders entertained with musical performances and art exhibits.
Annette Maule, Saigling PTA Council Delegate/Legislative Chair, said, “It was a night to celebrate what a well-rounded school can do. As this evening shows, when you involve each and every student …nurturing all aspects of their lives, their artistic and musical pursuits, thirst for knowledge in all subject areas in a positive learning environment… and give them a safe, supportive base from which they spread their wings and explore new things, the sky’s the limit.”
Smiling again… A battered woman with broken teeth lacks confidence to interview for jobs or make new friends. Children who go to school with teeth that cause pain find it difficult to perform at their highest level.
Unfortunately, these individuals have few options if they can’t afford dental care.
In late January, 25 local dentists and specialists teamed up to help.
Under the banner of “Dentistry with a Heart,” these dental professionals closed their regular practices for an entire day to treat nearly 400 people, mostly women and children.
“I treated a 10-year-old boy who had never been to the dentist before,” said co-organizer and host Lynne Gerlach, DDS. “We took out an infected tooth, Completed two fillings, gave him two sealants, cleaned his teeth, and bonded his front two teeth that he broke on his bicycle last summer.” Karen McDonald, who works with husband Edwin McDonald, DDS, spearheaded the event. “We contacted the Collin County Adult Clinic, Collin County Children’s Advocacy Center, Hope’s Door, Interfaith Housing Coalition, churches, and CPS, and asked doctors if they knew of someone going through a hard time.” Once those in need were identified, Karen sent out forms to the list of people so they could make appointments.
On the day of the event, organizers planned on registering about 40 patients an hour, but that number ran closer to 50 or 60 an hour.
“We’ve been busier than we expected,” Karen said.
She added, “What’s been so neat, too, is we contacted Colgate and all our dental reps and they were so generous. And the Plano Rotary Club has been absolutely amazing! Not only did they provide donations, but they offered to help. Everyone has been so supportive.” And they did it with a smile.
Hospital leader... Baylor Regional Medical Center at Plano named Dennis Gable, MD, RVT, FACS as president of the medical staff. Dr. Gable received his medical degree at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston and completed his internship, residency and served as chief resident at the University of Louisville in Louisville, Kentucky.
In addition to his role as president of the medical staff, Dr. Gable serves as vice chairman of surgery and chief of vascular surgery for Baylor Plano
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