LCAHouston’s Top 10 People of The Year!
Happy New Year! As we all have settled into the new year it’s time to review 2022 and all the wonderful work the community has highlighted which will shape a brighter 2023. It has been a LCAHouston tradition to highlight Top Ten People of the Year. As we have made significant expansion in The Woodlands area as well, we take this opportunity to feature our top ten People of the Year from Houston and The Woodlands area.
Rita Garcia
ABC 13 Morning anchor, Rita Garcia moved back to Houston from Los Angeles in 2021. While she tragically lost her dad that very year she was very strong to continue to work and give back to the community. This new mom of Baby Girl Jordan born on Saturday January 21, 2023 is now all set to embrace motherhood and balance work. LCAHouston holds a special bond with Garcia, as she was the first to emcee the LCAHouston International Mother’s Soiree in May 2013, at the Wade Wilson Art Gallery. We are so proud of her and cannot wait to welcome the new mother to walk the runway after a decade on May 13, 2023.
Photo By | Quy Tran
Anna Reger
Anna Reger is a native Houstonian and holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Houston. Recognized as a primary leader in Texas’ business and entrepreneurial scene, she co-founded FlipLock, a safety device to help protect children from mass school shootings in addition to owning several businesses with her husband and co-owner. Born into humble beginnings, she has worked enthusiastically to overcome poverty, hardship and tragedy to make an impact in her community.
Photo By | Quy Tran
Tina Kosh Goodson
Cooking and camaraderie defined Tina Kosh Goodson’s childhood, her entrepreneurial parents having opened a small Italian restaurant when she was only three months old. Now, she carries on the family legacy. As managing partner of the beloved Amerigo’s Grille in The Woodlands and the newly revived Wunsche Bros Café & Saloon in Old Town Spring, Tina not only oversees business but takes time for her friends and family and generously gives back to the community.
Photo By | Quy Tran
Ali Dhanani
Business tycoon Ali Dhanani, is the epitome of humility and hard work. A man of commitment and business, Ali works on a tight schedule, balancing work and family, he maintains his commitment to inspire the youth through his life and work. Proud recipient of the inaugural Entrepreneurship Award from UH Bauer, Ali has made a mark in creating cutting-edge innovations and finding ways to leverage entrepreneurship to transform lives and the community at large. As the Owner, CEO and President of HAZA Group, Ali has used his education, expertise and knowledge of multiple industries to reach the pinnacle of the business community.
Photo By | Gittings
Cindy Heiser
Anyone who knows Cindy, in The Woodlands, knows her for her beautiful smile and always willing to help others.
Cindy Heiser is a University of Texas graduate and an experienced sales executive who worked for several Fortune 500 Companies. She is now the owner of TFL Security North Houston and Austin. Cindy has also volunteered and served with Interfaith, Junior Leagues of Dallas and The Woodlands, Chaired Giving Goes Glam, The American Heart Association, The Woodlands Quarterback Club and was President of The Woodlands High School Volleyball Booster Club. She is a Paul Harris Fellow for The Woodlands Rotary Club and serves on the Board along with The Woodlands Art Council Board.
Photo Courtesy | Cindy Heiser
Dr. Sippi Khurana
Who doesn’t know Sippi. The beautiful face with a beautiful heart. LCAHouston marks the years of friendship with this phenomenal lady. A native Houstonian, Sippi is incredibly proud of this great city and is dedicated to improving issues at home by giving back to our community and worldwide. She hopes to combine her knowledge and love for family, medicine and philanthropy to make a difference in the lives of Houstonians and those suffering worldwide. Life is short and what matters most is our best effort in furthering humanity. We must be people for others first. She has been a regular contributor and emcee for LCAHouston Soirée alongside professional TV News Anchors. Dr. Khurana is a Rheumatologist, Immunologist and Internist and is board certified in Rheumatology and Internal Medicine with a passion for philanthropy and writing. Dr. Sippi sits on the Board of of Trustees for St. Francis Episcopal School and several other organizations such as The Houston Symphony, UNICEF Southwest Region, Pratham USA, just to name a few. She along with her husband Ajay Khurana chaired several charitable galas.
We are delighted to have her as our Honorary Chair for the 10th Annual International Mother’s Day Luncheon.
Photo By | Cindy Cheng Photography
Dr. Cheryl Haseeb
Business owner Dr. Haseeb of Pura Medical Aesthetics is an inspiration for women entrepreneurs and women in healthcare.
As a businesswoman, Cheryl believes that the key to success is to learn and draw inspiration from other women leaders, always raising and empowering one another. Her mantra is to “Be strong, be kind and be humble,” she says, before signing off.
Photo By | Quy Tran
Chef Mayank Istwal
Musaafer Executive Chef Mayank Istwal, a graduate of the Institute of Hotel Management of Guwahati, India, combines his expertise and knowledge to bring a neoteric Indian dining experience to Houston.
Ensuing his successful career in India, Chef Mayank joined The Spice Route Company to open their newest and most adventurous concept yet, and the group’s first project in the U.S. – Musaafer. LCAHouston is delighted to host, in March, its 10th Year Honoree Announcement Party and showcase ‘Holi’ the welcome of Spring and Indian festival of colors.
Photo Courtesy | Musaafer
Missy Herndon
Missy Herndon President and CEO of Interfaith of The Woodlands and Interfaith Community Clinic was recently spotted as the showstopper for the LCAHouston International Mother’s Day Soiree with her sons. It was heartwarming to see this hard working mother and philanthropist care deeply for the charity organization and her family. Her journey changed paths when her oldest son, Will, then 6 years old, was diagnosed with juvenile Batten disease and given a fatal prognosis. In 2009, Missy and her husband, Wayne, co-founded HOPE: The Will Herndon Research Fund. The mission is simple: To SAVE WILL. With the support of an amazing team of families, the fund has raised nearly $9 million to date in The Woodlands community and continues raising awareness and funds to find a treatment to save Will.
Photo By | Quy Tran
Chef Austin Simmons
There has been a great amount of praise for Chef Austin and finally in the new year on behalf of LCAHouston we got to try the delicious media tasting at Tris Restaurant in The Woodlands by Chef Austin Simmons.
A graduate of Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts, Texas-born and raised, Chef Austin has been impressing guests all over the world, first at Dallas’s famed Mansion on Turtle Creek, and later at John Tesar’s Modern Steak & Seafood. Today, Chef Austin sources ingredients from around the world and combines them with unrivaled technique and vision at TRIS, Cureight at Home and The Kitchen in The Woodlands. He has also taken additional executive responsibilities for Woodlands Hospitality Group for its Black Walnut Cafe concept in Houston and Dallas.
Photo Courtesy | TRIS
