American Airlines, CAM, Barrio Antiquo, Houston Grand Opera, Randy Mitchmore, DDS, Trellis Builders, American Corporate Transportation, John Michael Gonzalez, transgender proceedings.
By Nancy Ford
Friendlier Skies. Ft. Worth-based American Airlines has named Betty Young to the position of director of diverse segment marketing. Young is tasked with focusing on enhancing services, support, and outreach to GLBT, African-American, Hispanic, and women customers, as well as other diverse populations. A 19-year American Airlines veteran, Young served the past five years as co-manager of American Airlines Rainbow TeAAm, which is recognized as the first GLBT national marketing group at a Fortune 100 company.
Contemporary Director. Representatives for the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston have announced its selection of Bill Arning as its next director. Currently curator at the MIT List Visual Arts Center in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Arning assumes the directorship on April 6. Details: camh.org.
Hidden Treasure. Customers can bring their furniture dimensions and designs to Barrio Antiquo for an immediate quote. Now celebrating six years of providing iron wall pieces, pottery, and wrought-iron furnishings to their clients, Barrio Antiquo is located at 725 Yale St.
Traveling Musician. San Francisco Opera general director David Gockley has announced the appointment of Houston Grand Opera’s music director, Patrick Summers, as principal guest conductor for the 2009–12 seasons. Summers is slated to lead at least one production at San Francisco Opera per season, advising as a key member of the artistic team while remaining HGO’s music director at least through 2014. Details: hgo.org.
More Reason to Smile. Randy Mitchmore, DDS, has completed requirements for the title of master from the Academy of General Dentistry. Additionally, “The Boomerang Effect,” Dr. Mitchmore’s article chronicling the positive impact of the Give Back a Smile program, was published in the Winter 2009 issue of the Journal of the Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry . Details: 713/5922-9300.
Combined Passion. Rebecca Perez of Keller Williams Realty and Rob Griffith of Nautilus Real Estate have combined their love of real estate and passion for homes to form Trellis Builders. Perez and Griffith’s new business specializes in new construction and custom renovations, with their first two homes scheduled to be finished late spring 2009. Details: 713/240-6320 • trellisbuilders.org.
Sweet Ride. Houston-based limousine company Ron’s American Limousines is celebrating its 20th year in business by changing its name to American Corporate Transportation. G&H Transportation Services, owned by Mitch Guidry and Wes Hart, acquired the assets of Ron’s American Limousines from founder Ron Delaney in 2006. Guidry says the company remains committed to Houston’s GLBT community charities by supporting local charities via donations and services back to the community. Details: 713/266-6677.
D.C. Hire. The Washington, D.C., lobbying firm of Johnson, Madigan, Peck, Boland & Stewart has tapped John Michael Gonzalez to join its team of senior level strategists. Highly regarded for his political acumen, House leadership ties and financial services expertise, Gonzalez most recently worked on congressional affairs for the Obama transition after serving as an aide to former Texas governor Ann Richards and former U.S. representative Chris Bell (D-TX), and chief of staff for Congresswoman Melissa Bean (D-IL).
Trans Docs. Phyllis Frye, the “grandmother of the national transgender legal and political movement,” reports that proceedings from the 1992 through 1996 International Conference on Transgender Law and Employment Policy are now available online. The no-cost documents contain information about the early pioneers, shapers of policy, and how the grassroots movement began. Details: www.liberatinglaw.com.
