Faces of GRAND Prairie, A Community Podcast

Today, my guests are Dena Petty and Crystal Gaither with Mentors Care. Mentors Care is a 501C3 organization whose mission is to connect high school students who are at risk of not graduating with mentors, tools, and resources to help lead them toward graduation and purposeful, fulfilling lives. Mentors Care works with school districts that are historically underserved to enlist, train and equip adult volunteer mentors who care about and believe in the kids they serve. Crystal and Dena discuss how Mentors Care came to be and how it works within each school. We discuss the success stories from the organization and how mentors are trained throughout the process, how this differs from other mentorship programs and how it can greatly fill a need as students return back to school after the pandemic. Groups like this need you and other citizens who want to help students through this time and this episode will encourage and inspire you to do just that! I will have links to Mentor’s Care on the episode details so you can learn more about how to get involved. And now, here’s Crystal and Dena.

Today my guest is Monica Saldivar. Monica grew up and lives in Grand Prairie and is a graduate of Dallas Baptist University. She is currently a nominee for Best New Female Artist at the Tejano Music Awards on December 19, 2020 at 7 pm. Monica is also a piano teacher and a singing coach. We talked today about how her life changed by going to a performing arts high school, as well as how she’s helping her students express some of the emotional ups and downs of this year through music expression. We talk about how she got into Tejano music and the journey of her career so far. Her self-titled Album is available on iTunes, Amazon Music, YouTube, or any major streaming service. Monica was truly delightful, and is a bright rising star and I really enjoyed our conversation. Cole Humphreys from the Hot N Cole podcast co-hosted with me today, where he graciously allowed us to record with his studio.

My guest today is Bryan Parra. Bryan is a current Grand Prairie ISD School Board Trustee representing Place 2 and an elementary assistant principal in DISD. Bryan grew up on the East Coast but moved to Texas in 2003, graduation from South Grand Prairie in 2005. He went on to get his bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M and his masters in educational leadership from DBU. Bryan is a very involved community leader and volunteer – he works closely with The League of United Latin American Citizens, he is a member of the Grand Prairie Host Lyons Club, and the North Texas Region Omega Delta Phi Alumni Association, among others. Today, Bryan and I talk about not only being a school board trustee but also an administrator during the COVID-19 pandemic. We discuss the importance of kids getting back into school and the obstacles some of these students in our district are facing during online learning, including those in our hispanic community. Bryan is always such a nice person to talk to and I’m glad that even though he’s right in the thick of getting ready for the school year, he had time to talk to me!

Today my guest is Jennifer McFalls. Jennifer is a South Grand Prairie High school alumni and one of it’s most accomplished athletes. She was a softball player who went on to play for Texas A&M University She then played for the USA Olympic Softball Team as an alternate in 1996, then won the gold medal in the 2000 games in Sydney, Australia. She is now the head softball coach at the University of Kansas. Jennifer talks to me today about how she got into the sport of softball and how it changed the course of her life. She also talks with me about some of the struggles college athletes are going through during this pandemic and how she’s handling keeping a college sports team in the time of COVID-19. This conversation was taped earlier in the quarantine and even though this pandemic has slowed her schedule down for coaching softball, I’m so very grateful it allowed me the opportunity to get some time to talk with her. Jennifer is just one of the nicest, most humble people and I’m so appreciative she took the time so without further ado, here’s Jennifer McFalls.

We are continuing our Entrepreneur Week with a discussion no entrepreneur can live without – coffee! Today, I welcome Carson Kidd, Cofounder and CoOwner of Moravian Coffee. Carson and two of his childhood friends and fellow graduates of Oklahoma University started a coffee roasting company right out of college and decided to open up shop right here in Grand Prairie. We talk today about the decision to make coffee their business, what it is like working with friends, and the challenges of being a new business owner and handling something like COVID-19 right out of the gate. He also gives me an educational lesson in coffee beans and the process of learning how to roast them. Enjoy!

Hello listeners and welcome to Entrepreneur Week! My guest today is Sophia Whitehead. Sophia has a dear place in my heart – she is my daughter Avery’s sister...I met her when she was 4 and since the day I’ve met her, she has loved animals! She’s always talked about raising animals and recently, she’s been raising and breeding rabbits. Today, we talk about caring for bunnies and rabbits, some different types of breeds she’s had and what she is learning about running a business. I’m so proud of her and the work she’s putting into caring for her rabbits and I am so glad she came on to talk with me today. You can find her website on the links to this episode if you are interested in purchasing a bunny, and also can find this episode on our YouTube channel if you would like to see the bunnies we are talking about in the episode. Enjoy!

Today, I'm talking with Tiffany and Nathan Ross, owners of Siteguard Inspection Services in Grand Prairie. Nathan was able to join us at the end after he was finished with an inspection. Tiffany and I talk about running a business, starting a business from scratch online, juggling running a business with your spouse as your business partner, and creating boundaries when working from home. We also discuss what an inspector's job is and how they can help anyone, even those who might be looking to sell their home in the future, and want to see how to get it "list ready." Enjoy!  

Find SiteGuard Inspection Services online at https://www.sginspectionservices.com/

Today on the podcast I welcome Christian Pryor. Christian is a senior at South Grand Prairie High School. He's spent his high school career in a number of activities, from Theater, to DECA, National Honor Society and more. He talks with us today about his plans after graduation, his interests while he's been in school, and how he's been keeping himself busy while sheltering at home. Christian was such a delight to talk to and I'm so glad he was willing! Enjoy!

Welcome back to GPISD Seniors Week on the podcast! Today, I’m welcoming Coltrane Lins. Coltrane is a Senior at Grand Prairie High School. He’s a member of Show Choir and has been involved in Scouting since he was little. He talks to me today about what he’s missing the most during this shelter in place and what he and his friends have been doing to keep busy and keep connected while being at home. Enjoy!!

Welcome to GPISD Seniors Week on the podcast! Today, I’m welcoming South Grand Prairie High School senior Samantha Vargas. Samantha is Senior Lieutenant for the Cheyennes, a member of the National Honor Society, and was a BETA Club member for the for SGP Early College High School. Not only is Samantha graduating this year as a Warrior, but she is also graduating with her Associates of Science degree from Mountain View College at the same time! She was such a delight to talk to, and I know there are big things in the works for this hard-working young lady! I had a video of our interview and unfortunately, the video file was corrupted from Zoom as it downloaded, so I only have audio of our interview....I was so sad because she did the interview in front of all her mums! but I was able to find a picture of her and her mum for homecoming that I’m putting on the video for YouTube because we do talk about it in the interview, and I certainly want you to see it because it’s a sight to see! Without further ado, here’s Samantha Vargas!

Before we were social distancing, Randy Jennings and I sat down on a beautiful day outside the Summit to talk about his long career as a sports writer and journalist. He worked for The Grand Prairie Daily News after graduating from Grand Prairie High School, until it closed in the 2000's. Since then, he's contributed to publications such ESPN Online and is currently a Sports Writer for the Dallas Morning News. Randy talks with me about how journalism has changed over the decades from a written to the online medium, what it's like to work for a local newspaper and some of his favorite moments in reporting. Please excuse some of the background noise - it was one of the first pretty days of Spring so we just had to sit outside! 

Today, I'm joined by long-time friend Jonathan Richards. Jonathan and I have known each other from when we were youth at Inglewood Baptist Church. Jonathan has been in television production and camera work for quite some time, recording sports games for the Mavs, Stars and Rangers, television events such as the George Bush Memorial Service, and has even won a Sports Emmy for his work for the Olympics. Jonathan is a super great guy and I'm happy he had time to sit down with me! 

#facesofgrandprairie

Today, I talk with Dr. Skaar, the pastor of First Baptist Church in Grand Prairie. Dr. Skaar has been with FBCGP for many years and has a deep connection to this city. He and I talk about how COVID-19 has changed the landscape of attending church services, including participating in the Lord's Supper and Easter Sunday. We discuss how we should reach out to God with our feelings and process things happening around us, and talk about how reading the Bible reminds us that we've been through times like this in history many times over - and that God is in control and He can still use times like this for His glory.

Today, we have a special episode starting our third season, an interview with Cleve Doyen, co-owner and Managing Partner of Brothers Transport. Cleve is a graduate of South Grand Prairie High School, he is a veteran of the US Marines, and an entrepreneur and businessman who has now put his expertise into logistics. Cleve and I spoke over the phone about the challenges, and ins and outs of being in the trucking industry, as well as how we can all think more like an entrepreneur in tough times like these. He also gave me some great reminders of how we as the general public can better share the road with our truckdrivers, who are at the heart of making sure everyone has what we need right now. I really enjoyed talking with Cleve and I hope you enjoy listening!

Today, I welcome my guest, Robin Brown. Robin is a proud 1972 Graduate of Grand Prairie High School, and has a long history with the city of Grand Prairie. His family were the first morticians in the city, and he followed in their footsteps by becoming a funeral home director himself over 40 years ago. Robin also has an interesting hobby, he runs JFK Custom Tours in Dallas, TX, where he gives tours of the Kennedy Assassination in a restored Lincoln Contentinental convertible that resembles the one JFK rode in on that fateful day. You can find more about his story on the Netflix travel series “Dark Tourist,” it’s episode 3 if you’d like to check it out, it’s a really fun spot to watch. Mr. Brown talks about so many interesting topics with us today, including some history into Grand Prairie’s funeral homes, a history into some sports stats of Grand Prairie High School and a look into the strong women of GP who were instrumental in its’ founding and growth. My mom Debbie Pecor joins me today in this episode that I thoroughly enjoyed with Mr. Robin Brown. Happy listening!

My guest today is Albert Sanchez. Albert is a co-owner and founder of Betos Mexican Restaurant, a lifelong Grand Prairie resident and graduate of South Grand Prairie High School. Today, Albert talks to me about how Betos started and the growing pains along the way. He also talks about lessons he learned as a very young entrepreneur and business owner and the transitions you go through throughout life as you are growing a business and how starting and having a family changes your priorities. He also talks about what it was like growing up in Grand Prairie and how that's helped him be the person he is today. 

Today, my guest is Managing Partner of the Texas Roadhouse in Grand Prairie, Mr. Mike Medrano. Mike has been the managing partner of the GP Roadhouse for the past 19 years - and as a sidenote, he was the first person to give me my first grown-up job with a salary when he promoted me to be his Service Manager in 2002. Mike and I go back a long time, so when I saw Grand Prairie was getting a new and improved Texas Roadhouse building, I had to come over and say hello. Mike talks to me about how he came to work at Roadhouse, the culture of the restaurant, why it was important to get a new building at all, and why he's still going strong after a 40 year career in the restaurant industry. 

Today, I am talking with Bonnie Cockrum, a long-time volunteer and President-Elect of the Grand Prairie Historical Organization. Recorded at the new GPHO Museum, we talk about the recently renovated building and the goals of the organization. Bonnie tells us about the importance of digitizing documents and how they set-up their digitizing room, as well as the ongoing effort to always fill in the gaps in history with first-hand accounts of stories from citizens. As a history buff myself, I found this interview incredibly informative and discovered a new-found respect for the history of our town, and I hope you will too!