Greg Junek: Sunday Briefing

Fitzpatrick-Butler Architects reported a good turnout of students and parents during its sixth Career Night on Feb. 5. The turnout was especially good considering that was the same day hail damaged a lot of property in the Bullard and Lindale areas.

It's good to hear the weather did not dampen (no pun intended) the dreams of East Texas youth who are taking their future higher education seriously.

"We ended up having about 36 students show up. It seems about half were interested in architecture studies, and about half were interested in interior design," said Mike Butler, a principal in Fitzpatrick-Butler Architects.

Parents showed up, too, "so it was a full house," said Deborah Smith, office assistant

Local schools represented included John Tyler High School, Robert E. Lee High School, Whitehouse High School, T.K. Gorman High School, Spring Hill High School, All Saints High School, Bullard High School and Brook Hill School, Ms. Smith said.

Several home-schooled students also attended.

"We reached a lot," she said. "Our architects were here that evening and the students were able to meet with them."

Fitzpatrick-Butler's current slate of architects received degrees from accredited programs at Texas A&M University, The University of Texas at Austin, Texas Tech University, Louisiana Tech University and Oklahoma State University.

"We felt we were able to give them a pretty broad range of schools, plus we had all of the information to hand out to them from the accredited schools in Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana," Ms. Smith said.

Texas has eight schools with accredited programs and Louisiana and Oklahoma each have two.

The firm also offered informational materials on the architecture program at Mississippi State University.

Two interior designers - one a Fitzpatrick-Butler employee and another who works in conjunction with the firm on some jobs - were on hand to talk to students about programs in that field, Ms. Smith said.

Texas has nine schools with accredited interior design programs. Louisiana and Oklahoma each have two.

Fitzpatrick-Butler began its annual Career Night to get information on schools of architecture and interior design to East Texas students.

"We have every intention of having this every year," Ms. Smith said. "In fact, we had some repeat students from last year's open house to come again this year."

Brian Craft and Rosemary Sage Jones, attorneys with the Ramey & Flock PC law firm, will give presentations at employer resource workshops in Tyler and Longview next week.

The Tyler workshop will be 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Feb. 26 at the Tyler Rose Garden Center. The Longview workshop will be 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. at Tyler Street Bistro.

Craft will speak on "Who Has the Time? Current Issues in Wage and Hour Law." Ms. Jones' presentation will be "Privacy Issues in the Workplace."

Cost is $30, which includes lunch. Registration deadline is Friday. To register, call 903-510-5242, or e-mail stephaniea@rameyflock.com.

Sponsors are Ramey & Flock, Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce, Snelling Personnel Services, Remedy Intelligent Staffing, Brelsford Personnel and ETHRA.

Last year the Tyler chamber reported a large group of people attended the first Seniors Celebrating Life in Tyler program. This year, it is hoping for the same.

The event will run 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m. April 3 at Harvey Convention Center. It is free to all seniors, and lunch will be provided. The Tyler chamber and the Tyler Parks & Recreation Department will present the program.

Organizers said break-out sessions will include discussions about gardening, safety tips, employment, financial matters, volunteering, fitness, travel, and other topics.

Businesses are encouraged to participate in the program by providing a setting for educating attendees about the services and products available in the area. Those businesses interested in sponsoring the event should call the Tyler chamber office at 903-592-1661.

Business Editor Greg Junek may be reached at 903-596-6280, or by e-mail at business@tylerpaper.com.

Grey Junek
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