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Debra Wakeland
City of Weatherford Main Street Director , HPO
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make a difference in someone ’ s life every day .
PCT : What is the best thing about your job ? DW : Taking small businesses to the next level .
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PCT : What would you do if you couldn ’ t do this job ? DW : Travel . Get an RV and visit every state park . |
heritage while managing the future is great . Economic development is such a huge part of its future .
PCT : What is your favorite movie ? KM : Phantom of the Opera .
PCT : What kind of music are you into ? KM : I like a variety of genres , oldies from the 60 ’ s and 70 ’ s , country and contemporary Christian .
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PCT : How long have you been in Parker County ? DW : Since April 1 , 2016 . I applied for this posted position . I grew up with Sharon Hays ( Weatherford City Manager ). So I called her and said , “ I want to get to Weatherford .” She sent me to Craig Farmer because he ’ s the one who is over the program .
PCT : What ’ s the coolest thing that you have ever done in your life ? DW : I zip-lined with my girlfriend in Nicaragua . It was 17 stations . We didn ’ t go there to do that but we have friends who retired , moved there and built a hotel and operate it . We went to see them .
PCT : What ’ s your secret talent ? DW : I collect all kind of rocks and stones and I wire-wrap them and make jewelry .
PCT : What is your definition of the best day ever ? DW : I love to go to the beach and I love casual , so I love waking up at the beach . I grew up in Springtown so I was raised on Eagle Mountain Lake .
PCT : What piece of advice has defined your life up until now ? DW : Make the most of every day and
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PCT : What do you want to be remembered for ? DW : For putting Weatherford on the map .
Catharine Smiley Marshall
Nickname : Kit Mayor of Aledo
PCT : What is your official title ? KM : Kit … LOL ... OK , depends on which hat I ’ m wearing ... my paying job is Community Liaison for Emergency Management , Grant writer / coordinator . My volunteer hats are : Mayor of Aledo ; President , Aledo Economic Development Corporation ; District Chair for the Brazos Valley District of the Longhorn Council
PCT : What do you do ? KM : Wearing my volunteer hats is equally rewarding . The opportunity to work with a great council , boards , and staff as we preserve Aledo ’ s
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PCT : What ’ s the most daring thing you ’ ve ever done ? KM : Stalking a group of rhinos outside of Livingston , Zambia with my twin and brother-in-law with armed guides / guards after being told not to run if a rhino spotted us and charged . Easier said than done ... yes , one was coming toward us and fortunately one of the guides acted as a diversion while we took our cameras and removed ourselves , slowly while repeating , “ I will not run , I will not run .”
PCT : What accomplishment are you most proud of ? KM : Raising two wonderful , responsible children who are serving the Lord as they raise their families .
PCT : How did you get into your field ? KM : I have always embraced preparedness and had wondered how I could get into emergency management when a door opened . Program development and volunteer management coupled with grant writing was a perfect fit .
Additionally , I had always volunteered in something and had been involved loosely in politics . After moving into Aledo , I was asked to run for Council and after two terms that morphed into mayor . Each hat has fit together well and I love what I do .
PCT : What do you do to relax ? KM : Put my Gigi hat on and play with my grandbabies or watch a movie .
PCT : If you could visit any place in the world , where would you go ? KM : Alaska , Italy , Greece , Australia , Switzerland .
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JANUARY 2017 PARKER COUNTY TODAY
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