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WELCOME TO, IT'S HAPPENING IN GRAND PRAIRIE.
I'M GEORGIA CLEMSON, AND WE HAVE A FABULOUS SHOW FOR YOU TODAY.
NOW FRONT AND CENTER, WE HAVE OUR NEW CITY MANAGER, MR. WILLIAM HILLS, BETTER KNOWN AS BILL TO EVERYBODY.
IT'S, IT'S, AS I'VE SAID BEFORE, IT'S A, IT'S SOMETHING I DIDN'T DARE TO IMAGINE, BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT I KNOW MY LIFE HAS PREPARED ME FOR AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT GOD HAD IN STORE FOR ME THAT I DIDN'T KNOW HE HAD IN STORE FOR ME.
SO I JUST DO THE VERY BEST I CAN TO DO THE BEST I CAN.
AND MR. BILL, YOU HAVE BEEN WITH THE CITY OF GRAND PRIX FOR HOW MANY YEARS? I'VE BEEN WITH CITY OF GRAND PRAIRIE FOR 35 YEARS, AND I HAVE 45 YEARS IN PUBLIC SERVICE ALTOGETHER.
'CAUSE I WENT, CAME FROM FORT WORTH WHERE I'D DONE 10 YEARS AND I DID TWO YEARS IN AUSTIN BEFORE THAT.
SO I'VE BEEN AROUND A LITTLE WHILE.
AND ACTUALLY, HOW DID YOU COME TO GRAND PRAIRIE? WHAT WAS THE CONNECTION THERE? IT WAS VERY INTERESTING.
THE, UH, THERE WAS A GENTLEMAN NAMED, CALLED MIKE SMITH.
HE WAS THE CODE COMPLIANCE PERSON HERE.
AND HE LEFT AND WENT TO SUPER COLLIDER AND HE SAID, BILL, WE'D LOVE TO HAVE YOU IN A, TOM HATFIELD IS WHO ORIGINALLY HIRED ME, WHO WAS THE ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES DIRECTOR.
AND I'VE BEEN HERE EVER SINCE.
WHEN I LEFT FORT WORTH, I CAME HERE IN 1989 WITH 66,000 PEOPLE IN GRAND PRAIRIE.
AND NOW HERE WE ARE WITH 220,000 PEOPLE.
AND I'VE PROGRESSED FROM, UH, THE CODE ENFORCEMENT MANAGER ALL THE WAY TO THE CITY MANAGER.
AND THAT IS SUCH AN EXCITING STORY.
THE, UM, DIFFERENT PLACES YOU HAVE WORKED AND HAVE SERVED AND LEARNED TO PREPARE YOU FOR THIS.
SO YOU STARTED WITH CODE AND THEN WHERE DID YOU GO? I STARTED WITH CODE AND AFTER CODE I WOULD BECAME THE HOUSING DIRECTOR.
AND I REMAINED THE HOUSING DIRECTOR FOR 26 YEARS.
BUT I HAD CODE, I HAD CDBG, I HAD SECTION EIGHT HOUSING.
I HAD SEVERAL DIFFERENT DIVISIONS WITHIN THERE THAT EXPOSED ME TO JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING THAT THE CITY DOES.
AND WAS INVOLVED IN THE ORIGINAL WRITING OF THE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE.
WROTE A LOT OF, DID A LOT OF WORK WITH THE, UH, CODE OF ORDINANCES AND THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.
AND I WAS ON SEVERAL, SEVERAL COMMITTEES AS WE GREW.
SO I WAS INDOCTRINATED IN THE GRAND PRAIRIE WAY.
AND THEN YOU STEPPED INTO A, WAS IT ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER THEN, OR WERE YOU OVER? UM, I, I STEPPED INTO AS A TOM HART RIGHT YEAR BEFORE HE RETIRED, ASKED ME TO STEP UP AND BECOME A DEPUTY CITY MANAGER.
AND IN STEPPING INTO THAT ROAD, I ROLE, I WAS EXPOSED TO PLANNING, OH, GOODNESS.
TRA STREETS, UH, TRANSPORTATION, HOUSING, UH, I HAD EIGHT DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS.
I MEAN, I, I DID A LITTLE BIT OF IT ALL.
AND I ENJOYED EVERY MINUTE OF IT.
I'VE ENJOYED IT EVERY SO MUCH.
SO YOU'RE WELL PREPARED AND YOU'VE MADE LOTS OF GOOD FRIENDS ALONG THE WAY.
AS I KNOW, IN HOUSING, THAT WAS PROBABLY HARD TO LEAVE THAT BECAUSE THAT WAS LIKE A FAMILY, WASN'T IT? THAT WAS A FAMILY.
AND IT, AND HOUSING, THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT IS PROBABLY AN ILLUSTRATION OF WHAT I BELIEVE MANAGEMENT SHOULD BE.
AS LONG AS YOU ARE LEADING A GROUP OF FOLKS WHO ARE WILLING TO DO WHAT IS NECESSARY, IT ISN'T NECESSARY TO BE A ONEROUS LEADER.
BUT TO BE A GOOD LEADER, YOU HAVE TO HAVE EXPECTATIONS.
AND I EXPECT FOLKS TO DO WHAT THEIR PARTICULAR ASSIGNMENT IS TO DO.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, YOU DON'T HAVE TO ENFORCE IT WITH A STICK.
YOU CAN ENFORCE IT WITH A PEPPERMINT STICK OR A LITTLE BIT OF CANDY WITH IT.
AND, UM, YOU LEFT HOUSING IN GOOD HANDS, DIDN'T YOU? YES, I DID.
ESTHER COLEMAN IS STILL DOING A GREAT JOB OVER THERE AND WE, I'M JUST REALLY PROUD OF HER 'CAUSE SHE WAS READY FOR A LONG TIME BEFORE I LEFT, BUT I WAS STILL THERE.
BUT NOW SHE'S JUST DOING A GREAT JOB AND CARRYING ON WITH THE SAME TRADITIONS AND THE, THE SAME ATMOSPHERE AND CULTURE THAT WE WERE ABLE TO INSTILL OVER THE COURSE OF THE 25 YEARS I WAS THERE.
AND NOW THAT YOU ARE IN THE MAIN OFFICE AT CITY HALL, YOU HAVE A COUPLE OF ASSISTANTS THAT ARE FABULOUS TOO, DON'T YOU? OH,
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YES.CHERYL AND MEGAN ARE SUPER, UH, WE JUST REORGANIZED TO WHERE CHERYL AND MEGAN ARE OUR DEPUTIES AND WE'LL BE HIRING A NEW CITY ATTORNEY, BUT ALSO WE'VE PROMOTED LISA AND WALTER TO MANAGING DIRECTORS.
AND WHAT THAT IS IS VERY SIMILAR TO AN ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, BUT THEY ARE MORE HANDS ON, BOOTS ON THE GROUND THAN AN ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER WOULD BE.
SO THEY CAN KEEP UP WITH WHAT IS GOING ON.
AND EACH OF THEM ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR FOUR DEPARTMENTS A PIECE.
NOW, UH, THAT IS, I KNOW THEY'RE FABULOUS.
I LOVE WORKING WITH THEM AS WELL.
AND YOU DO HAVE SOME WONDERFUL LADIES IN THE OFFICE, IN THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE WORKING THERE TOO.
AND WE'RE, WE'RE LEARNING HOW TO HAVE FUN EVERY DAY.
AND AS WE WERE DISCUSSING EARLIER, BEFORE WE WENT ON THE AIR, ONE OF THE THINGS FOR ME IS EVEN THOSE THINGS THAT ARE TRULY CHALLENGING FOR US ARE FUN TO ME.
AND THE REASON THEY'RE FUN TO ME IS BECAUSE WHEN YOU ARE SUCCESSFUL IN SOLVING A PROBLEM, YOU HAVE DONE WHAT YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO DO.
I'M HERE TO SERVE THE CITIZENS OF GRAND PRAIRIE, EVERY LAST ONE OF THEM TO THE VERY, VERY BEST OF MY ABILITY.
AND THAT'S A GREAT EXAMPLE FOR ALL OF US BECAUSE THAT'S, THAT SHOULD BE OUR GOAL AS COUNCIL MEMBERS, EMPLOYEES, OR WHATEVER ROLES THAT WE ARE IN, IS TO DO IT WITH EXCELLENCE, INTEGRITY, AND TO THE VERY BEST OF OUR ABILITY.
AND THAT, THAT, AND AS I'VE SAID MANY TIMES BEFORE, THIS GOES BACK TO MY FATHER.
MY FATHER WAS THE FIRST BLACK COUNCIL MEMBER IN THE CITY OF EL PASO BACK IN THE MID TO LATE EIGHTIES.
I GROWING UP AND BEING THERE AND BEING AROUND HIM WAS EXPOSED TO THAT SIDE OF IT.
AND WHEN HE WAS ELECTED, ONE OF THE THINGS HE SAID IS, THAT ISN'T IMPORTANT.
NOW I AM THE COUNCIL MEMBER FOR ALL OF DISTRICT FOUR AND I WILL SERVE ALL OF THE PEOPLE OF DISTRICT FOUR.
AND THAT'S THE WAY I FEEL TODAY.
I REALIZE THAT IT WAS HISTORY MAKING FOR ME TO BE THE FIRST BLACK CITY MANAGER FOR GRAND PRAIRIE.
BUT THAT ISN'T WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT.
WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT IS I'M HERE TO SERVE ALL THE CITIZENS OF GRAND PRAIRIE AND DO MY DEAD LEVEL BEST TO MAKE SURE THAT GRAND PRAIRIE IS THE BEST GRAND PRAIRIE IT CAN BE.
I'M IN TOTAL AGREEMENT WITH THAT.
AND SINCE YOU, UH, MENTIONED HISTORY AND YOUR DAD, I MUST MENTION HISTORY OF MY MOM WHO ACTUALLY GOT TO WORK WITH YOU SOME OF THOSE VERY EARLY YEARS.
AND, AND IT'S, IT'S REALLY, I GUESS YOU'D SAY DEJA VU FOR ME SITTING HERE AND TALKING WITH YOU.
'CAUSE I SPOKE WITH YOUR MOM ON HER SHOW MANY, MANY, MANY TIMES.
AND WE WORKED TOGETHER TO WIN THE GOVERNOR'S COMMUNITY ACHIEVEMENT AWARD, WHICH WAS VERY IMPORTANT TO MISS RUTHIE.
BACK IN THE DAY, THE FIRST ONE THAT THE CITY OF GRAND PRAIRIE WON, I WORKED WITH HER AND WE WROTE TOGETHER.
SO IT WAS, IT REALLY MEANT A LOT TO ME.
IT'S A GREAT MEMORY AND I'M GLAD, I'M GLAD WE GOT TO TALK ABOUT THAT AND REFLECT ON THAT AS WELL.
NOW HERE WE FIND US IN 2023 AND WHAT IS OUR POPULATION NOW? RIGHT.
AND THAT IS QUITE A CHALLENGE, EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE FUN AND WE'RE GONNA ENJOY IT, THERE ARE LOTS OF, UH, CHALLENGES THAT COME EVERY DAY THROUGH YOUR OFFICE AND THROUGH MY EMAIL AND YOURS.
ALL THE COUNCIL NEVER, NO DAY IS THE SAME.
BUT THAT'S WHAT MAKES BEING IN PUBLIC SERVICE SO UNIQUE.
I INTERACT WITH ANYWHERE FROM 20 TO A HUNDRED PEOPLE IN THE COURSE OF A DAY, POSITIVELY, NEGATIVELY IN MANY DIFFERENT AREAS.
BUT WE ARE LOOKING TOWARD THE FUTURE.
WE HAVE A LOT GOING ON DOWN SOUTH.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE EVEN MORE GOING ON UP NORTH.
AS THINGS PROGRESS, WE'RE SEEING THAT GRAND PRAIRIE IS BECOMING THE EYE OF THE METROPLEX.
EVERYBODY'S LOOKING FOR THEIR SPOT IN GRAND PRAIRIE THAT THEY CAN BUILD AND MAKE THEIR OWN HISTORY WITH.
AND WE'RE HERE TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN POSSIBLY DO TO HELP THEM GET THERE.
AND ONE OF MY NEW FAVORITE SAYINGS IS WHO WOULDN'T WANT TO COME TO GRAND PRAIRIE, TEXAS AT THIS POINT? THEY WOULD HAVE TO BE CRAZY NOT TO
AND I, AND I FEEL LIKE AS AN AMBASSADOR FOR THIS CITY,
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I'VE BEEN AN AMBASSADOR FOR THIS CITY FOR ALL THE TIME I'VE BEEN HERE, BUT NOW IT'S MORE INCUMBENT UPON ME TO MAKE PEOPLE SEE THAT THE DIAMOND THAT WAS A DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH.WERE STARTING TO POLISH THOSE EDGES AND REALLY SHINE.
I ALWAYS LIKE TO REMIND PEOPLE LIKE YOU AND MY MOTHER WERE CHEERLEADERS FOR GRAND PRAIRIE BEFORE GRAND PRAIRIE WAS COOL.
AND IT WAS, IT'S ALWAYS BEEN COOL TO ME.
BUT THE KEY IS EVERYBODY ELSE IS STARTING TO LEARN THAT IT'S COOL.
AND AND THAT'S THE FACT THAT YOU ALL HAD VISION, THE VISION TO SEE WHAT IT COULD BECOME.
ONCE WE GOT OUR, UH, ACCESS IN WITH, UH, 1 61 THE FRONTAGE ROADS, THAT'S BEEN A GAME CHANGER, HASN'T IT? OH, IT HAS THE, THE FRONTAGE ROAD ON 20, THE FRONTAGE ROADS ON 30 AND ALL OF THE DEVELOPMENT THAT HAS GONE ALONG ON 1 61.
UH, WHEN I CAME HERE, 1 61 WAS WEST FREEWAY BOULEVARD.
AND I'M SURE YOU REMEMBER THAT.
WE HAVE COME SO FAR IN TRULY WHAT IS A SHORT TIME AS A CITY IN JUST 35 YEARS.
WE'VE COME SO FAR AND I'M JUST HONORED TO BE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEAD THIS CITY ON INTO THE FUTURE.
AND MR. BILL, UM, IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE TO HAVE YOU ON TODAY.
AND IT'S BEEN, UH, I THINK IT'S A GREAT HONOR, UH, FOR US AS WELL AS YOU, THAT YOU HOLD THAT TITLE AND, UH, WE'RE SO VERY PROUD OF YOU AND THANKFUL.
NOW, BEFORE WE SIGN OFF, I WANT YOU TO TALK ABOUT YOUR FAMILY.
YOU GOT TO BRING THEM TO OUR LAST COUNCIL MEETING, AND THAT WAS SO SPECIAL.
WELL, IT IS TRULY SPECIAL, AND I HAVE A BLENDED FAMILY.
I, I WAS SINGLE FOR ABOUT 26 YEARS AND I HAVE, I'M A GREAT-GRANDFATHER, GRANDFATHER OF WOO FIVE.
UH, I'M THE, AND THE FATHER OF THREE, FOUR DAUGHTERS NOW.
AND SO IT HAS JUST, IT'S JUST BLOSSOMED AND IT'S JUST REALLY BEEN SPECIAL.
AND ME AND MY WIFE, WE, WE TRULY ENJOY OUR FAMILY.
AND FAMILY IS WHAT MEANS A LOT TO ME.
AND I THINK THAT IS REFLECTED IN HOW I MANAGE AND LEAD PEOPLE.
AS I LOOK TO PEOPLE TO BUILD THAT LOVE AND THAT TRUST IN ALL OF US THAT RESEMBLES THAT OF A FAMILY, ESPECIALLY WE, BECAUSE WE SPEND SO MANY HOURS A DAY TOGETHER, WE NEED TO HAVE THAT SPECIAL BOND THAT WILL KEEP US MOVING FORWARD AND KEEP US WORKING TO MAKE GRAND PRIX THE BEST IT CAN BE.
AND WE'RE THANKFUL THAT WE HAVE SUPPORTIVE FAMILIES THAT ARE SUPPORTIVE OF US BECAUSE THIS DOES TAKE A LOT OF TIME, ENERGY, AND EFFORT.
BUT YOU KNOW, IT'S WORTH, IT'S A LABOR OF LOVE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR CARVING OUT SOME TIME FOR US TODAY BECAUSE OUR VIEWERS WANT TO KNOW YOU MORE AND I HOPE THAT THIS WILL HELP THEM TO KNOW THAT THE RIGHT MAN IS IN THE RIGHT PLACE AND THAT YOU'RE DOING A GREAT JOB.
GOD BLESS YOU AND KEEP YOU AND HOPE TO SEE YOU AGAIN SOON.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US, BILL AND WE'LL RIGHT BACK.
GRAND PRAIRIE IS CHANGING THE SCHEDULE FOR GARBAGE AND RECYCLING PICKUPS STARTING OCTOBER 2ND.
GARBAGE PICKUPS NORTH OF WARRIOR TRAIL WILL BE ON TUESDAY AND FRIDAY.
GARBAGE PICKUPS SOUTH OF WARRIOR TRAIL WILL BE ON MONDAY AND THURSDAY AND RECYCLING PICKUPS WILL CHANGE TO WEDNESDAY FOR THE ENTIRE CITY.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE NEW PICKUP SCHEDULE, VISIT GPTX.ORG.
WELCOME BACK AND WELCOME TO OUR NEXT GUEST, THOMAS MENEZES, WHO IS THE MANAGER OF OUR FABULOUS ICONIC UPTOWN THEATER IN DOWNTOWN GRAND PRAIRIE.
IT'S AN HONOR TO BE HERE, MISS GEORGIA.
AND WE KNOW THERE'S A LOT HAPPENING AT THE UPTOWN AND IT'S BEEN HERE FOREVER.
AND NOW WHAT'S GOING ON AT THE UPTOWN THOMAS? WE'VE GOT A WHOLE RANGE OF EVENTS IN ADDITION TO MANY RENOVATIONS THAT WE'RE DOING AND, AND WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT IT ALL.
UH, JUST THIS COMING WEEK, UH, WE GOT THREE EVENTS.
THIS NEXT TUESDAY WE'LL HAVE THE GRAND PRAIRIE FINE ARTS ACADEMY PUTTING ON A, A JAZZ BAND SHOW.
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TO BE GREAT.TWO DAYS LATER, WE'LL HAVE A MAGIC SHOW, FAMILY FRIENDLY AND ASSOCIATION WITH THE LIONS CLUB.
SO WE ENCOURAGE, UH, PEOPLE OF ALL AGES, ESPECIALLY THE KIDS, TO COME SEE SOME WONDERFUL MAGIC.
UM, TWO DAYS LATER ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 7TH, WE'LL HAVE THE CULT CLASSIC ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW.
BUT WHAT WE'LL HAVE IS A LIVE CAST INTERACTING WITH THE AUDIENCE THE WHOLE TIME.
LAST YEAR WE SOLD EVERY SEAT IN THE UPTOWN AND WE'RE HAPPY TO HAVE THEM BACK, SO, WOW.
AND THAT'S JUST THIS NEXT WEEK? THAT'S JUST THE NEXT WEEK, YEAH.
LET'S LOOK ON A LITTLE BIT FURTHER INTO NOVEMBER.
AFTER, UH, GRAND PRAIRIE ARTS COUNCIL PUTS ON THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME, UH, ON NOVEMBER 18TH, WE ARE VERY EXCITED ABOUT A SHOW WE'RE CALLING THE TEXAS LEGENDS TRIBUTE.
IT'S GOING TO BE A TRIBUTE TO STEVIE RAY VAUGHAN AND ZZ TOP.
SO WE WILL HAVE TWO BANDS THAT DO JUST A WONDERFUL TRIBUTE WITH ALL THE TALENT IN THE WORLD.
AND I KNOW FANS OF THOSE TWO ACTS WILL LOVE TO COME SEE IT.
AND A FUN FACT ABOUT THAT ONE, UH, FOR THOSE THAT, LIKE CRAIG PARKER, THE ELVIS IMPRE YES.
IMPERSONATOR, UH, HE'S PART OF THESE ACTS.
UH, SO YOU GET TO COME SEE HIM IN A DIFFERENT LIGHT.
AND YOU ACTUALLY GET TWO FOR ONE WHEN YOU COME THERE.
YOU GET BOTH OF THOSE, RIGHT? ABSOLUTELY.
AND, UH, THOMAS, IF I WANTED TO GET TICKETS FOR THAT, HOW DO I DO THAT? ALL OF OUR UPCOMING EVENTS AND EVERY REALLY EVERYTHING WE DO IS, IS SLATED UNDER OUR WEBSITE, UPTOWN THEATER GP.COM.
SIMPLY CLICK ON TICKETS, IT'LL BE THE FIRST BUTTON AT THE TOP, AND YOU'LL SEE A FULL CALENDAR OF UPCOMING EVENTS.
NOW, IF SOMEBODY DOESN'T HAVE ACCESS TO A COMPUTER, CAN THEY MAKE A PHONE CALL? ABSOLUTELY.
AND WE'LL BE GLAD TO EXPLAIN EVERYTHING GOING ON AT THE UPTOWN.
AND I KNOW, UH, THAT THERE WILL BE ART ON DISPLAY FOR SOME OF THOSE EVENTS AS WELL, RIGHT IN THE LOBBY.
WE TRY OUR VERY BEST TO HAVE OUR, ESPECIALLY FROM LOCAL ARTISTS ON DISPLAY YEAR ROUND, BUT ESPECIALLY DURING, UH, OCTOBER WHEN HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME IS IN, AND IN DECEMBER WHEN THEIR PRODUCTION OF WHITE CHRISTMAS IS IN, WE'RE GONNA HAVE, UH, CORRESPONDING ARTWORK.
AND THE GRAND PRAIRIE ARTS COUNCIL DOES A GOOD JOB OF CURATING THOSE GALLERIES.
AND THOMAS, IF I WANTED TO COME UP JUST TO LOOK AT THE ARTWORK OR TO, UH, JUST TO LOOK AT THE LOBBY TO SEE IF I WANTED TO HAVE AN EVENT THERE, WHAT ARE THE HOURS THAT PEOPLE CAN JUST WALK IN, GENERALLY SPEAKING, MON MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY, SINCE MOST OF OUR EVENTS ARE ON WEEKENDS, COME SEE US ABOUT 10:00 AM TO 3:00 PM MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.
UH, AND AS ALWAYS, WE WELCOME PEOPLE TO GIVE US A CALL, MAKE AN APPOINTMENT SO WE CAN CATER YOUR TOUR YES.
AND ANSWER ALL YOUR QUESTIONS TO YOUR SPECIFIC NEEDS.
SO THAT WOULD BE BEST TO GET AN APPOINTMENT.
NOW, UH, YOU'VE MENTIONED THE EVENTS.
I KNOW THERE'S A FOCUS ON, UH, GETTING THAT INFORMATION OUT THAT THAT'S AVAILABLE TO OUR CITIZENS AND TO, UH, A SURROUNDING CITIES AS WELL.
A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THAT OVER 65%, I WOULD SAY, OF THE UPTOWNS HAPPENINGS ARE PRIVATE RENTERS.
IF YOU NEED A A, A GRAND STAGE, UH, A BIG LOBBY, A GALLERY WITH THE ART SPACE AND EVEN A SMALL STUDIO THEATER, WE CAN SERVE YOUR EVENT.
WE'VE DONE EVERYTHING FROM WEDDINGS, STAGE PLAYS, UH, PRIVATE RECEPTIONS, EVEN CORPORATE MEETINGS THAT HAPPEN DURING THE DAY BECAUSE WE HAVE A GREAT SPACE.
AND, UH, WE DO SO MANY RENTALS AND WHY PEOPLE ARE, WHY OUR RENTALS HAVE HAD A RECENT UPTICK IS 'CAUSE WE'VE, MY VERY TALENTED COLLEAGUE, JACKIE AND I HAVE PUT IN OVER 200,000 IN RENOVATIONS JUST IN THE LAST TWO YEARS.
WE'RE TALKING NEW GALLERY FLOOR, NEW CARPET, NEW PAINT JOB, AND YOU'LL S WHEN YOU COME INTO THE UPTOWN, YOU'LL SEE TWO NEW CHANDELIERS.
SO IT IS A GORGEOUS PLACE FOR AN EVENT, BIRTHDAYS OR REUNIONS.
AND IF SOMEBODY WANTS TO BOOK THAT, THEY JUST GO TO WHAT THEY, THEY CAN GO TO OUR WEBSITE, UPTOWN THEATER GP.COM.
WE'LL WALK THEM THROUGH ALL THE STEPS AND COORDINATE FOR THEM.
UM, ON OUR WEBSITE, WE ACTUALLY HAVE A REALLY QUICK CONSULTATION FORM.
YOU ANSWER A FEW QUESTIONS, IT GOES STRAIGHT TO OUR COORDINATOR, JACKIE, AND WE TAKE CARE OF THEM FROM START TO FINISH WITH A VERY EASY PROCESS FOR THEIR EVENT.
AND WHAT A FUN PLACE TO WORK AT THE UPTOWN THEATER.
ARE YOU LOVING THAT? I LOVE IT.
IT'S ALIGNS WITH ALL MY PASSION PASSIONS PROFESSIONALLY AND PERSONALLY.
SO, UH, IT IT, IT MAKES IT SEEM LIKE IT'S NOT WORK.
WELL, TELL US SOME OF YOUR PASSIONS OTHER THAN WORKING AT THE UPTOWN.
UH, WELL, UH, I PERSONALLY, I HAVE, I HAD TWO DEGREES
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IN SCIENCE.I HAD A, A BIOLOGY AND A CHEMISTRY DEGREE AS LONG AS A MASTER'S, UH, AS WELL AS A MASTER'S IN PHYSIOLOGY.
AND ONE DAY I WANTED TO CHANGE, I WANTED TO SERVE MY COMMUNITY MORE BECAUSE I ALSO HAVE PERSONAL HOBBIES OF, I'VE BEEN AN OIL PAINTER FOR OVER 20 YEARS NOW, AND I DO A LITTLE BIT OF MUSIC AS WELL.
ONE DAY IN 2017, I EMAILED THE LATE GREAT MR. RICK HAROLD, UH, WITH MY RESUME AND EVERYTHING THAT I DO PERSONALLY AND PROFESSIONALLY, UH, BECAUSE I WANTED TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY MORE AND BRING SOME OF THESE OPPORTUNITIES TO OUR WONDERFUL COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY HERE IN GP.
UH, I EMAILED HIM AND LONG STORY SHORT, I STARTED THE EPIC AND I, UH, IT'S ALMOST LIKE A DREAM COME TRUE.
GET NOW GETTING TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY OF GP AT THE UPTOWN THEATER.
AND, UM, YOU HAVE A FAMILY AS WELL, RIGHT? YES, MA'AM.
I HAVE A WONDERFUL WIFE, KARINA, AND, UH, OUR LITTLE BABY SON IS WILL TURN TWO ON DECEMBER 28TH.
I LIKE KEEPING UP WITH YOU AND YOUR FAMILY ON FACEBOOK,
OH, THANKS SO MUCH MISS GEORGIA.
AND, UH, THE FACT THAT YOU'RE ALREADY MULTI-TALENTED AND TO HAVE YOU UP AT THE UPTOWN IS SUCH A BLESSING.
THAT MEANS A LOT TO ME TO CARRY ON THE TRADITION AND THE, AND THE TREASURE THAT IS THE UPTOWN THEATER.
UM, ESPECIALLY WORKING ALONGSIDE GREAT PEOPLE LIKE YOU.
WELL, AND, UM, WE'RE GONNA FLASH BACK UP ON THE SCREEN, UH, THE WEBSITE AND THE TELEPHONE NUMBER WHERE PEOPLE CAN CALL IN AND MAKE THEIR RESERVATIONS FOR ALL THOSE FABULOUS SHOWS YOU HAVE COMING, OF COURSE, PLEASE CALL US.
WE'LL BE GLAD TO TALK TO YOU AND HELP YOU IN WHATEVER WAY WE CAN.
WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH, THOMAS, FOR JOINING US TODAY.
AND THANK YOU AS WELL FOR JOINING US.
I'M GEORGIA CLEMSON, REMINDING YOU AS ALWAYS, IT'S HAPPENING IN GRAND PRAIRIE.