Staff Reports

SouthStar Bank, one of the largest independent banks in Texas, is now open at Steiner Ranch Boulevard and RM 620.

“Our Steiner Ranch location expands our footprint to better serve the area with lending capabilities and product offerings to reinforce our commitment to convenience with exceptional customer service,” said David Kapavik, president of SouthStar Bank.

SouthStar Bank Steiner Ranch opened last week on March 8.

A public Open House and Ribbon Cutting ceremony will be held at the new Steiner branch on Thursday, April 27, 3:30 – 6:30 p.m. The family friendly event will include Texas-style BBQ, sweet treats and giveaways.

SouthStar Bank serves much of Central Texas through 14 full-service branches and four loan production offices, including four other Austin-area locations in Bee Cave, Southwest Austin, Round Rock and Leander.

“Though we are growing, we remain the same proudly independent, privately held community bank our customers can trust for all their financial services, including mortgages in the fast-growing Austin-area market,” Kapavik said.

SouthStar Bank specializes in residential mortgage, real estate and construction lending. Decisions are made locally and policies are continually updated to reflect current market conditions. This approach allows SouthStar Bank the flexibility to apply common sense standards to products, services and loan requests.

The Steiner Ranch branch and its experienced lending team are led by Elise Giles, senior vice president/commercial real estate lender, along with Larry Weisinger, senior vice president/mortgage lender, Greg Vesely, senior vice president/commercial lending officer, and Cole Schindler, vice president/mortgage lender. Collectively they have served the lending needs of businesses and individuals alike for over 80 years.

The 7,381 square-foot building began with design by architect Kirby Fleming in the Hill Country modern style, executed by McAden Builders. Embracing the beauty of its surroundings, interior design by Edgewater & Company captures the essence of the area. SouthStar Bank Steiner Ranch is full of influences driven by its location, sitting between Lake Travis and Lake Austin it is framed by some of the most picturesque offerings in the Texas Hill Country.

SouthStar Bank is headquartered in Moulton, Tex. and specializes in residential mortgage, real estate and construction lending. Built on a 100-year Texas heritage, the bank holds over $700 million in assets and focuses on community involvement and personal relationships. SouthStar Bank holds a 5-Star rating by Bauer Financial and Southern Bancshares of Houston holds majority ownership of SouthStar Bank.

SouthStar Bank Steiner Ranch team (L-R): Isaiah Olivares, Rhonda Robinson, Tera Latham, Steffani Scorborough, Elise Giles, Cole Schindler, Lisa Conrad, Greg Vesley

More than 75 professionals gathered at Concordia University Texas on Feb. 23 to hear about its new Incubator for Innovation and Impact. The Incubator, a partnership between Concordia and Tech Ranch Austin, opens in April.

By KIM ESTES
Four Points News

Local entrepreneurs in want of expertise, collaboration and free labor are invited to join Incubator for Innovation and Impact opening in April at Concordia University Texas in Four Points.

Concordia partnered with Tech Ranch Austin, a startup accelerator, to establish the Incubator. Leaders shared the details with more than 75 professionals at a preview breakfast and panel discussion on Feb. 23.

“We wanted to build a collaborative environment between CU, the community, entrepreneurs and students,” said David Aronica, Incubator director and professor of entrepreneurship.

“I’m honored by Concordia to join with them. It’s not just an opportunity to build businesses, but it’s a chance to build businesses that make a difference,” said Kevin Koym, Tech Ranch founder and CEO. “It not only gives students the opportunity to get a job, it gives them a chance to get a meaningful job.”

In addition to organizing resources and opportunities, Concordia has set aside 2,000-square-feet of space under its roof for co-working.

With a modern but business classic motif, it is an alternative to similar spots in downtown Austin that feature trendy set-ups attractive to a younger demographic.

“More of our crowd is in their 40’s or older. Some have already had a successful career, maybe have a little money and are now ready to follow their passion. And, they don’t want to drive to downtown Austin any longer to collaborate,” said Aronica.

“We will have weekly events here, such as lunch and learn. We have students who can provide ‘cheap labor’ from which they and entrepreneurs will benefit,” the director said.

Incubator membership is required and available for a fee of $300 a month through April 3, when the fee increases to $350 a month.

In return, members will have access to:

• Academic resources, such as professors, subject matter experts and courses in all Concordia schools: business and communication, natural and applied sciences, humanities and social sciences, nursing and fine arts.

• Support from student interns in all academic disciplines for skills like writing business plans, creating financial models, building website back-ends, creating unique algorithms and writing press releases or customer communications.

• Library and databases for research and online news sources including Gale’s Small Business Collection, Hoover’s, Standard & Poor’s, EBSCO’s Business Source Complete and major national newspapers.

Additional perks include board and conference room access, printing services, video production and editing, a cafeteria discount, gym access, shipping services and free, accessible parking.

The panelists at the February preview weighed in on the importance of the incubator.

“Austin has always had the unique advantage being located in the middle of the country,” said panelist, Rudy Garza, founder and manager of G-51 Capital Management LLC. “From the get-go, we have known to how to collaborate. Coastal cities like San Francisco and Boston are highly proprietary. Collaboration helps you move farther faster.”

Another panelist, Stephen Kreher, Austin Chamber of Commerce senior director of economic development, said Austin continually ranks #1 for startups and entrepreneurship.

“We have the talent, the educational system and the business climate, with low regulation and low taxes,” Kreher said. “It’s incredible that Concordia has dedicated a space like this. It was intentional and strategic.”

“At the Chamber, we don’t have to sell Austin, but we serve as advocates for businesses. We are very excited about this,” said Kreher.

To learn more about the Incubator, go to incubatorctx.com

Sonny Centrale takes a swing during a home run derby hosted by the VHS baseball boosters at Venom Field in Austin, Texas, on February 11, 2017.

A group of current and former progressional baseball players addresses attendees at a home run derby hosted by the VHS baseball boosters at Venom Field in Austin, Texas, on February 11, 2017. From left, Dominic Ramos, formerly of the Round Rock Express and Sugarland Skeeters; Chad Qualls of the Colorado Rockies; three-time World Series champion John Lackey of the Chicago Cubs; and Kelly Wunsch, a veteran of the Chicago White Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers.

By SCOTT W. COLEMAN
Four Points News

Football may have risen to prominence across much of America in recent years, but many will still argue that baseball is ‘America’s Game’ and has been all along.

Attracting young people of all ages and more than just a few interested adults, a group of current and former Major League Baseball players took time to share their experiences and answer questions on Feb. 11 at Vandegrift’s Venom Field, as a part of a fundraising Home Run Derby hosted by the VHS baseball boosters.

“With all the talent we have in our community, this was a chance for them to give back to the community,” said organizer Amy Mader. “They all live here. It’s amazing how much talent we have in this area. And their kids feed into the Vandegrift schools, so it’s really their own back yard.”

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Funds help boost local education

By LYNETTE HAALAND
Four Points News

More than 375 guests attended the 7th annual Viper Nation Gala on Saturday night and raised more than $140,000 (before deducting expenses) for the Viper Nation Education Foundation, which supports the eight public schools in Four Points.

“The Viper Nation Education Foundation wishes to thank all sponsors, donors and guests for making the 2017 gala a fantastic evening,” said Courtney Johnson, VNEF executive director.

Dan Troxell, Leander ISD superintendent, spoke at the March 4 event at the J.W. Marriott in downtown Austin. He has toured high school and college campuses that have upgraded their libraries to scholar lab expectations so that students can study with the use of technology. After voicing his support for VNEF’s initiative to create a Scholar Lab at Vandegrift, guests responded with a record-breaking $44,200 for the VNEF Gala fund-a-need.

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