Toasty Temperatures Are Tempered With Champagne Salutes For Northwood University’s Dr. Kevin Fegan

Champagne's Luxe

Just before July arrived and everyone seemed to leave town for the 4th of July, a champagne reception was held on June 28 at Champagne’s Luxe to celebrate Dr. Kevin Fegan‘s becoming Northwood University‘s president on July 1.

Dr. Kevin Fegan

To be perfectly honest, Kevin will not have to make much of an adjustment. He has been provost for ages. Kevin explained that in academia provost meant “chief academic officer,” but it was really the president’s position. Unfortunately, most of the world is not so savvy to the world of education. The wise minds of Northwood decided to simplify matters by having all the provosts at the multiple Northwood campuses be made presidents.

In addition to having 1,100 students at the Texas campus at Cedar Hill learning about fashion, advertising, automotive, hospitality and entertainment-sports management, they’re hosting a program that will bring 30 female entrepreneurs from places like Rwanda and Afghanistan to the campus for leadership camp.

Northwood’s Chairman of the Board of Governors Jeff Sullivan told guests at the reception that Kevin “knows the name of every student on campus.”

Meri Calabria

Kevin in turn recognized various people in the crowd include Meri Calabria, who with her late husband J.C. donated land that is now part of the Cedar Hill campus.

In addition to toasting Kevin with lots and lots of flutes of champagne, it was revealed that the next class of Distinguished Women would be announced on Saturday, September 8. Insiders winked that three locals would be in the class that will be honored the weekend of October 19.

Donna Arp

Speaking of the Distinguished Women, the class of 2003 was a pretty heady one including Warren Buffet‘s sister, Doris; Dell Computer First Lady Susan Dell; Southwest Airlines Mother Hen Colleen Barrett and newlywed/former Colleyville Mayor Donna Arp Weitzman, who was in the reception crowd. When asked how she and husband Herb first got together, she said they met through basketball (“I love to play basketball and I love going to basketball games.”). The two got together for coffee at the Oak Lawn Starbucks. It seems that Herb had done a series of “interviews” with “coffee ladies.” He told Donna, “I’m interviewing you.” To this, Donna said, “I don’t want a job.”

Martha Tiller

Northwood Board of Governors Committee Member Martha Tiller with husband David recalled with Vicki and Jim White the last time they were together — at the opening event for Total Wine. That was the night of the big hail storm resulting in $9,800 worth of damage to Martha’s car.

Jim, who founded the annual Restaurant Week, reported that 125 restaurants will take part during the August 13-19 eat-athon benefiting the North Texas Food Bank and the Lena Pope Home.

Collectible

Speaking of hospitality, Susan and James Mueller, who hosted the event at the store that offers

Jim and Susan Mueller

everything from “fashion, luxurious gifts, jewelry, fine china and crystal, exquisite furniture, interior design,” full bar to happy hour with live music, said they’re hoping to add a cigar area. The couple, who had a store in Scottsdale, had so many Texans ask, “Why not have a store in Dallas?” that they up and moved.

Now, that’s what entrepreneurship is all about — making decisions and moving on them.