ACBL Unit 174 Board of Directors
| Board Member | Assignment(s) | Term Expires | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sarah Springer281-904-5791 |
PresidentMy third year as a Director on our Unit’s Board has started with a new title for me, “President”. Along with the title comes more responsibility, and I will endeavor to serve our Unit well. If you have any suggestions on how to do things better, please share with me or my fellow BOD members. I have been playing bridge since 1973, over fifty years. Duplicate bridge for me began in 2018, and my life has been tremendously enhanced due to the fun, friendships, travel, and enrichment I get from this wonderful game we all love. As a member of your Board and as your President, I and my fellow directors and officers will continue to strive to make our Unit better, to grow our membership, and to enhance your player experience. The Board is a working Board, and all of its members devote their time, talent and energy to our Unit. We value your support and welcome your efforts as well, so volunteer and we can do this together. |
April 2025 | |
Betty Starzec713-562-2568 | Vice President |
April 2027 | |
Karen Nussbaum832-524-5233 |
Past PresidentAs a child I often ‘kibitzed’ my parents’ bridge games. My biggest thrill was when dad would ask me to pull dummy for someone! We lived near the Golden Dome of Notre Dame but I went to The Kelley School of Business at Indiana University. I played bridge whenever possible,and always read the bridge hands in the paper. I used to save them up so I could go over them. After graduation, I got married and we lived in Indianapolis while my husband was in law school.We actually played at the Easley Blackwood Bridge studio! It was our only duplicate experience for a long time. I started working at IBM. I was there for 5+ years doing everything from accounts receivable to ordering 90-column cards or mag tapes to scheduling shipments and set ups for the ‘new’ 360 machines. When my oldest, Adam, was born in 1974 I retired. His sister came along a few years later in the middle of the snowiest and coldest winter storm ever. The following year we moved to Houston-Sugar Land- when my husband took a job with Coastal Oil. A year later my youngest came along so I was busy parenting. But I did those bridge hands every night, and started playing party bridge with different groups. We became actively involved in starting a new temple in Fort Bend. I served as vice-president for 5 different terms. As my children got older, my activities centered around them. I ended up chairing thePro-Grad programs when my 2 youngest were seniors. Our fund raising was so great we were asked if we would share with another high school that hadn’t done as well. We were happy to do that! It was a great lesson for our seniors. When the kids were grown-somewhat-it was time to go back to work. I became co-owner of Chocolates & More, a candy and gift store in Sugar Land. Retail in a small business is a great experience in itself-everything from accounting, ordering, packaging, displaying, window dressing, etc. After about 10 years my partner and I decided to close. I started to play more bridge and got interested in duplicate. In 2006 my husband passed away and I had several different jobs. My children all finished college and were pursuing careers. At that time I met Meynard and in 2012 we got married. He is now learning bridge. This amazing game has been a constant in my life since I was a child and I hope my diverse background and experiences will help me be a valuable and contributing member to our Unit 174 Board of Directors. Thank you for your support.
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April 2026 | |
John Du Bose281-596-8087 |
Board Member |
April 2025 | |
John Watson832-287-9107 |
Board MemberJohn Eric Watson first joined the ACBL in 1990 and became a Silver Life Master in 2019. He began training as a director at Houston Bridge studio and established his bridge club, Fort Bend County Duplicate Bridge, in 2015. After a short break during the pandemic, his club reopened in 2021 and continues to grow. John has a BS in Education from UNC Chapel Hill and an MBA from the University of Houston in Marketing and Finance. He served 3 years as an artillery officer in the US Army and worked both as a banker and paralegal. |
April 2025 | |
Hallie Eads713-569-7700 |
Board MemberI am a fifth-generation Texan, raised in Austin, schooled in Washington DC, and at the University of Texas. I was a portfolio analyst, and later a real estate broker. I watched my Mother and her friends very early on playing bridge but didn't learn to play until I went off to school, and much later got hooked when I met Eddie Wold. Life was never the same! I am now playing with my son and starting to introduce my grandchildren to the game It's the most fun gift I could ever give! |
April 2026 | |
Lesley Kellet713-852-7198 |
Board MemberLesley was born and educated in the UK. She married in 1981 and became a widow in 2011. She now lives with her daughter in the Memorial area of Houston. Lesley's career in the oil and gas construction industry took her to North Africa where she lived for ten years before coming to Houston in 1989. Stateside, Lesley has been active in clubs including the Westside Tennis Club, Houston Acceuil, DBE (Daughters of the British Empire), Awty International School Parent Association, IVH, (International Voices of Houston Community Choir.) Lesley became a US Citizen in 2001 and retired from Emerson Flow Division after twenty-five years with the company. She is now free to pursue and improve her preferred social activity, the great game of duplicate bridge. Lesley is excited to lend her energies to the benefit of our Unit 174 as a member of the Board of Directors. |
April 2026 | |
Gary Kerr281-543-8712
|
Board MemberStarted bridge in 2008 and played for 9 months but my work and my wife's health forced me to stop. I fell in love with bridge and knew I would start back. In 2018 I retired and started bridge again. After the COVID pause I started playing with my father-in-law, Ben Ball. Married 49 years but lost the love of life 15 months ago. Have one daughter and two grandkids. Grew up in Houston. Graduated from UT Austin with a BBA and MBA. Worked in healthcare 35 years. It is an honor to serve on the board. |
April 2027 | |
Brigitte Sandifer281-494-1464 |
Board Member |
April 2027 | |
Others with Unit 174 Responsibilities
| Individual | Assignment(s) |
|---|---|
Charles (Chuck) Gillis | AttorneyCharles Michael Gillis is an attorney who has been in private practice since 1978. From 1988 through 2000, Mr. Gillis was a partner in the law firm of Gillis & Slogar. From 2000 through the present, Mr. Gillis is a partner at the law firm of Gillis, Paris & Heinrich, P.L.L.C. Mr. Gillis practices in the area of federal income tax with an emphasis on real estate, mergers and acquisitions and international taxation. Mr. Gillis has been an expert witness in legal matters involving federal income tax and securities. Mr. Gillis is a 1971 graduate of the University of California at Los Angeles, a 1974 graduate of Bates College of Law, University of Houston (and a member of its honor society) and a 1975 Masters of Law (In Taxation) graduate of New York University. He is admitted to both the Texas and California bars. Mr. Gillis has been frequently listed in The Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers. |
Larry Davis512-343-6942 |
District 16 Recorder
|
Jim Woodward713-557-8757 |
Financial VerifierBridge player since age 14. Former Unit Treasurer (9 years). Former Finance and IT middle manager with Shell for 29 years (including working for Norm Gautier and Paul Cuneo). Law school at age 55, currently a semiretired lawyer. Lovely bride (Joyce) 34 years ago, son, daughter-in-law and grandson in California. |
Paul Nimmons |
Parliamentarian and Election Official |
Paddy Fiorino713-417-5985 |
SecretaryI am an Iowa native. I graduated 1977 from the University of Iowa with a general science degree. I then graduated from University of Iowa school of physical therapy 1979 with a certificate in physical therapy. I relocated to Houston in January 1980. Both of my children are Houston natives. I have 2 grandchildren, ages 20 and 9. I worked as a physical therapist from 1979 to 2019, with a home health emphasis from 1988 until I finally retired. I took up bridge in the last year of my working life when my sister took me to one of her games in California during a visit. (She said it would be a good thing to do together and cheaper than the casinos!) I love the game and have been working hard to improve my skills. My other hobbies include soccer (yes, I still play but maybe not much longer), piano, crafting, sewing, puzzle games, and reading. I am loving my retirement and bridge plays a large part of this. |
Steve Gordon |
Treasurer |
Evvie Gilbert713-666-0202 |
Unit Newsletter EditorI learned to play party bridge when I was 18 because it was a fun thing to do and required only the cost of a deck of cards. Due to career demands, I gave up the game until 2005 when I found the Clear Lake Bridge Club where I was able to learn duplicate and play one evening per week. I retired in 2016 from E. Gilbert Associates, Incorporated which specialized and Supervisory and Process Control and Laboratory Information Systems for refining, petrochemical, food and beverage and electric utility applications. Since retirement, I volunteered at the Clear Lake Bridge Club where I was the webmaster for several years as well as one of its many dealers (in addition to playing duplicate several days per week until the pandemic). |
Unit Photographer |
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Allison Ochsner281-480-0776 |
WebmasterAfter taking early retirement, I decided to learn the game of bridge. I am a retired family physician with an interest in computers. I volunteered to assist the unit webmaster and found the work challenging, fulfilling and interesting. I appreciate the opportunity to contribute to Unit 174. |
Carol Winograd713-805-2705 |
Webmaster EmeritusI decided to gather a group of friends together to learn to play bridge when my mother, knowing I was about to become an empty-nester, suggested I might enjoy playing. Fast forward from 2008 to present, and now she suggests I play too much bridge! All kidding aside, if you are reading this you are hooked too! My background---I have an engineering degree from Washington University in St. Louis and a dental degree from the University of Texas. I practiced general dentistry in Atlanta and Houston. |
Bert Onstott |
Webmaster Emeritus and Website Advisor |
