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Category: Movers and Shakers

Sandy Palisch: Champion of the Arts in Richardson

Sandy Palisch smiling warmly while standing in front of a shelf filled with "Simply Organic Soap" products. She is wearing a casual denim shirt.

From designing fighter jets to leading Richardson’s Cultural Arts Commission, Sandy Palisch has dedicated her life to precision and creativity. Discover how her leadership shaped the Public Art Master Plan and the vibrant traffic signal box program that defines Richardson’s visual landscape today.

Mark & Michael Parmerlee: Two Generations of Leadership Shaping Richardson, TX

Michael Parmerlee, a dedicated Rotarian

The last name Parmerlee is synonymous with business and civic impact in Richardson, TX. The Parmerlee presence is a powerful two-person engine: Mark, the long-established business leader who built Golden Tree Restaurants into a regional force; and Michael, who has spent the past decade carving out his own path as a civic organizer and connector. The story of Mark and Michael is not about succession, but about parallel influence—a father whose business and philanthropic reputation helped shape modern Richardson, and a son whose deep civic involvement has cemented his place as an outstanding community leader. They work side by side, each in his own lane, carrying the same ethos of integrity, service, and commitment to the city. Mark Parmerlee: The Builder and CEO of Golden Chick Mark Parmerlee is the President/CEO/Chairman of Golden Tree Restaurants, the parent company of the Golden Chick brand. Starting his career as a dishwasher, Mark purchased Golden Fried Chicken in 1989 and has guided the concept through multiple evolutions over 36 years. Today, under Mark’s leadership, Golden Chick employs over 6,254 people and is on track to surpass 250 locations by 2025. His tenure is defined by prioritizing franchisee profitability, food safety, and advancing training programs. Anchoring Golden Chick in Richardson Mark made the critical decision early on to place the company headquarters in Richardson. Believing in the city’s schools, location, and its “big small-town feel,” the family eventually purchased all five buildings in the Arapaho Gardens complex, anchoring the company permanently in the city. Mark’s sons attended Spring Valley, Westwood, and Richardson High School (RHS), solidifying his commitment to RISD. A Life of Charitable Giving and Service Mark consistently ties Golden Chick’s presence to local support. The Arapaho location’s popular funnel cake fundraiser donates fifty cents of each sale to nearby schools. Mark has been a champion of youth leadership through Scouting, serving as Scoutmaster and currently on the Executive Board of Circle 10 Council. As co-founder of the Sporting Clays Invitational, he has helped raise over $7 million for ScoutReach, supporting underserved youth.   Mark’s guiding principle is simple: “Be honest. Be respectful. Be caring.” Resilient Leader and Future Philanthropist A little-known fact is that Mark is a two-time liver transplant recipient, with his last transplant occurring more than twenty years ago. Despite his resilience, Mark is preparing the company for his eventual retirement to focus on travel, landscaping, his ranch, and, most importantly, philanthropy. He plans to give back more time, not just support from a distance. Michael Parmerlee: The Connector and Civic Leader If Mark is the builder, then Michael Parmerlee is the connector—the person who shows up reliably across Richardson’s civic landscape. Michael forged his own path through community service before joining Golden Tree Restaurants as President and Associate General Counsel of GFC Leasing Corp, LLC. Michael’s extensive local involvement includes: Immediate Past President of Richardson East Rotary Club and current Assistant Governor for Rotary District 5810. Board Member of the Richardson Family YMCA. Active member of the Leadership Richardson Alumni Association and Advisory Board Member. An enthusiastic alum of Leadership Richardson (LR) Class 33. Michael emphasizes that he chooses organizations based on the people he serves with: “Service is most meaningful when you’re surrounded by people you enjoy and respect.” He loves Richardson for its transit lines, accessibility, the presence of UTD, and the community’s understanding that a great city requires contribution. A Shared Legacy and Future Vision While Mark is eyeing retirement, Michael is in expansion mode. Both leaders are guiding Golden Tree Restaurants into new real estate ventures, including potential new Golden Chick locations within the city. Philanthropically, Michael is deepening his involvement with Rotary, including adding international service with an upcoming trip to Camaguey, Cuba, to help build a baseball field. The long-term vision is a Parmerlee family foundation. This foundation would allow them to take their decades of combined giving and civic network and scale their philanthropic work, providing a structured, long-term investment in the city that raised them. The Parmerlees are not just building a legacy; they are building momentum. Mark anchored the company in Richardson decades ago, and Michael is now one of the key leaders shaping what Richardson will look like in the next decade.

The B House Richardson: A Home Built on Love, Hope, and a Model for Adult Disability Housing in Texas

Creating Possibilities: Jill Burt, Ross Sivertsen, and the Power of Companion Care By Patti Otte Every home tells a story, but some homes do more—they create possibilities. Richardson residents Jill Burt and Ross Sivertsen have created such a place: the B House, a loving and structured home for their adult son Britton and two other young men with intellectual disabilities. Their mission has become their life’s work—establishing a sustainable and dignified model for adult disability housing in Texas. A Commitment Forged in Community Jill and Ross are deeply rooted in the Richardson community. Both are graduates of Leadership Richardson and alumni of RISD schools (Spring Valley Elementary, Northwood Junior High, and RHS). They not only share their lives but also run a business together, Canyon Creek Enterprises, celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary this past April. Their shared experience parenting adult sons with lifelong neurodivergence—Jill’s son Britton (31) has autism, and Ross’s son Philip (34) has autism and Down syndrome—has become their central focus. Recognizing the four crucial phases of parenting a neurodivergent child (diagnosis, service search, post-high school transition, and the legacy years), they sought to create a durable solution for the future. The B House Companion Care Model This vision led to the purchase of the B House in 2011, named after the young men who originally lived there. Located in Canyon Creek, the home serves as an innovative companion care model for Britton and two peers. Unlike typical group homes, the B House relies on a single live-in caregiver, ensuring consistency while actively promoting independence. The residents are not just housed; they are deeply integrated into the neighborhood: Community Involvement: They participate in the Canyon Creek Fourth of July parade and National Night Out. Life Skills: They share chores, follow house rules, and volunteer at organizations like Meals on Wheels and Feed My Starving Children. As Ross states, “Everything we do… is all done looking through the lens of what it means to the boys and families of people with disabilities. It really is all about Community and Inclusion.” Addressing the Broader Challenge of Supportive Housing The B House serves as a microcosm for a much larger need. As Jill explains, “As people with disabilities age, many face a real lack of supportive housing and care options.” The couple hopes their model sparks a broader conversation about creating more inclusive, sustainable, and affordable solutions for every adult with disabilities. The financial realities are immense. Lifelong care can span 50–70 years and requires extensive planning to bridge the gap left by limited Social Security and Medicaid waiver support. Through careful planning and unwavering commitment, Jill and Ross are actively educating and supporting other families, advocating for resources like the Take Me Home program through the Richardson Police Department. Through their work, Jill Burt and Ross Sivertsen have created an enduring legacy—a genuine home, a successful model, and a powerful voice for the disability community.

Fast Friends Make Lasting Impact in Richardson

[author] [author_image timthumb=’on’]https://richardsonlifemagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Patie-Otte-2025.jpg[/author_image] [author_info]By Patti Otte[/author_info] [/author] In Richardson, five friends have quietly become key players in the city’s growing food scene. As co-owners of three successful restaurants, their partnership is built on decades of friendship and a shared vision of quality and community investment. What began as a simple idea between friends has evolved into a business venture that’s not only fed thousands but also contributed to the city’s economic vitality. Their story offers a look at how personal relationships and strategic investment can leave a lasting mark on a city’s development. The Five Friends Richardson residents Greg Cooney, Don Bouvier, Anthony Bolner, Dave Swiney, and Steve Gumbert have each called Richardson home for more than 25 years. Together, they operate under the name CCBC Enterprises, short for Canyon Creek Burger Crowd. Despite their success in the restaurant industry, none of them started out in food service. Bouvier and Bolner are both in commercial real estate. Gumbert works in industrial distribution and Swiney is retired from KPMG, where he worked in business advisory and legal consulting. Cooney was formerly in the insurance industry prior to jumping into real estate development, among other things.  Cooney and Bouvier serve as the managing partners for the restaurants. A Vision Takes Shape In 2002, Canyon Creek Plaza, a once-thriving retail space,e was dealt a major blow after its anchor tenant, Tom Thumb, moved out. The vacancy sparked a heated local debate: should the space be repurposed for a Montessori school, or should the shopping center be preserved and revitalized?  As a member of the Canyon Creek HOA board, Bouvier led the efforts to ensure the shopping center could be revitalized into a mixed-use development. Ultimately, the City Council sided with revitalization, approving a planned development zoning to allow for a broader vision. Long before CCBC was formed, Cooney and a couple of partners spearheaded efforts to reimagine the struggling center, raised local neighborhood investment dollars, rezoned the shopping center, and ultimately purchased it in 2004. Their initial efforts were met with skepticism from the broader business community. Many doubted that a tucked-away center in a quiet, tree-lined neighborhood could ever become a successful commercial hub.  The shopping center was rebranded as II Creeks. The Birth of Shady’s At the time, Richardson was largely considered a bit of a food desert. Michael Marks was the first restaurant to open following the major remodeling of II Creeks. Frankie’s, now occupied by Dos Arroyos, was the second, followed by Sweet Firefly Gourmet Ice Cream in 2011. The friends who would later form CCBC Enterprises envisioned something different but complementary to what was already there, a super relaxed, patio-centric, casual place where people could gather, celebrate, and connect. As friends meeting up at II Creeks, they would often talk amongst themselves about opening their place.  By the summer of 2012, and with Cooney’s involvement managing II Creeks, that vision gained momentum when the hair salon occupying the space, which would eventually become Shady’s, decided to close their doors.  The group began sketching out plans for a place with the charm of Cheers casual, community-focused eatery. After talking with neighbors, testing the idea among friends, and drumming up support, 27 investors joined the cause. On April 1, 2013, Shady’s Burgers & Brewhaha officially opened. Chili’s founder, Larry Lavine, provided early guidance as a consultant. The group met every Wednesday morning to plan at the Canyon Creek Country Club until its launch.  “A lot of folks helped,” said Bouvier. “If not for the commitment of the Canyon Creek neighborhood, our families and friends, it wouldn’t have happened. It was the encouragement we needed.”   Expansion into Lake Highlands The early success of Shady’s proved the neighborhood restaurant model worked, and not just in Canyon Creek. As the group began exploring locations for a second restaurant, they found themselves in Lake Highlands, another community lacking in local dining options. A friend of the group pointed them to the location, and during a site visit, a large shade tree caught their eye. It felt like a sign. Once again, the team turned to local investors. Within just 10 days, they crowdfunded the new restaurant this time with backing from both Richardson and Lake Highlands residents. On July 20, 2016, the second Shady’s Burgers & Brewhaha opened its doors. The Fifth When a restaurant tenant at II Creeks decided to close, fearful of what might become of the space, CCBC saw an opportunity. They transformed the space into The Fifth, a fine-dining concept that opened on Valentine’s Day in 2019. The name came naturally, it was the fifth restaurant in that location, and fittingly, it was launched by the same five friends. Giving Back Community support goes both ways. CCBC Enterprises gives back to local causes, including neighborhood schools, youth organizations, and local high school programs. They regularly support Young Life’s Wing-a-Thon and host a nondenominational men’s Bible study every Friday at 6:30 a.m. at Shady’s, a tradition that’s continued for more than a decade. Both Bouvier and Swiney are graduates of Leadership Richardson. They’re active Chamber members and regularly hire neighborhood teens, offering them their first jobs. “We’ve hired hundreds of kids,” said Cooney. “We make sure it’s a great experience, so the lasting impact is a positive one.” Leaving A Legacy Today, other cities are reaching out to CCBC Enterprises to understand what the “secret sauce” is that makes their model work. As for their own future plans, the group says they are “noodling around new ideas all the time…but nothing newsworthy yet.” Former Richardson City Manager Bill Keffler sums up their legacy best: “As City Manager, I had the good fortune of working with some very successful developers and restaurant entrepreneurs, but to work with [CCBC Enterprises] on such an impactful project was one of the highlights of my career. The group was able to overcome historical impediments It has indeed been a pleasurable relationship, and I am proud to call them good friends.” Thanks to the early leadership and the bold vision brought to life

Gerald Bright

Albert Einstein once said, “Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile.” Beloved community leader Gerald Bright has been quietly serving throughout Richardson for years and was recently bestowed the honor of being named Richardson’s 2023 Citizen of the Year.

The Teng Family (Owners of Jeng Chi Restaurant in Richardson’s Chinatown)

Teng-mama-and-papa

It’s tough to catch Mei “Mama” and Yuan “Papa” Teng when they aren’t working. At 89, Papa is supposed to be retired from the day-to-day operations of Jeng Chi, the restaurant he and Mama founded in Richardson’s Chinatown back in 1990. But “rest” doesn’t seem to be in either of their vocabularies.