Born in Missouri, Jason Bottenfield moved to Flower Mound in 1986 when he was just eight years old. He later moved to Dallas in 2004 and began working in the Park Cities that same year. Jason’s wife, Brandi, is originally from Oklahoma and moved to Dallas in 2014. The couple now reside in University Park after moving from Dallas in February 2020. They have a daughter, Ainsley, who is 16 months old, and two dogs, Teddy Bear and Ace. Jason says he had a different college career compared to most people. “I went to college and was drafted in the 1999 MLB draft to the Boston Red Sox as a pitcher prior to finishing my finance degree,” he shared. “Following my childhood dream, I decided to try my hand at professional baseball.” After a few years in the organization, Jason had career-ending shoulder surgery in 2001 and spent six months in Fort Meyers, Florida completing active rehab. “Long-time pitcher, Bret Saberhagen, would eat breakfast with me and ask how I was doing,” said Jason. “I told him, ‘My fastball is down to 90-91 from 96, and I can’t throw but every three to four days without pain.’ He said, ‘Look around here. Some of these guys are 30 years old or more and may not make it. You’re 22. Don’t drag out baseball if you’re not coming back to where you were. Start your life and career.’” Jason took the advice of Bret Saberhagen and began to pursue his career in financial planning. He returned to college life and completed his degree in finance at UNT. “I then went on to pass the Certified Financial Planner designation test in 2005,” explained Jason. “To get into financial planning in my early 20s wasn’t easy. I started in the mailroom at Citigroup in one of their real estate management buildings. I began emailing Smith Barney managers to build rapport and let them know of my desire to work in the business and my timeline for finishing my degree. Eventually, Steve Austin, manager in the Smith Barney Park Cities branch, gave me a chance to meet with him, and I guess I did well because he gave me a shot.” Jason and his business partner created the Park Cities Group in 2006 while working at Smith Barney. They later left the corporate world of wealth management and are now equity partners in their broker-dealer and independent IRA firm. “This was always the goal for us,” said Jason. “We have enjoyed working and living in the Park Cities for so many years and look forward to many more.” Brandi, a cheerleader in college, earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology. When she first came to Dallas, she worked at Neiman Marcus and later transitioned into running her own Real Estate business, REBRANDI LLC, where she helps buyers and sellers with their real estate needs in the Dallas area. Brandi met Jason on Labor Day in 2014 while enjoying outdoor activities for the holiday. They were married on May 25, 2018, at a property they own in Jacksonville Beach, Florida. “The Casa Marina is typically considered a wedding hotel on the beach,” said Brandi. “It was a wonderful, sunshine-filled wedding that we got in just before Tropical Storm Alberto came through a few days later.” In addition to Florida, the Bottenfields have great memories of traveling coast to coast from San Francisco to New York on annual trips while dating and married. They continue to travel on long weekends when Jason races his 1969 Texaco Camaro in the Optima Ultimate Streetcar series. “I started this grassroots racing when Covid shutdown the baseball league I played on in Dallas,” he explained. “I was looking for something to fill the void, and I already had my Camaro which was my first car at age 15. We built it into a pro-touring, race-prepped car and traveled to the West Coast, East Coast and near Canada to compete. We have continued to travel and race even with Ainsley being born, racing one weekend a month. She has been to 20 states by the time she was one.” Brandi plays the role of team mom and part-time crew chief during the racing season. She has also enjoyed competing in various marathons in Texas and Oklahoma before Ainsley was born, and she is looking to get back into that in a few years. Together, the family attends Park Cities Baptist Church (PCBC) and love walking there on Sundays for worship. “We have always enjoyed PCBC and the opportunities they provide the local community,” they shared. “We did our pre-marriage classes at PCBC and look to involve Ainsley in all the offerings they have for kids.” The Bottenfields enjoy their Bryn Mawr neighborhood and the ability to walk to some of their favorite locations, some of which include Mesero for dinner or Hudson House for lunch. “A guilty weekend pleasure is getting coffee at Drip Coffee and grabbing a few ‘piggies’ at Yummy Donuts during our walk around the neighborhood with Ainsley,” stated Brandi. They love the safety of the community and say they are thankful for the University Park Police Department and all they do for the community. “We have a wonderful community and wonderful neighbors,” they said. “We moved in during Covid, so we are looking forward to spending more time with our neighbors and seeing the neighborhood kids play together as Ainsley gets older. We are thankful to be in a great community with such wonderful schools within walking distance. We both grew up with that, so having that for our daughter means so much”

Though neither are Dallas natives, both Padraic and Valerie Dillon now call it home and love their neighborhood and the small-town feel of their community. The couple met in 2017 through their two best friends. “We were meeting friends out on New Year’s Eve weekend, and I really didn’t want to go to dinner,” Pad laughed. “My friend, Tommy, convinced me that I really should go, showed me picture of Valerie, and at that point, I said, ‘When and where is dinner?’ We have been together ever since.”

Pad is originally from the Jersey Shore in the Long Branch and Asbury Park area. He attended Muhlenberg College in Allentown, PA, and played football there while obtaining his degree in history. After graduating, he went to work for his uncle who dealt with construction materials and mining stone for highway construction. “I worked in operational improvement and then began traveling the country with a sales and marketing position in the company,” shared Pad. “I did this for over three years and eventually moved to Austin to work for a local company that we had acquired. Now, I, along with a partner, own Victory Rock, and we have four active rock quarries with one in Amarillo, two in Dallas, and one in Austin. Our goal is to be the largest limestone and sand and gravel reserve holders in Texas.”

Valerie is originally from McAlester, OK, and grew up in Altus. She attended Oklahoma State University

where she received her bachelor’s degree in fashion merchandising. She lived in Oklahoma City for 10 years but traveled to Dallas frequently for work before relocating there in 2001, later moving to Highland Park in 2005. She is now a real estate agent licensed in both Texas and Oklahoma. “I had invested in real estate on my own for about a decade,” explained Valerie. “One day while on a hike with a friend, she mentioned getting my real estate license. I was really against it at the time. I was too busy with the kids and traveling back and forth to Austin to see Pad. She looked at me and said, ‘But you’re already doing it. Everything that you have been doing on your own is what we do on a daily basis. You live in this community, are passionate about real estate, and are already doing it on the investment side.’ I thought about all of this, talked it over with Pad that evening, and decided to go for it! It’s one of the best things I’ve done. I love it and never thought I’d be as successful as I’ve been.” One of the couple’s best memories is their wedding. Before their wedding, Valerie had travelled with Pad, along with his dad and stepmother, to Ireland for two weeks on a driving tour. One of their stops was to Thomas Dillon’s Claddagh Gold shop in Galway. “My father had lost his wedding ring and purchased a Claddagh ring while we were there,” said Pad. “I also purchased a ring, and Valerie got a ring that went with her family eternity bands she wears.” Valerie continued, “The ring was shipped to me, and we

already had upcoming plans to go to a friend’s ranch. They have a beautiful property with a big tree, and we decided we wanted to get married under that tree. We planned our wedding in two weeks. The kids were there, and we were married in a field with 20 people, with Pad’s mom flying in from New Jersey as well. It was perfect.” Being a blended family with three kids, the Dillons and Valerie’s ex-husband all work together to do what is best for the kids. “Their dad lives close by and what matters to us is being there for the kids. We’re not the storybook family with a white picket fence and the ‘perfect’ family unit, but that’s ok. I actually kind of love that. Our kids have a great story.” The three children include Caitlin, Asher, and Emerson, all from Valerie’s previous marriage. Caitlin is 17 and a junior at Highland Park High School where she is a varsity cheerleader, and she has also participated in competitive cheer as well. 12-year-old twins, Asher and Emerson are in 6th grade at McCullouch Intermediate School. Asher plays baseball while his sister is involved with cheer. When asked if the twins get along, they said, “They act like they don’t like each other, but they really look out for each other and have each other’s backs.” The Dillons love their neighborhood and the proximity to local shopping, restaurants, and Katy Trail. “I came from a small New Jersey town that was very close-knit,” explained Pad. “I have the same feeling here. We have great pride in our school system here, and I feel like I get to live my glory days all over again through the kids and at Highlander Stadium. I love going into the barbershop and seeing a picture of my stepdaughter on the wall. Little things like that really give that small-town Texas feel.”

Dallas Symphony Orchestra League president Cynthia Beairdhas revealed that Sharon Lee Clark andKira Nasratare the event chairswho will kick–off the 9thannual Fashion Notes Luncheon and Style Showon October 13, 2022at the Fairmont Dallas. Honorary Chairs for this event are Patsy Donosky and Janie Donosky Condon. Also announced is this year’s featured Designer Award will be presented todesignerLele Sadoughi.Stunning fashions fromSt. John will be modeled ina runway presentationby League members and their families, past and present DSOL Debutantes, and members of the DSO Family. Highlighting fashion design and the Dallas Symphony Community, the event starts with a morningreception and raffle followed by a fashion presentation and luncheon live auction.Bachendorf’sis confirmed as the finejewelry sponsor of Fashion Notes.FallonBockis now designing jewelry for Fallon B and Bachendorf’sand will be donating a piece in the live auction. She has a long history with the DSOL as she is a pastDebutante and has served as President of the Assembly.

Charles and Marie Briner love the wonderful people of the Park Cities community and knew it was where they wanted to plant their roots. Charles grew up in Lake Highlands playing soccer and was a Lake Highlands HS Bellboy, the equivalent of a HPHS Scotsman. Marie, originally from Grand Prairie, was a varsity cheerleader and voted “Most Vivacious” in high school. Also an athlete, she placed three times in the US Gymnastics Federation state competition and was a 5A All District varsity soccer player. She continued to play competitive soccer after children, until her fourth knee surgery resulting from soccer injuries forced her retirement. Charles and Marie were college sweethearts, having been set up on a double date as teenagers at Texas Tech. Charles went on to receive his MBA from U.T. Austin, and Marie received her law degree from SMU where she was inducted into the national honorary Order of the Barristers and was named SMU’s Excellence in Advocacy recipient for her graduating class. Charles has been involved with Private Equity since 2003 and is founder and owner of Briner Capital. Marie owns Briner Family Law Group which offers a range of family law services including divorce, child custody, adoptions and marital agreements for her clients. The Briners have three children – Noel, Chloe and Noble – who have attended HPISD schools since kindergarten. “We’re so proud of who our kids have become so far in  their young lives,” shared Marie. Noel was a cum laude HPHS 2021 graduate and AP Scholar with Distinction. “She absolutely loved her first year at Texas A&M. She is switching her degree from neuroscience to business…. with a minor in neuroscience…as she narrows in on what career she wants to pursue,” Marie continued. Noel was recently presented as a La Fiesta Duchess at the Gala on June 11th and has loved being able to spend some time with special HP friends this summer. Chloe is a 2022 graduate of HPHS and is thrilled to be Texas A&M bound, following in the footsteps of her sister. Both were HPHS varsity cheerleaders, FCA Presidents, and members of several honor societies. Chloe was an NCA All American cheerleader, HPHS Ambassador, and AP  Scholar with Honor. She is a DCC lifeguard this summer, and still babysits neighborhood kids. Charles explained, “She is interested in real estate, but would lighten up a screen. So, Marie and I are rooting for broadcast journalism!” Noble is looking forward to entering his freshman year at HPHS. He loves hanging out with his friends and all sports, especially football. Noble recently finished up a week-long hike in Philmont, NM with local HPPC Boy Scout Troop 82 and is hoping to obtain his Eagle Scout, a rank Charles also received, by December. He is working at Armour Up this summer – his second summer as a volunteer instead of a participant. “It will be fun to have Noble in high school this fall,” added Marie. “We’ll get to watch a lot more of the games instead of so much of the cheerleaders.” All three Briner children participated in sports and youth programs through the Park Cities Moody Family YMCA. “This was another wonderful opportunity to create the lasting friendships and memories of our kids growing up in such a family and community-focused neighborhood,” said Charles. “Marie coached some of the neighborhood kids in soccer, and I coached them in volleyball, football and T-Ball.” Marie added, “Our kids were fortunate enough to be surrounded by a community that is strong in their faith. Allthree have participated in numerous local bible study groups including Core group, WOW and Crave at HPUMC and HP KLIFE who residents will see meeting throughout the neighborhood at places like the Hillcrest Chick-fil-A and the HP Village Starbucks. There is also Ascent, The Porch, Breakaway, FCA, Roots, and Armour Up. We love that people in the neighborhood stand firm in their faith while also being humble and so generous.” The Briners enjoy giving back, and they have instilled a love of service in their children as well. When the Briner children were small, they would regularly make goody bags of their own toys to give to children in  need. They have participated in volunteer opportunities through their church, HPHS cheer, and school organizations. And Charles had the ultimate privilege of being able to gift his bone marrow twice to help save the life of a leukemia patient through Be the Match. As a family, they continue their spirit of giving when traveling by participating in programs like Feeding Los Cabos Kids, an organization that offers lunch to impoverished children in Cabo San Lucas.
To say the Briners love to travel would be an understatement. They have traveled all over the world, including taking Noble to the jungles of Belize when he was just six months old, and all of the kids cage diving among the great white sharks in South Africa. The risks and adventures of traveling are not worrisome to the Briners. Marie said she remembers saying to herself before jumping off the cliff to hang glide in Rio de Janeiro, “Hey, there are worse ways to die!” She adds, “We once got an unbelievable deal on a five-day cruise down the Nile in Egypt when we were a young married couple. We knew there were snipers shooting people on Nile cruises back then, but we thought ‘Really, what are the odds that that would ACTUALLY happen to us!?’” Traditions close to home are important to the family, and they love all holidays. For more than 15 years, they hosted a pre-party before the annual lighting of  Highland Park’s famous pecan tree. “We would squeeze in hundreds of moms, dads, and kids in our home before we all walked down to watch the tree-lighting,” they shared. “A favorite memory was when school was canceled the next day due to a snowstorm, and the event became a spontaneous school-night kid sleepover.” In addition, the July 4th parade and fireworks are a family favorite, and they say they love the Halloween activities in the neighborhood. The Briners thoroughly enjoy their Highland Park neighborhood, though the journey to their current home was not an easy one. After being set to close on a home down the street, the plaster ceiling collapsed on the day of closing. Unsure of what to do and looking for options, they stumbled upon their current home for rent. The owners, not ready to sell at that point, rented the downstairs then-duplex to the Briners. They moved in with 4-month-old Noel, and when Chloe was born, they finally convinced the owners to sell to them, assuring them that they would follow through on their promise of giving the home tender loving care. “We followed through on that promise in 2015 and local, beloved architect, Wilson Fuqua, spearheaded the renovation of the Fooshee and Cheek home,” shared Marie. “We have special touches in our home with the addition of favorite Bible verses on multiple beams behind the walls and a cross in the flagstone on the front porch.” Charles and Marie remain friends with the Bagwells, their former upstairs neighbors, who now live just down the street. “When we were living downstairs from the Bagwells and the kids would get too loud, we would say, ‘Be quiet! You’re going to wake up the Bagwells!’,” laughed Marie. “We still joke when they are loud that they will ‘wake the Bagwells’. They are special to our family, and David Bagwell even took Charles to pick out the Texas Oak we planted in our front yard.” When asked what they love about their community, they shared, “We know that we are so blessed to live in this community. It’s just a beautiful place with beautiful people, inside and out. We are both from the Dallas area and knew that Highland Park was where we wanted to raise our kids. The schools were a big part of that, but it was much more than that to us. We wanted to raise our kids in a place where they could be surrounded by a group of families who would support them, love them, and set good examples for them.”