Levi Goode
Chef and President, Goode Company
Tell me about the first dollar you ever earned.
When my family was just getting started with our original BBQ joint on Kirby Drive, I earned my first dollar out on the patio. I’d carry around a five-gallon bucket, iced down with longnecks, and sell beers to customers enjoying the music. We had Pappy Selph, one of Texas’ all-time great fiddle players, playing with his Texas swing band, and the place would come alive. To add to the experience, I’d even tell jokes for a quarter each. That mix of hustle, hospitality, and good times was my first taste of what it means to create something people enjoy, and it’s stuck with me ever since.
How do you set Goode Company apart from others in your industry?
We cook the food of our region with honesty, heart, and deep attention to detail. Nothing is contrived. Our menus reflect the food we grew up with and the heritage of five generations in Texas. Live-fire cooking, especially over native mesquite, is central to our identity. But our greatest differentiator is our people. We have a passionate, positive team that takes pride in their work and brings strong attention to detail to everything they do. That level of care makes the food taste better, the margaritas drink a little easier, and the hospitality feels more genuine.
What is your favorite part of being an entrepreneur?
I compare being an entrepreneur to being a bull rider on the back of a 2,000-pound bull — trying not to get bucked off. It’s thrilling, unpredictable, and full of challenges, but it can be gratifying when you hang on. Taking an idea, putting yourself out there, and opening it up to public feedback takes real courage and a fair amount of cojones. It can be unnerving, but I always come back to, “What the hell, you only live once, so let’s go.”
Cowboy boots or cowboy hat?
Both.
Who would you want to play you in a movie?
Matthew McConaughey or Clint Eastwood 80s-era.
Last time you cursed?
Today.
Christopher Lee Fahey
Development Specialist, PTSD Foundation of America;
Board Member, VEL Institute;
Social Media Director, Houston Regional Veterans Chamber of Commerce
ptsdusa.org; velinstitute.org; hrvcc.org
What inspired you to become a mental health advocate, particularly for PTSD awareness?
When I was three, my father, a Marine with unaddressed mental health issues, died by suicide. It stayed with me. After serving in Afghanistan, I faced my own mental health challenges, including service-connected PTSD. I didn’t understand what was happening. I felt disconnected from life—no love, only fear, shame, guilt, and hopelessness. I wanted to die. Camp Hope helped me recover. My self-worth grew, and I could see how others experience that same pain. Veterans are incredibly capable, and when they heal, they can give so much back. Helping people love themselves and God again is how I try to create positive change. Veterans need to know they are loved.
What are some of the biggest challenges people with PTSD face, and how can communities better support them?
The biggest challenge is understanding what PTSD is—and what it isn’t. As Bessel van der Kolk explains in The Body Keeps the Score, trauma is a visceral experience that overwhelms and destroys a person’s relationships: with self, others, the world, their body, and love. You can’t medicate that. You have to restore connection to love and rebuild trust. If you want to help someone with PTSD, love them or model what love looks like.
How do the VEL Institute and PTSD Foundation of America support individuals struggling with PTSD?
They work at different stages. PTSD Foundation, through Camp Hope, finds veterans in crisis. Other veterans walk them through recovery and basic emotional skills. VEL Institute works with veterans and leaders ready to grow. A 7-week course helps them clarify their purpose. Both programs are free and fully mission-driven.
Last time you cursed?
Every day. I try to make it charming though.
Last time you cried?
Two days ago. Therapy.
Favorite Houston restaurant?
Federal American Grill
Harry Massoud
Piano Composer & Arranger
@hmassoudmusic
When did you realize that music was going to be your career?
I’ve played piano all my life, but I realized it was my purpose when I saw how my music moved others. When strangers feel deep emotions and are brought to tears through your playing, that’s the highest level of musicianship, and I knew then it wasn’t just a gift for me but one I was meant to share.
How do you stay inspired?
I stay inspired by listening to music daily — both what I love and new sounds that connect with me. I also draw inspiration from life experiences, especially challenges, which fuel my connection to music. Playing the piano helps me express emotions I can’t put into words. Inspiration is a journey that cannot be forced; it has to come naturally as you progress and grow.
Who is your ideal musician to collaborate with, and why?
I don’t have one specific artist in mind, but I’d love to collaborate with musicians who use or could use piano in their work. Piano fits many genres, and I especially love its role in film music. A dream of mine is to work with a film composer and add my piano to a movie score.
Last time you cried?
I sometimes cry while playing piano, especially when a song stirs deep memories — it’s a beautiful, honest reaction that reminds me I’m doing my job as a musician. I’ve even had people thank me for helping them release emotions they’d been holding in, which is exactly why I love the power of music.
If you could have one superpower, what would it be?
The power to hold my breath underwater indefinitely or have some gill mechanism that would allow me to stay underwater as long as I want.
Favorite Houston restaurant
Ostia
Santiago Pelaez
Founder and CEO of Zanti Cucina Italiana
zanticucina.com/river-oaks/home
What advice would you give someone starting in the restaurant business?
Don’t do it. We don’t need more competition! (Just kidding… kind of.) Jokes aside, think it through carefully. The business is dynamic and full of passion, but passion alone won’t keep your doors open. Margins are tighter than ever. Costs are up across the board, yet guest expectations keep rising. You’re not just serving food; you’re creating an experience that takes constant investment. Even if your restaurant looks busy, it doesn’t mean it’s financially successful. Many close within the first year. So write a detailed business plan, know your numbers, build your team wisely, and make sure your love for the work can carry you through the hard days.
How has the hospitality industry changed from when you first started?
It used to be about tradition and consistency: the same menu, staff, and families returning for decades. Now, success demands constant evolution. Menus must change, experiences must feel both new and reliable, and competition includes food trucks, apps, ghost kitchens, and more. Social media amplifies everything, and staffing is more complex than ever; people want more than a paycheck. They want purpose. Despite the challenges, these changes push us to grow, be more creative, and stay human.
How do you set Zanti apart from others in your industry?
By staying true to our original dream — to make people happy. While others may match us in food or ambiance, our heart is in the guest experience. Every decision we make centers on how it will make people feel.
What is your favorite part of being an entrepreneur?
Bringing a dream to life and building a space that brings people together. It’s about more than service — it’s about community, connection, and giving back.
Last time you cried?
Every day, and I say that without shame. I don’t cry because I’m weak. I cry because I give this work and this life everything I have.
If you could have one superpower, what would it be?
Infinite patience.
Favorite Houston restaurant?
Kata Robata, BCN, Doris Metropolitan, and Pappas Steakhouse.
Demetrious Sampson Jr.
Houston Grand Opera, Tenor
houstongrandopera.org
Tell me about your favorite performance ever in your career.
I am in the very beginning of my career so am hopeful I will have many more favorites to come, but my favorite performance experience so far has been singing on the Metropolitan Opera Stage with the Metropolitan Orchestra for the Laffont Competition Grand Finals. I felt like I had been preparing for that moment for the longest time, so when it happened, I felt like I was flying.
Tell me about the first dollar you ever earned in your musical career.
During my first contract with the Atlanta Opera, I sang Crabman and was in the chorus of Porgy and Bess, a show I am happy to revisit this coming season at the Houston Grand Opera.
With that first check, I took my family to the movies and out to eat. We lived in a one-room hotel, so it was a blessing to provide my mother and sister with a sense of relief from the struggle.
How do you stay inspired?
I love discovering new operas or ones I haven’t heard before. Lately, I’ve been obsessed with Verdi and the Golden Age Italian singers who performed his roles. Watching my peers sing in competitions and recitals also inspires me. My family deeply inspires me, but my chosen family artistically feeds me. As a queer Black man, that connection is vital. Amaan, Arya, and Collin have been my home for nearly a decade. We’re all artists, and watching them thrive fuels my creativity.
What kind of music do you listen to on a regular basis?
Right now, my favorite artists are Aurora, Yebba, and Maranda Curtis.
Favorite Houston restaurant
Mo’ Better Brews
If you could have one superpower, what would it be?
Telekinesis
Wayne l. Franks
Owner & Founder, Professional Drone Services of Texas
Tell me about the first dollar you ever earned.
At 12 years old, I started my entrepreneurial journey as a golf caddy at a country club. My mother would pre-arrange for me to carry two bags. This experience instilled in me the value of diligence and efficiency and underscored the importance of delivering exceptional service.
What is your favorite part of being an entrepreneur?
I am driven by the prospect of converting every opportunity into a game-changing new client and collaborating with my team to drive growth and innovation. It’s the fact that every phone call may be that home run type of sale, so I always have to be ready with positive thoughts and a smile on my face.
How do you set your business apart from others in the industry?
I can differentiate my business and deliver exceptional value by remaining informed about market trends and client needs. I study the market and talk to my existing and prospective clients to understand my marketplace. This can be quite the balancing act to work with my team members to efficiently pivot when we see a market trend and offer unique services
What will you never compromise with your business?
Two non-negotiables at the core of my business are my team and the services we deliver. I am committed to empowering my team members to grow and thrive while consistently exceeding client expectations.
If you could have one superpower, what would it be?
I want the ability to help others overcome mental barriers to unlock their full potential.
Who would you want to play you in a movie?
John Wayne or James Bond