Moriah Eberhart
When Moriah Eberhart became President of the Rotary Club of Cedar Park - Leander in 2021, she wanted to make a difference as the club’s first Latina woman President, bringing diversity and inclusion. Eberhart is an embodiment of their motto, “Service Above Self.”
“I like doing physical work for non-profits,” says Eberhart. “One example that brought such joy is Hope House, which is housing for mentally and physically disabled children and adults. We provided supplies, worked the grounds, and helped paint things to maintain their properties. It’s a pleasure to spend time with residents and see their smiling faces.”
Eberhart took her passion for networking and volunteerism to found her company, Community Exposure. She uses her Chamber Ambassador connections to help others achieve community awareness, and has earned the title of community hugger.
“I believe hugs are very healing. I’m the first to say I need them the most,” says Eberhart. “I feel like it helps bring our community closer with a loving and caring heart. Our world needs healing. What better way than through giving one hug at a time?”
rotarycedarparkleander.org & communityexposure.com
Jane Ko
Jane Ko has been running her blog, A Taste of Koko, since 2010. She was inspired by other women who were blogging at the time, who were simultaneously vulnerable and confident in writing their own opinions. It was the combination of storytelling and freedom of speech that drew Ko in to starting what has become Austin’s top food and travel blog.
“I grew up in South Texas along the coast—Port Lavaca, Texas. I didn’t grow up eating out, having nice things, celebrating occasions, or even hanging out with friends,” says Ko. “Thanks to A Taste of Koko, I dine out five to six times a week, travel two to three times a month, and have worked on over 500 projects since 2015. It’s been a whirlwind!”
One of the most memorable times in Ko’s experience as a content creator is when she was the face of Miami tourism with The New York Times. She was flown out to Miami for one week to film a commercial with several agencies. Having never done anything like that before, Ko found that the project gave her the confidence that she can achieve anything. And that included writing a book!
“Koko’s Guide To Austin was my love letter to Austin. I actually only spent four weeks working on this book,” says Ko. “I basically locked myself in my office and pulled several all-nighters. It was a brain dump of a decade of knowledge on all the things to do and the best restaurants in Austin.”
Since her book’s publication, Ko has had many weekend road trips out to Fredericksburg. She fell so in love with the town that she and a few friends launched Sunday Haus Estate, their first hospitality project featuring three renovated and curated rental properties. Ko also wrote Koko’s Guide To Fredericksburg to share the best restaurants, wineries, and things to do. Between Texas Hill Country and Texas Wine Country, she has seen it all.
“My favorite parts about Central Texas are the hospitality industry, the restaurants, the people in the restaurants, and the local business owners,” says Ko. “I never thought I’d stay in Texas, but after launching my brand while I was at UT Austin, I found my community here.”
atasteofkoko.com
Acelli Crippen-Kok
As a bilingual elementary school teacher, Acelli Crippen-Kok noticed that the biggest challenges faced by her students weren’t academics, but home life, communication, and emotional dysregulation. This drove her to grad school for psychology. She later opened her practice, Solid Ground Counseling & Wellness.
“The name is a tribute to my abuelita who spent 36 years homeless, literally ‘walking on solid ground’ before we were reunited,” says Crippen-Kok. “She’s the strongest woman I’ve ever known. When my mom suggested it, I knew that my practice needed to be an unwavering structure for people.”
Crippen-Kok’s goal is to help clients feel comfortable and confident. For her, therapy is about the mind, body, and spirit connection and learning how those pieces can work together in harmony.
“Empowering women through counseling is about breaking barriers,” says Crippen-Kok. “It’s about finding and using our voice, learning who we are as individuals, setting boundaries and enforcing them, and nurturing the relationship we have with ourselves first.”
solidgroundcounselingtx.com
Resi Murray
Resi Murray never dreamed that she would enjoy painting and selling her art so much. But just over a decade after her start at the age of 58, she has truly leaned into her passion.
“I love doing markets, love talking to people, love their reactions and what they see in the paintings,” says Murray. “It’s always an honor when someone chooses my art for their home, no matter how small or large the painting.”
Although she started with the palette knife and brushwork, Murray moved into fluid paintings four years ago. When starting pieces, she works with colors inspired by people she meets at shows and markets.
“Many times children, and some adults, will talk to me about wanting to paint. I encourage them to pursue their dreams now, as I wish I had done earlier,” says Murray. “One mom told me her son painted 30 paintings after buying mine and talking to me. That’s a wonderful compliment.”
society6.com/abstractresi
“I grew up as a small-town gal, and I think that has kept me humble. I always remember where I come from,” says Ko.
