In this new series, we’ll be connecting with local leaders to see what a typical day in their busy life looks like! First up, we have Cheryl Votzmeyer-Rios, the new Executive Director for CCPATCH. She walks through a recent workday filled with business meetings, both local and overseas, and fundraising initiatives, all while striving to keep a balanced life. CCPATCH is the non-profit organization leading the way in rehabilitating The Ritz Theatre in Downtown Corpus Christi.
5:45 a.m. I usually wake up on my own around 5:45 a.m. and wait for the alarm to go off at 6:30 a.m. I review the list of thoughts and things from the night before. I keep a detailed day planner, so I add to my “to-do” list for the day. Answer a few emails, check current events and then try to make enough movement to wake up my husband, Adam … it’s coffee time.
6:30 a.m. Alarm goes off and I snooze it for 15 minutes. Adam starts stirring and rolls out of bed and heads for the kitchen…coffee. I can hear the birds chirping outside our window.
7 a.m. I sit down with my fruit and yogurt and begin reviewing the agenda for my 11:30 a.m. meeting with my partners at Water Man Adventures and Krka River Lodge in Slovenia. Today’s agenda is to discuss a trout fishing trip being planned for a group Orvis will be bringing to Krka River Lodge at the end of May. We offer high-end guided fishing trips and my partners and I are excited to have the opportunity to be endorsed by Orvis. Now to prep for tomorrow’s CCPATCH monthly Board of Directors meeting.
7:30 a.m. Review my list of follow-up phone calls to donors and stakeholders who are helping to support the rehabilitation of The Ritz Theatre forward. Read a page out of Jen Sincero’s book, You Are a Badass Every Day. Hang out with my husband for a bit to talk about what our days look like. He is pretty amazing! We bounce the lineup for the day off of each other. We both have a lot of great things going on so we make sure to have time with each other in the morning.
9:00 a.m. At the kickboxing studio. One hour all about body, mind and soul. This is serious cardio and helps me get mentally centered. Best workout ever!
11:30 a.m. One-hour Zoom meeting with my partners in Slovenia. Today’s topic: The Caterer, linen service, water levels of the Krka River and spring flowers which are beginning to bloom.
12:30 p.m. I have to make time for a little snack at this point! Then, I send out a few meeting confirmation emails. One to Mayor Guajardo about our upcoming meeting to speak about The Ritz. Another to my friend Alexis to confirm a food tasting this week with Elizabeth’s for the Texas Women for the Arts (TWA) Annual Meeting. Yumm! And lastly, one to confirm a tour of The Ritz with the Esperanza Garden Club for later this week, and my meeting with the Downtown Revitalization Alliance about the mural selection committee for the Mural Festival being held in June.
1 p.m. Zoom meeting with TWA. I love these women and their passion for the arts. I am on the Executive Committee as Grants Chair this year and we are prepping for Annual Meeting which will be held in Corpus Christi and Rockport in May. TWA is a group of philanthropic women who have come together to raise funds for K-12 arts education throughout the State of Texas.
2 p.m. Text my husband to say hi! Check-in on my local girls to see what their plans are this week. I am hoping time allows for a short social gathering to see their faces. Then, I confirm a meeting with HEB to speak about The Ritz Theatre. Now, time to head Downtown!
3 p.m. Stop by The Ritz for a visit. I like to regularly walk through and sit for a bit. She has a lot of history and she is ready to be open and receiving visitors. We’ve had many “talks” since I became the Executive Director for CCPATCH. We are preparing for OTJ Architects and their team to arrive for their assessment of rehabilitating the theatre.
3:30 p.m. Receive a text from my husband. He picked up tickets for a punk rock show next week. It’s going to be a wild one. Need food! Find food! Eat food!
4 p.m. Sit down to work on agendas for OTJ’s visit and the Kick-Off Celebration for The Ritz Theatre in June.
5 p.m. Start wrapping up the day to head home and jot down a few more things to do tomorrow. The list is growing. Must.Put.Computer.Away.
5:45 p.m. Arrive to a delicious dinner my husband whipped up. He is a retired chef and lucky me … I eat well. He is as busy as I am with his consulting, real estate and volunteer work with the City of Corpus Christi’s Parks and Recreation Advisory Board. So we catch up with each other’s days.
8 p.m. We live between our place downtown and our place on the Southside. We are currently renovating the house so we look at color swatches for the kitchen and dining room. We just finished our music/whiskey room. Espresso brown walls, Aztec Gold ceiling, a beautiful custom-made royal peacock blue velvet couch, vintage table and lamps…. it’s currently my favorite place to sit.
9:30 p.m. I am in bed and ready to sleep. Tomorrow is going to be packed with things to do.
