Issue link: http://papercitymagazine.uberflip.com/i/258079
Dinner, Dancing and Design at the RDA Gala R ice Design Alliance honored the Organized Kollaboration on Restaurant Affairs, otherwise known as OKRA, at the annual RDA Gala, this year chaired by Betsy Strauch and Lonnie Hoogeboom. Guests at the Hilton Americas– Houston were treated to dinner prepared by award-winning chef and OKRA member Chris Shepherd. RDA president Doug Combes presented OKRA president Bobby Heugel with the Award for Design Excellence for the outstanding contributions of the 21 OKRA member organizations to architecture and design through the refurbishment of historic buildings in Houston. The gala raised more than half a million dollars to support RDA's educational programming and publications. Design denizens: underwriters Charlotte and Larry Whaley, Mikki Hebl and David Harvey, Elaine and Ray Messer, fund-raising chair Dave Mueller, Kathrin Brunner and Ben Crawford, environment chair Chung Nguyen, auction chairs Juliè Gauthier and Kelie Mayfield, and RDA executive director Linda Sylvan with husband Dick. Nazie Amjadi ROSWITHA VOGLER, CLAUDIA CASBARIAN Lisa & Doug Combes Chung Nguyen, Florence Tang Chairmen Betsy Strauch & Lonnie Hoogeboom Linda & Dick Sylvan Aria Anderson, Bobby Heugel