Exciting new ideas, projects

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Gonzales native Daisy Scheske looking to make a difference at chamber

Technology used to be regarded as a nightmare within which people can find themselves entrapped, but Daisy Scheske is looking for ways to reverse that theorem.

Nestled back in her hometown of Gonzales, Daisy, who recently joined the Gonzales Chamber of Commerce as its assistant executive director, has hit the ground running, giving her all in the interest of bringing fresh ideas and projects to Gonzales.

Like an athlete in constant training, Daisy keeps up with the latest, most diverse arrays of technology.

And she’s looking to make the community itself more diversified.

Jolly and extroverted, Daisy takes a break from her busy schedule to candidly delve into – while deriving from – her ancestors, talk openly about the early years of her career and anticipate straying from the wheeling flock of Austin motorists.

“I’m very excited to return to my hometown of Gonzales to work at the chamber,” Daisy says. “I have some exciting new ideas and projects that I think members of the chamber and the community will enjoy.

“One of my main goals is for those that see the Come and Take It flag to know that it is connected to our wonderful community,” Daisy says. “There is so much history here to share with others.”

Daisy was born and raised in Gonzales. Her father was the county attorney from 1980-2006, and her mother used to work for the city parks and recreation and also was involved in writing the book “History of Gonzales. Volume I” with Genevieve Vollentine.

“My mother worked for TRC (Texas Rehab Commission) here in Gonzales for years and helped many locals that still thank her today,” she says.

Her grandfather, Fred Scheske Jr., served on the Gonzales City Council from 1947-61 and was also mayor from 1961-76. Fred Sr., her great-grandfather, was the captain of the fire department for a time. Eddie Scheske, Daisy’s uncle, also served on the city council.

“The Scheske family used to own the wholesale grocery store here in town,” Daisy recalls. “I cannot remember when they closed their doors.”

Daisy graduated from Gonzales High School in 2001, then attended Texas A&M University-Kingsville on a twirling scholarship.

“I was also a member on the Good Advisory Board,” she says. “Soon after, I transferred to Southwest Texas State, which then changed its name to Texas State University.”

Daisy graduated from TSU in 2006 with a bachelor’s degree in family and consumer science with a minor in business.

“I completed an internship with a popular public relations firm – Schmidt Relations – out of Nashville, Tenn.,” she says. “After that, I had many random sales jobs and manager positions that led me to Austin in 2008 to work for the Department of State Health Services working as a program specialist/quality management.”

In February 2011, Daisy was in the Top 5 (of 110 candidates) for the KVET casting call for a radio disc jockey job with Bob Cole on his morning show.

She did not win the contest, but six months later, the radio station decided to change staff.

“It worked out for me in the long run,” she says. “It led to me to being employed by several artists in Austin to do their social media, press releases and merchandise in house/on the road. I also worked for Logan Insurance out of Gonzales, but I mainly catered to the Austin area, [particularly] those in the music industry.

“I’m still commuting from Austin on certain days of the week,” Daisy says of her current living status. “I hope to be living back in Gonzales full-time before long, though. I’m not going to miss those [Austin] freeways one bit.”

Daisy has also done lots of volunteer work, like assisting with the Daughters of the Republic of Texas (DRT) on projects, and archives at the Memorial Museum (2006).

She has been on the Come & Take It committee since September 2011, where she created the Come & Take It and chamber social media accounts, including YouTube, Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter and 4 square.

She is an avid donor to the Special Olympics, and served as the chief judicial officer for Chi Beta Delta sorority while attending college.

“I have volunteered at many festivals,” she says. “These include the Watermelon Thump, Rajun’ Cajun, Sights and Sounds, Pet Fest, Come & Take It festival, Lions Club Carnival and Freedom Festival, to name a few. I also have a side job where I am a DJ at weddings. I’ve done that since 2005.”

When asked why she thinks technology is important to the future of Gonzales, Daisy says that places far and near come closer because of technology.

“Gonzales has recently jumped on the social media scene with Facebook, Twitter, tour app, etc.,” she explains. “I volunteered last year to create several social media outlets for the chamber while I was on the Come & Take It committee. This was the first year we introduced this, and it was very successful in reaching new vendors, musicians and attendees. I look forward to introducing new and exciting ideas so that we can show others what we have to offer in historic Gonzales.”

As far as the old adage goes that technology is a world in which people, especially older folks, will only get lost in, Daisy staunchly refuses to accept that premise.

“The reality is we will only progress as quickly as the citizens choose to use it,” she says. “People adapt to technology at their individual comfort level. People can continue to adapt to new technologies throughout their life or intelligently choose to limit their technologies at a comfortable level. In other words, technology is available for the individual benefit of each person.”

When it comes to naming one person who has influenced her life, inspired her creativity or given her the inspiration to go above and beyond, Daisy imparts that there is no “one” person.

“I have been fortunate to have had so many people in my life that I admire,” she says. “I was a victim of a happy home. In my family, I was exposed to a variety of unique individuals that possess the values that have shaped my character. Some were funny, some were weird, but they all had the kind of integrity that I seek in the people I choose to associate with. I also have had some very special educators in my life who have helped guide my development.

“Ms. Sandra Dickey (Burrows), who made being dyslexic cool,” she says. “She taught us that it was not a disability, but a learning difference, and truly believed in everyone of her students.

“Mr. Joel Whittington was always positive and caring, even when we were not. I will always remember when the worst student behavior was exhibited, he would say ‘Your mama loves ya!’ You would have had to be in band to understand that quote.

“Mrs. Jackie Mikesh is a very special woman to me. We worked closely for years in the Anchor Club. When we started, there were only 10 members in the organization and we grew it to 75 in three years. She exposed me to the opportunity to learn and develop leadership. There are some people that take goals to the moon. She took them past Pluto.”

All in all, Daisy looks forward to working with the chamber, city, businesses and citizens of Gonzales.

“I feel that I have a lot to contribute to my hometown,” she says. “The greatest thing you can hope for in life is to work yourself into a position where your action can make a difference, and then have the courage to act.”

So can Daisy give a hint as to something she has in store for the community?

“There are a couple of items that I’ve already started, and I have received a lot of positive feedback,” she says. “A new thing hopefully coming up is going to be credit card purchases in the chamber office. We’re looking forward to more and more new ideas to come to fruition.”

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