MICHELLE STEPHENSON

Who is She?

 

Michelle was born in Arlington, Massachusetts but raised in the Deep South.  Her parents, John, a Cajun from Kaplan, Louisiana, and Marlene, a Mohawk Native from Kahnawake, Quebec, met when her father, who was an ironworker, and her uncle, one of the famed Mohawk ironworkers, became friends on a jobsite in New York.   After her birth, Michelle’s father moved his family to Louisiana, where she grew up in the New Orleans area with one sister and three brothers. This interesting mix of cultures has instilled in her a southerner’s warm & welcoming heart, the fire to stand up for what she believes, and a hard driving work ethic.

 

She is married to Brick Stephenson, who has been employed with Cray, Inc. for over 30 years.  Together, they have a total of 10 children.  She attests to Brick’s heart of gold!  He married her with 6 children already in tow. To say the least, their family is not typical.  This is their own version of, “Mine, Yours, and Ours” --- Michelle’s 6, Brick’s 3, and “Our” Anna. The children's ages range from 15 to 36 years old. They have also been blessed with 15 grandchildren and one more due in June 2018!

 

Education and Career

 

When Michelle’s children were young and during 10 years of Air Force moves, she was focused full time on raising them.  After the military, and settling back in the New Orleans area, she eventually found herself a single mom of 6, a full-time college student, and a part-time Engineering Co-op Student at the New Orleans Corps of Engineers.  Her family’s history in ironworking was the inspiration and deciding factor for focusing on structural steel design.  In 2001, she graduated from the University of New Orleans with a degree in Civil Engineering, and not long after graduating, she moved to Wisconsin.  There, she was employed at multiple companies sharpening her structural engineering and project management skills, and designing steel structures throughout the nation (and world) from bio-fuel processing facilities to hangar-sized paint booths for aircraft. This professional experience served the city well for 4 years as a commissioner on Leander’s Planning and Zoning Commission and her term as City Councilwoman Place 2.

 

Volunteer Experience

 

She believes in serving and giving to one’s community and in every place she’s lived, she has been actively engaged as a volunteer.  During the Air Force years, as a member of the Officer’s Wives Club, she worked on fund-raisers and assisted military members wherever her help was needed.  After settling back in the New Orleans area, she volunteered as an election commissioner, became a member of the Auction Committee at Jesuit High School, and was a member of the Educational Forum Committee, the Uniform Committee, the C.F. Rowley Elementary Facilities Committee, and the Goals 2000 Committee in St. Bernard Parish’s School District, (located just east of New Orleans).  While living in Wisconsin, she volunteered as an officer for the Chippewa Falls Music Association.  After moving to the great state of Texas and settling in Leander, she worked on the Campus Improvement Committee at Winkley Elementary, volunteered as treasurer on Leander High School’s PTSA, worked 4 years on Leander's Planning and Zoning Commission, served the City of Leander in her first term as a City Councilwoman, and for the past 6 years, taught Sunday school to a fun group of 9 - 11 year olds!  She is also a WilCo Blue Star Mother, with 3 stars for her daughter who served honorably as a US Navy Nuke on the USS George Washington, her son who is a Second Lieutenant in the Army National Guard with one tour in Iraq under his belt, and a former son-in-law, also in the Army National Guard with one tour in Iraq and another deployment happening in June 2017. She is heart-warmingly proud of her Blue Stars, and feels completely blessed to be serving the military and veteran communities with fellow Blue Star Mothers.

 

On Moving to Leander

 

Michelle’s family is PROUD to call Leander home! Michelle and Brick bought their home in February 2010 and fell in LOVE with the small town feel and friendly atmosphere.  It drew them to this community, and they can honestly say, they have never felt more at home than they do here. 

 

Not long after moving here, Michelle became very interested in Leander’s development and growth.  Her desire to help in any way possible provided an opportunity to serve again.  She was honored to be recommended by City Council Member Andrea Navarrette to Place 1 on the Leander Planning and Zoning Commission.  She took the oath of office in February 2011, and for 4 years, not only served as a Commissioner but participated in work sessions with the City Council and was part of several boards and/or committees making decisions for the city.  She feels blessed for the opportunity to serve the citizens of Leander and has been rewarded by working with the best city staff in Texas. She wants to express her appreciation to this city’s remarkable professional staff which has kept Leander safe, secure, and running smoothly.  Most importantly, she’s grateful for the citizens who are the welcoming heart of this community.