James Adams & His Work With Space
Recently, I had the chance to sit down and speak with James Adams. James is the executive director of TexSpace, an organization focused on advocating for the space economy in Texas, and the Director of Operations at Gallant Culture, a marketing agency located in Houston, Texas. James shared details about his many experiences and insights in the space industry and his thoughts on its future development. My discussion with James over his work in the space industry and with Gallant is detailed in the following sections.
To gain an understanding of James’ current work, I asked him to detail his role at Gallant and what they do. He explained that Gallant deals with the “digital marketing and communications of companies with a focus on the management of their brand.” They deal primarily with startups and enterprise business-to-business (B2B) clients specialized in industrial innovation. James then explained how he “grew into his current role.” He originally joined the team 4 years ago as a sustainability consultant for energy and chemical clients, but has since evolved into the Director of Operations. With this growth has also come a change in responsibilities; James now deals more with the overall strategies and vision work for the companies Gallant works with.
Expanding on James’ current work, I also asked him about his role at TexSpace and what they aim to accomplish. James explained that he was first introduced to TexSpace when they met with Gallant to create a brand and marketing strategy. James was very interested in the goals and mission of TexSpace, so he joined the organization and is now serving as the executive director. TexSpace was created to unite and increase awareness in the space industry “across the civil, commercial, and military sectors” while promoting the development of the overall space industry in Texas. Texas, with its rich history in human spaceflight, wants to help support the growing sectors of space, including supporting the Space Force, increasing education and research in the industry, and facilitating the increased establishment of commercial businesses.
I was curious to ask James what got him interested and involved with space in the first place. He explained that he always “had an interest in the Universe and all of its unanswered questions.” He has always had a passion for space, leading him to do some work with the USDA attempting to recreate microclimates leveraging energy and water capture technologies while also learning more about space throughout his studies. When James found out about TexSpace and their mission, he thought it was absolutely needed and an awesome idea. It allowed him to continue exploring his interests while also developing the emerging space industry in Texas.
Being so involved in the development of the space industry in Texas, I asked James to describe the role he had in the development and creation of the newly formed Texas Space Commission. James explained by saying the role of himself and TexSpace was to “amplify the message” of the need for the establishment of an authority to help attract commercial and military involvement with space to Texas. He worked with different groups to find out the needs and opportunities that different regions of Texas offer, which culminated in a 70-page report on the ultimate need for the Texas Space Commission. In a grassroots effort, James helped to formulate and draft some of the bills leading to the creation of the commission while also listening to community needs within the industry. James believes that Texas has a “large concentration of supporting industries,” and these must be utilized properly in the further development of the space industry in our great state. During the process, other organizations and cities saw the goal of James’ grassroots efforts and contributed in their own ways to get it to the finish line.
Since James is at the forefront of the developing space industry in Texas, I wanted to hear his views on the future of the industry and where it is going. I asked him where he sees the future of the industry in Texas and how we are getting there. James explained that, in the short term, commercial space companies and academic institutions are crucial for nurturing the already existing ecosystem, as they will help to develop and gear the infrastructure needed for a larger future industry. Along with new startups making an impact on the infrastructure, Texas also needs to continue to leverage its existing infrastructure and industries as assets and resources. Texas has all of the necessary support systems in place already, so advertising this and displaying our current technical know-how will be crucial in the building of the space industry. Furthermore, there is also the opportunity for international partnerships facilitated through Texas. Through agreements with United States allies in areas like vertical launch and other foreign needs, Texas is aiming to be a crucial part of the space industry not only in the US but in the world. These partnerships and deals are likely to be accomplished due to the facilitation and authority provided by the establishment of the Texas Space Commission.
Finally, I asked James if he could share any advice for individuals from all different backgrounds looking to get involved with the space industry. James explained that all it takes is finding the area in the industry that is “geared towards what your interests and background are.” You don’t have to be an engineer with technical knowledge to get involved; there are areas in space exploration dealing with policy, marketing, legal components, and so many more. The space industry is and will continue to be bigger than any individual, so it is a matter of finding where your passion fits in and determining how you can impact the industry and meet its critical needs. The first step he recommends is to “get involved with the community and what’s around you.” Space is for everyone, and anyone with passion and enthusiasm can make a difference for the better.
Interviewing James was a great experience. Hearing his insights into the industry and gaining a deeper understanding of his roles was an amazing opportunity. I am looking forward to seeing what TexSpace will continue to do for the space industry in Texas and to seeing what the future holds for James.
Cibolo Creek Brewing Company & Hamby's
This week I sat down with Josh Mazour, owner of Cibolo Creek Brewing Co. (CCB) and Hamby’s, to learn more about what sets the brewery and restaurant apart from other local establishments. I also spoke with him about his entrepreneurial journey and any advice he has for someone pursuing entrepreneurship.
Cibolo Creek Brewing Co. opened in August 2016 and since then has become a staple lunch and dinner spot in Boerne. This business is family-owned and feels just like it. The atmosphere is that of sitting around spending time with family. It’s more than just grabbing a bite to eat and leaving; they encourage people to sit down and hang out, spend time with each other, and enjoy a good craft beer or two.
I started by asking Josh what sets them apart from the other breweries in Boerne. Josh first mentioned that he thinks each brewery in town has their own cool and unique identity. He talks about how CCB is very family-oriented, “it’s like your living room.” Food is very important at Cibolo Creek Brewery, they focus heavily on food and the quality of products.
Hamby’s opened about a year ago, across the street from CCB and where the old Flower Shop used to be. The wildest part is, Hamby’s opened up in the same location where the original Hamby’s used to be. A sense of nostalgia comes from a trip to Hamby’s with their smash burgers, shoestring fries, milkshakes and craft brews, and arcade games. It’s like taking a time machine back to the 1950s. Cibolo Creek Brewing Co. and Hamby’s source their beef from “Windy Hill Foods,” a farm and distribution company owned by his business partner Ty Wolosin. All beef and produce comes from Texas farms, everything is made in-house at both locations.
Josh shared how Hamby’s is also very food-oriented, but unlike CCB, it is more fast-paced. He says that where Cibolo is more “hang-out and leisurely,” Hamby’s is more “quick and fun and simplistic.” Compared to the other breweries in town that are more adult-oriented, he is proud to say that Hamby’s and Cibolo Creek Brewing Co. are both fun for the whole family – pets included!
I followed this by asking him what his goal for both Hamby’s and CCB are. He quickly answered with longevity. Cibolo will be celebrating eight years in August, and he is “looking forward to celebrating 28 years.” He sees Hamby’s making a name for itself and sticking around for years to come. “It’s funny because Hamby’s used to be here and I think it’s cool to bring that name back,” Josh states. Josh is in this for the long run. He hopes that Hamby’s and Cibolo Creek Brewing Co. will become “Boerne Institutions” like Mague’s or Bumdoodlers.
With Josh opening Hamby’s, I was curious to see how that has affected CCB, if at all. Josh says they were curious if Hamby’s would “cannibalize” on business from CCB. “We were confident that it wouldn’t, but curious what would happen,” he continues. Josh was happy to report that CCB is still doing great, and Hamby’s is just another business. He says they are running great alongside each other. Luckily there has been no negative impact on CCB from Hamby’s opening, which Josh and his team anticipated, and is glad that both are doing well. He was happy to let me know that they are going to be expanding the dining area at Hamby’s to be more accommodating to families as well.
I asked Josh to share the hardest part of his journey as an entrepreneur. He specifically talks about being an entrepreneur in the restaurant business. Josh mentions how you typically know what your restaurant is and is going to be, but it will truly define itself once those doors open. “The most challenging part is getting over that hump, those first couple of years,” he stated. Figuring out how it works, what it takes financially to work, physically and emotionally to get a restaurant running well.
Lastly, I asked Josh to give some advice to those pursuing entrepreneurship. “Follow your instincts and your passion fully,” he said. He believes if you truly want to do something and create something, don’t second guess your decisions, motives, or intuition. “Follow your dreams, and give it everything you have,” he continued. He knows it’s easy to listen to people who are cynical or to become cynical yourself, but it’s important to fight this urge. He talks about how it’s easy to listen to outside influence or even the things you say inside your head, but if you can push past that then “chase it, 110%.” He doesn’t look back on life – once a decision has been made he doesn’t think about it again.
Next time you find yourself on the Hill Country Mile, stop by Cibolo Creek Brewing Co. or Hamby’s and enjoy good food and good beer with great people.
