HTX-KTY: Impact 10/7/2025

What started with a squeegee, a bucket and a truck in Olivia and Kyle Martin’s garage has turned into a nationally recognized, award-winning small business.

The couple combined Olivia Martin’s passion for marketing and entrepreneurship with Kyle Martin’s experience and founded KTX Window Cleaning in 2018. 

“It's been the hardest thing that we've ever done … but it's been the most rewarding,” Olivia Martin said. “It means the world that we can set our schedule and we can be present with our kids.”

About the company: The business offers residential, commercial and office building window cleaning, as well as services such as gutter cleaning, screen repairs and pressure washing.

The couple said they built the company on seven core values: safety, excellence, respect, values, integrity, customer service and efficiency.

Bellaire Fire Chief Deacon Tittel is retiring from the Bellaire Fire Department after 25 years as he starts a new role at Harris County Emergency Services District 48 Fire Department, according to a Sept. 30 news release.

Read all about it: Tittel has served in the city’s fire department for more than 25 years. He first started off as a firefighter, and then a captain, to commander and ultimately the fire chief.

According to the news release, under Tittel’s leadership and guidance, he was able to strengthen the fire department’s operations, invest in modern equipment and training and deliver exceptional emergency services to residents and businesses alike.

“It has been a privilege and an honor to serve the city of Bellaire for 25 years,” Tittel said. “The decision to leave has not been an easy one, as my time here has been both personally meaningful and professionally rewarding."

Tittel’s final day with the city of Bellaire will be Oct. 24 and will replace Interim Fire Chief Vince Moreno at ESD 48.

The University of Houston has been awarded a $1 million grant from the non-profit Houston Endowment to analyze how school districts are implementing various teacher certification pathways—including teacher residency programs and grow-your-own models—with the goal of improving student achievement and bolstering teacher recruitment and retention.

The two-year project is intended to generate data, research, and policy recommendations that could help reduce the number of uncertified teachers in classrooms across Texas.

Why does it matters: Amid a growing percentage of uncertified teachers, a UTeach Institute study showed uncertified teachers are more likely to leave early, and their students can lose up to six months of learning.

Zooming out: To curb the teacher shortage during the 2024-25 school year, Community Impact reported that Fort Bend, Georgetown and Leander ISDs had waived teacher certification requirements for certain subjects and opted to require their staff to enroll in alternative certification programs, or nontraditional programs that can often be completed online.

Officials with the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo announced in an Oct. 1 news release that Kyle Olsen, a seven-year veteran of the organization, will be the new chief show operations officer. He is the first CSOO of the show in over three decades.

What we know: According to the news release, Olsen brings more than 20 years of leadership experience in managing large-scale, high-profile events and complex public venues. His career background includes:

• Director of events and production at Gila River Arena in Glendale, Arizona
• Event services at NRG Park
• Director of operations for the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo