In 2026, the Texas Children’s Ambassadors Program will be allocating more funds to the Kangaroo Crew, the hospital system’s transport program. One way the hospital will be investing more in the program is by introducing its own helicopter at Texas Children’s North Austin Hospital which is set to arrive in early 2026.

How we got here: Assistant Clinical Director Kami Stone said the team spent months identifying a location to store the helicopter which would give them the quickest access to their patients at the North Austin hospital. The Kangaroo Crew spent an additional six months training and securing supplies to make sure they would be on track for the January launch date.

How it works: Stone said the helicopter will be used in situations where a patient is too sick to wait for the responders to arrive via ambulance and cases of “surgical and medical emergencies” in which a patient is stable but there is a high risk of something going bad.

A new financial services company, EliteGate Wealth, LLC, is now serving clients in the Austin-area and across the state. Services include financial planning, comprehensive wealth management and investment-aligned insurance solutions for life, annuity or long-term care.

A closer look: Founder and CEO Chris Miller announced the company late last year after a 25-year career in Fortune 500 financial services leadership, Miller said in a statement.

“I launched the firm to bring clients the sophistication and expertise of large institutions, while delivering the personal attention, transparency and long-term, relationship focus of a boutique family office,” Miller said.

Miller explained that he aims to improve what many large advisory firms often do, which operate with advisors working high case loads while providing limited client interaction. EliteGate prioritizes proactive communication, thoughtful planning and a supportive advisor culture, he said. 

• Meetings scheduled virtually or at clients' preferred location

Pablo Serna became Williamson County’s new architect, overseeing the planning, design and construction of county facilities, Oct. 24. Serna sat down with Community Impact to discuss his previous experience and new role.

Why were you drawn to Williamson County?
When Williamson County came up, I saw that as a good transition over to [the] more local. What was attractive to me about that position is they were working on some really large projects.

What's the role of the county architect?
A liaison between the professional teams that are hired. ... Usually it's a hybrid architect-engineering company that we hire to do a lot of these large projects.

How can county facilities both preserve history and serve modern needs?
The way I see that [is] we, even at the county level, are stewards of this history. But a lot of times ... it’s understanding that these buildings have a life beyond their original purpose and intended use.