I believe in the power of courage - the courage to extend beyond oneself, to try new things and explore new ideas, options and viewpoints. Courage, which is known in other forms as fortitude and bravery, is also the ability to confront danger, fear, pain, or uncertainty. Over time, I've realized that there are limits to what I can understand and what I can control, and I continue to enhance my ability to endure the things which cannot be changed, the courage to change the things which should be changed, and the wisdom to know one from the other. I have been blessed to know some truly courageous individuals during my lifetime, from whom I have learned that, without courage, wisdom indeed bears no fruit. This list includes not only the role models in my life, but also dear friends and loved ones who have faced and championed their own personal tragedy and trauma. I have also been personally challenged by danger, fear and uncertainty on many occasions, and I can say that the wisdom gained from these experiences has unquestionably improved the quality of my existence. Whether it be professional disappointment, the untimely loss or illness of a family member or a good friend, or a tragic accident marked by loss of life, I believe I have gained and matured from each experience, found the lessons to be learned from less than desirable circumstances, and I can awake each day without fear for the unknown. In my opinion, the rarest courage of all is the courage of thought. As I grow older, my sense of intellectual adventure has increased, and my thirst for knowledge and understanding continues to grow. My experiences have nurtured my conscience, and enhanced my sense of community and giving. This has led me to explore new opinions and perspectives on not only people and their issues, but also on different attitudes and cultures. I admire those who have the courage to stand behind their convictions, to keep true, never be ashamed of doing right; decide on what they think is right, and stick to it. In addition, I have come to believe that it is equally courageous to sit and listen as it is to stand and speak. Listening is most certainly different from hearing, and I have learned how important it is to understand and appreciate the value of what others have to say. Differences between us are, in fact, an implicit strength, and I believe that active dialogue and communication amongst us can only further our collective goals and objectives. Napoleon once said that courage is like love; it must have hope for nourishment. Indeed, love itself requires courage as well, to seek what you love to do, to love the person you are, and to nourish the love within a relationship. Regarding hope, an old Arabian proverb aptly muses that "he who has health, has hope; and he who has hope, has everything." I believe in the inherent goodness in people, their righteous quest for personal growth and prosperity, and in the benefits of diversity within our society. I hope that, as I grow older, I can bear tribute to these characteristics while contributing to my community. In this light, I offer a quote by Charles Kettering: "we work every day, not to finish things; but to make the future better... because we will spend the rest of our lives there."

Meet Your Neighbors – The Boyce Family Eric, Joanne, Jack, and Natalie have been your friendly Ranch at Brushy Creek neighbors since 2012. They’re a fun bunch with a heart for community service and the perfect combination of left-brain creativity and right-brain analytics. Eric is the co-founder of BKA Wealth Consulting, offering financial, retirement, and investment advice to businesses and private clients. Joanne is the president of Wear It Forward, a personal apparel shopping and accessorizing service for busy working women. Their oldest is 19-year-old Natalie, who attends New York City’s prestigious Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), and their youngest, Jack, is a seventh grader at Cedar Valley Middle School. He is a walking encyclopedia of sports information (especially UT related) and a true movie buff! Eric and Joanne met in 1989 through a mutual friend. As these things typically go, they went to the ol’ Broken Spoke with a group of mutual friends. The Boyces were married in 1992 and are celebrating 25 years of marital bliss. “We got married on Halloween,” says Eric, “but it’s not like we had a creepy wedding. It was the only date the church was available!” Eric is originally from Dallas and Joanne is from Houston. After graduating with a bachelor of business administration in finance from The University of Texas at Austin, Eric went on to earn his master’s degree in finance from UT Dallas. Joanne earned her bachelor of science from Southern Methodist University (SMU) in Dallas and began her career working in alumni relations at SMU. Joanne went on to work for Neiman Marcus in human resources while Eric’s career began in commercial real estate, treasury management, and investment research. Eric holds a Chartered Financial Analyst designation from the CFA Institute, and has earned his Chartered Investment Counselor and Certified Cash Manager. “I’ve always had an interest in business and financial matters,” says Eric. “My dad died unexpectedly when I was in college, and I quickly had to step up to help care for my family’s future.” Joanne spent time raising the children, and when they were small, she earned her teaching certificate and became an enrichment teacher before launching Wear It Forward. “I truly have a passion for thrift shopping,” says Joanne. “I guess you can say I have an eye for finding that diamond in the rough. It’s been my honor to help other busy moms find great, affordable clothing and accessories.” Always one to share a laugh or extend a friendly smile, Joanne also works as a client services advisor for BKA Wealth Management. She’s been very active with the kids’ schools, serving in several PTA-related roles while also volunteering as a lector for St. Louis Catholic Church. Career opportunities brought the Boyce family back to the Austin area in 2001 and to Cedar Park in 2006. Very quickly, the family became active in the community. Over the years, Eric has served on boards and lent his expertise to numerous organizations (many nonprofit) to help address the needs of our greater community. His affiliations include: LifeWorks, Communities in Schools of Central Texas, OneVoice Central Texas, St. Dominic Savio Catholic High School, The Seton Fund, Catholic Foundation of the Diocese of Austin, Catholic Charities of Central Texas, the City of Cedar Park’s Planning and Zoning Commission, Cedar Park’s Economic Development Corporation (4A Board), Southwest Angel Network for Social Impact, CFA Society of Austin, and The University of Texas. “I truly love serving the Cedar Park and greater Texas communities,” says Eric. “My experiences have been so rewarding and have truly led me to feel connected to our wonderful city, its growth, and the great people who call Central Texas home.” The Boyce family is also active at both St. Louis and St. Vincent DePaul Catholic Church. Natalie is a graduate of St. Dominic Savio High School. She’s a lover of animals, and like Eric, is also a big fan of classic rock. (The Rolling Stones are among her favorites!) Natalie’s true talent shines from behind the camera. “Natalie is studying to become a fashion photographer,” says Eric. She enjoys personal and family photography, specializing in portraits, graduation pictures, private parties, and weddings. In fact, Natalie was one of only six students selected across NYC colleges invited to photograph Fashion Week last fall! Jack has been involved with the Cedar Park youth football program and is an active gamer on his PS4. “Our son is an absolute movie buff,” says Joanne. “He’s the only 13-year-old I know with a subscription to Variety magazine! Jack especially loves James Bond films, and we’re excited to see where this passion takes him in life.” To relax, the family enjoys movie nights and trips to the bookstore. They relish the fact that they live so close to parks and trails for nature walks and kayaking. Eric enjoys time spent on the lake, playing golf, and watching sports (anything UT related). Favorite family trips include beach days at Port Aransas or Destin. They’ve also enjoyed visits to the U.S. Virgin Islands and Italy. Lovers of Italian food, they’re excited for Mandola’s to open at the front of the neighborhood. But true to their Texas roots, fajitas and King Ranch chicken are popular items on their menu at home! “We feel blessed to have found such a great community. We treasure the friendships we’ve made with our wonderful Ranch at Brushy Creek neighbors!”