Leadership

Known for their love of celebrations, commitment to community service, and passion for bringing people together (not to mention always being up for a good costume!), this dynamic duo brings an unmatched level of enthusiasm to this year’s Holiday Shopping Card.

Described as humble, gracious, loyal, spunky with a huge heart and known for her exceptional generosity, Robin thrives on showering her precious family and dear friends with love. A member of the Junior League since 1994, she’s served in many leadership roles including Trees of Hope and the Miller Outdoor Advisory Board. Robin has chaired events for numerous organizations such as the Nutcracker Market, Judy’s Mission, Easter Seals, SEARCH, and Avondale House, not to mention her extensive involvement with River Oaks Baptist School and Episcopal High School.

Not afraid to roll up his sleeves and get the job done, Danny has logged countless hours in service to others. Much of Danny’s philanthropic work has been an extension of his dedication to family, serving in leadership roles at his children’s schools such as Episcopal HS and ROBS, and for his college alma mater. Danny serves as CFO of the family-owned holding company, running the diverse set of businesses within Charlie Thomas Enterprises, as well as several Advisory Board positions.

Members of St. John the Divine and River Oaks Country Club, Danny and Robin met at the University of St. Thomas, married in 1985, and have three grown children all in Houston who have absorbed their same spirit of giving. Family is their highest priority, and both agree that raising their children is the most important work they’ll ever do.

What a blessing the Klaes’ are to the American Cancer Society’s efforts to ensure that everyone has an opportunity to prevent, detect, treat, and survive cancer.

Augie Bering, V is a fifth generation Houstonian and current President, CEO and owner of Bering Home Center, Inc., which consists of two Houston retails stores and an E-Commerce business. Augie received a Bachelor of Arts English degree from the University of Montana where he spent a semester abroad in Oaxaca, Mexico and became fluent in Spanish. In the years following, Augie held many roles that deepened his love for the outdoors while expanding his expertise. Augie worked for The Brush Ranch School as a resident assistant, vocational and outdoor instructor, and in guest services at Taos Ski Valley. He was later hired by The Santa Fe Waldorf School to plan and execute a two-week sea kayaking adventure in Baja, Mexico for an 8^th grade graduation class. Augie then shifted gears to work for Solar Survival Architecture and Alternative Builders Inc in Taos, NM from 1995 – 1998, where he built homes “off the grid” while spending summers leading 39-day courses as an outdoor instructor for Adventures Cross-Country. In addition to these experiences, Augie also completed a semester in Patagonia and the Alaska Wilderness Course through National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and became certified in a variety of other outdoor skills such as scuba diving (PADI), becoming a Wilderness First Responder, and Basic Keel Boat.  In 2000, Augie began his management career at Bering’s and received his Master of Business Administration from the University of Texas San Antonio in 2007. His MBA education included travel to Mexico, London, and Brussels learning from global business executives.

Augie reconnected with the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) on an alumni rock-climbing course in Arizona in 2005, which renewed his passion for the organization. Since that time, Augie has taken his son on an alumni Wind River family backpacking trip and even hired NOLS Professional Services to assist with cultural change, leadership, and teamwork for his business. Augie is passionate about the continued mission and success of NOLS and has served as a local advocate assisting with local NOLS gatherings in Houston for many years, including a birds of prey nature walk at the Houston Arboretum in Fall of 2015. In 2016, he was honored to be the recipient of the Green Leaf Award from the Houston Arboretum, as well as named Honoree for their annual gala.

In addition to maintaining a leadership role at Bering’s for the past 16 years, Augie has served on the Board of the Houston Arboretum and Nature Center in Houston for the past 6 years, and currently serves in an advisory group for The Do-It-Best Corporation. Augie and his wife Mia have 3 children - Weston, Bridget, and Michah, and a bird dog named Scout.

Pam Kuhl-Linscomb, ASID, RID, started her career in the retail world. After graduating from the University of Texas at Austin in fashion and interior design, she worked at high-end luxury department stores as a manager and buyer in the fashion and home divisions. Later Pam became a partner in an interior design firm and thereafter, owner of her own firm Kuhl Design Associates which became Kuhl-Linscomb. She is a former board member of the American Society of Interior Design.

Kuhl Design Associates was an award-winning firm, and while practicing interior design, Pam was listed in House & Garden (HG) magazine as one of "the best American designers." Two stores, Kuhl-Linscomb-Decorative Center of Houston (started in 1994 as a 10' by 10' booth in a vintage/antique co-op) and Kuhl-Linscomb - Upper Kirby District (established in 2001) evolved from the design firm and were built on a foundation of great style and design. In 2003 the two stores merged into one location. Currently, the Kuhl-Linscomb campus covers almost three city blocks in central Houston.

Dan Linscomb, JD, Pam's husband, is also involved in the store. He has a background in business, finance, and law. He interned at a large international law firm and thereafter founded Linscomb & Associates, which became Linscomb & Williams, a Forbes Top 100 Wealth Manager in the United States, with locations in several cities. Dan formerly served on a number of boards, including University of Houston College of Business, Texas Entrepreneurs Society, two banks, an accounting firm, a non-profit, and two performing and visual arts boards. He served as Chairman of both the Better Business Bureau of Greater Houston and South Texas and the Better Business Bureau Education Foundation.

Kuhl-Linscomb has received a number of awards and accolades from several industry sources such as AmericasMart Atlanta, Dallas Market Center, Home Accents Today, NY NOW, and the University of Houston College of Technology's "Salute to Retail."