KPRC’s Andy Cerota, Fox 26 Rita Garcia and KHOU 11 Rekha Muddaraj celebrate moms

Auto Rickshaw, Mumbai Streets, Flower Wall! Bollywood Came to Town For LCA Houston International Mothers Day Soiree

Dr. Sippi Khurana, Andy Cerota KPRC Channel 2 Anchor and LCA Houston International Society News Editor and TV Host/ Founder of the International Mothers Day Soiree Ruchi Mukherjee 

Rita Garcia and Award Presenter Rohit Vyas he is the Senior News Director of TV Asia and the face of Indian American North American television. 

Rekha Muddaraj KHOU Anchor was one of our honoree this year. She walked the ramp with her two daughter Laxmi 5 and Lara 2.

The LCA Houston International Society News Magazine welcomed over 250 private guests to 2017 International Mothers Day Soirée held at the Asia Society Texas Center on May 11, 2017. Created and hosted by LCA’s Founder and Editor Ruchi Mukherjee, and now in its 5th year, the event highlights prominent and philanthropic mothers of Houston from various walks of life and ethnic backgrounds. The evening also saw the release of the 2nd edition of the LCA Houston print magazine.

KPRC’s Andy Cerota and Dr. Sippi Khurana served as the evening’s co-emcees. They introduced special guest, New York based TV Anchor Rohit Vyas who presented awards to the Honorees. Rohit Vyas is the longest serving Indian-American journalist in the US with 40 years of experience covering the entire gamut of international affairs, US politics, US-India relations, the infancy and growth of the Indian American community, and more. He serves as Senior Vice President, News Director, and English News Anchor for TV ASIA, and is a member of the United Nations Correspondents Association.

The night's honorees were some of Houston's most philanthropic wonder moms, often holding down full-time careers and society positions. all while raising kids and maintaining households. Each year the Soirée chooses a new set of women to honor, and to walk the ramp with their kids. This year's picks included:Merele Yarborough, Dr. Monira Kundi, Toni Tate, Denise O'Brian, Ishwaria Mohan Subbiah, Shabnam Shaikh, Jill Shull, Carrie Brandsberg Dahl, Brigitte Kalai, Jane Seam, Rekha Muddaraj and showstopper Y. Ping Sun.

LCA Houston also presented few special awards this year in celebration of their fifth year. Media Appreciation Awards were presented to Rita Garcia of FOX 26 and Clifford Pugh of Culturemap and special elite sponsors: Howard Tate, Rob Todd of Amplifies Solutions, Teresa Reading and Bashar Kalai of Amerapex Corporation.

Immediately after the Honorees walked the ramp, a very special surprise announcement stunned the crowd and the Host herself. Co-chair Shawntell McWilliams presented Ms Mukherjee with a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition from US Congressman Al Green honoring her, and LCA Houston, for Outstanding Service to the Community. Ruchi, a seasoned international journalist, has dedicated her career to social causes concerning women and the underprivileged.

LCA Houston’s Founder, and the event’s host, Ruchi Mukherjee focused on a Bollywood theme for this year’s Soirée. The Asia Society was adorned with Indian elements including an auto-rickshaw photo space and a wall size image of the streets of Mumbai. Guests were treated to Indian street foods and a Bollywood-inspired dance by the Sunrise International Dance Company. Sari-clad models, a live henna station, spinach and feta samosas were a few of the things that filled the upstairs lobby of Asia Society for the perfect Indian-inspired evening. Kiran's Restaurant, Raja Sweets, Ginn’s Gourmet, and Radio Milano were the food and drink sponsors for the evening and kept guests full with a number of East-meets-West concoctions. Every guest in attendance came dressed to impress, many even sported their finest Indian regality while others came in stylish cocktail attire.

Since it first began in 2013, the International Mother's Day Soirée has become a staple of the Houston society event scene. Decked in the finest Bollywood looks were: Staci and Quan Henderson, Sobi Qazi, Ella Markovsky, Kanchan Singh, Logan Lester, Rebecca Brinkley, Sameera Faridi and Anas Ahmad, Farida Abjani, Dr. Vanitha Pothuri, Dinah Lin, Keith and Shawntell McWilliams, Mehrnaz Gill, Donatella Bendkenstein, Mika Rao, Robert Tijerina, Rita Garcia, Janine Iannaelli, Mario Gudmundsson, Maha Rasheed Khan, Yasmine Haddad, Sharron Melton, Shaila Patel, Anika Jackson, Michael Pearce, Melissa Rascon.

(This post was taken from a release sent to me by LCA Houston)

Houston TV news moms honored by LCAHouston

Publication hosts International Mother’s Day Soirée to Celebrate Diversity and Culture including Houston TV Moms

Media guests - Daniel Gotera, Rashi Vats, Ruchi Mukherjee (Host), Rekha Muddaraj (Co-Chair), Justin Stapleton (Emcee) (Photo by Sonya Abid)

The LCAHouston 7th Annual International Mother’s Day Soiree was held at Asia Society Texas Center, May 17th, 2019 with “Crazy Rich Asians” as this year’s theme.

International journalist and TV Host, Ruchi Mukherjee who started her career as a crime beat reporter in India, is also the host and founder of The Annual International Mother’s Day Soirée. KHOU 11 anchor Rekha Muddaraj served as co-chair.

The event's inspiration came from a series of stories Mukherjee wrote for The Statesman and The Times of India on the Fabulous and Philanthropic Mothers of Houston.

“The mission behind this event is to bridge the gap between the ethnic and mainstream communities,“ explains Mukherjee. "Each year, a dozen mothers of various ethnicities and professions are honored to showcase diversity and celebrate motherhood. The Asia Society Texas Center, which is an architectural marriage of east and west, is the perfect venue for the Soiree’s vision."

This year’s list of Honorees included Sadaf Aslam, Liza Bailey, Tammy Gee Su, Courtney Zubowski Hass, Samantha Holsomback, Sheekha Sethi Khan, Fadila Kibsgaard, Peta Gay Ledbetter, Sofia Ojeda, Escarle Silvia, Melissa Wilson, and the 2019 showstopper, Hallie Vanderhider.

Dr. Sippi Khurana and KPRC 2 meteorologist Justin Stapleton, served as the event's emcees.

Past Honorees from the Houston media includ Dominique Sachse, Britta Merwin, Rashi Vats, Casey Curry, and Miya Shay.

LCA Houston 2019 International Mother's Day Soirée Honorees (Photo by Sonya Abid)

FOX 26 KRIV anchor Melissa Wilson (Photo by Sonya Abid

KPRC 2 anchor Sofia Ojeda KPRC with daughters (Photo by Sonya Abid)

Former KHOU 11 reporter Courtney Zubowski Haas (Photo by Sonya Abid)

Houston TV anchors celebrate international journalist and bride

Ruchi Mukherjee and Walter Sassard's wedding was attended by a who's who of famous Houston TV anchors, reporters, and a meteorologist.

Mukherjee, the founder of LCAHouston and the publication's International Mother’s Day Awards, had ABC13 anchor Rita Garcia and reporter Pooja Lodhia as bridesmaids. 

Also joining as guests were KHOU 11 morning meteorologist Chita Craft and anchor Rekha Muddaraj, with ABC13 reporters Miya Shay and Mycah Hatfield. No matter the Houston TV channel, they danced to Bollywood tunes in traditional saris. 

The wedding and incidental Houston media event occurred on November 3, 2024, at the Bryan Museum in Galveston, Texas.

Since arriving in the U.S. in 2002, Mukherjee has also worked as a correspondent for The Statesman and Times of India. Sassard, a New York transplant since 2013, currently serves as a Lieutenant at the Magnolia Fire Department.

The couple's relationship faced a challenging period when Sassard sustained a work injury that required a lengthy five-month recovery. Mukherjee's unwavering support during this challenging time strengthened their bond. Together, they have navigated the demands of their careers and the challenges posed by the pandemic, demonstrating the resilience of their partnership.

"As a little girl, I always believed in having a true partner to travel with, to work together, experience things and someone who will truly understand my passion for fashion, my culture and journalism," Mukherjee told mikemcguff.com.   "The evening was a fairy tale because I finally found a true partner who cherishes all that and to see the entire Houston community and my fellow journalist TV friends who whom I have experienced not just a professional but personal journey dance on the tunes of Bollywood in sari was a dream. The venue was simply a historic dream."

The couple honeymooned in St. Lucia.

Rita Garcia's baby shower

Rita Garcia is leading the abc13 KTRK baby boom of 2022-2023 and just celebrated with her baby shower, hosted by LCAHouston International TV and Lifestyle Magazine Editor/Publisher Ruchi Mukherjee, on November 10, 2022. 

UPDATE APRIL 2023
Rita Garcia returns to abc13 Houston after maternity leave

It was a TV affair as Garcia was honored by abc13 and FOX 26 KRIV (where she previously worked) faces at Common Bond Restaurant in downtown Houston. 

Mukherjee said it was an emotional afternoon to have all the media friends gathered under the same roof to bless the mamma to be. 

“It’s so nice to have Rita back in Houston and I have personally been a friend of her for now ten years,” Mukherjee told mikemcguff.com. 

Media moms gathered over lunch and exchanged motherhood experiences and shared parenting advices. 

Mukherjee tells me abc13 reporter Miya Shay’s top advice was to invest in the best breast milk pump. 

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Rita Garcia is married

Rashi Vats's 5pm anchor journey is a Texas story of hard work and love

Fox 26 KRIV 5pm anchor Rashi Vats has worked her way up through Texas TV markets to become the first Indian-American primetime, weekday Houston news anchor

New FOX 26 KRIV 5pm anchor Rashi Vats says it comes as no surprise from those who knew her growing up, that she ended up in a very public profession.

"Since I was a little twerp, I’ve always loved being in front of the camera, acting or dancing," Vats told mikemcguff.com.  "They are thrilled when they see me on their screen!"

Those friends and family who knew Vats way back when, will be happy that the native Houstonian is now playing a bigger role on channel 26.  

A few weeks ago, KRIV launched a “The NewsEdge Early Edition,” the station's first foray into the 6pm newscast timeslot.  That meant that newly named 6pm anchor Kaitlin Monte moved to the new show, leaving the 5pm slot open.  Seven year FOX 26 veteran, Vats, was moved from the morning news shift to become the first Indian-American anchor in a weeknight, primetime Houston newscast that I am aware of.

"It’s a privilege I don’t take lightly," Vats added.  "I see the outpouring of support I’ve received from everyone including the huge Indian community. Many people know my family better than they know me, since they have called Houston home for four decades! They get calls from their friends all excited that they saw me on TV! Shout out to the aunties and uncles!"

“Rashi’s reporting and anchoring have always reflected how much she cares about the people here, since she is one of them," KRIV Vice President and News Director, Susan Schiller, said in a statement about Vats's promotion. "We know she’ll bring her trademark high energy to evenings.”

A diverse Houston television audience

Ruchi Mukherjee, International TV Correspondent and Editor/Host of LCAHouston International Society News Magazine, says while she has experienced challenges to make an impact as an international journalist herself, the Houston community at large is very supportive and diverse.

"It’s a proud moment for the entire Indian American community who absolutely adore [Vats]," Mukherjee told mikemcguff.com.  "It’s feels great to see a fellow Indian American journalist on prime time. Rashi is also very special to the LCAHouston family as she was our honoree for the International Mother’s Day Soirée in 2018 representing her ethnicity, culture and journalistic values.” 

According to Pew Research data from 2015, Houston ranked as the eight U.S. metropolitan area among those with substantial Indian populations with 125,000 people. Rice University's Kinder Institute for Urban Research reports Indian-Americans represent 37% of the Asian-American population in Fort Bend County according to 2014 estimates. 

As a result, in the early part of the 2010s decade, Houston television news departments focused on hiring Indian journalists.  Those South Asian talent still on the air in Houston, including Vats, are KHOU 11 4pm afternoon anchor Rekha Muddaraj and abc13 KTRK reporter Pooja Lodhia.

TCU to London

While her family hails from India, Vats was the first in her family to be born in the United States.  Growing up in Houston, her career has largely been Texas based except for time interning with the CBS News London Bureau and a fellowship with CBS Evening News in New York.

"It was life changing," Vats told me.  "I loved London and being on my own. I saw what it took to get to the top, and it motivated me to move forward."

The Texas Christian University graduate started off as a biology and chemistry major with plans to eventually become a doctor. Then the Schieffer School of Journalism came calling.  Only problem, she didn't know how to 'break the news' of her news career studies to her family back in Houston.

"My family got over the shock and on board with my career path, and now they are big fans," Vats admitted. "Whew! Follow your heart folks!"

A love for TV news and the sports guy

Gotera and Vats during their KXII time

Vats's first job was KXII Sherman, TX which covers the Texoma region.  It was there in 2008, that she met her earliest fan, future husband, and eventual KHOU 11 sports reporter, Daniel Gotera.

"I'll actually never forget the first time I saw her on television," Gotera told mikemcguff.com.  "I was in the sports office at our first station, KXII, in Sherman and I remember turning to my sports director and asking 'Who is that?' He laughed because he could tell I was definitely taken back by her.  Since that moment, she has done nothing but surprise me each day."

Gotera had been a news reporter at the station for two years, but was waiting for a sports position to become available.  Once one did, Gotera went to sports never looking back, and Vats took his reporter position. 

After a tragic bus accident, fate assigned Gotera as Vats's photographer for around the clock coverage.  The future couple worked together on that story for 32 hours straight. 

"He taught me the real-life fundamentals of reporting in the field," Vats said.  "Those lessons have helped shape me into who I am today, and I am forever grateful for my #1 fan."

Gotera said from that experience, he could tell Vats was going to rise to TV stardom pretty quickly. 

"Rashi is the type of person that you want to know," he said.  "She's made me a better person and reporter. She's kind, smart, beautiful both inside and out...but most importantly, she's real. What you see on TV, is what you get in real life. The anchor desk was made for her and I can't wait to see what she does with this new opportunity that she has so rightfully earned." 

Love was in the air for the young journalists, but long distance was about to change the channel on their relationship as Gotera jumped from Sherman to KHOU 11 Houston. He grew up in Katy, Texas' Cinco Ranch.

"After working there a year, he made the unprecedented (and well deserved) jump to Houston," Vats said.  "I wanted to stay as close as I could and work my way back home!" 

"Her road hasn't been easy," Gotera admitted. "In a world where many young TV reporters think they can just show up in a big market and succeed, she went through the 'traditional' small market route, working her way to her current position."

Deep in the Heart of Texas TV news

That Texas TV career journey took Vats from KXII to reporting for KRIS and KZTV in Corpus Christi.

Then it was a move closer to home and Gotera to be a weekend anchor and reporter at KBTX Bryan-College Station for two years. 

In 2013, Vats made it back home to Houston to reunite, with her then fiancé, as a new reporter for FOX 26 KRIV.  

"We've been through a lot," Gotera said. "Four years of a long distance relationship wasn't easy, but it made finally being together again in the same market all the more exciting. To use a sports analogy...I outkicked my coverage, there is no doubt about that."

If you have been a regular reader of my blog, then you have followed the couple's journey of having son Rian (2017) and daughter Liana (2020).

"She just keeps getting better and better," Gotera told me.  "Adversity breeds confidence and despite the ups and downs she has faced, she's been able to maintain who she is while becoming a household name in her hometown. I couldn't be more proud of her not only as a husband but as a fellow reporter in this rapidly changing industry. Yes, I'm biased, but I think she's one of a kind in more ways than one."

Dave Ward named Houston media icon

I was honored when LCAHouston editor Ruchi Mukherjee asked me to write a profile on Dave Ward for the magazine's winter edition.

Then a little fear hit me when realizing I had to make this article different from my other Dave Ward interviews.

No problem there. Ward is always full of great stories.

Here is a sample of the piece.

Former abc13 KTRK anchor Dave Ward has been doing a great deal of looking back lately.

Not only is he producing a new Houston history segment for channel 13, but Ward is also re-examining his own life for an upcoming memoir co-written with Jim McGrath.

Arriving in April, the title is taken from the phrase heard at the beginning of every one of his newscasts through the last 50 years, “Good Evening Friends.” READ THE REST

Ward was featured in the society magazine's men of distinction cover story along with Gordon Quan, Kevin Murray, Dr. Waqar Khan, Shafik Rifaat and Travis Torrence.

Since this article was written for a society magazine, I even got a chance to attend a cover reveal party at the The Chanel Salon at Neiman Marcus! There I got a chance to finally meet Clifford Pugh and KPRC 2 meteorologist Justin Stapleton.

You can read about the party in Paper City.

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Dave Ward Media Excellence Award

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Check out my profile on media icon @davewardshouston in the 2018 Winter edition of @lcahouston magazine! The cover reveal was last night at #neimanmarcus #houstongalleria #daveward #davewardshouston #societywithruchi #Houston

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Miya Shay celebrates Lunar New Year with TV guests

Miya Shay and State Rep. Gene Wu held a party celebrating the Lunar New Year last weekend at Horizon on Sunset, complete with a lion dance. 

The abc13 reporter's Houston television news colleagues also attended the festivities! 

Tonight is the Lunar New Year's Eve. 

The Year of the Dragon starts on Saturday, February 10, 2024.

FOX 26 KRIV's Chelsea Edwards and abc13 KTRK's Pooja Lodhia (photographer Omar Marcos)

abc13 KTRK's Rosie Nguyen and KPRC 2's Jason Nguyen (photographer Omar Marcos)

Jackie Traywick and former KHOU 11 reporter Doug Miller (photographer Omar Marcos)

abc13 KTRK's Shannon Ryan (middle) with unidentified guests (photographer Omar Marcos)

abc13 KTRK's Pooja Lodhia and LCAHouston's Ruchi Mukherjee (photographer Omar Marcos)

abc13 KTRK's Christopher Carr and unidentified guest (photographer Omar Marcos)