Birthday: Sept. 3.
Occupation: Executive director, Houston Area Chamber of Commerce.
Family members: Father and mother, Don and Pat Miller of Houston; brother, Lewis Miller of Houston; brother Donnie Miller of West Plains; daughter Elizabeth LaVelle of Success, and grandsons William and Wyatt; son Evan Buse of Houston.
Education: Graduate of Houston High School; will graduate in December with triple bachelor’s degree from Drury University in Springfield (psychology, sociology and criminal justice).
Pets: Five-year-old Shorkie (Yorkshire terrier/Shih Tzu mix) named Ozzie.
Favorite food: Bacon cheeseburger. “I could live on them – I really could.”
Least favorite food: Pasta. “It’s weird, I know, but I just don’t care for it.”
Favorite ice cream flavor: Strawberry cheesecake.
Favorite thing to cook: Cinnamon rolls. “I use my great-grandma’s recipe.”
Best place I have ever eaten at: Lambert’s Cafe.
Two of my favorite activities: Reading and shopping. “I like shopping at thrift stores, Ross, T.J. Maxx and places like that. I love the hunt for the good bargain. Ross is probably my favorite.”
Number of states I’ve set foot in: 12.
Place I’d most like to visit: Puerto Rico. “I have always wanted to go there. If you look at the older parts of Puerto Rico, it just looks like it would be beautiful.”
Favorite kind of music: Rock. “’80s rock is my favorite; I grew up in the ’80s.”
Favorite musical artists: Elvis Presley and Prince.
Favorite TV show: “I like all of the ‘Chicagos’, like ‘Fire,’ ‘PD,’ ‘Med’ and ‘Justice.’ I never miss them. To me, they seem based on things that would happen in real life.”
Favorite actor: Sam Elliott.
Favorite zoo animal: Penguin. “At Sea World, I got to go on a penguin tour and I got to pet one and hold one. They are so cool.”
Least favorite animal: Snake. “They’re evil.”
Favorite sports teams: St. Louis Cardinals (MLB), Green Bay Packers (NFL).
All-time favorite athlete: Chicago Bears running back Walter Payton.
Favorite plant: Yellow rose.
Favorite trees: Bradford pear and weeping willow.
Favorite school subject: History. “I like to learn about things that happened. Especially around this area; I had a class and we learned about things that happened in Texas County years and years ago.”
Least favorite school subject: Math.
Pet peeves: “I don’t like it when people have their phone at the dinner table. That really irritates me; I have a rule – I make my people put them down.”
Someone, other than my parents, who I was influenced by: Leon and Beverly James. “They’re my best friend’s parent. Growing up, I spent as much time at their house as mine, and they have the same sort of good Christian values as my parents. I really learned a lot from them.”
A memorable moment from my childhood: “During my freshman year, I went with my church youth group to the Great Smoky Mountains. We had a good time. We actually camped, and that part wasn’t so great, but the rest of it was.”
A surprising fact about me: “I hate clowns. They’re creepy and they really do scare me.”
Just sayin’…
Something that would improve Houston: “Everybody working together. I think that in order for anything to accomplished, everybody is going to have to come together. We’re all vested in the good of Houston and it’s not going to do any good if we’re working against each other. Right now, the perception of the chamber has really turned around and people are working together, and I’m absolutely loving my job.”
Things that many people don’t realize about the Houston Area Chamber of Commerce: “There is a lot of behind the scenes work that people don’t see. Sometimes I’m here until 7 or 8-o-clock at night, and sometimes I work Saturdays and Sundays making sure I have all the finishing touches on all the events we sponsor. But it’s all worth it, and I love doing it.”