Member Spotlight - Marisa Hegyesi
by Marisa Hegyesi
Marisa was born and raised in Houston, Texas. She is a 5th generation Texan and a 3rd generation native Houstonian. Marisa and her husband, Stephen (Steve), moved to Georgia in 2019 to be closer to his two younger sisters.
After obtaining her Bachelor of Science, Legal Studies degree from the University of Houston Clear Lake, Marisa completed her Masters in International Business (MIB) at the University of St. Thomas, Houston.
As far as a profession, Marisa worked for two years with The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston as the Communications Officer - Office of Facilities Planning & Campus Development. While with UTHSCH, she co-authored a Mobility Plan for the campus and was a liaison/coordinator between the University and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for the $100M+ Tropical Storm Allison Recovery. Marisa was also published during this time in several magazines regarding sustainability and recycling.
The remainder of her 20 year career was dedicated to the metals recycling industry. Marisa worked as the Corporate Coordinator for Schnitzer Steel Industries, Inc. (Proler International), one of the nation's largest recyclers of scrap metal, and a leading manufacturer of finished steel products. After Schnitzer, she worked for the Commercial Metals Company, a Fortune 500 steel company that recycles, manufactures, fabricates, and trades steel globally as a Plant Manager.
Marisa’s first job was much more feminine. She was a model for Battlestein’s and Frost Bros. in Houston. Since she was still under age for working, she was “paid” with the outfits she modeled. Her second job was working as a Doctor’s assistant in an emergency room in a lower income neighborhood (prior to all of the medical certifications required today). “That was quite an experience!”
Marisa has a 2018 Lunar Blue GLC300, with Silk Beige/Espresso Brown leather interior. She is happy with her car for now, even though her husband keeps asking if she wants a new one. When the time comes, the next model will be a new Mercedes sedan. “I would definitely want to have the newest safety features.”
As far as free time, Marisa had several articles published in the Vettes of Atlanta magazine. She and Steve have also traveled extensively throughout Europe and the USA. Marisa was an avid sailor while living in Texas. She primarily was the helmswoman, participating in many offshore races (Gulf of Mexico & Galveston Bay). Her last vessel was a 40 foot Beneteau. She and Steve have bare boated throughout the Caribbean, the northern Bahama islands, and the Chesapeake. Marisa also was the navigator and a helmsperson during the completion of half of The Great Loop aboard a Grand Banks motor yacht. She has also completed two trans-Atlantic crossings. Marisa’s other free time interests include gardening (especially orchids), playing games and participating as an active member of MBCA-Peachtree.
Marisa did not have a “favorite” place in the world. “There are so many wonderful places. Each one having their unique flair, flavors, and personality.” Her favorite food, without a doubt, is seafood. Marisa’s favorite authors include Clive Cussler, Robert Ludlum, and Tom Clancy. She loves multiple types and eras of music, but rarely anything past the 1990s. As far as TV shows, she is presently watching Landman (of course, set in Texas), the Lioness, the FBI shows, and the Expedition Unknown. She loves dogs, fish, and other animals, but just tolerates cats.
An interesting fact about Marisa is that she was commissioned by the Governor of Texas as an Admiral in the Texas Navy. Texas Governors in the past have given commissions in the Texas Navy to various people as a means of honoring them for doing a service to Texas.
Having retired several years ago, Marisa started on her bucket list. There are still a few more places on the list to possibly visit - Ireland, Scotland, and Greece, parts of Asia, maybe Antarctica, and a few more west coast national parks.
Marisa wants to be remembered as a happy, giving, loving friend, who listened well to others.
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