Sheridan Mitchell Lorenz
President
G-1 Corporation, an affiliate of Mitchell Historic Properties
Sheridan Mitchell Lorenz, President of G-1 Corporation, is a former vice-president of Mitchell Historic Properties (MHP). During her time as vice-president, she managed several major renovation projects at MHP properties. She initiated the 2005 renovation of the historic Hotel Galvez lobby level, which included restoration of the original Spanish revival style windows. In 2007, Sheridan worked with her niece, Lori Mitchell, to design and build a multi-million dollar, 9,763 square-foot spa in the lower level of the Hotel Galvez. She also carried out renovations to The Tremont Ballroom in the 1890 Davidson Building and the build out of the Davidson Annex on the first floor as well as renovations to the Tremont Suites located in The Tremont House. In addition to architectural renovation of Mitchell Historic Properties, Sheridan restored several historic homes in Galveston’s historic San Jacinto neighborhood.
With the goal of creating a more active harbor area, Sheridan initiated the redevelopment of the first level of the Harbor House and worked again with her niece to design a lively space to accommodate the new Olympia The Grill at Pier 21, which opened in June 2009. The Mitchells are working to transform the Pier 21 area into an entertainment venue complete with live bands, street entertainers, and year-round events that will draw visitors and residents to the harbor.
As president of G-1 Corporation, which was established in 2004, she initiated several new philanthropic projects for the betterment of Galveston. Through the creation of the Mitchell Substance Abuse Reduction Initiative, G-1 Corporation established the Safe Haven at West Point Church, the Music Trade Cottage at Galveston Independent School District, funded the Families and Schools Together (FAST) program at Central Middle School, and assisted community service organizations focused on the safety and nourishment of at risk youth. Current projects of the Mitchell Initiative include creation of a Youth Guardian Corps, participation in the Project Detour Program, and assistance with an after school alliance sponsored by the Boys and Girls Club. The Mitchell Initiative was adopted by Galveston’s Families, Children and Youth Board and its programs are included in the organization’s principle goals. G-1 has also collaborated with the Galveston Housing Authority on the design and development of The Oaks, an affordable and public housing project designed in the Galveston historic vernacular. The involvement with the Housing Authority continues, as G-1 maintains a role in the advisory group assigned with making recommendations for the new public housing developments that will replace those devastated by Hurricane Ike.
In an attempt to focus attention on the importance of Galveston Island’s abundant natural resources, Sheridan brought together top nature enthusiasts in the state to form the Galveston Island Nature Tourism Council. Today the Council acts as an advisory body to city government in decisions related to development in areas adjacent to natural habitats. G-1 created an annual birding festival, FeatherFest, which brings attention to the fact that Galveston Island is located in the migration zone for over 200 species of birds that can be seen at various times throughout the year. Management of that event has been assumed by the Nature Tourism Council and the festival has become a favorite of birding enthusiasts throughout the nation. Sheridan has a vision for downtown Galveston as an exciting, thriving, walkable district with a wide variety of retail shops, restaurants, museums, art galleries, etc. that will draw visitors to the area and create a desirable environment for loft residents in the district’s impressive collection of historic buildings. She was also responsible for the formation of the Downtown Galveston’s Farmers’ Market, which has now become a project of the Historic Downtown Strand Seaport Partnership. Her staff is also responsible for overseeing the advertising, public relations, and creative design efforts for the three MHP hotels in Galveston, as well as promoting business to Galveston’s historic downtown which includes 20 buildings owned by Mitchell Historic Properties.
In 1990, Sheridan initiated and remains actively involved in a major habitat preservation project at Cook’s Branch Conservancy, a 6,000 acre preserve in the East Texas Pineywoods. Her work with threatened and endangered species and restoration of indigenous flora and fauna has earned numerous land steward awards from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and recognition from the Texas Nature Conservancy and several other conservation organizations.
Currently, she is involved with a partnership which includes Texas A&M University and the University of Texas to develop the Giant Magellan Telescope. The GMT, scheduled to begin science operations in 2017 at the Carnegie Observatories in Chile, is among the most important of the next generation of telescopes, and astronomers expect the telescope to reveal more than has ever been understood about the early Universe. Additionally, she is working with Texas A&M University and Michael Graves Architects on the construction of the George P. and Cynthia Woods Mitchell Institute for Fundamental Physics and Astronomy and the George P. Mitchell '40 Physics Building, both in College Station, Texas. Sheridan hosts an annual physics and astronomy retreat at Cook’s Branch Conservancy, bringing renowned physicists and astronomers from around the world to collaborate with Texas A&M University on ground-breaking discoveries in physics and astrophysics.
She has bachelor’s degrees in French and Russian languages from the University of Texas and as a post-graduate she studied Russian Linguistics at the University of California, Berkeley, and architecture, architecture history and environmental geography at the University of Texas.
Sheridan has served on numerous advisory boards over the past 30 years, covering a wide area of interests including: maternal-child health, primary and secondary education, historic preservation, environmental protection, theoretical cosmology, and neurological disorders of aging. She is the daughter of Cynthia and George Mitchell and lives in Austin with her husband, Perry Lorenz, a commercial real estate developer. They have two daughters who work respectively with poverty alleviation and education reform.