Business Briefs If you have a business person, event or initiative to spotlight in Business Briefs, e-mail betsy@theleadernews.com
The People
Massage Heights Houston named Kaye Webster to the position of Director of Therapist Development for the Greater Houston area. Webster has more than 11 years of experience in the Kaye Webster massage industry. “I’m excited to step into the role of Director of Therapist Development,” said Webster. “I feel this role will offer a chance to combine my passion for massage therapy and my dedication to elevating massage therapists through continued professional education and support.” Webster is committed to creating an upscale spa experience and offering therapists continuing education while working with local colleges in education and recruiting.
Page 1B • The Leader • November 2, 2013 • www.theleadernews.com
Heights resident joins Center for Houston’s Future Center for Houston’s Future is proud to announce that Heights resident John Wilburn, a veteran public affairs journalist and editor, has joined the Center as Director of Strategic Initiatives. Wilburn arrives at a time of programmatic growth as the Center’s Community Indicator Reports transition into an online platform, and My Degree Counts, a region-wide initiative led by the Center to increase two- and four-year college graduation rates, broadens its reach into more communities. “John’s journalism background, combined with his technology experience at Belo Interactive and Microsoft, makes him uniquely qualified to spearhead and
oversee our research as we move it online,” Center president and CEO Catherine Clark Mosbacher said. The Center’s annual Community Indicator Reports produce research on key issues like the environment, health and cultural vitality of the eight-county Houston region, giving decision makers the tools needed to begin the work of improvement. Wilburn spent a decade at the Houston Chronicle, serving five years as managing editor and four years as opinion editor. Before that, he piloted newspapers and magazines in all three of Texas’ big cities: as managing editor of Houston City Magazine, creator and editor of Viva (Sunday
magazine of the San Antonio Light), managing editor of Dallas Life (Sunday magazine of The Dallas Morning News) and founding editor of the Houston Press. Wilburn spent four years as a reporter and producer for Talking With David Frost, the PBS television interview program that featured such diverse personalities as Ross Perot, Garth Brooks, George Bush, Carlos Salinas, Luciano Pavarotti, and Bill Gates. Wilburn holds a bachelor’s degree in government from the College of William & Mary and a master’s in history from George Mason University, where he serves on the Dean’s Advisory Board of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences.
John Wilburn
Business Planning
The Events
Nov. 7, 2013
The Greater Inwood Partnership Annual Membership Meeting will be held 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 7 at the White Oak Conference Center, 7603 Antoine Drive. Dr. Wanda Bamberg, AISD Superintendent, and Jason Bernal, YES Prep President, will update attendees on neighborhood schools. There will also be a variety of exhibitor booths. GIP members will elect directors for the open 2014 positions on the Greater Inwood Partnership Board. The Oak Forest Branch of Resource One Credit Union will be on hand for free paper shredding from 5-8 p.m.
Nov. 14, 2013
The next The Greater Heights Chamber of Commerce Breakfast is 6:45 a.m. Nov. 14 at Brookhollow Sheraton, 3000 N Loop W Fwy.
The Spotlight
The Partner For Success Program of The Greater Heights Chamber of Commerce Education Committee is off to a great start. Field Elementary, Garden Oaks Elementary, The New School in the Heights, St. Rose of Lima, Black Middle School and Waltrip High School are some of the participating schools thus far. The Partner for Success program not only includes support for schools but also gives businesses marketing opportunities. During each monthly Chamber Breakfast meeting, those businesses who donate $20 to help fund teacher programs and scholarships for student success will be eligible for a special drawing. The chosen business at the Nov. 14 meeting will receive a complementary advertisement in The Leader (valued at $220). Donations are tax-deductible. Glenda Clerc with Clerc Computing has additional details about the program.
Central City Air owner Suzanne Debien and Vice President Brian Dietzmann review plans for installing a system.
(left to right) NNMD President Wayne Norden; RaceWay Operator Dharmendra “DJ” Shah; RaceWay Manager Diamond Vinson. • RaceWay and RaceTrac were recognized by the Near Northwest Management District as a ‘Change Champion’ for their Binge store development. The RaceWay location, at 6737 W. Tidwell, features a convenience store and gasoline sales and recently extended its operations to 24 hours a day. “This is a great amenity for our community, and an example of the Near Northwest’s growing economic strength,” said District President Wayne Norden. “We are very excited to receive this recognition,” said RaceWay Regional Manager James Venable. “The Bingle RaceWay is a flagship location that is in the top 5% based on gallons of gas pumped.”‘Change Champions’ are commercial property owners or businesses that are fueling the transformation of the Near Northwest Area through improvement to their property. The award is given quarterly. • Staples Foundation, the private charitable arm of Staples, Inc., has awarded $1,000 to Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council. The grants are part of a philanthropic initiative created by Staples Foundation which allows Staples associates around the world to direct funding to non-profit organizations that are focused on education or job skills. The program, called 2 Million and Change, awards funds to organizations around the world. In 2012, associates globally directed more than $2.1 million of Staples Foundation grants to 470 non-profit organizations. “Staples Foundation is committed to making a positive impact in the communities where our associates live and work,” said Katy Dobbs, director of global community and giving for Staples, Inc. “Through our program, we are pleased to support our associates and the local non-profit organizations that matter to them most.”
Keeping up with growth to bring more growth By Cynthia Lescalleet for The Leader News Sometimes the growing pains of running a small business come from too much demand for its services and not enough infrastructure in place, said Suzanne Debien, president and owner of Central City Air, founded in 1986 by her late husband, David Debien. She has run the company’s business operations since 1997, following a successful real estate career. “Plan for your growth before you grow,” is among the advice Debien now shares with other small business owners. Forethought is a valuable lesson the Garden Oaks resident learned both at work and while participating in the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses management program; it’s offered -- at no cost -- through partner Houston Community College. Qualified participants receive a practical business education, access to capital and business support services. Like many who have completed the program, Debien said its most powerful management exercise was the line-by-line review process of her business plan. She mapped her company’s goals as well as steps to take along the way. Meanwhile, her colleagues in the program offered their differing, often valuable perspectives on common small business challenges. “We all wanted each other to succeed,” she said. The management modules she found most relevant
to her business addressed how to hire (and fire) employees, the importance of keeping focused, and accounting efficiencies. Since completing her session in the spring of 2012, Debien’s biggest challenge has been not to implement everything at once, she said, calling herself a bit of a workaholic: “I love the business of business,” she said.
GROWTH AND ITS AFTERMATH
Debien managed the evolving company as her late husband (he died in 2006) built the technical side. His expertise on well-engineered, properly installed and correctly serviced residential air conditioning and heating systems was much sought around the country. He taught industry classes and also dispensed advice in articles and on home improvement radio shows. That go-to guru status plus local visibility helped drive the Debiens’ family business from $1 million in revenue in 1997 to a peak of $5 million in 2003, she recalls. “It was too fast. Twenty-five percent to 35 percent growth a year was too much to sustain,” she said. New business and service calls could not be smoothly accommodated, even with peak employment of 52 staff and technicians. Caring for her husband’s declining health as business boomed further distracted Debien from day-today operations, an oversight she said left the business vulnerable. “No matter what it is that takes your focus off the company growth plan, when you are distracted the
������������������������������ Neighborhood IceHouse
�������������� ������������
Meet your neighbors, book your party! “Make It Yours” 3542 Oak Forest 713-682-6900
������������������������
businesses will suffer,” she said. In her case, revenue leveled out at $2.5 million for about six years. By the spring of 2012, she was ready to regroup, revisit the business plan she’d initially brought to the company 15 years before and reboot the business. The small business program’s three-month session of evening classes forced her to “slow down, sit down and go through the process from start to finish” she said.
CLEANING HOUSE
Her overhaul plan started with an office staff shakeup. Restructuring cleared out workers who weren’t “in it” or able to pass that “heart” on to the customers, she said. “We’re turning the team around and getting the right people.” Training and expectations are also more defined now for the 22 employees and any future hires. Being in a service business, she said, “It’s not just about ability. It’s not just about having a hammer but who’s swinging it.” The company also updated its brand, logo, website and marketing materials, adding a new tagline that summarizes the business mission: “Cool Crisp Air.” Applications to the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program are due the 15th of every month. The next session runs Jan. 29 to May 1, 2014. For information, visit http://sites.hccs.edu/10ksb/.
Autumn Bazaar
�����������������������������������
���������� ����������������������� ������������
������������ ����� �� ������������������ � ������ ������������ �����������������������������