Influence Magazine July/August 2017 by CDFCO

SAN ANTONIO’S

JULY/AUGUST 2017

CAPTURING THE SPIRIT OF BUSINESS, LEADERSHIP & INNOVATION

Model Non-Profits

What’s Cookin? + The Grill Featuring Frank restaurant & Chef David Bully

THE CHAMPION CITY WITH A CHAMPION MAYOR “Every success in my life has come from discipline and preparation ...” WWW.INFLUENCESA.COM

Exclusive: Renaissance Leader Santikos CEO - David Holmes Wealth Management Plus SA’s Financial Gurus Small Business Resource Guide

Fit Pro How To Sneak Exercise in at Work

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July/August 2017

INSIDE COVER

THE CHAMPIONSHIP CITY WITH A CHAMPION MAYOR

WHAT'S TRENDING What's Trending With Jessie – Visual Communication

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Economic Maestro: Dr. Steve Nivin

LOCAL/FEDERAL GOVERNMENT San Antonio Local Elections: Rally for Runoffs

WEALTH MANAGEMENT Stacking the Deck

MOVIN' & SHAKIN' Stephanie Yzaguirre

BOOKS Behind the Longest Serving Airman in the Air Force

ALAMO REAL ESTATE Pryme Homes

EDUCATION Profiles of Outstanding Educators

POLITICS Education, the Government, and You 20

HEALTH CHECK Dr. Daniel J. Murray, DC: Educating the Community

CHILD INNOVATORS Meet Isabella Jimenez

ENTREPRENEURS 2017 Blast From the Past Watches

ANATOMY OF AN ENTREPRENEUR Anatomy of an Entrepreneur – Novothelium

SWAGGER

WHAT'S COOKIN'? What's Cookin'? Frank!

SUPER LAWYERS

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INSIDE July/August 2017

FINANCIAL GURUS San Antonio's Financial Gurus

WE DON'T TALK ABOUT I Don't Want to Talk About It

PHILANTHROPY Building Wealth from the Ground Up

THE ALBATROSS Grab a Golf Cart!

THE GRILL Chef Bully David Page

COCKTAILS & CIGARS Hawk's Shadow Estate Winery & Vineyard

YOUR IMAGE YOUR BRAND Whatever Happened to the Classic Dressed Gentleman?

RENAISSANCE LEADER It's Special ... David Holmes â&#x20AC;&#x201C; CEO of Santikos

FUTURE Bronson Lerma New Frost Bank Tower Influencing San Antonio Skyline

50 52

FIT PRO How to Sneak in Exercise at Work

YOU GOT GAME "Manu" Chants the Crowd

OUR MUSIC Texas Pink Floyd Seizing San Antonio

7 MODEL NONPROFITS

WHAT'S ON YOUR NIGHTSTAND? Here Are the Customers' Yachts

EDITORIAL PROFILE Legal Shield, Profile Michael Henry

SMALL BUSINESS GUIDE Strategic Planning The Cardinal Sins of Outsourcing Small Business Resoure Guide

62 63 64

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MAGAZINE CAPTURING THE SPIRIT OF BUSINESS, LEADERSHIP & INNOVATION

JULY/AUGUST 2017 EDITION

LIFELONG EDUCATOR CALLS IT A CAREER P. 19

PUBLISHER

Cedric D. Fisher

WEALTH MANAGEMENT

MEET SAN ANTONIO’S

P. 48

LEAVING A LOVING LEGACY

WOMEN OF POWER

P. 28

COPY EDITOR

Lillie Ammann

THE ABSENTEE EXECUTIVE P. 17

TRANSCRIBER

Nancy Varelas

ART DIRECTOR

Elisa Giordano

WEB DEVELOPER/DESIGNER

Dave Lohr

P. 36

WHAT’S COOKIN’ Fratello’s Italian Market & Deli P. 10

VALERO TEXAS OPEN

CELEBRATING 95TH EDITION OF PGA TOUR GOLF TOURNAMENT P. 50

PLUS THE FUTURE STARTS HERE ORIGINIAL SAN ANTONIO INNOVATIONS YOU MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT

FASHION CONSULTANTS

Jessie Moore, Gerald Simmons

CONTRIBURING WRITERS

Romy Antoine, Jose Arrrendondo, Ian Bertini, Bobby Blount, Joseph Cheatham, Carmen Gauna, Steve Glenn, Audrey Hasslocher, Larry A. Hobbs, Mario Mares, Jessie Moore, Delmi Nieto, Jason P. Olivarri, James Presley Edward Robe, Alexandra Velasquez PHOTOGRAPHY

Larry Crawford, Ora Garza, Aaron Cruz ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

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information@influencesa.com • www.influencesa.com 300 E. Ramsey, Ste. 305, San Antonio, TX 78216 Facebook: www.facebook.com/InfluenceSanAntonio Linkedin: San Antonio's INFLUENCE Magazine Twitter: @read_influence Copyright: ©2017. San Antonio's INFLUENCE Magazine is published by Cedric D. Fisher & Company. The entire document of San Antonio's INFLUENCE is copyrighted 2017. No portion may be reproduced in whole or in part by any means, including electronic retrieval systems, without the express written permission of the publisher. Opinions expressed in this magazine are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of ownership or management. Editorial or advertising does not constitute advice but is considered informative. San Antonio's INFLUENCE magazine is locally operated. Occasionally we make our subscriber list available to carefully screened companies that offer products and services that we believe would interest our readers. If you do not want to receive these offers, please advise us to Cedric D. Fisher & Company, Attn: Opt out, 300 E. Ramsey, Ste. 305, San Antonio, TX 78216. Please include your exact name and address as it appears on your subscriber label.

MAGAZINE

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FROM THE PUBLISHER

SERVANT LEADERSHIP Leadership isn’t about being at

on the legacy left by his former

the top of the food chain, expect-

boss and mentor, the late John

ing your subordinates to worship

L. Santikos to expand their reach

and serve you, it is in fact, just the

and impact in the overall San

opposite. Being at the top, often

Antonio Community. And meet

means you’re the highest level

two entrepreneur/innovators of

“servant” for all your constituen-

a product for post-breast cancer

cies and publics – including those

surgery, Bianca Cerqueira and

who report to you. At times, a

Lauren Cornell, who lead a team

leader’s presence goes unnoticed

of professionals addressing a great

until something goes undone.

need for women. We also applaud

Most humble leaders are quick to

the longest serving Airman in U.S.

give credit for their success to a

Air Force History Major General

team, and slow to accept applause

Alfred K. Flowers, in his new book

themselves.

“Reflections of a Servant Leader.”

This edition of SA’s INFLUENCE

LEADERSHIP OFTEN GOES UNNOTICED UNTIL SOMETHING GOES UNDONE.

Additionally, meet several top

features a myriad of professionals

administrators/teachers, financial

who personify this every day. The

consultants/advisors, and de-

trailblazers, innovators, deci-

serving attorneys. And three wine

sion-makers and/or influencers,

masters from the Hill Country. I’d

directors, ballers, shot-callers,

also like to introduce you to some

who take their level of authority

of our distinguished writers on our

to mean I’m the model of example

Contributors page. That’s a small

of how to operate an organization

group of them, more introduc-

and lead a team in service for an

tions to come in future editions. A

ultimate professional mission.

big thanks to each writer/editor/

Mayor Ron Nirenberg, our cover story exudes this principal. With a

transcriber. So, for now, head back to your

strong career in local politics, Ron

easy chair and enjoy this July/

could have remained a Councilman

August issue for both its articles

and likely got reelected. Realizing

and advertisers. Let me know your

he wanted to reach higher and

feedback at cedric@influencesa.

change some non-progressive

com. We appreciate your contin-

ways, coupled with a servant’s spir-

ued support.

it, he ultimately landed at the helm as our city’s new mayor. Also meet David Holmes of Santikos Theaters who’s carrying

6 | JULY/AUGUST 2017 | influencesa.com

Stay encouraged,

CONTRIBUTORS

DELMI NIETO

ROMY ANTOINE

As a former Longhorn and Ranger, Delmi enjoys helping people, writing, making music, and all sorts of sports. Whether it's singing praises to God in her church parish, catching her son's curve ball, or jazz dancing with her daughters, you can be sure to find her with her glass always half full, remaining a hopeless romantic until the day she dies.

The CEO of One Stop Wellness, Romy is a sought-after fitness expert, corporate wellness specialist, and nutritionist who's worked with clients on five continents. Using his degree in biology and exercise science, he fuses fitness with science to make it fun, educational, and empowering so that everyone can be their best selves.

CARMEN GAUNA

AUDREY HASSLOCHER

Carmen holds a master of arts in counseling and guidance from Texas A&M University–San Antonio. Currently, she provides private chef services while maintaining her passion for holistic health through the healing properties of food. She advocates as a social health entrepreneur to promote culinary art as a therapeutic approach for everyday healing through her nonprofit Chefluential.

A San Antonio native and free-spirited traveler, Audrey is a veteran of the US Coast Guard and a nonprofit professional. She commits herself to serving others while ceaselessly continuing her education.

JOSE ARREDONDO

Jose is a communications senior at Texas A&M University–San Antonio. He's written, photographed, and performed on camera for numerous outlets: The Ranger, La Prensa, The Mesquite, Spectrum News, and several more. Arredondo has interviewed many high-profile individuals, including Emmitt Smith, Tony Parker, Kawhi Leonard, Shea Serrano, and Gregg Popovich.

IAN BERTINI

Ian is dedicated to working closely with families, businesses, and teachers to formulate effective financial strategies that create independence. He specializes in wealth preservation with a focus on the tax treatment of current and future income.

Other great contributors to be introduced in a future issue include Bobby Blount, Joseph Cheatham, Steve Glenn, Larry Hobbs, William Joyner, Mario Mares, Jason Olivarri, James Presley, Edward Roble, and Alexandra Velasquez.

influencesa.com | JULY/AUGUST 2017 | 7

WHAT’S TRENDING

WHAT’S TRENDING WITH JESSIE – VISUAL COMMUNICATION BY JESSIE MOORE

ommunication. It is used to be simple. The only form of communication was face-to-face human interaction. Fast forward thousands of years later, and we’re now communicating through a little device called a cell phone. Who would’ve thought that we as a human being could communicate with the whole world through one little device. You ask, “How?” Well, my friend, I think you know the answer. Social media. Now, let’s dive into this very complex, forever-transforming thing called social media, which has been a game changer in the art of communication. One message, one post, one tweet, one snap can reach an unlimited number of people. Crazy. All with one like, one share, one retweet, one double-tap, one swipe. Absurd. Platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat have given their users new tools to visually communicate. With this whole new world of visual communication, we are now able to visually market through one picture. The trend has gone from blogs that were 1,000 words long, to shorter status updates on Facebook, to Twitter with 140 characters, and we’re now at single photos. “A picture is worth a thousand words.” Isn’t that the saying? A study done by Stanford University showed that the human brain has something called visual perception. That’s when the brain interprets and gives meaning to its surroundings based on past experiences. There’s a method to selecting the right visual content, such as the right color palette that speaks to the audience and pictures that will entertain them. We need to keep this in mind when building our visual marketing campaigns.

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Faces – Human faces connect and draw a reader in. Screenshots – This will demonstrate that you are going to help the reader accomplish something. Foreground – Blurry backgrounds always do well with catching someone’s eye. Another evolution in this new realm of visual communication is the innovative camera tools that social media platforms are giving us. Each platform is trying to beat the others in the cool department by developing camera effects to enhance user engagement. In a post on Facebook, CEO Mark Zuckerberg said, “We're making the camera the first augmented reality platform.” I guess that earns them some points in the cool department. But, there’s some heavy competition. In the first quarter of 2017, Snapchat reported that there were three billion Snaps created daily. Whoa, that’s a lot of Snaps. Instagram, now a Facebook-owned app, is rolling out new camera tools to diminish that three billion by including these new features:

Editing Tools – Include tools such as a magic eraser, rewind, hands-free, and Instagram’s Boomerang. Hashtag Stickers – We can add custom hashtag stickers that are clickable allowing us to explore related posts. Selfie Sticker and Pinning – Take that selfie and turn it into a sticker. And, it’s get better; there is an option to pin a sticker on any desirable spot in a video. The possibilities for camera features seem endless. It’s almost every day we log on and something has been added. As communication expands, we must keep evolving to keep up and engage with our audience. Visual communication is key, because search engines are ranking content based on social conversations and sharing. Don’t be afraid to use visual content when expanding your brand. Try adding some visuals to your next campaign or utilizing the new camera features on Instagram, Snapchat, or Facebook. Until next time, that’s What’s Trending!

Face Filters – Which allow us to add filters on our already beautiful selfies.

Your Friend, Jessie

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

ECONOMIC MAESTRO: DR. STEVE NIVIN BY JOSEPH CHEATHAM

I recently spoke with economic maestro Dr. Steve Nivin. Steve grew up in North Texas, where he earned his Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Texas at Dallas. Soon he went to work for Blue Cross-Blue Shield of Texas. A new position at USAA brought Dr. Nivin to San Antonio in 1998, and after USAA, he worked for the City of San Antonio for almost seven years. He’s been a professor of economics at St. Mary’s University since 2008. Dr. Nivin’s research in economic development led to his very influential status as economist for local businesses, government agencies, and more in twenty-first century San Antonio. He is:

of liberal arts, for me, falls on the side of: It’s very important. I think it would be very detrimental to our economy if we pushed it aside. This might sound weird coming from a college professor, because some may think I should be saying “Everyone should go to college.” But that’s not true. It’s not for everybody. That’s not a statement on their intellect or anything else. Some people don’t want to attend college for four or five years, and it might make perfect sense for them to go to a community college and get a two-year degree, or an apprenticeship, or something like that. But that does not mean you should stop learning. Whatever it may be, we are all in a lifelong pursuit of learning.

• Director of the SABER Institute • Chief economist for the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce • Director of St. Mary’s Neighborhood Revitalization Project • Managing member and chief economist of Steven R. Nivin, Ph.D., LLC

to give our students the perspective of heterodox theories: Marx, Austrian economics, feminist economics, complexity economics—one that I have done some research in. I really love the sort of intellectual charge I get from the students. The best way to learn something is to teach it.

INFLUENCE: What steered you toward economics originally? Steve: It just sort of came to me. The seed, I guess, was that class in high school. It intrigued me. I actually grew up wanting to be a marine biologist—the next Jacques Cousteau. I started out in college as a biology major, then I figured out that wasn’t going to work. So, I went over and started taking classes in the economics department of Austin College. It was interesting, so I stuck with it.

INFLUENCE: Do you teach anywhere else? Steve: I teach a class at The Southwest School of Art. I really enjoy it, because they’re all art students. One of my main interests is the relationship between arts and culture and economic development. Artists just see the world in a different way that I find fascinating. I will get questions from those students that I have never heard in sixteen years of teaching. I’m not saying we shouldn’t have a focus on STEM [Science, Technology, Engineering & Math], but there is this notion of STEAM where you add the arts in there that I think is very important.

INFLUENCE: Tell me a little bit about econ at St. Mary’s University. Steve: Our department is a little more heterodox than your standard economics department, in the sense that we teach all the mainstream stuff. But we also find it valuable

INFLUENCE: Who do you think is responsible for explaining the value of arts and humanities to young students? Steve: This whole debate about the value

INFLUENCE: Economics seems to bring in a lot of factors. Steve: Yeah. You can apply economics to pretty much anything. And economists have. Read FREAKONOMICS or Gary Becker for some cases of applying economics to things you would never think of, like dating. But it is one perspective. I think sometimes it gets treated as the perspective. I try to stress the point with my students: Economics provides a valuable way to look at an issue, but keep in mind—it’s only one perspective. There are a host of other ways to look at an issue. That’s one of the big problems with economics. We’re so focused on our theories as a field and don’t pay attention to what other social sciences are saying. INFLUENCE: What’s your outlook for San Antonio in ten to twenty years? Steve: It’s hard to look at any economy ten to twenty years out, but I see no reason why San Antonio won’t keep growing. We have a lot going for us. It helps that we are in a vibrant region of the country as well. I

influencesa.com | JULY/AUGUST 2017 | 9

LOCAL/FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

SAN ANTONIO LOCAL ELECTIONS RALLY FOR RUNOFFS BY JAMES PRESLEY

In San Antonio, the local elections took place on May 6. All local positions are considered non-partisan, meaning voters do not technically vote for a Republican, Democrat, Libertarian, or other political party. However, the elections were far from over on May 6. Of the eleven top local positions, seven had to go to a runoff election, which was held on June 10. Rebecca J. Viagran of District 3, Rey Saldaña of District 4, and Shirley Gonzales of District 5 all retained their City Council seats. Viagran raised an astounding $115,185.00 for her campaign, however, she spent only $74,279.02. Alan E. Warrick II, District 2, spent the most—$78,668.29— on his campaign, overspending his raised budget by $2,727.52, far exceeding the relatively small budgets of his opponents. The lone outsider success story came from District 7. Ana Sandoval defeated incumbent Councilman Cris Medina with 50.79% of the vote. Sandoval was outspent by Medina by a large margin, but Medina’s past scandals, including an FBI investigation, must have stuck in the minds of voters. Sandoval ran a great campaign to include a website, many seemingly professionally made videos, rallies, and speeches. Her website laid out campaign promises, such as improving roads and safety standards and making sure local government remains accountable and transparent.

WITH SOME NEW LEADERSHIP IN THE CITY, IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW SAN ANTONIO UNFOLDS AS THE CITY CONTINUES TO GROW. BUT THE FUTURE LOOKS BRIGHT FOR SAN ANTONIO.

Runoff Elections Runoff elections were held on June 10. A runoff election takes place whenever no candidate for a single position receives 50% or more of the votes. The positions that were up to vote for in the runoff election included Mayor, District 1, District 2, District 6, District 8, District 9, and District 10. In the election for mayor on May 6, Mayor Ivy Taylor achieved only 42% of the vote. Her main opponent was Ron Nirenberg, the former city councilman for District 8. Nirenberg was able to take 37% of the vote, and 21% went to other candidates. The amount of money spent on the campaigns wasn’t a prediction of who would come up on

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top. Taylor boasted campaign contributions of $725,588.54 to Nirenberg’s $370,758.07. In the end, Ron Nirenberg won the election with 55% of the vote and is now San Antonio’s new mayor. It’s still unclear as to what Ivy Taylor will do next. The seat for District 1 was retained by Councilman Roberto Treviño, who received 52% of the vote. He faced Michael Montaño in the runoff election. Councilman Alan E. Warrick II for District 2 came up short with 44% of the vote. William Shaw III, however, received 56% of the vote. Warrick tells us he will now focus more time on his nonprofit and pursue other business ventures. Councilman Ray Lopez of District 6 was term limited and could not seek re-election. Eight candidates ran for the seat, with Greg Brockhouse and Melissa Cabello Havrda receiving the most votes. Brockhouse had the highest percentage of votes with 52%, winning the District 6 runoff. Incumbent District 8 Councilman Ron Nirenberg did not seek re-election since he ran for mayor. District 8 was a race between Cynthia Brehm and Manuel Pelaez-Prada. Brehm was outspent $50,000 by her opponent Pelaez, who came out on top with 55% of the votes. Incumbent District 9 Councilman Joe Krier did not seek re-election to his council seat. Ten candidates ran for the position, with Marco Barros and John Courage making the runoff. Barros raised an impressive $85,593.00 for his campaign, about $50,000 more than Courage, and took it home with 53% of the vote. Incumbent District 10 Councilman Mike Gallagher did not seek re-election to his council seat. As with District 9, ten candidates ran for the District 10 seat. Ezra Johnson and Clayton Perry were in the race for runoff. Johnson received 47% to Perry’s 53%, most likely disheartening for Johnson, since he outspent Perry by $20,000. With some new leadership in the city, it will be interesting to see how San Antonio unfolds as the city continues to grow. But, the future looks bright for San Antonio. I

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WEALTH MANAGEMENT

STACKING THE DECK BY IAN BERTINI

n our last issue, I discussed your financial house and the importance of the foundation to it. The purpose of the foundation is to secure and insure the most powerful wealth building tool you and your family have—your income! Now I would like to delve in and take a closer look at what makes up the foundation and why it can have such a dramatic impact on the rest of your financial house. Whether you are talking about pier and beam, crawlspace, slab, or in this case a financial foundation, what rests above is a house of cards if the foundation is not constructed properly. The foundation, in my opinion, is made up of four distinct sections: health insurance, disability insurance (DI), long term care insurance (LTCi), and life insurance. Let’s break it down: According to the most recent US Census Bureau published in September 2016, 90.9% of Americans have some sort of health insurance coverage. This took into consideration employer sponsored plans, typically falling into a group category, non-group plans, Medicaid, Medicare, other public offerings, and uninsured people, roughly 1.1% of the population. Whether you agree with its current state or not, we seem to understand that without health insurance, we would be spending a lot more of our valuable income on medical costs. According to the 2017 Insurance Barometer Study conducted by Life Happens and LIMRA, 65% of Americans agree that most people need disability insurance, but only 20% have it. The 2013 US Social Security Administration Fact Sheet found that over 25% of twentyyear-olds will become disabled before they retire. Becoming disabled simply means that you suffered an injury or illness that no longer allows you to perform your regular job. This can be temporary or

JAKUB JIRSAK/BIGSTOCK.COM

permanent. For example: a mail carrier is in an accident and is unable to drive for a designated period. This doesn’t mean she can no longer work; it simply means she cannot perform her regular job. This mail carrier may be able to perform other duties, which could allow her to change positions or jobs and still qualify for disability insurance. This should fill the gap of any missing income, allowing her and her family to continue with some level of normalcy. Many employers offer both short- and long-term disability. Take advantage of this. You don’t want to rely primarily on Social Security disability. If we look again at the 2017 Barometer Study, we find that the same group says 69% of people need LTCi but only 14% have long term care insurance. LTCi can have an even more dramatic impact because of when these events occur. If you are unable to perform two of these six activities of daily living for a long period of time, you would qualify to use LTCi coverage. The activities are 1) bathing, 2) dressing, 3) transferring, 4) toileting, 5) continence, and 6) eating. When planned for properly, long term care events don’t have to impact your retirement income. The funds come from your LTCi policy or even funds simply earmarked for a long term care event. If we turn our attention to the 2017 Insurance Barometer Study one last time, about 60% of Americans own some form of life insurance, which means that roughly 40% have no life insurance. Additionally, of the nearly 60% that are insured, 20% feel that they are underinsured. If, what I like to call an “income impactor” were to pass away, the family left behind would quickly face financial hardship. Think about Moses I talked about in the last issue. Thanks to the financial foundation he and Janie built, he was left with a loving legacy after she passed away. If some piece of your financial foundation is faulty, when a major storm blows through your life, what part of your financial house will start the implosion? If you become disabled, will you raid your 401(k) or other retirement accounts? If one of those income impactors passes away, are the college funds safe? If you become ill, will you turn to your emergency fund as your saving grace? When we think of a custom home, we think expensive, and it may be, but not as expensive as a house that has a faulty foundation or leaky roof and can’t weather the storm. There are plenty of custom home builders; find one who will take the time to help you figure out the best place to start in protecting your financial house and your family’s future wealth. I

THE FOUNDATION, IN MY OPINION, IS MADE UP OF FOUR DISTINCT SECTIONS: HEALTH INSURANCE, DISABILITY INSURANCE (DI), LONG TERM CARE INSURANCE (LTCI), AND LIFE INSURANCE.

influencesa.com | JULY/AUGUST 2017 | 11

MOVIN’ & SHAKIN’

STEPHANIE YZAGUIRRE over business objectives. I’ll attend marketing community events and wear a Pizza Patrón t-shirt and give out swag. I oversee our creative, digital, and media agencies, so many times I’ll jump on an impromptu call with them to think through timelines. The thing I love most about marketing is that every day is different. I’ll have a list of objectives that need to be met weekly. But oftentimes I’ll get pulled into other meetings, and my day won’t go exactly as planned. My team and I have to be very flexible and agile every day at work to make sure we meet all our objectives, while also fulfilling any other requests that come in. Each day is fun and rewarding.

Tell us about yourself. I am in my thirties and am happily married. We have an adorable dog named Roxy. I was born here in San Antonio and grew up in the city’s Southside. I am Chief Marketing Officer for Pizza Patrón. What’s your educational background? I attended public and private schools growing up. I graduated from Antonian College Preparatory High School and then went on to St. Mary’s University. I have my bachelor’s degree in marketing from St. Mary’s (minor in English communications and general business) and a master’s degree in advertising from The University of Texas at Austin (minor in radio, television and film). With the support and sacrifices of my parents and sister, I had the opportunity to be the first person in my family to attend college. Describe your current job—a day in the life. Each day is different. Many days I attend meetings, in person or by conference calls. I travel to different markets to visit our stores and meet with franchisees. Our marketing department brainstorms to continuously develop strategic campaigns. I meet with the CEO and president of the company to go

What are some of your extracurricular activities? When/how did you get started? A lot of my extracurricular activities involve marketing. I’m a member of the San Antonio chapters of the American Marketing Association (AMA), Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), and American Advertising Federation (AdFed). I became a member in 2015 of all these organizations as a way to better connect with colleagues in my field. I also plan to join the alumni associations for St. Mary’s and The University of Texas at Austin to meet professionals in all types of industries. In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with family and friends, attending concerts, and dancing. What are your goals for 2017? My goal is for Pizza Patrón’s brand awareness to increase exponentially in all our current markets. In addition, I have a goal of rebuilding the company’s current website, launching system-wide online ordering, and increasing our social media presence in all mediums. Personally, I have a goal of learning how to salsa dance. I love dancing but have never learned this style. It looks like so much fun!

12 | JULY/AUGUST 2017 | influencesa.com

Who do you consider your mentor or who you aspire to emulate? Why? I look up to Seth Godin. He is a renowned marketer who understands the important role of marketing within a business. He encourages creativity and thinking differently. I’m obsessed with his Purple Cow concept. What has been your greatest accomplishment? My greatest professional accomplishment was winning Marketer of the Year in 2016 for the San Antonio chapter of the American Marketing Association. Campaigns I’ve created or have been a part of have won awards from the PRSA and Advertising Federation, but my Marketer of the Year award is near and dear to my heart for several reasons: 1) I was nominated by and voted for by marketing peers. 2) My parents, sister, and husband were all in attendance at the ceremony to see me accept my award. 3) I was able to thank my family in a public forum for all their support and dedication in helping me along my educational and professional journey. 4) It showed that my family’s sacrifices growing up were worth it. 5) I hope to motivate other young Latinas to believe that they can accomplish anything they put their heart and mind to. If this Latina from the Southside of San Antonio was able to win an award, they can achieve their dreams, too. What’s next for your career? I want to see Pizza Patrón grow as a brand is the US and expand internationally. I want to oversee global marketing for the Pizza Patrón brand. What’s on your nightstand? What book are you currently reading? Reality in Advertising. It gives great information on timeless branding insights that were originated on Madison Avenue during the Mad Men era of advertising. I

BOOKS

REFLECTIONS OF THE LONGEST SERVANT LEADER BY JESSIE MOORE

n January 1, 2012, after forty-six years and five months of service, Major General Alfred K. Flowers retired from the United States Air Force, making him the longest-serving airman in Air Force history, the longest-serving African American in defense history, and the longest-serving continuous active duty member in the history of the United States Department of Defense. Wow! Flowers has now written a book entitled

Reflections of a Servant Leader: My Journey as the Longest Serving Airman in U.S. Air Force History. Lonnie H. Blizzard, EdD, President of Lenoir Community College (retired), said this after reading the book: “Through perseverance, determination, hard work, and trust in God, an African American Air Force recruit raised on a tobacco farm overcame seemingly insurmountable obstacles to rise to the rank of Major General. Reflections of a Servant Leader, the story of Major General Alfred K. Flowers, is a must-read for anyone interested in a unique success story of a true American patriot!” Lieutenant General (Retired) John Hopper, CEO, Air Force Aid Society, said this: “Reflections of a Servant Leader is a refreshing view of the tenacity, focus, and compassion required to live a life dedicated to leadership and service. No matter where you are in life’s journey, if you have ever asked yourself the question, ‘How will I serve America?’ the dramatic example of Major General Alfred K. Flowers will be the benchmark to inspire you!” Following high school graduation, he enlisted in the United States Air Force at the age

of seventeen and completed his basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio. In 1978, after thirteen years of enlisted service, he attended Officer Training School, where he was a distinguished graduate, and commissioned a second lieutenant. In 2009, he was appointed as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Budget in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force, where he was responsible for $170 billion of Air Force funds. His military recognitions are impressive, including two Distinguished Service Medals, the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, and seventeen

REFLECTIONS OF A SERVANT LEADER IS A REFRESHING VIEW OF THE TENACITY, FOCUS, AND COMPASSION REQUIRED TO LIVE A LIFE DEDICATED TO LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE. other decorations. Flowers served on the board of directors for the Army and Air Force Exchange Service, the Air Force Aid Society, and the Air Force Services Agency. He is currently serving on five boards as a director. Major General (R) Flowers was inducted into the Air Education and Training Command Order of The Sword on April 6, 2012, making him the 224th Air Force inductee since 1967. He is married to Ida M. Flowers, and they have one son, Colonel Alfred K. Flowers, Jr. He is the Chief Operations Officer for a San Antonio minority-owned business. I

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ALAMO REAL ESTATE

PRYME HOMES BY JESSIE MOORE

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father and loving husband, this thirty-year-old San Antonio transplant is helping people learn a new innovative way to invest in real estate. Since high school, he has always been involved in the housing industry, helping his brother run the family business of remodeling homes. Meet Jonatan Barbera, Cofounder and CEO of Pryme Homes. Barbera told us, “Pryme Homes is innovating the way people invest in real estate by offering everyday Americans a chance to actually build true passive wealth. We all know how profitable investing in real estate is, but until now it was available only to those who have the money to buy multiple homes. Now everyone can invest with limited risk for as low as $1,000.” To eliminate all the risk, Pryme Homes renovates the house to the best condition possible, then places the best tenant in the property, and manages not just the tenant, but also any repairs associated with the property moving forward. In the 2008 crash, five trillion dollars of pensions, 401K accounts, and savings were completely wiped out. Barbera said, “Most of those people never bounced back from this. Our competitive advantage is we provide a true recession-proof investment. When you invest in a Pryme Home, you are buying a house that has already been purchased, renovated, and rented. This alone eliminates 90% of the risk and problems associated with buying a house. The remaining risk is reduced greatly by making it so you don’t have to put all your money in one property. You can buy a little piece of multiple homes to diversify your risk. To make this even better, Pryme Homes is 100% responsible for tenants and repairs. Which means that for as long as you own the property, if anything breaks, we will fix it using our own money.” Pryme Homes has joined forces with MassVenture, and together they are able to open real estate investing to not just the accredited investor, but also the everyday American who is being forced to invest only in 401K plans or mutual funds. Barbera added, “Although the concept of crowdfunding real estate isn’t a new one, all of the current platforms allow only accredited investors, and they are heavily based on commercial properties.” The future is looking bright for Pryme Homes—in five to ten years they anticipate being in every major market across the United States. “We make sure we always bring people the best investment, regardless of where the house is located. You will be able to login to your online account and buy as many shares of however many properties you want, all without ever leaving your house,” Barbera said. Barbera and Pryme Homes also believe in giving back. In October, they will be bringing awareness to Homes For Our Troops through a golf charity event, The Black Sheep Open. I

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EDUCATION

INTRODUCTION TO OUTSTANDING EDUCATORS BY BOBBY BLOUNT

he word was “mile.” I still vividly recall the internal struggle I faced as a second grader trying to pronounce the word correctly. My teacher quickly silenced the laugher from my classmates, who were entertained by my inability to say the word “mile.” She rose from her desk and stood beside me as I reread the sentence repetitively. Slowly, the atmosphere transitioned from chaos to calm as I finally could pronounce the word after thirty minutes of consistent and caring support. A teacher had made a difference for me that would carry through for the rest of my life. Fast forwarding to today, I see that this type of commitment and dedication to service to all students occurs every day on our campuses and in our classrooms. In the San Antonio area, we have over 340,000 youth enrolled in our school districts. The demographics and needs of the students are diverse as they come from different racial/ethnic backgrounds, economic

status, family structures, learning experiences, and other relevant characteristics. Our teachers and administrators are given the responsibility to provide for the educational needs of all our youth. In today’s world, education does not mean just academics. Our teachers are subject matter experts, social workers, counselors, mentors, character developers, healthcare professionals, and so much more to our students. On top of all that, they have the pressures of employee to employer relations, customer service liaison to parents/guardians, community oversight, and media scrutiny. Juggling all these matters takes a special person. A special person who maintains an even temperament and friendly disposition all the time. A person who is willing to puts others first and to sacrifice their own opportunities. And yes, a person who will spend thirty minutes helping a struggling child when they have others waiting and need to move forward with their own responsibilities. I take great pride being on the Northside

JUGGLING ALL THESE MATTERS TAKES A SPECIAL PERSON. ISD Board and the Bexar County School Boards Coalition because of the great respect and admiration I have for our teachers and administrators. Like other professions, we have those who go the extra “mile.” I have seen the burning late-night lights of those grading papers or preparing lessons at their schools. I know many who support or attend student extracurricular activities on weekends and after school. As I heard one superintendent state their destiny, they deserve a special place in heaven. The following are deserving professionals committed to educating San Antonio.

PROFILES OF OUTSTANDING EDUCATORS ANSON GREEN

TEXAS WORKFORCE COMMISSION STATE DIRECTOR For the unemployed of Texas, the buck starts and stops with Anson Green. Though born in Alexandria, Georgia, the fifty-yearold Texas Workforce Commission State Director is well rooted in the Lone Star State, growing up in Irving and Austin, Texas. His education accolades include a BA in classical history from the University of Texas–Austin and an MA in classical languages from Florida State University. He regularly commutes from Live Oak/

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San Antonio to Austin for work, a practice he started in 1995 and doesn’t see stopping anytime soon. “I’ve always commuted from San Antonio, a city I can never see leaving,” he said. Upon arriving at work, which Anson affectionately calls “the arena of state government,” he proceeds to work with various parties ensuring both skilled and unskilled Texans get transitional support to employment promptly. And according to him, his passion for education is the driving force behind his exciting and fast-moving

BY JASON P. OLIVARRI AND CARMEN GAUNA

workdays interacting with state agency leadership along with agency and local partners to advance the local workforce. “Education is the foundation for economic mobility and the ability to have options in your career,” he said. The customers of adult education—those seeking education to learn English, finish a high school equivalency, or learn to read and do math or better prepare for college—are all aiming to build skills so they have options for their lives, careers, and families.”

JESSICA RAE TODD SANCHEZ

SUPERINTENDENT OF THE HENRY FORD ACADEMY: ALAMEDA SCHOOL OF ART & DESIGN Sanchez truly embodies what it means to teach by example. Looking back to 2008 when the school first opened and she was appointed planning director, she said, “I was supposed to come in and just get the school off the ground. My background was in nonprofit work through the Peace Corps. Then, I absolutely fell in love with the kids; I saw such hope and idealism in their young, fresh faces. It was wonderful to be a part of something like that and I couldn’t leave.” Seeing herself a pivotal part of inspiring these students to greatness, Sanchez continued to work tirelessly, and in 2013, she was appointed superintendent. And the momentum that took her to this present position continues to push her and the student body forward. Her leadership ability was recognized in 2012 when she was named one of the San Antonio Business Journal’s “40 under 40” emerging leaders. She holds a bachelor of arts in political science degree from the University of the Incarnate Word. Professionally, Sanchez has held positions including Executive Director of

KATY FLATO

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, SAN ANTONIO BOOK FESTIVAL (The following is a re-edited excerpt from a letter addressed to Terrell Hills Garden Club GCA Conservation Chair Missy Jensen by Donna Vaughan, Awards Chair Citation) Katy’s passion for English and writing has transformed how news gets around the Lone Star State. A graduate of the University of Texas with a BA in English and post-graduate education at Rice University’s Publishing Program, in 1982, she joined the editorial department of Texas Monthly, where she worked for ten years. During this tenure, she founded and served as editor of Domain, the lifestyle magazine of Texas

Monthly, while serving as management editor of Texas Monthly. From 1989 to 2012, Katy served on the board of the San Antonio Public Library Foundation. While serving on the board, she created many literary events including the “Copyright Texas” author reading series. Copyright Texas

Children’s Educational Opportunity Foundation, International Director of “OPUS” Support Centre for Non-Governmental Organizations, and her current appointment to the San Antonio Public Art Board. Like her students, she evokes creativity unapologetically from within. Stylish, empowered, and courageous, she walks down the hall in her pleated dress and trendy heels crowned by her everyday signature army jacket. “I take a very real approach when it comes to education,” she said.

evolved into the San Antonio Book Festival, uniting readers and writers in celebrating ideas, literature, libraries, and literary culture. This current signature program of the San Antonio Public Library Foundation was first presented in April 2013 in a founding partnership with the Texas Book Festival, the Central Library, and the Southwest School of Art. Through additional partnerships with area nonprofit organizations, over 400 kids from underserved areas participate and benefit from the special program. Katy’s passion for the written word and reading has and continues to reach far beyond her bedside table reading list. Katy’s work has positively impacted the children and underserved areas of our community. continued 

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DELIA MCLERRAN

PRINCIPAL, YOUNG WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP ACADEMY (YWLA) Team effort and family are defining characteristics McLerran uses in describing YWLA. The Corpus Christi, Texas, native feels blessed to be where she is now, especially being a Latina coming from an at-risk, low-income high school where college wasn’t expected of most. Believing she was prepared to change that, she was shocked during the application process when her own high school counselor asked her why she was applying and said, “You’re not going to get in.” This was a defining moment that, rather than discourage her, fueled her with more motivation to beat the odds. “I would get in!” she exclaimed. “With every admissions letter that I received, I made it a point to place a copy on his desk.” In an extraordinary and ironic turn of fate, she found herself back at her high school alma mater, Roy Miller High School, years later as principal. Rather than gloat, she thought what better way to give back than to the community I grew up in. Not wanting her students to experience what she did leaving high school, McLerran makes it a point to show the YWLA student body they deserve a quality education and can do whatever they set their minds to do. “Personally, quality education is a mission for me because I know what it is like to be unprepared going into college. I let them know that it is going to be okay and we will be here to support them even through college.”

MASTER CHIEF PETTY OFFICER CALVIN LAMBERT

NAVAL SCIENCE TEACHER AND NAVAL JUNIOR ROTC (NJROTC) ADMINISTRATOR, UVALDE HIGH SCHOOL (UHS), UVALDE CONSOLIDATED INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT (CISD) Master Chief Petty Officer Lambert, USN(Ret), has been the Senior Naval science instructor and Naval Junior ROTC administrator at Uvalde High School for the past eighteen of his twentyfour-year education career following a twentysix-year active duty Navy career. In 2016, he was selected Teacher of the Year by his colleagues at UHS, followed by selection as Uvalde CISD Secondary Teacher of the Year. He was further selected as Secondary Teacher of the Year for Education Service Center Region 20, composed of fifty-one school districts. He was nominated to the Texas

Association of School Administrators (TASA) for Teacher of the Year for Texas and was selected as one of three finalists for the title of Secondary Teacher of the Year for Texas. He also received the coveted Trinity Prize for Excellence in Teaching from Trinity University. “I attribute my success to building positive relationships with students and parents. My students know where they can go when things get tough elsewhere. They know who they can turn to when there seems to be no one else.” NJROTC provides a warm, inviting, safe climate where students are genuinely cared for

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and their best interests are the most important things at hand. UHS NJROTC prepares cadets for success through a comprehensive curriculum and program of citizenship that includes school district support and community service. During his active duty service, including tours in Vietnam and Desert Storm, he attended college at nights and weekends, earning his bachelor of science degree from Southern Illinois University.

EVA LONGORIA

SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER, ED CODY ELEMENTARY, NORTHSIDE ISD Prior to being selected a Region 20 Teacher of the Year 2017 (Elementary), Longoria was chosen back in March as Northside’s Elementary Educator of the Year. She has a total of twenty-six years in education, sixteen in NISD. Her path to becoming an educator was a non-path, as she neither felt destined to go into teaching nor came from lineage of professionals. She was the fifth of five girls in her family raised by a single mother who worked and studied relentlessly to support her family. And while she didn’t help her children academically, her mother did instill in them a determination to succeed regardless of the circumstances, and she held them accountable to let her know they were okay.

“Although she wasn’t there when I got home from school, I was to call her when my homework and chores were done,” Longoria said. “She had an insatiable desire to continue learning, a trait I have internalized.” This internalization led to a massive shift after high school as Longoria became the first in her family to attain a fouryear college degree. She said these simple beginnings hugely impacted the way she views students and the public today. “To make a difference, we must be able to truly notice small things and see the heart of each person. I believe all students can learn and do great things, regardless of their economic hardships, level of second language acquisition, or personal challenges.”

CAROL MARIE HUDSON KINDERGARTEN TEACHER, HENRY T. BRAUCHLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Hudson credits key teachers as molding her desire to both educate and inspire today, beginning with her kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Duncan. Hudson loved the little things Mrs. Duncan did, from handing out smelly stickers to the songs she sang in class and the handwritten lines she used to teach how to form letters. There was never a dull moment. Experiencing this firsthand, Hudson knew she wanted to recreate the same atmosphere when she grew up. “I don’t know if I so much wanted to be a teacher, or if I wanted to be just like Mrs. Duncan,” she said. Over time, while her desire to teach remained steady, her motivations waned in middle school, where she began hanging out with the wrong crowd. Despite good grades, it wasn’t uncommon for her to either skip class or not participate. Ultimately placed in a campus resource class, she met Mr. Feola, whom she says became her compass in an academic and social environment she felt disconnected from. On one particular day, he was sent to counsel her in the school bathroom over reasons she does not now remember. What she does remember were the simple words he imparted into her. “He had me look in the mirror and told me every potential and positive quality he saw. Then he said, ‘I know you see it, too.’” Those words refueled Hudon’s motivation to teach again. She went on to not only graduate from high school in the top 10% of her class, but also to earn an honors scholarship to UTSA. She was the campus first-year educator of the year. And of course, Mr. Feola was in the audience the night she graduated. Hudson has been recognized with the 2015-2016 Trinity Prize for Excellence in Education. I

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POLITICS

EDUCATION, THE GOVERNMENT, AND YOU

ducation is one of the most heated and debated topics in politics, and it should be. An educated society tends to become an advanced society. However, Republicans and Democrats are having the wrong discussions. I don’t doubt that both major parties care for the next generation and other generations to come. What has happened is that they have created plans and ideas that were supposed to benefit children, increase test scores, and increase college performance, but the plans failed to deliver. No, scores did not drop, but they did remain stagnant. Why is this important? Why can’t we just adjust the plans? I’m glad you asked! The Department of Education, although technically created in 1867, did not receive presidential cabinet and federal power until 1979. The creation of the Department of Education was controversial and thought of as unconstitutional by most Republicans, since the United States Constitution does not mention education. However, with a strong Democratic presence in government at the time, the revamp of the federal power in education passed with ease. Since 1979, the budget for the Department of Education has risen from $14 billion to $68 billion. This has been done through increased taxes and budget moves. President Trump’s new budget increases the amount to $70 billion. Do you see the problem here? Over the last thirty-eight years, we have poured more and more money into education with no result. Democrats would argue that we need to spend more on education, but the problem obviously is not the amount of money spent. We have passed to the federal government power over education, which is not suitable for a one-size-fits-all system. You probably know the Democrat and Republican thought on education. Here’s what a Libertarian thinks. Libertarians believe that the government belongs in neither your bedroom (social is-

BY JAMES PRESLEY sues) nor your wallet (financial issues). Let me explain with education. The federal government is a one-size-fits-all system. Individual states and local governments know what is best for their districts and cities. The Department of Education needs to be abolished. “Oh no! However will our children learn and go to school without federal oversight?” Again, I’m glad you asked. I know it’s hard to believe, but before the Department of Education, the children of the United States went to school and received an education. Education itself was not created back in 1979. Before then, individual states came up with classes for students to take and standards for children to meet. Schools were

THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION NEEDS TO BE ABOLISHED. locally and state funded, not federally funded. However, let me take it one step further. Education of children starts with the parents or guardians. If I have a child, everything to do with that child is my responsibility, not yours, not the government’s, but my own. Why should you be forced to pay for my child to go to school? Sounds ridiculous, right? If you own property or work, however, that’s exactly what’s happening. There are two major kinds of taxes that pay for education: income tax and property tax. Both of these taxes continue to rise over the years, putting poor people in tough financial situations. We can fix this with a few steps: 1. Stop taxing the poor. 2. Partially privatize all schools. 3. Allow school choice. Taxing the poor already sounds ridiculous. Let’s take a group of people who are strug-

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gling to make a living and take more money from them. Doesn’t make sense, does it? Now, here’s what I mean by partial privatization. Most libertarians call for the total privatization of all schools, but I feel that leaves room for corruption. Partial privatization means that the state pays some and the parents/guardians pay some. You’re probably thinking, “What about the poor?” The beauty of having state and private involvement is that the guidelines for who would need to pay and who would need financial assistance can be reviewed and fixed as needed. Charity can also collect funds to put towards the education of the less fortunate. Parents and guardians who are financially invested in their child’s education will be more involved with the school and what their children are being taught. To make up for the money being paid by parents, property and income tax would be abolished. School choice is a magnificent free market approach to education and directly combines the benefits of partial privatization. Choice will cause the schools to compete for students, just like McDonald’s and Burger King compete for your business. Prices fall and parents have more power over the functions of the school. If a school doesn’t listen to the parents, they are free to take their children elsewhere, and the school will lose the funds that follow those children. These principles may sound foreign to most, but this is the best way to reduce government involvement in education while giving the power back to the parents where it truly belongs. Parents need to realize that they own themselves and their children. The responsibility for how and what children are taught ultimately belongs to the parents, not the government. These are the principles that were in place back in the good ole days, when gas was thirty-three cents a gallon and a new house was $14,250. Step by step, we can get back to making the American dream a reality once again. I

HEALTH CHECK

DR. DANIEL J. MURRAY, DC EDUCATING THE COMMUNITY BY CARMEN GAUNA

ne of my main objectives is to educate the public and this community about overall health. There is a ton of misinformation in the media today concerning medicine, diet, and nutrition that have clouded the waters. Most individuals don’t know who or what to believe, so I try to put out as much information as possible about health in general. This information extends past the chiropractic and nervous system scope. I speak to the benefits of exercise, an informed approach to diet and nutrition, proper sleep habits, and the benefits of meditation. I make it a point to provide this information to all interested parties, not just my patients. These are the words of Dr. Daniel Murray, DC, owner and operator of Murray Chiropractic Center, who specializes in analyzing the patient spinal structure. After just a few minutes with Dr. Murray, it was evident he has a passion for helping people achieve a healthy life and likes to consider himself the mad scientist of health. He told us, “My mission is to constantly encourage people to be healthier and make better health choices.” Dr. Murray uses the specific prone technique that makes for a more accurate adjustment. He said, “We take X-rays on most patients over the age of eighteen. These films help us decide when and where to specifically adjust using a technique called specific prone. Our patients are all over the gamut in age range as well as the conditions they come seeking help for. Patients seek resolution for neck to back pain, headaches, infertility, incontinence, and stress-related issues.” Chiropractors face some hurdles to overcome. “We’re looked at a little bit differently, sometimes referred to as quacks, and even told that we’re not real doctors. Even so, what ignites my passion in my field is the resolve we as chiropractors deliver,” explained Dr. Murray. He shared with us how his services helped one individual. “A patient came in and said that he could not lift his head nor move it to the left or right, leaving him unable to work. With each specific adjustment we provided, he gained more range of motion. He recently informed me that he is now able to perform his work again. His X-ray is a constant reminder for me to keep pushing through in my mission of spreading the message of natural healing.” When it comes to the nutritional aspect, Dr. Murray explained that he grew up eating a regular American diet, but it resulted in his becoming very ill. That was the pivotal moment when he began his personal journey toward optimal health and wellbeing. He educated us on his personal nutritional habits. “I am constantly running science experiments on myself, because I would not want to

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give any nutritional advice to a family member, friend, or patient that I have not tried myself. The objective behind this is to have a personal understanding of what the nutritional routine can or can’t do for the body. I’ve trialed the vegan diet, vegetarian diet, and I am currently following what is called intermittent fasting. As a society, we are eating too much and far too often. Our current nutritional model is outdated. There is new data coming out that notes the current methods followed are actually contributing to some of our health problems such as diabetes. The new school of thought that is pretty revolutionary in the nutritional world (you won’t find it in any textbooks) is that condensing meals into a smaller time period gives the body a chance to rehabilitate itself from those insulin spikes.” Dr. Murray left us with this: “We constantly hold classes here bringing in experts who provide lectures on nutrition, hold yoga classes, and promote physical exercise in general. I participate with other professionals in a program that emphasizes a healthier lifestyle called Walk with the Doc. I’d love to inspire the community to take a proactive approach when it comes to overall health.” I

MY MISSION IS TO CONSTANTLY ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO BE HEALTHIER AND MAKE BETTER HEALTH CHOICES.

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COVER STORY

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PHOTOS COURTESY OF RON NIRENBERG

THE CHAMPIONSHIP CITY WITH A CHAMPION MAYOR BY AUDREY HASSLOCHER

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WHY SAN ANTONIO? IT’S ABOUT MAKING SURE OUR DOOR IS ALWAYS OPEN TO OPPORTUNITY.

“San Antonio is a city that can have a spontaneous championship celebration break out in the middle of the freeway, and it’s a family-friendly event. That tells me everything you need to know about San Antonio.” That is how Mayor Ron Nirenberg describes San Antonio to people who may not understand the city. He continued, “We are also a championship city. Not just in sports, but we’re a city that can strive and has the tools and the resources to be the best at pretty much whatever we try to do. The difference between areas where we’ve been successful and areas where we’ve settled for second best is leadership—having people inspire the community. I hope that we are turning the page to an era that inspires the community again.” Nirenberg received his bachelor’s degree from Trinity University and attended the University of Pennsylvania where he received a master’s degree in communication. He comes from a diverse cultural background and family history, which played a part in making him into the man and public servant he is today. His father’s family, Jewish immigrants from Russia and Poland, immigrated to the United States through Ellis Island right after World War I. His father was born in Boston. Nirenberg’s father met his mother while he was in Malaysia with the Peace Corps. She was Malaysian, and her father’s family was from the

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Philippines by way of Spain, he said. Her mother’s family was Indian English. Nirenberg laughed while remarking on his family’s multicultural roots. With his own diverse background and his wife, Erika Prosper, being of Mexican descent, he added with a smile, “So my son is confused.” At forty years old, San Antonio’s new mayor has already hit the ground running, ready to inspire the city, with wife Erika and son Jonah by his side. But his leap into public service wasn’t a preordained path—it came as a slow realization that the volunteer work he was doing outside of his job was what really inspired him. “It wasn’t my job that was getting me up in the morning anymore,” he said. “It was all the work that I was doing in the community.” Nirenberg said he talked to his wife about his desire to run for the District 8 City Council seat and got her blessing. He did the same thing when he decided to run for mayor and jokes that when people ask him when he knew he would win, he likes to say, “It was when Erika said I could run.” Regarding his keys to success, Nirenberg had this to say: “Every success in my life has come from discipline and preparation. You have to be self-disciplined; you have to be prepared; you have to be consistent.” Using those keys to success, Nirenberg has

a strong vision for the growing city of San Antonio. He told us it’s hard to name just one goal that would be most impactful, but one of his priorities is to build a modern transportation system. “That will be the most impactful across the board in terms of infrastructure that we can build, because it will be the key to sustaining the quality of life,” he said. “We are growing in density so fast. I happen to believe we can’t wait another generation to build modern transportation.” When building something of this magnitude that would revolutionize the city, the cost must be considered. “There are ways to do this, and we are going to explore every avenue,” Nirenberg said, adding that there are federal and state funds earmarked for transit. “The cost of not doing anything on transportation far exceeds the cost of doing it. It’s less expensive to get it done right the first time, and do it now.” He adds that the multimodal transit plan would need to be voter-approved. “We have to put it on the ballot for voters to approve,” he said. “If the voters don’t approve it, then we won’t do it.” When asked about his mentors, Nirenberg says he has too many to name. “You try to learn the best from everybody and become your own person.” He’s grown close to former mayor Phil Hardberger, who he believes is a model public servant and who has become a close advisor. He said his wife has also played a role in shaping his work ethic, adding “There’s not anybody that I know who works harder than she does.” Along with the mentors he’s had along the way, he is also inspired by those who made their mark in history. “There are people who we read about but never get to meet. Ghandi. I’ve always been inspired by his writing.” Lincoln on Leadership: Executive Strategies for Tough Times is currently on his nightstand. But being a great leader, at least for Nirenberg, means incoporating his family. While he says both Erika and

Jonah are used to his hectic schedule, he still makes it a point to find time play catch with his son. With everything he’s achieved in his life professionally and personally, Nirenberg tells us his greatest accomplishment is being a father. He’ll relish the day when he’ll get to give Jonah the kind of advice he received from his father and grandfather. “My wife and I agree on this: We want to raise a compassionate person, a compassionate son, and there are lots of opportunities for us to have those conversations,” he said. “We feel like he’s developing in a way where he’s already exceeding our expectations. I want to be the guy who throws the baseball around and has fun with him, but more than that I want to leave the world with a great person.” So, why did Nirenberg want to become the mayor of San Antonio, and what does he hope to achieve? “I want San Antonio to be a resilient city,” Nirenberg said. “What does that mean? It means one where we are taking care of our natural resources. We’re creating sustainability, so that the next generation has the same tools and resources available to continue to maintain quality of life. I also want to build a city that’s equitable for all people, that represents people fairly no matter what part of town they live in or when they got here or what color their skin is. I also believe that San Antonio should embrace the fact that it has been and will continue to be an international city. It’s about making sure our door is always open to opportunity,” said Mayor Ron Nirenberg. I

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CHILD INNOVATORS

MEET ISABELLA JIMENEZ BY JESSIE MOORE

Marathon with my mom and heard a dietician speak about healthy eating, her book Healthy Recipes for Hurried Families, and how easy it was for people to do. This inspired me to create an app about healthy cooking and eating for kids and using it for my Mayor’s Fitness project. I first wanted to get some feed-

expensive it was to create an app and what it took to actually develop it. I had to talk with many different people from app and video developers, dieticians, and potential donors who might be able to help fund the app. I also had to learn how to use software to create sketches of the app design that I wanted so I could make a presentation to the Mayor’s Fitness Council. My biggest accomplishment has been the overall learning experience and relationships I have built with Chris Turner, my app developer; dieticians; the food bank; and the Culinary School during this app project. How did being a Student Ambassador for the Mayor’s Fitness Council play a role? The Mayor’s Fitness Council focuses on nutrition and exercise. By being an Ambassador, I was motivated to create something that would not only be based on nutrition, but would also be fun and stimulating for kids. What do you want to be when you grow up? When I grow up, I hope to pursue my goals in the field of technology. The reason I want a job in the field of technology is because I want to know how technology-based things are made and how they work. I want to create something with tech-

Tell us about yourself: school, grade level, where were you born, siblings. I am thirteen years old and have recently graduated from the eighth grade at the Montessori School of San Antonio. I will be attending ninth grade this fall at the NEISD S.T.E.M. Academy at Lee High School. I was born in San Antonio, where I live with my parents, two older brothers, and my Yorkie Chico. My

the McCombs Business School at the University of Texas at Austin, and my other brother is a sophomore at NEISD Johnson High School. Tell us about MyFunFood app. What inspired you to make this, what is it, how did it start, what need does it address, and where do you see it in five years? MyFunFood app is an interactive cooking app for kids. I

back from students at my school to see what they thought about it. They all thought it was a great idea, because they all like to use their smart phones and are always looking for new apps that are entertaining and stimulating. I felt that kids needed to be more aware of what they were eating and how to make better food choices. But I also wanted to make it fun so they could see that eating healthy is not always boring. I see the app up and running in the near future and think it will become popular in many schools throughout San Antonio. I hope to keep it going through high school by continuing to add new recipes and healthy food and information. What are some challenges you faced with MyFunFood app, and what was your greatest accomplishment? One of the first challenges I had was getting feedback from students at my school. This process was time consuming because I wanted to talk to as many students as I could. I also

oldest brother is a sophomore at

was attending a Breast Cancer

discovered how complex and

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continued 

I FELT THAT KIDS NEEDED TO BE MORE AWARE OF WHAT THEY WERE EATING AND HOW TO MAKE BETTER FOOD CHOICES. BUT I ALSO WANTED TO MAKE IT FUN. book called Eloquence 2015 Poetry Collection. I also enjoy listening to and collecting music. I love to perform in theater and sing. I performed in several plays in middle school and sang in our school choir. I play piano, and this past year I taught myself American Sign Language and how to play the ukulele.

nology. I don’t know what job I want to have in this field, but I do know that I want to contribute something to this world to create a brighter future. What are some of your extracurricular activities? I have been swimming competitively since I was five years old and will be swimming for NEISD Lee High School in the fall. Additionally, I played on the volleyball team at my current school. I enjoy reading, writing, and drawing. I published a poem, “Where we’re from,” in a

Who do you consider your mentor or who you aspire to emulate? Why? I would consider my mom as one of my biggest mentors because she is always there for me when I go through something challenging with my project. She always helps me practice presenting and plan meetings with potential donors. She is always there to support me and help me with whatever I needed help with on this project. What are your plans for this summer? My plan is to continue to try to get funding for the app to hopefully get it into development in the fall. I will also be travelling with my family to San Francisco and Cancun, Mexico, this summer, swim in several long course meets with my club team, and try to spend some time with my friends before starting high school. I

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ENTREPRENUERS

2017 BLAST FROM THE PAST WATCHES BY AUDREY HASSLOCHER

overs of fine watches from an era gone by, rest easy. 2017 is the year we look back to the classic timepieces of our fathers and grandfathers. The following watches are this year’s best vintage-inspired reissues.

Tudor Heritage Black Bay Chronograph Tudor’s Black Bay line is more understated than other Swiss offerings where precise movement is demanded above other important characteristics. The bezel is a delight for the math-minded owner who enjoys multi-functionality. The buttons themselves are prominent, providing lots of tactile feedback and a solid, satisfying click. The wristband is rough leather, a contrast to the fine finish of this heavy, detailed case.

The 1960s Grand Seiko Re-creation

(Photo credit: Tudorwatch.com)

Seiko is known for producing watches for the masses, but its premium Grand Seiko celebrates its formal split into a separate brand by taking us back to its very first watch. The company launched this exquisite reissue, featuring a domed crystal and wedge-cut hour markers. This retro charmer is available in gold, platinum, and stainless steel.

Jaeger LeCoutour’s Reverso Tribute Moon For those seeking a 1960s style rectangular case with a fresh take on lunar calendars, look no further than the Reverso. The ribbed lines across the top and bottom are a nice architectural touch. Not complicated or overly simple, the Reverso can be worn with a casual suit and is likely to catch anyone’s eye.

(Photo credit: Monochrome-watches.com)

(Photo Credit: Jaeger LeCoutour)

Tudor Clair de Rose The Clair de Rose line, fresh for 2017, offers an elegant solution for women who are looking for a more classic design. Offered in several finishes and dials, this watch brand has further asserted itself from its parent brand Rolex. Owners of this piece will be pleased with the accurate movement and robust build quality, thanks to Rolex engineering. This is a stunning piece, offered at about half the cost of its higher-priced sibling.

Tag Heuer Autavia Ref. 2446 For the man who wants a stunning chronograph with fantastic readability in any light, the Autavia is a wise choice. This particular iteration was voted by the public when Tag Heuer announced it would revive the initial generation Autavia. Not much has changed from the first model, and it looks very faithful to the original design. The key difference is the increased case size from 39mm to 42mm and a change to a vintage leather band.

(Photo credit: Tudorwatch.com)

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(Photo Credit: Hodinkee.com)

Omega 1975 Trilogy Limited Editions The sixtieth anniversary celebration of the Speedmaster brings us new retro models for this year. The Speedmaster Anniversary is one of the most famous watches ever made and was worn by the Apollo astronauts who voyaged to the moon. Designed from a digital scan of the ’50s original, this piece is sure to bring decades of reliable service, no matter the condition. It can be purchased individually or as part of the Trilogy collector’s set, along with remakes of the 1957 Seamaster and Railmaster.

(Photo credit: Omegawatches.com)

IWC Da Vinci Collection The Da Vinci Collection is incredibly diverse, featuring a large combination of metals, dials, and functions. An icon of the 1980s, IWC has cemented itself as not just a luxury brand, but also as a credible contender against any of the big Swiss manufactures. The Da Vinci is must-see in person, much more stunning than photographs. If a conversation piece is what you are seeking, these IWCs are an enthusiast’s favorite.

(Photo Credit: IWC.com)

Lady-Datejust In 1957, Rolex introduced its first ladies’ watch. This particular watch carries a timeless elegance and functionality in a size suited for a female wrist. (Photo Credit: Rolex.com)

Longines Flagship Heritage Again, manufactures like Longines are tipping their hat to historic styles offered during their early heydays. The Heritage is just that, a supremely accurate automatic watch, offered at the top of their 1957 model lineup. A simple, legible dial reads incremental numbers with a radial calendar above the six o’clock position. The distinctive angular hands accent the piece to create an elegant dress watch for the man who cherishes the past.

(Photo Credit: Longines.com)

Patek Philippe Ref. 5320G For enthusiasts who appreciate high-level analog technology, the model contains features from Patek’s most coveted historic watches. Priced similarly to a new German sports car, the Ref. 5320G will impress the most scrutinizing aficionado with its deadly accurate movement and monthly calendar. No need to adjust the calendar days on shorter months, the 5320 is already a step ahead. Before purchasing this piece, you may want a nice insurance policy. Get one while you still can.

Rolex Cellini Moonphase A pleasant departure from the industry standard forms, the Cellini is a truly awesome alternative for Rolex lovers. The dial itself is a work of art, showcasing a myriad of markers that somehow do not overcomplicate themselves. A simple, unshielded crown makes this lightweight piece perfect for carefree evenings. Contrasting the dial is the exquisite moon phase calendar, an absolute joy to observe and the first moonphase model since the 1950s. This Cellini is destined to be your next heirloom.

(Photo Credit: Patek.com)

(Photo Credit: Rolex.com)

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ANATOMY OF AN ENTERPRENUER

ANATOMY OF AN ENTREPRENEUR – NOVOTHELIUM BY AUDREY HASSLOCHER

According to the American Cancer Society, one out of every eight women will have breast cancer in her lifetime. That’s an average of one woman diagnosed with this disease every two minutes. In 2015 alone, there were more than 3.1 million breast cancer survivors, of which 106,338 underwent breast reconstruction. This procedure is not only invasive, but also extremely emotional for women as they have given up a part of their body that was one the hallmarks of their womanhood. During reconstruction, a plastic surgeon creates the shape of a breast, but it does not restore sensation to either the breast or the nipple. When a breast is removed and then reconstructed, a woman will experience varying degrees of breast numbness and loss of sensation. This occurs due to nerves being cut through in order to remove the cancerous breast tissue. The traditional procedure is to use local skin to recreate the appearance of a nipple and then tattooing the desired pigmentation. This typically results in a nipple that looks unnatural and flattened and that has little or no sensation. In order to solve this problem for breast cancer patients and improve their quality of life, Dr. Bianca Cerquiera and Ms. Lauren Cornell co-founded NovoThelium. This innovative biotechnology company created a patent-pending technology that focuses on developing tissue-engineered nipples for mastectomy patients. The cells from the patient repopulate the grafted scaffold to regenerate an actual nipple from their own cells, and over time sensation and feeling will return. Their story began in 2010 when they met in graduate school and became close friends who exchanged theories and potential research projects. It was over friendly science banter and a cup of tea

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that they decided this could be truly impactful to women around the world. Cornell told us, “We are working to solve a very relevant need for women (and men) across the world. Everything we do is with that in mind.” Both Cerquiera and Cornell have personal connections to women who have experienced breast cancer, and this research is close to their hearts. “I have a strong history of breast cancer in my family, as does Bianca. You could say the knowledge of this was always on our minds. Being tissue engineers and having a strong family history with the disease spurred the idea and motivated us to start,” Cornell said. They both understand and realize firsthand the importance of this research for women who have a mastectomy due to breast cancer. Cerqueira, thirty-one, earned a bachelor of science degree in physiology and neuroscience from the University of Maryland. She then completed her Ph.D. in biomedical engineering at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Anto-

nio/University of Texas at San Antonio. She also holds a certificate in the joint translational science program with the UT Health Science Center at San

continued 

PHOTOS COURTESY OF NOVOTHELIUM

Antonio, University of Texas at San Antonio, and University of Texas at Austin. Cornell, twenty-nine, earned a bachelor of science in genetics from Texas A&M University and an MS in biomedical engineering from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. She also conducts research at the United States Army Institute of Surgical Research at Fort Sam Houston and is a Ph.D. student in the same translational sciences program as Cerquiera.

different. It is intellectually stimulating to work on both the scientific and commercial aspects of our business. This includes working on grant applications, protocols for animal experiments, our business plan, and investor proposals.

INFLUENCE: Who do you consider your mentor? Cornell: We find mentors in many people. I am personally drawn to strong women in their respective fields. They each have a unique perspective and story about how they fought to be where they are at.

INFLUENCE: What are your goals for 2017? Cerqueira: Our major goal for the first part of 2017 included raising the funds necessary for our animal testing, which we have done. Our goals for the rest of the year include completing animal testing of our scaffold in collaboration with the United States Army Institute of Surgical Research. Additionally, we are preparing for our clinical testing, in which we will need an institutional review board (IRB) approval and further funding. I

INFLUENCE: Describe a day in the life. Cerquiera: One great thing about being an early-stage entrepreneur is every day is

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S AT’ ’? H W KIN O CO

FRANK! BY JESSIE MOORE

SA’s INFLUENCE team hit the streets of Southtown recently and found the lovely gem Frank! Frank is located in a refurbished church, originally built in 1912 and once known as Alamo Methodist Church at 1150 S. Alamo Street. Standing on the outside, you would never guess that this place makes some killer hot dogs and to go with that a nice glass of beer or freshly made lemonade. The inside and outside match its German-influenced theme. The structure is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and the owners have done a phenomenal job of preserving it. The dark wood, stained glass, and timeless feeling bring a warm welcome to you when you walk inside. You can take a small journey up a narrow flight of stairs, or if you’re not as adventurous, take the elevator. Once on the second floor, you’re greeted by a beautiful stained-glass piece to your right, and to your left is the dining area with a bar and stage for entertainment. Of course, we had try what they were most known for, which is The Notorious P.I.G. Their menu describes it this way: “Our custom-made smoked pork, bacon, jalapeno, sage sausage dressed with mac n’ cheese and Dr. Doppelganger BBQ sauce on a custom-made Frank bun.” Ummm, yes! Sounds good, just reading it, right? To go with The Notorious P.I.G., we had to add some waffle fries, but not just any waffles fries. No, we had the queso fries. The menu describes them as: “Waffle fries dressed with queso and pico de gallo.”

OF COURSE, WE HAD TRY WHAT THEY WERE MOST KNOWN FOR, WHICH IS THE NOTORIOUS P.I.G.

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Delicious, and it’s enough to share with two or three people. If that didn’t make us full, our lovely server suggested her favorite, which is the Jackalope, described as “Our custom-made smoked antelope, rabbit, and pork sausage dressed with cranberry compote, Sriracha aioli, and cheddar on a custom-made Frank bun.” Safe to say, we needed a nice little nap after that hearty lunch. If you’ve got your dancing shoes on and party pants to go with that, this place turns into a dance floor with a live DJ on some nights. On First Friday, this place is jam packed! Frank is the hot spot if you want to eat and drink hearty. This is the second location to its sister, Frank in Austin, and it’s fitting in quite nicely with the folks in King William neighborhood. Daniel Northcutt and co-owner Geoff Peveto have made a made a great contribution to San Antonio, adding this restaurant for the community to eat and play at. I

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SUPER LAWYERS BY JESSIE MOORE

Smita Bhakta

Kruger Carson PLLC Bhakta represents all things in commercial real estate. She is a strong leader in the real estate community through the organizations she has been and continues to be involved with, including the Real Estate Council of San Antonio and CREW Programs Committee. She was also recognized as a “Texas Rising Star” by Texas Monthly and Law & Politics magazines for the years of 2012– 2016. Bhakta has represented one of the largest retailers in Texas and was a key component in commercial developments in Central and South Texas. Receiving her undergraduate education at the University of Texas at Austin and the University of Texas School of Law has been a vital part of leading her to where she is now. She has found a home at Kruger Carson PLLC, where she represents purchasers, sellers, borrowers, developers, landlords, and tenants. To add to her accolades, she is fluent in Hindi and Gujarati and the founder of a children’s party inspiration blog.

Linda Molina The Molina Law Practice

Molina is a wife, mother, and criminal defense attorney in Bexar, Guadalupe, and Comal counties. She is attorney at law and co-owner of The Molina Law Practice. She is licensed to practice in both state and federal courts in Texas and has handled approximately 120 cases. Molina obtained her law degree from Southern Methodist University and received her master’s degree from UTSA. She is a member of San Antonio Criminal Defense Lawyers Association and a Sustainer in the Junior League of San Antonio. This hardworking mother and wife will also will also be running for Judge of County Court #5 in 2018.

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Jorge A. Herrera

The Herrera Law Firm Carrying out the core values and strong morals instilled in him by father and firm founder, Frank Herrera Jr, Jorge A. Herrera is a dedicated Texas trial lawyer in San Antonio. He is the general counsel for the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, vice chair for the South Texas Hispanic Fund, national board member of AVANCE, Inc., and member of the Board of Advisors for San Antonio National Bank. He is a husband, father of two children, and a member of the San Antonio Trial Lawyers Association, the San Antonio Bar Association, the San Antonio Mexican American Bar Association, and the National Latino Trial Lawyers Association.

Jason R. Joyner

Joyner + Joyner Law Firm Joyner was born and raised in San Antonio. With a BA in business from Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas, he attended law school at Michigan State University. Joyner is a member or involved with State Bar of Texas, Federal Bar Association, San Antonio Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, and Texas DWI Defense Lawyers Association. He has been awarded “Top 30 San Antonio Criminal Defense Lawyers” in 2015 and 2016 by Scene in SA and “10 Best Criminal Law Attorneys for Client Satisfaction” by American Institute of Criminal Law Attorneys in 2015 and 2016.

Kristal Thomson Langely & Banack Inc.

Thomson, a shareholder and attorney at Langely & Banack Incorporated, has recently been recognized as one of San Antonio’s best by being named among the Top 50 Family Lawyers in the city, as published in the San Antonio Scene. Thomson is a family law specialist with her education right here in San Antonio—St. Mary’s University School of Law, J.D., 2002. Her specialty is divorces with complex or high net worth estates and complicated custody issues. She is actively involved in the community by being a Sustainer with Junior League of San Antonio. Her accolades run long. She was listed in San Antonio Business Journal – 40 Under 40 and by Texas Super Lawyers – Rising Star. Being one of only ten lawyers in San Antonio elected to the American Academy of Matrimonial Specialists demonstrates her knowledge and leadership in the industry. In April, Thomson presented “Child Support – Coloring Outside the Lines” at Marriage Dissolution for the State Bar of Texas, and in August she will present on “Rethinking Rights, Powers & Duties” at the Advanced Family Law course for the State Bar of Texas.

Dan McCarthy

Law Office of Daniel P. McCarthy, P. C. McCarthy is recognized for his expertise in immigration law. He has over ten years of experience in handling a broad range of complex immigration matters for clients and more than twenty years in civil litigation. He has an outstanding record of success in developing strategies for clients in obtaining work visas. McCarthy holds a Juris Doctor degree from St. Mary’s University School of Law and a BBA in finance from the University of Houston. He has studied abroad at Cambridge University, England, and has been an exchange student with Fukuoka Sogo Bank in Japan. McCarthy is a member of the State Bar of Texas and a Sustaining Member of the College of the State Bar of Texas. He belongs to the American Immigration Lawyers Association, the National Association of International Educators, the San Antonio Bar Association (Immigration Section), and the Bexar County Bar Association.

Paul Garcia Paul Garcia & Associates

Garcia is principal of his own firm, Paul Garcia & Associates. He received his JD degree from St. Mary’s School of Law and a BBA in finance from the University of Texas at San Antonio. His areas of practice include, but are not limited to, general civil litigation, commercial litigation, and home health. He is also a member of several associations—State Bar of Texas, San Antonio Bar Association, and Texas Association of Defense Counsel. Garcia tries cases in county, district, and US district courts in the state of Texas.

Fatima Menéndez RAICES

Menéndez graduated from St. Mary’s University School of Law in 2013. She is now a senior staff attorney for RAICES, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit agency that promotes justice by providing free and low-cost legal services to immigrant children, families, and refugees in Central and South Texas. Menéndez is a daughter of immigrant parents and works hard to give a voice to children who don’t have one. She enjoys traveling and working with her dog as a therapy animal team saving stray dogs.

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SAN ANTONIO’S

FINANCIAL GURUS BY JESSIE MOORE

MIKE JOHNSON

ROBERT SALAS

PORTIA PARKER

Johnson, an Air Force veteran, originally from Dallas, Texas, has now found home right here in San Antonio. A financial advisor for Northwestern Mutual, Johnson has a passion for impacting people’s lives positively. Just a year into the company, he has achieved the “Prestigious Pacesetter 40 Award,” which means he has impacted the lives of over forty families in a short period of time, an award that only 13% of the company achieves. Johnson thrives off witnessing the glow in his clients when they see all the planning and work has led to something great for their lifestyle. He works with business owners, engineers, and physicians on their financial wellness and their specific needs around protecting and growing their assets. He believes everyone should know their discretionary monthly income and what that income goes towards. Johnson then challenges that you ask yourself, “If you continue on the same path of savings for yourself and family, will you ultimately reach your goals?” His goal is to “help you live differently by inspiring action and maximizing your potential.” When he’s not working, you can find him reading or studying on the finance industry. Johnson also gives his time back through community service work around San Antonio and plays an active role with Big Brothers Big Sisters South Texas Chapter.

Salas graduated from San Diego State University in 2009 and currently resides in Floresville, Texas, with his wife, two children, and dog. After eleven years in the automobile industry, he became an agent with New York Life Insurance Company in 2014. We asked Salas what he loved most about his career. He told us, “Helping people who love their families protect the ones they love and their businesses and helping them retire and pass on that legacy to the next generation.” As a licensed agent of New York Life Insurance Company, he offers a variety of products that can help you meet a number of insurance and financial needs, including college funding, retirement, managing costs for extended periods of care, lifetime income strategies, and more. As far as financial advice, Salas told us: “Purchasing a life insurance policy can be effective way to safeguard your business and minimize the impact of a key employee’s death.” Salas is very much involved with his industry in the city; you can always catch him networking around town. When he’s not working, he enjoys spending time with his family.

Widowed with three children at age thirty-six, Parker moved her household to San Antonio. Her husband’s death set the stage for her entrance into the financial service world. She is now a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley, where she shares the importance of having your personal financial affairs in order sooner rather than later. Parker earned her undergraduate degree in finance & financial services and holds the Retirement Income Certified Professional (RICP®) designation. Portia is securities licensed in Texas and has a General Lines– Life, Accident & Health Insurance license in Texas and Tennessee. She reminded us that senior executives and those in leadership positions today are often busy with day-to-day operations, leaving little time to think about their own future financial needs. Portia said, “Once executives take the time to understand their own level of risk tolerance, they can then investigate each investment in the portfolio as to its level of risk.” Portia challenges her clients: “Ask yourself: Do I really know how much risk I’m comfortable with and does my investment discipline reflect that understanding? Investment goals are more achievable by having a diversified portfolio with the right amount of risk for a desired future return.”

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LARRY YNMAN

Meet Larry Ynman, partner with SOGO Wealth & Risk Management. He was born and raised in San Antonio and knows the city and people well. Ynman has been in the finance industry for twenty-four years. He told us what he loves most about his career: “The opportunity to help families and business owners retire at their current standard of living and to ensure their money will last through their life expectancy.” Some of Ynman’s accolades include past president of National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors, IFAPAC board member, National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors, Embajador in San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and membership committee member for the Greater San Antonio Builders Association. The best financial advice Ynman offered is this: “Proper planning for retirement is of utmost importance as we have control over the outcome. Being informed of the strategies available is critical and consumers should not be afraid to ask questions. Initially, there are four questions to ask yourself about your financial future, which should be answered as you begin your planning. Additionally, it is very important to use tax-efficient strategies to maximize your growth and minimize your tax liability. Your assets are typically divided into three tax buckets, and it is imperative to have the right balance.” When he’s not working, you can catch him spending time with his family, exercising, traveling, playing golf, or reading.

HENRY PINEDA

Pineda presently serves as marketing director at PHP Agency – San Antonio, a prestigious position at one of North America’s fastest growing financial marketing organizations. Pineda shared with us his best financial advice: “My advice would be to ordinary Americans, that they realize the disparity between the knowledge that wealthy Americans possess and the lack thereof that the bottom 90% of Americans possess, and to take personal ownership in becoming better informed about their finances.” A seventh-generation entrepreneur, Pineda has demonstrated a formidable work ethic, which he credits as a contributing factor in the success of his family-owned business as well as his personal business ventures. Pineda was born and raised in San Antonio. He is happily married to Jeannette Pineda and is the proud father of two beautiful daughters, Victoria and Marissa. His strong faith has helped him and his family endure some truly challenging moments and to overcome them through prayer, perseverance, and faith. Pineda says, “I am on a personal mission to do all that I can to fortify my community, an endeavor that includes ensuring families attain financial literacy.” Personally and professionally, Pineda strives to show kindness, generosity, and respect to all.

JEFFREY WEBER

Jeff Weber was born in the Bronx, New York City. He had his first article published in Railroad Model Craftsman (a model trains magazine published in Ramsey, New Jersey) in July 1965, when he was just seventeen years old. For the past twenty-four years he has written his own newsletter published on his website (www.jjjinvesting.com). Weber went to college at the University of Arizona to receive a bachelor’s degree in history and government. He was then drafted for the Vietnam War, but later returned to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, for a bachelor’s degree in accounting. Weber worked for the US Army as an auditor for thirty-three years and lived seventeen years in Germany, Korea, Japan, and Belgium. Weber is an accomplished author and has written his own investing book, Here Are the Customers’ Yachts. He also continues to publish his monthly investing newsletter showing the best investments: long-term options (LEAPS). The best financial advice he gives to a business executive is: “Start investing immediately and find a way to invest that makes high profits safely and reflects the realities of the stock market—investments go up and down. Know the right time to buy (when investments are down) and the right time to sell (when investments are up) and when to do nothing. The best way to invest is to be contrarian—buy when everyone is selling and sell when everyone is buying. Always turn some of your paper profits into real profits by selling.”

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WE DON’T TALK ABOUT

I DON’T WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT BY STEVE GLENN

y second grader came home with his first report card of the year. I remembered the one like many of us used to get when we were in elementary school. There was one difference. His card had a piece missing. As I examined the card, I was pleased to see that he had done quite well academically. “Son,” I said, “let me have the missing piece.” His lip began to quiver as he handed me the third piece. This piece was the section where the teacher makes comments and they fill in a section called Deportment. Under Behavior was written a C with the comment, “Stephen taped two pieces of paper in a girl student’s hair.” Under a section for writing comments about talking, laughing, etc., the teacher wrote, “Stephen has a wonderful command of the English language; however, he must practice better timing.” I put on my most stern face and asked him if he had really taped paper in a girl’s hair. He said, “Yes, sir.” He then began to cry. I told him to explain what the teacher meant by her comments concerning his talking too much. I asked him just exactly what he said that made the teacher so concerned. He looked at me and said, “I don’t want to talk about it.” It seems as if our discussion of problems has become failure to face negative situations by repression. We are cutting our loves and our friends out of one-third of our lives. • “How was work today, honey?” • “How was school today?” • “What did you do all day?” When you ask these questions, does your husband, wife, child, or friend frequently say, “I don’t want to talk about it?” And what is your response to that? Let’s take these expressions one at a time and talk about them. Remember, when we talk about our day we

WE ARE CUTTING OUR LOVES AND OUR FRIENDS OUT OF ONE-THIRD OF OUR LIVES. are talking about four, seven, eight, or even twelve hours out of a day that they don’t want to talk about. Our days are usually divided like this: Sleep = seven or eight hours Work = eight hours plus overtime School = seven hours plus extracurricular activities Before we answer by saying, “Oh, same ole same” or “Nothing new,” we should consider

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that we are cutting our spouse, friend, child, or parent out of one third of our day each time we give one of those quick answers. If we use those answers often, we could be keeping much our activities, feelings, gains, and losses from the people who are closest to us. When clients are asked why they avoid these topics, they frequently say they are too tired to talk about work, school, or other mundane topics like housework. I could go on and on about this topic, but—“I don’t want to talk about it.” I

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PHILANTHROPY

BUILDING WEALTH FROM THE GROUND UP During the day, the next generation of wealth is busy building startups or running projects for major corporations. If you are an individual coming into wealth for the first time from a low- to middle-income background, a unique set of challenges presents itself as you attempt to both manage and enjoy your hard-earned wealth. One of these challenges may be student loan debt. Besides navigating yourself out of debt, it can be tough to navigate relationship dynamics and commitments when you are new to wealth. You may feel an understandable pull to give back to your family and community but have a hard time balancing these commitments with those of your own self-care and personal investment. As your financial position improves, it’s common to experience guilt and overwhelming feelings as you notice your improved position relative to your family and friends. These feelings can have an impact on how you relate to your family and community and how you understand your role and function in those relationships. Couple these feelings with

Sources/Disclaimer 1 S.M.A.R.T.: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-oriented; http:// hr.wayne.edu/leads/phase1/smart-objectives.php Laura Agadoni, “What Percent of Your Take-Home Pay Should Be Discretionary Income?”. thenest.com. http:// budgeting.thenest.com/percent-takehome-pay-should-discretionary-income-26839.html Matthew J. Belvedere, “3 Money Musts for ‘Clueless’ Millennials”. Cnbc.com, July 20th, 2015. http:// www.cnbc.com/2015/07/20/3-money-musts-for-clueless-millennials-advisor. html Morgan Stanley, “Home Buying Begins at the Ground Floor”.morganstanley.com, http://www.morganstanley.com/articles/ home-buying-checklist

others’ new perception of you as a wealthy person, and it can be easy to fall prey to a perceived responsibility for others that exhausts your emotional and financial resources. Here are a few ways to take care of your own financial health as you navigate this exciting but challenging new position of wealth. Start Saving Now When we’re young, it’s easy to feel as if retirement is a lifetime away. We may spend very little time, if any, thinking about practical ways to prepare for our golden years. “I’ll take care of that in a decade or two,” you might think. But if anything teaches us that the time to start saving is now, it is the importance of compound interest on your retirement contributions. For an example of how compound interest can make a considerable difference, imagine this example of a twenty-two-year-old who starts contributing ten percent of his sixty thousand dollar annual salary to his 401(k), with two percent added by his employer. By the time of his retirement, he could end up with over a million dollars as his nest egg. In comparison,

Morgan Stanley, “The Millennials Guide to a Sweet Retirement”. Forbes.com, June 6th, 2016. http://www.forbes.com/sites/ morganstanley/2016/06/06/the-millennials-guide-to-a-sweet-retirement/#70d06a6e5837 If you’d like to learn more, please contact E. Portia Parker. The author(s) and/or publication are neither employees of nor affiliated with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC (“Morgan Stanley”). By providing this third party publication, we are not implying an affiliation, sponsorship, endorsement, approval, investigation, verification or monitoring by Morgan Stanley of any information contained in the publication. The opinions expressed by the authors are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Morgan Stanley. The information and data in the article or

imagine a forty-five-year-old who contributes a thousand per month, but over just a twenty-year period. She will reach retirement with around fifty percent less than the twenty-two-year-old, even though she contributed more monthly and more in total over the life of her contributions. Compound interest is a perfect reason to start saving now, even if all you can afford at the moment is a modest monthly commitment of less than ten percent of your monthly salary. Build a Budget Scrap the entitlement-gene mentality that is all too common among millennials. This is a mentality that resists advice, especially when it comes to budgeting. Rather than focusing on near-term pleasures, build a concrete and coherent five-year plan to hunker down on short-term success. In addition to the five-year plan, in the immediate term there are certain rules of thumb that may help to align you with smarter budgeting. For example, it is suggested not to let your monthly rent exceed thirty percent of your gross

publication has been obtained from sources outside of Morgan Stanley and Morgan Stanley makes no representations or guarantees as to the accuracy or completeness of information or data from sources outside of Morgan Stanley. Neither the information provided nor any opinion expressed constitutes a solicitation by Morgan Stanley with respect to the purchase or sale of any security, investment, strategy or product that may be mentioned. Article by Wealth Management Systems Inc. and provided courtesy of Morgan Stanley Financial Advisor. Courtesy of: E. Portia Parker, RICP® Financial Advisor Branch Name: Morgan Stanley 112 E. Pecan St. Ste. 1500 San Antonio, TX 78205 Phone Number: 210-271-6108 Web Address: www.MorganStanleyFA. com/Portia.Parker

monthly income. Relatedly, try not to let your vehicle expenses exceed ten percent of your income. And while it can be hard to determine how much to spend on your wants unless you have concrete figures, consider working with a thirty percent-and-under after-tax allowance for discretionary expenses. S.M.A.R.T.1 Investments There are a number of different ways to invest your wealth for long-term benefit. You might finally make a go at that startup idea or invest in further education. Purchasing your first home is another great way to invest your new wealth and ensure that this wealth supports you in the longer term. It is understandable and admirable to want to give back to your family and community, but you will be of more service over time if you take care of your own financial health first by investing in yourself. These three suggestions (saving for retirement, budgeting, and investing) can help you to feel more grounded in your financial future and also help to offset the stresses that come with new wealth. I

E. Portia Parker may only transact business, follow-up with individualized responses, or render personalized investment advice for compensation, in states where she is registered or excluded or exempted from registration, www.MorganstanleyFA. com/Portia.Parker or FINRA Broker Check http://brokercheck.finra.org/Search/ Search.aspx. Tax laws are complex and subject to change. Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC (“Morgan Stanley”), its affiliates and Morgan Stanley Financial Advisors or Private Wealth Advisors do not provide tax or legal advice. Individuals are urged to consult their personal tax or legal advisors to understand the tax and legal consequences of any actions, including any implementation of any strategies or investments described herein © 2017 Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC. Member SIPC.

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THE ALBATROSS

GRAB A GOLF CART!

WE’LL TAKE YOU ON A WEEK-LONG RIDE THROUGH THE 2017 VALERO TEXAS OPEN (VTO). BY ALEXANDRA VALESQUEZ

onday morning, the INFLUENCE team checked into the media center at TPC San Antonio, AT&T Oaks Course and stood out on the deck viewing the eighteenth hole. Hole number eighteen, a long uphill par 5—handicap 6—591 yards. There was a nice breeze, partly cloudy skies, and a fresh open green course. PGA pro-am and pro golfers in town were ready for a week of bogeys, birdies, and aces. AT&T Oaks Course has been home for the Valero Texas Open for six years now. This year the PGA Tour celebrates ninety-five years of spectacular play, wins, and losses. On Tuesday, things began to pick up. The PGA Tour player practice rounds commenced while the fifth annual Valero Texas Open Executive Women’s Day, a firsthand opportunity for women to experience a PGA Tour event, took place at JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa. Back at the course, Australian golfer Curtis Luck felt the green (and the winds from San Antonio). Here to make his first professional debut at the VTO, Luck is only twenty years old. You may have seen him play at this year’s Masters Tournament. “We’d like to welcome Curtis Luck to the interview room,” announced Mark Williams, PGA Tour media official. First question from the media: “How do you prepare for the windy conditions in Texas?” The young Aussie said he felt like home and that these windy conditions in Texas suited his game. Meanwhile, Luck continued to clear his throat. “Are you feeling fatigued, or do you have a sickness right now?” we asked. Luck answered, “I was sick last week. I’m just coming off it now.” We were feeling the sniffles and congestion, too. Allergies in Texas sure know how to get you. After hearing from Luck, we called it a day. We were back midmorning on Wednesday, ready for a full day of pre-tournament press conferences with the pros. While few golfers call Texas home, some call it windy. We heard from defending champion Charley Hoffman, who is no stranger to TPC. In fact, he feels

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comfortable playing this course. Also at the mic stand, Jimmy Walker, the 2015 Valero Texas Open champion, was asked about his health. He said he had tested positive for Lyme disease, which is caused by a tick bite. As the questions flared on about Jimmy’s health, Walker assured questioners he was speaking with his doctors about it. We also heard from Matt Kuchar, who comes out of the Masters, following the RBC Heritage in South Carolina (part of the PGA Tour) with a high playing momentum. A little after lunch we heard from Patrick Reed, who surely felt at home this week. He mentioned owning twelve or fourteen pairs of cowboy boots. Yee-haw! Still, the question for the players was what makes the par-5s so difficult at TPC. The length and the wind are two reasons. Kuchar let it be known that you may have to hit at least two good shots to set-up a chance at finishing at birdie. Hoffman said, “When that hole gets in the wind, it plays hard, and when it gets downwind you can make birdie. The entire TPC course is wind dependent.” So, there you have it, length and the wind are two factors these players took into consideration when playing the par-5s. After an afternoon of press conferences, we arranged a golf cart ride to the first hole. Just in the nick of time, we caught Cameron Tringale at his tee time. Quiet please signs went up. We sat down in the stands as the sun beat down on the course. Tringale got in position and swung. As the ball flew out of sight, we thought about being able to reach a target. Arnold Palmer once said, “Success in golf depends less on strength of body than upon strength of mind and character.” We wrapped up Wednesday with a tribute to Arnold Palmer. Larson Segerdahl, Executive Director of VTO, reminded the audience what Palmer did to the Texas Open. Palmer won three years in a row in 1960, 1961, and 1962. Palmer has impacted lives on a global scale and far beyond the game of golf. Segerdahl added his personal perspective, commenting that without Palmer, he and his staff wouldn’t

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THE GRILL

have the jobs they have today. “PGA Tour events wouldn’t have grown to the scale that they’ve grown to today if it were not for the contributions of Mr. Palmer and what he did for the game of golf.” As the speeches began, each of us was passed an ice cold serving of Arnold Palmer. For those, who are not familiar with the beverage, an Arnold Palmer is served as half lemonade and half tea (sweet or unsweet). DELICIOUS! Next Segerdahl paid further tribute with the Arnold Palmer celebration tower. On three of the four sides, there are images of his three victories. The fourth side is a world jumble featuring many of his accomplishments and lifetime achievements. In addition, Palmer was featured on the spectator tickets. Each day’s tickets had a photo of Palmer winning—Thursday was 1960, Friday was1961, and Saturday was 1962. Then we were told news far beyond this world. On the top of the tower, three NASA search lights were mounted. When these lights were lit, they could be seen from the International Space Station. The lights remained on for the duration of the week. Greetings from San Antonio! Also at the tribute was Texas native Justin Leonard. Leonard made his PGA debut in 1994 and has won twelve times on the PGA Tour. Sam Sanders, pro golfer, and Arnold Palmer’s grandson were both at the tribute and competed at the VTO. As round one began on Thursday, the weather looked to stay partly cloudy. This year’s purse amounted to $6,200,000, granting $1,116,000 to the winner. Thursday came down to Branden Grace taking the leaderboard with a 66 (-6). Grace’s 66 mark was his lowest score in thirteen rounds at TPC. Grace said, “I think I missed four greens the whole day and only one fairway.” Grace hit thirteen of the fourteen fairways in the first round.

Winds were blowing throughout the week, but the rain stayed away. The week quickly came down to Sunday. After a significant first and second round, Kevin Chappell led the course in the final round. It was quite a finish when Kevin took his first PGA Tour victory with a birdie putt. The reaction from Kevin, his caddy, and the spectators was fantastic. Folks, the 2017 Valero Texas Open entertained San Antonio again. I

CHEF BULLY DAVID PAGE FOOD TRUCK – A MOBILE KITCHEN, RESTAURANT ON WHEELS. CHEF (ACCORDING TO WEBSTER’S DICTIONARY) – “A SKILLED COOK WHO MANAGES THE KITCHEN.”

here are food trucks and there’s Chef Bully’s food truck. Originating from Brooklyn, New York, David Page a.k.a. Chef Bully has mastered the art of the food truck with recipes far advanced beyond what you generally find on your average restaurant on wheels. We sampled some of Chef Bully’s food at this year’s King William Fair during Fiesta. We quickly assessed what all the hype was about. The harmony and balance of spices and detail enters every item on his menu. He features clearly the best cheese steak sandwich we’ve experienced here in San Antonio. But don’t let Chef Bully’s Brooklyn-bred background and charm fool you, he’s as much a guru of cuisine culture with a servant’s spirit as he is an ambassador for the great New York City bureau. He and his partner Chef Melo (Norman Thurman) are both renowned chefs with big-time awards for their culinary skill. David said of Chef Melo, “I owe a fair amount of my success to his continued support and trust.” Catch up with Chef Bully, Chef Norman, and their great food truck at a special event near you. They also cater. I

For more information, contact Chef Bully at 210.452.4535 or chefdpage@gmail.com.

PHOTO COURTESY OF CHEF BULLY DAVID PAGE FACEBOOK PAGE

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COCKTAILS & CIGARS

COCKTAILS:

HAWK’S SHADOW ESTATE WINERY & VINEYARD

I drove straight uphill for a good long while, past several other wineries and spirits companies, and arrived at a crossroads dead-end, gated property, facing a sign that read, “Turn right for main entrance to the winery.” There it was, nestled high atop a hill, right below the clouds in what has become the wedding capital of Texas—Dripping Springs (twenty-five miles west of Austin). It’s Hawk’s Shadow Estate Winery & Vineyard, a must-visit, although it’s not your typical taste-the-wine-and-smell-the-cork experience. Hawk’s Shadow is a family-owned business that features three wine masters: brothers Doug and Tom Reed and brother-in-law Chip Conklin. Decades ago, the three got together and decided to make an investment behind their passion and appreciation for the Biblical hobby of enjoying fine wine. I spent a few hours with the wine masters and learned the unique history and specialness of a winery carved out of tough limestone, sitting on a twenty-six-acre patch of land that has a most awe-inspiring view of Hill Country mountains. “Most winemakers in Texas are not first-generation winemakers. We’ve all had careers,” Tom said, “doing something else for most of our adult life—doctors, lawyers, engineers, businessmen, all sorts of different backgrounds. And we’ve stepped into this next journey.” And now they want to introduce their passion to a new generation. Tom continued, “We want to bring the millennials back into this. I think that’s one of the things we share, so I think the wine industry in Texas is bifurcated that way, too. It’s a bunch of folks like us, and there are a ton of folks who, like Dad, think I

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appreciate that college education, but I’m going to go make wine. They’re kind of following that passion.” Let’s start our visit with the view from the patio—God’s country—overlooking a river and the famous Deadman’s Hole. The setting is spectacular, both from inside the tasting room and from out on the shady tiered patio. As I stood on the well-architected patio and looked out toward Austin, I immediately felt a mountaintop experience, overlooking a promised land. Green acres for miles. This not your everyday wine experience. The winery welcomes visitors only on Saturdays from noon to 6pm or by appointment. This place is not on the beaten path, and you must be determined to get there—it’s at the very top of the hill. The winery and tasting room sit above the natural ground limestone cellar/barrel room, where the winemakers often host catered dinners and special events. “So how has your winery done regarding awards?” I inquired. Tom answered, “We don’t compete with anyone and don’t seek out awards. Our whites can be both dry and complex, and our reds can taste European with specific characters that are unique depending on who’s tasting it.” If you don’t enjoy wine and you stop in here, you’ll leave a changed individual, reconsidering its value. The three masters will first educate you on all the medicinal properties and benefits of this legendary organic, Biblical beverage. And profit is not their primary motivation, which is why you won’t find their wine in retail outlets. Chip said, “I don’t want to make it sound like this is all rainbows and

continued 

PHOTOS COURTESY OF HAWK’S SHADOW ESTATE AND WINERY

unicorns. It is a for-real business, a start-up business, and it’s a tumultuous experience. Sometimes the richest ones are, you know.

have done, what they’ve felt was the right thing to do, by instinct more than by knowledge necessarily, and not discount that. You read about what people wrote about wine 300 years ago. As a writer, as a journalist, you can subtract maybe a little bit of floweriness from the prose of the day. They were moved. They didn’t just say, ‘Wine was my gateway drug to a buzz.’ They wrote about wine. They wrote about what it did and how it made them feel. In fact, thousands of years ago, people wrote about wine.

CIGARS

During my visit with the three wine masters at Hawk’s Shadow Winery, I asked Chip if he could recommend a cigar with their red wine. “Yes,” he answered. “Rocky Patel Edicion Unica 2011.” This cigar is a tasty blend that took home top honors at the Honduran Cigar Festival in 2011. The first go-round was released that same year, and due to popular demand, it’s back now and just as good. The second production version is identical to the first. It’s a Honduran puro featuring a Honduran Jamastran wrapper overtop a hearty blend of long-fillers from Jamastran and Talanga Valley ligero. The Rocky Patel Edicion Unica was released to commemorate the 2011 Honduran cigar

YOU’LL LEAVE HERE KNOWING YOU’VE HAD A WINE EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE. It isn’t just about living that second career from a recliner and watching TV. It’s getting into it and all the beautiful ups and downs of what life really is. We have it in spades in this business. You’ll leave here knowing you’ve had a wine education and experience.” Tom spent many years living in the Bay Area of California studying the processes of top wineries, such as those of the Gallo and Mondavi families. These guys will convince you that by not enjoying a good glass of wine you could be limiting life itself. Of course, they wouldn’t let me get away without tasting the wine. I said, “Tremendous smoke and pepper and dark chocolate and leather properties like a French variety.” Don said, “I think you’re pretty spot on. Tom can probably describe all these a whole lot better than I can!” Tom explained, “That’s what three years in a cellar like this can do to a wine. That’s why it’s worth the effort and time. We should look at history a little bit. This is a very, very, highly dynamic, microbiological, biological connection. We’re certainly not in my lifetime going to fully understand, so we might as well just kind of look at what people

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“Why should we not believe that the wines back then were spectacularly good? No, we can’t go back and taste them. I think they were as moving and as authentic and as beautiful as any wine we’re able to make now. And they did it without stainless steel and without a deep understanding of chemistry. To me, it’s a sign that we can learn a lot and integrate that with a little more insight today, a little more knowledge of what we’re doing, the accessibility and availability, like barrels back then. And keeping wines at the right time exposed to oxygen, at the right time not exposed to oxygen, we have a little more insight into that. So, we’re maybe not making as many wide-sweeping mistakes. But I think our style is very much in adherence to very fundamental Old World wine style. I think Texas may be a place where that’s the right push.” So, where’d the name Hawk’s Shadow come from? According to Don, that was the name of their horse several years ago before a terminal illness required putting him down. The logo explains it all as you see a shadow of a horse peeking in a window of a home high on a hill where hawks fly.

festival, Humo Jaguar. This cigar was the fifteenth release from Rocky Patel in 2011 and only 50,000 cigars were released.

Size: 6 x 52 (toro) Wrapper: Honduran Jamastran Binder: Honduran Filler: Jamastran and Talanga Valley ligero Strength: Medium to Full Body: Full Flavor: Full As I walked away from this high-level wine experience, the guys handed me a gift of their Tres Robles 2013 Red. I suggest you schedule a visit and experience Hawk’s Shadow for yourself. I

Hawk’s Shadow Estate and Winery, 7500 McGregor Lane, Dripping Springs, TX 78620. To schedule a visit or reservation call 866.551.9463 or chip@hawksshadow. com.

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YOUR IMAGE/ YOUR BRAND

WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THE CLASSIC DRESSED GENTLEMAN? BY MARIO MARES

I’ve always been fascinated with men’s clothing and different styles through the decades. That’s why I work in the men’s clothing business. I’ve always admired how men carry themselves according to dress standards. Any man should be able to carry off a suit with the proper tailoring. I enjoy dressing up. There is a certain attitude of distinction when one dresses the part. So awhile back, I was looking through some old family photos and noticed my father was always dressed in a suit or dress slacks and dress shirt. His father, my grandfather, always was dressed in slacks, a short sleeve dress shirt, and suspenders. What has happened that the man of today doesn’t dress up like men used to? In my research, I came across many black and white photos of men always in suits. You couldn’t tell the man’s profession, as many of them were always dressed to impress. In the 40s, Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., and other men always looked very stylish, polished, and debonair. These men set the pace for the future. Teachers, the downtown pharmacist, and more were always dressed in style—you couldn’t tell who did what for a living by the way they were dressed. Just thinking about this era warms my heart. Some men during this time also wore hats to go with their attire. This created the entire package for the best dressed gentleman. Along came the 50s and men were dressing up, but now there were more rebels who wore Levi jeans and white t-shirts. Many became much more relaxed than before with the change of a single decade. Certain males wore short-sleeved, button-up casual

shirts with chinos. Those were more spring and summer attire. Yet we still had our presidents, congressmen, and white-collar businessmen who dressed the part. Fast forward to the 60s, and men’s dress standards became more relaxed. Nehru jackets were all the rage. Movements of all types changed the way people thought about clothing—many were no longer concerned with always being well dressed. Attitudes changed along with the times. Our country was in a war, and women were a bigger force in the work market. Many of our men were overseas fighting for our freedoms and liberties. However, there was a smaller group who still dressed. We also had a brand-new band that paved the way and changed the music scene forever, the Beatles. Entering the 70s, another wave of change, disco, came along. Leisure suits, bell bottom pants, men’s suits in bold, vivid colors, and prints. Along with these bolder looks came hairstyles, jewelry, and let’s not forget sunglasses. Some men wore platform shoes to go along with their new look. Tight shirts were also in fashion. Anyone not at Studio 54 in New York City missed out on many wild and crazy nights along with celebrities galore. After the 70s, we entered the 80s, and styles changed once more. This was all about parachute pants, color block, sunglasses, fluorescent clothing, newer outlandish hair styles, and much more. It was a time of rap music, Wham, Madonna, Duran Duran, and Bananarama. Yet it was also the decade of the great American preppy male. These young men wore khakis, deck shorts, and button-down collar shirts with sweaters

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draped over their shoulders. It was the time of Magnum PI, Dallas, Dynasty, and many other dramatic shows. In the 90s and beyond, we still had many of the 80s looks and bold colors carry over. But now we also had the more casual suit make a comeback, with Miami Vice leading the way for men to start wanting to dress up once more. Then, when we turned over into the twenty-first century, men’s suits finally started to make a much larger impact. Men working in Wall Street as well as Los Angeles led the way in bringing back a reinvented classic look for men. Men also started taking a much closer look at joining a gym and updating their grooming habits, such as newly styled haircuts as well as wanting to take better care of their health. Today, many men’s fashion designers are taking men back in the right direction and creating more sleek lines to fit any man. Now we have the classic suit, slim fit, and skinny suit. If you are fairly thin, you don’t want to be wearing a suit that doesn’t fit your body type. Some young men even go as far as wearing bow ties with the suit. Along these fashion lines also comes dress shirts in various styles to complement the style and fit of the suit. I enjoy being a clothier to my customers. I’m your personal shopper and will dress you from head to toe. A few months back, I happily dressed an entire wedding party, and everyone, especially the bride, was ecstatic that I got the groom and groomsmen ready for their special day. If you’d like any assistance, feel free to ask. I

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RENAISSANCE LEADER

IT’S SPECIAL ... DAVID HOLMES – CEO OF SANTIKOS BY JESSIE MOORE

It’s special when you meet an individual who exudes positive energy that feeds into the people they surround. They ask and care how you are before you have a chance to open your mouth for a greeting. It’s special when you have a conversation with someone who is passionate about their job. They have a natural glow whenever they talk about their career and all the great ways that their company impacts the community. It’s special if you can sit down with a person who thrives off being a part of something bigger than themselves. It’s special when you shake hands with David Holmes, Chief Executive Officer of one of the best-known companies in San Antonio, Santikos Enterprises. “If you grew up in San Antonio, Santikos means movies,” Holmes said. Even those who are not from the area will forever remember the name after a visit to one of their theatres. Holmes added, “What we want to do is leverage the value that the name brings to who we are, and that is value recognition.” Santikos is offering more than just a site to see a movie. It’s a place where the community meets as a social gathering. It’s a hangout spot for before and after the movie. Holmes applauds and praises the late John L. Santikos and the legacy he left behind. There’s much to be said, positively, when an individual leaves an entire estate of over $605 million in assets to a foundation, San Antonio Area Foundation, whose sole purpose is to serve the community. Filling some rather large shoes, Holmes has absorbed himself in the industry, keeping the legacy alive and ensuring that the company sustains its social enterprise business practice. “Our business model is pretty simple,” Holmes explained. “We take in our revenue, we pay our expenses, we set aside

money for renovations, and new theatres. But 100% of what is left goes back into our community.” The company and the San Antonio Area Foundation are hard at work ensuring contributions are still made in the areas of John Santikos’ interest. They include children and youth, arts and culture, community need, disaster relief, health and wellness, education, medical research, and seniors. Holmes wants the community to know, “If you go to a movie theatre and you choose a Santikos theatre, there’s two things that you’re doing: hopefully you are going to see a great film, but also you are going to really have an impact on San Antonio. There’s a direct correlation in the money that we make and the money that we give back to San Antonio.” The theatres now offer a bowling alley, an arcade, a full-service bar, and a restaurant, with more features on the way in future locations. Plans are underway for a potential laser tag and an even bigger arcade. There is something for everyone at a Santikos theatre. The company is currently revisiting several locations and doing some major upgrades to give people the best movie experience there is. The latest to receive an overhaul is Santikos Embassy 14. This particular theatre holds a special place in the company’s heart, because it was the last theatre that John Santikos and his father, Louis Santikos, worked on together. “When it came time to think about renovating it, we really took some extra time to make it something special,” Holmes said. A fun fact: Holmes and his wife had their first date, seeing Back to the Future, right at the Embassy! From the instant you walk in, you automatically get the five-star hotel lobby vibes from the décor and design. A bar to your left

and big comfy lounge sofas throughout the front make it appealing and inviting to all. You’ll want to hang out and maybe even invite a friend to join you at the bar while the kids catch a movie. It’s special when you can recline your theatre seat while listening to the CEO of Santikos Enterprises, David Holmes, light up as he talks about all the new features and technology incorporated into each theatre room. Every room at the Embassy 14 has oversized reclining chairs to find that perfect viewing angle and a little table to hold your concession buys. Along with that comes the state-of-the-art technology with Dolby surround sound and 100% laser digital screens to give the audience the best viewing experience. Holmes proudly stated, “This is what we are going for in all of our theatres. To have the absolute latest technology in Dolby surround sound, clip speakers, a screen that is configured state of the art, best in the industry, laser digital. That’s our aim—to have the best in-theatre experience that someone can possibly have.” This movie connoisseur says he is a huge fan of the Jason Bourne film series. But, out of all the movies he’s viewed, he has yet to see the new Beauty and The Beast. “It’s been fun to learn the industry and how it works,” he said. “It’s fun to track different things, like directors. If someday I get to the level I hope to, I’ll be able to look at a film and tell you who directed it.” It’s special when you can watch a movie with family or friends at a Santikos theatre, because there are few that do what Santikos Enterprises does. “I love being able to say that when you come to a Santikos theatre, the money benefits your local community,” Holmes concluded. That’s special. I

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FUTURE

BRONSON LERMA BY JESSIE MOORE

Tell us about yourself. I am forty years old, married with two boys. I was born in Beaumont, Texas, but grew up in Corpus Christi and San Antonio. I graduated from Medina Valley High School and was accepted into the Air Force Academy Prep School. My father was a Texas state game warden, so I spent a lot of time outdoors and still love to go fishing with my family. What’s your educational background? I have a very diverse educational background. My bachelor’s degree is in professional aeronautics and aviation safety with Embry Riddle Aeronautical University. My master’s degree is an executive MBA with UTSA, and I have since attended two Harvard Business School executive education programs. I have attended a multitude of leadership programs throughout my life, in addition to survival/POW training in the Air Force. I was trained as an in-flight refueler in the Air Force and was certified as an instructor and in functional flight test for the KC-135 aircraft. Describe your current job—a day in the life of. My current initiative is Edify Creative, which offers custom mixed reality applications for businesses. I originally founded the venture to help companies modernize their process with better technology. The venture has evolved into a focus on virtual and mixed reality, specifically for the Microsoft Hololens. Mixed reality is still somewhat of a mystery to most companies, so part of my day is spent educating business owners/executives on the benefits of the new technology. The rest of my day is spent on project management and strategy development. I don’t maintain a set schedule, as I have incorporated a very opportunistic approach to developing business, which ensures that opportunities are working for me and always providing value. Reducing

the amount of forced opportunities has freed up an astonishingly large amount of time to focus on the future and my family instead of constantly putting out fires and dealing with drama. Describe your product/ service and its competitive advantage or the need it addresses. Mixed reality is best explained as combining the virtual world with your real world. The Microsoft Hololens is the first device to allow this combination by anchoring holographic 3D renderings into your real environment. Using a few simple hand gestures or voice commands, the user can interact with the holographic objects to move, resize, and modify the renderings. This technology creates a multitude of uses for business, including design collaboration, interactive training programs, maintenance checklists/ guidance, education, inventory management, sales, and much more. If that wasn’t enough, we can also detect images and objects so companies can build applications around their products or machinery. The possibilities are endless, and we can specifically tailor applications to any company’s needs. What are some of your extracurricular activities? When/how did you get started? I enjoy camping, canoeing, and fishing with my family and friends. In the past, I have competed collegiately in shooting sports, participated in local wakeboarding competitions, and taken part in cross-country/ downhill mountain bike races. I started all these sports/hobbies at a young age and walked on to the Air Force shooting team after years of experience in 4-H shooting during grade school. Lately, I spend most of my extra time reading or with my family.

continued 

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PHOTOS COURTESY OF BRONSON LERMA

What are your goals for 2017? My main goal is to create happiness for my family and myself. I am currently working to create an effective marketing campaign for Edify Creative that educates business executives on the benefits of mixed reality. Since mixed reality is somewhat unknown to most companies, I must ensure there is opportunity for them to understand the benefits. Who do you consider your mentor or who you aspire to emulate? Why? I don’t aspire to emulate one person as a whole; rather, I try to emulate the best attributes from various leaders. For instance, I respect Elon Musk’s ability to overcome all odds to achieve things that seem impossible or too daunting for one individual to initiate. His ability to recognize the root problem of creating cheaper, reusable rockets has been key to re-igniting space exploration. I also aspire to emulate the late Steve Jobs’ ability to effectively build teams and create products or services that people don’t know they need yet.

What’s been your greatest accomplishment? One of my greatest accomplishments was acceptance into Harvard Business School executive education programs. Only seventy participants for each program are selected from a worldwide application process, allowing only 20% American attendance. The level of instruction at Harvard was phenomenal, in addition to the worldwide network of friends and colleagues I developed. I look forward to attending more programs at Harvard in the future. What’s next for your career? I have definitely taken a different path than most when it comes to a career, and as I stated before, it has become more opportunistic than anything. My vast array of experience and education allows me to seize a multitude of opportunities if market conditions are aligned with the opportunity. As of right now, I plan on scaling our offering with Edify Creative to incorporate a tailored multiservice platform for augmented, virtual, and mixed reality application development.

I feel that mixed reality is the future and a game changer for business as we know it. I also want to take this opportunity to express the importance of support from my friends and family and their patience with all my endeavors throughout the years. Taking a path less traveled can be a grueling, unforgiving journey. I wouldn’t have been able to get where I’m at without my wife, Christina, by my side. What’s on your nightstand? What book are you currently reading? The current book on my nightstand is Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman. It’s a must read for anyone who wants insight on how we make decisions and how those decisions apply to both our personal and business lives. I am reading it for a second time, as it has been a game changer for the way I interpret information and converse with others. I

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FUTURE

NEW FROST BANK TOWER INFLUENCING SAN ANTONIO SKYLINE BY DELMI NIETO

rost Tower will soon be an iconic addition to the downtown skyline of San Antonio. Designed by world-renowned Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects, the tower will offer 460,000 square feet of Class AA office and retail space surrounded by beautiful parks and a walkable, urban environment. The Frost Tower, valued at $142 million, will be the first skyscraper built in San Antonio in twenty-seven years. It is described as a pivotal project in the long effort to revitalize downtown. In 2015, the City of San Antonio entered a deal with Frost Bank and Weston Urban. The public-private deal involved the sale of several buildings. The city spent about $50 million to buy the old Frost Bank Tower to get more office and parking space. Weston Urban and partners will develop the new twenty-three-story Frost Tower and provide some mixed-use units, including residential space. This is the first new high-rise in the area since 1989. This transformation is helping the city reach its goal of creating an urban core, offering downtown space for work, living, and recreation. “I think we are well on our way to having a downtown that really is vibrant, that’s 24-7, and a place for San Antonians,” said former Mayor Ivy Taylor. “Tourists want to be in authentic places where people live. In addition, to its ethereal hue, the LEED Silver-certified building will

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bring highly coveted Class AA office space to the San Antonio market.” As JLL, the commercial real estate firm heading up leases of the property, noted in a 2016 report: “Excitement around the development of Frost Tower indicates that interest in trophy space is strong, and downtown San Antonio may be on the verge of the urban renewal wave that has revitalized many urban loves across the country.” Frost Bank has already stated a claim to the anchor position, having preleased 250,000 square feet for its corporate headquarters. The twenty-three-story tall Frost Tower building, going up near Houston and Flores Streets, will be an all-glass structure that Councilman Roberto Trevino says will be an attention grabber. The councilman, who is an architect by trade, said it’s not colonial, like much of the city, but it’s not trendy either. “What is awesome about it is it’s a truly sculptural piece. It speaks to all the things that make this city great,” he told Newsradio 1200 WOAI. The tower will add a shock to San Antonio’s downtown architecture with shimmering images of an icy glass cylinder, appearing as a lustrous waterfall, cascading down its vertical blades, and industrial dome, propelling into the limelight with a bluish glow into the highlights of the San Antonio skies. This silver bullet of a tower is on track to reach completion by March 2019. I

THE FROST TOWER, VALUED AT $142 MILLION, WILL BE THE FIRST SKYSCRAPER BUILT IN SAN ANTONIO IN TWENTY-SEVEN YEARS.

PHOTO COURTESY OF FROST TOWER

FIT PRO

HOW TO SNEAK IN EXERCISE AT WORK BY ROMY ANTOINE

ADD IN SOME PHYSICAL ACTIVITY TO YOUR WORK DAY. your commute to rack up some steps? Besides, getting this exercise done will leave you feeling energized and ready to tackle your day.

Take Short Breaks During the Day Instead of sitting at a desk or cubicle all day, try to set an alarm to force you to take short, active breaks every thirty to forty-five minutes. These breaks can include walking around to fill up your coffee mug or water bottle or even just standing up to stretch. You don’t need to do much, but moving around will burn off some calories and improve mental focus.

Working a full-time job can make it seem almost impossible to find time for exercise. The idea of packing your bag, going to the gym, working out, getting changed, and heading back to work can be a daunting task. But you don’t want to just skip it all together and put your health at risk, do you? Studies show lack of exercise can negatively impact your physical and mental health, decreasing energy and productivity. So, how can you still get the health benefits of exercise while boosting your work performance without going to the gym? Add in some physical activity to your work day. It doesn’t need to be formal exercise, but just making a few daily changes to your routine and being conscious of how you spend your free time can add about fifteen minutes of extra activity to your day, totaling over an hour during a five-day work week. Here are five simple ways to sneak in exercise at work:

Turn Your Commute into a Workout This seems crazy, but it’s not as bad as it sounds. If you live near your job, this can mean walking or riding your bike to work. Otherwise if you’re driving, try parking a little further away from your office, forcing you to walk a little extra. The American Heart Association recommends taking 10,000 steps per day, so why not use

ENDOMOTION/BIGSTOCK.COM

Walk to the “Other” Restroom Believe it or not, but going to the restroom is a great way to sneak in exercise at work. Rather than looking for the one closest to your office as you normally would, go to a restroom on another floor or different part of the building. This will force you to walk more and add some extra steps to your day.

Take the Stairs over the Elevator This might not seem like much but taking the stairs throughout your work day can add up to five minutes of activity during the day. According to Dr. Harvey Simon at Harvard Medical School, climbing stairs is one of the best kept secrets in preventative medicine. Taking the stairs has many cardiovascular benefits, including reducing the risk for high blood pressure and heart disease. Plus, every time you climb a flight of stairs, your body releases endorphins, making you feel happier and more relaxed!

Replace Your Chair with a Stability Ball Ever walk into an office and wonder why there’s exercise balls in place of the chairs? No, there’s not a fitness class going on. Sitting on the exercise ball can result in better posture, because it forces proper spine alignment. The exercise ball will engage your core and abs because those muscles need to stabilize themselves for you to sit upright. So, every time you’re sitting on a ball, you’re training your abs and burning calories at the same time. I

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YOU GOT GAME

“MANU” CHANTS THE CROWD BY JOSE ARREDONDO

The Spurs were on the brink of elimination in the final two minutes of game four of the Western Conference Finals, and Warriors guard Stephen Curry was at the free-throw line. Gregg Popovich subbed Manu Ginobili out of the game, and Curry placed his free-throw attempt on hold in respect for the Spurs veteran. The AT&T Center erupted with resounding “Manu” chants as he headed to the bench, and the echoes followed him into the tunnel after the game. Ginobili’s fifteen-season career has included four NBA Championships, a Sixth Man of the Year Award, two NBA All-Star appearances, and an

“I always said that I wanted to let it sink in for three weeks, four weeks, whatever,” said Ginobili. “and then I will sit with my wife and see how it feels.” Ginobili Euro stepped into the NBA as a twenty-five-year-old left-handed rookie from Argentina with a great deal of promise. The Argentine legend’s undiminished influence has extended from South America to Europe and the United States. His style of play has been emulated by many players in the NBA. “A lot of us grew up watching Manu and really respecting his game,” said former MVP Kevin Durant. “So to play against him, have battles with him year in and year out is really epic.”

“First time I saw him play was in high school when the Spurs were winning their championships and he (Ginobili) was at his peak,” James Harden said. “I got a lot of my game and the footwork from him. You can see I’m a fan of his.” Ginobili’s priorities pivoted when he became a father in 2010 with twin sons, Nicola and Dante. “I think it’s a process because, in my case, I started my professional career in 1996, so it was fourteen years of being a pro without them,” Ginobili said. “My head was all basketball, basketball, basketball.” Four years later, his third son, Luca, was born. Since becoming a father,

nents and coaches as well as teammates. “He’s really an anomaly in that regard. He has that same foot-on-your-neck attitude that Kobe [Bryant] and Michael [Jordan] had, those types of guys,” Popovich said. His storied career has left fans in awe, whether he’s dunking on Chris Bosh in the 2014 NBA Finals, blocking Harden in the overtime of the playoffs, hitting a buzzer-beater in double-overtime against the Warriors, or even swatting a bat. At thirty-nine, Ginobili faces a tough decision between two “unbelievable options.” “One is to keep playing in this league at this age, enjoying

Olympic Gold Medal. In a postgame interview, Ginobili admitted he could still play, but said that his abilities on the court would not dictate his decision on retiring.

Ginobili’s crafty moveset is composed of a lethal pumpfake, smooth behind-the-back drive, a fatal step-back jumper, his famous Euro step, and many other creative tactics.

Ginobili has played in four of the last six Western Conference Finals and captured an NBA title in 2014. He’s been described as the ultimate competitor by oppo-

every day, playing the sport I still love,” Ginobili said. “The other is to stay at home, be a dad, travel more, enjoy my whole family. I have a wonderful family.”

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PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE SPURS

OUR MUSIC

TEXAS PINK FLOYD SEIZING SAN ANTONIO BY DELMI NIETO

MEET THE TEAM: Dexter Haskins – who always dreamed of singing Pink Floyd Glen Mead – guitar player, who was eager to be a part of the vision Rick Linn – keyboard player whom Adriel met in a coffee shop Mike Zeoli – drummer with an amazing groove Julian Menchaca – lifelong friend who brings his stylish beats of percussion Rebecca Valadez – lead background vocalist, who sang with Janet Jackson, Mariah Carey, and Luther Vandross Adriana Northcutt – bringing the background vocals with her sensational voice

“And I am not frightened of dying, anytime will do, I don’t mind. Why should I be?” These lyrics from “The Great Gig in the Sky” seemed to be on the mind of Adriel Ramirez, founder and bassist of Texas Pink Floyd, almost sixteen years ago, after leaving the Grammy-Award-winning Chris Perez Project in 2000. His epic visionary dream was born after many nights of lying on a couch; with countless shows and thirty-six sold-out arena shows; opening for Maná; and consuming the psychedelic, progressive, and harmonizing sounds of Pink Floyd from his headset. Once realizing the time was right, as if the gods of rock, themselves, had a huge hand in this magical journey, word was soon spread regarding this amazing project. And that’s when the talent came knocking.

ARTWORK COURTESY OF TEXAS PINK FLOYD FACEBOOK PAGE

Texas Pink Floyd is managed by Mickey Pena, with the help of Mack Damon as music producer, John Ward as laser producer, Frank Burton as lighting designer, Joshua Stoker as sound engineer, Arturo Knight as graphic artist, and Juan Martinez as director. Texas Pink Floyd is a full force manifested and to be enjoyed by all. As for the dream visionary, Adriel Ramirez, “he has surely killed the past and has come back to life.” Keep Up With Texas Pink Floyd:

@TexasPinkFloyd

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MODEL NONPROFITS

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300 SECONDS

SAN ANTONIO’S UP AND COMING NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION BY JESSIE MOORE

eet 300 Seconds, founded by Demetric Byrd, a military veteran. 300 Seconds is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in San Antonio. This organization

seeks to combat the busyness of everyday life by advocating for citizens to look outside of themselves and devote at least five minutes of their time to help someone else solve perceived and often real problems. This, in turn, can help bridge relational gaps and foster more positive, involved communities. The vision is to empower a battalion of servant leaders, also known as impactors, who will lead various efforts to accomplish the mission. The organization has teamed up with San Antonio Parks and Recreation by adopting Kenwood Park, committing to park beautification and disinfecting playground equipment, creating a healthier environment for neighborhood children. 300 Seconds has established several ambitious goals, which include becoming a volunteer hub for people who desire to display a selfless character. Additional targets include implementation of a grassroots mentoring program, sponsoring seven My Little Free Libraries throughout the city, and establishing the Cave Community Center, which will provide an avenue for mentorship, networking rallies, clean comedy, study groups, motivational speaking engagements, and a food pantry. Support for the organization comes from individuals who believe in the mission and partner with 300 Seconds by contributing monthly recurring donations. The organization can be summed up in one word—reach. To reach, you must extend yourself. By extending yourself, you will make a lasting impact on the people and community around you. Founder Demetric Byrd said, “Let’s GO!” In short: 300 Seconds is five minutes, and in five minutes you can alter, if not change, someone’s life.

WORK OUT HELP OUT BY JESSIE MOORE

eet Paul Rezaei and Dr. Bill Richardson, cofounders of a unique health and fitness not-for-profit called Work Out Help Out, also known as WOHO. Paul Rezaei, Chairman of the Board, has worked fulltime as a personal trainer since 2007 and has earned several advanced certifications. He loves to be around people, so he participates in group activities often. Faith in God is paramount in his life. Dr. William Richardson, Vice Chair, is currently a physical therapist at Stratton Rehabilitation, specializing in outpatient orthopedic care. He earned his bachelor's degree in kinesiology from the UTSA in 2009 and his doctor of physical therapy in 2015 from Texas Woman’s University. He also serves as the Communications Chair for the Central District of the Texas Physical Therapy Association. WOHO’s mission is to change public perception of physical activity, community service, and personal wellness. They aim to unite volunteers across age groups, fitness levels, cultures, ethnicities, sexes, and religions for a common cause—better health and fitness in a city that ranks high on a national scale for health diseases such as diabetes and obesity. WOHO has begun tracking its volunteer data, which now boasts impressive statistics in its third year of operation. They successfully raised over $20,000 in the recent Big Give nonprofit donation drive. WOHO created a volunteer event environment that integrates exercise, music, socialization, and healthy meals. By combining multiple contributors to a healthy and fulfilling life into the fabric of every event, WOHO aims to transform public health and wellness on multiple levels. Visit Workouthelpout.org to learn more. continued 

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LEZRIDE BY CARMEN GAUNA, M.A.

presented by LezRide SA, and we supply grants for LGBTQIA youth outdoor activities through our LezFundFun grant programs. All of our programs are free for LGBTQIA and ally community.” We strive to stay connected and engaged by giving back through our LezFundFun Grant, a true highlight of what we represent. INFLUENCE: Over the years, LezRide has really grown in community participation and support. Can you describe the connection LezRide has with its community members? Ortega: I can’t speak to everyone’s personal connection, but I can describe what I believe is happening. Our groups are eager to fulfill fitness and community ambitions alongside other goal-oriented individuals. We are a close-knit community that talks about everything from public need, family, healthy foods, health goals, civic engagement, and well, everything that is important to the overall group. Over the years, we have developed by paying attention to what gave our sessions a sense of success.

rica and Anel Flores-Casasola, Lisa Ortega, and Kate Scully are the cofounding coalition of LezRide SA, a nonprofit established in 2014. We spoke with Lisa Ortega.

INFLUENCE: Thinking back, to what do you attribute to the success of LezRide SA? Ortega: There are many contributing factors. First, the coalition has worked very hard at it. Everyone has been enthusiastically invested and believes in what we represent. In addition, our community supporters, including family, friends, allies, and local business, make the work we do possible. Our community wants a place that maintains safety, encourages group rapport, offers healthy community discussions, and provides a place that understands that no one fitness program fits all. We offer camping, climbing, dance cardio, cycling, and so much more. This is where our vision and mission statements come in.

INFLUENCE: Tell us about the organization. Ortega: Honestly, the way it reads on our website states it perfectly. “We are a coalition offering a Brave Space for free fitness opportunities in the form of community exercise classes accessible through LezMove SA, organized social bike rides

Vision: To use cycling and exercise to promote, inspire, and support LBGTQ inclusion, diversity, wellness, and community building through healthy adventures. Mission: Our outreach activities, fundraisers, and education will connect and educate our LBGTQ community by offering team-building opportunities through camping, climbing, cycling, fitness, hiking, paddling, travel, and outfitting. We encourage the community to visit our website www.lezridesa. com for details surrounding our fitness and community events. We also want to thank everyone who has made LezRide possible and look forward to seeing you at our next event!

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CITY YEAR BY JESSIE MOORE

elly Hughes Burton began her City Year career in 2009 with City Year Boston, where she supported the executive office team and the City Year Boston Board as the site prepared for significant growth. When City Year Boston doubled in size in 2012, Kelly became the site's Senior Manager of Human Potential and Site Operations, where she was responsible for overseeing site operations and leading staff recruitment, development, and retention strategies. In 2013, Kelly transitioned to the City Year Headquarters team overseeing the organization's operating model transformation, where she served as the Director of Operations Transformation. In this role, she was responsible for leading an integrated change management and communication strategy and developing systems to monitor the quality of City Year's support services. Kelly also

managed City Year's internal communications and oversaw the LEAD executive program. City Year helps students and schools succeed by delivering research-based academic and social-emotional supports designed to help students come to school every day ready to learn, achieve at high levels, and graduate from high school prepared for college and career. Founded in 1988, City Year currently partners with more than 300 public schools in twenty-eight cities across the United States. Diverse, energetic, and trained teams of eight to twenty AmeriCorps members are deployed to serve full-time in high-need elementary, middle, and high schools, working alongside and in support of classroom teachers. City Year AmeriCorps members, who are supervised by full-time, onsite City Year staff called impact managers, become integrated into the fabric of the school community. They collaborate with the school principal and teachers to deliver holistic, data-driven interventions at the individual student, classroom, and school-wide levels that help the school achieve its vision for educational excellence. Kelly has a bachelor’s degree in communication from Boston University. She is originally from New York and in September 2013, she relocated to Texas, where she currently resides with her husband, a native Texan and a City Year staff and corps member alumnus. Kelly is a certified change management practitioner and a member of the 2014-15 City Year LEAD executive class. For more information, contact Amanda Kelly, Chief of Staff, City Year San Antonio, 210-247-4424 | acaccavo@cityyear.org

SAN ANTONIO CLUBHOUSE

rom stainedglass artist to executive director of The San Antonio Clubhouse, meet the great Mark Stoeltje. With a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Houston, he has dedicated this part of his life to social services. Stoeltje describes The San Antonio Clubhouse and its mission: “The San Antonio Clubhouse is part of an international human rights and recovery movement for adults living with mental illness. Rather than focusing

on illness or on what is wrong with a person, we focus on strengths and talents and what people have to offer. By coming to the Clubhouse, our members escape the isolation so prevalent among people living with mental illness. They find a safe, welcoming space where they can try new things. Members participate in all the work it takes to keep the Clubhouse running smoothly, including clerical work, graphic design, meal preparation, and health and wellness activities. In the process, our members develop confidence and learn tangible skills that are transferable to the workplace. We have an employment program that today employs over 100 of our members. Membership at the Clubhouse is free, voluntary, and without time limits.” Stoeltje has a true passion for what he

BY JESSIE MOORE does. He said, “We have very strong outcomes in terms of helping our members to stay out of psychiatric hospitals and to live more independently. We have seen that when we focus on what is right with a person rather than on what is wrong with them, they thrive.” From a small startup in a church basement to one of the largest Clubhouses in the southern United States, Stoeltje enjoys carrying the message of the Clubhouse recovery to other communities in Texas. Stoeltje has been reading Putting on the Mind of Christ by Jim Marion, a fascinating book about spiritual growth and human development, and just started Astrophysics for People in a Hurry by Neil deGrasse Tyson. He also plans on writing a book about spirituality based on his experiences in social services.

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CHEFLUENTIAL EMPOWERING COMMUNITIES ACROSS THEIR KITCHEN TABLES BY CARMEN GAUNA

n its most basic form, Chefluential employs the application of culinary art as a therapeutic approach. Food serves to heal, energize, sustain, quench, and revitalize the body, mind, and soul. That impression in and of itself expresses the therapeutic value that comes from maintaining beneficial food choices. My name is Carmen S. Gauna, founder and firm believer in the message Chefluential brings. The model of the nonprofit is to offer healthy cooking and food choices through a series of workshops, food demos, discussion, and community initiatives advancing wellbeing as a life-course perspective. The workshops address varied beliefs, propose individual responsibility (self-empowerment), and provide a supportive framework for comprehensive development. The practice of the nonprofit is to incorporate an all-inclusive approach to our day-to-day physical behaviors, regular food intake, and preferred health outcomes. With health issues on the rise, some communities are asking for detailed information about the foods they eat. On the other hand, there are communities that don't know to ask such questions in regard to their foods. Regrettably, these are the communities that incur higher incidence levels of obesity-related conditions such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and other health-associated matters. This drives our decision to use the freshest and highest quality ingredients during our workshops. My aim is to inform our communities about the healing properties that come from selecting, eating, and preparing foods with optimal health benefits in mind. Chefluential is all about using strategies to tackle the everyday struggle of wide-ranging choice surrounding food. In addition, our model takes cultural context, socio-economic status, and other demographics into consideration. This allows us to tailor each program to fit the needs of the community we are serving. Chefluential is dedicated to heightening the food and health experience by encouraging culinary art as a therapeutic approach. This position offers natural healing, encourages complete understanding, recognizes the benefits of food, and incorporates the five senses to maximize the benefits of such a method. It is a lifestyle that can yield optimal health benefits for those willing to take a step toward dedication and commitment.

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BIHL HAUS ARTS BY JOSEPH CHEATHAM

r. Kellan McIntyre is the executive director of Bihl Haus Arts. Her nonprofit organization includes the historic George David Bihl Haus, the On and Off Fredericksburg Tour, and the GoArts senior arts program. In her youth, Kellan was a ballerina, but an injury forced her to change course to painting and art history. Eventually she earned a PhD in art history from the University of New Mexico and became a teacher, author, and historian. Twenty-two years ago, McIntyre and husband Eric Lane moved to San Antonio from New Mexico. Dr. McIntyre began a ten-year teaching career with UTSA, and she fell in love with the Deco District and surrounding neighborhoods. Soon, the couple became involved in the neighborhood, but Kellan didn’t foresee just how much of an impact she and Eric would end up making. INFLUENCE: Tell us how you discovered and preserved the George David Haus. McIntyre: I saw it fourteen years ago and immediately knew it was an important structure. So, we started poking around and found that the property was for sale. Our thing was to save that building at all costs. Whatever happened, that building needed to stay. The city said, “We don’t know what to do.” And we said, “We just want the right project. We need a retirement community for the neighborhood seniors.” That’s when Pinnacle found us and opened the Primrose Apartments. INFLUENCE: Was it your intention to open an art gallery in a retirement community all along? McIntyre: Well, after the Primrose Apartments opened and the Bihl Haus was restored, the property owner handed me the keys and said, “It’s yours, do something with it.” The gallery opened by mistake. It was an accident. I had no grand plan. A lot of nonprofits start that way. There is an opportunity, and you either go through the door or you don’t. We go through a lot of doors. INFLUENCE: Your GoArts senior program has expanded beyond the Bihl Haus gallery, hasn’t it? McIntyre: Yeah, we’re all over town now. The thing with that population is there are a lot of resources and knowledge and information and volunteer spirit. All this stuff that nobody is tapping into.

WHAT’S ON YOUR NIGHTSTAND?

EDITORIAL PROFILE

HERE ARE THE CUSTOMERS’ YACHTS

MICHAEL HENRY BY JESSIE MOORE

I’VE BEEN HELPING PEOPLE MY ENTIRE LIFE.

TITLE: HERE ARE THE CUSTOMERS' YACHTS: HOW TO SYSTEMATICALLY BUY LOW, SELL HIGH, AND EARN LIFETIME PROFITS AUTHOR: JEFFREY WEBER

hat if you had a system to scientifically and automatically buy low, sell high, or hold a position? To let data and simple calculations—not emotions or other people’s opinions—make rational decisions for you? Weber’s book tells you how to invest, when to buy/sell, how much to buy or sell, and when to do nothing. Jeffrey Weber shows readers how to use Robert Lichello’s Automatic Investment Management system (AIM) in both bull and bear markets. The AIM method has other benefits, such as an emergency cash fund, built-in hedge (protection) against steep market drops, using market volatility to your advantage, and requiring no more than two hours a month of your time to operate. In insightful play off the 1940 book Where Are the Customers’ Yachts, this book offers a free monthly newsletter that shows you how to make profits and gives examples of types of stocks you should be buying long-term options on and how to systematically buy low, sell high, and earn lifetime profits. Jeffery Weber is a retired US Army auditor. He began using the AIM method thirty years ago when stationed in South Korea. I

eet Michael Henry, who served honorably for twenty-one years with the US Army. He’s a Legal Shield independent associate, but so much more—also a father, husband, and leader in the community. He said, “I started this business because I’ve been helping people my entire life working in the health care field. This service provides the same opportunity to help families in need. Additionally, the positive feedback from members gives a feeling of worth and fulfillment.” Henry focuses on small business services helping all business owners. Unexpected legal matters come up every day, and it’s important that businesses have legal protection. His main goal is to get business owners the protection they need. Henry can also be found dedicating his time to working with the Department of Veteran Affairs at Villa Serena Domiciliary where he is a Licensed Vocational Nurse. I

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SMALL BUSINESS RESOURCE GUIDE

STRATEGIC PLANNING BY LARRY A. HOBBS, B.S, MBA, SPHR, & SCP

mall and middle-sized businesses often miss out on a very important opportunity to help their organization grow and succeed, the process known as strategic planning. It sounds like a word that is better suited for big business only, but it should be done in every enterprise because of its insights, revelations, and results. Every business should do planning at some level to guide it towards its goals. It’s surprising how many businesses operate without strategic planning. The strategic planning process helps identify products and services, determine the customer base, and align technical systems, as well as measure market demand, selling methods, cultural issues, distribution flow, human resource strengths and weaknesses, output capacity, natural resources, economic environment, legal and regulatory issues, and the financial results that can be expected from change.

5) Identify internal and external forces that impact the company or organization. These include finances, regulation, competition, demographics, location, the economy, the products and services mix, and the leadership. Brainstorm, be pro-active, and discuss every idea and suggestion—even if it is unusual or absurd. 6) Write a mission statement. 7) Set goals and uncover gaps/needs/strengths/weaknesses and opportunities. 8) Develop specific action items, including timetables, costs, and responsibilities. 9) Take immediate action for implementation according to the plan.

The strategic planning process should include the following: 1) Form a taskforce made up of five to seven employees, including hourly, salaried, and managerial. Select good employees, with a balance between levels and functions. 2) Meet weekly for six to eight weeks. Each meeting should last oneand-a-half to two hours, with refreshments available. 3) Appoint one of the committee members as the recorder. This person will write all ideas and facts on a flip-chart or board. Tape the pages up so that eventually the walls will be covered in writing; visualization is very important. 4) Seek and answer basic questions about “who are we” and “where are we going?”

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10) Measure progress and results on a scheduled basis. The result is a strategic plan that describes the organization’s environment and the forces that will impact it for the next five years. It outlines what the organization chooses to do and details what it must be like to achieve its desired results. Strategic planning involves process facilitation, team building, creative thinking, brainstorming, problem solving, goal setting, action planning, and results measurement. The results will be widely accepted by the employees because it is their plan. I

Telephone consultation with Larry Hobbs, who assists employers in human resource matters is always free–210.316.4206.

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SMALL BUSINESS RESOURCE GUIDE

THE CARDINAL SINS OF OUTSOURCING BY EDWARD ROBE

ecently, British Airways got into very hot water with a software glitch that caused a total system failure throughout their offices, costing the aviation company to the tune of $100 million dollars. Representatives of the company point to problems with the backup system, which had been developed by an Indian outsourcing firm and had not been properly tested prior to the outage. This has ignited an often-occurring wave of criticism against the use of outsourcing by large businesses as a means to cut corners and increase profit margins at the cost of quality delivered to the customer. However, despite high profile catastrophes like the one that has happened with British Airways, there are several examples of big-name businesses who have successfully utilized outsourcing to build quality products. So, how does one walk the line between getting burned by a bad outsourcing firm and building a successful project within a limited budget? Here are a few major mistakes you can avoid when selecting a software outsourcing firm that will greatly improve your chances for a successful relationship: Keep communication clear, concise, and constant. By far the biggest mistake that many product owners make is letting communication break down during the development process or simply selecting a firm that does not have good communication practices in place. Prior to signing any contracts, make sure to speak directly with

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PRIOR TO SIGNING ANY CONTRACTS, MAKE SURE TO SPEAK DIRECTLY WITH THE DEVELOPERS YOU’LL BE WORKING WITH DAILY.

the developers you’ll be working with daily. Often outsourcing companies hide their developers behind face personnel who are trained in business conversation yet have no actual involvement with the development of the product. Have someone you trust audit the code. Another common pitfall that product owners run into is getting into a situation where they can’t properly evaluate the software they’re paying for. This is especially true for non-technical owners who are not developers themselves and cannot realize the true nature of the code. Only when it’s too late do they realize that it is poorly written, too technically complex, or simply undocumented, leaving your team completely lost if you end up hiring another firm or bringing on internal developers to work on the product. Remember that you get what you pay for. Do not expect quality code from paying a subsistence wage in a Third World country. While it is sometimes possible to catch a great deal, IT developers compete on a global market and understand their worth, regardless of where they live. Often a product owner will immediately go for the lowest bidder only to find out that it will end up costing them far more in the long run to repair shoddy code and unstable systems. Just ask British Airways. Keep these factors in mind and you can avoid a lot of issues while building a successful collaboration with your outsourcing firm that will produce a product that you can stand by. I

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SMALL BUSINESS RESOURCE GUIDE Chambers of Commerce Alamo Asian American Chamber of Commerce P.O. Box 12082 San Antonio, TX 78212 (210) 777-8899 www.alamo.aacc.org Alamo City Black Chamber of Commerce 600 HemisFair Plaza Way, Suite 406-10 San Antonio, TX 78205 (210) 226-9055 www.alamocitychamber.org

Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce 602 E. Commerce St. San Antonio, TX 78205 (210) 229-2100 www.sachamber.org North San Antonio Chamber of Commerce 12930 Country Pkwy San Antonio, TX 78216 (210) 344-4848 www.northsachamber.com Randolph Metrocom Chamber of Commerce 9374 Valhalla Selma, TX 78154 (210) 658-8322 www.randolphchamber.net

Alamo Heights Chamber of Commerce P.O. Box 6141 San Antonio, TX 78209 (210) 822-7027 www.alamoheightschamber. org

San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce 200 E. Grayson St., Suite 203 San Antonio, TX 78215 (210) 225-0462 www.sahcc.org

Greater Boerne Chamber of Commerce 126 Rosewood Boerne, TX 78006 (830) 249-8000 www.boerne.org

San Antonio Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Chamber of Commerce 600 Hemisfair Plaza Way, Suite 217 San Antonio, TX 78205 (210) 299-2636 www.sawomenschamber.org

Greater New Braunfels Chamber of Commerce P.O. Box 311417 New Braunfels, TX 78131 (830) 625-2385 www.nbcham.org Greater San Antonio Chinese Chamber of Commerce 10233 IH 35 North San Antonio, TX 78233 (210) 653-7288 www.gsaccc.org

West San Antonio Chamber of Commerce 314 El Paso San Antonio, TX 78207 (210) 299-5244 www.westsachamber.org

Small Business Resource Centers City of San Antonio Economic Development Department 100 W. Houston St., Suite 1900 San Antonio, TX 78205 (210) 207-8080 www.sanantonio.gov/edd Bexar County SMWBE 101 W. Nueva St., #112, San Antonio, TX 78205 (210) 335-2478 www.bexar.org/129/ SMWBEDBE-Program UTSA Small Business Development Center 501 W. Cesar E. Chavez Blvd, San Antonio, TX 78207 (210) 458-2460 www.sasbdc.org San Antonio Business Calendar 2400 McCullough Ave., Building #15053 (210) 370-7550 www.sabusinesscalendar.com Development Services Department Cliff Morton Development & Business Services Center 1901 S. Alamo St. San Antonio, TX 78204 (210) 207-1111 www.sanantonio.gov/dsd

Seguin Area Chamber of Commerce 116 N. Camp Seguin, TX 78155 (830) 379-6382 www.seguinchamber.com

South Central Texas Regional Certification Agency 3201 Cherry Ridge St., Building C-319 San Antonio, Tx 78230 (210) 227-4722 www.sctrca.org

South San Antonio Chamber of Commerce 7902 Challenger Dr. San Antonio, TX 78235 (210) 533-1600 www.southsachamber.org

LaunchSA 600 Soledad St. San Antonio, TX 78205 (210) 598-6623 www.launchsa.org

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LIFTFund 2007 W. Martin St. San Antonio, TX 78207 (888) 215-2373 www.liftfund.com PeopleFund 1811 S. Laredo St., Building 108 San Antonio, TX 78207 (210) 405-1447 www.peoplefund.org Geekdom 110 E. Houston St., San Antonio, TX 78205 (210) 373-6730 www.geekdom.com SCORE Mentors 615 E. Houston St., Building #293 San Antonio, TX 78205 (210) 403-5931 www.score.org

Financial Agencies Internal Revenue Service 8626 Tesoro Drive (210) 841-2090 www.irs.gov Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts 10010 San Pedro Ave., Suite 410 (210) 342-2300 www.comptroller.texas.gov Bexar Appraisal District 411 N. Frio St. (210) 224-8511 www.bcad.org Texas Workforce Commission 4801 NW Loop 410, Suite 510 (210) 256-3000 www.twc.state.tx.us

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