d-mars.com Business Journal 129

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Business Journal

Entrepreneur | Business | Education and Career | Finance | Real Estate | Technology | Insurance

May 2018

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Inspire, Inform & Educate

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129th Edition

Optimum Security Professionals

Is Your First Preventer and Responder FROM L-R: Marshall P. Isom and Marshall D. Isom

16-17

INSIDE

08

The University of Houston System Annual HUB Forum

06

Maroon & Gray Affair Raises Over $1 Million to Bolster Students

24

Houston Continues its History as a Leader for Science and Innovation

May 2018 | 3

Publisher’s Message

MR. D-MARS

d-mars.com is proud to share the success stories of African American businesses and civic and community leaders. We know that success does not always come easy and it is not always measured in money. How have you helped your fellow entrepreneur? Have you supported your locally-owned African American business? Have you donated to a nonprofit that is working in our underserved communities?

Questions to think about and actions to take.

This month’s issue highlights Marshall Isom and his company, Optimum Security Professionals. As a certified

Behind the Journal Publisher & CEO Keith J. Davis, Sr. COO & Managing Editor Kimberly Floyd ACCOUNTING MANAGER Eugenie Doualla SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Tiffany Black PHOTOGRAPHY L.C. Poullard Grady Carter MULTIMEDIA DIRECTOR Andrea Hennekes LAYOUT & GRAPHIC DESIGNER Angel Rosa

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Noel Pinnock Charlotte A. Jackson Reggie Collier Alexis Wagner Linda Lindsay Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner d-mars.com News Provider

–Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

contents

our services

04 Business 04 Why Small Businesses Need to Think Big This Summer Hiring Season 05 “The Grass Isn’t Greener Part 1” 06 Education 06 Maroon & Gray Affair Raises Over $1 Million to Bolster Students 08 The University of Houston System Annual HUB Forum 10 10 Ways to Be More Active During the Work Day 12 3 Ways Your Home Value Can Help in Retirement

08

12 Community 12 Breathe, You are NOT Alone 13 Health 13 Self-Care:: The Greatest Medicine 14 "Mo Mind,Mo Body, Mo Success” 15 5 Simple Ways to Jump-Start Fitness Goals 16­-17 Cover Story 16-17 Optimum Security Professionals Is Your First Preventer and Responder

Project Coordinator Keyana Pratt Alexis Wagner DISTRIBUTION Rockie Hayden

"Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it."

statewide historically underutilized business (HUB), Optimum Security Professionals provide a variety of security and personal protection services including asset protection, industrial security and commercial security.

They also offer security training and consulting services. With a firm belief in professional and dependable service, Optimum Security Professionals are definitely the ones to call.

As always, thank you for your continued support of d-mars.com. When you support us, you are supporting more than just our company; you are supporting the communities in which we live and work. Working together, we can succeed in making positive things happen.

16-17

18 Lifestyle 18 The Interior Design Community Uses PLANTS as Wonderful Accessory Items 20 8 Simple Ways to Save Money

ADVERTISING | MARKETING MEDIA | COMMUNICATION • Business Journal • Health & Wellness Journal • Community Journal • Black Pages Online Business Directory • Top 50 Black Health, Medical & Wellness Professionals • Top 50 Black Professionals & Entrepreneurs • Top 30 Influential Women of Houston • Top 25 Prime & Subcontractors for Diversity • Business Connection • Business Development • Business Consulting • Graphic Design • Photography • Printing • Web Design • Online & Email Marketing • Public Relations • Social Media • Advertising • Writing • Promotional Marketing

20 Quizzes and Games 20 The History of Our Athletes 22 Political 22 Houston Continues its History as a Leader for Science and Innovation 24 REAL ESTATE 24 As They Pay Down College Loans, Millennials Are Taking a Hard Look at Homeownership

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4  |  May 2018 Business

Why Small Businesses Need to Think Big This Summer Hiring Season By d-mars.com News Provider

F

inding great employees hasn't been easy for small businesses lately. And this summer, the competition could heat up even more.

Thanks to a healthy economy, unemployment levels are low across the country. Many companies will be adding even more jobs as the weather warms up - especially those in seasonal industries such as tourism and hospitality, and other professions that are weatherdependent. While some of these positions may be filled by new graduates, this year employers can expect a fight for top candidates in any role.

Small businesses in particular will feel the brunt of the hiring squeeze, as they often can't match the compensation and benefits offered by their larger competitors. This forces them to get creative to attract and retain the best.

One way many businesses get a leg up on their competition is with a smallbusiness loan. Companies like Funding Circle offer working capital loans that allow businesses to get fast, affordable financing to expand their teams and achieve their goals.

Here are three more tips that can help small businesses gain an edge this summer:

Hire strategically What are the different seasonal roles you need? While many businesses will be hiring for customer-facing positions, don't stop your planning there. It may be worth taking the time to ensure your systems, website and marketing campaigns are up to snuff too as you head

into a summer rush. With today's gig economy, it's easier than ever to hire high-quality, professional seasonal employees like web designers, marketing managers and accountants on an independent contractor basis.

Do everything by the book Before making any job offers, acquaint yourself with state and federal fair hiring practices and job discrimination laws - and know how to implement them. If you have questions about any employment laws related to seasonal employees, talk to a lawyer.

Second, make sure you're correctly classifying your seasonal employees according to state and federal laws (think: part-time vs. full-time, or contractor vs. employee). You could end up facing problems down the road, like being held liable for payroll taxes, if you've misclassified any workers.

It's also important to make sure you get all employment agreements in writing. A lack of written contracts, including work for hire or consulting agreements, is a common small-business mistake, and a little effort upfront can save you a lot of headaches later.

Build your employer brand

You should also be creative about how you find the right candidates. Online, think carefully about the job description you post. It shouldn't just be a list of responsibilities, but a chance to market your company to your future hire. Offline, get your current employees to help with the search by offering a recruiting bonus. And rethink your preconceptions about what work actually needs to be performed onsite - roles like administrative support, marketing and bookkeeping can now be done remotely with ease, which can widen your talent pool and be more appealing to prospective applicants.

Right now, the best candidates can afford to be picky about where they work. Every employer, big and small, has a reputation, and yours can either be a secret weapon or an Achilles' heel in your hunt for new staff.

Your employer brand encompasses all the ways your business is perceived by staff and applicants alike. This can be shaped by everything from the interview process to the perks you offer, your policies, working conditions, company values, culture and more. Ensure that you're consistently communicating that your business is a great place to work, even if only for the summer. When done right, you'll get good employees to come to you rather than the other way around.

For more tips and information about small business loans, visit FundingCircle.com.

Experience Our World of Advertising, Marketing, Media and Communication

May 2018 | 5 Business

“The Grass Isn’t Greener Part 1”

By Noel Pinnock Contributing Writer

T

he Acres of Diamonds story a “true one” is told of an African farmer who heard tales about other farmers who had made millions by discovering diamond mines. These tales so excited the farmer that he could hardly wait to sell his farm and go prospecting for diamonds himself. He sold the farm and spent the rest of his life wandering the African continent searching unsuccessfully for the gleaming gems that brought such high prices on the markets of the world. Finally, worn out and in a fit of despondency, he threw himself into a river and drowned.

Meanwhile, the man who had bought his farm happened to be crossing the small stream on the property one day, when suddenly there was a bright flash of blue and red light from the stream bottom. He bent down and picked up a stone. It was a goodsized stone, and admiring it, he brought it home and put it on his fireplace mantel as an interesting curiosity.

Several weeks later a visitor picked up the stone, looked closely at it, hefted it in his hand, and nearly fainted. He asked the farmer if he knew what he’d found. When the farmer said, no, that he thought it was a piece of crystal, the visitor told him he had found one of the largest diamonds ever discovered. The farmer had trouble believing that. He told the man that his creek was full of such stones, not all as large as the one on the mantel, but sprinkled generously throughout the creek bottom.

The farm the first farmer had sold, so that he might find a diamond mine, turned out to be one of the most productive diamond mines on the entire Experience Our World of Advertising, Marketing, Media and Communication

African continent. The first farmer had owned, free and clear … acres of diamonds. But he had sold them for practically nothing, in order to look for them elsewhere. The moral is clear: If the first farmer had only taken the time to study and prepare himself to learn what diamonds looked like in their rough state, and to thoroughly explore the property he had before looking elsewhere, all of his wildest dreams would have come true.

The thing about this story that has so profoundly affected millions of people is the idea that each of us is, at this very moment, standing in the middle of our own acres of diamonds. If we had only had the wisdom and patience to intelligently and effectively explore the work in which we’re now engaged, to explore ourselves, we would most likely find the riches we seek, whether they be financial or intangible or both.

Before you go running off to what you think are greener pastures, make sure that your own is not just as green or perhaps even greener. It has been said that if the other guy’s pasture appears to be greener than ours, it’s quite possible that it’s getting better care. Besides, while you’re looking at other pastures, other people are looking at yours.

To be continued…next month… until then #getatit!

6 | May 2018 Education

Maroon & Gray Affair Raises Over $1 Million to Bolster Students

Texas Southern University (TSU) held its The Maroon and Gray Affair on Saturday, April 28 at the Marriott Marquis Houston and raised $1 million in funding for deserving TSU students. More than 1,500 patrons were in attendance. Award-winning journalist Tamron Hall was the keynote speaker, entertainment was provided by R&B group En Vogue and comedian Billy Sorrells, a TSU alumnus, who served as the master of ceremonies along with KHOU-TV’s Great Day Houston host Deborah Duncan. The Maroon & Gray Affair, a black-tie event in its second year, recognized two top students and two outstanding alumni.

The gala was created by TSU President Austin A. Lane and TSU First Lady Loren Lane.

Experience Our World of Advertising, Marketing, Media and Communication

May 2018 | 7

Save The

DATE

2018

6th Annual Top 30 Influential Women of Houston Awards Gala

August 24 , th

2018

The Houstonian Hotel 111 N. Post Oak Lane Houston, TX 77024 www.top30women.com

FOR SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES EMAIL OPERATIONS@D-MARS.COM

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8 | May 2018 EDUCATION The University of Houston System Annual HUB Forum was held on April 10, 2018. The goal of the forum was to provide certified HUBs and potential HUBs insightful and detailed information about Universities and State Agencies procurement practices as well as current and future solicitation opportunities.

There were 25 State Agencies which attended and over 100 small businesses who participated in the event. Events such as these address some of the challenges and questions often faced by small businesses. During the event, small businesses had the opportunity to attend a variety of breakout sessions which ranged from “How to Write a Compliant Solicitation Response” to “The Benefits of Utilizing Cooperative Contracts.” For more information about University of Houston System HUB Programs contact the following individuals:

University of Houston HUB Operations Department

University of Houston Downtown Purchasing\HUB Department

Maya P. Thornton Director mpthornton@uh.edu

Lorena Sanchez Procurement & HUB Program Manager sanchezl@uhd.edu

Maira Artola HUB Program Specialist myartola@uh.edu

Evelyn Paige Purchasing Coordinator II paigee@uhd.edu

Moquita Quinan HUB Program Specialist mmquinan@uh.edu

University of Houston Clear Lake Purchasing\HUB Department Debra Carpenter Executive Director of Procurement and Payables carpenter@uhcl.edu Catina Chapman Senior Contract Administrator chapmanca@uhcl.edu Heather German Procurement Specialist german@uhcl.edu

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May 2018  |  9

Experience Our World of Advertising, Marketing, Media and Communication

10 | May 2018 Education

10 Ways to Be More Active During the Work Day Stand up and stretch.

If you don't have time to walk around the office every 90 minutes, use the opportunity to stand up and stretch instead. Stretching is a great way to increase energy levels, reduce muscle tension and get your body moving.

By d-mars.com News Provider

W

e're sitting too much and it's dangerous. The average American spends more than seven hours sitting every day, and the more time you sit, the higher your risk of serious, potentially lifethreatening health problems such as obesity, type 2 diabetes and heart disease. So, what can you do about it?

Fortunately, there are simple changes you can make during the day - anywhere, even at the work place - to improve your wellness and reduce your risk of type 2 diabetes. As part of the American Diabetes Association's(R) Wellness Lives Here(SM) initiative, the Association encourages everyone to get active for National Get Fit Don't Sit Day(SM) with these 10 tips for the workplace and beyond.

Park a few blocks away from the office each morning and walk to work.

This allows you to start off your mornings energized and ready to take on the workday. If you take public transportation, get off one stop earlier to squeeze in some light exercise before 8 a.m.

Take the stairs instead of the elevator.

Waiting for the elevator often takes just as long as walking up the stairs, so why not use this opportunity to get your heart rate up? Plus, you'll get the chance to work your leg muscles.

Get up and move around the office once every 90 minutes.

When you're nose-deep in work, it's easy to lose

Pace around the office during conference calls.

Conference calls are the perfect time to be active. Put clients and coworkers on speaker, or use your mobile phone during meetings to move around without any trouble.

track of time. Set up reminders on your phone or email every 60-90 minutes to get up and do a quick lap around the office. You can use this time to fill up your water bottle, go to the bathroom or catch up with coworkers.

Ask questions and discuss issues face-to-face.

Rather than sending an email every time you have a question, go to your coworker's office to discuss the issue face-to-face. This gives you a good excuse to get moving and a chance to more effectively hash out solutions in person.

Use your lunch break to move around outside.

So many Americans today work through their lunch break. When possible, take advantage of this time to walk outside and soak in the nice weather. Fresh air and vitamin D are often all you need to stay focused and push through the afternoon slump.

Do chair exercises at your desk.

You've been wanting to tone your arms for the summer - why not achieve your goals at the office? When you need a break, do a few reps of chair sits. You can even alternate between chair exercises and push ups!

Hold standing or walking meetings.

Many coworkers will welcome the opportunity to stand and stretch their legs for a moment. If you have a two-person meeting, consider going for a walk.

Fidget when you work.

Small movements and quick exercise breaks add up, especially in a sedentary work place, so challenge yourself to stand, stretch or even tap a foot to bring motion into otherwise still parts of your day. Just remember to keep it professional!

Making a point to move throughout the day puts you on the right track toward wellness. For more ideas on how to increase physical activity and maintain a healthy lifestyle, download the Association's e-tool kit today to incorporate the principles and activities of National Get Fit Don't Sit Day into the workday and beyond. – BPT

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May 2018  |  11

Experience Our World of Advertising, Marketing, Media and Communication

12 | May 2018 Education

3 Ways Your Home Value Can Help in Retirement By d-mars.com News Provider

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our retirement. Your golden years to spend doing the things you enjoy - hobbies, travel, more time with family, and so on. But can you afford to live your post-paycheck life the way you always hoped?

Research from the National Retirement Risk Index estimates that more than 50 percent of households lack enough retirement funds to maintain their pre-retirement standard of living — even if they work until age 65.

It’s a scary statistic, especially if you’re approaching retirement age and don’t feel financially prepared to leave the workforce. Fortunately, even if you are facing a retirement shortfall, you do have options to help supplement your savings. For senior homeowners, those options could be in the walls around you.

Financial planning experts and academics from The American College, Boston College, Columbia University, and MIT, agree that incorporating home equity into a retirement plan helps savings last longer. The question is: what’s the best way to access your home’s equity? Here are three popular options.

1. The home equity line of credit (HELOC) A HELOC allows you to establish a line of credit based on a percentage of the value of your home.

You can then access this credit during a predetermined amount of time called a “draw period,” usually 10 years. During the draw period, you can borrow up to the designated amount while making monthly interest payments, and, if you choose to pay back on the principal, you can draw out again, much like a credit card. After the draw period when the HELOC resets, you are responsible for repaying the principal and interest either immediately or over a set period of time depending on the terms of the loan. You should be aware that if your home value depreciates, or if your financial circumstances change, the lender has the right to freeze your credit or even cancel your loan.

2. Reverse mortgage A reverse mortgage is a loan that senior homeowners age 62 or older can use to convert part of the equity in their home into a usable asset, without giving up title or ownership of the house.

According to Professor Wade Pfau of The American College, “the reverse-mortgage option should be viewed as a method for responsible retirees to create liquidity from an otherwise illiquid asset.”

Reverse mortgages are attractive to seniors, in part, because they require no monthly payment and do not have to be paid off until the last borrower permanently leaves the home. You have the option of taking the loan proceeds as a lump sum, a fixed monthly or tenured payment, or as a line of credit. Last year, more than two-thirds of borrowers took a combination of regular payments and a line of credit.

Reverse mortgages also feature a non-recourse provision that protects you from ever owing the lender more than the value of your home, even if the house is “underwater” when you are ready to sell.

You are still responsible for paying your property taxes, homeowner’s insurance, and upkeep expenses or risk the loan being called due and payable.

3. Cash-out refinancing Cash-out refinancing allows you to refinance an existing home loan — hopefully at a lower interest rate — and also refinance the home for a dollar value higher than the remaining principal. This loan allows you to keep the money above the principal as liquid cash that can be used to pay down other expenses or fund your retirement. Like your original forward mortgage, if you miss a monthly payment due to unanticipated expenses from a health care emergency or other life disruption, your loan could be called due and payable, and the lender could move to foreclose on your property. Retirees may also face challenges qualifying for a cash-out refinance because of underwriting standards that require a certain amount of monthly income.

Choosing the right plan for you While all three plans have their appealing points, new consumer safeguards for reverse mortgages are fueling their popularity among seniors who want the benefit of no monthly payment, a loan that can’t be canceled or reset, and the option of a line of credit that increases over time.

If you’re interested in pursuing a reverse mortgage, the National Reverse Mortgage Lenders Association can help. Their Roadmap can guide you through the features and responsibilities of reverse mortgages and the process for obtaining one which includes meeting with a reverse mortgage counselor and a financial assessment.

Visit www.reversemortgage.org/equity to learn more about how the solution to your retirement may have been under your roof all along. – BPT

Community

Breathe, You are NOT Alone

By Charlotte A. Jackson Contributing Writer

M

ental illness is not easy. It is an individual diagnosis that truly touches the lives of us all. The journey to receive a diagnosis is never easy, yet the road to living with the diagnosis builds resilience in the consumer as well as those close to them.

When my son was four years old I started noticing some behaviors that would ebb and flow in seriousness. Our pediatrician suggested taking him for an evaluation with a specialist. Even today, I cringe when I use the word psychiatrist. And the cringing is NOT from any experiences with a doctor, but with the stigma that mental illness carries. The first appointment took over six weeks to obtain. I am told this is much quicker than it is today. After an office visit, the doctor diagnosed him with Attention Deficit Disorder and Post Traumatic Depression. What? At four? Yes, there had been some issues in our home prior to my divorce, which often led my son to act out. The doctor suggested that my son be hospitalized for an evaluation. One of the concerns was that my son never slept. After the hospitalization, we learned that the sleep study showed he slept on the average of 24 seconds of each minute.

He had to be exhausted yet his mind would not rest. Among the tests they performed was one to determine his IQ. “Ms Jackson, do you have an idea of how smart your son is?” The doctor went on to tell me that if we “harnesses his intelligence” he could find a cure for cancer. If we did not, he could blow up buildings with homemade bombs. Gee, just what every parent wants to hear.

The next five years were like living on a roller coaster. I was unable to keep a steady job due to his many doctor appointments and frequent outbursts. One day in 1997, I received a phone call from a frantic childcare owner telling me he had the entire class trapped and was threatening them with a chair. My first thought was “Are there no adults there to intervene?” Yet as I arrived, I saw children and grown adults frightened.

After he had used the chair to get them in the corner, he suddenly was acting like a lion tamer at a circus. Then he passed out from exhaustion and the staff was afraid to move. Later at the age of nine, he had just scored the first perfect score on a state standardized test, when the school decided to throw a celebration. Too bad they had not read the papers from the ARD Meetings. My son is someone who cannot deal with celebrations or disappointments. By the time they called me, he had ran away from school towards Sam Houston Parkway and was dodging cars and attacking those administrators who were running after him. This led to his second hospitalization and a change in the diagnosis.

He was diagnosed with a severe case of Bipolar Disorder. During the next 11 years, I cannot begin to count the hospitalizations, the discipline referrals, the therapists, the prayers, and outbursts nor the amazing people from our school district as well as church. Or the tears.

At one point, the medicines side effects just added to the issues and with him being 6’1 and over 285 pounds, there was no way to force him to take the medicine. At the same time this was happening, he managed to not only graduate high school ahead of schedule, but to obtain two degrees.

Too often, those who are diagnosed self-medicate and then the nightmare becomes worse. By the age of 20, my son had been locked up at Harris County Jail twice and was headed to prison. And each step of the journey, there are more issues. It was not until he arrived in prison and was jumped by two different gangs wanting him to choose which race he was (Father is Black, Mother is White. He has been raised to just be a good person), sent to the infirmary for months, only to then be sent to solitary confinement that we learned he has “missed his opportunity” to ask for a psychiatric evaluation. The struggle has been real.

Throughout the years, we have found comfort in the free programs offered by NAMI Greater Houston. (NAMI is the National Alliance on Mental Illness). I have since become involved as a Family-to-Family facilitator and often speak to groups about the services. If there were anything I could stress, it is that this is not easy, we must erase the stigma, we are not alone and we need to just stop and breathe.

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May 2018 | 13 Health

Self-Care: The Greatest Medicine

By Reggie Collier Contributing Writer

A

fter years of being a physical trainer to women who dedicate themselves to being everyone else’s hero and have to carry the weight of the world on their shoulders daily, I have learned that stress and anxiety are real factors in most of their lives. I meet so many women who have exhausted themselves mentally, because they are trying to juggle marriage, kids, job, social life and whatever other curve balls are thrown at them.

By the time they reach out to me, many women gain an immense amount of weight, are stressed out, and on the verge of having to take medications due to weight related illnesses all because of the mental exhaustion that they’re enduring.

During our first conversation I always ask, “What has been your biggest challenge with working out?”, and the most common answer that I get is “I don’t have time!” They say this with so much anger and frustration in their voices, yet so serious when they answer as if it is a plea for help. My reply is always the same, “How can you care for everything and everyone else if you don’t take care of yourself first?”

nent to address how vital exercise is for maintaining not only physical but mental fitness as well. Exercise is very effective at reducing fatigue, improving alertness and concentration, and enhancing overall cognitive function.

This can be especially helpful when stress has depleted your energy or ability to concentrate. When stress affects the brain, with its many nerve connections, the rest of the body feels the impact as well. Simply stated, if your

Bottom line is… Take care of you!

body feels better, so does your mind.

Exercise and other physical activity produce endorphins, which are chemicals in the brain that act as natural painkillers. Endorphins also improve the ability to sleep, which in turn reduces stress. We all know that stress is a normal part of life, however anxiety disorders which effect millions of adults, are also one of the most common psychiatric illness. The benefits of exercise extend well beyond physical fitness but to improving stress and anxiety as well.

In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, I thought it was perti-

So remember, self-care is the greatest medicine.

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14 | May 2018 Health

“ Mo Mind, Mo Body, Mo Success”

By Alexis Wagner News Provider

H

er name is Moriah, nicknamed “Mo”. Mo has taken her nickname and applied it to her brand in all aspects. Back in Dallas, where she grew up, Mo has dedicated her time to mind and body work by teaching and practicing yoga to help herself and others reclaim their mind and stay focused on their goals. Her yoga brand is known as MoYoga.

“MoYoga to me means you can never do enough yoga, or let’s do some ‘mo’ yoga, or that your life can never have ‘mo’ than enough yoga.” Mo said when explaining the reason for using her nickname in her yoga brand.

The African-American community could use more of what Mo has to offer. Yoga helps put out many different fires in our lives. Simply taking the time to slow down, inhale and exhale, and getting rid of unnecessary tension can cool down almost any flame.

“I started teaching yoga because I wanted people to feel how I felt about it and realize all the benefits it can have on your life. I wanted to be advocate for it — a standing representation. Honestly, my first yoga teacher is one of the most influential people in my life still

to this day. I want to be that for others. I want to make people feel confident, and stronger, and healthier, and more at peace with their lives all from my guidance through yoga practices” Mo said.

As a yoga student enrolled in MoYoga you are taught to never focus on the challenge of a pose, but to focus on your breathe while in that pose. Then, before you’ve mastered that pose you start to transition into the next sequence before you ever allow your mind to believe it was too hard.

“I take that same mantra into life. Don’t focus on the challenge in whatever you’re doing. Train your mind to be present throughout the process of said challenge, and before you know it you’ve accomplished it before you were ever able to put up mental blocks that would hinder you from achieving the particular goal.” Mo said.

Her aura of spiritual goodness is also a big reason for the productivity on her journey to becoming the next big thing in media. Not only is Mo a yoga instructor, she is an up and coming media star! She is known in the music and media world as MoClassified.

“MoClassified is the music and media side of things”, she said, “I provide classified information to my viewers and supporters through a series of articles and personal interviews that I conduct with music artists. Classified also means exclusive. My interview style is exclusivity based off the intimate conversations that I have with artists. I’m guaranteed to get exclusive information that’s never been heard before, because I let artists tell their story their way.”

In the past nine months, everything that Mo has planned out and set specific goals for has manifested itself because she has been obedient and followed her intuition and not her pride. From interviews with big names like Poison Ivy the DJ, Rapper and Producer Nipsey Hussle, and Reality TV star Karlie Redd, to toting her mic up and down Austin’s Sixth Street during SXSW, Mo is truly a star on the rise.

“One of my favorite artists (J. Cole) says — ‘it’s fun-

ny how so close can seem so far’ I know I’m really close, or at least on the right path” Mo said when asked how close she is to achieving her goals.

Mo is somebody that we can all learn from. From her, we can all learn to take advantage of our life by taking control of our mind and body. The correlation between physical and mental health and overall success is much closer than a lot of people in the black community realize. It is never too late to be inspired, and get involved in a lifestyle change that can put us on the path to achieving our goals the same way it has done for Mo and her followers.

“I’m building a lifestyle brand that has special emphasis on music, media & yoga. Those are all literally a lifestyle for me so the brand I’m building is just an extension of who I really am”, Mo said, “It’s not forced.

It’s almost effortless because I live music, media and yoga. I want to encourage others to find a healthy habit that they can fall in love with and be unapologetic about that love for those habits.”

Keep up with Mo on Instagram @moclassified where she provides updates on times and prices for MoYoga classes held in the Dallas area, and where you can follow her journey to stardom as MoClassified becomes the next big name in music and media.

Experience Our World of Advertising, Marketing, Media and Communication

May 2018 | 15 Health

5 Simple Ways to Jump-Start Fitness Goals Get Outside

By d-mars.com News Provider

F

itness is central to your well-being and ability to enjoy life to the fullest, however it's easy to get stuck in a rut. How do you find new interest and motivation so you're ready to maximize the warm weather months?

Dan Gaz, physical activity and assessment program manager at the Mayo Clinic Healthy Living Program, says there are many things people can do to get a jumpstart on their health and wellness.

"Fitness doesn't have to be complicated or boring," says Gaz. "There are many creative ways to implement fitness activities into your life that are both fun and invigorating."

Gaz suggests five simple ways to get a jump-start on summer fitness and energize your workout routine:

"Getting outdoors is rejuvenating," Gaz says.

"Taking a walk in nature is a nice change of pace that is good for the body and mind.” You can go for a walk, run or take a stroll around a local park. “Just being outdoors shakes things up and you may find higher levels of energy as you breathe in the fresh air. Plus, getting a daily dose of vitamin D from the sun does the body good."

Rethink Commuting "Anything you can do to break up the monotony of sitting is a good thing.” Try being creative in commuting and how you travel throughout the day.

"If possible, walk or bike to work or the grocery store.

You can also take the bus, get off a couple blocks early and walk the rest of the way. A little planning ahead of time can help you accomplish multiple things at once: You're getting exercise, completing an errand and reducing your carbon footprint."

Be Purposeful

Try Something New Gaz says getting outside your comfort zone can be beneficial to your health.

"Trying something new helps keep your fitness plan fresh. Plan a visit to the local farmers market to pick up produce. Sign up for a 5k run, or look at your local community education or rec center class catalog and sign up for activities. The social dynamics of these types of events benefit mental as well as physical health."

people next to you become your exercise advocates and suddenly, you'll have the desire to keep up and do more. This can accelerate reaching your fitness goals."

Bring Friends "It's no secret when you work out with other people they tend to hold you accountable, but there’s also more benefit than just that," says Gaz. "When you take an exercise class, join a running club or biking group, you may end up pushing yourself harder. The

"You may only have a few minutes a day to dedicate to exercise, but that doesn't mean you can't make a big impact," says Gaz. "Being purposeful with your choices is important. For example, use intervals in your workout routine to maximize outcomes. If you enjoy walking, do a brisk 30 or 60 seconds, then walk slower for the same period of time before pushing yourself again. This type of interval training is simple, yet highly effective. It works similarly for other activities like swimming, biking and running."

To find more tips about improving your health with creative approaches to exercise or to set up a visit with a wellness expert, visit healthyliving. mayoclinic.org.

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16 | May 2018

Optimum Security Professionals

Is Your First Preventer and Responder By d-mars.com News Provider

Client Testimonials:

W

ho are the first preventers and responders when it comes to crime prevention? By already being on site, the security officer is your first preventer and responder working with law enforcement. Security officers are highly regarded on local, state, and national levels. Optimum Security Professionals (OSP) is changing the community’s perception of security companies by using the highest level of training, security practices, technology, and going above and beyond qualifications required by the state. Marshall Isom serves as president, and under his leadership, OSP is an established and reputable manned security company with impressive growth and expansion outside of Houston, serving other major cities in the State of Texas.

Last year Houston experienced Hurricane Harvey, and though media stories gave credit to Police Officers for helping to secure our city, no credit was given to the private security companies that were on site in neighborhoods and at businesses preventing robberies, looting and property damage. “The Private Security industry deserves some credit,” says Isom. He continues, “There wasn’t a lot of looting, and other incidents because security officers were on duty. We were there to ensure that the client’s property wasn’t trespassed on, or vandalized. Our Promise Keeperssm (which Isom calls their Security Officers) were on site at different locations throughout Greater Houston with no incidents.” With some of the OSP “Promise Keeperssm” taking hours to get to a site, they still worked 12-16 hour shifts without any incidents. This was all done for the client and for the love of the city. Isom

recalls the officers adopting the Houston Strong chant and taking their duties and responsibilities extra serious after the storm subsided and the waters receded. “There should be some type of acknowledgment for the stellar work private security performed when it came to the prevention of crime while serving Houstonians and the surrounding areas impacted by Hurricane Harvey,” Isom adds.

Isom is hopeful that OSP will continue to contribute to raising awareness on the importance of professional security officers through offering Active Shooter Scenario and self-defense training, as they are valuable assets in crime prevention, safety and crisis management. Being a huge proponent for the professional security field, Isom believes incidents such as mass shootings can be prevented altogether in many cases or stopped more quickly with the presence of well-paid and highly trained private security officers. Inspired by OSP’s vision of “a thriving, safer and more secure workplace, community and government”, Isom also believes it

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“Optimum Security Professionals uses the highest level of technology to meet our needs. With apps for mobile devices and technology available for visitor logs and truck logs, we have real time reporting. Their services through technology allow for paperless procedures.

This helps us better serve our clients, and that is everything to us.”

—Southwestern Motor Transport, Inc.

May 2018 | 17

is the responsibility of patrons, residents, students and employees to push for businesses, schools, places of worship, HOAs and employers to contract private security firms.

Isom’s mantra when it comes to OSP echoes the Richard Branson business philosophy of first meeting the needs of the employee, so they can then serve the client successfully.

Seeing the pay being unequal to the work required of professional security officers, Isom was committed to building a company where security professionals receive pay equal to the value they bring to the duties and position. OSP is an officer-centered enterprise. Where most companies would be focused on dividends and stakeholders, Isom built this business with a focus on its Promise Keepers sm. “OSP pays higher wages than the average security company. That was important to me in the beginning. I knew that in order for OSP to have a firm foundation, our Promise Keeper sm would need to make a fair wage for them to do a great job.

We pride ourselves on paying those responsible for the protecting life and property more. We understand that

though this takes away from profit margins, this practice serves our clients very well. It is worth it, and the company is better for it,” says Isom.

When it comes to challenges faced among private security companies, Isom says client budget would be at the top of the list. Budget concerns are one of the biggest hindrances that can prevent a client from receiving quality security services.

Isom expresses, “There are times a potential client may only want to pay for 2 security officers, but they need 4-5 officers due to the size of their facility, number of daily visitors or varying activities. When we meet with potential clients, we explain the services we provide, and the budget required to serve them successfully. Many times, we have been able to work within a client’s current security budget. But, there are those times when we just cannot take a client on if we see it will be an overwhelming situation for our Promise Keeperssm. Again, we are a company where our officers are priority.”

The governing bureau for the security industry in the state is the Texas Private Security Bureau, an arm under the Department of Public Safety. OSP’s recruiting process is held to the highest standards in line with this bureau. Their professional security officers have been screened by a FBI background check. Also, some of their officers must go through a detailed psychological analysis before taking on certain clients. Isom says, “Private security professionals deserve the utmost respect, because this is not a job that anyone can qualify for. Our background checks and other necessary extensive reviews are done on an annual basis. Our standards are high, this helps to ensure that our Promise Keepers℠ are confident in their abilities before we place them with a client and

allow them to continue with a client. OSP has Off-duty Police Officers, Retired/ Reserve Police Officers, EMTs, Reserve/ Retired Military Vets, and Volunteer Fire Fighters on our security team. This is an added bonus allowing our company to provide clients with that increased level of experience and training that they deserve.”

As a Certified Personal Protection Service, OSP has been recognized for its impressive growth and outstanding services in the security industry.

OSP was a Finalist for the 2017 Greater Houston Black Chamber of Commerce Pinnacle Award. The company is also a recipient of the 2018 D-MARS.com Top 50 Black Professionals & Entrepreneurs Award, an award event honoring the top minority professionals in Texas.

OSP is certified as a HUB, MBE, and is currently in the application process for its DBE certification.

OSP was built to service the entire State of Texas, and they are on a great path in reaching that goal.

“In addition to serving clients in Southeast Texas, OSP started operations in Dallas this year. We are pleased that in the coming months we will be servicing San Antonio. As a Certified Private Investigation Firm, the company has plans to expand in that area as well. We look forward to continued growth,” Isom says.

For more information on Optimum Security Professionals and to contract them as your professional security operator, please visit www.optimumsecuritypros.com or call 1-800-950-7859.

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18 | May 2018 Lifestyle

The Interior Design Community Uses PLANTS as Wonderful Accessory Items

Tips to make you feel comfortable bringing green into your home

can be pruned into topiary shapes. Keep any other plants in the area simple and low to the ground so the focal plant stands out.

By Linda Lindsay Contributing Writer

The Effects of Color

The Benefits of Using Plants in Your Home Plants help to reduce the amount of noise without altering the overall design of the space. Plants affect our overall sense of well-being. They help to provide feelings of pleasure, calm, and relief from “attention fatigue”. Indoor plants and their containers act as accessories within any interior design. Incorporate plants to your overall design and help to create the overall look and feel of the space adding the right touch to any space. Also having fun with plants mimic the outdoors and create a sense of casualness and a family-friendly atmosphere.

Niches and Special Areas Use niches and special areas that could serve more than one purpose and artfully display well-chosen plant and pots within your space. A glass terrarium on a coffee table is portable and an easy element to move around in certain times of the year. It can also be hung. The plants in a terrarium are kept out of direct light. Glass is a great design element for plants, they allow for light and don’t look as heavy as planters do. Small succulents and cacti create a point of interest. They give the illusion of having accents without taking up lots of room space!

Herbs in the Kitchen Create a kitchen environment that allows for the chef to pick herbs right from your garden or create a small herb container installed in the kitchen window to make the most of the light

and provide edible plants like basil, thyme and oregano.

Fact: Plants provide a wealth of health and well-being benefits to those who work within the living environment.

Drawing Attention with Specimen Plants Large specimen plants can be used alone to draw attention due to their size and shape. Specimen plants are usually 12 to 14 feet tall or more.

Palms, ficus trees, and certain dracaenas are most often grown for this purpose. Plants with unusual forms act as living sculptures and are often used as a focal point. For example, marginata (Dracaena cincta) can be grown with interesting twists and bends on its trunk, and eugenias or ficus trees

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Plants can add splashes and dashes of color to an otherwise monotone setting. We think of plants as being green, yet there are many shades of green. Leaves can vary from deep green to olive green, bluegreen, silver-green, or neonlime green. Plants add a sense of luxury and prestige to a space.

People subconsciously associate tropical plants with success. Ferns, palms, and flowering plants are especially effective in creating a luxurious ambiance.

If you tend to stay away from plants because of the maintenance and attention needed you can use silk options as an alternative.

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20 | May 2018 Lifestyle

8 Simple Ways to Save Money By d-mars.com NNPA Newswire

ometimes the hardest thing about saving money is just getting started. It can be difficult to figure out simple ways to save money and how to use your savings to pursue your financial goals. This step-by-step guide to money-saving habits can help you develop a realistic savings plan.

S

1. Record your expenses The first step to saving money is to figure out how much you spend. Keep track of all your expenses—that means every coffee, newspaper and snack you buy. Ideally, you can account for every penny. Once you have your data, organize the numbers by categories, such as gas, groceries and mortgage, and total each amount. Consider using your credit card or bank statements to help you with this. If you bank online, you may be able to filter your statements to easily break down your spending.

2. Make a budget Once you have an idea of what you spend in a month, you can begin to organize your recorded expenses into a workable budget. Your budget should outline how your expenses measure up to your income—so you can plan your spending and limit overspending. In addition to your monthly expenses, be sure to factor in expenses that occur regularly but not every month, such as car maintenance. Find more information about creating a budget.

3. Plan on saving money Now that you’ve made a budget, create a savings category within it. Try to put away 10–15 percent of your income as savings. If your expenses are so high that you can’t save that much, it might be time to cut back. To do so, identify non-essentials that you can spend less on, such as entertainment and dining out.

We’ve put together ideas for saving money every day as well as cutting back on your fixed monthly expenses.

Tip: Considering savings a regular expense, similar to groceries, is a great way to reinforce good savings habits.

4. Choose something to save for One of the best ways to save money is to set a goal. Start by thinking of what you might want to save for—anything from a down payment for a house to a vacation—then figure out how long it might take you to save for it. If you need help figuring out a time frame, try Bank of America’s savings goal calculator.

Here are some examples of short- and long-term goals: Short-term (1–3 years) • Emergency fund (3–9 months of living expenses, just in case) • Vacation • Down payment for a car

money. Be sure to remember long-term goals—it’s important that planning for retirement doesn’t take a back seat to shorter-term needs. Prioritizing goals can give you a clear idea of where to start saving. For example, if you know you’re going to need to replace your car in the near future, you could start putting money away for one.

6. Pick the right tools If you’re saving for short-term goals, consider using these FDIC-insured deposit accounts: Savings account Certificate of deposit (CD), which locks in your money at a specific interest rate for a specific period of time https://bettermoneyhabits.bankofamerica.com/ en/saving-budgeting/ways- to-save-money

Long-term (4+ years) • Retirement* • Your child’s education* • Down payment on a home or a remodeling project *If you’re saving for retirement or your child’s education, consider putting that money into an investment account such as an IRA or a 529 plan. While investments come with risks and can lose money, they also create the opportunity for compounded returns if you plan for an event far in advance. More details in step No. 6 below.

5. Decide on your prioritie After your expenses and income, your goals are likely to have the biggest impact on how you save QuiZzes and Games

1. In what year did Jim Brown lead professional football in rushing?

A. 1960 B. 1957 C. 1972

2. In what Olympic Games did Rafer Johnson win his gold medal?

A. Tokyo 1964 Summer Olympics B. Mexico 1968 Summer Olympics C. Rome 1960 Winter Olympics

3. Name the Black baseball player who hit more homers in one season than Roger Maris.

A. Sammy Sosa B. Larry Doby C. Jackie Robinson

In Honor of Physical Fitness and Sports Month....

The History of Our Athletes 4. What prizefighter won the middleweight title a total of five times during his career?

A. George Foreman B. Evander Holyfield C. Sugar Ray Robinson 5. Who was the first African American to coach professional sports team?

A. Bill Russell B. Art Shell C. Fredrick “Fritz” Pollard

6. Who was the youngest prizefighter ever to win the heavyweight championship of the world?

A. Joe Frazier B. Floyd Mayweather C. Mike Tyson

7. How many years did Wilt Chamberlain play basketball in the NBA? A. Ten B. Fourteen C. Eight 8. How many gold medals did runner Jesse Owens win at the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin?

A. Two B. Five C. Four

9. What female athlete won the Junior Tennis title in 1981 at the U.S. Open?

A. Serena Williams B. Zina Garrison C. Althea Gibson

Answer Key: 1.B - 2.C - 3.A - 4.C - 5.A - 6.C - 7.B - 8.C - 9.B - 10.C - 11.B - 12.A Experience Our World of Advertising, Marketing, Media and Communication

10. Which African American Olympic track and field star was told by doctors that she would never walk again?

A. Alice Coachman B. Florence Griffith Joyner C. Wilma Rudolph

11. Debi Thomas is known as a champion in what sport?

A. Track and Field B. Figure Skating C. Gymnastics

12. Who was the first Black quarterback to play professional football?

A. Willie Thrower B. George Taliaferro C. Doug Williams

May 2018  |  21

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24 | May 2018 Political

Houston Continues its History as a Leader for Science and Innovation

By Sylvester Turner Mayor of Houston

I

n the last few weeks Houston took two giant steps toward becoming a global center for technological innovation. Two new projects will boost our local economy, bringing even more quality jobs to our city.

Houston, the Energy Capital of the World, has the world’s largest medical center, first- class universities, the nation’s largest import-export port and the Johnson Space Center. But we have lagged behind other major cities in using our know-how to encourage advances in the technology innovation and digital start-up world.

Thanks to our partners in the entrepreneurial, corporate, government, and academic communities, the old Sears building in Midtown is going to be renovated into an innovation center that will attract leaders in science, business, medicine and technology. It will shape Houston’s future by bringing people together to innovate side by side, creating a new competitive job market for residents and new arrivals.

The center will offer space and resources for people who want to develop their ideas and launch start-ups.

We are envisioning an innovation district that will inspire creativity and a culture of innovation right in

the heart of the city.

Also, several institutions in the Texas Medical Center have come together to create another exciting project scheduled for groundbreaking next year. The new TMC3 campus will allow researchers to achieve collaborative breakthroughs in therapeutics, medical devices, regenerative medicine, data science, and related areas.

TMC3 will create approximately 30,000 new jobs

and advance Houston as a global hub for biomedical research. At more than 1.5 million square feet, the facility will also have laboratories, restaurants, retail space, a hotel, a conference center and even a public elevated park with gardens and walking and running trails.

These projects are just the beginning of a future in which Houston continues its history as a leader for science and innovation. We are undergoing great transformations, and I am confident in the crucial steps we are now taking to better the long-term health and resiliency of our growing city.

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For a special discount use code DMARS.

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28 | May 2018 REAL ESTATE

As They Pay Down College Loans, Millennials Are Taking a Hard Look at Homeownership

By d-mars.com NNPA Newswire

A

s the U.S. economy recovers from a decade of slow growth, more and more millennials— generally defined as people born between the early 1980s and about 2004—are becoming a significant factor in the real estate market, as they pay off student loans and become established in their professions.

And with more and more millennials hitting peaks within their education, Brooke Cashion, a broker with Allen Tate Realtors and the president of the WinstonSalem Regional Association of Realtors, said that she could see the correlation between education levels and higher real estate investments.

“I work with many, well-educated millennials who are finally working in the professions they trained so hard for and are settling down and getting married,” Cashion said. “Some are looking for more traditional properties, while others prefer modern construction,

but they are all looking for a good real estate investment that will help them to grow their money.”

As millennials begin to get on their feet financially—after years of struggling with student debt and difficulty finding jobs in their chosen fields—Cashion explained that these same young people, tend to be conservative in their financial planning and want to avoid taking on more debt than they can comfortably afford.

In addition, Cashion also said that millennials are looking for homes that reflect their lifestyles, that allow them to live among likeminded neighbors, and that offer them the opportunity to be a part of the communities where they live.

“I find that millennials are very empathetic,” Cashion said. “They want to play a role in making their communities better places to live.”

Brian A. Hudson, the executive director and CEO of the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency, agreed with Cashion, that community is very important to millennials.

“They want to live close to where they work, especially when they can obtain a mortgage that is less than the rent they are paying,” Hudson said.

In addition, Hudson said that the hot rental market in the last five years has caused more and more millennials to evaluate the tipping point between paying rent and paying a mortgage.

“Even if they are not sure how long they will be in a certain community, many believe it makes sense to transition from renting to owning, when rent payments equal or exceed mortgage payments,” Cashion said.

However, homeownership is not without obstacles for millennials, with Cashion noting a lack of housing inventory, as one of the major conflicts.

“I recently had a listing that had seven offers only a short time after it went on the market,” Cashion said.

Millennials comprise 30 to 40 percent of Hudson’s client base. Hudson noted that this level of interest is not unusual for quality properties in the current real estate market.

In addition, Hudson also said that another important factor in reaching millennials, is making use of digital media.

“Running magazine and newspaper ads, as we did for years, does not work well with millennials. These days you have to be on Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter and other social media, because that’s what they rely on to get information,” Hudson said.

Source: NNPA Newswire

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Relocating to Dallas?

Let me help you find your dream home.

Mena Freeman Real Estate Agent 702646 (972) 665-2825 menafreeman@kw.com www.menafreemanhomes.com

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Each office is independently owned and operated

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T H E

E X P E R T

N E TW O R K

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BUILDERS

“COMMITTED TO EXCELLENCE”

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FINANCING AVAILABLE INSTANT EQUITY AT CLOSING DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE FOR QUALIFIED BUYER Independence Heights is a historic neighborhood located in northwest Houston. Known as the first city incorporated by African Americans, the community is home to more than 14,000 people.

Over the last year, residents, former residents, business owners, church leaders, parents, educators, community leaders, and community partners have come together to imagine and envision a new future for this historic community. Through a series of community meetings, stakeholders came together to create a shared vision for the community called the “Quality of Life Agreement”. In essence, the people of this area have united in efforts to enhance the general sense of quality in their lives and in the lives of all of their neighbors.

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