d-mars.com Business Journal 78

Business Journal January 2014

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From Good to Great: Pursuing Excellence in Business Nelson Mandela Receives Honorary Degree From Texas Southern University

Texas Southern University mourns the passing of Nelson Mandela who visited the campus in 1991 and 1999.

Mandela, who died December 5, at the age of 95,

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Education, The Sensible Years’s Resolution

By Mikal Powers

It seems that most people start off the New Year by making a resolution and spending the rest of the year...

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JOIN THE MOVEMENT: “Support Black-Owned Businesses in Your Community” - MR. D-MARS

Three Steps to Achieving your GOALS in 2014

By Lonnie Mathews

It’s that time of the year; you know that point when we reflect on what has happened and look forward...

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Mark Gibson for U.S. Congressional District 22

Join our e-mail list for the latest updates @ d-mars.com

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Meet Jarrod Wilkins: Transformational Teacher and Entrepreneur

Whatever your life’s work is, do it well. A man should do his job so well that the living, the dead, and the unborn could do it no better.

–Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Journal Behind The

January 2014

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Publisher’s Message

Keith J. Davis, Sr.

SR. PUBLISHER Keith J. Davis, Sr.

SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT Kevin Davis

VICE PRESIDENT Kim Floyd

ASSOCIATE EDITOR Valerie Jones

ACCOUNTING MANAGER Eugenie Doualla

Administrative Assistant Angelle Gillum

SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Johnny Ray Davis, Jr. C.T. Foster Eric D. Goodwine Tiffany Black

Sometimes what separates a good company from a great company is paying attention to the small details such as customer service, for example. Going the extra mile for a client will more than likely grant you a loyal client for life and will make your business better overall. This issue of the Business Journal offers tips on how you can take your company or business to the next level – how to go from being good to being great!

As always again, thank you for your continued support of d-mars.com. When you support d-mars.com, 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.

CONTENTS

JOIN THE MOVEMENT: Support Black-Owned Businesses in Your Community................................................................................. 4 Transcending from Good to Great in Business......................................................................................................................................... 6 African American Elected Officials Reception............................................................................................................................................7 Nelson Mandela Received Honorary Degree from Texas Southern University................................................................................ 8 It’s Time for Reflection!.................................................................................................................................................................................... 8 Good…Great’s Enemy........................................................................................................................................................................................10

PHOTOGRAPHY

Meet Jarrod Wilkins: Transformational Teacher and Entrepreneur................................................................................................... 12

L.C. Poullard Grady Carter Tony Gaines

Education, The Sensible New Year’s Resolution..................................................................................................................................... 14

Council Member Larry Green Appointed Chair of Transportation, Technology, and Infrastructure Committee.................. 13

MULTIMEDIA DIRECTOR

Did You Know?................................................................................................................................................................................................... 14

Andrea Hennekes

Old Folks Saying…............................................................................................................................................................................................. 14

LAYOUT & GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Three Steps to Achieving Your GOALS in 2014...........................................................................................................................................16

Kevin Wright

Judge Joel Clouser Serving his Sixth Term as Fort Bend JP................................................................................................................16

DISTRIBUTION

Mark Gibson: Still Serving America..............................................................................................................................................................18

Booker T. Davis, Jr. Rockie Hayden

Four Ways to Propel Your Small Business to the Top in 2014............................................................................................................20

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Kachelle Kelly Dr. Wendy Johnson Noel Pinnock Valerie Jones Mikal Powers Lonnie Mathews Helen Callier Thecia Jenkins Houston ISD News d-mars.com News Provider

New Year’s Evaluation: Are You Ready for Success?............................................................................................................................20 Construction Networking Event Builds Connections on 2012 Bond................................................................................................. 22 A Minute With…Donna Fujimoto Cole......................................................................................................................................................... 24 Joint Venture a Win-Win for Two Companies Doing Business with HISD....................................................................................... 24 How Using Outdated Technology Can Impact the Reputation of a Small Business....................................................................26 Who Made the Biggest Financial Gains in 2013?....................................................................................................................................28

Are you Ready to Take Your Business to the Next Level?

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MR. D-MARS Tip of the Month “If you keep your eye on the profit, you’re going to skimp on the product. But if you focus on making really great products, then the profits will follow.”

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BLACK PAGES ONLINE BUSINESS DIRECTORY What this means to you,

The Business Owner: • The ability to stimulate money in our communities • Publicity at an affordable price • The professionalism it provides to black-owned businesses

It’s time we put our future finances into our own HANDS! We must encourage members to patronize black-owned businesses to further expand the economic power of African American merchants and the households that support them.

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Correction: In the December issue of the Business Journal, Leondria Thompson, President and CEO of the Tri-County Black Chamber of Commerce, was misnamed. d-mars.com regrets the error.

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January 2014

JOIN THE MOVEMENT

“Support BlackOwned Businesses in Your Community” - MR. D-MARS

Picture this: You need to find a black professional on very short What if there was a database that allowed you to see listings notice. Word-of-mouth is cool, but you’d like to weigh more options. of reputable African American businesses in Houston and the You want to consider where they’re located, their specialties, and surrounding areas? Now…there is, right at your fingertips. read customer reviews about the business/company first. d-mars.com Black Pages The d-mars.com Black Pages online directory is available to visitors and new suppliers. The online directory serves as a one-stop resource for those who are looking for everything from a dentist to a real estate agent.

“We used to have the directory as a hard copy, but we found that most times after it was printed, we weren’t able to make any changes,” said MR. D-MARS, presi-

dent of d-mars.com. “If information for the company changed – such as a phone number or contact email – the book then become outdated and of no use to consumers.”

MR. D-MARS understood that, and using advances in technology mixed with a vision to bring the African American community together, he created the dmars.com Black Pages Online Business Directory – a comprehensive listing of local black businesses.

“I wanted to create something for businesses that was extremely easy to use at a very affordable price,” he said. “We researched, and statistics show that other races circulate dollars within their own communities several times, but African Americans do not. We see that as a problem, and we wanted to do something to fix it.”

Once a business creates a listing in the d-mars.com Black Pages Online Business Directory, the business will be able to take

advantage of and manage features such as video posting, photo gallery, map locator, and business profile.

“We can’t circulate our dollars if we don’t know about the businesses or where they are located,” said MR. D-MARS. “We understand that. Our online directory is an avenue we provide to give black people a way to circulate their black dollars.”

Real Benefits to Businesses

“The directory and journal have been helpful to get my business and brand out there. The directory can further help drive business to my company through continued social media interaction and engagement.

As the directory and journal continue to grow and reach all of greater Houston, my company will receive more leads. It’s also important for businesses to support functions and galas like the Top 50 and Top 30 events sponsored by d-mars.com because it helps the business owner to gain more name recognition. It’s incredibly important for blacks to support other blackowned establishments. We can take a look at the Jewish community and see that money changes hands 12 times within their community before it ever goes out.

We simply need to do better. When we support our own, it strengthens the economic foundation of our community.” – Betty Driver, BB Health and Wellness

“The directory has been beneficial in my ability to contact others in my industry to collaborate and answer questions. By supporting other businesses, we are able to help our community continue to thrive financially while meeting the growing needs of our stakeholders.

Additionally, it gives business owners a vast amount of resources to choose from when seeking contracts with owners who are professional, competent and capable. I believe the directory fosters a development of interdependence within our community and helps each of us understand how the growth, failure, or successes of our businesses impact the financial stability of our community.” – La Sonja Henderson, EZ Pediatric Therapy

Real Customer Review: “I lost my husband suddenly and had to plan a funeral to celebrate his life.

Troy B. Smith Professional Services name speaks for itself. The services were wonderful and professional!

The staff went above and beyond to accommodate my local and out of state relatives. The requests that I made in regards to the preparation of my husband’s remains were followed accurately! I could have not received better service in such a sorrowful time. Although I would much more prefer my husband, I am grateful that God allowed Mr. Smith and his staff to coordinate my husband’s celebration with ease, professionalism, and tender care in such a vulnerable time. And...might I add...my husband looked amazingly natural as though he was asleep. Thany you Troy B. Smith Professional Services staff!” - Jennifer Taylor

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Are you Ready to Take Your

January 2014

Business to the Next Level?

Presents

BLACK PAGES ONLINE BUSINESS DIRECTORY What this means to you,

The Business Owner: • The ability to stimulate money in our communities • Publicity at an affordable price • The professionalism it provides to black-owned businesses

It’s time we put our future finances into our own HANDS! We must encourage members to patronize black-owned businesses to further expand the economic power of African American merchants and the households that support them.

Features Include

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• Video Posting • Create your Online Photo Gallery • Map Locator • Business Profile • FREE Membership w/Lapel Pin

ADVERTISING | MARKETING | MEDIA | COMMUNICATIONS

Call Today 713.272.9511 | Visit Us Online www.d-mars.com

It’s Just That Simple!!!

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January 2014

Transcending from Good to Great in Business

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By Kachelle Kelly Contributing Writer

o be great at anything, one must be willing to do what others won't – to go against the grain, whether they are afraid or not. Many businesses are good, but few are great and guaranteed to stand the test of time. Great business owners are constantly learning and paying attention to trends, whether they understand them or not. And whatever they don't quite understand, they learn by researching online, attending seminars, or by hiring someone who does. Business is all about the customer experience and how you can best serve the customers as well as how you effectively resolve conflict by walking in integrity – even when it hurts your pride or pockets. Excellence requires vision – a laser focus to see your business years ahead and ensuring you are doing the necessary tasks to reach your goals. To move from good to great

in business requires Consistency, Competence, Connectivity and Competitive Edge.

Habits are formed through consistent behavior. Even when it seems as if your efforts are not paying off, you must remain consistent to see results. Entrepreneurs who have failed to be successful most commonly lack tenacity to see things through. Success is hard work and if it were easy, everyone would achieve it.

More often than not, businesses give up in the middle of the race instead of changing courses, if necessary, but it’s more important for them to stay consistent in their efforts. The discipline to do what others won't is important to your success.

I used to complain about not having a life or being invited to everything. I had to remind myself that I was reaching for greatness rather than settling for being good and doing what the general population does every day. And this takes a consistent amount of discipline. But that is the sacrifice for greatness.

Personal and business development is necessary for growth. As you grow, your business grows also. The mindset of great business owners is the key to their success. Competency comes from constantly learning and attending seminars and events held by leaders in your field. I have a rule of thumb to never know less than my clients, and if there is something that

I don't know, I quickly learn it. I gather knowledge by reading business books and magazine articles to sharpen my mindset and follow trends. I also attend online webinars and teleseminars to manage my time wisely. Often times we get caught up in the "bright shiny object" syndrome of running around the country to highpriced events, teaching things we already know. So as you increase your competency in your field, choose your learning activities wisely to ensure they can be turned into a money-generating activity.

Be sure to watch trendsetters in your line of work and constantly learn from them, but never be afraid to follow your gut to also set trends. Hire competent staff members that will improve your productivity so you can focus on those things you do best in your business. Incompetency is very costly to any business.

As small business owners, we have the tendency to dock on an island by ourselves. Connection to other business owners is not only healthy, but productive.

Seek others that share your same forward thinking and level of success to bounce around ideas. Join a mastermind group, hire a business coach or interact with those in your network to create a strategy for excellence and build a community of thought leaders.

I believe competition among business owners is an attitude of lack of inferiority.

There are so many people on this planet to market your services to online and offline. But I do; however, believe every business should have a competitive edge – the desire to be the greatest at whatever they do. One of the first questions I ask new clients is, "okay, that's great but what makes you different?" During our process together, creating that competitive edge is a part of our first official business.

Greatness is attainable for anyone that sets their mind on course. Make a list of every product and service you offer and next to each item, write down ways to improve every area in your business. Read customer praise and complaints to measure your customer relations success. Take what is currently working in your business and/or generating the most income and upgrade that concept.

Welcome to a brand new year! Look at what your business profited in 2013 and formulate ways to significantly increase this margin. Don't be afraid to think outside the box and Activate Your Hustle! For a customized and strategic plan to move from good to great in your business in 2014, contact Kachelle Kelly at kk@ kachellekelly.com

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African American Elected Officials Reception Several notable attendees gathered recently at a reception hosted by African American elected officials from Harris and Fort Bend counties. It took place at the University Museum at Texas Southern University. The reception allowed for the elected leaders to gather in celebration of the holidays and their shared communities.

1Whichever comes first. For full details on BMW Ultimate ServiceŽ visit bmwusa.com/ultimateservice. Š2013 BMW of North America, LLC. The BMW name, model names and logo are registered trademarks.

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January 2014

Nelson Mandela Receives Honorary Degree from Texas Southern University Global leader Nelson Mandela displays the Honorary Degree he received from Texas Southern University’s then president Dr. William H. Harris and Mr. Rufus Cormier, Board Chairman in 1991.

Texas Southern University

mourns the passing of Nelson Mandela who visited the campus in 1991 and 1999. Mandela, who died December 5, at the age of 95, was given a hearty reception by local audiences during his visit to TSU. In 1991, more than a year after his release from prison, Mandela visited Houston to give the keynote speech at the Carter-Menil Foundation Human Rights Prizes ceremony. He received an honorary degree from Texas Southern University. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family. Coca Cola provided an opportunity for TSU students to attend a premiere viewing of the new movie starring Idris Elba, Mandela: The Long Walk Home before it hit theaters.

It’s Time for Reflection! you must create solid SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Timely) goals.

Doing this gives you a chance to assess and measure what you have completed.

I

Dr. Wendy Johnson Contributing Writer

t’s the beginning of a New Year and an excellent time to take a step back and reflect upon what was successful and what needs to be improved. Oftentimes, people make personal New Year’s resolutions; however, have you made any business resolutions? These are just as important. This is the first month of a new quarter and if you want to take your business to the next level, you must plan accordingly. Success equals strategic planning, as you cannot keep doing the same thing and expect different results. This is the definition of business suicide and insanity!

So, is it possible to make a change in the first quarter? Absolutely, however

Here are some suggestions for reassessing your business priorities this New Year: 1. Define your Business Priorities – The first step

is to determine your business needs and risks. Ask yourself, what needs immediate attention? Make a list of the five top items that must be addressed and determine how they are going to be resolved. Do you have some operational inefficiencies, dysfunctional management, poor accounting or operational mediocrity?

These are just some of the reasons why businesses fail. Do a business overhaul and prioritize.

you’ve always done them that way or are you doing them because you are getting a return on your investment? Networking and building relationships is a very important aspect of conducting business; however, are you spending cash on events and being seen and not making any money? If so, you need to take a step back and reassess your networking abilities and YOUR circle. As a business owner, you want and NEED business and in order to do that effectively, you must strategically prioritize your time. Free appetizers and wine do not pay the bills! Too often we’re consumed with “being seen” and don’t make time to assess if the exposure is strategic and fitting for the goals we’ve set.

Your time is valuable…so act like it.

Remember…you can’t keep doing the same thing and expect different results.

3. What is Your Competitive Advantage – Lastly, 2. Spend Your Time and why did you go into business? Are you Money Wisely – Next, where competitive? Why would someone are you investing your energy and time? Are you doing things because

select your company over the compe-

tition? What is your competitive advantage? Are you able to answer all of these questions? Once this is assessed, you must calibrate your priorities and focus on the tasks that contribute to a sustainable competitive advantage.

Creating change is never easy. It’s the New Year and time to take a different strategic approach. Yes, it will be challenging and can be rewarding at the same time, however you must be positive, patient and most of all, you must create solid SMART goals, as doing this will help you navigate through this process.

Good luck and have a productive year! www.drwendyjohnson.com

Stay Inspired Informed Educated @ www.d-mars.com

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January 2014

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January 2014

Good…Great’s Enemy

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By Noel Pinnock Contributing Writer

he basic definition of good is ‘well’ and the basic definition of great is ‘very well.’ The two are very much synonymous but are competing rivals in many respects. Some settle on being

good while others strive to be great. There is no wonder why there are so few people, companies, and organizations that share their place in the greatness circle. While good is ‘good,’ it is certainly not great.

I live in Missouri City, a ‘good’ suburb of the city of Houston, which struggles to crossover into greatness due to a number of factors that include, but are not limited to, the following: • disconnected leadership, • low community engagement, • stagnant business growth, and • sub-zero employee morale.

B3Ci, A Joint Venture as Construction Manager-at-Risk for HISD, in accordance with Texas Government Code 2269, will receive bids or proposals from all qualified subcontractors for the Worthing High School Additions Package.

A pre-proposal conference will be held at 9:00 am, Tuesday, January 14th, 2014 at Worthing High School, 9215 Scott Street, Houston, TX 77051. A walkthrough of Worthing High School will be held immediately following the pre-proposal conference.

Bids or proposals are due Thursday, January 23rd, 2014 at 2:00 p.m., and bids or proposals should be emailed to bidday.houston@balfourbeattyus.com or mailed / delivered to the B3Ci/Balfour Beatty office, located at 4321 Directors Row, Houston Texas 77092. Late bids will not be accepted.

M/WBE documents as described below will be received until 2:00 p.m. on the due date. There will be no public opening of bids or proposals. All bids or proposals shall be available after award of contract or the 7th day after final selection of bids or proposals, whichever is later.

After receipt of bids or proposals, B3Ci, will conduct its evaluation of the subcontractor bids or proposals in relation to the project requirements and will select the bid(s) or proposal(s) that offers the best value to HISD. B3Ci is committed to meeting the M/WBE goals set for this project. M/WBE forms, schedules and statements, as required by the package documents, shall accompany each bid or proposal that is submitted. Bids or proposals submitted without all required information and in the order and manner specified may result in the bid or proposal being considered nonresponsive.

HISD, the Owner, reserves the right to waive any informality and/or to reject any or all bids or proposals.

Contact Lee Gibson at lgibson@balfourbeattyus.com or Wm. Earl Finley, C.P.M., A.P.P. at wfinley@houstonisd.org for additional information on this project Drawings and specifications are available on Smart Bid at https://secure.smartbidnet.com/ and in B3Ci/Balfour Beatty’s viewing room located at 4321 Directors Row, Houston Texas 77092.

Drawings and Specifications may also be reviewed at: Associated General Contractors, 3825 Dacoma Street, Houston, TX 77092, (713) 843-3700 McGraw Hill Construction/Dodge, www.construction.com Vi Virtual Builders Exchange, 3910 Kirby, #131, Houston, TX 77098, (832) 613-0201

For some, living in a good city or working for a good company or organization is okay, but to others like me who work tirelessly to overcome the paralytic and caustic sting of goodness, we strive for greatness and are relentless in the pursuit of it.

Leading a city is much like leading your home, for-profit business, or nonprofit organization because it requires individuals who are like pistols – hot-blooded people, not the mild manner conforming types that will conform to the awesome power of the existing culture. The secret of greatness is not achieved in some complicated algorithmic equation, prophecy from a person who we consider the expert in a particular industry, or from the leaf pages in someone’s magnum opus. It is not even achieved by understanding what your competitors are doing or not doing.

(Side Bar: If you don’t think you have competitors, then just look around your environment; they are everywhere.)

No, none of these things represent the magic pill for greatness. To achieve greatness, one only has to look within. The reason why greatness eludes so many is because we sometimes invest a lot of time, money, and energy in “trueing-up” anecdotal things while omitting the more serious issues that lay inside themselves or inside the company or organization.

I coin this the logic box in that our individual or organizational collection of knowledge, skills, abilities, and habits limit perception and act as a restriction on objective thought and creative expression. The greatest leader to me who ever walked the planet, Jesus Christ, expressed that we shouldn’t look at the spec in our brother’s eye while ignoring the plank (large board) in our own eyes. Good is the enemy of great and nothing great has ever become great by just settling on being good. Jim Collins writes in his book, Good to Great: “Picture an egg. Day after day, it sits there. No one pays attention to it. No one notices it. Certainly no one takes a picture of it or puts it on the cover of a celebrity-focused business magazine. Then one day, the shell cracks and out jumps a chicken.

All of a sudden, the major magazines and newspapers jump on the story: “Stunning Turnaround at Egg!” and “The Chick Who Led the Breakthrough at Egg!” From the outside, the story always reads like an overnight sensation— as if the egg had suddenly and radically altered itself into a chicken.

Now picture the egg from the chicken’s point of view.

While the outside world was ignoring this seemingly dormant egg, the chicken within was evolving, growing, developing—changing. From the chicken’s point of view, the moment of breakthrough, of cracking the egg, was simply one more step in a long chain of steps that had led to that moment. Granted, it was a big step—but it was hardly the radical transformation that it looked like from the outside.

It’s a silly analogy, but then our con-

ventional way of looking at change is no less silly. Everyone looks for the “miracle moment” when “change happens.” But ask the good-to-great executives when change happened. They cannot pinpoint a single key event that exemplified their successful transition.

Take Walgreens. For more than 40 years, Walgreens was no more than an average company, tracking the general market. Then in 1975 (out of the blue), Walgreens began to climb. And climb.

And climb. It just kept climbing. From December 31, 1975 to January 1, 2000, one dollar invested in Walgreens beat one dollar invested in Intel by nearly two times, General Electric by nearly five times, and Coca-Cola by nearly eight times. It beat the general stock market by more than 15 times.

I asked a key Walgreens executive to pinpoint when the good-to-great transformation happened. His answer: “Sometime between 1971 and 1980.”

(Well, that certainly narrows it down!)

Walgreens’s experience is the norm for good-to-great performers. Leaders at Abbott said, “It wasn’t a blinding flash or sudden revelation from above.” From Kimberly-Clark: “These things don’t happen overnight. They grow.” From Wells Fargo: “It wasn’t a single switch that was thrown at one time.”

We keep looking for change in the wrong places, asking the wrong questions, and making the wrong assumptions. There’s even a tendency to blame Wall Street for the “instant results” approach to change. But the companies that made the jump from good to great did so using Wall Street’s own tough metric of success: a sustained leap in their stock-market performance. Wall Street turns out to be just another myth—an excuse for not doing what really works.

The data doesn’t lie.”

You see, I live by a simple axiom, truism, or pithy…in God we trust, the rest show data. If we are going to be great, we have to confront the brutal facts and respond to these three questions: • What do you do better than anyone in the world?

• What drives your economic engine?

• What are you are most passionate about?

After answering these questions, align your business strategy around the responses, monitor your progress, confront your new reality, and celebrate your successes or opportunities for improvement.

Because the best gets better and your next stop along the journey would be to move from greatness to awesomeness. After all, the best is always yet to come and good is great’s enemy and a far-distant reality from awesomeness. #getatit www.noelpinnock.com

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January 2014

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January 2014

Meet Jarrod Wilkins: Transformational Teacher and Entrepreneur

“All I remember is getting a kiss on my cheek,and then I didn’t see my mother or father for five-and-a-half years.”

By Valerie Jones Contributing Writer

Humble Beginnings: The Making of a Man Jarrod Wilkins was born in Houston to a mother from Nigeria and a father from Tuscaloosa, Ala. His parents met while attending law school at Texas Southern University.

At the age of five, Jarrod’s mother decided to take him to Nigeria.

“She didn’t have intentions of leaving me there,” he recalls. “She had already failed to pass the bar exam twice. So my grandmother convinced my mother that she should leave me with her; otherwise she wouldn’t be successful in her career.”

So what started out as a visit for Jarrod turned into a new life in Nigeria – an unfamiliar environment to him.

“That began my life – waking up to no mother and no father in a third-world country where there was no running water,” he said.

Walking to get water from a well and carrying it back home on his head, using that same water to take a bath and filtering the remainder to drink was all new to five-year-old Jarrod. As a result, he was forced to learn adaptability – how to deal with new environments, people, and cultures.

“Right after I made that shift, I came back to the U.S. in 1994,” Jarrod said.

He returned home to find that his mother had gotten married and his father had also gotten married.

“They both had started new families without me,” he recalls. “After feeling that sense of abandonment, I knew I wanted to create my own family.”

The Road to Success In 2001, Jarrod began experiencing great success in the companies for which

he worked, earning multiple promotions and leading a team of executives – many twice his age – to award-winning sales status for a Fortune 500 corporation. Jarrod began his entrepreneurial pursuits with his firstcompany in 2004 at age 20 in the direct sales profession.

“I was marketing and distributing nutritional supplements and I failed,” he said. “I didn’t turn any real profits. I started my second business in the same profession, different company. I failed again, but was exposed to other mentors that understood how to make this profession and business work.”

Jarrod named five mentors who helped him grow in his profession: 1. Holton Buggs – he taught me principles and presence 2. T.D. Jakes – a great storyteller who taught me how to paint a picture 3. Les Brown – taught me the art of delivering one-liners and being able to frame and tell a story 4. Dr. Jamal Harrison Bryant – taught me how to deliver a message to get a crowd engaged and involved 5. Pastor Charles Perry, Jr. – taught me how to teach and craft a message that connects with the heart of the people Without a college degree, Jarrod used his experiences – both good and bad – as learning opportunities. He has since built a global organization of more than 20,000 distributors with sales that exceed $10 million annually.

“All of us learn by either a) our mistakes or b) our mentors,” Jarrod said. “I learned a great deal about communication, leadership, influence, and motivation. It helped in my personal self-development. A great quote by Jim Rohn states ‘formal education will make you a living; self-education will make you a fortune.’”

Transformational Teacher

Not only is Jarrod an entrepreneur, but he describes himself as being a transformational teacher. The difference, he states, between a motivational speaker and a transformational teacher is that a motivational speaker speaks in order to get a person to do something, while a transformational teacher allows a person to be aware of where they are, why they do what they do, and allow them to see themselves bigger than what they are.

“I think motivational speakers are good – needed as often as a bath because it allows for people to wash off negative experiences,” he said. “Teaching is being able to give a person a foundation from which he/she can build upon. Sometimes, motivation is needed. Jesus is a great example because he motivated the masses, but he taught the 12 disciples.”

Jarrod is highly-sought after and speaks to packed houses and audiences whether the platform is an international convention, seminar, leadership retreat, or private coaching session.Audiences are lively and engaged at each event.

“I resonate past their heads into their hearts,” he said. “There’s a deeper intrinsic connection when somebody knows you’ve been where they are. There’s a difference between impressing and impacting. People are impressed with your strength, but they are impacted by your story. Jarrod Wilkins is somebody who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way. What I teach, I’ve done.”

Jarrod’s quintessential message that he hopes to impart on every individual that hears him speak is that they are good enough.

“Sometimes, people become cheerleaders or followers of others who have

achieved and are successful,” he said.

“Those people are not always empowered to go after their own goals because they have not identified the greatness that is within them, to be more, do more, and have more out of life. I help people to identify their core strengths, drown out their weaknesses, and move past their obstacles to accomplish their dream.”

Shaping a Legacy Jarrod’s dream did not happen overnight; it happened night after night, he said. His interpretation of success: one beggar telling another beggar where they found the bread.

“You were born looking like your parents, but you die looking like your choices,” he said. “It doesn’t matter where or what you come from. You don’t have to be great to get started, but you do have to get started to one day become great.”

On Sept. 5, 2013; while visiting the St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort in Miami, Jarrod delivered the best message of his life by asking best friend and business partner of three years Porshea to be his wife. The couple completed their premarital counseling in December and plan to marry the first quarter of 2014. Keeping God first, they are looking forward to a prosperous and fruitful life with their daughter Chandler and future family additions.

“You teach what you know, but you reproduce who you are,” Jarrod said. “To reproduce who you are means you have had to go and be battle-tested. I’ve been battle-tested.”

Read Jarrod Wilkins’ column “Motivational Moments w/ JW” each month in the d-mars.com Business Journal, beginning in February.

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Council Member Larry Green Appointed Chair of Transportation, Technology, and Infrastructure Committee Houston, TX – Houston City Council Member Larry V. Green, representing District K, has been appointed chairperson of City Council's Transportation, Technology, and Infrastructure Committee by Mayor Annise Parker.

The Transportation, Technology, and Infrastructure Committee (TTI), oversees the City’s Information Technology, General Services, and Public Works and Engineering Departments, as well as the Rebuild Houston streets and drainage and water resources and conservation projects. In addition, the TTI Committee oversees the interest of the City of Houston relative to the Harris County Metropolitan Transit Authority (METRO), the Port of Houston Authority, and the Houston Airport System. The TTI Committee oversees revenues and expenditures garnered from the City's General Fund, Enterprise Funds and Special Revenue Funds. The Committee is comprised of 12 out of the 16 council members that serve on City Council.

“I respectfully thank the Mayor for appointing me as Chair of the TTI Committee. I’m looking forward to spearheading this Committee and moving the City’s transportation, technology, and infrastructure needs forward. Through the collaborative efforts of my council colleagues, I'm confident this Committee will find solid solutions to Houston’s infrastructure needs," states Council Member Green.

“The committee chairs have been selected with much attention to their areas of expertise and personal interest. I know Council Member Green will serve the City and his constituents well in this new capacity. We have a lot of work to get done in the next two years. I intend to depend on the work of the council committees to help push this aggressive agenda forward,” states Mayor Parker.

For more information about the TTI Committee, e-mail Donald Perkins at donald.perkins@houstontx.gov.

www.jarrodwilkins.com

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January 2014

Education, The Sensible New Year’s Resolution

By Mikal Powers

I

Contributing Writer

t seems that most people start off the New Year by making a resolution and spending the rest of the year trying to stick to it. Whether it’s something as simple as spending more time with a loved one, joining a gym, or going back to school – resolution makers are setting the stage for a successful New Year. After all, every sensible goal starts with a plan and what better time to start than when you have a clean slate with which to work.

Setting self-improvement goals that transform your mind can be as rewarding as those that strengthen your body or relationships. The most notable goal that many will consider is going back to school. In addition to being gratifying and confidence-boosting, returning to the classroom can also redefine or unlock new career opportunities. Returning to school is a huge decision and while many

may make a resolution to return to the classroom in the New Year, there are also many misconceptions that hinder those from diving back into the world of higher education.

With that in mind, many people might think that they have reached the glass ceiling in their current profession and feel it’s impossible to climb the ladder any higher.

Going back to school is a great opportunity to further broaden one’s knowledge in a respected field, and can be a catalyst to breaking through or moving forward in their career.

Another top concern or misconception of these same individuals is that going back to school is not practical due to current work and family commitments. In the modern age in which we live, it’s become much easier to combat those common misconceptions about returning to

the classroom.

In fact, University of Phoenix was founded and designed for the working learner and understands that students need an education for the real world – with classes that meet the needs of working students with family and job responsibilities, and faculty members who are also working professionals who bring a unique perspective to the classroom. It is a university that understands it needs to work with students and employers to match curriculum with careers, courses to job requirements, and skills to real-world applications.

Because higher education is valued in the workplace and today’s competitive job market, it makes completing a degree a necessity and therefore a perfect New Year’s resolution. Start the year off right and visit www.phoenix.edu/career-

services to start building your customized career plan today!

Mikal Powers is campus director at University of Phoenix Houston Campus overseeing campus operations, and is responsible for setting campus goals for academics, student experience, staffing, communication and development. Powers earned a bachelor’s degree in business management and a master’s degree in business administration from University of Phoenix. He spent five years as a Helicopter Search and Rescue Swimmer and Operations Petty Officer in the U.S. Navy.

After earning his degree, Powers attended the U.S. Coast Guard Academy and became a reserve officer for South Texas where he is committed to keeping communities safe and assisting residents in need.

Did You Know?

“You never get a second chance to make a first impression.”

Meaning

People will always remember the first time they met you, so make sure you make a positive first impression.

New York native Shirley Chisholm – politician, educator, and author – was elected to the House of Representatives in 1968, making her the first black woman elected to Congress. She faced much discrimination, more for being a woman than being black, during her time with the New York Legislature. Chisholm made a bid for the Democratic Party presidential nomination in 1972. She survived three assassination attempts during the campaign.

James starts his own business and rents an office space in a new location. He attends a business mixer hoping to network with businesspeople in the area. Being a new business owner, James finds that many attending the mixer aren’t receptive to him.

However, Angela – the owner of her own interior design company – approaches James and strikes up a conversation. The two chat for an hour about their companies and exchange business cards. When it comes time to decorate his new office space, the first person that comes to mind is Angela. Since he’s a new customer, Angela offers James a discount on her services. James is pleased with the results and from then on out, he refers his clients to Angela if they are ever in need of an interior designer. Angela’s great first impression not only gave her a loyal customer in James, but also garnered her many referrals from James as well.

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January 2014

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January 2014

I

Steps to Achieving your GOALS in 2014

By Lonnie Mathews Contributing Writer

t’s that time of the year; you know that point when we reflect on what has happened and look forward to what is going to happen in the next year. In other words, it time to create New Year’s resolutions. The actual tradition of creating New Year’s resolutions has been around since 153 B.C. and was supposedly created by the mythical king Janus of early Rome. The two faces of Janus on the early Roman coin looks back at past events and looks forward to the future. Today we make New Year’s resolutions of things that we want to achieve. I recently read an article that says 45% of all Americans will make some sort of New Year’s resolution.

Sadly, the same article stated that six months later, less than half of those indi-

viduals will still be on track to accomplish those resolutions or goals. That means that only one in five Americans will be on track to meet their goals in July 2014.

How about you? Do you continuously make New Year’s resolutions only to fall short year after year? I have done a little reading and research and I have come up with the following three steps to help you achieve your goals.

1. Begin with the end in mind – In his bestselling book, “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People,” author Stephen Covey discusses the habits that highly effective people have. One of those habits is to begin with the end in mind. In other words, decide exactly where you would like to be in different areas of your life and set your goals to get where you want to be. Therefore, if your goal is to reduce debt, you should list your debts and decide which ones you plan to pay off during 2014. If you want to save more this year, you should decide exactly how much you want to save, divide that amount by the number of pay periods you have in 2014, and have that amount taken out of each paycheck every payday. Beginning with the end in mind requires you to have a long-range vision of where you want to be, then developing goals to help you get there.

2. Write them down – The single most important thing that sets successful people apart from the not so successful is a clear set of written goals.

Author Mark McCormack said it best in his book “What They Don’t Teach You in Harvard Business School.” Mark did a study of the 1979 Harvard MBA class where upon graduation the question was asked “Have you set clear goals for your future and made plans to accomplish them?” Ten years later the results were as follows, 13 percent of the class said they had goals but didn’t write them down; these individuals earned two times as much as the students that had no goals at all. The most stunning find was the three percent of graduates that said they had goals and had written them down earned 10 times more than the rest of the class.

By writing your goals down you make them tangible, you automatically make yourself accountable, and you take ownership of them. When you take ownership of your goals you are in tune with them and they are always in the forefront of your mind. Think back when you first bought your car. If you are like me, it seemed like you started to see the same type of car everywhere. You saw the car in different colors, you saw the car at a stop lights, and you probably even noticed that your neighbor two streets over owns the same car. You have to write your goals so that you will have a constant reminder of what you are trying to accomplish.

3. Take action NOW – Here’s a riddle for you! There are three frogs on a log and one of the frogs decides to jump off. How many frogs remain on the log? If

your answer is three then you are correct.

When it comes to setting goals the easy part is setting them, the difficult part is doing the things necessary to accomplish them. Each year we say that we want something different, but we never actually do anything different to accomplish them.

The third and final step to achieving your goals in 2014 is to DO SOMETHING, and do it now. I challenge you, when you are done reading this article, sit down and decide what you want to accomplish this year, write it down, and go out and make them happen. Changing your life could be as simple as making the decision to do better than you have. Deciding that you CAN achieve the things that you set out to do will ultimately lead you to where you want to be.

You have the power to choose to do something different. If you want a better tomorrow, you have to do something different TODAY. This article was written by Lonnie R. Mathews for the Who's Minding Your Money blog. Lonnie is an author and speaker in the area of personal finance. To learn more about Lonnie or to contact him visit www. lonniemathews.com

Judge Joel Clouser Serving his Sixth Term as Fort Bend JP

Judge Joel Clouser has served as Justice of the Peace in Precinct Two of Fort Bend County for 21 years.

He and his wife Gloria have lived and raised their children in the Fort Bend community since 1980, where he has been actively involved in civic and community affairs.

He established and has directed the Justice Court 2/YMCA Teen Court since

1993, and is especially proud that it has won first-place honors in several mock trial competitions throughout the State.

Judge Clouser uses innovative alternative sentencing programs that include family counseling through Depelchin’s “STAR” program, anger management counseling through the Sprit Wellness program, and drug counseling through the Fort Bend Regional Council. He also gives top priority to mental health

emergency apprehension and detention requests.

He has served on the board of directors of the Fort Bend Family YMCA and the World Youth Foundation. He served on the Fort Bend Independent School District’s Safe and Drug Free Schools Advisory Board. He has also served on the Fort Bend County Bail Bond Board, the Clear Creek Watershed Flood Control District Board, as voter Precinct

Chairman, as President of the Casewood Civic Club, as President of the Missouri City N.A.A.C.P. and as Chaplain of the A. Philip Randolph Institute Tidelands Chapter.

Judge Clouser is very proud to serve as Justice of the Peace over the last 21 years and views this office as a real opportunity to help people when they are at a point of need.

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January 2014

RE-ELECT “I am proud to have served this community over the last 22 years, and I view my office as an opportunity to help people who are at a point of need.”

Judge Joel

CLOUSER

FAIR...COMPASSIONATE...EFFECTIVE...INVOLVED COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

ACHIEVEMENTS

Before becoming Justice of the Peace, Judge Clouser served 10 years as a community activist

• Developed award winning Precinct 2 Teen Court

• Past Member, Board of Directors, Fort Bend Y.M.C.A.

• Applauded and endorsed by school administrators for assisting in reducing truancy in community schools

• Past Member, Board of Directors, World Youth Foundation • Past Member, Safe & Drug-Free School Advisory Board, Fort Bend independent School District • Past Chaplain, A. Philip Randolph Institute Tidelands Chapter

• Regular speaker at community schools, lecturing on anti-violence, the court system and avoiding peer pressure and criminal behavior

QUALIFICATIONS • BBA, Finance, TSU • Over 460 hours Accreditation, Justice Court Training, Texas State University • 22 years of experience and service to the community as Justice of the Peace

• Past President, Missouri City & Vicinity Branch NAACP • Past President, Chasewood Civic Club • Former Chair, Voter Precinct 2051 • Life member, NAACP • Member, Texas State Teen Court Association

For more information visit

www.judgejoelclouser.com

• Member, Advisory Board, Holocaust Museum Houston

Justice of the Peace - Fort Bend County Pct 2 Political Advertising Paid for by the Judge Joel Clouser Campaign, David L. Collins, Treasurer 281-619-8300 P.O. Box 2222, Missouri City, Texas 77459

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January 2014

Mark Gibson: Still Serving America

M

ark Gibson, a soldier, committed father and proven leader, has a proven track record and he is now running for U.S. Congress, District 22 – which includes Harris County, Fort Bend County and Brazoria County. An extensive military background as well as more than two decades of career experience in Information Technology highlights just a few of Mark Gibson’s abilities.

Gibson has had a very successful career, and is a results-driven Senior IT Project Manager with global enterprise expertise in oil and gas, health care, defense, manufacturing, service industry, and information technology. He has skills and expertise in areas such as oil and gas project management, implementation of enterprise and global business solutions, resource and finance management, integration and acquisitions projects, risk and security management, and legal contracts review.

He’s a proven leader and has served as Brigade Commander, 4th Brigade (Health Services), 100th Division, in San Antonio; Legislative and Administrative Aide, Texas House of Representatives, Austin, Texas (Jan.-July 1986); and Past Hospital Commander, 5501st U.S. Army Hospital, San Antonio.

Gibson earned a BBA in Management Information Systems from the University of Houston, a Master’s in Strategic Studies from U.S. Army War College, Carlisle, Penn., and a JD from South Texas College of Law. He is a proud member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity.

He is a Project Management Professional from the Project Management Institute in New Town Square, Penn., a Colonel – Medical Service Branch – for the U.S. Army Reserves for 28 years; is an active and past member of the University of Houston Alumni & Project Management Institute (PMI); was a 2009 Leader for the Community Clean-up Missouri City for Colony Crossing Section; and Director and Past Vice President for Colony Crossing Homeowners Association.

Gibson spent almost 20 glorious years married to his late wife and they have three lovely children.

Professional Experience Shell Oil Company – Global Function

Component Landscape Manager Responsible for managing the landscape for business critical finance applications in the Shell global enterprise and provide ITIL C2 over situations with offshore resources.

MD Anderson Cancer Center (Emergent LLP) – ICD-10 Project Manager (Consultant – Delayed due to Government New Compliance Date) Responsible for managing Payer Management, Non-Clinical Business Process Remediation, and Dual-Coding initiatives to transition the organization from ICD-9 to ICD-10.

Methodist Hospital System – Senior Project Manager Responsible to manage key initiative enterprise projects and provide management oversight and coaching to managers and resources for non-key initiative projects for the number-one ranked hospital in the Houston area.

U.S. Army – Senior Project Manager, Worldwide Health Care Medical Operations (Active Duty) The world’s largest Military Health System, managing the global Medical Command (MEDCOM) Reorganization Project to improve span of control, standardize organization, improve quality management and provide more robust command and control.

LyondellBasell Industries – Project Manager, Technical Lead, System Developer Information Technology One of the world’s largest plastics, chemical, and refining companies, managed global enterprise program of projects through the Project Management Office to yield cost savings and improve performance across four continents and numerous geographically diverse divisions and business units.

American General Corporation – American General Life – Manager, Legal Administration Managed local support staff of 10 personnel with administrative responsibility for law offices in Syracuse, NY, New York City and Dallas, Texas VALIC, American General Company – Department Application Analyst American General Corporation – System Consultant

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January 2014

Four Ways to Propel Your Small Business to the Top in 2014

By Helen Callier

W

Contributing Writer

e’re at the starting line and the gun for the race has gone off. Are you going to do the same things you did last year, which missed the mark, or are you ready to take your small business to the top in 2014?

If your answer is “yes,” then start off on the right foot in 2014 by following these four methods: Work in 90-Day Chunks of Time – As small business owners, we often think we have enough time to achieve our sales revenue goals during the year. In our fast paced world, this kind of thinking can undermine your efforts and dampen your small business success in 2014.

Industry data show that identifying your big vision for 2014 and setting four key revenue milestones for the year (i.e. a milestone per quarter) allows small business owners to clearly see the end results.

Also, working in chunks of time provides three key benefits to small businesses.

They are: •Helps relieve procrastination and boost confidence in achieving your 90day goals.

•Minimizes ‘we can still make it’ thinking and that it’s okay that we missed our first quarter goals, we still have three more quarters and we know we can do it.

•Assists in keeping your team focused on the immediate goal.

I think we have all witnessed too many football games and know the momentum often exhibited during the first quarter sets in motion the winning or losing of the game. So to propel your small business to the top in 2014, consider chunking your time and working with 90-day goals.

Read – Most folks who know me know that I am a voracious reader. From biographies to personal development to marketing and sales to financial, I grab pockets of information to move to the next level.

Biographies of champions in sports, business or Nobel Peace Prize winners are great books to read because they say to me “If they could do it with the challenges, hurdles, and unbelievable circumstances, then I can succeed, too!”

Reading sharpens your mind as a small business owner and helps boost your creativity. You are able to pick up ideas, tips, and practical tools to use in your small

business and it strengthens you to work on your business versus in the business.

Reading gives you the edge in today’s marketplace - period. Books offer gold nuggets shaped in words and they can propel your small business to the top in 2014 when you apply what you have learned.

As an added bonus, medical data show that reading heightens the connectivity in your brain, and with consistent reading this connectivity creates new pathways or a network that ultimately changes the way you think. Changed thoughts cause new actions, which lead to new habits and can lead to successful results in your small business in 2014.

For a list of Helen’s suggested books for small businesses to read in 2014, feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn.

Get a New Attitude! – Like a gold medal Olympic athlete, outstanding small businesses at the top of their game do not become outstanding by happenstance.

They have a certain physiology and ‘winning, kick-butt, take names, loving others, I can, I am succeeding, resilient, and serving’ mindset that aligns with their highest company values and dictates their teams’ actions and habits that ultimately causes them to persevere in achieving their business goals and in making huge contributions in their perspective market, city, and country.

Bottom line – to be the best in 2014 and propel to the top as the owner, consider conducting a personal assessment and identify areas that require improvement. Gold medal Olympians throw one more shot putt, bench press one more time, or shoot 2,000 three-pointers in the dark in one spot before anyone else hits the practice floor. So assume the right attitude and take the appropriate action because what you plant today in your small business is what you will reap at the end of the year.

Find a Mentor – Having a mentor is a proven way for small businesses to succeed in today’s marketplace and this is true in 2014. A mentor enables your small business to leap over challenges that larger firms have already experienced and found solutions.

In addition, a mentor protégé relationship offers small businesses the following benefits: 1.Access to mentor’s business and technical expertise and experience 2.Ability to expand market footprint and clients base 3.Capability to participate in large scale projects that might not have been doable if pursued alone As a small business owner, when identifying possible mentors, make sure your business values and philosophy align, and that your firm can offer unique value proposition and plays a long term strategic role within large firm’s business model.

For more information on establishing a mentor protégé relationship, consider the Small Business Administration and Chambers of Commerce or feel free to send me an email and I will share my company’s experience from being in a formal mentor protégé relationship with a large private firm.

In closing, make sure to read my article in the February 2014 d-mars.com Busi-

ness Journal for more great suggestions, strategies, and tips on government contracting. You can pick up a copy at a location near you or visit www.d-mars.com.

Helen Callier, President of Bradlink LLC, a Technical Services Firm, bestselling author of “Your Money is in the Follow-up”, radio show host and speaker. Tel: 281.312.9981, www.SmallBusinessSuccessTalk.com

New Year’s Evaluation: Are You Ready For

By Thecia Jenkins

Y

Contributing Writer

ou have been daydreaming about it for a while now; stepping out on your own to start a business, obtain a degree or change careers.

You are confident that it is God’s will because even when you have tried to push the idea into the crevices of your mind; it permeates every thought.

Unfortunately, self-doubt tends to creep into every thought from time to time and leaves you paralyzed. Push past the selfdoubt and develop your ability to recognize your emotions and how they impact your performance, identify your strengths and limits; and sureness about your selfworth and capabilities. Be bold and raise your self-awareness!

Here are some strategies to develop selfawareness: Identify and address your triggers.

As an entrepreneur you are starring in multiple roles with diverse audiences, going to school, or reinventing yourself professionally; there will be times you will experience stress, be met with resistance and other issues that trigger emotions that may be counterproductive. Know what those are triggers ahead of time.

One way to do this is play the “what if ” game. What if you get lost on the way to the speaking engagement? How will you respond or “what if” I actually get the

1.

job? Recognize when you are “triggered;” for example, when someone points out an area of growth that you need or you receive a rejection letter. How do you find yourself responding? Do you immediately go in to self-defeating talk or do you begin to ask yourself how you can do things differently next time.

Conduct a personal SWOT analysis. Just as you conduct a SWOT of your business, take the time to evaluate your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. For example, my strength is being able to speak off the cuff or meet tight selfimposed deadlines. On the flipside, this is a weakness to wait until the last minute. My opportunities as an impromptu speaker come in handy at events or if there has been a cancellation of a speaker (woo hoo); however, on the flipside the threat is being perceived as haphazard by others. You try it!

Take a daily dose of Self-Confidence. You are a walking billboard for your business – even on those days when you are feeling inadequate and find yourself stumbling through a presentation, or your first response is to resist feedback from your peers, coach or friends regarding areas of personal growth. So the last part of self-awareness is being able to walk with self-confidence even when your thoughts are not in agreement. Your ability to speak positive affirmations over your life every day and dismantle negative self-talk is the key to success.

2.

3.

You can make your dreams a reality in 2014; just get to know you!

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January 2014

Construction Networking Event Builds Connections on 2012 Bond More than 200 subcontractors and minority- and women-owned business enterprises (M/WBEs) had the opportunity recently to build relationships with the 14 firms HISD has selected to provide construction manager at risk (CMAR) services on school building projects.

“Meet the Generals,” an HISD networking event held at the George R. Brown Convention Center, offered subcontractors in various trades the chance to meet the decision-makers of these firms and learn about their HISD construction projects funded by the district’s 2012 bond program.

“Building these relationships doesn’t mean you’ll get a contract overnight, but over time you will,” said Bernard Willingham, HISD’s team lead for Supplier Diversity.

Each construction firm had a booth at the event, showcasing photos of building projects and materials on its scope of work. Leticia Ellis, a certified roofer for 19 years and owner of Elias Commercial Roof Systems, introduced her M/WBE to general contractors she hasn’t performed work for yet.

“I want to showcase our capacity and how we can help them in the roofing in-

dustry,” Elias said. “The most we’ve ever done for HISD is roofing maintenance.

We’re looking to expand into the new construction arena now.”

Under the 2012 bond program, the district is planning to build or renovate 40 schools across the district, as well as invest in technology, athletic upgrades, and safety and security improvements. By using the CMAR contracting method, HISD is hoping to ensure a quality program.

The CMARs also participated in a work session on the district’s labor compliance

guidelines after meeting with potential subcontractors.

“We want our subcontractors to be engaged and present and not hidden from the process,” said Jay B. Carlton, president and co-owner of Sterling Structures.

The school builder was awarded CMAR contracts for the bond projects at Condit Elementary School and Grady Middle School.

“The most important thing in delivering any project is procurement. If you can’t get all of your materials together, you

can’t build your project,” Carlton said.

At the Tellepsen booth, subcontractors shared services they provide to see if their company may be a good fit to work with the construction firm.

“This event has been a great opportunity for us to meet qualified and certified minority-owned contractors and understand the services they provide,” said Stephanie Patterson of Tellepsen, which was awarded CMAR contracts for bond projects at Milby High School and DeBakey High School for Health Professions.

In addition to meeting prime contractors, subcontractors were also encouraged to network with other subcontractors to learn how their services may complement one another and if they may be able to partner up on a project in order to improve their chances of winning a contract.

“Small business enterprises need to establish these relationships, so when a bid for a certain trade is made, they’ll have a slight edge,” said Ruben Mercado Jr., executive director of the Houston branch of the National Association of Minority Contractors, a co-sponsor of the event along with Houston First Corporation.

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January 2014

A Minute With…

Donna Fujimoto Cole

By Valerie Jones

D

Contributing Writer

onna Fujimoto Cole is the president and CEO of Cole Chemical & Distributing, Inc. She founded Cole Chemical in 1980 at the age of 27, divorced, with a four-yearold daughter and $5,000 in savings. Cole Chemical has since experienced extreme success, with sales in excess of $78 million in 2012. The company has received numerous quality awards from Fortune 500 and the Small Business Administration.

Cole takes a break to share with d-mars. com a few keys to her success.

JONES: In an industry that is maledominated, how were you able to break through, not only as a woman, but as an Asian American woman?

COLE: Several reasons come to mind: being quick to respond, providing relevant market information, staying competitive by offering value-added services.

JONES: Do you have any mentors?

COLE: I had several male mentors in the chemical industry and one female mentor that was a marketing and business consultant. I also have good business advisors: attorney, banker, CPA, and insurance agent.

JONES: Being the president of your own company must be quite time-consuming. How do you balance work and your personal life?

COLE: I was totally consumed with work, growing sales, and acquiring or starting new businesses. In the last five years, I have had to rethink my strat-

egy and how I define success to prioritize business, family, friends, community and giving back.

JONES: What is the importance of diversity in business?

COLE: Diversity is the spice of life. As a diverse supplier, we are well aware of the challenges we must overcome to go above and beyond for our customers and to keep our name in the forefront, so when there is an opportunity, someone will include our company on the bid list.

JONES: What is the greatest challenge you’ve had to face while working at your company?

COLE: Recuperating from losing a 15year large contract in which we won 14 years of exceptional service, technology, pricing, cost savings, on-time delivery and quality because a new buyer said we were not global enough to be on the bidders list. Laying people off when we lost a large contract that represented 25 percent of our profitability was the hardest business decision I had to make. We were given one year to train the new vendor, who did business with the motherland’s new owner of our customer. The lesson I learned is not to let one company or one industry dominate your business.

JONES: What is a best practice you’ve implemented for maintaining a successful diverse business?

COLE: No matter how much you think you are a good value-added company, you must continue to build relationships and market your company’s products and services within your customer base because change is constant.

Joint Venture a Win-Win for Two Companies Doing Business with HISD Houston Independent School District Team Lead for Supplier Diversity Bernard Willingham shared a success story recently on Global Momentum Construction, a minority-owned business that partnered with Turner Construction Company to land a HISD building contract.

“They kept saying, ‘we’re not ready,’ but I watched them grow and saw them prosper,” Willingham told about 100 small business professionals at the Greater Houston Business Procurement Forum’s monthly breakfast. “They put in the work, and they established relationships. They did all the right things that we asked them to do.”

Willingham highlighted Global Momentum for forming a joint venture with Turner Construction Company in order to create bonding capability and bid as a prime contractor with Turner for HISD bond projects. HISD recently awarded Turner contracts for construction manager at risk (CMAR) services for three bond projects – the building of the new Dowling Middle School as well as Bellaire High School and Yates High School.

“Today, I’m very proud to say we’re a contractor for the largest school district in the state,” said Global Momentum president John Preston after being called on stage to talk about his company’s recent success.

“Prayer, patience, persistence – if you can

achieve these things, you can be where we are today.”

Turner was impressed with Global Momentum’s persistence and dedication to improving their bidding process. After bidding and not winning projects, Global Momentum would follow up to learn why other subcontractors won and utilize the feedback on future bids.

“They learned from their mistakes, so we decided to joint venture with them and pursue bigger work together,” said Turner project executive Todd Granato. “We knew they didn’t have the bonding capability and the finances, but we knew they had the go.

Global has been an asset to Turner as well – they have a strong network and talk about our projects to everyone.”

At the program, Willingham told the audience that HISD is serious about helping minority- and women-owned business enterprises (M/WBEs) form valuable relationships.

“We’re going to do everything in our power to help your business, but you have to do the work, too,” Willingham said. “Know what our challenges are, know who to talk to, and come to us with solutions for our problems.

Everyone who does their homework does well with us.”

-Houston ISD News

MORE THAN BRICKS AND MORTAR

As one of the nation’s largest commercial builders, Turner is dedicated to providing avenues of opportunity for Minority- and Woman-Owned Businesses in Houston to achieve entrepreneurial success.

Our commitment to social responsibility and fair play is not just on paper; it is ingrained in our corporate culture. We are devoted to making sure the contributions that strengthen the local economy reflect the demographics of the community at large.

w w w. t u r n e rc o n s t r u c t i o n . c o m

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January 2014

Experience Our World of Advertising Marketing, Media and Communication

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How Using Outdated Technology Can Impact the Reputation of a Small Business

S

mart business owners know how important it is to preserve their company's reputation, but many may not realize the extent to which their current and potential customers care about the technology they use.

According to a recent survey, more than 90 percent of consumers said they would – or would consider –taking their business elsewhere if a company uses outdated technology.

Respondents cited convenience and better customer service among reasons modern technology matters to them when it comes to working with small businesses. In fact, 68 percent of consumers think the use of modern technology is critical to the success of a business, and more than 60 percent said they are likely to become a repeat customer of a business using modern technology.

What qualifies as "outdated?"

About 60 percent of consumers consider operating systems and desktop computers that are five to ten years old to be outdated. That means that the estimated 30 percent of small businesses that are still running the 12-year-old Windows XP operating system fall into the category of "outdated" in consumers' minds.

But there are more than just reputational considerations for businesses still using an outdated operating system. After April 8, 2014, businesses running Windows XP will no longer receive security

updates or technical support for the system, meaning their systems may become more vulnerable to security threats.

Modern technology options abound The good news is that businesses in need of a technology facelift have a whole new world of devices and capabilities at their fingertips. For example, an array of Windows 8-enabled devices have become available in the last year, such as affordable tablets, laptops and other form factors that offer mobility and productivity at the same time. In addition, cloud technology has given small businesses access to the same powerful technology larger companies use, but in an affordable and manageable pricing structure.

Many small businesses are using cloud technology to reach new customers and enable employees to collaborate from separate locations. One such company, OnPoint CFO & Controller Services, which provides outsourced accounting and finance services to companies, is using the cloud-based productivity service Office 365 to enable its employees to collaborate with one another and their clients while working from home offices.

"Standing still is falling behind," said Brian Clark, OnPoint CFO co-founder, president and CEO. "Either you implement new technologies or you risk getting passed by your competitors."

Modern technology can help small businesses not only get more done, but reach more customers and retain them too. To learn more about modern technology for small businesses, download a free e-guide at www.microsoftbusinesshub.com/Get2MGuide. - (BPT)

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January 2014

The FAMILY WEALTH-BUILDING Institute THE KINGDOMS BUILDERS CENTER 6011 W. Orem Houston, TX 77085

WORKSHOP SCHEDULE FOR 2014 SATURDAYS 10 - 11:30 AM

This is a series of workshops, seminars and discussions designed to help diverse families GROW, PROTECT AND TRANSFER FAMILY WEALTH. This is not your typical one day workshop that leaves you with more questions than answers. Each of the twelve FREE monthly workshops in this series provide you with the knowledge, assistance and tools to build family wealth.

Participants receive complimentary lunch, beverages, resource materials and a free copy of my books: • WEALTH: Unlock The Secrets To Creating And Protecting Black Family Prosperity • MINI MOGULS: Lessons In Money Management

Early registrants get double entries in the drawing for a free Kindle given away at the end of each workshop!

1/11/2014 Basic Financial Management:

Focuses on six areas of coverage, cash management process, managing your taxes, saving for retirement, and leaving a legacy

2/8/2014 Investment Fundamentals: Focuses on myths of investing, allocation models, tax deferral, bonds, mutual funds, and dollar cost averaging 3/8/2014 Planning For Retirement: Focuses on three keys to funding a retirement, inflation and health care needs, diversification, whole life and long term care

To register for whole series or individual workshops go to WWW.MARSHALLYOURMONEY.COM - Ph.(832)740-4148 Experience Our World of Advertising Marketing, Media and Communication

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January 2014

Who Made the

Biggest Financial Gains in 2013?

Warren Buffett is not just rich – he made about $37 million (U.S.) per day in 2013 – making him the billionaire who made the most money this year, according to calculations

by Wealth-X.

Though he had a gain of $12.7 billion (U.S.) in 2013, the legendary billionaire and notable philanthropist is not the wealthiest billionaire on the list. Microsoft chairman Bill Gates takes that title, ending the

year with assets totaling $72.6 billion (U.S.) – adding $11.5 billion (U.S.) to his personal fortune in 2013.

Collectively, the individuals on the top 10 list gained $101.8 billion in

2013 – an average gain of $10.2 billion (U.S.) each. They have a combined wealth of $347 billion (U.S.).

On average, they increased their wealth by 41.6 percent.

Below are the top 10 gainers of 2013: Rank

Name

2013 Gain*

Net Worth December 2013*

Net Worth January 2013*

1

Warren Buffett

12.7

59.1

46.4

2

Bill Gates

11.5

72.6

61.1

3

Sheldon Adelson 11.4

35.3

23.9

4

Jeff Bezos

34.4

23.1

5

Mark Zurckerberg 10.5

24.7

14.2

6

Masayoshi Son

10.3

19.1

8.8

7

Sergey Brin

9.3

30.0

20.7

8

Larry Page

9.3

29.9

20.6

9

Lui Chee Woo

8.3

19.6

11.3

10

Carl Icahn

7.2

22.1

14.9

11.3

*All figures in US$ billion Source: Wealth-X

Bill Gates

Masayoshi Son

Sergey Brin

Lui Chee Woo

One of the best-known entrepreneurs of the personal computer revolution, Gates is the chairman of the Microsoft – the world’s largest personal computer software company. He is consistently ranked in the Forbes list of the world’s wealthiest people. His philanthropic efforts include the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, established in 2000. Gates has donated large amounts of money to charitable organizations and scientific research programs through the foundation.

Japanese businessman Masayoshi Son is of Korean descent and is the founder and current CEO of SoftBank, CEO of SoftBank Mobile, and current chairman of Sprint Corporation. Son always had an interest in business and majored in economics while studying computer science in college. At age 19, Son was confident that computer technology would ignite the next commercial revolution.

Ever heard of Google? Sergey Brin is the co-founder – along with fellow top gainer Larry Page – of the highly profitable internet company. Brin was born in Moscow to Russian Jewish parents and immigrated to the United States with his family from the Soviet Union at age six. He studied mathematics and computer science in college. Brin and Page became friends in college and combined their intellect to build a superior search engine. The pair stopped pursuing their PhD degrees at Stanford to start Google.

Born in China, Lui Chee Woo is the current chairman of K. Wah Group. The first K. Wah Company was established in Hong Kong in the 1950s. Lui is a pioneer in the Hong Kong construction materials industry. In the 1960s, he embarked on property investments, set his sights on hotel development in the 1980s, and in the 1990s, Lui expanded his business into Mainland China. In 2002, he ventured into Macau’s gaming business and is now one of the six gaming concessionaries in Macau.

Photo credit: Bill Gates: atcoitec.com; Masayoshi Son: money.cc.com; Sergey Brin: businessinsider.com; Lui Chee Woo: forbes.com

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January 2014

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LaToya Jarrett

Personalized, Devoted, Effective Representation.

Areas of Specialty Breach of Contract Property Tax Dispute Evictions Foreclosures Bankruptcy

LaToya Jarrett tj.jarrettlaw@gmail.com (7 13) 487-9897

Call Today!

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Houston, Tx 77004

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