July 2011 - The Business Lifestyle Magazine Digital Edition by Fort Bend Business Journal

Volume 29 • No. 7 6

THE BUSINESS LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

JUNE JULY 2011

Texas Direct Auto A Successful Vision Helping A Community

INSIDE STORIES

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AWARD WINNING CARE

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• Our Respiratory Care Department has ranked in the Top 15% in the U.S. for 5 years running • We offer Advanced Wound Care and Hyperbaric Treatment • Our brand new Grand Parkway location features a full-service Emergency Room, Texas Sports Medicine Institute, and will soon be home to an additional OakBend Medical Group location • Our Senior Care Center is designed especially for older adults experiencing mental, emotional or behavioral problems with 24-hour care available by the Psychologists and Geriatricians on staff. These are just a few of the reasons you should choose OakBend Medical Center for your family’s healthcare needs. If you’re looking for award-winning care, contact OakBend Medical Center today.

PHYSICIAN REFERRAL: (281) 341-4800 www.oakbendmedcenter.org

CONGRATULATIONS! Tyler Hubert

Congratulations to Tyler Hubert, a senior at Fort Bend Baptist Academy, for being selected as Texas Direct Auto’s “Scholarship Star” for July! Jessica DeMarr, Director of Business Development, presents the $1000 check. Hubert is Captain of the FBBA Varsity Swim Team, FBBA Mascot, Chaplain of the French Club and an Eagle Scout, as well as a member of Drama Club, National Honor Society, National English Honor Society, Interact Club, Academic Team, Speech and Debate Team, Civics Club, International Thespian Society and FBBA Drumline. He plans to major in Economics at Texas A&M University. Hubert was selected as part of Texas Direct Auto’s commitment to educational excellence through the “Scholarship Stars” program. Application details are listed below.

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July 2011 • Fort Bend Business Journal

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CONTENTS

Fort Bend/Katy

Cover Story

Volume 29 • Number 7 • July 2011 For subscriptions send check for $25 to Fort Bend Business Journal

Texas Direct Auto A Successful Vision Helping A Community

pg.

Special Feature

4655 Techniplex Dr., Suite 300 Stafford, Texas 77477 281-690-4200 TOLL FREE 1-888-430-7478 www.fortbendstar.com Single copy $4.95

PUBLISHER.................................... Beverly Carter

Fort Bend’s Rising Stars ............................................................ 21

GENERAL MANAGER............Michael Fredrickson EDITOR ...........................................Sharon Wallingford

Inside Stories Fort Bend Focus to host 4th annual JEWELS of Fort Bend...............................................10 EPA & Corps of engineers proposed changes impact Fort Bend region.......................12

ADVERTISING DIRECTOR ................ Kerry W. Jarka MARKETING CONSULTANTS.................Diane Strehl Ann Sturrock

Sears Home Appliance Showroom celebrates Grand Opening........................................14 A Seachange in booking vacations...........................................................................................34 Economic development continues in Fort Bend...................................................................36 Katy group puts their heads to task..........................................................................................44

RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE SPECIALIST.........................................Becky Hall CONTRIBUTORS . ................................. Gene Hall

Another national marketer points to Katy................................................................................53 Fort Bend Baptist Academy celebrates 25th anniversary with a new name.................56

Elsa Maxey David Sherrill Wayne Chandler

It’s never too late to get fit...........................................................................................................58 Tyco in Stafford to expand and add 30 new jobs.................................................................62

Monthly Columns

ART DIRECTOR.................................Joey Belleza GRAPHIC DESIGNER / WEB.............Carlo Arcillas

Kolbe Curtice CCIM, CLS Commercial Real Estate Discusses Understanding Commercial Property Cash Flows...................... 37

Brian Covault

Alan Sandersen

Business Resources

Tax Smart

Discusses Local Resoures top Help Your Business to Grow .................. 15

Discusses Haven't Filed an Income Tax Return?................................... 41

Monthly Departments ON THE COVER Data Beat...........................................................................................................30-33 Newsworthy.......................................................................................................42-43 Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce Newsletter...................................................45-52 Names in the News...........................................................................................54-55 Service Directory...............................................................................................60-61 Dining and Entertainment.................................................................................63-64

Fort Bend Business Journal • July 2011

Texas Direct Auto 12503 Soutwest Freeway Stafford, Texas 77477

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July 2011 • Fort Bend Business Journal

cut here

Editor’s Preview

by Sharon Wallingford

Summer Serenity

The Editorial Advisory Board

elcome to our July issue as we begin another year of celebrating our independence as a nation

Kolbe Curtice CCIM, CLS Managing Director – Colliers International | Fort Bend

and as individuals. Enjoy all the Fourth of July celebrations as they occur across our nation, but

especially in Fort Bend County and our individual cities.

Jacqueline Baly Chaumette President and CEO Baly Projects, LLC

We have so much for you to discover and rediscover this month.

Beginning with the developments and achievements of Texas Discount Auto to the county’s growing number of leading entrepreneurs to the

Dee Koch Grant Officer The George Foundation

latest updates of the EPA and Corp of Engineers on the Clean Water Act. Keeping up with our growth always can add pages by itself and yet don’t forget to seek time to enjoy and celebrate life with your family or

Becky Munnell President and CEO Blue Jungle Marketing

clients by enjoying the many events and destinations this county and state has to offer. There are so many places where you can stay and play. And, yes, there is always fresh food to fit every mood at the many

Alan Sandersen Certified Public Accountant Sandersen Knox & Co. L.L.P.

restaurants available to us. As we all say thanks for the independence we so often take for granted please remember the military and their families. Our military,

Tim Stubenrouch President First Community Bank

police and firemen who must be constantly on duty to perform the ultimate form of sacrifice for keeping our independence and our communities safe and secure cannot be thanked enough. Be thankful we have these many support systems in place and don’t by any means

John Whitmore Whitmore Company

forget the day-to-day businesses that keep our worldwide need of supplies on the move. Regardless of what direction you turn, this county is on the move. Contact:

Keep the cash registers ringing. Sharon K. Wallingford

Fort Bend Business Journal • July 2011

Sharon K. Wallingford Sharon@FortBendStar.com Kerry W. Jarka Kerry@FortBendStar.com

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4655 Techniplex Dr., Suite 300, Stafford TX 77477 • Tel: 281-690-4200 July 2011 • Fort Bend Business Journal

Memorial Hermann Sugar Land Hospital receives accreditation from Society of Chest Pain Centers

emorial Hermann Sugar Land Hospital has received Chest Pain Center Accreditation from the Society of Chest Pain Centers SCPC, an international organization dedicated to eliminating heart disease as the number one cause of death worldwide. “This accreditation is validation of excellence and high-quality care for cardiac patients at our hospital,” said Jim Brown, CEO of Memorial Hermann Sugar Land. “We are proud to receive this distinction and proud to be one of the only hospitals in Fort Bend County to achieve it.” More than five million Americans visit hospitals each year with chest pain, and 600,000 people die of heart disease

annually, according to the SCPC. Hospitals that have received SCPC accreditation have achieved a higher level of expertise in dealing with patients who arrive with symptoms of a heart attack. They emphasize the importance of standardized diagnostic and treatment programs that provide more efficient and effective evaluation, as well as more appropriate and rapid treatment of patients with chest pain and other heart attack symptoms. They also serve as a point of entry into the healthcare system to evaluate and treat other medical problems, and they help to promote a healthier lifestyle in an attempt to reduce the risk factors for heart attack. To become an Accredited Chest Pain Center, Memorial Hermann Sugar Land engaged in rigorous evaluation by SCPC for its ability to assess, diagnose and treat patients who may be experiencing a heart

attack. To the community served by Memorial Hermann Sugar Land, this means that processes are in place that meet strict criteria aimed at: Reducing the time from onset of symptoms to diagnosis and treatment, treating patients more quickly during the critical window of time when the integrity of the heart muscle can be preserved and monitoring patients when it is not certain that they are having a heart attack to ensure that they are not sent home too quickly or needlessly admitted to the hospital. Memorial Hermann Sugar Land’s stateof-the-art healthcare encompasses the entire continuum of care for the heart patient and includes focal points such as dispatch, Emergency Medical System, emergency department, cardiac cath labs, a quality assurance plan and a community outreach program.

Representative Reynolds states Texas budget set up to fail

he Texas House of Representatives voted in support of a budget that should be a disappointment to all Texans. The final report of House Bill 1 that came back after back door discussions resulted in a bill that cuts $15.2 billion or 8.1 percent from the state’s budget. The final deal was reached after House and Senate Republicans negotiated behind closed doors, and came back with a proposal that slashed billions from public education, and confirmed the worst fears of parents, students and teachers. “The select members involved in actual negotiations on the budget ‘deal’ chose to short-circuit what should have been a fully vetted and transparent process, taking too many options off of the table way before negotiations ever began. Their response that this is the best they could come up with does not bode well for our underrepresented citizens [children and seniors], and should not be acceptable to the people of Texas,” stated Rep. Reynolds (D-Fort Bend County, District 27). “The budget as passed relies on a prayer that assumes the federal government will approve $1 billion in Medicaid waivers,

reduces higher education funding by 10 percent, cuts Medicaid by $4.8 billion, delays the payment of $2.3 billion to local schools by a month pushing it into the 2013-14 budget, and Ron Reynolds unwisely cuts education funding to the tune of $4 billion,” said Rep. Reynolds. “The funding appropriated for public education is $5 billion short of the request made by the Texas Education Agency, fails to account for the growth in our student population, and cuts funding for prekindergarten and early childhood education. The budget reduces funding for higher education, while at the same time reducing financial aid, creating a lose-lose situation for Texas students seeking to achieve the dream of a college education. The end result of the ill-advised decision to kick the can down the road on so many important issues, is an acceleration of our state’s path to worsening. Pushing our responsibilities down the road in hopes that some sort of windfall will miraculously salvage us is impractical and will only lead to further deepening of our economic recession,” explained Rep.

Fort Bend Business Journal • July 2011

Reynolds. Should the state of Texas move forward with this budget, it is projected that we will run out of money by sometime in early 2013, and will be forced to take even more drastic decisions to make up for the mishaps those in charge have adopted. “I support running our state government in a manner that is efficient, protects important priorities like education and jobs, and is responsive to the needs of its people. In my book, that should not include eschewing our obligation to make decisions based on sound policy rather than politics,” said Rep. Reynolds. “I stand firmly by my ‘no’ vote on the budget, and will go on record as saying, the citizens of Texas deserve better than what this budget proposes, and members of the Texas legislature could and should have done better for the people we represent.” About State Representative Ron Reynolds Ron Reynolds is State Representative for District 27 of Fort Bend County in Texas. He serves on the Economic and Small Business Development and Environmental Regulation committees. He is a former Associate Municipal Judge for The City of Houston. For more information, please visit: www.ronaldreynolds.com.

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Fort Bend Focus Magazine to host 4th Annual JEWELS of Fort Bend Joyous, Extraordinary Women Enriching Lives

ort Bend Focus Magazine, the county’s premier magazine showcasing people, places and happenings, is pleased to announce their fourth annual event honoring five extraordinary women whose contributions to our community make them real gems. Fort Bend Focus Honors the JEWELS of Fort Bend is scheduled for Thursday, September 22, with a premier Luncheon and Style Show honoring this year’s Fort Bend JEWELS – five Joyous, Extraordinary Women Enriching Lives. The five JEWELS selected for 2011: Doris Gurecky, Pat Hebert, Cari Middaugh, Judy Schmid and Lucia Street. From the Fort Bend Junior Service League to the Literacy Council of Fort Bend to the Richmond State School, these women are all committed to making our community the best place to live, work and raise our families. Fort Bend Focus Magazine is pleased to recognize their efforts while doing something that they all feel passionate about: supporting our community. Proceeds from Fort Bend Focus Honors the JEWELS of Fort Bend will be invested

The 2011 Jewels of Fort Bend: Doris Gurecky, Judy Schmid, Cari Middaugh, Pat Hebert and Lucia Street.

back into our community by supporting a vital organization: The Literacy Council of Fort Bend County. This non-profit organization’s mission is to end intergenerational cycles of illiteracy in Fort Bend County by improving adult literacy skills and generating community-wide literacy awareness. Formed in 1987, the Literacy Council serves adults who have made the commitment to help themselves change their lives. Well-trained and supported volunteers work one-on-one with adults needing help in basic literacy and on a small group basis in English language skills. Since 1987, the Literacy Council has served over 23,000 adults and has donated 591,000 tutoring and learning lab hours to assist with decreasing the 24% rate of individuals lacking basic literacy skills in Fort Bend County. (National Center for Education Statistics (NCES); January 2009). “As a publisher, literacy is vital to success of not only our business, but to the success of our community as a whole. With the illiteracy rate of Fort Bend County exceeding

Fort Bend Business Journal • July 2011

20%, the valuable work of the Literacy Council is making a difference in our work force,” said Lisa Fredrickson, publisher of Fort Bend Focus Magazine. Since 1987, the Literacy Council has returned approximately $15,000,000 to the community in tutoring hours alone. “This year, the Literacy Council will spend approximately 22,000 hours tutoring citizens, and we are honored to assist with this much-needed and worthwhile program.” While the event will be the highlight of Fort Bend Focus Honors the JEWELS of Fort Bend, the September magazine will feature a beautiful spread showcasing photos and biographies of the five JEWELS along with sponsors of the event. Distributed directly to Fort Bend homes each month, as well as in rack distribution at businesses and retailers throughout the county, the special Fort Bend Focus Honors the JEWELS of Fort Bend section will pay homage to these special women and their community service. continued on page 13

Meet the JEWELS of Fort Bend

Joyous, Extraordinary Women Enriching Lives

Cari Middaugh Pat Hebert

Doris Gurecky

Judy Schmid

proudly announces the 2011

Lucia Street

Luncheon & Style Show

Safari Texas Ranch BENEFITING

The Literacy Council of Fort Bend County

Thursday, September Twenty Two, Two Thousand and Eleven 11:30 am - 1:30 pm Safari Texas Ranch ◆ 11627 FM 1464 ◆ Richmond, Texas

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Special Thanks to Our Official Jewels Contributors Alisa Murray Photography - Official Photographer J Loggins Jewelers - Official Jeweler Pamela Printing - Official Printer

Safari Texas Ranch - Official Venue Salon Eben & Day Spa - Official Salon May W. Tape, D.D.S. - Official Entertainment Sponsor

Tickets & Sponsorship Opportunities ◆ 281-690-4242 or www.FortBendFocus.com

EPA & Corps of Engineers proposed changes would impact Fort Bend County region

he Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) have recently announced proposed changes to existing federal regulations related to the definition, permitting, and mitigation of wetlands and streams. Essentially most projects, including new schools, roads and highways, drainage projects, and multi and single family housing, would be affected. The new regulations would require significantly more work to gain approval to impact Waters of the U.S., particularly wetlands and streams. The extra work would increase costs that would ultimately be passed down to every tax payer and consumer in the county. One example of this increase can be found in single family housing when, for a typical single family development in Fort Bend County, the cost of the additional environmental review, could increase the price of each new home/lot by as much as $15,000. How the new regulations might affect new single family developments in Fort Bend County can be illustrated by a hypothetical 200-acre residential development. Approximately four lots per acre would be generated for a total of 800 lots. When developing such a project, the development costs, such as land costs, construction costs, engineering and design, infrastructure, and others, all contribute to a bottom line that is factored into the lot cost and ultimately divided amongst the buyers of the 800 lots. While the environmental portion of this overall development cost has historically been relatively small, the proposed changes could increase this cost by as much as five times or more, resulting in increased home prices. Historically, environmental

regulations, particularly the Clean Water Act (CWA), have fluctuated between more regulation and less regulation. The CWA Section 404 grants the regulatory authority over Waters of the U.S. (including wetlands) to the Corps and EPA. In the 1980’s and 1990’s, the Corps asserted jurisdiction over all wetlands, including both excavation and fill activities. Two court cases, Tulloch v. Corps, 1999, and the Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County v. Corps, 2001, (also known as the “SWANCC Decision”) served two major setbacks in CWA regulation and began a period of less regulation. Many wetlands across the U.S. and locally were excavated and drained legally (Tulloch) or were declared isolated, non-jurisdictional wetlands and were thus filled without a Corps permit (SWANCC). As many as half, if not more, of the wetlands in the U.S. were left unprotected from 2001 to present.

Fort Bend Business Journal • July 2011

Thousands of acres of wetlands have been filled legally, nationally and locally, without a Corps permit and developed into housing communities, commercial properties, schools, and other types of development. In 2006, several court cases that questioned the Corps regulatory authority over wetlands made their way to the U.S. Supreme Court. In Rapanos v. Corps, 2006, the court ruled that the Corps could assert jurisdiction over wetlands “neighboring traditional navigable waters and their tributaries”. Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote the court’s opinion, which provided comments about what the Corps and CWA could reasonably protect, while also clouding how to determine what is and is not a Water of the U.S. Rapanos ultimately led to the Corps Headquarters issuing Regional Supplements to the wetland delineation manual in 2008 and the Rapanos

Guidance to help their Districts throughout the U.S., including the regulated public, determine what is and is not a jurisdictional Water of the U.S. or wetlands. Locally, the EPA and Corps often disagreed over how to interpret the Rapanos Guidance, and in 2009 – 2010, the EPA elevated the review of at least three Corps isolated determinations to the EPA and Corps Headquarters for further review. The Corps argued that it believed that it had interpreted and applied the guidance correctly and that the wetlands in question were isolated, non-jurisdictional. The EPA disagreed and ultimately overruled the Corps, thus requiring the land owners of the properties in question to cancel their construction plans and apply for a permit that would ultimately take 1 to 2 additional years to gain approval prior to restarting construction. Wetlands that were located above the 100 and even 500-Year floodplain were determined to be jurisdictional based upon subsurface hydrological connections (perched water tables), the wetlands “close proximity” to a river or stream, and an “ecological” connection by a mosquito fish and/or water snake. The EPA determined that such wetlands were adjacent and thus jurisdictional. By overruling the Corps, the EPA set a precedent, nationally and locally, to begin a major paradigm shift back towards reclaiming jurisdiction over all wetlands and Waters of the U.S. In May 2011, the EPA and Corps Headquarters published on the federal register “Draft Guidance on Identifying Waters Protected by CWA” with comments from the public due July 1. Overall, the proposed guidance could have a dramatic economic impact to Fort Bend and surrounding counties and potential results include: • Slowed Development and Infrastructure Growth – Projects that may not have required Corps permits in order to begin construction would now be delayed 1 to 2 years in order to secure an approved Corps permit. • Increased Costs to Permit and

Mitigate Impacts – The cost to mitigate each acre of wetlands is expected to double over the next year. Additionally, the Corps Galveston District in 2011 began implementing a new federal mitigation policy that has resulted in the Corps requiring impacts to streams, including man-made drainage ditches, to be mitigated with stream-for-stream mitigation. This new requirement would add costs, particularly to road projects and flood control projects. • Lending and Financing Issues – Due to the time delay, money paid for raw land (with compounding interest) would sit idle for years before positive cash flow can be shown to the lender. Banks may become more cautious about lending money for projects in the Fort Bend and surrounding counties because of wetland issues. As proposed, the new guidance would result in ANY wetland, tributary, stream, flood control channel, or man-made drainage ditch being termed jurisdictional under CWA Section 404 and would require a Corps permit prior to construction within these defined areas. To read more and submit comments about the proposed EPA and Corps Guidance, go to usace.army.mil/CECW/ Pages/nnpi.aspx Mr. Sherrill has 15 years of experience in wetland and land use management and is the Director of Permitting and Land Use with Berg-Oliver Associates, Inc. (BOA), David Sherrill overseeing the firm’s wetland ecological services and other environmental assessments. He has a diverse background in natural resource assessment, specializing in wetland delineations, wetland permitting, and the creation and mitigation of wetlands. Berg-Oliver Associates, Inc. (BOA) is a full service environmental consulting firm with over 20 years proven experience and specializes in addressing wetland concerns. dsherrill@bergoliver.com, www.bergoliver. com.

Fort Bend Focus Magazine to host 4th Annual JEWELS of Fort Bend continued from page 10 “Because of the efforts of the wonderful, caring individuals who devote so much of their time and talent to our philanthropies, especially these five women – Doris, Pat, Cari, Judy and Lucia – our community is a better place,” said Fredrickson. “Fort Bend Focus Magazine is proud to honor their commitment to Fort Bend County and be able to give back to the community that has so graciously supported us.” This year, Fort Bend Focus Honors the JEWELS of Fort Bend will include a raffle to further benefit the Literacy Council of Fort Bend. One hundred percent of the proceeds from the raffle will benefit the non-profit agency. Tickets for the raffle are $20 each and are available for pre-purchase or for purchase at the event. Fort Bend Focus Honors the JEWELS of Fort Bend is open to the public and will be held at Safari Texas Ranch in Richmond from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm on Thursday, September 22nd. In addition to the Luncheon and Style Show, event sponsors will be treated to a private Champagne Reception with the JEWELS prior to the event. Sponsors to date include Emerald Sponsor Safari Texas Ranch; Ruby Sponsors Alisa Murray Photography, Classic Chevrolet Sugar Land, J Loggins Jewelers, Methodist Sugar Land Hospital, Pamela Printing, Salon Eben and Day Spa and TexasDirectAuto.com; Corporate Gems Johnson Development, May W. Tape, DDS and Null-Lairson, PC. Sponsorships range from $1,000 to $7,500 and include magazine advertising. Individual tickets are available for $65. For sponsorship information or to purchase tickets, contact Fort Bend Focus Magazine at 281-690-4242 or visit www.FortBendFocus.com.

July 2011 • Fort Bend Business Journal

Sears Home Appliance Showroom celebrates grand opening in Sugar Land

elebrate the grand opening of the Sears Home Appliance Showroom at 15850 Southwest Freeway in Sugar Land in July. Conveniently located on the northeast corner of US 59 and Hwy 6 just a few doors down from Whole Foods, JABEZ, LLP will display specials on their website, www. SearsAppliancesHouston.com. In 1996, Stephen Stark purchased his first Sears franchise, a hometown store in Rosenberg, which he later relocated to Richmond. Ten years later, Stark formed JABEZ, LLP with business partners Jack Hutson and Maynard Lanham. Three years later they owned 12 stores in Houston and the surrounding areas. Stark, who serves as CEO & president of JABEZ, LLP, has over 20 years of experience with Sears. Jack Hutson, senior vice president, brings over 35 years of retail background from Mattress Firm and Walgreens. COO Maynard Lanham has over six years with Sears and owned the Sears store in Bastrop prior to joining the JABEZ team to manage the rapid expansion. There are many firsts for JABEZ and Sears: They were the first Sears franchisee in the nation, the first to open a Home Appliance Showroom and the first to own an Appliance and Hardware store.

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Fort Bend Business Journal • July 2011

Maynard Lanham (COO), Stephen Stark (CEO & President) and Jack Hutson (Senior Vice President).

While many other retailers posted massive losses during the recession of the past five years, sales were steadily increasing and JABEZ’s staff grew from six to 85 employees. The business plan is simple: Offer customers the widest selection of products, service them with the most knowledgeable sales team in the industry, offer pricing that only a trusted major retailer can provide and back everything up with top notch customer service. Because they are a locally-owned small business, customers can bank on the fact that they will get the best value for their dollar and exceptional service after the sale. Take the original mail-order catalogue concept from 1888 and bring it to the 21st Century. “Not only are the showrooms completely stocked with all major appliance brands, they have at least 3 computer stations for customers to browse, shop and purchase anything that Sears has to offer, and have it conveniently delivered to their home or to the showroom. Customers can also shop other stores to make sure they are getting the best prices. We find the lowest prices and beat them … period is the guarantee.” This business philosophy translates to all of their stores: The Sears Hometown Store in Richmond; the Appliance & Hardware Store in Katy; and the 10 other Home Appliance Showrooms in Atascocita, Conroe, Cypress, Katy, League City, Pearland, Pasadena, Tomball and Wallisville Road, and now Sugar Land. JABEZ, LLP contributes back to the communities they serve. Through numerous charitable organizations such as the 100 Club and local schools, they are passionate about giving back. Whether it’s time, product or dollars, they are serious about affecting the people in their neighborhoods. “Over the past several years, Houston and all of the communities where we are members have supported our stores, it only seems right to give back to the community which helped us grow,” says Stark. For additional information contact JP Duberg at 713.446.8575 or jpdeezign@yahoo.com.

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By Brian Covault

TCRN Founder/CEO

Local resources to help your business to grow Every small business experiences high, lows, triumphs and disappointments. What separates one business from the other is the ability to address challenges, and execute a strategy for growth. TCRN-Sugar Land is filled with resources to help every local business thrive. Whether you are a start-up business or a seasoned company cemented in the community, TCRN Business Services can provide resources every local business needs. One resource that all businesses require is accounting. However, not all businesses employ “effective” accounting procedures. Sound accounting practices increase the opportunity for profitability. Accounting serves as a roadmap to guide your business. Good accounting can indicate where you’ve been, where you are and where you are going. Finding an accounting firm that works

like an extension of your business is not an easy task. A good accounting firm provides unique solutions to help businesses focus more on achieving their goals, and less on accounting issues. Some businesses prefer to have turn-key services that perform all accounting duties. Other businesses do their own book keeping, but simply need to refine their accounting methods. QuickBooks can be an effective method, but you may require some assistance in mastering all of its capabilities. From small businesses needing a complete suite of services to a large business needing an audit, Trevathan CPA, PLLC is a perfect resource for any size business. John Trevathan and his talented staff are able to elevate the opportunities of local businesses. John’s goal is to help business owners improve their opera-

tions and provide them with the freedom to run their business instead of having the business run them. For a complimentary consultation to assess ways to improve your accounting, simply call John Trevathan and mention the Fort Bend Business Journal. John also specializes in addressing issues with the IRS and minimizing your liabilities. To schedule an appointment, call 281 207-1333. Trevathan CPA, PLLC is located at 19901 Southwest Freeway in Sugar Land. Trevathan CPA, PLLC is a member of TCRN-Sugar Land and can be found under Professional Services on www.tcrn-sugarland. com. Brian Covault is a columnist for the Fort Bend Business Journal and TCRN Founder/CEO, Texas Community Referral Network. He can be reached at 281-342-8276. www.tcrn-sugarland.com. H

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U N I V E R S I T Y o f S T. T H O M A S Cameron School of Business July 2011 • Fort Bend Business Journal

COVER STORY

Texas Direct Auto A Successful Vision Helping A Community

he numbers are staggering -$500 million in annual sales on 20+-acres of space that produces more than 2,000 vehicle transactions per month. Texas Direct Auto, located at 12053 Southwest Freeway in Stafford, has seen monumental growth in recent years since its inception in 2002. The business is the largest eBay Motors Dealership in the world and the largest independent dealer in the United States. “The fundamental business principles have always been the same. What some think is an overnight success was actually 10 years in the making,” said Jessica DeMarr, Director of Business Development for

Texas Direct Auto. “They started small and put in a lot of hard work.” Texas Direct Auto founders Mike Welch and Rick Williams didn’t look in the usual places when searching for a business model for a car dealership. The men had success in developing enterprise software for Fortune 500 companies and became interested in a business where they could sell something more tangible, DeMarr said. That technological mindset is the basis for the structure of the dealership, which started out as an online-only business. “They didn’t model their business like any other car dealership,” DeMarr said. “They knew nothing about the car business when they started and went outside the industry for inspiration.”

Customers can get the most money for their vehicles at the Sell Us Your Car Bar.

Fort Bend Business Journal • July 2011

Jessica DeMarr Director of Business Development Texas Direct Auto

DeMarr gives credit to the owners’ attention to detail for much of the dealership’s success. The new building Texas Direct Auto calls home is a 50,000-square foot facility that allows for walk-in customers, something that was impossible at the old location when the dealership was based mainly on online sales. The dealership’s sales are now almost split down the middle between the evergrowing eBay purchases and local walk-in customers. Those customers who walk in find a different atmosphere than most dealerships because they aren’t met by a salesperson as they enter the lot. Customers can approach the help desk as they walk into the facility if they want assistance or access one of the many computers on which they can peruse Texas Direct Auto’s selection. Customers can relax and watch television in one of a few different themed sitting areas.

With over 2,000 vehicles on over 20 acres, Texas Direct Auto is the largest Ebay Motors Dealership in the world and the largest independent dealer in the United States.

Children enjoy watching television in the space-themed area.

These include a Western-themed area and a sports-oriented lounge. For customers with children, the facility features an enclosed play place and an area set up with space-themed television as well. There is even a snack bar named “Chuck Wagon Deli” for customers looking to grab a quick treat. Online sales continue growing, with buyers coming from each of the 50 states and many foreign countries. When it comes to the vehicles themselves, selection is Texas Direct Auto’s primary drawing point. “We have the cars people want to buy,” DeMarr said. “We have a massive collection of what customers want. Even the smaller models are loaded with options. Most people have already done their research and they know what they want.” The dealership obtains its inventory from

several sources -- closed dealer sales, special factory sales, other dealers, banks and people who are looking to sell their personal vehicles. Texas Direct Auto promises the best offer for people who want to sell. “We have an excellent process,” DeMarr said, adding that the new facility has a Sell Us Your Car Bar where customers can get the most money for their vehicles. “We get a lot of positive feedback from people thanking us for the experience they had selling us their car.” Texas Direct Auto’s growth is also seen in the Fort Bend area through the many outreach programs in which the dealership participates. The company is committed to more than just selling cars, DeMarr says. “We want to make a difference in the community and want to give back,” DeMarr said. “We are sincere about it. We don’t do it

to make ourselves look good. This desire to give back is important to our owners.” The dealership, partnering with Fort Bend Focus Magazines, invests in the education of local students. Texas Direct Auto provided 12 scholarships worth $1,000 apiece over the past year through the Scholarship Stars program and they plan to continue another year. Scholarship winners are listed in each magazine monthly. That community commitment is also evident in health outreach projects such as the Texas Direct Auto Blood Drive, which was held in April. The drive, which drew 32 donations, included free food, prizes and broadcasts from local radio stations. Another Texas Direct Auto Blood Drive is slated for 12-6 p.m. July 6. A fall blood drive will be held on Oct. 12. Donations from Texas Direct Auto provided roughly 25 percent of the annual budget for Lunches of Love, a program which gives sack lunches to low income elementary children and their siblings in RichmondRosenberg during extended breaks from school. The dealership provided lunches for 762 children during June through Lunches of Love, which was started by First United Methodist Church in Rosenberg in 2009. continued on page 18

July 2011 • Fort Bend Business Journal

continued from page 17

The dealership provided financial assistance for the Fred & Mabel R. Parks Youth Ranch, a shelter for Fort Bend County’s homeless and at-risk youth. These donations included helping to underwrite the cost of the facility’s grand opening and providing holiday decorations for the Parks Youth Ranch. “Education and children are our main focus,” DeMarr said. “We try to help everyone, but children are the future and they need to be everyone’s focus.” Culturally speaking, Texas Direct Auto is the Presenting Sponsor of Texian Market Days, a series of historical reenactments picturing southeast Texas history. The program, put on by the Fort Bend County Museum Association, educates students about the rich heritage of the region in which they live. These include just the major projects in which the dealership is involved. It also sponsors countless Little League teams and other youth groups, as evidenced by the large collection of trophies the dealership is accruing. Texas Direct Auto’s thumbprint will soon be on the area’s sports scene in another way. The dealership is a founding partner of the Sugar Land Skeeters, a minor league baseball team beginning play in April 2012. Texas Direct Auto’s involvement with the franchise includes sponsoring baseball-shaped golf carts that will bring relief pitchers from the bullpen to the mound. Texas Direct Auto’s presence is spreading, from increased sales to the billboards throughout Southeast Texas to the lives that are touched through the several community projects the dealership helps sponsor. Welch and Williams set out in 2002 with a different idea for what a car dealership could be. Ten years later, the new facility and over 2,000 cars for sale on the 17-acre lot are all the evidence one needs to see those goals have been realized. For more information on Texas Direct Auto, visit www. texasdirectauto.com.

Customers can grab a quick snack at the “Chuck Wagon Deli.”

Western-themed lounge where customers can relax & watch television.

Customers walk into find a different atmosphere on the showroom floor at Texas Direct Auto. Customers can also relax while waiting in the Sportsoriented lounge. (left photo)

Fort Bend Business Journal • July 2011

Coordinated healthcare makes a difference – just ask the Sanchez family

ith their 5-year-old son, Dario, challenged by multiple health conditions, his parents did not know where to turn for help when navigating the healthcare system. “We felt overwhelmed and frustrated – almost to the point of giving up,” said Dario’s parents, Abril and Jaime Sanchez. Jaime said it seemed he was forever trying to locate and make appointments with physicians and other healthcare providers to properly address his son’s conditions.

Jaime, Dario and Abril

The Sanchez family’s solution came in the form of a health benefits plan offering local hands-on support – KelseyCare. Abril teaches at a local school district that offers KelseyCare to its employees. The Sanchez family selected the “KelseyCare powered by CIGNA” health benefits plan. Once enrolled, the Sanchez family got the help they needed. Dario’s parents were contacted by KelseyCare Pediatric Case Manager Vicki Hunter, R.N., who became their “healthcare navigator” and someone they could count on. With her hands-on approach, she helped guide Dario and his family through the “medical maze” and connected him to the healthcare providers he needed. “All I knew was that Vicki Hunter was doing everything,” Abril says. With Vicki coordinating Dario’s healthcare, the Sanchez family was happy and able to focus on Dario’s health. The coordination also eliminated waste that often comes with a lack of coordinated care and is also a leading factor in driving up the cost of healthcare.

FBBJ-July2011.indd 1

Dario Sanchez and KelseyCare Pediatric Case Manager Vicki Hunter, R.N.

“Vicki is wonderful,” Jaime says. “She would find the right doctors and schedule the appointments. When I call Vicki, the voice I hear is Vicki’s voice – never a machine. I don’t feel like I’m just another number to the insurance company. I feel like they care about me. And that’s what I really like about KelseyCare.” To see Dario’s complete story and learn more about the KelseyCare difference, go to www.ChooseKelseyCare.com.

www.ChooseKelseyCare.com

6/17/11 8:20 AM July 2011 • Fort Bend Business Journal

Methodist Sugar Land Hospital’s Cancer Center celebrates National Cancer Survivor’s Day

Cancer Survivors and Caregivers attending the luncheon and celebration.

ethodist Sugar Land Hospital’s Cancer Center recently hosted a celebration of life in honor of cancer survivors. They joined America’s 11 million cancer survivors around the world in observing the 24th annual National Cancer Survivor’s Day. Hundreds of communities worldwide hosted events this month to celebrate life and demonstrate that there is hope. Methodist Sugar Land Hospital’s Cancer Center invited all local cancer survivors, caregivers, community leaders, Methodist Sugar Land Hospital physicians and employees and anyone passionate about the cause for the National Cancer Survivor’s Day celebration. During the event, community members joined together in honoring the survivors living with a history of cancer in America today. The contributions of their families, friends and healthcare providers who support cancer survivors were also recognized. During the celebration Dagmar Climo, a two-time breast cancer survivor, bravely shared her story and provided hope for those attending the event. “My mission is to inform women of the importance of early detection. Getting a yearly mammogram can

truly save your life, as it did mine. Methodist Sugar Land Cancer Center has taken care of me since my diagnosis and I owe them a huge debt of gratitude. The radiation team at the cancer center is awesome. It sure helped to have skilled people who are fun taking care of me and keeping my spirit up,” said Climo. “Congratulations to Methodist Sugar Land Hospital for an excellent and uplifting celebration of cancer survivorship, every year this event continues to grow. This means two things; there are more and more people surviving cancer and Methodist Sugar Land Cancer Center is reaching and treating more people every day and giving the chance of life,” said Tommy Thompson, executive vice president of CanCare. “... You are unique individuals who have used your mind, soul and body to beat the beast. ...We as health care professionals, from the physician to the nurse, from the therapist to the technician are humbled by you allowing us to be part of your cure, part of your life, part of your story,” announced Clive Shkedy, M.D., radiation oncologist and medical director of Methodist Sugar Land Hospital’s Cancer Center. “We also acknowledge all those family members, friends and care givers who have supported you through your ordeal. We cannot forget

Fort Bend Business Journal • July 2011

Craig Butler, Chaplain; Frances Goerlich, Cancer Center Director; Tommy Thompson, Can Care; Lindsey Turnau, Dagmar Climo, Breast Cancer Survivor who spoke at the event about the importance of early detection and Melissa Lampp.

those who were less fortunate, who have succumbed to their illness, yet their memory serves as an eternal reminder to all health care professionals to work harder to find better ways to cure this disease.” “Thanks to the strides being taken in cancer research, people like me are able to say, I have been cancer free for almost 30 years. My family and I thank the fine doctors who have dedicated their lives to this specialty at the sacrifice of time away from their own families, and I am thrilled that Methodist Sugar Land Hospital has brought such a high-quality cancer facility at the doorstep of Fort Bend residents,” says Debbie Markesino, cancer survivor.

Meet the Upcoming Entrepreneurs and Executives in Fort Bend County

Jeffrey Boney

Lamber Collins

Ashley Foster

Himesh Gandhi

Gina Henry

Amber Laird

Michele Miller

Ryan Peel

Ron Reynolds

Warren Spiwak

Reagan Tielke

Jason Troth

Jen Watson

Josh Welker

Morris Malakoff

July 2011 â&#x20AC;˘ Fort Bend Business Journal

Upcoming Entrepreneurs & Executives By Sharon K. Wallingford

ongratulations to Fort Bend’s Rising Stars in today’s business world. These fine women and men were nominated by their peers so we could discover who the present and upcoming movers and shakers are today. There are so many of you in the community and we hope to get to know every one of you over the course of this next year. As a result of these selections, Fort Bend County residents can be proud and encouraged to know there is so much top talent, passion, and vitality available to us and the businesses that surround us. These individuals offer an emerging business climate with a balanced life pace. Congratulate them. Join us in supporting their efforts. They have earned the recognition and because of their dedication rest assured our tomorrow’s will be even brighter.

JEFFREY Boney After 11 years of service, Jeffrey Boney resigned from Washington Mutual Bank at the height of his career to follow his inner yearning to be more of service to small business owners, women in Jeffrey Boney business and youth. His goal was to work hand-in-hand with them to forge a successful journey. Just prior to launching the Texas Business Alliance, Boney was president and chief executive officer of the Houston Citizens Chamber of Commerce (HCCC). Boney served on the board of HCCC for nearly three years prior to rolling off of the HCCC Board of Directors, to help turn the organization around and strengthen its infrastructure. During Boney’s nine-month tenure as HCCC president and CEO, he helped HCCC stabilize its financial structure. He increased its corporate partnerships and utilized those investment dollars to operate the organization more efficiently by developing a financial infrastructure.

He also created new business development programs to educate, equip and empower African-American small business owners while meeting the budget and leaving HCCC with a net financial gain. Staying connected to the community, Boney serves in the following capacities: Member of the 100 Black Men of America, advisory board council member for the U.S. Small Business Administration, Port of Houston Authority, Maritime Academy Committee, Harris County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) and the Harris County Department of Education, is a member of the IRS Small Business Economic Forum, past board member for The Forge for Families and is an active volunteer with several community organizations. Boney has received numerous awards and recognition for his civic and community involvement and his leadership skills. Boney is a graduate of Project Blueprint, a United Way leadership program and is a Leadership Houston Class XXVII graduate. He recently won the United Way’s Dorothy F. Caram Commitment to Leadership Award. He continues to be a shining leader representing Fort Bend and being of service to Fort Bend county and beyond.

Fort Bend Business Journal • July 2011

Dr. LAMBERT Collins Since establishing his chiropractic, nutrition and acupuncture practice in Cinco Ranch in Katy in 2008, Dr. Lambert Collins has served thousands of patients in their quest to Dr. Lambert Collins return to health without the use of pharmaceutical drugs and surgery. Giving back to the community is a high priority and has served to actually grow the practice. Through his practice theme: “Miracle Year for Wellness,” Collins set an annual goal for the practice to reach over 10,000 individuals in the community to improve their health and well-being through treatment, health education and philanthropic activities. The business, Katy Lifestyle Chiropractic, often offers free initial services to new patients in exchange for a donation to his favorite charity: The Krause Children’s Center which is located near Katy Mills Mall. Over $3,000 has been raised for the Krause Children’s Center, a non profit residential treatment

center that supports children ages 11-17 who have been physically, sexually and emotionally abused and neglected. Collins also often recruits patients to support the Krause Children’s Center in other ways-- from collecting prom dresses to donating seasonal decorations. He and his wife, Lorrie, are the parents of two adult children.

ASHLEY Foster Ashley Foster is a Fort Bend native, who speaks Spanish fluently. After growing up in Pecan Grove and graduating from S. F. Austin High School in 2002, he played Ashley Foster soccer for Florida Tech on full scholarship and then completed his studies at Oxford University in England. He began his career as an agent for New York Life Insurance Company in 2007. In 2010, he qualified for Council, which is New York Life’s sales club. He was promoted to Senior Community Relations Associate in August of 2010 and will qualify as a Partner in the Houston general office of New York Life in 2012. He is a member of Sugar Land Rotary and currently serves on its board as Membership director. He is also involved with Junior Achievement and sits on the organizations Hispanic Advisory Council for Houston, helping the organization educate Hispanic elementary school students about the importance of business and entrepreneurship in our society.

HIMESH Gandhi Himesh Gandhi is an active member in numerous community groups, when he is not behind his desk in the legal firm of Hrbacek & Associates, P.C. He Himesh Gandhi currently serves on the Sugar Land Planning and Zoning Commission and as Vice Chair for the Arc of Fort Bend. He is chairman of the Indo

American Forum of Fort Bend and previously served as the legal counsel and on the executive committee for the Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce. Being a graduate of the Fort Bend Leadership Forum class of 2007 and the Leadership Excellence class of 2011, gives him a supportive advantage when it comes to understanding his community. As a business attorney he represents individuals and entities with a broad practice in business transactions and commercial litigation. He primarily practices in the areas of real estate, construction, contracts and litigation. Gandhi earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Houston Baptist University and a Doctorate of Jurisprudence from South Texas College of Law.

GINA Henry Energy consultant Gina Henry began a career in the Christian television industry in 1986 in Orange, Texas and followed her career to Houston in 1991. Within Gina Henry a few years the deregulation of the telecommunications industry opened up in Texas and soon after Gina began her first business selling bundled telecommunication services. She continued to sell the services until the electricity industry deregulated. It was then she began her second and third businesses in the electricity industry. She quickly advanced as she made it her goal to find more and more Texans that were not receiving fair pricing for their electricity services. Under the umbrella of her DBA, Agape Enterprises.net, she has hundreds of personal, residential and commercial customers that she continues to call on and who trust her to find them the best rates in their areas of coverage. Today, Gina is an active member of the Vineyard Church and Business Networkers International. She volunteers as needed in the Christian television ministry and at the Houston Pregnancy Help Center.

AMBER Laird Amber Laird is proud to be a resident of Sugar Land. Upon graduating from Texas Tech University with a degree in public relations, she joined Morgan Keegan in 2010 as Amber Laird a financial advisor. She is partnered with her stepfather John Sudduth, who has been in the financial services business for over 30 years. Together, they work with a select group of wealthy families, planning and managing all aspects of their finances and investments through wealth protection, legacy building, and customized financial plans. The goal of their family-based practice is to actively assist their clients so they can live lives free of financial concerns. They understand how significant life events and changing family dynamics can impact one’s financial future. Imagine having a well-honed team of experts at your disposal who strive to help make dreams come true by protecting those dreams from the intense emotions that drive the financial markets. When she is away from the office, she enjoys playing golf, fishing, watching college football, working with local charities and spending time with family and friends. She works long hours, but claims she really enjoys what she does and that includes having a passion for helping others.

Continues...

July 2011 • Fort Bend Business Journal

David Dewhurst, State Senator Rodney Ellis, and from Fort Bend County, former Sugar Land Mayor David Wallace. Malakoff is currently involved with the Masquerade Theatre in Houston’s Hobby Center featuring his art photography in posters..

Dr. MICHELE Miller

MORRIS Malakoff Fort Bend resident Morris Malakoff, art photographer and photojournalist, is Greater Houston-based with multiple genres of photography. His art and commercial projects include Morris Malakoff shoots in India, Europe, the Americas, and the Caribbean. Malakoff attended Fort Bend ISD schools, the University of Houston, Benedictine College in Kansas, and completed foreign studies in a bilingual French-German school in Freiburg, Germany. Malakoff’s work has complimented features in several Fort Bend publications, including Prime Living, and in his work can also be seen in Houston Magazine. He’s been engaged in ad branding imagery for the Houston Press, as well as principle work for major marketing, including a project featuring multi-million dollar residences while on location in the Virgin Islands. Malakoff has an upcoming art show this fall, having already been featured in a Houston Civic Illuminations project, showcasing process extended exposures captivating what has been referred to as the soul of the city. Future plans for this rising star include shows in other major cities throughout the U.S. The talented photographer, also known for fashion and portrait camera shoots, was commissioned to capture former President George and Barbara Bush with television journalist Sam Donaldson, James Carville and Mary Matalin during an interview in Houston at the Hilton Americas. Among other notables in his repertoire of photographed personalities is former Governor Bill Richardson from New Mexico, when he was running for U.S. President while visiting Texas, Lt. Governor

Dr. Michele Miller, Associate Chiropractor at Sugar Mill Chiropractic, is definitely a star in our community. She graduated from Southwest Texas University and then Dr. Michele Miller completed her education at Texas Chiropractic College. She is currently a member of the Southwest Chapter of BNI and Sugar Land Rotary Club where she recently received the Rotarian of the Month award. Miller was instrumental in the expansion of Sugar Mill Chiropractic to their new location in 2010 and the opening of its subsidiary Sugar Land Spine and Disc, a facility providing non-surgical spinal disc decompression. Her eager personality and enthusiasm for life make her a great addition to any event she attends. She is a caring person who really takes an interest in her patients lives and well-being. This “Doc” definitely makes the grade when it comes to excelling in her field. She has a great fondness for animals, especially dogs and horses, of which she owns one of each. She is also part of the Houston Boxer Rescue Team. She is a resident of Fort Bend County and has been in the community for over 10 years.

RYAN Peel Ryan Peel is a familiar face in Fort Bend County. Upon graduating from Elkins High School in 2004, he continued his studies and received a Bachelor’s degree in Ryan Peel Finance from Texas State University in 2008. Without any delay, he obtained his insurance license and created

Fort Bend Business Journal • July 2011

his own start up insurance agency Synergy Wealth Partners that serves the Sugar Land area. As he established and grew a successful business, Peel served as a member and as educational director of BNI – Sugar Land Success, the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo, as well as, the Executive Director of Tri Kids Camp, a non-profit organization focused on helping under-privileged children in Houston train and compete in Triathlons. In the future, Ryan intends to become a Chartered Financial Planner, specializing in estate planning and money management. He enjoys working on a personal level with each of his clients, however he truly enjoys being considered a valuable resource to every person he interacts with on a day-to-day basis.

State Rep. RON Reynolds His tireless work on behalf of Fort Bend District 27 finds newly elected State Representative Ron Reynolds taking the “Freshman of the Year” title which was recently Ron Reynolds presented by the House Democratic Caucus in Austin. He played a key leadership role in many debates including the state’s budget crisis, funding public education, fighting for teachers and protecting the elderly. Reynolds strongly believes “to whom much is given, much is required.” Prior to becoming a state representative, he served as president of the Missouri City & Vicinity Branch NAACP, a member of the Fort Bend ISD Bond Advisory Committee and is past president of the Houston Lawyers Association. He has the distinction of being one of the youngest people appointed to serve as an Associate Municipal Judge for The City of Houston. He was also an adjunct professor at Texas Southern University. He also serves as vice president of the Fort Bend Democrats and Constable Ruben Davis’ Advisory Council. Reynolds has received numerous achievement awards for his legal and civic engagements. Recently, he was voted “Best Attorney in Houston” by H Texas

Magazine. Other awards include: Houston Citizens Chamber of Commerce Business Pinnacle Award, MLK Drum Major for Justice Award, EEOC Civil Rights All-Star Award, American Red Cross Humanitarian, Missouri City Juneteenth Community Service Award and the YMCA Minority Achievers Award.

WARREN Spiwak Warren Spiwak is a leading Farmers Insurance Agent, who is ranked in the Top Five percent of agents achieving both Championship and Topper Club status. Warren Spiwak He recently moved his establishment to Sugar Land, where his family has lived since 1990 and he attended both Sugar Land Middle School and I.H. Kempner High School. As the owner of the Warren D Spiwak Insurance Agency, he employs a team of five specialists. Since 2002, Warren has helped families and small business owners find the best possible insurance products, while keeping his commitment to provide personal reviews of current clients. Spiwak also works on special programs that offers teachers, police officers and fire fighter special auto discounts. He works locally as a “Court Appointed Special Advocate” with the Child Advocates of Fort Bend, and utilizes his position as, “agency owner” to support multiple non-profits including the MS150 and the March of Dimes. He is married and the father of three.

REAGAN Tielke Reagan Tielke graduated from Texas A&M University and received his MBA from The University of Texas at San Antonio. After two years working as the Director of Investments Reagan Tielke and Chief Financial Officer for a real estate development and investment

firm he ventured out to establish what is now HomeWay Mortgage, a full service mortgage company with multiple locations throughout Fort Bend County. Tielke is also the Managing Partner at Americrest Capital which provides commercial loans and equity to builders, developers and individuals throughout Texas. In 2010, Tielke was also appointed as the Republican Party Precinct 4105 Chairman

JASON Troth

franchise company focused on providing professional bookkeeping practices to small businesses. “I look forward to the challenge and I am very excited about the opportunity to bring high end bookkeeping services to small businesses in the Fort Bend County area.” She is a member of the Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce and the BNI Brazos Team. She resides in Sugar Land with husband, Rob and two adorable children.

JOSH Welker

Fort Bend County native Jason Troth is the founder of JDT Lawn Care, a company he created while completing his bachelor’s degree at The University of St. Thomas in Houston. As Jason Troth the owner/operator, Troth is known for providing superior customer service and accountability while offering high quality lawn and landscaping services at a fair price. JDT Lawn Care is fully insured and all the employees, like himself, were born and reared in the greater Fort Bend County area. The services include commercial and residential properties and offers a wide variety of services. The young, hardworking, and personable entrepreneur is continuing to see his business grow in Fort Bend County.

JEN Watson Entrepreneurship is in Jen’s Watson bloodline. While finishing her education at the University of Houston, she worked alongside her mother in a new startup business that provided Jen Watson training in accounting software and bookkeeping support. She had joined the Lancaster Group in 1997, but resigned from her position as Marketing Manager in January 2011 to pursue her dream of running her own business. She “teamed up” with her mother, Diane, and they opened Bookkeeping Express on April 15, 2011. Bookkeeping Express is a national

Josh Welker is the third generation president of Welker, Inc. Welker is a globally known oil and gas instrument manufacturing company located in Sugar Land. Josh Welker A graduate of Kempner High School, Texas A & M and Houston Baptist University, Josh took over the daily operations of the company in 2008 and has seen the company increase in revenue by 20% in that short time frame. Josh and family live in Richmond and are active in local and regional events. With an eye towards a possible future in politics, he is currently focused on the growth of the family business and continuing to build a solid foundation in the business world. Welker is a company of over 85 employees and 78 US patents, thriving from the solid leadership of past and present. He is a worthy example of Fort Bend’s top Entrepreneurs and Executives, and fits the under 40 criteria, at 33 years of age.

July 2011 • Fort Bend Business Journal

Nations’ Mayors recognize Sugar Land’s Multi-Cultural Innovations

he U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) awarded an Outstanding Achievement City Livability Award to Sugar Land for innovative programs promoting multicultural awareness and respect. Outstanding Achievement Awards recognize cities’ leadership in developing and implementing creative, innovative programs that improve the quality of life in America’s cities. Sugar Land’s multi-cultural program was created to: • enhance the ability for the City to meet the needs of residents of all cultures and ethnic backgrounds; • promote an understanding of all cultures among all residents; and build opportunities for residents of all backgrounds to share in

and be a part of Sugar Land, Texan and American traditions. “Recognizing dramatic changes in our City’s demographics –including an Asian community that now represents more than 30 percent of Sugar Land’s population, City Council identified Inclusive Community’ as a guiding principle during a 2007 work session,” said City Manager Allen Bogard. The creation of the City Manager’s Multi-Cultural Advisory Team and an Employee Multi-Cultural Task Force focused on implementing citywide initiatives and programs that focused on communication and service within Sugar Land. The two groups have created educational opportunities for both citizens and staff contributing to a greater understanding of the City’s diverse communities. The result has been more diverse participation on City task

Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo awards 70 Texas scholarships

he Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo awarded 70 Texas 4-H members with four-year, $16,000 scholarships totaling $1,120,000 during the Texas 4-H Roundup in College Station on June 13. As one of the oldest Show scholarship programs, more than 2,000 scholarships have been awarded to Texas 4-H members since the Show’s first major educational commitment in 1957. These scholarships are just part of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo’s more than $16 million annual commitment to scholarships, research, endowments, calf scramble participants and junior show exhibitors.

Also included is support of the Rodeo Institute for Teacher Excellence™, School Art participants, and other educational and youth programs. The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is a 501(c)(3) charity that benefits youth, supports education, and facilitates better agricultural practices through exhibitions and presentation. Since its beginning in 1932, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo has committed more than $265 million to the youth of Texas. The 2012 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo will run Feb. 28 – March 18. For more information, visit www.rodeohouston. com.

Fort Bend Business Journal • July 2011

forces, boards and commissions. Increased Asian participation has also occurred in programs such as the Police Department’s Community Assistance Support Team and the Fire Department’s Community Emergency Response Team. Other examples of the City’s focus on diversity include the following: • Asian 101 programs from city staff • City sponsorship of events such as the Fort Bend Education Foundation’s International Festival • Staff participation in the Texas Dragon Boat Association’s Regatta and a Diversity Summit hosted by the Association of Chinese American Professionals • Sugar Land’s Cultural Kite Festival the Police Department’s Chinese Hotline • Arab/Muslim Police Cultural Training for police officers • Safety brochures printed in Asian languages • Expanded publications and other communications tools, including emergency communications and a translation tool for the City’s website “As one of the most diverse cities in the nation, we had to create a new way of approaching local government multi-cultural programs,” said Bogard. “By reaching out to community leaders to serve as de-facto liaisons to their broader communities, we’ve attempted to build stronger relationships with a large portion of our residents. Our recent recognition from the U.S. Conference of Mayors is proof that we’ve been successful.” The City Livability Awards program is now in its third decade. This year’s winning cities were selected by former mayors from a pool of more than 200 applicants. “Our awards program gives the conference a chance to highlight the cities’ leadership in making urban areas cleaner, safer and more livable,” said Tom Cochran, USCM chief executive officer and executive director. “We are grateful … for the opportunity to showcase the creativity and commitment of mayors and city governments across the country.”

Methodist Sugar Land Neurology Associates welcomes Dr. Eddie L. Patton Jr.

ethodist Sugar Land Neurology Associates is proud to welcome Eddie L. Patton Jr., M.D., to their

practice. “We are very pleased to have Dr. Patton join our group,” said Jeffrey A. Jackson, M.D., with Methodist Sugar Land Neurology Associates. “He shares the valuesbased, personal approach to quality patient care that makes Methodist unique and this relationship such a great fit. Our patients will benefit from his calm demeanor, excellent bedside manner and superb clinical abilities.” “It’s an honor to join the outstanding staff at Methodist Sugar Land Neurology Associates,” said Dr. Patton, a board certified neurologist with fellowship training in

neuromuscular diseases from Baylor College of Medicine. “My mission is to provide quality and compassionate neurological care to my patients, and I am committed to ensuring that I keep my patients at the

Jeffrey A. Jackson, M.D.; Eddie L. Patton Jr., M.D. and M. Faisal Khan, M.D.

forefront of advances in neurological treatments and technology.” Methodist Sugar Land Neurology Associates offer diagnosis and treatment of the most common – and most complex – neurological disorders. From sleep apnea, migraines, epilepsy and dementia, to complex spine, peripheral neurological disorders and neuromuscular disorders, the physicians at Methodist Sugar Land Neurology Associates can provide answers and options using the latest technology and therapeutic techniques, backed by the resources and staff of Methodist Sugar Land Hospital. Methodist Sugar Land Neurology Associates is located at 16659 Southwest Freeway, Suite 131 in Medical Office Building II. To schedule an appointment, please call 281-494-6387.

STRENGTHENING

a winning team!

Dr. David Braunreiter joins Methodist Orthopaedic Specialists of Texas The team at Methodist Orthopaedic Specialists of Texas (MOST) welcomes another all-star! Dr. David Braunreiter, board-certified physician who completed his fellowship training in sports medicine at the Cleveland Clinic, brings in-depth expertise and skill in sports medicine to his new position on the MOST team. As a team physician for the Houston Dynamo, Dr. Braunreiter is a leader in diagnosing and treating sports medicine injuries, with a long history of helping athletes of all levels return to full health following injury or illness. Don’t live with the pain. See Dr. Braunreiter – or one of the other board-certified and fellowship-trained orthopedic specialists at MOST – and get back in the action! Call 281-494-MOST (6678) for a personal appointment today. 1201 Brooks Street Sugar Land, Texas 77478

1327 Lake Pointe Pkwy., Ste. 425 Sugar Land, Texas 77478

MethodistOST.com

July 2011 • Fort Bend Business Journal

Dodging the pain of federal debt reduction means the effort will fail

By Gene Hall

ongress continues to march toward a shutdown of the federal government in August. If this happens, there’s plenty of blame to go around, pretty much equally shared on both sides of the political spectrum. You probably have a credit card with a borrowing limit. When you hit it, you either stop spending or persuade your lender to extend the limit. The prudent course is probably to cut back. The national “credit card” hit its statutory limit–$14.3 trillion—in May. To borrow more, Congress must increase that debt limit by something on the order of $2.4 trillion. This needs to happen by August. Republicans in control of the U.S. House say they will vote to raise the limit only if there are substantial spending cuts. Democrats just want to raise it without such constraints. If a farm family faced such a crisis, they would begin to look for the source of their greatest expenditures and find a way to manage them. That would likely mean patching up the old equipment rather than incurring more debt to buy new. It could mean selling grain you hoped to hold for a higher price. These and other crisis management measures are implemented

frequently on the farm. Cost (spending) control is the thing. More than 60 percent of federal spending falls into three areas: Medicare, Social Security and defense. There were trial balloons floated on the Republican side to deal with Medicare, but after a “safe” Republican seat was lost in a New York special election, a hasty retreat was beaten back to more certain ground. Well, something has to be cut and it looks like both sides think the much maligned farm subsidies are a good place to start. The farm bill is an omnibus package dealing with many things. There are nutrition programs for the poor. It is a package with a green wrapping because there is a great deal in the way of conservation spending. Then there are those subsidies paid to farmers. Many of these are not being paid right now because prices are too high for them to kick in. But many farmers will grow no crop this year due to floods and drought. There are direct payments which serve as a safety net in times of flood and drought— like now. Then there’s crop insurance. It’s subsidized by the government and would be cost prohibitive if it were not, but farmers pay premiums on it, too. All together, what farmers get from the federal farm bill amounts to less than half of one percent of the federal budget. There is substantial noise in Congress to cut heavily in this portion of the budget. That will fix it all right. Really? Cut disproportionately on less than one percent of the budget because it’s perceived to be politically popular to do so? The farm program is a success story that not many federal programs can hope to match. The safety net for our national food supply also produces jobs stretching from rural areas to small towns to port cities.

Fort Bend Business Journal • July 2011

In the intense and less than statesmanlike debate that will come on this issue, there will be references to farm “welfare,” which the program is certainly not. It is a wellhoned system to produce minimum levels of income to encourage farmers to stay on the land and continue to farm in an environment where nature can eliminate a crop in half an hour or over a long drought. It is a system to quiet nervous bankers who finance the awe-inspiring investments and huge risks of farming. It also takes into account the razor thin profit margins that are the norm for agriculture in the good years, when you do everything right. So, let’s cut agriculture down to the bare bones. Let’s set our farmers free to compete against the treasury of the European Union, which has no intention of cutting support for agriculture. They remember 1944 there, and what it’s like to go hungry. We’ll be buying our food from them and others before long. Farmers expect and don’t—I believe, for the most part—resent some judicious farm program cuts. This should preferably be in the hands of the House Agriculture Committee where the expertise lies. However, to trumpet budget savings in agriculture while leaving the real budget busters untouched is dishonest and a travesty. There is an old story about the French police chasing a robber into a large abandoned building. The story has it that they did not have enough men to seal the huge structure, so they surrounded the building next door—a smaller one, with fewer exits. Imagine their astonishment that the robber got away. Our robber is the national debt. If we approach the problem this timidly, it will most surely get away. Again.

Fort Bend County continues to lead region with job growth and diversity

ort Bend County consistently wins top rankings when it comes to economic factors – employment rate, job creation, economic climate, tax rate and cost of living. Recent data released by national expert Woods & Poole Economics (W&P) highlights the reality driving the accolades. W&P, renowned for metropolitan and community forecasting research, predicts a 3.04% growth rate in job creation in Fort Bend from 20112015, putting the county top in the region and fifth in the nation. During fiscal year 2010, deals worked through the Greater Fort Bend Economic Development Council (GFBEDC) and economic development partners produced one of the best job and capital investment

years in the EDC’s history, adding more than 1,200 jobs, $130 million in investment and nearly 1.5 million square feet of commercial absorption or new space. This growth was realized in a number of industries, including: chemical, construction, finance, healthcare and packaging. A major factor contributing to Fort Bend’s positive economic climate is its diverse population. County residents are diverse both ethnically and professionally. Based on updated U.S. Census data, the Texas Tribune ranked Fort Bend the fourth most diverse county in the nation. Fort Bend residents have many different backgrounds, creating a strong and diverse workforce and talent pool for local companies to take advantage of when hiring new employees.

Diversity is also fulfilled in the industries represented within county lines. Oftentimes businesses move to Fort Bend seeking differentiation from major industry hubs in other areas. As a result, the technology, energy, education, hospitality, manufacturing and medical sectors are all represented in Fort Bend, creating a distinct work environment to match the population. “These two elements have combined with others to help Fort Bend County realize the success it has seen in the past few years,” says Jeff Wiley, president of the GFBEDC. “This diversity of people and industries is likely to continue to be a strength for the county in the future.” For more information about Fort Bend County, visit online at FortBendCounty. com or call (281) 242-0000.

Real estate agents that SELL HOMES advertise them in The Star H Local Agent H Local Advertising H Local Results

281.690.4200 4655 Techniplex Dr. Suite 300 • Stafford, TX 77477

July 2011 • Fort Bend Business Journal

DBA (Assumed Names)

Data Beat (+) = More Names

This is a sample of the Assumed Names (DBAs) filed at the Fort Bend County Clerk’s office for May 2011. More Assumed Names may be viewed online at http://ccweb.co.fort-bend.tx.us/RealEstate/SearchEntry.aspx. There were 403 Assumed Names with Notary Fee for month of May. There were also 76 Assumed Names without a notary fee. Mckenzie Linda Bags And Baskets By Linda P.O. Box 16993 77496

Hanawa Amanda Treegloo Products 14019 Sw Fwy #301-188 77478

Jump Lisa Good God Almighty 2946 Creekway Circle 77459

Arseno Arlo Arseno Custom Painting 1019 E Brompton Dr 77584

Joyner Anice L Awesome Demolition 46 Wellington Ct 77459

Ukegbu Okezie O N (+) Goel Integrative Health Services 630 Murphy Rd #112 77477

Tn Legacy Corporation Legacy Nail Spa 636 Hwy Ste 500 77478

Nguyen Am Emily’s Salon 13107 West Bellfort #C 77478

Sims Alan Alan’s Window Tint Po Box 420443 77242

Pye John Sr (+) J&J Environmental Services 4403 Captains Ct 77459

Slaton Steve Steve Slaton Appliance Repair 4210 Leaflock 77450

Alvim Pedro Luis (+) Pip Gaming & Electronics 24403 Stanwick Crossing Ln 77494

Ferns Sean Certified Energy Services 32615 Whitehaven 77441

Simon Horace Jr Texas Best Janitorial Service, D/B/A Building Stars 7419 Trabejo 77083

Galloway Densel Jr Star State Transporting 4631 Sundown Ct. 77459 Mays Gwendolyn H Gm Essential Solutions 4127 Lake Vista Circle 77459 Daniels Kimberly Faith Intl’ Church/Fic 14432 Bellaire Blvd #1005 77083 Mathers Kevin Mathers Construction Specialties P.O. Box 1921 77406-1921 Perez Helen (+) Pride Of Texas Football 4321 F.M. 2351 Ste A 77546-2524 Bean Bryan (+) Top Ranking For Beans 2026 Upland Shadows Dr 77479 D & J Nelson Inc (+) Absolute Tobacco 1450 W Grand Parkway S, Suite L 77494

Chandler Cedric II Chosen Champions 1919 Appleton Dr 77489 Bourgeois Charles A San Felipe Services 2959 Lakeview Dr 77459 Obisanya Abiola Today & Tommorrow Network 1218 Blue Diamond Dr 77489 Thomas-Lee Rachel Dance N Fitness (+) 1231 Kings Creek Trail 77459 Rivers Glenn Property Surveyors 11569 Hwy 6 S Ste 24 77498 Tran Kim K C C Multi Services 9014 Creeks Gate Ct 77407 Gonzalez Victor J Vg Motors 10710 W Bellfort 77099

Ifty & Zahida Inc (+) Accelerated Healthcare 10827 Ashland Bridge Ln 77498

Williams Kathy Ink Swag, LLC 15838 Pryor Dr 77489

Nnk Plaza LLC (+) Exxpress Stop 2216 Thompson Rd 77469

Williams Delundra Heritage Career Academy 2218 Chappell Lane 77459

Finch Patrick Space City Tech Solutions 2618 Old South Dr 77406

Munoz Faustino Munoz Multiservice & Landscaping 842 Brand Ln 77477

Cotton Viva (+) Masters Driving Academy P.O. Box 330991 77233-0991 Tejada Jesus (+) Generacion Services 4408 Debbie Ct 77471 Wooldridge To’ron T J Transports 2411 Hawthorne Brooke Ln 77545 Pruitt Yolanda (+) Hhh Transportation 10619 W Hidden Lk 77406

Owens William L Ii (+) Wilken Private Equity Capital Investments 14019 Sw Freeway Suite #301-737 77478 Doyle Peter Lee Sugar Land Pool Company 2926 Deer Creek Dr 77478 Martinez Miguel M & G Restaurant Consultants Po Box 18 77406

Fort Bend Business Journal • July 2011

Montoya Stephen With List Brands 5680 Hwy 6 #301 77459 Montoya Stephen Montlargo Energy 5680 Hwy 6 #301 77459 Agunbiade Sabitu A5 Enterprises 4720 Reading Rd #1201 77471 Ruiz Glenda A Quantum Professional Services 5326 Belvedere Dr 77471

Murray Dwight A Murray’s Bar-B-Que & Catering 1403 Bentwood 77489 Obot Uwem Preppykid Shoes 3315 St Charles Court 77459 Hernandez Maricela J.E. Hegex Construction 13511 Zamanek Rd 77461 Morales Martha Fort Bend Maids 3422A River Rd 77471 Shawn Vicknair LLC Long Star Karate 222 Fm 359 77406

Wong-Cevallos Eugenio Texstar Landscape & Vip Irrigation 15770 Belloire Blvd #701 77083

Rogers Westly Iv Westside Capital Investments, LLC 6227 Quiet Village Ct 77053

Harper Octavia Maw-Maw’s B-B-Q 5123 Fm 521 77583

Tesfamichael Wainy Sterling Medical Waste Services 13111 Westhiemer Rd #235 77077

Grigsby Daejan (+) Law Office Of Dr. D. Grigsby, D.C., PLLC 1702 Granger Lake Ct 77406

Dike John Ibiyeomie Happy Cleaners 26440 Fm 1093 #420 77406

Andino Pamela Mpire 930 Rocksprings Dr 77469

Dimaria Daniel (+) Kishon Catering P.O. Box 18974 77496

Halabe Varsha Spaden Design 3714 Sedalia Brook Ln 77494

Bossart Kami Real Estate Scribe 24200 Southwest Freeway Suite 402 #168 77471

C & T Ventures LLC Evergreen Properties 333 Southwestern Blvd 77478

Edmunds Kristen (+) Christian Perspective Academic Homeschool Classes 420 Wood St 77498

Watkins Ulysses W Jr Ulysses W Watkins Jr, Md, Misc. Business Accounting 14203 South Post Oak Dr 77045

Menjivar Makarios M. Menjivar Trucking 1411 Emilee Ct 77471

Knox-Hightower Malaika M Aau Angels Among Us Foundation 17424 W Grand Prkwy Ste 520 77479

Wardlaw Gwendolyn Kandi’s Beauty Salon 9475 South Main 77025

Garcia Felipe N Garcia Carpet Cleaning 24606 Red Bluff Trial 77494 Enigmatic Entertainment LLC Enigmatic Concepts 10322 Cape Hatteras Way 77459 Sagerider Inc Ranger Gauge Systems 1431 Lone Stirrup Dr 77406

Phillips John Warehouse Donuts 1922 Qual Grove 77459 Wakefield Marshall Maike Jr Lions Grip Communications 9614 Wildgrass Ct 77498

Shah Urvashi Manish Universal Travel 6023 Marble Hollow Ln 77450 Bland Andrea C Candles With Tea 6831 Chasewood Dr 77489 Serrano Josefina P Children’s Talent Home Care 3918 Town Park Ln 77459 Provost Solutions Tipps The One Stop Consulting Shop 22136 Westheimer Pkwy #442 77450 Brahim Ben Amor (+) Petrolium Servicing 3507 Bejamin Franklin Ln 77459

DBA (Assumed Names) Grigsby Daejan-Elizabeth (+) Law Office Of Dr. Daejan Grigsby, Dc, PLLC 1702 Granger Lake Ct 77406 Salih Al-Tariq M One Network Solution 11569 Hwy 6 S, Ste 149 77498 Matheson Heather Texas Eagle Property Management 2815 Falcon Knoll Ln 77494 Sierra Paula Galnap Catering 7703 Butler Lakes Ct 77469 Mathew Oommen Impact Mission to the Nations 15714 Brookwood Lake Place 77459 4G Fast Cash LLC 4G Fast Cash 802 Texas Parkway Ste G 77477

Data Beat (+) = More Names

Williams Karen Diamond Divas 16123 Pasadero Dr 77083

Brazos River Wine Club LLC Br Vino 1912 Avenue G 77471

Redmon Dante (+) Rw’s Nursing Staffing Agency P O Box 2526 77487

Moses Christopher J C & M Pool & Spa Landscaping Po Box 1408 77411

Gordon Lavern Lavern & Shirley Dba LBG Financial Solutions 10001 W Bellfort 77031

Shah Pratik Disha Travel 3747 Country Place Dr Apt #806 77477

Muma Sophia (+) Sophia Muma Ministries 5618 Bent Arbor Lane 77450

Sanchez Pablo H (+) Western Wear & Snacks 206 Riveredge Rear #4 77469

Argueta Robert Dj Nyce 2901 Airpurtaue #405 77471

Busby Jerry M Buzzco Services 1015 Quiet Glen Ct 77479

Kingsbury La Trina (+) By God’s Grace Catering P O Box 903 77545

Okafor John John Pool Services 620 Murphy Rd #109 77477

Garcia Romulo (+) R & N Auto Body Repair 10331 Clodine Rd A1/2 77407

Elite Foot Care Of Texas Inc Elite Cosmetic & Wellness Spa 4501 Cartwright Rd Ste 208 77459

Howard James Cornelius Iv 4G Web Solutions 3303 Shiloh Ct 77459

Andino Pamela Mpire 17424 W Grand Pkwy S #251 77479

Trinh Tina Quyen Avenue Nails 23730 Weitheimer Pkwy 77494

La Orquidea Services LLC Plan Ahead Events 5706 Everhart Manor Ln 77494

White Daniel Whites Mechanical 14100 Del Pappa 77048

Noblesse LLC European Wax Center 134 Vintage Park Blvd 77070

Queiroga Amando Brastex Investments & Management 2019 Pitts Rd 77406

Wallace Ronald Money Grind Musik 706 Brookford Dr 77489

Thomas-Hay Emma Eldercare Solutions 1534 South Yegua River Cir 77478 Benjaminov Raphael Tippet Shipments 7721 W Bellfort St #603 77071 Benjaminov Raphael R & B Diamonds 7721 W Bellfort St #603 77071 Benjaminov Raphael Rabbi Yinon Kalazan Loans 7721 W Bellfort St #603 77071

Sirajuddin Murtaza (+) Mnmfoto 10498 Fountain Lake Dr 77479

Campbell Janet M Campbell Commercial Services Lopez Jesus A 3230 Dartmouth Field Ln 77545 Complete Services 7610 Vircikehle Rd 77471 Ebuh Alade Lad Fluids Controls Nicholas Samantha 8300 Bissonnet St #220 77074 Maintenance Gear Rebuilders 8633 W Airport Blvd Kuykendall Jason Unit 1016 77071 Wicked Tounges 22214 Provincial 77450 Lyons Dorant Dorant’s Lyons Kana Stephen W Remodeling Repair Co. Coinage Usa 13014 Lindsey Ln 77477 1550 Katy Flewellen #707 77494 Dolmex Investments LLC Gonalez Venerando Woodforest Custom Homes Sorelle Italian Deli 2840 Commercial Center Blvd 2601 Cartwright Ste E 77459 S 104-D 77494

Lux Fitness Spa LLC Lux Fitness Spa 1531 S. Hwy 6 S#200 77478

Eapen James K Apna Furniture Store 2437 Fm 1092 77459

Gallegos Daniel Alejandro Affordable Reliable Cleaning 11806 Demia Ct 77477

Abling Minds Pcs, Inc Abling Minds Pcs, Inc 1919 Wildwood Ridge Dr 77489

Bennett Alison (+) Texas Wildflour Bakery 5706 Baldwin Elm St 77407

Flores Danny I Lock & Safe (+) 1723 Crestment Dr 77477

Thompson Ramona M A Ed Diag 803 Kirkwood 77477

Rodriguez Sara (+) Studio One (Dance) 10315 Rudolph Ct 77459

Raines Kevin (+) Lance Security Services 527 Wild Cotton Rd 77471

Mkrtchyan Antaran Picture Perfect 104 Industrial #M 77478

Villarreal Suzanne B Ellis Steve Soe 5Th Grade Beach Bash Custom Art By Crazy Horse 3139 Waters Lake Bend 77459 2115 Tompson Hwy Ste 5 77469

Flores Leonel Dreall Solutions 4123 Hidden Fort Ln 77459

Monroe Thomas Gray Family Reunion 7807 Chaseway Dr 77489

Derricks Dian Michelle Try Abbys Way 4819 May Arbor 77545

Leyba Robert W Beach Bum’s Shaved Ice 22136 Westheimer Prkwy 77450

Tsoi Maria Victoria Hemanik Fashion 21392 Twisted Willow Ln 77450

Anozie Lawrence O (+) Universal Oil & Supplies 620 Fm 1092 Ste 213 77477

Wilson Robert A (+) Bob Wilson Raw Talent 1803 Arbor View Drive 77479 Jordy Louis T (+) An I On Detail 26917 Katy Fwy 77494 Black Michael Mike’s Delivery Service 4018 Ash View Lane 77545

Duplantis Derel Duplantis Roofing 25735 Oakstone Park Dr 77406 Austin John T Jr Sunrai Financial 22136 Westheimer #524 77450 Simmons Vicki Advantage Center Consulting & Psychotherapy Services 4501 Cartwright Rd 77459 Bearb James Ray Concealed Protection 26022 Sterling Stone Ln 77494 The Unbeatable Connection LLC (+) L&R Hr Consulting & Staffing Service 4607 Snow Drop Ct 77469 Thompson Gregory D Elite Security By Gregory D Thompson 11200 Broadway St 77584 Mckeehan Gregory A (+) Legacy Realty Team 3522 Stratford Manor Dr 77498 Jones Stephanie Jones’ Writings 4809 Arbor Ct 77471

05/12/2011 Pace Concierge LLC Pace Marketing 2811 Country Club Blvd 77478 Montgomery Wayne R Hi-Tech Telecom 2709 Muegge Rd 77471

Monroe Anna M Mcbride Family Reunion 7807 Chaseway Dr 77489 Singh Sarinder Star Motors Direct 16339 West Bellfort 77498 Chin Casey Bradchin Consultants 1931 Shady Oaks Ct 77489 Agyare Jonathan Premium Choice 10538 Belknap 77498 Odunbaku Fadeshola Abrock Global 8435 Brompton Place Dr 77083 Guerra Juan C Jak Landscaping Lawn N’M.Service 3808 Marilyn St 77471 Wright Melissa (+) Style U 8787 Sienna Springs Suite 1223 77459 Lee Lemarcus Pureluck Enterprises 17006 Ross Lake Court 77346

July 2011 • Fort Bend Business Journal

Data Beat

June 2011 Sales Tax Allocation Comparison Summary Reports

Sales Tax Allocation Comparison Summary reports present data about monthly local sales and use tax allocation payments to local sales taxing jurisdictions. These net payments represent monies identified for the local jurisdictions since the previous monthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s distribution. These reports will allow you to compare current year sales and use tax payments with the previous year. When used with other local economic indicators, they may help indicate present and future trends. County/City Fort Bend

Net Payment This Period

Comp Payment Prior Year

% Change To Date

2009 Payments To Date

2008 Payments Change

Percent

Arcola Beasley Fulshear Kendleton Meadows Place Missouri City Needville Orchard Pleak Richmond Rosenberg Simonton Stafford Sugar Land Thompsons

26,375.42 6,386.48 39,285.32 1,144.18 69,525.14 448,031.60 28,761.33 2,394.70 3,949.46 310,736.14 823,642.49 10,166.05 1,087,481.41 2,360,616.61 3,701.99

19,598.04 5,819.39 31,081.39 1,298.06 67,887.27 480,137.13 29,395.29 3,124.92 5,424.56 367,034.40 901,635.10 12,201.84 975,312.78 2,785,705.41 2,995.22

34.58% 9.74% 26.39% -11.85% 2.41% -6.68% -2.15% -23.36% -27.19% -15.33% -8.65% -16.68% 11.50% -15.25% 23.59%

141,185.26 37,105.04 215,178.06 9,572.81 450,239.20 2,864,932.81 178,313.54 19,614.20 24,929.24 1,947,589.10 5,673,417.56 53,039.69 6,660,230.57 19,536,918.00 11,006.74

121,304.42 35,477.18 178,388.25 8,046.27 477,600.06 2,976,597.83 170,814.99 21,364.89 44,780.83 2,078,617.67 5,572,139.24 47,767.73 6,462,491.01 19,139,484.41 18,782.22

16.38% 4.58% 20.62% 18.97% -5.72% -3.75% 4.38% -8.19% -44.33% -6.30% 1.81% 11.03% 3.05% 2.07% -41.39%

COUNTY TOTAL

5,222,198.32

5,688,650.80

-8.19%

37,823,271.82

37,353,657.00

1.25%

Top 20 City Sales and Use Tax Comparison Summary - June 2011 Please note that Sugar Land is 17th in sales tax revenues in the state. City

Houston San Antonio Dallas Austin Fort Worth Arlington El Paso Plano Round Rock Amarillo Corpus Christi McAllen Lubbock Irving Midland Frisco Sugar Land Abilene Mesquite Tyler

Net Payment This Period

Comp Payment Prior Year

% Change To Date

2009 Payments To Date

38,158,369.27 16,813,506.33 15,621,523.28 11,437,966.98 6,572,158.29 6,355,174.10 5,499,531.21 5,392,637.73 5,764,235.36 4,786,952.71 4,902,181.74 4,199,218.49 3,757,173.83 3,329,569.62 3,618,325.09 3,208,067.09 2,360,616.61 2,949,558.76 2,434,768.80 2,634,914.82

36,227,107.01 15,844,919.83 15,300,538.67 11,055,005.47 7,841,444.16 6,463,676.42 5,396,657.91 4,213,067.81 5,335,590.64 4,237,539.91 4,249,669.55 3,789,575.58 3,653,057.35 3,273,884.49 2,657,739.87 2,925,986.84 2,785,705.41 2,435,055.22 2,376,502.70 2,475,185.13

5.33% 6.11% 2.09% 3.46% -16.18% -1.67% 1.90% 27.99% 8.03% 12.96% 15.35% 10.80% 2.85% 1.70% 36.14% 9.64% -15.25% 21.12% 2.45% 6.45%

249,300,733.17 110,467,847.63 106,356,161.64 71,967,099.77 50,114,437.88 41,915,096.83 36,605,992.17 33,357,104.82 32,855,031.76 30,794,297.77 30,453,511.05 28,685,065.90 25,938,062.85 23,574,606.93 22,745,144.95 21,588,794.40 19,536,918.00 18,491,006.51 18,181,783.70 17,543,141.26

Fort Bend Business Journal â&#x20AC;˘ July 2011

2008 Payments Change

236,429,155.56 103,470,579.83 102,518,612.62 69,707,573.32 49,480,028.98 41,238,904.62 34,663,746.15 29,550,557.64 31,356,326.43 28,203,556.47 27,975,336.30 28,579,144.15 24,837,612.70 22,151,225.62 17,109,880.72 19,776,211.19 19,139,484.41 16,457,931.93 17,064,590.50 16,967,044.13

Percent

5.44% 6.76% 3.74% 3.24% 1.28% 1.63% 5.60% 12.88% 4.77% 9.18% 8.85% 0.37% 4.43% 6.42% 32.93% 9.16% 2.07% 12.35% 6.54% 3.39%

Data Beat

Commercial Building Permits

Some significant building permits in cities in Fort Bend during the month of May ADDRESS

TYPE OF PERMIT

VALUE

OWNER/CONTRACTOR

MISSOURI CITY

4309 Sienna Pkwy 630

Commercial Lease New

$48,000

The Shops at Sienna Ranch LTD

5418 Hwy 6 210

Commercial Alteration

$199,000

Lasco Riverstone Retail Partner

5201 Hwy 6 750

Commercial Remodel

$40,000

Colonial Group L P/Gulf Coast Construction

3100 Lake Olympia Pky

Commercial Alteration

$15,000

Ft. Bend ISD/Jamail Smith Construction

Grand Total Valuation (Commercial & Residential)

05/01/11-05/31/11

$320,000

ROSENBERG 1723 7th St

Commercial Building

$14,000

Jesus & Maria Gueta

1723 7th St

Commercial Building

$14,000

Jesus & Maria Gueta

3400 FM 2218

Commercial Building

$4,900

Grand Total Valuation (Commercial & Residential)

05/01/11-05/31/11

Treybig Construction Company $44,100

STAFFORD 1316 Staffordshire Dr

Commercial Addition

$6,011,000

13823 North Promenade Blvd 200

Commercial Buildout

$325,000

609 Dulles Ave 700

Commercial Buildout

$45,000

Grand Total Valuation (Commercial & Residential)

05/01/11-05/31/11

National Coupling/Herring Construction Company Cobalt Industrial REIT II/Marathon Fitness/Angler Construction Nail Spa $6,383,000

SUGAR LAND 2745 C Town Center Blvd N

Commercial Addition

$13,089

716 State Hwy 6 Ste 100

Commercial Buildout

$320,000

Fadi’s Telfair, Inc/Richland Construction

716 State Hwy 6 Ste 200

Commercial Buildout

$40,000

Fadi’s Telfair, Inc/Richland Construction

17003 Southwest Fwy Ste 100

Commercial Buildout

$623,607

Cashion & Cody Dental Office/HM General Contractors

1531 State Hwy 6 Ste 110

Commercial Buildout

$60,000

Mody Properties, LLC/ A Z Development & Const Inc.

1550 Lake Pointe Pkwy Ste 100

Commercial Buildout

$350,000

Lake Pointe Town Center, LTD/Palatial Properties LTD

1531 State Hwy 6 Ste 140

Commercial Buildout

$354,725

Mody Properties, LLC/Big City Construction

1327 Lake Pointe Pkwy Ste 415

Commercial Buildout

$213,950

Dr. Hernandez/Black Mountain Construction

12010 Dairy Ashford Rd Ste 160

Commercial Buildout

$31,560

SLBP Dairy Ashford One/SLBP Dairy Ashford One

15850 Southwest Fwy Ste 200

Commercial Buildout

$83,065

Lake Pointe Town Center, LTD/ DMAC Construction, Inc.

736 State Hwy 6 Ste 103

Commercial Buildout

$47,500

Khokhar Real Estate, LLC/Level Construction Inc.

17003 Southwest Fwy

Commercial New

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A seachange in booking vacations By Wayne Chandler

on Davis has become a travel agent’s travel agent. From his Waterside Estates home office, Ron books more travel each month than the few existing local brick and mortar agencies do, and does it deftly and unpretentiously. He has, for several years, mentored and trained a small group of homebound travel agents in Fort Bend County who book thousands of dollars of travel, worldwide. Ron is an icon in the travel business which has seen a seachange in the past 23 years, mainly due to the Internet, and he has ridden that crest against larger agencies, and the giant online travel agencies, as “everybody still travels,” Ron says with his customary big smile. Many of us can remember when you had to go to a travel agent, let the agent plow and leaf through a monstrous catalogue, hoping to find the best airlines ticket. Then, if you wanted to go on a cruise you’d have to fly to Miami or Los Angeles or Europe. And, Ron and all the other travel agents remember how September 11, 2001, affected a lot of businesses, and the uncertainty that was in everyone’s mind about traveling anywhere. Then there was the swine flu scare which really affected travel overseas even more than in the U.S. Then there was the economic downturn beginning in 2007 which still is affecting many families. Ten years ago, the Houston area yellow pages had a dozen pages detailed listing of travel agents. The current book lists about two pages. Times have changed. With all of these roller coaster rides , Ron Davis has held on tight. While an area manager for Southwestern Bell in the ‘70s and ‘80s, he was active in his church and started putting together ski trips for fellow members, and enjoyed doing it. Looking ahead toward early retirement from SWBT he decided to start learning the travel business while he had a fulltime job, booking friends and family at night and on weekends. “I had to book all of my travel over the telephone as the internet was just

Fort Bend Travel Agent Ron Davis with Chiapas natives on one of his “fam” trips.

starting to get big,” he said. “My name began to spread and bookings became more frequent as friends would tell others about a great trip. By 1995, my travel bookings were almost more than I could handle. By the time I retired I now had enough experience in the travel industry to know what I was doing, and the internet was becoming a great tool for me to use. I’ve never done any advertising, other than word of mouth, from the people that I’ve served,” Ron added. “Today, I’m booking between $75,000, and $100,000, every quarter. I can do it from home and still spend time with my grandkids and not have to punch a clock.” When tourist groups, resorts and cruise lines recognize that you mean business, there are perks for the travel agent, often in the form of “fam” or familiarization trips. You get invited to lavish dinners or tours where you learn more about vacation destinations without spending a lot of your own money. Through the years, Ron has taken advantage of scores of these offers, where virtually all expenses are considered tax writeoffs by the Internal Revenue Service. A recent all-expense paid trip to Chiapas, the southernmost state in Mexico on the Guatemalan border, is a pleasant recollection: “ The people were very friendly, and Chiapas isn’t as commercial as some of Mexico. The country is beautiful,

Fort Bend Business Journal • July 2011

and if you wanted to experience the real Mexico that is the place to go.” From his first full year in the travel business, Ron has won regional and national awards for his volume of bookings, and readily qualifies for the most prestigious airlines and cruise cards, which offer special perks which a lot of fellow agents yearn to achieve. He helps fellow travel agents at any time of the day or night, and it’s amazing how many questions he gets when most travel businesses are closed. He holds regular training sessions, and invites vendors to provide more information which helps all of them. “I’ve always loved traveling, and when our granddaughters turned five years old I started taking them with me as often as I could, “ Ron said. “ Today, one is 10 and the other is 16 and they’ve already been on cruises to Alaska, northeastern Canada, the Caribbean and Mexico. And they’re always asking when the next cruise is,” he smiled. “ The 10-year old is scheduled for a September trip to the Bahamas.” You name the country or place and Ron probably has booked a trip there for from one to 50 persons. “I recently booked a man to Rahim Yar Khan, Pakistan. “ I got him right in to Karachi where he transferred to a local airline.”

Sometimes the arrangements aren’t easy. Ron recalls, “A lady in Orlando wanted me to book a seven night cruise out of Miami for her and a friend. This seemed easy until I started asking questions. The lady is 90, lives alone, and her friend lives in Charlotte,S.C., and is 87 and a double amputee,, and had to have an airline ticket to Orlando and then on to Miami, then a bus trip to the ship and then back again. To make things interesting, the 90 year old started flirting with me over the phone. She kept saying that, if I wasn’t married, I could go with them. These ladies were easy to work with and kept me laughing all the time. They called me after the cruise to tell me what a great time they had, and wished I were there.” Ron has a grin in his voice, no matter the panic or the pressure. And he can cheerily relate stories about all of the time and expense which has endured when plans for a trip fall through, and it’s not his fault. But dealing with a live human being still has its plusses compared to most people booking their own trips with the big online companies. “We provide service by listening to our clients and giving them the benefit of our experience,” Ron said. “We’re always available if there’s ever a problem while on vacation. And most of the time our prices are the same or better than they can get online, and they have a live person to talk with.” Sometimes an agent can get a military or group rate which might otherwise be difficult to negotiate online. The travel business is getting better by the month, with more cruise lines recognizing the potential in Texas. There were 15 million cruise ship guests in 2010, and the prediction is for 19 million in 2011. And, Ron Davis, at 281-342-2980, or actiontvl@sbcglobal.net, will be booking-- and smiling.

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Dutch Ambassador to open Netherlands business support office to further strengthen Dutch-Texas economic ties

utch Ambassador Renée JonesBos officially launched a Netherlands Business Support Office (NBSO) in Houston on June 16. The NBSO will further strengthen the economic ties between the Netherlands and Texas, already worth over 100,000 Texan jobs. Texas exports over $6 billion in goods to the Netherlands, while Dutch foreign direct investments totaled $9.4 billion or 7.9 % of total FDI in the state. Of the top 20 U.S. cities that trade with the Netherlands, Houston ranks in 2nd place, Port Arthur in 12th place, and Dallas in 19th. Texas imported $1.5 billion in goods from the Netherlands, primarily mineral products at 34.1% of import categories. “Our economic ties are already strong, but as both the Texan and the Dutch economies seem to have emerged strongly

Renée Jones-Bos

from the crisis, I see great potential for further growth, especially in the renewal of our energy base and in the protection of our coastal areas. That’s why we’re proud to open this office today.” said Ambassador

Jones-Bos. Major Dutch companies such as Royal Dutch Shell have their U.S. headquarters in Texas and an increasing number of large and small Dutch companies are based in Texas, attracted by the favorable business climate in the Lone Star State. The Port of Houston has a longstanding relationship with Rotterdam, the largest port in Europe. With 70% of the Dutch population living at or below sea level, the Dutch have a strong track record in flood protection and water management. This expertise could be relevant with the increased risks of flooding to

Economic development continues in Fort Bend Restaurants coming to Meadows Place plus more By Elsa Maxey

oasting a prime location in Fort Bend County along U.S. Highway 59 off Beltway 8, Meadows Place, which abuts Houston and Stafford, is gearing up as the location for two new restaurants that will open this month. Tradicau Brasilian Steakhouse, an upscale steakhouse, will be opening up by Father’s Day, June 19, for lunch and dinner. It will be moving from a Houston Southwest Freeway location to the former Pappas Grill restaurant on 12000 Southwest Freeway. The new location will feature five private rooms ranging from one dining area for eight to a large room for 80. A wine room, a large bar that can seat 60, and the restaurant’s gourmet salad bar in addition to the Brazilian grill is also offered at the new site. The steakhouse restaurant is also operated at another location in Webster. With several restaurants throughout the Houston metro area, Kelly’s Country Cookin’ is also opening a new one this

month in Meadows Place. It will be where the old Golden Corral used to be many years ago, but Kelly’s has completely refurbished it, both inside and out. Reports indicate that this new location will become the flagship restaurant of the company. Owned and operated by the Kelly family, the first restaurant was inside a pharmacy established by J.W. Kelly, Sr., who retired from the Houston Police Department, and his wife in 1984. Now with six locations in the Houston area, over 500 workers are employed at a place that prides itself on good food, excellent service and reasonable price. The restaurant will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner and will have a private meeting room that can accommodate 50 to 60 people. Also in Meadows Place, Texas Direct Auto is reportedly looking at taking over the Garden Ridge property location. A public hearing on June 28 at city hall is scheduled to consider the item, which includes redevelopment of the site along with landscaping. The area may also be converted to accommodate retail businesses.

Fort Bend Business Journal • July 2011

the citizens in the Galveston Bay area. Dutch and American experts have been working closely together in neighboring Lousiana ever since Hurricane Katrina; some leading Dutch companies in this field are Arcadis, Fugro, and Haskoning. Leading the Netherlands Business Support Office in Houston will be Gerard Brikkenaar van Dijk. With Dutch Honorary Consul Geert Visser he will work to ensure that Texas and the Netherlands become even stronger partners in business. Gérard A. Brikkenaar van Dijk (54) was appointed the first NBSO-Texas Chief Rep in October 2010. He brings extensive government and business experience to the office, ranging from the Netherlands Foreign Trade Agency and the Dutch Foreign Service to early involvement, expansion and management of successful startups in the entertainment, telecom, internet and datacenter industries, many in a transAtlantic context. Brikkenaar van Dijk holds a B.Sc. in Journalism from Boston University and an M.A. in International Affairs from the University of Virginia. More information: - Media representatives are welcome to the opening reception which takes place Thursday June 16th, from 7-9pm at the Intercontinental Hotel, 2222 West Loop South, Houston, Texas. Media interested in covering the opening or an interview with Ambassador Jones-Bos should contact Floris van Hövell, spokesman, Royal Netherlands Embassy, floris-van.hovell@minbuza.nl, cell 202 413 5020. For more information on the DutchTexan economic ties: www.economicties.org For more than 400 years, the Netherlands and the United States have been joined by the values of freedom, justice and an entrepreneurial spirit. A vibrant economic force, the Netherlands is also the third largest investor in America and a reliable trade and investment partner to the U.S. The Royal Netherlands Embassy, Dutch Consulates General and Honorary Consuls in the U.S. promote strong bilateral relations between the United States and the Netherlands in the areas of peace and stability; international law; energy and climate; water management; international human rights; and creative industries. The Netherlands and the United States: Two countries, one spirit united by values, history and a vision of the future.

R E A L

E S T A T E

Commercial Real Estate

By Kolbe Curtice, CCIM, CLS

Managing Director Colliers International - Fort Bend

Understanding commercial property cash flows Often, when I am with clients that are interested in leasing or purchasing commercial property, I find it helpful to explain the differences between the economics of commercial real estate property versus residential property. Those differences are distinct. Most of us in Fort Bend have purchased a home and know that a house’s value is determined by the market for surrounding houses. Your house will sell for a price per square foot that is not too far different from that of the other houses in your neighborhood. That is not necessarily true for commercial properties. Commercial real estate is “investment property”. As such, commercial property buyers are far less interested in the aesthetic qualities of a property than they are with the existing or potential cash flows that a property produces. The potential sales value of a com-

mercial property is established by capitalizing the net operating income (NOI) that the property generates. NOI is the income that a property generates after deducting operating expenses (property taxes, fire and hazard insurance and maintenance), but before debt service (if any). Properties of very similar size and construction could be adjacent to each other, yet could achieve significantly different sales prices due to the different rents that the properties have been able to achieve. A property may lease for higher rates than its neighbor for a variety of reasons. Those reasons typically include 1) stronger tenants (i.e. the property’s brokerage company has been able to secure leases with national companies rather than only locally owned companies), 2) a strong tenant mix (the uses of the businesses in the project complement each other - which leads

to increased sales for everyone in the project), 3) the property has stronger property management (which translates to better maintenance, better communication with tenants, etc.), 4) the property’s ability to offer better exposure and/or signage opportunities to tenant’s, etc.. A common misconception by many of my clients looking to purchase property is that the potential cash flows a property could produce are not applicable to them because they intend to occupy the property for their own use rather than rent it. I explain to them that one day the property will be sold and that the potential income it could generate will be one of the key determining factors in establishing its value.

KOLBE CURTICE... continued on page 58

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Five ways to tell if your company’s CEO earns his/her pay

r. Linda Henman isn’t as concerned about CEOs getting paid large salaries as much as she is about them being worth it. CEOs earned an average annual paycheck of $11 million in 2010, with pay soaring by an average of 23 percent last year, according to research released by the AFL-CIO in April. As the economy’s sluggish recovery has analysts worried, Henman, a consultant for Fortune 500 CEOs, believes that company top dogs who actually earn their money are easy to spot. “Those at the top have three major responsibilities: Develop the business, grow talent, and make decisions that drive innovation,” said Henman, also author of Landing in the Executive Chair: How to Excel in the Hot Seat (www.careerpress.com). “There is much shuffling at the top. Too often Boards don’t make wise decisions about CEOs and CFOs, and these executives, in turn, don’t make wise hiring decisions throughout the enterprise. But if leaders do a better job, companies can do a better job, which means individuals can do a better job. These leaders create companies where customers want to do business and people can do their best work. That all leads to financial health on the micro level, which translates to better financial health for the country. That’s why I think it’s important for people to understand if their CEO evidences the ability to soar above the competition, because in the end, only the strong will survive.”

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Henman’s top qualities of a good CEO include: Strategy – Strong strategic thinking defines the effective CEO. These leaders understand how to match a strong strategy with the tactics and talent to see it through. CEOS who constantly react to events, instead of planning for the future, remain followers and not leaders. Decisions – When CEOs consistently make good decisions, little else matters; when they make bad decisions, nothing else matters. Even though decisiveness distinguishes leaders from everyone else, effective decision-making stands at the center of executive leadership. A decisive CEO who can’t hit the target is the same as an indecisive CEO who doesn’t even know where to find it. The results are the same. Hiring – Successful CEOs know how to tie talent to their strategies so they ensures the company hires the best and the brightest and compensates them fairly. Moreover, they give these people a chance to thrive. Excellence – Leaders who attract and retain top talent stress excellence. They focus on good execution of plans and strategies, and they don’t skew the mission by placing value on tertiary issues that have little to do with execution of strategic goals. Results Orientation – Too many executives talk about how to motivate the troops. Those who excel in the hot seat do better. They hire people who are self-motivated, define clear objectives, hold people accountable, and then they get out of the way. Couple these practices with challenging, rewarding work, and the organization ends up with both better results and motivated employees. “It all comes down to leadership, as opposed to management,” Henman added. “Managers come in all different flavors: good, bad, neutral, ineffective, overbearing, innocuous, and more. But true leaders, by definition, move people to perform at levels that allow them to beat the competition. Moreover, leadership doesn’t necessarily come with a title or a status. Responsibility and accountability come with that title, but leading requires the ability to take people to places they wouldn’t have gone if you hadn’t been in the picture. Leaders who possess this ability offer golden opportunities for their organizations and the people who work in them; those who don’t simply hope for a good golden parachute.” Dr. Linda Henman holds a Ph.D. in organizational systems, two Master of Arts degrees in both interpersonal communication and organization development, and a Bachelor of Science degree in communication. For more than 30 years, Dr. Linda Henman has helped executives in military organizations, small businesses, and Fortune 500 Companies define their direction and select the best people to put their strategies in motion. She has helped clients in the retail, financial services, food, medical, hospitality, manufacturing, and technology industries. Some of her major clients include Tyson Foods, Emerson Electric, Kraft Foods, Boeing Aircraft, Estee Lauder, and Merrill Lynch. She was one of eight experts chosen to work directly with John Tyson on his succession plan after his company’s acquisition of International Beef Products, one of the most successful mergers of the 21st Century.

Tickets on sale now for July 29 benefit

Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers to perform for WCJC Gala

or Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers, the Houston area holds many special memories, not the least of which is the genesis of their top-selling song with the familiar refrain “Houston, Houston means that I’m one day closer to you.” This and other well-known hits, along with newer selections from their 2009 album Pilgrimage, are just part of a special evening as these harmony singing brothers take the stage at The Wharton County Junior College Foundation gala on Friday, July 29 at Safari Texas Ballroom in Richmond, Texas. The benefit begins at 6 p.m. with a reception, live and silent auctions, dinner and the show. Net proceeds from the event benefit The Wharton County Junior College Foundation’s endowment which funds student scholarships, faculty development, and academic programs. Wharton County Junior College has four campuses in Wharton, Sugar Land, Richmond and Bay City and two extension centers in El Campo and Palacios. Raised on Gospel music, Larry, Steve and Rudy Gatlin began singing together when they were all under the age of seven in their hometown of Abilene, Texas. From churches to dusty Texas stages and White House performances, the trio spent four decades at the top of the country music charts. Larry attended the University of Houston on a football scholarship. His love of English turned out to be a great major and a solid foundation for songwriting. He single-handedly wrote all 42 songs he charted between 1973 and 1990, including 17 Top 10 hits and the Grammy-winning “Broken Lady.” Houston is also special because it’s where Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers debuted their smash hit “All the Gold in California” six months before it rose to the No. 1 country song in 1979. The next year, Larry and his brothers received their first invitation to perform at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, something they repeated 11 more times over the next 22 years. Tickets to this magical evening with Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers are $85 each and may be purchased through July 22 by calling 979.532.6442. Sponsorship opportunities, with reserved seating for 10, are also available. Additional information is available at www. wcjc.edu.

GOT NEWS?

Fort Bend/Katy

Email your news or press release to sharon@FortBendStar.com We love to hear from you. Also, don’t forget to read The Fort Bend Star or visit www.fortbendstar.com Ideas & suggestions are also welcome. 4655 Techniplex Dr. Suite 300 • Stafford, TX 77477 • 281-690-4201 July 2011 • Fort Bend Business Journal

Ribbon Cutting Central Fort Bend Chamber Alliance

The Central Fort Bend Chamber Alliance recently conducted a ribbon cutting at Linko’s Little Print Shop at 1020 8th Street in Rosenberg. Front row, from left: Angie Sanders, Central Fort Bend Chamber, Mayor Vincent Morales, City of Rosenberg, Eloise Lucas, Legacy Ford, Chloee Peyton, Linda McHaney, Linko’s, Kino McHaney, Elizabeth Renteria, Linko’s, Alicia Casias, Alicia Casias, Nationwide Agency, Tom Wilson, Reading Road Storage, Yazmin Aleman, Central Fort Bend Chamber, and Daryl Segura.

Ray’s Gourmet Country in Fulshear Third Anniversary: Front row, from left: Alicia Davis, Central Fort Bend Chamber; Belinda Suarez, Alicia Casias Agency; Angie Sanders, Central Fort Bend Chamber; Ray Salti, Ray’s Gourmet Country; Mayor Tommy Kuykendall, City of Fulshear; Rhonda Kuykendall; Cheryl Stalinsky, City of Fulshear; Yazmin Aleman, Central Fort Bend Chamber; Donna Lamb, Cross Creek Ranch; Jimmy Sparks, OakBend Medical Center.

Identity Homes ( New Model Homes at Kingdom Heights, Rosenberg): From left: Yazmin Aleman, Central Fort Bend Chamber; Joanetta Borgund, Value Bank of Texas; Abby Matamoras, Identity Homes; Veronica Wesneski, NewFirst Bank; Suzanne Stieber-Loehr, Stieber Insurance Agency; Pam Sullivan, NewFirst Bank; Belinda Suarez, Alicia Casias Agency; Terry Crockett, NewFirst Bank; Alicia Casias, Alicia Casias Agency; Cathy Pitts, SIG/McDonald & Wessendorff Insurance; Shah Ahmed, BBVA Compass Bank; Brad Notter, BBVA Compass Bank; Raymond Walker, Identity Homes; Angie Sanders, Central Fort Bend Chamber.

Center For Women’s Health (1601 Liberty Street, Suite A * Richmond): Pictured: Pam Campion, Alicia Ramirez, Stephanie Oregon, Yazmin Aleman, Keila Garcia, Yolanda Stredick, Evalyn Moore, Yinka Fagbohun, Maria Rodriguez, Dr. Cynthia Rios, Dr. Funsho Fagbohun, Garry Gillen, Dr. Bernadette Bonaparte, Leslie Fernandez, Kesha Robertson, Veronica Ortiz, Stephanie Uballe, Joel Bonaparte, Angie Sanders, Sue McCarty, Fawaz Massis.

Fort Bend Business Journal • July 2011

Y O U

A N D

Y O U R

T A X E S

Tax Smart

By Alan Sandersen

Sandersen Knox & Co. L.L.P.

Haven't filed an income tax return? Filing a past due return may not be as difficult as you think. Taxpayers should file all tax returns that are due, regardless of whether full payment can be made with the return. Depending on an individual’s circumstances, a taxpayer filing late may qualify for a payment plan. It is important, however, to know that full payment of taxes upfront saves you money. Here’s What to Do When Your Return Is Late Gather Past Due Return Information. You should obtain any and all information related to income and deductions for the tax years for which a return is required to be filed. Payment Options Ways to Make a Payment There are several different ways to make a payment on your taxes. Payments can be made by credit card, electronic funds transfer, check, money order, cashier’s check, or cash.

Payment Options For Those Who Can’t Pay in Full Taxpayers unable to pay all taxes due on the bill are encouraged to pay as much as possible. By paying as much as possible now, the amount of interest and penalties owed will be lessened. Based on the circumstances, a taxpayer could qualify for an extension of time to pay, an installment agreement, a temporary delay, or an offer in compromise. • Taxpayers who need more time to pay can set up either a short-term payment extension or a monthly payment plan. • A short-term extension gives a taxpayer up to 120 days to pay. No fee is charged, but the late-payment penalty plus interest will apply. • A monthly payment plan or installment agreement gives a taxpayer more time to pay. However, penalties and interest will continue to be charged on the unpaid por-

tion of the debt throughout the duration of the installment agreement/payment plan. In terms of how to pay your tax bill, it is important to review all your options; the interest rate on a loan or credit card may be lower than the combination of penalties and interest imposed by the Internal Revenue Code. You should pay as much as possible before entering into an installment agreement. A user fee will also be charged if the installment agreement is approved. The fee, normally $105, is reduced to $52 if taxpayers agree to make their monthly payments electronically through electronic funds withdrawal. The fee is $43 for eligible low-and-moderate-income taxpayers. Alan Sandersen is a columnist for the Fort Bend Business Journal and is a Partner with Sandersen Knox & Co, L.L.P., Certified Public Accountants. He can be reached at 281-242-3232. www.sktx.com. H

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NEWSWORTHY Patrick Henry Creative Promotions charms Aspen Food & Wine Festival Stafford business owner Patrick Henry and his team from Patrick Henry Creative Promotions, Inc. (PHCP) just returned from the Aspen Food & Wine Festival which was abuzz with many Houstonians. While in Aspen, the PHCP team helped coordinate three special events: “Bloody Mary’s, Bellini’s and Brunch” held at Pacifica Seafood & Raw Bar Patio featuring Prairie Organic Vodka, Finest Call Cocktail Mixers and Francis Ford Coppola Wines; Absolut Aspen featuring Absolut Cocktails, Caviar and Perrier-Jouet Fleur held at the famous Il Mulino restaurant; and the Second Annual Aspen Frolf (Frisbee golf) Invitational featuring Prairie Organic Vodka, Francis Ford Coppola Wines and Patron Tequila held on top of Aspen mountain. Patrick Henry, owner of PHCP and Southwest Airlines employee Terry Graham attended along with PHCP executive team members Annie Akin, Myer Ballesteros, Judy Burciaga, Michelle Fossett, Vonna Taylor,

Jess Hix and Kevin Pehlman. PHCP clients who attended included TGI Friday’s, Hard Rock International, Ruby Tuesday, Ruth’s Chris, Outback Steakhouse, Bonefish, and McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood restaurants. While in Aspen Patrick Henry was introduced to Kathy Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb.

Kevin Pehlman, Myer Ballesteros, Patrick Henry and Judy Burciaga at the Aspen Food & Wine Festival.

Stafford business delegation members Vonna Taylor, Michelle Fossett, Patrick Henry, Judy Burciaga, Myer Ballesteros and Annie Akin at the Absolut Aspen reception held at Il Mulino restaurant during the Aspen Food & Wine Festival.

Vonna Taylor, Patrick Henry, Terry Graham and Annie Akin at the Aspen Food & Wine Festival.

Open registration for the Fort Bend County Fair Queen Contest The search for the 2011 Fort Bend County Fair Queen is now underway. Contestants interested in participating in this year’s competition will have until July 31 to register. The Fort Bend County Fair Queen Contest is for females between the ages of 15 and 19 years who are residents of Fort Bend County. The competition runs July 31 – September 23 and is based on ticket sales, interview and style show performance.

Winners receive scholarships and prizes for their efforts, as well as the opportunity to serve as a community ambassador for the Fort Bend County Fair for the coming year. In 2010, eleven lovely ladies competed for the title. Jackie Snader of Foster High School was crowned with ticket sales in excess of $33,000. Collectively, last year’s contestants sold over $171,000 in fair admission tickets. The 2011 Fort Bend County Fair Queen will be crowned on Friday, September 23.

In honor of our 75th Anniversary, we are in the process of locating our past Fair Queen winners. If you or someone you know was a Fort Bend County Fair Queen, please contact the Fair Office and give them the contact information. The past winners will be recognized at the Style Show and the Queen’s Coronation. For Queen Contest Rules or registration form contact the fair office at (281) 3426171 or visit www.fbcfa.org.

Learn how to make a website at library program Learn how to design and publish your own website – for free – during an introductory class at Fort Bend County Libraries’ Sienna Branch Library, 8411 Sienna Springs Blvd in Missouri City, on Wednesday, July 27, beginning at 10:00 am, in the Computer Lab. The class will be repeated on Thursday, July 28, beginning at 10:00 am, in the Computer Lab at George Memorial

Library, 1001 Golfview in Richmond. Participants will learn how to create a personalized website, complete with an optional blog, photo and video gallery, calendar, and discussion forum. If you have photographs you would like to use, save them as a JPEG on a USB flash drive, and bring them to the class. Those attending the class should already have an established email account and a basic

Fort Bend Business Journal • July 2011

working knowledge of computers. The class is free and open to the public. Seating is limited, however, and reservations are required. To register online at the library’s website (www.fortbend.lib. tx.us), click on “Calendar,” select “George Memorial Library,” and find the program. Participants may also register by calling or visiting the library.

Submit Newsworthy items to sharon@fortbendstar.com

Lasagna House coming soon to Sugar Land Town Square Lasagna House will soon open in Sugar Land Town Square. The family-owned, Italian eatery will offer an extensive menu featuring traditional Italian dishes and will allow guests to enjoy direct views of the Town Square Plaza. Boasting 7,567 square feet of space including an outdoor patio, the Town Square location will mark Lasagna House’s third in the Houston area and is scheduled to open in late summer 2011. The space will be decorated with brick accents and cozy booths and tables, creating the feel of a traditional Chicago-style Italian restaurant, and will feature appetizers, salads, entrees, desserts, liquor and wine. “Lasagna House is excited to open in Sugar Land Town Square,” said Jeffrey Smith, who co-owns Lasagna House with Alan Smith. “We specialize in opening restaurants in suburban locations and the family-friendly, beautiful atmosphere in Town Square was a good fit for us.” Lasagna House will be located at 16089 City Walk in Sugar Land. Charles Adams, vice president of retail for PCD, represented PCD in the transaction; Craig Varney of BPI Realty Services, Inc. represented Lasagna House. For a complete list of Sugar Land Town Square retailers, visit SugarLandTownSquare.com. More information about Lasagna House can be found at LasagnaHouse.com.

Lasagna House III at the 2006 Italian Festival.

Friends of Sienna Branch Library host Summer Book Sale The Friends of the Sienna Branch Library will host a Summer Book Sale on Saturday, July 16, from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm, in the Large Meeting Room of the library, located at 8411 Sienna Springs Blvd in Missouri City. A special Members-Only Preview Sale will take place on Thursday, July 14, from 6:00 to 8:30 pm. Membership forms will be available at the door for new members. Numerous items will be available for sale, including books, DVDs, and CDs. People who love books, people who love bargains, and people who need to get rid of some spare change will find a lot in common at the used-book sale, where they will discover adult and children’s books, music CDs, videos, and audiobooks on CD or on cassette. Prices range from 50¢ to $2.00. Donations of used books, DVDs, tapes and CDs are always welcome, and may be

Recycling Center expands services in Sugar Land Enhanced services will begin at both city recycling centers in the next few weeks. The centers are being converted into “dual-stream systems,” meaning: • paper products and flattened card board will be placed in a green container; and • plastics numbered 1-5 and 7, metal and glass containers will be placed in a blue container. Both centers will now accept all colors of glass bottles and jars. Signs detailing items accepted will be posted at the center and on each recycling container. The Scenic Rivers center, 4802 Scenic Rivers (formerly Oilfield Road), will be closed from June 24 through July 6 while the facility is converted to a dual-stream system. The Gillingham Lane facility, 113 Gillingham Lane, will be converted by June 30. For more information, contact the Sugar Land Public Works Solid Waste Division at (281) 275-2450.

taken to the library during regular business hours. All contributions are tax-deductible. The Friends organization is instrumental in funding library programs such as the children’s Summer Reading Club. Proceeds from the book sale and annual membership dues also help to underwrite the costs of special programming and various cultural events at the Sienna Branch Library. For more information, call the branch library at 281-238-2900.

OakBend cancer survivor event OakBend Medical Center recognized National Cancer Survivor’s Day by hosting a celebration in the lobby of the Jackson Street Hospital Campus. Pastor John Lockhart of First Baptist Church in Richmond and long time supporter of OakBend Medical Center served as keynote speaker for the event. Over 40 survivors and their caregivers enjoyed a seated dinner and took home special gifts in recognition of this occasion.

Pastor John Lockhart, seated left front, and the group of cancer survivors and caregivers stand in celebration in the lobby of OakBend Medical Center.

July 2011 • Fort Bend Business Journal

Katy group puts their heads to task By Wayne Chandler

here’s a new group in Katy pooling its human and financial resources, knowledge, expertise and political clout, hoping for a synergistic outcome to improve its tri-county region. It’s called the Greater Katy Area Districts Council. This group believes that it can get some mutually-desired improvements for the area which will be greater than the sum of all the parts which are participating. And, who are the parts? Start with the Katy Area Economic Development Council, which has enlisted support of Harris County Emergency Services District #48, Fry Road Municipal Utility District, Harris County EDS # 42, Cimarron MUD, Addicks MUD, all Strategic Partners in KAEDC, plus West I-10 Fire Department, West Harris County MUD 7, Harris County MUD 81 and Fort Bend County ESD 3, all Associate Level KAEDC members. And, this group is campaigning for more ESDs, MUDs and drainage districts to join them. KAEDC credits Rick Lawler, a Harris County ESD 48 commissioner, for a key role on the membership committee, and Fort Bend County Commissioner Andy Meyers who recently spoke in favor of the new council to a big group of Fort Bend County MUDs . Lawler, a veteran of 20 years in service districts, said, “Collective community vision, with direction, along with established goals, can achieve great things. These districts are an untapped resource.” They’ve just begun to fight. As an alternative battle against shrinking public budgets and funding for such important projects as roadway improvements, parks and recreational areas, landscaping, police and public safety, this council is seeking to protect and drive property values by better

GETTING TOGETHER --Fry Road MUD is hosting KAEDC meetings now. From left, Frank Lombard, KAEDC vice president, Jim Roadarmel and Efrain Martinez, Fry Road MUD officers.

communication and collaboration. Lance LaCour, KAEDC president and CEO, noted that this new council can enhance a mission of three standing KAEDC committees: Talent -- attracting, developing and training talent; Industry – diversify the tax base with new business, and Place – promote and enhance quality of place. “The districts have the power to improve their communities in so many different ways,” said LaCour. “We appreciate the opportunity to work with them and feel the District Council will have a real, positive long-term impact on economic development and quality of life for years to come.” The KAEDC lists a host of benefits which it says can come to membership: 1) Protecting interests of Greater Katy Area taxpayers as federal, state and county resources dwindle 2) Local initiatives and area branding 3) Improve community image and communication

Fort Bend Business Journal • July 2011

4) Leverage existing AWBD relationships 5) Improve quality of life and place Things the council can do? 1) Improvement and appearance of major transportation corridors 2) Support quality residential development and crime prevention 3) Support development of parks and other community destinations 4) Discourage and oppose projects adverse to the life quality of the area MUDs and ESDs already have been playing a big role in “giving back” to their communities in a number of ways. The Fry Road MUD is expanding its own property, making it more attracting for low-cost community meetings. These districts already are spicing new life into the KAEDC monthly General Membership Assembly breakfasts, and the Fry Road MUD has provided it with a convenient, spacious meeting place. Efrain Martinez, a Fry Road MUD officer, commented, “This is going to be a good marriage.”

Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce Newsletter

for the Fort Bend Leadership Forum Class of 2012 The Fort Bend Leadership Forum presents the opportunity to enhance your value personally, professionally and as a community stakeholder. This ten-month program, August through May, consists of monthly sessions and retreats covering a wide variety of topics. For information please contact David Crowl at 281.491.2497 or David@fortbendcc.org

FORT

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LEADERSHIP F

FORT

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LEADERSHIP F

“I thought I knew everything. This program took me outside my box. Connected me with the city and county division and leaders. In the ten months I learned so much more. The workings of my city and how it makes all things work. I know now how to give back effectively as I grow with it. Thank you Chamber of Commerce for putting it together.” —Namita Asthana, President,Verum Solutions

“It all adds up. Year after year, Fort Bend Leadership Forum provides consistent return on investment for our participants, businesses and our community.” —Christopher Breaux, Principal, Null-Lairison

www.FortBendChamber.com

July 2011 • Fort Bend Business Journal

Membership The following firms have realized the importance of economic growth and development for the Fort Bend County area. They have pledged their support to the cause by investing their time and efforts in the Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce. Please support your community by calling on these organizations when you have a need for products and services.

Welcome New Members Always Best Care Senior Service

Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce Newsletter

Chris Jones President 6906 Spring Run Ln Katy, TX 77494 281-392-1222 Home Health Care

Cynthia E. Hoelscher, CPA, PLLC Cynthia E. Hoelscher President 4800 Sugar Grove Blvd, Ste 225 Stafford, TX 77477 281-313-2300 Accountants

Heritage Wealth Management Brett Carleton Principle 4400 Post Oak Parkway, Ste 2510 Houston, TX 77027 713-871-9800 Financial Services

The Houston Spine & Rehabilitation Center Phil Sanchez Marketing Director 2655 Cordes, Ste 130 Sugar Land, TX 77479 281-491-7300 Physical Therapy

Kublai Khan Raymond Guo Owner 15830 Southwest Fwy, #200 Sugar Land, TX 77478 281-565-7277 Restaurants

Lodestar Systems Inc.,

PrimeWay Federal Credit Union Quesia Arrington Public Relations Specialist 5201 SR-6, Ste 650 Missouri City, TX 77459 713-799-6200 Financial Services

SV MediTrans, Inc. Dinesh Isaac Owner 303 Scarlet Maple Dr Sugar Land, TX 77479 832-520-8679 Consultants, Business Development

Switchplace

Mani Vaitheeswaran Vice President 77 Sugar Creek Center Blvd., Ste 190 Sugar Land, TX 77478 281-565-7811 Information Technology Services & Business Computer Solutions

Print Source

Patriots Junk Removal and Hauling

Sixta & Associates

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

Don S. Sixta Attorney 2225 CR 90, Suite 121 Pearland, TX 77584 281-485-4366 Attorneys at Law

Billie Sue Parris Executive Director 5005 Mitchelldale, Suite 115 Houston, TX 77092 713-680-8088 Health Care

Mac McStravick President 35951 Whit William Rd. Brookshire, TX 77423 281-726-1299 Organizing Service

Paychex, Inc. Eric Nilsson Sales Consultent 11777 Katy Freeway S-200 Houston, TX 77079 832-275-4144 Payroll Processor & Human Resource Services

Fort Bend Business Journal â&#x20AC;˘ July 2011

Ralph Tolander Owner 766 Industrial Blvd. Sugar Land, TX 77478 281-879-8838 Business Machine Consumables

Doris Kampf Director of Global Sales 501 Second Ave, Suite B-100 Dallas, TX 75226 281-961-2012 Apartments, Coporate

For membership information contact: Jan-Michael Jenkins 281.491.0218 www.FortBendChamber.com

Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce Newsletter

FORT

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LEADERSHIP F

O R U M CLASS OF 2011 Ending Retreat

THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS:

Rice & Gardner Null-Lairson, PC RNDC

Allen Boone Humphries & Robinson Costello, Inc. Jaho, Inc. FirstSouthwest Park Construction Associates, LLC Rodriguez Engineering Laboratories Schwartz, Page & Harding, L.L.P. KSA Engineers, Inc. Jones & Carter, Inc. Oasis Senior Living, Ltd. Richmond Bone & Joint Clinic Caldwell Companies The Urban Forester Premier Wireless

www.FortBendChamber.com

July 2011 â&#x20AC;˘ Fort Bend Business Journal

We Believe in you. Thanks for Believing in US! 1 Year

6 Years

12 Years

Sugar Land Heritage Foundation Eleanor Barton, 281-494-0261

Texas Spine & Neurosurgery Center, P.A. Rajesh K. Bindal, 281-313-0031

Planned Community Management, Inc., AAMC Tammy Evans, 281-870-0585

Sara Appliance & Electronics Mehul Parikh, 281-277-1522

Perry’s Steakhouse & Grille David Freeman, 281-565-2727

Autumn Leaves of Riverstone Steven Nastasi, 713-252-7056

8 Years

Texas State Healthcare Connie S. Fodrie, 281-208-4344

Pepperoni’s Raed ‘Ray’ Salti, 281-240-1020

Sugar Creek Baptist Church Mark Hartman, 281-242-2858

Ellis & Irwin, L.L.P. Chad Ellis, 832-595-1242

Doug Turner Plumbing Co., Inc. Douglas Turner, 281-980-9300

The Spencer Company Troy Goodell, 713-222-6666

Hodges Ready Mix Company Don Hodges, 281-342-2160

Sugar Land Surgical Hospital Carol Champagne, 281-243-1000

Wings-N-Things Robert Farrell, 281-242-2999

CivilCorp, LLC Tommy Kuykendall, 832-252-8100

AUTOARCH Architects, LLC Michael M. Sabouni, 713-952-3366

Certified Landscape & Maintenance, LP Mark Fertitta, 281-561-6757

Classic Chevrolet Don Kerstetter, 281-491-9000

Fort Bend Rotary Club Richard Germer, 713-956-9500

Southwest Storage Jamie Jones, 281-494-7867

3 Years

9 Years

SiEnergy Robert Shockley, 281-778-6250, ext. 102

SMART HR Deborah Twigg, SPHR, 281-313-1315

Groth Corporation Jeremy Glasgow, 281-295-6800

4 Years

Rubicon Realty Group, LLC G. Peter Jacob, 281-313-0000 ext 11

Business Services & Consulting Jennifer S. Young, 281-431-9708 Titanium Electrode Products Cathleen Johannessen, 281-498-4727

2 Years

Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce Newsletter

Sugar Land Magazine Lisa McGarity, 281-579-7944

Post Oak Grill - Sugar Land Kevin Rios, 281-491-2901

Aura Restaurant Frederic Perrier, 281-403-2872

Milestone Member 5 Years

Homewood Suites Stafford / Sugar Land Elaine Taylor, 281-265-2760 Caldwell Companies Todd Johnson, 713-690-0000

OraQuest Dental Plans Dawn McInvale, 281-313-7170

Milestone Member 10 Years

Reliant Energy Sidney Evans, 713-537-2328 Alamo Stone Company Tom Molloy, 281-240-4600

11 Years

Sugar Creek Center / Property Owner’s Assn. Don Russell, 281-242-1399

Fort Bend Business Journal • July 2011

14 Years

Geotest Engineering, Inc. Ravi Raj Yanamandala, 713-266-0588 Methodist Sugar Land Hospital Chris Siebenaler, 281-274-7000 AAA Texas, LLC John Butler, 713-284-6494 Brooks & Sparks, Inc. Frank Brooks, 281-578-9595

16 Years

First Colony Mall Donna Molho, 281-265-6123

17 Years

West Houston Medical Center Todd Caliva, 281-588-8080

www.FortBendChamber.com

Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce Newsletter

Become a member Today! For membership information contact: Jan-Michael Jenkins • 281.491.0218 Fish Construction, Inc. Scott A. Fish, 281-261-3375

19 Years

The Settegast-Kopf Co., Funeral Directors Francis X. Gerosa, 281-565-5015 The Hunton Group Richard Hunton, 713-643-8336 Sandersen, Knox & Belt, LLP Alan Sandersen, 281-242-3232 Republic Services Todd Fawcett, 713-726-7401

Memorial Hermann Southwest Hospital George Gaston, 713-456-5111

Milestone Member 25 Years

Jones and Carter, Inc. Bobby Jones, 713-777-5337

29 Years

27 Years

Sweetwater Country Club Gene Miller, 281-980-4100

Helfman Ford, Inc. Nason M. Feldman, 281-240-3673

Animal Hospital * Highway 6 Jeffrey P. Hauke, DVM, 281-980-8387

31 Years

Fort Bend Dental Associates, PA Elizabeth Fish, 281-499-3541

United Equities Buster Freedman, 713-772-6262

28 Years

34 Years

K2 Realty, Inc. Melvin Knesek, 281-491-5880

23 Years

Fort Bend Driving School, Inc. Gary Adams, 281-242-7366

Fort Bend County Fair Association Travis Boeker, 281-342-6171

Scanlin Sign Service, Inc. Ed Scanlin, 281-561-9924

Taylor Morrison Steve VonHofe, 281-598-3000

upcoming events JULY Infrastructure Division

Infrastructure Monthly Breakfast Meeting Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce July 28 – 7:30 am – 9:00 am

save the date AUGUST Government Relations Division Luncheon

Congressman Pete Olson

Sugar Land Social Club • 16305 Kensington Drive, Sugar Land August 8 – 11:30 am – 1:00 pm Community Resources Division

Children at Risk – “Legislative Update/Summary” B2B-Mini Expo Network Nites Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce July 28 – 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm

Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce August 8

Leadership Forum Alumni Reunion & Welcome Class of 2012 Reception Sugar Creek Country Club • 420 Sugar Creek Blvd., Sugar Land August 10

www.FortBendChamber.com

July 2011 • Fort Bend Business Journal

Ribbon Cutting

411eat.com 832-607-9100 www.411eat.com

Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce Newsletter

11eat.com offers Custom Online Ordering and Marketing service to restaurants so that they can offer great customer service. Online Ordering is a virtual employee, a fixed cost to restaurants that they can count on never being late or sick! 411eat can integrate into most POS systems or you can receive orders via fax or email. Restaurant customers order thru your website. By offering online ordering, your customers can order takeaway and catering at their convenience from their home, office, car, and remote locations like hospitals or malls. Customers don’t have to compete with the restaurant

noise or language barriers to hear specials or place orders. Our clients are seeing an average of 35% increase in their to-go order profits. Let us help you offer superb customer service! Contact Robin Nicholson at 832-607-9100 or robin@411eat.com for your free demo.

KSA Engineers, Inc. 816 Park Two Drive Sugar Land, TX 77478 281-494-3252 www.ksaeng.com

SA Engineers, Inc. is an industry leader that has been providing a broad range of consulting, management, engineering, planning, surveying, and construction services to our clients for more than 30 years. Founded in 1978, the firm has grown to over 150 employees in eight Texas locations. Today, KSA serves hundreds of clients throughout Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Oklahoma and is a leader in preparing design solutions for clients in municipal, county, state,

Fort Bend Business Journal • July 2011

and federal governments, as well as river authorities, utility districts, water supply corporations, private industry, developers, and architects. We are dedicated to making life better in communities. That’s why we work every day to improve the quality of life in our communities through quality infrastructure design.

www.FortBendChamber.com

Greatwood Imaging Center 19875 Southwest Freeway, Suite 110 Sugar Land, TX 77479 281-545-2226 www.greatwoodimaging.com

reatwood Imaging Center- A complete Imaging Facility that provides virtual requirement of quality service to the patients under one roof. We are inspired to offer patients top of the line equipment, fast results, and to provide the best care for our patients. Our customers can expect an efficient and personal service provided from our employees. Our prices are affordable and we also offer payment plans. We are a new

facility in this community and plan to offer a great service for years to come. Hours of Operation: Monday-Saturday 8am-6pm. Phone: 281-545-2226, Fax: 281-545-2231.

Par-Tee with us! Monday, September 26, 2011 Sugar Creek Country Club

For more information, please contact Jan at 281.491.0218 or jan@fortbendcc.org www.fortbendchamber.com www.FortBendChamber.com

July 2011 â&#x20AC;˘ Fort Bend Business Journal

Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce Newsletter

www.FortBendChamber.com

Upcoming Chamber Events District 22 Update with Congressman Pete Olson Monday, August 8, 2011 11:30 am – 1:00 pm

Sugar Land Social Club 16305 Kensington Dr., Suite 150 Sugar Land, TX 77479

Event Sponsor - $1,200 Corporate Table - $400 Individual Member Reservation - $30 Individual Non-Member Reservation - $40

Congressman Pete Olson

Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce Newsletter

Cancellations must be received in writing and confirmed by 5 p.m. Thursday, August 4, 2011. Thereafter full payment is due. Register online at www.fortbendchamber.org Farrah@fortbendcc.org • 281.566.2152 • Fax 281.491.0112

NETWORKNITES Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce

FUSES WITH “EXPO LITE” THE SMALL BUSINESS SHOWCASE at the Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce 445 Commerce Green Blvd Sugar Land, TX 77478

TUESDAY, July 28, 2011 4 pm - 7pm COMPLIMENTARY DRINKS AND TASTINGS

Business Showcase

B2B

Fort Bend Business Journal • July 2011

For more information contact Jan-michael Jenkins 281.491.0218 or jan@fortbendcc.org

www.FortBendChamber.com

Another national marketer points to Katy By Wayne Chandler

ointsmith, a major U.S. mover and shaker in the advertising and promotion business , has moved to Katy. This 64-year old point-of-purchase management services powerhouse has moved west, down I-10 from Houston, to more than double its operating space on Park Row Drive in Katy. The major move was detailed by Pointsmith’s Spencer Jackson, director of sales, and Diane Longoria, director of marketing, at a recent Katy Area Economic Development Council meeting. “Pointsmith is excited to move to Katy for two reasons,” Smith said.”Katy is the place our business will flourish and…the community where many of our employees

will raise their families.” Smith noted that some 100 of the firm’s 150 employees have been with Pointsmith for at least 15 years. “Our average employee salary is $50,000,” Smith said. Pointsmith boasts an impressive list of national clients, including Citgo, Citigroup, ConocoPhillips, Murphy USA, Popeyes Chicken, Shell Oil USA, Valero, Whataburger and ExxonMobil, Jackson and Longoria noted. “When the business of printing outdoor billboards started going by the wayside many years ago,” Jackson said, “we got into specializing in the P.O.P. signage arena. “ P.O.P. is the advertising posted at the point of purchase, perhaps as a service station’s pumper topper or pole sign or banner, on a fast food store’s window

dressing or instore signage. “We develop strategic advertising campaigns from start to finish,” Longoria said, “we design, print, package, ship inventory and fulfill. When we pack a custom kit for a station, we will ship only the signage that they need, no wasted time, money or resources.” Pointsmith had 100,000 square feet of space on Brittmore Park Drive in Houston. It now has 240,000 square feet at 21202 Park Row Drive. The office space alone is 26,750 square feet for the creative agency, account services, information technologies, customer services and the call center. “We stay ahead of the curve,” Jackson said.”We’re now into websites, smartphone technology, database management and digital signing on TV, and we continue to build relationships.”

Where Family Memories are made...

Exceptional Location • Championship Golf • Fantastic Amenities Call Jennifer Rushlo, Membership Director, 281.494.9131, ext. 134 membership@sugarcreekcctexas.com • www.sugarcreekcctexas.com 420 Sugar Creek Boulevard 281.494.9131

July 2011 • Fort Bend Business Journal

NAMES IN THE NEWS Pointsmith selects Cathy Merriett as Human Resources Manager Cathy Merriett has been hired to be the Human Resource Manager for Pointsmith, a leading at-store point-of-purchase management company located in Katy. In her new role, Merriett will be responsible for managing all human resources activities including staffing and recruiting, employee benefits, payroll, employee relations and the company’s 401k program. “Cathy is a wonderful and welcome addition to our management team,” said Troy Smith, Pointsmith’s executive vice president.

“Her proven management expertise and creative program ideas will be invaluable as the company continues to grow and recruit new talent.” Prior to joining Cathy Merriett Pointsmith, Merriett served as Manager of Human Resources at Clover Global Solutions for two years. She also held positions as Human Resources Representative with Continental Carbon Company and

Recruiting Coordinator at Air Liquide America Corporation. Merriett earned an Associate of Applied Sciences degree in Business from State University of New York at Canton, and later received a Professional in Human Resources (PHR) certification. She is an active member of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) and enjoys singing in a contemporary choir at her church and with her praise band in her spare time. Merriett currently resides in Katy.

Patricia Hildebrand appointed examiner for 2011 Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award Patricia (Pati) Hildebrand of Hildebrand Healthcare Consulting in Sugar Land has been appointed by Dr. Patrick Gallagher, Director of the Commerce Department’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), to the 2011 Board of Examiners for the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. The Award, created by public law in 1987, is the highest level of national recognition for performance excellence that a U.S. organization can receive. As an examiner, Hildebrand is responsible for reviewing and evaluating applications submitted for the award. The board is composed of approximately 500 leading experts selected from industry, professional and trade organizations, education and health care organizations, and nonprofits

(including government). The Baldrige Award may be given annually in each of six categories: Manufacturing, Service, Small Business, Education, Health Care, Patricia Hildebrand and Nonprofit. Awards have been presented to 80 organizations, including the 2010 recipients: MEDRAD, Warrendale, Pa. (manufacturing); Nestlé Purina PetCare Co., St. Louis, Mo. (manufacturing); Freese and Nichols Inc., Fort Worth, Texas (small business); K&N Management, Austin, Texas (small business); Studer Group, Gulf Breeze, Fla. (small business); Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital, Downers Grove, Ill. (health care);

and Montgomery County Public Schools, Rockville, Md. (education). Information about the Baldrige National Quality Program and the application process is available from the Baldrige National Quality Program, at (301) 975-2036 or nqp@nist. gov, or from the Baldrige Program’s website at http://www.nist.gov/baldrige. The Award Program is managed by NIST in close cooperation with the private sector. ASQ in Milwaukee, Wisc., administers the program. For further information about Hildebrand, contact (432) 3526143. For media inquiries or interview requests about the Baldrige Program or the Award contact Michael E. Newman, NIST Public Affairs Office, at (301) 975-3025 or michael.newman@nist.gov.

Monique Shankle appointed to Board of Association of Rice Alumni Monique Shankle, energy industry consultant, was recently selected to serve a three year term as a board member of the Association of Rice Alumni (ARA). Monique, a Fort Bend resident, has been an active alumna on Rice’s behalf. She has volunteered as an interviewer of prospective students, has been a member of the Rice University Business and Professional Women, and served on the ARA nomina-

tions committee for three years. She is active with the Association of Rice University Black Alumni and is a volunteer for the Class of 1986 Reunion Giving Committee. Monique Shankle Through the years, Monique has dedicated her time to many local organizations in various capacities, and

Fort Bend Business Journal • July 2011

this community work reflects her dedication to Rice. As a former member of the board of the Linda Lorelle Scholarship Fund, she worked with high school students grooming them to become successful college students and encouraging them to attend Rice. Other community service includes serving on the board of the Fort Bend County Chapter of the Links, Inc. and the Hope Through Grace Foundation.

Submit Newsworthy items to sharon@fortbendstar.com

Freed announces promotions as growth continues Freed, a Sugar Land-based full-service advertising agency, has announced the promotion of two key executives with the firm. As part of its continuing efforts to grow the business, Sean Burnett has assumed position of Senior Vice President of Operations and Client Services, and Audrey Cheng Trevino is now Vice President of Strategic Planning. In his new role, Burnett is the primary point of contact for the firm’s diverse roster of clients. He will work directly with account managers to ensure that client needs are met in a way that improves cus-

tomer satisfaction. He is also responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of the firm. He will work closely with department heads to, among other things, improve Sean Burnett operational efficiencies, identify revenue expansion opportunities, and provide guidance in the professional development of staff members. The majority of Burnett’s career has been spent on the client side with experience in operations, human resources,

Earle named FCCA executive director After conducting a nationwide search, the First Colony Community Association board of directors hired a new executive director. Doug Earle of Sugar Land has been named the new leader of the planned community home owners organization. Earle, a high energy, enthusiastic leader has been a resident of First Colony for many years. He has a well- rounded background in organizational leadership with the City of Houston and YMCA. In the past, Doug

served as executive director of the Fort Bend YMCA on Cartright Road. A respected community volunteer, Doug looks forward to the opportunity to serve the community Doug Earle where he resides. “ I look forward to serving the residents and businesses of First Colony in a responsive and professional manner,” says Earle. He officially assumes the position July 5th.

Cifuentes recognized among Houston’s top young executives Nations Reliable Lending (NRL) Chief Operating Officer Wilson Cifuentes was recently recognized among Houston’s top 40 young executives. Cifuentes was recognized for his success in the formation and continued growth of NRL – a Texas Mortgage Banker that provides home loans to consumers throughout Texas. Through his leadership over the past four years and despite a national economic downturn, NRL has grown to include three retail branches and two satellite branches

located in Houston, Katy, Austin and Dallas, with plans to expand to San Antonio in the near future. Currently, NRL employs more than 100 individuals. Cifuentes is a supWilson Cifuentes porter of The University of Houston “Program for Excellence in Selling” and an inductee into the national Gallup Strengthsfinder “Great Manager Program.”

strategy, corporate finance and marketing for some well-known organizations like OSI Restaurant Partners, Inc. (Outback Steakhouse), Yum! Brands (KFC, Taco Bell and Pizza Audrey Cheng Trevino Hut), Rice University and SYSCO Foods. On the agency side his client list is notable, managing accounts for Compaq, Houston Chronicle, KFC, Junior Achievement and the Houston Astros. In her new role, Trevino continues to oversee account planning for clients to ensure that the needs of the channel and consumer are being met. Her group also handles the digital and social media strategy on behalf of the agency and its clients. As Vice President of Strategic Planning, Trevino is tasked with developing strategic recommendations on how to optimize near and long-term growth for the agency. Trevino has built her 19-years of expertise across all aspects of brand marketing and communications, account strategy and planning, business management and optimization. She has had the opportunity to work agency side, shepherding brand strategy and work for clients including Coors Brewing Company, Van Melle, Brinker International, Dell, Taco Cabana, Dick’s Last Resort, Quintiles Oncology, Frito-Lay, HP, Proctor & Gamble, Hallmark, H-E-B and Minute Maid. As the client, Trevino led market development and strategic planning for the Houston Rockets and Comets for three years and oversaw corporate communications for the American General Life Companies. “Sean and Audrey have both done tremendous work in shaping the agency’s objectives and development since joining the firm,” said Gerald Freed, founder and CEO. “As the agency continues to grow and add more clients and talent, we need the experience and leadership that Audrey and Sean bring to their new positions.”

July 2011 • Fort Bend Business Journal

Fort Bend Baptist Academy celebrates 25th anniversary with a new name

ort Bend Baptist Academy (FBBA), a premier college preparatory Christian school in the heart of Sugar Land, announced its official name change to Fort Bend Christian Academy (Fort Bend Christian, FBC). The FBBA name has been used for over 24 years and has become synonymous with excellence in Christian education in Fort Bend County and Houston. “We are very excited about the introduction of our new school name. We believe the name Fort Bend Christian Academy more accurately represents who we are as a school, strongly committed to

our founding core Christian beliefs and principles, and serving the entire Christian community,” said Dr. Norm Slosted, Superintendent of Fort Norm Slosted Bend Christian Academy. “Our mission when the school was founded almost 25 years ago was to glorify God through excellence in Christian education. From an initial enrollment of seven kindergarten students in 1987 to today’s enrollment of almost 850 students in grades pre-kindergarten through 12, we continue to aggressively pursue that focused mission.” Fort Bend Christian Academy is an

Fort Bend Business Journal • July 2011

independent, private, college-preparatory school with more than 130 employees, located on a 35 acre campus in the heart of Sugar Land. The 2011-2012 school year marks the Academy’s 25th anniversary. From those initial seven kindergarten students under the umbrella of Sugar Creek Baptist Church School, the school grew rapidly and in 1992 became an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational institution renamed Fort Bend Baptist Academy. During the 1993-94 school year, middle school classes were added, and high school classes followed the next year. Fort Bend Baptist Academy’s first senior class graduated in 1998. With the rapid growth of the student

body, the need to move from leased church space to permanent school facilities became evident. The high school campus, located at 1250 Seventh Street in Sugar Land, was completed in January 1999. In August 2002, the elementary/middle school facility was opened at 1201 Lakeview, followed by a softball stadium, baseball stadium, and football/soccer practices fields completed in 2002-2003. In the fall of 2009, the Eagle Athletic Complex was completed and includes a track and football stadium. Synthetic turf was installed in 2010 at Eagle Stadium to provide year-round use of the facilities by the school, as well as providing much needed field use for youth oriented sports activities in the Fort Bend County community. “As we celebrate our 25th school year in 2011-2012, we are excited about the future of Fort Bend Christian Academy – a future built on the solid foundation of FBBA,” remarked Dr. Slosted. For more information about the name change or to learn more about Fort Bend Christian Academy, please visit www. fortbendchristian.org or www.fbba.org.

WE HAVE NO SHORTAGE OF STATE-OF-THE-ART AUTOMATION. WE JUST DON’T THINK IT SHOULD BE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

ANSWERING OUR PHONES. To us, everyone is important. So we answer our phones in person and never charge customers for a call with a Frost banker. Frankly, we believe that driving a technological stake between people and answers is no recipe for success. Call us on it. f r o s t b a n k . c o m

we’re from here

Sugar Land 8410 Hwy 90A | Stafford 3531 S. Main Missouri City 3600 FM 1092 | 713.388.7600 MEMBER FDIC

IT’S HERE! Video. On Demand. 24/7. On your website. Are you taking advantage of this powerful tool to set yourself apart from the competition? You can now have your commercial playing around the clock to a global audience. Google and other search engines love video. A video on your website will place you higher in search rankings. And your customers love video. It’s dynamic and engaging. At Star Video Digital Productions, we can help you from conception to completion with your video marketing. Whether you need high-quality video for your website, a TV commercial for traditional cable or broadcast or a promotional video on DVD to deliver to potential customers, we can help.

July 2011 • Fort Bend Business Journal

Older adults in Katy keep strong, work towards their fitness goals

It’s never too late to get fit

ow that summer is here, resolve may be beginning to fade for many who made fitness goals in January, but at the Nifty After Fifty gym in Katy, the overfifty crowd is going strong and getting stronger, too. “The misconception with older adults is that they’re too old to start a fitness routine, or that there’s no point to start, but there is a huge benefit at absolutely any age,” said Rod Sled, Director of Operations at Nifty After Fifty. “At our center it’s common to see our new members go from a deconditioned state to not only doubling their strength in every major category in a matter of months, but continuing to see improvement and stick with an exercise routine beyond their initial goals that brought them here.” Sled attributes this success to the Nifty After Fifty concept, which caters to older adults from the ground-up, incorporating

into workouts everything from music of the 50s and 60s to specialized equipment and staff trained to meet the specific needs of those fifty plus. Also employed at the center are a number of techniques for success that Sled believes can propel anyone through a simple fitness resolution and into a healthier lifestyle. 1. Have a Goal Have something in mind that you’re shooting for. Many come to Nifty After Fifty at the request of their primary care physician to increase strength, balance, coordination and endurance. While these goals can seem vague, the benefits are more concrete, including a decrease in fall risk, a decrease in aches and pains, and an increase selfsufficiency and independence. “Fifty percent of our health problems are genetic based. The other 50 percent is the environment we create for ourselves – either through what we feed our bodies, what

damage we do to them from things like smoking and drinking, and how we take care of our bodies through exercise. So many ailments can be delayed or reversed through exercise – things like blood pressure, cholesterol, depression, stress and anxiety. All are popular goals at Nifty After Fifty.” 2. Set Milestones Along the Way When you get started, take it easy in the beginning. Setting up milestones that lead you up to your ultimate goals will give you something to celebrate along the way. Look at things you do on a day to day basis – for example if you have a hard time carrying groceries from the garage to the house without quite a bit of fatigue, but after a couple of months build up strength and endurance to discover you can do it without any problem, that’s a huge milestone. It’s

KOLBE CURTICE... continued from page 37

Help people find your business here! To Advertise Call 281-690-4201 58

Fort Bend Business Journal • July 2011

List your business in the Fort Bend/Katy Business Journal’s SERVICE DIRECTORY for only $300 for the whole year.

Representation by a commercial real estate broker with a thorough knowledge of the properties in a market (including an understanding of their respective cash flows) is critical for businesses interested in leasing space or investors interested in purchasing or selling property in a market. Knowledgeable commercial brokers are not only are familiar with the physical aspects of properties and their owners in their market ...... they are also familiar with the terms and conditions (lease terms) for occupying space in the property, local governmental restrictions which regulate the property, the existing tenants in the property, etc.. All of these factors have a significant impact on the rent a property is able to obtain and in turn, the cash flows generated and the value of the property. Kolbe Curtice is the Managing Director of Collier’s International - Fort Bend. Colliers is located at 15999 City Walk, Suite 250, in Sugar Land Town Square. He can be reached at 281-494-4769 or kolbe.curtice@ colliers.com. H

those little things along the way that will help you stay motivated. “A lot of times when people get the bug to start an exercise program, they go all out and end up doing more harm than good because they burn out,” Sled said. “We get people started coming in two times a week, and no more than three. Consistency is really the key over frequency – if you come in consistently two times a week, you will see dramatic changes.” Tracking your progress helps as well, so take the time to write down how many repetitions of a particular exercise you can do, how much weight you can lift, or how long you can do a cardiovascular exercise. “Each member at Nifty After Fifty has an electronic key that monitors these stats on every machine they use, so we can literally chart their progress and show them how much they’ve improved. This goes a long way to remaining active.”

3. Bring a Friend For the days when you really feel like skipping your fitness routine, it helps to have a partner. Find somebody that has similar goals that will help you stay motivated and committed. “Here our members are surrounded by their peers and neighbors in the Katy area– people that are of similar age, are going through similar challenges, that are all working on improving similar things, and it just creates a great atmosphere that is less intimidating to those just getting started.” Beyond Your Goals Keeping healthy and fit is a lifestyle choice. Building the foundation for healthy habits such as setting goals, marking milestones, tracking progress and finding support are actions that can be taken at any age. Beyond starting right, making those healthy choices a part of every day life can have a lot to do with socialization. At Nifty After Fifty, Sled often finds that creating opportunities for social events at the center provides additional motivation. “We host dance-based classes like salsa and line-dancing, and have moved beyond fitness to host movie nights, open houses, potlucks and Bingo. By creating a place where people feel comfortable and welcomed, we’ve allowed them to make fitness something they look forward to and enjoy, and ultimately will continue to do beyond those first resolutions that brought them there.” July 2011 • Fort Bend Business Journal

Advertising

SERVICE DIRECTORY

Fort Bend Business Journal 281-690-4200 www.fortbendstar.com Fort Bend’s ONLY business publication. Fort Bend Focus - 281-690-4242 www.fortbendfocus.com Fort Bend’s ONLY feature magazine Direct mailed to almost 40,000 homes every month in Fort Bend’s most affluent subdivisions. Fort Bend Star - 281-690-4200 www.fortbendstar.com We have been delivering a free community newspaper to homes throughout Fort Bend County longer than ANY OTHER Newspaper.

Auto Repair / Maintenance Auto Central-Automotive Service & Sales 281-499-9684 www.autocentral.biz david@autocentral.biz. David Fauvelle, 2526 Fifth Street, Stafford, Texas 77477, Fax: 281-499-0183, Fast, friendly and professional automotive repair. AAA approved auto repair. Charlton’s Body Repair - 281-499-1126 www.charltonsbodyrepair.com. Chuck Charlton, 1131 Staffordshire @ 5th St., Stafford, TX 77477, Fax: 281-499-1694, Complete collision repair. Frame & Unibody straightened. Expert computer color matching. Custom painting & pin stripping. Honest service. 79 Years Strong and 3 Generations Proud! Colony One Auto Center - 281-980-4440 www.colonyoneauto.com Rod Tate, 1131 Dulles Avenue, Stafford, TX 77477, Fax: 281-261-0048, Complete state of the art automotive repair & maintenance facility. First Tire & Automotive - 281-313-2886 www.firsttireandauto.com Craig Popp, owner,3 Sugar Land Locations. 960 Eldridge, 281-313-2886 & 2303 Williams Trace Blvd. 281-9802666 (First Colony), 20015 Southwest Freeway. 281-343-5666 (Greatwood), Diagnostic testing and evaluation, Manufacturer’s routine recommended maintenance, domestic and foreign vehicle repairs, AAA approved, ASE certified. Ask about our Fleet Service!

Banks Founders Bank - 281-325-5000 www.foundersbanktx.com Email: customerservice@foundersbanktx.com. Fax: 281-325-5050. Fort Bend County only. Locally owned and managed bank. 4690 Sweetwater Blvd., Sugar Land 77479 The State Bank of Texas - 281-494-6686 www.tsbot.com nbb@tsbot.com. Nicki Black, 13010 Murphy Road, Stafford, TX 77477, Fax: 281-494-6747, , Locally and independently owned - our prime interest is you! 12 MONTHS LISTING CALL 281-690-4201

Sterling Bank - Fort Bend - 281-277-0100 12840 Southwest Freeway, Stafford, TX 77477, Fax: 281-277-0223, Serving owneroperated businesses with local decision makers.

Blinds / Window Coverings Budget Blinds - 281-416-8499 www.budgetblinds.com bdimmitt@budgetblinds.com. Bob Dimmitt, 1306 FM 1092, Suite 401, Missouri City, TX 77459, Fax: 832-220-8051, Custom window coverings, personal style consultant, “expert fit” measuring and installation.

Home Health Care Texas State Healthcare 281-208-4344 www.txstatehealthcare.com What we do: Skilled Nursing - Home Health Aide Physical/Speech/Occupational Therapies - Medical Social Worker assisting with durable medical equipment needs and helping to provide Resources & Services in the Community - Wound Care - Catheter Care - Diabetic Care Lab Services - IV Therapy and more... “Hometown Nurses Helping Hometown People”

Insurance Agencies Country Clubs Riverbend Country Club 281-269-2526 www.riverbendcountryclub.org triciarbcc@gmail.com. Tricia Hawks, 1214 Dulles Avenue, Sugar Land, TX 77478. Conveniently located in the heart of Sugar Land, Riverbend Country Club is just 25 minutes south of downtown Houston, Texas. Established in 1957, Riverbend continues its tradition as Fort Bend County’s only member owned club. Whether you’re looking for championship golf, fine dining, pools, tennis, fitness facilities or a wide variety of social and golf activities Riverbend is definitely the place to belong. The Houstonian Golf & Country Club 281-494-4245 www.houstoniangolf.com Nicole Scarbrough, Membership Private golf & country club, *Limited membership available.

Insurance Solutions of Texas 281-565-2222 • 281-341-5060 www.insurancesolutionsoftexas.com Jay Harris, Auto, Home, Business, Flood Insurance. 14140 Southwest Freeway, Suite 150, Sugar Land, Texas 77478. 281-565-2222, Fax 281-565-3333. 2515 Ave. H, Rosenberg, Texas 77471. 281-341-5060, Fax 281-341-5558.

Jewelers The Gold Connection Jewelers 281-344-9900 • We Buy Gold www.goldconnection.net Full service jewelry store. Diamonds, Gold & Silver Jewelry and Watches. Repairs done on the premises. Custom design are our specialty. Front door parking. 206 Hwy 90A, Richmond, Texas 77406.

Landscaping / Lawn Care Fire Extinguisher Service Gillen Fire Extinguisher Service Commercial/Residential 281-342-6969 www.GillenServices.com Gillen Fire Extinguisher Service provides a full line of fire extinguisher inspections, sales and services, as well as lighted exit sign inspections and service. Our highly trained staff can even provide fire extinguisher training for your employees. For all of your safety needs, call Gillen Fire Extinguisher.

Financial Products & Services Sugar Creek Financial Group - 281-565-2266 www.sugarcreekgroup.com robroy@windstream.net. Robert H. Roy, ChFC, Fax: 281-565-2277, 12946 Dairy Ashford #430, Sugar Land, TX 77478. Life, Health, Pensions, Investments for businesses and individuals.

Golf Carts / Mobility Scooters CBC Golf Cart Services, Inc. - 281-494-1164 Scooters by CBC - 281-494-3454 www.cbcgolfcarts.com chris1001@windstream.net, 203 Ulrich Street, Sugar Land, TX 77498 (Behind Imperial Sugar). CBC offers Sales, Service, New & Used, Rentals and Parts for two lines of products, GOLF CARTS and MOBILITY SCOOTERS. Authorized Dealer for Fairplay and Pride Mobility products. fax 281-494-1189

Fort Bend Business Journal • July 2011

JDT Lawn Care • 281-435-5408 Commercial property maintenance and landscaping service, fully insured professionals offering superior customer service and accountability, owner/operator and all employees were born and raised in Fort Bend County. High quality service from the ground up!

Magazine Fort Bend Business Journal • 281-690-4200 www.fortbendstar.com Fort Bend’s ONLY business publication. Reaching over 10,000 businesses monthly. The place to advertise to teach the vital Fort Bend County business community. Fort Bend Focus - 281-690-4242 Pearland Focus - 281-690-4242 Focus on Women - 281-690-4242 www.fortbendfocus.com Fort Bend’s ONLY feature magazine Direct mailed to almost 40,000 homes every month in Fort Bend’s most affluent subdivisions.

Medical Billing Complete Business Solutions 1-888-445-8609 cbsolutions@callmykate.com www.cbsbillingservices.com Complete Business Solutions, the medical billing professionals, is dedicated to improving your cash flow results. Our goals include: lower billing costs,

Nails P&L Nails – Sugar Land • 281-277-5072 PL Nails – Sienna Plantation • 281-778-8558 PL Nails - Katy • 281-347-1122 www.plnails.com Providing the most luxurious service available, PL Nails has Fort Bend county covered with locations in Sugar Land, Sienna Plantation, and Katy. Whether it be nails, body waxing, massage, or lots more, the expertly trained staff at PL Nails is committed to making your experience most pleasurable! Located at 4777 Sweetwater Blvd in the Kroger Shopping Center, Sugar Land, 281-277-5072. Located at 8880 Hwy 6 South, Suite 110 in the HEB Center, Missouri City, 281-778-8558. Located at 25681 Nelson Way in the HEB Center near Katy Mills Mall, Katy, 281-347-1122.

Newspaper Fort Bend Star 281-690-4200 www.fortbendstar.com We have been delivering a free community newspaper to homes throughout Fort Bend County longer than ANY OTHER Newspaper.

Open MRI Upright MRI of Sugar Land 281-494-0505 www.mri911.com CLAUSTROPHOBIC? Upright MRI is the only True OPEN MRI in Sugar Land. We scan patients standing, sitting, or lying down. For the first time, patients can be scanned in weight-bearing postures and in their position of pain. It is ideal for patients who have difficulty lying down due to respiratory or cardiac problems. Mention this ad and receive $25 off your first scan. 2655 Cordes Drive #150, Sugar Land, 77479. Open Monday – Friday 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Optometrists Elissa R. Wedemeyer O.D., FCOVD, F.A.A.O 281-499-2600 www.drwedemeyer.com 6026 Hwy. 6 Missouri City, TX 77459. Therapeutic Optometrist; Visual Perceptual / Binocular Therapy; medical management of eye infections and diseases. The office has a large selection of fashion frames.

Pediatric Therapy MedCare Pediatric Group, LP • 713-773-5100 www.medcarepediatrics.com Occupational, Physical, Speech Therapy at home or at Rehab Center located at 12371 S. Kirkwood, Stafford, TX 77477. We also provide in home nursing services. All services available in Houston and surrounding counties.)

Pest Control - Commercial / Residential Gillen Pest Control 281-342-6969 - Fort Bend 979-532-5701 - Wharton www.GillenPestControl.com Family owned and operated in Fort Bend and Wharton Counties since 1963, Gillen Pest Control’s highly trained professionals know where bugs hide, what their eating and breeding habits are, and how to get rid of them. They try to avoid the use of chemicals inside by working with you to create a barrier on the outside of your home or business, thus keeping those unwanted pests at bay. From the first time we visit your home or business, you will recognize we are no ordinary pest control company!

Pharmacies Ed’s Pharmacy 281-499-4555 Ed Sziy, 3740 Cartwright, Missouri City, TX 77459, Fax: 281-499-7088.

Physicians Immunizations & Drug Testing IMU Southwest, The IMUnization Clinic 281-313-7468 www.IMUnizationclinic.org imusouthwest@windstream.net. 3727 Greenbriar Dr. Suite 403, Stafford, TX 77477- Vaccines for children and adults for school, fertility, work, immigration, or travel needs. Daytime, Evening, and Saturday hours and no wait appointments available. Vaccine titers and Drug Testing for individuals or corporations. Certified Drug Testing Center & CDC Designated Yellow Fever Provider. We perform oral HIV testing also. Mobile on-site clinics available for churches and corporations.

Printers / Graphics Star Printing - 281-690-4200 www.fortbendstar.com We professionally design and print flyers, postcards, brochures, magazines, newspapers and catalogs in high-quality digital graphics.

Real Estate / Residential

Jennifer Weaver, ABR, CRS, GRI 281-207-5037 www.jenniferweaver.com RE/MAX Southwest, 14905 Southwest Freeway, Sugar Land, Texas 77478. Residential sales and corporate relocation since 1979.

Remodeling / Outdoor Living Living Improvements 281-499-7000 www.living-improvements.com AWARD WINNING - 2010 Houston’s BEST “Outdoor Living Space” Living Improvements’ commitment to excellence makes us the perfect fit for your building needs. We have over 200 years cumulative in-house experience in the remodeling and construction industry making us highly skilled, professional and detail oriented striving to exceed our customer’s expectations. We feature outdoor living spaces, custom homes, interior and exterior renovations. Our commitment to excellence is just one of the reasons we have over 4,000 satisfied customers. SERVING FORT BEND & SURROUNDING COUNTIES FOR OVER 35 YEARS

Staffing / Recruiting / Job Seeking Technical ProSource Meeting Your IT Staffing Needs 713-272-8800 www.TechnicalProSource.com Serving Fort Bend companies since 1989 by providing all levels of IT personnel, contract, contract to hire and direct-hire. We are the IT experts! To save our clients time we offer Video Resumes which allow you to move faster through the interview process. Recognized in Forbes magazine as a leading Staffing Firm Provider. Recognized in Texas Monthly as Most Dependable Staffing Firm and voted Best of Staffing by CareerBuilder. We look forward to helping with your staffing needs.

Video Services

Colliers International, formerly Curtice Commercial Real Estate 281-494-4769 kcurtice@curticecommercial.com. Kolbe M. Curtice, CCIM, CLS, 15999 City Walk Suite 250, Sugar Land Square located at U.S. Highway 59 and State Highway 6, Fax: 281-494-3227, Brokerage, Development, Investment & Tenant Representation, 25 yrs exp. in Fort Bend. Riverstone Development Co. 281-499-8700 www.riverstone.com tom@riverstone.com. Tom Wilcox, 4855 Riverstone Blvd, Missouri City, Texas 77459, Fax: 281-499-8704, Luxury waterside living in Fort Bend from $200s to the many millions. 12 MONTHS LISTING FOR ONLY $300

Jeanne Gregory, CRS, GRI • 281-344-8918 www.jeannegregory.com jeannegregory@earthlink.net. 14905 Southwest Freeway, Sugar Land, Texas 77478, Fax: 281-242-6754, Re/Max Southwest. Residential real estate sales & corporate relocation.

Star Video Digital Production Services, 281-690-4280 Full-service video taping, editing and special effects for your business. Professional writing to finished commercials, training DVD’s, and corporate videos.

Windows / Sidings Aaron Schneider 832-878-7444 www.savemoresidingandwindows.com Save-More@Hotmail.com Business overview: Save-More Siding & Window Company is a premiere James Hardi Siding and Simonton Window firm. Our professionalism and attention to detail has set us apart from the rest. Call 832-878-7444 and deal direct with Aaron Schneider owner.

July 2011 • Fort Bend Business Journal

SERVICE DIRECTORY

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Tyco in Stafford to expand and add 30 new jobs By Elsa Maxey

here’s a business in Stafford operating eight plants worldwide with the largest one located in the city. It’s a valve relief company planning on expanding its operations and adding staff. This is the company, right here in Fort Bend County, that built several relief valve applications for British Petroleum to help with pumping oil last summer into a platform 22 miles away, oil that was going into the Gulf Coast. When Tyco was asked for help, Plant Manager John Ward said they dropped everything, and in three to four weeks they engineered and tested a solution for the mile deep underwater working values. This company with expert capabilities is considered a global market leader that makes pressure and management products, and it has just received the nod from the Stafford City Council for a new Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (TIRZ) to be created in their city. TIRZ 21 is accompanied by an abatement agreement between Tyco Valves & Controls LP and Fort Bend County for

operating on about 11.7 acres where the valve relief company currently operates on Greenbriar and plans to expand. Jack Belt, Vice President Development & Marketing of Greater Fort Bend Economic Development Council addressed city council last week along with Ward. Ward said the operating plant plans to maintain 402 jobs at their location and create 30 new full time jobs. There will be building expansion, which will cost $8.4 million. This will bring a total capital investment of over $16 million to the city and the county, which Ward said has involved over 10 years of planning. Belt said the company plans to accommodate growth and development at the Stafford location and the abatement and TIRZ will help further incentivize the effort. The TIRZ authorized by the city means that the improvements in that city’s zone will be of benefit to the geographic area even after a 5-year tax abatement agreement expires with Fort Bend County. There is no tax abatement agreement with the City of Stafford since it does not have a property tax. Fort Bend County, on the other hand, will abate the property at 75 percent, according to Stafford City Attorney Art Purtle, who said

that any development or redevelopment in that zone must comply with city zoning ordinances. Other taxing abatements were said to be considered with taxing districts such as the Fort Bend County WCID No. 2, but a Tyco representative said that the amounts were so low with respect to savings to the company, that they did not justify the additional effort. “In today’s economy not a lot of people are moving forward with manufacturing plant expansions,” said Mayor Leonard Scarcella noting that the project, called the Hercules Project, goes beyond that, “especially in this day and time and under these circumstances.” Thirty-six percent of Tyco’s work involves the oil and gas industry, process industries involves another 36 percent, and about 27 percent is power and mining. Tyco started as an Anderson Greenwood facility in 1990. It is the fourth largest employer in Stafford operating as a $145 million revenue facility at a 200,000 sq ft site with a $20 million dollar payroll where safety and relief devices are made in accordance with international code standards in a highly regulated global industry.

Biotics Research completes expansion in Rosenberg

35,000 sf expansion of Biotics Research Corporation’s Rosenberg facility is complete. The $2 million expansion project created an estimated twenty-five (25) new jobs and expands the company’s existing manufacturing and warehouse operations. The City of Rosenberg and Fort Bend County Commissioners’ Court approved tax abatements for the project. Denis DeLuca, president of Biotics Research Corporation stated that “Biotics has been a leading manufacturer of vitamins and dietary supplements with a global market for its products for over 30 years. This expansion, with the help of the incentives from the city and county, we are

very confident our market share will continue to increase.” Biotics’ original facility was 42,000 sf and employed approximately 100 people. “It’s a credit to Biotics that its business is still prospering in these uncertain times,” said Matt Fielder, economic development director for the city. “It’s important that we continue to work with businesses to help them expand and create new jobs, especially under the current economic conditions.” “Rosenberg represents a fresh new wave of business expansion and relocation potential for Fort Bend County,” adds Fielder. “Although Rosenberg is a well established commercial center in Fort Bend, the continued growth of the area and of Greater Houston is creating many new business opportunities on the forward edge

Fort Bend Business Journal • July 2011

of that growth, and Rosenberg is that forward edge in the southwestern sector of the region.” The Rosenberg Development Corporation also approved an agreement with Biotics and the city to supplement the reconstruction of Spacek Road with up to $300,000 in drainage improvements in order to make the land developable for the expansion. Biotics shared responsibility for a portion of the cost and committed to retain the jobs at the site for a 10-year period. The City of Rosenberg and Fort Bend county recruited Biotics to its current location in 1998, with the company receiving tax abatements on its original facility from both entities. That project added more than $9 million to the tax rolls and created over one hundred jobs.

FOOD, DRINK, ENTERTAINMENT GUIDE WHERE TO EAT NOW - The following is a list of exceptional restaurants throughout in Fort Bend County & Katy Area. Prices reflect the average cost of a three-course dinner for one person, excluding drinks, tax and tip. $$$$=Very Expensive ($60 & Up). $$$=Expensive ($40-$60). $$=Moderate ($20-$40). $=Inexpensive (Under $20) . FB=Full Bar. WB=Serves Wine & Beer.

Aristotle Grill The Greeks have landed in Sugar Land! Owner Hamid Panah and his staff have just opened on the corner of Hwy 6 and Hwy 59 providing the best Greek dishes in the area! Everything from appetizers to traditional Greek salads, to plates specials and traditional Gyro sandwiches, Chicken Shawarma & Kafte Kabobs, this is the place for a nice, relaxed atmosphere and elegant Greek dining! Aristotle Grill also caters employee lunches, business meetings, and corporate gatherings. Their goal is to leave their guests impressed! Open 7 days, SunThurs 11 am -9 pm, Fri-Sat 11 am -10 pm. 2109B Highway 6 @ Highway 59 South, Sugar Land. 281-277-7787. $ WB AURA Restaurant Chef/Owner Frédéric Perrier brings over 30 years experience to his newest venture - AURA. In an upscale yet casually comfortable setting, Innovative American Cuisine reigns and is highlighted in the numerous Daily Specials. AURA features only the finest, freshest ingredients. A three course prix fixe lunch for $12.95 to Mussles Marinieres, Roasted Red Snapper or Filet Mignon with Cognac Peppercorn Sauce. No need to go to Houston or into Sugar Land for a truly high quality dining experience... you will easily find it at AURA (without ‘Big Restaurant’ prices!) at Township Square - Missouri City. Lunch Mon-Sat 11-2. Dinner Mon-Thurs 5-9 and Fri-Sat 5-10. Please call for Reservations &/or Catering ~ 3400 FM 1092, 81-403-AURA (2872). $$ • WB

Candelari’s Pizzeria Albert Candelari began making sausage over 50 years ago. As the years have passed the flavor remains the same, which is why Candelari’s is the “King of Sausages”! They take that delicious Italian sausage and put it in pizzas, pastas, and sandwiches. Enjoy appetizers, salads, pastas, sandwiches, pizzas and desserts in there dining room, large patio, or full bar with large screen TV’s. Happy hour is Monday - Thursday 3 to 7pm. This casual dining experience is available at two locations in Fort Bend. Call either location for take-out or delivery. 7425 Hwy 6 S (Just North of Sienna) 832-947-0440 / 6825 S Fry Rd (Fry & 99) 281-395-6746. www.candelaris.com. $ • FB Fernando’s Latin Cuisine We are pleased to announce the arrival of Fernando’s Latin Cuisine-An exotic culinary adventure! Started by, Fernando Echeverria, the same owner of Los Andes by the Compact Center in Houston-Another wonderful Latin American restaurant. Fernando’s Latin Cuisine is located in the same building where Ruth’s Chris used to be. Featured dishes include Empanadas appetizer, Fileton, (Filet mignon) and Asada Y Camarones, Casually called the surf and turf. 14135 Southwest Freeway, in Sugar Land. 281494-9087. wwww.fernandosrestaurants.com. $$ • FB Gringo’s Mexican Kitchen Since 1993, we strive to provide the highest quality Mexican food at the lowest price possible.

Gringo’s offers dine-in, take out and customized catering to fit your needs. Open Sun-Thurs: 11am – 9pm and Fri-Sat: 11am – 10pm. Join us for Happy Hour (Mon-Fri: 2pm – 6pm) with $2.99 Margaritas and $1 Draft Beers. Some favorites include the Pollo Marisco, Smokin’ BBQ Pork Quesadillas, Sizzling Fajitas and Silver Star Margaritas. Located at 12330 Southwest Freeway in Stafford (59S & W Airport). 281980-7482 (RITA) gringosmexicankitchen.com. $ • FB Karl’s At The Riverbend Romantic Dining in the Country, across the creek from a horse farm. Swiss Chef Karl Camenzind’s menu features Angus steaks, Prime Rib, Wienerschnitzel, Trout Almondine and other fresh fish, Rack of Lamb, Steak and other wild game, Atkins specials, a budget weeknight menu offered along with the regular menu, plus a wonderful Sunday Brunch Buffet. Company Luncheons and Rehearsal Dinners invited. Open Tues-Sat for Dinner and Sunday Brunch 5011 FM 723 Richmond 281-238-9300 www.karlsrb.com Read our reviews at www.b4-u-eat.com. $$ • FB La Magia Cafe & Pizza If you are looking for casual dinning with an easy atmosphere then La Magia is just the place for you! La Magia Café & Pizza recipes and menu are based on almost 30 years of Italian cooking. The dishes served at La Magia are prepared and cooked in the traditional Italian way, using fresh ingredients continued on page 64

July 2011 • Fort Bend Business Journal

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and herbs, giving them a home cooked flavor since 1980. In addition to authentic Italian cooking, La Magia offers popular American dishes. The pizzas are made with medium crust and cooked in a stone oven. This cooking process gives the dough a slow rise, for a true pizza flavor. All meals are prepared with extra virgin olive oil and the freshest ingredients and herbs. Open 7 days, Sun-Thurs 11 am -9 pm, Fri-Sat 11 am -10 pm. Lunch menu specials Mon – Fri. 3699 Highway 6 @ Settlers Way Blvd, Sugar Land. 281-565-0366. $ WB Las Alamedas Restaurant & Cantina Relocated Las Alamedas Restaurant from I-10 and Voss to the beautiful “La Centerra” Town Square on Cinco Ranch Blvd and Grand Parkway. Las Alamedas will continue its 31 year tradition of “Mexican Food with Passion” and warm hospitality amid the art, rich warm colors, stone arches, mahogany and wrought iron reminiscent of fine dining in a Spanish Hacienda. The authentic aromas, spirits of traditional Mexican cuisine, warm ambiance and service will make you come back again and again. Open for lunch and dinner and offers the perfect setting for casual dining, romantic evenings, family dinners and parties. Las Alamedas also serves on Saturday and Sundays a great Brunch menu 11 to 3pm. Open Monday - Thursday 11am to 10pm Friday & Saturday 11am to 11pm and Sundays 11am to 9pm BAR 11am till closing. 23501 Cinco Ranch Blvd., Suite F-140, Katy, TX 77494. 281-3473030. www. LasAlamedas.com. $$ • FB Las Haciendas Mexican Bar & Grill Santos Escobar and his brother Ascension Escobar serve up dozens of heaping traditional gourmet Mexican plates. Lunch Specials run weekdays from 11am - 3pm. Great margaritas, fajitas and much more. Catering available as well as a party room for private parties. • 12821 Southwest Freeway. 281240-3060. $ • FB Lupitas Mexican Restaurant Jaime and Lupe Garcia have lived in Fort Bend for 36 years. Twenty-three of those years have been spent in the restaurant business. If you want authentic Mexican food made from only the freshest ingredients and at a reasonable price, go

to Lupitas Mexican Restaurant formerly Pico De Gallo Mexican Restaurant. The Garcias continually concentrate on customer satisfaction. That includes the quality and freshness of their food as well as the family atmosphere of their restaurant. Dine-In, Take-out, and Catering available. 3121 Highway 6, Sugar Land • Call 281-265-6556. $ • WB Mantra Fine Indian Cuisine Discover India with exotic spices and aromatic flavors that will awaken your taste buds and lift you off your feet, we will make you feel like royalty. Mantra Fine Indian Cuisine offers Lunch Buffet and To-Go lunch options, that’s in your budget and leave you to come back for more. Mantra caters to all from spicy hot to mild flavors. We prepare our meals fresh and offer a wide selection of healthy choices. We have full menu and full bar and you can enjoy the evening out on our patio with your family or friends. Mantra also offers special catering promotions for parties and formal functions or any event any size, host in our restaurant or choosing of your choice. Hours of Operation: Monday through Thursday, Friday to Sunday, Lunch: 11a.m. to 2:30p.m. Lunch: 11a.m. to 2:30p.m. Dinner: 5:30pm to 10p.m. Dinner: 5:30pm to 11p.m.Come visit us at 15295 Southwest Freeway off of Williams Trace exit. For more information, contact us at 281-325-0071 or visit www. mantraofsugarland.com. $$ • FB Outback Steakhouse Inspired by Australia’s spirit of adventure, Outback Steakhouse has been an innovator in the culinary world by creating big, bold flavors using only the freshest ingredients. Voted #1 Best Steak in the 2009 Zagat Survey of National Full-Service Restaurant chains, Outback’s mission is to provide high quality fresh dishes at affordable prices. Explore Outback’s new menu with 15 meals under $15 including new choices, classic favorites and down under prices starting at $9.95. Our favorites include the Bloomin’ Onion®, Outback Special Sirloin with Grilled Shrimp on the Barbie, Honey Dijon Chicken with Sweet Potato Fries and much more! The local Proprietor is Anthony Antonidis. Open Mon.- Thur. 4-10 pm, Fri. 4-11 pm, Sat. 3-11 pm, Sun 11 am-9:30 pm. Located at 15253 Southwest Freeway, (Off Highway 59 and Williams Trace Exit) in Sugar Land, Texas. 281-980-4329. $ FB Panda Garden Panda Garden Restaurant, the three times winner for Best Oriental Restaurant in Fort Bend County,

Fort Bend Business Journal • July 2011

located at 3563 Highway 6 in Kroger Center, provides a warm, casual environment to best service all diners. The goal of our restaurant is to offer 100% satisfactory to the customers with variety selection of popular Hunan Cuisine. “We offer fresh, made from scratch meals that is unforgettably delicious!” Manager Kenny adds. The restaurant offers accommodations for small group meetings and wonderful party tray for catering to the near by businesses and schools. Panda Garden is open 7 days a week on Mon. – Sat.: 11a.m. – 10 p.m. and Sun. 11a.m. – 9:30p.m. Delivery is available everyday with a min. of $15.00 purchase. A lunch special is offered daily as well as the full regular menu offerings. 3563 Hwy 6 @ Williams Trace, 281265-0303. $ • WB Post Oak Grill Restaurant & Bar The Rios Family invites you to come and experience the same quality, ambiance and service that you have at the original Post Oak Gill. Join us for a wonderful culinary adventure featuring fine center-cut steaks, chops, fresh seafood, soups, sandwiches, salads, and outstanding wine selection. Open lunch & dinner - MondayThursday 11:00-9:00pm, Friday & Saturday 11:00-10:00pm. Happy Hour 3:00-6:00pm. 4524 Highway 6, Sugar Land • Call 281-4912901. www.postoakgrillsugarland.com $$ • FB Sandy McGee’s Restaurant & Catering The “BEST” soups, gourmet sandwiches and salads in TEXAS. Casual Dining in Historic Downtown Richmond. Sandy McGee’s has a sterling reputation for “FRESH”. Mon.-Fri. 10am-9pm and Sat.-Sun. 10am-3pm. 314 Morton St., Richmond. 281-344-9393. $ Tornado Burger Home of the famous Spicy Burger. Find out why Houston’s largest newspaper raves about their burgers! Read the review by the Houston Chronicle at: http://blogs.chron.com/cookstour/ archives/2007/09/burgerology.html. They make their burgers with fresh-ground chuck, and even their buns are handmade! The French fries are fresh Idaho potatoes cut right in front of you and fried to order! They compete with the multinationals with fresh food at low prices and very fast service. Their Philly Cheesesteaks are as good as Pat’s if not better! Open Mon. - Sat. 11am-10pm, Sun. 11am-9pm. Dine-In or DriveThru. 505 Murphy Rd (FM 1092) just south of Hwy 90 in Stafford, 281-403-FAST (3278). $

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PHYSICAL THERAPY & SPORTS REHAB TWO CONVENIENT LOCATIONS

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Methodist Orthopaedic Specialists of Texas 1201 Brooks Street (and Highway 6) Sugar Land, Texas 77478 Monday – Thursday | 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. Friday| 7:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.