November 2010 - The Business Lifestyle Magazine Online Edition

Fort Bend/Katy

Volume 28 • No. 11

THE BUSINESS LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

NOVEMBER 2010

MD Anderson Breast Cancer Screening and Diagnosis

Richard A. Ehlers, M.D., FACS INSIDE STORIES

n Health Care Reform Reduces the Risk of Cancer n CEO Exposed: Ron Reynolds n Patrick Henry Promotions Deserve a Toast n Are Permits and more Permits... “Fee”sible?”

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OakBend Medical Group OakBend

Medical

Group consists

of

a

community-minded group of physicians who provide services in the heart of Fort Bend County. We offer many locations for the convenience of our patients.

Our services are provided by excellent physicians whose specialties include Family Practice, Infectious Diseases, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ear Nose and Throat, Geriatrics, Weight Loss, Home Visits, Nursing Home Visits and Hospice Care.

We currently have office locations serving: New Territory • Sugar Land • Richmond Rosenberg • Williams Way

Coming Soon: Morton Road / Grand Parkway • Fulshear

Dr. John Butler • Dr. David Sycamore • Dr. Henry Garza III • Dr. Douglas Thibodeaux • Dr. James Pearce • Dr. Owen Capocyan Dr. Karen Rakers • Dr. Lorelei Capocyan • Dr. Joe Anzaldua • Dr. Irene Ejedepang-Koge • Dr. Robbyn Franklin

Physician Referral: (281) 341-4800

I

TEXAS DIRECT AUTO MAKES MAJOR COMMITMENT TO PARKS YOUTH RANCH IN RICHMOND

n a move that is sure to have long lasting implications, Texas Direct Auto has made a commitment to provide substantial financial assistance for habitants of the new Fred & Mabel R. Parks Youth Ranch currently under construction in Richmond. This is another in a growing number of commitments by Texas Direct Auto, the nation’s largest independent car dealership located in Stafford, to assist youth in Fort Bend County.

According to Linda Shultz, Parks Youth Ranch Director, “It was a welcome surprise when Texas Direct Auto called me and offered to help Parks Youth Ranch help homeless youth. They generously offered to help organize and underwrite the cost of the Grand Opening of the Fred and Mabel R. Parks Youth Ranch and then also offered to provide the Thanksgiving Dinner and Christmas decorations for the new shelter. We greatly appreciate all they are doing to help at-risk youth in our community.”

The Parks Youth Ranch is the brainchild of several hardworking members of St. Laurence Catholic Church, who in 2004 began to research homelessness in Fort Bend County, study shelters elsewhere, conduct a survey of homeless teens in school, and develop collaborative partnerships with other agencies. As tragic truths were unveiled, they realized the need for a Fort Bend County youth shelter for homeless and at-risk youth.

The ranch will offer vulnerable teens in Fort Bend County

two methods of assistance: The George Counseling Center and The Ranch Shelter. The George Counseling Center will provide on-site counseling intervention, consultation and assessment surrounding family issues/crisis for youth and their families.

The Ranch sheltering will provide up to 90 day licensed emergency shelter for youth ages 13-17. Referrals for temporary housing may come from the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, Juvenile Probation and voluntary, private placements from the community (teachers, counselors, religious leaders, friends, etc).

Parks Youth Ranch has asked Arrow Child and Family Ministries (Arrow) to become a partner and operate the shelter program. Arrow has developed, implemented and operates various disciplines of social service programming in order to serve vulnerable children and families in communities across the U.S. and abroad.

Texas Direct Auto Director of Business Development Jessica DeMarr stated, “Our commitment to the youth of Fort Bend County will never be more evident than our relationship with the Parks Youth Ranch. We encourage other businesses throughout the county to take a step of faith and join us as we conquer the situations that these children face.”

Parks Youth Ranch is a 501(C)(3) non-profit organization.

All donations, large or small, are critical to meeting the needs of these youth. Parks Youth Ranch relies on donations from individuals, churches, civic organizations, corporations and foundations. For more details, visit www.parksyouthranch.org.

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CO N T E N T S Fort Bend/Katy

Cover Story MD Anderson Breast Cancer Screening and Diagnosis

Volume 28 • Number 11 • November 2010 For subscriptions send check for $25 to Fort Bend Business Journal

Q&A pg.

Special Feature CEO Exposed: Ron Reynolds

18

................................................................................

32

Inside Stories

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 GENERAL MANAGER............Michael Fredrickson EDITOR ...........................................Sharon Wallingford ADVERTISING DIRECTOR ....................... Dean West

Feral Hogs Root Up $400 Million Per Year In Business Damages.................................. 3 Sugar Land Airport Introduces Global Select...................................................................... 5 Toni King Translates Medicare and the “Donut Hole” Factor........................................... 6 Texas Back To Work Reemployment Program Wins National Award............................. 7 Katy Transportation Expo and Open House Set.............................................................. 13 Chaumette Named to Houston List..................................................................................... 14 Health Care Reform Reduces the Risk Of Cancer........................................................... 21 Education On Fetal Alcohol Spectrum............................................................................... 24 Are Permits, Permits And More Permits... “Fee”sible?”................................................. 26 Big Shots - Howard’s Town Hall Forum/Sugar Land Heritage Foundation............... 29 Cross Creek Ranch And Firethorne add 5,000 acres..................................................... 50 Patrick Henry Creative Promotions Deserve a Toast...................................................... 56

MARKETING CONSULTANTS................ Dottie Childs ...................................................Jerry Poscovsky ......................................................Nicole Renaud ........................................................Ann Sturrock RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE SPECIALIST.........................................Becky Hall COLUMNISTS.................................. Kolbe Curtice ....................................................Alan Sandersen ..................................................Tim Stubenrouch CONTRIBUTORS . ................................. T.C. Benn ...................................................Wayne Chandler ............................................................. Gene Hall .......................................................... Elsa Maxey ......................................................... Glenn Smith .............................................................Dori Wind .....................................................John Whitmore ART DIRECTOR.................................Joey Belleza

Alan Sandersen

Monthly Columns

Tax Smart Discusses

GRAPHIC DESIGNER / WEB.............Carlo Arcillas

HIRE Your Way To Lower Costs............................. 22

Tim Stubenrouch Money Talks Discusses Ricky Business............................... 16

Kolbe Curtice CCIM, CLS Commercial Real Estate Discusses Proposed Lease Accounting .

Changes Will Impact Commercial .

Real Estate Decisions................... 28

Monthly Departments Fort Bend Chamber Newsletter.......................................................................... 37-44 Data Beat........................................................................................................... 46-49 Names in the News........................................................................................... 52-53 Newsworthy....................................................................................................... 54-55 Service Directory............................................................................................... 58-59 Dining and Entertainment................................................................................. 60-64

2

Fort Bend Business Journal • November 2010

ON THE COVER Richard A. Ehlers, M.D., FACS MD Anderson Breast Cancer Screening and Diagnosis Q&A

©2010 Fort Bend Business Journal Magazine No material from this publication be copied or in any way reproduced without written permission from the publisher.

Feral hogs root up $400 million per year in damages

By Gene Hall

T

he Texas feral hog problem, like so many, traces its roots to good intentions—the domestication of a fast growing prolific protein food source. They started out as domestic hogs.

Some escaped years ago, others continue to escape and in some parts of my native East Texas, they were raised on open range up until a few decades ago. No one who raised hogs this way ever caught them all.

Once in the wild, they adapted very quickly. Cunning and resourceful, they will eat virtually anything that remotely resembles food. They are omnivorous and equally comfortable rooting out newly-planted corn or filling the role of a wildlife predator. They have few natural enemies save for people who desperately try to thin their exploding populations by a variety of means.

In cornfields, hay meadows and other agricultural production areas, feral hogs can do more damage than a bulldozer, rooting for food and a place to bed down. In fact, bulldozers are often required to repair the damage. Feral hogs are very aggressive and have been known to attack people. They have also been the cause of traffic accidents, some fatal.

They carry diseases like brucellosis which mostly is a consequence for livestock and wildlife, but can infect people.

As long as this is “agriculture’s problem,” many people don’t get too excited about it. But the adaptable porkers are starting to range into urban areas and apply their destructive foraging to city parks, golf courses and homeowners’ lawns.

Texas has devoted modest sums to feral hog control, but the state is having financial trouble. These four-legged wrecking machines are responsible for an estimated $400 million dollars per year in damage, a number that will grow with their exploding population. The best guess is that there are around 2 million of them now, located in more than 200 of Texas’ 254 counties. With a gestation cycle of only 114 days, there can be three litters a year, four to eight pigs per litter. Do the math.

Certainly, feral hogs are impacting the habitat of a wide range of wildlife. Aside from the destruction, we know they will eat the chicks of ground nesting birds. They consider snakes a delicacy.

In the Texas Hill Country, there is growing anecdotal evidence that rattlesnake populations are adapting themselves to the growing numbers of feral hogs that have become their predators. There has been little scientific study, so I want to be careful here. My information comes directly from ranchers who’ve witnessed a new phenomenon.

Hogs, with a thick fat layer, can survive snake bites. Often they are wily enough to avoid being bitten. A rattlesnake that buzzes a warning is ringing the dinner bell for a feral hog. The ranchers claim the snakes are either adapting by not rattling and buzzing, or those that are genetically predisposed to rattle less are the only ones that live and reproduce.

The exploding populations of feral hogs are munching up their noisier cousins. So the theory goes.

This has some serious ramifications for folks tromping through the woods and the range, counting on at least some warning from one of nature’s most dangerous creatures. Moreover, the rattlesnake is an important predator in the Texas ecosystem. With their demise, we

might see increased numbers of other species, like rats and mice. Feral hogs have been a menace to agriculture for a long time. There is growing evidence they will soon be everyone’s problem.

Now

is the Best Time to

Join

Some things just get better…

Country Club

A Sugar Land Tradition...

Renewed

Jennifer Rushlo, Membership Director 281.494.9131, ext. 134 membership@sugarcreekcctexas.com www.sugarcreekcctexas.com November 2010 • Fort Bend Business Journal

3

Editor’s Preview

by Sharon Wallingford

November is a time for sharing

The Editorial Advisory Board Kolbe Curtice CCIM, CLS Managing Director-Fort Bend.

Colliers International

T

his year November brings

Texas has the highest number of uninsured

to our county a statewide

persons, with 226 regions designated as

election, a time of harvest,

Medically Under served Areas (MUAs).

and

Thanksgiving

Twenty-five counties have no physician

holiday. So let’s take a moment to look at

at all, and nearly 20 percent of Texans, or

our state.

3.2 million people, lack access to a primary

the

Texas is one of nine states that do not Jacqueline Baly Chaumette President and CEO Baly Projects, LLC

impose a personal income tax. These nine

In 2009, Medicaid covered almost

gained 235,000 new residents in 2007

3 million Texans, including 2 million

at the expense of other states. The new

children;

residents brought with them $11.8 billion Louis Garvin President Emeritus Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce

Dee Koch Grant Officer The George Foundation

Becky Munnell President and CEO Blue Jungle Marketing

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

Tim Stubenrouch President First Community Bank

John Whitmore Whitmore Company

Contact: Sharon K. Wallingford skwcountry@aol.com Dean West dean@fortbendstar.com

4

care provider;

in additional income;

The state’s energy efficiency program cost consumers approximately $108.4

Looking ahead, repealing property

million in 2009. Since 2002, the total cost

taxes and replacing the revenues with

of the program has been $591 million, and

a reformed sales tax would provide

the cost increases as the program expands;

meaningful tax relief, generate added

Texas’ population of 23.5 million is

wealth, spur job creation, and protect the

projected to increase to 28 million by 2020

rights of property owners;

and 35 million by 2040 and;

The Texas Tax Relief Act passed in 1978 by 84 percent of the voters demands

By 2060, water demand in Texas is projected to increase by 27 percent.

government control its spending. The

You may want to visit with your

Texas’ Rainy Day Fund (created in 1988)

elected officials offer your solutions to

balance is expected to have $9.6 billion in

legislators as they prepare to meet in

available funds for the 2012-13 biennium;

the 2011-2012 session. You may want to

Can we end diversions and implement transparency reforms?

research www.TexasPolicy.com or the

During the last

web sites of various state commissions,

legislative session, the Legislature diverted

boards, state departments, or take a look

$1.2 billion out of the State Highway Fund

at the Legislative Budget Board (www.

to

lbb.state.tx.us.)

pay

for

non-transportation-related

projects, continuing a long-standing trend.

Otherwise, this is a time to celebrate

Perhaps a web site could enable citizens

and to be thankful with family and friends.

to track the billions in stimulus funding

Happy Thanksgiving!

flowing through the state; Insurance premiums in Texas increased

Ching. Keep the cash registers ringing.

40 percent in five years, the third highest rate of increase in the nation. In the USA,

Fort Bend Business Journal • November 2010

Sharon K. Wallingford

Sugar Land Airport introduces Global Select

U

sing the same recipe for success that has transformed a small GA Airport to the nationally recognized star that it is today, the Sugar Land Regional Airport re-branded its Fixed Base Operation as Global Select.

“Launching a new name will allow us to market the FBO independently from the city’s airport,” said Director of Aviation Phillip Savko. “Typically, FBOs that are run by municipalities have an unfavorable reputation. Global Select’s new facility and top-notch amenities set it apart. This new campaign will help us spread awareness throughout the industry.”

Global Select is unlike other city-owned FBOs in the industry. Located [SLRA1] within the 20,000-square-feet “ranch style” terminal building, the FBO offers state-of-theart amenities and conveniences to its patrons.

Under its new name, Global Select will continue to offer the same red-carpet, VIP service it has always provided. Some of its standard services include: aircraft ground services; concierge- style customer service; onsite U.S. customs services; gourmet catering; NATA Safety First certified line service crew; 24-hour service available; Quick Turn Service Available; GPU and LAV Service; Shell-branded fuels; and complimentary coffee, newspapers and ice. With over half a million square feet of apron for aircraft parking, Global Select is able

(L-R) Facility Manager Gary W. Hawkins, Aviation Director of Sugar Land Regional Airport Phillip Savko and Line Crew Supervisor Kedrick D. Smith

to provide safe ramp operations for even the largest business aircraft.

In addition, the Global Select facility features superior amenities not typically found at other FBOs, including multiple full-service conference rooms available for complimentary use by fly-in customers; a private executive lounge; crew cars; two onsite rental car agencies; and a Professional Crew Suite, complete with a flight planning office, state-of-the-art

media room with free videos; exercise room, quiet/snooze rooms, kitchen and shower facilities, WSI Pilot brief, Wi-Fi and a private office.

About Global Select Global Select is the premier, full-service FBO for Sugar Land Regional Airport (KSGR), the fourth largest airport in the Greater Houston area. For more information visit www.flysgr.com.

November 2010 • Fort Bend Business Journal

5

Toni King translates Medicare and the “Donut Hole” factor

Toni King on the radio airwaves answering questions on Medicare.

By Dori Wind

M

edicare, our country’s public health insurance program, was enacted in 1965. As initially designed, the program did not pay for outpatient prescription drugs. After years of discussion and debate, the prescription drug benefit was signed into law in 2003, taking effect on January 1, 2006.

Currently, Medicare is composed of four different parts and continues to become more and more complicated. Toni King, an independent insurance agent, in the Fort Bend County area, recently wrote a book entitled “Medicare & Health Insurance Survival Guide,” to help clients and others understand the process. She described the book, available on her web site, www.medicaretruths.com as being written in good old “American people terms” that everyone can understand.

King said that “in these tough economic times, it is extremely important to understand what we are receiving for our tax dollars and what we must pay out of pocket. People are scared and realize that they are having to pay more and more for less and less.”

6

Hospital insurance, hospice, some healthcare benefits and skilled nursing facilities are paid out of Medicare Part A which has a deductible of $1,100, six times a Toni King year. Medicare Part B has a premium which comes out of your social security check and has a deductible of $155. Part B covers all doctors’ services, whether in their office or surgery, outpatient services and outpatient surgery, some prevention services and home health care. Medicare Parts A and B are totally administered by the federal government.

Medicare Part C is Medicare Advantage Plans which operate like HMOs or PPOs and provide specified health care services.

Medicare Part C is run by private insurance companies approved by and under contract with Medicare. These plans include Parts A, Part B, and most include Part D. A Medicare Advantage Plan can have additional benefits not covered by Medicare such as glasses, dental, transportation and gym memberships also called Silver Sneakers.

“You must be careful when signing up

Fort Bend Business Journal • November 2010

with a Medicare Advantage Plan,” warned King. “They are not what they are advertised to be – dental care may only mean a cleaning and no other services; eye glasses may only mean the exam with no glasses provided, and I keep hearing from individuals that in some plans they are raising the hospital co-payments,” she continued. Rather than enrolling in an Advantage Plan, you may be better off considering and paying for a Medicare supplement, she commented. “There is not a cookie cutter plan; one size does not fit all. Consider talking to your doctor because not all doctors accept a Medicare Advantage Plan. Check and see what his advice is.

Prescription drug coverage is contained in Medicare Part D. Like Medicare Part C, Part D is run by private insurance companies, approved by and under contract with Medicare. You can choose from one of two options to get your Medicare coverage, Original Medicare or a Medicare Advantage Plan. If you choose Original Medicare, you get Medicare Part A automatically. Medicare Part B is voluntary and you have to pay a continued on page 8

Texas Back to Work Reemployment Program wins national award U.S. Department of Labor/National Association of State Workforce agencies honors TWC

T

he Texas Back to Work initiative from the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) has been recognized at the 2010 National Conference on Unemployment Insurance in Washington D.C. with the Unemployment Insurance (UI) Innovation Award for Reemployment. The U.S. Department of Labor and the National Association of State Workforce Agencies (NASWA) selected Texas Back to Work for the national award.

Funded by the Texas Legislature and supported by Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, the initiative provides up to $2,000 in wage subsidies to Texas employers for hiring qualified individuals who are currently receiving or have received unemployment insurance benefits within the last year.

“Congratulations to TWC and the

Texas Back to Work initiative on this welldeserved, national recognition,” said Lt. Gov. Dewhurst. “It’s not only providing job opportunities, income and training for thousands of newly hired employees; it’s also helping small businesses, growing our economy and saving Texas taxpayers money in the process.”

Texas Back to Work is designed to offset the cost of hiring new workers to encourage employers to create long-term, private-sector employment for out-of-work Texans.

“With a relatively small investment in each new worker, the state has encouraged the creation of thousands of long-term, private-sector jobs,” said TWC Chairman Tom Pauken. “Millions in new salaries have been added to the state’s economy, and the initiative has reduced the demand on the state’s unemployment Trust Fund.”

“Nearly 7,000 hard-working Texans are back to work due to this initiative,” said TWC Commissioner Representing Labor Ronny Congleton. “Texas Back to Work is one of the many tools available from the Texas workforce system to assist those looking for work.”

“Texas Back to Work is delivering on its goal,” said TWC Commissioner Representing the Public Andres Alcantar. “I appreciate the efforts of Texas workforce staff across the state for their commitment to this successful, award-winning reemployment initiative.”

The 2010 National Conference on Unemployment Insurance sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor and NASWA is commemorating the 75th Anniversary of the Unemployment In surance (UI) program this week in Washington D.C.

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Toni King translates Medicare and the “Donut Hole” factor continued from page 6

monthly premium to enroll in Medicare Part B. If you don’t sign up for Part B when you first become eligible at age 65, you may have to pay a late enrollment penalty.

To get Medicare Part D, you must join a plan run by an insurance company or other private company approved by Medicare. As with Medicare Part B, there is a monthly premium and a penalty for not enrolling when you first become eligible for Medicare Part D. Medicare Part D coverage is complex and, because coverage depends on reaching certain dollar amount thresholds, there is coverage gap, sometimes referred to as the “doughnut hole.”

For 2010, the annual deductible and coverage gaps are as follows: The first $310 is not covered and the Medicare beneficiary must pay this amount before any coverage is provided. After the first $310 of prescription drug expense, the next $2,520 of prescription

Darron Drago Senior Vice-President

drug expense is covered by the Medicare Part D plan. Keep in mind that the Medicare beneficiary has to pay a co-payment of a portion of this amount. After the Medicare beneficiary and the carrier have together spent $2,830, the Medicare beneficiary is now in the coverage gap. The beneficiary now has to pay all of his or her prescription drug expense until the beneficiary has incurred out-of-pocket cost of $4,550. Once the $4,550 out-of-pocket threshold is reached, the Medicare beneficiary is out of the coverage gap and is in what is called the catastrophic coverage tier. In the catastrophic tier, the individual pays only a small co-payment for each drug prescription until the end of the year.

The standard Medicare prescription drug plan has a 25% co-pay requirement on the first tier of coverage and a five percent co-pay requirement on the catastrophic tier of coverage. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act made several changes to Medicare Part D to reduce an individual’s cost when they reach the doughnut hole. In 2010, if you have expenses in the doughnut hole, you will receive a $250 rebate from Medicare. By 2020, and assuming Medicare is still viable, the doughnut hole is supposed to be closed

Jeff Samples President

Jay Rogers Chairman and CEO

and an individual will be paying 25% of the cost, rather than 100% as is now the case.

“The donut hole is also a big problem,” explained King, “because no one knows the true cost of the drugs. The federal government is supposed to be providing a better benefit, but is it really if you have to pay premiums and the drug companies continue to raise their prices which causes your co-pays to increase.”

King refers to herself as “Marvin Zindlerette” and says someone had to step up to the plate and she decided that someone was her! It seems to be getting worse for everyone including the providers. She reported that many skilled nursing facilities are complaining that they do not receive payment for nine months or a year after the patient leaves.

King’s passion and crusader tenacity are making her a sought after speaker on this topic and she relishes the opportunity to discuss the issues.

For more information on Medicare, contact King email her at info@medicaretruths. com or just give her a call at 281/830-3896.

She will get the answer to your questions and no problem is too small if it affects you or your parents Medicare.

Delores Hansen Senior Vice-President

Craig Bunk Senior Vice-President

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Fort Bend Business Journal • November 2010

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National Exchange Club and American Red Cross begin historic partnership

T

he American Red Cross signed a first-of-its-kind partnership agreement with The National Exchange Club to collaborate on projects that benefit the community.

According to Amy L. Mitchell, president of the Exchange Club of Sugar Land, “Our national organization promotes love of country and honors our men and women in uniform, local community service, youth programs as well as our national service project – child abuse prevention.”

The National Exchange Club, celebrating its 100th year of service in 2011, is an all-volunteer, national service organization for men and women who want to serve their community, develop leadership skills and enjoy new friendships. Exchange is made up of more than 700 clubs and more than 22,000 mem-

bers throughout the United States and Puerto Rico.

Amy Mitchell explained, “We are looking to increase public awareness of the Local Fort Bend Exchange Clubs consisting of The Exchange Amy Mitchell Club of Sugar Land, the Fort Bend Exchange Club, the Quail Valley Exchange Club, the Lone Star Exchange Club, as well as, The National Exchange Club and help attract new Sandra Startz members so we can continue to serve families, our communities and our wonderful country for a second century of service. Naturally, a partnership with the Red Cross will help us

spread the word about the Exchange Club while we also fulfill our mission to benefit our neighbors and honor our country.”

Exchange Club members are able to support such Red Cross activities as blood drives, projects that support members of the armed forces and their families, disaster relief efforts, public safety education and more.

According to Sandra Startz, Chapter Manager of the Red Cross of Greater Houston, Southwestern Branch Office, “The Red Cross is always eager to attract volunteers and we believe this partnership will be beneficial to both organizations and to people in this region.”

For more information about getting involved in the Exchange Clubs in the Fort Bend area, contact Amy Mitchell at (281) 341-1718 or email president@ecsl.org.

Katy transportation expo and open house set

A

re you curious when that road project will be completed?

Are you interested in plans to build new roads? Would you like to obtain additional information on the plans Metro has for the Katy community?

The Katy Area Chamber of Commerce will host officials from the agencies who have those answers to come together for a Transportation Expo and Open House

Andy Meyers at Transportation EXPO 2008

on Thursday, November 4. The event will be held from 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM at the Merrell Center, 6301 S Stadium Road in Katy. The programs are complimentary for Katy community residents. Residents are encouraged you to come and invite their friends and neighbors.

Representatives from the following entities have been invited to provide information to the community about the issues of importance to Katy for transportation and mobility: City of Fulshear City of Houston City of Katy Fort Bend County Grand Parkway Association Harris County Harris County Toll Road Authority Harris Rides Houston Galveston Area Council Houston Transtar Metro Texas Department of Transportation Waller County

Guests at Transportation EXPO 2008

The goal is for each entity to have a representative present to answer your questions. This is an opportunity to learn about the issues of importance for mobility in the greater Katy community.

For more information, contact the Katy Area Chamber of Commerce at 281391-5289, or visit their web-site at www. katychamber.com.

November 2010 • Fort Bend Business Journal

13

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Fort Bend Business Journal • November 2010

Saks 5th Avenue salute on Oct. 20, at the Galleria brought out a sizeable, cheering contingent from the Fort Bend communities to celebrate and support Jacqueline Chaumette of Sugar Land as one of eleven outstanding community volunteers.

She is one of the ABC/13 Women of Distinction and Ambassadors for the 2011 Winter Ball benefiting Houston’s largest fundraiser for the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA) - Houston Gulf Coast/South Texas Chapter.

Chaumette joins Women of Distinction honorees Susan Boggio, Lavonne Cox, Beth Madison, Judy Nyquist, Lisa Richardson, Kristi Schiller, S. Shawn Stephens, Pattie Dale Tye, Laura Ward and 2011 Ambassador Philamena Baird. “I am honored to receive this award,” said Chaumette, and “I am not someone who is active in the community for the praise, but rather, from a very early age, community service has been my passion and, thanks to my parents, it has long been my way of life.”

She said this recognition is not only special to both her and her family, “but it is more an inspiration for the future than anything else.” A Sugar Land City Council member, Chaumette is president & CEO of BalyProjects, LLC and an adjunct Professor at the University of Houston.

As a newlywed, the St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands native moved to Fort Bend over 16 years ago with her husband David, and they have two sons, Raphael, 12, who attends Fort Settlement Middle School and Alexandre, 10 a student at Commonwealth Elementary School.

Chaumette has earned many accolades for her contributions to the community. They include the following: Outstanding Young American, U of H Alumnus of the Year, Dynamic Woman of Houston, Most Influential Woman in Houston, Top 25 Women of Houston, Fort Bend Entrepreneur of the Year, Outstanding Young Texan, Outstanding Young Houstonian, the Houston Chronicle’s 2004 Woman on the Move; San Jacinto Girl Scout Volunteer of the Year, and Outstanding Fort Bend Business Executive in the Planning Field.

She has been active with numerous professional groups such as the Transportation/Infrastructure and Environmental division for the Greater Houston Partnership. In 2004, she was appointed to the Brazos River Authority’s Board of Directors by Governor Rick Perry.

Chaumette also serves on many boards and is active in a myriad of social and civic groups throughout the Fort Bend and greater Houston communities. “I would like to think that my work has just begun, and I really look forward to the challenges and other opportunities that have yet to come,” she said with an eye at continuing her active role in the community.

to Houston list

Photo by Melissa Chou Yan

Jacqueline Chaumette shares a moment with her family at the Saks 5th Avenue salute on Oct. 20th at the Galleria, where she was honored as one of the ABC/13 Women of Distinction and Ambassadors for the 2011 Winter Ball. (l-r) Chaumette, Raphael, 12; her husband David; and 10 year old Alexandre.

The annual Winter Ball fundraiser honoring Chaumette and the other women of distinction is in its 24th year and is considered a social highlight in Houston.

The event set for Jan. 22 at the Hilton-Americas Hotel Houston is sponsored by ABC/13 along with Saks Fifth Avenue, Emirates Airlines, CenterPoint Energy, Gittings, Locke Lord Bissell & Liddell, LLP, Momentum Jaguar, Northern Trust, and Tiffany & Co. It is chaired by Jan Carson and Virginia Reisman, with Honorary Chair Mary Ann McKeithan. All proceeds from the event will benefit research programs to find a cure for debilitating digestive diseases.

The ball will feature celebrity guest Rolf Benirschke, a former San Diego Charger’s place-kicker and ulcerative colitis patient, who is a spokesman for CCFA’s Great Comeback Awards Program. Tickets for the event start at $500 and tables are available from $5,000 to $50,000. For more information visit www.WinterBall2011.com, email WinterBall@ccfa.org, or call CCFA at (713)572-2232.

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832-788-2294 November 2010 • Fort Bend Business Journal

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Money Talks

by Tim Stubenrouch / First Community Bank

Risky Business Insurance deals with all types of risk, and you can put yourself, your family, your business, or your bank at risk if you don’t have the insurance you need. It’s not easy to determine how much or what type of insurance your need. The bottom line is that you need enough to cover the loss of what you are insuring so your family is not liable for difference.

You can insure almost anything, including your life, home, cars, business, boat, airplane, your cash flow, even your pets.

So be sure to prioritize your insurance coverage, because the costs can get out of hand and easily reach 20% of your annual take home pay, if you are not careful.

While no amount of insurance can compensate for emotional losses to life or property, the right amount of insurance can ease financial stress and make dealing with the emotional part more manageable. Imagine losing your home or business in a fire – the right insurance can make it possible for you to satisfy any loans against the property and rebuild, while inadequate insurance can leave you in a very undesirable financial position.

Lenders often require homeowners insurance adequate to cover the amount of their loans. This may or may not be enough coverage. Review this with your agent and financial planner to determine

if it is sufficient coverage for your potential loss. Business interruption insurance or key man life insurance may also be required by your lender when dealing with business loans. Consider the lender’s insurance requirement as safety nets, so your family or business partners are not stranded in the event something happens to you.

Health insurance is big in the news these days. We all need to be aware of changes in health insurance that may affect us. If you are in the market for health insurance coverage, be sure to shop for the best coverage for you at the best price. If you need temporary health insur-

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ance or group health insurance for your business, those are available as well. You might consider high-deductible insurance with a Health Savings Account.

Here are some tips for containing the high cost of insurance. Most major insurers offer discounts if you buy more than one policy. Find out what you may save by bundling your home and auto coverage. Compare costs – you can get insurance quotes online and good independent agents often represent multiple insurers and will shop for you. Be sure to consider the amount of your deductible. Would you be willing to pay more out of pocket in the event of a claim in return for lower premiums? Review your policies when they come up for renewal, and make sure that you receive a written policy within 60 days of purchasing coverage.

Tim Stubenrouch is a Columnist for the Fort Bend Business Journal and is with First Community Bank, N.A., President - Fort Bend, 13135 Dairy Ashford, Suite 250, Sugar Land, TX 77478. He can be reached at 281-242-2262, fax: 281-242-1522, or email at stubenrouch@firstcommunitybank. net. H

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November 2010 • Fort Bend Business Journal

17

Breast Cancer Screening and Diagnosis Dr. Richard Ehlers with MD Anderson Answers Your Questions Why is getting an annual mammogram important?

Getting a mammogram is the single most important thing a woman can do to affect her outcome from breast cancer.

Mammography is a screening tool designed to identify those who might have cancer. By getting mammograms regularly, beginning at age 40, a woman can maximize the likelihood of detecting a cancer as early as possible, thus improving her outcome.

What does an abnormal result mean?

A sizable percentage of women undergoing mammogram screening will

have an abnormal finding, prompting significant anxiety. When faced with this situation, you may find yourself asking, “What should I do?” First, read your report carefully. An abnormal mammogram does not necessarily mean that you have cancer. In fact, a significant number of abnormal mammograms are benign after further testing.

What does a positive screening result mean?

A positive screening study means that more testing is needed. Your mammogram report will contain a BI-RADS classification score which is a standardized tool

By getting mammograms regularly, a woman can maximize the likelihood of detecting a cancer as early as possible, thus improving her outcome.

Richard A. Ehlers, M.D., FACS Assistant Professor, Surgical Oncology

18

Fort Bend Business Journal • November 2010

developed by the American College of Radiology to guide management of abnormal mammograms.

Your doctor or the radiologist should contact you with recommendations based on your score. If they do not contact you, call them and ask for their recommendation.

What kind of additional testing might I face?

Your radiologist will frequently recommend more detailed imaging such as an additional diagnostic mammogram and/or an ultrasound. These tests provide more detail than the first mammogram and can often rule out a cancer. If the results are still suspicious or inconclusive, a biopsy is recommended. Biopsy is done at a separate appointment by the radiologist with a needle guided by ultrasound or mammogram. Surgery may be needed if a needle biopsy is not possible or if a biopsy does not produce a conclusive result.

What if I need surgery?

If surgery is recommended or if you have any remaining questions or doubts following an abnormal mammogram, consult a surgeon. Selecting the right surgeon is extremely important. You should find a surgeon with whom you feel comfortable and confident. He or she should be certified by the American Board of Surgery and should have training and experience in the surgical care of breast disease. Many such surgeons are members of the

A surgical oncologist has advanced training and expertise in the surgical management of cancer.

Richard A. Ehlers, M.D., FACS Assistant Professor, Surgical Oncology

American Society of Breast Surgeons.

What is a surgical oncologist?

There are also specialized surgeons, known as surgical oncologists, with advanced training and expertise in

Richard A Ehlers, M.D. leads patient surgical care at the MD Anderson Regional Care Centers in both Sugar Land and Katy.

the surgical management of breast cancer. A surgical oncologist will create a plan with you and an entire team of professionals to avoid any unnecessary procedures and arrive at a diagnosis quickly and efficiently. By seeing a surgical oncologist for an abnormal mammogram, you are in excellent hands in the event you do, in fact, have breast cancer. A surgical oncologist can also confidently rule out a cancer diagnosis and recommend an appropriate follow up strategy for you in the future.

MD Anderson has two locations serving Fort Bend county residents.

MD Anderson locations in Sugar Land and Katy offer radiation oncology, outpatient chemotherapy, laboratory and pharmacy in addition to cancer surgery.

To schedule an appointment visit FindYourMDAnderson.com November 2010 • Fort Bend Business Journal

19

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Fort Bend Business Journal • November 2010

Health Care Reform reduces the risk of cancer MD Anderson anticipates new law’s prevention benefits

M

ore people will likely seek cancer prevention and risk-reduction services as a result of health care reform, say experts at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

“By reducing or eliminating co-pays and mandating improved coverage for prevention services, health care reform promises to reduce some of the barriers to cancer screening exams and improve vaccination rates,” says Ernest Hawk, M.D., M.P.H., vice president and division head for Cancer Prevention and Population Sciences at MD Anderson.

“We’re optimistic that more cancers may be prevented or detected early when they can be treated most effectively.”

MD Anderson’s Cancer Prevention Center plans to expand its facilities and prevention offerings to meet the demand for the cancer screening and prevention services that has been growing in recent years. “And, we expect to see continued growth as a result of changes under the new law,” says Hawk.

Hawk anticipates that more people will visit the Cancer Prevention Center seeking individualized risk assessments, as well as assistance to improve their diet, overcome obesity or quit smoking — all lifestyle changes that can help lower a person’s cancer risks.

Because of the new health care reform policies, many health insurance plans now provide these preventive services and cancer screening exams without requiring a co-pay, co-insurance or a deductible, and more will be required to cover them in the next couple of years.

The services covered — and the date when the law requires them to be covered — varies by insurance type.

Have a private insurance plan that started on or after Sept. 23, 2010?

Individual or job-related insurance plans that started on or after Sept. 23, 2010 are now required to provide preventive services with no out-of-pocket costs. The cancer preventive services these plans must cover includes:

• Colorectal cancer screening • Diet counseling for those with higher chronic disease risk • Obesity screening and counseling • Immunizations, including the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine • Pap tests • Smoking cessation help • Referrals for genetic counseling and chemoprevention counseling for those with a higher breast cancer risk • Mammograms • Well-baby and well-child visits, which help prevent and spot cancer and cancer risk factors early These plans may require you to see an in-network doctor to get these services with no out-of-pocket costs. And, coverage for some services may depend on your age, risk factors and screening guidelines.

Have a private insurance plan that started before Sept. 23, 2010?

If your policy has not changed much, it may be “grandfathered.” So, it may or

may not cover the prevention services listed above. But, it also can’t get rid of any prevention services you had coverage for on March 23, 2010 or raise rates too much. If it does, it becomes a “new” plan, complete with prevention coverage with no out-of-pocket costs.

Ask your insurance provider if your policy is grandfathered. Insurers are required to disclose this information.

Have Medicare?

Starting on Jan. 1, 2011, Medicare will provide cancer prevention services with no out-of-pocket costs, including: • Mammograms • Flexible sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy • Prostate cancer screening • Pap tests • Smoking cessation help • Weight, body-mass index and waist measurements, which help determine if someone is at higher risk of weight and body fat-related cancers • Medical and family history review • Personal risk assessment Have Medicaid?

Starting in 2013, state Medicaid programs that offer free or low-cost prevention services will get extra money as an incentive.

And, community health centers are getting more funds to provide free and low-cost preventive care. So, it should be easier to get cancer screening exams, vaccines and other prevention services. Keep in mind that many details of health care are still being hammered out. “The good news is that health care reform makes wellness and prevention top priorities,” Hawk says.

“These are very promising and important developments for all Americans, and particularly for the most vulnerable among us — underserved communities, who often forgo regular screenings because they’re too expensive or inaccessible.”

For more information about the MD Anderson Regional Care Center in your community, visit http://mdanderson.org/ katy.

November 2010 • Fort Bend Business Journal

21

Y O U

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Y O U R

Tax Smart

T A X E S

by Alan Sandersen / Sandersen Knox & Co. L.L.P.

HIRE Your Way to Lower Costs This can be a good year to hire new staff as you gear up towards anticipated recovery in the economy. When you do so take advantage of the payroll tax holiday and up-to-$1,000 credit for employers who hire unemployed workers. To help stimulate the hiring of workers by the private sector, the new law exempts any private-sector employer that hires a worker who had been unemployed for at least 60 days from having to pay the employer’s 6.2% share of the Social Security payroll tax on that employee for the remainder of 2010. A company could save a maximum of $6,621 if it hired an unemployed worker and paid that worker at least $106,800—the maximum amount of wages subject to Social Security taxes—by the end of the year. As an additional incentive, for any qualifying worker hired under this initiative that the employer keeps on payroll for a continuous 52 weeks, the employer is eligible

for an additional non-refundable tax credit of up to $1,000 after the 52-week threshold is reached, to be taken on their 2011 tax return.

In order to be eligible, the employee’s pay in the second 26-week period must be at least 80% of the pay in the first 26-week period.

The credit for retaining qualifying new hires is the lesser of $1,000 or 6.2% of the wages paid by the taxpayer to the retained worker during the 52-consecutive-week period. Thus, the credit for a retained worker will be $1,000

if, disregarding rounding, the retained worker’s wages during the 52-consecutive-week period exceed $16,129.03. However, the credit is not available for pay not treated as wages under the Code (e.g., remuneration paid to domestic workers).

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 281-2423232. www.sktx.com. H

Here are some additional features of the new hiring incentive Benefit

Comments

The tax benefit of the new incentive is immediate. It puts money into a business’ cash flow immediately, since the tax is simply not collected in the first place.

Immediate Cash Flow Benefit

An employer can’t claim the new tax breaks for hiring family members.

Nice try, but don’t hire the kids.

A worker who replaces another employee who performed the same job for the Don’t play musical chairs with employer is not eligible for the benefit, unless the prior employee left the job the positions. voluntarily or for cause.

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23

Education on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders can help children and taxpayers

By Dori Wind ach year an estimated 3,700 children are born in Texas with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders according to The Texas Office for Prevention of Developmental Disabilities, www.topdd.state.tx.us. That number would fill about five elementary schools in Fort Bend County on an annual basis.

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) is the name given to a continuum of health problems that arise as a result of a fetus being exposed to alcohol in utero. A diagnosis of FASD can be hard to make unless a mother discusses her drinking with her doctor, or the child’s doctor. Many children may be misdiagnosed as having: • autism • ADHD • oppositional defiant or c conduct disorder • pervasive developmental delay • learning disabilities • emotional/behavior problems • reactive attachment disorder • and many more… or they are never diagnosed at all. Many adoptive families struggle with a child’s problems, never knowing why their child is so different.

A major reason The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services must remove children from their families is because their parents are alcoholics and drug addicts.

Some of the most common characteristics of alcohol-related brain damage include: poor impulse control and poor problem solving skills, difficulty linking actions to consequences, poor social communication, limited abstract reasoning and lack of trial and error learning. People with FASD have great difficulty internalizing values, feelings and laws, and may develop inappropriate behaviors, including inappropriate sexual behaviors.

A study from Canada looking at socialcognition and emotion-processing abilities of children, showed that overall, children with FASD have more severe behavioral problems and a “profile” of items such as high distractibility and restlessness, as well as behaviors

E

24

FASD warning sign posted at sporting event in Houston stadium.

often described as “out of control” and juvenile. Children and adolescents with FASD were “more likely than children with ADHD to engage in antisocial behaviors, such as cheating as well as sociopathic behaviors including lying and stealing.(http://www.sciencedaily.com/ releases/2009/07/090716164335.htm).

In an article in The Juneau Empire by Ann Chandonnet, in 2001, she wrote, “It’s easy to accept that alcohol can fuel drunk drivers, but harder to accept that alcohol in expectant mothers can create felons.” Ms. Chandonnet was writing about a project to identify FASD adults in an Alaskan jail. Researchers in the project had guessed that about 20% of the jail population would suffer from FAS/FASD. A District Court Judge began including an FAS diagnosis in his sentences. What the researchers discovered was that the 20% guess was a dramatic underestimate. They anticipated 10-12 referrals per year, but had 15-20 in the first month alone.

The American Academy of Pediatrics explains in their parenting book, Caring for Your Baby and Young Child Birth to Age 5, (Fourth Edition, 2005) that “Drinking alcohol during pregnancy is one of the leading preventable causes of birth defects, mental

Fort Bend Business Journal • November 2010

retardation, and other developmental disorders in newborns. There is no known safe amount of alcohol consumption during pregnancy.” Women who are pregnant, or who are planning to become pregnant, should abstain from drinking alcoholic beverages of any kind.

Alcohol is a teratogenic drug, which means it can stop or disturb growth and development of a fetus. Of all the substances a woman can ingest during pregnancy, alcohol is one of the worst. Depending on how much a woman drinks and what part of the fetus is forming when the alcohol is passed to the baby determines the type and amount of damage that may occur.

Educating young women to not drink while trying to get pregnant or during pregnancy, will not only result in an increase in healthy children, but will also cause a decrease in the numerous social services taxpayers must provide. An online brochure at www.mrnc. hctx.net tells taxpayers that each FAS child may cost about $5 million in healthcare services, special education, mental health needs, foster care, residential placement and other services over a lifetime. Other estimates for FAS children indicate an amount of $1-to-$2 million per child. Multiplying millions times

3,700 annually means that billions of taxpayer dollars will be needed to care for these children on an ongoing basis, unless we begin to prevent these easily preventable birth defects.

Fans who attend baseball games at Minute Maid Park or Reliant Center will see signs near cash registers where alcohol is sold, stating alcohol may cause cancer and birth defects. Bar and restaurant patrons can read signs on bathroom walls discussing alcohol and pregnancy. Just as we know that smoking can cause cancer, we must resolve to learn that a pregnant woman never drinks alone.

Dr. Ann Streissguth, a retired researcher from the University of Washington Medical School, watched more than 400 FAS/FASD children grow into adulthood and discovered

that only about 15%-20% could keep a job, find housing, or live independently. Many of these children had problems in school and trouble with the law. The Houston Chronicle writes that the Harris County jail is the largest mental hospital in the State of Texas. Through no fault of their own, FASD individuals will end up as the homeless on our streets, or in our jails. Yet their conditions were totally preventable.

The Chronicle has also reported that Texas is a leader in teen pregnancies, and underage and binge drinking by young people.

Alcohol continues to be the most widely used substance among secondary school students, with 68 percent of students reporting they

had used alcohol at some point in their lives.

Lifetime experience with alcohol ranged from 51 percent for seventh graders to 81 percent for seniors. (Statistics are from The Texas School Survey, a joint project of the Texas Department of State Health Services and the Public Policy Research Institute.) The liquor industry tells us to “Drink Responsibly,” yet it creates and markets lemonade flavored liquor, Jello shots, wine coolers and low-cal beer to young women. The liquor industry should act responsibly by including BIG BOLD warnings on its products.

For more information on FASD, browse the Internet and you will find numerous articles and research.

NewQuest Properties leases two sites in Brazos Town Center NewQuest Properties leased 1,400 sq. ft. to H&R Block in Brazos Town Center located at Hwy 59 and Reading Rd in Rosenberg. Eric Walker and Anderson Smith represented NewQuest. Bill Wong of New Regional Planning represented the tenant.

NewQuest Properties leased 4,301 sq. ft. to Shogun Japanese Grill & Sushi Bar in Brazos Town Center located at Hwy 59 and Reading Rd in Rosenberg. Eric Walker and Anderson Smith represented NewQuest.

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25

Are permits, permits and more permits...

“fee”sible?”

By T.C. Benn

W

hile some of the many types of fees Fort Bend County homeowners must fork over (for everything from water softeners to window air-conditioning units) are as low as 50 cents, others really take a bite out of their budgets.

For instance, impact fees now being assessed on dwellings in some towns are $4,400, and work being performed in county rights-of-way can cost $5,000 or more for what’s called a “performance bond,” issued by an insurance company or bank to guarantee satisfactory completion of a project.

In years past, developers have been the only ones hit with impact fees, which help pay for a portion of the costs new developments place on existing infrastructure such as water and sewer services and even roads. But now, said Richmond Fire Marshal Robert Haas, some cities - his included - are beginning to pass those costs on to homeowners as well. “Impact fees are really unpopular because they’re so expensive,” Haas said, explaining such fees are only assessed on buildings being constructed for the first time on a plot of land.

Learning from history Permit fees in Richmond range from $10 for something called a “Commercial Occupancy Permit” to more than $1,600 for buildings valued at $500,000 or more, with another $2 for each additional $1,000 valuation.

And whom do we have to thank for all these fees? Well, apparently, not today’s city officials.

“The history of building codes goes back to Greek and Roman days,” said Haas. “If a building fell and killed someone, they would kill the builder’s family.”

It didn’t take long for folks to figure out that a proactive approach would be a better way of handling things; and before

26

long, building codes were born, providing protection for everyone involved.

“It costs money to do things correctly,” said Haas. “I don’t always agree with what the code says, but generally codes are built on the bodies of people - something went very wrong.”

Case in point: Schools and day cares are required to have annual tests for gas leaks, a law that came about in response to the worst catastrophe ever to take place in an American school. On March 18, 1937, a natural gas leak in the lone school in New London, Texas, caused an explosion that killed nearly 300 students and teachers, devastating the small Rusk County community.

“It killed almost the city’s entire population of children,” said Haas. “That’s why natural gas has odor added to it, now.

Fort Bend Business Journal • November 2010

They didn’t have odor in it back then, so they couldn’t smell it.”

The cost of safety While regulations put in place in response to such disasters are easily understandable, homeowners aren’t so effortlessly convinced of the necessity of many of the fees now required; but Haas says each is there for a reason, and “99 percent of code compliance is all about safety.”

“Generally, across the board, building codes, electricity codes, plumbing codes are all designed to achieve some level of safety,” he said. “For instance, the city goes to pretty good expense to make sure driveways are put in correctly so they drain correctly. And signs: Do they block the view of cars? Will they blow over and hit or kill someone?”

So while the general public takes such

things for granted, said Haas, it is the job of code enforcement officials to make sure everyone is as safe as possible. Of course, funding for the folks who have that responsibility has to come from somewhere, and that “somewhere” is Joe Homeowner.

“The primary reason for permit fees is to offset the cost of running the building and inspections departments,” Haas explained. “It’s long been held that the fees must be structured to support that endeavor … but cities are not allowed to charge so much that they make money off of it.”

Haas said the fees help pay for infrastructure, rather than raising taxes to do so.

Jennifer Brown, budget and research director for the city of Sugar Land, said while taxes support services that benefit everyone, “there is a targeted beneficiary to the services funded by permit fees.”

“I don’t want my taxes to be used for someone else’s inspection,” she said.

“When we go in and assess a fee and focus a service in a particular area, such as a home or business, we want to make sure we are collecting enough revenue to provide that service.”

Fee, fee, everywhere a fee Most homeowners expect to pay building permit fees for constructing a new garage or making additions to their homes, but there are also electrical, mechanical, plumbing, water and wastewater fees, to name a few.

And who would think there would be such thing as a 50-cent light fixture fee or a $2.50 window air-conditioner fee? How many folks know their cities may charge a permit fee for having a generator or installing a water heater?

All those fees are applicable in Meadows Place, but some building projects, such as fencing, siding or gutter installation, don’t require permits at all. “You are subject to complying with certain colors, though; you can’t put up purple siding,” said Permit Clerk Mimi Boos.

“If we didn’t have permits and we didn’t have fees, anybody could do whatever they wanted to do, and it might not be safe for the neighborhood or the homeowner,” she added. “That’s the bottom continued on page 30

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

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Sugar Land 8410 Hwy 90A | Stafford 3531 S. Main Missouri City 3600 FM 1092 | 713.388.7600 MEMBER FDIC November 2010 • Fort Bend Business Journal

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Commercial Real Estate

by Kolbe Curtice CCIM, CLS

Proposed lease accounting changes will impact commercial Real Estate decisions This past month I attended a national real estate meeting in Nashville, Tennessee. At the meeting, I sat in on an update session on one of the hottest topics circulating through the commercial real estate industry. That topic is the pending upcoming changes to the rules for lease accounting. The accounting profession currently recognizes commercial real estate leases as either an operating, or a capital lease. An operating lease records no asset or liability on company financial statements, rather the lease payments are expensed annually as they are incurred. On the other hand, a capital lease is recorded as both an asset and a liability on the financial statements, generally at the net present value of the rental payments, and rental payments are not expensed.

The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) is a private, not-for-profit whose primary purpose is to develop generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) within the United States. The Internationals Accounting Standards Board (IASB) is an independent accounting standard-setter based in London, England. It is responsible for developing international financial reporting standards. In July 2006, the FASB and the IASB announced the commencement of a joint project to reconsider lease accounting.

Both boards’ stated intention was to recognize leases as an asset and an obligation (in essence, making all leases capital leases). The projected completion of the project is now mid-2011.

What will the changes mean to local Fort

Subscribe

TODAY

Bend business owners? Primarily, companies that are publicly traded with audited financial statements will be impacted. The proposed changes in essence do away with operating leases and expensed lease payments. All leases will be capitalized using the present value of the base lease payments. Therefore, businesses who in the past had their lease obligations offbalance sheet, will be required to record those obligations on their balance sheet.

The proposed accounting changes will also impact landlords,. Publicly traded property owners (i.e. Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) ) will be required to perform analysis

KOLBE CURTICE... continued on page 64

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Fort Bend Business Journal • November 2010

FORT BEND Rep. Charlie Howard’s Town Hall Forum informs public on policy

T Charlie Howard

he Texas Conservative Coalition in conjunction with Representative Charlie Howard held a Town Hall Forum at Clements High School auditorium in Sugar Land. Five State Representatives from around the state were also present to discuss the upcoming 2011 Legislative session. Seated on the stage as a panel to take questions from the audience were Representative Charlie Howard of Sugar Land, Representative Debbie Riddle of Tomball, Representative Randy Weber of Pearland, Representative Wayne Christian of Center, Representative Bill Callegari of Katy, and Representative Ken Legler of Pasadena.

The critical nature of the November 2 elections was made clear by giving the impact of new district lines on the state

representatives, state senators, and the congressmen. Texas stands to get three or four additional congressmen with the final results of 2010 census.

Final subjects of discussion included controlling immigration, lowing property taxes, and making revisions to the business franchise tax. Few people realize that under the current 10 percent appraisal cap, the tax bill on your home will double every 7.5 years even if the tax rate remains the same.

Several reforms and viable solutions were discussed at the forum.

A standing ovation was given at the end of the two hour forum as Representative Charlie Howard was awarded the “Courageous Conservative” award for his contributions during the 2008 legislative session.

Sugar Land Heritage Foundation hosts opening

Enjoying the evening Karl and Mary Favre joined Sugar Land Councilmember Don Olson with his wife, Celia, at the Sugar Land Heritage Foundation’s launch at the beginning of this fall season.

Imperial Sugar’s VP of Administration George Muller, General Manager of the Imperial Sugar Redevelopment Project with the Johnson Development Corporation Shay Shafie and his wife Jessica, participated in the launching announcement of the Sugar Land Heritage Foundation.

President and CEO of Johnson Development Corporation Larry D. Johnson and Sugar Land Mayor James Thompson were both recently commended by the Sugar Land Heritage Foundation for their unwavering support for the preservation of the Imperial Sugar factory history and the beginnings of the Sugar Land community.

BIG SHOTS

Are permits, permits and more permits... “fee”sible?” continued from page 27

line - safety for the neighborhood and the resident.”

Of course, any time a permit is required, so is an inspection. Most of the time, the cost of the inspection is included in the permit fee; but if the work is not up to standards, a re-inspection is required and there’s always a charge for that.

Among the newest fees being levied by cities are water and wastewater impact fees, for which the funds collected must be placed in a special account and used for such things as constructing new water wells or increasing the size of water lines.

“Some cities are also starting to charge storm drainage impact fees,” said Haas.

“The funds from these go toward clearing up the pollution caused by some storm drainage systems.”

Can you dig it?

As any homeowner knows, water and sewer line woes mean a quick call to a plumber; but how many realize the plumber is also the one to the rescue when in comes to gas line problems? In fact, licensed plumbers are the answer to any

30

piping needs; and that includes gases used in medical buildings and dentists’ offices.

Plumbers must carry an extra license to install and work on medical gas lines, and inspectors are required to have special certification when it comes to those areas as well. The latter, in turn, means another fee to help offset the cost of that training.

Inspectors ensure the correct installation of lines, but it’s important for homeowners to know their locations as well; especially before digging on their property. The easiest way to pinpoint underground lines is by making a simple phone call to 800-DIGTEST at least seven days before digging.

“It’s free to the consumer, and they make it as easy as can be,” said Haas.

“They come out and mark where your lines are, and it doesn’t cost you a thing.

It’s your responsibility not to dig up lines.”

Look before you leap Licensed contractors know what permits are required in which cities, and will usually take care of those details; but when a homeowner takes on projects himself, it’s important to check to see if a permit is required before tackling the undertaking. Otherwise, a stop-work order may be issued and the project scrapped if it does not comply with city codes.

“I can’t emphasize that enough because so many people miss one little thing and it’s not in compliance,” said Clark Peschel, building official for the city of Sugar Land. Whether a project is ongoing or has been completed, if it does not meet code, he said, “the possibility exists that they will have to remove it.”

That scenario has occurred from time to time not only in Sugar Land, but other cities as well. In Rosenberg, for example, homeowners have been forced to remove projects as simple as decks and carports because they didn’t get the required permits.

But Peschel said homeowners “can typically get an engineer to design ways to modify the structure to bring it into code compliance. Usually, unless there is a building code violation or zoning issue,

Fort Bend Business Journal • November 2010

the problem can be solved,” he added. Of course, once it is, a re-inspection fee will be charged to make sure the work was done correctly.

Pets need permits, too Permit fees apply not only to buildings, but pets as well.

Rosenberg Animal Control Supervisor Jackie Jurasek recently requested, and was granted, a hike in impound, boarding, quarantine and tag fees, saying raises in those rates might have people thinking twice about not supervising their animals.

And providing a price break for neutered pets, she said, “is an encouragement to get your animal fixed.”

In August, the city council more than doubled the cost of tags for pets to $5 for animals who have not been spayed or neutered; however, they decreased to a $1 tag fees for those who have proof of sterilization. Since fees for the city’s animal control facility had not been raised in more than 11 years, council also upped other rates, doubling the impound fees to $10 for the first stay and $20 for repeat offenders.

Stacie Walker, Missouri City public information manager, said that municipality requires family cats and dogs older than four months to be registered with the Animal Control Division. The fee is $2 for sterilized animals and $5 for nonsterilized animals.

“Pet registration is an important aspect of having and caring for pets,” said Sharon Valiante, assistant director of public works for Missouri City. “Every year, thousands of cats and dogs are reported as lost to local animal control agencies. You can help control this by registering your cats and dogs with Animal Control.”

Valiante said pet registration allows city staff to locate a pet’s owner “quickly and efficiently, not only in day-to-day operations, but in emergencies as well.”

Up in smoke?

False alarms in Rosenberg, coupled with the fact that those rates had not been raised since the city adopted its Alarm System Ordinance in 1990, led to Police Chief Robert Gracia requesting a rate hike for those fees as well.

He said police responded to 1,454 false alarms in 2009. While that number reflects a 4.6 percent decrease from 2008, he said, there has been a 13.8 overall increase since 2005. As of the close of 2009, he added, the city was owed $3,750 in delinquent accounts for false alarms.

Rosenberg Assistant Police Chief

Dallis Warren said homeowners in the Fort Bend community don’t have to worry about a repeat of the Sept. 29 case in Obion County, Tennessee, where firefighters stood by and watched as Gene Cranick’s home burned to the ground because he had not paid a $75 fee for firefighting services.

Cranick reportedly pleaded to pay on the spot, but his offers were declined; instead, firefighters hosed down homes of neighbors who had paid the required fees, so the flames wouldn’t spread.

“That just floors me,” Warren said.

“That’s unheard of; I can’t imagine anybody doing that. We have an obligation to respond. All of the emergency responders in this county - police, fire, EMS, all of them - have an obligation to the citizens.”

Furthermore, said Warren, it is not the job of emergency responders to keep track of fee payments.

“Emergency response is just that,” he said. “Our guys aren’t going around checking for unpaid fees prior to responding to any call. We would always respond to any type of alarm call.”

Country living Residents who live outside any city limits in the county must not only comply with specific state mandates when it comes to digging water wells, but are also faced with initial and annual fees for aerobic sewer systems, which themselves cost several thousand dollars.

The initial permit fee for installing a septic tank is $510, but that’s only the beginning; the homeowner must pay another $150-$295 every year for three inspections of the system. And is a variance of any type is needed for installation, that’s another $150. Then there’s the $20 annual maintenance contract renewal fee paid to the county.

Melanie Manville, public health information specialist for the county, said last year alone, some 366 permits were issued for on-site sewage facilities. So far this year, inspectors have issued 260. That equals to some pretty big bucks for the county, but Manville said those figures continued on page 34

November 2010 • Fort Bend Business Journal

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E posed

CEO

If excellent is possible, then good is not enough. I encourage all who aspire to reach the pinnacle of life, to always LEAD: Live a Godly life; Educate to elevate your minds; Aim high; and Determine to succeed.

Each of you is genetically coded for genius, therefore, you must personify the CASH (competence,attitude, skills, habits) that will propel you into your purpose.

What motivational words would you provide to people hoping to follow in your footsteps?

I received the Pinnacle business achievement award, EEOC Civil Rights All-Star Award, MLK Drum Major for Justice Award, NAACP ALEX Award for Legal Excellence, American Red Cross Humanitarian Award and too many others to name.

What awards have you received?

I’m a personal injury and civil rights attorney.

What type of law do you practice?

I’m an attorney/partner in the Brown, Brown & Reynolds law firm and former Associate Municipal Judge for the City of Houston.

Tell us about your business background:

I grew up in Fort Bend County. I’m married to Dr. Jonita Reynolds and have a daughter named Lacey. I’m active in my church and I enjoy spending quality time with my family.

Tell us about your personal life:

REYNOLDS

Ron

Photography by Russell Autrey

To advertise in CEO Exposed, call Dean West at 281-690-4201 or dean@fortbendstar.com

When I’m not working I enjoy spending quality time with my family and watching a good movie with some popcorn. I also enjoy reading a good book as well.

When you are not working what do you enjoy doing?

I really enjoy being able to help injured people receive fair compensation for their injuries.

What do you like best about your work:

The Purpose Driven Life

What is your favorite book?

As a servant-leader, I embrace the business philosophy that excellent is not the goal, it is the standard. In every personal and professional pursuit, I mark my work with excellence, and when called, I answer. Each day I plan purposefully, prepare prayerfully, proceed positively, and pursue persistently.

What is your business philosophy/motto?

Although I am infinitely grateful for the honor of being named “Houston’s Top Attorney,” I humbly acknowledge that receiving this award has more to do with a Power higher than myself and other than myself. Commensurate with that is the belief, “To whom much is given, much is required.” I have devoted my life to being deeply rooted, ever-growing, and forever serving. Reaching the apex of success as defined by the Houston community is an accomplishment that I shall forever cherish.

Know, however, that as a perpetual servant of the public, my work has just begun.

Why do you feel you stand out and rise above other attorneys in the Houston/Fort Bend area?

Permits You Need to Know There seem to be fees for most anything Fort Bend homeowners may want to do, from owning a generator to building a deck, replacing a water heater to installing a window-unit air conditioner.

So how do you find out if the light fixture you are about to mount requires a permit and inspection?

In most cases, the answer is simple: Go to the Web site of the city in which you live, or call city hall. If you live in the country, visit www.co.fortbend.tx.us and use the “Quick Links” option to scroll down to “Engineering” for most questions, and “Environmental Health” for things like water and sewer systems; either heading lists “Permits” as a sub-topic. In the meantime, here’s a small sampling of the fees you’ll find: Fort Bend County________________ For the installation of culverts up to 36 inches in diameter, the permit fee is $150; those more than 36 inches are $200. Development permits for home inside the flood plain are $50, while those outside are $100. There’s a $510 initial fee to install a septic system, for which annual fees include $150 for re-inspection and $20 for an annual maintenance contract renewal fee.

Richmond______________________________________________ Some of the lesser-known fees required by the city include: $3 for a floor drain, washing machine or dishwasher; $10 for any type of demolition; $15 for a storage building; $25 for a fence; and $75 for a swimming pool.

Missouri City________________________________________________________ A change-of-occupant permit fee for a home that had previously been occupied and not been inspected by the city within the previous 12 months is $50 if that inspection is done by the city, but only $20 if it is performed by a licensed real estate inspector.

Residents and businesses pay $50 per year to register alarm systems, and premises with four or more false fire alarms in a year are charged $175 for each.

Rosenberg__________________________________________________________ Fire marshal fees range from 50 cents per sprinkler head to $150 per riser for sprinkler systems; driveway culvert fees are $15 per foot for extensions; and park rental fees are $9 per hour. Second-time permit violators are charged a $100 administrative fee and required to purchase a permit, and third-time offenders pay a $200 administrative fee and must buy a permit.

Meadows Place____________________________________________________ Cost of a residential alarm system is $35; permit fees for water heaters or generators are $60; and installation of an oven requires a $2.50 permit fee. General building fees (for such things as driveways, patio covers and sidewalks costing up to $10,000) are $153.45.

Sugar Land__________________________________________________________ Installation of a water softener, replacement of a water heater and other such plumbing-related projects each require a $22.50 permit, while the average cost of a permit to replace a driveway is $50. The base fee for building projects valued at less than $2,000 is $25.13.

Katy____________________________________________________________________ The permit that allows a Katy resident to relocate a structure from one place to another is $110; to construct a storage building or have one placed in the yard of a residence is $60; and the fee to build a patio or open porch is $35.

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Fort Bend Business Journal • November 2010

Are permits, permits and more permits... “fee”sible?” continued from page 31

also reflect a certain measure of well being.

The inspections those fees help pay for, she said, “help with a lot of health and safety issues.”

With a burgeoning population on the county’s north side, the city of Katy is seeing a rapid increase in the number of inquiries into permit fees. But Director of Public Works Elaine Lutringer said most of the calls come from people in the city’s extraterritorial jurisdiction or those who live outside the city all together, and neither are subject to city permit fees.

Lutringer said Katy lies in Harris, Waller and Fort Bend counties, with only a relatively tiny portion of the city in the latter.

The cost of recycling Country folk may not be hit with as many fees as city dwellers, but the cost is the same across the board when it comes to helping the environment by recycling some household items. Assistant County Engineer Ron Drachenberg said it costs the county to process the items brought to the recycling center located at 100 Blume

Rd. in Rosenberg, “so some of that cost is passed on to the residents; the county pays the rest.”

Among the fees the facility charges are: Five dollars for appliances without Freon and $10 for those with; $5-$10, depending on size, for electronics such as TVs and computers; $2 per un-mounted tire and $10 per mounted; 50 cents per light bulb; and $1 for a gallon of paint, and $5 per 15-gallon cans of paint.

The recycling center is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays through Tuesdays, and Thursdays and Fridays; closed Wednesdays and holidays. Hazardous waste is accepted at the facility from 9 a.m. to 6 pm. Mondays and from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. the first Saturday of every month. For more information, call the facility at 281-633-7581.

Maybe it’s “fee”sible So, with all these fees piled on top of property taxes, is the average Fort Bend County homeowner getting a fair shake?

Drachenberg thinks so.

“Regular taxes are for general things that cover us in a general way, and specific

fees are to cover specific things in terms of the regulations related to them,” he said.

Peschel agreed, pointing to Sugar Land’s $50 homeowner’s permit to re-roof a house as a prime example.

“We do an inspection on that roof to make sure whoever is doing the work for that homeowner isn’t missing anything,” he said.

In Meadows Place, as in other towns, said Boos, “All permits are subject to inspection for the protection of the homeowner and the city as well.”

Simply put, said Cindy Powell, assistant to Rosenberg City Manager Jack Hamlett, “You implement a user fee that impacts the user of that service.”

Optional fees are few and far between, but Missouri City offers them for the gym at its recreational center, which includes a fitness gym.

Recreation Superintendent Jennifer Sooy said 585 Missouri City households, or 1,463 individuals, have active memberships at the center, with residents’ fees ranging from $16 for per child to $80 per family.

“In addition, 177 non-resident households have current memberships, she said.

Walker, Sooy’s coworker, said no matter what the fee, it is “important to city operations, allowing for efficient and effective management of the use of facilities and to cover administrative costs associated with processing essential documentation.”

That’s how fees are viewed in Katy as well, where Lutringer said, “Our department is responsible for the health and welfare of Katy residents. Our goal is to protect the property owner and make sure everything is built to code.” When new residents move to the city, she said, they’re mailed a list of permit fees.

Educating the public about the need for fees is important said Haas, who admits he hears from the occasional disgruntled homeowner.

“We have a few people who are bitterly opposed to the fees, but most people understand they’re there for everyone’s safety,” he said. “I like to think that, for the most part, we help.”

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November 2010 • Fort Bend Business Journal

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Methodist Sugar Land Hospital creates Beating Hearts support group

S

ugar Land cardiologist, B. Keith for ongoing post-operative information and Ellis, M.D., and Methodist Sugar assistance. Beating Hearts will address those Land Hospital are creating a needs in a comfortable, community setting,” unique after-care program called says Dr. Ellis.

Beating Hearts, designed to provide patients He believes access to physicians outside with heart conditions information and supthe doctor’s office sometimes leads to a port that can assist with recovery and rehadeeper, more productive discussion. “And bilitation. for some patients, it helps to talk to Beating Hearts’ first meeting is someone else who has experienced scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 17, the same procedure,” he adds. from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in the Main Beating Hearts is a living examPavilion conference rooms at the ple of the hospital’s commitment hospital. After that, the group will to “complete healing” – one that meet quarterly and receive expert encompasses the spiritual, emopresentations from physicians and tional and physical effects of surother health care professionals. B. Keith Ellis, M.D. gery, says Bill Bross, director of Each session will also allow indiSpiritual Care. viduals to share their stories and discuss life “A cardiology procedure can present a after heart surgery with physicians and fellow wide range of ongoing lifestyle changes that patients. can complicate or even delay a return to a “We have a large number of current normal life,” says Bross. “Beating Hearts and former patients who have a real need will enable patients to find the answers and

support they need to complete the healing process and allow them to enjoy life again.”

Dr. Ellis and Bross encourage everyone interested in the program including former and present hospital patients who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting, vascular surgery, percutaneous revascularization and therapy for heart rhythm disorders to consider being a part of Beating Hearts.

Future meetings include: “I Have Had Open Heart Surgery: What’s Next?” scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 17.

“When Can I Exercise After Receiving a Stent?” scheduled for Thursday, May 19.

“Doctor, What Can I Eat?” scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 18.

“What is PAD?” scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 17.

For more information on Beating Hearts, or to RSVP for the first meeting, call the Spiritual Care department at (281) 2747164.

STRENGTHENING

a winning team!

Dr. Mark Maffet joins Methodist Orthopaedic Specialists of Texas The team at Methodist Orthopaedic Specialists of Texas (MOST) welcomes another all-star!

Board-certified orthopedic surgeon Dr. Mark Maffet brings in-depth expertise and skill in a wide range of sports medicine specialties to his new position on the MOST staff. Dr. Maffet is a leader in knee and shoulder arthroscopic and reconstructive surgery, 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. Maffet – 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 • 281-494-MOST (6678) • MethodistOST.com

36

Fort Bend Business Journal • November 2010

Upcoming Chamber Events Hi gh La tow Ne ma er H St edvi r Hig igh aff lle Sc h Wi Terr ord High Scho hool H llo y wr Hig igh Sch ol idg h S o e H Sc cho ol h igh oo ol Sc l ho ol

ol ho l c S oo l igh Sch choo Prep H h S ge in st Hig gh lle Au ush s Hi al Co hool l B ent op Sc oo m isc gh ch Cle y Ep s Hi gh S i r n lva Elki ter H Ca s Fo

YIP COUNTYWIDE FOOD DRIVE Fort Bend Countywide Food Drive & Canned Food Sculpting Competition

Sugar Land Town Square

2711 Town Center Blvd. N., Sugar Land, TX 77479 in front of Sugar Land City Hall

Saturday, November 13, 2010 10 AM - 3 PM Bring your non-perishable food items with you to benefit: East Fort Bend Human Needs Ministry Katy Christian Ministries Mamie George Community Center Rosenberg-Richmond Helping Hands Second Mile Mission Center

*Drive by drop-off available at City Hall Drive Musical entertainment by local high schools, games and activities.

Judging of the Can Sculpting & Award Presentation at 2:30 PM

www.FortBendChamber.com November 2010 • Fort Bend Business Journal

37

www.FortBendChamber.com

Fort Bend Chamber 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 Andrews & Kurth LLP

Tom Sage, Partner/Attorney 600 Travis, Suite 4200 Houston, TX 77002 713-220-3946 Attorneys at Law

Cricket Communications Pedro Jimenez, Business Mgr 5201 Hwy 6, Suite 900 Missouri City, TX 77459 832-885-7562 Wireless Communications

Goin’ Postal

Tejal Patel, Owner 5614 W. Grand Pkwy S., #102 Richmond, TX 77406 281-232-7017 Postal Service

High Point Sanitary Solutions

Jim Kij, Director of Sales & Marketing 301 Garden Oaks Blvd.

Houston, TX 77018 713-694-8300 Janitorial/Sanitary Maintenance & Supplies

Holiday Inn Express

May Le, GM 14444 Southwest Freeway Sugar Land, TX 77478 281-565-6655 Hotels & Motels

The Houston Museum of Natural Science at Sugar Land Susan Buck, Director 13016 University Boulevard Sugar Land, TX 77479 281-313-2277 Museums

MI TECK, Inc.

Arif Masum, President PO Box 17298 Sugar Land, TX 77496 713-447-3072 Construction Equipment

R Armstrong Consulting

Richard Armstrong, President 17424 West Grand Pkwy, # 208 Sugar Land, TX 77479 713-927-4840 Financial Services

Resale Junkies

Becki Mulvany, Owner 12633 Reed Road Sugar Land, TX 77478 281-494-9999 Antiques

Shape Up Sugar Land Nicole Volek, President 4647 Sweetwater Blvd.

Sugar Land, TX 77479 832-771-2725 Health & Wellness

SugarLandPC.com

Charles Swihart, President 15531 Southwest Freeway Sugar Land, TX 77478 281-494-0894 Computer Business Solutions

Top Shelf

Prithvipal (Paul) Likhari, CEO 16525 Lexington Blvd. # 230 Sugar Land, TX 77478 281-980-0234 Retail

We Love HCG

Danielle Steel, Clinic Manager 414 West Grand Parkway,# 114 Katy, TX 77494 832-437-3199 Health & Wellness

Service King Collision Repair Centers

Matt Lennox, Sales & Marketing 10475 Southwest Freeway Houston, TX 77074 713-773-5000 Auto Repair/Maintenance

www.FortBendChamber.com 38

Fort Bend Business Journal • November 2010

Upcoming Chamber Events CUTT

RIBBON

INGS

Azuma on the Lake 15830 Southwest Freeway Sugar Land, TX 77478 281-313-1518

Azuma on the Lake, located in the new Lake Pointe Village development at 15830 Southwest Freeway in Sugar Land, is the newest concept from Houston’s Azuma Group featuring a prime selection of sushi and Japanese cuisine. The Azuma Group – responsible for Azuma Sushi & Robata Bar on Kirby Drive, Azuma Downtown, Kata Robata Sushi + Grill, and Soma Sushi – has proudly been serving Houston since 2001, and is known for its passionate execution of flavorful Japanese cuisine in beautiful warm spaces.

The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner seven days a week: Monday through Thursday, 11:00 AM -10:00 PM; Friday 11:00 AM -11:00 PM; Saturday 12:00 PM - 11:00 PM; and Sunday 12:00 PM – 10:00 PM. For more information please call 281-313-0518 or visit www.azumarestaurant.com.

Nightlight Pediatric Urgent Care 15551 Southwest Freeway Sugar Land, TX 77478 281-325-1010

Nightlight Pediatrics celebrated the opening of their Expanded Facility during the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony with Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce on Friday, September 24 @ 10am.

Nightlight expanded the number of exam rooms from four to eight. “Pediatricians and parents have embraced the pediatric urgent care concept. They expanded because there is a growing need for our services”, Anastasia Gentles, MD, co-owner and medical director.

Nightlight is open M-F 5 – 11pm and Weekends/Holidays 12 – 7pm. Nightlight is located at 15551 Southwest Freeway, next door to Babies ‘R Us. The phone number is 281.325.1010 and they can be found on the web: www.nightlightpediatrics.com. Nightlight first opened in Sugar Land in March 2007. Nightlight also has a second location in Cy-Fair: 19708 Northwest Freeway Houston, TX 77065. The phone number to the Cy-Fair location is 713.957.2020

www.FortBendChamber.com November 2010 • Fort Bend Business Journal

39

CUTT

RIBBON

INGS

Edward Jones / Horton 7320 US 90 A #120 Sugar Land, TX 77478 281-491-0244

Peter Horton, a local Edward Jones financial advisor, has accepted an offer to establish an office in Sugar Land, Texas, according to James D. Weddle, managing partner of Edward Jones.

Edward Jones provides financial services for individual investors in the United States and, through its affiliate, in Canada. Every aspect of the firm’s business, from the types of investment options offered to the location of branch offices, is designed to cater to individual investors in the communities in which they live and work. The firm’s 12,000-plus financial advisors work directly with nearly 7 million clients to understand their personal goals -- from college savings to retirement -- and create long-term investment solutions that emphasize a well-balanced portfolio and a buy-and-hold strategy.

Edward Jones embraces the importance of building long-term, face-to-face relationships with clients, helping them to understand and make sense of the investment options available today.

Edward Jones, which ranked No. 2 on FORTUNE magazine’s “100 Best Companies to Work For” in 2010, is headquartered in St. Louis. The Edward Jones web site is located at www.edwardjones.com, and its recruiting web site is www.careers.edwardjones.com. Member SIPC.

Goin’ Postal

5614 W. Grand Pkwy S., #102 Richmond, TX 77406 281-232-7017 The exciting opening of the first Goin’ Postal franchise in the Richmond/Katy area in September.

As a member of the chamber of commerce and the local community, they look forward to serving their neighbors and their local area.

Owner, Tejal Patel is originally from Mumbai, India but he and his has lived around this area for over seventeen years and are proud to be American citizens. As a father of three children he understands the need of the family for convenience in life and that’s one of the many reasons why they are here to serve the community.

Goin’ Postal offers a wide range of services through UPS, FEDEX and POST OFFICE. They also offer mailboxes with a physical address, color copying, printing, notary, lamination, key cutting, fax services as well as custom packaging and packaging supplies.

They look forward to meeting you so please stop by and see them. Goin’ Postal is located at the shops at Bella Terra on Grand Parkway and Bellaire Blvd across from Wal-Mart and next to Subway.

40

www.FortBendChamber.com Fort Bend Business Journal • November 2010

CUTT

RIBBON

INGS

Holiday Inn Express 14444 Southwest Freeway Sugar Land, TX 77478 281-565-6655

To offer visitors the affordable upscale experience, Holiday Inn Express Sugar Land is a select-service hotel that provides southern hospitality, Sugar Land -style. Directly in the heart of Sugar Land’s business district we provide 1600 square feet of meeting space that can graciously accommodate 100+ theatre-style or a small gathering of just 10, as well as 111 beautifully appointed, renovated rooms, all in a completely smoke and pet free environment, with secured parking set within a prime, quiet location and sumptuous hot breakfast, every morning. The inviting lobby lounge and spacious, flowing dining area serves as the focal point of our refreshingly recreated environment, and is the ideal spot for meeting breaks, impromptu gatherings or just for pure relaxation.

The philosophy at Holiday Inn Express Sugar Land is to “make it happen, make it right,” and the entire handson staff is dedicated to fulfilling this promise on a 24-hour basis, 365 days a year. Come stay with us and find out why “Everything is sweeter at the Holiday Inn Express in Sugar Land!”

Events by Doyin

14830 Jackson Sawmill Ln Sugar Land, TX 77498 832-308-7998 Events by Doyin which started out with planning events for family and friends a few years ago, has grown into an established company, planning events for up to 1500 guests. They are a full service event planning and management company based in Sugar Land Texas and serving the Greater Houston Area.

They specialize in creating unique event designs and planning corporate functions, weddings and social events. From small intimate functions to larger extraordinary events, EBD’s goal is to make your occasion as seamless and stress-free as possible. What sets Events by Doyin apart is the diversity and experience their team has in planning various types of events for people of different cultures and ethnicity. You dream it, they put it together, execute; not a detail missed!

If you’re in the Houston area, and are in the process of planning an event or need consultation services, please contact us at 832-308-7998 or send us an email at info@eventsbydoyin.com

www.FortBendChamber.com November 2010 • Fort Bend Business Journal

41

We Believe in You, Thanks for Believing in US! 1 Year McGrath & Co., PLLC Mark McGrath, 713-882-6572

Engineered Construction Specialists Leonor Poindexter, 713-627-3622

6 Years Carino’s Italian Kitchen Katherine Alyea, 281-261-2630

Minuteman Press - Sugar Land Ibrahim Khan, 281-242-7737

Forty Holy Martyrs of Sebaste Orthodox Christian Church Gabriel Karam, 281-240-4845

Interiorscapes of Houston Alan L’Roy, 281-933-0470

State of Texas, District 17 Joan Huffman, 512-463-0117

Coffeyville Resources Dan Daly, 281-207-7711

PBK Architects, Inc. Ron Bailey, AIA, 713-965-0608

2 Years Printing-X-Press John Molloy, 713-771-9485

NightLight Pediatric Urgent Care Zawadi Bryant, 281-325-1010

Fort Bend Focus Magazine Lisa Fredrickson, 281-690-4242

Milestone Members 5 Years

Burgess & Niple, Inc. Joseph Reue, 281-980-7705 Aeon Create Carl Accardo, 281-545-8053 3 Years Founders Bank Jim Sturgeon, 281-325-5013 Andreason Law Firm, PLLC Kurt Andreason, 281-265-1561 Southminster School Kristen Correll, 281-261-8872 ABWA - SWAPEN Wanda Glez-Kras, 281-983-7010 American Business Women’s Association Rhonda Walls, 832-437-0973 Weichert Realtors, Wayne Murray Properties Wayne Murray, 281-243-4500 Brazos Valley Schools Credit Union Ruth Keogh, 281-980-1850 Production & Event Service, Inc. Cindy Kutch, 713-240-7849 4 Years Prudential Gary Greene, Realtors Marlena Berger, 713-398-0170 The Growth Coach Glenn Smith, 281-841-6680

Bearden Management, Inc. Bud Turner, 281-568-4185

Molina Walker Architects, Inc.

Reserve at Woodbridge Mandy Gerner, 281-494-2200 Living Water International Jerry Wiles, 281-207-7800 7 Years KSA Engineers, Inc. Craig Phipps, 281-494-3252

Mary Walker, 713-782-8188

Camden Sugar Grove Louise Crawford, 281-240-3900

Berg-Oliver Associates, Inc.

Sullins, Johnston, Rohrbach & Magers Bill Rohrbach, 713-521-0221

Susan Alford, 281-589-0898

The Fort Bend Church

Sonya Stevenson, 281-980-8322

Johnny’s Custom Cabinets

Shell Oil Company Lorri Henry, 713-546-8608 Shadowbrooke Apartment Homes Marie Mendez, 281-499-1025

Johnny Guerrero, 281-498-8950

8 Years TREK Janet Redeker, 713-965-1711

Team Sansone - RE/ MAX Fine Properties

New Territory Residential Community Assoc.

Susan Rash, 281-565-0616

Dillard’s

Sugar Land Marriott Town Square & Conference Center Kim Brooks, 281-275-8400

Lizz Sansone, 281-753-0333

Hester Williams, 281-980-8300

Trustmark National Bank Angel Pena, 281-637-4000

Blue Jungle Marketing Jim Munnell, 281-240-6700 Kiss Kiss Boutique Terri Bazbaz, 281-265-5477 (KISS)

www.FortBendChamber.com 42

Fort Bend Business Journal • November 2010

We Believe in You, Thanks for Believing in US! Sam’s Club Bennett Murff, 281-295-2525 E Financial Group David Evans, 281-491-5100 9 Years Chef for You Personal Chef Service Marcie McCutchen, 281-313-CHEF (2433) Rosenberg-Richmond Helping Hands, Inc. Nancy C. Brown, 281-232-4904 H-E-B Food & Drugs Hugh Sintic, 281-403-2172

Milestone Members 10 Years

W.S.S. Tri-County Child Development Center Helen Wright, 281-239-2350

Sienna Plantation Golf Club & Grill Darren Busker, 281-778-4653

11 Years RG Miller Engineers, Inc. Andrew Paderanga, 713-461-9600

Fort Bend County

24 Years EPCO, Inc-Seminole Pipeline Ralph Winkler, 281-325-3200

Andy Meyers, 281-494-1199

Internet Access Point Corp.

Lexington Boulevard Animal Hospital

Charles Newcomer, 281-242-1001

Sandy Seamans, 281-980-3737

MetroBank, NA

Jerdon Enterprise, LP Bruce White, 281-261-5000

Mohammad Tariq, 281-565-7766

Bank of Texas-Sugar Land Frank Yonish, 713-578-3555

16 Years Davis-Greenlawn Funeral Chapels & Cemetery James B. Duke, 281-341-8800 17 Years ServiceMaster SouthWest Cleaning/Restoration Paulette Janak, 281-242-5777

En-Touch Systems, Inc. Cindy Baca, 281-225-1000

Bank of Texas - First Colony Frank Yonish, 281-265-2800

Jones and Cook Stationary Matt Vest, 281-277-6500

The Settegast-Kopf Co., Funeral Directors Francis X. Gerosa, 281-565-5015

Milestone Members 20 Years

Quail Valley Church Curry Juneau, 281-499-0594

21 Years Fitts, Roberts & Co., PC R. Kay Parker, CPA, CFP, 713-2605230

Milestone Members 15 Years

18 Years Sprint Sand & Clay LLC. Kyle Cain, 713-984-1473

George Ranch Historical Park Candace Jones, 281-343-0218

Brenda Bowman, 281-240-8181

RE/MAX Heritage Don R. Burns, 281-491-6274

City of Arcola Mary Etta Anderson, 281-431-0822

13 Years Fort Bend County John Healey, 281-341-4473

Literacy Council of Fort Bend County

14 Years Boy Scouts of America Alex Deschamp, 713-756-3356

Milestone Members 25 Years

Stafford Municipal School District

H. D. Chambers, 281-261-9202 26 Years City of Meadows Place Charles Jessup, 281-983-2950 27 Years John Thomas, PC John Thomas, 713-779-6800

Milestone Members 30 Years

EE Reed Construction, LP E. E. ‘Gene’ Reed, 281-933-4000

31 Years Marshall J. Brown Company, Inc. Leah Malloy, 281-495-4800

Brookside Inspection Services Richie Ford, 281-242-6428

www.FortBendChamber.com November 2010 • Fort Bend Business Journal

43

Upcoming Chamber Events

save the date NETWORKNITES Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce

Sara Appliance & Electronics 16820 Southwest Freeway Sugar Land, TX 77479 (in front of garden ridge)

Wednesday, november 10 5 pm - 7pm Bites by azuma on the Lake For more information contact Jan-michael Jenkins 281.491.0218 or jan@fortbendcc.org

������ SEEKING ING� A Workshop/Seminar Series for Fort Bend Business

SOCIAL MEDIA BOOT CAMP ✍

✍

PART III - SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING

Thursday, November 18 - 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Presented by Glenn Smith • Generating new leads • Turning Leads into Qualified Prospects

PART IV - SOCIAL MEDIA - ONLINE SECURITY & SAFETY Thursday, December 9 - 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Presented by Lach Mullen

• Phishing over Social Media • New privacy tools

What are you waiting for?

Learn how your organization can benefit from the explosion of powerful new social media. Utilize twenty-first century PR, advertising and marketing to boost your bottom line.

Experts in Social Media will present this series of lunch and learn sessions: Glenn Smith, Growth Coach Lach Mullen, Public Information Systems Administrator Fort Bend County Emergency Management

All workshops are held at the Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce, 445 Commerce Green Boulevard, Sugar Land $20 members and $25 prospective members or walk ins for each workshop 281.491.0216 • Fax 281.491.0112 • Keri@fortbendcc.org • www.fortbendchamber.com

www.FortBendChamber.com 44

Fort Bend Business Journal • November 2010

Letter to the Editor: Universal design could bring tighter, higher functioning communities

I

n 2003, I graduated high school with aspirations to attend college in California and become a Deaf Education teacher in a specialized program in Northridge. I was well on my way to graduation when in 2006 two months into my junior year I was diagnosed with a rare spinal cord disorder. It seemed to progress so rapidly that what started out as a backache became a hospital stay, flight to Texas, and a wheelchair for what I was told would be for life.

I do not remember being upset to be in a wheelchair or the prospects of never walking again. I just remember being frustrated at being a person on wheels in a world designed by people on legs. I had never thought about accessibility in depth, even though I had been an aide in a school for students with disabilities, many of them that affected their mobility. Being in a wheelchair affected everything I did; what I wore, where I ate, where I sat at the movies or in class, where I parked, and how or where I entered

buildings. Accessibility became my life whether I wanted it to or not.

Since February of 2006, I have been in my wheelchair three times and three times I have worked Lindsay O’Dell (harder than I ever thought possible) through physical therapy to walk again. There is still the everpresent possibility that I can and most likely will be in a wheelchair in the future but that never has bothered me. What bothers me is the prospect of living in a world built for the physically able.

A current movement that I feel is essential to the development of a strong and unifying community is the use and development of Universal Design. Ron Mace from the Center for Universal Design defines it as “the design of products and environments to be usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialized design.” Basically this move-

ment centers on the idea that elements in our community including products, buildings, walkways, stadiums and parks, etc. should be designed to meet the accessibility needs of all. We should be designing our community to fit its members not asking our community members to adapt to the environment.

My goal as a person with a disability and as a future educator is for the developers of the city of Sugar Land to notice that not all people move, see, hear or speak exactly the same. As our city grows we should set the standard for accessibility in design and show that our community is making strides to include all members not because we have to but because we can. Our children will see that it does not matter how you got here or how you move, we are just happy to have you in our community. http://www.design.ncsu.edu/cud/about_ ud/about_ud.htm Lindsay O’Dell

Sugar Land eliminates 11 full-time positions

S

ugar Land City Council approved on Oct. 19 a budget amendment for Fiscal Year 2011 that eliminates 11 full-time positions, a total savings of $676,450. The following positions are currently vacant and were eliminated: • Assistant City Manager Executive Assistant (2) • Assistant City Manager Management Assistant I • Budget & Research Executive Secretary • Public Communications Graphics Coordinator • Human Resources HR Business Partner • Support Services Support Services Director • Support Services Executive Secretary • Permits & Inspections Building Inspector • Community Development Senior Secretary • Fire Emergency Services Senior Secretary The FY 2011 Budget includes the elimination of 20 positions totaling $1.44 million from the general fund to help return

the budget to structural balance by FY 2012. This is being accomplished without layoffs of any existing staff. “I believe that our staff at the City of Sugar Land has always demonstrated good fiscal stewardship, and they continue to do that during these difficult economic times,” said City Manager Allen Bogard. “That’s the value that reflects our corporate culture, but it also reflects the goals that City Council has established.

We have asked our employees to do more, and they have willingly accepted. We have more positions that we will be identifying for elimination as we work through our department business plans and existing vacancies.

I think it’s important to realize that the vast majority of these eliminations will occur in the general fund -- they’ll occur in areas funded by sales tax and property tax. ” In September, City Council approved the FY 2011 budget that totals $282.2 million and includes $144.98 million for capital improvement projects. The budget includes

revenues of $270.56 million. Sugar Land experienced a decline in revenues compared to budget estimates during the last year.

The main impact has been in sales tax and interest income. The current economic conditions are anticipated to continue throughout 2011. As a result, the City reduced the operating budget for FY11, including the elimination of positions that will be achieved through attrition (without layoffs), utilization of technology and reallocation of workload among existing employees.

In addition, City employees will not receive any raises this year.“I need to recognize the outstanding cooperation that our workforce is providing,” said Bogard. “Employees will be asked to take on more work, and I have not heard a single complaint.

To the contrary, what we are hearing is a very positive response from our workforce recognizing that this is the right thing to do for us to be able to adjust to a new normal which includes the lower revenue stream that we are experiencing.”

November 2010 • Fort Bend Business Journal

45

Data Beat DBA (Assumed Names)

(+) = More Names

This is a sample of the Assumed Names (DBAs) filed at the Fort Bend County Clerk’s office for September 2010. More Assumed Names may be viewed online at http://ccweb.co.fort-bend.tx.us/RealEstate/SearchEntry.aspx. There were 364 Assumed Names with Notary Fee for month of September. There were also 79 Assumed Names without a notary fee.

Spooner Kimberly Tip Top Childcare Training 902 Heathcliff Dr 77489

Rodriquez Maria L (+) The Unike Jewelry (+) 22126 Lapis Creek Ln 77450

Smith Eric Greater Love Tabernacle 1250 Texas Pkwy Suite A-1 77489

Lobdell Corporation Lobdell Landscaping 2638 Fifth Street #1 77477

Chaudhary Khalid M Khalid M. Chaudhary M.D. 1217 First St 77471

Mayshack Serena C Hairrazmint Magazine 2010 Mustang Springs 77459

Kwong Leslie (+) Kg Copper Enterprise 21431 Beverly Chase Drive 77406

Hurley Christopher Sherlock Home Inspections 2902 Arrowhead 77479

Gibbons Frank H Jr Mr. Air Dba Frosty Air-Icy Air 2414 Oakview Dr 77459

Crafter Melvin Craft’s Cabinet/Door Refinishing Po Box 17601 77496

Brewer Stephen Micro Clean 1306 Nails Creek 77478

The Walls Group (+) The Walls Group Ministries (+) 4119 Harbour Circle 77477

Stafford Missouri City Youth Sports Inc Texas Saints Youth Baseball 2601 Cartwright Rd D142 77459

Greenmill Company Greenmill Company DBA Fort Bend Funeral Services 1250 Texas Parkway 77477

Taylor Tom West2899 14231 Fm 1464 #9304 77498

Gex Leslie B C & L Landscaping And Powerwashing Po Box 1972 77406

Polk Louis C Tandlcafe 2202 Redcoat Lane 77489

Aanya Business Inc (+) Parkway Chevron 2196 Texas Parkway 77489

Maldonado Samuel O Sw Body Parts 102 Guerss Circle 77451

Okhaifoh Flora (+) F&T Medical & Transportation Services 13902 Fort Nelson Dr 77083

Law Ping K Jing Tech Sanchez Joe 3919 Lakeridge Canyon 77498 Joe’s Painting Service 550 Stafford Run Rd Carruth Ariana Apt #722 77477 Simply Modern Tots 9734 Chicory Chase Ct 77494 Spooner Kimberly Tip Top Childcare Training Boukheir Jamil 610 Fm 1092 Ste 201 77477 Elbii Design 26311 Westheimer Pkwy 77494 Graham Robert Lunar Scape Lighting Teepell Toni 27003 Coquina Dr 77494 Ramsay Publishing 8606 Two Sisters Ct 77459 Matthews Kendric K Doctor Matthews Et Al T. Martin Companies L.L.C. 2020 Rockyfalls 77469 Longhorn Construction Services Fort Bend County 25635 S W Freeway 77471 Concessions Llc Herbal Storm Stachowiak Robert 2822 Plantation Wood Ln 77459 Hammer Time 13307 Parkway Blvd 77478 Jones Schnedris Schnedris Jones’s A Capital Tax Service Llc Housekeeping Service Advance Capital Loans 1937 Arcadia Dr 77498 103 Ave F 77477 Vazquez Rafael (+) Goble Caleen El Rancho Grill And Cantina Going Goble - Administrative 100 Liberty St 77469 Consulting & Bookkeeping 21115 Praire Green Ct 77406 Carpenter Christina M Life’s A Zoo Photography Bowie Claude B 1710 Timber Creek Drive 77459 C. Bowie Allstate Insurance 14100 Sw Fry 77478 Schwank Tiffani A Bling In A Box 3114 Willow Trace Ct 77450

46

Fort Bend Business Journal • November 2010

Ali Syed Arif Fromthecameras 7107 Rambling Tree Ln 77407 Bartnik Ewa Eb Services 1731 Magnolia Lake Lane 77406 Moughon Jane E (+) Success Coaching Texas 26102 Portfield Ct 77494 Merchant Akash (+) Merchants Insurance Group 4111 Laurette Ct 77479 Orellana Juan Jose Green Grass Lawn Service 711 South 7Th 77469 Meredith Fanon (+) Rocket Auto Sales 4502 Blakes Ridge Ct 77545 Crawford Kayla A Fit As A Fiddle 2819 Colonel Court Dr 77406 Garza Albert C Alitron Technologies 2818 Trailridge Ct 77459 Hirondel Corporation Manners Development Company 5715 Buffalo Gap 77459 Hirondel Corporation Eric Lanelle Homes 5715 Buffalo Gap 77459 Thomas Abraham Mhs Flooring & Remodeling 4229 S Main St 77477 Gulley Robert Allen Jr The Glass Guru Of Fort Bend (+) 2331 Willow Bend Dr 77406

Jackson Mary H Jackson’s Quality Care Sitting Services 2626 Ave G 77471 Jinks Lecreame Simpson Fresno Transport 2506 Harpers Creek Ct 77545 Davis Lloyd Solar Urban Network 639 Beverly Circle 77477 Wibbelsman Christy Cw Family Care 20027 Pemetic Trl 77407

Smith Andretta (+) Glorian Spirit Rtc 550 Roosevelt 77656

Alarcon Rodolfo Garcia Talent Tree 7009 Angel Oaks Ct 77407

Mccoy Sean (+) Vortex Consulting Services 2934 Lakefield Way 77479

Alexander Michael M Mike’s Moblile Detail Services Llc. 5506 Walnut Glen Ln 77471

Nunnally Yuliana Sugarven Llc 4 Charleston St South 77478 Baker Jennifer Ava’s Closet 2218 Crescent Water 77471 King Gloria A Kinfam Enterprise 3319 Ithaca Drive 77459 Costello Paul Lone Star Auto Body 10331 Clodine Rd #A 77407 Moxie Yoga Llc Bikram Hot Yoga Missouri City 4411 Fishermans Cove 77459 Plunkett Shere C Plunkett Production 910 Millstone Ct 77498 Simon Dexter Misunderstoodcredit 1918 Lakefront Dr 77459 Davis Samuel Taylor’s Treats 7630 Pointer Street 77016 Stegall Nicole R Nicole R. Stegall 1622 Glacier Blue 77545 Morone Albert The Skull Company (+) 2415 Ridgemont Dr 77489

Nagai Kevin Legacy Bar & Arcade 28 St Christopher Ct 77479 Garcia Jose Raul (+) Advance Automotive Repair Service 4159 Fm 521 77545 Nelson Alethea Family Resource Initiative 20014 Sagebrush Cove 77407 Winfield-Gordon Petrina Get Recruited Athletics 8703 Warrenford Dr 77083 Reyes Jose Jesus Santol Building Fund 1543 Lazy Spring Dr 77489 Casados Jose L Liborio Custom Carpentry 1414 Houston St 77471 Guidry-Stallworth Carolyn Abusua Tax Services 2051 Hickory Glen Dr 77489 Cortez Elsa Cantu Rancho Realty & Development 2514 Cedar Lane 77471 Joyave Marie G Fast Serve Civil Processing 12811 Covey Lane 77099

Data Beat DBA (Assumed Names)

Hardin Realty Investments Llc Westheimer Business Park 27027 Westheimer Parkway 77494 Cmp Starz Inc (+) All Starz Trans Po Box 6869 77491 Dusek Gary S Twin City Pc 1412 Ward St 77471 Wang Jack Kizag 5103 Lake Ridge Ln 77494 Teinert Terrelyn Brass Key Books 7314 Quiet Glen Dr 77479

Barnes Bret A Funeral Industry Containers (Fic) 8703 N Fitzgerald Way 77459

Luo Xu Ecl Automation 5031 Cotter Lake Dr 77459

Allen-Stovall Shandri The Training Station (+) 1480 Crabb River Rd 77469

Davis Donnita Donnita’s “Just Say It” 10302 Goodmanville Ct 77407

Medina Felipe F M Painting (+) 3002 Antler Way 77459

Betenbaugh Laura Michelle Little Moon Farm 16916 Brumbelow Rd 77461

Ilanga Eric M (+) Infinite Works Productions 12447 Maily Meadow Ln 77478

Romo Ricardo (+) Romo’s Visual Concepts 208 Shenandoah 77469

Cordero Thomas New Pointe Church 4103 Cedar Bend Dr 77459

White Carlette White Law Office 14090 S W Frwy 300 #190 77478

Abou Deif Kimberly D Letam Trading, Llc 3615 Thunderbird St 77459

Nguyen Minhquan (+) Beverage Monitor Systems 3618 Truesdale Drive 77459

Fusion Auto Title Services Inc Pro Clips Beauty Salon 11790 S Wilcrest 77099

Nicholson Andrew Majlis Consulting 3350 Hwy 6 Suite 311 77478

Shaw Tysh R Marshall Artz 1003 Jerry St 77469

Roberts Edward E Ejb Consulting 1839 American Elm Ct 77479

Jones George L Jmg Computer Restoration 17922 Amy Point Lane 77407

Bush Jordan Jordan’s Transportation 15270 Voss Rd Apt 526 77498

Allen Gary Gary Allen Projection And Sound Services 12014 Cedar Form Lane 77477

Ballard Dove Jr Solutions Are Simple 6202 Heatherbrook Dr 77085

Cwrn Llc Next Step Planners 1002 Bayou Vista Ct 77494

Bixler Yawnie (+) Cool Signs 14019 Sw Fwy Suite 301-420 77478

Tran Peter B Srm 786 Investment Inc Transcend Technology Unlimited Frank N Steins Sports Bar 15922 Camino Del Sol Dr 77083 And Grill 9907 Highway 6 S 77478 Butler Donna Country Scents Freelon Benjamin 2422 Minks Rd 77485 Befree Imports 7214 Towerview 77489 Franks Cuontisha Parties By Tisha O’dell Toni 5010 Grove West Blvd Freshthink Consulting #1606 77477-2622 1910 Arcadia Dr 77498

Nguyen Tuan Van Captain Victor 3831 Nelva Park Dr 77449

Frasso Dawn Zoellers (+) Dawn Ray Pools 3223 West Wick 77082

Farfan Shajaira Partners Productions 4521 Ludwig Lane 77477

Crestani Kellen B Living In Design 28010 Moss Fern Dr 77494 Alvarez Daniel Cardiovascular Imaging P O Box 865 77406

Dinosaur Inc Fears Credit Solutions 7322 Sw Freeway #2010 77074

Merchant Salma (+) Talley Jerry L Jr Merchant’s Business Associates County Generator 4111 Laurette Ct 77479 518 Little River Ct 77406 Daghighi Saloumeh Ads - 4U (+) 1910 Valleria Ct 77479 Rodas Edgar A Jr Rodas Freight Services 9115 Gene St 77461 Cervenka Brian R Cardinal Mark 2423 Stephens Grant 77479 Cervenka Brian R Cardinal Marketing 2423 Stephens Grant 77479 Andreev Evgeny Special Order 4115 Eastshore St 77459 Aanderud Allan Aa Infrared Leak Detection 27638 Wolfs Hill Ln 77494 Kelley Consulting Llc Soaring Eagle Direct 5422 Waterbeck St 77441

(+) = More Names

Medical Priority & Development Inc Priority Public Relations 1815 Ambassador Ct 77459

Stanley Lynn Lone Star Demolition 13623 Oakwood Ln 77478

Brown Aaron (+) Lia’maj Grill & Bar-B-Que 2023 Secretariet 77477 Tho Guang-Yue Asap Pro Imaging 2015 Richland Ct 77478 Fair John L Jr A-X-A-Net/Fiit 14402 West Bellfort Suite 311 77498 Greer-Beazley Jennifer K Major Events Group 3319 El Dorado Blvd 77459 Zamiatowski Craig Soft Strip 5132 Whitewing Drive 77469

Janssen David W Janssen Ventures Jurica Joanne 1010 Lexington Green Dr 77459 Sassy In Pink 3803 Caleb Lane 77459 Godsey Linda R (+) Ugwueze Linus C Cleaning Maid Easy Priority Fashions Llc Ez-Ventures Allen Lizabeth 1914 Village Court Lane 77471 My Priority 4602 Rainbow Valley Ct 77459 Eden Enterprises 1815 Ambassador Ct 77459 P O Box 310732 77231 Solomon-Oiler China (+) Campbell Sharda Quilting Designs By Cj Medical Priority & Raglins Value Sheet Currie Kimberly L 2918 La Rama 77469 Development Inc 630 Colony Lakes Estates Dr 77477 Faerie Feet Crafts Elite Public Relations 12214 Meadow Berry Dr Olaye Osadebamwen 1815 Ambassador Ct 77459 Baudoin Casey 77477 Ine Autos And Parts Paper And Twine 9706 Queensbridge Dr 77498 Medical Priority & 120 Dogwood St 77478 Hamilton Camilla Development Inc Infallible Word Of Faith - El Trevino Michael J Exclusive Public Relations Johnson Sylvia Shaddai Church Texas Am&J Transport (+) 1815 Ambassador Ct 77459 Divattitude 6635 Vllarreal 77489 P O Box 383 77441 16223 Knollridge Ct 77053 Willets Diana Elege Vivian Bixler Yawnie Big League Strength Gulf Coast Spirit Wear Dba M & K Community Living Cool Signs 19118 Golden Heath Lane 77407 Kelli Hayes Services 14019 Sw Fw Suite 301-420 77478 Hayes Kelli 7015 Garent Lake Ct 77402 Jngilles Ernst Nesly 7314 Mosswood 77479 Nelson Mary (+) Ernst Transport Llc Minshew George Sankofa Directions 5934 Spring Sunrise Dr 77407 DBA Kelli Hayes New Heights 10.27 Project 7810 Tarik Drive 77083 Marketing/Houston 9894 Bissonnet #635 77036 Martinez Maria G Hayes Kelli Katy Ambulance Srvs Sinai Lawn Care Services 7314 Mosswood Dr 77479 Gibbs Kevin Katy Ambulette Services 1917 Village Park 77489 Gibby’s Bouncies 2618 Tealview Ln 77496 3323 Fairchild Ave 77461 November 2010 • Fort Bend Business Journal

47

Data Beat

OCTOBER 2010 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 month’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

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

21,142.90 6,597.15 32,642.19 1,380.10 77,292.49 463,394.83 29,260.58 6,394.66 3,572.90 328,664.00 837,920.00 9,175.64 946,428.90 2,924,097.76 0.00

COUNTY TOTAL 5,687,964.10

2008 Payments Change

Percent

16,476.56 7,274.52 27,316.55 1,188.28 75,526.50 460,990.10 0.00 3,992.56 3,460.94 315,769.80 840,161.26 11,005.96 913,306.99 2,918,040.60 1,751.88

28.32% -9.31% 19.49% 16.14% 2.33% 0.52% U/C 60.16% 3.23% 4.08% -0.26% -16.63% 3.62% 0.20% -100.00%

199,954.32 54,794.02 312,529.18 13,370.81 806,977.94 4,997,874.70 295,734.86 39,598.09 62,818.74 3,443,606.18 9,291,134.90 94,788.54 10,686,594.62 31,297,041.63 25,926.26

255,380.06 74,421.34 290,923.30 12,742.96 868,915.79 4,946,730.06 258,139.40 41,940.70 36,082.29 3,514,294.73 8,804,182.13 49,710.86 11,475,118.81 32,814,719.74 14,004.30

-21.70% -26.37% 7.42% 4.92% -7.12% 1.03% 14.56% -5.58% 74.09% -2.01% 5.53% 90.67% -6.87% -4.62% 85.13%

5,596,262.50

1.63%

61,622,744.79

63,457,306.47

-2.89%

Top 20 City Sales and Use Tax Comparison Summary - OCTOBER 2010 Please note that Sugar Land is 16th in sales tax revenues in the state.

City

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

48

Net Payment This Period

Comp Payment Prior Year

37,087,617.43 16,093,321.78 15,473,548.14 10,752,347.06 7,886,903.05 6,347,005.72 5,290,241.06 4,529,108.54 4,263,518.71 4,464,684.30 4,595,901.25 4,009,472.13 4,043,446.43 3,406,689.33 3,183,595.23 2,924,097.76 2,750,857.32 3,145,630.16 2,498,944.08 2,708,404.47

34,811,640.11 15,681,310.71 14,579,103.79 10,203,337.34 7,367,206.63 6,251,226.74 4,842,078.84 4,423,334.68 4,112,431.67 4,210,004.53 4,272,837.95 3,972,728.04 3,894,168.08 3,219,048.46 2,799,593.09 2,918,040.60 2,753,798.13 2,464,934.87 2,240,955.14 2,442,443.20

Fort Bend Business Journal • November 2010

% Change To Date

6.53% 2.62% 6.13% 5.38% 7.05% 1.53% 9.25% 2.39% 3.67% 6.04% 7.56% 0.92% 3.83% 5.82% 13.71% 0.20% -0.10% 27.61% 11.51% 10.88%

2009 Payments To Date

2008 Payments Change

392,831,234.08 173,444,375.76 169,633,953.45 114,232,957.80 82,704,765.49 68,342,181.04 56,991,093.09 52,062,331.96 48,506,252.88 47,190,720.12 46,265,831.68 45,279,839.48 41,183,236.06 36,525,204.97 33,483,544.71 31,297,041.63 29,882,276.31 29,301,562.61 28,022,701.83 27,824,727.52

410,626,113.59 169,555,104.14 172,341,514.53 109,230,643.01 81,589,207.54 66,484,162.30 53,847,526.62 49,218,368.29 45,793,827.90 47,475,874.16 48,303,796.40 45,343,210.56 40,909,716.59 38,932,221.01 31,037,325.88 32,814,719.74 29,742,305.06 29,361,330.64 26,309,947.10 29,212,001.99

Percent

-4.33% 2.29% -1.57% 4.57% 1.36% 2.79% 5.83% 5.77% 5.92% -0.60% -4.21% -0.13% 0.66% -6.18% 7.88% -4.62% 0.47% -0.20% 6.50% -4.74%

Data Beat

Commercial Building Permits

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

TYPE OF PERMIT

VALUE

SUGAR LAND 314 Lakeview Dr 54 Sugar Creek Center Blvd Ste 300 54 Sugar Creek Center Blvd Ste 200 56 Sugar Creek Center Blvd Ste 350 16655 Southwest Fwy 2nd Floor 13522 W Airport Blvd 3453 State Hwy 6 3135 State Hwy 6 1235 Lake Pointe Pkwy One Fluor Daniel Dr Bldg C-3 14897 Southwest Fwy Ste A106

Commercial Addition Commercial Buildout Commercial Buildout Commercial Building Commercial Buildout Commercial New Commercial Remodel Commercial Remodel Commercial New Commercial Remodel Commercial Remodel

$720,400 $110,000 $105,000 $38,950 $600,000 $8,930,000 $106,219 $89,150 $2,477,963 $577,829 $59,169

Grand Total Valuation (Commercial & Residential)

09/01/10-09/30/10

$14,027,655

RICHMOND 2020 Rocky Falls Rd Bldg 1 2020 Rocky Falls Rd Bldg 3 2020 Rocky Falls Rd Bldg 4 2020 Rocky Falls Rd Bldg 5 2020 Rocky Falls Rd Bldg 6 2020 Rocky Falls Rd Bldg 7 2020 Rocky Falls Rd Bldg 8 2020 Rocky Falls Rd Bldg 9 2020 Rocky Falls Rd Bldg 10 2020 Rocky Falls Rd Bldg 11 2020 Rocky Falls Rd Bldg 12 2020 Rocky Falls Rd Bldg 13 2020 Rocky Falls Rd Bldg 14 2020 Rocky Falls Rd Bldg 15

Commercial Building Commercial Building Commercial Building Commercial Building Commercial Building Commercial Building Commercial Building Commercial Building Commercial Building Commercial Building Commercial Building Commercial Building Commercial Building Commercial Building

$135,000 $385,000 $385,000 $365,000 $385,000 $365,000 $385,000 $510,000 $385,000 $365,000 $385,000 $385,000 $385,000 $365,000

Grand Total Valuation (Commercial & Residential)

09/01/10-09/30/10

$5,185,000

ROSENBERG 23901 Southwest Fwy 6323 Irby Cobb Blvd 6323 Irby Cobb Blvd 3326 Avenue I 239 Highway 36 3901 Airport Ave

Commercial Building Commercial Building Commercial Building Commercial Building Commercial Building Commercial Building

$200,000 $60,000 $40,000 $52,000 $126,130 $50,000

Grand Total Valuation (Commercial & Residential)

09/01/10-09/30/10

$651,138

STAFFORD 802 Texas Parkway 12550 Jebbia Ln

Commercial Building Commercial Building

$21,500 $560,000

Grand Total Valuation (Commercial & Residential)

09/01/10-09/30/10

$590,000

MISSOURI CITY 9029 Sienna Ranch Rd 6231 Hwy 6 Res E 303 Texas Pkwy 6261 Hwy 6 100 13927 S Gessner Rd

Commercial New Commercial New Commercial Remodel Commercial Lease New Commercial Remodel

$2,170,000 $450,000 $325,000 $199,000 $620,450

Grand Total Valuation (Commercial & Residential)

09/01/10-09/30/10

$3,770,450

OWNER/CONTRACTOR Ft Bend ISD/Polasek Construction Sugar Creek Opportunity Fund I/Goldshire Developers, LLC Sugar Creek Opportunity Fund I/Goldshire Developers, LLC Sugar Creek Opportunity Fund I/Goldshire Developers, LLC TMH Medical Office Buildings/J E Dunn of Texas, Inc JK Sugarland WG, LP/TDM Construction Eqyinvest First Colony Owner L/Jerry Kachel Builder, Inc Eqyinvest Outparcel Owner LTD/JPS Drywall & Demolition Lake Pointe Parkway Properties/Hatimi Construction Inc Lakepointe Assets, LLC/Burton Construction Company NNN Sugar Land Medical Center/Preferred Contracting Services

Brazos Bend Housing LTD/Robertson & Thomas Paintingm LLC Brazos Bend Housing LTD/Robertson & Thomas Paintingm LLC Brazos Bend Housing LTD/Robertson & Thomas Paintingm LLC Brazos Bend Housing LTD/Robertson & Thomas Paintingm LLC Brazos Bend Housing LTD/Robertson & Thomas Paintingm LLC Brazos Bend Housing LTD/Robertson & Thomas Paintingm LLC Brazos Bend Housing LTD/Robertson & Thomas Paintingm LLC Brazos Bend Housing LTD/Robertson & Thomas Paintingm LLC Brazos Bend Housing LTD/Robertson & Thomas Paintingm LLC Brazos Bend Housing LTD/Robertson & Thomas Paintingm LLC Brazos Bend Housing LTD/Robertson & Thomas Paintingm LLC Brazos Bend Housing LTD/Robertson & Thomas Paintingm LLC Brazos Bend Housing LTD/Robertson & Thomas Paintingm LLC Brazos Bend Housing LTD/Robertson & Thomas Paintingm LLC

Global New Millenium Partners Key-Scape, LLC Xonarch Pools Inc AKH Investment LLC HCME Bldg & Lumber Co/Triple D Business Inc Cocono Corporation/C.W. Henderson Electric

Dawani Business Inc/GRHR Construction Int’l Buddhist Progress Society

The Harvest UMC/Chain Group SDI Missouri City Holdings LLC/Warwich Construction, Inc Fort Bend County B & C Constructors, LP Global Geophysical Services in Whiting-Turner

November 2010 • Fort Bend Business Journal

49

Cross Creek Ranch and Firethorne add nearly 5,000 acres to Fulshear’s future

By Wayne Chandler

T

he quiet, rural community of Fulshear in northwest Fort Bend county was incorporated in 1977.

Highway signs as you approach this town state: Fulshear, Pop. 716. Many of its residents, including Mayor Tommy Kuykendall, who moved there in 2002, have liked this country way of life.

But two master communities, Firethorne, and Cross Creek Ranch, are about to change the face of Fulshear. Upscale luxury homes are popping up every week, with a predicted total of 7,000 homes there within a decade.

That may push the population of the City of Fulshear to more than 30,000 by 2019. And, the City of Fulshear has plenty of land area which likely will make it grow a lot more. It has 10 square miles within its city limits and 27 more square miles in its Extra Territorial Jurisdiction (ETJ), which makes its total land area size slightly smaller than the City of Galveston.

These exciting ventures are examples of why Fort Bend is one of the most dynamic economic areas in the United States. “There is a reason why Fort Bend and the greater Katy area ranks as Number One in the nation for new home sales, “ said Frank Lombard,

50

vice president of Katy Area Economic Development Council. “The history of this area has been built upon the master-planned communities like Cinco Ranch. Careful planning attracts capital and is the primary driver of long term value and home appreciation.”

Right now there’s not a Walgreen’s or a Papa John’s or a Kids R Kids anywhere to be seen near Fulshear. Dozier’s Grocery and meat market has been the commercial identity of Fulshear for years. Mayor Kuykendall knows all of this is about to change.

It will be Mayor Kuykendall’s task to deal with the racing pulse of all the newcomers, and calm the fears of residents who have appreciated a lot of elbow room and low taxes for much of their lives. He has recognized this housing tidal wave coming since soon after he and his family bought a house and a comfortable piece of acreage east of FM 1093.

“In 2002, there was a town meeting in Fulshear,” Kuykendall recalled, “to talk about how things were going to change. I went to the meeting just as an interested citizen… pretty soon I was asked to join the city planning commission. I just quit that position to run for mayor last May.” Kuykendall, with his buttoned-down mind, promised to do his best to bring about fair, controlled growth to Fulshear. He was elected , and now has two full time jobs. In addition to being mayor, he is vice president of a Houston engineering firm which currently has major projects in Waco and also in Liberty. “I put in the hours for both jobs,” Kuykendall smiled. His professional

Fort Bend Business Journal • November 2010

experience in working with administrations in Missouri City and Sugar Land have given him insight that aids him in managing the city and his company. He grew up around Rosenberg and Pleak in southwest Fort Bend, and worked for 12 years with TXDOT in the Richmond-Rosenberg area.

Of seven active subdivisions, all north of Westheimer Parkway (FM 1093) and west of the Grand Parkway( SH 99), Firethorne and Cross Creek Ranch will have the most dramatic effect on Fulshear, with economic tremors that will be felt in the county and Lamar and Katy independent school districts.

“We have a very good relationship with the City of Fulshear,” said Joel Marshall, vice president of Trendmaker, the developers of Cross Creek Ranch. “I believe the city leaders understand the extremely high quality of the community we are developing and wish to see that level of development as the standard for the city going forward. Development would likely occur in Fulshear one way or another.

With Trendmaker’s involvement, a very large portion of that development will be of the highest caliber.”

All of Cross Creek’s 3,000 acres is within Fulshear’s city limits. About two-thirds is within Katy ISD, with the western portion within Lamar Consolidated ISD. “Our growth has been sufficiently gradual thus far,” Marshall said. “We haven’t overly strained the city, county or schools. We are adding tax base at a rapid rate (with high value homes) and that added revenue will permit the governmental entities to fund needed

COMMERCIAL PROPERTY expansion of services as we grow.” Cross Creek had closed 311 homes by the end of September. A dozen or so builders are working within this community of winding streets, lakes , walking trails and green areas.

The imposing entrance leads to an elaborate welcome center, cafe and three-story observation tower.

Kuykendall concurs with Marshall’s comments about the cooperation between Cross Creek Ranch and the City of Fulsher, recognizing that this good will is important to both entities.

The other influential development—Firethorne -- has some 1,400 acres with 1,930 home sites in West Firethorne in Fulshear and 530 home sites in Katy. Jefferson Development Company had sold 178 homes in the first seven months of 2010. About 1,000 home sites have been purchased, Jefferson officials said, all along FM 1463. All residents will be able to use a competitive swim center, clubhouse, community center and playground. Firethorne is about a mile and a half south of I-10.

Both Firethorne and Cross Creek Ranch are seven to eight miles west of the Grand Parkway (SH 99) along Westheimer Road (FM 1093). The Westpark Toll road is expected to be extended westward another four miles within the next 18 months.

Cinco Ranch developers, Newland Real Estate Group, announced late last month a joint venture with Japan’s major home developer, to add some 1,200 homes on 492 acres east of FM 1467 at Corbitt Road. This build out is expected within three years and will boost the Cinco Ranch total number of homes to 14,000. Cinco Ranch (built by Newland Communities) has been the prime moving force in master-planned communities, being declared the Number One best selling planned community in the nation in 2009 by RCLCO, a Washington,D.C. real estate advisory firm.

Four other active subdivisions are impacting northwest Fort Bend: Silver Ranch is being developed along Roesner Road off KatyGaston Road, just south of I-10, with easy access to the Energy Corridor, Park Ten Business Center and The Grand Parkway. Silver Ranch some day will total 1,500 homes, 340 homes by 2014, and lots of amenities, including a six-lane junior Olympic swimming pool.

Pine Mill Ranch, also off Katy –Gaston Road just west of Cinco Ranch, is a 528-acre community of similar size and home projects as Silver Ranch.

Westheimer Lakes North by Meritage Homes is west along FM 1093 just east of Fulshear, featuring Green Meadows Golf Course.

Willow Creek Farms is Ryland Homes’ newest community at Pederson Road and Kingsland Blvd., will have 600 homes by 2015. It’s mostly in Waller County, with its east tip in Fort Bend.

Projections by Population and Survey Analysts, College Station, indicate that these seven subdivisions will build more than 30,000 homes, all in an orderly manner , as the economic situation will allow.

This firm predicts that there will scores of other smaller subdivisions, too.

But the economic experts claim that Fort Bend and the Greater Katy Area have been blessed by master planned communities.

Jeff Wiley, Greater Ford Bend County EDC’s president and CEO, stated: “Master planned communities (MPCs) are a cornerstone of Fort Bend’s success over the past 30 years. They are magnets for families, that are characterized by working adults that are typically highly educated and involved citizens…MPCs offer investment protection and a high quality of life for their residents through deed restrictions and an amenity-rich living environment. With three of the top 10 MPCs in the country (Cinco Ranch No. 1, Telfair No. 4 and Sienna Plantation No. 10) Fort Bend County is nationally known as a leader in master planned community development. Cross Creek Ranch, Firethorne and others will help this county remain a leader now and in the future…”

So the world is bound to hear more about Fulshear,Texas.

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51

NAMES IN THE Leenhouts named WCJC Vice President of Student Services WCJC President Betty McCrohan invites the community to meet David Leenhouts, new vice president of student services, at an open house reception on Tuesday, Nov. 2 from 4 to 6 p.m. in the Hutchins Memorial Center at the Wharton campus, conference room 100-A. In his new role, Leenhouts is responsible for providing direction, leadership and general oversight for WCJC’s financial aid, admissions/registration and records, academic advising/counseling, testing, dual credit/university articulation, student recruitment, student extracurricular activities/housing/discipline, athletic programs and other student enrichment services.

Leenhouts previously served as director of student life and interim vice-president for student affairs at the College of Coastal Georgia in Brunswick, Georgia. In the first role he developed and organized all aspects of campus activities for incoming freshman and was instrumental in developing the college’s new student orientation. In the second role, he served as the college’s chief student affairs officer, providing supervision, planning

and fiscal management for all student affairs functions, the majority of which parallel the ones he will oversee at WCJC. During his 16 months in the interim position, David Leenhouts Leenhouts helped transition the institution from a community college known as Coastal Georgia Community College to a state college. In total, he spent 23 years at the institution, having started as director of student services.

Prior to his employment at College of Coastal Georgia, Leenhouts was director of student services and director of special services for disadvantaged students at Lamar Community College in Lamar, Colorado.

Leenhouts holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Hope College in Holland, Michigan, and a master’s degree in general psychology from Central Michigan University in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan. He also earned a specialist degree in psychological services with an emphasis in school psychology from Central Michigan University.

Fort Bend County resident appointed director of HMNS at Sugar Land For a proud Fort Bend County native like Susan Buck, her city and education have always played a major part in her life. Buck had a long-standing career as a classroom teacher and librarian within the Fort Bend Independent School District for 29 years. With Buck’s tenure in education, it was nothing less than a natural transition when she joined the Houston Museum of Natural Science main campus in 2004 and created the Youth Education Sales Department.

As the Director of Youth Education Sales, Buck has been responsible for curriculum development, promotion, scheduling and evaluation of school field trips to the Museum, consequently yielding an annual attendance of 450,000 students.

To highlight Buck’s instrumental contri-

52

Among the many distinctions bestowed upon Leenhouts are National Finalist for the Outstanding First-year Student Advocate Award presented by the National Resource Center for the First Year Experience; two-time Georgia region recipient of the Distinguished College Administrator presented by Phi Theta Kappa; and National Campus Activities Programmer of the Year Award presented by the Association for the Promotion of Campus Activities. For four consecutive years, Leenhouts was named Finalist for Academic Advisor of the Year at College of Coastal Georgia.

Lenny’s 2010 Summit Awards Ricardo Aguilar and his wife and business partner, Alicia Farias, are surprised at the Lenny’s Sub Shop 2010 Summit group conference held in Atlanta, Georgia on July 29.

They were recognized as the owner/operators of the Top Five stores for Speed of Service.

Making the presentation was George Alvord, Lenny’s CEO. The shop, located at Crabb River Road in Richmond, became the second in the Houston area when it opened one-anda-half years ago.

butions to the Houston Museum of Natural Science, she has now been appointed as Director of the Houston Museum of Natural Science at Sugar Land, a satellite facility of the Houston Museum of Natural Science, which has been open for a year.

Buck, a resident of Quail Valley, continues to educate and inspire within the city of Sugar Land through new HMNS at Sugar Land programming like “Second Saturdays,” a series of monthly events which include familyfriendly promotions on various topics, and weekly story time events where Buck is able to engage children of all ages.

“Being given the opportunity to work in Sugar Land has been an amazing opportunity,” says Buck. “I’m truly looking forward to renewing my relationship with the Sugar Land community.”

Fort Bend Business Journal • November 2010

Submit Newsworthy items to editor_fbbj@fortbendstar.com

Fort Bend Focus Magazine names managing editor

Fort Bend Dental Associates announce new associate Dr. Dwight P. Peccora Fort Bend Dental Associates announces Dwight D. Peccora, DDS, has joined the practice as an associate. Dr. Peccora, a native of Houston, graduated with his Bachelors Dr. Dwight Peccora of Science with honors from Baylor University in 2005 and subsequently received his Doctorate of Dental Surgery degree from the University of Texas Dental Branch at Houston in 2010.

Dr. Peccora was awarded the Senior Student Award from the UTDB Alumni Association for his scholarship and leadership as the President of the UTDB Class of 2010 from 2006-2010. He is a member of the American Dental Association, Texas Dental Association, Greater Houston Dental Society and Academy of General Dentistry.

Fort Bend Dental Associates has been serving the Fort Bend County area since 1987 and has continued to offer the highest quality dental care available.

Doctors James Condrey, Randal Glenn, and Brian Machart welcome the addition of Dr. Peccora to the practice. Dr. Peccora will offer some extended hours for the convenience of our new and existing patients including full days on Fridays and some Saturdays upon request.

Dr. Peccora and his wife recently purchased a home in Riverstone and look forward to becoming an active part of our community.

Perry as an Events Specialist. cover and feature stories for Parish-Kaminski coordinated nearly four years. Over the special events throughout the past year and a half, Parishstate for the Texas Department Kaminski has served as Editor of Agriculture and transferred in Chief of Focus on Women into the Marketing Division Magazine, a new women’s of the agency where she magazine published by served as the Coordinator for Michael and Lisa Fredrickson, Advertising and Special Events publishers of Fort Bend responsible for the department’s Focus and Pearland Focus “Buy Texas” program.

In Magazines.

1999, Parish-Kaminski started “We are thrilled to her own firm specializing in have Patti on board as our Patti Parish-Kaminski marketing communications, Managing Editor,” said Lisa Fredrickson, Publisher. “Her work to benefit events and public relations in Fort Bend. our community along with her wealth of Parish-Kaminski & Associates’ clientele has experience in communications and in the consisted of numerous non-profit agencies, publishing industry makes her a valuable publishing companies including Farm & asset to our team.”

Ranch Publishing, Regency Publishing After graduating from the University of and three Focus Magazine titles, various Texas’ School of Communications, Parishprofessionals and political candidates.

Kaminski began her career at a Houston Parish-Kaminski is married to Fort Bend advertising agency where she served as a media County native Tim Kaminski. They have buyer and publicist. She returned to Austin, lived in Fort Bend for fifteen years, and Texas to serve on the Communications Staff they have two children, Kassidi, age 13 and of then Texas Agriculture Commissioner Rick Kolton, age 11.

Photo by Alisa Murray

Fort Bend Focus and Pearland Focus Magazines are pleased to announce the addition of Patti Parish-Kaminski as the new Managing Editor. Parish-Kaminski’s career in the fields of communications, public relations and special events has spanned over twenty-two years, and she has served as a contributor to the magazines writing various

Garvin named Fort Bend Chamber’s President Emeritus Board action from this month’s Fort Bend Directors.”

Chamber of Commerce meeting unanimousGarvin has been with the Fort Bend ly approved the appointment of Louis Garvin Chamber of Commerce for the last 25 years, as President Emeritus of the organization. graduated from Leadership, served four Garvin has been president of the Fort Bend years as a board member, three years as Vice Chamber of Commerce for the past 15 years Chairman of Leadership and a term as Vice guiding it and its many programs Chairman of Programs and Special and initiatives that have served as the Events. On the Executive Committee catalyst for the success and growth of for three years, he served as chairmanthe business community as well as the elect to the board, chairman of the organization itself. “During his tenure, board and immediate past chairman. the Chamber has experience dramatic “His strong belief in the value of the growth to become one of the largest Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce, and most respected Chambers in this Louis Garvin his unwavering energy, wit, and crearea,” said Bridget Yeung, Board Chair. ativity, commitment ,and devotion, are appreKeri Schmidt, who succeeds Garvin as ciated,” said Schmidt. “Louis and I have President and the Chamber’s CEO said, worked together for over 10 years and I am “Louis will take on a new role with the excited to continue to have him as a resource Chamber as an advisor to the Board of and asset.”

November 2010 • Fort Bend Business Journal

53

NEWSWORTHY S. Scott Burgess, CPA opens new Katy office S. Scott Burgess, CPA, an accounting, tax, and advisory firm now has two convenient locations in Sugar Land and Katy. The acquisition of Robert W. Lawrence CPA which served the Katy area since 1979, is complete.

The Burgess firm places a high value on client relationships and provides services to both individuals and small businesses for tax planning and tax preparation, IRS issue resolution, payroll, bookkeeping, consulting, and advisory services. “This acquisition is a significant step forward for our firm and will approximately double our current size,” said Burgess. “We will have two offices conveniently located to serve all our customers and seasoned staff members to take excel-

S. Scott Burgess

lent care of our clients’ tax, bookkeeping, and business needs as we always have.”

The firm looks forward to bringing its client-oriented business model to the Katy area and developing many new relationships in the

community.

Burgess was recently named Central Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce’s Leader of the Year for 2009-2010 and was also nominated to the Fort Bend Katy Business Journal’s List of “Top 40 under 40” executives and entrepreneurs. View his web site at www.

SBurgessCPA.com or call (281) 980-3050 for a free consultation.

Deck the Halls provides enjoyable setting for office party or holiday gift Need a fun and entertaining office party or employee or client gift? The Fort Bend Symphony Orchestra makes it easy with its popular “Deck the Halls” holiday concert at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 5 at the Stafford Centre. The concert features classic, seasonal favorites like “Sleigh Ride” and “A Most Wonderful Christmas,” as well as contemporary selections from the motion picture soundtrack of The Polar Express and a delightful blend of America’s favorite march with a Christmas favorite in “Jingle Bells Forever.”

Also featured are the remarkably talented junior and senior division winners of the Houston Music Teachers Association/ Houston Young Artist Concert Concerto Competition who will perform with FBSO.

Members of the Fort Bend Symphony

Adult tickets begin at just $10 and are available at www.fbso.org or by calling (281) 276.9642. A 10 percent discount is available when purchasing 10 or more tickets. Children 12 and under are free with a reserved ticket. The Stafford Centre is located at 10505 Cash Road at Murphy Rd in Stafford, Texas.

Indermuehle & Co. completes lease at 12650 Directors Drive in Stafford INOVA Geophysical, Inc. has leased 14,280 square feet of warehouse space at 12650 Directors Drive, Suite 600 in Stafford to Texas Airsystems. Jane Holloway and Lang

54

Motes with Indermuehle & Co. represented the Tenant, INOVA Geophysical, Inc. and Gray Gilbert with CB Richard Ellis represented the Subtenant, Texas Airsystems.

Fort Bend Business Journal • November 2010

Hunting PLC announces competitive call for $50,000 art prize Hunting PLC, an international oil services company, has announced the call for entries for the 31st annual Hunting Art Prize, a competition in which established, emerging, and amateur artists throughout Texas vie for a $50,000 award. Interested artists must be Texas residents and 18 years of age by August 1, 2010.

Those wishing to enter must submit a single two-dimensional painting or drawing that is no larger than 72 inches by 72 inches.

To participate, artists must sign up using the electronic form at www.huntingartprize. com and upload one digital image of their artwork in a JPEG format. All entries must be submitted no later than midnight, Tuesday, November 30, 2010.

The winning piece will be announced at the 2011 Hunting Art Prize gala on April 30 in Houston, where all of the selected art will be exhibited.

After 25 years in the United Kingdom, where it became one of Great Britain’s top art competitions, the prize relocated to Houston in 2006. Its $50,000 award is historically the most generous annual award in North America for painting and drawing.

For further information on the Hunting Art Prize, including further details on eligibility and submission requirements, go to www. huntingartprize.com.

Hurricane Ike disaster recovery program reopened Fort Bend County is re-opening the process for homeowners to apply for housing rehabilitation assistance from damages sustained due to Hurricane Ike. Applications must be submitted to the Fort Bend County Community Development Department, Rosenberg Annex, 4520 Reading Road, Suite A Rosenberg, TX 77471 by December 17, 2010. Please contact (281) 341-4410 with any questions.

Submit Newsworthy items to sharon@fortbendstar.com

Fort Bend County breaks ground for University Branch Library

Precinct 2 Commissioner Grady Prestage, Gene Reed, Dick Phillips, Betty McCrohan, Mayor James Thompson, UH Regent Jarvis Hollingsworth, UH Chancellor Dr. Renu Khator, County Judge Bob Hebert, Precinct 3 Commissioner Andy Meyers, Ray Bailey, Library Director Clara Russell, and Precinct 4 Commissioner James Patterson.

Jason Johnson named Senior Project Manager at R. G. Miller Engineers R. G. Miller Engineers announced the promotion of Jason Johnson, P.E. to the position of Senior Project Manager. He will also continue to assist in the operations and inter- Jason Johnson nal leadership of the Land Development and Utility District Services Department.

Johnson has more than 16 years of professional experience in civil engineering projects, with extensive experience in engineering planning and design, construction management, project management, Municipal Utility District management, and coordination of master planned land development projects, complex transportation facilities, and public utilities. He has B.S. and M.S. degrees in Civil Engineering from Texas A&M University and is Chairman for the Design Standards and Plan Review Committee for the Houston Council of Engineering Companies and a member of the Greater Houston Builders Association.

Sara Appliances & Electronics fed the Houston Food Bank Charity is a dish best served hot and that’s exactly what well-known culinary chefs did when they participated in a charity cook-off hosted by SARA Appliances & Electronics benefiting the Houston Food Bank on Oct. 9.

The smell of spices filled the air and tempted customers to sample each dish who then donated to their favorite team of chefs.

The chef teams produced more than $900 which fed 3,000 people at the Houston

Food Bank. The showdown was between chefs from the Houston Food Bank, Bronya Coleman from GE Appliances, YoJ from 104.1 KRBE and Jorge Porras from Young Chefs Academy Sugar Land.

Sara Appliance and Electronics through the Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce will host a Network Nites from 5-7pm, on Wednesday, November 10th at 16820 Southwest Freeway in Sugar Land.

Fluor Foundation donates $15,000 to Lamar Educational Awards Foundation The Fluor Foundation recently donated $15,000 to the Lamar Educational Awards Foundation (L.E.A.F), supporting L.E.A.F.’s goal of funding innovative ideas and classroom projects for the students and teachers of Lamar CISD. Since its inception in 1952, the Fluor Foundation, along with Fluor Corporation, has contributed more than $145 million to projects around the world. In 2009, Fluor Corporation and the Fluor Foundation contributed a combined total of $6.5 million to community organizations and educational initiatives in 17 countries.

In nine years of existence, L.E.A.F. has

invested more than one million dollars in LCISD schools.

Fluor Community Relations Manager Cynthia von Tesmar and Senior Project Director Richard Mersole presented L.E.A.F. executive director Janice Knight (center) with the donation.

November 2010 • Fort Bend Business Journal

55

Patrick Henry Creative Promotions deserve a toast

By Sharon K. Wallingford

P

atrick Henry Creative Promotions is a full-service food and beverage marketing agency in Stafford that specializes in the design, implementation and evaluation of innovative and revenue-generating food and beverage programs throughout Texas and the world. In Texas alone the company has been ranked as one of “The Best Companies to Work” for six consecutive years. In 2008 they took the top spot. So what will 2011 bring to their plate?

Their dedication to service has earned them numerous awards and distinctions. They have received a Public Service Award from the Mayor of Houston and in 1997 Henry was named an “Everyday Hero” by the American Red Cross Chapter of Houston. He’s been named one of Houston’s Entrepreneurs of the Year while being featured as one of the fastest growing companies in Houston and listed on Fortune’s 5000 survey.

The company’s top client list includes the Hilton Hotels Corporation, Omni

56

Hotels, Hard Rock International, Ruby Tuesday, McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood Restaurants, Palm Restaurants, Hospitality USA (Sherlock’s Baker Street Pub), MillerCoors, T.G.I. Friday’s, Buffalo Wild Wings, The Cheesecake Factory, Outback Steakhouse as the numbers continue to expand.

“I am big on loyalty and being positive,” says Patrick Henry, as he readies to board another flight. “I try to lead by example and be a good team player. We have directors for each of our divisions and I’m a firm believer that they need to be empowered to make effective decisions for their team members and our clients.

“It is important to me that I meet with our management team frequently to know the status of our projects and I do add my ideas when needed. At the end of the day, it is my name on the door and I am held accountable for our successes and our failures. I believe in hiring enthusiastic individuals that have a passion for the food and beverage hospitality industry. Our team members must also

Fort Bend Business Journal • November 2010

be positive and genuinely nice. We can train anyone on the do’s and don’ts of creating successful promotions, but you can’t train a person to be nice.”

Henry serves on the board of the Cheers Advisory Board, Nightclub and Bar magazine, the California Culinary Academy, the Amtrak Advisory Board and the Galveston Railroad Museum. In 1997, Henry founded the Millennium Advisory Board, made up of the most aggressive and creative food and beverage executives across the country.

“I am so proud to have a business in Fort Bend County,” states Henry. “For the many years I lived in Stafford I have seen tremendous growth. When I travel to such cities as Los Angeles, Chicago and New York I love telling people our company is based in Stafford, Texas. I tell out-of-town people we are “big” in Stafford. Here, I love the family atmosphere where our UPS and Fed Ex drivers are friends with all of us in the office. One of them even uses our kitchen to fix his lunch.

I am also impressed with the growth of Fort Bend and its great new restaurants.

Henry says he is not sure what his expectations were when he first started his company.

“I know my goals were small and I never expected to have an office with 33 employees one day. I was just hoping to pay my bills and live a comfortable life. I never dreamed someday I would work with companies like Disney or be in creative meetings with companies like Hilton Hotels and Miller Lite.

“I had attended a Super Bowl and thought how great it would be to attend a VIP event.

Our company now puts on Super Bowl events for clients. I have been to 17 Super Bowls and have met so many sports celebrities. I even held the Super Bowl trophy as a guest of the Packers the year they won in New Orleans. Sometimes, I worry that I might wake up from this long dream.”

Henry credits his parents. “They taught me to always be respectful and kind to people no matter what position I was in. They always preached if you do good things for people you will be rewarded. They taught me to give instead of receive. When I started my business in 1987, I said if I was ever successful I would give back to my community, church, and people who were less fortunate. I would make sure employees would enjoy coming to work and reward them for their loyalty. That is what motivates me every day.

His father was an executive for the Santa Fe railroad for 41 years and he wanted a similar career due to his love for trains. His first

PHCP employees pose prior to departure back to Houston from New Orleans on the train.

job on the railroad was custodian, messenger, and driver. “My father got me the job and I realized later it was his way of telling me to seek a different career. I started waiting tables and loved the interaction with customers and really enjoyed the hospitality business.”

Henry soon left waiting tables to doing promotions for restaurants and clubs. “That gave me the idea to start my own promotions company. I started as a one man band out of my house in Stafford. The first few years were challenging to say the least. I got behind on all my bills including the house note but kept working long and hard. Meantime, my parents kept telling me not to give up.”

He recalls how people were so kind and rooted for him to succeed. “Even the people at the Stafford post office, who would see me come in everyday to send letters and packages out to potential clients, showed their caring nature. The employees in the office supply store in Stafford where I sent out faxes were rooting for me. The people at my bank, who saw that I had no money were rooting for me.

I even tried to borrow $1,000 and was turned down, yet, they all wanted me to succeed.”

His turning point was the early 90’s. “I hired my first employee and before I knew it I was traveling throughout the U.S. I had to move out of my house and into offices in Stafford and add a couple of more people. It had become a dream come true and it was because of people believing in me and utilizing my parents’ philosophy of being kind and respectful to everyone I met along the way.”

Today the company employs 33 and he is a “Million Mile” passenger on both American and Continental Airlines. “I have also traveled over 50,000 miles on our private railroad cars for business and pleasure.”

They do schedule regular company meetings – approximately once a month. They

Best Places to work in the State of Texas

also keep morale high by celebrating monthly birthdays, giving employees a paid day off on their birthdays, annual company trips, employee of the year (voted on by peers), and recognition awards for going above and beyond on a daily basis along with bonuses.

“It’s fun to come up with creative ways to say “thank you” to team members because without them, our company would not be where it is today. We do car washes, free Friday lunches, gift cards to Buffalo Wild Wings and Friday’s and close early on the last Friday of each month as a way of showing our appreciation for their hard work.”

Henry runs every morning before leaving for work. “My goal each morning when running is to think how can I make our company a better place to work and how can I make an impact on someone’s life in a positive way?”

He is most proud of the fact that eight years ago he was running one morning and ran by a retirement home. “The residents were all sitting alone having breakfast and I thought to myself we do not do enough for our senior citizens. I went to the office and decided we needed to adopt a retirement home in Fort Bend. We chose Greatwood Retirement Center.” The company now hosts a monthly luncheon for them that includes a game of Bingo for an hour. They also host a holiday

party and pizza parties for them. “They have become our extended family and we sincerely love each and every one of them,” he added, recalling the recent celebration of one of the resident’s 101 birthday.

Another company initiative is that if you see a soldier at the airport or in a restaurant the employee is allowed to upgrade them to First Class on their flight or buy their meal on the spot. “I want our employees to know that they are sacrificing their life to protect us and we should always let them know how much we appreciate what they are doing for us.”

Also, if a police officer or fireman is killed in the line of duty no matter what city or state it might be they send a donation to their family.

“It gets back to my philosophy of leaving a lasting impression on someone’s life.”

“I once thought that if I ever had the opportunity I would someday purchase my own private railroad car to travel across this beautiful country,” says Henry. His dream came true in 2005 when he purchased two private train cars and named them after his parents, Warren and Evelyn Henry. “My dad had passed so he did not have the opportunity to see the car, but my Mom, who is 93 years old and lives in Kerrville, has traveled over 30,000 miles on the train cars. When we stop in various cities she always points to the car with her name on it and tells passengers that it is named after her.” Henry has traveled to Super Bowls, the Kentucky Derby, the Final Four and Mardi Gras entertaining guests and friends.

The Warren & Evelyn Henry Private Train Cars

“We have never had a salesperson or sales department,” claims Henry. “I always tell our team that our clients act as our sales department. If we do an excellent job they will in turn tell people about us and recommend our services.” He’s reminded how this week they were on a call with the CEO of McCormick & Schmick’s Restaurants and towards the end of the call he commented, “‘I always recommend you to other restaurant companies and I hope they are calling you.’” Henry does not think it can get any better than that.

November 2010 • Fort Bend Business Journal

57

Banks

To Be Listed Call

SERVICE DIRECTORY

281-690-4201

Advertising 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. 281-980-2666 (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!

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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!

Sterling Bank - Fort Bend 281-277-0100 12840 Southwest Freeway, Stafford, TX 77477, Fax: 281-277-0223, Serving owner-operated 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.

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.

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.

Fort Bend Business Journal • November 2010

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

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 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.

Locksmith B&B Locksmiths • 281-392-5500 www.bandblocksmiths.com. bblocksmiths@consolidated.net. 624 S. Mason Rd., Katy, TX 77450, Fax 281-395-5625. Full service locksmith including safe sales & service: Commercial, Residential, and Automotive.

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.

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, savings of up to 50% by outsourcing with us, reduced rejection rates, faster payment of claims, average of 14 days response. To find out more about this and other services, visit our website for a FREE practice analysis and 50% off the initial set-up fee.

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, in house optical with a large selection of frames and contact lenses, medical management of eye infections and diseases.

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 281-342-969 - 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

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.

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.

Janet Williams, Realtor – 832.724.4894 Realm Real Estate Professional www.har.com/jlwilliams janetw4co@yahoo.com 14090 Southwest Frwy, Ste 102. Sugar Land, TX 77478, It’s a great time to buy a HUD foreclosure with FHA financing because you just pay $100 down payment + closing cost.

Call for details. Providing services for buyers, sellers, renters. Also specialize in short sales for residential and commercial.

Staffing / Recruiting / Job Seeking

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.

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 direct hire and direct-hire. We are the IT experts! To save our clients time we offer Video Resumes that allows the client 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.

Printers / Graphics Video Services 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 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.

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.

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

To Advertise Call 281-690-4201 November 2010 • Fort Bend Business Journal

59

SERVICE DIRECTORY

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.

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, 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, Sun-Thurs 11 am -9 pm, Fri-Sat 11 am -10 pm. 2109-B 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. From Lunch Salads & Sandwiches to Dinner with Crabcakes and Filet Au Poivre to Diver Sea Scallops with Boneless Braised Short Rib ‘Surf & Turf’ appetizers and Farm Raised Chilean Sea Bass. No need to go to Houston or into Sugar Land for 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 60

Fort Bend Business Journal • November 2010

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) 281-3956746. www.candelaris.com. $ • FB Charlie’s Restaurants and Catering, Poboys and Grill Two locations in Fort Bend. Cajun home cooked food. The “special” plate is a favorite with a choice of one meat, two sides and a roll. The meat choices range from brisket, sausage, and meat loaf, to baked chicken, turkey/dressing, ham, salisbury steak and spaghetti/meatballs. Home made desserts are a favorite feature. Catering is available for large to small functions, banquets, corporate or organization luncheons/dinners. 4719 Lexington @ Dulles, 281-499-0808 and 1250 Texas Parkway, 281-499-2233. $ Chef for You Offers take out dinners prepared from scratch by professional chefs. Online ordering; Customized Catering Menus Available; Corporate Catering for Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner. Homemade Cakes, Cookies, and Brownies; Soups and Salads. New menus offered each week at www.chef4u.net • 9920 Highway 90-A, Suite B-260, Sugar Land • 281-313-CHEF (2433). $ Fernando’s Latin Cuisine We are pleased to announce the arrival of Fernando’s Latin CuisineAn exotic culinary adventure! Started by, Fernando Echeverria, the same owner of Los Andes by the Compact Center in HoustonAnother 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. 281-494-9087. wwww. fernandosrestaurants.com. $$ • FB

Hickory Barn BAR-B-Q The Kiddy Brothers came to Houston with great BBQ on their minds. The first BBQ restaurant opened in 1953. Since then the family owned and operated business has been serving up great BBQ. Although times have changed, our idea of great BBQ hasn’t. Come by and see us. Catering available. • 11534 Wilcrest @ W. Belfort. 281-530-9382. $

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

J & L Café Homestyle Cookin’ like Grandma used to make! Joy Smith and Paul Jordan are back, and they’re cooking up a delightful assortment of homemade dishes to satisfy the heartiest of appetites.

Since they opened their new restaurant, they’ve been serving up family recipes handed down for 3 generations. Stop by J & L Café and enjoy Chicken and Dumplings, Smothered Oxtails, Meatloaf, Ribs, Fried Catfish, Roast Beef, Mashed Potatoes, Okra, and Cornbread Dressing, to name just a few menu items and daily specials. The assortment of Desserts includes Peach Cobbler, Cheesecake and Banana Pudding, all guaranteed to make your taste buds smile! Joy Smith, co-proprietor, worked as Personal Chef to Former Houston Juneor Lee Brown for many years. Whole Cornish Hens are available on Sundays. Breakfast served Tuesday-Saturday 6-9am, Open for Lunch and Dinner Tuesday-Sunday, Closed Mondays. 1110 FM 2234 on the border of Stafford & Missouri City. 281-499-9895. $

Aristotle Grill

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 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 continues...

Let Aristotle Grill Cater your employee Lunches, Business Meetings, and / or Corporate Gatherings!!!

We will leave you and your guests impressed!!!

Mediterranean

Special Plates: Served with your choice of Rice or Salad

Shish Kabob

281-277-7787

A skewer of chicken or beef

$9.99

2109-B Highway 6 @ Highway 59 South, Sugar Land

We deliver!

Minimum amount required Business opens 7 days Sun-Thurs 11am - 9pm • Fri-Sat 11am -10pm November 2010 • Fort Bend Business Journal

61

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 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. 281-240-3060. $ • 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

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Fort Bend Business Journal • November 2010

Mangola’s Fine Italian Restaurant Serving fine Italian food to Southwest Houston and Fort Bend Country for more than 20 years. Conveniently located at 11786 S. Wilcrest @ Highway 59 S. Open for Lunch and Dinner 7 Days a week. Check out our website www.mangolasrestaurant.com. Call 281498-6790 for reservations or to schedule your special event.

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

Old Hickory Inn Barbecue More than 40 years in business in the Houston and Fort Bend area, Old Hickory Inn Barbecue is famous for their Old Fashion Hickory Smoked Barbecue and numerous Homemade Side Dishes, made fresh daily. They are available to cater your next event, for up to 3000 guests. In addition to great Barbecue, they make an awesome Gyro (Greek wrap featuring beef & lamb), and feature fruit cobbler, cream pies, rice pudding and cheesecake for dessert A casual dining experience in 3 convenient locations, with a drive-through window at the Highway 6 location. Open 7 days a week, Sunday-Thursday from 11am-9pm, and Friday & Saturday 11am-9:30pm. 3334 F.M. 1092 @ Hwy 6 Missouri City 281-499-8904 / 8000 Hwy 6 @ Beechnut 281-983-5020 / 5427 S. Braeswood @ Chimney Rock 713-723-8908. $ • WB 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, 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, 281-265-0303. $ • WB

continues...

FINE ITALIAN DINING AND BEST PIZZA IN SUGAR LAND

281-565-0366 3699 Highway 6 Sugar Land (Corner of Hwy 6 & Settlers’ Way)

www.LaMagiaCafe.com Delivery Available (Limited Areas) HOURS: Mon-Thurs. 11-9pm • Fri-Sat. 11-10pm • Sun. 11-9pm

November 2010 • Fort Bend Business Journal

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Pappa La Rosa Flying Pizza and Restaurant Pappa La Rosa Flying Pizza and Restaurant is a warm and inviting family owned and operated restaurant where pizza, pasta and subs are available on the menu, with daily specials. Catering, a private party room and birthday packages are also available. Dine in or take out. Open for lunch and dinner Tuesday – Sunday. • 16227 Lexington Boulevard, Sugar Land • Call 281-313-3500. $ • 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 281-491-2901. 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. $

Tacone Flavor Grill Fresh. Fun. Handmade. Unique Environment. Tacone is a Casual Quick Serve Restaurant with gourmet flavor at not so gourmet prices. Rated Best Gourmet Wrap Restaurant by Restaurant and Resorts. This franchise based company from Los Angeles, CA has unique gourmet wraps, hot pannini sandwiches, salads, and smoothies. There is a BBQ Chicken Quesadillas waiting for you at Tacone. Make your other senses jealous! Sugar Land Town Square, 2228 Texas Drive, Sugar Land, 77479; 281-313-2300, fax: 281313-2305. www.tacone.com. $ 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 Drive-Thru.

505 Murphy Rd (FM 1092) just south of Hwy 90 in Stafford, 281-403-FAST (3278). $

KOLBE CURTICE... continued from page 28

for each tenant located in their projects, analyzing the terms of occupancy and contingent lease rates.

A key point to consider with regards to the proposed lease accounting changes is that, in all likelihood, the rules will apply to all leases, including existing leases that were signed prior to the implementation of the new rules. As a result, it has been estimated that approximately $1.25 trillion will be transferred to corporate balance sheets if/ when this proposed accounting change is adopted. This means that real estate professionals and company decision makers must immediately start considering the effect that both existing and future leases will have on their financial statements once the proposed rules are implemented.

Commercial Real Estate: If the new rules are adopted, the impact on the Commercial Real Estate market will be substantial and will have a significant impact on tenants and landlords. The change will not only effect tenants and landlords, but brokers as it will increase the

64

complexity of lease agreements and provides a strong incentives for tenants to execute shorter term leases”.

The shorter term leases will create financing issues for property owners as their lenders and investors will prefer longer term leases to secure their investment. Financing will be considerably more difficult in the future.

This accounting change will increase the administrative burden on companies and the value of leasing single tenant buildings will effectively be eliminated. Lessors of single tenant buildings will ask themselves why not just own the building, if I have to record it on my financial statements anyway?”

Conclusion: Landlords will need to know how to structure and market lease terms that will be desirable to tenants in the future. Many tenants will realize that the new rules will take away the benefits that accounting rules afforded them in the past, and will determine leasing to be a less beneficial option. They may also see the new standards as being more cumbersome and complicated to account

Fort Bend Business Journal • November 2010

for and disclose. Finally, it will become a challenge for every landlord and commercial real estate broker to find a new approach for marketing commercial real estate leases that will make them more attractive than owning.

The accounting changes, could, however potentially stimulate a lack luster commercial real estate market in 2011 and 2012 as companies decide to purchase property rather than lease in 2013 and beyond.

Both landlords and tenants in Fort Bend should begin preparing for the new changes by reviewing their leases with their commercial real estate broker and discussing the financial ramifications with their CFO’s, outside accountants and tax accountants to avoid potential financial surprises if and when the changes are adopted.

Kolbe M. Curtice CCIM, CLS is a licensed Texas Real Estate Broker and is the Managing Director of Colliers- Fort Bend., 15999 City Walk, Suite 250, Sugar Land, Texas, 77479. He can be reached at 281494-4769 phone / 281-494-3227 fax / Kolbe.curtice@colliers.com. H

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You’ve spent hours on the phone together — and months planning a girl’s get-away.

Now do something else together — schedule a mammogram.

State-of-the-art BreaSt CanCer DiagnoStiCS: Digital Mammography Breast Ultrasound Breast MRI MRI Guided Biopsy Ultrasound Biopsy Stereotactic Biopsy A special thank you to the Fort Bend Junior Service League members who are the faces of our Women’s Health Campaign.

Reminding a friend to schedule a mammogram could save her life. According to The National Cancer Institute, the most effective ways to detect breast cancer early are getting a high-quality screening mammogram and having a clinical breast exam on a regular basis.

You can rest assured that at the Breast Center at Methodist Sugar Land Hospital you and your friend will receive the high-quality mammogram you need. It is the only full-service center of its kind in Fort Bend County that women can rely on for dedicated breast radiology expertise, state-of-the-art technology and compassionate care.

Call 281-242-PINK (7465) to schedule a mammogram at Methodist Sugar Land Hospital.

LEADING MEDICINE® Spine BreastCenter Center

16655 Southwest Freeway Sugar Land, Texas 77479 281-242-PINK (7465) MethodistSugarLand.com