Inspire Coastal Bend Business Feb/Mar 2015 by Inspire Coastal Bend Magazine

A NEW HIGH

COASTAL BEND BUSINESS

MAGAZINE

STRONG SOUTH TEXAS PRESENCE

SARAH O'BRIEN

JOE PEREZ GET YOUR GROOVE BACK

MAKING SMART HAIR CARE CHOICES

WEDDING DAY WOWS DELIGHTING YOUR CUSTOMERS 101

AND NAVYARMY COMMUNITY CREDIT UNION page

26 FOOD, ART, LIFE

THE 360 DEGREES OF BUSINESS MANAGEMENT INSPIRED STYLE

THE ZEPEDAS AND NUEVO CAFÉ

FEATURING SAM CARPENTER

FEBRUARY.MARCH 2015

SOCIAL MEDIA HOW TO ATTRACT NEW BUSINESS

I N S P I R E C O A S TA L B E N D M A G . C O M

WANT A CHEAPER ELECTRIC BILL? The money we save you is worth investigating.

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ALL IN A DAY’S WORK CHOOSING COLORS AND FABRICS. MEASURING FOR SIZE AND SCALE.

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MOSAIC A Collection of Unique & Wonderful Things

women’s.men’s.home.accessories.

COASTAL BEND BUSINESS

MAGAZINE

FEBRUARY.MARCH 2015 PUBLISHER

ADRIAN GARZA EDITOR Allison Alvarado

ART DIRECTOR Liv Madison

Johnny Was // Ivy Jane Free People // O'Neill Southern Tide // Tolani

SALES & MARKETING DIRECTOR Holly Duvall

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Mandy Ashcraft Kristen Bily Lisa Black Tracy Bracy Kim Bridger D’anne Buquet Kaitlin Calk Chase Carlisle Steve Hindman Anton Kindzirsky Connie Laughlin Kellie Shipley Sylvia Slezak Sarah Tindall

PHOTOGRAPHY Dustin Ashcraft Paul Marshall Fonzie Munoz

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Brittanie Robertson Jessica Salinas

www.inspirecoastalbendmag.com For advertising information, please call 361.548.1044 or email adrian@inspirecoastalbendmag.com. For editorial comments and suggestions, please email adrian@inspirecoastalbendmag.com.

3820 S. Alameda #38 Corpus Christi, TX 78411

361.852.3838

7957 Wolverine Corpus Christi, Texas 78414 Phone: 361.548.1044 Copyright © Inspire Coastal Bend Magazine. All rights reserved. Reproduction without the expressed written permission of the publisher is prohibited.

I N S P I R E C O A S TA L B E N D M A G . C O M

CONTENTS FEBRUARY.MARCH 2015

BUSINESS COACH 10

Covering Your Bases

FEATURE 12 14 16 18 20 22 24

Make the Smart Choice Rewards: The Key to Public Safety Wedding Day Wows ‘Like’ Social Media Let’s Be Friends! How to Delight Your Customers Make a Happier Company

MONEY MATTERS 38

Know Your Options

TASTE 42

Easter Treat

TRAVEL 46

A Perfect Beginning

SPECIAL FEATURE COVER AND TABLE OF CONTENTS PHOTOS BY: DUSTIN ASHCRAFT

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26 SARAH

O’BRIEN AND NAVYARMY COMMUNITY CREDIT UNION

The small-town business is making its presence felt in South Texas, thanks to the dedicated president and CEO, the friendly and knowledgable staff and the loyal members who keep it going strong.

30 JOE PEREZ

The owner of Smoothie King-Corpus Christi gives back to his friends, his family and his community by inspiring Coastal Bend residents to achieve their health and fitness goals, one smoothie at a time.

34 THE ZEPEDAS

AND NUEVO CAFÉ

Teri and Zee bring their love of food, art and life to this out-of-thebox café in the Six Points area – a landmark of local culture and delicious dining options.

This Time, She Said, “I Do.”

INSPIRED STYLE 52

Sam Carpenter

STYLE 56

Get Your Groove Back

ENTERTAINMENT 64

Something for Everyone

NONPROFIT 68

Big Benefits

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REACH YOUR AUDIENCE, GROW YOUR SALES.

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I N S P I R E C O A S TA L B E N D M A G . C O M

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Choosing the right Broker makes ALL the difference ...

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I N S P I R E C O A S TA L B E N D M A G . C O M

BUSINESS COACH

A look at the 360 degrees of business management By: CONNIE LAUGHLIN

EMPLOYEE OPTIMIZATION

Business owners must constantly tweak essential strategic initiatives. A well-defined human resources (HR) structure better protects assets and allows a business to run more smoothly with better employee morale. When you ask business leaders what drives productivity and profitability, they automatically think of products or services. But they’re missing the big picture – it’s their employees. Without giving their most valuable asset (employees) the attention they require, they’re setting themselves up for failure before they even turn on the lights. CONNIE LAUGHLIN is a business consultant for UniqueHR. For more information on outsourcing human resources, payroll, workers’ compensation insurance, safety training and, optionally, benefits, contact her at 361852-6392 or conniel@ uniquehr.com.

UNIQUE BUSINESS RESOURCES THAT HELP WITH HR PARTNERSHIPS

The word, “partner,” means to join with another or others, especially in a business or company with shared risks and profits. It’s a wise idea to partner with another that offers things you can’t personally provide. A word of caution: Ensure each have shared skin-in-the-game. If you’re looking for help creating and/or streamlining your businesses, or you need an experienced partner to dissipate the burden you have riding on your shoulders, a relationship with a professional employer organization (PEO) would be an excellent choice. While you have the business expertise, a PEO is the proven resource for employee administration, which is instrumental to the success of the business.

RISK MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES Where do you start? There are a multitude of areas for evaluation: » Workers’ compensation and benefit insurance policies » Tricky claims administration » HR administrative details and policies » Safety and risk management procedures and training

YOU CAN OPTIMIZE YOUR HR ON A SHOESTRING BUDGET. Every business leader (not in a PEO arrangement) needs to spend a minimum of one week per quarter in training for various areas of employment law, claims management and other expensive and time-consuming coursework. And you’ll still need to deal with all your various venders for workers’ compensation, payroll, etc. – or outsource it to save money and precious time.

BUDGET ALIGNMENT

You can optimize your HR on a shoestring budget! Ensuring your bases are covered takes time in the beginning because you don’t know what you don’t know until you know it. If you’re operating on a tight budget, that’s all the more reason to ensure your plan is appropriately designed and in place, with minimal labor and time. When you work with a PEO, it’s one source for everything. And they rein in all the employee costs – a huge added benefit!

HUMAN RESOURCES

There’s much more to HR than saying, “Yes, my employees are getting their paycheck each week and I have workers’ comp, so I’m good in that area!” Areas to thoroughly examine are:

» Employment law » Professional safety programs » Efficient payroll administration » In-depth HR solutions » Employer risk management » Workers’ compensation coverage Make a conscious effort to protect your business now! One solution every business should investigate is a PEO. The bottom line: You must implement comprehensive HR strategies in your small business.

I N S P I R E C O A S TA L B E N D M A G . C O M

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I N S P I R E C O A S TA L B E N D M A G . C O M

FEATURE

MAKE THE SMART CHOICE

The dangers of rideshare companies, and the safest way to attend to your transportation needs

ately there has been a lot of talk about Uber and Lyft and how they rival with the taxi industry to bring a better service to the customer – but do they really bring better service? Neither Uber nor Lyft consider themselves transportation companies. According to them, they are technology companies. That means there is no customer service provided through the company if something goes wrong. For example, if people leave their cell phone in a car, they might as well go buy a new one because there is no chance to contact the driver. If there is an accident, and you, a customer, are injured, good luck fighting the drivers’ private insurance for your injuries. In order to use the service, your credit card and personal information must be on file with the company. Then they use that information to data mine where you shop, where you eat and your spending habits, and they sell that information to third parties. Corpus Christi, along with many other cities, has implemented stings, arrested drivers and impounded vehicles because rideshare companies are operating illegally. Their drivers do not go through extensive screening processes such as criminal background checks, driving record checks and drug screenings to be qualified drivers. Amongst many other issues, these rideshare companies do not posses commercial insurance, which is necessary to cover all parties involved in an accident. Nor do they have a local office – or any office at all – where customers can voice their concerns if any issues arise. There have been many criminal concerns with these rideshare companies, as well, which involve assaults, robberies and rapes. Customers going from point A to point B should not be concerned about such heinous criminal acts. In order to compete with ride share companies and in the transportation industry, the taxi industry is encouraging cab companies to develop apps to compete in the industry. Express Cab, for example, is in process of rolling out a brand-new app to rival the ride-

RIDESHARE COMPANIES DO NOT POSSES COMMERCIAL INSURANCE, WHICH IS NECESSARY TO COVER ALL

PARTIES INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT.

share companies. This app will allow customers to get in touch with the closest available taxi, which they can see on a GPS with estimated time of arrival. Customers can also schedule pickups, pick the size of the vehicle and make any other requests within 30 seconds. In addition, Express Cab offers in-car Wi-Fi and complimentary bottled water all at standard rates ($2.50 a mile and a $2.50 initial fee when getting into the cab). So next time you are in need of transportation, make the safe choice and call a taxi. All taxi companies in the Coastal Bend area are locally owned and operated, so you can support local business.

Express Cab and Elite Express Part Buses and Limos are veteran owned and locally operated. For more information, check us out at www.elitecorpuschristi.com or www.expresscabcc.com, or call us anytime at 361-850-0633 or 361-960-9222.

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By: ANTON KINDZIRSKY

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FEATURE

REWARDS: THE KEY TO PUBLIC SAFETY Corpus Christi Crime Stoppers uses mystery and intrigue to increase support. By: D’ANNE BUQUET

perated by a local volunteer board, Corpus Christi Crime Stoppers (CCCS) acts as an avenue for the citizens of Corpus Christi to report crimes anonymously, and it pays cash rewards to the anonymous tipsters for tips that lead to the arrest of suspects and/or the recovery of stolen property or drugs. In 2014, CCCS received a total of 2,157 tips and paid $17,580 in rewards to anonymous tipsters. Since the program’s establishment in 1981, CCCS has paid more than $550,500 in rewards and recovered $3,949,621 worth of stolen property, proving the program works. To ensure the continued success of the program, funding for tips is crucial. Fortunately, the organization receives support from our local judges who assign portions of their court probation fees to CCCS. But these donations are not enough to sustain a financially healthy program. To engage the community and encourage more donations, the board of volunteers has found success by hosting cleverly themed fundraisers and mixers filled with mystery and intrigue. Last year, CCCS had a full house when they sold out of tickets to their annual murder mystery event honoring local judges, complete with a full dinner as a butler led guests in a live-action whodunit. Guests worked in teams to solve the mystery as more clues were revealed. The winning team won a prize package of over $1,000. This year, CCCS is hosting two can’t-miss events to raise awareness and funds. On Thursday, April 9, 2015, CCCS is hosting a “Mugshot Mixer” at House of Rock, featuring Corpus Christi’s Chief of Police Floyd Simpson, Nueces County Sheriff Jim Kaelin and Corpus Christi Fire Chief Robert Rocha. Each featured speaker will brief the audience on the current state of their department. For $10 entry, guests will be “booked” at the door and given a complimentary mugshot. Appetizers and beverages will be included. The third annual CCCS Murder Mystery will be held on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2015, at La Stanza Downtown Event Center. This imaginative

fundraiser honors local district judges as they portray suspects at a murderous dinner party. For sponsorship or ticket information, please visit www.facebook.com/corpuschristicrimestoppers or email csmurdermystery@gmail. com. Seating is limited, so securing reservations immediately is encouraged. The CCCS board of volunteers consists of business professionals and educators. Even though CCCS is not part of the Corpus Christi Police Department (CCPD), it works closely with designated CCPD officers who act as liai-

sons between the board, the police department, other law enforcement agencies and the media. Additionally, the board advises and financially supports local high school and middle school Campus Crime Stoppers. To submit a tip, call CCCS at 888-TIPS (8477), log on to www.tipsubmit.com or download the TipSubmit mobile app. No matter how a tip is submitted, all tipsters remain anonymous.

D’Anne Buquet is a Corpus Christi Crime Stoppers board member. For more information on the Corpus Christi Crime Stoppers program, visit www.888tips.com, or call Corpus Christi Police Department liaison, Senior Officer Kirk Stowers, at 361-814-2360.

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FEATURE

WEDDING DAY WOWS

New year, new beginnings – your wedding, your way By: SYLVIA SLEZAK

I N S P I R E C O A S TA L B E N D M A G . C O M

HERE ARE a few tips to help you have a wedding day full of wows and not woes.

Things you need to consider when planning your big day:  Wedding date and venue for the ceremony and reception  Photographer  Cakes  Flowers

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 Bride and bridal party attire

financial tips:  Allow plenty of time to plan and decide on details.  Document everything, including phone calls, phone numbers, who you spoke with and what was offered.  Insist on detailed contracts and refund policies.

 Guest list and Invitations

 Avoid paying in full upfront.

 Caterer (if that isn’t part of the venue package)

 Pay with a credit card and only as services are rendered.

 Hair, makeup, manicure and pedicure

 Invest in wedding insurance that covers everything from a torn wedding dress to a family member stuck at the airport.

 Entertainment, musicians and DJs  Limousine service  Rehearsal dinner

Before, during and after your wedding day:  Wow your wedding guests with a whitedove release.  De-stress with a body massage at a day spa.  Spend a romantic honeymoon or anniversary in your own villa for a week.  Find your dream home, and experience coastal living.

 Wedding planner  Gifts from the bride and groom to their wedding parties

Center photo by Padre Ryan Weddings & Events (www.padreryan.com) 1/ Richard M. Borchard Regional Fairgrounds (www.rmbfairgrounds.com) 2/ Sparkling City Photo Booth & DJ (www.sparklingcityphotobooth.com) 3/ Janet’s Cakery (janetscakery.com) 4/ The Blossom Shop Florist (www.blossomshopcc.com/wiki/bsf/home) 5/ Bridal Boutique & After Five (www.bridalboutiqueandafterfive.com) 6/ Moments in Paradise (www.mipdayspa.com) 7/ Sparkling City Photo Booth & DJ (www.sparklingcityphotobooth.com) 8/ The Limousine Company (www.tlc-limo.com) 9/ Birds of Paradise Snow-White Dove Releases (www.whitebirdsofparadise.com) 10/ Moments in Paradise (www.mipdayspa.com) 11/ Villa La Casita (www.villalacasita.net) 12/ Century21 Lee Real Estate (www.century21leerealestate.com)

INSIST ON DETAILED CONTRACTS AND REFUND POLICIES, AND AVOID PAYING IN FULL UPFRONT.

For more information, visit www.cityof.com or call 888-785-0500. You may also contact Sylvia Slezak, marketing director, at sylvia@cityof.com or 361-883-4420. I N S P I R E C O A S TA L B E N D M A G . C O M

FEATURE information across all platforms. This consistency helps your business brand itself as more consumers begin to associate certain keywords and pictures with your products and services.

How to use the ultimate relationship-building tool to attract new business By: TRACY BRACY

aving a presence on social media sites like Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram and Twitter is not just an option, but a beneficial way to attract new business and expand your audience. Social media is where people get their information in today’s world. Using it to market your company will help establish credibility and relevancy with consumers. The success of small business is built on relationships, and social media is the ultimate relationship-building tool. Business owners seeking to establish themselves need to make sure it’s something they keep in their marketing toolbox. Better Business Bureau (BBB) serving Central, Coastal and Southwest Texas and the Permian Basin engages with both consumers and businesses across multiple platforms. Your business can follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest, YouTube, Instagram and

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our award-winning independent blog, watchyoubuck.com. Through these outlets, we offer the latest up-to-date marketplace and scam information, along with important information that affects your bottom line. Hundreds of millions of potential customers engage in conversations across social media platforms every day. Like your BBB, you also have the opportunity to share information about your products and services more than ever. BBB offers the following advice on how you can use social media to benefit your business:

Clearly and consistently define your business. Your social media pages should be treated the same as your website. Make sure all contact information, profile pictures and basic descriptions of your company are current and contain

Engage your customers. Social media pages work best as conversation destinations. Make sure your posts ask questions or solicit feedback. It is also a good idea to provide your potential customers with information so they can share it with others. If people comment or repost your information, respond to them. Also, be proactive and engage in conversation with other consumers and organizations when your business has something to offer.

Track your efforts. Most social media websites have statistics available that will show you how many page views, clicks or retweets your social media pages are receiving. Based on what these numbers show, you can tweak your content to make sure you do more of what is working and less of what is not. To learn more about how to engage your audience and tap into potential customers via social media, go BBB.org/central-texas. You can visit our webinar archive under the “for businesses” section; there you will find an in-depth webinar on “social media and your business,” which delves into the various platforms and the benefits they offer.

For more than 100 years, Better Business Bureau (BBB) has been helping consumers find businesses, brands and charities they can trust. For the latest news, visit our blog at www.watchyourbuck.com. And for more information, please contact Tracy Bracy, regional director for BBB, at 361-852-4949.

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‘LIKE’ SOCIAL MEDIA

Create a posting strategy. Consumers react differently to different types of content. It’s important to try various methods to engage your audience and then adjust accordingly. Posting too frequently on certain networks can cause consumers to “unlike” you because your posts may be clogging their feeds. Consumers want information about your services, but they do not want it to sound like an advertisement. Offer how-tos, behind-the-scenes photos or information about employees, or share upcoming events and specials.

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LET’S BE FRIENDS!

Allen Samuels Chevrolet: eager to exceed your expectations By: STEVE HINDMAN

At Allen Samuels Chevrolet Corpus Christi, we offer new Chevy cars, trucks and crossovers in South Texas, along with used cars, trucks and SUVs by top manufacturers. Our sales staff will help you find that new or used car that fits your lifestyle and budget. We have a knowledgeable and committed staff with many years of experience and a reputation for providing courteous, honest service. Our customers from Corpus Christi, Kings-

ville, Robstown, Aransas Pass, Portland and beyond appreciate the way we do business, and we know you will, too. For years, our financial staff has offered expert advice for those seeking a great Chevrolet car loan or lease. Our service doesn’t stop there. Corpus Christi customers can come in and take advantage of our experienced car repair technicians and auto body shop experts, as well as a fully stocked inventory of GM parts and accessories. Our ser-

WE HAVE A KNOWLEDGEABLE AND COMMITTED STAFF WITH A REPUTATION FOR PROVIDING COURTEOUS, HONEST SERVICE. vice and auto parts departments are eager to exceed your expectations. Stop by our Corpus Christi dealership any time at 2118 S. Padre Island Drive. We look forward to serving all your automotive needs. Come by – let’s be friends!

For more information about Allen Samuels Chevrolet Corpus Christi, visit www.allensamuelscc.com, or call us at 800-876-9769.

I N S P I R E C O A S TA L B E N D M A G . C O M

DOLGACHOV/BIGSTOCK.COM

FEATURE

15 Turn good

intentions into greater actions. I’m here to help you plan for the future so you can continue all the good you do in your life.

Annie J. Castro, CLU®, LUTCF Agent New York Life Insurance Company 4466 S. Staples, Suite A Corpus Christi, Texas 78411 (361) 986-1321 ajcastro@ft.newyorklife.com www.anniejcastro.com Registered Representative offering investments through NYLIFE Securities LLC (Member FINRA/SIPC), A Licensed Insurance Agency.

Life Insurance. Retirement. Investments.

KEEP

GOOD

GOING

FEATURE

HOW TO DELIGHT YOUR CUSTOMERS Want to improve the profitability of your business? It all goes back to customer service.

WHAT IS PROFIT?

Profit is what’s left over after you’ve paid all your expenses. Some of the things that happen in and to your business are within your control, and some of them are outside your control. If you’re going to have any effect of your profit, you have to focus on those things over which you have control. So … what are they? To answer this question, it is helpful to understand that there are only four specific factors that determine your profit:

The price you charge for the products or services you sell

The quantity (or volume) of products or services you sell

The costs you directly incur by producing or buying the products and services you sell (the variable costs)

The costs you incur whether you make any sales or not (the fixed costs)

DEVELOPING A PROFIT IMPROVEMENT STRATEGY

To improve your profitability, you must either make a larger gross margin on each dollar of sales or sell more without increasing your fixed costs. It goes without saying

I N S P I R E C O A S TA L B E N D M A G . C O M

IT’S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT PRICE IS ONLY IMPORTANT WHEN ALL OTHER THINGS ARE EQUAL.

that the biggest improvement will occur if you can achieve both simultaneously. Gross margin is the difference between the price of your product and what it costs for you to buy or make it. Therefore, the only way to increase your gross margin is to sell at a higher price or buy/make at a lower price. In most instances, you will have a limited scope to buy at a lower price. For this reason, your selling price is the critical variable. Without a doubt, the biggest single barrier preventing small business managers from making an acceptable profit is their refusal to charge a price that will enable them to achieve it. You are not in business to match the price your competitors set – you are there to service your customers. There is no business that does not have the potential to command a premium price for its products or services if it is able to market those products or ser-

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By: KELLIE SHIPLEY

DICK WITTLIFF PHOTOGRAPHY

vices in such a way that the customer perceives added value. If all of your marketing efforts, all of your advertising and all of your sales efforts focus on price, you will be beaten on price every time a competitor comes along with a lower one. In other words, if you focus your customers on price as a critical factor, it will be one. The only way to get out of the price trap is to promote other features and benefits that you can offer your customers (for example, better quality, longer warranty, satisfaction guarantees, timely delivery, 24-hour accessibility, more convenient location, etc.). It may be that your competitors already offer all of these things, but unless they also emphasize this in their marketing, how will the customer ever know?

educate your customers to be aware that they are receiving value. One without the other is not effective. The only sure way to get customers to come back and act as advocates for your business is to give them absolutely superb service. They need to feel that you really care about them and that your goal in business is to delight them with the way you look after them. Most businesses fall short of this ideal, but it is an objective well worth striving to deliver. Word-of-mouth referral is the best means of creating new customers. But satisfied customers do not become advocates for your business – delighted customers do!

INCREASED PROFIT AND CUSTOMER SERVICE

Even if you are already the leader in your industry, there will be opportunity to improve the profitability of your business. It is not always easy to achieve, but it’s certainly possible. You need a plan of attack. Specifically, you need to find out exactly what your existing and potential customers want – it’s not always the lowest price. You then need to organize your business so that you can delight your customers. This will require giving attention to your team members and equipping them with the resources and skills they need to excel in what they do. Improved business performance comes from

Your job as a marketer is to create the perception of value and then to back up what you sell with superb service. The thing to remember is that price is only important when all other things are equal. Some customers only think in terms of price; those customers are better left to your competitors. What you should be doing is working with the people who are happy to pay for value. This means two things. First, you have to deliver value (embody service). And second, you have to

a willingness to do something different and then getting the details right. If you get all the little things right, the big picture looks after itself.

YOUR PLAN OF ATTACK

KELLIE SHIPLEY is a certified public accountant at Flucshe, Van Beveren, Kilgore, PC, in Corpus Christi. For more information, contact her at 361880-5600 or kshipley@fvbkcpa.com. And to learn more about the firm, visit www.fvbkcpa.com.

I N S P I R E C O A S TA L B E N D M A G . C O M

FEATURE

MAKE A HAPPIER COMPANY

Improve employee morale this year, and reap the benefits for your business. By: TRACY BRACY

I N S P I R E C O A S TA L B E N D M A G . C O M

IMPROVING EMPLOYEE MORALE DOESN’T HAVE TO BE EXPENSIVE.

Fortunately, improving employee morale doesn’t have to be expensive. Here are some suggestions on ways to keep your workforce happy and productive:

◆

Empower your people: Give your employees the tools to succeed with short-term and long-term goals. When working on projects, allow your employees to be part of the brainstorming process. It will leave your team feeling invested in the project and in your business.

◆

Encourage creativity: Looking for ways to solve a thorny problem or achieve a goal? Your employ-

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his time of year, many of us focus on self-improvement. We want to lose weight, get more exercise or stop smoking. How about a resolution to improve morale in the workplace? It might be more important than you think. Studies by the Gallup organization show that “actively disengaged” employees – that is, workers who are fundamentally disconnected from their jobs – cost the U.S. economy up to $400 billion a year. The researchers calculate that nearly 25 million U.S. workers are actively disengaged each year, resulting in about 86 million days absent from work. It also found employees had less productivity, more stress and poorer health.

ees might have the solution. Try holding a lunchtime challenge over several days, bring in a ping-pong table and challenge different departments.

◆

Give employees “boss time”: Consider giving your employees more face time. Listen to them, and let them know you care about their work, their concerns and their dreams. If your business has a hierarchy, that also applies to your managers. Spend time with your whole management team or individual managers to let them know they are appreciated.

◆ Give unexpected thank-yous: Did an em-

ployee or team achieve something great? Show them they are appreciated. Encourage employees to send details to their supervisor when they see or hear a coworker solve a difficult problem or go the extra mile. The supervisor should then let the employee in question know the efforts were appreciated.

◆

Have “lunch and learns”: Hold informal brown-bag lunch sessions to give employees a chance to learn about your business and the market. You can present quarterly business highlights and plans for the future. You can bring in a guest speaker with something interesting to say or let an employee, partner or team share something they’ve learned or accomplished. Better Business Bureau (BBB) holds lunch and learns for its employees on a variety of topics.

◆ Let your people grow: Strengthen staff loy-

alty by offering them chances to grow through training and development. Not only will that increase motivation and drive, it will add value to your company.

◆

Create a fun environment: Lighten the mood, and make it fun to come to work. Your BBB produces an internal newsletter, giving employees a chance to share their jokes, experiences and interests. Our offices also hold dress up days and office parties, making for a fun and inviting workplace.

Specializing in:

•Gentlemen Haircuts • Fades • Hot Towel Shaves • Tapers

Keeping the Barber Shop Old Fashioned with a Modern Twist I N S P I R E C O A S TA L B E N D M A G . C O M

COVER STORY

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I’ve literally grown up with this credit union, and I’ve been given lots of opportunities to do just about anything here.

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I N S P I R E C O A S TA L B E N D M A G . C O M

Making Each Day a Good One

With their dedication to their members and to the community that keeps them going strong, President and CEO Sarah Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Brien and her staff are making their presence felt at NavyArmy Community Credit Union. By: Sarah Tindall Photos by: Dustin Ashcraft

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Sarah O’Brien serves as president and CEO of NavyArmy Community Credit Union, where she has worked since shortly after her college days. She’s seen the group grow from 30 employees and $30 million in assets to hundreds of employees and $2.2 billion in assets – a remarkable growth that she attributes to NavyArmy’s ability to meet members’ needs quickly and easily without the encumbrance of shareholders or excessive fees. O’Brien’s own career path was almost as fast-paced as NavyArmy’s growth. In 1985, a few months before graduating from college in Louisiana, she came to Corpus Christi to visit her mother for Thanksgiving. Her mother welcomed her home, and then informed her daughter that she had set up a job interview for her here. She was offered the job, and after graduating in December, she moved to the Coastal Bend to work at San Patricio Credit Union (now Security Service Credit Union). “It was a great interview, and I feel so lucky I didn’t go work for any of the banks because so many of them are gone now!” she laughed. But she learned plenty in her first two years, and she thanks Atilla Pattin, president of the credit union, for showing her the ropes and introducing her to the business. A year later, in January 1987, a headhunter came calling with an offer from NavyArmy. O’Brien jumped at the chance, and found herself two-anda-half years later, at 26 years old, as acting president. “The president was no longer here, so I was acting president for five months before they brought in Wayne Vann on December 1 of 1988,” O’Brien said. “He said he would only come work here if I were going to stay. We split the

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We believe in being involved because it’s the community that makes us who we are.

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I N S P I R E C O A S TA L B E N D M A G . C O M

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business; he was lending, collections and marketing, and I was operations, accounting and HR, and that’s how it worked for 25 years.” The partnership worked. NavyArmy has grown from a small credit union on the Naval Air Station Corpus Christi Base serving servicemen and their families to now 135,000 members and 17 locations in the Coastal Bend and Rio Grande Valley. O’Brien says it’s the people who keep her coming back to work every day – both the members themselves and the staff who make it all happen every day. “I have literally grown up with this credit union,” she said. “I’ve been given lots of opportunities to do just about anything here. I’m not the only one; several of our board members have been with us the entire time I’ve been here, too.” The advantage for NavyArmy, O’Brien contends, is in the structure of the credit union. “When you’re a bank, you have shareholders and customers and you have to make enough money to pay both – dividends for the shareholders and interest to the customers,” she said. “In a credit union, the shareholder and the customer are the same person – every member has one vote. Everyone is the same, no matter how much they have in their account. Because we only have to pay that one person, we can charge less on loans and pay more on deposits. A credit union is a cooperative – a union of people designed to loan money from folks who have it to those who need it.” But members get all the advantages of smalltown, friendly, knowledgeable staff that comes from a local credit union. “Although we are the sixth largest credit union in Texas, we are still small compared to the banks,” O’Brien said. “Credit unions only hold about 2 percent of the entire deposit base in the nation. If you took every credit union and added them together, we still don’t add up to the largest bank in America.” But with 17 locations in South Texas, a record center and a real estate center, plus an administrative building, this small-town business is making its presence felt. “We plan on staying relevant and keeping the products coming that the people want, like mobile banking, deposit and lending,” O’Brien said. “We also have to keep the locations, because people still want to

come in to get things done. But we’re still a local institution. People call me on the phone directly when they need to talk to me; they don’t call New York and talk to somebody’s assistant.” NavyArmy has found its niche with great customer service, providing great rates on products that people need such as car, home, boat and signature loans, checking and savings accounts, IRAs and debit cards. But they are also recognized in the Coastal Bend for the tremendous amount of community

involvement they contribute each year. “We believe in being involved because it’s the community that makes us who we are,” O’Brien said. “Our top priorities are health, education and the welfare of children.” NavyArmy staff volunteers at Junior Achievement and at local schools, teaching financial education to students, and they participate in March of Dimes, Driscoll Children’s Hospital and many other organizations raising money and awareness. “We gave 3,500 volunteer hours

back to the community in 2014, and our staff are so happy to do it,” O’Brien said. From staff nights out and volunteering at community events, to fun team building activities, O’Brien and the folks at NavyArmy Community Credit Union are making each day a good one for members and staff alike. For more information or to find a location near you, visit or call 800-622-3631.

I N S P I R E C O A S TA L B E N D M A G . C O M

PROFILE

I N S P I R E C O A S TA L B E N D M A G . C O M

Joe Perez helps the people of his hometown of Corpus Christi achieve their fitness goals, one smoothie at a time, at Smoothie King-Corpus Christi. By: Sarah Tindall Photos by: Paul Marshall I N S P I R E C O A S TA L B E N D M A G . C O M

Joe Perez has spent his adult life helping people. He was intrigued at an early age how people from around the country came together in time of disaster when it came to wild fires. While employed by the National Park Service, he was trained to be a national response wild land firefighter. His career choice allowed him to travel the country fighting fires by saving lives and property. His fascination with protecting America’s treasures took him to a new high. He accepted a position with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in the same capacity. That move led him to become the Department of the Interior emergency response coordinator in charge of the mobilization of national resources to all risk emergency response, including hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, wildfires and national threats to American soil. Now, as the owner of Corpus Christi’s only Smoothie King franchise, Perez enjoys spending his days helping folks in his hometown reach their fitness goals, one smoothie at a time. The two seemingly unrelated professions make sense when Perez explains that he experienced what many of us face: He was very fit as he made his way up the ladder with the National Park Service, working at Padre Island National Seashore starting at the age of 16 and then moving up to a wild land firefighter after he completed his education, before he got the desk job with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that derailed his fitness regimen. He, like most, got in his comfort zone, sitting in his office eating fast food for breakfast and lunch, not to mention, having a snack drawer. The once fit firefighter was now captivated by the taste of greasy food, and before he realized it, he had reached a mind-blowing 35 pounds of overweight status. He was working long hours, picking up dinner on most nights for the sake of convenience. Like most life-changing moments, it was a normal day for Perez when he discovered Smoothie King. “I was in the Houston airport, going on an emergency response assignment for the federal government, and the people next to me were going to get a smoothie at Smoothie King, so I followed them there. I was immediately hooked,” he says. “I attempted to get back on track by having

I N S P I R E C O A S TA L B E N D M A G . C O M

a smoothie a day in my local Smoothie King in Lufkin, Texas. I became a regular while coming home to Corpus Christi at the location on Saratoga between Everhart and Staples.” The rest is history; Perez and a friend were in Smoothie King one day when the owner approached him about buying the store. “I laughed it off, but a year-and-a-half later, after some negotiation, the store was purchased in April of 2008,” Perez explains. Perez’s reasons were many. He is a single parent raising his son, and pursuing an extremely demanding career made it easy to take a leap of faith. He accepted a job with Department of Justice – U.S. Marshals Service to come home to Corpus Christi. He had already purchased Smoothie King-Corpus Christi, so he spent his evenings working his business.

He took a plunge and resigned from the U.S. Marshals Service to take on his business fulltime. Although he truly enjoyed his career choice, he felt it was time to spend quality time with his son, family and friends. His career kept him from spending as much time with his son as he’d like, as well as him from meaningful relationships with his family and friends here in town. “I lived out of my suitcase, traveling most of the year, and I had lost touch with my friends and family,” he says. Owning Smoothie King has given Perez the opportunity to work with a product that he believes in, to contribute to the well-being of the folks in his hometown and to reconnect with family and friends. “I loved it the most when my son came to work at the store with me,” he says. “That’s when I realized I made the best decision.”

The products that he offers at the store are also something that motivates him to come to work every day. “I’ve always been into health and fitness, working out and eating healthy, and this was just the perfect fit for me,” Perez says. “I did a lot of intensive research, looked into the company and how it started and why, and I was intrigued by the concept of inspiring people to live a healthy lifestyle. I was interested in that, especially in this community in Corpus Christi. As a Latino, I witness the struggle my culture faces with issues such as diabetes and being overweight, and this was a way to give back to my friends and family and my community. It is something I feel passionate about.”

Smoothie King-Corpus Christi got off to a rocky start, with sales numbers placing it as one of the worst performing stores in the country when Perez purchased the franchise. But Perez persevered and took his product to the streets, literally, by attending local 5K runs, handing out samples, attending fitness fairs and pounding the pavement, letting all the locals know what he had to offer at his store. The hard work paid off. The store that started off as the worst performing out of 500 stores at that time in 2008 is eighth in the country out of 700 today. And the company has grown and changed, as well. Smoothie King has become an athlete-friendly store, carrying products that help athletes reach their fit-

ness goals, as well as giving them a place to find the smoothies that are fruit- and or veggie-based and make a great meal for anyone, whether their personal goals are to eat healthier or to achieve fitness milestones. “We have 80 different types of smoothies – something for the very young to the weary,” Perez says. “Also we cater to folks struggling with diabetes, and cancer patients who can’t hold their weight and others on strict dietary restrictions because of their health. We also have products that the avid athlete loves, high in protein and helping to fuel workouts, as well as meal replacement for adults who want a healthy option for any meal.” The store also carries at-home products such as the Gladiator, which contains 45 grams of protein, vitamins and amino acids with less than 2 carbs, meal replacement bars, cleansers and vitamins. The big hit this season has been the new veggie smoothies with kale and other superfoods, as well as the diet delight dark chocolate smoothies that will satisfy cravings while keeping you on track. Perez has big plans for the future of Smoothie King in Corpus Christi. His third annual Fitness Challenge kicked off in January and helped hundreds of locals get their New Year’s resolutions rolling in style. He has plans for more locations in the Coastal Bend and the surrounding area, and he will then be able to even further impact the health of his hometown, one smoothie at a time. For more information on Smoothie King-Corpus Christi, like them on Facebook (@smoothiekingcorpuschristi), stop by the store at 5017 Saratoga Blvd. or email smoothieking581@yahoo.com.

I N S P I R E C O A S TA L B E N D M A G . C O M

PROFILE

I N S P I R E C O A S TA L B E N D M A G . C O M

LocalNuevo Landmark CafĂŠ: out-of-the-box and delicious By: Sarah Tindall Photos by: Paul Marshall

I N S P I R E C O A S TA L B E N D M A G . C O M

or Teri Zepeda, the appreciation for delicious things began as a child. She helped her father and grandfather, who were beekeepers, take their bees south to the Rio Grande Valley for the winter so they could get their pollen from the citrus orchards here and then pack them up for summers in Minnesota, enjoying the flora there in order to make the most delicious honey. As a teenager in the Valley, she worked in food service at the mall and enjoyed it so much that she says she felt like it couldn’t be a real job because she was just having too much fun. She graduated from college with a degree in social work and began working in hospice care as a social worker before she and her husband, Zee Zepeda, moved to Austin. There, he worked in media while she pursued several careers, one of which was as an Allstate insurance agent, before an opportunity arose for Zee in the Corpus Christi market working for Clear Channel Communications. “We decided we’d come down here for two

I N S P I R E C O A S TA L B E N D M A G . C O M

years, then go back to Austin. That was 11 years ago,” Teri laughs. Since she didn’t expect to be in the Coastal Bend long, Teri was hesitant about going back into social work, as it takes several years to build up the network of contacts that she would have needed, so Zee suggested that instead she open up a café, as she loved to cook and enjoyed her time in food service so much. She wasn’t impressed with the idea. “I told him no, absolutely not. I have a degree; I’m not opening a café,” she says. But Zee was persistent and asked her to check out a location he had found that would be perfect. “He came home one day and said, ‘I found this quaint place. You’ll love it; there’s just 10 tables. Let’s just go look,’” she explains. It was in the now defunct Hoover Hotel on Chaparral Street, and when Zee took her to see it, Teri knew she was ready to take the plunge. “I knew it just needed some vision, just needed some paint,” Teri says. “I thought that for two years, it would be something fun to do. It was Zee’s idea for my mom to come up from Uvalde to help us get it up and running, because she had a tea room there, and it was also his idea to hang original art on the walls of the café. It had nev-

“The customers are my favorite part of what we do here.”

er been done here before, and we had to beg the artists to let us do it at first, but once we started it up, it caught on, and both our customers and the artists loved the local flair it gave the place. We named it Nuevo Café because we were doing something entirely new: bringing in the art, a fresh and ever-changing menu that was different than anything else here, including the poblano soup, which no one here had ever served before.” The couple signed a two-year lease, spent several months renovating the space, and were open about a month when the owners of the building announced that they were losing the building and they’d have to find a new location. Zee happened to drive through Six Points one day and spotted the location at 1124 Ayers. It was before the rejuvenation of the area had occurred, so Teri had trepidations until she walked into the space and realized its potential. “We hadn’t been here long enough, so I didn’t even know the history of this building and area,” Teri says. “Everything was lavender and hideous, but I fell in love with the building. We called the

leasing agent, who told us the landlady wasn’t given us the creative freedom to constantly offer willing to lease to anybody but us because she new menu items as a result, which makes it fun to had gone to eat at the café in the Hoover and come to work every day.” loved the food. The rest is history.” Nuevo Café is now a local landmark, with When their two years were up, the couple remenu items that customers love like the cranberevaluated their situation and decided to stay in ry pecan chicken salad, bread pudding, the club Corpus Christi because of Nuevo. “The café had sandwich and homemade pimento cheese, as taken on its own life, and it was exwell as the iconic poblano soup. citing to be a part of it,” she says. The newest addition is the 517, a For more information “Our slogan is ‘Food, Art, Life.’ We BLT with fried green tomatoes and about Nuevo Café, believe food sustains you and art mozzarella cheese that is out-ofvisit the Facebook page, contributes to the beauty of life. the-box and delicious – the hallor stop by and try the poblano soup yourself “The customers are my favorite mark of a Nuevo Café menu item. at 1124 Ayers. Call 361part of what we do here. When we The café has come to be more 904-0425 for directions had just moved here, we didn’t than just a great place for lunch. or hours of operation. know anyone, but our customers The revitalization of the Six were the nicest people we had Points area was possible because ever met. Because we were serving new and difthe café was an anchor that brought locals back ferent things, we have always given samples to to rediscover its potential. On any given day, the them so they can try things before they order. customers at Teri’s tables are a cross-section of This has created customers who are not afraid to local life, all enjoying the “Food, Art, Life” cultry new things, and they fall in love with menu ture she has so carefully crafted here – the café items they never would have tried otherwise. It’s culture at its best. I N S P I R E C O A S TA L B E N D M A G . C O M

MONEY MATTERS

KNOW YOUR OPTIONS

Jewelry floaters and protecting your personal valuables

f a theft occurs at your home, it is important to know which valuables are covered under your homeowners’ or renters’ insurance policy. In many cases, standard homeowners’ policies will cover a small number of valuables, but are not likely to provide enough protection to cover you for each item lost. In addition, a majority of renters’ insurance policies do not have coverage for valuables. When it comes to protecting your personal belongings, it is important to know what options you have when it comes to coverage. When it comes to valuables, there are two options to ensure everything is covered. The simplest option is to raise the limit of liability. This will help cover more belongings than a standard homeowners’ insurance policy, but it limits the amount you can claim for an individual piece. In this case, you have an overall limit you cannot go over,

and once it is reached, you cannot claim additional losses. The second option is to individually “schedule” pieces through floater policies. Floater insurance is an addition to your current policy that adds protection for personal property that is deemed to be easily movable. Floater policies are designed to reimburse you if valuable property is lost, damaged or destroyed. Floater policies are designed to only cover specific items named or “scheduled” in the policy. Jewelry floaters are one of the most common types of floater policies. In most cases, jewelry floaters will either give reimbursement for a claim or pay to replace the lost, damaged or destroyed piece. Jewelry is given more consideration than other personal property considered for

floater policies, and in many cases, any jewelry piece valued at more than $1,000 will require an appraisal. Costs of appraisal vary depending on your region and choice of appraiser. Floater policies often provide broader protection that can cover accidental losses. Accidental losses can include forgetting an item somewhere or dropping it down a drain or vent. Accidental losses can happen to anyone, and knowing items are covered allows you to take pride in the protection of your belongings. Jewelry floaters are designed to make sure that any personal items of value will be reimbursed by your insurance company in the event of loss, theft, damage or destruction. It is extremely important to know exactly what is and what is not covered by your homeowners’ or renters’ insurance policy, especially when it comes to the belongings that matter the most to you. With floater policies, you know exactly what your coverage is, and you can be confident in the coverage provided by your insurance agency. Before you schedule an item on your floater policy, talk with your insurance representative so you know what your premiums will be and how it will work with your current homeowners’ insurance plan.

KASIA BIALASIEWICZ/BIGSTOCK.COM

FLOATER POLICIES ARE DESIGNED TO REIMBURSE YOU IF VALUABLE PROPERTY IS LOST, DAMAGED OR DESTROYED.

By: CHASE CARLISLE

I N S P I R E C O A S TA L B E N D M A G . C O M

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TASTE INGREDIENTS: 6 eggs Desired food coloring Water

INSTRUCTIONS:

1/ Place 6 eggs in a pot and cover with cold water, allowing about an inch of water above the eggs. 2/ Heat uncovered to a rolling boil over high heat. Cover and immediately remove from heat. Allow to stand for 15 minutes. 3/ Slowly pour hot water out of pot and fill with cold water to cool down. With the back of a metal spoon, gently shatter the eggshells without removing any of the pieces. You want them to look like broken glass, but don’t remove any of the shell. 4/ Using bowls of water and approximately 15 drops of food coloring per bowl, place eggs carefully until completely submerged. 5/ Leave in the water for several hours or overnight to get the most colorful effect. 6/ Slowly peel the broken pieces of shell away from the eggs starting at the bottom to reveal your beautiful marbled eggs.

For more information, visit www.mandyashcraft.com.

EASTER TREAT

Colorful marbled eggs: an easy way to get fun and festive

By: MANDY ASHCRAFT // Photo by: DUSTIN ASHCRAFT

WHETHER YOU’RE just looking to brighten up your protein sources, to make a kid-friendly lunchbox snack or to impress guests at an Easter party, colorful marbled eggs will do the job! They’re easy to do, and they are a simple and colorful version of the beautiful traditional Chinese tea egg. This makes six marbled eggs. Note: These make great festive deviled eggs!

I N S P I R E C O A S TA L B E N D M A G . C O M

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I N S P I R E C O A S TA L B E N D M A G . C O M

TRAVEL

A PERFECT BEGINNING

WHO would have thought that in January 2015, we could fill up our gas tanks for $28? That’s what I paid the last time I pulled up to the pump. For consumers, it’s been like the gift that keeps on giving. We are saving money on gas, and we are able to turn around and spend that money on something else. That’s a great way to start a new year – even though we suspect the windfall will be short-lived. For those of you waiting for airfare to take a similar dive, it’s probably not a good idea to hold your breath. Even though some analysts predict that airlines will lower airfare due to fuel cost savings, it’s not likely that it will be that noticeable if it happens. The major airlines have settled into new ways of doing business. They are profitable now, and it is unlikely that we will ever see things go back to the way they used to be. But when it comes to flying out of Corpus Christi International Airport (CCIA), there is some good news to report. Prices out of CCIA have dropped about 10 percent in the past couple of years. This is probably because of people who travel frequently or commonly

compare CCIA airfare to what is offered out of San Antonio International. Back in 2012, it was not uncommon to find airfare out of CCIA 20 to 25 percent higher than San Antonio. Nowadays, the average difference in fare between the two airports when comparing some of our most popular destinations is about $25. These price comparisons are based on a 21-day advance purchase. There are likely a number of things that have contributed to the softening of prices out of CCIA. In 2013, American Airlines introduced some larger jets into the service mix at CCIA, which opened up more capacity for customers. More capacity can lead to slightly lower prices. The Coastal Bend has enjoyed an economic upswing that includes more jobs, higher pay for some and more disposable income in some cases. All of this has helped generate an 8 percent increase in air travel traffic at CCIA in 2014. We make no predictions here about airfare at CCIA in the coming year. The airlines have their own formulas for establishing fares, and there are just so many variables that can have an impact

I N S P I R E C O A S TA L B E N D M A G . C O M

By: KIM BRIDGER

PRICES OUT OF CCIA HAVE DROPPED ABOUT 10 PERCENT IN THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

on pricing. But American Airlines is bringing back a couple of larger planes in April. While it appears that for now, this increase in capacity will be seasonal, it does give us reason to be optimistic about the spring, summer and fall. We realize that there are sometimes wider gaps in pricing depending on where you want to go. We also realize that price and convenience are important when it’s time to take a trip. And we know that travelers make decisions based on what is best for their families and businesses. We urge you to consider traveling out of CCIA when it makes sense for you. The more we use the service that is offered here, the better our chances of getting more of what we need in the future. This community is served by three major airlines (American, Southwest and United) in a modern terminal building that can be the perfect beginning for your next trip. When it’s time to get out of town, fly CCIA! Go to a happy place. Kim Bridger is the marketing manager at CCIA. For more information, contact her at kimb@cctexas.com.

ZURIJETA/BIGSTOCK.COM, SASHKIN/BIGSTOCK.COM

When it comes to air travel, fare is fare.

The Best Shopping South of The North Pole I N S P I R E C O A S TA L B E N D M A G . C O M

I N S P I R E C O A S TA L B E N D M A G . C O M

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Best Views in Town! I N S P I R E C O A S TA L B E N D M A G . C O M

SPECIAL FEATURE

This Time, She Said, “I Do.”

Local business owner Leana Lopez-Yates of LaDeDa Events shares her own special day. SPECIAL TO INSPIRE COASTAL BEND Photos by: FONZIE MUNOZ

AFTER their second date, Leana Lopez-Yates went on a girls’ trip and all she could think about was Ron Eric Yates and how much he made her laugh. All the while, Yates was thinking she was the funniest girl he had ever met. Those days she was gone felt like the longest four days of his life. They couldn’t wait to see each other again. When they did, they did not tell one another that they each knew they would be married someday. That day came on Jan. 3, 2014. Lopez-Yates had always dreamed of a destination wedding in the Mediterranean, but Yates’ work schedule made this impossible. So she decided to rely on her creativity and started to search for a venue closer to home in Corpus Christi. While she was working an event at the Holiday Inn Downtown Marina, she got the idea of having her wedding on their rooftop pool deck. She was told no wedding had

I N S P I R E C O A S TA L B E N D M A G . C O M

taken place there before. She immediately called her team and walked the space with them, deciding to make her hometown of Corpus Christi her dream destination. With only weeks to plan, Lopez-Yates pulled her LaDeDa team together with her colleagues in the wedding industry to bring her vision to life. She wanted to portray the beauty and essence of Corpus Christi. With their help, that is exactly what she did. She had a vision of using white wooden benches accented with succulent plants displaying the names of her immediate family. She wanted white chavarri chairs displaying the names of her closest friends and extended family and candles lit all around the ledge of the deck for the ceremony overlooking the beautiful downtown bay front. Lopez-Yates was escorted down the aisle by her sons, Jacob and Caleb, and her nephew, Joshua. Her future hus-

“

IN SEPTEMBER, MY WONDERFUL, SWEET HUSBAND MADE MY DREAMS COME TRUE, TAKING ME TO SANTORINI, GREECE, FOR OUR HONEYMOON. I AM SO HAPPY I SAID ‘YES’”!

band and father-in-law custom-made a runner of artificial turf aligned with silver lanterns and floral boxes and filled with fresh white hydrangeas from her friend and colleague, Diana, with Segovia’s Floral Design. Her team brought in custom-made illuminated acrylic tables, along with family-style tables adorned with slate blue and gray linens. These surrounded the amazing pool, which was glowing with the couple’s initials. They transformed the area with flowers to include hydrangeas, dahlia fuchsia, succulents and dusty miller, as well as with lighting made for romance, using lanterns and glass vases filled with LED candles. The couple wanted their guests to experience cuisine of the Coastal Bend, which they expressed in their meeting with Chef Joe Anguiano. The chef presented them with a clever menu of food stations that included

“

HAVING MY COHORTS FROM THE LOCAL WEDDING INDUSTRY COME TOGETHER TO BRING MY DREAM TO REALITY FOR US IN SUCH A SHORT TIME MEANS THE WORLD TO ME! IT’S MY WEDDING FAMILY. IT TRULY SHOWS THAT AS AN INDUSTRY, WE CAN DEPEND ON EACH OTHER AND OFFER OUR BEST EFFORTS FOR ONE OF ‘OUR OWN,’ AND THAT CORPUS CHRISTI IS A BEAUTIFUL CITY TO HAVE A DESTINATION WEDDING. WE HAVE SOME OF THE BEST IN THE INDUSTRY RIGHT HERE!”

“South Texas Flare,” “Coastal Baja Tacos,” “Mashed Potini Bar” and the bride and groom’s breakfast favorite, “Rooftop Pancakes.” Another station he put together that was a huge hit with the guests was a dessert feature, the “Brownie Ala Yates Bar.” There were also a variety of wines offered at the “Sip Succulently Wine Bar.” The couple shared their ideas of having a simple winter wedding cake with Raymond of Simply Elegant, and he undoubtedly exceeded their expectations. Fonzie of Fonzie Munoz Photography captured the important moments leading up to the event, and Krissy of K. Elizondo Photography used her expertise in capturing the couple expressing their fun-loving relationship during their engagement photo shoot. The groom handpicked all of the music, and John Gacia with Blue Moon delivered, with class, the nostalgic mood the couple was hoping for. Josh Salinas took Lopez-Yates’ detailed ideas for her hair and makeup and brought them to life perfectly. Rose and Richard Herbert of Tuxedo Junction decked out the groom and the bride’s sons in stylish tuxedos with impeccable service. And T.J. Salazar, co-coordinator for LaDeDa, executed the event timelines with grace and enthusiasm. For more information, visit www.ladedaevents.com. I N S P I R E C O A S TA L B E N D M A G . C O M

INSPIRED STYLE

I N S P I R E C O A S TA L B E N D M A G . C O M

SAM CARPENTER

Assistant General Manager at Katz 21 Steak & Spirits Photos by: Dustin Ashcraft I N S P I R E C O A S TA L B E N D M A G . C O M

WHY I LOVE WHAT I DO: There are so many reasons why I love what I do. I learn something new every day, whether itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s from a bartender, a hostess or Theo himself. Every day has something new. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve made great friends with customers as well as staff. Katz 21 allows me to come up with new ideas, be creative with cocktails and educate myself on wine and spirits. The feeling I get when people tell me how much fun they had at Katz 21 makes it all worth all the hard work and time that goes into my job. It truly is my passion.

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WORDS TO LIVE BY: When you sleep, you have dreams; when you work hard enough, they come true!

PHILOSOPHY:

Honesty, integrity, good morals and ethics will take you very far in life.

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STYLE

GET YOUR

groove BACK When it comes to reversing damage and making smart hair care choices, Hair Peace Salon has you covered. By: LISA BLACK

BEAT THE HEAT

Did you know that when you are choosing your hot tool heat settings, you should take your hair type into consideration? No? OK, let’s get real for a minute: Water boils at 212 degrees Fahrenheit. What temperature is your flat iron on? Maybe 400 degrees? Just take a second to let that soak in. Done? Keep reading. You are literally frying your hair! Yes, it might look good now, but what about the long term? Don’t worry, you don’t need to trash your flat iron; just turn that baby down a bit. The thinner your hair is, the lower the setting on your hot tool should be, whether it’s a flat iron, a curling iron or a hair dryer. Seriously, though, unless you are a professional, you should

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probably reconsider turning that tool up past 350 degrees. Additionally, you should never apply heat to your hair without first applying a heat protectant. If you can’t afford high-end tools directly from your salon, here are a few tips to keep in mind when you are buying hot tools: • When considering a hair dryer, don’t just grab the cheapest one that will get the job done. Look for a unit that offers 2,500 watts of heat power and Ionization technology. You should also buy a unit that has nozzles to help direct and focus the heat. This will help get your hair drier quicker and protect it from damage. (What the heck does “ionic” mean? The term, ionic, usually means that the tool generates negative ions. Hair is positively charged due to its water content, so a tool that provides negative ions results in smoother, shinier, frizz-free hair. “Ionic” does not refer to a specific material, but rather, a means of transferring the heat.) • Ceramic is better than aluminum or any other metal, and it can be purchased just about anywhere rather reasonably. But beware: That ceramic tool might just be a coating that will chip away over time and ex-

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ry, frizzy, damaged, brittle hair simply does not look good on anyone. Whatever our style, short or long, glamorous or punk rock, we all want healthy locks. Many times, we are totally unaware of the everyday things we do that can leave our hair lacking that “star” quality we desire. But never fear: We’ve got you covered, from heat damage to chemical damage, and we’ll tell you what you can do to once again have soft, manageable hair.

pose your hair to uneven heat. Titanium tools are about the best thing currently on the market, but again, beware: If they are simply coated with titanium, it may be cheaper upfront, but your tool won’t last as long as full titanium.

TO WASH OR NOT TO WASH? THAT IS THE QUESTION.

Did you know that washing your hair too much or too little can actually cause damage to your hair? Washing too much will strip your hair of healthy oils it needs to feel soft and healthy, and washing too little can cause dead hair to build up on the scalp and even stunt the growth of your hair. The key thing to remember is that you never want your hair to feel dry or greasy. Having trouble finding the right balance? Talk to your stylist, who can help you find the right wash frequency and even suggest products that can help you prolong or postpone washing. Here are a couple of tips: If your hair gets oily quickly, try using a style extender (in other words, a dry shampoo). Spray it in at the roots and brush through using a natural bristle brush. If you’re especially oily, use a brush and a hair dryer on a low heat setting to assist the dry shampoo in oil absorption. If your hair feels dry, try using a leave-in conditioner or a deep-conditioning masque once a week. Towel-dry your hair, distribute the conditioner from root to tip and comb through using a wide toothcomb.

A “TANGLED” WEB WE WEAVE

Let’s take a moment to talk about your brush, shall we? Yeah, that $3 supermarket one with the cute panda bear or wild animal print – you know it’s true! There are many different types of brushes to choose from, and each one serves a purpose. No, you don’t have to buy your brush straight from the salon, but you should arm yourself with a few pointers before you buy that blinged-out new ‘do slicker.

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• When your hair is wet, you should use a wide toothcomb or a “wet brush” to detangle your hair and avoid breaking it. Hair Peace Salon sells a brush that is so amazing it just goes by “the wet brush.” You’ll love it! • Natural bristles such as boar help pull oil from the scalp down to the roots, thus creating shiny, hydrated locks. • Choose a brush with bristles that reach your scalp (again, for oil distribution). • Hair picks should be used on thick, curly hair; this greatly reduces stressing and breaking the hair.

THE KEY THING TO REMEMBER IS THAT YOU NEVER WANT YOUR HAIR TO FEEL DRY OR GREASY. • Cushioned brushes are designed to collapse when the hair meets too much stress, preventing the hair from being stretched or broken. • Round brushes and vented brushes are for creating volume and movement while heat styling. • Metal brushes are designed to help evenly distribute the heat from your dryer and to keep your heat time to a minimum (they can also produce beautiful waves). OK, now you know some of the things that could be causing your hair despair and how to correct them. So let’s talk about some real miracle treatments! Keratin treatments and the newest cure all hair reset button, Olaplex, are making waves in the hair industry and you can get both services done with any of our highly skilled, knowledgeable stylists! Hair Peace Salon is a Brazilian Blowout Certified Salon. What’s that mean? Well, I’m glad you asked! A Brazilian Blowout is a hair smoothing treatment performed in the salon. It utilizes keratin (the protein that makes up hair and nails) to restore luster and softness to almost all hair types. The treatment is comprised of several steps that take, on average, an hour-and-a-half to complete. Results can last up to three months with the use of the proper products. If you want Brazilian Blowout benefits, but want to “try before you buy,” go for a Brazilian split-end treatment. This service has few steps and is only used on the bottom few inches of hair, so the cost is considerably less – with fabulous results. Olaplex is an innovative, groundbreaking product that is helping stylists not only push the limits of color services, but actually restore years

of chemical and mechanical damage on their clients’ hair … wait for it … in just one treatment. It actually restores the damaged bonds of your hair. Seriously, it’s like a magic reset button. And better still, its restorative magic is permanent – yes, permanent. Wait, am I saying you can do this once and have beautiful hair forever? Yes – if you live in a bubble and your hair is never again touched by the environment, a blow dryer, a flat iron, a curling iron, a hairbrush … OK, you get it, right? Right now, we are offering Olaplex services at an incredible introductory rate. Give us a call and have a consultation today. All of our stylists have put it to the test and can lay testimony to its amazingness. We are constantly putting our hair under stress, but armed with the knowledge to make smart hair care choices, we can have healthy, gorgeous platinum blond, fiery red or jet-black locks, even if we weren’t “ born with it.” Remember, you are not alone in the fight for your right to have flawless hair. At Hair Peace Salon, we strive to give our clients the knowledge they need to tame their mane each and every day. Come in and see how we can help you and your hair make Peace. For more information, visit www.hairpeacecc.com.

I N S P I R E C O A S TA L B E N D M A G . C O M

5433 S. STAPLES ST. CORPUS CHRISTI, TX 78411

361.991.2559

TELL A SECRET, cause a scene, flirt with disaster, buy something frivolous,

get fabulously carried away,

and shop at Le’vu VISIT US ON FACEBOOK AND FOLLOW US ON TWITTER 58

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PHOTO BY LISA BLACK

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3636 S. ALAMEDA, STE F, CORPUS CHRISTI, TX 78411 @ TAYLOR SHOPPING CENTER 361.806.2195

LA MARQUE LEATHER ◆ AG ADRIANO GOLDSCHMIED HUDSON ◆ PARKER ◆ JAY GODFREY ◆ DREW DANA REBECCA DESIGNS ◆ EBERJEY ◆ TOM FORD EYEWEAR I N S P I R E C O A S TA L B E N D M A G . C O M

presents

The Engagement Party Bridal Show March 8th, 2015 Sunday Evening 5:00-8:00pm Solomon P. Ortiz Center 402 Harbor Drive Corpus Christi, Texas 78401 $8.00 Entry

www.LaDeDaEvents.com 62

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ENTERTAINMENT

SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE Spring brings a fresh start and a fantastic lineup to the American Bank Center. By: KRISTEN BILY

The New Year brings a fresh start and a fantastic lineup for American Bank Center! This year’s upcoming shows have a little something for everyone that can be enjoyed by all. So don’t worry about the resolutions you may not stick to; make it a goal to laugh, sing and dance this year at American Bank Center.

the show and even adds a question-and-answer segment as a way to truly connect with his audiences.

March 6 TobyMac with Mandisa and Capital Kings American Bank Center Selena Auditorium 7 p.m. Grammy Award-winners TobyMac and Mandisa, along with electronic pop duo Capital Kings, will hit the road this March and take to the stage of the American Bank Center Selena Auditorium on March 6. TobyMac will be performing audience favorites from his most recent album, “Eye on it,” which soared to the very top of the Billboard charts and earned a Grammy Award. Mandisa will take the stage, as well, performing songs from all of her recent projects, most notably her best-selling and critically acclaimed album, “Overcomer,” which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Christian Albums Charts. Capital Kings have joined the tour, as well, bringing energy with their electronic pop sound that is quickly gaining much popularity.

March 6 Sesame Street Live: Let’s Dance American Bank Center Selena Auditorium Tuesday, Feb. 24: 3:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 25: 10:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. Sesame Street Live “Let’s Dance!” offers fans an up-close, interactive experience that includes dance parties! Elmo uses his imagination to “Do the Robot,” Cookie teaches all “feets” to dance and Ernie shares the fun of dance with the Sesame Street favorite, “Shake Your Head One Time.” Favorite friends will also join the audience on the floor – dancing with fans, not just for them. “Sesame Street Live” continues to be a favorite for the entire family. It’s “Sesame Street Live” like you’ve never experienced it before! Call 361-826-4754 for group discounts.

Feb. 28 Corpus Christi Concert Ballet Presents: Firebirds American Bank Center Selena Auditorium 7:30 p.m. The Corpus Christi Concert Ballet brings another magical ballet to life in Firebird. The story begins when Prince Ivan, while hunting in a forest, discovers an enchanted garden with a Bird of Fire and captures her. When he decides

I N S P I R E C O A S TA L B E N D M A G . C O M

to free her, she rewards him with a magic feather to use in summoning her in time of danger. A procession of lovely maidens – princesses under the spell of the evil Kostchei – enters the garden, and the Lead Princess warns that Kostchei turns all trespassers into monsters. The magician and his creatures suddenly come upon the scene before Ivan and the Princess, with whom he has fallen in love, can make their escape. But Ivan summons the Firebird, who vanquishes Kostchei with her stronger spell.

March 5 Rick Springfield: Stripped Down American Bank Center Selena Auditorium 7:30 p.m. With 25 million records sold, 17 top-40 hits, including “Don’t Talk to Strangers,” “An Affair of the Heart,” “I’ve Done Everything for You,” “Love Somebody” and “Human Touch,” as well as a 1981 Grammy for Best Male Rock Vocal for his No. 1 hit single, “Jessie’s Girl,” Springfield shows no signs of slowing down. As one of the most talked-about tours of 2014, the Stripped Down tour has received rave reviews and sold out seats across the country. The Stripped Down tour was created to bring an intimate, yet lively performance to fans. The singer incorporates personal stories about his music and life into

Juan Gabriel: The Volver Tour American Bank Center Arena 8 p.m. The legendary Juan Gabriel will return to concert stages in the United States, Puerto Rico and Dominican Republic for the second leg of his sold-out, critically acclaimed Volver tour, which drew nearly 200,000 fans to the musical and emotional extravaganza by the music world’s beloved superstar. Volver 2015 kicked off on Feb. 5, making its way to 13 major markets, including the American Bank Center Arena on March 6. The Divo de Juarez has a fan base that spans three generations of music lovers, and his shows inspire adoration that he returns in kind with a show that is legendary for production, musicianship, fun and emotion.

March 8 Kevin James American Bank Center Selena Auditorium 7 p.m. Kevin James will take the stage of the American Bank Center Selena Auditorium on March 8. He is most notably known for playing Doug Heffernan on the hit CBS sitcom, “The King of Queens.” He is also known for his lead roles in the comedy films “I Now Pronounce You Chuck

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Feb. 24 and 25

and Larry,” “Paul Blart: Mall Cop,” “Grown Ups,” “Zookeeper,” “Here Comes the Boom” and “Hitch.” James has played many different characters in his movies and his shows, but his first love is stand-up comedy.

March 19 Carlos Santana: The Corazon Tour American Bank Center Selena Auditorium 7:30 p.m. Carlos Santana has sold over 100 million records and reached more than 100 million fans at concerts worldwide. His music continues to reach his fans in so many ways with his fusion of rock and Latin American music. Santana has collaborated with names like Steven Tyler, Shakira, Will.i.Am and Joss Stone. His music is the perfect example that all genres of music can come together to entertain and inspire the fans!

March 21 and 22 Shen Yun American Bank Center Selena Auditorium Saturday, March 21: 7:30 p.m. Sunday, March 22: 2 p.m. Shen Yun comes the American Bank Center Selena Auditorium on March 21 and 22. Shen Yun will bring stories to life through the enthralling power of classical Chinese dance. With colorful costumes drawing from China’s diverse dynasties and dramatic animated backdrops, you are taken to faraway lands where beauty transcends time and space – from boundless Mongolian grasslands and timeless ethnic and folk dances that fill Shen Yun’s stage with color and energy as resounding drums awaken the dusty plateaus of the Middle Kingdom. There are brave generals, heavenly maidens, mischievous monks and even a flying pig! China’s 5,000 years have yielded an endless trove of legends and myths.

March 27 Mike Epps: The Real Deal Tour American Bank Center Selena Auditorium 8 p.m. Everyone’s favorite sidekick, Mike Epps, is coming to the American Bank Selena Auditorium on March 27. Bursting onto the Hollywood comedy scene in late 2008, Epps quickly made a name for himself, appearing in many films onscreen and also lending his voice to animated films such as “Dr. Dolittle 2” and “Open Season 2.” On Aug. 26, 2014, it was announced that Epps landed the coveted role of Richard Pryor in the upcoming biopic directed by Lee Daniels. When Epps is not acting in films, he is touring the country performing his stand-up comedy act. His comedy acts have continued to sell out venues all over the country.

FAMILY LAW

• Divorces • Child Support/Custody • Modifications/Enforcements

CRIMINAL LAW • • • • •

Felonies and Misdemeaners Bond Reductions Revocation Hearings Expunctions Occupational License

PERSONAL INJURY • • • •

Oil Field Accidents Trucking/Auto Accidents Wrongful Death On The Job Injuries

ASK ABOUT

• Flat Fee Pricing • Affordable Payment Plans

SMG-managed American Bank Center is Corpus Christi’s premier event center providing unprecedented guest experiences. For more information, visit us online at www.americanbankcenter.com and www.facebook.com/americanbankcenter, or follow us on Twitter (@AmericanBankCtr) and Instagram (@AmericanBankCenter).

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The Corpus Christi Education Foundation (CCEF) recognizes the following 2014-2015 Honor Society Inductees who have made a real difference in education for thousands of CCISD students. Since 2008, their contributions have resulted in more than $730,000 to provide new classroom programs and scholarships. many thanks to these outstanding partners, who are Building the future of corpus Christi by making education a priority today.

Superintendent’s Circle of Lifetime Membership - $50,000 +

Optimist Club of Corpus Christi

Principal’s Circle - $30,000 + CITGO Corpus Christi Refinery - Donor of the Year INSPIRE Coastal Bend Magazine • Flint Hills Resources Trafigura Terminals, LLC

Educator’s Circle - $10,000 + AG|CM, Inc. • Borden Insurance • Coastal Bend Community Foundation Friends of Mary Helen Berlanga • Fulton-Coastcon Gignac & Associates, L.L.P. • H-E-B • Linebarger, Goggan, Blair & Sampson, LLP Family & Friends of Lt. Cdr. Rick Mead • Stripes LLC • Thompson & Horton LLP

Student’s Circle - $2,500 + Bill’s Sparkling City Charter Port of Corpus Christi • W.B. Ray High School Class of 1973

Your City. Your Students. Your Support. ... Our Future. | www.ccef-ccisd.org I N S P I R E C O A S TA L B E N D M A G . C O M

NONPROFIT

Help feed the orphaned cats and dogs of the Gulf Coast Humane Society at the 17th Annual Tom Keeler Memorial Golf Tournament. By: KAITLIN CALK

get your businessâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; name out there. These are just a few of the sponsorship opportunities available; the full list is available on our website. On top of a round of 18 holes, there will also be a delicious brunch, drinks and amazing door prizes. Not only does participating in this tournament get your business name out there, it is obviously quite a bit of fun.

ALL ANIMALS AT THE GULF COAST HUMANE SOCIETY ARE SPAYED OR NEUTERED, FULLY VACCINATED AND MICROCHIPPED. As stated before, the Gulf Coast Humane Society is a not-for-profit, no-kill shelter. Every single one of the over 500 animals currently in our care will stay here, safe and sound, until they find a loving, responsible home. As you can imagine, the cost of feeding and providing proper veterinary care for all of these animals is very costly. While we hold fundraisers throughout the year, the golf tournament is one of our biggest sources of income. All of our animals are spayed or neutered, fully vaccinated and microchipped. We also send all of our dogs home with a six-month supply of heartworm prevention, and we provide heartworm treatment to all heartworm-positive dogs upon adoption at no extra cost to their new family. All of this, in addition to the care provided to the animals while they are here, is made possible in a large way by the funds raised during the Tom Keeler Memorial Golf Tournament. We believe that this is the biggest benefit for our golf tournament sponsors: the knowledge that their companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s participation is feeding the dogs, cats, puppies and kittens of the Gulf Coast Humane Society.

For more information about sponsorship opportunities, or to find out how you can become a sponsor, please visit our website at www.gchscc.org, call us at 361-225-0845 or contact Mia Guerra at outreach.manager@gchscc.org.

I N S P I R E C O A S TA L B E N D M A G . C O M

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BIG BENEFITS

THE GULF Coast Humane Society was founded 70 years ago by a group of animal lovers, with Frances and Harvey Weil leading the cause. From its inception, the men and women of the society acted as humane officers for Nueces and the surrounding counties. In Corpus Christi, society members worked closely with the police officers assigned to humane duties and the City Pound. We have expanded and changed in many ways since then, with the humane treatment of the homeless dogs and cats of the Coastal Bend being our constant mission. For 50 years, we operated out of what is now the PALS Animal Shelter. That all changed in April 1998 when Tom and Cora Keeler very generously donated the state-of-the-art facility that we operate from now. This building is double the size of our old home, which allows us to help more animals and offer expanded education and services to the public. As a no-kill, nonprofit organization, we depend solely on donations to care for the over 500 orphaned animals under our roof. Thus, without the kindness of the Keelers, the acquisition of this beautiful building would never have been possible. The annual golf tournament is our way of expressing our gratitude to the Keelers, and the fact that it is a fantastic time is just icing on the cake. The 17th Annual Tom Keeler Memorial Golf Tournament is taking place at the Corpus Christi Country Club on March 20. There are many sponsorship opportunities to be had for you or your business, ranging in price in order to give large and small businesses a chance to participate. As a tournament partner ($5,000), you will receive a banner onsite and inclusion as a tournament partner on radio and television, and your logo will be on commemorative promotional items. You will also receive recognition on a hole and a golf cart, and this fee also includes the entry of two four-player teams. For a minimum sponsorship of $200, you will receive recognition on a hole, which is a great way to

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Class A in just CDL 3 WEEKS 3-week Day Courses

Six-week Night Courses Refresher Courses for current CDL holders

Job-Placement Assistance after you complete the program. State-of-the-Art Equipment and Simulators.

Corpus Christi, Texas

www.delmar.edu/trucking

(361) 698-2707

I N S P I R E C O A S TA L B E N D M A G . C O M

2015 Nueces County Junior Livestock Show Grand Champion Steer

Congratulations from Your Friends in the Car Business. Allen Samuels Chevrolet

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CERTIFIED WORKERS SKILLED LABOR DRUG FREE

Training Skilled Craft Professionals Since 1987

7433 Leopard Street // 361.289.1636

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Heroes Wanted By becoming a foster parent through MCH Family Outreach, you can offer hope by walking beside a child who needs assurance in the midst of the unknown. If you have room in your heart and your home, call our Corpus Christi office today.



Call 361-334-2255 or visit us in Corpus Christi at 3833 S. Staples, Suite N 218 www.methodistchildrenshome.org

CMY

OFFICES LOCATED IN: ABILENE, CORPUS CHRISTI, DALLAS, EL PASO, HOUSTON, LUBBOCK, LUFKIN, NORTH RICHLAND HILLS, SAN ANTONIO, TYLER AND WACO.

sNo-balls aRe Not just FoR summeR!

over

Flavors!

quality first & service always 2915 SPID, Corpus Christi, TX 78415 mcu78415@yahoo.com

Free wiFi

361-857-8966 Office ESTIMATES, PICKUP & DELIVERY AVAILABLE Upholstery • Draperies • Auto-Boat Furniture Manufacturing • Residential-Commercial

open Noon-10pm 7 days a week

361.994.5015

5638 SARATOGA BLVD. STE. 112-A CORPUS CHRISTI TX 78414

New locatioN!

(Kohl’s Shopping Center)

2330 airline Rd. #D, corpus christi, tX 78414

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361-993-0025

Monday - Friday 8:30am - 5:00pm Saturday 10:00am - 2:00pm (by appointment only)

Town & Country Cafe Breakfast served all day / Meeting room available upon request 4228 S. Alameda / Corpus Christi, TX 78412

361.992.0360 Hours: Mon-Fri: 6am-3:30pm, Sat: 6am-4pm, Sun: 6am-3pm

“WHERE FRAMING IS AN ART”

Every Moment. Every Detail. Capure it Forever.

361.739.2143 www.DPPhoto.biz

5503 SOUTH STAPLES ST. CORPUS CHRISTI, TX 78411 361.991.4967 FAX: 361.991.2361 TOLL FREE: 866.991.4967 WWW.THEFRAMEUPCC.COM I N S P I R E C O A S TA L B E N D M A G . C O M

THE ARGENTA PROJECT

IS TAKING SUBMISSIONS FOR YOUR NON-PROFIT CAUSE. WE PARTICIPATE IN LOCAL FUNDRAISING EVENTS, SPONSER SPORTS TEAMS AS WELL AS CONTRIBUTE OUR TIME AND DIME TO SEVERAL COMMUNITIY EVENTS. SUBMIT YOURS AT: WWW.ARGENTAPROJECT.COM OR CALL

361.906.0707

THE

ARGENTA PROJECT

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“INVESTING IN THE

ROOTS OF OUR COMMUNITY.”