Wylie CONNECTION Magazine February/March 2020

9th Annual Area Growth Update February/March 2020

Introducing

The New City of Wylie Management Trio Wylie ISD Director of Safety and Security

Welcome to Wylie!

Collin College Campus to Open Fall 2020

PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID WYLIE, TX PERMIT# 63

The Connection Magazine, Wylie Chamber of Commerce

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A Wylie Chamber of Commerce Publication Online Version: www.wyliechamber.org

Please Recycle This Magazine After Reading!

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ADVANCED CARDIAC CARE FROM THE TRUSTED TEAM AT METHODIST RICHARDSON.

“My cardiologist suggested the Watchman™ implant so I could get off blood thinners. It will certainly ease my mind.”

— Larry Minter, DVM

A leader in cardiac disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, Methodist Richardson Medical Center uses some of the latest treatments and therapies like the Watchman™ implant. This innovative device helps patients like Larry Minter, who have atrial fibrillation, reduce the risk of stroke. It can also mean peace of mind. Don’t give your heart to just anyone.

Trust. Methodist.

For a referral to a cardiologist, call 877-637-4297 or visit MethodistHealthSystem.org/Richardson-Heart.

Texas law prohibits hospitals from practicing medicine. The physicians on the Methodist Health System medical staff are independent practitioners who are not employees or agents of Methodist Richardson Medical Center, Methodist Health System, or any of its affiliated hospitals. Methodist Health System complies with applicable federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex.

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Welcome

• • • • • • • • • • • •

Dental Cleaning & Check-ups Periodontal Treatment Children’s Dentistry Oral Cancer Screenings Emergency Care Crowns & Veneers Bridges & Dentures Dental Implants Root Canals & Extractions Sedation Dentistry Cosmetic Dentistry Invisalign Braces & More

Lonnie Guardiola, DDS Dr. Guardiola is still here to continue to serve his current patients with all their dental needs.

972-442-3028

info@maxwellcreekdds.com

505 Woodbridge Pkwy., Wylie, TX 75098

www.maxwellcreekdds.com

Emily Eggart, DDS In order to continue providing you with the best standard of care, we have the pleasure of introducing Dr. Emily Eggart.

She joined our team in December, 2019.

Dr. Eggart comes to us from her home state of Louisiana. She attended the University of Arkansas where she graduated with honors from the William J. Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences with a degree in biology.

She was an active member of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority and president of the Pre-Dental Society. After college she moved to Dallas, Texas, to attend Texas A&M University, Baylor College of Dentistry. While in dental school, Dr. Eggart served on mission trips throughout the country and internationally. She was also involved with craniofacial research, and was a leader in several student organizations. In her free time, Dr. Eggart enjoys spending time with her husband, Marc, traveling, fitness, hiking and spending time with family and friends.

Most Insurance Accepted | Family Owned | Flexible Finance Options | In-House Discount Plan

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VOTED WYLIE’S BEST INSURANCE AGENCY 8 YEARS IN A ROW!

a

WINNER BEST OF 2019

CS

WINNER & media

F

WYLIE INSURANCE AGENCY, INC.

“Serving You Since 1898”

Cindy Hampton, Cathy Jonson, John Yeager, Chelsea Paredes, Debbie Castillo and Kylie Reising

JOHN YEAGER, CIC

I

Check with us for all your insurance needs.

“ c o

✔AUTO ✔LIFE ✔BUSINESS ✔HOMEOWNERS Wylie Insurance Agency is Wylie’s oldest business, almost as old as the city itself! Established in 1898, it has occupied several different locations. The agency has been at its current location, 201 Calloway, since 1985.

John Yeager, owner, purchased the agency in 1973 from long-time residents Rita and Truett Smith. He is a graduate of the University of North Texas and holds the Certified Insurance Counselor professional designation. He has two daughters, Kylie and Kamber, both graduates of the University of North Texas. Kylie is employed at the agency and Kamber is a CPA with Rent-A-Center. The agency staff consist of five employees that are very professional and knowledgeable to serve its growing list of clients. All employees are licensed insurance professionals and have completed numerous hours of continuing education classes to keep them current on an ever changing business.

Wylie Insurance Agency is an independent insurance

201 Calloway P.O. Box 40 • Wylie, TX 75098 Fax: (972)442-3885 info@wylieinsurance.com

972-442-3505

“ w u h

agency, which means they offer you a choice of insurance companies. Several different companies are represented that offer different options. All are A rated for financial strength and service. Many agents only represent a single company and cannot offer alternatives. A partial list of property-casualty companies represented include Travelers, Safeco, State Auto, Kemper, Progressive and Union Standard. Life-health companies include Blue Cross, Aetna, United Healthcare, Humana and Cigna. “We stand behind our clients, we represent you and not the insurance companies,” Yeager said.

The agency primarily serves the Wylie area, but also serves the DFW metroplex and the remainder of the state.

John Yeager would welcome the opportunity to serve you and show you what exceptional service is all about.

If it’s homeowners, auto, business, life and health, or any other insurance, give Wylie Insurance a try.

“ w it fr ta

“ a c w fo

“ w il b IR p

“ I O

Highest Standards of Professional Service

E h a c i

www.WylieInsurance.com

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A proud tradition of integrity, trust, and financial success.

From Fighting for Our Country to Defending Customers from the IRS, Executive Tax Solution Founder/CEO has Come a Long Way from Jumping out of Airplanes!

It’s Been a Great Two Years

What Our Clients Are Saying

“Having a military background has helped me appreciate commemorations,” said Allen Lenth, founder and Enrolled Agent of Executive Tax Solution (ETS).

“For years the IRS has been hassling us. We went through several CPAs and accountants, but still we were always behind on payroll taxes. Allen caught us up, got the IRS off of our backs, and taught me how to run my own business instead of having the business run me.”

Rafael A., Children’s Learning Center, Fort Worth

Allen Lenth

“But this season I’m celebrating our 33rd wedding anniversary with my beautiful wife Felicia … and two years ago we opened up shop in the Wylie-Sachse-Murphy area with the hopes of helping start-ups with their bookkeeping,” he explained.

“Many might recall the disastrous IRS shutdown last year, and while it may have slowed down the tax filing season for some, it didn’t stop the most powerful collection agency on the planet from going after its number one target … quarterly payroll taxes,” Allen continues.

“While we continue to pick up bookkeeping and payroll accounts for businesses in the area – especially with contractors, real estate and insurance agents – I’d have to say we are most proud of the tax resolution work we’ve completed for folks.”

“Of course I won’t give personal specifics, but helping retirees who have fallen behind on taxes and returns because of illnesses and rescuing businesses who are virtually abandoned by their previous accounting and tax professionals – while the IRS issues threatening letters repeatedly - is cause for great pride in the work we do for folks in the area.”

“Felicia and I have been blessed in our careers of the past, but I must admit, other than jumping out of airplanes as a Special Ops soldier, I have never been prouder of the work we do.”

ETS is already preparing 2019 tax returns for clients, but has room for you provided appointments are scheduled ahead of time. Please visit www.executivetaxsolution. com/appointments and schedule a 15-minute phone interview for data gathering.

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“I tried working with the IRS agent myself, but she would never answer my calls, return my messages or even reply to my letters, and still I was falling further behind because of penalties and interest charges. Allen put together an installment agreement that was thousands of dollars less than what the IRS was trying to push on me.”

Erica R., DFW

“Because of a bad divorce and an ignored divorce decree that ordered my ex-spouse to file and pay my business returns and taxes, we fell way behind. Allen has stopped the IRS hassling and now I can sleep well at night knowing he is fighting for me. We use him for bookkeeping, payroll, profit management and tax planning as well. Allowing ETS to incorporate my business is one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.”

Joe Wright, Supreme Heating & Cooling, Inc. Sachse

Allen Lenth

Founder, EA, MBA

“I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for He is right beside me.” PSALM 16.8

469-262-6525

services@executivetaxsolution.com

5250 Hwy 78, Suite 750, Sachse, TX 75048

www.executivetaxsolution.com

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Cover Photo by Nick Young, Collin College Photographer

COVER PROFILE OF SUCCESS 8 Collin College

8 Collin College Wylie Campus.

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CONNECTION FEATURES 10 Area Growth Update 21 Community Calendar 24 Wylie Leadership Trio

CONTENTS

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0,

February/March 2020 • Volume 15 - Issue 1

On The CONNECTION Cover

CONNECTION COLUMNS 28 HIGHER EDUCATION

10

31

32

24

35

36

Collin College Students are Wylie Bound EDUCATION Keeping WISD Schools Safe HEALTH Building for the Future CHAMBER Welcome New Members MONEY Measuring the Value of a Financial Advisor

31 A Wylie Chamber of Commerce Publication

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Rhonda Taulbee comes Well, it is another year in the Southeast Collin Corridor to us from Gulf Shores, (SCC), and we move into 2020 with eyes on the prize of Alabama, where she was connecting you to keep you “in the know” about your the special events & marneighbors and neighboring cities. keting manager for Gulf We begin 2020 with a look around at the new opportuState Park. She is very tech nities we now have in our own backyard. savvy and will be primarOf course, a “What’s new in the area?” conversation ily helping us with social Wylie Chamber President couldn’t even start without a mention of the 7K-a-day, media and our member consumer traffic generator and institution of higher educare programs. She has cation called Collin College. Class will be in session at the only been here for a few weeks and is already improvcampus in Wylie this fall and that means educational ing our Facebook presence. She is married to Bill and opportunities for all ages is now conveniently close by. has four boys – TJ, Trent, David and Donald. David and Inside we hear from the three campus leaders and it is Donald are twins and both currently serving in the Navy. well worth the read.

We are happy to have her in the office and excited about From a business standpoint, the college represents a the energy she has already brought to the group. new market of customers in the area during the day. This Many in the SCC might be familiar with Kim Vacante, “day traffic” can open the door to a new and different she has been the owner of Dear Sorella Boutique & level of retail and service-based businesses. It won’t hapSalon in Historic Downtown Wylie since 2018. She has pen overnight, but there is a shift coming. also been a PLC Leader at Wally Watkins Elementary We have already seen things moving that way and and before that, she taught in RISD. She is a Texas A&M in this issue, we take you on a tour of the SCC and visit grad with an extensive sales and marketing background, the towns that make up our neighborhood. We describe but as a business owner she brings a new perspective to the growth of each city as well as preview the different the job of ad sales for the Connection magazine. Kim is opportunities they each will see in 2020. another technoid and will be building the social media presence of the Connection in 2020. Kim lives in Wylie We also highlight a few leadership changes in the area, with her husband Scott, son Cameron and daughters specifically in Wylie where we have a new city manager Makenzie and Kaydee and two new assistant city managers leading the way.

Chris Holsted, Renae Ollie and Brent Parker are new in We are excited to have them and appreciate the energy their positions, but not in the job of serving the citizens and experience they bring. of Wylie as all three grew through the city to their new As always, we hope you enjoy the information in the positions. Our feature takes a closer look at what brought magazine as much as we enjoyed bringing it to you. • them to Wylie.

From our monthly departments, we meet the new director of safety and security in WISD, learn about an $85 million expansion at Methodist Richardson Medical Center, and provide some thoughts on measuring the value of a financial advisor as well.

All in all, it is a an issue full of information that we hope will be helpful to you in the year ahead. Remember all the advertisers are local businesses that contribute to the local economy. Please think of them if you need their services as they probably live next door!

Finally, before I let you go I wanted to welcome two new members to the Wylie Chamber and Connection staff.

We are pleased to have Ms. Rhonda Taulbee and Ms. Kim Vacante joining us to help with member care and advertising sales.

Welcome Rhonda Taulbee and Kim Vacante to the Wylie Chamber of Commerce family!

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Changing Lives, One Home At A Time

A Wylie Chamber of Commerce Publication 307 N. Ballard Ave. | Wylie, TX 75098 972-442-2804 • info@wyliechamber.org www.wyliechamber.org

WYLIE CHAMBER PRESIDENT

ADVISORY BOARD

Mike Agnew Jan Arrant Cynthia Wiseman Juli Richards Kylie Reising

Call Today For A Free Consultation!

Ian Halperin Craig Kelly Judy Truesdell Heather Darrow

ADVERTISING SALES Charlotte Merriam Kim Vacante ART DIRECTOR/GRAPHIC DESIGNER Anne Hiney

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Judy Truesdell Donnita Fisher

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Heather Darrow Donnita Fisher Ian Halperin Judy Truesdell

PHOTOGRAPHY Ethan Good Anne Hiney Craig Kelly

469-759-3899 Toll Free:

855-324-HOME

Digital edition available online at www.wyliechamber.org The CONNECTION Magazine ©2020, Wylie Chamber of Commerce.

All rights reserved. The CONNECTION is published bimonthly and mailed free of charge to over 46,000 households and businesses with an estimated readership of over 125,000 in the Wylie/Sachse/ Murphy/Lavon/Parker/St. Paul/Lucas/Richardson/Garland area.

An additional 1,200 copies are distributed to our advertisers and local city offices. Contents of this magazine may not be reproduced without written permission from the publisher. Advertisers and advertising agencies assume liability for content of all advertisements. Information published in The CONNECTION is the opinion of the sourced authors. The Wylie Chamber of Commerce does not necessarily share the editorial opinions expressed in The CONNECTION magazine. Personal decisions regarding health, finance and other matters should be made after consultation with the reader’s professional advisors.

Just for fun, find the butterfly! Last issue we regret to admit the butterfly was not hidden for you to find. Rest assured it is in this one! Happy butterfly hunting!!

NOTE: The first person to correctly locate the butterfly and send an email to magnew@wyliechamber.org wins a The CONNECTION T-shirt! (It's not this one!)

Occasionally we make a mistake. Let us know if you find one so we can correct it. We love your feedback - send comments to info@ wyliechamber.org. Story ideas are always welcome and appreciated.

Thanks for “Connecting” with us!

Wylie Chamber of Commerce 307 N. Ballard Ave. • Wylie, TX 75098 972-442-2804 • info@wyliechamber.org www.wyliechamber.org A Wylie Chamber of Commerce Publication

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EQUAL HOUSING

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For information about advertising in The CONNECTION Magazine please contact the Wylie Chamber at 972-442-2804 or adsales@wyliechamber.org.

The “Profile of Success” cover photograph and feature article, as well as any “Professional Profiles” are paid advertisements.

All are welcome to advertise, Chamber membership is not required.

Submit comments and story ideas to Anne Hiney at theconnection.anne@mac.com.

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One mile north of Downtown Wylie (Next to the Water Tower)

Dr. Kerin

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972-442-6523 www.wyliechamber.org • 7

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Warm Wylie Welcome: Collin College Campus to Open Fall 2020

Wylie Campus Leaders:

Daphne Babcock Dr. Mary McRae Craig Leverette

T

Photos by Nick Young, Collin College Photographer

Matkin cites many examples his year Collin College of the robust partnership the celebrates 35 years of college has with Wylie. Among serving Collin County. them are the Collin 4 All program, Many things have changed Dr. Neil Matkin college and career counselors, through the years, like the fact and dual credit offerings. With that enrollment has surpassed Collin College District President Collin 4 All, all Wylie high school the 59,000 mark at the college. seniors have the opportunity to However, the strong partnership apply to Collin College, ensuring a between Wylie and Collin College smooth transition from high school to college. A college remains steadfast. Back in Fall 1986, when Collin College and career counselor, based at the Wylie high schools, was in its infancy, Wylie High School opened its doors, provides onsite resources, serves as a liaison to the allowing students to take a host of evening classes college’s student services, and provides information ranging from art to real estate. Fast forward a few about dual credit classes. decades, and the story has come full circle. In Fall 2020, Collin College will open a campus in Wylie. And this “More Wylie ISD students are simultaneously earning time students will enjoy comprehensive class offerings high school and college credit than ever before,” Matkin on a campus that offers the latest technology, student said. “This saves students and their families two precious services, a fitness center, a café, a conference center, and commodities: time and money.” a cadre of exceptional professors.

From Fall 2017 to Fall 2018 there was a 30% increase in “Wylie is an amazing city, and we cannot wait to open WISD students taking dual credit classes. From Fall 2018 the doors of this campus and return the warm welcome to Fall 2019 that percentage increased to 41%, with more we have received,” said Collin College District President than 580 students taking dual credit classes.

Dr. Neil Matkin. “We have some surprises in the works.

The Wylie Campus couldn’t come at a better time, We plan to offer degrees and certificates which will according to Matkin, because the overall number of meet the specialized needs of this community, programs Wylie high school graduates attending Collin College is we have never offered before. Stay tuned for more on the rise.

In 2019, 349 Wylie ISD high school students information in the near future.”

8 • The CONNECTION • February/March 2020

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Photographer

enrolled at Collin College the summer or fall after their graduation. That is 33% of the total WISD graduating high school class.

Behind the scenes: Wylie Campus leadership Dr. Mary McRae, vice president/provost of the Wylie Campus, remembers registering students at Wylie High School in 1986. Now, she looks forward to serving students at the Wylie Campus in Fall 2020.

“It is an honor to spearhead this project,” McRae said.

“It’s a milestone in the history of the college. We haven’t opened a major comprehensive campus since the 1990s.”

McRae said her team has been working hard to create a welcoming atmosphere for students.

“I want students to feel engaged,” McRae said.

“Research shows that if students have a connection with a person on campus or a program they will stay and accomplish their goals.”

One of the things McRae loves about Wylie is the fact that it is growing but still has a hometown feel.

“I feel fortunate to be able to work with the mayor’s office, the City of Wylie, the superintendent, ISD administrators, the Economic Development Corporation, and the Wylie Chamber and share in their excitement,” McRae said. “I cannot say enough about the incredible welcome we have received. Wylie has opened its arms to us. I have met some of the most genuine, bright, energetic, creative, and community-centered people.”

Craig Leverette, dean of academic affairs and workforce for the Wylie Campus, said getting this campus ready is exhilarating.

“People are extremely fired up about us being there,” Leverette said. “It’s like nothing I’ve seen in the 23 years I’ve been at the college.”

Former chair of the physical education and athletic departments and former head softball coach at the college, Leverette said his coaching experience has been invaluable in building the Wylie team.

“Being able to start the Wylie team from scratch is gratifying,” Leverette said. “It felt like my coaching days again. The primary thing my past experiences have prepared me for is the strategic thinking and the sequencing of what needs to occur. Having a process and working with other deans and campuses to collaborate on the staffing of faculty really taps into my background.

We may have many campuses, but we are still one college.”

According to Leverette, one of the biggest assets for Collin College students is variety. Students have choices in programs, in teaching styles via the faculty, location, and course selection with classes offered in the day, evening, weekends, and online.

“I love my job,” Leverette said. “Every day is different, and every semester will bring a new group of students and a new opportunity to impact more people.”

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Daphne Babcock, associate dean of academic affairs for the Wylie Campus, has served the college for 20 years.

An environmental science professor for 17 years, she is currently hiring professors and creating the first Wylie Campus class schedule.

According to Babcock, the inaugural schedule has a large selection of classes that will transfer to universities as well as a variety of workforce programs.

A Leadership Wylie participant, Babcock said she will never forget touring Wylie with Mayor Eric Hogue.

“He was asked what makes him happy, and he said Collin College coming to town,” Babcock said. “That energized me to go above and beyond.”

Babcock has a passion for students.

“I want our students to have opportunities, and I have a desire for all of them to succeed,” she said. “I can’t wait until the first students come rolling through the doors because they are the reason we get up each day.”

For more information about dual credit classes at Collin College, visit www.collin.edu/express/dualcredit/index. html. To contact the WISD college and career counselor, email Aaron Hinojosa at AHinojosa@collin.edu. For more information about the Wylie Campus, visit www.collin. edu/campuses/wylie. •

Collin College Wylie Campus Opens Fall 2020

APPLY NOW

Registration begins in April www.collin.edu

www.wyliechamber.org • 9

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Whether Crawling or Sprawling, Growth Moves On

By Donnita Fisher

I

t’s hard to see the growth of our children, our pets or our stomachs, because we see them daily and it happens so very slowly. Not so with our communities.

Drive down Hwy. 78 or FM 544 – the major arteries that connect us – and it’s easy to see the asphalt and concrete, the storefronts and rooftops that signify a community’s growth.

As some of our areas reach near capacity on housing developments, the community focuses on maintaining quality and providing additional restaurant and retail.

The home builders move to a more rural area and the cycle begins again.

And here we grow again.

LAVON

Driving out of Wylie north on Hwy. 78, it will become harder and harder to recognize the once rural community of Lavon.

“We’ve got the growth,” said Pam Mundo, executive director of the Lavon Economic Development Corporation. “These are exciting times. Major growth is before the community as Hwy. 78 improvements, with six lanes, are now completed. Improvements to Hwy. 205, four traffic lanes, will begin in late 2020. These improvements will bring better access to Interstate 30 south of Lavon.”

According to information from LEDC, the community experienced about a 10 % growth increase between 2018 and 2019 putting the population just under 4,000. That

growth is expected to continue significantly over the next few years.

City reports indicate there are 1,689 single-family residential lots currently entitled and 785 single-family platted lots in construction. Additionally there is the potential for 352 multi-family housing lots.

New retail in Lavon that opened in 2019 included 5 Flooring & Plus; 7-Eleven Convenience Store; Bayside Nutrition; Good Fella’s Pizza; Lavon Pharmacy; Lavon Nail Art & Spa; O’Reilly Auto Part; Sawaaro Spa and St. Paul Pharmacy.

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er

A new specialty printer, Crown Labels, also began business in town. They make labels for retail and product identification business.

And, frankly, dirt was flying and plans were being made in almost every part of the city.

A 2019 end-of-the-year assessment showed: • Commercial tracts available in the Grand Heritage, Grand Heritage West and Bear Creek subdivisions; • Build out of the Traditions (97 lots) and Traditions West (84) developments; • Lots in Traditions Phase 2 (111) to be available in February 2020; • A bridge over Bear Creek is being built for the Bear Creek East Phase 3, 4 and 5 development. Phase 3 will include 161 lots and is expected to open December 2020.

• Property south of Bear Creek East subdivision has been annexed to create a Bear Creek South.

• The Crestridge Meadows subdivision is under construction on South CR 484. Approved for 274 homes, Phase 1 includes 140 lots. These lots should be available in February 2020.

• Lavon Farms is being developed on FM 2755.

• At the southeast corner of Hwy. 78 and FM 6, the Lakepointe by Lenart development has broken ground and is under construction. The preliminary plat approved 700 residential lots and is now in the planning stages for retail and office space. Phase 1 of the project includes resident lots 1 through 161, and the lots should be available in August 2020.

• Another 1,600-acre development – Abston Hills – is in the planning stages for the eastern portions of Lavon.

• Expansion of the City of Lavon’s sanitary sewer treatment plant is expected during the first quarter of 2020. The expansion will double the facility’s capacity.

• Construction on the Bear Creek Special Utility District Water Pump State and Ground Storage on Geren Road has begun.

• Plans are at 60% and construction to slated to start in December 2020 for the Texas Department of Transportation to widen Hwy. 205 from two to four lanes beginning at the Hwy. 78 and 205 intersection.

• Construction on the Collin County facility behind Independent Bank on Hwy. 78 was scheduled to begin in January 2020.

• Annexation planning is underway for 66 acres on FM 78 with plans for residential lots and commercial tracts along Hwy. 78 and five acres commercial at the corner of FM 6 and Hwy. 78.

• There is 8,600 square feet of retail space planned for the corner of Hwy. 78 and Burleson Drive.

MURPHY

Murphy looks forward to not only the new year but the new decade, as the city continues to encourage development and redevelopment of its strong commercial corridor, according to Reagan Rothenberger, interim director of the city’s community and economic development program.

“2019 was a great year for Murphy as we continue to see progress in several areas of the city,” Rothenberger said.

Murphy has welcomed Jason’s Deli to the new Timber Ridge Center, as well as other new businesses, including a Verizon store, Wayback Burger, Deka Lash, Floyd’s 99 Barbershop, Club Pilates, Game Stop and Tropical Smoothie Café.

New construction is imminent in Murphy Marketplace, Rothenberger said, as the city dhas approved an incentive agreement to spur new development there. “The city is proud of the partnership between Murphy Marketplace owners, Phillips Edison, and their commitment to continually improve the center,” he said.

New construction has begun for the Service First Automotive center, located on east FM 544. “This new automobile service center is highly acclaimed for their customer service, and we are proud to be one of their first DFW locations,” Rothenberger said. continued ~

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Conceptual design of "The Station" development by PMB Capital Investments. www.TheStationTX.com

Directly across FM 544 to the north, Best Gymnastics will soon begin construction on a new state-of the-art gymnastics facility. Along west FM 544, Take 5 Oil Change will soon open a new location.

Bluff Creek Estates on south McCreary Road is making fast progress with nearly 50 homes built or under construction. When completed there will be 113 new residences, all by K. Hovnanian Homes.

Commercial development on North Murphy Road saw new building from Eye Center of Murphy and Full Spectrum Salon. Oasis Springs Manors, also on North Murphy Road, continues to make progress and lots should soon be for sale.

Murphy Meadows in far northeast Murphy will soon construct five new upscale patio homes to build out the development.

catching the attention of Urban Partners, a Dallas-based developer and consultant of world-class walkable developments, Weber said.

“The SEDC and Urban Partners are currently working together to make the SEDC-owned property a walkable restaurant district with lots of opportunities for recreation and entertainment,” he said.

Elsewhere in Sachse, PMB Capital Investments broke ground on The Station in July 2019. The 119-plus acre, mixed-use development will include restaurants, entertainment, single-family and multi-family housing. The Station is expected to open in late 2020.

In addition to The Station, 7-Eleven opened a convenience store and gas station at Miles Road and the President George Bush Turnpike, offering residents and visitors a convenient place to refuel and grab necessities along the busy turnpike, and Woodbridge Corners is looking much different with the opening of Hat Creek Burgers.

On the west side of Hwy. 78, there’s new construction happening with The Shops at Woodbridge. Earlier this year it was announced that the retail center would be anchored by Portland, Oregon,-based Black Rock Coffee.

SEDC staff took to the road during the spring of 2019, exhibiting at the world’s largest retail conference hosted by the International Conference of Shopping Centers in Las Vegas. While at the conference, SEDC staff met with several retailers, hotel chains and restaurant brands, introducing them to Sachse and all that the city has to offer. This is the first time the SEDC has participated in the event as an exhibitor.

On Nov. 21, the Corporation celebrated its 25th anniversary with a reception that brought many local dignitaries, elected officials and members of the Dallas area com-

W

continued ~

SACHSE

The Sachse Economic Development Corporation experienced a tremendous 2019, according to information from the organization. “One of the notable highlights from the year includes a fabulous second season at Backyard on 5th,” said Bradley Weber, marketing specialist for the SEDC. In addition to bringing some of DFW’s greatest food trucks, solo artists, and craft brewers to Sachse, the SEDC owned and managed venue hosted a firetruck spray, “Dine with Your Dog Night,” and a farmer’s market.

The SEDC’s commitment to Backyard on 5th paid big dividends this year, providing ‘“proof of concept” and

4 S W

9

12 • The CONNECTION • February/March 2020

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We Put A Smile on Your Family’s Face!

GENERAL DENTISTRY FOR ADULTS AND CHILDREN Drs. Jonathan and Sarah Cantrell combine their talents to offer a wide range of dental services for the whole family. Our patient-centered approach will earn your trust from the first appointment. Our team prides themselves in getting to know you and building a lasting relationship.

We have enjoyed treating the dental needs of this community and look forward to serving you all for years to come.

Sarah Cantrell DDS & Jonathan Cantrell DDS

• Preventive Dentistry • Checkups & Cleanings • Children’s Dentistry • Sedation Dentistry • Digital X-Rays • CEREC® 1-Day Smiles

• Restorative Dentistry • Crowns & Bridges • Dentures & Partials • Dental Implants • Cosmetic Dentistry • Porcelain Veneers

• Teeth Whitening • All-Ceramic Restorations • Periodontal Therapy • TMJ/TMD Therapy • Emergency Dentistry

OFFICE HOURS Monday - Thursday 7:00 AM - 4:00 PM

972-442-9139 A Wylie Chamber of Commerce Publication

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Park Blvd.

FM 544

W. Brown St.

. 78 Hwy

WYLIE Ballard Ave.

McMillan Rd. Country Club Rd.

Parker Rd.

McCreary Rd.

456 Country Club Rd. Suite 104 Wylie, TX 75098

Parker Rd.

N

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mercial real estate community to Sachse to celebrate the momentous occasion with the SEDC board and staff.

As the SEDC moves into 2020, the Corporation will remain focused on recruiting desirable local and regional restaurants to Sachse, Weber said, while transforming Backyard on 5th and the surrounding 7-acre, EDC-owned properties into a regional destination that will provide residents with high quality dining options, entertainment and unique retail experiences.

At the Wylie Economic Development Corporation in 2020, it might be the usual business but it won’t be business as usual.

WEDC Executive Director Sam Satterwhite is leaving the post he’s held since Feb. 15, 1996.

Under the Wylie City Council’s guidance and the city’s master plan, Satterwhite has been a dedicated gardener – pruning, prodding and plugging, and praying to produce a vibrant, vigorous and varied community.

About 11,000 people lived in Wylie when Satterwhite arrived on the job. The population now sits around 52,000.

Under Satterwhite’s leadership, the WEDC had finished more than 70 projects producing more than 2.7 million square feet of new commercial space; created or retrained 3,670 jobs and generated $374 million in new investment, according to information from the WEDC. 2019 was no exception.

In 2019, end of the 10-year sales tax reimbursement agreement with the developer that brought Target (Woodbridge Crossing) to town ended. Woodbridge Crossing generates more than $1.6 million per year in sales tax revenue for the city of Wylie and has an ad valorem tax value of $79 million.

New restaurants that opened included: • Chick-Fil-A – Hwy. 78 and Cooper Drive • Schlotzky’s Austin Eatery – Hwy. 78 • Fish N Tails Oyster Bar – Hwy. 78 • Josephine’s Bistro – FM 544 • BURGERim – Woodbridge Center • McAllister’s Deli – Woodbridge Crossing • Mod Pizza – Woodbridge Crossing • Great American Cookie Company & Marble Slab Creamery – Woodbridge Crossing • Frankie’s Mexican Cuisine – Downtown Wylie (opening soon) • Bold Barbecue – Downtown Wylie • OMG Creamery – Downtown Wylie • Reopening of LaJoya Mexican Restaurant – Downtown Wylie

Photos by Anne Hiney

WYLIE

Businesses openings in the community included: • Pet Supply Plus and Credit Union of Texas – Woodbridge Center • ULTA, Sketchers, Bath and Body Works – Woodbridge Crossing • Holiday Inn Express & Suites – Sanden Boulevard • Deanan Gourmet Popcorn expanded adding more than 10,000 square feet • Cardinal Strategies broke ground in Regency Business Park • Manufacturing also saw expansion.

So 2020 will bring changes to the WEDC leadership, but they will be familiar ones. In January, it was announced that WEDC Assistant Director Jason Greiner will move into Satterwhite’s vacated position.

Greiner has been with WEDC since 2016. He had been in economic development or consulting for eight years prior to joining Wylie.

The business of WEDC won’t change.

2020 starts with groundbreakings for new medical office buildings adding 17,000 square feet of space, $9 million in new investment and 40 jobs.

Whataburger will open sometime this year.

Collin College’s Wylie campus on FM 1378 will welcome students for Fall 2020 classes.

And Greiner will continue to work on a 13-acre project at the corner of Brown Street and Hwy. 78. WEDC has secured 15 adjacent properties “with the intent of developing a highly visible master planned property with a mix of retail professional services and office.”

This, Greiner said, should help stimulate some redevelopment in the downtown Wylie area.

Life grows on. •

14 • The CONNECTION • February/March 2020

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Photos by Anne Hiney

Chocolate Covered Strawberries 6 oz. Semisweet Chocolate 3 oz. White Chocolate 20 Strawberries with Stem Melt each chopped chocolate in microwave at half power for one minute, stir and repeat until melted.

Hold strawberry by stem, dip into dark chocolate, lift and twist, place on parchment paper, and repeat.

Dip a fork in the white chocolate and drizzle the white chocolate over the dipped strawberries.

PARD

Wait 30 minutes and enjoy!

A Wylie Chamber of Commerce Publication

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DESIGNED

BY THEM

16 • The CONNECTION • February/March 2020

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Celebrating

10 Years

of Serving Wylie Area Families!

972.429.9090 130 N. Ballard Ave. Wylie, TX 75098

www.wylie-eye.com

future

Biologist

future

Attorney

future

Dancer

FIND YOUR FUTURE More than 100 academic & workforce degrees and certificates Explore the possibilities at collin.edu

A Wylie Chamber of Commerce Publication

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Design Trends for the New Decade The National Association of Realtors (NAR) recently published their top 10 list of design trends for 2020. There were some things I was expecting and then some surprises. I would like to share some of what they put forth and would love to hear what you think. Please shoot me an email to Jeanie@MartenRE.com.

First, a few trends that were easy picks: • Comfortable Dining Spaces – Dining rooms have been trending back into new construction for several years now. NAR summed it up well by saying that dining rooms are moving from formal to functional with more versatile furniture, textures and lighting.

• Deeper Hues – Yes, that would be accent walls! I bleed beige but done properly, accent colors used on walls can be stunning. The Sherwin Williams color of the year PANTONE 19-4052 Classic Blue just makes me smile.

• Mass Timber – These are large structural panels, posts and beams glued under pressure or nailed together in layers with the wood’s grain stacked perpendicular for strength. It’s being touted as an innovating building material, superior to concrete and steel. Because it is prefabricated, there is no waste on site. I personally haven’t seen this used in Texas.

The biggest surprise and hard ‘no’ on the list for me was: • Living Walls – You guessed it ... that's a live planted wall. Landscape designer Michael Glassman of Michael Glassman & Associates in Sacramento, Calif., says, “Gardening is going up rather than out for aesthetics and consumption.” I am teased constantly by one of my children about having the brown thumb of death, so this option is out of the question for my household.

You gardeners out there might want to put your green thumbs to the test and give it a try.

Jeanie Marten 972-588-8363 • Jeanie@MartenRE.com 6406 Hwy. 78, Suite 212 • Sachse, TX 75048

www.MartenRE.com EQUAL HOUSING

OPPORTUNITY

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A Wylie Chamber of Commerce Publication

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February:

Thru Feb. 23: Steel Magnolias presented by the Rockwall Community Playhouse – The action is set in Truvy's beauty salon in Chinquapin, Louisiana, where all the ladies who are "anybody" come to have their hair done. This is a beautiful play of extraordinary humor and warmth. Rated: PG-13 Audiences. Location: 609 E. Rusk, Rockwall. Info: www.rockwallcommunityplayhouse.org/Home.aspx Feb. 7-9: 11th Annual Home & Garden Show, Collin County – Save time with everything for your home & garden under one roof.

Save money with show only discounts. Have fun with activities for the whole family and so much more! Location: Allen Event Center, 200 E. Stacy Rd., #1350, Allen. Info: https://showtechnology.com/shows/ collin-county-home-and-garden-show Feb. 15: Panthers, Pumas, and Pancakes – 7 - 10 a.m. Join us and our fellow cats at In-Sync Exotics for an all-you-can-eat Valentine’s Pancake Breakfast. There will be coffee, juice, fruit, and of course, all-you-can-eat pancakes! Then take a self-guided tour around the sanctuary to burn off a little bit of breakfast. Cost: $25 Adult, $15 Kids (4-12), Under 4 are free. Location: 3430 Skyview Dr., Wylie. Info: www.InSyncExotics.org Feb. 21: Sachse Daddy/Daughter Dance – 7 - 9 p.m. OK girls, put on your dancin’ shoes and get ready for a night of fun, games and activities, music, dance, and snacks. This event is a great way for young women to strengthen their relationships with their fathers. A picture will be taken and given to each couple to remember this occasion. Location: Michael J. Felix Community Center, 3815 E. Sachse Rd., Sachse. Cost: $15/couple; $5 additional daughter. Contact: 469429-0275 Registration: cityofsachse.com/classregistration Feb. 22: Food Pantry 5K – Join the Knights of Columbus for the second annual Food Pantry 5K (chip timed) and 1 Mile Fun Run/Walk!

Bring your friends and family, raise funds and donate goods for the 5 Loaves Food Pantry. Cool swag including t-shirt giveaway (guaranteed if registered by Feb 10) and finisher medal for the 5K! Please bring at least THREE non-perishable food items for the pantry's donation bin. We have added a Virtual 5K race option this year! Location: Carter Softball Complex/Audubon Park, 550 W. Oates Rd.,Garland.

Registration & Info: runsignup.com/Race/TX/Garland/FoodPantry5K Feb. 22: Wylie ISD Education Foundation's 17th Annual Boots ’N Barbecue Gala – Hosted at Southfork Ranch is SOLD OUT!! But bidding opens for silent auction items on Feb. 14 at https://one.bidpal. net/ourWylieISDEF/welcome Feb. 22: Wylie Community Band – The 1st Jazz Big Band Dinner & Dance. Join us at 6 p.m. for our 1st ever Jazz Dinner Dance.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for age 10 and under. Please purchase advance tickets online. Pulled pork dinner and desert is included with your ticket purchase. We will be performing all your favorite jazz songs. Location: Draper Intermediate School, 103 Hensley Ln., Wylie. Tickets & Info: https://wyliecb.org Feb. 23: Krewe of Barkus Mardi Gras Dog Parade & Festival – 12:30 - 4 p.m. Parade starts at 2 p.m. This is the 18th annual Krewe of Barkus parade and we're still going strong. Patterned after the Mystic Krewe of Barkus in New Orleans, which was established to help abused and abandoned canines, Krewe of Barkus will feature a parade, vendor booths, and interactive activities. Animal rescue groups will also be present to help worthy dogs find forever homes.

Location: Downtown McKinney. Info: www.artinstituteofmckinney.com Feb. 28, 29: WAG “Knights of the Not So Round Table” – Come on out and enjoy a night of entertainment and support your local acting group. Location: 205 Industrial Court, Wylie. Tickets & Info: wylieactinggroup.org/store/Knights-of-the-Not-So-Round-Table-c41361081 Feb. 29: Wylie X-Treme Green – 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. Residential household hazardous waste, electronics, household metal appliances, and automotive tires; document shredding is also offered. Location: Public Works Building, 949 Hensley Ln., Wylie. See complete list of acceptable items at wylietexas.gov A Wylie Chamber of Commerce Publication

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Feb. 29: Delta Allen Craft Beer & Spirits Festival – 4 - 7 p.m. The First Delta Allen Craft Beer & Spirits Festival will showcase regional craft beer and spirits allowing you to experience a variety of tastes in a fun, festive environment. Proceeds benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters Lone Star – Greater Dallas. Executive Chef Bryan Patton will provide specialty food stations throughout the event, including BBQ brisket sliders, whipped potatoes, fried cheese curds and pickle fried chicken.

Location: Delta Hotels by Marriott Dallas Allen, 777 Watters Creek Blvd., Allen. Info: https://bit.ly/36r4sy8

March:

March 1, 6, 7: WAG “Knights of the Not So Round Table” Come on out and enjoy a night of entertainment and support your local acting group. Location: 205 Industrial Court, Wylie. Tickets & Info: wylieactinggroup.org/store/Knights-of-the-Not-So-Round-Table-c41361081 March 6, 7 & 8: North Texas Irish Festival – Location: Fair Park, Dallas. Info: www.ntif.org March 10 & 12: Art in the Park – 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. Bring the kids to enjoy making, creating, painting, and playing outside! Painting on murals, creating sculptures, side walk chalk paint are just some of the things we will be doing. Hosted by the Creative Arts Guild of Wylie.

Free event for all ages. Dress for a mess. Location: Olde City Park, 112 S. Ballard Ave., Wylie. Info: www.cagwylie.com/events March 14: Downtown Garland Lucky 5K – 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. Dress up and bring your family and friends to the downtown Garland Lucky 5K to help us support the Guns & Hoses Foundation of North Texas.

The race starts on the corner of Sixth and West State Street and ends at Intrinsic Smokehouse and Brewery where the awards and afterparty will take place. Whether you are a professional runner, or just here for the fun, good times are to be had by all. You must register before March 7 be to guaranteed a t-shirt! Awards ceremony will begin at 10 a.m. Location: 509 W. State St., Garland. Registration & Info: www.visitgarlandtx.com/events/2020/downtown-garland-lucky-5k March 14: Second Saturday Bird Walk – 8 - 9:30 a.m. The Heard Museum and Prairie & Timbers Audubon Society offer guided bird walks on the Heard Sanctuary. Walks begin promptly at 8 a.m. and last 1.5 hours. Walks are included in regular admission and free for Heard Museum members. These bird walks are intended to help beginning and intermediate birders with bird spotting and identification techniques. There will also be plenty of opportunity for questions.

Prairie, woodland, and wetland habitats are included in these walks.

Location: Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary, 1 Nature Place, McKinney. Info: www.heardmuseum.org March 21: City of Murphy Mother & Son Extravaganza – 6 - 9 p.m. Come dressed in your spy gear and help solve a mystery!

Activities include mother and son spy challenges, mini laser tag, raffles, costume contest and much more. Light meal included. Location: 205 N. Murphy Rd., Murphy. Cost: $25 per mother/son couple; $15 additional son. Website: reconline.murphytx.org March 28: Dallas Oddities & Curiosities Expo – 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.

For lovers of the strange & unusual ... The Oddities & Curiosities Expo showcases hand selected vendors, dealers, artists and small businesses from all over the country with all things weird. You'll find items such as: taxidermy, preserved specimens, original artwork, horror/Halloween inspired pieces, antiques, handcrafted oddities, quack medical devices, clothing, jewelry, skulls/bones, funeral collectibles and much more. We truly have something weird for everyone. All items you see are legal to own and sustainably sourced. Location: Fair Park - Centennial Hall, 1001 Washington St., Dallas. Info: odditiesandcuriositiesexpo.com Mar 27-29 and April 3-5, 10-12 : I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change presented by the Rockwall Community Playhouse – Presented in the form of a series of vignettes connected by the central theme of love and relationships. The play's tagline is 'Everything you have ever secretly thought about dating, romance, marriage, lovers, husbands, wives and in-laws, but were afraid to admit'. Rated: continued ~

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Mature Audiences. Location: 609 E. Rusk, Rockwall. Info: www.rockwallcommunityplayhouse.org/Home.aspx

Wylie Rec Center:

Feb. 14: Parents Night Out – 5 - 10 p.m. Enjoy Valentine’s Day while your kids have fun at Wylie Rec. Activities include supervised crafts, bounce house and games, rock climbing, pizza for dinner (please pack dinner if your child has dietary restrictions), and a movie.

Drop off by 5:30 p.m. Kids will be divided into age-appropriate groups, and they should wear closed-toe shoes and comfortable clothing.

Register by Feb. 12. Cost: $20 per child Info: https://apm.activecommunities.com/wylie/Home

Smith Public Library:

Lego League: Feb. 4 or 6 & March 3 or 5 from 3:30 - 4:30 p.m..

Medicare 101: Feb. 10, 6 p.m. & Feb. 12, 10:30 a.m. Ages 18 & up.

Wayfinders@SPL Valentine’s Day Crafts: Feb. 11 at 6:30 p.m.

Ages 16 & up. If interested Email: wayfinders@wylietexas.gov Japanimation Club: Feb. 20 & March 19 from 6 - 7 p.m. For 6-12th grade.

Family Lego Build: Feb. 26 & March 25 from 3:30 - 4:45 p.m. For kids age 9 and younger.

Anime MeetUp: March 2 at 6 p.m. Ages 17 & up.

Garden Swap & Demo: March 7 at 2 p.m. All ages.

Genealogy Club: March 19 at 6 p.m. 18 & up.

Genealogy Boot Camp: March 28 at 10 a.m. 18 & up.

Sachse Public Library:

BEGINNING IN FEBRUARY: Patrons of the Sachse Public Library can now access streaming content for free with Hoopla! Hoopla is an online service that allows users to download and stream digital music, movies, TV shows, audiobooks, comic books and e-books from multiple devices. We invite you download the Hoopla app on your mobile device, smart TV or streaming device, or visit hoopladigital.com to create an account. A Sachse Public Library card number and PIN is required to access Hoopla, however, library cards are always free at the Sachse Public Library for all Texas residents.

Blind Date with a Book: All month-long, we invite you to choose from a selection of wrapped books, then check it out to see what you received! It’s a great way to discover a new author!

AARP Foundation Tax-Aide Program: Tuesdays from Feb. 4 until April 14, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. – AARP volunteers will help file your tax return, This event is first-come, first-served. Attendees must bring all 2019 documentation, a copy of last year’s tax return, and Social Security cards for everyone on the return.

Rep. Colin Allred Mobile Office Hours: Feb. 6, 2:30 - 4:30 p.m. – Staff from the office of Rep. Colin Allred will be at the Library to make it easier for constituents to get services and assistance related to federal agencies, including veteran’s benefits, Medicare, Social Security and more.

For the Love of Art: Feb. 18, 6 p.m. – Come experience a variety of art mediums and take your fabulous creations home with you. Be sure to wear clothes that can get messy!

Craft & Mingle: Feb. 13, 6 p.m. – Join us for an evening of paper crafts and socializing. Feel free to bring your own craft project to work on. Ages 18+ Sachse Gaming Adventures: Feb. 22, 12:30 - 3:30 p.m. – Adults & teens 16+ can join us for this monthly role-playing game event. New players and veteran gamers are invited to attend!

TEEN QUEST: Feb. 27, 4 - 5 p.m. – Teens and Tweens can join us for different STEAM activities each month! • 22

The

CHAMBER of COMMERCE EVENTS WYLIE: www.wyliechamber.org | 972-442-2804

Monthly Luncheon: 4th Tuesday of the month at 11:30 a.m.

Check the chamber website for details on location. Make reservations at www.wyliechamber.org.

Feb. 25: Networking Luncheon - Check website for details.

Mar. 24: Networking Luncheon - Check website for details.

Every Wednesday Business Card Exchange: Network and promote your business from 8 - 9 a.m. at the Smith Public Library, 300 Country Club Rd., #300, Wylie. Chamber members and nonmembers welcome. $1 donation requested.

SACHSE: www.sachsechamber.com | 972-496-1212 Monthly Luncheon: 2nd Tuesday of the month, 11:30 a.m. 1 p.m. at Woodbridge Golf Club, 7400 Country Club Dr., Wylie.

Register and pay at www.sachsechamber.com. $15 Chamber Members with RSVP/$20 Non-Members and walk-ins.

Feb. 11: Networking Luncheon - Entertainment will be The Sachse High School Jazz Band.

Mar. 10: Networking Luncheon - Check website for details.

Feb. 25: Awards Banquet - at Community BBQ & Grill, 7010 TX-78, Sachse. 6 p.m. Cocktails & Raffle, 7 p.m. Dinner & Awards. Check website for ticket info.

Every Tuesday Business Card Exchange: Meet at North Pointe Church of Christ, 7030 Hwy. 78, in Sachse, from 8 - 9 a.m.

Everyone welcome, Free.

MURPHY: murphychamber.org | 972-805-3749 Monthly Luncheon: 3rd Tuesday of the month, 11:30 a.m. 1 p.m. at the Murphy Road Baptist Church, 411 S. Murphy Rd., Murphy. Go to www.murphychamber.org for info or to prepay or call 972-805-3749 for reservations.

Feb. 18: Networking Luncheon - Check website for details.

Mar. 17: Networking Luncheon - Check website for details.

Every Thursday Business Card Exchange: Join the Murphy Chamber of Commerce for a networking Business Card Exchange from 8 - 9 a.m. at the Murphy Activity Center, 201 N. Murphy Rd. Open to members and non-members - suggested $1 donation.

Submit Your Event to the Calendar!

To submit a community event to the April/May 2020 calendar send an e-mail to theconnection.anne@mac. com no later than March 15. Please include contact name, date(s), time(s), location, a publishable phone number, e-mail and/or web site for information.

Public events welcome (no “members only” events) as space permits. THANKS!

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F

ro ti o fi o B ea an A h as D fi “a ca fo th in A fu b D an D in in d se d th ed th an C ye to to si in p D d fi

3 G

FulFer

and

associates, inc., began planting its

roots in downtown Garland back in 1972. It was at that time that Donna Fulfer (now founder, owner, and president of Fulfer and Associates, Inc.) began working for a CPA firm in a clerical capacity. She fell in love with the world of accounting. Raising two children, alongside her husband Bobby, she made the sacrifice to return to school. Donna earned her CPA designation in 1984 and, as they say, “the rest is history!”

Always striving for more ways to help her clients, Donna became fully licensed as a Registered Representative in 1986.

Donna soon became a partner in the firm for which she began with a job of “answering phones and emptying trash cans and ash trays,” as she is famous for saying. In 1992 she bought out the entire practice and it morphed into its current form of Fulfer and Associates, Inc. Donna continues to further her education, as evidenced by her CFP® designation in 2004.

Deonna Fulfer Osborn is Donna and Bobby’s youngest daughter.

Donesa is the oldest and teaches in Garland ISD. Both girls grew up in the business, but initially chose different career paths. Through a series of life events, one child, and two degrees later, Deonna officially joined the business in 2003. Her focus of education and expertise soon became the investment side of the business, and she was fully licensed as a Financial Consultant by the end of the following year. Taking after her mother’s nature of a continual need to serve and acquire knowledge, Deonna soon decided to return to school to obtain necessary coursework and sit for the CPA exam. She earned her CPA designation in January of 2011. Deonna proudly serves as the vice president of Fulfer and Associates, Inc. Donna and Deonna enjoy working side by side (on most days!). Their partnership adds a unique atmosphere to the firm. You almost feel as if you are walking into a family, and

331 North 5th Street, Suite 100 Garland, TX 75040

many clients have said that Donna, Deonna, and some of the other ladies have become a part of their extended family.

Fulfer and Associates, Inc., prides itself on its many longstanding clients and the faith and trust those clients continue to place in them. “Our business is all about relationships,” Donna said. “People have to know you care. And we honestly do care!” Donna and Deonna always feel there is room for more in this diverse family.

The firm was fortunate enough to become enmeshed into the Wylie community through Deonna’s involvement in her daughter’s school. Hope, now a junior at Wylie High School, is her only child and absolutely the light of “Mamaw’s” (Donna’s) eye. At WHS, Hope is actively involved in theatre and enjoys being a part of the Pirate culture.

“Wylie ISD is a unique place to raise a child. This community rallies together, with a hometown feel, to share in victories and sorrows.

We’ve experienced many of both over the years, and I feel blessed to be here and to raise Hope in the Wylie community,” Deonna said.

Deonna is also honored to serve as an Ambassador for the Wylie Chamber of Commerce during 2020.

Fulfer and Associates, Inc., is a full accounting, tax planning, and financial services firm dedicated to providing clients with the finest level of care and experience that they deserve.

Tax preparation, payroll, sales tax, and bookkeeping are just a few of the accounting services offered. On the investment side, retirement planning, college planning, investment strategy portfolios, and life and longterm care insurance, are some of their areas of expertise.

Please visit the website at www.fulferandassociates.com for more expansive information and a complete description of services offered.

Go pay them a visit, and you might just want to become the newest member of the family!

972-272-8567

www.fulferandassociates.com

Securities and Advisory Services offered through Cetera Advisors Network LLC., Member FINRA/SIPC. Advosory services offered through Summit Financial Group, Inc., a registered investment adviser.

Summit and Cetera are affiliated and under separate ownership from any other named entity.

A Wylie Chamber of Commerce Publication

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By Judy Truesdell

W

Renae Ollie

hen former Wylie City Manager Mindy Manson retired last spring, she did so with confidence that the City of Wylie would continue to thrive under the creative leadership of three unique professionals, Chris Holsted, Renae Ollie, and Brent Parker.

Their diverse backgrounds, education, and experience, together with a shared emotional connection to the city, complement each other and have created a dynamic leadership team.

City Manager Chris Holsted Chris Holsted graduated from the University of Arkansas in 1994 with a degree in mechanical engineering. He began his professional life as an HVAC design technician with Cromwell Architects and Engineers in Little Rock. A job with Dallas engineering firm The Hogan Corporation brought him to Texas, first as an engineer in training, then project manager, and finally vice president. It was through Hogan that he became known to the Wylie community; he worked on several challenging engineering projects here, including the reconstruction of Cooper Drive. “This project was done in 1995, when it seemed like you left the Metroplex when driving east into Wylie,” he recalled, adding that FM 544 and SH 78 were two-lane asphalt roadways. He also designed a sewer line relocation, crucial to allow the Kansas City Southern train tracks to be relocated around downtown to their current location west of SH 78. In order to meet the KCS deadline, that project was designed in two days, over a weekend.

“Maybe the one that had the biggest effect was the realignment of Country Club between FM 544 and Brown Street. When we presented the idea, we received com-

Chris Holsted

Photos by Craig Kelly

Wylie Leadership Trio Brings Varied Strengths, Experience to New Roles

Brent Parker

ments like ‘That will never happen,’ but we knew the configuration at the time would not be efficient long term with the projected growth.” Those new to the community may not know that Country Club originally ran northeast at a 45-degree angle; its relocation and straightening increased traffic capacity at the FM 544/ Country Club intersection, crucial to the Municipal Complex construction.

In 1998, Chris was offered the position of acting city engineer, and he became the official city engineer in 2000. He was named the assistant city manager when Jeff Butters retired in 2016. Mindy cited his commitment to public service and proven leadership as key to that appointment, and in 2019 when she announced her own plans to retire, she recommended Chris to the Wylie City Council as her replacement, and they approved the appointment.

“I was honored to be offered the position because I respect Mindy and appreciated her work ethic,” he said.

“We had discussed my goal, which was to move into a management role, and I was pleased she and the council had confidence in my ability to take the reins last May.” Although he was committed to continuing the quality leadership Mindy had provided, he also brought some new ideas to the table. Chief among them was the addition of a second assistant city manager, necessary to continue providing a high level of customer service to the city’s growing population. The City Council approved the promotion of Fire Chief Brent Parker and Director of Development Services Renae Ollie to assistant city manager, a step that, through realignment of other positions, was possible at no impact to the budget.

continued ~

24 • The CONNECTION • February/March 2020

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Assistant City Manager Renae Ollie Renae Ollie joined the City of Wylie staff as assistant planner in 2004. She was promoted to planning director in 2006, was named director of development services in 2013, and was promoted to assistant city manager last year. During her time in Wylie, she has implemented and overseen numerous projects dedicated to improving the quality of life for Wylie’s citizens, including the city’s Master Plan policies through its Comprehensive Planning and Neighborhood Planning programs, and the Neighborhood A.C.T.I.O.N. Plan, dedicated to community revitalization.

She holds a Bachelor of Architecture, cum laude, from Prairie View A&M University and a Master in City Planning from Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

She holds certifications from the National Incident Management System, Texas Leadership Institute, and Land Development Financing Techniques in Texas.

Renae served as president of the Texas Chapter of the American Planning Association and has been recognized by the League of Women Voters at the Celebration of Collin County Women in Public Administration. She was recently elected as an officer for the Women Leading Government North Texas Chapter, an affiliate of ICMA. Renae has encouraged out-of-the-box thinking and problem-solving innovation; for example, she was instrumental in using a material composed of recycled tires to give elasticity to sidewalks being buckled by tree roots.

She also oversaw the establishment of a well-defined Downtown Wylie Historic District. Her expert guidance of the Wylie Planning Department was crucial during peak growth years.

“I get excited about coming to work,” Renae said of her new role. “I feel attached to the City of Wylie and genuinely enjoy serving the citizens, staff, and everyone connected to this great city.”

If our children are reflections of our character, Renae couldn’t have a better representative than her son Donovan, a name that’s familiar to anyone who followed Wylie Pirate football or basketball during the years 20152019. Donovan played varsity basketball and football, lettering and making first team All-District in both sports.

He received a Demonstration of Character award by his peers and was selected to play on the USA National Football Team in the 2019 International Bowl vs. Mexico.

He received a full-ride athletic scholarship to play wide receiver at Washington State University and enrolled in summer ’19. He red-shirted his freshman year, and Renae said she expects to see “plenty of action” from him in the fall. He also finished his first semester with a 3.2 GPA, the highest of his wide receiver corps. “#GoCougs,” she said.

Assistant City Manager Brent Parker Brent Parker has the deepest roots in Wide Awake Wylie. His family moved here from Plano in 1980, when Brent was 5 and his dad had taken the job as junior 26 • The CONNECTION • February/March 2020

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high principal. His parents bought a house on two acres off Donna Drive, and, in 1985 when they realized they wanted Wylie to be their permanent home, they purchased six acres off Pleasant Valley, where they still live.

Brent has an interesting tie to the historic Brown House on Ballard Avenue. “I started mowing yards with a friend when we were 14,” he said. “We would ride our bikes around town hanging door fliers. My mom and dad would take us to our jobs during the mowing season.” When then-Executive Director of the Birmingham Trust Bill Lewis needed someone to mow the Brown House property and do other chores, Brent’s Wylie High ag teacher recommended him for the job – and assigned him papers to write about the projects he did around the house.

Brent also played tight end and linebacker for the freshman football team at WHS. “We were horrible and lost just about every game.” Active in the ag program, he participated in FFA competitions, showing a variety of animals, and was even part of the group that made the “Wylie FFA Welcomes You to Wylie” sign at the intersection of FM 544 and Country Club Rd. He graduated from WHS in 1993.

Brent holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Human Resource Management from Columbia Southern University in Orange Beach, Ala., and a Master of Science in Fire and Emergency Management Administration from Oklahoma State University. He joined Wylie Fire Rescue in 2001, was promoted to operations battalion chief in 2010 and administrative battalion chief in 2012. In 2014, he assumed the fire chief role after Randy Corbin retired.

Brent has proven himself to be a natural leader, not only among the ranks of WFR, but statewide. In 2018, he was voted president of the Texas Fire Chiefs Association. He has also served as Operations Section Chief in the BCFS Health and Human Services’ Emergency Management Division, deploying to El Paso twice in 2018 to operate the largest shelter to date for unaccompanied minors.

Also in 2018, he completed the Executive Fire Officer Program, presented by the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s U.S. Fire Administration’s National Fire Academy, and recently, both Brent and Chris Holsted successfully completed the North Central Texas Council of Governments’ New and Emerging City Managers Program.

“I have really enjoyed my transition to ACM,” Brent said. “I have been given the opportunity to learn about different departments outside of my comfort zone, as well as the opportunity for new challenges.

“At the end of the day, it’s all about people and helping departments solve their problems in order to meet citizens’ needs. We are in the people business. It doesn’t matter if they are internal or external customers – our product is providing top-notch customer service.”

An experienced engineer, an innovative planner, and an admired member of the fire service; Mindy Manson had no doubt she was leaving Wylie in good hands. • A Wylie Chamber of Commerce Publication

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Edmondson Law, PLLC

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303 S. Jackson Avenue, Suite 200 Wylie, Texas 75098 o. 972.442.8326 | f. 972.442.8227

wylietxlaw.com www.wyliechamber.org • 27

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Higher Education

Collin College Students are Wylie Bound

W

By Heather Darrow

Wylie Campus Student Center

A

s a young boy, Wylie resident Edward de la Rosa Mendez loved to draw. He took art classes in grade school and earned second or third place in drawing contests at Smith Elementary School. He even selected art as an elective in high school. But until recently he believed it was just a hobby.

“Now I think of it as a career,” said de la Rosa Mendez, a Wylie East High School graduate.

“I’ve been at Collin College for one semester, and I like the Collin College experience. The classes are small, and there is more engagement among professors and students.”

Taking visual arts classes at the college has solidified Edward’s decision to become a graphic designer. He is working hard to achieve his dream to transfer to the University of Texas at Arlington and earn a bachelor’s degree in visual arts. In addition to studying, that effort includes a long commute to the college’s Plano Campus (Spring Creek).

“I have to take Parker Road, and it is always under construction, so I leave an hour ahead of time,” he said.

That situation will change when the Wylie Campus opens this fall.

“It will probably only take me 10 minutes to get to the Wylie Campus, and I will know more people there,” said de la Rosa Mendez. “It will be an easier commute for students in cities that are around Wylie, too, like Josephine, Lavon, Nevada, and Murphy.”

Photo courtesy of Skanska USA and rendering courtesy of Page Southerland Page.

What de la Rosa Mendez may not know is that art students will have the opportunity to take their easels outside on a terrace at the Wylie Campus because art professors were consulted in the design phase and shared their expertise. He might also be surprised to find out about the art history classroom that utilizes multiple image projections, allowing students to immerse themselves in panoramic artistic masterpieces from around the world without ever leaving the classroom.

Nevada resident Liliana Rios said she cannot wait to attend the Wylie Campus. Like de la Rosa Mendez, her commute will be at least 30 minutes shorter.

“I will save gas money, and it will not be as stressful to drive to classes because I won’t have the construction that I have now,” said Rios, who graduated from Community High School in 2018. “I will also have extra time and will probably get more hours in at work and be able to save more money to transfer to a university.”

Rios hopes to earn a degree in history and become a high school teacher or college professor.

“I go to the library in Wylie to see my new campus being built,” Rios said. “When I was growing up in Wylie it was pretty small compared to what it is now. Wylie has always been a great city and having the campus there just makes it better.”

For more information about Collin College, visit www. collin.edu. •

28 • The CONNECTION • February/March 2020

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• • • • • •

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www.wyliechamber.org • 29

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Education

Keeping Schools Safe and Secure… the Wylie Way ach day 17,000 students, along with more than 2,000 employee and hundreds of parents and visitors, pass through Wylie ISD’s 20 campuses. Helping keep them safe is no small task, and Wylie ISD is committed to providing the safest possible environment. Heading up those efforts is the district’s new Director of Safety and Security Brian Kelly.

Kelly was hired in December and brings more than 30 years of law enforcement experience, including several years as a commander, to this newly created position. In addition to overseeing day-to-day safety and security operations, he works with local law enforcement and emergency management agencies on developing and implementing preventative security programs, life safety programs, emergency management, and other safety programs.

“Over the past few years Wylie ISD has been very proactive and implemented some strategic safety initiatives that have made our campuses safer,” said Kelly. “From here we will be focusing on centralizing safety and security functions and technology, bringing these things together to improve safety for our kids. It’s all about evolving and improving.”

Several new laws have been passed that require schools to be more proactive in the way they address everything from drills to threat assessment. Kelly is working with several district departments on these programs to ensure the district is compliant.

Kelly has spent his first few weeks visiting schools, meeting with staff and getting to know the district. He has also met with School Resource Officers (SROs), police chiefs and city managers. He believes relationships are a crucial component of safety. To that end, he looks forward to meeting parents and students for their feedback.

“Technology plays an important role in safety, but relationships are the key. Teachers and principals know the atmosphere of the school. Being in touch with their campus ... the pulse … is the basis for a secure environment,” says Kelly.

A Wylie Chamber of Commerce Publication

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Photo by Ian Halperin

E

By Ian Halperin

Brian Kelly is WISD's new Director of Safety.

Kelly has also been reaching out to the PTAs. When parents ask about what they can do to help keep kids safe, the same answer applies.

“Be involved. Talk to and listen to your children. If they share something that concerns you, please notify us. It can be a teacher, counselor, administrator or if needed, the police,” he added.

Leaving “the beat” at SMU for Wylie ISD presented some new opportunities for Kelly. But he says the goals are similar: protect life and property. He focuses on policy and planning, leaving the criminal investigations to the police.

Before joining Wylie ISD, Kelly spent 20 years in the Irving Police Department serving in several roles, including SRO. In 2009 he joined the Southern Methodist University police department, serving as commander over homeland security, crime prevention and training.

He was also a tactical team commander, coordinating security for large events and visiting dignitaries. He was named the 2013 SMU Employee of the Year for his efforts to reduce student offenses campuswide.

Kelly holds his Master Peace Officers License, numerous Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) certifications and is a graduate of the FBI National Academy.

To learn more about Wylie ISD’s safety and security efforts, visit: www.wylieisd.net/safety. • www.wyliechamber.org • 31

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Health

Building for the Future

Methodist Richardson completes $85 million expansion

I

Provided by Methodist Richardson Medical Center

magine 11 acres of drywall, 116 miles of wire, 40 miles of studs, 12 miles of track, and 18 months.

What do you get? You get two new floors added to Methodist Richardson Medical Center.

The hospital celebrated the grand opening of its $85 million expansion in December, when two new nursing units on the sixth floor opened to treat patients.

“We are happy to celebrate this milestone for the hospital, which is more than seven years ahead of schedule,” says Methodist Richardson President Ken Hutchenrider, Jr, FACHE. “We are expanding to better serve our communities with acute care services close to home.”

This project included 104,000 square feet of additional space on the fifth and sixth floors, which will ultimately add 150 all-private patient suites. The fifth floor is currently shell space that can be finished out quickly, as need demands. The expansion also included the hospital’s seven-story parking garage, which features 671 spaces. It provides direct access to the Emergency Department and the Physician’s Pavilion. The first project to be completed in this project was the ninth Operating Room, which is now home to one of the hospital’s three multispecialty da Vinci robotic surgical systems.

The contractor for the expansion was a familiar one to Methodist Richardson. Skiles Group is a leading builder of healthcare facilities in North Texas. The Richardsonbased company recently completed another project at the hospital, the facility’s third cardiac catheterization lab.

“Methodist Richardson and Skiles Group have similar philosophies with respect to collaboration and teamwork, which makes us great partners,” said Skiles Group’s Director of Operations Keyan Zandy.

“Building a hospital on top of an existing hospital is like a big game of Jenga,” says Hutchenrider. “I couldn’t be more proud of our team for accomplishing this in just a year and a half.”

32 • The CONNECTION • February/March 2020

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Expansion Highlights: • 104,000 square foot addition of floors five and six, including 150 all-private, acute care beds • Ninth Operating Room • Seven new pre-op rooms • Additional post anesthesia care space • 671 space, seven-story parking garage • Additional kitchen space Methodist Richardson opened at the corner of George Bush and Renner in April 2014 with 125 beds. It now has 259 beds. The hospital primarily serves Richardson, Wylie, Sachse, Murphy, East Plano, and Garland. But the hospital’s specialty services attract patients from across the state and the region. The new Center for Surgery and Digestive Diseases in the hospital’s Cancer Center, was the first in the nation to earn The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for Center of Excellence for Pancreatic/Hepatic/Bile Duct Cancer Certification. The Gold Seal of Approval is a symbol of quality that reflects an organization’s commitment to providing safe and effective patient care.

“This certification represents the culture of excellence our program provides for patients with these cancers,” says Director of GI Surgical Services Dr. Rohan Jeyarajah.

“This really puts Methodist Richardson on the map since we are first in the nation.”

Methodist Richardson now offers surgeons and physicians more than 45 specialty fields, including neurology, cardiology, and surgical oncology. And more are coming soon. Methodist Health System recently purchased the property adjacent to the hospital at 3001 E. President George Bush Highway. This will become Physician’s Pavilion II, another medical office building offering more space for physicians, as well as other ancillary hospital services. • Texas law prohibits hospitals from practicing medicine. The physicians on the Methodist Health System medical staff are independent practitioners who are not employees or agents of Methodist Health System.

1/30/20 7:49 PM

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Welcome New Members!

Chamber

www.wyliechamber.org 307 N. Ballard Ave. Wylie, TX 75098 972-442-2804

www.murphychamber.org Darling Charli's Children's Boutique Holly Shield - Martinez 817-727-0308 www.facebook.com/pages/category/Baby--Children-s-Clothing-Store/Darling-CharlisChildrens-Boutique-207066836033841/ Home Girl Alexis 972-212-4153 www.shophomegirl.com TJ Maxx Jeff Ledesma 972-429-0710 tjmaxx.tjx.com/store/index.jsp Trendz N Traditions Donna Wesson 469-969-0066 www.facebook.com/trendzntraditions/ InSmile Dental Behram Shah 972-908-9830 www.insmiledentist.com Dear Sorella Salon Kim Vacante 972-632-8904 www.facebook.com/dearsorellasalon Bush's Chicken Pamela Anderson 972-265-9414 www.BushsChicken.com RBFCU Jesse Sanchez 469-500-5363 www.rbfcu.org Lake Ray Hubbard RV Resort Pat Childers 972-330-9396 www.lakerayhubbardrv.com

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Pure Barre Murphy Kelly Jensen 214-991-0947 www.purebarre.com/location/murphy-tx

Napoli's Pizza & Restaurant Artan Krasniqi 972-516-9663 napolisplano.com

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Master Choi's World Class Taekwondo Mooyong Choi 972-800-3262 Murphytkd2020@gmail.com

The UPS Store - Murphy Sam Patel 972-423-0270 theupsstore.com/4758

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Central Commercial Group, Rebecca Kuhl Rebecca Kuhl 469-667-9832 centralcg.com

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www.sachsechamber.com 5560 Hwy. 78 Sachse, TX 75048 972-496-1212

R & W Repairs and Remodeling Raymond and Wendy Schramm 972-900-3557

www.wyliechamber.org • 35

1/30/20 7:49 PM

Money

Measuring the Value of a Financial Advisor

Study asserts that these relationships can make a difference for investors

W

Provided by Trace Dennis

hat is a relationship with a financial advisor worth to an investor? A 2019 study by Vanguard, one of the world’s largest money managers, attempts to answer that question.

Vanguard’s whitepaper concludes that when an investor works with an advisor and receives professional investment advice, they may see a net portfolio return about 3% higher over time.

How did this study arrive at that conclusion? By comparing selfdirected investor accounts to an advisor model, Vanguard found that the potential return relative to the average investor experience was higher for individuals who had financial advisors.

Vanguard analyzed three key services that an advisor may provide: portfolio construction, wealth management, and behavioral coaching. It estimated that portfolio construction advice (e.g., asset allocation, asset location) could add up to 1.2% in additional return, while wealth management (e.g., rebalancing, drawdown strategies) may contribute over 1% in additional return.

The biggest opportunity to add value was in behavioral coaching, which was estimated to be worth about 1.5% in additional return. Financial advisors can use their insight to guide clients away from poor decisions, such as panic selling or accepting excessive risk in a portfolio.

Indeed, the greatest value of a financial advisor may be in helping individuals adhere to an agreed-upon financial and investment strategy.

Of course, financial advisors can account for additional value not studied by Vanguard, such as helping clients implement wealth protection strategies, which protect against the financial consequences of loss of income, and coordinating with other financial professionals on tax management and estate planning.

You could argue that a financial advisor’s independence adds qualitative value. It should be noted that not all financial advisors are independent. Some are basically employees of brokerages, and they may be encouraged to promote and recommend certain investments of those brokerages to their clients.

Both types of financial advisors may receive their compensation in two ways: through transaction fees and through ongoing fees. Financial advisory firms are required to disclose how their professionals are compensated with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

After years of working with a financial advisor, the value of a relationship may be measured in both tangible and intangible ways. Many such investors are grateful they are not “going it alone.” • Trace Dennis may be reached at 972-429-0603 or tracedennis@jaldennis.com.

36 • The CONNECTION • February/March 2020

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Business is Booming in Wylie Wylie Economic Development Corporation continues to focus on strengthening and developing a robust business base in Wylie.

Industrial, manufacturing and commercial businesses alike have decided that Wylie is THE place to be! What does this mean for you? Strong and thriving businesses enrich our community with job opportunities, diverse dining and shopping options and infuse the local economy with property and sales tax support. All good news for Wylie citizens!

Chick-Fil-A opened last May at the corner of Highway 78 & Cooper Drive.

Schlotzsky’s Austin Eatery and Fish-n-Tails Oyster Bar joined them last fall. And Breaking News – Whataburger will join them this year!

Just around the corner on FM 544, Wylie’s first French cuisine restaurant, Josephine’s, began serving Wylie area residents this summer. A full-service restaurant featuring a farm-to-table concept that procures the bulk of its product from local growers and ranchers.

Pet Supply Plus, Credit Union of Texas and BURGERim all joined Woodbridge Centre’s Kroger anchored development in 2019.

Woodbridge Crossing welcomed ULTA, Skechers, Great American Cookie Company & Marble Slab Creamery, Bath & Body Works along with the newest addition, Mod Pizza, which opened in October.

Industrial and manufacturing business is booming in Wylie as well.

Deanan Gourmet Popcorn expanded and consolidated its operations in Wylie, adding over 10,000 sf to its production facility on Windco Circle.

Regency Business Park, which welcomed DCU’s 10,000+ square foot facility this past year, has caught the attention of other businesses looking to relocate to Wylie. Cardinal Strategies broke ground this fall and has plans to hire engineering professionals to expand their growing business.

Historic Downtown Wylie continues to flourish and attract new businesses like Frankie’s Mexican Cuisine, Bold Barbecue, OMG Creamery and the reopening of La Joya Mexican Restaurant. As if you needed another reason to love Historic Downtown Wylie, you now have more reasons to spend a little more time in our unique downtown area.

Last but not least, all eyes are focused on Collin College’s Wylie campus.

Construction is well underway on FM 1378 and the campus is on track to open its doors to students in the Fall of 2020.

New businesses are finding Wylie a great place to call home, and … we couldn’t agree more!

972-442-7901 | www.WylieEDC.com

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The Connection Magazine, Wylie Chamber of Commerce

WE ARE YOUR FINANCIAL TEAM Call Us To Schedule a Complimentary Portfolio Review.

972-429-0603 601 Commerce St., Wylie, TX 75098

www.jaldennis.com

Securities offered through LPL Financial, member FINRA/SIPC.

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