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Leadership Fulbright Has Best Showing Ever in Chambers UK 2009 Chambers UK 2009 ranks Fulbright as a leading firm in five categories and lists six Fulbright lawyers as leading individuals. Lista Cannon, Chris Warren-Smith, David Howell, Jonathan Sutcliffe, Susan Farmer and Jeremy Sheldon each earned individual recognition. In listings that amount to Fulbright’s best ever Chambers UK showing, the directory acknowledges that “‘Great people and a great client base’ have CANNON allowed Fulbright & Jaworski to ‘make a big push’ in London”. In banking litigation, in which Lista Cannon and Chris Warren-Smith are recognized as leading figures, Chambers recognizes that “Growing steadily in W-SMITH London, this US firm has a refined knowledge of investment banking disputes. Over the past year the firm worked on subprime disputes and related issues involving the structure of investment vehicles. Clients praise the service: ‘You feel as FARMER though you are really working closely together’.” Lista Cannon, Partner-in-Charge of Fulbright’s London location, is also recom-
Fulbright continued on page, P.2
RUNOFF
Senate District 17 to elect a Leader on December 16th!
Branson to keynote SolidWorks World 2009
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ichard Branson is a billionaire adventurer, businessman, and innovator and is scheduled to headline the 11th annual user conference SolidWorks World 2009. Branson’s keynote will be part of the general session on Feb. 9, 2009, which begins at 8:30 a.m. EST at Walt Disney(R) World Swan & Dolphin Hotel. Branson is founder of the Virgin Group, consisting of more than 200 companies employing over 50,000
Golf pro Tiger Woods will no longer be spokesman for auto giant General Motors (GM), after his contract expires in 2009.
people in 30 countries and recording more than $20 billion in 2006 revenues. An entrepreneur since the age of 17, Branson has built a variety of brands into global successes. From record stores to airlines and mobile phone service providers, the Virgin brand epitomizes market leadership, elite customer service, and widespread customer loyalty. For more information visit www.solidworks.com or www.swandolphin.com. – PHOTO BY (BUSINESS WIRE).
The special runoff election to fill the vacancy in Senate District 17 is currently under way. Early voting has already started and Election Day is Dec. 16, 2008. Both Democrat Chris Bell and Republican Joan Huffman are vying for your support on Election Day! Please see their answers to three questions asked by our publisher, Aubrey R. Taylor. Please See Page - 3 The special election to fill the seat left vacant by the resignation of Sen. Kyle Janek was held during the November 4 general election; however no candidate received a majority of the votes, as mandated by state law. Therefore, the winner of this special election will serve out the remainder of Sen. Janek’s term, which expires in January 2011. So don’t forget to vote!
Bell
Huffman
GM ends Tiger Endorsement
WOODS
Wired PR News.com – As reported by the Associated Press (AP), as a means of cutting costs, General Motors will end their $7 million a year endorsement deal with the championship winning Woods. Larry Peck of GM was quoted in the AP report as stating “We’ve had such a great partnership with Tiger. It’s hard for us to walk away from that. But this frees up time for him. And it sure frees up a lot of money for us.” General Motors has seen a decline in sales of the Buicks in the US since 2000, but the company has seen 17 percent growth globally. The car is stated to continued on page, P.23 be a popular type in the Chinese auto mar-
Sarah Palin for President in 2012? Zogby Interactive: Palin Leads the Pack Of Possible 2012 GOP Candidates UTICA, New York – Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is the slight favorite of Republican voters as the best candidate the party could run for President in 2012. When all voters are asked that questions, Palin falls into a three-way tie
with Mitt Romney and Bobby Jindal. Those are among the findings of a Zogby Interactive poll of 24,964 voters conducted from Nov. 7-18. The margin of error for the entire sample is +/-0.6%. Voters were offered the choices of Palin, former Massachusetts Gov. Romney, Louisiana Gov. Jindal, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, Texas Rep. Ron Paul and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani. All but Palin and Jindal were candidates for the 2008 nomination. Voters also could
choose someone else. Palin’s strength is with all conservatives, conservative religious voters and gun owners. Among Republicans, she gets the support of 30% of BornAgain Christians, 32% of weekly churchgoers, 34% of National Rifle Association members, 28% of current gun owners and 29% of self-identified conservatives. More GOP support comes from 32% of blue collar workers, 30% who shop weekly at WalMart, 28% of NASCAR fans and 25% of both those with children under 17
and those with family members in the military. She scores lower among GOP voters ages 18-29, with 15%. Romney’s Republican support level is very consistent across demographic groups. Among his party members, Romney’s numbers fall off by a few points from his overall 18.1% with religious conservatives and gun owners. Surprisingly, Palin leads Romney among Republican investors, 24%-20%.
continued on page, P.23
PALIN
H o u s t o n B u s i n e s s C o n n e c t i o n s i s p u b l i s h e d m o n t h l y o n l i n e: w w w . h o u s t o n - b u s i n e s s c o n n e c t i o n s . c o m
PUBLISHER’S PAGE Announcements & Upcoming Events
Leadership ARTC Fulbright Has Best Showing Ever in Chambers UK 2009
Aubrey R. Taylor Communications
Aubrey R. Taylor, publisher of Houston Business Connections.
We Appreciate Your Continued Support! s always, we would like to thank you for picking up Houston Business Connections Newspaper. We’re very grateful for your support and patronage towards our advertisers and us. As you can see, we’re making a concerted effort to broaden our perspective and horizon to bring you not only local information - but national and international information about business people and companies on the move. In our “People Doing Business Series” we’ve got features on people and companies doing business in Texas, Louisiana, and Florida to name a few. Our “People On The Move Section” has announcements and achievements about companies in California, Connecticut, Florida, D.C., Georgia, Illinois, New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts, Hawaii, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Virginia. We’ve also started a marketing package that every business can afford during these difficult financial times. The advertising packages start at just $40 dollars. Yes, that means if you place any size advertisement with us for our January 2009 issue, you’ll have that advertisement working online and in print for the months of January, February, March, April, and May of 2009. The deadline to take advantage of this special offer is December 27th, 2008! So reserve your space today by calling us at: 832-212-8735. Again, we thank you in advance for your support!
A
Aubrey R. Taylor, Publisher
Fulbright Also Received Multiple Rankings in Chambers Asia 2009 Chambers Asia 2009 ranks Fulbright as a leading firm in seven categories and listed four Fulbright lawyers as leading individuals. Jeff Blount, Jie Zhang, Lori Ji and Gregg Harris each earned individual recognition with Jeff Blount and Jie Zhang honored in multiple categories.
Continued from Page - 1 mended for her contentious regulatory practice, civil fraud work, dispute resolution and professional discipline practice. For example, Chambers records that “Sources agree that the team’s combination of strong London partners and vast US experience and expertise mean it is advantageously placed to conduct investigations and handle regulatory matters with an international element.” Among the praise for Lista Cannon is that she is “widely recommended for ‘providing innovative solutions to complicated SUTCLIFFE problems’ and is highlighted for her impressive work on FSA and SEC investigations where she brings years of experience to the table”. Chris Warren-Smith is also “highly recommended” for his work in representing insurers in relation to civil and regulatory proceedings. The international arbitration practice within Fulbright’s London location is highly praised. Chambers acknowledges Jonathan HOWELL Sutcliffe as “definitely one to watch,” while David Howell, cohead of Fulbright’s International Arbitration and ADR practice, is “‘going great guns’” on a variety of commercial matters related to Africa and the Far East”. The London energy practice is also highly recommended. Chambers states that “the firm is regarded as a leader in the oil and gas sector, and the Fleet Street office attracts similarly high praise SHELDON for its energy work.” Chambers lists Susan Farmer as a leading figure, with her LNG expertise providing “the London office with a newfound capacity for taking on transactional work, and improves its ability to generate new clients”. Jeremy Sheldon is also recognized as “another notable recent hire, in boosting the corporate part of the practice. His ‘tireless approach and impressive spread of experience'’wins admiration from clients”. Fulbright’s energy disputes practice is also said to remain in “the ‘safe and sure hands’” of David Howell.
Email: aubreyrtaylor@houston-businessconnections.com
ENTREPRENEURS CREDO I do not choose to be a Common man It is my right to be UNCOMMON...If I can I seek Opportunity - not Security I do not wish to be a kept citizen, humbled and dulled by having the state look after me. I want to take the “Calculated Risk” to Dream and to Build, to fail and to SUCCEED. I refuse to barter incentive for a dole. I prefer the challenges of Life to the “Guaranteed existence”, the thrill of fulfillment to the stale calm of Utopia. I will not trade FREEDOM for Beneficence nor my dignity for a handout. I will never cower before any master nor bend to any threat. It is my heritage to stand erect, proud and unafraid, to think and act for myself, to enjoy the benefit of “MY CREATIONS” and to face the world boldly and say: “This with God’s help, I have done. All this is what it means to be a ENTREPRENEUR”
HOUSTON BUSINESS CONNECTIONS IS PUBLISHED BY AUBREY R. TAYLOR COMMUNICATIONS ALL RIGHT RESERVED. NO ARTICLES MAY BE COPIED, REWRITTEN, PUBLISHED, OR OTHERWISE DISTRIBUTED WITHOUT THE PRIOR WRITTEN APPROVAL OF THE PUBLISHER. FOR SPECIAL REQUESTS EMAIL: AUBREYRTAYLOR@HOUSTON-BUSINESSCONNECTIONS.COM NEWS@HOUSTON-BUSINESSCONNECTIONS.COM. FOR MORE INFO CALL: 832.212.8735
Upcoming Events for December 2008 from the Texas Parks & Wildlife Featured Event December 6, 12, 13, 19, 20, 2008 - Monument Hill & Kreische Brewery SHS - Trail of Lights - Enjoy a fantastic quarter-mile trail illuminated with thousands of lights that decorate the Monument Hill and Kreische House portions of our park. Walk a trail overlooking the town of La Grange. Experience the more traditionally decorated 1850s-era German home of H.L. Kreische, bedecked in Christmas splendor, in a Texas-German style. Bring your children to tell secrets to Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus and enjoy the genuine seasonal hospitality of the Friends of Monument Hill and Kreische Brewery, who sponsor the event. No pets please. 6-8 p.m.; fees $3 adults, $1 children 3-12 (979) 968-5658. Featured Event December 11, 2008 - Barton Warnock Environmental Education Center - Christmas on the Border - Join us in celebrating the holiday season in West Texas border fashion. Local community performers will provide the entertainment. Refreshments and treats will be served and we will have a special visit by Santa Claus for the children. Accessible for the mobility, visually and hearing impaired. 6:30-9 p.m. (432) 424-3327. Featured Event December 12, 2008 - Sebastopol House SHS - Holiday Classic Movie - There's nothing like a classic holiday film to get you into the holiday spirit. The parlor at Sebastopol has been turned into an old fashioned theatre in order to bring you a 1948 Holiday Classic-"Miracle On 34th Street," starring a very young Natalie Wood. If this warm family film doesn't soften the heart of the Grinch in your life-nothing will! Seating is limited. 6:30 p.m.; reservations required (830) 379-4833. Featured Event December 12-13, 2008 - Cooper Lake SP/Doctors Creek Unit - 2nd Annual Christmas in the Park - Load up the family for a drive through the park and enjoy the holiday decorations. We will also have refreshments and Santa will be here for a visit. Sponsored by The Friends of Doctor's Creek. 6-10 p.m. For more information, call the Friends of Doctor's Creek at (903) 395-4314 or the park at (903) 395-3100. Featured Event December 13, 2008 - Barrington Living History Farm-Washington-on-the-Brazos SHS - An Old-Fashioned Texas Christmas - This is a time for gathering with family and friends, for singing carols around the open fire, for making surprises tucked away in pretty packages, for feasting on goodies made with love, continued on page, P.23 and for making special memories. Join the farm staff in decorat-
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Candidate Joan Huffman is the Republican in the Tuesday, December 16th Runoff Election.
Candidate Chris Bell is the Democrat in the Tuesday, December 16th Runoff Election.
“The winner of this special election on Tues., Dec. 16th will serve out the remainder of Sen. Janek's term, which expires in January 2011” TAYLOR: Can you tell our readers and the constituents of State Senate District 17 why you are the best candidate to represent them without mentioning your opponent:
TAYLOR: Can you tell our readers and the constituents of State Senate District 17 why you’re the best candidate to represent them without mentioning your opponent!
HUFFMAN: This is a critical time. Though the Texas economy is stronger than most other states, we are beginning to feel the brunt of the current economic slowdown. Texas needs lawmakers who want to keep state spending and taxes low and who understand that our failure to address border security is not only increasing crime rates, it is also creating enormous costs in our health care and education system. The future of Texas - our economic strength, our government's integrity and the state we will leave to our children are all at stake in this election. I am a pro-business, fiscal conservative who is committed to making sure government supports the efforts of small businesses to create jobs and get our economy back on track. I want to make sure that the funding government invests in state programs - from education to transportation - is spent effectively. I will work to make sure we are accountable for every taxpayer dollar. As your State Senator, my priorities will be border security, education and keeping our taxes low.
BELL: I think the issues that I’ve addressed in my campaign demonstrate the kind of leadership I can bring to this district. People in Texas want to see real reform in the areas of public education, health care, college tuition, and ethics, and I am the only candidate who has been talking about these issues since the campaign began. My campaign has always been issue-based, and I haven’t attempted to put up a smoke screen by drawing attention to divisive partisan issues that should take a backseat to the needs of our children. As a husband and father to two school-age boys, my wife and I are facing the same challenges we are all seeing in these tough economic times. We all want to see our children reach their full potential, but unless we address the problem of skyrocketing tuition, more and more families will be unable to see their children receive a college degree. As a legislator my focus will continue to remain on these issues that affect the everyday lives of those living within this district and across the state.
TAYLOR: Do you have any personal experiences or qualifications that you feel have uniquely qualified you to best represent State Senate District 17?
TAYLOR: Do you have any personal experiences or qualifications you feel have uniquely prepared you to best represent State Senate District 17?
HUFFMAN: My record includes service as a gang prosecutor, judge and my experience as a mom and a wife. I was elected Criminal District Court Judge twice and served as Chief Felony Prosecutor and Special Crimes Gang Prosecutor and Legal Counsel to the Organized Crime Narcotics Task Force under Harris County DA's office. I also served on the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors of the Children's Assessment Center Foundation of Harris County and as Co-Chairman of its Advocacy Committee. I am a member of St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church and live with my husband, Keith, and son, Luke, in Southside Place.
BELL: I have been fortunate enough to serve the constituents of this district on two previous occasions as a Houston City Councilman and a United States Congressman. Working in two legislative bodies showed me the importance of knowing when and how to compromise with my colleagues. There are less than 30 days between Election Day and the beginning of the 2009 legislative session, and this district needs a state senator who can be ready for the challenges of the office on day one. My experiences in public office lend me the kind of preparedness that can bring real leadership to the constituents of District 17.
POLITICIANS ON THE MOVE! Democrat Joe W. Beverly won his bid to unseat the incumbent in the race for Chief Justice, 14th Court of Appeals District. Republican Texas State Rep. District 138: Dwayne Bohac (i) won his re-election bid. Republican United States Rep. District 8: Kevin Brady (i) won his re-election bid. Democratic Texas State Rep. District 134: Ellen Cohen (i) won her re-election bid. Republican Harris County Judge Ed Emmett won his reelection bid. Democrat Kevin Fine won his bid to unseat the incumbent for District Judge, in the 177th Judicial
District.Democrat Adrian Garcia unseated the incumbent to become the new Harris County Sheriff. Democrat Jim Henley won his bid to become the Harris County School Trustee for Position 7. Republican Texas State Senator, District 11: Mike Jackson (i) won his re-election bid. Republican Chief Justice of the Texas Supreme Court: Wallace B. Jefferson (i) won his re-election bid. Democratic Harris County Constable, Precinct 3: Ken Jones (i) won his re-election bid. Democrat Steven E. Kirkland won his bid to unseat the incumbent in the race for
District Judge, for the 215th Judicial went on to become the first AfricanDistrict. Republican Ken Legler defeated American elected President of the United States. Democratic State Rep. District 27 his opponent to become the State Rep. for Texas House District 144. Republican Pat Dora Olivo won her re-election. Lykos defeated her oppoRepublican Pete Olson won his bid to unseat the nent to become the first TEXA S incumbent for United woman District Attorney States Rep. District 22. in Harris County history. Democrat David Mendoza won his bid to Republican Harris County Commissioner unseat the incumbent in the race for Steve Radack won his re-election bid. District Judge, for the 178th Judicial Democrat Vince Ryan unseated the District. Democrat Barack Obama won incumbent to win his race for Harris County Attorney. Democrat Randy Roll Harris county with over 50% of the vote won his bid to unseat the incumbent in the over his Republican opponent. He also
race for District Judge, for the 179th Judicial District. Democrat Leslie C. Taylor won her bid to unseat the incumbent in the race for Justice, 1st Court of Appeals District, Place 5. Democrat Kristi Thibaut won her bid to unseat the incumbent for Texas State Rep. District 133. Republican Justice of the Texas Supreme Court, Place 7 Dale Wainwright (i) won his re-election bid. -------------------------------------------------Good Luck Serving The People!
The highest measure of democracy is neither the ‘extent of freedom’ nor the ‘extent of equality’, but rather the highest measure of participation. — A. d. Benoist
Houston Business Connections Printed Edition •
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• SPECIAL 2008 PROMOTIONAL • 3
FEATURES PEOPLE DOING BUSINESS SERIES - 2009 Preview
Warrior, Family Support Center Gets Upgrade in San Antonio By Fred W. Baker III American Forces Press Service
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FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas, – The Warrior and Family Support Center located steps away from Brooke Army Medical Center here is one packed place.
It is stuffed from floor to ceiling with homey decorations, leather furniture, stacks of snacks, baskets of books, computer work stations, a video library and a constant flow of wounded servicemembers and families. Every Thursday night, 250 people pack into the 1,200-square-foot
room for dinner. Guests spill into the hallways and stairs. But by Christmas dinner, the feast will feature more leg room. A new $4 million, 12,000square-foot facility recently opened, boasting its own dining room plus a great room, a classroom, a video game room and, overall, just a lot more room. And, just like its neighbor, the Center for the Intrepid – a state-ofthe-art, multi-million-dollar rehabilitation facility – the new building was entirely privately funded and hasn’t cost the Army a dime. “The sky is the limit when we move into that new facility,” said retired Army Lt. Gen. Glynn Mallory, who serves on the board that oversaw the fundraising and building project that has taken a little less than two years to come to fruition. The project was spearheaded as a charitable project by two brothers who own Huffman Developments, a Texas-based building company. In January 2007, Steve Huffman visited
the current center, which is housed on the second floor of a guesthouse that serves the families of servicemembers receiving care at BAMC. Huffman had read about the center, and he asked its manager, Judith Markelz, what it needed. Markelz said she replied that the center needed a video game system to replace one that had been stolen. Huffman agreed to replace the system, promised he would be back in two weeks, and said he wanted to know what else the center needed. “Think big,” he told Markelz. Estimates for the project were just over $3 million when it started, but the contractor solicited servicemembers’ and families’ ideas on its construction, and subsequent design changes increased its cost. The building will ring in at about TEXA S $4 million, and an added therapeutic garden and other landscaping will take the project to nearly $5 million, Markelz said.
Democracy is a charming form of government, full of variety and disorder, and dispensing a sort of equality to equals and unequal alike. — Plato
4 • SPECIAL 2008 PROMOTIONAL • Houston Business Connections Printed Edition •
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FEATURES PEOPLE DOING BUSINESS SERIES - 2009 Preview
CUTLINE: Jennifer Golden of Golden Construction discusses the features of a video gaming room, just one of the several rooms in the new $4 million Warrior and Family Assistance Center at Brooke Army Medical Center. DoD photo by Fred W. Baker III
One soldier said he wanted grass – “real” grass, not the brown, coarse kind typical of southern Texas. So, plush St. Augustine grass with a sprinkler system to keep it green was added to the landscaping. Cookouts are popular, Markelz said, so a barbecue pavilion wired
CUTLINE: Retired Army Lt. Gen. Glynn Mallory, left, Jennifer Golden of Golden Construction, and Dale Adams, project manager, discuss the building of the new Warrior and Family Assistance Center at Brooke Army Medical Center. The center is slated to open Dec. 1, 2008. DoD photo by Fred W. Baker III
Large windows and skylights throughout the building allow light to spill into the center. An open floor plan encourages servicemembers to mingle, and parts of the design are intended to aid wounded servicemember's rehabilitation.
CUTLINE: Retired Army Lt. Gen. Glynn Mallory talks about the new $4 million, 12,000-square-foot Warrior and Family Assistance Center that opens Dec. 1, 2008, on the Brooke Army Medical Center complex at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. DoD photo by Fred W. Baker III solution image
with outdoor stereo speakers now overlooks a harbor and garden. The soldiers and families wanted a fireplace, so a massive fireplace centers the building’s open great room, with its chimney stretching to the height of the cathedral ceiling. The open backside of the fireplace faces an outdoor courtyard so it can be enjoyed outside as well. An 18foot-high, wrought-iron butterfly sculpture, designed by a soldier recovering here, will spiral up the chimney. A large video gaming room will feature several large-screen televisions and a drop-down projection screen to accommodate competitions. A classroom with computers will offer educational opportunities for servicemembers and families. Markelz has a donor lined up willing to pay tuition and books for anyone wanting to advance their education. Several others have volunteered to teach classes there. “These classes are important, because in some cases, these wounded warriors are looking for a new career,” Mallory said. And the new building will have a large kitchen, which Markelz said she expects to be a main gathering place. The current center does not have a kitchen, and the staff must wash dishes in a bathroom. The new space also will offer room for the three administrative staff members, who now share one desk, one computer and one chair, Markelz said.
A covered patio allows for recovering servicemembers to be outside without subjecting them to the harsh Texas summer sun. To aid servicemembers’ therapy, the outdoor garden will offer varied surface types, ramps with no rails, uneven surfaces and inclines that servicemembers must maneuver through. “What we’re trying to do is emulate things they are going to see at home,” said Jennifer Golden, of Golden construction, a subcontractor on the project. The overall design is built with a Hill Country theme, with rock
CUTLINE: Combat veteran Army Staff Sgt. William Kleinedler shows his design for an 18-foot-high, wroughtiron butterfly sculpture that will spiral up the massive fireplace in the new Warrior and Family Assistance Center at Brooke Army Medical Center. Kleinedler was wounded in Iraq and has worked through his recovery at the center for the past two years. DoD photo by Fred W. Baker III
and stucco throughout and a large star as a centerpiece on the front of the building. “It’s very Texas,” Mallory said. Mallory said he was asked to sit on the board because he was always at the center “hugging wounded warriors all the time.” As an infantryman, he served two combat tours in Vietnam. Mallory said this project completes the BAMC complex and is worthy of the sacrifices of the servicemembers and their families. “They’ve got two world-class facilities here, in the hospital and the rehabilitation center, and they deserve a world-class facility for socializing and ... doing what they need to do to rehabilitate,” he said. The center opened in 2003 when Army officials saw a need for a place that focused on helping family members as they arrive to be with their wounded servicemembers. Markelz said many family members panic when they get the news that their servicemember has been injured, regardless of the severity, and they leave immediately for the hospital. Some arrive even before the servicemember. “I had a mother get off the airplane the other day with two left shoes on, because when she got that phone call ... she put on something and got on that airplane,” Markelz said. “She brought no money. No credit card. She brought the clothes on her back.” As of September, nearly 250,000 visitors had used the center.
CUTLINE: Judith Markelz, who runs the Warrior and Family Assistance Center at Brooke Army Medical Center, talks with her assistant, Evelyn Jackson. A new, 12,000-square-foot facility will give the center more room and administrative space. DoD photo by Fred W. Baker III
Markelz said she took the job initially as part of a temporary, six-month deal. Her husband served as the deputy commander of BAMC. Nicknamed “Judith Miracle” by Mallory, Markelz keeps the center running and open every day. It is open for 13 hours daily now, but will expand to 15 hours when it moves to the new facility, she said. Her cell phone is on 24 hours a day.
Markelz is a former teacher, evidenced by her penchant for the decorations that blanket the room and dangle from the ceilings. An eight-foot-tall inflated turkey rests in the corner. “We wanted to make it junky and comfortable,” she said of her current space. And even though her new space is much larger and somewhat cold right now, she said, she doesn't anticipate it will take her long to redecorate. The Army pays the salaries of Markelz and her three staff members. Everything else is bought with donated funds, she said. She refers to many of the soldiers as her "kids," and said that helping the families is critical to the recovery of the servicemembers. “Without these families, these soldiers won’t heal. Support is everything,” she said. And while Markelz admitted she will miss her old space, she agreed with Mallory that the servicemembers and families deserve the new building. “We owe them. They deserve it. It's the right thing to do,” she said.
Houston Business Connections Newspaper is made possible by the support of our advertisers and supporters. Please support our advertisers and supporters! - Aubrey R. Taylor
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• SPECIAL 2008 PROMOTIONAL • 5
FEATURES PEOPLE DOING BUSINESS SERIES - 2009 Preview
Texas Lab Offers Last-Ditch Effort in quest to Identify Servicemembers By Fred W. Baker III American Forces Press Service
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BROOKS CITY-BASE – As U.S. military recovery teams scour the jungles and mountains and woods and fields around the world looking for missing servicemembers from past wars, they hope to find enough remains to identify and return to their families for a proper burial.
A jawbone with some teeth intact or a piece of a thigh bone with its DNA still salvageable sometimes can be all that is needed to finally put to rest a servicemember who died fighting on foreign soil decades ago.
But sometimes there simply are no remains left, or very little, and the recovery teams return home with what looks to the untrained eye like only a box of scraps - varied buttons and corroded buckles, scorched cloth and shredded boot soles. For those cases, the Hawaii-based Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command, the agency
charged with recovering and identifying the remains of missing servicemembers, has one lastCUTLINE: John A. Goines III, chief of the Life Sciences ditch try at answering the burning question of famEquipment Laboratory, shows Sallie Stratton the remains recovily members: “What happened to my loved one?” ered from the crash site of her husband, Air Force Lt. Col. Charles W. Stratton, whose “When the cases come here, we are the last bomber went down Jan. 3, 1971, over Laos. The lab, at Brooks City-Base in San hope. If we cannot come up with an answer, Antonio, helps the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command, based in Hawaii, identify serthere may not be an answer for the families who vicemembers still missing from past wars. DoD photo by Fred W. Baker III are waiting,” said John A. Goines III, chief of the Life Sciences Equipment Laboratory here. The JPAC has identified nearly 1,500 forand it also provides feedback to agencies work- among the artifacts. merly missing servicemembers, mostly through ing to develop new uniforms and life-support Goines is a life-long collector of military a combination of DNA and dental identificasystems. But its primary purpose is to help the uniforms and equipment. His first piece was an tion. But 88,000 are still buried on foreign JPAC with its cases, Goines said. The JPAC Air Force ball cap worn by airmen in his father's shores and at sea. And in some cases, like those sends the lab about a dozen cases every year unit, he said. Goines was then 3 years old. He that end up at Goines' lab, it is likely no remains that can take anywhere from a few weeks to six continued collecting patches, uniforms and will ever be found. months to work through, Goines said. equipment into his college years. Goines The lab deals mostly with identifications The lab began supporting the JPAC mis- watched television in his college dorm room from aircraft crash sites, because they are less sion part-time in 1988 and started supporting it while sitting in an F-4 Phantom II fighter jet likely to yield human remains. The heat, fed by full-time in 1994. Since 1994, it has analyzed ejection seat, which now resides at the lab, jet fuel and loaded munitions, incinerates most 156 cases and accounted for 172 where he started working full-time after college. human remains as temperatures servicemembers. And while an Goines estimates he has about 20,000 reach several times those of a TEXA S identity cannot always be made items in his personal collection, which he crematorium. But many pieces from the artifacts, sometimes brings in when needed to help on a case. of military uniforms and equipment will withthey still provide enough clues for the JPAC The analysts use the artifacts and equipstand those temperatures. teams to return to the site, Goines said. ment at the lab as comparisons to those shipped Goines and his handful of equipment analysts The 21,000-square-foot lab at the former to the lab from a recovery site. Goines is conare students of history and experts in aircraft ejecBrooks Air Force Base in San Antonio is home stantly on the lookout for new relics to add to tion systems, parachutes, life support equipment to more than 50,000 uniforms and pieces of the collection. and uniforms. Most are veterans. Remarkably, equipment from as far back as World War I. “Pretty much every night I'm on eBay most times they are able to piece together with sciParachutes dangle from racks, and rows of 250 looking for anything we don't have either in my entific accuracy the likely final moments of serejection seats line the walls. The rebuilt cock- personal collection or here in the lab to use as a vicemembers based on the artifacts. pits of more than a dozen aircraft, mainly of the reference item,” Goines said. The lab supports the services' accident Vietnam War era, are parked on its floors, and Nearly every piece delivered from the field boards investigating current aircraft crashes, workstations with microscopes are scattered yields a clue. Melted pistols reveal portions of
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FEATURES PEOPLE DOING BUSINESS SERIES - 2009 Preview serial numbers, traceable back to the servicemember. Boot soles can be matched to the servicemember by uniform records. They also can indicate whether the pilot was still in the cockpit pressing down on the plane rudder at impact. A seatbelt buckle melted together in the closed position is a telltale sign that the pilot likely died in his craft. These clues are pieced together like a puzzle and matched with historical reports, witness accounts, military records and other evidence. It can be tedious and painstaking work, said equipment analyst Jim Hodges. He has worked at the lab since 1988 after finishing a career as an egress systems expert in the Air Force. “It’s very challenging. There’s a lot of frustration, too,” he said.
The analysts can spend hours “That’s where the frustration is, hovering over a microscope analyz- when you just can’t figure it out,” ing fabric and piecing together uni- Hodges said. “There’s not enough forms. In Hodges’ last case, he there. You need more.” pinned together 122 individual No speculation is allowed, pieces of a flight suit. G o i n e s s a i d . Everything must Hodges said he be proven. The integriviews the lab's misty of the lab’s report is TEXA S sion as the fulfillcritical, because famiment of the U.S. commitment to lies rely on it, he said. returning servicemembers home. To make an identity, lab offi“When they say we never for- cials work to match the remnants get, that’s not lip service,” Hodges brought from a site to those of the said. “There are a lot of people in aircraft believed to have crashed. this program still trying to account This can be done with serial numbers for those that are missing. And I’m found on data plates at the site, or by proud to be a part of that.” identifying equipment distinctive to Sometimes, though, despite a specific model. their best efforts, there is not enough They also try to pinpoint the found at the site to render a conclu- timeframe of the crash, based on the sive identity. artifacts, to verify a match with the
case under investigation. For example, there were many uniform variations during the Vietnam War. Those found at the site must match those worn by those believed to have crashed. It also is critical to find artifacts from the exact number of people reportedly in the crash. For example, recovering the soles of two right-foot boots would indicate that two people were in the crash. If the sizes match those worn by the two reported in the crash, that’s more proof of identity. Finally, the analysts try to determine, based on damage to the artifacts, if the crash was survivable. “We have to follow all of those different leads to try to come up with the answer [to the question], ‘What really happened at the event?’” Goines said. A handful of families travel to
the lab every year to find out about the last moments of their loved ones. The lab has an open-door policy and will accommodate anyone wanting to understand its identification process. “The families who lost somebody lost somebody very important. And the hurt – the ‘miss’ – never goes away,” said Robert S. Browning III, an equipment analyst at the lab. “There’s no such thing as closure, but you can answer their questions. You can tell them what happened. In some cases, you can put their minds at ease that there was no suffering.” “You can, in fact, bring them to a better place," Browning said. “I think that's an important thing to do for people who have sacrificed a great deal.”
Texas Contractor Answers Nation’s Call for Mine-Resistant Vehicles By John J. Kruzel American Forces Press Service
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SEALY, Texas – Conventional military wisdom holds that enemies have a vote in combat. But manufacturers of the mine-resistant, ambushprotected vehicle have worked to disenfranchise them. When the Defense Department in July 2007 requested nearly $1.2 billion from Congress and asked for an influx of MRAPs for troops in Iraq, BAE Systems was one contractor that answered the call, a response that culminated at the facility in Sealy last month. “The question was how many can you build and how fast can you build them?” said Paul Mann, the MRAP joint program manager at BAE, which capped off its end of production with a retrospective feting recently. The MRAP’s unique V-shaped hull diffuses blasts away from the vehicle's underbelly, which has proven an effective countermeasure against the roadside bombs that have
“The quality and quantity of “Today’s celebration is about your commitment to this mission the fact that there are scores of solwill never be forgotten by the armed diers that will be able to come home Invoking Defense Secretary services,” Mann told the Sealy plant in one piece because of the work workers gathered in a facility room you’ve done,” he said. Robert M. Gates’ plea to industry for for the day’s event. Dellinger said it’s “no coincian additional 2,650 MRAPs, Mann A news report in June cited dence” that the MRAP program led said that when the Defense roadside bomb attacks and fatalities to a decline in combat casualties. Department made force protection in Iraq as decreasing by almost 90 “A number of factors went into its No. 1 acquisition priority, it percent since June that, but one certainspurred workers here into action. 2007, according to ly was putting the TEXA S BAE responded by kicking into Pentagon records and right kind of protechigh gear, more than doubling its pro- interviews with milition into the vehicles duction from about 15 Caiman trucks tary leaders. that they traveled around in,” he per day to roughly 35. In total, it has Dennis M. Dellinger, BAE’s said. “It was an amoeba if you will, produced more than 5,000 MRAP vehi- president of mobility and protection in that we kept adjusting as the threat cles – 2,868 Caimans and 2,182 RG33s systems, spoke from an unarmored 5- adjusted.” – under Army and Marine Corps con- ton medium tactical vehicle that douPraising the people involved in tracts over the past 22 months. bled as a stage in a facility warehouse. the push – from the concept and design teams, to the manufacturers, testers, and government assessment CUTLINE: Pictured here is a MRAP. The MRAP's unique V-shaped personnel – Dellinger said everyhull diffuses blasts away from the vehicle's underbelly, which has body who contributed to the process proven an effective countermeasure against the roadside bombs that should be proud. have killed and injured scores of troops since operations began in Iraq “[This] was something that and Afghanistan. Photo provided by BAE Systems probably was not matched anywhere else in military production history since at least World War II,” he said of the speed of production that met time and cost requirements. Chris Chambers, the vice president of medium/heavy vehicles department of mobility and protection systems, described the encouraging track record of the Caiman vehicle, the last killed and injured scores of troops since operations began in Iraq and Afghanistan.
of which rolled off the Sealy lot. The vehicle, which holds up to 10 troops, has been targeted in hundreds of attacks – everything from small-arms fire to smaller roadside bombs – including significant attacks that involved large makeshift explosives, he said. “They’ve done very well,” he said of the vehicles’ resilience to attacks. “They’re very reliable.” Providing an eyewitness account of the Caiman’s durability under fire was William Thibaux Jr., an equipment operator who serves as a petty officer 2nd class in the Navy Reserve. While serving in Iraq last year, Thibaux said, he saw the effects on a convoy of Marine MRAPs hit by a makeshift bomb. “Of the seven that were in that vehicle, only one walked away with a broken leg,” he recalled. “If you would have seen the vehicle, you would have thought everyone would have died,... but everyone survived.” Besides its contribution to force protection, BAE has other ties to the military. It is a recipient of the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve award, a Defense Department honor that highlights employers who convey exceptional levels of support to National Guard and Reserve forces on their payrolls. The company also employs retired servicemembers like Bob German, an inventory control supervisor here. German, a retired Marine Corps corporal, has a son who recently enlisted in the Army and is likely to deploy within the next year, he said. “Knowing that lives actually do depend on the vehicles we build here, and that we are actually saving lives, is phenomenal,” German said. “I get a knot in my throat every time I think about it. You never know if the vehicle we build could be carrying my son or friends of my son’s or kids I watched grow up.”
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Company Provides ‘Joe’ for Deploying Louisiana Soldiers By Army Sgt. Rebekah L. Malone Special to American Forces Press Service
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PINEVILLE, La., - When soldiers from Louisiana National Guard headquarters and Headquarters Company, 225th Engineer Brigade, received their mobilization orders, thoughts of what they would be leaving behind for the next year ran across their minds.
But thanks to one local company, the familiar aroma of a local morning brew will be going with them. Community Coffee recently volunteered to donate the local favorite to Louisiana’s deploying soldiers, and this is not the first time. Army Master Sgt. Danny A. Riggs, a resident of Carville, La., deployed with the 205th
Engineer Battalion in 2003. “Community Coffee donated to the 205th when we deployed to Afghanistan,” he said. “I was excited to hear that they were willing to provide us coffee this time around as well.” During a deployment, with many of the comforts of home left behind, Riggs said, it is imperative to try and have a part of home wherever the soldier is located to help with morale. “It was nice to have a local coffee this good and not to have to worry our families with coffee requests to mail it over,” he said. Community Coffee prepared a pallet of more than 650 canisters of coffee ready for the engineers to pick up from a warehouse in CUTLINE: Community Coffee employees pose with soldiers Baton Rouge. The coffee will be packed in from the Louisiana National Guard's Headquarters and Headquarters containers and shipped to Iraq when the 225th Company, 225th Engineer Brigade of Pineville, La. The soldiers will depart in December on a year-long deployment, but not without their Community Coffee, deploys there. The donation of nearly $3,500 worth of thanks to a donation of nearly 28,000 cups of coffee by the Louisiana business. coffee is estimated to make 28,000 eight-ounce U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Rebekah L. Malone cups of coffee. The military-friendly business also sends comfort to Louisiana’s troops by sponsoring a “If somebody buys a Military Match gift “It’s a good thing for us to do,” he continpromotion to match coffee purchased for sol- box, they are buying 4 pounds of coffee. We will ued. “We hope it brings somebody a little comdiers called “Military Match.” then match an additional 4 fort to have some normalcy in their day having The idea came about pounds free,” said Scott Raposo, their Community Coffee [while deployed].” LOUISIANA when the corporation heard consumer direct marketing man- -------------------------------------------------------that the No. 1 item requested by Louisiana ager for Community Coffee. “This is just some- – (Army Sgt. Rebekah L. Malone serves in the troops overseas is Community Coffee and the thing we feel honored [to do]. We want to Louisiana National Guard with the 225th No. 1 miscellaneous item requested is a demonstrate our support for the troops that are Engineer Brigade.) microwavable coffee mug. serving our country and protecting our freedoms.
Cookies By Shar Lands Sweet Deal with Whole Foods South Florida based Cookies By Shar selected to provide holiday-themed decorated sugar and gingerbread cookies for all Whole Foods Market’s Florida store locations.
um ingredients. “Whole Foods is known for carefully evaluating potential products to ensure the foods they carry offer the highest level of taste, purity and quality,” she noted. The two business enterprises also are like-minded in their commitment to philanthropic endeavors: Cookies By Shar donates five percent of all sales proceeds to Share Our Strength, a national non-profit organization whose mission is to end childhood hunger.
DAVIE, Fla. - Only four years after its launch as a homespun specialty baked goods enterprise, Cookies By Shar has been tapped to provide holiday-themed cookies in all of Whole Foods Market's Florida store locations.
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The relationship will launch during the 2008 winter holiday season, with Cookies By Shar creating four new designs specifically for Whole Foods Market including Star of David, Snowman and Snowflake sugar cookies as well as Gingerbread Men cookies with a hint of Ginger. Each of the cookies will be priced at $2.99 and are available now in Whole Foods stores just in time for the 2008 holiday season. . “For a small business person, and one who has only been in the baking business for a short period of time, it is an incredible honor to
CUTLINE: Baked in a commercial kitchen, Cookies by Shar products are available at Whole Foods, upscale French bakery EuroBread Café in Davie, the Museum of Art Fort Lauderdale and online at http://www.cookiesbyshar.com. For additional information, please call Cookies by Shar at 954.689.2205.
have my products selected by Whole Foods,” Cookies By Shar include chocolate chip (plain said company founder and proprietor Sharmila or drizzled with chocolate), oatmeal raisin, (Shar) Melwani. “I’m excited to be working peanut butter, key lime, macadamia nut, with the organization and look forward to intro- coconut macaroon and more. A former finanducing its customers to our cial advisor, Melwani has unique products.” become renowned throughout F LORIDA Cookies By Shar already South Florida for her intricate offers more than 150 exclusive glazed, fondant and lavishly decorated creations topped with and royal iced sugar cookie designs, each of fondant and royal icing. which is personally decorated by Melwani. Melwani credits the newfound business Additional gourmet cookies offered from relationship in part to her use of all premi-
A pioneer in the organic and natural foods movement, Whole Foods Market is the world's supermarket leader in natural and organic foods, with more than 270 stores in North America and the United Kingdom. All products sold at Whole Foods meet strict quality standards to ensure they are free of artificial additives, sweeteners, colorings, preservatives, and hydrogenated fat. Cookies by Shar creations were handselected as the only sweet treat to be included in the gift baskets provided to Food Network celebrities and VIPS attending the 2008 Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival. The delectable delights have been shipped as far away as Kuwait and London, and corporations from Ferragamo to BMW have called on Cookies by Shar for custom-made delicacies. – PRLog
If liberty and equality are chiefly to be found in democracy, they will be best attained when all persons alike share in the government to the utmost. — Aristotle
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Garrison Brothers Distillery filled its 100th Bourbon Barrel
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First Legal Texas Bourbon since Prohibition made from “Corn to Cork”
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Hye, Texas - Garrison Brothers Distillery™, the first legal bourbon distillery in Texas since Prohibition, filled its 100th barrel of “very small batch,” 100% Texas-made bourbon whiskey last month. Dan Garrison founded Garrison Brothers Distillery™ atop his Texas Hill Country ranch in the fall of 2006. He learned the art of bourbon making from the masters, traveling back and forth from Texas to Kentucky. “I became close to the legends of the bourbon business: the master distillers and warehousemen at Buffalo Trace, Heaven Hill, Four Roses, Jim Beam, Makers Mark, and Kentucky Bourbon Distillers,” says Garrison. “In Kentucky, making bourbon the old-fashioned way is a brotherhood. I will forever feel indebted to these wonderful friends.” Garrison applied for federal and state distilled spirits plant operating permits. “Our still arrived the week we secured our permits. We
were official,” says Garrison. “Just days later we started cooking, and after six months of testing and tasting, we nailed the recipe.” Garrison Brothers Texas Bourbon™ Whiskey is handmade in small batches, one barrel at a time at the distillery’s kitchen. Garrison cooks a “sweet bourbon mash” made from number one organic grains (yellow corn, soft red winter wheat, barley and rye) in 110-gallon batches. Each “sweet mash” batch ferments for about 96 hours, converting the sugar to alcohol, and is then transferred to the still-house. The bourbon is distilled just once in a 100% copper antique still-originally used by Wild Turkey and Buffalo Trace. The clear distillate that comes off the still is called “white dog,” a term bourbon distillers use for high proof, un-aged bourbon. “We're using the finest corn in the world, and you can taste it in the bourbon,” says Garrison. “Our white dog has more flavor than any I've tasted anywhere.”
The bourbon is aged in new, white, American oak bar-
rels, gaining flavor and sweetness as the distillate expands into the oak in the Texas heat. On cold days and nights, the bourbon is released from the wood in the barrel, taking with it the sweet tannins, lignins, caramels, vanillins, and sugars that give bourbon its rich amber color and distinct flavor. “The Texas heat is our partner.
bottled, the rainwater is blended in. “Businesses like ours are great for Texas-we provide good jobs for skilled craftsmen. Plus, we are serious consumers of Texas corn and wheat, and after distillation our bourbon mash is the most nutritious cattle feed available anywhere.” Most artisan distillers today Garrison grows some of the soft make vodkas, rums, and gins red winter wheat on his Hye, Texas because they can get them to market ranch. He buys the rest of the grain quickly. Non-bourbon whiskey, too, from organic farmers and coops near can be made in less expensive and Hereford and Muleshoe. “We source less time-consuming ways. But that all of our organic corn from Texas,” was never a consideration for says Garrison, “and we’d like to Garrison. “Making bourbon well source our wheat from Texas too. If takes time, patience, and skill. A there are organic farmers in Texas knowledgeable bourbon drinker can smell a blended growing a high-quality whiskey or a TEXA S grain we can use, we'd whiskey made with like to visit with them.” “Few businesses are as envi- grain-neutral spirits a mile away,” he “Garrison Brothers ronmentally-friendly as ours,” says. Garrison says. “We recycle, reuse or Distillery™ was built to make fine resell every ingredient or by-product Texas bourbon, and as long as I'm that is grown on, delivered to, or running the still, fine bourbon is all processed here. And we have an we will make.” Garrison Brothers Texas ingredient that no other whiskey maker can claim,” he continues, Bourbon™ Whiskey is not available “pure Hill Country rainwater.” in any bar, restaurant or store…not Collection systems capture the rain- yet anyway. “The bourbon is aging. water from the roof of the still- We’re going to give it all the time it house. Then a state-of-the-art ozone takes to become truly spectacular,” and ultraviolet light purification sys- says Garrison. “We think the tem filters it. When the bourbon is whiskey will be worth the wait.”
Character and complexity come quick around here,” explains Garrison.
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California Charlotte Russe Names New Management Team SAN DIEGO – Charlotte Russe Holding, Inc. (Nasdaq: CHIC) announced last month that the Board of Directors has named a new executive management team. John D. Goodman, formerly President and Chief Executive Officer of Mervyn’s LLC, has been named Chief Executive Officer; Emilia Fabricant, formerly President and Chief Merchandising Officer of babystyle®, has been named President and Chief Merchandising Officer; and Frederick G. Silny, formerly Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Guess?, Inc. (NYSE: GES), has been named Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Goodman and Fabricant will also join the Charlotte Russe Board of Directors, and along with Silny, will be based at the Company's San Diego headquarters. Len Mogil, who currently serves as Interim Chief Executive and Chief Financial Officer, will work with the new team to ensure a smooth transition and will resume his position on the Board of Directors.
Tegal Announces New Vice President of Global Sales Peter Dijkstra PETALUMA – Tegal Corporation (Nasdaq:TGAL), a leading designer and manufacturer of plasma etch and deposition systems used in the production of integrated circuits and nanotechnology devices, has announced the appointment of Peter Dijkstra, Vice President of Global Sales, effective immediately.
Florida Edward Thompson and Tom Bevilaqua Join InnoPath Board SUNNYVALE – InnoPath Software, the leader in Mobile Device Management (MDM), announced the addition of Edward Thompson and Tom Bevilacqua to the company’s board of directors last month. Edward Thompson will be Chairman of the Audit Committee, a position he also holds on the boards of ShoreTel, Inc., Harris Stratex Networks, Inc. and SonicWALL, Inc.
Ralph G. Adamo Earned a Certificate of Recognition NEWPORT BEACH – Ralph G. Adamo, Founder and CEO of Integrity Wealth Management, and incoming Chairman of the Education Committee of the Financial Planning Association, Orange County, has been recognized as a unique professional in the financial services arena with the award of a Certificate of Recognition from The American College, a leader in financial services education. Adamo is a registered representative at FSC Securities Adamo Corporation, which is a member of FINRA and SIPC. Integrity Wealth Management believes in a comprehensive, some would say exhaustive, approach to advising its clients who typically have between $10 and $50 million in assets with at least one million investable dollars.
Connecticut McDermott Will & Emery Announces Colindres Promoted to Partner SAN DIEGO – George Colindres focuses on venture capital and other private equity financings, mergers and acquisitions, corporate formation and maintenance, corporate governance, convertible note and other debt financings, licensing, stock option plans and executive compensation, executive employment agreements, and venture capital and private equity fund formation. (University of California, Los Colindres Angeles, School of Law, J.D., 1999; Georgetown University, B.S.F.S., 1996). The Colindres promotion is effective January 1, 2009.
Hills named managing director of The Newman’s Own Foundation WESTPORT – The Newman’s Own Foundation in Westport, Connecticut, has named CARI HILLS as managing director. Hills, director of operations at the Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy, which was co-founded by Paul Newman, earlier worked in sales and marketing at JPMorgan Chase Alternative Asset Management and was a financial services consultant at Accenture LLP.
District of Columbia
Chevron Announced First Oil From Blind Faith Field in Gulf of Mexico
Action named associate in Carnegie Endowment of International Peace
SAN RAMON – Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX) announced last month that it has started crude oil production from its Blind Faith Field in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico. First oil from Blind Faith was achieved on Nov. 11, 2008. Daily production is expected to ramp up to approximately 65,000 barrels of crude oil and 55 million cubic feet of natural gas over the next three months.
WASHINGTON – The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Washington, D.C., has announced JAMES ACTON as an associate in its nonproliferation program. Acton, an expert on nuclear disarmament and nonproliferation, was earlier a lecturer at the Centre for Science and Security Studies in the Department of War Studies at King’s College London.
Richardson & Harman Wins $3.4 Million Jury Verdict for Client Who Lost His Business PASADENA – A Los Angeles County Superior Court Jury has awarded $3.4 million to Paul Yang, a 76 year old Pasadena, CA businessman in a lawsuit against his former wife and her forensic accountants, whose tactics were found to have destroyed his business with the Chinese government. The defendants were found liable for taking confidential business records from his private business office in advance of her filing for divorce, leading to the cancellation of a long-term business relationship with the People’s Republic of China.
SBA Announces New Ways to Improve Small Businesses Access to Working Capital WASHINGTON – In response to the credit crunch, last month the SBA’s Acting Administrator Sandy K. Baruah announced important loan program changes to help the agency’s lending partners increase access to capital for small businesses. For more information on the interim final rule or to share your comments, visit www.regulations.gov. To learn more about SBA’s guaranteed loan programs visit www.sba.gov. By addressing market issues that were impeding the funding streams for both lenders and small businesses, SBA is making capital more available to America’s small businesses.
McDermott Will & Emery Announces Wolkov Promoted to Partner MIAMI – Ben Wolkov has experience working on various U.S. and international corporate and transactional matters. He has experience working on cross-border acquisitions and financings between the United States and various jurisdictions in Latin America. (University of Miami School of Wolkov Law, J.D., magna cum laude, 2000; New College of Florida, B.A., 1996). The Wolkov promotion is effective January 1, 2009.
Smith Named President and CEO of Blue Frog Solutions POMPANO BEACH – Blue Frog Solutions, a leading provider of Life & Annuity Order Management and Compliance solutions for the insurance industry, announced last month that Dan Smith has been named President and Chief Executive Officer, and has been elected a member of the company’s Board of Directors. Prior to joining Blue Frog Solutions, Smith served as Vice President of Technology for New York-based BISYS Insurance Services, which operated as the largest national distributor of life insurance, annuities, long-term care and disability insurance. Smith came to BISYS from Claimtrust, Inc., where he was Chief Operating Officer and member of the Board for this Internet-based service provider to hospitals, vetting outpatient Medicare claims prior to submission, minimizing outstanding A/R and avoiding federal penalties. He also has held senior technology positions at Interim Healthcare, Inc., and System One Amadeus, a computer reservation system for the global travel industry.
Gary Chartrand Assumes Role of Executive Chairman, Promotes Robert Hill to CEO of Acosta Sales and Marketing Company JACKSONVILLE – Gary R. Chartrand was named Executive Chairman of Acosta Sales and Marketing Company and announced the promotion of Robert Hill Jr. to President and Chief Executive Officer effective January 1, 2009. Hill also was named to the company’s Board of Directors. Chartrand, who has led the Jacksonville-based company as CEO since 1996 and became its Chairman in 1998, will continue as Chairman of the Board of Directors. Chartrand joined Acosta as business manager in 1983 after seven years with Chartrand the Carnation Company. He was subsequently promoted to vice president, regional vice president of Florida, president in 1993, and then president and chief executive officer in 1996. He has served as chairman of the company's Board of Directors since 1998 and will continue in that capacity. As Executive Chairman, Chartrand will work with Hill in developing the annual strategic plan for board review and will also help oversee the future development and growth of the company.
Georgia Engle Martin & Associates Opens St. Louis Office ATLANTA – Malcolm K. Clark and John A. Chestnas, have joined Engle Martin & Associates, Inc. to open its newest location in St. Louis, MO. This will be the second Missouri office for Engle Martin as its Kansas City office was opened in June 2005.
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Hawaii Robert Webber to Become CEO; Warren Haruki to Become Chairman of Maui Land & Pineapple Company, Inc. KAHULUI – Maui Land & Pineapple Company, Inc. (NYSE:MLP) announced the appointment of Warren Haruki as chairman and Robert (Rob) Webber as president and CEO, effective January 1, 2009. They replace David Cole who resigned recently resigned after five years as chairman, president and CEO of the 100-year old company. Cole will continue to serve as a director and will be the Company’s representative to the boards of Hawaii BioEnergy and Hawaii Superferry.
Sato Named Director of Medicare Operations for Humana’s Hawaii Market HONOLULU – Carol Sato has been named director of Medicare operations for Humana (NYSE:HUM) of Hawaii, in an announcement made by Debbie A. Smith, regional president of senior products for Humana’s West Coast Region that includes Hawaii. Sato - based at Humana's new Honolulu office in Restaurant Row at 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Suite 400, in Seven Waterfront Plaza - has responsibility for Humana’s day-to-day Medicare operations statewide. A registered nurse with a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing, Sato Sato was previously employed by Kaiser Foundation Health Plan in Hawaii as director of benefits administration from 2006 to 2008 and as director of product development from 1995 to 2006. From 1976 to 1995, she served in a variety of supervisory and nursing positions with Kaiser Permanente of Hawaii in Moanalua and on Maui. Sato can be reached at csato@humana.com.
Sopogy Received the Business Leadership Hawaii 2008 “Innovative Company of the Year” Award last month HONOLULU – Before 1,000 members of the business community, Sopogy, Inc. was presented the Business Leadership Hawaii (BLH) 2008 “Innovative Company of the Year” Award. The event, which took place at the Hilton Hawaiian Village, honors the best in the business. The Innovative Company of the Year Award recognizes organizations dedicated to developing new approaches to creating products, winning customers, and tackling problems. Sopogy was chosen Kimura based on its innovative MicroCSP technologies, used to create Process Heat, Solar Air Conditioning, and Electrical Power, and its commitment to leading Hawaii to a sustainable future and curbing the effects of global climate change. The president and CEO of Sopogy is Darren Kimura.
Illinois Midway Appoints New Chairman of the Board CHICAGO – Midway Games Inc. (NYSE:MWY) announced last month that the Company’s Board of Directors has appointed Peter C. Brown as Chairman of the Board. Brown succeeds Shari E. Redstone, who has resigned from the Company's Board of Directors. Ms. Redstone joined Midway's Board of Directors in 2004, and she was the vice chairwoman of the board and has served in the past on the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and the Compensation Committee.
McDermott Will & Emery Announces Christopher Lin Promoted to Partner CHICAGO - Christopher Lin focuses on mergers and acquisitions and general corporate counseling. (University of Michigan Law School, J.D., 2002; Washington University, B.A., magna cum laude, 1999). The Lin promotion is effective January 1, 2009. McDermott Will & Emery conducts Lin its practice through separate legal entities in each of the countries where it has offices.
Alcatel-Lucent Names Harvey Nash Strategic Outsourcing Partner PARSIPPANY– The Harvey Nash Group Plc (Harvey Nash) headquartered in London and the parent company of Parsippany-based Harvey Nash USA, announced last month that Alcatel-Lucent AG (Alcatel-Lucent) selected the global company to be a key strategic outsourcing partner. A new subsidiary company, Nash Technologies GmbH (Nash Technologies), has been incorporated for this purpose and will be a center of excellence providing wireless technology maintenance, research and development services. Revenue generated under the contract is expected to be approximately $65 million over an initial fixed term from October 1, 2008 to December 31, 2010.
Louisiana Tidewater Elects Joseph H. Netherland To Its Board of Directors NEW ORLEANS – Tidewater (NYSE: TDW) has announced the election of Joseph H. Netherland to its Board of Directors for a term expiring in July 2009.
Massachusetts Curt Bloom to Head smartFOCUS International Operations BOSTON – smartFOCUS, the international multi-channel marketing software company, announced that Curt Bloom has been named President of smartFOCUS International, a new position that reflects the company’s increasing investment in the US market. Long a leading European player, smartFOCUS earlier this year bolstered its US presence by acquiring ASTECH InterMedia, supplier of data-driven marketing solutions for the news media industry. Meanwhile, the company has enjoyed continued strong US new business growth, particularly with middle market organizations.
McDermott Will & Emery Announces Schuster Promoted to Partner BOSTON – Rebecca L. Schuster represents venture capital firms and both private and public companies in the biotechnology and other high-tech industries. Her practice focuses on general corporate, securities, mergers and acquisitions, and venture capital financing transactions. (Boston University School of Law, J.D., 2002; Cornell University, B.A., 1999). The Schuster promotion is effective January 1, 2009. McDermott Will & Emery conducts its practice through separate legal entities in each of the countries where it has offices.
Robin Camara Named Vice President of Human Resources & Administration Harvard Business Publishing BOSTON – Harvard Business Publishing (HBP) announced that Robin Camara joined the organization as Vice President, Human Resources & Administration last month. Camara will report to HBP's CEO David Wan and serve on the company's Executive Committee. She succeeds Toni Smit, who is retiring from the VP of Human Resources & Administration role, after an 18 year career with Harvard Business Publishing.
New Jersey
Synchronoss Expands Business Development with Appointment to Executive Team BRIDGEWATER – Synchronoss Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: SNCR) the leading software provider of electronic order management solutions to the communications services marketplace, announced the appointment of Daniel Rizer as Executive Vice President of Business Development last month. In his role, Mr. Rizer will lead the direction and execution of Synchronoss’ strategic initiatives, mergers and acquisiWaldis tions, and the creation of new channel development activities. Additionally, Rizer will be responsible for the identification, negotiation and integration of acquisitions, joint ventures, alliances and strategic investments to create shareholder value.“We are extremely pleased to welcome Daniel to our executive management team,” said Stephen G. Waldis President and Chief Executive Officer of Synchronoss Technologies, Inc.
Prominent Business Developers Join HDR CUH2A PRINCETON – HDR CUH2A announced that Mary M. Williamson in New York and J. Louise McGinnis-Barber, CPSM in San Francisco have joined the firm as Directors of Business Development. With these key hires, HDR CUH2A expects to realize an increase in opportunities in the NY and SF offices in the following fiscal year.
New York Michael L. Smith Joins Carestream Health Board of Directors ROCHESTER – Michael L. Smith, former Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) for Anthem, Inc., and its subsidiaries, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, has joined the Board of Directors for Carestream Health, Inc. Carestream Health is a world leader in medical and dental imaging and information technology products, molecular imaging systems and non-destructive testing products.
McDermott Will & Emery Announces LEWITTES Promoted to Partner NEW YORK - Meir A. Lewittes concentrates on private equity, mergers and acquisitions, and securities with a focus on cross-border transactions, private placements, joint ventures, compliance with federal securities laws and general corporate matters. (New York University School of Law, J.D., 2002; University of Maryland, B.A., 1997).
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Gov. Rick Perry Reappoints Nine to Pharmaceutical and Therapeutics Committee AUSTIN - Gov. Rick Perry has appointed two and reappointed nine members to the Pharmaceutical and Therapeutics Committee for terms to expire Sept. 1, 2009. The committee makes recommendations about the contents of the preferred drug lists.
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Richard C. Adams of Plano is director of developmental disabilities at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas and Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children. He is a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Texas Pediatric Society and Society for Developmental Pediatrics. Adams received a bachelor’s degree from Louisiana State University, and a medical degree from the Louisiana State University School of Medicine. Mario R. Anzaldua of Mission is a physician in private practice. He is a member of the Texas Medical Association and Texas Academy of Family Physicians. He is also a past member of the Mission Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. Anzaldua received a bachelor’s degree from Stanford University and a medical degree from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. Donna Burkett of Austin is director of pharmacy at St. David’s Round Rock Medical Center. She is the current secretary of the Austin Area Society of Health System Pharmacists, and a member of the University of Texas’ College of Pharmacy’s Dean’s Advisory Council and the Round Rock Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. Burkett received a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in pharmacy administration from the University of Texas at Austin. Anthony J. Busti of Salado is an adjunct professor at Baylor University and Texas Woman's University. He is a member of the National Lipid Association Board of Directors and the Southwest Lipid Association Board of Directors. He is also chairman of the Texas Medicaid Drug Use Review Board and a member of the Clinical Lipidology Board of Governors Accreditation Council. Busti received a bachelor’s degree from the University of the Incarnate Word, and a doctorate degree in pharmacy from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. Harris M. Hauser of Houston is a physician at Memorial Neurological Association, where he is also founder, president and CEO. He is a member of the American College of Psychiatrists, American Academy of Neurology and Texas Neurological Society. Hauser attended the University of Texas at Austin and the University of Houston. He received a master’s degree in neurology from the University of Minnesota in Rochester and a medical degree from Baylor College of Medicine. Daniel Ray Hernandez of Harlingen is a pharmacy manager at Texas Oncology Pharmacy – Harlingen. He is a member of the Texas Pharmacy Association, University of Texas Pan American (UTPA) Admissions Committee and Regional Advisory Council for UTPA/UT College of Pharmacy Cooperative Program. Hernandez received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas at Austin. He replaces David King of Kingwood. Bob Hillert Jr. of Dallas is a cardiologist at White Rock Adult Medicine. He is a member and past president of the Texas affiliate of the American Heart Association, a member of the Texas Medical Association, and a fellow of the American College of Physicians, American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association. Hillert received a bachelor’s degree from Texas Christian University and a medical degree from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas. J.C. Jackson of Seabrook is a retail pharmacy manager at Alvin Medicine Shoppe. He is a member of the National Pharmaceutical Association. He is also a member of the Knights of Columbus. Jackson received a bachelor's degree from Texas Southern University. Dorinda Martin of Austin is a pharmacist and owner of Dripping Springs Pharmacy. She is a fellow of the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists, chairman of the National Association of Community Pharmacists Long Term Health Committee, and a past member of the Texas Pharmacy Association Board of Directors. Martin received an associate’s degree from Grayson College, a bachelor's degree from Southwestern Oklahoma State University and a doctorate degree in pharmacy from Rio Grande College of Pharmacy. She replaces Julie Lewis of Frisco. Valerie Robinson of Lubbock is an assistant professor and director of child and adolescent psychiatry at the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. She is past president of the Texas Society of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and past secretary of the West Texas Chapter of the Texas Society of Psychiatric Physicians. She is also a member of the American Psychiatric Association and American and Texas Medical associations. Robinson received a bachelor’s degree from Texas Christian University and a medical degree from Texas Tech University School of Medicine. Guadalupe Zamora of Austin is a physician in private practice. He is a member of the Texas Medical Association, Travis County Medical Society and Texas Academy of Family Practice. Zamora received a bachelor’s degree from St. Mary's University and a medical degree from the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston.
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CHRIS BELL FOR TEXAS SENATE
Lets Finish the Job! What’s at Stake: * EDUCATION: Preparing our children for the economic challenges of the future.
* HEALTH CARE: More funding for children’s health insurance and stem cell research. Vote Tuesday, Dec., 16th!
www.chrisbell.com “The Chronicle urges constituents to make a special effort to go to the polls and cast their ballots for Bell.”
P a i d f o r b y C h r i s B e l l C a m p a i g n , L i a s J . S t e e n , Tr e a s u r e r
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SANDRA PEAKE FOUNDER OF SANDRA J. PEAKE ATTORNEY AT LAW
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t’s a common assumption that people who work for themselves have the luxury of rolling out of bed at ten o’clock and arriving at work by noon — if they wanted to. But people who are in business for themselves will beg to differ...strongly.
ing with her memberships, in volun- afforded her a unique opportunity to teer work with, various Houston area experience the differences in cuswomen’s organizations. She enjoys toms and cultures that she would not her volunteer work with Asians otherwise experience. Another pasAgainst Domestic Abuse (AADA), a sion is the Blue Triangle Multinon-profit organizaCultural Association TEXA S tion organized to proserving children and seniors in the Third mote “equal and healthy family relations through pub- Ward community. “I have been forlic awareness” that also provides tunate to be able to assist the support services for Asian American BTMCA Board in a small way. All women and children victims of the credit goes to the Board Members domestic abuse. For her, it has been who have dedicated their time, a gratifying, eye-opening and cultur- knowledge, tenacity and resources to ally expanding experience, particularly given the multi-cultural city continued on page, P.23 makeup of the Houston area. It has
Sandra J. Peake, a family practice attorney and mediator, says she loves being her own boss. In fact, she says it’s the best part about owning and operating her business. “I may be tied to my office a little bit more than I would like to be at times, but I have sole control,” she says wittily. “I don’t have to consult with anyone else before I make a business decision.” But that kind of freedom, she says, requires a certain level of discipline and constant preparation — because if you don’t provide the discipline and direction, there is none. In the legal profession, if you’re a solo practitioner, you have periods of relative feast as well as famine. You have to make sure you have cash flow during unpredictable periods when cases are not being opened unless there is an exigent circumstance or dire emergency. That is why it is important to learn your business cycles. She thinks that is true in any professional. Also, being accessible, following up with clients and being approachable are all musts. According to her, any case is considered a collaborative process between her and her client, requiring mutual respect and cooperation. “I have made a concerted effort to make my practice one where I can pay attention to the client as a person, rather than just the case. I don’t take every case that comes through the door. Building sustainable and long term relationships is achievable because of personalized service.” She and her husband, David Peake, started their law practice in 1982. Their dream was to fill a niche for affordable and accessible legal services. As the years progressed, they decided that although the practice was lucrative, it was also limiting because they were not able to take more complex cases under the then existing format and caseload. At the same time, her husband and business partner began focusing almost exclusively on the development of a consumer and small business bankruptcy practice. She began focusing more on developing a primarily family and probate practice. They found the combination a good mix while raising their family. In 1998, David left private practice when he was appointed a Chapter 13 Standing Trustee in the Southern District of Texas. Sandra has continued to concentrate on her family, probate and general practice. She has also been able to utilize her professional expertise in assistHouston Business Connections Newspaper is made possible by the support of our advertisers and supporters. Please support our advertisers and supporters! - Aubrey R. Taylor
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THE GRAHAMS FOUNDERS OF GRAHAM TIME FAMILY PHYSICIANS
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he husband and wife doctor duo of Monica and Akili Graham at Graham Time Family Physicians say being in business for themselves gives them peace in their practice and flexibility in their schedules. But it hasn’t always been a smooth ride. Akili Graham, a graduate of Prairie View A & M University, says while he loves having his own practice today, he’d rethink the steps he took to get there. “I walked away from my position as the medical director of a group of family physicians,” he recalls. “I just knew I was going to go into business for myself, practice medicine the way I thought it should be done and patients would be at my door. It didn’t quite happen that way.” He can laugh about his struggles today, but he says that emotionally charged departure from stable employment taught him some of the biggest lessons in business. “The things I have done emotionally have brought a lot of challenge to us,” he says, specifically referring to financial challenges. “But God has gotten us through it every time.” But he says his best business move since opening Graham Time in the Third Ward in 2003 was bringing his wife into the practice. He admits Monica’s got a great mind for business that he lacked. “He was of the school of thought that if I don’t have the money to pay a bill, I’ll get it paid when I can and I’ll talk to the company when I get the money. And most people think that way,” says Monica who obtained her undergraduate degree from Tu s k e g e e University. “But when I arrived, I got on the phone with some of our service providers and explained our situation, and we worked those things out. “I would tell other new entrepreneurs that businesses understand you’re just starting out. Do not be afraid to pick up the phone and sometimes they will work with you. That way you’re not running or having them chase you,” she says. It’s been four years since the practice has opened, and Graham Time Family Physicians is facing a new set of business challenges. Particularly, patient access to medical information on the Internet has kept the two physicians on their toes! “Empowerment is important. I tell patients to come in for their visit with their own information. This is a dialogue, not a one-way conversation,” Monica says. “I know a lot, but I’ll be the first to admit I don’t know everything. You’re the one who has to live with your body.” “We have a tendency to
believe all people are like us. Our ment for a patient. work ethic is what we want to see in But this particular challenge, other people,” he admits. “And it’s they agree, is what pushes them to hard to get an employee to under- practice medicine in a holistic way, stand we have to focusing on three eledrop them because ments of health — TEXA S we won’t drop our physical, mental and standards.” spiritual. Insurance companies, he “The bottom line for us is getsays, add another challenge to the ting people where they need to be in practice of medicine for doctors terms of good health. Everybody everywhere because of their con- doesn’t get there the same way,” trol over what services will and Monica says. “But it all comes back won’t be covered for patients. This to lifestyle modification. That pushes doctors into a corner when they disagree with the insurance continued on page, P.23 companies on the best line of treat-
CATERING • 281.852.5666 HOURS • MONDAY-SATURDAY 11:00A.M. - 8:00 P.M. • SUNDAY 11:00 A.M. -6:00 P.M. BREAKFAST • SATURDAYS & SUNDAYS 6:30 A.M. - 10:30 A.M. 207 GRAY STREET • HOUSTON, TEXAS 77002 • 713.659.1608 • WWW.THISISITHOUSTON.COM
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CRAIG JOSEPH OWNER OF HOUSTON’S THIS IS IT SOUL FOOD
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t 34 years old, Craig Joseph didn’t have any interest in owning his grandparents’ infamous This Is It soul food restaurant. He was living the career of his dreams as a firefighter for the Houston Fire Department. But an “insulting” low-ball offer from a stranger to buy the veritable Fourth Ward landmark gave him a change of heart and the restaurant a future. And in 1995, Craig and his wife Georgette carried on the legacy and the dream of Frank and Mattie Jones. “I’d rather see us lose the business than to give it away,” Joseph recalls. “So, I asked my grandfather to teach me what he knew.” Having grown up inside This Is It, Joseph understood the operation of the restaurant. It’s the food he had to master. “Maintaining the same consistency and quality in the food is the hardest thing. With the change in ownership, we had to make sure nothing about the food changed. Believe me, people would know and they’d be sure to tell us,” he says smiling. “Once I mastered the food and how to cook it, he gave me a trial run cooking on my own.” But mastering the cuisine of melt-in-your-mouth oxtails, tender greens and moist cornbread wasn’t his only hurdle to culinary success. There was a perception Joseph had to overcome that he couldn’t maintain his grandparents’ restaurant. He admits he heard the whispers from doubters who believed he’d “lose the business.” “We tried to change the décor without taking away from the character of the restaurant,” he says. “We’ve added uniforms and expanded the menu. We’ve managed to keep it going.” He’s proud to say the restaurant has “survived” the management change, he’s also “blessed” to have maintained many staff members for more than two decades and is even preparing for an expansion. The restaurant moved to its current location in 1995, which marked the first time in the restaurant’s history that it owned the building in which it operated. Today, Joseph says, he’s working on further expansion plans. “The only thing that’s missing is him,” Joseph says of his grandfather, who passed away in 1999. Still, he’s proud to carry on the family’s legacy and knows he’s moving in the right direction when customers give him great feedback after a great meal. “My favorite part is when people enjoy their experience and
they’re pleased - especially when wine. Then the next year, it’s okay they say to me, ‘Keep up the good to drink wine. Then the new trend is work!’ or ‘I’ll see you next time!’” don’t eat eggs. Then the next year, he says. “But what really makes me eggs are good,” he quips. “But if happy is when I see young children you go back to our heritage, our ancestors lived a long ask their parents to bring them to This time on these foods. TEXA S Personally, I think it’s Is It for their birthday dinner instead of going to the chemicals put into the foods that make the food bad for you.” McDonald’s or Chuck E. Cheese.” Meanwhile, the future of This And while much hasn’t changed at This Is It, Joseph says Is It is stable. Joseph says his chilthat’s true of the restaurant and food dren - 25, 19 and 17 years old industry as well. In fact, the more it seems to change, he says, the more it stays the same. continued on page, P.21 “One year it’s don’t drink
Hours of Operation: The Museum opens and conducts tours Monday thru Friday from 10:00a.m. to 5:00p.m. and on Saturdays from 10:00a.m. to 4:30p.m. the Museum is closed on Sundays. www.buffalosoldiermuseum.com 1 8 3 4 S o u t h m o r e , H o u s t o n , Te x a s 7 7 0 0 4 I Te l e p h o n e : 7 1 3 - 9 4 2 - 8 9 2 0
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RUAMA CAMP PRESIDENT & CEO OF G.R.A.C.E. COMMUNITY SERVICES
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he creation of Ruama C a m p ’s G.R.A.C.E. Community Services may truly be the epitome of divine timing. Shortly after Camp departed from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (F.E.M.A.), formed her disaster management ministry and moved into its permanent office, Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast in August 2005. At that moment, G.R.A.C.E. was truly in business and in a big way. The faith-based organization is committed to empowering AfricanAmerican churches and other minority ministries with disaster preparedness training when things like flooding, fires, plane crashes, plant explosions and terrorism affect their communities. Camp considers it life-saving work. “It’s important so that the next time there’s a flood someone knows to go get Miss Ethel down the street because she’s bound to a wheelchair,” she says. “And we saw cases like this in Hurricane Katrina’s aftermath.” Camp, who says her experience working with FEMA was the catalyst for forming G.R.A.C.E., believes that minorities don’t typically participate on the service side when it comes to disaster management. Rather, minorities “are on the receiving side” of the equation. She says it’s her goal to teach and educate minorities how to participate and become more disaster ready for their communities. Particularly, she says churches need to understand how crucial their role is in the disaster scenario. “Often, when a disaster happens, one of the first places people turn to or look to for help and assistance is the church. And churches have got to have disaster preparedness plans in place so they can help those who are depending on them,” says Camp of her business and ministry. “We offer training classes like Disaster 101 and CERT Training to educate churches on how to put a ministry in place. We also help people learn to navigate through the FEMA system.” What’s more interesting is the G.R.A.C.E. business model. Camp applies a unique hiring process that ensures the new staffer and the company is a good fit. “My staff has to volunteer before they get hired. Typically, you interview for a job and then get hired. But I believe we need to make sure we have a person who truly embraces what we do,” she says.
“Plus, it allows a potential employee when the hot and uncomfortable to see what a typical week is like for conditions of the garage became too us. Volunteers usually work for two much to bear, operations were weeks. The longest moved to her SUV. volunteer we ever “So, right there in TEXA S had stayed with us my truck, I'd pick up for five weeks as we disaster survivors, take waited for funding to become avail- them to a place of shelter or wherever able to hire her.” they needed to be and their files were A relatively new organization, right there with me. It was a real G.R.A.C.E. Community Services mobile office,” she recalls with a little grew quickly, as the demand for it laughter. grew after Hurricane Katrina. Its humble beginnings span all the way back to Camp’s home, eventually continued on page, P.21 being moved into the garage. And
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THIS SECTION UPDATED WEEKLY AT WWW.HOUSTON-BUSINESSCONNECTIONS.COM • EMAIL INFO TO NEWS@HOUSTON-BUSINESSCONNECTIONS.COM Executive Officer of Lucent. She will stand for re-election at the next shareholders meeting in May 2009.
Eric Bolling Named CoHost of Happy Hour on FOX Business Network NEW YORK – Eric Bolling joined Cody Willard and Rebecca Diamond as co-hosts of FOX Business Network’s (FBN) Happy Hour, announced Kevin Magee, Executive Vice President, FOX News. Happy Hour (5PM-6PM ET) is a daily business news program set inside the Bull & Bear bar at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City that provides irreverent banter on the day’s market activity in a lively open forum atmosphere. Since joining FBN in March 2008, Bolling has served as a contributor providing daily commentary to Money for Breakfast, America's Nightly Scoreboard and Happy Hour, among other programBolling ming. Bolling is also an independent trader based out of the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX) specializing in trading commodities such as crude oil, gold, and agricultural commodities. Prior to this, Bolling served as a CNBC contributor for two years, where he was a panelist on Fast Money. He also was the recipient of the Maybach Man of the Year award at the Trader Monthly Awards in January 2007. FOX Business Network (FBN) is a financial news channel delivering real-time information across all platforms that impact both Main Street and Wall Street. Headquartered in New York-the business capital of the world-FBN launched in October 2007 and is available in more than 40 million homes in major markets across the United States. Owned by News Corp, the network has bureaus in Chicago, Los Angeles, Silicon Valley, Washington, DC and London. On the web at www.foxbusiness.com.
Connie Lindsey elected board president, Davia Temin vice president NEW YORK – New York City-based Girl Scouts of the USA has elected CONNIE L. LINDSEY as board president and DAVIA B. TEMIN as first vice president. Lindsey, an executive vice president at Northern Trust Company in Chicago, also serves on the boards of the Joffrey Ballet, Women Employed, the Metropolitan Club of Chicago, DePaul University School of Education, and the Chicago Finance Exchange. Temin, president and CEO of marketing consultancy Temin and Company, formerly managed marketing at GE Capital, Schroders Investment Bank, Scudder, Citicorp Investment Bank, and Columbia Business School.
Mike Gelhard Joins Deutsche Bank as Global Co-Head of Emerging Markets Corporate Credit and Special Situations NEW YORK – Deutsche Bank announced that Mike Gelhard has joined the bank as a Managing Director and Global CoHead of Emerging Markets Corporate Credit and Special Situations. Gelhard is based in New York and will be responsible for the origination, risk management and distribution of corporate credit throughout Latin America and Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Gelhard and Global Co-Head Tim Zundel will report globally to Sean Bates, Managing Director and Global Head of Emerging Markets Credit Trading. Gelhard joins the Bank from UBS where he was Head of High Yield and Distressed Credit Trading for Latin America and Asia. Prior to that, he held positions at UBS and Citibank in Sydney, Australia.
Russo Appointed to Alcoa Board of Directors NEW YORK – Alcoa (NYSE:AA) announced that its board of directors has appointed Patricia F. Russo, 56, a director of the company effective immediately. Russo is the former chief executive officer of Alcatel-Lucent, the world’s leading communication solutions provider formed in 2006 by the merger of Alcatel in France and Lucent in the U.S. Prior to the combination of Alcatel and Lucent, she was Chairman and Chief
Timothy J. O'Connor Named President of Gramercy Capital Corp. NEW YORK – Gramercy Capital Corp. (NYSE:GKK) has announced the appointment of Timothy J. O'Connor as President. A veteran of the commercial real estate industry, he served most recently as Chief Operating Officer of iStar Financial Inc. As President of Gramercy Capital Corp., O'Connor will assume a broad range of responsibilities, with a particular focus on completing the integration of its Gramercy Realty unit into the Company and producing greater operational efficiencies. Gramercy Realty consists of many of the assets and staff that formerly comprised American Financial Realty Trust, which was acquired earlier this year. The unit manages a portfolio of net lease commercial properties totaling over 29 million square feet.
North Carolina Snyderman Receives Lifetime Achievement Award for Contributions to Prospective and Personalized Health Care DURHAM – Proventys Inc., a healthcare technology company committed to advancing personalized medicine at the point of care, announced that founder Dr. Ralph Snyderman received Frost & Sullivan’s 2008 North American Healthcare Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions to the field of personalized medicine. Dr. Snyderman accepted the award last month at the 2008 Excellence in Healthcare Innovation Awards Banquet in San Antonio, Texas.
Pennsylvania Charles W. Fischer Joins the Board of Directors of NOVA Chemicals PITTSBURGH – NOVA Chemicals (NYSE:NCX)(TSX:NCX) has announced that Charles W. Fischer was appointed to the Board of Directors of the company last month. Fischer is President and Chief Executive Officer of Nexen Inc., an independent, Canadian-based global energy company. Fischer will serve on the Human Resources Committee, as well as the Public Policy and Responsible Care Committee of the Board. With the addition of Mr. Fischer, the NOVA Chemicals Board will have 13 members. Fischer will serve on the Human Resources Committee, as well as the Public Fischer Policy and Responsible Care Committee of the Board. With the addition of Fischer, the NOVA Chemicals Board will have 13 members. NOVA Chemicals develops and manufactures chemicals, plastic resins and end-products that make everyday life safer, healthier and easier. Our employees work to ensure health, safety, security and environmental stewardship through our commitment to Responsible Care®. NOVA Chemicals shares are traded as NCX on the Toronto and New York stock exchanges.
South Carolina Former VERITAS Executive Joins Unitrends’ Board of Directors
Texas Temple-Inland Named Mathis Vice-President, Investor Relations and Treasury and Geoff Reid Director of Treasury AUSTIN – Temple-Inland Inc. (NYSE:TIN) announced last month that Chris Mathis has been named Vice President, Investor Relations and Treasury, and Geoff Reid Director of Treasury of the company. The company also announced that Randy Levy, its Chief Financial Officer, will assume the additional title of Treasurer. Temple-Inland Inc. is a manufacturing company focused on corrugated packaging and Levy building products. The fully integrated corrugated packaging operation consists of 7 mills and 63 converting facilities. The building products operation manufactures a diverse line of building products for new home construction, commercial and repair and remodeling markets. Temple-Inland’s address on the World Wide Web is www.templeinland.com.
Tavis Smiley and Nationwide Insurance Made a Stop in Dallas to Help Consumers Control Their Financial Future DALLAS – The 2008 Nationwide On Your Side® Tour with Tavis Smiley made its final stop in Dallas, Texas, last month at the Sheraton Dallas Hotel, 400 N. Olive Street. In the wake of some of the more difficult economic times facing consumers everywhere, the tour helps people learn about ways to empower themselves and enhance their financial future. The event is part of an exclusive partnership between The Smiley Group and Nationwide. “Now Smiley more than ever, it is vitally important for consumers to focus on taking the steps to plan for their financial future,” said James Lyski, chief marketing officer for Nationwide. “By partnering with Tavis Smiley, we’re engaging the community in very important dialogue regarding financial planning and financial responsibility.”
AT&T to Acquire Centennial Communications, Enhance Service for Wireless Customers and Businesses DALLAS & WALL – AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) and Centennial Communications Corp. (Nasdaq:CYCL) announced that AT&T plans to acquire Centennial, a regional provider of wireless and wired communications services, for $944 million in cash. The transaction will enhance AT&T's wireless coverage for customers in largely rural areas of the Midwest and Southeast United States and in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Frank Hughes and Dean Campbell Announce Their Intent to Retire from RFM Board of Directors DALLAS – RF Monolithics, Inc. (NASDAQ:RFMI) (“RFM” or the “Company”), a leader in delivering quality RF hardware solutions, announced last month that two of its existing directors, Francis J. Hughes, Jr. and Dean C. Campbell, have informed the Board of Directors that they intend to retire no later than the end of their current terms and will not seek reelection to the board at RFM's Annual Meeting of Shareholders, scheduled for January 21, 2009.
COLUMBIA – Unitrends, a leading provider of innovative, integrated solutions that protect and restore critical data and systems, announced the appointment of Mike Coney, a former VERITAS executive, to its seven-member Board of Directors.
Announcements continued on page, P.20
Whatever field of human activity one may take, only those trends that are in harmony with the needs of society show rapid progress. — Nikolai Chernyshevsky
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magine visiting a museum, eager to see a display of precious jewels or ancient artifacts or rare textiles from a lost civilization. Undoubtedly, there would be a rope or some other barrier keeping visitors at least three feet away from the priceless items on display. Those items would most likely be stuffed into a glass case draped in the glare of poorly placed spotlights all around, making closer inspection of the museum’s possessions frustratingly impossible.
But at the Buffalo Soldiers National Museum in the heart of Houston, visitors can touch weapons, clothing and real artifacts by just reaching out to the open-air displays that populate nearly every wall. “Our job here is to preserve, promote and perpetuate,” says museum founder Paul J. Matthews. “Usually, museums put a little bit of stuff on a big wall. We put a lot of stuff on a little wall so our visitors can touch it and have an interactive experience. “The Smithsonian came by and said, ‘You have a lot of priceless artifacts here and just sitting out on a table.’ We flipped the whole exhibit model,” Matthews says proudly. The Buffalo Soldiers National Museum highlights the contributions of African American soldiers in American military history. And display space isn’t the only thing that makes the Buffalo Soldiers National Museum unique. The museum has licensed its logo, a decision Matthews says was his best move. “We get 70 percent of royalties from wholesalers who sell Buffalo Soldiers National Museum merchandise,” says the former Vietnam veteran. “It protects us from anyone else saying they are the Buffalo Soldiers Museum. There’s only one, and it’s us. That’s a very powerful position to be in.” His love for the elite group of soldiers began in the ‘60s with a lifechanging decision he had to make about his future. “I was in the ROTC at Prairie View A & M University, and I had to make a decision about my future, which possibly included me going into the military. I read two paragraphs about the buffalo soldiers and I became intrigued,” he remembers, smiling. “Here are a bunch of Black men standing up for America when America was not standing up for them. Buffalo Soldiers during World War II stayed in France the first two to three years of the war when the average tour of duty was only a year.
“Boom! That was my answer.” we opened the doors in 2001.” The popular museum began with And during its first year of operMatthews’ retirement fund and a ation, nearly 20,000 visitors crossed “hollow room.” its threshold. “When I walked through the The museum, with a $2 admisdoor with the Realtor®, there was sion price and open six days a week, nothing on the walls. grew from there. It now But I could see these touts a budget of TEXA S flags - the Army, $500,000 and has a Navy, Marines, Air board of directors along Force,” he says. “And I told the with a fundraising arm with members Realtor this is the place. I took from companies including the $40,000 of my retirement money and Houston Chronicle, Chevron, Center the artifacts I’d collected in my garage and moved in. Without any staff other than my wife and family, continued on page, P.21
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EL PASO – El Paso Electric (NYSE:EE) announced the selection of David W. Stevens as chief executive officer last month. Stevens succeeds J. Frank Bates, who has served as interim president and CEO since February, 2008.
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American Diabetes Association in Alexandria elects president ALEXANDRIA – The American Diabetes Association in Alexandria, Virginia, has elected R. PAUL ROBERTSON as president of medicine and science at the organization. Robertson, president and scientific director of the Pacific Northwest Diabetes Research Institute and a professor of medicine and pharmacology at the University of Washington, is one of the country's preeminent researchers in the area of abnormal islet function. He previously served on the association's national board and as editor in chief of its research journal, Diabetes.
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HOUSTON – Weingarten Realty Investors (NYSE: WRI) and Hines Real Estate Investment Trust, Inc. (“Hines REIT”) announced the formation of a joint venture transaction in which a subsidiary of Hines REIT will acquire a 70% interest in a WRI portfolio of 12 high-volume supermarket-anchored shopping centers. The aggregate transaction price is approximately $271 million and the transaction will close on multiple dates. The initial closing occurred last month and included eight of the properties for approximately $205 million, and the purchase of the remaining four properties will be closed upon at the finalization of their loan assumptions. The twelve properties consist of 1.5 million square feet and are located in areas across five states that have very strong demographics with average trade area populations exceeding 100,000 people Alexander and average household income exceeding $80,000. These centers are anchored by a diversified mix of leading grocers including Kroger, Randall’s (Safeway), H-E-B, Publix, B.J.’s Wholesale and Harris Teeter. Additional anchors include Marshall’s, Barnes and Noble, Palais Royal and Stein Mart. The president and CEO of Weingarten Realty is Andrew M. Alexander.
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HOUSTON – Aztec Oil & Gas, Inc. (OTCBB:AZGS) announced that Waylan R. Johnson has been elected to the position of President. Johnson assumed the position of President last month. Franklin C. Fisher, Jr. will remain CEO and Chairman of Aztec Oil & Gas, Inc. Aztec also announced last month that its corporate offices will remain in Houston, Texas, while the company’s operations offices will be relocating to Spicewood, Texas, where they will be headed by Waylan R. Johnson.
HOUSTON – ATP Oil & Gas Corporation’s (NASDAQ:ATPG) Chairman and CEO, T. Paul Bulmahn, was honored with the 2008 Rhodes Petroleum Industry Leadership Award by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers - International Petroleum Technology Institute (“ASME-IPTI”). The award is the principal award of ASME designed to honor significant contributions to the petroleum industry demonstrated through management and motivational skills, entrepreneurship, innovation and leadership within corporate and industry circles. ASME is a 120,000 member professional organization focused on technical, educational and research issues of the engineering and technology community. Bulmahn Houston-based, the IPTI (Institute) represents: the Ocean, Offshore and Arctic Engineering, the Petroleum Division and the Pipeline Systems Division.
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continued from P.17 In October of 2005 G.R.A.C.E. opened its Acres Homes area computer training and tutoring lab. And in July of 2006, the company finally found a permanent home in the Astrodome/Reliant Stadium area, where it’s corporate office is now housed. As for the future of G.R.A.C.E., Camp says she always wants each day to start with prayer and meditation and for the disaster survivor to be kept in the forefront. “Our goal is to see survivors recover holistically and move on with their lives,” says the mother of two sons, both of whom volunteer at the ministry. “Their lives may never be the same but at least they can return to some sense of normalcy.” And she simply wants people to “understand our heartbeat.” “I would want GRACE to be the ministry that is remembered,” she says, “for doing what it said it would do.”
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Joseph continued from P.16 have taken their cue from him and their mom, who “does a little of the baking and a lot of everything else.” He says they will carry the torch of the restaurant that’s “starred” in the feature film Jason’s Lyric. “What I want is for my kids to carry it on. They feel much better about it than I did at their age. And I know they have a desire to carry it on. They look at what I go through on a daily basis and they are coming up with menu ideas,” he says proudly. “I would never want them to sell the business. Really, I would hope they would have children to carry it on.” “The restaurant has been around 48 years,” says Joseph, who plans to retire from his firefighter’s post in three years. “That’s a long time to be in business, but particularly in the Black community. I hope that we, as people, continue to support Black-owned businesses.”
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Matthews continued from P.19 Meetings By Appointment Only
Point and the Greater Houston Convention & Visitors Bureau (GHCVB). Plus, volunteers do everything from writing grants to performing in historical re-enactments. So, what does all this growth mean to Matthews? “It’s good and bad,” he simply states. “It's good because the message that we are here is getting out there and reaching more people. The bad part is that I'm constantly in fundraising mode!” Goals for next year include recruitment of an executive director, salaried grant writers and a resident artist. And at the top of that short list is financial independence for what Matthews calls a successful “mom-and-pop” company. “Even bringing in museum memberships, broadening our base of partnering foundations and developing a rapport with corporate America is part of the change that we must incorporate into our business,” he says. And while he grows his business, Matthews still finds time to enjoy what attracted him to start it in the first place - teaching the public about buffalo soldiers. “I still enjoy giving the tours. It's amazing the knowledge that the seniors have about the things we have on display in here like the kitchen tools and equipment,” he says. “Then sometimes we have the World War II guys come in and they learn they’re technically buffalo soldiers themselves, and didn’t know it. Sometimes they stand with tears in their eyes.”
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If...the machine of government...is of such a nature that it requires you to be the agent of injustice to another, then, I say, break the law.— Henry David Thoreau
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Young Voters play lead role in 2008 Election By Scott Keeter Director Survey Research, Juliana Horowitz, Research Associate and Alec Tyson, Research Analyst, Pew Research Center for the People & the Press
In the last three general elections - 2004, 2006, and 2008 - young voters have given the Democratic Party a majority of their votes, and for all three cycles they have been the party’s most supportive age group. This year, 66% of those under age 30 voted for Barack Obama making the disparity between young voters and other age groups larger than in any presidential election since exit polling began in 1972. This pattern of votes, along with other evidence about the political leanings of young voters, suggests that a significant generational shift in political allegiance is occurring. This pattern has been building for several years, and is underscored among voters this year. Among voters ages 18-29, a 19-point gap now separates Democratic party affiliation (45%) and Republican affiliation (26%). In 2000, party affiliation was split nearly evenly among the young. Young voters are more diverse racially and ethnically than older voters and more secular in their religious orientation. These characteristics, as well as the climate in which they have come of age politically, incline them not only toward Democratic Party affiliation but also toward greater support of activist government, greater opposition to the war in Iraq, less social conservatism, and a greater willingness to describe themselves as liberal politically. Young people were not, however, crucial to Barack Obama’s victory, according to the exit polls. Obama would have lost Indiana and North Carolina, but carried other key states such as Ohio and Florida, as well as the national vote. But young people provided not only their votes but also many enthusiastic campaign volunteers. Some may have helped persuade parents and older relatives to consider Obama's candidacy. And far more young people than older voters reported attending a campaign event while nearly one-in-ten donated money to a presidential candidate. While Obama captured 66% of the youth vote, compared with McCain's 31%, voters age 30 and older divided roughly evenly between the two candidates. Among those ages 18-29, Obama took a majority among whites (54%44%), and captured more than three-fourths of young Hispanic voters (76%-19%). However, among both younger and older voters, there was no difference in the vote of those with college experience and those without. As with older voters, a gender gap appears in young voters’ support for the Democratic ticket: 69% of younger women voted Democratic, compared with 62% of comparably aged men.
Describing the Young Voter One of the most striking features of young voters is their racial and ethnic diversity. Just 62% of voters age 18-29 identify as white, while 18% are black and
14% Hispanic. Four years ago, this age group was 68% white. In 2000, nearly three-quarters (74%) of young voters were white. Women significantly outnumber men among younger voters, constituting 55% of those 18-29 and 30-44. Among voters ages 4564, 52% are female, while 51% of voters age 65 and older are women.
ions on the Iraq war and offshore drilling. A wide 77%- majority of voters under age 30 disapprove of the U.S. war in Iraq, making them at least 15 points more negative on the war than older age groups. While the public as a whole disapproves of the war, opinion is less lopsided with 36% approving of the war. Young voters have soured considerably on the war over the past four years; in 2004, 52% approved of the original decision to use military force against
Democratic Share of Presidential Vote, 1980-2008
Sources; National exit polls conducted by CBS/New York Tyimes (1980-1988), Voters News Service (1992-2000) and National Election Poll (2004-2008).
Compared with those age 30 and older, fewer young voters say they are affiliated with a religious tradition (16% vs. 12% overall), and fewer report regular attendance at worship services. Among all voters, 40% attend religious services weekly or more often; among those 18-29, just 33% do so.
Party Identification and Issues The Democrats’ overall advantage in party identification in the 2008 election was driven in large part by the strong Democratic leaning of young voters. Voters ages 18-29 were by far the most Democratic age cohort in the election; 45% identified as Democrats, compared with smaller percentages who identified as Republican (26%) or independent (29%). Older voters also tilted Democratic this year, though by nowhere near the margin found among those under age 30. The party gap among young voters has expanded over the last four years. Since 2004, Democratic identification among voters under age 30 has increased 8 points, while Republican identification has fallen by 9 points. The percentage of young voters declining to identify with either of the two major parties remained stable at 29%. In 2000, young voters were about evenly split between the two parties: 36% Democratic, 35% Republican. Notably, young voters were actually somewhat less Democratic than older voters in 2000. For example, those age 65 and older were 4 points more likely than the youngest slice of the electorate to be Democrats. Consistent with their strong Obama vote and their Democratic Party affiliation, young voters were distinctively liberal in their views on several policy questions. Yet they were similar to older voters in the relative importance of different issues to their vote. Young voters differ most from older voters in their liberal views on the proper scope of government. Nearly seven-in-ten (69%) of voters ages 18-29 favor an expanded role for government, agreeing that it should do more to solve problems; fewer (27%) say the government is doing too many things better left to businesses and individuals. Opinion on this question is more closely divided among older age cohorts and a narrow plurality of those age 45 and older says government is doing too much. Young voters also stand out for their opin-
Iraq, and at that time, young voters' opinions mirrored those of the larger voting public. While voters overall favor offshore drilling by a margin of more than two-to-one (68% to 28%), those under age 30 express somewhat less support for offshore drilling than do older voters. Yet even so, a 57%-majority of young voters favors drilling for oil in U.S. waters where it is currently not allowed. Fully 72% of those ages 45-64, and 74% of those age 65 and older support increased oil production in U.S. waters. Nearly a third of young voters (32%) describe themselves as liberal, compared with 22% of all voters. Those under 30 are about as likely as all voters to call themselves moderate, but are significantly less likely to identify as conservative: just over a quarter (26%) of young voters do so. By contrast, voters in older age cohorts are much more likely to call themselves conservative as opposed to liberal. Despite holding more liberal views on many issues, young voters share the same issue priorities as the electorate at large. More than six-in-ten (61%) young voters see the economy as the nation's most important problem, about the same share as among the general voting public; the war in Iraq is a distant second on the minds of young voters – as it is among all voters – with 12% naming it the country's top problem. Voters under age 30 differ somewhat from all voters in viewing energy policy (10% top problem) as a more pressing issue than terrorism (5% top problem); other age cohorts generally consider the issues to be of similar importance or give a slight priority to terrorism.
Mobilization and Turnout In addition to providing Barack Obama and other Democrats with strong support this year, young voters were unusually active in the campaign. According to Pew's post-election survey of voters, fully 28% of young voters in battleground states said they had attended a campaign event, far more than among other age groups. They
were less likely than older voters to contribute money to the campaign, but according to the survey nearly one-in-ten (9%) did so, compared with the overall average of 17%. But the electoral influence of young voters also depends on efforts made to mobilize them. According to the exit polls, young voters in key battleground states this year were far more likely to have been contacted by the Obama campaign than by the McCain campaign - and in some states they were more likely than older voters to have been contacted, a significant reversal from past patterns. Nationally, a quarter of voters (25%) 1829 say someone contacted them in person or by phone on behalf of the Obama campaign about coming out to vote. By contrast, just 13% were contacted by the McCain campaign. In 2004, nearly the same share of young voters was reached by the Kerry campaign (22%) as was reached by the Bush campaign (19%). But the disparity was much larger in some of the key battleground states. In Pennsylvania and Nevada, which Obama carried by doubledigit margins, more than half of voters under age 30 said they were contacted by the Obama campaign (54% in Pennsylvania and 61% in Nevada). The McCain campaign reached considerably fewer young voters in those states – 30% in Pennsylvania and 26% in Nevada. Obama's get-out-the-vote operation also reached three times as many young voters as McCain's operation in Indiana (45% vs. 15%) and twice as many in Florida (32% vs. 16%).
The Obama campaign also reached more voters than the McCain campaign across some older age groups, though the advantage was generally more modest than that among 18-29 year-olds. In North Carolina, for example, 46% of voters under age 30 reported being contacted by someone in the Obama campaign about coming out to vote, compared with 29% who reported being contacted by the McCain campaign. However, Obama's get-out-the-vote advantage narrows somewhat among those ages 30-44 (11 points) and ages 45-64 (6 points) and completely disappears among those age 65 and older (29% each). With the exception of Virginia, Nevada, and Wisconsin, the two campaigns were about even in their efforts to turn out voters age 65 and older in the swing states. Obama reached far more older voters than McCain in Virginia (55% vs. 45%) and Nevada (47% vs. 38%), while McCain reached more voters age 65 and older in Wisconsin (58% vs. 46%). Official estimates of voter turnout among age groups won't be available for several months, but the exit polls indicate that mobilization efforts aimed at young people may have paid off. Voters ages 18-29 turned out at a higher rate in 2008 than in 2004 in several battleground states. Young voters increased their share of the total electorate by five points in Indiana, four points in North Carolina and Virginia – all of which experienced sizeable increases in overall voter turnout – and by lesser amounts in six other key states. By contrast, the young declined as a share of the total in Florida, Pennsylvania, and Ohio. Nationally, young voters were estimated to be 18% of the total, up slightly from 17% four years ago. ------------------------------------------------------* Notes: 1 Scott Keeter is also an exit poll analyst for NBC News
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.— Margaret Mead
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Palin
Peake
continued from P.1
continued from P.14
There are no highs or lows among subgroups for Jindal among Republicans. He is a newcomer to national politics, and already has a reasonable base of GOP support. Palin looks to be stealing Huckabee's thunder among Republican religious conservatives and working class voters. Huckabee is an ordained Southern Baptist minister, and his highest GOP totals still come from BornAgain Christians (15%) and weekly churchgoers (18%), but those numbers are about half of those drawn by Palin. Despite his populist economic message, he wins only 10% of blue collar Republicans. The interesting finding about Paul is that he is more popular among all voters than he is among Republicans, reinforcing his appeal as a potential third party candidate. Pollster John Zogby: "While someone other than those we listed could still emerge as Republican contender, GOP voters seem satisfied with this group. Only 8.2% would choose someone else. Despite all of the bad press and late night TV parody of Palin, she still leads the pack. So it is hard to see what could shake the faith of her supporters going forward. If she chooses to run, that solid base would likely keep her in the race through the early primaries. Both Romney and Jindal have appeal to Republicans, with Jindal having the advantage of being the new guy who could bring change to the party."
Woods
making sure the Blue Triangle is sustained as a community center and is able to continue providing after school enrichment and other activities for children and seniors in the community. The Blue Triangle organization consists of a phenomenal group of visionary women, who keep the programs running and expanding. They have been able to do things in their “retirement” that you would not believe.” She is also a member of the Texas Spring Cypress Chapter Links, Inc. Her chapter's focus area is the Fifth Ward, including Acres Homes. The Chapter provides additional resources for health awareness, education in area schools and cultural enrichment through partnerships with other organizations and community groups. “I believe the best business decision we made was to advertise.” They realized early on that in order to survive in a competitive market, they had to build and nurture their client base. She has clients who come in now with advertisements and correspondence from years ago and can identify the period during which the client began using their services. It is always interesting as well as rewarding to her to see these particular clients. It confirms the relationship was firmly established and the goal of client satisfaction achieved. “One of the fundamental changes in the way we practice law having a huge impact on the
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legal field is the integration of technology into the process. When we started our practice, office equipment consisted of one typewriter. Back then, word processing was considered a technological advance and accumulating and maintaining a law library was essential. Today, we can research, file documents and pay filing fees on line. It’s made the practice more efficient and less stressful because it saves time.” In family practice, the practice culture has evolved. “The courts, the family bar and litigants are more cognizant of the negative long term effects protracted, contentious and expensive litigation has on families, particularly when there are children involved. To that end, requiring parenting classes in cases where children are involved and requiring mediation prior to trial in most cases, has positively impacted the way we manage our caseloads and gives litigants an opportunity to resolve their disputes outside of court.” Parties have an opportunity to open the lines of communication and creatively resolve disputes. “Just like you have control over the creation of your relationships, you can have control over the dissolution of it.” To her, winning and losing aren't the only important things. What is really most important is to get her client through the process and make sure the client's objectives are met. She's an avid reader and loves to travel. “I need to be able to effectively manage my business to be able to have time for family and outside interests,” she says.
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continued from P.1 ket. Peck credited Woods with contributing to the growth stating “We attribute awareness of our product to Tiger.” General Motors is one of the three top U.S. automakers seeking a $25 billion bailout from Congress. The company has also decreased spending on advertising during the 2009 Super Bowl and Oscars.
Events continued from P.2 ing, singing and celebrating this wonderful holiday season with many more surprises to come. Accessible for the mobility impaired. 3-8 p.m. (936) 878-2213. Featured Event December 13, 2008 - Battleship TEXAS SHS - Santa's Swingin 40's Christmas - Visit the Battleship Texas and enjoy the spirit of the holidays. Write and mail letters to Santa, enjoy hot wassail, meet and have your picture taken with Santa, and much, much more. Accessible for wheelchairs on main deck only. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. (281) 479-2431. Featured Event December 13, 2008 - Martin Dies, Jr. SP - Holiday Celebration in the Park - Help us celebrate the holidays with an afternoon of family fun! We provide all the materials needed to construct a gingerbread house and decorate a gingerbread man ornament. Join in and sing carols and holiday songs with a live band. 2-4 p.m. (409) 384-5231.
Physicians continued from P.15 depends on the food you eat, the friends you hang out with and your spirituality.” Akili takes it a step further and adds that he and his wife also help their patients by living as examples of good health. “It’s hard for a person to live by the word of a hypocrite. I have personal friends who are doctors who disagree with me 100 percent. Their thought is, ‘I went to school and learned these things so I can tell you what to do,’” he says. “When doctors start improving their own health, then they will initialize the change. If you see a doctor smoking, your subconscious says, ‘It can’t be that bad.’” Meanwhile, the Grahams say they set themselves apart from their competition by developing relationships with their patients rather than rushing them
in and out of their office. “We’re not an assembly line type of practice. We spend time with our patients. It’s a lost art,” Akili says. “Today, it’s about calculating the number of people you need to see in order to make a certain amount of money so you can live the lifestyle you want.” “We don’t have quick rewards with our type of practice, but it’s peaceful and it’s rewarding for us.” Akili and Monica - proud parents of two children who’ve been married for 13 years - consider working with one another their favorite part about being in business. Despite the fact that not everyone sees eye-to-eye with them on their move to partner in business as well as in life, they let their success do the talking for them. “People said a husband and wife shouldn’t work together. They’d ask us how long we thought this was going to last,” Monica says. “I think we do this medicine thing together pretty well.”
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• SPECIAL 2008 PROMOTIONAL • 23
10 Reasons to
VOT E
for my mom before Christmas...
She never makes a promise she can ’t keep The Houston Police named her “Judge of the Year ” in 2000
She put over 3,000 bad guys in jail as a judge She will make schools better for kids by paying our teachers more She will help make college affordable for all kids She will make neighborhoods safer for us to play in Because she works hard and loves Texas Because she knows that gangsters and drugs sneak across the border She will help parents pay less property taxes so they can buy more toys Because she is the best mom in the world
My mom is supported by: