NSIDE Coastal Bend Dec 2013/Jan 2014 by NSIDE Corpus Christi

NSIDE Coastal Bend Business

DECEMBER 2013-JANUARY 2014

SMG ROCKS YOU AMERICAN BANK CENTER

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Long Family Commitment to South Texas Personal Commitment to My Customers Call us today and find out how much you can save! Farmers offers Auto, Home, Commercial and Life Insurance.

Ruben Bonilla Insurance Agency

2727 Morgan Ave, Ste 300 Corpus Christi, Texas 78405

361.881.1033

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www.RubenBonillaInsurance.com

Come on in: the senior Living is fine!

The only crabby things you’ll find at

Mirador are

At Mirador, the attitude is friendly, the activities are abundant and the dress code is “come as you are.” And when you think about all the new things you’ll get to try every day here, you’ll want to “come as you always wanted to be!” Discover the affordablity, the comfort and the added security of Life Care: health care for life, on-site. Call us today at 361-371-4083 and start having more fun than you can shake a crabstick at!

www.SQLC.org

Be there in a pinch for our Lunch & Learn! December 13 and January 8 at 12:00 p.m. | RSVP at 361-371-4083 D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 3 - J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 4 / N S I D E C O A S TA L B E N D 5857 Timbergate Drive | Corpus Christi, TX 78414 | www.MiradorRetirement.com

thAn just your locAl publicAtion Get Nside oNliNe NSIDE

NSIDE Coastal Bend Business

December 2013/January PU BLIC A T I O2014 NS

CEO/NSIDE MEDIA PRODUCTIONS ELIOT GARZA PUBLISHER ADRIAN GARZA EXECUTIVE EDITOR Erin O’Brien

DESIGN MANAGER Cristina Villa Hazar

Coastal Bend Business

AUGUST.SEPTEMBER 2013

SEA US GROW ROCKPORTFULTON SEAFAIR

PROJECT MANAGER

IN PERFECT HARMONY CORPUS CHRISTI CHORALE

Michael Mancha

EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT

HELP, HOPE AND HEALING BOKENKAMP CHILDREN’S SHELTER

Elena Flores

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Natalie Gonzalez, Jessica Salinas, Betsy Zamarron

G LENDIN A HAND

GARY RAPIER

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

& STYLETA NCE SUBS RING FEATUA TEIXEIRA ERIK ER BOLL AND ERINE CATH HODGE

THEO DIMOPOULOS L BEN D

G MAKINES WAV LVEY O N H JO G BLAZIN AIL THE TRZJ Z TY ALI HOSPIT

LY 2013

LIVING THE DREAM

COA STA

JUN E.JU

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Bend Bu

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Coastal

AUG UST.

SEP TEM

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W HEIGH CARENE TS AND CO M AT MIR ADORFORT QUALITY AN GOING D QUANTIT ORGANI Y C

NCE REVERE E FOR LIFAL ANIM IP SH AN DI GUAR RVICE THE SE CE OF CHOIGE BALAYA

Mandy Ashcraft , Kristen Billy, Kim Bridger, Kaitlin Calk, Amie Daniel Lee, Maria Del Rio, Sebastian Giraldo, Ricardo Gomez, Shelley Greaney, Laura Harris, Lisa Hinojosa, Connie Laughlin, Jeff Lawson, Amanda Phillips, Sarah Tindall, Sarona Winfrey

PHOTOGRAPHY Dustin Ashcraft

N BASTIA L SAN SE CAPITO LINARY PE’S CU » EURO

FOCUS O KINGSNVPATIENT CAR ILLE HO E ME REH » FROM AB THE HE ART CH RISTUS SPOHN VOLUNT EERS

Advertise with us todAy! ADRIAN GARZA adrian@getnside.com 361.548.1044 4

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

PUBLIC ATIONS

18402 U.S. Highway 281 N, Ste. 201 San Antonio, Texas 78259 Phone: 210.298.1761

NSIDETHISISSUE DECEMBER 2013/JANUARY 2014

AMERICAN BANK CENTER The citizens of Corpus Christi enjoy the best in entertainment and events at this unique facility complex, an industry leader that continues to focus on service and relationships and to grow its reputation for trust and fairness.

BABY PLAYING, EMIN KULIYEV/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

PROFILES

DEPARTMENTS

34 28

GULF COAST GLASS

A Corpus Christi institution since 1982, this family business continues to usher in a new era of glass products with a focus on customer satisfaction and a job well done.

08 10 38 40 42 44 50 54 58

Business Coach Feature Energy Sports Dine Travel Style & Substance Style Nonprofit

CORPUS CHRISTI MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND HISTORY

Dedicated to becoming the museum the Coastal Bend deserves, this world-class institution provides members and guests with a magical hands-on experience where the learning process is fun.

NSIDE COASTAL BEND STAFF ERIN O’BRIEN

NSIDE PUBLICATIONS EXECUTIVE EDITOR E: erin@getnside.com

CRISTINA VILLA HAZAR NSIDE PUBLICATIONS DESIGN MANAGER E: cristina@getnside.com

MICHAEL MANCHA NSIDE PUBLICATIONS PROJECT MANAGER E: michael@getnside.com

ELENA FLORES

NSIDE COASTAL BEND EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT C: 361.793.6767 E: elena@getnside.com

NATALIE GONZALEZ NSIDE COASTAL BEND ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE C: 361.228.1443 E: natalie@getnside.com

JESSICA SALINAS NSIDE COASTAL BEND ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE C: 361.425.4114 E: jessica@getnside.com

BETSY ZAMARRON NSIDE COASTAL BEND ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE C: 361.510.0634 E: betsy@getnside.com

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CORPUS CHRISTI 4639 Corona, Ste. 1., Corpus Christi, TX 78411 Phone 361.855.5627 Fax 361.851.2234

CORPUS CHRISTI Medical Openings: Registered Nurses for travel and local assignments Licensed Vocational nurses for travel and local assignments Certified medical assistants General Positions: Diesel Mechanics • Automated Drafters and Blue Prints • Fire and Alarm Technicians Accountants • Compliance Officers • Administrative positions Skilled and Unskilled labor positions

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NSIDE BUSINESS COACH

TAKE THE TIME

Business basics can be time-consuming, distracting and burdened with the potential for error and a lack of vital cost containment. But human capital strategic planning is still vital to the success of your business. By: [CONNIE LAUGHLIN]

Human capital strategic planning is imperative for an efficient operation and asset protection. You spent countless hours building financial success, and it could all be taken away if you didn’t dedicate time to employee-related risk management? If you’re too busy right now to appropriately address these tactical issues, you must hire others to take care of it.

FACE IT: THERE’S NEVER ENOUGH TIME FOR SOME THINGS. Business owners I contact these days are extremely busy. They’re experiencing an upswing in production as our community continues to grow. Everyone is wrapped up with one thing or another in the ever-changing landscape of competitive maneuvering, vendor and client contract modifications, market direction, employer worksite laws, safety requirements, employer-sponsored benefits and technological advances. However, if there wasn’t enough time spent garnering tactical plans of action addressing your biggest asset and most important objective first (your employees), you could find you’ve got a real mess on your hands. But how can you take care of your employees when you’re knee-deep in learning new mechanical processes to enhance production?

DON’T HAVE THE TIME? HIRE PROS! The human resource side of business is a fulltime

asset. You have a lot riding on the line every morning when you open the doors. How well personnel do their job is based on your due diligence now. Your people can delight you with their accomplishments, but they can also be devastating to the bottom line if you’re not running effective personnel supervision and risk management programs. Risk management (per Wikipedia) is the identification, assessment and prioritization of risks. Principles of risk management should be an integral part of organizational processes, part of the decisionmaking process, systematic and structured, based on the best available information and continually or periodically addressed, and they should explicitly address uncertainty and assumptions and take human factors into account. Human capital management via the professional employer organization (PEO) outsourcing model has proven effective, and it is an option well worth the short amount of time it takes to receive a quote. PEO services streamline your organization by providing the administration of payroll, human resources, safety, workers’ compensation insurance and optionally, health benefits. Cash is king! But it takes a knightly team to win the fight and, of course, stellar risk management to ensure your reign. “It’s that laser focus on the process – not obsession with the end goal – that ultimately leads to success,” says Donna Fenn, a veteran Inc. editor and

“POOR IS HE WHO WORKS WITH A NEGLIGENT HAND, BUT THE HAND OF THE DILIGENT MAKES RICH.” – PROVERBS 10:4 position for multiple highly credentialed individuals. Here’s a good question: If you’re not well trained in these areas and you hire professionals, how do you know their expertise is up-to-par to develop efficient payroll solutions, implement full-blown human resource initiatives, oversee worksite labor laws and safety programs and effectively manage any workers’ compensation insurance claims? Your employees are an extension of you and your company. They’re the ones who carry forward your mission, and yes, they are indeed your largest

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“Upstarts” author. “Great entrepreneurs understand this intuitively.”

Connie Laughlin is a business consultant for UniqueHR, where you’ll find reduced employee-related liability and low and predictable labor costs with streamlined highly accredited and credentialed services. For more information, you may contact her at 361-852-6392 or conniel@uniquehr.com.

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NSIDE FEATURE

BIG ADVANTAGES FOR BUSINESS Staffing companies offer workforce solutions to give small businesses an edge in the Coastal Bend area.

A staffing expert can be a big asset to your small business. Creating a great team is hard work, but with a proven, trusted staffing partner by your side, it doesn’t have to be. Small businesses may view staffing services as a luxury that only larger companies can afford. However, the truth is that staffing services are not only affordable; they can also give you an edge when it comes to hiring and level the playing field in your industry. Here are some reasons working with a staffing company can be a big advantage:

COST SAVINGS While you may not realize it, hiring talent through a staffing company is typically less costly – in terms of both time and money – than conducting an internal search. That’s because staffing companies take ownership of all screening, interviewing and on-boarding responsibilities, reducing the amount of resources you need to dedicate to the hiring process. Plus, by working with a staffing company, you also avoid the expenses associated with advertising for jobs – a process that can add up quickly.

ACCESS TO BETTER TALENT Staffing agencies give you access to a large network of workers, including both active job seekers and passive candidates whom you may not be able to reach on your own. Staffing companies are experts at what they do, and they know how to match talent with opportunity in order to ensure an optimal fit.

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A BAD HIRE CAN COST YOU AS MUCH AS 2.5 TIMES THE PERSON’S ANNUAL SALARY IN RECRUITING, REPLACEMENT AND ON-BOARDING EXPENSES. INCREASED BUYING POWER

CONSULTATIVE EXPERTISE

Your budget may not be big enough to accommodate generous benefits and compensation packages, but most staffing partners can help you fill in the gaps. The best staffing companies know what top candidates expect in terms of both salary and perks, and they use their size and scale to offer benefits at more affordable rates than you may be able to secure.

ENHANCED PRODUCTIVITY

Great staffing companies offer more than just access to talent; they offer access to thought leadership, best practices and process improvements that can help your small business grow. To learn more about the benefits of working with a staffing partner, or to find out how a recruiting firm can make your business’ workforce even more exceptional, visit the local Adecco Staffing branch office in Corpus Christi. Adecco Staffing is the nation’s leading provider of workforce solutions.

For small businesses, running your business is your priority – not running a recruiting campaign. But conducting an internal search can distract you from more important matters. Every interview you conduct, every job posting you place and every call you have to make to potential candidates drains time and energy that could be put to better use elsewhere. Plus, when you find a candidate who fits your needs, you typically have to train them in order to get them up to speed. But with a staffing partner, you don’t have to worry about these distractions.

Adecco Staffing sources top talent for businesses in Corpus Christi and the surrounding areas by fulfilling positions such as clerical, accounting, customer service, human resources, skills and trade/light industrial, medical and sales and marketing. Contact Jeff Lawson, branch manager at Adecco Staffing in Corpus Christi, at 361-814-2342 to learn more about how Adecco can recruit top talent for your company and about the current positions available.

ABOUT ADECCO STAFFING

BUSINESSMAN SHOWING FUTURISTIC INTERFACE OF COWORKERS, WAVEBREAKMEDIA/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

By: [ JEFF LAWSON]

With over 650,000 shoppers per month, La Palmera offers a one-of-a-kind shopping destination to promote your business. Want more ways to hit the target? Affordable temporary and long-term leasing opportunities available! Visit palmediacc.com to view our unique advertising and leasing opportunities found nowhere else in the Coastal Bend.

REACH YOUR AUDIENCE, GROW YOUR SALES.

Make Palmedia part of your marketing plan and win against your competition.

361-986-7915 | PALMEDIACC.COM

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NSIDE FEATURE

SOMETHING SPECIAL

Shoppers find new options in La Palmera and The Shops at La Palmera, Corpus Christi’s hottest shopping district that offers the best holiday shopping south of the North Pole.

The holiday season is underway, and La Palmera and The Shops at La Palmera are busy with shoppers and holiday activities. “This is absolutely the busiest time of the year for retail,” said Fred Walters, general manager of La Palmera and The Shops at La Palmera. “Even with the advent of online shopping, people still generally want to see and touch the items they are buying. There’s also something special about the holiday atmosphere with all the music and activities that makes shopping this time of year more of an event in and of itself. “There are also more options this year, as new stores and restaurants have opened both at La Palmera and The Shops at La Palmera. Being located across the street from one another, The Shops at La Palmera is really an extension of the mall, creating a great shopping district here in Corpus Christi. In fact, that’s one of the reasons we are the first Coastal Bend location for so many new tenants.” Located just across the street from the one-million-square-foot La Palmera regional mall is The Shops at La Palmera, currently under redevelopment. Scheduled for completion in 2014, the 230,718-square-foot center welcomed several new tenants in 2013, each choosing The Shops at La Palmera for their first Corpus Christi location. Corner Bakery Café, the popular fast-casual restaurant serving its signature fresh and made-to-order food, opened a 4,166-square-foot restaurant – the first new tenant to open in The Shops. And in October, Dick’s Sporting Goods, the largest U.S.-based fullline sporting goods retailer, opened its 61,233-square-foot store featuring more than 40 services performed by Dick’s certified PROS. Two of the nation’s leading value-priced retailers, T.J. Maxx and HomeGoods, opened at The Shops of La Palmera in November. T.J. Maxx offers a rapidly changing assortment of fashionable, quality brand-name merchandise, while HomeGoods specializes in home fashions and furniture,

decorative accessories and giftware. Jared The Galleria of Jewelry soon followed in time for the holidays in a newly constructed 6,000-square-foot pad space along Staples Street, providing Coastal Bend shoppers five times the selection of ordinary jewelry stores. “We are extremely pleased with the progress being made on The Shops at La Palmera,” Walters said. “Once it’s completed [in 2014], shoppers will have 26 retail and dining options to choose from. In the meantime, guests will already find an incredible collection of retail and dining all conveniently located in one area.”

And shoppers will have more time to hit many of those stores, as La Palmera extends mall hours through Dec. 31. Those extra hours will come in handy as guests find more to choose from including PINK, featuring its signature underwear, lounge and sleepwear, beauty products and accessories popular with the college-age crowd. PINK is adjacent to the new location of Victoria’s Secret, located next to Benjamin’s near Center Court. LongHorn Steakhouse also opened its first Corpus Christi restaurant in the summer, located at the front of the mall between Ulta and the food court

“EVEN WITH THE ADVENT OF ONLINE SHOPPING, PEOPLE STILL GENERALLY WANT TO SEE AND TOUCH THE ITEMS THEY ARE BUYING.”

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entrance. Known for its fresh and expertly prepared steaks, chicken and seafood, the 6,500-square-foot restaurant also features patio dining. Even with so many options, many shoppers opt for the convenience of a gift card. In addition to individual merchant gift cards, guests may also purchase a La Palmera gift card either online at lapalmera.com or at the mall’s concierge. Available in $10 increments up to $500, the card is convenient because it can be redeemed at participating La Palmera mall merchants and dining locations. And while mom and dad stay busy shopping, La Palmera’s youngest guests will have their eyes set on a visit with Santa. In keeping with tradition, Santa is on hand through Dec. 24 in La Palmera’s Center Court, posing for photos and visiting with boys and girls during regular mall hours. Several Coastal Bend charities are hoping shoppers will continue their spending ways to support several charitable events and services also at La Palmera over the holidays. Guests can once again take advantage of La Palmera’s popular weekend charity gift-wrapping service every Friday through Sunday through Dec. 22, with service also available on Dec. 23 and 24 for last-minute shoppers. Volunteers representing several local charities, each staffing a different weekend, will be stationed on the main level near the concierge, providing their wrapping services for donations. And to make it all easier, valet parking is available at the mall’s main entrance near P.F. Chang’s. For added convenience, shoppers can now call in or text their valet claim number to 361-238-0777 and have their car waiting for them.

For the latest on La Palmera, visit www. lapalmera.com, look for us on Facebook, stop by the concierge or call 361991-5718. And for more information on The Shops at La Palmera, go to www. theshopsatlapalmera.com.

WOMAN WITH SHOPPING BAGS, SYDA PRODUCTIONS/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

By: [SARONA WINFREY]

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VISUALIZING THE EXPERIENCE The SMG American Bank Center continues to grow in the social media era and target new mediums for the fans. By: [KRISTEN BILLY]

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It was believed for so long that the fan experience could only be felt when you were right in the middle of the crowd at your favorite show. We all longed for that moment when we would be able to tell our friends we were so close to the stage that we could have touched our favorite artistâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hand. As time has evolved into a technical era, our excitement and joy are just as intense now if we see a Twitpic or an Instagram shot of our favorite musician and sports team. We are developing a different relationship between our favorite entertainers and teams, which gives the public a chance to be more interactive as fans and patrons. At SMG American Bank Center, the visual experience has become a

PHOTOS BY KRISTEN BILLY

NSIDE FEATURE

TODAY, STADIUMS ARE THE SECOND MOST CHECKEDIN PLACES WORLDWIDE, RIGHT BEHIND AIRPORTS.

welcome change, and the fans seem to agree. Blogs were the earliest forms of social media, and words were used to describe an experience. When social media made its way to our phones, Facebook and Twitter seemed to minimize words, allowing a photo to be the perfect outlet for young adults to interact with friends. As hashtags developed and people were quickly able to interact with places and tell the world where they were visiting, businesses began to notice, and the American Bank Center has grown along with its fans. Today, stadiums are the second most checked-in places worldwide, right behind airports. These venues are a perfect blend of virtual and the real world

because they offer a way to engage fans by giving them hashtags to rally around and the ability win tickets or incentives just by clicking “like” or “follow.” With almost 12,000 fans on Facebook, more than 3,000 followers on Twitter and 150 followers on Instagram (started this year), SMG American Bank Center has become a little more accessible to fans through social media. From announcing contests, creating discussions and even the ability to quickly answer questions patrons may have, the American Bank Center has become more fan-friendly by giving fans a social backstage pass they otherwise would not have. The ability to engage fans with a brand is showing to be more effective visually, and at the American Bank Center, everything from the marquee outside with all upcoming events and the LED ribbon boards that wrap around the inside of the arena to the posters along the wall provides the visual interaction with patrons that encourages them to be involved with the venue, reaching out to them and sparking interests in upcoming events. “In today’s day and age, it’s extremely important we target as many mediums as possible to promote upcoming events,” said Roland Henry, marketing design coordinator for the American Bank Center. “Whether it’s via social networking, publication, newspaper or in-house digital displays and flyers, marketing has a huge responsibility of making these events not only visually available to the public, but aesthetically pleasing and easy to understand.” As the visual experience continues to grow, SMG American Bank Center will continue to roll with the changes, making the experience something to remember each and every time.

American Bank Center is Corpus Christi’s premier event center. For more information on upcoming events, visit www.americanbankcenter.com, or look for the center on Facebook (AmericanBankCenter), Twitter (@AmericanBankCtr) and Instagram (@AmericanBankCenter).

Where adults come to enjoy

tatum’s lounge

grill

tues: HappY Hour 3-7 (top 100 Hits) Wed: HappY Hour 3-7 (top 40 Hits) tHurs: HappY Hour 3-7 (80's / 90's musiC) Fri: HappY Hour 3-7 (true Jazz) sat: HappY Hour 3-7 (lounge Jazz) sun: HappY Hour 3-7 (lounge Jazz) (live Jazz) 1/2 oFF appetizers From 5-9 drink speCials: $3 Well / $4 Call $4 martinis $4 margaritas $4 Wine (seleCt)

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TAKE THE PERSONAL OUT OF IT How a well-written employee handbook serves as the foundation for any business By: [LAURA HARRIS]

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When I opened my business, an employee handbook seemed completely unnecessary. There were only three of us. I didn’t want to feel like a big company. If anything came up, we’d work it out. Man, I was naive. Within 60 days, each of my employees had a death in the family. One funeral would be held locally, and the other was a five-hour plane ride away. What seemed like a “fair” amount of time off in the first situation was not the same as the second. It became clear that we were not unanimous in our opinion of “fair.” We resolved that situation, but there was no question that making the decision in the moment made all involved concerned that favoritism might come into play. Making a decision in the moment allowed it to become personal and stress me out. At that time, we came to appreciate structure. My mentor and I sat down and created an employee handbook from scratch. We borrowed language and ideas from other business owners. It took a little work, but it became clear that it would reduce stress in the long run. The employee handbook is the foundation for any business. It is also a valuable tool when I am communicating with prospective employees. Think about how radically business has changed in the last 10 years:

BUSINESSWOMAN, S_L/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

NSIDE FEATURE

J’s Cuts & Styles

THE EMPLOYEE HANDBOOK SHOULD SET THE TONE AND CULTURE FOR THE AGENCY IN A POSITIVE WAY.

CURRENT SPECIALS Tuesday-Wednesday:

HAIRCUT

799

1. Social media didn’t exist. 2. Cell phones were actually used primarily for making calls. 3. Technology to monitor computer usage was unusual. 4. Information is now commonly transferred through email, etc. Has your employee handbook adapted to address these issues? Recently, a business owner contacted me and asked what he should do because a new employee was using a smokeless cigarette at her desk during the working hours. My first thought was, ‘that should be addressed in the employee handbook.’ An employee handbook will also provide clarity of performance expectations. There should never be a situation where an employee is not meeting expectations and is unaware. Finally, an employee handbook can be wonderful protection when an employee is no longer engaged or must be terminated. Does the employee handbook help the agency in the event that termination of an employee becomes necessary? Most importantly, the employee handbook should set the tone and culture for the agency in a positive way. Having clarity and structure reduces stress for all involved. You may even want to include key staff members as you design this document. Regardless of how brilliant you may be, you are never wiser than everyone combined. Your employees will appreciate the respect you are showing them by allowing them to think and act like owners. If you have not yet put together an employee handbook, you are welcome to use ours as an example. You may download it at www.lauraharris. com. As you are compiling your employee handbook, think of all of the frustrations that could have been avoided if you had addressed those situations in your employee handbook.

For more information, contact Laura Harris at lauraharris@allstate.com. You can also order her book, “Surrender to Win: Regain Sanity by Strategically Relinquishing Control,” through www.amazon. com.

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5202 Weber Rd, Corpus Christi, TX 78411 FIND OUT MORE AT

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Tel: 361-334-9809 Hours: Mon-Sat, 9am-8pm Sun: Noon-6pm

WALK-INS ARE WELCOME! 19

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A CUSTOM FIT

You never have to settle at Ethan Allen, a company renowned for specializing in American-style custom home furnishings at an affordable price for more than 80 years. For more than 80 years, Ethan Allen has been at the forefront of American-style in-home interiors. Not many companies can boast such longevity in this industry. At Ethan Allen, we dedicate ourselves to remaining amongst the very best. I am so proud to be a member of a fabulous team of professionals who strive to offer creative ideas, budget-friendly designs and superior customer service. At your local Ethan Allen, you can expect to find a talented design professional who can help you create a sanctuary that reflects your personality, taste and style. We offer these services free of charge to

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our purchasing clients. This is the era of custom for everyone. We customize our phones, our computers, our MP3 players, our cars â&#x20AC;&#x201C; we customize everything we can. At Ethan Allen, you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to settle. Most of our upholstered items come in hundreds of fabrics and leathers. Our wood pieces have numerous custom finishes available. When something is tailor made for you, it is more yours. Our custom is more attainable than you might think. There are hundreds of sofa and chair frames to select from, different cushions for softer or firmer

OUR GOAL IS TO GET YOU EXACTLY WHAT YOU WANT INSTEAD OF WHAT HAPPENS TO BE ON OUR SHOWROOM FLOOR.

PHOTOS BY DUSTIN ASHCRAFT

By: [SHELLEY GREANEY]

EXPERIENCING A BUMPY RIDE?

seating, various styles and shapes, traditional, transitional, modern – if you name it, we probably have it. Our goal is to get you exactly what you want instead of what happens to be on our showroom floor. Since 1932, we have been offering quality custom home furnishings at an affordable price. As we enter a new year, we are always excited to share with our clients what is on trend. Some exciting things to note for 2014 are the fabulous statement colors like turquoise, citrine, purple and emerald. I am looking forward to using some of the many beautiful blues available in our fabrics and leathers in 2014. You can definitely expect a lovely array of saturated colors to select from. The beauty of working with individuals is that as a designer, I am able to explore many different themes, spaces, styles and budgets. It is a rewarding and exciting adventure of a job. Please take the time to stop in and visit our showroom. Each room is staged differently to inspire. Hope to see you soon!

Schedule a suspension service and get back to smooth riding!  LIFT KITS  LEVELING KITS  TRUCK ACCESSORIES  ALIGNMENTS  TIRE ROTATION  TIRE BALANCE

CC TIRE & SUSPENSION 361-855-0000 1660 SPID & Greenwood Corpus Christi, Texas 78416

Ethan Allen is located at 4325 South Padre Island Drive. For more information, call 361-854-2391.

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SHELLEY GREANEY SENIOR DESIGNER/ STORE MERCHANDISER/BUYER Shelley Greaney is an experienced and versatile designer who enjoys working with clients to achieve very personalized and comfortable interiors. She has an undergraduate degree in interior design from Texas State University and more than 24 years of professional experience. For the last 10 years, she has worn many hats at the local Ethan Allen Gallery: store buyer, floor merchandiser, trainer, senior designer – all are positions she thoroughly enjoys. Greaney keeps abreast of what is new in the design world and looks forward to incorporating it into her clients’ home environments. She believes developing a personal relationship with her clients is key in creating a unique space that reflects their tastes and the functions required. She is able to put together a design concept and floor plan that can help clients visualize the kind of interiors that will complement their lifestyle. Selecting fabrics, custom draperies and bedding and designing and furnishing everything in a home down to the china, Greaney can ease you through this creative journey.

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SMG-MANAGED AMERICAN BANK CENTER

CONTINUES TO BRING THE BEST IN ENTERTAINMENT AND EVENTS TO CORPUS CHRISTI, FURTHER SOLIDIFYING ITS REPUTATION AS A LEADER IN THE INDUSTRY. By: SARAH TINDALL Photography: DUSTIN ASHCRAFT

MG-managed American Bank Center has been making it possible for people in the Coastal Bend to enjoy the best in entertainment and events for many years. It is unique as a venue for Corpus Christi because it is a facility complex – it contains more than one entertainment/meeting facility. It is comprised of a theater (the Selena Auditorium), the Convention Center and Arena. What sets the American Bank Center apart from most other facilities of this kind across the country is that it is situated overlooking Corpus Christi Bay, which alone makes the American Bank Center very special. As a result, the center has hosted every imaginable type of event: conventions, concerts, sporting events, trade shows, consumer shows, weddings, quinceañeras, family shows, banquets, performing arts events and all types of meetings. Jim Salamenta, SMG’s general manager of American Bank Center, and his team of directors make it a priority to continue to expand the size and type of events offered at the facility, bringing something for everyone

in the Coastal Bend. SMG, the management company that runs the day-to-day operations of the American Bank Center for the city of Corpus Christi, has six directors and an HR manager. This management team breaks down the different ways of bringing diverse attractions to American Bank Center. “Conventions are a concerted acquisition effort between the facility, the CVB (Convention and Visitors Bureau), the hotels and attractions,” explains John Meyer, SMG’s director of convention center operations. “There is tremendous competition between cities for this business, so all participants must fine tune their proposals to address a group’s hot-button issues as closely as possible.” Meyer goes on to say that, “in many instances in Texas, cities are simply offering their convention facilities rent-free in order to secure this lucrative business. On the surface, this may seem to eschew an ROI factor, but buying the business has its rewards.” As a result, large groups infuse dollars into the community in the form of increased hotel/motel and sales tax revenues for the city. Visitors spend their dollars at restaurants, attractions, malls, etc., which greatly enhances the local economy, as well. Convention centers D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 3 - J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 4 / N S I D E C O A S TA L B E N D

“IT TAKES A GREAT TEAM TO PULL OFF WHAT WE DO, AND I AM BLESSED WITH THE GREATEST STAFF I COULD POSSIBLY ASK FOR.”

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were built by cities for this very purpose. In the end, it is all about the bottom line, and in this way, the American Bank Center serves the city of Corpus Christi as a whole. Donna Cannatella, SMG’s director of sales, works closely with the CVB, as well, to help sell us as a destination. Cannatella says trade and consumer show acquisition is mostly about date availability. These events take place in the convention center, where the calendar is surfeit with convention activity on a good year. “Our agreement with the CVB is such that all center dates 18 months and further out are the CVB’s to book; anything inside of 18 months is ours to book,” she says. “There is no dearth of these types of shows on the market. If dates are available, they will quickly fill the dark weekend dates for us.” And finally, she says local events like nonprofit luncheons and banquets, quinceañeras, weddings, etc. “are usually attained by word of mouth and our reputation.” Concert acquisition, on the other hand, is all about act availability, routing, pricing, negotiation and facility/promoter relationships. In general, this is a lucrative type of business for a city or facility to acquire. “Unlike a convention, which is a two- to four-day stint, concerts are a one-day financial shot in the arm,” Salamenta says. “Popular acts are in great demand, so competition is fierce. SMG places its facilities in an advantageous position with promoters, as SMG has over 250 facilities worldwide under SMG management, and can make very attractive deals for a promoter for multiple routings and reduced pricing. Having SMG, the largest facility management company in the world, operating this facility certainly has its perks.” Eric Jaramillo, SMG’s director of marketing and corporate sales, works with the concert and family shows directly to provide them with a full-service marketing department. “A lot of venues throughout the country don’t provide marketing resources to the shows that come through their building,” he says. “During the nine to 10 years SMG has been in Corpus, we have been able to build a strong marketing department that will provide the tour with the tools it needs to be successful. “When I have my first call with the tour and explain to them all the advertising resources we provide at cost or for free, they are shocked. Not only do we act as an advertising agency for them, we provide PR, graphic design, grassroots street teams, group sales, social media and act as a medium to cross promote with other partners we have in this market. To provide a one-stop shop for the tour’s marketing and advertising needs is how we bring in events and keep them coming back.” Russ Meyers, SMG’s director of operations, attracts various events to the American Bank Center, but in a different way. “It’s more of D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 3 - J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 4 / N S I D E C O A S TA L B E N D

that can accommodate concerts and performing arts events, so we are on our toes to ensure that these promoters are well provided for so that we can count on them returning again and again. If they have one bad experience, then they may be gone for good. It is our job to see that this never happens. “It takes a great team to pull off what we do, and not only am I blessed with the greatest staff I could possibly ask for, I am also very thankful for the teamwork and the support we receive throughout the city. The strong support we receive from city management, city council, the CVB and the Type A board make attracting business to our city and making capital improvements to our facility a heck of a lot easier.” The thing that has all of the SMG management staff really excited, however, is the big changes for the city that they see on the horizon. “We get emotional when envisioning the great things that are in store for Corpus Christi and for the complex in the future – the near future,” Meyer says. “We sense that we are finally on the threshold of real economic and cultural awakening, and we do want this to happen for our city and our citizens. “Two of the elements that we have been patiently awaiting for since the early ‘90s are the expansion of the convention center to twice its size and the acquisition of a convention hotel here onsite. We lack the space to grow this clean industry here with our existing facilities, and we lack quality, full-service hotel rooms for our clients in close proximity to the center.” Meyer adds that he sees both of those issues being resolved in the near future, with the benefit for the center itself and the city of Corpus Christi as

“WE HAVE DEVELOPED RELATIONSHIPS BECAUSE OF OUR REPUTATION FOR TRUST AND FAIRNESS.” the tour’s experience from when the first 18-wheeler pulls up, to their load in, to opening up the doors and executing a show for them,” he says. “We want everyone that is bringing us the show (talent, promoters, producers, promoter reps, etc.) to know that every logistic need they have will be handled by our operations team with no problems. “When the show leaves, they speak about their experience, and that spreads throughout the industry, good and bad. I am very confident in our operation’s reputation as being the leader in this industry, and would put my operations team up against any other in the country as being the best.” “It all begins with recruiting and selecting the right people that are passionate about their job,” says Martha Perales, SMG’s HR manager. “SMG offers a total competitive compensation package, along with a great environment to work in. Overall, it’s my responsibility to recruit and select individuals with the drive to create a memorable experience for either the client or the patron.” Perales brings 27 years of HR experience. With that comes expertise in recruitment and selection, training, compensation analysis, regulatory compliance and employee relations. Kim Harris, SMG’s director of finance, acts like a fi-

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nancial umbrella that balances the various financial components of the complex supporting day-to-day operations and allowing for long-range planning. Finance is continually playing the role of ensuring resources are allocated in such a way as to support the staff, their development and retention, and to provide capital improvements for the complex. As Harris explains, “the finance department serves as the behind-the-scenes support ensuring everyone has the tools they need to be successful in creating a positive experience for the show and our guests.” While bringing new and different options to the American Bank Center is an important part of SMG’s strategy, maintaining existing relationships is equally important. SMG American Bank Center sums this up in two words: service and relationships. Salamenta puts it this way: “We have developed relationships because of our reputation for trust and fairness. This is vitally important to promoters and lessees. We are not the only facility in our region

the direct result. Both Meyer and Salamenta smile when asked about the future of Corpus Christi and the newly established SEA District, which will include most of the properties east of downtown Corpus Christi, surrounding the American Bank Center. “Everyone can see the potential we’ve got here in this wonderful city, and everyone craves progress,” Salamenta says. “But most don’t realize that the train has left the station, progress is happening now, the immediate future is extremely bright and we can’t wait to see what our city looks like just a few short years from now.”

For more information on SMG-managed American Bank Center, visit www.americanbankcenter.com or www.facebook.com/americanbankcenter, or follow the center on Twitter (@AmericanBankCtr) or Instagram (@AmericanBankCenter).

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a CORPUS CHRISTI

INSTITUTION With their commitment to family and the family business, the Flores clan keeps Gulf Coast Glass moving forward with gusto, bringing a new era of glass products to the Coastal Bend. By: SARAH TINDALL Photography: DUSTIN ASHCRAFT

ulf Coast Glass has been an institution in Corpus Christi since 1982. The familyowned business began when Lupita and Martin Flores decided it was time to go out on their own after Martin had spent several years working for family members and friends who owned iconic old Corpus Christi businesses Andy’s Auto Glass and Perkins Auto Glass, along with the developers of the first automatic sliding door in America, Horton Glass Co. Now, with the second generation, the Flores’ son, Marcos Flores, and daughter, Matilda Vasquez, in the office handling dayto-day operations, this local family business is moving forward with gusto into a new era of glass products.

The company specializes in commercial glass for restaurants and other businesses, but it is now also the leader in the Coastal Bend for the custom frameless glass shower door market. Each job is still carefully managed by the Flores team. Marcos goes onsite to measure the job, oversees the cutting of the glass and then stays on hand to make sure the installation is smooth and the piece of glass fits absolutely perfectly into its space. Lupita still manages all of the books and handles all of the billing, payroll and financial reporting. Matilda works in the office managing sales and marketing. And although he had to retire from glass cutting itself in 2005 because of arthritis, the patriarch, Martin, oversees the jobs to make sure quality craftsmanship is

maintained for each piece of glass cut in his shop. For the past several years, the showroom and shop have been located at 3929 Ayers St. in Corpus Christi. This is a far cry from the Flores’ humble beginnings, when Martin was cutting glass in his garage and Lupita was fielding business calls from the kitchen phone. “I remember when we were kids, we’d all have to be quiet when the business line rang,” Matilda says. When neighbors complained about 18-wheelers delivering glass in the residential neighborhood, Martin and Lupita moved the operations to a warehouse on the city’s South Side. Soon, though, this space was also outgrown, and in 1998, Gulf Coast Glass moved to the current location on Ayers.

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Now with clients around the state ranging from Freedom Fitness to Whataburger and a burgeoning frameless shower door clientele, the Flores clan says their biggest problem is finding enough skilled

business. “On any given day here at the store, there are our kids in the back doing their homework after school or even Marcos’ baby here to spend the day,” Matilda says.

“OUR CUSTOMERS KEEP US GOING, AND THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE FAMILY KEEPS THEM COMING BACK TO US.” craftsmen to cut their glass and install it according to their exacting standards. But the employees they have kept over the years are considered part of the family. “Temporary help comes and goes with the seasons, but core technicians Michael Soliz and Joe A. Tanguma have been with our family for years,” Marcos says. “Michael is my childhood buddy and was best man in my wedding.” Besides the location on Ayers, more recent additions include the showroom added in 2005 and designed entirely by Lupita that showcases the best product the industry has to offer, and a third generation of Flores children growing up in the

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And Marcos says that’s the way it ought to be: The business is now run by the matriarch, Lupita, and being able to work and see the family every day is important to this clan. Marcos himself began working in the family business shortly after graduating from high school, and then moving on to work for another bigger family-owned glass company in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. “It took moving away for me to realize what I left behind,” he says. “I knew it was time to move back in 2002 to help my parents keep up with the demand.” Gulf Coast Glass became a woman-owned business when Lupita took over after Martin’s physical

retirement from the day-to-day operations in 2005. The Flores’ commitment to family and the family business has been rewarded, with Gulf Coast Glass securing its place in the Corpus Christi market with a commitment to a job well done and customer satisfaction. The new showroom is also a plus, giving customers a comfortable place to come in, choose their products and see samples of bestselling items. In the end, it all comes down to the relationships

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the Flores clan has forged over the past 32 years with their customers. “Our customers keep us going, and their relationships with mom and dad and the family keep them coming back to us,” Marcos says. Soon enough, those kids spending their summers and afternoons in the back room will make their way to the showroom and shop itself, paving the way for another generation of Flores family members providing something rare these days:

Business Hours: Monday-Thursday: 11 a.m.- 9:30 p.m. Friday: 11 a.m.- 10:30 p.m. Saturday: 12 p.m.- 10:30 p.m. Sunday: 12 p.m.- 9:00 p.m.

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To find out more about Gulf Coast Glass, call 361-8546155; look for them on Facebook at GCG/GULF COAST GLASS CO.; or stop by the showroom at 3929 Ayers St. in Corpus Christi, Texas, any time between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.

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BOY IN MUSEUM, JODI BAGLIEN SPARKES/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

WORLD-CLASS LEARNING

THE CORPUS CHRISTI MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND HISTORY CHANGES THE WAY THE PUBLIC ENGAGES WITH A MUSEUM BY PROVIDING MAGICAL HANDSON EXPERIENCES WHERE EDUCATION MEETS PLAY.

THROUGH A VISION BY OUR CITY LEADERS and the Durrill family, a joint venture was established to make the Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History successful, engaging and meaningful to the Coastal Bend. This forward-thinking public/private partnership is revolutionary to

the museum industry, and with any luck, it will serve as a path for other museums to follow. “I am honored to have the opportunity to lead the new direction the Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History is undergoing,” says Carol Rehtmeyer, the museum’s new executive director who recently arrived from Chicago. “We are increasing programming, updating exhibits and changing the way the public engages with a museum.” It’s certainly not hard to spot many of the changes. The museum is more visible than ever with the addition of a bright new exterior entrance and funky tree lights. Bright purple, orange, blue and lime green colors are spread throughout the museum. The entry has been opened up to enable large groups to gather, where they are greeted by friendly, knowledgeable staff behind a “floating desk.” “We are trying to change the perception of how the public views their museum,” Rehtmeyer says. “We want the museum to be very friendly and inviting. It’s about fun, education and engaging the public in a meaningful way.” A newly remodeled store named “Geek ‘n Chic” sports unique adult-savvy and kid-friendly items appropriate to D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 3 - J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 4 / N S I D E C O A S TA L B E N D

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“WE WANT THE MUSEUM TO BE VERY FRIENDLY AND INVITING.”

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its new name and branding. A new gallery presents more than 75 works of art by Doc McGregor, noted photographer and historian, as well as electronic kiosks where the public can peruse tens of thousands of additional works by McGregor to select and have their very own McGregor prints made while they wait. A theater continues the McGregor experience and presents Corpus Christi “then and now” through McGregor’s work. The Children’s Wharf area is scheduled for an overhaul. Plans are underway to create an interactive children’s science center (a children’s museum within the museum) that provides greater handson and exciting experiences that will teach science concepts in physical, immersive and exciting ways. “Our goal is to carry the immersive, hands-on experience throughout the museum,” Rehtmeyer says. “The museum’s members deserve to have a worldclass institution where the learning process is fun.” An electronic, interactive projection room lets guests play virtual soccer through a series of projectors, cameras and software. The projection room will ultimately evolve into an educational experience that teaches about how the local headwaters make their way to the bay in a “magical” hands-on experience. To further enhance the “education meets play” mode of learning, the museum created an educational theater troop with some of Corpus Christi’s finest performers who will bring history and science to life through living history enactments and amaz-

ing demonstrations. The troop members will act, sing, dance and perform their way into the hearts of children and adults alike throughout the week with unique programming scheduled on Sundays. STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) is the new acronym and focus at the museum. New STEM educational programming is offered for school kids, scouts, homeschoolers and special needs students. A preschool program is also underway. Groups can choose from more than 18 programs with exciting themes such as CSI, Mad Scientist, Jurassic Journey, Technology Then and Now, Shock Value, Gross Anatomy and Careers in Science for ages pre-K to high school. The reenergized education department is reaching out to schools and teachers, offering free “bell ringers” (10-minute activities) to registered teachers every Friday, and it will rent its “Museum in a Box” themed educational programming to schools and groups. Groups can now participate in NightLab at the Muzzzeum, an overnight experience that includes cool science themes, experiments, pizza and breakfast. Summer science camps were offered for the first time this past summer, and they were unlike anything offered before. Additional camps will be offered for “Drop ‘n Shop” days, where parents can drop their children off early in the morning to do their holiday shopping, as well as winter and Spring Break camps. At the museum, they believe engaging children in STEM at an early age helps build confident learners who become successful students. Museum rentals have been popular for parties and weddings, so the museum created a beautiful bridal suite and dressing room for this purpose. Events are also new for the museum. More than 100 events will be offered through the year. These include themed programming on Saturdays and theater performances, as well as a family-friendly musical lightning show in the museum outdoor plaza in the fall. “We want to provide families with ongoing opportunities to revisit the museum and give them new experiences each time,” Rehtmeyer says, “and we are committed to make the Museum of Science and History the museum the city deserves.”

For updated programming and more information on the Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History, please visit www.ccmuseum.com or look for the museum on Facebook (ccmuseum).

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NSIDE ENERGY

PART 1 OF A 6-PART SERIES

POWERING YOUR BUSINESS

How electricity moves from the power plant to your light switch before and after deregulation

Electricity. Energy. Power. Everyone needs it, everyone has it, everyone receives a monthly bill and everyone, at some point, has been affected by a power outage. So what all goes into the delivery process of electricity, and how does light make its way to your light switch?

BACKGROUND For the first 100 years of commercialization, energy was supplied by monopolies in a regulated market. This meant that consumers had no choice as to their provider and had to accept the power and price offered by the only energy source in town. In the late 1970s, the natural gas market began to introduce competition to its market with deregulation, followed by the electricity market a decade later. In states that switched over to a deregulated market, consumers were allowed to decide from whom they buy their electrical power, giving them the power to choose.

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LIGHT BULBS, CHONES/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

By: [ AMANDA PHILLIPS]

AS OF SEPTEMBER 2010, 15 STATES AND WASHINGTON, D.C., HAVE ACTIVE ELECTRICITY RESTRUCTURING. In 2001, Texas passed Senate Bill 7, a law to deregulate electricity, and in 2002, Texas became a deregulated state. As a result, 85 percent of power consumers that are not co-op municipalities can now choose their electricity service from a variety of retail electric providers (REPs), including incumbent utility providers. Not all parts of the country allow businesses and institutions to choose their energy provider as part of an open, competitive free market. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, 15 states and Washington, D.C., have active electricity restructuring as of September 2010, meaning they are already deregulated or in the process of being deregulated. Though rules vary from state to state, generally speaking, the power plants, salesmen, retail suppliers, billing companies and delivering companies (those who own the poles and wires) are no longer a single company – thus eliminating a monopoly on power and creating consumer choice.

HOW DOES IT WORK? Since deregulation, energy service has two parts: supply and delivery. Deregulation affects only the supply portion. Deregulation allows consumers to choose their supplier of electric and natural gas (generation), while the delivery of the energy (transmission and distribution) will still be the responsibility of the incumbent (regulated) utility company.

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WHY DEREGULATION MATTERS: THE POWER OF CHOICE

1] Deregulation generates competition. Energy deregulation ensures that all companies have an equal opportunity to provide service to electricity consumers, creating a more level playing field for future industry rivalry and competition. 2] Deregulation generates better customer service. Within competitive markets, failure in service will be met with consumer rebellion and subsequent loss of profit, which then strengthens the incentive to maintain higher standards of service. 3] Deregulation generates lower pricing. It equalizes regional differences in electricity prices. While the average price of electricity in the United States is about 10.0 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh), it varies widely from state to state, ranging from about 6.2 cents (Wyoming) to 25.1 cents (Hawaii) per kWh, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Overall, the idea of deregulation may seem complicated and convoluted; however, it really is a simple system. I hope this article has shed some light on the complexities about how electricity gets to you and helps power your business.

Amanda Phillips is the marketing director for Stellar Energy Solutions. For more national energy information and statistics, visit www.eia.gov. And to learn more about Texas’ state profile and energy estimates, visit www.eia.gov/ state/?sid=tx.

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NSIDE SPORTS

THE SCIENCE OF SOCCER Committed to improving soccer in South Texas, Giraldo Elite Fútbol performs in-house research on cognitive development as it relates to the game. By: [SEBASTIAN GIRALDO]

N S I D E C O A S TA L B E N D

understand that there may be contradicting results on similar topics. This does not mean the research is not valuable. On the contrary, these contradictions help us understand what questions the re-

GEF TRAINERS VIEW THEMSELVES AS EDUCATORS AND TEACHERS RATHER THAN COACHES. search needs to answer and in what direction to shift focus. So while certain studies might conclude something, we must analyze and understand the entirety of the research to see how we can use the findings. So let us now shift to two interesting findings in research.

FINDING 1: ELITE SOCCER PLAYERS ARE MORE SELF-REFLECTIVE THAN NONELITE PLAYERS. It should not be a surprise that elite players are more critical of their game and analyze themselves constantly. When you understand your weaknesses as a player, you can cater training to address those weaknesses. Basically, elite players find out what they are bad at and fix it through training. This seems simple and straightforward enough. But being self-reflective encompasses several interlinking concepts. Does the player understand and apply criticism? Does the player understand proper technique? How does the player learn? It is not easy to develop

players who are comfortable with self-reflection, but it is possible, and it can be a valuable skill for players. Learning with yourself and your teammates, trainers and parents is at the foundation of GEF’s success.

FINDING 2: ELITE SOCCER PLAYERS MAKE FASTER ACCURATE DECISIONS THAN NON-ELITE PLAYERS. This should not come as a surprise, either, as we see how fast-paced the game is at the highest level. In tests of situational decision-making in soccer contexts, elite players make faster accurate decisions than non-elite players. This finding is at the core of our philosophy at GEF. GEF training programs force players to be decision-makers. In the end, the players will be the ones making the decisions, so they must be trained in making decisions. This approach, however, requires a drastic philosophical shift from the way soccer is most commonly taught. This is why GEF trainers view themselves as educators and teachers rather than coaches. Through proper methods, players can develop the speed and accuracy of their decision-making. This is just a small glimpse into what we do at GEF in terms of cognitive development in our training programs. As we always tell people, if you are interested, come find out for yourself how we are changing soccer development in the area. We are passionate about discussing development and improving soccer in South Texas.

Sebastian Giraldo is the co-owner of Giraldo Elite Fútbol. For more information, you may contact him at giraldoelitefutbol@gmail.com or 361-442-1923, or visit www.facebook.com/giraldoelitefutbol.

SOCCER PLAYER, DOTSHOCK/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

At Giraldo Elite Fútbol (GEF), we perform inhouse development research and constantly analyze development trends in the academic world. Our player development programs are filled with new research ideas and components that are at times so novel that they are rarely used in top development programs anywhere in the world. As the field of player and sport development has progressed, so has our understanding of what exactly makes up an elite soccer player. While there are still major gaps in our soccer development knowledge, we now understand that the mind of a player might be just as important as (if not more than) skills and athleticism. At GEF, we understand that a large part of our success comes from the ability to focus, mold, expand and train the mind. Cognitive development is a broad topic and one that should be clarified when soccer development is discussed. For an elite player, there are several cognitive skills that are valuable, including situational decision-making, anticipation, focus and concentration and memory recall, to name a few. There is an abundance of research on these topics and several theories that are directly applicable to the training of youth players. One significant problem is that such research is filled with academic jargon and not readily accessible to the average person outside of academia. The result is that most soccer training programs and even top clubs are severely misinformed or out of touch with the breakthroughs in development research. U.S. Soccer has moved to a more development research-based approach and is changing almost all major components of the development infrastructure. This is the type of change that is needed in our youth soccer training. So what do we know about cognitive development in soccer players? With research, we must

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NSIDE DINE

This nutrient-rich grab-and-go muffin provides the perfect “wakeup” flavor for the most important meal of the day. By: [MANDY ASHCRAFT]

If breakfast is the most important meal of the day, it deserves to be a good one. These flavorful, yet only subtly sweet, muffins are packed with nutrients, fiber and protein. The orange zest gives you the perfect “wakeup” flavor in the convenience of a grab-and-go muffin, so it’s there for you whether you’re off to the gym, the office or a Netflix marathon.

The following recipe makes 1 dozen muffins. For more information, visit www.mandyashcraft.com.

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2 cups whole-wheat pastry flour 2 teaspoons cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon salt 2 teaspoons baking soda 3/4 cup sugar 2 egg whites 1/4 cup olive oil 1/2 cup honey vanilla Greek yogurt (or substitute plain flavor – optional) 1 large orange (1/4 cup orange juice, plus 2 teaspoons zest) 1 cup grated carrots 1 cup dried cranberries 1/4 cup pistachios (remove shells)

INSTRUCTIONS: 1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line regular size muffin tin with paper liners, or spray with nonstick spray. Set aside. 2. Squeeze orange into a medium bowl until you have 1/4 cup juice. Zest the orange (2 teaspoons) into the orange juice. Add sugar, egg whites, Greek yogurt and oil to the same bowl. Whisk again until ingredients are evenly distributed. Set aside. 3. In a large bowl or stand-mixer bowl, add flour, cinnamon, baking soda and salt. 4. Pour liquid mixture into flour mixture until just blended – don’t over-mix. 5. Fold in carrots, pistachios and cranberries. If you have additional pistachios, you can sprinkle them on top for extra crunch. 6. Bake 20 to 25 minutes.

PHOTO BY DUSTIN ASHCRAFT

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NSIDE TRAVEL

WE WANT THE CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE HERE TO BE AS PLEASANT AS POSSIBLE. customer experience to the million or so people who visit the terminal each year. Visitors can stop in at the Turbo Grill on the public side of the terminal for a breakfast taco or croissant. Travelers can grab a designer coffee at CoPilot Coffee or a signature drink at the Boarding Time Cantina, which are both located just past the TSA security checkpoint. The main restaurant and bar, JetStream Burger and Radar Bar, are also located on the secured side of the terminal so passengers who are waiting on their flights can relax in a modern and comfortable space while grabbing a bite to eat. “We are thrilled to be able to offer CCIA customers new choices when they visit the airport,” said Fred Segundo, the director of aviation. “We want their experience here to be as pleasant as possible.”

What’s new at Corpus Christi International Airport? By: [KIM BRIDGER]

It’s been a busy few months at Corpus Christi International Airport (CCIA). Everywhere you turn, there’s something new for customers to enjoy. From expedited security screening and mobile check-in to brand-new airplanes and new restaurants, CCIA is taking off and changing before your very eyes. AMERICAN AIRLINES ROLLS OUT A BRANDNEW A319 AIRCRAFT CCIA was one of the first airports in the nation to get the new A319s. These planes have first-class seating, touch-screens at every seat, Wi-Fi, power outlets and an option for more legroom in the main cabin. The A319s have replaced the MD-80s, which started providing service at CCIA back in June. With the larger planes coming and going twice a day, it gives travelers another choice when they fly.

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JOLT-N-GO, ANYONE? I’m a little embarrassed to admit that I had no idea what a jolt-n-go was. After a little research, I’ve discovered what it is at CCIA. The jolt-n-go is one of the many new items on the CoPilot Coffee menu inside the terminal. Infused with peanut butter and other sugary delights and served over ice, travelers can grab one while on the way to the gate to catch a flight. CoPilot Coffee has a long menu of hot and cold coffee drinks from lattes and cappuccinos to espresso and good old-fashioned fresh coffee. Take your pick! CoPilot Coffee is one of several new restaurants now open and serving customers at CCIA. The restaurants are operated by a company called Tailwind LLC out of North Carolina. The new concessionaire was awarded a contract at CCIA promising to offer good service, great food and drinks and a good

MOBILE BOARDING PASS As of the end of November, all three airlines serving CCIA are set up to allow smart phone check-in. For passengers carrying smart phones or tablets, you simply pull up an electronic version of your boarding pass for scanning. Each airline has a “how to” explanation on their website so passengers can have the electronic boarding pass ready to go when they arrive at the checkpoint and the gate. When it comes time to take a trip, please remember that using your airport helps ensure quality air service at CCIA now and in the future. CCIA customers are served by American Airlines, Southwest Airlines and United Express, with an average of 40 flights per day. When you fly CCIA, you can avoid long drives, long lines and long trips home from another airport. At CCIA, you’re opting for the convenience of an airport that’s close to home and that is here to serve you whenever you need it. Fly CCIA! Go to a happy place.

Kim Bridger is the marketing manager at CCIA. For more information, you may contact her at kimb@ cctexas.com.

AIRPORT BENCHES, IM_PHOTO/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

TAKING OFF

PRE-CHECK NOW AVAILABLE If you want to breeze through security faster and with less hassle, you can sign up for the TSA’s PreCheck program. There is now an assigned lane for Pre-Check passengers at CCIA. Pre-Check allows you quicker passage without having to take off shoes and jackets. For more information on how to sign up for Pre-Check, visit www.tsa.gov.

FOR A GOOD TIME, CALL EMBASSY SUITES If the walls could talk at Embassy Suites Corpus Christi, they would say, “We go way back!” By: [LISA HINOJOSA] Few people in the Coastal Bend have not at one point attended an event held in one of the Embassy Suites Corpus Christi meeting rooms. From newborns to octagenarians, the Sparkling City Ballroom has seen its share of celebrants since 1984. Social events, corporate events, weddings, reunions, anniversaries – festivities of all genres have graced that space. The smaller rooms have accommodated baby showers, business breakfasts, conferences, seminars and a wad of other divergent activities. Newlywed Irma Martinez recently held both her wedding ceremony and reception in the hotel’s renovated Sparkling City Ballroom. Martinez scouted several locations,

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but ultimately selected the Embassy Suites for her September nuptials. “I assumed the hotel had meeting space, but I didn’t realize that it had a ballroom, so that was a major draw because I then knew that the venue could accommodate my reception since we planned to have at least 100 people,” Martinez said. The guest suites also were a plus. “It was a hotel, and that way, any of our out-of-town guests could stay there and not have to worry about traveling from one location to the next,” Martinez said. At 2,504 square feet, the Sparkling City Ballroom can accommodate all of the trappings of a festive wedding reception from a dance floor to a deejay table and even a photo booth. As an added bonus, all 3,890 square feet of meeting space, including the Sparkling City Ballroom, has been furnished with new carpet, new bedding, new draperies, new furniture and new fixtures. The woodwork has been polished and restained, chic lighting fixtures installed, hightech audio/visual equipment added – no expense has been spared. Behind the events productions is Cesar Herrera and his trusted banquets team. Herrera, the effervescent sales and events manager, is by no means average and neither is his enthusiasm. “From small business meetings to over-the-top 1-year-old birthday parties, you name it – I love it all,” Herrera said. “No matter the occasion, every event is important to the person holding it – and because of that, it is important to me.” Herrera is quick to admit it takes a team to pull off everything. From the servers to the chefs and the decorators, everyone is integral. “What I couldn’t have absolutely believed was that they turned that room around so fast. I mean, I had a lot of details,” said Priscilla Wolf, who recently reserved the Sparkling City Ballroom for her grandson’s first birthday. Wolf feted her grandson, Jayden, with a grandiose “Monsters

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Inc.” themed party that included everything from a face-painting station to a photo wall. Wolf, an events maven herself, said she has created 40-plus large- and mid-scale events all over town, including festivals in Heritage Park. And she is nothing if not thorough. “I got quotes from eight or nine venues, but I just really liked the space and the size and the customization with the menu,” Wolf said. For the kid-friendly fare, she collaborated with the catering department to create a kid-friendly cornucopia of mouthwatering sliders, chicken tenders, crispy french fries and much more. “Service goes a long way, but we really need to have a top-quality product, which is why we are over the moon about the renovated meeting rooms,” Herrera said. “It’s just another benefit we can offer our clients.” And people are taking note. “A lot of people did not know Embassy Suites had a meeting room as large as that. People were asking me to refer them to Cesar during my event,” Wolf said with a laugh. And did she? “I already booked one of Priscilla’s friends for next year,” Herrera said. Thus, the party never ends.

For more information, contact Lisa Hinojosa at 361653-4656 or lisa.hinojosa@hilton.com. D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 3 - J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 4 / N S I D E C O A S TA L B E N D

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D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 3 - J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 4 / N S I D E C O A S TA L B E N D

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Sarah Acosta

REPORTER FOR KIIITV3 NEWS

PHOTOGRAPHY BY DUSTIN ASHCRAFT WARDROBE BY LE’VU BOUTIQUE HAIR AND MAKEU P BY SALON PALOMO

ABOUT ME

I grew up in Corpus Christi and returned home after graduating from Southern Methodist University (SMU) in 2010. I have two pugs, an orange cat and a baby turtle (I love animals). I have played competitive tennis my entire life, and I played for SMU. I like to be goofy and have fun. My college roommates nicknamed me “Kreature” because of the variety of voices I could do; I used to want to do voice animation when I was little. Some of my favorite things to do in Corpus Christi are to take long runs on Ocean Drive, shop at the trade center for unique finds and drive around with my best friend and go exploring.

QUOTE TO LIVE BY: Be the kind of woman who, when your feet hit the ground in the morning, the devil says, “Crap, she’s up.”

MY PHILOSOPHY: Work hard, play hard. And most importantly, talk to God every day and put your trust in him. In return, he will fill your life with love and joy.

“TALK TO GOD EVERY DAY AND PUT YOUR TRUST IN HIM.”

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D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 3 - J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 4 / N S I D E C O A S TA L B E N D

NSIDE STYLE

A GREAT CUT: JUST THE BEGINNING Atelier Salon shares the top six ways you can keep your hair healthy, vibrant and beautiful. By: [RICARDO GOMEZ]

2] WASH YOUR HAIR CORRECTLY At the salon, your stylist or colorist should recommend a shampoo and conditioner that will keep your hair healthy and under control, along with a simple-step tutorial on how to do it. This is even more important if you had any chemical treatment (coloring or highlights, for example), as specific steps are essential to keep the vibrancy and control of your hair. Use a plastic glass in the shower to dilute your shampoo, wash it once (unless you have oily hair or it’s been days since your last shampoo) and then wash it a second time. Put conditioner only on the ends, and if your hair is damaged, leave it for a few minutes. Bad application of conditioner and over-shampooing your hair are the top reasons hair stays flat or gets oily within 24 hours. Finally, rinse your hair with cool or cold water, which will seal the hair cuticles and lock in the moisture, making it shinier. 3] TRIM YOUR HAIR EVERY SIX TO EIGHT WEEKS Even if you are growing your hair long, keep it beautiful by getting it trimmed every six to eight weeks. The ends of the hair are the most damaged part since they are the most exposed to the sun, wind, shampoos, chemical treatments, pollutants and a variety of other factors. Regular trims help prevent split ends, frizzy, frayed strands and thinning at the ends of your hair. Who wants long hair if it does not look beautiful and healthy? 4] MAINTAIN A HEALTHY DIET Eat healthy food that will keep your hair strong

and lustrous. Your diet can also prevent hair loss. 1. Essential fatty acids, especially omega-3 fatty acids, promote healthy skin, hair and nails. You should eat some of these foods, which are rich in omega-3, every day: • Salmon, tuna, mackerel and other fatty fish • Flaxseed oil • Walnuts, almonds and milk (preferably almond or soy milk) 2. Vitamins B-6 and B-12 and folic acid are also important for your hair. You can always take a multivitamin to get more of these nutrients, but you can also add foods rich in these vitamins to your diet: • Vitamin B-6: bananas, potatoes (both white and sweet) and spinach • Vitamin B-12: fish and mollusks have a high percentage • Folic acid: citrus fruits, tomatoes, whole-grain and fortified grain products, beans and lentils 5] PROTECT YOUR HAIR AGAINST SUN DAMAGE The skin is not the only part of your body that needs protection from the sun’s harmful rays. UVA and UVB rays damage the hair cuticles the same way as bleach, which leads to dry, brittle and weak hair. During the summer months, shield your hair from damage by wearing a scarf or a hat when going under the sun or by applying a product that has a sun protection factor (SPF). 6] MOISTURIZE YOUR HAIR BEFORE AND AFTER SWIMMING Chlorine and saltwater strip moisture from your hair. Applying conditioner or a serum treatment before jumping into the water will coat the hair and act as a protective barrier against chlorine and saltwater. These damaging particles collect outside the hair and can be easily shampooed off after your swim. Still, treat your hair to a deep conditioner or a masque after swimming to strengthen it and help it regain any lost moisture. Your hairstylist can be a great source of information to keep your hair healthy, shiny and vibrant. Ask them to recommend you the right product for your hair so you can maintain it at home, and ask them about the best way to style it.

Ricardo Gomez is the co-owner of Atelier Salon, located at 5017 Saratoga Blvd., No. 157, in Corpus Christi, Texas. For more information, call 361-225-0072.

YOUR DIET CAN HELP PREVENT HAIR LOSS. 54

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WOMAN WITH SILKY HAIR, VALERY121283/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

1] BLOW-DRYING AND IRONING Your hair needs heat protection when you blow dry, flat iron or curl iron it. Ask your stylist to recommend the best product to use at home for your hair. Not using any heat protection product before styling your hair with these tools will damage your hair.

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MARKETING TO WHOM? Casting a wide net: great business sense for the salon industry and any industry By: [MARIA DEL RIO]

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any Rosetta Stone to actually connect with their consumers. Slick advertising is great; however, isn’t it only logical that you would cast the largest net, especially in a tough economy? Consumers have to understand what they need in order to want it, and many times, new business owners don’t handle this

CONSUMERS HAVE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY NEED IN ORDER TO WANT IT. properly. Even some established businesses may be running on the fumes from previous managers and/ or owners. When I hear salon owner talking about balayage, or shaping, I often ask myself, ‘Do they have the good sense to view their marketing as if they never been to a salon in their life?’ Sadly, many do not. They might even feel a sense of being elite or even wish to avoid consumers who are not well-versed in their particular business. This is extremely foolish and likely explains the current lag that many “elite” business owners are experiencing. Ideas have consequences, don’t they? Well, ideas that are not fully gestated to the point of being unintelligible are just like the adage about a tree falling in an empty forest. Marketing is about

opposed to mainstream success. However, there is an idealism and naivety that is more likely the case, as Apple has long since demonstrated that the greatest visionary can also be the greatest success. Go your own way and be the business you want to be, but make sure people understand why they should follow you. Don’t expect pretty storefronts and stores to make you a market leader. That might win you a thumbs-up when the consumer arrives, but if the consumer never gets the proper invitation, it harkens back to the tree alone in the forest.

Salon Palomo is located at 2033 Airline Road, G7, in Corpus Christi, Texas. For more information, call 361-855-8841.

FISH IN NET, JEEP2499/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Like any other industry, the salon industry has its own specific nomenclature. It is likely that if you ask an insider, he or she would be proficient in industry-specific terminology. It might even seem like another language to someone who is not familiar with the jargon and methodology. This is far from unusual – every industry has a deep technical side that usually gets “translated” to consumers so they can understand and appreciate whatever goods or services may be available. Whether you are a stylist, a winemaker, a butcher or a baker, you speak a different language to coworkers and associates on a daily basis, and it very likely that you feel good about it. After all, it allows you to be easily understood by your peers, and it is surely the result of a lot of training and effort to make it into the inner circle of any field. When a mechanic says, “I drained the oil pan and removed a bad O2 sensor that interfered with the CO2 mixture,” that is likely to be confusing to most consumers. When Malcolm X said, “We want to talk right down to earth in a language that everyone here can easily understand,” he was speaking from a place of great wisdom. It is the job of all orators and all writers to make their audience understand the how, the when and the why of what they are offering. Too often, novices in the world of business forget that and actually hide their insecurity by ranting about technical concepts and technical names without

reaching your target audience, and especially in a tough economy, that audience should be large and diverse. A business is really built on its market, and everything is really just window dressing and hyperbole. Strip away the veneer of any business, and it essentially is an effort to make a profit by providing goods and services. Of course, certain luxury brands may not want to be too popular due to some elitist concept of distinction, but for the average business owner, that sort of reasoning is dangerous, especially when a lack of business can devour personal savings and bankrupt both the owners and their creditors. It’s not greedy to cast a wide net; it’s just great business sense. Even if your product is high dollar or highbrow, you want to maximize the number of people who buy it. This philosophy may not be necessary for a yacht club or something similar; however, that sort of venture typically exists in a vacuum. The world of competition is where most businesses exist, and that means volume, which ultimately means brand recognition and the best marketing of all: brand acceptance. Next time you reach out to consumers or potential consumers, make sure it is both easy to understand and desirable. It’s really just trying to fit the pieces of a puzzle together, and when those pieces fit, there is a synergy that makes all sides both happy and content. “Atlas Shrugged” may have glorified the principle of the virtue of following a vision as

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NEW YEAR, NEW LIFE

When choosing your New Year’s resolutions this year, consider adopting an orphaned adult dog and giving it a chance at a forever home – and the fresh start it deserves.

The New Year is upon us, and most people are thinking of what their New Year’s resolutions will be. Losing a few pounds and adopting better spending habits are common, but the idea is all the same: a fresh start. Everyone deserves a fresh start now and then, no matter what age. The same goes for animals. Many people believe “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks.” Because of this belief, people tend to adopt puppies rather than adult dogs. Therefore, when a dog over 5 or 6 years old steps through the doors of an animal shelter, one of two things tends to happen. If the dog happens to go to a kill shelter, it will be euthanized if it is not lucky enough to get adopted in the short amount of time it has. If the dog goes to a no-kill shelter, it could be waiting behind kennel bars for a year or even for the rest of its life to be adopted. In most of these cases, the main reason is simply their age. The belief that adult dogs are un-trainable is simply not true. In fact, house training and teaching an adult dog basic commands may even be easier than with a puppy. Having a puppy is almost like having a toddler; you must show the puppy repeatedly how to do something or to stop a bad behavior. Generally, you only need to show an adult dog

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once or twice, and the dog learns almost immediately. Mia Guerra, founder and instructor of Mia’s K-9 Manners, confirms this. “Adult dogs tend to pick things up much faster than puppies,” she says. “They have a better attention span and are able to

ADULT DOGS TEND TO PICK THINGS UP MUCH FASTER THAN PUPPIES. focus, whereas a puppy is distracted by everything.” Finding the perfect match for your lifestyle may be easier with an adult dog. When adopting a puppy, it can be very hard to tell what personality it may grow into. “For the most part, an adult dog’s personality is clearly established already,” Guerra says. “You are able to tell if they are dominant, submissive, hyper or lazy. You can adopt a really energetic puppy who will grow out of it, or that puppy may have a high energy level for his or her entire life.” Unfortunately, many dogs that are adopted as

puppies end up getting returned as adults because their personality does not match the adopter’s lifestyle. When adopters take their time selecting an adult dog that fits with their lifestyle, that dog usually spends the rest of its life in that home. Whether you adopt a puppy or an older dog, you are still changing that dog’s life for the better. By adopting, you are also making room for another dog to be saved from the streets and given a chance at a forever home. Adopting a puppy is an amazing thing. You get to see that puppy grow into the dog it was meant to be, and you are saving that puppy from possibly growing up behind kennel bars. But when you adopt an adult, you are giving that dog a fresh start. You are reminding that dog what it feels like to be loved. So if you are having trouble deciding what your New Year’s resolution should be, consider giving an orphaned adult dog the fresh start it deserves.

Mia Guerra offers private lessons, as well as puppy and basic adult courses, on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. For more information, you may contact her at miask9manners@yahoo.com.

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The Nueces County Junior Livestock Show offers millions of dollars in scholarships and continues to preserve wholesome experiences for the next generation. By: [AMIE DANIEL LEE]

It is said that on a chilly, wet, dreary day in 1936, Nueces County agent W. M. Sellers staged the first livestock show in Robstown, Texas, along with 17 4-H Club boys who exhibited their steers. The firstprize steer was awarded $10. Seventy-nine years later, the Nueces County Junior Livestock Show (NCJLS) is one of the largest junior county shows in the Lone Star State. Preparations are already underway for the 2014 event, scheduled for Jan. 5 to 18 at the Richard M. Borchard Regional Fairgrounds in Robstown. At the show’s 78th year in 2013, more than 1,200 students exhibited animals, shop projects and homemaking projects that raised an impressive $2.6 million in revenue for scholarships. The NCJLS has a long history of profound support from parents, the agricultural industry and many other local businesses. It’s hard to believe this two-week event is organized by only two paid staff members and some 600 volunteers from the Nueces County area. Throughout the years, the NCJLS has expanded

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the show by offering a wide variety of project opportunities within the divisions for students to exhibit their talents with more than a hundred entry options. The NCJLS is not just about steers, goats and chicken anymore; from leather work, wood crafts and photography to cake decorating, pickled

guidelines set forth to fairly judge the exhibitors’ work and most importantly, to create an educational component they refer to as “learn-by-doing” for the students. In fact, the NCJLS has grown so much over the years that the county ratified the Richard M. Borchard Regional Fairgrounds as the new home for the show. The NCJLS spent two decades in the crowded old Show Barn prior to the inaugural event in 2007 at the new facility, which boasts two 50,000-square-foot exhibit halls connected to a climate-controlled indoor arena. When college tuition increased in the early ‘90s, the NCJLS responded by establishing an inhouse college scholarship fund, separate from the auction sales. Since 2000, the NCJLS scholarship program has supported more students with their higher education than any other locally funded scholarship program in Nueces County. Recipients are selected by their involvement in the NCJLS, academic achievements, college entrance exam scores and interviews. To date, 464 students have received scholarships from this program and a total of $990,900 has been awarded. You may think, “If my kids are not participating, why should I attend the livestock show?” Well, the NCJLS has plenty of family-friendly activities for all ages to enjoy. Again, it’s not just about steers, goats and chickens; according to NCJLS organizers, the

THE NCJLS HAS PLENTY OF FAMILY-FRIENDLY ACTIVITIES FOR ALL AGES TO ENJOY. items, barbecue pits and metal art, if you can think of it, the NCJLS probably has it on the menu. Children residing in Nueces County are eligible to enter their projects with respect to the NCJLS

event brings a crowd of more than 15,000 each year to the Richard M. Borchard Regional Fairgrounds. The NCJLS has really evolved into a big celebration capturing the community’s spirit, culture and

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traditions with a carnival, ethnic food vendors, art and craft vendors, a 5K run and walk, a barbecue cook-off, team roping, a parade, washer pitching and a calf scramble. The NCJLS serves as a gateway for the newer generation to learn hands-on skills and knowledge about a wide variety of trades and artistry they may have never experienced otherwise. With months of preparation from students, it’s no wonder so many local businesses and area residents turn out for the sale and auction to purchase more than 800 exhibitor projects, making NCJLS one of the most successful livestock shows in the state.

Amie Daniel Lee is the marketing coordinator for the Richard M. Borchard Regional Fairgrounds, managed by Global Spectrum. For more information on the Nueces County Junior Livestock Show, visit www. ncjls.org or call 361-387-5395. And to learn more about the Richard M. Borchard Regional Fairgrounds, visit www.rmbfairgrounds.com or call 361-387-9000. D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 3 - J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 4 / N S I D E C O A S TA L B E N D

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