success around the bend
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March/April 2020
Inside
Getting Leadership RIGHT
FBISD
Prepares for Future Growth
Primary Colors:
The Party Nomination Battles Continue in Fort Bend
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Cover Story
Contents March/April 2020 Vol. 3 / No. 2
4
Op-Ed 2
Repeal the Property Tax?
Exclamation Points 3
Publisher Patti Parish-Kaminski
Executive Insights 7
Getting Leadership Right
Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce: 11
Success Around the Bend
Directory 15
Feature
8 Looking Ahead: FBISD Prepares for Future Growth
Business Directory
Globetrotting
16 2020 Bucket List: Next up – Rome
Columns 10
Primary Colors: The Party Nomination Battles Continue in Fort Bend
Cybersecurity
P u b l i s h e r : Patti Parish-Kaminski A C C O U N T E X E C U T I V ES : Henry Dibrell l Kay Garrett l Jessica Kij A R T D IRE C T O R : Grace Belleza W EB D ESI G N ER : Joey Belleza I N Q UIRIES : 281.690.4242 e d i to r i a l SUB M ISSI O N S : Patti@absolutelyfocusmedia.com Subscription requests are free to all Fort Bend business addresses. Annual paid subscription of $25 required outside the Fort Bend area.
Fort Bend CEOTM Magazine is published by absolutely! focus media, 4655 Techniplex Dr., Ste. 700, Stafford, TX 77477. CopyrightŠ 2020 by absolutely! focus media. All rights reserved. Reproduction without permission is strictly prohibited. Fort Bend CEOTM Magazine does not knowingly accept false or misleading advertising or editorial, nor do the publishers assume responsibility should such advertising or editorial appear. Fort Bend CEOTM Magazine welcomes editorial submissions from its readers.
Op-Ed By Bob Hebert
I
Repeal the Property Tax?
t’s election time, and once again calls are being made to repeal the property tax. I certainly favor repealing the property tax due to its regressive nature. A property tax is levied against what you own, not what you earn. That can create extreme hardship for homeowners finding themselves between jobs or underemployed, as well as disabled or senior citizens living on fixed incomes. All of those groups struggle to hold onto their homes in the face of ever rising property tax bills. For most of the rest of us, property taxes are a recurring irritation that we would prefer to do without.
Repeal of property taxes would solve those problems, right? Well, maybe. Property taxes support a myriad of local services in Texas: education, roads and bridges, police and fire, water and wastewater, indigent and mental health services to name only a few. Property taxation can’t be repealed unless a new or expanded system of taxation is implemented in its place, and that new tax system must generate billions of dollars per year to fund the statewide local government services currently funded by a property tax. The 2019 legislature did fund a greater portion of education costs, and they did reduce the cap on city and county tax increases to 3.5%. However, city and county taxes were not reduced; only their rate of increase was reduced, and the reduction in education property taxes is a temporary reality at best. The property tax remains as regressive as ever. Our last legislature bought some time to address the issue of repeal, but that time will pass quickly. One solution adopted by other states is an income tax, but a significant majority of Texans are on record opposing an income tax. You only need to observe the federal income tax from its inception through today to see that even the most limited income tax levy will morph into an unreasonable burden as successive legislative sessions manipulate it to solve short-term political problems without regard to long-term impacts. However, without an income tax, we must be extremely creative with any property tax replacement system in order to raise the required revenue without ruining our economy or creating unnecessary financial burdens for any segment of our population. That’s going to be difficult to do, but I believe it can be done. The candidate mail I receive today confirms various candidates’ willingness to repeal the property tax, but most don’t address the replacement tax program, and those few who do merely offer that they will support a plan approved by the legislature, subject to approval by the voters. Therein, in my opinion, lies a danger. If we send folks to Austin with a mandate to repeal the property tax without them understanding the issue well enough to intelligently discuss options with the voters, then a vacuum will exist in the legislature – a vacuum that special interests will be only too happy to fill. Therefore, I suggest that you to bring the question forward as you attend debates, coffees, meet-the-candidate events of all types, by asking candidates, “What would you propose as an alternate tax system to allow us to safely repeal the property tax?” Hear them out and determine if they understand the various options well enough to represent you in the state legislature. Will the property tax be repealed in 2021? I doubt it, because the legislature will probably take some time to evaluate the true impact of its 2019 reforms. However, bills will almost certainly be introduced to repeal the property tax in 2021, and any bill introduced has the potential to become law. Therefore, it’s not too early to ask candidates to go on record as to their position on the repeal and the replacement side of the property tax repeal question – the legislative answer to which may boost or break the Texas economy. The views and opinions expressed in Op-Ed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Fort Bend CEO. Any content provided by our bloggers or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company, individual or anyone or anything.
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March/April 2020 l To advertise: 281.690.4242 l www.FortBendCEO.com
Exclamation Points
Publisher, Patti Parish-Kaminski
Contributors
Bob Hebert Robert Hebert and Associates page 2
Patti Parish-Kaminski Fort Bend CEO Publisher page 4
Nancy Parsons CDR Assessment Group, Inc. page 7
Alisa Murray AlisaMurray.com page 16
Read all past issues at www.fortbendceo.com
The State of Fort Bend’s Healthcare As we go to press with this issue of Fort Bend CEO, the first case of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) has been “presumptive positive” in Fort Bend. While this is alarming as a public health issue, the question arises: How is a diagnosis of COVID-19 in our community going to affect us and businesses? While attending the State of the Healthcare luncheon hosted by the Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce, it’s clear that our community and Dr. May Tape, Ray Aguilar and Patti Parish-Kaminski our businesses have already been at the State of Healthcare hosted by the Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce. affected. The leaders of our major hospitals are already experiencing supply chain issues on medical provisions, along with concerns about projected shortages of our healthcare system’s greatest asset due to illness or school closings: our healthcare workforce. That being said, is Fort Bend prepared for the Coronavirus? A resounding “yes” is the answer. The leaders of our hospitals in Fort Bend indeed have us well-prepared. Houston Methodist Sugar Land CEO Chris Siebenaler shared Team Methodist’s strategy of “daily huddles” meeting with medical experts and their leadership team to address concerns before they become issues – a strategy that has been ongoing at Methodist. Memorial Hermann CEO Malisha Patel shared that they have a “similar approach” as Houston Methodist to the situation and explained a collaborative effort between the hospitals to serve the community during this time. She also shared the Fort Bend Health Department phone number for the public to call with any questions regarding COVID-19 (281.633.7795). Joe Freudenberger, OakBend Medical Center CEO, spoke of “secret shoppers” at their hospital to ensure that their protocol to protect patients and staff was 100% in compliance and effective. Houston Methodist Sugar Land infectious disease specialist Dr. Sarfraz Aly emphasized, “We are prepared for the Coronavirus. The majority of the fear surrounding this is the unknown.” He stressed that our best protection really is in our hands: “Washing your hands with soap and water is the best way to protect yourself.” Yes, Fort Bend, our hospitals have this under control. Now our retailers who sell hand sanitizer, toilet paper, wipes, well, their business has been affected as well. It’s booming. Stay safe Fort Bend, and wash your hands! Your partner in the Bend,
Patti Parish-Kaminski Patti@absolutelyfocusmedia.com March/April 2020 l
3
COVER STORY
Primary Colors:
The Party Nomination Battles Continue in Fort Bend
N
ow that the dust has settled from the March 3rd primary, Fort Bend is gearing up for the general election in November. But, the primary didn’t yield clear-cut nominees in all of the local races. On May 26th, voters will have their last opportunity to be heard in who the Republicans and Democrats nominate in the runoff races. So, who’s still vying for bids?
Troy Nehls.
Sri Preston Kulkarni.
4
US Representative District 22
United States Senator
In a race featuring 15 Republican candidates and five Democratic candidates, Fort Bend County Sheriff Troy Nehls ended the night with 41%* of the vote to runner up Kathleen Wall, who received 19%. The latest member of the Bush family to enter politics, Pierce Bush, came in third with nearly 14% of the vote. Nehls and Wall will continue to battle for the Republication nomination as they face off in the primary runoff. Sri Preston Kulkarni received the Democrat nomination earning over 56% of the vote and will face either Nehls or Wall in the November election.
MJ Hegar and Royce West are advancing to the runoff for the Democratic nomination challenging Republican Senator John Cornyn. With 12 candidates vying for the Democratic nomination, former Air Force helicopter pilot Hegar led the way with 22% of the vote. Runner-up Dallas State Senator Royce West carried 14.5%.
State Representative District 26 Sugar Land physician Suleman Lalani, MD, PA carried 31% of the Democratic vote in a tight race against L. “Sarah” DeMerchant’s nearly 30%. The winner of the primary runoff will face one of the two Republican candidates, also in a runoff. Republican Matt Morgan won nearly 50% of voters against Jacey Jetton, who was close behind with nearly 41%.
*All are unofficial results as of press time.
March/April 2020 l To advertise: 281.690.4242 l www.FortBendCEO.com
Railroad Commissioner
County Commissioner, Precinct 1
Republican Texas Railroad Commissioner Ryan Sitton was unseated in the primary by South Texas rancher and oilfield service company owner Jim Wright. Wright will face the winner of the primary runoff between Democrats Chrysta Castenada, a Dallas energy attorney who received 34% of the vote, and former State Representative Roberto “Beto” Alonzo, who received 29%.
Four candidates for County Commissioner, Precinct 1 ran on the Democrat ballot. Dr. Jennifer Cantu received 41.84% votes and real estate developer Lynette Reddix earned 25.59%. The winner of the runoff election will battle against Republican and current Precinct 1 Commissioner Vincent Morales.
Fort Bend County Sheriff
Geneane Hughes.
On the Democratic side for Fort Bend County Sheriff, Patrol Lieutenant at Fort Bend County Precinct 2 and former Commander of Criminal Investigations for the Missouri City Police Department Geneane Hughes ended up with the most votes in a narrow lead over retired Houston Police Department officer Eric Fagan. The winner in the primary runoff will face Republican Trevor Nehls, who received 82% of the vote over challengers John Minchew and Siddiqi Muzaffar. Nehls is currently deployed in the Middle East and served two terms as constable.
Jennifer Cantu.
Lynette Reddix.
Vincent Morales.
Justice 14th Court of Appeals District, Place 7 Democrats Tamika “Tami” Craft and Cheri Thomas will face off once again in the primary runoff. Craft received 45% of the vote with Thomas receiving 23%. The winner of this contest will face Republican Judge Ken Wise in the general election.
Trevor Nehls.
District Judge, 505th Judicial District County Attorney Republican Steve Rogers was on the ballot unopposed in the primary receiving the Republican nomination. Rogers will battle the winner of the Democratic runoff between Bridgette Smith-Lawson and Sonia Rash for County Attorney.
For more information on the candidates or the upcoming May 26th Primary Runoff Election, visit the Fort Bend County Republican Party at fortbendgop.org and the Fort Bend Democratic Party at fbdemocrats.com.
Tax Assessor-Collector Democrat Carmen Turner will face off with the winner of the Republican primary runoff between Republicans J.J. Clemence and James Pressler. Pressler won 46% of the votes against Clemence’s 24%.
In the race for District Judge 505th, Democrats Kali Morgan and Surendran K. Patel will continue their contest for the nomination. Morgan received 45% of the vote with Patel receiving 30%. The winner will face off with incumbent Republican Judge David S. Perwin.
Primary Runoff Election Timeline Carmen Turner.
J.J. Clemence.
May 15th: Individuals meeting the criteria to vote early by mail may do so in the primary runoffs as well. This is the last day to request a ballot to vote by mail for the primary runoffs. May 18th – May 22nd: Early voting in the primary runoffs. Voters can only participate in one party’s primary each year. May 26th: Primary Runoff Election Day. This is the voter’s last chance to be heard in who the Republicans or Democrats nominate in any runoff races.
Check www.fortbendcountytx.gov for polling locations. March/April 2020 l
5
By Nancy Parsons, President and Co-Founder of CDR Assessment Group, Inc.
Executive Insights
Getting Leadership Right
L
eadership is difficult, and usually the toughest part of the job is leading people. Leaders are often quite skilled at their respective technical and professional functions. However, the people aspects of their work cause leadership effectiveness to suffer. Most consultants do not like to openly deal with this reality. CDR Assessment Group, Inc. is different. Clients are told the unvarnished truth because CDR has developed scientific measures to assess the data. Data doesn’t lie or sugarcoat. When Kimberly Leveridge, Ph.D. and Nancy Parsons founded CDR in 1998, leadership was broken – studies showed that 50-75 percent of leaders were ineffective. Volumes of current studies show that this trend continues today. When presenting to leader groups at conferences or workshops, Parsons asks, “How many exceptional leaders have you worked with over your career?” Most people are lucky to come up with just one. How is it possible for leadership effectiveness to be so unacceptable? It is because the way we “do” leadership has also not changed in any substantial way over the years. Selection, promotions, development and reward systems are on a repetitive loop. The semantics have improved, and investments have increased but the process has not changed much. CDR deploys unique, scientifically validated assessments – the CDR 3-D Assessment Suite – for its clients. The CDR 3-D
Assessment Suite objectively measures and clearly identifies one’s capabilities, inherent risks and motivational needs, moving past the smoke and mirrors – and the charm factor. CDR equips companies to identify true talent and match their job roles and development activities based on each individual’s strengths, gifts, gaps, risks and needs. The good news is that people embrace their own CDR results. They welcome the truth when they are given feedback – even about the “risks” that can derail their success. People don’t want consultants to blow smoke, nor do they want to end up in job roles in which they don’t fit. It is possible to turn the dismal leadership effectiveness around if organizations start deploying well-constructed and validated personality and motivational measures, along with good processes and accountability. Baseball great Bill Robinson once said, “A good hitting instructor is able to mold his teachings to the individual. If a guy stands on his head, you perfect that.” That is exactly what CDR Assessment Group does.
Nancy Parsons, President, CDR Assessment Group, Inc. and CDR-U, LLC, was awarded 2019 MEECO Int’l Thought Leader in Executive Coaching and is a #1 Amazon Bestselling Author.
March/April 2020 l
7
Feature
Prepares for Future Growth
Looking Ahead:
D
uring a Board meeting on February 24th, the Fort Bend ISD administration outlined its plans to prepare for the continued enrollment growth projected in the state’s eighth-largest school District. According to Population and Survey Analysts (PASA), the District’s independent, thirdparty demographer, the District is anticipated to serve nearly 90,000 students by the year 2029. Currently, more than 78,000 thousand students are enrolled at the District’s 81 campuses, with more schools in the pipeline as part of the 2018 Bond Program. In accordance with Board Policy FC (Local), Fort Bend ISD presented its annual enrollment review, based on PASA’s most recent enrollment projections and each school’s capacity. The goal is to ensure that the District is meeting the needs of all students while utilizing its facilities as efficiently as possible. During the presentation, the administration noted with the newlyestablished School Boundary Oversight Committee, or SBOC, that Fort Bend ISD is embarking on a new chapter that will tighten and further refine long-range planning in Fort Bend ISD. The SBOC will begin its work following this year’s annual enrollment review and will provide input and oversight as the District establishes plans for new campuses and for campuses that are over or under-utilized. “Managing enrollment growth is one of our greatest challenges, and I am proud of the effective systems we have in place to study where our students will be and how to best use our facilities to serve them,” said FBISD Superintendent of Schools Dr. Charles Dupre. “The members of the SBOC will be valuable advisors, providing insights as we continuously improve efforts to effectively plan for the longrange future of the district.”
Areas of Continued Growth According to the most recent PASA projections, the most significant growth over the next ten years remains in the far southeastern portion of the District, which includes southern Sienna Plantation and the FM 521 Corridor from TX-6 to the Brazoria County line. In anticipation of this growth, the voter approved 2018 Bond Program included funding for several schools in this area, including land purchases and construction of new elementary and secondary schools.
Managing Enrollment Monitoring enrollment trends and planning for future growth is a continuous process in Fort Bend ISD, which has opened seven schools since 2015. While other schools are in various stages of the planning process, Fort Bend ISD uses a variety of alternative student enrollment options to help manage growth and minimize disruption for students. Staff outlined plans in place following the 2020 enrollment
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review, which includes efforts to recruit and retain students at under-utilized campuses, and limiting future enrollment at several campuses until more permanent solutions can be put in place, such as the opening of the new schools included in the bond program. “The latest demographic projections demonstrate the continued need for the schools that were included in our last voterapproved bond program, and we are putting plans into place to manage this growth and minimize disruption to our students until the new schools can come online. This includes the addition of portable classroom buildings in some instances, and when necessary, limiting future enrollment so that we can provide the very best learning environments for our students,” said Dupre. During February 24th’s enrollment review, staff outlined recommendations to limit future enrollment at select schools that are projected to be over-utilized. Staff will continue to further develop these plans and provide updates to the Board and the community as the plans are finalized. Heritage Rose Elementary – The administration is recommending that future enrollment be limited to kindergarteners and only students in first through fifth grade who live within two miles of the school. Students outside of this two-mile area would attend Scanlan Oaks Elementary. A future elementary school, Elementary 54, is expected to relieve some overutilization of Heritage Rose. Land for this school has been identified in Sienna, and the purchase is currently pending. Sienna Crossing Elementary – The administration is recommending that future enrollment be limited to kindergarteners and only students in first through fifth grade who live within two miles of the school. Students outside of this two-mile area would attend Schiff Elementary. A future elementary school, Elementary 55, will relieve overutilization of Sienna Crossing Elementary and would be funded in a future bond program. Board members have asked the administration to consider allowing students to apply for elective transfers from Sienna Crossing Elementary to Schiff Elementary. The Board also directed the administration to provide considerations to expedite the construction of Elementary 55, including the possible construction of Elementary 55 using funds included in the 2018 Bond Program designated for Elementary 52 in the developing Parks Edge community. Commonwealth Elementary – The administration is recommending that the District continue to limit new enrollment to kindergarteners and students in first through fifth grade who live within two miles of the school. Students outside of this twomile area attend Settlers Way Elementary. Elementary 53, located in the Riverstone Community, will relieve the overutilization of Commonwealth Elementary. This land purchase is in the
March/April 2020 l To advertise: 281.690.4242 l www.FortBendCEO.com
School Attendance Boundary Change Process Overview Note: Following the initial presentation to the Board, staff will review the recommended updates to the Facilities Master Plan with the SBOC. The updated Facilities Master Plan will be provided to the Board for consideration by June of each year.
final stages, and the school is expected to open in the 2022-23 school year. Ridge Point High School – The administration is recommending that future enrollment be limited to only new students who live within two miles of the school, with students outside of the two-miles attending Hightower High School. This would remain in place until the activation of an attendance boundary for High School 12, which was included in the 2018 Bond Program. Fort Bend ISD closed on the land for High School 12 in February, and the plan is for the school to open in 2022.
School Boundary Oversight Committee: Inaugural Work and Long-Range Planning Aside from the previously-adopted Phase 2 boundary changes for Lakeview Elementary, there will be no additional boundary changes for the upcoming 2020-21 school year. As outlined in Board Policy, the SBOC will meet in March to review the 2020-21 Annual Enrollment Review, PASA’s Demographic Update, and the 2020 Updates to the 2018 Facilities Master Plan. During the February 24th meeting, the District staff also updated the Board on the future boundary work to be considered by the newly-established School Boundary Oversight Committee (SBOC), which, moving forward, will help provide a tighter, more formal boundary process that will allow for feedback while
also valuing the data and long-range projections. The SBOC is comprised of four representatives (parents and community members) from each high school feeder pattern. The purpose of the committee is to review student enrollment projections and provide input regarding school boundary recommendations. The SBOC will also be involved with gaining community input on any proposed school boundary recommendations by holding public hearings in any area that could be affected. The administration will recommend that the inaugural work of the SBOC include a boundary change that will allow for the full implementation of the Early Literacy Center at Ridgemont Elementary, rezoning all 2-5 grade students to other schools in the feeder pattern.
Long-Range Planning As staff outlined the inaugural work of the SBOC, the District also noted that the committee would play an important role in long-range planning. “Over the next few years, the SBOC would be charged with looking at areas of the District that are both ‘hot’ and ‘cold’,” said Fort Bend ISD Chief Academic Officer Beth Martinez. “We are very concerned that we also have a number of schools that are under-utilized, and we will need to engage with the SBOC to make sure that we are effectively managing enrollment in all schools, in accordance with PASA’s ten year projections.” To learn more, visit www.fortbendisd.com/sboc. March/April 2020 l
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Cybersecurity
C
ybercrimes, fraud and identity theft are serious threats and are among the fastest growing crimes in America. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics report in January 2019, over 26 million people experienced By WJ Interests identity theft in 2016. A large majority of those identity theft incidents involved misuse or attempted misuse of credit cards or bank accounts. Constant vigilance is key. In this article, we will address the various threats and ways in which you can protect yourself against cybercrimes.
Common cyber threats • Email Account Takeover Occurs when a cybercriminal hacks an email account and reads emails to learn about the victim and their habits so they can pose as the victim to steal money. • Malware Malicious software created to damage/disable computers and computer systems steal data, or gain unauthorized access to networks. Malware may be installed on a computer when a user clicks an unsafe link, opens an infected file or visits a legitimate website that could contain adware.
Protecting your data You can defend against most cyber attacks by remaining vigilant and being proactive. Install the most up-to-date antivirus and anti-spyware software on all devices. Hover over website links sent to you via email to ensure they are legitimate links before clicking on them. Be aware that secure websites start with https, not http. Be cautious about the information you choose to share on social media, keeping your personal information private (e.g., home address, phone number, employer, vacation dates, birthdate). Be selective about who you allow to join your social networks. Check your monthly phone bill for any suspicious activity. This may include phone numbers you don’t recognize, or calls placed at odd times (e.g., during works hours, while overseas or on vacation). Finally, safeguard your passwords and use a unique password for each account to prevent a quick and invasive attack on all of your accounts. Make each password unique and long and strong. Use 8-12 characters, upper- and lowercase letters and symbols. Most importantly, treat your passwords like your underwear; change them often and don’t share them with anybody. WJ Interests, LLC has provided fee-only financial advice to individuals, families and businesses since 1996. For more information, please contact us at wj@wjwealth.com or 281-634-9400.
• Phishing Occurs when cybercriminals pretend to be a trustworthy source in order to acquire sensitive personal information, such as usernames, passwords, social security numbers and credit card details. For example, an email from a seemingly legitimate email address instructs you to click on a link to take action (e.g., “validate your account,” “confirm your identity,” “access your tax refund”). • Social Engineering Involves manipulating or impersonating others to divulge sensitive, private information and then demanding financial transactions be executed to avoid consequences. The cybercriminal commits fraud, steals your money and disappears. • Call Forwarding Occurs when a cybercriminal takes over your cell phone number and impersonates you or reroutes your calls. A cybercriminal gets the phone company to forward your cell number to their cell phone so they can impersonate you when your bank calls you back for verification before transferring funds or opening accounts. • Spoofing Occurs when a fake email header that gives the impression the email is from someone or somewhere other than the actual source, with the goal of tricking the recipient into opening and responding to the email.
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For more than 40 years, the Fort Bend Chamber has diligently fulfilled our mission to serve as the advocate for excellence in Fort Bend County and beyond. We create, enhance and promote the thriving economic environment in which we work and live. Through our Education, Infrastructure, Governmental Relations, Community Resources, Business and Professional Development and Healthcare Divisions, we bring value to our members.
4427 Highway 6, Suite L Sugar Land, TX 77478 224.592.0114 cardinalautismservices.com
Cardinal Autism Services
16733 W Airport Blvd., Suite 1 Richmond, TX 77407 832.219.1122 Sherwin-Williams.com
Sherwin Williams
“I have lived in Sugar Land, Fort Bend County for almost 30 years and been in business for We are the foremost resource over 20 years. It was only after providing relevant, innovative and I got actively engaged with the Chamber, attended events, networked impactful programs, initiatives and and met other Chamber members that services to enhance the business I realized a whole other world of resources climate and quality of life existed that was available to me, through the Chamber network, not only for my business growth in Fort Bend County but also for my personal growth. What I’ve invested and beyond. into the Chamber I’ve benefitted in the form of new learnings and friendships formed.”
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Afshi Charania, Oil Productions Distribution
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11929 University Blvd., Suite #2B Sugar Land, TX 77479 281.901.0396 singalong-karaoke.com
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Sing Along Karaoke
Calvary Church 281.634.0200 calvaryhouston.org
Cardinal Autism Services LLC 855.855.2712 cardinalautismservices.com
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Genesys Works
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281.766.3811 frontlineer.com
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Whataburger – Missouri City Childrens Lighthouse – Harvest Green
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Chairman’s Gala: Beth Wolf, Keith Borgfeldt and Stacy Borgfeldt.
Chairman’s Gala: Raj Basavaraju, Jana Williams, Dr. Linda Huynh, Cindy Picazo and Khori Hunter.
Chairman’s Gala: Keri Schmidt, Malisha Patel and Rehan Alimohammad.
Sounds of the Season: Event Sponsor Debbie Richards with Frank Billingsley, KPRC Chief Meteorologist. Sounds of the Season: Ted Volf, Marian Walters, Frank Billingsley, Jill Roe, Trent Wayne and Nancy Colmenares.
13590 University Blvd, #E100 Sugar Land, TX 77479 346.279.1894 blackbeardiner.com
Black Bear Diner Safebit Solutions Inc.
The N2 Company
School of Science and Technology Sugar Land
Triad Cyber Security
281.987.9800 safebitsolutions.com
281.277.7923 sstsugarland.org
SPENGA Sugar Land 832.241.7676 spengasugarland.com
Stuart Consulting Group 713.436.5893 stuartconsultinggroup.com
832.277.5610 N2Pub.com
281.653.7726 triadcybersec.com
Velocity Cryo & IV Therapy 713.900-5020 velocitynow.com
Wisdom Tax & Financial Service LLC 832.523.7222 wisdomtax.org
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Dream Dinners
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Sacred Leaf CBD Hemp Products Lusell Mata
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The Urban Foresters
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10 Years
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Mann Eye Institute Jamie McCown
Sugar Land Skeeters
Stewart Jacobson
Fort Bend YMCA Curt Jaeger
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15 Years Perry’s Steakhouse & Grille Sarah Sanchez
TRS Staffing Solutions Andrew Bamford
20 Years State Farm Insurance Tracy Walker
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Whataburger – Richmond
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20 20 Bu cket List : Next up – Ro me
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Piazza di Spagna, at the bottom of the Spanish Steps, is one of the most famous squares in Rome, Italy.
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is elevated in Rome, and the expense of food while traveling can be one of the largest expenses. The Marcella Royal Hotel is close to the Termini Railway Station, and it offers contemporary rooms and suites. It is considered a boutique hotel, offering a rooftop cocktail bar and lovely 360 degree views of Rome. Another wonderful hotel option is the Palazzo Naiadi. Located in Rome’s city center, it is a short walk to many main attractions. Palazzo Naiadi offers luxurious suites complete with marble bathrooms, pools and spa, as well as a rooftop bar and terrace. Photo by marriott.com.
erhaps there is no other place like Rome. The history, the architecture, the food . . . . ahhh! It is a rare opportunity to actually find in one place the richness of culture that Rome has to offer. This makes Rome both a desirable place to visit but an intimidating one as well. Things to know before traveling to Rome are worth a study in order to not be rushed or frustrated and then realize that you have missed some main attractions that are a must see. Rome presents a different set of criteria for travelers, because there is so much to take in. I recommend basing the itinerary on the amount of days you can stay and let that be your initial guide. It is ideal to plan for at least ten days to two weeks to really have the time to absorb this destination, and the month of August should be avoided as many attractions close early or are simply closed, museums in particular. The convenience of staying within the parameters East of Timber and West of the train station will insure that you are in the thick of things, so to speak. It is worth paying extra for a car from the airport directly to the hotel to avoid the hassle with luggage and general wait times. Hotels should be considered near Spagna Square and along the half mile stretch between Piazza Navona and Piazza Barborini. As many as 70% of Rome attractions are located in that zone of the city. Many hotels offer along with their accommodations breakfast daily, which is recommended as the cost of everything
Some of the most popular tourist destination in Rome, Italy.
The Palazzo Naiadi, a luxury hotel in Rome.
Important sights not to be missed are the Roman Ruins, which can easily take an entire day. It is recommended to pre-book a guided tour so that each attraction is covered. Of course, travelers will want to take in The Vatican and Basilica, and again, pre-booking a tour is advised. There is a high tea offered at The Vatican that can be arranged through a travel consultant. Museums are everywhere, and the best way to take these in is by purchasing Roma Pass, available at the museums that allow guests entrance in and out of most of them. The Spanish Steps, Via Nazionale and Barberini are all close by and worthy of grabbing a gelato or panini and wandering around just absorbing the ambiance. However long you plan to stay in Rome, add a few more days, and try to stay longer. It is a beautiful place that is meant to be savored and taken in slowly. Save attractions close to your hotel for last, so if you find yourself short on time, you can roam around easily and catch everything that Rome has to offer.
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