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‘THE PEOPLE YOU SHOULD KNOW’ Former Presidents Join Obama in Plea for Haiti Relief By John J. Kruzel American Forces Press Service
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resident Barack Obama’s two immediate predecessors have joined him in soliciting help on behalf of Haiti, the target of a massive international humanitarian relief operation following a magnitude 7 earthquake. As relief provisions continue to arrive at the devastated country, former Presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton have agreed to lead a major fundraising push, lending their stature to the effort in hopes of sustaining international focus on the dire situation. “This is a model that works,” Obama said of the partnership, citing a precedent in which expresidents were able to channel support to Asia in the aftermath of a vast tsunami there. “That effort raised substantial resources for the victims of that disaster -- money PRESIDENT OBAMA that helped save lives, deliver aid, and rebuild communities. And that's exactly what the people of Haiti desperately need right now.” Speaking at the White House while continued on page, P.14 flanked by the two
PICTURED FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: MICHELLE RODRIGUEZ, THE PRESIDENT OF HSW FINANCIAL SERVICES, CIVIL LITIGATOR ERICA GRAHAM, ALSO A CANDIDATE FOR HARRIS COUNTY CIVIL COURT-AT-LAW POSITION #1 JUDGE, BRYAN POWELL, PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF BOUNDLESS TECHNICAL SERVICES, INC., TOBY GRUBBS, VP OF OPERATIONS FOR THE TERRA INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY GROUP, ATTORNEY RONALD REYNOLDS, ALSO A CANDIDATE FOR STATE REPRESENTATIVE OF HOUSE DISTRICT 27 IN FORT BEND COUNTY AND HIS WIFE DR. JONITA REYNOLDS, THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THE GULF COAST COMMUNITY SERVICES ASSOCIATION (GCCSA), (CENTER) MISSOURI CITY MAYOR ALLEN OWEN, AND CRAIG BELL ALONG WITH HIS WIFE VALENCIA BELL, FOUNDERS OF GENESIS NATIONAL HEALTH CARE, INC. • AUBREY MAGAZINE TO BE RELEASED • FEBRUARY 2010!
MOVING FORWARD PEOPLE MAKING MOVES ACROSS THE COUNTRY
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tion, building on his previous efforts as a business development leader for immunization at Becton, Dickinson, and as senior health economist at the World Bank.
Spotlight on Recent National Appointments and Promotions
Sportz-N-Cutz Barber Shop Are you a barber looking to put your skills to work? Sportz-N-Cutz may be just the place you’ve been looking for. Check out information on LuVonda Petitt & Strode Churchwell • INSIDE ON PAGE • 33
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has appointed JAIME SEPULVEDA as senior fellow, GARY DARMSTADT as director of family health, and GIRINDRE BEEHARRY as director of strategy. Sepulveda was most recently director of integrated health solutions development at the foundation and previously held several senior health positions in the Mexican government, where he founded Mexico's National AIDS Council, designed the
Bill and Melinda Gates. Photo was taken by Kjetil Ree. country’s universal vaccination program, and created a national health surveillance system. Darmstadt served as the foundation’s deputy director of integrated health solutions, and earlier was the founding director of the
International Center for Advancing Neonatal Health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Beeharry previously served as deputy director for global health delivery at the founda-
The Chicago-based MacArthur Foundation has appointed DANIEL HUTTENLOCHER to its board. Huttenlocher, who is an author, scientific researcher, and recipient of twenty-four U.S. patents, is the John P. and Rilla Neafsey Professor of Computing, Information Science and Business at Cornell University, where he holds a joint appointment in
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If the Recession is Over, What’s Next? Many economists and government representatives tell us the recession has ended. An official declaration based on economic statistics may be months away. And, while individuals vary in their predictions, there is a general expectation that the economic environment will gradually improve over time. As we encounter more signs of vitality increased hustle and bustle in stores; fewer ‘For
Sale’ signs on your block; and, eventually, an #1 - Be a Smarter Consumer upswing in employment rates - what’s the best This wasn’t called the “Great Recession” way to react? Should we return to “business as for nothing. The unemployment rate reached its usual,” or should we use the expehighest level in 25 years. rience of the recession to guide our Many homeowners found WEALTH financial decisions going forward? themselves facing forecloHere are some suggessure. Consumers were caught tions on how to manage your financial life carrying too much debt. Even the country’s in a post-recession world: financial system required massive infusions of
government money to avoid a major crisis. As a consumer, your biggest lesson should be to remain vigilant about controlling your expenses, even as the economy brightens. If you found yourself falling deeper into debt during the recession, safeguard yourself from a similar fate this time around. Scrutinize your spending habits. – VIEW THE ENTIRE COLUMN BY VICTOR WALKER • INSIDE ON PAGE • 32
V I S I T W W W. H O U S T O N - B U S I N E S S C O N N E C T I O N S . C O M T O D O W N L O A D T H I S I S S U E !