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Chamber newsletter distributed through the Fort Worth Star-Telegram the first Tuesday of each month to approximately 120,000 subscribers as well as the entire membership.
Latest Edition -
May 2005
Sister Cities
Fort Worth, Mbabane, Swaziland now Sister
Cities
PICTURE GOES HERE
A delegation led by Fort Worth Mayor Mike
Moncrief, four city council members and other
dignitaries traveled to Mbabane, Swaziland,
Africa, as the two cities became official Sister
Cities during a ceremony in March.
The ceremony culminated Fort Worth’s
five-year-long search for an African Sister City
to join other Sister Cities Reggio Emilia,
Italy; Nagaoka, Japan; Trier, Germany; Bandung,
Indonesia; Budapest, Hungary; and Toluca,
Mexico.
“It was an honor to represent the city of Fort
Worth and our citizens in the international
arena,” said Mayor Moncrief. “When the Mbabane
delegation visited our city last summer, we
showed them the best that Fort Worth has to
offer. They promised us an unforgettable visit
to their city.”
After an initial scouting visit and
presentations on other potential African cities,
Mbabane was chosen unanimously to be Fort
Worth’s seventh Sister City. The city was chosen
because of its rich and unique culture,
location, and opportunities for exchanges and
overwhelming community support in both Fort
Worth and Mbabane.
“We will be working with the Swaziland Chamber
of Commerce and the U.S. Embassy in Swaziland to
identify potential opportunities and areas of
cooperation,” said Mary Weaver, director of
international business development for the Fort
Worth Chamber, who was part of the delegation.
“The stage has been set for meaningful
discussions that should, in time, let us define
and build on commercial relationships.”
The Fort Worth delegation was 52 strong and
included Mayor Pro Tem Ralph McCloud and council
members Becky Haskins, Donovan Wheatfall and Jim
Lane.
In preparation for the visit, Fort Worth Sister
Cities raised the funds to deliver 280
wheelchairs to Mbabane. Fort Worth citizens and
the Amon Carter Foundation raised $21,000 for
the project, which was matched by the Wheelchair
Foundation of Danville, Calif.
During the visit, a scholarship was awarded to
two children and one adult from Mbabane to
attend Fort Worth Sister Cities’ International
Leadership Academy in July.
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Mayor's Awards
Deadline Nears for Mayor’s Global Business
Awards
Many businesses in the Tarrant County community
are expanding their operations internationally.
In celebration of their achievements, the
Mayor’s Global Business Awards will recognize
excellence in importing and exporting and honor
exemplary international service providers at the
2005 awards luncheon. The deadline for
businesses to apply for the awards is May 6.
- What: 2005 Mayor’s Global Business Awards
Luncheon
- When: Wednesday, June 29, noon
- Where: Fort Worth Convention Center, 1111
Houston, 76102
- Cost: Individual tickets are $45; table
of eight - $500
International business presents challenges and
opportunities that affect Tarrant County’s economic
progress. The Mayor’s Global Business Awards honor
those companies who contribute to our economy by
overcoming the challenges presented in international
business.
If you are a for-profit company and have
international operations in Tarrant County, you are
eligible and encouraged to compete for the awards.
Applications are designed to level the playing
field, and both large and small companies are
encouraged to apply. Applicants will be judged on
the growth of their international operations, local
job creation, problem-solving and community.
Finalists will be featured in a special section in
the Fort Worth Business Press.
The 2005 Mayor’s Global Business Awards is hosted by
the City of Fort Worth, Fort Worth International
Center, Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, Fort Worth
Business Press, Fort Worth Hispanic Chamber, Fort
Worth Metropolitan Black Chamber and the Tarrant
County Asian-American Chamber.
Applications are available on the web at
www.fwic.com or
can be requested via e-mail:
fwic@fortworthgov.org. For more details, call
817/336-2491, ext. 229.
The year, keynote speaker for the event Alann
Sampson, board chair of the Van Cliburn Foundation
will join Mayor Mike Moncrief in honoring excellence
in international business.
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Annual Meeting
Secrecy Shrouds Chamber’s 123rd Annual Meeting
The Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce’s 123rd Annual
Meeting is slated for Wednesday, June 1. The
presenting sponsor for the event is TexasBank.
Entertainment underwriter is XTO Energy. This year’s
Spirit of Enterprise Award will be presented to
Sundance Square.
- What: Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce’s
123rd Annual Meeting
- When: Wednesday, June 1, 11:45 a.m.-1:30
p.m. Registration and networking begin at 11:30
a.m.
- Where: Renaissance Worthington Hotel,
Grand Ballroom, 200 Main St., 76102
- Cost: Individual tickets are $70
Due to restrictions placed on the Fort Worth
Chamber by the National Office of Chamberland
Security, the identity of the keynote speaker cannot
be revealed prior to the event. “Well, we could tell
you who the featured speaker will be,” said Marilyn
Gilbert, Chamber executive vice president of
marketing, “but we would have to kill you.”
Attendees can be assured, stressed Gilbert, of the
relevance and profundity of the speaker’s comments
in light of current events.
Sponsored tables of 10 are available at the
following levels:
- Gold sponsor - $1900
- Silver sponsor - $1400
- Bronze sponsor - $1000
More information is available from Beverly
Rozanski at 817/336-2491, ext. 263. Or go
online
and click on Annual Meeting.
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Workforce Summit
Workforce Development Summit
Focuses on Education
Education’s role in
developing the future workforce will be the focus of
this year’s Regional Workforce Development Summit, a
collaborative effort of North Central Texas
Workforce, Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County,
Work Source for Dallas County, the Fort Worth
Chamber, the Arlington Chamber of Commerce, and the
Greater Dallas Chamber. Summit co-chairs are Mike
Moses, CEO of Westmark Systems, and Steve Palko,
president and vice chairman of XTO Energy.
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What: Regional
Workforce Development Summit
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When: Tuesday,
June 7, 7:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
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Where: University
of Texas at Arlington’s E. H. Hereford
University Center, 300 West 1st St. 76019
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Cost: $85 -
breakfast and lunch are included.
Keynote luncheon
speaker will be Dr. Steve Murdock, state
demographer.
Among the major topics to be included is
“Education’s Impact on the Future Workforce,”
moderated by Ron Lehman, commissioner for employers
of the Texas Workforce Commission.
A moderated panel discussion with industry leaders
on the “State of Industry Clusters” will offer an
in-depth look at how regional industry clusters –
aerospace, healthcare, logistics and semiconductor –
benefit education and business. WFAA’s Jim Douglas
will serve as moderator for the discussion.
For more information on the summit, contact Cynthia
Fisher Miller at
cmiller@fortworthchamber.com or 817/336-2491,
ext. 240. Register
online.
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President's column
From the President
This week, the Chamber’s second
Total Resource Campaign will give a whole new
meaning to the term “bowling for dollars.” TRC
volunteers will meet at Main Event Entertainment –
lead sponsor for the campaign -- for a friendly
bowling match to get the competitive juices and
ideas flowing. Then the teams will begin making
calls on behalf of the Fort Worth Chamber to help us
meet this year’s goal of $525,000 to fund programs
and provide service to our members.
A total resource campaign markets sponsorships of
Chamber programs, events, publications and
electronic media as well as recruits new members.
Over a 16-week period, volunteers will work to raise
the funding for the Chamber programs for the entire
year.
Back by popular demand, Vernon Bryant, president of
TexasBank, has again agreed to chair this campaign.
“It takes money to fund the Chamber’s efforts,”
noted Vernon. “Chambers of commerce around the
country long ago realized that membership dues alone
could not fund all the necessary programs. Over the
past decade, many chambers have turned to total
resource campaigns to help raise the funding vital
to ensure their programs continue. TRCs are proven
to dramatically increase revenues, grow memberships
and help develop Chamber leadership.”
Total resource campaigns are all about
relationships. They work because of the
relationships our volunteers have with others in the
community. That is why we recruit members of the
business community to assist in this project.
Volunteers go to local businesses to tell the
Chamber’s story and explain our programs and
benefits. The success of last year’s TRC was due
entirely to the tireless efforts of Vernon and our
fantastic teams of volunteers.
There’s an important reason we fund our programs in
this manner – with a TRC, we can approach our
members one time a year with marketing and
sponsorship opportunities instead of constantly
coming back to them. This allows us to ensure that
we have adequate funding for all of our projects at
the beginning of the year. However, the Chamber
could not manage such an ambitious campaign alone.
So let me thank our individual volunteers now, at
the beginning of the campaign. I also want to thank
the companies that are allowing their valuable
employees to spend time working on behalf of the
Chamber as well as lead sponsor Main Event
Entertainment LP and support sponsor Texas Motor
Speedway. With the diligent efforts of these
hardworking folks, I am certain the Chamber will
meet its funding goal.
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Fast Trac
Fast Trac Improves How You Do Business
When the Fort Worth Chamber and the Small
Business Development Center suggested I go through
Fast Trac, I thought, I know the heart of my
business. We are certified network engineers, and
have been consulting for more than 10 years. So what
can Fast Trac offer me? Well -- and here my lack of
training shows -- I don’t know nearly as much about
the details of business as I thought.
For instance, how many of you are minority
stockholders in a corporation? Thanks to Fast Trac,
I now know many ways I could be squeezed out of a
minority position with little or no compensation.
None of these is ethical, but good people squeeze
their partners and co-owners all the time. No one
goes into business with people they don’t like.
Usually they are friends, who, for whatever reasons,
now believe their co-owner should exit, preferably
without getting paid.
To protect our interests we need documents in place
that will eliminate unethical options.
When proper business documents are drawn up at the
beginning of a business, all parties benefit by
knowing what is expected, and are protected from
what was not intended.
We already had many of these documents in place such
as articles of incorporation and by-laws. Still,
when I showed my fellow owners the other things that
could happen, we doubled our efforts to finish the
remaining documents. We are well on the way to new
buy/sell agreements, employment contracts, and other
sensitive documents to ensure protections of our
rights as owners.
I learned all this in one week of Fast Trac, in
which the instructor covered legal topics. We not
only drew up our future organizational charts, but
catalogued which necessary documents we had in
place, and which ones we still needed. And, Fast
Trac provided a small business lawyer for us to
question and to learn from.
I am spinning a little at this point. I feel as
though I’m getting a “mini-MBA” course. I have much
to think about and homework yet to do and this is
only the third week! I know I am not the first to
walk this way, and I can learn so much from the ones
who have gone before me.
The Fort Worth Chamber asked a Fast Trac
participant to chronicle the experience of going
through the program, a four-month course focusing on
different aspects of business as it relates to the
small business owner. Our author is Sunny Lowe,
vice president of the Computer Networking division
of The Strickland Group, a Microsoft Partner in
downtown Fort Worth.
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Update
Recap of
Recent Economic Activity in Tarrant County
Builders from
Sendera Ranch
officially kicked off the project at the beginning
of March at Avondale Haslet Road, near Ross
Perot Jr.'s Alliance
development. Sendera Ranch is in the burgeoning area
west of Interstate 35 and U.S. 287. Many builders
are staking out space there, with some 40,000 homes
planned in the area just west of Interstate 35W and
north of Loop 820. Fort Worth Star Telegram,
March 14
State National Bank
plans a branch at Summit Avenue and Seventh Street.
The bank will occupy the ground floor of a
four-story, 40,000-square-foot office building that
will be built by Fort Worth-based Innovative
Developers. Fort Worth Star Telegram, March 14
Wells Fargo Bank
plans to add eight new or expanded branches in the
Metroplex. That includes the relocation from 5412
Blue Mound Road to a new, larger facility at 5322
Blue Mound Road. Fort Worth Star Telegram, March
14
Omni Hotel
will be built on three blocks of city land east of
the convention center. The hotel is scheduled to
open by September 2008. Fort Worth Business
Press, March 28-April 3
Omni Hotel Corporation
is researching a plan to put 20 to 40 luxury
condominiums atop its proposed convention
headquarters. Capital investment: $90,000,000 – 600
rooms. Fort Worth Business Press, Feb. 28 – March
6
Fort Worth investor Shirlee Gandy
is converting the Santa Fe Railroad Depot at 1501
Jones St. into an extension of her downtown boutique
Ashton Hotel. Fort Worth Star Telegram, March 21
MNP Stonebridge,
a local investment group, has acquired the 300-acre
Southern Oaks Golf Club,
straddling the Tarrant and Johnson county line near
Burleson. Fort Worth Star Telegram, March 7
Chef Lanny Lancarte,
the New York-trained great-grandson of Texas
restaurant pioneers Jesusa
and Joe T . Garcia,
has leased about 2,000 square feet at 3405 W.
Seventh St., where he plans a restaurant. Fort
Worth Star Telegram, March 7
RealtiCorp
land investment company recently has sold 14.5 acres
of a 24-acre corner site near Fossil Creek
golf course. Two Partners Group,
a local development company, will develop the site
for an exclusive 68-lot subdivision. The custom
homes will have golf course frontage and be about
2,500 square feet. Fort Worth Star Telegram,
March 14
US Oncology, a
cancer treatment and research company, will open a
pharmaceutical-distribution center in north Fort
Worth. The Houston-based company has leased a 75,000
square-foot facility from Hillwood Properties, which
operates the AllianceTexas development. Fort
Worth Star-Telegram, March 17
Two Partners Group,
purchased 14.5 acres along the Fossil Creek Golf
Course in north Fort Worth. The land is part of a
24-acre parcel at Fossil Creek Boulevard and North
Beach Street. Two Partners Group plans to develop 68
housing lots there. Fort Worth Star Telegram,
March 21
HR Rentals LLC,
a 30-year-old lodging provider for the nation’s
energy companies, has purchased 1.6 acres and a
16,000 square foot building for production and
offices off Interstate 20 in Kennedale. Fort
Worth Star Telegram, March 14 – 20
There are three new leases in Riverbend
Business Park, off
East Loop 820 and Trinity Boulevard in east Fort
Worth. JP Marketing
and Consulting
has leased 3,000 square feet at 2420 Gravel Drive,
America's Flags & Poles
has leased 2,000 square feet at 2656 Gravel Drive,
and Absolute Specialty Printing
has leased 5,000 square feet at 7618 Pebble Drive.
Fort Worth Star Telegram, March 21
KHI Locke, a
California-based investment group, has bought a
three-story building at 6750 Locke Ave. The
15,027-square-foot building is the home of
DSS Research. DSS is
a national marketing research firm specializing in
work for the health insurance industry. Fort
Worth Star Telegram, March 21
Texas Capital Bank
signed a lease for 3,500 square feet on the ground
floor and 10,000 square feet of office space on the
second floor of the Tower. Fort Worth Business
Press, March 28 – April 3
PlainsCapital Bank,
the second-largest privately held bank in Texas with
$2.5 billion in assets, has opened its second Fort
Worth location. The 6,100-square-foot office is on
the lobby level of the Fort Worth Club Building at
777 Taylor St. Fort Worth Star Telegram, March 14
JPMorgan Chase Bank
opened four new North Texas branches, including one
at 4425 N. Tarrant Parkway in Fort Worth. Fort
Worth Star Telegram, March 14
Fort Worth ophthalmologic giant and drug-maker
Alcon Laboratories Inc.
has opened its new office and training facilities at
its US headquarters on South Freeway. Fort Worth
Business Press, March 14 – 20
Data provided by Strategic Insight Group
Intelligence Research Partner of the Fort Worth
Chamber of Commerce
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Ozone
Season
Chamber Urges Commute Solutions for Ozone
Season
Air quality is one of the greatest threats
to the economy and quality of life in North
Texas. The DFW region is in serious
non-attainment for ozone air pollution,
formed when emissions from automobiles and
other sources are baked in the Texas
climate. Prolonged exposure to ozone smog
causes the equivalent of sunburn to the
lungs, damaging the respiratory and immune
systems, which can contribute to lung
disease, heart attacks and premature death.
Beginning May 1, the Fort Worth Chamber is
again encouraging staffers and others to
help reduce ozone by commuting, using public
transit or working staggered hours on “ozone
days.”
The U.S. EPA has ruled that North Texas must
come into attainment, meeting healthy ozone
levels, no later than 2007. Failure to do so
means the federal government may take
punitive actions against the region as
authorized by Congress in the Federal Clean
Air Act.
“Everyone who lives in North Texas and
drives a car contributes to dirty air,” said
Brian Boerner, chairman of the North Texas
Clean Air Coalition (NTCAC). “Beginning May
1, we’re asking everyone to make small
changes in their everyday lives that will
add up to significant reductions in air
pollution. Employers and other opinion
leaders in North Texas can have a
significant impact on air pollution by
encouraging their colleagues to drive less.”
To that end, NTCAC has developed a variety
of tools and resources to help.
Commute Solutions Season
- From May through October 2005, NTCAC will
promote alternatives to single-occupant
commuting with various promotions to
encourage carpooling or use of public
transit.
The Commuter Challenge
– July, August and September -- each day
North Texas commuters use an alternative to
driving alone to work, they are entitled to
one entry in NTCAC's online incentive
program. Repeated entries increase the
chances of winning one of many great prizes.
Participants may register at
www.TryParkingIt.com starting July 1.
The Commute Solutions Toolkit
– The Toolkit explains various employee trip
reduction options and provides tips and
materials to promote the programs to
employees. Download the toolkit from
www.northtexasair.org - resources - free
publications.
What Every Commuter Should
Know
brochure – Help others learn about air
pollution by distributing this free,
bilingual brochure. Order copies at
northtexasair.org - resources - free
publications.
EPA’s Best Workplaces for
Commuters list
– This list offers regional and national
recognition to qualifying organizations. If
your organization offers benefits to get
people out of their single-occupant vehicles
– such as transit passes, vanpool subsidies,
or telework programs – you may already
qualify for the list. If not, NTCAC can show
you how easy it is to implement these
programs. Apply now and/or learn more at
www.northtexasair.org.
The North Texas Clean Air Coalition also
offers videos, speakers and other materials
to help educate North Texans about how to
improve air quality. Contact Shannon Morris,
project director, at (972)621-0400 or by
e-mail
shannon@ntc-dfw.org.
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Wright Amendment
Chamber
Reaffirms Support of Wright Amendment
Recently, the Executive Committee of the Fort Worth
Chamber approved a resolution reaffirming its
unwavering support of the Wright Amendment as well
as bringing new and /or expanding air service to DFW
International Airport. The text of the resolution
follows:
Whereas the
cities of Fort Worth and Dallas joined together to
design, finance, build and support DFW International
Airport;
Whereas these
Owner Cities adopted Joint Bond Ordinances agreeing
to transfer all Certificated Air Carrier Services
from community airports to DFW International
Airport;
Whereas a
harmonious and cooperative effort by local
government entities to provide efficient management
and safety for our Dallas/Fort Worth area airport
systems is vital to the common good of our
communities and our citizens;
Whereas any
further changes to the 1979 legislative compromise,
known as the Wright Amendment, allowing limited air
service from Love Field would have a detrimental
effect upon DFW International Airport at a critical
time when the aviation industry remains in economic
uncertainly.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED
that the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce reaffirms
its position that all efforts in the region should
focus upon uniting area communities and regional
leadership to seek to bring new and expanded air
service to DFW International Airport to ensure the
continued success of this vital, regional economic
engine that generates more than $14 billion in
annual economic activity for North Texas, supports
more than 268,000 full time jobs, and serves as the
principal catalyst for business and tourism growth
for the entire region.
AND, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED
that the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce supports the
continuance of the Wright Amendment and urges the
pursuit of efforts to keep the Wright Amendment as
currently enacted.
For further information on the Wright Amendment or
other governmental issues, contact Tim Keleher at
tkeleher@fortworthchamber.com or 817/336-2491,
ext. 264.
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Van Cliburn
12th Cliburn Competition Music to Fort
Worth’s Ears
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Cliburn |
Called an American hero, Van Cliburn has been
hailed as one of the most persuasive ambassadors of
American culture as well as one of the greatest
pianists in the history of music. With his historic
1958 victory in the first Tchaikovsky International
Piano Competition in Moscow at the height of the
Cold War, Cliburn tore down cultural barriers years
ahead of glasnost and perestroika, reaching out
across political frontiers with a universal message:
the joy of beautiful music.
Van Cliburn will address the Fort Worth Chamber’s
first “What’s Up Fort Worth?” luncheon touching on
the upcoming Cliburn Competition and reflecting on
the cultural and economic impact it has on Fort
Worth.
- What: What’s Up Fort Worth? Luncheon
featuring Van Cliburn
- When: Thursday, May 12, noon-1:30 p.m.
Networking and registration begin at 11:30 a.m.
- Where: The Petroleum Club, 777 Main St. 39th
floor, 76102
- Cost: Chamber members - $35; Gold members -
$30; non-members - $60; and tables of eight -
$350.
The Cliburn Competition makes Fort Worth a
serious player on the international music scene.
Over 450 articles about the 11th Competition
appeared in the national and international press
covered by NPR, BBC, Canadian Broadcast Corporation,
AP Newswire, the Knight Ridder/Tribune Service,
Billboard, The New Yorker, Parade Magazine and
Vanity Fair.
Following each competition, the six finalists serve
residencies, conduct master classes and give
lectures as they spread the word about the Cliburn
Competition.
Register
online
or contact Jeanean Herod at
jherod@fortworthchamber.com or 817/336-2491,
ext. 275.
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FWISD
Career Fair
Help a
FWISD Grad Find a Summer Job
“Good employers, good selection. Two thumbs
up!”
That was one grad’s reaction to last year’s Fort
Worth ISD Career Resources Hiring Fair. The 2005
Annual Hiring Fair for recent graduates of FWISD
high schools is coming soon. This is a terrific
opportunity for area businesses to meet many young
people looking for work and perhaps make a few
important hires. FWISD is hosting the event in
partnership the Fort Worth Chamber, Fort Worth
Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Fort Worth
Metropolitan Black Chamber Of Commerce, and
Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County.
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What: Fort Worth
ISD – Career Resources Hiring Fair 2005 for
Recent FWISD Graduates
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When: Thursday,
June 2, 1-4 p.m.
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Where: Will
Rogers Memorial Center Exhibits Hall, 3400
Burnett-Tandy Drive, 76107
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Cost: No charge
for admission, booths or parking
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Deadline to
register for booth space: May 13 – space is
limited
“This is a great
opportunity for both our graduates and businesses,”
said Lila Boydston, FWISD Hiring Fair coordinator.
“Based on previous attendance, we anticipate more
than 800 applicants to attend Hiring Fair 2005. They
will be seeking entry-level jobs in a variety of
industries for fulltime, part time and seasonal
positions.”
“There is still plenty of time for employers to
register and to get involved,” said Cynthia Fisher
Miller, director of workforce and education for the
Fort Worth Chamber. “It’s important that we help our
graduates find gainful employment and help our local
businesses find qualified help.”
Employers wishing a booth should contact Boydston at
817/871-3116. Deadline is May 13. For more
information, contact Boydston or Miller at
817/336-2491, ext. 240.
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Action
Ambassador
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Tony Zavala,
Action Ambassador,
February 2005 |
Action Ambassador for February 2005
Congratulations to the Fort Worth Chamber’s top
Action Ambassador for February 2005, Tony
Zavala. Zavala has been an ambassador only since
November 2004 and is vice president of employee
benefits with Frost Insurance Agency.
Action Ambassadors work on behalf of the Chamber
calling on new members and serving as greeters
at various Chamber functions. Currently, the
program is recruiting new members, however,
Ambassadors must be members of the Fort Worth
Chamber. The Action Ambassador program is a
great way to learn more about the Fort Worth
Chamber and plug in to all of the programs it
offers. It is also a great networking tool
allowing ambassadors to contact Chamber members
on the Chamber’s behalf. Contact Teresa Pearson
at 817/336-2491, ext. 249 for information on
becoming an Action Ambassador.
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SBOY – Pulliam Pools
Pulliam Staff Buoyed by Second SBOY Award
Things are going swimmingly at Pulliam Pools,
according to Barry Pulliam, company president.
In March, the company received its second Small
Business of the Year Award from the Fort Worth
Chamber and business is booming. The nearly
90-year-old pool builder expects to complete
about 500 pools this year.
Founded in 1916, Pulliam Pools is the
continuation of a family construction business
started by brothers Theodore Cresswell Pulliam
and Frank L. “Pop” Pulliam. Back then, there was
no such thing as a swimming pool contractor.
What pools were built were built by cement
contractors. Since Theo had experience building
waterproof cattle dipping vats, he was asked to
build the first swimming pools in Coryell
County.
Doren Pulliam, Barry’s dad, expanded the
business and, with his background in the U.S.
Navy Construction Battalion, became an innovator
of modern pool construction and technology.
Barry is third generation and has been active in
the business since he was 10, literally learning
about pool construction from the ground down. He
continues to innovate and experiment to provide
Pulliam customers with a carefree, low
maintenance swimming pool. He is a member of the
prestigious Aquatech group, a 30-year-old
national organization of quality pool builders
known throughout the industry for integrity and
dedication to craftsmanship.
But he credits his staff for the “Rising Star”
Small Business of the Year Award. “It’s nice to
be recognized for what you do,” said Barry.
“Success is a great reinforcer. We do the best
we can at what we do and we try to offer our
customers the best product at the best price.”
Pulliam Pools won the award in 1999, but after
9/11, the pool business got tougher. “People
really began to re-evaluate their expenditures,”
said Debra Smith, Pulliam vice president and
general manager. “Most people think of a pool as
a luxury.”
That tough stretch forced Pulliam to get more
creative with their marketing as well as
diversify their services. Today, in addition to
building state-of-the-art pools and spas, the
company now designs outdoor kitchens, decks and
waterfalls.
That innovation and diversification, along with
the Pulliam business philosophy of treating
customers they way they’d like to be treated,
brought them through the tough times. “Staying
on top of the trends helped us expand the
business,” said Smith. “Today our customers want
more and more bells and whistles.”
Not too long ago, says Smith, the choices for
pools were pretty simple. “You picked your
decking and tile,” she said. “That was it.”
Today the company’s location is surrounded by
decking samples, various types of rock, demo
waterfalls and – the latest – fire pits. Inside,
the tile samples and photos of pools options are
everywhere. Pulliam’s dedication to staying
ahead of pool trends and offering premium,
systematic customer service managed every step
along the way has kept them sailing along.
But both Barry and Debra credit the Pulliam
staff with the company’s continued success. “We
have a great group of employees and managers
here at Pulliam,” said Debra. “We stress
teamwork and helpfulness here. If you treat
people the way you want to be treated, they’ll
work harder for you. And for the customer.”
Pulliam
Pools staffers include Mike Clark, Kim Eggenberger,
President Barry Pulliam,
(back row) Jeffrey Stachmus, Vice President Debra
Smith and David Eggenberger.
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Guest Column
Planning for the Future: Protecting Your
Business when a Partner Dies or Is Disabled
By Bill Chamblee & Jeff Ryan
Ben Franklin once said, “In this world nothing can
be said to be certain except death and taxes. One of
those certainties will be on display this week as
millions rush to meet the tax deadline.
If the Terry Schiavo matter taught us anything, it
is that careful thought and planning must also be
given to issues involving death and incapacity. This
is particularly true in the business context. If an
owner of a closely held corporation dies, will the
family of the deceased obtain fair market value for
their interest? Will the surviving owners have the
funds needed to purchase such an interest? Will the
surviving owners appreciate their deceased partner’s
spouse entering into a new management role with the
business? Such arrangements are rarely intended and
rarely work. Similar questions arise when an owner
is permanently disabled or incapacitated.
Businesses must have steps in place that will direct
how the business will proceed following the death or
disability of a key person such as a co-owner,
partner or shareholder. Such arrangements are often
spelled out in a buy-sell agreement.
There are two common types of buy-sell agreements,
both of which are commonly funded by a life
insurance policy. In the cross-purchase agreement,
the owners purchase and are beneficiaries of
insurance policies on each of the other owners. The
buy-sell agreement provides that if one partner
dies, the others would receive their life insurance
proceeds and use the funds to purchase the remaining
portion of the business from the deceased partner’s
estate. In a stock redemption agreement, the
business would own the policies on each shareholder
and would buy back the deceased’s shares with the
insurance proceeds.
There are advantages and disadvantages to both. For
example, in a cross-purchase agreement,
administration can be difficult if you have numerous
owners, each of whom must purchase a plan on the
other. In a stock redemption agreement there can be
adverse tax consequences not seen in a
cross-purchase agreement. However, these types of
problems can also be avoided or minimized with
careful planning and drafting.
There are additional issues that should be taken
into consideration when drafting a buy-sell
agreement. For example, the buy-sell agreement can
provide an agreed to price for the purchase or spell
out a valuation formula. In addition to death and
retirement, parties may also include a triggering
provision for an owner’s disability or incapacity,
funded through a disability policy. It is also
important that the spouse of each owner issue a
written consent to the buy-sell agreement.
When business owners plan ahead for unfortunate
events such as death and disability, they will find
a myriad of solutions available and significant tax
issues that must be taken into consideration. By
consulting with an attorney and drafting a well
thought out buy-sell agreement, the potential
problems that can occur when an owner dies or is
incapacitated can be avoided.
Bill Chamblee and Jeff Ryan are partners with the
law firm of Chamblee & Ryan, dedicated to
representing businesses throughout Texas.
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World of Wings
Students' Planes WOW DFW Airport
To celebrate the opening of
DFW International Airport’s new
International Terminal D and the SkyLink
Automated People Mover System, airport
officials invited area students, arts
groups, airlines and cultural groups to
participate in a unique art project.
The World of Wings (WOW) project was themed
for international aviation travel and each
group was invited to decorate a giant model
plan for display at DFW later this year.
Planes designed by two Fort Worth ISD
schools on behalf of the Fort Worth Chamber
have been accepted by the WOW project and
will be among those displayed in Terminal D.
The Applied Learning Academy and Van Zandt
Guinn Elementary each produced unique, Fort
Worth-themed planes for their entries.
The Chamber thanks the students and teachers
for their hard work. |
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The team of artists from the Applied
Learning Academy include Audrey Webber,
Lauren Damon, Jordonn Day and Bruenesha
Johnson. |
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The Van Zandt Guinn team
included Javier Sandoval, Luzerito Ramirez
and Jesus Hinojosa. Faith Huck is not
pictured. |
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Geren
Let the voters decide
By Rep. Charlie Geren
We are currently more than half way though the
79th Legislative session, and I am happy to
report the mood in the house remains positive
and determined. I am serving my third term in
the Texas Legislature, and for the past six
years we’ve been experiencing a severe budget
crunch. Recent estimates show that state
healthcare costs are forcing us into even
tougher budgetary times, which could mean as
much as a $3-5 billion shortfall.
Every time we have money problems in Austin,
folks start throwing gambling ideas out as the
panacea. Sometimes we talk about slot machines
at the race tracks. Sometimes we talk about
expanding lotto games. And sometimes we talk
about full scale casinos. Frankly, we’re tired
of talking about it. It’s time for Texas voters
to weigh in on the issue.
Historically, we have asked voters what they
want to do about big issues like tort reform,
concealed handguns, income tax prohibitions, and
the state lottery. With that in mind, it’s high
time for the same voters who elected me, who
elected my colleagues, and who elected every
statewide official to say “yea” or “nay.” Let’s
vote it up and move it forward or vote it down
and put it behind us. But let’s stop dancing
around the issue once and for all.
The long term financial benefits to the State of
Texas could be staggering. According to the
Perryman Group, a leading economic research
company, the total annual expenditures from
limited casino gaming could top $30 billion.
Personal income from the developments could mean
nearly $10 billion with over 270,000 new jobs.
By the time you add in an estimated $5 billion
in retail sales -- well, then you’re talking
real money to help stimulate the Texas economy.
Unlike some gambling bills that have been filed,
I want any legislation that I support to have
basic voting protections for every Texan, and I
want to ensure significant and lasting economic
development for Texas. Above all, let’s let the
voters decide.
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Chamberletter contact below:
For more information contact:
Arden Dufilho
Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce
817-336-2491 Ext. 259 |
