40 Under 40 - 2009

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Transcript of 40 Under 40 - 2009

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a d v e r t i s i n g

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33May 28, 2009

Sponsors 2009 HonoreesMark Assaad 4John Bilbow 5Matt Browning 7Luis Caballero 9Misti Callicott 10Kathryn Cardarelli 11Kim Catalano 12Greg Cook 13Andrew de la Torre 14Mark Drennan 15Jamie Fulton 17J. R. Holland 19Lyndsay Hoover 20David Kramer 21Craig Lloyd 23Brant Martin 24Daniel McCarthy 25Todd Miller 26Nelson Mitchell 27Randi Mitchell 28Drew Myers 29

Teresa Nelson 30

Amanda Neill 31

David Nolan 32

David Parker 33

Elaina Perez 34

Ken Shetter 35

Adam Smith 37

Jason Smith III 38

Brent Sorrells 39

Dana Stayton 41

Frank Taylor 42

Mike Thomas Jr. 43

John Thompson III 45

Michael Tothe 46

Ginger Webber 47

Brook Whitworth 49

Charles Williams 50

Richard Williams 51

Jennifer Yoder 52

Leading the wayWhen it was suggested to ask the 40

Under 40 recipients the strangest thingthey’ve expensed my first thought wasthat no one would answer. Imagine mysurprise when I see how honest thisclass is. Did you know in the right pro-fession you can expense a 150-poundpig, the “finer Belgian-style blond ales,”the passenger side of a wrecked 1957Chevy Bel Air and Hans and Frans cos-tumes from Saturday Night Live.

Just from some of the expense itemsyou can see that we have a lively Classof 2009. So lively, in fact, there is an ex-professional wrestler, The Blue Hawaiian,on the list.

While the fun, creative juices are flow-ing, this group is dedicated to the com-munity and being workplace leaders.They go above and beyond before theyare asked and exceed expectations.

Members of this class include profes-sionals in law, real estate, finance, hospi-tality, sports, health care, marketing and more. Oh yeah, need a gift basketor a Harley-Davidson? We’ve got thatcovered as well.

As we’ve said year after year, the 40Under 40 classes represnt TarrantCounty’s best leaders in work and thecommunity. The Class of 2009 is heavilyinvolved in the community. In addition tothe long hours at the office, the honoreesspend countless hours on the boards ofmany nonprofit organizations, neighbor-hood boards or just volunteering theirtime.

One honoree quit his day job to starta company that focuses on giving tononprofits, e-Partners in Giving.

With young professional groups pop-ping up left and right, this is the classmaking these groups happened. Severalhonorees have found the time to befounding member of young professionalgroups.

Ready to know who did what? Flipthrough the pages of the Fort WorthBusiness Press’ 40 Under 40 Class of2009 to see who you know and who youshould know.

– Crystal ForesterManaging editor

PublisherBanks Dishmon

EditorRobert Francis

Associate EditorMichael H. Price

Managing EditorCrystal Forester

ContributorsAleshia Howe, Betty Dillard,

Elizabeth Bassett, John-Laurent Tronche,Leslie Wimmer, Laurie Barker James

ProductionBrent Latimer, Clayton Gardner

PhotographyGlen E. Ellman

Advertising ExecutivesAnn Alexander, Andrea Benford,Bob Collins, Elizabeth NorthernMary Schlegel, Annie Warren

Business Manager/Director of Events

Shiela West

ReceptionMaggie Franklin

3509 Hulen, No. 201 • Fort Worth, TX 76107817-336-8300 • Fax: 817-332-3038

www.fwbusinesspress.com

Fort Worth Business Press. © 2008

TEXAS PRESSASSOCIATION

MEMBER 2006

AWARD WINNER

a d v e r t i s i n g

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About the prop:They are the two things most important to me.

What is the strangest thing you’ve expensed? A night at the Delano hotel in South Beach, Fla.

Where did your first paycheck come from? Winn Dixie on Alta Mesa Boulevard in Fort Worth

What was the first luxury item you bought yourself? An Alpine radio and six-disc CD changer

Do you prefer phone or e-mail for work? Phone

Another profession you would like to try?Ambassador to New Zealand or a chef

Where is the best place to have a business lunch?Café Aspen

When Mark Assaad was a child, he often used hisblocks to build things. These days, he makes his livingin a similar fashion, but his blocks are significantly bigger.

Assaad is vice president of A.N.A. Consultants LLC,a Fort Worth-based consulting and civil engineeringfirm – and a company that represents several genera-tions of engineers. Assaad says he knew from the timehe was a child playing with blocks he wanted to followin his father’s and grandfathers’ footsteps and becomean engineer. When Assaad graduated from Texas A&MUniversity in 1994, he teamed up with his father andfounded A.N.A. Consultants. Since then, Assaad hasbeen honored as Young Engineer of the Year by boththe American Society of Civil Engineers as well as theTexas Society of Professional Engineers. And thoughAssaad lists both as accomplishments he is proud of,he is most proud of a different kind of accomplishment:his family.

“My wife and my children; I am so proud of my fami-ly,” he says. “They are great and I love them dearly.”

In addition to his involvement with several profession-al organizations, Assaad also is heavily involved withhis church because, as he says, it’s a place he cangive back.

“It’s important to go out and be active in differentorganizations – professional or not – as a way to giveback,” he says. “There is always a younger generationof kids who can learn from what you can offer. Andthey may not have the same opportunities you had, so

it’s a chance to help show them a different path in life.” Donnie Siratt, Assaad’s nominator for the 40 Under

40 distinction, described Assaad as a successful engi-neer and business owner, but more importantly, as “aperson that truly has his priorities in order,” Siratt says.“He is deeply rooted in faith, a family man in everysense of the word, a great friend andone of the nicest people you’ll evermeet.”

Assaad and his wife, Kimberly,who also is a civil engineer bydegree, have been married for10 years and have two children: a7-year-old son named Samand a 6-year-olddaughter namedLina Grace.

– Aleshia Howe

Mark AssaadA.N.A. Consultants LLC38

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After graduating from Oklahoma State University in 1995,John Bilbow spent about a year and a half selling inductionmotors for oil pumps and deep wells. It was a national andinternational selling job, based out of Oklahoma. When hisgrandmother died and left him $3,000, though, he packed hisbags and moved to Texas.

Today, Bilbow is the executive vice president and generalmanager of the Fort Worth Cats, a highly successful inde-pendent baseball team. He admits that it’s a dream job, but itcame after working in the commercial real estate realm, thecomputer industry, and finally after holding many positions inthe Cats organization, which he joined as an account execu-tive in February 2002.

“I credit my steady rise to my ability to sell,” Bilbow says ofhis ascent through the organization.

The ability to promote the team while simultaneously push-ing himself is what Bilbow also thinks will help his future inbaseball. At 38, he’s already spent three years in the generalmanager role, the first as a sort of apprentice as leadershipchanged. There are only about 200 GMs in baseball at all ofits levels, Bilbow said, and he said he wouldn’t rule out mov-ing up in the organization.

While Bilbow has had several sales-based jobs, he says healways knew he wanted to be involved in sports. He playedvarious sports growing up – from soccer to baseball to tennisand college cheerleading – and still enjoys golf and skeetshooting when he gets the chance today. He met his wife,Kendall, when she was a cheerleader at the University ofNorth Texas and taking lessons at a gym where Bilbow

was coaching. They married in 2000 and now have three chil-dren: Jylian, who is 7, Mikey, who is 3, and Ivy, who is justyounger than 2.

Bilbow’s oldest daughter, Jylian, also has chronic, severemedical issues, and Bilbow said that has taught him to adaptto situations and stay focused on outcomes. Bilbow and hiswife are involved with many organizations, and they’ve alsoraised almost a quarter of a million dollars for children withrare birth anomalies through work with organizations likeWorld Craniofacial Foundation.

While Bilbow does love his job, it’s not all just about thelove of the game. Just like any manager, thereare challenges, but he said most people –including himself – are quick to recognizethat he’s got a good thing going.

“I think the most common phrase is,‘That’s a cool job,’ and my responseis, ‘On most days it is,’” he says.

– Elizabeth Bassett

About the prop:Part of the reason why I’ve received this recognition isbecause of the uniqueness of this baseball team.

What is the strangest thing you’ve expensed? A 150-pound pig

Where did your first paycheck come from?A bridal and tuxedo rental shop in Oklahoma

What was the first luxury item you bought yourself? My first car when I was in college, a Mitsubishi Eclipse

Do you prefer phone or e-mail for work? Phone

Another profession you would like to try? Medical sales

Where is the best place to have a business lunch? Joe T. Garcia’s

John BilbowFort Worth Cats Baseball38

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Congratulations

to the 40 Under 40

Class of 2009

From your friends at

Coors Distributing

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About the prop:I love to hunt. Duck hunting is my favorite. Hunting isimportant to me because it is the one thing that my dadand I do together. I am hoping to pass that tradition downto my son.

What is the strangest thing you’ve expensed? Hans and Frans costume (Saturday Night Live)

Where did your first paycheck come from? I was a sacker at Skaggs Alpha Beta.

What was the first luxury item you bought yourself? I shot a Sika Deer and had it mounted.

Do you prefer phone or e-mail for work? E-mail for most basic communication

Another profession you would like to try? Professional golfer

Where is the best place to have a business lunch?Anywhere that serves good sushi or Thai

Matt Browning believes faith and family are No. 1. Hesays whenever he’s put those things first in his life,everything has gone right.

And a lot has gone right.Browning worked his way through college starting as

a part-time bank teller. Eventually, he went full-time andwas promoted to a supervisor. Now nearly 20 yearslater, Browning is president of American National Bankof Texas and he has done it all with a smile.

“I like to have fun and laugh and find the humor ineverything,” he says.

Browning spent most of his career working his wayup the ladder at Chase Bank/Bank One. But 18 monthsago, he made a big change when he accepted hisposition at American National Bank.

“I always thought I was more suited for a smaller,community style bank,” he says. “I took that leap offaith and came to my current employer [and] I couldn’tbe happier.”

Throughout his career, Browning has been a devoutsupporter of dozens of charity organizations includingSounds of Spring for North Richland Hills, the BestBuddies Program, the Catholic Diocese of Fort Worth,the American Heart Association, Alliance for LupusResearch, March of Dimes, Kids Wish Network,Paralyzed Veterans of America and The Leukemia &Lymphoma Society to name a few.

Browning says several of the organizations are relat-

ed to his faith or have a special meaning.“As president of a community bank, I believe it is

important to be visible in the community we serve andgive back,” he says.

Browning and his wife, Jeanette, have been marriedfor eight years and have three girls ages 4, 2 and 1.Browning has a son who is 12 years old.

And Browning says one of the best personal deci-sions he and his wife ever made hap-pened a few years ago when theyadopted a little girl from China – anexperience Browning calls ‘incred-ible’ and something he and hiswife were simply meant to do.

– Aleshia Howe

Matt BrowningAmerican National Bank of Texas39

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A Special Thank You to our 40 Under 40 Gift Providers

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Hispanic consumers account for an annual buying power inthe billions of dollars in the Dallas-Fort Worth area – LuisCaballero wants to help you attract some of that.

Caballero is president of Matador Marketing Group, a localadvertising and marketing company that aims to connect busi-nesses across the nation with the growing Hispanic population.

“It’s an education to both the businesses and the Hispanicculture,” Caballero says of his approach. “I view myself as anintermediary bridging that culture gap.”

Often, businesses fall to stereotypes whenapproaching the Hispanic market, which nodoubt is a costly mistake. Other timesthose same businesses approach theHispanic consumers as a large group,instead of a collection of many differentindividuals, including English-speakingHispanics, Spanish speakers, first-genera-tion Mexican-Americans, South Americans andmore.

There was a time when a logo could bepresented at an event aimed atHispanics and the company could get agood response. Those times havechanged, Caballero says.

“It’s about education,” he says, “that’s mymain goal: for businesses to realize they cangrow their sales or their profits by not necessari-ly expanding from a physical standpoint butexpanding from a customer-base standpoint.”

To expand: “It’s easier to diversify your customerbase than to diversify your product line,” he says.

Clients have included Anheuser-Busch, Pepsi Co., NissanNorth America, AT&T, the Fort Worth Transit Authority and evenYum! Brands – notable because the Taco Bell-parent companyrefined its marketing message after an initial stumble in Mexicoand now is boasting sales that rival those in the United States.

Rene Smith is senior public relations specialist at ConcussionLLP, a Fort Worth advertising and marketing company that

recently joined forces with Matador to takeadvantage of the large and still-growing NorthTexas Hispanic population.

“Luis Caballero adds value to everything hetouches,” Smith says. “Whether coaching histwo young girls’ soccer team, volunteering atlocal not-for-profit organizations or conducting

business, Luis’ actions command bothrespect and admiration from his

peers.”Caballero’s volunteer efforts also

are important; he has donated histime to Musicarte de Fort Worth,Artes de la Rosa, the AmericanCancer Society the Fort WorthYouth Soccer Association andSouthern Methodist University’sYoung Alumni organization.

– John-Laurent Tronche

Luis CaballeroMatador Marketing Group38

About the prop:It’s a reflection of my life with my family.

What is the strangest thing you’ve expensed? A tattoo

Where did your first paycheck come from? TCU Florist back in 1985 or ’86

What was the first luxury item you bought yourself? I’m still waiting to buy that luxury item.

Do you prefer phone or e-mail for work? Phone

Another profession you would like to try?I hopefully will retire into being a professor.

Where is the best place to have a business lunch?The Fort Worth Club

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Misti Callicott began her career with Downtown’s ReataRestaurant in early 2002 just after the eatery relocated toSundance Square. The restaurant known far and wide for itscowboy cuisine didn’t even have a catering division untilCallicott came galloping to the rescue.

Since riding into town, Callicott – who hails from Crandalljust east of Dallas – has helped establish Reata’s reputationfor top-notch catered affairs while cultivating relationshipswith hundreds of meeting and event planners across theLone Star State.

Her passion for giving back to the community hasendeared her to charities and those less fortunate. Callicottand her team have provided Reata’s legendary Western fareto charity events including the National Cowgirl Hall of FameLuncheon, Habitat for Humanity’s Tool Box Bash, the YWCA’sTribute to Women in Business Luncheon as well as large-scale community events such as MAIN Street Arts Festival.She also is an avid supporter of Big Brothers & Sisters’Big Taste, Lena Pope Home’s Sweetheart DessertFantasy and the Tarrant Area Food Bank’s Empty Bowls.

Callicott, 29, has played a key role in Reata’s expan-sion at the annual Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo,which includes two full-service restaurants, Reata at theRodeo and Reata at the Backstage.

Under her leadership, Reata’s catering component,Reata on the Road, surpassed $1.4 million in sales in2008.

“For nonprofit organizations, community leaders and corpo-rate functions, the name ‘Misti Callicott’ is practically synony-mous with Reata,” says Julie Hatch who works at CreativeCommunications.

Always “positive, upbeat and packed full of energy,” Hatchsays, Callicott is “truly an unsung hero to Reata Restaurantand the Fort Worth area. Because the nature of her position

keeps her behind the scenes, she rarely getsrecognized or takes credit for the relation-

ships – and revenue – that she personallygenerates.”

One of the things she enjoys mostabout Reata, Callicott says, is being apart of the family-owned business.

“It is truly a pleasure to come towork every day. I am surrounded

by talented and creative indi-viduals, and sincerely enjoyour large and varied base ofclientele,” Callicott says.

“Al Micallef, the owner ofReata, has taught me somuch about setting goals,being creative and doing

what it takes to get the jobdone,” she says. “I am hon-ored to be given this presti-gious award, and amextremely thankful that mycolleagues and clients havecreated such a positive workenvironment, and for my familyfor giving me the time and thefreedom to commit to my job.”

Callicott and her husband,Steven, have a 3-year-olddaughter named Kelby – “andboth of them mean the world tome,” she says.

– Betty Dillard

Misti CallicottReata Restaurant29

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About the prop:It's pictures of my daughter Kelby and she's my inspira-tion.

What is the strangest thing you’ve expensed? Raw chicken

Where did your first paycheck come from?Snowy Ice, a snow cone stand when I was 15

What was the first luxury item you bought yourself? I love bags and purses.

Do you prefer phone or e-mail for work? Phone

Another profession you would like to try? Business owner of my own café/bakery

Where is the best place to have a business lunch? Reata, of course!

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It always seems that public health topics come up in crisismoments – when swine flu is being put forward as the nextvirus to panic about, for example.

“It’s unfortunate you have to have some disaster occur forpeople to understand what’s going on,” says KathrynCardarelli, a professor at the UNT Health Science Center anddirector for the Center for Community Health.

Cardarelli, an epidemiologist, initially focused on infectiousdisease. When she was an undergraduate at the University ofTexas at Austin, she had an internship at the state publichealth department, which solidified her interest in studyingthe factors affecting health and illness in populations.Later on, her research focus shifted, but she went on toget a master’s degree in public health and then a doctor-al degree in epidemiology.

Before earning her doctorate, though, Cardarellispent two year’s completing a fellowship with theU.S. Department of Health and Human Services,which focused on health policies and pro-grams for vulnerable populations. Shespent time in Washington, D.C., and atthe Centers for Disease Control andPrevention in Atlanta, but most of hertime was in regional Dallas offices,where she could better study the popula-tions along the Mexico/Texas border.

Today, Cardarelli’s interests include theinfluence of social and psychosocial factors on

chronic disease and pregnancy outcomes and research on policy and methods related to population health and healthdisparities. She joined the UNT Health Science Center in2004, where she’s a researcher, a leader and a teacher,exposing students to epidemiology. While being with studentsis always exciting and challenging, she says, working in afield that always produces new research and insights is part

of what keeps her intrigued.“I feel blessed to have a job that changes

every day because that’s the nature of sci-ence,” she says.

While Cardarelli will be teaching somesummer classes at the UNT Health ScienceCenter, she will be taking a brief hiatus this

fall when she and her husband welcometheir second son in October. Cardarelliand her husband, Dr. RobertoCardarelli, already have one child,Cristiano, who is 3 years old.Cardarelli herself grew up with twoparents in the medical field, andsays she always knew she wantedto go into the sciences, but rightnow her son’s favorite thing is to ask“Why?” to everything.

That constant questioning is simi-lar to what keeps the field of epi-demiology moving forward. Thepublic may not think much aboutthe field, but that doesn’t meanthere’s not plenty to learn.“When everything is good and

everything appears normal, no onethinks about it,” she says.

–Elizabeth Bassett

Kathryn CardarelliCenter for Community Health, Department of Family Medicine at Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine, Department of Epidemiology at the School of Public Health at the UNT Health Science Center

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About the prop:I had planned to use a different prop, but the photographer liked my pregnant belly better.

What is the strangest thing you’ve expensed? Working for the state, there is little that I can expense.

Where did your first paycheck come from? My father’s office, age 13

What was the first luxury item you bought yourself? A handbag – this is my big vice (just ask my husband).

Do you prefer phone or e-mail for work?Definitely e-mail...can respond whenever you have a moment.

Another profession you would like to try? Meteorology; I have always been fascinated with weather.

Where is the best place to have a business or work lunch? Michael’s on Seventh – it’s a short walk from my office.

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Kim Catalano juggles it all: her family, her jobs and hercommunity service.

After about six years of working as a director and a non-equity partner at Bracket & Ellis, Catalano decided it wastime to spend more time with her three children who are now8, 7 and 3 years old.

“I just can’t imagine somebody else taking care of my chil-dren, and being gone from them,” Catalano says. “It was avery hard decision to [leave the firm]. But, people always askme ‘Kim, how do you do it all?’ and I say I don’t, you have togive up things for yourself and do what you need to do foryour family.”

Soon after leaving the firm, Catalano found herself with newcareer opportunities, and took on a job as a Fort WorthMunicipal Court Judge Pro Tem on nights and weekends.

As a Pro Tem Judge, Catalano serves in the Fort WorthMunicipal Court and in the Fort Worth Jail as needed. Shedeals mostly in traffic citations, class-c misdemeanor ticketsand arraignments.

She also works as Tarrant County’s Tax Ad Litemattorney, where she serves two roles: representing chil-dren or incompetent adults who are injured, and inlocating people who have been sued but can’t be found.

Catalano also works at First United Methodist’s pre-schoolonce a week, and works with the Tarrant County YoungLawyer’s Association, the Tanglewood Elementary School PTAboard, the Fort Worth Junior Women’s Club and the UniversityLittle League.

At Tanglewood Elementary, Catalano is involved in theschool’s Reading is Fundamental program, where she andothers encourage children to read by giving children freebooks and hosting reading events.

Catalano says she finds working with TanglewoodElementary rewarding because she’s working to help educatechildren, including her own.

“Anything you can do for a child that enhances their edu-cation and makes them want to learn more is so rewarding,”she says. “I tell my husband all the time that I’m not gettingthe self-satisfaction you get from winning a trial or settling acase, but I see my children’s faces smiling all the time, and

that’s what I’m getting.”– Leslie Wimmer

About the prop:I juggled a gavel, which represents my legal career as alawyer and a judge. And I juggled a microphone, which repre-sents my personal interest and hobby with my vocal perform-ance degree. And then I juggled the baseball, and that repre-sents my husband and three boys who just love baseball.

What is the strangest thing you’ve expensed? Fake handcuffs for a “Book ‘Em” themed reading event atmy kids’ elementary school.

Where did your first paycheck come from?I was a pizza delivery girl.

What was the first luxury item you bought yourself? My used “Mommy” Volvo. It wasn’t brand new, but it was Volvoand I considered a Volvo a luxury item.

Do you prefer phone or e-mail for work? Phone

Another profession you would like to try? Broadway singer

Where is the best place to have a business lunch? Anywhere. I am just happy if I have the time to eat.

Kim CatalanoFort Worth Municipal Court Judge Pro Tem39

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Greg Cook’s motto in life is ‘don’t dwell on the past. Learnfrom it and move forward.’

And that’s just what he has done.Cook has taken lessons he learned outside of the class-

room while playing football at Texas A&M University (a center)and coupled those with earning his bachelor’s degree in agri-cultural economics and subsequently his master’s degree inland economics and real estate in back-to-back years to pro-pel him to becoming senior analyst at Integra RealtyResources in Fort Worth.

Cook got his start with Integra through an internship withDonald Sherwood during the summer of 1994. Sherwoodeventually would merge offices with Ben Loughry in 1996 toform Appraisal Data Services and hire Cook. Appraisal DataServices later merged with Dallas-based LamBis Consultingto form Integra Realty Resources DFW.

Loughry, who nominated Cook for the 40 Under 40 award,says Cook is one of his company’s top producers.

“Greg is a very valuable asset to our company both in andout of the office,” Loughry says. “He is not only one of our topproducers year in and year out, but he also represents us invarious industry groups.” These groups include being amember of the International Right of Way Association since2002 and serving as its secretary, treasurer and vice presi-

dent. But Cook hasn’t stopped with professional organiza-tions. He also has served as chair of the Steve BaggettMemorial Golf Tournament, a volunteer at Westaid, providingassistance for West Fort Worth citizens in need and hasserved on the Ridglea Hills Neighborhood Association.

Cook says his community involvement is important to himbecause it’s “important to help those that are less fortunate.It’s just that simple.”

Cook and his wife, Shannon, have been married for almost14 years and don’t have any children, but “don’t tell our 14-year-old chocolate lab that,” he says.

– Aleshia Howe

About the prop:It’s my helmet that I played in at Texas A&M!

What is the strangest thing you’ve expensed? Shotgun ammunition

Where did your first paycheck come from?City of Amarillo as a life guard

What was the first luxury item you bought yourself? A watch, which to this day I still wear.

Do you prefer phone or e-mail for work? Either is fine. They both have their advantages.

Another profession you would like to try? Hunting guide or golf pro but my golf game disqualifiesme from the latter.

Where is the best place to have a business lunch? Lucile’s Stateside Bistro on Camp Bowie Boulevard

Greg CookIntegra Realty Resources38

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At 29 Andrew de la Torre has developed a substantial con-tribution to the economy of Fort Worth’s thriving CentralBusiness District. His entertainment venue, Embargo, hashelped to trigger a lively scene within a once-neglectedsouthern end of the Downtown area, in the 900 block ofHouston Street.

Embargo has emerged as a fitting complement to theentertaining, pedestrian-welcoming atmosphere that hasdeveloped since the 1980s within the northern stretches ofthe Downtown area.

de la Torre counts among his mentors some of the mostcapable leaders the city has seen – including his father, polit-ical and economic leader Carlos de la Torre, and formerMayor Bob Bolen.

Bolstering an advertising and public relations degree fromTexas Christian University with backup studies in art andSpanish, de la Torre found his professional leanings in prop-erty development ventures – declining job offers elsewhere inorder to indulge a love for his hometown. An early collabora-tive effort, Gryphon Acquisitions, found him doubling as aproject manager and construction worker, restoring deterio-rated properties on the city’s historic south side.

In times more recent, de la Torre has established Embargoas a preferred location for business gatherings, professionalnetworking events and entertainment for entertainment’ssake.

“Whether serving as a board member, providing a venuefor events or providing monetary support,” a colleague notes,“Andrew de la Torre has made an impressive showing ofcommunity involvement.” His volunteer-service efforts extendto such organizations as Texas Ballet Theatre’s Board ofPatrons, United Way, the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce,the AIDS Outreach Center, Leadership Fort Worth and affiliat-ed programs, Centro Cultural delas Americas, the Latino PeaceOfficers Association,Professionals Supporting theArts, Artes de la Rosa and theRose Marine Theatre, the FortWorth Library Foundation andthe city of Fort WorthHispanic LeadershipOrganization.

– Michael H. Price

About the prop:I have three skateboards and use them all to commute to workand run errands around Downtown.

What is the strangest thing you’ve expensed? The passenger side of a wrecked 1957 Chevy Bel Air. It’s hang-ing above the front door at Embargo.

Where did your first paycheck come from?Louis Heinze Construction

What was the first luxury item you bought yourself? A Romeo y Julieta Anniversary cigar humidor, stocked withCubans

Do you prefer phone or e-mail for work? Neither, face to face is the way to go. The eyes never lie.

Another profession you would like to try? City planner or developer

Where is the best place to have a business lunch? Nowhere. How can you talk business while you are stuffing yourface? Logistically, it just doesn’t make sense. Cocktails, anyone?

Andrew de la TorreEmbargo29

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Born and raised in Fort Worth, Mark W. Drennan returnedsix years ago and has been working to provide a positiveimpact ever since.

He earns high praise from those who work with him. “Mark meets the challenges of today’s banking environment

with integrity, intelligence and ingenuity,” says Charlie Powell,Tarrant County Market President for Bank of Texas N.A. “Markis also committed to making his community a better place towork and live.”

As senior vice president market manager for commercialreal estate for Bank of Texas, Drennan currently is dealingwith difficult market conditions. But he has an upbeat attitudeabout the current environment.

“I’ve done this for 11 years and I haven’t seen a market likethis before – and neither has anyone else. It’s a unique time,but it’s a good learning experience,” he says. “I truly believewhen we come out of this, we’ll have learned a lot.”

Drennan left his native city to attend college at Texas TechUniversity in Lubbock, where he received his bachelor’sdegree and an MBA. From there, he spent some time inDenver before joining Bank of Oklahoma. With Bank ofOklahoma, he worked in Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Okla., thenmoved to Dallas with Bank of Texas, before landing backhome in Fort Worth.

He has known Powell for about nine years, though he hasonly worked directly with him for the past six years.

“He’s been a great mentor, really he has been ever since Imet him,” Drennan says.

Since returning to his hometown, Drennan and his wife,Heather, have stayed busy. Drennan is a member of the FortWorth Chamber’s Vision Fort Worth group, on the YoungLeaders council of the Greater Fort Worth Real Estate Counciland a member of the Society of Commercial Realtors. He hasalso been in the class of Leadership Fort Worth, which hetouts as “great program.” He also is attending the StonierGraduate School of Banking at the University of Pennslyvania.

When not working, Drennan and his wife like to travel, butthat has been hampered somewhat by the birth of two twinboys, Beckett and Finn, now 2 years old.

“They’re my future travel buddies,” he says.– Robert Francis

About the prop:A family heirloom, a globe purchased by my grandparents in 1955, represents my enjoyment of traveling and a photo ofmy 2-year-old twin boys, Beckett and Finn, myfuture travel buddies.

What is the strangest thing you’ve expensed? Cheesecakes for customer Christmas gifts

Where did your first paycheck come from?A job where I packaged and shipped shoe trees.

What was the first luxury item you bought yourself? New golf clubs

Do you prefer phone or e-mail for work? E-mail

Another profession you would like to try? Host of the Travel Channel

Where is the best place to have a business lunch? Fort Worth Club

Mark W. DrennanBank of Texas NA36

1155May 28, 2009

Page 16: 40 Under 40 - 2009
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An upbringing in a family of physicians and fine-food aficionados prepared Jamie Fulton for a self-assured careerin the scientific precision of brewing. Fulton’s development ofa distinctive Vienna Lager earned him a World Beer CupGold Medal for 2008, in addition to a 2007 regional champi-onship.

Fulton, 27, opened The Covey Restaurant & Brewery in FortWorth in April 2006 as a culmination of interests that dateback to childhood.

“I absorbed the interest from my parents, the drive andspirit,” Fulton says, “along with the passion for fine foods –cooking is a family tradition – and all that goes with them. Istarted brewing while in college, even though my major fieldof study [at Trinity University] was far removed from businessor cooking – in art history. But then, brewing is an art initself.”

The Covey has logged steady growth in three years, with a50 percent surge in profitability since 2007. Fulton has provenhimself as a shirtsleeves manager, taking part in the workdayroutine in both the restaurant and brewery operations whileradiating leadership abilities and long-term vision. His cus-tomary presence at the restaurant assures visibility amongthe customers; a Covey mailing list serves 1,400 patrons withfrequently updated information.

“Jamie is not only a successful entrepreneur who caresdeeply about the community,” writes a colleague, “but he alsohas perfected the art of micro-brewing and has created aniche for himself in Fort Worth … and has received interna-

tional recognition for his skill.”Fulton also has implemented an organization known as The

Covey CREW, whose membership of beer connoisseurs par-take of such monthly events as beer-pairing dinners,designed to compare dynamics of flavor in a festive setting.

Other Fulton-developed brews have scored in prominentchampionship events, as well, including the Jack’s ReserveBarleywine and the Cowboy Lager. The Covey itself has land-ed a number of food-journalist accolades.

Fulton and his wife, Kelly, have a son, Jackson. Fulton’scommunity-service activitiesinvolve such agencies asthe Lena Pope Home,the Tarrant Area FoodBank, Big Brothers/BigSisters and the JewelCharity Ball.

– Michael H. Price

About the prop:It’s the World Beer Cup medal.

What is the strangest thing you’ve expensed? Some of the finer Belgian-style blond ales – research, for my line ofwork

Where did your first paycheck come from?An architectural firm in Dallas

What was the first luxury item you bought yourself? Fine coffees, chocolates, cheeses – I value the finer such selec-tions.

Do you prefer phone or e-mail for work? Phone

Another profession you would like to try? Cheese-making, perhaps

Where is the best place to have a business lunch? The Covey

Jamie FultonThe Covey Restaurant & Brewery27

1177May 28, 2009

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1188 Fort Worth Business Press

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Page 19: 40 Under 40 - 2009

Not many people would leave behind a job playing golf topursue a career at a financial services company, but that’sexactly what J.R. Holland did last year.

Holland currently is product manager at Colonial Savings, alongtime Fort Worth-based financial services company, afterhaving previously worked as a golf professional for sevenyears, two of which he spent at Fort Worth’s Colonial CountryClub. But the Tulsa native insists there are similaritiesbetween his previous job and current responsibilities.

As product manager, Holland works with clients to ensurethey’ve got all the tools necessary to efficiently and effectivelymanage their business needs – from credit and debit cardprocessing to check scanning and more.

Much like a golf professional teaches an individual aboutswings, and perhaps sells them a better club, Holland edu-cates and sells with his current employer. He educates clientsabout how a Colonial Savings product can work with abusiness and what it will cost.

“The main goal for our existing clients is providing fortheir needs. Whatever needs they have we strive to notonly provide them excellent service but find the prod-uct that fills their needs,” he says. “We’re not going toput them in a shoe that doesn’t fit just for the factof selling one.

“We do a little bit of everything,” Holland adds,“we go from restaurants to lawn care all the way towhite-collar businesses.”

In addition to what Holland provides,Colonial Savings also offers a range of otherbanking and finance solutions, including

commercial loans, commercial checking and savingsaccounts, business credit and debit cards and more.

Before joining Colonial Savings in March 2008, Hollandspent seven years as a golf professional in South Carolina,Washington D.C., and finally Fort Worth. He still retains hismembership to the Professional Golf Association.

And while he doesn’t get to golf as much as he once did,he continues to enjoy the company-to-client rela-

tionships his current employer provides.“As a golf professional, I was able to teach

people how to improve their golf game,wardrobe and appreciation for the game,”he says in his nomination form for the 40Under 40. “I realize now that what excitedme in golf was the excitement and joy these

simple things gave my members.As a banker, I’m using thesame principles to help our

clients take the small piecesof their life to create a larg-

er, more completewhole.”

– John-LaurentTronche

About the prop:First a husband, second a PGA golf professional and third a banker.

What is the strangest thing you’ve expensed? Cookie cakes for almost every south Fort Worth business

Where did your first paycheck come from?A fishing lure company in Oklahoma

What was the first luxury item you bought yourself? A flat-panel TV when they first came out

Do you prefer phone or e-mail for work? Phone

Another profession you would like to try? Director of a nonprofit organization

Where is the best place to have a business lunch? Joe T. Garcia’s

J.R. HollandColonial Savings30

1199May 28, 2009

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Lyndsay Hoover started volunteering at the PresbyterianNight Shelter in 2004. By November 2007, she left her eight-year role as public relations and development director at theFort Worth Zoo to join the team at PNS in the same capacity.She recently took over the reins as interim executive directoruntil a permanent one is hired.

Although the Weatherford native enjoyed the challenges offund-raising and increasing awareness of the zoo’s programsand still loves animals – she grew up riding horses and show-ing longhorns – she’s found her life’s work helping eliminatehomelessness.

“When I started working with homeless women and chil-dren,” Hoover says, “my heart just grew and it became mypassion to help the cause.”

Hoover has put her whole heart into stimulating communityawareness about homeless issues. She initiated the shelter’sfirst public relations and proactive media placement campaignand created the organization’s first fund-raising strategy. In hertime at PNS, she has tripled the volunteer base and hasrecruited almost 500 new donors. She helped raise $1.78 mil-lion in her first year, exceeding the prior year’s annual giving by20 percent. She also increased foundation support by 120 per-cent, raising $525,000.

“Lyndsay is a remarkable person with tremendous skills,insight and dedication,” says former PNS Executive DirectorCarol Klocek. “The homeless community has benefited fromher ability to raise awareness, generate compassion and bringpositive good will toward those who live on the margins in FortWorth.”

A graduate of Texas A&M University with a bachelor’sdegree in journalism, Hoover has won numerous awards forher marketing acumen. She is a board member of Greater

Fort Worth Public Relations Society of America, and is commu-nity vice president as well as vice president of fund develop-ment for the Fort Worth Junior League. Hoover also serves as aboard member and secretary of MayFest Inc. and serves onthe Amon Carter Gallery Steering Committee.

But it is her work with the homeless, she says, that inspiresher more than anything.

“Working at Presbyterian Night Shelter is so challenging butit’s really rewarding, too. It’s sad to see people broken downand disheartened but seeing them tackle those enormousproblems, seeing hope light up in their eyes, is one of the mostrewarding things possible,” shesays. “For every ounce of suffer-ing there’s that much more inthe joy expressed when theyovercome their obstacles.Helping them see there’sanother life out there and see-ing that joy keeps me moti-vated in the midst of all thesuffering.”

Lyndsay and her hus-band, Justin, are expect-ing their first baby inAugust.

– Betty Dillard

About the prop:The faces of homelessness are much more diverse thanmost people suspect.

What is the strangest thing you’ve expensed? I work in nonprofit; we don’t expense much.

Where did your first paycheck come from?Either mucking out horse stalls or at Dairy Queen inWeatherford (I can't remember which was first).

Do you prefer phone or e-mail for work? E-mail

Another profession you would like to try? Thankfully, I picked right the first time (PR and fund-raising for nonprofits).

Where is the best place to have a business lunch? Park Hill Deli – it’s causal, light and isn’t noisy.

Lyndsay HooverPresbyterian Night Shelter32

2200 Fort Worth Business Press

Page 21: 40 Under 40 - 2009

David Kramer, senior vice president of Republic Title ofTexas, was genetically predisposed to being in the title busi-ness, he says.

“This career path was aligned genetically, because my fatheris in the title business, and he’s the chairman of this company,”Kramer says.

Republic Title offers title and escrow related services for resi-dential and commercial real estate transactions. Kramer joinedRepublic Title in 2005, when he sold a company he had equityin Republic. He now manages the residential operations for thecompany on the western half of the Metroplex, and does somelimited work in the commercial side of the business.

Among the reasons Michael Flynn, with Southland PropertyTax Consultants, cited in nominating Kramer was Kramer’sbusiness spirit, which Flynn says exemplifies a Fort Worth busi-ness person.

“I believe strongly in the management style of servant lead-ership, the role of management is not to really delegate down,but to support up,” Kramer says. “It’s toprovide all the tools and resources foremployees so they can be successfuland the company becomes successfulbecause of that.

“The other thing I think is you can man-age a business based on all kinds of metricsand systems, but the reality is if you just baseyour whole culture around customer service, just doexcellent customer service, the other metrics and

parameters are met, and your goals are met. Profit margins, allthat.” Kramer says. “And from an outside perspective, I thinkthat your reputation is key. You can’t violate some of the coretenets of business. And I don’t distinguish between businessethics and maybe family ethics. You have to hold true to coreprinciples if you’re going to build a reputation, and peoplehave to know you’re going to do what you say and that youstand up for things.”

– Leslie Wimmer

About the prop:I enjoy hunting and fishing and bow hunting. I love animals,and I think they’re delicious.

What is the strangest thing you’ve expensed? A Santa suit, a bottle of scotch and a pack of camel lights.It was my first Christmas party in business work.

Where did your first paycheck come from?Bennigan’s, I was a bus boy.

What was the first luxury item you bought yourself? A 19th century armoire for hanging smoked meats.

Do you prefer phone or e-mail for work? Phone

Another profession you would like to try? I’d have to be matador or a caboose man or a stand-upcomedian.

Where is the best place to have a business lunch? The City Club

David KramerRepublic Title of Texas38

2211May 28, 2009

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While some advertising agencies work to land big clientswith even bigger wallets, entrepreneur Craig Lloyd said it wasthe little guys that led him to open his own firm, GlintAdvertising & Design, in Hurst.

The North Texas businessman founded Glint in 2000, fol-lowing a stint working in Dallas for a number of years special-izing in the retail industry. But after focusing on large clients,Lloyd set out to cater to the companies that resembled him –companies that wanted to be different, grow and blaze newpaths.

“They’re hungry, they want to move forward and theybelieve in the process,” says Lloyd, principal of the seven-employee company. “That’s what I saw working in the industry.”

Currently, the company works with 30 different indus-tries and about 80 different types of clients; nonprofitorganizations, senior services firms and retail representmost of Lloyd’s clients, while others have includedMensa International, Ameriprise Financial Inc. and fit-ness firm Larry North through a partnership with aseparate company.

“A big part for me is I didn’t want the clients run-ning the agency, I wanted the agency to run theclient,” he says, adding sometimes large clientsare set in their ways and difficult to maneuver. As

for smaller companies and nonprofits, “The budgets aren’thuge – there’s good money but they’re trying to figure outhow to make that top-10 spot.”

Lloyd credits several facts to his firm’s success, includinghiring the right people for the right job.

“Our creative director used to be my boss when I startedout,” he says. “He’s very good at what he

does and we’re a great complement toeach other.”

He adds, “It’s about finding the rightperson, the right fit. Skill set is impor-tant when it’s a designer but a lot ofthat stuff can be taught. It’s about tap-

ping into what we do and providing forthat client.”

Lloyd says he reminds compa-nies that it’s less about them,and more about the consumers,who ultimately decide whetheradvertising and marketingefforts are a success or a failure.

“You’ve got so many differ-ent areas of marketing, thebottom line is looking at theirbudget – big or small – andapplying that messageeffectively,” he says.“Sometimes it’s a pam-phlet, sometimes it’s a tel-evision ad.”

– John-Laurent Tronche

Craig LloydGlint Advertising & Design37

May 28, 2009

About the prop:It reminded me of the choice I made to go intoadvertising rather than become an illustrator.

What is the strangest thing you’veexpensed? A wooden statue of a marlin

Where did your first paycheck comefrom?Armed Forces European BroadcastingSquadron

What was the first luxury item you boughtyourself? A burnt orange Chevrolet Avalanche

Do you prefer phone or e-mail for work? Phone

Another profession you would like to try? Animator for movies

Where is the best place to have a businesslunch? Sabor Cigar & Wine Lounge in Keller

2233

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On face value, Brant Martin’s academic degrees have littlerelevancy to each other.

There’s the undergraduate work in Spanish and English atWashington & Lee University, where he graduated in 1992, fol-lowed by a master’s of arts in religion at Yale University DivinitySchool in 1994, where Martin had an emphasis in religion andliterature. Top all that off with a J.D. degree from SouthernMethodist University’s law school in 1997, where Martin wasvaledictorian and editor of the SMU Law Review.

When Martin explains his degrees, though, it suddenlymakes sense.

“It’s about interpreting texts and helping people at crisispoints in their lives,” says Martin, 38. “I do get asked that ques-tion quite a bit.”

Martin, who is now a partner at Wick Phillips LLP, says beinga lawyer has always been something he’s thought of pursuing.In school, his studies focused around interpreting “ancienttexts” – whether it’s the law or religious texts – to make it appli-cable for the modern world, as well as learning to deal with asystem with which most people are broadly familiar (again,such as the law or the dogma of a religion) but most don’tknow the nuances. The law and religion are also each focusedon helping people in a crisis point.

Martin is a commercial trial lawyer, and says all of the skills

he’s learned come together with the thrill of being in front of ajudge and jury and finding creative solutions. He started hiscareer as a corporate lawyer, but missed the dispute side oflaw. He’s worked in various positions, including being in-housecounsel for a start-up in New York, but says he wanted to getback to Fort Worth, where he was born and raised, to start afamily.

He married his wife, Natalie, in November 2003, and todayhas two sons: Campbell, who is almost four, and Davis, who istwo.

Law is a noble profession, Martin says, and he’s happy to bea part of it. He was the Democratic nominee for Tarrant CountyJudge in 2002, and he says that gave him an opportunity tomeet people on both sides of the aisle who were passionateabout local government and the positive impact it can have oncitizens.

“It’s important for everyoneto get engaged,” he says.

– Elizabeth Bassett

About the prop:One prop is a picture of his children, and the other is a small movie posterfrom To Kill a Mockingbird, the scene in which Atticus Finch is in front ofthe jail talking down a mob. “To me, I’m not there yet . . . but that wouldbe an ideal I would strive toward, which is not onlyto be a good lawyer but to be a good father.”

What is the strangest thing you’ve expensed? A coal miner’s pick that I bought on eBay for one ofmy partners as a “trophy” when he resolved a bigcase that had to do with a coal mining company.

Where did your first paycheck come from?The Back Porch ice cream parlor on Camp BowieBoulevard.

What was the first luxury item you bought your-self? A nice watch

Do you prefer phone or e-mail for work? Both, it depends on the situation.

Another profession you would like to try? Writing or teaching

Where is the best place to have a business lunch? Reata or the Fort Worth Club

Brant MartinWick Phillips LLP38

2244 Fort Worth Business Press

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For Daniel McCarthy, coming to Texas several years backhas given the young man a chance to make his mark on hisadopted home – and make it he has.

McCarthy, 39, a tax and estate planning attorney and CPAwith The Blum Firm PC, has found success, not just in his chosen profession, but also though his involvement in the community.

The current board president of Imagination Celebration saidhe was initially impressed when he began to see what theorganization, which combines appreciation of the arts witheducation, was accomplishing in the community.

“We provide a wonderful opportunity to the school childrenof this area,” he says.

As a leader in the organization, McCarthy says he staysinvolved by giving his time and supporting others in the workthere.

“I think it’s important for me to be a strong voice of supportfor the organization,” he says.

For Ginger Head-Gearheart, executive director and founderof Imagination Celebration, McCarthy’s integrity is a key attrib-ute he brings as a leader to the organization.

“He is someone that is a very strong, bright and quiet, buthe’s absolutely a leader,” she says. “I’m very impressed andthe longer I know him, the more impressed I am.”

For instance, though he is busy in his professional life, henever seems pressed for time, she says.

“That’s one key component to being a good leader, not let-ting anyone feel like you don’t have time for them,” she says.

In his profession, the Chicago-born McCarthy primarily

focuses on family businesses and closely-held business enti-ties, providing them with tax and estate planning services. Heworks with clients to develop and implement structures to form,manage, protect and transfer business and investment assetsin a tax efficient manner.

He has received numerous accolades for his work with TheBlum Firm as well, being named a “Texas Rising Star” by TexasMonthly magazine. McCarthy also has been past president ofthe Tarrant County Tax and Estate Planning Section of theTarrant County Bar Association and a vice chairman of theEstate and Gift Tax Committee of the State Bar of Texas TaxSection.

McCarthy also receivesaccolades from his wife,Erica, for being adevoted father to hisson, Jack anddaughter, Shea.

– Robert Francis

About the prop:I picked the program from 2005 World Series. I’m a lifelong Chicago White Sox fan and I was able to get tickets to go see one of the games with my father.

Where did your first paycheck come from?As a caddy at Inverness County Club near Chicago

What was the first luxury item you bought yourself? I remember in high school and installing cable and we got paidin cash, so I went out and bought – and I know this really datesme – Guess Jeans. They were just “in” then.

Do you prefer phone or e-mail for work? E-mail

Another profession you would like to try? Oil and gas exploration

Where is the best place to have a business lunch? Fort Worth Club

Daniel McCarthyThe Blum Firm PC39

2255May 28, 2009

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Todd Miller has made a career of out-of-the-box ideas. “If it sounds like a bad idea I’ll give it a shot,” he says.Miller’s business ventures began while still in college at Texas

Wesleyan University working on a bachelor’s degree in advertis-ing and public relations. With several friends, Miller owned amovie production company making short films and full-lengthfeatures. After Miller graduated in 2000, they sold the company.

One of the films Miller’s group shot required wrestling knowl-edge, so Miller stepped up to the plate. This led to a four-yearstint as a professional wrestler, The Blue Hawaiian. In addition towrestling, he also announced.

“My mom never understood how I could go from a debutanteball one weekend to wrestling in a hole-in-the-wall bar the next,”Miller says.

More recently, however, Miller opened his own insurancecompany, Worth Benefits & Consultants Inc., in March. An inter-est in insurance was fueled by Miller’s stint as a test driver formotorcycles.

“It was one of the most fun jobs in the whole world. I wasyoung and newly married, having a good time,” he says. “I hada couple of accidents and insurance didn’t cover it.”

Curious about other people in similar situations, he investigat-ed the industry. He worked at Johnston and Matthews Benefitsand Technology Consultants for more than a year working withcompanies with more than 100 employees.

“My parents were excited to say I had a real job,” Miller says. Now, in his own firm, he works with companies with less than

150 employees in the small- to mid-market business.

“Worth Benefits offers something that is not in this demo-graphic,” Miller says. “It is overlooked by many people outthere. It’s really exciting to do something that has not been donebefore. I just love building long-term relationships.”

In addition to his business venture, Miller has an extensive listof community involvement. He is a founding member of theYoung at Heart Board, a young professional American HeartAssociation group, founder and chairman of the SamaritanHouse young professionals committee, founder of the SamaritanHouse Youth Initiative, chairman of Bluebonnet PlaceNeighborhood Association, Berry Street Initiative executive com-mittee and Presidents Council for Texas Wesleyan University.

“Todd is passionate about being an influence for good acrossall platforms in our city,” says Susan Nix, director of marketingand community relations at Casa Mañana. “He is building busi-ness relationships and a network of professionals to accomplishthese goals.”

Miller and his wife, Michele,have two children, Aggieand Pate.

– Crystal Forester

About the prop:I love to grill, you can give me a whole weekend and leave me in thekitchen and I’m happy. That’s how I relax.

What is the strangest thing you’ve expensed? Never had the opportunity to expense anything – I’ve ownedmy own business most of the time.

Where did your first paycheck come from?University Car Wash, it’s Cityview Car Wash now.

What was the first luxury item you bought yourself? Custom made one-off motorcycle

Do you prefer phone or e-mail for work? Phone

Another profession you would like to try? Is there anything else I haven’t tried?

Where is the best place to have a business lunch?Piranha Sushi, especially if someone else is buying.

Todd MillerWorth Benefits & Consultants Inc. 33

2266 Fort Worth Business Press

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Nelson Mitchell never intended to go into his family’s business.

The fourth generation in a line of men who founded, then ranHistory Maker Homes, Mitchell earned money in junior highand high school by working on home construction job sitesdoing the dirty work, like picking up trash, scrubbing tubs andmowing model lawns.

It wasn’t until his college years at Texas A&M University,where he framed houses during his summers, that he fell inlove with building homes.

“I also worked with some of our superintendents the summerbefore I graduated college and experienced first hand therewarding feeling of taking a piece of dirt with nothing on itthen building a home and experiencing the joy of handing overthe keys to an excited family who is owning their first home,” hesays.

In 2000, Mitchell became the fourth-generation president ofHistory Maker Homes and he described the experience as“humbling.”

“After running our company for almost 10 years, I have somuch of a better appreciation for the effort it took from the pastthree generations,” he says. “… [My grandfather and great-grandfather] had great vision and drive to start a companyfrom scratch.”

In his home life, Mitchell is a member of the World BibleTranslation Center in Fort Worth as well as board member ofFort Worth Christian School in North Richland Hills. And he isjust as active in the home building industry, with distinction asa progressive and innovative member of the NationalAssociation of Home Builders, and Builder’s 20. He is also amember of the Greater Fort Worth Builders’ Association and

the Young President’s Organization.In addition to building homes for primarily first-time home-

buyers, Mitchell says History Maker Homes also is a faith-based organization.

“It is sometimes difficult because we get called to a higherstandard by our customers and partners. We set very highexpectations for ourselves on how we treat our internal andexternal customers,” he says.“[But] mostly, it is not hardat all because it is consis-tent with my beliefs, con-victions and values.”

Mitchell and his wife,Liz, have three sons: Jake,Miles and Luke.

– Aleshia Howe

About the prop:It was the coolest thing in my office.

Where did your first paycheck come from?Cleaning dog and cat kennels from my father’s veterinarian clinic

What was the first luxury item you bought yourself? A Porsche 911

Do you prefer phone or e-mail for work? E-mail

Another profession you would like to try? Own and manage a ski resort

Where is the best place to have a business lunch? Reata

Nelson MitchellHistory Maker Homes38

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2277May 28, 2009

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A large part of Randi Mitchell’s work is teaching youngpeople and adults about financial literacy and how to savemoney.

Mitchell, the vice president of marketing at OmniAmericanBank, works in several capacities to further financial educa-tion for students and others in Texas.

She serves on the Texas Bankers Association’s FoundationBoard, which focuses on financial literacy and programs suchas Teach Children to Save, Junior Achievement and works toaward scholarships to students.

“We go out to schools every year and teach programs onfinancial literacy,” Mitchell says. “Last year, we had threeschools, and it was a big year for us. We had over 1,500 kidsthat we were able to teach these programs to.”

The programs are broken into two parts: A program gearedtoward kindergarten to second grade focusing on money andthe value of money, and a program for third through fifthgrades focused on the difference in needs and wants.

“For children it’s important just to make sure, because ourchildren are our future, to make sure they understand thevalue of saving money and understand what money is andhow they need to save for the future,” Mitchell says. “And onthe adult side, it’s important, especially in this economy, tomake sure people understand how best to save their moneyand really prepare for the unexpected.”

A good portion of Mitchell’s community service work is herinvolvement with OmniAmerican’s efforts with JuniorAchievement, which includes setting up and organizingschools and volunteers for various programs, and participat-

ing in a bowl-a-thon every year,she says. Also, Mitchell works

with Catholic Charities,United Way, and the

American LungAssociation.

– Leslie Wimmer

About the prop:A photo of my family, my husband Matthew and our two girls:Maitlynn, 5-years-old, and Mayden, 9 weeks. My family is sovery important to me. A scrapbook, turned to the page with mymother and grandmother on it. And my camera. I love to takepictures, especially of my girls.

What is the strangest thing you’ve expensed? Many years ago my team and I were up working late - until4 a.m. - preparing for a launch of a new campaign. Wewere assembling displays for our branches. To keepeveryone’s spirits up and keep them motivated Imade a Wal-Mart run and bought all kinds ofcrazy things for them. It made everyone laughand kept us going.

Where did your first paycheck come from?I worked at the concession stand at theBenbrook Ballpark for several summers. Afterthat it was as a carhop at Sonic.

What was the first luxury item you bought yourself? A Tahoe. It was absolutely beautiful.

Do you prefer phone or e-mail for work? E-mail

Another profession you would like to try? Probably photography. I love taking pictures and capturing thecutest expressions.

Where is the best place to have a business lunch? Any of the Pappa’s restaurants. My boss loves Pappa’s burgersso I’ll go with that.

Randi MitchellOmniAmerican Bank31

Fort Worth Business Press2288

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About the prop:I want ‘Never Stop Giving Back’ to become Cowtown’s mantra.

What is the strangest thing you’ve expensed? Twenty-four bags of ice (don’t ask)

Where did your first paycheck come from? Little Caesar’s Pizza

What was the first luxury item you boughtyourself?Still waiting to afford something luxurious

Do you prefer phone or e-mail for work?E-mail

Another profession you’d like to try?Country music star

Where is the best place to have a business lunch?Chimi’s

Two years ago while on a spring break camping trip, DrewMyers, then the director of communications at Texas ChristianUniversity’s athletics department, decided to hang up his uni-form and create e-Partners in Giving, a Web site designed tomake online charitable donations quick and easy.

“The idea came out of the blue,” Myers says. “I literally wokeup in the middle of the night thinking about it. I thought thereshould be an easier way to do online giving.”

The former Frogs football coach – he served three years asassistant director of football operations at TCU and as the proscout liaison to high schools and junior colleges – launched e-Partners in Giving in December 2008.

Previously, Myers was the director of football operations andthe defensive passing game coordinator at Blinn College, wherehe also coached the wide receivers. He earned a master’sdegree in education from Prairie View A&M University and has abachelor’s degree in mass communications from MidwesternState University. In 2000, he was a training camp analyst for theDallas Cowboy Insider.

Myers says he doesn’t regret giving up sports writing andcoaching football to facilitate online donations. “I’ve found mytrue passion with e-Partners in Giving,” he says. “I really believein giving back and want to help others give back.”

Myers is all about giving back. An avid marathon runner, heran in the Cowtown Half Marathon in February and on April 25,he ran in the Country Music Marathon in Nashville. He made itto mile 24 before succumbing to dehydration and a trip to theemergency room. He donates all the money he collects from

running to Back on My Feet, a nonprofit in Philadelphia thatattacks homelessness through running.

“Drew Myers inspires people to ‘never stop giving back,’ notonly through his company but also by being a great example inthe community,” says e-Partners in Giving colleague CarrieBigbie. “I cannot wait to hear (or read through his blog,Facebook or Twitter) what Drew is doing for his community andthe support he gives to organizations around Fort Worth andelsewhere.”

Myers helped host the kick-off rally for the 2009 TarrantCounty Homeless Count, the first Christmas Extravaganza atPresbyterian Night Shelter and the North Richland Hills TrashBash 2008. He recently began e-Partners in Giving’s first non-profit partnership with Nuru International, an organization that

fights poverty in Africa.“We need to start thinking about

others, about giving back tohelp others,” Myers says.“We’re making it easy for youto do that.”

– Betty Dillard

Drew Myerse-Partners in Giving33

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Fort Worth Business Press

When called upon to testify before Congress about theimpact of the current recession on her business, Teresa Nelsonknew she could not afford the airfare to Washington, D.C., butshe was determined to tell her story, a story familiar to manysmall businesses around the country.

She was able to testify thanks to friends in the community –particularly at TECH Fort Worth and the University of NorthTexas Health Science Center – who helped Nelson deliver hermessage via videoconference.

“Teresa is a well-respected small business owner in FortWorth. Her business has been dramatically affected by theeconomic downturn and she has had to lay off employees as aresult,” says Rep. Kay Granger, R-Fort Worth, who had askedNelson to speak. “Her story is an example of the kind of issuessmall business owners across the country face.”

Nelson sets quite an example. The owner of a Fort Worth-based gourmet gifts business, Teresa’s Treasures, also teachesa high school success skills class to seniors, is a member of

the board of directors for the Sister Cities program, is on theCarter BloodCare donor council and is a speaker and coun-selor at the Business Assistance Center. In addition, shedonates many of the proceeds from her business to theHumane Society and Safe Haven.

“I continue to search for new ways to give back while alsoteaching young women and business owners how to thrive, notjust survive, in the face of adversity,” she says.

– Robert Francis and Betty Dillard

About the prop:My family completes me and the gift design shows I love mycity and allows my creativity to flourish.

What is the strangest thing you’ve expensed? Chocolate elephants to market “Don’t forget about us.”

Where did your first paycheck come from?Wal-Mart Pharmacy

What was the first luxury item you bought your-self? An expensive leather briefcase out of college

Do you prefer phone or e-mail for work? E-mail for convenience

Another profession you would like to try? Professional Pastry Chef.

Where is the best place to have a businesslunch?Fort Worth Club

Teresa NelsonTeresa’s Treasures38

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At 37, Amanda Neill has pursued enough scientific immer-sion for any number of lifetimes – facing the occasional death-defying task in the service of botany.

The science of plant life became Neill’s calling during achildhood spent at College Station, where parents engaged inthe scholarship of fish-and-game biology and zoology in gen-eral encouraged her to commune at close range with the out-of-doors world.

“I was learning about wildflowers – and how to identify them,in our garden – when I was 5 years old,” Neill says.

It comes scarcely a surprise, then, that Neill should haveapplied her college degrees – two from Texas A&M University,where her father teaches, and a doctorate-in-progress – to acareer path that led her six years ago to the Fort Worth-basedBotanical Research Institute of Texas.

As director of the Herbarium at BRIT, Neill has covered thehome-front scene thoroughly, leading frequent tours for localorganizations and schools and serving as a mentor to stu-dents at Texas Christian University. Neill also has rangedfar afield on behalf of BRIT, helping to conceive the Andesto Amazon research project in Peru, a year and a halfago, and to land a Moore Foundation grant of about $3million to support the venture.

Her hitch in Southeastern Peru proved unexpectedlyperilous when Neill contracted a native parasitic diseasethat required cathartic intravenous treatment. Fully recov-ered now, she looks forward to further such fieldwork inNew Guinea.

Her work in the computer-based realm, however, com-

mands a more immediate attention: “The field research gener-ates immense volumes of online content,” Neill says, “that takeBRIT ever further into the digital realm – where all that data canbe made available worldwide via the Internet.”

Already renowned for its extensive book-form publications,the institute launched a massive campaign to develop Web-based virtual herbariums at www.brit.com. These include anencyclopedic survey of Texas’ native plants, due for comple-tion by summer’s end. In the geographical realm, meanwhile,Neill is preparing for the relocation of more than 1 million plantspecimens to a new Cultural District headquarters in develop-ment for BRIT.

The work dovetails throughout, Neill believes, with BRIT’s for-mal mission statement: “… to conserve our natural heritage bydeepening our knowledge of the plant world and achievingpublic understanding of the value plants bring to life.”

– Michael H. Price

About the prop:The image of a Herbarium specimen, the memory-cardsand the computer-mouse signify our efforts to take BRITfurther into the digital realm.

What is the strangest thing you’ve expensed? BRIT, of course, covered my entire treatment for that expe-rience with the tropical disease, cutaneous leishmaniasis,… contracted while I was working in Peru.

Where did your first paycheck come from?Brazos Valley Museum – a day-camp job

What was the first luxury item you bought yourself? Biologists cannot afford luxuries.

Do you prefer phone or e-mail for work? E-mail

Another profession you would like to try? Travel writer

Where is the best place to have a business lunch?The Flying Saucer

Amanda NeillBotanical Research Institute of Texas37

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David T. Nolan is in charge of raising $250 million for TexasChristian University’s Campaign for TCU. The goal of thecampaign, which ends in 2012, is nothing less than fulfillingthe university’s vision of providing students a world-class, val-ues-centered university experience.

“What we’re doing, as the campaign enters its publicphase, is to engage people to the university and exposethem to the impact we’re having on students, the universityand the community,” says Nolan, associate vice chancellorfor university development.

The public phase got a pretty strong kickoff too, with CBS’Face The Nation host and 1959 TCU graduate Bob Schiefferperforming with his band, Honky Tonk Confidential, in earlyApril.

Pretty heady stuff for a 38-year-old, but Nolan’s work haswon him plenty of praise both inside and outside the halls ofthe university.

“His ability to lead by example combined with integrity anda sense of fairness has enabled him to earn the respect of allwith whom he works and interacts,” says Victor J. BoschiniJr., TCU chancellor.

Despite such acclaim, Nolan would rather stay in the back-ground. A 1992 TCU graduate who earned a bachelor’sdegree in English literature and religion, as well as a master’sdegree in philanthropy from Indiana University, Nolan sayssome are people often are surprised at his TCU degrees.

“I just explain to them that both religion and literature alldeal with values and relationships and that is a lot of what wedo in philanthropy,” he says. “So I see them very directlyrelating in a very meaningful way.”

Nolan’s responsibilities at TCU come with ample outsidehelp, he says.

“In our profession, you really have to have a strong groupof volunteer leaders and we’re very blessed to have MattRose from Burlington Northern as our campaign chair,” hesays. “He’s been a very strong advo-cate as have a lot of the othervolunteers. It’s very mucha group effort.”

Nolan has plenty ofother experience as well,working in the PeaceCorps where heworked helping devel-op the nonprofit sectorin Moldova.

Nolan’s wife, Jana,also is a TCU graduate.They have two sons,Connor and John.

– Robert Francis

About the prop:I was trying to promote both TCU and to achieving [the $250million] campaign goal [by 2012]. Also, as a hobby I roast coffeebeans, so the coffee mug fit that, too.

Where did your first paycheck come from?My first money was mowing grass, but first professional pay-check was TCU, with a lot of odd jobs in-between.

What was the first luxury item you bought yourself? I’m not sure I have one.

Do you prefer phone or e-mail for work? E-mail

Another profession you would like to try? Fly-fishing guide.

Where is the best place to have a business lunch? Colonial Country Club

David T. NolanTexas Christian University 38

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When David Parker was growing up, he wanted to be acounselor. He saw it as a way to make a definite impact, oneperson at a time.

Parker, now the regional vice president, external affairs, forAT&T, did not become a counselor. Instead, he found acareer path that would still let him make connections withpeople in his community but on a larger scale.

“You can help nonprofit organizations, you can help individ-uals, you can help businesses that are trying to be more effi-cient, put them in contact with the right people,” says Parker,31.

Parker spends what he estimates to be about half his timeoutside his office. He has risen quickly through AT&T duringhis almost nine years with the company – he joined when hegraduated from Texas A&M University in 1999 after beingrecruited to their leadership development program, a three-year rotational program he joined when the company was stillSBC. In college, he majored in economics and business andwas also a part of the Corps Cadets on campus, and he saidthe two – as well as his parents – give him a good foundationto build on as he started his career.

“I think economics is the root of everything; it’s what makesthe world turn,” Parker says. “It’s not just money.”

Instead, economics is about benefit analysis, maximizing

resources, decision making and much more. Parker went onto complete a master’s in applied economics at SouthernMethodist University, and he said his current role out in thecommunity lets him address economics in all forms but mostimportantly in helping people find solutions.

Parker, who was married in September 2008 to his wifeMattie, grew up in Crowley and said he was glad his jobbrought him back to the Tarrant County area. Mattie is chief ofstaff for State Rep. Phil King of Weatherford. When he hasdown time, he loves being with family as well as reading,studying and playing music – “loud music especially.”

Growing his career is limitless at the moment, Parker says,although he admits it was hard to fill the shoes of his prede-cessor, who also was successful. Part of the challenge hasbeen coming into the role so young, he says, but he’s had theopportunity to prove himself and hopes to continue doing so.

“Fort Worth, North Texas and the Tarrant County grouphave been so receptive to me, itwould have been so hard tohave situated and steppedinto this role in anotherenvironment,” he says.

– Elizabeth Bassett

About the prop:The pictures of former Fort Worth Mayor Bob Bolen, musicianMerle Haggard, former Utah Jazz point guard John Stockton,and former Chairman of the Federal Reserve Alan Greenspan,all represent the overall theme of principle before politics, sub-stance over style and achievement over action.

What is the strangest thing you’ve expensed? I once hired a starving musician to perform at anemployee/retiree appreciation event . . . Let's just say he didn'taccept American Express and couldn't break large bills.

Where did your first paycheck come from?The Bank of Crowley; I was responsible for changing thesign.

What was the first luxury item you bought yourself? A nice Taylor acoustic guitar.

Do you prefer phone or e-mail for work? Phone

Another profession you would like to try? Professor at a small college and teach economics or economicdevelopment

Where is the best place to have a business lunch? No doubt - the Fort Worth Club.

David ParkerAT&T 31

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About the prop:A Perez family heirloom of recent years’ vintage, the globe signifies an interest in travel.

Where did your first paycheck come from? A movie theater

What was the first luxury item you boughtyourself? Travel

Do you prefer phone or e-mail for work? E-mail

Another profession you would like to try? The culinary arts

Where is the best place to have a business lunch? Mi Cocina, Downtown

Elaina Perez, 39, discovered the rewards of self-employment during her mid-20s and has developedthat interest from a knack into a multimillion-dollar cor-porate enterprise.

“She is super ambitious,” writes a colleague, “andnot only a superb businesswoman … but also a wife and a mother of three children under 10 years of age.”

Perez launched her signature company, Haltom City-based Elite Staffing Services, 11 years ago.

“I had worked for a local temporary employmentservice,” says Perez, a native of Corpus Christi and a resident of Fort Worth since her high-school years.

While learning the ropes as a staffing-serviceemployee, she adds, “I observed the procedures anddeveloped my abilities to a point where I knew I couldestablish a business of my own.”

Her success involves a combination of natural abilityand a formal degree in communications from theUniversity of Texas at Arlington.

Perez’s original strategy involved diversification,including a venture known as Elite Resale Boutique.The success of Elite Staffing Services, however,proved to command increasing time and effort onPerez’s part. She recently sold Elite Boutique in orderto concentrate more intently upon the office-and-indus-trial staffing marketplace.

Elite Staffing generated some 1,800 W-2 forms dur-ing 2008 – a fiscal year that also saw a 30 percentgrowth rate, well beyond the owner’s expectations.

“Staffing represents a tremendous need,” Perezsays, “both in the office-work sector and in the

industrial settings. We’re still growing, and in additionto the staffing services we’re also handling a considerable volume of payrolling services.”

Perez’s community-service activities include projectsof the Hispanic Women’s Network. She characterizesher husband of 10 years, Martin, as having “con-tributed greatly to my success.” The family also oper-ates a ranch at Jacksboro as afavorite haven.

– Michael H. Price

Elaina PerezElite Staffing Services39

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Burleson Mayor Ken Shetter’s career description includeskeeping Tarrant County safe, helping younger residents ofBurleson go to college and working on transportation issues inTarrant County.

Along with his work as mayor, Shetter also serves as execu-tive director of the Safe City Commission of Tarrant County,where he runs the organization’s day-to-day operations andworks on strategic planning for the future.

The commission operates the Crime Stoppers program, whichhas been successful in getting dangerous criminals off thestreets, Shetter said. The commission also offers training pro-grams for law enforcement officials and provides mentoring pro-grams for at-risk middle school students.

“Everything we do is different or innovative, or an experimen-tal approach to doing something, we don’t want to do anythingsomebody else can do,” Shetter says.

One program Shetter is excited about is a violence witnessintervention project.

“It provides intervention services to children and youth whowitness violence, it’s our newest program and I think it’s impor-tant because what we’re trying to do is approach violence as apublic health problem,” Shetter says. “That means we want tohave an epidemiological approach, so we try to look at thingsthat can cause violence to happen and spread, and then

intervene in those processes.” During his time as mayor, Shetter says he’s learned that

patience is key in both working on problems in the city and incommunicating with residents about their concerns. Also, hehas learned the importance of government at the city level andhow that government affects residents’ lives.

“The thing that has impacted me the most is coming to therealization that while everybody thinks about and talks aboutstate and federal government, and when there’s a federal elec-tion everybody goes and votes, nobody really pays attention towhat’s going on at the local level,” Shetter says. “Its local gov-ernment that provides all the services that impact your life on aday-to-day basis. Government at the local level is really whereit’s happening in terms of the things that impact your life day today. And while everybody kind of knows that, in my five yearsas mayor, I really have come to understand that in a very per-sonal way.”

– Leslie Wimmer

About the prop:I brought a banner that was for the Burleson Opportunity Fund, and it’sthe one thing I’m most proud of. We started a program that providesscholarships to high school graduates to go to community college inBurleson. And I brought a book, it’s a dictionary my great grandfathergave me when I was 9 years old.

What is the strangest thing you’ve expensed? When you’re an elected official, or working for a semi-public, nonprofit,you’re not very smart if you expense something that’s strange.

Where did your first paycheck come from?Burleson Mini Golf was my first official paycheck, before that it was frommy grandfather doing work for him.

What was the first luxury item you bought yourself? I did some traveling. Nothing exotic, but it was the first thing I gavemyself. I went on a long hiking trip to Colorado after about a year at work.

Do you prefer phone or e-mail for work? It depends, but I really prefer the phone. I prefer to speak to a live personif it’s something really important.

Another profession you would like to try? Teaching, government, politics or law.

Where is the best place to have a business lunch?Reata. The food is good, and the service is great. They’re not overbearing,so if you’ve got an important conversation going on they don’t interruptyou, and you can hear each other talk in there.

Ken ShetterBurleson Mayor, Safe City Commission of Tarrant County 37

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Motorcycles have figured in Adam Smith’s orbit sincechildhood.

“I learned to ride a motorized cycle before I learned toride a bicycle,” he says.

Smith’s father and an uncle, too, were involved inHonda and Yamaha cycle sales during the late 1960s – apractical background for Smith’s signature venture todaywith Texoma Harley–Davidson.

A colleague characterizes Smith, 35, as “a successfulentrepreneur who has mastered the skill of knowing howto rev up businesses and corner a niche,” adding “hisunique approach to finance, management and customerservice has earned his dealerships industry recognition.”

Smith also is a prolific investor in commercial realestate, with various ownerships and part-ownerships in arange of properties including the historic SinclairBuilding.

“This is an excellent time to be acquiring commercialproperties,” says Smith, of Westlake.

The fondness for motorcycles extends to some savvycollecting, as well, in addition to the dealership. Smithowns the celebrated movie cycle that serves as ametaphor for solitude and freedom in the 1973 filmElectra Glide in Blue.

A marketing-degree graduate of the University of Texas

at Arlington, Smith’s previous association with such deal-erships as Longhorn Harley–Davidson and WacoHarley–Davidson served early on to establish him as anauthoritative figure in the industry. His expertise has beencalled upon by the likes of Public Broadcasting Service,Harley–Davidson University and assorted alumni andentrepreneurial organizations.

Smith recently joined American Bank of Waco as amember of the board of directors.On the community-servicefront, Smith devotesvolunteer-effortinvolvement to suchbenevolent organiza-tions as BrighterTomorrows, a shelterfor women and chil-dren, and the GraysonCounty Crisis Center inaddition to service onbehalf of UT–Arlington.

– Michael H. Price

About the prop:It’s a book, such as some people might use for a diary, that I use towrite down various thoughts and sayings – some words of my own,some learned and collected from others.

What is the strangest thing you’ve expensed? A bet with a friend, that he couldn’t ride a 50CC scooter, in costume,from Los Angeles to Texas. I lost. But it was a legitimate businessexpense, having to do with my profession.

Where did your first paycheck come from?A bicycle shop in Bedford.

What was the first luxury item you bought yourself? Probably a pickup truck – back when a pickup would have seemedlike a luxury to me.

Do you prefer phone or e-mail for work? Neither. Face-to-face communications work best. E-mail makes it waytoo easy to say, ‘No.’

Another profession you would like to try? I don’t believe so.

Where is the best place to have a business lunch?Bodacious Barbecue in Arlington.

Adam SmithTexoma Harley–Davidson 35

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Jason Smith III’s business, Arcos Interactive Marketing, isheavily involved in cutting-edge technology, but that doesn’tmean he puts technology before people.

“I believe in focusing on the relationships we have with thepeople we work with,” he says. “What makes us different isthat, even though we’re in a very technology-driven businessdealing with Internet marketing and social media, we actmore as a guide for our customers. When they come to us,they’re getting more than just a business transaction.”

Smith’s philosophy has paid off. Arcos this year won theSmall Business of the Year Award in the emerging businesscategory from the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce.

Smith also is a big believer in giving back to the communi-ty. His various community projects include work with the LenaPope Home and the Ronald McDonald House.

He also gives back through his Web site:http://arcosit.com/lifeonehanded, where he shares stories onhow he has handled many tasks in his life resulting frombeing born with just one hand.

Smith says he learned early on he was going to have togrow up quickly. When he was 5, he went to sign up to playbaseball, but the organizers did not want to let him sign up.Smith did, excelling at his beloved sport to the extent he even-tually made the Texas Christian University baseball team roster.

“As a pitcher you learn how to be a leader without beingdemonstrative about it,” he says. “You find ways to lead byexample and to encourage others to do better.”

Smith’s friends and colleagues call on him as a motivation-al speaker and to intelligently discuss topics related toInternet marketing.

Says friend Todd Miller: “Jason has determination and willunlike anyone I have ever met. He looks at life and sees aplaying field that is his to own.”

Smith and his wife, Anne-Marie, have two daughters; 21-month-old Glorianne and 6-month-old Gabrielle.

– Robert Francis

About the prop:I chose my baseball glove because of the many life experiencesand lessons connected to my time playing. From overcomingchallenges and learning to harness determination to team build-ing and leadership, the baseball field was my training groundfor much more than pitching.

What is the strangest thing you’ve expensed? Drill bits bought from a pawn shop.

Where did your first paycheck come from?My first paycheck, at the age of 8, came from a compa-ny that solicited kids to sell greeting cards.I sold to fami-ly, friends and door-to-door.

What was the first luxury item you bought yourself? 50-inch Plasma TV

Do you prefer phone or e-mail for work? E-mail

Another profession you would like to try? Baseball coaching

Where is the best place to have a business lunch? Fort Worth Club. Great atmosphere and never have to worryabout the quality of food or service.

Jason Smith IIIArcos Interactive Marketing28

3388 Fort Worth Business Press

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When Brent Sorrells starts talking about incubators, peopleoften think he’s a chicken breeder. A thought he laughs about.

He does breed and nurture though – people, not poultry.Passionate about entrepreneurialism, Sorrells is committed tohelping individuals turn their dreams into viable business enter-prises and seek success on their own terms. He is operationsmanager of TECH Fort Worth and associate director of entrepre-neurship at UNT Health Science Center. Personally dedicat-ed to improving the quality life around him, Sorrells is help-ing others enhance their communities.

“I love my job. It’s all about making an impact but notso much an economic impact,” Sorrells says. “The way Iview it, that’s a result of what we do, not the reason to doit. For me, the passion comes from the desire to makethe world a better place, helping technologystartups get their innovations to market wherethey can improve our environment, our com-munities and our health.”

Sorrells is the first incubator manager inNorth Texas to be certified by the NationalBusiness Incubator Association. He is adouble graduate of the University of NorthTexas, earning a bachelor’s degree in biol-

ogy and an MBA in strategic management.Prior to joining TECH Fort Worth three years ago, Sorrells was

in the banking industry.When not playing or watching sports – pastimes include soc-

cer, softball, basketball and racquetball – Sorrells gives back tothe community. He is active with the Entrepreneurs Foundation

of North Texas and was co-chair of last year’s Freedom Dayevent Sept. 11. He’s a member of BioDFW, The Rotary

Club of Fort Worth, the Fort Worth Chamber ofCommerce and the Fort Worth Life ScienceCoalition. He also volunteers with the North TexasRegional Center for Innovation andCommercialization, serving on the steering commit-

tee for its Tech Success event.Ask anyone who knows him, and theyall describe Sorrells the same way –passionate, dedicated, creative,organized, selfless, a born leader, theunsung hero behind the curtain mak-ing it happen – whether it’s helpingstimulate the formation of new busi-nesses or helping upgrade the community.

“Brent cares deeply about thiscommunity and he works tirelesslyto make improvements in our city.When he does something, he does

it with everything he’s got, leadingothers around him to get involved and

making sure the job gets done,” saysDarlene Ryan, TECH Fort Worth’s execu-tive director.

“His unqualified commitment to thesuccess of Fort Worth is evident in everytask Brent undertakes. His enthusiasm,organization and ‘never die’ attitude is

contagious and effective. He is sure to bea top player in making Tarrant County agreat place to live and work,” says attorneyKathleen Knight.

“It’s the societal issues I want to helpsolve,” Sorrells says. “What can we do toimprove our quality of life, both locally andglobally?”

– Betty Dillard

About the prop:Often when I tell someone I run an incu-bator they think I’m in the poultry busi-ness…thought I’d embrace it.

What is the strangest thing you’veexpensed? Right now I’m trying to expense an ostrich egg.

Where did your first paycheck come from?A horse stable…earned it shoveling manure.

What was the first luxury item you boughtyourself? Does leasing a Lexus count?

Do you prefer phone or e-mail for work? Because they don’t have spam filters for phoneI’ll go with e-mail.

Another profession you would like to try? One day I’d like to start my owncompany…still waiting for that ‘aha!’ moment.

Where is the best place to have a busi-ness lunch?Blue Mesa, I love the salsa.

Brent SorrellsTECH Fort Worth, UNT Health Science Center33

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Dana Stayton has two philosophies on work ethic: Don’t putoff until tomorrow what you can do today, and her work producthas to be the best.

Those who nominated Stayton, a partner at Kelly Hart &Hallman LLP, for her 40 Under 40 award cited her hard workethic and dedication to helping others as reasons that shestands out among Fort Worth’s young professionals.

“These have been my philosophies from a very early age,”Stayton said via e-mail. “I was the kid in school who finishedassignments well before the deadline, and then asked for extracredit projects… My philosophies guided me all through schooland are still applicable in my professional career. I aim for myresponse time and deliverables to be prompt and outstanding.The standards I set for myself are higher than anyone couldplace on me.”

Along with her career, Stayton also is involved in communityservice work in Fort Worth. She is a member of the 2008 – 2009class of Leadership Fort Worth; a member of the Junior Leagueof Fort Worth, where she has served on the board of directors; amember of Partners Together for Health with the JPS HealthNetwork, where she is a member on both the Planned GivingCommittee and the Comprehensive Campaign SteeringCommittee. Along with this work, Stayton is a past member ofthe Junior Woman’s Club of Fort Worth, and she, her hus-band and 2-year-old son are members of Fort Worth’s First

United Methodist Church. Stayton’s area of practice at Kelly Hart & Hallman also sets

her up to work with a number of community organizations, asshe primarily represents nonprofit organizations.

“I have focused my law practice almost exclusively on repre-senting nonprofit organizations,” Stayton says. “Thus, my legalcounsel and guidance to those organizations ultimately benefitsa multitude of youth and adults located primarily in the city ofFort Worth but also throughout the State of Texas. I also providelegal counsel and guidance to various wildlife conservationorganizations operating in the United States and other countrieswhich ultimately benefits thousands of individuals throughoutthe world.”

– Leslie Wimmer

About the prop:A picture of my 2-year-old son, Riley; an art law treatiseand a treatise on tax-exempt organizations indicating myareas of practice; and a pair of Cowboy Boots with “KellyHart & Hallman” embroidered on them. I worked withJustin Boots to design these boots.

What is the strangest thing you’ve expensed? A pedicure. It wasn’t a common business expense nineyears ago when I first sought reimbursement for it.

Where did your first paycheck come from?A law office in Cleburne, Texas.

What was the first luxury item you bought yourself? A silver BMW 325ci.

Do you prefer phone or e-mail for work? E-mail

Another profession you would like to try? Travel book writing, event planning or interior design.

Where is the best place to have a business lunch?Reata. They have separate rooms available for groups.

Dana StaytonKelly Hart & Hallman LLP34

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Frank Taylor hasn’t been in every office in Tarrant County, buthe’s certainly been in a lot.

For the past 17 years, Taylor has worked at major brokeragecompanies handling office project leasing. And he loves it. Afterall, he says, “it’s the only job I’ve ever had.”

A Fort Worth native, Taylor began as an intern at Huff,Browse, McDowell, Montesi – a firm that has since spawnedseveral successful brokerage houses in Fort Worth – in 1992.Today, Taylor is senior vice president at Jones Lang LaSalle andsays he has a favorite saying when it comes to real estate: ‘fairis fair.’

“You may not like what I have to say, but I’m going to be hon-est,” Taylor says. “Ethics are No. 1 and everybody knows that’swhere I’m coming from.”

Todd Burnette, managing director at Jones Lang LaSalle andTaylor’s nominator, had nothing but accolades for Taylor.

“Frank has been a very successful office broker in TarrantCounty for many years,” Burnette says. “He has consistentlybeen a top producer and has been recognized asone of the leading office leasing brokers in FortWorth.”

Though he has had a successful career, Taylorsays the thing he’s most proud of in his life is hiswife and three children.

“They’re my world,” he simply says.

And what a busy world that is. From making the trek to hischildren’s school to help them bake muffins for Mother’s Daypresents to spending much of his free time at the Westside LittleLeague field – where Taylor coaches and all three children playbaseball – Taylor says it’s hectic, but he loves it.

“I just love to be involved. My wife and I both love it,” he says.Taylor also has served on several commit-

tees locally including committees at AllSaints Episcopal School, The WARMPlace and the YMCA.

Taylor and his wife, Moira, have beenmarried since 1995.

– Aleshia Howe

About the prop:I seem to have a baseball bat in my hands more thananything else lately.

Where did your first paycheck come from? Pat McDowell

Another profession you would like to try? Professional golfer

Where is the best place to have a business lunch?Carshon’s Deli

Frank TaylorJones Lang LaSalle39

4422 Fort Worth Business Press

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It’s no surprise that Mike Thomas says his favorite place for abusiness lunch is the Colonial Country Club. For more than 20years, since he was in middle school, he’s had a variety of vol-unteer jobs, including work with what’s now called the CrownePlaza Invitational at Colonial.

“I practically grew up at Colonial,” he says.Currently, he serves on the Title Sponsor Liaison committee,

helping Crowne Plaza guests with local logistics and hospitality.Margaret Ritsch of the Balcom Agency, who nominated Thomas,says, “his commitment to community service is one reason he’sthriving at Southwest Bank.” As a community banker, he says hedoes a little of everything.

“The majority of what I do is real estate-related, but I also han-dle everything from individual checking to big businessaccounts,” Thomas says.

Thomas and his wife Kerri also have made a dramatic impactin the health and well-being of children being treated for neu-rological disorders at Cook Children’s Medical Center. Theirdaughter Katie Beth was born in 2006 with a condition calledcraniosynostosis, a premature fusing of the infant’s delicateskull. She required surgery when she was eight weeks old,and had to wear a protective helmet for about a year whileher skull healed. The Thomas’ insurance covered the costof both the surgery and the medical equip-ment, but they met many families who had

to pay out-of-pocket because the helmets were not covered bytheir insurance. Seeing the families struggle financially whilesimultaneously dealing with the medical needs of their childrenfrustrated Thomas.

“The way I was raised, if you don’t like something, you getinvolved,” he says.

So he and Kerri started a fund to help families struggling tomeet the costs associated with treating neurological conditions

at Cook Children’s.Lesley Atkinson, director of development

for Cook Children’s Health Foundation,commends Thomas for his involvement.

“Even though his family was facingadversity, Mike saw other families in need

and decided he could make adifference,” Atkinson says.

With the backing of theJewel Charity Ball, theNeuroscienceEmergency AssistanceFund has grown to$100,000 in a littlemore than a year.

“People come toCook Children’s hos-pital from all over thecountry for treatment,”Thomas says. “We’reso fortunate to have

this resource in ourcommunity. I’m glad we

could be a part of helpingthe hospital do the work

they do.” – Laurie Barker James

About the prop:My golf clubs – third choice. I couldn’t bring mydaughter or wife and didn’t want to haul arounda gun all day.

What is the strangest thing you’ve expensed? Lunch? I’ve never expensed anything I would con-sider strange.

Where did your first pay check come from? The Deleon Peach and Melon Festival. I was 12 andworked for two weeks on the clean-up crew. I waspaid $199.50 and I thought I was rich.

What was the first luxury item you boughtyourself? A very nice bicycle – in middle school.

Do you prefer phone or e-mail for work? E-mail

Another profession you would like to try? Professional hunter or hunting guide

Where is the best place to have a businesslunch?The Colonial Country Club

Mike Thomas Jr.Southwest Bank38

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Cantey Hanger LLP’s John R. Thompson III has done BarnettShale-related litigation since the early days of the natural gasplay, and yet the Fort Worth-native still is one of the respectedfirm’s youngest partners.

Thompson specializes in commercial litigation and oil and gaslaw. His clients include Oncor Electric Delivery Co., WorthNational Bank, Finley Resources Inc. and Devon Energy Corp.,itself a Barnett Shale pioneer and the largest gas producer inthe shale play.

Since those early days about six or seven years ago, beforethe boom, Thompson says the environment has changed much,but his work remains the same.

“Overnight there have been a lot more lawyers getting intothis area and there is a lot more legal work being done in FortWorth,” says Thompson, who graduated from Fort WorthCountry Day School before earning a bachelor’s degree andjuris doctor at Vanderbilt University and the University ofTexas School of Law, respectively.

“The reality is it became difficult for oil gas compa-nies as the lease terms kept skyrocketing – royaltyand bonuses going up over the years – therewere lots of people trying to get better deals,”he says. “That in and of itself created morelegal work, but obviously that’s fallen offsince the energy prices have decreasedover the last six to eight months.”

Despite the drop, Thompson saysthe amount of legal work will continueas lessors continue to take issue withdeals signed over the years. For example, one lessor who

thought they got a good deal at $5,000 obviously isn’t happywhen a nearby lessor waited and received a $20,000 bonus.

“I think we’re going to continue having those disputes withroyalty owners,” Thompson says. “The leases are still out there,there are still going to be issues of post-production costs, orother royalty disputes they can come with.”

Cantey Hanger Managing Partner PollardRogers nominated Thompson

for the 40 Under 40 designa-tion, and speaks highly ofhis career so far; Thompsonmade partner in January2008.

“John is a young partnerwho has earned the respect

of the Cantey Hanger part-ners and Tarrant Countyjudges,” Rogers says.“He is bright and engag-ing, and his involvementin the community is quitelaudable.”

In his spare time,Thompson keeps busywith his 16-month-old

boy and traveling withhis wife to San

Francisco, Hawaii andelsewhere.

– John-Laurent Tronche

About the prop:I’m just a huge golfer.

What is the strangest thing you’ve expensed? I can’t think of anything.

Where did your first pay check come from? The Cloister hotel at Sea Island

What was the first luxury item you bought yourself? A car

Do you prefer phone or e-mail for work? Probably phone, but depends on what you’re doing.

Another profession you would like to try? Being a doctor, that’d be fun.

Where is the best place to have a business lunch?The Mercury Chophouse

John R. Thompson IIICantey Hanger LLP34

4455May 28, 2009

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Hockey is Michael Tothe’s true passion. The sport is a givenfor the Ontario, Canada, native. An unfulfilled dream of playingin the NHL, however, didn’t deter him from seeking a career insports.

Tothe graduated from Shorter College in Rome, Ga., with aBachelor of Science degree and competed on the varsity golfteam from 1991-1995. His first job after graduation was with theAmerican Junior Golf Association conducting national champi-onships for the elite junior golfer.

“Golf is a game of sportsmanship unlike any other,” Tothesays. “Playing junior golf in Canada is a very short season soit was always five or six guys packed in a car going to anevent to beat each other…a character builder for sure.”

From 1999 to 2002, Tothe was the director of amateurcompetitions for the Royal Canadian Golf Association. In2002, Tothe and his wife, Holly, moved to Singapore,where he worked with the golf division of IMG. He becamepart of the team at the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonialas director of sales and sponsor relations in early 2008.

“My current position is actually a 365-day, 52-week-year position,” Tothe says. “I get people always ask-ing me, ‘so what do you do the rest of the year?’ Thefun part for me is to educate folks about the effortsthat go into a PGA Tour event and selling an experi-ence and opportunity for businesses to use our event

as a platform to growing their business.”Tothe, also an avid skier and mountain biker, is a member of

the Downtown Rotary Club, a board member of RecoveryResources and sits on the steering committee of Vision FortWorth.

“In just one year being a Fort Worth resident he has fullyimmersed himself into the business community,” says PeterRipa, tournament director of the Crowne Plaza Invitational atColonial. “His vast global experience and personality is endear-

ing to anyone. Michael has a gift in that in minutes youfeel you have known him since you were kids.”

Tothe says his involvement in areaorganizations has allowed him

to meet people in thecommunity he mightnot have met.

“Fort Worth hasbeen great to me,”

he says. “Havinggrown up in Canada,the people of Fort

Worth remind me a lot ofCanadians. They areproud of what theyhave. In the short timein Fort Worth I havebeen treated as if Ihave lived here for

years. “There are not many cities in

North America (if any) where you canwalk Downtown, from one end to the

other, without having to look over yourshoulder,” Tothe says. “ Not to mention Ihave met Mayor Mike and Rosie manytimes to the point where I always get ahug…that tells you what Fort Worth is allabout.”

– Betty Dillard

About the prop:Just letting the Stars know that if they need a quickbackup, I am ready.

What is the strangest thing you’ve expensed? Ten packages of Pringle chips on my first trip to China.Pringles were a life saver with turtle soup that includedthe head and shell.

Where did your first pay check come from? Bellamy’s Restaurant, where I worked my way up formdishwasher to line cook.

What was the first luxury item you bought yourself? Armani Jeans. Don’t ask me why, but I still have them.

Do you prefer phone or e-mail for work? I used to be phone, now I’m e-mail but I’m reconditioningmyself to use the phone more. E-mail is just so easy.

Another profession you would like to try? Chiropractor

Where is the best place to have a business lunch?Buffalo Bro’s is tough to beat. The best wings in Fort Worthwith lots of TVs. Being in the sports industry, that is important.

Michael TotheCrowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial37

4466 Fort Worth Business Press

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Ginger Webber manages quite an intricate balancing act. Theworking mother of first-grader Rachel and toddler Claire is alsosenior counsel at Jackson Walker LLP, where she’s a commer-cial real estate attorney. Webber has also found time to providepro bono legal services for real estate projects for the NorthTexas Women’s Business Council, and has served on the MakeHope Happen Lunch committee for Cancer Care Services, aswell as that organization’s marketing committee.

Jaymie Bell of Jackson Walker nominated Webber, sayingWebber serves as “an exemplary role model for other attorneys,working mothers and for volunteers.” Her 11-year career atJackson Walker has helped build the company’s real estatepractice in Fort Worth. Jackson Walker Fort Worth partner SusanHalsey speaks to Webber’s professionalism.

“Ginger handles every transaction with intelligence, graceand humor, and has earned the reputation as an excellent nego-tiator and dealmaker,” Halsey wrote. Other nominatorsdescribed her as “brilliant,” “poised” and “adroit.”

Webber says she knew for a long time that she wanted to bea lawyer.

“In high school I joined the debate team, and enjoyed makingarguments for both sides,” she says.

The Austin native did both her undergraduate work at andobtained her J.D. from Texas Tech University. As a lawyer,Webber has been repeatedly recognized by her peers as a

top local attorney, being named a “Rising Star” by TexasMonthly magazine.

Webber says she’d been working for Jackson Walker forabout six years when she had an epiphany, shortly after thebirth of her first daughter.

“Rachel’s first year just flew by, and I realized I was missingpart of her childhood,” Webber says. “I didn’t want her to growup thinking that work is more important to me than she is.”

Fortunately, Jackson Walker fos-ters retention among employees

like Webber by allowing aselective reduction inhours. In Webber’s case,she no longer works thefabled lawyer “60-hourweek,” but a more sus-tainable 30 hours. Shecalls the arrangement awin-win situation.

“I get all of my workdone, my clients are

happy, and I have theopportunity to be a better

mom as well,” Webber says.

– LaurieBarker James

About the prop:A picture of my daughters; a passport because I loveto travel; chocolate because it makes me happy.

What is the strangest thing you’ve expensed? Whirlyball. We entertained clients there a few years agoand everyone’s stilling talking about how much fun itwas.

Where did your first pay check come from? Scarborough’s Department Store in Austin.

What was the first luxury item you bought yourself? A watch.

Do you prefer phone or e-mail for work? Phone. E-mail is efficient, but it’s hard to read the tone ofan e-mail, you never know if the e-mail is received or in aspam filter and it can be forwarded to unintended recipi-ents.

Another profession you would like to try? Interior designer or children’s clothing designer.

Where is the best place to have a business lunch?Vidalias - the food’s great, it’s quiet and not pretentious. But forout-of-town clients, Reata - it exemplifies Fort Worth culture.

Ginger M. WebberJackson Walker LLP36

May 28, 2009 4477

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Congratulations!Frost Financial Management Group

proudly recognizes Brook Whitworth

for the distinguished honor of 40 Under 40.

Frost Bank4200 S. Hulen, Suite 230 • Fort Worth, TX 76109

(817) 420-5222

Page 49: 40 Under 40 - 2009

Brook Whitworth’s roots in Fort Worth go deep. “My daughter goes to Tanglewood, the same elementary

school I went to, and we live in the same neighborhood in whichI grew up,” she says.

Whitworth also attended McLean Middle School and PaschalHigh School, and met husband, Whistle, when they were highschool students. The two attended separate colleges – he wentto Southwest Texas State, while she went “up the road” to theUniversity of Texas.

Whitworth studied finance at UT, and loved it, but she saysshe didn’t only want work with numbers and charts.

“I knew I wanted to work with people,” she says. An internshipat Frost Bank here in Fort Worth the summer before her senioryear of college put all the pieces of the puzzle together. Shewent to work for Frost Bank right out of college, and has beenthere for 14 years.

At Frost’s Financial Management Group, Whitworth managestrust accounts and estate administration. The job provides vari-ety and challenge for Whitworth.

“Some of the clients need investment advice, and sometimesthe client is a child who has inherited a trust, which Frost Bankmanages,” Whitworth says.

Her job at Frost Bank also encourages her ability to do thetwo other things about which she’s passionate – raise her familyand volunteer in the community.

Susan Medina of SKM Communication Strategies, who nomi-nated Whitworth, singled out Whitworth’s commitment to manyFort Worth organizations. Whitworth is a board member for SafeHaven, on the board of the Fort Worth Junior League and workswith numerous other nonprofit organizations ranging from thearts to the Tarrant County Food Bank.

“Volunteering is easy because I enjoy it, and my job supportscommunity service,” Whitworth says. “The Frost Bank cultureexpects employees to be involved on community boards.”

Whitworth counts herself lucky that her family helps her bal-ance all her personal, professional and community commit-ments. At the end of the day, she says, it’s spending time withher family that is most rewarding.

“My parents have a house in Port Aransas, and we go asoften as we can,” she says. “In fact, I wanted to use somethingfrom the beach as a prop, but I just couldn’t make it work.”

– Laurie Barker James

About the prop:Family photos - I value the time I get to spend with my family.

What is the strangest thing you’ve expensed? A gingerbread football stadium, sent to a client who builds stadiumbleachers.

Where did your first pay check come from? Harold's Clothing Store. I started working there when I was16.

What was the first luxury item you bought yourself? When I first started working at the bank I saved up tobuy a used Lexus. And two suits that I thought werevery expensive.

Do you prefer phone or e-mail for work? It depends. I think the tone of an e-mail can be misinterpreted.

Another profession you would like to try? Film or restaurant critic.

Where is the best place to have a business lunch?Ruffino’s Italian Restaurant or Bonnell’s Fine Texas Cuisine

Brook WhitworthFrost Financial Management Group35

4499May 28, 2009

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Despite the fact he’s in an administrative role, CharlesWilliams still keeps his occupational therapist license updated.He also keeps up with his certification as a personal trainer.

And although he’s not working with patients directly much atthe moment, Williams says his experience as a health care pro-fessional – and not just as a manager – are indispensible to hiswork as a leader for the JPS Health Network, where he is thevice president of support services.

“I really do miss that touch,” Williams says of his work as atherapist.

Williams, 33, didn’t always know he wanted to go into healthcare. When he was a junior in high school, though, he attendeda health professions outreach program at Texas Woman’sUniversity, where he stayed on campus and was immersed inthe world of various health care professionals. He decidedbeing a therapist would be the right fit for him, and he went onto earn his bachelor’s and master’s degrees at TWU.

Williams joined LifeCare Hospitals in 1999, a system of long-term acute care hospitals. He was asked to help open a newhospital, and when his fellow therapist, a physical therapist, leftthe organization, he was asked by the administration to becomea manager.

In his managerial role, Williams got experience creatingstandards and procedures, hiring staff and also wasprompted to get an MBA. He was recruited to JPS andjoined in March 2007, where he used his background

to show other administrators how their decisions would impactpatient care on the floors and also share his business knowl-edge with clinicians.

“One thing I think is missing in medical education is the finan-cial,” Williams says. “If there is no money, there is no mission. . .So often I hear clinicians say, ‘Well, we’d do it, but administra-tion won’t allow us.’”

Williams’ wife, Demetra, is a registered nurse, and he has a 6-year-old son named Chase and a 3-year-old daughter namedLauryn. He said his son often asks questions about the medicaltextbooks in the Williams household. Although he is focused on

spending down time with his family, Williams isinvolved with several organizations. He says

he would like to complete a doctoraldegree by the time he’s 45 and alsobecome a CEO. He hasn’t forgotten hisfirst love, though; he said he’d reallylike to see patients on a home healthbasis again someday.

“I’m trying very hard to do the best Ican for the patients,” he said.

– Elizabeth Bassett

About the prop:The picture of my children because they are andalways have been the driving force for all I do; thecalculator because I plan everything and with plan-ning things must be calculated; the ruler becausethings I pursue must have a goal attached to it andmust be measureable.

What is the strangest thing you’ve expensed? I haven’t had a strange one.

Where did your first pay check come from? Winn-Dixie grocery store at Town Center Mall

What was the first luxury item you boughtyourself? Custom-made golf clubs in 2007.

Do you prefer phone or e-mail for work? Phone – I believe it is more personal.

Another profession you would like to try? Football coach

Where is the best place to have a business lunch?Old Neighborhood Grill

Charles WilliamsJPS Health Network36

Fort Worth Business Press5500

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t

Architect Richard Williams remembers very clearly when hediscovered the vocation about which he’s so passionate. WhenWilliams was 6, his father showed him how to use some olddrafting tools they’d found in the attic.

“I looked out the window and drew the house across thestreet,” Williams says. “I remember my dad saying, ‘I think youmight be an architect.’ That was it for me.”

Williams was singled out for his “creativity and dedication,”according to his coworker Marty Wieder, who nominatedWilliams for 40 Under 40. Williams managed the development ofthe Great Wolf Lodge, the largest indoor water park resort inTexas and one of the area’s most popular new attractions. He isalso one of the youngest partners at GSBS Architects.

“At age 39, I may be one of the oldest in the group of win-ners,” Williams says. “But I’m still a relatively young man in whathas been referred to as an older man’s profession.”

Williams attributes his success to the group of talented peo-ple with whom he works.

“I had a college professor who told us every day, ‘Surroundyourselves with excellence,’” he says. “Each of us has a particu-lar skill, and I truly enjoy coming to work every day to see howthose talents will come together through collaboration.”

Williams says his wife Ashley inspires him “every day to be abetter person.” In addition, his three daughters Sydney,Madison and Elizabeth provide inspiration of a different sort.

“They motivate me to create places that will somehow

leave the world a little better for generations to come,” he says. “I’ve been lucky to be a part of a company that’s been at the

forefront of energy efficient, sustainable design,” Williams says.“Architects will play a huge part in energy conservation andreducing the effects of global warming. Good buildings allowpeople to work more productively and live better, healthier lives.We’ve got a tremendous challenge before us, but we’ve gotsome good ideas too, and that has me excited.”

Interestingly, if given the opportunity Williams might like to tryon another creative hat – specifically a chef’s cap.

“I think there are some similari-ties between designing build-ings and cooking creative-ly,” he says.

– Laurie Barker James

About the prop:A roll of drawings because it represents a vision thatwill become something special.

What is the strangest thing you’ve expensed? Does a pair of pants torn on the job site count?

Where did your first pay check come from? Six Flags Over Texas

What was the first luxury item you bought yourself? A LaserDisc player. Remember those things with thegiant discs?

Do you prefer phone or e-mail for work? I suppose it depends on who I’m talking to.

Another profession you would like to try? A chef.

Where is the best place to have a business lunch?Chef Pointe Café in Watauga. It’s great to see the look on aclient’s face when we pull up to the gas station for lunch.

Richard WilliamsGSBS Architects39

5511May 28, 2009

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Jennifer C. Yoder spoke to the Business Press just hoursbefore she was to board a plane en route to Madrid, where sheand a friend had booked no hotel, had only a vague itinerarybut had secured a rented a car in advance – all in the name ofgood air fare and a penchant for living life to the fullest.

Carpe diem is a phrase she knows all too well, and one whichshe aspires to follow daily.

“It’s a phrase I try to live my life by daily and one which I hopewill inspire other people, too,” says Yoder, an Orlando, Fla.-native who moved to the Metroplex several years ago after livingand working on the East Coast. She describes Fort Worth asone of the first places she truly felt at home.

Yoder is marketing director of Baird, Hampton & Brown Inc., aFort Worth-based engineering and surveying company withother offices in Grapevine and Granbury. Her responsibilitiesinclude recruitment, branding and name recognition and culti-vating business-to-business and business-to-client relationships.

“I found my niche, something I think I’m good at and I don’tjust love what I do, I’m in love what I do,” Yoder says. “I get agreat satisfaction out of it and meet interesting people all thetime.”

She admits, however, that this job wasn’t her first consid-eration.

“I completely fell into it. I actually went to school in tel-evision production,” she says. “I ended up working foran industrial contractor … and just found out that I likedthe whole architecture-engineering-construction business.It kind of started from there.

“That [first company] encouraged me to go back to

school,” she says. “I went back to school full time, two kids,husband out to sea, and at the same time my father was dyingand I was taking care of him. But the company at the time wasvery supportive of me.”

Years later she’s still as busy as ever.In addition to her job and philanthropic endeavors with the

Fort Worth Union Gospel Mission, Main Street Arts Festival, FortWorth Ryan Family YMCA, Yoder also is an integral part of theSociety of Marketing Professional Services, which launched May

7 in Fort Worth. She also is interim directorof programs for the Dallas chapter.

“Every program we have, a por-tion of the ticket sales along with

a portion of the sponsorship willgo to one of four charities,” she

says, including the YMCA, TheWARM Place, Big Brothers Big

Sisters and Meals on Wheels.– John-Laurent Tronche

About the prop:It’s a phrase I try to live my life by daily and one which Ihope will inspire other people, too.

What is the strangest thing you’ve expensed? Rabbit

Where did your first pay check come from? Sbarro Pizza

What was the first luxury item you bought yourself? My obnoxiously bright yellow Street Series PT Cruiser

Do you prefer phone or e-mail for work? E-mail – I am an addict!

Another profession you would like to try? Talk show host

Where is the best place to have a business lunch?Hot dog at a Texas Rangers game

Jennifer C. YoderBaird, Hampton & Brown Inc.36

5522 Fort Worth Business Press

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SAVE THE DATE

R E U N I O NFriday, June 19th • 6-9 p.m.

Casa Mañana

Join us at the First 40 Under 40 ReunionRecognizing brilliance past and present

PLATINUM SPONSOR

SILVER SPONSORS

5533

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Nerissa Knight began her career in television news 15years ago, as an associate producer at KATV-TV and lateras a reporter at KTHV-TV, both in Little Rock, Ark., while stillin college at the University of Memphis.

Knight previously worked as an anchor and reporter forfour years in Los Angeles at KNBC-TV, in Milwaukee atWDJT-TV, in Mobile at WALA-TV and in Beaumont at KBTV-TV.

She is currently a weekend anchor at CBS 11 and TXA 21.While in Los Angeles, Knight hosted the top-rated Today

In L.A. Weekend for four years, and covered events ofnational interest, including the Phil Spector, Robert Blakeand Scott Peterson murder trials, as well as the MichaelJackson child molestation trial. She also covered cata-strophic natural disasters such as mudslides, wildfires andhurricanes.

Knight has interviewed many newsmakers in her career,from Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, to OscarDe La Hoya and Kobe Bryant. In addition, she has coverednumerous Hollywood red carpet events, such as TheOscars, The Emmys, The Golden Globe Awards and TheGrammys, among others. She also has interviewed celebri-

ties including TomCruise, KelseyGrammer, NicoleKidman, JenniferLopez, Will Smith,Halle Berry andRobin Williams.

When Knightwas only 6 yearsold, she lost hermother to cancer.Her motto for livingis, “It’s not whatyou’ve been dealt,but how you deal with it.”

Knight is dedicated to community service and has oftenbeen recognized for her work, with honors including theCalifornia Governor's Mentoring Award, the AIDS ProjectLos Angeles Award and the Brookings Center CommunityInvolvement Award.

Knight is married to her junior high school sweetheart andthey have three children.

Our emcee: Nerissa Knight

Page 54: 40 Under 40 - 2009

Pre-Party

Photos by Glenn Killman

David Kramer, Ginger Webber and Scott Mitchell

Brant Martin and Natalie Martin

Lyndsay Hoover, Dana Stayton and Marjon Zabihi

Mark Assaad and Kim Assaad

Amy Kramer andKelly Imig

The Fort Worth Business Presshosted a pre-party celebrating the 40 Under 40 recipients atNeiman Marcus.

5544 Fort Worth Business Press

Page 55: 40 Under 40 - 2009

5555May 28, 2009

n

Kids are notoriously picky eaters. Butwhat if it was their parents who made themthat way?

Chef Tim Love is not a picky eater. He’lladmit he thinks a McDonald’s hamburger ispretty good, but at the same time he’sknown for using unusual ingredients, likekangaroo, in his dishes. He embraces foodof all sorts, and one of his goals is to makesure children do the same.

Love, who founded Lonesome DoveWestern Bistro, owns the White ElephantSaloon and will be opening a second LoveShack burger joint in the So7 developmentthis June, is planting a garden at All Saints’Episcopal School for kids to learn aboutvegetables and incorporate fresh foods intotheir lunches. He’s teaching students aboutmath and nutrition with the organizationSpoons Across America, a national non-profit dedicated to promoting healthy eatingfor children during family meals. He’s alsobuying oysters and beef tongue for his ownkids to enjoy.

“Perception’s everything,” Love said ofchildren and their food habits.

Children take cues about what theyshould like or shouldn’t like from their par-ents. The problem, Love said, is often par-ents give a negative connotation to foodsaccidentally – by saying a child “has” to eathalf of his vegetables, for example, he willthink something’s wrong with the food. If it were good, hisparents wouldn’t have said that, right?

Families often don’t share meals with each other anymore,and food may come from a fast-food joint or from a frozenbox that’s been highly processed. When Love’s son startedschool at All Saints’, Love sat in on meetings about chang-ing the school’s food offerings. He found himself helpingcompletely revamp the menu, leaning to a variety of foodsthat were healthier and not processed.

“Most of the changes are the stuff kids don’t even notice,”Love said, like nixing high-fructose corn syrup or usingwhole wheat bread products. The garden, which Love isworking on now, will soon offer a variety of fresh vegetablesand fruits the students can tend to and learn about in

science classes before eating them.With Spoons Across America, Love has been facilitating

an annual dinner party project. For the past few years, Lovehas been leading a six-week course with a group of stu-dents who plan and execute a four-course meal for theirparents, making everything from scratch. The children learnnutrition, menu planning, etiquette, measuring and cooking,among other things, and it encourages sitting down for fami-ly meals, Love said.

By introducing children to foods like parsnips or broccolias something cool and unusual, they learn healthy eatingwithout knowing it.

“It’s the Jedi mind trick,” he said.– Elizabeth Bassett

Chef Tim Love tackles American eating habits

Page 56: 40 Under 40 - 2009