December 2006 Houston Business Connections Newspaper

BUSINESS CONNECTIONSHouston

Published By Houston Highlights Publishing, L.L.C. Proudly Serving The Houston Community Since 1998 • Email: [email protected] • DECEMBER 2006

HoustonBUSINESS CONNECTIONSCommunity News, Business Reports & Politics

POLITICAL SPOTLIGHT

ARE YOU ON OUR LIST OF EAGLE ENTREPRENEURS?: www.houstonbusinessconnections.com

Please see ELLIS, P.12

Senator Ellis

American HeartAssociationApplauds Sen.Rodney Ellis’Smoke-FreeLegislation

Smoking costs Texas businesses an estimated $10billion annually in healthcarecosts and lost productivity

AUSTIN - The American Heart Association(AHA) applauds State Senator Rodney Ellis for hiscommitment to file legislation prohibiting smokingin public and work places. Ellis announced hisintentions for the upcoming 80th Legislative

Community News, Business Reports & Politics

For Over 32 years Quality Security Services, Inc. hasranked as one of Houston’s top 25 Guard Service Firms

Quality Protection

PICTURED: BettyCarlock-Weekley, andher late husband, E.Paul Weekley thefounder of QualitySecurty Services, Inc.in a 2001 file photo.

Founded in Augustof 1974, QualitySecurity Services,

Inc. has been serv-ing the Houston

area for morethan 32 years.

rom the firstday of oper-ation to thisvery day, the

company’s first pri-ority has been to

serve its clientsaccording it’s presi-dent. “Paul Weekley mylate husband, and thefounder of the companyfaithfully built a strong

foundation by putting theneeds of our clients andemployees first,” saysBetty Carlock-Weekley,the current president andCEO. “He created a lega-cy of generosity that con-tinues to guide us today,”she says. “And if I have

anything to say about it,we will remain committed tothose very values while weraise the bar even higher toprovide our clients with max-

imum “Quality Security.”With the recent passing

of a city of Houstonordinance that requires

owners of high crimeapartment complexes to

improve lighting, hire securityguards or install surveillance cameras

around their complexes, Carlock-Weekleyis expecting her company to be verybusy during the coming months. If apartment complexes fail to com-

ply with the ordinance they could face apossible fine of $2,000 a day.

“Some Security companies set upbusiness in January and are gone byAugust,” Carlock-Weekley says. “Wehave proven ourselves over the years. Inaddition, we have consistently ranked asone of the top twenty-five security firms inthe Houston area. Our “Hands On” localmanagement provides immediate resolu-tion to challenges that face our clients. AndI believe our clients like that about us.”

Quality Security Services, Inc. hasvast experience in providing securityservices to Commercial buildings,Shopping centers, Subdivisions,Apartment complexes, Warehouses,Banks, Auto dealerships, Restaurants,Hospitals, Construction sites andTrucking companies.

The company is a member of theBetter Business Bureau, The Associationof Security Services and PrivateInvestigators State of Texas, NationalFederation of Independent Business andThe Houston Apartment Association.

With the holiday season in fullswing, the demand for security guard pro-

F

Please see QUALITY, P.13

Birch

DALLAS -Mothers AgainstDrunk Driving(MADD) is expand-ing its efforts to savelives and preventinjuries among theHispanic, AfricanAmerican and NativeAmerican communi-ties. The action stepswere borne from

MADD’s DiversityForum II held in Mayto forge partnershipsand create solutionsfor drunk driving,underage drinkingand seat belt useissues within diversecommunities.

“Diverse popu-

lations are overrepre-sented in traffic fatal-ities,” says GlynnBirch, national presi-dent of MADD, thefirst male and AfricanAmerican presidentin the organization'shistory, whose 21-month-old son waskilled by a drunkdriver in 1988.

“Despite our cul-tural differences, weall share a commonrisk on the roadways.

New National Diversity Report Builds UponRecommendations from Hispanic, AfricanAmerican and Native American Leaders

Please see MADD, P.11

MADD Seeks to Bridge Cultural Divide

Harvard University hasannounced that from now onundergraduate students fromlow-income families will pay

no tuition. In making the announce-

ment, Harvard’s presidentLawrence H. Summers said,

“When only 10 percent of thestudents in Elite higher edu-cation come from families inlower half of the income dis-tribution, we are not doingenough. We are not doingenough in bringing elite high-

Harvard University is now offeringFree Tuition to low-income students

Summers

If you know of a family earning less than$60,000 a year with an honor student graduating from high school soon, HarvardUniversity wants to pay the tuition.

Please see HARVARD, P.15

he winds of diversity continue to blow through thepolitical and business landscape of Houston and thesurrounding area - and there seems to be no end insight. In today’s growing market place, surviving from

one year to the next is a constant challenge – and is not guar-anteed. However, for those who are able to whether thestorms of change, the rewards of becoming a successfulentrepreneur are well worth the struggle...and the wait.Moreover, the sacrifices made by successful entrepreneursare seldom done justice with mere words. That’s whyHouston Highlights Publishing, L.L.C., the publisher ofHouston Business Connections will feature, profile and listsome of the Houston areas top entrepreneurs in a Four-PartSeries entitled: “People With Staying Power”. We will alsobe asking some of Houston’s most well-known business lead-ers to share at least one of their secrets to success in this pow-erful series.

To check out our initial list of entrepreneurs we are con-sidering, go to www.houstonbusinessconnections.com. Theindividuals listed are just a few of the people we are consid-ering to be featured during the 2007 calendar year. If youknow someone who should be on our list, drop us a line at(832) 212-8735 or call me directly at (281) 636-5174 torequest inclusion in this series.

Aubrey R. Taylor, PublisherEmail: [email protected]

PUBLISHER’S PAGE ANNOUNCEMENTS

2 • DECEMBER 2006 • Houston Business Connections Printed Edition • www.houstonbusinessconnections.com • 832.212.8735

We once worried that democracy could not survive if an undereducated populace knew too little. Now we worry if it can survive us knowing too much. — Robert Bianco

T

ENTREPRENEURS CREDOI do not choose to be a Common manIt is my right to be UNCOMMON...If I canI seek Opportunity - not SecurityI do not wish to be a kept citizen, humbled and dulledby having the state look after me.I want to take the “Calculated Risk” toDream and to Build,to fail and to SUCCEED.I refuse to barter incentive for a dole.I prefer the challenges of Life to the“Guaranteed existence”,the thrill of fulfillment to the stale calm of Utopia.I will not trade FREEDOM for Beneficencenor my dignity for a handout.I will never cower before any master norbend to any threat.It is my heritage to stand erect,proud and unafraid,to think and act for myself,to enjoy the benefit of “MY CREATIONS” and to face the world boldly and say:“This with God’s help, I have done. All this is what it means to be a ENTREPRENEUR”

HHPHouston Highlights Publishing, L.L.C.Mailing: 957 Nasa Parkway #251 Houston, TX 77058.

HOUSTON BUSINESS CONNECTIONS IS PUBLISHED BY HOUSTON HIGHLIGHTS

PUBLISHING, L.L.C. ALL RIGHT RESERVED. NO ARTICLES MAY BE COPIED,REWRITTEN, PUBLISHED, OR OTHERWISE DISTRIBUTED WITHOUT THE PRIOR WRIT-TEN APPROVAL OF THE PUBLISHER. FOR SPECIAL REQUESTS EMAIL:[email protected] SEND PRESS RELEASES TO:[email protected]. FOR MORE INFO CALL: 832.212.8735

Aubrey R. Taylor, president and CEO of Houston HighlightsPublishing, L.L.C., publisher of Houston Business Connections.

Lockwood, Andrews& Newnam, Inc.Appoints JosephPaxton as Managerof EnvironmentalServices

ockwood, Andrews & Newnam, Inc.(LAN) has appointed Joseph E. Paxton asmanager of environmental services. In thisrole, Paxton will be responsible for pro-

viding management services and documentationcompliance with theNational EnvironmentalProtection Act for LAN'sclients.

Paxton joins LANfollowing a distinguishedcareer spanning morethan three decades inenvironmental planningfor the U.S. Army Corpsof Engineers. During histenure, he managed multi-million dollar federalprojects and was responsi-ble for the development of environmental impactstatements, evaluation of biological, cultural, andsocio-economic conditions, and coordination withvarious government and municipal agencies aswell as the general public.

His accomplishments include receiving theCommander's Award for Exceptional CivilianAchievement and the Southwestern DivisionPlanning Achievement Award for leading a teamin the production of a programmatic environmen-tal assessment and a ten-year development planfor Lake Lewisville, Texas. This environmentalassessment and plan produced the first-ever water-borne recreation use limit for a lake managed bythe U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and has sincebeen used as a model of development at otherlakes under their purview.

A third-generation native of Fort Worth,Texas, Paxton also served with the U.S. AirForce from 1966 to 1970 and attained the rank ofcaptain. He holds a Bachelor of Arts and aMaster of Science degree in biology from TexasChristian University.

“We are thrilled to have Joseph Paxton on ourteam," said LAN President Dennis Petersen. "Hiswealth of knowledge and management expertisein all aspects of environmental services will beinvaluable to our clients and business groups.”

-----------------------------------------------------------

Susan Allen,Receives Certificatein RetirementPlanning from TheUniversity ofPennsylvania’sWharton School

usan Allen, CLU, ChFC, a financial pro-fessional with AXAAdvisors, LLC in theWoodlands, has earned a Certificate inRetirement Planning from The Wharton

School of the University of Pennsylvania, and hasbeen awarded AXA Advisors’ new RetirementPlanning Specialist title for completing the AXAEquitable At Retirementsm education program atThe Wharton School. She is one of only 250 finan-cial professionals nationwide to complete this retire-ment planning education program. The announce-ment was made by Bill Degnan, senior vice presidentand head of AXA Equitable’s At Retirementsm unit.

The Wharton School is recognized around theworld for its academic strengths at every level ofbusiness education. The retirement education program is a customizedprogram developed forAXA Advisors to provideits financial professionalswith intensive training inretirement planning.

“There are currentlyover 77 million babyboomers in the UnitedStates looking at 20 to 30years in retirement,” saidChristopher M. “Kip”Condron, chairman andchief executive officer ofAXA Equitable. “Without proper planning, theyare likely facing the risk of not having enoughretirement income.”

Mr. Condron continued, “We created this pro-gram to give our financial professionals a higherlevel of training and knowledge to best serve theplanning needs of this huge market.”

-----------------------------------------------------------

Cornyn Elected toSenate RepublicanLeadership Team

.S. Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) wasrecently elected unanimously by his fel-low Republican Senators to the positionof Vice Chairman of the Republican

Conference, the fifth-highest Republican leader-ship position in the United States Senate. He suc-ceeds his fellow U.S. Senator from Texas, KayBailey Hutchison, who was elected to the fourth-highest leadership position as Chair of theRepublican Policy Committee.

“I’m honored by the trust and confidence thatmy colleagues have placed in me to serve as amember of the Senate Republican leadership team,”Sen. Cornyn said. “This position gives me a place atthe table as we address thecritical issues facing Texasand America.”

Sen. Cornyn contin-ued: “There are manyimportant issues facingour state and nation as wemove forward with ourpositive agenda, includingkeeping America safe inthe war on terror, reduc-ing spending, securing ourborders, improving accessto quality health care, con-tinuing to expand job opportunities, and protectingthe most vulnerable in our society. Since my firstdays in the Senate, I’ve worked to bring Texas val-ues to Washington and I’ll continue working hard toachieve these goals.”

U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell, who currentlyserves as Senate Majority Whip and was electedthis morning as Senate Republican Leader, said,“In the four years that John has been in the Senate,he has established himself as a tireless advocatefor his constituents and a principled leader whohas earned the trust and respect of his fellowSenators. As a member of the Senate leadership,he will play an increasingly important role inRepublican-led efforts to grow the economy, helpworking families, and provide the brave men andwomen in our military with the resources theyneed to win the war on terror.”

Sen. Cornyn serves on five Senate commit-tees: Armed Services; Judiciary; Budget; SmallBusiness and Entrepreneurship; and JointEconomic. He chairs the Judiciary Committee’ssubcommittee on Immigration, Border Securityand Citizenship and the Armed Services

Paxton

Allen

Cornyn

L

S

U

Please see CORNYN, P.10

Do You Have Staying Power?

Houston Business Connections Printed Edition • www.houstonbusinessconnections.com • 832.212.8735 • DECEMBER 2006 • 3

The highest measure of democracy is neither the ‘extent of freedom’ nor the ‘extent of equality’, but rather the highest measure of participation. — A. d. Benoist

Job Opportunity!Security OfficersNeeded Today!

713.988.2918

Check our record with the Better Business Bureau.

Contact us today so we can answer yourquestions and begin to provide you with

the “Quality Security” you deserve.

Contact Us By Phone:

(713) 988-2918

Why Choose HoustonQuality Security?Some “security” companies set up business in Januaryand are gone in August. Houston Quality Security hasbeen serving Greater Houston for over thirty two years,and has consistently ranked as one of the top twenty-five security firms in Houston, Texas.

Hands on, local management provides immediate res-olution to challenges that face our clients. We workhard to your satisfaction.

We have years of experience protecting:

*Commercial buildings *Shopping centers*Subdivisions *Apartment complexes*Warehouses *Banks*Auto dealerships *Restaurants*Hospitals *Construction sites*Trucking companies *Church Parking lots

We are proud to be members of:

*Better Business Bureau*Association of Security Services and PrivateInvestigators State of Texas

*National Federation of Independent Business*Houston Apartment Association Member

8700 Commerce Park Suite 247 Houston, Texas 77036

Peace of mind -Affordable. Priceless.

Member

(PRIME NEWSWIRE) –The Port Commission ofThe Port of HoustonAuthority approved severalBayport construction mat-ters and high-tech securityprograms at its recent meet-ing. Chairman JimEdmonds presided over themeeting with CommissionerSteve Phelps, CommissionerJim Fonteno, CommissionerKase Lawal, CommissionerJimmy Burke andCommissioner Elyse Lanier.

BAYPORT MATTERS

(Agenda item G5) Commissionersapproved a $663,493 construction con-tract with BIO Landscaping &Maintenance Inc. for the landscaping ofconstructed Phase I sight and soundberms at Bayport.

(Agenda items G17, G18, G19)Commissioners approved two contractamendments totaling $115,754 in addi-tional costs and one contract amendmentresulting in a credit of $266,751 withZachry Construction Corporation. Anamendment of $94,931 was approved tofund installation of a permanent sleeveunderneath the ExxonMobil pipeline cor-ridor and Port Road right-of-way toaccommodate present and future dredgepipe. An amendment of $20,823 wasapproved to purchase 10-inch water metersfor installation at the cruise terminal.

(Agenda item G20) The commissionapproved a $256,205 contract amendmentwith Orion Construction Company to payfor removal of submerged timber and con-crete debris that is obstructing dredging ofthe cruise terminal turning basin.

(Agenda item G21) The commissionapproved a $20,000 contract amend-ment with McCarthy BuildingCompanies to fund the required additionof a railroad derailer on a relocatedplant rail spur, to protect tracks fromrunaway railroad cars.

(Agenda item H2) The commissionauthorized an interim and long-term leaseagreement with Terminal Link (Bayport)LLC at Bayport to be used for develop-ment of an empty container depot.Terminal Link (Bayport) is an affiliatecompany of CMA-CGM, which hassigned on to be the first steamship linecustomer at Bayport.

SECURITY MATTERS(Agenda item K5) Commissioners author-

ized solicitation and receipt of competitivesealed proposals (CSPs) to provide anaccess control system in the restrictedareas of the North Turning Basin and EastIndustrial Park terminals. Cost of the sys-tem is expected to range from $4.2 millionto $5.2 million.

(Agenda item K7) The commissionauthorized solicitation and receipt of CSPsto provide access control systems atManchester and Care terminals and closedcircuit television surveillance systems atCare and Southside terminals. The sys-tems are expected to cost between $5.5million and $6.3 million.

TARIFF AMENDMENTS

(Agenda item M15) Commissionersapproved a staff request to amend tar-iffs No. 8, No. 14 and No. 15 to reflectrate increases in dockage, wharfage,container crane rental, throughput, con-tainer storage and freight handlingcharges. The new rates will go intoeffect on January 1, 2007.

PROFESSIONALSERVICES

(Agenda item G9) The commissionapproved a two-year, $115,000 contractto David Bray Photography for profes-sional photography services. Photoswill be owned by the PHA and madeavailable for use by the public.

(Agenda item G10) Commissionersawarded a two-year, $515,774 contract toPage International Communications forprinting services.

(Agenda item G11) Commissionersawarded a two-year, $745,800 contract toGilbreath Communications for graphicsdesign and creative support services.

(Agenda item G22) The commissionapproved a $150,000, two-year extensionof a contract with Datasorsconsulting LLCfor personal computer hardware and soft-ware support.

INTER-AGENCYMATTERS

(Agenda item G16) Commissionersapproved a $30,400 purchase order toHarris County for the second-year lease ofan 800-megahertz public safety radio sys-tem and related equipment.

CAPITALIMPROVEMENTS

(Agenda item K4) Commissionersapproved the solicitation and receipt ofCSPs for railroad concrete encasements tothe docks landside of transit sheds No. 27and No. 28.

SERVICE AGREEMENTRENEWALS

(Agenda items M9, M10, M11, M12,M13, M14) The commission approvedrenewal of annual service agreements withsix area nonprofit organizations for a com-bined total of $125,000.Service agree-ments were renewed with the NorthChannel Area, East End, HoustonHispanic, Houston Citizens, Baytown-West Chambers County chambers of com-merce and the Galveston Bay Foundation.


Democracy is a charming form of government, full of variety and disorder, and dispensing a sort of equality to equals and unequal alike. — Plato

BUSINESS PORT OF HOUSTON MATTERS

Edmonds Phelps Fonteno Lawal Burke Longoria Lanier

PHA Commission DeliversBayport, Security, Tariff Matters

(PRIMEZONE) – The Port ofHouston Authority (PHA) recentlyannounced the appointment of KayAdams as Cruise Line Sales andMarketing Manager in the OperationsDivision. Her principle responsibilitieswill be to negotiate contracts with cruiselines, oversee operations at BarboursCut and Bayport Cruise Terminals aswell as develop and implement salesand marketing strategies for the newBayport Cruise Terminal.

“With the expanding cruiseembarkation market in Texas, the PHAwill be able to handle the demand fromconsumers and Kay brings a notablelevel of experience in this arena,” saidWade Battles, PHA managing director.“I am confident that she will be effec-tive while taking on this role.”

A native of Venezuela, Adams

brings a rich and varied background tothe position. Her cruise industry experi-ence includes being Texas' DistrictSales and Business DevelopmentManager for Royal Caribbean CruisesLtd. Her legal career includes workingin criminal and civil defense for

Attorneys Olney Wallis andRichard “Racehorse” Haynes &Associates.

Prior to joining the PHA, Ms. Adamswas General Counsel for CovingtonAdams Development Group, LLC.

Adams is a graduate of theUniversity of North Texas and theUniversity of Houston Law Center. Sheis actively involved in promotingHouston through her participation invarious fundraising organizations,including one of her favorites, theHouston Livestock Show & Rodeo.

PORT OF HOUSTON APPOINTMENTS

PHA Appoints Kay Adams CruiseLine Sales and Marketing Manager

Adams


If liberty and equality are chiefly to be found in democracy, they will be best attained when all persons alike share in the government to the utmost. — Aristotle

Job Opportunity!Security OfficersNeeded Today!

713.988.2918

Check our record with the Better Business Bureau.

Contact us today so we can answer yourquestions and begin to provide you with

the “Quality Security” you deserve.

Contact Us By Phone:

(713) 988-2918

What Can HoustonQuality Security Do For You?We offer our clients:

1. Individualized Care. Professional communicationsbegin at the first contact to understand your needs. Aplan is developed to specifically address your protec-tion requirements.

2. Competent Commitment. The HQS ManagementTeam assigns the Management, Field Officers, andequipment to provide you the Quality Security you expect.

3. Ongoing Training. Our Management and FieldOfficers are being trained and equipped to improve ourcompetence in such areas as CPR and terrorist activ-ity awareness.

4. Constant Contact. One individual is solely respon-sible for maintaining a strong, positive relationship witheach client. Every client is encouraged to call at anytimewith the assurance that your needs or questions will beaddressed and resolved as soon as humanly possible.

Contact us today so we can answer your questions andbegin to provide you with the “Quality Security” you deserve.

8700 Commerce Park Suite 247 Houston, Texas 77036

Peace of mind -Affordable. Priceless.

Member


Democracy is a charming form of government, full of variety and disorder, and dispensing a sort of equality to equals and unequal alike. — Plato

FRANCHISE HOUSTON AREA

MilliCare, one of the world’s leadingcarpet and textile maintenance companies,has issued a third franchise agreement inthe Houston area. Houston InstallationServices, Inc. (H.I.S.), a provider of officefurniture installation, planning and storageservices, joins two existing MilliCarefranchise partners in the market. H.I.S.MilliCare is located at 8700 Clay Rd.,Suite 230 in Houston.

“Because of the sophistication of this

marketplace, many in the Houston busi-ness community are concerned with main-taining clean, healthy work environmentsto reflect well on their company brand,”Debbie Michalak, director of marketingfor MilliCare. “We are committed to mak-ing our unique dry centered servicesincreasingly accessible to the numerousFortune 500 companies and other busi-nesses in the area.”

“MilliCare carpet and textile mainte-

nance is the perfect expansion of our serv-ice offerings,” said Bill Miller, owner ofH.I.S. since 1997.

“We feel the dry centered cleaningtechnology is the best in the industry, and ourcorporate customers will appreciate we cannow make the option available to them.”

Miller brings nearly 30 years ofindustry experience to his new MilliCarefranchise. H.I.S. has provided office fur-niture installation, planning and storageservices to customers in the Houston areasince 1978, and is a member of InstallNetInternational, a network of preferred fur-niture installation providers across the

U.S. and abroad.All MilliCare franchise partners offer

a proprietary dry carpet and textile clean-ing system that effectively cleans whileprolonging the life of the material andcontributing to better indoor air quality.According to a study conducted throughthe Lawrence Berkeley NationalLaboratory, U.S. companies could save anestimated $200 billion annually inimproved worker productivity by creatingoffices with better indoor air.

For more information aboutMilliCare carpet and textile cleaning inHouston, visit www.millicare.com.

MILLICARE EXPANDS: Bill Miller, owner of Houston Installation Services, and his wife Melissa, company vice president in charge ofhuman resources.

Houston Installation Services JoinsCompany as Independent Franchise Partner

Millicare expandspresence in Houston

Houston, TX - Money Mailer, aquality leader in the $59 billion directmail industry since 1979, continues togrow with a new owner serving ClearLake and League City.

Dave Salmons is thrilled to operate

one of more than 300 Money Mailerfranchises nationwide. Money Mailerprovides a wide range of direct mailadvertising solutions including their mainproduct: the famous oversized red, whiteand blue envelope filled with money-sav-

ing coupons.A former sales and marketing execu-

tive, Salmons is no stranger to the mar-keting industry. After being introducedto Money Mailer by a friend, anotherMoney Mailer franchise owner, Salmons

discovered how appealing the conceptreally was. He liked that he could use hissales and marketing experience to help

Other Franchise News

Money Mailer ‘Opens The Envelope’ withnew owner serving Clear Lake, League City

Please see MAILER, P.10


If liberty and equality are chiefly to be found in democracy, they will be best attained when all persons alike share in the government to the utmost. — Aristotle

POLITICS ANNOUNCEMENT

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••Support Companies That Support Diversity! A message from Houston Highlights Publishing, L.L.C.

LINCOLN TOWNCAR LINCOLN MARK LT LINCOLN NAVIGATOR LINCOLN LS

Thinking ofaLincoln or Mercury?

Thinking about buying from the

#1 Dealer (8 years in a row)

& The Lincoln‘President’s Premier Club Award’

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Bayway Lincoln Mercury(281)-929-6500 • Gulf Freeway exit Fuqua

Houston – Congressman Al Green(TX-9) and the NALEO Educational Fund(National Association of Latino Electedand Appointed Officials) recently hosted aU.S. Citizenship Workshop at the HoustonCommunity College West Loop Campus,5601 West Loop South.

Volunteers were on hand to provide

information on the application processand assist immigrants with completion ofthe N-400 Naturalization Application.Attorneys will were available to answerquestions about the citizenship process.Citizenship also candidates purchasedmoney orders for the application fee andhad their photos made for free.

“America is a land of opportunityfounded by immigrants," CongressmanGreen said. "We all have our roots insome immigrant community. Our work-shop afforded those who are interested incitizenship to take the first step towardbecoming a part of America.”

Congressman Al Green’s U. S. CitizenshipWorkshop Offered permanent residents anopportunity to become American citizens

Green

If an individual agrees with everybody, he lacks conviction; if he likes everybody and is everybody's friend, he is indifferent to one and all. — Nikolai Dobrolyubov


BUSINESS INTERNATIONAL

Dec. 4-5 Conference heldin Washington, D.C., wasDesigned to Dispel OldStigmas, While ShowcasingNew Business & CulturalOpportunities

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) –The FederalRepublic of Nigeria has taken a signif-icant s tep toward rebuilding itsinternational reputation by hosting atwo-day conference recently at theRonald Reagan International TradeCenter in Washington, D.C.

The “Heart of Africa” project isdesigned to enlighten and update the inter-national community about burgeoning busi-ness and cultural opportunities in thatnation – and to assure the world that Nigeriais not merely a nation of miscreants.

A high level Nigerian governmentand business delegation led by the honor-able Frank Nweke, Jr., Minister ofInformation and National Orientation,were joined by U.S. business and govern-ment leaders, including the U.S. TradeRepresentative office, the OracleCorporation and the Director General ofthe Nigerian Stock Exchange to announcethe country’s ‘The Heart of Africa’ project.

The Dec. 5 BusinessForum panelists were:

Prof. Joy Ogwu, Minister of ForeignAffairs; Amina Ibrahim, senior special

assistant to the president on MillenniumDevelopment Goals; Mustapha Bello,executive secretary, Nigeria InvestmentPromotion Council (NIPC); U.S.Ambassador Tom McDonald, partner,Baker & Hostetler; U.S. CongressmanDonald Payne (D-NJ); CharlesOshunremi, Chairman & CEO, ThirdWave Networks; Professor LeslyeObiora, Minister for Solid Minerals,Prosser Stirling, senior director of OracleCorporate Affairs, Aigboja Aig-Imoukhuede, managing director, AccessBank, Plc;Mallam Nasir El Rufa,Minister, Federal Capital Territory; Dr.Ndi Okereke-Onyiuke, director-general,Nigerian Stock Exchange; IreneChigbue, director general, Bureau forPublic Enterprise; Mallam Nuhu Ribadu,Chairman Economic and FinancialCrimes Commission; Florie Liser,Assistant U.S. Trade Representative forAfrica in the Office of the United StatesTrade Representative (USTR);andGladys M. Sasore, director generalNigerian Export Promotion Council.

“We are hosting the event inWashington D.C. as part of a wider initia-tive to promote understanding overseas ofNigeria’s political reform agenda andeconomic progression, in a bid to reassurepotential investors that Nigeria is work-ing assiduously to overcome its develop-mental challenges, said Minister ofInformation and National Orientation, thehonorable Frank Nweke, Jr. “One in fourAfricans is a Nigerian. Our size (140 mil-lion people and the largest on the Africancontinent), combined with the strides we

are making towards consolidating ourdemocracy, liberalization and regionalleadership, means that Nigeria is truly atthe Heart of Africa.”

Through its Heart of Africa projectinitiated in April 2004 by the NigerianFederal Executive Council, Nigeria hasimplemented some highly innovative andeffective measures to greatly improve itssocio-economic standing through smartbanking and telecommunications partner-ships, by implementing major reforms tofight internal and international corrup-tion, while emerging as a leader amongAfrican nations.

“The United States is eager to work

with the people of Nigeria and their gov-ernment to expand our trade and invest-ment relationship,” said Florie Liser,Assistant U.S. Trade Representative forAfrica in the Office of the United StatesTrade Representative (USTR). “With oneof the largest populations and economiesin Sub-Saharan Africa, Nigeria is theUnited States’ largest trading partner inthe region and a major beneficiary of theAfrican Growth and Opportunity Act.Nigeria’s efforts to utilize its vast naturalresources and talented workforce toexpand and diversify its economy will notonly benefit the Nigerian people but alsoserve as a model for the region. We lookforward to deeper and stronger trade tieswith Nigeria and other countries in Sub-Saharan Africa.”

Hundreds of attendees were presentat the official launch of the internationalproject, including senior U.S. andNigerian Ministers and dignitaries, gov-ernment officials, academicians, privatesector business people, stakeholders fromthe citizens sector, social entrepreneursand developmental agencies’ representa-tives from the U.S. and Nigeria.

The cultural Welcome Receptionheld on Dec. 4 spotlighted a celebrationof Nigeria’s rich culture with a photo-graphic exhibition and Afrocentric fash-ion show featuring Nigerian designerswhose creations have been showcased inLondon, Paris and Milan on top modelstravelling with the designers. The Heartof Africa Project is supervised throughNigeria’s Federal Ministry of Informationand National Orientation.

Coming to America: Nigerian DelegationSays Nigeria is the ‘Heart of Africa’ & it’s‘Safe & Smart’ to Do Business There

Frank Nweke, Jr., Minister of Informationand National Orientation

Thousands of students to graduate andbuild homes for others facing homelessness

WASHINGTON - Young people who drop out of highschool face a lifetime of underemployment and can be athigher risk of homelessness. However, thousands of these“at-risk” young people are looking forward to graduation andcareers in homebuilding because of $45.5 million in grantsannounced today by Housing and Urban DevelopmentSecretary Alphonso Jackson.

National News & Information

Jackson Announces$45.5 Million To GiveThousands of At-RiskYoung PeopleCareers BuildingAffordable Housing

When great changes occur in history, when great principles are involved, as a rule the majority are wrong. The minority are right. — Eugene V. Debs


PROFILE LOCAL CEO WITH STAYING POWER

PEOPLE WITH STAYING POWER PROFILE: What began as simply a job to make ends meet, flourished into a successful and fulfilling career for James Banks.Many years ago when Banks was a struggling medical student, he ran out of money and was unable to get a loan. So he left school to find work. He took a job atState Farm, but said he planned to return to medical school as soon as he saved enough money. However, his wife became pregnant and his plans changed – sincehe felt baby formula and diapers took precedence over obtaining a medical degree. Today, Banks credits much of his success to his church pastor. “Dr. Ira V. Hilliard,his wife, Dr. Bridget Hilliard and their teachings have had an influence on my relations with man,” Banks says. “They have helped my life go to another level.” JamesBanks State Farm Insurance Agency is located at 4809 Main Street in Houston, Texas 77002. If you are in need of quality services from a quality company, you maywant to give this agency a call at: (713) 523-7100. Mr. Banks is pictured here in a 2003 file photo. Visit www.houstonbusinessconnections.com for more profiles.

Alden J. McDonald,President & CEO, LibertyBank & Trust Company is oneof two African Americansnamed to Fortune Magazine’shighly regarded "Portraits ofPower" list for 2006.

NEW ORLEANS, LA – NewOrleans’Alden J. McDonald, Jr. is one oftwo African Americans named toFortune Magazine’s highly regarded“Portraits of Power” list for2006. Fortune Magazine pro-files some of the most pow-erful people in business for2006 and their impact on theglobal market.

President and CEO ofLiberty Bank and TrustCompany since 1972, one ofthe five largest African-American owned financialinstitutions in the UnitedStates, McDonald is national-ly recognized as a dynamiccatalyst in the movement ofminority businesses into the mainstreameconomy. As both a business leader and acommunity leader, he has devoted his lifeto community development through pro-moting entrepreneurship, supporting

civic organizations and empoweringbusinesses and individuals.

As chairman of the New OrleansChamber of Commerce, McDonald hashelped lead the post-Katrina rebuildingeffort by example: Liberty, the city'slargest black-owned bank, is enjoying itsmost profitable year ever, despite havinglost half its branches as a result of thedevastation caused to the Gulf Coast byhurricane Katrina.

According to Fortune Magazine,“Power is highly mutable. Take theworld’s two richest men, a couple ofbridge-playing buddies named Bill

(Gates) and Warren (Buffett).They’ve been immenselywealthy for years, sure. Butnow, by combining their for-tunes in a single philanthropicorganization, they, along withBill’s wife, Melinda, justmight wipe out deadly infec-tious diseases.”

In part because of the ever-shifting value of influence inthe business world, this yearwe decided to eliminate rank-ings from our annual study of

the subject and instead provide, literally,snapshots of power: In the gallery thatfollows are 25 portraits, photographed by

National News & Information

Alden McDonald, Jr., CEO of Liberty Bank Named To Fortune Magazine’s “Portraits ofPower” List; Others Include Warren Buffett, Bill and Melinda Gates, Condoleezza Rice

Other National News

McDonald

Please see McDonald, P.14

COLUMBUS, OH - HBCUConnect President and CEO WilliamMoss, III was selected to participate inan Executive RecruitmentRoundtable facilitated by DiversityIncto discuss corporations' inability tofind enough qualified executivecandidates.

DiversityInc magazine is amonthly publication targeted towardssenior management at large corpora-tions and owners/partners of women-and minority-owned businesses. The

Moss Joins Top Executives ToDiscuss Diversity Recruiting

Please see EXECUTIVES, P.13


Mailercontinued from P.6

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BUSINESS SHOWCASE is a monthly inspirational platform sponsored by the businesses showcased. All advertisements are accepted at the discretion ofthe publisher. Although Houston Highlights Publishing, L.L.C. makes every effort to check the authenticity of our advertisements, we accept no responsi-bility or liability for the contents therein. The advertiser assures that advertisements will not contain any matter that is libelous or violates any person's rightof privacy or constitutes copyright infringement or is otherwise contrary to law. The advertiser assumes all responsibility in connection with the advertise-ment placed in this publication. Houston Highlights Publishing, L.L.C. shall be held harmless from any claim, loss, damage (including reasonable attorneys'fees) that may be incurred or suffered for any reason including but not limited to a breach of any kind associated with advertisers included in this section. To include your business in this section call 832.212.8735 or email your request to: [email protected]

Of all base passions, fear is most accursed. —William Shakespeare

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“Through the use of MoneyMailer, I am able to offer busi-ness owners a wide range ofdirect mail advertising optionsthat will enable them to power-fully communicate their greatservices and values to cus-tomers so that everybody wins,”said Salmons.

He is eager to help home-owners save money and supportthe direct mail advertising needsof local businesses.

“I am passionate aboutserving the local and regionalbusinesses in my mailing terri-tory by helping them design andimplement top-notch directresponse advertising programs,”said Salmons. “Working withMoney Mailer, a direct mailindustry leader, gives me thebest opportunity to assist myclients in growing their busi-nesses while helping the localcommunity save money.”

Money Mailer of Clear Lakeand League City can be reached bycalling (281) 488-2668 or [email protected].

Committee's subcommittee onEmerging Threats andCapabilities.

Sen. Cornyn has served forthe past three years as a mem-ber of the Senate Whip teamafter being selected by leader-ship just one year after his elec-tion to the Senate. As DeputyWhip he has helped mobilizevotes and support from Senatecolleagues on major issues.

In addition to his legisla-tive committees, Sen. Cornyn isthe chairman of the SenateIndia Caucus, vice chairman ofthe Senate RepublicanConference Task Force onHispanic Affairs, vice chairmanof the CongressionalSportsmen’s Caucus, and amember of the SenateRepublican High Tech TaskForce, Congressional OversightGroup on Trade, and thePresident’s Export Council.

While in the Senate,Cornyn has received variousawards and recognitions,including the 2005 BorderTexan of the Year Award; theNational Child SupportEnforcement Association'sChildren’s Champion Award;the American Farm BureauFederation’s Friend of FarmBureau Award; the TexasAssociation of Business’s(TAB) Fighter for FreeEnterprise Award; the NationalFederation of IndependentBusiness’s (NFIB) Guardian ofSmall Business Award; theNational Coalition of LatinoClergy and Christian Leader’s(CONLAMIC) Latino LeadershipAward; and the Texas Associationof Mexican American Chambers ofCommerce's(TAMACC) InternationalLeadership Legislative Award;among others.

Cornyncontinued from P.2

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The finest test of character is seen in the amount and the power of gratitude we have. — Thoughts of wisdom from Milo H. Gates

MADDcontinued from P.1

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We want to work in partnership withdiverse groups to make a measurableimpact on the problem.”

Earlier this year, MADD invit-ed local, state and national leadersrepresenting dozens of diversegroups and health and safety organ-izations to discuss greater outreachinitiatives and identify solutions forminimizing deaths and injuries.Race and ethnicity data from theNational Highway Traffic SafetyAdministration (NHTSA) indicate thatamong those killed intraffic crashes,diverse populations-with the excep-tion of Asians and Pacific Islanders-were more often driving while intoxi-cated, less often validly licensed, andless likely to be wearing safety beltsthan the general population.

“With so many lives at stake,MADD is committed to finding cul-turally appropriate solutions todecrease drunk driving and underagedrinking, and increase seat belt use,”says Sammy Quintana, former mem-ber of MADD’s National Board ofDirectors whose father was killed bya drunk driver more than 30 yearsago. “The number of people withindiverse populations is growing, butthat doesn’t mean the number ofdeaths and injuries have to rise as aresult. MADD wants to join all com-munities in protecting their lovedones from preventable tragedies.”

RecommendationsDuring the next year, MADD iscommitted to aggressively pursuingfive recommendations:

• Participate in culturally-spe-cific awareness activities in 10 com-munities across the nation.

• Work in partnership withdiverse groups in four communitiesto minimize or eliminate alcoholfunding for cultural celebrations,specifically Cinco de Mayo andJuneteenth.

• Support and participate in pos-itive collaboration between the lawenforcement community and diversecitizen groups.

• Continue identifying diverseorganizations and agencies that mayshare common public health andsocial agendas and establish partner-ships and outreach activities.

• Create an organizational posi-tion statement on racial profilingthat promotes equitable and effec-tive enforcement of impaired driv-ing laws.

“The National Latino CouncilOn Alcohol and Tobacco Prevention(LCAT) supports MADD’s worktoward achieving its goal of includ-ing diversity issues and culturalcompetency in terms of all of its ini-tiatives and programs which impactcommunities across the nation,”says Dr. Guillermo Brito, executivedirector of LCAT. “We look forwardto working and partnering withMADD into the future to address thevery serious problem of drivingunder the influence and the underly-ing causes which lead to this trou-bling behavior.”

Most people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be—Abraham Lincoln


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When we accept tough jobs as a challenge to ourability and wadeinto them with joyand enthusiasm,miracles can hap-pen. When we do our workwith a dynamic,conquering spirit,we get things done. —Arland Gilbert

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In actual fact those who do not care for politics and sit on the fence do indeed side for a political party: The ruling party. — Max Frisch

Elliscontinued from P.1

Session at the Great American Smoke-Out event in Houston this afternoon.

Smoking is the leading cause ofpreventable death and a major con-trollable risk factor for heart diseaseand stroke. Even relatively lowexposure to secondhand smokeincreases the risk of heart diseasesignificantly. Each year, about24,000 Texans die from smoking,and more than 2,600 die from sec-ondhand smoke.

But the costs don’t stop there.The State of Texas spends $5.8 bil-lion annually on healthcare expensesdirectly related to tobacco use, and$349 million on expenses related tosecondhand smoke exposure.Texas’ Medicaid program spends$1.6 billion every year on healthcareexpenses caused by tobacco use.Additionally, smoking costs Texasbusinesses an estimated $10 billionannually in healthcare costs and lostproductivity.

In June of this year, U.S. SurgeonGeneral Dr. Richard Carmona releaseda scientific report focused on the harm-ful effects of secondhand smoke. Hisreport concluded that “[t]he debate isover -- there is no risk-free level ofexposure to secondhand smoke.”

Smoking is the single most pre-ventable cause of death in the U.S.,claiming more than 400,000 livesannually, with 170,000 of those dyingfrom smoking-related cardiovasculardisease. Secondhand smoke isresponsible for over 50,000 deathsannually among adult nonsmokers inthe U.S. – deaths caused by heart dis-ease, lung cancer and other diseases.Even relatively low exposure to sec-ondhand smoke increases the risk ofheart disease significantly.

“Smoke-free legislation can goalong way toward reducing deathfrom heart attacks, stroke and cancer,”said Crystal Brown, a member of theAHA’s State Advocacy Committee.“Texas ranks 40th out of 50 states inits efforts to reduce tobacco usage. It’stime for Texas to join the ranks ofother states as a leader in eliminatingits citizens’ exposure to the dangeroustoxins in secondhand smoke.”

“In the U.S., more than 2,300communities and 17 states are nowsmoke-free. In Texas, over 40 citieshave a smoking ordinance in place,and a third of them are comprehen-sive,” cited Brown. “We look forwardto working with Senator Ellis, ourpartners and other state legislators toadvance this proposal in the interest ofpublic health.”

About the AmericanHeart Association

Since 1924 the AHA has helpedprotect people of all ages and ethnici-ties from the ravages of heart diseaseand stroke. These diseases, the nation’sNo. 1 and No. 3 killers, and other car-diovascular diseases, claim nearly a mil-lion American lives a year. The associa-tion invested more than $439 million infiscal year 2003-04 for research, profes-sional and public education, and advoca-cy so people across America learn whatthey can do to reduce their risk and livestronger, longer lives. For more informa-tion on the AHA please visit:www.americanheart.org.


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I prefer the errors of enthusiasm to the indifference of wisdom. —Anatole France

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2

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Qualitycontinued from P.1

tection as a preventative measure issure to be on the wish list of localbusiness owners. And this locallyowned firm is standing at the readyto meet the expected increase indemand.

“I’ve known Betty Carlock-Weekley for almost twenty years,”says Houston Business Connectionspublisher Aubrey R. Taylor. “And Iknow she can handle the job. As amatter of fact she’s been handlingthe job.” I worked at QualitySecurity Services Inc., back when Iwas in college. During that time,Paul and Betty both, played a majorrole in helping me to get throughcollege. In fact, the pair played amajor role in helping me to get mycompany off the ground after afailed partnership and many set-backs,” he says.

“There are three things to con-sider when hiring security guards,”says Carlock-Weekley. “You shouldfirst determine what needs to be pro-tected. Then you should determinewhat level of protection you desire.Finally, you should determine whois going to do the protecting. Andmy hope is that company’s needingto be protected would choose us.”

Therefore, if you need the serv-ices of a “Quality Security Company”you should choose Houston’s ownQuality Security Services, Inc. bycalling (713) 988-2918.

magazine and subsequent websiteattract influential thought-leadersranging from CEOs and human-resource managers to business own-ers, diversity champions and jobapplicants. The ExecutiveRecruitment Roundtable was organ-ized to help employers successfullyrecruit diverse candidates.

Moss joins leading diversity-recruitment executives from TimeWarner, Hewitt Associates,Sodexho, Wachovia, Merck & Co.,and the National Organization onDisability to share strategies find-ing qualified executive candidates.The discussion includes tips ondeveloping pipelines of profession-als; Key factors to consider whendeciding whether or not to sourceexternal recruiters to supplementinternal teams; Cultural-competen-cy requirements for executivehires; and more.

William Moss, III establishedHBCUConnect.com in 1999. Thecompany fast emerged to becomethe number-one destination forHistorically Black College andUniversity alumni, students,recruits, parents, faculty and staff.The HBCU Connect online CareerCenter is one of the most success-ful recruiting websites on theInternet, boasting more than140,000 unique sessions and over2.5 million page views per month.Employers benefit from the largestonline ethnic Resume Databasewith 300,000+ membership baseand over 55,000 active resumes.Moss credits the success of theonline Career Center to the void ithas filled in the diverse candidaterecruiting market.

Executivescontinued from P.9


Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.— Margaret Mead


“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths”

Committed to your needsThe role of a real estate agent is to guide you throughthe buying or selling process, taking the time to makesure you understand every step of the transaction. I amabsolutely committed to fulfilling your needs with thehighest level of professionalism, expertise and service.My commitment to your satisfaction is the foundationfrom which a solid business relationship is built.

I realize that people do business with people they trust. I am inter-ested in what is best for you, the client, and am committed to estab-lishing a long-term relationship based on trust. I pride myself onbeing knowledgeable and staying current with changes in the indus-try that will affect the success of your transaction. You have workedhard to be able to purchase the home of your dreams. I feel theresponsibility to make those dreams a reality and pursue the rightsolution enthusiastically.

THE TREADSTONE REALTY GROUP

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Reverend Robert L. Thomas, Jr., Pastor

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The Olivet Missionary Bapt ist Church family of believers would like to invite you to come out and wor-ship with us. We believe you will have a Spirit-filled encounter with the Almighty God. If you do not have a

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“The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways, but the folly of fools is deception.” – Words of wisdom from the good book

McDonaldcontinued from P.9

Albert Watson, of the characters whohad the most impact on 2006.

Buffett’s decision to give most ofhis then-$44 billion fortune to theGateses' foundation supercharged theworld's largest philanthropy.’

The others named to the twenty-five slots are Steve Jobs, CEO ofApple Computer; Larry Sonsini,Chairman of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich& Rosati; Henry Kravis, Foundingpartner, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts;Lakshmi Mittal, CEO of ArcelorMittal; Ben Bernanke, Chairman ofthe Federal Reserve; Henry PaulsonJr., Secretary of the Treasury; JohnHueston, Sean Berkowitz, and KathyRuemmler, Enron prosecutors; HectorRuiz, CEO of Advanced MicroDevices; Al Gore, Environmentalevangelist; Eric Schmidt, CEO ofGoogle; Steve Chen and Chad Hurley,Co-founders of YouTube; KatsuakiWatanabe, President of Toyota Motor;Mark Hurd, CEO of Hewlett-Packard;Rupert Murdoch, CEO of NewsCorp.; Chris DeWolfe and TomAnderson, Co-founders of MySpace;Lee Scott, CEO of Wal-Mart Stores;Patricia Woertz, CEO of ArcherDaniels Midland; John Thain, CEO ofthe New York Stock Exchange; BobIger, CEO of Walt Disney Co.; EddieLampert, Founder of ESLInvestments; Steve Schwarzman,CEO of Blackstone Group; RexTillerson, CEO of Exxon Mobil; andCondoleezza Rice, Secretary of State.

A graduate of the LSU School ofBanking and of ColumbiaUniversity’s Commercial BankingManagement Program, Mr. McDonaldbegan his career at International CityBank in New Orleans in 1996, risingto the position of Vice-President forConsumer Lending. In 1972, he left totake the reins of the newly formedLiberty Bank and Trust Company; asPresident and CEO since its inception,he is the longest-tenured African-American financial executive in thecountry.

As the first African-Americanowned commercial bank in Louisianaand now in Mississippi, Liberty wasfounded to provide economic opportu-nity to a community largely lacking infinancial services and resources.Under Mr. McDonald’s stewardship,Liberty has grown to more than $350million in assets, realized consistentprofitability and national recognitionand leadership. After six successfulacquisitions, Liberty Bank now servesthree cities in two states with thirteenbranch offices as well as an insurancedivision, a national leasing companyand a mortgage division.

McDonald has also served on theboards of numerous local, regional,and national institutions and agencies,including FannieMae, the AmericanBankers Association, the NationalBankers Association, and theLouisiana Bankers Association. Mr.McDonald has also provided his busi-ness acumen and expertise to otherindustries, serving on many corporateboards including Stewart Enterprises,Inc. (STEI), Entergy New OrleansAdvisory Board, Chairman of theNew Orleans Chamber of Commerce,Chairman of the Lindy Boggs MedicalCenter, Minority Alliance Capital, theErnest N. Morial Convention Center,

Please see McDonald, P.15


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McDonaldcontinued from P.14

and the Port Authority of NewOrleans, just to name a few.

Widely recognized both locallyand nationally for his many endeav-ors, a few of Mr. McDonald's awardsand honors are A. G. GastonLifetime Achievement Award fromBlack Enterprise, May 2005; theR.R. Wright Presidential Award fromthe National Banker’s Association;the Whitney Young Award from theUrban League of Greater NewOrleans; the Civil Rights Awardfrom the National DentalAssociation; the Minority SuppliersAward from J.C. Penney; and theBusiness Hall of Fame from JuniorAchievement. In 2001, he receivedthe Loving Cup from New Orleans'major newspaper, the Times Picayunethat is awarded annually for over 100years; this is considered the highesthonor in the metropolitan area.

In 1987, Mr. McDonald playeda central role in the establishment ofthe Black Economic DevelopmentCouncil (BEDC). BEDC has becomethe driving force behind Black eco-nomic development in the region,and has helped many minority busi-nesses to secure public and privatecontracts for goods and services. Theorganization is currently recognizedas a leading voice in the African-American community and a potentpolitical force on issues that impactthe quality of life in New Orleans.

Mr. McDonald’s commitmentto community service is further typi-fied by his service on theArchdiocese of New OrleansFinance Council (including confir-mation by the Vatican), the SouthernUniversity at New Orleans AdvisoryCouncil, the Board of TulaneUniversity School of Medicine, theLoyola University Board ofTrustees, the United Negro CollegeFund, the 100 Black Men of MetroNew Orleans, and the Committee fora Better New Orleans/MetropolitanArea Committee, along with numer-ous other civic organizations. In fact,it is fair to say that he has served onevery major business and civic boardin the city of New Orleans.

Married to the former RhesaOrtique, Mr. McDonald is the fatherof three children, Heidi, Alden III,and Todd.

Harvardcontinued from P.1

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er education to the lower half of theincome distribution.”

If you know of a family earningless than $60,000 a year with anhonor student graduating from highschool soon, Harvard Universitywants to pay the tuition. The presti-gious university recently announcedthat fromnow on undergraduate stu-dents from low-income families cango to Harvard for free...no tuition andno student loans!

In addition, Harvard announcesreduced fees for students from fami-lies with incomes between $60,000and $80,000. To find out more aboutHarvard offering free tuition for fam-ilies making less than $60,000 a yearvisit Harvard's financial aid websiteat:http://www.admissions.college.harvard.edu/prospective/financial_aid/hfai/index.html or call the school’sfinancial aid office at (617) 495-1581.

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By Marc H. MorialPresident and CEO, National Urban League

In light of the recent elections, the U.S. Congressappears poised to look more and more like America - atleast in its leadership.

African-American lawmakers are expected to havemore clout than they have ever had before on Capitol

Hill. A total of five black U.S.Representatives could holdHouse committee chairman-ships, including New YorkRep. Charles Rangel (Waysand Means) and MichiganRep. John Conyers (Judiciary).And Virginia Rep. JamesClyburn will serve in the Houseleadership as majority whip.

Yet, as more and moreminorities rise to the top of theinstitution, their ranks are prettymeager among congressionalstaff members who play a major

role in crafting national policy - especially at the seniorlevel and in the U.S. Senate.

Last August, a report by the CongressionalManagement Foundation found that only 20 percent ofU.S. House staffers are people of color. But where thelack of diversity is most evident is in the Senate whereonly 6 percent of 4,100 employees nationwide are ofcolor, according to a June 2006 analysis by DiversityIncmagazine. That compares to nearly 30 percent of the gen-eral population and 34 percent of the magazine's top 50companies for diversity.

“When I leave [my office] and walk around otheroffices, I find myself, frankly, in a situation that I'm alltoo familiar with, where I’m one of the few AfricanAmericans at the table,” observed Michael Strautmanis,chief counsel for Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., whoseoffice is 20-percent people of color, to DiversityInc.

The subject appears to be in the words of 1992 pres-idential candidate Ross Perot the “crazy aunt in the attic”who no one wants to talk about. Unlike corporateAmerica, congressional lawmakers aren’t subject to mostlabor laws. They don’t even have to divulge their hiringpractices to the public because they’re exempt from theU.S. Freedom of Information Act. In essence, they aren’taccountable to the American public for their internallabor policies. So, they’re their own islands to someextent. They can hire who they want without justification.

Of senior-level staff in the U.S. Senate, about 7.6percent are people of color – 2.9 percent black, 2.8 per-cent Asian and 1.9 percent Latino. This compares to 24percent of managers (9.7 percent black, 7.2 percent AsianAmerican and 6.4 percent Latino) and 15 percent of sen-ior-level executives (6.1 percent black, 4.8 percent AsianAmerican and 3.8 percent Latino) at companies in themagazine's so-called Top 50 for Diversity.

In the early 1990s, redistricting paved the way forthe election of 13 more African American members ofCongress, leading to an increase in number of employeesof color. It also expanded the pool of qualified candi-dates for mid- and senior-level positions. Still, especial-ly in the Senate, limited networking and candidate poolsas well as hiring from within have contributed to the dif-ficulty faced by minorities trying to shatter the congres-sional glass ceiling.

The fault crosses party lines, according toDiversityInc. “Democrats, who historically have consid-ered themselves the champions of people of color, are nobetter than the Republicans. With a few exceptions, sen-ators of both parties refused to discuss their diversityproblem,” the story stated. So, senators will still talk thetalk about the benefits of diversity but won't walk thewalk. And even if they don't talk the talk, they shouldwalk the walk - not just for the sake of the people theyrepresent but for the nation as a whole.

In her June 2006 Roll Call editorial, Donna L.Brazile called upon lawmakers to take a hard look at theexample they are setting for those they’ve told to cleantheir acts up. Americans of color, Brazile wrote, “would

like to have a seat or even a folding chair - at the tablewhen policies that impact our communities, as well as ournation, are being brought up.”

At the National Urban League, we’ve made it ourmission to help Congress increase its diversity by helpingidentify and place qualified African Americans in con-gressional offices. It's about time the U.S. Congress

brought its diversity problem out of the attic - if not forthe sake of minorities attempting to make a name forthemselves on Capitol Hill but for the integrity and effec-tiveness of our nation’s laws. Capitol Hill should looklike the model of diversity not like a members-only coun-try club.

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Real Estate...At The Speed Of Life

16 • DECEMBER 2006 • Houston Business Connections Printed Edition • PUBLISHED BY HOUSTON HIGHLIGHTS PUBLISHING, L.L.C. • 832.212.8735

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POLITICS COMMENTARY

Diversity on Capitol Hill: The Crazy AuntCongress Won’t Let Out of the Attic?

Morial

December 2006 Houston Business Connections Newspaper

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