Be seen. Be heard.

Be seen. Be heard.
OTT Texas Sept Oct FINAL.indd 1
10/10/2013 12:55:31 PM

Make a
Lasting
First
Impression!
“In Business your Image
is important,
Love That Smile...”
Actual Patient of Dr. Lewis
Professionals just like you come to Houston from around the globe to experience Dr.
Guy M. Lewis’ world class quality, service and expertise in smile design. He has also
been the only dentist to receive the Pinnacle Award for 2012 from the BBB, which is
the highest award given by the Better Business Bureau.
Guy M. Lewis, DDS is an accredited and founding member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry
and has been practicing for over 29 years. Dr. Lewis has developed G. Lewis veneers, a non-prep ultra-thin
veneer that employs cutting-edge technology with minimal or no preparation of the teeth. Dr. Lewis has been
selected for inclusion in Texas Monthly’s annual “Super Dentist” list since 2004.
For a complete list of services, visit our website at LoveThatSmile.com.
HOUSTON’S
TOP DENTISTS
2013
Guy M. Lewis, DDS General Dentist
AAACD - Accredited American
Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry
Follow us on
Dr. Lewis is the Official Cosmetic
Dentist of the Miss Texas Pageant. He
is a founder and the official dentist of
mydreamteamdocs.com.
*The term “super dentist” is not a representation that services are
superior to the quality of other dentists, but was an award given
to Dr. Lewis by his peers.
281-36-SMILE [HOUSTON]
(281-367-6453)
877-90-SMILE [TOLL FREE]
(877-907-6453)
4800 W. Panther Creek, Suite 200
The Woodlands, Texas
OTT Texas Sept Oct FINAL.indd 2
10/10/2013 12:55:32 PM

www.lonestarfamily.org
New PatieNts welcome
605 S. Conroe Medical Dr.
(off s. loop 336 w, between conroe Regional medical center
and montgomery county Hospital District)
Insurance, Medicaid, Medicare, Sliding Fee with Eligibility
Appointments
Monday - Friday 8 am - 5 pm
936-539-4004
Walk in After Hours
Monday - Friday 5 pm-9 pm and Saturday 9 am-1 pm
OTT Texas Sept Oct FINAL.indd 3
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Facebook “f” Logo CMYK / .eps Facebook “f” Logo CMYK / .eps
PUBLISHER'S LETTER
After spending most of my adult life in and around publishing, no matter how many
times you go to press; bringing a new publication to life is always an exciting process
that requires the input, expertise and foresight of a large group of creative people. I am
blessed to be surrounded by great teammates whose collective skill and vision bring
ideas to life.
With a heart of gratitude, special thanks to our advertising partners for seeing the vision,
to Allymac Concepts for being such an integral part of this project, to JK Graphics for
being so gracious in breathing life into my marketing material, to my husband for his
love and encouragement, and to my editor Jake Buckler who spent the better part of his
recent life writing, editing and reviewing this publication.
I’d also like to share my appreciation for the Woodlands, Conroe and Magnolia Parkway
chamber of commerce staff and membership that have so generously contributed story
ideas, business wisdom and support. Last but not least, special thanks to my corporate
team in Grand Blanc, Michigan who make this publication possible.
We hope you enjoy the magazine and look forward to seeing you onthetown.
Warm Regards,
Cathy
304 N Main Street, Suite 3
Conroe, Texas 77301
Volume i Issue i
Published by:
Global Network Publishers LLC
Publisher: Kimberly Gray
associate publisher: Cathy Mogler
Editor: Jake Buckler
Director: Michelle Blaisdell
Office Manager: Laura Ulman
Sales Associate: Elena Rich
Contributing Writers:
Adam Simmons
Bob Keplinger
Tina Clarke
Marianne Siegert
Amanda Hensley
Traci M.Huhn
Designed by: Allymac Concepts
Photography:
Amanda Hensley
Branch out and
get noticed.
with ALLYMAC CONCEPTS
copywriting & design
Mission Statement
"onthetown" Magazine captures the
positive way our community lives and
breathes. Dynamic in scope and editorially
eclectic, it reflects the people, community
and lifestyle of Montgomery County and
its surrounding areas on a grand scale. All
rights reserved. No part of this publication
may be reproduced without expressed
written consent of the publisher.
For advertising
information call
Cathy Mogler
936.207.9998
Marketing & Design Solutions for
Small Businesses & Non-profit Organizations.
Contact us for a quote! (936) 239-5067
ALLYMACCONCEPTS.COM
4 onthetown onthetowntexas.com
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08
10 12
16 26 34
Feature Stories
1 0 The Science of Sports:
Ironman® Institute Comes to the Woodlands
12 Panther Creek Inspiration Ranch:
Got Ya Covered! Act of Charity Helps PCIR
16 Think Pink, Go Pink:
Local Cancer Charity Offers Help Now
26 A Legacy of Giving:
WCF Provides Sustained Acts of Charity
34 A Hand Up: MCEA Helps Area Residents
around town
32
37
lakeside restaurant & Bar
WISE CONFERENCE
business articles
14
18
19
20
23
24
are you practicing business insanity
using email marketing to grow your business
hired! book review
pre-qualified vs. pre-approved
happy house hunting
stress-free relocating
tips for setting and pursuing
financial goals
in every issue
08
27
29
35
Dave Ramsey Says...
HELLO MY NAME IS
GADGETS FOR GEEKS
charity event calendar
DO YOU HAVE AN IDEA ? Do you know a local hero that deserves some recognition? Maybe a heavy hitter or visionary game changer
that has impacted the business community with their products or services? Would you like some help spreading the word about a charity
event or business networking event? Share it with us for future editorial consideration.
Send to: Cathy Mogler, cathy@onthetowntexas.com
All materials become the property of onthetown Magazine and cannot be returned. Submissions may also be edited for length or clarity
and may be used without compensation and acknowledgement. Please include a daytime telephone number for verification and contact
purposes.
Be seen. Be heard.
onthetown 5
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10/10/2013 12:55:41 PM

Congressman Brady speaking at a local
Town Hall meeting in August 2013.
The Man with the MAP
Congressman kevin brady
By amanda hensley
With the country facing a $16 trillion national debt and a broken tax code that threatens
businesses and families, America needs a comprehensive solution to tackle these crises
head on. Enter Congressman Kevin Brady, the man with the “map” to get this country
going.
Being a pro-family and pro-small business conservative,
Congressman Kevin Brady’s strong belief in free enterprise guides
him as the chairman of the Joint Economic Committee. His vision
to make America stronger is one guided by his Maximize America’s
Prosperity (MAP) Act, which would impose mandatory caps on
federal spending and provide for flexible fiscal boundaries to
government involvement in personal and business lives. Brady’s
plan to replace the current tax code with a Reagan style tax reform
goes a long way to ending the need for a massive tax bureaucracy.
Comprehensive tax reform will create more taxpayers, and make it
easier for every American to file and pay their taxes.
Revitalization = Small-Business Sustainability
Leading the way as a senior member and subcommittee
chairman for the House Ways & Means Committee, Congressman
6 onthetown onthetowntexas.com
Brady is championing the fight to reform America’s broken tax code
and restore our nation’s competitive edge. This year, his committee
plans to produce a tax proposal that he believes will be simpler
and fairer to American businesses and families. He’s determined to
push Washington D.C. to act on his proposals immediately. “Getting
Washington out of the way of our job creators is our No. 1 priority,”
said Brady. “In order to get our economy moving again, we need to
put America’s financial house in order. Our federal government is
already too big and is growing bigger. This is a significant threat to
our nation’s future prosperity.”
Persistent deficits, Brady also says, will continue to be
roadblocks to job creation. In addition to mandatory smart caps
on spending, his proposed legislation includes other important
guardrails around Congress and the White House to keep America
on the path to restoring fiscal responsibility:
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• A politically sustainable and tough sequestration process
that would put every federal spending program at risk for
spending reductions if Congress and the White House fail to
comply with the smart caps;
• By requiring the President’s budget to comply with the
mandatory smart caps, it would transform from a political wish
list into a meaningful decision-making tool;
• The budget would be required to prioritize every dollar
of federal spending into five categories from most to least
essential. Each category could contain no less than 12 percent
of spending;
• An Item Reduction veto that would allow the President to
reduce the amount of any appropriation and have that proposal
given a prompt up or down vote;
• A Sunset Commission to make every federal agency justify
its existence, similar to the Sunset Commission in Texas that
has saved lone star state taxpayers several hundred million
dollars;
• A permanent continuing resolution that will forever reduce
the threat of government shutdowns by setting spending at 90
percent of the prior year’s levels.
"Remaining in touch with the issues that hit home
for those who send me to Washington is vital."
-Congressman Kevin Brady
A Broken (Tax) Code
The current tax code, according to Brady, is unfair to
businesses, families and America as a whole. “The complex tax
code drains over $160 billion out of America’s economy each year,”
he said. “It has unnecessarily complicated starting new businesses
and creating jobs, and America has fallen behind our competitors
in Europe and China as the tax code costs us sales, contracts and
jobs anytime we compete. Experts predict a simpler, fairer, flatter
tax code both for families and businesses could create up to 1
million new jobs in the first year alone, and go a long way in making
us competitive once again in the 21st century.”
"Whether you’re single or raising a family, starting your life or
experiencing retirement, the tax code is impossible to understand
and more time-consuming than ever,” explained Brady. “Who can
keep up with, much less maintain, a working knowledge of the 4,000
changes that have been made in Washington in the past decade
alone? That equates to at least one change every day, and few
taxpayers even know which tax provisions to which they’re entitled.
Anyone who has been audited can attest that if you accidentally
make a mistake, the IRS is unforgiving.”
A Man of the People
Congressman Brady prides himself on communicating
his opinion, plan of action and results with the people in his
representative district of Texas on a regular basis. He holds more
than 50 town-hall meetings each year, and he says the best
decision he and his wife, Cathy ever made was choosing not to
move to Washington. He commutes to work in Washington each
week so he and Cathy can raise their two sons in The Woodlands.
“Remaining in touch with the issues that hit home for those who
send me to Washington is vital,” added Brady. “It’s not easy, but I
figured it out and my mileage on United-Continental over the years
equals a few trips to the moon.”
With such a strong interest in the prosperity of families and
American business, Congressman Kevin Brady feels honored
to be featured on the cover of the inaugural issue of onthetown
magazine. “Championing the coverage of business in Montgomery
County is a true calling,” says Brady. “I’m always inspired to read
about entrepreneurial success and look forward to reading these
stories, because there is something distinctly American about
entrepreneurial tenacity that says, "I will not let up, go home, nor
shrink at any challenge. Not today. Not tomorrow. Not ever. This is
our America, and We the People, we are building it."
i
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
About his positions as pertaining to small
business, or to attend one of his regular town
hall meetings, follow Brady’s Facebook page at
facebook.com/kevinbrady, or his Twitter
account at twitter.com/repkevinbrady.
Publisher’s Note:
We at onthetown are proud to feature Congressman Kevin
Brady (R-8Th District) as the cover story for our inaugural issue.
Congressman Brady is dedicated to serving his district – he
commutes to the nation’s capital each week so he, his wife and
children can continue to live in the community – and he remains
steadfast in his goal to make the U.S. Tax Code friendlier for
businesses and families. This commitment is sure to resonate with
the many residents who elected him to office. As Congressman
Brady continues to forge ahead with his bold initiatives to get
America’s economy back on track, we at onthetown endeavor
to follow his efforts with the optimistic anticipation of many good
things to come.
"I will not let up, go home, nor shrink at any
challenge. Not today. Not tomorrow. Not ever.
This is our America, and We the People, we are
building it.”
Be seen. Be heard.
onthetown 7
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Dave Ramsey Says...
qShould a new small business that’s still
growing seek out investors?
AI would not advise a small business to seek out
investors—period. My advice is to grow small
businesses with organic cash, meaning you earn
the money with which you’ll grow. It may mean
you grow slower, and it might mean you turn
down some “big deals” you thought were going
to be the biggest and best things of your life. You know what?
That’s okay. I’ve turned down deals like that over the years, and I’m
firmly convinced it’s better to be the tortoise than the hare. When
you sell a piece of your ownership to people who are looking for
a return instead of caring about your dream, you’re creating the
potential for a serious mess. A lot of times they’ll seem like silent
partners, which I think is an oxymoron in small business. Most of
these people can’t keep silent because they’ve put money into your
deal. They’re all going to have different ideas and opinions, and
there’s a good chance these are going to clash with the vision you
have for your company.
W
y
t
c
f
G
Cash flow your growth.Cash flow your equipment purchases
and the markets you enter, also. Does this mean you might miss
an opportunity? Sure, it does. It also means you’ll be missing
opportunities to fail. Too much success too soon is the second
biggest reason small businesses shut down.
When you grow too quickly, you run the risk of outgrowing your
human resources, your financial resources and your infrastructure.
Do what you can to ensure that growth is steady, but play it smart.
Don’t grow so fast that you crack the foundation of the company!
ABOUT DAVE
Dave Ramsey is America’s trusted voice on money and
business. He’s authored four New York Times best-selling
books: Financial Peace, More Than Enough, The Total
Money Makeover and EntreLeadership. The Dave Ramsey
Show is heard by more than 6 million listeners each week
on more than 500 radio stations. Follow Dave on Twitter at
@DaveRamsey and on the web at daveramsey.com
S
o
A
A
8 onthetown onthetowntexas.com
G
G
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uilding your
financial future
We take a detailed look at your total financial picture, and start by assessing
your current assets and both your short- and long-term financial goals. We take
the time to truly understand your objectives, risk tolerance, time horizons,
challenges and personal schedule to help you build a practical and sustainable
financial strategy to address:
• Tactical Asset Allocation
• Cash Management
• College Funding
• Estate Planning Strategies
• Long-Term Care Insurance
• Life Insurance
• Retirement Planning
Guidance you can trust starts with a conversation.
Joseph Hensley
Financial Professional
Joseph.Hensley@axa-advisors.com
Tel: (832) 616-5221
Cell: (281) 744-0223
AXA Advisors, LLC
1330 Lake Robbins Dr #210
The Woodlands, TX 77380
Securities offered through AXA Advisors, LLC (NY, NY 212-554-1234), member FINRA, SIPC. Annuity and Insurance products
offered through AXA Network, LLC, which does business in CA as AXA Network Insurance Agency of California, LLC, in UT as
AXA Network Insurance Agency of Utah, LLC, in TX as AXA Network Insurance Agency of Texas, Inc., and in PR as AXA
Advisors and AXA Network, do not provide tax or legal advice.
GE-80077 (8/12) (Exp. 8/14)
G30111
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10/10/2013 12:55:50 PM

Pictured left to right:
Dr. Alysia Robichau, Dr. Kevin Coupe,
Dr. A. Brant Lipscomb and Dr. Kelly Blevins
THE SCIENCE OF SPORTS
®
IRONMAN INSTITUTE COMES
to THE WOODLANDS
By JAKE BUCKLER
Bigger, better, faster, stronger … to possess these qualities is every athlete’s dream.
Now, sports enthusiasts in The Woodlands can step up their game thanks to the new
athletic institute built right in their backyard!
For area athletes, The Memorial Hermann IRONMAN® Sports
Medicine Institute could be the biggest thing to hit The Woodlands.
The institute, located at Memorial Hermann The Woodlands
Hospital, offers physician services and physical therapy, as well as
human performance testing, strength and conditioning training and
sports nutrition counseling all under one roof. The center’s services
are available for high school and college athletes and anyone else
in need of its vast array of services.
Kevin J. Coupe, M.D. is an orthopedic surgeon at the Institute
who’d like to see less people needing his services. “We’re very
committed to educating athletes about the importance of injury
prevention,” he said. “Our biggest demographic are weekend
warriors – people between the ages of 30-60 – and we want them
to get the most out of their physical activities, and injury prevention
plays a huge role in that.” Coupe is one of the 55-member group
of orthopedic surgeons who also serve on the University of Texas-
Health Science Center faculty.
The Institute offers a variety of performance testing, strength
and conditioning programs, including its popular Endurance Test.
“An athlete comes into the center and runs on a treadmill, then
has their blood drawn and screened for lactate threshold,” Coupe
explained. “This substance is produced in the muscles during
exercise and the better they’re broken down and excreted by the
body, the quicker an athlete’s recovery time will be. Our experts are
able to determine the individual’s lactate threshold and recommend
a workout regimen to improve it, thus increasing performance and
recovery time.”
By addressing issues such as lactate threshold on the front
end, Coupe added, experts are able to increase athlete’s ability
to prevent injuries from fatigue and overtraining. Another of the
Institute’s popular programs is one that focuses on injury prevention
for female athletes. “Because ACL injuries are a common problem
for many women, we’ve designed a sports metrics program that
addresses this,” Coupe explained. “It helps women strengthen
their core and hips, which in turns can help prevent these injuries.”
“We’re very excited to have the IRONMAN Sports Medicine
Institute at Memorial Hermann,” said Josh Urban, Memorial
Hermann The Woodlands Hospital Chief Operating Officer.
10 onthetown onthetowntexas.com
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An athlete on the V02 max
Strength and Conditioning Consultant
Rashad Ford, MS, CSCS, assists
an athlete on the TRX system
“The Woodlands is a fast-growing area and services such as these
are needed. Since opening in May, we’ve had many people benefit
from the surgical and rehabilitation services, as well as many
who are making the most of the various performance-enhancing
programs and services we have to offer.”
With the Institute in full swing, Urban says hospital officials are
now looking to another big improvement project on the immediate
horizon. “We plan to open a Joint Care Center in the new East
Tower that’s being constructed,” he explained. “This center would
be dedicated to offering joint replacement surgery and rehabilitation
for the baby boomer population who are finding themselves in need
of this type of surgery for their knees and hips. This expansion is
a serious undertaking and will cost at least $80 million and when
it’s done, it will be one of the most impressive centers of its kind.”
The Memorial Hermann IRONMAN Sports Medicine Institute
in The Woodlands is the third such center to be built. The
20,000-square-foot facility is located at 9305 Pinecroft Drive,
Suite 450. The Institute is a collaboration between Memorial
Hermann and University of Texas Physicians, and is an extension
of Memorial Hermann’s long-term partnership with the IRONMAN
series of events. The original Institute is located at the Texas
Medical Center, while the second is housed at the Memorial City
Medical Center.”
20,000 square feet dedicated to enhancing the
strength and performance of area athletes.
With its goal to push the frontiers of sport medicine, the
Institute offers high-quality, sport-specific care for athletes of all
abilities and ages.
i
FOR MORE INFORMATION about Memorial
Hermann IRONMAN Sports Institute and its
many services, call (713) 242-2270.
Be seen. Be heard.
onthetown 11
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10/10/2013 12:55:56 PM

Rider Alexander Smith with Leader, Candace Morrison,
and Sidewalkers, Caitlyn Lashier and Megan Sadlowski.
panther creek
inspiration ranch
Got Ya Covered! Act of Charity Helps PCIR
Covere
BY JAKE BUCKLER
Jamie and Billy Burciaga will never forget the day their fouryear-old
son finally took his first steps … and the couple is
thankful for everything Panther Creek Inspiration Ranch did to
make this possible.
Will Burciaga, the couple’s oldest son, was born with a
developmental disorder known as an Unbalanced Translocation.
The condition caused a delay in some of the boy’s motor skills as
well as low muscle tone, which lead to weak core muscles and an
inability to walk. This troubled Will’s parents the most, they say,
particularly when he would long to run around and play with his
siblings and cousins but was unable to join them. This all changed
after they enrolled Will at Inspiration Ranch.
“We noticed a surge of improvement in Will after enrolling him
in the equine therapy program,” said Jamie. “He was so relaxed,
the first time he got on a horse he actually leaned his head down
and fell asleep in the saddle! He kept improving each time we
took him there and it helped develop his core muscles and helped
stimulate his senses.” On his fourth birthday last March, Jamie
says Will walked independently for the first time, taking a total of
103 steps on his own. “I know because I recorded it on my phone
and I went back and counted!” she added.
Thanks to the generous donations from three area businesses,
breakthroughs like Will’s can be experienced by more special
needs children in The Woodlands.
Since it was founded in 2006, Inspiration Ranch has offered
its equine therapy services to the area’s special needs children
in an open-air environment. While this allowed them the benefit
of the healing that these majestic animals have to offer, it also
meant the Ranch was dependent upon the weather. “Rainy days
meant cancelling an entire day’s appointments,” said MG Tindall,
Inspiration Ranch President, “and it was the same for particularly
hot, summer days.”
Inspiration Ranch has had a positive relationship with Arena
Energy since Arena employee Brent Ozenne became friends with
Ranch founders Dave and Linda Darnall. This relationship would
ultimately have a huge and positive effect upon the non-profit
organization. “It started raining heavily the day we invited more than
30 people from Arena Energy to tour our facilities,” recalled Tindall.
“We rescheduled the meeting at Arena’s office, where we showed
a power-point presentation. While it was nice, it didn’t capture the
full essence of what the Ranch is all about.”
As it turned out, that downpour might have been a blessing in
disguise.
“After the folks from the Ranch concluded their presentation,
we all said ‘they definitely need an arena,’” said Don Metz, Arena
Energy Chief Geologist. “Everyone here knows that they’re doing
12 onthetown onthetowntexas.com
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amazing things for children and their families, and we all wanted
that great work to continue. Almost immediately, we all got together
and started designing what would become the Ranch’s indoor
arena.”
The process to design the arena and get everything approved
took about six months, Metz said, and the project’s total cost was
nearly a quarter of a million dollars. “We’re partially responsible for
that because we kept adding various things to make it bigger and
better,” he added. “To us, this was a great opportunity to help, so
we wanted them to have the best of everything.”
The 100-foot by 200-foot covered arena was built by area
construction Ranch & Gold, owned by Mike Simms, and included
four horse stalls, a tack room and a feeding area. Construction
began last fall and was completed in March. Another stroke of good
luck, two area couples – Rick and Susan Moore of David Weekly
Homes, and restaurant owners Mark and Miki Holmes – decided to
build an office for the Ranch when Tindall asked to borrow an old
construction trailer from them.
“This was a wonderful surprise and we are so grateful!” MG
Tindall exclaimed. “Our former office was in an old tent that we had
set up outdoors and it wasn’t the most comfortable place for the
children’s families to sit and watch. All of this is truly a blessing, and
we’re very thankful for everything everyone has done.”
Today, the programs at Inspiration Ranch continue regardless
by the weather. So to continue the connections between the nonprofit
organization and Arena Energy – Arena employee Brent
Ozenne continues his volunteer work at the Ranch, while his
colleague, Connie Goers, serves as a member of its Board of
Directors. The staff at Inspiration Ranch will honor the folks at Arena
Energy at the Denim & Diamond Gala scheduled for September 21
at the Woodlands Waterway Marriott. “The goal is to raise more
than half of our operating budget to fund our scholarship program
for families who need financial assistance,” Tindall added.
Located in Spring, Inspiration Ranch was founded in 2006
to offer equine therapy to area children, individuals and families
struggling with mental and physical challenges. The organization
uses therapy horses “to enrich lives in a Christ-centered learning
environment, where participants learn through experiential
and therapeutic exercises and build confidence, develop trust,
overcome fear and enhance communication."
i
FOR MORE INFORMATION on Panther Creek
Inspiration Ranch and its programs, call
(281) 719-9322, or visit www.pciranch.org
Covered area provided by Arena Energy.
MG Tindall and Amanda Adams
PCIR's former "office".
Linda on "Feather"*
Be seen. Be heard.
onthetown 13
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10/10/2013 12:56:10 PM

ARE YOU PRACTICING
BUSINESS INSANITY?
BY BOB KEPLINGER, ACTION COACH
sn't it amazing how we know that we must change as the
I business climate around us experiences change yet we continue
to follow a daily, weekly or monthly routine that is so predictable?
As I work with business owners, we constantly discuss the
need to create an environment that fosters change so that true
growth can be realized. In most every case that business owner
knows what they want to do; they just do not necessarily know how
to do it. Since they are not confident in their abilities to try something
new or invest money in something that does not have "guaranteed"
results then they sit on the sidelines while other business
are on the field competing.
Does this sound like it describes your actions lately? If you
believe that your business is going to grow but are not constantly
testing new processes or growing your employee team then you
need to ask yourself if you are practicing insanity!
Think back to when you decided to open your business. Was
there any guarantee that you would succeed? Did you know everything
about creating your business before you began the endeavor?
In most cases the answer for both of these questions is
a big NO! So how do you embrace change and get you and your
business out of the rut of being too busy or not having enough cash
flow to make those investments necessary to perpetuate and
actually grow your business?
Here are a few things that you should consider in order to cross
the chasm from surviving business to thriving business. From being
a job owner to a business owner.
ONE
Find the original vision statement you
had when you started your business.
If you do not have a written version, then plan a day away from
the office and create one. Nothing great was ever accomplished
before the idea was first envisioned. Use your vision as your map.
Constantly remind yourself where you are going and why it is important.
This will keep you focused on who you need to be and
what you need to do in order to have what you want. Setbacks and
disappointments will seem less significant if you are passionate
about obtaining your vision (goal).
14 onthetown onthetowntexas.com
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TWO
Decide to face your FEAR.
We are all fearful of something. Recognize what is keeping
you from taking action and face it. Once you learn to do this with
regularity there are two things on the other side of this obstacle that
await you. One of these is confidence and the other is experience.
In either case you will be better prepared to handle situations in the
future because you faced your challenge and in most situations
grew yourself and your business as a result. Quit relying strictly on
your gut. When you first started you were involved in every aspect
of the business. You knew your business because you were the
business. You could make decisions easily because you were always
in the middle of everything. As your business grows you must
learn to create measurements or Key Performance Indicators for
you to evaluate and more importantly for you to make decisions
from. If you bought a new car you certainly would not request one
that did not have any gauges. It is important to know your speed
and how much gas you have in your tank! I often meet business
owners who take pride in operating their business based on their
opinions. Coincidentally, most of these owners check their bank account
balances each morning and that is the only number they look
at. Running a business without knowing your numbers is another
way to go insane. Create a system for collecting data, analyze that
date and then let your gut tell you what the next move is.
THREE
Get help. Read books, watch videos, go
to seminars and workshops or even get
a coach.
You eventually can learn what you need to know but time is
not your friend. Gaining education will allow you to learn at a faster
pace than using the school of hard knocks as a teacher. If you
increase your revenues by 20, 30 or 40 percent in months instead
of years, the bottom line cash into your business is significant and
worthy of the investment of your time and dollars! Waiting to learn
after each bad experience is even more costly.
Is your business
THRIVING
or just Surviving?
Have you created a
BUSINESS
or have you just
created a
JOB?
Creating a
successful business is
about understanding basic
business fundamentals and proven
business strategies. Every business
owner gets the choice to either endure the
time and cost of learning this on their own or
taking the step to gain unlimited access to proven,
successful business coaching. If you are looking to:
•Learn how to create massive revenue gains
•Take control of your time and business
•Create a winning, autonomous team
•Build a business that works without you
Contact our office now to schedule time for a
conversation with a coach today. For a limited
time, we are offering you the opportunity to spend
2 free hours with a business coach. Find out how
successful business owners have created the results
you desire.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Bob Keplinger
Action Coach
Bon Keplinger is a people, sales and operations specialist.
He has consistently been asked to lead businesses
that were in need of positive change. He has
a fantastic record of creating an energized,
engaged environment in which his divisions
produced record revenues while simultaneously
improving bottom line profits to the organization.
Bob Keplinger
ActionCOACH of North Houston
Office 281-602-8030
Mobile 832-499-0608
26010 Oak Ridge Dr. # 103
Spring, TX 77380
ActionCoachLeverage.com
Be seen. Be heard.
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10/10/2013 12:56:11 PM

think pink, go pink
Local Cancer Charity Offers Help Now
BY JAKE BUCKLER
While October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a local cancer charity wants
women to be more than just aware of this disease.
iGoPink and The Breast Cancer Charities of America (BCCA) is a non-profit
organization that brings integrated cancer care to women in Montgomery County and
across the nation. Instead of stopping with surgery and chemotherapy, the group’s
unique approach offers total healing of body, mind and spirit as part of its cancer
treatment and recovery efforts. Heading into October, iGoPink/BCCA puts an even
greater emphasis on breast cancer prevention.
“Most women are aware that breast cancer is a threat, but many don’t think that
it will ever impact them,” said Erica A. Tullis (pictured left), iGoPink/BCCA Executive
Director. “This lack of awareness is frightening because statistics indicate that one in
eight women will develop the disease. The good news is that most breast cancers can
be prevented by making wise lifestyle choices.”
Tullis and iGoPink design and implement programs to teach women
ways to drastically lower their risk of breast cancer. “Numerous studies
show eight out of 10 cases of breast cancer could’ve been prevented
by making changes in one’s diet,” she said. “We tell women to look
very carefully at food labels; if they find words they can’t pronounce,
don’t eat it.” iGoPink recommends a plant-based diet which
reduces sugar and animal fat to a minimum, and lean meats
such as chicken and fish are also part of the program.
Victoria Clary knows all about lifestyle changes. The
49-year-old Montgomery resident was diagnosed with breast
cancer in March 2011, and iGoPink played a major role in her
recovery.
“For me, the most important lifestyle change was
eliminating stress,” she said. “Now, I don’t freak out at little problems.
I’m able to see things in a more positive light, and I love and appreciate
my family and friends more. I’ve also learned to be more open and honest
and express my true feelings.”
Through its Help Now Fund, iGoPink provides emergency financial services to
women battling breast cancer. “Cancer almost always brings a financial challenge,”
said Tullis. “Even if a family has good health insurance, the cost of co-pays and
time off work for treatment means expenses rise while household income
falls. Many women find themselves in a position of having to decide
whether to pay to have treatment or put food on the table.” Seeing
these issues as a recurring problem among patients, the Help
Now Fund is often used to defer past-due rents and utility
payments.
Maria Ortega, a 37-year-old breast cancer
survivor, knows all too well the financial struggles
that accompany the disease. “To hear the words
‘You have cancer’ is bad enough,” she said, “but
one of the primary issues when you are fighting
this disease is financial struggles. After
doing much research online, I finally found
the Breast Cancer Charities of America.
They helped me with basic necessities like
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iGO
THE
BREAST
CANCERCHARITIES
P NK
®
OF AMERICA
rent, overdue electric bills and essential every day needs. It was
amazing!”
When the doctor informs a woman she has breast cancer,
Tullis says one of the most common questions is, ‘What do I do
next?’ iGoPink/BCCA helps provide those answers. “We offer our
step-by-step guide called ‘Breast Cancer: 50 Essential Things You
Can Do,’” she explained. “Just having a rational plan helps women
gain a sense of control during a very frightening life event. We
constantly remind women that a diagnosis of breast cancer does
not mean one’s imminent demise.”
Although Tullis has never contracted any form of cancer, the
disease has affected her family very closely. “When I was an infant,
my dad developed lung cancer,” she said. “He was given just 30
days to live by his surgeon, but instead of planning his funeral,
he made drastic and healthful lifestyle changes. Today, nearly 30
years later, he is not only alive, he thrives. I believe his experience
is a lesson for all cancer patients – don’t deny the diagnosis, defy
the prognosis.”
“For me, the most important lifestyle change was
eliminating stress. Now, I don’t freak out at little
problems.”
- Victoria Clary
To help raise awareness and funds for iGoPink and BCCA, the
organization produces several major annual fundraising events.
On September 14, the organization hosts its fourth iGoPink Stiletto
Sprint on Market Street in The Woodlands. The event is a 50-meter
dash to see who can run the fastest in high heels. Runners are
sponsored by family and friends.
Prizes abound. “This is a really
high-energy and fun event the
whole family will enjoy.” Tullis
added.
The annual Unmasking
Breast Cancer Masquerade Gala
is another way to connect with
and help the organization. This
year’s event is October 25 at The
Woodlands Waterway Marriott
Hotel & Convention Center. The
black-tie optional event includes
fine wines, a gourmet dinner,
dancing, both live and silent
auctions plus the ever-popular
balloon pop, with all proceeds
benefiting women with breast
cancer.
The 4th Annual Unmasking Breast Cancer
Masquerade Gala, presented by Clear Choice
Orthodontic Associates, will be held Friday, October 25
at The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel. The black-tie
optional gala has become known as the ‘adult Halloween
party’ in The Woodlands with guests showcasing
gorgeous masks from Italy to classic Phantom of the
Opera themed masks. The gala’s masquerade theme ties
in their mission of helping to ‘unmask’ new, non-invasive
treatments for breast cancer.
Doors open at 7:00 p.m. with a cocktail reception,
silent auction, balloon pop, photo booth and games. This
year guests will have the opportunity to win a complete
wine collection including 125 bottles in a special Wine
Wall. A diamond necklace donated by Thomas Markle
Jewelers will also be given away through a unique “heads
and tails bling” game. The Masquerade Gala will celebrate
survivors in The Woodlands as well as honor Kroger for
their work in the community through the Breast Cancer
Charities of America’s University Education Program. A
live auction will follow the seated dinner and the evening
will continue with entertainment provided by the Yelba
Variety Band.
Funds raised will go towards The Breast Cancer
Charities of America’s primary program services including
the Help Now Fund (paying the rent and utilities of women
going through breast cancer), their University Education
Program, and funding for non-invasive breast cancer
treatment research.
Breast Cancer Charities of America (BCCA) is a nonprofit
organization with headquarters in The Woodlands,
Texas. Sponsorship and tickets are available at
www.igopink.org
i
FOR MORE INFORMATION about iGoPink and
Breast Cancer Charities of America, call
(936) 231-8460, or visit www.iGoPINK.org
Be seen. Be heard.
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10/10/2013 12:56:22 PM

Using Email Marketing to Grow Your Business
Email Marketing can be a remarkably inexpensive and
amazingly cost effective way to grow your business and improve
your bottom line. If your business is new to the world of email
marketing, it is exceedingly important for you to follow email
marketing best practices to assure the best results possible. First
of all, let's take a look at what email marketing is and isn't.
EMAIL MARKETING IS…
Delivering PROFESSIONAL email communications to
an INTERESTED audience, containing information they find
VALUABLE.
The most important distinction here is that you are dealing with
an audience that WANTS to hear from you and is EXPECTING to
hear from you. This is called "permission-based" email marketing.
You want to market to those people that have elected, or "opted-in",
to receiving communication from you.
EMAIL MARKETING IS NOT…
PURCHASING a list from a third party vendor, RENTING a
list from an outside company, or BUYING an "Opt-In" list.
INCREASING TOP OF MIND AWARENESS VIA
EMAIL MARKETING
Think about this… for the majority of businesses, most of their
upcoming business will come from their existing customers. In
almost all cases, word of mouth from existing customers is the best
form of advertisement. Because of this fact, it is imperative to raise
your customers Top of Mind Awareness (TOMA). You want to be
the first thing they think of when your product or service is needed
- whether it is needed for themselves or a family member, friend
or co-worker. Keep in mind that not only is your existing customer
invaluable but referrals and references are vital to the growth of
any business, and a free form of advertising. Utilizing this theory is
where an email marketing strategy comes into play and can work
as a vital component to the growth of your business.
BUILDING A QUALITY, PERMISSION-BASED
EMAIL LIST
Since an email marketing list is one of any business's most
valuable assets, it’s worth spending the time to build it right. The
question most companies have is this, "If I don't purchase a list,
where will the email addresses come from?" Here are some
strategic ways to help you quickly grow a permission-based email
list from Constant Contact:
Incoming and Outgoing Calls: If you haven't been doing so
already, ask people to join your mailing list during incoming
and outgoing phone calls. Train yourself and your employees
to ask people to join while explaining the benefits.
Motivation: i.e. Everyone who signs up to receive our email
newsletter in the next 10 minutes gets an extra 10% discount
coupon.
Events and Meetings: Collect where you connect.
Print Media: Include sign-up link in brochures, whitepapers,
articles, and other communications that highlight your
organization.
Optimize Website and Social Media: Include a sign-up box
on every website page, blog and any other social media site
such as FaceBook, Twitter and LinkedIn.
QR Code: Add a QR Code on your business cards that links
to an online sign-up form.
Point of Sale: If you're a retailer, place a sign-up list or guest
list at your POS.
Displays: Display a sample newsletter at your location.
Privacy Statement: People like to know their address will not
be sold.
Employee Contests: If you have employees, get them
involved and consider providing some incentives or rewards
for assisting and building your email list.
For more information, contact Mariann Siegert Levin at
Mariann@Omega-Enterprises.org
"You're dealing with an audience
that WANTS to hear from you and
is EXPECTING to hear from you."
Mariann Siegert Levin
Omega Enterprises
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Mariann Siegert Levin is President of Omega Enterprises
specializing in helping non-profits and businesses
succeed through educational seminars, consulting
and marketing services. She is a Local Area
Expert for Constant Contact in Social Media Marketing
and Email Marketing. She is also the author
of Hired! eWorkshop (available through Amazon).
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BOOK
REVIEW
hired!
by Mariann Siegert
Author and speaker Mariann Siegert provides step-bystep
guidance on using your résumé as a vital component of a
personalized marketing campaign. Find out how to create a resume
that highlights your accomplishments and learn to specifically target
a potential employer's needs. Discover how to build a resume that
encompasses action statements, keywords, and effective content,
while addressing common stumbling blocks such as handling
employment gaps and career changes.
Mariann shows how to conduct employer research and utilize
keyword optimization techniques to increase a resume's potential
of being found by employers and recruiters on resume banks
and job sites. Includes a compilation of information from those in
the trenches: Recruiters, Hiring Managers and Career Marketing
Coaches.
• Review your résumé for possible red flags
• Replace the obsolete Objective Statement with a powerful
Headline
• Add what Recruiters are calling the most important part of a
résumé – the Qualifications Summary
• Use PAR Statements and Statistical Information throughout
• Target each and every résumé toward the needs of each
employer
• Research the employer so you know their needs and prove
how you can meet those needs throughout the entire résumé
• Scrutinize online job descriptions while harvesting critical
keywords to include in your résumé
• Incorporate action verbs all the way through your résumé
• Create a transitional skills worksheet that matches the needs
of the employer to accompany your résumé
• Create professional networking profiles on sites such as
LinkedIn
• Take advantage of using your cover letter as part of your
marketing campaign by reiterating your most marketable
accomplishments and achievements and used it to marque
your most essential transitional skills
• Compile the types of references that will help not hinder your
chances of landing the job
• Use Thank You Notes as part of sealing the deal
All this and much more will be covered in the HIRED! eWorkshop.
Workbook and sample Career Management Worksheet included.
Local Advertising
Redefined!
• Smart Phone Friendly
• Social Media Integration
• Local Area Concentration
www
Conroe • Montgomery • Willis
Interested in one of the most cost-effective local advertising
methods available today that specifically targets the Lake Conroe,
Texas geographical area online? Act now … visit our web site and
use our contact form, or call TODAY to schedule your appointment.
936-463-8960
LakeConroeTXonline.com
the magazine about where you live, work and play
OTT Texas Sept Oct FINAL.indd 19
10/10/2013 12:56:27 PM

If you’re looking to take the stress out of the home-buying
process, it’s time you acquired a pre-approval letter. This is a
statement that indicates your loan officer reviewed your financial information
in writing and has pre-qualified you. This simple yet effective
process can help isolate common pitfalls inherent in the lending
process, as well as give you, the home-buyer, as well as sellers and
real estate agents, peace of mind in knowing that you can qualify for
the loan for which you’ve applied.
So how can you get pre-approved? It’s a matter of getting your
“financial house” in order. Although pre-approval is often based on
each client’s individual circumstances, there are some common
documents needed for the process, including:
PRE-QUALIFIED VS.
PRE-APPROVED
HAPPY HOUSE HUNTING
Getting pre-approved can keep the
search for your dream home from
turning into a nightmare!
• Last two years of income tax returns, all pages, all
• schedules.
• If you are self-employed and own more than 25 percent of
the business, the most recent two years of business tax
returns will also be required.
• Last two years of W2s from your employer(s).
• Most recent 30 days of paycheck stubs from your
employer(s).
• Most recent two months of asset statement, all pages,
even if one is left blank intentionally. Asset statements
would be checking and savings accounts, stocks, bonds,
401K, etc.
Gather these items and send them to your loan officer so he or
she may review and issue a pre-approval letter to you and your real
estate agent. This can provide the peace of mind that comes with
knowing your transaction is safe and secure.
One thing to keep in mind: pre-approval is not the same as a prequalification
letter. The latter simply means that a loan officer has
pulled a copy of your credit report and obtained information about
your income and assets from a verbal conversation. Because of
this, realtors and home-sellers do not value pre-qualification letters
as much as pre-approval.
The home buying process can be daunting, no doubt. With
news reports detailing the difficulties in obtaining home loans and
numerous house-hunting horror stories you might have heard from
friends and relatives, the home-buying process can seem overwhelming.
Getting pre-approved can help lessen the stresses associated
with this process, and we’re happy to help. If you have any
questions about the pre-approval process, or general qualification
requirements, please contact our office directly.
Adam Simmons
Crystal Creek Mortgage
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Adam has been in the mortgage industry since
2004. He co-founded Crystal Clear Mortgage, LLC
with Bryan Ward in 2008. Crystal Clear Mortgage is a
mortgage brokerage company offering Conventional
/ FHA / VA / USDA loan solutions throughout the
State of Texas. Adam currently lives in Montgomery,
TX with his wife of 9 years and his two children.
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“We are here to help.”
MAKING YOUR OPTIONS
in HOME FINANCING CRYSTAL CLEAR
Our goal at Crystal Clear Mortgage
is to make the loan process as simple and worry-free as possible.
We pride ourselves in offering the highest level of customer service, and appreciate the opportunity
to earn your business. Whether you want to purchase a new home or refinance an existing mortgage,
Crystal Clear Mortgage is here to help every step of the way. Whether you live in The Woodlands,
Lake Conroe, or anywhere in Texas, by putting you first, we assure you a pleasurable transaction.
“Why choose Crystal Clear Mortgage?”
1 We have and always will be PURCHASE
LOAN specialists. 80% of our business over
the last 5 years has been dedicated towards
financing home buyers. This is extremely
important as rising rates are pushing refinance
specialists into the purchase loan arena. Not
doing business with a proven purchase loan
specialist could result in delayed closings.
2 You get to do business with the owners.
That means we truly have a vested interest in
seeing your loan close on time and the terms
exactly as promised.
We specialize in:
Conventional loans (did you know you can
do a conventional loan with a 3% down
payment?)
100% USDA loans
100% VA loans
FHA/Home Path/Foreclosures & Short Sales
3 AMAZING RATES! Doing business directly with
the owners means you get the best rates available.
Unlike most companies, we do not have commissions
for loan officers, branch managers, or processors
built into our rates to drive them higher. The rate you
get is the rate you get!
4 We are both broker and a banker. This means
we have twice the number of loan products and
solutions as other lenders.
If you are already working with a lender you were
referred to, let us keep them honest. We don’t
even need to see their Good Faith Estimate.
We will just send you ours. You will be impressed!
15320 Hwy 105 West, Suite 206 • Montgomery, TX 77356
Office: 936.447.5626 • Fax: 936.588.5002
Toll Free: 888-634-6911
www.CrystalClearMortgage.com
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making a difference
Young Professionals Network
BY JAKE BUCKLER
They’re young, dedicated and motivated
leaders who are making a difference in
The Woodlands. This group is known as the
Young Professionals Network, and they’re
always looking for a few more members.
Founded in 2006 as a networking group for professionals
between the ages of 21-39, the Woodlands Area Chamber of
Commerce Young Professionals Network is experiencing a rebirth
of sorts. Under the leadership of Co-Team Leaders Jay Tompkins
and Brittani Burress, the YPN has restructured its meeting
schedule to become more accessible to potential members, and
the organization is preparing to become more involved with the
community. This should be good news to everyone who lives and
works in The Woodlands.
Much has changed at YPN since Jay Tompkins CPA joined
in 2008. “The group meets in the evening on the first Thursday
of every month,” he said. “While these gatherings were always a
fun and interesting way to network, we noticed that attendance
was starting to decrease. After some discussion, we realized
that our members have families and other obligations during the
evening, so we needed to create new meeting times that would
better accommodate current and prospective members.” Tompkins
is a tax partner at Karlins Ramey & Tompkins LLC, and lives in
Montgomery with his wife, Jodi, and children Ethan (9), Alie (6) and
Will (3).
While keeping its Evening Mixers, YPN began hosting its Lunch
and Learn events, as well as Morning Coffee Seminars. “These
additions improved attendance and helped change the image of
the organization as being something more than just a networking
and socializing group,” said Brittani Burress. “The Lunch and Learn
events feature a variety of guest speakers whom our members find
motivating and educational, and we’ve seen an increase in interest
in the YPN.” Originally from Port Neches, Burress lives in The
Woodlands and is Marketing Director for Preva Health.
YPN members are eager to participate in community events in
The Woodlands. This is evidenced by the group’s organizing and
volunteer work it does to make the annual Woodlands CrawPHish
Festival an enjoyable event for so many. “Jack Stibbs, a lawyer in
Spring, has a daughter with Pulmonary Hypertension,” Tompkins
said. “This made us aware of the condition and we wanted to help.”
In conjunction with The Woodlands Area Chamber of
Commerce, YPN members host the one-day festival held in Town
Green Park, which features live music, children’s activities and
authentic Louisiana crawfish and BBQ. “This year, we attracted
more than 3,000 people from all over the country, and the event
raised more than $100,000 to help find a cure for Pulmonary
Jay Tompkins
Brittani Burress
Hypertension,” Tompkins added.
The success of The Woodlands CrawPHish Festival has
inspired Burress. “I would like to see the organization participate in
another event locally that benefits Pulmonary Hypertension,” she
explained. “This is something I plan to bring up at our next meeting.
We’re always looking for new members, as well, so anyone
interested in becoming part of this organization is encouraged to
contact us or come to a meeting.”
The Young Professionals Network is an exclusive network
of The Woodlands Area Chamber of Commerce. It was created
to provide young professionals with the opportunity to develop
socially and professionally. The group offers a variety of networking
opportunities to connect young professionals with peers,
professional development seminars and special events, and is
always open to new members.
i
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
About the Young Professionals Network call
(281) 367-5777 or visit woodlandschamber.org
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Stress-Free
Relocating
by tina clarke
From the excitement of a new job to the cultural
adjustment of a fresh locale, relocating can bring about
a number of mixed feelings … and challenges. Thankfully,
relocating employees don’t have to face these difficult
decisions alone.
CORPORATE
HOUSING
SERVICE SOLUTIONS
Everyone wants to feel at home in
their new home, and that's just
what corporate housing companies and
their partners are here for. By employing
a number of specialists to help a family
get settled into a new area as quickly as
possible, we assist families with a variety
of accommodations and services. If your
company is hiring out of state, or even out
of country employees, our services may be
the perfect way to say “welcome aboard!”
When new employees arrive in a new
town, Airport and Transfer Services are
there to take the confusion out of where to
go and how to get there.
When first arriving in a new location,
waiting to get settled into their permanent
residence, new employees sometimes
need temporary lodging. One of our service
providers can assist in locating furnished
accommodations, including housewares
and utilities, a fully stocked kitchen and
washer/dryer.
By helping employees and their families
understand the language and cultural
differences of their new surroundings, these
transplants are more likely to comfortably
settle into their new environment. A number
of our services offer this type of cultural
acclamation assistance to make that
transition as smooth as possible.
Some of our entities assist employees
with finding a new home if their looking
Tina Clarke
CHSRS
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Tina Clarke is the Global Mobility Director with
CHSRS corporate housing solutions. She has more
than 20 years of sales leadership, customer service
and marketing experience, and she focuses
on strengthening the CHSRS brand by ensuring
the success and satisfaction of her clients. Tina can
be reached at (713) 204-2300 or tina@chsrs.com
to settle on a more permanent basis.
They provide licensed realtors, or have
relationships with some of the area’s best
real estate agents, and can assist with
finding the best location based on the
family’s needs, such as preferred commute
distance and time, quality of life and
educational requirements or desires for
their families.
A service that may often be forgotten are
Settling Services, which includes orientation
of the new location and other provisions
based on the client's needs. These services
can include a tour that focues on elements
most important to your new employee, such
as public transportation, shopping districts,
medical facilities, social security services,
banks, and much more. If necessary, these
services can also assist an employee with
locating proper motor vehicle licensing,
including driving classes.
Finding lodging and transportation,
and dealing with service providers in
an unfamiliar environment can leave an
employee frustrated and preoccupied.
Fortunately, it doesn’t have to be this way.
Utilizing a corporate housing provider and
their partners can ensure that relocating
an employee and their family will be as
stress-free as possible so they can focus
on enjoying this new opportunity instead
of worrying if their new home life is under
control.
Be seen. Be heard.
RELOCATION
SERVICES
HOUSING
SOLUTIONS
TEMPORARY
FURNISHED
LODGING
LOGO
corporate housing solutions
R E L O C A T I O N S E R V I I C EE SS
713-204-2300
713-204-2300
www.CHSRS.com
C O R P O R A T E
housing solutions
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Tips for Setting and
Pursuing Financial Goals
You can get lucky by finding a parking meter with time left on it. You can “luck
out” by having nice weather on your vacation. You can even be lucky at love. But
when it comes to financial matters, you’re better off not counting on Lady Luck
— and focusing instead on setting and pursuing goals. Here are some suggestions
for establishing and pursuing your financial objectives.
TIP# 1: Be specific.
You probably have a lot of ideas about what you want to do,
but if you’re going to turn these wishes into reality, you need to get
specific. So, for example, instead of telling yourself that you want
to retire early, set a goal of retiring at, say, 62. You can then use
this target number to help guide your overall investment strategy.
To illustrate: You can determine that you need to invest a certain
amount of money each year, and earn a certain rate of return, to
be able to retire at 62. You can also estimate about how much
money you can afford to withdraw from your investment accounts
each year to sustain a retirement that begins at 62.
TIP# 2: Prioritize your goals .
Of course, you want to achieve all your financial goals —and
you can have a better chance of doing so if you rank these goals
in terms of both importance and timing. For example, you may
want to send your kids to college, purchase a vacation home and
still be able to retire at age 62. How should you allocate your resources
to each of these goals? Should you invest more at any
given time for a specific goal? What types of investments are best
for each of these goals? Prioritizing your goals can help you answer
these and other questions — and help direct your overall
investment strategy.
TIP# 3: Be prepared to change your goals.
Over time, your family and financial circumstances can
change considerably — which means you shouldn’t be surprised,
or alarmed, if you have to change your goals accordingly. And
you’ll find it easier to maintain this flexibility if you’ve worked diligently
to create an investment portfolio with sufficient resources
to allow you to change direction, as needed.
TIP# 4: Review your progress regularly.
If you’re going to eventually achieve your goals, you absolutely
need to measure your progress along the way. Are your
investments performing the way you had anticipated? Are your
goals becoming more expensive than you had initially envisioned?
To achieve these goals, are you taking on too much — or
too little — risk? To answer these types of questions, it’s a good
idea to review your overall progress at least once a year and then
make whatever adjustments may be necessary.
As you can see, it will take considerable effort to set, review
and (hopefully) achieve your goals. And it can be somewhat complex,
too, so you may want to work with a financial professional
— someone who takes time to talk with you about your goals,
understands your risk tolerance and family situation, and has the
training and experience necessary to help you work toward your
objectives.
But in any case, think hard about your goals and how you
might accomplish them. And don’t delay in taking action — because
goals are generally easier to attain if you have time on
your side.
This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local
Edward Jones Financial Advisor, Pam Tipton.
24 onthetown onthetowntexas.com
OTT Texas Sept Oct FINAL.indd 24
10/10/2013 12:56:31 PM

MORE THAN AN IDEA
YOUR LOCAL SMALL
BUSINESS RESOURCE
BY TRACI M. HUHN
You have made your decision – No longer will you work
for “the man”. You have a terrific idea for a brand new
company where you will be the boss and make all the rules. Your
company will be centered on what you value and you are set to
change the world with your unique product or service.
When the adrenaline settles and the newness wears off, realization
sinks in and you are faced with challenges you have never
even thought about before. You only wish you had paid better attention
in your Business Accounting class, and knew exactly what
your professor was talking about that day freshman year that you
decided to hit snooze and skip class. Nevertheless, you hold your
head up high, quickly becoming best buds with Google and You-
Tube, as they carry you through your day-to-day operations.
Fortunately for you and others brave enough to embark on
such a journey, there is another option. Lone Star College’s Small
Business Development Center, located at 5000 Research Forest
Drive in The Woodlands, offers free small business management
consulting services. Whether you are just starting out or you are
already up and running, their consultants can help you with creat-
ing a business and marketing plan, go over your financials, resolve
problems and assist you in making solid business decisions. Their
mission is “to help businesses become established, grow, survive
and succeed by providing professional management consulting
and training, resulting in a positive economic impact for North Harris
and Montgomery Counties.” The Center also offers training
seminars on various topics designed to help you build a successful
small business.
Every great business venture starts as a fantastic and exciting
idea, but it is the time and effort invested in a good business
plan that ultimately will determine a successful outcome. The Small
Business Development Center’s highly trained consultants offer
over 50 years of business ownership experience and are here to
help you, free of charge. Sound too good to be true? Give them
a call and find out how they can help you check off some of those
“to-dos” on your ever-growing list and start running your business
with less stress and more confidence. For more information, call
(832) 813-6674 or email SBDC@lonestar.edu
Why Go Anywhere Else?
When it comes to meeting your financial goals, you really only need to see one person. At Edward Jones,
we strive to meet all your financial services needs while providing exceptional personalized service.
Because we serve individual investors and business owners, all of our energy and resources are dedicated
to helping you reach your long-term financial goals. That’s why we live and work in your community. We
meet with you face to face to discuss the key steps to creating your financial strategy.
You talk, we listen, and we get to know you.
Individual Retirement Accounts
Investment Banking
Fixed Income Investments
Education Savings Strategies
Retirement Plan Rollovers and
Consolidation
Business Retirement Plans
Insurance
For more information or to schedule a complimentary financial review, call or stop by
today.
Pam Tipton
Financial Advisor
.
18001 Hwy 105 W Suite 212
Montgomery, TX 77356
936-582-4142
www.edwardjones.com Member SIPC
MKT-1954C-A-AD
OTT Texas Sept Oct FINAL.indd 25
10/10/2013 12:56:32 PM

By JAKE BUCKLER
a legacy of giving
WOODFOREST CHARITY FOUNDATION
PROVIDES SUSTAINED ACTS OF CHARITY
BY JAKE BUCKLER
Pictured left to right:
Advisory Board Member Charles
Marling, President Robert E. Marling,
Vice President & Executive Director
Kim Marling, Vicki Richmond, and
Board Member Dr. David Gottlieb
Wouldn’t it be great to be able to keep on donating to your favorite charities? This is the
essence of what the Woodforest Charitable Foundation does in The Woodlands … and every
area that Woodforest National Bank serves.
The WCF was founded in 2005 as a means of creating an
organization that would provide a legacy of giving in perpetuity in
every market that Woodforest National Bank (WNB) serves. The
organization is the vision of Robert E. Marling Jr., Chairman & Chief
Executive Officer of Woodforest Financial Group, Inc. and Chief
Executive Officer of WNB. Its purpose is to provide support for numerous
charities with a primary focus upon supporting organizations
dedicated to preventing hunger and many other charities that
provide housing, healthcare and family support to those in need.
“While it’s great that organizations such as United Way can
raise money for their causes,” said Robert, “once that money is
donated, it’s gone. If the following year is tough, it becomes harder
to raise the same amount. WCF is creating a legacy of charitable
giving so that many worthy organizations will continue to receive
the help they are deserving of well beyond our lifetimes.”
The most recent example of the WCF’s concept of sustained
giving is the $1 million commitment it made to the Montgomery
County Food Bank, which is to be paid out over a five-year period.
In May, WNB made another $3,000,000 contribution to the foundation
to help sustain and increase future charitable giving; in 2012
WNB donated $5,000,000. In addition, WNB employees also perform
a host of fundraisers each week throughout the year benefitting
the WCF.
“Giving back is a big part of WNB’s culture” said Kim Marling,
WCF Executive Director. “It starts with senior management and extends
to all employees across the country. Every month, the bank’s
staff performs a variety of fundraising events, with each branch
deciding on its own fundraisers. Since 2008, the foundation has
focused on the fight against hunger, and in Montgomery County,
we have an even broader focus. This year, the WCF has distributed
more than $417,000 in Montgomery County alone, with total contributions
for various local charities totaling $1,553,947.”
The foundation’s primary focus, according to Kim Marling, is to
support organizations working to prevent hunger among the working
poor and their families. “America is the wealthiest country in the
world, yet so many children are at risk of hunger,” she said. “Lack of
proper nutrition can affect a child physically, emotionally and socially.
Nutrition is a basic necessity, and we believe our focus provides
the most significant impact within an individual’s life. It’s the perfect
mission to focus on here and across the country.” WCF supports
programs such as the BackPack program, which provides a weekend
food supply to children who are at risk of hunger. “The WCF
has provided $1, 775,494 in the fight against hunger,” she added,
“and has made contributions to charities in excess of $3, 581,000.”
The WCF provides funding to organizations whose mission is to
provide decent housing to the working poor and disabled veterans,
healthcare for low-income families and individuals, and programs
offering a variety of family support and social services. “Although
the economy has struggled over the past four to five years, the
Foundation has continued to increase its support in communities
where WNB serves,” Kim said. “This comes at a time when many
organizations have had to cut back on charitable donations due to
the struggling economy and the impact it has had on businesses.”
The foundation’s daily operations are conducted by Kim
Marling, Executive Director and Vice President of the Board of Directors.
She is assisted by Vicki Richmond, Secretary and Treasurer
of the Board of Directors, Dr. David Gottlieb, board member,
and two staff members.
i
TO REQUEST A CHARITABLE FOUNDATION FORM
call (832) 375-2273 or send an email to
info@woodforestcharitablefoundation.org
26 onthetown onthetowntexas.com
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10/10/2013 12:56:34 PM

C.R.E.A.M. Luncheon
"Safety In Our Community" with Ryan Gable, Pct. 3
October 14, 2013 @ 11:00am-1:00pm
Pollatta's Italian Grill
27606 I-45 N Conroe, TX 7738
Hello
my name is
Montgomery County Association of Business Women
Oct. 22, 2013 @ 11:30am - 1:00pm
The Incredible Pizza Company
230 South Loop 336 West, Conroe, TX 77304
For more information contact: Carol Gooch 713.256.8002
The Woodlands Area Chamber of Commerce
Networking Breakfast
Oct. 16, 2013 @ 7:00am-8:00am
Brio Tuscan Grill
1201 Lake Woodlands Dr. Suite 303 The Woodlands
For more information contact: Cyndi Alvarado,
Vice President of Membership 281.363.8109 or
email cyndi.alvarado@woodlandschamber.org
WOAMTEC Magnolia
Meeting every 1st & 3rd Thurs. @ 11:30am-1:00pm
Unami Grill
6960 FM 1488 Rd #100 Magnolia, TX 77354
For more information contact: Tanya Lavoie 713.614.7187
WOAMTEC The Woodlands
Meeting every 1st & 3rd Wed. @ 11:30am-1:00pm
Kirby Steakhouse
1111 Timberloch Pl, The Woodlands, TX 77380
For more information contact: Kiki Koymarianos 727.244.2680
WOAMTEC Conroe
1st and 3rd Tues. @ 11:30am-1:00pm
Saltgrass Steakhouse
810 I-45 Frontage Road Northbound Conroe, TX 77304
For more information contact: Sonja Barnes 281.364.6696
The Magnolia Parkway Chamber of Commerce
Networking Luncheon
October 22, 2013 @ 11:30am - 1:00pm
Unami Grill 6960 FM 1488 Rd #100 Magnolia, TX 77354
For more information contact:
Katy Daenzer - Administrative Coordinator 832.934.2300
The Woodlands Area Chamber of Commerce
4’ Oclock Speaker Series with Senator Tommy Williams
Oct. 24, 2013 @ 4:00pm-6:00pm
Kirby Steakhouse
1111 Timberloch Pl, The Woodlands, TX 77380
For more information contact: Cyndi Alvarado,
Vice President of Membership 281.363.8109 or
email cyndi.alvarado@woodlandschamber.org
Greater Conroe Lake Conroe Area Chamber of Commerce
Professional Connection
Oct. 30, 2013 @ 5:30pm-7:00pm
The Corner Pub
302 N. Main St. Conroe, TX
For more information contact:
Cassandra Roschen 936.756.6644 cassandrar@conroe.org
MC Pros Montgomery County Professionals
Networking Luncheon every Tues. @ 11:30am-1:00pm
Wild Ginger
3061 I-45 Frontage Rd #100, Conroe, TX 77304
For more information contact: Richard Martin Integrated Financial
Resources: 281.799.1887 or r-martin@consolidated.net
To submit your business networking event for consideration, please email cathy@onthetowntexascom.
organize today, simplify tomorrow!
Kim Miller - Professional Organizer
Free Consultations
832-715-9540
Serving Conroe, Montgomery,
The Woodlands, Magnolia,
Tomball & Surrounding Areas
www.kimsorganizingsolutions.com
kim@kimsorganizingsolutions.com
OTT Texas Sept Oct FINAL.indd 27
10/10/2013 12:56:56 PM

ESTABLISHING AN EFFECTIVE
ONLINE PRESENCE
BY TRACI M. HUHN
In the day of the information highway, a strong
online presence is increasingly important. Gone
are the days when just having a listing in the
yellow pages stood as an effective marketing
tool. Today, establishing your identity is a game
of strategy, involving quality content, sleek
design and multiple tools of engagement.
As you scroll through your social media news feeds or scan
through your local news site, what draws you to actually follow
a link? Most likely, something exciting or interesting such as fun
facts, a contest or giveaway. This content has something in common
– human appeal. Many may peruse your website looking for
the specific product or service you offer and nothing more, but your
website traffic will soar if your content is appealing.
Think about some of your favorite websites. Are they pretty?
Chances are the answer is yes. To put it simply, we all like pretty
things. And the more attractive your website is, the more likely you
will be perceived as a quality place to do business.
While an attractive website with quality content is important,
you must also keep your visitors engaged. Thousands may find
your site, but do they take the time to click through your pages?
When you hear the word engagement, you might think of streaming
video or addicting online games. While those things
absolutely attract and engage, the rules of online
engagement start much sooner than you may realize.
One of the biggest questions you should ask is
does your content flow? Is it easy for visitors to find what they are
looking for on your site? Secondly, let’s talk about page load times.
You may have fantastic content on your site, but if visitors have to
play the waiting game, they are likely to get distracted and/or just
give up. Similarly, is your website content legible and accessible?
If it doesn’t work properly or can’t easily be read or interpreted, it
won’t be.
Establishing a strong online identity starts with the basics.
While many tools exist and become important in this game of strategy,
most are designed to point the visitor back to your website.
For this reason, your website, itself, should be your very first, and
perhaps largest, online marketing investment. To learn more about
online marketing and ways to increase your website traffic, please
call (936) 239-5067 or visit www.allymacconcepts.com.
Fairweather Group is an elite general contracting firm that well suits
the needs of your project. Our commitment to the community and its
development is the driving force behind our organization.
The firm is fully bonded and insured, making your project more
worry-free. Our reputation for service is impeccable, and our list of
service capabilities includes:
•Design Build
•Construction Management
•Office/Warehouse Construction
•Historic Preservation
•Municipal Buildings
•Metal Buildings
For over a decade, Fairweather Group has been producing high quality
construction projects throughout Southeast Texas. One reason why our
buildings stand the test of time is because of the Fairweather people
who build them.
www.fairweathergrp.com
936.756.6446
333 N Riverside Dr., Suite 200
Conroe, TX 77304
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gadgets for geeks
1 2

Pictured standing from left are: (BR-FR) Michael
Barnhill, Secretary Terry Sellers, Brad Thompson, Alex
Sutton, Nathan Cook, Virgil Yoakum, Frank Holmes,
Stephen Miller, Vice-Chair Stuart Lapp, Heidi Carney,
Mike Karlins, Steve Sanders, Chair Jan Slevling, and
Immediate Past Chair Chris Grice.
The Woodlands Area Economic Development Partnership
(EDP) has announced the newly-appointed board
members for its 2013-2014 term. The new board members include
Jan Sieving of Repsol USA as chair, Stuart Lapp of Petroleum
Wholesale as vice-chair, Terry Sellers of Gallagher Benefit Services
as secretary, Debra Sukin of St. Luke’s The Woodlands Hospital as
treasurer, and Chris Grice of Amegy Bank of Texas as immediate
past chair.
Other board members include Michael Barnhill of Entergy
Texas, Boyd Burdett of Anadarko Petroleum, Heidi Carney of First
Victoria National Bank, Nathan Cook of McKesson Specialty Health,
Frank Holmes of Sam Houston State University, Karen Hoylman
of The Woodlands Area Chamber of Commerce, Mike Karlins of
Karlins, Ramey & Tompkins LLC, Mayor James Kuykendall of City
of Oak Ridge North, Mark Lashier of Chevron Phillips Chemical
Company, Michael Maher of The John Cooper School, Brett Martin
of One Source, Stephen Miller of Jones Walker, Don Norrell of The
Woodlands Township, Michael Richmond of Woodforest National
Bank, Steve Sanders of Memorial Hermann The Woodlands
Hospital, Mike Shultz of Consolidated Communications, Mayor
Wes Stephens of City of Shenandoah, Alex Sutton of The
Woodlands Development Company, Brad Thompson of Wells
Fargo, Bruce Tough of The Woodlands Township, Stephanie
Wiggins of CenterPoint Energy, and Virgil Yoakum of Woodforest
Development, Inc.
The Economic Development Partnership is dedicated to
promoting the economic development of The Woodlands Area
through the support of existing businesses and the recruitment of
new businesses that can bring opportunities to the area.
“As our board continues to evolve, we have been able to move
forward and progress because of the diversity of our membership.
I am personally grateful to have served with those Board Directors
whose terms have ended, and would like to welcome our newest
members joining the board. We are privileged to have a Board
composed of the best executive leadership in our area for the
30 onthetown onthetowntexas.com
THE WOODLANDS AREA
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP
ANNOUNCES ITS NEW BOARD MEMBERS
advancement of economic development,” said Gil Staley, Chief
Executive Officer of the EDP.
Partner members of the EDP include Deena Anderson of
AppleOne Employment Services, Spencer Bautista of Cardon
Outreach, Steve Berry of Waste Connections, Chris Bulger of
Martin Brower, Fred Caldwell of Caldwell Companies, Jim Calvetti
of Calvetti, Ferguson & Wagner, P.C., Sean Carney of Rickmers-
Linie (America), Inc., Paul Carroll of Efficient Wealth Management,
Paul Coonrod of Stream Realty, Scott Donald of Baker Hughes,
Katherine Frolow of Goldman Sachs, Shane Frugé of Northwestern
Mutual, Joseph Glowacki of Turner Construction, Mark Hammer
of D.E. Harvey Builders, Joe Hulett of Americas Styrenics LLC,
Ray Laughter of Lone Star College System, Amos McDonald of
BBVA Compass Bank, Dr. Stephen McKernan of Lone Star Family
Health Center, Paul Oman of BOI Consulting, LLC, Woody Pace
of Talisman Energy USA, Clyde Parker of Winstead PC, Greg
Parsons of The Woodlands Resort & Conference Center, Ron
Parucki of Kroger, Chris Payne of Aon Hewitt, Sean Quinn of Black
Forest Ventures, LLC, John Risher of Gilbane Building Company,
Cheryle’ Sanderson of Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate
Gary Greene, Jack Stibbs of Stibbs & Co. Attorneys, Christi Thoms
of CB&I, John Wiesner of Wiesner Auto Group, Kendra Windisch of
MD Anderson The Woodlands, Richard Wright of Wright’s Printing
and Marketing, as well as Stephen Wright of Wright Business
Technologies.
The Woodlands Area Economic Development Partnership
(EDP) is the lead agency for business recruitment and retention
for The Woodlands Area and includes the cities of Shenandoah
and Oak Ridge North as well as the master planned community,
The Woodlands. The primary target for EDP clients are employers
or potential employers that might want assistance in identifying
potential sites for locating their business, or to determine their
qualifications for incentives that might be available.
FOR MORE INFORMATION about EDP visit
i www.edpartnership.net or call (281) 363-8130,
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La Torretta
Lakeside restaurant & Bar
By staff writer
Tucked away on the Western shore of Lake Conroe at the end of La Torretta Boulevard is
one of Montgomery County’s best kept culinary secrets.
Formerly the home of Chez Roux, the new Lakeside
Restaurant and Bar is quickly building a local fan following with
its casually elegant euro-styling, exceptionally high food quality,
glass walled wine cellar, award worthy plating, and impeccably
personalized service.
Lakeside’s home is a freestanding contemporary single story
building located at the water’s edge, just past the world class La
Torretta Resort and Spa. The restaurant provides a small onsite
parking area and is within comfortable walking distance from the
resort. Upon entering Lakeside, the cozy reception area opens to
an intimate cocktail lounge where a glass walled wine cellar divides
the lounge from the main dining area. The indoor dining area offers
an open floor plan with contemporary seating, elegantly set tables
and a wall of glass to frame the immense lake views. The euro-style
design uses dark woods, warm colors and a nice blend of natural
elements and textures to anchor the space. Natural light washes
over the dining room by day and as the sun sets on Lake Conroe
the restaurants ambient evening lighting illuminates a space that is
clean and casually elegant. Lakeside also offers Al Fresco dining
on their beautiful waterfront patio.
At the helm of the new venture is industry veteran and service
centric host Heath Lagrone. Under Lagrone’s care, he and his
staff deliver a level of gracious hospitality that transcends the
normal suburban dining experience. VIP treatment at Lakeside
is palpable and pervasive. “Our goal at Lakeside is to provide
a unique dining experience that truly focuses on the individual
needs of each and every customer. Most resorts reserve dining
experiences like those found at Lakeside to resort guests only, but
we have the distinct pleasure of serving resort guests and local
patrons with our “open table” concept. It truly is our pleasure to
spoil and pamper our clients with great food, drinks and service.
“Says General Manager - Heath Lagrone.
The menu selection is diverse but not overwhelming and the
thoughtful selection of entrees, sides, soups, salads, appetizers
and desserts are mouthwatering and well balanced with something
to satisfy all palates. For meat lovers, Lakeside offers a fine
selection of hand cut filets, New York strip and rib eyes. Every
Monday evening Lakeside also hosts a king sized prime rib dinner
special with house salad, baked potato and house wine. Not a
steak lover? Lakeside’s brined double pork chop bathed in sautéed
apple with smoked bacon butter is out of this world and their pan
seared chicken breast served with caramelized onion and shitake
jus will make your taste buds sing.
If seafood is your pleasure, Lakeside has a wonderful
assortment of fresh catch items with ocean kissed entrees ranging
from sautéed flounder to pan roasted, spiced Texas red fish with
lemon-lime beurre blanc sauce. If big delicious Gulf shrimp are
on your bucket list, don’t miss Lakeside’s sautéed Gulf shrimp
slathered in sweet chipotle lime glaze with mango salsa. It’s hard
to imagine that a menu needs more than great Steak, Chops,
Chicken and Fresh Catch Seafood but Lakeside tosses in a couple
of beautifully prepared pasta dishes for good measure. The
penne alfredo pasta and garlic penne pasta are authentic, creamy,
perfectly cooked and seasoned dishes that can be enjoyed in all of
their creamy pasta glory or combined with grilled chicken or jumbo
shrimp to turn a delicious pasta dish into a stellar pasta adventure.
To accompany your main course, Lakeside has an amazing
selection of traditional and non-traditional hand crafted side dishes.
The braised forest mushrooms, horseradish mashed potatoes
and sweet potato puree are stand out sides that lift and inspire
any entrée. Not to be left out, Lakeside also serves great soups,
salads and appetizers. Here is a synopsis for your review - Texas
sweet soup – wow, La Torretta Salad – baby spinach, feta, grape
tomatoes, lemon-olive oil and herb crostini – yum… and on the
32 onthetown onthetowntexas.com
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appetizer front Lakeside hit a grand slam with the crab cake, seared
Ahi tuna and jumbo shrimp. The crab cakes are phenomenal, the
seared Ahi tuna is velvety and delicious and the jumbo gulf shrimp
are big, meaty perfectly served hunks of happiness.
Like the end of a well-planned meal, this review has also
saved room for dessert. Lakeside gets high marks with great
location, ambiance, menu, service, food flavor and presentation…
but if you are into desserts, what awaits you at Lakeside is beyond
expectation. The dessert menu is not large, but the impeccable line
up of desserts are so beautifully presented and so well prepared
that you feel a little guilty eating them. If you are a chocoholic, the
chocolate lava cake will take you to that special place. The New
York style cheesecake with fresh berry coulis is so rich and creamy
that your brain can’t manage the flavor explosion that is unfolding.
Pie lovers, the key lime pie with all its toasted meringue goodness
is a heavenly and the last item, the white chocolate croissant
bread pudding smothered
in warm bourbon caramel is
inexplicable. The desserts at
Lakeside are a must.
Great steaks, chops,
poultry, seafood, soups,
salads, appetizers and desserts, Lakeside has it all. Lakeside is a
perfect culinary spot for life’s celebratory moments but it is also a
great regular place to dine. The experience leans toward luxury,
but the prices are surprisingly affordable. Lakeside is versatile in
what it has to offer and fills a niche in the area for fine dining. If
you have guests in town this is a great spot to go and get the VIP
treatment. The next time you are looking for a place to reward your
taste buds take a trip to Lakeside Restaurant and Bar and let Heath
and his talented team share their passion for culinary excellence
with you.
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10/10/2013 12:57:06 PM

A HAND UP
Mcea helps area residents
BY JAKE BUCKLER
To see Nicole Hall today, it might be difficult to imagine how
much the Montgomery County Emergency Assistance has
helped this 38-year-old New Caney resident.
Resource and Development
Manager,Margie Taylor
Today, Nicole Hall has a successful accounting career and a
nice apartment for her and her two children; but five years ago, she
thought she’d never enjoy such successes. “I was in a marriage
that was verbally, emotionally and physically abusive,” said Nicole,
“and I didn’t believe I had any options. The only job experience
I had was working for his company and I didn’t want to ask my
family for the financial help I’d need to get my kids and I out of that
situation. It seemed like there was no way out and I didn’t know
what to do.”
After years of abuse, Nicole says she finally mustered the
courage to escape the relationship, but her actions weren’t without
their consequences. Having no job, money or residence, she and
her children soon found themselves living at a women’s shelter.
By making the most of the MCEA’s parenting and budgeting
classes, as well as the advice and listening ear that members of
the organization offered her, she was eventually turned her life
circumstances around and secured an accounting job, and the
organization also helped her find an apartment that she and her
children still live in today.
“I don’t know where we would be today if it wasn’t for the
MCEA,” Nicole said. “They welcomed us with open arms, and
everyone there took the time to help me get back on my feet. I’ll
forever be thankful to the MCEA and I plan to volunteer more of
my time to them as my way of giving back. I would also encourage
everyone in the community to help this organization in any way
they can so they can continue to help people get back on their feet.”
From the time the MCEA took in Nicole and her children to the
day she was able to stand on her own two feet was a six-month
process. This kind of sustained help toward self-sufficiency is what
the organization is all about, says Margie Taylor, the organization’s
Resource and Development Manager. “In many cases, helping
people turn their lives around means providing assistance with
everything from rent or mortgage payments to food, clothing and
even job skills,” said Margie. “None of this is possible from just a
one-time handout; it takes long-term assistance. This is our goal for
the future and we need the support of our entire community to help
make it happen.”
While the MCEA does help women like Nicole Hall put the
pieces of their lives back together, single mothers aren’t the
organization’s only clientele. The MCEA also offers assistance to
the county’s elderly population living on fixed incomes, as well as
families who’ve recently found themselves out of work and living
below the poverty line. “Someone who’s used to earning six figures
but suddenly find themselves with nothing tend to be unaware
of the services available to them,” Margie explained. “We’re also
reaching out to help this demographic because we understand that
a crisis can occur unexpectedly to any of us.”
Margie joined the MCEA in February, and this summer, she
organized the organization’s biggest and most successful event to
date – the July 4th Duck Race at the Rob Fleming Aquatic Center.
About 5,000 rubber ducks surged down the park’s waterslide
in a tidal wave of yellow before splashing into the pool, headed
for the finish line. Each one represented a donation made to the
MCEA. “Thanks to the generosity of the businesspeople and
other community members, we raised $45,000 at that event!” she
exclaimed. “It will go a long way to helping continue our many
programs.”
continued on page 36
34 onthetown onthetowntexas.com
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10/10/2013 12:57:10 PM

CHARITY EVENT CALENDAR
Friday, October 25, 2013
The 4th Annual Unmasking Breast Cancer Masquerade Gala
7PM - 11PM @ The Woodlands Waterway Marriott
Benefiting Breast Cancer Charities of America and the American
Cancer Society
For tickets and more information visit IGoPink.org
Saturday, October 26, 2013
MS Walk - The Woodlands
8AM @ Rob Fleming Park
To register teams and more information visit WalkMStexas.org
'Le Tour de Woodlands' - OCT. 19
A one-of-a-kind cycling event will offer long and short
courses providing cycling opportunities for individuals
and families. Registration is limited to the first 800
cyclists.
Interfaith of The Woodlands, which began as a dream of
Mr. George P. Mitchell, is a non-profit social service agency
providing numerous programs and services to meet the needs
of The Woodlands and the surrounding area for 40 years now.
Wednesday, October 16, 2013
First Annual WISE Conference
9AM-3PM @ The Woodlands Resort & Conference Center
For Tickets, Limited Vendor Booths, and Sponsorships, visit
TheWiseConference.com
Saturday, October 19, 2013
Texian Heritage Festival
10AM-5PM @ Historic Downtown Montgomery
Benefiting Montgomery County Emergency Assistance
For more information visit TexianHeritage.org
Saturday, October 19, 2013
Second Annual Le Tour de Woodlands
7:45AM @ The Woodlands Township
Benefiting Interfaith of The Woodlands
To register and for more information visit LeTourdeWoodlands.com
Saturday, October 19, 2013 - Rain or Shine
CASA for Kids Fun Run/Walk
8AM for 1K Kids Fun Run, 8:15AM 5K Run/Walk @ Jones State
Forest (Located on FM1488 between I-45 and State Hwy 242)
Visit reason2race.com/join.r2r/casa for more information.
Sunday November 3, 2013
The 11th Annual Oil Man Texas Triathlon
7AM Start @ La Torretta Del Lago Resort - Montgomery, Texas
To VOLUNTEER, email Greg at penningtoncsm@gmail.com
For more information visit www.out-loud.org
saturday, November 02, 2013
Out of the Darkness Community Walk
9AM-1PM @ Town Green Park
Benefiting the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
For more information call 713-894-2694 or
email wylisha.mckinney@gmail.com.
Wednesday, November 6, 2013
Friends of Grace Banquet
9AM-6PM Friday, and 10AM-4PM Saturday and Sunday
@ The Woodlands Waterway Marriott
Benefiting Junior League local charities
For more information visit jlholidaymarket.org
Wednesday, November 15-17, 2013
11th Annual Junior League Holiday Market
6PM @ The Woodlands Waterway Marriott
Benefiting Grace School of Theology - The Woodlands
To RSVP or find more information contact Hannah Beard at
heard@gsot.org or 713-897-8291.
saturday, november 16, 2013
Homeless Services of Montgomery County Walk
8:30AM @ 731 West Davis Street Parking Lot, Conroe
Benefiting the awareness of and need for homeless assistance.
Entry is a non-perishable food item. Contact Nancy Heintz for more
information at heintz@fumc-conroe.org
Sunday, October 20, 2013
Light The Night Walk
5:30PM registration, 7:15PM walk start @ Market Street
For more information visit LightTheNight.org
2013 Theme: Around The World
Be seen. Be heard.
onthetown 35
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Mcea helps area
residents
ALLYMAC CONCEPTS
Copywriting & Design
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positions with the Montgomery County Food Bank.”
esign marketing copywriting photography design marketing copywriting photography design
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rkingaffordable marketing IDENTITY solutions BRANDING networking affordable marketing solutions networking
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try newsletters CUSTOM graphic design INVITATIONS event artistry newsletters graphic design event artistry
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AND MORE!
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try newsletters graphic design event artistry newsletters graphic design event artistry
work fun fonts identity branding bold artwork Margie fun helps fonts sort food identity in the MCEA branding Pantry bold artwork
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open Conroe
rkingaffordable marketing solutions networking affordable marketing solutions networking
fun make a statement facebook marketing funmake a statement facebook marketing fun
esign marketing copywriting photography design marketing copywriting photography design
try newsletters graphic design event artistry newsletters graphic design event artistry
GRAPHIC DESIGN
COPYWRITING
PHOTOGRAPHY
TRACIHUHN
Creative Director
RESUMES
AMANDAHENSLEY
Marketing Director
connect with us
continued from pg 34
Margie brings to MCEA more than 10 years’ experience with non-profit organizations
and a passion for helping others. “I know what it is like to be a single mom with a great
job but still not enough to pay for housing, utilities, food and other bills,” she said. “After
20 years in Corporate America, I wanted to make a difference in people’s lives so I took
a job as youth director at my church. After two years, I accepted a position working with
homeless youth through Montgomery County Youth Services, which eventually led to
As Margie continues to grow into her position with the MCEA, the organization will
continue to bring resources, awareness and funding to make positive changes in the lives
of Montgomery County’s needy. Those interested in offering a donation and/or volunteering
(936) 239-5067
info@allymacconcepts.com
ALLYMACCONCEPTS.COM
36 onthetown onthetowntexas.com
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Tickets
On Sale
Now
This is the Conference
You Don’t Want To Miss!
Wednesday, October 16th • 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
The Woodlands Resort & Conference Center
This one day conference will also include motivational speaker Theresa
Roemer and this year’s MC, Amy Milstead. In addition there will be a sit
down luncheon, fashion show and 50+ vendor booths to visit. We expect
250+ attendees and will be focusing on “Finding Balance.” The event will
be hosted by three area business women’s associations:
• The Women’s Council of Realtors
• Montgomery County Association of Business Women
• Area Chapters of WOAMTEC
(Women On A Mission To Earn Commission)
Proceeds from this year’s conference will go to Breast Cancer Charities of
America and the American Cancer Society.
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Emmy Award winning author
Rhonda Britten
As seen on Oprah, Rhonda
has changed lives in over 600
episodes of “reality television.”
She is the author of four
bestselling books including
“Fearless Living,” and is the
founder of the
Fearless Living Institute.
Thank You To Our Core WISE Sponsor:
To learn more about Rhonda,
visit her at:
rhondabritten.com
For Tickets, Limited Vendor Booths, and Sponsorships, visit us at
TheWiseConference.com
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