Montgomery

The Johnson Development Corp. promotes
Michael Smith to Senior Vice President &
Director of Land Development
Michael Smith has been promoted to Senior Vice
President and Director of Land Development for The
Johnson Development Corp. where he will direct the
development, marketing and sales of the company’s
master-planned communities.
In his new role, Smith also will represent the
company to home builders, governmental agencies,
public officials, homeowner associations and in community
relations.
Smith previously served as General Manager of Johnson
Development’s Sienna Plantation where for nine years he directed
one of the nation’s top-selling master-planned communities.
“Michael has proven himself as a valuable team member and
helped to build Sienna into one of the nation’s most successful masterplanned
communities,” notes Doug Goff, Chief Operating Officer of
The Johnson Development Corp. “We’re certainly looking forward to
his future contributions.”
Prior to joining The Johnson Development Corp., Smith served as a
Land Development Project Manager for LJA Engineering & Surveying
and Turner, Collie & Braden, Inc., both of Houston, where he worked on
several large-scale land development projects throughout Texas.
He is a member of Rotary International, the Greater Houston
Builders Association, the Urban Land Institute and the Urban Land
Institute Community Development Council. He also is a former Board
Director for the Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce.
Start Remodeling continued...
“People are not doing wood-burning,” he said. “Usually, it’s a gas
log that can be started with a switch. People want it to be maintenance
free.”
• Make it more entertaining. Douglass said several clients add
entertainment systems to their outdoor living space. “Some have elaborate
systems with televisions and surround sound speakers,” he said.
• Keep it cool. Lynch said that in Houston, shade structures are
essential. “In Texas, we have to be in the shade,” he said. “Ceiling fans
are also popular additions to outdoor living spaces.”
• Go Texan. “A lot of people have a hill country look in mind,”
Douglass said. “Stone and cedar are very popular in Texas.”
Outdoor living projects range from small and budget-friendly to
extraordinary and pricey, the builders said. At the end of the day, homeowners
want more space to entertain friends, family and neighbors.
The Remodelers Council is a great place to go for advice – both
for homeowners and industry professionals. Members include contractors,
designers, building suppliers, and other industry professionals.
For information about the Remodelers Council of the Greater
Houston Builders Association, call 281-970-8970 or visit
www.ghba.org/consumers.
Kids Learn How Hot Air Rises from RE/MAX
The red, white and blue RE/MAX hot air balloon, 70 feet tall
and part of the world’s largest commercial balloon fleet, was
presented as an educational program on meteorology, aeronautics, and
the science of lighter-than-air flight to Kings Manor Elementary
School in Kingwood last week.
Jill Curran, a top producing
local Realtor with
RE/MAX Associates
Northeast, arranged the educational
program through the
RE/MAX School Balloon
Program, which delivers an
entertaining and informative
lesson on the origination of
powered flight.
“The hot air balloon was
mankind’s first flying
machine, and most people
don’t realize how much math
and an understanding of
physical science is involved
in all types of flying, not just
balloon,” said Jill. “The kids
just think they’re having fun,
seeing something unique up
close, when in reality,
“It’s a bird; it’s a plane; it’s a giant, sevenstory
tall hot-air balloon on the school playground!”
School children gather under the
RE/MAX balloon at Kings Manor
Elementary School in Kingwood, TX.
they’re learning about science, weather and mathematics,
without even noticing it.”
The RE/MAX balloon was piloted by RE/MAX of Texas
Aviation Director Steve Lombardi, also a fixed wing pilot, and one
of the top international competitive hot air balloon pilots in the world.
Lombardi demonstrated the mechanisms that launch and navigate the
balloon, explained the importance of wind, temperature and other variables,
and delivered an engaging history of mankind’s progress in
achieving powered flight.
“One thing I learned was that the first hot air flight in America
was in 1792 in Philadelphia, which as you recall was serving as the
temporary U.S. Capitol, and was witnessed by President George
Washington,” said Buddy Wall, Broker/Manager at RE/MAX
Associates Northeast who was the Texas RE/MAXBroker/Owner
of the Year in 2012 “The response from the school, the kids and parents,
and our customers who heard about it from their friends and
neighbors has been astonishing, and plans are currently in the works
for us to repeat this at a school in Atascocita in the fall, near our
RE/MAX Northeast Associates II office.”
RE/MAX enjoys an astonishing 46 percent of real estate market
share in Kingwood (listing units sold, 2012, Houston MLS), due to its
roster of longtime, experienced professional Realtors with a history of
community involvement. The company boasts a history of top producers,
including recent Houston Business Journal Top 25 Realtor
honoree Joan Imperato.
(continues on next page.)
The Montgomery County Chapter of the Women’s Council
of Realtors is holding a monthly Membership Mixer for
membership networking. This is a great time to come out
and see what WCR is all about. This month was held at My fit
FOODS in The Woodlands.
Meetings are held the second Wednesday of each
month at the new location, Kirby’s Steakhouse in The
Woodlands. Visit the WCR web site at
www.WCRMontgomeryCounty.com
Grace Carrera/Woodlands Preferred Realty, Nancy
Robbins/Texas Home Group, Robin Moran/Great American
Title, Cathy Espey/Criterion Mortgage, Vicki Brundage/
Woodlands Home Trends and Shannon Washburn /Design
Tech Homes. Join us for our Monthly Mixers.
38 To advertise call 281-372-6865 May 2013