Fore! for two: Tiger isn’t playing (golf) and a lot of you aren’t watching golf on TV, so you might as well defrost your clubs and yourself and get out there and stroke a few. It isn’t often you’ll have the opportunity to play the very private Mira Vista Country Club, so don’t (s)putter around and forget to enter for this round of golf for two. We checked with Courtney Connell, head golf pro, and the Ping-Eye 2 wedge with square grooves is playable.
He said it: Less than two weeks until deadline to have Mayor Mike Moncrief’s (3M) State of the City speech written. Looking at a Sunshine on a Cloudy Day message. We’ll mention Coaire and Q-Edge, and XTO and BNSF and all the previously homeless now living in their own houses. And TCU’s fightin’ football Frogs, of course. It’s 3M Live for Lunch Feb. 25 at the Fort Worth Convention Center and four peeps can sit with B at his half table (cutbacks, you know).
People still write? OK, you’re cool. You have the iPhone and iPod and you may soon have the iPad. But do you have the padfolio? We thought not! Julie James does and her Louis Bull Promotions - A Lee Wayne Affiliate is sharing two with Newz-E-Letter readers. They are red business padfolios from the Buxton Premier Leather collection and feature a multi-pocket interior, business card slot, pen loop and writing pad. Just like the good old days.
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Stephanie Martin, owner of Martin & Company Printers, spoke with Reed Pigman, owner of Texas Jet, after his presentation on exceptional customer service last week at the Small Business Council breakfast at Residence Inn Marriot-Cultural District. Texas Jet is an executive terminal for private aircraft at Meacham Airport and was voted by pilots the #1 best operation of its kind in the U.S. in 2009.
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Clean slate: Mr. B related last week that his hair is leavin’ faster than it is growin’. However, one hair that keeps growing is a little gray one in his right eyebrow. Tried to trim it with scissors and got half the eyebrow. Tried to pluck it, missed and had redeye for a week. Should have gone to ATI Enterprises. Bethany Bardasian (a double-B fan) says her laser hair removal works wonders. We’ve got a giveaway of one session -- choice of one area – at her laser clinic in Dallas. Even Amon would go to Dallas for this.
Amon would be smiling, too: Dallas’ DART looked west for its ad agency of record, selecting Fort Worth’s Concussion, which also handles The T and Denton County Transportation Authority.
The new Mr. Clean: Don Harkrider has picked up two more franchises of Fish Window Cleaning. If you like heights, he’s looking for help.
The real deal: Susan Halsey, real estate attorney of acclaim, has been named Managing Partner at Jackson Walker. Can someone name another female to head a law firm in Fort Worth? Albon Head, the incredible, friendly, brilliant former Chamber chairman of the board, served as Managing Partner for 15 years and will continue his litigation practice (so Mr. B had to say nice things to avoid a lawsuit).
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Family law: Trevino & Trevino law firm is about to add an associate. Stephanie and Tim are due to trial any day now for a baby boy. “With her help, I’ll try to cover her (Family Law) cases,” Tim says. “She’s good at telling me what to do.”
Rest my case, your honor: Jake Richter, one of millions of EdwardJones financial guys locally, had a good deed rewarded the next day. He had noticed a young woman at a gas station with a flat tire. “She started crying and freaking out because she was running late. I changed the tire --while in a suit-- and had her back on the road in under 10 minutes,” Jake said. The next day, Jake had a traffic ticket dismissed; the policeman couldn't remember the details.
No objection, your honor: Sixteen Cantey Hanger attorneys have agreed to each take a minimum of two pro bono cases from Legal Aid NorthWest Texas. The firm is hopeful other firms will make similar pledges.
House for sale: TCU's Neeley School of Business got a whopping $1.5 mil from grad Barry and Antoinette Davis (Crosstex Energy) to establish an Entrepreneur-in-Residence at the Neeley Entrepreneurship Center. Good guy Brad Hancock will be the E-I-R and already has a futon set up inside and a lemonade stand set up outside.
Entrepreneurial thought: Scott Sieck, capitante at Clear Channel Outdoor, says it would be difficult at this point, but that someone entrepreneurial could buy billboards around Dallas Cowboys Stadium next Jan./Feb, then try to re-sell them at a Super profit. Scott says most of CC's already are committed. Says Jerry Jones even has a plan to have his own.
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She rocks: Michele Miller developed Baylor All Saints’ "You Rock" program, which allows volunteers to rock babies and assist with everyday processes in the neo-natal ICU. Michelle is one of 15 honorees tomorrow in the Fort Worth Business Press’ HealthCare Heroes event at the Fort Worth Club.
Name game: It seems ironic that Roger Partridge works with children and families at the Child Study Center.
Seniority: Contract year and boss Miserly Mistress says Mr. B might not make it past the five-year anniversary on May 1. Chamber charmer Carole Ann Fleming (at right) made it to 17 years last month.
hireUS: Norm Bobay, founder of hireMAX, is the Consultant of the Year according to Target Training International. He was selected from more than 7,000 associates.
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CSI expands internationally: The outstanding PROKIDS DNA identification lab at UNTHSC – an initiative to curtail international trafficking of children – is expanding into the Philippines and Thailand.
I earned 13 cents this month: A guest to the Tornadoes Leads Group from Comerica Bank says “we’re even paying people to bank with us.” Hope he wasn’t talking about our interest-bearing accounts.
Kids’ play: Tom Mitchell loves his job(s). The ex-CFO of the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History told the Business Press’ CFO of the Year luncheon attendees two weeks ago that if he were bogged down with business he would just step right outside his office and watch kids having tons of fun. Since then, he has gone to work at Fort Worth Country Day and we’re guessing there are a few kids playing there, too.
License to make money: Texas' plan to raise revenue with individualized license plates appears to be a success. In 2.5 months, there has been $1,190,455 in sales, an average of $225 per plate. $410k went to the Texas General Revenue Fund and $130k to the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles. Of the 21 available designs, No. 1 is a solid black plate with a white star.
Service with a smile: Reed Pigman owns Texas Jet, a filling station and more for airplanes at Meacham Field. He’s from a family of fliers, but hasn’t piloted his own for 25 years. TexasJet was the No. 1-rated fixed-based operation in 2009 and Reed shared his tips on customer service with Chamber members:
- Service is ordinary people doing ordinary things extraordinarily well.
- Emotion frames the relationship between customer and company.
- EVERY interaction represents an opportunity.
- 24 percent of employees are engaged; 54 percent are neutral; 17 percent are terrorists.
- Present/market your competitive advantages as a measurable item.
- No. 1 rule—Greet customers by name or by sir/ma’am.
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How come…? When you blow in Rover’s face, he gets mad at you. But when you take Rover for a car ride, he sticks his head out the window.
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