Fort Worth Business Press - Family Business

presents
2 • PlainsCapital Family Business Awards Fort Worth Business Press

Publisher
Richard L. Connor
President/Executive Director of Sales
Deborah Connor
Large Business of the Year
Editor
Bill Thompson
Longhorn Dodge Inc.
Page 5
Associate Editor
Michael H. Price
Managing Editor
Anna Caplan Medium Business of the Year
Reporters
Elizabeth Bassett
Betty Dillard
Brants Realtors Inc.
Crystal Forester Page 7
Robert Francis
Mary Lou Jacobs
John-Laurent Tronche
Correspondents
Small Business of the Year
Kaitlin Guthrow
Laurie Barker James Cooper Supply Inc.
Amy Keen
Ken Parish Perkins
Mary Rusnak
September 27, 2007 Page 8
Jeff Seaver
Lists
Mary Kennan
Production
Brent Latimer
Community Winners Heritage Winner
Clayton Gardner Siratt Partners ......................................................................................10 Kube’s Jewelers Inc. ............................................................................20
Advertising Executives
Andrea Benford
Daniel Collins
Community Finalists Heritage Finalists
Elizabeth Northern Cockrell Printing Company ................................................................10 Foreman’s Inc. .....................................................................................20
Mary Schlegel John Sons Press....................................................................................11
Paris Coffee Shop.................................................................................21
National Sales May Advertising International Ltd. ....................................................11
Maureen Hathaway/248-496-7490 Rapp Ranch ..........................................................................................21
McBee Homes......................................................................................13
Sales Manager/Accounting Office
Anjanette Hamilton
Emerging Winner Innovative Winner
Vice President of Operations/ Teresa’s Treasures .................................................................................22
Human Resources Concussion Advertising, Marketing & Design...................................13
Shevoyd Hamilton
Director of Finance Emerging Finalists Innovative Finalists

Molly Smithee
Lone Star Bavarian Inc. ......................................................................15 Empire Roofing Ltd. ...........................................................................22
Receptionist Texas Right of Way Inc. ......................................................................15 M&M Manufacturing Co.....................................................................23
Maggie Franklin
Thumbtechs Corp................................................................................16 Printing Plus ........................................................................................25
Marketing/Events Western Heritage Furniture & Accessories .........................................16 RPGA Design Group Inc. ....................................................................25
Mary Lou Jacobs
Photographers
Glen E. Ellman,
Family Oriented Winner Longevity Winner
David S. Irvin Stacy Family Enterprises......................................................................17
Glenn Killman, Pulliam Pools ......................................................................................27
Jon P. Uzzel
Family Values Finalists
A special supplement of the Longevity Finalists
Drs. Alexander Orthodontics..............................................................17
J&D Inc. ..............................................................................................18 Marvin Electronics Co. .......................................................................27
Lasiter & Lasiter Plumbing Inc. .........................................................19 Woodard Builders Supply ...................................................................28
MEMBER
2006
TEXAS PRESS
ASSOCIATION
AWARD WINNER
Marketing Management Inc. ..............................................................19 Bransom Floor Service ........................................................................28
3509 South Hulen Street, Suite No. 201

Fort Worth, Texas 76107 • 817-336-8300
Well-Managed Winner
www.fwbusinesspress.com Southwest Office Systems Inc./
Package Copr. © and ™ 2007, Puente-Brancato Enterprises Inc. ..........................................................29
the Fort Worth Business Press.
Corporate announcements found herein
reflect the views and policies of the Well-Managed Finalists
individual companies thus portrayed.
Reproduction or any use, without Central Dynamic Manufacturing Inc. ....................................................29
permission, of editorial or graphic Aero Components Inc.............................................................................30
content in any manner is prohibited. Marine Quest ...........................................................................................31
And here’s to the economic foundations

Our cover painting for the Fort Worth Business Press and sent two of us to private high schools, and all three to private companies that have prevailed as only the “bedrock of the
PlainsCapital Bank Family Business Awards Program hails colleges. economy” can.
this sector as the “bedrock of the economy.” The image I felt certain, back then, that I did not want to own a busi- Our selections bespeak the involvement of multiple gen-
might even resemble one’s personalized perception of what ness. But after 20 years of corporate life, I realized that I real- erations. All, from the largest extended-family enterprises to
symbolizes a family-owned business; it suggests the made- ly did want to own a business. Now, 10 years into the fami- the smallest mom-and-pop operations, have set standards of
by-hand, built-to-last nature of the companies showcased ly-business experience, I sometimes wonder how I could excellence and endurance.
here. have veered so far from the original plan. But the truth is that While many big public and private corporations serve our
I can relate to this spirit: As a youngster in Maine, I I love owning businesses, even though I do so with the help communities well, the family-owned business has always
watched my father work seven days a week, dawn-to-dusk, in of investors. been the backbone of American commerce. Our winners can
our family’s construction company. The demands didn’t end I find it most fascinating to watch any number of family treasure the accolades not only for themselves, but also on
with long hours at the office or at a work site. Virtually every businesses pass successfully from generation to generation. behalf of countless others who have launched businesses,
dinner conversation turned to “the business,” especially The Connor family business of my youth did not survive into built them and preserved them as a monument to the
when my brothers and I became old enough to work for our a second generation. strength and resourcefulness of the American family unit.
father — and to begin telling him how we would run things. And so as the Business Press and PlainsCapital Bank pres- —Richard L. Connor
But our father must have been doing something right. He ent the 2007 Family Business Awards, we pay special heed to Publisher
Sponsors
September 27, 2007 PlainsCapital Family Business Awards • 3

Large Business of the Year
Longhorn Dodge Inc.
Longhorn Dodge Inc.

Richard Adams
4500 South Freeway
PHOTO BY JON P. UZZEL

Fort Worth, TX 76115
longhorndodge.net
817-926-2681
Brian Gibson, Richard Adams, Vickie Gibson, Robert Adams and Gary Gibson
also must go head-to-head with its competitors and

I n the automobile business, a dealer’s reputation is
driven by the satisfaction of its customers.
That’s why Longhorn Dodge Inc., the oldest Dodge
graduate of Trinity University in San Antonio and a
CPA, so he’s advanced us in our technology and real-
ly getting our books in line, and that helps us reduce
import brands on pricing and service to keep sales
and satisfaction high, she says.
dealership in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, has been sat- our expenses. So, really, it just takes all of us.” Gibson adds that the autos coming off the factory
isfying its customers since Richard L. Adams opened Longhorn Dodge, 4500 South Freeway, has lines have helped Longhorn Dodge compete with
the lot in 1971. remained family-owned and -operated since its start. other Dodge dealerships and with import dealers.
The dealership’s board chairman has passed along Gibson cites the family basis as a reason for loyalty And that has made the economy’s ups and downs
his knowledge of how to sell and service cars and among employees and customers. through the years easier to bear.
trucks to his daughter, Vickie Gibson, who is president “In corporate stores, you see a lot of employees “Our manufacturer keeps making better and better
of the dealership; her husband, Gary Gibson, vice come and go,” she says. “With a family business, it cars and trucks,” she says. “And we’ve picked up serv-
president of operations; their son, Brian Gibson, chief just changes the face and the atmosphere of the way icing where the warranties leave off. Plus, we have a
financial officer and controller; and Robert Adams, the employees feel.” large, high-quality pre-owned inventory.”
Richard Adams’ nephew and vice president of sales. Customers, as well, have continued to boost Longhorn Dodge is a DaimlerChrysler Five-Star
Vickie Gibson credits the entire family — as well as Longhorn Dodge’s growth during its 36-year history, dealership; the distinction means the dealership
the dealership’s hardworking sales, service and sup- choosing from a wide variety of new and used cars, meets Dodge’s criteria in minimum vehicle sales and
port staff — with the success of Longhorn Dodge. trucks and sport utility vehicles. Among the dealer- customer satisfaction, as based on customer surveys,
“It’s about the teamwork,” she says. “My father has ship’s more popular cars and SUVs are the Neon, Gibson says. The dealership also is a member of the
been in this business for so many years, so I’ve learned Caravan, Grand Caravan, SRT-4, SRT-8, Daytona Tarrant County Dealer Association, and Richard
a lot from him. My husband joined us after he retired Charger, Stratus and Viper. Adams is a past president of the Texas Automobile
from the Air Force in 1991. He came home and went But Texas is truck country, and, for many buyers, the Dealer Association. Gibson said the dealership is
back to work, and then worked for my father a little Dodge Ram series is hard to beat, Gibson adds: “The proud of its Web site, longhorndodge.com, where
bit. My cousin, Richard, started a few months before I ’95 model was the big changeover year for our trucks. shoppers can view photos and take virtual test-drives.
did, and my son joined in 1992.” That’s when they really started selling, and that has The site also has information about the dealership’s
Gibson says the delegation of responsibilities is as been our strongest seller.” parts and service departments, as well as collision-
simple as recognizing strengths and talents. And despite rising costs at the gas pumps and an repair services.
“My cousin being the sales-oriented, Type-A kind of industry-wide slowdown following the Sept. 11, 2001, As for the future, Richard Adams has been approved
person he is, he runs the sales side,” she explains. “My terrorist attacks, Longhorn Dodge has continued to to open a Dodge Jeep dealership in Burleson, giving
husband is very customer-friendly, and his talents are find new ways to compete, Gibson said. the Longhorn Dodge management team plenty more
very good in the repair and parts area, so he’s vice “With 9/11, the manufacturers put the high incen- to talk about at family gatherings, Gibson says.
president of that. And I’m more the librarian with an tives in place to create customers, because of the eco- “Working with your family gives us the time to do
accounting background, so I have to know a little bit nomic downturn that followed. Plus, we’ve always that,” she says.
about everything going on. My son joined us as a had rebates of some sort,” she says. Longhorn Dodge –Amy Keen

Congratulations
to all the 2007
Family Business Awards
Finalists
from your friends
at Coors

Medium Business of the Year
Brants Realtors Inc.
W
hen Harry E. Brants founded his insurance
mortgage and real estate partnership in
Fort Worth in 1926, he could hardly have
foreseen the diverse dealings of his company — from
the sale of one of the first homes in Westover Hills, to
the development of Ridglea Hills, to work in some of
the historic Stockyards’ livestock pens.
As Brants’ ancestors have carried on, the name has
continued to make a mark, from sales and develop-
ment to involvement with such institutions as the
Amon Carter Foundation and Christie’s Great Estates.
More recently, Brants Realtors has worked with such
familiar names as Holt Hickman, Anne Marion and
Bill Davis and the Tarantula Railroad, as well as
Tarrant County College District, the Harris Methodist
Hospitals and Mutual of New York.
Clay Brants and his wife, Laurie, are the
broker/owners of Brants Realtors, which they incorpo-
rated in 1978. They speak proudly of the heritage of
accomplishments.
“When the company started in 1926, there was no
such thing as [a real estate company],” Laurie Brants
explains. “Insurance companies offered services to
find houses for their clients to buy, so that remained
an offshoot of the insurance company until the late
1960s, when it became a wholly owned subsidiary of
Brants Insurance.”
During the post-World War II housing boom,
Burdette Brants, one of five brothers, arranged the
development and mortgaging of A.C. Luther’s Ridglea
and Ridglea Hills subdivisions, according to the com-
pany’s Web site, brantsrealtors.com. Shortly thereafter,
Clay Brants’ father, Clayton Brants Jr., had developed
subdivisions including Highland Park, the Bryce
Avenue Town Homes and Mony Street Business Park.
By 1950, Doug McKenzie had joined the company
to broker commercial and residential properties, with
the company’s first independent brokerage office
opening in 1962. Within 10 years, Brants Realtors split
from the parent company, and its incorporation fol-
lowed six years later.
Clay and Laurie Brants oversee 43 agents. The com-
pany focuses on residential sales, although Clay
Brants also works on developments.
“Clay is doing a development right now in Mistletoe
Heights that’s going to look historical and has to be
approved by the Historical Commission and the
Planning Commission,” Laurie says.
Brants Realtors traditionally sells older, high-quality Brants Realtors Inc.
homes, she adds: “We focus on the west and south- Clay Brants
west sides of Fort Worth, but we also have a big pres-
4541 Bellaire Drive South, #101
ence in Aledo and Parker County and Johnson
County.” Fort Worth, TX 76109 PHOTO BY JON P. UZZEL
Living in a home that was built in 1893 has given 817-731-8466

the couple even more of an appreciation for quality brantsrealtors.com
craftsmanship, Laurie Brants says: “I surprise myself,
because as much as I like bungalows and arts-and-
crafts style houses, I like the Frank Lloyd Wright-style Clay Brants and Laurie Brants
houses, too. Sometimes I think we’ve gotten overdone
with the Tuscan kind of look, so I tend to like the
older-looking homes.” away …” She cites “good-quality homes and good- renowned auction house.
Throughout its history, Brants Realtors has seen quality buyers” as an advantage: “If a person has a And through the years, Brants Realtors has contin-
home sales ebb and flow along with changes in the good credit score, they can still get a six-and-a-quarter ued to support Fort Worth by supporting many civic
economy. When asked about the problems many interest rate.” and charitable organizations.
Realtors are having with slowed sales brought about Brants Realtors continues to add polish to its name Is there a secret to running a successful 81-year-old
by higher interest rates and higher foreclosure rates, with a mission statement emphasizing knowledge, business?
Laurie Brants says her company hasn’t seen much integrity and professionalism. The company offers “You just don’t ever quit,” says Laurie Brants. “The
effect. relocation assistance to homebuyers leaving Fort work continues all the time.”
“We work with … well-qualified buyers, and the Worth through its 17-year membership in the RELO For a company that has kept some agents on board
ones most affected seem to be outside Loop 820,” Leading Real Estate Companies of the World. The for 25 years, Harry Brants would likely approve of
Brants says, explaining that that area skews toward company is listed among Who’s Who in Luxury Real how his namesake business has turned out in shaping
newer homes. Estate. Through its affiliation with Christie’s Great the lay of the land in Fort Worth.
“It can be tough to sell a 10- to 15-year old house,” Estates, Brants Realtors adds its principal listings with –Amy Keen
she adds, “and the volume builder is still giving them those of other Realtors in a magazine produced by the

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Ft Worth, Texas 76117 Coleman, Texas 76117 Corpus Christi, Texas 78409
817-222-9055 phone 325-625-3543 phone 361-289-6611 phone
817-222-9053 fax 325-625-3092 fax 361-289-6617 fax
A directory of companies of every description – in

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Small Business of the Year
Cooper Supply Inc.
Cooper Supply Inc.

Bill Paul Sr.
2524 Minnis Drive
Haltom City, TX 76117

817-222-9055
coopersupply.com
pany has remained in his partner’s hands and expand-
W
hen Bill and Sharron Paul opened their are both very astute businesspeople, and they diversi-
first polyethylene pipe store in Coleman, ed to three locations statewide, Stephanie Paul says. fied to get into oil before the crash, so now they do
Texas, in 1983, they likely couldn’t have “We really consider ourselves a family team,” she both oil and gas pipe supplies.”
foreseen that, just a few hours’ drive northeast, their adds. “We’ve only got 22 employees in all three loca- Cooper Supply provides polyethylene pipes, fittings
family business would hit another boom: the Barnett tions, so we all wear a lot of hats. Bill and Sharron are and clamps for gas gathering and distribution. It also
Shale natural-gas play. great mentors for that. They’ve passed along a lot of sells PVC conduit and fittings for civil electric needs,
Only nine years later, the couple would open a sec- knowledge to all our employees in the business.” and pipes, fittings and storage tanks for water and
ond location for Cooper Supply Inc., at 2524 Minnis Cooper Supply has grown as an emphatic presence sewer systems. The company also offers pipe-fusion
Drive in Haltom City. There, the Pauls and their two in the industry, with memberships in both the equipment and repair services, including rental equip-
children sell polyvinyl chloride pipes and fittings for Southern Gas Association and the American Gas ment, plus a unique service: fusion training. Cooper
water and sewer systems and polyethylene pipes and Association. The company also participates in such Supply has an in-house training facility for no more
fittings for gas gathering and distribution. events as the Texas Petroleum Expo and Annual than eight students at a time to learn how to safely use
The company also has recently opened a third loca- Meeting. pipe fusion equipment. Customers also can sign up
tion, in Corpus Christi, says Stephanie Paul, who, “Our specialization is selling polyethylene pipes for for the classes and place service orders through
works as co-general manager with her brother, Bill natural gas distribution, drilling and shelling,” says Cooper Supply’s Web site.
Paul Jr. Stephanie. “We also supply PVC pipes for water sys- “We have some really great young people working
The founders, Bill Paul Sr. and Sharron Paul, are tems for cities and for farms and ranches.” for us,” says Stephanie. “We feel really blessed in that
president and secretary-treasurer, respectively. She said that, with the natural gas industry’s increas- area. And our customers are really loyal. We’re very,
“My dad was national sales manager for Phillips ing activity within the Barnett Shale geological forma- very big on customer service, because that’s what gets
Drisco Pipe in the 1960s,” says Stephanie Paul, “and tion, Cooper Supply likely will continue to grow in us our business: doing a consistently really good job
when he retired from there, he took his knowledge of sales volume. with on-time deliveries. If we don’t have the product,
polyethylene pipe and products with him. His No. 1 “We have grown significantly in the past three we research and dig and find that. ‘People Helping
customer, when he was a sales executive there, kept years,” she says. “We’re pretty aggressive in the market- People’ is our motto, and we really believe in it.”
asking him every year to leave and join him in his place and hope to have our three branches up and The family-business basis, she explains, “has really
business, and my dad kept saying, ‘No.’ But finally, running strong and continuing to serve all of Texas in given us some advantages over larger corporate-
that customer wore him down, and after my dad the future.” She attributes much of the company’s suc- owned businesses. We consider everyone in our com-
retired, he and Clomer Cooper started the business. cess to her parents, and to their having foreseen the pany our family, and Bill and Sharron are always con-
They named the business after Clomer Cooper, and prospects for oil and gas drilling before many others cerned about not only them, but also their families.
after he died, we’ve kept that as the name of the com- in the industry. My brother and I are the stewards of this company,
pany as a way to honor his memory.” “We started supplying polyethylene lines for the oil and I love being able to carry that on.”
Cooper would have been proud to see that the com- patch in the ‘80s,” Stephanie says. “My mom and dad –Amy Keen

Community Family Business
Winner
T
rucking entrepreneur, real estate just turns out a lot of people were
developer and all-around family looking for the same thing,” Donnie
man Don Siratt credits good for- says.
tune for his success, despite son Colby’s Don Siratt opened his first business
insistence that his father’s outstanding in 1966, delivering Xerox machines.
people skills took him to the top. Don As Xerox grew, so did Siratt’s company
concedes. – from a truckbed operation to offices
“I think the only reason I’ve been in four states – until he sold it in
successful is my ability to just get 1997. In 2000, the family re-acquired
along with people,” Don says. the Texas locations under a new
Symbolic of such success is the name, WDS Logistics. The Siratts also
west-side neighborhood of have another development – Covered
Siratt family members
Montserrat, which the Siratts are Bridge Canyon, in Parker County –
developing on about 210 acres. and have partnered with landowner
“When it’s finished,” Don says, “we Mike Rader on a venture called hospital for women at Baylor All Siratt Partners
think it will be the nicest develop- Innovative Intermodal. Saints.
ment in Fort Worth.” Don cites a family tradition in “We’ve always believed in giving Category:
The project required almost four entrepreneurship. and sharing,” says Don, “and all the Community Oriented
years of negotiations. The Siratts “My family, back from my Dad — kids have followed me in that.”
decided to develop it as a gated com- they were all farmers, truckers, serv- Colby says the family is similarly Top Executive:
munity, complete with parks, paths, a ice-stations operators,” Don says, dedicated to its 89 employees. Don Siratt
tennis court and security. “They all worked for themselves, and Don added: “It’s very unusual Address:
Only about 50 of the 210 lots I think I got that from them.” [that] people get to work with their 6000 Western Place, Ste. 465
remain unsold, and most of the pur- The Siratts remain dedicated to children for so long, and, hopefully, Fort Worth, TX 76107
chased lots are being built or philanthropy — supporting Harris I’ll continue for as long as I’m still Phone: 817-377-8827
designed. Son Donnie notes that such Methodist Hospital, creating the working and living.”
Web: spiritofmontserrat.com
success has come about naturally. Siratt Women’s Center at Harris HEB
“We built it for our needs, and it and donating $1 million to a new – John-Laurent Tronche
Community Family Business Finalist
C
leat Cockrell established Cockrell Printing operate out of its sole Fort Worth location at
Co., in 1964 with a discerning eye for 218 W. Broadway St.
detail and a philosophy that printing “My father and I had a very good relation-
should be viewed not simply as a trade, but as a ship,” John Cockrell says. “I guess it’s kind of an
form of art. unusual deal where fathers and sons don’t just
Today, Cockrell’s son John carries on the tra- blow up and disagree with each other. Because
dition, employing state-of-the-art technology of it, I was able to come in and grow with the
and the same keen eye for detail in producing business.”
an array of projects for John, who was 16
Fortune 500 companies, when his father opened
Cockrell Printing the business, has worked
advertising agencies,
designers, publishers and Company there practically ever
educational, health-care since. John’s wife, Lynn,
and cultural institutions. Category: is the secretary-treasurer.
When John Cockrell Community Oriented Son John Jr. is the owner
took over day-to-day opera- of something of a spin-
Top Executive:
tions as president in the off business, a digital
John K. Cockrell
late 1980s, the business printing company in Fort
Address: Worth called Innovation

was recording about $2.5
218 W. Broadway St. Group, which has a
million in sales. Today, that
Fort Worth, TX 76104 strategic alliance with the
number is $20 million.
The company, with 85 Phone: 817-336-0571 original Cockrell firm.
employees, continues to Web: cockrellprinting.com
– Jeff Seaver John Cockrell

Community Family
Business Finalist
J
ohn J. Hernandez still makes his home on the north
side of Fort Worth. Even now, in his mid-70s, he can be
found working in his yard when the temperature surges
beyond the mid-90s.

That work ethic is the foundation for the longevity
and success of John Sons Press, the Fort Worth printing
company founded by Hernandez and operated under
the direction of his four sons: Philip, Edward, Adrian
and Marc. John Sons Press
Hernandez spent much of his life working two jobs, John Hernandez, center, and sons.
toiling at a print shop at night and selling printing serv- Category:
ices during the day. In 1988, he purchased a small printing company, setting up shop off Old Granbury Community Oriented
Road and Interstate 20 and setting the stage for one of the hardest-working businesses around.
Top Executive:
“If you know my dad, there’s nobody that works harder in anything as far as going from the yard to
John Hernandez
working at the company,” says Adrian, 38. “There’s always something to do, and he was always working.”
In 2003, John Sons Press celebrated a move into a 28,000-square-foot plant, tripling the size of the old Address:
building. 3300 South Freeway
“The neat thing is [that] you’ve seen my dad go from running a press all his life, always working a sec- Fort Worth, TX 76110
ond job,” Adrian says. “To him, starting a printing company meant taking it to the next level.” Phone: 817-927-1819
– Jeff Seaver Web: johnsonspress.com
Community Family
Business Finalist
B
rothers Phillip and Allan Meyer have proudly con-
tinued a 60-year tradition at May Advertising, a Fort
Worth original started in 1946 by their grandfather,
Richard R. May.
Back then, the business specialized in advertising and
signage for gas stations, the price-per-gallon signs still
seen today. Now, May is a leader in screen printing and
custom-sign manufacturing, servicing thousands of

clients worldwide.
The late Mr. May produced the changeable gas-price
sign, marketed it nationwide and paved the way for May May Advertising
Advertising to become the world’s largest manufacturer
International Ltd.
of aluminum gasoline-price signs. Phillip Meyer, Deborah Horn and Allan Meyer
The company has 117 employees and employs the Category:
most cutting-edge technology available to produce vibrant signage in little time. Community Oriented
“Mr. May treated everyone like family,” Allan Meyer says of his grandfather. “He started in his garage and worked
his way up to creating a business that offered employment to lots of people as the business grew. Top Executive:
“He always instilled a sense of family business. He was always up-front and honest with employees. The people Deborah Horn
were always the No. 1 asset. We’ve tried to keep that legacy going in how we run the business.” Address:
Allan, 35, is the company’s vice president. Phillip, 31, is vice president of operations. Their mother, Deborah 1200 Forum Way South
Horn, founder May’s daughter, is president. Fort Worth, TX 76140
“We’re very proud of our Grandpa and his accomplishments,” Allan May says. “We take a lot of pride in his lega- Phone: 817-336-5671
cy.”
Web: mayadvertising.com
– Jeff Seaver
Community Family
Business Finalist
M
earl McBee has overseen the building of 4,000
homes in Tarrant County and has received numer-
ous honors for McBee Homes, but his most cher-
ished achievement is having done much of it with his fam-

ily members as business partners.
McBee, semi-retired at age 59, founded McBee Homes
in 1978 and is co-owner with son Chris, 34, and son-in-
law Brooks White, 35. White, McBee Homes’ president,
has been with the company since 1992. Chris, who runs McBee Homes
Brooks White, Mearl McBee and Chris McBee
the land development side of the business, signed on in
2000 after leaving a career with Paine Webber. Category:
“It is special, very special,” Mearl McBee says. “In the beginning, there are challenges with family work- Community Oriented
ing together. But, as you progress through it, you learn how to cope with it. Hopefully, all ends up in a Top Executive:
pleasant environment, which is where ours is.” Mearl McBee
Located at 1450 N. Jim Wright Freeway, McBee Homes constructs custom houses primarily in Tarrant
and Parker counties, stretching south into Hood County and north into Denton County. Address:
Housing troubles in much of the nation have not been in felt in Fort Worth, says Mearl McBee, Builder 1450 N. Jim Wright Freeway
of the Year honoree for 1983. He notes that the company is off only about 10 percent from last year, when Fort Worth, TX 79108
it built 185 homes. Phone: 817-626-2600
“That’s not bad,” he says. “It’s a lot better than most.” Web: mcbeehomes.com
– Jeff Seaver
Emerging Family Business

Winner
T
he Wallach and Yanez families competitive industry as advertising
are connected through more and its related fields. Concussion
than a shared interest in the fam- emphasizes flexibility within produc-
ily business, Concussion Advertising, tion schedules so that families can
Marketing & Design. The full-service enjoy school events, Little League
agency offers creative and strategic mar- games, festive occasions or deal
keting solutions — and has found that with unexpected developments.

creative and collaborative staffing meas- Concussion boasts a single-digit
ures have advanced its purpose. turnover rate, with most of the found-
Allen Wallach and Andrew Yanez, ing team still in place.
principals, began their collaborative Since its inception in 2001,
Concussion has experienced tremen- Kristin Wallach, Allen Wallach, Andrew Yanez and Amy Yanez
efforts from home-based operations.
As their families grew, so did the need dous success in Fort Worth — thanks,
employees; this practice alone has led
for an outside office space. Wallach in no small part, to creative recruiting
to several family members joining the
and Yanez recruited their wives, techniques that are employed by the Concussion Advertising,
Concussion team.
Kristin and Amy, shortly after the ownership and the employees alike.
There are, for example, two sets of Marketing & Design
founding of Concussion. Such techniques have helped to
sisters, a father-in-law/daughter-in-
The resulting combination of mar- ensure that the best talent available Category:
law combo and several sons and
keting and business talent has result- finds its way through the doors at Emerging, Under 15 Years
daughters who have come along as
ed in a balance of well-honed skills in Concussion. From Australia to Los
interns within the agency. Top Executive:
advertising, public relations, art direc- Angeles to New York City, says
“We do recruit through the normal Allen Wallach, Andrew Yanez
tion and media planning, among oth- Wallach, “we are as diverse a group as
channels,” explains Wallach, “but
ers. you can imagine — we are not just a Address:
family connections and referrals can
“Each person brings a specific dis- dusty little Fort Worth shop.” 707 W. Vickery Blvd., Ste. 103
be very helpful in finding the best tal-
cipline that is beneficial to the com- Wallach said that the unique team Fort Worth, TX 76104
ent out there.”
pany,” Wallach says. of professionals at Concussion had Phone: 817-336-OUCH (6824)
resulted from such recruiting tech- – Mary Lou Jacobs
Such a work-to-life balance is an Web: concussion.net
uncommon objective within such a niques as word-of-mouth among

Emerging Family
Business Finalist
W
hen Trent Cole worked his way through college by
managing restaurants, he learned something that
would later serve him well when he opened his Lone

Star Bavarian Inc. sales-and-service shop in 2001.
“With restaurants, if people don’t like the service they
received, they can just go across the street to another restau-
rant,” Cole says. “I didn’t want it to be like that with my shop.
“Because my background is different from other independ-
ent shop owners, I keep my shop very clean and comfortable Larry Cole, Trent Cole, Patrick Cole, Patricia Cole Lone Star Bavarian Inc.
for my customers, because we want their loyalty.” Dogs: Jessie and Beemer
Cole graduated from college and left the restaurant business Category:
with an older-model BMW, which steered him toward the idea Emerging, Under 15 Years
of opening Lone Star Bavarian. He runs the shop with nine employees, including his father, Larry, and his wife,
Patricia, who is also an attorney. Top Executive:
The Lovell Avenue shop has grown busy enough that it will be relocated in April closer to downtown, next Trent E. Cole
to Perry’s Motorcycles at 816 S. Sylvania Ave. Cole says he anticipates continued growth. Address:
“We think we offer a level of service that’s unequaled by any, or many, independents in the area, because 3525 Lovell Ave.
it’s my passion and my hobby,” Cole says. “I was challenged many years ago by a mentor who said [that] if Fort Worth, TX 76107
you could find something you wanted to do the rest of your life, even if you weren’t getting paid for it, you’d Phone: 817-732-4888
still enjoy that job many years later. And that’s what I’m doing.”
Web: lonestarbavarian.com
– Amy Keen
Emerging Family
Business Finalist
I
nnovative and energetic, Don Valden has long been a
success in the right-of-way business. With the recent
rise in natural-gas production from the Barnett Shale
geological formation, he continues to be on the cutting
edge — reaping the rewards with a family business that
spans three generations.

Valden, who changed his surname from Valdez early
in his career during the 1970s, established Texas Right of
Way Associates Inc., with his younger brother, Ted
Valdez.
Their mother, Peggy, handles human resources. Their
father, Joe, recently retired from a 43-year career with
Texas Right of Way Inc.
General Motors Corp. to join his sons’ business. Back Row - Joe Valdez, Peggy Valdez, Rebecca Castro and Cody
Cody Ragsdale, Don’s son-in-law, is a team leader Category:
Ragsdale. Front Row - Marie Valden, Don Valden, Ted Valdez and
and in training to become a right-of-way agent. Cousin Anya Valdez Emerging, Under 15 Years
Rebecca Castro is executive administrative assistant. Top Executive:
“There are great things about having family in the business,” Don says. “The No. 1 thing is [that] you have trust. Don Valden
Some families say they wouldn’t trust a brother or a sister — but not this family.” Address:
Don, a former boxing promoter, and his wife, Marie, are sharing their business success with the community. They 200 W. Exchange Ave., Ste. 3
will stage the first Barnett Shale Charity Gala on Dec. 13 at the Petroleum Club to benefit the Fort Worth Police and Fort Worth, TX 76102
Firefighters Memorial and the Salvation Army.
Phone: 817-361-8839
– Jeff Seaver
Web: texasrwa.com

Emerging Family
Business Finalist
B
efore a tornado struck downtown Fort Worth in
2000, George Fassett Jr. ran his information technol-
ogy company, GFIT, in the traditional manner of
answering service calls and billing customers by the hour.

But after getting many of his BankOne Tower clients
up and running on their computers within days and col-
lecting large billable hours for his work, Fassett had
another idea that became Thumbtechs Corp.
“When you’re just waiting for service and dealing in
billable hours, you’re not getting paid when the phone’s
not ringing,” he says. “So, now, we charge customers Thumbtechs Corporation
based on how much equipment they’ve got and what George C. Fassett, Jr.; Linda B. Fassett
service plan they choose.
Category:
“A small business with about 20 computers and two to three servers is charged $1,850, while a company with more
Emerging, Under 15 Years
equipment gets charged $3,000 at the Platinum Preferred Service Level, which can give top executives someone to work
on their home computers. The benefit is we have several well-trained IT staff to work for our customers, and the clients Top Executive:
don’t have to hire their own full-time IT staff and pay them wages and benefits.” George C. Fassett, Jr.
Fassett said he hopes to see Thumbtechs expand nationwide from its Web site, thumbtechs.com, or its Camp Bowie Address:
West office, where Fassett’s mom and office manager, Linda Fassett, watches his 6-month-old daughter, Paige. Passett 8205 Camp Bowie Blvd. W, #110
sometimes wonders if his daughter will run the company after he and his wife, Erin, retire. Fort Worth, TX 76116
“By then, I hope to have exited the business and finally be on a beach somewhere,” he says. Phone: 817-923-2419
– Amy Keen
Web: thumbtechs.com
Emerging Family
Business Finalist
N
ot many furniture stores would go so far as to furnish a
ranch owner’s houses — and then to stock the places, as
well, with toiletries, towels and other housekeeping neces-
sities.
But Ron and Tammy McBee would take that extra step. They
did so for a Virginia-based customer whose Slate River Ranches
in Texas needed turn-key furnishing.
As owners of Western Heritage Furniture & Accessories, at
1525 Fort Worth Highway in Weatherford, the McBees call it a Western Heritage Furniture
matter of pride to provide such finishing touches. Adjoining the
decade-old furniture store is a new building that will be called Ron and Tammy McBee
& Accessories
the Design Center Furniture & Decor. The team includes manag-
er Deanna Bookout and about 12 family members and friends. Category:
“We offer interior designing for free,” Ron McBee says. One reason is because, when the store first Emerging, Under 15 Years
opened, there were few such Western-style furniture stores in the area. Since then, Tammy McBee and Top Executive:
Bookout began providing free-of-charge design services. Ron McBee
Having noted a recent decline in all-Western décor, Ron McBee has a furniture designer in-house to cus-
Address:
tomize pieces by adding or taking away trims or fabrics, to make Western-style furniture fit in with
1525 Fort Worth Highway
Mediterranean or Tuscan decor.
Weatherford, TX 76086
“Arlington, Fort Worth and Dallas — that’s who we want to attract next,” he says. “We have the same
furniture lines as other stores, but we can make pieces unique by adding cowhide or zebra skin. I’d rather Phone: 817-528-1581
keep the business more local so we can keep a hands-on touch that way.” Web:
– Amy Keen westernheritageweatherford.com

S t a c y
FURNITURE & ACCESSORIES
Family Oriented
Family Business Winner
T
he term “family-oriented” is a With show-
huge understatement for the rooms in
Stacy family. Of the more than Grapevine, Allen
200 employees of the Grapevine-based and Flower
home furnishings retailer, almost 40 of Mound plus
them are members of the extended Dorian’s Interior
clan. Four generations of the family Designs in Fort Worth, the center out having to leave the facility. Stacy Family Enterprises
work for the company, from adminis- includes a carpet and floor coverings “We believe in and practice the
trative positions to sales, buying and store, a store devoted to children’s Golden Rule,” says Dorian Stacy Sims,
Category: Family Oriented
accounting. furniture, a flower shop with custom president. “We treat customers like we
options, a rustic furniture store, a full- would want to be treated; really, we Top Executive: Rick Stacy
Rick Stacy, owner and chairman,
founded the company in 1988 as a service appliance store and a com- treat them as family. It’s not just a Address: 1900 S. Main St.
furniture wholesaler. Through careful plete home media store. business – it’s our name and our fam- Grapevine, TX 76051
study of what other furniture stores “Our main focus is to provide the ily. We have fun doing what we’re Phone: 817-424-8800
offer locally and throughout the most personalized shopping bang for doing, and we pull together as a fam-
ily to do it. I can’t imagine doing any- Web site: stacyfurniture.com
country and by listening to what cus- the buck,” Stacy says. “We have a sin-
tomers actually need and want, Stacy cere desire to help people make their thing else.”
has transformed a former warehouse homes truly reflect their personal The retailer gives back to the com-
business into the largest selection of tastes.” munity, particularly through its not only possible but easy to get a
home furnishings in the metropolitan The store takes its family-friendly Community Room, which is available Stacy on the phone or in person to
area. services to the extreme, offering a low- to nonprofit organizations and clubs make sure your needs are met. The
“After much deliberation, we have cost, drop-in child-care center and a that need a place to meet. entire family has deep roots in the
put together a retail unit that provides restaurant on site that enables cus- “It’s not often possible in this day area and is committed to community
a near-total home furnishings pack- tomers to grab a bite of lunch or din- and age to deal with the real owners involvement and customer service.”
age,” says Rick Stacy. ner and discuss their purchases with- of the business,” says Rick Stacy. “It is – Betty Dillard
Family Oriented
Family Business Finalist
I
n 1964, Arlington was wide open for is a clinical professor of orthodontics at
orthodontists. That’s why Dr. Wick Baylor College of Dentistry in Dallas, said
Alexander chose the city to set up shop that working with his father has been “a
where, today, he has turned over much of the dream, in a nutshell. By the time I got there,
practice to his son, Dr. Moody Alexander. he was ready to turn over the day-to-day
Drs. Alexander Orthodontics is now serv- management and control, that’s the key, if
ing many of the children of patients that Dr. the son is teachable and willing and the dad
Wick Alexander worked on, his son said. is willing to let go. I was very willing to wait
He joined the practice in 1995, after grad- until it was my time to do what I had to do.
uating from Texas Tech “I’ll continue the privilege of what my
University with a pre- father was able to do,
dental degree, then Drs. Alexander which was to take the
working with Campus business to a certain
Orthodontics level,” said Alexander,
Crusade for Christ for
three years. a father of four. “It’s
Category: not necessary for me to
“After growing up
Family Oriented reinvent the wheel but
around dentistry and
seeing how much my Top Executive: to take to the business
dad loved his job and R.G. “Wick” Alexander, DDS, MS to the next level, with
how he could always Address: my dad filling in for

be home with us at 840 W. Mitchell St. me when I’m gone.
night, I decided it was Arlington, TX 76013 And that’s great,
the right job for me, because I know I can
Phone: 817-275-3233 trust his work.”
too,” he said.
Web: drsalexander.com Dr. Moody Alexander and Dr. Wick Alexander
Alexander, who also – Amy Keen

Family Oriented
F
ew people can say they learned their craft as a teen from their
divorced parents, then grew up to work with their mother, only
to be fired by her and return to the company after the mother’s
retirement to continue making the business grow.

It sounds like a movie script, but it’s Juan Antonio Castro’s story.
His parents, Juan and Deyla Castro, started an upholstery business,
J&D Inc., in the Stockyards in 1976, with Juan Antonio quickly
learning the trade and delivering furniture.
“We started with just the upholstery, but the business has
evolved,” Castro said from his 45,000-square-foot fabrics and furni- Juan Antonio Castro
ture warehouse at 2015 N. Main St. “Right now, we’re selling more
J&D Inc.
furniture, fabrics and drapes than doing upholstery, but that’s kind of the way I like it.”
Castro, an allied member of the American Society of Interior Designers, said he credited his mother with
teaching him fabrics, but their strong personalities clashed until, four years ago, she fired him. Castro said he Category:
actually didn’t mind, because the time off gave him a chance to learn more about the business. Family Oriented
“Then, two years ago, the stress got to my mother and she wanted me to come back, so she retired and sold Top Executive:
me the business,” he said. Juan Antonio Castro
Besides selling fabrics, furniture and upholstery to homeowners and designers, J&D also has worked on com- Address:
mercial design projects for clients including the John Peter Smith Health Network and many area colleges. 2015 N. Main St.
Castro said he would like his wife, Beth, to join him in managing the bustling business. Fort Worth, TX 76106
“I want to be the only place people go to for upscale furniture, because, now that Gabbert’s has closed, there’s
no outlet for that nearby,” he said. Phone: 817-626-2365
– Amy Keen

Lasiter &
Lasiter
Plumbing Inc.
Family Oriented
A
fter earning degrees in computer science and cost
accounting, David Lasiter realized he wasn’t cut out for
a desk job. That’s when he returned to the first job he

really loved.
“I became a plumber when I was 13,” he said. “I lived
across the street from a plumber and I went to work with
him to learn the trade. I got my master plumber’s license in
‘74 or ‘75, when I was going to North Texas State [now the
University of North Texas] from 7 a.m. until noon every Cindy Lasiter and David Lasiter
day, then I’d go to work plumbing, and at night I would Lasiter & Lasiter
study. It was hard work, but it was worth it.” Plumbing Inc.
He founded Lasiter & Lasiter Plumbing with his wife, Cindy, about 25 years ago. Cindy Lasiter consults for the
company and markets for new business, while David Lasiter works on job sites with home-building contractors Category:
to ensure their satisfaction. Brad Roney runs the daily operations of the business of around 130 employees, some Family Oriented
of whom have worked for Lasiter & Lasiter for 20 years. Top Executive:
Lasiter thinks of his employees as family, providing annual company picnics, Christmas parties and other David Lasiter
events for all employees and their families. Lasiter even has a chaplain visit his employees once a week for their
spiritual and counseling needs. Address:
“This business belongs to God, and he’s blessed it in a great way,” he said. As for the future of the company, P.O. Box 14638
“I’ll do whatever God’s got planned. That’s the attitude I’ve taken and I think it’s what it’s got us where we are Fort Worth, TX 76117
today.” Phone: 817-831-4245
– Amy Keen Web: lasiter.com
Family Oriented
H
erbert Pease Sr., who established Marketing Management Inc.,
in 1966, died last year, but his legacy as a visionary business-
man and an invigorating and compassionate employer are
carried on by his wife, son and daughter.
“That’s the reason I’ve been here for 28 years,” said Patti Abbey,
who was once the company’s ninth employee, a secretary then and
a senior vice president now. “It is a family. There’s a sense of own-
ership even for the employees because the Pease family treats you
that way.
“The limitations that you would have here are just the limita- Marketing
tions that you would have on yourself.” Management, Inc.
Throughout its five-decade existence, Marketing Management
Inc., has continually diversified services available to clients and has
Category:
invested in state-of-the-art technology as well its employees, of which there are now 253 in 18 offices across the
Family Oriented
country.
Herbert Pease Jr., who was already running the company on a day-to-day basis, flawlessly made the transition Top Executive:
as president and CEO after his father passed away. Herbert Pease Jr.
Mary, Pease Sr.’s wife who was by his side throughout the company’s tremendous growth, is chairwoman of the Address:
board. And daughter Kim is treasurer. 4717 Fletcher Ave.
“The longer you worked with Herb (Sr.) the more you got wrapped up in his enthusiasm,” Abbey said. “He was Fort Worth, TX 76107
blessed with keen foresight of seeing things that could happen.” Phone: 817-731-4176
– Jeff Seaver
Web: mmi-home.com

Heritage Family Business Winner
T
o say Kubes Jewelers Inc. is a moved several times before settling
family business is an understate- into its current location at 2700 W.
ment: All the company’s 14 Berry St. in 1963.
employees are family members in the Besides selling jewelry and watch-
62-year-old firm. es, Kubes offers appraisals, engraving,
According to Richard Kubes, co- custom design jewelry and repair serv-
ices. Carrying on their father’s tradi-
manager of the company with his
tion, Richard and Anthony are certi-
brother Anthony, his late father,
fied gemologists. In 2002, Anthony’s
Joseph Kubes, had a philosophy that
ensured the longevity of the business.
son Brent received his graduate Kubes Jewelers Inc.
gemology degree in 2002, thereby
“My father had a very strong 227 organization and causes, includ-
making Kubes Jewelers one of the Category:
strength of conviction and a high ing the American Cancer Society, the
extremely rare jewelry firms in the Heritage Family Business
level of integrity,” said Kubes. “He U.S. to have three generations of grad- American Heart Association, Big
said, ‘If you do something right and uate gemologists, according to Brothers Big Sisters and the Tarrant Top Executive:
keep doing it, it will keep paying div- Richard Kubes. Area Food Bank, to name a few. The Richard and Anthony Kubes
idends far longer than you can imag- Kubes Jewelry gets most of its busi- business has also been actively Address:
ine.’ He was right. It’s still paying div- ness by word-of-mouth or returning involved in the Berry Street Initiative, 2700 W. Berry St.
idends.” customers and rarely advertises, said which has helped revive a once-neg- Fort Worth, TX 76109
Kubes Jewelry began in 1945 when Kubes. lected area of town. Phone: 817-926-2626
Minnesota-born Joseph Kubes was “My father was very big on having While Joseph Kubes passed away
discharged from Eagle Mountain two years ago, his wife, Rita, though Web: kubesjewelersinc.com
our customers be the center of what
Marine Base. With his new bride, Rita, we do,” he said. “And that’s paid off retired, remains involved in the busi-
he established a watch repair service because we’re now servicing the chil- ness.
ure of success was quality, not quanti-
in downtown Fort Worth. Moving dren and now the grandchildren of Kubes believes the business model
ty and I think in today’s world that’s
into the jewelry business, Kubes our original customers.” his father installed and instilled in the
became one of the first nine certified family will continue to give the firm not a value you find very often.”
That doesn’t mean the firm isn’t
gemologists in Texas and the only one visible in the public eye. The firm an advantage.
in Fort Worth in 1955. The business donates and contributes to more than “My father believed that the meas- – Robert Francis
Heritage Family
Business Finalist
I t all started with his cows and horses.
When Greg Foreman and a neighbor in Colleyville were
looking for a closer place to buy livestock feed in 1974, they
decided to start their own store, Mid-Cities Feed.
“I bought it out from him two years later, and that was
when I was still working for IBM,” Foreman said. “I had a big
territory with them, but every time you got a new territory, you
had to move, and I didn’t want to any more, so I retired in
1986.”
Today, at Foreman’s General Store, 3800 Colleyville Blvd., Foreman’s Inc.
the inventory is as varied as the store’s name suggests: lawn David Lashua, Greg Foreman, Sue Foreman and
and garden equipment; grain; bird seed; outdoor furniture Scott Foreman Category:
and grills; organic gardening including bugs for organic pest Heritage
control; even hot sauces and home brewing equipment for the beer aficionado. Top Executive:
Foreman runs the store with the help of his wife, Sue; their son, Scott, who is general manager; their daughter, Greg Foreman
Traci; and their 15 employees. He said he loves that his job not only gives him the opportunity to meet great people,
but to spend time at home nearby, where he has llamas, miniature donkeys and a zebra he got years ago from the Fort Address:
Worth Zoo after it arrived with a broken back. He gladly took the gentle animal in. 3801 Colleyville Blvd.
“I can’t imagine ever quitting,” he said. “We’ve added a warehouse behind the showroom, and we’re going to Colleyville, TX 76034
expand our parking lot behind the building to provide more and better service. We’re having fun, basically, and that’s Phone: 817-281-7252
the secret to the store’s success.” Web: foremansinc.com
– Amy Keen

Heritage Family
Business Finalist
N ot much has changed over the years at the Paris

Coffee Shop, and that’s a real good thing.
The old place on West Magnolia Avenue is still
serving heaping helpings of Southern hospitality. The
fare ranges from omelets, pancakes and biscuits and
gravy for breakfast, to chicken-fried steak, hot sand-

wiches and beef tips for lunch. Not to overlook the
selection of homemade pies.
Owner Mike Smith, 64, took over the operation
when his father fell ill back in 1965. The responsibil-
ity sidelined a plan to complete a master’s degree in Paris Coffee Shop
computer technology; Smith’s destiny seems to have Mike Smith, Ginger Smith and Troy Smith
been that of guiding a family enterprise beyond its Category:
80th anniversary. Heritage
Gregory K. Smith had purchased the coffee shop in 1926 from Vic Paris, who had opened it just a year earlier. Inside Top Executive:
the chatty diner, time seems to stand still. Michael Smith
“We’re pretty unique about being in business like we have been,” Mike Smith says. “We just wanted to keep it like
it was back when: good food, good service and at reasonable price. Address:
“People who have been eating with me for 20 or 30 years are still coming in.” 704 W. Magnolia
If they’re to keep coming in for another 80 years, it just might depend on Smith’s son Troy, 32, to keep the Paris Fort Worth, TX 76107
Coffee Shop’s famous red-eye gravy flowing. Phone: 817-335-2041
– Jeff Seaver
Rapp
Ranch
Heritage Family
Business Finalist
P
hil and Mary Ann Rapp are industry leaders in the
top equine performance horse organization in the
nation, the National Cutting Horse Association,
based in Fort Worth. The Rapps are cutting industry super-
stars as individuals in their own right, both all-time lead-
ing riders in earnings, but it’s what they have created and
accomplished as a team that is most notable.
Their Weatherford ranch, Rapp Ranch, is home to the
second-highest producing mare in the cutting horse

business, Playboys Ruby, as well as producing mares
yielding 20-25 foals yearly, many of which go on to be
champions. Rapp Ranch
Rapp Ranch is an instructing and training facility for
Mary Ann Rapp, Ryan Rapp, Emma Rapp and Phil Rapp
non-professional and amateur rider cutting horse
enthusiasts. Phil Rapp went pro in the cutting industry Category:
after an illustrious non-professional career including several championships, and has moved on to become a cham- Heritage
pion professional rider in the National Cutting Horse Association. Mary Ann Rapp is a leading non-professional rider Top Executive:
in the National Cutting Horse Association and was inducted to the Non-Professional Hall of Fame in 1998 with earn- Phil Rapp, Mary Ann Rapp
ings exceeding $2 million. Address:
Phil and May Ann Rapp were married in 1994 and divide their time between shows and their Weatherford ranch. 400 Smith Trail
They have two children, Ryan and Emma Grace. Weatherford, TX 76088
– Mary Lou Jacobs Phone: 940-682-7471

Innovative
A 1993 graduate of Texas Wesleyan
L
ong before Teresa Nelson started
her customized themed-gift bas- University with a degree in finance and
ket business, she became a pro- economics, she attributes her success to
commitment to detail, quality of prod-
Teresa’s Treasures
tégé and friend of the late Sam Walton.
Nelson – then Teresa Walley - was ucts, loyal customers that now number
7,000 and teamwork. Employees Category:
working at a Wal-Mart during high Innovative
include husband Dennis Nelson, par- Howard Walley, Angela Brown, Teresa
school in Everman when she decided
ents Howard and Betty Walley and Nelson, Betty Walley and Dennis Nelson Top Executive: Teresa Nelson
to meet the master marketer. She says
cousin Angela Brown. Address:
Walton’s advice is the basis of how she program of city-inspired gift baskets,
The company offers almost 2,000 616C Shelby Road
approached her family-oriented com- complete with the city’s logo. It’s the
products, many of them exclusive, from Fort Worth, TX 76140
pany, Teresa’s Treasures, in 2000. more than 700 vendors nationwide. only organized gift program for a city
“He told me, ‘If you treat your clients Phone: 817-293-6404
Among Nelson’s original marketing in the nation. The $1- to $100-priced
as your best friends and if you treat concepts are digital imaging of prod- specialty food and gift items, distinc- Web: treasuresbyteresa.com
your employees and colleagues as your ucts that can be instantly e-mailed to tively wrapped in Nelson’s “Western
best friends, then they will always be customers so they may see what they’ve chic” designs, showcase many of the
your best friends,’” she says. ordered, immediate follow-up phone area’s favorite historical and cultural us,” Nelson says. “We live what we
That sage advice plus innovative calls to clients and recipients and spe- attractions. She hopes the ever-chang- believe, and we have been awarded for
products and marketing ideas, as well cial gifts for such unusual occasions as ing range of products will help pro- our commitment to quality, excellence
as Nelson’s infectious personality, have National Puzzle Day. mote local economic development. and character. Our family goes beyond
turned around the gift-basket industry. When Nelson saw that there were no “We give back in many ways, provide blood and encompasses our employees
Named the 2006 National Designer of available gift products from local busi- jobs in a nurturing environment and and clients. We never take that for
the Year, Nelson has numerous awards nesses that could be given to VIPs and constantly look for ways to better our granted.”
in recognition of her business acumen. visitors to Fort Worth, she created a product, community and those around – Betty Dillard
Innovative
S
ince starting their commercial and industrial roofing business out of
their home in 1982 with only eight employees, Ronnie and Sandra
McGlothlin are proud to say seven of those eight have remained —
plus another 143, contributing to Empire Roofing Ltd.’s $20 million in

annual sales.
After roofing since he was 13, Ronnie McGlothlin had learned what to
do, and what not to do, to run a business. Still, when he and his wife
were young and starting Empire Roofing, they had to assure their parents
they wouldn’t go broke. Cheryl McGlothlin, Sandra McGlothlin, Mark
McGlothlin and Ronnie McGlothlin Empire Roofing Ltd.
“We were only 21 and 22 when we started, and I think we were too
young to know better,” Sandra McGlothlin said. “In our minds, there was
Category:
nothing we couldn’t do.”
Innovative
That self-assurance combined with a strong work ethic and Ronnie McGlothlin’s knowledge of roofing since he
was 13 has made the company a success today, with not only the Fort Worth office, at 5301 Sun Valley Drive, but Top Executive:
offices in Houston, El Paso, Austin and San Antonio, as well as Memphis, Tenn. Sandra McGlothlin
The company specializes in flat roofs, and offers an innovation through its Web site, empireroofing.com, call “e- Address:
leak.” Using that link, customers can report leaks 24 hours a day. 5301 Sun Valley Drive
Since raising their children in the office, the oldest, Mark, now works in customer service for Empire, while his Fort Worth, TX 76119
sister, Cheryl, works in the sales department. Future plans include the likely opening of an office in Mexico, Sandra
Phone: 817-483-2269
McGlothlin said.
“We always knew we were going to be successful,” she said. “I guess we just didn’t know the business was going Web: empireroofing.com
to be this big.”
– Amy Keen

Innovative
T he original M&M Manufacturing Co. shop on White

Settlement Road measured all of 2,500 square feet.

Nearly 50 years later, with two plants in Fort Worth and
outposts in Houston, Garland and Wichita Falls, the company
conducts operations in a combined 600,000 square feet.
The three-generation business is run by brothers Rod Stepp,
70, and Mike “Butch” Stepp, 67; Rod’s son Randall; and Rob M&M Manufacturing Co.
Mike Stepp and Rod Stepp
Felton, Rod’s son-in-law.
Started in 1958 by M.M. Stepp and L.M. Watkins — they Category:
named the company after their shared middle initial — M&M is a national leader in the manufacturing of sheet- Innovative
metal products. Top Executive:
“We’ve been so engrossed in taking care of the business and building the business that we never did stop and
Rod Stepp
take a lot of thought in how satisfying that is,” Rod Stepp says of growing the small family business. “But, in hind-
sight, it’s very meaningful. Our father’s been deceased since 1982, but … he’d been able to see we made essen- Address:
tial progress from a company he started.” 4001 Mark IV Parkway
Substantial change, however, is taking shape. Fort Worth, TX 76106
“There’s an end to the story that has just happened,” Rod adds. “We’re still running it and have equity in it, Phone: 817-336-2311
but we recapitalized with a private investment firm on June 13.” Web: mmmfg.com
– Jeff Seaver
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Philip Combs Design, Inc.
The New Standard in Floral Composition
Located in the Cultural District
1114 Norwood Street • Fort Worth
817.332.7234
www.philipcombsdesign.com

Innovative
W
hen Sue and Bob Johnson bought out the Wahoo Inc. print
shop in 1995, they weren’t just looking to start a new print-
ing press business, but to start a better one.
“My husband, Bob, is a graphic designer, and when we bought

Wahoo, he was doing designs for Inkwell Graphics, and I was bro-
kering designs through the Printing Plus company. We needed a
press company, so we purchased Wahoo,” Sue Johnson said.
“Because it’s a corporation, we run Inkwell Graphics under a d.b.a.
[doing business as moniker]. You can find us on the Web at print-
ingplusinkwell.com.” Bob Johnson and Sue Johnson Printing Plus
The Web site is key to the company’s success, she said. “We have
password-protected gateways for our customers, so when they log
Category:
on, the site lists all the documents we print for them. They can click on a PDF picture of that document so they
Innovative
can order it or typeset it. The Web site will tell them how many of that document we have, and we can e-mail
them if they get below 1,000 of a particular document here.” Top Executive:
The company is certified by CPrint, which meets with each of the company’s eight employees annually about Sue Johnson
their concerns or suggestions and compares the company with its competitors to test its viability in the indus- Address:
try. 2818 Morton St.
As for the future, Printing Plus, at 2818 Morton St., will continue to provide more digitally based services to Fort Worth, TX 76107
customers, as walk-in business has become rare. Still, the building will be well used by Johnson and her hus- Phone: 817-332-2310
band.
“We’re in the middle of a big renovation of the building so can live on the top floor,” she said. Web: printingplusinkwell.com
– Amy Keen
Innovative
A s twins, Rick and Robert Garza are accustomed to being togeth-

er, so it was an easy decision to enroll together at the University

of Texas at Arlington.
There, they met Javier Lucio, who would become the other key
member of their team in what is now the successful and growing
RPGA Design Group Inc., founded in 1989. The three worked so
naturally together that, after Lucio completed a graduate degree at Javier Lucio, Robert Garza and Rick Garza
Harvard, the Garza brothers lured him back by offering him a job RPGA Design Group Inc.
as a principal in their firm in 1995.
“We like to joke that the three of us are twins,” Lucio says. Category:
Each principal has an area of specialization within the company, Robert Garza says. Innovative
“All of us are architects,” he explained, “and I’m also an interior designer. And each of us focuses on a particu- Top Executive:
lar market sector: Rick’s is the high-end residential and large multifamily end; mine is the office, mixed-use and Robert P. Garza
retail end; and Javier’s is the municipal end, such as schools and the city of Fort Worth’s fire stations.”
Address:
Projects include homes in Mira Vista, the Southlake Town Square Development and the Fort Worth Mercado.
101 S. Jennings Ave., Ste. 100
Rick Garza says the firm’s growth has prompted a need to expand from the current base at 101 S. Jennings Ave., so
they are looking for a building to buy. They look forward to continuing to work together.
“My wife still can’t figure out why we work together and want to take vacations together, too,” Robert Garza say. Phone: 817-332-9477
All three principals laughed when Lucio added, “I draw the line at vacations.” Web: rpgaarchitects.com
– Amy Keen

All Wrapped Up Just in Time!
Rolling out the red carpet just for you!

Improve your productivity and stop wasting time,
let us wrap up your to-do list.
Gift and Party Concierge Service

Specializing in Corporate Accounts
Our Services Include:

Surprise Party/ Meeting Set-Up Weekly Flower Delivery Service
Uniquely Designed Gift Baskets Gift Buying/ Consulting
Award Pick-Up Corporate Event Planning/ Hosting
Contact us a
t 817.296.641
2

Longevity

B uilding a quality product has technicians on every piece of equip-
been a family tradition for three ment.
generations at Pulliam Pools. Building quality pools begins with Marissa Pulliam Greathouse and Barry Pulliam Pulliam Pools
Starting the family tradition was happy employees. Pulliam Pools is
Theodore Cresswell Pulliam, with his never open on Sunday in order for each May for employees and family, Category:
brother Frank L. “Pop” Pulliam, with employees to spend time with their sends various employees on trips each Longevity
business cards that read “My Motto – family, which is different from many year and sponsors employees’ children
pool companies that work seven days a Top Executive: Barry Pulliam
Good Work at Reasonable Prices.” in sports, beauty pageants, dance and
Theodore’s son Doren Bates Pulliam week during the busy months of the other school functions. Address:
took over the business and eventually year. The company is also closed on In addition to helping employees, 2725 Alta Mesa Blvd.
handed it over to his son, and current Labor Day weekend, Memorial Day Pulliam Pools provides scholarships Fort Worth, TX 76133
president, Barry Pulliam. weekend, July 4th weekend, four days for graduating high school seniors, rais-
during Thanksgiving and two weeks at Phone: 817-346-4778
Barry Pulliam continues the tradi- es funds and donates a pool for the
tion of good ethics, community Christmas and the New Year. Shriners annual auction gala benefiting
involvement, programs for employee Employees still have other paid time Shriners’ Childrens’ Hospitals of Texas
retention and great customer services off, vacation and sick days. and supports local food banks by host- beginning and throughout the pool
by mandating the Golden Rule and to “Although we could make consider- ing food drives at all the open house building process employees ensure cus-
“build pools as if we were building able sales by being open on these holi- functions. tomers fully understand the details.
them for ourselves.” days, we understand our employees’ The company also implemented Customers must sign a Contract
The company designs custom in- family time and time off to de-stress are Tarrant County’s first drowning preven- Checklist before work will begin.
ground gunite swimming pools and more important than the sales,” Vice tion program in 1996. The program According to the company, Pulliam
spas, which may include outdoor President and General Manager Debra was taken on by Cook Children’s had the first gunite rig in Tarrant
kitchens, retaining walls, fire and water Smith said in the Family Business Medical Center under its Safe Kids pro- County and, most recently, introduced
effects, fountains, volleyball and/or Award nomination form. “Employees gram. Pulliam continues to contribute the rolled beam for spa coping, which
basketball equipment and a vanishing are the most valuable asset a company financially and host functions. allows a more comfortable neck posi-
edge feature. Instead of contracting out has, and ours are the best all around.” For the customer, Pulliam does not tion in the spa.
service technicians, Pulliam trains its The company also hosts a pool party set unrealistic expectations. From the – Crystal Forester
Longevity
P
osing a striking contrast with a big-box world of mass-
merchandising conformity, Marvin Electronics has
proved a standout with its unique personal touch of sales,
service and custom installation.
Celebrating its 60th year, Marvin Electronics remains a
one-store, family-operated business offering cutting-edge
video and audio products, including everything in the realm

of high-definition.
A visit to the company’s 10-year-old facility at 2750 S.
Hulen St. typically finds a member — or three — of the
Schuster family on duty. Marvin Electronics Co.
Marvin Schuster founded the business in 1947 and still Ricki Schuster, Chris Hahn, Melinda Hahn, Scott Schuster
frequents the store. His son Stuart is president, and grandson and Stuart Schuster
Category:
Scott is vice president for sales.
Longevity
The team also includes Stuart’s wife, Ricki, as systems manager, Scott’s sister, Melinda Schuster Hahn, as book-
keeper; and her husband, Chris Hahn, as sales manager. Top Executive:
“It’s the hardest, most rewarding thing you can do,” Scott says. “We’re a true family business. If you come in Marvin Schuster
here, at any given time, you’ll find me, my sister, my mom, my brother-in-law — we all work in the store.” Address:
To commemorate the 60th anniversary, Marvin Electronics will stage a festive showing of new products on the 2750 S. Hulen St.
evening of Oct. 11. Dealers from throughout the country will be on hand to demonstrate the latest products and Fort Worth, TX 76109
equipment. Phone: 817-927-5311
“We do it every year,” Scott says of the new-merchandise event. “But this is going to be the biggest one ever.”
Web: marvinelectronics.com
– Jeff Seaver

WOODARD BROTHERS
BUILDERS SUPPLY
Longevity Family Business Finalist
F
our generations and 71 years after provide hardware for all kinds of projects.
Woodard Builders Supply started We’ve sold to schools and hospitals, to
where the Fort Worth Convention Sonics and Taco Bells, and to some resi-
Center stands now, the commercial hardware dential projects.”
supplier has shown no signs of slowing Most of Woodard Builders Supply’s
down. business comes from within a 100-mile
And that pleases its owner, Eddie radius, the hardware has been sent to jobs
Woodard, who, in his school days, worked in Colorado and Canada. He credits the
with his father at the shop when it was at company’s success with its 30 employees
1204 Main St. downtown. taking customer service seriously, and with
“We were there until about 1963 or ‘64, the company providing high-quality mer-
when we moved out here,” Woodard said chandise.
of the company’s current location, 6405 “We’re just better at what we do,” he
Airport Freeway. said.
There, Woodard, his sons Ed Woodard Although Woodard originally hadn’t
Jr. and Gene Woodard, and his grandsons planned on making running the store his
provide both weekend life’s work, he’s
warriors doing home glad he has stayed.
renovations and con- Woodard Builders Supply And he hopes the
tract builders with business contin-
hardware for residen- Category: Longevity ues into the
tial or commercial job Top Executive: Eddie Woodard future.

sites. “I’d like to see
Address: it go into a fifth
“We sell all kinds of
6405 Airport Freeway generation,” he
hardware, from wood
Fort Worth, TX 76117 said.
and metal doors
to floors,” Eddie Phone: 817-831-6423 – Amy Keen
Woodard said. “We Trey Woodard, Ed Woodard, Eddie Woodard, Gene Woodard and Ben Woodard
Bransom
Floor Service
Longevity
I
f D.W. “Sonny” Bransom III and his brother, Charles Bransom, grew up with
sawdust in their veins, it isn’t hard to imagine why. They learned as young-
sters how to sand and install custom wood floors from their father, D.W.
“Dub” Bransom Jr., who had learned from his father, D.W. Bransom Sr., since
1937.
After the war, the elder Bransom moved his Bransom Floor Service into his
garage shop at 4013 E. Rosedale St., where it stayed until he died in 1978. By
then, Dub Bransom, had learned how to install wood floors with custom
patterns and exotic wood inlays, even while he kept his job as a Fort Worth
police officer.
“My brother and I had grown up in the business, and we bought the busi-
ness about 15 years ago,” Sonny Bransom said. Although his father, now a
Tarrant County constable, has retired, Bransom’s wife, Elisa, also works with Charlie Bransom and Sonny Bransom
Bransom Floor Service
the company, in its office.
Bransom attributes the company’s success not only to the brothers learning wood flooring while they were young,
but to Bransom learning customer service principles at Winn-Dixie Stores Inc. and his brother learning how to follow Category:
orders as a Marine. Longevity
“We specialize in doing a lot of inlay work and making the picky customer happy,” he said. The company serves Top Executive:
high-end homeowners, but also has done restoration flooring for such projects as the Kimbell Art Museum and the Charlie Bransom
Mineral Wells courthouse. Address:
“We’ve also been asked to scrape the old blood off some of the wood floors in the Stockyards while keeping their 917 Woodward St.
historical look and feel,” he said with a laugh. Fort Worth, TX 76107
And even though Bransom said it’s not always easy to work so closely with his brother, he wouldn’t trade jobs.
“Sometimes we’re in here with the office door shut and have to let off steam, but then we’re fine,” he said. “We’re Phone: 817-334-0321
brothers.” Web: bransomfloorservice.com
– Amy Keen

Well-Managed
F
or more than four decades, the Machines in 1964, leaving his corpo- Vince and Buddy took on more
Puente family’s businesses have rate job to work for himself. His sons, responsibilities in SOS, and in the late Southwest Office
stemmed from one man’s entre- Vince and Buddy (Victor Puente Jr.), 1980s Victor heard of an option to buy
did lots of work for the growing com- a newsstand at Dallas/Fort Worth
Systems Inc./
preneurial vision. Now the family is Puente-Brancato
involved in an array of businesses, from pany, and when their sister, Gina International Airport. The company got
Puente-Brancato, was born, she too was a contract for three newsstands, and Enterprises Inc.
office document solutions to airport
reared in the business. Vince and Buddy decided to let Victor
concessions to wine, thanks to each
“So many families don’t engage their handle that side of the business while Category:
family member bringing expertise to a
families in their work — you’re raised they focused on SOS. Well-Managed
specific domain.
in the business because its part of your Now, the Puente family has split the
Victor Puente Sr., founder of SOS, Top Executive:
life,” Vince said. management of its companies in order
was born in Breckenridge and left the Victor Puente Sr.
Vince said he didn’t intend to work to be efficient. Victor, who will be 81 in
city at 16 to come to Fort Worth. He for SOS, but he was a young adult using November, is the chairman emeritus, Address:
joined a national company repairing his father’s office and phone to call while Vince and Buddy take care of SOS Plaza, POB 612248
typewriters and on the weekends and around looking for jobs when a com- SOS and its affiliated companies as DFW Airport, TX
evenings ran a wholesale repair shop pany employee asked if he could make president of sales and marketing and Phone: 817-255-8602
out of his home, said Vince Puente Sr., a delivery. Vince asked if he would be president of finance and administra-
one of Victor’s sons. paid, and after he was told yes, he tion, respectively. Gina is the president
“When I was 7, 8 years old I was in made the delivery, he said. After about and CEO of La Bodega Winery, which “We use each other as consultants,”
there cleaning typewriters for a quarter, a year of making deliveries and doing has several locations at D/FW, as well as Vince said. “We’re not a big family but
a dime, something like that,” said other work for the company he realized other airport concessions and La Buena
Vince. what family we do have is involved.”
he was indeed working for the family Vida Vineyards in Grapevine and other
Victor started Southwest Office business. ventures. – Elizabeth Bassett
Well-Managed
M
isty McCoy is 27 years old and always gets the same
question: How long have you worked in the family busi-
ness?
Her mother, Sheryl McCoy, said Misty answers the same way
every time: “Her answer is, I’ve always worked here.”
Central Dynamic Manufacturing Inc., is indeed a family
affair. The company originally started with Sheryl’s husband Central Dynamic
Lyle McCoy’s family in 1983. Lyle McCoy, Sheryl McCoy and Misty McCoy
The couple, married 30 years, bought the manufacturing
Manufacturing Inc.
business from Lyle’s family in 1999.
Sheryl serves as president and primarily handles finances. Lyle is vice president and shores up customer service. Category:
They’ve worked together in the business since 1988. Well-Managed
Misty, one of the McCoy’s three children, is office manager. “Having Misty involved,” Sheryl said, “is very reward- Top Executive:
ing.” Sheryl McCoy
The company, which has about 40 employees and moved from Kennedale to Mansfield four years ago, special-
Address:
izes in manufacturing various parts to meet the needs of their clients, which include oil field, valve and energy-relat-
300 Industrial Drive
ed operations.
P.O. Box 679
“We’ve been through hard times, but hard times make you appreciate the good and make it worthwhile,” Sheryl
Mansfield, TX 76063
said. “It makes you appreciate where we are today.”
Phone: 817-473-3899
– Jeff Seaver

Well-Managed
F
ort Worth-based Aero Components Inc. has provided
quality aircraft parts and a family-business approach to
big-name customers for more than 30 years.
CEO Jon Williams Sr. started the business in 1976 after
returning home from working on an aircraft carrier around

Vietnam. That experience, along with years spent working for
Lockheed Martin, helped with the transition to business
ownership.
“It seemed like the right thing to do at the time,” Williams
says. “I knew the business and how to go about getting
myself into the business.” Jon Williams Jr., Vecki Blake, Jon Williams Sr. and Aero Components Inc.
Williams explains that Aero Components started small but Becki Cate
has grown to include 65 employees producing more than Category:
6,000 product lines for governments and companies world- Well-Managed
wide. Aero Components boasts more than 400 contracts with the U.S. Department of Defense, as well as certi- Top Executive:
fications with Lockheed Martin and Bell Helicopter. Jon Williams Sr.
Williams entrusts the day-to-day operations to his three children. Eldest daughter Vecki is vice president,
Address:
younger daughter Becki is comptroller and his youngest, Jon Williams Jr., is president.
5124 Kaltenbrun Road
Williams ascribes his success to a foundation of great employees.
“In any business, you have to have good employees and keep them,” Williams said. “You have to pay them
well, you have to treat them well … The employees are the business.” Phone: 817-572-3003
– John-Laurent Tronche Web: aero-components.com
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tomorrow’s
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Well-Managed
S
ince 1989, brothers Marcel and Dwight Bosworth have battled
both floods and droughts to keep their marina business afloat.
The Bosworths’ Marine Quest has experienced significant growth
from modest beginnings..
“We started with a little marina over on Benbrook. We had about
35 boat slips. Now we have about 3,500,” younger brother Marcel
says. “We started small and just worked hard – every day creates a
new challenge.”
The brothers now own nine marinas – and are about to open a
10th – on waters around Texas, including Travis, Eagle Mountain Marcel Bosworth and Dwight Bosworth Marine Quest
and Texoma lakes. Each marina features such amenities as 24-hour
security, fuel, storage and service.
Category:
Marcel says he and Dwight began the business as a way to go skiing everyday, but quickly it became a job. Hard
Well-Managed
work paid off and the company grew from its original two employees – Marcel and Dwight – to about 150 today.
“Our whole mentality is [that] friends and family are the reasons we’ve been successful,” Marcel says. Top Executive:
And because of that, Marcel adds, Marine Quest gives back to its community by supporting the Carroll Marcel Bosworth, Dwight
Independent School District, sponsoring the Athletes of Texas varsity basketball team and educating people about Bosworth
water safety through an outdoor learning center in Southlake. Address:
The brothers also lend a helping hand outside the community – older brother Dwight coordinated with the 305 S. Kimball Ave.
American Red Cross and U.S. Coast Guard to fly people by helicopter from roofs to hospitals during the aftermath Southlake, TX 76092
of Hurricane Katrina. Phone: 817-410-7450
– John-Laurent Tronche
Web: marinequest.net

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presents

2 • PlainsCapital Family Business Awards Fort Worth Business Press

Director of Finance Emerging Finalists Innovative Finalists

3509 South Hulen Street, Suite No. 201

And here’s to the economic foundations

September 27, 2007 PlainsCapital Family Business Awards • 3

Longhorn Dodge Inc.

PHOTO BY JON P. UZZEL

also must go head-to-head with its competitors and

September 27, 2007 PlainsCapital Family Business Awards • 5

6 • PlainsCapital Family Business Awards Fort Worth Business Press

Living in a home that was built in 1893 has given 817-731-8466

September 27, 2007 PlainsCapital Family Business Awards • 7

COOPER SUPPLY INC. POLYETHYLENE PIPE.

A directory of companies of every description – in

Cooper Supply Inc.

PHOTO BY JON P. UZZEL

pany has remained in his partner’s hands and expand-

September 27, 2007 PlainsCapital Family Business Awards • 9

Community Family Business Finalist

Address: Worth called Innovation

10 • PlainsCapital Family Business Awards Fort Worth Business Press

PHOTO BY JON P. UZZEL

custom-sign manufacturing, servicing thousands of

PHOTO BY JON P. UZZEL

Emerging Family Business

keting solutions — and has found that with unexpected developments.

September 27, 2007 PlainsCapital Family Business Awards • 13

PHOTO BY JON P. UZZEL

spans three generations.

September 27, 2007 PlainsCapital Family Business Awards • 15

PHOTO BY JON P. UZZEL

16 • PlainsCapital Family Business Awards Fort Worth Business Press

how he could always Address: my dad filling in for

September 27, 2007 PlainsCapital Family Business Awards • 17

PHOTO BY JON P. UZZEL

18 • PlainsCapital Family Business Awards Fort Worth Business Press

PHOTO BY JON P. UZZEL

September 27, 2007 PlainsCapital Family Business Awards • 19

20 • PlainsCapital Family Business Awards Fort Worth Business Press

N ot much has changed over the years at the Paris

PHOTO BY JON P. UZZEL

second-highest producing mare in the cutting horse

September 27, 2007 PlainsCapital Family Business Awards • 21

plus another 143, contributing to Empire Roofing Ltd.’s $20 million in

22 • PlainsCapital Family Business Awards Fort Worth Business Press

T he original M&M Manufacturing Co. shop on White

PHOTO BY JON P. UZZEL

817-336-8300 • Fax 817-332-3038

24 • PlainsCapital Family Business Awards Fort Worth Business Press

PHOTO BY JON P. UZZEL

A s twins, Rick and Robert Garza are accustomed to being togeth-

er, so it was an easy decision to enroll together at the University

September 27, 2007 PlainsCapital Family Business Awards • 25

Rolling out the red carpet just for you!

Gift and Party Concierge Service

Our Services Include:

26 • PlainsCapital Family Business Awards Fort Worth Business Press

PHOTO BY JON P. UZZEL

video and audio products, including everything in the realm

September 27, 2007 PlainsCapital Family Business Awards • 27

PHOTO BY JON P. UZZEL

28 • PlainsCapital Family Business Awards Fort Worth Business Press