Business

For one hundred years a furniture store, now the building at 2125 Church Street is a landmark in Downtown Galveston!

Texas Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples announces a partnership between the Texas Department of Agriculture and Connected Nation to create a broadband initiative called Connect Texas. The detailed broadband inventory map the partnership will create is intended to better position Texas for competitive funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and is expected to serve as a key asset for the state as it prepares for federal stimulus funding to support broadband investment.

Long before the modern SUV became popular, the Jeep Grand Wagoneer was one of the first utilitarian, mass-market vehicles.

“This is a day I will never forget,” Maria Ruiz says after accepting her award from fellow Texan Selena Gomez (Disney Channel).   John Krasinski (“The Office”) presents Tad Agoglia with his award, as Bob Dylan’s Shelter from the Storm plays in the background. 

On Thanksgiving Day, CNN announced its Heroes of the Year for 2008.  Amazingly, over one million viewers voted and chose only 10 finalists out of 3700 nominees from around the world; even more amazing, two of the top 10 had ties to Texas.

Selected by a panel of judges that included such luminaries as Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu and primatologist Jane Goodall were Tad Agoglia (First Response Team of America) whose Houston-based 501(c)(3) non-profit helps victims of natural disasters, and Maria Ruiz (JEM (Jesus es Mana) Ministries) from El Paso, who personally travels to Cuidad Juarez, Mexico, to provide aid to families living in poverty. As finalists for the inaugural award, each received a check for $25,000.

Although Louisiana’s Liz McCartney took home the big prize—a check for $100,000—for her work providing homes to Katrina victims, Texans can take great pride in the accomplishments of Agoglia and Ruiz.

Boerne, TX – The recent Drive One 4 UR School fundraiser sponsored by Ford and Jennings Anderson Ford on March 7, 2009 raised $1,680 for Boerne-Champion High School Project Graduation. Ford donated $20 for each person who drove one of the vehicles in its current lineup. In total, 84 members of the community participated in the unique event.
 

President Barack Obama ran on the platform of bringing change to America and change has come. Though media coverage has focused almost exclusively on the nation’s economic woes, the winds of change have already affected how business will be done in Texas and more change is coming. With majorities in both the House and Senate, Mr. Obama will likely be able to continue to enact additional significant employment legislation, making it easier for unions to form and increasing the number of lawsuits businesses may face.

SAN ANTONIO – This March, the Center for Terrorism Law at St. Mary’s University School of Law will host a symposium to inform current business leaders to their susceptibility to civil liability lawsuits from victims of criminal or terrorist acts. The first-of-its kind symposium will help educate business owners physically and legally safeguard themselves from liability while protecting their companies from the dangers of terrorism, cyber attacks and criminal.

The symposium’s program of panel and discussion topics will include:

Fort Worth, TX, November 14, 2008 - The American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML) today announced Gary Nickelson, a nationally recognized family law expert, has been elected president.  The AAML is comprised of more than 1,600 of the country's top divorce and family law attorneys.
 

A record breaking $72,670.49 was raised for the United Way of Comal County at the recent 22nd Annual Gruene Music & Wine Fest, held October 10, 11 & 12.

Crime hit close to home in the Hill Country this morning - very close to home. We were shocked to come in to the office and find the bank across the street surrounded by crime tape and police cars.

When the first news van showed up, for FOX-KABB news in San Antonio, we shouted across the street and found out the bank had been robbed! Account Executive Stefani Glick (thats me!) was interviewed by the news channel for a reaction.

In the land of big ranches, big houses and big lawns, downtown Fort Worth is blazing a new trail by growing up and into the sky with high-rise apartments, a tight-laced community and a new way of life unlike anything the city has ever seen.

The Austin Film Festival is honored to announce that screenwriter, actor, director and Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Sam Shepard will accept a Distinguished Screenwriter Award at the 15th annual Austin Film Festival (October 16-23). The AFF was the first and remains one of the only film festivals in the country whose primary focus is the writer.

Despite a nationally imploding housing market and the instability an election year brings, Forbes and more say Texas cities are still offering outstanding quality of life, appreciating housing and stable job markets.