Fort Bend Lifestyles and Homes Magazine Mar 2010: Business News in Fort Bend County Texas

The Central Fort Bend Chamber Alliance board of directors announced the new members of the board slated to begin their terms this month. A total of five positions were available for the coming year, and they have been filled by Rob Bamford, Tommy Kuykendall, Melissa Garcia-Martin, Kevin Patton and Justin Vickrey. Two additional positions that were vacated late in 2009 have been filled by Alicia Casias and Barry Beard.

The new slate of officers for 2010 includes Dan McDonald at the helm as chairman of the board, Kamal Ariss serving as vice chair, and Tom Crayton reprising his role as treasurer. Lynne Humphries will continue to serve on the executive committee as immediate past chair, and Gail Parker as president and CEO of the organization.

The board of directors also amended the chamber’s bylaws in 2009 in order to increase the number of position for Ex-officio Directors. These members of the board are not afforded voting privileges, however they bring considerable expertise to the table and provide information and counsel as needed. Members are Jack Belt, Glen Gilmore, Jack Hamlett, Betty McCrohan, County Commissioner Andy Meyers, County Commissioner Richard Morrison, Dick Phillips, Dr. Thomas Randle, superintendent, Lamar CISD, and Jamie Roberts.

Jean Goff has joined Post Oak Bank, N.A. Sugar Land office as Vice President, Relationship Manager and Business Development. She received her Bachelor of Science in Business Education from Louisiana State University.

Goff started her career in marketing, later moving to banking in 2003 at Southern National Bank where she stayed until 2006. She then went to Encore Bank and was most recently the chief operations officer at Bank of Fort

Bend. Goff is a member of the Sugar Land Cultural Arts board and was the gala chair in 2009 and 2010 for the Sugar Land Cultural Arts Founder ’s Ball. She was a member of the Rotary Club of The Woodlands from 2006 to 2007, was a board of director for the Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce from 2002 to 2005 and served on the Fort Bend Senior Citizens board as assistant treasurer from 2004 to 2005.

The Greater Houston Builders Association held its bi-annual Forecast Luncheon featuring Mike Inselmann of MetroStudy. Before the keynote speech, the GHBA installed its new president for 2010, Kevin Holland of Cervelle Homes and presented several awards including Custom Builder of the Year to Stephen Hann of Hann Builders.

2009 was a milestone year for Hann as he achieved his Lifetime Director status of the National Association of Builders, was the first in Texas to earn the title of Graduate Masters Remodeler, and a two-time Houston ’s Best winner including Best Custom Home over $1 million and Best Remodeled Kitchen.

Additionally, as an active member of the Custom Builders Council, Stephen arranged for interesting educational speakers for the GHBA members, participated in government affairs and mentored other builders when invited.

J. Kyle Estate Homes is now building in Sienna Plantation and currently has three new custom homes under construction, including a model home in The Luxury Home Idea Village in The Forest at Bees Creek, one of Sienna ’s acreage neighborhoods defined by old-growth woods and cul-de-sac streets. The model home will showcase the many levels of custom finishes, trim and d écor offered by the builder.

Also, J. Kyle Estate Homes has two homes under way in the Kennett Hill neighborhood, including one that will feature the popular casita option, perfect for an extended family or guest suite. All of the plans should be complete by spring. J. Kyle ’s homes in Sienna Plantation will start in the $500,000s.

“Jason Kyle Hammonds and his family have a long building history in the Houston area and are well-respected, ” said Michael Smith, general manager of Sienna Plantation. “J. Kyle Estate Homes is a fine addition to our carefully

selected list of custom builders.”

Dorothy Warren has joined Founders Bank as vice president of operations. Warren has close to 30 years of experience in Fort Bend banking. She started her career locally with FNB-Rosenberg, where she worked for 22 years in a variety of positions with increasing responsibility, including vice president/cashier.

She joins Founders Bank from NewFirst National Bank, where she was vice president of compliance after serving several years as vice president of deposit operations.

“Dorothy has an in-depth understanding of the critical role that operations plays in ensuring excellent customer service and years of hands-on experience in managing back-office functions, ” said Founders Bank CEO Jim Sturgeon.

The Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce board of directors approved the appointment of community business leaders to serve as Divisional Vice Chairs for the chamber. Their one-year terms began in January.

The 2010 Vice Chairmen are: Jim Rice, Education Division; Dee Koch, Community Resources Division; Don Smithers, Governmental Relations Division; Harish Jajoo, Infrastructure Division; Glenn Smith, Business & Professional Division; Toni Nelson, Programs & Special Events Division; Matt Fielder, Economic Development Division; Trey Reichert, Fort Bend Leadership Forum; Ray Aguilar, Fort Bend Leadership Forum

Deb Severski has been named vice president and compliance officer of Founders Bank, with responsibility for risk management and overseeing the bank’s fulfillment of state and federal regulations.

Severski has more than 25 years of experience and has served in banking center and call center management, retail operations, deposit operations and compliance.

She previously worked for financial institutions in Ohio before moving to Texas in 2000, where she worked for Amegy Bank and a community de novo bank in the Houston area.

“Deb has a great deal of experience in all facets of community banking and she will be a great asset to us here at Founders Bank, ” said CEO Jim Sturgeon.

Fort Bend Baptist Academy dedicated its new 12,000-square-foot athletic field house with a ribbon cutting ceremony and open house on Jan. 10. The field house is located at 1205 Seventh Street in Sugar Land, adjacent to the school ’s new football stadium and track, and houses a state-of-the-art weight training facility. Locker rooms, coaches ’ offices, video projection system, laundry facilities and an outdoor covered performance area.

Fort Bend Baptist Academy is celebrating 23 years of glorifying God through excellence in Christian education. Located on a 35-acre campus in the heart of Sugar Land, the school numbers over 820 students in grades PK-12.

Lamar CISD elementary schools will receive Distinguished Performance Awards this spring from the Texas Education Agency ’s Division of No Child Left Behind Coordination. The schools will be honored by the Region IV Service Center.

The five schools are: Bowie Elementary, led by Principal Rick Amick; Long Elementary, led by Principal Jill Nehls; Pink Elementary, led by Principal Chandra Woods; Ray Elementary, led by Principal Ben Perez; and Velasquez Elementary, led by Principal Beth Dow.

Distinguished Performance Schools have to be a Title I – Part A School, achieved Adequate Yearly Progress in 2008 and 2009, and rated Exemplary in 2009, Exemplary or Recognized in 2008 and Exemplary or Recognized in 2007.

Fluor Foundation has donated $15,000 to the Lamar Educational Awards Foundation to underwrite innovative math and science grants.

“We are always looking for talented engineers,” said Tom Zachman, senior vice president of Fluor. “If we can help students with science and math during their elementary and secondary years, then hopefully we will see more students enrolling in college engineering programs. ”

Fluor Corporation is one of the largest publicly-owned engineering, procurement, construction and maintenance services companies in the world.

“We are thrilled that Fluor is committed to supporting the students of Lamar CISD, ” said Janice Knight, executive director for L.E.A.F.