Fort Worth Business Press - 40 Under 40

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2008 Honorees
Adam Blake 4 Ryan Matthews 28
Ethan Boothe 5 Hunter McLean 29
Brandon K. Brewer 6 Niraj Mehta 30
Anthony Burks 7 Mike Micallef 31
Benton Cantey 9 Colin L. Murchison 33
Kelly Campbell 10 Jim Morse 34
Melissa Cawyer 11 Stephanie Pratt 35
Richard Dorough 12
Clare Pritchett 36
Sunny L. Drenik 13
Susan Roberts 37
Mark Dungan 15
Cathy Reagan Sheffield 38
Joseph Fackel 16
Colby Siratt 39
Alyson Farmer 17
Donnie Siratt 40
Neil Foster 18
Marc Sloter 41
Caroline E. Gary 19
Caroline C. Harrison 20 Yi-Jiun Su 42
Dak Hatfield 21 Grace Taylor 43
Jennifer Henderson 22 Greg Trevino 44
Ben King 23 Rick Wegman 45
Gary Lewis 24 Mindia Whittier 47
Quang T. Le 25 Chris Wilkie 49
Jim Luttrell 27 Randy Woods 50
Publisher
Banks Dishman
Chairman, Advisory Board
Richard L. Connor
Editor
Best of the Best
Robert Francis Who would have ness his freshman year of college, a social
Associate Editor thought that pastel worker at the Federal Bureau of Prisons
Michael H. Price colors and gold chains and some who have followed in their
Managing Editor would shape a genera- family heritage.
Crystal Forester tion? But that’s exactly Like many classes before them the
Contributors what we found out Class of 2008 not only has an impressive
Aleshia Howe, Betty Dillard, Elizabeth Bassett, reading the profiles of resume but they also have a volunteer list
John-Laurent Tronche, Leslie Wimmer, Sarah Mason,
Celestina Phillips, Tonie Auer, Darwin Campbell, the 40 Under 40 recipi- just as long. In addition to the long hours
Laurie Barker James, Stephanie Patrick CRYSTAL FORESTER ents. Growing up many at the office, our honorees spend count-
MANAGING EDITOR faithfully sat in front of less hours on the boards of many nonprof-
Production
Brent Latimer, Clayton Gardner the TV to catch the weekly episodes of it organizations, coaching children’s sports
Photography Miami Vice and The A Team. teams or just volunteering their time.
Glen E. Ellman, Glenn Killman Whatever it was that the 40 Under 40 For some recipients, community
Advertising Executives Class of 2008 was watching, it has paid involvement overlaps and becomes their
Andrea Benford, Elizabeth Northern off. This is a group of individuals who business. One of the honorees founded
Mary Schlegel, Robert Southerland, Annie Warren
shine with the qualities of true leaders in the Children’s Neuroblastoma Cancer
Sales Director the workplace and the community. All of Foundation after their child was diagnosed
Anjanette Hamilton
the men and women in this group set high with the disease.
Vice President of Operations expectations for themselves and have met Who’s who? You’ll have to turn off
Shevoyd Hamilton
– if not exceeded – their goals. your 80s pop and Justin Timberlake to flip
Marketing & Events
Members of this class include someone through the pages of the Fort Worth
Mary Lou Jacobs
worked at the White House with President Business Press’ 40 Under 40 Class of 2008
Reception
George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush, and find out.
Maggie Franklin
someone who started a real estate busi-
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Fort Worth Business Press. © 2008
May 28, 2008 3
Adam Blake
Venture Corp.
president and founder
age 22
Hometown Leawood, Kan.
ooking back, maybe it was his father’s layoff that first ignited
L Adam Blake’s entrepreneurial passion. But whatever it was, it
has served Blake, 22, well. Just one year after graduating with a
triple major from Texas Christian University, Blake has taken his
Fort Worth-based real estate company to the next level – the mul-
timillion dollar level.
“I’m having fun; it’s an exciting time in real estate because
there’s a lot going on and I’m glad to be in on it,” Blake says.
Blake founded Venture Corp. during his freshman year of col-
lege when he got his real estate license and $100,000 in startup
money from a fraternity brother. His first foray into the real estate
business was renting properties to college students. His success in
rentals led him to start flipping houses, and by the next year he Who was your biggest influence?
was managing properties for several investors. Donald Trump. I like all his books and his confident attitude.
Venture Corp. has since grown into a multimillion-dollar-a-year Where is your dream vacation spot?
company with more than 10 employees. The full-service real Right now, probably somewhere in China.
estate company specializes in investment properties but offers
services in residential and commercial development, property Where did your first paycheck come from?
management, investment syndication, and buyer and seller repre- I can’t remember.
sentation. Another profession you would like to try?
Today, Blake says the company has moved more into commer- Something with alternative energy
cial development and – thanks to the current housing market –
into residential foreclosures. What was your favorite high school subject?
“I have put together a large fund to buy foreclosures and Economics
because there are so many out there right now, unfortunately, What was your favorite TV show growing up?
they’re a great investment,” Blake says. “The company will be I have never watched a lot of TV, but probably
going in that direction for the foreseeable future.” Sports Center or something on the Discovery Channel
Since the start of his business, it has become a family affair.
Both Blake’s father and brother have moved to Fort Worth to What book would you recommend?
work for the company. Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill or The World is Flat by
“I am really enjoying what I am doing right now, and I think Thomas Friedman
it’s just going to get better,” Blake says. What is your musical guilty pleasure?
– Aleshia Howe Classic rock
4 May 28, 2008

Ethan Boothe
Deloitte
senior manager
age 34
Hometown Fort Worth
n the late 1800s, a family from Georgia made their way to the
ITexas Panhandle. They were one of the first families in the area,
and among the first to try growing cotton in the previously
untilled land.
Several generations later, Ethan Boothe has tangible evidence
of his family’s legacy. A fifth-generation Texan and third-genera-
tion Fort Worth native, Boothe has the Stetson his great-grandfa-
ther, who was just a boy when his family trekked halfway across
the country, wore on weekends and for special occasions.
Boothe and his family still hold on to that adventurous spirit.
As a senior manager for Deloitte, he provides financial guidance
to companies and their employees with multinational offices. Who has been your biggest influence?
Personally, he grew up in a family that spent a lot of time out- I would have to say that my late grandfather,
doors and he is doing the same with his young family, he says. Melvin E. Boothe, who passed away in March 1997,
“We are definitely an outdoor activity-oriented family,” has probably had the greatest impact on my life.
Boothe says.
In the office, Boothe works with companies to help manage Where is your dream vacation spot?
the finances of their employees. He researches the companies to I’d have to split my time between Vail, Colo.
understand their background and where they are trying to move and the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica.
in the future, and then provides a customized way to manage the
company’s global talent. Where did your first paycheck come from?
Part of the intrigue of working in his position is being able to My fist paycheck was probably around 1982 from
see the inner workings of successful companies in different sec- delivering circular advertisements in West Fort Worth
tors around the world, he says. for my grandfather’s Benjamin Franklin 5 & 10 Store.
“You really get an appreciation of things that are happening
across industries,” Boothe says. What was your favorite TV show growing up?
The job also allows for occasional travel. Boothe says at one As a youngster you could find me and my brother glued to
point he was going to Rome on the business trip, and he asked the TV for The Dukes of Hazard. The A-Team definitely took
his then-girlfriend to accompany him. He took a few days off and me through my middle school years and of course Saturday
they traveled to Tuscany, where he proposed. Kristen Boothe, now Night Live kept me and my friends entertained in high school.
his wife, and Ethan Boothe are expecting their second child in
What book would you recommend?
June.
Theodore Rex by Edmund Morris
While you can read about a country or a company, the only
way to really know it is to go and see it, he says.
What is your musical guilty pleasure?
“I don’t think there’s any substitute for the actual experi-
Justin Timberlake, specifically “SexyBack.”
ence,” he says.
I know I’m not alone out there.
—Elizabeth Bassett
May 28, 2008 5

Brandon Brewer
Republic Title
vice president
age 37
Hometown Lubbock
randon Brewer grew up just outside of Lubbock, and moved

Bthrough several jobs in different fields before landing at
Republic Title. His first job was selling office equipment, which he
did for a few years, then went to work for Airborne Express sell-
ing freight services and express packages. After a third sales job,
Brewer started his own company that provided temporary services
in executive searches. He later sold that company, and went to
work for a software company that focused on real estate business
software.
“I tried to stay everywhere about six months,” Brewer says.
“After I left the software company, I went to go to work for Land
America doing commercial title insurance, and then was recruited
at Republic Title.”
Lauren Pointer, who met Brewer at a young business profes- Who has been the biggest influence in your life?
sionals group, nominated Brewer for 40 Under 40. My wife
Brewer “kind of became my mentor, he helped me get tied into
civic organizations, professional organization, and really has been Where is your dream vacation spot?
Hawaii
a great source of advice for me,” Pointer says. “And I’ve watched
him do it with other people too, he’s just incredibly galvanizing.”
Where did your first paycheck come from?
Brewer spends his days connecting people together, he says.
My dad
“I may connect a banker with a real estate developer or an
engineer with an architect, I just play the connection game all day
What is another profession you would like to try?
long,” Brewer says. “And that means that I’m going to lunch a Real estate development
lot, going to sporting events a lot, playing sports a lot. I play for a
living.” What was your favorite high school subject?
Although Brewer is lucky to spend his work hours playing, he History
does have limited spare time outside of the office. When he isn’t
creating business relationships across Fort Worth, he often works What was your favorite TV show growing up?
around his house. Seinfeld
“I get to play during the day so my weekends are strictly dedi-
cated to staying home with my family, working in the yard, stuff What book would you recommend?
like that,” he says. “But, that’s totally different from my hobbies. I The World is Flat by Thomas Friedman
play a lot of golf, I like to cycle, bicycling is very fun, and I like to
play basketball but never get to do it.” What is your musical guilty pleasure?
LL Cool J
– Leslie Wimmer
6 May 28, 2008

Anthony Burks
Vendigm Construction
owner and president
age 33
Hometown Fort Worth
t 18, Anthony Burks was asked to speak to troubled teens

Aabout getting an education and bettering themselves, but the
East Fort Worth high school graduate didn’t think he could do it.
Now 33, Burks not only speaks to troubled teens – he has given
them a role model, donating his time to them as well as to elemen-
tary school students in the inner city.
“Your perception becomes your reality and the drug dealers are
the only businessmen these kids see so that’s what they want to
become,” Burks says. “But, I want to show them an alternative of Who has been your biggest influence?
what a successful businessman can look like.” My business partner Johnathan White and my father.
Burks is the co-founder and co-owner of Vendigm Construction, a
real estate construction company founded in Fort Worth in 2006. In Where is your dream vacation spot?
its first year, the start-up company reported annual earnings of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
$14,000. This year the company had more than $1 million in sales in
its first quarter. Where did your first paycheck come from?
Burks was born and raised in Fort Worth’s Stop Six neighbor- Landscape work with my father. He owns
hood, an economically challenged area in East Fort Worth. Burks, George’s Lawn and Landscaping Services.
however, avoided much of the gang activity that surrounded him in
his high school years and graduated valedictorian at Dunbar High Another profession you would like to try?
School, earning a basketball scholarship to Texas A&M University. Foreign diplomat or ambassador
After transferring to Texas Christian University, Burks graduated with
a bachelor’s degree in organizational communications. What was your favorite high school subject?
“I just had good parents, a good church and I was able to avoid English
a lot of stuff going on around me,” Burks says.
Those positive influences fueled Burks to give back to the com- What was your favorite TV show growing up?
munity he was raised in and to other inner-city children. He also Good Times and Dallas
wants to be a role model to his own children – a 7-year-old son and
13-year-old daughter.
The Audacity of Hope by Barack Obama
“It all starts with going to school and opening your eyes to more
than what your surroundings are showing you,” Burks says.
– Aleshia Howe Late 80s, early 90s R&B
May 28, 2008 7

S. Benton Cantey V
Kelly Hart & Hallman LLP
associate
age 32
Hometown Fort Worth
hen Fort Worth native S. Benton Cantey V was grow-

Wing up, he wanted to be a sportscaster. Later in life,
he found a passion for the mix of business and law. Being
an alumnus of Auburn University, Texas Tech, the University
of Tulsa and Georgetown University Law Center, Cantey
brought together his interests in law and business to start a
law career at Kelly Hart & Hallman LLP focusing on corpo-
rate securities, mergers and acquisitions.
“Well, before I went into law, I got a master’s degree in
business, and I thought that combining business and law
would be the ultimate career choice for me,” Cantey says. Who has been your biggest influence?
“After getting my MBA then going on to law school made My parents
that possible. I definitely had no interest in doing litigation
work. I thought that combining the elements of business Where is your dream vacation spot?
into law and corporate securities was the best fit, and Lake Como, Italy
working on big [merger and acquisition] deals was always
exciting.” Where did your first paycheck come from?
Cantey is a member of Leadership Fort Worth and is Mowing yards
affiliated with the Tarrant County Bar Association, Tarrant
County Young Lawyers Association and the American Bar Another profession you would like to try?
Association. He says the best part of his job is watching Private equity investments
business owners reap the benefits of years of hard work
and dedication. What was your favorite high school subject?
Along with corporate finance and securities regulation, American History
Cantey also focuses on corporate governance, partnership
and joint venture transactions and private equity law. He What was your favorite TV show growing up?
likes to come in to his office early and get as much work CHiPS
done as he can before 9 a.m., when his schedule picks up.
Cantey’s top priority he says is spending time with his What book would you recommend?
wife and son, going to the park and the Fort Worth Zoo. In
China, Inc. by Ted Fishman
his spare time, Cantey likes to go fishing as well as turkey
and bird hunting.
Country music
– Leslie Wimmer
May 28, 2008 9

Kelly Campbell
Fort Worth Convention
and Visitors Bureau
vice president
of marketing communications
age 34
Hometown Jenks, Okla.
s vice president of marketing communications at the Fort

AWorth Convention and Visitors Bureau, Kelly Campbell says
she’s got one of the greatest jobs in the area.
Attracting people to Fort Worth is easy, Campbell says, as it’s
a product she loves and enjoys herself.
“It’s like any product you have to sell — you have to believe
in it,” Campbell says. “Fort Worth is home to me and I enjoy liv-
ing here. Our quality of life here is amazing.”
At the Bureau, Campbell oversees a team of five who work on
strategies to market the city — through mediums such as adver-
tising, public relations and e-marketing. Who has been your biggest influence?
The hospitality industry is a field Campbell would like to stay My parents
in as long as she can, a meaningful way to reach out to people
and help them enjoy themselves, Campbell says. Where is your dream vacation spot?
“Travel and hospitality affects everyone and it’s something Tuscany, Italy
everybody enjoys doing,” she says. “At my job, I get to make peo-
ple comfortable and happy when they come here.” Where did your first paycheck come from?
The hospitality industry of Fort Worth has been mostly unaf- Mazzio’s Pizza
fected by recent changes in the economy and gas prices,
Campbell says. If anything, she says, Fort Worth has gathered Another profession you would like to try?
Interior designer or police detective
momentum in the last couple years, with two new hotels to be
opened by January 2009 and plans for major changes, such as
What was your favorite high school subject?
the Trinity River Vision project.
Humanities
“Fort Worth is very fortunate in its economy due to the
Barnett Shale,” she says. “We’re not experiencing the same dips What was your favorite TV show growing up?
as many cities have to deal with. During spring break, our books Saturday Night Live
show record breaking numbers of people coming through Fort
Worth.” What book would you recommend?
– Sarah Mason The Elements of Style by Strunk and White

Justin Timberlake
10 May 28, 2008

Melissa Cawyer
Albert, Neely & Kuhlman LLP
oil and gas attorney
age 38
Hometown Port Arthur
Albert, Neely & Kuhlmann’s Melissa Cawyer has her hands full.
She is a mother to three young children, actively involved in her
church and an oil and gas attorney working in one of the country’s
most active natural gas plays, the Barnett Shale.
“What we do is we write title opinions for most of the oil and
gas companies here in town,” says Cawyer, including Devon
Energy Corp., XTO Energy Inc. and Denbury Resources Inc. “What
that entails is that we go to various counties within Texas and we
examine titles, kind of like a title attorney for a real estate compa-
ny would do.”
Cawyer and her company’s work helps the energy producers
“know who to pay and what proportion to pay,” she says.
The Port Arthur-native started off in the litigation field, previ- Who has been your biggest influence?
ously having worked for the Texas Department of Public Safety. She My father
switched to insurance defense before finally moving from Corpus
Christi to Fort Worth in 1999. Where is your dream vacation spot?
After welcoming her first son in 2001, Cawyer said managing Italy
litigation and a newborn child proved to be a difficult task, so at
her firm’s request, she switched to oil and gas law. It was a move Where did your first paycheck come from?
made to give Cawyer more free time. Few could have predicted the I delivered the Port Arthur News
boom to come.
“We could work 24 hours a day and still not get everything Another profession you would like to try?
done,” says Cawyer, adding at times she could spend half her time Kindergarten teacher, if money were no object
on the road, or a month without leaving her downtown office.
Cawyer and husband, Russell D. Cawyer, an attorney at Kelly
Computer Science
Hart & Hallman and previous 40 Under 40 designate, will soon
visit Italy for the couple’s 10th anniversary of marriage. What was your favorite TV show growing up?
Kelly Hart & Hallman’s Leslie Darby, who nominated Melissa The Incredible Hulk
Cawyer, said she is role model for all
“In a day and age where women are commonly choosing to What book would you recommend?
forego the workplace in favor of being caretakers,” Darby says, Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
“Melissa is living proof that it can be done: Women can have a
career and a family.” What is your musical guilty pleasure?
– John-Laurent Tronche The soundtrack to Evita, the 1996 movie
May 28, 2008 11

Richard Dorough
Textron
chief information security officer
age 38
Hometown Fort Worth
rom the time Richard Dorough first got a computer at the

Fage of 12, he was hooked to computer technology. When
Dorough earned a bachelor’s degree in computer science, he
had his sights on a chief information security officer position,
but thought it would take years longer than it actually did to
make it to that position, he said.
Now with a year under his belt as CISO for Textron, which
owns Bell Helicopter and Cessna Aircraft along with others,
Dorough says his main struggle is balancing his passions.
“I’m really involved with my family, with my church and I’m
really involved with work,” Dorough says. “It’s been really chal-
lenging trying to balance all this.”
In between a few annual business trips, Dorough protects Who has been your biggest influence?
Textron’s information by monitoring Textron’s firewalls and Rik Boren, a friend
incoming traffic on network computers.
When Dorough isn’t working in the virtual realm, he’s ham- Where is your dream vacation spot?
mering away in the real one, working on construction projects Cayman Islands
in his own house and for his church.
“Our church is on its 52nd house,” Dorough said. “I just
A Western clothing store in East Texas
hop in whenever I have time to volunteer whether they’re roof-
ing or putting in plumbing.”
Another profession you would like to try?
Changes within the field of technology keep Dorough on his Race car driver
toes and keep his business in a constant state of fluctuation.
With the advent of the Internet and growing number of What was your favorite high school subject?
ways to “hack” or break into computer systems, security offi- Computer courses
cials such as Dorough need to keep up with new types of pro-
tection, from fire walls to systems that track the activity of com- What was your favorite TV show growing up?
puters on a network, he says. Riptide
“As IT trends change and we get more dynamic technolo-
gies, you have to change security measures too,” Dorough says. What book would you recommend?
These interesting changes and his passion for computers Anything by W.E.B Griffin and The Cuckoo’s Egg by Clifford Stoll
will keep Dorough hooked to IT jobs for as years to come,
he says. What is your musical guilty pleasure?
– Sarah Mason Classical music
12 May 28, 2008

Sunny Drenik
Baylor All Saints Medical Center
director of marketing
age 38
Hometown Pittsburg, Kan.
s a self-professed fan of number-crunching who takes joy in

Aworking behind the scenes, it seemed to suit Sunny Drenik that
her first step towards the hospital industry took her out of the lime-
light.
Drenik began her career as a television newscaster after college to
help pay the bills, she says.
Often covering stories at local hospitals, Drenik became familiar
with people in the field and eventually left her television job for the
health care industry.
“The TV position really helped get my name out there,” Drenik
says. “I was at the hospital all the time covering stories, building rela-
tionships until there was a position available.”
The hospital job didn’t pay as well as Drenik hoped and she soon
dropped out of the health care industry for a position at Sprint.
Though she made more money with the phone company, Drenik
came to a revelation of sorts that changed her career path and, ulti-
mately, her life. Who has been your biggest influence?
“I thought, ‘This is not how I want to live my life,’” Drenik says. My mom
“Finally, I decided I’m going to go back to where I really felt like I was
making a contribution — that’s why I went back to health care.” Where is your dream vacation spot?
Now, as director of marketing at Baylor All Saints Medical Center, Maui, Hawaii
Drenik says she can’t imagine working anywhere else.
At Baylor – where Drenik says she learned the importance of Where did your first paycheck come from?
teamwork – Drenik comes up with strategic methods and marketing Dillon’s Grocery Store
plans to drive up revenue, she says.
Drenik’s recent large project was marketing for Andrews Women’s Another profession you would like to try?
Hospital, which opened in March. Politics
A year before the hospital opened, Drenik compiled information
from women’s focus groups to find out what women wanted from
Government
their health care. Drenik communicated with patients and benefactors
through polls, billboards and letters to spread the word about the What was your favorite TV show growing up?
hospital and learn more about what the hospital should offer. American Bandstand
When the190,000-square-foot hospital opened, Drenik found all
her hard work had paid off. What book would you recommend?
“I’m passionate about being involved in the development of the Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer
hospital, whether is a new service or a new facility,” Drenik says. “To
be on the ground floor and watch the people coming in through What is your musical guilty pleasure?
those doors – that’s fulfillment.” Nina Simone – Jazz
– Sarah Mason
May 28, 2008 13

14 May 28, 2008
Mark Dungan
Children’s Neuroblastoma
Cancer Foundation
vice president
age 37
Hometown Fort Worth
n the summer of 2003, Mark Dungan’s daughter, Sydney, had

Ijust turned 2. She’d suffered from cold-like symptoms for sever-
al weeks, and suddenly one day she wasn’t putting weight on her
legs and stopped walking.
Later that night, Dungan and his wife, Lynley Dungan, were in
the hospital with Sydney and told she had a tumor nearly the size
of a football in her abdomen. It was cancer, a neuroblastoma, and
had metastasized until it had destroyed the top of her hips,
explaining why she’d stopped walking. Sydney’s parents were told
there was only a 15 percent chance she would live another two
years.
The diagnosis was shocking, but it also served as a turning
point in Dungan’s life and career.
“We spent about 18 months pretty solidly in the hospital, and
as time went on I got more interested in solving the problem that
was neuroblastoma,” Dungan says. Who has been your biggest influence?
Dungan had been working with his e-learning company, My father, George Dungan
which provided training to people in various jobs in the energy
industry. He kept a blog documenting his family’s journey and Where is your dream vacation spot?
fight against cancer, and one night he had a dream that he Carmel, Calif.
should ask everyone to donate their lunch money to the
Children’s Neuroblastoma Cancer Foundation. Where did your first paycheck come from?
Dungan posted the request on his blog, and within 10 days, Whataburger
more than $175,000 was raised. The Lunch for Life fund-raiser
was born, and to date the initiative has raised more than $2 mil-
Pediatric Oncology
lion for the CNCF.
Dungan sold his e-learning company and focused on his fami-
ly and neuroblastoma. In 2004, he was appointed to the board of Calculus
the CNCF, and in November 2006, he became the vice president.
Today, Sydney is in kindergarten and has a younger brother, What was your favorite TV show growing up?
Graham, and little sister, Ainsley. He says his daughter’s cancer M*A*S*H
made him realize the limitations that physicians and researchers
face. What book would you recommend?
“I couldn’t cure it, but I could find the people who could and Ya Can’t Let Cancer Ruin Your Day by Syd Birrell
support their research,” he says.
—Elizabeth Bassett What is your musical guilty pleasure?
Ingrid Michaelson
May 28, 2008 15

Joseph Fackel
Buxton
senior vice president,
Northern Division,
CommunityID
age 39
Hometown Rock Island, Ill.
orn and raised in Rock Island, Ill., Joe Fackel heard Fort Worth
Bcalling his name when he learned about a man named Tom
Buxton.
“My father-in-law was telling me about this guy who had started
this company that was just going crazy,” Fackel says. “He had been
reading about some new interesting products they had coming out
and he said, ‘You should call Tom.’ So I called Tom.”
Buxton obviously liked what Fackel had to say. In June 2002
Fackel, along with his wife and young son, left his home in Atlanta to
move to Fort Worth and to a new job at Buxton, a highly-regarded
customer analytics company.
Fackel’s initial task at Buxton was to confirm whether communities
would really be interested in utilizing Buxton’s tools for recruiting
retail. After traveling Texas, hosting meetings and presentations about Who has been your biggest influence?
Buxton’s services, Fackel quickly learned the demand would be great. My parents, as well as Bob Bolen
“I could tell by the second meeting that we were really on to
something,” Fackel says. “Retail was a mystery to most people. We Where is your dream vacation spot?
were able to bring our expertise to these communities so they could Kauai, Hawaii
understand retail opportunities, and learn how to not waste time and
resources choosing the wrong kinds of retail.” Where did your first paycheck come from?
Six years later after conducting that initial research for Tom Buxton, Delivering carpeting and floor covering
Fackel is now Buxton’s northern division senior vice president, having
been a part of more than 400 projects across the country in 40 states. Another profession you would like to try?
“We had a tool, cities had a need, and we were just able to meet Teacher
that need,” Fackel says. “It’s just been a phenomenal ride.”
Fackel carries his same enthusiasm from the office over to his com- What was your favorite high school subject?
munity involvement, as well. He supports many local charities, includ- Biology
ing the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, The Warm Place and
the Leukemia/Lymphoma Society. What was your favorite TV show growing up?
“I come from a family where giving back to others was important,” Moonlighting
Fackel says. “I think any time you can lend a hand, you have an obli-
gation to do that, and that comes from my parents. That was the
It’s Not About the Bike...My Journey Back to Life by Lance Armstrong
example that was set for me and I am trying to do the same for my
two sons.” What is your musical guilty pleasure?
– Celestina Phillips Disney’s High School Musical
16 May 28, 2008

Alyson Farmer
World Affairs Council,
Fort Worth Center
executive director
age 31
Hometown Muskogee, Okla.
escribing herself as an “Okie from Muskogee,” Alyson Farmer

Dhas come a long way from her roots as a small town girl from
Oklahoma. At the age of 18, Farmer already had traveled overseas,
and by 26, she had backpacked and hostel-hopped much of
Europe, including England and Ireland. She went to school in
Mexico for a summer right out of high school, and in 2007, Farmer
was selected as one of four ambassadors representing Rotary
International District 5790 for a month in Peru.
“You had to do a presentation about your district and what
projects your district was doing,” Farmer says of her time in Peru.
“Which meant you had to learn it in Spanish so you could give the
Who has been your biggest influence?
presentation in Spanish.”
My parents
Farmer, a certified meetings professional with a master’s degree
in organizational management, decided to make Fort Worth her Where is your dream vacation spot?
home after many visits to a childhood friend who was attending Africa
Texas Christian University. With extensive contract work in London
and Dublin under her belt, she was hired on with Fort Worth Sister Where did your first paycheck come from?
Cities before moving on to the World Affairs Council in 2007. Filing abstracts
“When I got back (from Peru), the World Affairs Council job
came open and I knew that was the fit that I had been looking Another profession you would like to try?
before,” Farmer says. Water engineering
Along with her Rotary Club of Fort Worth involvement, Farmer
is a member of the Tarrant County Young Republicans, serves as the What was your favorite high school subject?
membership chair for the Southeastern Oklahoma State University Math
Alumni Board of Directors, and volunteers for CASA (Court
Appointed Special Advocates for Children) of Tarrant County, as What was your favorite TV show growing up?
well as the HALO Society, an organization that supports CASA. Murder She Wrote
“Some people are good at sports, and some people have fami-
lies and are really good at being parents,” Farmer says. “It seems What book would you recommend?
my talent, and what makes me feel good, is volunteer work. Surely You’re Joking, Mr. Feynman! by Richard P. Feynman
Volunteering is as much for me as it is for the people I help in the
end.”
The Oak Ridge Boys 1982 Christmas Album
– Celestina Phillips
May 28, 2008 17

Neil Foster
GCG Advertising
president
age 37
Hometown Fort Worth
love my work, only second to my family,” says Neil Foster, who

Ipresident
started as a copywriter at GCG in 1996 and worked his way up to
of the firm in 2007.
“I like to create things, and help people and businesses solve
problems in ways they never thought of before,” he says. “Being in a
creative business has allowed me to remain a child in certain ways. I
get to dream a lot, and use my brain in a challenging way.”
Foster’s dreams and creative ideas have led his agency to numer-
ous industry awards and recognitions. In 2003, he established the
health care division at GCG to offer more specialized marketing serv-
ices and resources to the company’s existing health care clients. As a
result, in 2004 GCG’s Healthcare Group was recognized and award-
ed as one of the top health care agencies in the country – the only
agency named in the southwest.
“Neil communicates with his clients and employees with com- Who has been your biggest influence?
plete honesty, making recommendations and decisions in the best Scott Turner and Robert Langford have been mentors. Both my par-
interest of all parties,” says Allyson Cross, who nominated Foster and ents. But most of all, I would have to say my wife, Michelle
who has worked at GCG for five years.
“He leads GCG with style and finesse,” Cross says, “knowing Where is your dream vacation spot?
Japan
that his greatest asset is the talent of his employees. He monitors
and advances their professional growth by investing in and expand-
ing each employee’s specific gifts and abilities.”
My first paycheck came from Wolf Nursery. It was tough work, but I
Good leadership, says Foster, has nothing to do with rhetoric.
always had a great tan since I worked outdoors.
“You have to lead by example. You can’t expect people to put their
And in high school, that was very important
hearts into something if you’re not. They’ll see right through you.”
The father of three boys, Foster is currently working with his chil- Another profession you would like to try?
dren – the oldest of whom is not quite 11 – to establish their own I would enjoy being on the writing and directing side of the film industry
businesses. He serves as dugout coach for Little League Baseball,
and he and business partner Scott Turner donate countless hours to What was your favorite high school subject?
the Children’s Neuroblastoma Cancer Foundation, All Church Home I liked art best. It was the only subject that didn’t have boundaries
for Children and AIDS Outreach Center.
“I’m fairly introspective by nature, so I get a little embarrassed What was your favorite TV show growing up?
seeing my name or photo in the media,” says Foster. “But I know it The Banana Splits – I loved those furry guys.
is just part of the territory when running a successful business.
Preferably, I enjoy being the guy behind the curtain. Guess I’m more What is your musical guilty pleasure?
of a director than an actor.” These days, I mostly listen to what my kids like, although I pull out some
—Betty Dillard old 80s vinyl from time to time. New Order 45s bring back some memories.
18 May 28, 2008

Caroline Gary
Federal Medical Center Carswell
clinical social worker
age 37
Hometown Oklahoma City
rowing up watching her mother, a nurse, guided Caroline Gary

Galong a natural path into a helping profession. But the
licensed master social worker never dreamed she would find herself
a civil servant with the Federal Bureau of Prisons working to pre-
pare female offenders to return to the community as law abiding
and productive citizens through therapeutic programs and services.
“However, when I began my work as a prison social worker, I
knew it was a perfect fit for me,” Gary says. “My work as a social
worker in a prison setting can be very difficult and challenging, yet
it is often rewarding to know that your work has the potential to
impact the individual, their families, and, ultimately, the community
to which they will return.”
At the Federal Medical Center at Carswell in Fort Worth, Gary
serves as a member of the Health Services Department, helping Who has been your biggest influence?
develop, organize and manage the various support services associ- My mother. She is my mentor, my biggest supporter and friend
ated with the psychosocial needs for female inmates. She currently
serves as chair of the Compassionate Release Committee, a mem- Where is your dream vacation spot?
ber of the Interdisciplinary Committee on Patient Care and a mem- Anywhere near tranquil water. I would
ber of the Bio-Ethics Committee. She also served as Hospice love to travel to Hawaii some day
Program Coordinator and as a liaison between the institution and
inmate families, hospital personnel, courts and community agencies. Where did your first paycheck come from?
Gary says she is proud to work with the SHARE (Sharing Hope Eckerd Drug Store as a pharmacy clerk
About Recovery Experiences) program – a special outreach program
in which inmates hope to convince others to take a different path Another profession you would like to try?
away from incarceration. I love to sing….in another life, I would love to sing professionally
“Many of the presenters have been released from prison and
have gone on to lead successful personal and professional lives,” What was your favorite high school subject?
Gary says. English
Nominator Daphne Brookins with TCU Upward Bound says,
What was your favorite TV show growing up?
“Mrs. Gary is a very humble and deserving person and doesn’t even
The Carol Burnett Show
know how many lives she is touching with the community services
that she provides. She is passionate about her job and passionate What book would you recommend?
about helping our young women getting their lives on the right The Bible
track and become successful future leaders.”
She is married to Caron Gary. The couple has an18-month-old What is your musical guilty pleasure?
son, Cole Ellis Gary. I am a music lover and I am a fan of most music,
—Betty Dillard however, jazz is probably my favorite
May 28, 2008 19

Caroline C. Harrison
Cantey Hanger
associate attorney
age 33
Hometown Lancaster, Calif.
aroline Harrison’s long list of community involvement is

Cimpressive considering the time she dedicates to her career as
an associate in the litigation section at Cantey Hanger LLP. She is
the president of the Fort Worth Tarrant County Young Lawyer’s
Association, on the board of the Tarrant County Bar Association, is
involved in Speedway Children’s Charities, the Fort Worth Young
Lawyer’s Association Mentor Program and serves as a volunteer
teacher for Junior Achievement. With a 1-year old daughter at
home, balancing work, family and philanthropy is vital.
“My husband is amazing” Harrison says. “He is so supportive
of everything that I do. There’s no way I could pull it off without
him.”
Notable career highlights for Harrison include a case in 2007 in Who has been your biggest influence?
which she defended Cook Children’s Healthcare System, Cook My aunt
Children’s Medical Center and four nurses in a $20 million lawsuit,
along with Jordan Parker, a partner at Cantey Hanger. After a 12- Where is your dream vacation spot?
day trial, the jury returned a defense verdict. Harrison has also rep- One month on a private island with luxury facilities and a private chef
resented high profile clients including the Fort Worth Independent
School District, Atmos Energy, Devon Energy Production and non- Where did your first paycheck come from?
profit organizations including Child Care Associates and the Yogurt shop in California called Heidi’s Frogen Yozurt
Presbyterian Night Shelter. While most would call it quits after a
full work week, Harrison continues to dedicate time to the commu- Another profession you would like to try?
nity. Novelist
“I’m in a position where I can give back with my time,”
Harrison says. “I think it’s important to make time for that. I want What was your favorite high school subject?
to set a good example for my daughter so that she grows up and Government
knows that’s what you should do.”
Harrison’s life lesson so far? What was your favorite TV show growing up?
“I’ve learned a lot of patience. You definitely need to pick your Beverly Hills 90210
battles,” she says. “It’s not going to do you any good to go into a
situation and insist on your position without being open to where
The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd
the other person is coming from and trying work out some kind of
compromise.” What is your musical guilty pleasure?
—Celestina Phillips Outkast
20 May 28, 2008

Dak Hatfield
Innovative Developers
real estate developer
age 33
Hometown Norman, Okla.
ak Hatfield established himself as outstanding business leader

Dwhen he was well under the age of 40. At 25, Hatfield found-
ed a company based in Hawaii that provided complete turnkey ren-
ovation packages to military bases, including everything from carpet
and paint to electrical work and furnishings. He says coming from a
family of entrepreneurs, he was always interested in starting his
own business. Hatfield also hired and managed more than 20 glob-
al sales representatives for his company, some of which already had
a few years on him.
“There was definitely a bit of apprehension toward the younger
guy,” Hatfield says. “But when you’re able to show them that you
actually know what you are talking about, you earn their respect.
That was one of the major obstacles I had to overcome. Here’s a
young guy responsible for millions of dollars. It took a long time for Who has been your biggest influence?
them to see me as someone who could be responsible for their My mom
projects.”
After two years in Hawaii, Hatfield, a Texas Christian University Where is your dream vacation spot?
alum, and his wife moved back to Fort Worth to be closer to family. Australia
“Fort Worth had the small town feel that we desired with the
big city amenities and opportunities,” he says. Where did your first paycheck come from?
Hatfield is now part of the team at Innovative Developers, and Mowing lawns
works with brokers to seek out land and tenants, as well as spear-
head entire developments for land and commercial building.
Professional golfer or fighter pilot
“The way they do business is very community oriented,”
Hatfield says. “I have always wanted to become more involved with
the Fort Worth community and Innovative Developers allows me to Anatomy and physiology
do that.”
His affiliations are many, including Young Leaders Council What was your favorite TV show growing up?
Member of Greater Fort Worth Real Estate Council, TCU Young Spent most of his time outside, but didn’t miss a Dallas Cowboys game
Alumni Board Member, Chamber of Commerce Vision Fort Worth
Member and BOMA member. What book would you recommend?
“I enjoy teaching folks and I also like learning,” Hatfield says. I’m more of a magazine and newspaper guy, but would recommend
“I’ve still got a lot of learning to do, and the more people that I can Newsweek and the Fort Worth Business Press
talk to and meet, the more information I am able to obtain and
relay to others.” What is your musical guilty pleasure?
—Celestina Phillips Hip Hop
May 28, 2008 21

Jennifer Henderson
JODesign
president and creative director
age 34
Hometown Fort Worth
or Jennifer Henderson, combining design skill with marketing

Fsavvy came naturally early on in her life. The president and cre-
ative director of JODesign was designing and printing stickers for
clients all over the country at the age of 11.
“I mass-produced them in my closet,” Henderson laughed. “I
even bought ads in the major trade publications.”
After obtaining a degree in fine arts from Texas Wesleyan
University, Henderson launched her small boutique design agency
in 1999 at the age of 25. JODesign has since evolved into a full-
fledged advertising firm, handling collateral design, ad campaigns,
marketing and public relations for several local and international Who has been your biggest influence?
clients, including Worthington National Bank and Kelly Hart & Sherrie Drakeford, former director of communications at
Hallman. Her work has been recognized with numerous awards, Texas Wesleyan University who lost her battle with cancer
including several ADDY awards from 2004 to 2007, the Graphic and multiple sclerosis in 2005. Henderson says she taught
Excellence Award in 2005, and a Bronze Quill Award in 2002. her how to be a leader, communicator and mentor herself
Known for working with a strong base of area freelancers,
Henderson says she only aims to hire the best, which helps her Where is your dream vacation spot?
meet deadlines and keep costs down, a savings she says she pass- Anywhere in the world
es on to her clients. Henderson also makes internships a priority in
her business. Where did your first paycheck come from?
“I see a certain spirit in that age group,” she says. “They want Designing and printing stickers for clients at 11
to know anything and everything, and for me to have been in that
same position when I was college, I think I owe a lot of my success
Interior Design
to the people I learned from.”
Where Henderson shines as a dedicated philanthropist in her
community is in her commitment to provide her award-winning World History
marketing and design skills to a number of local nonprofits, includ-
ing the Susan G. Komen Foundation, Speedway Children’s What was your favorite TV show growing up?
Charities, American Diabetes Association and Easter Seals of Bionic Woman
Tarrant County.
“I work 90 to 100 hours a week,” Henderson says. “So I don’t What book would you recommend?
have any time outside of work. How I give is by doing a ton of pro How to Succeed in Business Without a Penis: Secrets
bono work. I will design annual reports, brochures, newsletters, all and Strategies for the Working Woman by Karen Salmansohn
for free. It’s a lot of donated hours, but that’s where I am talented,
and if I can give my talent, that’s what I would rather do.” What is your musical guilty pleasure?
—Celestina Phillips Jazz
22 May 28, 2008

Ben King
Metro Golf Cars
general manager and vice president
age 36
Hometown Everman, Texas
or Ben King, work is more about doing a good job than earn-
Fing a paycheck. Working as the general manager and vice
president of his family’s business, Metro Golf Cars Inc., King has
been around the company since his dad started it in the 1970s.
“My dad started the company in 1974 and moved to this
location on South Freeway in 1977 and we’ve been here five
miles south of Downtown ever since,” King says. “As a family Who has been your biggest influence?
business, I grew up working here earning my first paycheck as a My Mother. She has been a living example
kid sweeping floors.” of integrity, honesty, and true grace
The company – despite its name – has only about 25 percent
of its business associated with golf, King says. Where is your dream vacation spot?
“We’ve evolved into a broad array of off-road vehicles that is I hope to go on a Scotland-Ireland golf trip in 2009
the main business, but we grew out of the golf side and still have with family and friends then I would like to take
a tie there, but it is not the majority of our business,” King says. a trip to Australia and New Zealand in 2010
King joined the company in 1998. Since then, he started
another division of Metro Golf Cars called King Brothers UTV Where did your first paycheck come from?
Ranch of Fort Worth. This company sells power sports utility type I received my first pay check from right here
products, which are growing and gaining momentum. at Metro Golf Cars. I started here with small tasks
This year, Metro Golf Cars launched another company, Martex such as sweeping floors and taking out trash.
Global Enterprise, as the parent company for the firm’s manufac-
turing of the HuntVe 4x4 electric utility vehicle designed and Another profession you would like to try?
focused for the hunting industry and hunters. The company is Teaching. It is a noble profession and
entering into a dealer network for that, too. I enjoy learning and passing it on
Last year, King launched a trade publication — Inside UTV —
as the publisher and owner through Boot Jack King Publications. What was your favorite high school subject?
The publication goes to 12,000 UTV dealers, he said. Texas History. I am a proud Texan and still enjoy its history
“My motivation is less about money and more about wanting
to do a good job,” King says. “That self satisfaction is what moti- What was your favorite TV show growing up?
vates me at the end of the day.” Dukes of Hazard
King is secretary/treasurer for the Mansfield Economic
Development Board and serves on the Walnut Creek Country Club
If reading for fun – any book by Vince Flynn.
membership council, among other civic groups.
King and his wife of seven years, Barbara, have a 4-year-old
boy, Jack, and an 8-month-old girl, Mary Grace.
None. I take pleasure in all music that I listen to.
—Tonie Auer
If I don’t like it I turn it off
May 28, 2008 23

Gary Lewis
Gus Bates Co.
sales associate
age 37
Hometown Fort Worth
retty much any time the Texas Christian University Horned

PFrogs take the field at Amon G. Carter Stadium, Gary Lewis
can be found cheering on the purple and white.
The sports fan loves his alma mater, where he graduated in
1992 with a bachelor’s degree in marketing, and pretty much all
college football.
“I love college football. There is just so much excitement and
enthusiasm. I think it is the best sport in America,” Lewis says. Who has been your biggest influence?
But, his love for sports extends beyond football to soccer, too. My parents, Gary and Peggy Lewis. They’re two
“I play soccer even though I’m not as fast as I used to be,” he of the best people that I know, very open minded,
says with a smile. “I am the keeper on an indoor team and act as very accepting and have never met a stranger
the organizer and coach.”
In addition to supporting the Horned Frogs, Lewis has hit the Where is your dream vacation spot?
Brugge, Belgium – as a beer connoisseur
road traveling overseas to watch the U.S. team play in the World
it is the ultimate spot for beer
Cup in Germany in 2006. This year, he plans to travel to Austria
and Switzerland to watch the Euro Cup action.
“When I went to the World Cup and heard the national
My dad’s machine shop – working there in the summers
anthem played, it just gives you chills,” he says.
With a love of sports and a sense of adventure, Lewis says the
best part of his job is the interaction with people. I would love to be a college football announcer
As a sales associate with the Gus Bates Co. in Fort Worth,
Lewis joined the family company – his uncle is Gus Bates Sr. – in What was your favorite high school subject?
1994. Science or history. I like knowing how things work and history
“I really like the insurance industry and do a lot of sales,” he is fascinating to see the events that shaped where we are now.
says. “We have a range of companies we work with and we do
health insurance and employee benefits for companies. I really like What was your favorite TV show growing up?
meeting new people and talking to my clients.” Star Trek, the original series
Problem solving is another task he savors.
“I like to figure out how to do things,” he says. “It seems like I What book would you recommend?
get a lot of weird circumstances coming my way, but I like to take The Rosetta Stone language CDs – I’ve been doing the Spanish one
the time to figure out how to help people out.”
—Tonie Auer What is your musical guilty pleasure?
Mariachi music
24 May 28, 2008

Quang T. Le
River Park Medical Clinic
internist
age 36
Hometown Saigon, Vietnam
hen his mother was diagnosed with gall bladder cancer,

WDr. Quang T. Le was inspired to pursue the field of medi-
cine. Born in Saigon, Vietnam, as the youngest of eight children,
Le said he felt a connection with the doctor who would visit his
family to talk about his mother’s condition.
“It was what stuck out to me during the time of my mother’s
illness,” Le says. “The doctor came in and tried to explain things
to us, and that’s what I try to do for my patients today.”
Le, who practices internal medicine at River Park Medical Who has been your biggest influence?
Clinic, believes communication not only with the patient, but with My father
the patient’s family is vital, especially when dealing with cases of
dementia. He is a frequent speaker at community forums spon- Where is your dream vacation spot?
sored by the Alzheimer's Association of Tarrant County. His fluency Antarctica
in Vietnamese also helps to serve a fast-growing population in
Tarrant County. Where did your first paycheck come from?
“I created the forum because a lot of times in my office, the Retail at Six Flags Over Texas
loved one who is affected is there with the family, and it’s hard
for them to ask questions,” Le says. “This gives them the opportu- Another profession you would like to try?
Arlington Police Academy
nity to ask questions, and it’s good for them to be with other
people that have the same issues. It’s kind of a support group.”
Le says finding balance is what challenges him the most. His
Math
profession consumes him, he says, and he finds it difficult to take
time for himself even when he is off. But helping families under-
stand and cope with a disease that affects a family member is The Cosby Show
what Le finds most rewarding throughout his hectic schedule.
“When you first go into medicine, you think it’s your job to fix What book would you recommend?
things,” Le says. “I’ve learned that it’s not always about fixing Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff
things, but it’s about helping families throughout the entire
process.” What is your musical guilty pleasure?
—Celestina Phillips Britney Spears
May 28, 2008 25

Jim Luttrell
Southwest Bank Hulen office
president
age 37
Hometown Arlington
n a way, Jim Luttrell owes his career success as much to Exxon

IMobil Corp. as he does the banking industry.
Nearly 20 years ago, while attending Tarrant County College at
night, Luttrell was selling gas at a Pantego station often frequented
by local bankers. Somewhat directionless but knowing he didn’t
want to sell gas all his life, Luttrell asked one of the bankers about a
job.
Today, he’s the president of Southwest Bank’s newly opened
branch at 2718 S. Hulen St., and is committed to helping small busi-
ness owners.
“What I enjoy about banking is that you get to see what other
people do and why they do it,” the Arlington resident says.
“Someone works to make money, but it’s also a passion. How
someone started a business and how someone keeps a business
going, tells you a lot about a person.”
The Hulen branch is Luttrell’s first attempt to open a bank, but Who has been your biggest influence?
he’s already earned a reputation throughout Tarrant County for com- My grandmother Adela Bookout
munity service. As president of Leadership Arlington, he achieved the
largest class in the organization’s history this year when 48 Where is your dream vacation spot?
members were chosen to learn the inner workings of the Arlington Anywhere in Europe
community.
“Jim has led it to levels we’ve been trying to get to for many Where did your first paycheck come from?
years,” said Joe Bruner, a former Arlington city councilman and McGaw’s Exxon
Leadership Arlington’s most senior member, in his nomination.
Bruner also says Luttrell helped Leadership Arlington make Another profession you would like to try?
progress in diversity issues and in establishing a better database- Acting
management system. Luttrell also strengthened the organization’s
youth leadership training program. What was your favorite high school subject?
Luttrell also serves on the directors’ board of Azleway Inc., a Lunch
Tyler-based organization that provides housing, school and treat-
ment options for children. He organized Azleway’s fund-raising golf What was your favorite TV show growing up?
tournaments and its gala dinner. Dallas
“I loved kids and I want to see them succeed,” says Luttrell,
who doesn’t have children of his own. “I want all the Azleway kids What book would you recommend?
to understand that, even though they may not have a mother and The Bible
father at home or, for some reason, they can’t live at home with
their families, there is somebody who does care about them.” What is your musical guilty pleasure?
– Stephanie Patrick Hip-hip music
May 28, 2008 27

Ryan Matthews
The Staubach Co.
associate
age 30
Hometown Austin
e handles multimillion-dollar deals and is involved with some

Hof Tarrant County’s biggest land transactions, but Ryan
Matthews, an associate for The Staubach Co. in Fort Worth, knows
what really drives the real estate industry.
“Real estate is as much a people business, as it is finding the
right property and crunching the numbers to make a deal work
for both parties,” says Matthews, who has been with Staubach for
five years and previously worked at Hillwood. “I like dealing with
the people and it’s fun to have both sides, both parties, working
together.” Who has been your biggest influence?
At only 30, his deals have included everything from a $60 mil- My Dad, he exemplifies how to maintain a balanced life
lion multitenant office-building disposition to a 25-acre land and to always be humble in your victories
assemblage in west Fort Worth. And he’s earned recognition as
one of Staubach’s top real estate rookies in Dallas-Fort Worth and Where is your dream vacation spot?
a top producer in Fort Worth. Vallecito Colorado (near Durango) where I can play golf,
Matthews credit some of his success to earning a law degree fly fish the San Juan River and Pine River, and Elk hunt
from Texas Wesleyan University. in the San Juan National Forest
“It gave me a skill set that is beneficial in the commercial bro-
kerage business and something that sets me apart from some of
Finish Line Car Wash on Bee Caves Road in Austin
my peers,” says Matthews, who doesn’t practice law but is a
member of the State Bar of Texas and the Texas Young Lawyers
Association.
Commercial banker; another relationship oriented
He’s also earned the praise of his peers. Todd Burnette, execu-
business that I would find intriguing because you can work
tive vice president in Staubach’s Fort Worth office, says Matthews
with a broad range of industries.
has learned the business quickly.
“Not only does he have top real estate skills, with his law What was your favorite TV show growing up?
background, Ryan is able to guide clients through some of the The A-Team and MacGyver
hurdles that may arise and give them a comfort level that some-
one else could not provide,” Burnette says. What book would you recommend?
The married father of two also is actively involved with Hearts Any Legal Thriller by John Grisham,
and Hands Council, which benefits Cook Children’s Medical I don’t think he has written a bad book
Center, and is involved with the Texas Christian University Alumni
Association and Christ Chapel Bible Church. What is your musical guilty pleasure?
– Stephanie Patrick Blurting out bits of songs that I heard on
the radio or TV a day or two earlier
28 May 28, 2008

Hunter T. McLean
Whitaker, Chalk, Swindle & Sawyer
partner
age 39
Hometown Fort Worth
ike most lawyers, a strong sense of justice drew Hunter T.

LMcLean to a law career. But those around him say it’s his
strong sense of integrity and healthy doses of family and commu-
nity values, which make him someone to admire.
“He’s very active in Christ Chapel Church and is a deacon at
the church,” says John Allen Chalk Sr., of the Fort Worth law firm
Whitaker, Chalk, Swindle & Sawyer LLP. “Not only that, Hunter
takes charge of a lot of our projects within the firm and has really
taken the lead in developing better communication skills with Who has been your biggest influence?
clients.” My Father
McLean also is known for mentoring younger attorneys in his
firm and, as an active partner, he’s established a thriving law and Where is your dream vacation spot?
litigation practice involving business and employment issues, real France with my wife
estate, construction, oil and gas, and intellectual property cases.
The American Arbitration Association recently honored McLean for Where did your first paycheck come from?
his construction law experience. Fort Worth Trap and Skeet Club in middle school
“I would like to be able to touch the lives of people in this
community,” he says. “After you are through, dead and gone, the Another profession you would like to try?
only lasting impact you have are the relationships and times with Physician
the people you come across; all the material things don’t matter.”
A 2006 graduate of Leadership Fort Worth, McLean’s other What was your favorite high school subject?
community involvements include being a fellow of the Tarrant Math
County Bar Foundation and the Texas Bar Foundation and serving
as president of the Inwood Road Homeowners Association and What was your favorite TV show growing up?
the gas committee of Overton Park Neighborhood Association. Happy Days
But family is most important to McLean.
“My kids are 9 and 5 and, while they are young and even all What book would you recommend?
the way through into high school, my priority is to be a good Wild At Heart by John Eldredge
father to them,” he says. “That’s hard to do because it takes a lot
of time, but I want to invest that time.” What is your musical guilty pleasure?
– Stephanie Patrick Playing old jazz records (vinyl)
May 28, 2008 29

Niraj Mehta
Associates of Internal Medicine
internist
Plaza Medical Center
program director
of internal medicine residency
age 33
Hometown Austin
hile growing up, Dr. Niraj Mehta learned family values from
Whis immigrant parents, he says. It was in those lessons that
he developed a desire to dream and that helped shape his personal
work ethic, Mehta says.
Today, Mehta is a physician and community leader who uses his
leadership, experiences, background, passions and strengths to help
teach medical students and residents to improve our community.
Part of his personal objectives includes providing internal medi-
cine care as a primary care physician and to educate medical stu-
dents and Internal Medicine residents in a hospital and ambulatory
setting. Currently, Mehta is the program director of Internal Who has been your biggest influence?
Medicine at Plaza Medical Center. My parents. Immigrant parents who sacrifice all they know to come
“He gives so much time and energy to the professional develop- over for the Dream — it helps instill a certain ethic.
ment of students, interns, residents and the internal medicine resi-
dency program at Plaza,” says Monica Mehta, who works at Texas Where is your dream vacation spot?
Health Resources. “He will do what it takes to make his students Australia.
and program successful – whether it is on the clock or not.” Where did your first paycheck come from?
He is also proficient in the languages of Gujarati, Hindi and Garnett Lewis Cleaners — my parents’ dry cleaners in Austin
recently started a Spanish learning program.
For a man whose life is dedicated to developing future doctors,
Teaching ninth grade Biology or a boxing trainer
his desires include nurturing and reaching more youth as a future
ninth grade Biology teacher. What was your favorite high school subject?
“Their minds are still impressionable and their dreams haven’t Math
been put on the back burner yet,” he said. What was your favorite TV show growing up?
A personal goal would be for him to explore becoming a boxing MacGyver — The man could do anything with a paperclip and some
trainer, he says. dynamite.
“Only recently have I come to appreciate the stories, politics and
culture of boxing,” Mehta says. “I’m hooked.” What book would you recommend?
Someday, he hopes to find the time and energy to take a trip A New Earth by Ekhart Tolle. As its subtitle professes, if you allow it,
away from the day-to-day medical duties in Fort Worth and find a it will help awaken your life’s purpose.
quiet spot down under in Australia. What is your musical guilty pleasure?
– Darwin Campbell Part Snoop Dogg; Part Garth Brooks
30 May 28, 2008

Mike Micallef
JMK Holdings Management Co.
president
age 32
Hometown Fort Worth
For Mike Micallef, life has been more than a dream or destination.
The Fort Worth native grew up on steady diet of history and
parental values that helped him see the value of hard work at an early
age, he says.
His greatest influence came from his father, Al Micallef, who not only
taught him a great deal about life but also encouraged him to mow
lawns during the summer months, he says. Micallef later earned his
first paycheck working for Texas Outdoors at the ripe age of 14.
After graduating from Texas Christian University in 1999, Micallef
spent two years at Tsunami Partners, a hedge fund where he managed Who has been your biggest influence?
various equity investments. He also spent two years in Chicago work- My father – Al Micallef
ing in a turnaround situation at K&M Plastics, a plastics blow molding
company mainly serving the water treatment and industrial equipment Where is your dream vacation spot?
industries. Fishing for Sailfish off of Guatemala or Panama
Since June 2005, Mike has been president of JMK Holdings Where did your first paycheck come from?
Management Co.’s four nonmanufacturing businesses, Reata Aside from mowing lawns, it was from Texas Outdoors during the
Restaurant Group, Flight Services, Sierra La Rana and C F Ranch. summer when I was 14 and 15.
“I nominated Mike because I have worked with and around the
Micallef family for almost eight years and I’m very impressed with
Fishing Guide
what he has been able to accomplish,” says Julie Hatch, who works at
Creative Communications. “Mike looks for solutions whenever there What was your favorite high school subject?
are challenges, and when you run a four story restaurant that takes up History
a city block there are challenges.”
As well as finding solutions, Hatch says Micallef is willing to take Seinfeld
risks. For example, Reata taking over the Backstage Club at the Fort
Worth Stock Show and Rodeo this year, she says. What book would you recommend?
“The Backstage Club has been run by the same family for decades Charlie Goodnight, Cowman and Plainsman by J. Evetts Haley
and that really took courage to take that on, but he is willing to do it,” What is your musical guilty pleasure?
Hatch says. I don’t really have one. I spend a lot of time driving
However, despite his success, Micallef has not forgotten home. It is and end up listening to XM, mainly ESPN Radio.
truly where his heart is.
“Fort Worth is special,” he said. “The reason why Fort Worth is
special is because it still feels like a small town where relationships
are important.”
– Darwin Campbell
May 28, 2008 31

Colin L. Murchison
Jackson Walker
associate
age 31
Hometown Fort Worth
olin Murchison is making a name for himself as an attorney at

CJackson Walker LLP, but he also has a strong volunteer spirit
and genuine love and desire to improve lives and conditions in the
community, says Jaymie Bell, who nominated Murchison.
Murchison is a director on the American Red Cross Chisholm
Trail Chapter, a director on the Tarrant County Adult Protective
Services Community Board and a director on the Trinity Valley
School Alumni Board.
“Colin has been a tremendous asset to the American Red Cross
Chisholm Trail Chapter and its lifesaving mission,” says Jason A. Who has been your biggest influence?
Smith, chief executive officer of the American Red Cross Chisholm Without question, my parents.
Trail Chapter. “As a fund-raiser, working specifically with potential
estate donors, and as an attorney, he’s brought energy, vision and Where is your dream vacation spot?
a willingness to reach out on our behalf. His time and talent have My family’s ranch in Coleman, Texas, with my wife and our two dogs.
made the local Red Cross stronger.”
Much of what Murchison is today has come from a host of influ- Where did your first paycheck come from?
ences including his parents and what he learned early in life on his My first paycheck came from Lee Todd when I spent a summer in high
first job, he says. school working on his Beefmaster Cattle ranch.
Murchison is also a member of the Tarrant County Probate Bar,
the Tarrant County Young Lawyers Association and the State Bar of Another profession you would like to try?
Texas. He is also certified by the State Bar of Texas as an Attorney Chef.
Ad Litem and a Guardian Ad Litem. He has put all his knowledge
from his law practice to work to help better the lives of the elderly What was your favorite high school subject?
and disabled persons with his service as a volunteer for the Tarrant Baseball — I was not very studious in high school!
County Adult Protective Services Community Board.
Despite a demanding schedule, Murchison enjoys watching What was your favorite TV show growing up?
American Idol and dreams of cooking up special recipes as a chef. Bosom Buddies
He also loves dove hunting, but his idea of a dream vacation is
simply enjoying time on the family’s ranch in Coleman, Texas, with What book would you recommend?
his wife and their two dogs. The Time it Never Rained by Elmer Kelton
– Darwin Campbell
Not missing an episode of American Idol.
May 28, 2008 33

Jim Morse
Worthington National Bank
senior vice president
age 39
Hometown Brownfield, Texas
olleagues and business associates of Jim Morse say he is not

Conly hard-working, but is able – courtesy of his positive atti-
tude – to inspire others.
Morse says his character and moral values were formed at an
early age in Brownfield, Texas.
“It is where I spent a good deal of early childhood and accept-
ed Christ as my Savior,” he says.
As he grew, he became involved with the jazz band in school.
But it was his interest in finance that led him into the banking
business after graduating from Trinity High School in Euless and Who has been your biggest influence?
Texas Tech University in Lubbock. Spiritually — Jesus Christ; Earthly — my grandparents, L.J. and Nora
Now at Worthington National Bank in Arlington, where he is Richardson
senior vice president, Morse maintains his interest in music as
president of Symphony Arlington. He is also a member of the Where is your dream vacation spot?
Downtown Arlington Rotary Club and McKinney Bible Church. Lugano, Switzerland
“Jim is the most hard-working and committed salesperson in
the Worthington National Bank organization,” says nominators Where did your first paycheck come from?
Jennifer Henderson and Kelly Shafer. “His positive attitude is con- Six Flags Over Texas
tagious and his is actively involved in helping the community.”
For his photo shoot, Morse chose a trumpet, a second degree Another profession you would like to try?
black belt and a Spanish dictionary. Independent record producer
He said the props reflected a lot of his current and past accom-
plishments, challenges, and hopes and communicates a positive What was your favorite high school subject?
message for generations to come. Jazz band
“These have been disciplines and passions that continually
bring new ideas, possibilities and challenges for me – really with- What was your favorite TV show growing up?
out a quantifiable finish line or destination,” he said. “They are Highlander
life-long pursuits. The more I learn, the more I realize the more
there is to learn. They are an endless road of self-expression, cre- What book would you recommend?
ativity and learning that I’m slowly relinquishing the idea of mas- The Bible
tering – just learning to savor the journey of being better today
than I was yesterday and not compare myself with others.” What is your musical guilty pleasure?
– Darwin Campbell Any ballad by Luis Miguel or blues by John Coltrane
34 May 28, 2008

Stephanie Pratt
XTO Energy
supervisor of acquisition technicians
age 33
Hometown Eldon, Mo.
TO Energy’s Stephanie Pratt, supervisor of acquisition techni-

Xcians, loves every minute of the tense job she has.
In her position, Pratt and her team of eight research natural
gas and oil wells, crunch the numbers and determine if a
particular property is a good deal, or a bad deal, as a potential
XTO purchase.
“It’s kind of a like a rush,” Pratt says. “You’ve got a huge proj-
ect, short timeframe, you work really hard and when it’s done you
think, ‘Wow, we just purchased a million-dollar deal or a billion-
dollar deal.’ And it’s exciting.”
Pratt has worked with the Fort Worth-based energy company
for 10 years, having started as a production clerk before moving to
acquisitions and quickly rising through the ranks to her current
position.
The Missouri-native hadn’t planned on her current career while
at school in her home state, she says, “but it didn’t take long after
My brother
coming here that I knew this is where I want to be. The company
environment is beyond belief – it’s an amazing company.”
Where is your dream vacation spot?
For the past five years, Pratt has raised thousands of dollars Destin, Fla.
annually for the American Heart Association, having raised more
than $7,000 in 2005, when she says she was the No. 4 fund-raiser Where did your first paycheck come from?
in Tarrant County. Pratt is also a board of directors member of the Ozark Sun, a T-shirt shop at Lake of the Ozarks, Mo.
Fort Worth Desk and Derrick Club, an area chapter of the nation-
wide group that promotes the energy industry. Another profession you would like to try?
Fellow XTO employee Tena Pruitt, who has worked with Pratt Ice skating
for more than five years, described her as “organized, professional
and fun.” What was your favorite high school subject?
“I’ve been working with her for about five and half years and Social Studies
God, I can say a lot of great things about her,” says Pruitt, execu-
tive secretary to the executive vice president of acquisitions. “She What was your favorite TV show growing up?
and I are great friends but on as a business level we work great, Beverly Hills 90210
too.”
Pruitt says Pratt’s sense of organization is invaluable to her What book would you recommend?
department, and Pratt implemented a bar-code system to ensure The Bible
all records are accounted for – essential to a company that deals
in billions of dollars worth of property and resources. What is your musical guilty pleasure?
– John-Laurent Tronche Old country, like Willie Nelson and Johnny Cash
May 28, 2008 35

Clare Pritchett
Fort Worth Museum
of Science and History
director of the capital campaign
age 37
Hometown Fort Worth
lare Pritchett has had many remarkable experiences in her life from
Ctaking foreign trips and speaking to ambassadors to organizing trips
and events for 800 people.
Pritchett worked for President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura
Bush for almost 10 years before moving back to her native Fort Worth.
During her time at the White House, Pritchett was director of White House
Visitors Office and director of First Lady Operations among other duties.
“It was amazing, such an honor,” she says. “I started while he was gov-
ernor, never knowing what kind of train I was getting on. It was probably
people believing in me more than I believed in myself.”
Currently, Pritchett is director of the capital campaign at the Fort Worth
Museum of Science and History, which Pritchett says is similar to working Who has been your biggest influence?
for the Bush family. My parents and six siblings
“I’m accustomed to working with high-profile people,” she says. “Now,
instead of asking for peoples vote I’m asking for people’s funding.” Where is your dream vacation spot?
She is also active with the Junior League and served on the Trinity 82 degrees under a shady tree on a lounge chair
Valley Alumni Board and is involved with the Kappa Alpha Theta
Foundation of Fort Worth Executive Committee to raise money for Court Where did your first paycheck come from?
Appointed Special Advocates of Tarrant County. Pritchett has also been a Kimbell Museum selling tickets for the Courtauld impressionist show
volunteer with the I Have A Dream Foundation to bring a national author
to its Reading Rocks event. Another profession you would like to try?
It all boils down to believing in the job or cause you are doing, Pritchett Something related to homes or gardens
says. Being organized, setting goals and making things move forward it
what she says makes her a successful person. What was your favorite high school subject?
“What I would hope people would say about me is that I’m a hard French
worker, a quiet leader and fairly humble,” she says. “I’m usually in the
background and prefer it that way, but it is nice to be recognized some- What was your favorite TV show growing up?
times.” Bewitched
Pritchett says growing up in a home with six siblings taught her to
“quietly get things done, work well with people and always have a coop- What book would you recommend?
erative spirit.” Same Kind of Different as Me by Denver Moore and Ron Hall — my
“We certainly learned to work together and share,” Pritchett says. “The copy is with a friend right now
first time I was ever by myself with my parents was when they were driv-
ing me to college.” What is your musical guilty pleasure?
– Crystal Forester Bee Gees
36 May 28, 2008

Susan Roberts
Sanford, Baumeister, & Frazier PLLC
partner
age 38
Hometown Abilene
usan Roberts is not your traditional tax adviser. This certified

Spublic accountant is also licensed to drive a motorcycle. She
and husband, Jay, share their Harley Davidson, and when she’s
not working her adding machine, you may find her on the open
road.
As a tax partner with Sanford, Baumeister and Frasier, Roberts
helps high-net-worth individuals and businesses with effective tax
planning. Roberts’ jovial personality has also led her to marketing
My parents, Herman & Norma Schaffer – married for
her firm’s services to new clients. She says she finds her work
45 years, they enforced educational principles,
extremely fulfilling.
instilled morals and taught me my work ethic
“You can make it what you want it to be,” Roberts says. “It’s
a field that can be extremely flexible.”
In nominating Roberts, Bryan Thomas of OmniAmerican Bank The white sand beaches on the island of Roatan, part of Honduras.
praised her love of teaching people. It should be no surprise that We also look forward to diving the Great Barrier Reef someday
one of Roberts’ volunteer roles involved teaching a parenting
skills curriculum for the Parenting Center to parents who were Where did your first paycheck come from?
court-mandated to attend classes. Taylor Medical Supply, in Abilene, Texas,
“This was before I had kids,” Roberts says. “But I use a lot of where I served as a delivery girl and a sales clerk
what I learned with my children Molly and George, and it works.”
Roberts is active in the Women’s Chamber of Commerce and Another profession you would like to try?
the Fort Worth chapter of the Texas State Society of CPAs, which I would follow in my father’s footsteps and go into medicine.
honored her in 2006 as the Young CPA of the Year. I would also enjoy the most challenging and rewarding
Roberts says her choice of three unusual props showcase dif- career of all, that of a “stay at home mother.”
ferent facets of her life.
“My grandfather used this adding machine in his grocery store What was your favorite high school subject?
in the early 1900s,” she says. “It’s now in my office, as a symbol Mi clase favorito en esquela secondaria fue Español.
of my career.”
The sea shells represent her love of the beach and the ocean. What book would you recommend?
The “laughter in a can,” she says, reflects her personality. The Millionaire Next Door by Thomas J. Stanley and William D. Danko
“Ask anyone in my office, and they’ll tell you that I laugh or Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom
loudly, and often,” Roberts says. “Laughter is the remedy to just
about anything in life.”
Shhh- it’s anything from the 80s
– Laurie Barker James
May 28, 2008 37

Cathy Reagan Sheffield
Harris Methodist Health Foundation
director of finance and gift planning
age 38
Hometown Mandan, N.D.
athy Sheffield is a morning person, who’s up and running when

Cmost people still have an hour before their alarm rings. Her sunny
morning nature has been a gain for the Optimist Club, one of Sheffield’s
long-time volunteer commitments. The Fort Worth Aerospace Optimist
Club convenes early in the mornings, Sheffield’s favorite time for a
meeting.
“They do a lot of good work in our community” she says. “Their
national philanthropy is childhood cancer.”
Sheffield’s volunteer work focuses on organizations helping children.
She is on the board of Camp Sanguinity, a summer camp for children with
My maternal grandparents, who taught me the value
cancer and blood disorders.
of faith and inspired me with their unconditional love
“My husband Scott and I serve as counselors for the week-long camp,
and commitment to each other.
held near Meridian, Texas,” she says. The camp allows medically fragile
kids to have a “regular” summer camp experience.
Ann Clinkscales, who nominated Sheffield, says Sheffield’s volunteer
A Holy Land tour of Israel, Jordan and Egypt
activities extend beyond assisting local children’s charities.
“She also devotes her time to mentoring fund-raising professionals
and speaking at fund-raising programs nationwide,” says Clinkscales,
I was the NBC Peacock mascot for
who works at Clinkscales Consulting.
a local affiliate station in North Dakota
Sheffield works with the Harris Methodist family of hospitals. She says
she’s honored to work with people who choose to support the mission of Another profession you would like to try?
the hospitals by including the Harris Methodist Health Foundation in their Restaurateur/chef
estate plans.
“The people who make planned gifts have made Harris Methodist a What was your favorite high school subject?
part of their family,” she says. “God has blessed me with a rewarding History
career that allows me to work with generous people who are committed
to improving the lives of others and our community.” What was your favorite TV show growing up?
Raised in North Dakota, Sheffield says she loves living in Fort Worth. Miami Vice
“North Dakota was a great place to grow up, and working in
Washington, D.C., brought me some once-in-a-lifetime opportunities,” she What book would you recommend?
says. “But since moving to Fort Worth 11 years ago, I have developed The Bible, Night by Elie Wiesel and
amazing friendships with people throughout the community.” Same Kind of Different as Me by Ron Hall and Denver Moore
Meat Loaf (the singer, of course!)
38 May 28, 2008

Colby Siratt
Montserrat, WDS Partners
and Innovative Intermodal
partner
age 32
Hometown Bedford/Colleyville
olby Siratt didn’t originally intend to work with the family –

Cbut when they came to him in 2001 with their start-up prac-
tice, he left a position at Ernst and Young to do the financial paper
work for the Siratt family’s real estate practice, Montserrat, and
freight company, WDS.
“I was really enjoying what I was doing, but then my family
started asking me to come over and needed more help with the
business,” Siratt says. “So I left to come here (with the family) and Who has been your biggest influence?
I haven’t regretted it since.” My parents
Working at the family businesses gave Siratt more flexibility in
his job, he says, he was able to stay close to home with his wife, Where is your dream vacation spot?
who was pregnant with twins at the time. Australia or New Zealand
As a certified public accountant, Siratt says he enjoys doing the
“boring work,” such as reading over spreadsheets and compiling Where did your first paycheck come from?
My dad
financial paperwork. Siratt says he’s a piece of the business puzzle
at his family’s practices. Each has their own role and according to
Siratt, each member manages to see eye-to-eye on most decisions
Food and wine critic
while not interfering with each other’s duties.
“I think they see me as the person that taps the brakes –
they’ll get really excited about an idea and all gung-ho about it History
and I’m the one to say, ‘Well, let’s step back and look at it from
different angles,’” Siratt says. “I guess that’s very accounting-like.” What was your favorite TV show growing up?
Choosing to work with his family is one of the best decisions The A-Team
Siratt’s made in life, he says. Though he’s sure at some point grow-
ing up his brother used to “torture” him, Siratt says he’s enjoyed What book would you recommend?
being with his siblings and parents on and off the jobsite. Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry
– Sarah Mason
Flight of the Conchords
May 28, 2008 39

Donnie Siratt
Montserrat, WDS Partners
and Innovative Intermodal
partner
age 38
Hometown Fort Worth
s a member of what he calls an entrepreneurial family, Donnie

ASiratt is no exception. Straitt joined forces with his father Don
Siratt after college to manage WDS Partners, a Xerox equipment deliv-
ery company.
The family later sold the company in 1997, a move which left
Donnie Siratt in the dark, wondering where his next paycheck was
going to come from.
“When we first sold the trucking company, we were all nervous,
but also had the feeling – ‘Well, no problem, we’ll just go start anoth-
er company with each other,’” Siratt says.
It wasn’t long before the family banded together again on another
business venture, selling and developing pieces of property in Parker
County called Covered Bridge Canyon. Following soon after that was a
gated community on the edge of Fort Worth, Montserrat.
It was natural for the family to work together again, Siratt says.
Siratt spearheaded the business, learning what he could about devel-
oping and real estate from friends after he earned a Realtor’s license, Who has been your biggest influence?
he says. My dad
Starting a real estate business wasn’t like work originally, Siratt
says, it was something he and his family wanted to do for and with Where is your dream vacation spot?
each other. Australia
“We really planned and developed it around what we wanted,”
Siratt says. “We weren’t sure what the demand was going to be for Where did your first paycheck come from?
what we were doing, but it turned out it was what everyone else Gymnastics coach at YMCA
wanted – it just took off.”
With houses sprouting up like daisies, the Siratts were so success- Another profession you would like to try?
ful they purchased 70 more acres off the Montserrat neighborhood, on Sports Illustrated swimsuit photographer
which Siratt looks forward to seeing more houses and families join the
community. What was your favorite high school subject?
Construction couldn’t contain the Siratts however. Shortly after the History
Covered Bridge Canyon project started, the Siratts established WDS
Logistics, a regional version of WDS, delivering Xerox and specialty What was your favorite TV show growing up?
electric equipment. Gilligan’s Island
The family also started Innovative Intermodal, a railway cargo con-
tainer company – which was a logical step, Siratt says, as WDS
Twelve Mighty Orphans: The Inspiring True Story of the Mighty
required special carrying cases for shipping.
Mites Who Ruled Texas Football by Jim Dent
As a father of three, Siratt looks forward to passing on the family
tradition of entrepreneurship and watching his children realize and
work on their passions.
Broadway show tunes
– Sarah Mason
40 May 28, 2008

Marc Sloter
Merrill Lynch Fort Worth
financial adviser
age 37
Hometown San Antonio
arc Sloter is the youngest president ever at Fort Worth’s Beth-

MEl Congregation. Growing up in San Antonio, Sloter says his
relatives were active in their synagogues.
“Temple was a big part of my life growing up,” he says. “The
presidency was something I aspired to, but not necessarily at age
37.”
Richard Minker, Beth-El’s past president, says, “Marc epitomizes
what 40 Under 40 is about: being successful in your career, being
an exemplary family person, while giving back to your community.”
As a financial adviser at Merrill Lynch, Sloter helps individuals
develop a portfolio that meets their long-term financial goals. And
his abilities as a banker led to one of his most satisfying volunteer Who has been your biggest influence?
roles. No one person. I’ve learned from so many including
“I spent seven years on the Women’s Haven Board,” he says. my parents, grandparents, children, brother, bosses,
The organization asked him to be part of the year-long process that clients, friends and of course my wife, Jude
ultimately merged the Women’s Haven and The Women’s Shelter of
Arlington into SafeHaven. Where is your dream vacation spot?
Much of Sloter’s volunteerism revolves around children and A Las Vegas where I have the advantage –
families. This includes his work with SafeHaven, Beth-El I love the lights, sounds and excitement
Congregation and Big Brothers, Big Sisters, where he and wife Jude
mentored a brother-and-sister pair. Where did your first paycheck come from?
“I want to share the opportunities I have been given in my life, Three T Company – I packaged office furniture for
and help others realize the opportunities available to them,” he a whole summer in a warehouse without air conditioning
says.
Sloter chose a camera as his prop because of his love of pho- Another profession you would like to try?
tography. He’s not behind his camera as much these days, but Portrait photographer
Sloter says his passion for photos dates back to his teens.
“I turned a closet into a darkroom when I was in middle What was your favorite high school subject?
school,” he says. Trigonometry
As for his personal and professional success, Sloter credits his
supportive family, which includes children Mollie, Caroline and What was your favorite TV show growing up?
Stewart. M*A*S*H
“With my busy work and volunteer schedule, I don’t see my
family as often as I’d like,” says Sloter. “But I cherish my time with What book would you recommend?
them.”
I Knew You Could by Craig Dorfman
–– Laurie Barker James
I still enjoy my heavy metal from the 80s
May 28, 2008 41

Yi-Jiun Su
University of Texas at Arlington
assistant professor of physics
age 39
Hometown Kaohsiung, Taiwan
ost people see the Aurora Borealis as a mysterious cosmic phe-

Mnomenon. Physics professor Yi-Jin Su, who researches auroras
like the “Northern Lights,” has a far more down-to-earth take on the
light displays. Auroras are simply produced by the collision of charged
particles.
“We know that the particles originated from the sun, and were
attracted to the latitudes in the polar regions,” she says.
Su specializes in space science and auroral physics. As a woman
in the traditionally male field of physics, she’s faced her share of
obstacles. Su’s undergraduate teacher told her that he thought “girls Who has been your biggest influence?
were stupid,” she says. When she did well on her work, he accused Professor Ling-Hsiao Lyu at National Central University in Taiwan
her of cheating. But she says these obstacles made more determined
to succeed. Where is your dream vacation spot?
“I should thank the professor who discriminated against me,” Su I’ve been fortunate to travel to some pretty nice places,
says. “He made me work much harder.” but I don’t think I’ve found my “dream vacation spot” yet
She came to the United States in 1994 to attend graduate school Where did your first paycheck come from?
in Alabama. There, she met her husband, Ron Caton. As a graduate research assistant at National Central University in Taiwan
“Fortunately, or unfortunately, he’s also a physicist,” she says. The
couple celebrates their sixth anniversary this year.
I always enjoy learning new things, but I can’t think of
Su is an expert on a subject that boggles the average Texan. To
any profession better suited to me than research scientist
encourage the general public’s interest in auroral physics, Su volun-
teered to speak at the opening of University of Texas at Arlington’s What was your favorite high school subject?
Planetarium. Additionally, she speaks to young women about the Mathematics
excitement she finds in the field of science. What was your favorite TV show growing up?
“Recently, I spoke with a class for gifted female students, encour- A Japanese cartoon named Candy-Candy, the story of an optimistic
aging them to pursue higher education in science,” she says. girl who grew up in an orphanage. She tried to make everyone
Su is simply repaying the favor done for her by another influential around her happy, no matter how terrible the circumstances
woman, professor Ling-Hsiao Lyu, whom Su met at Taiwan’s National
Central University.
Other than professional reading, I have enjoyed the Chinese martial
“She told me to improve my English,” Su says. “International con-
arts novels by Jin Yong. I recommend his novels to western
ferences and communications within the field of space physics are
readers who would enjoy learning about Chinese culture.
always in English, and she told me to improve my skills to be success-
ful.” What is your musical guilty pleasure?
– Laurie Barker James I enjoy singing 70s-90s Taiwanese pop songs when no one is around
42 May 28, 2008

Grace Taylor
Helen Painter Group, Realtors
realtor, associate
age 25
Hometown Fort Worth
race Taylor, great-granddaughter of local real estate legend Helen

GPainter, is a fourth-generation real estate agent. Surprisingly, it’s
not a career that Taylor expected.
“I worked for the company in high school as an administrative assis-
tant, and it was my favorite job,” Taylor says. “I got into real estate not
knowing what to expect, and it’s been the best thing for me.”
In 2008, the Helen Painter Group celebrates its 50th year in busi-
ness. Lara Conn, who works for Commerce Title/Hal Swell Fee Attorney
and nominated Taylor, says she was the youngest person to receive one
of the company’s Top Producer awards. But for Taylor, customer service,
not total sales, is most important.
My parents – all four of them
“Helen Painter was known for her commitment to customer serv-
ice,” she says. “I try to uphold her reputation of impeccable integrity.” Where is your dream vacation spot?
Taylor is involved in several community organizations, including Fort Anywhere I can get lost in the culture,
Worth Vision and the Junior League. walk safely around alone, and meet new people.
“The Junior League contributes to the bigger picture in Fort Where did your first paycheck come from?
Worth,” Taylor says. “They impact organizations and lives which I had My first actual paycheck came from the tanning salon
no idea about until I became a member.” where I worked at age 14 in San Diego.
While it seems unusual for someone to recognize two sets of par-
ents, Taylor, whose parents are divorced, sees her nontraditional family Another profession you would like to try?
as a blessing. I’ve always loved acting, but could never bring myself to be a “starv-
“All four parents are unparalleled in character and they’ve each ing actress” going from audition to audition.
had a unique influence on me,” she says. What was your favorite high school subject?
Taylor calls her dad “the greatest man alive.” Speech, though I would have rather been playing
“I have his business sense and his crazy sense of humor,” she says. volleyball or running track.
She calls her mom “incredible” and says that “she taught me to be
open-minded about life.” America’s Funniest Home Videos
As far as her step-parents go, she is a big fan of both.
“My dad’s wife, Cathy, is the definition of class, and she’s been What book would you recommend?
the most amazing person to learn from,” Taylor says. “My mom’s part- The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman – It really teaches you a
ner of 16 years, Kathy, is always a voice of reason. I am so fortunate lot about the relationships you have with the people around you.
to have her in my life.” What is your musical guilty pleasure?
– Laurie Barker James Buena Vista Social Club.....I love Cuban music!
May 28, 2008 43

Greg Trevino
Texas Christian University
director of Inclusiveness and
Intercultural Services
age 34
Hometown Corpus Christi
s a director of Inclusiveness and Intercultural Services at Texas

AChristian University, a member of TCU’s Hispanic Alumni
Association, supporter of Rose Marine Theater and manager of Idea
Consulting, almost every minute of Gary Trevino’s day is dedicated to
understating cultural diversity.
Even leisure activities involve culture appreciation; one of Trevino’s
favorite books touches on the theme of immigration and when Trevino
plans a trip abroad, he’s often accompanied by peers or students as
part of a cultural diversity leadership excursion.
“Some of this is part of my job, but when you’re able to find things
you love to do and surround yourself with people who have a positive
influence on you it makes it easy,” Trevino says. “It’s not as overwhelm-
ing as you might think.”
Trevino’s department schedules international trips, seminars on the
TCU campus and social events that encourage intercultural communica-
tion.
Dr. Cornell Thomas
The key is to start the discussion now, Trevino says, so students
understand and know how to work around differences with their peers
before they step into the workplace.
Cinque Terre, Italy
“In addition to helping the students there is also promoting inclu-
sion locally,” Trevino says. “To make not only TCU but the entire Fort
Worth community more culturally accepting is important – it’s some- Corpus Christi National Bank
thing I try to strive for in my daily life and in my job.”
Trevino says he fell into the position of director, as he was recom- Another profession you would like to try?
mended to the job while he worked in TCU’s Advancement Office. Lead singer in a rock bank
Though it was a life change Trevino hadn’t expected, his job has
become a life passion. What was your favorite high school subject?
“Now I just can’t see myself doing another thing,” Trevino says and History
laughed, “except of course being a front man to a band.”
Throughout the six years he’s served in Intercultural Services, Trevino What was your favorite TV show growing up?
noticed a change in the student body. Miami Vice
“We didn’t challenge things too much; we know that things were
done in a certain way and that’s what we went on,” Trevino says. “This What book would you recommend?
generation asks ‘why is that how we do that?’” Rain of Gold by Victor Villaseño
Trevino, excited by the inquisitive mind of the Millennial’s, says he
looks forward to working with this new group and helping them reach What is your musical guilty pleasure?
their positive potential. Pop songs – Justin Timberlake
– Sarah Mason
44 May 28, 2008

Rick Wegman
HGC Real Estate Services
partner
age 36
Hometown Stuart, Fla.
Rick Wegman could easily be described as a renaissance man.

In his adulthood, the 36-year-old Texas Christian University gradu-
ate has been a clinical psychologist, a co-owner of a shoe store and
a self-described “unimpressive but lucrative” Hollywood actor. But, as
a partner in HGC Real Estate Services LLC, he is greatly impacting the
Tarrant County housing market.
He and John Giordano lead the full-service real estate agency
which began as a way to market HGC Residential Development’s Who has been your biggest influence?
custom homes, and Chamberlain Heights, the company’s 23-unit My son
town home development. Wegman also is a partner in C.W.I, the
group’s latest venture, which is an interior design/decorating Where is your dream vacation spot?
company. St. Barts
“Our company is in the busiest time we’ve ever had,” says
Wegman, who also is a former top producer for Coldwell Banker. “By Where did your first paycheck come from?
the grace of God, and the Barnett Shale, it will continue expanding.” Assistant to the assistant to the assistant
If it does, the credit will go to Wegman, whom business partner greens keeper at a golf course
Rob Cocanower calls a “sales machine.”
“I’ve never seen anyone who can put so much energy into what
Musician. Although I have no talent for it
he’s doing,” Cocanower says. “He can do anything and always does
it well.
“It’s a travesty that he hasn’t been named a 40 Under 40 before.” Acting
Wegman says he simply has a passion for real estate.
“I love that there is a lot of emotion involved,” Wegman says, What was your favorite show growing up?
who also is president of Monticello Neighborhood Association. “I Monday Night Football
love seeing a project to completion and it’s a lot of fun to see people
making their homeownership dreams come true.” What book would you recommend?
His current community involvements also include the Sigma Alpha The Prophet
Epsilon Fraternity Alumni Board of Directors, annual support of the
Fort Worth Zoo and TCU. He’s previously participated on the Directors What is your musical guilty pleasure?
Council of the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth. 80s metal
– Stephanie Patrick
May 28, 2008 45

46 May 28, 2008
Mindia Whittier
Concussion
senior account executive
age 33
Hometown Amarillo
india Whittier not only loves life but believes in living it and mak-
Ming a positive impact on all she comes in contact with, she says.
Those who know Whittier praised her as a great ambassador for
Concussion, where she is a senior account executive, because of her
outstanding character and strong work ethic. Amy Yanez, who also
works at Concussion and nominated Whittier, describes her as a
“Superwoman.”
“Mindia has proven herself over and over again since she was 19
years old and worked at the Fort Worth Zoo,” Yanez says. “Even at the
age of 19, her work ethic was impeccable. Not only is she one of the
smartest women I know, but she is easy to work with and an excellent My grandmother. She was a strong person, independent and very
manager of people.” active – especially outdoors. Her actions inspired me to become
Whittier has worked as a marketing professional for 14 years with engaged in organizations where I can advocate on behalf of children.
senior-level experience in corporate and nonprofit environments. At the Where is your dream vacation spot?
Fort Worth Zoo she spearheaded multiple award-winning advertising Crested Butte, Colo. – Trail 401 is the ultimate single-track.
campaigns and met annual fund-raising goals of $1.5 million, she says.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in advertising and public relations from My first real paycheck was from the Fort Worth Zoo.
Texas Christian University, and a master’s degree in strategic communi-
cation and leadership from Seton Hall. Another profession you would like to try?
Whittier’s avocation is raising her 3-year-old son and supporting There’s so many. Professional mountain biker. Chef. Columnist.
child-centered issues. She is currently the board president of Alliance Organic gardener. Motivational speaker. Billionaire philanthropist.
for Children, an agency that provides hope and healing to Tarrant
County’s child abuse victims. She also serves on the board of the Back
My favorite subject was English. I was also on the debate team and
to School Roundup, which equips low-income children with essential
copy editor of my high school paper.
supplies to succeed in the classroom.
In her off time, she is a competitive cyclist and trail runner for What was your favorite TV show growing up?
Broken Films Racing. She was ranked fourth overall for category in the I can’t believe I’m admitting this, but it was Facts of Life.
2007 Texas Mountain Bike State Championship Series, and she has I related to the character Natalie. She had a healthy self-image
completed four half-marathons. and wanted to be a writer.
“It helps me recharge mentally so I have more to give as an employ-
ee, a wife and a mom,” Whittier says. “I race with my best friends, so I Same Kind of Different as Me by Denver Moore and Ron Hall
get exercise and girlfriend therapy in one. Best of all, it’s a form of
training I can do without sacrificing time with my son.” What is your musical guilty pleasure?
– Darwin Campbell Electronic dance music
May 28, 2008 47

Chris Wilkie
First Command Educational
Foundation
deputy executive director
age 29
Hometown Fort Worth
hris Wilkie is described as a “multitalented, multitasker with a cre-

Cative streak.” The 29-year old completed his doctorate at age 24,
and his diverse career has taken him from the field of public health to
the world of financial literacy. Wilkie is currently the deputy executive
director of First Command Educational Foundation. According to Bill
Stringer, who nominated him, Wilkie has “given more time, effort and
skill to North Texas than men twice his age.”
As the “second in command” at FCEF, Wilkie oversees daily opera-
tions and managing scholarship distribution, educational programming
and development efforts. FCEF educates 4,000 individuals annually and
awards $230,000 in scholarships. Additionally, Wilkie is the CEO of
My grandfather, William Tom Carter, passed when I was a young
Results Consulting, which assists nonprofits with technical assessment
boy. I have memories of him but it is really the “image” of him – a
issues, strategy and grant writing.
strong, independent, successful man dedicated to his family.
Wilkie’s commitment to the community also extends to his volunteer
activities. Where is your dream vacation spot?
“It’s essential for each of us to be involved in our communities,” he Antarctica
says. “If everyone did a small part, we could accomplish so much for Where did your first paycheck come from?
others.” Eckerd’s Pharmacy – as a pharmaceutical technician
A member of the External Grievance Committee for the Tarrant
County HIV Administrative Agency, Wilkie is also active in the Fort Worth Another profession you would like to try?
Lawyer – I love a solid, healthy debate.
Chamber of Commerce and serves as a guest lecturer for local universi-
ties, colleges and nonprofits. What was your favorite high school subject?
According to Wilkie, his grandfather’s spirit is his life’s guiding force. Anatomy and Physiology - unless athletics counts.
“His image can be found in everything I do,” he says. “I’m trying to What was your favorite TV show growing up?
balance a successful career in today’s cut-throat business world with Tom and Jerry – I loved my weekend morning cartoons because I
gentle dedication to my spouse, Christina, and my little girl, Mayson. It’s played soccer as a child and had little time in the evenings for TV.
the yin-yang reality of my existence.”
As for his choice of reading material, Wilkie says the “simple truths” What book would you recommend?
of Dr. Seuss are something that’s “missing in many households across Oh, the Places You’ll Go! by Dr. Seuss
America.” Musical guilty pleasure:
“Oh the Places You’ll Go! teaches all the life lessons you will need 100 percent driven by mood – for production at work it’s opera; at
to succeed both personally and professionally in today’s world,” he says. night for the baby it’s Patsy Cline’s Walking After Midnight
May 28, 2008 49

Randy Woods
Jefferson Bank
Fort Worth bank president
age 37
Hometown Burleson
uring Randy Woods’ first years at the University of North

DTexas, he and his father-in-law often discussed his career path.
His father-in-law, a banker, was a big influence on him, Woods says.
Just out of college, Woods got his first job at a finance company
doing consumer work, and he says he didn’t like it as much as he
thought he would.
“I consider myself a numbers person, and I’ve always been
interested in finance. The thing I like about banking is it’s a mix of
finance and sales,” Woods says. “My father-in-law was a banker,
and I found the whole finance side of it very intriguing.”
Who has been the biggest influence in your life?
Woods, formerly of PlainsCapital Bank, is now president of the
God
Fort Worth banking center of Jefferson Bank and has moved into a
role he enjoys more and wants to continue in his career by building Where is your dream vacation spot?
relationships in Tarrant County and expanding the core base of Maui, Hawaii
business at his bank.
“I think he took over president of our Fort Worth bank a year Where did your first paycheck come from?
ago and has done a masterful job of hiring a really strong team, of Payless Cashways, a lumber company
capturing new customers, and one year into this his bank is making
about $100,000 a month,” says Mark Warren, president and CEO What is another profession you would like to try?
of Jefferson Bank. “He turned [Jefferson Bank] into a profitable Fishing guide
operation with good size really quickly.”
On a day-to-day basis, Woods focuses on loaning money to What was your favorite high school subject?
middle-market businesses in Fort Worth. The businesses usually Economics
focus on distribution, processing and different types of real estate.
Woods also works on generating deposits at the bank and spends What was your favorite TV show growing up?
time calling on existing customers and meeting with new or poten- Miami Vice
tial customers.
While competition is a challenge considering the growing num- What book would you recommend?
ber of banks in Fort Worth and Tarrant County, Woods hopes to A Random Walk Down Wall Street by Burton G. Malkie
continue reaping the rewards of his job, one of which, he says, is
watching local businesses grow and expand. What is your musical guilty pleasure?
– Leslie Wimmer To attend small concerts, country music
50 May 28, 2008

Tim Love
The Fort Worth Business Press would like to thank Chef Tim Love
for providing the hors d’oeuvres for the 40 Under 40 pre-party at
Neiman Marcus.
Love is the owner of The Lonesome Dove Western Bistro, which
opened in 2000 in the Fort Worth Stockyards. According to the
restaurant’s Web site it has “a menu influenced by all of the
ingredients and cultures that have been a part of the West since the
first adventure began on the Goodnight-Loving and Chisholm Trails
– with an added level of modern sophistication.”
The foundation of Love’s food is steak and wild game, including
Texas steer, buffalo, antelope, red deer and wild boar.
In April 2007, Love opened The Love Shack, serving hamburgers,
sausages, fries and onion rings in a casual setting. He has been
featured on the Food Network’s Iron Chef America and Challenge:
Hawaiian Luau Beach BBQ.
Jefferson Bank
congratulates
40 under 40 honoree
Randy Woods,
Fort Worth Bank President
MEMBER
Jefferson Bank 100 East 15th St, Suite 120
817-338-7309 Fort Worth, TX 76102
www.jeffersonbanktexas.com
Congratulations
to all the 2008
40 Under 40 honorees
from your friends
at Coors
Pre-Party
The Fort Worth

Business Press hosted
a pre-party celebrating
the 40 Under 40
recipients at
1 2 Neiman Marcus.
1 Cathy R. Sheffield
and Scott Sheffield
2 Sunny Drenik
and Greg Jaryga
3 Lauren Matthews
and Ryan Matthews
4 Jocelyn Foster, Grace
3 4 Taylor and Lara Conn

5 Jennifer Fackel
and Joe Fackel
6 Norma Schaffer
and Susan Roberts
7 Chris Wilkie
and Christina Wilkie
8 Linley Dincan
and Mark Duncan
5 6 Photos by Glenn Killman
7 8
May 28, 2008 53
Props
Adam Blake p4 gives me the most comfort, peace and rejuvenation, which watching my brother and father race motorcycles, and now
A banner from the TCU Entrepreneurship Program. “I I need often to uplift me following my most difficult day in my eldest son is beginning to race,” she says.
learned a lot through the Entrepreneurship Program that my line of work,” she says. Clare Pritchett p36
has helped build my business.” Caroline Harrison p20 She brought Legorreta + Legorreta, a book about the
Ethan Boothe p5 Although Caroline Harrison’s home is now in Tarrant architects for the new Fort Worth Museum of Science and
His great-grandfather would wear this Stetson hat on nice County, her football loyalties still lie in the San Francisco History building. “My job is raising money for the new
occasions, and Boothe said it reminded him of his heritage Bay area that she grew up in. Therefore, she brought a San building so that is my life right now,” she says.
and their way of life. “Character was always such a big Franscisco 49ers football helmet. Susan Roberts p37
deal to them, and I think it’s because everything was so Dak Hatfield p21 “I chose an antique adding machine, sea shells and
hard up there, you had to rely on other people.” He chose a globe because he says he loves to travel and ‘laughter in a can,’ which represent my professional self,
Brandon Brewer p6 believes every corner of the earth has much to offer in life, my leisurely self and my personality,” says Susan Roberts.
“A picture of my three perfect and miraculous boys, all and all should seek knowledge outside of their immediate Cathy Reagan Sheffield p38
born within 15 months of one another. Yes, my wife an influences. She chose to use her luggage and passport. “I love to
exhausted saint. A bike because not only is cycling fun, but Jennifer Henderson p22 travel,” she says.
riding has meant freedom to me since I was a kid. And a She says she has a love-hate relationship with tennis, and Donnie Siratt p39
Texas Tech shirt. I’m a long suffering fan who wears my although she seems to always get hurt, she gets right He brought a photo of his children. “The most important
Red Raider heart on my sleeve, or in this case, my chest.” back out there and keeps playing. thing in my life is my family, and particularly my kids now
Anthony Burks p7 Ben King p23 – that’s what we do everything for,” he says.
He chose to bring a hard-hat and blueprints because it He chose his golf bag and golf clubs for the history associ- Colby Siratt p40
represents his company as well as his desire to develop ated with his company’s origins — with the golf industry, He chose to use three stuffed animals named Boo (the
and construct people’s lives in a positive way. he says. bear), Ducky and Blankie. “They’re the animals that my
S. Benton Cantey V p9 Gary Lewis p24 kids sleep with every night,” Siratt says. “It represents our
He brought a needlepoint Auburn University pillow that his He chose his soccer jersey and gear because he loves to
kids and our time together as a family – night is our spe-
mother made for him because “I am an avid fan of Auburn play soccer as a keeper and he loves the US team.
cial time together.”
University football.” Jim Luttrell p27
Marc Sloter p41
Kelly Campbell p10 He chose to use building plans, a hammer and tape meas-
He chose to use a camera for his photo shoot. “Cameras
“My prop revolved around art, which I am an avid collec- ure because he says, “you need the right plan and the
have been a big part of my life since I was a child,” he
tor. It included my first piece of original art that I pur- right tools to be successful.”
says.
chased at Main Street Fort Worth Arts Festival several Ryan Matthews p28
Yi-Juin Su p42
years ago. I also had a book about one of my favorite “I picked a TCU Football hat as my photo prop because I
She chose to bring auroral posters as her prop. “The auro-
artists Ellsworth Kelly.” bleed Purple.”
ral posters represent my research work,” she says
Melissa Cawyer p11 Niraj Mehta p30
Grace Taylor p43
She chose her props to depict the balance of family, work Dr. Mehta chose a tennis racquet because he says he has
She brought a pineapple as her prop. “The Pineapple is
and extra curricular activities. played since middle school, it's a great stress reliever and
the international symbol for home, hearth and hospitality
Sunny Drenik p13 he enjoys the game.
– and it’s also our company logo,” she says.
She brought a driver from her golf club collection. “I live, Hunter T. McLean p29
Greg Trevino p44
breath and die by golf. Golf's really the only sport in my “Duck hunting has been a passion of mine for a long
“The props I brought were a golf club with my TCU Horned
mind.” time,” says Hunter McLean. “I never grow tired of it. It is
Frog head cover and my iPod,” Greg Trevino says. “I’m an
Mark Dungan p15 a challenging sport and one that you can enjoy with
introvert so after going through a day full of meetings,
The photo of a child with cancer represents the work Mark friends. Each time you learn something new, something
Dugan does to advance cancer research at the Children’s you could have done better. You also get to do it in some events or other things that have me running around it’s
Neuroblastoma Cancer Foundation as well as his family’s of the most beautiful settings. There is nothing like watch- nice to look forward to a relaxing time on the golf course
personal encounter with neuroblastoma. “About five years ing the sun rise over water with whistling wings over- or listening to my music to recharge my batteries. Plus
ago my daughter was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, and head.” music helps motivate or inspire me with my work and
that changes your life pretty drastically. . . . I’ve got the Mike Micallef p31 personal life so I always seem to carry my iPod with me.”
best job in the world now.” Mike Micallef used a rope as a prop. “Its significance for Rick Wegman p45
Joe Fackel p16 me is that the English translation for Reata is a rope or He brought his 8-month-old son, Jack, because he is the
The University of Missouri is Joe Fackel’s alma mater and lariat,” he says. “I also compete in some team roping but most important thing in the world to Wegman, he says.
he is excited the school’s emergence as a legitimate con- not actively.” Mindia Whittier p47
tender for the Big 12 football championship. Plus he met Colin L. Murchison p33 She chose to use running shoes and a jogging stroller in
his wife there, he adds. “I enjoy all hunting seasons but there is nothing that her photo. “Running literally supports every area of my
Alyson Farmer p17 beats those first few weekends of dove season in Texas,” life,” she says. “Pushing the jogging stroller is a great
The album was a family favorite growing up, and the song Colin Murchison says. “It is never really the hunting that I example of how to balance work and home with multi-
“Christmas Carol” taught the importance of giving with- look forward to but it is the cooking, college football, card tasking because the extra resistance even counts as an
out expecting recognition, says Alyson Farmer. playing and camaraderie that goes on when the dove endurance workout.”
Neil Foster p18 aren’t flying that makes it one of the best weekends of the Chris Wilkie p49
He chose to bring a large pencil because it represents year.” “Mayson’s favorite toy (the Fisher-Price Baby Grand Piano)
writing, which is "what I enjoy most about my job." Jim Morse p34 meets my work life; it’s all about creating balance and
Caroline Gary p19 He used a trumpet, second degree black belt and a sanity,” says Chris Wilkie.
She is a soprano in the Mount Olive Baptist Church Senior Spanish dictionary for his prop. Randy Woods p50
Choir therefore chose to use her choir robe and hymnal. “I Stephanie Pratt p35 He chose to bring a golf club “because I really enjoy play-
am a lover of music, all music, however, gospel music She brought a motorcycle helmet “because I grew up ing golf,” he says.

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Indulge

812 Main Street • Fort Worth, Texas

3509 Hulen, No. 201 • Fort Worth, TX 76107

4 May 28, 2008

May 28, 2008 5

randon Brewer grew up just outside of Lubbock, and moved

6 May 28, 2008

t 18, Anthony Burks was asked to speak to troubled teens

May 28, 2008 7

hen Fort Worth native S. Benton Cantey V was grow-

May 28, 2008 9

s vice president of marketing communications at the Fort

What is your musical guilty pleasure?

10 May 28, 2008

May 28, 2008 11

rom the time Richard Dorough first got a computer at the

12 May 28, 2008

s a self-professed fan of number-crunching who takes joy in

May 28, 2008 13

n the summer of 2003, Mark Dungan’s daughter, Sydney, had

May 28, 2008 15

16 May 28, 2008

escribing herself as an “Okie from Muskogee,” Alyson Farmer

May 28, 2008 17

love my work, only second to my family,” says Neil Foster, who

18 May 28, 2008

rowing up watching her mother, a nurse, guided Caroline Gary

May 28, 2008 19

aroline Harrison’s long list of community involvement is

20 May 28, 2008

ak Hatfield established himself as outstanding business leader

May 28, 2008 21

or Jennifer Henderson, combining design skill with marketing

22 May 28, 2008

May 28, 2008 23

retty much any time the Texas Christian University Horned

24 May 28, 2008

hen his mother was diagnosed with gall bladder cancer,

May 28, 2008 25

n a way, Jim Luttrell owes his career success as much to Exxon

May 28, 2008 27

e handles multimillion-dollar deals and is involved with some

28 May 28, 2008

ike most lawyers, a strong sense of justice drew Hunter T.

May 28, 2008 29

30 May 28, 2008

May 28, 2008 31

olin Murchison is making a name for himself as an attorney at

May 28, 2008 33

olleagues and business associates of Jim Morse say he is not

34 May 28, 2008

TO Energy’s Stephanie Pratt, supervisor of acquisition techni-

May 28, 2008 35

36 May 28, 2008

usan Roberts is not your traditional tax adviser. This certified

May 28, 2008 37

athy Sheffield is a morning person, who’s up and running when

38 May 28, 2008

olby Siratt didn’t originally intend to work with the family –

May 28, 2008 39

s a member of what he calls an entrepreneurial family, Donnie

40 May 28, 2008

arc Sloter is the youngest president ever at Fort Worth’s Beth-