40 Under 40 Reunion

PRESENTS

YEARBOOK

SILVER SPONSORS

Publisher

Banks Dishmon Editor

Robert Francis

4

Pre-2002 Honorees

5

Pre-2002 - Where are they now?

7

Class of 2002

8

Class of 2002 - Where are they now?

10

Class of 2003

12

Class of 2003 - Where are they now?

14

Class of 2004

16

Class of 2004 - Where are they now?

18

Class of 2005

20

Class of 2005 - Where are they now?

22

Class of 2006

24

Class of 2006 - Where are they now?

26

Class of 2007

28

Class of 2007 - Where are they now?

30

Class of 2008

32

Class of 2008 - Where are they now?

34

Class of 2009

36

Associate Editor

Michael H. Price Managing Editor

Crystal Forester Contributors

Aleshia Howe, Betty Dillard, Elizabeth Bassett, John-Laurent Tronche, Leslie Wimmer Production

Brent Latimer, Clayton Gardner Photography

Glen E. Ellman, Jon P. Uzzel Advertising Executives

Ann Alexander, Andrea Benford, Bob Collins, Elizabeth Northern Mary Schlegel, Annie Warren Business Manager/ Director of Events

Shiela West Reception

Maggie Franklin

3509 Hulen, No. 201 • Fort Worth, TX 76107 817-336-8300 • Fax: 817-332-3038 www.fwbusinesspress.com Fort Worth Business Press. © 2009

40 UNDER 40 REUNION

Silver Sponsors

Publisher’s Note

CONTENTS

Presenting Sponsor

MEMBER 2006

TEXAS PRESS ASSOCIATION

June 19, 2009

AWARD WINNER

3

Publisher’s

NOTE

4

When we began planning the 40 Under 40 Reunion, the atmosphere in Fort Worth was quite different. Everything was looking up. While the area has held up to these challenging economy times, many companies are scrutinizing budgets. We are no exception to this. It would have been easy to hold off on this event for another year or two, but we – along with our title sponsor, Clifton Capital Partners – felt it was the appropriate time for the reunion. During these difficult times it is important to focus on success and remind ourselves of the great leaders in this community. We want to give a special thank you to Clifton Capital Partners for joining us as the inaugural 40 Under 40 Reunion title sponsor. The employees of the company continue to demonstrate their dedication to helping clients through trying times and providing wise financial counsel. Clifton Capital Partners is a superb example of a company laying a solid foundation for the future. Looking back on the 40 Under 40 classes there are many success stories, more than we could possibly print. Many of the business owners have taken their companies to the next level by expanding and growing business. Most recipients have moved up in their respective companies or gone on to different companies to make their mark. Some have gotten married and had children. Even though it could be easy to leave the community behind during tough times, the 40 Under 40 alumni have expanded their volunteer work. We want to congratulate our 40 Under 40 alumni once again and acknowledge those who saw this event to fruition. I’ll take the liberty of speaking for the Fort Worth Business Press and Clifton Capital Partners when I say we are delighted to be able to celebrate those who will continue to take this city to great places.

Banks Dishmon Publisher

Fort Worth Business Press

Ronald J. Alonzo (1994) Randall A. Bacon (1996) Jerrell M. Baird (1994) Rebecca Barksdale (1996) Lee Marshall Bass (1996) Andrea Baxter (1998) Michael K. Berry (1994) Fred Bondurant III (1994) Paula K. Bowser (1996) Patrick L. Bridges (1996) Michael E. Brooks (1994) Eddie R. Broussard (1996) T.J. Brown (1998) Thomas Bruner (1996) Bill Buechele (1994) Greg T. Clifton (1995) Kevin E. Cox (1996) Kay L. Cross (1998) D’Ann Dagen (1994) Wendy Davis (1994) Michele A Duskin (1996) James M. Eagle (1994) Jeffery L. Eaton (1998) Robert A. Fass (1998) Jeffrey P. Fegan (1994) Ames Fender (1998) Robert I. Fernandez (1994) G. Walter Floyd (1996) Nancy J. Forrest (1998) Ben Fortson III (1994) Robert D. Fry (1996) Kevin R. Gahagan (1998) Héber M. Garcia Migliore (1998) Gary M. Gillette (1998) Elliot Goodwin (1994) W. Mark Gunderson (1994) Thomas E. Hart (1994) Dr. Robin Hall (1996) Julie A. Hatch (1998) Jay Hayes (1998) John Harlan Haynes III (1998) Steven Helling (1996) Michael L. Herman (1996)

June 19, 2009

Wayne Hermandorfer (1996) Deborah Hernandez (1996) Keri Henderson (1998) Rick Herring (1998) Claudia Hutchinson (1994) Stephen R. Ingham (1996) Michael M. Jacobson (1998) Anthony V. Johnson (1998) Mark M. Jones (1994) Thomas A. Karsten (1998) Myles Kelley (1996) John Kellogg (1998) Dee J. Kelly Jr. (1996) Nina Knight (1998) John A. Kober (1996) Jeffrey H. Kobs (1994) Barry B. Kromann (1998) Russell Lake (1998) Anthony O. Lee (1994) Mary Louise Lozano-Garcia (1998) Robert M. Luleff (1998) Michael A. Markwardt (1996) Kim Martin (1994) Ralph “Skip” Masters (1996) Robert M. McCarthy (1996) Ronnie and Sandra McGlothlin (1996) James McLaughlin (1994) Steve McLaurin (1998) Laura S. Miller (1996) Charles B. Milliken (1998) David Minor (1994) William J. Molfetto (1996) Terry Montesi (1994) Greg Morse (1995) Sam Morse (1998) R. Bruce Moon (1996) Richard A Myers (1996) Richard A. Navarrete (1996) Todd Nicol (1996) Bradford J. O’Neill (1998) Shea Padilla (1998) Kim Peacock (1994)

David Pencsak (1998) Nina Petty (1994) Brian Pierce (1996) Debbie Pinckard-Liles (1998) Roy P. Plattel (1996) Susan M. Prescott (1998) Gina Puente (1996) Ronna Quimby (1998) Chris Quinn (1995) Donna Rankin (1998) Jeffrey A. Rattikin (1998) W. Reagan Redus (1994) Robert D. Renfro (1994) Ricardo A. Roberto (1998) Darla Robinson (1999) Jesse N. Schroeder (1996) Robert J. Scully (1996) Paul E. Segars (1998) Daniel T. Serna (1994) Frank W. Shiels (1998) Michael and Anne Skipper (1994) Marilou Martinez Stevens (1998) James L. Stokes Jr. (1998) Kathy Sherman Suder (1996) Christopher A. Shoppa (1996) G. Dee Smith (1994) Grady Spears (1999) John D. Spicer (1994) Doug Terry (1994) Andrea M. Thomas (1994) Jack Thompson (1999) Michael S. Thomson (1994) Estrus Tucker (1994) Allyson B. Turner (1996) Mary J. Weaver (1996) Marty Wieder (1994) Julie H. Wilson (1994) Sharen Wilson (1994) George P. Young (1994)

40 UNDER 40 REUNION

Honorees 1994 - 1999

5

Where are they now? Ames Fender came from a family with a legacy in architecture in Fort Worth, and he’s still leading Ames Fender Architecture as he contributes to the shape and face of the city into the future. Fender’s company works both in North Texas and across the state and nation. In Fort Worth, they are about a month from completing the Villa de Leon, a six-story luxury condominium that will be part of the UpTown Trinity Bluff development, overlooking the river. “[It’s] probably the biggest project we’ve done and been involved with” since the award, Fender says. Fender also led the completion of the new fitness center at Rivercrest County Club and major additions and renovations to Green B. Trimble Technical High School. They’re also designing a new jail facility for Uvalde County in South Texas. Fender currently is serving as chair of the Historic and Cultural Landmarks Commission and the Downtown Design Review Board.

Julie Hatch In 1996, two years prior to being named a 40 Under 40, Julie Hatch launched Creative Communications to handle media relations and events for clients. After growing up as an Air Force brat, she had settled in Fort Worth and was ready to build longterm business relationships. Since then, Hatch has always worked on the side for Creative Communications, which she owns, even when she’s had fulltime positions like manager of marketing for the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce when she was recognized. Hatch has now been fully freelance since January 2007. “Honestly, this is where I’m the happiest,” she says. “It’s been kind of a crazy little journey, but I am freelance full-time again and just made the decision that I think this is best for me.” Hatch has worked with Southwest Airlines, Reata and other notable partners since her award. She volunteers for Meals on Wheels and Cancer Care Services, both in part to honor her mother, who passed award shortly after Hatch’s recognition.

1996 Dee J. Kelly Jr. In a way, not a lot has changed for Dee J. Kelly Jr. since he was honored as a 40 Under 40 in 1996. He still works at Fort Worth law firm Kelly Hart & Hallman LLP and he still spends an extraordinary time with nonprofit organizations, donating his time and energy. The only difference is now he is managing director at the family law firm and has had a slue of leading roles at those nonprofits. Since 1996, Kelly has served as president of Streams and Valleys and president of the board of trustees at All Saints Episcopal School as well as serving as director of the Southwestern Expedition and Livestock Show since 2006. It was also in 2006 when Kelly was named managing partner at Kelly Hart & Hallman – a position he was nominated for by his peers. “I guess from that standpoint it was a good thing,” he says. “It’s something special.” Kelly still is married to wife Dana, but since 1996, they have expanded their family to include three daughters.

June 19, 2009

Previous 40 Under 40 designate Chris Quinn is a technology man through and through. A principal with CQ Media Inc., Quinn employs the latest in social media, videography, photography and more to offer clients new ways to connect with people. “Technology is just going so fast, you’ve got to keep up with it and help clients understand how they can use it to help tell their story,” he said. “The last couple of years I’ve been focusing on documentaries, and now in this next year I’m focusing on brand development, or what they call digital storytelling.” LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter are just a few Web sites Quinn hopes clients will explore as part of what he calls a 12-month digital branding plan. “It just seems like more and more people are wanting to do videos that can be repurposed and used in a variety of ways,” said Quinn, who currently is working with the Careity Foundation and a new wine to debut soon. He’s also preparing to take new high-definition aerial photographs of Fort Worth.

1994 Nina Petty

PRE 40 UNDER 40 REUNION

Ames Fender

Chris Quinn

2002

1998

1995

Nina Petty was a rising star even in 1994 when the then 34-yearold was honored as a 40 Under 40 and she has certainly continued to rise. After leaving CB Richard Ellis in Fort Worth to pursue a career at RadioShack Corp. in 2000 as vice president of corporate real estate, Petty soon etched her name on one of the biggest downtown Fort Worth real estate deals to date: the creation of the 900,000square-foot RadioShack campus on the Trinity River. With a stint in corporate America served, though, Petty decided to return to real estate and joined Fort Worth’s Innovative Developers Inc. where she serves as managing director of strategic growth. “It’s full circle in the sense that I started on the service side and … moved to the corporate side and now I’m back where I started,” she says. “It’s given me a lot of perspective that’s been really great. I can really appreciate what both sides have to be to make it all work.” Petty just celebrated 25 years of marriage to her husband, Edwin. The couple has three children: Samantha, 18, Savannah, 16, and Max, 11. And soon, Petty will take the reins as chair of the Greater Fort Worth Real Estate Council.

Julie H. WIlson

Julie H. Wilson was in the 40 under 40 class of 1994. At the time, Wilson was executive vice president of Regian Advertising & Public Relations, and had been at the firm for six years. Later, Wilson became CEO and co-owner of then-renamed Regian & Wilson Inc., which was eventually sold to New York Citybased Grey Worldwide. Wilson stayed on as divisional president of the company through 2001. Wilson then became CEO of Reasons Group Inc., a strategic planning and consulting group, which led to her current position at Oklahoma-based Chesapeake Energy Corp. “Chesapeake Energy was a client who offered me a staff position in 2006,” Wilson says. Currently, Wilson is the vice president of corporate development, where she oversees all external relations for Chesapeake in the Barnett Shale region. Wilson also continues to spend time working with community organizations, including the North Texas Commission, the Texas Christian University Energy Institute, the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, the Arlington Chamber of Commerce, United Way of Tarrant County, the Business Assistance Center and Downtown Fort Worth Inc.

7

2002 40 UNDER 40 REUNION

8

Michael Appleman

Danielle & John Arnett

Kristie Aylett

Todd Burnette

Dave Corbin

Jerry Crenshaw

Michael Dike

Kristi Dill

Alicia Romero Duran

Paula Dowell

Brian Durant

Randy Eisenman

Michael Evans

Eric Fox

Karl Hahnfeld

Daron Hopkins

Brian & Beth Hutson

Tonya Jackson

Layne Kasper

Barry Kromann

Fort Worth Business Press

Steve Montgomery

Brandy O’Quinn

Rebecca Pearce

David Pettitt

Warren Prescott

Jason Ray

Tara Reed

Robert Rivera

Darla Robertson

Ivan Rodriguez

W. Burk Rosenthal

Jay Rutherford

Grady Spears

William Temple

Lynda Tiedtke

Jan Titsworth

Tyler Trahant

Susan Watt

June 19, 2009

40 UNDER 40 REUNION

Erin Maly

2002

Andy Laudato

9

2002 40 UNDER 40 REUNION

10

Where are they now? Brian and Beth Hutson When Brian and Beth Hutson were honored with a 40 Under 40 award in 2002, the energetic couple was deeply involved in the wine business – Brian as beer and wine leader at Central Market and Beth as director of sales and marketing at Bistro Louise. But as they say, a baby changes everything. After having their son, Christian, Beth Hutson says she knew she wanted to stay at home and suddenly the multitude of wine tastings the couple had frequented for their jobs weren’t as appealing. So, the couple founded Hutson Creative Group Inc. in 2004 with Beth handling marketing and public relations and Brian heading up the firm’s photography arm. Today, the firm serves all types of businesses from small mom-and-pops to a few Fortune 500 companies offering marketing, public relations, photography and video production. “Combining the two – PR and photography – made a cohesive team for us and we have loved it,” Beth Hutson says.

Tyler Trahant Tyler Trahant has been quite busy since his 40 Under 40 honor in 2002. Not only did Trahant continue as a broker with commercial real estate firm The Richard D. Minker Co., he was recently named president of the company, which is now called Minker Trahant & Associates. Trahant says that in 2002, he didn’t know he wanted to run the Minker company, but he did have a personal goal of heading up a commercial real estate firm – and when his chance came, he was happy to grab it. And Trahant’s success didn’t stop with his professional life – since 2002, Trahant and his wife, Meghan, have welcomed a son, 18-month-old Drew.

Todd Burnette When Todd Burnette was given a 40 Under 40 distinction in 2002, he had successfully completed sale and lease transactions totaling more than 17 million square feet and served as senior vice president at commercial real estate firm The Staubach Co. Today, Burnette’s leasing and sale transactions total more than 22 million – and that’s not all that’s changed. Following a company merger with Jones Lang LaSalle in 2008, Burnette now serves as managing director at Jones Lang LaSalle, heading up the company’s Fort Worth office. “I guess I’m getting older, but it doesn’t feel like it,” he says, laughing.

Steve Montgomery In 2002, Steve Montgomery worked as director of government relations at OZ Systems, a health care information management company as well as served on the board of the Tarrant County Hospital District, which owns and operates the JPS Health Network. Though Montgomery is still involved with both duties, he has made some headway in the last seven years – he currently is a vice president at OZ Systems and he now chairs the Tarrant County Hospital District board. “Since 2002, I’ve continued to pursue my professional goals, including growing my company from just 10 employees in 2002 to over 60 today,” he says. “I’ve also tried to remain active in the community. Besides the JPS Board, I’ve served on the city of Fort Worth’s Plan Commission as well as various appointed committees and local study groups.” And there also have been some advancements in his personal life, where for the last few years, Montgomery has played lead guitar in a “very loud local rock and roll band” called Six Feet High and Rising.

Fort Worth Business Press

2003 40 UNDER 40 REUNION

12

Jason Adams

Tasa Anderson

Marshall Boyd

Andrew Brimberry

Jason Campbell

Johnny Campbell

Kirston Chavera

Patricia Cole

Hugh Connor II

Shirley Cox

Melissa A. Dansby

Todd Flippo

Mike Freeman

Joey Goss

Miguel Harth-Bedoya

Ann Holland

Ash Huzenlaub

David Johnson

Craig Kelly

Louis E. Martin III

Fort Worth Business Press

Laurie McCoy

Holly McFarland

Mark Melson

Karen Mitchell

Troy Moncrief

Jeff Moore

Cathy Neece

Chris Porter

Kyle Poulson

Johnny Purselley

Gary Riding

Brant Ringler

Betsy Romero

Steve Roth

Richard Rudman

Arnold Velez

Charlie Wellborn

Alan White

Melody Wilkinson

June 19, 2009

40 UNDER 40 REUNION

2003

Brett McClung

13

2003 40 UNDER 40 REUNION

14

Where are they now?

Todd Flippo Todd Flippo has found himself with a great deal of responsibility since being named a 40 Under 40 in 2003. At the time, Flippo was a senior scientist with Alcon Laboratories, where he worked on the development of the AcrySof intraocular lenses. He’s in the same department now, but he’s managing a prototyping group, leading a team of about 15 people for end-stage development of products right before they go to manufacturing. “The demand is such that we’re looking at expanding and maybe adding a second shift,” Flippo says. “It’s a good problem to have.” Flippo and his family also moved from Arlington to Saginaw, where they built a house on family land where Flippo grew up. He was encouraged to run for the Saginaw City Council in 2008 and won for Place 3. Flippo also helps coach the baseball and basketball teams his sons are on, and is still married to his wife, Jennifer.

Brett McClung In 2003, Brett McClung was director of business development for Harris Methodist Fort Worth, now Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth. Today, he’s president of Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Southwest Fort Worth, where he was named to the position in May 2007 after two years of serving as president of what is now called Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Azle. Being president of a hospital was a goal for McClung when he joined Texas Health Resources, McClung says, and it has been extremely gratifying to take an active role in affecting a community’s health. “I expected to do this for a living,” he says. “I've been blessed with good teams and good results and good opportunities.” Shortly after being named a 40 Under 40, McClung was honored as an American Marshall Memorial Fellow by the German Marshall Fund of the United States. Today, he and his wife Nancy support their daughters, Madison and Mackenzie, through theater, cheerleading and gymnastics training.

Fort Worth Business Press

Congratulations to all the 40 Under 40 honorees from your friends at Coors

2004 40 UNDER 40 REUNION

16

Ishmael Arebalos

Matthew Bilardi

James D. Bradbury

William A. Brentlinger

Jonny Brumley

Pete Chambers

Jay Decker

Tracy Delce

Richie Escovedo

Karee Galloway

Mike Garabedian

J.D. Granger

Martha Granger

Jason Griffith

Brandy Minick Hawkins

Daniel Hernandez

Kathleen Hicks

Reese Hillard

Robert Howard

Kristin Jenkins

Fort Worth Business Press

Bill Lourcey

Tim Love

Jack Milner

Jason Neal

Fln Neve

Erich Palko

Michelle Peluso

Stacey Pierce

Laura Quenette

Randall Rapp

Sigi Frais Rodriguez

Merianne Kimmel Roth

Kelly Short

Jason Smith

William Tinsley

Bill Warren

Wm. Reagan Wynn

John Zimmerman

June 19, 2009

40 UNDER 40 REUNION

Lee LeGrice

2004

Jack Larson

17

2004

Where are they now? Richie Escovedo For Richie Escovedo, the past five years have been full of advances – mostly technological ones. Escovedo, who served as public relations manager at Nolan High School when he was honored as a 40 Under 40 in 2004, completed a stint as Webmaster at Mansfield ISD before recently being promoted to director of media and communications. In recent years, Escovedo has spent much of his time studying the evolving realm of social media and lecturing nonprofit and industry organizations about how they can harness social media to help their cause. “I’m still in communications and PR, but social media is becoming more of an interest and it’s encouraging to see businesses and newspapers and see how they are looking at these things and seeing how it can benefit their business or organization to help them be more effective,” Escovedo says. Escovedo also has had a few advancements in his personal life as he and his wife, Kristen, have welcomed a daughter, 5-year-old Anna, and a son, 1-year-old Ryan.

40 UNDER 40 REUNION

Kathleen Hicks

18

When Kathleen Hicks was named a 2004 40 Under 40 winner, she was serving as council aid to Fort Worth City Councilman Ralph McCloud. But in 2005, when McCloud opted to not run for re-election, it was Hicks who stepped into the limelight, becoming the youngest woman ever elected to Fort Worth’s City Council at the age of 32. And after just one year on city council, Hicks made another step forward when she was chosen by her peers as the city’s Mayor Pro Tem. “Fort Worth has been a great place,” she says. “… It says something really positive about Fort Worth that they would elect a young, African American female to join the council. I am proud to serve this city.”

Fort Worth Business Press

Relevant. Reliable. Responsible. www.fwbusinesspress.com June 19, 2009

19

2005 40 UNDER 40 REUNION

20

Kelle Albertson

Rusty Anderson

Kelly Andrews

Clint Bailey

Colin Bailey

Duane Bidwell

Jenny Crabteee

John Cummings

Judy Gaman

Linda Nguyen Garcia

Michael Gonzales

Justin Hoover

David Isham

Rick Jenkins

Jeff Johnson

Lauri Lawrence

Paul Lilly

Robert Lydick

Stephanie Martin

Will Martin

Fort Worth Business Press

Scott Prince

Glenn Raup

Paul Ray III

Jennifer Rymell

Mark Schulze

Eric Schuster

Rob Sell

Joy Thomas

Patricia Tiberg

Troy Villarreal

Daniel Villegas

John Viola

Tarren Wagener

Allen Wallach

Steve Weeden

Charles Wetzel

Tara Meadors Wilson

Sheila Wynn

June 19, 2009

40 UNDER 40 REUNION

Michael Peck

2005

Michael Pavell

21

2005 40 UNDER 40 REUNION

22

Where are they now?

Linda Nguyen Garcia Linda Nguyen Garcia was assistant dean for Tarrant County College when she received her 40 Under 40 award, but now she has a new title: director of corporate services and economic development. It’s a long one, Garcia admits, and it covers a lot of various areas, from grant writing (the college has gotten more than $2 million in recent years and now is focusing on stimulus funding) to corporate training and recruiting and other services as well. “It’s a really exciting time to be at the college,” she says. “It’s a lot more work and a lot more responsibility, but it’s a lot of fun.” Garcia’s four children of her own have graduated high school now, and some are attending college. She and her husband, Victor, owned and managed some rental properties near Weatherford, but she says they sold the land and houses a few years ago.

Daniel Villegas A year after receiving his 2005 40 Under 40 award, Daniel Villegas left JPMorgan Chase Bank and joined Wells Fargo, where he is a senior business relationship manager. As part of the business banking group, Villegas works with business customers and still has a strong emphasis on small business. “The obvious challenges are the state of the economy, and I think we’ve been fortunate in this area. It hasn’t been hurt as bad as in other markets where Wells Fargo has a presence,” Villegas says. Villegas still is involved in the Fort Worth Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, where he was chair in 2005 and 2006, and he’s currently on the Fort Worth Independent School District’s citizen oversight committee. He’s also president of the local Notre Dame Club of Fort Worth. He enjoys spending time with his children, who are now 11, 9 and 7 years old.

Fort Worth Business Press

2006 40 UNDER 40 REUNION

24

Pavani Bellary

Todd Breeding

Daphne Brookins

Brett Burns

Daniel Casey

Russell Cawyer

Corrie Chruchill

Will Churchill

Kirk Claunch

Rob Cocanower

Monika Cooper

J. Cort DeHart

Alleen Dobbins

David Drez

Michael Gratch

George Grubbs III

Mary Hart

Clyde Higgs

Steven Howell

Chistopher Huckabee

Laura Irvine

J. Bryan King

Peter Koulen

Fort Worth Business Press

40 UNDER 40 REUNION

2006

Lanny Lancarte

Veronica Chavez Law

Walton Lawrance

Carter Martin

Kevin McConnell

Hugh Montgomery

Logan Morse

Elizabeth Obermiller

Taylor Pennington Ridout

John Pritchett

Leland Prowse IV

Joseph Regan

Kimberly See

Wendy Shabay

Janice Simpson

Todd Spake

Amanda Stallings

Brett Thomas

Kristin Wallach

Jack Wharton

Stephen Wise

Daniel Wright

Andrew Yanez

June 19, 2009

25

2006

Where are they now? Dr. Pavani Bellary Dr. Pavani Bellary, co-founder of Associates of Internal Medicine, is continuing to serve patients and emphasize the need for preventive health care with her partner, Dr. Niraj Mehta (another 40 Under 40 recipient). “We’re growing. We’re bringing on a new person in the fall, and we’re hoping to continue to grow after that,” Bellary says. “We’re hitting our five-year anniversary this fall, too — it’s exciting.” Bellary also took a recent medical trip to Africa in fall 2008, and she has her eye on starting a nonprofit focused on preventive medicine. Her family continues to remain close, and she also attended the presidential inauguration in Washington, D.C., this year.

Kim See

40 UNDER 40 REUNION

The downturn in the economy spurred Kim See, owner and founder of Kemse & Co., to reinvent her company to focus on her own interests as well as needs of clients. Kemse & Co. gained national recognition — including a mention in Oprah’s O Magazine — for its stationary and invitations that featured African-Americans and Hispanics. The business, a “niche within a niche,” declined along with discretionary spending, but that gave See the opportunity to learn more about graphic design and private client work, which will be the new focus of the company. “It was like, ‘OK, I think this is a direction I want to move in,’” See says. “I’m excited about the transition.” Brochure and ad design now will be offered by Kemse & Co., and the invitations aren’t going away just yet, she says. When See was honored in 2006 as a 40 Under 40, her husband attended in her stead because See’s mother was receiving a kidney transplant. Today, her mother is vastly improved and doing very well.

Brett Thomas

Despite the slowdown in the economy, people still want good food and a place to live. Brett Thomas, owner and operator of Dos Gringos Mexican Restaurant, acquired Texas Grill not long after he received his 40 Under 40 award in 2006. Both restaurants are performing well, Thomas says, as is his other venture, Fort Worth Living Ltd., which he founded with his brother. The company owns and manages several dozen multifamily, commercial and single-family properties, and he says the rental units have held up through the real estate crash. “It keeps us hopping,” Thomas says. Thomas’ schedule doesn’t make time for him to coach baseball anymore, but he does spend down time at Eagle Mountain Lake and with his bulldog, Shelby.

26 Fort Worth Business Press

2007 40 UNDER 40 REUNION

28

Lara & Michael Conn

Laura & Kirk High

Priscilla & Jason Hiley

Jeff Anderson

Michael Anderson

Will Bannister

Gus Bates Jr.

Andrew Blake

Mike Bloomberg

Robb Catalano

Brandon Chase

John Cockrell Jr.

Trent Cole

Chris Copeland

Carl Cravens

Karen Davis

Joseph DeLeon

Maureen Donohue

Christine Frederic

Fort Worth Business Press

Jonathan Henderson

Brie Horigan

Chris Jordan

Jennifer Littman

Randy McGuffee

Susan Medina

Kasey Pipes

Red Sanders

Quentin Spitzer

Bethe Spurlock

Brian Stagner

W. Bryan Thomas

J. William Tincup

Allen Tseng

Ted Valdez

Tim White

Stacy Williams

Amy Yanez

June 19, 2009

40 UNDER 40 REUNION

Tom Hardgrove

2007

Greg Haralson

29

2007

Where are they now? Michael Bloomberg Since his 40 Under 40 award in 2007, Michael Bloomberg has expanded his company, An Exclusive Engagement, into a more marketable brand. He launched Romance CEO in 2008 after continually helping couples with their dating life, he says. “Basically it was out of necessity. When you become a couple life gets in the way, whether it’s work, children, whatever, you stop the most fun part of the relationship: dating. That’s where the Romance CEO brand came from,” Bloomberg says. In addition to unique marriage proposals and creative dating, Bloomberg also is working on a book and speaks about making a career out of passion and romance. “I’m working on a book, entertaining TV show ideas and I needed a brand to expand on that,” he says.

Power Couple Kirk High and Laura High

40 UNDER 40 REUNION

The meltdown that affected so many banks and financial institutions is part of what prompted Laura High and Kirk High to join RBC Wealth Management in February. The Highs wanted to find an institution that was still sound, and they were each able to find a position with RBC, which is wholly owned by the Royal Bank of Canada. “In this environment, that’s a big deal,” Laura High says. “We feel like this is a place where we can stay for the rest of our careers.” The Highs were named a Power Couple and 40 Under 40 recipients in 2007. Now, Laura High is a Certified Financial Planner and senior financial associate with RBC Wealth Management, and Kirk High is first vice president and financial consultant. They are offering much of the same services they were prior to the move, just with a different platform and different resources now. The Highs try to still make time for cycling when they can, and their twin girls are now 5 years old and their youngest daughter is now 3.

30 30

Red Sanders Shortly after Red Sanders was named a 40 Under 40 in 2007, Red Productions’ first full-length feature film, Karma Police, premiered at AFI Dallas to a sold-out crowd, thanks in part to local support of the film, which itself was shot locally. In March of this year, Sanders traveled to Congo to shoot the story of the nonprofit Falling Whistles, and he was arrested two weeks into the trip and held for six days before being deported. Now, Sanders is working on the second feature for his expanding company. While features have been doing well, the commercial/industrial side of Sanders’ work has been doing just as well, seeing a 52 percent increase compared to last year. “The commercial/industrial side makes money, the feature side spends it,” Sanders said.

Fort Worth Business Press

June 19, 2009

31

2008 40 UNDER 40 REUNION

32

Adam Blake

Ethan Boothe

Brandon Brewer

Anthony Burks

Kelly Campbell

Benton Cantey

Melissa Cawyer

Richard Dorough

Sunny Drenik

Mark Dungan

Joseph Fackel

Alyson Farmer

Neil Foster

Caroline Gary

Caroline Harrison

Dak Hatfield

Jennifer Henderson

Ben King

Quang Le

Gary Lewis

Fort Worth Business Press

Hunter McLean

Niraj Mehta

Mike Micallef

Jim Morse

Colin Murchison

Stephanie Pratt

Clare Pritchett

Susan Roberts

Cathy Reagan Sheffield

Colby Siratt

Donnie Siratt

Marc Sloter

Yi-Jiun Su

Grace Taylor

Rick Wegman

Mindia Whittier

Chris Wilkie

Randy Woods

June 19, 2009

40 UNDER 40 REUNION

Ryan Matthews

2008

Jim Luttrell

33

2008

Where are they now? Anthony Burks It’s only been a year since Anthony Burks, co-founder and president of Vendigm Construction, a subsidiary of Vendigm Cos., was honored as one of the 40 Under 40, but his company is making significant strides in two major Fort Worth projects. Along with Jonathan White, co-founder of the company, Burks has been overseeing the joint-venture projects of the Western Heritage Parking Garage, on Montgomery Street near the Cultural District, and the new civil courts building in Downtown off Weatherford Street. Vendigm Foundations also is now an official nonprofit organization, and this year supported Sunrise-McMillian Elementary School. Burks also has been focusing on raising awareness of the Vendigm brand. “I tell people all the time I’m the president of a company, but I’m a jack of all trades,” Burks said. When not at work, Burks spends time with his son and daughter.

Ben King Launching a business and launching a magazine may not be what most people would do in this economy, but Ben King, general manager and vice president of Metro Golf Cars, has done both. King launched the company Martex Global Enterprise for manufacturing as well as the trade publication Inside UTV in 2008, the same year he was named a 40 Under 40. Both have been holding their own, despite the economy, and the high season (the second half of the year) hasn’t even come yet, he said. “As off as it’s been the first half of this year, we’re really optimistic about the half that’s to come,” he said. Metro Golf Cars also will deliver vehicles to the new Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, as well as serve as the government contract point for Yamaha products. King is serving as vice president of the Mansfield Economic Development Board, and when he’s not busy with work, he spends time with his family.

40 UNDER 40 REUNION

Clare Pritchett

34

For several years, Clare Pritchett, director of capital campaign at the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History, has been focused on fund-raising for the new museum, slated to open at the end this year. Finally, the end is in sight. About $72 million has been raised toward the goal of $80 million, Pritchett said, from donors who gave $1 million or more to kids who raised money with lemonade stands. “It’s so neat when the kids feel ownership and they feel like they’ve done their part,” she said. There will always be fund-raising activities at the museum, Pritchett said, but it’s gratifying to be closing in on the final goal. “It’s been pretty fast-paced, so it will be pretty nice to have some down time,” she said.

Mike Micallef Mike Micallef had just guided Reata Restaurant through running the Backstage Club at the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo when he was given his 40 Under 40 award, and 2009 marks the second year the restaurant managed the iconic part of the biggest event in Fort Worth. “I think it was a big success,” Micallef said. “The first year, obviously, you’re learning a lot and learning how to operate that facility. The second year I think we were able to increase the number of menu items we were able to offer and I think our quality and execution was superb.” The Backstage Club was also open in late 2008 for the National Cutting Horse Association’s World Championship Futurity. Reata also has successfully launched its cookbook and will debut its Reata at Home Bakeware later this year, Micallef said.

Fort Worth Business Press

1994 Michael Thomson Just one year after being named a 40 Under 40 in 1994, Chef Michael Thomson bought out his partner at his swanky Seventh Street restaurant called Michael’s Restaurant and Ancho Chile Bar and formed a new management company to further solidify his restaurant’s place as one of the greats in Fort Worth. Today, Thomson is chef proprietor at Michael’s, where he is continuing to learn new lessons every day. “The last couple of years have been the biggest test of my business life in that with the big, new development making a big wave up my street where I have been for the past 18 years, I’ve learned a lot about business that I didn’t know before,” he says. Michael’s is located on Seventh Street near several massive mixed-use developments in the city’s Cultural District and Thomson said the construction made life difficult in 2008. “It’s just one of those things – do you climb in a hole and hibernate ‘til it’s over or do you jump out there? I’ve decided to jump. That’s why I did a big make-over at the restaurant and we’re looking forward to a great future,” he says. And in his 10th year of involvement with the Cystic Fibrosis benefit event, Thomson will serve as head chef this year at the 65 Roses Wine and Food Extravaganza.

40 UNDER 40 REUNION

Special thanks to past honorees

1995 Greg T. Clifton When Greg T. Clifton won his 40 under 40 award in 1995, he was running a solo financial adviser practice with the help of one part-time employee. Since then, Clifton has expanded his business and earned an MBA at Southern Methodist University. Today, Clifton Capital Partners has three offices, 12 employees, and a number of dedicated clients. In the summer of 2008, Clifton Capital Partners expanded into Southlake, and in May, the company expanded further into Midland. The firm is continuing to take on new clients, build relationships and preparing to relocate to a recently under-construction new headquarters on Camp Bowie Boulevard, Clifton says. “We continue to have more clients, we do a great job, and we’re good at operating our business,” Clifton says. “We’re a great local company, and we want to continue to take care of the most important resource we have, and that’s our clients and the great business relationships we have in Fort Worth.”

2005 Allen Wallach Growth is good, but exploding can be even better. Concussion, a Fort Worth advertising firm, has made quite an impact locally, doubling in size to nearly 60 staff members since Allen Wallach, CEO and partner, was honored as one of the 40 Under 40 recipients in 2005. The year after the award, Concussion was named a Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce Small Business of the Year, Wallach says, and continues to add business from across the nation. Fellow 40 Under 40 recipient and co-founder Andrew Yanez also were nominated as an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year and launched a new Latino marketing agency, Matador. Kristin Wallach, his wife and also an employee at Concussion, was also a 40 Under 40, and their daughter, Paige, is now 8. “Looking forward, I would like to continue to improve upon my skills as a marketer and to help cultivate the next level of leadership at our firm,” Wallach says.

2006 Andrew Yanez As chief creative officer of Concussion, Yanez has been at the forefront when it comes to the company’s push onto a national stage. From expanding into states from Minnesota to Louisiana, Florida to New York, Yanez says he is proud of the advertising firm’s work for clients, which often is published alongside clients like Coca-Cola, Vespa and Wolfgang Puck. Yanez was named a 40 Under 40 in 2006, and his co-founder Allen Wallach also has received the honor, as well as others at Concussion over the years. In addition to working with Concussion, Yanez sits on the board of directors for the Child Study Center, something he’s involved with alongside his wife, Amy, who was also named a 40 Under 40. Their oldest son, Nick Panco, is now entering first grade, and their youngest, Kimber Roane, is three and a half years old. Yanez’s other passion is trying to up Fort Worth’s recognition as a creative hot spot for all sorts of professionals, from chefs to advertising people to musicians and beyond. “This is a city ripe for creative discovery, and I am hoping to lead the charge,” Yanez says.

June 19, 2009

35

2009 40 UNDER 40 REUNION

36

Mark Assaad

John Bilbow

Matt Browning

Luis Caballero

Misti Callicott

Kathryn Cardarelli

Kim Catalano

Greg Cook

Andrew De la Torre

Mark Drennan

Jamie Fulton

J.R. Holland

Lyndsay Hoover

David Kramer

Craig Lloyd

Brant Martin

Daniel McCarthy

Todd Miller

Nelson Mitchell

Randi Mitchell

Fort Worth Business Press

Teresa Nelson

David Nolan

David Parker

Elaina Perez

Ken Shetter

Adam Smith

Jason Smith III

Brent Sorrells

Dana Stayton

Frank Taylor

Mike Thomas Jr.

John Thompson III

Michael Tothe

Ginger Webber

Brook Whitworth

Charles Williams

Richard Williams

Jennifer Yoder

June 19, 2009

40 UNDER 40 REUNION

Amanda Neill

2009

Drew Meyers

37

thanks 38

A Special Thank You to our 40 under 40 Reunion Sponsors Presenting Sponsor

Supporting Sponsors

Gift Providers

Fort Worth Business Press