G&A PARTNERS’ CEO TONY GRIJALVA SPEAKS TO THE RISE OF PEOS AND JOB TRENDS IN TEXAS In spite of the economy, in spite of the recession, in spite of companies downsizing or right sizing, Tony Grijalva knows it’s good to be in the hiring business in Texas. Grijalva, the Chairman and CEO of G&A Partners, [...]

RECENTLY RELOCATED COMPANY CEOs SHARE WHY AUSTIN TOPPED THEIR LIST AND WHAT TEXAS CAN DO BETTER It’s no secret that Texas continues to do well in job creation, even during our slow emergence from the recession. And the standout city in Texas for luring jobs from elsewhere is, arguably, Austin. With its mix of an [...]

ELITE EXECUTIVES OF DALLAS’ CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY DISCUSS THE CHALLENGES OF BUILDING IN 2012 AND BEYOND The commercial construction market dropped 8.5 percent in Texas between 2009 and 2010, according to Engineering News Record. Permits for single-family homes are down 14 percent in 2011 compared to last year. The construction industry is facing challenges not seen [...]

THE ECONOMY AND POLITICAL CLIMATE ARE LIKELY TO CAST A HARSH LIGHT ON EXECUTIVE PAY DECISIONS By David Bixby Overall, 2011 proved a fairly positive proxy season for public companies holding their first Say on Pay shareholder advisory votes as part of new proxy requirements under The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act [...]

CEO STEPHEN BROOKS ON WHY AND HOW HE REINVENTED GRAND HOMES For the first 20 years of Stephen Brooks’ tenure, Grand Homes was continually growing to the point of building 1,000 homes in 2003. Five years later the home building business in Dallas hit bottom. Along with the obvious economic pain, Grand Homes found itself [...]

Three CEOs shared their views on the 2012 economy on the campus of TCU in Ft. Worth in late October. The event was led by Dean Homer Erekson of TCU’s Neeley School of Business and Texas CEO Publisher, Pat Niekamp. Health Care Karen Kennedy CEO, Impel Management & Chief Administrative Officer, Medical Clinic of North [...]

ON A PATH TO RECOVERY OR IN THE IRONS? By O. Homer Erekson To a sailor, being aware of the direction of the wind is a key determinant of being able to make forward progress.  Sailing straight into the eye of the wind puts the boat “in the irons” and stops it dead in the [...]

WOULD YOU RATHER BE RIGHT OR GET WHAT YOU WANT? By Gigi Sage Several years ago I was hired by a large energy company to work with 80 of their top executives who were struggling to advance their careers within the company. I found that the executives had a mindset of competition and conflict with [...]

HOW BUSINESS OWNERS CAN DETECT AND DEFEND THEIR BUSINESS AGAINST WORKERS’ COMPENSATION FRAUD Business pays the cost for the majority of workers’ compensation fraud. The fraudsters are varied and can include claimants, businesses, health care providers, bill collectors, bookkeepers, administrators and accountants. The game of fraud is expensive: In July, a $17 million workers’ compensation [...]

TO GAIN BOARDROOM ACCESS, CEO ARCILIA ACOSTA SAYS BRING YOUR “A” GAME Arcilia Acosta is a rarity in the world of business. Not only is she president and CEO of two companies, she serves on the board of directors for a major corporation. According to the 2010 Catalyst Census, about 15 percent of corporate board [...]

FROM SOCIAL MEDIA TO INVESTOR RELATIONS, HOW TRANSPARENT COMMUNICATION IS INFLUENCING 21ST CENTURY BUSINESS During the first decade of the 2000’s, “transparency” has been getting a lot of attention, both for its potential to make businesses smarter and more accountable, and for its potential to create problems within a company. On one hand, a transparent [...]

INCENTIVES, EDUCATION AND THE BIG UNKNOWN – 2014 In Houston, the tone for doing business is set by the oil companies. When it comes to their motivation and strategy for employee benefits that include wellness programs, fitness facilities, employee incentives, and in-house medical clinics, is it all about healthy employees and lower costs, or is [...]