Texas Business Minds

It's appropriate that the Houston Business Journal's Landmark Awards honors Howard Tellepsen with the Lifetime Achievement Award. Tellepsen and his fourth generation family construction business have built numerous Houston landmarks. And while reshaping the city's skyline for over 100 years, the foundation that Tellepsen and his family build on is giving. In this inspiring episode,...

From $1 per share and the verge of bankruptcy to an estimated $1.6 billion in annual revenue, Tyler Technologies CEO Lynn Moore has seen and done it all in his 23 years rising through the ranks at the Plano-based company.  Today, Tyler Technologies boasts over 5,000 employees serving more than 10,000 client sites, and is the nation's largest supplier of software to the public sector. In this...

He arrived in American with only $2800 and survival was a goal then just as it is now, 25 years later. Sunny Bathija worked tirelessly, pumping gas, then owning gas stations, strip centers and eventually a diverse portfolio or real estate holdings- most often in locations that were ahead of the real estate curve. In this episode, HBJ Managing Editor Jonathan Adams invites the modest man from India...

In this age of digital & social media it's assumed that communicating is not only easier, but more cost-effective than ever. That assumption couldn't be further from the truth.  Today, cutting through all the noise is an art, something CEO Katie Harvey and her team at KGBTexas Communications have mastered for a diverse client base. One of the most influential business leaders in Texa...

Jack Ryan has never been satisfied with the status quo. He left a high profile partner role at Goldman Sachs to teach high school on Chicago's South Side. Then in 2015, he founded real estate disruptor and discount brokerage REX Homes, challenging the industry's long standing 6% commission fee. Wife Amanda is the Chief Trail Blazer at Blaze Kids Academy, providing shelter for children wh...

He arrived in American with a paltry $300, but thanks to a strong work ethic and prudent business decisions, Carlos Vaz now counts over $1B in real estate transactions and has built the CONTI Organization into one of the largest multi-family real estate owners & operators in Texas. In this episode, Dallas Business Journal Managing Editor Rob Schneider invites Vaz to share his story, his perspe...

When he took over 15 years ago, Lighthouse was in desperate financial condition, owing $18 million. It took almost six years to get back into the black, and in doing so CEO Mike Gilliam not only saved a vital San Antonio non-profit but earned the respect and admiration of the community. In this episode, SABJ Reporter Jessica Corso introduces us to the modest leader who is counting down to retireme...

After a record-shattering cold snap that crippled the state, the recovery is underway across Texas. Many business and homeowners are dealing with things they never imagined, and sorting through insurance policies hoping they're covered for damage they thought they'd never incur. In this timely and informative episode, Austin Business Journal Managing Editor Will Anderson interviews Alber...

Founded in 1964 by the Green Family and now owned by Troy & Marguerite Williams, Alfreda's Soul Food is a staple serving Houston's Third Ward and Museum District.  In this episode, HBJ Managing Editor Jonathan Adams profiles Troy, a Houston native, who is serving a diverse group of customers many of his grandmother's favorite recipes.

Diversity & inclusion is a relatively recent item on the agenda for many businesses. But for Beth Gerwe, it's been a 30 year journey of educating, informing and making a difference in North Texas. In this episode, Dallas Business Journal Managing Editor Rob Schneider invites Gerwe to share her experience and insight as we work to become more informed and improve the workplace culture.

Tricked out food trucks... Boxing promotion... Entertainment... and mobile COVID testing clinics? Cameron Davies is redefining the title of "entrepreneur". And while he's working round the clock, he's clearly enjoying every minute of it. In this episode, Davies takes a break to share his story with San Antonio Business Journal Editor-In-Chief Tony Quesada.

Houston is the Energy Capital of the World, and  oil & gas have fueled that. But after the double whammy of a collapse in oil prices, followed by the COVID-induced economic slowdown, clean energy is emerging as the next major player. In this episode, Houston Business Journal Managing Editor Jonathan Adams is joined by Sunnova Chairman, President & CEO John Berger for a candid conversation...

The Texas real estate market is red hot,... that's old news.  What everyone's wondering is how long will this boom continue and will prices begin to level off at some point? In Austin, high profile relocations by Elon Musk & Tesla, Podcaster Joe Rogan and Silicon Valley titan Oracle, plus the expansion of numerous tech giants including Apple, Google and Amazon, are all fueling explos...

Recapping an extraordinary year of challenges, social & economic upheaval, and transformation, Dallas Business Journal Managing Editor Rob Schneider continues our conversation with The Most Inspiring Leaders of 2020: Elizabeth Reich, City of Dallas; Byron Sanders, Big Thought; Steve Miff, Parkland Center for Clinical Innovation; Suresh Narayanan, Aerospace Quality Research & Development; T...

She opened her first restaurant when she was only 18 years old with a $7,000 loan from her parents and a vision. Almost 40 years later, Lisa Wong is a popular restaurateur, real estate investor and developer and home grown success story. In this episode, Reporter Steven Santana connects with Wong to reflect on her vision and ambition, plans for continued growth, and the future of the vibrant San A...

Taxes aren't the only thing that are friendly in Texas. So are the people! And with vibrant, cultural cities across the state, the word is out in Silicon Valley- the exodus to Texas is just as much about lifestyle as it is about the bottom line. In this episode, serial entrepreneur Sahin Boydas, Founder & CEO of Remoteteam.com chats with ABJ Managing Editor Will Anderson. Boydas shares ho...

One of Houston's most respected and admired business leaders, Laurie Vignaud is the first African American woman to hold the title of CEO and President at Unity National Bank of Houston- the only Black-owned banking institution in Texas. In this in-depth interview with HBJ Managing Editor Jonathan Adams, Vignaud reflects on her career in banking- from receptionist to the C-Suite. She also sha...

Leveraging technology in the legal profession, Reed Smith Partner Sarah Cummings is transforming the delivery of legal services to her clients in life sciences and health care. In this episode, Dallas Business Journal Managing Editor Rob Schneider profiles Cummings, one of the DBJ's Women in Technology Award Winners.

COVID-19 has crippled businesses across America, and it's killed many national, regional and local restaurants, The once popular buffet has felt the brunt of the coronavirus restrictions. With 4,700 jobs on the line, Vitanova Brands chose to re-invent its restaurants, transforming buffets to table service, adding a marketplace, and expanding to-go offerings. In this episode, SABJ Reporter Mit...

What happens when you mix millennial founders and established industry veterans? You get the ingredients for the success of Future Proof Brands as they develop innovative beverages for the next generation of consumers. In this episode, Founder & COO Aimy Steadman connects with Austin Business Journal Managing Editor Will Anderson to share her Shark Tank experience, entrepreneurial journey, and...

In a year of incredible challenges there are also tremendous opportunities for lower middle market companies to expand or augment their operations to gain market. In this episode, Main Street Capital President & Chief Investment Officer David Magdol checks in with HBJ Managing Editor Jonathan Adams to offer an update on what he and his team are doing to inject capital and bring expertise to th...

In an extraordinary year of challenges, social & economic upheaval, and transformation, Dallas Business Journal Managing Editor Rob Schneider welcomes The Most Inspiring Leaders of 2020: Michael Hinojosa, Superintendent, Dallas ISD; Vanessa Ogle, CEO & Founder, Enseo; Dr. Marc Nivet, EVP for Institutional Advancement at UT Southwestern;  Jeremy Hedrick, President of Dialcare; Fawaz Bham, D...

After a 14 year absence, Pabst Brewing returns its corporate headquarters to the Alamo City, tapping the historic Rand Building as the new home for the PBR & Lone Star brands among two dozen labels in the Pabst family. In this episode, GM & President Matt Bruhn joins SABJ Reporter Steven Santana to share why Pabst chose San Antonio, and get his impressions of the city and the scene.

Small business owners deal with elevated stress levels on a daily basis.  For many, the  COVID-19 shutdown pushed those stressors into code red. JuiceLand felt the impact, but Owner & Originator Matt Shook's "Fueled by Fun" approach helped him and his team to stay positive. In this episode, ABJ Managing Editor Will Anderson welcomes Shook to share his approach to business and li...

Rania Mankarious began her career at Crime Stoppers of Houston when she accepted an internship in 2006.  As an attorney with a masters degree, she was certainly overqualified for the role. But the role gave her the opportunity to find her true passion, helping families and making Houston safer. In this episode, HBJ Managing Editor Jonathan Adams invites Mankarious to share her journey and her visi...