March 2017 Denton Business Chronicle by Denton Media Company

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From skeptical to booming By Matt Payne and Jenna Duncan efore the birth of Cindy Tysinger’s woman-owned, multimillion-dollar IT firm GSATi, she remembers being the chief information officer and senior vice president of information technology at marketing firm Mannatech. She was skeptical of being the only female executive in the company, and once it sold to a larger company, her skepticism grew. So she decided to do things her own way: She went to start her own business. The staff of GSATi — which started at Tysinger’s home in Denton, with her two sons and a collection of employees who worked with her at Mannatech — pride themselves on the IT firm’s familial mindset. GSATi employs staff from five states and four countries, with multilingual team members to negotiate with clients worldwide. “Diversity is very important to us. It’s one of our highest values our culture is based upon,” Tysinger said. “The proudest thing I’ve seen in this culture is this family. We call everybody family.” Since 2009, there’s been a 192 percent increase in loan dollars for woman-owned businesses across the county, said Darla Booker, regional communications director for the Small Business Association. The boom is statewide, with Texas ranked No. 2 for woman-owned businesses in the country. With the numbers increasing, support is too. In 2010, the Denton Chamber of Commerce started the Women in Commerce group, looking to support its female members. “The chamber felt, given that we have so many women contributing great things to our community, that we needed a place to develop more women leaders,” said Angelica Del Rosal, director of membership and programs for the chamber. “Even though we don’t necessarily zero in on other particular segments, we did feel that it was justified given the potential.” As the group, known as WINC, has established itself, Del Rosal says there are plans to grow its influence. Over the past seven years, the group has focused on providing training, networking and professional development resources. Soon, it hopes to add another component: mentorship.

With resources expanding, female business owners better able to follow example of Denton’s GSATi ABOVE — GSATi CEO and founder Cindy Tysinger poses Thursday with her company’s core values at her office on the second floor of the Texas Building on the Denton Square. Photo by Jeff Woo

LEFT — The Denton Chamber of Commerce holds regular mixers through its Women in Commerce group. Courtesy photo

WOMEN | CONTINUED ON PAGE 7

Bills where you can cut a better deal By Liz Weston | NerdWallet

By Jenna Duncan | Staff Writer Noles General Store is moving to a booth space at Antique Gallery in Lewisville after operating at 315 W. Hickory St. for almost six years. Christye Price, the store’s buyer, said the business wanted to downsize and take away the daily commitment of

running the shop. Move-out is set for the end of March. Speaking of moves, Old West Cafe is moving by the end of the month. The new location (formerly the Black-eyed Pea) will double the restaurant’s seating area.

The word “bills” used to be synonymous with “fixed expenses.” But there’s nothing fixed about many of the bills a typical household pays today. Some bills have introductory rates that expire, shooting monthly costs skyward. Others offer secret discounts or upgrades to those in the know. Providers constantly tweak their plans and pricing, which means long-term customers can overpay by hundreds of dollars a year. “It’s like airline seating pricing,” says Steven McKean, founder and CEO of BillShark, a bill negotiating service based in Boston. “I wouldn’t say [people] are overcharged, but I would just say that the pricing is very opaque.” BillShark calculates that Americans

DUNCAN | CONTINUED ON PAGE 10

BILLS | CONTINUED ON PAGE 10

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Some bills have introductory rates that expire, shooting monthly costs skyward. Providers constantly tweak their plans and pricing, which means long-term customers can overpay by hundreds of dollars a year.

MARCH 2017

Denton Record-Chronicle

Enterprising Voices

Challenges faced by women’s small businesses omen small business owners are extremely optimistic about the future, business performance and plans to invest in their businesses through marketing and product and service development. But women in small business also face a particular set of hurdles: limited access to a support network, balancing business and family life, and coping with the fear of failure while at the same time owning our accomplishments. How can we make direct changes to this in the immediate future?

... and how we’re changing the world

Balancing business and family life As women, we no doubt have a lot on our plates between work and life responsibilities. Work-life balance is a goal of many entrepreneurs regardless of their gender, but women with their own businesses have to simultaneously run their families and their companies. And in this area, traditional gender expectations often still prevail. I think one of the greatest contributors to this struggle for balance is how we, as women, approach our priorities. For example, as a woman business owner with children, the amount you juggle is magnified when you add in the day-to-day management of your company’s growth strategies and resources in addition to waking up in the morning to get the kids up, fed, dressed and out the door without even stopping for a cup of coffee. Women feel compelled to take care of others first — at home and in the workplace. We’ll make time for extra projects, client lunches, calls or employees, but never pausing for ourselves.

Renè PAULSON | COMMENTARY

I’m a perfectionist, so delegation is something I really struggle with. Clients initially were referred to my business because of the quality my work, but in order to grow personally and professionally, it’s critical to delegate. How do you overcome that delegation hurdle? First, take the time to train your staff, but also train yourself in thinking differently. There is not always one way to complete a task, and recognizing that can be very freeing. As your company grows, your “doing hat” has to shrink and your “training hat” has to grow. Take the time to train your employees and trust their work. Take the time to organize and plan. Remember that we always underestimate the time it takes to do something. The to-do list will never truly end, so be sure to work in time for family and yourself … and don’t feel guilty about it. You’ll be more focused for work if you take the time for personal things.

Employee engagement Similar to the shift in how we conduct business, employee work motivation is changing. According to the “State of Women-Owned Business Executive Report” (April 2016), the growth trend in employment is coming from woman-owned firms, which

“is up 18 percent since 2007 … The strongest employment growth among women-owned firms is seen among [small businesses] employing between 50 and 99 workers.” Disappearing are the workers who wanted to work hard just for a paycheck. They want to be engaged, they want to work for a company with purpose, etc. Women are better at creating companies that have a purpose. So how do you motivate employees? Commit to a set amount of time each week or month to engage your employees. Have a group meeting to gather their ideas on your business directions and report on the ones you implement. Many of our greatest business ideas came from my employees.

Fear of failure vs. celebrating successes Confidence is a big factor in business, and it most definitely can be learned. This is why I really encourage more women to take on leadership roles and do the things they’re passionate about, even if they are scared, don’t have the confidence or don’t feel that they are an expert. We have a tendency to make excuses that lead to not doing. It’s all perspective. Expert doesn’t mean you know 100 percent of something, it means you have comprehensive knowledge and skills. Recognize that you have what makes you an expert. As your business experience grows, that confidence will grow, and as that happens, take the time to celebrate. Women finally are allowing

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Women who own small businesses face a particular set of hurdles, and women finally are allowing themselves to be open and authentic about their struggles. themselves to be open and authentic about their struggles. More and more women are supporting and encouraging one another to talk about the disappointments of life and business, and still celebrating their wins without being judged for it. The growing prevalence of women small business owners didn’t happen by accident. Legislative acts such as the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010 and the Women’s Equity in Contracting Act were put in

place to help businesses headed by women and minorities gain a competitive advantage. However, as women and women business owners, one of our greatest weapons in our fight for true equality is our voice. Together, we can speak out on the issues that are most important to all of us, in our communities, in our states and in our nation’s capital. It is an amazing time to be a female business owner; women are stepping up to create careers based in pas-

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Calendar of Events

Oil could flow next week

APIs and IPAs, hosted by TechMill, meets every other Tuesday at Harvest House, 331 E. Hickory St., for a techcentered hangout.

Dakota Access firm asks judge to reject tribal plea

Tuesday, March 28, 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 11, 6:30 p.m.

Argyle Planning and Zoning Commission meets the first Tuesday of the month at 308 Denton St.

By Blake Nicholson | AP BISMARCK, N.D. — The company building the Dakota Access pipeline has asked a federal judge to reject the latest attempt by two American Indian tribes to halt the project, with oil likely to begin flowing early next week. Texas-based Energy Transfer Partners argues in court documents filed Monday that it has endured enough delays and that the Standing Rock and Cheyenne River Sioux tribes are employing “a lastgasp litigation tactic.” The tribes have appealed a decision by U.S. District Judge James Boasberg to not stop construction of the pipeline’s final segment under Lake Oahe, a Missouri River reservoir in North Dakota from which they get their water. They’ve asked Boasberg to head off the imminent flow of oil through the four-state pipeline until the appeal is resolved. The tribes maintain that an oil pipeline under the lake they consider sacred violates their right to practice their religion. In its response, ETP argues that the tribes’ religion-based argument is flawed and that they introduced it too late in the legal process. “The tribe fails to explain how the added ‘burden’ of a pipeline that crosses this part of the Missouri River could itself produce irreparable harm to the purity of Lake Oahe’s waters when so many other oil pipelines, gas pipelines, refineries, power lines, railroad tracks and other man-made intrusions have burdened the same waters for so long,” company at-

Tuesday, April 4, 6:30 p.m.

Denton Black Chamber of Commerce meets the second Tuesday of the month at the Denton Housing Authority, 1225 Wilson St. Tuesday, April 11, 6 p.m.

Denton Chamber of Commerce will host its annual banquet at the University of North Texas Gateway Center, 801 North Texas Blvd. Individual tickets cost $60, and sponsorships are still available. Thursday, March 23, 5:30 p.m.

Denton Chamber of Commerce hosts regular Smart Business 101 seminars at the chamber office, 414 W. Parkway St. This session will focus on how to increase business presence on Google. Tuesday, March 28, 11:45 a.m.

Tom Stromme/AP file photo

This Feb. 13 photo shows the site of the final phase of the Dakota Access pipeline near Cannon Ball, N.D. Sioux tribes suing to stop the pipeline want a federal judge to head off the imminent flow of oil. torney William Scherman wrote. The tribes initially sued over the project last summer, arguing that it threatens cultural sites and their water supply. Those claims are not yet resolved. The tribes added the religion argument last month. In his decision last week, Boasberg said the tribes didn’t raise the religion argument in a timely fashion and he questioned its merits. The tribes are appealing his reasoning to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit and say that if oil flows before the appeal is resolved, they will lose any chance to

defend their free exercise of religion. In court documents, ETP said the hole under the lake is nearly finished, and crews anticipate pulling pipe through this week and doing final testing. “As a result, Dakota Access projects that oil may be introduced in this part of the line between Monday, March 20, 2017, and Wednesday, March 22, 2017, depending on the success of the testing,” Scherman wrote. The pipeline will carry North Dakota oil through South Dakota and Iowa to a shipping point in Illinois 1,200 miles away.

Denton County Young Professionals host coffee every third Wednesday of the month at The Chestnut Tree, 107 W. Hickory St.

sion and purpose. RENÉ PAULSON is executive director of the Center for Research Design and Analysis at Texas Woman’s University. Paulson is a senior statistician and president of Elite Research LLC, the founder of Divergent Web Solutions LLC and PhD Student.com, and a member of MomMD LLC. She recently was named to the National Small Business Association Leadership Council.

Denton County Young Professionals hosts a monthly mixer at a new place each month. April’s mixer will be on the lawn of the Courthouse on the Square.

Lake Cities Chamber of Commerce holds weekly coffee meetings on Wednesdays. Upcoming locations will be listed at www.lakecities chamber.com/chamber-events.

Thursday, April 6, 5:30 p.m.

Wednesday, March 22, 7:15 a.m. Wednesday, March 29, 7:15 a.m. Wednesday, April 5, 7:15 a.m. Wednesday, April 12, 7:15 a.m.

Denton Hispanic Chamber of Commerce holds its monthly lead generator luncheon the second Tuesday of the month. It is held at Sidewalk Cafe, 2900 Wind River Lane, and admission is $5 for members and $10 for guests. Tuesday, April 11, 11:30 a.m.

The Denton League of United Latin American Citizens No. 4366 meets the third Saturday of the month at the Denton Senior Center, 509 N. Bell Ave. Saturday, March 18, 9:30 a.m.

Denton Planning and Zoning Commission meets at City Hall, 215 E. McKinney St., every other Wednesday. Wednesday, March 22, 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 5, 6:30 p.m.

Electronics recycling takes place at The Cupboard Natural Foods and Cafe, 200 W. Congress St., the second Saturday of each month. Drop off any computer-related electronics for recycling. Visit www.computercrusher.com for a list of acceptable items and more information.

Lake Cities Chamber of Commerce hosts monthly luncheons at rotating locations on the third Tuesday of the month. This month will be at Oakmont Country Club, 1901 Oakmont Drive in Corinth. Tuesday, March 21, 11:30 a.m.

Little D Open Coffee Club, hosted by TechMill, meets every other Tuesday at West Oak Coffee Bar, 114 W. Oak St., to discuss technology and startups. Tuesday, March 21, 8 a.m. Tuesday, April 4, 8 a.m.

Sanger Area Chamber of Commerce holds a networking leads luncheon the fourth Wednesday of every month. RSVP at http://sangertexas. com. This month’s luncheon will be held at the chamber office, 300 Bolivar St. Wednesday, March 22, noon

Saturday, April 8, 8 a.m.

Wednesday, April 19

Who to contact Scott K. Parks Managing Editor 940-566-6879 | sparks@dentonrc.com Jenna Duncan Business Editor 940-566-6889 | jduncan@dentonrc.com Sandra Hammond Advertising Director 940-566-6820 | shammond@dentonrc.com Shawn Reneau Retail Advertising 940-566-6843 | sreneau@dentonrc.com

Denton Record-Chronicle

MARCH 2017

Enterprising Voices

Some property exempt from seizure t should be noted that Texas history is filled with residents of other states and countries moving to Texas to escape debt and not-sofriendly debt collection laws, including debtor’s prison. For example, William B. Travis avoided arrest in Alabama for unpaid debts by moving to Texas. As a result, early Texans were not so fond of government interference in their private matters, including debt collection. That legacy still exists in Texas. Obtaining a judgment against a resident of Texas may be one thing. But collecting it is certainly another. Chapters 41 and 42 of the Texas Property Code set forth certain property classifications that are “exempt” from execution by a judgment creditor. Execution is the process of forcefully taking the property of a debtor, selling it and paying the proceeds to a judgment creditor. If the property is exempt, it may not be taken to satisfy a judgment debt. Chapter 41 deals with exempt real property. Real property includes any permanent improvements and fixtures located on land. Except for certain permitted types of liens and removables, a “homestead” and one or more lots used for a place of burial are exempt from seizure for the claims of a judgment creditor. In order to qualify as a homestead, the real property (and improvements) must be categorized as either urban or rural. If a property is urban, then the homestead exemption is limited to 10 acres. If a property is rural, then for a single adult person the homestead exemption is limited to 100 acres, and for a family the exemption is limited to 200 acres. A property is considered rural if it is not urban. A property is considered urban if the property is located within the limits of a municipality or the extraterritorial jurisdiction of a municipality or a platted subdivision; and is served by

Scott ALAGOOD | COMMENTARY

policy protection, paid or volunteer fire protection, and at least three of the following services provided by a municipality or under contract to a municipality: electric, natural gas, sewer, storm sewer, and water. The proceeds from the sale of a homestead continue to be exempt for a period of six months following the date of sale. Chapter 42 addresses exempt personal property. Personal property includes moveable property that is not real property. Certain amounts and types of personal property are exempt from garnishment, attachment, execution or other seizure. The amount is limited to $100,000 of the combined fair market value of the personal property of a family. For a single adult, the exemption amount is limited to $50,000. The following are types of personal property that are exempt so long as the combined value does not exceed the limitations set forth above: ■ home furnishings, including family heirlooms; ■ provisions for consumption; ■ farming or ranching vehicles and implements; ■ tools, equipment, books and apparatuses, including boats and motor vehicles, used in a trade or profession; ■ wearing apparel; ■ jewelery not exceeding 25 percent of the aggregate limits set forth above; ■ two firearms; ■ athletic and sporting equipment, including bicycles; ■ a two-wheel, three-wheel or four-wheel motor vehicle for each member of a family

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Two horses and their forage are among the types of personal property that are exempt from execution by a judgment creditor so long as the combined value does not exceed set limitations. or single adult who holds a driver’s license or who does not hold a driver’s license but who relies on another person to operate the vehicle for the benefit of the nonlicensed person; ■ the following animals and forage on hand for their consumption: two horses, mules or donkeys and a saddle, blanket and bridle for each; 12 head of cattle; 60 head of other types of livestock; and 120 fowl; and

■ household pets. Unpaid commissions for personal services not exceeding 25 percent of the limitations set forth above also are exempt from seizure. The following are the types of personal property that are exempt and their combined value is not included in the limitations discussed above: ■ current wages for personal services (except for court-ordered child support payments);

■ professionally prescribed health aids of a debtor or a dependent of a debtor; ■ alimony, support or separate maintenance received or to be received by the debtor for the support of the debtor or a dependent of a debtor; and ■ Bible or other religious book containing sacred writings (excludes a landlord exercising a contractual or statutory right to seize property after a tenant’s breach of a

lease or abandonment of the leased premises). Additionally, certain savings and retirement plans and college savings plans are exempted from seizure. R. SCOTT ALAGOOD is certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in commercial and residential real estate law. He can be reached at alagood@ dentonlaw.com and www.dentonlaw.com.

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Delays up sharply U.S. airlines are having trouble keeping flights on time this winter, and they are recording a sharp increase in long delays. The Transportation Department said Tuesday that 42 flights in January were stuck on the ground so long that the

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Enterprising Voices

Set expectations for your marketing firm omeone once told me that expectations are pre-planned resentments, but if you’re paying a marketing company for ongoing services, I think you should go ahead and set some expectations. Working with a marketing company can be a big step for many businesses, and they’re often completely unsure of what to expect. Let’s knock that uncertainty out here and now and get you prepared for your first interaction with a marketing company. And I hope this isn’t the case, but let’s give you the tools you need to evaluate your current marketing company if they’re not performing as you’d like. Here’s what you should expect when hiring a marketing firm:

If a marketing firm is promising you the moon, is promising to get you on the first page of Google in a month, is promising you thousands of qualified leads each week or an increase in business of hundreds of percent, you should probably run far, far away. However, there’s a reason that some marketing firms promise their customers the moon — their customers have unreasonable expectations about how marketing (especially digital marketing) works. Marketing is an accelerant, but even rocket fuel has limits. You can’t be teleported to the top of local search results in a flash for $500 (or $5,000 or

Biz on the Wire

Sale one option for Neiman Marcus By Anne D’Innocenzio | AP NEW YORK — Luxury retailer Neiman Marcus says it’s exploring strategic alternatives including a possible sale of the company. The announcement Tuesday came as the retailer, which also operates Bergdorf Goodman, reported a loss in its second fiscal quarter that ended Jan. 28 and its sixth consecutive quarterly drop for a key revenue measure. Like many department stores, Neiman Marcus has been wrestling with declining customer traffic and sluggish sales as shoppers increasingly buy online. Even in the world of luxury, affluent shoppers are dramatically changing their habits and are buying designer bags and clothes online on places like eBay or consignment shops. “The high-end brands are losing momentum,” says Marshal Cohen, chief industry analyst at NPD Group Inc., a market research firm. He said the average price for a luxury item dropped 5 percent last year from the prior year. The Wall Street Journal reported that Neiman Marcus is in discussions with department store operator Hudson’s Bay Co., which has been on an acquisition spree over the past few years and operates such stores as Saks Fifth Avenue, Lord & Taylor and its namesake chain. Neiman Marcus says it has not set up a timetable for completing the evaluation. Known for its lavish Christmas catalog, it was bought by Ares Management LLC and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board in 2013.

COMMENTARY

$50,000). Marketing takes time and is a cumulative process, but it still very much has a measurable effect. So before you go out and hire a marketing company, educate yourself on just what marketing can and cannot do for a business — especially a business in your industry. Find out exactly what is and isn’t reasonable by researching online, talking to other businesses in your industry and talking to marketing firms that work with businesses like yours. If the marketing company you’re thinking of working with is promising you the moon, ask them how they plan to deliver it.

Marketing firm should be able to show you progress By the same token, if your marketing firm is unwilling to set any sort of expectations (or worse, if they treat marketing like it’s some sort of magical creative process that can’t be measured), this is just as concerning. A good marketing firm is going to help you choose reasonable, achievable, measurable goals, and then they’re going to provide feedback

Your marketing firm should be accountable to you At the end of the day, you’re the client, you’re the one shelling out the big bucks for marketing work, which means you’re in control. If you’re not getting work that meets the expectations you’ve set, if your marketing firm isn’t willing to account for its time or demonstrate results, if you can’t get simple progress reports or data on how their marketing efforts are helping you reach your goals … Walk away. Or, at the very least, voice your expectations and ask that they be met. And if they’re not willing to do so, it might be best for both parties if you part ways.

Or just do your own marketing

A good marketing firm will help you choose reasonable, achievable, measurable goals, then provide feedback.

Now, if you’re the DIY type, you can absolutely do your own marketing. However, if you have no background or training in marketing, you might find it a bit of an uphill battle. We just recently put out an online marketing course for

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George Doyle/Getty Images

processes we use to help our clients identify, and take advantage of, their best marketing opportunities. You can check it out at www.bluesteelesolutions.com/ resources/level-up-to-awesome. Enter promo code DRC0317

to save 15 percent. Happy marketing. HEATHER STEELE is the founder of Blue Steele Solutions. She can be reached at heather@bluesteelesolutions. com.

Retiring from Your Marriage? Time to Consider your Employee Benefits & Retirement Funds You don’t have to be 65 when you retire from your marriage, but you still need take care of the funds you get when you turn that age. Will you be able to keep all of it, some of it, or none of it? Bad news first: The presumption in Texas is that all property is community property and can be divided in a divorce. The good news: Texas also recognizes separate property, which cannot be divided in a divorce. Separate property consists of property a person had on the date of marriage, property that was a gift, or property that was inherited. Retirement, and certain employee benefits are presumed to be community property and can be divided by the court. If a divorcing employee believes that any of their retirement or employee benefits are separate property, the employee will have the burden to prove that it is their separate property. It is important for both divorcing spouses to seek legal advice before dividing such assets. Why? Because bad things can happen. Example A: an employee spouse loses benefits that were

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Don’t expect the moon, but expect an asteroid or two

Heather STEELE |

(hopefully in the form of weekly, monthly or quarterly reports) on exactly how effective their efforts have been and how close they’ve been able to move you to your goals. A good marketing firm is going to tell you what can’t be done with the time and budget you have. They’ll help you set reasonable expectations around your marketing and what their work can or can’t help you achieve.

rightfully her separate property. If this happens, the court cannot “fix” the problem, because it is a mistake that cannot be reversed. Example B: a non-employee loses out because the benefit was not divided correctly, sending everyone back to court. In both cases, a savvy family lawyer probably could have avoided a lot trouble. Examples of retirement and employee benefits that can be divided by the court are: pensions, 401(k)s, employee stock purchase plans, employee stock option plans, restricted stock awards, restricted stock units, deferred compensation, state retirement (e.g. Teacher Retirement System, Texas

Municipal Retirement System, Texas County District Retirement System, etc.), and federal retirement (e.g. military, Federal Employee Retirement System, Civil Service Retirement System, Thrift Savings Plan), and bonuses. When retirement and employee benefits and plans are divided in a divorce, an order in addition to the final divorce document is almost always necessary. Such additional order is vital for the recipient to actually receive their share of the funds. Without the additional order, the recipient could lose the benefits forever. The final divorce document is not enough. So what if you’ve been divorced (regardless how many years ago),

and you were awarded a portion of your ex-spouse’s retirement or employee benefits? You should make sure that there is a proper order on file with the plan. If not, you should seek legal advice in order to obtain such an order. There is usually no time limit to obtain the order; however, if your ex-spouse dies or retires and receives all the funds, then you may be out of luck. Likewise, the employee spouse in this example has an interest in such orders being completed for the recipient spouse. This is because the administrator of the plan may have frozen the assets in contemplation of an order being received for the recipient spouse. If this is the case, then the employee spouse may find out at retirement that they cannot start their retirement benefits until the order is completed, or until they receive proof that the ex-spouse did not receive a portion of the asset. Let’s face it: retirement and employee benefits are often the largest, most complicated assets to be divided in a divorce. Your marriage may be over, but you’re still headed to 65…get with a family lawyer to make sure you still have these assets when you get there.

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MARCH 2017

Enterprising Voices

Applications open for next Leadership Denton class very Leadership Denton class is assigned a group project, with the results, findings and recommendations presented publicly at its final session prior to graduation. The 18 individuals in our current class will graduate April 28 during the Denton Chamber of Commerce’s membership luncheon. As required, they will make a presentation April 6, proposing “ideas to increase the amount of housing in Denton that is affordable to support the goals of the Denton 2030 Plan.” Components of this issue are being jointly addressed by the United Way of Denton County and Serve Denton. The chamber’s Leadership Denton program offers a series of comprehensive train-

mer mayors of Denton, numerous City Council and Denton school board members and the current heads of the United Way of Denton County and Serve Denton. Ten directors on the current chamber board have completed the program, and 12 or our past board chairmen are Leadership Denton graduates. Application to Leadership Denton entails a written submission and personal interview. Class participants are selected based on demonstrated personal interest and longterm commitment to the Denton area. Interested individuals may apply through May 12. The 2017-18 Leadership Denton class is open to any individual who is a citizen of the United States, is of voting age and has lived or worked

Biz on the Wire

Chuck CARPENTER | COMMENTARY

ing sessions designed to help make interested Denton-area residents better aware of opportunities for community service, as well as all levels of public office. Applications for the 33rd class are now available from the chamber. With the graduation of the 32nd class April 28, a total of 560 individuals will have completed Leadership Denton. Alumni include two for-

Jeff Woo/DRC

The Discover Denton Welcome Center had its ribbon-cutting in July. The Leadership Denton class of 2012 developed the idea for the center. within the boundaries of the Denton school district for at least one year as of Aug. 1, 2017. For more details, please refer to the Denton Chamber of Commerce web site, www.denton-chamber.org. The fact that a group pro-

ject is mandatory for graduation validates the foundation of the program. Team building, reaching consensus and collaboration to carry out a common goal to ultimately improve or benefit the Denton area remain the profile of

potential Leadership Denton graduates. CHUCK CARPENTER is president of the Denton Chamber of Commerce. He can be reached at dcoc@ denton-chamber.org.

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By Bruce Schreiner | AP SHELBYVILLE, Ky. — Bulleit bourbon has reached a milestone in its maturity with the opening of its first distillery. It’s riding the wave of bourbon’s popularity as its parent company — spirits giant Diageo — looks to expand a brand started 30 years ago when Kentuckian Tom Bulleit revived his family’s whiskey recipe. Company executives gathered with state and local officials Tuesday to mark the opening of the $115 million Bulleit distillery near Shelbyville, Kentucky, about 30 miles east of Louisville. Diageo sees the distillery, built on rolling farmland in Shelby County, as a catalyst for the brand that has flexed its muscle with annual double-digit sales growth in recent years. “This distillery is the most important thing we can do to grow our business,” said Bulleit’s U.S and global brand director, Ed Bello. “We have big ambitions to continue to grow the brand in the U.S. and expand it globally.” Bulleit’s growth could mean an even bigger distillery. As bourbon production started in recent days, Diageo officials were already talking about expanding. They didn’t offer specifics or a timetable for the plant that now can produce up to 1.8 million proof gallons each year, or about 750,000 9-liter cases. Diageo’s other brands include Johnnie Walker, Smirnoff and Guinness. Global sales for the Bulleit brand, which includes rye whiskey, reached 1.1 million cases in the fiscal year ending in June, up 29 percent from the prior year. A decade ago, Bulleit’s sales amounted to about 37,000 cases. While Bulleit bourbon is made in-house, the rye will continue to be made under contract at a non-Diageo distillery, using the brand recipe. Bulleit was started in 1987 by Kentucky lawyer Tom Bulleit, who now serves as a brand ambassador.

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Denton Record-Chronicle

Enterprising Voices

Are stocks cheap or expensive? “We are not in bubble territory or anything of the sort. Measured against interest rates, stocks are actually on the cheap side. But if interest rates were 7 or 8 percent, these [stock] prices would look exceptionally high.” — Warren Buffett, Feb. 27 on CNBC

Jonathon FITE | COMMENTARY

ver the last 70 years, great investors and teachers such as Ben Graham and Warren Buffett have developed the field of value investing. Value investors see stocks as ownership interests in businesses, not merely as ticker symbols on a TV screen. The discipline of value investing boils down to buying stocks of good companies at cheap prices. Buying a stock when its price offers a deep discount to its intrinsic value reduces downside risks and creates upside potential. To decide if a stock is a bargain, we must first calculate its intrinsic value. The intrinsic value of a business is driven by its assets, profits and growth prospects. Intuitively that makes sense. After all, a cash-rich, highly profitable, fast-growing business is worth more than a highly indebted, unprofitable, shrinking business. But there is one more crucial input: the interest rate. That’s what Buffett emphasized in the recent interview quoted above. Why does the interest rate matter so much for stock values? Let’s use a simple example

Biz on the Wire

Mafia’s appetite soars for food firms By Frances D’Emilio | AP ROME — Organized crime has a seemingly insatiable appetite for farm and food businesses, one of the few economic sectors experiencing growth during Italy’s protracted economic crisis. Anti-mafia prosecutors and Italy’s farm lobby Coldiretti on Tuesday expressed concern that the country’s crime syndicates have increased their infiltration or control of agriculture and food markets, ranging from citrus exports to the U.S., Italian wholesale produce markets and local supermarket chains. They urged new legislation to help law enforcement combat mobsters’ involvement in farming and food production. A report estimated the overall volume of business in what has been called the “agriMafia” interests jumped by 30 percent in 2016, compared to 2015’s volume. The report, which was presented at Coldiretti’s Rome headquarters to anti-Mafia investigators, law enforcement ministers, lawmakers and police officials, calculated the amount of business at $23 billion, stressing the estimate was likely low. The bounty of Italy’s renowned farm products is so plentiful, each crime syndicate and sometimes specific clans are specializing in certain items. Investigators alleged the Piromalli crime clan was behind the export to major U.S. stores of what was labeled extra virgin olive oil but what was really oil made from residue from the Middle East. The report noted that the same clan had controlled exports of oranges, mandarin oranges and lemons to the U.S.

to illustrate the concept. Suppose that a company (let’s call it Acme) has a stable, but not growing, annual dividend of $4 per share and a stock price of $100. Dividing $4 by $100, Acme has a 4 percent dividend yield. That’s pretty tempting in a world of nearzero interest rates. In Buffett’s words, measured against today’s low rates, Acme’s 4 percent yielding-stock is “actually on the cheap side.” But let’s look at this very same stock in a high-interest environment. Suppose the prevailing interest rate was 8 percent. Acme’s 4 percent dividend yield wouldn’t seem nearly so juicy, right? You probably wouldn’t invest in a 4 percent yielder (assuming no growth potential) when you could safely get 8 percent on your bank savings account. Where might Acme’s stock become tempting? At a dividend yield well above the prevailing 8 percent interest rate. You’d want some excess return to reward you for the risk of a stock relative to a safe savings account offering 8 percent. So let’s say you insisted on a 10 percent dividend

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yield. Using the $4 annual dividend, a fair price for Acme would be $40 per share. So let’s recap. In a lowinterest-rate world, Acme stock is “cheap” at $100 per share. In a high-interest world, Acme’s shares would be expensive at $100 and fairly valued at $40. That’s 60 percent lower! This is exactly Buffett’s point. If interest rates stay low, today’s lofty stock prices are actually rational, even cheap. But that’s a very big if. The second half of Buffett’s quote is just as important. If we enter a high-interest environment, today’s stock prices would look “exceptionally high” and could fall. (Bonds, which are in an epic bubble,

would be hurt even worse in a high-rate environment. That’s why bonds have fallen significantly as rates have risen in the last few months, even as most stocks have rallied.) Buffett has a great knack for gauging market sentiment and valuation. In the late 1990s, he loudly warned investors about the gigantic stock market bubble, and was proven right. In 2008 he encouraged investors to buy stocks. He was a bit early (stocks kept falling until March 2009) but ultimately was proven right. Today, with his carefully chosen words, Buffett is encouraging investors to be engaged in the market, but to

do so carefully. How might investors manage this dilemma? First, focus on value stocks rather than high-priced momentum stocks. The deep discount to intrinsic value offers downside protection. Second, emphasize companies that can grow their profits as interest rates rise and inflation rises. In our portfolio, we have loaded up on bargains in three categories. Interest-rate plays, such as undervalued banks, serve as a direct hedge. The second category is high-quality world dominators. Because of their market dominance, they can grow their profits faster than inflation. These

growing profits would outpace the drag from rising rates. The third category, hard assets, is chock-full of natural resource and real estate companies that similarly thrive in inflationary environments. JONATHON FITE is a managing partner of KMF Investments, a Texas-based hedge fund. Jonathon is a lecturer with the College of Business at the University of North Texas. This column is provided for general interest only and should not be construed as a solicitation or as personal investment advice. Comments may be sent to email@KMFInvestments. com.

Denton Record-Chronicle

MARCH 2017

Cover Story WOMEN | CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

“It will be a great chance for those women who have been in their careers for a considerable amount of time to ... basically put themselves out on a platform as a support,” she said. Tysinger is a member of the WINC committee, working to foster the womanowned business community. In the years since she started in her Denton home, GSATi has upgraded. Its offices are now perched on the second floor of the Texas Building on West Oak Street thanks to its leader’s will to beat the odds. Tysinger remembers how women working in technology through the 1970s and ’80s were virtually nonexistent — much less in leadership positions. Tysinger didn’t let that impact her. She developed a passion for all things tech growing up. She has a strong sense of patriotism meshed with that passion, as many of Tysinger’s family members enlisted in the military. She often would go to her father’s base to observe and help work on equipment at the age of 11. Her official foray into the industry came when she joined the Department of Defense and Civil Service at the age of 16 as a programmer, and she helped design a collection of weapons. A constantly fluctuating work agenda embodied her simple answer to why she loves technology so much — change. “It’s always evolving and moving forward,” Tysinger said. “My desire was always to make life easier. There’s everyday tech, then the benefits of the military side of tech to position the U.S. strongly. I hate routine work and get bored easily.” Her gender, nevertheless, has always been a talking point. As a 22-year-old, she managed a team of 80 engineers part of the Hughes Aircraft Ground Systems Group in the Department of Defense and Civil Service. Tysinger was the first woman to run an engineering division in data management for Hughes Aircraft, and nearly all of her 80 engineers were men. Tysinger was influential in developing confidential software that would go on to win awards and help push computer usage throughout the entire military. “I broke through a lot of glass ceilings for women pretty quickly as a result of being willing to do whatever it took,” Tysinger said. Aspiring female entrepreneurs in Denton can follow Tysinger’s footsteps with resources available to them at the Texas Woman’s University Center for Women in Business. Annie Phillips, interim executive director of the Center for Women in Business, said the center emphasizes

Jeff Woo

Cindy Tysinger is the CEO and founder of GSATi, a multimillion-dollar information technology firm.

Courtesy photo

GSATi owner Cindy Tysinger, left, Sally Beauty’s Carolyn Corporon, center, and Texas Woman’s University Chancellor and President Carine Feyten attend a Women in Commerce event. Courtesy photo

Faculty members at Texas Woman’s University provide one-on-one help to aspiring entrepreneurs at the Center for Women in Business. working with existing resources in the city of Denton to maximize impact. Methods the center uses to propel women include a variety of scholarships to get business ideas off the ground. A variety of workshops and seminars help women and anybody in the community get hold of the ropes. “We look at what support we can provide for the community, being a university here in Denton,” Phillips said. “It’s a part of our role as students to support the community, and we try to see where the gaps are to fill for women starting businesses.” As the Center for Women in Business is slightly more than a year old, Phillips said the center is still in the benchmarking phase to see what works and what doesn’t. It doesn’t make sense to duplicate resources that are already available to aspiring Denton

entrepreneurs, so she and fellow counselors in the program continually strive to try new efforts, gauging them as they go. Funding is given to researchers at TWU who produce findings the center can

incorporate moving forward. Women tend to start business ventures with less capital than men. With that in mind, the center encourages women to start collecting capital for new ventures early on in order to not merely settle for a

source of income. Simply put, staff members at the center encourage entrepreneurs to think big. “Part of this is really helping women ask for more and take risks, to put themselves out there and not be as hesitant,” Phillips said. “Women are socialized differently than men, but we have to embrace

these behaviors that might be considered typical for men.” MATT PAYNE can be reached at 940-566-6845 and via Twitter at @MattePaper. JENNA DUNCAN can be reached at 940-566-6889 and via Twitter at @JennaFDuncan.

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Biz on the Wire Cabela’s axes call center SIDNEY, Neb. (AP) — Cabela’s has laid off several dozen people as part of the outdoor gear seller’s efforts to reduce its expenses. Cabela’s spokesman Nathan Borowski said Tuesday the exact number of layoffs will be determined after affected workers decide whether to apply for other jobs within the company. Cabela’s plans to close its call center in Sidney, Nebraska, and consolidate operations at its North Platte call center within 30 days. The other layoffs were at Cabela’s corporate headquarters in Sidney. Borowski says the layoffs aren’t related to Bass Pro’s pending $4.5 billion deal to buy Cabela’s.

MARCH 2017

Denton Record-Chronicle

Business Spotlight

To reach your savings goals, take these steps By Lauren Schwahn | NerdWallet Saving money is often easier said than done, but it doesn’t have to be difficult. Setting clear goals can motivate you to take action, focus on what’s important and steer clear of overspending. Here are a few tips for how to set your savings goals:

Map out your goals Ask yourself, “What do I want to save for?” Your goals may be short-term, like buying a new TV or taking a trip to Europe; long-term, like purchasing a new home or saving for retirement; or somewhere in the middle, like paying off your student loans. When setting goals, factor in needs — like an emergency fund — in addition to the things you want to save for. Anna Sergunina, a certified financial planner at MainStreet Financial Planning, recommends prioritizing your emergency fund before other goals; otherwise, you can suffer a major setback if something unexpected comes up. “If there are no funds, that’s going to put a break into the whole system,” she says. After you identify and prioritize your savings goals, you can start to make a customized plan.

Assess your finances Take a good look at your finances to see if your goals are within reach. Calculate your monthly income based on your paycheck, Social Security benefits or any other money you receive. Then, check your transaction history on your bank’s website, or use an app, spreadsheet or simply a piece of paper to track your

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If you want to reduce your spending in order to put even more money toward savings, identify your needs and wants. expenses. That way, you’ll know where your money is going, how much you have left and what amount is reasonable to set aside each month. If you want to reduce your spending in order to put even more money toward savings, identify your needs and wants and try to indulge in the wants less. Needs are things you must spend money on — like food and housing — and wants are the nonessentials like entertainment and restaurant meals. If you’re not sure how to budget for these ex-

Biz on the Wire

Pick a time and place

penses, give the 50/30/20 budget calculator a try.

Choose a deadline. You can stockpile your funds as that date approaches. Once you begin to cut back on or restructure your expenses, decide where to store the money you save until you need it. Consider putting it in a savings account or certificate of deposit, preferably one that offers a competitive interest rate, to keep it safe and help reach your goals faster. It might even be worth creating separate accounts for your individual goals.

Do your research Find out not only how much you can save, but how much you need to save. For example, if your goal is to vacation in Italy, research the cost of plane tickets, a hotel stay and sightseeing. This will give you an estimate of the price tag and, therefore, your savings total. Expand your search to find the best discounts and savings methods.

An easy way to contribute to your savings goals with little effort is to automate the process. Apps like Digit let you specify your goals and will automatically transfer a certain amount of your funds into a special account.

Follow up Reminding yourself to track your progress is an effective way to stay on top of your savings goals. Sergunina suggests setting up a “money date” with yourself or your significant other, say once a

month, to periodically look over your financial activity. Review your income, expenses and how much you’ve saved so far. If you’re not quite where you want to be, don’t get discouraged. “We all make mistakes,” Sergunina says. “Life happens. So as long as you check in, pick yourself back up and keep going, that’s what counts.” LAUREN SCHWAHN is a staff writer at NerdWallet, a personal finance website.

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Netflix to complete Welles’ final film NEW YORK (AP) — Orson Welles’ last film finally has a home. Netflix has acquired the global rights to Welles’ The Other Side of the Wind and will finance its completion and restoration. Netflix’s announcement Tuesday brings to a close the decades-long mystery surrounding one cinema’s greatest filmmakers. Welles began shooting the film in 1970 but never completed it. The Citizen Kane director died in 1985. The Other Side of the Wind is a Hollywood satire about a filmmaker attempting a comeback. Its stars include John Huston, Dennis Hopper and Peter Bogdanovich, who has helped in its editing. Producer Frank Marshall will oversee the film’s completion. Netflix chief content officer Ted Sarandos says he grew up worshipping Welles and releasing Welles’ last film “is a point of pride” for him and for Netflix.

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Denton Record-Chronicle

MARCH 2017

Unemployment Update National numbers By Christopher S. Rugaber | AP WASHINGTON — Employers boosted hiring in 13 states in January, while employment changed little in 36 states. The Labor Department says Alaska is the only state to show a significant decline in jobs, shedding 2,100. Nationwide, hiring picked up in January as employers added 238,000 jobs, a clear improvement over last year's average gains. A broad rebound in the global economy and greater optimism among U.S. businesses have spurred more hiring. More positive jobs data came out Friday, when the government reported hiring and wage gains were healthy in February, and the U.S. unemployment rate slipped to 4.7 percent from 4.8 percent. New Hampshire reported the largest jobs gain among the states on a percentage basis, with a 1 percent increase. The healthy increase pushed the state’s unemployment rate to the lowest in the nation, at 2.7 percent. New Mexico has the nation’s highest unemployment rate, at 6.7 percent. Texas’ unemployment rate held steady in January at a seasonally adjusted 4.8 percent, the Texas Workforce Commission reported Friday.

Business Spotlight

Study: Despite positive economic numbers, student loan defaults rising By Sarah Skidmore Sell | AP The stock market is up, unemployment is down but things aren’t rosy for all Americans. A new analysis of government data by the Consumer Federation of America found that the number of Americans in default on their student loans jumped by nearly 17 percent last year. As of the end of 2016, there were 4.2 million Federal Direct Loan borrowers in default, meaning they’ve not made a payment in more than 270 days. That’s up from 3.6 million at the end of 2015. “Despite all improvements in the economy, student loan borrowers are still struggling,” said Rohit Chopra, senior fellow at the Consumer Federation of America and formerly the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s Student Loan Ombudsman. As of the end of 2016, 42.4 million Americans owed $1.3 trillion in federal student loans, according to the U.S. Department of Education data. This doesn’t include borrowing through private student loans, credit cards and home equity loans to finance the growing costs of college. The Federal Reserve System puts the measure slightly higher at $1.4 trillion, as it includes private loans as well. Defaulting on a federal student loan can be a financial disaster for the borrower. Unlike other types of debts, most federal student loans cannot be discharged in bankruptcy. Those who go into default face serious repercussions including wage garnishment, damaged credit scores and potentially added costs in fees, interest and legal fees. Student debt has risen along with the cost of education, which makes repayment difficult. The average amount owed per borrower rose to $30,650 in 2016, after rising steadily for years. In 2013, borrowers on average owed $26,300.

The good news is that the number of people who are defaulting for the first time is down. But the number of people defaulting for the second time or more is up. And that worries the CFA, an association of more than 250 nonprofit consumer groups “We thought in an improving labor market, default rates would improve but we simply are not seeing that,” Chopra said. Other reports have also painted a bleak picture for student loan borrowers in the U.S. The New York Federal Reserve, which looks at slightly different data, reported last month that total household debt in America in 2016 began nearing its previous peak from 2008, driven largely by student debt and auto debt. It finds that student loan defaults jumped sharply in 2012 and the default rate has held fairly steady since. But the New York Fed also warns that the true number of people unable to pay is much higher because about half of loans are in forebearance, deferment or a grace period so are not at risk of being in default. The CFA also said Tuesday that the report validates some of the recent claims made by federal regulators that the nation’s largest loan servicer put borrowers at greater risk for default by failing to help them find the best repayment plans for their needs. The USDE contracts with four major servicers to collect payments owed the federal government. Navient, formerly known as Sallie Mae, is the largest of them. The report

found Navient had the lowest percentage of borrowers in two income-based repayment plans, which are designed to help struggling borrowers.

In January, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau sued Navient, accusing it of making it harder for borrowers to repay loans by giving

them bad information, processing payments incorrectly and failing to act on complaints. Several states followed with lawsuits of their

own. Navient disputed the charges. The USDE did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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MARCH 2017

Denton Record-Chronicle

Enterprising Voices

SBA assisting more female entrepreneurs t was just 38 years ago when the U.S. Small Business Administration began to dedicate resources and services to improve and increase female entrepreneurs, who now lead some of America’s most powerful and lucrative job-creating firms. The SBA established the Office of Women’s Business Ownership in response to a 1979 executive order signed by President Jimmy Carter. Prior to 1979, the term “woman entrepreneur” was rarely used. They called them “sidelines” or “part-time projects.” Today, there are 9.8 million

Herbert AUSTIN | COMMENTARY

woman-owned firms in the United States that generate $1.4 trillion in receipts. That’s more than the annual GDP of Russia, South Korea, Spain or Mexico. Texas has the secondhighest number of woman-

owned firms with 866,700. Their numbers continue to grow. In the Dallas-Fort Worth District, which covers 72 counties, women were approved for SBA-backed loans worth $321 million in fiscal 2016 — an 86 percent increase over the fiscal 2009 loan volume. Nearly 4,210 women were approved for a total of $1.8 billion to start or expand a business in the last eight years. In 2011, the WomenOwned Small Business Federal Contract Program was implemented to expand the number of industries where

WOSBs were able to compete for federal contracts. This program enables economically disadvantaged WOSBs to compete for contracts that are set aside in industries where womanowned small businesses are underrepresented. Since the WOSB program was implemented, Dallas-Fort Worth woman-owned firms have been awarded $1.8 billion in federal contracts. Business counseling and training is a huge part of growth. Through its Women’s Business Center Program, established in 1988, the SBA was able to serve 2.3 million

DUNCAN | CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Jeff Woo

General manager Ben Cooper participates in a ribbon-cutting Thursday at Movie Tavern.

All nine theaters are now open, y’all: The Movie Tavern renovations are over! In addition to the new big, reclining seats, there’s also a new menu for the dine-in theater. Another season, another ownership change for a Fry Street-area bar. Local 109 is open at 109 Ave. A, the former home of Library Bar. The bar is a modern cocktail lounge and opened in late February. Denton favorite West Oak Coffee Bar has a little sister now: Kimzey’s Coffee in Argyle. The whimsical exterior has us thinking about Lord of the Rings or a fairy tale, but the quality of coffee is the same. It opened March 6 at the intersection of U.S. Highway 377 at FM407 — near Earl’s 377 Pizza.

In the same complex, the culinary team behind Barley & Board is finalizing a new concept: Bumbershoot Barbecue. Bumbershoot’s barbecue menu will include brisket (smoked with hickory, then pecan); pulled pork; St. Louisstyle ribs; roasted chicken and turkey; and at least two varieties of sausage. It’s expected to open by the end of the month. Bonus round: More sushi could be coming to downtown Denton. Rick Villarreal, who was the athletic director at the University of North Texas for 15 years, just signed a lease to open a sushi restaurant. The spot is where Tea2Go used to be: 321 W. Hickory St. JENNA DUNCAN can be reached at 940-566-6889 and via Twitter at @JennaFDuncan.

Business Spotlight could save $50 billion a year by haggling over their bills for cellphone service, home security, internet and pay television. The company, like its competitors BillFixers of Nashville, Tennessee, and BillCutterz of Corpus Christi, offers to negotiate for consumers in exchange for 40 percent to 50 percent of the savings. Some of the biggest savings right now can be found in cellphone plans as a price war roils the industry, says BillFixers founder Ben Kurland. “A lot of the cellphone providers have introduced multiple plans just this year,” he says. “If you have a cell plan that’s more than six months old, you may not be on the most efficient plan for you anymore.” In addition to cellphone plans, bill negotiators say the following services often have plenty of room for negotiation: ■ cable or satellite TV ■ satellite radio ■ landline phones ■ internet ■ alarm systems ■ storage units ■ bottled water delivery ■ gym memberships What these bills have in common is competition: In most areas, there’s another provider that you can hire. You also can opt out, at least theoretically. It’s typically much harder to tell your electric company that you can do without lights. Most BillShark customers would rather stick with the service they have than deal with the sometimes considerable hassles of changing providers, McKean says. “They don’t want to rip out their DVR, and they don’t want new equipment, and they don’t want to sit around [waiting to] set up all this stuff,” he says. “They just want a lower price.” Sometimes a competitor’s deals are so much better that it’s worth the switch, he says. That’s particularly true for cellphone providers, which are paying customers’ early termination fees and offering other bounties to switch. “They’re all desperate to steal each other’s clients,”

you start up, grow and succeed. For more information on assistance SBA provides women entrepreneurs, visit https:// www.sba.gov/starting-business/ how-start-business/ business-types/women-ownedbusinesses. You also can contact the Dallas-Fort Worth District at 817-684-5000 for assistance. HERBERT AUSTIN serves as the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Dallas-Fort Worth District director and oversees the agency’s programs and services in 72 Texas counties, including Denton, Tarrant and Dallas.

Chamber Roundup

Open/Closed

BILLS | CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

women nationwide in the last five years. These centers help women entrepreneurs start and grow successful businesses. Each provides training in finance, management, marketing and the internet, while offering access to all of the SBA’s financial and procurement assistance programs. Entrepreneurship is not just about making money, but rather building societies that value competition and compassion. And the DallasFort Worth District office is proud to serve the Denton County small business community — we are here to help

Kurland says. “Switching providers a lot of times just comes with an instant payoff, and then over the long term, as long as you switch smart, you’ll find that you can save money month after month.” Knowing you have that kind of leverage can help you negotiate better deals and save money. Here are the steps: Gather competitors’ offers. These may be touted on the providers’ websites, or you may have to call and ask what the best deals are for new customers. Make sure you nail down the details, such as the speed of the internet service and which television channels are included. Call your provider. Let the telephone representative know, right away, that you’re thinking of switching to a competitor or canceling the service if you can’t get a better deal. That typically means a transfer to the customer retention department, which often has more leeway to adjust

Liz Weston your bill. Keep an open mind as you talk; there are many ways to cut the cost of cable, for example, not just negotiating the price. Tell them what you know. Companies have caught on to empty threats to cancel, Kurland says. “But if you call up and you say, ‘Hey, this is the other provider on my street, and this is the new price that they’re offering. I know that your new customer pricing is even lower than that. Why don’t we strike a deal?’” Kurland says. “Then you’re talking their language.”

Don’t accept the first offer. If “Can’t you do any better than that?” doesn’t produce a deeper discount, tell them you’ll sleep on it. That may produce another price break, or you may get a different agent the next day who’s more eager to deal. Get clear on expiration dates. Any discounts you negotiate may expire in a few months. To help you keep getting the best deals, enter the expiration dates on your calendar with a reminder to restart negotiations before your bill jumps up again. Think bigger. Monthly bills such as mortgages and car insurance aren’t negotiable in the same way, but you can and should revisit those rates at least annually. The savings could be bigger than all your smaller bills put together. LIZ WESTON is a certified financial planner and columnist at NerdWallet, a personal finance website.

Aubrey 380 Area Chamber of Commerce The directors, members, volunteers and staff of the Aubrey 380 Area Chamber of Commerce are busy preparing for Casino Night 2017, “Bet Your Bucks!”, scheduled for 6 p.m. April 29 at Diamond T Arena in Denton. Event sponsors JP & Associates Realtors, LIFE Credit Union, PointBank, Raphael’s and Winterhaven’s Crowning Touch invite you to join them for a night of food, drinks, casino-style games, music, raffles and silent and live auctions. Raphael’s Restaurante Mexicano will provide a delicious dinner buffet. Picture This! Photo Booth Rentals will be on hand to help commemorate your evening of fun. Special guest DJ Manny B of CountryNonStop.com will have you scootin’ your boots. And that’s all in addition to an evening of professional casino gaming. Sponsorships are still available, starting at $150. Tickets cost $20 in advance and $25 at the door. For more information on sponsorships or to purchase tickets, visit www.aubreycoc.org or call the chamber office at 940-365-9781. We look forward to seeing you Saturday, April 29 — bet your bucks you’ll have a great time!

Lake Cities Chamber of Commerce The Lake Cities Chamber of Commerce has had a busy year already. We are growing with several new members. We held our annual awards banquet Feb. 16 and recognized Corinth Police Chief Debra Walthall as our Member of the Year and PointBank as Business of the Year. The Citizen of the Year award was given to Mike Drozd of Lakeview Marina. We awarded college scholarships to Guyer High School

seniors Riley Steward, Kyle Anderson and Sarah Vetters. We also celebrated ribboncuttings with Everest Heating and Cooling, Steve’s Wine Bar, the Denton school district and Beatitudes Tea Room. We rode in the Lake Dallas Mardi Gras Parade and read Dr. Seuss books to students at Hawk Elementary. Our monthly luncheon will be held Tuesday, March 21, at Oakmont Country Club from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., and all are invited to attend. Our speaker is from the Texas Department of Transportation and will give an update on all the construction along Interstate 35E. Our sponsor for this luncheon is Huffines Kia Subaru.

Pilot Point Chamber of Commerce The Pilot Point Chamber of Commerce is hosting its monthly luncheon Thursday, March 16, at 11:30 a.m. at the PointBank Community Center, 730 E. Liberty St. in Pilot Point. Representatives from Whistle Post Brewing Co. will speak on their new brewery. It was started in June 2016 as a spinoff from Western Son Distillery, also located in Pilot Point. The brewery recently started bottling its brews and selling them in the area. The Pilot Point Economic Development Corporation will sponsor the meeting. Grace Point Church will be the door greeter, and Buff’s will cater.

Sanger Area Chamber of Commerce This month, the Sanger Area Chamber of Commerce will merge its after-hours mixer with a ribbon-cutting for Sportsman Liquor. The event at 499 W. Chapman Drive is scheduled to run from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, March 17, with light refreshments provided. Sportsman Liquor is this month’s mixer sponsor.

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Denton Record-Chronicle

MARCH 2017

Vital Statistics MIXED BEVERAGE TAX The following mixed beverage tax information was issued by the state comptroller’s office for February. The list includes the name of the business, address and reported tax. 380 Bar and Grill, 26781 E. U.S. Highway 380, Little Elm, $3,072.21 940s Kitchen & Cocktails, 219 W. Oak St., Denton, $2,008.99 American Legion Post No. 550, 905 Foundation Drive, Pilot Point, $971.03 Andy's Bar and Grill, 122 N. Locust St., Denton, $5,767.89 Angelina's Mexican Restaurant, 1400 N. Corinth St., Suite 111, Corinth, $892.17 Applebee's Neighborhood Grill, 707 S. Interstate 35E, Denton, $2,884.88 Applebee's Neighborhood Grill, 2672 FM423, Little Elm, $1,785.01 Aramark Educational Services, 303 Administration Drive, Denton, $327.76 Ashton Gardens, 2001 Ashton Gardens Lane, Corinth, $1,468.77 Azul Mexican Kitchen, 2831 W. Eldorado Parkway, Little Elm, $616.46 B.P.O.E. Denton No. 2446, 228 E. Oak St., Denton, $996.69 Barley & Board, 100 W. Oak St., Suite 160, Denton, $5,202.14 Best Western Atrea Crown Chase, 2450 Brinker Road, Denton, $345.18 BJ's Restaurant & Brewery, 3250 S. Interstate 35E, Denton, $4,459.38 Black-Eyed Pea, 2420 S. Interstate 35E, Denton, $326.55 Bone Daddys House Of Smoke, 3258 S. Interstate 35E, Denton, $1,879.88 Bono's Chop House & Saloon, 2025 N. U.S. Highway 287, Decatur, $1,616.17 Boomerjack Wings No. 8, 407 W. University Drive, Denton, $1,381.20 Brunswick Zone Denton, 2200 San Jacinto Blvd., Denton, $1,559.02 Buffalo Wild Wings Grill & Bar, 1400 S. Loop 288, Suite 110, Denton, $3,395.22 Buff's Grill, 400 S. U.S. Highway 377, Pilot Point, $513.55

Cabana Beverages Inc., 2330 W. University Drive, Denton, $134.06 Casa Torres Mexican Restaurant, 2708 S. FM51, Decatur, $1,099.13 Caskey's Bar & Grill, 1206 W. Hickory St., Denton, $861.01 Chili's Grill & Bar, 600 S. U.S. Highway 287, Decatur, $2,889.10 Chili's Grill & Bar No. 1562, 2825 W. University Drive, Denton, $2,620.77 Chili's Grill& Bar, 2406 S. Interstate 35E, Denton, $1,897.97 Chiloso Mexican Bistro, 2215 S. Loop 288, Suite 312, Denton, $77.51 Chipotle Mexican Grill, 1224 W. Hickory St., Denton, $35.30 Chipotle Mexican Grill-Rayzor, 2735 W. University Drive, Suite 105, Denton, $19.56 Chuy's Denton, 3300 Wind River Lane, Denton, $4,296.44 Cool Bean's, 1210 W. Hickory St., Denton, $3,376.86 Courtyard By Marriott, 2800 Colorado Blvd., Denton, $199.05 Crossroads Bar, 1803 N. Elm St., Denton, $1,237.08 Dani Rae's Gulf Coast Kitchen, 2303 S. Interstate 35E, Denton, $1,051.90 Dan's Silverleaf, 103 Industrial St., Denton, $2,318.40 Denton Country Club, 1213 Country Club Road, Argyle, $2,376.95 Drunken Donkey Bar & Grill, 3350 Unicorn Lake Blvd., Denton, $5,453.73 Dusty's Bar & Grill & Marina, 119 S. Elm St., Denton, $3,941.34 Earl's 377 Pizza, 427 S. U.S. Highway 377, Argyle, $1,260.00 East Side Denton Oak Street, 117 E. Oak St., Denton, $10,372.27 El Fenix-Denton Texas, 2229 S. Interstate 35E, Denton, $595.16 End Zone Little Elm Inc., 2833 Eldorado Parkway, Suite 301, Little Elm, $3,408.29 Ernesto's Mexican Restaurant, 10279 E. FM455, Suite 1, Pilot Point, $1,943.73

Frilly's, 1803 S. U.S. Highway 287, Decatur, $907.85 Fry Street Public House, 125 Ave. A, Denton, $6,853.16 Fuzzy's Taco Shop, 109 N. State St., Decatur, $836.29 Fuzzy's Taco Shop, 115 Industrial St., Denton, $933.31 Fuzzy's Taco Shop, 2412 S. Interstate 35E, Denton, $1,091.02 Fuzzy's Taco Shop, 1004 Maple St., Suite 101, Sanger, $229.67 Fuzzys Taco Shop, 421 S. U.S. Highway 377, Argyle, $669.06 Fuzzy's Taco Shop Cross Roads, 11450 U.S. Highway 380, Suite 160, Cross Roads, $1,325.12 Gates Of Texas Argentina Café, 1313 N. U.S. Highway 377, Pilot Point, $52.66 Genti's Private Club Inc., 3700 FM2181, Hickory Creek, $385.92 Good Eats No. 729, 5812 N. Interstate 35, Denton, $0 Hangout Bar & Dine, 827 Eagle Drive, Denton, $87.43 Hannahs, 111 W. Mulberry St., Denton, $3,148.73 Harvest House, 331 E. Hickory St., Denton, $5,166.43 Hickory Street Lounge, 212 E. Hickory St., Denton, $2,313.77 Hilton Garden Inn Denton, 3110 Colorado Blvd., Denton, $637.10 Hooligans LLC, 104 N. Locust St., Denton, $5,015.48 Hooters, 985 N. Interstate 35E, Denton, $3,596.82 Horny Toad Cafe & Bar, 5812 N. Interstate 35, Denton, $1,116.22 Horny Toad Cafe & Bar, 5812 N. Interstate 35, Denton, $1,153.94 Hula Hut Restaurant, 210 E. Eldorado Parkway, Little Elm, $1,864.07 II Charlies Bar & Grill, 809 Sunset St., Denton, $3,910.92 J R Pockets Club, 1127 Fort Worth Drive, Denton, $2,317.99 Jem Beverage Company LLC, 217 W. Division St., Pilot Point, $118.79 Johnny Carino's Italian, 1516 Centre Place Drive, Denton, $672.94 Keiichi LLC, 500 N. Elm St., Denton, $332.25 Kobe Sushi & Steak LLC, 2832 E. Eldorado Parkway Suite 208, Little Elm, $181.36 Komodo Loco, 109 Oakland St., Denton, $1,075.14 La Milpa Mexican Restaurant, 820 S. Interstate 35E, Unit 1, Denton, $680.51 La Milpa Mexican Restaurant, 820 S. Interstate 35E, Unit 1, Denton, $1,247.47

LIENS

Lake Ray Roberts Area Elks Lodge, 1601 Marina Circle, Sanger, $146.52 Lake Ray Roberts Area Elks Lodge, 1601 Marina Circle, Sanger, $310.41 Lantana Golf Club, 800 Golf Club Drive, Argyle, $1,219.46 Las Cabos Cantina, 4451 FM2181, Corinth, $96.74 Leeper Creek BBQ & Cantina Club, 3142 N. U.S. Highway 287, Decatur, $41.00 Library Bar, 109 Ave. A, Denton, $1,038.03 Lone Star Attitude Burger Co., 113 W. Hickory St., Denton, $5,245.63 Los Jalapenos Restaurant, 420 E. Eldorado Parkway, Little Elm, $186.32 Lowbrows Beer and Wine Garden, 200 S. Washington St., Pilot Point, $538.88 Lucky Lou's, 1207 W. Hickory St., Denton, $7,346.75 Luigi's Pizza Italian Restaurant, 2000 W. University Drive, Denton, $238.65 Mable Peabody's Beauty Parlor, 1125 E. University Drive, Suite 107, Denton, $1,350.98 Mellow Mushroom, 217 E. Hickory St., Denton, $1,255.24 Meritt Ranch Beverages, 2946 W. Ganzar Road, Denton, $167.56 Metzler's Food and Beverage, 1251 S. Bonnie Brae St., Denton, $110.88 Mi Taza Latin Tex-Mex Café, 5017 Teasley Lane, Suite 101, Denton, $593.75 Miguelito's, 1521 E. McCart St., Krum, $702.02 Miguelitos, 1412 N. Stemmons St., No. 178, Sanger, $983.42 Movie Tavern Denton 4, 916 W. University Drive, Denton, $2,560.20 Muddy Jake's Sports Grille, 222 W. Hickory St., Suite 104, Denton, $0 Muddy Jake's Sports Grille, 222 W. Hickory St., Suite 104, Denton, $0 Mulberry Street Cantina, 110 W. Mulberry St., Denton, $2,794.90 Oak Street Drafthouse, 308 E. Oak St., Denton, $3,573.57 Oakmont Country Club, 1200 Clubhouse Drive, Corinth, $1,687.39 Olive Garden of Texas No. 1611, 2809 S. Interstate 35E, Denton, $1,482.37 Ollimac Company, 1400 Corinth Bend, Suite 103, Corinth, $544.04

On The Border, 2829 S. Interstate 35E, Denton, $2,388.41 Outback Steakhouse, 300 S. Interstate 35E, Denton, $1,752.92 Parker Brothers Trail Dust, 1200 S. Stemmons St., Sanger, $557.84 Pedro's Tex Mex & Grill, 420 E. McKinney St., Suite 100, Denton, $0 Pedro's Tex Mex & Grill, 209 S. Washington St., Pilot Point, $429.26 Pedro's Tex Mex & Grill, 209 S. Washington St., Pilot Point, $491.44 Pei Wei Fresh Kitchen, 1931 S. Loop 288, Suite 130, Denton, $64.38 Phil Miller Post No. 2205VFW, 909 Sunset St., Denton, $1,562.44 Phil Miller Post No. 2205 VFW, 909 Sunset St., Denton, $1,250.89 Pilot Point Columbus Club, 221 N. Prairie St., Pilot Point, $11.85 Pizza Hut, 730 S. U.S. Highway 377, Pilot Point, $24.12 Pollo Tropical Beverages LLC, 2220 S. Loop 288, Denton, $0 Prairie House Restaurant, 10001 U.S. Highway 380, Cross Roads, $1,174.30 Queenie's Steakhouse, 113 E. Hickory St., Denton, $1,347.30 Red Lobster No. 6349, 2801 S. Interstate 35E, Denton, $1,100.27 Riprock's, 1211 W. Hickory St., Denton, $3,797.02 Rockin Rodeo, 1009 Ave. C, Denton, $3,138.68 Rooster's Roadhouse, 113 Industrial St., Denton, $2,230.02 Rooster's Roadhouse Decatur, 106 N. Trinity St., Decatur, $2,071.64 Rosa's Cafe & Tortilla Factory, 1275 S. Loop 288, Denton, $135.34 RT's Neighborhood Bar, 1100 Dallas Drive, Suite 124, Denton, $6,663.08 Rusty Taco Denton, 1 210 E. Hickory St., Denton, $1,102.48 Savory Bistro & Gourmet To Go, 2650 E. FM407, Suite 165, Bartonville, $1,452.42 Shots and Crafts LLC, 103 Ave. A, Denton, $1,652.42 Springhill Suites By Marriott, 1434 Centre Place Drive, Denton, $131.92 Starbucks No. 6698, 4600 Swisher Road, Hickory Creek, $0.33

SALES TAX

The following liens were posted in February at the Denton County Clerk’s office.

The following sales permits were issued by the state comptroller’s office for February. The list includes the owner, name of business and address within ZIP codes 75034, 75065, 75068, 76201, 76205, 76207, 76208, 76209, 76210, 76226, 76227, 76234, 76249, 76259 and 76266.

STATE TAX LIENS NAME/ADDRESS Mazico Electric and Construction LLC, 2713 Clubhouse Drive, Denton

TYPE Limited sales excise and use tax

AMOUNT $1,087.71

REC. DATE 2/17/2017

TYPE Limited sales excise and use tax Limited sales excise and use tax

AMOUNT $1,718.55 $1,630.24

REC. DATE 2/15/2017 2/27/2017

RELEASE OF STATE TAX LIENS NAME/ADDRESS Ace Tech Motors Inc., 3232 N. Locust St., Apt. 1321, Denton Gaws Pizza LLC, 2327 Bolivar St., Denton

FEDERAL TAX LIENS NAME/ADDRESS Steven L. and Leslie A. Rico, 6204 Highfield Park, Denton Integrated Pain Relief AER Inc., 2436 S. Interstate 35E, Suite 346, Denton C-Store Products Inc., 6603 Smoketree Trail, Denton

TYPE 1040 941 941 940

AMOUNT $3,530.65 $2,108.22 $28,116.80 $1,648.17

REC. DATE 2/1/2017 2/7/2017 2/7/2017 2/27/2017

BUILDING PERMITS The following building permits were issued by the Denton Planning and Development department in February. Commercial alterations and commercial permits reflect the owner or tenant and the address of the business. CERTIFICATES OF OCCUPATION Auto Towing Dallas LLC, 2810 N. Elm St. Woodrow Morse Properties, 820 S. Woodrow Lane Frontrie Communications, 309 W. Oak St. W&W Commercial Real, 102 Maple St., No. 102 Kukahi Corporate Solutions, 627 S. Mayhill Road, No. 109 Perfect Season Properties, 1205 Bent Oaks Court, No. 105 Russell E. Kulle, 515 N. Interstate 35E James Richard Denham, 3745 Mingo Road, No. 504 MJ Sings Inc., 723 S. Woodrow Lane Kerala Holdings LLC, 3350 Unicorn Lake Blvd. Columbia Medical Center, 3535 S. Interstate 35E Dotson Properties LLC, 607 S. Locust St., No. 102 Jane and Mike Boyle, 1920 S. Locust St., Suite 100 Gabriel Cortez, 5017 Teasley Lane, No. 129 COMMERCIAL ALTERATION City of Denton, 804 Texas St. Kian Motors inc., 831 E. McKinney St. Walter’s Wedding Estates, 421 E. Oak St. Luxary Nail Bar, 2219 S. Loop 288, No. 108 Outback Steakhouse, 300 S. Interstate 35E Carter Blood Care, 2215 S. Loop 288, No. 335 Studio 6 Denton, 700 Fort Worth Drive Captiva Salon, 204 W. Oak St., Denton Penny’s Playtown, 5800 N. Interstate 35, No. 402 Fama Beauty Salon, 500 N. Bell Ave., No. 109 Brad Hardy, 2434 S. Interstate 35E, No. 100 Red Horse Motorsports, 3825 Market St. Renal Venture, 4309 Mesa Drive

3904 Roxbury St. 1908 Pavilion Lane 1917 Sapphire St. 4208 Fanita Place 1913 Hollister Lane 3921 Roxbury St. 1913 Nob Hill Court 1909 Nob Hill Court 4127 Boxwood Drive

Design Classics, 3604 Bentley Court DR Horton Texas LTD 3809 Crosstrees Drive 3901 Cuddy Drive 4008 Ranchman Blvd. 4012 Ranchman Blvd. 4016 Ranchman Blvd. 4020 Ranchman Blvd. 3601 Helm Lane 4000 Crosstrees Drive 3901 Crosstrees Drive 3908 Crosstrees Drive

Megatel Homes Inc. 4221 Roxbury St. 4008 Hialeah Drive 4217 Roxbury St.

Forestar Real Estate 7920 Hudson Bay Lane 3116 Lakeview Blvd. 3104 Lakeview Blvd. 3012 Lakeview Blvd. 3204 Lakeview Blvd. 3120 Lakeview Blvd. 7913 Hudson Bay Lane 3129 Dawn Oaks Drive

Onyx Builders LLC, 4017 Winston Drive Red Gable Homes LLC 2301 Chebi Lane 2317 Paxton Way 2301 Paxton Way Robson Denton Dev. LP 8100 Sanderling Drive 9600 Rivercrest Drive 8217 American Way 11820 Willet Way 11900 Willet Way 9908 Lindenwood Trail 12001 Brant Way 10312 Lindenwood Trail 8212 American Way 12105 Willet Way 8213 American Way 11928 Brant Way 11928 Willet Way 9608 Rivercrest Drive 9905 Orangewood Trail 12100 Willet Way 8200 Willet Way 12016 Brant Way 11920 Cinnamon Drive 11828 Willet Way 12013 Brant Way 11709 Cinnamon Drive 9805 Ironwood Drive 11805 Cinnamon Drive

Gehan Homes, 6521 Roaring Creek History Maker Homes 5717 Del Rey Drive 5713 Del Rey Drive 5705 Del Rey Circle 3812 Juniperio St. 3713 Juniperio St. 5701 Del Rey Circle 3808 Juniperio St. 5608 Dolores 5612 Dolores 3417 San Lucas Lane

COMMERCIAL Love’s Travel Stops, 6421 N. Interstate 35 Bloomfield Plumbing LLC, 9101 John Paine Road City of Denton, 1150 S. Locust St. Huffman Builders, 3303 Unicorn Lake Blvd. Terry People Solutions, 3105 Unicorn Lake Blvd.

Innovation Builders 4909 Brookside 4905 Brookside

RESIDENTIAL Araf Inc., 5813 New Ballinger Drive

Lennar Homes 1905 Nob Hill Court 1908 Hollister Lane 4109 Roxbury St. 4001 Hialeah Drive 1904 Hollister Lane 4105 Roxbury St.

Country Lakes West LLC 6216 Meandering Creek Drive 6401 Meandering Creek Drive 6416 Meandering Creek Drive 6113 Roaring Creek 6412 Meandering Creek Drive 6204 Roaring Creek

Scott Homebuilders, 5009 Thistle Hill

ASSUMED NAMES

75034 Elevated Roofing LLC, Elevated Roofing LLC, 15222 King Road, Suite 402, Little Elm Magdiel Sagastume, My Appliances, 1954 Bishop, Little Elm 75065 Derrick Naidoo, Nerds Sales Services and Support, 102 Woodridge Road, Hickory Creek Venture Equine Solutions LLC, Venture Equine Solutions LLC, 139 S. Hook St., Hickory Creek 75068 Carry Brown, Carrie's Boutique, 1453 Whitewater Drive, Little Elm Cynthia L. Palmeri, Crate Envy, 2112 Scott Creek Drive, Little Elm Jessica San Miguel, Taylor Blossom Boutique, 1220 Wheatear Drive, Little Elm Lacey Nalley, Lacey Nalley, 2220 White Oak Drive, Little Elm Matthew Jeannet, Matts Merchandise, 1433 Brandywine Lane, Little Elm Melissa Diana Aviles, Pure Romance By Melissa, 173 Cottonwood Lane, Little Elm Stephanie Wood and Jymi Bernard, SJ Designs, 1104 Villa Paloma Blvd., Little Elm 76201 Baxter International Inc., Baxter International Inc., 909 Ave. C, Suite C, Denton Debbie K. White, Over The Hill Collectibles, 118 N. Locust St., Denton Ik Boon Eum, Donut Company, 830 W. University Drive, Denton In-N-Out Burgers Inc., In-N-Out Burgers, 322 2835 W. University Drive, Denton Jennifer Lynn Matthew, Downtown Mini Mall Indoor Flea Market, 118 N. Locust St., Denton Jpmk Investment LLC, Donut Inn, 830 W. University Drive, Denton Keep Exploring LLC, Keep Exploring LLC, 810 W. Congress St., Denton Lora E. O'Shaughnessy, Egan Street Design, 1330 Egan St., Denton Randal W. Brittain, Lara Enterprises, 425 Oakhill Drive, Denton Roberta A Halden, Mini Mall II, 816 N. Locust St., Denton Sharon E. Nichols, Paper Wings Boutique Events, 714 W. Hickory St., Apt. 1, Denton 76205 Aero Opco LLC, Aeropostale Golden Triangle Mall, 2201 S. Interstate 35E, Spc. L09A, Denton Gedc Of Texas LLC, Great Expressions Lillian Miller, 2430 S. Interstate 35E, Suite 210, Denton Great Expressions Dental Centers Of Texas LLC, Great Expressions Lillian Miller, 2430 S. Interstate 35E, Suite 210, Denton

NAME — DBA/ADDRESS

Brittannie Marion, Eagleton Photography, 721 S. Elm St., Suite 101, Denton Cristie French and Jennifer Horler, Jenn and Christie LuLaRoe, 7530 Barthold Road, Denton Dallas County Hospital District, Denton Rehabilitation and Nursing Center Danny H. Cogdill, D&D Cattle Company, 613 Chisholm Trail, Denton Denver Benedict, Hockey Stick Technologies, 7513 Stream Road, Denton Jaqueline Morgan, Swine Solutions, 704 Windfields, Denton

Jared Janacek, TXDRONECO, 3604 Big Horn Trail, Denton Jeffrey C. Smith, Red Rock Sales, 612 E. McKinney St., Denton John Potess, The Podcast Creative, 501 W. Parkway St., Denton Jose Carrillo, JC’s Lawn Service, 6109 Countless Lane, Denton Juan Pablo Villarroel, Karate-Do of Denton, 416 S. Elm St., Denton Kathryn Kerekes, Whimsy You, 111 E. University Drive, Suite 105-212, Denton Landon Hunt, Prosperity Inc., 2517 Chaparral Court, Denton

Lindsey Lott, Emerson Lane, 1207 Stanley St., Denton Reyna Jaramillo, Interior Cleaning, 9100 Teasley Lane, Denton Robert J. Gray, Bob’s Classic Cars, 2013 Marshall Road, Denton Robert Von Preston, Air Solutions, 1705 W. University Drive, Suite 102, Denton Salvador Rios Jr., Nifty Walls, 1023 S. Welch St., Denton Susan Depauw, Outfront Graphic Apparel, 3800 Lake Country Drive, Denton Tanya Franklin, Aria 51 All Purpose Bunnies and Animal Farm, 2202 Fowler Drive

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2412 Old North Road, Suite 103 Denton, TX 76209 940.566.1212 DIRECT mike@stockerwoods.com www.stockerwoods.com

Mike Woods, CFP® President & CEO / Wealth Advisor

WE’RE HERE TO SERVE YOUR FINANCIAL NEEDS! Securities offered through Cambridge Investment Research, Inc., a Broker/Dealer. Member FINRA/SIPC. Investment Advisor Representative, Cambridge Investment Research Advisors, Inc., a Registered Investment Advisor.Cambridge and SWF are not affiliated. Best of Denton award results are based on a general reader poll and do not reflect investment performance or client experience.

76207 Eym Diner of DFW, LLC Denny's No. 8190, 4007 N. Interstate 35, Denton James M. Fraley, Frack Bargain Sales, 3232 N. Locust St., Apt. 725, Denton Marklyn Jet Parts LLC, Marklyn Jet Parts LLC, 5040 Warbird Drive, Suite 2, Denton Marklyn Jet Parts LLC, Marklyn Jet Parts LLC, 5040 Warbird Drive, Suite 3, Denton 76208 Deborah Henkes, Santa's Secret Shop, 409 Lakeview Blvd, Denton Denton Biofuels LLC, Denton Biofuels LLC, 1527 S. Mayhill Road, No. 200, Denton Jennifer R. Null, Jennifer Null, 6303 W. Shady Shores Road, Apt. 132, Denton Mactracks LLC, Mactracks LLC, 3305 S. Mayhill Road, Suite 109, Denton Marisol Granados, Rodriguez Mayhill Taqueria, 3922 E. McKinney St., Denton 76209 Denton Together LLC, Denton Together, 226 Bluebird Circle, Denton Mae Beth Works, Julies Jumpers Party Supplies and Rentals, 2703 Woodhaven St., Denton Rachel Elizabeth Nokes, Peachtree Lane, 3213 Bob O Link Lane, Denton Roger Duane Davis Jr., Davis Construction, 1508 E. McKinney St., Denton Taqueria Monterrey LLC, Taqueria Monterrey, 111 E. University Drive, Suite 102, Denton 76210 Courtney Nicole Brown, The Ombre Cactus, 2408 Tahoe Lane, Denton Crystal & Sage LLC, Crystal & Sage, 2226 Yellowstone Lane, Corinth Datcu, Datcu, 3005 FM2181, Corinth Dorinda Mikelle Patterson, Texas Barn Girls, 2016 Postwood Court, Corinth Duane Ragas, Your Sweet Cakes & More ..., 1520 Mosscreek Drive, Denton Eym Diner Of DFW LLC, Denny's No. 8864, 8000 S. Interstate 35E, Corinth Inx LLC, Inx LLC, 3512 Saint Johns Drive, Denton Just Bassin LLC, Just Bassin LLC, 1511 Oceano Drive, Corinth

Kimberly J. Elliott, Kimmie Made, 3648 Fairview Drive, Corinth Ronald E. McNair Elementary PTA, Ronald E. McNair PTA, 1212 Hickory Creek Road, Denton Texas Diesel.Com LLC, Texas Diesel.Com LLC, 1801 Cordero Court, Denton Tonya Lanee Ward, Magic and Dreams, 3901 Centenary Drive, Denton 76226 Dawnelle Darlene Thompson, Dawnelle Thompson Design, 407 Goodnight Trail, Argyle Heather M. Shimala, Shimala Exterior Group, 2650 E. FM407, Suite 144, Bartonville Icedust Books LLC, Icedust, 2650 E. FM407, Suite 145, Bartonville Jason Glenn Thompson, Cobotiq, 1413 7th St., Argyle Mckoy Land Surveys Inc., Mckoy Land Surveys Inc., 9321 Athens Drive, Denton Peter B. Keck, Choose To Be A Warrior, 4087 Thousand Oaks Drive, Argyle Tribute Tactical LLC, Tribute Tactical, 6050 FM1830, Argyle 76227 North Texas Wings LLC, Wingstop, 11750 U.S. Highway 380, Suite 280, Cross Roads Conor Thomas Dwyer, Mr. Dwyer Cattle Co. LLC, 262 Private Road 4462, Decatur 76234 Deborah K. Reynolds, Dedikated Resource, 1713 County Road 4280, Decatur Eagle Auto Body Of Decatur, LLC Eagle Auto Body 2618 S. U.S. Highway 287, Decatur Flintstone Enterprises Inc., Flintstone Enterprises Inc., 2398 County Road 2360, Decatur Little Frilly's Tex-Mex LLC, Little Frilly's Tex-Mex LLC, 1816 S. FM51, Suite 900, Decatur Sara Nicklaus-Ratliff, Hello Jolie, 4480 E. U.S. Highway 380, Decatur Shalyn Champagne, Champagne Taste, 5352 N. FM51, Decatur Shirley S. Wood, The Gift Shop, 1650 S. FM51, Suite 400, Decatur Wise County Winsupply Plumbing Co., Wise County Winsupply Plumbing Co., 300 N. Stratton St., Decatur 76249 Carrie Straka, Red Velvet Quilts, 1627 Kawati Way, Krum Dragon Spur Holdco LLC, Dragon Spur Holdco, 11153 Jackson Road, Krum Personalized Attitude LLC, Personalized Attitude LLC, 6486 FM2450, Krum 76259 Ponder Social Club, Ponder Social Club, 309 N. FM156, Ponder 76266 Caroline B. Price, Caroline Price Photography, 2514 Caddo Trail, Sanger Cindy R. Vasquez, Studio V., 8195 Bernard Road, Sanger Donna Mason, GDS, 11300 Lakecrest Drive, Sanger Four Leaf Trading Company LLC, Four Leaf Trading Company LLC, 6662 Indian Trail, Sanger Jose De La Cruz, Rodriguez Fast Electric, 8025 Jane Long Road, Sanger

OC Mobile Welding & Fabrication Services Your Location or Ours! Repairs • Residential Commercial • Industrial New Fabrication

The following names (followed by DBA and address) were posted in February at the Denton County Clerk’s office.

NAME — DBA/ADDRESS

Jenna M. Elsik, D. Bar E. Studio, 1803 Wisteria St., Denton Justin Paul Wright, Wright Way Landscaping, 1200 Dallas Drive, Apt. 523, Denton Kristina Lee Reca, 1451 Centre Place Drive, Denton Portaboards Enterprises LLC, Portaboards Enterprises LLC, 312 Dallas Drive, Suite 101, Denton Steven G. Eagle, Remember Simple Pleasures, 40 Rolling Hills Circle, Denton

Sweetie Pie's Ribeyes, 201 W. Main St., Decatur, $344.51 Sweetwater Grill & Tavern, 115 S. Elm St., Denton, $1,110.32 Tex Tapas, 109 Industrial St., Denton, $991.73 Texas Roadhouse, 2817 S. Interstate 35E, Denton, $3,164.34 The Abbey Inn Restaurant & Pub, 101 W. Hickory St., Denton, $2,995.83 The Abbey Inn Restaurant & Pub, 101 W. Hickory St., Denton, $2,830.08 The Aztec Club, 720 W. University Drive, Denton, $1,133.10 The Backyard On Bell, 410 N. Bell Ave., Denton, $912.40 The Bears Den, 11670 Massey Road, Pilot Point, $140.70 The Clubhouse at Robson Ranch, 9428 Ed Robson Circle, Denton, $59.56 The Draft House Bar & Grill, 2700 E. Eldorado Parkway, Suite 250, Little Elm, $2,040.15 The Fry Street Tavern, 121 Ave. A, Denton, $4,185.89 The Garage, 113 Ave. A, Denton, $2,455.55 The Green House, 600 N. Locust St., Denton, $1,277.02 The Labb, 218 W. Oak St., Denton, $1,819.45 The Loophole, 119 W. Hickory St., Denton, $3,401.59 The Milestone, 1301 W. Sherman Drive, Aubrey, $2,308.08 Tokyo Samurai, 3600 E. FM407, Suite 100, Bartonville, $534.12 Toms Daiquiri Place, 1212 W. Mulberry St., Denton, $1,518.35 Tower Tap House, 290 E. Eldorado Parkway, Little Elm, $1,366.26 University Lanes, 1212 E. University Drive, Denton, $1,014.51 Verona Pizza Italian Restaurant, 201 Loop 81, Decatur, $32.83 Villa Grande Mexican Restaurant, 12000 U.S. Highway 380, Suite 100, Cross Roads, $1,482.04 Villa Grande Mexican Restaurant, 2530 W. University Drive, Suite 114, Denton, $1,380.53 Vitty's Sports Bar, 1776 Teasley Lane, Suite 102, Denton, $2,633.63 Vizcarra, 114 W. Congress St., Denton, $98.55 Wildhorse Grill, 9440 Ed Robson Circle, Denton, $2,502.11 Wing Daddy's Sauce House, 2763 E. Eldorado Parkway, Suite 105, Little Elm, $2,500.97 Wing Town, 4271 FM2181, No. C316, Corinth, $0

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Denton Record-Chronicle

CHAMBER SPOTLIGHT #DentonMeansBusiness UPCOMING EVENTS

WHAT’S NEW? The Winner will be announced only at the banquet

RIBBON CUTTING Trendsetters Beauty Supply February 13, 2017

Movie Tavern March 9, 2017

DENTON COUNTY DAYS IN AUSTIN

NEW MEMBERS Home Team of North Texas Brokered by Real T Team 1400 Dallas Drive, Denton hometeamofnorthtexas.com

Apex Air and Heat 2101 Colorado Blvd. Unit 50002, Denton apexairandheat.com

Alliance Air Charter 4933 Sabre Lane, Denton allianceaircharter.com

Absolute Heat & Air 2106 E Highway 82, Gainesville ahahvac.com

Heaven At Home 623 Londonderry Lane, Denton heavenathomecare.com

Reinecke Design, LLc 203 Comanche Trail, Krum reineckedesign.com

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