FSM October 2021

2021 BUSINESS
AWARDS
BESTOF

RFOERDCTOHER D SSUTRVOIVORRY’S

FRISCO EDC PRESIDENT DISCUSSES MEET NATIONAL CANCER
`BUZZ’ SURROUNDING THE CITY FOUNDATION’S JANELLE HAIL

HHOOOFFIFT’TSO of

BUSINESS

2 0 21

BEST OF BUSINESS OCTOBER 2021

Promoting Community & Commerce since 1995









LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

HONORED TO BE IN THE ISSUE! I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU for the wonderful article in
What a great city we have to raise athletes. There are opportunities Frisco STYLE Magazine. I was really happy with the results.
in nearly every sport for our young athletes here in Frisco and the Tricia Imel, The Aligned Mind

surrounding areas. Coach K deserved the cover! Has has had an I wanted to share A BIG THANK YOU to you and Frisco Style for
incredible impact on our youth here in Frisco. I hear about his highlighting Tricia (Imel) and her work! Frisco STYLE is a great

positive effect often in my office. team, and they have an incredibly thoughtful and amazing director
Frisco, TX – better athletes, better people! of sales. Again, thank you so much!
Anne Kip Rodgers, Neurosports Sports Psychology and Athlete Assessments Kim Muse, Muse Counseling

6 BEST OF BUSINESS



IN THIS ISSUE OCTOBER
BEST OF BUSINESS 2021
30
6 LETTERS TO publisher
Frisco prides itself on being among the THE EDITOR CHRIS JOHNSON
nation’s premier municipalities in a pleth-
ora of categories. We are a community 11 FROM THE EDITOR managing editor
that recognizes and strives to not only to LISA FERGUSON
be good, but to be great. In recognizing 14 CALENDAR
the Best of Business, Frisco STYLE sets creative designer
the bar that area businesses may strive to 17 PROFILE JENNIFER MINER
achieve or surpass. Ford Steers Frisco EDC
Toward the Future office manager
8 BEST OF BUSINESS Lisa Ferguson BECKY JOHNSON
manager, account services
22 ARTS & CULTURE ANDREW JOHNSON
HEARTS For Giving manager, digital media
Lisa Ferguson
BEN JOHNSON
27 BSmUaSllIPNarEt BSiSg Problem photographer

Glenda Vosburgh CHRIS FRITCHIE
sales administrator
30 FFrEiscAoTSTUYRLEE
Best of Business 2021 LINDSAY JOHNSON
Juliet Cimler director of business development
Allie Spletter
Tony Felker GEORGE RODRIGUEZ
advertising sales
48 ADICNulIinNaGry Crossroads
LAURA HAMBY
Amy Richmond AD SALES: 972.335.1306
[email protected]
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FR EOM D ITHE T O R

F ormorethan interest. After extensive deliberation, the winning
a quarter century, businesses in eight categories were chosen.
Frisco STYLE has been
dedicated to “promoting Beyond simply providing service with a smile or
community and commerce,” following the timeworn edict of “the customer is
so much so that we print these always right,” these companies go above and be-
words on the cover of the maga- yond to understand and appreciate the markets
zine each month. they serve, keeping patrons happy and retaining
However, this phrase is more than and expanding their businesses in the process.
merely a motto: It absolutely is our
mission to laud and credit Frisco’s ex- They make it a point to give back to the com-
traordinary business community on our munity generously with their time, goods and
pages as well as provide support as a proud services. They aren’t afraid to implement creative
pro-business partner of companies and non- ideas when it comes to finances and marketing
profits that are evolving and thriving in lockstep plans. With solid organizational structures, they
with the rest of this remarkable city. thoughtfully lead employees so those individuals
In this our annual Best of Business issue, we can be confident that they are valued, integral
celebrate the outstanding efforts of several local members of the team.
businesses and organizations, their owners and
staff members for the integrity they maintain, in- The past year has been fraught with unforeseen
genuity they display and innovation they exhibit obstacles and unrelenting challenges for business-
time and again. es, the likes of which most had never before experi-
The 2021 Best of Business award winners were enced (and hopefully never will again).
selected as the cream of the crop by an esteemed
panel of top North Texas business experts. They It has been awe-inspiring to watch as propri-
did not pay to obtain this coverage, nor were nom- etors, operators and staffers at Frisco companies of
inees voted on via social media. Rather, as part all types and sizes have confronted potential road-
of the submission process, they shared informa- blocks head on, restructured their organizations,
tion about their company’s structure, culture and plans and procedures and ultimately emerged
operations, customer service, finance, marketing from battle victorious. In fact, some businesses
and philanthropic practices, among other areas of are now stronger than ever.

We applaud each of the 2021 Best of Busi-
ness Award winners and congratulate them
on a job well done.

Managing Editor of Frisco STYLE Magazine
[email protected]

Frisco STYLE Magazine @ friscostylemag

FRISCOSTYLE.COM OCTOBER 2021 11

12 BEST OF BUSINESS

FRISCOSTYLE.COM OCTOBER 2021 13

OctoberT H I N G S T O D O
THROUGH NOVEMBER 6 OCTOBER 2-24

THROUGH OCTOBER 17 FRIGHTS N’ LIGHTS NORTH TEXAS PERFORMING ARTS
STATE FAIR OF TEXAS 7-10pm, 7:30-10pm, 7:30-11pm (dates vary) PERFORMANCES
10am-9pm Sundays through Thursdays, Riders Field, 7300 Roughriders Trail, Frisco Showtimes vary
10am-10pm Fridays and Saturdays Halloween-themed attractions and events Willow Bend Center of the Arts,
include a haunted hay maze, a display of 6121 W. Park Blvd., Plano
Fair Park, 3809 Grand Ave., Dallas hundreds of illuminated carved pumpkins, a The nonprofit organization is slated to stage
The State Fair of Texas returns to cele- bubbly foam pit and a trick-or-treat trail. several productions including Rodgers &
brate it 135th anniversary. frightsnlights.com Hammerstein’s Cinderella (Enchanted Edition), Pe-
bigtex.com ter and the Starcatcher, Willy Wonka KIDS, Tuck
OCTOBER 2 Everlasting, We Will Rock You (Young@Part),
FRISCO ARTS WALK & RUN Dear Edwina JR, The Addams Family, Charlotte’s
8:30-10:30am Web and Jekyll & Hyde, The Musical.
HALL Park, 6801 Dallas Parkway, Frisco northtexasperformingarts.org
The run route, featuring pop-up musicians,
dancers, vocalists, actors and visual artists, OCTOBER 2
will take participants through Texas Sculp- FC DALLAS SOCCER
ture Garden, past the future site of the Frisco 7pm
Performing Arts Center. Toyota Stadium,
friscoarts.org 9200 World Cup Way, Frisco
Watch as FC Dallas takes on Minnesota
OCTOBER 2-3 United FC during this exciting soccer match.
FAMILY FUNTOBER FEST AT fcdallas.com
FRISCO FRESH MARKET
8am-4pm Saturday, 10am-4pm Sunday OCTOBER 9
9215 John W. Elliott Drive, Frisco PLANO FOOD +WINE FESTIVAL
This fourth-annual event will feature Noon-7pm
kid-friendly events and activities including Legacy West,
a cake walk and bounce houses and other 5908 Headquarters Drive, Plano
inflatables. Attendees are welcome to wear This fourth-annual event will feature food
traditional Oktoberfest attire including tastings from more than a dozen area restau-
dirndls and lederhosen. rants and wine tastings from 30 award-win-
friscofreshmarket.com ning wineries as well as live music, culinary
demonstrations, craft beer and local vendors.
2ND ANNUAL FRISCO Tickets are $45-125.
OKTOBERFEST Legacywest.com
11am-10pm Saturday, 12-5pm Sunday
Frisco Square, 8843 Coleman Blvd., Frisco
The festivities kick off with an opening cer-
emony featuring a traditional keg tapping.
Live music and a brat-eating competition
will be among the activities.
friscooktoberfest.com

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A NIGHT OF IMPROV COMEDY OCTOBER 23 FARMERS’ MARKET AT THE
8-9:45pm GUIDED KAYAK TOUR BOARDWALK
Frisco Discovery Center, 10am-noon 11am-4pm Sundays
8004 Dallas Parkway #200, Frisco Lewisville Lake Environmental Learning Granite Park Boardwalk Pavilion,
Watch as improvisational comedy troupe the Area, 201 E. Jones St., Lewisville 5880 TX State Highway 121, Plano
Frisco Improv Players stages its Instructors will provide an introduction granitepark.com
specialty fast-paced, game-based comedic to kayaking and water-safety basics before GRANITE PARK
show. Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for stu- leading an excursion on LLELA’s Beaver FARMERS’
dents, seniors and active military members. Pond. Participants of all skill levels (ages 9 MARKET
visitfrisco.com and older) may take part and all equipment 10am-2pm,
first and third Thurs-
OCTOBER 14-15 is provided. Registration ($30) is required. days monthly
LONE STAR STORYTELLING llela.org Granite Park Two,
5700 Granite Park-
FESTIVAL FC DALLAS SOCCER way, Plano
7-8:30pm 7pm granitepark.com
Frisco City Council Chambers, Toyota Stadium,
6101 Frisco Square Blvd., Frisco 9200 World Cup Way, Frisco RAIL DISTRICT
Share an evening or two of laughter with Watch professional soccer at its best as FC ARTS & WINE
nationally renowned professional storytellers Dallas takes on Los Angeles FC. WALK
along with local student talent, the Lone Star fcdallas.com 5-8:30pm, sec-
Storytellers. Tickets are $10; proceeds benefit ond Thursday
the Frisco Public Library Foundation. OCTOBER 27 monthly
lonestarstories.org Rail District, Main Street, Frisco
MOVIE NIGHT AT THE STAR Enjoy an evening of art, music, wine and
OCTOBER 16 7-9pm shopping while strolling through the city’s
WHISTLE STOP MUSIC FESTIVAL The Star, 9 Cowboys Way, Frisco historic downtown. Tickets ($25, ages 21 and
Noon-10pm A free screening of the movie Soul will be older) include a com-
Frisco Rail Yard, shown at Tostitos Championship Plaza. memorative wine glass.
9040 First St., Frisco thestarinfrisco.com/calendar visitfrisco.com
HERITAGE VILLAGE
A full day of live music and family friendly OCTOBER 29 WALKING TOURS
fun is scheduled. 10am Saturdays (weather permitting)
friscorailyard.net MASTERCHEF LIVE! Frisco Heritage Museum,
7pm 6455 Page St., Frisco
Comerica Center, During this one-hour walking tour of Frisco
OCTOBER 17 2601 Avenue of the Stars, Frisco Heritage Village, learn how the city got its
name, the importance of the blacksmith
THIRD SUNDAY OPEN HOUSE This family-friendly show will feature shop and train depot and more. Tickets and
6-9pm head-to-head cooking demonstrations and registration are required.
Frisco Heritage Center, 6455 Page St., Frisco challenges with past MasterChef and Mas- friscotexas.gov
Free admission is offered at the museum terChef Junior series contestants. Tickets are NATURE WALKS
during this event, featuring kids’ crafts and required. 10am-12pm, first Saturdays monthly
games, face painting, blacksmiths and do- Comericacenter.com Lewisville Lake Environmental
cent-guided tours. All historic buildings will Learning Area, 201 E. Jones St.,
also be open. OCTOBER 30 Lewisville
friscotexas.gov During the naturalist-led na-
OCTOBER 22 FC DALLAS SOCCER ture hikes, which last about
7pm two hours, participants may
FALL FESTIVAL Toyota Stadium, see deer tracks, blooming wildflow-
6-9pm 9200 World Cup Way, Frisco ers, nesting songbirds and more. All ages
Frisco Fire Safety Town, Watch as FC Dallas takes on Austin FC in are welcome. Registration is required; cost is
8601 Gary Burns Drive, Frisco the final home game of the season. LLELA’s regular $5 per-vehicle gate fee.
This family friendly annual event returns fcdallas.com llela.org

featuring trick-or-treating in the mini town ONGOING OCTOBER 2021 15

where buildings will be decorated for the FRISCO FRESH MARKET
season. Admission is free. 8am-4pm Saturdays, 10am-4pm Sundays
friscofiresafetytown.com 9215 John W. Elliott Drive, Frisco

friscofreshmarket.com

FRISCO ROTARY
FARMERS’ MARKET
8am-12pm Saturdays
6048 Frisco Square Blvd., Frisco
friscorotaryfarmersmarket.com

FRISCOSTYLE.COM

16 BEST OF BUSINESS

FTFF OROIRWSDACROSDTEETDEHCRES
FUTURE
BY LISA FERGUSON
FOR JASON FORD, SERVING AS PRESIDENT OF THE FRISCO ECONOMIC

Development Corporation is not a job – it’s a calling. “Making an impact in the community is
the ultimate of what drives me every day in my job,” he says.
The importance of creating jobs and building businesses and industries within communities
was something he experienced firsthand while growing up in New Orleans. He and his twin
sister were the youngest of eight children in a family helmed by a single mother who for a time
worked three jobs. Her experience is in part what inspired him to pursue a career in economic
development.
“When I discovered that there was a career path that you could (use to) help people gain
meaningful employment, to improve their skills, to get better-paying jobs while making the
community a better place by attracting more jobs and wealth, to me it’s one of the ultimate
areas of servant leadership and I just feel called to this vocation,” Mr. Ford says of his economic
development career, which began in the mid-1990s.
David Kuykendall
He started as an intern at the Oxford-Lafayette County Chamber of Commerce and Eco-
nomic Development Foundation in Mississippi and went on to become the chamber’s assistant
executive director. In 2003, he joined the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce as its manag-
er and was later promoted to director of business and economic development. Five years later,
he was named CEO of Taylor EDC in Taylor, Texas, located northeast of Austin.
In 2012, Mr. Ford was appointed assistant director in the business expansion and retention
group at Louisiana Economic Development where he spent two years before beginning in the
role of vice president of regional economic development for the Greater Houston Partnership,
the city’s largest chamber of commerce.
He began at the Frisco EDC in 2019 as vice president, leading its business development
team members who serve on the front lines assisting companies on site selection, business

FRISCOSTYLE.COM OCTOBER 2021 17

retention, expansion and recruitment efforts, as well as helping to grow
Frisco’s “innovation ecosystem.”
Mr. Ford, who is also a member of the City of Frisco’s executive lead-
ership team, was promoted to Frisco EDC president in June of this year
after Ron Patterson returned to his previous role as a Frisco deputy city
manager. He got a feel for the president’s position last year while taking
on an increased leadership role after Mr. Patterson was tapped to coor-
dinate the recovery planning team of city departments that worked to
restart Frisco’s economy in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
This afforded Mr. Ford “the opportunity to step up and lead within
our organization and further build upon those relationships” with in-
ternal and external stakeholders, he explains. “So, the transition from
vice president to president was easier because I had already had the op-
portunity to contribute toward many of those leadership capacities and
responsibilities.”
Following Mr. Patterson’s return to the City Manager’s office, the de-
cision was made to align the city’s development services and engineering
departments as well as the EDC through that office. As a result, Mr. Ford
as EDC president continues to report directly to Mr. Patterson.
Although he had aspired to eventually lead the Frisco EDC, Mr. Ford
says the promotion “did happen sooner than I would have thought, but it
was a welcome change because I felt so comfortable in the role.”
He is also comfortable calling the city home. “I love living in a bub-
ble,” he says of working and residing in Frisco after decades spent com-
muting in other locales. He
“MAKING AN IMPACT and his wife, Michelle, are
IN THE COMMUNITY IS parents of two teens who
THE ULTIMATE OF WHAT attend Frisco ISD schools.
“I love that everything we
DRIVES ME EVERY DAY IN want to enjoy as a family –
MY JOB.” entertainment, lifestyle, the
housing … is right here.”
Those same elements, among other factors, help make Frisco a rel-
atively easy sell to corporations and others who approach (or are ap-
proached by) the EDC about developing projects here.
“I believe there’s a buzz about Frisco that attracts a lot of projects and
companies,” Mr. Ford says, adding that he thinks “Frisco is becoming
one of the preeminent brands of cities among corporates and decision
makers. But we still have a long way to go to really solidify that reputation
beyond just the major signature projects we have today. As a result, we
still receive many phone calls (asking) us, `Who is Frisco? What do you
have to offer?’ So, there’s still a lot of work for us to do in that space.”
Although it may sound like an exaggeration, Mr. Ford says phones
at the EDC office seemingly ring off the hook with calls daily from real
estate brokers, site selectors, investors and others “all wanting to explore
the opportunities for Frisco and their business.”
The EDC’s response? “We always tell people Frisco is a city of
high expectations. It’s a city that values excellence, public safe-
ty, public health and we balance all of that with business continuity.”

18 BEST OF BUSINESS

FRISCOSTYLE.COM OCTOBER 2021 19

“WE ALWAYS TELL PEOPLE FRISCO IS A CITY
OF HIGH EXPECTATIONS. IT’S A CITY THAT
VALUES EXCELLENCE, PUBLIC SAFETY, PUB-
LIC HEALTH AND WE BALANCE ALL OF THAT
WITH BUSINESS CONTINUITY.”

The city, he explains, “offers a really spe- is a shortage of “industrial flex-warehousing”
cial environment for businesses to be success- space locally.
ful, whether it’s because of our tourism and
hospitality industry and our capability for During the pandemic, the EDC an-
hosting really world-class events and business nounced about 10 projects that are projected
meetings, to having extraordinary athletic to collectively absorb 685,000 square feet of
and sporting events.” real estate. “The key priority,” he says, “is
trying to get more real estate on the books,
Finally, he says, “We have a very strong, and it takes time working with developers and
robust organic innovation ecosystem that’s planners to do that, but I feel like we’re doing
thriving with hundreds of startups and inves- it very expeditiously.”
tors. We’re seeing venture capitalists move to
Frisco and move their funds here. Few cities Meanwhile, public-private partnerships
have that special recipe to make all of that such the one between the city, Frisco ISD and
happen, and it happens with great vision and the Dallas Cowboys that birthed The Star in
a commitment to that vision via leadership 2016, have been “a game-changer,” he says.
over decades.”
“We look at what (a) company wants to do
Speaking of venture capitalists, Mr. Ford as an organization and how we can bring in
explains that the Frisco City Council “has set other organizations to help them solve those
a very high and specific vision that Frisco will challenges and needs that may be unmet
be the venture capital capitol of the center of needs in the community while also helping
the United States” by 2040. the employees serve in those areas. The fact
that we can move so quickly to establish the
To achieve that goal, he believes it will be framework of public-private partnerships
important to create “connections between gives us credibility so that we can build more
corporate innovators, the investors, the of these.”
founders, the startups, the tech companies,
the youth within our community” and find Mr. Ford is quick to credit the entire Frisco
“ways that we can create more connective tis- EDC team for the successes that have been
sue to have a more comprehensively aligned experienced so far.
innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem
in Frisco. That will strengthen us and help “For as busy as we are, everyone is rolling
to grow a lot of jobs along the way while at- up their sleeves, they’re making an impact,
tracting more wealth and investment to our we’re putting big numbers on the board and
community.” we’re trying to be as responsive as possible to
existing local employers while helping the city
In early September, Mr. Ford said the achieve its goals. … It’s a really fun time to
EDC had 53 active “economic development be in Frisco and to be surrounded by such a
prospects” in its pipeline, “which is 50 per- wonderful team of people.”
cent more than we had pre-pandemic. Most
of those projects are (at) later stages in the
site-selection process. Frisco is now on the
short list for more than a dozen or so of those,
so that in itself is a lot for us to do, but we’re
excited to take on those challenges.”

Among the challenges it currently is facing

Lisa Ferguson is managing editor of Frisco STYLE.

20 BEST OF BUSINESS

FRISCOSTYLE.COM OCTOBER 2021 21

HEARTS for giving BY LISA FERGUSON

WHAT CURRENTLY IS AN EMPTY ident Craig Hall to build the as-yet-unnamed
parking lot at HALL Park in Frisco will one performing arts center.
day be the home of a state-of-the-art per-
forming arts center that will welcome singers, Along with a 1,250-1,500-seat main per-
dancers, musicians, actors and other aspiring formance hall, the facility is set to include a
and professional artists who will come from 250-350-seat community theater, a nearly
throughout the city, North Texas and beyond six-acre park and a parking garage.
to grace its sweeping stage.
The long-anticipated center will primarily
In June, a master development agreement serve as a performance venue for Frisco ISD
was approved between the City of Frisco, students and fine-arts programming for 150
Frisco ISD, the Frisco Economic Develop- days of the year but will also likely host a vari-
ment and Community Development Corpo- ety of other performances possibly including
rations and HALL Group Founder and Pres- Broadway-style shows and concerts headlined
by best-selling musical artists among others.

22 BEST OF BUSINESS

“The performing arts center is an exciting veloper of HALL Park, who also donated the after the center’s doors open at a date to be
opportunity for all of our students and staff. land upon which the center will be situated. determined.
Although the facility is currently dubbed the The design process for the performing arts That is the goal of the HEARTS Project,
`performing arts center,’ it is more than that center is scheduled to begin in January 2022. the private fundraising campaign of the Fris-
to our students and staff. … It will be a place However, before a single blueprint is co Arts Foundation that kicked off in August.
for Frisco ISD to unite as one for the benefit drawn, it is hoped that an additional $100 Its name was devised by Frisco City Manager
of our students,” Frisco ISD Superintendent million in private donations can be raised George Purefoy and is an acronym for Hall,
Mike Waldrip said in a statement to Frisco through December of this year. Dollars col- Education and the Arts.
STYLE. lected during this brief fundraising window, Frisco Arts Chair Tammy Meinershagen
Its $67 million initial price tag is covered which is allowed as part of the master devel- recalls meeting with Mr. Purefoy earlier this
by $43 million in Frisco ISD bond funds, $14 opment agreement, will be used for myriad year to discuss the fundraising campaign and
million in bonds from the City of Frisco and improvements and upgrades as well as to “thank him for his leadership because … this
a $10 million commitment by Mr. Hall, de- assist with maintenance and operation costs type of complicated deal (for the center) can’t

FRISCOSTYLE.COM OCTOBER 2021 23

Map of the future Frisco Performing Arts Center at HALL Park.

happen without the support of the city man- play, donating to the center “is really an ad- across from a world-class sports complex at
ager. … He said he had been thinking about vocacy-giving act,” she says. “It’s people who The Star, that we deserve nothing less than
names for it and came up with HEARTS. … believe in this project and have a vision for it world class for the arts.”
The name is just perfect. I love that it actually and who want to see the very best, not just for
came from him because it shows that he has a now but for the future of Frisco.” She points to Plano ISD’s Robinson Fine
heart for this project.” Arts Center for comparison purposes. Sched-
In a statement, Mr. Hall said, “The uled to open this year, the 82,000-square-foot
Mrs. Meinershagen says such fundrais- HEARTS Project will help create a state- venue was funded through the district’s $67.5
ing campaigns typically begin after the de- of-the-art facility and we look forward to million bond that passed in 2016. “We can
sign process for a performing arts center has seeing it become a destination for Frisco’s stu- look at that and say that’s kind of comparable
commenced to provide potential donors with dents, residents and visitors for generations to to what we would get in Frisco.” However, she
ideas about how their dollars may be invest- come.” reminds, “Frisco has always done things big-
ed, whether that is through the purchase of ger and better than (other) communities. We
small items such as commemorative bricks or THE CAMPAIGN’S $100 MILLION pride ourselves on that.”
larger ones like the naming rights for a stair- goal is decidedly ambitious, Mrs. Meinersha-
case, the lobby or even the entire building. gen says. “Yes, it definitely is a lot, but per- The HEARTS Project is employing a vari-
forming arts centers are not typical buildings. ety of fundraising strategies to attract and in-
Due to the involvement of public dollars via They are the most complex of any kind. They form potential donors. Tax-deductible dona-
the bond funds, a total budget for the center require acoustics that are at the highest level.” tions beginning at the $100 level can be made
must be in place prior to the design process on its website, heartsproject.org. People may also
beginning on Jan. 1, 2022. “Whatever monies The dollar amount was determined as it text the word HEARTS to 59925 to receive
are at the table at that time are the budget for is in line with “what we have seen with oth- news and updates about the performing arts
the design,” she explains. er comparable performing arts centers that center.
have finishes that are world class. Of course,
At this point, without any designs to dis- we believe (being located) at HALL Park and Its recently launched Audience Circle podcast

24 BEST OF BUSINESS

series on YouTube explores topics relevant to OCTOBER 2021 25
the center’s future patrons. The purpose is to
“inform the … people who are going to fill
the audience. Any successful performing arts
center will need a full audience,” Mrs. Mein-
ershagen says.

THE SERIES’ FIRST INSTALLMENT
in September featured an interview with San-
dra Moon, who Frisco Arts Foundation se-
lected to chair the HEARTS Project.

A senior executive of the Sam Moon Group
(owner of retailer Sam Moon Trading Com-
pany), which built the Hyatt Regency Fris-
co-Dallas hotel as well as the Renaissance
Dallas at Plano Legacy West hotel and the
forthcoming JW Marriot hotel in Dallas’
Arts District, Mrs. Moon is also an accom-
plished pianist. As a youth, she performed as
a soloist with the Honolulu Symphony in her
native Hawaii.

She currently serves on the board of di-
rectors of The Arts Community Alliance
(TACA) in Dallas and is the former chair of
Plano’s Legacy Cultural District. She is also
a former board member of the Dallas and
Plano Symphonies and Dallas-based Cham-
ber Music International and was a founding
member of the American Film Institute.

Mrs. Moon, who is a member at Hope Fel-
lowship Church and for many years played
piano at Stonebriar Community Church in
Frisco, says she is excited to lead the fundrais-
ing efforts for Frisco’s performing arts center,
as similar facilities elsewhere have “really
changed the makeup of a city. …This is going
to be a game-changer.”

Given her experience as a musician, “I un-
derstand what’s on the line because growing
up in Honolulu there were no opportunities”
to perform at world-class venues. She flew to
Los Angeles and New York to “play at those
great halls. … To have one here in Frisco …
would just be amazing.”

Mrs. Moon says she has “a heart for giv-
ing opportunities to children who have this
remarkable talent because it’s all coming full
circle. You want to see the opportunities that
were given to you also given to the next gen-
eration.”

“Sandra sees the diamond that the project
can be and that’s why she’s involved,” Mrs.
Meinershagen says. “Others in the commu-
nity see the potential for this project and it
does take big vision. … The more grand and
incredible and innovative and tech-forward
this performing arts center can be, the more
excited big donors will be.”

Additional information about the
HEARTS Project is available at heartsproject.
org.

Lisa Ferguson is managing editor of Frisco STYLE
Magazine.

FRISCOSTYLE.COM

26 BEST OF BUSINESS

SmallPart

B i g P r o b l e mBYGLENDAVOSBURGH
he nation’s love affair with automobiles has hit
a speedbump.
The ongoing global shortage of silicon semi-
conductor chips has forced automakers to re-
duce or even stop production, leaving auto deal-
erships across the country with meager invento-
ries and consumers facing escalating prices for
new and used vehicles. Frisco dealerships and
their customers are no exception.
Only slightly larger in size than a quarter,
the tiny transistor chips are made from silicon,
which is the second-most abundant mineral on
Earth. The chips are vital in order for electri-

t cal devices such as home appliances, computers
and smart phones to function. In most modern
vehicles, upward of 3,000 chips may be used to
power infotainment, cruise control, fuel injection and other systems.
Those in the market for a new car will likely be forced to wait
weeks or even months to get their wheels and may see costs associ-
ated with the purchase rise due to the shortage. Fewer new car sales
also mean fewer vehicle trade-ins at dealerships, resulting in reduced
used-car inventories as well. As demand remains high, so will prices
for pre-owned vehicles.
With lower inventories translating into fewer sales, some local car
dealers have been forced to look for streams of income from other
services.
“We are still busy,” says Mike Mykeloff, general manager at Jag-
uar Frisco and Land Rover Frisco. “It is just a different kind of busy.
We have meetings to discuss options for the current situation. One
thing we are doing is working to improve our parts and service de-
partment. More people are having repairs done on their used vehi-
cles instead of trying to buy a new one. That department will have
to pay a lot of bills (for the dealership) in the coming months. We are
also busy getting ourselves ready to hit the ground running when
things improve.”

THE AUTO MANUFACTURERS INFORM DEALERSHIPS
in advance how many new vehicles it will receive on a month-to-
month basis. Prior to the chip shortage, the Frisco dealership typ-
ically got 80 to 85 new Land Rovers a month. That number had
dropped to 62 recently. According to Mr. Mykeloff, in September
only 30 were expected to arrive.
Typically, 15 to 20 new Jaguars are delivered to the Frisco dealer-
ship monthly, however that number has dropped to three. At some
Jaguar dealerships nationally, the number is zero. Consequently, the
wait time customers may experience to take possession of a new ve-
hicle is increasing.
Prior to the chip shortage, Mr. Mykeloff says that on average
at dealerships owned by Snell Motor Companies, including Land Brandon Morris, general manager of Kia of Frisco

FRISCOSTYLE.COM OCTOBER 2021 27

Rover Frisco and Jaguar Frisco, “The wait While new cars are being delivered, they
time for a new vehicle has been four months. are sold before they arrive on the lot. Buy-
… Now it can take six or seven months. We ers generally are waiting from one to eight
have lost a couple of customers because they weeks for their vehicles.
didn’t want to wait for a car.”
“Most customers have figured it out,” Mr.
In late August the dealership, located at Morris said. “People have to have patience.
5935 Preston Road, had 11 new cars and I would tell them that the fact that there are
three Land Rovers on the lot. Earlier that no cars on the ground should not keep them
month, it received only nine new vehicles from coming in. The cars are not there yet,
and all had been pre-sold. but they are coming.”

The chip shortage has dragged on for While Kia of Frisco’s used-car inventory
more than a year and experts warn there is is good, similar to the new car stock, it is
no end in sight. smaller than it has typically been. Vehicles
are coming in through trade-ins, Mr. Morris
WHEN THE WORLD SHUT DOWN said, and the dealership is not going out and
in March 2020 in the wake of the COVID-19 purchasing vehicles. High demand for used
pandemic, the rapid increase in the number vehicles has increased prices, just as it has
of people working from home drove demand industry wide.
for the technology required to do so. At the
same time, while people were urged to stay “Someone who comes in to buy a two-
at home, the demand for big purchases – in- year old car today will have to pay the same
cluding vehicles – fell. amount they would have if they had bought
it new two years ago,” Mr. Morris explains.
As automotive production lines shut down
with the rest of the world, manufacturers AS BUYERS CLAMOR FOR CARS,
canceled orders of the silicon computer chips trucks and SUVs, and chip manufacturers
used in vehicles. Chip manufacturers shifted continue to play catch-up with their produc-
from supplying the automotive industry to tion, the availability of computer chips is not
focusing on other market sectors that were likely to improve soon, industry experts say.
doing well during the pandemic, such as The shortage continues to force automobile
healthcare and technology. manufacturers to cut production worldwide,
and officials say the problem is getting worse,
Fast-forward to 2021: As the world be- according to a report by Reuters news ser-
gan to reopen and consumers were anxious vice.
to get back to normal, the pent-up demand
for vehicles exploded. Chip manufacturers In September, General Motors Co., Ford
had difficulty keeping up, creating a perfect Motor Co. and Toyota Motor Corp. cut pro-
storm for the automotive industry. duction due to the chip shortage. GM said it
would reduce production at most of its North
“We sold (vehicles) well all through 2020,” American assembly plants due to the ongo-
Mr. Mykeloff says. “We did cut staff hours ing shortage. It also shutdown assembly lines
back to about 35 per week, but we had no in July. Ford announced it would once again
layoffs.” cut production at its truck plants after sig-
nificantly cutting production in March. In
One bright spot amid all of the challeng- August, Toyota announced its plans to cut
es is the fact that the dealership has a good production by 40 percent in September.
inventory of used cars. “We are going out
and finding them,” Mr. Mykeloff said. “We None of that bodes well for quelling the
are online looking. Some are purchased at demand for new cars in the near future. Pub-
auctions and some are leased cars that have lished reports have quoted industry experts
been turned in.” who say that record-high consumer prices
for cars – including new and used vehicles
The situation is slightly different at Kia of as well as rentals – could continue through
Frisco, at 10220 TX-121. Because the deal- 2022. Analysts have said the global chip
ership opened on July 22, the manufacturer shortage could cost the auto industry $110
made sure it had an ample inventory of new billion.
cars. Nevertherless General Manager Bran-
don Morris says it has been a “crazy year.” For now, Frisco automotive dealerships,
like others across the country, will be forced
“Chips are not a problem with our manu- to work with the hand they have been dealt.
facturer,” he says. “In March 2020, when car Likewise, consumers who cannot or do not
manufacturers got their forecasts, most cut want to postpone buying a vehicle likely
production by at least half. Kia didn’t. That’s should bring their patience and a bigger
not to say we haven’t experienced shortages bank roll with them to the dealership.
and delays, but our situation is caused by in-
creased demand. Kia makes 50,000 cars a Glenda Vosburgh is a freelance writer, animal lover
year and has been selling 80,000. We have a and American history devotee who also is writing her
fairly consistent new car inventory, although first historical thriller.
we have fewer. We usually have 400 new cars
and now we have 100. Fifty is better than
most dealerships have.”

28 BEST OF BUSINESS

FRISCOSTYLE.COM OCTOBER 2021 29

BY JULIET CIMLER AND ALLIE SPLETTER
INTRODUCTION BY TONY FELKER

Y ou needn’t be managing or recognizing the Best of Business, Frisco STYLE sets the bar that area
working at a local business long businesses may strive to achieve or surpass, provides examples that
before becoming aware of or pos- companies may look toward in making improvements, and challenges
sibly applying for a nomination in the proverbial business next door to do better.
some sort of business-related awards
program. At the Frisco Chamber of Com- This is a large part of what makes a strong community: Supporting
merce, we have our annual awards gala and encouraging one another, providing examples of how to be better
that recognizes a variety of businesses. than before, and demonstrating growth are characteristics of a strong,
Meanwhile, several North Texas associ- thriving business ecosystem. Moreover, there are many facets of busi-
ations and publications also honor area ness that can be improved and celebrated such as finances, training,
businesses, including Frisco STYLE Maga- marketing, communications, market understanding, overcoming ad-
zine with its annual Best of Business awards. versity, organizational structure and governance.
Are such recognitions bestowed by various entities a
good thing for the Frisco business community? Bottom line: We often hear that the “enemy of great is good,” and that is certain-
Yes! Awareness is often one of the first steps toward making improve- ly true here in Frisco. Members of the city’s business community are
ments. While Frisco’s business community is robust, to continue to constantly raising the bar and fulfilling the goal of being a rising tide
strengthen and grow, we must all be aware of and admit that there that lifts all boats. This is good for everyone involved. Those who are
is still work to be done. When it comes to financial literacy, we must working hard to be successful may follow the examples of those com-
determine how and where our business dollars are spent and how that panies recognized on the following pages to take their own businesses
fits into a budget. With that awareness, one can begin to set goals, to the next level.
work toward improvement and achieve desired results.
The situation is much the same when considering companies for While reading about the companies that Frisco STYLE celebrates
Frisco STYLE’s Best of Business awards. Frisco prides itself on being as being the Best of Business in 2021, take time to appreciate all that
among the nation’s premier municipalities in a plethora of categories they have accomplished. Also, consider looking at your own organi-
– from our exceptional school district and other educational oppor- zation and asking how you can take it to the next level. You may wish
tunities to the myriad services provided by our city government, and to incorporate a business practice or tool among those being lauded
the effectiveness of our Chamber of Commerce. We are a community and apply it to your own work. Through recognitions such as these,
that recognizes and strives to not only to be good, but to be great! In we can continue to push Frisco’s business community to the next level!
Tbeornoyf FFerliksecroiSsTprYesLidEe’nst2/0C2E1OBoefstthoef FBruissicnoeCsshEamvableuraotifoCnoamnmd eSrecleecatniodnsCerovmedmaisttaeem. em-

30 BEST OF BUSINESS

2 0 2 1 B E S T O F BEUVSAILNUEASTSI O N A N D S E L E C T I O N C O M M I T T E E

RICH ALLEN STEVE SHALOSKY STEFANIE E. DR. CLINTON TONY FELKER
Business coach and in- For the past five years, WAGONER, AICP, PURTELL Serves as president/
vestor Rich Allen has Steve Shalosky has been EDFP Dr. Clinton Purtell is a CEO of the Frisco
worked with hundreds of a business advisor for the Stefanie Wagoner has full-time faculty member Chamber of Commerce,
business owners during Collin Small Business more than 20 years of ex- of the Ryan College of a position he has held
the past 15 years, assist- Development Center in perience in public admin- Business at the University for more than a dozen
ing them in creating, Plano, assisting budding istration, having served of North Texas, with du- years. A Frisco resident
building and sustaining entrepreneurs with start- as the director of business ties that include support- since 1997, he has been
their companies as well up planning and small retention and expansion ing the strategic growth with the chamber for
as to overcome their business owners to grow for the Frisco Economic of UNT at Frisco, as well upward of 17 years and
most difficult business their businesses. A for- Development Corporation as the development of ex- previously worked in
challenges. The author of mer entrepreneur, Mr. in since January 2008. ternal relationships with sales for Frisco Style fol-
two books – Tour de Profit Shalosky has a dozen Prior to joining the Frisco local and regional busi- lowing nearly 15 years in
– a 52 Stage Race to Grow years of experience with team, she worked at the nesses as well as global the real estate/finance
Your Business (2011) and Fortune 500 companies, cities of Southlake and industry partners. With industry. In 2019, Mr.
The Ultimate Business Tune having held a variety of Carrollton, focusing on extensive experience in Felker served as chair
Up – a Simple Yet Powerful positions in specialties planning and retail devel- the aerospace industry, of the board of regents
Business Model That Will ranging from finance opment. She holds a bach- Dr. Purtell has also held for the West Institute of
Transform the Lives of Small and accounting to sales elor’s degree of urban and leadership and direc- Organization Manage-
Business Owners (2017) – and marketing. The bulk regional planning from tor-level roles at Fortune ment (IOM), a program
Mr. Allen holds a bache- of his corporate career the University of Illinois at 500 and Euro 50 firms. of the U.S. Chamber of
lor’s degree in accounting was spent developing Urbana-Champaign and a A successful entrepreneur Commerce. He has also
from Arizona State strategic business plans, master’s in public admin- and a franchise owner in served on the boards of
University and an MBA creating marketing tac- istration from the Univer- North Texas, he received the Texas Chamber of
in international business tics and launching new sity of Texas at Arlington. his Ph.D in entrepre- Commerce Executives,
from the University of products. A U.S. Army Ms. Wagoner is a certified neurship from Oklahoma North Texas Chamber
Texas at Dallas. Prior to veteran who served as a as a city planner and State University, an MBA of Commerce Executives
his current career, he was commissioned officer in economic development from Belmont University, Association and the
a division president and a leadership and logistical financial professional. a bachelor of finance Texas Association of
vice president of human operations positions With a passion for giving degree from Oklahoma Business. A member of
resources with Pella Cor- throughout his 12-year back to the community, City University and the the Frisco City Council
poration, a vice president military career, Mr. she is actively engaged in honorable designation of from 2003-2009, as well
of human resources with Shalosky holds a bach- the Rotary Club of Frisco executive scholar from as a former Frisco Plan-
Texas Instruments and a elor’s degree in business and various entrepreneur- Northwestern Univer- ning & Zoning com-
captain in the U.S. Army administration from the ship-focused initiatives. In sity, Kellogg School of missioner and Board of
Corp of Engineers. University of Dayton 2020, she participated in Business in Management Adjustments member, he
(Ohio) and a master’s in the inaugural TEDxFrisco Science. A graduate is currently an ex-officio
business administration Talk, focusing on the im- fellow of the American board member for Visit
from the W.P. Carey portance of partnerships. Indian Graduate Center Frisco. A graduate of
School of Business at Ar- A native of Central Illi- and graduate scholar Leadership Frisco Class
izona State University. nois, Ms. Wagoner moved of the National Center III, Mr. Felker earned
to the Dallas-Fort Worth for American Indian bachelor’s degrees in
area in 1994. She, her Economic Development, business marketing and
husband and two teenage Dr. Purtell is an enrolled journalism from the
sons have been active member of the Choctaw University of Texas at
Frisconians for more than Nation of Oklahoma and Austin.
a decade. a member of The PhD
Project. He and his fam-
ily have lived in Frisco
since 2006.

FRISCOSTYLE.COM OCTOBER 2021 31

CUSTOMER ENGAGEMENTSAMURAI INTI MARTIAL ARTS

of

BUSINESS

2 0 21

T here work closely with clients, and the relation- 7410 PRESTON ROAD
ships they foster allow them to further culti- SUITE 105
are many aspects to vate a strong sense of customer engagement.
developing and cultivating good business “We are leaders,” he says. “Sometimes people FRISCO, TX 75034
practices. Providing superior customer en- come in and we don’t know what they’re go- 214.705.9676
gagement is a testament to how hard busi- ing through, so when you treat people with
ness owners and their teams work to build kindness and find their strengths, it’s really SAMURAI-INTI.COM
relationships and show customers that they important to them. It makes them feel good bored, and we understand the importance of
are truly valued. and makes them better. It has everything to (martial arts) training in their life. Within one
do with who we are. It’s that warrior attitude day of the shutdown, we transitioned to on-
Sebastian Mejias and the team at Samurai and willpower that we try to reflect on oth- line training and we were able to teach and
Inti Martial Arts knows that keeping clients ers.” He and his instructors often think about encourage people in the comfort of their own
involved in all facets of a business builds a their own children and the type of experienc- homes. We saw families training together. …
new level of commitment to excellence for es they want for them. When children join Pajamas became karate uniforms. Even the
customers and employees alike. The compa- the school, they become truly a member of family dogs got involved in the training. We
ny is the Best of Business Customer Engage- the family. facilitated ways for the parents to learn with
ment award winner. their kids outside of the classroom.” Although
Like most businesses, the COVID-19 they did lose 40 percent of their client base
At Samurai Inti Martial Arts, a fami- pandemic forced Mr, Mejias and his team during the pandemic, he says that since re-
ly-owned martial arts school, Mr. Mejias to adapt while remaining creative, flexible, opening the school has doubled in size.
and his team teach children and adults of all passionate and resilient in their work, which
ages how to be protectors of their body, mind allowed them to serve customers in new ways Mr, Mejias appreciates the success-driven
and spirit. The school was featured at last while ultimately engaging entire families. mentality that many Frisco residents have,
year’s inaugural TedX Frisco, during which its which allows him and the Samurai Inti Mar-
school spirit was explained and a martial arts “We knew that people were scared and tial Arts team to model perseverance and
demonstration was presented by students. persistence and set examples for youths. “I
Classes aim to teach kids courage, character believe the secret to success is overcoming ob-
and joy so they may reach their full potential. stacles and staying clear and focused, which
to me is very valuable and evident in our com-
As instructors, Mr. Mejias and his team munity.”

32 BEST OF BUSINESS

FRISCOSTYLE.COM OCTOBER 2021 33

34 BEST OF BUSINESS

T CEXOT -EMM- ALL P ACNUYLTURE

3803 PARKWOOD BLVD.
SUITE 900
FRISCO, TX 75034
877.226.3080
TEXT-EM-ALL.COM

D eveloping and
fostering a cor-
porate culture
within a company is crucial to
its success as it allows employ-
ees and team members to be
part of something bigger than Photography provided by Nitin Shetty
themselves and work toward
a common goal. The team defines itself as a purpose-driven organi-
at Text-Em-All does that and has earned the and formula for how employees work best. zation that strives to be a joy to do business
Best of Business Company Culture award. The company believes in not only paying em- with, prioritizes greatness above growth and
Text-Em-All provides mass communica- ployees well, but also in providing full trans- puts people above profit. Other key ideas in-
tion and automated calling services to keep parency of its financials in weekly meetings clude the belief that everyone has something
people informed when it matters most. Not so that employees may remain passionate important to say, measuring success by more
only does it deliver personalized, informa- about the work they do. than just profits, working hard and laughing
tional, emergency mass text messages and until it hurts, and doing the right thing even
phone calls, the company also prides itself on Ron Kinkade, head of marketing for Text- when no one is looking.
never sending promotional, political, or spam Em-All, says, “We like to think of ourselves
messages through its platform. as a people-first company, which applies to “Regardless of someone’s roll in the com-
Text-Em-All’s extensive, non-traditional employees, customers, vendors and our com- pany, they’re able to have a sense that what
hiring process allows it to further cultivate munity. You have to treat people with re- they’re doing is contributing to the bigger pic-
its winning culture. The company places em- spect, and you have to have an environment ture and because of that, people work hard
phasis on evaluating employees based on how that’s full of trust and transparency and at and they’re passionate about their job,” Mr.
they fit the organization’s values. Interview our company, employees are really empow- Kinkade says. The company also prides itself
questions are meant to identify emotional in- ered to make decisions.” on fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace
telligence and how individuals may interact that enables employees to bring their most au-
with existing team members. Together with Much of the company’s culture lies in a thentic self to work.
employees, company leaders develop person- core desire to make a positive impact. As part
of its company-wide manifesto, Text-Em-All

al plans for career growth that outline expec-
tations and areas of focus that are reviewed
monthly.
The team at Text-Em-All works together to
develop a shared purpose, values, manifesto

FRISCOSTYLE.COM OCTOBER 2021 35

O HIRRE EFGF ECAT N IZ ATIOSTNR&UCTURE

S tructure and organiza- and talent management – tasks people may
tion are fundamental not give much thought to while deciding to
aspects of any busi- open a business.
ness, as both allow business owners
and employees to run successful, Organization and structure are often the
efficient operations while maintain- backbone to most business models, and Ms.
ing a high level of customer satis- Scott understands that they are vital aspects
faction. HireEffect Founder and of business operations. “Without process,
CEO Jennifer Scott and her team organization and structure, we wouldn’t be
have done just that and, as a result, able to be consistent. Being consistent in ex-
earned the company the Best of cellence, consistent in quality and consistent
Business award in the Organiza- in process is why 95 percent of our business
tion & Structure category.  comes from referrals. How we meet with
HireEffect helps business teams, how we meet each client, how we go
owners find freedom by com- through sales process – there’s structure and
bining financial, human re- process to everything we do.”
sources and business services
with cloud-based technology to After having started small, the company
get them out of the back office and in now boasts nearly 20 employees across small,
front of customers. HireEffect’s services functional teams. Ms. Scott and her team
are designed to support clients in reach- implemented the Entrepreneurial Operating
ing their goals. Its team creates custom System (EOS) two years ago, which allowed
solutions that can include bookkeeping, them to define a way to operate their busi-
recruiting, strategic financial advisory ness. Following the principles of both Scal-
ing Up and EOS, each functional team has
one individual accountable to the leadership
team. The company’s accountabilities are
well-documented, quarterly priorities are
clearly defined and teams follow a strict meet-
ing cadence to ensure constant communica-
tion.

“We do team huddles for each team dai-
ly so that everyone is on the same page and
knows what’s going on,” she explains. “We do
a quarterly leadership team strategic-plan-
ning day so that we can be clear on what our
vision is … and what we’ll do to achieve those
goals. Our organization and structure are
all-encompassing.”

HireEffect also utilizes Karbon (practice
manager software) to keep track of most, if
not all, of the company’s ongoing projects,
which allows team members to see who is
meeting goals and helps ensure that noth-
ing slips through the cracks. In an effort to
further support the company’s organization
and structure and its employees, Ms. Scott
and her team try to keep workloads flexible so
that employees don’t feel overworked, yet also
allow team members to step up and take on
more responsibility if they so choose.

5605 FM423
SUITE 500 #312
FRISCO, TX 75034

469.430.9989
HIREEFFECT.COM

36 BEST OF BUSINESS

FRISCOSTYLE.COM OCTOBER 2021 37

38 BEST OF BUSINESS

MARKETREFRESH FRISCO AWARENESS

PO BOX 5367
FRISCO, TX 75035
REFRESHFRISCO.ORG

R efresh Frisco is a nonprofit to limit the amount of hygiene items that can the individual needs of the student and is de-
organization that provides be distributed to families due to insufficient livered discretely through Frisco ISD. Close
personal hygiene items to eco- donations of such items. Oftentimes, the al- collaboration with the district and other local
nomically disadvantaged students. President lowance is not enough to meet a family’s nonprofit organizations help connect families
and Founder Elizabeth Watkins was inspired needs. As hygiene products are not always with available services, and target those with-
to launch the organization in 2019 after be- included as part of government assistance out computer or internet access.
coming aware of the community’s need by programs, many economically disadvantaged
volunteering at Frisco Family Services. children lack access to essential items such as “A good handful of students in FISD are
“Customers coming to our organization toothpaste, shampoo, deodorant and soap. homeless and I had no idea that that was go-
are looking for relief; they are looking for ing on in our school district,” Ms. Watkins
help; they are looking for hope. Our goal is “Proper hygiene has never been more im- says. “Those students are also a little hard to
to give them all these things and more, free portant than it is right now,” Ms. Watkins reach because they slip through the cracks.”
of charge,” Ms. Watkins says. The Refresh says. “Good hygiene promotes self-esteem Frisco ISD employs a homelessness liaison
Frisco team’s efforts to provide services to a and better health overall. Lack of self-esteem, to assist these families and parent liaisons to
market segment that can be notoriously diffi- especially during the teenage years, can neg- help parents who are unable to register due to
cult to reach earned the organization the Best atively impact a student’s performance in illiteracy, language barriers or lack of com-
of Business Market Awareness award. school as well as their ability to form mean- puter access.
Many community food pantries are forced ingful relationships.”
Staffed entirely by volunteers, Refresh Fris-
Each “refresh pack” is customized to meet co leases two storage units rather than a ware-
house to minimize costs. The COVID-19
pandemic struck just months after the orga-
nization began operating, which caused de-
mand for its services to triple overnight. It
also made hygiene products difficult to obtain
through the organization’s usual suppliers. To
compound the situation, prohibitions against
in-person gatherings prevented the hosting of
its hygiene drives as planned.

Refresh Frisco rapidly restructured its dis-
tribution system, establishing an Amazon
Wish List and a network of no-contact porch
drop-off locations and drive-thru pickups of
items. Additional volunteers were enlisted
and, despite the setbacks, each student that
applied for assistance was served. Its “Love
Your Neighbor” social media campaign was
widely shared and led to a partnership with
retailer Ulta Beauty, which donated several
gift sets for student recipients.

“When our enrollment numbers increase,
we give thanks that a family in need has
found us and that we get to play a small part
in easing their burden,” Ms. Watkins says.

Refresh Little Elm launched in August af-
ter market research revealed that nearly 40
percent of students in Little Elm ISD are eco-
nomically disadvantaged. Between the two
Refresh locations, the organization served
1,000 children last quarter and hopes to ex-
pand in the future.

FRISCOSTYLE.COM OCTOBER 2021 39

FINANCES & METRICSWEIR SALAD GROUP | CHOP STOP
S
able and Matthew Weir had no A well-established franchise in California and whenever possible. The restaurant offers in-
restaurant experience when they throughout the southeastern United States, store dining and curbside pickup and aims to
left their corporate positions to the flagship Frisco store is the first in Texas. serve all customers in three minutes or less.
franchise Jimmy John’s restaurants through-
out San Antonio in 2011. After successfully Chop Stop store managers receive full ac- The Weirs’ management approach re-
managing nine locations, they relocated to cess to financial statements as well as training flects a commitment to total transparency.
Frisco to be closer to family and decided to and tools that enable them to actively con- Financial statements are openly shared with
add a new brand to their portfolio, opening trol costs at each franchise location, earning current store managers as well as employees
Chop Stop in 2018. Chop Stop the Best of Business award in the who are interested in becoming managers.
“We were looking for something that was Finances & Metrics category. Each is trained to analyze the profit and loss
healthy and high quality, with a level of con- statement and receives both a salary and an
venience to match, and it was really just miss- Chop Stop’s menu focuses primarily on uncapped bonus based on their ability to
ing in the market, so it seemed to make sense,” chopped salads (“Chops”), but also features control costs. The owners and managers col-
Sable Weir says. wraps, sides and hot options including pretzel laborate closely to analyze accounting data
sticks and Chopurritos (a rice and bean bowl). and discover opportunities for improvement,
Its salads are unique because the ingredients instilling the team with a sense of ownership
are chopped so finely that they can be eaten and helping employees realize the impact of
with a spoon, resulting in a more uniform fla- their efforts.
vor in each bite. Each salad comes in an ex-
“We constantly study our metrics to un-
tra hearty portion size, with most derstand what we can do better,” Sable Weir
weighing over a pound. Chops says. “This is something we keep our man-
can be ordered from a set menu agers engaged in as well, so they understand
or customized with a wide se- how their goals directly relate to the business’
lection of high-quality ingre- performance.”
dients that are locally grown
Working in the store daily enables the
of Weirs to witness inefficiencies, she explains.
“Cost control as far as restaurants are con-
BUSINESS cerned can be as simple as determining where
food is being wasted. Simple portioning can
2 0 21 make a huge difference.”

3266 PARKWOOD BLVD., Labor costs, Sable Weir explains, “are con-
SUITE 100 trolled by making sure we have A-plus play-
FRISCO, TX 75033 ers. One good A player can do the job of two
469.444.6061 or three B or C players.” A controlled growth
CHOPSTOP.COM strategy with an emphasis on internal promo-
tion and team-building activities ensures the
company retains a cohesive, highly motivated
staff.

“After 10 years, our approach remains the
same: Grow slow so that anyone who works
with us has the opportunity to grow too in
hopes of promoting to the next level. … Ul-
timately, we will work to cede a percentage of
ownership to our managers who have worked
to uphold our values as a company.”

The Weirs plan to open several Chop Stop
locations throughout the Metroplex. Subse-
quent locations will be selected based on the
level of convenience for people with 9-to-5
jobs, and diners who want the speed associat-
ed with fast food without sacrificing nutrition
and quality.

Both of the owners' mothers were teachers
and, as a result, the pair deeply values the im-
portance of giving back to the education com-
munity. Chop Stop currently donates lunches
to 10 Frisco ISD schools and provides free
food and catering services to several charita-
ble organizations and events that take place
in the community.

40 BEST OF BUSINESS

FRISCOSTYLE.COM OCTOBER 2021 41

WINNING CUSTOMERSFRISCO CREATIVE ARTS PRESCHOOL

9255 PRESTON ROAD
FRISCO, TX 75033
972.346.8236

FRISCOPRESCHOOL.COM

F risco Creative Arts Preschool “What we’re really doing – besides hav- ten. Theater helps students build confidence
(FCAP) is a private, bou- ing all this great fun – is teaching success, in public speaking, while sequencing and cho-
tique-style preschool that teach- self-confidence and leadership through music reography in dance class improves memory
es children academics through the perform- and the performing arts to the next genera- skills and hand-eye coordination.
ing arts. Its unique curriculum, combined tion,” Ms. Duncan explains. Students are
with efforts to cultivate a personal relation- “going to take this wonderful experience with FCAP’s popular summer camp slots, which
ship with each family, ensures that classes them to be leaders in their next school.” typically fill to capacity each year, provide
are filled to capacity with new and returning students up to age 11 an opportunity to ro-
students, earning FCAP the Best of Business Open from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. to accommo- tate through science, engineering, technology
Winning Customers award. date families’ schedules, Frisco Creative Arts and math classes. The academic components
Located on the campus of the Frisco School Preschool also offers a half-day program. are cleverly presented to stimulate students’
of Music & Performing Arts, in 2009 the pre- Students rotate through dance, theater, mu- curiosity. For example, no-bake cooking les-
school opened its doors to students ages 3-5. sic and art classes where they have access to sons teach math by having students measure
Owner and Executive Director Chris Dun- professional-grade supplies and are taught by ingredients while making snacks.
can was inspired to provide the community instructors with backgrounds in their respec-
tive fields. The academic department chooses Teachers and staff strive to establish per-
a weekly letter, shape, color and animal and sonal connections with prospective students
teachers integrate the theme into lessons and and their families. “It is rare for preschool
activities. The classes are designed to help families to register sight unseen,” Ms. Dun-
children develop soft skills that will prepare can says, “so encouraging a tour is critical.
them for a successful transition to kindergar- We also offer a free Discovery Day for each
interested child, and at drop off that day we
tour our campus with the family and help the
student get comfortable. This also helps us de-
termine if the student will be a good fit for our
active learning environment.”

Maintaining small class sizes allows the
school to cater to the unique needs of each
family while developing a more personal un-
derstanding of the expectations of parents.
“Not only are they focused on their children
and their activities, they’re focused on educa-
tional activities – things that will be inspiring
to their child and (will) get their child ahead.
They want to start now with lots and lots of
super academic and educational experienc-
es, large experiences that can open up their
mind.”

with an alternative to traditional daycare and
create a learning environment designed to
foster the early development of critical social
skills while presenting academic concepts via
fun and engaging activities.

42 BEST OF BUSINESS

FRISCOSTYLE.COM OCTOBER 2021 43

GIVING BACKKURT THOMAS GYMNASTICS

of

BUSINESS

2 0 21

I t is evident in Frisco that 10825 JOHN W. ELLIOTT DRIVE
support of and for oth- SUITE 400
ers is an important as-
pect in building a successful business FRISCO, TX 75033
community. The city is blessed to be 214.872.4646
home to many businesses that are phil-
anthropic in their endeavors and pride KURTTHOMAS.COM
themselves on being charitable. The partners and we scholarship kids out as much as we can,” Ms.
team at Kurt Thomas Gymnastics is
no different and has earned the Best of Thomas explains.
Business award for Giving Back. The view that the athlete – not the finances – comes first
Kurt Thomas Gymnastics specializes in training athletes age 3-18.
“As we enter our 24th year in the Frisco area, we hold true to the has enabled staff members and coaches to build relation-
values, integrity and coaching style that we founded our gym on: fun, ships with clients, “We are often found at these athletes’
positive training with an attention to detail,” Vice President Beckie graduations, weddings and even train their children one
Thomas says. day. These are lifetime relationships that go way beyond
Collectively, the athletes at Kurt Thomas Gymnastics have earned
more than 1,800 state, regional and national titles as team and staff gymnastics. This is only built from the time and the
members have continued to carry on the legacy of three-time world compassion that we have in training on a daily basis.”
champion and two-time Olympian Kurt Thomas following his 2020
death. Within the community, Kurt Thomas Gymnastics
The Kurt Thomas Gymnastics team works to inspire and to give prides itself on being part of various fundraisers for
back to its customers and the community in a variety of ways, such as foundations and athletes in need. “We love being able to get the kids
providing discounts for teachers, military and low-income families. involved and we do a lot with the Special Olympics where the kids
“We often present scholarships to athletes that otherwise could not volunteer for those programs. Doing so gives the kids a sense of giving
afford to train. When families are struggling and need to pull their back and helps them stay inspired and active in the community. It’s
child from gymnastics, we jump in and help through donations from just really cool to see them excited about it,” Ms. Thomas says.
Additionally, the team started a special needs program called KT
Achievers and is working with USA Gymnastics programs to create a
new autism program that will begin this fall. “I don’t know that I re-
alized how few, if any, special needs gymnastics programs there are in
our area, so that’s the one thing I’m the most excited about right now.”
Ms. Thomas says she is grateful both to and for Frisco parents, the
community and its leaders. “Everybody supports everybody. Our city
leadership has set the standard for small businesses, and I know that
I have a support system in Frisco that I wouldn’t have anywhere else,
which is invaluable.”

44 BEST OF BUSINESS

FRISCOSTYLE.COM OCTOBER 2021 45

LEADERSHIPTUMBLEWEED TEXSTYLES & VISION

7511 MAIN ST. SUITE A120
FRISCO, TX 75034
469.591.1836

TUMBLEWEEDTEXSTYLES.COM

T umbleweed TexStyles designs Both went on to become Frisco ISD teachers charge. The firm began securing larger ac-
and sells apparel, drinkware, before Mr. Wysong encouraged Mr. Matulich counts after several influential artists tagged
décor and gifts for iconic Texas to send his sketches to a local T-shirt screen its designs on Instagram. “We work real-
brands including Dr Pepper and Whataburg- printer and offer to help market and sell the ly hard to do a good job with those that we
er. The firm started as a side hobby before the designs. The shirts quickly sold out, motivat- serve,” Mr. Wysong says. “Then other peo-
popularity of the designs encouraged co-own- ing the duo to devote their efforts full time to ple start wanting to be a part of that journey
ers Brian Wysong and Jeb Matulich to leave building the Tumbleweed TexStyles brand. and adventure to utilize our skillset of design,
their jobs and focus on growing the business. connecting people, social media and building
The pair’s entrepreneurial determination “Our values reflect those of a side hus- a brand that has become synonymous with
ultimately transformed the brand into a de- tle-turned-business started by two educators Texas culture.”
sign firm with 14 employees and more than and coaches with a faith-based heart, a south-
500 accounts nationwide, earning Tumble- ern-hospitality mindset and a passion for the Mr. Matulich and Mr. Wysong’s wife, Hil-
weed TexStyles the Best of Business award for arts,” Mr. Wysong says. “Our leadership style lary (also a former Frisco ISD teacher), design
Leadership & Vision. is to be authentic, honest and transparent.” each item at their flagship store in Frisco’s
Mr. Wysong, a former marketing executive, Rail District. The designs celebrate the rich
met self-taught artist Mr. Matulich while the Tumbleweed TexStyles acquired custom- blend of music, cuisine, sports and outdoor
two were attending Texas Tech University. ers by cold calling retailers throughout Tex- destinations that make Texas special. “In
as, hand-delivering each order and offering those designs is not only hand-drawn, skilled
to accept any unsold merchandise free of work but authenticity,” Mr. Wysong says.

The firm’s hiring and training practices are
designed to ensure that each employee exhib-
its a service-leadership mentality. “We believe
that our priority is to serve people through
our products and services,” Mr. Wysong says.
“It’s important that the people we bring on
our team are extremely skilled at what they
do and embody our core values in their dai-
ly lives, not just at work. We care about that
mindset and those values long before we care
about the ability to sell a T-shirt.”

This diligence has resulted in a team that
is devoted to excellent customer service with
a strong emphasis on accountability. “We be-
lieve in communicating the mission and vi-
sion of the company and our core values and
principles. We want a team that take risks,
have authority to make decisions and are
bought into who we are, what we do, why we
do it and how it serves people.”

Mr. Wysong continues to mentor students
interested in marketing and entrepreneur-
ship, and Tumbleweed TexStyles donates a
portion of each sale to the Frisco Education
Foundation to provide scholarships for grad-
uating seniors. “We, by nature, are teachers
so we really spend a lot of time teaching our
team and making sure people understand
something before we send them out to go do
it.”

46 BEST OF BUSINESS

FRISCOSTYLE.COM OCTOBER 2021 47

CaU L I N cArossrRoadYs
BY AMY RICHMOND

N THE CORNER OF patrons at this joint were clad in jeans while others – strolling in from
Main Street and the Dal- the heat on a late-summer evening – wore shorts.
las North Tollway in Fris-
co, two culinary worlds After a quick glance at the menu, we started to see how German
conveniently intersect at and Texas cuisine really can coexist. Appetizers included a pretzel,
Hoff’s Steaks & Steins. a Wurst Taste sampler of sausage, Snake Bites, Buffalo Quail and
Oysters Hoff, among others. We opted for the pretzel.
At its entrance, two
curled heads of wheat on Don’t let its simple moniker fool you. In fact, this pretzel made the
the restaurant’s sign nod trip worthwhile on its own. Roughly the size of a dinner plate, the
to the unrivaled history pretzel arrived piping hot, brushed with butter, sprinkled with coarse
of Texas steers while the salt and accompanied by a light Asagio cheese sauce for dipping. Af-
arbor below simply states: ter one bite, we realized this was not an average pretzel. The dough
Bier Garten. Inside, neon was fresh and, frankly, addictive. When combined with the cheese
beer signs that hang on a sauce, we knew we were hopelessly hooked. Even if you only came to
wall of ivy are a tongue- Hoff’s for pretzels and beer, you would not be disappointed.
in-cheek reference to
the aforementioned bier But the rest of the menu beckoned, and its two sides competed for
garten. On the opposite our attention. One side, labeled “Hill Country Steakhouse,” touted
side of the lobby, leather its strip, ribeye, filet and cowboy steaks, punctuated by the 32-ounce
couches surround a coffee “The Hoff” steak. The other side was simply titled “Hall” and list-
table that sports two west- ed an assortment of entrees such as Candy Backs (slow-smoked pork
ern saddles. At first, we ribs), Port “A” Platter (fish, shrimp and oysters), Schnitzel (chicken or
stopped to wonder how pork topped with artichokes, mushrooms, lemon butter and bacon
the two could coexist, but bits), Jaeger Schnitzel (chicken or pork topped with mushrooms and
curiosity drew us in. gravy), Stick Burner BBQ (available Fridays and Saturdays only) and
Chicken Dance (grilled tequila lime chicken).
Honey-colored wood
floors and tables are out- Hoff’s sides include Sauerkraut, German-style Potato Salad, Cole-
lined by black wood trim. slaw, State Fair Fries, German Potato Pancakes and Haus Bread,
The only spots of color among others. After much mulling, we opted to try what the restau-
that drew our eyes to the rant’s name recommends: steaks and steins.
bar were bright red shelves
and a large American flag My husband chose the 14-ounce ribeye with German-style potato
draped on the wall. In the salad and steamed broccolini. Along with it, he took our server Chey-
main dining hall, black enne’s suggestion to pair it with a Dallas Blonde beer. Made by the
crocodile skin-embossed Deep Ellum Brewing Company, this golden ale “combines citrusy
benches put a Texas twist on the community-style, six-seater tables and floral American hops with Pale, Vienna and Wheat malts.” At
that one might find at a bier garten in Germany. Both the main din- Hoff’s, a small beer is 16 ounces, a medium is 32 ounces and, if you’re
ing hall and the second-floor balcony have a clear view of the main really thirsty, they offer a 64-ounce branded growler to take home.
feature: a Texas-sized television screen to keep everyone current on
the day’s sports. For my entrée, I selected the 7-ounce center-cut filet, State Fair
At that point, if a fellow had walked in wearing chaps and spurs, Fries and steamed broccolini. Both the ribeye and the filet were
we would not have given it a second thought. Instead, some of the cooked just as we had ordered. The smoky, seared edges sealed in the
tender flavor beneath.
48 BEST OF BUSINESS
The German-style potato salad was an unexpected variation with
its tangy vinegar and sprinkles of bacon – definitely not the potato
salad we are used to in Texas, but a pleasant change from the norm.

Pretzel 7-ounce center-cut filet

FRISCOSTYLE.COM Black (Black Forest cake)
OCTOBER 2021 49

My State Fair Fries were a mountain of spiraled potatoes, sprinkled Streusel (Fredericksburg peach-and-sea salt caramel streusel)
with seasoning and accompanied by a small cup of ketchup that went
untouched. The slightly zesty broccolini was steamed soft. Both en- Brunch fans will be pleased to learn that Hoff’s Steaks & Steins
trees included warm bread with herbed butter. It was quite the feast! also offers a Barron Brunch from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturdays and
Sundays, featuring entrees such as Steak and Eggs, German Pota-
As usual, we managed to find room for dessert. Options included to Pancake Stack, Smoke Haus Hash and Eggs Hoff. Items on the
Black (Black Forest cake), Crème (crunchy caramel-topped Bavarian lunch menu, served Monday through Friday, include Bavarian Dip,
crème), Kasekuchen (tiramisu cheesecake), Streusel (Fredericksburg Schnitzel Sandwich, Beer Garden Salad, Wurst, Brisket Reuben and
peach-and-sea salt caramel streusel), and Haagendazs & Barryz (ice Way South Chicken. If you’re hankering for a happy hour, be sure
cream served with raspberries, blueberries and whipped cream). to arrive between 3-6 p.m. weeknights for “Happy” steins, martinis
Leaning toward our weaknesses of chocolate cake and cobbler, we and wine as well as wurst and fries.
selected the Black and the Streusel.
Hoff’s Steaks & Steins’ blend of Texas and German cuisine suc-
The cake, which arrived on a large plate, consisted of three thick ceeds in giving patrons a fun culinary experience. After opening in
layers of dark chocolate cake filled with black cherries, topped with mid-August, the steady stream of customers confirms that it hasn’t
buttercream and dusted with chocolate shavings. Those lovely bites taken long for word to spread. (Bring the youngsters too: You won’t
of cake, buttercream and cherries proved to be a shamefully addic- find many places that have steak on the kids’ menu). If southern
tive combination. The Streusel is served in a petite black cauldron. breezes tempt you to dine outside, you are in luck as outdoor seating
But, as we all know, looks can be deceiving: Hidden beneath the is available and is blissfully shaded from the western sun. Take your
crunchy topping and a perfect scoop of vanilla ice cream drizzled pick from long benches or red Adirondack chairs, and let your cares
with caramel lay freshly cut peach slices swimming in a warm, de- of the day drift away into the sunset.
lectable pool of sugar and spice. When it was over, the only remnant
that remained was the satisfied smile on its consumer. Frisco STYLE Magazine dining reviews are not scheduled with or paid for
by the featured restaurant. All reviews are completed for the purpose of helping
14-ounce ribeye readers learn about and enjoy local dining options. Is there an area restaurant that
you’d like us to review? Email us at [email protected].

Amy Richmond is a writer who relishes faith, family, intriguing conversations
and inspiring words. She wishes time could be saved in a bottle, because one
lifetime isn’t enough.

50 BEST OF BUSINESS