boerne business monthly - august 2008

www.BoerneBusinessMonthly.com 1

Retirement & the Business ProfessionalHealthcare Issues Facing

Small BusinessInvesting in Boerne Real Estate

MERcEdES - BEnz oF BoERnEA History of customer care

Boerneb u s i n e s s m o n t h l y

Volume I, Issue 2: August 2008


4 acres on Medina river - 44 rooM hotel. Cable, High Speed Internet, Pool, Owners Quarters, Fully Equipped Restaurant. $2.2 million

15000 sq ft bldg, paveMent, parking, ih35 frontage. Two way access, halfway between New Braunfels and San Marcos, 6.058 acres.

Main street boerne - Prime location. Parking

front and rear. B2 Zoning. 3126 sq ft bldg. .26 acre

tract. $1.1 million

hard corner. 12.14 acres - 15,000 rooftops in area, High growth, Near

new high school, Open zon-ing, FM 1103 Cibolo.

incoMe producer - Stable tenant, Hard corner, 1784 sq ft bldg., .202 acres. $589,000

key to the hills Motel boerne texas - 40 rooms, 2 apartments, .88 acres Main Street Boerne. $2.1 million

www.knotthebox.com

1595 S. Main #101 • Boerne, Texas 78006830.816.3500 - Office

kathy Miner210.823.8952

kathy budde210.274.4136

4 Boerne Business Monthly n August 2008

Dear Reader:Welcome to the August issue of Boerne Business Monthly. We at the Greater Boerne Chamber of Commerce are always pleased to see new avenues of promoting the Boerne business community and wish BBM continued success.

the role of the Chamber of Commerce has evolved over the years. From the beginning of commerce, merchants have banded together. the evolution of the Chamber’s concerns expanded incrementally through the last half-century to include major issues of the day including inadequate housing, quality schools, community services, and other socio-economic concerns.

the Chamber of Commerce of the twenty-First Century can no longer just ask its members, “What do you want your chamber to do?” rather, the Chamber of Commerce today is asking, “What kind of a community do we want ours to be?”

We are fortunate to be living in the texas hill Country and the City of Boerne with the beautiful surroundings, the warmth of the people, the entrepreneurial spirit and the economic diversity of our region. it is these qualities that make this a great place to raise families and provide a quality of life second to none. our region offers educational, cultural and recreational facilities. We have a diverse industrial base, and enjoy many businesses that have an entrepreneurial spirit that seeks out and seizes opportunities.

the mission of the Greater Boerne Chamber of Commerce is to develop leadership and partnerships to promote prosperity and the quality of life.

As we complete our 80th year, we can be proud of our achievements during the past eight decades. our membership is both diverse and universal. Most of our member businesses are small and independently owned and operated. they share many of the same concerns, such as adequate parking for customers, effective signage, rising energy costs, and recruiting and retaining skilled employees.

in addition to being the voice of business in the Greater Boerne area, this Chamber of Commerce takes a positive and proactive part in our community in promoting free enterprise and economic development in our area, conveying policy issues to various levels of government. over a thousand local businesses, both small and large, support the Chamber because it is simply good business.

For 80 years, the Chamber in Boerne has been a vibrant part of the city’s history. We look forward to growing with the community, and expanding our focus on business development. leading businesses while leading our community is what the Greater Boerne Chamber of Commerce is all about. sincerely, Paula K. WhitePresident and CeoGreater Boerne Chamber of Commerce

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Boerne Business Monthly is published by Ben Schooley/Lauren Stumberg, copyright 2008. Reproduction is strictly prohibited without prior consent of the publisher. Opinions expressed in Boerne Business Monthly are those of the writers or sources and do not necessarily represent the views of the publisher, nor do they constitute the endorsement of products or services herein. Although the information and recomendations in this publication have been compiled from sources believed to be reliable, Boerne Business Monthly makes no guarantee as to, and assumes no responsibility for, the correctness, sufficiency or completeness of such information and recommendations.

published by

Ben SchOOleylauren TuTTle STuMBerg

art direction

DiSTincTcover photo provided by

PriTcheTT PhOTOgraPhy

107 Shooting Club Rd. Boerne, Texas 78006

210.507.5250 • 830.249.8020

legalby Joe Davis

financeby ronnie huie

profileMercedes-Benz of Boerneby Ben schooley

real estateby Phillip Bell

marketingby Kathy rudkin

webby Mark Figart

health careby richard sena

ribbon cuttings

networkingby Allyson Munsell

opinions


MArk FIgArt, DIgettMark Figart moved from Houston to Boerne in June of 2001 with his wife, Lori, both seeking a slower pace. Having succeeded in their quest, Mark and Lori now spend much of their time showing their new son, Ian Douglass, the many splendors of the Hill Country and trying to expand his vocabulary beyond the word “truck”. through fourteen years of consulting to global 2000 organizations, Mark has pursued a passion for excellence in digital media and marketing. Mark had already managed consulting engagements with clients like goldman Sachs, AIM Investments and... well... er... uh... Enron... when he founded Digett (pronounced like digit) in 2001. In its first seven years the boutique agency has helped clients such as Schlumberger, H-E-B, Churchill Downs and the Kentucky Derby to increase profits through more effective use of the web. Mark is a veteran of the U.S. Army and texas National guard, and a graduate of texas A&M University. He currently serves on the boards of the Boerne Noon rotary Club and the kendall County United Way.

DAN rogerS – PreSIDeNt/Ceo – keNDALL CoUNty eCoNoMIC DeVeLoPMeNt CorPorAtIoNDan Rogers has been in the Public Relations and Economic Development field for 40 years.Dan was the state, county and city lobbyist for Motorola texas for a number of years and worked to pass several bills in the texas Legislature and ordinances in several Motorola communities. His company, rogers Consulting group, formed in 1998 was involved in site selection processes, public relations, and crisis management. He has worked with state, individual businesses, colleges, universities and industry clients in the area of crisis management and economic development. His involvement with business and educational institutions has been extensive in the area of formatting industry needs to educational programs and in the formation of working relations of colleges and universities with industry. He has also worked with economic development organizations and colleges in forming partnerships in industry recruiting efforts. In June of 2006, Dan became the President/Ceo of the kendall County economic Development Corporation.Along with his business duties, Dan is a guest lecturer at the Hobby School of Public Affairs at Texas State University. His topics are

economic Development and Communication in Crisis. He is also a contributor to several trade magazines in the areas of site selection and growth modeling.

PHILLIP BeLL, CoMMerCIAL reALtorPhillip Bell has resided in Boerne, texas and kendall County since moving from Houston, texas in 1981. over the years, he has been active in serving the community in various capacities. Phillip Bell is a co-founder of the kendall County economic Development Corporation and serves as a member of the board of directors appointed by the County Judge and Commissioners Court. Mr. Bell is chairman of the Historical Landmark Commission appointed by the Mayor of Boerne and City Council. He has served in this position for twenty years. He served on the Home rule Charter Commission that wrote the City Charter that presently governs all activities of the City of Boerne.Mr. Bell presently serves as president of kendall County Health Facility Development Corporation, appointed by the Commissioners Court. The board recommends approval of tax-free bonds for financing projects that are health related and non-profit. He also serves as a Director of the WCID#2 (Water Control Improvement District #2) for the esparanza Development. In addition,

he served as Chairman of the telecommunications Advisory Committee for the City of Boerne. He has served as Chairman of the Advisory Committee for the texas Cooperative extension Service for kendall County and is presently a board member.Phillip Bell was co-founder and first president of the Kendall County 100 Club, for law enforcement officers that are killed or injured in the line of duty. He also served on the Capital recovery advisory committee for the City of Boerne. His reputation in the community is impeccable and he has always conducted himself with the highest standards of ethics.

MIke LANg - Co-oWNer AND eSCroW oFFICer - keNDALL CoUNty ABStrACt CorPorAtIoN Mike Lang, a 1976 graduate of texas A&M University and co-owner of the company, spent most of his business life on the opposite side of the closing table. From 1982 until 1997, Mike was a lending officer with NBC Bank of San Antonio, which is now Bank of America. The majority of that time he served as a commercial real estate lender in the San Antonio and Boerne markets. In February 1997, Mike joined KCAC and took on the responsibilities of upgrading and maintaining the company’s escrow, plant and operating systems. Due to his previous relationships with local real estate professionals, Mike also concentrates on calling on the local realtors, builders, developers and lenders.

BoeRne BuSineSS monThly adviSoRy CounCil

BetH CoyLe - PreSIDeNt/Ceo - CoyLe eNgINeerINgIn 1995, Beth G. Coyle and her husband Mike co-founded Coyle Engineering, Inc., and Beth became the Chief Executive Officer and principal owner in 2001. She is responsible for all aspects of the running of the Corporation, including corporate direction, marketing strategy, risk management, personnel management, contract negotiations, and day-to-day operations. Beth was selected to be profiled by Forbes Magazine (July 2007) along with six other women business owners across the State of Texas, “where women are integral to company achievements, contributing bold ideas and a sense of vision.” Beth is solely responsible for the company’s financial stability, continuing a conservative, no-debt policy as the company approaches $2 million in annual business.

BBM


i

legal

by Joe Davisrecently had the most wonderful experience of running for Public office. Now, in some places in this country uttering that word would earn

you a sure trip to the funny farm, but here in Boerne and the Texas Hill Country we are fortunate to have a vibrant yet civil political dynamic. Some cynics would say that is because we just have one party consis-tently in power. However, the recent primary elections demonstrated to us that not only do we have a diverse electorate in Kendall County (31% Democrat, and 66% Republican as well as 3% Libertarian), but also that two candidates from the same party can have an acrimonious race that ends up with one suing the other a la Bush-Gore 2000. Watching the Miller-Macias recount and re-recount process and observing its impact on our community and upon the various Republican factions was like watching two friends competing in an Ultimate Fighting contest. You can’t stand to see the hard punches on familiar faces, but you just can’t turn away and not root for someone.

My experience was markedly different. Four candidates, all good men and good lawyers were campaigning hard for the office of 216th District Judge. Though the race lasted only seventy days, in that time we managed to debate one another 14 times, once on live television. Through it all we remained not only cordial, but genuinely friendly, growing closer together as the common bond of campaigning hard was shared and by that sharing-lessened. We found ourselves calling one another to check

appointments and events, coordinating schedules and commiserating on the trials and tribulations of life in the public lane.

Talking with hundreds of people over that two months made me realize several things, one of which is how uneducated most of the vot-

ers are about judicial races and about the court system itself right here in Kendall County. Many times I was asked, What does District Court do? Does it handle criminal or civil cases? Is this like a JP? I thought that (County Judge) Gaylan Schroeder was the District Judge, or (my personal favorite) do you get paid for doing this job? To each I tried to patiently explain and educate. Because the District Court is the work-horse court of the Texas legal system it is surprising to us who have spent most of our careers in District Court to find that everyone does not have a basic functional level of awareness of the importance of that court and the magnitude of the decisions made by it. I soon realized however, that my 30 second lessons were just another sound-bite in an already noisome political process.

When Boerne Business journal asked me to do a “legal piece” I thought that the best thing that I could write about was how the system here in Boerne is structured, to move past sound-bite knowledge to more substantial understanding of this third branch of our local government.216th STATE DISTRICT COURT

Kendall County is one of the four counties (along with Bandera Gillespie and Kerr) which compose the 216th Judicial District. The District Court is a constitutional court, created by the State Legislature and funded by the State of Texas. Stephen B Ables is the current pre-siding Judge of the 216th District Court. Judge Ables is retiring this year after 20 years of public service including four terms on the bench. Beginning in January, Keith Williams of Kerrville will be assuming the robes of office. The District Court is the main trial court of the counties constituting the 216th District, in Kendall handling all of the felonies and half of all civil cases. The Court on a typical day might handle a custody dispute between squabbling parents, hold an evidence suppression hear-ing on a murder case and consider a motion for summary judgment on a complex land title case. Most of the “famous” trials in Texas history, from Sam Houston’s slander case, to the “Slave Ranch” murder trial took place in a District Court. Odds are if you are a business person involved in a significant lawsuit-that suit will be heard in the District Court. Any appeal from this court would go to the 4th Court of Appeals in San Antonio. In addition to the judicial functions, the District Judge is also responsible for hiring and supervising the County Auditors of the

“The most sacred of the duties of a government [is] to do equal and impartial justice to all its citizens."-Thomas Jefferson

The LocaL courTs sysTem


counties under his jurisdiction and the Chief of the Adult Probation Office. The Prosecutor in the District Court is the District Attorney, in Kendall County’s case that is Bruce Curry from Kerrville. There are other specialty judges, for child support matter and Child protective issues. These are typically appointed by the District Judge for an area and serve at his or her discretion. The District Courtroom is on the second floor of the Kendall County Courthouse here in downtown Boerne. COUNTY COURT AT LAW

Kendall County is also fortunate to have a County Court at Law (or CCL). The CCL is not a constitutionally created court, but rather is created and funded by the Commissioners Court of Kendall County. In our county the CCL handles all of the probate, the misde-meanor cases (DWI, simple assault, lesser drug offenses) as well as half of the civil fil-ings. Recently the Phillip Shue case that made national headlines was handled in the Kendall CCL. Any appeal from this court would go to the 4th Court of Appeals in San Antonio. Judge Bill Palmer is the presiding judge of the CCL, serving now in his third term after a career as a board certified civil trial specialist here in Boerne. The prosecutor in the CCL is the County Attorney, Don Allee and his staff attor-neys. The CCL courtroom is also on the second floor of the Kendall County Courthouse.COUNTY COURT

Because of the similar names, folks

often confuse the County Court and the CCL. However there is actually very little in common between these offices other than the names. Judge Gaylan Schroeder is the County Judge, but his role is in essence that of CEO of Kendall County’s Government. He is also the Presiding officer over the Commissioners Court. County Judges are not required to be lawyers. The use of the term “Judge” is a hold over from the days before the creation of CCL’s when County Judges routinely handled misdemeanor and probate matters. Judge Shroeder’s office is on the first floor of the Courthouse, while com-missioners court is on the second floor of the Historical Kendall County Courthouse across the street.JUSTICES OF THE PEACE

These courts handle a large volume of small-er criminal and civil matters. In Kendall County we have a JP for each of the four precincts of the County. Each handles the same type matters only in different geographic areas. This court is often also referred to as Small Claims Court. It is set up so that those with business before it can handle matters themselves without the aid of an attorney. Any appeals from this court go to the CCL. The judges of these courts are street level problem solvers—called upon to have the wisdom of Solomon, the patience of Job and the caring of a grief counselor. Their typical day might include processing traffic tickets, magis-trating those who are arrested, hearing a trial over a small but unpaid bill, and making the

scene of an accident where someone has died but can only be officially declared so by the Justice of the Peace. Judges Debbie Hudson, Jerry Collins, Freida Presseler and Larry James, serve as Kendall County’s Justices of the Peace. If a prosecutor is needed in these courts, the County Attorney serves here as well. MUNICIPAL COURT JUDGES

Boerne and Fair Oaks Ranch both have municipal courts. Ed Phillips, a local attorney, and Dana Jacobson, an attorney from San Antonio serve on a contract basis as the judges for these courts. You get to meet them if you receive a traffic citation in one of these cities. Each city has its own prosecutors for these courts.

Each of these courts serves critical func-tions of keeping our rights intact and our laws enforced. The Judges that run them can and do have a gigantic impact on our business environ-ment and upon our larger community. Now that you know a little more about them, next time you see one, thank them for their service.

Accounting for your SuccessAt Akin, Doherty, Klein & Feuge, we do everything in our power to assist you with your business and

personal accounting, tax and financial needs.

Akin, Doherty, Klein, & Feuge, personally serving our clients Since 1991.

830.815.1100 n www.adkf.com507 E. Blanco, Suite 101 n Boerne, Texas 78006

8610 North New Braunfels, Suite 101 n San Antonio, Texas 78217

Joseph M. Davis has been a partner with Nunley Davis Jolley Cluck Aelvoet LLP since the firm’s for-mation in 1994, leaving the firm in December of 2007. Mr. Davis specializes in complex commer-cial, real estate and probate litigation. A native of Odessa, Texas, Joe graduated Magna Cum Laude from Angelo State University in 1981 with a B.A. in History, before receiving his Juris Doctorate from Texas Tech University, School of Law in 1984. Prior to founding the Boerne, Texas based firm of Nunley, Davis in 1993, Joe practiced in Uvalde and San Antonio, Texas where he handled a broad range of litigation oriented matters. An experienced trial lawyer, Mr. Davis became Board Certified in Civil Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in 1989, after only five years of practice and has been consistently recertified ever since. He is also a fellow in the Texas Bar Foundation. Joe is licensed to practice before all Courts in Texas, the Western District of Texas, U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit.

BBM


finance

by ronnie e. huiem any entrepreneurs who start or purchase a business, do so for a number of reasons, both emotional and financial. Social status, the freedom to be your own boss and the potential for a high income are a few of the reasons commonly cited.

For some, business ownership is also seen as a primary way to pay for retirement. If everything goes as planned, the business owner works hard and, over time, the business grows and becomes more

valuable. When the owner reaches a certain age the business is sold, with the proceeds from the sale funding the retirement years.THE REAlITIES oF BuSInESS ownERSHIP

Using the business as the sole means of achieving financial independence amounts to plac-ing a bet that the owner will be able to sell at the right time, the right price and under the right terms. There are several reasons why this may not happen:

• Business failure: Despite good intentions and hard work, businesses do fail. In 2003, for example, there were 612,296 new, small (less than 500 employees) businesses started in the United States; in the same year, 540,658 small businesses closed their doors, and 35,037 tiled for bankruptcy.1

• Timing of the sale: Selling a business is a complex, often time-consuming procedure. The actual process of finding a buyer, negotiating the deal, arranging financing and finally closing the sale may extend over months or even years.

• Proceeds: Depending on market conditions, the amount realized may not be enough to pay for retirement. Income taxes will inevitably consume some of the proceeds. The owner may have to accept installment payments, rather than a lump sum.

• “I am the business": The value of a business may depend largely on the skills and/or cus-tomer relationships of a particular owner.dIvERSIFIcATIon To REducE RISk

A business owner who seeks to reduce risk will view his or her business as one asset among many. In addition to the business, a diversified portfolio could include the following.

• Qualified retirement plans: Business income is used to fund employer-sponsored qualified plans with a current deduction for contributions and tax-deferred growth.

• Nonqualified plans: Nonqualified deferred compensation plans are often used to reward

Don’t Put All Your Eggs in One BasketRetirement and the Business Professional:

selected employees and serve to supplement qualified retirement plans.

• General investment portfolio: A business owner can develop a general investment portfolio, outside of the framework of the business.IMPoRTAncE oF A BuSInESS conTInuATIon PlAn

A Business Owner should have a “will” for a busi-ness. A will is a Written Agreement between the business owner, any business partners and his/her family mem-bers that are involved in the business.

The importance of a Business Continuation plan cannot be overemphasized. The potential problems without a written agreement may include; heated con-flicts among the remaining owners and the decedent’s family, unhappiness on all sides and sometimes litiga-tion, delays in settling the estate and continuing “doing business as normal,” loss of customers and possible liquidation of the business, which may bring less than full value.THE SoluTIon: A wRITTEn AGREEMEnT (and cash)

Taking the time now to see that the business will pass in an orderly manner upon the owner’s death will benefit all parties and their heirs. A written agreement may provide the following:

An orderly transfer of the businessA mutually agreeable sales priceMutually agreeable terms of saleA value that is binding on the IRS for federal estate

tax purposes; and Additional stability for customers, staff, creditors and investors.

The cash can be from previous saved earnings, bank loans or in most cases, it makes sense to have life insur-ance in place so the cash is available a death. Pay careful attention to how the life insurance is owned to avoid unnecessary taxation.

An agreement which is favorable to all parties can be more easily drafted prior to a crisis. Business plan-ning, especially for the succession of the business, is a very complex discipline and will generally require the efforts of more than one professional.BBM

Ronnie Huie is a registered representative of and offers securities, investment advisory and financial planning through MML Investor Services, Inc. One Union Square, Ste. 300, 10101 Reunion Place, San Antonio, TX 78216-4141. (210) 342-4141. Insurance offered through Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual) and other fine companies.


RE/MAX Assoc. - Boerne309 Water St. • Boerne, Texas

830.816.2660 - office

210.415.8483 • [email protected]

PhilliP Bell,Investment Realtor

he “premier” commercial property located in the Historical district on Main St. and the

banks of the Cibolo. Part of Boerne’s heritage, the 1.9 ac features the historic “Robert E. Lee” house (circa 1850’s), main house, 2-story, 3400 sqft (circa 1900’s), guest house, 1800 sqft. Presently used as a residence, main house has been elegantly restored with modern amenities. Call for details.

This 28 acre properTy is available for development. Contiguous to the city limits of Boerne, this property fronts Hwy 87 and has approx. 1400 feet of frontage on Shooting Club Road in the rear. For-mally “Key to the Hills Horse Farm”, the property is under Ag-Exemption. Subject to annexation and zoning. Call for details.

12.99 acres - Development potential in one of the hottest areas for growth in the Bulverde area. Just 0.6 mile north of the intersection of Hwy 281 and Hwy 46 across from Kestrel Air Park, this property has 767 feet of frontage on Hwy 281. Details available.

3.2 acre properTy located in city limits zoned B-2. Ready for commer-cial/retail development. Located at intersection of School St and N. Main St. Details available.

DevelopmenT opporTuniTy-This 13.57 acre property invites develop-ment in one of the growing areas of Boerne. Located just off Hwy 46 West, across from Home Depot. Presently in the City’s ETJ. Also, 3500 sq.ft. home located on the prop-erty that can be used for residential or com-mercial activities. Two new office complexes have been constructed on adjacent property. Survey and plats are available. Call for details.

2.43 acres for devel-opment on IH-10 access road near Johns Road. Located in ETJ.

income proDucing property. Mfg. home park located on Johns Rd. 18 rent spaces plus house. Positive cash flow.

131.47 acre properTy. The history and heritage of the Texas Hill Country is ex-aggerated with the original home site, large barns and outbuildings, a private spring-fed lake and a mountain with views that stretch forever. The homestead, with thick rock walls, begs to be remodeled and updated. Presently under ag-exemption. Unrestricted.

tx-commercial property.com

COMMERCIAL O DEVELOPMENT O INVESTMENT

Real estate OppORtunity

SuPPORT RAINWATER HARVESTING!

This 20.32 acre loT invites planned development. Presently located in the city limits on Hwy 474 just past Adler Rd. Originally zoned for manufac-tured housing, the property can be up-graded for multi-family, condos, garden homes, etc. Call to discuss details.

aTTenTion Developers. This 4.43 acre track is located in front of the Centex subdivision on Scenic Loop Road. Zoned B-2 for commer-cial or retail. Details available.

his property, located at 609 Live Oak, consists of two lots zoned B-2 commercial. Presently rented

as a residence, the house has a large living/dining fam-ily room, 4 bedrooms, kitchen and utility. Approx. 1964 sq.ft. on a lot 75’x207’ with an adjacent lot, 63’x208’. Both total 138.70 ft frontage on Live Oak. Ideal for professional office just one block off Main Street. Plat, survey and plans available. MLS# 701366

deal opportunity for a development on this 4.78 acre estate with home and out-buildings. The 1414 sq.ft.

house can be remodeled for a private residence or the property can be developed for income-producing, multi-family. A cell tower is located at the rear of the property producing additional income. About 3.7 acres are under Ag Exemption. Located at the end of Hill View Lane, the property offers privacy and convenience. Call for details.

T I T

When ih-10 and cell phones were only a dream…. When we knew our neighbors… worked hard for our money… and our spirits were enriched because we lived in the texas hill Country. We had time to devote to our families. We enjoyed the outdoors and our creativity was nourished. We respected each other more.We still have the best to offer. there is land available… and nature invites us to enjoy the lifestyle. We have an abundance of friendly people, music, culture and great weather. this is truly a wonderful place to live and work. tread lightly and “go green.”

There was a time….

lisTeD aT $2.00 per sq. FT., 6.17 acres located next to “The North Forty Business Park.” The property is about 2.2 miles from Boerne’s city limits, located in the county, but in Boerne’s ETJ. Excellent visibility from IH-10 traffic. Please note… the present owner is willing to adjust prop-erty lines and survey to accommodate buy-er. Ideal for commercial development.

profile

Bill Bird, Managing Partner and OperatorMercedes-Benz of Boerne

Mercedes-Benz of Boerne A History of Customer Care


a

www.mbboerne.com

by Ben schooleys Bill Bird, Managing Partner and Operator, walks the lobby of his Mercedes-Benz dealership, it’s obvious he is deeply integrated in the day-to-day operations of his company. He shakes hands with potential and returning customers, answers questions from his employees, and absent-mindedly wipes a smudge off of a showroom car. “This is the only thing I want to be doing. I put teams together, and I operate stores. I’m an operator. I’m very hands-on. I love this job. I wouldn’t

be doing anything else.” A San Antonio native, Bird has been in the auto sales business virtually his entire

career. “In 1984, I answered an ad for a sales position at Broadway Dodge. I went through their training program, and as I neared completion, the manager told me I wouldn’t make it, and they let me go.” Undeterred, Bird took another stab at auto sales. “I went over to a local Lincoln/Mercury dealer, and they hired me. While I was there, I kept asking to do more. My manager was a little unsure of what to do with me, but they eventually let me run the finance department, and I shattered all sorts of records.”

4 years later, Bird made the move to the luxury car market, and joined the San Antonio BMW dealership as their Finance Manager. “I worked my way through BMW, and was eventually managing all of their sales and finance departments.” Eventually becoming General Manager, Bird requested that he be able to buy into the company, and the owners did not object. Bird was with BMW for almost 15 years, before selling back his interests in the company, and going into a quasi-retirement. “Once I left BMW, I just goofed around for a bit. I had an eBay wholesaling company here in Boerne, and quickly began to focus my energies on the Mercedes dealership here.” Working with one of his partners, Ron Heller, the partners worked a deal to quickly obtain a letter of intent from Mercedes to located a new dealership in Boerne.

“At the time, the Toyota dealership that was coming to Boerne was all over the news. Our plans here really flew beneath the radar. And that’s a good thing, because we were really able to focus on setting this business up right.” And it is certainly ‘set up right’. The winner of Best of the Best from Mercedes-Benz for both 2006 and 2007, Mercedes-Benz of Boerne is consistently recognized as one of the top performing and most customer-service oriented dealerships in the country. “When we were getting started, Mercedes said that this dealership’s potential was for 20 new cars and 10 used cars per month. They said that our building needed to be 17,000 feet, so we built it to 35,000 feet. They said that we needed 7 service bays, so we built 20. I have lived here for a while now, and I knew what this community needed. So they shipped us 240 new cars as our year’s allotment for day one, and we sold 68 of them in one month. We are consistently outselling San Antonio, Austin, and Georgetown markets.”

According to Bird, the key to that success is the employees. “When we got this thing going, we knew that we had to build a destination. A place that when people came in here, they would have no reason to go anywhere else. We needed to make sure that in every opportunity we had to meet a customer, we needed to enhance their visit. So we give it everything we got. We came up with a seriously customer service driven busi-ness. We didn’t even worry about the cars, it was, and is, about the customer’s experi-ence. Our biggest asset is our employees. I would put them up against any company on earth. We aren’t really competing against the BMW store, or Lexus…we are competing for their best overall experience in luxury. And that’s where our team comes in – they are unbelievable.” In addition to the philosophy of customer service levels that the team adheres to, Bird and his partners equip employees with the authority and ability to make decisions on their own, without management approval. “We tell new employees that something that has never happened to you is about to happen. We are going to give you 100% empowerment to take care of themselves as well as the customers. We tell them that as long as it makes sense for them, the customer, and the company, they have been totally empowered to take care of the customer. They don’t have to ask permission, they don’t check with me or anybody, they have total authority to do it. When we say that, most employees wait for ‘the catch’, but eventually they learn that there isn’t one, and it creates an environment where the customer doesn’t have to wait for the employee to ‘check with the manager’; the problem or question is simply handled, and that again adds to the entire experience.”

In an era of skyrocketing gas prices, and an economy that isn’t necessarily hum-

ming, Bird recognizes that his product is luxury in the truest sense. “When we just love on our customers, it builds the relationship. A Benz is not a need, it’s a want. And we just love on them and take care of them. Instead of sending some tow truck to help someone with a flat, we drive down in a Benz, bring them some water, and let them sit in the AC while we fix their tire, and get them on their way. It really didn’t cost me anything extra, but let me tell you, that customer will remember that experience, and when faced with the decision on where to purchase their next car, I’ll be at the top of that list.”

As has been Bird’s way since starting his career, he is continually looking for additional opportunities, and Boerne seems to be a per-fect fit for he and his partners. “We’ve got 23 acres here on this corner, so we think that there is room for a few more dealerships on this property. This is a highly desirable mar-ket, and we’ve built a good reputation here, so I think that additional dealerships would hopefully be just as successful.”

As for the existing dealership, it’s no wonder that customers actually enjoy waiting while their cars are repaired. When you pull into the service corridor, someone opens your car door. They know your name, and what problem they are fixing on your car. They whisk you into the waiting room and offer you a complimentary muffin and Starbucks coffee. You can watch TV on any one of 7 plasma TV’s, and the kids can play video games on yet another 3 tvs. You can surf the web on one of 3 computers, or even enjoy a massage from a complimentary masseuse 3 days a week. You can reserve one of their meeting rooms (for free) to hold your company’s meetings, and they regularly feature art exhibitions in the lobby. The dealership is heavily involved in the community and the dozens of little league photos in the halls are a testament.

As you wait for your car to be washed after it has had a repair, and you are sipping Starbucks coffee and answering your email on their computers, rest assured that Bill Bird will be by shortly to shake your hand and welcome you to his dealership. He’ll then hand you a business card with his cell phone number on it, and instruct you to call him day or night if you ever have a problem.

Bird sums it up nicely, “In 1984, I was 21 years old. I thought I could do anything at all. When I got into that Dodge store, they told me I couldn’t work in this business. But once I got in, I really loved that job, and I guess I’ve done pretty good.” BBM


real estate

a by Phillip Bell

Phillip Bell is a Commercial/Investment Realtor who is dedicated to service with local community involvement. He is a Co-founder and Board Member of the Kendall County Economic Development Corp., Chairman of the Boerne Historic Landmark Commission, a Member or the Boerne Area Chamber of Commerce & a Member or the Texas Corporative Extension Advisory Committee.

s real estate professional, I am often asked why real estate is such a good investment as compared to, say, the stock market, or bonds, or perhaps certificates of deposit. Just what makes real estate so special?

The truth is the stock market has been a little disappointing lately. As with most investors, their sense of security has been shaken. So far… I have yet to see real estate in Boerne and Kendall County drop in value by 50% within six weeks. I am not proposing to sell all of your securities. In fact, I own stock and mutual funds like most Americans who are investing for the future. However there is sound reasoning to invest right here, in Boerne and the county.

Recently one of the major television news channels announced that Texas was the best state in the nation to do business. This may be due to our central location, no state income tax, access to

major interstate transportation, international boarder, a state-wide proactive business

climate and much more.Boerne has had a steady, healthy real estate mar-

ket mostly because of the quality of life,

climate and close r e l a t i o n s

w i t h our

San Antonio neighbors. The success of San Antonio’s economic development in the past ten years has had a direct effect on the Boerne area.

Families want to live here. Businesses want to relocate here. People want to invest in their local area. Unlike other areas in the country, Texas banks are healthy and sound. Real estate has been a steady market in Texas with only a few areas of adjustment.Here are the Ten Advantages to Purchasing Investment Real Estate:

1. This is a tangible asset. It is something you can feel, touch and see. You can drive by it every day

if you want! 2. This is a unique asset.As the old saying goes, they don't make land anymore. Your real estate

investment is one of a kind! 3. Passive Loss Rules.Your real estate investment can create a passive loss, even when you are

making a positive cash flow. Think of it as a paper loss, which can offset ordinary income and lower your taxes!

4. Your investment may appreciate over time.In one study of recorded real estate history, real estate had gone up on

average 5.5% a year for the last 100 years! 5. Your investment may provide a monthly cash flow.Many investments will provide a monthly income that you can use to

fund more investments. 6. Your investment can grow equity.Every payment you make on a mortgage decreases your principal

balance, which means when you sell you will be getting that money back in equity!

7. Your investments when sold may be tax deferred. If you follow 1031 exchange rules, you can roll your gain into a new

investment and defer your tax! 8. Your investment may become tax free!How? Imagine that you own a rental for several years and then move into

the home yourself. As long as you meet the new IRS guidelines for a prin-cipal residence, when you sell this home you may be able have a tax- free gain. See www.IRS.gov

9. The Power of Leverage is a huge advantage with real estate. By using a relatively small portion of cash you can readily acquire all

kinds of investment real estate with leverage - bank or owner financing. This can multiple your return dramatically!

10. You may find a bargain! Bargain real estate is all around us if we just begin to look! In the

Boerne and Kendall County area real estate values are higher than in metro areas. So bargains are not just predicated on price… rather appreciation. Likewise, growth in the Boerne area has made residential property a good investment while the opportunities for commercial, investment and development properties are outstanding.

So… if you are looking for a good place to “park” your money… consider real estate.

Invest in Boerne and Kendall County and join others in planned, managed growth.

Advantages to Investingin Boerne Real Estate

BBM


Jesse Byron GriffinCertified Public Accountant

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marketing

by Kathy rudkin

Why Is It? A man wakes up after sleeping under an advertised blanket, on an advertised mattress, pulls off advertised pajamas, bathes in an advertised shower, shaves with an advertised razor, brushes his teeth with advertised toothpaste, washes with advertised soap, puts on advertised clothes, drinks a cup of advertised coffee, drives to work in an advertised car, and then, refuses to advertise, believing it doesn't pay. Later when business is poor, he advertises it for sale. Why is this?(author unknown)

wning an advertising agency, I frequently see clients who are des-perate and on their last effort to make their businesses work. I am often amazed at what they have - or

more likely have not - done to insure the success of their businesses. There are many effective ways to advertise in a small town environment.

In the last month’s article we covered several key market-ing essentials such as logo, branding, websites and direct

mail. In addition to these, there are traditional means of

advertising that

will work for small businesses even in a smaller market.A. NEWSPAPER: There is no greater way of reaching the masses

in a small town more than your local newspaper. This medium should be figured into your annual budgeting. In the Hill Country, we are surrounded by small communities in this area, which have loyal read-ers and reasonable rates for display ads. Local newspapers, typically have a loyal reader that takes the paper for several reasons; 1.) to see what going on in their local government, 2.) find local activities and local businesses to use, and 3.) to see who made the paper that they know. The goal in newspaper is to stand out. Don’t crowd your ad with everything in your store trying to get the most bang for your buck. This is a common mistake and will blend you right in with the rest of the paper, basically throwing away your advertising dollars. Don’t be afraid of white space and clever headlines. Add spot color to pop off the page. Spend a little more to get a larger ad. Position it in the right area – request where you would like your ad to fall in the paper. If you have the funds, pay a graphic designer to put your ad together to stand out. Although newspapers typically will do this for free, they have limited designers who will have their “own look.” Many of the ads will have the same feel thus not allowing yours to jump of the page. And last, but not least, don’t limit yourself. Expand your advertising dollars to other regional areas – go into other town newspapers as well.

B. BILLBOARDS: This is a great way to get maximum exposure in your area. It is a 24-hour advertising tool that reaches 1000s of people daily. Billboards run about $1000 to $3000 per month depending upon your location. Sounds expensive until you compare it to other advertis-ing – it is about the cost of a full-page ad in a local newspaper. The cost per thousand is relatively low. The benefits are tremendous. You can target specific locations. You are not mixed and competing with other advertisers as you would in newspaper, TV or radio and your message is delivered frequently. The most common mistake with billboards is trying to put to much information – visual clutter. It must be colorful and eye-catching, but to the point. Don’t get caught up in trying to fill the space with as much content as possible. Keep it simple and remem-ber to limit it to as few of words as possible. Choose a font that is simple to read and colors that would appeal to your audience. Your message must be very short so the people driving 60 to 75 mile per hour by your sign can easily read it.

The advice we give most of our clients is don’t jump into advertising without knowing who your target market is and the best way to reach them. Remember advertising almost always works when it is done

correctly and almost always fails when it is done wrong. The key is to do it correctly the first time. Talk to an advertising pro-

fessional and get a marketing plan. Don’t make advertising an expense, make it an investment.

Small Town Advertising:(Part ii)

o

Kathy Rudkin is owner of Rudkin Productions Advertising and Web Development Agency. Printing over two million pieces each month, RP produces 4 monthly magazines as well as books of all sizes. Visit her website at www.rudkinproductions.com.

BBM


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– Legal Settlement – Boerne Falls Ranch and Kendall County

Re: Disposition of Cause No. 06-500; 216th District Court between Kendall County vs. BTEX Ranch, LP (The developer of Boerne Falls Ranch)

The above lawsuit has been settled and an Agreed Final Judgment has been entered.

The Agreed Final Judgment is the result of Kendall County and the developer of Boerne Falls Ranch working together to satisfactorily resolve the concerns that initiated the above lawsuit. Boerne Falls Ranch is now a private gated community with limited access. The details of the settlement are outlined in the Agreed Final Judgment. The developer of Boerne Falls Ranch has agreed to dedicate 5 acres to the public for the purpose of establishing a future facility for Fire and/or Emergency Medical Services. The parties and the appropriate Fire and Emergency Medical Service providers will explore the best way to maximize the benefit of this facility for the residents of both Kendall and Kerr County.

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The Boerne Police Department is accepting applications for a ten week Citizens Police Academy. The Academy will be modeled after similar Academies that have been sponsored by area police departments in Fredericksburg, San Marcos and New Braunfels.

The purpose of the Boerne Citizens Police Academy is to enhance, through edu-cation, the positive relationship between the Department and the community. The Academy is designed to give citizens a better understanding of the mission and operations of the department, to enable citizens to gain an appreciation of problems and challenges facing law enforcement, and to offer com-ments and ideas regarding solutions.

Completion of the Academy provides citi-zens an opportunity to assist the department in many functions where civilian participation is needed and appreciated.

Classes will be held on Thursday eve-nings, beginning June 19, at the Boerne Police Department. Topics will include specific details about the Boerne Police Department operations such as Patrol, Criminal Investigation, Juvenile Laws, School Resource Officers, Family Violence and Firearms. The classes will run 2 to 3 hours each starting at 7:00 p.m.

Any resident of the City of Boerne, Kendall County or the City of Fair Oaks Ranch, who are 18 years of age or older may apply. Applications can be picked up at the police department, 400 E. Blanco Road and are available on the Boerne Police Department website - www.ci.boerne.tx.us/police . The Academy is being provided free of charge.

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web

hether it's your company's first web site or a replacement for an out-dated one, there is a fair chance you will need a new web site within the next couple of years. There is no magic pill for getting what you need, but this article will hopefully help ensure an acceptable return on your investment.I empathize with the business owner who knows she needs a web site and has little knowledge about how to get one. The world wide web is in its relative infancy, which means tools and techniques evolve at a

blistering pace. Even great firms dedicated to delivering quality web sites can be chal-lenged to keep up.

Complicating the issue is the equally rapid evolution of modern buyer psychology. The web is responsible for a monumental shift in the way buyers choose products. Only a minority of marketing firms comprehend and are able to leverage this shift. It would be unrealistic, then, to expect the average business person to be on top of such changes.

Despair not. An effective web site -- one which achieves the business' objectives -- is within the reach of most businesses. Here are three recommendations for ensuring your company's success.1. Define OBjectives

The number one reason web sites fail to generate adequate ROI is because goals for the site were not established in the first place.

A successful project relies on clear, legitimate objectives up front. "I need a web

site" is not a legitimate objective. You simply cannot be successful if you cannot describe what constitutes success. Typical goals might include generating web- or phone-based inquiries (leads), decreasing the number of support calls and facili-tating your customers' ordering process. The more specific your goals, the higher the likelihood of success.

Fulfilling a given objective, of course, implies a certain cost. Objectives are translated into one or more features of a web site, and the sum of these features comprise the project scope. The greater the scope, the higher the associated costs. A good firm will step you through the process of understanding the costs and anticipated benefits related to various features, giving you information needed to help establish priorities and a reasonable budget. 2. cOnsiDeR RequiReD skills

Any successful web site project is dependent on solid skills related to marketing, design, and technology. The business owner best equipped to successfully pursue the construction of a new web site is aware of these and considers them in the careful evaluation of possible approaches. In any case, the "weakest link" rule applies here, so select a vendor that gives you the best coverage within these areas of expertise for your budget. Below is a list of specific areas that you might use as a checklist.Marketing

Content development - Good content is the heart of a good web site. Consider whether you'll need help writing copy, with photography, illustra-tion, or with producing audio or video.

Search engine optimization (SEO) and online advertising - Whether you choose to advertise or not, optimization plays a critical role in your site's overall ROI. SEO is not a one-time effort, but rather an ongoing activity involving time and significant skill. Most web sites fail miserably in this area, and few company owners understand its impact to the bottom line.

Email marketing - At my firm, we treat email campaigns as distinct projects, separate from a web site. But the two go hand in hand and work together. The value of email campaigns can be enormous, so consider this as a point of discussion when talking to potential vendors.Design

Information design - An information architect designs high-level content organization and navi-gational structures. She makes complex informa-tion appear logical and easy to find. This involves engaging in a thorough discovery process with the client and getting inside a customer's or prospect's head to anticipate user behavior.

Visual design - Good visual design is more than just a pretty web site. Utilizing color, shape, texture, and typography, a good design effectively incorporates branding and usability while effec-tively executing the information architect's vision

Selecting a Web Site Vendor

Wby Mark Figart

for organization. Read my lips: print design and web design are not one and the same.technology

Content management expertise - The need to easily and frequent-ly modify your site's content being indisputable, you'll want to spend a little time educating yourself about different approaches. Whatever you decide, pursue an off-the-shelf approach. In other words, do not pay anyone to do custom programming unless you are certain your requirements have not already been addressed by software that is commonly available and supported. Custom development is not only expensive, it's most often unnecessary, and it usually results in an inferior solution.

Hosting - One of the least considered aspects of owning a web site is hosting. To me, effective hosting simply means maximum uptime, good performance, and excellent support. As long as you understand what you're getting in each of these areas, you should not need to worry about the technical details. You have a business to run, for goodness' sake.

Technology -- while only a single, relatively invisible aspect of your web site -- is often where companies get into the most trouble in the long term. I've seen companies "locked in" to a particular situa-tion for various reasons. Seek an approach that incorporates an exit strategy. If a vendor becomes unresponsive after a site is launched, what is the feasibility of moving your site to another host? What is the likelihood that another vendor can effectively support and enhance your site?3. Get it in WRitinG

I don't enjoy reading contracts, and I sure as heck don't enjoy writing them. But getting things down on paper is the best way I know to ensure a customer and vendor are on the same page. I'm not advocating a 10-page glob of "legalease." To me, the most effective

agreement is written in plain speak in the form of a statement of work. You'll want to look for:

A clear definition of scope. What features are included? What specific services are included?

A timeline.A price. Understand how the vendor arrived at the price, and

understand any variables.A list of deliverables and an explanation of intellectual property

rights. Exactly what will you own in return for your money?Buyer beware. In the absence of a written agreement, it is the

customer who will likely lose the most if the relationship turns sour.cOnclusiOn

In wrapping this up, I realize what an ambitious undertaking it is to explain the ins and outs of navigating the waters related to hiring a web vendor. There are many ways to slice such an analysis, and the astute business owner will seek additional venues for education. Talk to more than one firm. Every conversation you have with an expert can expand your own understanding and will help lead to a better outcome.

I've had the good fortune of watching good web sites bring great changes to their respective businesses. Don't let fear keep you from pursuing positive change, and don't let ignorance cause you to throw away money. BBM

Mark Figart is the President of Digett, a Boerne-based web marketing firm with aspirations of grandeur. Mark can be reached via email at [email protected].


Debra Gracy is heavily involved with the current remod-eling of the Philip Manor House. An intense project, Debra is excited as she can see the progress that the historic building is making. After countless hours of planning, the town has been abuzz with questions about the project. Debra agreed to answer a few ques-tions to set the record straight.

WHy DID I PuRCHASE PHILLIP MANOR? The simple answer is because I fell in love with the place! I was told that Phillip Manor Square is a piece of not only Texas history but American history, or so the legends went. Not being one to believe everything I’m told I endeavored to chase down a few of the legends and see if there were any facts behind the stories. What a wonderful chase it turned out to be.

Phillip Manor was founded by Joseph and Wilhelmina Phillips who purchased the property from A.E.F. Toepperwein in 1868 they, however, had lived there for several years prior to buying it. Wilhelmina was a German immigrant, a Pfeiffer, and Joseph an immigrant from Alsace Loraine. Prior to the Phillips owning the house little is known of the structure, but legend has it the first stone was laid 1851. If the date is accurate Phillip Manors original structure, which still exists today, would be older than both the Texas Capitol (1881) and the Texas Governors Mansion (1854). Who could resist the opportu-nity to revitalize such a piece of Texas history?

WHAT MAKES PHILLIP MANOR SquARE SO HISTORICAL AND WHy WOuLD I MAKE SuCH AN INVESTMENT? The building is a fine antique with great provenance, its charm and its elegance makes one wonder who walked the gardens, what community events were held there, what kind of people stayed in the rooms and what kind of characters sipped whisky and beer in the saloon.

Boerne, during the frontier period in America, was a crossroad for those coming to and returning from the Southwestern frontier. Kendall County was wild in the 1850’s, 60’s, 70’s and 80’s. There were Indian raids, outlaws, sharpshooters, horseman, entrepreneurs, and adventurers aplenty and they all needed a place to stay. Phillip Manor filled a niche and was a transitioning point for well heeled adventurers trying their luck in the frontier. Many of the 19th century’s greatest characters came through Boerne on their way to the great American West. One newspaper article referred to Phillip Manor as “the Lisbon of the Southwest”. Travelers from America and abroad frequented the Manor with its hotel, shooting club, athletic club and saloon.

Boerne also contributed its own share of 19th

century characters to the mix such as: George Wilkins Kendall, the namesake for Kendall County. Kendall was a member of the fateful Santa Fe Expedition and was the world’s first war correspondent (US Mexican War) plus he was instrumental in the creation of the Associated Press. Egremont E. Shearburn (9th Lancer) a world class polo player and known as “the most extravagant man in the British Military”. William Hughes, relative of famous British author Thomas Hughes. William’s letters home from Boerne inspired Thomas Hughes’ book “Gone to Texas” which was a best seller in England. The letters written in the 1870’s and later published in the book inspired a generation of England’s aristocratic second and third son’s to come to Texas and helped coin the catch phrase for the adventurous of the day, “GTT” or “Gone to Texas”. Dr. W.G. Kingsbury a pioneer in English immigration to Texas also lived in Boerne. Another resident was Captain Glynn Turquand of Her Majesty's Coldstream Regiment of Foot Guards. Turquand was an officer and a gentleman known round the world to dignitaries, sportsman and adventurers. He was also somewhat famously known as an excellent host at his Balcones Ranch just outside Boerne. The famous captive and passenger of the doomed ship Virginius General C.J.L. Cook often stayed in Kendall County when he was not in Washington DC or the field and Capt. Frank Jones Texas Ranger Company D. Capt. Jones was known as “the handsomest man in Texas” and was killed in 1893 by bandits near Alpine. His death nearly caused an international incident with Mexico.

ARTICLE IN NEW yORK TIMES JuLy 2ND 1893)One of the legends around the Manor was

a tale that the first polo game in America was played in Boerne and the Team of Englishman who played the game often patronized Phillip Manor. It was the tale of polo that was the catalyst for my purchasing the building and also the tale that set me on the path of becom-ing a novice history detective. I, for the lack of a better word, became obsessed with the polo hunt. I had no idea that history could be so fascinating and was captivated by the era and Boerne’s place in it. During the process of my search for the origins of American polo in Boerne, I not only discovered that polo was indeed in Texas in 1876 (the year the “first” game of polo was played in America) but was very surprised to find out that I am a bonafide Daughter of the Texas Republic. My great-great grandfather signed the Texas Declaration of Independence. Who knew? History is a wonderful thing….

I encourage people to visit Phillip Manor’s Texas polo history website and judge for themselves if the Texas Hill Country had anything to do with the begin-nings of American polo. Texas, at present, has no part (other than the first 20 polo ponies came from here) in the origins of American polo history. The old newspa-pers tell a different story. Check out the 1876 Texas polo timeline at www.texaspoloclub.net.

Another surprise in my historical research was dis-covering what thousands of others had discovered well over a century ago. Boerne is a destination.

It was through my research that it came to me what Phillip Manor Square was to become. Our market-ing slogan is “Phillip Manor is Coming Full Circle” and that says it all. Phillip Manor Square is returning to its roots as a social center, hotel, entertainment venue and above all a sanctuary where everyone is welcome, the kind of place where all guns and differences are left at the table.

Phillip Manor, now in its third century, is Coming Full Circle with it’s large garden, five star “19th century style” all suite lodging, a restaurant with an interna-tional team, entertainment, events and adventures.

I am restoring the Manor from top to bottom and I take pride in the responsibility that I have in preserving the historic structure. Phillip Manor Square is not just a commercial shell it is a Grand Old Mansion that I am sharing with the public and for this period in history I am privileged to be her curator.

The Hill Country is a vacation destination and Boerne was in the past and can be today,

DAILy REPuBLICAN, - TuESDAy, MAy 18, 1875 - DECATuR, ILLINOIS

A letter written by A.J. Bratford from Wabash Ind. in 1871 and published in 1875

Instead of going direct to Austin as I intended, we have taken the mountain route and intend to go as far as Mason County where we shall probably arrive next week. If any part of Texas possesses attractions, cer-tainly this section contains more than any other we have seen. The atmosphere of this region is certainly as fine in any region I have ever felt; and after having been though Texas from the Red River to the Rio Grande and through Mexico, California, central America, the West Indies and the Canaries, on the Coast of Morocco and most of the states in the Union, I think I can say with truth I have not seen a more beautiful, romantic or delightful region of the country….I saw the beautiful farm of Dr. Kingsbury near Boerne and was sorry I could not tarry in the Charming vale for a few days, but our ambulance was hired for the trip and we had to pass on.

GALVESTON DAILy NEWS - TuESDAy, SEPTEMBER 05, 1876 - GALVESTON, TEXAS

A Schuetzen-fest will come off at Boerne next Sunday. Prize shooting will be had during the day, and the occasion will be enlivened by the Fredericksburg brass band. A grand ball will come off at night at Phillip's hall….

Ph i l l i p Manor is Coming Fu l l C irc le

BBM


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aving access to adequate and affordable health care for all Americans is an issue that is

increasingly on the front burner as the 2008 presi-dential election approaches. Political candidates are prone to offering “solutions” that emphasize benefits (to as many voters as possible) while downplaying the cost to the taxpayer. For example, we often hear of the benefits of Medicare Part D, the new prescription drug benefit, but little of the long term $32 trillion unfunded Medicare liability. To both small and larger businesses alike, health insurance premiums represent one of their biggest budget items. What we will explore in this arti-cle are the challenges that businesses face and a variety of solutions. From my experience in working with small business owners, they often lack the knowledge and information to make good decisions regarding their health insurance plan, and express frustration with its complexities and high cost. It is critical to remember that 46% of all personal bankruptcies are due to illness and medical bills, despite the fact that 75% of these individuals were insured when their sickness began. Having the proper coverage is essential.

The cost of insuring a family in a typical group plan now exceeds $13,000/year. Texas state law requires that employers offering group plans must pay at least 50% of an employee’s premium, though there is no such requirement for spouses or children. This

results in many non-employee family members seeking lower cost individual plans. Healthcare premiums are now so high in many industries that it significantly impacts the price of their products. For example, General Motors, with its extremely rich and low deductible employee plan, factors in $1904 to the price of their average auto to cover health costs. According to a recent McKinsey & Company study the average fortune 500 company will spend as much on health care as they earn in profits. The challenges for small businesses are certainly no different. According to a survey conducted by United Health Care, cost is the primary reason causing small busi-nesses to not offer health insurance to employees; 29% states they could not afford the expenditure, an additional 11% couldn’t find affordable plans that offered good value, while 5% were new businesses in the first year of operation, and an additional 4% did not want to assume the ongoing financial exposure. Other reasons cited for not offering a group plan were: most employees were family members (13%) who chose to purchase individual plans; employees had coverage elsewhere (9%), and lastly many employees were part time workers.

Many politicians site cost as the primary factor resulting in over 46 million Americans having no health insurance. To get a real understanding of the problem, it is necessary to dig a little deeper. The % of uninsured Americans has remained steady at about 15% for the last two decades, with the number of uninsured increas-ing along with the population. There are several main contributing factors to the number of uninsured:1. ELIGIbILITY

- approximately 20% of uninsured people are not American citizens- close to 30% are eligible, based on income, for some kind of government pro-

gram (Children’s Health Insurance Program or Medicaid), yet are not enrolled2. TEMPORARY NEED

- According to the Congressional Budget Office, approximately 25 of the 46 mil-lion uninsured Americans .have no insurance for the entire year. Therefore, close to half have a temporary problem, with the average family who loses coverage being without it for an average of 5.6 months. There are several solutions to this, which we will discuss later.3. AFFORDAbILITY/INCOME

- 33% of uninsured Americans have a family income of over $50,000, with 16% exceeding $75,000 in annual income. The reality is that are a lot of Americans who can afford health insurance who simply do not buy it, particularly young, single men. A current client of mine had let his former insurance lapse, only to be hurt seriously in a work related accident (he did not have workers comp). Close to $45,000 later, he was as good as new - except he had a big debt to pay.

Though the extent of America’s uninsured may not be as serious as the media portrays, there are still significant issues regarding access and cost. So what solu-tions are out there for businesses and individuals that are trying to overcome these challenges?

1. Education - It starts with education; business owners must be aware of all their options. There are many questions and options to consider in order to make a proper decision. Working with an agent who specializes in health insurance and works with many different companies and can be objective about various plans is key. Consider this analogy - should you need open heart surgery, you would not read a manual on how to perform the procedure, you would hire an expert heart surgeon.

2. Shopping for health insurance is not something you do every 5 years or so - an annual review is essential. I’ve had a client for almost 4 years ago who is paying about the same premium today as he was in 2004 for his family - with better coverage! We simply visit each year and update his needs and come up with the appropriate plan.

3. Tweaking deductibles and co-insurance - people often construe this as “cutting” their benefits, but it is not necessarily so. One of my newer clients is a 6 employee law firm in San Antonio. By shopping companies we saved them

HealtH Care Issues FaCIng small BusIness

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$15,000/year on their premium with the same deductible. They saved an additional $5000 by tweaking their co-insurance rate (70/30 vs. 80/20 while maintaining their same maximum out of pocket costs, or liability) and raising their office co-pay from $30 to $40. While employees may initially have viewed these as “cuts’” their apprecia-tion grew when their employer gave them all a $1000 raise (the two partners were still able to save $7500 each - the cost of a college semester for their 2 children). The $10 increase in doctor co-pay did not seem too important to the employees after they got their raise.

4. HSA Plans - HSA plans combine a high deductible health insurance policy with money deposited in a personally owned, tax free account. Employees retiring or leaving a company to start their own business are allowed a one time transfer of funds from their 401k plan to an HSA. Many of my self employed clients love these plans; people use their HSA funds to pay for smaller and routine health expenditures, while their insurance covers larger costs, such as hospital stays, when the deductible is reached. Premiums are gener-ally lower for these plans, and have experienced lower annual rate increases than more traditional plans.

5. Preventive Benefits - look for plans that have generous first dollar (no need to meet deductible) preventive coverage - early diag-nosis of health problems saves you in many ways in the long run. Many insurance companies are now offering increased benefits in this area in an effort to reduce future costly claims.

6. Uninsurable due to health conditions - this is best reviewed on a case by case basis - but there is always a way to get insurance. The state of Texas has a risk pool for uninsurable individuals; it is expensive, but some of their higher deductible options are reasonable, and offer full major medical benefits. You can purchase supplemental plans that cover some of the high deductible costs.

7. Short Term Needs - COBRA is offered to those leaving their jobs and whom are waiting for their new coverage to begin within 3 months at a new employer. For those without a new job, the wait is

longer. Many people do not like the COBRA option due to its high cost, where the former employee has to shoulder the entire cost of insurance without employer subsidies. For these people, short term plans are an excellent option. They do not have some of the “bells and whistles” of most plans, but offer excellent protection for a speci-fied duration, and have extremely reasonable premiums. For those who have serious health issues and need to maintain COBRA, they can look for less costly options for other family members.

8. Group plan family coverage vs. individual coverage - Check out the premium differences. I have one client whose company would have deducted from his paycheck over $600/month for his wife and 2 children (his premium was completely paid for by his company). We found an individual plan with similar benefits for under $300/month. He pocketed $100/month in increased income, and put an additional $100/month in each child’s new 529 college fund.

9. Supplemental Plans - Accident and Critical Illness policies (cancer, heart attack, stroke, transplants, etc.) are common supple-mental plans used by individuals that have high deductibles. They usually have reasonable premiums and can often eliminate out of pocket costs and replace lost income while recuperating.

This is by no means a complete list of solutions, and I’m cer-tainly not campaigning to be the next president’s health insurance guru. However, a little time and research can result in significant savings and strong protection for a typical American family. With the increase in gas prices, food, and college education, it would be nice to save a little bit here and there.

Rich Sena is an independent health and life insurance broker and the President of Hill Country Health Plans, Inc. in Boerne. He can be reached at [email protected] or 210-833-4904.

BBM


The Business Owner’s Resource forBusiness and Personal Financial Stategies

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Lloyd and Jennifer Voigt have finished construction on Boerne’s newest childcare facility, AppleTree Day School. Located at 18 Scenic Loop Road, the 13k square foot facil-ity is currently enrolling students for the fall.

“We are so excited to have this facility open. We have worked so hard to pull all of this together and present a facility that features the finest amenities for schoolchildren that we could,” Lloyd and Jennifer say as they unloaded the last of the boxes and prepared for their opening. The school, which accepts students from 6 weeks of age through 12 years, has integrated some seri-ous technology. “We have webcams installed in every classroom. Parents can log on from anywhere in the world, use their supplied username and password, and watch their kids as they play. We also have a security system in the main lobby. The lobby is secure from the classrooms, and the correct PIN code must be entered before any child can be checked out. No child is ever released unless the proper PIN code is pushed. We do this for everyone’s peace of mind.”

As Boerne continues to grow, so does our need for many services. As more families relocate here, childcare is one of those needs.

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ribbon cuttings

June/July 2008 Chamber ribbon Cuttings

Debbie & Jim colton of Traditions at the Depot are joined by staff members, friends and chamber ambassadors at their ribbon cutting ceremony celebrating the opening of their new men’s clothing line department. Men and women can find Traditions at the Depot at 518 S. Main Street, Boerne and you can call them at 830-816-2795.

charlie’s gun Works’ ribbon cutting ceremony took place at its new loca-tion in the north Forty center, 41109-g ih 10 West, Ste. 2 (between Boerne and comfort). charlie Kelley, owner of charlie’s gun Works, is joined by his family and chamber ambassadors and you can call charlie at (830) 537-4844.

Phyllis Browning cuts the ribbon at the Boerne chamber’s ribbon cutting ceremony at the grand Opening for the Phyllis Browning company’s new location in leon Springs in Fairview Plaza. Phyllis is joined by Boerne Mayor Dan heckler, chamber President Pau-la White and chamber ambassadors. you can find the new Phyllis Browning company office at 24200 ih 10 West, Ste 101, San antonio.

resident Manager of the Woodland apartments, carmen Major, is joined by owners cindy & John Brockwell, their good friend Sena-tor Jeff Wentworth, Mayor Dan heckler, Mayor Pro-Tem & city councilman Jacques DuBose, many friends, business associates and chamber ambassadors. The Woodland apartments are located at 150 Medical Drive #100 and you can contact them at 830-816-6500.

The ribbon cutting ceremony at Fritze’s BBQ & catering was very well attended. Owner David Fritze is joined by his wife, Mary, daugh-ter, staff with chamber ambassadors. Fritze’s BBQ & catering is lo-cated at 926 n. Main Street and you can call David at (830) 331-9903.

co-Owners rex Jennings, Dave claflin and Skip huiatt of Ten Oaks Stor-age are joined by family members, friends, business associates and cham-ber ambassadors at their ribbon cutting ceremony for their new storage facility located at 131 Old San antonio road, Boerne. Ten Oaks Storage provides special moving and storage services for non-profit organiza-tions. call rex, Dave or Skip at (210) 887-4937 for more information.


Mague’s Cafe Opens 2nd Location

Mague Romero, owner of Mague’s Cafe, has experienced 19+ years of success at her Boerne location. Having always wanted to open a second restaurant, she jumped at the chance to expand to another area of the Hill Country. The Spring Branch/Bulverde area is booming and Mague’s Cafe in Boerne has many loyal customers from that area already. The new location will allow these customers, as well as many new ones, to enjoy Mague’s food a little closer to home. Essential to the popularity of Mague’s Cafe are Mague’s daughters Claudia, Corina and Brenda. All three daughters will be rotating between the two restaurants to ensure the continued success of both locations. The second restaurant is located in a prime spot across Hwy 46 from the Bulverde HEB and is almost double the size of the Boerne location. With around 40 tables this new location will be able to accommodate quite the breakfast, lunch and dinner crowds! Aside from the larger space, everything will be the same as the Mague’s in Boerne, but the Bulverde/Spring Branch cafe will be closed on Sundays. With all the right ingredients, this second location is sure to be as good as the original!

OnE OF BOERnE’S FAVORITE EATERIES hAS ExPAnDED TO InCLUDE A SECOnD LOCATIOn In ThE BULVERDE/SPRIng BRAnCh AREA.


HAT WE AREOur community offers a valuable source of emerg-ing leaders who are well-educated,

influential and highly motivated.The Greater Boerne Young Professionals Club is an organization designed for emerging leaders ages 21 to 39 in the greater Boerne area, to develop themselves professionally, socially, and civically. Members of the YPC include profession-als from many different fields, including finance and banking, construction and land development, arts, education, real estate, legal, government, non-profit, insurance, and healthcare.

My motivation to develop the YPC was to compliment, rather than compete with other area business organizations, such as the Greater Boerne Chamber of Commerce. I believe an organization is needed to specifically encourage the growing number of young, up and com-ing professionals moving to Boerne to begin their careers and families. It became evidently clear from my own experience, what is needed is a professional business organization focused solely on cultivating tomorrow’s leaders through professional, social and civic opportunities.

The YPC is not just a networking group – but collectively through business development education, social functions and civic duty, it’s a way for members to become recognized as a well-respected, influential group of young leaders who are extraordinarily eager and motivated to

make names for themselves, and to aggres-sively compete in providing the highest quality of goods and services to our com-munity.PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

To provide personal and professional development opportunities which empow-er the lives of YPC members and positions them as prominent emerging leaders in the Boerne area.

· Become the first resource businesses turn to when seeking emerging leaders.

· Support and encourage leadership development in various organizations.

· Provide members with ongoing opportunities for personal and professional growth.

· Encourage entrepreneurship and busi-ness-building.

· Connect with career advancement opportunities, and business and commu-nity leaders.

Ideas for activities include, but are not limited to professional development seminars, advanced leadership develop-ment classes, mentoring program, CEO breakfast series, and entrepreneur brown bag sessions.SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

Create unique opportunities for Boerne’s young leaders to network and interact at a variety of cultural, arts and sporting events throughout the Greater Boerne area. Build relationships with Boerne area busi-nesses and organizations through regular networking, educational events and social functions in order to successfully promote members’ business ventures.

Ideas for social activities include, but are not lim-ited to monthly spotlight lun-cheons where each member has the opportu-nity to showcase their businesses, cocktail parties held at numerous restaurants, orga-nized sporting events, and an annual black tie

event to recognize the remarkable accom-plishments of the Young Professionals Club.CIVIC DEVELOPMENT

To introduce and promote future lead-ers to community service organizations, events and government while recogniz-ing the importance of these organizations in developing and maintaining a vibrant Greater Boerne community. All activities promote civic engagement and respect for Boerne traditions and quality of life.

· Promote community involvement through organizing and publicizing activi-ties for Young Professional Club members.

· Create awareness of area organiza-tions and resources by distributing and communicating area organizational infor-mation.

· Connect club members with opportu-nities in other community organizations.

· To cultivate awareness and involve-ment among emerging leaders on issues and policies affecting our communities in the Greater Boerne area.

· Cultivate interest in local public affairs.

· Generate government involvement.· Provide access to community leaders.

CONCLUSION This organization and its young pro-

fessionals will be instrumental in Boerne's growth and success in the future. Boerne's future depends on its ability to cultivate and encourage young bright minds.

And as the YPC develops and matures, it will continue to add new members, and infuse greater diversity, vitality and new ideas to benefit all of our members, and our community.

If you are interested in becoming a member or learning more about the Greater Boerne Young Professionals Club, please contact Allyson Munsell at (830) 815-1404 for more information.

networking

THE GREATER BOERNE YOUNG PROFESSIONALS CLUB

Wby Allyson Munsell

Allyson Munsell is a Financial Advisor for Edward Jones Investments, a full service brokerage firm at 512 E. Blanco Rd. in Boerne. Allyson builds one-on-one relationships with clients, offering per-sonalized attention and financial advice to plan for the future. Mrs. Munsell was raised in Boerne, and recevied her BS from Southern Methodist University.

BBM


Qopinion

A

Are gas prices affecting your business?

“it hasn’t affected our business. We are focusing on the things we

can control and we’re not wor-rying about it. There’s 70 lines

on a financial statement, and only one of those is fuel. One year it’s

gas prices, and the next year it’s something else. We manage our business effectively through best practices, and year after year we

experience a positive result.”Bill Bird

general Partner – Mercedes Benz of Boerne

“gas prices aren’t affecting us at all. everyone from new Braunfels, austin, San antonio,

and everywhere else are pushing our direction. People want to be in Boerne, and so

we have seen no negative effect from gas prices.”

Brittany hardygeneral Manager – holiday inn

“yes! While before we could offer our local clients free delivery, or a nominal fee, we have had to charge them because of the gas prices. and, then, because there is tax on a delivery charge, they pay

even more. i love my clients, and really hate to see them spend an extra dime that they don’t have to, but with all the trucking surcharges that have been accessed to our freight bills for merchandise, this will cause some increases in the cost of merchandise. Boo!”catrina hoelkecatrina’s at the ranch

“The gas prices have affected us in many ways from rising cost of goods to employee

travel expenses. These rising costs have reduced our profit

margin and to compensate we are planning on raising our

prices in 2009.”holly Delauneerickson uSa

“gas is something we think about all the time now. We are combining trips, shipping items rather than delivering them ourselves and even mailing fabric samples to our clients. it has become very important to coordinate with our installers so we don’t have to make multiple trips. unfortunately some of the added cost must be passed on the client.”Debbie Wilcox & Kathy SenkbeilStore•house Decor

PO Box 2349 • Boerne, Texas [email protected]

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On Tuesday, July 1, Boerne City Manager, Ron Bowman, put into effect Stage 2 water restrictions for all City residential and commercial water customers. The Stage 2 Water Alert requires “mandatory” conservation measures in order to reduce overall water consumption by 35%.

Customers must now observe more restrictions, especially related to outdoor watering uses such as landscape irrigation. Both residential and commercial customers are permit-ted to use individual sprinklers or sprinkler systems for lawns, gardens or other landscaped areas only on “designated outdoor water use days”.

On the designated watering day, sprinkler irrigation is allowed between the hours of 3:00 am to 8:00 am and 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm.

Designated watering days will be implemented according to the last number of the street address as follows:

The City Manager declared Stage 2 water restrictions for all City of Boerne customers because consumption and daily usage peaks are continuing to rise. City water customers rely on a combined water resource which includes ground water from wells, and surface water from both the Boerne City Lake and Canyon Lake, through a contract with the Guadalupe Blanco River Authority.

The water from wells is subject to Cow Creek Groundwater Conservation District drought management rules, and to comply with mandated restrictions for this single source of water, the City has now reduced pumping from wells by more than the 40% as required by the Cow Creek “Stage 5” restrictions.

“While the City of Boerne continues to have adequate total water supplies from its three water sources, meeting the daily peak while complying with a 40% reduction in well use is challenging due to current high levels of irrigation,” reports assistant city manager,

Jeff Thompson.“Half of the 3 million gallons sold during record

setting peak usage days these last few weeks is being used for outdoor landscape watering. That kind of usage needs to decrease immediately,” Thompson added.

In Stage 2, City of Boerne water customers are required to curtail non-essential water use; however watering of lawns or landscaped areas is permitted any-time if using a hand-held hose, a drip irrigation system, or a hand-held bucket no larger than 5 gallons.

Other Stage 2 conservation requirements include:•Washing of automobiles, trailers, rv’s, boats,

airplanes or any other type of mobile equipment is prohibited unless using a bucket or pail. However, com-mercial car washing businesses are not restricted.

•Restaurants are prohibited from serving water to customers except when specifically requested by the customer.

•Those residents that have swimming pools or hot tubs may refill these as needed but only on the designated outdoor water use day and during the hours of 12:00 midnight to 12:00 noon or 7:00 pm to 12:00 midnight.

Mayor Heckler and the City Council together urge all City of Boerne customers to curtail non-essential water use to ensure the City can meet the daily peaking requirements and to help those area residents that depend on groundwater for their domestic water needs. “Conservation is good for everyone”, states Mayor Heckler.

For a full list of the City of Boerne water conservation measures and/or restrictions by Stage, please contact the Utility Customer Service office at (830)249-9511 or view the City’s Conservation and Emergency Drought Management Plan online at www.ci.boerne.tx.us by looking for Chapter 22 (utilities) of the Code of Ordinances.

REcoRd wATER uSAGE cAuSES cITY oF BoERnE To AnnouncE STAGE 2 “MAndAToRY” wATER RESTRIcTIonS

0 or 1 Monday2 or 3 Tuesday4 or 5 Wednesday

6 or 7 Thursday8 or 9 Friday

Mercedes-Benz of Boerne8 Miles North of La Cantera Resort, Exit 543 @ IH10

830-981-6000mbboerne.com

boerne business monthly - august 2008

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