 | | 
|
• |
|
• |
 
|
• |
• |
I think my mother is an effective leader... | 
|
...Noriega on Leadership.. |
|
• |
• Richard J. "Rick" Noriega - Democrat - "In their land navigation training, my soldiers learn that if you're off course a couple of degrees for a short distance, it doesn't matter too much. But if you're off course for a good while, then the divide from where you are and where you should be is so great that it is nearly impossible to get back on the right course." |
• |
• |
I think Ron Paul is an effective leader... | 
|
...Schick on Leadership.. |
|
• |
• Yvonne Adams Schick - Libertarian - "Good leadership brought our nation out from under the tyranny of an English king and will always bring us through any crisis if we will lead from those same principles." |
• |
• |
I think Bill White is an effective leader... | 
|
...Skelly on Leadership.. |
|
• |
• Michael Skelly - Democrat - "Good leadership is critical in a time of crisis. In light of our energy crisis and financial crisis, it's important that we have people with a background in business and with a depth of energy expertise to lead us through these challenges." |
• |
• |
I think Ron Paul is an effective leader... | 
|
...Parks on Leadership.. |
|
• |
• Drew Parks - Libertarian - "Good leadership is essential in time of crisis, but more important is where the leader is leading. There are plenty of good leaders who lead entire nations into tyranny. So "change" isn't necessarily a good thing if the leader leads us astray. Both the Republican and Democrat parties' solution for our economic crisis is more socialism. This is the wrong direction for a free market - this change is bad." |
• |
• |
Congresswoman Kay Granger is impressive... | 
|
... Brady on Leadership.. |
|
• |
• Congressman Kevin Brady - Republican - "It's critical. In a terrible storm you don't want to risk turning the helm of the ship over to someone who has never piloted one. These days voters want common-sense, qualified leaders with proven expertise to help steer this nation through rough economic times." |
• |
• |
I think Jim Hightower is an effective leader... | 
|
...Doherty on Leadership.. |
|
• |
• Larry Joe Doherty - Democrat - "Leadership can be the difference between success and failure. In times of trial, a leader is one who can assess the situation and make independent decisions based on the strength of those around him/her. A great leader can help their team, coworkers, community, or even nation exceed expectations and achieve exceptional results." |
• |
• |
I think Ron Paul is an effective leader... | 
|
...Finkel on Leadership.. |
|
• |
• Matt Finkel - Libertarian - "It is critical but our Government officials should not be leaders they should be Representatives of each one of us. Not Representatives of segments of society or special interest groups. They should be there to defend each individual's ability to make their own decisions about the fruits of their own labor, about their own pursuit of happiness and about their own body. They are not there to make decisions for all of us, if they are then this is not a Free society." |
• |
• |
Mothers and fathers leading their families... | 
|
..Faulk on Leadership.. |
|
• |
• John Faulk - Republican - "Good leadership is important in good times as much as in times of crisis. I am not sure that any of us living in America really appreciate how good life really is. My opponent has not provided good, bad, or indifferent leadership for the Texas 18th Congressional District." |
• |
• |
I think my father is an effective leader.. | 
|
...Olson on Leadership.. |
|
• |
• Pete Olson - Republican - "Leadership and character are the two most important qualities for elected officials to possess in a crisis. These two qualities determine if someone will rise to the occasion, create a sense of teamwork and urgency and move the process along toward an appropriate solution. In Congress, we need more people who will be steadfast, keep their word and their principles and work toward the best result for the American people, and not for a given party." |
• |
• |
The most effective leader I know is GOD... | 
|
...Wieder on Leadership.. |
|
• |
• John Wieder - Libertarian - "When the chips are up or down, you need to be a good leader. When they're down a leader needs to confidence and when the chips are up motivation should be instilled. When there is extreme pressure a leader needs to make the right choices." |
• |
• |
I think Ron Paul is an effective leader... | 
|
...Grace on Leadership.. |
|
• |
• Joel Grace - Libertarian - "There are 2 answers to question: A). Obviously, good leadership is important in time of crises. B). People need to be empowered in any time. This means freedom is the best answer to any question." |
• |
• |
I think Colin Powell is an effective leader... | 
|
...Thompson on Leadership.. |
|
• |
• Mark Thompson - Democrat - "Leadership is critical -- not only during a crisis but every day. Leadership has been missing on the Texas Railroad Commission. My opponent and the other Republican appointees on the commission have failed to lead when it comes to efficiency in the permitting process for oil and gas wells, when it comes to protecting communities, properties, and livelihoods from the excesses of bad operators and fly-by-night corporations, and when it comes to urban drilling in Fort Worth, Houston, and hundreds of communities across Texas. Leadership in this time of crisis is more important than ever, and I will bring that kind of steady, balanced leadership to the Texas Railroad Commission." |
• |
• |
General Petraeus is an effective leader... | 
|
...Jefferson on Leadership.. |
|
• |
• Justice Wallace B. Jefferson - Republican - "The public benefits from a steady hand during a time of crisis -- someone dedicated to evaluating whatever emergency is presented, conferring with all affected, and then making clear decisions together with contingency plans for unanticipated complications." |
• |
• |
Didn't mention anyone in particular... | 
|
...Wainwright on Leadership.. |
|
• |
• Justice Dale Wainwright - Republican - “A leader has the integrity to do the right thing for the right reason and the courage to do so when political expediency would suggest a different course.” |
• |
• |
I think Ron Paul is an effective leader... | 
|
...Bryan on Leadership.. |
|
• |
• Mary Ann Bryan -Libertarian - "Many decisions made in times of crisis tend to impact society for many years thus good leadership at that time is critical to future outcomes." |
• |
• |
Governor Rick Perry is an effective leader... | 
|
...Pena on Leadership.. |
|
• |
• Gilbert Pena - Republican - "Good leadership is of great importance in times of crisis. Just look at how the governor of Texas handled things after hurricane Ike, and how the governor of Louisiana handled the same crisis after Hurricane Katrina." |
• |
• |
Didn't mention anyone in particular... | 
|
...Jackson on Leadership.. |
|
• |
• Senator Mike Jackson - Republican - "Good leadership is crucial in times of crisis. We saw how smoothly the Hurricane Ike evacuation was handled by our local emergency management officials and we were therefore able to avoid massive amounts of loss of life because of it. As a leader you sometimes have to know when to get in front of a camera and when that isn't necessary. For the most part, my work during the Hurricane focused on providing some of our local jurisdictions the state resources they needed during the aftermath because our local authorities did such a fabulous job." |
• |
• |
Judge Jim Yarbrough is an effective leader... | 
|
...Jaworski on Leadership.. |
|
• |
• Joe Jaworski - Democrat - "Leadership is critical during these uncertain times because the solutions to the challenges we face require broad public support to be effective. In fact, I would argue that what we have today isn't a crisis in the economy or in health care system or in the insurance system - what we have today is a crisis of leadership." |
• |
• |
I think Ron Paul is an effective leader... | 
|
...Messina on Leadership.. |
|
• |
• Cliff Messina - Libertarian - "Good leadership is the difference between success and failure... I want to get government out of the lives of individuals, and businesses as much as possible...It's very alarming to me that the same people who caused this problem, are going to be the ones to solve this problem." |
• |
• |
I think Mack Brown is an effective leader... | 
|
...Bell on Leadership.. |
|
• |
• Chris Bell - Democrat - "Strong leadership in a crisis is critical. A vast majority of Texans are dissatisfied with the lack of leadership they see in the state legislature on vital issues such as school funding, health care reform and spending transparency." |
• |
• |
President Uribe, Columbia is effective... | 
|
...Harpold on Leadership.. |
|
• |
• Grant Harpold - Republican - "Bad leadership will make a crisis worse. Thus, good leadership is critical. We had a crisis in Harris County before, during and after Hurricane Ike. Our county government and our citizens performed well because we had good leadership at the top." |
• |
• |
I most admire my dad Malcom Host... | 
|
...Host on Leadership.. |
|
• |
• Steve Host - Republican - "Good leadership is vital at all times - during times of crisis and of prosperity. Effective leaders make decisions with integrity and character and are responsive to, as well as put, the needs of others above their own. They are driven by their will to serve and their ability to make a positive difference in our world." |
• |
• |
We are blessed with innumerable leaders... | 
|
...Olivo on Leadership.. |
|
• |
• State Rep. Dora Olivo - Democrat - "Very important. But at any time, whether in crisis or calmer times, the most effective leaders are those who retain a spirit of selflessness and concern for the common good." |
• |
• |
I am inspired by my church leadership... | 
|
...Murphy on Leadership.. |
|
• |
• Kevin Murphy - Democrat - "As we saw in the aftermath of Hurricane Ike, good leadership is essential. Whether it was organizing a group to help clear debrise, handing out supplies or assisting with communication in tough times, good leaders showed their mettle. I was honored to work with so many groups that saw a problem and got to work." |
• |
• |
Gary Kelly and Fred Smith are effective.. | 
|
...Palma on Leadership.. |
|
• |
• Oscar Palma, Jr. - Libertarian - "How important is good leadership during times of crisis? PALMA: Different styles of leadership are appropriate to different circumstances. I'll assume your question would relate to a time of natural disaster since that would be the most likely situation we as Texans on the Gulf Coast would encounter." |
• |
• |
Oprah Winfrey has been an effective leader... | 
|
...Perez on Leadership.. |
|
• |
• Justo Perez - Libertarian - "Obviously important, but it really depends on the type of crisis. In most cases its best to simply get out of the way...I trust that people are better at making choices than having someone lead them into bigger government and less freedom." |
• |
• |
I think Colin Powell is an effective leader... | 
|
...Matula on Leadership.. |
|
• |
• Sherrie Matula - Democrat - "Good leadership is essential during times of crisis. Hard decisions must be made that are good for the many instead of the few. A good leader for this district must consider what is important to the people: education, health care, and financial stability." |
• |
• |
The most effective leader leads by doing... | 
|
...Gray on Leadership.. |
|
• |
• William B. Gray, Jr. -Libertarian - "Leadership is very important. A leader needs to have the vision and values to act decisively in a crisis. In government, that vision and those values should be based on the Constitution." |
• |
• |
I think Barack Obama is an effective leader... | 
|
...Thibaut on Leadership.. |
|
• |
• Kristi Thibaut - Democrat - "Good leadership is vital in times of crisis, and we need it now more than ever. With a dire economic situation, a lack of affordable utility rates, healthcare and access to quality education, we need leaders who will step up to the plate and meet these challenges head on." |
• |
• |
There are many effective leaders alive today... | 
|
...Dr. Agris on Leadership.. |
|
• |
• Dr. Joe Agris - Republican - "Good Leadership is important at all times and more so during a crisis situation. Not only good leadership, but a strong, take-charge attitude is necessary." |
• |
• |
I think Bill White is an effective leader... | 
|
...Cohen on Leadership.. |
|
• |
• State Rep. Ellen Cohen - Democrat - "Good leadership works if it is consistent. Leaders must demonstrate the same qualities during calm times as well as crises. Knowing that your leader can be counted on for steady and honest direction gives one a sense of confidence." |
• |
• |
General Petraeus is an effective leader... | 
|
...Fleming on Leadership.. |
|
• |
• Trey S. Fleming - Democrat - "Crucial...I've been a successful leader in the business community and political past and take the stance that if I have the ability and drive to address the core issues facing Texans today then it is incumbent upon me to do so." |
• |
• |
I think Dr. Ron Paul is an effective leader... | 
|
...Montestruc on Leadership.. |
|
• |
• Alfred N. Montestruc - Libertarian - "Good leadership is always important, especially in times of crisis...I do what I think is right regardless of personal consequences." |
• |
• |
Bob Barr is a personal hero of mine... | 
|
...Cresswell on Leadership.. |
|
• |
• Alex Cresswell - Libertarian - "Good leadership is critical during times of crisis. In a crisis situation there is a huge pressure to respond, and respond strongly, however if there is not strong leadership the response will simply be dictated by popular opinion, and not by the principles that our country was founded upon. A perfect illustration of this is 9/11 and the passage of the PATRIOT Act. This act a reaction based out of fear, and is a threat to the fundamental freedoms established by our constitution. Had there been strong leadership in Congress, this bill would never had even made it to the floor for a vote." |
• |
• |
Meg Whitman former CEO of eBay... | 
|
...Bohac on Leadership.. |
|
• |
• State Rep. Dwayne Bohac - Republican - "Leadership during time of crisis is absolutely vital to our community and state. During my time in the legislature, I have always handled tough situations with one question in mind: "What is best for my district?" Having this mindset helps keep me calm and enables me to take on challenges and tough votes knowing that I am doing what I think is absolutely best for my district, no matter the situation." |
• |
• |
Rev. Joel Olsteen is an effective leader... | 
|
...Bunch on Leadership.. |
|
• |
• Michael Bunch - Republican - "Good moral leadership is vital in time of crisis as well as in times of calm. Without moral integrity leadership can me abused to the determent of all." |
• |
• |
My father is the most effective leader... | 
|
...Olmos on Leadership.. |
|
• |
• Dorothy Olmos - Republican - "The importance of good leadership during crisis is to uphold the value system of brotherhood/sisterhood and to be aware of the effectiveness of the Strategic plans that are put in place, in order to convey and deliver the correct rules and regulations setforth during a crisis." |
• |
• |
The late U.S. President Reagan was the last... | 
|
...Marcom on Leadership.. |
|
• |
• Joe O. Marcom - Libertarian - "Good (Effective) leadership is always important; its goal should be to prevent, rather than to resolve, crises...Effective leaders are a rarity today; in the realm of politics, the late President Reagan was the last." |
• |
• |
General Petraeus is an effective leader... | 
|
...Legler on Leadership.. |
|
• |
• Ken Legler - Republican - "Good leadership is always critical in government at all times, but especially now that our economy is in crisis. The constituents of House District 144 deserve good leadership and deserve a leader to guide the State of Texas through these tough economic times. Good leadership has guided this great nation through many great trials such as George Washington in the Revolutionary War, Abraham Lincoln in the Civil War, and Sam Houston in the Texas Revolution." |
• |
• |
Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison is effective... | 
|
...Gano on Leadership.. |
|
• |
• Howard H. Gano, Jr. - Republican - "A good leader needs to step in and state that America is still the greatest country and will continue to be the greatest country and we will work through this crisis together and overcome. Everyone must do their part, which includes government, people, civic groups, churches, and charitable organizations." |
• |
• |
The best teachers are effective leaders... | 
|
...Beverly on Leadership.. |
|
• |
• Joe W. Beverly - Democrat - "Creative and effective leadership is always needed especially during times of crisis. I believe true leaders are made, not born, and that everyone has the potential to be an effective leader in some aspect of their lives. In a crisis situation, however, certain individuals must take charge and use their skills to help their fellow citizens to weather the storm." |
• |
• |
Volunteers are the most effective leaders... | 
|
...Taylor on Leadership.. |
|
• |
• Leslie C. Taylor - Democrat - "Good leadership is important at all times, not just during times of crisis. A different set of leaders may well have prevented the financial crisis we face today. Ordinary citizens must be vigilant in times of crisis to ensure that our leaders do not use the crisis as an excuse to take actions that we would never have supported in more ordinary times." |
• |
• |
Judge Jim Yarbrough is an effective leader... | 
|
...Baker on Leadership.. |
|
• |
• Susan P. Baker - Democrat - "Good leadership is important all of the time, not just during time of crisis, but during crises we especially need strong leaders who are able to make decisions." |
• |
• |
Judge Ed Emmett and Mayor Bill White... | 
|
...Ray on Leadership.. |
|
• |
• Judge Elizabeth Ray - Republican - "Good leadership in times of crisis is what keeps us from making uninformed decisions. By placing our trust in someone by our vote, we are saying that we trust them to keep us safe in times of crisis." |
• |
• |
Didn't mention anyone in particular... | 
|
...Moore on Leadership.. |
|
• |
• Judge Bill Moore - Republican - "A good judge needs to be aware of what crime victims are going through, and at the same time see that each criminal defendant receives a fair trial. In an effort to avoid any appearance of impropriety, I have pledged not to accept political contributions from lawyers who practice criminal law in the Harris County Criminal District Courts." |
• |
• |
My dad is the most effective leader I know... | 
|
...Fine on Leadership.. |
|
• |
• Kevin Fine - Democrat - "Top priority. Someone must assume control with solution based thinking and action...Someone must assume control with solution based thinking and action." |
• |
• |
I have several choices for effective leader... | 
|
...Bridgwater on Leadership.. |
|
• |
• Judge Roger Bridgwater - Republican - "It is the difference between success and failure. Besides giving direction, a leader gives confidence, inspires others to trust and join the team." |
• |
• |
Mayor Bill White is an effective leader... | 
|
...Mendoza on Leadership.. |
|
• |
• David Mendoza - Democrat - "Good leadership is of paramount importance in times of crisis. People want answers, people want leaders who have a vision and who produce good results for their constituents." |
• |
• |
M. Singh, the Prime Minister of India... | 
|
...Roll on Leadership.. |
|
• |
• Randy Roll - Democrat - "Symbolically and substantively a strong leader can get things going. I am a leader not a follower. A ship without a captain, drifts aimlessly. My opponent arrives at court between 11:00 am and 12:00, fully 3 hours after all the other judges get there, as seen on Wayne Dolcefino's exposes. I will be a full time Judge." |
• |
• |
Sen. Barack Obama is the most effective leader... | 
|
...Kirkland on Leadership.. |
|
• |
• Judge Steve Kirkland - Democrat - "Leadership is critical to survival in times of crisis. Great leadership changes survival to transformation. We have witnessed transformational moments in our history with Franklin Delano Roosevelt transforming the US with the New Deal and Martin Luther King inspiring us to dream of the promised land." |
• |
• |
Margaret Thatcher is the most effective ... | 
|
...Lykos on Leadership.. |
|
• |
• Pat Lykos - Republican - "Leadership is vital to swift assessment, rapid response, optimizing use of resources, adaptation to changing circumstances and minimizing collateral damage in controlling a crisis. Leaders should always demonstrate a calm confidence and be decisive. The effective enforcement of our criminal laws is essential to keeping the social fabric intact, which is based upon law and order and the rule of law. As Drucker said, “Leaders do the right things and managers do things right.” Good leaders hold themselves accountable first, and then their subordinates." |
• |
• |
Colin Powell is the most effective leader... | 
|
...Bradford on Leadership.. |
|
• |
• C. O.“Brad” Bradford - Democrat - "Good leadership is essential to the successful operation of any entity during a time of crisis, especially in a governmental organization that has the responsibility of protecting the public, such as the Harris County District Attorney's Office. That office requires a leader with strength, integrity and sound judgment. During a crisis, a leader's character is put to the ultimate test and their ability to lead must be an example for all who follow, uniting others to work for the greater good of all. A leader must be able to recognize the source of the crisis, ascertain available resources and then determine the most appropriate solution; then he or she must be strong and wise enough to efficiently and effectively implement that solution." |
• |
• |
I would not select one person... | 
|
...Emmett on Leadership.. |
|
• |
• Judge Ed Emmett - Republican - "Leadership is critical during times of crisis, but effective leadership is born of preparation. The best leader with great instincts and skills will only be successful if he is prepared." |
• |
• |
Mayor Michael Bloomberg of New York City... | 
|
...Mincberg on Leadership.. |
|
• |
• David Mincberg - Democrat - "Good leadership is always important, but absolutely essential during times of crisis. It is imperative that the County Judge provides vision, guidance, and leadership to Harris County as we now face the critical issues of providing for the next one million residents of Harris County. Harris County needs a business leader who understands budgets, taxes and requires accountability from people who do business with Harris County." |
• |
• |
Both Bill Clinton and George H.W. Bush... | 
|
...Ryan on Leadership.. |
|
• |
• Vince Ryan - Democrat - "I believe that in times of crisis “great” leadership is necessary. Certainly, war is one example. My training and experiences in my twenty eight years in the U.S. Army Reserve, including Vietnam and Panama during Operation Just Cause, taught me much about leadership in times of crisis. Primarily, a leader in all circumstances must lead by example, especially in times of crisis." |
• |
• |
Tony Blair is the most effective leader... | 
|
...Thomas on Leadership.. |
|
• |
• Sheriff Tommy Thomas - Republican - "Good leadership during times of crisis is especially important because the qualities good leaders possess give others confidence, provide direction and ease concerns related to the crisis. Good leaders possess many important qualities: a.) Honesty and integrity. b.) The ability to inspire others. c.) A vision for the future and the know-how to get the job done. d.) Qualifications and experience. e.) Good communication and organizational skills. f.) Ability to delegate." |
• |
• |
Rev. Bill Lawson and Mayor Bill White... | 
|
...Garcia on Leadership.. |
|
• |
• Adrian Garcia - Democrat - "Good leadership is always critical not just during a crisis. However, the public and employees need to know that they have someone they can follow when they most need direction. Leadership should be visible and engaged, making the most difficult decisions. I saw this in Mayor Bill White during and after Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Ike. Effective leadership makes citizens feel protected before, during and after a critical incident. An effective leader needs to be respected and supported, and I am honored that the three main employee groups of the Sheriff's Office have endorsed my candidacy and NOT their boss." |
• |
• |
Senator Barack Obama is an effective leader... | 
|
...Trautman on Leadership.. |
|
• |
• Diane Trautman - Democrat - "I believe that we need ethical leaders today and especially in times of crisis. Ethical leaders are accountable, accessible, and authentic servant leaders. They put the needs of others before their own needs or advancement. In times of crisis, people depend on their leaders to inspire and comfort them." |
• |
• |
There are no great leaders at this time... | 
|
...Henley on Leadership.. |
|
• |
• Jim Henley - Democrat - "Good leadership is critical in a crisis! Great leadership anticipates and seeks to prevent a crisis. There are times when a crisis cannot be prevented, a great leader should have plans in place to mitigate the impact and duration of such an event." |
• |
• |
No one person can be put into this category... | 
|
...Radack on Leadership.. |
|
• |
• Commissioner Steve Radack - Republican - "Good leadership is always vital during a crisis. But we must put the word “crisis” in perspective. Harris County consists of nearly 4 million residents. It is safe to say that every second there is someone experiencing a crisis in their life. It could be one of the thousands of children abused annually, or a senior citizen struggling to pay the light bill while facing a mountain of medical expenses. It could be one of the hundreds of thousands of people treated at the Harris County Hospital District each year. Leaders come in all shapes and forms. As a leader, my best work is to make sure other leaders in the community have the tools they need to help all these people 24 hours a day and 365 days a year. The people of Harris County are dynamic and challenges are always present. Leaders, like those on Harris County Commissioners Court, find a way to make sure the community has the tools to deal with whatever confronts the people we serve." |
• |
• |
Mayor Bill White quickly comes to mind... | 
|
...Handy on Leadership.. |
|
• |
• Dexter Handy - Democrat - "Good leadership is absolutely necessary during times of crisis. When lives, livelihoods, safety, security, or infrastructures are at risk, a good strong leader must take control of the situation. As a former military leader I have the ability to quickly identify the critical problem areas, assess alternative approaches to fixing the problems, develop working solutions, pull together the right team to fix the problems, and make it happen. As a leader, I am also aware of communicating the solutions to the community affected, and taking measures to calm the fears of the people adversely affected." |
• |
• |
Judge Ed Emmett and Mayor Bill White... | 
|
...Lewis on Leadership.. |
|
• |
• Tony Lewis - Republican - "Good leadership during times of crises is paramount to recovery from whatever we are facing as a country. It is the leadership of the elected official coupled with the determination of the constituents that will determine not only the rate of recovery (or further decline), but how significant the recovery (or downturn) is." |
• |
• |
Retired Army General & Sheriff Oren R. Fox... | 
|
...Jones on Leadership.. |
|
• |
• Constable Ken Jones - Democrat - "Good leadership is critical, not only to lead your department, but also the community you serve...I believe my education, military experience as a U. S. Army officer, and my 38 years in law enforcement as a supervisor and administrator, with the last 8 years as elected Constable of Pct. 3 qualifies me for leadership." |
• |
• |
The single family head of a household... | 
|
...Pearson on Leadership.. |
|
• |
• Sam Pearson - Democrat - "Good leadership is essential during times of crisis. Without proper leadership chaos would exist. A good leader knows how to guide, guard and direct others." |
• |
Information - Send Us Your News Information |
• |
If You Are On The Move, We Want To Publish Your News Announcements! |
• |
E-MAIL: news@houston-businessconnections.com |
• |
PUBLISHER'S MESSAGE - Sure, the name on our publication says Houston, but our vision is global. When we first started publishing (in 1998) our vision was to bring Houstonians information primarily about small minority-owned businesses in Houston. Today, we've expanded our vision to include you - wherever you are! And you can help us to accomplish our goal to provide local, national, and international people on the move with information about other people on the move. If you are a first-time user, please send your information to us at the e-mail address listed above! WANTED: Houston Business Connections is currently looking for information on individuals, small businesses, corporations, non-profits, and governmental sectors in Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, llinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming. We are also seeking information from the U.S. Commonwealths and Territories of American Samoa, District of Columbia, Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, North Marianas, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Please send information to the above referenced email address. And we thank you for visiting our web site and urge you to join our growing list of sponsors. Call 832.212.8735 to join our effort! Also, don't forget to download (Click Here) the current edition of Houston Business Connections Newspaper. And we thank you in advance for supporting our advertisers and supporters! |
• |
* Alabama - Capital City: Montgomery |
|
* Alaska - Capital City: Juneau |
|
* Arizona - Capital City: Phoenix |
|
* Arkansas - Capital City: Little Rock |
|
* California - Capital City: Sacramento |
|
* Colorado - Capital City: Honolulu |
|
* Connecticut - Capital City: Hartford |
|
* Delaware - Capital City: Dover |
|
* Florida - Capital City: Tallahassee |
|
* Georgia - Capital City: Atlanta |
|
* Hawaii - Capital City: Honolulu |
|
* Idaho - Capital City: Boise |
|
* Illinois - Capital City: Springfield |
|
* Indiana - Capital City: Indianapolis |
|
* Iowa - Capital City: Des Moines |
|
* Kansas - Capital City: Topeka |
|
* Kentucky - Capital City: Frankfort |
|
* Louisiana - Capital City: Baton Rouge |
|
* Maine - Capital City: Augusta |
|
* Maryland - Capital City: Annapolis |
|
* Massachusetts - Capital City: Boston |
|
* Michigan - Capital City: Lansing |
|
* Minnesota - Capital City: Saint Paul |
|
* Mississippi - Capital City: Jackson |
|
* Missouri - Capital City: Jefferson City |
|
* Montana - Capital City: Helena |
|
* Nebraska - Capital City: Lincoln |
|
* Nevada - Capital City: Carson City |
|
* New Hampshire - Capital City: Concord |
|
* New Jersey - Capital City: Trenton |
|
* New Mexico - Capital City: Santa Fe |
|
* New York - Capital City: Albany |
|
* North Carolina - Capital City: Raleigh |
|
* North Dakota - Capital City: Bismarck |
|
* Ohio - Capital City: Columbus |
|
* Oklahoma - Capital City: Oklahoma City |
|
* Oregon - Capital City: Salem |
|
* Pennsylvania - Capital City: Harrisburg |
|
* Rhode Island - Capital City: Providence |
|
* South Carolina - Capital City: Columbia |
|
* South Dakota - Capital City: Pierre |
|
* Tennessee - Capital City: Nashville |
|
* Texas - Capital City: Austin |
|
* Utah - Capital City: Salt Lake City |
|
* Vermont - Capital City: Montpelier |
|
* Virginia - Capital City: Richmond |
|
* Washington - Capital City: Olympia |
|
* West Virginia - Capital City: Charleston |
|
* Wisconsin - Capital City: Madison |
|
* Wyoming - Capital City: Cheyenne |
• |
United States - Commonwealths & Territories |
• |
* American Samoa - Capital City: Pago Pago |
|
* District of Columbia - Capital City: Washington |
|
* Federated States of Micronesia - Capital City: Kolonia |
|
* Guam/Guåhan - Capital City: Agana |
|
* North Marianas - Capital City: Saipan |
|
* Puerto Rico - Capital City: San Juan |
|
* Virgin Islands - Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas Island |
• |
Information - Editorial Comments |
• |
High Hopes  By Andrew Kohut, President, Pew Research Center as a Special to the New York Times
Barack Obama won only 53% of the vote on Election Day, but he is getting a landslide greeting from the American public. Indeed, recent polls by Gallup and the Pew Research Center find the public exuberant about Obama and optimistic that he will solve the nation's problems. A Pew post-election poll taken last weekend finds the voters giving Obama better grades for his conduct during the campaign than any presidential candidate since 1988. Seventy-five percent of the sample gave Obama a grade of A or B grade for his performance, while 24 percent gave him a C, D or F. Figure The Gallup Poll also showed Obama getting a higher post-election favorable rating (68%) than either George W. Bush in 2000 (56%) or Bill Clinton in 1992 (60%). Looking ahead, Pew found 67% of its national sample of voters saying they thought that Obama would have a successful first term, as many as 39% of those voters supported John McCain. The Gallup Poll asked a broader question about the state of the country four years from now, but found a similar result: 65% said the country will be better off. In comparison, only 50% thought the country would be better off following George W. Bush's victory in 2000, and about the same number (51%) thought the country would be better off following Bill Clinton's success in 1992. When Gallup asked about specific problems confronting the new administration, it found majorities saying they expected the new administration to succeed2 in dealing with 13 of 16 problem areas they tested. Notably large numbers expected that Obama will increase respect for the United States abroad; improve education, the environment and conditions for minorities and the poor; create a strong economic recovery; and succeed in getting troops out of Iraq and Afghanistan in a way that is "not harmful" to the United States. The polls also showed the public anticipating a better political environment as well. The Pew survey showed somewhat more voters thinking relations between Republicans and Democrats in Washington would improve under Obama compared with a survey following the 2006 mid-term election (37% versus 29%). And Gallup found as many as 80% of its respondents thinking that Obama will make a sincere effort to work with Republicans to find solutions.... This is all good news for the new administration. Obama may have a sweeter and longer honeymoon than most new presidents, but given the problems he confronts he'll need it. Most Americans expect him to repair the economy, deal successfully with the wars and make progress on key domestic issues. |
• |
Information - Election Poll Results |
• |
Economic Confidence Continues to Fall as Cash Flow and Business Investment Issues Intensify The Discover® Small Business WatchSM continued to decline for the third straight month, dropping below 70.0 for the first time since the Watch was established in August 2006. The index fell 3.9 points in November to 67.5. November Key Findings: • 44 percent of small business owners have experienced cash flow issues over the last 90 days, up sharply from 38 percent in October. This is the category's highest rating since April 2008, when the same number of owners reported cash flow issues. • Cash flow difficulties were most pronounced for small business owners whose primary customers are consumers: 49 percent said they had cash flow issues in the past 90 days that caused them to hold off on paying some bills, while only 33 percent of owners who sell business-to-business expressed the same issue. • 51 percent plan to decrease spending on business development over the next six months, up significantly from 42 percent in October and a record-high for this category; 20 percent plan to increase spending, down slightly from 23 percent last month; and 24 percent are not planning any changes in the next six months. • 65 percent rate the economy as poor, up 1 percent from October; only 5 percent rate the economy excellent or good, the lowest rating in this category in the history of the Watch. • 54 percent believe economic conditions for their businesses are worsening, up from 53 percent in October; and only 15 percent feel conditions for their business are improving, which is another record low. • The number of small business owners who think the U.S. economy is getting worse decreased by two percentage points to 72 percent in November; 8 percent feel the economy is getting better and 14 percent think it is staying the same. Election Poll: Small Business Owners Want Obama, Congress to Make Taxes a Top Priority • The majority of small business owners, 29 percent, cited taxes as the top issue they would like to see President-elect Obama and the new Congress tackle first in 2009; health insurance costs came in second, followed by energy costs, 15 percent; inflation, 13 percent; and access to capital, 12 percent. • Owners remain skeptical, however, that the government can help them: 64 percent said they are not confident the federal government and Congress can address the needs of America's small businesses. • Looking back on the recent campaign, 47 percent said they felt that Joe the Plumber, aka Samuel Wurzelbacher, was a good representative of the concerns of most American small business owners, 40 percent said he was not a good representative, while 14 percent were not sure. Holiday Poll: 4 in 10 Small Business Owners Expecting Holiday Drop-off • Forty percent of small business owners expect to do less business this holiday season than in 2007, while 47 percent expect it to be about the same and 9 percent expect more business this year. • Most of the small business owners polled for the Watch, 63 percent, said they make less than 10 percent of their annual income during the holidays, followed by 21 percent who make about a quarter of their annual income at this time of year, and 5 percent who make less than half of their income in this season. |
• |
Information - More Adults Using The Internet |
• |
The Harris Poll: Four Out of Five Adults Now Use the Internet 184 Million adults are online from their homes, offices, schools or other locationsaccording to research provided by The Harris Poll® In 1995, when The Harris Poll® began measuring online activity, less than 18 million adults used the Internet in their homes, offices, schools, libraries or other locations. Now, thirteen years, later, fully 184 million adults are online. The proportion of adults online trebled between 1995 (9%) and 1997 (30%), and kept on climbing rapidly to 63% in 2000. Since then growth has been slower, reading 73% in 2004 and 81% now. These are some of the results of The Harris Poll, a new nationwide survey of 2,020 U.S. adults surveyed by telephone between October 16 and 20, 2008 and October 30 and November 2, 2008 by Harris Interactive®. Many People Go Online at Two or More Locations While most people (75%), and almost all those who use the Internet, use it at home, more than two out of five adults (43%) go online at work and a third (32%) do so at other locations (schools, cybercafés, libraries, etc.) Internet Users Are Spending More Time Online Until 2002, Internet users spent an average of seven or eight hours online per week. That has increased to nine hours in 2005, eleven hours in 2007 and to fully fourteen hours in this new survey. Virtually all Computer Users are Now Online Before 1998, less than half of the people who used computers also used the Internet. Over the last ten years, that has increased steadily. Today only two percent of computer users do not go online. Demographic Profile of the Online Population Looks More Like the Whole Population In the early days of the Internet revolution, most of those online were young and well-educated. As the online population has grown it has come to look more and more like the population of the country. Internet penetration is still somewhat lower among people over 65, people who never went to college and people with household incomes of less than $25,000, but large majorities of all of these demographic groups are now online. So What? The internet revolution continues. The online population continues to grow and to use the Internet for more hours than ever before. Initially the Internet was used to do things we did before but to do them better, faster or cheaper. Now it is increasingly being used to so new things we could not do before which were prohibitively expensive or difficult. As Roy Amara once said of the growth of new technologies, “There is a tendency to overestimate their short-term impact and to underestimate long-term impact.” The Internet now touches many parts of our lives. With each new year we use it, and depend on it more for communication, information, work, shopping, and entertainment. In the election, Barack Obama and the Democrats used the Internet to drive their campaign, to communicate with many millions of people, to raise unprecedented amounts of money and to motivate and turn out their supporters. There is now talk of using these systems to enable the president-elect and his administration to communicate directly with the public and by-pass the traditional media. We may still be at the dawn of the age of the Internet. Methodology The Harris Poll® was conducted by telephone within the United States in October 2008 (October 16 and 20, 2008) and October 2008 (October 30 and November 2, 2008) among 2,020 adults (aged 18 and over). Figures for age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, region, number of adults in the household, size of place (urbanicity) and number of phone lines in the household were weighted where necessary to bring them into line with their actual proportions in the population. Full data tables and methodology for this study are available at www.Harrisinteractive.com. |
• |
Information - Letters To The Publisher |
• |
Giving Thanks This Holiday Season Dear Aubrey, On this Thanksgiving - the first one I'm spending with my family since 1984 - I thought I would send a note to tell you how thankful I am for my freedom and for the chance at a new life. I'm thankful to my family for welcoming me home, and to God for making my exoneration possible. I'm thankful to the Innocence Project staff for their work on my case and, most of all, to you, for your support as a member of the Innocence Project community. I spent 23 years behind bars in Texas for a crime I didn't commit. After not knowing for a lot of years whether the truth would ever come out, DNA testing proved my innocence and I was released in April. I've been out for seven months now, and it's hard to express how good it feels. I'm starting to build a life. I live with my sister in Garland, Texas, and I'm taking computer programming classes through an organization called Central Dallas Ministries. Technology has changed so much since I went to prison, but I'm really into learning new things and these classes are perfect for me. For my first Thanksgiving as a free man in 23 years, I'm not taking anything for granted. After a few years in prison, you start looking forward to the meal they serve on Thanksgiving, and you start to think of your fellow inmates as your family, because it's hard to accept that your real family is all together, so far away. After what I've been through, I'm just taking it all in. I'm going to my mom's house, my grandma's house and maybe a friend's house as well. Thanksgiving is a special day, and I'm overjoyed to be with my family. Thank you for your commitment to truth and justice, and Happy Holidays, Thomas McGowan, Garland, Texas |
• |
Information - Workplace & Carreers IV |
• |
The Right Call For Businesses (BUSINESS WIRE)--Retail, insurance, travel and leisure, real estate, financial services: each of these industries is among the hardest hit by the recession and the enormous decrease in consumer confidence and spending. All these sectors, too, share telemarketing as a lifeline for reaching potential new leads. While salespeople are going back to basics, utilizing cold calling as the most productive way to generate business, due to stringent state and federal Do Not Call (DNC) regulations, these businesses can no longer indiscriminately “dial for dollars.” When it comes to avoiding DNC violations, adherence to regulations is paramount, as inadvertently placing calls to registered numbers can result in fines of up to $11,000 per call. And DNC regulations are only becoming more comprehensive. This summer, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) passed two telemarketing sales rules amendments. The first bars telemarketing calls that deliver prerecorded messages unless a consumer previously consented to such calls; the second modifies the FTC's current method of measuring the maximum permissible level of “call abandonment” to coincide with the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) existing telemarketing rule. “Due to the fact that both federal and state governments maintain separate lists, DNC navigation can be a tricky endeavor,” says Dean Garfinkel, CEO of Compliance Systems Corporation (OTCBB: COPI), a developer of technology-based compliance solutions for the teleservices industry. “Forty-three states have DNC legislation and the Federal Registry currently has more than 165 million numbers on file. While the cost and effort involved in implementing a DNC solution, training personnel on company policy, and constantly cleansing target market lists can be daunting, the chances of dialing suspect numbers without a foolproof solution in place remains high.” Fortunately, Compliance Systems has created the only failsafe solution that ensures 100% state and federal DNC list compliance. The company's patented product, TeleBlock® Do-Not-Call Blocking System, automatically screens and blocks outbound calls in real-time against federal, state, and in-house DNC lists. In comments to the FCC, Attorney General Steve Carter of Indiana, architect of the most stringent DNC program in the U.S., praised the product, stating: “With services such as TeleBlock® that provide automatic blocking of restricted numbers, companies should no longer have to monitor each state's laws, their own campaigns, or the actions of their vendors, because the service already does that for them at very little cost.” For more information log onto www.callcompliance.com. |
• |
Information - Workplace & Carreers IV |
• |
Do You Use the “25 Deadliest Words and Phrases” in Business Writing? (BUSINESS WIRE)--If you've ever included phrases like “enclosed please find,” “under separate cover,” “please do not hesitate É” or “pursuant to your request” in a business letter or e-mail, you may be turning off your readers for good. The Communication Workshop, a company devoted to helping business people improve their writing, has issued a list of “The 25 Deadliest Words and Phrases in Business Communication.” says Workshop Director Gary Blake. www.writingworkshop.com “Although employers are constantly seeking employees with excellent communication skills, they often settle for people who write letters with stodgy, cliché-ridden phrases and negative tone (e.g., ”You failed to show up for the meeting.”) that may keep customers from returning as well as demoralize co-workers who are often shocked at the negativity of the message.” Blake cites phrases such as “Very truly yours,” “respectfully,” “as per your request,” “attached herewith,” “Sincerely yours,” and “the undersigned” as among the tired phrases that should be banned from business writing. As he travels through North America presenting seminars and webinars in Effective Business Writing and Effective Technical Writing, Blake often finds at least five to eight writing gaffes per page in every letter, memo or report submitted by seminar attendees. |
• |
Information - World of The Internet |
• |
Time Spent Online Important for Teen Development, Study Finds America's youth are developing important social and technical skills online, often in ways adults do not understand or value, a new report from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation finds. Released as part of the foundation's $50 million digital media and learning initiative, the report found that while adults often view online activity as risky or an unproductive distraction, youth understand the social value of online activity and are generally highly motivated to participate. By participating online, young people are learning basic social and technical skills that they need to fully participate in modern society and are able to connect with individuals in different locations and of different ages who share their interests, making it possible to pursue interests that might not be popular with or valued by their local peer groups. The report also found that online media, messages, and profiles that young people post can travel beyond expected audiences and are often difficult to eradicate after the fact. The rapid pace of change online may also present challenges for both adults and young people as they struggle to keep up with technology and related developments. "This study creates a baseline for our understanding of how young people are participating with digital media and what that means for their learning," said Connie Yowell, director of education at the MacArthur Foundation. "It concludes that learning today is becoming increasingly peer-based and networked, and this is important to consider as we begin to re-imagine education in the twenty-first century." |
|
Visit Our Bipartisan Political Index - Do It Today! |
• |
Click Here: This page displays a bipartisan list of selected (Texas/Harris County) candidates by first name from the 2008 November Presidential General Election; the 2006 November Mid-term General Election; and the 2005 November Citywide General Election who answered the request of the Houston Business Connections, publisher (Aubrey R. Taylor), to tell our readers and Harris County area voters why they should choose them on Election Day. |
• |
|
• |
Would You Like To Be Featured? - Contact Us! |
• |
If you would like to have your business featured inside the upcoming "People Doing Business" series, please call (832)212-8735. You may also e-mail your request for more information or inclusion to the publisher at the e-mail address below. |
Send Press Releases to: news@houston-businessconnections.com |
Send General Comments to: comments@houston-businessconnections.com |
Email The Publisher: aubreyrtaylor@houston-businessconnections.com |
