Country’s fresh face ... Meter matters ... Collecting data ... Personal assistance.
Edited by Louis Marroquin
SWIFT ASCENT
Taylor Swift was in first grade when her teacher made an ambitious prediction. “She said that Taylor would be a very famous writer one day,” says her father, Scott, a member of Nashville City Club. “At the time we thought, how can you say that? She’s only in first grade!” But Taylor wasted no time in fulfilling that prophecy. By the age of 12, Taylor was penning her own songs and singing the national anthem at pro sports events in her hometown near Philadelphia. At 13, her family moved to Nashville, where she quickly got a contract as a songwriter for Sony/ATV Music Publishing. Last year, Taylor released her debut album, which went gold in three months, and landed her first tour, opening for Rascal Flatts. Since then, the 17-year-old has toured with George Strait and now is sharing the road with Brad Paisley. Thanks to her hit single, “Tim McGraw,” she also earned a few opening slots for the country superstar by the same name. Throw in a nomination from the Academy of Country Music as best new female vocalist, and it adds up to a dizzying amount of success. “I’m having an amazing year,” she acknowledges. “I knew it wouldn’t happen overnight, but it’s exciting to see it happen so fast.” The wisdom of her lyrics belies her age, and those honest outpourings give a voice to females of all ages, while at the same time earning the respect and appreciation of the other gender. That universal appeal will likely keep her at the top of the charts for years to come. “What I love about the music business is that there’s no ceiling to what you can accomplish,” she says. “That’s so inspiring, because there’s so much more I want to do.” — Paula Felps
– Photography by Andrew Orth
PARK SMART
Nitin Khanna got tired of paying parking tickets, so he did something about it. “Every time I worked downtown, I got a ticket because I never had enough change,” says Khanna, a member of the Pyramid Club in Philadelphia. “I wondered why the machines couldn’t be designed to use a credit card.” After investigating further, he created OmPay, a company that produces “smart cards” to pay for parking. Consumers now use them like cash in meters that have been updated by the Philadelphia Parking Authority. “In 2003, we took it to the Parking Authority and showed them how they could increase revenue and reduce costs by going to this method. They were going to upgrade the meters anyway, so they had the presence of mind to use this model.” The program has been well received by both the Parking Authority and consumers. Rather than branching out nationally, now OmPay is focused on new features that can be used in Philadelphia. “We’re expanding it so people can have one-card access to all public transportation. They’ll be able to use it on the bus, to get a cab, for parking in garages, everything.” — Paula Felps
- Photography by Bill Cramer/Wonderful Machine Inc.
GOLDEN RETRIEVAL
The numbers haunt Steven Hausle. As president and CEO of Axcient, which provides critical data backup and retrieval services, he knows that small businesses produce about half of the U.S. private-sector output. That’s a troubling statistic for someone who also knows that 75 percent of small firms have no business continuity or disaster recovery plan and that 70 percent that experience a major data loss are out of business within a year. “The classic example,” notes Hausle, a member of the Silicon Valley Capital Club in San Jose, California, “is the New Orleans accounting firm hit by Hurricane Katrina. They had insurance to rebuild their office, but they didn’t have customer lists, account receivables, and tax returns. After 35 years, they had to start over.” Axcient’s job is to keep businesses from having to start over — and to help with day-to-day activities. That includes the client whose project manager realized that the files needed for an important presentation had accidentally been deleted. “He accessed our off-site backup and 15 minutes later was good to go,” says Hausle, who later heard that it would have cost the firm nearly $10,000 to reconstruct the documents — not to mention the embarrassment of needing to postpone the presentation. — Dave Orman
- Photography by Edward Caldwell
SOUND JUDGMENT
Phyllis Farragut, president and CEO of Admiral Communications in Dallas, believes her relationship with customers should be a partnership. “You have to be creative, and you have to work with the customer,” says Farragut, a member of Stonebriar Country Club near Dallas. “I want to be a company that says to the customer, ‘We can do it.’” Admiral, which Farragut founded in 1997, offers an array of communications technology services, from voice- and data-cabling and server-equipment relocation services to audiovisual systems and sound systems for sports arenas. With clients including Marriott and Siemens, Admiral’s aim is to create communications systems for companies based on their individual preferences, Farragut says. “Our philosophy, as it relates to brand, is to be totally neutral,” she says. “When we design a system for a customer, our goal is to design what they want within their budget.” The company has seen strong growth since its inception, with revenues growing from $1 million to $6 million in 2006. As for what’s ahead in communications technology, “I think the voice-over IP, or that kind of technology, is certainly going to be part of the future, and there will be video with those phones,” Farragut says. — Janet Mefferd
- Photography by Danny Hurley
RUNNING ERRANDS
Brian Wheeler says his business was born out of his “own personal strife.” As a busy professional who traveled constantly, he found he had no time to run those daily errands that keep a refrigerator stocked or a household in working order. “It just seemed there was never any time to get those life tasks done,” says Wheeler, a member of City Club of Washington in D.C. Unable to find an adequate solution, Wheeler launched a business to help out-of-time professionals like himself keep their lives running smoothly. Last year, he founded Derby Service, a firm that allows clients to hire personal assistants between two and 10 hours a week. “During that time, the personal assistant is completely dedicated to what the client needs,” Wheeler says, noting the assistants do everything from grocery shopping to concierge services to arranging for home deliveries. “We’re able to completely manage their household and personal life.” With four personal assistants and a growing number of clients, Wheeler says he already plans to expand to other markets. Best of all, he says, “I’m able to help these people be more successful and create better lives.” — Janet Mefferd
- Photography by Rex Fly
SWING SHIFT
Ray Williams found inspiration in his daughter’s tennis swing. Watching her play three years ago during a session at Brookhaven Country Club near Dallas, Williams noticed her arm was extended and her swing pattern was off. “I thought, if I could just fix that arm up and her wrist, we could fix that thing,” he says. About a week later, Williams created a prototype for his Tennis Xcelerator, which restricts the arm and wrist to improve groundstroke mechanics. Williams now is working on a plan to mass-produce and distribute the device, which is used by trainers at several Dallas-area clubs. — Janet Mefferd
- Photography by Lisa Means
LUNCH MADE EASY
Lunch delivery with satisfaction guaranteed: That’s what Katherine Baldini promises metro-Detroit-area professionals who use her Vmeals franchise, an online service that arranges the delivery of food from local restaurants. Vmeals promises online users that all they have to do is “point, click, and eat.” The metro-Detroit Vmeals, one of several franchises that service 30 cities across the country, gives clients their choice of menus from more than 75 area restaurants and caterers. “Most of our business is corporate,” says Baldini, a member of Detroit’s Renaissance Club. “Many of our customers are administrative assistants and pharmaceutical reps who regularly arrange meals for business meetings. They love the ease and variety, and being able to order at a time that’s convenient for them, 24/7.” Vmeals handles all the details — confirming and tracking orders, managing changes, and arranging delivery. There’s even an option that allows guests to select their own menu preferences. “And for about the same price as doing it yourself,” explains Baldini, a former marketing executive whose franchise has brought $300,000 in corporate catering business to her restaurant/catering partners in the last 12 months. “Customers appreciate that I negotiate on their behalf. We gain a lot of leverage because of the amount of business that we do.” — Mary Sue Lawrence
- Photography by Santa Fabio
YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT
Will Clower was breaking every diet rule. An American neuroscientist researching brain cells in France, Clower felt sure the croissants and pastries he was eating would go straight to his waist. But he didn’t gain. In fact, he lost. Puzzled by his shrinking body and his observation that the French seemed thinner, Clower, a member of Rivers Club in Pittsburgh, set out to find out why. Now, the author of The Fat Fallacy and The French Don’t Diet teaches classes, including at the Rivers Club, on the benefits of a Mediterranean Diet. “The basic rule is to eat real food,” he explains. “When the quality of your food increases, the quantity your body asks for decreases.” — Ariel Hammond
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
Dinosaurs no longer exist, so stop dressing for survival, insists Sandy Dumont. “We still instinctively try to blend in with our backgrounds,” says Dumont, a member of Town Point Club in Norfolk, Virginia. As an image consultant and executive director of Impression Strategies Institute, Dumont advises clients on how to dress for success professionally and socially. “Look in the mirror and make sure you stand out,” she challenges. “If you went to a play and the set was beige, would you stand out as the star? Because you’re the star in every play of your life.” Dressing for comfort rarely equates to dressing to impress, says Dumont, who calls corporate casual a “corporate casualty.” To increase clout and credibility, wear bold colors that contrast with your skin. Jewel tones flatter most people. Don’t play it too safe; instead, choose distinguishing accessories, such as a red or yellow tie in a discreet print, or a fuchsia scarf and lipstick. Look your best when in public, even the grocery or hardware store. “Never be seen as sloppy and careless,” advises Dumont, who’s helped clients secure better jobs, higher raises, even marriage proposals. “I’ve seen people change their lives just by changing the colors they wear.” — Mary Sue Lawrence
- Photography by Keith Lanpher
MELTING POT
Diversity, says Teddy Pierre, is not a “feel good” thing, but a necessary part of doing business. “It’s about dollars and cents,” says the president of the Pascall Company LLC, a human resources consulting firm that helps companies embrace diversity and use it to grow and succeed. “Diversity helps companies communicate better, develop better products, and evolve to be more profitable — that’s the bottom line,” says the member of the Centre Club in Tampa, Florida. “But people get hung up on the visual and emotional side of it, such as whether someone’s wearing a turban.” Different cultures, religious backgrounds, sexual orientations, and disabilities are in the workplace like never before, explains Pierre, quoting a survey that determined there are seven white Americans to every one of color for ages 70 and up, but for ages 20 to 29, the ratio is 2-1⁄2-to-1. With more people leaving than entering the workforce, recruitment and retention are crucial. The biggest mistake companies make? Not putting out the welcome mat. “Do the simple things: convey diversity on your Web site and marketing materials. Use photos of people of different ages, cultures, and color,” Pierre advises. “Integrate diversity into your business and applicants will feel it.” — Mary Sue Lawrence
- Photography by Riku+Anna
BUILDING A FUTURE
Richard Cilento is a builder. These days, the CEO of FuelQuest Inc. is constructing a Houston-based company that continues to pump up its bottom line helping other companies manage fuel demands online. The company boasts big-time fuel users such as UPS, Wal-Mart, and 7-Eleven, which use FuelQuest’s on-demand software to find, buy, and deliver fuel. Centralizing the process allows a company to better manage the petroleum industry’s volatility and complex regulations, and ultimately lower its fuel costs. With 106 percent revenue growth per year, and an employee base that has doubled to 120 since being founded in 1999, FuelQuest’s ingenuity and success has not gone unnoticed. Cilento was a 2006 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year award recipient. Yet, thinking outside the stratosphere is nothing new to Cilento, a member of Bay Oaks Country Club. The aeronautical and astronomical engineer, who worked as a flight controller for NASA, launched his first company in college. Cilento’s Bagels sold hot-off-the-grill 12-cent bagels, for a buck, from the back of pickup trucks to a hungry
college crowd waiting outside their favorite campus bars at the University of Illinois. “I’m a builder of companies and ideas,” Cilento says. — Helen Bond
… SHORT TAKES …
What’s the best private golf course in California’s Coachella Valley? Well, Desert Magazine awards the title to Mission Hills in its 14th annual “Best in the Valley” rankings. “It is a tremendous honor to receive this recognition because the desert includes some of the finest private clubs in the world,” says Chuck Feddersen, ClubCorp regional vice president. “We are thrilled to have been chosen.” The magazine cites that Mission Hills, with three courses, including the famed Dinah Shore Tournament Course of the LPGA Kraft Nabisco Championship, offers members of any playing level an enjoyable challenge. … Scott Verplank, who grew up in Texas playing junior golf at Brookhaven, calls his win at the EDS Byron Nelson his most memorable victory to date. ... Anaheim’s Mighty Ducks hockey team takes a breather off the ice to play a round of golf at Coto de Caza. … Presidential aspirant Sen. Barack Obama stops by Cleveland’s Club at Key Center and Boston’s UMass Club during a recent U.S. tour. At the UMass Club, Obama gave a 40-minute speech followed by questions and answers. … Congrats, it’s a shoe! New parents receive a diminutive pair of FootJoys for their newborns at North Carolina’s Devils Ridge. Member relations director Angel Nardo and head golf pro Jason Cherry teamed with member Greg Todd, a FootJoy representative, to conceive the idea. (Of course, baby boys get blue and girls get pink.) … California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger appoints Bunker Hill member William Gailey, a private investigator, as a public member of the State Bar Board of Governors. Gailey, 59, has more than 30 years of experience in the public and private sectors, and currently serves as chair of the investigation and intelligence gathering firm, Gailey Associates. … Diamond Run member Karen Koenig spins the Wheel of Fortune as a game show contestant and wins $35,000. … Lifestyle maven B. Smith, a member of New York’s Athletic & Swim Club, unveils a 40-piece furniture collection at this year’s International Home Furnishing Spring Market. The collection is the first designed by an African American woman to be presented for national distribution. The collection is comprised of three distinct groups inspired by the places Smith has lived or visited throughout her travels as a model, restaurateur, and entrepreneur: Central Park South, Sag Harbour, and Mosaic Treasures. … Golfweek selects Pinehurst No. 2 and The Homestead Cascades Course to its list of 100 Best Classic Courses. … Golf Digest ranks Arkansas’ Diamante among America’s 50 toughest courses. “I’ve played a lot of golf courses, and when played from the tips, few compare with the challenge of the Diamante course,” says Brad Martin, the club’s head golf professional. “The length, the zoysia grass, and the hills all add to the adversarial nature of its great design.” … New York Mets third baseman David Wright presents Greenbrier Country Club member Katelyn Admire with a student achievement award for athletics and academics at the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame. … East Lake Woodlands in Florida unites 58 golfers for a nine-hole golf tournament to raise money to help rebuild the fire-ravaged clubhouse at Michigan’s Oak Pointe. ... Also, at East Lake Woodlands, 86-year-old member Ray Tourin stays young at heart by playing golf five days a week and walking the 1-1/2 miles from his house to the club before hitting the course. ... Columbia Tower Club member Steve Crandall enlists his production company to film his father receiving the Medal of Honor at the White House. … Three children of Brookhaven members in Dallas add their tributes and support of the troops to the book Dear Soldier: Heartfelt Letters From America’s Children. The Brookhaven kids, Ila Saunders, Brock Burton, and Shannon Burton, posed for pictures with co-author Amber D’Amico. …