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High-Tech Santa
Santa Claus is looking forward to the time-honored traditions of visiting with children at Richland Mall and receiving letters at the North Pole, but he also is giving his communications a high-tech update.
Richland Mall’s holiday Web site home page, RichlandMall.com, is the official source for connecting with Santa this holiday season. Through the site, parents can learn his visiting hours at the mall, print a Dear Santa letter and coloring sheets, and download a series of video messages from Santa about how he and his elves are preparing for Christmas. They can also sign their children up to receive mobile telephone text messages from the Santa.
Parents or grandparents can log onto the site, input a few facts about the child, and schedule times for the children to receive the message. Three text messages to a child before Christmas Day cost $5.49, and a customizable message for Christmas morning can be scheduled for an additional 99 cents.
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Quality Inn No. 1
Quality Inn & Suites in Waco has moved into the No. 1 position on the Quality Inn property ranking of Choice Hotels International, one of the world’s largest lodging franchisors.
The move puts the property above 850 other Quality Inn hotels nationwide.
This honor is the second of the year for the Quality Inn & Suites Waco, as it was previously honored with the Platinum Award from Choice Hotels International. They earned their Platinum Award because they met several key thresholds that are important to achieving guest satisfaction. These included cleanliness, guest complaints, response to guest complaints and performance on guest surveys.
The property at 2410 S. New Road is owned and operated by Bright Faith LTD of Waco. It features 71 guestrooms, a meeting room, an indoor pool and spa, exercise room, and a business center with two new computers.
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Top Business States
Site Selection magazine has named North Carolina the state with the Top Business Climate for 2009. Texas placed second this year.
As revelaed in the November 2009 issue of the magazine, research based in part on a survey of corporate real estate executive has identified the Tar Heel State’s overall climate for capital investment to be tops in the United States for the fifth year in a row, and for the eight time in the last nine years.
Though North Carolina won in the overall survey, Texas took top honors among executives. They were asked: “Based upon your experience, what are the top 10 state business climates, taking into consideration such factors as lack of red tape, financial assistance and government officials’ cooperation?”
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Gift of Food
Richland Mall is teaming up with Santa and his elves during November and December to collect food and financial donations for Waco’s neediest families.
The mall is joining more than 80 CBL properties across the country to collect non-perishable food for distribution to local food banks. Caritas of Waco will use all donations to provide for those in need during the holidays and into 2010.
More than 36.2 million Americans, including more than 12 million children and nearly three million seniors, are in need of food assistance.
Richland Mall is asking shoppers, including families visiting Santa, to bring their food donations to the Santa Set. Cherry Hill Photo, an industry leader in capturing the Santa photo experience, will provide a discount on photo packages to all donors.
Shoppers are not required to visit Santa or have their photo taken to make donations.
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BanksHonored
Four local banks will be recognized today for their efforts to help pay the legal bills of low-income Texans.
The Texas Access to Justice Foundation will honor BBVA Compass, Fidelity Bank of Texas, First National Bank of Bosque County and Independent Bank at a luncheon at noon at the La Fiesta Party Room on Franklin Avenue.
They will receive the “Prime Partner Award” from the Foundation.
The Foundation receives a significant amount of its funding from the Interest on Lawyers’ Trust Accounts program. Prime Partner banks pay higher interest rates than other participating banks, making more money available for legal aid.
“Legal Aid programs are severely under-funded and unable to meet the overwhelming demand for legal services,” said Betty Balli Torres, executive director of the Foundation. “Prime Partner banks are to be commended for their efforts in aiding those who desperately need assistance for a wide range of legal issues, including domestic abuse, landlord-tenant disputes, life-sustaining service denials and other civil matters.”
With the recent drop in interest rates, Prime Partners help to mitigate the decline in revenue available to fund legal aid, Torres said.
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Blankets For Critters
Poppa Rollo’s Pizza, 703 N. Valley Mills Drive, is offering a free appetizer with the purchase of a medium pizza to anyone who brings in a new or used blanket for use at Fuzzy Friends Rescue or the Waco Humane Society/Animal Shelter.
The promotion, which runs through Dec. 15, will help critters warm during the winter.
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H-E-B Donations
H-E-B, the grocery chain, has donated $50,000 to the Association of the United States Army and has launched a tear-pad campaign in stores to benefit the organization in response to the tragedy at Fort Hood.
All monies will benefit the AUSA Central Texas-Fort Hood Chapter fund established to memorialize the recent tragedy and care for the affected soldiers and their families. One hundred percent of all funds will go to meet these needs.
The campaign offers H-E-B customers an opportunity to join H-E-B’s aid by adding a donation in increments of $1, $3 or $5 to their total grocery bill.
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Chamber Award
The Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce’s new $4.3 million headquarters has earned a LEED certification at the gold level, and the designation is generating national attention for the economic and community development organization and for Waco.
The chamber’s building is the first in Greater Waco to be designed and constructed to meet the stringent guidelines of the U.S. Green Building Council. It also is the first chamber building in America to be LEED-certified.
LEED, for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is a designation conferred by the U.S. Green Building Council that assigns points for sustainability measures in buildings. For example, the Waco chamber building boasts a 1,400-square-foot living roof, reduces water use by up to 30 percent and consumers 22 percent less energy than a standard building.
The chamber will celebrate its LEED certification with a ceremony at 4 p.m. Oct. 28 at the chamber building, 101 S. Third St. A reception will follow until 6 p.m.
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Baylor Helps
As part of its commitment to students’ career development, Baylor University’s Hankamer School of Business announced that it now provides personal career coaching services to MBA candidates in its Executive MBA programs, which are located in Dallas and Austin.
“The bottom line is that Baylor cares deeply about every student’s career development and success,” said Kenneth Buckley, Cox-Hawkins Director of Career Management at Baylor. “This is just one more asset we provide that enables our students to be positioned to lead and succeed.”
Baylor has chosen two nationally recognized executive coaching firms as partners in delivering this additional service to its Executive MBA students: World Class Coaches (www.worldclasscoaches.com) and DBM (www.dbm.com). Students are given the option to choose either firm for personal, customized coaching services and career development tools.
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Tax Notes
The state of Texas sold $5.5 billion in Tax and Revenue Anticipation Notes for a record-low interest rate of 0.48 percent, Texas Comptroller Susan Combs announced.
That means Texas will have to pay only 0.48 percent interest on the short-term notes to distribute state funding to public schools early in the upcoming fiscal year and manage its cash flow between the start of the fiscal year and the arrival of tax revenues later in the year.
“We had an impressive sale and an excellent interest rate — the best Texas has ever had,” Combs said. “Buyers bid more than $28 billion to obtain a portion of the $5.5 billion in notes Texas offered for sale Tuesday. That is more than five times the amount available for purchase. The high demand for Texas’ high-quality notes drove the interest rate down to its historic low.”
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Employers Update
The Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce is updating its list of major employers. It invites McLennan County companies with more than 45 employees to complete a brief survey by Sept. 10.
To ask questions, call Alexis Weaver, the chamber’s research manager, at 757-5628.
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Shifting Paradigms
A seminar for business peopled titled “Shifting Paradigms: New Realities, New Rules, New Resources” is scheduled Thursday through Saturday in the Waco Convention Center, 100 Washington Ave. in downtown Waco.
Business contacts, franchisors, exhibitors and presenters will be featured at the event. It is sponsored by the Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce, the Dwyer Group, McLennan Community College’s Small Business Development Center, Platinum Career Coaching Group, Texas State Technical College and Baylor University.
Registration is $99. Those wanting to ask questions should call the Platinum Career Coaching Group at 399-6861.
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Marketing Manager
Trish Clement has been named the new medical marketing manager for Waco-based Spenco Medical Corp., the company announces.
In her new position, she will oversee all marketing and branding efforts related to Spenco’s medical segment. She also will work with trainers and physical therapists at schools, universities and professional sports teams.
Clement was most recently marketing manager at Texas Hobby Auto Auction, based in Houston. Prior to that she was marketing director for Cumulus Radio in Houston.
Spenco was founded in 1967 by Dr. Wayman Spence, a foot care specialist. The company is involved in the outdooor, sports, foot-care and medical markets.
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Stevens Promoted
Carolyn Stevens has been promoted to assistant vice president and accounting department manager for American Bank in Waco.
She began working with new accounts at American Bank in 2000 and transferred to the bank’s accounting department in 2002. She became bank officer and accounting department manager in 2007.
Carolyn and her husband, Kent, reside in West, along with her two sons. They are members of St. Martin’s Catholic Church in Tours.
American Bank has been serving local communities since 1952 and has two locations: 200 West Highway 6 in American Plaza and 1601 N. Interstate 35 in Bellmead.
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Allstate Award
Allstate Insurance has recognized Waco agency owner Doug Buchanan with the Regional Champions award for high standards in customer satisfaction, custome retention and profitable business growth.
The Doug Buchanan Insurance Agency is now one of the top Allstate agencies in the nation in auto, property and commercial insurance and in financial services.
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Psychiatrist Moves
The psychiatry office of Dr. William Lebeau has relocated to 6611 Sanger Ave., Suite 1.
It previously was located at 305 Londonderry Drive, Suite 5.
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Incommons Chief
J.D. King has been named city president of the new Incommons Bank at Legends Crossing, the development taking shape next to the new Hillcrest Baptist Medical Center at West Loop 340 and State Highway 6.
As president, King will lead the executive team and be responsible for overall management of the Waco location. King is a Baylor University graduate who has spent time at Compass Bank in the Houston market and has worked in investment and private banking. He received his CPA designation after studying at the University of Houston.
Mexia-based Incommons Banks has locations in Waco, Mexia, Fairfield and Coolidge.
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Sulak’s Cafe
Sulak’s Cafe in West will reopen to the public on Friday under the new ownership of Jeff and Ashley Redding of Robinson.
The couple will serve dishes that became mainstays at Sulak’s, and will add a few specialties of their own.
The restaurant will be open daily except Tuesday and Wednesday.
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Waters in Waco
Charlie Waters, a mainstay for the Dallas Cowboys’ “Doomsday Defense” from 1970 to 1982, will speak at the First Community Bank Kick Off Luncheon.
The luncheon begins at 11:30 a.m. Aug. 25 at the Baylor University Ferrell Center.
Waters never experienced a losing season, played in five Super Bowls and won two world championships while playing for America’s Team. He has been nominated twice for the Pro Football Hall of Fame and was voted twice by fans as their “favorite Cowboy.”
Also at the luncheon, Baylor head football coach Art Briles will preview the upcoming college footbal seasons. Local high school state champions also will be recognized.
Tickets may be purchased for $25 in advance or $30 at the door. For questions regarding tickets, contact Blake Harris at 757-5605 or bharris@wacochamber.com.
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Hassell Changes Banks
Dana Hassell, a 25-year banking veteran in Waco, has joined American Bank as executive vice president and chief credit officer.
Hassell, who most recently worked at Synergy Bank, will be responsible for managing the bank’s lending and credit functions.
Hassell graduated from Baylor University with a degree in accounting and worked for Peat Marwick and Mitchell in Dallas before returning to Waco in 1983 to serve as director of internal audit and management analysis at Baylor University. He launched his banking career at Texas National Bank of Waco.
Hassell also graduated from the Southwestern Graduate School of Banking at Southern Methodist University.
American Bank has been serving local communities since 1952 and has two locations: 200 West Highway 6 and 1601 N. Interstate 35.
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TCBY closed
For those of you who have inquired, the TCBY yogurt shop at 801 N. Valley Mills Drive has closed.
A jewelry store is moving into that location.
Latest comments
It’s great to have such a highly-ranked property in our city!
... read the full comment by Lori Jarvis | Comment on Quality Inn No. 1 Read Quality Inn No. 1
It IS true, Roger. But from what I know of the situation, they’re getting rid of a lot of dead weight. Not that I don’t feel for some who are having their salaries reduced, but apparently a lot of employees have been getting away with doing
... read the full comment by Snickers | Comment on Chuy's Read Chuy's
One commenter called Chuy’s “franchised” but that’s not really the case in my opinion. Or if it is, it’s a very small franchise, worlds smaller than Chilli’s or Cheddar’s. I think this is a welcome addition to Waco.
... read the full comment by Jeff | Comment on Chuy's Read Chuy's
He should be an immediate success treating all the nutty quacky shrinks Waco is home to.
... read the full comment by Shrink | Comment on Psychiatrist Moves Read Psychiatrist Moves