CONGRATULATIONS: Judge Christine Riddle Butts, Judge for Probate Court #4, and Her Daughter Abigail Butts Are New Members of the Daughters of the American Revolution

CONGRATULATIONS: State Rep. Debbie Riddle (HD-150), Phyllis Holly, Judge Christine Riddle Butts, and Abigail Butts

HOUSTON BUSINESS CONNECTIONS REPORTS

Judge Christine Riddle Butts and Her Daughter Abigail Butts Are New Members of the Daughters of the American Revolution

JUDGE CHRISTINE RIDDLE BUTTS: “Yesterday, my daughter, Abigail Butts, and I were installed as members of the Daughters of the American Revolution. My mom, Debbie Riddle, and my grandmother, Phyllis Holly attended and we took this four generation photo.”

ABOUT JUDGE CHRISTINE RIDDLE BUTTS

Judge Christine Riddle Butts is the honorable District Judge for Harris County Probate Court #4. Her mission is to serve families in times of crisis in a thoughtful, compassionate, and deliberate way, whether that crisis involves the loss of a loved one, the need for a guardianship, or a mental health issue.

Judge Riddle Butts was first elected back in November of 2010, after fourteen years of practice as a probate lawyer in Harris County. She was re-elected again in the November of 2014 Midterm Election. And she’ll be up for re-election again in the November 2018 Midterm Election in the race for Harris County Probate Court #4.

Probate judges in Harris County preside over probate, guardianship, and civil mental health cases. And Judge Christine Riddle Butts is one of the best at what she does for the people of Harris County, Texas.

ABOUT STATE REP. DEBBIE RIDDLE

State Representative Debbie Riddle is the proud mother of Judge Christine Riddle Butts; but she’s also a powerful member of the Texas House of Representatives. She represents House District 150 which comprises much of northwestern Harris County. Rep. Riddle is also a well-known Horse Breeder.

DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION

What is the DAR?

With more than 120 years of tradition, over 930,000 members admitted since its founding, a vast array of service work, a historic National Headquarters building with extraordinary collections, and countless activities taking place locally, nationally and globally, there is much to learn about the Daughters of the American Revolution.

The organization was founded in 1890 with the simple mission of promoting historic preservation, education and patriotism. These timeless, overarching principles keep the DAR strong and vitally relevant in this ever-changing world.

This nonprofit, nonpolitical volunteer women's service organization dedicated to promoting patriotism, preserving American history and securing America's future through better education consists of nearly 177,000 members in 3,000 chapters across the world. These vibrant, active women are the heart of the organization. 

Become a Member

When you join the DAR, you enter a network of more than 177,000 women who form lifelong bonds, honor their revolutionary ancestors and promote historic preservation, education and patriotism in their communities. We have answers to your questions about becoming a member of this historic and vibrant organization.

Click here for more information on (DAR) Daughters of the American Revolution

AUBREY R. TAYLOR: "On behalf of Houston Business Connections Newspaper and Magazine I would like to salute Judge Christine Riddle Butts and Abigail on being installed as new members of Daughters of the American Revolution."

FINAL NOTES: Our "CELEBRATING FREEDOM AND LIBERTY" edition of Houston Business Connections Magazine will be released on Friday, June 19, 2015. This edition will highlight "JUNETEENTH" and "THE FOURTH OF JULY" holidays.

WE ARE STILL LOOKING FOR MORE PEOPLE TO FEATURE INSIDE OUR NEXT EDITION. A few of the key advertisers already signed up are: Attorney Ben Hall, Attorney Farrah Martinez, Judge John Schmude, and Judge Loyd Wright.

CALL (832)212-8735 TO ADVERTISE!

Call Aubrey R. Taylor Communications at (832)212-8735 if you would like to be included in the next edition of Houston Business Connections Newspaper.

FEATURED PEOPLE: Sheriff Adrian Garcia, Attorney Ben Hall, Attorney Keryl L. Douglas, Mayor Allen Owen, Judge John Schmude, Judge Loyd Wright, Judge Christine Riddle Butts, and Attorney General Loretta Lynch

CAMPAIGN NEWS: Harris County Sheriff Adrian Garcia Has Decided to Run for Mayor of Houston in the Tuesday, November 3, 2015 City of Houston Mayoral Election

HOUSTON BUSINESS CONNECTIONS REPORTS

The 2015 City of Houston Mayoral Election has just gotten a little more interesting with the entry of Harris County Sheriff Adrian Garcia into the race for mayor. Garcia has finally delivered the news that many Houstonians have been waiting for months to hear. But don't forget that the complete field of mayoral contenders won't be set until Monday, August 24, 2015.

HERE ARE A FEW OTHER CANDIDATES WHO MAY BE RUNNING FOR MAYOR OF HOUSTON

Other candidates expected to be in the Tuesday, November 3rd race for City of Houston Mayor are: Ben Hall, Victoria Lane, Sylvester Turner, Bill King, Marty McVey, Stephen Costello, and Chris Bell. The deadline for candidates to have their name placed on the ballot in the City of Houston is Monday, August 24, 2015. Early voting will start on Monday, October 19, 2015 and end on Friday, October 30, 2015. You are strongly encouraged to consider the candidates who value and respect us when you go to the polls.




I’m Running for Mayor

Friends:

For the past several months, I've done something that leaders should do a lot more of: I've been listening. I've been listening to people all over Houston - from fellow churchgoers, to large and small business owners, to friendly seniors at the local breakfast spot. Like me, they all love our city. But they're also concerned about our future. They want the roads to be repaired and to spend less time in traffic, they want to keep our families and children safe, they want to improve our schools, and they want to make sure the city doesn't spend more than it takes in. I share those concerns.

And as I've listened, people have urged me to run for Mayor.

There was a familiar refrain to all of their remarks. It was about reform and results. They were grateful that we have kept a lid on violent crime rates and put more officers on the street to keep you safe, even during a hiring freeze. Violent crime rates for murder and rape are down even as we have served an increased population in Harris County.

By reforming the Harris County Sheriff's Office and the jail, cutting wasteful spending and practices, we saved the taxpayer's over $100 million. We imposed discipline and fired people who disgraced the badge and dishonored the department. We ended the practice of sending inmates and your tax dollars to private prisons in Louisiana and ended the chronic jail overcrowding. Modernizing an agency with almost 5,000 employees and a budget of almost half a billion dollars has been no easy task, but our hard work has begun to pay off. The Sheriff's office budget that was constantly in the red has been transformed into one that has stayed within its means and reduced the burden on taxpayers.

Most importantly, the most consistent thing I've heard is the difference we've made in people's lives. Today, thousands have participated in educational programs while in the jail, and many have gone on to enroll in the Houston Community College. These people are leaving behind a life of crime and steering their future to a job and being able to take care of their families. Our "Been There Done That" program has helped turn around the lives of women who came into the jail for sex work and came out knowing how to earn a living using their minds. We grew our chaplaincy program from a handful of people, and now, with the help of over 200 volunteers, we are able to touch with faith and help thousands of souls every week.

There has been a familiar refrain across the city when people talk about our successes. I listened to people encourage me to bring the same approach and problem solving to the City of Houston. It's the same approach I used on Council and as Mayor Pro Tem. The city is seeing more violent crimes, serious financial challenges with few remedies left to use, and infrastructure and transportation issues that desperately need a fresh approach.

This is not the first time I've listened. I listened to the prayer my father shared with my family when they emigrated from Mexico a year before I was born. I listened to my mother when she sensed I was restless working in my dad's automotive repair business and I wanted to serve a higher purpose to my family and community. I listened to my father when he gave me five principles to live by after I told him I wanted to join the Houston Police Department. Among them was to be proud of who I am and to never forget where I came from.

I've been listening to the people of Houston, and I believe it's time to bring a fresh approach to the city of Houston. It's time to offer leadership that brings people together, that is firm and fair, and gives everyone a voice at City Hall, not just the wealthy and well-connected. At the same time, we have to keep our business environment strong to grow our economy so good paying jobs are available to everyone who wants to work, raise a family, and be a part of making Houston the best place it can be. Today, I'm announcing my candidacy for Mayor of Houston because Houston needs a mayor who knows how to balance a budget, save taxpayers millions, and protect our children and families. I've done that as sheriff. And I'll do that as mayor.

I will need your help, your support, and your prayers if I am to be successful. I know that together we can fix what ails our city, and make Houston the world class city to live, work, and raise a family that it is poised to be.

Respectfully,

Adrian Garcia

INTERVIEW: Judge Christine Riddle Butts takes a moment to discuss her Dream, Mission, and Outlook for 2015 with Aubrey R. Taylor

PROBATE JUDGE CHRISTINE RIDDLE BUTTS – pictured with Mayor Allen Owen (left). Judge Christine Riddle Butts (right) currently serves as the Probate Judge for District Court #4 in Harris County. In November of 2010, after fourteen years of practice as a probate lawyer in Harris County, Judge Riddle Butts was elected by the people of Harris County to serve as the judge for Probate Court #4. As a probate judge she presides over probate, guardianship, and civil mental health cases. Judge Riddle Butts’ mission is to serve families in times of crisis in a thoughtful, compassionate, and deliberate way, whether that crisis involves the loss of a loved one, the need for a guardianship, or a mental health issue. Her experience and caring nature has served her well on the bench.

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INTERVIEW: Judge Christine Riddle Butts (Probate Judge for Harris County Probate Court #4) answers a few questions asked by Aubrey R. Taylor about her dream, mission in life, outlook for 2015, and advice to others striving to achieve their dream

QUESTION #1

AUBREY R. TAYLOR: What was life like for you as a child growing up?

JUDGE RIDDLE BUTTS: I grew up in Northwest Houston and went to Westfield High School. My first job was at a skating rink working in the snack bar when I was in the eighth grade. During high school, I enjoyed serving as a waitress at our local steak house, Del Friscos. My father was an attorney and I spent high school and college summers working in his office and accompanying him to court. As a high school junior, Rotary International sponsored me as an exchange student to Germany, where I stayed with a wonderful family in Vreden, a small farming town outside Cologne. My parents were very supportive of me and instilled in me the values of faith, diligence, education, and service.

QUESTION #2

AUBREY R. TAYLOR: What did you dream of becoming as you were a child growing up?

JUDGE RIDDLE BUTTS: When I was very young, my mother required an expensive surgery and, fresh out of law school, my father was desperate to raise the money for her surgery. I gave him the two quarters I had earned from weeding and sweeping a neighbor's driveway and asked what else I could do to help. He said I could grow up and become a lawyer to help him in his probate practice and to serve other families facing crisis. In that moment, my father gave me my mission, and from that point on I knew that I would become a probate lawyer.

QUESTION #3

AUBREY R. TAYLOR: Did you achieve your childhood dream, or did it evolve into something different?

JUDGE RIDDLE BUTTS: When I accompanied my father to court, I enjoyed sitting in on Judge Scanlan's guardianship docket. His demeanor on the bench demonstrated empathy for family members, compassion and respect toward the disabled, and a mastery of probate law. My desire to follow in his footsteps developed at a young age in the crowded spaces within the Family Law Building. Now, I look out the window from my 7th floor office in the Civil Courts building and see where my dreams took root as I fondly remember the colorful mural in Judge Austin's courtroom, the shaded benches where I often ate lunch, and the painted signs of demonstrators who seemed ever present in the late 1980's.

QUESTION #4

AUBREY R. TAYLOR: What is your mission in life?

JUDGE RIDDLE BUTTS: In addition to raising a noble family of my own, my mission is to help families in crisis when the crisis involves the loss or incapacity of a loved one.

QUESTION #5

AUBREY R. TAYLOR: Do you have a recent accomplishment you would like to share?

JUDGE RIDDLE BUTTS: The probate courts have developed a handbook for guardians and such handbook has been translated into Spanish and Hindi by talented lawyers dedicated to serving guardians in their community.  We also offer a quarterly CLE program to attorneys and have updated our website to include online docket setting and useful practice information for attorneys, all designed to make the practice of law more efficient and cost effective for attorneys and those they serve.

QUESTION #6

AUBREY R. TAYLOR: What is your outlook for 2015?

JUDGE RIDDLE BUTTS: 2015 will see a renewed focus on enhancing services for the mentally ill.  The assisted outpatient treatment program, which is designed to assist the mentally ill with treatment compliance outside of a hospital setting, is set to expand in the next several years.

QUESTION #7

AUBREY R. TAYLOR: What advice would you give to someone out there striving to achieve their dream?

JUDGE RIDDLE BUTTS OFFERED THIS QUOTE: "Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world." Harriet Tubman.

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"I would like to take this moment to thank Judge Christine Riddle Butts for finding value in our vision to uplift, inspire, inform, and empower others in association with our "2014 Year-End Review" edition of Houston Business Connections Magazine." -- Aubrey

As President and CEO of Aubrey R. Taylor Communications, I encourage you to support the people, small business, organizations, corporations and ministries who support our mission and vision to uplift, inspire, inform, and empower others as we climb.

Best regards,

Aubrey R. Taylor
Publisher of Houston Business Connections Magazine
957 NASA PARKWAY #251
HOUSTON, TEXAS 77058-3039
P: (832)212-8735
C: (832)894-1352
EMAIL: aubreyrtaylor@gmail.com
BLOG: www.aubreyrtaylor.blogspot.com

**** Please do not forget that your support can enable us to reach more people with our message of encouragement, hope, inspiration, and empowerment. So email me your request for a hard-copy of our “2014 Year-End Review” edition of Houston Business Connections Magazine today at: (aubreyrtaylor@gmail.com). And don’t forget that our ad prices start at a very low $40.00 dollars per issue. WE CAN ACHIEVE OUR INDIVIDUAL AND CORPORATE GOALS AND DREAMS BY FINDING CREATIVE WAYS TO WORK TOGETHER!!!

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Click here to email us your request to have Houston Business Connections Magazine mailed directly to your home or business today.

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PEOPLE FEATURED ON THE COVER: Businessman Craig Joseph (owner of Houston's This Is It Soul Food). FBISD Superintendent Dr. Charles Dupre, TSU Program Director Dr. Michael O. Adams (Director of the eMPA and MPA programs at Texas Southern University), Judge Loyd Wright (District Probate Judge for Court #1 in Harris County), Businessman Bill Frazer (2015 Candidate for Controller of Houston), Controller Ronald C. Green (City of Houston Controller), Mayor Allen Owen (the mayor of Missouri City), Judge Christine Riddle Butts (District Probate Judge for Court #4 in Harris County), Grayle James (the FBISD President of the Board of Trustees), and Educator/Attorney Carroll G. Robinson (2015 Candidate for Controller of Houston). Email your request to (aubreyrtaylor@gmail.com) if you would like to have a copy of our "2014 Year-End Review" edition of Houston Business Connections Magazine mailed directly to your home or business.

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Boasting accreditation from the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs and Administration (NASPAA), the master of public administration (MPA) program at TSU is a 48-credit-hour program that has produced key change agents in human resources, international development and policy. For more information about these programs, please contact Dr. Michael O. Adams, 713-313-7760. 

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Launched in Fall 2013, the emergency management and homeland security (EMHS) program is designed to create graduates with extensive theoretical and applied knowledge in emergency management and disaster research. The Bachelor of Science in Emergency Management and Homeland Security prepares students for careers in emergency management and public safety careers and will introduce students to the all-hazards approach, emergency disaster management phases, risk assessment, prevention and management, counter-terrorism, consequence management, mitigation, and recovery. For more information about these programs, please contact Dr. Michael O. Adams, 713-313-7760. 

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About Carroll G. Robinson

Carroll G. Robinson is an Associate Professor and a former Associate Dean of External Affairs at the Barbara Jordan-Mickey Leland School of Public Affairs at Texas Southern University (TSU) in Houston, Texas. Professor Robinson is currently a member of the Board of Trustees of the Houston Community College System (HCC) and a Citizen Member of the Board of Trustees of the Houston Firefighters’ Relief and Retirement Fund. He is a former member of the Board of Directors and Board of Advisors of K9s4COPs. He is also a past chairman of the Houston Citizens Chamber of Commerce.

Professor Robinson is a former At-Large (elected citywide) member of the Houston (Texas) City Council. As a member of the City Council, Professor Robinson chaired the city’s Transportation, Technology and Infrastructure Committee. 

Professor Robinson represented the City of Houston on the Board of Directors of the Houston-Galveston Area Council, the local council of regional governments. He served as a member of the Board’s Budget Committee and was a Vice Chair of the Transportation Policy Council. He also represented the City of Houston on the Board of Directors of the Alliance for I-69 Texas and TEX-21, a statewide transportation coalition of elected officials, business leaders and transportation and infrastructure professionals.

Professor Robinson is a former member of the Board of Directors of the National League of Cities where he served as a member of the Board’s Finance Committee and was a member of the Energy, Environment, and Natural Resources Steering Committee. He is a former member of the Texas Municipal League’s Utilities and Environment Committee, and Transportation Task Force; Advisory Board of the Texas Environmental Defense Fund; a past President of the Texas Association of Black City Council Members where he was also a member of the Housing Committee; a former member of the National Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials (NBC-LEO); a former member of the Texas Attorney General’s Municipal Advisory Committee (1998); Founding Chairman of the Democratic Leadership Council’s Local Elected Officials Network; a former Chairman of the National League of Cities Democratic Municipal Officials; a former member of the Democratic National Committee (DNC); and a former General Counsel of the Texas Democratic Party. 

Prior to his election to the Houston City Council, Professor Robinson was an Associate Professor at the Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University. He has also worked as an adjunct Professor at South Texas College of Law. 

Professor Robinson has worked in the Texas Legislature as Chief of Staff and General Counsel to Texas State Senator Rodney Ellis. He received his Bachelor of Arts (with Honors) in Political Science from Richard Stockton State College in Pomona, New Jersey (where he received a Certificate of Academic Accomplishment in African-American Studies) and his Juris Doctorate from the National Law Center at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. 

Professor Robinson is a Life Member of the NAACP and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. He is the author or co-author of numerous legal and public policy articles and commentaries. Robinson plans to put his vast experience and know-how to work for the people of Houston should voters choose him as the best candidate in the race for City of Houston Controller on the Tuesday, November 3, 2015 City of Houston Mayoral Election ballot.

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ANNOUNCEMENT: Probate Judge Christine Riddle Butts for Court No. 4 in Harris County Values Our Vote and Support

PEOPLE FEATURED ON THE COVER: Businessman Craig Joseph (owner of Houston's This Is It Soul Food). FBISD Superintendent Dr. Charles Dupre, TSU Program Director Dr. Michael O. Adams (Director of the eMPA and MPA programs at Texas Southern University), Judge Loyd Wright (District Probate Judge for Court #1 in Harris County), Businessman Bill Frazer (2015 Candidate for Controller of Houston), Controller Ronald C. Green (City of Houston Controller), Mayor Allen Owen (the mayor of Missouri City), Judge Christine Riddle Butts (District Probate Judge for Court #4 in Harris County), Grayle James (the FBISD President of the Board of Trustees), and Educator/Attorney Carroll G. Robinson (2015 Candidate for Controller of Houston). Email your request to (aubreyrtaylor@gmail.com) if you would like to have a copy of our "2014 Year-End Review" edition of Houston Business Connections Magazine mailed directly to your home or business.

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Probate Judge Christine Riddle Butts is featured on the "2014 Year-End Review" cover of Houston Business Connections Magazine with other leaders in Business, Education, and Public Service

By Aubrey R. Taylor

Publisher of Houston Business Connections Magazine

On behalf of Aubrey R. Taylor Communications, publisher of Houston Business Connections Magazine, our supporters, sponsors, advertisers, and readers, I would like to take a moment to congratulate and thank the following individuals for finding value in our mission to inspire, inform, uplift, promote, brand, and empower people striving to reach their full God-given potential. What we do to build bridges and empower people would not be possible without the support of "DISTINGUISHED AND RESPECTED" individuals like: Mayor Allen Owen (the mayor of Missouri City), FBISD Superintendent Dr. Charles Dupre, FBISD Trustee Grayle James (the FBISD President of the Board of Trustees), Judge Loyd Wright (District Probate Judge for Court #1 in Harris County), Judge Christine Riddle Butts (District Probate Judge for Court #4 in Harris County), Controller Ronald C. Green (City of Houston Controller), Educator/Attorney Carroll G. Robinson (2015 Candidate for Controller of Houston), Businessman Bill Frazer (2015 Candidate for Controller of Houston), Dr. Michael O. Adams (Director of the eMPA and MPA programs at Texas Southern University), and last, but not least Businessman Craig Joseph (owner of Houston's This Is It Soul Food).

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PEOPLE ON THE COVER

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PROBATE JUDGE CHRISTINE RIDDLE BUTTS – pictured with Mayor Allen Owen (left). Judge Christine Riddle Butts (right) currently serves as the Probate Judge for District Court #4 in Harris County. In November of 2010, after fourteen years of practice as a probate lawyer in Harris County, Judge Riddle Butts was elected by the people of Harris County to serve as the judge for Probate Court #4. As a probate judge she presides over probate, guardianship, and civil mental health cases. Judge Riddle Butts’ mission is to serve families in times of crisis in a thoughtful, compassionate, and deliberate way, whether that crisis involves the loss of a loved one, the need for a guardianship, or a mental health issue. Her experience and caring nature has served her well on the bench.

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PROBATE JUDGE LOYD WRIGHT – pictured with Judge Christine Riddle Butts (right). Judge Loyd Wright (left) currently serves as the Probate Judge for District Court #1 in Harris County. As an attorney with over 27 years experience in probate, trust guardianship, estate planning, and elder law, he’s developed a solid reputation as a man who is very capable of handling the matters entrusted to him with diligence and integrity. A wealth of the experience brought to the bench by Judge Wright was gained through the extensive experience he’s garnered as an attorney assisting executors, administrators, trustees, guardians, and beneficiaries in complex probate proceedings while recovering millions of dollars in assets lost through fraud and breach of fiduciary duty. Over the years, he has been appointed by fellow probate judges to handle both contested and uncontested estate and guardianship matters. The experience he’s garnered over the last thirty years has served him well on the bench.

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BUSINESSMAN CRAIG JOSEPH – Craig Joseph is a well-known successful businessman who owns one of the oldest family-owned restaurants in the Houston area. Established in 1959 by the late Frank and Mattie Jones, Houston’s This Is It Soul Food is still going strong under the direction and management of Mr. and Mrs. Craig Joseph Sr., the grandson of the late Frank and Mattie Jones. 

Combined with Southern Hospitality and excellent customer service, Houston’s This Is It Soul Food owners and staff take great pride in being an excellent family diner. In addition, Houston’s This Is It Soul Food offers a catering service to the Greater Houston Metropolitan area to accommodate any "Special Occasions". Committed to providing quality, cost efficient food service to Houston and surrounding communities, Houston’s This Is It Soul Food could very well be the right choice to cater your next event.

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FBISD TRUSTEE GRAYLE JAMES – Grayle James (left) currently serves as the President of the Fort Bend ISD Board of Trustees. She was elected to Position 2 on the FBISD Board of Trustees in May 2012. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley, and her Secondary Education teaching credentials in mathematics and physical sciences from California State University, Bakersfield. Grayle has volunteered for many years at multiple FBISD schools, and has served as the PTO/PTA President for Lakeview Elementary, First Colony Middle School and Kempner High School. In the past, she has served as PTO/PTA Treasurer and VIPS Coordinator, as well as serving on the FBISD Parent Advisory, Health Advisory and Discipline Advisory committees. Grayle and her husband, David, have three children, who all currently attend or have graduated from FBISD schools.

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FBISD SUPERINTENDENT DR. CHARLES DUPRE – pictured with Mayor Allen Owen (left). On April 11, 2013, the Fort Bend ISD Board of Trustees unanimously approved Dr. Charles E. Dupre (right) as Superintendent of Schools for the state’s seventh largest school district. Dr. Dupre officially assumed duties of the Fort Bend ISD Superintendent on April 29. With a passion for serving children and young adults, Dr. Dupre has invested many hours in shaping the future of others through his role as mentor, Sunday school teacher, camp counselor and friend. Since becoming a superintendent in 2006 in Pflugerville ISD, Dr. Dupre’s commitment to developing capable young people has been supported by his background in financial management. He is the first African American to serve as Fort Bend ISD’s Superintendent.

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CITY OF HOUSTON CONTROLLER RONALD C. GREEN – pictured with Mayor Allen Owen (left). Ronald C. Green (right) was elected as the first African American Houston City Controller on December 12, 2009, after serving three terms on Houston City Council, At-Large, Position Four. He has been reelected to three consecutive terms and cannot run for reelection as Houston’s city controller in 2015.

On City Council, he chaired the Budget and Fiscal Affairs Committee, overseeing the City’s annual budget of nearly $4 billion. While he served on City Council, his work entailed regular financial and operations reports, strategic purchasing, and municipal court reform. He also served as a member of the Transportation, Infrastructure and Aviation Committee and the Ad-Hoc Committee on Legislative Affairs. As City Controller, he oversees a $13 billion debt portfolio and over $2 billion of investments. With rates at historic lows during the past three years, the Controller’s Office has sought out several refinancing opportunities that have generated over $220 million in savings without extending the life of the debt. In addition to management of the City’s treasury functions, every payment issued by the City of Houston is processed by the Controller’s Office. The Office also prepares several reports to provide financial data and operational statistics regarding the City, including a monthly report, an annual audited comprehensive statement, and a trends report. The Controller’s Office also includes the Audit Division, which has primarily concentrated on identifying inefficiencies and evaluating the City’s outside contracts. Through Audit’s efforts, the City has realized $7.5 million in savings.

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MAYOR ALLEN OWEN – Mayor Allen Owen is Missouri City's 10th mayor since the city's incorporation in 1956. He’s faithfully served as Missouri City’s mayor since 1994. He has a long-standing documented track record of placing the citizens of Missouri City first. His track record and dedication was part of the reason Missouri City was honored as one of the top 10 safest cities in Texas by real estate website Movoto back in August of 2014. Movoto combined crime data from the top 100 most populous municipalities in Texas, and used the FBI’s 2012 Uniform Crime Report to determine that Missouri City is the sixth safest city in Texas. 24/7 Wall St., a web-based corporation designed to report financial news and opinions, also recently ranked Missouri City 16th on their list of the top 50 places to live in the United States. Using data to rank municipalities based on factors such as employment, economy and infrastructure, 24/7 Wall St. celebrated Missouri City’s low crime rate, proximity to Houston and affordability. Missouri City was the only city in the Houston area to make the list; other Texas cities on the list include Richardson (#17) and Flower Mound (#9). The news organization’s profile of the “Show Me City” also reflected the following details: Median household income: $84,511; Median home value: $163,000; Average commuter travel time: 29.5 minutes. Missouri City is also one of the most diverse cities in America.

Mayor Owen and his family have lived in Missouri City more than 36 years. And he continues to dedicate much of his time and expertise towards the development of a community where he and his wife of 47 years, Jane, raised their three children.

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Dr. Michael O. Adams: Leading in Excellence at Texas Southern University

Michael O. Adams, Ph.D., is the Interim Chair of the Department of Political Science, Director of the Master of Public Administration and Founding Director of the Online Executive Master of Public Administration programs at Texas Southern University. He currently serves as the Interim Director of the Barbara Jordan Research Institute. He is a tenured professor, teaching classes in Public Administration and Political Science, while continuously contributing to the academic body of knowledge through research. He provides expertise and proficiency where education, policy administrations, and community participation intersect.

Dr. Adams has authored and co-authored five books since 1987, which cover the fields of American Government, Public Administration and Public Policy. He has published twenty-five papers since 1982. He has also written numerous newspaper columns and editorials, made several scholarly presentations, acted as a consultant and aided in many educational developments. He has also authored many grants ranging from $1,000 to $1 million. Dr. Adams has received numerous awards including, the Ford Foundation Doctoral Fellowship and the Committee on Institutional Cooperation Fellowship.

Dr. Adams is at the cusp of addressing pivotal policy issues. In recent years, in relation to Homeland Security and terrorism, Dr. Adams received a fellowship from the Foundation for the Defense of Democracy to participate in its Academic Fellows Program in Tel Aviv, Israel. The program, entitled, “Defending Democracy, Defeating Terrorism,” featured lectures by academics, diplomats, military and intelligence officials, and politicians from Israel, Jordan, India, Turkey and the United States. It also consisted of visits to military bases, border zones, and other security installations to learn the practical side of deterring terrorist attacks. The goal of the program was to offer information and training to teaching professionals about the latest trends in terrorists’ ideologies, motives, and operations.

He volunteers as a political and educational consultant, and is an avid speaker, serving on a plethora of panels and speaking on various topics as a representative of the University. He is also a member of the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs and Administration (NASPAA) Small Programs Committee.

He has received several awards including the Barbara Jordan-Mickey Leland School of Public Affairs International Service Award, the Texas Southern University Research Scholar Award, the School of Public Affairs Research Scholar Award, and the Quiester Craig Teaching Award.

Dr. Adams received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Tougaloo College (1976), his Master of Arts in Political Science from The Atlanta University (1978), and his Ph.D. in Political Science from The Atlanta University (1984).

Excellence in Achievement  Programs At Texas Southern University

Armed with the motto, “Excellence in Achievement,” Texas Southern University has produced some of the most prominent leaders of our time.

Some of this prominence was birthed in 1974 when the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board approved the establishment of a School of Public Affairs at TSU, and helped the school to fulfill its role as a special purpose institution.

Later, in 2002, the school was named the Barbara Jordan – Mickey Leland School of Public Affairs.

With the foundation of two great namesakes, the Barbara Jordan – Mickey Leland School of Public Affairs at Texas Southern University leads the way in the realm of emergency management, homeland security, human resources, public policy, international development, social justice, executive management, sustainability and urban planning through the undergraduate and graduate degree programs it offers.

To name a few, the school is home to an emergency management and homeland security (EMHS) undergraduate program, a NASPAA-accredited master of public administration (MPA) program, and an online executive master of public administration (eMPA) program.

Launched in Fall 2013, the emergency management and homeland security (EMHS) program is designed to create graduates with extensive theoretical and applied knowledge in emergency management and disaster research. The Bachelor of Science in Emergency Management and Homeland Security prepares students for careers in emergency management and public safety careers and will introduce students to the all-hazards approach, emergency disaster management phases, risk assessment, prevention and management, counter-terrorism, consequence management, mitigation, and recovery.

Boasting accreditation from the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs and Administration (NASPAA), the master of public administration (MPA) program at TSU is a 48-credit-hour program that has produced key change agents in human resources, international development and policy.

On the cutting edge of public administration, one of its greatest assets lies in its potential to alleviate the shortage of professionally educated persons, especially those from minority groups, in local, state, national and international public service. As a matter of fact, the MPA program is the only NASPAA accredited program in the Houston metropolitan area.

Another program housed in the School of Public Affairs is online eMPA program, which launch in fall 2010. This 16-month program graduated its first cohort in fall 2011 and has a curriculum uniquely designed to meet the growing demand for mid-career professionals in the public sector who wish to pursue an executive MPA degree.

In addition, eMPA candidates can broaden their international scope by participation in the program’s study abroad program, which is a part of the program’s tuition package. To date, the program has traveled to Brazil, China and Ghana.

For more information about these programs, please contact Dr. Michael O. Adams, 713-313-7760.

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BUSINESSMAN BILL FRAZER – pictured with Judge Loyd Wright (right). Bill Frazer (left) has been a Certified Public Accountant since 1975. He is a past President of the Houston CPA Society and has served on the Board of Directors of the Texas Society of CPAs for the past 20 years. CPAs must meet stringent educational and professional requirements and are trained to establish effective business operations. They must adhere to strict state licensing guidelines that distinguish them from other accountants and professionals in the financial services industry, and they must abide by a strict code of professional ethics.

Frazer was raised in San Antonio and graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in 1973 with a BBA in Accounting. He began his accounting career in Houston as a staff accountant with Ernst & Ernst. He has been a licensed CPA since 1975. He and his wife Jean, also a CPA, moved into the Ayrshire area 37 years ago. Their two children, Jennifer and Jeremy, attended public schools and graduated from Bellaire High School.

Frazer plans to put his vast experience and know-how to work for the people of Houston should voters choose him as the best candidate in the race for City of Houston Controller on the Tuesday, November 3, 2015 City of Houston Mayoral Election ballot.

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EDUCATOR AND ATTORNEY CARROLL G. ROBINSON – pictured with Mayor Allen Owen (right). Carroll G. Robinson (left) is an Associate Professor and a former Associate Dean of External Affairs at the Barbara Jordan-Mickey Leland School of Public Affairs at Texas Southern University (TSU) in Houston, Texas. Professor Robinson is currently a member of the Board of Trustees of the Houston Community College System (HCC) and a Citizen Member of the Board of Trustees of the Houston Firefighters’ Relief and Retirement Fund. He is a former member of the Board of Directors and Board of Advisors of K9s4COPs. He is also a past chairman of the Houston Citizens Chamber of Commerce.

Professor Robinson is a former At-Large (elected citywide) member of the Houston (Texas) City Council. As a member of the City Council, Professor Robinson chaired the city’s Transportation, Technology and Infrastructure Committee. 

Professor Robinson represented the City of Houston on the Board of Directors of the Houston-Galveston Area Council, the local council of regional governments. He served as a member of the Board’s Budget Committee and was a Vice Chair of the Transportation Policy Council. He also represented the City of Houston on the Board of Directors of the Alliance for I-69 Texas and TEX-21, a statewide transportation coalition of elected officials, business leaders and transportation and infrastructure professionals.

Professor Robinson is a former member of the Board of Directors of the National League of Cities where he served as a member of the Board’s Finance Committee and was a member of the Energy, Environment, and Natural Resources Steering Committee. He is a former member of the Texas Municipal League’s Utilities and Environment Committee, and Transportation Task Force; Advisory Board of the Texas Environmental Defense Fund; a past President of the Texas Association of Black City Council Members where he was also a member of the Housing Committee; a former member of the National Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials (NBC-LEO); a former member of the Texas Attorney General’s Municipal Advisory Committee (1998); Founding Chairman of the Democratic Leadership Council’s Local Elected Officials Network; a former Chairman of the National League of Cities Democratic Municipal Officials; a former member of the Democratic National Committee (DNC); and a former General Counsel of the Texas Democratic Party. 

Prior to his election to the Houston City Council, Professor Robinson was an Associate Professor at the Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University. He has also worked as an adjunct Professor at South Texas College of Law. 

Professor Robinson has worked in the Texas Legislature as Chief of Staff and General Counsel to Texas State Senator Rodney Ellis. He received his Bachelor of Arts (with Honors) in Political Science from Richard Stockton State College in Pomona, New Jersey (where he received a Certificate of Academic Accomplishment in African-American Studies) and his Juris Doctorate from the National Law Center at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. 

Professor Robinson is a Life Member of the NAACP and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. He is the author or co-author of numerous legal and public policy articles and commentaries. Robinson plans to put his vast experience and know-how to work for the people of Houston should voters choose him as the best candidate in the race for City of Houston Controller on the Tuesday, November 3, 2015 City of Houston Mayoral Election ballot.

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Click here if you would like to have a copy of this edition mailed to your home or business.

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To request your copy of this edition of Houston Business Connections Magazine you can should email your request to us at (aubreyrtaylor@gmail.com) or call (832)212-8735. If you need to speak directly with Aubrey R. Taylor call (832)894-1352. *The individuals featured on this page are not connected or associated with one another in anyway unless noted. Houston Business Connections Magazine is published by Aubrey R. Taylor Communications. All rights reserved. 

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Boasting accreditation from the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs and Administration (NASPAA), the master of public administration (MPA) program at TSU is a 48-credit-hour program that has produced key change agents in human resources, international development and policy. For more information about these programs, please contact Dr. Michael O. Adams, 713-313-7760. 

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Launched in Fall 2013, the emergency management and homeland security (EMHS) program is designed to create graduates with extensive theoretical and applied knowledge in emergency management and disaster research. The Bachelor of Science in Emergency Management and Homeland Security prepares students for careers in emergency management and public safety careers and will introduce students to the all-hazards approach, emergency disaster management phases, risk assessment, prevention and management, counter-terrorism, consequence management, mitigation, and recovery. For more information about these programs, please contact Dr. Michael O. Adams, 713-313-7760. 

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About Carroll G. Robinson

Carroll G. Robinson is an Associate Professor and a former Associate Dean of External Affairs at the Barbara Jordan-Mickey Leland School of Public Affairs at Texas Southern University (TSU) in Houston, Texas. Professor Robinson is currently a member of the Board of Trustees of the Houston Community College System (HCC) and a Citizen Member of the Board of Trustees of the Houston Firefighters’ Relief and Retirement Fund. He is a former member of the Board of Directors and Board of Advisors of K9s4COPs. He is also a past chairman of the Houston Citizens Chamber of Commerce.

Professor Robinson is a former At-Large (elected citywide) member of the Houston (Texas) City Council. As a member of the City Council, Professor Robinson chaired the city’s Transportation, Technology and Infrastructure Committee. 

Professor Robinson represented the City of Houston on the Board of Directors of the Houston-Galveston Area Council, the local council of regional governments. He served as a member of the Board’s Budget Committee and was a Vice Chair of the Transportation Policy Council. He also represented the City of Houston on the Board of Directors of the Alliance for I-69 Texas and TEX-21, a statewide transportation coalition of elected officials, business leaders and transportation and infrastructure professionals.

Professor Robinson is a former member of the Board of Directors of the National League of Cities where he served as a member of the Board’s Finance Committee and was a member of the Energy, Environment, and Natural Resources Steering Committee. He is a former member of the Texas Municipal League’s Utilities and Environment Committee, and Transportation Task Force; Advisory Board of the Texas Environmental Defense Fund; a past President of the Texas Association of Black City Council Members where he was also a member of the Housing Committee; a former member of the National Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials (NBC-LEO); a former member of the Texas Attorney General’s Municipal Advisory Committee (1998); Founding Chairman of the Democratic Leadership Council’s Local Elected Officials Network; a former Chairman of the National League of Cities Democratic Municipal Officials; a former member of the Democratic National Committee (DNC); and a former General Counsel of the Texas Democratic Party. 

Prior to his election to the Houston City Council, Professor Robinson was an Associate Professor at the Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University. He has also worked as an adjunct Professor at South Texas College of Law. 

Professor Robinson has worked in the Texas Legislature as Chief of Staff and General Counsel to Texas State Senator Rodney Ellis. He received his Bachelor of Arts (with Honors) in Political Science from Richard Stockton State College in Pomona, New Jersey (where he received a Certificate of Academic Accomplishment in African-American Studies) and his Juris Doctorate from the National Law Center at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. 

Professor Robinson is a Life Member of the NAACP and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. He is the author or co-author of numerous legal and public policy articles and commentaries. Robinson plans to put his vast experience and know-how to work for the people of Houston should voters choose him as the best candidate in the race for City of Houston Controller on the Tuesday, November 3, 2015 City of Houston Mayoral Election ballot.

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CONGRATS: Mayor Allen Owen, Dr. Charles Dupre, Grayle James, Judge Loyd Wright, Judge Christine Riddle Butts, Controller Ronald C. Green, Carroll G. Robinson, Bill Frazer, Dr. Michael O. Adams, and Craig Joseph

PEOPLE FEATURED ON THE COVER: Businessman Craig Joseph (owner of Houston's This Is It Soul Food). FBISD Superintendent Dr. Charles Dupre, TSU Program Director Dr. Michael O. Adams (Director of the eMPA and MPA programs at Texas Southern University), Judge Loyd Wright (District Probate Judge for Court #1 in Harris County), Businessman Bill Frazer (2015 Candidate for Controller of Houston), Controller Ronald C. Green (City of Houston Controller), Mayor Allen Owen (the mayor of Missouri City), Judge Christine Riddle Butts (District Probate Judge for Court #4 in Harris County), Grayle James (the FBISD President of the Board of Trustees), and Educator/Attorney Carroll G. Robinson (2015 Candidate for Controller of Houston). Email your request to (aubreyrtaylor@gmail.com) if you would like to have a copy of our "2014 Year-End Review" edition of Houston Business Connections Magazine mailed directly to your home or business.

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CONGRATS: Mayor Owen, Dr. Charles Dupre, Grayle James, Judge Wright, Judge Riddle Butts, Controller Green, Carroll G. Robinson, Bill Frazer, Dr. Michael O. Adams, and Craig Joseph

By Aubrey R. Taylor

Publisher of Houston Business Connections Magazine

On behalf of Aubrey R. Taylor Communications, publisher of Houston Business Connections Magazine, our supporters, sponsors, advertisers, and readers, I would like to take a moment to congratulate and thank the following individuals for finding value in our mission to inspire, inform, uplift, promote, brand, and empower people striving to reach their full God-given potential. What we do to build bridges and empower people would not be possible without the support of "DISTINGUISHED AND RESPECTED" individuals like: Mayor Allen Owen (the mayor of Missouri City), FBISD Superintendent Dr. Charles Dupre, FBISD Trustee Grayle James (the FBISD President of the Board of Trustees), Judge Loyd Wright (District Probate Judge for Court #1 in Harris County), Judge Christine Riddle Butts (District Probate Judge for Court #4 in Harris County), Controller Ronald C. Green (City of Houston Controller), Educator/Attorney Carroll G. Robinson (2015 Candidate for Controller of Houston), Businessman Bill Frazer (2015 Candidate for Controller of Houston), Dr. Michael O. Adams (Director of the eMPA and MPA programs at Texas Southern University), and last, but not least Businessman Craig Joseph (owner of Houston's This Is It Soul Food).

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PEOPLE ON THE COVER

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MAYOR ALLEN OWEN – Mayor Allen Owen is Missouri City's 10th mayor since the city's incorporation in 1956. He’s faithfully served as Missouri City’s mayor since 1994. He has a long-standing documented track record of placing the citizens of Missouri City first. His track record and dedication was part of the reason Missouri City was honored as one of the top 10 safest cities in Texas by real estate website Movoto back in August of 2014. Movoto combined crime data from the top 100 most populous municipalities in Texas, and used the FBI’s 2012 Uniform Crime Report to determine that Missouri City is the sixth safest city in Texas. 24/7 Wall St., a web-based corporation designed to report financial news and opinions, also recently ranked Missouri City 16th on their list of the top 50 places to live in the United States. Using data to rank municipalities based on factors such as employment, economy and infrastructure, 24/7 Wall St. celebrated Missouri City’s low crime rate, proximity to Houston and affordability. Missouri City was the only city in the Houston area to make the list; other Texas cities on the list include Richardson (#17) and Flower Mound (#9). The news organization’s profile of the “Show Me City” also reflected the following details: Median household income: $84,511; Median home value: $163,000; Average commuter travel time: 29.5 minutes. Missouri City is also one of the most diverse cities in America.

Mayor Owen and his family have lived in Missouri City more than 36 years. And he continues to dedicate much of his time and expertise towards the development of a community where he and his wife of 47 years, Jane, raised their three children.

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FBISD SUPERINTENDENT DR. CHARLES DUPRE – pictured with Mayor Allen Owen (left). On April 11, 2013, the Fort Bend ISD Board of Trustees unanimously approved Dr. Charles E. Dupre (right) as Superintendent of Schools for the state’s seventh largest school district. Dr. Dupre officially assumed duties of the Fort Bend ISD Superintendent on April 29. With a passion for serving children and young adults, Dr. Dupre has invested many hours in shaping the future of others through his role as mentor, Sunday school teacher, camp counselor and friend. Since becoming a superintendent in 2006 in Pflugerville ISD, Dr. Dupre’s commitment to developing capable young people has been supported by his background in financial management. He is the first African American to serve as Fort Bend ISD’s Superintendent.

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FBISD TRUSTEE GRAYLE JAMES – Grayle James (left) currently serves as the President of the Fort Bend ISD Board of Trustees. She was elected to Position 2 on the FBISD Board of Trustees in May 2012. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley, and her Secondary Education teaching credentials in mathematics and physical sciences from California State University, Bakersfield. Grayle has volunteered for many years at multiple FBISD schools, and has served as the PTO/PTA President for Lakeview Elementary, First Colony Middle School and Kempner High School. In the past, she has served as PTO/PTA Treasurer and VIPS Coordinator, as well as serving on the FBISD Parent Advisory, Health Advisory and Discipline Advisory committees. Grayle and her husband, David, have three children, who all currently attend or have graduated from FBISD schools.

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PROBATE JUDGE LOYD WRIGHT – pictured with Judge Christine Riddle Butts (right). Judge Loyd Wright (left) currently serves as the Probate Judge for District Court #1 in Harris County. As an attorney with over 27 years experience in probate, trust guardianship, estate planning, and elder law, he’s developed a solid reputation as a man who is very capable of handling the matters entrusted to him with diligence and integrity. A wealth of the experience brought to the bench by Judge Wright was gained through the extensive experience he’s garnered as an attorney assisting executors, administrators, trustees, guardians, and beneficiaries in complex probate proceedings while recovering millions of dollars in assets lost through fraud and breach of fiduciary duty. Over the years, he has been appointed by fellow probate judges to handle both contested and uncontested estate and guardianship matters. The experience he’s garnered over the last thirty years has served him well on the bench.

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PROBATE JUDGE CHRISTINE RIDDLE BUTTS – pictured with Mayor Allen Owen (left). Judge Christine Riddle Butts (right) currently serves as the Probate Judge for District Court #4 in Harris County. In November of 2010, after fourteen years of practice as a probate lawyer in Harris County, Judge Riddle Butts was elected by the people of Harris County to serve as the judge for Probate Court #4. As a probate judge she presides over probate, guardianship, and civil mental health cases. Judge Riddle Butts’ mission is to serve families in times of crisis in a thoughtful, compassionate, and deliberate way, whether that crisis involves the loss of a loved one, the need for a guardianship, or a mental health issue. Her experience and caring nature has served her well on the bench.

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CITY OF HOUSTON CONTROLLER RONALD C. GREEN – pictured with Mayor Allen Owen (left). Ronald C. Green (right) was elected as the first African American Houston City Controller on December 12, 2009, after serving three terms on Houston City Council, At-Large, Position Four. He has been reelected to three consecutive terms and cannot run for reelection as Houston’s city controller in 2015.

On City Council, he chaired the Budget and Fiscal Affairs Committee, overseeing the City’s annual budget of nearly $4 billion. While he served on City Council, his work entailed regular financial and operations reports, strategic purchasing, and municipal court reform. He also served as a member of the Transportation, Infrastructure and Aviation Committee and the Ad-Hoc Committee on Legislative Affairs. As City Controller, he oversees a $13 billion debt portfolio and over $2 billion of investments. With rates at historic lows during the past three years, the Controller’s Office has sought out several refinancing opportunities that have generated over $220 million in savings without extending the life of the debt. In addition to management of the City’s treasury functions, every payment issued by the City of Houston is processed by the Controller’s Office. The Office also prepares several reports to provide financial data and operational statistics regarding the City, including a monthly report, an annual audited comprehensive statement, and a trends report. The Controller’s Office also includes the Audit Division, which has primarily concentrated on identifying inefficiencies and evaluating the City’s outside contracts. Through Audit’s efforts, the City has realized $7.5 million in savings.

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EDUCATOR AND ATTORNEY CARROLL G. ROBINSON – pictured with Mayor Allen Owen (right). Carroll G. Robinson (left) is an Associate Professor and a former Associate Dean of External Affairs at the Barbara Jordan-Mickey Leland School of Public Affairs at Texas Southern University (TSU) in Houston, Texas. Professor Robinson is currently a member of the Board of Trustees of the Houston Community College System (HCC) and a Citizen Member of the Board of Trustees of the Houston Firefighters’ Relief and Retirement Fund. He is a former member of the Board of Directors and Board of Advisors of K9s4COPs. He is also a past chairman of the Houston Citizens Chamber of Commerce.

Professor Robinson is a former At-Large (elected citywide) member of the Houston (Texas) City Council. As a member of the City Council, Professor Robinson chaired the city’s Transportation, Technology and Infrastructure Committee. 

Professor Robinson represented the City of Houston on the Board of Directors of the Houston-Galveston Area Council, the local council of regional governments. He served as a member of the Board’s Budget Committee and was a Vice Chair of the Transportation Policy Council. He also represented the City of Houston on the Board of Directors of the Alliance for I-69 Texas and TEX-21, a statewide transportation coalition of elected officials, business leaders and transportation and infrastructure professionals.

Professor Robinson is a former member of the Board of Directors of the National League of Cities where he served as a member of the Board’s Finance Committee and was a member of the Energy, Environment, and Natural Resources Steering Committee. He is a former member of the Texas Municipal League’s Utilities and Environment Committee, and Transportation Task Force; Advisory Board of the Texas Environmental Defense Fund; a past President of the Texas Association of Black City Council Members where he was also a member of the Housing Committee; a former member of the National Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials (NBC-LEO); a former member of the Texas Attorney General’s Municipal Advisory Committee (1998); Founding Chairman of the Democratic Leadership Council’s Local Elected Officials Network; a former Chairman of the National League of Cities Democratic Municipal Officials; a former member of the Democratic National Committee (DNC); and a former General Counsel of the Texas Democratic Party. 

Prior to his election to the Houston City Council, Professor Robinson was an Associate Professor at the Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University. He has also worked as an adjunct Professor at South Texas College of Law. 

Professor Robinson has worked in the Texas Legislature as Chief of Staff and General Counsel to Texas State Senator Rodney Ellis. He received his Bachelor of Arts (with Honors) in Political Science from Richard Stockton State College in Pomona, New Jersey (where he received a Certificate of Academic Accomplishment in African-American Studies) and his Juris Doctorate from the National Law Center at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. 

Professor Robinson is a Life Member of the NAACP and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. He is the author or co-author of numerous legal and public policy articles and commentaries. Robinson plans to put his vast experience and know-how to work for the people of Houston should voters choose him as the best candidate in the race for City of Houston Controller on the Tuesday, November 3, 2015 City of Houston Mayoral Election ballot.

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BUSINESSMAN BILL FRAZER – pictured with Judge Loyd Wright (right). Bill Frazer (left) has been a Certified Public Accountant since 1975. He is a past President of the Houston CPA Society and has served on the Board of Directors of the Texas Society of CPAs for the past 20 years. CPAs must meet stringent educational and professional requirements and are trained to establish effective business operations. They must adhere to strict state licensing guidelines that distinguish them from other accountants and professionals in the financial services industry, and they must abide by a strict code of professional ethics.

Frazer was raised in San Antonio and graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in 1973 with a BBA in Accounting. He began his accounting career in Houston as a staff accountant with Ernst & Ernst. He has been a licensed CPA since 1975. He and his wife Jean, also a CPA, moved into the Ayrshire area 37 years ago. Their two children, Jennifer and Jeremy, attended public schools and graduated from Bellaire High School.

Frazer plans to put his vast experience and know-how to work for the people of Houston should voters choose him as the best candidate in the race for City of Houston Controller on the Tuesday, November 3, 2015 City of Houston Mayoral Election ballot.

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TSU PROGRAM DIRECTOR DR. MICHAEL O. ADAMS – Michael O. Adams, Ph.D., is the Director of the eMPA and MPA programs. He currently serves as the Interim Director of the Barbara Jordan Research Institute. He is a tenured professor, teaching classes in Public Administration and Political Science. He provides expertise where education, policy administrations, and community participation intersect.

Dr. Adams steadfast dedication to the success of the school’s educational programs was recently rewarded when the MPA program was granted a seven year accreditation from the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration, which will last until 2018.

His educational focus revolves around the development of administration and policy analysis. In order to solve policy and administration dilemmas, Dr. Adams uses cutting-edge research that he seeks out to integrate the civic community, academic community, and public managers. Since his tenure at Texas Southern University, he has worked to propose and develop new programs in Public Administration. He has lectured, presented, and chaired task forces, regarding major challenges in immigration, homeland security and safety, foreign relations and policy, e-governance, information technology, voting rights, and much more.

Dr. Adams is at the cusp of addressing pivotal policy issues. In recent years, Dr. Adams received a fellowship from the Foundation for the Defense of Democracy to participate in its Academic Fellows Program in Tel Aviv, Israel. The program, entitled, “Defending Democracy, Defeating Terrorism,” featured lectures by academics, diplomats, military and intelligence officials, and politicians from Israel, Jordan, India, Turkey and the United States. The goal of the program was to offer information and training to teaching professionals about the latest trends in terrorists’ ideologies, motives, and operations.

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BUSINESSMAN CRAIG JOSEPH – Craig Joseph is a well-known successful businessman who owns one of the oldest family-owned restaurants in the Houston area. Established in 1959 by the late Frank and Mattie Jones, Houston’s This Is It Soul Food is still going strong under the direction and management of Mr. and Mrs. Craig Joseph Sr., the grandson of the late Frank and Mattie Jones. 

Combined with Southern Hospitality and excellent customer service, Houston’s This Is It Soul Food owners and staff take great pride in being an excellent family diner. In addition, Houston’s This Is It Soul Food offers a catering service to the Greater Houston Metropolitan area to accommodate any "Special Occasions". Committed to providing quality, cost efficient food service to Houston and surrounding communities, Houston’s This Is It Soul Food could very well be the right choice to cater your next event.

Click here if you would like to have a copy of this edition mailed to your home or business.

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To request your copy of this edition of Houston Business Connections Magazine you can should email your request to us at (aubreyrtaylor@gmail.com) or call (832)212-8735. If you need to speak directly with Aubrey R. Taylor call (832)894-1352. *The individuals featured on this page are not connected or associated with one another in anyway unless noted. Houston Business Connections Magazine is published by Aubrey R. Taylor Communications. All rights reserved. 

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About Carroll G. Robinson

Carroll G. Robinson is an Associate Professor and a former Associate Dean of External Affairs at the Barbara Jordan-Mickey Leland School of Public Affairs at Texas Southern University (TSU) in Houston, Texas. Professor Robinson is currently a member of the Board of Trustees of the Houston Community College System (HCC) and a Citizen Member of the Board of Trustees of the Houston Firefighters’ Relief and Retirement Fund. He is a former member of the Board of Directors and Board of Advisors of K9s4COPs. He is also a past chairman of the Houston Citizens Chamber of Commerce.

Professor Robinson is a former At-Large (elected citywide) member of the Houston (Texas) City Council. As a member of the City Council, Professor Robinson chaired the city’s Transportation, Technology and Infrastructure Committee. 

Professor Robinson represented the City of Houston on the Board of Directors of the Houston-Galveston Area Council, the local council of regional governments. He served as a member of the Board’s Budget Committee and was a Vice Chair of the Transportation Policy Council. He also represented the City of Houston on the Board of Directors of the Alliance for I-69 Texas and TEX-21, a statewide transportation coalition of elected officials, business leaders and transportation and infrastructure professionals.

Professor Robinson is a former member of the Board of Directors of the National League of Cities where he served as a member of the Board’s Finance Committee and was a member of the Energy, Environment, and Natural Resources Steering Committee. He is a former member of the Texas Municipal League’s Utilities and Environment Committee, and Transportation Task Force; Advisory Board of the Texas Environmental Defense Fund; a past President of the Texas Association of Black City Council Members where he was also a member of the Housing Committee; a former member of the National Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials (NBC-LEO); a former member of the Texas Attorney General’s Municipal Advisory Committee (1998); Founding Chairman of the Democratic Leadership Council’s Local Elected Officials Network; a former Chairman of the National League of Cities Democratic Municipal Officials; a former member of the Democratic National Committee (DNC); and a former General Counsel of the Texas Democratic Party. 

Prior to his election to the Houston City Council, Professor Robinson was an Associate Professor at the Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University. He has also worked as an adjunct Professor at South Texas College of Law. 

Professor Robinson has worked in the Texas Legislature as Chief of Staff and General Counsel to Texas State Senator Rodney Ellis. He received his Bachelor of Arts (with Honors) in Political Science from Richard Stockton State College in Pomona, New Jersey (where he received a Certificate of Academic Accomplishment in African-American Studies) and his Juris Doctorate from the National Law Center at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. 

Professor Robinson is a Life Member of the NAACP and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. He is the author or co-author of numerous legal and public policy articles and commentaries. Robinson plans to put his vast experience and know-how to work for the people of Houston should voters choose him as the best candidate in the race for City of Houston Controller on the Tuesday, November 3, 2015 City of Houston Mayoral Election ballot.

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