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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INTERVIEW: Businessman Craig Joseph (Owner of Houston's This Is It Soul Food in Houston, Texas) answers a few questions asked by Aubrey R. Taylor about his 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?
BUSINESSMAN CRAIG JOSEPH: I had a normal childhood growing up; although I was around our family business the majority of the time -- simply because I was raised by my grandparents. My mother lived next door to my grandparents, so I would spend the night with her on occasions. Growing up in the inner city was not as challenging as it is today. Everybody for the most part looked out for everybody; even in the absence of parents. But living with my grandparents was just what they wanted to do. Thus it kept me mainly around the restaurant and instilled a lot of values in me.
BUSINESSMAN CRAIG JOSEPH: I had a normal childhood growing up; although I was around our family business the majority of the time -- simply because I was raised by my grandparents. My mother lived next door to my grandparents, so I would spend the night with her on occasions. Growing up in the inner city was not as challenging as it is today. Everybody for the most part looked out for everybody; even in the absence of parents. But living with my grandparents was just what they wanted to do. Thus it kept me mainly around the restaurant and instilled a lot of values in me.
QUESTION #2
AUBREY R. TAYLOR: What did you dream of becoming as you were a child growing up?
BUSINESSMAN CRAIG JOSEPH: As a child growing up I want to become a civil engineer.
AUBREY R. TAYLOR: What did you dream of becoming as you were a child growing up?
BUSINESSMAN CRAIG JOSEPH: As a child growing up I want to become a civil engineer.
QUESTION #3
AUBREY R. TAYLOR: Did you achieve your childhood dream, or did it evolve into something different?
BUSINESSMAN CRAIG JOSEPH: No, I didn't achieve that dream of becoming a civil engineer; because in the late 70's the engineering market was going down. And I prospects of getting a job as an engineer was slim to none. So, I decided to become a Houston Fire Fighter in 1980.
AUBREY R. TAYLOR: Did you achieve your childhood dream, or did it evolve into something different?
BUSINESSMAN CRAIG JOSEPH: No, I didn't achieve that dream of becoming a civil engineer; because in the late 70's the engineering market was going down. And I prospects of getting a job as an engineer was slim to none. So, I decided to become a Houston Fire Fighter in 1980.
QUESTION #4
AUBREY R. TAYLOR: What is your mission in life?
BUSINESSMAN CRAIG JOSEPH: My mission in life has always been to serve. Serving people has always been a passion of mine. As a matter of fact: that has been a family tradition for us.
AUBREY R. TAYLOR: What is your mission in life?
BUSINESSMAN CRAIG JOSEPH: My mission in life has always been to serve. Serving people has always been a passion of mine. As a matter of fact: that has been a family tradition for us.
QUESTION #5
AUBREY R. TAYLOR: Do you have a recent accomplishment you would like to share?
AUBREY R. TAYLOR: Do you have a recent accomplishment you would like to share?
BUSINESSMAN CRAIG JOSEPH: Some of my recent accomplishments have been being selected in the top 50 Black Professional & Entrepreneurs; my retirement from the City of Houston Fire Department after 34 years of service. I’m also proud and blessed to continue be affiliated with TIRR Memorial Hermann.
QUESTION #6
AUBREY R. TAYLOR: What is your outlook for 2015?
AUBREY R. TAYLOR: What is your outlook for 2015?
BUSINESSMAN CRAIG JOSEPH: My outlook for 2015 is to take Houston’s This Is It Soul Food to a much higher level. Perhaps franchising the restaurant or even relocating to another city. I also would like to start a mentor program to train new business owners, passing the business on to my son (Christopher). I am attending the Goldman Sachs 10 Program to increase my knowledge of operating a business.
QUESTION #7
AUBREY R. TAYLOR: What advice would you give to someone out there striving to achieve their dream?
So, put God first and you can't help but to win!
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AUBREY R. TAYLOR: What advice would you give to someone out there striving to achieve their dream?
BUSINESSMAN CRAIG JOSEPH: The best advice, I believe, is to
have commitment and dedication to your business. Never give up; because a door
is close in your face. If one door is closing, go to another and try and try
again. WD-40 didn't accomplish their goal until after the 39th time. That's how
it became WD-40. I was turned down 8 times, but I kept on trying. Eventually
the door will open. If you don't continue to try, how would you know whether or
not you can do it? No one likes a quitter. There is greatness on the inside of
all of us. We just have to expose it. God didn't make us a “good people”, He
made us a “Great Nation”. There is “GREATNESS” on the inside of each of us. So
always remember Joshua 1:8 – “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy
mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe
to do according to all that is written therein for then thou shalt make thy way
prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.”
So, put God first and you can't help but to win!
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"I would like to take this moment to thank Craig Joseph 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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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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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.
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