Small Business Today Magazine FEB 2015 TAYLOR CONSTRUCTION MANAGMENT | Page 5

SBT Houston Staff FEBRUARY 2015 PUBLISHER SCOLUMN Chairman John Cruise President/Executive Publisher Steve Levine From the Publisher Vice President /Associate Publisher/ Creative Director/Editor Barbara Davis-Levine Steve Levine Business Development/PR Bill Huff Aaron Kaplan Deborah A. Powell Interns Jesus Gonzalez Norma Diaz Graphic Designer Lavinia Menchaca Photographers Gwen Juarez Contributing Writers Don Brown Helen Callier Barbara Davis Mila Golovine Ruben Gonzalez Toni Harris Bruce Hurta Aaron Kaplan Craig Klein Paul Marcus Hank Moore Mark Murrah Rick E. Norris Mayor Annise Parker Howard Partridge Christi Ruiz Rita Santamaria Kim Sawyer Gail Stolzenburg Pam Terry Holly Uverity Jack Warkenthien Aimee Woodall Chief Advisor Hank Moore Publisher’s Advisory Board Shah Ardalan Helen Callier Sonia Clayton Donna Cole John Cruise Dirk Cummins April Day Dr. John Demartini Maya Durnovo Kathie Edwards Mila Golovine Dory Gordon Greg Grant David Holt Richard Huebner Jeffrey Jones Darryl King Sandy Lawrence Craig Klein Wea Lee Hank Moore Lisa M. Morton Mike Muhney Leisa Holland Nelson Tony Noun Mayor Annise Parker Page Parkes Howard Partridge Susan Repka Maria Rios Grant Sadler Rita Santamaria William Sherrill Pam Terry Linda Toyota Jack Warkenthien Carlecia D. Wright Aaron Young Phone: [phone] E-Mail: [email protected] Or Write: Small Business Today 5380 West 34th Street, Ste 230 Houston,TX 77092 See us on the web at www.SBTMagazine.net Free APP for Android & iPhone go to your APP Store and type in Small Business Today Magazine SMALL BUSINESS Today MAGAZINE IS PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY LEGACY PUBLISHING GROUP, LLC. 5380 WEST 34TH ST., STE. 230 HOUSTON, TX 77092 EXECUTIVE PUBLISHER - STEVE LEVINE: 832-419-2814 CHAIRMAN - JOHN CRUISE: 832-460-2020 www.SBTMagazine.net ADVERTISING RATES ON REQUEST. BULK THIRD CLASS MAIL PAID IN TUCSON, AZ. POSTMASTER: PLEASE SEND NOTICES ON FORM 3579 TO 5380 WEST 34TH ST., STE. 230 HOUSTON, TX 77092. ALTHOUGH EVERY PRECAUTION IS TAKEN TO ENSURE ACCURACY OF PUBLISHED MATERIALS, SMALL BUSINESS TODAY MAGAZINE CANNOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR OPINIONS EXPRESSED OR FACTS SUPPLIED BY ITS AUTHORS. COPYRIGHT 2012, LEGACY PUBLISHING GROUP, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. REPRODUCTION IN WHOLE OR IN PART WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION IS PROHIBITED. Small Business is often a Family Affair M any of the entrepreneurs that we have interviewed for our covers started out working in the family business.  Many started out very young, sweeping the floors, emptying the trash, and running errands.   Most of you know that I was fed and clothed from the proceeds of the two dry goods stores run by my parents who were originally recruited into the business by my paternal grandparents who started them in Nyack and Pearl River, New York.  Both of my parents had aspirations of going to college and pursuing their individual dreams.  My father had planned to go on the G.I. Bill and my mother had an art scholarship but instead of going to college, they accepted my grandparents’ offer of working for them with an offer to pay for them to go to college later.  College never happened and even after my grandparents passed away, my parents continued to work the stores until my mother succumbed to cancer and “big box” stores put their little stores out of business.   Admittedly, I never worked in the family business but I spent plenty of time observing their work ethic, their focus on customer service, their dedication to their community, and their dedication to each other.  I can honestly say that the lessons that I learned from those observations still serve me well today.   As a high school wrestler, I stepped out on the wrestling mat to meet my opponent and knew that my parents were not in the stands to cheer me on or console me when I lost.  I went to several father/son awards banquets on my own.  I was never disappointed as I knew where they were.  They were working their business to feed and clothe my sister and me.   Many of today’s entrepreneurs grew up like I did as observers in their parents’ business.  Their parents were their role models in learning about work ethics and commitment that  a business owner needs to have for success.   For this month’s cover honorees, Troi & Kelley Taylor of Taylor Construction Management, every day is a learning experience for their “Mini Mes”, daughter Laila and son Joshua.  Troi and Kelley are creating a legacy for their children and establishing a blueprint by which they can follow in their parents footsteps in creating their own successful business or taking over the helm if they so choose when they are adults.   It is time to let you get started on this month’s very special issue, Good Reading, Good Sales, & Success to You, Steve Levine President/Executive Publisher, Small Business Today Magazine [ FEBRUARY 2015 ] www.SBTMagazine.net 3