Gracepoint Homes has started presales in Imperial, a mixed-use development in Sugar Land.

GRACEPOINT HOMES BEGINS SALES IN
IMPERIAL SUGAR LAND

Gracepoint Homes has started presales in Imperial, debuting classic brownstone architecture in the Sugar Land development.

The builder offers six different home designs priced from the $630,000s in The Point neighborhood, which borders a community roundabout anchored by an impressive $1 million fountain.

The three-story townhomes will reflect 19th century, East Coast charm, with wide bricked steps leading to a central entry and covered porches and balconies, said Tom Cox, Jr., president of Gracepoint Homes. The homes, which range from 3,644 to 3,960 square feet, will have three-car garages and an option for an elevator.

The Point neighborhood also faces community waterways, offering lakeside vistas from the two- and three-story balconies.

“This is an remarkable mixed-use neighborhood, offering owners comfortable homes and access to shopping, dining, a popular weekly farmers market, museums and events at Constellation Field, home of the Sugar Land Skeeters,” Cox said. “Our brownstone designs reflect the area’s considerable history.”

The 716-acre Imperial is built at the former site of the Imperial Sugar Company, which operated there for more than 160 years and was the catalyst for the establishment of Sugar Land, once a company-owned town that is now one of the nation’s fastest-growing suburban communities.

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(L-R): Kimberly Kainer, Dan Kershner, Kathleen Thoede, and Toby Yaltho, M.D.

HOUSTON METHODIST SUGAR LAND HOSPITAL
DEBUTS BIG AND LOUD THERAPY

Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital is now a certified provider of the proven BIG® and LOUD® speech and physical therapy courses for patients with Parkinson’s disease.

The courses were developed by Lee Silverman Voice Treatments (LSVT Global), an Arizona-based organization that specializes in helping patients with Parkinson’s disease and other movement disorders through the development of unique technology-assisted therapies. Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital’s experienced therapy staff is excited to now offer this therapy.

“Patients with Parkinson’s disease often find that their voices are as impacted as their bodies,” says Toby Yaltho, M.D., board-certified neurologist specializing in Parkinson’s disease and movement disorders with Methodist Sugar Land Neurology Associates. “They lose volume or develop monotone, hoarse voices that make it difficult to be understood – primarily because the disease is affecting the muscles that control breathing and speech. As a result, they become increasingly reluctant to speak up, especially in public settings. It directly impacts their ability to communicate with others, even family members.”

Patients with Parkinson’s disease or other movement disorders also frequently lose the ability to recognize that they are speaking more softly due to deficits in their sensory processes.

To overcome these obstacles, the LOUD program includes an intensive month-long therapy course that improves vocal intensity, quality and variation through a series of repetitive exercises that stimulate the muscles of the larynx and improve breathing. At the same time, patients are taught to recognize when and how to speak louder to facilitate understanding.

The BIG therapy system, which was developed using many of the same principles as LOUD, gives patients increased mobility, balance and range of movement with their bodies and limbs.

“This is an extremely beneficial program for patients with Parkinson’s disease,” says Dr. Yaltho. “I’ve seen patients make dramatic improvements in just a few weeks through BIG and LOUD sessions. The training and exercises give them confidence and control and improves their quality of life tremendously.”

Both BIG and LOUD therapies require patients to attend four one-hour classes a week for one month, working directly with an individual therapist who provides one-on-one coaching and assistance. Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital’s speech and physical therapists, Dan Kershner, PT; Kimberly Kainer, MOT, OTR; and Kathleen Thoede, MA, CCC-SLP; have been specially trained and certified by LSVT Global to provide direct instruction to patients. They are the only certified BIG therapists in Fort Bend County.

“Having this therapy available at Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital is a tremendous advantage for patients in Fort Bend and surrounding areas,” says Sean Croft, director of rehabilitation services. “It is a world-renowned program, and our staff is excited to be able to offer it to patients. We have skilled, knowledgeable therapists, and they were thrilled to undergo certification to help meet the needs of the Fort Bend community.”

To provide further assistance to patients with movement disorders, Dr. Yaltho is working with the Houston Area Parkinson’s Society to start a support group in Sugar Land. The program should be up and running later this year.

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TRENDMAKER HOMES LAUNCHES NEW
LENDING SERVICE IN TEXAS

Trendmaker Homes, a member of the TRI Pointe Group, announced the launch of TRI Pointe Connect as its in-house mortgage company, making Texas one of the first four states in the nation to offer mortgage services through the new company. Formed as a joint venture between Trendmaker Homes and imortgage, a division of loanDepot LLC, TRI Pointe Connect opened its doors in Texas following launches last month in Arizona, Colorado and Washington. It is anticipated that TRI Pointe Connect will continue to expand and operate in eight states. Imortgage is one of the nation’s top five nonbank retail mortgage lenders whose imortgage builder platform has produced the highest customer service scores of all U.S. lenders, as measured by Eliant in 2014.

“We’re always looking for new ways to make purchasing a Trendmaker Home easier for our buyers,” said Will Holder, president of Trendmaker Homes. “Providing a service that personalizes the financing experience, and enables communication between all parties, ensures a smooth process from beginning to end.”

The rollout of TRI Pointe Connect in Texas follows less than a year after one of the largest mergers in homebuilding history, wherein Quadrant Homes and four other builders became part of TRI Pointe Group in the company’s 2014 merger with Weyerhaeuser Real Estate Company (WRECO). The merger made TRI Pointe Group one of the top 10 largest public homebuilders by market equity capitalization in the United States. TRI Pointe Connect is the company’s first lending service and will be launched across all six TRI Pointe Group homebuilding brands. TRI Pointe Connect will offer an integrated team of mortgage loan consultants on-site in the Houston area market, who will provide personalized service, competitive rates, and a wide portfolio of mortgage products to TRI Pointe home buyers — all intended to make the home buying process simple and smooth.

“We look forward to a successful relationship with Trendmaker Homes, and are thrilled to roll out TRI Pointe Connect in Texas, Colorado, Arizona and Washington,” said Dan Pena, senior vice president of imortgage.

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(L-R): ) Patrick Shay, director of engineering services, Memorial Hermann-TW; Delbert Reed, director of engineering services, Memorial Hermann Southeast; Larry Newlands, director of energy management, Memorial Hermann Health System; Jean Lupinacci, administrator, EPA ENERGY STAR program; Terry Scott, director of engineering services, Memorial Hermann Northwest and Memorial Hermann Southwest; Clark Reed, director, EPA ENERGY STAR program.

MEMORIAL HERMANN SUGAR LAND RECEIVES
ENERGY STAR LABEL

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recognized Memorial Hermann Health System for the third consecutive year as a 2015 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year-Sustained Excellence Award recipient for its continued commitment to managing and improving energy efficiency across its network of facilities.

Through its partnership with the ENERGY STAR program, Memorial Hermann is the leader among healthcare organizations nationwide by benchmarking energy use and improving energy performance management. The EPA’s ENERGY STAR label is given to hospitals nationwide for their energy performance management, and in 2014, 20 percent of all hospitals awarded the designation belonged to Memorial Hermann.

Memorial Hermann Katy, Memorial Hermann Memorial City, Memorial Hermann Northeast, Memorial Hermann Northwest, Memorial Hermann Southeast, Memorial Hermann Southwest Heart and Vascular Institute, Memorial Hermann Sugar Land and Memorial Hermann the Woodlands, received the ENERGY STAR label in 2014. By outperforming 99 percent of hospitals in the United States these eight facilities are members of an elite class of energy efficient hospitals.

Since program inception, Memorial Hermann has reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 18 percent and has achieved $60 million in energy cost savings. Memorial Hermann is able to commit those savings to further enhancing the quality of patient care and capitalizing on future growth opportunities.

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OakBend Medical Center’s new Acute Care for the Elderly facility in Fort Bend County.

OAKBEND MEDICAL CENTER ADDS ACE UNIT

OakBend Medical Center has recently added the ACE (Acute Care for the Elderly) Unit. The only unit of its kind in Fort Bend County, this unit was designed with older adults in mind. The flooring does not have a glossy shine, which has a tendency to appear wet to the aging eyes. Patients in the unit are over 65 but mobile and are encouraged to eat together in a communal dining area where they can be joined by family members.

Aging in today’s world isn’t like it used to be, with breakthroughs in healthcare and new and innovative ways to treat patients and their families. OakBend Medical Center is an independent, community-minded health care organization located in the heart of Fort Bend County, providing quality care and exemplary service with its two full-service hospitals, as well as many specialty centers.

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TEXAS STATE TECHNICAL COLLEGE ANNOUNCES
FORT BEND COUNTY CAMPUS LOCATION

The administration of Texas State Technical College announced the proposed new campus location in Fort Bend County. The new campus, if approved by the Texas Legislature, will be located on 80 acres on the north side of Hwy 59 between FM 2218 and Hwy 36, 1 1/2 miles east of Hwy 36.

HB 658, sponsored by State Representa­tives John Zerwas, Rick Miller, Ron Reynolds and Phil Stephenson of Fort Bend County, and Representative Charles “Doc” Anderson of McLennan County, passed on April 13 authorizing TSTC to have a campus in Fort Bend County. After the Bill passes the Texas Senate and is signed by the Governor, the college may proceed with construction of the 110,000 square foot building. If construction begins in June, classes could start at TSTC in Fort Bend as early as Fall 2016.

TSTC Vice Chancellor and Chief Execution Officer, Randall E. Wooten, unveiled the plans at the Greater Fort Bend Economic Development Council General Membership Breakfast Meeting. The vision is for the TSTC campus in Fort Bend to include 6-8 buildings with instruction and services to meet the needs of 5,000+ students.

Wooten commented, “Fort Bend County is the sixth fastest growing county in the nation – making this a prime location for expansion.” A recent study by The Perryman Group predicted the rapid economic growth of the region. This growth, combined with workforce replacement needs, will continue to increase the demand for skilled workers.

Jeff Wiley, CEO of the Greater Fort Bend Economic Development Council, explained that TSTC is an important part of the puzzle in building Fort Bend County into a world-class county. “The addition of a larger TSTC footprint to the stable of existing higher education partners and programs is substantial and complimentary to building the best work force available in the Greater Houston region. Fort Bend already maintains the highest level of educational attainment for people age 25 or older than any other county in the Greater Houston region. TSTC will surely help to continue this leadership in our community,” Wiley said.

The announcement comes after months of negotiations and mounting support from the community. The auditorium was filled with business leaders from Fort Bend County, many of whom have already voiced their commitment to TSTC. Leaders from The City of Rosenberg, City of Richmond, Fort Bend County, City of Sugar Land, Sprint Waste Services, The George Foundation, and The Henderson-Wessendorff Foundation have promised their ongoing support to ensure a skilled technical workforce can be readily available to serve the businesses and industries within Fort Bend County and the Greater Houston area.

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Sienna Plantation has opened its newly renovated Homefinder Center at 5777 Sienna Parkway featuring state-of-the-art technology and a new nature-inspired interior.

SIENNA PLANTATION DEBUTS REMODELED
HOMEFINDER CENTER

Sienna Plantation has unveiled a newly refurbished Homefinder Center, complete with state-of-the-art technology that will allow prospective buyers to find community information with a single touch.

A touch-screen monitor, maps and information on the Village of Sawmill Lake, Sienna Plantation’s newest village, will help visitors find details on the community, said Alvin San Miguel, general manager of Sienna Plantation.

The Homefinder Center, at 5777 Sienna Parkway, is open 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.

The 10,000-acre Sienna Plantation boasts a wealth of recreational amenities, including three water parks, lighted tennis courts, a fitness center, the 160-acre Camp Sienna sports park, parks, trails and the 18-hole Sienna Plantation Golf Club. Five schools within the Fort Bend Independent School District are located in the community.

The new Village of Sawmill Lake will start preselling this spring, offering homes base priced from the $280,000s. Model home construction is underway and a community grand opening is planned for May. The Village of Sawmill Lake is scheduled to open a new amenity center in 2016. Young residents will attend nearby Heritage Rose Elementary, Baines Middle School and Ridge Point High School. A Fort Bend ISD elementary school and middle school are expected to open in the Village of Sawmill Lake in 2017, increasing the number of on-site schools in Sienna Plantation to seven.

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(L-R): Plantation Furrniture owners (l-r) Barbara Burt, Daniel Brogdon and Brenda Burt.

PLANTATION FURNITURE AWARDED RETAILER OF THE YEAR

Plantation Furniture was honored as “Retailer of the Year” at the 20th Annual Furniture Industry Awards Gala on April 20. Retailer of the Year is the highest honor given by sales representatives within the retail home furnishings community. It recognizes retailers who have distinguished themselves through industry leadership, business achievement and service to their communities. Plantation Furniture is a member of Furniture First, the group recipient of the award. This year is the first in which multiple retailers united as a buying group were honored.

Plantation Furniture’s owners are Brenda Burt, Barbara Burt and Daniel Brogdon. Plantation Furniture has been a member of Furniture First since March 2010. Furniture First is a cooperative of 217 family-owned furniture retailers, operating more than 456 stores. These stores work together as a group to bring outstanding values and exclusive products to their communities in 47 states. Because these independent furniture stores work together they can negotiate deals to rival larger corporate retail chain stores. The group’s buying power boosts the furniture values these community and customer-centric retailers offer.

Furniture First member retailers have a lot in common. The typical member store has been in business for more than 40 years and is run by a second or third generation. Furni­ture First retailers have a strong connection to the communities they serve, and pride themselves on being good corporate citizens. The qualifications for membership in the national buying group result in a high-quality cooperative. A gala dinner was held April 20 during the High Point Furniture Market to honor the award winners.

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MERCEDES-BENZ OF SUGAR LAND AWARDED
BEST OF THE BEST

Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) announced that Mercedes-Benz of Sugar Land has received the prestigious Mercedes-Benz Best of the Best Dealer Recognition Award based on its outstanding performance in 2014. Ranking among the top 15 percent of all Mercedes-Benz dealers across the country, Mercedes-Benz of Sugar Land was presented the award in recognition of its success as an independent entrepreneur with a “best or nothing” culture that consistently achieves excellence.

This is the fifth time Mercedes-Benz of Sugar Land has been honored with this award. To receive this award, top performing Mercedes-Benz dealerships must demonstrate superior performance in all areas of their business, including Customer Experience, New Vehicle Sales, Certified Pre-Owned Sales, Leadership and Management, Parts Operations and Market Penetration.

“We are proud to have achieved this prestigious benchmark for the fifth year,” said President and Owner of Mercedes-Benz of Sugar Land Ken Enders. “Our remarkable employees are striving each and every day to deliver an unparalleled customer experience in all areas of our dealership. We are proud to be among the top Mercedes-Benz Dealerships in the U.S. to receive this esteemed award. This honor is another chapter in our legacy.”