Members of the Alvin Manvel Area Chamber of Commerce were fascinated by Mia Maegan Morrow's presentation on the benefits of music therapy to patients recovering from debilitating injuries. Morrow was one of several therapist who worked with U.S Congresswoman Gabby Giffords at TIRR Memorial Hermann following a mass shooting in Tucson, AZ in 2011. Presenting a U.S. flag to Morrow (second from right) is Janet Rizzo, Field Rep. for U.S. Rep. Randy Weber, Claron Salter-Clark (far left) with State Farm Insuranceand Johanna McWilliams, president Alvin-Manvel Area Chamber of Commerce (far right).

Texas Dow Employee Credit Union TDECU announced a partnership today with BALANCE Financial Fitness Program to bring financial education to its members. The program will financially strengthen members and subsequently, strengthen the communities TDECU services.

     TDECU's investment in delivering this program is foundational to its belief that proactive money management will help members achieve financial success and enable them to get what they need to improve their lives.

     "Our members have increasingly expressed interest in learning more about managing their finances. After extensively researching financial education programs, the BALANCE Financial Fitness Program was by far the the most comprehensive.

     More importantly this program, combined with BALANCE financial counseling, will be provided confidentially and free of charge toTDECU members. This partnership will enable them to achieve their financial goals as well as walk them through any financial challenges they may face," said Lucilla Henderson, TDECU VP of Community Relations and Development.

     For more than 55 years, TDECU has been committed to helping its members understand the state of their finances. TDECU has been in the classroom for over 15 years teaching the National Endowment for Financial Education (NEFE) program to improve the financial literacy of high school students in the communities it serves. Delivering the BALANCE Financial Fitness Program underscores TDECU's continued commitment to assisting its members with improving their financial lives.

Farmers Insurance offers a discount on auto policies when customers insure their fun summer toys as well. These include motorcycles, golf carts, jet skis, boats, travel trailers, motor homes, and ATV's

     "We are constantly reviewing policies to make sure our customers get every discount they can. If you own a specialty vehicle, call us at 281-485-2471," said Sally Mercer. "If you're not a current customers, call us, we can help you save money on all your insurance needs".

     Mercer Insurance is located at 5001 Broadway, Ste. 1, Pearland, TX 77581-3962, you can visit www.mercerinsuranceagency.com for information.

The number of employers who want workers to have college certifications, two-year or four-year degrees is steadily increasing. A survey of employers by CareerBuilder revealed that half of all hiring managers want some higher education. A third of those surveyed said they are hiring more two-year degree graduates for fields that traditionally required only a high school diploma.

Employers are actively seeking out college grads not only for high-skill positions, but also for lower-skill jobs and entry-level positions, in industries as diverse as manufacturing and IT--CareerBuilder survey.

     "A high school education is not enough anymore," said Alvin Community College career counselor Diana Stiles. Employers want more certifications and a set of skills."

      One in five of those employers surveyed said they have changed these education requirements in the past five years.

     In the past, some companies needing low-skilled workers were willing to train their employees on the job. As the economy tightened in the past several years, they may no longer be able to afford to educate and train workers, Stiles said.

     While the new trend applies to low-skilled jobs, it is beginning to affect high-skilled positions as well. In some professions, four-year degrees are becoming a requirement when a two-year degree used to be standard.

     Those wanting a promotion also need to consider expanding their education. More than a third of employers say they are not likely to elevate a worker to a higher position without a degree.

     One of the biggest reasons hiring managers want more educated workers is because job markets have become increasingly competitive.

     "It also speaks to companies raising performance expectations for roles within their firms to enhance overall productivity, product quality and sales," said Brent Rasmussen, President of CareerBuilder North America.

     For more information on education requirements for certain professions, visit www.alvincollege.edu/CareerServices

www.kingwoodmedical.com

Monica Foster, Broker Associate with RE/MAX Space Center, has received the Five Star Professional award for 2013, a honor awarded to less than 7% of area realtors.  

Five Star Professionals are chosen based upon outstanding customer service and number of transactions in 2012.  Foster's HAR rating of 4.95/5.0 out of 175+ illustrates her dedication to her clients. This caps off a stellar year for Monica who was ranked the #21 Top Producing RE/MAX Agent in TX, #199 in the US and #411 Worldwide.  

Monica was also inducted into RE/MAX's prestigious Hall of Fame, Certified by HAR as a Top Producer for Production and Volume, and named one of the Top 25 Residential Real Estate Agent's in Houston by the Houston Business Journal.  In December, Monica was featured in Forbes' magazine Texas Business Leaders section and also featured in September's issue of Top Agent Magazine.  

For more information on how Monica Foster can help you, or to contact her, please visit her web site: http://RealtyByMonica.com

Taylor Morrison was named Builder magazine's Builder of the Year at its annual Housing Leadership Summit, held this week in Scottsdale, Ariz. The Builder of the Year is recognized for its excellence in successful business strategy, its achievements, and its corporate leadership.

For the full story visit:

http://www.builderonline.com/award20winners/the-2013-builder-of-the-year.aspx