Greg Junek: Sunday Briefing

The East Texas Restaurant Association named Todd and Jane Keller, owners of Keller Restaurant Group in Tyler, as its 2008 Outstanding Restaurateurs.

They will be honored at the 2008 TRA resident’s Gala during the Southwest Foodservice Expo, June 23 in Houston.

The Kellers began KRG in 2002, with four Church’s Chicken locations. Now, KRG has seven restaurants, including a gourmet Italian coffee bar and a restaurant equipment repair subsidiary. Todd Keller is the president of the East Texas Restaurant Association and Jane Keller serves as its secretary.

The Outstanding Restaurateur award goes to nominees who are members of the Texas Restaurant Association and active within their local chapter. They must make substantial contributions to their community through civic, fraternal, social or religious activities.

Each nominee is evaluated on the amount of time and energy spent working with and for the benefit for the local chapter, the state association and its members. Nominees must promote proper business ethics and display leadership skills, which allow them to attain recognition in the food service industry to help build a positive industry image.

And a nominee must have an operation that is successful in the eyes of fellow operators, chapter associate members, employees and the community.

The timber industry recently showed some East Texas hospitality to a visitor from Cuba.

Yaili Escobar Rodriquez visited forestry operations and saw the process from seedling to the tree farm stage to the final product, according to an article in the June issue of

Texas Forestry, the Texas Forestry Association newsletter.

Rodriquez is director of international purchasing for Alimport, headquartered in Havana, Cuba. The TFA’s Marketing Committee, under Chairman Brant Cobb, was host to Rodriquez’s visit.

In 2000, Congress passed a bill that allowed the Cuban government to buy food and agricultural products, including lumber, poles, ties and newsprint, the article said. Last year, Cuba purchased $600 million in agricultural products from the United States, including more than 40,000 utility poles.

Business Makeover Wayne McIntyre, owner of McIntyre Plumbing Tyler, won the $100,000 Small Business Makeover offered by Sam’s Club, the National Federation of Independent Business and SBTV.com.

McIntyre and his wife, Ginger, went to Washington, D.C., last week for NFIB’s
2008 National Small Business Summit. In addition to $25,000 in cash, McIntyre will also receive merchandise, supplies and equipment from Sam’s Club or samsclub.com, mentoring from SBTV.com experts and a lifetime membership to the NFIB as part of the prize package.

McIntyre started his plumbing business in 1985 and he employs 18 people including his wife and two grown sons.

“We still can’t believe we won the contest,” he said prior to the Washington trip. “This is a huge opportunity for my business and family, and we are looking forward to visiting the capitol and working with NFIB, SBTV.com and Sam’s Club.”

McIntyre said he intends to share what he learns with other small business and community leaders.

He was one of several thousand small business owners who applied to win the prize package during the National Small Business Week in April.

Business Editor Greg Junek may be reached at 903-596-6280, or by e-mail at business@tylerpaper.com.

Greg Junek
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