Sullivan Signature Homes joins Woodforest as one its custom builders. Sullivan Signature Homes just began its ninth year of business, focusing primarily on the Montgomery County market. Company president Paul Sullivan said he will break ground on his first home in Woodforest in October, with a second home to follow. Bordering Woodforest Golf Club, both 130-foot by 300-foot properties overlook the No. 3 fairway.

“I think Woodforest is the next big thing in South Montgomery County,” Sullivan said. “The master plan is well conceived and there are exciting plans for amenities within the community. Plus, the community is located in a real hot spot in Montgomery County, north of the FM 1488 corridor, surrounding the 27-hole Woodforest Golf Club. ”

Having often frequented construction sites with his father, an electrician, Sullivan said he always knew construction would be his future. Armed with a degree in construction science from Texas A &M University and a master electrician’s license, Sullivan has grown his company to build about a dozen homes each year. The majority of his business is through referrals, which he said he earns by assembling a highly competent work crew and being extremely hands-on.

“I’m always at the construction site, taking care of my crews and pushing them to the next level, ” he said. “I’m very meticulous and I do what I say I will do. Customers appreciate that and the fact that we really stand behind our product. ”

Sullivan is working with Mark W. Todd Architects Inc. to design homes best suited to the Woodforest properties. Sullivan expects the 4,700-5,700-square-foot homes to be priced from the $700,000s.

Fall Creek has introduced four new builders and several new model homes, continuing with development of new neighborhoods. National builders D.R. Horton and Centex Homes are building in Autumn Falls, an enclave of 50-foot homesites near The Fields of Fall Creek. The 65-acre sports complex is under construction now

D.R. Horton offers 11 floor plans in Autumn Falls ranging from 1,549 to 2,650 square feet and base-priced from the mid-$150,000s. Centex has nine designs from 1,835 to 2,687 square feet and base-priced from the $160,000s. Centex already has opened a model in the neighborhood and D.R. Horton opened its Fall Creek model Labor Day weekend.

In nearby Lake Point, Triumph Homes is offering homes on 60-foot homesites, priced from the $190,000s and ranging from 2,247 to 3,570 square feet. Also building in Lake Point is Plantation Homes, with 14 designs base-priced from the $210,000s. Triumph has also opened a new model home.

Meritage Homes is now building in Fall Creek. Known throughout the southern and western portions of the U.S., Meritage offers designs on 70-foot homesites in Wynnwood, with prices from the $250,000s and homes as large as 4,500 square feet. A model home is now open.

Woodforest National Bank has been named among leading brands for two years running in the mid-sized institution category by Bankography. Woodforest ranked among some of the nation ’s largest institutions including U.S. Bank, Wells Fargo, JPMorgan Chase and other national brands. The rankings underscore fundamental attributes of top brands —consistency in service, pricing and earnings.  

“Our number one ranking is a clear indication that our customers embrace our in-store strategy of offering convenient locations open seven days a week and the most competitive products available, ” said Robert E. Marling Jr., chief executive officer. “We are proud of our sustained strength and profitability amongst large, national competitors in this economic climate. ”

Jason Haven has been named Security Manager of Market Street The Woodlands, a 34-acre mixed use office, shopping and entertainment destination. His responsibilities include the management and function of all security personnel at Market Street, liaison to on-site security and general contractors and communicating physical security requirements to management and facilities organizations.

Haven served in the U. S. Army and attended the University of California at Berkeley. His background includes 10 years of security management in San Francisco, Calif.

Kent Johnson has joined The Woodlands Convention & Visitors Bureau Board of Directors.

He will be responsible for assisting The Woodlands Convention and Visitors Bureau in positioning The Woodlands as a regionally, nationally, and internationally recognized tourist destination by developing quality marketing programs and events to attract visitors and stimulate economic development and growth.

Johnson relocated to The Woodlands in May 2005 to manage The Woodlands Resort & Conference Center in the capacity of general manager.

Emily Triana Marx, M.D., has joined  Northwest Diagnostic Clinic, PA’s rheumatology division, Northwest Rheumatology.

Dr. Marx joins Northwest Rheumatology from the Jackson Memorial Hospital of Miami where she completed her fellowship in rheumatology after serving as a resident in the Internal Medicine Department.

She received her Doctor of Medicine from the University of Texas Medical School at Houston. She is board certified in internal medicine and rheumatology and is fluent in both English and Spanish.

The Woodlands Resort has been ranked in the 2009 edition of Golf Digest magazine’s 75 Best Golf Resorts in North America joining the likes of Pebble Beach, The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort in Naples, Fla., and the Walt Disney World Resort.

To determine the 75 Best Golf Resorts in North America, Golf Digest called upon its 900-plus course rating panelists, who also produce the list of America ’s 100 Greatest Courses. The panelists rated hundreds of resort courses in the United States, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean.

Rounding out Golf Digest’s list at No. 75, the resort features 36 holes of on-property championship golf on The Oaks and Panther Trail courses. Golf Digest noted on its ranking that the 18th hole on Panther Trail is arguably the best par 4 in Houston. The complete list can be found in the October issue of Golf Digest magazine.

Jim McIngvale, aka “Mattress Mack”, was the featured speaker at The Woodlands Rotary Club’s weekly luncheon. The audience listened intently to Mack’s motivational presentation. There were many wet eyes when McIngvale discussed the recent fire that destroyed his furniture warehouse.

Woodforest has added D.R. Horton, one of the nation’s largest homebuilders, to its builder line-up, joining Pulte Homes, the nation’s largest homebuilder, in Woodforest’s Overland Trace neighborhood. Presales and model-home
construction are under way. Presales of the homes base-priced from the $190,000s are being handled in the Woodforest Welcome Lodge while the D.R. Horton model home is under construction.

The Woodlands High School Theater Department has two outstanding, award-winning theater teacher/directors to round out the talent in the department. Connie Sue Godwin re-joins The Woodlands High Sschool Theater after a 16-year hiatus. She will be in charge of the advanced theater program. She taught theater for six years at McCullough, where she helped to develop the curriculum that is being taught at many schools throughout Texas today.

Tammy McClanahan teaches Theatre I at the ninth-grade campus and brings an impressive background in acting competition. She taught theater for 17 years and was head of the Oral Interp program at Klein High School. During her three years of Tommy Tune musical theater competition, Klein ’s musical was nominated all three years for Best Musical and won for Beauty and the Beast.