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Bunch on Business

Begin with the end in mind.

Some entrepreneurs find themselves in unenviable situations when they are ready to sell their dream business. I am talking about business perpetuation. Every business needs to have a perpetuation plan that allows the founder to monetize or transition their business to the next generation of family or outside owners.

Monetizing or selling the business requires current ownership to be cognizant of how their business gets valued, common deal structures, potential buyers, transferability, and due diligence requirements.

What is the valuation method for your business? Many companies are valued at multiples of EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization). Some companies are valued by gross or net revenue multiples based on appraisals or some industry-specific methodology. Business owners need to know which valuation method to apply to focus their efforts in areas that build shareholder value.

Common deal structures include cash, earn-outs, employment agreements, non-compete clauses, and owner financing. It is important to understand how your industry transitions ownership so you can be prepared to negotiate accordingly.

Private equity buyouts have grown recently. They offer competitive values, but with strings attached to earn out the full offer. They often require current owners to work for the new ownership during a transition period from one to three years.

Internal employee perpetuation can work in smaller businesses but is more difficult as the organization becomes larger. Are you mentoring the next owner? Will the employee have the capital to buy you out or are you willing to owner-finance the transition? Do you have a signed agreement outlining the value and terms for a future transition date?

Family members who are not actively engaged or competent to operate the business should not be considered as viable new owners. Studies have shown that family-owned businesses decline in the second and third generations. Competitors may be your best solution for a sale, so be courteous to those you compete with since that could become part of your perpetuation plan.

Taking a company public through an IPO will require stringent financial reporting, audits, public relations, and formation or hiring of a team to navigate the regulatory environment. If an IPO is your future, you need to plan and implement these preparatory steps before initiating your filings.

If you are involved with partners, it is best to have pre-negotiated buy-sell agreements that are funded with company-owned life insurance policies. These agreements automatically buy the shares from the estate of a partner who unexpectedly passes away. You should also consider negotiated buyout language to deal with a disengaged partner or those wanting to exit the business.

Failing to understand the complexities of perpetuating a business ahead of time can leave owners with unsellable assets, lower valuations, limited options and liquidity. So, like so many other facets of business, your end game begins when you form your company.

Richard “Gordy” Bunch is the EY Entrepreneur of the Year® for the Gulf Coast for Products and Services. He is also the founder, president, and CEO of The Woodlands Financial Group based in The Woodlands, Texas. You may submit suggested topics for future business columns to him at gordy@twfg.com or through the editor of this publication.

Racing and Riding Events Fill Active First April Weekend

THE WOODLANDS, TX, March 25, 2016 – Residents of The Woodlands and Montgomery County will switch from their Saturday, April 2, Muddy Trails Bash running shoes and shorts and don bicycle gear and helmets for the Gran Fondo bicycle rides on Sunday in Montgomery. The busy weekend of fun and physical feats is all sponsored by one Woodlands-based company – The Woodlands Financial Group (TWFG) and its president and CEO, Gordy Bunch.

The TWFG Insurance Services Gran Fondo: Texas TMCO™ is a bicycle ride and race for the whole family to benefit the Medical Center Orchestra and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Gordy Bunch says the event is dedicated to providing a great cycling event for all ranges of cycling enthusiasts, from families that want to introduce cycling to their family to those preparing for the BP MS 150. All rides will start and finish at Montgomery High School Stadium on FM-105 in Montgomery, Texas. This year’s ride will offer four distances of 32, 46, 68 and 90 miles. The routes will travel around historic Montgomery, Texas, north through the picturesque Sam Houston National Forest, through Richards, around Anderson then back south to the high school. All routes will be fully supported for food, hydration, mechanical assistance, SAG, EMS, and safety with Ride Marshals and Motorcycle Marshals in attendance. The overall ride will be in the European Gran Fondo style with interval starts based on skill levels and distances.

The 2016 TWFG Muddy Trails Bash events on Saturday take place from three to eight p.m. at Rob Fleming Park in the Village of Creekside Park. Organizers have announced all events will be run “rain or shine.” A crawfish plates and Zydeco music feast follow timed 5K and 10K races for ages 10 and older, Little Muddy Kids one-mile Fun Run for ages 5 and up, and even a 2K Dog Fun Run for the whole family.

TWFG was founded and is headquartered in The Woodlands. It has become one of the largest insurance service agencies in the country and is ranked number one in Personal Lines insurance for the State of Texas.

For further information:
Gordy Bunch, 713-416-0789

Muddy Trails Bash Highlights TWFG’s Mission of Caring

By Paul Lazzaro

THE WOODLANDS, Texas – Gordy Bunch, TWFG president and CEO and The Woodlands Financial Group are community winners even before the 2016 TWFG Muddy Trails Bash series of fun-runs kicks off on Saturday, April 2.

“This is one of the most popular kids’ events in a community built for kids and families,” Bunch said. “TWFG’s slogan states that ‘Our Policy is Caring,’ and Muddy Trails Bash is just one of multiple community events we support because they combine physical fitness with fun.”

Bunch says caring for your community is integral to doing business in the community.

“TWFG was founded in The Woodlands. We live in The Woodlands. We operate our national business from our Woodlands headquarters here in Town Center. Muddy Trails Bash is only one of the ways we demonstrate the sincerity of our company and our employees to thank and benefit all Woodlands’ families.”

As an IronMan participant and sponsor, Gordy believes in physical fitness, which is why TWFG’s philosophy of giving centers on fitness and healthy living. TWFG is also title sponsor for the Gran Fondo bicycle race benefitting the Houston Medical Center Orchestra and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. TWFG supports The Woodlands Marathon, and a host of charitable organizations.

Other beneficiaries of TWFG’s “Caring” policy are American Heart Association, Susan G. Breast Cancer Foundation, Barnabus Group, Interfaith of The Woodlands, Toys for Tots, CASA Child Advocacy, College of the Ozarks, University of North Texas, Texas A&M University, University of Houston-Downtown Advisory Board; The Woodlands Waterway Arts Council; Fellowship of Christian Athletes; Texas Rush (Kid’s Soccer), The Women’s Center, Young Life, The Woodlands United Methodist Church, and JROTC.

The 2016 TWFG Muddy Trails Bash events take place from 3 to 8 p.m. at the George Mitchell Nature Preserve, Rob Fleming Park in the Village of Creekside Park. Organizers have announced all events will be run “rain or shine.”

A crawfish plates and Zydeco music feast follow timed 5K and 10K races for ages 10 and older, Little Muddy Kids one-mile Fun Run for ages 5 and up, and even a 2K Dog Fun Run for the whole family.

Bunch on Business – Feb. 2016

By Gordy Bunch

Do you own a business or do you own a job?

The answer to this question has a lot to do with what stage of business development you are in.

During the startup phase, you are wearing a lot of hats from service, sales, accounting, technician, marketing, finance and vision. In the startup phase, your business owns you and it is during this critical time that your efforts, commitment, skill or luck will determine if your business will succeed. Twenty-five percent of startup companies fail in the first year, 36% by year two and 44% in their third year.

Early in my career, I was blessed with a gift from the CEO of the company I worked for. He handed me “The E Myth” by Michael Gerber. He let me know he was expecting me to read it and let him know what I thought. The book goes into detail on why small businesses fail and the distinction between working on your business or in your business. I read the book, and it became the road map I would use to build my company.

To own a business, you need to acknowledge before the startup phase that you intend to build a business and not a job. This decision will help guide you past the startup phase where there is no way to avoid all the roles you must play. Your decision commits you to replacing yourself, over time, in each of these roles. I started my company 15 years ago and on day one I owned every job. I knew to truly own a company I would have to trust others to take on these roles, and I would need to work past being he business and toward building the business.

Here are a few questions to ask yourself about your business. Can your business operate without you being physically, emotionally and financially involved? Do you work more than 60 hours a week in your business? Would you or anyone buy your company? If you died tomorrow would your business survive? Do you have any profit, salary or would you make more money working for someone else?

Your answers to the above questions can indicate whether you own a business or a job. My goal with these articles will be to raise questions that many in business face and hopefully provide insight and resources to help you navigate through the various stages of your business.

People often ask me what the difference is between a successful entrepreneur and those that fail. My answer is, “Successful entrepreneurs acknowledge the hurdles to success and commit to getting over them, while those who fail, never see the hurdles or never truly commit.”

Richard “Gordy” Bunch is the EY Entrepreneur of the Year for the Gulf Coast for Products and Services. He is founder, president, and CEO of The Woodlands Financial Group based in The Woodlands, Texas. You may submit questions or comments to him at Gordy@twfg.com or through the editor of this publication.

Woodlands Economy Poised to Weather Oil Slump

Continuing downturn in the price of oil brings slight market slowdown to Woodlands

By Nora Olabai

Photo: David Hopper, Freelance

The Woodlands Development Co. is nearing completion of Three Hughes Landing, left, and leasing has become challenging given the downturn. The 320,000-square-foot Class AAA office building is expected to open in March. Two Hughes Landing, center, opened earlier this year. At right is One Hughes Landing.

The Woodlands Development Co. is nearing completion of Three Hughes Landing, left, and leasing has become challenging given the downturn. The 320,000-square-foot Class AAA office building is expected to open in … more

Business growth along the Texas 242 intersection with Interstate 45 has given a boost to The Woodlands economy. Texas Children’s Hospital’s $360 million, 548,000-square-foot pediatric facility is under construction on the southwest side of I-45 and Texas 242.

Business growth along the Texas 242 intersection with Interstate 45 has given a boost to The Woodlands economy. Texas Children’s Hospital’s $360 million, 548,000-square-foot pediatric facility is under … more

Photo: Jerry Baker, Freelance

Woodlands economy poised to weather oil slump

The Woodlands has largely been insulated from the effects of the downturn in the oil industry in the last year.

While more than 200,000 jobs were reported to have been cut globally, about 30,000 of which were cut in Texas during a nine-month period, The Woodlands still experienced economic growth. Now with oil prices sinking to new lows, businesses in the area are paying more attention to fluctuations in the oil markets.

For more than a year, industry insiders and laymen alike have been preparing for a slow comeback as the international benchmark Brent crude fell to a seven-year low in December of $36 a barrel, tumbling from a peak of $108 in June of 2014.

After prices took a nosedive in 2014, finishing out the year around $60 per barrel, a general sentiment among companies and analysts emerged that as long as oil stayed above the $40 threshold the industry could push through the downturn. But prices dipped below that threshold on Dec. 10 and have stayed there.

Signs of a slowdown tend to first reveal themselves in the office market. New office space can be more expensive and typically require a long-term commitment of five to 10 or more years. Staying put and not moving can be a way for companies to avoid unnecessary costs, especially if there are job losses and freezes which would mean the extra space might not be needed after all.

“Our main challenge in leasing is Three Hughes Landing,” said Paul Layne, executive vice president of master planned communities for The Howard Hughes Corp., about the company’s newest office building. “The companies that are already in place want to renew and are more hesitant to relocate in a down oil market, which is great for our existing buildings, but for our new building, it does provide a more challenging leasing environment to entice them to move to the very best, new building in The Woodlands.”

The office market has been healthy so far, with a near 100 percent occupancy rate for The Woodlands Development Co., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Howard Hughes, which has about 3 million square feet of office space in the area. Its most high-end offices are One and Two Hughes Landing, which are both located on the edge of Lake Woodlands in the 66-acre mixed-use development Hughes Landing.

But The Woodlands Development Co. is nearing completion of Three Hughes Landing, and leasing has become challenging given the downturn. The 320,000-square-foot Class AAA office building is expected to open in March. Although the current occupancy rate wasn’t disclosed, Layne said there was plenty of room to lease. The Woodlands Development Co. typically aims to fully lease its buildings prior to opening, like with Two Hughes Landing, which opened earlier this year.

“We are seeing positive signs with some companies wanting to be in Hughes Landing; they want to be able to walk to the restaurants on restaurant row, walk to Whole Foods, allow their employees to walk to work if they lease an apartment at One Lakes Edge, find the convenience of the Embassy Suites. All those things are positive, but they require them moving in. We will certainly try to make it as easy as humanly possible to make that happen,” Layne said.

On top of the commercial real estate market, single-family home sales slowed down in 2015. During the first 10 months of 2014, 2,018 home sales were recorded. During the same period in 2015, only 1,871 sales were recorded. The drop off in home sales affected those valued under $500,000, with the greatest sales drop recorded in homes valued between $250,000 and $499,000, according to the Houston Association of Realtors Multiple Listing Service.

“Whenever there is a slowdown in the employment sector, there’s a correlation in the slowdown of home sales. However, it seems in the past that when the home market gets slower, there’s a bit of a flight to quality, and some of the top tier master-planned communities don’t necessarily follow the trend in the market as a whole,” said Tim Welbes, president of The Woodlands Development Co.

Sales for homes priced above $500,000 rose 6 percent, from 596 in 2014 to 632 in 2015 during the first 10 months of the year.

Although with figures indicating a downturn in the economy due to low oil, The Woodlands doesn’t seem to be at risk of a major downturn.

The Woodlands is home to 17 energy company headquarters, including major employers like Anadarko Petroleum Corp. and Repsol USA. Headquarters generate sales and use taxes from mining and extraction, generate property taxes, and they boost the local retail and hospitality industry.

Headquarters also tend to be the last place where jobs are cut and tend to house more affluent employees, which trickles down to the local economy. This niche for housing headquarters has insulated The Woodlands, with a median income of $150,000 in 2014 and more than one-quarter of the population with income greater than $200,000.

“Fortunately, we have a market that consists primarily of headquarter-type operations. Headquarters are usually the last to be affected by a downturn like this. In other words, mass layoffs. At this point, … we haven’t heard of any major layoffs at the headquarter level,” said Gil Staley, CEO of The Woodlands Area Economic Development Partnership.

Even with a slowdown in real estate and economic uncertainty, The Woodlands Township is maintaining its 2016 budget, which was approved in the summer. The budget took into consideration the potential for a greater drop in low oil. Revenues are expected to increase by 5.8 percent for 2016, compared to a nearly 10 percent revenue jump from 2014 to 2015.

“These were discussions that we had in the budget process. We tempered our growth for the budget of 2016 back in August,” said Gordy Bunch, Township board member. “My expectations will be very cautious moving forward on any major expenditures until we have a better understanding of the impact of low oil and gas.”

The Township also expects that retailers, restaurants and hotels will continue to grow, projecting an increase of $1.3 million in sales tax and $2.1 million in hotel occupancy tax revenues.

“It’s still a very vibrant economy,” Bunch said.

Although oil below $40 a barrel has created even more uncertainty in the market, The Woodlands economy is diverse enough to weather the storm. And the future is looking even brighter. With the development of two new hospitals in what is becoming a medical corridor off Texas 242, more job growth is expected at a time of uncertainty.

“One of the brightest spots we have, and we’re very fortunate for that, is healthcare,” Staley said. “Healthcare is very vibrant for us right now because of our population growth.”

TWFG Enters 2016 with Number One Texas Ranking

THE WOODLANDS, TX, Dec. 22, 2015 – Agents at The Woodlands Financial Group (TWFG) will return to their offices after the holidays knowing they will enjoy another year as the number one insurance services agency in Texas for Personal Lines. Gordy Bunch, President and CEO of The Woodlands-based company, explains that Personal  Lines are the most common forms of personal insurance since they encompass both home and auto coverages.

TWFG received its top ranking from Insurance Journal magazine, the leading publication in the industry. It annually reports the Top 100 Property/Casualty and Top 50 Personal Lines agencies each year. TWFG’s premiums for all forms of insurance coverage are forecasted to approach a half-billion dollars in 2016, putting it in the top tier of the 38,000 independently-owned firms in the nation. Its number one Personal Lines ranking means it surpasses all other Texas independent insurance services agencies for Personal Lines revenue and premiums. As a Texas-based company the bulk of its 322 branches are based in the Lone Star state. However, policyholders get quotes and other insurance services through TWFG branches in 19 states or at twfg.com.

Bunch founded TWFG in The Woodlands in 2001 with $10,000 of personal funds. He was recently named EY “Gulf Coast Entrepreneur Of The Year” for Products and Services. The company is in the process of further expansion of its offices located above The Woodlands Mall which will bring additional jobs into the community. Bunch also serves as a director of The Woodlands Township and chairman of The Woodlands Convention and Visitors Bureau.

For further media information:

Gordy Bunch: gordy@twfg.com / 713-416-0789

Paul Lazzaro: plazzaro@comcast.net / 281-728-5704

TWFG Steps Up Branding with Forbes Magazine Exposure

The Woodlands, TX, Dec. 11, 2015 – The Woodlands Financial Group, best known as TWFG, has launched a regional ad in the December issue of Forbes Magazine. The full-page, four-color ad recognizes its founder and CEO, Gordy Bunch, as EY “Entrepreneur Of The Year.” It declares the company’s vision, and expresses appreciation to EY and the people who helped the insurance services company attain its position as the number one Personal Lines agency in Texas. TWFG is also listed as number 32 of Insurance Journal’s Top 100 national rankings drawn from 38,000 such agencies in the United States, and number one in Texas.

Forbes is considered one of the most effective and prestigious of business magazines, and this initiative will reach over 175,000 subscribers in the region.

For further Media Information:

Alex Bunch, 281-466-1169, alex@twfg.com

Paul Lazzaro, 281-728-5704, plazzaro@comcast.net

A Company that Observes its Slogan Beyond Business

“Our Policy is Caring” Is emblazoned on hundreds of thousands of communications, collateral materials, and signage, through more than 300 TWFG branches across 38 states of America. That philosophy of caring, fostered by a loving Texas family named Bunch, instinctively applied it to business customers and then naturally extended it to its charitable giving by The Woodlands Financial Group. TWFG is number one in personal lines in Texas and high in Insurance Journal’s Top 100 rankings. Its growth has been achieved through more than 300 branches and close to 3,000 independent affiliates by founder and CEO, Gordy Bunch.

Gordy and his management team decided several years ago that giving is an obligation for everyone in a company whose sole purpose for existence is to help others live a care-free and fruitful life. The unfortunate people who have little of the creature comforts of life, as well as those lucky enough to be considered upscale, all have needs. That is why the TWFG charitable giving program supports all levels and needs with focused special theme days and special events. A recent example from TWFG headquarters personnel in The Woodlands, Texas chose a cause closest to their hearts. In recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, the entire staff was encouraged to wear purple and purchase a “No Excuse for Abuse” two-dollar purple silicon bracelet as a donation. More than 50 of the bracelets were purchased at an average of $20 each, which was then matched by TWFG.

As a four-year veteran of the U.S. Coast Guard, Gordy Bunch takes a special interest in caring for our veterans – especially those who were injured while protecting our country. “Operation Military Embrace” was the theme for Veterans Day as boxes of items donated by employees and deposited in a collection box at headquarters were sent to Military Medical Center and the Care Package Mission. This Christmas season, TWFG partnered with the YMCA’s “Community Angel” program to meet the needs of those families and children in need for ways to realize a happy holiday. An oversize decorated box is placed prominently at the main entrance to TWFG headquarters where employees, guests, and clients are all reminded to drop in an unwrapped toy for children ages birth to 15.

But, TWFG’s giving also moves well beyond the confines of its offices. Texas-size special events for thousands of participants enjoy the carefully planned and financed TWFG programs. Sponsorships of competitions and interactive play demonstrate TWFG’s focus on “Fitness and Fun.” –  “Kids and mud go together,” Gordy Bunch said as he signed a three-year agreement for The Woodlands Financial Group to be title sponsor of the popular Muddy Trails Bash in The Woodlands. The event features a 5K and 10K run, plus a Little Muddy Kids one-mile run and a 2K-9 Fun Run so that even the family dog can participate

TWFG kick starts the TWFG Insurance Services Gran Fondo Texas charity bike ride which has resulted in the largest-ever donation to the Texas Medical Center Orchestra and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. On Sunday evening at a TMCO concert checks were presented to the two charities totaling $74,000.

The TWFG Insurance Services Gran Fondo: Texas TMCO™ is a bicycle ride and race that is a recommended ride for the BP MS150 which will be conducted two weeks later. The ride will offer routes of 94, 69, 47, and 12 miles.

The complete list of charities benefited by TWFG’s involvement is literally too long to report the involvement on each one, which almost always go beyond simple cash contributions. They cover the gamut of giving and caring within the community on up to national levels from Gordy finishing the Iron Man triathlon to a team of employees rowing across Lake Woodlands in the YMCA Dragon Boat Races

Among the others are:

> American Heart Association

> YoungLife

> YMCA

> Muddy Trails Bash

> The Woodlands Marathon

> Habitat for Humanity

> Montgomery County Women’s Shelter

> American Cancer Society

> The Woodlands Ice Rink

> Gran Fondo Bike Ride (MS Society)

> Leaping Butterfly

> St. Baldrick’s Foundation

> Special Angels of The Woodlands

> Interfaith of The Woodlands

> JROTC Foundation

> Teen Missions

> Susan G Komen

> Run Through The Woods

Probably one of the favorites of Gordy and his wife, Michelle, who also takes a personal and active interest in TWFG addressing the needs and fitness of its various communities, is the one pictured below. Donations from the Bunch and TWFG employee families collected numerous outgrown bikes, tricycles, and scooters for children at Montgomery County Women’s Center’s Reaching Pines transitional housing apartments. Children and mothers’ residing at Reaching Pines “safe refuge” apartments for battered women have few recreational toys so they specifically asked for bicycle donations. TWFG answered the call once again. What makes this cause even more meaningful is the fact that the families may stay in transition apartments for up to two years and then when the family is ready to return to general society, the kids get to take their bikes and familiar apartment furnishings to their new permanent residence.

TWFG is a family company that considers its more than 250,000 direct and affiliated policyholders as their extended family and applies its slogan to one and all: TWFG says it over and over and over and then practices what it preaches: “Our Policy is Caring.”

Be Aware of The Five C’s During the Holidays

The Woodlands, TX – Dec. 1, 2015 – The holiday season is filled with merriment and joy, but too many families also experience the darker side of the holidays, problems involving the Five C’s: Celebrations, Candles, Cooking, Cars, and Christmas décor. Gordy Bunch, an award-winning insurance executive and community leader, wants to add “Caring,” to the holiday mix with these holiday safety tips that need to be included in everyone’s holiday planning.

Christmas trees should always be kept at least three feet away from heat sources, such as fireplaces and candles. Fresh trees require regular watering at the base to prevent dryness. Artificial trees should be labeled flame-retardant and decorated with UL approved lights. Test lights and cords before putting them on the tree to avoid fires.

Cooking for the holidays requires extra care because of the many distractions the season brings with guests, shopping, and parties. Check and re-check stovetops and ovens during preparation and keep flammable items, wooden utensils, and even holiday frocks away from the heat source. Gordy suggests setting timers to remind you when boiling, frying, or baking.

Candles are the most common source of holiday disasters. Two of every five holiday home fires are caused by candles. Make sure they are in sturdy containers that won’t tip and never use them in the bedroom. Keep candles at least a foot away from flammable items and blow them out when you leave the room.

Cars are prime targets for thieves during the holidays. The Insurance Council of Texas is warning shoppers about vehicle break-ins during the holiday shopping season. “Lock, Take and Hide” are the watchwords when shopping. Criminals will be intent on burglarizing vehicles that may have been left unlocked or have phones, ipad, gifts, and other valuables in plain view, the ICT said. Locking your car, taking your keys, and hiding your possessions have been shown to greatly reduce both auto burglaries and thefts. “We want Texans to be able to enjoy their holiday shopping or other activities without having to return to a burglarized or stolen auto,” Gordy says.

Celebrations encompass all of the above because they are a leading cause of holiday mishaps. Everything from knocking over a candle to mysterious disappearance of gifts and valuables, to driving under the influence, can result in severe repercussions and loss for hosts, family, and guests.

Have a “Care-Free holiday season,” says Gordy Bunch, who is also president and CEO of TWFG, one of the nation’s largest insurance services agencies, representing more than 200 insurance companies, Gordy suggests checking with your professional insurance agent to ensure your current homeowners policy provides the best protection for you, your family, and business for the holidays and every day. More information is available at twfg.com.

For Further Media Information and INTERVIEWS ON HOLIDAY SAFETY (Gordy Availability)

Gordy Bunch

713-416-0789

gordy@twfg.com

Paul Lazzaro

281-728-5704

plazzaro@comcast.net

Gulf Coast Entrepreneur of Year Gordy Bunch Heading for National Title

PALM SPRING, CA, Nov. 2, 2015 – Richard “Gordy” Bunch, Gulf Coast Entrepreneur of the Year, will join major corporate executives, sports, and entertainment luminaries for the EY Strategic Growth Forum to be held here November 11 to 15 with a theme of “Accelerate.” Highlight of the event is naming regional winners like Gordy Bunch as National Entrepreneur of the year in various categories. Bunch’s award category is Products and Services.

The EY Strategic Growth Forum^® is the country’s most prestigious gathering of high-growth, market-leading companies. The Forum brings together the largest gathering of entrepreneurs in America. This by-invitation-only CEO event brings together more than 2,000 of the nation’s top executives, entrepreneurs, advisors and investors and other business leaders. As Founder, President and CEO of The Woodlands Financial Group, Bunch was recognized as Gulf Coast EY Entrepreneur of the Year in the Products and Services category. He launched TWFG with a $10,000 investment in 2001 and has grown it to a national company with $320 million in premiums, more than 300 branches in 21 states, and more than 3,000 additional agents throughout the United States. The financial services company is headquartered in The Woodlands, where Bunch also serves on The Woodlands Township board of directors and as chairman of the Convention and Visitors Bureau.

The Strategic Growth Forum will focus on future growth with top CEOs, entrepreneurs, business leaders, government officials, investors, and advisors from around the world sharing their experiences on innovation, transactions, growth, and the shape of the future global economy. Among the presenters and special guests are Julia Louis-Dreyfus, actress; David Novak, Executive Chairman, Yum! Brands, Inc.; Deborah Norville, Anchor, Inside Edition; Jim Messina, President & CEO, The Messina Group and Deputy Chief of Staff to President Barrack Obama; Curt Menefee, Host, Fox NFL Sunday; Bill McDermott, CEO, SAP;

Charles Koch, Chairman of the Board and CEO, Koch Industries, Inc.; One Republic Recording artists; Karl Rove, former Deputy Chief of Staff to President George W. Bush; Michael Strahan, Football Hall of Famer and TV Host; Meg Whitman, President and CEO, Hewlett Packard Enterprise; Adrian Gostick and Chester Elton, NY Times best-selling authors of “The Culture Works;” and H. Fisk Johnson, Chairman and CEO, SC Johnson.

Each day will feature hands-on work sessions led by these and other national experts ranging from “A CEO’s Guide to Going Public,” “Leadership Matters,” building effective boards of directors, and “Family Business Secrets” for unlocking your family’s potential.

Entertainment includes an outdoor dinner under the desert skies with a concert starring One Direction. The Forum concludes with the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year^® National Awards black tie gala hosted by TV personality Seth Meyers where Bunch is also considered a candidate for National Entrepreneur of the Year honors.

For nearly 30 years, the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year program has recognized the endeavors of exceptional men and women who create the products and services that keep our worldwide economy moving forward. Since its inception, Entrepreneur Of The Year has grown dramatically and now includes programs in more than 140 cities and in more than 60 countries worldwide.

For further Media Information:

Gordy Bunch

713-416-0789

Gordy@twfg.com

Paul Lazzaro

281-728-5704

plazzaro@comcast.net