Low cost of doing business in San Antonio offers strong appeal - San Antonio

In San Antonio, the low cost of doing business -- along with the pro-business city government -- are strong selling points as the city competes with other markets for business expansions and relocations.

Lower Taxes Mean Bottom-Line Savings

Tax savings in San Antonio begin at the state level -- Texas has no personal income tax. A California executive relocating to San Antonio at the same salary would instantly recognize up to an 11 percent increase in take-home pay. Texas does not have a corporate income tax, but does levy a franchise tax on corporations ($2.50 per $1,000 of taxable capital or 4.5 percent on earned surplus, whichever is greater.)

Local government revenue is mostly derived from property and sales taxes. However, companies that meet certain requirements may be eligible for a phase-in of property taxes and rebates of sales taxes.

To encourage capital investment and job creation, the City of San Antonio and Bexar County may grant a property tax phase-in (abatement) of up to 100 percent for 10 years, depending on the capital cost of project improvements and the number of jobs created. Some companies that have taken advantage of this incentive include Golden Aluminum, Citicorp, VLSI Technology and World Savings & Loan Association.

Companies locating within one of the city's two Enterprise Zones may qualify for tax phase-in and sales tax refunds. Furthermore, locating in Foreign Trade Zone #80 allows a company to collect domestic and foreign goods for further processing without formal Customs entry.

Work Force

San Antonio delivers an abundant force of workers with a broad range of skills in both manufacturing and non-manufacturing fields. The work force is more than 680,000 strong and has grown an average of 3.3 percent per year over the past 12 years.

In addition to a growing work force, San Antonio offers competitive wages. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, for example, the average weekly wage of a secretary in San Antonio is $355 compared to $431 in Los Angeles and a machinery mechanic earns an average of $11.77 per hour compared to the Los Angeles wage of $17.42.

Workers' Compensation

Workers' compensation is not mandatory in the State of Texas. Those who do carry the insurance, however, have witnessed a dramatic turnaround in the system since 1989, when the state legislature passed extensive workers' compensation reforms. The new environment has lowered the number and cost of claims and expedited the delivery of medical care to injured workers.

The total workers' compensation system payout has decreased by 55 percent, from $3.3 billion in 1990 to $1.5 billion in 1992. At the same time, the average weekly compensation paid to injured workers rose from $190 in 1990 to $251 in 1993, a 32 percent increase.

Training and Recruitment

Customized job training and applicant screening is done through the city in concert with local public and private institutions. Funds are available through the Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) and the Smart Jobs Fund Program, a $50 million state job-training fund administered through the Texas Department of Commerce.

Local institutions, such as the Alamo Community College District and the Texas A&M University Engineering Extension Service, have extensive experience in developing programs to meet the particular needs of an employer. Over the past 15 years, San Antonio has assisted in the work force training of a number of well-known companies, including AT&T, American Airlines, Bausch & Lomb, Marriott Corporation, VLSI, QVC Network, Golden Aluminum and Fairchild Aircraft Services.

TABULAR DATA OMITTED

Recently, Kraft General Foods, the nation's largest food company, selected San Antonio for its new, consolidated financial service center. According to Patrick Farrell, a Kraft spokesman, issues such as community support, site selection and state recruiting and training support were paramount in its selection of San Antonio over other closely competing cities.

Low-cost Utilities

With costs 18 percent below the national average, San Antonio offers one of the lowest gas and electric utility rate structures in the country. The city's forward-thinking electric and gas utility, City Public Service, has ensured that there is the capacity to supply the electric needs of future growth in San Antonio for years to come. The city's early reliance on natural gas has expanded to include coal and nuclear fuels, which now represent 80 percent of the power generated.

Noted Arthur Von Rosenberg, CPS general manager, "In the late 1970s, we diversified our mix of electricity sources to include coal, natural gas and nuclear energy -- we are well ahead of other cities today in our ability to supply electrical power at very competitive prices."

The San Antonio Economic Development Foundation and city agencies work hand-in-hand with CPS, coordinating services for potential new businesses.

"CPS has been very responsive to the needs of companies moving to San Antonio, keeping costs down, providing reliable service and being responsive to each company's needs," said Mario Hernandez, SAEDF president.

When Golden Aluminum, a division of Coors, was seeking a location for its $170 million rolling mill, the coordinated efforts of the SAEDF and CPS were a persuasive factor in the company's decision to select San Antonio.

REAL ESTATE

Site Prices ($/sf)
(Suburban - Improved)

5 to 10 acres                     .75     10.75     1.25
Over 10 acres                     .50     10.75     1.00

Lease Prices ($/sf)
(Suburban Industrial Space)

40,000 - 59,999 sf               2.52      6.12     2.25
60,000 - 99,999 sf               2.52      4.44     2.20

Construction Prices ($/sf)
(Industrial Space)

40,000 - 59,999 sf              20.00     21.00    30.00
60,000 - 99,999 sf               19.0     18.50    30.00

Office Space4 Rental            12.73     18.99    13.75
Rates ($/sf)

Source: 1994 SIOR/Landauer Comparative Statistics of Industrial & Office Real
Estate Markets

Clean Air and Favorable Regulatory Environment

With its favorable geographic location and climatic conditions that do not trap air pollutants, San Antonio enjoys high-quality clean air. The city is the largest attainment city in the country for all EPA air-quality standards. And the World Resources Institute in Washington, D.C., awarded the city its top environmental ranking in the nation for 1993.

Besides the obvious benefits of improved health and quality of life, clean air also has economic advantages. Without emissions-offset requirements and other regulatory limits, permitting new companies is a much smoother and faster process in San Antonio than in other cities.

Time is Money

The One Stop Business Information Center, a service of the City of San Antonio, offers the Economic Development Briefing Team. Once a company has decided on San Antonio as the site for a new facility, the Briefing Team steps in to coordinate all start-up activities. The Team is composed of the city and public utilities' staff members involved in the review of land "plats" and construction plans. The team acts to facilitate the construction permitting process, expedite zoning permits, create industrial district designations, speed up utility connections and, in one case, has eased restrictions for properties in a military overlay district. The entire process moves along at a pace much faster than that found in cities that do not coordinate such services.

Bausch & Lomb

When Bausch & Lomb decided to locate a manufacturing and assembly plant in San Antonio in late 1988, the company required an accelerated schedule so it could begin production in 1989. From licensing and permitting applications to locating in an enterprise zone, the One Stop team went into high gear, helping Bausch & Lomb get into production on schedule. The San Antonio plant has expanded to become the Rochester, N.Y.-based company's national distribution hub and now stocks a multimillion-dollar inventory of lenses from Maryland, frames from Rochester and cases from the Bausch & Lomb maquiladora facility in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico.

Factors such as these -- and more -- contribute significantly to an overall cost structure that give San Antonio a healthy advantage in the competition for new industry and corporate expansion -- a central ingredient in a city's potential for future growth.

PG&E Gas Transmission-Texas Donates $25,000 to San Antonio Area American Red Cross

SAN ANTONIO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 21, 1998--PG&E Gas Transmission-Texas ("PG&E GT-T") today made a $25,000 donation to the American Red Cross to support relief efforts in the wake of the floods that have devastated the Central and South Texas region over the past few days.

Officials at PG&E GT-T, leading the relief effort for gas, oil and energy businesses in the region, are hoping that other companies will contribute to clean-up efforts. The company is an affiliate of PG&E Corporation (NYSE:PCG), a national energy services holding company.

"We are grateful for PG&E Gas Transmission Texas's prompt response in the midst of this natural disaster," said Randy Weddle, executive director of the San Antonio chapter of the American Red Cross.

The San Antonio Red Cross has responded to the needs of hundreds of families who were affected by the floods in and around the city. The non-profit organization is providing assistance for emergency food, clothing and shelter.

The Red Cross and San Francisco-based PG&E Corporation have a long history of partnership to meet the needs of victims of disasters in the United States. PG&E Corporation donated $1 million to the Red Cross's disaster preparedness program on Oct. 17, 1996, the seventh anniversary of the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake in California. This commitment to assisting survivors of natural disasters continues in Texas through the generosity of PG&E Gas Transmission-Texas (PG&E GT-T), a subsidiary of PG&E Corp., based in San Antonio.

PG&E Gas Transmission-Texas, an affiliate of PG&E Gas Transmission, has gas throughput of more than 3.5 billion cubic feet per day in a pipeline network of more than 8,000 miles. It also has a natural gas liquids (NGL) production capacity in excess of 100,000 barrels per day in nine state-of-the-art plants, and a 500-mile NGL pipeline network.

PG&E Corporation provides energy services and products throughout North America through its four unregulated subsidiaries: PG&E Energy Services, U.S. Generating Company, PG&E Gas Transmission and PG&E Energy Trading. Its businesses also include regulated utility Pacific Gas and Electric Company, which provides gas and electric service to one in 20 Americans.

Spurring Good Works in San Antonio

Investing in employees and in a community is second nature for Time Warner Cable's Navarra Williams.

San Antonio is where Navarra Williams got his first position in the industry as director of finance for Harte-Hanks Cable in 1984, which makes the city much more than just a place to live and work.

"I jumped at the chance to move back, particularly because my family was very comfortable here," says Williams, president of Time Warner Cable's San Antonio division. "We all like the climate, the people and especially the diversity of the city."

Williams, 47, moved back to San Antonio in 1991 to run a Paragon Cable system that is now a 330,000-subscriber system for Time Warner Cable and immediately immersed himself and the company in the social fabric of the city.

"We involve ourselves as much as possible, sponsoring cultural events in the Hispanic and Mexican-American community," says Williams. "But we also have company picnics with pie-in-the-face events, and I've dressed up as Captain Kirk in a Star Trek spoof for our employees. We also host an annual invitational basketball tournament, and, let me tell you, we don't play presidential ball. I get shoved around out there on the court."

An advocate for poor children, Williams has been involved with the Carver Community Cultural Center, a local community center, and the Carver Academy, a private school for inner-city children that was the brainchild of David Robinson, the center for the NBA's San Antonio Spurs.

"Navarra is a man who cares about his community," says Robinson, who is chairman of the Carver Academy. "He has selflessly devoted many hours and countless resources t,o ensure our success. If I am ever in a foxhole, I'd want him in there with me."

Williams himself has come a long way from growing up a self-described "poor kid" in Washington, D.C., where his wife, Deborah, also grew up. The youngest of three children, Williams was also the first to get a college education.

"All credit for my work ethic goes to my mother, Dolly, who was always there for me and my two sisters," says Williams. "She worked at night as a nurse's assistant so she could be there when we got home, and she always attended our functions at school."

While completing his college studies, Williams worked as a marketing representative for IBM and was hired in 1979 as controller for Royal Food Products in Indianapolis. He left in 1984 to join Harte-Hanks Cable, after deciding that cable was "more exciting" than the computer and food industries.

A year later the company promoted him to VP/GM of its 34,000-subscriber system in Philadelphia, bumping him up to regional president in 1987. He then spent a year as regional general manager for TKR Cable in Warren, N.J., before moving Deborah and their children, Adam, now a Wall Street analyst, and Angela, now a junior at Duke University, to Orange County, Calif.

He served as EVP and GM of Paragon Cable's Orange County system from 1989 to 1991, when the company asked Williams to run its San Antonio division. Williams was asked to remain in the top spot when Time Warner bought the system last year.

Williams learned early in his career that employees are a company's most valuable asset. He makes sure that Time Warner invests in the careers of employees, but that's not all. "We inaugurated the Hometown Heroes award, to recognize local residents dedicated to volunteering" with children's organizations, he says.

Williams was also integral to the success of the redevelopment of Kelly AirForce Base, serving as a board member of the Greater Kelly Development Authority since 1996 and as chairman from 1979 to 1999.

"Navarra brought a business orientation and a vision of where we ought to go with the redevelopment of this base," says Paul Roberson, executive director of the Greater Kelly Development Authority. "He was very, very important to our success, attracting major companies including Boeing, Lockheed-Martin and Pratt & Whitney to establish us as a major commercial aviation maintenance center and was directly involved in creating 2,000 positions as a result."

Doug Holloway, president of network distribution and affiliate relations at USA Networks, knows Williams from his involvement in CTAM, NAMIC and other organizations. All who "come in contact with him are made to feel as though they have known him a very long time," says Holloway. "He has done great work in the industry in support of the diversity and mentoring efforts with NAMIC, and on his own."

TransGuide leads the way in innovative transportation management - Cover Story

Introduction

San Antonio is the nation's ninth largest city. It has a booming tourist trade - centered around the Alamo, River Walk, Fiesta Texas, and Sea World - and six military bases and a steadily growing economy.

As the city has grown, it has experienced increasing traffic problems. Traffic volume on some freeways in the city now exceeds 205,000 vehicles per day. Several years ago, San Antonio transportation authorities began discussing how the region could avoid - or at least minimize - urban gridlock. In 1994, traffic was further exacerbated by the opening of a 65,000-seat domed stadium with only 2,800 parking spaces in the city's downtown area. Each day, San Antonio suffers an average of 100 traffic accidents - about 12 percent of which are secondary freeway accidents. These accidents - combined with maintenance, construction, and increasing demand - are slowing the city's freeway system.

Under the leadership of the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), a plan was formulated to deal with this problem. The result was TransGuide, subtitled "Technology in Motion," a project emphasizing intermodal/interagency cooperation and innovation in technology and procurement. TransGuide's goal is to provide information on transportation conditions and options to the traveling public in and around metropolitan San Antonio.

Rejecting Traditional Solutions

The traditional, but very expensive, solution to the congestion problem is to build additional lanes and/or roads. TxDOT, however, was interested in making its existing road network work smarter and better, rather than just adding new lanes. Planners decided to develop and implement an Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) that would drastically reduce the time needed to detect and respond to an incident.

The TxDOT system - TransGuide - will reduce detection/response time from 20 minutes to 2 minutes. It will also enable traffic controllers to dispatch all necessary emergency services before an officer even reaches the accident scene. According to a TxDOT report, this rapid response and the corresponding reduction in the impact of incidents on traffic conditions should result in a 22-percent increase in average freeway speed, a 43-percent reduction in number of traveler stops on the freeway, and a 27-percent reduction of overall freeway system delay. Quantified, this comes to an annual delay savings of $513 million, generating a benefit-to-cost ratio of 30-to-1 when the project, covering 307 kilometers (km) of freeway, is fully operational.

Traffic flow is aided by an excellent system of three-lane, parallel arterial roads along the freeway network. These "frontage roads" provide ideal diversion routes around freeway incidents without affecting other city streets.

Since vehicles will be moving at more efficient speeds, TransGuide will also lead to improvements in the environment. Improved fuel efficiency should result in annual reductions of 128 metric tons (t) of carbon monoxide, 13.5 t of hydrocarbons, 17.2 t of nitrogen oxides, 1 t of sulfur oxides, and 112 t of ozone precursors. Annual fuel consumption is projected to be reduced by almost 12 million liters.

Procurement Innovation "Paves" the Way

To make TransGuide a reality, its planners relied on two distinct types of innovation: state-of-the-art technologies and state-of-the-practice procurement and teaming techniques. Thus, the way in which TransGuide has been developed is just as new and exciting as the tools that comprise it.

The first step for TxDOT was to build a consensus among local agencies and authorities in an existing corridor management coalition, which included representatives of local law enforcement and emergency services, the city and county, and the metropolitan public transit service. It was important to achieve a consensus since TransGuide changes the way in which agencies work - and work together - to identify and manage incidents and to manage and improve overall traffic conditions. The results are a more tightly coordinated incident response program and extensive sharing of information from TransGuide and other sources to enhance both incident response time and level of preparedness.

TxDOT officials reviewed traffic management systems and control room environments around the country. During their visits, they aimed to identify both appropriate technologies for the system and companies that were able to design, equip, and support complex modern systems and control centers. TxDOT staff began to develop preliminary design concepts based on what they had seen.

Next, with the caveat that TxDOT would not accept a proprietary or sole-source solution, industry was invited to make recommendations on these concepts. Companies involved in the design-development effort included DEC, AlliedSignal Technical Services Corporation, AT&T, Ikegami, Canon, and Fiberoptic Display Systems. The resulting design was a mix of existing state specifications, "special" specifications, and "functional" specifications for the control center and computer system.

Industry was then invited to bid on the project, which was to be funded through federal-aid highway construction funds (80 percent from the federal government and 20 percent from the state government) with additional system extensions paid for by VIA Metropolitan Transit, the San Antonio transit (bus) company. (VIA is not an acronym; it means "by way of/by means of.") In addition, the San Antonio District of TxDOT dedicated one-third of its total construction budget to this project in the year it was awarded. The fixed-price procurement was awarded in December 1992 to the lowest bidder, AlliedSignal Technical Services Corporation, which headed up a team of more than five dozen subcontractors and suppliers.

Process Innovation

The innovative management practices exhibited during the project design and development stages continued well beyond actual project startup. Specifically, every step of the project emphasized "partnering." In partnering, the contractor team and the contracting agency lay out ground rules under which they will work. So, with the aid of a partnering facilitator, the TransGuide project team developed mission and vision statements, a goal, and a detailed process for issue resolution. Lower tier subcontractors on the project commented that they "felt, for the first time, that [they] were an important part of a team working toward an important goal."

Partnering has yielded measurable results. First, the project has proceeded to the 99-percent-plus completion level with no claims. While completing a traditional multimillion-dollar, low-bid, fixed-price, construction project without any claims is somewhat unusual, completing a claimless project that mixes construction and multiple advanced technologies in the same contracting process is even more noteworthy. Second, the project has been accomplished in a significantly shorter period of time than have comparable advanced traffic management system (ATMS) projects around the country. Third, TxDOT identified the project as being responsible for its largest cost savings in 1993 (ranking over projects nearly three times as large), with savings to the state (at the 90-percent completion level) calculated at $1.9 million.

Innovative System Design

So what is the TransGuide project? Basically, the 39.4-km project features pairs of inductive-loop-type vehicle detectors in each lane at 0.8-km intervals, video cameras every 1.6 km, and a fiber-optic communications network. Transportation operations personnel use a window-driven, client-server computer system with a real-time, digital map display to develop and implement specialized response scenarios for each traffic incident. Inside the 4459-[m.sup.2] control center, video and computer images are displayed on console monitors and on a 3-m by 18-m video wall. Fiberoptic variable message signs and overhead lane control signals posted along the freeway and on ramps inform motorists about traffic conditions. Freeway management is integrated with management of arterials and city streets through computer control of traffic signals.

The system design includes multiple technical innovations. The digital communications system multiplexes voice, data, and compressed digital video over individual fibers at 155 megabits per second. TransGuide is one of the first systems in the United States to use the Synchronous Optical Network (SONET) standard to ensure interoperability of equipment from multiple vendors. The central computer is "fault-tolerant," ensuring 99.999-percent availability. Video coverage is full-motion and full-color at up to 48-to-1 magnification, which is expected to result in superior information to emergency services as they are dispatched to the incident scene. At the front of the control room, a commercial-quality "video wall" display (with only a 9.5-mm dividing line between cubes) can display up to 80 video and computer-generated images.

How It Works

The operating concept of the system begins with monitoring speed and occupancy on the freeway to detect incidents. After a suspected incident is identified through a series of algorithms, the computer notifies a traffic operations incident "manager," who rapidly determines (through the video system) if the incident is real. If it is, the incident is assigned to an operator, who investigates and provides additional information to the computer. The system then recommends a unique solution to resolve the incident, which the operator can accept, modify, or reject. Once a scenario is implemented, the system continues to report changes in traffic conditions, allowing the operator to develop and implement an alternative scenario if necessary. Safeguards are built in to ensure that conflicting scenarios are not implemented.

The new traffic management center was designed and constructed to put all the key players under one roof. In addition to the TransGuide managers, operators, and maintenance people, representatives of several other organizations are colocated in the center. Representatives of VIA, police, emergency services, and environmental response units will work in the control room and will dispatch units in response to incidents. The operations control center's third floor will house VIA's fixed route and paratransit dispatch, emergency management, and an adjunct of city traffic engineering signal control. Joining the working project partners on the top floor will be the Texas Transportation Institute, performing research on improved incident detection algorithms and other transportation programs that can benefit from access to real-time data and video. The building is wired for voice, data, and video throughout, including a "situation room" adjacent to the control room.

Project Status and Future

The TransGuide development effort was a two-year project. Full operation following system acceptance testing is expected in mid-1995. Many activities had to be performed simultaneously in order to finish the project within this time frame. For example, while work crews installed conduit and cable and constructed the control center in San Antonio, AlliedSignal software personnel designed and developed the computer system and created a working ITS test bed at their facility in Columbia, Md. The result was that when the software was delivered to San Antonio, it had already been proven in operation with identical equipment, considerably shortening the integration period.

Last year, TxDOT's public relations department began planning for system startup, retaining a public relations firm to support a full-scale public information program. Project coverage has been extensive in both print and broadcast media. Print and video materials have been developed to inform the public about TransGuide and to maximize traveler comprehension of and compliance with the traveler information and advisories provided.

Operations and maintenance personnel have been fully trained in an intensive effort, and system documentation has been delivered by the contractor. Also, system modifications that extend the communications network to VIA's two downtown control rooms, park-and-ride lots, an underground bus garage, and the TxDOT district traffic engineering office are under way.

The TransGuide Operations Control Center has become a popular site visit for federal, state, and local transportation officials interested in seeing the state of the art in action. Last year, for instance, the facility hosted a meeting of ITS America's ATMS Committee. In mid-1995, it will host the Transportation Research Board's Freeway Operations Committee.

This year, additional contracts will be let to extend the area covered by the system. A project has been initiated to integrate traffic and transit information and to make this pretrip information easily available at convenient locations for the traveling public. Additional functions have been identified for the TransGuide system, and steps toward further automation of operators' tasks are planned.

Given San Antonio's strategic location, TransGuide is likely to serve eventually as a transportation management hub for south and southwestern Texas, incorporating other ITS functions from commercial vehicle operations, advanced rural transportation systems, and advanced traveler information systems. The core system is online, but there are many exciting capabilities that have yet to be incorporated.

Vincent P. Pearce is the senior manager for transportation systems and services of AlliedSignal Technical Services Corp. He was extensively involved in the development of the TransGuide computer and communications system specifications and has continued to support TxDOT in the design of operational tests and other traffic management systems in the state. He chairs a subcommittee of ITS AMERICA's Standards and Protocol Committee, and he is one of four U.S. representatives to the ISO ITS Technical Committee's ATMS Working Group. He has a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from North Carolina State University and a master's in business administration from Harvard University.

Sino Swearingen Aircraft Company Announces First Flight of the SJ30-2 Prototype Aircraft

SAN ANTONIO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 8, 1996--Sino Swearingen Aircraft Company (SSAC) announces the first flight of the SJ30-2 prototype aircraft from its headquarters at the San Antonio International Airport.

The airplane, S.N. 001, departed San Antonio International Airport at 10:21 a.m. Central Standard Time and flew on its first mission for a total flight time of 1 hour and 31 minutes. Test pilots for the flight were Carl Pascarell and R.H. Blackwell. Following the flights, Pascarell reported, "The original SJ30 airplane offered high performance and excellent handling qualities. This new SJ30-2 configuration clearly offers more outstanding features and looks to be a real winner." Blackwell stated that, "the first flight mission met all of the test objectives."

The prototype aircraft will now be used for testing purposes to evaluate flight characteristics and external design changes. This first flight signifies the beginning of the formal flight test program. S.N. 001 will be joined next year by two other certification test aircraft. Two airframes will also be completed and used as structural tests articles in the FAA certification program.

Initial flights and testing on S.N. 001 will be conducted using fuel efficient Williams-Rolls FJ44-1A turbofan engines with 1,900 pounds of thrust per engine. As the new Williams-Rolls FJ44-2A, 2,300 pound thrust engines become available, they will replace the -1A engines for completion of the test and certification program.

The SJ30-2 prototype aircraft that was flown incorporates several aerodynamic and structural improvements that are part of the new design. Those modifications include:

-- Improved Wing Design

The SJ30-2 aircraft has several important modifications and improvements to the wing. The overall wing span has increased from 36.33 feet to 42.33 feet. Wing dihedral has also been changed from -0.7 degrees to +2.3 degrees. A modified wing/fuselage fairing and a wing glove have also been added to reduce aerodynamic drag.

-- Stretched Fuselage

The fuselage on the SJ30-2 has been lengthened 52 inches. This results in an increase in usable cabin volume to 330.5 cubic feet. The stretched fuselage also allows for more space in the baggage compartment located behind the aft cabin pressure bulkhead.

-- Increased Fuel Capacity

The stretched fuselage also allows an increase in fuel capacity for the SJ30-2. By incorporating a standard fuselage fuel tank in the extra fuselage volume, maximum fuel capacity of the SJ30-2 is increased to 716 gallons (4,800 lbs). This extra fuel capacity results in an NBAA IFR range (1 pilot, 3 passengers) in excess of 2,500 nautical miles.

-- Modified Nosewheel Steering

The SJ30-2 now incorporates a hydraulically actuated nosegear steering system. The system utilizes a cockpit mounted "tiller wheel" for excellent ground maneuverability.

"The SJ30-2 prototype incorporates the major aerodynamic features of the planned SJ30-2 production aircraft," stated Ron Neal, senior vice president for operations. "This will be the first aircraft to fly with the new Williams-Rolls FJ44-2A, 2,300 pound thrust engine as soon as it is available, currently projected for the first quarter of 1997," said Neal.

The Sino Swearingen SJ30-2 will bring to business aviation a degree of flexible travel with operating efficiency and performance never seen before in this class of aircraft. With a high speed cruise above .80 Mach, this will be one of the fastest aircraft in the light jet class. Designed to cruise at 49,000 feet, the SJ30-2 has a NBAA/IFR range of beyond 2,500 nautical miles at .78 Mach. At a cost of $3.5 million in 1995 dollars fully equipped, this state-of-the-art business jet costs less than many turboprop aircraft. Prospective customers include those listed in Inc. 100, Fortune 1000, and those currently operating turboprop and older small business jets. The company expects to receive U.S. certification for the SJ30-2 to FAR Part 23 regulations and deliver the first production aircraft in the fourth quarter of 1998.

Remember San Antonio … and the NRPA Congress - National Recreation and Park Association;

San Antonio may be best known for the Alamo, truly something to remember. But there will be something there for the parks and recreation field to remember as well... the 1995 NRPA Congress for Recreation and Parks. Next month more than 4,000 recreation, park and leisure professionals and citizen advocates will gather in this warm and gracious Texas town for a four-day extravaganza.

From its founding in 1691 by Spanish missionaries, San Antonio has grown from a sleepy little Texas pueblo to the tenth largest city in the United States. In all, over half a dozen cultures, from Spanish and German to Lebanese and Greek, have impacted the city's growth. Their influence is still evident in the architecture, festivals, cuisine, and customs that contribute to the city's uniqueness. San Antonio's rich cultural heritage has yielded a city of intriquing and often surprising contrasts. Downtown, admist soaring modern office buildings, are well-preserved historical landmarks. A rare combination of history and progressive, cosmopolitan life, San Antonio has much to offer its visitors. NRPA has much to offer our Congress delegates with more than 300 concurrent education sessions, on-site institutes and more than 200 NRPA leadership and governance meetings. Delegates can take advantage of over 200 continuing education units (CEUs) is sessions that are offered through Sunday. Sessions are designed for every level of experience covering a variety of topics related to the recreationand leisure field. Keynote speakers with strong ties to and belief in the recreation field will inspire delegates.

The NRPA Exposition will feature more than 450 park and recreation suppliers and service providers. Corporate representatives will be on hand to talk about their services and demonstrate the newest that they have to offer. The four-day fiesta of instruction also provides attendees with a forum to exchange ideas, make new contacts, and learn about the latest political issues on the national scene.

INSTITUTES

Back by popular demand this year are the NRPA Pre-Congress Institutes. Expert presenters are assembled for day-long sessions dealing with specialized topics.

Aquatic Recreation Therapy institute:

Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday,

October 2-4

This specially designed 12-14 hour educational experience and hands-on institute will provide both aquatic and therapeutic recreation experts with a complete overview of multiple aquatic recreation therapy options for disabled populations. Held in both a traditional classroom setting and on-site at a local swimming facility, the session offers a well-rounded educational approach. Learn various techniques for treating patients with orthopedic or neurological disabilities and children with autism, as well as a number of aquatic skills including SCUBA diving, kayaking and skiing.

APRS Management institute:

Wednesday, October 4

Learn how to face the many complicated issues confronting park and recreation managers today. Managing has become much more than staff hiring and training. Park and recreation managers deal with construction projects, liability issues, marketing, customer service, and a plethora of other topics. Participants will discover new techniques to help deal with these increasing pressures.

NRPA Playground Safety inspector

Certification Course and Exam:

Tuesday, Wednesday, October 3-4

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, 200,000 children were treated for playground accidents in 1994. Of these, 70 percent - 140,000 - occurred at public parks and school yards. Sponsored by the National Playground Safety Institute, this course is the most comprehensive training program on playground hazard identification and risk management methods offered. Advanced reading and 10 hours of training will prepare you to sit for the Certified Playground Safety Inspector exam at the culmination of the certification course.

Commercial Sponsorship Institute,

Wednesday, October 4

Increased revenue, decreased expenses, enhanced programs, partnership development, and improved public relations are just a few of the many benefits commercial sponsorships offer recreation agencies of all sizes. See how to develop, and enhance the commercial sponsorship approach by learning the language of event marketing: how to develop a solicitation package; target potential sponsors; and negotiate and close the deal.

Urban Strategies institute,

Wednesday, October 4

A complex convergence of social, political, and economic forces are threatening the fabric of our cities. Focusing on the urban recreation agency can provide solutions. At the same time, agencies are threatened by serious budget reductions and sometimes total elimination. All employees will benefit from these concepts of leadership, strategic thinking, healthy cities, and community mobilization.

Future Trends in Youth At-Risk

Programming: Wednesday, October 4

Studies have shown that at-risk youth can be effectively reached through recreation programming. Learn about the latest in programming trends and techniques, funding sources, research and evaluation tools, and staff training from experts in the field and former gang members. Youth at-risk programming principles, partnerships, and concepts will be examined by leading professionals in the field of youth at-risk programs.

FOCUSING ON LOCAL

KNOWLEDGE

For thorough, intensive exploration in one area of study, try our Special Focus Seminars. Co-sponsored by the Texas Recreation and Park Society TRAPS), these special focus institutes feature top professionals in five topic areas. All seminars have .3 CEU value and are scheduled for Thursday, October 5.

Here's the Crisis and

Here's the Press

The stress that comes with the dynamics of dealing with the press sometimes leads people to make mistakes. As an end result, the agency and staff present a poor image to both the press and the public. Bob Shaw, a Dallas media relations consultant, will teach you how to deal effectively with the press in a crisis situation and develop positive media relations. Learn specialized strategies for answering questions and maintaining a positive image.

Managing and Resolving Conflict

Defusing potentially explosive situations can often be difficult. Fortunately, you can learn from parks and recreation professionals with special conflict resolution training. Katherine Bennett Ray, executive director of TRAPS, and Eddie Hueston, executive general manager of Fair Park, Texas, will explain strategies, tactics, and the insights you need to take control of tough situations. Learn the anatomy and dynamics of conflict in the work place and discover how to recognize potential interpersonal conflicts and defuse them before they flare up.

Hitting the Mark-Marketing and

Evaluation

Are you meeting the needs of your customers? Learn how to find out what your customers' needs are and how best to reach them. Dr. David Scott, assistant professor of Recreation, Park Administration, and Tourism at Texas A&M University, will give you the basics you need. Learn basic principles of marketing, needs assessment, survey techniques, and program evaluation.

Communicate, Mutate or Die

The dynamics of good and bad communications are often hard to define. Developing ways to evaluate and improve your communicating style and skill is crucial to your survival. Michael Anne Lord, CLP, assistant professor of Recreation Administration at Southwest Texas State University, will show you the importance communication has in building effective work teams, developing professional networks, and enhancing your personal life.

Satisfaction is Winning

Within any organization there is a spirit and philosophy of service that customers can perceive. For the parks and recreation professional, winning is not defined by the plaques on the walls, your name in the paper, or personal rewards. Winning is defined by satisfied customers who come back over and over because your organization offers quality products and customer satisfaction. Learn about structure, attitude, and customer service from quality consultant Gene Spearman, senior training instructor for the City of Dallas.

CLOSE UP AND ON-SITE

Our traditional education sessions are informative, insightful ways to examine the latest in the field. However, learning takes place in many settings. Get out of the classroom and learn from the challenges and successes of some local parks and recreation agencies. NRPA offers 10 on-site institutes that allow you to translate close-up knowledge into positive action for your own agency.

Explore the role of urban parks in the preservation of culture, history, and nature by visiting a National Historical Park in the heart of modern San Antonio and three municipally-owned nature parks and botanical gardens. Discover the many public/private partnerships that are working to serve the needs of today's seniors. Visit the Alamodome multipurpose facility, home of the NBA San Antonio Spurs, and see the latest in facility design. This indoor complex boasts the flexibility of seating 75,000 in 24 different setup possibilities.

See how a variety of land and wildlife preservation groups combined forces to acquire 6,000 acres of environmentally and historically significant property outside the city. Tour the Rehabilitation Institute of San Antonio and see the state-of-the-art technologies and methodologies in therapeutic recreation for adolescents and adults. Discover how programmers provide corporate recreation for 10,000 employees on a 280-acre complex at the USAA Insurance Co. Examine the aquatic relationship of recreation, education and competition during a visit to the Palo Alto College Natatorium, home of the 1993-94 Summer Olympic Festival. Or, learn the history, maintenance operations, and economic significance of San Antonio's most prized recreation site, the River Walk.

Whatever your selection, On-Site Institutes have limited space and occur on October 5 only.

GET ON TRACK

In 1994 the Congress Program Committee's newly-developed tracking system made its debut. This system allows delegates to make the most of the professional training and education sessions that have made the Congress for Recreation and Parks a valuable tool for recreation professionals and advocates for 30 years. Delegates can now attend several sessions in the same subject area and receive the certification credits they need.

CEU tracking requires a minimum of .3 CEUs in one topic area but allows the delegate to choose from several.1 CEU sessions within that track. Me .3 CEU sessions in the traditional three-hour format are still available as well. Delegates can choose between three short, related sessions and one long, intensive session.

The four tracks are easily identified by the following codes: Park and Recreation Services Management (MGMT), Recreation Program Delivery (RPD), Natural Resources and Facilities Management (NRFM), and Therapeutic Recreation (TR).

WORDS OF WISDOM

Beyond the 200-plus hours of education sessions, delegates will have the opportunity to hear the thoughts of two very special Americans who have a unique devotion to the parks and recreation field. The keynote speakers at the All Congress General Sessions will capture your imagination as they relay their experiences and tell of the closeness recreation and parks has to their lives.

Astronaut Bernard A Harris, Jr., M.D. will address delegates at the first All Congress General Session on Thursday, October 5. A true pioneer, Harris was the first African American to walk in space. Most recently he was the Payload Commander on the first flight of the new joint Russian-American Space Program. He has logged 198 hours, 29 minutes in space, completed 129 orbits, and traveled over 2.9 million miles.

After receiving a doctorate in medicine from Texas Tech University School of Medicine in 1982 and completing his residency at the Mayo Clinic, Dr. Harris completed a National Research Council Fellowship at NASA Ames Research Center in 1987. He trained as a flight surgeon at the Aerospace School of Medicine on Brooks Air Force Base in San Antonio the following year. Dr. Harris then joined the Johnson Space Center as a clinical scientist and flight surgeon and became an astronaut in 1991.

Dr. Harris is a Texas native whose brother, Dennis, is the assistant director of the Ft. Worth Department of Parks and Recreation. He is a member of the Board of Directors for the Boys and Girls Club of Houston and a Committee Member of the Greater Houston Area Council on Physical Fitness and Sports.

An avid recreator, Dr. Harris enjoys flying, sailing, skiing, running, SCUBA diving, art, and music. He will share with delegates the value of leisure in his life, how it has helped him focus on achievement and served as a catalyst to accomplish professional and personal goals.

The Second All Congress General Session keynote speaker was invited back to a Congress after receiving the highest evaluation score of any previous Congress speaker. Scout Cloud Lee, Ed.D. will address delegates on Sunday.

Cloud is the older of identical twins, born to a part Seminole family. Believed to be a "seer" at an early age, she was favored by her elders and brought to center stage. Success came easy to her throughout her life, from winning "most athletic" and "outstanding woman in America" to serving as a corporate president and performing as a Nashville singer/songwriter/storyteller.

By the mid-80's Cloud had taken a well-established, pioneering position as a leader in the field of "human excellence." Her ability to motivate people to greatness has been featured in documentaries and television specials. Cloud has entertained and inspired over 2,000 audiences ranging from America's corporate giants to non-profits.

In 1978, Scout co-authored Therapeutic Recreation Program Design: Principles and Practices, which still remains a significant text in the field. Signed copies of her most recent book, Circle is Sacred will be available for purchase at the Congress. Don't miss an exciting and exhilarating Closing Session from a true visionary.

BE SOCIABLE

San Antonio is famous for its fiestas and with NRPA in town, the legend will surely live on. Meet and mingle with your fellow recreators and citizen advocates at three major events.

Thursday, October 5 -

Viva La Fiesta

The Local Host Committee has decided to give delegates a taste of San Antonio's annual two-week fiesta block party held every April. The Fiesta Fling held at La Villita will begin after the exhibit hall grand opening celebration. La Villita, Spanish for "little town," is the perfect setting for this baile (dance). One vibrant square block of craftspeople, artists, quaint shops and restaurants will come alive with music from the Patsy Torres Band. Dance, sing, or howl at the moon until midnight. Ole!

Friday, October 6 -

Garden Party

Join APRS delegates for the biggest garden party ever to be held at the San Antonio Botanical Gardens. This NRPA outdoor extravaganza will feature great food and music under the stars in a spectacular local nature lovers paradise.

Tour the Texas Hill Country, wild flower meadow, scrub prairie, and Japanese Tea Garden before enjoying a variety of foods including mesquite grilled sausages, fried catfish, local Tex-Mex, and a host of local favorites.

The sky will start to twinkle with stars and distant city lights, all visible through the glass ceiling of the garden conservatory designed by architect and dreamer Emilio Ambasz. As the creatures of the desert go to sleep, the creatures of the night will begin to emerge. Delegates can dance the night away in what promises to be an experience to remember.

Saturday, October 7 -

County Fair South Texas Style

Blending rural south Texas culture and Mexican-American tradition is the best way we can think of to celebrate NRPA's last evening under the stars... deep in the heart of Texas. NRPA will turn Hemis-Fair Park, site of the 1968 World's Fair, into a county fair like you've never seen.

County fair traditions live on at Hemis-Fair Park where you can see pig races, pet ranch animals, pose for photos with a steer, see a Mexican charo in action, and dance to country and western music.

As any Texan win tell you, no county fair is complete without a cook off. Cover the fair circuit in one trip when you go to the Floresville Peanut Festival for roasted peanuts and peanut brittle. Then on to the Alice Nopalitos Festival for fried nopalitos (cactus) and nopalitos egg tacos. See a bit of the Old Country at the New Braunfels Wurtfest and a bit of the New Country at the Buccaneer Days. From there you can go to the Helotes Cornyval for Don's famous barbecue.

To top it all off, take a ride up the glasslined elevator to the observation deck of the 750-foot Tower of the Americas for a spectacular view of the San Antonio night lights. What a fabulous end to a gorgeous evening! With all the educational sessions, institutes, activities, and local flavor, there will be plenty of reason to remember San Antonio... and the NRPA Congress!

Schwegman, Lundberg, Woessner & Kluth Hires San Antonio Lawyer Mark Muller

Schwegman, Lundberg, Woessner & Kluth, P.A. (SLWK), a Minneapolis-based firm specializing in intellectual property law, has hired Mark Muller, a patent attorney with technical expertise in telecommunications, computer circuit design, and nondestructive testing. Muller, who will work from San Antonio, is among nearly 20 attorneys around the country hired by SLWK in the last few years to support the firm's rapid growth in major markets.

"SLWK has an innovative legal practice and business model," Muller said. "I look forward to working with the best patent prosecution team in the country, and San Antonio can look forward to having access to the deep bench at SLWK for patent prosecution and opinion work."

Since it was founded in December 1993, SLWK has obtained more than 2,000 patents for Fortune 500 companies, emerging enterprises, and major universities. A new patent for Micron Technology issued last month by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office marked the 2000th patent SLWK has obtained for its clients. Last year, a Twin Cities business publication featured SLWK as one of Minnesota's best places to work.

Muller holds a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from Texas A&M University, where he graduated as a President's Endowed Scholar. He obtained his law degree with honors from St. Mary's University in San Antonio. Before joining SLWK, Muller was a senior research engineer at Southwest Research Institute, where he managed programs for NASA, the Strategic Defense Initiative Organization, and the oil and gas pipeline industry. He is currently editing a multi-volume treatise on the law of patent contracts and teaches corporate intellectual property management at St. Mary's University.

World Market Opens Two New Stores in San Antonio at The Forum and De Zavala

World Market celebrated the grand opening of its new San Antonio stores on Thursday, Sept. 7 at 9 a.m. The new stores, located in The Forum, and Fiesta Trails at De Zavala, mark the retailer's second and third stores in the San Antonio area and 115th and 116th stores nationwide.

World Market, opened at 8286 Agora Parkway and 12651 Vance Jackson Rd., offers a uniquely different shopping experience which features an ever-changing array of home decor, tabletop accessories, decorative gifts, gourmet foods and beverages, imported from 50 countries around the world. "The exciting combination of competitively priced international home furnishings with gourmet food and wine has proven a great recipe for success," said Murray Dashe, World Market's Chairman, President and CEO.

The new San Antonio stores have 16,000 square feet of selling space filled with international treasures including: handcrafted iron candlesticks from India, 18 varieties of olive oil, 500 different wines, handcarved masks from Ghana, recycled wood furniture from Indonesia, handmade birdhouses, unique kitchen utensils, handpainted ceramics from Italy, and much more.

"World Market's buyers have a heightened sense of adventure and curiosity. They travel the world visiting remote villages, centuries old factories and covered bazaars searching for unusual and unique products to bring home to our customers," says Kathi Lentzsch, Executive Vice President of Merchandising and Marketing. "Baskets from Indonesia, chocolates from Belgium, and pottery from Italy are just a few of the items that take our customers on an adventure through the store where they will find special treasures to fit their homes and personalities."

World Market was founded in 1958 when a San Francisco businessman blended his passion for travel and retailing by selling shiploads of imported wicker he discovered during his travels through Asia.