Oath of office for Susan Combs and Todd Staples attended by local leaders

HOUSTON, TX - Toni Nelson, director of strategic initiatives for Prudential Gary Greene, Realtors and division vice-chair of public affairs for the Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce, and Marlena Berger, a Memorial agent for Prudential Gary Greene, Realtors and a commissioner for the Planning and Zoning Commission in the City of Sugar Land, joined members of the Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce for the administration of the oath of office for Todd Staples and Susan Combs.

Staples, newly elected agricultural commissioner, and Combs, newly elected comptroller of public accounts for the State of Texas, took the oath of office at the capital in Austin, Texas on Thursday, January 4, 2007. Both officials hold vital roles in Texas government and have an impact on economic development.

1. The comptroller of public accounts empowers local governments and communities with the information they need to encourage, create and support economic development and jobs for Texans.

2. The Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) is a regulatory agency that also serves as a marketing agency for Texas agriculture. The four divisions within TDA that perform services are Pesticide Programs, Regulatory Programs, Marketing and Promotion, and Food and Nutrition.

One of the goals of the Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce for 2007 is to stay in close touch with elected public officials who can enhance the Chamber's efforts in growth and economic development.

The Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce holds an annual Wine and Food Festival, which will be held this year April 25-29. Last year, over 6,700 people from all over the country attended a four-day excursion of award-winning chefs featuring gourmet cuisine and participating wineries from around the globe. Texas wineries are a highlight in the event, and the TDA plays a vital role in the marketing and support of the burgeoning wine industry in Texas.

When business and government work together, everyone wins - the taxpayer, business, economic development and government.

"I was very proud to have attended both oaths of office," remarked Toni Nelson, "and proud for the State of Texas, because I saw two newly elected officials that are tremendously dedicated to truly serving the pubic good and desire only the best in growth and economic development for the state."

Prudential Gary Greene, Realtors, which is independently owned and operated, became an affiliate of the Prudential Real Estate Network in 2000. Since that time, it has earned a host of honors, including, most recently, receiving the company's sixth straight Gibraltar Circle Award, which recognizes the top 50 companies in the Prudential Real Estate Network as well as being ranked nationally by Real Trends in the Top 100 Brokers by closed transactions in 2005. Prudential Gary Greene, Realtors was founded in Houston in 1963 as Gary Greene, Realtors.


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