Read more of Michelle’s blog here

HM Consul General Andrew Millar

Through my membership in the British American Business Council (BABC), I always manage to stay well connected within the British business community in Houston.  I was recently introduced to Andrew Millar, who is the British Consulate General, shortly after his relocation to Houston.  He was kind enough to agree to let me interview him about his relocation adventures and early impressions of Houston so that I could share it with the readers of my blog.

You might be wondering to yourself, “What exactly does a British Consulate General do?”  This was my first question to Mr. Millar, who explained:  “Within every country we are represented and have an Embassy.  There are 9 Consul Generals in the U.S., as well as the Embassy in Washington. I cover: Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Arkansas.”  He explained that there are 3 key areas to his role:

1. Consular – looking after the interests of British subjects in the states that he covers.

2. Commercial – promoting the UK as an investment destination and British exports to this region.

3.  Political – keeping in close contact with the political and government sectors in the region.

Now that I had a better understanding of he role, I asked Mr.Millar to share his first impressions of Houston with me.  His reaction wasn’t that surprising, as he addressed the size and weather immediately.  He said, “Good heavens, it’s so big!  It’s a huge city physically.  The first thing that hits you is the heat, and the second thing is the sheer physical size of Houston.”  As to the general feel and culture of Houston, he added, “It is open and friendly.  I have yet to experience a city where I have actually felt so welcomed everywhere I have gone.”  I told him that he wasn’t alone in this sentiment, as this is probably the most common impression that people seem to have about Houston.  It is an extremely friendly city, and we enjoy welcoming newcomers to Houston.

But, no relocation is without its challenges.  I asked Mr. Millar to tell me about the challenges faced by him and his family upon their move to Houston.  He said, “When you are uprooting a family, particularly with small children and dislocating them from their friends and networks, you know that this is a huge impact on their lives.  The way that you manage that is to make sure that they are in as welcoming an environment as possible.  Texas is a great place to do that. You also have to remember that the partner moving with you has to keep everything together.  It’s often much easier for the employee, while your partner has to parachute into all the strangeness that has to be dealt with as a family.”  This is a very important point, and often key to the success (or failure) of a family’s relocation.

There are always creature comforts from back home that people miss upon relocating to a new city.  I asked Mr. Millar to tell me what he misses most.  He said, “It would be the map of the London underground.  I am not used to driving everywhere, which you have to do here. London is a very dense and old city but with an amazingly good public transport infrastructure.”  Agreeably, Houston is not as pedestrian friendly, and you really do have to drive here!

I am always curious about the impact that social media has on the ability of people to stay connected with friends and family back home. For Mr. Millar, he said, “The beauty of social media is that it doesn’t matter where in the world you are, you can stay as connected with your group as you need to be.  Skype comes in very useful and helps with the visual stimulus for small children who get easily bored on the telephone.  It makes a difference when you are used to family being close by, and suddenly they aren’t.  You can use these tools to stay connected and in constant contact.”

Finally, I asked Mr. Millar what advice he would offer to other Expats moving to Houston? He said, “Get your banking sorted out before you come, particularly if you need to shift money to buy cars and other large purchases.  There are a lot of things that you need to think about and manage before you come over, so doing the research is really important: where to live; what car to buy; which schools to send your children to.  The Internet is a great way to do this.”

I am always interested in hearing from people who have relocated to Houston.  If you would like to share your relocation story or experiences with me, please contact me.  713.561.7500 michelles@johndaughert.com

The recent death of Libyan leader Moammar Khadafy marks the end of yet another dictatorship, and once again raises the hopes of those desiring to do business in the region.

Libya is only the most recent nation to reach conclusive dramatic change as a result of the “Arab Spring,” which generated a series of uprisings and leadership changes in the Middle East and North Africa that continue to date. Tunsia recently held its first-ever free elections after launching the Arab Spring in early 2011 by overthrowing its long-time dictator. Egypt and Morocco followed suit, and both will hold elections next month. Libya is excepted to do the same in short order. Other Arab nations, including Bahrain, Syria and Yemen, have also experienced significant protests and violence but have not undergone a change in their rulers. Outside of the Middle East, other nation-states are also facing prospective changes in leadership, some of them equally unexpected. With Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez’s diagnosis and treatment for cancer, what was once thought of as a long-running dictatorship could now change in a much shorter period of time.

Unfortunately, as we’ve seen in the past and are now potentially seeing again, in nation-states where the people have removed a repressive government, those who assume power are not necessarily any warmer toward the Western business world than were their predecessors. In some cases religious groups that tend to be less friendly toward Western governments and businesses have assumed power, replacing the secular leaders who were toppled. In Egypt, despite their promises, the military leadership is coping with an internal argument regarding how much change they will permit. In the case of Libya, many members of the new power structure were also part of the Khadafy regime and the terms and conditions of the Khadafy era in regard to oil production are currently still in effect. Because of this, oil companies in particular are taking a cautious approach in regard to resuming operations in the country.

In this fast changing, volatile climate, those business leaders who remain on top of the political situations that are pertinent to their operations will likely be the ones who come out on top. Professional organizations such as FrontierMEDEX can provide current, cutting edge intelligence that can make all the difference between making the right moves at the right time, or not acting when the time is right and being left behind.

There is no doubt that the needs of these nations in regard to the oil industry and other industries will be fulfilled. The wise executive will take the necessary steps to make certain that their organization is at the front of the line when the opportunity arises, or knows when to walk away. For more information contact FrontierMEDEX at SecurityInfo@FrontierMEDEX.com or call 1-713-430-7300.
]]> http://babchouston.wordpress.com/2011/10/31/international-business-navigating-national-revolutions/feed/ 0 babchouston Print MiddleEastUnrest http://babchouston.wordpress.com/2011/09/28/houston-dynamo-%e2%80%93-new-stadium-new-excitement/ http://babchouston.wordpress.com/2011/09/28/houston-dynamo-%e2%80%93-new-stadium-new-excitement/#comments Wed, 28 Sep 2011 13:59:57 +0000 babchouston http://babchouston.wordpress.com/?p=341 ]]> by Michelle Sandlin on September 27, 2011

Visit Michelle’s Home Relocation Blog

I have been a member of the British American Business Council Houston (BABC) now for a couple of years, and I always really enjoy their events.  Most recently, I attended the BABC International Business Awards Finalists Reception.  The success of the Houston Chapter of the BABC can greatly be attributed to the organization’s Executive Director, Becci Himes.  She provides tremendous support and leadership to the organization, and is always making introductions between members.

One of the people that I had an opportunity to meet at this recent gathering was Steve Powell, Senior Vice President of Business Development for the Houston Dynamo.   He graciously agreed to chat with me by phone, as I interviewed him for my Houston Relocation Blog.  He told me that he has been in the U.S. off and on for about 30 years now, and he shared with me some of the excitement surrounding the Houston Dynamo and the building of the new stadium, which is due for completion in May 2012.

Here are some of the highlights from our conversation…

While I was meant to be the one doing the interviewing, Steve started by asking me a very poignant question:  “So Michelle, who are the readers of your blog?”  “Great question,” said I!  I shared with him that my blog is currently bringing in about 3,500+ hits every month, with a growing number of readers and followers every week.  I told him that my audience tends to be quite diverse, including people who are involved in the global relocation industry and real estate throughout the Houston area, as well as around Texas, nationally and some international followers.  That includes many transferees, relocation management companies, various corporations and organizations, HR professionals, real estate professionals, my competitors, and pretty much anybody in between.

I told Steve that one of the main purposes of my Houston Relocation Blog is to continually build a buzz around things that make Houston such an exciting city to live in, and what better than to discuss the excitement surrounding the Houston Dynamo and the building of the new stadium.

Like so many of the wonderful people who I have met through the BABC, Steve hales from London, England, but has planted roots here in Houston.  Soccer, of course, is HUGE in the U.K.

While soccer is a newer sport to me than my beloved football (the kind with the helmets and pads), I have always admired its worldwide popularity, and have wondered why it has such a comparatively slower appeal to the masses here in the U.S.  I asked Steve what he thought the biggest difference is between soccer in the U.S. and in Houston, versus soccer in Europe.  He responded, “I put a lot of it down to history.  In the U.K., it’s the sport.”  He said that the league itself is a lot older…130 or 140 years old.  He added, “Soccer has put some significant anchors down in south Texas.  There are more boys and girls playing soccer right now than any other sport.”  He said that it’s much more educated now, with a lot of people having grown up with soccer, who are now watching their kids play soccer.

We also talked a lot about the Dynamo and the appeal for Houston’s international community.  Houston is very much a melting pot, and has become residence to many international transferees who have moved to Houston by way of their employers.  Steve said that there are also a lot of international people who have moved to Houston who have brought the love of soccer with them.  When they find out about the teams available through the schools and extracurricular activities, as well as the Dynamo, it becomes very exciting and important to them. Houston is very diverse city, with a large international population, and a growing number of people living here in Houston who support and are fans of soccer.

I asked Steve how the season ticket sales were coming along.  He said with great enthusiasm that they are “selling seats like crazy.”  He said, “We have 33 suites, and more than 50 percent of those have already sold.   Additionally, we have already sold out of our club seats.  We did a lot of research to price it correctly.”  He said that the Dynamo games offer great client entertainment.  They have a lot of oil and gas companies that have bought season tickets and that he wants to encourage companies to consider season ticket purchases as a great way to develop business relationships for both the U.S. based and overseas clients.

With regards to the upcoming season, Steve says that they are revving up the excitement and selling season tickets.   “We are only going to have one time to do this right and maximize the enthusiasm and excitement of a new venue, and this is that time. You’ve got to make that great first impression,” he said.

With only less than 50 percent of their suites available, Steve says that he wants to be in a position to be able to invite as many companies as possible to take advantage of these opportunities before they are gone.  Once they are gone, they are gone for 3 years.  They are also looking at companies that might end up getting the naming rights for the stadium.  They plan to have 40-50 events per year at this venue, and they are looking for the right company for those naming rights.

I asked Steve to share with me his experiences with the BABC Houston, the benefits he has enjoyed, and his involvement.  He quickly stated, “Becci Himes is a friend.  We have involvement in many chambers, but BABC has been especially fruitful in making us the right introductions.  It has provided us with great opportunities to meet and connect with other great people (such as yourself), and businesses that understand what we are about and have similar goals.”  I couldn’t agree more!  The BABC Houston is one of the most important Houston organizations that I belong to as well.  And I agree, a big shout out to Becci Himes is in order!  She gets it!

David Beckham

Steve and I ended our discussion with the excitement surrounding the Dynamo season finale game on October 23^rd.  Why is this such an exciting way to end the season, you ask?  Well, the game is against the L.A. Galaxy, which boasts of a player named David Beckham.  You may have heard of him!  Steve also mentioned that this game represents the team’s last regular season game in Robertson’s Stadium, which is a finale in itself.

As for me, I am very excited about the Houston Dynamo and hope that you will be too!  I hope to see you at a future game.  If you are new to the Houston area, this is the perfect way to get fired up about our new love of soccer.

For season ticket information, please call 713.276.GOAL (4625) or visit www.houstondynamo.com.

Cracking Toast Editor’s Note:   BABC Members are welcome to guest blog on Cracking Toast.  Call the BABC office at 832-351-3940 for details

Waitrose acquired the organic range a couple of years ago. It then relaunched the products in its own retail locations exclusively. The Duchy got additional new products and all-new packaging too. The mostly organic, “good food” products range from black pepper wheaten biscuits to Old Ruby Ale, beetroot seeds to herbal tinctures. It’s these tinctures that keep getting Duchy Originals into trouble.

In 2009, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in Britain forced Duchy Originals to change wording on ads for the Duchy Herbals Echina-Relief Tincture and Duchy Herbals Hyperi-Lift Tincture – the marketer couldn’t prove efficacy, yet kept promoting it. In the same period, theUK’s Advertising Standards Authority was “investigating claims made on behalf of the Duchy Herbals Detox Tincture which said it can rid the body of toxins.”

Now Britain’s leading alternative medicine researcher, Edzard Ernst, has “re-ignited a public row…by branding the Prince of Wales a ‘snake oil salesman’.” Read all about this latest brick-toss in the Guardian here.

“Our Becci” Himes, the British-American Business Council Executive Director, looked over this news for me a couple of days back and noted, “I only found a few tinctures that Duchy sells. Nothing outrageous. The bulk of their products are organic foods and a portion of their sales goes to charity.”

So really, I’m feeling much better about the whole, distant thing. Waitrose gained considerable praise for rescuing the Prince’s product lines. More important, it has done a good fair job carrying on with the Duchy Originals brand theme overall. Whether you like the Royals or not, there’s real value in putting Prince Charles’s prestige behind “natural, organic, sustainable.”

I would buy a cold remedy from HRH if I could find a vial here in town. The Duchy Herbals Echina-Relief Tincture, intended to relieve “the symptoms of the common cold and influenza-type infections,” gets a pass from that same vocal critic, Ernst. He claims there’s real evidence that echinacea helps against colds. Or is this just the power of…advertising?

 Yr obn’t servant…Richard Laurence Baron (BABC Houston volunteer).

Photos: HRHPrince Charles [Official]. Tincture [Duchy Originals]. All rights reserved. A version of this post appeared on Signalwriter.

One of the most interesting things about what I do, is the opportunity to meet people from all over the world. We recently assisted Simon Collingwood, originally from the U.K., in finding a home in Houston in connection with his relocation here. Shortly after he and his family moved into their new Houston home, I had a chance meeting with Simon at a BABC (British American Business Council) event. It’s always fun to hear the initial impressions that people have about Houston. I asked Simon if he would share a few of his thoughts with me that I could include on my blog. He graciously agreed! Here are the highlights from our conversation…

What was the reason for your move to Houston?

“I work for a British government organization called UK Trade & Investment. We have 3 objectives: 1) to provide services that support British companies to develop their business in the U.S.; 2) to support U.K. companies so they can build their companies internationally, and we strongly believe that U.S. companies ought to be building their business internationally by landing in the U.K.; 3) to sell the U.K., and to make sure people know that the U.K. is a special partner for the U.S. across a range of fronts, especially focused on the commercial aspect. I am here because we have been taking a hard look at how we approach our work in the U.S. and we see a lot of opportunity in the southern parts of the U.S. This is where the job growth is, the economic growth and the strong focus on the business environment. We are engaging with the local biz community.” He said that his job is to lead 3 teams: one based in Houston, one based in Miami and one based in Atlanta. “We are part of the fabric of the British Consulate and the broader communities we operate within.”

How long have you been with UK Trade & Investment?

“I have been in Houston for 4 weeks, and was based in NY for 3 years prior to this.” He said that they have grown the Houston team and the team in Atlanta, which is all about increasing the efforts they have in the southern U.S. “We support over 3,000 British companies each year, and last year we helped 190 U.S. companies to grow their biz in the U.K.”

When you first arrived, what was the most challenging thing for you and/or your family?

Jokingly, he replied, “The heat.” He said that while the heat is a challenge, it’s actually quite enjoyable. “It’s nice seeing blue skies everyday or most days anyway. The challenge though, whenever you move anywhere with a family is that you have to resettle into a new community. That’s one of the great things that Houston has going for it though. We have found it a very friendly place. A colleague of mine said just the other day that there is a presumption among Houston society that you will be friends, that you will get on, that you will do biz together; you may not have worked it out quite yet, but you will do over the weeks or months ahead.” This is always so nice to hear as people move to Houston. The common impression of Houston always seems to be about what a friendly city it is.

What do you like best about living in Houston?

“I like the new job, the new challenge, and the fact that I am doing something new for myself personally. Professionally, this is a great opportunity. I’m getting out and meeting some fantastic companies, and some great individuals who are doing some extraordinary things, whether they are large corporations or small or medium sized enterprises or start-up companies.”

What has been the biggest adjustment for you and your family?

“The biggest adjustment has been in moving from an apartment to a house. We’ve got more space and don’t know how to fill all of those square feet and empty walls. Getting used to driving has been a bit of an adjustment. We didn’t need a car previously, but in Houston we’ve gone from zero cars to two cars.” He added though that he likes that he can still walk to restaurants from where they live.

How does housing in Houston compare to other cities you have lived?

He told me that they had moved from a doorman building in New York and living on a fairly high floor. “Here in Houston we have a house, which is larger. We also have a garage, and a small garden. I have never lived anywhere so large. It feels luxurious!”

Where else have you lived prior to your move to Houston?

“I am originally from Manchester. I have also lived in London, Sydney, and Beijing.”

Do you see your move as more of an opportunity or an adventure? Why?

“It’s an opportunity and an adventure; it’s both. It’s an opportunity for me to do a new type of job. My role is to be very outward focused. I’m here to meet people, engage with them and connect with them in some way. I’m here to tell them about the U.K., and for U.K. companies and U.S. companies to help them out and introduce them to potential business opportunities.”

What would be a good take-away for someone meeting you?

“I would want people to walk away thinking that the U.K. is a great place: active, innovative, engaging with firm roots in the past. I would also hope people will see that the British government is very active in trying to support businesses to grow. We are a very pro-business government. The U.K. is “Open for Business.” Whether or not they are a U.K. company or a U.S. company, the U.K. Trade & Investment is an organization that can support them, whether through investing in the U.K. or through growing their business here. We are an organization that has extraordinarily good links in the business communities on both side of the pond and internationally and we are an organization that can support them.”

How is your organization using social media, and how has it impacted your ability to stay connected with friends and family back home?

“We are using social media. Like others we are learning, finding our way. We are certainly putting messages out there. We have twitter feeds from various locations to let people know what we are doing, and we have various LinkedIn profiles. Facebook is something we have toyed with. It’s not a platform that we have been particularly active on as an organization. For me personally Facebook is about having an umbilical cord to friends and family in the U.K.”

What advice would you offer to other Expats moving to Houston?

“The British government moves people around all over the world all of the time, whether they are ambassadors, diplomats, consultants, or whatever it might be. You would expect that there would be a huge amount of people out there who were facilitating that, and this is true to a point. But at the same time, there is a need to engage with organizations that can deliver specific services. And that’s what we did with you guys, and it was a very positive experience. We went out with Sharon, and we saw lots of houses, and all of them blew us away in a different way. They were all absolutely fantastic houses, and all absolutely on-message and to the script of what we wanted. The one we got, because of your assistance, was one that we really liked and we knew when we walked in was a serious contender, and here we are a few weeks later living there.”

Do you see yourself staying in Houston long term?

“The one constant is change, so I really don’t know where I will be. Houston so far has been very welcoming and we are having a great time living here. We are really enjoying our evenings and weekends. We are looking to get out of Houston a bit more and are going to see Austin, San Antonio, Dallas, and New Orleans. This is the adventure part of it. We now have an opportunity to see a different part of the U.S. From what we have seen so far, Houston is a very enjoyable city to live in.”

British Pancakes NOT Crepes!

I don’t know that I particularly need a holiday to be induced to eat pancakes, but it certainly doesn’t hurt to have an excuse.  One liturgical holiday gives just that excuse.  Shrove Tuesday is the day before Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent.  Growing up as a Southern Baptist, the idea of Lent is a bit foreign to me.  For those who don’t know, Lent is a somber time of reflection and turning to God.  It is most known for penitents giving up something for the Lenten period as a sign of contrition and to reflect the sacrifice of Christ.  Baptists practice that all year.  No dancing, no alcohol, no cursing, no just about anything or so  it seemed to a young child growing up in Texas…..well before 1970.  But I digress.

The idea behind Shrove Tuesday is evidently a big blow out of hedonism before Lent begins.  The British and Irish chose to do this by eating pancakes.  I know, other countries have big Carnival parades, consume mass quantities of alcohol and riot in the streets.  Pancakes are the reserved British way.  Besides, it’s still bloody cold in March in the UK, not conducive to running around in sequins and feathers.

For my American readers, a bit of clarification on the term pancake.  British pancakes are not the typical “stack”, smothered in butter and syrup conjured up in the American food psyche.   The British pancake is a like a crepe.  But, it is not a crepe and you will never get a Brit to say that it is a crepe, Anglo/Franco issues which we won’t get into.  The point is pancakes are delicious.  They are fried in butter, then drizzled with lemon juice and sugar and folded into small triangles.  There are variations.  Some like to fill the pancakes with preserves or jam.

Olney Pancake Race 2009

I don’t want you to think that the Brits have no festivities on Pancake Day.  There is the annual Pancake Race dating back to 1444.    Tradition says that a housewife from Olney was so busy making pancakes on Shrove Tuesday that she lost track of time.  Hearing the church bells ring for service, she raced out of the house for service still carrying the fry pan and pancake.   Participants today, usually housewives, win by running and flippon their pancakes a determined number of times before reaching the finish line first.  Now, in true British fashion, if a man wants to participate in the race, he must dress up like a housewife.  And you thought it was just Monty Python.  It’s not quite Carnival, but at least costumes are involved.

Football (soccer)  in the streets is another Shrove Tuesday tradition.  It dates back to the 12th century and is called mob football.  Although the Highway Act of 1835 banning football on public highways closed down many of these games, some still exist today on Shrove Tuesday.  Most notably is the Ashbourne Royal Shrovetide Football in Derbyshire.  Can’t quite wrap your head around the concept?  Here’s some recent video.   Amazing what human beings will do and call it fun!

I don’t expect you to all run out and organize a pancake race, and by the way there are pancake races in the US as well, or toss a soccer ball out onto Beltway 8.   But, wouldn’t it be fun to make up a batch of pancakes tomorrow.  Here’s a recipe in US measurements for the math challenged like me.  Let me know how you did and if you liked it.

March Networking on Tap

Our Networking on Tap events were very well attended this year.  Many thanks to Sherlock’s Baker Street Pub for hosting these events.   A lot of business contacts and friendships were made at these event.  It doesn’t hurt that Sherlock’s has just about the best happy hour drinks in town.  These events are scheduled to run from 6 pm to 8 pm.  Most nights I didn’t leave until 10, 11 pm and that’s because you guys wouldn’t go home!  We were very fortunate to have some great partners this year for Networking on Tap; The Houston Dynamo, the EIC, Scottish Development and Texas Young Professionals.

YSC Gang at Ascot

Royal Ascot is always a kick. But this year’s event was the best.   Over 120 people joined us at the Sam Houston Race Park in June for food, beverage and live racing.

Sally Stiles of British Airways won the Best Hat Award and Tony Hogg of Pride International was awarded Best Dressed Gent.  In our raffle, Bill Herring won 2 Houston to London tickets on BritishWays while John Carrig and Steve Ollerearnshaw took home Dynamo tickets.

Guests enjoyed a champagne reception in honor of the Queen’s birthday, a great buffet and starter betting vouchers.

Royal Bank of Scotland, Wood Group and British Airways sponsored the event.

Award winner lft-rt, Derek Blackwood, Wood Group; Carole Serjeant, BAFTx; Kenneth Harder, Dunbar Harder

Our newest event, the BABC International Business Awards, was THE most successful event of the year.  Over 220 attendees were on hand in October for the unveiling of the award trophy and the inaugural winners.  Bill Schneider, Sr. Political Analyst for CNN, was the key-note speaker, very exciting just days away from the mid-term election.  Deborah Duncan of KHOU MC’d the event in true BABC style with a lot of fun.

The award itself is spectacular (pictured right with the award winners).  I know you want one for your corporate shelf.    The British American Foundation of Texas took home the Small Business Award and Kenneth Hard of Dunbar Harder was awarded the Consul General’s Award for Individual Achievement.  Winners were chosen by an independent panel of judges selected by UK Trade and Investment.

Wood Group, Continental Airlines, Maxwell Drummond, BG and Dunbar Harder sponsored the event.

Those were some of the best BABC events for 2010 and not nearly all of them.  I can’t think of any “worst”.  We just had a spectacular year of networking.  If you were not part of BABC last year, 2011 is your year to get involved.  Join BABC today and help yourself to better business connections and more business.

My VIP pass!

Those of you who know me well, know I love my rugby.  That being said, it ain’t bad being a Dynamo VIP, especially when it comes to parties.  I was privileged to be invited by BABC member Stephen Powell of the Dynamo to the Dynamo kit (for you Americans that’s British for jersey) unveiling this week.  Imagine my surprise when I was given a VIP pass at the door.  This allowed me into a special area with box season ticket holders and sponsors.  Swell!  It also gave me a prime seat in front of the runway for the kit fashion show.

The event was held at Venue on Main Street downtown, Tuesday the 7th.  The venue was spectacular.  The Dynamo entertained quests with a rockin’ band and light show.  Chris Cannetti, new president of the Dynamo, was on hand to assure the fans that the Dynamo are going to have the best year ever.   He also introduced their new sponsor Greenstar.  What a great bunch of people.  I think I see a BABC membership in their future.  They will fit in with us just fine.

Now about this kit.  Yes, it’s still orange, but the design has gone retro with a deconstructed collar that you can actually flip up.  There’s nothing quite as sexy as a flipped up collar.  It just screams bad boy, in a good way.  The only criticism…and the ladies around me agreed…tighter shirts, shorter shorts.   Oh, that’s rugby!

BABC has had a fabulous time with the Dynamo this year.  We’ve had door prizes at our events and special ticket rates and breaking news on Dynamo events like the Man U game and the World Cup USA/England game.  We’re looking forward to an even more exciting year in 2011 with the building of the new stadium.

Dynamo, congratulations on the new stadium and the new jersey.  Good luck in 2011!

Michelle Sandlin, John Daugherty, Realtors

Re-print from BABC Member Michelle Sandlin’s Houston Relocation Blog.  Check it out when you’ve read this!

I recently had the opportunity to visit with Tim Hartley, an Expat from the U.K. who relocated to Houston with his family earlier this year.  We are both members of the British American Business Council (BABC) Houston, as well as members of its All StARS Group, which meets monthly for breakfast to discuss business opportunities and ways in which we can help each other from a business and personal standpoint.  I always enjoy speaking with Tim and hearing how he and his family are adapting to life in Houston, and thought it would make for an interesting post on my Houston Relocation Blog.

Tim works for Harvey Nash International Search organization, which was established over 20 years ago and has grown to be a distinctive force in international Executive Search and Leadership Services across the key territories of North America, Europe and Scandinavia.  Tim  leads Harvey Nash’s Global Energy and Infrastructure Practice, which accounts for their business in Energy and Utilities, Transportation and Civil Infrastructure. Their clients include some of the largest multinationals worldwide and also specialist start-ups in the high technology sectors.

During our candid conversation, Tim shared quite a bit with me about his move to Houston and the impact it has had on him professionally and on his family personally.  Here are the highlights from our conversation.

He said that it was a mutual decision between him and his employer, Harvey Nash.  According to Tim, “We saw an opportunity to develop our international energy and utility practice in the United States and specifically in Houston.  It was an existing business that we had, where we didn’t have a focus on Houston, which is the largest market that is open to us from an energy perspective.  I was chosen and also volunteered for coming over here and setting this business up for us.” When you first arrived, what was the most challenging thing for you and/or your family?

From a professional standpoint, Time said, “It was challenging to develop the deep relationships that are needed to succeed in business here.  It is very much a relationship driven environment where people tend to go with what they know.  So being an existing organization with a strong track record didn’t mean as much as being the person who has always done it for a particular company.”  On a personal level, Tim said there are a lot of things to do when you move to a different country, especially like the U.S., such as new schools, doctors, dentists, social security numbers, driver’s license.  Then there are little things like not knowing what stores to go to when you need something specific. Tim said, “What we have found is that everyone that we have come in contact with has been friendly, has been helpful and supportive of what we are trying to do.”  He said that fortunately too, there is a really strong Expat community from which they have been able to draw support in Houston.

What was your first impression of Houston?

“Everything takes longer to get to than you think it should because of traffic and the fact that you are covering some fairly large distances to go someplace that seems comparatively close,” Tim said.

What do you like best about living in Houston?

He said that he likes the weather this time of year.  More specifically, Tim said, “I like the fact that I can get home at a sensible time to see my children. I like the sense of opportunity here, and while it’s a challenge to break into this market I feel that once you have, that people start to recognize and respect the things that you do for them.  If you live up to your word and live up to the things you say you are going to deliver, then people really respect that.”  Tim said that there is also the commute time, which is 3 miles compared to 3 hours on a train round trip back home.

In general, what do you think about the people in Houston?

Everyone is really nice.  I haven’t met anybody yet that I don’t like very much,” Tim said.  I jokingly asked, “Even me?” to which Tim replied, “Yes, of course you!”  I shared with Tim that this is one of the most common things that I hear from people who move to Houston.  People are very nice and go out of their way to help you out.  For people who relocate to Houston, they are often blown away by how friendly the people are here in Houston. What, if anything, do you dislike about living in Houston?

“Mosquitoes, when it is really hot,” he laughingly answered.  He said that aesthetically, it’s not the prettiest place in the world, which I can agree with in certain parts of the city, but on the flip side, there are some really gorgeous parts of Houston.  For instance, I think that the area around Rice Universityis absolutely stunning!  He also remarked about the fact that he doesn’t like that there is very little public transportation in Houston.

What has been the biggest adjustment for you and your family?

“Not having family and friends close by,” Tim answered.  He also said that it has been challenging to understand the schools and where you should live based on the schools.  He said that back home it seems better defined and easier to get the information and navigate your way through.  He said that ultimately, Houston is a big city, and they have not lived in a big city before.  Back home they lived in a small village.

How does housing compare in Houston to housing back home?

He said that the house they live in is slightly bigger than the one they have back home, but now they have a swimming pool, which they didn’t have back home.  He said that he was relatively surprised with how relatively pricey rental prices are here in Houston compared to what they were paying back home.  He says most things are comparable to what they were paying back home, and they had anticipated it costing less.  He said “it would have been a real culture shock for them if they had moved into the inner city.”  They currently live outside the Beltway and don’t feel like it is so urban and his short commute time is great.

Where have you traveled within Texas and the U.S.?

When we spoke, he was on his way to Boston for a day.  He told me that they have also visited Louisiana, San Antonio, Galveston and other areas in and around Houston.  They are also planning a holiday to Scottsdale, Arizona and looking forward to seeing the Grand Canyon.

Do you see your move as more of an opportunity or an adventure?

After thinking about it for a moment, Tim said, “I think it is an opportunity more than an adventure.  It’s an opportunity because it is a means to an end, which is about professional development.”

How has social media impacted your ability to stay connected to friends and family back home?

His wife didn’t have Facebook when they moved to Houston, but she does now.  He says that the Skype calls that they have been doing each week have become essential.

What has been the biggest surprise about Houston?

He said that the one thing is that it feels more transient than he thought it would.  It seems that there are more non-Houstonians than he thought there would be.  I told him that this was not a big surprising to me, given all the people that John Daugherty, Realtors assists in relocating here.  Houston is truly a melting pot.  Tim added that it seems rare to find someone who is a native Houstonian.

What advice would you offer to other Expats moving to Houston?

Tim said, “Imagine that things will take a lot longer than you think.  The bureaucratic nature of moving overseas is time consuming, it’s difficult, its stressful and you need to account for all of those things.”  What they did,  which was successful, was to take 4 weeks at the beginning of their move to organize things like social security, drivers license, banking accounts, furniture and things for their house.  He advises that one shouldn’t plan on trying to go to work on day one.  He urges people to do a lot of research on areas to live before they come over.   He stressed that research is very important before you make the commitment to relocate.

Do you see yourself here long term?

Tim said, “Not at the moment, but the place has really grown on us.  Our plan and our perspective is that we are going to be moving back home.”

With an action packed two weeks lasting from the 27th July 2012, marked with a lavish opening ceremony, to 12th August 2012, when the Olympic torch is handed over, Olympic holidays can be a once in a lifetime experience if one is organised and plans ahead.

The majority of events during the 2012 London Olympics will be held within the Greater London area, using such iconic locations as Horse Guards Parade, Wimbledon, Wembley Arena, Lords, The Royal Artillery Barracks and Regents Park. Holidays at London 2012 Olympics will not only be a magnificent sporting experience, but also an unique opportunity to see the best of London at its absolute best. In addition, there will be London 2012 Olympic events staged at venues throughout the country. The football will be played at Old Trafford to Hampden Park and the Millennium Stadium to Villa Park. The sailing events will be staged on the south coast.

Top 5 2012 Olympic Holiday Destinations
Below are suggestions for the top five holiday destinations. It’s not too soon to book a room:

London 2012 Track & Field – Olympic Stadium
The huge Olympic Village, Park and Stadium complex will be the focal point of the London 2012 Olympics, where the majority of action, including track and field, aquatics and cycling will occur, among other sports.

London 2012 Football – Nationwide
The 2012 Olympic football competition will be held at stadiums across the country, from St James Park in Newcastle to Wembley, Hampden Park in Glasgow to Villa Park in Birmingham, so opportunities to watch are in abundance.

London 2012 Sailing – Weymouth & Portland (Dorset)
All the sailing events are to be held in Weymouth and Portland, allowing visitors to watch (for free) the best of the marine events, as well as explore this stunning stretch of the south coast.

London 2012 Mountain Biking – Hadleigh Farm (Essex)
The 550 acre site at Hadleigh Farm is a spectators’ dream, with great visibility over the hugely technical mountain biking course, that is sure to produce some engrossing action, and close to London’s main site too.

London 2012 Canoeing – Broxbourne (Hertfordshire)
Situated on the edge of the beautiful Lee Valley Park, Broxbourne is just 30km north of the Olympic Park, and home to the adrenaline-fuelled sport of white-water canoeing. Broxbourne is a perfect location to be based outside London.

Tickets for the London 2012 Olympic Games will go on sale in 2011, with some 7.7 million available. If you are planning a London Olympic holiday, the tickets should not pose a huge problem to obtain, and with over 50% to be sold at less than £20 ($32), there remains a satisfying amount in the Olympic holiday budget to find yourself a truly luxurious London Olympics property for the whole period.

Your reporter-at-large,

Blighty