In The News Inc. Blog

For people who are heavily involved in the Texas oil industry, big game hunting or are just an avid reader of publications such as The Wall Street Journal, the name of Lary D. Knowlton might be familiar. Vice President to one of Texas’ fastest-growing oil producers, Lary has been featured in numerous trade and economic publications, many of which he has commemorated with custom-crafted plaques.

In America, people love to have things their way. Getting something made to your specific order is such a basic part of the customer experience that fast food chains have used it as the basis for their corporate mottoes for decades. Car dealerships sell innumerable different “package deals” for their products, and there is a huge industry for aftermarket parts to be added after a car has been bought. Our own plaques are custom-made for each customer as well.

Do you know a chef who can speak six languages, served as the personal chef for Bill Clinton and has cooked for such notable celebrities as Nicholas Cage, Jon Bon Jovi, and Sheryl Crow? How about a chef who has prepared meals for foreign dignitaries and royalty? If you know Marti Mongiello, then the answer is “yes.” Recently, Marti was featured in the London UK Times for his achievements and chose to preserve that article in a mahogany custom wall plaque with gold trim.

If you’re an avid reader of suspense thriller novels, or you happen to know who’s who in Houston, then the name of Connie Reeves Cooke may be familiar to you. Her first book, Fade to Dark was published in 2006. The publication of this book was the culmination of Connie’s love for the creative arts, but this remarkable woman still has so much more to offer.

If you’re familiar with the sport of tennis, you may have heard of Gordon Uehling already. As a former Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) world-ranked player in both singles and doubles events, Mr. Uehling’s name is a distinguished one in the world of tennis. Recently, his accomplishments have earned him distinction from several publications; distinctions that Gordon has preserved in commemorative plaques to share with everyone at his company’s headquarters.

Paul Ponkow was born to build custom bikes, ones worthy of being featured in articles for top custom magazines around the world. Growing up in the 70’s, in a neighborhood where every kid had a Schwinn Stingray bike, Paul wanted his to stand out, so he asked his dad to mod his bicycle, turning it into a chopped bike. When others bought cars as teenagers, Paul bought a high-end bicycle instead. For Paul, two wheels were most definitely better than four.

For fans of the New York Mets, David Wright is a familiar, even beloved, part of the team. David has long been a high profile player in the world of Major League Baseball, having made his MLB debut in 2004 with a batting average of .293 that year. As recently as the 2013 World Baseball Classic, David earned the nickname “Captain America” for his performance on Team USA that year.

For years, auto enthusiasts in the great state of Texas have known that when they want a perfect paint job for their vehicle, Erik Contreras is the man for the job. This sublime master of the airbrush has been a popular motor vehicle artist for years.

Aerial Development Group is, according to their business description and website, a development company that is dedicated to the full-circle revitalization of Nashville’s urban neighborhoods. However, given the sheer amount of charitable work that they do for both the residents of Nashville and for needy children in Africa, you might think that they were a charity organization instead.

Who is Ralph Ronzello? Ralph Ronzello is a District Manager for the Harris Teeter chain of food and pharmacy stores in North Carolina. It is a job he does well, and it allows him to support his family. But, there’s more to Ralph than the mild-mannered job title of District Manager might first suggest to a stranger.