A Few Good (Business) Men

A few issues back, we covered a group of fierce female entrepreneurs who busted the glass ceiling and started their own business. In this issue, we are focusing on the fellas. These young professional men have become their own boss by opening unique companies inside the loop.  On the runway, in the recording studio and working out, these gents are enjoying success in the city at a young age. Let’s hear it for the boys!

David Peck - CrOp

Fresh off the runway of Houston’s first official fashion week, designer David Peck is already making waves on the fashion scene and well on his way to becoming a household name! His women’s wear collection, CrOp, caused quite the stir with the crowd at the Wortham. Expected to win the same acclaim, his holiday collection will hit Houston boutiques soon. CrOp is currently available at 310 Rosemont and Elaine Turner, with more retailers coming in spring of  2011.

After studying at Parsons Paris School of Art + Design, where he won top honors and awards, David launched his first collection in France and his second in New York. Recently, David brought his work to the Bayou City and set up shop in an inner-loop studio.

“Houston has a history of embracing entrepreneurs. There’s a ‘can-do’ attitude here that really is inspiring,” explains David.

Funky frocks with ultra-feminine silhouettes, David’s designs have graced the covers of national magazines and have become a favorite among celebs, including pop country queen Taylor Swift. But David isn’t just out to please the fashion crowd; he also gives back and designs with a conscience. A portion of each CrOp piece sold supports a worthy cause that has inspired the collection. Additionally, he uses fabrics and printing methods that have been selected because of their minimal impact on the environment.

Following in the footsteps of his business hero, Ralph Lauren, David hopes to one day expand his designs to create a lifestyle empire. “Ultimately, my business will include menswear, children’s wear and home furnishings. I want to create a place where my customer can find everything that they need to live their life in style,” says David.

For those who hope to own their own business, David suggests surrounding yourself with people who are smart and believe in you. “I have also learned to follow my gut. That’s the one thing you have that no one else has. It’s what is going to make you successful.” Based on the success he has experienced so far, something tells us that his gut instinct will take him straight to the top.

Hank Richardson- DEFINE

Opening just over a year ago, the Memorial studio of  DEFINE: body & mind has earned an enthusiastic following of fitness fans devoted to hybrid classes that combine Pilates, yoga and ballet.  Constantly packed with eager, spandex-sporting Houstonians, the studio hosts new moms with babies in tow, young professionals trying to pack in a pre/post office workout, professional athletes…and everyone in between.

It may be the high energy music, the 12 knowledgeable instructors or the hurts-so-bad yet feels-so-good work out that keeps students coming back, but we think that owner Hank Richardson also has something to do with it.

Greeting the class with a joke (usually about choosing health over happy hour),  Hank knows the majority of the students by name and makes DEFINE-goers feel like they are part of his wellness family.

“At DEFINE we get to see so many people on a daily basis.  We learn so much about our clients that they feel like part of an extended family,” says Hank.

After graduating from the University of Florida as an All-American and member of the National Springboard and Diving Team, Hank discovered he was experiencing discomfort from his old injuries. To cope, he tried a yoga/Pilates fusion technique and he was hooked. After spending time in New York and teaching all over the country, he brought his own technique back home to Houston, and started DEFINE.

“Houston is a town full of really great people,” Hank explains. “I was away for about 11 years and in returning to Houston, I find Houstonians to be some of the most genuine and honest people around.  This makes operating our business a ton of fun.”

Signature classes DEFINEbody, DEFINEmind, DEFINEbaby, DEFINExpress and DEFINEface are now be available to an even larger audience as Hank opens a second location on West Gray. DEFINEcaliente, a toning class with Latin flair, and DEFINEpop, a high-energy class of choreographed routines from music videos (Think Jackson, GaGa and Beyonce!) are some of the new classes being offered.

As a LEED AP, a credential signifying an advanced depth of knowledge in green building practices, Hank has incorporated eco-friendly observances into the new space. “I'm super pumped that the space is going to be LEED certified to further promote long-term sustainable health for the body and the environment.”

Josh Moore-Abbadad Productions

When an album you mixed receives five stars from The Source Magazine in the same year hip-hop heavyweights Jay-Z and Eminem drop an album earning fewer, it’s something to brag about. But that wouldn’t be producer Josh Moore’s style. His laid-back and humble attitude is likely the key to what makes him the successful owner of Abbadad Productions.

One of Josh’s recent projects was mixing local rapper Bun B’s third album.  Debuting over the summer, the album was extremely well-accepted, earning not only The Source Magazine honor, the first five star review in the last five years, but also a number one spot on the Billboard rap charts.

Even though Josh may flourish in the rap scene, he handles a wide variety of musicians. “Most producers are known for being a certain genre, I didn’t set out to do this. I get bored with a particular vibe,” he explains. “We work with everything from rock bands and singer/songwriters to dirty south.”

                With such a broad range, Josh sees an array of personalities inside the studio.

“As a producer, my primary job is to serve the artist. Every artist is different from the last, but each artist, in and of themselves, is pretty different every day. You have to ‘read the tempo’ in the studio each morning and change the environmental factors accordingly to get a good collaboration,” he continues.  “Very talented people have immense energy in all parts of their creative process. The challenge is to focus that personality and character into something that’s compelling on tape.” 

Josh advises young professionals that they are never too young to start a business. “The Internet has empowered every generation from here on to get the information they need to build amazing things as soon as they’re ready.”

And he should know. Josh started his career at an early age. In high school, he started his first production company and at 17 he was the youngest producer to ever nationally release an album. Then, after building up tenure in Nashville, Josh returned to his home to found Abbadad Productions.

One would think that a magazine rave or a chart-topping hit would be the best part of a producer’s job, but not for Josh. He finds delight in the simpler things. “My favorite part of the workday is standing at the desk before going home and listening to a piece of music we made that didn’t exist in tangible form that morning. It’s such immediate gratification.”