Best Transition

The Winner Is …

Lonnie Williamson, A Turf of Beauty

Command Sergeant Major Williams retired from the Army in 1994, after 28 years of service. After obtained a Master’s degree in Human Resource Management, he worked as a middle-school teacher, Operations Manager at Chrysler facility, and Deputy Director of Public Works for the State of Missouri. After moving to the Austin area, Williamson decided to start a lawn-care service business, writing a business plan and investing in equipment before landing large contracts with LCRA, Capital Metro, the University of Texas, Chasco Construction and others.

[Photo: Winner]
Amy Simmons (Amy's Ice Cream), Lonnie Williamson, Paul Saldaña (Adelante Solutions)

Finalists …

Victoria Lewis-Dunn, Common Solutions

Common Solutions Conflict Resolution Center was started in response to a need Lewis-Dunn witnessed first hand in the daily operations of the legal system and the daily conflicts observed amongst members of her community. With her family falling apart, she realized that being a litigator was incompatible with her character. Instead, she realized that she could focus on bringing parties together through mediation. The legal system already provides legislative provisions allowing mediation in all areas of law. Most jurisdictions just do not have the trained personnel to implement the system on any scale.

Stephanie Ramert, Round Rock Gardens

In 2001, Wolfe Nursery closed in Round Rock and elsewhere. Employees of the garden center were out of work, and the north Austin suburb was now without a gardening-supply business. Within two months, Ramert, a former real-estate Development Director, had secured funding for the property and a line of credit, and thereby opened Round Rock Gardens. Her project management skills were instrumental in starting the business and navigating the first full year of operations—grossing over $750,000 in 2003 and now employing seven people.