Best in the Business! By Marti J. Miller

I'm often asked why I choose to live in the southwest area of Dallas. My answer is easy...because of the great people who live and do business here. I'm sure other parts of Dallas have nice business people minding their shops and great neighborhoods to call home, but there's just something special and unique about the men and women who build their lives and make their living in the southern sector.

One of those great people is Frank Bentley, President and CEO of Affiliated Business Group, in Dallas. Frank retired with Sears several years ago, after working in executive management for more than 25 years. As an entrepreneur, he's brought a wealth of knowledge and business savvy to the business of building and designing websites at ABG, now in its fifth year of operations. This customer service-oriented Company, has a complete business service and development department committed to creating the technological and operational resources and solutions needed for success in today's marketplace.

Frank's proven people skills and management expertise are evidenced in his unique ability to hire and maintain a team of outstanding professional designers, developers and technical support staff. The efficient, creative and collaborative efforts of the ABG team have set the company apart in the marketplace, providing outstanding branding services to many local businesses and consumers. I speak from experience. One of the best marketing tools I use in my motivational speaking and training business is my website. It is designed, developed, maintained and hosted by ABG, and has been for several years. I consider it the best investment I've made professionally and receive innumerable amounts of responses and hits on a regular basis, with positive feedback regarding navigation, content and clarity.

Frank served as the 2005-2006 Co-Chair for Leadership Southwest, in addition to serving on its Board of Directors. His tremendous enthusiasm for leadership training and promotional development of this outstanding program, training leaders since 1984, has helped it become the premier leadership training program of its kind in the metroplex. His tireless efforts in recruiting new members, supporting the Alumni Association as a committee leader, as well as maintaining the LSW website with updates, revisions and additions, don't seem to affect his ability to balance a busy lifestyle and work schedule.

I grew up hearing my parents say, “if you want something done, ask a busy person to do it.” They must have had Frank Bentley in mind. Chamber events and programming usually find him right at the center of things. Installing and maintaining audio and visual equipment for programming, producing power point presentations, detailing every aspect of silent auctions, web networking and development, and anything to do with marketing and advertising to the public, usually have ABG written all over it. Frank is a master at getting the right people connected with each other, and finds many ways to provide support to our community with his generosity. He hosts meetings, conferences, seminars, church groups, computer classes and on site support service training at his spacious location on Autobahn Dr .

He plans to host several business training workshops within the next year at his establishment, and is looking forward to offering the opportunity for leaders to develop and invest their leadership skills in sharing their expertise with other members of the community.

As his business continues to grow, Frank has seen the need to develop quality communication in the workplace, sharing the great things happening in our southwest communities of Oak Cliff, Duncanville , Cedar Hill, Lancaster , DeSoto, and Northern Ellis County . He believes in “ Telling something good!” about our area, and has recently launched a new magazine called SW Dallas Lifestyles! www.swdallaslifestyles.com. The magazine will be published bi-monthly and mailed to over 30,000 households and businesses. It will feature articles written by writers and contributors who promote this area exclusively.

His business partner in this endeavor is Judy Pluto, an advertising and marketing director with Southern Marketing Group (SMG). Judy brings more than 15 years of experience in sales and promotions to this effort. She shares Frank's passion for quality, and looks to position the magazine in the minds of readers as the “one source for readers to obtain information regarding family life, business services, education, health, government, entertainment and lifestyle issues in this area.” Her recent admission into the Leadership Southwest Class of 2006 will certainly support Judy in finding additional opportunities to enhance the publication's presence in the workplace and community.

Frank Bentley gets my vote for outstanding leader award. He's the kind of leader that doesn't choose recognition for himself, but chooses to bless others instead. The kind of leader who uses his most valuable resources, his talents and those of his staff, in dedicated service to others. I've never seen him when he didn't have a smile on his face and an encouraging response to anything you needed his help on. I've seen him under pressure... I've seen him maxed to the hilt with many irons in the fire, yet never overwhelmed. His attention to detail and penchant for organization have helped pull me out of a tailspin on more than one occasion. His team has developed several projects for my place of employment, and their work has been outstanding, in my estimation. I know they've made me proud that we've given much of our advertising dollar right here in the community. Frank has helped me encourage the message of economic development 101...

"We spend our money in this community for the quality services we need."

How simple is that? He's always given me more than I expected and made sure it was done right. You just can't beat that!

Frank and his lovely wife Anita live in the Oak Leaf area near Red Oak. They have two children and three grandchildren that keep them busy in their spare time. Frank enjoys canoeing on the Trinity River and would love to share that story with you whenever you've got the time.

The motto of Leadership Southwest is “we support each other” , and as a representative from the best class of 1999, I'd like to offer Frank and Judy a huge vote of support for taking the message of positive promotion to the southwest Dallas community! We can't wait to see the first issue which will be published in mid September.

For more information, please log on to www.swdallaslifestyles.com or call Frank at 972.283.0150. Tell him Marti sent you and be sure to tell him something good!