West Des Moines Difference - January 2009 - (Page 28)

SCOPE OF BUSINESS ENTREPRENEURS Entrepreneur Serves Up Unique Dining Experiences When Mark Rogers became old enough to realize that he wasn’t going to be the next Mickey Mantle or Larry Bird, he dreamed of opening an establishment with great food, huge servings, legendary service and more TVs than any other place in town so customers could watch all the games. In 1995, this founder of Legends American Grill opened his fi rst restaurant in West Des Moines. “I saw the growth that was happening in this area,” said Rogers, who also owns the Stadium Grill and Bar on E.P. True Parkway and Jimmy’s American Café on Eighth Street and has expanded to other metro cities. “I wanted to build a company to live my dreams, and West Des Moines offered a good place to do this.” Westec InterActive Surveys Opportunities in Iowa Although Westec InterActive was founded in California in 1998, that state’s history of earthquakes and power outages prompted company leaders to fi nd a central location that would allow for future growth. After opening an office in West Des Moines in 2005, the high-tech fi rm transferred all of its operations from Irvine, Calif., to West Des Moines in June 2006. “We had studied several different places and are very pleased with our decision to relocate to Iowa,” said Mark Schmit, executive vice president for operations, who noted that the company received a grant through the Iowa Department of Economic Development with the assistance of the city of West Des Moines. “The city has been very good to work with,” he said. As a leader in intelligent video monitoring services, Westec provides video surveillance and alarm system services for commercial clients nationwide from its stateof-the-art command center on Jordan Creek Parkway. Because of the technical nature of Westec’s work, the company conducts a six- to eight-week training program for its new employees. “We need a stable work force, and we’ve been very pleased with the quality of candidates in the area,” said Schmit, who noted that the fi rm employs 100 people at its West Des Moines office. Being located in the Jordan Creek area is another plus, Schmit added. “Customers often visit our facilities before they sign on with us, and we didn’t want them driving through a warehouse district to get here,” he said. “A lot of these clients are impressed by West Des Moines and the Jordan Creek area. We also like being in a high-growth area that offers an excellent quality of life.” “ I WANTED TO BUILD A COMPANY TO LIVE MY DREAMS, AND WEST DES MOINES OFFERED A GOOD PLACE TO DO THIS.” MARK ROGERS As his businesses grew, Rogers sought new opportunities and opened Fire Creek Grill in 2004 to rave reviews. Nestled in the Somerfield neighborhood, Fire Creek is known for its unique atmosphere, and for serving slowroasted prime rib, fresh seafood, ribs and more. I’m proud to run a locally owned and operated business here,” said Rogers, whose family’s roots can be traced to Valley Junction. “We’re truly your neighborhood restaurant.” That’s why Rogers regularly donates gift cards and supports area sports teams, church organizations and charities. “Our profits stay local, and I think it’s important to give back to the community,” he said. “That’s part of doing business in West Des Moines.” 28 THE WEST DES MOINES DIFFERENCE

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San Jose Official Visitor Guide 2009

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