Banking on Integrity

Where Families Come First: Serving Houston's Immigrant Community With Integrity

Justice is built one relationship at a time. Hazem and Mack sit down with Houston immigration attorney and Mendez Law Office founder Matthew Mendez. They trace how a middle-class upbringing, a mentor-driven pivot into immigration law, and an entrepreneurial spark ignited by his father-in-law led to building a 41-person firm in one of the country's most competitive legal markets, exploring faith in clients, the complexity of immigration, marketing in a billboard city, and what it means to serve Houston's most vulnerable families. Learn more about Mendez Law Office at mendezlawoffice.com [https://mendezlawoffice.com/] or in Spanish at abogadomendez.com [https://abogadomendez.com/]. To learn more about Integrity Bank, go to itx.bank [https://www.itx.bank/]. Subscribe to Banking on Integrity on Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/banking-on-integrity/id1809270239], Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/6hUwt34fVZynVGwtnt2aos], or wherever you get your podcasts [https://omny.fm/shows/banking-on-integrity/playlists/podcast]! Key Takeaways 1. Matthew's entrepreneurial drive didn't come from his upbringing. Both parents held traditional jobs, but he was awakened by watching his father-in-law run multiple businesses and by his wife Ginny's steady encouragement to bet on himself. 2. He launched Mendez Law in January 2017 after consistently outperforming the firms he worked for, starting with just him and Ginny handling everything from client intake to assembling furniture, and growing quickly by prioritizing marketing in a saturated field. 3. Houston is arguably the epicenter of immigration law in the nation as the largest city in the largest border state. It has the density of courts, judges, and diverse immigrant communities that make it uniquely demanding and important for the practice. 4. Mendez Law distinguishes itself by offering free consultations, operating with radical transparency about what the law can and cannot do, and serving clients who have all come through government-vetted processes. Not individuals who have evaded legal scrutiny. 5. With 11 attorneys and 41 staff, Matthew is now expanding into personal injury law, with an eye toward blending the high-volume, billboard-style visibility of Houston's most recognizable legal brands with the deep client respect of elite, results-driven firms. Timestamped Overview 00:31 Hazem introduces Matthew Mendez and Mendez Law Office 00:52 How Matthew launched the firm in 2017 and Ginny's foundational role 03:20 The entrepreneurial spark: his father-in-law's example and a shift in mindset 04:54 Deciding to become an attorney, writing skills, and finding a passion for immigration 07:51 Mentor Juan Reyes and the mentor-shaped path into immigration law 08:14 Is Houston the epicenter of immigration law in the U.S.? 09:13 Estimating Houston's immigration attorney population (1,500–3,000) 10:23 What most people misunderstand about immigration law's complexity 12:30 How most Mendez Law clients are government-vetted and legally present 13:56 What draws immigrants to Houston: economy, opportunity, and no barriers to entry 18:06 Growing to 41 employees and 11 attorneys, and overcoming the fear of hiring 20:11 Expanding into personal injury law and the competitive marketing landscape 22:23 Houston's "billboard attorney" culture — Mattress Mack, Jim Adler, and brand-building 25:05 Plans for marketing, persona-building, and standing out in a short-attention-span world 27:07 The business side of running a law firm — cash flow, accountants, and banking relationships 28:58 How to contact Mendez Law: free consultations, social media, phone, and bilingual website 30:44 Closing thanks, reflections on serving Houston's communities, and final remarks See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Houston Tex‑Mex Legacy, Part Two: Domenic Laurenzo

Second acts can redefine a family. Hazem and Mack sit with Houston native and El Tiempo Cantina Executive Chef and President Domenic Laurenzo, grandson of Mama Ninfa, to trace how a Tex‑Mex legacy, bankruptcy, and a detour into professional golf led to building El Tiempo, exploring faith, design, risk, and what it takes to lead a thousand‑person restaurant family in Houston today. Learn more about El Tiempo Cantina here [https://eltiempocantina.com/]. To learn more about Integrity Bank, go to itx.bank [https://www.itx.bank/]. Subscribe to Banking on Integrity on Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/banking-on-integrity/id1809270239], Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/6hUwt34fVZynVGwtnt2aos], or wherever you get your podcasts [https://omny.fm/shows/banking-on-integrity/playlists/podcast]! Key Takeaways 1. Domenic grew up in a multigenerational restaurant family that helped popularize Tex-Mex in booming 1980s Houston, watching his grandmother lead Ninfa’s and greet lines of guests while his father crisscrossed Texas running stores. 2. Before returning to the family business, he pursued professional golf, even running a mini tour sponsored by Ninfa’s, until the restaurant’s bankruptcy forced a hard pivot back home and a move from Tanglewood to the East End. 3. The loss of Ninfa’s through bankruptcy and a perceived hostile takeover left deep resentment, but a small operation called Dom Burger became a crucible for resilience, quality, and a renewed focus on faith and family. 4. El Tiempo Cantina emerged from this rebuilding period, with its name inspired in Monterrey and captured in a poem about welcoming guests into a Mexican house where past, present, and future meet, paired with a deliberate “romantic industrial hacienda” atmosphere. 5. Today Domenic focuses on leading almost a thousand employees, protecting culture while navigating franchising, delivery, and changing consumer behavior, emphasizing human relationships, training, and his father’s mantra to first be a man of God. Timestamped Overview 00:00 Banking on Integrity intro and restaurant chapter framing 00:31 Hazem introduces Domenic and the interconnected Houston restaurant families 01:38 Early memories of Houston, childhood freedom, and neighborhood moves 03:10 Grandmother’s opening of Ninfa’s locations and Tanglewood upbringing 05:18 How Ninfa’s helped make Tex-Mex mainstream comfort food 06:30 Watching his grandmother work the floor and build a beloved brand 07:57 Stories of her travels, blessings, and public recognition 08:38 Discovering golf, becoming a four year letterman, and turning pro 09:27 Running the Ninfa’s Texas golf tour and life on the mini tour circuit 10:26 News of Ninfa’s bankruptcy and sudden return to the East End 12:30 Reflections on his father’s work ethic, depression, and family fears 13:55 Launching Dom Burger and rebuilding during a two year revival period 15:12 Resentment over the bankruptcy outcome and non-compete constraints 17:54 Opening El Tiempo, the Canal Street phase, and defining “pura calidad” 21:29 Searching Houston for a new site and finding the Richmond location 22:50 Trip to Monterrey and the moment the El Tiempo name was born 24:12 Antonio’s poem about time, home, and carrying the past forward 25:33 Hazem’s reflections on El Tiempo’s dining room feel and time slowing down 26:15 Domenic’s design role and coining “romantic industrial hacienda” 27:45 Atmosphere versus food and why both matter in great restaurants 28:07 Mack on margaritas, memorable nights, and guest experience 28:45 Hazem asks about the future, Galveston franchising, and the Post location 29:24 Adapting to delivery, training staff, and preparing to succeed his father 31:01 Challenges of franchising, culture transfer, and protecting the brand 33:08 Closing appreciation for the family’s contribution to Houston and final thanks See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Houston Tex‑Mex Legacy, Part One: Phyllis Mandola

Legacy starts at the table. Hazem and Mack walk with longtime Houston restaurateur Phyllis Mandola, daughter of Tex‑Mex pioneer Mama Ninfa, through their family’s journey from political exile and a tortilla and pizza factory to Ninfa’s, seafood concepts, and El Tiempo, exploring neighborhood change, grief, generosity, and how hospitality and education continue her mother’s impact on Houston across generations. Learn about The Ninfa Laurenzo Scholarship Fund [https://theninfalaurenzoscholarshipfund.org/]. To learn more about Integrity Bank, go to itx.bank [https://www.itx.bank/]. Subscribe to Banking on Integrity on Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/banking-on-integrity/id1809270239], Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/6hUwt34fVZynVGwtnt2aos], or wherever you get your podcasts [https://omny.fm/shows/banking-on-integrity/playlists/podcast]! Key Takeaways 1. Phyllis grew up with entrepreneurial parents shaped by exile from Mexico, a grandfather who built the original Ninfa’s building, and a mother who started as a teenage hairdresser before moving into tortillas, pizza, and eventually tacos. 2. The first Ninfa’s on Navigation began as a small tortilla and pizza factory, then added a ten table restaurant in 1973 that introduced tacos al carbon and fajitas to Houston, relying heavily on neighborhood loyalty and family labor. 3. Waiting tables while painfully shy pushed Phyllis into people work, and she came to see front of house roles and host stands as critical points of welcome where guests are treated as entering a home, not just a business. 4. The Mandola seafood restaurants, including the River Oaks move and later building on Waugh Drive, reflect both the upside of owning real estate and the risk of misjudging customer migration, reinforcing how location and neighborhood change can make or break a concept. 5. After losing her mother, husband, and brother, Phyllis channeled grief into the Ninfa Laurenzo Scholarship Fund, extending her mother’s spirit of feeding and uplifting people by funding students and reminding donors that generosity returns many times over. Timestamped Overview 00:00 Banking on Integrity intro and welcome 01:19 Phyllis describes her parents’ personalities and early entrepreneurship 02:32 Family history as political exiles and her grandfather’s construction work 03:12 How tortillas, pizza, and Italian influence came together 04:27 The tortilla machine, early distribution, and delivering pizzas as a teen 05:51 Origin stories around nachos and family restaurant folklore 07:06 Transition from factory to 10 table restaurant and 1973 opening 09:04 Phyllis’s shyness and learning hospitality through waiting tables 11:33 Neighborhood support, Catholic school networks, and early growth 13:36 East End’s evolution into EaDo and reflections on the old barrio 16:46 Meeting and marrying Tony, first restaurants, and seafood pivot 19:03 Shepherd and River Oaks eras and building community around celebrations 20:24 Hospitality philosophy, “mi casa es su casa,” and long term employees 23:11 Mack’s reflections on people contact versus screens for young entrepreneurs 25:09 Building on Waugh Drive, owning dirt, and the realities of customer behavior 26:29 Grief, resilience, and lessons taken from her mother’s example 28:22 Creating the Ninfa Laurenzo Scholarship Fund and its origin story 29:48 Reading student essays, selecting recipients, and the emotional impact 30:07 Mack’s call to give and closing appreciation See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

The Huynh Restaurant Story: Houston Hospitality with Vietnamese Roots

Family changes everything. Hazem and Mack sit down with Bryan Hucke and his daughter Reagan to trace an 18 year run of a Huynh Restaurant in EaDo, the shock of eminent domain, the realities of Houston’s restaurant economics, and how ownership, education, and hospitality shape the next chapter for their business and their lives. Learn more about Huynh Restaurant here [https://huynhrestauranthouston.com/]. To learn more about Integrity Bank, go to itx.bank [https://www.itx.bank/]. Subscribe to Banking on Integrity on Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/banking-on-integrity/id1809270239], Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/6hUwt34fVZynVGwtnt2aos], or wherever you get your podcasts [https://omny.fm/shows/banking-on-integrity/playlists/podcast]! Key Takeaways 1. A corporate career in telecommunications turned into restaurant ownership when Bryan fell in love with a small Midtown spot, its food, and eventually his waitress, whose family recipes became the heart of their Vietnamese restaurant. 2. Locating in EaDo near Houston’s stadiums created opportunity but also long term risk, and after 18 years of operations the family must now relocate because of a long anticipated eminent domain taking. 3. Being an owner operator with family in the kitchen and at the front door has been central to their success, reinforcing consistency, accountability, and a guest experience that feels more like visiting a home than a transaction. 4. Reagan’s journey from four year old hostess to hospitality student at the University of Houston shows how early responsibility, formal education, and exposure to industry leaders can position the next generation to scale beyond a single location. 5. Their approach to hospitality blends value, ambiance, customization, and genuine gratitude, and they see travel, new locations, and careful expansion as ways to grow while protecting culture during a pivotal year of change. Timestamped Overview 00:00 Banking on Integrity intro and host setup 00:31 Bryan and Reagan introduced and current EaDo location described 02:12 Eminent domain timeline and the need to relocate 05:08 Reagan’s early roles in the restaurant and growing responsibilities 07:34 How Bryan met his wife and the origin of the restaurant concept 08:52 Family involvement, second location plans, and dynasty potential 10:28 Keys to surviving 18 years in a tough industry 11:57 Employee tenure, turnover, and building long term staff relationships 13:37 Customer relationships, remembering guests, and becoming part of their lives 16:51 Balancing food, ambiance, cleanliness, and value on the guest’s check 18:06 Mack’s view on execution, hot food, and service discipline 19:19 Bryan’s hopes for Reagan’s career and her post graduation options 21:54 Fertitta’s influence on UH and Reagan’s view of global hospitality 23:24 Houston as a base with global possibilities for a hospitality career 25:18 Matching guests to dishes and curating the menu experience 26:37 Traveling for food and drink, and how trips shape their perspective 28:43 Mexico City as a nearby culinary playground for inspiration 29:11 Houston’s cultural mix, fusion of stories, and closing reflections See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

A Million‑Dollar Spin and a Lifetime of Relationships

Relationships outlast trends. Hazem and Mack talk with Jayne Edison of OFI about growing a furniture business on loyalty and referrals, a 27‑year banking relationship that started on day one, navigating the Stanford Financial collapse, and how Houston’s “big city, small town” feel shapes her approach to risk, giving back, and big opportunities. Learn more about Office Furniture Innovations here [https://ofillc.com/]. To learn more about Integrity Bank, go to itx.bank [https://www.itx.bank/]. Subscribe to Banking on Integrity on Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/banking-on-integrity/id1809270239], Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/6hUwt34fVZynVGwtnt2aos], or wherever you get your podcasts [https://omny.fm/shows/banking-on-integrity/playlists/podcast]! Key Takeaways 1. Long‑term relationships with clients and bankers can power a business across decades, companies, and market cycles, turning professional contacts into deep friendships. 2. A trusted banker who understands your history, risk, and character can be a stabilizing force through both growth and crisis. 3. In moments of sudden disruption, like the Stanford Financial collapse, quick decisions to protect inventory and cash can make the difference between survival and significant loss. 4. Houston’s “large city, small town” character connects entrepreneurs, bankers, and vendors through shared networks, charity work, and mutual trust. 5. A belief that “numbers don’t pay you back, people do” reinforces the importance of character, integrity, and relationship‑driven business practices. Timestamped Overview 00:00 Banking on Integrity intro 00:44 Welcoming OFI’s Jayne Edison 02:21 A 27‑year relationship with banker Judy Budnick 03:34 “Numbers don’t pay you back, people do” 04:05 Entering furniture in 1989 and loving design variety 04:58 A first client who’s stayed for four decades 05:32 Trucks on the road during the Stanford Financial shutdown 06:52 Recovering high‑value rugs and managing losses 08:30 Meeting Bobby, a contractor who understands her world 09:18 Winning a million dollars on a slot machine in Las Vegas 10:41 Using the windfall to buy Tiki Island property, not toys 11:41 South Texas roots and parents’ work ethic 13:01 Planting palm trees at the hometown school in their honor 15:21 OFI’s commitment to community and women‑owned business leadership 17:25 Discovering and supporting A Place for Peanut horse rescue 19:41 Hundreds of horses saved and rehomed 25:55 Seeing her work across Houston, from the Fed to courthouses 28:20 Vendors backing her to start OFI and working from a hall closet 30:02 Winning major justice center projects and fixing problems head‑on 33:44 Landing the Federal Reserve Bank with a creative showroom gambit 36:57 Executing large clinic and title‑office rollouts during COVID 37:57 Jayne, Hazem, and Mack reflect on family‑style banking and Houston’s spirit See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.