Brian Gesner

Brian Gesner started his working career at the very young age of 10. He would fly down to Houston to visit his father for the summer and would always ask if he could go to work with him. His father had an air conditioning and heating business and would allow Brian to help him and his employees in the attics. Over time, he jokingly became the company “attic rat”. Over the years he would continue to work for his father in the summer and would also come down to Houston on holidays to help as well. He had a desire to fix problems and create new designs in the HVAC systems he was helping install. By the age of 15 he was training and teaching technicians twice his age.  He began to understand the importance of customer service and building long lasting relationships within his community. He eventually moved back to Houston to work for his father full time in 1998.

Brian with his entrepreneurial spirit quickly grew a desire to grow his father’s company and expand the business.  In order to grow he quickly realized that he would need outside experience to support his dream for bigger. He worked for several small to large HVAC companies for many years so he could learn from other business owners how they repair HVAC, as well as all the other components of running and growing a business.  After spending many years building and growing other people’s businesses, he finally decided it was time to create his own. In February of 2008 Brian opened Prestige Heating and Air Conditioning. His company has been thriving ever since with proof how his organization found ways to grow throughout the pandemic of 2020.

Brian has become a leader in the community as well as a mentor to many new and existing business owners.  Brian has fought off the pressures of running for local political offices as his passion is to coach and work with local business.   Brian led his local networking group to nationwide success and recognition as the top performing chapter in the country.  His experiences in business and life have given him a plethora of knowledge and expertise that he simply loves to share with his community.  His path has now led him to open another business, as one of the Founders of BENA (Business Education Network Association) where he will be helping new and old business owners shape their companies for success and longevity. His new mission in life is to help create success for others as it truly brings him joy.

Brian lives with his wife Kristie and his 3 children Brice 23, Jocelyn 21 and Cellest 20 in Spring, Texas.  Brian loves the outdoors and takes any opportunity that he can to create family time. Brian loves visiting wineries and is always ready for a road trip to any wine country.  Brian loves creating new relationships and networking as he always positions himself in environments where he has the opportunity to expand his stewartship.

David B. Frank

 David B. Frank, with over 30+ years associated with the financial service industry, David and his partner and wife Kate serve their clients along with their team of advisors at Innovative Premier Financial Services, LLC (“IPFS”) through education and creating long lasting relationships.  IPFS, a multi state full service financial planning and wealth management firm, is currently the GA for Ameritas Life serving the same geographical  area. IPFS has a history back to the early 90’s in Houston, TX.  Prior to the IPFS re-launch in 2015  David served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, central to the leadership team at Wealth Development Strategies L.P. (Penn Mutual). Over the prior 20 years, David has served in many diverse executive roles in both the public and private sectors of the financial services industry as a GA, FMO and IMO.  He has dedicated his career to the education, development, implementation and promotion of financial programs that provide thoughtful, educated and diverse products, strategies, designs and analysis for his client’s and advisors.  His professional history includes producing a 15 hour per week financial talk radio show called “All Things Financial,” in south Florida to numerous public speaking engagements and managing wholly-owned, full service and independent insurance agencies, property and casualty agencies and FINRA (prior NASD) broker-dealers.

David is also a founding member of BENA USA, LLC a Business Education Network Association dedicated to educating and developing business’s and business owners.

David is also a member of the Montgomery ISD Education Foundation distribution committee. 

To further his professional development, David has historically acquired insurance licenses in all 50 states, FINRA securities licenses 7, 24, 63 and 65, and P&C-LRA professional designations. 

Some of his accomplishments in the financial services industry include:

• Participation in MDRT, Governor Councils, Platinum Producers, President Clubs and Advisory Councils and Advanced Market committees for several Insurance Carriers
• Numerous LIMRA achievement awards
• Education speaker at the MBA, University and High School levels. Notable speaker for different financial associations
• Orchestrated the merger of FIMI into HomeCom Communications (HCOM) on the NASDQ where he served as the EVP and President of the Broker Dealer.
• Top producing independent agent, financial and estate planner, investment and insurance professional
• Proficient in complex case design, solution planning and diverse investment and insurance strategies
• Dynamic management career creating, building, developing and leading top-performing sales organizations, marketing, multi-state insurance, FINRA (formerly NASD) broker dealers & bank marketing organizations
• Directed strategic business planning for over 200 financial institutions including the creation of investment centers, marketing, training and incentive programs growing annuity sales to over $300 million annually
• Designed and launched an Internet-driven, global technology platform that successfully monitors, evaluates and manages the effective distribution of life insurance and annuity products including quote aggregation, policy field issue and delivery (InsureRateÔ and the Annuity Writer System)
• Consulted and created Insurance Annuity & Life products for several Insurance Carriers as well as developed the national marketing and distribution strategies and programs. 

David graduated from Boston University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing.  In addition, he has done numerous hours of advanced/post graduate education, including CFP® certification courses and is currently working on his MSFS along with 5 professional designations. 

He lives with his wife Kate and their 4 children, Zackary 23, Abby 21, Regan 15, & Cooper 9. His hobbies include multiple Ironman triathlete, competitive triathlons, Disney’s Dopey marathon circuit, marathon and running races along with all lengths of bicycle races. As a sport enthusiast, David played ice hockey for most of his life and has been inducted into the NJHS sports hall of fame.  He has coached youth sports for over 30 years and has spent over 33 years as a certified youth hockey official and instructor at the high-school and NCAA college level, none of which hold a candle to coaching and cheering on his kids in their respective college and youth sports and activities.  David also sits as a director on several boards and consults several charitable organizations.

Jessica Place 

Jessica Place was born to an emigrant father who came to the states at the age of 15 from Buenos Aires, Argentina.  As his parents gave up multiple small businesses to move to California for a better life and opportunity, Jessica now is continuing the family tradition of entrepreneurial business endeavors.  

Jessica began her career in the customer service industry over 25 years ago striving for the highest level of customer excellence with an emphasis of providing a great working relationship with every client. Jessica has a history of managing popular retail establishments as well as restaurants and has taken great pride in growing the profits and culture for each company.  

Jessica along with her husband Tommy are the owners and founders of Envy Me Outdoor Design.  They provide outdoor design services, landscape/ hardscape installation, pools and much more.  This adventure of entrepreneurship started in the Summer 2015. 

As a family driven company, she understands that family comes first and shares the love and passion for the art of creating a gorgeous getaway to bring her customers and their loved ones closer together.  

Married in the Spring of 2015 to Tommy Place, uniting as a blended family of 6.  They have 2 adult children (Jazmine & Dylan) and 2 teenagers (Leya & Noah).   Jessica enjoys relaxing by the pool listening to music and having great conversations with her family.

Benjamin Basquez Jr.

Ben is a native Texan born and raised mostly in Baytown, Tx, but later moved and lived in Harlingen, Austin, Corpus Christi and now lives in Spring. He currently works for Phillips 66 as a Sr. Global Pricing Analyst within the Commercial Risk organization. Ben graduated from Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi with a BBA in Management Information Systems and has an AAS in Network Information Management from Texas State Technical College in Harlingen. He has over 15 years of IT experience in many different industries in both the public and private sectors which includes The Texas Workforce Commission, The City of Pasadena, The Office of the Attorney General, ConocoPhillips, Siemens, Aon Hewitt, just to name a few.

Ben is married to his beautiful wife Cristina and has 3 kiddos, Ben III 10, Eduardo 9, and Sofia 7. He loves all things sports and has completed one Full Ironman race and will be competing in Ironman Texas April 2022. His hobbies include coaching his kids in soccer, basketball, baseball, and softball. Ben also creates websites and IT consulting for small businesses.