ConocoPhillips Rodeo Run Supports Education Again on February 27, 2016

A seasoned executive, Mark Seilkop brings more than two decades of leadership experience to his role as owner of Texas Industrial Sales in Houston. Aside from his career, Mark Seilkop is an avid runner who has participated in the ConocoPhillips Rodeo Run.

The ConocoPhillips Rodeo Run has benefited the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Education Fund since its inception 28 years ago. The event, which consists of a competitive 10K and noncompetitive 5K run/walk, has awarded $4.5 million in scholarships to Texas high school students. Scholarships have made it possible for students to continue their education at institutions, such as the University of Texas and Rice University.

The annual tradition will continue supporting local students by hosting its 2016 race on February 27th. The race, a rain or shine event, begins at the intersection of Walker and Bagby. Participants will travel along Allen Parkway and loop back around at Memorial and Montrose for the 10K and 5K, respectively. Following the main event is a party that continues on through noon with refreshments and entertainment.

Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Educational Fund Scholarships

For more than five years, Mark Seilkop has served in an ownership position with Texas Industrial Sales in Houston. Mark Seilkop engages with the Houston community in a number of ways beyond his construction and engineering work, making annual appearances in both the ConocoPhillips Rodeo Run and the Sugar Land Turkey Trot.

Each year, all funds generated through registration fees at the ConocoPhillips Rodeo Run are directed to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Educational Fund. Since 1988, this money has been used by the fund to provide hundreds of annual scholarship opportunities to Texas students aspiring to higher education. Over the last 27 years, the rodeo has raised an estimated $4.5 million for college scholarships.

In 2015 alone, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Educational Fund provided more than 750 collegiate scholarship opportunities. To meet scholarship requirements, US citizens and Texas residents must be graduating high school seniors at an eligible school. They must also fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. For more information, visit www.rodeohouston.com.

The Advantages of Hybrid Golf Clubs

Mark Seilkop has served as owner of Texas Industrial Sales in Houston since 2010. When he is not meeting the needs of clients in the engineering and construction industries, Mark Seilkop enjoys staying through golf and marathon running.

Golfers can select from a wide range of options when it comes to clubs. Hybrid golf clubs blend the positive attributes of iron and wood clubs while making as few sacrifices as possible. The improved hitting power represents one of the major advantages provided hybrid clubs. Golfers at every skill level can expect to gain anywhere from five to eight yards on their drives when compared to shots made by traditional irons. It should be noted, however, that the increased trajectory of hybrid clubs often yields a decreased roll after the ball has landed.

As modern clubs, many of the benefits offered by hybrids can be attributed to the advanced head design. The heads of hybrid golf clubs are produced with a lower, set-back center of gravity to allow for increased trajectory and height. Hybrid club heads are also made with a broader, more lenient design, mitigating the likelihood of errant swings. While the benefits of hybrid clubs are numerous, golfers should test a set at their local club before finalizing a purchase.

2015 Conoco Phillips Rodeo Run Results

Mark Seilkop has owned Texas Industrial Sales in Houston for nearly six years. Also a fitness enthusiast, Mark Seilkop regularly engages in the Conoco Phillips Rodeo Run as well as the Sugar Land Turkey Trot.

The Conoco Phillips Rodeo Run has occurred annually since 1988. In 1994, the event began tracking race stats for senior competitors, known as the Masters group, while 2003 saw the men’s, women’s, and wheelchair 10K fields expand to include a 5K event. The 2015 Conoco Phillips Rodeo Run, held in February throughout the downtown Houston area, drew more than 13,000 participants. The run generated $400,000 for the Rodeo Educational Fund and Houston Livestock Show, elevating the event’s total contributions to an estimated $4.5 million.

Kiya Dandena led all 10K runners with a time of 30:44, followed by the Masters male champion and his time of 32:56. The women’s field saw Mary Davies put up a time of 34:53, besting the Masters female winner by just over 2 minutes. Ramiro Bermudez took home the best wheelchair 10K time at 26:55, while 5K champions included Diego Soto, Katherine Thurman, and Kevin Saunders.                            

Maximizing Your Golf Practice Time

Mark Seilkop has led operations at Texas Industrial Sales in Houston as company owner since 2010. In his time away from work, Mark Seilkop likes to stay physically active by running in local charity events and playing golf.

Recreational golfers must balance their love for the sport with a variety of responsibilities, ranging from professional obligations to family time. To maximize the effectiveness of a practice session on the golf course, a person should begin by focusing on quality over quantity. On the driving range, for instance, little can be gained from hitting one ball after another, teeing up the next shot before the first ball has even landed. Golfers should spend time on physical preparation and technique prior to hitting each ball at the driving range and evaluate the resulting shot as if they were playing a competitive match.

Similarly, setting goals can help golfers get the most out of their practice time. For example, try to make 10 long putts on the green before heading to the driving range. Whether it takes 10 or 30 attempts to satisfy this goal, work toward it with a positive attitude and persist until the goal has been met. Finally, nothing can derail a practice session like a stretch of poor hitting. Golfers must emphasize their good work and, if necessary, reflect on the successes of past days to find joy in an off day of hitting.

Best Places to Camp in Texas

Longtime sales professional Mark Seilkop of Stafford, Texas, has experience serving clients in the industrial and manufacturing sectors. Outside of his current responsibilities as owner of Texas Industrial Sales, Mark Seilkop enjoys spending his time camping.

With its many state and national parks, Texas offers a number of camping locations. When heading into the wild for an unforgettable camping experience, consider these spots:

Big Bend National Park
Encompassing over 260,000 acres of desert, Big Bend National Park stretches across over 110 miles adjacent to the Rio Grande. The park features a number of remote, primitive camping sites located at 1,800 feet in elevation or above. The area is known for its many archaeological sites and diverse animal inhabitants.

Padre Island National Seashore
Another site for primitive camping, the Padre Island National Seashore is located along 75 miles of seashore on the Gulf Coast. While spending time on the remote beaches, you can kayak on the water, fish in the Gulf, or bike around Padre Island.

Big Thicket National Preserve
Each year, the Big Thicket National Preserve draws thousands of visitors who wish to experience a primitive camping experience. With very few park roads, campers must travel by horseback, canoe, bicycle, or foot to establish their camping sites among the preserve’s close to 100,000 acres.

The 2015 Sugar Land Turkey Trot

Experienced sales executive Mark Seilkop has owned and operated Texas Industrial Sales for the last five years. Outside of work, Mark Seilkop frequently participates in local running events, including the annual Sugar Land Turkey Trot.

This Thanksgiving morning, Finish Line Sports will host the 30th annual Sugar Land Turkey Trot. Sponsored by Memorial Hermann Surgical Hospital First Colony, ASICS, Finish Line Sports, and Dr. Tom Arnold of Today’s Vision, his year’s event aims to draw a record 2,000 participants. The Turkey Trot will begin with the Sean Scroggins Memorial Kids Mile, followed by a five-mile race in which 13,000 runners are expected to compete. There will also be a 2.8-mile Walk & Jog for those who wish to participate noncompetitively. Prior to the event, Finish Line Sports will host practice runs on October 8 and November 5.

During registration, participants can donate to 13 nonprofit organizations, including the National Park Foundation, the MD Anderson Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Fund, and Cherish Our Children International. On the day of the race, Turkey Trot attendees are encouraged to bring shoes, warm clothing, and nonperishable food to support the East Fort Bend Human Needs Ministry.                            

Purdue Professor Designs Cooling System for High-performance Aircraft

Drawing on more than 25 years of experience in the engineered products and services industry, Mark Seilkop has represented manufacturers through Texas Industrial Sales since 2010. In addition to his professional background in sales, Mark Seilkop earned his bachelor of science in mechanical engineering from Purdue University.

The Purdue University College of Engineering has been widely regarded among the top engineering research programs in the nation. Since the school’s first engineering degree was granted in 1878, Purdue alumni have produced countless innovations across various disciplines. Recently, Issam Mudawar, a professor in the School of Mechanical Engineering, added another achievement to the list with the development of an innovative cooling system for high-performance aircraft.

Rather than relying on traditional air-cooling from engine compressors, which becomes too hot to operate at supersonic speeds, Mudawar’s heat exchanger design utilizes the aircraft’s own fuel to cool the engine. In addition being lightweight and compact, the design allows for flexible configurations for various engine requirements.

Mudawar states the technology would be especially useful for the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy, both of which regularly work with high-performance aircraft travelling at supersonic speeds. The design has since been patented though the university’s Office of Technology Commercialization.