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Oct. 25, 2007, 10:27 AM
Westchase District couple provides friendship to Chinese students, executives
Home-based business owners volunteers for UH's International Friendship Program
By KIM HUGHES
Chronicle Correspondent
Joe and Linda Stiles of the Westchase District each own their own home-based business. But together, they provide friendship to Chinese executives and students who come to Houston through a ministry program at their church, Second Baptist, 6400 Woodway.
"Linda is the professional speaker," said Joe Stiles about his wife of 19 years. "I'm the layman speaker. But it's really all about communication."
Linda is a corporate communication strategist who went into business for herself in 2002, after 12 years of communication/management experience with three Fortune 500 oil and gas corporations.
Now, Linda, who is a member of the National Speaker's Association, travels the world sharing her message of the importance of personal communication in the corporate world.
"I try to get people to realize that leadership is within your grasp," she said. "People say leaders are born. I don't believe that. Every single person has the ability to be a leader. If you want to change something, don't complain. Do something about it."
Joe has more than 20 years experience in the mortgage industry, including lending, management, sales and administration.
He began his own business as a personal mortgage banker about five years ago.
"At one time, we both had desks in the same office in our house," he said. "Not such a good thing. Then technology made it possible for us to convert another room into an extra office."
Working through Second Baptist, Linda and Joe open their home three or four times a year, spending three months at a time getting to know Chinese students and executives who come to Houston through the International Friendship Program at the University of Houston.
The Stiles teach their foreign friends about life and business in the United States.
"We've learned from them that they only know of Americans' lifestyles from what they've seen on the movies, and that isn't always very flattering," Joe said. "Our hope is to show them what life is really like in America and what the personalities of Americans really are. We invite them in our home, we have a burger over the grill, we talk about stuff: family, lives, politics, even kitchen utensils."
Linda said she enjoys chatting with the students about their business lives as well.
"You would be surprised the difference in management beliefs," she said. "In China, they are more apt to manage punitively. It's a punishment-based system, as opposed to managing correctively.
In the U.S., we have learned it's best to take a corrective approach to help employees improve, instead of punishing for non or poor performance."
The International Friendship Program, Linda said, is not a housing program. UH sponsors the visitors and provides them corporate apartments.
Jean Samples, co-director of the Friendship Family Program at Second Baptist, said the church works with UH, matching international scholars, students or professionals with a church family to serve as American friends during their stay in Houston.
"This gives our guests the opportunity to learn about the American lifestyle firsthand, as well as practice their conversational English," Samples said.
"We provide English/U.S. Culture classes as well as several group social activities."
Jean said she met Joe and Linda Stiles about eight years ago, and they contribute something very important to the ministry.
"They offer warmth, hospitality, and true love and appreciation for people from other countries" Samples said.
Play Audio Message from Joe Stiles
NEW! Click play and hear brief message from Joe Stiles.
Joe,
Thank you for holding our hands and leading the way during the sale and closing of our previous and current homes.
The entire process went smoother because of your expertise and patience.
