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Presented By
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FACES & PLACES 
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To say last month's business after hours was a success would be an understatement. The sold out event at
Cendera Center specifically highlighted the
Chamber's Small Business of the Year
Finalists (view finalist pictures
here) and also provided ample time for members-only networking, cocktails and hors d'oeuvres. Should you know, see or encounter any of our finalists linked above, please congratulate them!
L to R: Melissa & Anthony Mettier,
Skin Deep Laser MD, LLC, one of the finalists.
View more pics from the event here and a variety of Chamber events, click
here.
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 Artfully done: Jan Norton is well known and highly regarded as a mentor and investor with entrepreneurial startups. About three years ago, she and son Charles Norton started a business theirownselves -- Authentic Fort Worth Sights & Scenes. By bus, by foot or by bike, these regularly scheduled or private tours truly are Authentic, including the (real) ghost tour, walkabouts downtown or in the Cultural District, and a revival of the historical sightseeing bus tour. The Cultural District two-hour tour highlights the work of four architects in three museums that make up Amon Carter's dream of an arts center. You and three footmen will get an arts education.
What's your pleasure? Valentine's Day isn't only about flowers and chocolates and guys wondering who thunk up this day. It is the busiest season for toys, at least adult ones. 2017 brings new gifts to from Marcelle LeBlanc, owner of four The Velvet Box stores. She has two sweetheart gifts for B2B Insider readers: First is the Oprah-featured, No. 1-selling toy, the WE-Vibe Sync. Another reader will win three pair of Hanky Panky underwear; designer Gale Epstein took embroidered handkerchiefs and turned them into lingerie.
Petal to the medal: Valentine's Day actually was concocted by Coco Flora in 1816 and is the No. 1 event in annual chocolate and florist sales. Flora's WANTED poster is used as a dartboard in every men's grill in the U.S. Gordon Boswell Flowers helps you temper that hate, men. Erica Ashinhurst has Valentine's Day roses and a spa basket for you to deliver to your bestie and act like you thought it up yourownself. GBF even has gift packages for men, including Texas Traditions, Brunch and Health Nut baskets. If you couples want to stay happy, it's best to engage Gordon Boswell Flowers...early.
Who is that Grouch? The B family is growing. Grandaughter BamBino has a seven-week-old baby brother, BamBoozled. BamBoozled is drinking and sleeping to Bert, Ernie, Abby, Big Bird, Grover and Hoots and will be Sesame Streetwise by three months. Perhaps you have kids or grandkids that are addicted to chocolate chip Cookie Monster? Perhaps you're still addicted in season 47 of the PBS show? jimaustinonline.com has four tickets and a VIP parking pass to the jimaustinonline suite at Verizon Theater for the Friday Feb. 17 10:30 a.m. if your kid(s) can be dropouts for a day.
Once upon a time...: The Brothers Grimm most frequently are credited with the story of Rapunzel in 1812 ... "Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair." Theirs was a takeoff, and many versions have been written and "played" out during the years since. None more charming than the Casa Mañana Theatre version, Rapunzel: A Very Hairy Fairy Tale. In this musical adaption, handsome Sir Roderick and his hairdressing sidekick, Edgar, search for true love and the perfect head of hair. Lindsey Rushen rushed over a family four pack of tickets for the 7 p.m. Friday Feb. 10 show.
Congratulations to January 25th Prize Winners:
- Karen Ryan, Four Thirds Creative
- Ralinda Owens, John Askew Company
- John Porhamer, Cowtown Insurance
- Levi Cowsert, Lockheed Martin
- Donnie Boivin, Sandler Training
- Bill Fairley, WWK Wealth Advisors
- Mary Sharpe, Buzz Custom Fence
- Clyde Steelman, Education Service Center
- Rhonda Taylor, Congressman Joe Barton
- Pamela Robison, National Cutting Horse Association
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HE SAID, SHE SAID, THEY SAID
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Taxing discussion: At the start of her presentation at the Business Assistance Center, Susan Roberts, a Principal with accounting firm CLA Fort Worth, showed an Internal Revenue Service lapel badge/button that reads: "We're not happy until you're not happy." She forecast what some of the Trump administration's potential legislation could mean and offered too many tax tips to mention. One thing appears certain: the seven tax rates now will be reduced to just three, probably 33, 25 and 12 percent.
Tax ax: B2B Insider Picture of the Week sponsor Southland Property Tax Consultants projects higher tax valuations in 2017 because of increasing occupancies and rental rates, and a number of record-breaking commercial real estate sales. Mr. B taxed President Mike Flynn for some stats about the value of a protest. During the past five years, his Southland numbers show a 94 percent success rate with an average reduction of 21 percent. The Chamber even uses Mike to negotiate cuts in Mr. B's pay.
He has that certain IT: Glen Sutphin, Director of Western Region for KLA Labs, says the company has been in the Information Technology (IT) business 87 years. Wonder what IT was like in 1930?
 Pulling her weight: Laura Gonzales, who heads a Merrill Lynch Wealth Management team, works with her father, who has 41 years of experience. "Between us, we have 46 years," she said, laughing.
What's his deal? According to Vinnie Mirchandani, technology consultant and futurist, changing technology is accelerating faster than the demand for it. He says change is not happening as quickly as Silicon Valley believes. Mirchandani, was the guest at the TCU Neeley School of Business Tandy Speaker Series. In addition:
- Because we can't keep track of all the newfangled tech availabilities, IBM's Watson will do it for us.
- His research of practitioners says automation makes workers safer, smarter and speedier. He highly disputes predictions of 25-50 percent job loss.
- He says businesses should evaluate every nook and cranny of their operations for potential digitization ... and the process should be repeated every five years.
If you're happy and you know it...: Many Leads Group members donate "happy dollars" for good things happening with their business life. Some offer them as IOUs. No stats on the percent of those collections.
High-flying doc: Sean Roden, M.D. at The Emergency Center, was a flight surgeon with the NASA program from 2002-2008 and returned to assist the space cadets through a University of Texas Medical Branch program in 2013.
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"We're passionate about IT; we Kung Fu it!"
--
President Steve Meek,
The Fulcrum Group
A Chamber Small Business of Year finalist
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You have to see it to believe it: The Lighthouse for the Blind of Fort Worth has introduced Optical Lab Services. That's right, your reading glasses did not lead you astray. The lab technicians and opticians -- sighted and visually impaired -- are producing prescription eyeglasses and prescriptive safety eyewear.
Not in stores ... yet: Renfro Foods is showcasing at food expos a Craft Beer Salsa made with a Texas lager produced in Fort Worth.
 Tools that work: Klein Tools moved from Illinois to Mansfield in 2010. Could have gone anywhere in the world. So it's no surprise that Chairman Thomas R. Klein Sr. supports President Trump's efforts and means to keep businesses in the U.S. "What he (Trump) is doing doesn't really affect us because we weren't trying to outsource in the first place," Klein told a Dallas business publication. "But to the extent that he is successful in bringing more jobs to the U.S., that's going to help a lot."
Steely resolve to succeed: In 1992, Mike Steele helped set the groundwork for nonprofit Communities In Schools of Greater Tarrant County. In May, the founding President and CEO will retire after being honored at CIS' 25th anniversary gala. CIS is steel-fortified for success with new CEO Lindsey Garner, the current chief operations officer. During her five years at CIS, she has done about everything except drive a school bus.
Hola! Mi Casita Fort Worth, a Spanish immersion pre-school, should open this summer. It advertises as the first early education program in Fort Worth to combine total Spanish immersion language learning, project-based learning and community engagement. It was founded by Fort Worth-native Melissa Page and can accommodate approximately 120 students from 15 months to five years.
Just wondering: Would you rather be super as Tom Brady or Gisele Bündchen?
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MARK YOUR CALENDARS
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Date Event Name
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FREE MAGAZINES/RELOCATION GUIDES AVAILABLE!!
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 Our Fort Worth relocation guides are free for members, expanding companies, hospitals, hotels and realtors who would like to come by and pick them up (no shipping charge). Up to 100 copies per member. Email
Christine Gores or call 817-338-3332 to schedule pick up.
See our other publications in our
online store.
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