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FACES & PLACES POW                                                                                  
FWInc. pulled out the stops for a recent Business After Hours at the magazine's W. Camp Bowie offices. Two food stations, a bar, a patio and live entertainment - who could ask for more? David Fishel, Higginbotham (left) and Gary Goldston, Northwestern Mutual (right) were among those connecting with 200 other professionals and business owners. Let Teresa Pearson know if you'd like to show off your digs and host this event. 

See more pics from the event on our gallery here.   View additional pics from other  Chamber photo galleries here.  



PRESS YOUR LUCKPrizes
Click on the links below to enter for prizes

Art of the deal: How did MAIN ST. Arts Festival evolve into greatness? How did it become the nation's greatest collection of non-museum art on Fort Worth's aptly named (after the festival, of course) Main St.? Well, it seems that waaay, waaay back in 1957, Jay Downie and friends had a Main St. Etch-a-Sketch birthday party. Over the course of 60 years, Jay still is celebrating birthdays with friends and producing art on Main St. Presented by Downtown Fort Worth Inc. April 20-23, this intersection of the creative and crafty, music and munchies, officially welcomes spring to Fort Worth. Claire (The Law) Armstong at Pavlov holstered two admission passes for one night of your choice in the prime, elevated VIP Skybox overlooking the UT-Arlington stage. Also included are noshing and one drink ticket per person. (There is a cash bar.) 

Pedal pushers: Vicki Peden has been going 'round and 'round trying to get her cycles ensconced in a built-from-ground-up spot at 129 W. Leuda, across from a brewery that also knows a thing or two about partying. Vicki owns Cowtown Cycle Party, with daily rides powered by friends pedaling through downtown Fort Worth. The Make New Friends Mixer Tours are three times a week and Vicki pedaled over herownself with two spots on a BYOB Cycle Party Mixer Tour. Fresh air, exercise and fun without any im-Peden-ments!

No evil dreams this night: With subtext provided by Arthur O'Shaughnessy's poem Ode, choirs at the Texas Center for Arts + Academics present Dreamers of Dreams. The 7 p.m. April 21 concert "will take you on a voyage of vocal majesty, full of twists and turns, and constructed amidst meaningful storytelling through song." For whom the Katoiya Bell tolls has provided a family four-pack of tickets for two readers.

Margaritas are Oro: Mr. B was fired -- one of eight times -- during a fabulosa Fiesta de Oro annual party Lena Pope throws at Joe T. Garcia's. The back story: Mr. B sold "flowers" for $10; each corresponded to a prize with a value of a minimum $25. Mr. B sold a flower and celebrated with a margarita.  Mr. B sold another flower and celebrated with a margarita. At this point, a tipsy Mr. B gave away the flowers. Wheeeeee! Needless to say, this is a potent patio party, with food, too, and Keegan at Lena Pope played her Hand with two tickets for the April 25 celebration. Lena Pope does most everything possible to help with the behavioral health needs of children and families. 

Congratulations to April 5th Prize Winners:
  • Missi Cowart, Catholic Charities
  • Randy Landers, Speed Fab-Crete
  • Sarah Walls, Cantey Hanger
  • Debbie Witherspoon, Trinity River Vision Authority
  • Amber Fogelman, Texas Health-Harris Methodist Hospital
  • Michael Wheaton, Lucien Wright
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HE SAID, SHE SAID, THEY SAIDSoundBytes
Everything is better with bacon: Tarrant County's Community Development & Housing group houses itsownself on the second floor of the Ol' South Pancake House. "It smells like bacon every morning," said assistant director Marguerite Jones. "Pancakes and coffee aren't sent up, but we frequently go down for pie."

What are these teens cooking up? Students from the South Hills High School Culinary Arts classes have been getting hands-on training in the kitchen and serving areas at Bethesda Gardens Assisted Living and Memory Care Community. Bethesda's chef, Jeff (never a) Glitch, has hosted since January two classes two days a week. Sous chefs who haven't burned anything at the end of April can apply for a job. 

A big tipper: Robert Curtis, Director of Consulting Services for The Fulcrum Group, a 2017 Chamber Small Business of the Year, is all about the customer experience. Curtis is tony with tips: "1) Mediocre service never is remembered; 2) customers want more for less; 3) they want it now; and 4) when you raise the bar, it raises their expectations." 

Spirit of sharing: One of Catholic Charities' social enterprise programs, a translation service, generated approximately $700,000 last year. It is so successful that it was "franchised" to the Chicago Catholic Charities.

Today Texas, tomorrow Alabama: Spring storms lead to roof repairs and potential rip-offs. Shaw Insurance namesake Susan suggests being wary of a company with magnetic signage on its vehicles. 

Behar brewed: Howard Behar, long-time chief of operations and then president of THE global coffeehouse chain, told TCU Neeley Executive Speakers Series attendees that because of the dark roast, "people called us Charbucks." Other Behar thoughts:
  • On pay with startups, "it's not the cash, it's the equity."
  • On education, "what you need to be best at is being a good human being."
  • On founder / chairman Howard Schultz, "he is like most entrepreneurs. New idea every day. Tough. Unpredictable."
  • On success, "I'd like to tell you we were brilliant. We weren't. We listened to our people and our customers."

" We're changing (how we do) everything and the future is wide open." 

                                                --  Naomi Byrne, President
Fort Worth Housing Solutions

Peru? What's knew? As a young brat, Son NoBGood threw a fit when he had to give up his sleeping quarters -- the back seat of the Rio -- whenever his grandparents visited. How things change. Last year, he and the Better half traipsed through the forests in Peru and slept outdoors four nights. Accommodations are better if you join the Chamber on its trip to Peru Oct. 23-31. There is a daily breakfast and a few other meals. Airfare, rooms and most every fee are included. Tours and guides, too. Go here for all the details. 

Family Feud? Chamber
member QCS Unlimited is among the panelists in a multi-generational, family business discussion April 20. The free breakfast discussion at the Business Assistance Center is being moderated by Stevie of Stevie Dawn Inspires.

She must be a saint:
There's no accounting for the diverse interests of Neil Barrow, the business development numbers guy at Whitley Penn. His wife, Morgan, seems the one left taxed. Neil is a chili enthusiast, studying to be a certified cicerone (beer server) and attempts to watch all 162 Texas Rangers regular season games.

Old, but Modern: Happy Mr. B-day to the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, which turns 125 April 25. It is celebrating April 22 with free admission and other freebies. Approaching Storm, 1875, by George Inness, the first artwork purchased for the museum's permanent collection, will be on view. 

Reining in the sights: Sharon Kidd says Hickman Companies has been in the Fort Worth Stockyards a year now and "I just today discovered there is a permanent resident in the barns nobody ever has mentioned. A real reindeer!" Sharon since has learned there are occasional camel and kangaroo visits. "I believe everybody now knows to inform me of any new livestock," she said.

Wheels on the bus: During the Chamber's Job Links last week, the ever-expanding Fort Worth Transportation Authority said it is looking to hire 60 drivers.  

Angelic and artistic: Dale Brock, owner of a Visiting Angels franchise in Fort Worth and a board member of the Arts Council of Fort Worth and Tarrant County, has been appointed chair of the Texas Commission on the Arts. 
MARK YOUR CALENDARSResources
Presented By

NEW 2017 BOOK OF LISTS AVAILABLE NOW!Resources
The 2017 Book of Lists have arrived in our office!  Compiled and published annually by the Fort Worth Business Press, this directory includes lists of top companies in more than 60 industries in Tarrant and Denton counties.

Order a copy for only $95 (members only) from our eCommerce store here. Email Christine Gores or call 817-338-3332 with questions. 

See our other publications in our   online store.
For sponsorship inquiries, contact Jennifer Vuduris or call (817) 338-3335


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