 |
Presented By
|
|
|
FACES & PLACES 
|
 The Chamber's EVP Economic Development, Brandom Gengelbach, and Mayor Betsy Price cheer on nearly 1,400 attendees at the State of the City address last Tuesday. Brandom recorded the crowd shouting, "We love Fort Worth!" for a new video promoting the #FortWorthNow upcoming event at SXSW March 13 and 14.
To view photos of the State of the City event, click here.
Photo credit: Glen Ellman
|
Bowling for dollars: Francie Cooper at the Tarrant Area Food Bank has moved ahead of Gary, Anderson and Bradley in the Cooper Hall of Fame with this giveaway. A VIP ticket for two readers to the 2018 Empty Bowls fundraiser March 7 at Will Rogers Memorial Center. Empty Bowls fills the bowls of north Texans facing hunger. Every purchased admission provides at least 325 meals. Great chefs from the finest kitchens will prepare sumptuous soups and delightful desserts and there are thousands of keepsake bowls to purchase from various artisans. Some celeb ones, too, including bowls autographed by Pudge Rodriquez, Jamie Dixon, Betty Buckley, Michael Martin Murphey, chefs Grady Spears, Jon Bonnell, Keith Hicks, Kevin Martinez and Terry Chandler, The Royal Chef, Darren McGrady, and Cliburn gold medalist Vadym Kholodenko.
Only could be better if Pink would sing: Texas Health Resources has mobile resources throughout the community; Mr. B hisownself gets checked annually for prostate cancer. For women, there is no greater godsend than The Kupferle Health Board of the Texas Health Resources Foundation. It presents the Puttin' on the Pink luncheon and proceeds benefit mobile health outreach to underserved women. Support includes digital screening mammograms, breast diagnostic procedures, well-woman exams and cervical cancer screenings, colon cancer screenings and cardiovascular risk assessments. Fashion, food and friendship come together March 27 at the Fort Worth Convention Center and the Foundation's J.R. Holland sent over a seat for two readers.
 Agronomy in B2B? Don Armstrong was an agronomist, a green thumb if ever there were one. He was course superintendent at Colonial Country Club and then a consultant for course designers, including Byron Nelson. On September 14, 2005, his life changed when he was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia. "I knew it was cancer," he says, "but that was about it." He endured five rounds of chemo over an eight-month period before a successful stem cell transplant on May 12, 2006. "My new 'birthday' and my second chance at life. On that day I became a survivor!" And a volunteer for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, a speaker and eventually an author. "I wrote 'Finish Your Race' to share the extraordinary lessons and strategies I learned while my life was on the line. What I learned isn't just for cancer patients ..." Don autographed a hardcover copy of his book for two readers.
Change can be good: Mr. B has written before about the greatness of the seminars led by John Wright of Simple Leadership Strategies. John has testimonials (legit ones, with first and last names!) from tons of local people, even one from the grave. Mr. B's favorite testimonial, and most intriguing, was from former Clayton Youth Enrichment executive director Frankie McMurrey. "Your presentation was excellent and thoroughly enjoyed by everyone. I must say your impressions of Dean Martin were the highlight of the evening." John will bring the Rat Pack and his one-hour micro workshop Creating Meaningful & Lasting Change to your workplace for as many employees as you'd like.
Congratulations to the February 21st Prize Winners:
- Carlo Capua, Z's Cafe and Catering
- Sandi Mitchell, Apex Leadership Mastery
- Lauren Robbins, Pinstripes
- Tina Hearne, Tina Hearne Realtors
- Brandon Brewer, Republic Title
- Tracey Georges, Transwestern
- Melanie Wilson, Cancer Care Services
- Michael Davis, Go Higher Internet Marketing
- Chuck Bouligny, Ascend Concepts
- John Schissler, Chicken Salad Chick
- Maureen Maidlow, Lee Johnson Capital Management
|
|
|
HE SAID, SHE SAID, THEY SAID
|
|
This could be dangerous:
Susan James of SOS Merchant Services and Dane Young the Credit Card Guy have guarantees they can beat your rate or will pay you $500. Mr. B hopes the two companies never compete for the same retailer.
On the Doc-ket: Until somebody else comes up with $80-to-$100 million, Mr. B is claiming half the naming rights to the Chancellor B and Mr. B School of Medicine at TCU and UNTHSC. The medical mecca is due to open in 2019. Five thousand applications are expected, with approximately 300 admission interviews scheduled for an inaugural class of 60.
 And the dogs, the cats and ...:
Ben Wallace, a co-founder of Site Barricades (pictured at right), the Chamber's 2018 Emerging Small Business of the Year, said, "We would not be here (the winner) without our families and key employees ... well, all employees."
Move along, nothing here: Fort Worth Business Press
Editor Robert Francis recently wrote about his grandfather Ralph's business, Lowe's Trailers and Wrecking Yard. Mr. B asked if he were the Ralph of noted Fort Worth philanthropists Ralph and Mary Lowe, and if so, why was Robert even working. "
I once asked when I was at TCU and I think there might be a connection," he said. "Not in terms of bank accounts, but I think they were from east Texas and a lot of my grandfather's family had relatives there."
This is what I want, find it:
Chris Handy of ThinkHandy works with sales and marketing teams to enhance their online presence and sales. He says Apple (with Google to follow) has Business Chat in development and it would allow businesses to connect directly with customers. Chris says we are fast becoming a consumer-demand purchaser rather than a whatever-retail-supplies buyer.
What we say we want: An online poll of 454 respondents by six Chambers, including Fort Worth, Dallas and Arlington, should give voters and legislators an idea what businesses in Texas are thinking.
- If money is not an object, business leaders favor investments in schools, infrastructure, transportation and workforce development. There is concern that public schools do not graduate post-secondary and work-ready students. Businesses also are in favor of public-private toll roads.
- The debate last session over transgender bathrooms and the inability to resolve immigration is negatively affecting businesses.
- Chamber members overwhelming say Texas' economy is on the right track.
- More than 75 percent of respondents say NAFTA has helped Texas businesses overall
The poll can be accessed here.
|
"I have the best job at the company ... and the best seat."
-- Brick Wilson, test pilot
Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company
|
This is the life, so not too rapid: Rapid Recovery Center on Oakmont is about to open and it is so classy and comfortable that it might be worth getting injured so you can rehab there for an extended stay. The lobby is similar to a golf lodge.
 Emerging education: Eugene Giovannini, Chancellor of the Tarrant County College District, says he has worked in seven states and "I'm not wanted in any of them." He was a bit more serious talking higher education and the workforce during a Fort Worth Business Press breakfast last week:
- Plano got the Toyota plant; Tarrant County College got the training contract. Students will graduate with $60,000 jobs.
- 87 percent of TCC grads stay in Fort Worth.
- There's 4.1 percent unemployment, but six million jobs unfilled because of a lack of skill sets.
- 75 percent of the next 13 million jobs created will demand a college education.
Emerging education 2: Tarleton State University officially broke ground yesterday for its Fort Worth campus off Chisholm Trail Parkway. The initial building will have room for 2,500 students when it opens in 2019 and 2,000 spots already are filled. At the same time, Tarleton is working with Tarrant County College's Trinity River campus for 30,000 square feet of space for nursing and other students.
Early morning blues: "Nothing makes my day like waking up and reading a headline that questions whether Fort Worth is a drag on North Texas' bid for Amazon's headquarters (Dallas Morning News)," said Robert Sturns, Fort Worth's Economic Development Director. "I hate to read it, but for us to put our head in the sand and not realize we have some challenges is a mistake."
Such a jokester: Mayor Price Is Right said, "Someone told me, 'Betsy, you are exhausting. I can't keep up with you.' That was my husband, Tom. We've been married 46 years."
|
Date Event Name
|
|
|
FORT WORTH: ENERGIZED FOR THE FUTURE
|
The Chamber's 200-page coffee table book tells the story of our city's remarkable growth and opportunity. This hardcover book highlights Fort Worth's people, companies and diverse culture through richly photographed pages.
Coffee table books are only $25 right now! Get yours today from our eCommerce store
here. They make great gifts for guests, speakers or staff members. Email
Katie Kassler or call 817-338-3377 with questions.
See our other publications in our
online store.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
