Presented By
FACES & PLACES POW                                                                                  
Tag teaming during the Real Estate Council of Greater Fort Worth's annual Forecast event at Casa MaƱana, the Chamber's Brandom Gengelbach and City of Fort Worth's economic development Director Robert Sturns explained the alignment of the two organizations' strategic plans to work together to promote Fort Worth growth. Go here to see a PDF of the presentation.
 
PRESS YOUR LUCKPrizes
Click on the links below to enter for prizes

Fly-by-night: Here are just three of the reasons you should try to win this unbelievably fun, incredible, mesmerizing, addicting iFly Spread Your Wings package for two courtesy of Dwight Miller. 1) During skydiving, even indoors, your brain works according to your state of mind. Fear? The brain slows everything down. Excited? The brain speeds the dive up. 2) Skydiving is good for your back muscles and your flexibility. It has been described as "sky yoga."  3) Mentally, make that dive and research says that the "fear" gene is ratcheted down. A meeting with the boss no longer is a potential nightmare. So, take flight and enter to be suspended in space. 

True Masters: Michael Wheaton, who ensures that you're well covered with Wortham Insurance, is kind of a putterer in his own Mikey's Garage. He has a garage full of individual clubs and golf sets that he tinkers with. He is a volunteer coach with The First Tee of Fort Worth and has provided clubs to kids. The First Tee of Fort Worth impacts the lives of young people up to 18 by providing participation in its Life Skills Curriculum and Nine Core Values through the game of golf. These kids learn to play, are better students and receive life enhancing values that encourage leadership, build character, foster community service and promote wellness. Here is the cart path to get a kid started -- a free week of Life Skills Golf Camp during spring break or summer sessions.

Homewood bound
: Those of you paying attention know Mr. B is planning his retirement living at the Homewood Suites Fort Worth - Medical District. The Prospective Ms. B is balking, though she is intrigued by lots of neighbors that are young, rich doctors. The Suites' monthly one-price fits all covers all. Included are suites, beds, pillows, sheets, daily cleaning service, Wi-Fi, HD TVs, complimentary breakfasts, cocktail receptions with appetizers Sunday-Thursday, a pool, a putting green, BBQ grills and on and on. You should check it out with this night's stay. If enough of us retire there, we could have a Leads Group.

Ice pick: Normally, the early bird gets the worm; this time the early bird got wormed. Mr. B had written an uproariously, Four-Day Weekend funny giveaway about The Leisure Seeker movie weekend Feb. 16-18 at Magnolia at The Modern. Now it seems The Leisure Seeker is taking its leisurely time getting here and The Modern's Kendal (jump in the) Lake says I, Tonya will play two weekends instead of one. For those of you that don't remember 1994 so well, Tonya Harding was one of the top two female ice skaters in the world, the first woman to complete a triple axel. Nancy Kerrigan was the other great skate. But Tonya's team had a sure-fire way to win Olympic gold. Expertly timed to this year's Winter Olympics, Kendal has a pair of tickets for three readers to skate in free.  


Congratulations to the January 17th Prize Winners:
  • Bridget Shelton, Embassy Suites
  • Marisa Medina, Lockheed Martin
  • Missi Cowart, Catholic Charities
  • Susan Derstine, Cornerstone Assistance Center
  • Jan Riggins, Express Employment Professionals
  • Peter Lindsay, Sproles Woodard
  • Pat Aspan, Aspan Contruction
  • Jason Duling, Johnson Controls
  • Lei Testa, Averett Financial
  • Carolyn Phillips, Alchemy Pops
  • Tyler Emler, United Way of Tarrant County
  • Nathan Davis, Aspen Wealth Management
  • Jason Ray, Clayton Youth Enrichment
  • Lauren Albrect, Paychex
GOLD SPONSORS


HE SAID, SHE SAID, THEY SAIDSoundBytes
What should Congress do? Please take our short three-minute poll to give us feedback for our federal issues agenda and April DFW advocacy trip to Washington,D.C. 

Since you put it like that...
: Census estimates are that Fort Worth gains about 21,000 people a year. That's like adding a Southlake AND Grapevine every four years.
 
S_O_ analysis: What were seven strengths and opportunities that consulting firm Tip Strategies found while doing the City of Fort Worth's strategic plan? 1) This is the leading job growth metro area in the country. 2) Fort Worth has the fastest growing population the last 15 years, which means a larger talent pool. 3) AllianceTexas. 4) Central Business District. 5) The growing downtown residential population attracts businesses downtown. 6) A medical, healthcare, life sciences innovation district within the Near Southside. 7) Uber Elevate working with local companies.  

Cookie monsters: Cyndy Tonniges of TriQuest Technologies and Evan Eastman of Spectrum are die-hard Girl Scout cookie lovers. Last year, Evan chased down a car with a GS bumper sticker to make an additional order. Cyndy freezes boxes to "save for the long months of drought." Thin mints remain No. 1 in sales, at about 24 percent.

Green answer to brown grocery bags? Pepper Sims at Pepper L Specialties is touting a new promotional item -- a washable paper bag. It's a Kraft Paper tote bag with 21-inch handles. It's paper but looks and feels like leather and is washable ... but dry flat.

A tax break for self employed? Accountants are telling Mr. B that there is a benefit in the new tax plan for self-employed folks. If you are an LLC or become one and file as an S Corp, you can take advantage of the 20 percent pass-through deduction "as long as you meet all the other criteria to take it. Those criteria are quite complex," said Susan Roberts, a Principal at CliftonLarsonAllen. She has tons of other tips to dole out as the presenter during a free breakfast at the Business Assistance Center next Wednesday morning.

@Work or @Play? Last week, Mr. B received entries within seconds from six different employees at @Work, one of the few companies that offers staffing AND executive recruiting. "One of your giveaways got mentioned in our staff meeting that morning and everyone was interested," said Jonathan Jenswold, who has grown the company to seven employees. He says he is looking at an opportunity to expand to Dallas.

"Every time you eat a cheeseburger at the airport, it helps keep your flight prices lower."

-- Casey Norton,
VP of Corporate Communications
D/FW International Airport 
One-stop shop and repair: Handyman Matters is showing franchisees such as Brett Jefferys that they matter. It has aligned with suppliers and offers franchisees the opportunity to drive revenues. Vendors that provide backsplashes, pet doors, rustic and reclaimed wood wall products, shower doors, onyx bath systems and more are partnering to offer franchisees manufacturer pricing.

Cry me a river: East Fort Worth's Riverbend Bank is re-named Spectra Bank. The bank will open a second location during March in Dallas, according to veep Shauna Gheen, and didn't believe Riverbend reflected the broader geography of the bank.

Kudos: Juan Hernandez, a retired Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) specialist in international livestock marketing, was awarded the 2018 W.A. "Bill" King Award at the Stock Show and Rodeo's Livestock Appreciation Day luncheon at Will Rogers Memorial Center. His 40 years of "sophisticated genetics programs and marketing initiatives bred un-matched success for Texas cattle producers and breeders as they met increasing demand from an expanding global market." King founded the Farm & Ranch Club in 1950. A humbled Hernandez said, "I've always tried to do as my father, Manuel, told me: 'If you do a job for someone, do it well.'" 

Coming soon: Details on Mr. B's GoFundMe page for the Chamber's fall trip (Oct. 20-29) to South Africa. Click here for details.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
Sponsored By

            Date          Event NameCalendar
2-1


WIN: Coffee and Conversation, Presented By University of Texas at Arlington College of Business
2-20


State of the City Address, Presented By Southwest Bank







Vision FW (For participants ages 40 and under)
1-25


YP Night at the Rodeo, Presented By University of Texas at Arlington College of Business
1-31


Ladies Book Club
2-2


YP Wake UP! Bi-Monthly Coffee







Ribbon Cuttings







View more Chamber and Member events
View past Ribbon Cuttings    

FREE MAGAZINE/RELOCATION GUIDE AVAILABLE! resources
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). One box (120 copies!) per member.

To preview a digital copy, go here.

Email Christine Gores or call 817-338-3332 to schedule pickup or for more information. See more of our publications in our online store.

For sponsorship inquiries, contact Jennifer Vuduris or call (817) 338-3335

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