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Presented By
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FACES & PLACES 
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The
Chamber's
Annual Meeting, presented by Frost, was a success with more than 800 attendees at the Omni Fort Worth Hotel last week. Keynote speaker Bob Hess emphasized the importance of defining the Fort Worth brand and collaboration between schools and businesses when developing a workforce that is attractive to employers. Pictured (L to R): Chris Strayer,
Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce
; Robert Hess, Newmark Knight & Frank.
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Runways & raffles:
Mr. B, in a gesture of goodwill, volunteered to judge for a fairly large fee the May 9 Project Goodwill competition at the Omni Fort Worth Hotel. It's a great event benefiting Goodwill Industries, with a dinner, silent auction, fashion show and awards presentation. Dollars raised support the Goodwill thrift stores and the employment and training for those disabled or disadvantaged. Fashion design students and professional designers are tasked with fashioning wearable garments using $100 worth of unconventional materials from local Goodwill stores and presenting those looks in a runway show during the event. PR pro Liz Confiliano dressed B2B Insider with two tickets.
You would at Homewood: Favored roomie-master, Kelly Case of Homewood Suites Hotel by Hilton Fort Worth / Medical Center, was talking recently about the splurge in new hotels and hotel rooms is good for all. She says the competition for her suites spot is more likely from Airbnb than other hotels. But what it doesn't have, Homewood has. Large rooms with large beds and larger TVs. Fresh linens daily. Business work stations. A pool, putting green and barbecue grills. Happy hours with complimentary food and drink Sundays through Thursdays. It's been a long time between holidays with family; Kelly has made her Case to use this one-night staycation, which is good through June.
I could GROW to love this: Mr. B is sure he doesn't understand all the ramifications of the "GROW" collaboration between the Fort Worth Botanic Garden and the Botanical Research Institute of Texas (BRIT). He thinks it's similar to when his Sprengeri and Purple Wandering Jew grow together. Together they are better. GROW offers meaningful experiences through education and volunteer opportunities that enrich personal growth, plant appreciation and planet sustainability. BRIT's Katherine (Soup) Campbell sent over a one-year membership to GROW that includes Garden admission (starting July 2019), subscription to the GROW e-newsletter, subscription to Better Homes & Gardens or Martha Stewart Living magazine, reciprocal admission to 300+ gardens, including Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden, special invites to events, discounts at local nurseries, BRIT and Botanic Garden gift shops and plant sales, and discounts with Cultural District partners. Wow!
Drip...drip...drip: Mr. B first heard of Alpha Industries when COO Jason Scoggins won a giveaway for a high-end steakhouse on University. Mr. B looked it up; Alpha Industries was a fabrication shop. On April 1, Alpha Industries announced it was opening a second location in Pennsylvania (no foolin'). Again, Mr. B looked it up and the company described itself as Fort Worth's premier coffee roasting and processing equipment experts. "Ah, Jason, could you get some great coffee to give away?" Said Jason: "Sure B, how about $100 worth of a coffee assortment roasted at Mother Parker's Tea & Coffee?" Bet that perks you up.
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Congratulations to the April 17th
Prize Winners:
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Katia Gonzalez, Alliance for Children
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Dave O'Lenick, Sheraton Fort Worth
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Pat Aspan, Aspan Construction
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Kimberly Ball, Document Works
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Greg Alvarado, Spectrum Reach
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Justin Riddle, Elan River District
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Brenda Pereda, Interstate Restoration
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Cheri McDuff, UMB
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Elizabeth Northern, Tarrant County College
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Steve McCune, McCune Construction
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A WORD FROM OUR GOLD SPONSORS
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HE SAID, SHE SAID, THEY SAID
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OMG, I love him:
You may have heard or read the Fort Worth Public Library Foundation has a new President/CEO, Andrea Ash. What you might not have gleaned is her
significant other is a professional photographer, host/producer of a podcast called PurpleTalesPodcast and was in a purple dinosaur suit for 20 years. His name is Carey Stinson. And yes, he was the original Barney.
Michael Flatley...Redux:
Meet Jason Hayes, a recent hire with the Investor Relations team at the Chamber. Jason went to school, had a job, has this one last time Mr. B checked. What you really need to know, though, in his words: "I am one of the most accomplished Irish Step Dancers in the Southern Region USA, being the first dancer in the region's history to have won a World Championship. My list of accolades include twice World Champion, All-Ireland Champion, twice North American Champion, and 14-time undefeated Southern Regional Champion. I am now a certified Irish Dance teacher ...and I teach with the McTeggart School in North Richland Hills."
Who's the boss?
Don't think it was bring your daughter to work day, but Brent Russell of DPC Healthcare had 5-year-old Olivia in tow. She attended a Chamber leads group meeting, telling her dad that she "is training to be a boss." And she had the joke of the day. "What is a cow that's sleeping? 'A bulldozer.'"
Don't rat her out to the kids:
Marguerite Jones, who works for and makes Tarrant County proud, went to the new
Fort Worth Dream Park BEFORE her kids. "LOL! I did," she wrote. "It isn't far from my office and it was too pretty to stay inside. It was lovely and I will totally bring them by later. Nick will especially love the hot air balloon part and Zach will be climbing on just about everything."
Thinking of you:
John Porhamer, Cowtown Insurance and the guy "in the white hat," is having major health issues and could use your best thoughts.
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"People are drawn to authenticity and passion. Without a WHY, any attempt at authenticity is inauthentic."
--Jamey Ice, co-founder
Chamber Grand Forte winner 6th Ave Homes
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 Fabulous deal not as popular as free ... yet
: Trinity Metro's TEXRail ridership in March was 40,000, up 7,000 from February. During January, when rides were free, the number approached 100,000.
Helping hand:
Kristin Sullivan, Executive Director of the JPS Foundation, was doing research for a suicide prevention grant and shared an unexpected and sobering number. The Tarrant Medical Examiner says there were 267 suicides in 2017, the latest year reported, and 143 homicides.
Is this kosher?
For their non-traditional Passover Seder, the Prospective Ms. B gifted Mr. B a sign: "I love you more than BACON."
New name, same route: Trinity Metro
(TRE Link) has taken over operation from DFW International Airport the shuttle that connects CentrePort passengers with the airport. Re-painted TRE Link vehicles will operate every 30 minutes during weekdays.
Kudos:
Randy Landers, head of the Chamber's small business committee and director of business development for Speed Fab-Crete, is quite the Fellow. Literally. He has been elected to Design-Build Institute of America's inaugural College of Fellows, which honors 24 of the nation's most accomplished professionals. Honorees were selected based on input from industry peers and leaders.
Hugest kudos ever!
Lonnie Nicholson, President and CEO at EECU Credit Union and new Chair of the Chamber board, probably never has read B2B Insider. Mr. B? Who? So EECU Director of Social Responsibility & Community Investment, Barbara Walker, provided the perfect opportunity for Mr. B to raise his profile with new big boss Lonnie. Barbara sent info on how 350 EECU employees earlier this month made 4,000 P&B sandwiches in five hours. Then they delivered them for distribution via
Mission Arlington, 6 Stones, Boys & Girls Clubs and Presbyterian Night Shelter.
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Date Event Name
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FORT WORTH AND METRO AREA MAP!
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This four-color street map covers Tarrant County and includes a special inset indicating the location of the DFW International Airport in proximity to Fort Worth and Dallas. Grab your FREE copy of the 2019 version
here
, or email us to order multiple copies.
*Single copies are free, or bulk orders can be made in our
online store
!
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For sponsorship inquiries in
B2B Insider, contact
Jennifer Vuduris or call (817) 338-3335
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