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FACES & PLACES 
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 John Chawner, President of Pointwise, said "owning a business is like asking to be punched in the face. This was a love tap." This was the announcement yesterday that Pointwise had won the 11-50 employee category of the Chamber's 2018 Small Business of the Year Award, presented by Independent Bank. Site Barricades was named top Emerging Business, The Paisley Heart was tops among 1-10 employees and BorrowWorks LLC won the 51-150 employee category. For the full story, click here. For photos, click here. For video of the mayor's speech, click here.
From left to right: Brooke Howerton, The Paisley Heart, LLC; John R. Chawner, Pointwise, Inc.; Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price; Barry Kromann, Independent Bank; Jeff Schuessler and Ben Wallace, Site Barricades; and Ben Gatzke, BorrowWorks, LLC.
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Don't ever change the lobster mac: The private e-mail received was to introduce the new menu at Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steak House. Mr. B receives them because he needs to know if there might be some new dishwashing techniques needed. He has a trade -- dishes for delights -- with the gracious and gregarious GM, Greg Kalina. Mr. B's first concern was potential menu changes (delisted at Del's?), especially of the lobster mac 'n cheese, the chocolate soufflé and the devilish drink, Del's Delight. Thankfully, all are safely ensconced in their rightful positions. The new menu appears to have more ... more appetizers, more fishys, more steaks, more sides and gobs of gluten-free. Greg has a dinner for two and if you win, notice how those dishes sparkle.
Isn't Sturns a rocker? The City of Fort Worth's Economic Development department and each of the Chamber's Area Councils have teamed for a tour of city officials to discuss the ED Strategic Plan. The tour is good, but not Bono or Bruno Mars good. The Central Area Council event is 5:30-7:30 p.m. March 1 at the Petroleum Club and features ED Director Robert Sturns and Roger Venables, who knows every piece of city property as if he personally platted it on a plotted map. Two readers can get a ticket to attend by entering; if you don't win, go here to register.
 Disney always is Fantasia-stic: Mr. B wasn't around in 1940 when Disney introduced animation and music together, so he asked Big Boss Bill Thornton about the original movie, Fantasia. Bill said his memory was more familiar with Fantasia 2000, which had celebrities introducing segments of animation and concert performances. March 9-11, the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra will perform "Disney FANTASIA." FWSO describes it as a "not-to-be missed, high-definition screening of scenes from Walt Disney's immortal films FANTASIA and FANTASIA 2000" as the symphony performs a live soundtrack to the visuals. Might even include Tchaikovsky's "The Nutcracker Suite." Also sweet are these two tickets to the Sunday 2 p.m. performance from the FWSO's Melanie (what the) Hecht.
Food, glorious food: This fabulosa food event is invitation-only, and the Original Ms. B is dishing up an invite for two to a B2B Insider. The Original -- Barbara Higbee -- manages the Community Kitchen for the Tarrant Area Food Bank. Its "App Party" is March 1 at 11:30 a.m. at 5th & Carroll Events -- on top of Blue Mesa Grill. These are appetizers, folks, not digital applications. Here are a few of the foodies featured at the last App Party -- Dr Pepper pulled-BBQ pork sliders, crispy bacon-wrapped, semi-boneless quail, grilled pork tenderloin with a grain mustard demi glaze, spinach- and feta-stuffed mushrooms, Old Bay salmon cakes, shrimp and Monterey Jack cheese grits, and finally, flourless chocolate brownie bites topped with Godiva chocolate liqueur mousse. You'll need the rest of the day off.
Is Trademark trademarked? Any of these sound familiar? Alliance Town Center. WestBend. Waterside. Victory Park in Dallas. Watters Creek in Allen. Hillside Village in Cedar Hill. All are part of the portfolio of developer Trademark Property. During 25 years of leadership from founder and CEO Terry Montesi, Trademark has worked on more than $2.5 billion and 11.8 million square feet of retail and mixed-use properties. Montesi will talk developments, conscious capitalism and stakeholder collaboration with TCU Neeley School of Business Dean (He's a Homer) Erekson March 6 during the Tandy Speaker Series breakfast. Get in on the ground floor with a seat at the Chamber's table.
Congratulations to the February 7th Prize Winners:
- Nick Galati, RHSB
- Taylor Hardy, Fort Worth Convention & Visitors Bureau
- Angela Hall, Trademark Property
- Cheri McDuff, UMB Bank
- Mike Langenberg, PrintHeads USA
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HE SAID, SHE SAID, THEY SAID
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Airing dirty laundry: Joker and rocker Kelly LeBlanc of Johnson Controls says his brother got laid off as a diesel fitter from Fruit of the Loom in Louisiana and is moving back to Texas. A diesel fitter? "Yeah, he puts the elastic waistband into underwear and determines whether 'dese'll fit her.'" Bada boom!
 Fees going south (by southwest): The Chamber has partnered with and negotiated discounted rates on registrations to attend the 2018 South by Southwest (SXSW) Conference and Festivals. All badge types, too -- Interactive, Film, Music and Platinum. To rate, you must register by March 1 by logging in to your membership account and hitting the events tab. SXSW is March 9-18 in Austin.
Social faux pas? "If one Twitters, is one a twit?" asked Ethel Allen Steele of Pope, Hardwicke, Christie, Schell, Kelly & Taplett.
Skin in the game: TechFW had another Fort Worth company launch its first product last week. Sales only are online at this point for the over-the-counter Prosoria, a three-step treatment for those suffering with psoriasis. Founder of the company, Nuvothera, is Art Clapp, a former Galderma skin care executive.
Member-able: Susan Shaw of her namesake Shaw Insurance and leader of the Fort Worth Chamber's Thursday Cowtown Leads Group, has been named 2017 member of the year by the Hurst Euless Bedford Chamber of Commerce.
Shovels are ready: Tarleton State University breaks ground next Tuesday at 10636 Granbury Rd. for its Fort Worth (Chisholm Trail) campus. Scheduled opening is fall 2019.
Pressing news: The Fort Worth Business Press has a new leader, General Manager Cindy Hames. She left the sales manager position of the Business Press in 2005 for marketing director positions. Cindy has fabulous news instincts ... for an ad person. Skills in sales + marketing + news = GM.
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"Evolve or die. I love that. Change is not an indictment of the past."
-- Doug Renfro, President
Renfro Foods
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Kudos for the real J.R.: Bethesda Senior Living Communities is international. The company is everywhere. But the 2018 top customer service person in all of its communities is in Fort Worth ... J.R. Gregory, the center's Director of Transportation.
Memorable: Thirty years ago, on Feb. 22, Susan Farris became a licensed nursing facility administrator. Tomorrow, Feb. 22, is her last day at the James L West Alzheimer Center, which she has led for 14 years. "After 30 years of caring for other people's parents, it is time for me to care for my own," she said. "And I don't want to miss this time with them -- they are 94 years old!" Cheryl Harding, PhD, has been selected as the new President and CEO.
 Bank on it 1: Mr. B asked BB&T banker Nathan Draughn if he could arrange a money giveaway for B2B Insider. "We already do a money giveaway," he said. "We do it every Feb. 30."
Bank on it 2: The Fort Growth AM Wednesdays Leads Group has a dollar(s) donation for leads and successes. Last year, it collected more than $800 for charity. Where is the money all year? "We have a banker in the group and he's supposedly (?!?!) keeping an account," said Maureen Maidlow of Lee Johnson Capital Management.
Kreskin says: Watch out football and ping pong! The biggest draw for sports this fall at Texas Wesleyan University will be its new varsity E-sports teams. The coed Esports & Gaming program, extra-curricular, of course, will begin with three teams.
State-ing priorities: During her Chamber State of the City luncheon yesterday, Mayor Price Is Right promised that we all "would be riding TexRail to DFW Airport New Year's Eve." (If however, you have better plans, please don't ride because that would be awfully crowded.) She also promised that "I-35 will be finished in December of this year." Hope she meant the road and not just signage. The Mayor listed five priorities for 2018: 1) Execute the recently completed Economic Development strategy plan; 2) Advocate for expanded transit options; 3) Maintain the safety of all neighborhoods; 4) Address lingering financial challenges; 5) "And most important to me, 'overcoming racial divides that threaten the very heart of what makes Fort Worth strong - the diversity.'"
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2017 BOOK OF LISTS ON SALE NOW!!
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 Good news! The
Fort Worth Business Press 2017 Book of Lists is now on sale for just $50! The directory contains lists of top companies by industry in Tarrant and Denton Counties. We only have 5 left, so get yours before they're gone!
To order online, go
here. In order to receive the $50 rate,
members must log into the store before checkout.
Email
Katie Kassler or call 817-338-3377 for more information. See more of our publications in our
online store.
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