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Chamber newsletter distributed through the Fort Worth Star-Telegram the first Tuesday of each month to approximately 120,000 subscribers as well as the entire membership.
Latest Edition - June 2006
Chamberextra
Final Public School Finance/Tax Reform Bills
Signed into Law
Just as the bell was about to ring, the Texas
Legislature, in its sixth attempt to address public
school financing and tax reform, hammered out a
compromise package of bills overhauling Texas’s
system of funding public education. The Legislature
passed the package of five bills which was signed
into law by Governor Rick Perry.
The Texas Supreme Court, ruling that the Texas
system of public school financing made use of a de
facto statewide property tax, had ruled it
unconstitutional and set a June 1 deadline to
implement a plan that would be meet constitutional
requirements.
Gov. Perry attributed the success of this special
session to his decision to look outside the
political arena for help and expertise. The governor
asked a former political rival, John Sharp, to head
up a bipartisan tax reform commission charged with
crafting a plan that the state could live with. John
Roach, (will get exact title), was selected by the
governor to represent Fort Worth on the 24-member
commission.
After the Legislature passed the bills that had been
framed by the Sharp Commission, Perry praised the
panel saying they “publicly and transparently
debated this issue and came up with a plan that’s
fair and equitable.”
What’s Involved?
As passed, the five-part package will lower property
taxes for school operations by one-third over two
years, while it expands taxes on businesses, tobacco
and the private sales of used cars. Texas teachers
can look forward to a $2,000 annual pay raise, as
well as the opportunity for incentive pay. Funds
have also been set aside for dropout prevention
programs. The bill also mandates the fourth Monday
of August as a uniform school starting date
beginning in 2007.
As passed, this package includes an overhaul of
business taxes that will mean many companies will
pay more in state taxes, but most business interests
praised the measure as a fairer system that will
raise a much needed revenue stream for public
education.
“We at the Fort Worth Chamber are pleased with the
outcome,” said Tim Keleher, the Fort Worth Chamber’s
vice president of governmental and urban affairs.
“Through persistent effort, our state lawmakers,
working with businesses and schools, have provided
the resources to improve school and student
performance. They have crafted a balanced tax system
to provide those resources. The results of this
legislative session are consistent with the
priorities of our members and endorsed by our board
of directors.”
Provisions of the legislation will broaden the
business tax base as well as reduce property taxes
for capital-intensive manufacturers and homeowners.
Once enacted, limited liability partnerships, which
have been exempt from the state franchise tax, and
corporations doing business in the state, which have
always been covered, will pay a projected $3.4
billion in fiscal 2008. Exempt businesses include
sole proprietorships, general partnerships,
businesses with less than $300,000 in revenue, and
businesses with less than $1,000 in tax liability.
“We feel like it’s a very fair bill for all
businesses across the state, large and small,” said
Bill Hammond, president of the Texas Association of
Business, as quoted in the Star-Telegram.
“I want to thank the members of the Chamber’s task
force for staying closely engaged throughout the
legislative process for over two years,” said Brian
Barnard, managing partner of Haynes & Boone and
chair of the Fort Worth Chamber’s Public School
Finance/Tax Reform Task Force. “The task force
examined and analyzed hundreds of legislative
proposals related to school finance and helped guide
the Chamber in formation of our advocacy efforts on
behalf of our membership.”
Here’s Your Bill
House Bill 1: Reduces property taxes for school
operations by about one-third over two years saving
Texas taxpayers almost $6 billion. It also provides
about $1.4 billion in new education spending,
including money for a $2,000 across-the-board
teacher pay raise, incentive payments for teachers
at low-performing schools and drop-out prevention
programs.
House Bill 2: Dedicates money from any new taxes
adopted during the special session to the purpose of
lowering school district property taxes.
House Bill 3: Repeals the current business franchise
tax and creates a new “margin” tax on business.
Under the bill, most businesses would pay a 1
percent tax on gross receipts, minus the cost of
their payroll or goods. For wholesalers and
retailers, the tax would be 0.5 percent. It would
bring hundreds of thousands of additional businesses
onto the tax rolls and raise $3.4 billion annually
for the state. It is considered the largest
expansion of business taxes in Texas history.
House Bill 4: Ties the sales tax collected on used
cars to the car's blue-book value. It would raise
$43 million for the state.
House Bill 5: Increases the tax on a pack of
cigarettes and other tobacco products by $1. It
would raise about $680 million annually.
For more information on public school financing
and/or tax reform, contact Tim Keleher at
tkeleher@fortworthchamber.com
or 817/336-2491, ext. 264.
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Updated 2006
Major Employers Directory Hot off the Presses
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The Fort Worth Chamber’s 2006 Major Employers
Directory has just arrived. One of the most
comprehensive listings of businesses in the Fort
Worth/Arlington MSA, the directory has been updated
based on information gathered between January and
March of this year, making it the most current such
resource available.
“The directory includes valuable information such as
a company’s product or service, number of employees
and main contact as well as human resources and
purchasing contacts and their addresses, phone and
fax numbers and email addresses,” said Lacy Slinkard,
research manager for the Chamber’s Economic
Development Department. “The directory also lists
companies in a variety of ways such as
alphabetically, by zip code, number of employees,
NAICS (North American Industry Classification
System) and SIC (Standard Industrial Classifications
index). It’s handy guide to have at your
fingertips.”
“The Major Employers Directory is the perfect
vehicle for companies looking to expand their
business opportunities in our area,” said David
Berzina, the Chamber’s executive vice president for
Economic Development. “It’s a clear, concise
reference guide designed to help businesses target
their markets more effectively. And, it’s a bargain
at the price.”
The 2006 Major Employers Directory is available from
the Chamber’s Publications Department for $40 –
Chamber members; $35 – Gold and Preferred members;
and $60 – non-members. The directory is also
available in a database format sold only in
conjunction with the hard copy. Directory and
database are available for $60 – Chamber members;
$48 – Gold and Preferred members; and $80 –
non-members.
For more information or to purchase, contact Chamber
Publications at 817/336-2491, ext. 242 or go online
at www.fortworthchamber.com and click on
Publications.
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Comedian Kaplan
Calls Chamber’s 124th Annual Meeting To Order
Welcome back to the Fort Worth Chamber of
Commerce’s 124th Annual Meeting. The event is slated
for tomorrow, May 31, and the featured speaker will
be actor/comedian/poker player Gabe Kaplan whose
performance is underwritten by XTO Energy. The
Annual Meeting presenting sponsor is Compass Bank
Reception sponsor is Kelly Hart & Hallman LLP.
Presentation folder sponsor is OmniAmerican Bank.
This year’s Spirit of Enterprise Award will be
presented to TCU. The event is sold out.
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What: Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce’s 124th
Annual Meeting
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When: Wednesday, May 31, 11:45 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Registration and networking begin at 11:30 a.m.
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Where: Renaissance Worthington Hotel, Grand
Ballroom, 200 Main St., 76102
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President's Column
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Bill Thornton |
Recently, Congresswoman (and former Fort Worth
mayor) Kay Granger announced that she was launching
a campaign to have one of the U.S. Navy’s new ships
named the USS Fort Worth. This is one of those times
when I can honestly say I wish I would have thought
of that.
Knowing that the Secretary of the Navy has named all
new Navy ships since 1819, Rep. Granger made her
request by letter to current Secretary of the Navy
Donald Winter saying, “Fort Worth has a long history
with the U.S. military as it protects America and
defends freedom. During the course of my work in the
Congress on defense matters, I have observed that
many communities throughout the United States have a
U.S. Navy ship named in their honor. But Fort Worth
is not one of those communities.”
It is worth noting that many of those ships are
named after other Texas cities. Fort Worth
unquestionably meets the Navy Secretary’s
requirement that a ship name reflect a city with
character, spirit and service. The city has a long
and illustrious history as a military community. In
a speech to the Fort Worth Chamber on that fateful
day, Nov. 22, 1963, President John F. Kennedy spoke
eloquently of the city’s strong commitment to our
national defense:
“Three years ago… I called for a national security
policy and a national security system which was
second to none. Fort Worth responded to that call as
it has throughout history. The success of our
national defense depends upon this city… Fort Worth
understands national defense and its importance to
the security of the United States.”
President Kennedy knew what he was talking about. In
1849, Fort Worth began as a frontier outpost when it
was established on the banks of the Trinity River by
Major Ripley Arnold who named the fort in honor of
his deceased commanding officer, Major General
William Jenkins Worth.
Throughout Fort Worth’s history, the community has
maintained a strong bond with the U.S. military by
contributing in numerous ways to the protection of
America and its freedoms. During World War I, Fort
Worth’s Camp Bowie served as an Army installation
that trained thousands of soldiers for battle as
well as hosting three training airfields.
In World War II, Fort Worth donated the land that
would later become Carswell Air Force Base, a
decision that helped land a bomber plant near the
air base. Today that bomber plant, now Lockheed
Martin Aeronautics, continues to manufacture
state-of-the-art military aircraft.
In the 90s, Carswell was reborn as Naval Air Station
Joint Reserve Base, Fort Worth that is the
military’s premier facility at which all branches of
the military operate jointly. Today, Lockheed
Martin, Bell Helicopter Textron, plus many other
local companies, make up Fort Worth’s dynamic
defense industry sector, renowned for producing the
best military equipment in the world.
Fort Worth citizens have historically been strong
supporters of our military, whether through personal
service or materiel production. That support has
been clearly demonstrated by the united community
efforts on behalf of NAS/JRB Fort Worth during
various rounds of Base Closing and Realignments.
What city has a stronger claim to the honor of
having a Navy ship named for it?
I urge Chamber members and all Fort Worth citizens
to join Rep. Granger’s letter-writing campaign to
encourage Secretary Winter to designate a new ship
USS Fort Worth. The Chamber has already done so. For
more information on the campaign or to find a sample
letter, go to her website at
http://kaygranger.house.gov.
A vessel named USS Fort Worth would proudly serve as
the embodiment of that character, spirit and service
historically ingrained in the great city of Fort
Worth.
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Trade Mission Blog Provides Unique Look at China
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Jim Bradbury |
China, one of
the world’s most dynamic markets, is Fort
Worth/Dallas’s number one trading partner. To expand
on that relationship, a group of business people put
together by the Fort Worth Chamber, the Fort Worth
International Center and the Greater Dallas Chamber
has just returned from an eight-day trade mission to
Shanghai and Beijing.
During the trip, Jim Bradbury, the Fort Worth
Chamber’s international business development chair,
kept a daily blog that was posted on the Chamber’s
website, www.fortworthchamber.com. Bradbury, an
attorney with Jackson Walker LLP, chronicled the
mission and its successes. The blog is still
available on the website.
“Ever since I have been traveling to China, I have
told people that you have to see it to understand
it,” Bradbury said. “Our trip to China is a
practical opportunity for the business participants
to understand what it is really like. I hope my blog
will give people a day-to-day understanding of what
happens there. Maybe it will help business
executives have a real sense of being there.”
Prior to departure, mission participants met to go
over itineraries and discuss some of the cultural
challenges of doing business in China. David Gross,
an executive of NCH, a Metroplex company with a
20-year presence in China, gave the group a few
pointers to consider as they investigated business
opportunities in China.
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Understand which customers in China matter most to
your business
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Focus on the cost of doing business
internationally. Make sure you are really
making/saving money
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Keep a sharp eye on competitors. China is a
fiercely competitive market.
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Be mindful of your company’s capabilities. What
will it take to be successful in China? Consider
hiring local talent.
Look for a complete follow-up on the mission in next
month’s Chamberletter.
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Recap of Recent Economic Activity in Tarrant
County
In the Works
Global Sports Extreme is building a $1 million,
15,000-square-foot gym to offer tumbling,
cheerleading, women's fitness, youth sports training
and dance. The facility at 5220 W. Vickery Blvd. is
scheduled to be completed in July. It will feature a
4,200-square-foot outdoor playing field. It will
offer child-care options while parents work out, and
parents will be able to plug in laptops and PDAs
while their children practice. The facility will
also offer rock climbing, fitness classes and
individual training in baseball, football and
soccer. Star Telegram, Apr. 10
Intercontinental Hotels Group plans a 75-room
Holiday Inn Express hotel at Interstate 35W and
Western Center Boulevard in far north Fort Worth. It
will break ground this summer and open in summer
2007. Star Telegram, Apr. 10
Real-estate developer Willing Smith plans a
two-story, 14,000-square-foot office building, at
3501 Hulen St., which will feature 300- to
1,000-square-foot suites. Construction is expected
to begin in 30 to 45 days and be completed in four
months. Star Telegram, Apr. 17
Museum Place is an 11-acre urban village just west
of downtown Fort Worth, slated to begin construction
by the end of the year. The area is bound by Sixth
Street to the north, Camp Bowie Boulevard to the
south, University’s Six Points intersection to the
east and Boland Street to the west. The project will
house 160,000 square feet of retail space, 80,000
square feet of office and 550,000 square feet of
residential development. Fort Worth Business Press,
Apr. 17
Tarrant County College, a multi-campus community
college, plans to open a downtown campus in fall
2008 along the banks of the Trinity River. Fort
Worth Business Press, Apr. 24
David Porter has released construction and design
details for the north tower’s Class A office space
designation. Porter’s north tower – now renamed
Two
City Place – means the introduction of more than
300,000 square feet of office space in downtown.
Design plans for the building, located at 100
Throckmorton St., include an exterior tower glass
overhaul and replacing the aging plates with
dual-pane Viracon glass. Lighting features will also
be added to the top of the building and the base of
the office tower will be re-clad up to 40 feet high.
Bathrooms will be renovated with stone countertops
and 225 new parking spaces will also be added to the
central garage. Fort Worth Business Press, Apr. 3
Expansions, Moves, & Renovations
Union Drilling, formerly of Bridgeville, Pa., has
relocated its corporate headquarters to
International Plaza on South Hulen Street. The
company provides drilling rigs to contractors and
energy companies drilling in the U.S. They currently
have 70 rigs and specialize in drilling using
unconventional techniques. Fort Worth Business
Press, Apr. 17
Innovative Developers Inc. has completed a $550,000
interior renovation at the Summit Bank located on
Alta Mesa Drive in Fort Worth. Renovations included
new acoustical ceilings, lighting, new offices with
textured glass windows and frameless glass doors, a
new conference/board room, new wall coverings and
paint, new carpet and tile flooring. The break room
was completely remodeled with new cabinets,
appliances and flooring. Fort Worth Business Press,
Apr. 3
Fort Worth’s Speed Fab-Crete, a full-service
commercial builder specializing in design-build
applications, will soon complete a new
18,000-square-foot facility for Cockrell Printing
Company in Fort Worth. The building will contain
sales-executive offices and expanded printing
operations and is connected to the firm’s existing
facilities located at 218 West Broadway. Fort
Worth Business Press, Apr. 3
Under Construction
Two affordable-housing, independent-living apartment
communities for people 55 and older are under
construction in Fort Worth. Dallas-based Outreach
Housing Corp., building under the name Colonial
Communities, is starting construction on a 220-unit
community at 8201 Sartain Drive off John T. White
Boulevard, the company's sixth senior community. It
will be called Cobblestone Manor. Grand
Prairie-based One Prime will begin construction in
early May on a 196-unit building at 5608 Azle Ave.
It will be called Lindbergh Parc Senior Apartments.
Star Telegram, Apr. 23
Bell Helicopter has broken ground on a
200,000-square-foot facility that will be used to
arm and militarize the company’s armed
reconnaissance helicopters. The Army Programs Center
at Fort Worth Alliance Airport is expected to house
as many as 600 employees at its peak. Fort Worth
Business Press, Apr. 3
Allied Electronics, a Fort Worth based catalog
distributor, recently broke ground on its new
365,000-square-foot headquarters and distribution
center. The new facility will help to accommodate
the company’s future growth, which is estimated to
increase by an additional 300 jobs in coming years.
Fort Worth Business Press, Apr. 24
On the Dotted Line
Fort Worth architect and developer Ken Schaumburg
has acquired several parcels on the near west side
totaling 3.73 acres and has designated some land on
West Seventh Street for a high-rise office, condo
and retail tower. Star Telegram, Apr. 3
Old Dominion Freight Lines has bought 12.2 acres off
Martin Street near Village Creek Road and East Loop
820, where the company plans to build a service
center. The facility is expected to employ 50 to 65
workers and be open in November or December. Star
Telegram, Apr. 17
Bill Barrett Corp. of Denver is purchasing CH4 Corp.
of Fort Worth, an independent oil and gas producer,
for $80 million. The transaction is expected to
close in early May. Fort Worth Business Press, Apr.
24
Sperry Van Ness has completed the sale of Courtyard
on Calmont, a 50-unit Fort Worth apartment complex,
to a California investor for an undisclosed amount.
The property is located at 6760 Calmont Ave., near
Interstate 30 and Green Oaks Road. Fort Worth
Business Press, Apr. 3
PDLA Partners of Dallas has purchased 27 acres at
3917 Hemphill in Fort Worth from Surety Bank for an
undisclosed price to build the first major retail
development within three miles of the city’s
southwest site in 30 years. PDLA plans to develop an
$18 million project on the grounds of the former
Texas Steel Foundry called Plaza de Las Americas.
The development will include a 100,000-square-foot,
grocery-anchored shopping center, with the potential
for office and cultural space. Fort Worth Business
Press, Apr. 10
A 64,000-square-foot plot of land one block east of
Montgomery Plaza on Seventh Street in Fort Worth’s
booming Cultural District was purchased by Hart
Trust. Fort Worth Business Press, Apr. 10
El Paso Import Co., a retailer specializing in
antiques and reproductions, recently leased an
8,800-square-foot space in the Hulen Fashion Center,
located at 5250 S. Hulen St. Fort Worth Business
Press, Apr. 10
Westmont Properties recently purchased a
12,808-square-foot, two-story building at 200 W.
Magnolia Ave. in Fort Worth for medical offices.
Included in the purchase was 31,671 square feet of
land. Fort Worth Business Press, Apr. 24
Principal Management Group has leased 4,423 square
feet of office space in the Wells Fargo building, in
Fort Worth's Meadowbrook neighborhood, 6707
Brentwood Stair Road. Star Telegram, Apr. 3
CGR Specialists, a group of four Fort Worth doctors,
has bought 3.29 acres at Oakmont Boulevard and
Oakmont Circle in southwest Fort Worth to build
private medical offices. Star Telegram, Apr. 3
Sue Koenig, a retired district judge, has leased
2,500 square feet of office space at 732 N. Main
St., where she will provide private mediation and
arbitration services. Star Telegram, Apr. 10
Bow Tied Too, a retail store that specializes in
personalized paper for all occasions, has leased 827
square feet of retail space in the Lincoln Village
Shopping Center, 6344 Camp Bowie Blvd. Bow Tied Too
sells printed napkins, invitations, note cards,
stationery, cups and gifts. Star Telegram, Apr. 10
Janey Betik and the Nettie Bryant Estate in
Grapevine have bought a 4,000-square-foot retail
center at 6400 McCart Ave. from VI Holdings of
Weatherford. Star Telegram, Apr. 10
Hayco Realty, headed by real-estate developer Haydn
Cutler, has bought a 2,400-square-foot former Burger
King restaurant at 5450 Overton Ridge Blvd. Star
Telegram, Apr. 17
Roth Staffing Company has leased 1,342 square feet
of office space in Water Gardens Place, 100 E. 15th
St. Star Telegram, Apr. 24
China King Buffet has leased 7,667 square feet in
the Western Hills Plaza Shopping Center, 8751 Camp
Bowie West. It is one of several China King
locations in the Metroplex. Star Telegram, Apr. 24
Fortex Investments, a Fort Worth-based real-estate
investment group, has bought a 4,000-square-foot
office/warehouse at 2804 Bryan Ave., with plans to
lease the building. Star Telegram, Apr. 24
Openings
The University of North Texas Health Science Center
at Fort Worth hosted a grand opening for its Sleep
Diagnostic Center and Laboratory on Apr. 27. The
center, 3632 Modlin Ave., provides testing for
patients who suffer from sleep disorders such as
sleep apnea, insomnia and narcolepsy. Fort Worth
Business Press, Apr. 24
After a month-long, $1 million renovation, Razzoo’s
Cajun Café on Bryant Irvin Road has re-opened for
business. Fort Worth Business Press, Apr. 24
Jenelle Perry recently opened The Pilates Center
inside the Soul Fitness building on Montgomery
Street. The center will offer private, semi-private
and small group Pilates equipment training as well
as several mat classes. The center is also offering
educational children’s classes so parents can train
while their children learn. These classes will
include Creative Movement, Arts Play, and Wiggles
and Giggles. Fort Worth Business Press, Apr. 3
Around Town
Local burger joint, Kincaid’s Hamburgers, is teaming
up with the Fort Worth Cats. Kincaid’s will begin
selling its famous hamburgers at Cats baseball games
starting May 11 at LaGrave Field. Fort Worth
Business Press, Apr. 24
More than 1,200 curious homebuyers crowded the
streets of downtown Fort Worth Apr. 1 and 2 to take
a tour of living opportunities – an event that
signified a new era of the center city. Fort Worth
Business Press, Apr. 24
Out of Town Reporting
Nearly 200,000 people attended the Nextel Cup races
at the Texas Motor Speedway. AP Online, New York,
Apr. 9
NBC 5 stepped up for Susan G. Komen's Race for the
Cure held on Saturday, Apr. 15, in Sundance Square,
Downtown Fort Worth, Texas. The race and walk benefitted the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer
Foundation. PR Newswire, New York, Apr. 7
Did You Know?
As historically steady Fort Worth-based retailers
like RadioShack and Pier 1 Imports slipped in the
recently released 2006 Fortune 500 list, other
businesses are also surfacing. Led by American
Airlines’ parent company, AMR, ranked 105, Fort
Worth boasted four other companies in the top 500 –
which ranks U.S. businesses by their 2005 revenue –
and three additional businesses listed on the
Fortune 1,000 list. Homebuilder D.R. Horton, BNSF
Railway and XTO Energy each gained spots in the
recent list, but it is XTO and Horton that have
emerged as rising stars, steadily moving up
Fortune’s list. Fort Worth Business Press, Apr. 10
Since the beginning of 2006, at least six hotel
developers have announced plans to renovate,
refurbish or construct a local hotel.
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The Omni will add 608 rooms to Fort Worth’s hotel
portfolio.
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The first in a group of renovated hotels to come
online will be two Fort Worth Holiday Inns set to
reopen within the coming weeks as Radisson Hotels.
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Also this month, a $10.5 million renovation and
re-branding of the historic Radisson Plaza Hotel
building at 815 S. Main St. into the Hilton brand.
The remodel will include 294 rooms and the meeting
and common areas in the main building.
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Gatebridge Hospitality is slated to build an Aloft
Hotel in Fort Worth’s art district.
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The former Clarion Hotel at Fifth and Commerce
streets in the downtown area is closed while its new
owners, Pearl Investments, renovate the property.
Fort Worth Business Press, Apr. 3
The Trinity River Uptown project received its formal
approval from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Fort
Worth Business Press, Apr. 17
Data provided by Strategic Insight Group,
Intelligence Research Partner of the Fort Worth
Chamber of Commerce
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Your
Private Oasis Downtown at Business After Hours
Everyone needs his or her own
private oasis. The Renaissance Worthington Hotel
will host the next Business After Hours on its
elegant terrace. Network under the stars and listen
to jazz music as you sample the hotel’s savory hors
d’oeuvres and tasty beverages. Chamber members only.
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What: Business After Hours
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Where: Renaissance Worthington Hotel, 200 Main
St., 76102
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When: Thursday, June 8, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
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Cost: Chamber members - $10. Complimentary to Gold
and Preferred members, but reservations are
required.
Experience an elegant refuge in the heart of
downtown. Complimentary valet parking for this event
on the West Portico located between Houston and
Throckmorton on 2nd Street.
Register online at
www.fortworthchamber.com or with
Doris Becker at
dbecker@fortworthchamber.com or
817/336-2491, ext. 288.
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Fort Worth Chamber Sponsored Leads Groups
Leads Groups meet weekly and are comprised of no
more than 30 individuals with each one representing
a different industry. Participants must be members
of the Fort Worth Chamber. There is a $50 annual fee
per company, but a company may be in two Leads
Groups, until/unless that slot is needed for another
company in the same industry. Gold members
participate for free with the same restriction.
To visit a Leads Group, either contact the
coordinator or call the leader directly to ensure
there is no conflict of industry. Each group has its
own rules and personality, although they all loosely
fall under Chamber guidelines. Consistent attendance
provides the maximum benefit.
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Tuesday, 11:30 a.m. -1 p.m., Texas
Tornados
Luby’s Cafeteria – 251 University
Leader: Randy Jay 817/ 347-8825,
randy.e.jay@wellsfargo.com
Tuesday, 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., The Big List
Bonnell’s - 4259 Bryant Irvin Rd.
Leader: George Fassett, 817/ 923-2419,
georgefassett@thumbtechs.com
Tuesday, 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., Lead Cats
Joe T. Garcia’s – 2201 N. Commerce
Leader: Hal Dodd, 817/ 332-2061,
hdodd@paychex.com
Wednesday, 7:30 – 9 a.m., SW Morning
Networking
Artistic Blends – 5298 Trail Lake Dr.
Leader: Jean Davis, 817/ 233-9211,
jean@swtc-business.com |
Wednesday, 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., Thrive Leads
Woodhaven Country Club – 913 Country Club Lane
Leader: Eric Naiman, 817/ 478-4577,
ericnaiman@jumpintexmedia.com
Thursday, 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., Leads Masters
Diamond Oaks Country Club – 5821 Diamond Oaks
Drive
Leader: Tina Gardner, 817/ 205-5044,
tinagardner@charter.net
Thursday, 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. eLeads Group
Café Aspen – 6103 Camp Bowie
Leader: Maureen Sullivan, 817/ 239-7533,
maureen@ourfortworth.com
Friday, 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., The Phoenix Group
Café Aspen – 6103 Camp Bowie
Leader: Mike Hildenbrand, 817/ 680-3477,
micolga@ameriplan.net |
Leads Group Coordinator: Diana Dugan, 817/ 336-2491,
ext. 258,
dugan@fortworthchamber.com
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Action Ambassador for March 2006
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Clarence More
Action Ambassador
March 2006 |
Congratulations to Clarence Moore
as Action Ambassador of the month for March 2006. An
ambassador since 1999, Moore works in core
commercial sales for ADT Security Services.
Action Ambassadors work on behalf of the Chamber
calling on new members and serving as greeters at
various Chamber functions. Ambassadors must be
members of the Fort Worth Chamber. It is also a
great networking tool allowing ambassadors to
contact Chamber members on the Chamber’s behalf.
Contact Teresa Pearson at 817/336-2491, ext. 249 for
information on becoming an Action Ambassador.
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Educated
Workforce Begins with Educated Children
With almost 108,000 children under the age of
five in Tarrant County, child care is big business.
Employers have a vested interest in child care as
human resource professionals estimate that as many
as one-fourth of all working parents have a
breakdown in child care in any given work week. When
parents have child care problems, employers have
productivity problems. Studies show employers in the
United States spend an estimated $3 billion a year
because of absenteeism directly related to child
care issues.
Obtaining dependable child care is not the only
issue many working parents face. Finding affordable,
high quality care is most families’ greatest
challenge. Only seven percent of all child care
facilities in Tarrant County are accredited by the
National Association for the Education of Young
Children, the quality benchmark considered the
highest standard in the U.S. In many child care
centers and family child care homes, workers have
obtained only the minimum training required by the
State of Texas - just eight hours of pre-service
classes - before starting work. Contrast that with
the 1,500 hours of training required for those who
cut hair for a living.
Some Fort Worth Chamber members have teamed up to
address this growing problem by pooling resources to
improve the quality of early care and education and
by funding professional development classes for
child care teachers and administrators. Lockheed
Martin Aeronautics was one of the first businesses
to join Corporate Champions, a program of Camp Fire
USA First Texas Council and a coalition of local
businesses and organizations.
Common sense dictates that when children fail to
receive good early care, their educational future
may be affected. Each year, the Fort Worth
Independent School District spends almost $5 million
on children repeating kindergarten, first or second
grade. This is in large part due to the lack of
preparation for school in child care settings and
will, according to James Heckman, 2000 Nobel
laureate in economics, have a significant impact on
the quality of the nation’s future workforce. In a
recent Wall Street Journal article, Heckman said
adverse early environments are powerful predictors
of adult failure on social and economic dimensions
adding, “A lack of early skill and motivation begets
a lack of future skill and motivation.”
“The importance of education begins long before
children enter school. In fact, if the proper
stimulus does not begin early in life, studies have
proven the life-long effects on children, families
and the community can be profound,” said Norman
Robbins, Lockheed Martin’s director of community
relations. “At Lockheed Martin, we understand that
quality care for young children is critical to being
able to have the skilled workforce necessary to keep
our doors open. Learning starts at birth, and
birth-to-three are critical years for child
development. The importance of making sure children
enter school ready to learn is vital. Corporate
Champions for Children is a win-win-win as far as
Lockheed Martin is concerned. Our employees win
because their children are in a safe and nurturing
environment while they work, our company wins by
being actively involved in educating our future
workforce and the community wins because we have an
educated, productive workforce to support a strong
economic base.”
The City of Fort Worth was one of the original three
founders of Corporate Champions. Thirteen years
later, they see both short- and long-term impacts
for the City.
“The importance of educating children beginning at
birth is often overlooked. An investment in early
care and education is a way to help every child
develop to his or her fullest potential,” said Libby
Watson, assistant city manager, City of Fort Worth.
“Such an investment is important to the city as it
has an impact on government services. Children who
are successful in school are far less likely to
become involved in criminal activity. This lowers
our crime rate and the number of tax dollars needed
to support the criminal justice system. This impact
on government services directly affects businesses
because it lowers the tax burden in these areas as
well as reducing the need for special education and
remedial courses.”
In 13 years, Corporate Champions has funded more
than $1,785,505 of training for child care
professionals. “The need never goes away; there will
always be a need to provide professional development
for child care workers,” said Diane Lochtrog
Johnson, associate vice president Corporate
Champions for Children, a program of Camp Fire USA
First Texas Council. Current members include:
Lockheed Martin, City of Fort Worth, Keystone, BNSF
Railway, Bell Helicopter, TXU Electric Delivery, XTO
Energy, Pier 1 Imports, Bright Horizons Family
Solutions, RadioShack, JPMorgan Chase, Alcon, Acme
Brick, Rhythm Band Instruments, Freese and Nichols,
Star-Telegram and the Fort Worth Chamber.
Companies interested in knowing more about Corporate
Champions can contact Johnson at 817/831-2111.
Back to top
Leadership Conference
Targets Alliance Area Seniors
|
 |
|
Compass Bank’s Paul Britzky and
Devonna Holland led
students in a money
management session. |
At the recent Alliance Senior
Leadership Conference, 65 Alliance area high school
seniors were treated to a glimpse of the real world
that awaits them after graduation thanks to the
Alliance Human Resources Group (AHRG). The students
had the opportunity to develop career skills and
learn money management skills not taught in school.
They also had the chance to seek job opportunities
in the Alliance area. The students came from
Northwest, Keller, Fossil Ridge and Central High.
According to Lynda Fouts, a human resources
generalist with Cardinal Health, the students were
identified for their performance and leadership
skills and were selected through an application
process and review committee.
“Recent news reports have confirmed what we already
knew,” said Cynthia Fisher Miller, the Fort Worth
Chamber’s senior director of workforce development
and education, “the miserable state of financial
education of our high school students. This
conference is designed to help students develop the
critical job-seeking and real life skills they will
need after graduation. And all conference
instructors were volunteers from businesses located
in the Alliance area.”
Four learning sessions were held.
-
Résumé Writing – critique of student résumés,
instruction and tips on how to write résumés;
-
Interviewing Skills – discussion of types of
interviews, how to dress, how to prepare, and
role-playing;
-
Money Management – how to establish credit,
maintain a good credit rating, and manage finances;
-
Career Development – what to look for in a
company, benefits, tuition, reimbursement, quality
of life, and promotional opportunities.
In the conference’s second year, the number of
participating students increased by 50 percent,
according to Fouts.
Devonna Holland of Compass Bank, a repeat volunteer,
was on hand despite the fact that the bank branch
she managed was changing names that week. She and
another Compass Bank volunteer Paul Britzky led a
session on money management and investing.
“I loved doing last year’s seminar,” said Holland.
“It was very successful, an opportunity for students
to learn something not taught in school, but will
help them be successful in life.”
Holland and Britzky agreed that most high school
students are not prepared to handle their own
finances successfully after graduation. “College
students are offered credit cards all the time and
they often abuse them due to ignorance. It’s
important for them to learn the real life
consequences of not understanding how credit works.”
During Britzky’s session, he stressed that it’s
never too early for students to think about their
future instead of focusing on the present. “They
must think about retirement at a tender age.”
“A lot of businesses in the Alliance area businesses
provided volunteers,” said Fouts. “Many of last
year’s volunteers were back again this year.”
The conference’s secondary purpose was to get the
students thinking about looking for employment
opportunities at Alliance. A Networking and
Information Fair with Alliance companies and
colleges with information booths providing details
on the companies and community colleges was held
after lunch. Students received goody bags with
information sheets and maps on Alliance companies.
Back
to top
Trinity Project to Offer Opportunities for M/WBE
Certified Businesses
Sponsors of the
Trinity Uptown project of the Trinity River
Vision will hold a series of educational
workshops to alert potential contractors and
subcontractors of upcoming opportunities
associated with the project.
The first workshop, targeted toward architects
and engineers, will be held Thursday, June 22,
2–5 p.m., Fort Worth Botanic Garden, 3220
Botanic Garden Blvd., 76107. The second is
tentatively set for the same time on July 27,
subject to location availability, and will be
aimed at construction companies.
Rosa Navejar, president of the Fort Worth
Hispanic Chamber, is chairing the Trinity Uptown
committee overseeing opportunities for minority-
and women-owned business enterprises and
socioeconomic contractors.
“This committee represents an unprecedented
cooperation and collaboration among federal,
state, and local agencies who will each be
letting parts of this project,” Navejar said.
“Our committee is helping communicate what types
of projects will be available and who the
particular sponsor will likely be for each
element.”
Because funding is from different sources,
certifications needed for contracting set-asides
can be confusing. “Unfortunately, there is no
reciprocal agreement among different levels of
the government for certifications at this time,”
Navejar said. “The city requires M/WBE
certification; the state requires DBE
certification; and the federal government has a
wide variety of options ranging from small
disadvantaged businesses to service-disabled
veterans.
We’re trying to help all companies –
both primes and subs – understand the options
well in advance of actual bids to make sure they
have ample time to get the necessary
certifications.”
The project has established special contracting
or sub-contracting goals for business owners who
meet specific requirements. Companies eligible
to receive special certifications to qualify for
these set-asides under different government
policies may include:
-
Women-owned businesses
-
Service-disabled veteran businesses
-
Socially and economically disadvantaged
businesses
-
Historically under-utilized businesses
-
HUBZone businesses
-
Small businesses
-
Small disadvantaged businesses
-
Ethnic minority-owned (Asian, Black, Hispanic,
and Native American) businesses
Sundra Davis, M/WBE manager for the City of Fort
Worth, says the goals of the committee are
aggressive. “The City has requested a 25 percent
M/WBE goal on its portion of public
infrastructure and the Tarrant Regional Water
District has agreed to match that. With
additional opportunities through TxDOT and the
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, we feel it’s
important for both prime and sub contractors to
pay close attention to the goals and
certifications involved. That’s why we’re
holding workshops so early, so both large and
small contractors can be prepared to participate
in this project.”
The workshop schedule is planned in three parts:
2-3 p.m.: Overview of project
3-5 p.m.: Breakout sessions for prime and sub
contractors
5-6:30 p.m.: Network opportunities; wine and
cheese (courtesy of the Fort Worth Chamber of
Commerce)
‘This is one way the Fort Worth Chamber is
helping to educate our members and the Fort
Worth business community,” said Melissa Glasgow,
director of local business development and
retention for the Fort Worth Chamber. “The
reception scheduled immediately following each
seminar will allow prime contractors and other
large firms to network with sub-contractors to
develop potential working relationships.”
For additional information on Trinity Uptown
contracting opportunities, visit
www.TrinityRiverVision.org/contracting. Projects
sponsors include the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers, Tarrant Regional Water District, City
of Fort Worth, Tarrant County, and Streams and
Valleys, Inc. Or contact Melissa Glasgow at
mglasgow@fortworthchamber.com or 817/336-2491,
ext. 235.
Back to top
It’s a Blog, Blog, Blog,
Blog World
It’s enough to blog your mind --
all the new social media and communication
technologies that Brian Oberkirch of WeblogsWork,
and Eric Naiman of Jumpin’ Tex Media explained to 39
attendees of the Blogging 101 Workshop May 11.
The Chamber’s three-hour workshop gave attendees an
overview of the ramifications of electronic social
media such as blogs, wikis, podcasting, RSS feeds
and how they impact communication in our culture.
“The blogging workshop was great! I’m trying to hire
one of the speakers to help me get my business up
and running,” said Julia Duffey, WTW Productions, a
TV production company. “Fort Worth is not exactly
the hub of television production and the information
from this seminar really helped me think outside the
box. The seminar information was just what I was
looking for. I’m really glad I joined the Chamber.”
With wireless access in the Fort Worth Club, several
workshop attendees were able to participate
interactively by surfing to relevant websites
covered in the presentation. Naiman took the
attendees through the process of building a blog, to
which participants with laptops immediately began
posting. Go to www.dfwconnect.net to see Business
Blogging Basics and some of practice postings from
the workshop.
“The seminar was wonderful. I definitely plan to use
what I learned there,” said Lori Soderbergh,
American Cancer Society. “The new social media have
a lot of potential for what we do here. The seminar
couldn’t have been more timely.”
Finally, Mitch Schnurman, business columnist with
the Star-Telegram, talked candidly with the group
about the excitement, controversies and ethical
decisions generated by blogs at a daily newspaper.
He illustrated the pros and cons with a case study
of how breaking news about a local corporation
several months ago generated hundreds of blog
postings by employees, supporters and naysayers
nationwide, and how the Star-Telegram struggled to
keep up with the frenzied pace of the blogosphere
during that crisis.
“It was not only great to hear what the speakers had
to say, but also what the other attendees thought,”
said Dale Berkebile, Dale Berkebile Illustration
Design, adding he hoped to see more seminars like
this in the future. “I debated making the investment
on the seminar, but I got a lot of good information
out of it. It was definitely worthwhile.”
Back to top
Dateline: Fort Worth…
Texas: History Meeting the Future
With a population topping 600,000 people, Fort Worth
has aggressively grown into the 19th largest city in
the United States. The city hosts close to 9 million
visitors annually who contribute more than $1
billion to city coffers. The city is serviced by
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, providing
easy access to all major hubs in the continental
United States.
At the heart of the city’s meetings market, the
high-tech Fort Worth Convention Center spans 14 city
blocks and features 253,226 square feet of exhibit
space, 41 breakout rooms, a 28,160 square-foot
ballroom and a 13,500 seat arena. The facility
recently completed a $75 million expansion project
that includes a $2.7 million events plaza that now
links the Convention Center to the adjacent Fort
Worth Water Gardens.
The facility will eventually be serviced by the
brand new Omni Fort Worth Hotel – the city’s
convention center headquarter hotel that is
scheduled to open in 2008. The $90 million luxury
hotel will feature 48,000 square feet of additional
meeting space, as well as two restaurants and a
ballroom.
“Fort Worth is a great city with some spectacular
meeting facilities, and the folks there work very
hard to support events being held in their city,”
(said Terry Abram, President of Eventlink
International in Dallas, Texas.)
Corporate & Incentive Travel
January 2006
Back to top
R ecent
Ribbon Cuttings
~~Granite countertop manufacturer K&M Granite,
Inc., held a ribbon cutting to mark its grand
opening at 3933-D N. California Parkway in Fort
Worth. To learn more about the company, contact
Angelica Klansek at 817/534-0100
~~Groundbreaking ceremonies were held for a new First
Horizon Bank at 7317 Oakmont Blvd. in Fort Worth.
Brent Foster has more details at 214/906-7474.
~~A ribbon cutting was held to mark the opening of a
new location for Ahern Rentals at 5021 Haltom Rd. in
Haltom City. Contact Dan Greenhaw at 817/281-7717
for more information.
Back to top
Chamberextra
TCU:
Learning to Change the World
|
 |
|
Renowned broadcast journalist Bob
Schieffer, a
hands-on influence at the
Schieffer School of
Journalism, moderates
the Schieffer Symposium,
which annually
brings media luminaries to Fort
Worth. |
TCU and Fort Worth represent the “New Texas” —
vibrant, globally oriented and on the move.
Recognizing TCU’s unique contributions to the
city, the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce has
recognized the university with the 2006 Spirit
of Enterprise Award.
With its rich mix of cowboys, culture and the
drive to define Texas in the 21st century, Fort
Worth is the only city of its type anywhere. TCU
is unique as well. From a small school at the
edge of the western prairie, TCU has grown into
a major comprehensive university, producing
graduates intent on changing the world.
Together, Fort Worth and TCU are developing a
global reputation for leadership.
The university faces the future in an enviable
position, regarded by many of its peers as
uncommonly successful in the competitive higher
education marketplace. TCU delivers a
world-class, values-centered university
experience, consistently ranking in the top five
percent of the 3,500 universities and colleges
in the nation. In the last half-decade, TCU has
invested almost $200 million in top-of-the-line
facilities. It annually exceeds enrollment
goals, and the endowment is among the top 60
among colleges and universities in the United
States.
But for 8,600 above-average students — all with
high potential for leadership — what counts most
is an unsurpassed total university experience.
TCU provides a campus environment that
encourages a search for personal meaning, the
honing of each student’s creative potential and
the development of strong ethical values.
Notes,” “There is plenty of time to be worried
about their careers, but this might be the last
time [students] get to talk about the big
questions,” said Professor Richard Galvin, who
teaches a course titled “The Meaning of Life.”
|
 |
|
TCU’s highly acclaimed piano program
produced
two Fulbright Scholars last
year. Sandra Doan
went on to the Liszt
Ferenc Academy of Music in
Budapest,
and Paul Sanchez studied at the
Academia Marshall in Barcelona. |
‘Best-of-the-World’ Ambitions
But careers are important too. Like Fort Worth,
TCU has “best-in-the-world” aspirations and is
determined to be recognized among the finest
universities anywhere in the academic areas in
which it competes. Music, journalism and
business are among those flagship offerings.
Fort Worth and the Van Cliburn International
Piano Competition and the Fort Worth Symphony
are world-renowned. TCU’s piano program and
other music offerings draw students of great
talent from across the globe, and its music
professors perform to acclaim on the
international stage. TCU’s unique Latin American
Music Festival in April drew attention to the
school’s international emphasis, showcasing
classical music rarely heard in the United
States and drawing audiences from all over the
Southwest for a taste of South American and
Caribbean music.
Journalism is another area in which TCU is
taking a distinctive path. “In this time of
unprecedented access to information, there is an
unprecedented need for ethical and responsible
journalists,” said renowned broadcast journalist
Bob Schieffer, for whom the Schieffer School of
Journalism is named. The Schieffer School is
committed to educating those ethical and
responsible professionals. In addition to
Schieffer’s hands-on influence, students learn
firsthand from media heavyweights at the annual
Schieffer Symposium. Participants have included
editors of The Washington Post and The New York
Times and print and broadcast journalists such
as Bob Woodward and Tom Brokaw.
|
 |
|
TCU faculty and students provide more
than 60,000 hours of community service
each year.
After Hurricane Katrina,
nursing students,
including Sarah Eurich,
provided volunteer
disaster assistance
for victims. |
Leadership is the focus of the M.J. Neeley
School of Business. In contrast to traditional
business programs, the Neeley School is honing a
reputation for developing the special creative
ability that each individual can bring to the
corporate world. Highlighting the effectiveness
of this approach, a recent Wall Street Journal
ranking, based on a survey of corporate
recruiters, rated Neeley’s MBA program the
highest among Texas business schools and 18th
among the nation’s regional programs. In May,
BusinessWeek ranked Neeley’s undergraduate
program 33rd among the country’s Top 50
programs.
Making a Difference in the Metroplex
TCU is also committed to improving the greater
good. For example, a partnership between TCU and
the Fort Worth ISD brought new aerobic equipment
to high schools, along with new ways to get kids
moving – from climbing walls to playing video
games that promote exercise, not discourage it.
The University’s two lab schools serve children
with special needs: KinderFrogs for small
children with Down syndrome and Starpoint School
for students with learning differences. The
Institute of Math, Science & Technology
Education has worked with 35 school districts
and 337 schools throughout the Metroplex.
The University’s Institute for Child Development
provides hope for families who have adopted
children from abroad. The institute develops new
therapies that treat the emotional and mental
scars that often accompany these foreign-born
orphans to their new homes.
TCU professors and students are helping to solve
one of the most pressing environmental issues
facing America today: mercury contamination of
fish and the effects that contamination has upon
our health.
That’s what you would expect from Fort Worth’s
premier lifelong learning resource and “home
team.” Fort Worth is committed to being a
world-class city — and TCU is committed to
becoming its world-class university.
Back to top
2005-2006Chamber
Board of Directors
|
OFFICERS 2005-2006
CHAIRMAN
*Albon Head
Jackson Walker, L.L.P.
VICE CHAIRMAN
*Vernon Bryant
Compass Bank
TREASURER AND CHAIRMAN
OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE
*Allyson Baumeister
Sanford, Baumeister & Frazier, P.C.
PRESIDENT AND CEO
*William J. Thornton, Jr.
Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
2005-2006
Neils Agather
The Burnett Foundation
John Avila, Jr.
Thos. S. Byrne, L.T.D.
*Brian D. Barnard
Haynes and Boone, L.L.P.
Kenneth L. Barr
Authentic+Barr Printing
Dr. Andre Bens
Alcon Laboratories, Inc.
Dr. Susan K. Blue
Neurological Services of Texas, P.A.
*Bob Bolen
Texas Christian University
*Frances Broussard
Hillwood Properties
Todd Burnette
The Staubach Company
Stephen Butt
Central Market
Tom Buxton
The Buxton Company
Johnny Campbell
Sundance Square Management
John A. Carpenter
American Airlines, Inc.
Amanda S. Cienkus
Motorola
Jack Clark
Brandywine Realty Trust
Richard L. Connor
Fort Worth Business Press
*Captain Billy Cordell
Fort Worth Police Department
Kevin E. Cox
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport
Nancy C. Cychol
Cook Children’s Medical Center
Ray Dickerson
Citizens National Bank |
Larry E. Duckworth
OmniAmerican Credit Union
*Fran Eichorst
Fidelity Investments
Dan Feehan
Cash America International, Inc.
*Nan Wardlaw Fidler
Fort Worth Farm & Ranch Club
Eric Fox
Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company
*Arnold G. Gachman
Gachman Metal & Recycling Company
John Goff
Crescent Real Estate Equities Company
Erma Johnson Hadley
Tarrant County College District
Mark C. Hill
RadioShack Corp.
*Suzi Hill
The Hill Company
J.B. Huck
Bank of America
Jack N. Huff
NAI Huff Partners
*Walter J. Humann
Hunt Consolidated, Inc.
David Ivory
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
James R. “Jack” Jackson
Miller Brewing Company
Robert L. Jameson
Renaissance Worthington Hotel
Adam Jones
Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse
*Dee J. Kelly, Jr.
Kelly, Hart & Hallman, P.C.
Tom Krampitz
Texas Motor Speedway
Joe T. Lancarte
Joe T. Garcia’s Restaurant
*William T. Leonard
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
*Ben Loughry
Integra Realty Resources DFW, LLP
*Randy McGuffee
Future Stone, L.L.C.
Timothy W. McKinney
Texas Capital Bank
*Louis McLain
Rogers Capital Management, Inc.
Jeffrey R. Moreland
BNSF Railway
*Babby Newland
Wells Fargo – White Settlement
Steven R. Newton
Baylor All Saints Medical Center |
Steffen E. Palko
Robert F. Pence
Freese and Nichols, Inc.
David M. Porter
The PNL Companies
Kim Pulliam
AmeriCredit Corp.
Brian L. Randolph
Mercantile Partners
Nathan Robinett
Frost Bank
Pollard Rogers
Cantey and Hanger, L.L.P.
Tom Struhs
The Struhs Company
*Vernell Sturns
Montgomery Watson Harza
Bob Terrell
CH2M HILL
Gary W. Terry
AT&T
Lynda Tiedtke
LandAmerica Commonwealth Title
Joan T. Trew
Williams Trew Real Estate Services
*Greg Upp
University of North Texas Health Science
Center
Randy Watson
Justin Brands Inc.
E. Mitchell Weatherly
Pier 1 Imports
*Julie H. Wilson
Reasons Group, Inc.
ADVISORY COUNCIL
*Mike Berry
Hillwood Properties
John Gavin
Wells Fargo
Danny Smith
Chase
*Allan Howeth
Cantey and Hanger, L.L.P.
Tim Carter
United Way of Metropolitan Tarrant County
Joe R. Thompson
TXU Electric Delivery
Denise A. Spitler
Connection Enterprises
Jeffrey K. Wentworth
R. Denny Alexander
R. Denny Alexander & Co.
Gary W. Cumbie
Texas Wesleyan University
Robert L. Herchert
Freese and Nichols, Inc.
Rice M. Tilley, Jr.
Haynes and Boone, L.L.P.
John M. Stevenson
Keystone, Inc. |
Joseph M. Grant
Texas Capital Bancshares, Inc
Bill D. Serrault
James R. Nichols
Freese and Nichols, Inc.
Robert W. Gerrard
Heywood C. Clemons
J.C. Pace, Jr.
J.C. Pace L.T.D.
Thomas H. Law
Law, Snakard & Gambill
C. Victor Thornton
EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS OF THE
BOARD
Mayor, City of Fort Worth
The Honorable Mike Moncrief
City Manager
Charles Boswell
Tarrant County Judge
The Honorable Tom Vandergriff
President
Downtown Fort Worth, Inc.
Andrew M. Taft
Chairman
Downtown Fort Worth, Inc.
Allan Howeth
President and CEO
Fort Worth Convention & Visitors Bureau
Douglas Harman
Chairman
Fort Worth Convention & Visitors Bureau
Jeffrey B. King
Chairman, Fort Worth Hispanic
Chamber of Commerce
Dan Villegas
Chairman, Fort Worth
Metropolitan Black Chamber
Of Commerce
Monte Elliott
Executive Director, D/FW
International Airport
Jeffrey P. Fegan
President
North Texas Commission
Dan S. Petty
Chairman, Tarrant County
Workforce Development Board
Don Ellis
Commander, U.S. Army Engineer
District Fort Worth
Colonel John R. Minahan
Commanding Officer, Naval Air Station
Joint Reserve Base - Fort Worth
Captain John McCormack
President
Southeast Fort Worth, Inc.
Glenn S. Forbes
|
*Also serves on Executive
Committee
Boldface Type denotes outgoing director
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2006 Incoming Board of Directors
|
Marilyn Ackmann
Manager Public Affairs
Atmos Energy
Barclay E. Berdan
President
Harris Methodist Fort Worth Hospital
*James D. Bradbury
Partner
Jackson Walker, L.L.P.
Toby Darden
Chairman
Quicksilver Resources, Inc.
*David L. Edmonds
Director
Tarrant County College District |
Greg Humenesky
Executive Vice President
Human Resources
Pier 1 Imports
Bruce Lee
Sales Manager
Frank Kent Motor Company
*Cathy Moates
Community Relations Manager
Fort Worth Central Market
Jamie Morgan
Vice President Sales and Marketing
Justin Brands
*Mark G. Nurdin
Private Client Services
Regional Manager
Wells Fargo |
*Mark R. Presswood
Senior Vice President
Fort Worth Cats Baseball Club
*Ernest “Skip” Reynolds
Attorney-at-Law
Sharpe Reynolds Tillman & Melton
*Hugh Ross
President
Fort Worth Farm & Ranch Club
Richard Ruddell
President/Executive Director
Fort Worth Transportation Authority
P.D. Shabay
Executive Vice President Administration
and Chief Human Resource Officer
Bell Helicopter Textron |
*Lerii F. Smith
President
Project Partners
James D. Spaniolo
President
The University of Texas at Arlington
Wes Turner
President/Publisher
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Vaughn Vennerberg
Senior Executive Vice President and Chief of
Staff
XTO Energy, Inc.
Patty Williams
President
Roger Williams Auto Mall
|
*Incoming Executive Committee
Member
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Controlling Our Destiny Investors
|
Acme Brick
Alan Plummer Associates, Inc.
Alcon Laboratories, Inc.
Allegiant Integrated Solutions
American Airlines, Inc.
AmeriCredit Corporation
Amon G. Carter Foundation
Apartment Association of Tarrant County
Aramark Uniform Services
Atmos Energy Corporation
AUI Contractors
AT&T
Autobahn Motorcar Group
Bank of America – Fort Worth
Bass, Lee M.
Bass, Sid R.
Bates Container, Inc.
Baylor All Saints Medical Centers
Beck Group
Bell Helicopter-Textron, Inc.
BMC Mortgage
Branch-Smith Printing
Brants Realtors
Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corporation
Burnett Plaza
Cantey & Hanger, L.L.P.
Carter and Burgess, Inc.
Carter Industrial Park
Cassco Land Company
Centex Construction
Charter Communications
Chase Bank
Cheldan Homes
Chief Oil & Gas
Citigroup/American Health & Life
Citizens National Bank
Classic Chevrolet |
Coca Cola Bottling of North Texas
Coldwell Banker Kelly, Geren & Searcy
Colonial Savings/Fort Worth Mortgage
Compass Bank
Coors Distributing Company
Coronado Builders, Inc.
Crescent Real Estate Equities, Inc.
The Dannon Company, Inc.
Educational Employees Credit Union (EECU)
Encore Acquistion Company
Ernst & Young, L.L.P.
Fernandez & Co., P.C.
Fidelity Investments
Fine Line Inc.
First Choice Power
Five Star Ford
Fort Worth Transportation Authority - The T
Frank Kent Motor Company
Freese and Nichols, Inc.
Friberg Associates, Inc.
Frost National Bank
Gachman Metals & Recycling Company
Gideon Toal, Inc.
Green Bay Packaging, Inc.
Harris, Finley & Bogle
Harris Methodist Fort Worth Hospital
Haynes and Boone, L.L.P.
HCA North Texas Division, Ltd.
Hickman Development
The Hill Company |
Hillwood
The Hodges Companies
Huitt-Zollars, Inc.
Integra Realty Resources
Jackson Walker, L.L.P.
James R. Harris Partners
Justin Brands
Kelly, Hart & Hallman, P.C.
Keystone, Inc.
Koll CentrePort
KPMG, L.L.P.
LandAmerica Commonwealth Title
The Leather Factory, Inc.
Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company-Fort
Worth
Longhorn Dodge, Inc.
Luther King Capital Management
M & M Manufacturing Company
Maguire Partners
Mary Potishman Lard Trust
McDonald Sanders, P.C.
Meador Chrysler
Mercantile Partners, L.P.
Miller Brewing Company
Moritz of Fort Worth
Muckleroy & Falls
MWH Americas, Inc.
NAI Huff Partners
Pier 1 Imports, Inc.
PNL Fort Worth, L.P.
PricewaterhouseCoopers, L.L.P.
Project Partners
Pro Staff
QUOIN - Associated General Contractors
of America
RadioShack Corporation
Rattikin Title Company
Reasons Group, Inc.
Red Oak Realty, LLC
Renaissance Worthington Hotel
Republic Title of Fort Worth
Richard D. Minker Co.
Rigg Group
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Roger Williams Auto Group
SEDALCO, Inc.
Sewell Lexus of Fort Worth
Society of Commercial Realtors
Southwest Office Systems, Inc.
Southwestern Exposition & Livestock Show
Speed Fab-Crete Corporation
Sprint Press
Sproles Woodard L.L.P.
Star-Telegram
Summit Bank, N.A.
Sundance Square Management/City Club
Synergy Property Group
Texas Capital Bank
Texas Jet, Inc.
Texas Metal Spinning, Inc.
Texas Motor Speedway
Thos. S. Byrne, Ltd.
Trademark Property Company
Trammell Crow Company/Tarrant County
Tri-County Electric Cooperative, Inc.
Turner, Collie and Braden, Inc.
TXU
Wells Fargo Bank
Whitney Smith Company
Wide Open Spaces, Ltd.
Williams Trew Real Estate Services
Williamson-Dickie Manufacturing Co.
Witherspoon & Associates, Inc.
Worth National Bank |
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May 2006
Edition
April 2006 Edition
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2005 Edition
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2005 Edition
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Chamberletter contact below:
For more information contact:
Arden Dufilho
Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce
817-336-2491 Ext. 259
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