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November 2006

Heritage Trails: Happy Trails to Fort Worth

Doug Harman
President and CEO
Fort Worth Convention and Visitors Bureau

Only 15 years in the making, but at last, Fort Worth’s Heritage Trails project is about to hit the trail. The first marker highlighting the stagecoach era in Fort Worth – and sponsored by Wells Fargo -- will soon be unveiled in downtown Fort Worth. The next Chamber General Membership Luncheon, hosted by the Central Area Council and presented by Wells Fargo, will feature Fort Worth Convention and Visitors Bureau President and CEO Doug Harman updating members on the project and its progress. (See story below for luncheon information.)


A project of the Fort Worth Chamber Foundation, Heritage Trails is a series of sidewalk markers, primarily located on Main Street in downtown Fort Worth, depicting significant events that shaped the history of Fort Worth. Each marker will be sponsored by local businesses.


“I am so excited that this program is coming to fruition,” said Harman. “The Heritage Trails committee has worked a long time on this and I admire their tenacity. Fort Worth has been quite successful in preserving its colorful history. Heritage Trails will be another way to help us share it with visitors and locals alike.”


Heritage Trails markers will be permanently installed bronze plaques each highlighting significant aspects of Cowtown history and they will form a walking tour in high traffic areas through downtown Fort Worth.


“Fifteen years in the planning, Fort Worth will now have a heritage walk that chronicles our rich history,” said Marilyn Gilbert, executive vice president of the Fort Worth Chamber. “Throughout the downtown area, the markers with their signature cubistic longhorn, will brand the site where significant events occurred.”


According to Harman, the Heritage Trails committee did its homework researching other similar historic walking tours around the country.


“We looked at what Galveston has done,” Harman said adding, “They have the most sophisticated and interesting signage of any city I know.”


Harman is the right man to know just how important Fort Worth’s history is. At the CVB, tourists come in daily seeking information on Fort Worth’s colorful past. “In downtown, we send them to the 150 Year exhibit at the old Fire House and to the Sid Richardson Museum (which has been closed for remodeling, but will reopen soon).”


According to Harman, the Heritage Trails walking tour will fill in many historical gaps for visitors and locals. Markers will be devoted to the following historical topics:

  • History of Fort
  • Hispanic Heritage
  • The Stage Leaves from Here
  • Gamblers & Gunfights
  • Cattle Drives
  • Streetcars and the Interurban
  • Grand Hotels
  • Opera Houses and Theaters
  • Cattleman, Oilman, Civic Leader Samuel Burk Burnett
  • Architectural Diversity
  • Amon G. Carter, Sr.
  • The Wild Bunch
  • Flying Machines
  • Women in Early Fort Worth
  • Hell’s Half Acre
  • JFK
  • African-American History
  • Horseless Carriages
  • Trains


According to Harman, much work has gone into ”siting” these markers in appropriate places. And he hopes that once all the Heritage Trails markers are in place, other areas of the city will follow suit.


“People will be impressed with the design of the markers and will see more opportunities for using throughout the community, perhaps in the Cultural District,” he said. “After all, so much of Fort Worth tourism is based on its history. We’re just scratching the surface, but it is a first step.”


Organizations and individuals who have worked on the Heritage Trails project include Dr. Susan Blue; Amon Carter Foundation; City of Fort Worth; Fort Worth Transportation Authority – the T; Mollie and Garland Lasater; Lockheed Martin Aeronautics; Star-Telegram; Sundance Square; Wells Fargo; and Williams Trew Real Estate Services.
“The CVB has been proud to be part of this program,” said Harman. “I hope that in five-10 years, there will be more markers. They fit with our more improved signage. Fort Worth is on the verge of being the best in the country from a historical and directional signage point of view.”


When the entire project is installed, expect to see locals and tourists walking from marker to marker soaking up Fort Worth history.”


“Heritage Trails,” said Harman, “will be good for business, good for tourism and good for community pride.

A schematic drawing of a Heritage Trails sidewalk marker.


For information on sponsoring a Heritage Trails marker, contact Becky Matson at bmatson@fortworthchamber.com or 817/336-2491, ext. 243.

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Heritage Trails: Take a Tour of History

Heritage Trails, a project featuring a series of sidewalk markers in downtown Fort Worth that significant events that shaped Cowtown’s history, will be the topic of a general membership luncheon hosted by the Chamber’s Central Area Council. Presented by Wells Fargo, the luncheon speaker will be Doug Harman, president and CEO of the Fort Worth Convention and Visitors Bureau.

  • What: General Membership Luncheon hosted by the Central Area Council, “Heritage Trails,” with Doug Harman
  • When: Thursday, Nov. 16, noon-1:30 p.m. Registration and networking begin at 11:30 a.m.
  • Where: The City Club Ballroom, 301 Commerce, 76102
  • Cost: Chamber members - $25; Gold and Preferred members - $20; non-members - $40; and tables of eight - $250.


Harman will offer up a historic view of old Fort Worth and explain how the Heritage Trails project will help visitors to the city learn more about its storied past.


Click Here to register online. For more information, contact Pennie Blossom at pblossom@fortworthchamber.com or 817/336-2491, ext. 267.

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President’s column

Bill Thornton
Fort Worth Chamber
President

Lately, I’ve been hearing the old phrase “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” a lot. It comes up often in reference to a process known as “meet and confer.” It’s a hot topic these days and there are good, concerned Fort Worth citizens on both sides of this issue which is a ballot referendum in the Nov. 7 election.


The referendum reads simply enough: “Authorizing the City of Fort Worth to recognize an employee association as a sole and exclusive bargaining agent for the municipal police officers and authorizing the City of Fort Worth to make agreements with the association as provided by law.”


Our dedicated police force is responsible in large part for our city’s lower crime rate and excellent quality of life. Many in the business community, however, believe that the “meet and confer” process is an unnecessary bargaining tool.

In fact, officers of the Fort Worth Police Officers Association (FWPOA) agree that the City of Fort Worth has dealt fairly with them on pay and benefit issues. Kevin Foster, president of the FWPOA, notes that the City Council approved a 6.5 percent increase, which will be adjusted in 2007 with another 5.5 percent increase.


“We received a fair pay raise, additional officers, and the insurance premium unchanged,” said FWPOA Secretary D.J. Scott. “I would like to compliment the City Council for taking the employee issue on pay as one of their priorities.” Clearly our police officers’ needs are being fairly addressed.


We at the Chamber fully support the Fort Worth Police Department and their initiatives to make our city one of the nation’s safest cities in which to work and live. We also fully support the implementation of the newly approved across the board pay raise and the step increases for police officers that will equal an 11.5 percent pay increase for those eligible. We believe, however, that there is no imperative for adopting a bargaining agreement such as “meet and confer” since both the City and the Police Department have worked so well together on issues such as salaries, benefits and other budgetary matters for years. In fact, former Fort Worth mayors including Bob Bolen, Kenneth Barr, and Kay Granger as well as former city managers Douglas Harman, Bob Terrell and Vernell Sturns are lining up against the proposition. It is also important to note that members of the Fort Worth Latino Police Association and the Fort Worth Black Law Enforcement Officers Association oppose “meet and confer.”


Our main concern is that contracts forged through “meet and confer” negotiations could diminish the City Council’s flexibility on budgetary matters and lead to increased taxes. Another concern is that granting police officers “meet and confer” privileges would pit police officers against fire fighters and other city employees in the allocation of budgetary resources.


“Meet and confer” supporters believe that passing the referendum merely formalizes negotiations and simplifies decision-making on such issues as work rules, hours and discipline. Other cities have adopted “meet and confer.” According to the Austin Chronicle, the city’s “meet and confer” contracts with the Austin Police Association and the Austin Association of Firefighters resulted in a three-year union contract costing $100 million. The city did not have a revenue source for this and had to increase taxes.


The City of Fort Worth’s system isn’t broken. Why should we vote for a process which has the potential to raise our taxes and create tensions at City Hall? Over the years, Fort Worth voters have shown their support for our police force by voting for a crime control and prevention district which significantly increased police funding. And the City has demonstrated its support of the police with a healthy pay raise. I believe that our business community concurs that, while we back our police completely, we do not agree that “meet and confer” is necessary or in the best interest of Fort Worth and the Chamber’s Board of Directors has passed a resolution against this proposition. I urge you to vote against this proposition on Nov. 7. Early voting runs through Nov. 3.

To learn more, log on to www.policeyesmeetandconferno.com.

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Bell Helicopter New Bowl Game Sponsor

Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. Company, is the new title sponsor the four-year old post-season college football game formerly known as the Fort Worth Bowl, which is now the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl.

 


“Bell Helicopter is pleased and proud to be the sponsor of the Armed Forces Bowl,” said Michael Redenbaugh, Bell Helicopter-Textron CEO. “Not only is it an honor to build the products our military use in performing their missions, but also to recognize them for their service to our country. Hopefully this game will provide them a little fun and relaxation during the holidays. We look forward to a great football game with thousands of military men and women in the stadium.”


“I feel that we have scored two major victories by securing a great, internationally-renowned company in Bell Helicopter as our title partner, and also by changing the name of the bowl to honor our nation’s men and women in uniform, which gives us tremendous pride,” said Tom Starr, executive director of the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl.


The Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl will feature a battle between top teams from the Mountain West Conference and Conference-USA. In 2007, the Pacific-10 Conference will rotate with Conference-USA every other year to take on a member of the Mountain West Conference.


This year’s bowl game will be filled with patriotic overtones. Included in the festivities will be a fanfest area showcasing military hardware; a flyover; a demonstration by one of the top military skydiving teams; a military band and honor guard; the presentation of a “Great American Patriot Award;” and possibly live remotes from men and women in uniform at bases throughout the world, among several other military-oriented themes.

Military veterans will receive major discounts on tickets, and all active duty personnel will be honored with complimentary tickets through contributions by various corporations. A portion of local ticket sales will go to designated military charities.


Tickets for this year’s game can be obtained by calling the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl office at (817) 810-0012, or by going to the website for more information at www.armedforcesbowl.com.

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Recap of Recent Economic Activity in Tarrant County

In the Works

New leases are in the works for the River Trails Plaza neighborhood shopping center at Precinct Line Road and Trinity Boulevard in the eastern part of the city. Potential tenants for the shopping center could include a doughnut shop and a sandwich shop.
Star Telegram, Sept. 4


Trinity Terrace, a continuing-care retirement community, is on track for its 80-unit City Tower project. Ground breaking for the 16-story tower was held Sept. 26, and already, 47 units have been reserved. Fort Worth Business Press, Sept. 4

Intercontinental Hotels Group, which owns lodging brands such as Holiday Inn, plans a number of hotels in the Tarrant County area including a 126-room Holiday Inn at Interstate 35W and Loop 820 in north Fort Worth. Groundbreaking is scheduled by year's end, and the hotel is to open by the end of 2007. Star Telegram, Sept. 11

Trammell Crow Co. is building a 13,500-square-foot outpatient surgery center at Baylor Medical Center in southwest Fort Worth. It will be called Baylor Surgicare at Oakmont. It is scheduled to open next summer. The center will be operated as a partnership of Baylor Health Care System, United Surgical Partners International and a group of doctors.Star Telegram, Sept. 25

A jazz club is coming next year to the mix of restaurants and bars in the Sundance Square entertainment district downtown. The Scat Jazz Lounge will open in the basement of the Burk Burnett Building, at the southwest corner of Main and Fourth streets, in January or February, depending on construction. Star Telegram, Sept. 21

Developer Sunny Partovi is nearing completion of the first of a four-building town-house development on a nearly 2-acre tract on the east side of Roberts Cut Off, just north of White Settlement Road in River Oaks. Partovi bought the land, once the site of a mobile-home park, about a year ago and is developing it under the name Lake Crest Development. The 20-unit development, at 420 Roberts Cut Off, is called The Park at River Oaks. Star Telegram, Sept. 18

Expansions and Moves

Harris Methodist Southwest Hospital spent nearly $90 million in the last two years, expanding and improving its facility at 6100 Harris Parkway. The five-story Mary V. and Herbert L. Pease Tower, which will more than double the hospital’s physical space and bring its bed count from 85 to 215, will include space for physicians’ offices as well as women’s services and medical/surgical beds. It was unveiled to the public during an open house on Sept. 21. Fort Worth Business Press, Sept. 4

Sewell Automotive Companies of Dallas, recently awarded an Infiniti franchise for Fort Worth, has bought some additional land in southwest Fort Worth to prepare for an expansion. Star Telegram, Sept. 4

The Texas Center for Health Disparities, more commonly known as Texas EXPORT Center and affiliated with the University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth, is expanding the services and the physical area of its Executive Health Program. Before the design phase starts, hospital officials sought feedback from the community through focus groups of executives in the area. Fort Worth Business Press, Sept. 4

Easy Ed's Auto will move from its lot on Division Street in Arlington when construction is completed on the company's new lot and office building at 3269 North Freeway. Star Telegram, Sept. 18

Futurenet Solutions, a licensed Dell reseller and a provider of sales, information technology and computer services, has moved to a 4,000-square-foot location at 1124 W. Fuller Ave., more than doubling its space. Star Telegram, Sept. 25

On the Dotted Line

After months of on-again, off-again negotiations with Fort Worth Mayor Mike Moncrief, Robert Rowling is building an Omni-branded convention center hotel that's expected to have the look and feel of Cowtown. Rowling believes that hotels built from the ground up, including the one in Fort Worth, pose more of a challenge than existing properties because the new ones don't have cash-flow numbers to indicate the hotel's health. Source Strategies, a San Antonio-based hospitality consulting firm that tracks hotels in Texas, said Omni's 11 properties in the Lone Star State have shown steady growth over the past five years. Revenue per available room, a common industry measurement for a hotel's health, has increased 36 percent since 2002, to $85.77 from $63.23. Star Telegram, Sept. 24

The Cook Children’s Health Foundation has signed two leases in the Medical District, for Suites 200 and 530 at 750 8th Ave. Place. Fort Worth Business Press, Sept. 4

Leases totaling 114,000 square feet had been signed through June 2006 at the Blue Mound Business Centre. The north Fort Worth business park has approximately 350,000 square feet, in addition to the new 55-acre Copart Auto Auction Facility. Fort Worth Business Press, Sept. 4

A nearly 100-year-old multitenant office building at 101 S. Jennings Ave. has been bought; Children's Lighthouse, an operator of child- care centers, recently purchased the three-story building. Star Telegram, Sept. 11

Sundance Behavioral Health Care Inc. said it has purchased 2.5 acres of land at the southwest corner of Rosedale Street and Jennings Street in Fort Worth for what’s expected to be a $10-$12 million psychiatric hospital. Sundance Behavioral Health Care, which treats children with mental illnesses and eating disorders at its Fort Worth outpatient clinic, expects construction of the hospital to begin in early 2007. Star Telegram, Sept. 7

Jerry’s Car Wash Ltd. has purchased two acres at North Beach Street and Thompson Road in Fort Worth and has plans to build a second location on the property. The full-service, 4,500-square-foot car wash will feature an exterior express car wash, and a 150-foot tunnel wash and free vacuum stations. Fort Worth Business Press, Sept. 11

Whitehead Smith Investments of Dallas recently purchased 52 acres along the southwest corner of Interstate Highway 35 and Golden Triangle Boulevard in north Fort Worth. Fort Worth Business Press, Sept. 18

Commercial Mortgage Connection recently placed a 10-year, $454,000 loan for the acquisition of a 4,700-square-foot office building at 701 Hemphill St. Fort Worth Business Press, Sept. 18

Northeast Tarrant Properties LLC purchased a 26,000-square-foot lot at 4705 Miller Ave. Fort Worth Business Press, Sept. 18

A more than 304,000-square-foot ConAgra Foods refrigerated warehouse in north Fort Worth has been bought by a subsidiary of AmeriCold Realty Trust, which is owned by Fort Worth-based Crescent Real Estate Equities Co., Vornado Realty Trust and The Yucaipa Cos. ConAgra recently announced plans to build an 850,000-square-foot manufacturing and distribution center in Railhead, at the northwest corner of Meacham Boulevard and Gold Spike Drive. Star Telegram, Sept. 18

San Roman Ranch Partners in Dallas bought a 178,392-square-foot warehouse at 15101 Trinity Blvd., the former Johnson & Johnson Health Care System building built in 1990. Star Telegram, Sept. 25

MGS Partners has bought a 4,650-square-foot professional office building at 701 Hemphill St., the former chiropractic office of Clifford Rogers of Springtown. Star Telegram, Sept. 25

A local investment group headed by Fort Worth accountant Richard Baumeister bought the historic Sinclair Building in downtown Fort Worth, returning the building to local ownership. The 16-story art deco office building at 512 Main St. was sold by Debir Realty Corp. in San Diego, which owned the building for more than six years. Star Telegram, Sept. 25

Prudential Insurance Co. in Dallas bought three tracts from Centreport Properties of Boston, the 148,815-square-foot Motheral Printing facility on 10.9 acres at 4251 Empire Road; a 10.8-acre tract with an office at 14800 Trinity Boulevard; and a 179,940-square-foot warehouse on 11.8 acres at 14925 Kingsport Road, according to deed records. Star Telegram, Sept. 25

Openings

TCU’s Schieffer School of Journalism has launched Real World Integrated Marketing Communications, a student-run agency that will connect advertising and public relations students with Tarrant County nonprofit organizations. Fort Worth Business Press, Sept. 11

Around Town

MindFest was held at the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History. In September, families checked out a selection of "short, innovative films that open your mind and brighten your outlook," followed by live music from local experimental electronic band Mission Giant and pizza (for sale) from Mellow Mushroom. On Saturday, Sept. 9, events included interactive light painting, digital Spirograph, building electromechanical bugs and dismantling a derelict car. Star Telegram, Sept. 8

Female business owners were invited to a Sept. 25 workshop on understanding the legal ramifications of contracts. The workshop was held at the Fort Worth Petroleum Club, on the 39th floor of Carter Burgess Plaza, 777 Main Street. Star Telegram, Sept. 11

Jazz by the Boulevard kicked off its fourth annual festival on Friday, Sept. 15: For three days, Cowtown's Cultural District became a mecca of music, food and art for all ages. This year's headliners: Branford Marsalis; Mr. “Feels So Good” Chuck Mangione; and New Orleans' famed Preservation Hall Jazz Band. Star Telegram, Sept. 15

Did You Know?

While the condominium market is on the downswing nationwide, Fort Worth is one of a handful of cities that seems to be bucking the trend. Only Salt Lake City, Seattle, Portland, Oregon, and the North Carolina triangle region rival Fort Worth’s downtown real estate renaissance. Fort Worth Business Press, Sept. 4

The Fort Worth ISD has allocated about $2 million to rebuild its music program. Included in the funds is $40,000 in grant money. Star Telegram, Sept. 6

In a special report by The Wall Street Journal, Fort Worth’s TCU Neeley School of Business was ranked No. 11 among regional business schools nationwide, higher than the University of Texas at Austin (18), Rice (26), Southern Methodist University (29) and Texas A&M (31). Star Telegram, Sept.27

Data provided by Strategic Insight Group --Intelligence Research Partner of the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce

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What’s Up with Fort Worth’s Pro Teams?

The World Series has just wound up and we are deep into the pro football season. Pro basketball is gearing up for its new season, but the focus of the next What’s Up, Fort Worth is our own local sports teams – the champion Fort Worth Cats baseball team and champion Fort Worth Flyers basketball team.

  • What: What’s Up, Fort Worth Luncheon
  • When: Thursday, Nov. 9, noon-1:30 p.m. Registration and networking begin at 11:30 a.m.
  • Where: The Fort Worth Club, 306 W. 7th St., 76102, Horizon and Terrace Rooms
  • Cost: Chamber members - $35; Gold and Preferred members - $30; non-members - $60; and corporate tables of eight - $350


Sports teams – especially championship teams – have a tremendous impact on the communities they represent. They spur pride and fan support which translate into an economic impact as well.


Representatives from each team will talk about their 2006 championship seasons and discuss their plans for the new season. The Fort Worth Cats are repeat champions of the American Association defeating the St. Paul Saints. The Fort Worth Flyers are the 2006 champs of the NBA Development League.


Click here to registar online. For more information, contact Brianna Dishman at bdishman@fortworthchamber.com or 817/336-2491, ext. 275.

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Follow the Leads Groups

Leads Groups are comprised of no more than 30 individuals with each one representing a different industry. They meet weekly, generating a great deal of business.


Participants must be members of the Fort Worth Chamber. A company may be in two leads groups until/unless that slot is needed for another company in the same industry. Gold members participate at no charge with the same restriction.


To visit a 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 fall loosely under Chamber guidelines. Consistent attendance provides the maximum benefit.

Tuesday, 11:30 a.m. -1 p.m., Texas Tornadoes
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
H3 Ranch – 109 East Exchange Ave.
Leader: Hal Dodd, 817/ 332-2061, hdodd@paychex.com.

Wednesday, 7:30 – 9 a.m., SW Morning Networking
4255 Bryant Irvin Rd., Suite 113
Leader: Jean Davis, 817/ 233-9211, jean@swtc-business.com.

NEW! Wednesday, 11:30 – 1 p.m., Women Business Leaders
Bonnell’s – 4259 Bryant Irvin Rd.
Leader: Jean Davis, 817/233-9211, jean@swtc-business.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.

For more information on Leads Groups, contact Diana Dugan at ddugan@fortworthchamber.com or 817/336-2491, ext. 258.

 

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Action Ambassador for August 2006

Troy Hutter
Action Ambassador
August 2006

Congratulations to Troy Hutter, Action Ambassador of the month for July 2006. An ambassador since October 200, Hutter is a senior account manager with Logix Communications.


“Being a single parent and new to Fort Worth, the Ambassador Program has plugged me into the Fort Worth area quickly,” said Hutter.  “The Ambassadors are amazing professionals and I feel blessed to be a volunteer for the Chamber.  The ribbon cuttings, ground breakings, and Chamber events are a blast and have helped my business grow tremendously.”


Action Ambassadors make up an important group of up to 65 dedicated Fort Worth Chamber members who devote their time and energy to assisting members, with a focus on membership retention. A critical arm of the Membership Department, Action Ambassadors attend ribbon-cutting and groundbreaking ceremonies, assist with member-retention calls and act as greeters at various Chamber functions. Currently, the program is recruiting new members; Ambassadors must be members of the Fort Worth Chamber.


Contact Teresa Pearson at 817-336-2491, ext. 249 for information on becoming an Action Ambassador.

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130 Local Businesses Nominated for 2007 Small Business Awards

The following area businesses have been nominated for the eighth annual Small Business the Year “Rising Star” Awards. Those submitting completed applications will go on for further consideration for the awards slated to be awarded in March 2007. We congratulate all of our nominees.


3B Enterprises
A.N.A. Consultants, L.L.C.
Accent Design Studio
Advanced Chemical Logistics, Ltd
Aero Components, Inc.
Affairs Afloat Ballroom Decorations
Affairs to Cater
Ajax Glass and Mirror
Alliance Audio Visual
Ambassador Real Estate Team
American Metal Services
Ark Professional Services
Artisan Studio
Associates of Internal Medicine
Awards Recognition
B.K.’s Creative Catering
BASECOM Inc.
Big Bad Wolf Creative Group
Bishop Davies Nursing Center
Brodnicki Public Relations, Inc.
Business Flooring Specialists
Buzz Custom Fence and Design
C.M. Architecture P.A.
CM IT Solutions
City Roofing Co.
Colonial Health Group
Comfort Keepers
Concussion Advertising
Cornerstone Protective Services, Inc.
Crypto Security Systems, LLC
Cuisine for a Cure
D’Bugman
Dale Berkebile Illustration Design
Diamond H. Recognition
Dolce Vita
Eagle Construction and Environmental Services
Edward Jones-Don Marable
Edward Jones Investments-Kim Campbell
Eliot Management Group
Empire Disposal, Inc.
Empire Roofing, Ltd.
First Horizon Bank
Fish Window Cleaning
Flowers to Go in Sundance Square
Fort Worth Athletic Lettering
Fort Worth Community Credit Union
Fort Worth Electric
Fort Worth Harley Davidson
FutureStone, LLC
G Texas Custom Catering
GBT Enterprises
Gordon Boswell Flowers
Graves Group Promotions
Harbuck & Associates
Higginbotham and Associates
Huckabee & Associates
IDI-Innovative Developers Inc.
Intrust Mortgage
J & S Audio Visual
Implementing Decisions, Inc.
KWH Consulting Services, Ltd.
Keller Williams Realty Fort Worth
Livingston Siegel Associates
Martin & Co.
MasterURpc
May Advertising International, Ltd.
Mays Realty Group
Maze Sign & Dist. Company
Medcalf Insurance Agency- Farmers Insurance
Mother Rucker’s Sweets
Mueller, Inc.
Nancy Degenkolb Photography
Nationwide by Owner, Inc.
Navis Pack & Ship Center
Omni Therm, Inc.
Our Fort Worth
Painless Performance Products
Penguin Promo, Inc.
Pepper L Specialties
Perfect Touch Day Spa
Printing Plus
Pulliam Pools
Rassai Interactive
Reata Restaurant
Regent Sales, Inc.
Renfro Foods, Inc.
Reprographics Fort Worth, INC
Rhythm Band Instruments, Inc.
Ridglea Office Partners
RLB Sales and Leasing
Roundtree Advertising & Marketing, Inc.
RPM
RQS, Inc.
Schwarz Hanson Architects
SEDALCO, L.P.
Servpro of East Fort Worth
Silver Valley Graphic Design
SkiHi Enterprises, Ltd.
Skin Healthy Medispa
Skyline DFW
Southwest Office Systems
Speed Fab-Crete
SPM Flow Control, Inc.
Steagall Oil Co. of Texas
SWTC Business Services, LLC.
Tarrant Business Systems
Teague Nall and Perkins, Inc.
Technology Team
Teresa’s Treasures
The Alternative Board of Fort Worth
The Buxton Company
The Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders
The Fort Worth Club
The Fory Group
The Lonesome Dove Western Bistro
The Strickland Group
Thomas Electronics, Inc.
Through the Years
Thumbtechs
TinMan Welding
Total Spectrum, LLC.
Trans-Trade, Inc
Treetops School International
Tri Hawk Media
Trophy Arts
TUSA Office Solutions
Velociter Group, LLC
William L. Knox, DDS
Williams Trew Real Estate Services
Worth National Bank

For more information on the Small Business of the Year “A Rising Star” Awards, contact Lydia Hall at lhall@fortworthchamber.com or 817/336-2491, ext. 272.

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Nash Elementary Makes TBEC 2006 Honor Roll

Charles E. Nash Elementary School made the Texas Business & Education Coaliton’s (TBEC) 2006 Honor Roll as one of Texas’ 178 top elementary schools.


The TBEC Honor Roll is the most prestigious award for sustained, academic excellence in Texas recognizing schools that have three years of consistent high performance in all subjects compared to other schools serving similar student populations. Nash is the North Area Council’s adopted school.


“We are extremely proud and elated by this honor,” said Nash Principal Pam Day. “The recognition validates the hard work and dedication of all the staff members who work at Nash. At the same time, it inspires us to work even harder to serve the stakeholders in our community. Kudos in particular to the experienced, dedicated and demanding teachers whose high expectations and insistence on excellence resulted in Nash being recognized on the TBEC Honor Roll for 2006. A job well done!”


According to TBEC Executive Director John Stevens’ letter informing Nash Principal Pam Day of the honor, “We raised the bar this year by emphasizing the percentage of students ‘passing all tests’ and achieving ‘commended on all tests.’ You and your school have truly earned a place on the Honor Roll through hard work and student achievement over time.”


An awards dinner and reception will be held in Austin in December to honor the schools. The event is sponsored by IBM, Washington Mutual and HEB. TBEC will also host a “Share the Success” seminar that afternoon giving principals the opportunity to share best practices and secrets of success.

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Calendar of Events

November


9 What’s Up, Fort Worth?, Fort Worth Sports Teams, noon-1:30 p.m. Registration and networking begin at 11:30 a.m. The Fort Worth Club, 306 W. 7th St., Horizon and Terrace Rooms, 76102. Cost is: Chamber members - $35; Gold and Preferred members - $30; non-members - $60; and corporate tables for eight - $350. Register online or with Brianna Dishman at bdishman@fortworthchamber.com or 817/336-2491, ext. 275.

16 General Membership Luncheon hosted by the Central Area Council, ”Heritage Trails” with Doug Harman, President & CEO, Fort Worth Convention & Visitors Bureau; noon-1:30 p.m. Registration and networking begin at 11:30 a.m. Presented by Wells Fargo. The City Club, 301 Commerce, Ballroom, 76102. Cost: Chamber members - $25; Gold and Preferred members - $20; non-members - $40; and tables of eight - $250. Register online or with Pennie Blossom at pblossom@fortworthchamber.com or 817/336-2491, ext. 267.

December

5 Tarrant County Business Breakfast, 7-8:30 a.m. Networking for small, minority and women owned businesses. No reservations necessary. Radisson South, formerly Holiday Inn South, 100 Alta Mesa Blvd. 76134. Full breakfast - $9, continental breakfast - $6. For more information, contact Teresa Pearson at tpearson@fortworthchamber.com or 817/336-2491, ext. 249.


13 Lunch & Learn, “Negotiating 101” with Barry Greve., 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Blue Mesa Grill, 1600 S. University, 76107. Cost of lunch $12, paid on site. Register online. For more information, contact Doris Becker at dbecker@fortworthchamber.com or 817/336-2491, ext. 288.

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Southern Living: ‘Surprises in Fort Worth’

You won’t find a better city in the South to spend a weekend than Fort Worth. It’s lively, walkable, and friendly and makes a great spot to take a breather from the holiday frenzy. Stay at Sundance Square, and enjoy fine food, great shopping, skyline views, and a day of museum hopping.


Only a few short blocks from Sundance Square, the city’s cultural district features an amazing lineup of artistic gems – the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, the Kimbell Art Museum, and the Amon Carter Museum. Spend a day strolling through all three, and you’ll see some of the best art on the planet.


The Modern is the new kid on the block. The collection is a who’s who of the art world, from Andy Warhol to Jackson Pollock to Mark Rothko. Café Modern, the museum’s restaurant, opens onto a patio beside the pond and provides tasty food and one of the best views in the city.


Across the street from the Modern, the Kimbell holds a small but world-renowned collection of more classic work, from paintings by Cezanne to sculpture from the Italian Renaissance.


The Amon Carter Museum, one block from the Kimbell, also claims world-class status, this time for American art from the 19th and 20th centuries. Solid limestone walls remind you that you’re in Texas, as does the artwork, much of it exceptional landscape paintings of the West, cowboy art, Remington sculptures, and photography.


Home base for your weekend is Sundance square, the 20-block area at the center of downtown. Parking is free on weekends, so you can ditch the car and stroll on a warm late-fall day.

November 2007

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North Texas Employers Recognized with Air Quality Awards

Representatives of the Best Workplaces for Commuters receive their plaques at the October awards luncheon.


The list of companies doing their part to improve air quality continues to grow. For their contributions, 53 Dallas-Fort Worth area companies were recognized last month with a spot on the list of Best Workplaces for CommutersSM.


The Best Workplaces for CommutersSM campaign, sponsored by the North Texas Clean Air Coalition (NTCAC) and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), is an innovative, voluntary business-government program that provides national recognition to employers offering outstanding commuter benefits. Employers qualify by offering benefits such as free or low cost transit passes, strong telecommute programs, or vanpool subsidies.


Employers submitting applications showing they meet the EPA's “National Standard of Excellence” in commuter benefits make the list of Best Workplaces for CommutersSM — a fast-growing mark of excellence in environmental leadership. Winners were honored at award luncheons in Fort Worth on Oct. 18 and in Dallas on Oct. 19.


In addition to the Best Workplaces for CommutersSM award, NTCAC also recognizes local commuters and employers who have demonstrated that alternatives to drive-alone commuting such as transit, carpools, and telecommuting are economically beneficial, yielding value to workers, employers, and our environment.
Fort Worth Area Winners included:

  • Employer of the Year, Over 500 Employees – General Services Administration.
  • Employer of the Year, Under 500 Employees – Motheral Printing
  • Top-Ranked Commuter Challenge Employer Awards, Over 500 Employees – Tarrant County
  • Top-Ranked Commuter Challenge Employer Awards, Under 500 Employees – Lockheed Martin Aeronautics
  • Employee Transportation Coordinator of the Year – Kirsten Walker, American Airlines
  • Vanpool of the Year – Nerissa Miller, TXU
  • Vanpool Driver of the Year – Roy Morrison, Vought Aircraft


Clean Air Partners Awards were presented to the City of North Richland Hills; Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce; Fort Worth Economic Development Corp.; Lockheed Martin Aeronautics; The Office Depot; Project Partners; TCU; Texas Department of Transportation – Fort Worth District; Texas Health Resources; and Witherspoon & Associates.


2006 sponsors who have enabled NTCAC to continue promoting cleaner air in North Texas include Foundation Sponsor TXU Power. Bell Helicopter, The Container Store, and Texas Instruments were aiding sponsors.


NTCAC was formed in 1993 to educate North Texans about air quality and encourage individuals to “do their share for cleaner air.” Members of the coalition include the North Central Texas Council of Governments, the North Texas Commission, the Greater Dallas Chamber, the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, Dallas Area Rapid Transit, the Fort Worth Transportation Authority, the Denton County Transportation Authority, as well as numerous individuals, cities and businesses.


During the region’s ozone season (May – October), the North Texas Clean Air Coalition promotes alternatives to drive-alone commuting through advertising, employer outreach, e-mail campaigns, media relations and the Web-based Commuter Challenge.

Employer of the Year
Over 500 Employees

General Services Administration

  Fort Worth Chamber President Bill Thornton presents Tony Bridges of the General Services Administration with the Employer of the Year (Over 500 Employees).

 

Employer of the Year
Under 500 Employees

Motheral Printing

Erin Pierson accepts the Employer of the Year (Under 500 Employees) Award on behalf of Motheral Printing from Bill Thornton.  

 

Top-Ranked Commuter Challenge Employer Awards
Under 500 Employees

Tarrant County

  NTCAC Chair Mark Burroughs awards Tarrant County Commissioner Marti VanRavenswaay the Top-Ranked Commuter Challenge Employer Award (Under 500 Employees) on behalf of Tarrant County.

 

Top-Ranked Commuter Challenge Employer Awards
Over 500 Employees

Lockheed Martin Aeronautics
Mark Burroughs, Chairman of the North Texas Clean Air Coalition, presents Brenda Gee of Lockheed Martin Aeronautics the Top-Ranked Commuter Challenge Employer Award (Over 500 Employees).  

 

Vanpool of the Year

Nerissa Miller, TXU

  NCTCOG’s Mike Eastland presents TXU’s Nerissa Miller with the Vanpool of the Year Award.

 

Vanpool Driver of the Year

Roy Morrison, Vought Aircraft

Mike Eastland, executive director of the North Central Texas Council of Governments, awards Roy Morrison, Vought Aircraft, with the Vanpool Driver of the Year Award.  

 

 

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Recent Ribbon Cuttings

A ribbon cutting marking the grand opening of Laparoscopy, Bariatrics & Surgery, a specialized surgery center, was held at the 2501 Park View Dr., Suite 560 location. For more information, contact Heather Earheart at 817/850-1100.

In celebration of new ownership, a ribbon cutting was held at Fort Worth Harley Davidson, a motorcycle sales and service facility located at 3025 W. Loop 820. To learn more about the dealership, call Maegan Yehle at 817/696-9090.

Paddy Red’s Irish Pub also celebrated new ownership with a recent ribbon cutting at the 903 Throckmorton location. Contact Angie Helms at 817/332-4747 to find out more.

A “re-grand opening” was the reason for a ribbon cutting held at Jasmine Nail & Day Spa at 5441 S. Hulen. Sonny Vo can has the details at 817/361-8979.

Schola Cantorum of Texas, Inc. held a ribbon cutting in honor of its new location at 1300 Gendy St., Suite 260 – in the Fort Worth Community Arts Center. For more information, contact Carol Pyle at 817/732-SONG.

For more information contact:
Arden Dufilho
Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce
817-336-2491 Ext. 259

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