The Fort Worth Chamberletter

Accepting the Vision Fort Worth 20/20 Awards for their companies were (l tor): Chip Hanna, Balcom Agency; Mark Thielke, Community Bank; Tommy Lawler, Weaver; and Bob Pence, Freese and Nichols, Inc.

Vision Fort Worth, the Chamber of Commerce’s program for young professionals (YPs), has honored four Tarrant County businesses with the inaugural 20/20 Awards in recognition of the companies’ commitments to attracting, retaining and engaging professionals between the ages of 20 and 40.

Winners were selected by Vision Fort Worth members from nine finalists among a field of 38 nominees and 25 applicants. In a three-pronged process, companies were granted points on a written application, a survey of their YP employees, and an online vote from Vision Fort Worth members and others.

Criteria included benefits, training and empowerment, community and quality of life and the recruitment and recognition of young professionals. The awards are a tribute to forward-thinking companies with “perfect vision” that make Fort Worth a better place for young talent to live, work and play, Chamber officials said.

Finalists were honored at a May 12 reception at Reata Restaurant in downtown Fort Worth. After a special performance by the Four Day Weekend Improvisational Comedy troupe, winners were announced:

Small company – Balcom Agency, a marketing, advertising, interactive and public relations firm. More than 70 percent of Balcom’s 25 employees are Generation Y (those born during the 1980s and early ’90s). Balcom’s training and empowerment for YPs involve skill set training, mentoring, education reimbursement and support for involvement in professional organizations.

Mid-size company – Community Bank, a family-owned, independent bank with 153 employees, 29 percent of whom are YPs. Community Bank’s empowerment for YPs includes training in areas such as leadership, skill sets and customer relations along with flexible work schedules, a health club discount and a team bonus plan.

Large company – Weaver, a financial planning firm with 382 employees, 67 percent of whom are YPs. Weaver’s support of YPs ranges from training in many areas to support such as paid time off to study for the CPA exam, pay for licensing fees, a women’s initiative commitment, a flexible work schedule and team bonus program.

Best Overall – Freese and Nichols, Inc., a consulting firm with 450 employees, 53 percent of whom are YPs. Freese and Nichols provides professional development in a wide range of training programs along with education reimbursement, an individual performance plan, time off for community service and a team bonus plan.

Sponsors of the event were Concussion, Fort Worth, Texas magazine, Bank of Texas, Bell Helicopter, Chesapeake Energy, and Healthpoint.

In a first for Tarrant County, the Fort Worth Chamber’s young professionals group, Vision Fort Worth, is launching an awards and recognition program in 2010 for companies that excel in attracting, retaining and engaging young talent.

The 20/20 Awards will measure how companies make Fort Worth a better place for YPs to live, work and play, and will be nominated, judged and voted upon by the YPs themselves. Vision Fort Worth defines YPs as being between the ages of 20 and 40.

“We want to recognize and encourage companies that have a clear and long-term vision for valuing and grooming young professionals for career development and community leadership,” said Charlie Royer, account executive with Royer & Schutts and chairman of Vision Fort Worth.

Bill Thornton, president and CEO of the Fort Worth Chamber, said, “This is the next step in a critical initiative to attract and keep young talent in our workforce. The business community has responded with support and mentoring, and the young professionals have embraced the opportunities. Now it’s time to shine a spotlight on the outstanding companies who are leading the way.”

Five awards will be given: three based on company size, one non-profit and one for overall excellence.

Nominations may be made online at www.visionfw.com, and applications will be sent to all nominees. Applications will ask for examples of unique or unusual ways the company recognizes or provides a voice to its YPs, as well as benefits, training and empowerment, and quality of life offerings. Applications are due March 12 by noon.

A judging panel of Vision Fort Worth members will evaluate the applicants and choose up to three finalists per category. In April, after conducting a survey of the finalists’ YP employees as part of the final evaluation, YPs will vote online to determine the winners. An awards ceremony is planned for May 2010.

For more information or an application, contact Brianna Broussard, manager of Vision Fort Worth, at bbroussard@fortworthchamber.com or 817-338-3311.