Fort Worth’s workforce of tomorrow is sitting in classrooms today. 

That connection was at the center of the Fort Worth Chamber’s recent State of Economic Impact: Workforce Starts Here, which brought together leaders from business, K-12, and higher education to discuss how Fort Worth can build the talent pipeline needed to support a fast-growing economy. 

Across two conversations—The Business of Education and Classrooms to Career—one message was clear: education and economic development are inseparable. 

Public Education Is a Business Issue 

During the opening fireside chat, Fort Worth ISD Superintendent Dr. Peter Licata and Fort Worth Chamber President and CEO Steve Montgomery, moderated by FWISD Board of Managers member and Dean of the Texas A&M Law School Bobby Ahdieh, discussed the connection between strong schools and a strong business environment. 

Employers compete for talent every day, and companies make decisions about whether to locate, remain, or grow in Fort Worth based in part on workforce availability and quality. That makes a high-performing public education system a critical piece of the city’s economic infrastructure. 

The conversation emphasized reading and math proficiency, attendance, effective teachers, and career readiness, while also highlighting the communication, collaboration, problem-solving, and digital skills employers need. 

Business Engagement Starts Early 

Employers can help students connect learning with opportunity through internships, apprenticeships, mentorships, teacher externships, and industry-supported programs. 

For the Chamber, there is an opportunity to make that engagement easier and more scalable, particularly for businesses that have opportunities to offer but may not have the infrastructure to build programs independently. 

As Montgomery emphasized, the business community must remain a constructive, sustained partner in public education. 

Turning Workforce Needs Into Career Pathways 

The Classrooms to Career panel demonstrated what that partnership can accomplish. 

Azle ISD Superintendent Todd Smith shared how employer partnerships created programs in industrial refrigeration and crane operations, allowing students to earn industry-recognized certifications and gain hands-on experience. 

Tarrant County College Northwest President Dr. Zarina Blankenbaker discussed TCC’s work with the FAA and industry partners to develop an air traffic control program in response to workforce shortages. UTA Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Tamara L. Brown shared how business and community input helped shape the university’s new hospitality management programs, with industry partners providing scholarships, expertise, and internships. 

The model is simple but powerful: identify a workforce need, bring employers and educators together, and create a pathway from the classroom to a career. 

The Chamber’s Role: Convene, Connect, and Advocate 

These conversations reinforce why the Fort Worth Chamber has an important role in public education. 

As the leading voice for business in Fort Worth, the Chamber brings employers, educators, and community partners together around the workforce needs shaping our economy. By convening stakeholders, advocating for a strong business environment, and helping employers become part of the solution, the Chamber can strengthen both educational outcomes and Fort Worth’s long-term economic competitiveness. 

Fort Worth cannot depend solely on attracting talent from elsewhere. We must also ensure students growing up here are prepared to access the opportunities being created here. 

Workforce development doesn’t begin when a position opens. It begins in the classroom—and building Fort Worth’s future workforce is work we must do together. 

Watch the full video of the event here:

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