sponsors - Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce

SPONSORS
Presenting Sponsor
E n t e rta i n m e n t S p o n s o r
P l at i n u m S p o n s o rs
Program Sponsor
Cantey Hanger, LLP
Cash America International, Inc.
Frost
Huguley Memorial Medical Center
Integra Realty Resources DFW
Bank of America
Bank of Texas
Community Trust Bank
Fidelity Investments
G o l d S p o n s o rs
Jackson Walker L.L.P.
Jacobs
Southwest Bank
Weaver
Western Production Company
S i lv e r S p o n s o rs
Fort Worth Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
The T
Haynes and Boone, LLP
The University of Texas at Arlington
HOLT CAT
WhitneySmith Company
Sundance Square
B r o n z e S p o n s o rs
AllianceTexas - A Development of Hillwood
Balfour Beatty Construction
Chesapeake Energy Corporation
Cook Children’s Health Care System
Coors Distributing Company of Fort Worth
Dunaway Associates, L.P.
Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo
Freese and Nichols, Inc.
Jones Lang LaSalle
Justin Brands, Inc.
Kelly Hart & Hallman LLP
Omni Fort Worth Hotel
Oncor Electric Delivery
Open Channels Group
Pier 1 Imports
PlainsCapital Bank
c r e at i v e s e rv i c e s
Tarrant Couny College District
Texas Christian University
Texas Health Resources
THE WORTHINGTON RENAISSANCE FORT
WORTH HOTEL
UNT Health Science Center
Wells Fargo
Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County
Creative Services by Flying Gorilla Studios LLC.
AG E N D A
CA L L TO O R D ER
Mistress of Ceremonies
Susan Halsey
Jackson Walker, LLP
N AT I O N A L A N T H EM
Corrie Donovan
Fort Worth Opera
LUNCH
I N T R O D U CT I O N S A N D R EC O G N I T I O N
Susan Halsey
I N C O M I N G C H A I R M A N 'S R EM A R KS
Whit Smith
WhitneySmith Company, Inc.
S P I R I T O F E N T E R P R I S E AWA R D I N T R O D U CT I O N
Susan Halsey
S P I R I T O F E N T E R P R I S E AWA R D P R ES EN TAT I O N
Wells Fargo
Whit Smith & John Gavin
I N T R O D U CT I O N O F K EY N OT E S P EA K ER
Whit Smith
K EY N OT E A D D R ESS
Joel Kotkin
A DJ O U R N M EN T
Susan Halsey
Dannon Fort Worth was originally a fluid milk dairy privately owned and operated by prominent
Ft. Worthian, V.W. Boswell. A few areas of today’s plant were built as early as 1924. Ending
private ownership, Beatrice Foods bought the Boswell Dairy and in 1977 converted the plant into
a Dannon facility for the production of yogurt. The BSN Groupe then purchased Dannon in 1982
where two expansions have resulted in the facility you see today. Today, Dannon is a subsidiary
of multinational Groupe Danone based in Paris, France.
Our diverse workforce is composed of talented professionals from all over the DFW metroplex,
the U.S. and the world. This is a union plant affiliated with Local Teamsters Union #997. We
currently employ approximately 180 Danoners at this facility.
The facility is designed with state of the art equipment and technology. The capital and human
resource investments in Fort Worth have made and will continue to make it a major success story
and an exciting place to work and grow.
Interested in growing your career while making history? Dannon might be a healthy fit for you!
Spirit of Enterprise Award
Wells Fargo
Wells Fargo stagecoaches thunder through the annals of Fort
Worth’s Old West history.
Henry Wells and William G. Fargo had founded Wells Fargo
on March 18, 1852, in New York City to provide Gold Rush
pioneers with banking and express services.
In 1887, the five-year-old Fort Worth Board of Trade (now
the Fort Worth Chamber) celebrated Wells Fargo’s new Express
office at 403 Main St. That iconic name now brands the high-rise
Wells Fargo Tower downtown at 201 Main St.
Inside, an original Wells Fargo stagecoach from the 1860s
is on public display in the lobby where it speaks of an historic
institution not parked in the past but always moving forward.
Wells Fargo stands as a vital partner with Fort Worth as
Cowtown moves into new frontiers of growth and quality of
life. As a loyal partner in progress and an outstanding corporate
citizen, the Wells Fargo team delivers cornerstone difference to
Fort Worth’s businesses, industries and civic efforts.
In the Fort Worth metro area, about 1,600 Wells Fargo team
members and 76 banking stores help customers to succeed
financially and share expertise with the community – from serving
on boards to working with schools, social-service agencies and
various local projects.
Wells Fargo Regional President John Gavin
Last year in this region, Wells Fargo donated more than $2
million to nonprofit organizations and educational institutions.
Team members volunteered more than 20,000 hours of their time to support organizations of their choice.
This past December, Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) donated $5.53 million to 52 nonprofit
organizations nationwide through its Leading the Way Home Program Priority Markets Initiative to help stabilize
and revitalize neighborhoods. Recipients included Trinity Habitat for Humanity, 3345 S. Jones St.
Wells Fargo sponsored the first marker on the Heritage Trails walking tour of downtown Fort Worth history.
“The Stage Leaves From Here” was dedicated in November 2006. The bronze plaque states: “On July 18, 1856, the
United States mail line brought the first stagecoach to Fort Worth on its way to Fort Belknap.”
As a Fort Worth Chamber member, Wells Fargo is an active and generous sponsor of many programs,
including the Leaders in Government and the Sports Series.
The bank supports the Chamber at the highest dues level – the Chamber’s Circle of Advisors – and invests in
the Economic Development Division’s Controlling Our Destiny (COD) fund. Regional President John Gavin served as
Fort Worth Chamber chairman in FY 2003.
The Chairman’s Spirit of Enterprise Award was
initiated in 1975 to recognize local companies that
have made significant contributions to the development
of our community.
Selected by the four most recent chairs of the Fort
Worth Chamber of Commerce, the recipient is
selected for its contributions to the advancement and
prosperity of the city, as well as its commitment to the
preservation of the American private enterprise system.
S P I R I T O F EN T ER P R I S E AWA R D R EC I P I E N T S
2000 TXU Electric & Gas
2001 Carter & Burgess, Inc.
2002 XTO Energy Inc.
2004 Sundance Square
2005 Texas Christian University
2006 JPMorgan Chase
2007 Lockheed Martin
2008 Gideon Toal
2009 DFW International Airport
2010 Amon Carter Museum of American Art
2011 Wells Fargo Bank
For a complete list of recipients, visit fortworthchamber.com
Our priorities are
the same as yours
XTO Energy is proud to be
p a r t o f Fo r t Wo r t h ’ s r i c h
heritage and we salute your
dedication to making sure this
is a great place to live and work
for future generations.
That is why it is important to
us to operate safely, provide
jobs, support education and
protect the land around us so
our communities remain strong
for our families, our friends
and our neighbors.
www.xtoenergy.com
Keynote Spea ker
Joel Kotkin is a leading expert on the evolution of cities, towns, and
rural places across the world. A visionary social thinker, Joel has a keeneye on economic, political and the vital issues facing regions, major
cities and countries.
He is the author of The Next Hundred Million: America in 2050,
a look at America 40 years from now, examining how we will live and
work as the US population increases to one hundred million.
Joel’s previous book, The City: A Global History, examines the
history and evolution of urban life. Another best-seller, Tribes, explored
the role of ethnicity and culture in business success.
His work on the future of cities, towns, and regions focuses on
economic revitalization, the future of the middle class, and the role
demographics and culture play in the rise of regions and countries.
Joel is the author of numerous reports on topics such as Best Cities
to Do Business, Best Cities for Jobs, Immigration and Diversity and the
issue of Upward Mobility in global cities.
Photo courtesy Joel Kotkin
Joel is a Distinguished Presidential Fellow in Urban Futures at
Chapman University; a Senior Visiting Fellow at Civil Service College,
Singapore; a Fellow at National Chamber Foundation and a contributing
Editor to the City Journal, published by the Manhattan Institute.
F isca l Y ea r 2 0 1 1 - 2 0 1 2 H i ghl i gh ts
In 1882, city leaders organized the Fort Worth Board
of Trade to grow the “queen city of the plains.” Local
prospects for robust economic expansion seemed
limitless. Just like today. If that pioneer Board, which
became the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce in 1912,
could glimpse results of its vision 130 years later, there
would be celebration, considering these Chamber
highlights from 2011-12.
MEMBER PROGRAMS
The Chamber expanded its benefit levels of
membership to seven tiers to meet its 2,000 members’
business goals. Levels range from a base membership
of $435 annually to $30,000+, depending on business
size and benefits desired.
Members received more than 3,500 referrals from
Chamber staff, and the online member directory was
searched 42,936 times. Business generated in weekly
Leads Group meetings resulted in more than $3
million in sales this past year.
A joint research project led by the Chamber’s Women
Influencing Business (WIB) program set out to
define ideal workplaces for women. With assistance
from Texas Woman University’s Small Business
Institute (SBI), work was done in collaboration with
the Fort Worth Hispanic Chamber and Metropolitan
Black Chamber. Findings established criteria for the
Chamber’s inaugural “Best Workplaces for Women”
award.
Mayor Betsy Price sketched city priorities and
initiatives in her first State of the City address. The
Feb. 23 event at Fort Worth Convention Center drew
1,400 attendees, setting record levels of attendance
and revenue at what is the Chamber’s largest annual
program. Price, who introduced a new Q&A format
for response to the public’s questions, covered issues
ranging from the city’s budgetary challenges to
transportation priorities.
Tarrant County Judge Glen Whitley inaugurated
the annual State of the County report. In a Nov. 17
presentation at the Omni Fort Worth hotel, Whitley
outlined the county’s operations and involvement in
a wide range of challenges affecting one of the United
States’ fastest-growing counties. The event, originated
by the Fort Worth Chamber, was presented by Tarrant
Area Chambers of Commerce.
Federal health care reform and wellness initiatives
were explored at the Chamber’s annual Health
Care Summit in November. The half-day event at
Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary focused
heavily on reforms that are part of the Patient
Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA).
The Chamber’s Impact Your Business series for
small business executives was repackaged to deliver
breakfast and lunch meetings with tight focus on
professional and business-development topics
suggested by members. About 1,000 attendees
benefited from 10 workshops with topics like social
media strategy, web marketing, selling a business and
tax preparation.
Celebrating its 25th year, the annual Golf Classic
Sept. 19 at Ridglea Country Club drew more than
300 players. The event continues to be one of the
Chamber’s largest fundraisers.
Dubbed the Sports Series, successful high-profile
luncheons included the Colonial Preview, TCU football
preview with Coach Gary Patterson and a Texas
Rangers Q&A with CEO and president Nolan Ryan.
Judge Glen Whitley (l), seen here with Chamber Vice Chair Whit
Smith, spoke at the first State of the County address in November.
GOVERNMENT AND URBAN AFFAIRS
The Chamber’s legislative agenda encountered budget
knives and competing interests in the 82nd Legislature
but emerged with key victories. Efforts blocked
initiatives that could have ended the Texas Enterprise
Fund (TEF) and the Emerging Technology Fund
(ETF). Legislation increased the Texas Enterprise Fund
F isca l Y ea r 2 0 1 1 - 2 0 1 2 H i ghl i gh ts
Fort Worth Chamber officials and members teamed
up April 16-18 with the Dallas Regional Chamber for
the bi-annual Congressional Summit with North
Texas’ congressional delegation and policymakers in
Washington, D.C. This was the second such joint effort
by the chambers and sought to keep local and regional
priorities foremost in lawmakers’ minds.
NEW MEDIA
Mayor Betsy Price’s first State of the City luncheon drew more than
1,400 attendees. Chamber Past Chairman Ben Loughry engaged the
mayor in a Q&A format with questions submitted online prior to the
event.
(TEF) from $67 million to $150 million and transferred
$20 million to workforce programs. Meanwhile, the
Legislature freed up another $3 billion of bonding
authority for transportation projects, which voters
approved in 2007 when they passed Proposition 12.
Long-awaited work began on the $103 million Tower
55 Multi-Modal Project southeast of downtown Fort
Worth. The project will expand rail capacity by 30
percent at one of the United States’ most congested rail
intersections. Around 90 trains carrying freight and
passengers pass through Tower 55 daily, stalling rail
traffic up to 50 miles away. Plans for the public-private
initiative led by BNSF Railway and Union Pacific
include building a third north-south rail line and
improvements at several pedestrian crossings to make
them safer.
Chisholm Trail Parkway groundbreaking ceremonies
on Dec. 20 celebrated a 40-year-old dream come
true. When fully opened to traffic in 2014, the $1.4
billion, 27.6-mile toll road from downtown Fort
Worth south to Cleburne in Johnson County will end
gridlock along I35 and in west Fort Worth while
tapping extensive economic development potential
along the way. The project is a collaboration between
the North Texas Tollway Authority, Texas Department
of Transportation, the North Central Texas Council
of Governments (NCTCOG), Tarrant and Johnson
counties, along with the cities of Fort Worth, Burleson
and Cleburne, and Western Railroad and Union Pacific
Railroad.
My Chamber App, a free interactive mobile
application that allows smartphone users to carry
the chamber member directory in their pockets. The
free application is available for iPhone, Droid and
Blackberry.
An iPad membership sales presentation was
developed that allows a customized approach for
eachfor additional search engine optimization.
A suite of websites for the Chamber, Economic
Development and Vision Fort Worth, with fresh
design and improved navigation, is in development for
a launch this summer.prospective member meeting.
Digital versions of the Newcomer’s and Economic
Development guides are now available along with print
versions of those reference products. Content also is
carried on Livability.com and BusinessClimate.com
Groundbreaking ceremonies for Chisholm Trail Parkway in December
included (visible l to r): NCTCOG Director of Transportation Micheal
Morris, State Senator Wendy Davis, Tarrant County Judge Glen Whitley, Mayor Betsy Price, Johnson County Judge Roger Harmon, NTTA
Chairman Kenneth Barr, former Mayor Mike Moncrief, and Tarrant
County Commissioner Roy Brooks.
F iscal Y ea r 2 0 1 1 - 2 0 1 2 Hi ghl i gh ts
AWARDS
Business Executive of the Year – Paul Andrews, CEO of
TTI.
2012 Small Business of the Year Award – Ellerbe
Fine Foods (Emerging Business category), IFC Benefit
Solutions (1-10 Employees category), Hahnfeld Hoffer
Stanford (11-50 Employees category) and Harris
Packaging Corporation (51-150 Employees category).
“Best Workplaces for Women” – Sanford, Baumeister
& Frazier PLL; Hillwood; and Chesapeake Energy
Corporation.
Women Influencing Business leaders Cynthia Sadler (l) and Lynn
Montgomery (r) welcomed Barbara Pierce Bush as the keynote speaker at
the inaugural Best Workplaces for Women Awards in November.
Business community responds to “Retire the Debt” campaign
The Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce is
well on the way to retiring its pension debt, thanks to
unprecedented financial support from the business
community and bold moves by Chamber leaders. A
Texas-size thank-you to supporters is due and offered.
Annual $100,000 payments through 2014 on
a $1.2 million loan in 2010 from Southwest Bank are
funded, and we’re working on a plan to pay the lumpsum payment that will come due in 2015.
The moves, including a shift to an employee
401(k) plan, stem from a Chamber decision to correct a
pension challenge that has become a common problem
nationwide as private- and public-sector employers
grapple with funding defined benefit plans.
The Chamber has used part of its reserves along
with the loan and pension trust assets to liquidate the
pension. Unique support from Fort Worth’s business
community made the difference in response to Chamber
leaders’ “Retire the Debt” fundraising initiative last
year. The first such effort in Chamber history was
spearheaded by the past 10 board chairs and several
other Chamber leaders.
With the pension terminated and a financial
strategy at work, the Chamber’s top financial priority is
to get the debt retired so the staff can continue to drive
the Chamber’s value to the business community.
Our thanks also to the fundraising committee:
Brian Barnard, Vernon Bryant, John Gavin, Allan
Howeth, Tim Petrus, Danny Smith, Joe Thompson, Dan
Berce, Tim Carter, Albon Head, Jeff King, John Roach,
Whit Smith, Rice Tilley, Mike Berry, Arnie Gachman, Bob
Herchert, Ben Loughry, Pollard Rogers, John Stevenson
and Wes Turner.
our thanks to these companies:
Acme Brick Company
Anonymous (4)
AZZ, Inc.
Balcom Agency
Bank of Texas
Bennett Benner Pettit Architects + Planners
BNSF Railway Company
Burnett Oil Co.
Cantey Hanger LLP
Cash America International, Inc.
Colonial Savings, F.A.
Community Trust Bank
Encana Oil & Gas (USA) Inc.
First Command Bank
Freese and Nichols, Inc.
Frost Bank
Gachman Metals
GM Financial
Harvey Properties
Haynes and Boone, LLP
Healthpoint Biotherapeutics
Higginbotham
Hub International Rigg
Integra Realty Resources DFW
Jackson Walker L.L.P.
JaGee Holdings, LLP
James R. Harris Partners, L.L.C.
JBC Funding LLC
J.P.Morgan
Kelly Hart & Hallman LLP
Luther King Capital Management
Mac Churchill Acura
Moncrief Interests
OmniAmerican Bank
Oncor Electric Delivery
Plaza Medical Center of Fort Worth
Quicksilver Resources, Inc.
Roach Enterprises
Sanford, Baumeister & Frazier LLP
Southwest Bank
Star-Telegram
Sundance Square
Texas Christian University
Texas Health Resources
Texas Jet, Inc.
The Ashton Hotel
The Dike Company, Inc.
The Fort Worth Club & Tower,
The WhitneySmith Company, Inc.
The Worthington Renaissance Fort Worth Hotel
Transwestern
TTI, Inc.
Vernon Bryant
Walsh Ranch LP
Wells Fargo
Whitley Penn
Vis ion F o r t Wo r t h
Membership
Vision FW continues to work on engaging young
professionals within the Chamber and the community
by offering a wide variety of programs and events for
any interest. During the programs 5th year, membership
grew to over 400 young professionals represented by
diverse industry sectors and
companies.
See and be Seen
During the 2011-2012 program year, Vision FW hosted
over 15 events ranging from social gatherings to
community involvement.
Vision FW Day at the Crowne Plaza Invitational
at Colonial
For the first time, Vision FW hosted the Skybox at scenic
hole No. 13 where attendees were able tcheer on the
finest PGA TOUR players.
Vision FW Mayoral Candidate Forum
In May 2011, Vision FW invited members to hear
directly from the candidates for Mayor of Fort Worth
before heading to the voting booth. Individuals had
the opportunity to tell the candidates what issues were
most important to them as young leaders, and submit
specific questions for this forum.
Rangers Outing
Vision FW members had the honor of hearing from
Rangers GM Jon Daniels during a special evening out at
Rangers Ballpark. After dinner and comments from Mr.
Daniels, the group watched the Rangers take on the Red
Sox.
Vision in Action
Vision FW members donated a combined total of 430
hours of their time to the community, supporting a
number of community organizations including the
Tarrant Area Food Bank, Cowboy Santas, Halo Society
and The Presbyterian Night Shelter. They served over
400 meals at the Presbyterian Night Shelter, donated
over 3,000 lbs. of food to the Tarrant Area Food Bank,
stuffed nearly 300 backpacks with supplies for students
and collected toys for the holiday season.
Archit Sanghvi, Pearl Hospitality, was a table leader at the Big Brainstorm, where Fort Worth’s young professionals shared and refined ideas
for the city’s future.
Big Brainstorm
The Big Brainstorm series was created to encouraging
young citizens across Fort Worth to be more civically
engaged. During the first event on December 2nd, Fort
Worth’s young residents had the opportunity to identify,
prioritize and address issues of concern to them. The
event was hosted in partnership with Leadership
FW and Mayor Betsy Price’s Steer FW. The event
attracted nearly 250 young leaders from around the
city for a discussion of how to make an impact in their
community.
20/20 Awards
For the second time, Vision FW recognized the
companies that excel in attracting, retaining and
engaging young talent. The award measured how
companies make Fort Worth a better place for YPs to
live, work, and play.
20/20 Award Winners 2012
Open Channels Group - Small Company
Hartman Leito & Bolt, LLP - Mid-Size Company
Catholic Charities Fort Worth - Large Company
Bell Helicopter - Best Overall
Fort Worth, D-FW and Texas In the News
1. Dallas-Fort Worth ranks No. 4 as top moving destination. (Penske Truck Rental annual survey, Feb. 2012)
2. Dallas/Fort Worth ranks among top 12 metros that posted job gains in the past decade, US Census.
(Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2012)
3. Fort Worth ranks fourth-best city in U.S. for job growth. (NewGeography.com, May 2012)
4. Fort Worth selected as a recipient of the All-America City designation. (National Civic League, 2011)
5. Fort Worth Fairmount neighborhood named Neighborhood of the Year for Social Revitalization and Neighborliness. (USA Neighborhoods, 2011)
6. Fort Worth ranked No. 14 on the list of “America’s 20 Can-Do Capitals.” (Newsweek, 2011)
7. Fort Worth named fastest-growing major metropolitan area in U.S. (U.S. Census Bureau, 2011)
8. Dallas-Fort Worth ranked No. 2 on the list of “The Top 20 Fastest Growing U.S. Metros, 2000-2010.”
(Rice University’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research, 2011)
9. Dallas-Fort Worth named No. 7 on the list of “The Next Biggest Boom Towns in the U.S.” (Forbes, 2011)
10. Dallas-Fort Worth region named the Top Major Market of the Decade.
(Southern Business and Development, 2011)
Assessment.” (Brookings Institution, 2011)
(The Business Journal’s On Numbers, 2011)
(Builder magazine, 2011)
11. Dallas-Fort Worth ranked No. 10 in the report “Sizing the Clean Economy: A National and Regional Green Jobs 12. Dallas-Fort Worth named No. 5 on list of “Best Places for Young Adults to Start Their Careers.”
13 Dallas-Fort Worth area named in the “Top 20 Healthiest Metropolitan Housing Markets.”
14. Texas named the 8th most sustainable state in the U.S. (Site Selection, 2011)
15. Texas ranked 2nd among the best states in the nation for business. (CNBC, 2011)
16. Texas accounts for 37% of net U.S. job creation since June 2009. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2011)
17. Texas ranked 6th-lowest on State-Local Tax Burden. (Tax Foundation, 2011)
18. Texas ranked No. 13 for positive State Tax Business Climate. (Tax Foundation, 2011)
19. Texas named “Best State for Business” for 7th consecutive year. (CEO magazine, 2011)
20. Texas was No. 1 choice of U.S. executives polled ranking the states with the best business climate.
(survey conducted by Development Counselors International, 2011)
CIRCLE O F A D V ISORS
The Circle of Advisors is the top tier level of Fort Worth Chamber membership. As champions of our region’s
economic development and prosperity, these companies’ robust dues commitments enable the Chamber to
vigorously carry out its mission to assume a leadership role in making Fort Worth an excellent place in which to
live, work and do business.
www.bellhelicopter.com
www.oncor.com
www.chase.com
www.star-telegram.com
www.dfwairport.com
www.wellsfargo.com
Bell Helicopter is a manufacturer of military
helicopter and tilt rotor products and provides
training and support services worldwide.
Chase is a leader in investment banking, financial
services for consumers, small business and
commercial banking, financial transaction
processing, asset management, and private equity.
DFW International Airport, the fourth busiest
in the world, provides regional, national and
international flights.
Oncor is a regulated electric distribution and
transmission business that provides reliable
electricity delivery to consumers.
The Fort Worth Star-Telegram, owned by
The McClatchy Company, is a major U.S. daily
newspaper primarily serving the North Texas area.
Wells Fargo is a provider of banking, mortgage,
investing, credit card, insurance, and consumer
and commercial financial services.
Econ omic Deve l o p me nt Hi ghl i gh ts
Economic Development
The Chamber’s Economic Development Division
secured 15 projects in 2011 with estimated economic
impact of $1.2 billion, according to an analysis
by Austin-based Impact DataSource. The projects
represent nearly 3,500 jobs, more than 3.2 million
square feet of real estate and $587 million in capital
investments.
At the forefront was GE Transportation’s selection
of Fort Worth as the site for its new state-of-the-art
locomotive manufacturing facility. The move will create
about 500 high-tech manufacturing jobs and could add
275 more in the near future.
Bell Helicopter unveiled plans to invest around $240
million for 200,000 square feet of new offices and a
50,000-square-foot training academy at its Fort Worth
headquarters; the plan will create 220 jobs.
Alcon/Novartis announced an $18 million renovation
and expansion to its campus, adding its Financial
Service Center and 800 jobs.
FTS, International, formerly Frac Tech, bought
a 558,000-square-foot building in Railhead
Industrial Park for development as a state-of-the-art
manufacturing, repair and testing operation, creating
an estimated 800 jobs. Ferris Manufacturing
Corporation is moving its headquarters and
manufacturing plant from Burr Ridge, Illinois to Fort
Worth. The move will bring 62 jobs to the community
with 30-40 additional positions anticipated over the
next few years. Ferris Manufacturing produces and
distributes PolyMem Wound Care Dressings, which are
used by healthcare professionals in hospitals, nursing
homes, the military, and other medical facilities around
the globe.
Leading Edge Aviation Services, the world’s largest
aviation paint and coatings company, will open a VIP
wide-body hanger complex at Meacham Airport in
order to expand its capacity for climate-controlled
paint projects.
Site Selection magazine named the Fort Worth
Chamber of Commerce as one of 2011’s Top 20
Economic Development Groups in the United States.
This is the fifth time in the past eight years that the
Chamber has garnered the Site Selection honor. The
magazine also named the GE Transportation (now GE
Manufacturing Solutions) locomotive manufacturing
plant as one of its Top North American Deals of 2011.
“A Decade of Drilling,” a Chamber-commissioned
economic and financial analysis of Barnett Shale
impact, found that the gas play has become an
im¬mense and growing economic engine in the
24-county North Texas region and Texas. The analysis,
conducted by The Perryman Group of Waco and
released in September, estimated that 38.5 percent
of the region’s economic growth since 2001 stems
from Barnett Shale activity. Perryman estimated $11.1
billion in annual regional output alone.
International activity focused on exploring business
and cultural opportunities in Mexico, Germany, Japan,
China and Australia. Qantas Airways’ launch of nonstop service from DFW International Airport to Sydney
and Brisbane opened new doors to the South Pacific
region.
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
The Fort Worth Chamber was selected by Workforce
Solutions for Tarrant County to perform outreach
and recruiting activities for a four-year Department
of Labor workforce training grant. The grant, called
EngineerJobConnect, helps aerospace and defense
industry employers source, hire and provide on-thejob training for U.S. workers to fill key technology and
engineering occupations. The goal is to reduce the
expense of bringing in non-U.S. workers on H-1B visas
to fill jobs, increasing employment for qualified U.S.
workers. The project seeks to source and employ 40%
minorities, 40% women, and 5% veterans, targeting
unemployed and underemployed engineers in the
aerospace and defense industry.
Econ omic Deve l o p me nt Hi ghl i gh ts
The Chamber’s Distinguished Employers of Fort
Worth Teens (DEFWT) program set a record for
participation in 2011-12, more than doubling since
launched in 2007. Some 69 employers in 288 locations
are employing nearly 2,000 Fort Worth students. The Chamber developed DEFWT to help Fort Worth
students achieve success in balancing school and
work.
Fort Worth Chamber staff provided oversight and
technical assistance for GO Centers in all 13 of the
Fort Worth Independent School District’s high schools
and three alternative campuses, schools in other area
ISDs, and four faith-based community Go Centers.
On average, 8,500 students visit the centers annually
where they can research careers, college plans and
financial aid while working with mentors.
Job Links EXCELerator helped employers to quickly
fill openings. Presented by the Chamber and AT&T, the
monthly program partners with Workforce Solutions
for Tarrant County and four other chambers to bring
businesses and placement experts together in monthly
business-to-business gatherings. An average of 5001,200 jobs are presented.
C o n t r o lli n g O u r D e st i n y I n v e st o rs
COD is a Fort Worth Chamber economic development initiative that funds efforts to recruit and retain businesses.
Acme Brick Company
Alcon Foundation, Inc.
American Airlines
American National Bank of Texas
Aramark Uniform Services
Atmos Energy Corporation
AT&T
Balfour Beatty Construction
Bank of America – Fort Worth
Bank of Texas
Barney Holland Oil Co.
Bass Companies – Sundance Square
Baylor All Saints Medical Centers
Behringer Harvard/Burnett Plaza, LP
Bennett Benner Pettit, Inc.
Bell Helicopter-Textron, Inc.
BNSF Railway Company
BOKA Powell, LLC
Cantey Hanger LLP
Capital One Bank
Carter Industrial Park
CB Richard Ellis
Chase Fort Worth
Chesapeake Energy Corp.
Citibank, N.A.
Coca-Cola Bottling – North Texas
Coldwell Banker Commercial Searcy
Vasseur Group
Conti Warehouses
Cook Children’s Health Care System
Coors Distributing
CP&Y, Inc.
The Dannon Company
Dunaway and Associates
EECU
Edwards-Geren, Ltd.
Ellis & Tinsley
Ernst &Young, LLP
Fernandez & Co.
Fidelity Investments
The Fort Worth Club
Fort Worth Transportation Authority
Freese and Nichols, Inc.
Frost
Gamtex Industries
GM Financial
Genco ATC Logistics & Electronics
GE Manufacturing Solutions
G.L. Seaman & Co.
Greater Fort Worth Assoc. of Realtors (GFWAR)
Harris Finley & Bogle
Haynes and Boone, LLP
Hillwood Properties
Innovative Developers, Inc.
IESI Corporation
Integra Realty Resources
Jackson Walker, LLP
Jacobs
Jones Lang LaSalle
Justin Brands
KDC CentrePort
Kelly Hart & Hallman, LLP
Lockheed Martin
Luther King Capital Management
M&M Manufacturing
Marriott ExecuStay
McDonald Sanders, PC
Mercantile Partners, LP
Meridian Bank Texas
Omni Fort Worth Hotel
Oncor
Open Channels Group
NBC/KXAS TV
Patterson & Associates
Plains Capital Bank
Plaza Medical Center of Fort Worth
Pro Staff
Quicksilver Resources
RadioShack
Rattikin Title Company
Reasons Group, Inc.
Red Oak Realty
Reliant Energy
Roger Williams Auto Group
Shoppa’s Material Handling, Ltd.
Society of Commercial Realtors
Southland Property Tax Consultants
Southwest Bank
Southwest Office Systems, Inc.
Star-Telegram
Texas Christian University
Texas Health Harris Methodist
Fort Worth Hospital
Texas Jet, Inc.
Texas Motor Speedway
Texas Rangers Baseball Club
TEXO
UNT Health Science Center
University of Texas at Arlington
Walsh Holdings, LLC
Weaver, LLP
Wells Fargo
WhitneySmith Company, Inc.
Williams C. Jennings Co.
Williams Trew Real Estate ServiceWorthington Renaissance Fort
Worth Hotel
Boar d of Dire c t o r s 2 0 1 1 - 2 0 1 2
CHAIRMAN
*Dan Berce
General Motors Financial Company,
Inc.
Kevin Cox
American Airlines
*Jeff King
J.P. Morgan
TREASURER/CHAIRMAN OF
FINANCE COMMITTEE
*Tim Petrus,
XTO Energy, Inc.
Craig Diebel
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Jeff Fegan
DFW International Airport
Dennis Knautz
Acme Brick Company
VICE CHAIRMAN
*Whit Smith
WhitneySmith Company, Inc.
PRESIDENT AND CEO
*William J. Thornton, Jr.
Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
*Marilyn Ackmann
Atmos Energy
Mark Barfield RadioShack Corporation
Michael Bennett
Bennett Benner Pettit
Architects+Planners
Kimberly Britton
Chesapeake Energy
Johnny Campbell
Sundance Square Management
*Douglas L. Cook
Healthpoint Biotherapeutics
*Kacey Cornelius
Frost Bank - Downtown
Michael Flynn
Southland Property Tax Consultants,
Inc.
Arnold G. Gachman
Gamtex Industries
*John Gonzales
Texas Wesleyan University
*Allyson Baumeister
Sanford, Baumeister & Frazier, LLP
Bill Burton
Hillwood Properties
Ken Finch
Huguley Memorial Medical Center
John Gavin
Wells Fargo
Neils Agather
The Burnett Foundation
Oscar Amparan, F.A.C.H.E.
Texas Health Harris Methodist
Hospital Fort Worth
*Cathy David
Pier 1 Imports
Eddie Gossage
Texas Motor Speedway
*Michael Guyton
Oncor Electric Delivery
*Susan Halsey
Jackson Walker LLP
Anne Holland
Omni American Bank
Robert Jameson
Worthington Renaissance
Fort Worth Hotel
*Andrew Johnsen
BNSF Railway Company
*Tim Keleher
Harmony Science Academy,
Fort Worth
Dee Kelly, Jr.
Kelly Hart & Hallman, LLP
*Kayla Kelly
Tarleton State University
Mason King
Luther King Capital Managment
Lisa Lankes
Justin Brands, Inc.
Veronica Chavez Law
Decker Jones, McMackin, McClane,
Hall & Bates, P.C.
Stephen Lindsey
Quicksilver Resources, Inc.
*Craig Lloyd
Glint Advertising & Design, LLC
Tim McKinney
United Way of Metropolitan
Tarrant County
*Jeff Meisner
Skyline DFW Exhibits & Graphics
Rick Merrill
Cook Children’s Health Care System
Matt Mildren
Tug Hill Real Estate Partners
Lynn Montgomery
PlainsCapital Bank, Camp Bowie
*Dr. Robert Munoz
Tarrant County College,
Trinity River Campus
*Patrick Murray
National Finance Credit Corp. of
Texas
Steven R. Newton
Baylor All Saints Medical Center
Lee Nicol
James R. Harris Partners LLC
*David Parker
AT&T
* Also serves on Executive Committee.
Boldface indicates outgoing director.
Boar d of Dire c t o r s 2 0 1 1 - 2 0 1 2
Dan Piotrowski
Omni Fort Worth Hotel
Martha Williams
Williams Trew Real Estate
Bill D. Serrault
Roger Post
The Dannon Company, Inc.
ADVISORY COUNCIL
Danny Smith
Chase
Karen Precella
Haynes and Boone, LLP
Denny Alexander
R. Denny Alexander & Co.
John M. Stevenson
Keystone, Inc.
Joe R. Thompson
Brian L. Randolph
Mercantile Center
Mike Berry
Hillwood Properties
Charles Powell
Bank of Texas
*Vince Puente
Southwest Office Systems, Inc.
Becky Renfro Borbolla
Renfro Foods, Inc.
Todd Ritterbusch
Tarrant County Chase
Pollard Rogers
Cantey Hanger, LLP
Karel Rucker
Mother Rucker’s Sweets
*Cynthia Sadler
Frost Bank - Downtwon
Kathleen C. Searle
Bell Helicopter - Textron, Inc.
*Tonya Veasey
Open Channels Group, LLC
Curt Von Der Ahe
Frost Bank - Downtown
Craig Wall
Bank of America, N.A.
Wade Wallace
Southwest Bank
*Sarah Walls
Cantey Hanger LLC
Corrie Churchill Watson
Frank Kent Motor Co.
*Mike West
UTA Fort Worth Center
Roger Williams
Roger Williams Auto Mall
Brian D. Barnard
Haynes and Boone, L.L.P.
Vernon Bryant
First Texas BHC, Inc.
Tim Carter
OmniAmerican Bank
Heywood C. Clemons
Clemons Tractor Company
Gary W. Cumbie
Tarrant County College District
John Gavin
Wells Fargo
Robert W. Gerrard
Joseph M. Grant
Texas Capital Bancshares
Albon Head
Jackson Walker, L.L.P.
Robert L. Herchert
Freese and Nichols, Inc.
Allan Howeth
Cantey & Hanger LLP
Jeff King
J.P. Morgan
Ben Loughry
Inegra Realty Resources,
DFW, LLP
James R. Nichols
Freese and Nichols, Inc.
Denise A. Spitler
Rice M. Tilley, Jr.
Haynes and Boone, LLP
Wes Turner
Advance Newspapers
Jeffrey K. Wentworth
EX-OFFICIO BOARD MEMBERS
Mayor, City of Fort Worth
The Honorable Betsy Price
City Manager
Tom Higgins
Tarrant County Judge
The Honorable Glen Whitley
President,
Downtown Fort Worth, Inc.
Andrew M. Taft
Chairman,
Downtown Fort Worth, Inc.
Joy Webster
President and CEO, Fort Worth
Convention & Visitors Bureau
David DuBois
Chairman, Fort Worth
Convention & Visitors Bureau
Johnny Campbell
Chairman, Fort Worth
Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Brad Gorrondona
* Also serves on Executive Committee.
Boldface indicates outgoing director.
Boar d of Dire c t o r s 2 0 1 1 - 2 0 1 2
Chairman, Fort Worth
Metropolitan Black Chamber
of Commerce
Glenn O. Lewis
Executive Director,
Workforce Solutions for
Tarrant County
Judy McDonald
Chancellor, Tarrant County College
Erma Johnson Hadley
Executive Director,
D/FW International Airport
Jeffrey P. Fegan
Commanding Officer,
Naval Air Station
Joint Reserve Base-Fort Worth
Capt. Robert Bennett
President, University of North Texas
V. Lane Rawlins
Superintendent,
Fort Worth ISD
Walter Dansby
President,
North Texas Commision
Mabrie Jackson
Chairman, Tarrant County
Workforce Development Board
Buddy Puente
Commander, U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers Fort Worth District
Col. Christopher W. Martin
President, Southeast Fort Worth, Inc.
Andre McEwing
President, Fort Worth South, Inc.
Paul F. Paine
Chancellor, Texas Christian University
Dr. Victor Boschini
President,Texas Wesleyan University
Frederick G. Slabach
President, University of Texas at
Arlington
James D. Spaniolo
President, University of North Texas
Health Science Center at Fort Worth
Scott Ransom, D.O.
I nc om in g B o a r d of D i re c tors 2 0 1 2 -2013
Jay Ewing
Devon Energy Corporation
*Erayne Hill
Unity One Credit Union
*Jon Gabriel
BNSF Railway Company
Dale Kesteloot
Sundance Square
Bob Ginsburg
McDonald Sanders, P.C.
*Laura Myles
Lakewood Village Retirement
Community
*Bill FairleyNina Hutton
Edward Jones
XTO Energy Inc.
Eric George
DynCorp International
Jill Goff
Goff Family Foundation
Riche Goode
Cook Children’s Health Care
Systems
Mike Guyton
Oncor Electric Delivery
*Robin Hamilton
Wells Fargo – Sundance Square
David Klein
Baylor All Saints Medical Center
Brett McClung
Texas Health Harris Methodist
Hospital
Patrick McFarlin
Jacobs
Cindy Milrany
Freese and Nichols, Inc.
*Lonnie Nicholson
EECU
*Tim Niedecken
Texas and Southwestern Cattle
Raisers Assn.
Mark Nurdin
Bank of Texas
Tim Petrus
XTO Energy Inc.
*Clint Sanders
Texas Health Harris Methodist
Foundation
Dennis Weese
Cash America
David White
First Command Bank
Patty Williams
Roger Williams Chrysler/Dodge/
Jeep/Sprinter/Airstream
* Also serves on Executive Committee.