DFW Black Business Journal by AMC Publishing, LLC

March/April 2015

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Rapid Transit: The Ride of a Lifetime

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Dallas Black Chamber Tradition Matters

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Transportation Apps for those on the Move

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pictured: Eugene Mitchell

Five easy steps to bright financial future

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Publisher Launches DFW Business Journal

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March/April 2015

Rapid Transit: 3 The Ride of Lifetime Jesse Oliver - Transportation Visionary 3 Thinking About Starting a Business 4 Delightful Dishes with a Side of second Chances 4 Texas Luxury Lifestyle Magazine Publisher Launches Dallas-Fort Worth Black Business Journal 4 Two Steps One Sticker 5 10 Transportation Apps to Keep you Moving 5 Five easy steps toward a bright financial future 6 $500,000 in Scholarships for High School Students 6 14 Business Etiquette Rules Every Professional Needs to Know 7 Dallas Black Chamber of Commerce 7

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Rapid Transit: The Ride of a Lifetime Jesse Oliver - Transportation Visionary

ho could possibly dream up a public transit system that would ease congestion, promote mobility and improve air quality in and around the Dallas area? Jesse Oliver. A former Texas legislator and judge, Oliver co-sponsored the legislation that created Dallas Area Rapid Transit in the 1980’s. Now, more than 30 years later, DART provides 110 million passenger trips per year. The system is specifically tailored to be fast, comfortable and economical. Oliver serves as the Deputy Executive Director and Equal Opportunity Diversity Officer for DART. As a direct report to the President/Executive Director, with responsibilities that include government relations, human capital, diversity, equal opportunity, and labor relations. Oliver served 10 years from 1993 to 2003 as a member of the Board of Directors and two years as Chairman. Oliver says he believes public transportation is important to the community, having been transit dependent for most of his life: “I wanted to ensure we had a good functioning transit system in the area. I knew the problems the previous private owner had, and the City of Dallas would not be able to continue to support transit system out of its property tax revenues.” Oliver saw a need for a regional transit system and went to work implementing it. In the early ‘90’s the Dallas region was growing considerably, the suburbs exponentially. After his tenure as a DART Board member ended, Oliver wanted to stay involved in the transit industry and he accepted a position in the rail and transit department of an private sector engineering company developing transit business around the country. Oliver returned to DART in 2012. Although DART is aimed at the public in general, the business community benefits as well. Oliver says that today’s decision-makers have to consider employee, customer, and supplier access to their businesses when choosing a business location. It’s not unusual for businesses to first question the reliability of public transit for their customers and employees, and whether or not transit changes will affect traffic congestion and day-today business mobility, thereby affecting productivity and profits. He says those factors are key to business decisions. Even if the business executives are not using the transit options themselves, their workforce, and customers probably are. “[If the] 110 million trips we make a year were done on the freeway and streets, traffic would be intolerable, says Oliver. We help move vehicles off the street; we use electric vehicles, alternative fuels, and we help improve air quality.” Despite all the work DART does for the city, Oliver says the transit system is somewhat underutilized. Still, he’s proud of what they’ve accomplished: “We’ve seen a lot of growth in the region, and DART has never viewed itself as a sole solution to congestion, but as a partner in helping relieve it. We’ve seen a development of new roadways and major toll roads, a widening of freeways, and improvement of infrastructures. We now have a public transit system that provides services in 13

photo credit Samuel Cobb

Table of contents

cities.” This is a contrast to 30 years ago, Oliver says. At that time there were only two cities— Dallas and Garland— with any transit services: “The reach has grown,” Oliver says. And for him, it’s a huge success. Since 1996 Dallas has seen significant growth to the light rail system. It is now 90 miles long, the longest light rail system in the country. Oliver sees that as a significant change in the city: “Dallas had a streetcar system until about 1957. Look at the gap from then to now, when the new rail came about. Before that, city transit was primarily bus service.” Dallas has come a long way since then. The city is looking toward the extension of the privately owned McKinney Avenue Transit Authority vintage streetcar system in December. The streetcar will mainly service people going to restaurants and downtown businesses. In April of this year, DART will begin operation of the City of Dallas owned streetcar, extending from Union Station across the Trinity River into Oak Cliff. Oliver is proud to live and work in Dallas. He says that Dallas has a great business climate: “It’s known to be business friendly, open to new opportunities, and resilient.” According to Oliver, Dallas can boast real business and industry diversity: “As a city, it’s always been forward thinking,” he says. “The growth of small business is great. We’ve seen tremendous growth with DART through our contracting programs with minority owned and women owned businesses.” Oliver believes that DART’s partnership with grassroots businesses bolsters the community and shares the success. Oliver says he’s never really labeled any of his accomplishments as his greatest achievement, but he considers DART one of his most influential in terms of what it has contributed to the city over the past 30 years, and he believes it serves as a standard for other cities around the country. We asked Oliver what advice he would give someone starting out in business. He said, “I believe that the first step is doing the prep work- research and understanding the marketplace that you want to be a part of.” After that he says it’s a matter of getting to know the people in your market and gaining access through them.

March/April 2015

Is Entrepreneurship For You? What characteristics do you need to be an entrepreneur? What does it take to start and succeed in business?   20 Questions Before Starting. Starting a business can be the most important decision you make in your life. Ask yourself these 20 questions to begin your preparation and planning.   10 Steps to Starting a Business. These 10 steps can help you plan, prepare and launch your business.   Understand Your Market. To run a successful business, you need to learn about your customers, your competitors and the economic conditions in your industry.  Business Data & Statistics. Get access to data and statistics on your competitors, industry and target customer groups.  Business Types. One of the first decisions you will make is the type of business you will open. Before making your decision, explore the opportunities that are available like a home-based or online business.  Find a Mentor or Counselor. When starting a business, advice from SBA partner organizations such as SCORE Mentors, Small Business Development Centers and Women’s Business Centers can help you avoid common pitfalls.  Ask Questions. About Starting a Business Ask your questions in the SBA community and get advice on starting, growing and managing your business. Source: http://www.sba.gov/category/navigation-structure/starting-managing-business/ starting-business/thinking-about-starting

Delightful Dishes with a Side of Second Chances

afé Momentum is a Dallas-based non-profit restaurant and culinary training facility that gives teens a second chance. It is designed to transform the lives of at-risk youth who have spent time in juvenile facilities. They receive intensive culinary, job and life-skill training, as well as continued mentorship and support, which enable them to achieve their full potential. Interns who join will have a full-time job, making $10 an hour plus tips. Café Momentum teaches critical skills that allow youth to apply what they have been taught in pre-release programs in a safe, real-world environment of nurturing accountability. By participating in our program, at-risk young men and women rotate through every aspect of the restaurant from waiting tables to washing dishes, while working side-by-side with established chefs. The Café Momentum team is headed by our Executive Director Chad Houser, Executive Chef de Cuisine, Eric Shelton, and Executive Sous Chef, Justin Box. These seasoned professionals provide a culture of learning while dishing up some of the most creative plates in Dallas.

Café Momemtum

1510 Pacific St Dallas | Tx 75201 | (214)303-1234 Open Thursday – Saturday, 5:30 p.m. – 11:00 p.m

Dallas-Fort Worth Black Business Journal

s the publisher of five luxury FREE lifestyle magazine titles it is with INSIDE INSID E Rapid Transit: The Ride of a Lifetime R a p id FREE extreme pleasure that our parent Transit: The Ride of a Life time company AMC Publishing, LLC launches Dallas-Fort Worth Black Business Journal DBA Made Media Group. As a seasoned publisher and journalist I realized there was a rising population of affluent African American and multi-racial professionals. They are educated, driven, accomplished and well traveled, and as a community, they are severely underserved. The lack of localized content solutions forces this group to scrapbook information from various national sources, often sifting through available local media outlets for relevant material. Made Media Group is a well-positioned company catering to the distinct African American and multiracial community. We help brands connect and engage with our influential target audiences. We provide educational resources and information to empower business leaders, which helps transform our community. DFW Black Business Journal will be the authoritative guide for African American business and community influencers throughout the Dallas-Ft Worth, Texas area. We hope you enjoy our business journal, filled with intriguing editorial designed to inform, empower, and transform the DFW community. At DFW Black Business Journal, we want to see your businesses thrive. We develop content that the African American community can relate to, but maintain a local skew that keeps the African American community connected to the DFW business community in ways that promote entrepreneurship and successful business partnerships. Each issue features articles profiling some of DFW’s most sought after African American visionaries, informative editorials about local businesses and nonprofits making a difference, and regular expert advice columns sharing helpful tips on everything from building wealth to improving quality of lives. This is your place to shine. We look forward to serving you. March/April 2015 March/April 2011st 5 Edition

1st Edition

pictured: Jesse Oliver

pictured: Jesse

Oliver

pictured: Wilton pictured: Wilton Munnings Munni

Dallas Black Dallas BlackTrad Chamber - Chamber ition Tradition Matters Matters page 7

Transportatio Transportation for those Appsn Apps the Move for those on theonMove

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Samuel Cobb

tarting a business is an exciting proposition, but it’s also an incredibly challenging undertaking. The resources in this section will help you learn about what it takes to start a business.

Texas Luxury Lifestyle Magazine Publisher Launches

photo credit: Samuel Cobb

Thinking About Starting a Business

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Five easy step s totobrigh finan Fivecial easyfutu steps bright t re financial future

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Publisher Launches DFW Business Journal Publisher Laun ches DFW Busi ness Journal

Two Steps, One Sticker : Inspection & Registration together at last pictured: Royce West

Two Steps,

One Sticker

: Inspectio

n & Registrat

ion together

at last

Anita Carmichael Roberts

Publisher/Editor-in-Chief AMC Publishing, LLC www.amcpublishing.net Woman Owned | Minority Owned |Veteran Owned

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Want to contribute to DFW Black Business Journal? Send original work (article) no more than 300 words to contribute@bbjonline.net

March/April 2015

Two Steps, One Sticker

Transportation Apps to Keep you Moving

Spring is officially here, however it seems we need to remind Mother Nature. After a long winter most are ready to hit the road. To keep moving while out and about here are a few mobile apps to take along the way.

1. CityBikes: Bike share networks are still a relatively

en. Royce West, D-Dallas, teamed up with the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles, the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to announce the launch of the state’s single sticker vehicle registration and inspection program. As a result of House Bill 2305 passed during the 83rd legislative session, the State of Texas stopped issuing inspection stickers and transitioned to a “Two Steps, One Sticker” vehicle inspection and registration program. Since March 1, 2015, vehicles are no longer issued an inspection sticker. Your registration sticker serves as a combined proof of registration and inspection. What’s To Love “Two Steps, One Sticker” One sticker, one date: Are you one of the millions of Texans whose inspection sticker and registration sticker expire in different months? With “Two Steps, One Sticker” you just have one sticker with one expiration date. Less clutter, better view: Who wants multiple stickers in their view while behind the wheel? With “Two Steps, One Sticker” you just have the familiar blue-bordered registration sticker in the corner of your windshield. Safer streets, cleaner air: Because a passing vehicle inspection is a requirement to renew your registration, more Texans will comply with the safety and emissions testing laws. So with “Two Steps, One Sticker” there will be safer and more environmentally-sound cars on the road. Fraud prevention: With inspection stickers no longer needed under “Two Steps, One Sticker,” this change will eliminate the risk of inspection sticker fraud and theft. Who’s At the Wheel The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV): The TxDMV administers the state’s vehicle registration program. The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS): The DPS administers the state’s vehicle safety inspection program. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ): The TCEQ administers the state’s vehicle emissions testing program.

Staying Informed on “Two Steps, One Sticker” For more information, visit www.TwoStepsOneSticker.com

new phenomenon in the U.S. — New York is the latest city to institute such a program. But if you’re traveling abroad, these programs are a cheap and easy way to see some of your favorite cities. CityBikes aggregates bikesharing data for networks in over 40 cities in Europe, Asia and North and South America. The Android app tells you which stations are near you, how to get there and the number of bikes available. If you happen to be traveling in Paris or Barcelona, you can also receive notifications when bikes at stations near you become available.

2. Embark: The New York City transit system is about

as transparent as Kabuki theater, but it doesn’t have to be. Embark makes getting around the big city easy. Use GPS to enter your location or find the nearest metro stop near you, and Embark will display the best route, number of stops, the time to expect your train(s) and an estimated time of arrival. Embark offers metro data for the New York metropolitan area and 11 other U.S. transit systems. The app is available for free for your iPhone.

3. HopStop: What started as a much-loved web app

for New York City subway directions has become an allin-one transit app that provides door-to-door directions in over 100 cities. HopStop features transit, walking, biking, taxi and hourly car rental info. You can still access HopStop on your desktop or your mobile device of choice. Download the free app for iOS, Windows Mobile, Android or Blackberry.

4. MotionX GPS Drive HD: Why spend $100 or more on a GPS unit for your road trip when you don’t have to? MotionX GPS Drive HD offers you the same turnby-turn directions of a GPS car unit, plus up-to-date map data and integration with your address book and music app — all without breaking the bank. The iOS app is $2.99 and comes with 30 days of free voice guidance for hands-free navigation. Users can pick up a year’s subscription to the voice feature at a 60% discount for just $10. 5. ParkMobile: The last thing you want to do after

a long trip is circle the block for a parking spot. ParkMobile will find both private and public parking spots on city streets, at airports, even sports stadiums and let you pay for your spot before you even arrive. The app also sends you a notification 15 minutes before your parking expires, and there is even a feature to export your costs as a business expense if you are traveling for work. ParkMobile is a free app available in the Google Play store and App store.

6. Roadify: Map data is great, but you know what

would make it even better? Real-time data about delays or services changes. Roadify not only routes you through the transit systems of many major American cities; the app also pulls in updates from other riders, as well as

from the Twitter accounts of each service line. The app also includes a parking service that lets you report available or soon-to-be available spots and see a list of reported ones near you. The free app is available for all your iOS devices at the Apple App store.

7. SpotCycle: Designed by the same company behind some of the world’s largest bike-share programs, Spotcycle gives you a real-time look at bicycle availabilities. Check the number of available bikes and bike docks at each station, and easily compare them across a city. Want to ride from your hotel to another location a couple times during your trip? Spotcycle lets you create a list of your favorite bike stations to keep up to date on availabilities. Another cool feature lets you save and share your favorite bike routes and compare them with other Spotcycle users. Plus, use the desktop client to view or edit bike routes on a larger screen. Spotcycle is available for cities in the U.S., UK, Australia, Spain and Canada. Download the free app for Android, iOS and Blackberry devices. 8. TaxiMagic

Never hail another cab again after downloading TaxiMagic. This app for iOS and Android lets you quickly book a nearby taxi or schedule a ride for later. The app works with 85 taxi fleets in 45 American cities. TaxiMagic also estimates the cost of your trip, whereupon you can pay directly from your phone. If you’re using the service for a scheduled ride and have particularly complicated directions, use the app to message the driver directly to avoid confusion. TaxiMagic is a free app available on both iOS and Android device

9. Waze

Waze uses crowdsourcing to save you both time and money during your travels. GPS data from users updates your map in real-time, giving you current data on traffic jams, speed traps, even nearby gas stations. Waze’s new gas station feature lets you find the cheapest fuel along your route. The company has partnered with over 10,000 stations to offer users special discounts. Waze also includes voice-guided, turn-by-turn navigation and the ability to chat with other users. Waze is a free download on iOS and Android, and a beta version for Blackberry is also available.

10. Zipcar

Getting out of town for just a couple of hours or maybe just a day or two but don’t want to rent a car? The Zipcar app makes weekend and day-trips easier by integrating into the popular car-sharing service. From the app, Zipcar members can find and book rentals nearby, extend a reservation, even unlock your vehicle or call customer service in case of an accident. The Zipcar service costs around $60 per year, but this free app is well worth the download if you’re a regular Zipster. The Zipcar app is available for both Android and iOS devices.

March/April 2015

Five easy steps toward a bright financial future Balance risk and reward and don’t skimp on education

t has been said that anyone who earns an income and pays bills does financial planning. True, perhaps, but only in the broadest sense. When you delve into the details, you find that long-term planning is really about balancing risk and reward and being an educated consumer. Here are five tips to consider:

Plan, plan, plan Most people spend more time planning their vacation than they do planning their financial future. To the extent most people do any planning, it’s typically on a piecemeal basis. Usually they receive advice from different people at different times, with no one connecting the dots. Have one person in your household act as coordinator and catalyst, and have one cohesive plan that you re-evaluate regularly

Save, save, save The general rule is to save 10% percent or more of your gross income monthly. After setting aside three to six months income in liquid assets or cash as a cushion for emergencies, a fixed amount should be saved for long-term needs such as retirement.

Find more baskets You know the old adage, “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.” Diversify your assets and investments. Relying on any one investment for your financial well being is dangerous. Make sure you have a balanced portfolio with varying degrees of risk in investments for your life stage. Of course, diversification does not assure a profit or protect against market loss.

Protect yourself Your most valuable asset is your personal earning power. When you’re healthy, you are probably thinking of the next promotion, your dream vacation home or your child’s education. But an illness or disability can suddenly change everything. How will you pay your mortgage and medical bills if you can’t work? Group disability insurance—the one you get typically through your employer—is seldom adequate for a long-term illness and goes away if you lose your job. Individual disability insurance, which you buy yourself provides permanent protection and benefit payments are income-tax free under current tax laws*.

Protect your loved ones Only 44% of households have individual life

insurance, with half of those saying they need more life insurance, and 30% having no coverage at all, according to trade group LIMRA, in 2010. None of us like to imagine our families without us, but it is a possibility that people all too often ignore. If you only have group life insurance through your employer, you may be at risk. If you lose your job, you are no longer insured, and life insurance becomes more costly as you age. Don’t put your family at risk. Start planning today! Call a New York Life agent to begin. Courtesy Eugene Mitchell, Corporate Vice President / African American Market Manager at New York Life Insurance Company

State Rep Yvonne Davis-$500,000 in Scholarships for High School Students

Since the establishment of the Urban Scholarship Fund, nearly 12,000 students throughout the state of Texas have been able to begin or continue their college education due to over $6,000,000 awarded to them through the Urban Scholarship Fund. The 2015-2016 Urban Scholarship Fund is for Texas residents who are also U. S. citizens and full-time undergraduates in good academic standing at any accredited

public or private non-profit college, university or technical college. Additionally, applicants must demonstrate financial need and have graduated from a high school in the following metropolitan cities: Abilene, Amarillo, Arlington, Austin, Beaumont, Brownsville, Carrollton, Corpus Christi, Dallas, Denton, El Paso, Fort Worth, Frisco, Garland, Grand Prairie, Houston, Irving, Killeen, Laredo, Lubbock, McAllen, McKinney, Mesquite, Midland, Pasadena, Plano, San Antonio, Waco, and Wichita Falls. Students interested in applying for scholarships should contact their high school guidance counselor; college financial aid officer, or call the Texas Association of Developing Colleges at (214) 630-2511. Applicants may also complete the scholarship application online at www.txadc.org then print, sign and mail it with the required documents. The deadline for applying for the 2015-2016 Urban Scholarship Fund is Tuesday, July 7, 2015 (postmarked). Students attending technical, junior or community colleges will receive $700, public four-year college and university students will receive $1000, and private fouryear college and university students will receive $2000. The number of awards is uncertain because of the varying funding levels to different types of institutions. Rep. Davis is currently serving her twelfth term, representing District 111 in the Texas House of Representatives.

March/April 2015

FREE

1st Edition

Rapid Transit: The Ride of a Lifetime

INSIDE

pictured: Jesse Oliver

pictured: Wilton Munnings

Dallas Black Chamber Tradition Matters page 7

photo credit: Samuel Cobb

tate Representative Yvonne Davis (DDallas) announced that over $500,000 in scholarships are available for high school graduates from Dallas and other urban areas throughout Texas. Administrated by the Texas Association of Developing Colleges (TADC), the Urban Scholarship Program was created during the 74th Legislative session as part of House Bill 2128 with the cooperation of the three largest local telephone companies in the state of Texas at that time. This year’s Scholarship Fund contributors are AT&T and Verizon Wireless. -

Transportation Apps for those on the Move

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pictured: Anita C. Roberts

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page 4

page 5

pictured: Eugene Mitchell

Five easy steps to bright financial future

pictured: Royce West page 6

Publisher Launches DFW Business Journal

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March/April 2015

14 Business Etiquette Rules Every Professional Needs to Know Book: The Essentials of Business Etiquette- How to Greet, Eat, and Tweet Your Way to Success. By Barbara Pachter

The Definitive Guide to Professional Behavior

Whether you’re eating lunch with a client, Skyping with your boss, or meeting a business partner for the first time--it’s all about how you p.resent yourself. The Essentials of Business Etiquette gives you 101 critical tips for improving behavior in any business situation--all delivered in a quick, no-nonsense format.

Company Spotlight

Dallas Black Chamber of Commerce - Tradition Matters

Always break bread with your hands. Pachter says you should never use your knife to cut your rolls at a business dinner. “Break your roll in half and tear off one piece at a time, and butter the piece as you are ready to eat it.”

“We are committed to live our forefather’s creed. The DBCC celebrates our 89th anniversary in 2015.”

8 Do not push away or stack your dishes. “You are not the waiter. Let the wait staff do their jobs.”

Never ask for a to-go box. “You are there for business, not for the leftovers,” Pachter writes. “Doggie bags are okay for family dinners but not during professional occasions.”

Keep the food options balanced with your guest. This means that if your guest orders an appetizer or dessert, you should follow suit. “You don’t want to make your guest feel uncomfortable by eating a course alone,” Pachter says.

Always say your full name. In a business situation, you should use your full name, but you should also pay attention to how others want to be introduced. If your name is too long or difficult to pronounce, Pachter says you should consider changing or shortening it. Or you should consider writing down the pronunciation of your name on a business card and giving it to others.

2 Always stand when you’re being introduced to someone.

“Standing helps establish your presence. You make it easy for others to ignore you if you don’t stand. If you are caught off guard and cannot rise, you should lean forward to indicate that you would stand, if you could.”

Only say “thank you” once or twice during a conversation. “You need to say it only once or twice within a conversation. Otherwise, you may dilute its impact and possibly make yourself seem somewhat helpless and needy.” Send separate thank you notes to everyone involved. You should send thank you notes within 24 hours and you should send separate notes to everyone you want to thank. “Before you choose between email and handwritten notes, consider that regular mail may take several days to get to its destination while email arrives almost immediately. This time difference can be important after a job interview, if the hiring decision is being made quickly.”

Never pull out someone’s chair for them. It’s OK to hold open a door for your guest, but Pachter says you shouldn’t pull someone’s chair out for them regardless of gender. In a business setting, you should leave those social gender rules behind. “Both men and women can pull out their own chairs.”

5 Don’t cross your legs. Both men and women do it, but it

can be distracting and even too sexy for a professional setting, says Pachter. “The bottom line, however, is health related: crossing your legs is bad for your circulation because it increases the pressure on your veins.”

Keep your fingers together when you point. “Point with an open palm, and keep your fingers together. If you point with your index finger, it appears aggressive. Both men and women point, but women have a tendency to do it more than men.”

If the host follows certain dietary restrictions, consider the restaurant they’re taking you before ordering. “Most people do not impose their dietary choices on others. Nevertheless, you can often judge what to order by the type of restaurant she chooses.” For example, if your boss is a vegetarian but chose to meet you at a steak house, Pachter says “by all means you can order steak.”

12 Know where to properly place plates and silverware.

Remember that “left” has four letters and “right” has five letters. “Food is placed to the left of the dinner plate. The words food and left each have four letters; if the table is set properly, your bread or salad or any other food dish, will be placed to the left of your dinner plate. Similarly, drinks are placed to the right of the dinner plate, and the words glass and right contain five letters. Any glass or drink will be placed to the right of the dinner plate.” “Left and right also work for your utensils. Your fork (four letters) goes to the left; your knife and spoon (five letters each) go to the right.” Also, think “BMW” when trying to remember where to place plates and glasses. The mnemonic BMW here stands for “bread, meal, and water” so remember that “your bread-and-butter plate is on the left, the meal is in the middle, and your water glass is on the right.”

The host should always pay. “If you did the inviting, you are the host, and you should pay the bill, regardless of gender. What if a male guest wants to pay? A woman does have some choices. She can say, ‘Oh, it’s not me; it is the firm that is paying.’ Or she can excuse herself from the table and pay the bill away from the guests. This option works for men as well, and it is a very refined way to pay a bill.” “However, the bottom line is that you don’t want to fight over a bill. If a male guest insists on paying despite a female host’s best efforts, let him pay.”

Prepare a Polite Exit. Pachter says you need to be the one talking as you’re making the exit. “Remember to leave when you are talking. At that point, you are in control, and it is a much smoother exit.” You should also have “exit lines” prepared in case you need to leave a conversation. You can say “Nice to meet you” or “Nice talking to you” or “See you next week at the meeting.” You can also excuse yourself for a bathroom break, to get food, or say you wanted to catch someone before they leave

Wilton S. Munnings, President/COO

ounded in 1926, the Dallas Black Chamber of Commerce serves to advocate for the creation, growth, and general welfare of African American businesses in the Dallas community. The Chamber actively assists its members through referrals, partnerships, seminars, technical assistance, and marketing. Its main focus is economic and business development, education, and special projects. Membership is a key component to success. The Chamber commits to leading, educating, and advocating in the Dallas business community, making the North Texas region a great place to do business. At the forefront is Wilton Munnings, President and Chief Operating Officer since 2012. He has more than 18 years experience in the financial service industry, business development and mentoring of small businesses. He also developed a consulting firm engaged in risk management and bank lending programs. As the country’s oldest and largest chamber of commerce this year promises to be most exciting as the chamber celebrates eighty-seven years assisting African American businesses in the Dallas/Fort Worth community. To celebrate, the Chamber’s Annual Banquet is held in October of each year with the highlight of the evening being the presentation of the Thomas L. Houston Community Service Award. Established in 1985 to honor individuals who have made significant volunteer contributions to the civic enhancement of Dallas African American Community. Make no mistake; under the guidance of Munnings the Chamber is committed to live our forefather’s creed. It will continue to be the resource to help solve problems in more ways than ever before. The success will be through open communication, transparency and inclusiveness. The Chamber is open to suggestions they want members and supporters to be confident that the issues affecting them are being addressed. This kind of transparency and inclusiveness benefits members and corporate/governmental partners alike. The DBCC continues to drive the understanding on the business issues and serve as a bridge that connects the African American folk in this North Texas community.

what happens here lives with you forever. There is a place where the memories grow in abundance. And last forever. At the luxuriously untamed Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort and Spa, every room, every meal, every day is designed to make the most of every moment. And to make each moment a memorable one.