D CEO Jan/Feb 2022 by DCEO

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PLUS:

CEO

J O H N C L AY WO L F E ’ S M I R AC U LO U S R E COV E RY

Topo Chico’s U.S. Leader, Gerardo Galván Mike Ablon’s Plans for Oak Lawn

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Meet 78 North Texas innovators who are changing the way we live and work.

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WE GIVE IT OUR EVERYTHING, BECAUSE KIDS CAN DO ANYTHING.

At Children’s Health, our team is dedicated to keeping families healthy and safe. Every day we work hard to drive innovation and implement the latest in health care technology to make life better for children. Join us in congratulating our team and all the other finalists of the D CEO Magazine 3rd Annual Innovation Awards. SM

Learn more at childrens.com

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What if our established strength could grow others? Do you know an entrepreneur audacious enough to change the world?

Nominations for Entrepreneur Of The Year® US 2022 open January 10.

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12/14/21 3:56 PM

Meet the CEO giving global enterprises a Digital Brain

Chakri Gottemukkala, Co-Founder and CEO of :o9 Solutions and finalist for D CEO’s Enterprise Innovator of the Year award, is on a mission to transform how businesses make decisions with his AI-powered software platform, the :o9 Digital Brain.

What inspired you to start :o9? For years I worked on some of the largest, most complex supply chain problems at global companies. Because information is often siloed and doesn’t flow to the right people at the right time, many decisions are made too slowly and with a narrow perspective. Knowledge is mostly “tribal” rather than codified. Even with the current big-data boom, companies still use just historical and internal data. They aren’t leveraging real-time data about the market, about customers, or about how their products are used to improve their decision-making. That’s where I saw an opportunity. I decided to start :o9 to create a revolutionary software platform that would help companies make better, faster business decisions.

:o9 Solutions, Inc. 1501 Lyndon B. Johnson Freeway, Ste 140 Dallas, Texas 75234

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What is the :o9 Digital Brain? The :o9 Digital Brain is an AI-powered software platform that improves the quality and speed of decision-making for enterprises. It was inspired by the human brain, which is always masterfully receiving and organizing data, learning from it, and uniquely able to make decisions. That’s exactly what the :o9 Digital Brain does. It connects the dots between data, derives insights from all this information, and helps companies make optimal, data-informed business decisions.

One of the top use cases is demand forecasting. For years we’ve tried to predict future demand using past sales data. But to improve forecast accuracy consistently, we need to use real-time, external data, too. The :o9 Digital Brain uses ML and AI algorithms to process additional information like weather, social media trends, GDP data, and many others to calculate much more accurate forecasts. That’s just one of the many use cases of the :o9 Digital Brain. What has you most excited about the future? I’m most excited about the next phase of the :o9 journey. Although our focus has been on the supply chain planning space, we’ve actually built a platform that can help companies with planning and decision-making for a wide range of use cases such as revenue management or procurement. I’m thrilled that we’re defining a completely new software market in that way.

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CONTENTS J A N U A R Y/ F E B R U A R Y 2 0 2 2

VO LU M E 1 6 | I S S U E 1 1

34 Shaping The Future Get to know 78 North Texas innovators who are changing the way we live and work. story by KELSEY J. VANDERSCHOOT portraits by SEAN BERRY

48 Rising From The Wreckage John Clay Wolfe overcame bankruptcy and paralysis to build GiveMeTheVIN.com, the largest car wholesaler in the country. P H OTO G R A P H Y BY Y A R O S L A V D A N Y L C H E N K O

story by WILL MADDOX illustration by PJ LOUGHRAN

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CONTENTS

14 EDITOR’S NOTE

1 9 YO U N E E D T O K N O W

Gerardo Galván, Topo Chico

22 MEET THE 500

Virginia Drosos, Signet Jewelers 22 FRESH IDEA

E N T R E P R E N E U R S : A V E R Y C A P I T A L ; R O OT S : M I R I A M J I M E N E Z ; E N T E R TA I N M E N T: L A W R E N C E J E N K I N S ; T R AV E L : F O U R S E A S O N S R E S O R T H U A L A L A I , H YAT T R E G E N C Y M A U I R E S O R T A N D S PA ; ST YLE: K AT H Y T R A N

DOSSIER

John Merris, Solo Stove 24 ENTREPRENEURS

Avery Johnson, Avery Capital 2 6 O N T H E TA B L E

Dennis Cail, Zirtue 2 8 E N T E R TA I N M E N T

Dallas Comedy Club

FIELD NOTES 55 LEADING OFF

Tony Goodman, PeopleFun 5 6 R E A L E S TAT E

With two new residential towers in Dallas’ Oak Lawn District, developer and investor Mike Ablon plots his most ambitious project yet. 58 ON TOPIC

Jay Allison of Comstock Resources, Melissa Collins of The Container Store, and David Wagner of Zix and AppRiver on what has been driving growth at their company.

60 THOUGHT LEADER

Trey Bowles, InnoCity Partners

OFF DUTY 63 PURSUITS

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Calvin Carter, Bottle Rocket 66 STYLE

PLUS:

CEO

Taylor Shead, STEMuli

J O H N C L AY WO L F E ’ S M I R AC U LO U S R E COV E RY

Topo Chico’s U.S. Leader, Gerardo Galván

6 8 W E L L T R AV E L E D : H AWA I ’ I

Mike Ablon’s Plans for Oak Lawn

Tracey Doi, Toyota

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70 ROOTS

Miriam Jimenez, Miriam Cocina Latina 88 END MARK

Scottish Rite for Children

Meet 78 North Texas innovators who are changing the way we live and work.

ON THE COVER:

7-Eleven CMO Marissa Jarratt, photographed by Sean Berry.

DCEOMAGAZINE.COM

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P U B L I S H E R Gillea Allison

EDITORIAL EDITOR Christine Perez MANAGING EDITOR Will Maddox ASSOCIATE EDITOR Kelsey J. Vanderschoot ASSISTANT EDITOR Ben Swanger CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Richard Alm, W. Michael Cox, Bianca R. Montes EDITORIAL INTERNS Preston Rios, Catherine Rosas, Sara Rushing

ART DESIGN DIRECTOR Hamilton Hedrick STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Elizabeth Lavin DIGITAL ART DIRECTOR Emily Olson DIGITAL PRODUCTION ASSISTANT Andrea Chavez

A DV E R T I S I N G ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Rhett Taylor ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER OF PROFESSIONAL SERVICES Kym Rock Davidson SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Cami Burke, Haley Muse MANAGING EDITOR OF SPECIAL SECTIONS Jennifer Sander Hayes DIGITAL REVENUE DIRECTOR Tracy Albertson DIGITAL ADVERTISING OPERATIONS MANAGERS Riley Hill BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT Palmer McGraw

MARKETING & EVENTS MARKETING DIRECTOR Gigi Ekstrom EVENTS PRODUCER Beth Albright EVENT COORDINATOR Amber Knowles ADVERTISING ART DIRECTOR Katie Garza EVENT INTERNS Karime Alvarado, Jeffrey Uncad

AU D I E N C E D E V E LO P M E N T MANAGER Sarah South DATA ENTRY SPECIALIST Jade Osseck RETAIL STRATEGY MANAGER Steve Crabb MERCHANDISER David Truesdell AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT INTERNS Jessica Taber

PRODUCTION DIRECTOR John Gay MANAGER Pamela Ashby PHOTO RETOUCHER Veronica Jones

BUSINESS CONTROLLER Sabrina LaTorre SENIOR ACCOUNTANT Debbie Travis STAFF ACCOUNTANT Lesley Killen ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE COORDINATOR Jessica Hernandez IT TECHNICIAN Luan Aliji ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Jacob Villalobos

WEB EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Matt Goodman SENIOR DIGITAL EDITOR Alex Macon

MAIL 750 N. Saint Paul St., Ste. 2100, Dallas, TX 75201 The magazine assumes no responsibility for the return of unsolicited manuscripts. WEBSITE www.dmagazine.com/publications/d-ceo MAIN OFFICE 214-939-3636 ADVERTISING 214-939-3636 x 128 REPRINTS 214-939-3636 SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES For immediate assistance, call 214-939-3636 x 232. For other inquiries, e-mail customerservice@dmagazine.us. SUBSCRIPTIONS 11 issues for $54 in the United States, possessions, APO and FPO; $70 per 11 issues elsewhere. Please provide old and new addresses and enclose latest mailing label when inquiring about your subscription. For custom publishing inquiries, call 214-540-0113.

D M A G A Z I N E PA R T N E R S EDITOR-IN-CHIEF AND CEO Christine Allison PRESIDENT Gillea Allison CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Thomas L. Earnshaw CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Amanda Hammer CHIEF OF STAFF Rachel Gill FOUNDER Wick Allison

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12/20/21 12:55 PM

LOANS | SYNDICATIONS | TREASURY SOLUTIONS | WEALTH MANAGEMENT

Be Bold. Be Local. Be Innovative. Focused on payments-intensive and growth-stage technology companies, Bank of Texas understands how to help you navigate today, while planning for tomorrow.

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As the banking subsidiary of BOK Financial Corporation, BOKF, NA is among the top 30 nationally chartered U.S.-based commercial banks based on assets as of September 30, 2020. Bank of Texas® is a trademark of BOKF, NA. Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender , banking subsidiary of BOK Financial Corporation. © 2022 BOKF, NA.

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12/15/21 3:24 PM

Need To Re-Think Your Innovation Strategy?

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

Telling the Story of Innovation in Dallas

Companies often miss out on Companies often miss out on innovative opportunities because innovative opportunities because they're overwhelmed with daily they're overwhelmed with daily challenges and operations. challenges and operations. If you're ready to transform your If you're ready to transform your business, retain top talent, and business, retain top talent, and strengthen your competitive strengthen your competitive advantage, contact us today. advantage, contact us today.

Robert Gardner, CEPA, CFEd® Robert Gardner, CEPA, Advisor CFEd® Business Continuation Business Continuation Advisor Who Business Owners Trust Who Business Owners Trust www.GardnerWallace.com www.GardnerWallace.com

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P H OTO G R A P H Y BY E L I Z A B E T H L A V I N

We'll show you how. We'll show you how. GardnerWallace.com/Business GardnerWallace.com/Business

it’s hard to say no to quincy preston. when she believes in something, she won’t stop until she makes it happen. Such was the case in 2015, when she asked her then-boss, the late Wick Allison, to co-launch a media platform that would tell the story of innovation in Dallas. The sticking point: the product would not bear his company’s signature red-and-white “D” logo. In the end, Preston’s passion for the cause won out, and D Magazine Partners and the Dallas Regional Chamber (who had an equally determined crusader in Duane Dankesreiter) came together to build Dallas Innovates, which officially launched in February 2016. Dankesreiter calls DI “the drumbeat” of the market. Its mission is to “make North Texas the region everyone is talking about” through a mix of news, business intelligence, data, and commentary. “Dallas-Fort Worth has all of the core assets that drive an innovation economy,” says Preston. (Full disclosure: Quincy and I have been friends for 20 years, and my son Jon works for DI.) “We felt Dallas Innovates could be the center of innovation in business in DFW, from startup to enterprise, and include all the great impact work happening here.” The region’s greatest strength, Preston adds, is its diverse economy. “A lot of places want one thing to hang their hat on, but DFW has many centers of innovation,” she says. “And the fact that small businesses can work with very large companies here as a Fortune 50 market is a huge advantage.” Last summer, in a perfect example of the region’s startup culture, Preston formed her own venture, Dallas Next, and graduated from the incubator that was D Magazine Partners to take over the DRC partnership. (D CEO continues to collaborate with DI on The Innovation Awards. See page 34.) “It was time for us to move on as our own force for good to tell the stories of this market and dive into its resilience and energy and potential,” Preston says. DI’s daily newsletter is a must-read. Sign up at dallasinnovates.com.

Christine Perez Editor

DCEOMAGAZINE.COM

12/20/21 10:09 AM

Let the Journey Begin Premier flexible workspace & personalized services for your growing business harwoodleasing.com/flex

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AGENDA

Jennifer Warren, Kimberley Sheffiel Scott Sheffield, Joe oran

Paul Russell, Rob Opitz

Jack Cornell, Bernard Uechtritz

D CEO’s Energy Awards 2021 at the end of october, guests gathered at the dallas petroleum club to celebrate D CEO’s fourth annual Energy Awards, honoring industry leaders in oil, gas, and renewables. Awards were presented in 10 categories by D CEO Editor Christine Perez, with help from ICON Global’s Bernard Uechtritz, Rob Opitz of BKD, and Willie Hornberger of Jackson Walker. The evening also included a panel discussion moderated by journalist Jennifer Warren featuring industry experts Joe Foran of Matador Resources Co. and Vikram Agrawal of Opportunity Equity Partners and EarthxCapital. A fina honor of the evening, D CEO’s Legacy in Energy Award, was presented to Scott Sheffiel of Pioneer Natural Resources. Thank you to title sponsors BKD, ICON Global, Jackson Walker, Pioneer Natural Resources, and Stephens Inc. for making this event possible. Congratulations again to all the finali ts and winners, who were featured in the November issue of D CEO.

Lee Warren, Bill Jackson, Carolina Pace, Drew Lockard

Willie Hornberger, Gigi Hornberger, Vikram Agrawal

Martin Newman, Herbie Rolph, Anthony Colantino

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John B. Billingsley Jr.

P H OTO G R A P H Y BY B R E T R E D M A N

Dirk Todd, Eric Powell

Steve Reichmuth, Ryan Vardeman, Jonathan R. Grammer

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12/16/21 11:59 AM

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12/20/21 9:42 AM

CELEBRATING

35 YEARS OF SERVICE

RGT strives to simplify the complex details of managing your wealth to support your peace of mind now and for your future. rgtadvisors.com • 214-360-7000

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DOSSIER TRENDS

WATC H

a n d

NORTH TEXAS NEWSMAKERS

YOU NEED TO KNOW

P H OTO G R A P H Y C O U R T E S Y O F L U P E N Y P H O T O G R A P H Y

For Topo Chico’s Gerardo Galván, Success Is Bubbling Over As general manager, he oversees U.S. operations for the popular Mexican mineral water and has led it to dominate market share. story by BEN SWANGER

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DOSSIER

as a young boy growing up in monterrey, Mexico, where Topo Chico originated, Gerardo Galván had long been aware of the drink and its centuries-old beginnings (see sidebar). His fir t encounter with it had a prophetic feel. “As a child reaching for a drink in my pantry, the first time I got the Topo Chico bottle in my hands, I knew something was going to happen,” he says. “At the time, I wasn’t sure what that feeling meant, but I felt this special connection.” Today, Galván oversees U.S. operations for the Mexican mineral water as GM in the company’s Plano headquarters. He has worked in the beverage industry for nearly his entire career. After graduating from the Universidad de Monterrey in 1986, a friend called to ask if he had received an invite to Coca-Cola interviews the school was sponsoring. “No, I didn’t, but send me the address,” Galván responded. When he arrived, the secretary told him he was not on the list. “I know, but I deserve that interview,” Galván told her. Coca-Cola had just enough time to squeeze in an extra interview at the end of the day, and before long, Galván received the coveted call; he was one of two hires the global giant made that day. He was promoted twice—to merchandising manager and to a post in pricing and packaging—before moving to Topo Chico as the brand’s national sales and commercial manager. In 2000, he was given the enormous task of leading Topo Chico’s operations at its home base in Mexico and expanding

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its U.S. market as president and general manager. Three years later, he moved with his wife and two children to North Texas to begin building what is now the country’s top sparkling/mineral water distributor. “To get to this point has been a full family effort,” he says. Galván has led Topo Chico to an annual growth rate hovering around 35 percent every year since 2000. He also navigated the company through its $220 million acquisition by Coca Cola in 2017—a full circle moment. “My life is all about connecting the dots, and when Coca-Cola purchased Topo Chico, that was another connection,” Galván says. For the 12 months ending May 2020, Topo Chico sales grew by 39 percent to $184 million, according to Beverage Industry. Today, more than 1.3 billion bottles are sold each year in the U.S. and Mexico. Galván says he knew from the start of his journey with the brand that it would be a success. “I’m a lucky salesman because the product we have is the best,” he says. “If you would have asked me 20 years ago if we’d be having the success we are, I would have told you, ‘Yes.’” He attributes growth to the cult following Topo Chico has among deeply engaged customers. “Our connection with the consumer goes beyond a P&L, beyond a marketing expense,” Galván says. “We never worry about reaching our sales numbers … we know our consumers are our friends, and we will succeed.” Topo Chico has set a new record for sales every month since 2000—to the point where its sales charts look like a matryoshka (Russian nesting dolls), Galván says. He uses a saying to reinforce how each win for the company leads to another: “Éxito, tras éxito, tras éxito,” which translates to “Success, after success, after success.” In late 2020, Topo Chico announced a hard seltzer partnership with Coca-Cola and Molson Coors Beverage Co. It’s now available in four flavors: strawberry guava, tropical mango, exotic pineapple, and tangy lemon-lime. Galván is quiet about his next bubbly innovation but says building on Topo Chico’s leading market share is a high priority: “We need to take this thing to the next level, which is my biggest challenge.”

The Topo Chico Legend In the 1440s, as the story goes, the daughter of Aztec King Moctezuma I Ilhuicamina fell ill. The king’s doctors had no explanation, no cure, and no advice for the desperate father. So, the king decided to consult local priests, who told him of a legendary spring that fl wed at high temperatures in Northern Mexico and had unique properties. Travelers who ventured by the spring claimed a renewed strength would come about their spirit after drinking from or bathing in the spring. Perhaps, the priests suggested, these waters could cure the princess. After a rough and rocky journey, the king’s court arrived in a fertile valley flan ed by mountains. On top of a hill now called Cerro del Topo Chico, the king and his daughter discovered the legendary water. Miraculously, the princess was healed, and now the same spring provides the water bottled by Topo Chico in Gerardo Galván’s hometown of Monterrey, Mexico.

DCEOMAGAZINE.COM

12/15/21 10:59 AM

INNOVATIVE BANKING BUSINESS

At PlainsCapital, we leverage innovative technology to meet our business customers’ banking needs. With advanced mobile banking, merchant services, and treasury management solutions, we’re committed to helping you grow your business. Our treasury services include: •

Business Mobile Banking app to access your accounts, approve transactions, pay bills, and deposit checks on the go

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Contactless payment solutions for online, delivery, and curbside transactions

•

Payment Fraud Protection services like Positive Pay to monitor transactions for suspicious activity

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DOSSIER

FRESH IDEAS

Innovating the Flame

MEET THE 500

VIRGINIA DROSOS CEO SIGNET JEWELERS

as ceo of signet jewelers, gina drosos runs the world’s largest retailer of diamond jewelry and the company behind giants such as Jared, Kay, and Zales, which it acquired for $1.4 billion in 2014. She took the helm in 2017 after leading genetic testing company Assurex Health and overseeing Procter & Gamble’s global beauty brands business, a $6 billion unit whose portfolio at the time included CoverGirl, Old Spice, and Olay. Under Drosos’ leadership, the segment grew from a $200 million to a $2.5 billion business. She divides her time between Zales’ headquarters at Cypress Waters in Coppell and Signet’s home base in Akron, Ohio. EDUCATION: University of Pennsylvania (MBA), University of Georgia (BBA) BIRTHPLACE: Atlanta BEST ADVICE: “Be a continual learner. Don’t focus on how fast you can move up; instead, focus on acquiring new experiences and learning new ways of seeing issues and opportunities. Ultimately, that will give you the perspective needed to make better decisions and be a better leader of people.” FUN FACT: “I love to wake surf on the lake. Life doesn’t get any better than an afternoon on the water with friends and family.” TOUGHEST CHALLENGE: “COVID has certainly presented us with challenges. At the same time, we

learned a lot. One of our customers once said, ‘One of the great gifts of COVID is clarity.’ I agree. It has allowed people to think about the most meaningful people in our lives and how we celebrate them, and it also gave us clarity in our business on how and where to prioritize.” PROUD MOMENT: “Throughout the pandemic, our focus has been on the safety of our team and customers and the sustainability of our company for both the short and long-term. We pivoted quickly, reinvented ourselves, and created a truly connected-commerce way of doing business that has redefined the ay customers shop. Our total sales at the end of the second quarter of fisca 2021 were up more than $400 million compared to two years prior, despite store reductions of more than 15 percent.”

LESSON LEARNED: “I’m very proud of our team because not one single person fell prey to the sense of doom that major, unexpected crises can easily create. To the contrary, we decided to lean in and speed up.” INDUSTRY TREND: “We’re seeing many interesting trends in our business, but one that stands out is a rising tide of engagements. Our research indicates 15 percent of committed couples, or approximately 2.3 million couples, expected to get engaged during 2021—up high single digits compared to a typical pre-pandemic year.” LOOKING AHEAD: “I’m excited about Gen Z’s values and relentless focus on diversity, equity, inclusion, sustainability, authenticity—all things to make the world a better place. Their passion is already driving businesses to step up and enhance their focus on ESG. I’m thrilled by the discussions I have with our young professionals and customers; they are set on changing the world, and I’m planning to help pave the way!”

when i first heard that the Solo Stove burned a nearly smokeless fire, I didn’t believ it. But after several impromptu campfires with our two pyromania sons, I can say that the experience is worth the upgrade. How does it work? The fire pits eliminate smok by burning with higher heat. The company, owned by Solo Brands, has grown to 170 employees, with sales in the first six months o 2021 outpacing all of 2020, when revenue was $133 million for the fiscal year. This fall, Solo Brand opened a 430,000-square-foot headquarters in Grapevine to support growth and launched colored fire pits. “People ar looking to extend their living spaces outdoors,” CEO John Merris says. “We want to create good moments that lead to lasting memories.” — Will Maddox

D R O S O S BY J A K E M E Y E R S ; F R E S H I D E A C O U R T E S Y O F S O L O B R A N D S

Grills and fire pits made by Grapevine-based Solo Stove burn hotter— without the smoke.

This Q&A is extended content from Dallas 500, a special edition produced by D CEO that profile the region’s most influential busine s leaders. Visit www.dallas500.com for details.

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12/21/21 10:12 AM

SECTION NAME

ASK THE EXPERT

Persuasion Skills: Grabbing Your Audience’s Attention R O G G E D U N N , C EO, R O G G E D U N N G R O U P

c-level execs, managers, and entrepreneurs stalled incorrectly. It made me think and realize make sales pitches every day. Whether you’re it symbolized laundry tumbling in a dryer. trying to motivate an employee, sell something, Break Through the White Noise obtain funding, or win an argument with family or A surprising message needs to b reak the white friends, persuasion skills are essential. This article noise of the typical homogenous message. Condetails a proven persuasion technique. sider home security alarms. If you’ve ever trigAttracting your audience’s attention and holdgered one, you know it’s not merely loud, b ut ing it is the key to a successful start of any prethe siren pulsates and multiple lights flash in a sentation. One time-tested method to grab your random strobe pattern. Those alternating sights audience’s attention is creating a unique and and sound attract, and keep, your attention. New surprising narrative. Recently I was on a Southwest Airlines fligh . We’ve all heard the mundane police cars use many diff rent colored lights—not warning about seatbelts and oxygen masks. When simply red lights. was the last time you listened and thought about Avoid Gimmicks what the flight a tendant was saying? On this flight, the flight attendant said, “In Using surprise requires balancing the shock factor the unlikely event we lose cab in pressure, oxyagainst a hollow gimmick. Years ago, a number of gen masks will deploy. If you are seated next to a ads started out with the word “sex” in a large, bold child—or someone acting like a child—put your font. The next sentence would be, “Now that we’ve mask on first and then help the child with their got your attention, let us tell you about our product mask. I, as well as other passengers, chuckled; or service.” That meaningless gimmick is no better it made us listen and think ab out the message. than screaming at the top of your lungs to attract This humorous and unexpected approach broke attention. It turns off the audience. It’s like a mysthe monotony of the typical, standard warning. tery movie where at the end someone wakes up and Whenever someone sees or hears something says, “It was all a dream.” The viewer is disappointed. out of the ordinary, they are much more likely Effective surprises incorporate the underlying to pay attention, if for no message like the Kwik Wash other reason than for cusign plays into clothes in a riosity’s sake. I rememb er laundromat tumb ling up when Kwik Wash Laundry and down. The takeaway: opened its stores. Their Intertwining the surprise signs displayed “laundry” with your core message is the most effective way to upside down. It attracted 500 N. Akard Street, Suite 1900 grab and hold your audimy attention b ecause I Dallas, Texas 75201 ence’s attention. thought the sign was in214.888.5000 | info@roggedunngroup.com

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ROGGE DUNN represents companies, executives, and entrepreneurs in business and employment matters. These include the CEOs/ presidents of American Airlines, Baker Hughes, Beck Group, Blucora, Crow Holdings, Dave & Busters, Gold’s Gym, FedEx, HKS, Texas Motor Speedway, Texas Capital Bancshares, Texas Tech University, and Whataburger. Dunn’s corporate clients include Adecco, Beal Bank, Benihana, Cawley Partners, CBRE, Match.com, Thackeray Partners, Rent-A-Center, and Outback Steakhouse. In 2022 Dunn was included in DCEO Magazines’ Dallas 500 list, recognizing the most influential business leaders in North Texas. He has been honored as a Texas Super Lawyer every year that award has been given and recognized as one of the top 100 attorneys in Texas by Texas Monthly (a Thomson Reuters service) and a D Magazine Best Lawyer 12 times.

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DOSSIER

ENTREPRENEURS

story by BEN SWANGER

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after head coaching stints with the dallas mavericks, THE New Jersey Nets, and Alabama Crimson Tide came to an end in 2019, INVESTOR Avery Johnson asked himself, “What team do I coach next?” Several AIMS TO programs reached out to gauge his interest, but Johnson tapped into BUY $300 a childhood aspiration and found a different kind of team to lead MILLION IN Raised in New Orleans by his father, a self-employed carpenter, and his stay-at-home mother, Johnson admired his father’s freeASSETS dom as a business leader. He realized that he, too, “wanted to be a OVER THE CEO—the one who decided a company’s success.” NEXT 18 Today, he is chief executive of Avery Capital, a private equity firm MONTHS. that focuses on commercial real estate—primarily, assets with longterm leases to the General Services Administration. Since Johnson and COO John Bailey co-founded the firm in late 2020, the five-person team has raised more than $30 million and acquired two properties in South Texas and Florida with big plans to “buy $300 million worth of assets, with leverage, over the next 18 months.” Their portfolio differs from those held by other North Texas real estate savants, where sometimes both the risks and rewards are high. Focusing on properties with government leases in place is all about stability, Johnson says. “When we saw General Motors stop building cars and start manufacturing masks for COVID, we wanted to make sure we were anchored by a tenant that had a long history of paying their rent,” he says. “The GSA pays under any economic environment.” Maintaining revenue streams is the name of the game, especially in a cyclical industry such as real estate. “Our entire team and investors liked the idea of having a strategy that was an alternative bond—an alternative fixed-income strategy giving investors a couple hundred points’ spread on that same capital with the same credit,” Johnson says. The assets aren’t flashy or architectural masterpieces, but “our buildings are sexy to us because of their cash flow,” Johnson says. The coach-turned-CEO says he aims to have an impact beyond the bounds of business—or sports. “I want my journey to inspire minority students who can’t throw a football, dribble a basketball, or sing a rap song,” Johnson TEAMMATES says. “If you can, great. But if you can’t, Bailey, left, and Johnson launched your brainpower will help you succeed in their real estate PE firm in 2 20. other sectors of life.”

P H OTO G R A P H Y C O U R T E S Y O F A V E R Y C A P I T A L

Former Dallas Mavericks head coach Avery Johnson gets into the real estate game.

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12/15/21 10:58 AM

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12/16/21 11:02 AM

DOSSIER

O N T H E TA B L E

Zirtue’s Dennis Cail formalizes lending between family and friends. Building on his wildly successful app, the fintech innovator has launched a debit card and is taking his platform global.

story by KELSEY J. VANDERSCHOOT illustration by JAKE MEYERS

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colorful murals on the walls at doc b’s in Uptown catch my attention as I sit down to lunch with Zirtue Founder and CEO Dennis Cail. Perusing the menu, he suggests the California Salad but opts for the Brussel Sprout Salad himself. “I’ve been wearing that California Salad out,” he explains with a laugh. His office is across the street, making him a frequent diner at the eatery. It has been just over four years since he founded his relationship-based lending app, which formalizes loans between family and friends and promotes financial inclusion for the underbanked. The app processed more than $30 million in loans in 2021. Zirtue’s success helped Cail land investments from the likes of Google and Northwestern Mutual; he also recently launched a debit card through a partnership with MasterCard. “It all centers around this: How can we give people a better hand up versus a handout?” he says. Cail spent his early years living in low-income public housing in Monroe, Louisiana. There were no banks, he remembers, only liquor stores that would cash a check for a 20 or 30 percent cut. “Even at 7 or 8 years old, I knew that was bad math,” he recalls. After a tour with the Navy and earning two degrees at Southern Methodist University, Cail built e-commerce platforms for IBM. Strains in relationships with family members caused by unpaid debts they owed him sparked

the idea for Zirtue. Informal loans between friends and family are often fraught with conflict and miscommunication. “You become the bad guy all of a sudden,” Cail says. “It’s very awkward.” Zirtue prompts users to create lending terms and payment schedules and link a funding source if available. The new debit card will provide a funding source for those who may not have access to a bank account while also building “an onramp to financial inclusion” by serving as a gateway to other credit-building products. Guidelines such as maximum loan amounts and a limit on the number of outstanding loans an individual can have help users build financial literacy and make sound decisions. After the pandemic hit, Zirtue segued from a subscription-based model to generate revenue by focusing on B2B partnerships with companies such as energy and healthcare providers. It charges businesses a fee to funnel users’ funds to outstanding charges via direct bill pay, preventing bad debt for companies and helping users avoid service disruptions. “Zirtue is really that nexus that sits in between all of these relationships and these pain points,” Cail says. Current business partners include AT&T, UT Southwestern, Southwestern Health Resources, and Reliant Energy. Looking ahead, Cail hopes to launch a credit offering by the third quarter of 2022, giving underserved individuals a place to safely build credit based on their previous Zirtue performance. “We’re trying to help graduate people into more financial products,” he says. MasterCard will also help launch Zirtue into Latin America and Asia by Q4—part of a global buildout. “Once you get outside of the U.S., the problems and the opportunities expand,” Cail says.

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12/15/21 11:00 AM

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DOSSIER

E N T E R TA I N M E N T

story by WILL MADDOX

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after the dallas comedy house closed in august 2020, “LAUGHTER Ian and Rosie Caruth would drive by the vacant club in Deep ElIS CHEAPER lum and think, “Somebody has to do something.” The Caruths, THAN THERAPY, who were students and interns at the venue, ultimately decided AND IT’S THE that “somebody” would be them. BEST WAY TO The couple met in New York City, where they taught and perGET TO KNOW formed at the Magnet Theater. They worked jobs in video editing and PR to support themselves while living in East Village. Eventually, SOMEONE.” they needed a change of pace and, for a while, worked for a cannabis operation in South Lake Tahoe. In 2016, they moved to Dallas. The Caruths joined the Dallas Comedy House, founded by improv comedian and corporate trainer Amanda Austin. Due to the pandemic, Austin was forced to close the venue, and the landlord of the nearly 10,000-square-foot club began seeking a new tenant. The Caruths heard the call and opened Dallas Comedy Club this past September. “This is our life’s savings and our life’s work,” Rosie says. “We believe in this, and we are fully leveraged,” Ian adds with nervous laughter. Like its predecessor, Dallas Comedy Club hosts performances from local and national comedians, improv troupes, open mics, and sketch shows up to five nights a week. It also offers improv, sketch, stand-up, and storytelling classes. Corporate training is available, too, with the Caruths helping business leaders build better teams, improve communication skills, and put improv’s “yes, and” philosophy to work. The couple created an elevated dining experience, with a menu that includes calamari fries with romesco and lemon aioli, duck tacos with avocado crema and guajillo salsa, and an off-the-wall pork stir fry In March, the Caruths will host their first Texas Comedy Festival, bringing in talent through their connections in California and New York while also highlighting local voices. Beyond making people laugh and building a business, the couple is focused on creating a positive and inCOMEDY COUPLE clusive community. “Laughter is cheaper The Caruths say the club represents than therapy, and it’s the best way to get their life’s savings to know someone,” Rosie says. and life’s work.

P H OTO G R A P H Y C O U R T E S Y O F L A W R E N C E J E N K I N S

With Dallas Comedy Club, Rosie and Ian Caruth are bringing back the laughs in Deep Ellum.

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ASK THE EXPERT

Addressing Mental Health in the New Year V I A N E Y R E I N H A R D T, L P C , C O N N EC T I O N S W E L L N E S S G R O U P

Do people get more depressed when a New Year starts? If so, why? While many people look forward to wrapping up the year and setting goals for the next, it’s not uncommon for others to find themselves lamenting missed goals or opportunities both personally and professionally as the current year ends. A new year inevitably comes with expectations for capitalizing on prior successes and making changes to experience more success. For those struggling with symptoms of depression, it may be difficu to identify achievements when they are clouded by a general sense of failure. Depression can lead to rumination over these perceived failures, and if no plan for resolution exists, some people become stuck in this negative cycle, making it even more challenging to find motivation to create positive change. What are some healthy ways to kick off 022 mentally healthy? One of the first things we can do is acknowledge that our mental health is as equally important as our physical health. While a healthy diet and exercise can be excellent allies in improving mental health, there are additional ways to boost mental well-being. Sharing how you feel with a trusted family member, friend, pastor, or counselor can be a great way to take charge of your mental health. The act of sharing your thoughts and feelings, being heard, and feeling supported can decrease one’s sense of isolation. Engage in activities that bring you a sense of accomplishment or success. Volunteering for a charity, helping a friend, or any form of assisting others can make us feel needed and valued, providing a boost to our own feelings of self-worth. Is there a connection between physical health and mental health? There has been quite a bit of research regarding the “gut-brain connection.” Our bodies are sensitive to our emotions–anger, sadness, fear, and joy. Think about the times when you’ve had a deadline

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looming or a large project to complete. Chances are, you may have b een experiencing physical symptoms of that stress, such as headaches, upset stomach, or fatigue. Maintaining a healthy diet of nutrient-rich foods that promote good gut-health, staying hydrated, and finding time in your day to move your b ody are excellent ways to improve your physical state making a direct and positive impact on your mental wellbeing. What are signs that someone is experiencing depression or anxiety, so they know when to seek professional help? Symptoms of depression can include fatigue, lethargy, changes in sleep and appetite, persistent sadness, irritability, lack of motivation, or a sense of hopelessness. Anxiety can present in some of the same ways including fatigue, sleep problems, or irritability but can also include difficult concentrating, feeling restless or on edge, constant worry or fear, or a general sense of dread. When these symptoms become chronic, lasting multiple days or weeks on end, it may be time to reach out for professional help. What are some habits to practice every day to keep mental health in check? A quick and easy way to boost mental health can include keeping a gratitude journal. Listing things we are grateful for each day allows time to reflec on what is going well in our lives and reminds us that positive things are happening. Engage in a mindful activity, such as meditation, deep breathing, or progressive muscle relaxation. These activities allow the brain to take a break from the constant stream of information processing. Seek opportunities for laughter by talking to a funny friend, watching a comedy, or thinking ab out a funny experience as laughter produces endorphins in our brain and lifts our mood. Leave your mobile device, computer, etc. behind. Going off the grid is good for the b rain and can lead to improved mood and functioning.

VIANEY REINHARDT is a licensed professional counselor who serves as the evisional director of Business Development for Connections Wellness Group. Reinhardt earned a master’s degree in clinical psychology from The University of North Texas. She has spent much of her career working with children, adolescents, and families struggling with behavioral and emotional disorders. She has worked in a variety of settings, including acute in-patient hospitals, residential treatment facilities, community mental health clinics, and foster care programs. She now uses her clinical skills in her work as a clinical liaison as she educates professionals, community members, and those effected by mental health struggles on the impact of mental illness and the services Connections Wellness Group offers to those seeking to live healthier and more meaningful lives.

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12/20/21 10:03 AM

CONNECTING YOU BACK TO WHAT MATTERS MOST

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ASK THE EXPERT

Developing an Advisor Network W I L L I A M A . M U N C K , M A N AG I N G PA R T N E R , M U N C K W I L S O N M A N DA L A

As a leader, you emphasize the importance of good business advisors. Why do you feel this is so important? No matter how smart or talented you are, there are going to be areas of your business that require someone smarter or more talented than you. Many of our clients start small. When you start small, you often find yourself making all the decisions for the company—HR, finance, operations, etc. As your b usiness grows, managing the decisions in every department becomes overwhelming. You need smart business advisors to guide you through critical decisions. Our law firm started with a half-dozen attorneys. As we grew, it became clear that we were great at practicing law but running a business at the same time was challenging. We needed a chief financial offi r which, at the time, seemed like a b ig expense, but it was one of the best business decisions we ever made. What is the secret to developing a good network of advisors? I was fortunate enough to coach athletic teams throughout my adulthood. I like to compare the strategies I used as an athletic coach to the strategies I use developing a network of good advisors. When you are coaching, you learn to analyze your players’ strengths. Some do well as attackers, and some prefer to protect or defend. In b usiness, you have a similar dynamic. You have people with exceptional organizational skills, people who are technology experts, and people who have inherent people skills. Folks that thrive under pressure. Recognizing their strengths and placing them in roles where their skills are a good fit helps you make better business decisions.

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What works and what does not work when you are developing a network of good advisors? I have learned that you cannot rely simply on what a sheet of paper tells you. Our IT manager worked at a grocery store before we hired him as an IT assistant. Within three years, he was leading the entire IT department. Not only did he have remarkable talent with computers and networks, but his team is credited with saving us in a few crisis situations where our servers were down due to weather or power outages. On paper, he was a stock boy who played with computers as a hobby. In person, he has become one of our best technology advisors—a profici nt, self-taught problem solver. Your law firm epresents many North Texas business leaders. What trends are you seeing as a firm that p ovides business and legal advice to North Texas businesses? Our lab or and employment team has b een very busy helping North Texas businesses handle questions related to vaccination and work from home policies. Our intellectual property team has seen a higher demand for business and legal advice in industries such as energy, medical devices, and semiconductors. Both our IP and corporate teams are representing investors and innovators focused on virtual reality, electronic gaming, and cryptocurrency. We have major deals happening in M&A, representing our clients in large acquisitions. It is an exciting time to be advisors to the innovators in North Texas who are bringing new products and services in these areas to market.

WILLIAM A. MUNCK is managing partner of Munck Wilson Mandala, a technology-focused law firm headquartered in Dallas with offices in Austin, Houston, Los Angeles, and Miami. Munck has more than 29 years of intellectual property law experience and he chairs the firm’s IP section, leading a team of attorneys focused on patent, trade secret, trademark, and copyright law. In addition to representing well-known names in hightech and defense, Munck represents startups, smallcap and privately held companies in all areas of technology and business. Munck Wilson Mandala protects businesses, ideas, and people.

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12/20/21 10:04 AM

Sometimes it really IS rocket science.

Innovators need innovative protection. Munck Wilson Mandala’s patents and innovations team includes 50+ registered patent attorneys, patent agents, scientific advisors, and foreign associates. They hold degrees in biology, chemistry, engineering, and other STEM-related fields. Technology focused advisors for forward thinking businesses and investors.

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12/20/21 10:04 AM

T h e I N N OVAT I O N A w a r d s 2 0 2 2

Get to know 78 North Texas innovators who are changing the way we live and work. H E L P I N G TH E B L I N D S E E . Reinventing mobility with unmanned aerial

story by

KELSEY J. VA N D E R S C H O O T

portraits by

SEAN BERRY

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P H OTO G R A P H Y BY Y A R O S L A V D A N Y L C H E N K O

systems. Bringing cryptocurrency to mainstream financial se vices firms. hese are just a few of the exciting innovations happening in North Texas. In our third annual Innovation Awards program, a collaboration with Dallas Innovates, we honor 78 trailblazers who are shaping the future and improving our world. Last year, there were 51 finali ts. The growth of the program is a refle tion of the region’s increasing prominence as an innovation hub. “Because of the wealth of opportunity in this area, we have been able to grow our business how we want and turn our dream into a reality,” says finali t Rob Wilson, CEO of Shavelogic. “As more innovators choose Dallas and surrounding cities for their operations, everyone stands to benefit ” Winners of the 2022 Innovation Awards will be revealed at an event in January.

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In 2021, Avocados From Mexico launched a video platform, athleisure line, and made a big push in consumer data. Says AFM President Alvaro Luque, “There’s a focus on fir t-party data in the modern marketing world.” AVOCADOS FRO M M E XICO A lva ro Lu q u e , p re si d e nt

“This past year marked Frito-Lay’s largest Super Bowl presence to date, with three campaigns,” says CMO Rachel Ferdinando. The snack-maker also partnered on initiatives with Snapchat and actor Matthew McConaughey. FR ITO - L AY

R a c h e l Fe rdi n a n do , C M O

Neiman Marcus outfit ed four NBA Draft picks and launched a “re-introduce yourself” campaign in 2021. They were part of a “more progressive, customercentric, and culturally relevant approach,” says CMO Daz McColl. N E I MAN MARCU S G RO U P D az M c C o ll , C M O

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ALLIANCETEXAS MOBILIT Y I N N O VAT I O N I N T R A N S P O R TAT I O N

Amid ongoing supply chain struggles, shifts to autonomous vehicles and other innovations are paving the way forward.

I N N OVAT I O N Z O N E

allows innovators to test autonomous trucking and unmanned aerial systems. “It’s a really exciting time for mobility innovation and the future of autonomy,” says Mike Berry, who leads the platform, alongside Russell Laughlin.

I N N O VAT I O N I N M A R K E T I N G

7-ELEVEN re p re s e nte d by C M O

celebrated its 94th birthday in 2021 by sending a Slurpee to space, with fans choosing the fl vor through a marketing campaign on the company’s delivery app. It also teamed up with Airbnb to let people book an overnight stay at a 7-Eleven store in Dallas to play PlayStation 5, and launched a Laredo Taco Co. drive-thru at its Park Lane & Abrams Evolution store. “We’ve found that Dallas residents are always willing to try new things, making the region a great place for innovation,” says Marissa Jarratt, 7-Eleven’s CMO. As the world continues to change, Jarratt says authenticity is becoming increasingly important. “Consumers are looking for brands to deliver authentic messages—often in the form of promoting user-generated content developed by actual fans of the brands,” she says. “We’re coming up with creative ways to encourage, foster, and reward our brand loyalists.”

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Founded in 2014 in Dallas, L E V I AT E A I R G R O U P

combines private charter and aircraft sales and management. “It’s vital our company is based in a city that reflects our ate of innovation,” says CEO Luis Barros. “I am excited about the prospect of how far Leviate can take air travel.”

I N N O VAT I O N I N M A N U FA C T U R I N G + C O N S U M E R G O O D S

“WHAT TRENDS ARE PROPELLING INNOVATION IN YOUR INDUSTRY?”

MAR I SSA JAR R AT T

CONVEN IEN C E STOR E KI N G 7-EL EV EN

Rail company B N S F is among North America’s largest movers of goods and transporters of supplies to power communities. The Fort Worth-based company recently launched a battery-powered, electric locomotive in California to help set a 2022 emissions reduction target.

“Innovation in the ammunition space is almost nonexistent. The moment I realized the market had not seen substantial change in more than a century, I knew we had the opportunity to make ourselves known and provide the world with a fresh, paradigmshifting product.”

“By far, the No. 1 trend right now in the chemicals industry is volatility. And it’s not just one root cause, but many. Between weather disruptions, export restrictions from China, and supply chain issues, we’re seeing the costs for chemicals rise and shortages in the market.”

“More young consumers think a brand’s environmental efforts are extremely important when considering purchasing a product. They are becoming increasingly selective on where they spend, and now seek an environmental return on investment.”

“Parents are looking to get their children to step away from screens and are seeking traditional toys to drive imagination. They’re also looking at the unused potential of their backyards to create safe areas for their kids to get active and maintain some sense of normalcy with their friends.”

K E VI N B OSC A M P

B R AVI S B R OW N

P R A SA D R E D DY

GEOFF WA LK E R

Tr u e Ve l o c it y

B P S Te c h n o l o g y

Twi s te d X

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North Texas-based I N N O VAT I O N I N L O G I S T I C S + S U P P LY CHAIN

Manufacturers got a supply-chain wake-up call in 2021. DFW companies are innovating to solve logistics challenges.

C O U R M E D provides SaaS

and delivery services for healthcare providers. Last year, it reached new heights, says Derrick Miles, founder and CEO. “We received Microsoft funding and a partnership to scale CourMed’s platform worldwide,” he says.

I N N O VAT I O N I N S P O R T S + G A M I N G

New developments in technology are disrupting the sports world: SaaS, blockchain, AI, machine learning, and more are driving fan engagement in new ways, after the pandemic forced season-long closures in 2020. COUNTERFIND Former Cowboys safety Darren Woodson launched CounterFind, an AI-driven system that tracks and reports ads selling forgeries and infringements online to help ecommerce brands. Blue Star Innovation, the company backed by Jerry Jones and family, is an investor, and clients include the Cowboys and Ohio State University.

ENVY GAMING Envy Gaming merged with OpTic Gaming last year to create an esports giant. Its team led North America’s Overwatch League—a fir t-person shooter video game competition. “Technology will continue to disrupt and change everything around us,” says CEO Adam Rymer, who joined Envy Gaming in 2020.

VENUE

Founder Kelly Pracht attended more than 100 Astros games to research, validate, watch fans, and test the tech of NVenue, which uses AI predictive analytics to engage fans with sports in real time. Last September, when the company’s analytics were broadcast on NBC during an A’s-White Sox game, it “changed everything,” Pracht says.

SHOKWORKS Clients of Shokworks, which develops digital platforms using blockchain technology, include FC Barcelona and the Arians Family Foundation, led by Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians. “Most people confuse innovation strictly with invention,” says Shokworks Founder Alejandro Laplana. “We treat innovation holistically.”

S TAC K S P O R T S

O N A S S E T created the world’s fir t tracking device approved for use on airplanes. It tracks high-value shipments and monitors environmental details during transit. “OnAsset technologies played an important role in COVID vaccine shipments,” says CEO Adam Crossno.

Led by chairman and CEO Kevin Howe, R I V E R L O G I C is a global leader in optimization technology. It deploys digital twinning, using real-time data to create a virtual model of an object or process, which helps supply-chain leaders with strategic planning and improving their operations.

I N N O VAT I O N I N H O S P I TA L I T Y

THE SINCLAIR

W H E N CO MM ERCI AL REAL E STAT E

developer Farukh Aslam was working on The Sinclair hotel in Fort Worth in 2016, a lighting issue made him rethink traditional systems. “Staring us in the face was a supposedly ‘trusted,’ large-brand solution, and it was using antiquated practices that have never worked properly at our site,” he says. This sparked an infusion of new technologies throughout the hotel, from digital showers and web-enabled bathroom mirrors to energy-conscious power sources. The Sinclair was the fir t building in the world to replace a diesel generator and back-up power source with a lithium-ion battery pack, increasing energy efficie y and reducing charging time. “The average person is becoming more aware of these issues and demanding to see change happen,” Aslam says.

SaaS company Stack Sports helps teams manage leagues, process payments, ease recruiting, partner with media outlets, and more. Founded in 2016, the company has acquired more than 25 other businesses and grown its client base to 50,000. It’s backed by the NFL’s venture fund 32 Equity and Jerry Jones, among other investors.

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“People have finally started to recognize the importance of the supply chain,” says Chris Kirchner, founder of S LY N C . I O . The company, which develops software to improve the shipping process, grew to 100 employees in 2021 and launched an ocean carrier booking platform.

Plano-based E N S E O lets hoteliers and guests control in-room devices, view room charges, make maintenance requests, connect to robotic devices, and more. Led by Founder Vanessa Ogle, it consistently ranks as one of the fastestgrowing tech companies in the United States.

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Hoteliers Craig Cavileer and Kayla Wilkie worked with local architects and designers to create H O T E L D R OV E R , called the crown jewel of Mule Alley in the Fort Worth Stockyards. “Innovation means reinterpreting the expected and creating unexpected  surprises,” Cavileer says.

In 2021, celebrity Chef Tim Love launched H O T E L O T T O , an eight-room resort made from shipping containers behind his Italian concept, Gemelle. With cheaper build-out costs, he hopes to replicate the concept in other markets soon, creating each hotel in just 12 weeks.

N O I S E AWA R E monitors sound levels at short-term rental properties to help landlords prevent neighbor complaints by warning guests of potential fines. “Our customers resolve 90 percent of excessive noise events in under 30 minutes,” says NoiseAware Founder Andrew Schulz.

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Addressing pain points in payments to 1099 contractors, Gig Wage has grown its staff si -fold this year. “We also partnered with Google and closed several major partnerships and large accounts,” says Founder Craig Lewis.  G I G WAG E

l e d by C ra ig Lewi s

Quiltt Founder Ruben Izmailyan says his fin ech company was born out of the pandemic, pivoting from a SaaS design. “Seeing our fir t client go into production earlier this year was an exciting milestone,” he says. Q U I LT T

l e d by R u b e n Izm a ilya n

Dallas-based Zabo is bringing cryptocurrency into mainstream financial services. Co-founded in 2018 by Christopher Brown and Alex Treece, the company was acquired by cryptocurrency leader Coinbase in August 2021. Z ABO

l e d by C h r i s to p h e r B rown

ENTERPRISE I N N O VAT O R O F THE YEAR

Innovation can’t stop at the startup phase. These leaders are continuing to adapt and propel their industry forward.

“I’m energized by the work we’re doing. BPS Technology and our family of companies are rooted in sustainability. We’re reducing the chemical load in our society and using what we have more responsibly.”

“Dallas is a great place to be an entrepreneur. There is so much happening in this city. Not only is the talent base increasing as people move here to be part of the evolving tech landscape, but the work-life balance is quite appealing.”

B R AVI S B ROWN

CHAK R I G OT TE M U K K AL A

B P S Te c h n o l o g y

o 9 S o l u ti o n s

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I N N O VAT I O N I N F I N A N C E

I N N O VAT I O N I N F O O D A N D B E V E R A G E

COLLATERAL EDGE

l e d by

“WHAT IS THE BEST BUSINESS ADVICE YOU HAVE RECEIVED?”

J O E B E AR D

RICHARDSON -BASED COL L AT ER A L ED G E

helps make middle market loans more accessible by providing banks with risk-mitigated lending options. Last October, the company raised a $3.5 million seed round, securing investments from Perot Jain and Southern Glazer’s president Sheldon Stein. It plans to use the capital to expand its team and capabilities. “I am most excited about the impact CollateralEdge will have on the future of business and the economy,” says CEO Joe Beard, who co-founded the company with COO Joel Radke. “We will change the game for millions of people and for hundreds of thousands of companies. We will reduce capital obstacles for business owners so they can fulfill their dreams, build their companies, and create jobs for millions of Americans.”

“Your biggest competition is who you were yesterday. We move the ball forward on personal and professional goals when we try to be a better version of ourselves than we were the day before. It’s important to not measure yourself against anyone other than yourself. I call it ‘selfcompetition.’”

“To enjoy the journey of construction or remodeling, there are three rules to accept and embrace: It won’t cost what you planned, so have extra resources; it won’t be completed on time, so be patient and tolerant; and it won’t look like the original floor plan, so be flexible.”

“The old adage, ‘Rome wasn’t built in a day.’” I can be very impatient, but by taking a step back or a deep breath and realizing what the overall outcome is, I can see the path and stick to a plan that will typically yield success. Building a plane in the air is never a great idea.”

“My grandmother used to tell me that when you die, you can’t take it with you. So, thinking about money as a tool, not a goal, is a view I formed at a young age. It’s not how much money you make or have in the bank, it’s how you use it to invest in people and your communities.”

E D DY BA D R I N A

E S PA R TACO B O R GA

JEFF CARCARA

ROM KRUPP

Ed e n G re e n Te c h .

L a D u n i L ati n C afe

S ix t y V i n e s

OneDine

“2021 was an incredible year in terms of expanding our footprint across Texas. Our firm i vested upwards of $135 million in the core of the Permian Basin, with plans to invest an additional $400 million in projects over the next two years.”

“As an entrepreneur, I’ve learned that most things take longer than you expect and are more difficult than imagined. But the pursuit of building something entirely new that has a positive impact on lives is worth the effort.”

“All creations evolve and are the product of many individual contributions, of which no one is more important than the others. People sometimes get hung up on who thought of what, instead of the pure joy of solving problems together.”

“To me, innovation can involve a product line, channel, process, or business model. Making changes to any of these things can lead to new revenue models and are a great definition of innovation.”

J O R DAN JAYSO N

M E LBO U R N E O ’ BAN IO N

K E VI N STAD LE R

G EO FF WALK E R

U . S . En e rg y D eve l o p m e nt C o r p .

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B e s tow

Evo l o n Te c h n o l o g y

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I N N O VAT I O N I N E D U C AT I O N

Innovations in the realm of education have a multiplier effect, as they better prepare future leaders and entrepreneurs.

GREENLIGHT

Dallas Mavericks owner

C R E D E N T I A L S leverages

M A R K C U B A N launched his

blockchain technology to help users send academic and health records to colleges and employers. More than 100,000 students have used the platform to share records with over 2,500 colleges,” says Manoj Kutty, founder.

foundation’s AI Bootcamps Initiative in 2019 to help underserved high schoolers learn about AI uses, ethics, and implications, and how to build out new AI products. By 2023, the organization aims reach 1,000 students a year.

CIO/CTO OF THE YEAR

Fearless leadership is essential during change. These outstanding CIOs and CTOs play a fundamental role in shaping tech strategies and infrastructure that are key to their companies’ future. A R J U N D U G A L , C a p it a l O n e Among other achievements, Capital One Financial Services CTO Arjun Dugal has led the company through a massive transition from data centers to cloud data storage and the launch of the world’s largest AI Bot Camp. “It has reached more than 77,000 students from around the world,” Dugal says.

N A N C Y F L O R E S , M c Ke s s o n C o r p . McKesson has played a profound role in the battle against COVID, distributing more than 185 million COVID vaccines in 2021. “Our biggest challenge was rapidly scaling our systems and dynamically adapting inventory to support our customer,” says Nancy Flores, executive vice president, CIO, and CTO.

T A M M Y G I L B E R T , F i de lit y I nve s tm e nt s “The success my team has most influen ed is our company’s technology transformation internally,” says Tammy Gilbert, CIO and head of corporate technologies for Fidelity Investments. Last year, among other projects, her team shifted to agile methodology and launched a data strategy program.

N E E L U S E T H I , R e ddy I ce Dallas-based Reddy Ice was on the verge of bankruptcy when Neelu Sethi became CIO in 2016. She has since guided the company through a successful private equity transaction and several M&A deals. Her best advice? “Transform obstacles into new beginnings,” she says.

M A N I S U R I , 7- El eve n

After pandemic closures, the P E R O T M U S E U M sent its TECH Truck to bring STEM programming to the community and launched a virtual STEM education series. “This unforeseen challenge presented the opportunity to embrace innovation,” says Linda Silver, the museum’s CEO.

S TA R T U P I N N O VAT O R O F T H E Y E A R

SHAVELOGIC

l e d by

RO B WI L SO N

R O B W I L S O N, FO UND ER AND CEO

of razor company Shavelogic, says he set out to ease frustration among shavers that their blades don’t last long enough—a problem that had not been addressed in nearly 50 years. His company developed a solution that uses magnetic attachments and a fl xible pivoting system, but it was sued by Gillette in 2015—before it had made a single sale. Wilson navigated Shavelogic through its formal launch in 2020, prevailed in the Gillette lawsuit, and filed a countersuit. ow, armed with 150 approved patents, he says the company is focused on partnerships. It made a deal with manufacturing company Jabil last April, and in December, Shavelogic became the offici razor of the Dallas Cowboys. “Now that our innovation set has been successfully capitalized, we find ourselves with multiple oppo tunities to take our technology across the globe,” Wilson says. “This was always the dream, and to have it now come closer to reality is a real thrill.”

CIO Mani Suri helped 7-Eleven navigate the convenience store chain’s launch of a mobile checkout initiative and the expansion of its delivery platform. “I’m excited to see 7-Eleven continue to adapt to new technologies while also developing our own proprietary technologies,” he says.

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The U T S O U T H W E S T E R N S I M U L AT I O N C E N T E R

teaches healthcare professionals to address situations they may face in the real world. “Simulation facilitates deeper and more efficient learning in a s e, structured, and realistic environment,” says Daniel J. Scott, assistant dean.

Recuro Health’s digital healthcare platforms aid in the transition from in-office to remote healthcare. The company acquired fi e companies in 2021, says CEO Michael Gorton, and also closed on a Round A financing of $15 million

Delivering mild electrical shocks to nerves around the ear, Spark Biomedical’s tech releases endorphins to address opioid withdrawal without medication. The company received FDA approval last year, says CEO Daniel Powell.

R ECU RO H E ALTH

S PAR K B IO M E D ICAL

l e d by M i c h a e l G o r to n

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l e d by D a n i e l P owe ll

Veryable, which matches skilled labor with industrial businesses, reached the 100,000 worker milestone last year. “It is great to see the ranks grow and well-earned money going into their pockets,” says Founder Michael Kinder. VE RYAB LE

l e d by M i c h a e l K i n d e r

Worlds creates a 4D representation of a 2D environment through cameras and sensors. “2021 was a rocket ride,” says Founder Dave Copps. “We launched our product in January, and haven’t caught our breath since.” WO R LDS

l e d by D ave C o p p s

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Dallas-based Arcade uses gamific tion to motivate salespeople. Last year it “closed its fir t institutional funding round, launched remote sales teams, and grew in size by 300 percent,” says CEO and Co-founder David Cherrie. ARCAD E

l e d by D avi d C h e r r i e

Founded in 2007, BGSF has grown both organically and through acquisitions, making its 12th buy in 2021. “Technology that connects talent with companies is changing the landscape of hiring today,” says CEO Beth Garvey. BGSF

l e d by B eth G a r vey

Workplace misconduct reporting tool Work Shield has over 300 clients and grew by 320 percent last year. “I wanted to create a solution that protected people, organizations, and cultures,” says Founder and CEO Jared Pope. WO R K S H I E LD l e d by J a re d P o p e

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I N N O VAT I O N I N BIOTECH

A small—even molecular—change can have a huge impact. That’s what biotech innovators in DFW are demonstrating.

Created by Panna Sharma in 2013, L A N T E R N P H A R M A uses AI, machine learning, and genomics to target cancer treatments. Its technology can hone in on the demographic most likely to respond to a therapy by identifying mechanisms behind drug-tumor responses.

I N N O VAT I O N I N TA L E N T + WORKFORCE

TRIVIE

l e d by

L AWR E N CE SCHWAR TZ

LAWREN CE SC HWA R TZ SET OU T TO

solve the problem of forgotten knowledge with his AI-powered remote learning app, Trivie, which uses gamific tion for worker training and provides analytics to employers. “There was a human biology problem that people forget, and there was a way to leverage technology and proven brain science techniques to quantifiably top that from happening,” Schwartz says. His app predicts when employees may forget information and, based on previous interactions with the app, which information they will forget, and prompts them to complete an activity to refresh their memory. Clients include McDonald’s, Anheuser-Busch, and AARP. “The learning industry has exploded with exciting learning technologies, such as virtual and augmented reality for training, AI for retention of knowledge, and social collaboration for peer-topeer learning,” Schwartz says.

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Samarendra Mohanty, president of N A N O S C O P E T H E R A P E U T I C S , says he had an “aha” moment when blind mice could navigate a water maze in a low light environment after one injection of its gene therapy. “We knew we had to develop this technology for people,” he says.

Formed to treat rare conditions, TAY S H A G E N E T H E R A P I E S added a new neurological disease program in 2021 and broke ground on a new 187, 000square-foot manufacturing facility. “We’ve made such dramatic progress in our pipeline,” says company founder RA Session II.

I N N O VAT I O N I N H E A LT H C A R E

“WHAT WERE YOUR ORGANIZATION’S MOST MEMORABLE MILESTONES IN 2021?” “We secured  $60 million in funding from JMI Equity to accelerate our vision to help students thrive. In the summer, we reached the milestone of serving 100 schools across the country. We are now serving more than half-amillion students at more than 130 schools.” LU K E HEJL T i m e ly M D

“In September 2021, The Heart Center at Children’s Health celebrated our 100th hybrid MRI/catheterization procedure, not only placing us at the very forefront of our field but allowing us to take the best care of our patients. I could not be prouder of this accomplishment.”

“We launched the Health Innovation Technology Challenge to highlight the role of innovation in improving access to healthcare and social emotional wellness. The $1 million in prizes will empower the winning organizations to activate their technology solutions throughout the region.”

“We were one of 10 companies selected from more than 400 applicants to the inaugural Amazon Web Services Healthcare Accelerator. This gave us access to AWS technical and business resources, which have been immensely helpful in helping the company get to the next level.”

D R . N I CO L A S M A DS E N

JENNIFER SA M P SO N

VEENA SO M A R E D DY

U n ite d Way of M etro p o lit a n D a ll a s

N e u ro R e h a b V R

C h il dre n ’s H e a lth

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I N N O VAT I O N A DVO C AT E O F THE YEAR

Changing the world can sometimes be a lonely battle. These advocates provide innovators with tools, funding, and other support.

“If you don’t know who the entrepreneurs are in your local community, then you don’t know how to help them. Sometimes you have to put in the work to find the people who are bringing new things to market in your area.” CAM E RO N CU S H MAN U N T H e a lth S c i e n ce C e nte r

“We rightly celebrate innovators and entrepreneurs in our society, but what we don’t talk about enough is the emotional toll that failure can take on a founder. Most startups and small businesses don’t succeed.”

“I’m excited about the redevelopment of the old heart of the Telecom Corridor into the Richardson Innovation Quarter, and the ascendance of UT Dallas into an elite national research university.”

PAU L N ICH O L S

B I LL S P RO U LL

T h e U n ive r sit y of Texa s at D a ll a s

I N N O VAT I O N I N T E C H N O L O G Y

I N N O VAT I O N I N R E A L E S TAT E

As home to Texas Instruments, North Texas has a rich history in technological innovations. From AI to blockchain, no other sector influen es the evolution of industry more.

KIBO Named for a volcanic peak on Mt. Kilimanjaro, ecommerce management software company Kibo encourages its leaders to strive for the top. “The COVID-19 pandemic has propelled innovation for everything related to ecommerce, personalization and omnichannel order management systems,” says Chief Administrative Officer John Mills.

L O N E S TA R A N A LY S I S NASA was among Lone Star Analysis’ fir t clients. Since then, the Addison-based company has filed 0 patents and worked with Raytheon, Lockheed Martin, and more. “We will be breaking stealth on some new offerings this year, coming out of proof of concept in 2021,” says CEO Steve Roemerman.

N E C TA R O M Led by founder and CEO Amrit Kirpalani, automated consumer engagement platform provider NectarOM works with brands such as AT&T, Cinemark, and TGI Fridays to help identify and target their ideal consumers. It also developed a patient engagement platform for healthcare companies.

S I E M E N S D I G I TA L I N D U S T R I E S S O F T WA R E Software company Siemens Digital’s groundbreaking suite of products helps facilitate management, design, and development across several industries. The branch of Germany-based Siemens generated $5 billion in revenue in 2020, and its Plano headquarters serves as a hub for more than 20,000 employees across the globe.

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I C O N S : S H U T T E R S T O C K ; S O M A R E D DY: J A K E D E A N ; A L L OT H E R I M AG E R Y C O U R T E S Y O F C O M P A N I E S

EVOLON TECHNOLOGY 2021 was pivotal for Evolon Technology, says CEO Kevin Stadler. “We blended several analytic and AI methodologies that achieved all three measurable gains of better, faster, and cheaper,” he says. “We saw the market adopt usage of this new way of intelligence, which has led to more funding and investor confiden e in us as a company.”

Te c h T it a n s

MODULAR DESIGN+

E U L E SS - B AS ED M O D ULARD ESI GN+

is making construction more efficient a affordable by designing and fabric ting projects in its DFW facility. It then ships pre-constructed modules to destinations nationwide, where they are quickly assembled. “Stepping in to lead MD+ allowed me to implement a new and better way of delivering prefabricated solutions that essentially closes all the gaps I experienced with other companies,” says Sean Studzinski, an architect who took the helm in 2019. Installation teams can typically assemble up to 10 modular units per day onsite—roughly 3,800 square feet of finished floor area. A trategic partner of CannonDesign, ModularDesign+ moved its headquarters to Texas at the close of 2020. “DFW is on the cusp of being one of the top innovation hubs in the U.S.,” Studzinski says.

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“In my family, you typically go through two routes, either clergy or entrepreneurship. I had a passion for finan e and investing and helping people. Wanting to merge those together was how Impact Ventures was born.” B E N JAM I N VAN N I m p a c t Ve ntu re s

Multifamily and mixed-use developer K A LT E R R A addresses each step of the process, from origination to disposition, in-house. “Our people are by far the most exciting aspect of our business and are a pure reflection of the inn vation here in DFW,” says Clint Nolen, managing partner.

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N A DA H O L D I N G S

Co-founder and CEO John Green is focused on the fractionalization of assets and breaking down barriers between private and public markets. “We are making real estate equity more accessible to everyone and enabling financial empowerment,” he says.

In 2021, commercial real estate data, analytics, and benchmarking software firm R E F I N E R E landed two of the world’s fi e largest companies as clients, accounting for $1 billion in annual real estate spend. “It validated what we are building on a global scale,” says Ryan Turner, CEO.

VA R I S PAC E , the real estate

arm of standing desk pioneer VARI, owns more than 1 million square feet of fl x office space across DFW. “VariSpace is a living, breathing ideation lab and showroom that helps us learn about the workspace of the future,” says CEO Jason McCann.

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JOHN CLAY WOLFE OVERCAME BANKRUPTCY AND PARALYSIS TO BUILD GIVEMETHEVIN.COM, ONE OF THE LARGEST CAR WHOLESALERS IN THE COUNTRY. SEV EN T EEN YEA R S AG O, John Clay Wolfe lay in a hospital bed, trying to absorb the news that he would never walk again. Down the hall, between monitors and other equipment, a fax machine buzzed with divorce papers from his soon-to-be ex-wife, who was leaving him after learning that she’d have to be his caretaker. Just days later, on Christmas Eve, Wolfe says his ex-wife brought a .45 pistol to his room at Baylor University Medical Center as he recovered. Wolfe’s friends were visiting; they intercepted the bag before he looked inside and removed a box of ammunition. Years later, they told him about the bullets, making the intent clear to Wolfe, who didn’t fully understand the callousness of the gift at the time.

story by

WILL MADDOX

illustration by

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PJ LO U G H R A N

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Wolfe says his mindset was, “You are going to have to kill me. I have a mission to come back. I might as well be dead, so let’s see if we can pull this off.” And pull it off, he did. Wolfe’s wholesale car business, GiveMeTheVin.com (GMTV), will make $1.6 billion in revenue this year and is one of Tarrant County’s most significant privately held businesses. It’s the largest car wholesaler in the country, selling an average of 1,000 used vehicles to dealerships around the country every week. The story of how Wolfe bounced back is one of grit, determination, tragedy, and triumph. F R O M F O R T WO RT H TO WALL ST REET

M ON T HS L ATE R , while still in recovery, Wolfe

received a call from his banker about irregularities in his business finances. He’d come to learn that his controller had been stealing from the company while he was laid up. The fallout would bankrupt the enterprise and cause Wolfe to liquidate many of his assets. The physical, relational, and financial rug had been violently ripped out from under him, but Wolfe did not respond with despair. He likens his attitude at the time to a scene in Forrest Gump where Lieutenant Dan is screaming at a hurricane as it threatens to sink the shrimp boat. “You call this a storm?!” he shouts. “It’s time for a showdown! You and me! I am right here. Come and get me!”

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Wolfe’s parents split when he was 3 years old, and he lived a childhood divided between ranch life with his father, who owned a construction business, and a country club existence with his socialite mother in Fort Worth. At the age of 9, Wolfe was driving a K5 Blazer around the ranch and to a local store. When he was 10, he was featured in Texas Contractor magazine operating a piece of heavy equipment. “Today, I’d probably get arrested,” he quips. His mother went on to marry an investment broker and split her time between Aspen and Connecticut. His stepfather introduced Wolfe to the trading floo . The action, deal-making, and energy of the NYSE lit a spark in Wolfe, but despite an internship in the industry, a Wall Street career never materialized. Back in Fort Worth, Wolfe showed an early proclivity for vehicle deals, buying and selling a Blazer, Camaro, BMW, and truck in high school, upgrading and turning a profit each time. He worked at a Tarrant County Ford dealership between high school and college—his fir t officia gig in the car business. Within 60 days, he was named the dealership’s salesman of the month, and a particular aspect of the industry had caught his attention. Customers would trade in their vehicles, and the dealership would sell the car to a wholesaler, who would eventually sell it back to other dealerships who thought they could turn a profit. Wolfe was intrigued. Today, he sees that GMTV is a combination of Wall Street and his experience at the dealership. But it was the gridiron that would call him next, playing defensive end for Southern Methodist University in the years following the death penalty that erased what had been a powerhouse program. In his early years at SMU, however, he learned that his father could not continue to pay for his education.

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CAR GUYS

Wolfe with Jay Leno, who owns more than 100 classic and rare vehicles.

DARK DAYS

Wolfe was on SMU’s defensive line in the years after the school’s death penalty.

SHOP TALK

Wolfe describes his radio show as a cross between Howard Stern and Dallas’ The Ticket.

Between financial hardship and getting blown out on the football field, it was dark times for Wolfe. “Humbled is not a good word,” he says. “Defeated is better. I needed to get away from that and go do something positive with my life.” He hung up his cleats and used a Pell grant and a loan from his stepfather to open the Plaid Pig, a pub in Fort Worth. “For the Pell grant people, I didn’t put on the application that I wanted to open up a bar,” he laughs. After graduating, Wolfe took another entrepreneurial pivot and was awarded a patent for what he calls an “automated telenet computer.” He reached out to potato magnate J.R. Simplot in Idaho after seeing him on the cover of Fortune magazine. Simplot’s company had just purchased tech company Micron Technology. After making numerous calls and eventually sending flowers to Simplot’s secretary, he got the billionaire on the phone. Wolfe gave Simplot his pitch. “I don’t know the difference between com-

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puter chips and potato chips,” Simplot told him. “But I can tell somebody who’s got some spirit.” Simplot fl w his plane to Texas, picked up Wolfe, and took him to Idaho, where he was introduced to executives. They got to work launching what Wolfe describes as an early version of an internet pay phone hub, with public terminals where people could check their email. Unfortunately, Larry Ellison at Oracle had been working on the same idea and beat them to market in the late ’90s, and the project was scrapped. It was back to the drawing board for Wolfe. LOS I N G E V E RY TH I N G

With nothing else to do, Wolfe got back into the car business, working for his cousin who had a small mechanic shop and used car lot. As a dealer, he attended a live auction, where wholesalers would sell vehicles to dealerships that thought they could make a profit on the car. The fast-paced events were noisy, with auctioneers and dozens of lanes of cars moving through an open-air pavilion of sorts and licensed dealers bidding on cars. At that moment, Wolfe saw his love of cars, his deal-making prowess, and his passion for live-action come together. “I just couldn’t believe my eyes,” he says. “I fell in love with it right then.”

GiveMeTheVIN.com has become the nation’s largest company of its kind.

$1.5 B

2021 REVENUE

$800M

2020 REVENUE

$580M

2019 REVENUE

47,000

2021 VEHICLES SOLD

28,000

2020 VEHICLES SOLD

18,000

2019 VEHICLES SOLD

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LENO’S RIDES

Wolfe had a chance to tour the former Tonight Show host’s garage.

ALL BUSINESS

Wolfe wheels and deals at weekly auto auctions in Dallas and Los Angeles.

“I MIGHT AS WELL BE DEAD, SO LET’S SEE IF WE CAN PULL THIS OFF.” J o h n Clay Wo lfe

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But he wanted to do it better. His idea was to make the process more sophisticated and create a commodity-driven market. In 1997, Wolfe launched a wholesaling business, buying and selling used vehicles via auction, and found he had a knack for the hustle the industry required. At 22, he was making $300,000 per year. He made a million dollars the year he turned 27 and bought a few car dealerships as investment opportunities by the age of 30. Wolfe was on top of the world at 32 in December 2004 when he had a horrific motocross accident near his ranch in Nocona. He snapped his spinal cord and was told that he would be in a wheelchair for the rest of his life. Wolfe spent months in the hospital. During that time, his wife of eight years, with whom he had a 1-year-old daughter, filed for divorce. He received the settlement papers while he lay in a hospital bed. Then came the “gift” of the gun on Christmas Eve. Determined to beat the odds, Wolfe forged ahead with physical therapy. One day when he was in a pool doing rehab at Baylor University Medical Center, he noticed a trace of movement in his leg. It wasn’t much, but he could move it less than an inch either way. “Maybe I can work out of this,” he thought. Just as he was experiencing a glimmer of hope, Wolfe got a call from his banker about some irregularities. He knew something was up when he answered to a room full of people on a conference call. The cash flow wasn’t lining up, and creditors were calling. Through an internal audit, he would later learn that his controller had been colluding with people outside the company to sell vehicles for a fraction of what the records were reporting. She

was obscuring individual sales by lumping them in large groups. In one deal, instead of selling dozens of cars to a dealership for $180,000, the wholesale company received only $50,000. Transactions were going through, and money was collected, making the scam challenging to detect. Eventually, a forensic auditor had to piece the puzzle together with the dealerships’ transaction logs and Wolfe’s wholesale company’s records to see the malpractice. The case went to court in Wilbarger County in North Texas but never made it past a grand jury. “This is going to be hard to educate a rural jury,” the District Attorney said at the time. “It’s just too deep of a paper chase.” Wolfe wouldn’t be able to recoup the money, but the investigation wasn’t a total loss. He hired the forensic auditor who got to the bottom of the embezzlement and still employs him today. In the meantime, Wolfe was forced to liquidate his considerable assets—his ranch, a property he owned in downtown Fort Worth, his private plane, and all but one car dealership near the Red River in Vernon. In this moment of financial, physical, and relational ruin, Wolfe found himself yelling at the storm. As a defensive lineman in college, Wolfe’s job was to give all he had to get to the quarterback, no matter how many times he was knocked down. It takes a commitment and a fierce drive. When Wolfe looks back on this moment, he credits football for programming him to continue pushing in life and business, just as he had between the hash marks. “It’s taking that kind of mentality to get back to work, so I could get back what I lost,” Wolfe says.

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12/15/21 2:58 PM

Eighteen months after the accident, he was walking with the help of a walker. This past December, Wolfe celebrated 17 years of walking on his own.

P H OTO G R A P H Y C O U R T E S Y O F G M T V

CLAWING HI S WAY BAC K TO T HE TOP

Wolfe’s remaining assets kept him in business, and he took his small-town dealership and innovated once again. With his physical capabilities still limited by a wheelchair, he shifted his attention to radio. To drive traffi to his dealership, he bought some time on a local radio station for a Saturday morning show where he made a unique pitch: Wolfe dared listeners to call in and give him the VIN on their vehicle and describe it, and he would make them an offer sight unseen The entrepreneur was doing in his brain what is now a standard process of entering a vehicle’s information and receiving a bid online. But Wolfe could see the market before it happened, and he knew precisely the kind of margins he could turn on which cars. In his early days in the business, Wolfe would spend time memorizing the numbers of the car books, recalling the value of a 1998 Chevy with encyclopedic accuracy. Once on his radio show, he made offers for 23 cars in just five minutes. Later, he would connect with the largest wholesaler of vehicles at the time, who would mentor Wolfe into becoming what he is today. As his radio presence grew, Wolfe shifted to creating a show of his own—somewhere between Howard Stern and Dallas’ The Ticket—and getting other car dealerships to sponsor his time on the air. Today, the four-hour John Clay Wolfe Show is broadcast on Saturdays on dozens of stations across the country and attracts a half-million listeners each week. “He’s an incredibly driven, passionate, and smart businessman,” says Otto Padron, president and CEO of Meruelo Media, which owns KLOS in Los Angeles, a rock station that broadcasts Wolfe’s show, which can be heard locally on Lone Star 92.5. “He is a driven perfectionist. He is constantly looking to do a better job at every turn.” While keeping his radio show going, Wolfe formed GMTV to generate more revenue. In 2021, the company sold 47,000 cars via auctions in Dallas, Los Angeles, Chicao, Orlando, Nashville, and Pennsylvania, generating more than $1 billion in revenue. GMTV employs 200 people and is the largest wholesale car dealer in the country.

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GiveMeTheVIN.com buys and sells a massive number of vehicles each week. Here’s how the process works:

INDIVIDUALS REACH OUT TO GMTV TO SELL THEIR VEHICLE, AND THE TWO PARTIES AGREE TO PRICE.

THE VEHICLE IS EITHER PICKED UP OR DELIVERED TO AN AGREED-UPON LOCATION.

GMTV PAYS THE SELLER, THEN DETAILS THE VEHICLE TO PREPARE IT FOR RESALE.

AT LIVE AUCTIONS AROUND THE COUNTRY, THE CAR IS SOLD TO A REGISTERED DEALERSHIP.

THE DEALERSHIP THEN SELLS THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER CONSUMER.

About 400 wholesalers sell around 4,000 cars every week at live auctions in southwest Dallas; GMTV makes about 25 percent of those sales. The company buys the vehicles from individuals who enter their car’s VIN and other information online. Then, Wolfe and his team transport the vehicles to the auction and prep them for sale to dealers. The company’s radio jingle reminds listeners about how easy the process is, saying, “GiveMeTheVIN.com— so easy you can do it in your underwear!” Each week, Wolfe alternates between attending auctions in Los Angeles and Dallas. Wherever he is, his personality looms large. Between the music and the live auctioneers, the auction site in Dallas is loud—enough so that free earplugs are available as you enter the auction floo . Several hundred bidders watch as images of vehicles pop up and bidding begins. While the auctioneer is keeping track of the rising bids, Wolfe is joking, cajoling, and threatening the bidders, who are licensed car dealers, slamming his signature piece of hose on the desk when a sale is made. The lanes are thematic, with some selling $3,000 used KIAs, while the luxury lane offers nearly new Ferrari, Rolls Royce, and Mercedes vehicles for hundreds of thousands of dollars each. Wolfe has gained his sizable chunk of the market by being utterly committed to selling every car each day. Some sellers will have a number and not sell the vehicle if the bids aren’t high enough, but Wolfe’s strategy is always to sell the car so that more eyes are on his auctions, knowing all the vehicles will get sold and that they may get a steal. Sometimes, his commitment means he sells a car for a loss, but the increased traffi on his lanes drives prices up, and Wolfe has been rewarded for his risky strategy. “It’s all fresh inventory that he’s buying and selling every week,” says Rich Curtis, general manager of Manheim Dallas, who has 25 years of experience in the auto auction business. “The speed that he reconditions, transports, and purchases his cars is impressive. It’s unlike anything I’ve seen before.” Although Wolfe has more than rebuilt what he lost before his accident, he isn’t satisfied. At some point, he’d like to sell 100,000 cars a year. For now, though, he is taking things one day at a time and making the most of every opportunity, knowing the car market is cyclical and values are fluid. “Get all you can for everything, but get them all gone,” is his motto. “We are selling today’s market,” Wolfe says. “Every day is the Super Bowl.”

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FIELD NOTES

N O R T H T E X A S B U S I N E S S A D V I C E , A N A LY S I S ,

a n d

C O M M E N TA R Y

BEST ADVICE

Leverage Your Unique Strengths Tony Goodman, CEO and President

AUDREY SHTECINJO

PEOPLEFUN

“some early career advice i received was to stop trying to be other people. successful businesses do well because they are unique and different. I encourage the people on my team to be their true selves because that’s when we can be the most creative. The first time I accepted my true self was after I took a sales job during my second year of college. My roommate at the time was one of the company’s top salespeople, so it seemed like it was going to be easy money. I considered myself a smart and industrious self-starter, but after two weeks of cold-calling prospective customers, I had not signed up a single person. I came to realize I can get other people excited about things—but only things that I am excited about. This was when I learned that I should trust myself instead of following other people and focus on how I can make an impact on the world, regardless of where that might take me.” —As told to Ben Swanger

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R E A L E S TAT E

The Ties That Bind With two new residential towers in Dallas’ Oak Lawn district, developer and investor Mike Ablon plots his most ambitious project yet.

story by BIANCA R. MONTES

w hen real estate developers talk about their projects, they often focus on size, location, amenities, and other physical details. Mike Ablon, principal of PegasusAblon, talks about connection points. Armed with engineering and architecture degrees from The University of Texas at Austin and a master’s degree from Harvard University, he studied in Paris and once worked as an apprentice under noted theorist Robert Venturi, an architect who helped shape the way people think about the built environment. These things nurtured Ablon’s thirst for knowledge and influenced his visionary, experiential approach. Even his company website will tell you the firm’s strategies are built around “the idea that cities and developments are made up of layer upon

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12/17/21 1:03 PM

RENDERINGS COURTESY OF P E G A S U S A B L O N

FIELD NOTES

layer of the interconnections and functions of its inhabitants, telling the stories, ideologies, and mythologies of its history.” After bringing his unique approach to Preston Center, the Dallas Design District, and other high-profile neighborhoods, Ablon is now focused on Oak Lawn—in what could be his most ambitious project yet. Last May, he won approval to build two residential towers on land he purchased along Cedar Springs from Caven Enterprises. (Caven will continue to operate bars that occupy four buildings Ablon acquired—J.R.’s Bar & Grill, Sue Ellen’s, Station 4, and The Mining Co.—as a tenant with long-term leases.) In Oak Lawn, Ablon hopes to create a sense of place. “It’s the ‘there’ there,” he explains. “It’s a place of familiarity. Allegorically, say we’re in New York City, and I tell you, ‘Let’s meet at the train station.’ You’d know I meant Grand Central Station, and you’d look for me at the clock in the center of the terminal.” Ablon’s goal is to create an urban connection point that will fortify the neighborhood’s permanence in the longer arc of time. “When you go to the Cedar Springs District, where do you gather?” Ablon asks. Sure, there are bars and restaurants, and there’s also The Crossroads historical market at the intersection of Cedar Springs and Throckmorton—but that’s not what Ablon is talking about. Oak Lawn remains the heart of the LGBT community, as do the one- and two-story buildings surrounding Ablon’s infill project, but the neighborhood has also been impacted by what city planners would call the halo effect of nearby communities (Old Parkland, Turtle Creek, Highland Park, and Uptown). When former Dallas city councilman Ed Oakley reached out to him about the Oak Lawn opportunity, Ablon was behind a long list of developers who wanted to tear down a row of beloved bars owned by Caven Enterprises and construct new buildings. “I was extremely interested, but only if we could together figure out how to preserve those buildings and establishments,” Ablon says. “I was not going to be the person who tore down the gayborhood.” Instead, he will redevelop parking lots to build towers that are set back from the street. The first multifamily high-rise will be about 18 stories with 250 units. It will frame a canopy-covered “urban room” with fountains and park-side dining. A second phase will have about 18 stories and 200 units.

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“You don’t want to create an urban room that’s full of sculptures, where people just look at the sculptures; you want to leave the space blank, so people become the center of the conversation,” he says. “You don’t bring meaning—you understand the meaning there and do everything to acknowledge it, find the beauty in it, fortify it, and maybe add the physical environment for culture and city fabric to come together. The single greatest way to create a great city is not to homogenize it, not commodify it, but find the intrigue and meaning in each place and nail it. If you do that, then the ties that bind take care of it.” Ablon says he feels a great responsibility to get this project right. It’s scary, he says. But, for the neighborhood to survive, new development is needed. The key is to design around meaning. “If you do that, the new building enhances the beauty of the old building, and the old building brings context to the new building,” Ablon says. “Together, they make for funky, interesting places. You keep the mythology—it is essential.” The developer, who is on track to break ground in late 2022 or early 2023, says he was pushed by some to tear down the Oak Lawn bars or redevelop the front of the buildings and create something “prettier.” But that would destroy the properties’ sense of place. “What in one person’s eyes is ugly has the beauty of perseverance and fortitude in the eyes of others,” Ablon says. “What matters in that community: Preserve it. Protect it. It’s cool. It’s creative. It is accepting of all. You don’t bring meaning; you always understand the meaning that is there, and you do everything you can to acknowledge it.”

PORTFOLIO

A Sense of Place When redeveloping neighborhoods, Mike Ablon says he focuses on the “there” there. Here are three of his most significant p ojects: Dallas Design District. One of his earliest placemaking endeavors, Ablon and The Lionstone Group acquired 40 acres in the district in 2007 and breathed new life into the historic area, bringing people in by adding restaurants, apartments, green spaces, and more. The Harbor Village. Ablon repositioned what once was a “broken” retail project in the heart of Rockwall and eastern Dallas communities along Lake Ray Hubbard. He focused on local restaurants and shops, created a “suburban-urban” core in the lakeside project, and added denser housing with walkable retail. Lower Greenville. This involved the purchase, preservation, and repositioning of the former Grape restaurant and area buildings. Ablon added a neighborhood bistro (Sister), walk-up bodega (Duro Provisions), and second-story, boutique urban lofts/fl ts— plus murals by local artists.

ADDITIVE APPROACH

Preserving Oak Lawn’s essence was critical to Ablon. “I was not going to be the person who tore down the gayborhood,” he says.

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FIELD NOTES

ON TOPIC

What has been driving growth at your company? edited by BEN SWANGER

illustrations by JAKE MEYERS

JAY ALLISON

MELISSA COLLINS

DAVID WAGNER

Chairman and CEO COMSTOCK RESOU RCES

Chief Marketing Officer T H E C O N TA I N E R S T O R E

President and CEO ZIX AND APPRIVER

“Comstock more than doubled its size through the merger with Covey Park Energy, which provided us with decades of lowcost inventory. Also, refinancin our balance sheet has lowered cost of capital, allowing significant fre cash flow eneration to deleverage the balance sheet. Looking ahead, the recent improvement in natural gas prices puts Comstock on track to deliver strong returns to shareholders while continuing to meet our growth targets.”

“Although the past year has been challenging for the entire retail category, it has also been a triumphant year for The Container Store. We established a new brand partnership with the queen of tidying, Marie Kondo, and we also enhanced our e-commerce business by providing a new payment option through Afterpay and a new delivery option through Instacart. These are just a few of the accomplishments happening across our organization.”

“Adding cloud backup to our portfolio of products for our partners and customers is driving growth. These days, ransomware is such a big problem for small businesses, so we’re pleased to be able to offe a bestin-class solution to provide real protection from the bad actors. In just six months, we added more than 100 partners to the solution, and we have increased cloud backup sales by more than 50 percent.”

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12/15/21 11:01 AM

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FIELD NOTES

THOUGHT LEADER

Driving Innovation in Dallas

ESTABLISH INNOVATION ZONES. One way to bring much-needed and deserved attention to our city is to highlight areas where Dallas is leading by creating different Innovation Zones. This would showcase the diversity of innovation that we have throughout the market.

Serial entrepreneur and startup evangelist Trey Bowles offers five strategies f supporting the launch and growth of new companies.

CO U RT E SY O F I N N O CIT Y PA R TN E R S

1. PROVIDE FINANCIAL SUPPORT. Mayor Johnson’s Task Force on Innovation and Entrepreneurship recommended launching a “fund of funds,” that would lead to massive investments in the region. This would create exponential job growth and a more robust local economy.

have been involved in the startup space for about two decades as a serial entrepreneur of both for-profit and nonprofit ventures. I launched Southern Methodist University’s entrepreneurship program and co-founded the Dallas Innovation Alliance, the Dallas Entrepreneur Center, and, most recently, InnoCity Partners. Last year, Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson appointed me co-chair of the city’s Task Force on Innovation and Entrepreneurship, which developed recommendations for attracting, retaining, and growing startup companies. (I encourage you to read the report online.) Our city was built on innovation—its history is filled with stories of entrepreneurs, wildcatters, and pioneers who made the region what it is today. To continue to evolve, grow, and attract the best talent, we must make a continued and intentional commitment to our innovators. An environment conducive to launching and building startup companies will result in more jobs and a stronger economy. Here are five things we must do to be a city of innovation:

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MAKE INNOVATION A PRIVATE-SECTOR PRIORITY. Business leaders in Dallas have been a mighty force in North Texas for decades. Corporate and private-company CEOs must step up and advocate for innovation through investments, resources, and other support.

4. HARNESS THE POWER OF EDUCATION. It is through the combined assets of our educational institutions at all levels of training that we begin to see what is possible for attracting and developing the future of talent in the region.

5. CREATE A CULTURE OF “GIVE FIRST.” One of the most significant di erentiators between Dallas and other major cities is that we are willing to help others succeed. Deepening this “give fir t” mentality in Dallas will unleash the true potential of the city.

Trey Bowles is the co-founder of InnoCity Partners and co-chair of the Mayor’s Task Force on Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

DCEOMAGAZINE.COM

12/21/21 10:09 AM

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OFF DUTY THE PERSONAL SIDE

o f

DFW BUSINESS LEADERS

PURSUITS

App Developer Calvin Carter Shoots the Stars The Bottle Rocket founder connects with celestial bodies and their formation in the galaxy through astrophotograpy.

P H OTO G R A P H Y C O U R T E S Y O F C A L V I N C A R T E R

story by KELSEY J. VANDERSCHOOT

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calvin carter stumbled across astrophotography five years ago while surfing YouTube. “I saw a video of an amateur astronomer, and he was talking about how he had connected his camera up to the scope,” Carter says. The founder of Addison-based app developer Bottle Rocket had a telescope to observe celestial bodies but wanted to do more. Several equipment upgrades later, he now regularly shoots the stars from his lake house in Cedar Creek, which doesn’t have as much light pollution as Dallas. The same things he enjoys about technology, Carter says, are what have drawn him into his new hobby—addressing challenges, hardware innovations, gadgets, and continuous optimization over time. “Astrophotography gives you an unlimited runway to do all those things,” he says. The process of creating an image can take weeks (see sidebar), but the final product is worth it. “You get rewarded with this beautiful image,” Carter says. About four or five times a year, Carter drives his RV to meet up with fellow astrophotographers in West Texas and Oklahoma for star parties—events where astronomy lovers observe or shoot celestial bodies over several nights. Attend-

ees range from amateurs with simple telescopes to Cern Supercollider employees. “We come from all over, and everyone is a total geek about this stuff,” Carter CARTER says. He especially enjoys shooting nebulae, collections of gas and dust that are remnants of a Supernova explosion or the Big Bang that are being pulled together by gravity to form a new object. “When I’m looking at a nebula, I’m essentially seeing the place in our galaxy where new stars are being formed,” he says. As Carter’s knowledge of astrophotography and its technologies evolves, he often reshoots nebulae, in addition to capturing new celestial objects, to see his improvement. He is planning to upgrade his equipment to the same quality used by the government and universities and, next year, he’ll also begin selling limited-edition prints of his photos, with proceeds going to children’s outreach programs “to get kids to start looking up and asking what is out there.” “When I photograph the night sky, it feels like time slows down,” Carter says. “Getting to know the vast beauty of the universe around me has given me more perspective, peace, and hope for humanity. If what I see through my telescope is possible, then anything is possible.”

THE PROCESS

Mastering Minutia Astrophotography is a complicated endeavor. In essence, photographers start by leveling their telescopes, aligning them with polar north, and orienting them toward specific oordinates, a process called “slewing.” The cameras are set to only take in a pre-determined number of light photons. Photographers shoot hundreds of images of the same object over several hours or evenings. They calibrate the camera by taking photos with the lens cap on (to capture pure black) and at sunrise (to capture a dim sky). This helps software weed out imperfections. Multiple images are layered on top of each other, and tech is used to remove things such as gradient left by the moon.

P H OTO G R A P H Y C O U R T E S Y O F C A L V I N C A R T E R

OFF DUTY

DEEP SPACE

Carter’s stunning shot of Veil Nebula, which is 2,100 light years from the earth.

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12/20/21 10:11 AM

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OFF DUTY

ART OF STYLE

EDTECH TRENDSETTER TAYLOR SHEAD BRIDGES THE FASHION GAP BETWEEN TECHNOLOGY AND THE BOARD ROOM.

STYLE ICON: “A mix of Janelle Monáe’s sharp suits and red lips, a bit of Didi Richards’ street chic, and a little Drake. Every time you see him, you notice joy and confiden e through his smile, a unique timepiece, and an exclusive pair of kicks.” ON THE JOB: “You’ll find me in shar suits at business functions, but you’re also likely to see me in Gucci mules, the latest Yeezys, Jordans, or Golden Goose sneakers for authenticity’s sake.”

066

STYLE DEFINED: “Hip, chic, and versatile.”

rooms full of people who may not look like them.”

FASHION ESSENTIAL: “Lipstick and a pair of shoes that make me feel like a bad ass.”

GO-TO LOOK: “Black with pops of color, bone straight hair, a Gigi Pip Hat, black Gucci mules or sneakers, and a bright red lip to showcase my femininity.”

INSPIRATION: “The pride I have in who I am, my inner circle, which supports me being as authentically myself as I can be, and the white space I fill i the technology industry as a CEO obsessed with sports, fashion, music, and technology. My style is my way of saying ‘I am proud of who I am.’ It’s an acknowledgment to the people who paved the way for me and a signal to the next generation that they can be who they are in

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CHIC CEO

Shead says the way she dresses is her way of saying, ‘I am proud of who I am.”

ACCESSORIES: “A nice watch, black diamond earrings, lipstick, and sneakers.”

P H OTO G R A P H Y C O U R T E S Y O F K A T H Y T R A N

WHAT I DO: “I am the CEO and Founder of STEMuli, a rapidly growing EdTech company.”

WEEKEND LOOK: “Loungewear made of soft fabrics and a pair of comfy socks.” FAVORITE STORE: “For sneakers, I frequent The Laboratory DTX on Lower Greenville, or I utilize the app, GOAT.”

DCEOMAGAZINE.COM

12/17/21 1:22 PM

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OFF DUTY

LUSH LOCALE

The spa at Four Seasons Resort Hualalai is tucked into a tropical garden.

FOOD AS ART

The restaurants at Four Seasons Resort Hualalai take advantage of easy access to the freshest of fish

W E L L T R AV E L E D

Hawai’i When she wants to wind down, Toyota CFO Tracey Doi heads to the largest of the Hawaiian islands. story by BIANCA R. MONTES

ISLAND LINKS

STARRY NIGHTS Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa was named the world’s top hotel for stargazing.

SAIL AWAY

Tours led by the nonprofit PacWhale EcoAdventures are led by marine naturalists.

KEEPING IT CASUAL

Beach Tree Bar and Lounge offers craft cocktails just steps from the water.

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P H OTO G R A P H Y C O U R T E S Y O F F O U R S E A S O N S R E S O R T H U A L A L A I , H YAT T R E G E N C Y M A U I R E S O R T A N D S PA

Jack Nicklaus-designed Hualalai Golf Course around its unique natural environment.

OFF DUTY

WATERSIDE RESORT

Four Seasons Resort Hualalai offers rooms with private pools and bespoke Hawaiian furnishings.

P H OTO G R A P H Y C O U R T E S Y O F F O U R S E A S O N S R E S O R T H U A L A L A I , H YAT T R E G E N C Y M A U I R E S O R T A N D S PA

while touring the youngest of hawaii’s eight main islands, I sometimes felt as if I were on another planet. That certainly was the case when hot volcanic smog from one of the world’s most active volcanos brushed against my face— and even more so when I peered inside. Known as The Big Island, Hawai’i offers diverse natural features, from lava-carved tunnels in the middle of a rainforest to snow-capped mountains. But what truly sets it apart is its black lava terrain and black-sand beaches. All told, Hawai’i covers more than 4,000 square miles—less than half the size of Dallas-Fort Worth. Even if you’re staying at the most lavish of resorts (my friend and I bunked at the Four Seasons Resort Hualalai), you’ll want to make time to go exploring. We did so in a soft-top, bright-yellow Jeep Wrangler, which added to the sense of adventure. Although it is a bit shorter to cut across the island, taking the scenic route along the water is the only way to go. Be sure to stop on the Kona Coast for whale watching and coffee, check out the farmer’s markets in Hilo, and visit Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park. You’ll also want to make time to stargaze at the sacred Mauna Kea summit.

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Surrounded by palms, giant ferns, and red and yellow hibiscus, the Four Seasons Resort Hualalai sits on 865 acres and includes a half-mile-long secluded beach. The recently renovated property exudes the kind of luxury for which the brand is known; fresh tropical juice and an Oshibori towel offered at check-in give a hint of what’s in store. Amenities include a gym with outdoor equipment and a lap pool, garden spa, and perks like complimentary frozen grapes by any of the seven pools. Golfers will want to make time for the 18-hole, Jack Nicklaus-designed Hualalai course. Play starts in a lush oasis and meanders across brightgreen fairways set against black lava then heads to the ocean for the final holes. The resort is also known for its signature saltwater aquarium pool, a snorkeling pond that’s home to more than 4,000 fish and Kainalu, a 17-year-old eagle ray that survived a tsunami that filled the pond with sand. Other activities abound, from weaving classes and triathlon training to a blacksmithing experience on a secluded coffee farm. In between it all, you’ll want to take some time for a relaxing ocean swim, where you may encounter a giant sea turtle. At the Four Seasons Resort Hualalai, you’ll also enjoy delectable food. My favorite was the beachfront ‘Ulu Ocean Grill, where I enjoyed a scallop carpaccio and Kona Abalone Rockefeller, an exquisite dish with pork guanciale, spinach, and a fennel-pollen crust. Other dining options include Beach Tree Bar and Lounge (Californian with Italian influence), Hualalai Grille (American steakhouse), and ‘Ulu Sushi Lounge, which features fresh, local fish. Before heading back to the mainland, I island-hopped and spent some time at the Hyatt Regency Resort and Spa on Maui. If you have a chance to OCEAN BREEZE Four Seasons go, be sure to experience the Resort Hualalai rooftop sky-gazing and book a features a halfmile of secluded snorkeling tour with nonprofit beaches. PacWhale Eco-Adventures.

T R AV E L T I P S

Going Under the Surface Toyota CFO Tracey Doi and her husband were rerouted to Hawai’i for their honeymoon after a hurricane hit one of the other islands; they’ve made regular visits there ever since. The Kohala Coast is the perfect place to slow down and relax, Doi says. She enjoys the island fare, including fresh poke at Umekes, garlic furikake chicken at Broke da Mouth, and assorted rice balls at The Feeding Leaf. But the best discoveries are found beneath the surface. “Ask the locals for the best places to go snorkeling,” Doi advises. “We have seen schools of yellow tang, parrotfish, pe cock bass, butterflyfish, and couple of friendly turtles. The colorful coral, sea urchins, and variety of fish a e stunning. It is a whole other world.”

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OFF DUTY

EARLY DAYS

Jimenez at the age of 3, spending time at her grandfather’s home in Santo Domingo.

GIRL POWER

Jimenez with her sisters Ade (right), and Nere (front) and their cousins at Ade’s high school graduation.

ROOTS

Founder M I R I A M C O C I N A L AT I N A

as told to CATHERINE ROSAS illustration by JAKE MEYERS

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alfrida “miriam” jimenez brings a taste of her native Dominican Republic to Dallas through Miriam Cocina Latina, an eatery near Klyde Warren Park that she opened with restaurateur Shannon Wynne in 2019. She moved to New York in 2004 after studying business in her homeland and made her way to Dallas three months later. Here, Jimenez shares lessons from her journey. “Connecting with people through food is in my blood. In Santo Domingo, my grandparents ran a restaurant and food stand. I learned how to run a business from watching my grandfather work and was inspired by his leadership, which focused on fostering genuine relationships—a lesson I carry with me. When I arrived in New York, I had to re-learn how to live and enjoy life compared to how it was on our beautiful island, where everything was easier, but opportunities were limited. I started working as a waitress. My

first year here required a lot of hard work. I always had to be steps ahead to navigate a new country, city, and language. Moving to Dallas made me realize I always must be and do my best because I am so easily identifiable as a Dominican woman. Although there is a strong Mexican population in Dallas, I felt like a novelty even in the Latino community due to my different accent and appearance. For years, I have come home at night with my clothes smelling of food, but I know this is part of keeping my promise to myself to continue to move forward. I tell myself, ‘No matter what I have to do, I am going to do it.’”   This interview was translated from Spanish.

PARTY TIME

Jimenez (back) celebrating her birthday with her sister Nere and a good friend.

P H OTO G R A P H Y C O U R T E S Y O F M I R I A M J I M E N E Z

MIRIAM JIMENEZ

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FEATURING

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Women leading tech and innovation

Marissa Horne, Capital One

Hilti North America

Thomson Reuters

DFW Alliance of Technology and Women

DFW*ATW Advisory Council

Slalom

Though still too small in number, Dallas’ female STEM leaders are fie cely working to lay the ground for more women in the field

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When it comes to women in STEM careers, the numbers tell the story. Tech jobs—AI, machine learning, data science, cyber security, software programming, and technology consulting to name a few—continue to outpace other occupations nationwide. Even so, women are still facing gender discrimination in the workplace. Women occupy approximately 28% of the STEM workforce and, on average, they make 83 cents for every dollar that is earned by their male counterparts. At first glance, the numbers may seem disappointing, but they are consistently improving. Progress is being made, and this is due in large part to companies that have made it a priority to attract and promote women in technology. According to a recent study b y SmartAsset, the top cities for women in tech are Arlington, Virginia; Baltimore, Maryland; and Washington, D.C. Dallas comes in at No. 61 of 63 cities in the

Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas’ STEM Center of Excellence engages girls in STEMrelated study and careers at an early age.

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study. However, Dallas’ suburbs have impressive rankings on the list, with Irving at No. 42, Plano at No. 27, and Frisco tied with Oakland, California at No. 22. Industry leaders are seeing a slow, but positive change in Dallas. “I have found that Dallas-based organizations are being intentional in including women in STEM in their workforce in ways that we have not seen historically,” says Marissa Horne, vice president of tech strategy and governance at Capital One. “Dallas has a unique opportunity to become a leading innovation hub across STEM domains, especially technology. Leveraging the power of private enterprise and university partnerships, this city has the ingredients to elevate its technology ecosystem. As this occurs and Dallas moves further along the innovation curve, women must play an integral role in bringing this reality to life.” Katie Mills, treasurer of the Dallas Society of Women Engineers, says that in the past few years, her organization has noticed more companies publishing their diversity goals and openly pushing to have more women in upper management, particularly in technology field . “We see those companies not only coming out with stated goals, but with metrics, plans, check points, and a path to meet those goals,” she says. “It’s not only about gender equality on corporate b oards b ut taking steps to support women early in their careers so these women remain in the STEM workforce and provide these companies with a pool of talent to draw from when looking for leadership positions.” Greater equity in the workplace b egins with planting the seeds to pursue STEM early—usually in elementary school. Hattie Hill, CEO president of the T.D. Jakes Foundation, says there is systemic bias within the U.S. education system that pushes girls away from science and math, even when they show an interest. Plus, there are few female STEM role models for girls in elementary through college. The foundation’s STEAM Academy believes that to prepare all students for the changing workforce, they need to learn more than technical skills. The arts help to spark creativity within STEM disciplines and are a productive way to combine a love of the arts with a background in the sciences. Recently, the STEAM Academy partnered with Dallas Summer Musicals, inviting nearly 1,500 DISD students and teachers to see the Broadway musical, Hamilton. This was a great way to showcase the kind of technology required behind the scenes to create such a stunning production. “It illustrated to young people the various job possibilities they

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can have in the future,” Hill says. “Right now, when it comes to bridging the gap and job opportunities, students can’t b e what they don’t see. Our programs invited students to have an opportunity to experience STEAM in a specific w y.” Hill says one way to get more girls to pursue a career in STEM is by having successful role models. “When they see women who are doing this type of work in a male-dominated industry, it can eliminate the innate biases that exist,” she says. “Progress is b eing made b y eliminating some of these b iases, providing role models, and giving them experiences and exposure to jobs they may have never considered.” Another local opportunity where girls have opportunity to pursue STEM-related interests is Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas’ STEM Center of Excellence, a 92-acre, $15 million hub of inspiration. A sprawling living laboratory in South Dallas, it’s the first of its kind in the United States and provides year-round opportunities in rob otics, computer coding, botany, chemistry, and more. Through the STEM Center of Excellence, Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas is feeding the STEM workforce pipeline to meet the urgent need for female voices, engagement, and leadership in the fastest growing sector of the U.S. economy. Shane Woods, senior director of The STEM Center, was a middle school teacher before taking on her role at Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas. “I know the importance of building their excitement and interest in STEM early,” she says. “By the time girls reach middle school, many have been turned off to what is possible through a STEM education, either due to bad experience in a STEM subject, overhearing parents say they were never good at math or science, or believing that boys are just inherently better at it.” Woods says part of the mission of the STEM Center is to foster and help continue the curiosity that kids have early on about how things work and problem solving. “We provide those opportunities for girls and help them build a STEM identity,” she says. “More importantly, we want them to believe they can do it. We want them to see all the ways STEM touches diff rent careers and industries. The menu of options so much bigger than they think. We want girls in North Texas to become critical thinkers, problem solvers, and leaders who have the intrinsic motivation to do more. STEM allows girls the opportunity to become someone who can contribute to society in a thoughtful and meaningful way.” - Jennifer Sander Hayes

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PURSUE YOUR PASSION: Advice from STEM Trailblazers and Leaders “Employers look for passion, and those employees are often successful. Don’t be intimidated. There isn’t a certain mold or stereotype required to be successful in STEM. Seek out role models and build your skills in professional organizations and seek out mentors who can help you find a path toward the position you ultimately want to have.” K AT I E M I L L S , Dallas Society of Women Engineers

“Be diligent and learn whatever you can. There is a new approach in this postpandemic world to the way we work. There will be some huge opportunities in STEM to work from home or with hybrid models. You can work in a way that will make sense for your family.” H AT T I E H I L L , T.D. Jakes Foundation

“You are needed. STEM helps people in society. We need your mind, your voice, and your passion to move the needle. There are so many jobs in STEM that haven’t even been established yet. You are sowing the seeds of what STEM can be in the future.” S H A N E W O O D S , Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas

“Lean into the subject you love. Keep an open mind. If you enjoy doing STEM, participate in it.” A M Y I D O W U , Slalom

“If we want more women in tech, then we need more girls in STEM. Girls need to see these women at the forefront so they know they can do this, too.” S H A N T H I R A J A R A M , DFW*ATW

“There will always be adversity, but on the other end of adversity is your purpose—the fulfillment you have been looking for.” G A B R I E L L E M A D I S O N , Thomson Reuters

“Fight against the forces that tell you that math is hard, or science isn’t for girls. Instead, lean into the classes that push you to think differently, to solve problems in ways that you haven’t before, and that stretch your creativity. M A R I S S A H O R N E , Capital One

“Sponsorship and mentoring programs for women, especially in STEM careers, are critical in supporting growth. Companies need to help emerging leaders develop a personal growth plan, assess strengths and biases, and learn strategies to maximize our potential.” A . M A R T I N A M c I S A AC , Hilti North America

“The next inventor and innovator could come through organizations like Girls Scouts USA, Black Girls Code, and Girls Who Code.” A N N E C H O W, AT&T Business

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WOMEN LEADING TECH AND INNOVATION 2022

AT&T

proving industry representation, AT&T has a long history of commitment to gender equality. Some of the world’s finest inventions and innovations, including the creation of fib r optic cables and caller ID, have come from the ingenuity and contributions from AT&T women in STEM. More than 13,600 AT&T women from diverse backgrounds are working in STEM-related roles, with more than 1,100 earned patents under their belts. Nearly 40 women were recognized for their

BRET REDMAN

AT T. C O M @AT T L I N K E D I N . C O M /C O M PA N Y/AT T

FROM EMPLOYING women telephone operators to im-

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achievements and contributions during the Women of Color STEM Conference. All AT&T employees believe in the power of visibility and impact across the market inclusive of all communities—if you can see it, you can be it—taking their knowledge outside the walls of AT&T to mentor and shape the next generation of women STEM leaders by supporting programs such as Girls Who Code, Black Girls Code, Girl Scouts USA, Girls Inc., and Techbridge Girls. A more diverse workplace is simply b etter—for shareholders, customers,

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teams, partners, and communities. “It is imperative we use our resources and platforms to lead by example, create opportunities, foster innovation, and ultimately fortify the groundwork and foundation for many more future female leaders in STEM,” says Anne Chow, CEO of AT&T Business. “It is critical that we continue to cultivate a culture of innovation, inspiration, and impact for girls and women in our community so they can be empowered by their education to make a positive impact on society.”

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: Michele Rudolph, Colleen Ekas, Adrian Johnson, Shabeth Okonneh, Beth Castro, Megan Weaklend, Natasha Clark, Shawna Fattouh, Nikki Cuban, Lourdes Charles, Lori Smith, Jill Sanders, Lynnée Hopson, Monica Hallam, Amy Johnson, Alexis Dennard

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WOMEN LEADING TECH AND INNOVATION 2022

Marissa Horne

Vice President of Tech Strategy and Governance, Capital One CA P I TA L O N E . C O M • @ CA P I TA L O N E • L I N K E D. C O M / I N / M A R I S S A H O R N E

DIV ERSITY IN the executive population is a top priority

led to the launch of Blacks in Tech and Hispanics in Tech initiatives. Capital One has formed deep partnerships with DFW*Alliance of Technology and Women, National Society of Black Engineers, Per Scholas, Year Up, Women Who Code, Black Girls Code, Anita Borg Institute, IT Senior Management Forum, and the Hispanic IT Executive Council. Local partnerships include WEDallas, Girls Inc., InnovateHer, Bot Camp, and Girl Scouting in a School Day Dallas. Capital One understands that having more women in tech means encouraging girls in STEM at an early age. “Programs that connect the dots between high school curricula and professional aspirations are needed to demystify how a girl moves from her academic studies to life and beyond,” says Marissa Horne, vice president of tech strategy and governance. “While we’ve made progress, we have more to do. We will continue to invest in efforts to improve representation and to create a culture where every individual is respected, heard, and feels comfortable bringing their whole selves to the workplace.”

BRET REDMAN

at Capital One, and efforts to propel women through the corporate ranks and into influ ntial roles are coming to fruition. Women represent 50% of the workforce at Capital One, and the company continues to invest in programs and policies that provide opportunities for women to expand professionally and thrive personally. Examples within Capital One include the Women in Tech Business Resource Group that creates a space for women to see and reach leadership opportunities in tech, the Equality Allies program to raise awareness of the inequalities that women and underrepresented groups face in tech, and the empowHER Business Resource Group that helps women enter management. Recognizing the challenges women face in the technology industry, Capital One established a Women in Tech program in 2015, focused on helping elevate and support women technologists through mentoring, speaker training, skill building, and community partnerships. This

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WOMEN LEADING TECH AND INNOVATION 2022

Hilti North America H I LT I . C O M • @ H I LT I N O R T H A M E R I CA

HILTI NORTH AMERICA is a glob al leader in products,

services, and software supporting the professional construction industry. Women leading in STEM careers at Hilti North America make up an important part of who the company is today—and its future. These outstanding professionals represent 650 Hilti North America team members in Texas, all committed to b ringing more young women into technical careers and mentoring for the future. From being on jobsites to engineering office and from just starting an engineering career to the C-suite, Hilti North America’s women in STEM

fields are making a strong contribution to the company and to society. Many of Hilti’s women team members volunteer at the Girls Scouts STEM Center of Excellence in South Dallas using donated Hilti North America tools to mentor girls through hands-on experiences. Hilti North America annually hosts Girls in Engineering Day at its Plano headquarters for students from DISD’s Marsh Preparatory Academy. Through support of the Sci Tech Discovery Center’s mobile STEM lab, Hilti North America is providing access to underserved communities by bringing STEM to neighborhoods across North Texas.

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: Amal Ahmed, Manager, Division Technical Services, Energy and Industry; Alexis Clark, Business Unit Manager Anchor Systems; Jahida Nadi, General Manager of Energy and Industry; Courtney Williams, Tech Support Engineer, HUB Engineering; Suzanna Rea, Director Tech Services, Central US; Kirsty Walton, Director Tech Services, Energy and Industry

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WOMEN LEADING TECH AND INNOVATION 2022

Thomson Reuters

providers of answers, helping professionals make confid nt decisions and run better businesses. Thomson Reuters’ customers operate in complex arenas that move society forward and face increasing complexity as regulation and technology disrupt every industry. Thomson Reuters has made great strides toward increasing its gender diversity, particularly within leadership roles. Thomson Reuters aspires to have 45% representation of women in senior leadership throughout its company by the end of 2022. In addition to partnering with nonprofits to create programming and opportunities that encourage girls to

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THOMSONREUTERS.COM @THOMSONREUTERS L I N K E D I N . C O M /C O M PA N Y/ T H O M S O N - R E U T E R S

THOMSON REUTERS is one of the world’s most trusted

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b ecome involved in STEM programs, the company also partners with AnitaB.org, a nonprofit social enterprise inciting a movement to achieve intersectional equity in the glob al technical workforce b y 2025. AnitaB.org/365 programs empower women and under-tapped communities in technical fields, guide the organizations that employ them, and support the academic institutions training the next generation. In partnership with AnitaB.org, Thomson Reuters sponsors the annual Grace Hopper Celebration, the largest conference in the world for women in technology. “We have sponsored it since its inception because our leadership understood it was imperative to partner with

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an organization that had audacious, but realistic goals on how to have more women in STEM roles,” says Gabrielle Madison, director of public relations. In addition to these initiatives, Thomson Reuters also partners with DFW Alliance of Technology and Women and Girls Make Games to help engage and develop girls and young women in the community who want to pursue education and careers in STEM. “Our goal is for girls, particularly in low-income areas, to have exposure to STEM opportunities and to see other women who look like them succeed,” Madison says. “We want to open up a space in the world they haven’t been able to access until now.”

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: Jennifer West, Vice President Product Content, Global Tax & Trade; Sudha Addepalli, Vice President, Corporate Technology; Heather Patel, Senior Director, Product Management; Siddhi Bhakta, Director, Software Development; Claudia Coleman, VP, Design Operations; Laurie Wallace, Senior Director of UX Program/Producer Management

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WOMEN LEADING TECH AND INNOVATION 2022

DFW Alliance of Technology and Women DFWATW.ORG • @DFW_ ATW • LINKEDIN.COM/COMPANY/DFW-ALLIANCE-OF-TECHNOLOGY-AND-WOMEN

TWO THINGS need to happen for workplace equity in STEM

to occur. First, girls need to be exposed to STEM early. Second, women in STEM need to be encouraged to stay in the field and pursue leadership opportunities. The road to STEM equity in Dallas begins with the DFW Alliance of Technology and Women. DFW*ATW is a vital, nonprofit organization committed to increasing the number of women in leadership and strengthening the pipeline of girls entering technology field . What began 20 years ago as a small group of women at TI has grown to more than 400 women and men in STEM leadership positions throughout Dallas-Fort Worth and beyond. They recognize that growing the field means starting early and founded

iLEADinSTEM, an outreach program that provides STEM opportunities for female students. DFW*ATW hosts two major events, the Women in Tech Summit – InnoTech conference and the annual fundraiser Executive Leadership Forum. The nonprofit also develops leadership programs, such as Women3 for mid-career, and creates and sponsors programs, such as ATW Ignite, to reskill and certify women re-entering the workforce. DFW*ATW places an emphasis on diversity in the workplace, on boards, and in the community. “We have been conscious about diversity in our board and Advisory Council structure,” says Shanthi Rajaram, president. “We can’t be an example if we aren’t practicing it ourselves.”

BRET REDMAN

2021 BOARD MEMBERS: Top Standing (Left to Right): Lisa Jordan ( Membership), Kavitha Ramesh (Operations), Shanthi Rajaram ( President), Juliet Odima ( Professional Development), Gail Bruenning (Marketing). Sitting (Left to Right): Sabrina Chesney (Executive Director/Partnership), Aries Webb Williams (Vice President), Mani Jonnalagadda (Recognition), Valerie Davis (Treasurer)

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WOMEN LEADING TECH AND INNOVATION 2022

DFW*ATW Advisory Council D F WAT W. O R G

DFW*ATW is a vital nonprofit organization committed to increasing the number of women in STEM leadership and strengthening the pipeline of girls entering technology fields. Guiding the group’s 400-plus memb ers and its 14-memb er b oard of directors is the distinguished DFW*ATW Advisory Council. Several years ago, Valerie Freeman, council chair, led the charge to reconstitute the Advisory Council, inviting high-level CIOs, CTOs, and CEOs to become members. The goal was to assemble a diverse group of leaders who could assist with the nonprofit’s strategy by generating fundraising opportunities and providing overall support.

“Their expertise and contributions have been phenomenal,” Freeman says. “DFW*ATW, the largest group for women in technology in Dallas, wasn’t going to grow without infrastructure in place. Today, DFW*ATW continues to grow with more resources to fulfill its mission in an impactful way.” DFW*ATW is primarily operated b y volunteers. The b oard of directors recently hired an executive director, Sab rina Chesney, who has b een instrumental in coordinating all of the programs, fundraising, and membership activities of ATW.

2021 ADVISORY COUNCIL: Top Standing (Left to Right): Charlie Bogart, Sherif Mityas, Gertrude Van Horn, Sridhar Sharma, Roberto Arrocha. Sitting (Left to Right): Fern Johnson, Valerie Freeman (Chair), Romelia Flores, Neelu Sethi, Dalia Powers. Not Pictured: Arjun Dugal, Barry Shurkey, Ellen Barker, Shaunna Black, Marilyn Kibler-Color, Sumit Anand, Alicia Makaye

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WOMEN LEADING TECH AND INNOVATION 2022

Slalom S L A L O M . C O M • @ S L A L O M C O N S U LT I N G • L I N K E D I N . C O M /C O M PA N Y/S L A L O M - C O N S U LT I N G

the STEM field and increase representation of women in technology. Amy Idowu, director of technology at Slalom, was inspired to lead the Dallas chapter of Women In Tech after learning ab out gender parity in AWS certification across the company. Slalom launched Project ADA with AWS. Project ADA was named after Ada Lovelace, the firs known computer programmer, and created to foster gender parity within Slalom and increase certifications held by women to 50%. This signifies how Slalom is working every day to change history—together.

BRET REDMAN

SLALOM is an unrivaled stand out when it comes to supporting women in STEM in the workplace and b eyond. Slalom has multiple employee resource groups, including Women in Tech, to help build inclusivity, celebrate diversity, and foster belonging. This group develops Slalom women’s technical and business skills, creates an inclusive and thriving community of technical thought leaders, and fosters external relationships with partners and organizations such as Girls Who Code and Black Girls Code. They also work to influ nce and support the pipeline of school-age girls in

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: Nayoung Kim, Dhareni Jeyaraman, Amy Idowu, Neha Kamalia, Sara Eaton, Amanda Dunham, Lesley Wallace

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Building the future of video intelligence for a safer tomorrow

From the Edge to the Cloud, Evolon’s patented surveillance software solutions leverage AI analytics to deliver real-time detection, veriﬁcation and classiﬁcation of objects of interest which virtually eliminates false alarms.

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More than an award-winning business publication. D CEO brings together the brightest, most driven C-suite executives in North Texas, in one room. Align your business with D CEO’s Thought Leadership events and leverage your partnership with the best regional business magazine in the country. February: CFO Business Outlook; Women Leading STEM Lunch June: Women’s Leadership Symposium September: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Symposium Ongoing: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Speaker Series (3x/year); Healthcare Panel Series (2x/year)

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OUTDOOR ORTHOPEDICS

A Century of Healing SCOT TISH RITE FOR CHILDRE N Oct. 10, 1921–Present

story by WILL MADDOX

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I M AG E C O U R T E S Y O F S C O T T I S H R I T E F O R C H I L D R E N

Fresh air and sunlight were important in the early treatment of polio, which also focused on straightening and strengthening muscles and limbs.

cottish rite for children was founded in 1921, when a group of local Masons approached one of Dallas’ fir t orthopedic surgeons, Dr. W.B. Carrell, about the need to provide better care for those suffering from p lio—regardless of their ability to pay. The one-room clinic quickly drew more patients than the space could handle, and the Masons raised $120,000 to purchase land at Oak Lawn and Maple avenues, where it built a hospital in 1922. Fifteen years later, Scottish Rite had treated 27,000 children affl ted by polio. With the eradication of the disease after the introduction of vaccines in the 1950s, the hospital expanded its services; it now provides care for complex orthopedic cases, as well as arthritic, neurological, and learning disorders. In 1977, a six-story, 400,000-square-foot hospital was built across the street from the original facility. In the 1980s, an all-abilities playground was installed on the hospital grounds. Over the years, celebrities from Charlie Chaplin and former Dallas Cowboys coach Tom Landry to President Bill Clinton have visited the hospital. It has been home to breakthroughs in the treatment of scoliosis, limb disorders, and club foot. In 2018, Texas Scottish Rite opened a 40-acre campus in Frisco, including a 345,000-square-foot hospital, sports fields, t ails, and a community park. The organization celebrated 100 years of care last fall.

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