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APRIL 22 - 28, 2019 Vol. 31, No. 14 • $3.00

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APRIL 22 - 28,

2019

THIS ISSUE

APRIL 22 - 28,

2019

NEWS In Market................................................................................................. 6 Real Deals................................................................................................ 8 Commentary - O.K. Carter.................................................................... 9

40 Under 40 We are excited to partner with the Fort Worth Business Press in presenting awards to the outstanding 40Â Under 40 honorees in Tarrant County. The University of Texas at Arlington recognizes the impact these individuals have in the business community â&#x20AC;&#x201D; their contributions solidify business operations and ensure those organizations can grow and flourish. The 2019 40 Under 40 Awards recognize both exemplary business leaders and the achievements of the organizations for which they work. Congratulations to all of the nominees, finalists and winners, and thank you for your dedication to your profession. Your bright futures are an inspiration to us all. Harry Dombroski, Dean

Elections ............................................................................................... 10

College of Business The University of Texas at Arlington

Cover Story ...........................................................................................13 Focus: Property Tax .............................................................................. 50 Chanber Annual Meeting ..................................................................... 52

CHAMBER HONORS

PAGE 52

NO MORE EXCUSES

PAGE 69

Millennials ............................................................................................ 56 Newsmakers.......................................................................................... 60

OPINION Richard Connor..................................................................................... 69

Mentor Awards Do you have a mentor who deserves to be recognized? Nominate them today for the 2019 Mentor Awards! Go to www.FortWorthBusiness.com/MentorAwards to nominate. The Fort Worth Business Press is looking to honor marvelous mentors who have exerted a positive and lasting selected by a panel of judges. The nomination deadline is Wednesday, May 22 and the event will take place in July 2019.

APRIL 22 - 28,

2019

IN MARKET

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Beheadings, dragons and zombies or time for class ROBERT FRANCIS

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It’s just like history With sex and violence

HELEN SLOANE/HBO

telling her they want to take it but haven’t been able to get in. If you’re not familiar with Game of Thrones, it is a series created by David Benioff and D. B. Weiss for HBO. It is an adaptation of A Song of Ice and Fire, which is a series of fantasy novels by author George R. R. Martin. While it is a fantasy series, it is very relatable to the medieval world. Havens notes most of the events in Game of Thrones are based on actual events, though she notes, “with dragons.” Now, as Game of Thrones begins its final season, interest seems to be at an all-time high. The season premiere, on April 14, stands as the most-watched one-day event in the history of the cable network that began in 1978. The Nielsen company said 17.4 million people watched the Sunday opener to the show’s eighth and final season, either live on the network at 9 p.m., streamed, through HBO’s on-demand service or during two reruns that aired later that night. HBO’s

Jill C. Havens, instructor of English who specializes in medieval literature at TCU.

previous high-water mark was last season’s finale of Game of Thrones, making it likely that this new HBO record will be eclipsed when the series ends on May 19. That’s a lot of people either interested in medieval literature or maybe just the assorted violence and mayhem. For Havens and her class, the series is a gateway into medieval history and literature. “What I do is I teach Martin as a kind of continuum in fantasy literature, but most medieval literature is actually fantasy literature,” she said in an interview shortly before the first. So we start with a text called Saga of the Volsungs, which is actually a Viking saga. But it’s all about Sigurd the Dragon Slayer.” Which might ring a bell with Game of Thrones fans: It’s the dragons that have been doing all the slaying. “Then there are the early texts, and Beowulf, as well. Beowulf kills monsters. It’s a fantasy text. So Martin is just part of a long continuum of medieval literature, but he also is very well learned, well-read in medieval history, and he talks about it that he finds lots of parallels and finds things in

HBO

Jon Snow (Kit Harington) and Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke) in the Season 7 premiere of Game of Thrones.

: PHOTO COURTESY OF ROSS HAILEY

Some TCU students were doing homework on a Sunday night in April. They weren’t solving quadratic equations or gathering business wisdom from Jim Collins’ Good to Great. No, they were watching beheadings, political chicanery, backstabbing, violence, sex and zombies. In other words, they were watching the HBO series Game of Thrones. And taking notes. The students are part of Jill C. Haven’s class: Introduction Medieval Literature: Game of Thrones. The class, like the hit HBO series, is popular. It has a waiting list. Havens, an instructor of English at TCU who specializes in medieval literature, said it actually started with Vikings. “I had been teaching ... a Vikings class, because one of the shows I had been watching was the Vikings series on History channel,” she said. The students in that class kept telling her she needed to watch Game of Thrones. “And I was like, ‘What are you talking about?’ So I finally watched it, and got completely hooked. And while I was watching it, too, I was thinking, ‘Oh my gosh, this is all medieval literature. This is all medieval history. I need to combine this in a course.” She began teaching the course in 2015 and expects to teach it at least a few more times. She has lots of students

Cersei Lannister is portrayed by Lena Headey.

medieval history and he sort of gives it a little twist, a little turn, and changes it for his text.” Take the infamous “Red Wedding” episode where … well, a lot of people show up to a wedding and a lot of people get killed. Slaughtered is more like it. Martin has said he based those scenes on a similar event in Scottish history from 1440 called the Black Dinner. For Haven’s class, students read the first book in the series. “On Mondays and Wednesdays, we read the medieval literature. Or if we’re doing some history, we’ll read the historical documents or a history book about the time period. And

then Fridays, we have group presentations. The students are divided into houses [like the series]. So it’ll be House Lannister and they lead discussion, and what they do is go back to book one, they are given a section of book one they have to read, and then they talk about that section, and then they have to make connections between the medieval material that we’ve covered that week and what they see in Game of Thrones. And then they have debates about it, because then they have to ask questions. The students in the audience are all in their representative houses, too, and then they have Continued on next page

APRIL 22 - 28,

HBO

to ask questions of each house, and then they have to debate and discuss what they talked about.” I asked Havens if there were any lessons for business leaders in Game of Thrones, aside from say, have a dragon and, if at all possible, three. “There’s a documentary that marks the 500th anniversary of Machiavelli’s The Prince, and they actually interview George Martin in it, and he talks about how Machiavelli’s The Prince is one of the foundational texts that he is using for his political philosophy,” she said. The Prince, if you don’t know, is a political treatise by the

Brienne of Tarth is portrayed by Gwendoline Christie.

Italian diplomat and political theorist Niccolò Machiavelli, hence the term: Machiavellian, used to refer to a political schemer. Many of the key leaders in Game of Thrones often discuss whether they want to be loved or feared. “The whole debate is about whether it is better to be loved or feared. Machiavelli says, ideally, you want to be both, but if you can’t, it’s always better to be feared,” said Havens. “And I think a lot of the characters who are leaders are grappling with that question.” Some of the most popular characters grapple with that. Daenerys Targaryen, also known as the Queen of Dragons, played by Emilia Clarke, initially seems to want to be loved, but eventually realizes she also needs to be feared. “She has this debate, after she kills Sam Tarly’s father and brother, with the dragon fire,” Havens said. “Then Tyrion, sort of literally calls her out on it. ‘What do you want to be known for? Do you want to be cruel and be feared? Dragons will make you be feared.’ “But at the same time, what she has been known for, what’s propelled her this far is the fact that she’s also a leader who’s loved and people follow her blindly because they love her so much. That’s how, going back to the slaves, by freeing all

these people, they then become loyal to her. I think she really is one of the main characters grappling with that.” If you watched the first episode of this new season, you know that decision to use the dragons to kill the Tarleys may come back to haunt her. Jon Snow, another popular character, is also grappling with this. “Jon, too, is grappling with, I don’t think he feels the need to be loved the way Daenerys does. “But I don’t think he wants to be feared. He’s trying to follow in his father’s footsteps, his foster father, I should say. In Ned’s footsteps. That’s the example of leadership that he grew up with. That’s what he’s seen. So far though, none of these leadership strategies have seemed to work. “Most of them lead to tragedy,” said Havens. The first one to deal with these leadership strategies, in the first season, was Ned Stark, head of House Stark. “In many ways, his leadership skills are very good, but I think his biggest flaw is he assumes everyone plays by the same rules. And you can’t do that,” she said. Certainly not on the Game of Thrones. “He tries to be fair, he tries to stand by the law and all of these things, but he’s also assuming that everyone else in King’s Landing is following the same handbook that he is, and that’s why he then meets his demise, because ... they’re not. Not at all.” Mostly, he meets the ambitious, slithery Cersei Lannister, played by Lena Headey, a character who definitely belongs in the “rather be feared than loved” camp. While Martin takes much of his material from medieval history and literature, the series does provide for some interesting and strong female characters. “There are plenty of examples of strong female

figures in medieval history,” Havens said, “but they’re so constrained by what’s socially acceptable at the time. “A good example is that Cersei is often compared to a woman named Margaret of Anjou. “She was the wife of Henry the VI during the Wars of the Roses, and that’s one of the central, historical events that Martin bases his story on. “She, because her husband is mentally ill and incapacitated for most of his kingship, she’s the one who is moving the wheels of government. She’s the one, she becomes a very strong leader. But because she’s the queen, she can’t do much. Actually, Cersei, while she is the wife of Robert, and then when she’s sort of the dowager queen, when her sons take over. That role is actually incredibly limiting. Cersei tries to work through her children to have power. Margaret of Anjou also did the same thing. She has a son, and she puts all of her energy into her son, to make him a good leader. She is restricted. There’s not a lot she can do, because of what was expected of women then.” One of those is the tall female knight, Brienne of Tarth, played by Gwendoline Christie. “His female characters, like Brienne, or even Daenerys, Arya, all of them are, if they were living in the medieval period, would have been very extreme, in terms of being different. The gender roles for women were very strict and restrictive in the Middle Ages,” Havens said. Yes, one of the most remarkable characters in the story is a woman, Brienne, the tall warrior. “We talk about chivalry and knighthood and all of these knightly characters in the story, like Jaime, Gregor Clegane, and Sandor Clegane, the Hound, and a couple of other figures we talk about. Here is the chivalric code, and none of them are living up to it. The one person who is, is Brienne.

2019

Here’s the woman. She is more knightly than any of the men,” said Havens. Havens said one of Martin’s key strengths is that he keeps surprising readers and viewers with the story. “I think everyone, my students and I, we talk about it, and I know for myself, after the end of the first season, as soon as Ned died, I was like, ‘Okay, I’m done. I don’t want to watch this anymore.’ Then I got back into it again, watched the second season, because in the second season, of course, that’s when Joffrey dies, and everyone’s like, ‘Yay, finally.’” Martin does it for the good of the story, not the audience, Havens said. “He’s thinking in the long term. What’s the story, what makes the story? He’s following the trajectory of the hero myth, but the problem is we have two heroes now. We’ve got Daenerys and Jon. Which one is the hero? Can they both be heroes at the same time?” And that may be a problem for audiences raised on Marvel and DC comics where the heroes always survive. “If you follow the hero myth, the hero dies in the end. Martin did say this, in one of his interviews, is that he likes the way Tolkien, at the end of Lord of the Rings, it’s a bittersweet ending. It’s not necessarily a happy ending, it’s the ending that needed to take place. It’s the ending that was needed. And he says that he sees that as his model.” And while she can speculate about what will happen at the end of the series based on her study of history and literature, there is one X factor in Game of Thrones: White Walkers, the zombie army that appears almost unstoppable. “I can think of all the parallels in history and literature and come to some idea about how it will end,” said Havens. “But the White Walkers? There’s no parallel for that. So who knows what will happen.”

REAL DEALS

FortWorthBusiness.com

Fort Worth home sales up in March ROBERT FRANCIS

and active listings,” said Moiri Brown, 2019 president of the Greater Fort Worth Association of REALTORS. “This is a very popular time of year to buy or sell a home.” Fort Worth’s monthly housing inventory was 2.2 months in March, 0.5 months more than a year ago. The Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University considers that 6.5 months of inventory represents a market in which supply and demand for homes is balanced.

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Fort Worth home sales increased 6.2 percent to 1,129 homes in March from the same month last year. The median home price rose 4.1 percent

year-over-year to $228,900 in March 2019. “Now that the spring season is here, we are starting to see a larger increase in closed sales

Fort Worth March 2019 Price Distribution $0 - $99,999

$228,900

4.1

31.9% 42.0%

$100,000 - $199,999 $200,000 - $299,999

26.8

4.6% 1.8% $750,000 - $999,999 1.0% $1,000,000+ 1.1% $400,000 - $499,999 $500,000 - $749,999

2,360 in March 2019

Days on market Days to close Total 4 days more than March 2018

14.6%

$300,000 - $399,999

Compared to March 2018

3.1%

6.2

1,129 in March 2019

49 30 79

2.2

Compared to 1.7 in March 2018

Houses spent an average of 49 days on the market in March, five days more than the same month last year. And active listings increased 26.8 percent to 2,360 listings during the same time frame.

CHISHOLM TRAIL RETAIL UNDER CONSTRUCTION

The Shops at Chisholm Trail Ranch, a retail development at the southeast corner of Chisholm Trail Parkway and McPherson Boulevard in Fort Worth, is now under construction. It is scheduled to open next spring. The project is a 35-acre, 215,000-square-foot regional retail, entertainment and dining destination. It includes 130,000 square feet of premium, junior-anchor retail, a 40,000-square-foot movie theater, 44,000 square feet of fast-casual restaurants and convenience retail, and eight outparcels. The center was 70 percent pre-leased at closing on Dec. 18. The tenants include an array of brands, many of them national, such as Five Below, Old Navy, Famous Footwear, Ulta, Marshalls, Tuesday Morning, AT&T, Sprint, Great Clips, Sports Clips and Resort Nails & Spa. The center will also include a Whataburger. David Copeland and Brian Waxler with EDGE Realty Partners are handling the leasing for the center. The Shops at Chisholm Trail is part of a larger, master-planned community, adjacent to the Chisholm Trail Community Park, in one of the fastest growing areas in southwest Fort Worth. Once complete, the development will include multifamily units and single-family homes. StreetLevel Investments is developing and Arch-Con Corp. is constructing the retail center. Keith Bjerke,

president of Bjerke Management Solutions, is the program manager. “This balanced retail center will offer patrons a varied experience, blending entertainment with shopping,” said Anne Kuta, development director for StreetLevel Investments. “It is really adapting to patrons’ desires for well-rounded shopping options.” “This area is growing quickly, and it is great to be a part of bringing retail to this area,” said Marc MacConnell, senior vice president of Arch-Con Corp.’s Retail Division. “The location makes it accessible from both Cleburne and Fort Worth.”

3 RETAIL CENTERS SOLD IN TARRANT, DALLAS COUNTIES

SHOP Companies Investment Sales team has announced the sale of three retail properties located in Fort Worth, Frisco and Grand Prairie. They are: Woodmont Plaza North, a 42,004-square-foot shopping center consisting of two buildings located along McCart Avenue in Fort Worth. At the time of sale the property was 94.76% leased to a tenant mix that includes Schlotzsky’s Deli, Supercuts, H&R Block, Little Caesar’s Pizza, Boost Mobile, La Familia Auto Insurance, Cousins BBQ and Oportun. Tim Axilrod, Tommy Tucker and Cameron Burk of SHOP Companies Investment Sales represented the seller, Black Lion Investment Group based in California, and procured the buyer, a Texas limited liability company. Stampede Crossing, a 7,897-square-foot retail center located off Preston Road in Frisco. The property was 86.03% leased at the time of sale to Medical Massage Spa and Mesa Asia Bistro. The see Sales on page 64

COMMENTARY

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2019

An old new model to guard against sexual harassment in the workplace

More than 70 percent of women say they’ve experienced some level of harassment on the job, and that’s a conservative estimate since many incidents go unreported.

And it keeps occurring despite the fact that more than seven out of every 10 companies now provide training to prevent or resolve harassment issues, often with limited effectiveness. Much of the anti-harassment training that does occur in the workplace, McFadyen says, simply doesn’t provide benefits. In particular, she has collected significant data evidence to conclude that the most popular way of providing such training – computergenerated videos that typically illustrate inappropriate behavior – just aren’t effective. All that said, while McFadyen and Quick acknowledge there is no easy solution, there are benefits to developing a model that focuses on highrisk employees, who their research indicates typically tend to be few in number, 1 percent to 3 percent. Quick says that while it is very difficult to detect potential sexual harassers

career-killing and costly consequences. “They absolutely must not be ignored or pushed to the side,” McFadyen and Quick concur. Much as a public health strategy would do, McFadyen and Quick’s multi-faceted strategy provides interventions for each of the three stages, though clearly the best place for intervention is the first stage, which begins with clear policies and systematic screening along with education and emphasis on the first line of supervision. Much as would occur with a public health outbreak, harassment strategies incorporate intercession, containment, caregiving, forgiveness and organizational resilience. “Sexual aggressors destroy lives, leaving long legacies of suffering,” Quick emphasizes in the HBR article. “Yet sexual harassment in the workplace is an occupational health problem that does not occur in isolation. Rather, it’s generally a result of cumulative events and thus predictable and preventable. Workplace sexual harassment is no accident, and with proper surveillance and prevention mechanisms, it may be eliminated altogether.” More information: https://hbr.org/2018/02/ bad-behavior-is-preventable http://www.uta.edu/ goolsby/faculty/professors/ ann-mcfadyen.php https://wweb.uta.edu/ management/Dr.Quick/ main.htm

in the hiring process, it is possible – with the appropriate psychological screening – to identify and work with them before they evolve into a threat to others. The strategy the two professors developed involved adopting a three-stage life-history prevention surveillance model commonly used to prevent public health epidemics – an old idea with a new application for preventing sexual harassment. Here’s the outline for a typical evolution of sexual harassment. Stage 1: Risk factors such as high male-to-female ratio, male-dominated power positions and a lack of unmonitored cultural restraints. Stage 2: Language with sexual overtones, off-color stores, inappropriate jokes and a general environment aimed at keeping women “in their place.” Stage 3: Sexual assaults occur, often with ruinous,

PHOTO BY O.K. CARTER

O.K. CARTER Okcarter@bizpress.net

Though sexual harassment in the workplace and health epidemics wouldn’t seem to be issues that can be resolved comparably, a pair of professors at the University of Texas at Arlington College of Business have picked up national attention for suggesting exactly that: So much so that they were recently featured in the Harvard Business Review. Professors Jim Quick and M. Ann McFadyen, using two decades of research on sexual harassment – McFadyen joining the collaboration in 2011 – have concluded that the ongoing tsunami of “me too” issues focusing on sexual harassment signals that it’s time for a cultural reset in the workplace. “Leaders and managers simply cannot afford to maintain the status quo,” Quick wrote in the HBR article. In a recent follow-up interview on that topic, McFadyen – who teaches MBA and strategic management courses at UT Arlington – noted that as she and Quick conducted research on potentially dangerous employees, they continued to notice similar evolving dysfunctional behavior patterns in people who indulged in sexual harassment. “Acting out events are not accidents,” she said. But, the two researchers say, getting the workplace to understand the harassment problem isn’t an easy task. They found that more than 70 percent of women say they’ve experienced some level of harassment on the job, and that’s a conservative estimate since many incidents go unreported. This happens, McFadyen says, because it’s difficult to understand the legal definition of sexual harassment and because women and men differ dramatically in their interpretation of what constitutes harassment.

Professors Jim Quick and M. Ann McFadyen with the University of Texas at Arlington College of Business propose a way to screen for potential sexual harassers in the workplace.

O.K. Carter is a former editor and publisher of the Arlington CitizenJournal and was also Arlington publisher and columnist for the Star-Telegram and founding editor of Arlington Today Magazine. He’s the author of the definitive book on Arlington’s colorful history, Caddos, Cotton and Cowboys: Essays on Arlington. okcarter@bizpress.net

COUNCIL REPORT

Election Daze Turnout could be key for incumbents, challengers M A RICE RICHTER

mrichter@bizpress.net Local elections traditionally result in limited upsets and few surprises and this year’s elections are predicted to follow a similar pattern. But with early voting set to begin Monday, April 22, for the May 4 general election, some observers say this year might bring change. “This year could be a telltale indicator of whether 2018 was a trend or an anomaly,” said Tom Stallings, a non-partisan political strategist and principal in Mosaic Strategy Partners, a Fort Worth political consulting and communications firm. Without a doubt, last year’s highly hyped national midterms and this year’s general election of municipal, school board and special district races is like “comparing apples to oranges,” Stallings said but there are some insights to be gleaned from the May 4 election outcome for Fort Worth and Tarrant Midterm results were widely seen as a sea-change as reliably red Tarrant County flashed purple as charismatic U.S. Senate candidate Beto O’Rourke outpolled incumbent Ted Cruz in Tarrant County. In addition, Democrat Beverly Powell defeated GOP incumbent Konni Burton, a couple of county positions were won by Democrats and Ron Wright was outpolled by his Democratic opponent in his home base of Tarrant County but won the U.S. 6th District Congressional seat with turnout in GOP strongholds of Ellis and Navarro counties. Midterm results were driven by unusually high turnout by both Republicans and Democrats, including many first-time

voters and suburban women who shifted from Republican to Democratic, according to political experts. This trend was evident nationwide as well as locally. Whether energized voters mobilize and turnout in large number on May 4 could have an impact on the results and be seen as a trend, Stallings said. The Fort Worth mayor’s race is the likeliest bell-weather of a true political shift, according to Stallings and others. Mayor Betsy Price, who is seeking re-election to a fifthterm, faces Deborah Peoples, who is chair of the Tarrant County Democratic Party, as her top challenger. Although the mayor’s race and all other May 4 races are non-partisan, People’s partisan position contrasts with Price, who formerly served as Tarrant County Tax Assessor-Collector after winning as a Republican. James Riddlesperger, professor of political science at Texas Christian University, said it would be difficult to determine partisan trends in local races. “Local races are about things everyone cares about, whether they are Republicans or Democrats,” he said. “Things like, ‘Is my sewer system working? ‘Are the streets safe, do we have good lighting in neighborhoods?’ “Voters in local races focus on services and those transcend party affiliation,” he said. Even when local races involve complex issues such as tax revenue and relief, pension fund shortfalls or the funding crisis in of the Panther Island development, voters tend to overlook them, he said. “Voters in local races tend to not understand or focus on complex issues,” Riddlesperger said.

FortWorthBusiness.com As a trend, turnout tends to be low in local races and voters tend to favor incumbents, Riddlesperger said. During the last local general election in 2017, turnout for all city, school board and special district races in Tarrant County was 8.62 percent. In 2015, it was 9.04 percent. The citywide Fort Worth mayor’s race had a turnout 8.29 percent in 2017 while individual district races ranged from a low of 5.65 percent to 14.68 percent. Fort Worth ISD school board races, all individual districts, had turnout ranging from about 11 to12 percent. Turnout in the district-wide race for the Tarrant Regional Water District board was 8.62 percent in 2017.

board elections, candidates represent differing viewpoints on water district operations and its inability to attract to critical federal funds to advance the Panther Island project, the signature development of its underling agency, the Trinity River Vision Authority. Despite support and authorization from the U.S. Corps of Army Engineers, the project has been passed over for a federal appropriation for the past three funding cycles and appears headed for another disappointment in the 2020 fiscal year. The TRVA board recently chose a nationally-known consulting firm to conduct a comprehensive review of the $1.17 billion Panther Island project, also known as the

Higher voter turnout could favor challengers just as it did in the 2018 midterm races, Stallings said.

Central City project. The Dallas-based firm of Riveron is expected to complete its review within three months. Management and oversight of the project are among the top matters Riveron is expected to examine in the review. Moates, Kelleher and Team are all running on reform platforms, including improving TRWD transparency, public accountability and focus on flood control over economic development. The Panther Island project, touted as a flood control measure, has been criticized by federal officials for its dual focus on economic development, according to information provided to Mayor Betsy Price. Leonard and Lane support the TRWD and TRVA and hope to continue shepherding the Panther Island project to a successful conclusion. In the past, Leonard and Lane received support from the political action committee, Our Water, Our Future, with former

TARRANT REGIONAL WATER BOARD

After several highly contentious election cycles, marked by exorbitant spending and mudslinging, this year’s race for the Tarrant Regional Water District board of directors resembles an ordinary grassroots endeavor. Five candidates are running for two seats on the five-member board. The two-highest vote getters win the seats. Incumbents Marty Leonard and Jim Lane, who have both served on the TRWD board since 2006, are seeking new four-year terms. Their challengers are former TRWD board member Mary Kelleher, who lost her re-election bid in 2017, attorney Gary Moates and real estate broker Charles “C.B.” Team. Although the race is less rancorous than previous TRWD

Mayor Mike Moncrief serving as treasurer. That PAC raised hundreds of thousands of dollars in the past for Leonard and Lane, as well as other candidates, but is not operating this election cycle. A new PAC, the Tarrant Water Alliance, with former TRWD board President Vic Henderson serving as treasurer, is supporting Leonard and Lane in this election. As of April 4, the PAC reported raising $34,803 in contributions and $16,500 in expenditures. Contributors include J. Luther King. Jr., $5,000; BNSF RailPAC, $2,500; Martha “Marty” Leonard, $10,000; Michael K. Berry, $10,000; and the Jack Stevens Campaign, $703. Stevens is president of the TRWD board. Moates reported collecting $55,405 in contributions and spending $4,839. He reported receiving the highest amount in contributions. He reported receiving $5,000 from the Greater Fort Worth Association of Realtors; $10,000 from George Young Jr; and a personal contribution of $10,000 among his contributors. Team reported receiving $23,659 in contributions and spending $6,574. Major contributors include the Greater Fort Worth Association of Realtors, $5,000; Grant Huff. $4,000; and Stephen Luskey, $5,000. Kelleher reported contributions of $4,010 and expenses of $2,042. Her contributions were mostly in small amounts of $100 or less. Leonard reported contributions of $1,000, $10,205 in cash and $7,500 in expenses. Lane reported $22,500 in contributions, $14,250 in expenses and $7,675 in cash on hand. His major contributors include the Kay Granger Campaign Fund, $6,750; and the Committee for Public Safety. $5,000. Rep. Kay Granger, R-Fort Worth, is a key backer of Panther Island project. J.D. Granger, executive director of the TRVA, is Granger’s son.

APRIL 22 - 28,

2019

FortWorthBusiness.com

APRIL 22 - 28,

2019

Presented by

2019 40 Under 40 Honorees Allison Rogers Andreen

Brandi Fletcher

Chase Kennemer

Lane Reeder

Joseph Berkes

Leslie Ford

Cody Kennemer

Jeff Richardson

Brittany Carnes

Randall Ford

Sterling McDavid

Christopher Roberts

Liz Confiliano

Michael Garner

Dr. Blair Meyer

Kurt Schaal

Sarah Covington

Michael Millians

James Scott

Leslie Darby

Laura Gonzales

Grace Mitchell

Chris Stoy

Hayden Grahm

Kyle Morris

Anastasia Taylor

Cortney Charles W.Gumbleton Keeley III ......................... 32

Matt Morris

Christina Gutierrez Walls

Marcus Williams

Jonathan Perez

Michael Wollman

Tony Prenger

Kimbell Art Museum

Williams Trew Real Estate Services

Frost Bank

Goodwill Industries of Fort Worth

Visit Fort Worth

Kelly Hart & Hallman LLP

Jeremy Dean

Rogue Architects

Westmoreland Builders, LLC

UMB Bank

Presented by Brooke

Clint Abernathy ................................ 14

Joseph Wayne Ditta .......................... 24

Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Alliance

Mitchell Roofing and Remodeling

Mary H. Barkley ................................ 14

Dr. Kimberly Ellison ........................... 26

Cantey Hanger LLP

DKEG Professional Development & Training, LLC

Burt Ladner Real Estate

Sam Demel

Burt Ladner Real Estate Daniel Belcher ................................... 16

Justin Dorsey

Goggans

Mosaic Strategy Partners

Merrill Lynch

JTaylor 2018 Honorees

Happy State Bank

Jennifer Demel

Whitley Penn

Joshua N. Eppich .............................. 27

Fidelity Investments Locavore Fort Worth

Jeff Kenny ........................................ 34

Adrian ArchitecturalHarvey Fabrication, Inc. Buxton Research

Alex Eysermans

Blue Zones Project

Jason Forrest .................................... 28 Forrest Performance Group

BBVA COMPASS

Landon Brim ..................................... 18

Eric Garrison ..................................... 28

Southside Bank

TBG Partners

Rebecca Farris

Bottega Design Gallery Catherine Carlton .............................20

Robert Gottlich ................................. 29

The Oakridge School

Storied Style Interiors, LLC

DeMars & Associates, Ltd.

Murtaza Sardharwala ......................... 41

Gus Bates Insurance and Investments

First Command Financial Services, Inc.

Amanda Schulte, AIA ........................ 42

Tyler Munson

Bennett Benner Partners Architects+Planners

Southwestern Health Resources, Chief of Staff

University of North Texas Health Science Center

Jacob Fain......................................... 27 Tarleton TiesaState R. Leggett ................................ 36 University

RIDE TV

UT Southwestern Medical Center

Kimbell Art Museum

Natasha Hill

Bonds Ellis Eppich Schafer Jones LLP

Elizabeth Blake.................................. 18

Burnett New York

Brandy Schwarz ................................. 42

Manish N. Bhatt ................................ 16 Ben E. Keith

Wick Phillips

D&M Leasing

Peter Kreidler .................................... 35

Gateway Diagnostic Imaging, LLC

Trinity Valley School

D&M Leasing

Jyric E. Sims...................................... 43 Tarrant County College Medical City Fort Worth

Vernon Hilton Clinton A. Ludwig ............................. 36

John D. Steinmetz ............................. 43

Melissa Moreno ................................. 37

Mario Valdez .....................................44

Tarrant County Bank Clerk’s Office PlainsCapital

TJ Moncrief Hutchings Cancer Institute Higginbotham

Vista Bank

Quorum Architects, Inc.

Pinnacle Bank

Manny Ramirez

Fort Worth Police Officers Association

Preston R. Mundt .............................. 38

Natalie Wilkins ..................................44

MHMR of Tarrant County

Happy State Bank

Kelly Hart & Hallman LLP

Cook Children’s Health Care System

Matthew E. Cooper ...........................20

Gwen Harper ....................................30

Philip Newburn ................................. 38

Mary Yetto, CPA, CGMA .................. 45

Finley Resources Inc.

Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s International Realty

Philip Newburn Architecture, PLLC

BDO USA, LLP

Bryan Davis ....................................... 22

Lauren Harris ....................................30

Jamie Peace ......................................40

Kelly Hart & Hallman LLP

Trinity Habitat for Humanity

Jon Davis .......................................... 22

Luke Hejl ...........................................31

Great Harvest Bread Co. Fort Worth

TimelyMD

The Rudd Company, LLC

Kimberly DeWoody ........................... 24

Melissa Ice ........................................ 32

J. Adam Russell ................................. 41

Whitley Penn

The NET, BREWED

Platinum Sponsors

Platinum Sponsor

Total Sand Solutions

Gold Sponsors Joshua A. Rudd .................................40 First National Bank of Burleson

Gold Sponsors

Bronze Sponsors Silver Sponsors

DYNAMIC DUO AWARD John and Elizabeth Huffman ..............46 Black Door Renovations

DYNAMIC DUO AWARD Arianne Shipley Stephanie Zavala ............................... 47 Rogue Water

Reeder General Contractors, Inc.

First Command

Paradigm Wealth Management

Capital One, N.A.

Kelly Hart & Hallman LLP

Hutchinson & Stoy PLLC

Alliance Child & Family Solutions LLC

TCU and UNTHSC School of Medicine

Vista Bank

UTA Fort Worth

Silver Sponsors

Bronze Sponsors

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April 22-28, 2019

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Alli Rogers Andreen, 30

KIMBELL ART MUSEUM, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT COORDINATOR

lli Rogers Andreen is passionate about education and serving underprivileged communities through her position at the Kimbell Art Museum and in her free time, says nominator Madison Ladd, also at the Kimbell. As a member of dfwMER, the Metroplex’s Museum Educator Roundtable, she supports other museum educators, and as a mixed-media artist, she often donates her work to events such as ArtCon and Diorama-O-Rama, which benefit local nonprofits. Andreen graduated summa cum laude from Texas State University with her BFA in studio art in 2011 and received a master’s in art education with a certificate in art museum education from the University of North Texas In 2015. She put herself through grad school working as a nanny and doing contract work with local organizations and museums. “As a mixed-media artist, Alli uses all of the senses,” Ladd said, “and uses her art-making and

Where did your ﬁrst paycheck come from? My first official paycheck came from Chapelwood United Methodist Church in Houston. I was in high school and couldn’t even drive yet. The children’s ministry paid me to party with the preschoolers. I helped with Little Church and parents’ night out, so I was well-acquainted with lemonade, goldfish crackers and reading stories using silly voices. Those were the days!

versatile teaching experience to create a supportive and rich learning environment for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the Kimbell’s Viewpoints program. The program allows adults to experience the artwork and museum in a way that meets their needs and encourages conversation.” Andreen said that in 2017 she married her “partner-in-crime of 10 years, Michael.” She spends her spare time cooking, powerlifting, quilting and embroidering, reading, writing, singing in the Coppell Community Chorale, and frequenting the Scarborough Renaissance Festival. – Paul K. Harral

What other profession would you like to try? In another world, I would have been a wildlife photographer or a forest ranger. The combination of travel, anticipation, patience and opportunity for exploration is appealing to me. The increased exposure to venomous creatures, though, perhaps not as much.

What movie, TV series, play or video game inﬂuenced you growing up? Honestly, books had a greater influence on me than anything, though I will admit to having watched Ferngully and Muppet Treasure Island approximately 80 quadrillion times. I read Ella Enchanted, The Witch of Blackbird Pond and Redwall until the spines broke. I practically memorized the Harry Potter series. I luxuriated in Dahl, Austen and Eyre. I was scarred by The Poisonwood Bible. I adored Lemony Snicket and Twelfth Night.

Tell us about an inﬂuential person in your life, how they inﬂuenced you and why he or she was important. It would be impossible for me to be here, in this state of mind, doing what I do without my mom, Martha Rogers. She was a single working mom with three very different children. She has worked hard my entire life, both professionally and at home. A musician and educator to her very core, she made sure our childhoods were full of music, exploration, wonder, appreciation for our surroundings, and thorough engagement with our chosen passions. I learned to read, write, create and sing by her side.

Joseph Berkes, 39

WILLIAMS TREW REAL ESTATE, REAL ESTATE AGENT

s a Fort Worth native, Joseph Berkes got an early start in real estate. At age 15, he was delivering yard signs around the city for his mother, Mary Anne McCarthy, who was a Realtor for Williams Trew. “Joseph is a self-starter. He has done a fantastic job growing his business, from putting up signs at our office to being one of the top sales agents in the city,” said nominator Martha Williams of Williams Trew. “He’s very diligent, easy to get along with, the nicest person ever and a pleasure to work with,” she said. “He has put together a group of high-energy, very productive agents. He’s always challenging himself with new ideas.” Berkes has been named as top producer and top Realtor by both Fort Worth, Texas magazine and 360

West magazine for the past several years. He’s part of the Joseph Berkes Group, a full-service real estate agency he leads along with his wife, Claire, and Chelsea Albright. “He has made such a name for himself in real estate as one of the leading agents in Fort Worth,” Williams said. “He’s very well respected and such a hard worker.” In his spare time, Berkes says, he enjoys working in the yard, tackling home renovation projects and spending time with his wife and their son and two young daughters. You can also ﬁnd him at his favorite local restaurants, Righteous Foods and Joe T. Garcia’s, or enjoying the outdoors at Monticello Park.

– Paul K. Harral

Where did your first paycheck come from? My first two jobs were Cantey Ferchill Landscaping and Joe T. Garcia’s. I’m not sure now which came first. What movie, TV series, play or video game influenced you growing up? I loved playing John Madden with my friends on the Sony Playstation. Tell us about an influential person in your life, how they influenced you and why he or she was important. Easy! My mother was the most influential person in my life. She me taught how important good manners are and that I needed to respect other people – and when I was a kid that especially meant adults – at a very young age. When did you know what you wanted to be when you grew up? Pretty early. One of my high school jobs was delivering real estate signs. What is your favorite song? Amarillo By Morning – George Strait.

Tell us about your prop. My real estate sign. It signals new beginnings for old friends or can be the start of new friendships for me.

When did you know what you wanted to be when you grew up? I still don’t know what I want to be when I grow up. I’ve always known that I needed to do something that was creative, where I could help people, and where I could still use my sense of humor. Growing up in a family full of teachers and librarians, the odds were always excellent that I’d find my way here, though I’ll always be open-minded about the future. What is your favorite song? Shake a Tail Feather – The Blues Brothers with Ray Charles

Tell us about your prop. My husband and I are big Renaissance festival nerds. We spend every spring singing sea chanties and throwing axes. It’s freeing to dress up like warriors and spend the day completely separated from real life. Plus, we love swords.

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Brittany Carnes, 29

FROST BANK, VICE PRESIDENT – COMMERCIAL LENDING

rittany Carnes is a savvy businesswoman who also uses her voice to advocate for others in her workplace and community, says nominator Jennifer Limas of Girls Inc. of Tarrant County. For example, Limas said, when Carnes noticed that she was one of only two women on Frost’s Associate Relationship Manager interview panel for Tarrant County, she began to advocate for not only more female interviewers on the panel, but also more female candidates. “The female population in commercial banking is small, but growing,” Limas said. “Brittany says that it has been exciting to see women added to the commercial lending side of the bank – a group that has been historically dominated by men.”

Carnes was born in Bedford, grew up in the Watauga and Keller area, received a bachelor’s degree in ﬁnance with an emphasis on ﬁnancial planning, magna cum laude, from Texas State University in San Marcos in May 2011 and moved to Fort Worth proper after college. Carnes has been on the board of Girls Inc. of Tarrant County for three and a half years and volunteers with other organizations such as the Junior League of Fort Worth, the Ronald McDonald House, Historic Fort Worth, the Fort Worth Independent School District and the Tallest Hog at the Trough Syndicate. She’s a graduate of Leadership Arlington Class of 2012-2013.

Where did your ﬁrst paycheck come from? Woolley’s Frozen Custard – a frozen custard shop on North Beach Street in the Fort Worth/Keller area.

jobs to put himself through college and he was driving around in an ’89 Chevy that always had just barely enough gas (and may or may not overheat on the way to a destination). … Over the past 10 years together, he has encouraged me to step outside of my comfort zone and do things that have caused me to grow personally and professionally. He’s been a sounding board, a voice of reason and most importantly, a reminder that life is simple (as in baseball: “You throw the ball, you hit the ball, you catch the ball”) and fun.

What movie, TV series, play or video game influenced you growing up? Saved by the Bell. My older brother and I used to watch it together after school. What other profession would you like to try? One day I’d like to own a flower shop. I’ve always had an interest in floral design and arrangements. Tell us about an influential person in your life, how they influenced you and why he or she was important. I’ll tell you about my best friend and husband, Blaine. I first met Blaine when we worked together at True Religion (a jean store) in San Marcos while we were both attending Texas State University. Blaine always picked up extra shifts, never complained about doing the dirty jobs around the store and kept a positive attitude 100 percent of the time. What I later found out was that Blaine was working three

– Paul K. Harral

When did you know what you wanted to be when you grew up? I was 6 years old and my mom took me into a Bank One branch near our house one day after I had been nagging her about opening my own bank account. I told the banker that I was there to open a savings account so that I could buy a house one day. I deposited my small allowance, and when we got home, my mom taught me all about balancing a checkbook. The rest is history. What is your favorite song? Life’s Been Good – Joe Walsh

Liz Conﬁliano, 36

GOODWILL INDUSTRIES OF FORT WORTH, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC RELATIONS

iz Confiliano has more than 15 years of experience in marketing, advertising, public relations and social media. She’s director of public relations for Goodwill Industries of Fort Worth Inc., but also consults on marketing, branding and other topics with The Moncrief Cancer Institute and Innovador LLC. Confiliano graduated from Fort Worth’s R.L. Paschal High School and earned an associate degree from Tarrant County College, a bachelor’s degree in public relations and broadcast management from the University of Texas at Arlington in 2004 and an MBA with a marketing concentration from UT Arlington in 2012. Clients , campaigns and events she has handled include the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo, Billy Bob’s Texas, Red Steagall Cowboy Gathering, Chris Cox Horsemanship Co., Reinvent Biologics and Dream Park Fort Worth. Where did your first paycheck come from? Barnes & Noble in University Park Village What movie, TV series, play or video game influenced you growing up? I loved Star Wars so much that I read every book that was set in the movies. It solidified my love of reading and writing. What other profession would you like to try? I’ve worked at several ad agencies throughout my career so I’ve been able to get a taste of everything from film publicity and commercial real estate to corn seed and nonprofits. I love crafting stories to get the word out about my clients, so if I had to make a change, I’d give reporting a try. Tell us about an influential person in your life, how they influenced you and why he or she was important. My dad’s strong work ethic and family-first attitude has had a huge

Conﬁliano coordinated branding and publicity efforts for the grand opening of the Cattle Raisers Museum, within the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History; the grand opening of the Renaissance Las Vegas Hotel, Nevada’s largest non-gaming hotel; the reopening of Dallas’s Cedar Crest Golf Course; as well as the branding, groundbreaking, publicity and community relations for Museum Place, an 11-acre mixed-use development in Fort Worth’s Cultural District. Conﬁliano is an incoming provisional member of the 2019-2020 class of The Junior League of Fort Worth. She is active in and has held a number of offices for the Public Relations Society of America, Greater Fort Worth Chapter. She also served The Panther Club for eight years earlier.

– Paul K. Harral

influence on my life. Growing up, I watched him travel across Texas for work, all the while taking care of our family and being there for all the important moments. His steadfast dedication to doing whatever it takes to get the job done, and done well, inspires me daily. I mean, the man took work calls the day after open-heart surgery and his customers never even knew he was in the hospital. That’s a lot to live up to. When did you know what you wanted to be when you grew up? I interned for the WBAP newsroom my senior year of college, thinking I might like to be a reporter, but everyone from reporters to the news director told me, “Don’t do it!” When one of the morning anchors told me I looked and sounded like I was 12 and I’d never make it at a serious station, I decided to go for a double major and go into public relations. What is your favorite song? Rhiannon — Fleetwood Mac

Tell us about your prop. My props are a photo of my family and a Dallas Stars foam finger. I’ve always loved going to events of all kinds – Stars, Cowboys and Rangers games, and concerts of all sorts. If there’s a ticket, I’m probably going to it. My kids have been to more events in their short lives than I had by the time I was 20.

Tell us about your prop. My prop is a globe. It signifies my love for travel and adventure. This globe has been in my family since 1986 when my grandmother gifted it to my father. I love to travel to beaches in the Caribbean the most, but I love Napa Valley, the Rockies, Canada and Iceland too.

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Sarah Covington, 28

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC RELATIONS, VISIT FORT WORTH

arah Covington has been instrumental in putting Fort Worth on the national tourism map, says nominator Mitch Whitten of Visit Fort Worth. “Through her efforts, Fort Worth has been recognized as one of the top six destinations to watch by Condé Nast Traveler and the most underrated city in Texas by Thrillist,” Whitten said. “Her PR savvy also landed major national features in American Way (American Airlines), En Route (Air Canada) and Garden & Gun magazines,” Whitten said. Covington was raised in Snyder, the youngest of eight siblings from a combined family, and has 15 nieces and nephews. Growing up, she was active in group sports such as softball and volleyball. As an adult, she has expanded her passion for athletics to include running and boxing. In 2016, she completed her ﬁrst half-marathon – The Cowtown. After graduating from the University of North Texas in 2011, Covington began working at a small public relations agency in Dallas that specialized in travel and hospitality. That led to working in-house for Visit Fort Worth in 2013. She’s been there almost six years, received two promotions and sees the job as ever evolving. Her current position includes managing all domestic and international media

Where did your ﬁrst paycheck come from? My first paycheck came from working at PumpJax Restaurant in my hometown of Snyder. I was an average hostess at best at the restaurant, which was by far the fanciest place in town. What movie, TV series, play or video game inﬂuenced you growing up? Growing up in small-town West Texas meant I spent the majority of my time outdoors. I was raised on a 25-acre farm filled with cattle, goats and pigs. If I wasn’t riding alongside my stepdad on the tractor or combine harvester, I was tending to the animals or playing softball. What other profession would you like to try? I’ve always loved performing on stage. My memory is one of my best

relations (Canada, Germany and Australia), a bureau-wide content strategy supporting ﬁve thematic pillars, social media, ad trafficking, video and photo content management, and oversight of all digital elements. “Sarah has brought a young, innovative voice to marketing Fort Worth,” Whitten said. “Her curated blogs at FortWorth.com have elevated new voices in food, music and culture, and she has linked these posts to actual hotel rooms booked by visitors. “In February 2019, she elevated Fort Worth’s food scene by launching three new online channels and 15 new streaming videos. One series highlighted the talented Instagram personality Wero and his knowledge about virtually unknown Latin American restaurants off visitors’ beaten path,” Whitten said. Covington’s a dog mom to a pup named Finn – you can follow him on Instagram at @Fort_Worth_Finn. And in 2018 – after planning an impromptu trip to Iceland and Ireland with only two weeks’ notice – her ﬁancé, Sean, proposed in the Wicklow Mountain Range in Ireland. The two will wed in November.

– Paul K. Harral

assets so memorizing lines and taking center stage excites me. Tell us about an inﬂuential person in your life, how they inﬂuenced you and why he or she was important. There are two leading ladies in my life. My mom, of course, has always taught me to stand up for myself and make my voice heard. The second, my boss Jessica Christopherson, has taught me how to grow professionally. I’m grateful for both their influences! When did you know what you wanted to be when you grew up? Does anyone really know what they want to be when they grow up? I think I’m still figuring that out! What is your favorite song? High Horse by Kacey Musgraves

Tell us about your prop. I love to work out and boxing has been my go-to workout for the past few years. It’s challenging and rewarding all at the same time. There is nothing better than enjoying a nice red wine afterward and this killer workout makes it taste that much sweeter.

Leslie M. Darby, 36

KELLY HART & HALLMAN LLP, PARTNER

eslie M. Darby focuses her practice on brand management, including the procurement, protection, enforcement and management of domestic and international trademark rights. She conducts trademark clearance searches, prepares and prosecutes trademark applications, and manages trademark registrations in more than 35 countries. She also helps clients recover domain names from unauthorized users and has a 100 percent success rate in domain name dispute cases handled through Uniform Dispute Resolution Proceedings. She also counsels clients on copyright, sweepstakes and promotional law issues and has experience drafting intellectual property agreements and manufacturing agreements. She graduated from North Crowley High School in 2000 and from Baylor University in 2004, cum laude. She earned her law degree from Baylor University School of Law magna cum laude in 2007. Darby was an article editor for the Baylor Law Review. Where did your ﬁrst paycheck come from? Sonic Drive-In. I was a carhop. No skates though. What movie, TV series, play or video game inﬂuenced you growing up? I was most influenced by The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, a book by C.S. Lewis. This book opened my eyes to the reality and richness of Jesus Christ’s love. His love is the foundation of my life. What other profession would you like to try? Either an industrial-organizational psychologist or a dog walker. IO psychologists work with organizations to create positive, healthy work environments by studying human behavior in the workplace. IO psychologists help organizations maximize employee productivity without turning their employees into nameless, faceless widgets. This profession really speaks to me because you get to work with employers and employees to develop creative win-win solutions for the workplace.

Her pro bono experience includes National Adoption Day, Texas Lawyers for Texas Veterans legal clinic and wills clinics that beneﬁt The Gatehouse and Presbyterian Night Shelter. Darby has also volunteered at the North Texas Food Bank and participated in evangelistic community-building projects sponsored by her church. She serves on Kelly Hart’s diversity committee and recruiting committee and is working to expand the mentorship program at the law ﬁrm. Darby was born on Okinawa and moved to the Fort Worth area in about 1989. Recognitions and honors include Top 50 Women in Law in the Dallas Region; The National Diversity Council, 2018; Texas Super Lawyers Rising Star, Thomson Reuters, 2010-2012, 2014-2017; and local recognitions by 360 West and Fort Worth, Texas magazines.

– Paul K. Harral

I really like dogs so I would like walking them. Tell us about an inﬂuential person in your life, how they inﬂuenced you and why he or she was important. I have been fortunate to have many people positively influence my life, including my parents, teachers and friends. These are people who have consistently modeled love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. They taught me by their words and actions that character is more important than status, meekness is not the equivalent of weakness, and to live from a perspective of abundance rather than living from the perspective of scarcity. When did you know what you wanted to be when you grew up? I still haven’t quite settled this yet. So what I want to be continues to evolve as I continue to grow and improve. I like the idea of leaving room for growth. What is your favorite song? Love Broke Thru — TobyMac

Tell us about your prop. My props are my passport and my suitcase because I enjoy traveling. I am alternating domestic and international trips each year. Most recently, I have been to Hong Kong, China, the Grand Canyon and Israel. I would like to take a trip to the West Coast this year, maybe Napa Valley. I am hoping to go to Greece or Iceland in 2020.

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Jeremy Dean, 35

HAPPY STATE BANK, VICE PRESIDENT – MORTGAGE LOAN OFFICER

He met with the dean of a college and was enrolled in college when he should have been a sophomore in high school. After his initial start in college, his family moved back to the Metroplex and he got a job at a mortgage company at age 17. “I was taken under the wing of a very influential mortgage leader, who taught me everything he knew. I should have been a junior in high school at that time, but I inadvertently began my career,” Dean said. The decision to return to school came later. He would eventually earned both a bachelor’s degree and an MBA from the University of North Texas in Denton. Currently, he’s writing a book tying together the themes of faith and ﬁnance and is working on a Ph.D. in ﬁnance as well.

eremy Dean took a road less traveled on his way to the job he currently holds at Happy State Bank, where he is vice president and mortgage loan officer. He dropped out of high school after the ninth grade at the private Christian school he was attending and he and his parents couldn’t find another acceptable one in Brenham, where they were on-site managers for a Southern Baptist youth camp. “I didn’t want to drive over an hour to school every day, and my parents still refused to let me go to public school,” Dean said. “So I attempted to get straight into college at the age of 16 – no diploma and no GED.”

– Paul K. Harral

Where did your ﬁrst paycheck come from? An ice cream shop in the small town I grew up in, Brenham.

What other profession would you like to try? Professional athlete or hunter, or maybe a fighter pilot.

What movie, TV series, play or video game inﬂuenced you growing up? Braveheart – best movie of all time, for lots of reasons. There is an incredible passion, will and drive to succeed against all odds. There is romance, sacrifice, betrayal, laughter, action … it just has it all!

Tell us about an inﬂuential person in your life, how they inﬂuenced you and why he or she was important. Definitely my dad. He is the most selfless and sacrificial person that I know. He taught me to put my faith and my family first above my career, always. He used to take me to work when I was a teenager and teach me Excel and VBA. He’s always been an amazing role model for life, business, family and faith.

When did you know what you wanted to be when you grew up? Not until I grew up. I entered the mortgage business at 17 and it was just a job to me at that time. But it didn’t take long to realize that it could be a successful career. I was fortunate to have a lot of mentors who steered me in the right direction. What is your favorite song? Not my favorite song, but the song I want to walk out to is High Hopes by Panic at the Disco. The chorus lyrics are very appropriate for this setting.

Tell us about your photo shoot prop. My props are two official World Cup Match Balls. I am a sports enthusiast, but soccer is my favorite. I own the entire collection of official (non-replica) World Cup Match Balls going back to 1970, when they first started. I love to travel, especially internationally. I have a goal to visit all continents by the time I am 40 and am currently only one short. I’ve been to 17 countries so far and was fortunate to be able to attend the World Cup knockout rounds in Africa in 2010 and both semi-final matches in Russia in 2018, which are the two balls represented.

Jennifer Demel, 32

THIRTY EIGHT & VINE, CO-OWNER BURT LADNER REAL ESTATE, REALTOR

rowing up, Jennifer Demel loved dance movies and says her dream when she was little was to be a Dancing Kitty Doctor. A noble ambition, surely, but in her junior year of high school, she knew she wanted to work in some aspect of business. “It was not until college that I grew my passion for finance and real estate,” Demel said. “Although I purchased my first investment property my freshman year, I did not know my journey would take me into residential real estate.” She attended high school in Graham and Texas Christian University from 2004-2008. She graduated with honors from TCU’s Neeley School of Business with a degree in finance with an emphasis in real estate. Demel had planned to go to law school and was applying when her husband, Sam, a TCU baseball player from 2005-2007, got the call that he had been selected by the Oakland Athletics in the third round of the 2007 Major League Baseball amateur draft. Where did your first paycheck come from? I received my first paycheck when I was 15 years old. I worked as a waitress during the summer at a restaurant on Possum Kingdom Lake. What movie, TV series, play or video game influenced you growing up? If there was a dance movie, you name it, I saw it! Center Stage, Save the Last Dance, Dirty Dancing, etc. I still rewatch them to this day. For TV shows, I will never forget enjoying Saturday mornings watching Saved By The Bell. As a kid, I grew up playing Math Blaster and, of course, Oregon Trail. I still remember playing Math Blaster and I talk to my 7-year-old son about this

game. What other profession would you like to try? I wish I had the talent to be an interior designer or an architectural designer. I have remodeled numerous homes and have staged numerous homes as well. I love working with CAD programs to re-work floor plans and I truly love selecting finishout and furniture. Tell us about an inﬂuential person in your life, how they inﬂuenced you and why he or she was important. My grandmother, Dorothy Stephens. She has always been my biggest inspiration. She was the type of woman who raised

“At that moment, I knew I had a choice to make — either continue down my own path or be a part of a once-in-a-lifetime journey and create a strong, supportive family unit,” Jennifer Demel says. “I never looked back. While on the baseball journey, I began investing in and renovating homes along the way. In doing so, my passion for real estate grew and there was no stopping,” she says. And, apparently there’s no stopping her taste for wine either. She and Sam are planning to open Thirty Eight & Vine, a wine bar located in The Foundry District, this summer. She is on the board of Cook Children’s The Blast and is passionate about being involved in the ﬁght against neuroblastoma. She and Sam have been married more than 10 years and have two children, Grayson, 7, and Berkeley, 4. They also have three dogs: Lexi, Bulldozer and Belle.

–Paul K. Harral

me on phrases such as, “Pretty is as pretty does” and “If you do not have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.” I grew up across the street from her and spent much of my childhood with her. We had an ongoing game of Go Fish. She and her husband raised race horses and took me to Ruidoso a few times to watch the races. She was such a large part of my life and attended every performance, recital, award ceremony and graduation I was a part of. She was and is the strongest and kindest woman I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. I strive to be the woman she was. What is your favorite song? Three Days – Pat Green

Tell us about your prop. In my photo, I have a rug and a bottle of wine. My weakness is collecting antique rugs! But this also plays into my passion for renovating and designing. These bring me so much joy … and stress! The wine bottle speaks for itself. I absolutely love learning about and tasting wine. Hence, the concept for a new wine bar in Fort Worth arose.

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Sam Demel, 33

THIRTY EIGHT & VINE, CO-OWNER BURT LADNER REAL ESTATE, REALTOR

am Demel had a distinguished career as a pitcher with the Texas Christian University Horned Frogs baseball team from 2005-2007 and then was drafted by the Oakland Athletics in 2007. He was traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks in June of 2010 and made his Major League debut in Fenway Park against the Boston Red Sox. After nine seasons of professional baseball, he retired and joined his wife, Jennifer Demel, as a Realtor with Burt Ladner Real Estate. Demel gives to the community in various ways. He has hosted a baseball camp to raise funds for a Little League, donated baseball lessons for numerous fundraisers and contributed to Miracle League of Arlington.

Where did your first paycheck come from? My first paycheck was when I was 13 years old umpiring Little League baseball games at NW 45 Little League in Spring, Texas. What movie, TV series, play or video game influenced you growing up? One of my favorite movies growing up that really stuck with me was For the Love of the Game starring Kevin Costner. What other profession would you like to try? Funny you should ask! My wife and I are creating a unique wine bar in The Foundry and this is truly a passion project for us both that we are really excited about and really jumping into a completely new industry! Tell us about an influential person in your life, how they influenced you and why he or she was important. The biggest influencer in my life has definitely been my wife, Jennifer. She is the most intelligent person I’ve ever met and knows how to push me to my limits both intellectually and creatively. Jennifer is by far the most supportive person in my life and also has a knack for knowing when to give me a good

He also spearheaded an event over the last three years with the TCU Baseball Alumni that has donated more than $10,000 to the Micah Ahern Scholarship Fund and The Blast with Cook Children’s Health Care System. Both Sam and Jennifer are on the board of The Blast to help raise funds ﬁghting neuroblastoma. The Demels plan to open a wine bar called Thirty Eight & Vine in The Foundry District this summer. They have two children, 7-year-old Grayson and 4-year-old Berkeley, and three dogs. – Paul K. Harral

kick in the butt when necessary. The hardest thing for me to do after a rough game was to let it go. … As I walked through the door of whatever flea-bag hotel we were at that series or small apartment in the city I was playing in, I always had Jennifer there to right my head and keep me focused and forget the bad that happened that day. The one thing that helped make me be so successful in baseball and real estate today is that, good day or bad, Jennifer still has a way of making me forget and move on to the next day. When did you know what you wanted to be when you grew up? Ever since I stepped onto a baseball field at the age of 8, I knew I wanted to become a Major League Baseball player. I achieved that dream in June of 2010! I realized my second dream career shortly after retiring when I was walking a property with Jennifer and saw how excited she was to see the joy in her clients as they opened the door to their new home. What is your favorite song? Skat Man by John Skat. This was my walk-up song at TCU and throughout the minor leagues.

Tell us about your prop. In my photo shoot I have brought my baseball glove that I used my last year in the Major Leagues as a reminder of my first career. Also, I have brought along my golf clubs as there is nothing that brings me more joy than playing golf with my 7-year-old son, Grayson, and hopefully soon my daughter, Berkeley, will join us on the course!

Justin Dorsey, 36

BEN E. KEITH COMPANY, SENIOR HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER

ere it not for a part-time job, Justin Dorsey might have made a career in marriage and family counseling. After he graduated from Texas Tech University with a bachelor’s degree in sociology in 2004, he took a part-time job in the accounting department at Cellular World. “When a position became available in human resources it seemed like a much better fit for my background,” Dorsey said. “Thankfully, they took a chance on someone with no experience and I quickly realized how much I enjoyed the profession,” he said. “Since I lacked formal training in HR, I decided to attend courses at UTA to learn the basics so that I could pursue certification.” He holds a human resources certification from the University of Texas at Arlington.

Where did your ﬁrst paycheck come from? I began mowing yards around my neighborhood at 13 years old, but my first paycheck came from bagging groceries at Albertson’s when I turned 16. What movie, TV series, play or video game inﬂuenced you growing up? It was all about sports growing up, so I watched my favorite teams on TV, played a lot of sports video games and watched movies about sports. My favorite was The Sandlot because it focused on being the new kid in town, which I could relate to due to moving several times as a child. What other profession would you like to try? I really enjoy landscape design and gardening, so I would like to try helping others create a vision for

Part time turned into ﬁve years, leading to his becoming director of human resources, then director of human resources at National HME in Richland Hills. In February 2016, he joined Ben E. Keith Co., where he is responsible for “the strategic management of the employee lifecycle for a multi-state wholesale food and beverage distributor.” Kind of like marriage counseling, perhaps?

their yard and turn it into reality. I’ve also been raising chickens for a few years so it could be fun to sell eggs at a farmers’ market on the weekends. Tell us about an inﬂuential person in your life, how they inﬂuenced you and why he or she was important. When I started high school, Charlie Malmberg was just the little brother of my older sister’s best friend, but by the time I graduated he was my closest companion. His faith and maturity had a significant impact on me and he demonstrated that there was more to life than being successful in sports. He showed me how to study the Bible and modeled what a relationship with the Lord could look like for a high school kid. Don’t get me wrong; we weren’t total saints. We also goofed off and had a lot of

– Paul K. Harral

great times together. I’m eternally grateful that God used Charlie to keep me on the right path during a time period where I could have easily been pulled in another direction. When did you know what you wanted to be when you grew up? I feel very fortunate to have found a passion for human resources shortly after I graduated from college. At the time, I was working part time in the accounting department at the corporate office for a retail company, so when a position became available in HR I asked if I could transfer and the rest is history. What is your favorite song? Walkin’ Along the Fence Line – Wade Bowen

Tell us about your photo shoot prop. I wasn’t exactly sure how to get a kayak into my photo shoot, so I decided to just bring the paddle instead. My friends and I take an annual trip to Port Aransas and spend a week kayak fishing inshore and beyond the breakers. It’s a great way to get away from the computer and just enjoy some quality time on the water. The other item is the Texas Tech gnome that “lives” in my office. He’s been with me throughout my career and represents the school I love so dearly.

April 22-28, 2019

APRIL 22 - 28,

2019

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Alex Eysermans, 39

BBVA COMPASS, COMMERCIAL RELATIONSHIP MANAGER

lex Eysermans began working for Compass Bank in 2002 as a parttime teller and over the past 17 years he has held many positions among the bank’s retail, wealth and commercial divisions. In 2017, he was able to ﬁnally come back home to Fort Worth in the position he had been working toward – commercial relationship manager. He’s married to his high school sweetheart, Jennifer. They have three children – Caden, age 4, and 16-month-old twins Harper and Logan. Eysermans has been active over the years in various chambers of commerce in the communities where he has worked and has participated in

Where did your first paycheck come from? My first paycheck came from mowing yards. What movie, TV series, play or video game influenced you growing up? TV shows: – Boy Meets World Movies: The Karate Kid What other profession would you like to try? I got to try my other profession – being a professional musician – earlier in my life. While it was a lot of fun and provides some great stories, I am much happier in my current role as a commercial banker. Tell us about an influential person in your life, how they influenced you and why he or she was important.

I have been fortunate to have a number of great mentors and influencers throughout my life but the most influential person to me has been my wife, Jennifer. Throughout our entire relationship I have witnessed how she continually strives to reach the goals she sets before her, whether it was to get that “A” in her class, obtain her master’s degree, or to be the best wife to me and later the best mother to our children. Jennifer continually pushes herself to reach her goals while never compromising her beliefs and morals. She maintains a level of discipline I am constantly in awe of. Despite her small stature, she is one of the strongest and fiercest humans I know. I attribute much of my personal achievement and growth to her. She helps me to be the best version of myself possible through the daily example she sets.

their leadership programs. He has been part of FW Vision, the Fort Worth Arts Council Grant Panel and the McDonald’s Red Shoe Society and a food runner for Meals on Wheels. Most recently he volunteered as a coach for the Northwest YMCA of Fort Worth and is on the Finance Committee for The Parenting Center. Eysermans graduated from Flower Mound Marcus High School and received a bachelor’s degree in ﬁnance followed by a second bachelor’s in real estate from the University of North Texas.

– Paul K. Harral

When did you know what you wanted to be when you grew up? I was certain I wanted to be a rock star when I was 5. I can’t say I dreamed of my current job when I was younger but I do realize how fortunate I was to fall into my career path as I have. During my time working as a banker in one of our branches, I found out I really enjoyed working with business owners and helping them meet their needs and goals in order for their business to succeed. I knew then that I wanted to try and channel my focus on the commercial side of the bank so I began to put a concentrated effort on obtaining the right qualifications in order to do so. What is your favorite song? Waste A Moment – Kings Of Leon

Tell us about your photo shoot prop. My props are a framed photo of my family because they are my main passion and motivation in my life to be the best version of myself I can possibly be. My second prop is one of my guitars because in my attempts at becoming a worldfamous rock star, playing the guitar and being in a band challenged me to step outside of my comfort zone and become more extroverted in engaging others to grow my personal brand, which has truly helped me in my professional life today.

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April 22-28, 2019

2019

Rebecca Farris, 39

BOTTEGA DESIGN GALLERY LLC, OWNER / PRINCIPAL DESIGNER

n 2009, as a single mom with an 18-month-old son, Rebecca Farris took a part-time job in a local tile store on Camp Bowie Boulevard, the former Bottega Tile & Stone Co. “I loved the industry, I loved helping all the people with all kinds of projects! Then, a year later, the owner decided to close the doors and move away,” Farris said. “The night before the owner closed, he called me and said for me to feel free to move out of the space anything I wanted. I was in the middle of many projects, had made countless new contacts and had a growing clientele.” She made a quick phone call to her parents to convince them that this was something she could do, should do and wanted to do. In less than two hours the movers showed up with a moving van. In January of 2011, Farris started Bottega Design Gallery LLC, a tile and

Where did your first paycheck come from? My first paycheck came from the clothing store Harold’s in University Park Village, where I worked during my junior and senior year in high school. What movie, TV series, play or video game influenced you growing up? Breakfast at Tiffany’s. I love New York, beautiful style, Audrey Hepburn, and my favorite colors are the hues of Tiffany blue. What other profession would you like to try? I would love to venture into real estate (residential and/or commercial) and anything to do with the arts (photography, graphic design, tile and textile design). Tell us about an influential person in your life, how they influenced you and why he or she was important. My maternal grandmother, Meema – Daphne Kenderdine – was an incredible woman. She was a lady of gracious hospitality, a natural-born designer whose home was always a welcome haven for family and friends

stone boutique, in one of her father’s warehouse spaces. The business has grown from four tables set up in the warehouse to 5,000 square feet of showroom and office space ﬁlled with artisan tiles and stone from all over the world. The company supports many volunteer organizations in Tarrant County including Gill Children’s Services and Union Gospel Mission. She holds a bachelor’s degree in interior design from TCU. “The most important part of my personal life is my faith, my son, my family and my friends, Farris said. “My favorite sport is watching my 11-year-old son play baseball.”

– Paul K. Harral

filled with love, laughter and beautiful memories. Her life was exemplified by a spirit for adventure, travel, gardening, and making things happen with her “can do” attitude and encouragement to those around her. Her love and compassion for life, her family/friends, her community, travel and hospitality are all qualities that are a huge influence in who I am today. … We took our final trip together up in a hot air balloon ride, when she was 91, along with eight other family members! When did you know what you wanted to be when you grew up? Is a professional dreamer profitable? LOL! I wanted to be so many different things growing up but something that has always been the foundation of my passion is people. Working with people is something I thrive on – creating, designing, finding solutions. My son, family, friends and clients who become friends are what keeps me going.

Tell us about your prop. My Carrara marble suitcase representing my love for travel, a TCU spirit item from the school I will always cherish and root for, and a piece of Tiffany shades of blue wood tile showing my love for my passion.

What is your favorite song? Somewhere Over The Rainbow / What A Wonderful World — Israel Kamakawiwo’ole.

Thursday, May 9, 2019 6:00 p.m.

Cocktails, silent auction and wine raffle

Last chance to purchase your tickets! www.GoodwillFortWorth.org or contact Shay Dial Johnson 817-332-7866 X2050 • sdial@goodwillfw.org

6:45 p.m.

Dinner and Fashion Show

Benefiting Goodwill Fort Worth initiatives to provide jobs and job training for the homeless, at-risk youth, veterans, the disadvantaged, and the disabled.

Event Chair, Pamela Voight Emcee, JR Labbe

MEDIA SPONSOR:

Omni Fort Worth Hotel 1300 Houston Street • Fort Worth, Texas 76102 Complimentary Valet

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Brandi Fletcher, 35 WHITLEY PENN LLP, TAX PARTNER

randi Fletcher has been with Whitley Penn her entire career, graduating from Sam Houston State University with a bachelor’s degree in accounting in 2005, earning her certiﬁed public accountant credentials and starting in the Fort Worth office in 2006. The ﬁrm named her a partner on Jan. 1 this year. Fletcher’s experience has been focused on private clients primarily in transportation, high-net worth individuals, manufacturing, retail and distribution, and health care industries. She is a member of the AICPA, TSCPA, Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, Sam Houston State Alumni Association and Vision Fort Worth.

Where did your first paycheck come from? I started working at 16 waiting tables at Cotton Patch near my hometown. What movie, TV series, play or video game influenced you growing up? Mario Bros, Full House, Saved by the Bell What other profession would you like to try? Nursing. I enjoy helping people and meeting new people. Tell us about an influential person in your life, how they influenced you and why he or she was important.

Fletcher is on the board of the Neuro Assistance Foundation, an organization dedicated to helping people with spinal-cord injuries and disabilities in the Dallas-Fort Worth and Lubbock areas to become self-sufficient and mobile through assistive vehicles, equipment, technology and home modiﬁcations. She coaches her daughter’s sports teams and the family is active in their church, including the children’s ministry. She and husband, Keith, live in Aledo and have two children, Brooklyn, 7, and William, 4.

– Paul K. Harral

My mom has always influenced me as I was growing up and even now after becoming a wife and mother. I grew up watching my mom raise me and my sister as a stay-at-home mom and then go back to college later in life to obtain her master’s degree in counseling while still raising me, my sister, and my brother. She is responsible for giving me my hard-work ethic and Christian upbringing that has played a big part in my life, by molding what kind of wife and mother I strive to be each day. She was always patient with me growing up and this is still something I work on achieving every day as my world seems to get busier.

When did you know what you wanted to be when you grew up? My grandmother played a big role with me becoming a CPA. She is currently 86 years old and still works in my hometown bank today. When I was around 7 years old, she would always bring me deposit slip booklets to fill out so my cousins and I could play “store.” I was always the one running the register and doing the calculations for what everyone owed as they shopped. This experience helped begin my path into accounting. What is your favorite song? Thunder – Imagine Dragons

Tell us about your photo shoot prop. My props are a picture my daughter drew for me and a bracelet she made me. I also have a “flower” my son gave me for Valentine’s Day this year.

Leslie Ford, 33

ROGUE ARCHITECTS, DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT

eslie Ford admits that she fell into a career in commercial architecture by happenstance, but it looks as if it’s working for her. Ford has been with Fort Worth-based Rogue Architects for almost seven years, where she is an associate and the director of development. She manages the staff engagement and marketing initiatives, as well as the entitlements studio. She was born in Abilene and has been a Fort Worth resident for almost 20 years. She holds a bachelor’s degree in university studies from the University of Texas at Arlington. In 2016, Ford founded 100 Women Who Care Fort Worth. She ﬁgured that she might not be able to change the world, but she could have a positive influence on the world immediately around her. Since the group’s initial meeting in August 2016, 100 Women Who Care Fort Worth has provided a path to make philanthropy more accessible to

Where did your ﬁrst paycheck come from? Kaybee Toys at the Parks Mall in Arlington. My little sister loved that I got a discount on toys. What movie, TV series, play or video game inﬂuenced you growing up? Super Mario Brothers. While I didn’t exactly learn life lessons by beating Bowser, the time my family spent together in the early 90s playing that game was invaluable to me. Everyone from my grandparents to my youngest cousin would gather to play.

What other profession would you like to try? I would love to be a professional wine educator, specifically someone who makes wine approachable and demystified for everyone. Taking my students on field trips to the vineyards wouldn’t be too bad either. Tell us about an inﬂuential person in your life, how they inﬂuenced you and why he or she was important. My great-grandmother (Maw-Maw), Dorothy Bohannon. We have an unusually large number of women in our direct family line and as much as we all respected my great-grandfather, it was a matriarchy.

all Fort Worth women, and its members have donated more than $85,000 collectively to Fort Worth-area nonproﬁts. Ford is a long-time member of SteerFW and was president in 2017. She’s a member of the Junior League of Fort Worth with an active community placement with the Fort Worth Dream Park and serves on the board of Project Success and on the steering committee of the North Texas Community Foundation’s young professional philanthropic group WORTH. She also is a member of Women Steering Business. Ford enjoys exploring the world of wine with her husband, Randall, and achieved level two certiﬁcation wine and spirits through the Wine and Spirits Education Trust in 2018. – Paul K. Harral

Maw-Maw taught me so many things: how to be a gracious person, a welcoming host, a mischievous domino player, but most of all she taught me that I could be and do anything. Maw-Maw was the epitome of a spitfire; when everyone else was poker-faced in the old black and white photos of her family, she was the one grinning and completely relaxed. She loved us fiercely and raised three daughters to be independent-thinking women who were also a ton of fun. What is your favorite song? I love almost all music, but Three Little Birds by Bob Marley holds a special place in my heart.

Tell us about your photo shoot prop. My prop is the giant check we, as the 100 Women Who Care Fort Worth, present to the winning nonprofit each quarter. The very best part of being the founder is that small moment in time at each meeting right before we announce the winner. There is such anticipation in the room and for that moment, I am the only one who knows we are about to make a big impact on that nonprofit. 100 Women is a labor of love and this check is the embodiment of the idea that through the group we can make philanthropy accessible for everyone.

APRIL 22 - 28,

April 22-28, 2019

Randall Ford, 35

WESTMORELAND BUILDERS, DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS

andall Ford began his career in RadioShack Corp.’s architecture department and has 16 years of construction and architecture experience. At Westmoreland Builders, a Southlake-based commercial general contracting ﬁrm, he is director of operations, leading a team of construction project managers overseeing commercial projects that total about $25 million annually. That’s ﬁne, but it is because of his other life that he’s being recognized. Ford was born in Talihina, Oklahoma, and moved to Fort Worth in 2002. He’s passionate about making Fort Worth the best city it can be and volunteered for Cowtown Project Success. He later joined the board and is now its vice president. There’s more.

Where did your ﬁrst paycheck come from? My dad instilled in my brothers and me the value of a hard day’s work starting as soon as we were old enough to push a lawn mower. We worked pretty much year-round after school and on weekends, mowing, farming, hauling hay, cutting and delivering firewood through their respective seasons. … Tired of the aches, sunburns and blisters, shortly after receiving my driver’s license I secured a position in the kitchen of the local McDonald’s, flipping and assembling burgers. What movie, TV series, play or video game inﬂuenced you growing up? I loved the TV series MacGyver as a child. I was enamored by MacGyver’s

Ford is a long term member of SteerFW and has served on the volunteer committee for many years. He has been project manager for the SteerFW annual school playground revitalization effort. And, after serving on the Steering Committee for the 2018 Teacher Tailgate event, Ford joined the board of directors for The Welman Project in 2019. His philanthropic efforts also include membership in 100 Men Who Give a Damn Fort Worth and the North Texas Community Foundation’s WORTH. Through his service with these organizations he has developed a passion for education and is able to share his construction knowledge with nonproﬁts serving area schools.

ability to craft ingenious contraptions to help him escape whatever predicament he found himself in each episode from the oddest of random gadgets, which ultimately led to my disassembling, and sometimes reassembling, VCRs, lawn mowers, furniture and anything else I could get my hands on. Tell us about an inﬂuential person in your life, how they inﬂuenced you and why he or she was important. My mom has always been a quiet, often unnoticed and behind-the-scenes force in my life, pushing me to be better. She forewent so much in her life so that my brothers and I could have a better life and I strive daily to be better to attest that her sacrifices were not wasted. My dad quite

– Paul K. Harral

the opposite, almost never unnoticed, impressed upon me a healthy work ethic and a sense of responsibility that drives me to provide a better life for myself and my family. My wife, with a personality as big as Texas, constantly drags me out of my comfort zone and challenges me to understand other perspectives. She encourages and inspires me to give and make my community a better place. What is your favorite song? Keep The Wolves Away by Uncle Lucius is one of my favorites. It tells the story of a father the works hard to provide for his family, overcomes adversity and ultimately passes on the responsibility of providing for the family to his son. The lyrics have always resonated with me

Tell us about your prop. My prop is a life-size rhinoceros cutout. It started when my oldest nephew was trying to pronounce Uncle Randall and somehow ended up with Uncle Rhino. From there it stuck. I’ve been Uncle Rhino for a few years now and two nieces that came along later also adopted Uncle Rhino. So, I’ve embraced it. My nephew and I have matching Team Rhino shirts (available from the International Rhino Foundation) and my wife and I are supporters of rhinoceros conservation through fundraising with the International Rhino Foundation.

Michael Garner, 38

UMB BANK, PRESIDENT OF UMB BANK FORT WORTH

ichael Garner joined UMB in 2003 and became president of UMB Bank in Fort Worth in 2017. He’s responsible for promoting the overall growth and direction of the market, including managing the commercial banking team for the region. Previously, Garner was senior vice president and commercial team lead at UMB in St. Louis. In that position he helped develop new commercial business and established and maintained business relationships with clients. He managed the business development teams for both commercial banking and treasury management. He has 15 years of ﬁnancial industry experience. Garner is on the board of Downtown Fort Worth Inc., helping determine how dollars are spent in the community and working with other board mem-

Where did your ﬁrst paycheck come from? I was a pizza chef at the Pizza Inn in West Plains, Missouri. What movie, TV series, play or video game inﬂuenced you growing up? The Goonies. Goonies never say die! What other profession would you like to try? I would love to be a chef. I love to cook and be in the kitchen. It’s a stress reliever for me. My signature dish is anything on the grill.

bers to provide grants and ﬁnancial contributions for public projects. He also fundraises for Cristo Rey, a national network of schools dedicated to educating young people from moderate- and low-income families. And he is a veteran mentor for American Corporate Partners, where he helps veterans integrate back to civilian life through one-on-one support. Garner was born in West Plains, Missouri, and moved to Fort Worth in October 2017. He’s a graduate of the 2018 LeaderPrime program of Leadership Fort Worth. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Drury University.

Tell us about an inﬂuential person in your life, how they inﬂuenced you and why he or she was important. My grandfather probably influenced my life the most. He helped me grow and mature as a young kid. He taught me several life lessons including: If you are on time, you are late; always give a firm handshake and look someone in the eye; honesty and integrity will carry you through any situation; and speak up professionally and politely. My grandfather taught me values to help mold me into an honest and trustworthy man. He instilled in

– Paul K. Harral

me that family and faith are the two most important things in life. He shaped me as a kid without me even knowing the impact of his wisdom. Today, I am trying to teach my children the same values. When did you know what you wanted to be when you grew up? Is this a trick question? I am still a kid at heart and don’t know what I want to be when I grow up! What is your favorite song? Ice Ice Baby – Vanilla Ice

Tell us about your photo shoot prop. My grandfather always carried a buckeye with him as a good luck charm. I carry one with me every day as a reminder of the values he taught me a kid. This small reminder brings me comfort and peace on stressful days and keeps me grounded on great days.

2019

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Brooke Goggans, 39

MOSAIC STRATEGY PARTNERS, CO-FOUNDER

rooke Goggans was born in Salt Lake City, grew up in Northern California and has been in Fort Worth only since 2017. But she’s accomplished a lot since she showed up here. She graduated from the University of Oregon in Eugene with a bachelor’s degree in political science and communication and her career started in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 11, 2001 – a fateful day in the history of the United States – working at the U.S. Senate. From Washington to Boston to Austin and ﬁnally Fort Worth, Goggans has worked with clients in a variety of industries with complex government affairs and strategic communications work. In Fort Worth, she joined with partners Brinton Payne and Tom Stallings to found Mosaic Strategy Partners, a strategic communications and public affairs ﬁrm that uses its proprietary software to deliver “unique insights into

Where did your first paycheck come from? My first official paycheck was from working in my mom’s office organizing files, making copies and the daily coffee run. What other profession would you like to try? I outsourced this question to my kids. My 5-year-old daughter would like me to be a librarian, who owns a library. My 3-year-old son would like me to be Batman or an alligator. Tell us about an influential person in your life, how they influenced you and why he or she was important. Without question, my mom. She was a single mom, working full time with three children. I can-

legislator, legislative, market and social data.” Her husband’s grandfather, Albert M. Goggans, founded Trinity Valley School. And the Albert M. Goggans, M.D., and Robert W. Brown Heart Center at Baylor All Saints Medical Center is named after him Brooke Goggans honored that legacy by working to bring to Fort Worth the Austin-based nonproﬁt Con Mi MADRE – which translates to “with my mother” – a nonproﬁt empowering young Latinas and their mothers. She lives in Fort Worth and she and Nick have two children, Eliza, 5, and Watson, 3.

– Paul K. Harral

not imagine how much pressure she felt every minute of every day but from my vantage point there was no one who could mom better.

you’re bone-tired and to always, always, always find the time, energy or money to help someone else.

She put notes in my lunch boxes regularly; woke up early to drive me all over the state for one activity or another; made me waffles for breakfast every day; volunteered at school and made sure I felt unconditional, unwavering support in everything I wanted to do.

When did you know what you wanted to be when you grew up? There was never an “I want to be in public affairs!” moment. My introduction into government and communications came when I started writing letters to Gov. Pete Wilson and President George H.W. Bush when I was 10. In college, it was my political science classes and internships where I realized there were numerous career options that excited me. Over the years it’s been rare that I’ve doubted my career choice. I was a wise 10-year-old.

When it came to navigating life, she fostered curiosity and critical thinking and empowered me to “trust your gut.” When I eventually left for college, I was ready – feeling confident, resilient and self-sufficient. She showed me what it meant to work hard and encouraged me to do hard things, to keep at it even when

Tell us about your photo shoot prop. My prop is a Con Mi MADRE coffee mug. Con Mi MADRE is the nonprofit I am involved with - seeking to empower young Latinas and their mothers by providing education and support services that increase preparedness, participation and success in postsecondary education. We are located in Riverside, Kirkpatrick and Rosemont middle schools serving 120 mothers and daughters in our community. Next year we will add another staff member and 15 mother-daughter pairs!

Laura Gonzales, 33

MERRILL LYNCH, SENIOR FINANCIAL ADVISER, ASSISTANT VICE PRESIDENT

t Abilene High School, Laura Gonzales enjoyed math and science and ran track and cross-country. The only college she applied to was Texas Christian University and she was delighted when she was accepted and moved to Fort Worth in 2004. Gonzales studied ﬁnance and leadership in the Neeley School of Business and graduated in 2008. She and her husband, Lee, married in 2009 and traveled to Kenya and Thailand to work with philanthropic organizations for a few years before she started her career at Merrill Lynch. She joined Merrill Lynch in 2011, following in the footsteps of her father, who has worked at Merrill Lynch for four decades. Asked what other profession she might like to try, Gonzales says she loves where she works.

Where did your first paycheck come from? My first paycheck came from lifeguarding in high school. What movie, TV series, play or video game influenced you growing up? Anne of Green Gables. I loved that Anne was a strong heroine who was smart with her own opinions about the world. Tell us about an influential person in your life, how they influenced you and why he or she was important. I have two great men in my life. The first is my husband. He supports me and lifts me up every day and has allowed me to pursue my dream of having a career and being a mom. He has stayed home with our kids and brought balance to our life in so many ways. I couldn’t be more grateful to have him as my partner. He teaches me to take time and appreciate art, play

and being present in each and every moment. The second very influential person in my life is my father. He has worked at Merrill Lynch for 43 years and is my inspiration for being in my line of work at our firm. He always taught me to “leave the camp better than when you found it” and “to keep it simple, and just do the next right thing.” It’s amazing what a great recipe for success those two pieces of advice have been. When did you know what you wanted to be when you grew up? When I was 8, my father starting telling me he believed I would be great at Merrill Lynch. That resonated with me and I always loved spending time up at the office with him. It turned out that he was right. What is your favorite song? When I grow – First Aid Kit

“I feel that I get to empower women in ﬁnance and help people achieve their goals. There isn’t another profession that I would want to switch to,” she said. She serves on the board for SafeHaven of Tarrant County as the vice chairman of fundraising. And she says her greatest accomplishment in life has been motherhood and raising her 3-year-old daughter, Adrian, and 5-year-old son, Jack. Gonzales says she enjoys practicing yoga, gardening and supporting and participating in charities and nonproﬁts that empower and support women on local levels. – Paul K. Harral

Tell us about your prop. My props are a yoga mat and a basket of greens from my garden to represent my passions for yoga, meditation, urban farming, health and wellness. One of my other props includes a gold bull that represents my business and career at Merrill Lynch and service to each of my clients. My favorite props are two little owls that represent motherhood to my 3-year-old and 5-year-old. They collect owls and always tell me that they are, in fact, owls themselves! I need a lot of yoga, gardening and meditation to balance the joys of motherhood and Wall Street.

APRIL 22 - 28,

April 22-28, 2019

Hayden T Grahm, 33 JTAYLOR & ASSOCIATES, TAX PARTNER

ayden T Grahm was born in Phoenix, Arizona, but grew up in Fort Worth after his family moved back to Texas when he was 2. He graduated from Nolan Catholic High School and from the University of Dallas with a bachelor’s degree in economics and finance. He and his wife, Sarah, met in college when he was a junior and she was a freshman. He says she is the real reason he found his career, encouraging him to shift direction during an economic downturn. After going back to school for six months to get some accounting hours, Grahm began a work/study program at Alexander and Booher, a Fort Worth accounting firm. While there, he completed the hours required to be able to sit for and pass the certified public accountant exam. He had spent eight years at Alexander and Booher before JTaylor hired him in July 2017 as a manager. He was named a partner a year later.

Where did your first paycheck come from? Burger King What movie, TV series, play or video game influenced you growing up? As a kid growing up, I loved watching Jurassic Park. What other profession would you like to try? Coming from a service-based industry, I think it would be very rewarding to be a physician and have the ability to connect with people in a similar (though very different) way. Tell us about an influential person in your life, how they influenced you and why he or she was important. I would consider my father, physician Tom Grahm, as one of the most influential people in my life. Even to this day, I would

Grahm is one of the ﬁrm’s representative with the Geneva Group International, a global alliance of independent law, accounting, audit, management consulting and trust ﬁrms. “This association is a fundamental driver in better serving international clients and staying current in the ever-evolving world of professional services,” he said. “JTaylor provides a unique culture that promotes and supports everyone attempting to achieve their highest and best. In the short time there, I have found friendships and undeniable trust that I would not have found anywhere else,” Grahm said. “These relationships have allowed me to grow professionally, personally and in my faith.”

– Paul K. Harral

consider his work ethic, drive and ability to care for a patient second to none. Seeing how much he loved his work and how he projected that out to the community helped me in knowing what it means to truly have a career. When did you know what you wanted to be when you grew up? In 2008, after I had graduated from college, the economy and job market had taken a negative turn. With the help of my fiancée – now my wife – I decided to explore different avenues that were related to my degree and, as such, took some accounting/tax courses that really piqued my interest. What is your favorite song? Impossible Germany – Wilco

Tell us about your prop. My props are my children Andrew (5), Isabel (5), Eleanor (3) and Azelie (2 months). While drastically different than before, over the past six years my life has become dedicated to my family and contributing to my children’s growth in faith, values and education.

Cortney Gumbleton, 36 FOUNDER AND CO-OWNER, LOCAVORE

ortney Gumbleton is from Wisconsin – and, she says, she’s an avid cheese lover. She came to Fort Worth in 2003 when she was stationed at Naval Air Station Fort Worth. A few years ago, she sold her Fort Worth home and bought a farm in Azle, where she lives with her family and menagerie of animals, including chickens that produced enough eggs that she decided to try to sell some to downtown Fort Worth restaurants. And that, says nominator and co-owner of Locavore Carlo Capua, is where the idea for Locavore was born. “When she wanted to expand her product line, she realized she needed to be producing her products in a commercial kitchen. And after a search for one, she realized there were not enough affordable resources for people like her,” Capua said. “So, she found two existing commercial kitchens and partnered with them to take over operations, and she created two more. Now in Fort Worth, of the four commercial kitchens available to rent, Locavore controls them all. She calls her business the ‘Air BnB of commercial kitchens,’ and she’s right,” Capua said.

Where did your ﬁrst paycheck come from? Clearing tables in a restaurant at the Heidel House Resort in Green Lake, Wisconsin. What movie, TV series, play or video game inﬂuenced you growing up? Super Mario Brothers was a big part of my childhood and I still love playing it today. It’s pretty much the best video game of all time. What other profession would you like to try? None. Being an entrepreneur is the greatest job in the world. I spend my days helping food entrepreneurs scale their business-es and access opportunities. It’s an incredible gift. I’d like to grow our business, adding beneficial services for our clients.

He said Gumbleton has single-handedly created a network of “chefs without mortars,” 60 food entrepreneurs who don’t have their own kitchens or restaurants. “Being able to easily rent kitchen time means they can grow their business with little risk,” Capua said. Gumbleton graduated from Texas Christian University in 2012 with a degree in social work and earned a master’s degree in so-cial work from the University of Texas at Arlington the next year. Over the last 10 years her passion for working with vulnerable populations provided opportunities to work with the homeless, refugees and victims of human trafficking, and in the ﬁeld of menal health, particularly suicide prevention. She is on the board of directors for Amphibian Stage Productions, the Tarrant County Women’s Policy Forum and The Welman Project. Gumbleton is also a Rotarian, a member of the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce and Near Southside Inc. and a member of the Leadership Fort Worth Class of 2019.

Tell us about an inﬂuential person in your life, how they in-ﬂuenced you and why he or she was important. The most inspirational person in my life is my darling husband, Jarod. He recently retired as a Naval senior chief petty officer, with 20-plus years of service. He is the most selfless man I’ve ever met. … Most importantly, he taught me the true value of dedication, commitment, sacrifice and humility. Every day I aspire to be more like him. When did you know what you wanted to be when you grew up? As a child, I wanted to be a doctor and then as a teen I decided I wanted to be a journalist like Katie Couric. What is your favorite song? Fight to Win – Goodie Mob, featuring Cee lo

– Paul K. Harral

Tell us about your prop. I brought a chicken as my prop because my concept for my thriving business, Locavore, all started with eggs. I realized I wanted to create a food business and would need a commercial kitchen, but a place that is more than just a kitchen. Every day I pinch myself and can hardly believe all of this came from eggs.

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Adrian Harvey, 35

THE BUXTON COMPANY, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF OPERATIONS

etting paid to look down rabbit holes – especially if that is your addiction – is not a bad gig if you can get it. And Adrian Harvey got it at the Buxton Company, where he started as a data analyst soon after graduating from college. “He quickly proved to be one of the strongest analysts at Buxton, oftentimes challenging processes and standards set forth by his superiors,” said nominator Courtney Hall, also of Buxton. “Adrian is a sought-after resource from the sale and account management team when a client doesn’t fully grasp the explanation of what Buxton is providing.” But Harvey is more than just work. In 2010, he started an event called Super Saturday in his hometown of Tyler. It’s a personally funded annual ﬁeld day for the youth of Tyler to enjoy a day of sports, games, food and prizes.

Where did your first paycheck come from? Dairy Queen What movie, TV series, play or video game influenced you growing up? I’d have to say the TV series The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air was probably the most relatable show growing up. It was a positive depiction of an African American household but also emphasized success while maintaining a “cool/hip” element which I found appealing and aspirational. What other profession would you like to try? Assuming that my NBA window is closing, robotics engineering would be my next choice. Tell us about an influential person in

“In 2014, in honor of my late mother, I created the Alma Harvey Hope Scholarship, which is a scholarship I personally fund that annually awards $5,000 in tuition to students from my alma mater, John Tyler High School,” Harvey said. In 2013, he met the love of his life, Tiffany. They married two years later and now have a 1-year-old, Tyler, and are expecting a second baby boy in September. He earned a bachelor’s degree in management (entrepreneurship) from the University of North Texas in 2006 and an MBA in decision sciences (business analytics) in May 2009. He spent the ﬁrst few years of his career at Buxton building retail forecasting models before eventually heading the analytics team and ultimately overseeing the entire operations division of the company.

– Paul K. Harral

your life, how they inﬂuenced you and why he or she was important. Alma Harvey has been the greatest influence over my life. As a single mother and a home health nurse, my mother’s life centered around pouring more than her fair share into the care of those in need. Despite the economic and physical burden single parenthood presents, never did we feel deprived. Witnessing my mother care for those in need inspired a sense of duty and obligation that has fueled my career. Experiencing her raise and lead a household has shaped my leadership style and compassion for those for which I’m responsible. In 2013 my mother passed away. Yet even in her passing, her death has inspired a greater sense of purpose in me to not only further legitimize her life’s

work but to work to perpetuate her legacy. When did you know what you wanted to be when you grew up? It wasn’t until my senior year of college that I realized the field I was most passionate about. I originally started school pursuing a degree in computer science but quickly discovered that there was far more to it than just programming video games. I was often teased for overanalyzing mundane things and going down rabbit holes. Once I realized I could be paid to do so, I applied to grad school and have not looked back. What is your favorite song? Daydreamin’ – Lupe Fiasco

Tell us about your prop. Sneaker breadth was always a “coolness barometer” for us growing up and is something I have yet to grow out of. The second prop is a tribute to my two favorite people in the world, my wife, Tiffany, and our son, “Tyler Bear.”

Natasha Hill, 37

TARLETON STATE UNIVERSITY, DIRECTOR OF MARKETING & BRANDING

atasha Hill is from St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, but she graduated from Killeen High School. Hill lived in Kuwait for nearly ﬁve years with her husband, and throughout that the time the couple traveled the world before relocating to Fort Worth in 2012 with their 9-month-old son. He’s 7 now and Hill said he’s a natural-born traveler who already has an understanding of the world and the people in it. She holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing from the University of Maryland and an MBA with an international focus from Tarleton State University. She directs all marketing, branding and community relation initiatives for Tarleton to strengthen the university’s reputation and brand regionally, nationally and globally.

Where did your ﬁrst paycheck come from? My first paycheck was as a waitress at Pizza Hut in Killeen, Texas. I was a junior in high school and it was my first exposure to customer service. I know what it’s like to be on the other side of the counter and definitely came to know the ins and outs of customer service. What movie, TV series, play or video game inﬂuenced you growing up? I spent the majority of my childhood outdoors, every single chance I could. St. Thomas has an abundance of natural beauty to indulge in – beaches, tropical forests, hilly landscapes, wildlife, etc. I can’t pinpoint when my sense of adventure began; however, I do recall reenacting Indiana Jones quite often. Our

family estate faces Mandahl Bay and we have several acres of breathtaking undeveloped land leading down to the bay. This was perfect for my cousin and me to go exploring and on adventures for hours on end. Tell us about an inﬂuential person in your life, how they inﬂuenced you and why he or she was important. My grandmother, Maria (Mamo), was the undisputed leader of our huge family. When I was a small child, I couldn’t pronounce “grandma” and instead I would call her “Mamo” – and she was affectionately called this by everyone from that point forward. Married at a young age, she later divorced and became a single mother to nine. Nonetheless, she supported her family, working as a unit secretary for

Hill serves on the board of Girls Inc. of Tarrant County, where she is passionate about dismantling barriers that make it harder for girls to realize their strengths and reach their potential. She also is scholarship committee chairman for the Fort Worth Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, which has awarded more than 100 college scholarships to students. As a member of the Boost Committee of Girls Inc., she equips girls with college preparation and support so they can thrive during their college career and beyond. Hill also is co-chairman of the Tarleton Cares Committee for the Tarrant Area Food Bank.

– Paul K. Harral

over 30 years before retiring from Roy Lester Schneider Hospital. She was devoted to her family and community. She was a hard worker, the moral authority, the leader and strong. She loved us unconditionally but was stern with the intent to help us in the long run. She encouraged me to pursue my dreams, push myself harder and run things on my own terms. And for this, I will always be grateful. When did you know what you wanted to be when you grew up? I knew before I left for college, while in high school. I had my short-term goals and long-term goals mapped out! My high school friends thought this was insane. What is your favorite song? Feeling Good – Nina Simone

Tell us about your prop. This represents our global explorations – 28 travels to date. My husband and I have experienced many peoples, customs, sights and foods. We have explored the Great Pyramids of Giza, climbed Mayan ruins, ridden camels through deserts, elephants through jungles, visited ancient villages, trekked through wilderness, hiked mountains, and more. Our 7-year-old son is a naturalborn traveler and has been traveling with us since age 1. He already has a better understanding of the world and the people we share it with.

APRIL 22 - 28,

April 22-28, 2019

Vernon Hilton, 39

PLAINSCAPITAL BANK, CREDIT ANALYST MANAGER

ernon Hilton is the credit analyst manager for PlainsCapital Bank’s Fort Worth Market, managing the credit team for the secondlargest and fastest growing region of the ﬁfth-largest bank based in Texas. His team provides support to the region’s 32 lenders, spread between nine branches. Hilton is from Rockford, Illinois. He has nearly 15 years of experience in commercial banking and public ﬁnance. He earned a bachelor’s degree in economics and marketing from Northern Illinois University and an MBA from DePaul University in Chicago.

Where did your ﬁrst paycheck come from? Warehouse Shoes in Rockford, Illinois. I began working there during my junior year in high school. I was paid either hourly or based on commission, whichever was higher during the pay period. My primary coverage area was athletic shoes, but I would work my way over to the women’s department a lot, because the commission was higher over there. The role help me recognize early in life the relationship between effort and financial reward. What movie, TV series, play or video game inﬂuenced you growing up? A Mother’s Courage: The Mary Thomas Story. The movie is about the mother of my favorite NBA player of all time, Isaiah Thomas. It exemplified a strong woman’s struggles to raise and keep her family together while living in Chicago’s rough parts. It really impressed upon me to do my best to never intentionally or irresponsibly do something that would let the women who raised me down.

He moved to Texas in 2013 and has been economic development chairman for the National Black MBA Association’s DFW Chapter. He’s also coached youth basketball in the Arlington Park District and at the Mansﬁeld Fieldhouse and is a Kingdom Kids teacher at Koinonia Christian Church. He lives in Mansﬁeld with his high school sweetheart and wife, Aprilyn. They have three children – Nigel, 20, Isiah, 15, and Ariel, 8. He’s a member of the 2019 class of Leadership Arlington.

– Paul K. Harral

What other profession would you like to try? Hospital finance. My preference would be to serve in a community/nonprofit health system. During my time working in public finance and serving on various boards and committees, I learned the value of being able to look at public institution issues from a private perspective and vice versa. Seeking to find synergies and other efficiency opportunities to work toward the greater good of such organizations forces your mind to think beyond the box. Tell us about an inﬂuential person in your life, how they inﬂuenced you and why he or she was important. There were two individuals who crossed my mind initially upon reading this question, but one is currently weighting heavily on my heart: Alma Jean Beasley, my foster mother, who recently passed in February. She opened her doors in the middle of the night to a sobbing

5-year-old experiencing the most traumatic night of his life and provided him with an extended family that exists to this very day. … And unbeknownst to me, during our short season together, Alma had planted the seed of community service within me. Her actions showed me first hand, to whom much is given, much is required. When did you know what you wanted to be when you grew up? It was during my junior year in college. It’s amazing how a 45-minute commute, a night shift job, a wife, two kids and two D’s will help pull life into focus. Once I decided to pursue my interests rather than chase a salary, I quickly realized commercial banking was the career that could benefit me the most as a result of being a benefit to others. What is your favorite song? Don’t You Worry ‘Bout a Thing – Stevie Wonder

Tell us about your photo shoot prop. My props are a basketball clipboard and a whistle because I make an effort to meet individuals at their skills level and coach them beyond where they’re expected to be.

TJ Hutchings

HIGGINBOTHAM, MANAGING DIRECTOR, EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

J Hutchings came to Fort Worth at the request of Beta Theta Pi – the fraternity he joined at the University of Oklahoma and led as president his senior year – to lead the organization’s expansion project at Texas Christian University. He was on staff as a regional leadership consultant for Beta Theta Pi. “Through some relationships I developed while at TCU, I found my home at Higginbotham,” Hutchings says. He started in May 2012 in the employee beneﬁts department in a customer service role. In Fort Worth, he’s been an adviser for the fraternity he assisted in starting at TCU, a volunteer at Cook Children’s Medical Center, active with Vision FW and a graduate of Leadership Fort Worth’s LeadingEdge program class of 2013. He sits on the boards of three nonproﬁts: Gill

Where did your ﬁrst paycheck come from? I started mowing lawns in my neighborhood at a young age and mowed throughout college. It is oddly therapeutic to me so I do not consider that my first paycheck. I worked on a construction crew during the summers while in high school, so I guess that is when I learned about taxes. What movie, TV series, play or video game inﬂuenced you growing up? America’s Funniest Home Videos. It was on Sunday evenings and was the chance for my mom, my sisters and me to connect before the week got kicked off.

What other profession would you like to try? I’ve definitely found my fit with Higginbotham and what I’m doing now. In a fairy tale, though, I would love to be a fishing guide in Key West! Tell us about an inﬂuential person in your life, how they inﬂuenced you and why he or she was important. I would say the most influential person in my life would be my mother. She is the most hard-working person I know. She raised three kids working two jobs most of the time. We were able to continue to play sports and be active in extracurricular activities without the fear of missing a meal. She instilled in us to treat people with the utmost respect, work

Children’s Services, Habitat for Humanity of Tarrant County and The Parenting Center. He and his wife, Allison, were college sweethearts and have one daughter, Ryan. They are expecting a son – Lincoln – in May. “We have loved making Fort Worth home and enjoy being able to raise our growing family here,” he said. “In my spare time, which seems to be shorter and shorter these days, I like to work out at EnduraLAB, play golf at local Fort Worth courses, ﬁsh out at Eagle Mountain, and volunteer at Taste Project on South Main Street.” – Paul K. Harral

hard for what you want in life, and try to have as much fun while doing it. As a parent now, I have absolutely no idea how she did it all. When did you know what you wanted to be when you grew up? When do you ever grow up? I work to approach life with a youthful perspective as I try to learn from my experiences and peers on a daily basis. It could be very simple lessons, but in time, growth will happen. Did I ever think I would be working in insurance? Of course not, but having the ability to positively impact people and businesses is something that excites me every single day. What is your favorite song? Friends in Low Places – Garth Brooks

Tell us about your photo shoot prop. My props are an OU football helmet. I love college football, specifically watching my Sooners. It brings back great memories of my college days. The other prop is a framed craft from my 2 ½-year-old daughter. Family is everything to me and I love that she is getting old enough to enjoy these types of things!

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Chase Kennemer, 32

D&M LEASING, PRESIDENT, FORT WORTH

arely do you see an individual with the will to start at the lowest level in an organization and move so quickly to the top, the nominators at D&M Leasing say of Chase Kennemer. “Keen observation and an unrelenting curiosity drive Chase to learn what needs to be done, visualize what can be improved and unapologetically drive through to completion,” they said. D&M Leasing is the largest car leasing company in the country. “Because of these qualities and a sharp wit, Chase is a popular yet highly effective leader that will elevate the success of all within his purview,” the nomination said. Kennemer graduated from Lamar High School and from Southern Meth-

Where did your ﬁrst paycheck come from? D&M Leasing was my first paycheck growing up outside of mowing lawns as a kid. I’ve been file clerk, check sorter, runner, car washer, IT assistant – you name it. I’ve done just about every job at D&M and have an appreciation for the challenges each face.

odist University with a double major in ﬁnance and psychology He’s a member of the Fort Worth Stock Show Syndicate and participates in fundraising events that provide scholarships for kids to help them pursue their educations and vocational dreams. The nomination said that new ideas are key to success in older, established companies and Kennemer is constantly improving the culture at D&M through innovation. “No ﬁxed paradigm escapes scrutiny when he visualizes a higher potential,” the nomination said.

– Paul K. Harral

smart my opponent. I think I could be pretty salty in the courtroom with the right training!

What movie, TV series, play or video game inﬂuenced you growing up? Kids on my street would barely make eye contact with me growing up because of my deadly reputation playing James Bond on Nintendo 64. What other profession would you like to try? I grew up for much of my life thinking that I wanted to be an attorney. I like strategy and trying to out-

Tell us about an inﬂuential person in your life, how they inﬂuenced you and why he or she was important. Coming from a divorced family usually brings along baggage. I’m the exception to that rule. I can say that two of the most influential people in my life are my dad and stepdad, Jeff Kennemer and Mike Hernandez. Both had very important roles in molding me into the man, father, and leader I’ve become. They each have a pretty different perspective, so I think it was a huge benefit for me to be able to get more than one viewpoint on important issues and situations growing up from people that want nothing but the absolute best for you.

When did you know what you wanted to be when you grew up? I wanted to change my name to Juan as a little boy because I loved Juan Gonzalez for the Rangers (ask my mom). That was until I decided football would be my only sport. Every football player’s dream would be to play in the NFL. You could say that was it until I wasn’t drafted after college. Then it was on to being an attorney until the law school at SMU didn’t want me. I finally started working at D&M to make some money while I was prepping for the LSAT and realized it was a perfect fit. What is your favorite song? Sunshine – Ryan Bingham

Tell us about your photo shoot prop. My props are my SMU football helmet, my framed cardiac rehabilitation graduation certificate and heart pillow. Football played a large role in developing my character, leadership qualities and work ethic. The framed certificate is very important to my family and me because it marked the end of my recovery from open-heart surgery I had on Jan. 1, 2018. It serves as a daily reminder to keep my priorities straight and to be thankful for all I’ve been blessed with.

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CONGRATULATIONS SARAH COVINGTON ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC RELATIONS SHARING FORT WORTH’S WELCOME WITH THE WORLD

APRIL 22 - 28,

April 22-28, 2019

Cody Kennemer, 34 D&M LEASING, PRESIDENT, DALLAS

hings move quickly at D&M Leasing, the largest company of its kind in the nation with completely proprietary programs and processes, and Cody Kennemer is an industry leader for the company, the nominators at D&M Leasing say. “Not necessarily the type who sits on boards of directors or strays too far from his culture but as a critical, driving force in a company that is recognized as the clear leader in the industry,” they said. He graduated from Arlington Lamar High School and Texas A&M University. “Recent acquisitions at D&M, aimed at vertical integration, create a challenge with sales and ﬁnance teams. Many deeply rooted functions changed radically in a short time,” the nomination said. “Cody’s strong leadership, creativity and dedication were essential to maintain stability and production at high levels. An expert communicator,

Where did your first paycheck come from? Mowing lawns in my neighborhood What movie, TV series, play or video game influenced you growing up? Lonesome Dove What other profession would you like to try? Professional outfitter and hunting guide Tell us about an influential person in your life, how they influenced you and why he or she was important.

Identifying one person is a difficult question because I believe I have two very clear and profound influencers in my life. Most children who come from divorced families have many hardships. I am not suggesting that growing up in a split family situation was easy, but I was able to take great benefit from the influences of both my father and stepfather. I was lucky enough to have a unique influence from both and it allowed me to replicate what I would consider a healthy balance of each of their strengths while learning from their weaknesses.

Cody maintains a steady hand at the helm and provides vision to keep his team focused on success.” Kennemer has an invaluable quality essential to many well-known industry champions, the nomination said. He has the innate ability to bring people together to reach their greatest potential. “Cody looks at people in his organization not for what they can do for him or for the company, but rather by how he can help make them successful. “He ultimately takes responsibility for those results and leads with an eye toward honesty and fairness. These qualities set a strong example for all and make Cody an extremely effective leader,” the nomination said. – Paul K. Harral

When did you know what you wanted to be when you grew up? I grew up in the office at D&M as a young kid. It’s not so much that I knew I wanted to sell cars as much as it is that I knew I had a knack for leadership. Hard work and understanding our family business in all facets would allow me to influence and lead people to meet goals they never thought possible. D&M provided me the opportunity and platform to achieve this personal goal. What is your favorite song? Drinking and Dreaming – Waylon Jennings

Tell us about your photo shoot prop. My props are a long-range rifle and set of deer antler sheds. Hunting, longrange shooting and in general just being outdoors has been a huge part of my life dating back to my early childhood. It’s a passion that I hope to pass on to my children as Katie and I raise our family.

Sterling McDavid, 30

BURNETT NEW YORK AND STARLING PROJECT, FOUNDER & CEO (OF BOTH COMPANIES)

terling McDavid cites her father – David McDavid – as giving her the drive to accomplish whatever she wanted to accomplish because, in his mind, women can achieve anything that men can achieve. She graduated from All Saints’ Episcopal School in Fort Worth and, in 2011, from the University of Texas at Austin McCombs School of Business and headed for New York. She was a ﬁnancial analyst at Goldman Sachs & Co. “I actually grew up being pretty good at math, which is why one thing led to another and I ended up getting a degree in ﬁnance,” she said. But New York City exposed her to different options that matched her skill set. That included creative industries and that led her to the fragrance industry and the Starling Project, a luxury home fragrance line that supports the

Where did your first paycheck come from? Goldman Sachs. After graduating with a finance degree at the University of Texas at Austin, I immediately moved to New York to start my career on Wall Street. What other profession would you like to try? I have already had a career on Wall Street, in architecture and interiors, fragrance and fashion. I am all about trying new things and challenging myself, so maybe something on TV! Tell us about an influential person in your life, how they influenced you and why he or she was important.

development of solar power systems in areas without access to electricity. In part, it’s an effort to encourage millennials to give back to their communities and to the world. McDavid is passionate about women’s and children’s rights. She is on the UNICEF board of directors in New York and is also chair of UNICEF Next Generation in New York. In 2016, McDavid received the UNICEF Champion for Children Award. She also received the President’s Volunteer Service Award from President Barack Obama in 2016. She founded Burnett New York with designer Emily Burnett, developing a line of luxury women’s fashions by women – and she stresses this part – for ALL women.

The most influential person in my life without question has been my father, David McDavid. He has always pushed me to be better and to learn as much as possible. He also served as the perfect example. I was fortunate to watch him work endless hours to build the car business of his dreams and seeing that perseverance really inspired me to work hard to achieve my goals. He also has always said that women can achieve anything men can and that I should never let anything stand in the way. I have always believed that if I work hard, I can achieve anything and nothing can stop me. This invaluable mindset without a doubt came from my dad and it has been critical for my career.

– Paul K. Harral

When did you know what you wanted to be when you grew up? Thanks to my parents both being entrepreneurs, I knew from a young age I wanted to start my own business. That being said, I didn’t know exactly what I wanted to start. It took coming to New York for my eyes to open to all of the opportunities and ultimately, I found my passion for design, fragrance and fashion. What is your favorite song? Wake Me Up – Avicii

Tell us about your prop. What I will be wearing in the shoot, which will be Burnett New York, my luxury womenswear fashion brand that is by women for women.

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Blair Meyer, M.D., 39

UT SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER, CLINICAL ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF PHYSICAL MEDICINE & REHABILITATION

fter 13 moves in 16 years, Blair Meyer says that she’s thrilled to be back in her hometown of Fort Worth. “Who knew I would be reliving my childhood memories at the zoo, Museum School, church and Mayfest? What a delight to see our son in my beloved kindergarten teacher’s class and walk our kids to school each day,” she says. Meyer is a clinical assistant professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, specializing primarily in electrodiagnostics – that means nerve-testing. She’s thankful for the 6:51 a.m. Trinity Rail Express because she sees patients primarily in Dallas but hopes to expand her practice to Fort Worth. She graduated from R.L. Paschal High School in 1998 and Washington and Lee University four years later. That was followed by medical school at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, a residency in physical medicine and rehabilitation in San Antonio,

Where did your ﬁrst paycheck come from? I was a counselor in the Texas Hill Country at Camp Balcones Springs. What movie, TV series, play or video game inﬂuenced you growing up? I spent many hours mastering the triple jump on the Nintendo power pad. Friends inspired me to get the Rachel hairstyle and I probably watched all 331 episodes of ER. What other profession would you like to try? I love to cook. I love to eat. I love experimenting in the kitchen and making homemade cookies and cupcakes for my kids. If I had

another career it would probably involve food. An occupational test in 7th grade suggested a career in health care or agriculture. So far, my husband has vetoed my plans to raise backyard chickens. Tell us about an inﬂuential person in your life, how they inﬂuenced you and why he or she was important. Though I am grateful for the encouragement from my husband, parents, teachers and coaches, my children have influenced me the most. Falling in love with these tiny people has been humbling, inspiring, amazing and exhausting. My children continuously challenge me to be a better version of myself and

and a fellowship in sports medicine at Washington University of St. Louis in 2012. She met her geologist husband in Houston in medical school. Finally, after completing 25 years of schooling, she began her career at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. Meyer’s list of community involvement projects includes team physician for football at Grand Prairie High School, team physician at the University of Missouri in St. Louis for all sports, United States Amateur Boxing Federation physician member, medical volunteer at the World Olympic Gymnastics Academy, the San Antonio Rampage of the American Hockey League, and the San Antonio Ballet.

– Paul K. Harral

they have showed me how sweet life can be. When did you know what you wanted to be when you grew up? As a teen, I knew I didn’t want to sit at a desk all day. My plan was to teach math and coach volleyball. In college, I enjoyed neuroscience and decided on pre-med. It was not until a summer job as a backpacking trip leader in the North Carolina backcountry spent feeding, comforting, feeding, protecting and feeding my 13-year-old campers that I knew I wanted to be a mom. What is your favorite song? Don’t Stop Believin’ – Journey

Tell us about your prop. My props are my tennis racquet and a skeleton model. If I’m not with my family or my patients, you can find me playing tennis or teaching science, whether it is to youngsters at my kids’ school or the resident doctors training with me in electrodiagnostics at Parkland Hospital.

C O N G R AT U L AT I O N S

to 40 Under 40 honoree Michael Millians , Te a c h e r & C o a c h a t T h e O a k r i d g e S c h o o l

w w w. t h e o a k r i d g e s c h o o l . o r g T H E O A K R I D G E S C H O O L I S A C O E D C O L L E G E P R E PA R AT O R Y S C H O O L S E R V I N G S T U D E N T S A G E 3 T H R O U G H G R A D E 1 2 .

The Oakridge School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, physical disabilities, or national and ethnic origin in the administration of its educational and admissions policies, financial aid, and other school sponsored programs.

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April 22-28, 2019

Michael James Millians, 37

THE OAKRIDGE SCHOOL, AP GOVERNMENT AND ECONOMICS TEACHER, VARSITY FIELD HOCKEY COACH

ichael James Millians was in college on Sept. 11, 2001 – a day he said changed his life when terrorists crashed airplanes into the World Trade Center towers in New York and the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. “I went into the Army recruiter’s office the next day,” Millians said. He was stationed at Camp Casey, South Korea, where he was injured in a Bradley vehicle accident, which, he said, “drastically changed my trajectory in the military.” He ﬁnished his military service at Fort Hood. “Sports were a hugely important part of my life growing up, especially soccer, which I played both in school, for a select soccer league in North Dallas and in the Olympic Development Program,” he says.

Where did your ﬁrst paycheck come from? Jose, Henry, Brantley and Keltner. I was hired as a runner a month after I turned 16. Of course, every newly turned 16-year-old wants to drive as much as possible. I got to drive around, for a job, in a Jeep with the top off. I loved it! What movie, TV series, play or video game inﬂuenced you growing up? Band of Brothers. I thought the brotherhood among the soldiers was so unique. The actors did a great job of portraying the men who fought in WW2 … Easy Company, the 506th Infantry Regiment. As impressive as those guys were in combat, I think what made them so special was the unwavering love that they all had for each other.

He graduated from Texas Wesleyan University with a bachelor’s degree in political science in 2011 and began working part-time at Trinity Valley School as a coach for field hockey, soccer and golf, and as a substitute teacher. He became a middle school history teacher at the Oakridge School in Arlington in 2014, and last year moved to the upper school, where he teaches Advanced Placement government and economics and coaches varsity field hockey and golf. He and his wife – “the love of my life, Rhys Walters Millians” – are expecting their first child, a girl, in August. “Life’s been busy, and I love it,” he says.

What other profession would you like to try? I’m not sure I’d want to try anything else! A lot of people think teachers and coaches just teach content and coach skills and strategy. That’s really only half of the job. We get to help young minds navigate their ups and downs. We get to see kids grow through their failures and successes in academics and sports. I’m not sure it gets much better than that! Tell us about an inﬂuential person in your life, how they inﬂuenced you and why he or she was important. I’d have to say both of my parents. They were always so supportive of helping me achieve the goals that I set for myself. They showed me how

– Paul K. Harral

to work hard yet be compassionate. They gave me unconditional love. It helped instill confidence in me. When people know they are supported and cared for, they are able to move forward in life confidently and make a difference in the areas in which they operate. When did you know what you wanted to be when you grew up? I started coaching field hockey at Trinity Valley School for Claire Pearce. All I really knew is that I wanted to try and make a difference. It becomes very clear very quickly if you’re making a difference or not when you’re a coach. What is your favorite song? Wish You Were Here – Pink Floyd

Tell us about your prop. I brought my rucksack and trekking poles because there’s nothing I love more, other than my wife and family of course, than getting out into our national and state parks to camp. There’s something about getting out in nature that brings me peace that I can only find out there.

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Grace Mitchell, 39

STORIED STYLE INTERIORS, HOST OF HGTV’S ONE OF A KIND, INTERIOR DESIGNER

race Mitchell deserves to be honored because of her strong commitment to the Fort Worth community, as both a volunteer and a businesswoman, says nominator Christian Ellis. “Her design work focuses on Fort Worth families, and she utilizes Fort Worth vendors and businesses on a regular basis and whenever possible. Her television show will be focused solely on Fort Worth homes and families, and it is expected that this show will bring a tremendous amount of positive attention to the city,” Ellis said. Mitchell has a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in educational philosophy from Texas Christian University. She taught students who were deaf or hearing-impaired in the Fort Worth Independent School District and was a language therapist for babies ages 0-3 in the Arlington Independent School District and surrounding areas for seven years. She started a blog in 2012 – A Storied Style – as a way to “keep my toes in the creative world while mostly being a stay-at-home mom.” Where did your ﬁrst paycheck come from? Stripling & Cox department store. My father worked for that company for several decades.

That led to being a featured design and style writer for Better Homes & Gardens and Domino Magazine, plus the television show Home Made Simple. And that led to the founding of Storied Style Interiors. Two years ago, High Noon Entertainment reached out to her and spent two days filming a pitch tape for HGTV. The network bought the pilot for One of a Kind after executives saw the pitch tape. “We thought the pilot would air the spring of 2018, but then we got the crazy news from the network that for the first time in HGTV history, they were sending a show straight to series,” Mitchell says. Filming started on the eight-episode first season in July and finished in December 2018. She’s a sign language interpreter at Christ Chapel Bible Church and an auction committee member and volunteer for Covenant Classical School. She and her husband, Kent, have traveled to several countries doing medical mission work for the deaf. He provides medical care and she interprets for him. They have four children – Ellis 11, Tate 10, GloryEvelyn 9, and Karis 7.

– Paul K. Harral

What movie, TV series, play or video game inﬂuenced you growing up? I loved all things Anne of Green Gables as a child! I was a voracious reader and writer, and very imaginative. I gobbled up classic literature, and I loved the colors and stories in old movies and musicals.

Tell us about your prop. A picture of my family drawn by my daughter and a HGTV sign. My family is my source of inspiration and a place of rest. My kiddos are all full of energy and joy, and my husband is my greatest cheerleader. Where they are is where my heart and home is. … I never imagined having a show on HGTV would be part of my life! I am so proud to show off our great city of Fort Worth. It is hard to believe that having a blog led to writing for major design magazines and working for bigtime brands, which led to having clients, which led to having a national television show! Pinch me!

What other profession would you like to try? Carpentry and woodworking and making pottery. Tell us about an inﬂuential person in your life, how they inﬂuenced you and why he or she was important. My amazing brothers, Christian, Andrew and Clayton. I am the only girl in my family, which leads people to think you are a princess. On the contrary, I know how to throw a football, tackle correctly and change my own tires. Through all of the stages and struggles in my life, I knew I could count on my brothers to support me and listen to me. What is your favorite song? Home – Phillip Phillips

Kyle J. Morris, 38

DEMARS & ASSOCIATES LTD., PRESIDENT AND OWNER

yle Morris received his undergraduate degree from the University of North Texas and holds a master’s degree in negotiation and dispute resolution from Creighton University School of Law Werner Institute. The Texas Mediator Credentialing Association has confirmed him as a candidate for credentialed mediator. He purchased his firm in early 2017 and grew staff by 600 percent in just under two years, said nominator Brooke Morris of Morris Innovative Resolutions LLC. “He has fashioned his arbitration programs to fit his client’s needs,” Brooke Morris said. “Kyle has developed strategies that allow both the consumer and client more autonomy to come to cleaner, more efficient resolution.”

Where did your ﬁrst paycheck come from? My first paycheck came from Foot Action at the Golden Triangle Mall in Denton when I was 16. This was back in the 90s, when teenagers thought it was so cool to work at the mall. What movie, TV series, play or video game inﬂuenced you growing up? The Natural. In the film, Robert Redford’s character was blessed with natural baseball talent. As he was beginning to realize his potential, tragedy struck, leaving him unable to play for several years. He never lost his love for the game, and after many years of recovery, he had the opportunity to play once again. Life does not always happen on our timetable, but when opportunity presents itself, we must be able to recognize it and take a chance.

In the community, he’s a mentor for struggling students for the Northwest Independent School District and is a former baseball coach for North Texas Baseball Club. Morris recalls a lesson from his grandfather, Dr. Charles Morris, who was teaching him to swim when he was 5 or 6. “His words – never quit paddling – are still as clear in my mind as they were over 30 years ago,” Morris said. “This simple phrase was more than just words, it was a message he wanted me to learn and apply to my life: When you quit trying, you sink, so never quit, despite what the odds or hardships might be.”

What other profession would you like to try? I have always been fascinated by weather and would love to be a meteorologist. There is something marvelous about unseen forces interacting with each other in ways that are not apparent to the naked eye. The power, scope and beauty are incredibly intoxicating. Tell us about an inﬂuential person in your life, how they inﬂuenced you and why he or she was important. The most influential person in my life was, and is, my late grandfather, Dr. Charles Morris. From an early age he knew he wanted to help people, which in turn led him to the medical field. During WWII, he served in the Medical Corps as part of Chenault’s Flying Tigers, and shortly after the war moved into private practice as a surgeon in

– Paul K. Harral

Dallas. He became the first medical director for St. Paul Hospital and remained a practicing surgeon into the 1980s. The care and compassion that my grandfather gave so willingly to others truly left a lasting impression on me. When did you know what you wanted to be when you grew up? I was a bit of a late bloomer when it comes to this. It was not until my late 20s that I truly realized what I wanted to be, and it took a couple of more years to figure out exactly how and where to accomplish it. What is your favorite song? I Won’t Back Down – Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers

Tell us about your prop. My props for the shoot will be a baseball glove and bat. Baseball was a huge part of my life growing up, teaching me how to play fair and work hard, and it also connects me with my dad and grandpa, as well as my son.

APRIL 22 - 28,

April 22-28, 2019

2019

Matt Morris, 39

GUS BATES INSURANCE & INVESTMENTS, PRESIDENT

att Morris started with the GUS BATES Company in 2002 and over the past 17 years has played an integral role in growing the company into what it is today, GUS BATES Insurance & Investments, said nominator Susan Blassingame, also with the company. Working with Gus Bates III and Gus S. Bates, Morris grew the Employee Beneﬁts Division and added three lines of business – Commercial Property & Casualty, Retirement Plan Services and High Net Worth Personal Lines Insurance. “Together they expanded a small family business into a respected regional ﬁrm with all the tools and services that our national competitors offer, while maintaining the family business culture and approach to daily operations,” Blassingame said. “Over the past 10 1/2 years of working for Matt Morris, I have watched his leadership skills grow as he has grown this amazing business. His servant heart and leadership skills are one of the reasons that I never plan on leaving this company,” Blassingame said.

Where did your first paycheck come from? Dick Galley, DVM, ranch hand and equine veterinary clinic assistant. What movie, TV series, play or video game influenced you growing up? Rudy and MacGyver What other profession would you like to try? Construction consulting, but not until after retirement! Tell us about an influential person in your life, how they influenced you and why he or she was important.

W O R L D

“His clients and employees are like family. He answers their call and is willing to help no matter the request, if it is for business information, to console someone over a loss in their family or simply to help change a flat tire,” said nominator Paul Faidley of Rockgate Financial Partners. Morris graduated for Aledo High School in 1998 and has a bachelor’s degree in ﬁnance from Hardin-Simmons University and an MBA from Texas Christian University. He’s an active in Christ Chapel Bible Church and part of the “Grow West” campaign that helped launch the West Campus in Parker County. Morris is a past board member and executive committee member of the Aledo Education Foundation. He is also a member of the Bearcat Growth Committee, which is considering options and structure recommendations to the Aledo Independent School Distirct board for managing growth and the doubling in size that the district faces with the Walsh development and growth in Parker County.

My beautiful wife, Dr. Sarah Morris. She is influential in so many ways. We dated for six years before marriage, four of which were long-distance with her in dental school while I started with GUS BATES. Then we learned many life lessons together as we had children, both grew and led businesses, and continue to learn from our mistakes while celebrating the many wins together along the way both in business and in life. When did you know what you wanted to be when you grew up? Not until a year or two after starting to work for the Bates family. Hired initially to handle accounting,

– Paul K. Harral

operations, and other internal duties, I quickly learned how rewarding the consulting role can be when “helping others” at all costs is your focus. I was so fortunate to learn from the best, as the Bates family continues to be living proof that an optimistic positive attitude combined with persistent work ethic and “drafting the best athletes at all levels” makes for an unstoppable road map where anything is possible. Work, on most days, is not “work” at all. We truly love what we do! What is your favorite song? Millionaire – Chris Stapleton

P R E M I E R E

Tell us about your photo shoot prop. My props are a framed picture of my bride when she received this same award, a picture of our two beautiful daughters with a “Daddy always fixes what’s broken” hammer, which always makes me smile, an award our company received recently symbolic of how important our GUS BATES team is to me, and an item or two that illustrates my passion for the outdoors.

NIGHT OF THE

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Tyler W. Munson, 37

SOUTHWESTERN HEALTH RESOURCES, CHIEF OF STAFF

lame it on the hot air balloon. That’s why Tyler W. Munson is in Fort Worth He met Sydney Schell in 2005, and in 2009 he proposed to her in a hot air balloon over the Chagrin Valley. After the wedding that fall, they moved to her hometown – Fort Worth – where he joined North Texas Specialty Physicians (NTSP), now part of Southwestern Health Resources. Munson has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Elon University in North Carolina, earned in 2004, and an MBA from the same university, earned in 2016.

Where did your ﬁrst paycheck come from? My first paycheck came from the Cleveland Athletic Club, where I spent my mornings working in housekeeping, waiting tables at lunch, and tending the bowling lanes in the evening. This was an amazing place to learn a multitude of valuable skills and where I developed a strong customer service foundation. What movie, TV series, play or video game inﬂuenced you growing up? The Simpsons. My brother and I watched it religiously on Sunday nights while the rest of the family was watching America’s Funniest Home Videos. I attribute much of my sense of humor to the writers of The Simpsons. I was also inspired at a young age by Les Misérables at the Cleveland Playhouse Theater. This show and its

“Tyler has played a critical role in NTSP’s growth strategy and most recent success leading the acquisition of NTSP by Southwestern Health Resources. Both of these have been critical to NTSP’s success,” said colleague and nominator Nancy Lecroy. Sydney and Tyler Munson have a daughter, Amelia Grace, and a son, Jack. They participate in PurpleStride and the More than Pink walk for breast cancer and donate books, clothing, personal items, water and toys to beneﬁt Fort Worth and Tarrant County charities.

– Paul K. Harral

music began my love for the arts and Broadway performances. What other profession would you like to try? I think if I had the talent, I would love to play golf professionally. I find myself most relaxed and present while walking a round of golf. Tell us about an inﬂuential person in your life, how they inﬂuenced you and why he or she was important. My father, Tom Munson, who shaped me as a person and Fowad Choudhry, who has shaped me as a business leader. My father, who we lost to Alzheimer’s disease last year, taught me many valuable life lessons. A lesson that I rely on often came from our annual father-son camping trips with a group of friends when I was young. The

lesson was “Always leave the campsite better than you found it.” Of course, he meant this literally, but he also lived his life with this motto, leaving people, projects and businesses better that he found them. Choudhry has acted as a mentor to me the last nine years. He has helped me to develop the necessary skills and behaviors which aid in becoming an impactful business leader. He has opened the door to many opportunities where, through necessity, I’ve had to expand my knowledge and competencies in order to succeed. When did you know what you wanted to be when you grew up? Still don’t, check back later ☺ What is your favorite song? Some Nights – Fun

Tell us about your prop. Bowling pin and bowling ball. After college, while working in downtown Cleveland, I took up with a business professionals bowling league at the Cleveland Athletic Club (CAC). I was fortunate to be on a team with my father and other people who provided guidance and life lessons. I have since lost my father to Alzheimer’s (2018), and some of my fondest memories with him were bowling at the CAC.

Jonathan Perez, 36

TARRANT COUNTY COLLEGE, COORDINATOR OF THE INTERCULTURAL STUDENT ENGAGEMENT & ACADEMIC SUCCESS NETWORK

erhaps later this year but certainly by next, Jonathan Perez is going to be able to make a stunning claim – he will have gone from high school dropout to holding a doctor of education degree focusing on organizational leadership in higher education from Abilene Christian University. He is now the Intercultural Student Engagement and Academic Success Network coordinator at Tarrant County College. “In his role, Mr. Perez sets the tone and expectations for student success and engagement. His commitment to cultivating a learning experience that prepares students to think critically, act ethically, and lead servantly are exempliﬁed through his actions as a learner and leader,” said a nominator

Where did your ﬁrst paycheck come from? I received my first paycheck from Winn-Dixie when I was 14 years old for $32 (I was earning $4.25 an hour as a bagger). What movie, TV series, play or video game inﬂuenced you growing up? Mi Familia. When I first watched this movie, it was the first time I could relate to a story like this one in the theaters. It reminded me of my family and the experiences they/we encountered in Texas from the racial tensions, negative police encounters and leaning on family in those difficult times. Even as I watch it today, we, as Mexican Americans, still encounter

many of the same issues as they did in the movie and 90s in Texas. What other profession would you like to try? I would like to conduct research on race and its impact on our community, write for publication, and use it as a tool for a positive change in the City of Fort Worth. Tell us about an inﬂuential person in your life, how they inﬂuenced you and why he or she was important. Every person that I have encountered has influenced my life one way or another. Having to choose one, I would say Jacinto Ramos Jr. would be the most influential person in my life thus far. From the time I met him in 2006,

who chose to remain anonymous. Perez dropped out of school at 17, earned a GED at 22, completed a bachelor’s degree at 27 and a master’s at 31 and will ﬁnish a doctorate this year or next. Perez deserves recognition because of his “continued growth as a scholarpractitioner and ally for equity and social justice,” the nomination said. “His work with the Men of Color Collaborative is exempliﬁed by his intentional and strategic efforts to cultivate a learning environment in which young men feel welcomed and a part of their campus community.”

– Paul K. Harral

he has encouraged me and believed in me, even when I did not believe in myself. He has been a leader who champions the rights of a community that has often been ignored by city leaders When did you know what you wanted to be when you grew up? When I received my GED at 22 is when I realized that I wanted to do something that helps and serves people. Prior to that, I did not have any goals and often was told that I would not amount to much in life. However, I learned that I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength (Philippians 4:13, NIV). What is your favorite song? Ex Nihilo – Andy Mineo

Tell us about your prop. My props are my backpack, a picture that my daughter drew, and a book, Occupied America: The Chicano’s Struggle Toward Liberation by Rodolfo Acuna. The backpack represents my educational journey. Deciding to obtain my GED five years after dropping out was the turning point of my life. The picture represents my family, who keeps me grounded and is my source of why I do what I do. The book represents my journey of developing my identity as a Chicano.

April 22-28, 2019

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Tony Prenger, 32

PINNACLE BANK, PRESIDENT, BRIDGE STREET BRANCH

ony Prenger is president of the Bridge Street Branch on the east side of Fort Worth and the Community Reinvestment Act officer at Pinnacle Bank. The bank’s charter is located in downtown Fort Worth, with the family-held holding company located in Omaha, Nebraska. After graduating from the University of Wyoming with a bachelor’s degree in accounting and emphases in biology and Spanish, Prenger moved to Texas to begin his career in banking as a credit analyst. After two years in the credit department of Pinnacle Bank, he moved from the office in Keene to the downtown Fort Worth loan production office to work for Pinnacle Bank’s CEO. Prenger is a board member of Trinity Habitat for Humanity, sits on the Cliburn 180o leadership committee and is on the executive board of the Fort

Where did your first paycheck come from? K&W Printshop – screen print shop, embroidery, vinyl signs. My first job at 14. What movie, TV series, play or video game influenced you growing up? Forrest Gump What other profession would you like to try? National park ranger or educator. Tell us about an influential person in your life, how they influenced you and why he or she was important. In 1991, our family moved to Windsor, Colorado, into the house next to Reg and Carolyn Figal. Little did I know that Reg would become one of my best friends. Even though there was a

Worth Film Commission. He is also on the marketing committee for Downtown Fort Worth Inc. and the Guiyang China Committee for Fort Worth Sister Cities International. He is a 2015 graduate of the LeadingEdge program of Leadership Fort Worth. His other civic involvement has included North Texas Community Foundation, Tool Box Grant; Lena Pope, Young Professional Advocates chair; Botanical Research Institute of Texas, board shadow; United Way of Johnson County; and the Fort Worth Chamber/Visit Fort Worth delegation to Kansas City to discuss entrepreneurship and education.

55-year age difference between the two of us, we found many commonalities. Prior to his retirement, Reg was the high school principal, then the assistant superintendent of the school district. When I met him, he was retired, but not lacking in things to do. When he wasn’t being named volunteer of the county with American Heart Association and United Way, he was watching Colorado Buffaloes football or having a Super Soaker fight with me and my brothers. Reg encouraged me, like my mom, to make my community what I wanted it to be by getting involved; both of my parents have been great examples of this growing up to now.

his love for this was found through his service to our country in the U.S. Air Force. From his love of model rocketry, I joined the local 4-H chapter.

Reg introduced me to his love of the sky through model rocketry. I believe

What is your favorite song? Heroes – David Bowie

Since his unexpected passing in 2000 to today, I learned the impact an individual can have in the community by the legacy they leave. To this day, there are very few people in Windsor and Northern Colorado who don’t recognize his or his wife Carolyn’s name. He is an example to me in how to act in a community and why it is important to give back your time and treasure.

– Paul K. Harral

Tell us about your prop. My props are my yoga mat – yoga is something I do at least five times a week – and the Colorado flag. I grew up in Colorado.

When did you know what you wanted to be when you grew up? Until I became a banker, I didn’t know I wanted to be one.

Manny Ramirez, 31

FORT WORTH POLICE OFFICERS’ ASSOCIATION, PRESIDENT

anny Ramirez has changed the culture of the Fort Worth Police Department, boosting moral and providing valuable services that did not exist prior to his election, said nominator Charles Ramirez, also a member of the police department. “His dedication to diversity and inclusion has opened the eyes of all of our community members,” Charles Ramirez said. He also said that Manny Ramirez has helped the organization change from a traditional labor union culture to an effective advocacy group for public safety. The nomination also cited Ramirez’s role in the recently concluded agreement with police, ﬁre and other city workers to strengthen and more

Where did your ﬁrst paycheck come from? I was 15 years old and worked at a local gym making $5.50 per hour. I still remain passionate about physical fitness and enjoy teaching my children about staying healthy. What movie, TV series, play or video game inﬂuenced you growing up? Growing up many Christmastime movies resonated with me: It’s a Wonderful Life, Scrooge, etc. The lessons about valuing relationships and experiences over possessions have been powerful for me at any age. What other profession would you like to try? I would be interested in any position that provided an opportunity to have a

greater positive impact on our communities. Whether it is the private or public sector, there is a tremendous need for principled leadership that is competent, inclusive, and results-driven. If all else fails, I am still waiting on the call from Jerry Jones to be the sixthstring Cowboys quarterback! Tell us about an inﬂuential person in your life, how they inﬂuenced you and why he or she was important. My grandfather, Manuel Ramirez Sr., was a first-generation United States citizen who came to Fort Worth from the Rio Grande Valley with a middle school education and the responsibility of providing for a young family. My grandfather worked countless hours at a local grocery chain to raise and

fully fund the city’s pension plan. Ramirez was born and raised in Fort Worth. He graduated from W.E. Boswell High School and holds a bachelor’s degree from Tarleton State University and an MBA from Texas Christian University. He says he’s married to the love of his life, Fabiola Ramirez. They have three daughters, Soﬁa, Mi and Penelope. Ramirez is a board member of FW Cops 4 Kids and Assist the Officer FW and a council member for the Salvation Army DFW.

– Paul K. Harral

support eight wonderful children. The pride he took in working hard to create a better life for his family is inspiring and gives me hope that the American dream is alive and well. When did you know what you wanted to be when you grew up? When I recognized that the threat of evil to do harm to our loved ones and our communities was very real. I wanted to be the person responsible for protecting the vulnerable and fighting for those who could not fight for themselves. Public service is more than just a career, it is a calling, and I am honored to serve with thousands of others who’ve answered the call. What is your favorite song? I Like Texas – Pat Green

Tell us about your photo shoot prop. My props are a custom weight-training belt that signifies my passion for physical fitness and the organizations that I belong to. I recognize that through physical and mental training we prepare ourselves to function at a higher level under stress, which leads to better decision-making in every aspect of our lives. I also chose a TCU EMBA paperweight. Completing my MBA gave me a unique perspective on public service and a comprehensive understanding of the many competencies we must possess to be effective organizational leaders.

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April 22-28, 2019

Lane C. Reeder, 35

REEDER GENERAL CONTRACTORS INC., VICE PRESIDENT AND COO

nder Lane Reeder’s leadership, Reeder General Contractors Inc. doubled its employee count to 54 in 2018, says the man who nominated him, his father, Wesley Reeder, founder and CEO of the company. “His collaboration with executive management has resulted in effective strategic planning, employee continuing education, safety protocol and contract legal compliance,” the senior Reeder said. “Lane’s creativity has led to a myriad of structural and organizational innovations within our company. … His problem-solving skills have led to new checks and balances that contribute to the ‘lessons learned’ aspect of industry challenges,” Wesley Reeder said. Lane Reeder says “while I have certainly witnessed hard work produce

Where did your ﬁrst paycheck come from? Although I worked doing handyman work and sweeping floors for the family business from an early age, my first W-2 came from busting tires at the local Goodyear when I was 15. What movie, TV series, play or video game inﬂuenced you growing up? Seinfeld taught me most of my crucial life lessons during adolescence. Jerry Seinfeld is still a genius to this day. What other profession would you like to try? One of my passions in life is snow skiing. During my senior year of high school, while trying to answer the age-old question of “what do I want to do with my life,” I applied to a few different colleges. One was the University of Colorado in Boulder to

amazingly successful results, I have learned just as much from watching hard work result in failure. … Losing teaches you loads of great lessons, but you can’t be afraid of it or you will never succeed in the end.” Lane Reeder contributes to a number of worthy causes, among them Wounded Warriors, Easter Seals, Feed the Children, The National Children’s Cancer Society, Union Gospel Mission Fort Worth, The Ben Hogan Foundation, Semper Fi Fund, The National Military Family Association, Operation Home Front and The Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors. – Paul K. Harral

pursue a career in skiing. While I didn’t choose this path in the end, I have always wondered if I could have made a profession of it.

to take risks. I am super thankful for and forever grateful for the lasting impression his influence has made on me.

Tell us about an inﬂuential person in your life, how they inﬂuenced you and why he or she was important. My father, Wes Reeder. I could write a book on the countless lessons and influences he has had on me. There are, however, a few highlights worth noting. Anyone who has worked closely alongside Wes has probably heard him say, “Work hard and play by the rules.” As cliché as it sounds, these two things, hard work and ethics, have played a major part in my life. It is a simple code to live by but not an easy one. … My dad taught me there is no substitute for hard work, right always wins and to never be afraid

When did you know what you wanted to be when you grew up? I consider myself as someone who is still “growing up.” The evolution of one’s career path is not always defined by a single point in time or “Aha” moment, but sometimes created through a mixture of experiences, influences, disciplines and passions. It has been an amazing journey for the past 35 years. … I hope I never finish growing up. What is your favorite song? Piano Concerto No.3 In D Minor – Sergei Rachmaninoff

Tell us about your photo shoot prop. My prop is a bobcat skid steer tractor. I cut my teeth in the construction industry 15 years ago driving one of these for 10 hours a day. Although I have progressed from operating equipment to operating a company, I still love pushing dirt around on the ranch any time I get a chance to.

Jeff Richardson, 39

FIRST COMMAND FINANCIAL SERVICES, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, CHIEF OF STAFF

eff Richardson is highly regarded at all levels of First Command for his expertise as an entrepreneur, businessman and home office executive and he is regularly sought out for his input on critical business initiatives, says nominator Lacy Abbott, a colleague at First Command Financial Services Inc. Richardson has more than 12 years of experience with First Command, focused on personal and professional growth in the mission to coach members of the military in their pursuit of ﬁnancial security. He’s focused on the growth of the ﬁrm, division and district through expansion of underserved markets and individuals.

Where did your ﬁrst paycheck come from? When I was 14, my parents bought a small bicycle business in Baltimore, Maryland. I received my first paycheck at Lutherville Bike Shop and continued to work there through my college years. I ran this business after college and eventually sold my portion of the business when my parents were entering retirement. What movie, TV series, play or video game inﬂuenced you growing up? My favorite moving growing up was probably Braveheart. What other profession would you like to try? If I could have any other profession in the

world, it would be coaching youth sports or high school sports. The opportunity to be a part of the community and help our youth learn valuable lessons for their future is incredibly rewarding. Young kids are always so appreciative of the time that you can put into their development and the growth that they make is something that you can see the immediate impact. Tell us about an inﬂuential person in your life, how they inﬂuenced you and why he or she was important. Growing up, my father was always my hero, whether it was through sports or through his values system. Although we may not have always seen eye to eye on every decision that was made, it helped guide me through my childhood and shaped the decisions

Richardson joined First Command in 2006 when he started his ﬁnancial advisory business in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. He took his position in Fort Worth in April 2017. He earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Radford University in Radford, Virginia, in 2001 and holds professional licenses Series 7, 6, 63, 65, 26, life and health, and property and casualty He supports many professional military organizations that provide support and recognition to active-duty military personnel. He also volunteers as an assistant lacrosse coach and basketball coach in the Fort Worth area.

– Paul K. Harral

that I would make later in life. His work ethic and core values are what shaped me to be a successful adult. When did you know what you wanted to be when you grew up? When our family purchased their business, I got the opportunity to work face to face with our clients at the bicycle shop and see the impact that our business could have on them. My father’s background in the Army instilled a natural appreciation for our nation’s military families. When I had the opportunity to build my own business where I could coach people in their finances and work directly with our nation’s military, it was a perfect fit. What is your favorite song? No Surrender – Bruce Springsteen

Tell us about your photo shoot prop. My props are a financial plan delivery binder and a lacrosse stick and glove. Our company focuses on financial planning for the military and this business has allowed me to positively affect so many deserving families, while teaching me the work ethic needed to run a successful business. I have played lacrosse since I was 5 years old living in Baltimore. I played the sport in college and continue to participate in men’s club programs. Coaching and building youth lacrosse programs has allowed me to give back to the communities, while spreading the sport that I love so much.

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Christopher Roberts, 38

PARADIGM WEALTH MANAGEMENT, MANAGING PARTNER

his award was made for Cristopher Roberts – a person who has a hard time saying no when it comes to helping others, whether it be people new to business or nonprofit boards seeking out his assistance, said nominator Bobby Ellis of AXA Advisors. Paradigm Wealth Management is a separate firm within AXA that Roberts and another vice president at AXA started because they were ready for a new challenge. “In our first year, we had the highest percentage growth out of any team that year,” Roberts said. “We have now grown to six advisers with three offices and are looking to expand even more this year.” Roberts was born in Nebraska and came to Texas to play baseball at Texas A&M Corpus Christi. He transferred to Baylor University but was unable to play ball there because of a shoulder injury.

Where did your ﬁrst paycheck come from? Dolphins Carwash in Omaha, Nebraska. I was tasked with vacuuming cars before they went through the carwash when I wasn’t playing in school or playing baseball. What movie, TV series, play or video game inﬂuenced you growing up? I didn’t watch a lot of TV or movies growing up, so the only one that comes to mind is Saved By The Bell. My friends and I thought it was cool to dress up like Zack and I guess it wasn’t all that bad since we were wearing ties to elementary school. What other profession would you like to try?

“At Baylor my major was marketing and I graduated through the professional sales program, which was amazing,” Roberts said. “In my senior year I accepted the job with AXA in Fort Worth.” In the community, Roberts is in his ﬁfth year on the board of the Keller Independent School District Education Foundation and his sixth year on the Baylor Professional Sales Board. He has also headed the volunteer efforts at AXA locally with the Fort Worth Independent School District and has been in charge of AXA’s day of service, in which the company takes a day to give back at a number of worthy causes.

A politician or some form of law enforcement. I believe at some point in life I will serve in some form of local government. … When I was younger, I always thought I would be an FBI agent because I used to stop for a snack every day after I got off the bus at a neighbor’s house who was an FBI agent. The stories always fascinated me. Tell us about an inﬂuential person in your life, how they inﬂuenced you and why he or she was important. My parents were divorced when I was in elementary, so it is hard to choose between my mom or dad as the most influential person in my life. They both had great influences in different ways – my

– Paul K. Harral

mom as the person I am today, and my dad as a mentor for business and someone to talk to when I was very competitive in baseball. That also carried over in business and is the main reason why I wanted to be an entrepreneur. When did you know what you wanted to be when you grew up? I would say about a year after I got out of college and was in this job. It sounds weird, but I 100% knew that I wanted to do something entrepreneurial, I just didn’t know what it was. What is your favorite song? Danger Zone – Kenny Loggins

Tell us about your photo shoot prop. I decided to use a baseball and a glove. Baseball is what brought me to Texas for college, so I am not sure where I would be if I had not received a scholarship here. It could also have been a golf club because we take a family golf trip every year and it is by far my favorite vacation every year. I get to golf with my dad and best friend and enjoy some R&R with my wife and kids.

Kurt Schaal, 38

CAPITAL ONE COMMERCIAL BANK, FORT WORTH MARKET PRESIDENT

n about 15 years at Capital One Bank and other financial institutions, Kurt Schaal has accomplished what takes many bankers an entire career to achieve, his colleague at Capital One, Sara Metzinger, said in her nomination. “In addition to his ‘lead-by-example’ mentality, exemplary work for clients and dedicated and enthusiastic philanthropic involvement, he continues to better himself through research and learning, striving to be at the top of his trade,” Metzinger said. He was born in Dallas and moved with his mother and stepfather to Longview just before he entered fifth grade. It was a culture shock, he says, but he ended up feeling very at home in Longview. He did visit Dallas, where his father lives, several times a week to play in what he describes as “a highly competitive and selective youth soccer league through high school.” Where did your first paycheck come from? A Sonic Drive-In. I worked in the kitchen, so I was honing my passion for food and cooking early on! I didn’t exactly seek out this job, but my parents told me I needed to be employed when I turned 16. I did have tons of fun there though! What movie, TV series, play or video game influenced you growing up? The Goonies. I even went to Cannon Beach in Oregon a few years ago! What other profession would you like to try? I’ve always been intrigued by the practice of law, but the idea of law school at this point in my life is not terribly appealing. However, building a case or defending a position or

argument, whether in a professional or social setting, really energizes me. (I can feel my attorney friends rolling their eyes at me now!) Tell us about an inﬂuential person in your life, how they inﬂuenced you and why he or she was important. I could rave for ages about my parents and how they influenced me greatly growing up and continue to do so in my adult life. However, I’d like to talk about my mentor, friend, colleague and boss, Tiffany Cason, who helped me uncover the courage to expand my banking career more than a decade ago. Tiffany has and continues to help me challenge conventional wisdom and traditional perspectives, allowing me to grow professionally and personally, every day. She has pushed me to grow as a professional, philanthropist and leader.

“I’ve had several injuries that have forced me to give up playing now,” he said, “The sport isn’t forgiving to an aging man!” In the community, he is president-elect of the board of trustees for Ronald McDonald House of Fort Worth and a founding member of its young professionals group, The Red Shoe Society. He’s active in the Fort Worth Stock Show Syndicate and serves on the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce board of directors, the Fort Worth Club Junior Activities Committee and the TCU Clark Society, among other organizations. Schaal is a member of Leadership Fort Worth’s 2018 LeaderPrime Class.

– Paul K. Harral

When did you know what you wanted to be when you grew up? I still don’t know what I want to be when I grow up. In seriousness, I found myself well into a commercial banking career following the Great Recession, but in truth I was never certain I would stay in a single career until I had success in helping companies achieve their strategic goals. Banking, and finance in general, can be a challenging and demanding profession, but it is also quite rewarding. Being able to meaningfully contribute to many different businesses that drive our local economy has been that reward for me. What is your favorite song? Wow – that’s a tough one. I’m not sure I have a favorite song, but I am a huge fan of Bob Schneider. For this, I’ll say I’m Good Now by Bob Schneider.

Tell us about your photo shoot prop. I’ve always had a passion for sports, and of course now my passion is my son, Luke. My prop is meant to represent the intersection of those two passions: My son, Luke, and I sharing football together.

APRIL 22 - 28,

April 22-28, 2019

James C. “Jim” Scott, 39 KELLY HART & HALLMAN LLP, PARTNER

hey say that you can take the boy out of the country but you can’t take the country out of the boy, and that could be the case with James C. “Jim” Scott. He was born in Bryan but grew up on a farm and ranch outside of Baird in Callahan County. He graduated in May 2003 from Texas A&M University with a degree in agricultural economics. And if he weren’t a lawyer, he’d kind of like to be a hunting guide. But law called because of an internship in Washington, D.C., when he was a junior in college. He graduated cum laude from South Texas College of Law Houston in May 2006. He spent 10 years at a large law ﬁrm in Dallas. But the call of country and community was strong – learned from his grandfather Blan Odom on that ranch. “In July 2015, I moved my family to Aledo to be closer to the family ranch

Where did your first paycheck come from? The Association of Former Students of Texas A&M University What movie, TV series, play or video game influenced you growing up? The Man From Snowy River What other profession would you like to try? I would like to try being a hunting guide in New Mexico. Tell us about an influential person in your life, how they influenced you and why he or she was important.

in Callahan County and to enjoy and be involved in a smaller community,” he says. And in July 2016, he joined Kelly Hart & Hallman as a partner in business and oil and gas litigation. He and his hometown sweetheart, Heather, married in 2003 and have two boys, Sean, 10, and Blanton, 6. Scott is a deacon with Christ Chapel Bible Church, a board member of the Aledo Youth Football and Cheer Association and co-chairman of the Bearcat Growth Committee, a group of roughly 40 people organized to present a school bond package to the Aledo Independent School District trustees. He also coaches his boys’ football, basketball and baseball teams. And, of course, he says he enjoys spending time on the family ranch – a working cattle ranch and wheat farm – and hunting with his boys.

– Paul K. Harral

My granddad – Blan Odom. I grew up on a farm and ranch in Callahan County, Texas, where I worked with my granddad just about every day until he passed away when I was 13 years old. My granddad taught me the value of hard work, to treat others with respect and to give back what God has blessed you with. … It didn’t matter who you were or where you were from, my granddad would always treat you with respect and had a smile on his face. Finally, my granddad always gave back to the community through his church, civic involvement and farm and ranch organizations. … To this day, in times with my work or family, I

always think what would my granddad do, and if he would be proud of me. When did you know what you wanted to be when you grew up? I didn’t know I wanted to be an attorney until my junior year in college when I interned for a U.S. congressman in Washington, D.C. At that point, when I met several lawyers who worked in D.C. and learned how a law degree opened up several options to do many things, I knew that I wanted to be a lawyer. What is your favorite song? Free Fallin’ – Tom Petty

Tell us about your photo shoot prop. My photo shoot prop is my handmade Texas A&M boots. The boots represent my Western heritage from growing up on a farm and ranch, and my love for Texas A&M University.

Chris Stoy, 36

HUTCHISON & STOY, PLLC, PARTNER

hris Stoy traces his passion for the law to the theft of a knife he had saved money to buy when he was a child. There would be law school, of course, but ﬁrst there would be rodeos to compete in and other ranch-life activities. Stoy was born in Fort Worth and graduated from Aledo High School. He attended Texas A&M University and St. Mary’s University School of Law in San Antonio. On a study-abroad program, he studied in Innsbruck, Austria, under the now-U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts. Stoy says that he began his legal career at “a prestigious defense ﬁrm where he practiced insurance defense.” That proved invaluable as he “was able to learn how the evil insurance industry works.” Stoy says that through the process of defending insurance companies, he

Where did your first paycheck come from? I started working as a bag boy at Shady Oaks Country Club in Fort Worth a few days after I turned 16. What movie, TV series, play or video game influenced you growing up? John Grisham movies like The Rainmaker and The Firm. Also Top Gun What other profession would you like to try? Jet pilot, fishing guide Tell us about an influential person in

your life, how they inﬂuenced you and why he or she was important. My grandmother (the only one I knew) was a very influential person in my life. Probably because she inspired me to work hard and be responsible. She taught me how to create boundaries in life. I lived with her in between college and law school and I remember one day she mentioned off the cuff, “Chris, you are an achiever if you want to be.” Those words have always stuck with me. The woman was tough but loving.

realized that representing the injured – the truly aggrieved – was what he had been called to do. “But he had to bide his time,” the biography on the law ﬁrm’s webpage said. “He had to learn the ways of the dark side. He had to wait for the right opportunity to come along.” That happened when he met Susan Hutchison and the two learned that they shared a passion for helping people. They opened Hutchison & Stoy PLLC in 2014. Story is also a graduate of the 2012 LeadingEdge class of Leadership Fort Worth. – Paul K. Harral

When did you know what you wanted to be when you grew up? I had saved up for months to buy a survival knife out of the back of a Boy Scouts catalogue. On the day it arrived we were scheduled to visit my grandma. I was allowed to take it with me so I could play with it. Before I ever took it out of the box, someone broke into our car while at a movie theater and stole the knife. I decided right then and there that I wanted to be a lawyer so I could hold people responsible for doing the wrong thing. What is your favorite song? Little Pink Houses, John Cougar Mellencamp

Tell us about your photo shoot prop. My props are a wake surfboard and a snowboard. I live on Lake Worth and like to spend all my free time out on the water. Something about the water just calms me. My law partner says its because I’m a Cancer – my astrological sign – but I don’t really know about that. In college I had to take six hours of classes in the summer following my last year. One class I took was “Recreation and Leisure Studies.” Ha. We learned about the joy people experience when they do things that produce flow in their lives. Surfing and snowboarding do that for me. I’m not out there trying to do big tricks. Just the back and forth flow of the boards seem to take my mind off the daily grind of life.

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Anastasia “Stas” Taylor, 33

ALLIANCE CHILD & FAMILY SOLUTIONS & ALLIANCE FOUNDATION FOR PROGRESSIVE MENTAL HEALTH, CEO/FOUNDER

n the ﬁve years the business has existed, Anastasia “Stas” Taylor has grown Alliance Child & Family Solutions to 10 offices — Aledo, Arlington-North, Arlington-South, Burleson, Fort Worth, Hurst-Euless-Bedford, Keller, Plano, Southlake and Waco — said nominator Charis Boone Johnson of Compass Adoption Inc. “Anastasia can frequently be found volunteering at her church with special-needs children, participating in and advocating for various foster/ adoption groups, speaking on panels to raise awareness of mental health needs and ultimately working with other individuals and agencies in the community to band together for the greater good,” Johnson said. “Her work in and of itself is very philanthropic.” Taylor earned a bachelor’s degree in social work with a minor in Spanish from the University of North Texas in 2006 and a master’s in social work with

Where did your ﬁrst paycheck come from? Not counting when I rented out my toys to the other kids at school in 2nd grade (sorry mom and dad), my first real paycheck came my senior year of high school working for True Grits Texas Grill in Jonestown, Texas. What movie, TV series, play or video game inﬂuenced you growing up? The movie Patch Adams involved love, compassion, humor, generosity and outside-of-the-box thinking – all values that I admired and that have become core values in life and business now. As I went to college, learning about Jane Addams and reading the novel The Jungle sealed the deal to want to make big changes in the world to

a concentration in direct practice with children and families from the University of Texas at Arlington in 2008. “She maintains an active caseload of her own therapy clients. The fact she is able to balance the needs of the business while being fully involved in the daily operations, as well as living the example of how her therapists should practice, shows phenomenal leadership skills,” Johnson said. “It is also both creative and entrepreneurial that all of her locations are reception-free and her administrative staff all work remotely. By doing so, she is able to keep costs down while offering flexible work options to staff, so they can actively support their families as well,” Johnson said in the nomination.

help the greater good. What other profession would you like to try? One bucket list goal is to have my own coffee shop! Other than that, I am truly living my dream. Tell us about an inﬂuential person in your life, how they inﬂuenced you and why he or she was important. My father has been and still is the most influential person in my life. When I was young, I witnessed how he balanced full-time work and full-time school to further his education and opportunities, without neglecting me as a child. With his consistent work ethic and unwavering

– Paul K. Harral

integrity, he was very successful at his job. Even with all the significant responsibilities at his work, I still remember him making breakfast every morning, attending nearly all of my sporting events, and pouring life into me as a person during our 30-minute-to-hour commute each way to/from school. When did you know what you wanted to be when you grew up? My father laughs that my 8th grade PSAT noted my future career goals as being a social worker and a business owner. What is your favorite song? That’s My Girl – Fifth Harmony

Tell us about your photo shoot prop. With running a rapidly growing business and being a single mom of five kids (photo frame prop), I drink a LOT of coffee (unicorn coffee mug prop). I am blessed to have my family, friends and sorority sisters (Greek paddle prop) who have cheered me on every step of the way!

UMB.com | 817.334.4600 APRIL 22 - 28, 2019

April 22-28, 2019

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Furthering UMBâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s commitment to enduring quality, Michael is leading the way toward success. quality, Furthering UMBâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s commitment to enduring Congratulations Michael and allsuccess. the Fort Worth Michael is leadingtothe way toward Congratulations to Under Michael40 and all the Fort Worth Business Press 40 honorees. Business Press 40 Under 40 honorees.

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APRIL 22 - 28,

April 22-28, 2019

Christina Gutierrez Walls, 40 TEXAS CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY AND UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER SCHOOL OF MEDICINE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR ACCREDITATION AND ORGANIZATIONAL PERFORMANCE

hristina Gutierrez Walls began her career in medical education and clinic administration at the University of Kansas Medical Center and then moved to the Texas A&M University School of Medicine College Station. For the past two and a half years, she’s been concentrating on accreditation and organizational performance for the new Texas Christian University and University of North Texas Health Science Center School of Medicine in Fort Worth, said nominator Jonathan Walls with Tarrant County College. Her efforts, he said, led to a perfect accreditation report for the school, “a feat almost never achieved by any school across the cohort of 140-plus medical education programs in the United States and Canada.” In all, over the last 15 years she has worked with four new medical schools in Texas – the Texas A&M University School of Medicine’s Round Rock campus, Baylor

Where did your ﬁrst paycheck come from? My dad. I worked in our family’s small tire store, House of Tires, in Bryan. What movie, TV series, play or video game inﬂuenced you growing up? A book. The Human Body inspired my interest in science and medicine. What other profession would you like to try? I would like to parlay my experience in medical education administration to health care administration.

Tell us about an inﬂuential person in your life, how they inﬂuenced you and why he or she was important. My parents. They taught me the “Gutierrez way,” a phrase meaning that above all things you should work hard and never give up, despite where you come from or what obstacles you may face along the way. They taught me that with these things and importantly, by the grace of God, you can achieve things that might otherwise seem impossible. When did you know what you wanted to be when you grew up?

University Medical Center Dallas campus and most recently the University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School – and the TCU-UNTHSC school. Christina Walls completed a year at the Oklahoma State University for Health Sciences College Of Osteopathic Medicine before deciding that she was more suited to management. She earned a bachelor’s degree in biology cum laude from the University of Texas at Arlington. And she’s studying for an executive MBA at TCU (Class of 2021). She’s involved with Catholic Charities, the Hispanic Women of Texas Network and St. Andrew Catholic parish and school.

When I was 10 years old, I knew I wanted to be a physician and worked toward that goal from that point forward. In my mid-20s, I decided that a career in medicine was not in my future and left medical school in order to develop a career in medical education administration. I now support the development and education of future physicians with my work at medical schools. What is your favorite song? Night Dance – Adam Hurst, Sultry Cello & Spanish Guitar

– Paul K. Harral

Tell us about your photo shoot prop. A family picture of me with my 9-year-old son, Christian, and my husband of three months, Jonathan. I was an only parent to Christian for the last nine years until recently meeting my husband. Working hard was not just a personal goal but a way to provide for my precious son as a single mom who wanted the world for her child. I hope that Christian will look back and appreciate the sacrifices and be inspired by the battle, taking lessons of life, loss and triumph with him into his own life.

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Marcus Williams, 39

VISTA BANK, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT

arcus Williams is a community leader who cares and volunteers to make Fort Worth better, whether through the Fort Worth Stock Show or ﬁghting cancer, said nominator Maureen Maidlow of OverRidge Wealth Advisors. “Marcus was a key employee in the opening of Vista Bank in Fort Worth,” Maidlow said. “He helped start the loan office and the ﬁrst branch. He has been in banking for 15 years, working in most every department.” Maidlow said Williams is a natural servant leader and has helped mentor many younger bankers. Williams was born in Wichita Falls and graduated from Salado High School in 1998. He studied animal science at Texas Tech University with an eye to becoming a doctor and graduated in 2002. But he left medical school a year later to begin his banking career in the operations center of

Where did your ﬁrst paycheck come from? Jerry Tolbert Acoustics in Athens, Georgia, in the summer after 8th grade. I worked installing acoustical commercial ceilings and metal stud walls (and sweeping the floor) for three years during summers and Christmas breaks. What movie, TV series, play or video game inﬂuenced you growing up? Alf What other profession would you like to try? Criminal defense attorney. My wife, Lindsay, is an attorney practicing in criminal appellate law. Seeing her cases, it’s clear that there are many people who

PlainsCapital Bank in Lubbock. He met his wife, Lindsay, in Salado during their sophomore year when he was at Tech and she was at Texas A&M University. They married in 2002 and chose Fort Worth to begin their careers in 2005 when Lindsay completed law school and her MBA at Texas Tech. They have two children, Kate, 7, and Owen, 4. Williams says Kate likes dragons and Legos and Owen likes baseball and Zelda and Legos. Williams also is involved with Habitat for Humanity’s annual building project, the YMCA, and Connecting for Conquerors, started by a group of friends and business professionals to support Cancer Care Services through increased community awareness and fundraising. He’s a superintendent for Stock Show’s Junior Steer Show. – Paul K. Harral

need help navigating the justice system and I think I would enjoy it. Tell us about an inﬂuential person in your life, how they inﬂuenced you and why he or she was important. Other than my parents, Freddie and Marcia Williams, my grandfather, Fred Williams, has remained the most influential person in my life. He was a cattleman and farmer. He spent his days doing what he enjoyed. He never worked a day job during the years that he was alive, yet he was able to purchase his own farm, raise two sons through college, and live comfortably through old age. He lived below his means long before Dave Ramsey

ever thought of it. By doing so he established a legacy whereby his sons and grandsons adhere to the same principals to this day. When did you know what you wanted to be when you grew up? I knew exactly what I wanted to be from about 6th grade on … a doctor! After attending medical school at Texas Tech University Health Science Center in 2002 and 2003 I decided that I was wrong about that one after all. I then refocused my efforts into my second love, which was naturally banking. What is your favorite song? Feelin’ Good Again – Robert Earl Keen

Tell us about your photo shoot prop. I brought my children, Kate and Owen, because I like them a lot. They’re wearing shirts with our family’s cattle brand on them. Lastly, I brought a pair of boots made for the Junior Steer Show superintendents at the Fort Worth Stock Show. I grew up in a total rural environment where we showed livestock via 4H and FFA. I now volunteer to help support kids doing the same and look forward to my children experiencing it, too.

Michael Wollman, 38

UTA FORT WORTH, ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF RECRUITMENT AND COMMUNICATIONS

ichael Wollman started working at the University of Texas at Arlington in 2008 in the School of Urban and Public Affairs, and he quickly made a difference by transforming the admissions process and increasing the enrollment by more than 200% in three years, said nominator Christina Perkins, a colleague at UT Arlington. He grew up in Southern California and holds a bachelor’s degree in communications from Cal State Long as well as both a master’s in education and a teaching credential in language arts and health sciences He and his wife, Kristin, decided after they married in 2008 on a beach in Maui to relocate to Fort Worth, where he was hired to oversee recruitment for a newly created master of public administration degree to

Where did your ﬁrst paycheck come from? My first job was at Target at 15 years old, and nowadays most of my paycheck seems to be going back to where it all began.

up with market trends, house hunting and negotiating a good deal. With that being said, I look forward to one day finishing my real estate license and helping others with their buying and selling needs.

What movie, TV series, play or video game inﬂuenced you growing up? I would say influential movies included: Stand and Deliver, Lean on Me, RAD – inspired some rad BMX tricks – and Dazed and Confused.

Tell us about an inﬂuential person in your life, how they inﬂuenced you and why he or she was important. At home, I had two wonderful parents and an older sister to look up to. My mom was a well-respected, award-winning teacher and principal and my father had a very successful career in executive banking. Education was always looked at as a top priority, and I can easily say that my pursuit of a career in higher education was heavily inspired by watching my mom positively impact so many lives through her work in the classroom and as

What other profession would you like to try? I have a passion for real estate. Aside from my wife and I continuously working on our own remodel projects at home, I also very much enjoy the entire process of keeping

be offered at UT Arlington’s downtown Fort Worth campus. His duties have only continued to expand. “I appreciate any opportunity to give back to the community that welcomed me just over 10 years ago. Whether it is through the work I do at UTA Fort Worth, representing the university on boards and committees for wonderful organizations like Leadership Fort Worth, or my wife and I supporting our own children’s education in Fort Worth ISD, I look forward to continuing to play a small part in positively impacting others and becoming a role model to my three amazing kids,” Wollman said. – Paul K. Harral

a highly effective administrator at several schools throughout her 40-year career. I must also say that my wife is my rock, my best friend, and the most amazing woman I have ever known. She has the ability to truly give 100% at being the best mom to our three kids, maintain a career and make me smile each and every day. She is highly influential to me becoming the best man that I can be. When did you know what you wanted to be when you grew up? I made the official decision after graduating with my bachelor’s degree, but I was definitely inspired very early in life to follow in my mom’s footsteps. What is your favorite song? Separate Ways – Journey

Tell us about your photo shoot prop. Growing up by the beach and my love for surfing and the ocean made it an easy decision to bring the custom board my wife had made for me several years ago. This is the most action it has seen in several years.

APRIL 22 - 28,

2019

FOCUS: PROPERTY TAX/SALES TAX Can Texas’ top three Republicans thread the needle? A LIY YA S WA BY, EM M A PL ATOFF A N D C A SSA N DR A POLLOCK

Texas Tribune

It’s been less than a week since Texas’ top three state leaders threw their collective support behind an idea to raise the sales tax by 1 percentage point in order to lower property tax bills statewide. But despite that powerful backing, many of the rank-andfile lawmakers who will have to bless the proposal have already indicated they’re hardly on board. Elected officials and advocacy groups on both sides of the political spectrum have criticized the idea. And their concerns will have to be assuaged if the legislation, a proposed constitutional amendment, is to muster the requisite two-thirds majority in both chambers before going to voters in November. In an attempt to address those concerns, state Rep. Dan Huberty laid out a version in a committee meeting on April 17 that would put 80% of the $5 billion in new sales tax revenue toward property tax relief and 20% toward school funding. But it immediately became clear that many lawmakers were unsure of that split. Conservatives want all the money to be spent on buying down property taxes. Democrats are skeptical of any measure that increases the regressive sales tax — and if they stick together, they have the numbers in each chamber to block the proposal. Meanwhile, Gov. Greg Abbott, who proposed the sales tax swap alongside Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and House Speaker Dennis Bonnen, suggested recently that all the new money it generates should go toward property tax relief. “We would only do [the

sales tax swap] if that money was absolutely dedicated for the purpose of property tax relief,” Abbott said in a KVUE television interview on April 16, the night before Huberty’s proposals, House Joint Resolution 3 and House Bill 4621, were scheduled to come before a House committee. The governor’s stance puts Huberty, who chairs the House Public Education Committee, in a difficult spot: Keep the split at 80% toward property tax relief and he could lose Republican members who argue that every additional dollar generated must go toward property tax cuts — and the state leaders who pitched the tax swap in the first place. But inch that figure higher, toward 100%, and Huberty faces increasingly steep odds of recruiting the Democratic support he’d need to pass the proposal. Also complicating matters is that “property tax relief” may mean different things to different lawmakers. Some conservatives want to use every dollar of the extra money to lower school tax rates, while others say that increasing the state’s share of public education funding would keep school districts from going to voters for more money. Huberty distributed data to Ways and Means Committee members Wednesday showing how their school districts would benefit under the combined impacts of House Bill 3, a comprehensive school finance bill, and HJR 3. The 20% of additional money raised would increase the base funding schools receive per student — helping to reduce the amount wealthier districts pay to shore up poorer districts through the state’s recapture

system, known as Robin Hood. Both pieces of legislation would decrease districts’ recapture payments by about $5 billion over the next two years. Lowering recapture payments could give districts the opportunity to keep tax rates low but would not necessarily lower homeowners’ tax bills at first blush. “You’re providing more resources to school districts so they don’t have to go do a [tax ratification election],” Huberty said. “You could argue it’s 100% property tax relief,” state Rep. Jim Murphy, R-Houston, a member of the Ways and Means Committee, said in agreement. If all 83 House Republicans vote for the proposal, it would still need support from 17 House Democrats; in the Senate, if all 19 GOP senators are on board, the proposal would require two Democratic votes. Given the battle lines that have emerged, the odds of putting together a two-thirds majority look steep. Some Democrats have already said they oppose the sales tax swap — no matter where the money goes. “I don’t personally see anyone voting for it unless something drastic changes,” said state Rep.

Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have already signaled opposition to the proposal from Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and House Speaker Dennis Bonnen. This report was originally published in The Texas Tribune. www. texastribune.org

Ramon Romero, D-Fort Worth. “The Democratic Caucus is likely to stick together. Could you have folks who peel off? Of course there’s always five or six that are going to.” Swapping sales tax revenue in to replace property taxes isn’t a new idea in the Capitol. In the summer 2017 special session, under a mandate from Abbott to consider how to reform property taxes, lawmakers pitched pie-in-the-sky proposals to address the high cost of education to the state — including a few bills that would raise money through a higher sales tax. But now, HJR 3 appears to be the main pitch on the table for long-term school district property tax relief and potentially public education funding. “The only way we can do that is through a new revenue source,” Huberty said Wednesday. Huberty pitched the resolution as a way to stop skyrocketing local property values from pushing the state’s share of public education cost lower and lower. Without any new money or legislation this session, the state is expected to pay closer to 30% of the cost in the next few years while local taxpayers will pay closer to 70%. Huberty’s argument was met with confusion and skepticism from several advocates at Wednesday’s committee hearing. Some Republicans criticized putting any additional money toward public education in HJR 3.

Terry Holcomb, a member of the State Republican Executive Committee of the Republican Party of Texas, said he did not understand whether the 20% toward public education would result in tax relief. The House Freedom Caucus, a hardline conservative group of representatives, has taken a similar stance, writing in a statement that its members would only back the tax swap proposal if all additional money generated went to property tax cuts. And state Sen. Paul Bettencourt, the Houston Republican tasked with shepherding leadership tax priorities through the upper chamber, said in an interview Tuesday that “you have to make sure it’s dollar for dollar, and that’s a tough thing to do.” “You have to make sure that it’s actually all property tax relief,” he added. The question for leadership, then, is whether there’s a split that can earn two-thirds support in both chambers. Some leaders have already cast doubt on the proposal’s chances. Bettencourt said he doesn’t see “a tremendous appetite” for it in the Senate. And Patrick, in recent public statements, has made clear he supports a consumption-based tax — but also signaled he’s not married to the tax swap proposal. “That may or may not ever come to the floor for a vote, but we look at everything,” Patrick said in a radio interview earlier this month.

APRIL 22 - 28,

2019

Commission: New NAFTA would deliver modest economic gains PAU L WIS EM A N

Associated Press President Donald Trump’s new North America trade agreement would give the U.S. economy only a modest boost, an independent federal agency has found. The International Trade Commission said July 18 that Trump’s U.S.-Mexico-Canada agreement would lift the U.S. economy by 0.35%, or $68.2 billion, and add 176,000 jobs six years after it takes effect. That’s barely a ripple in a $21 trillion-a-year economy and a job market of almost 151 million people. The commission’s analysis is required by law and is expected to kick off a contentious congressional debate on the regional trade pact designed to replace the 25-year-old North American Free Trade Agreement. NAFTA tore down most trade barriers between the United States, Canada and Mexico, leading to a surge in regional trade. But critics, including Trump, said the pact encouraged manufacturers to pull out of the United States, relocate to low-wage Mexico and ship products back across the border duty free. The revised version, signed by the three countries last year but awaiting approval by each of their legislatures, is designed to encourage factories to move back to the United States. For instance, one provision says that in order for a car to quality for duty-free treatment under the agreement, 40% of its content must be produced in North American factories where workers earn an average of at least $16 an hour – that is, not Mexico.

The commission found that the new pact would modestly raise the price of U.S. cars and reduce sales. It would create 30,000 jobs in American auto

parts plants but cost 1,500 jobs in factories that assemble cars. Hours before the commission released its report, the Trump administration

released more upbeat findings of its own. The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, citing its consultations with automakers, predicted that the

agreement would encourage $34 billion in investment in U.S auto plants and create 76,000 auto industry jobs over five years.

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FortWorthBusiness.com

Chamber honors longtime Fort Worth company ROB ERT FR A NCIS

The Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce 137th Annual Meeting had plenty to say about economic development – past, present and future. Fort Worth currently has 70 active projects in the economic development pipeline, said Chris Strayer, senior vice president of Business Attraction, Retention and Expansion for the Fort Worth Chamber. “We’re looking at a lot of different opportunities in distribution centers, manufacturing (large scale manufacturing), corporate HQ, technologies, back office and others,” he said. “You name it, we’re looking at it.” Strayer said 2,305 jobs were added to the area last year through projects the Chamber worked on. “We were still immensely successful in my opinion,” he said. Strayer then discussed economic development with Robert Hess, vice chairman of Newmark Knight Frank, a consulting firm that advised New York on its bid for Amazon HQ2, one of the most public economic development projects in recent years. Hess said one of the areas Fort Worth, as well as North Texas, should emphasize when looking to attract new employers is the amount of technology and technology talent available in the area. While the area doesn’t have a Microsoft or an Apple, companies like Bell, Lockheed and GM are massive users and implementers of cutting edge technology. At the meeting, Fort Worth Chamber Chairman Allyson Baumeister, principal in charge at CliftonLarsonAllen LLP, turned the gavel over to Lonnie Nicholson, president and CEO of EECU. Before the meeting, Dr. Michael R. “Mike” Williams, president of the University of North Texas Health Science

COURTESY FORT WORTH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

rfrancis@bizpress.net

Chamber members pose by FWT sign at annual meeting.

Center, was honored with the fourth annual Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce Susan Halsey Executive Leadership Award. (See page 60) Fort Worth-based food and beverage distribution giant Ben E. Keith Co. was honored at the meeting with the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce Chairman’s Spirit of Enterprise Award. The Spirit of Enterprise Award, the Chamber’s highest honor, recognizes a local organization that has demonstrated a true commitment to business growth and community development. The award is sponsored by BNSF Railway. “For more than a century, Ben E. Keith proudly has called Fort Worth home,” said John H. Hallam, CEO of Ben E. Keith. “As we have grown our beverage division to serve more than 60 counties across Texas and our food division to 15 states, we have stayed true to our Texan roots and the values instilled upon us by our founders here in Fort Worth in 1906. “On behalf of all the Ben E. Keith employees, especially the 600 plus living and working here in Tarrant County, we thank you for the honor. We will continue to give back to this community, support the growth and success of our customers, and promote the economic development and prosperity of the region for years to come.”

Ben E. Keith is the largest privately-owned company in Fort Worth and one of the largest and oldest in this region, earning close to $4 billion in 2017. “Like a lot of old companies, we had very humble beginnings,” Hallam told the crowd. “We had a single warehouse probably not too far from here with horse-drawn wagons as our only mode of delivery. “In fact, I’m not even sure if we had wagons plural. I think we just had one wagon. In that year of 1906 a man named Benjamin Elliot Keith was actually hired as our company’s first sales rep. And what a fortuitous decision now to come. Easily the best HR decision in the history of our company I’m sure,” Hallam said. “Mr. Keith, as you may recall, had what we would call the pioneering spirit that was apparent from the very beginning. He quickly rose up the ranks of that small company becoming a partner in five years and by 1918 he was a controlling partner and in 1931 the company would come to bear the name of then Ben E. Keith Company. At that time, we were well on our way to delivering fresh produce throughout the Fort Worth, Texas region,” Hallam said. Ben E. Keith continues to grow. The company is currently expanding facilities and engaging in new construction.

Among those projects is the addition of a $22 million, 185,000-square-foot project at Ben E. Keith’s south Fort Worth campus. The initiative is expected to create 283 jobs by 2025. The company owns two manufacturing facilities – Dallas-based Winn Meat Company and Kelley’s Foods of Alabama – which accelerates the ordering and delivery processes, making it possible for customers, such as restaurants, to receive next-day shipments “Fresh From Keith’s,” as the slogan goes – a line created in 1941 by Keith’s assistant, Trula House. Ben E. Keith has been a familiar name for decades in North Texas as a distributor of produce and Anheuser-Bush products, a relationship that began in 1928 when Keith met with Adolphus Busch, founder of Busch Beers, and became an independent distributor for the brewer. Today the company’s Food and Beverage divisions sell a vast universe of food, premium beverages, equipment, supplies and much more to customers that range from neighborhood eateries and white tablecloth restaurants to high-profile national and regional restaurant chains and institutions such as schools and hospitals, with more than 94 million cases shipped annually. “I think Mr. Keith would be proud to see what this company has become,” Hallam said. “Going from a small partnership with one sales rep doing business in a single city to a company operating in all of our 15 states with over 5,000 employees today.” Hallam said Keith would have been proud too that the company still carries the values he instilled years ago. “Those values include respect, fairness and integrity in all dealings with our customers, our suppliers, vendors,

Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce 137th Annual Meeting When: April 17, 2019 Where: Omni Hotel Sponsor: Frost What: New Chairman Lonnie Nicholson takes the gavel from Allyson Baumeister. Spirit of Enterprise Award: Ben E. Keith Co. Susan Halsey Executive Leadership Award: Michael Williams, UNT Health Science Center

communities where we do business, and most of all, our employees,” Hallam said. Besides being an innovative businessman, Ben E. Keith was deeply involved in the community, Hallam said. That included being one of if not the youngest chairman of the Fort Worth Chamber at the age of 35. Ben E. Keith was also key to the city being chosen as the site of Camp Bowie during World War I and the military has been a key to Fort Worth’s economic fabric ever since. “Lastly, let me just say that Fort Worth has been a great home to us,” said Hallam. “We’re very proud of our Fort Worth heritage. I firmly believe that the culture that Mr. Keith helped create and foster was also forged in the culture of the city itself.” Hallam said he sees a lot of shared values between the Ben E. Keith Company and the city. “When I think of Fort Worth and its leaders and its people, I think about the value of hard work, value of personal relationships, that get-it-done attitude and optimism,” he said.

APRIL 22 - 28,

2019

FortWorthBusiness.com

‘Mr. good Will’ dies; served Goodwill Industries of Fort Worth for 55 years PAU L K . H A R R A L

Will A. Courtney Sr., known by many in Fort Worth as “Mr. good Will,” died April 16, leaving behind a legacy of service TO Goodwill Industries of Fort Worth that spanned 55 years. “Will was a tireless advocate for Goodwill; not only giving generously of his time, business expertise and financial resources; but caring deeply for each person that crossed the threshold of the Goodwill headquarters that bore his name, the Will A. Courtney Center for Career Development,” David Cox, president & CEO of the organization, said. A memorial service was scheduled for 11 a.m. Tuesday, April 23, 2019, at First Presbyterian Church, where he was a member for 56 years. Mr. Courtney was born in Fort Worth on Sept. 24, 1935, to Ethel (Allen) and Quintard Peters Courtney Sr. He attended Lily B. Clayton Elementary School and Paschal High School. He was an AllDistrict fullback on the Paschal Football Team. In a 2017 interview with the Fort Worth Business Press, Mr. Courtney traced his passion for public service to President John F. Kennedy’s speech in Fort Worth on Nov. 22, 1963. Courtney said a Secret Service agent took them to a roped off area where Kennedy and his wife, Jackie, would walk past to get into their limousine for their fateful trip to Dallas. The president walked over and acknowledged

FORT WORTH BUSINESS PRESS ARCHIVES

pharral@bizpress.net

Will Courtney credited JFK will great influenced on his life.

Courtney, then 28, who had a pipe in his mouth at the time. “And, just think, he only lived about an hour after all this happened,” Courtney said. Soon after the assassination, Mr. Courtney was invited to be on the board of Goodwill Industries of Fort Worth. “That was 1964, and he remained on the board until his passing this week,” Cox said. “Will cared deeply for the people served by Goodwill – those with disabilities, disadvantages; those needing a second chance. He knew that this “freedom of man” that JFK spoke of could be found in independence; independence that Goodwill offers to those who seek not an open hand, but an open door of opportunity.” Mr. Courtney supported many causes in Fort Worth, among them The Cliburn. “When I came to the Cliburn six years ago, Will Courtney was a living example of the iconic Fort Worthian, with his cowboy hat and Texas drawl,” said Jacques Marquis, Cliburn

president and CEO. “And also definitively Fort Worth was his longstanding and unconditional love for the Cliburn. In addition to serving on the Board since 2006, volunteering to drive artists, and supporting the organization financially, one of his greatest contributions was allowing our artists practice in what we have long called ‘The Courtney House.’ “Hundreds of the world’s greatest artists have played the pianos housed in the River Crest home he owned and let us use perpetually. Because of that, his generosity is known well beyond Texas,” Marquis said. Cox noted that Mr. Courtney served on the board of both Goodwill International and Goodwill Global. As a result of volunteerism and philanthropy, he was named the 2014 Elsine Katz Volunteer Leader of the Year by Goodwill. He was also inducted into Goodwill’s Hall of Fame, just the second volunteer to receive the honor since the organization was founded in 1902.

“Will Courtney has been the personification of committed community involvement. I first met him when I moved to Fort Worth 32 years ago and was asked to join the Board of Directors of Goodwill Industries. Will was already a fixture there and became a grand mentor to me, both in learning about Goodwill and in supporting opportunities for me to serve in leadership,” said Harriet B. Harral, executive director of Leadership Fort Worth. “When I think ‘Goodwill,’ I also think ‘good Will.’ His service at both the local and national level is legendary. I am extremely proud to have been awarded the first Will Courtney Outstanding Service Award,” Harral, a former chair of the Goodwill board, said. In the late 1990s, Goodwill Industries relocated to its current headquarters on Campus Drive after a multimillion dollar capital campaign. Will Courtney was the heart and soul of that campaign. In recognition of all that he meant to Goodwill, the lead gift given by Ann and Robert Bass was in honor of Will and designated

that the training facility be named in his honor, Harral said. “My experience with Will in the context of Goodwill Industries is just one example of the myriad of ways that he participated in, inspired, and led in efforts that embody community trusteeship,” Harral said. In addition to Goodwill and The Cliburn, Mr. Courtney was also involved with a number of other nonprofits, including the USO World Board of Governors, Downtown Fort Worth Rotary Club, Fort Worth Public Library and the Ronald McDonald House of Fort Worth. And because of his admiration for Kennedy, he was a benefactor to the Fort Worth JFK Tribute in downtown Fort Worth. Mr. Courtney earned a degree in farming and ranching at Texas Tech University and then attended Southern Methodist University to study and earn his credentials in real estate. SMU was one of only two schools in Texas to offer this program at the time. He initially worked with the famed Dallas real estate brokerage firm of Henry S. Miller, but

in the late 1950s opened Courtney & Courtney Properties with his father, Quinn P. Courtney Sr. The commercial real estate firm owns and manages shopping centers and other properties in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and Colorado Springs, Colorado. Mr. Courtney was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Esther Wilson Courtney; son, Robert Wilson Courtney; his parents; and brother, Quintard Peters Courtney Jr. Survivors include: Son, Will Allen Courtney Jr.; daughter, Catherine Courtney Schmuck, who is a current board member of Goodwill, and husband, Wallace K.; grandchildren, William Wallace Schmuck and Courtney Elizabeth Schmuck; and nephews and nieces, Quintard Peters Courtney III, Cynthia Ann Courtney Siegel, Warren St. John, Paul St. John, Mary Madeline Whittinghill, Tricia Belknap, Mary Downs, Carl Downs, Edward Downs and Margaret Loving. This story includes material from the Fort Worth Business Press archives.

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APRIL 22 - 28,

2019

FortWorthBusiness.com

Fort Worth firm puts focus on millennial women

PHOTO BY NEETISH BASNET

WHAT CAN AN ATTENDEE EXPECT AT FIERCE LAB?

Tara Wilson of Tara Wilson Agency in her Fort Worth office. N EETIS H BA S N ET

nbasnet@bizpress.net There’s more to a millennial woman than just career development. That’s the finding of several research and focus groups. A FlexJobs survey, for instance, found that 84% of millennials want a work-life balance. And it is something that a Fort Worth-based marketing firm hopes to tap into. Tara Wilson of the Tara Wilson Agency found that even millennial women — although at their careers’ beginning phases — craved personal development and life empowerment. And that led to the creation of Fierce Lab, a first-of-itskind, innovative conference focused on delivering important resources to millennial women. The one-day event will be on April 27 at Hotel Zaza in Dallas. It will feature 14 speakers, including two keynotes: bestselling author Amber Rae and Bumble Bizz’s chief brand officer, Alexandra Williamson. Speakers will focus on topics including mental health, financial intelligence, risk-taking mentorship, self-confidence and financial health. There will be also be workshops and networking opportunities, along with a few activities sponsored by brand partners Topo Chico, Bumble Bizz and Her.HQ.

The activities provide firsthand relationship-building experiences with the brands, similar to the marketing strategy of brand activation that Tara Wilson Agency has used in recent years. The idea of directly engaging with consumers to market a product has landed the agency interest from brands such as Nike, ESPN and Samsung. “Millennials are hungry for experiences over materialistic items,” Wilson said. “In fact, that’s typically how they like to spend money. Some of their biggest purchases go toward having brand experiences over, say, going out and buying material things.” Fort Worth Business Press sat down with Wilson to learn more about Fierce Lab and about her.

WHAT IS THE IDEA BEHIND FIERCE LAB?

The reason we founded Fierce Lab is because we saw an opportunity in the Fort Worth and Dallas community to really help millennial women. We found that there is not a conference that focuses on the whole selves. There are conferences that are great for career development, or entrepreneur conference for someone looking to take their side-hustle and turn it into their full-time work. But there was not something that focused on women, holistically.

A lab is a place where you go, traditionally, to experiment. In a lab, it’s ok to try new things, it’s ok to test. And perhaps something might fail, but you tweak it, and you test again and you test again. With Fierce Lab, we’re bringing women together that have tried and done a multitude of things. It gives us a place for women to talk about what has worked for them and what hasn’t.

women want an opportunity to have conversations around their whole being. They are multi-faceted.

MILLENNIALS REPORT ONE OF THE HIGHEST RATES OF DEPRESSION. HOW IMPORTANT IS TAKING CARE OF ONE’S MENTAL HEALTH?

It’s really important now, more than ever, for everyone, but especially millennials, to think about their mental health and to focus on it. For so long there’s been a stigma around getting help when you feel challenged mentally.

ANY SUGGESTIONS ON HOW TO LOOK AFTER YOURSELF?

Peyton Mabry is a Dallas-based style/fitness influencer, Texas Christian University graduate and young millennial with 450,000 social media followers since she was 13.

WHAT ARE SOME THINGS THAT YOU WISH YOU HAD KNOWN EARLIER IN YOUR CAREER? That you didn’t have to have it all figured out. It was ok to completely do a 180 from a career perspective and that I would survive that. That financial hardship, in the beginning, doesn’t mean that I’m still struggling financially now. That mentoring doesn’t always come in a formal relationship. You, yourselves, often time have to pursue people that you want to have that professional relationship.

WHAT IS IT LIKE BEING A WOMAN IN THE MODERN WORKFORCE?

We’re multi-dimensional women. There’s so much more to us than just our careers, or just our hobbies. And that’s the case for anyone, be it a man or a woman. There’s this knowledge, on our part as an agency, that recognizes that

I talk so often with women about what they’re doing to keep themselves in a good headspace. Whether it be eliminating people they’re seeing in their social media feed. Or surrounding themselves with friends who are positive and uplifting, who aren’t necessarily constantly negative. Apart from that, what I know as a woman in my 40s that I didn’t know as a woman in my 20s was that it’s ok to talk to someone about what I’m going through emotionally.

AS AN ENTREPRENEUR, WHAT KIND OF CHALLENGES DID YOU FACE?

Being an entrepreneur comes with a unique set of challenges that maybe being an employee of another company does not have. You are going to face the challenges. You’re g oing to face financial challenges. You’re going to face your own challenges about whether you can do it. Maybe insecurities. You’re going to face setbacks about other people not believing that you can do it.

DO YOU THINK THOSE ENTREPRENEURIAL CHALLENGES DIFFERED FOR YOU BECAUSE YOU ARE A WOMAN?

I don’t think those challenges discriminate whether you are a man or a woman. I

don’t think it boils down to that, or that my challenges are any different as a woman than they are as a man. Because hustle is hustle is hustle.

Fierce Lab An event aiming to give millennial women counsel, life tools and networking opportunities. DETAILS: Hotel Zaza, Dallas April 27 from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $150 with a portion going to support the Foundation for the Young Women’s Leadership Academy of Fort Worth. SPEAKERS: Adele Jackson-Gibson – a New York City-based journalist, model, speaker and fitness coach featured in Cosmopolitan, Teen Vogue and others publications Peyton Mabry – a Dallasbased style/fitness influencer, Texas Christian University graduate and young millennial with 450,000 social media followers since she was 13 Channing Beumer – the African American, Dallasbased founder of @CNKDaily, a “sneakHER fashion” entrepreneur/blogger with more than 12,000 followers on Instagram Liz Mercer – an Austinbased entrepreneur and founder of Jungle Scout and Sleek Form with a passion for helping women develop financial independence. https://fiercelab.tarawilson. com/#welcome

APRIL 22 - 28,

2019

FortWorthBusiness.com

Corporate deal-making dips in 1Q on trade, economy fears Associated Press

Lingering trade spats and fears of a global economic slowdown stunted corporate deal-making worldwide during the first quarter. Large, international deals that drove the acquisitions market for years nearly disappeared, pushing deal values down by 15% from a year ago. Deal-making in Europe plunged to its lowest level in nearly seven years. Deal values in Asia plunged as China faced a damaging trade war with the U.S. and an economic slowdown. Companies eased off from deal-making amid concerns that the global economy was on shaky ground. Stocks nosedived during the fourth quarter, amid fears of a potential recession. The U.S. remained mired in a trade war with China that only worsened an economic slump in that nation. Economies in Europe also skidded and the eventual

impact of Britain’s exit from the European Union remains uncertain. “What we saw was a pullback as the conditions changed,” said Kate Warne, investment strategist at Edward Jones. The cloudy picture left companies hesitant to move ahead with new mergers and acquisitions, a hesitancy that carried over to the first quarter in most countries. The U.S. managed to buck the trend, as central banks took steps to allay fears about a sharp global slowdown. Companies rode a recovery in the U.S. stock market while sitting on lots of extra money from corporate tax cuts. Health care remained the hottest sector for deals. BristolMyers Squibb opened the first quarter with a bang, offering $77 billion for Celgene. Interest rates in the U.S. remained relatively low and the nation’s economy experienced stronger growth than the rest of the world.

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“You weren’t seeing much optimism about combinations in the rest of the world as you were in the U.S.,” Warne said. Companies might now have a better sense of the global economy’s direction after pausing during the first quarter, she said. Many of those companies, still sitting on lots of cash, are looking for other ways to boost earnings over time. The overall slowdown in deals during the first quarter could be a prelude to a spike in deals for the rest of 2019, some experts say. Several large deals have already been announced in the second quarter. Chevron is buying Anadarko Petroleum for $33 billion. Publicis Groupe is buying Epsilon for $4.4 billion. “Pockets of consolidation in some particularly hot sectors, vigorous private equity activity and a healthy domestic deal flow in the U.S. should give hope to dealmakers for the rest of 2019,” said Beranger Guille, global

editorial analytics director at MergerMarket. A survey earlier this year by Deloitte found that an increasing number

HR Presented by

Breakfast/Panel Discussion of Current HR Topics with this year’s four nalists for HR Professional of the Year:

Dionne Motal, CHRO of Civitas Senior Living Yohna Chambers , Vice Chancellor of Human Resources, TCU Fabiana Larese, Director of Human Resources Southland Holdings, LLC Nancy Zorn, Vice President, Human Resources First Command Financial Services, Inc.

May 1, 7:30 – 9:00 a.m.

Fort Worth Club, 306 W 7th St., Fort Worth Tickets available through April 24 at

www.fortworthbusiness.com/Tickets Discounts available for FW SRHM Members