WELCOME
A LETTER FROM THE DALLAS REGIONAL CHAMBER
I’m not a native Texan, but as the old saying goes, I got here as fast as I could. I’m one of those kids that came as a package deal when my father’s company relocated from upstate New York to the Dallas Region in the late ’90s. I attended college at Midwestern State in Wichita Falls, Texas, and after graduating, I decided to make my way back to the Dallas Region to start my career. I met my husband, Michael, a Dallas native, at a social event in 2004. JESSICA HEER Talent Attraction, We got married in 2007 and settled down just northwest of Dallas. The Senior Vice President Dallas Regional Chamber amenity-rich area — with a surprising small-town feel — has been a great place for us to raise our two small children. We have exceptional parks, places to shop, countless restaurants, and the newest entertainment venue, Irving Music Factory. With an easy commute to just about anywhere in the region, we have the ideal family setting for two working parents. Working downtown for more than 10 years, I’ve seen Dallas become more and more dynamic and family oriented. The Rory Meyers Children’s Adventure Garden at the Dallas Arboretum, the Dallas World Aquarium, and the Perot Museum of Nature and Science are just a few of our favorite places to explore with our children. I’ve lived here for nearly two decades, but I’m surprised every day by new restaurants and cultural amenities across the region. The flourishing Dallas Region business community is unparalleled by any across the country and has increasingly become a magnet for corporate headquarters and major companies. Dallas has a wealth of options for anyone looking to start or continue a career, and is replete with welcoming people who want to see others succeed. Moving to Dallas has been rewarding for me, both personally and professionally. There truly is no other place my family would call home. Jessica Heer Talent Attraction, Senior Vice President Dallas Regional Chamber
The Dallas Regional Chamber is one of the most established business organizations in the nation and serves as the voice of
2017 CHAIR OF THE BOARD Hilda C. Galvan Partner-in-Charge Jones Day PRESIDENT & CEO Dale Petroskey CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER & CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Pat Priest ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT Mike Rosa ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, VICE PRESIDENT Sarah Carabias-Rush RESEARCH AND INNOVATION, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT Duane Dankesreiter TALENT ATTRACTION, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT Jessica Heer MEMBERSHIP AND REVENUE GROWTH, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT G.W. Hail MEMBER SERVICES, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT Jennifer A. Schmiel COMMUNICATIONS, MARKETING, & EVENTS, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT Darren Grubb EDUCATION & WORKFORCE, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT Angela L. Farley
business and the champion of economic development and growth in the Dallas Region. We work with our 1,200 member companies and regional partners to strengthen our business community by advocating for pro-growth public policies, improving our educational system, attracting talented workers from around the world, and enhancing the quality of life for all. Our goal is to make Dallas the best place in America to live, work, and do business. For more information, please contact the Dallas Regional Chamber
PUBLIC POLICY, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT Virginia Schaefer STRATEGIC INITIATIVES, VICE PRESIDENT Kelle Marsalis
at 214.746.6600 or visit www.dallaschamber.org.
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D A L L A S REG I O N R E L O C AT I O N + N E W C O M E R G U I D E
WINTER 2017