Fort Worth Inc. - Fall 2023

Matt Morris HUB Fort Worth 50-249 Employees

Joseph DeWoody Valor 15-49 Employees

The first-ever Lexus TX and Sewell’s obsessive customer service. Nothing less than extraordinary.

OF FORT WORTH

Contents/Best Companies

Features

32 Empowering Spaces:

What does it take to create a fun, productive, and empowering workplace? These 45 companies, all of whom honored as one of the city’s best places to work, have some answers.

48 Make Up for Lost Time: A pair of ideadriven entrepreneurs and beauty salon owners have kickstarted a virtual assistant platform that not only fills in the needs of a busy beauty industry, but improves mental health, too.

50 A Well of Expertise: From Mayor Mattie Parker’s “Go Time” to a blog on launching a wedding photography business, the local content well for business owners and entrepreneurs runs as deep as the Congo.

4 Publisher’s Note

Bizz Buzz

8 Chef, Boy Howdy: John Goff’s highly anticipated Cultural District hotel, The Crescent, touts a renowned chef to man its flagship fine-dining restaurant, Emelia’s.

14 EO Spotlight: Author, podcaster, and sales consultant Don Williams, of Don Williams Global, chats about his own successes, romancing customers to increase sales, and spirit animals.

Executive Life & Style

18 Distinctive Style: Jessica Breslin, of local boutique Shop Birdie, says professional women need not fall into the rut of sporting drab, black and gray business attire

20 Health and Fitness: With the San Franciscobased Wellest Inc., AI is doing far more than creating deepfake videos of Pope Francis and writing ho-hum copy — it’s getting ya healthy.

22 Office Space: TCU head football coach Sonny Dykes’ office is chock-full of family heirlooms, nifty gifts from trustees, and reminders of his successful first season as a Horned Frog.

28 Off the Clock: When not impressing former presidents with wellmade leather bags, Dave Munson is invested in education and spreading the word of God in faraway places.

Bizz Wrap-Up

60 Analyze This/ Wealth Management: Wes Shannon gives us all the reasons why one should max out their 401(k) before contributing to their Roth IRA.

60 Analyze This/ Chamber of Commerce: How Unreasonable Hospitality goes beyond the simple transaction and creates a memorable, awe-inspiring experience for the customer.

64 1 in 400: The Fort Worth market president of Regions Bank, Brian Happel, got his successful playbook from, well, the NFL.

Brittany G.

Valued team member since 2008

A Not-So-Great Place to Work Is Expensive

OWNER/PUBLISHER HAL A. BROWN

There are many reasons why business owners should care about their companies being considered great places to work, with one of the most important being the high cost of employee turnover. In today's fiercely competitive job market, employee turnover has become a significant concern for organizations across various industries. It is no secret that losing valuable talent can be costly in terms of monetary expenses and intangible impacts on team morale and productivity.

Various studies have estimated that the cost of replacing an employee can range from 30% to 150% of their annual base salary. These expenses stem from recruitment and hiring processes, onboarding and training new hires, and productivity loss during transition.

Apart from the financial implications, high employee turnover can also harm the overall workplace environment. Frequent departures can create an atmosphere of uncertainty and anxiety among the remaining staff, adversely affecting morale and productivity. Additionally, when employees leave, they take valuable institutional knowledge and relationships with them, which may lead to further inefficiencies and disruptions in the workflow.

Ultimately, a stable and cohesive team is essential for the success of any organization, and employee turnover can disrupt this harmony, leading to reduced collaboration and innovation.

So, how do you build one of the Best Places to Work for in Fort Worth? Many employers struggle with this. They think they have built a great company to work for and cannot understand why their turnover is so high. Perceptions of a company's work environment and culture can vary signifi-

cantly between employers and employees. Just because an employer believes their company is a great place to work does not necessarily mean that employees share the same sentiment.

Employee satisfaction and engagement are critical factors in determining whether a company is genuinely a great place to work, so, it is essential for employers to actively seek feedback from their employees to understand their experiences, concerns, and suggestions. Why not just ask your employees what they like and don't like? In many cases, employees may be hesitant to provide honest feedback directly to their employers for various reasons, such as fear of retaliation, a belief that their feedback won't be taken seriously, or concerns about potential negative consequences for their careers.

Providing employers in Fort Worth with unbiased and candid feedback about their work environment is one of the reasons I launched our "Best Companies to Work for in Fort Worth." For the eighth year in a row, we hired Peter Burk and his company, the Workforce Research Group, to conduct the third-party research for our list.

Please join us in congratulating Fort Worth Inc.’s Best Companies to Work for in Fort Worth winners for 2023. This year’s list consists of 45 winners in three size categories (20 Small, 15 Medium, and 10 Large). All of these companies have created great workplaces and have demonstrated that they have what it takes to recruit and retain a highly engaged workforce.

VOLUME 9, NUMBER 3, FALL 2023

owner/publisher hal a. brown vice president of dream street operations and production mike waldum

editorial executive editor john henry creative director craig sylva senior art director spray gleaves advertising art director ed woolf director of photography crystal wise contributing editor brian kendall digital editor stephen montoya copy editor sharon casseday

advertising main line 817.560.6111 sales director andrew yeager x 131 territory manager, fort worth inc. rita hale x133 advertising account supervisor gina burns-wigginton x150 advertising account supervisor marion c. knight x135 account executive tammy denapoli x141 client services manager julia martin x 116 executive administrator/project coordinator kaitlyn lisenby

marketing director of digital robby kyser director of marketing and audience development sarah benkendorfer content marketing specialist grace behr events and partnerships manager lauren roberts

corporate cfo charles newton

To subscribe to Fort Worth Inc. magazine, or to ask questions regarding your subscription, call 817.766.5550 or go to fortworthinc.com.

Fort Worth Inc. is published quarterly by Panther City Media Group LP, 6777 Camp Bowie Blvd, Suite 130, Fort Worth, TX 76116. Postage Paid at Fort Worth, Texas. POSTMASTER: Send change of address notices and undeliverable copies to Panther City Media Group, PO Box 213, Lincolnshire, IL 60069 Volume 9, Number 3, Fall 2023. Basic

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how to contact us For questions or comments, contact John Henry, executive editor, at 817.560.6111 or via email at jhenry@fwtexas.com.

Fort Brewery: Will Churchill, Owner Victory Awning: Larry Buck, CEO & Chandry Manzke, President

Bizz Buzz

As a sales and marketing consultant, Don Williams is the missing link for many companies seeking to increase business.

Chef, Boy Howdy

Preston Paine will head up Emelia's at The Crescent Fort Worth

WORDS BY JOHN HENRY

There’s a flurry of activity on the bricks on Camp Bowie in the run-up to the highly anticipated opening of The Crescent Hotel, John Goff’s $250 million development just west of downtown.

In only a matter of weeks, the red carpet will be rolled out, the ribbon will be cut, the local dignitaries will deliver words, and toasts will abound for the occasion.

It all brings back memories of the history — it’s likely no one actually remembers — of the opening of the Hilton Fort Worth, then called the Hotel Texas, more than 100 years earlier. The hotel, opened in 1921 as the largest in the city, was designed by Sanguinet & Staats.

Original construction on the hotel cost $4 million (that’s $68 million today) and informally opened that year with an allnighter. Literally.

“We want all of Fort Worth to attend the housewarming,” said Edwin Lee, the hotel’s first general manager. “The Texas is a Fort Worth enterprise, and Fort Worth naturally will be our first guest.”

As local news sources of the day reported, every room was occupied that night. Guests, whether they were staying — 800 were expected — or coming and going — 1,600 were expected to drop by — registered at 9 p.m. At 10, dancing began in the grand ballroom, the Court of Bluebonnets, the Bluebonnet Promenade, and the Cactus Room.

At midnight, supper was served in the South Room, the Hall of Longhorns, and the Great Lobby.

“Dancing then will be resumed and will continue until dawn. Coffee will be served at 3 a.m., and breakfast will be served at 6 a.m.”

At which point, the party was broken up, ahem, by all accounts peacefully.

The much-awaited opening of The Crescent is upon us.

Officials there stirred a party with the announcement this summer that Preston Paine will head up The Crescent’s new restaurant, Emelia’s.

Paine, a Fort Worth resident who graduated from Dallas Jesuit High School, was a contestant on the Food Network show "Ciao House." In addition to his TV appearance, Paine has made a name for himself as an executive chef at several Dallas Bishop Arts District restaurants, including Paradiso, 308 N. Bishop Ave. He was also a co-founder of Shug's Bagels at 3020 Mockingbird Lane.

In the role he is undertaking, Paine will be in charge of the upscale Mediterranean restaurant Emelia's, located inside The Crescent, which will include a separate fine dining space called The Blue Room.

In the past, Paine helped open restaurants in the Thompson Hotel, a luxury hotel in Dallas, the former First National Bank Tower, including Catbird and Nine at The National.

The highly anticipated opening of the Crescent Fort Worth in the Cultural District is slated in just weeks. The development will house Crescent Real Estate, Crescent Energy, Goff Capital, and Canyon Ranch, the luxury resort and wellness brand founded by Mel Zuckerman 40 years ago.

Along with 168,000 square feet of office

space, the project will include a 200-room luxury hotel, the aforementioned Emelia's, and 175 high-end residences.

Reservations for The Crescent Hotel are now available for stays beginning in September. Visit thecrescenthotelfortworth. com for information.

The hotel will also feature two bars, one in the lobby and one on the rooftop. The hotel's lobby bar, The Circle Bar, continues the Mediterranean mood of Emelia's, while the exclusive rooftop bar boasts panoramic views of Fort Worth and craft cocktails.

The Crescent Hotel has more than 14,000 square feet of special event space across 10 venues, featuring a mix of indoor and outdoor spaces, each complete with state-ofthe-art technology.

According to Paine’s bio, he found love in cooking through a close family friend who introduced him to the culinary arts.

While at Tulane, where he studied business development and played football for the Green Wave, he worked different jobs in restaurants in New Orleans and began also picking up and gaining inspiration from the city's renowned flavors.

After graduating, he began his career with a restaurant management and development company based in Dallas. Two years later, he set sail in pursuit of different cuisines around the world, including cooking on yachts near Croatia. Having returned to the states, he went to work as chef de partie for Eleven Madison Park in New York City. During his time there, the restaurant retained its three-star Michelin rating. He returned to Dallas after the beginning of the pandemic shutdown.

Back home, he turned his attention to restaurants as an entrepreneur, which resulted in Shug’s, his New York-style bagel shop, which evolved five highly acclaimed concepts throughout the Bishop Arts District.

In the first episode of "Ciao House," Paine astonished the celebrity chefs on the Food Network TV show by making fresh pasta in 45 minutes.

"I can't believe you made fresh pasta in this amount of time," Alex Guarnaschelli said. "That's really bold."

A Czarific Tale

The Siberia Job details John Kleinheinz’s Russian business adventure.

WORDS BY JOHN HENRY

John Kleinheinz’s prospecting in post-Soviet Russia in the early 1990s in short order assembled quite a sizable nugget: A huge position in the country’s chief exporter of natural gas.

“The company went ballistic, and they literally said, ‘We're gonna kill you.’ That was their opening bargaining position,” Kleinheinz says by phone.

Kleinheinz, who with his wife, Marsha, makes Fort Worth his hometown, was comfortable knowing that proposition was the agitated bear merely striking a pose. The investment fund he was part of included Bob Strauss, prominent attorney and business-

man, as well as President George H.W. Bush’s ambassador to the dying Bolsheviks — sent to the ash heap of history — and the new Russia that emerged.

“We had enough people in our deal, and Russia, frankly, they were trying to jumpstart their capital market and create a market. There was no way they were gonna kill foreign investors,” Kleinheinz says.

The anecdote, however, is a taste of Kleinheinz’s story of adventure, striking it rich in the Russian Federation. He is the co-author of The Siberia Job, a novel based on the true, daring story of Kleinheinz’s bold excursion into the “Wild West of the East” that required uncommon chutzpah.

Kleinheinz, an economics graduate from Stanford, is the founder and president of Kleinheinz Capital in Fort Worth. He continues to run the Global Undervalued Securities Fund, which is active in a variety of areas including Japan and U.S. energy and technology markets and private equity. After moving to Fort Worth in 1993, he was a partner in an investment firm where he managed the Russia Value Fund.

The Siberia Job was actually written by Josh Haven. That is a pseudonym, just like Kleinheinz’s character, “John Mills.”

The book is a novel, Kleinheinz says, for a variety of reasons, namely to protect people.

The company involved said it wanted no publicity at all, Kleinheinz says.

“There’s still enough people around [who were involved] who could get in trouble and [the company] has got their own private security, much like the Wagner group.

“So, you know, there was just no reason to be overly factual.”

The Wagner Group is the mercenary outfit that recently quit its fight in Ukraine in order to march back to Russia seeking recompense from the military hierarchy and perhaps Vladimir Putin himself.

The book details Russia’s privatization efforts in the aftermath of the fall of the Soviet Union. In 1994, the government privatized its industry by issuing vouchers to all of its citizens, allowing them to be shareholders in the country’s burgeoning economy. The vouchers were administered by the International Monetary Fund and European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. The slips were distributed

among the population, and auctions were arranged where they could be exchanged for actual shares.

The vouchers were little more than pieces of paper for the country’s rural populations who were living in abject poverty. And, indeed, one voucher had little value. However, a collection of vouchers had potential for a lucrative windfall.

In fact, Kleinheinz and his partner on the ground in Russia, Petr Kellner, were acquiring shares in companies for 1% to 2% of intrinsic value.

Kleinheinz, then in his early 30s, was an investment banker in London while observing the voucher system successfully work in the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Poland in the year or two leading up to Russia’s attempted transition.

In the book, “John Mills” and his partner, Petr, travel to the outreaches of Siberia to acquire vouchers for the country’s national oil company, Gazneft, going from town to town with suitcases full of cash. When the Russian mafia and oligarchs in charge of the company catch wind of their successes, the stakes become suddenly deadly.

In reality, Kleinheinz says, he faced little danger despite the “threat” to kill him.

National leaders intentionally made it difficult for someone like Kleinheinz's group from accruing large interests in companies by hosting auctions in the remotest parts of the country.

And sure enough, there were plenty of complications, the last one the threat to use lethal force to get the shares back. Ultimately, the gas company took back about 80% of the stock of the Kleinheinz group. It required Strauss to work his diplomatic channels through Russian Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin, the former minister of the gas industry in the Soviet Union.

“We went at it in such a business manner … so well-organized manner,” Kleinheinz says. “I called up Bob [Strauss] when I got the results; I said, ‘Bob, we're gonna make $2.5 billion, $3 billion on this deal. Bob said, ‘No, you're not. They’re only gonna let you make about 500 million bucks.

“Just off the top of his head, he said ‘You’re gonna make about 500 million bucks.' Three months later, after all the negotiations, that’s exactly how much we made.”

¡ 2022 Greater Arlington Chamber of Commerce Small Business of the Year – For Profit

¡ 2022 Fort Worth Inc. Best Companies to Work

¡ Texas Super Lawyers for 11 Years ¡ Tarrant County Top Attorneys

¡ Top Attorneys in Texas ¡ Million Dollar Advocates Forum

¡ Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization

Trending Up Partnership, investment infusion sets Canyon Ranch on growth trajectory

WORDS BY JOHN HENRY

Cami and John Goff threw a big party this summer at The Modern where founding members were treated to the unveiling of stunning renderings of the new Canyon Ranch Fort Worth Wellness Club, which will be located in The Crescent.

“Thank you all for joining us this evening. We are excited to unveil the first-ever Canyon Ranch Wellness Club, which will be the heartbeat of our Crescent Development in the Cultural District,” said John Goff. “We’re so proud to join this incredibly vibrant neighborhood. As the first urban Canyon Ranch property in the country,

we feel this development will be the new epicenter of Fort Worth. Join us as founding members and become a part of the growing experience of Canyon Ranch.”

He wasn’t kidding about a “growing experience.”

Not long after that event, Canyon Ranch officials announced a long-term partnership with VICI Properties, the New York-based entertainment company that owns Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, among others.

The two entities said that VICI was making a new $150 million investment in Canyon Ranch. That is in addition to the $200 VICI made last year to build a Canyon Ranch spa resort in the Texas Hill Country.

In addition to those investments, VICI is also providing new financing for Canyon Ranch legacy resorts in Tucson and Lennox, Massachusetts, the Dallas Morning News reported.

“This partnership offers Canyon Ranch the potential to accelerate our growth in an ‘asset light’ manner, growing our reach and expertise,” Goff said. “VICI shares our vision for growth and our confidence that the current environment is a compelling time to invest.”

The total is about a half-billion dollars from VICI, Goff said, “but the real intent is to deploy several billion dollars with us — that’s our hope.”

New Canyon Ranch Wellness Clubs are planned in more than a dozen locations, along with additional resorts in Florida, the Pacific Northwest, and the Southeast.

Canyon Ranch is a “pioneer in destination wellness.”

The inaugural Wellness Club will open this fall in Fort Worth, with a Houston location in the summer of 2024, and the Canyon Ranch Austin resort opens in 2025.

In addition to Caesars Palace, VICI also owns MGM Grand and the Venetian Resort in Las Vegas. The company's portfolio consists of 43 gaming facilities, but it has a growing array of investments in nongaming experiential operators, including, of course, Canyon Ranch, Great Wolf Resorts, and Chelsea Piers.

TechFW Liftoffs

Two TechFW members get good news.

WORDS BY FORT WORTH INC. STAFF

Two TechFW member companies recently received a boost to R&D. Galaxy Unmanned Systems LLC has been awarded $1.25 million from the Department of Defense to continue building on its airspace integration roadmap.

The “Direct to Phase Two” (D2P2) award will support the construction and flight demonstration of a prototype unmanned airship called "Galaxy" for Advanced Air Mobility research.

Galaxy Unmanned Systems is headed by Tony and Jason White, two brothers who have extensive experience in the Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) industry, both commercially and with DoD.

The ultimate goal of Galaxy Unmanned Systems is to achieve full integration of their unmanned systems, particularly the Galaxy airship, into the National Airspace System (NAS) for drones and Urban Air Mobility.

Meanwhile, Opsin Biotherapeutics Inc., a joint venture between DesignPlex Biomedical and Nanoscope Technologies, has achieved a milestone in the realm of chronic pain management.

The company has been granted a Phase 1 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

The grant, totaling more than $327,800, will be allocated toward the advancement of a project called “Optogenetic Pain Modulator for non-opioid chronic pain management,” with medical doctor Darryl Narcisse serving in the role of principal investigator.

The primary objective of the Phase 1 grant is to propel the study and development of an innovative solution to tackle severe chronic pain without resorting to opioid-based medications.

Have you considered jobs in film, television and commercials?

CONSTRUCTION

Innovative fast-track certificates designed to fit around work and family.

There are lots of people out there who possess an extraordinary capability, a so-called “superpower” that, put into the marketplace, could be a service in demand.

One might be a plumber, a bricklayer, a therapist, or even a writer. That know-how, though, might not translate to business without an acumen for marketing and sales.

That’s the part of the business equation Don Williams Global fills.

Don Williams, an entrepreneur now going on 37 years and four times an author, is a sales consultant who provides businesses counsel on sales and marketing. Many of his clients are Fortune 500 companies.

“My primary passion is helping people drive massive growth in sales. I don't really care what kind of business they're in. You can help almost anyone when you bring in the right principles because selling is really easy when you do it the right way. It can be brutally hard when you do it the wrong way.”

Williams also hosts a podcast, the “Proven Entrepreneur Show,” which has about 310,000 downloads. In the show, he discusses the journey of entrepreneurship with successful startup founders.

Williams, 63, has been good at this for a long time. At 19, he was the top salesman in the country at a company with 450 salespeople. At 20, he was the top sales manager in the country out of 40 offices. In time, he moved into real estate.

Chief Sales Officer

Don Williams’ passion is to make cash registers go ‘cha-ching.’

WORDS BY JOHN HENRY IMAGE BY CRYSTAL WISE

houses in a month. I didn’t know that most people didn’t sell 17 houses in a year. Nobody told me that, so, I just did it.”

His book, Romancing the Customer, details the parallels between the romantic journey and customer journey and uses dating as a metaphor for prospect activity and improving the sales process.

“Merely by working in those two areas, it’s shocking the difference it makes,” he says. “Let's say you have a software service company and they're converting 20% of their sales from qualified leads, and you help them improve to 30%. That doesn’t sound like a lot, but it's 50% more volume to the top line. It's huge. And what I've found is that most problems the business has, if you sell enough, about half of those problems just evaporate. They just go poof, and they're gone. And the other half, if they're a little more concrete than that, you now have enough money to afford somebody to help you fix them, and you can make your life a lot easier.”

When asked who his spirit animal is, Williams pauses to think a second.

The eagle, he says, adding that his top character strengths are judgment, perspective, and honesty.

The eagle has a unique perspective, he continues, being able to see things that other people and other animals don't see. The eagle is also able to connect the dots in a different way.

“It’s actually easy for the eagle. The other animals would be like, ‘Wow, I don't know how you ever did that.’ And the eagle is like, ‘I don't know what’s the big deal. It's easy for me.’”

“I sold 17 houses my first month only because I didn’t know you can’t sell 17

“I sold 17 houses my first month only because I didn’t know you can’t sell 17 houses in a month. I didn’t know that most people didn’t sell 17 houses in a year. Nobody told me that, so, I just did it.”

Breaking the Monotony

Embracing fun, color, and creativity in business attire

WORDS BY ELIZABETH SEHON

The notion of professionalism has often been associated with dull and monotonous attire in a sea of gray and black garments that have long dominated corporate boardrooms — but one local boutique owner is embracing a new era of fashion into the corporate environment with vibrant, fun, and stylish alternatives that convey professionalism and a sense of creativity.

“It depends on your workplace community, of course, but if bright colors and pattern mixing are beautifully put together, it could actually elevate your presence and show what you can bring to the table,” says Jessica Breslin, boutique owner of Shop Birdie on Camp Bowie Boulevard and Belle’s located at the Shops at Clearfork. She also owns B Kids on Camp Bowie.

Breslin lends her expertise on trendy and colorful ensembles that exude confidence and demonstrate that business attire can be vibrant yet refined and exciting.

For example, she points to the Daphne Dress, designed by Main Strip. This floralpatterned dress still offers all the formal details of traditional business attire, including delicate buttons and a coordinating belt. The print carries beautifully onto the cuff sleeve. For an executive look, pair the dress with neutral pumps.

However, in this edition of Distinguished Style, we take a look at making a bold statement with colorful blazers and trousers.

Arden linen jacket

Designer: A.L.C. (pale turquoise) - $695

Arlo linen jacket

Designer: A.L.C. (soft cream) - $495

The Arden and Arlo blazers fall into the same category — beautiful colors in the perfect lightweight fabric. The neutral but fun colors can easily be added to any fun printed dress, blouse, and pant combo, immediately elevating the look. These blazers are in my closet, and I continue to reach for them repeatedly. The key is to strike a balance between boldness and elegance to maintain a professional appearance.

The Arden jacket is crafted from a soft linen blend fabric in a pale turquoise hue. This single-breasted silhouette features classic details, including notched lapels, flap pockets, and a back vent. The Arlo jacket is crafted from solid relaxed linen fabric in a soft cream hue. This structured yet lightweight silhouette features notched lapels, a single button closure, flap pockets, and a back vent.

The Femme blazer – lilac

Designer: Frame Denim - $628

The Femme blazer is revised with an elevated femininity and an alluring fit. Wide lapels display the decolletage, while double-button styling highlights the waist. The material is crafted from stretch linen and finished with tortoiseshell buttons to contrast the gorgeous lilac hue.

Currently, trousers are trending in the New York and Paris fashion scene. The lilac suiting set from Bette's is a great companion to the blazer and covers all

the executive office must-haves without sacrificing the trends we love. The shop offers more vibrant hues with lightweight fabrics. The Le Crop Mini Boot trousers feature a high-rise, boot-cut silhouette crafted of a linen blend with side seam pockets that finish the cropped style. Those go for $378.

Arlo linen jacket

Arden linen jacket

The Femme blazer

A New Picture of Health

Wellest Inc. is redefining how to prevent disease through A.I.

WORDS BY JOHN HENRY

Dave Sekowski left a career working for Intel and Apple as a product manager to start a business merging his two passions — tech and wellness.

The result is Wellest Inc., the San Francisco-founded company and member of the initial cohort of Techstars Physical Health Fort Worth Accelerator at The University of North Texas Health Science Center.

Sekowski, the CEO and founder, and his development team, led by Chris Skowera, designed an expert artificial intelligence that optimizes and automates health coaching in real-time. The platform is able to take patient variables with demographic information, lab results, diet and daily exercise, and supplement routines to generate personalized step-by-step guidance on how one should sleep, eat, exercise,

take supplements and medications to treat disease.

An open end-to-end health platform tracked and observed from the patient’s smart phone.

“I got into health tech coming out of Intel and Apple and wanting to bring deep tech and user-centered design to health,” Sekowski says. “It started because I wanted to go beyond health data collection, summarization, and analysis to the actual ‘so what?’ — in other words, what deeply personalized and real-time guidance does someone need to help them be the most well they can be.”

Sekowski, 38, a Chicago resident, has 15 years of experience in high-performance computing and consumer technology as well as a lifetime interest in health, fitness, and sports. He has studied and trained in

sports performance nutrition, training, and supplementation.

Sekowski learned about the Techstars program through a friend from college who had had success with his company through another Techstars cohort.

The Techstars Physical Health Accelerator is a three-month program that focuses on the challenges and opportunities in the world of physical health. Techstars surrounds companies with mentors and a network of corporate partners and investors. It also provides fundraising opportunities, workshops, and other resources.

“Techstars was a great experience for us,” Sekowski says. “It did exactly what we hoped it would do, which was to help us complete our pivot from a consumer focus to a business focus with us selling to providers and health systems instead of to consumers directly.

“It helped us make a ton of mentor, fellow founder, and investor connections. It also helped us to win our first pilot with UNT HSC. And it gave us a wonderful opportunity to present at our Techstars Demo Day and tell our story.”

Tell their story, Sekowski did. He relayed the story of the death of his mother from complications from nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

“Really, this is about my mom,” Sekowski said during his presentation. “She died from an entirely preventable disease. She had high liver enzymes for over 20 years, but because she was at a healthy weight and didn’t drink alcohol, those were ignored. Yearly physicals and occasional blood work do not tell the entire story.”

So many, he cautions, are living with poor metabolic health, which leads to high blood sugar, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. All of those leading to deadly diseases — what he calls “truly the pandemic of modern living.”

Sekowski says he has had success winning providers focused on improving treatment and outcomes on those very metabolic health matters.

“We’re seeing great opportunities to improve quality of care and outcomes while saving providers time while increasing revenue from their existing operations, staff, and patients.”

A Frog’s Lair

TCU

coach Sonny Dykes’ office — a trip through college football history

WORDS BY JOHN HENRY IMAGES BY CRYSTAL WISE

During the season, TCU head coach Sonny Dykes spends more than a share of 24 hours each day in the offices of the football program.

Getting ready for a football game each week requires grinding hours of preparation. That’s how a team can know exactly what to do to beat Baylor on the road as time expires.

Dykes’ office is fit for a

chief executive officer, which, ultimately, he is.

It’s spacious with all the amenities and enough mementos to double as a college football museum.

Dykes, Fort Worth Inc.’s Person of the Year in 2023, gave us a tour during the off-season. He’s too busy to do that kind of stuff in-season. Here’s what we discovered.

Perhaps the most valuable keepsake in Dykes’ office is a letter from President George H.W. Bush to Dykes’ father, Spike. In it the former president expresses his condolences on the passing of Dykes’ mother, Sharon. Bush and Spike were friends from their days in Midland, where Spike was a high school football coach.

What better way symbolically to urge your players forward than with spurs? These were a gift to

Sitting at the front of the executive’s office is Sonny Dykes, who, by all appearances, has someone (or something) overseeing him.

Dykes from Mary Ralph Lowe, TCU trustee.

Executive

“The Masked Rider” from Texas Tech is an heirloom passed down from his father, Spike, who died in 2017. Spike coached at Tech from 1986-99.

Football is important, of course, but the real reason parents get up in the morning is because of their kids. A message from Dykes’ son, Daniel, is a heady reminder for the coach of what life is really about.

One of a number of trinkets that will remind the coach and visitors of the magic of 2022: a helmet from the Jim Thorpe Award presentation. The award was won by TCU defensive back Tre'Vius Hodges-Tomlinson.

Dykes has always expressed his appreciation for what happened at TCU before he arrived. In the set of shelves second from the right, in the middle, is the Rose Bowl Trophy of 2011.

Dykes won 10 national coach of the year awards in his first season leading the Horned Frogs. The most prized of them all is the Eddie Robinson Award, named for the former Grambling legend.

This only looks like a football. It sparkles like the night sky in the far reaches of Big Bend. This was a gift from Phil Knight, Nike chairman emeritus.

Caring for the whole person means more than treating their immediate symptoms. It means empowering people to participate in their physical, mental, spiritual and financial well-being, and creating environments where they can thrive. The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth is leading the way in promoting Whole Health in North Texas.

unthsc.edu/fwinc

Man on a Mission

Dave Munson’s Saddleback Leather Co. builds far more than bags.

HENRY

WISE

Having fulfilled his academic requirements and been deemed biblically competent and spiritually formed, Dave Munson left Multnomah University in Port-

land, Oregon, with a theology degree in hand and plenty of ambition to do what he had been commanded.

That is, make disciples, proclaim the message of salvation, and spread the good news of the kingdom of God, just as Jesus Christ had directed his friends to do.

Little did he know at the time that it would be a leather company he founded that would be at the intersection of his ministry, a leather ministry, as he calls it.

The Lord works in mysterious ways, after all.

“He certainly does,” Munson says.

This long, winding tale of Dave Munson’s leather ministry adventure is played out in a corner in the center of Azle at the offices, showroom, and warehouse of Saddleback Leather Co., a thriving company run by Munson, the company’s president, and his wife, Suzette.

A note from George W. Bush that sits in a frame and hangs on a wall attests to the level of high-profile customers his leather products have attracted. In it, the former president is highly complimentary and grateful for the leather luggage he purchased. The “care and craftsmanship” are apparent, Bush wrote.

The operation extends to Mexico where the company’s factory is located. From there the product is shipped to Texas where it finds a spot in the retail showroom or is sent out by way of the various methods of delivery.

The product is high-end stuff made of the thickest leather, but, as Munson says, the company’s mission is to make something so well that “my grandkids would fight over it while I was still warm in the grave.”

That’s why it has a 100-year warranty. Unless, as the company notes, you take the bag shark diving in saltwater and a rivet corrodes. Or an elephant stomps on it and creases the leather, or if a crocodile chomps on it and tears off a D-ring.

In all, Dave says he employs about 200 between the states and Mexico.

An expansion of the facilities is in the works, with a new headquarters and warehouse being constructed just minutes away from the current base of operations at 105 Speer St., Suite 4, in Azle. It’ll be complete in about two years, Munson says.

Saddleback is the official leather

company of the Texas Rangers. It’s all part of a successful marketing operation. Munson has produced a lot of fun and award-winning marketing campaigns to push the product, including a series of paintings featuring an elderly man and a Saddleback Leather bag. One features the man with Blue.

Who is Blue?

Well, this all started in 1999 with Munson teaching English at a Christian school in western Mexico with his trusty sidekick, Blue. Blue had been by Munson’s side through some wild adventures. Blue, though he has passed from this place, is the official mascot of Saddleback Leather Co. He remains a prominent feature — a fixture — in Saddleback marketing.

“When you teach a poor kid English, it changes the whole trajectory of their family,” Munson says. “They're going that way, now they're going that way. So, it's a real big deal.”

While down there, he sought out but couldn’t find a good leather bag to carry his books. In the end, he designed one himself and brought the blueprint to a gentleman who assembled bags. “I sketched out what Indiana Jones would carry, you know.”

He brought the bag back to Portland for a visit. While there, he was asked time and again where he got his bag.

“I thought I might be on to something.”

He had them made periodically to fund his ministry and travels. Marriage to Suzette changed his plans, as marriage has the habit of doing.

Dave, one, needed a steady livelihood. Leather did that, but it also gave him a budget to do good works and spread the good word.

It’s from this spot in northwest Tarrant County that Dave and Suzette, his “hot wife,” as he says, have laid the foundation for what they do away from the business: missionary work.

“I always wanted to be a youth pastor,” says Dave, who relocated with his bride and children to Fort Worth to join other family members who had moved here.

“That's it. I didn’t want to waste my life. I thought that if you're not being paid by a church or a para-church organization, like Young Life, then you're kind of a secondclass Christian.

WORDS BY JOHN

IMAGES BY CRYSTAL

“I was wrong.”

Dave and Suzette run a school in Mexico, located adjacent to Saddleback’s factory. It’s much like the one Dave worked at years prior teaching English. It has an enrollment of 62 students from K-12 and is an affiliate of NOE International, a Christ-centered curriculum offering accredited English programs that prepare students for college.

The school began as English-only curriculum in 2015 but expanded to a full curriculum in 2018. A day care was also on the premises but was closed because of COVID and hasn’t resumed.

The principal is a former student of Dave’s all those years ago.

Rwanda has also been a notable location of the Munsons’ ministry. Through Africa New Life Ministries, an organization primarily devoted to helping children in Rwanda, they have sponsored — more like adopted — 14ish sons and daughters. Actually, we’re not really sure how many. Dave is pretty sure Suzette has taken on more children than she has let on.

“I learned a long time ago, a very valuable lesson,” Suzette says. “Like, eight, nine, 10 years ago. [Dave] asked me this question: ‘How many kids do we have [in Africa]? And I don't remember what I told him. I said whatever, eight or whatever. And he goes, ‘That's a lot.’ But that's when it dawned on me: I'm never gonna again tell him a number nor will I count ever again because it's not about a number. I don't really know because I don't count. And that's the truth.”

Many of the children were victims of the Rwandan Civil War during the mid-tolate-1990s. Following the assassination of President Habyarimana in 1994, extremist Hutu elements within the government, military, and civilian population initiated a systematic campaign of violence against Tutsis and moderate Hutus. Over a period of approximately 100 days, an estimated 800,000 people, mostly Tutsis, were killed in acts of genocide.

Africa New Life is run by Rwandans, says Alan Hotchkiss, U.S. executive director of Africa New Life and, coincidentally, a former classmate of Dave’s at Multnomah. The two reacquainted years after school. Dave remembered Hotchkiss immediately as the guy he’d sometimes catch dozing in a Bible class.

To no surprise, just about everything in Saddleback's office is made of leather, up to and including picture frames. Those are leather pants at the bottom right.

“Maybe you shouldn’t include that in your story,” Hotchkiss jokes. (At least, I think he was joking.)

Hotchkiss says the Munsons’ first real foray into Africa New Life was a visit by Charles Mugisha, president and co-founder of the organization, to the Munsons’ home in San Antonio in 2008.

“They invited him to come visit and talk about our work,” Hotchkiss says.

Mugisha made a presentation to the Munsons, including sharing the Africa New Life’s vision for a seminary, a Bible College, in Rwanda. It was a pressing need, a seminary, in the country. It’s one thing to evangelize, Hotchkiss says. It’s another to do it well by providing good training to pastors to ensure the organization is helping people in a healthy way.

Dave and Suzette asked what was required as far as seed money to get the seminary off the ground. Mugisha told them. It was significant, Hotchkiss says.

“They wrote a check that night,” Hotchkiss says.

“In addition to that, they have come to Rwanda; they spend a ton of time there,” Hotchkiss says. “They’ve sponsored all these kids, they've invested in their lives, above and beyond, you know, just the regular program that we do for education. They've personally invested in these kids' lives and in that sense, almost like adopted them. Not legally, but really made them a part of their family. They've done incredible things for them.

Most, if not all, of the Munsons’ Rwandan

kids — Hotchkiss thinks it’s actually about 20 — have grown up and have families of their own. And they’re doing well, Hotchkiss says. Hotchkiss adds that about 500 children have been sponsored by friends of the Munsons, who introduced them to Africa New Life.

“I was thinking,” Dave says of the couple’s decision to commit to Rwanda, “what if Suzette and I were dead on the floor. Our throats were slit and we're laying there, and our 3- and 4-year-olds came and tried to wake us up and they couldn't. And they were scared and hungry and wandering the streets. Would I want someone to just send a check to them, or would I want someone to go and love them and care for them? That was a pretty obvious answer.”

Dave and Suzette have two children of their own, both teenagers. Dave traveled widely before he married and believed that would slow down once he married. He was wrong about that, too. The family has traveled the world.

Just another plan that was changed, likely, Dave and Suzette believe, by the hand of God.

That’s how this leather ministry all began and will continue even with the occasional solicitor looking to buy the company.

“I don't do this for money. So, I don't want your money,” Dave says of his reply to prospective buyers of the company. “Of course, we do like the money, but that’s not our driver for it.”

As a hybrid workforce, we harness technology, programs, and workspaces that give teams and individuals the flexibility and tools they need to be successful - whether that be from a remote workplace or in the office. We champion employee growth and development by offering extensive digital and hybrid courses, while constantly evaluating our health and wellness offerings to deliver exceptional benefits to employees.

Apex promotes connectedness by celebrating holidays and milestones - we had an entire Employee

Appreciation Week! We launched a Culture Cultivators program which enables Apexers to have fun connecting outside of the office while doing activities they enjoy. We are deeply passionate about supporting local philanthropies through events such as an annual golf tournament, food drive, bowl-a-than, holiday gift drive, and various other activities. We strive for transparency throughout Apex and listen to employees' ideas and concerns, regardless of tenure and title.

We know that each employee makes the company great, and in turn fuels our success as a business. We take care of each other, our clients, and business partners.

EMPOWERING SPACES

These great workplaces exemplify the hallmarks of employee empowerment zones.

Fort Worth Inc.’s Best Companies to Work for in Fort Worth comprises 45 companies that stand out as ideal workplaces for employees to flourish professionally — and personally — because of philosophies that foster a positive and supportive environment.

Many infuse a sense of fun and humor, encouraging employees to tote around their personalities. Almost all, it seems, cultivate transparent communication at all levels of the organization.

Whatever the case, they all result in employment empowerment zones with the end result being better service and care for the customer.

What does it take to make our annual honor roll, which the magazine began producing annually in 2016? First, this contest is run and judged independently of the magazine’s ownership and staff by the Workforce Research Group, a Humble, Texas, research firm that’s behind some 24 Best Places to Work programs across North America and drills deep daily on what engages people in the workplace.

Companies and other organizations that enter our contest submit

answers to Workforce on questions ranging from employee benefits to work from home and vacation policies, communication from the top, wellness initiatives, opportunities for advancement, training and mentorship, diversity, and fun stuff like office happy hours and outings to a sporting event, including the Fort Worth Stock Show Rodeo. (Yippee ki-yay!)

Entering companies also agree to allow their employees to be surveyed anonymously by the Workforce Research Group to really explore how they perceive their employer.

Workforce analyzes this information and produces our annual Best Companies to Work for in Fort Worth. Workforce ranked employers in the small, medium, and large company categories, with large companies having 250 employees or more.

It is also worth noting that the magazine’s ownership and staff have no say in who wins this contest and how employers rank. The 2023 issue of the magazine and Workforce Research Group’s rankings were released Aug. 17 at a luncheon at River Ranch Stockyards.

WORDS BY JOHN HENRY IMAGES BY CRYSTAL WISE

Small Companies

15-49 U.S. EMPLOYEES

1 Valor

What they do: Finance Employees: 33

Valor is a specialty asset management company providing business process outsourcing, proprietary software solutions, accounting and back-office services for mineral, oil and gas owners. Its mineral management department oversees a combined 10.2 million gross acres and 560,000 net royalty acres of mineral and property rights on behalf of more than 100,000 interests across 32 U.S. states.

As a place to work, Valor has scaled new heights in just a year after finishing very well in 2022 — 12th in the small workplace category.

This for a company that has doubled in staff year over year.

“Valor seeks out methods to preserve the culture it’s built and address employee feedback by investing, adopting, and developing new business processes,” its application reads.

Results from employee satisfaction surveys are used to improve culture and offerings to employees. For example, executive staff observed a lower score for financial support which “led to investing in a more beneficial 401(k) plan.”

At the end of each year, the company throws a party for employees and their families with raffles for large prizes, such as a TV. And employees who align with the company’s core values most receive a plaque with “several giant bonus checks.”

2 Essential Lending Inc.

What they do: Finance Employees: 15

Essential Lending is a short-term financial services company based in Fort Worth, with “a family-like atmosphere in which we are all integral pieces, forming a great team.”

“Our team members stay at our organization because we’re family,” a representative writes in the company’s Best Companies application. “It’s not an exaggeration or misnomer. It’s the truth.”

Joseph DeWoody Valor

Through a characteristics profile, team members learn of each other’s strengths and weaknesses.

“We don’t give up on each other but take time to embrace new approaches and styles of communication.”

3

M2G Ventures

What they do: Real Estate Employees: 23

M2G Ventures, a woman-owned real estate investment and development company founded in 2014, didn’t begin hiring employees outside of ownership stakeholders until just before the pandemic.

“We are proud of the faces behind our accomplishments and seek to offer the most rewarding culture possible, pushing limits for what small businesses can provide,” M2G’s application reads.

M2G offers a flexible, hybrid working schedule, profit sharing, paid medical insurance, generous PTO, and paid holidays. In addition to traditional employee perks and benefits, the company offers development and integral coaching through a licensed social worker on-site every week.

4

Satori Capital

What they do: Finance Employees: 35

Satori Capital is an investment firm that manages customized portfolios for private investors, family offices, and institutions. Its purpose is to create, fund, and inspire businesses that elevate humanity.

That includes “our outstanding team members. We consider it our responsibility to be stewards of our team members’ careers and their well-being.”

The “Satori Sweats” program arranges group workouts and activity classes for team members who wish to participate as a team and also offers a personal annual $1,000 perk for team members to use for their individual wellness activities.

Employees are presented 22 employerpaid holidays each year.

5 Fort Construction

What they do: Construction Employees: 26

Fort Construction, a full-service construction firm offering construction management, general contracting, design/build, and LEED certification, has an 89% employee retention rate.

The company’s workplace culture encourages and cultivates professional growth, camaraderie, and a healthy work-life balance, including office hours ending at 3:30 p.m. each Friday between Memorial Day and Labor Day.

The company responded to a recent employee survey by establishing a Project Management and a Superintendent Steering Committee to provide opportunities for peer training, mentoring, collaboration, support, and the creation of new solutions.

6

Curnutt & Hafer

What they do: Legal Employees: 19

Founded in 2000, Curnutt & Hafer is a boutique law firm that practices in the areas of business litigation, personal injury, estate planning and inheritance disputes, family law, and oil and gas.

The office culture is faith-based and inclusive — “we pray, grow, and celebrate together” — and with a family feel.

Say the firm’s partners: “We carefully plan not only the type of legal work we offer and how we approach cases, but also set as a priority how our company culture can best serve our entire team so that people will enjoy coming to work and do meaningful work in the office and out in the community.”

7Wier & Associates Inc.

What they do: Engineering Employees: 37

Wier & Associates is a civil engineering firm that provides civil design, land surveying, and land planning services to the public

and private sectors.

“Decisions we make for the future of the company and daily culture are all built on the foundation of our family. We value everyone’s input.”

That input led to the firm making improvements to its benefits package — making them more affordable — and company culture initiatives. The firm also carried out a plan on a condensed work week, allowing employees to take Friday afternoons off.

Kyle Massimilian Satori Capital

8

REEDER Construction

What they do: Construction Employees: 38

REEDER Construction, which specializes in schools, is a small company, but “our culture is mighty.”

The company has constructed its culture around three core values: family, servant leadership, and safety. Incentive-based strategies, like the company’s Raken Challenge, have been designed to increase jobsite productivity.

“We also employ burnout strategies such as participating in nonprofit clay shoots and golf tournaments that give our employees a break from day-to-day challenges to reduce burnout and improve productivity.”

The company also offers employees unlimited PTO.

9

Varghese Summersett

What they do: Legal Employees: 31

Nine years ago, Benson Varghese started his law practice in a one-room office with $9,000 he borrowed from an uncle. Today, Varghese Summersett has 35 team members and has been recognized as one of the fastest-growing businesses in the U.S.

“When you ask employees why they love working at Varghese Summersett,” management says, “their answers run the gamut: Great Team; Flexibility; Family-First; Generous; Supportive; Kid-Friendly; Fun.”

Employees are entitled to five paid workfrom-home days a year, which they can use any time.

10

Qualbe Marketing Group

What they do: Sales and Marketing Employees: 29

Qualbe, first in the small category a year ago, is a digital marketing company that sells and markets select products that help people build better lives, including

offering the best dental discount plans on the market through its 1Dental brand. You had me at tacos. Wait, what?

That’s right, Taco Tuesday is a monthly lunch for the company to catch up with each and enjoy the Tex-Mex superfood. There’s also the company Book War, an endeavor to encourage employees to never stop learning. Word on the street is customer service is the front-runner, according to customer service.

11

Quorum Architects

What they do: Architecture Employees: 31

Quorum was founded by five architect friends who shared a common goal of providing an employee experience in which people feel appreciated, respected, heard, and included. And that’s the way it remains 31 years later, the firm says.

“Seasoned professional staff members offer professional development mentorship, helping to guide design staff through their licensure process,” the firm says. “Quorum provides fun activities and/or social get-togethers each month which helps to strengthen relationships.”

Quorum offers paid time off for continuing education and business development activities, as well as for community service. No PTO is needed for that annual chili cookoff.

12

PSK LLP

What they do: Accounting Employees: 39

PSK LLP, a full-service firm based in Arlington since 1964, operates on four core values: passion for developing relationships, commitment to excellence, honesty and integrity, respect and accountability. PSK demonstrates these core values to its team through quarterly lunch updates on our goals, plans, and achievements. Developing relationships with team members and clients is encouraged through planned in-house activities and community and industry gatherings.

“Providing work tools, training, mentoring, and professional development allows us all to strive for excellence,” the firm writes. “Honesty, integrity, respect, and accountability are outcomes of a workplace that allows open communication and provides tools to achieve career and personal goals.”

13

Trinity Real Estate Investment Services

What they do: Real Estate Employees: 16

Trinity Real Estate Investment Services is a commercial real estate brokerage firm specializing in net-lease and self-storage investment sales.

The firm has put its money where its mouth is regarding the health of its workplace.

“We recognize that our employees are our company,” firm executives say. “Twelve months ago, we decided to staff a consultant to focus on strategy, communication, and implementation. He introduced new communication tools and techniques that have helped us collaborate more effectively. By addressing these issues, we have instantly seen improved morale, culture, and productivity, which has positively impacted our overall performance.”

14

Steven

Camp MD Plastic Surgery and Aesthetics

What they do: Health care Employees: 19

Steven Camp MD Plastic Surgery and Aesthetics, a plastic surgery practice that focuses on surgical and nonsurgical offerings, described its office culture as friendly, warm, supportive, full of laughter, and focused on personal growth.

“Not only do we provide the best for our patients, but our staff truly cares for each other,” the practice’s management says.

“We have limited turnover and continue to grow in a very special way. Our staff is taken care of as people, they are involved in decision-making on all aspects of the busi-

ness, compensated well, and are friends inside and outside of the business.”

15

Ricochet Fuel Distributors

What they do: Transporation Employees: 32

Ricochet Fuel Distributors Inc., a womanowned fuel distributor serving Texas, its surrounding states, along with 14 additional states nationwide, provides bulk fuels, fuel services, and solutions.

Internal and external stakeholders are No. 1, whether that be employees, vendor, or customers.

“We also demonstrate our core values through our emphasis on continued growth and training,” management writes.

The folks at Ricochet enjoy sporting.

Fun activities away from the office are a Texas Rangers game in a suite at Globe Life Field, a sales-and-marketing outing at Puttery in Grandscape, and laying down a few bucks on the ponies at Lone Star Park.

16

HF Custom Solutions

What they do: Advertising/Marketing/PR Employees: 25

HF Custom Solutions is a one-stop shop for designing, procuring, customizing, packaging, and shipping customers’ branded apparel, custom merchandise, and logoed items.

“Our owners invest in the health and success of our employees in big and small ways every day,” representatives say.

Management likes to say that HF stands for “Have Fun.” “Team outings and activities punctuate the fun we have in the office.”

HF also provides generous benefits, such as paying 100% of the health insurance premium of our base plan for every full-time employee and a 3% match to our 401(k) plan.

Also, don’t sleep on the cookies and sweets the CEO brings to the office.

17LanCarte Commercial

What they do: Real Estate Employees: 35

LanCarte Commercial goes to work every day believing in the vision to shift “the paradigm of commercial real estate in North Texas through entrepreneurial thinking and integrity-first relationships.”

“We are a transparent, fun, and collaborative team while having the autonomy to own our role and relentlessly pursue our mission,” a representative writes.

The leadership team is also focused on a diverse staff, “knowing that it can serve as an asset.”

“Leadership holds themselves to the same standard as everyone else, and it shows daily in the way they communicate with all of the employees. LanCarte strives to provide a fun company culture by consistently developing employee engagement, communication, and trust.”

An annual dodgeball tournament sounds like a great storytelling opportunity for a magazine.

18 Franz Architects Inc.

What they do: Architecture Employees: 21

Since 1983, Franz Architects has believed in its mantra of “creating beauty that functions and relationships that last.”

The firm confidently asserts that it offers industry-leading benefits as well as leadership that isn’t “afraid to think outside the box when it comes to managing and working with employees.”

The firm provides a 6% match on employees’ 401(k) contributions.

“I believe our leadership team has proven to everyone that the most important asset we have is our employees,” a representative writes.

The culture, he continues, is “very laidback and relaxed, fun, and energetic.”

19 Shield Engineering Group

What they do: Engineering Employees: 42

Since 2009, Shield Engineering Group is a Fort Worth-based, multidisciplined consulting firm providing comprehensive civil engineering design, water resources engineering, professional land surveying and geographic information systems to both public and private clients.

The firm says that it promotes a culture of integrity, diversity, mentorship, employee growth, and flexibility, as evidenced by half workdays on Fridays.

“Shield’s workplace culture has kept retention rates of employees high and turnover low,” leadership says. “We encourage an open work environment that fosters collaboration and innovation.”

20 McDonald Sanders Law Firm

What they do: Legal Employees: 40

McDonald Sanders, founded in 1951, is now one of the oldest law firms in Fort Worth. As a full-service firm, it has a proud history of advising clients who have been instrumental in the growth and development of Fort Worth, Tarrant County, and the North Texas region.

That kind of stability, the firm’s leadership says, inspires confidence in its employees. The firm also provides health, retirement, and additional benefits not found in other firms.

The workplace environment is focused on productivity and comfort with considerations for personal preferences and privacy, though the firm’s work cafe and various meeting spaces encourage collaboration.

Professional and personal development is highly encouraged.

Medium Companies

50-249 U.S. EMPLOYEES

1

HUB Fort Worth

What they do: Insurance Employees: 93

HUB Fort Worth has been guiding clients through the complexity of insurance and investments since Gus Bates opened the office in 1966.

HUB Fort Worth’s guiding principles that shape its culture, decision-making processes, and interactions with internal and external stakeholders center on entrepreneurship, integrity and teamwork, and accountability and service.

The second set, integrity and teamwork, emphasizes the importance placing significant value on maintaining honesty, ethics, and moral principles in all its dealings. Additionally, teamwork is highly promoted as the means to achieve optimal results through a healthy workplace.

“Don’t tell me how much you know; show me how much you care,” is the company’s mantra.

HUB Fort Worth is a winner in its first entry in Fort Worth Inc.’s Best Companies to Work For.

The firm recognizes achievement through an “Above & Beyond Award,” voted on monthly by leadership; a “Rock Star Award,” based on client feedback and announced annually; and the “Shining Star,” presented quarterly by peers.

Leadership also listens.

Says a representative of management: “Based on the feedback we received, we have planned even more small, frequent service team outings to thank them for their hard work, as well as more frequent community service outings and involvement with nonprofits.”

2 Imperial Construction

What they do: Construction Employees: 68

Imperial Construction is a general contractor that builds commercial and institutional buildings across Texas, but mostly, since

Matt Morris HUB Fort Worth

establishing a base in North Texas, its projects are located in Fort Worth-Dallas.

“Our owners are incredibly passionate about the company,” says a representative of the company. “They work hard to set the standard for the team to inspire every employee to deliver exceptional results and service for clients.

“They expect our employees to work hard but also want them to have fun while doing so. Employees stay with our organization because of the relationships they have with colleagues, owners, and the level of engagement the company provides.”

3

Wick Phillips

What they do: Legal Employees: 112

Founded in 2004, Wick Phillips is a fullservice business law firm serving clients across Texas and the U.S.

The firm began its questionnaire by stat ing what it is not: Staunch, uptight, stuffy, or quick-tempered.

What it is: Refreshingly laid-back, light hearted, open to new ideas and strategies, hard-working, collaborative, intelligent, and a great place to work.

“The best, in fact. I have even heard the firm described by a client as ‘the Google of law firms.’ Our people are happy to come to work each day. We love our work, we love our co-workers, we love our bosses, we love our clients.”

4 CornerStone Staffing

What they do: Staffing Employees: 76

CornerStone Staffing is a faith-based com pany that specializes in recruiting and staff ing for a wide variety of industries including office professional, accounting, finance, call center, health care, IT, engineering, as well as many others.

CornerStone Staffing calls itself a peoplecentric company that values its internal colleagues as family. They say they work and support each other through all aspects of life, celebrating successes and empathizing with

losses. The company is dedicated to changing lives, providing both internal colleagues and external associates with new career opportunities, instilling a sense of pride in caring for their families.

Additionally, CornerStone actively gives back to the communities they operate in, supporting organizations like The Ladder Alliance, Cook Children’s, Ronald McDonald House, and Tarrant Area Foodbank.

5

United Way of Tarrant County

What they do: Nonprofit Employees: 72

United Way of Tarrant County cultivates a

ers, including employees, whose work impacts communities across the county.

Leadership is responsive, and regular communication occurs between managers and their teams.

“Our employees feel engaged, appreciated, and heard, whether with a personal or professional issue,” the organization says.

Employees have flexibility in their schedules and the option to work remotely with the necessary technology, promoting a healthy work-life balance.

The company also emphasizes continuous learning through various platforms and offers resources to support employees’ overall health and wellness. Additionally, employees receive excellent benefits, including generous paid time-off options, which are highly appreciated by the

Dan McCarthy, David Drez, Brant Martin Wick Phillip

6

Steele & Freeman

What they do: Construction Employees: 75

The company’s culture is the heart of what employees love about working for Steele & Freeman, in business now for 43 years as a professional construction management services company.

“The ‘can-do’ spirit we tout is alive and well, and most people say that is the thing they love the most about being part of the Can-Do Crew,” management says.

The success of the company is attributed to its 23 guiding fundamentals and core principles.

The company fosters a team environment that values the well-being of its employees and their families. Teamwork, collaboration, and safety are paramount, allowing employees to feel supported and dedicated to their work.

7Muckleroy & Falls

What they do: Construction Employees: 62

The team at Muckleroy & Falls, a full-service commercial contractor, founded in 1979 by Harold Muckleroy, is retained primarily because of the company’s culture, leadership, and opportunities for growth and advancement, according to an annual company assessment completed last year.

A dedicated company “Culture Committee” is responsible for planning and organizing companywide events, like the office Olympics.

M&F offers attractive benefits, including 401(k) matching and three weeks of vacation for all employees. The Tenure Milestone Program, which includes generous gifts ranging from $1,000 to $10,000 for those with 5, 10, or 15-plus years of service.

8

Balcom Agency

What they do: Advertising/Marketing/PR Employees: 58

Balcom has grown from a firm of a “couple of guys and one card table” to

more than 50 employees and creatives who share in the mission to “B Great,” which it has proven to be as a recognized top agency in Fort Worth-Dallas and the Southwest.

“We have high expectations, and that’s because many of us spent time at places that made the wrong things important,” writes a member of leadership.

When it comes to retention, two things stick out: “First, we’re not fans of red tape and excessive regulations. That’s why we hire people with a strong work ethic [and] who understand what needs to be done and figure out the best way to do it.”

9

Work Wear Safety

What they do: Retail Employees: 87

Since 1980, Work Wear Safety has been a friend to labor.

“Our employees join us and stay because of our simple mission statement: ‘We Make Workers’ Lives Better,’” reads the company’s questionnaire.

As one of the leading experts in safety footwear in the U.S., Work Wear Safety not only manages programs that deliver the right products for the worker’s safety, but also serve to craft those standards for all companies as part of the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM).

Their fun activities include the “Pie in the Face Fundraiser.” In exchange for a donation to Hire Heroes, employees get to throw a pie in their boss’s face.

All in good fun. Nothing to do with the annual review.

10

Southside Bank

What they do: Banking Employees: 176

Southside Bank was founded 63 years ago as a community-focused financial institution in Tyler with $350,000 in capital and 10 employees. Today, the bank has more than $7.5 billion in assets.

Its greatest asset, the bank says, are the now more than 800 team members. And

it believes in developing those assets by keeping engagement, empowerment, and belonging at the forefront of its company ethos.

“We strive for the holistic well-being of our team members through our growing employee engagement initiatives,” leadership writes.

Among those are the “#InThisTogether” campaign that regularly sends motivational, supportive, and uplifting messages and employee gifts to our team members; matching qualified employee donations to local nonprofits; and sending “Southside Cares” packages to commemorate family events.

11

Worthington Bank

What they do: Banking Employees: 65

At Worthington Bank, a commercial bank founded in 2002 specializing in helping locally owned businesses grow, the customers can only be sufficiently served if the employees are taken care of first.

Worthington provides health insurance at “a well-below market rate” to employees, with the bank paying more than 80% of the employees’ medical premiums. The bank also pays for life insurance policies for fulltimers, as well as an employee assistance program that includes confidential counseling. Other voluntary benefits include pet insurance and identity theft insurance.

A 401(k) and ESOP plans are also included with “generous company contributions.”

Moreover, management orders salary surveys from an outside source every year to ensure our employees are receiving a competitive wage.

12

Byrne Construction Services

What they do: Construction Employees: 104

Byrne Construction Services, the venerable, 100-year-old family-owned construction company, declared long ago that “People Build Buildings.”

“It’s not just our motto but is at the heart

all we do,” the leadership team writes. “We keep our employees first and provide a family atmosphere to enable their individual growth.”

Family-friendly policies include time off for emergencies, parental leave, and flexible work arrangements when needed. The firm says it invests “heavily” in employees’ development while also fostering a positive workplace culture.

“Teaching our employees how to build ‘The Byrne Way’ teaches them to deliver quality products, on time and in a collaborative environment of mutual respect.”

There’s also that Byrne Biergarten out back at the office.

13 Tarrant Appraisal District

What they do: Government Employees: 104

The Tarrant Appraisal District has perhaps the most challenging job on the list. They aren’t exactly sending out holiday greetings.

But it’s a critical job, of course.

In spite of those challenges, “our staff serves professionally, patiently, and empathetically to do our work. We believe we have built a family atmosphere of support and comradery. Historically, we have experienced low turnover and long tenures, even when faced with stressful periods of the year, and have taken great pride in having been recognized as a ‘Best Companies to Work for in Fort Worth’ in prior years.”

14 Lena Pope

What they do: Nonprofit Employees: 223

Lena Pope has served a critical need for children in the Fort Worth community since 1930.

Lena Pope offers a diverse and robust benefits package that addresses physical and emotional wellness and financial stability. Leadership says the nonprofit offers competitive salaries with similar organizations, affordable benefit premiums, tuition reimbursement, retirement, employee assistance program, employee loan program,

and employee incentive program.

But …

“We asked our staff what made them choose Lena Pope and what makes them stay here, and they say it best,” a member of the organization writes. “One staff member shared, ‘I chose to work at Lena Pope because of its amazing reputation for serving the Fort Worth community. I stayed because from the beginning, I have felt cared for and cared about.’”

15

The Baker Firm/Fidelity National Title

What they do: Real Estate Employees: 63

The Baker Firm is a title company based in Fort Worth, its mission to act as a neutral third party to help clients consummate real estate transactions.

“We work hard to create an environment that our employees can be proud of,” management writes. “We want each employee to feel like they are a part of something that works toward the greater good for their personal development in their career, our customers, and our community. The Baker Firm recognizes the importance of work-life balance, opportunity for advancement and enjoying the place that you work. We spend a lot of time together, and it is important to us to have a space that you can enjoy.”

The firm plans trips for employees as team-building exercises. Those have included visits to Mexico, Nashville, Biloxi, Mississippi, and, most recently, Possum Kingdom Lake.

Large Companies

250-Plus U.S. EMPLOYEES

1

USI Insurance

What they do: Insurance

Employees: 10,019 (30 in Fort Worth)

USI Insurance, one of the largest insurance companies in the country, is a brokerage firm that assists employers with benefit package offerings for their employees.

Management in the Fort Worth office describes its culture as one of encouragement, service, growth, and integrity. USI finished second in this category last year.

The company offers employees a “Commercial Insurance Career Track,” which is a “challenging” 18-month program designed to accelerate employees’ careers in middle market property and casualty insurance which develops participants through formal training and mentorship by industry experts.

There is also an “Employee Benefits Analyst Program,” which is an immersive program designed to prepare an employee for a career in financial analysis and reporting in support of our employee benefits clients.

The “Employee Benefits Account Representative” is an in-depth learning program designed to prepare an employee for a career in account management, fulfilling employee benefit and client service needs.

Finally, the “Personal Risk Services Associate Program” is a 14-month experiential learning program delivering associates the practical experience to help personal risk clients with their insurance needs.”

2

The Beck Group

What they do: Construction

Employees: 885 (58 in Fort Worth)

Since its founding in 1912, The Beck Group boasts that it integrates architecture, construction, and sustainability to transform how clients design and build.

“Inside Beck, we focus on making our workforce and job sites diverse and equi-

table. We foster a culture of inclusivity and innovation,” leadership writes. “We want everyone to be comfortable being authentic because better processes and outcomes result from working together.

“We prioritize the safety of our people, partners, vendors, and clients through training, safety protocols, and communication to show our commitment. Our work matters because we do more than build buildings — we build communities and people, too.”

3 Burns & McDonnell

What they do: Engineering/Architecture/ Construction

Employees: 10,188 (178 in Fort Worth)

Another company with a more than 100year history is Burns & McDonnell, which had another strong finish for a second consecutive year. Founded in 1898 and working from 70 offices globally, Burns & McDonnell is 100% employee owned.

“Our ESOP is truly one of a kind,” leadership says. “Only a small percentage of firms nationwide are 100% employee owned, and even fewer have enjoyed the status for 35 years like we have.”

The company says its turnover rate is one of the lowest in the industry at 5%, and that’s because our people have a real stake in the company.

“Our entrepreneurial atmosphere gives everyone an equal chance to make an impact.”

4 Weaver

What they do: Accounting

Employees: 1,095 (135 in Fort Worth)

According to the firm, Weaver in the past year has invested heavily in the corporate culture, employee wellness, and development efforts. To that end, the company added two virtual weeks, four recharge days, three additional holidays, increased PTO, expanded maternity and paternity leave, increased time off for the CPA exam,

Tom Hook USI Insurance

and implemented a relaxed Friday dress

All of that was the result of the annual employee engagement survey.

“We also expanded our internal coaching team and brought in new wellness benefits like GymPass to keep our employees’ mental and physical health top of mind.”

Weaver was hatched as a single office in Fort Worth in 1950. Since then, the firm has spread its tentacles from coast to coast, serving clients nationwide and even across the globe.

5 Slalom Inc.

What they do: Consulting

Employees: 11,335 (336 in Fort Worth)

Slalom, a global business and technology consulting company, has big aspirations for its workforce by pitching a novel idea: sanity.

“We value each person’s uniqueness and encourage our team members to be their authentic selves, nurturing a culture of belonging and inclusion,” leadership writes. “We aspire for each person to love their work and life. Instead of a grueling, up-or-out career, we offer balance and sanity. The opportunity to love both your work and your life. To prioritize family and work on high-impact projects with companies in your community.”

An employee survey showed that 91% of team members say they would recommend Slalom as a great place to work.

FORVIS

What they do: Accounting

Employees: 5,771 (87 in Fort Worth)

FORVIS, created by the merger of BKD and Dixon Hughes Goodman, ranks among the nation’s top 10 professional services firms.

The firm is “uniquely FORVIS.”

What does that mean?

“Our purpose, mission, vision, and Unmatched Client Experience™ standards

unite and drive our forward vision — our goal is to unlock our full potential,” management writes. “As a team, we’re passionate about making our DNA more than words. Our DNA is the foundation that defines our legacy and how we show up every day to make a difference for those we serve. As we exemplify these values, we stand out to win clients, recruit best-inclass talent, and build remarkable careers.”

That’s what it is.

7Apex Capital Corp.

What they do: Finance

Employees: 379 (343 in Fort Worth)

Apex Capital Corp. is a company that encourages personal and professional growth and fosters a culture of connectedness and resilience.

What makes one want to stay at Apex, a financial services company to the transportation industry?

Camaraderie, sense of purpose, commitment to the community, opportunities for growth, phenomenal benefits, quarterly profit sharing, employee celebration, and a relaxed and casual hybrid work environment are among the reasons the company lists.

“Apex has always been a ‘for you, by you’ service provider for our clients, and we extend this philosophy to our employees,” the leadership team says. “This philosophy has also resulted in a significant number of new hires coming from referrals.”

8 LJA Engineering

What they do: Engineering

Employees: 1,612 (56 in Fort Worth)

LJA offers full-service engineering and consulting services to public and private sector clients.

“Quite simply, we build civilization.”

The firm is also 100% employee owned.

“This is a distinctive driver of our internal culture and our external success,” leadership writes. “It is a significant differentiator for recruiting, retention, promotion, and longevity/legacy among our staff. Ingrain-

Brad Jay Weaver

ing the importance of ESOP to our team is the foundation of strengthening the owner mentality at LJA. It is the backbone of who we are and, more importantly, why we are.” Collaborative, inclusive, and fun, that’s the workplace culture at LJA.

9

ID Technology

What they do: Manufacturing Employees: 451 (88 in Fort Worth)

ID Technology manufactures and integrates industry-leading solutions for labeling automation, coding, and marking for the food and beverage, pharmaceuti-

cal, personal care, household, and industrial goods industries.

Says management: “We have adopted a performance culture focused on always being responsive, being committed, being honest, being respectful, being responsible, being an owner, and being safe.

“Through our efforts to reinforce small teams and strong connections, we success fully cultivate employees to be their best and work exceptionally well together. We offer competitive salaries and exceptional benefits, including 401(k) retirement sav ings with a competitive company match.”

The company’s third-party benefit resources include accessibility with phone or video consultation services for family changes, work changes, budgetary as sistance, legal services, identity theft, and health.

10

D&M Leasing

What they do: Vehicle Leasing Employees: 362 (97 in Fort Worth)

To D&M Leasing, its employeecentric philosophy is simply good business.

A happy employee equals a happy customer, and happy customers equal a successful business.

“Being in business for over 47 years is testament that both our customers and our employees are happy,” the company writes in its questionnaire. “We believe in build ing strong relationships because it has resulted in not only long employee tenures and a 70% repeat customer base, but in a culture that is truly family oriented.”

D&M says it offers not only a competi tive full-benefits package, including 401(k) with a company match, but also a familyoriented culture that makes employees proud to come to work each day.

“We want our employees to be success ful as it is a true reflection of our business achievements.”

Scot Bennett The Beck Group

Scott Clark Burns & McDonnell

built on trust and a solution-oriented mindset, falling in line with the purpose it serves to its clients.

or

It's the truth.”

business "pushes limits" to what small businesses can provide as a

fund, and inspire businesses that elevate humanity. That includes "our outstanding team members."

and inclusive with a family feel. “We pray, grow, and celebrate together."

“Decisions we make for the future of the company and daily culture are all built on the foundation of our family.

was founded on the goal of providing an employee experience in which people feel appreciated, respected, heard, and included.

No. 1, whether that be employees, vendor, or customers.

SMART, SECURE FOR YOUR BUSINESS

Today more than ever your business needs smart, secure solutions to achieve financial growth.

Vantage Bank is your community bank partner with the innovative and creative options you need. We have a full complement of treasury management services and options for secure business checking accounts that offer your choice of competitive earnings credits to offset service fees or interest rates to grow your money. Plus, you will have a personal relationship with a banking expert that will assist you in creating the right strategy for your financial growth. See how we can help your business achieve more financial victories.

MAKE UP FOR LOST TIME

A virtual assistant can be a critical piece of the entrepreneur’s success.

WORDS BY JOHN HENRY IMAGE BY STYLESMART VIRTUAL ASSISTANTS

Time management is a critical piece to the entrepreneurial endeavor. It's either spent efficiently or it's wasted. And the way people allocate and use their time affects their productivity, well-being, and overall success. In this sense, time is a limited and valued resource.

Time is a precious commodity.

It is why more and more entrepreneurs are turning to the virtual assistant to outsource mundane and mind-numbing, yet important, tasks of the business.

A virtual assistant isn’t a concept of artificial intelligence, as the name might suggest. It is someone — a human being — who helps out the entrepreneur — that is, an assistant — who doesn’t need to be there in person.

They are virtual.

It’s a topic taken up by author and entrepreneur Robert Lawrence’s Outsourcing: The Beginners’ Guide to Hiring Virtual Assistants.

Moreover, virtual assistants are the business of Jacqui Wilson and Shawna Murphy, who have brought to the marketplace StyleSmart Virtual Assistants, a time management platform for beauty professionals, though their vision is even bigger. Think the EDS of virtual assistants, a company that offers virtual assistants to other businesses within the service industry, like plumbers and wrecking services.

“I'm a business owner, a single mom, passionate entrepreneur, and I often found myself struggling to balance my business and building a successful business, the administrative tasks, and living my personal life,” Wilson says by phone. “And, so, by hiring a virtual assistant, it really helped me hone in and be able to put my focus into the things that truly matter: building a successful business and living my personal life a little more intentionally.

“What we do is we solve the problems of beauty salon owners, beauty coaches, and independent artists in the beauty industry. By hiring a virtual assistant, they can focus on their key objectives. When you call our salon, you don’t get a front desk. You get our virtual assistant — a real person. She handles all of our booking, all of our client communications, all of our policies, all of that."

Wilson and Murphy own a salon, Chair and Beyond, located in the Historic Southside of Fort Worth across the street from the soon-to-be National Juneteenth Museum.

I saw Wilson and Murphy at TechFW’s pitch camp last month. That daylong

Jacqui Wilson and Shawna Murphy identified the need for virtual assistants through their business in the beauty industry. They figured if they needed a virtual assistant, many others did, too.

seminar coached emerging small businesses on how best to present their cases to investors.

Lawrence, in Outsourcing: The Beginners’ Guide to Hiring Virtual Assistants, notes all the other tasks a virtual assistant can execute, including those customer service duties like answering calls and booking appointments.

This person could also help with social media accounts, checking comments and feedback, including troubleshooting and monitoring online forums. Also, providing good content to keep customers engage and aware.

Blog maintenance, carrying out email marketing campaigns, podcast and video editing, and online research and lead generation are but other examples of what a virtual assistant could do while you’re focusing on the core of the business.

Lawrence also devotes a chapter to other advantages this person would bring to your organization, including the benefit of teamwork, specifically in terms of the concept of collaboration and connections.

“Their skills and expertise will be different to yours and could provide a complimentary boost to your business,” Lawrence writes. “As they say, two brains are better than one. I’ve been surprised many times in the past when it comes to just what G can do for me.”

The virtual assistant will also have a different group of contacts to your own. This will enable you to extend your reach, look for additional support, and grow your business further.

Also, Lawrence writes, don’t discount the impact loneliness can have. A virtual assistant will help you feel that it’s not you against the world, but your team, your business growing and achieving everything it was meant to. Sometimes the mere fact you have someone to talk to during the workday will make a big difference.

Wilson undoubtedly brought some of what she gleaned at the TechFW seminar to the Fort Worth Hispanic Chamber of Commerce’s Business Pitch Competition in July. Pitching StyleSmart VA, she placed second, winning $2,000 for the business.

Wilson and Murphy plan to use their winnings as part of a strategic marketing

campaign targeting major publications within the beauty industry. They are also fundraising to continue to build out the infrastructure and the legal elements “we need to implement.”

Wilson said they have raised about $14,000.

Wilson also said the owners are exploring the possibility of expanding into other service industries like auto services and the plumbing industry, among others.

The original idea for StyleSmart Virtual Assistants was born out of Murphy’s experience in real estate, where she witnessed the effectiveness of virtual assistants in boosting efficiency and growth.

“Our virtual assistants go through our proprietary training program, ensuring they are equipped with the necessary skills to deliver consistent results and provide excellent customer service,” said Wilson, 30.

“If you’re like millions of other entrepreneurs and wannabes out there, you’ve probably read Tim Ferriss’ best-selling book,” Lawrence writes. “People loved it because it dared to suggest that you could have your cake and eat it [too] — you could employ a freelancer from a developing country to do much of your dirty work, paying them just a dollar or two per hour.

“Their skills and expertise will be different to yours and could provide a complimentary boost to your business. As they say, two brains are better than one. I’ve been surprised many times in the past when it comes to just what G can do for me.”

—

StyleSmart’s pricing is reasonable. It’s $99 upfront for a team of five beauty professionals. That covers onboarding and training of the virtual assistant. It’s $12 an hour after that, and the company recommends starting at 10-15 hours a week.

Bigger salons would be slightly more expensive.

There is also no fear of being tied down to long-term contracts. All StyleSmart requires is a 14-day notice that a company intends to quit the service.

“Our goal is to earn the business of our clients by providing exceptional service,” Wilson said. “We believe in giving salon owners the freedom to choose and decide if our services are the right fit for their business.”

Lawrence addresses pay structure, too. It is, of course, “one of the most common questions I get asked by entrepreneurs.”

He cautions to guard against the temptation of going to the Third World and exploiting cheap labor.

“And according to him, you’d be doing them a favor — this would be a decent wage in whatever their country is, and you’d have nothing to be ashamed of. You might have felt motivated and inspired on reading his words and decided that you, too, could take advantage of this great system. … This attitude and approach is a terrible one to have for your own business and the world of business as a whole. You should always look for a quality employee and pay them a decent wage.” Lawrence writes that employing virtual assistants from countries other than your own impacts upon the job market and economy in your own country and it pushes down global prices for the very same task. Secondly, paying these low wages impacts upon your own business. Unless you are employing someone with English as their mother tongue, there will nearly always be some kind of language barrier which can stand between the two of you, “causing embarrassment, misunderstanding, and grave errors in your business.”

“And let’s not forget that if you pay peanuts, yep, you’ll get a monkey knocking at your door.”

Thirdly, can you really expect your virtual assistant to remain loyal when you are paying them far less than you would your cleaner?

“Leave the $2 per hour listings for those who don’t care about their success and aren’t driven to make their dreams become reality.”

Robert Lawrence, author of Outsourcing: The Beginners’ Guide to Hiring Virtual Assistants.

A WELL OF EXPERTISE

These local blogs and podcasts can be the resource you need for information and inspiration.

817 Podcast - Fort Worth’s Monday Morning Show

EJ Carrion, Ann Zadeh

The former is a tech entrepreneur; the latter is a former city councilmember now running Community Design Fort Worth buzzsprout.com/1317631

Brandy Austin Law Firm podcast

Arlington personal injury, family, estate planning. brandyaustinlaw.com/media/podcasts

Enduralab podcast

Isis Hargrave, Lee Hargrave

The owners discuss their journey as gym owners. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/enduralab/ id1436561246?i=1000607247755

FORTitude

J.W. Wilson

Interviews with local newsmakers and human interest stories. fortitudefw.com

Fort Worth Barber Supply podcast

Edward Ramirez, Amy Ramirez

The owners discuss their journey as entrepreneurs. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fort-worthbarber-supply/id1436561246?i=1000613079732

Fort Worth Locals Podcast

Javier and Matthew

Since 2018, a Question and Answer-style format where business owners share tales and tips about their Fort Worth entrepreneurial experiences. podcasters.spotify.com/pod/fw-locals/episodes/ Introducing-Gather-Podcast-e29k5u

Fort Worth Real Estate Investing & Financial Planning

Nationwide daily updates. podchaser.com/podcasts/fort-worth-real-estateinvesti-4724862

WORDS BY ERIC ZARATE

FoundHers

Courtney Gumbleton

Stories of “unapologetically” ambitious women entrepreneurs foundhersclub.com

Innovate Fort Worth podcast

Sponsored by UNT Health Science Center, for entrepreneurs and investors. podchaser.com/podcasts/innovate-fortworth-922609

TDIndustries podcast

Site services and mechanical construction company. tdindustries.com/podcast

The Fort - An Entrepreneurship Podcast

Chris Powers

Founder of Fort Capital converses with owners and executives on a variety of business topics. open.spotify.com/ show/7oIeNSaSJ4zkTQOXiedyOr

THE OFFICE Target Capital podcast

Shares knowledge from Black owners. This one’s for the culture. open.spotify.com/ show/0kXEA55y3q3gIfTvQwcuef

The Fort Worth City Limits Podcast

Topics include small businesses and entrepreneurs. podchaser.com/podcasts/the-fort-worth-citylimits-pod-5391175

Trademark Property Co. podcast

Mixed-use development, public landscape. trademarkproperty.com/podcast

Bisnow (DFW) newsletter

News and event platform for the commercial real estate industry bisnow.com/subscriptions

Clearfork shopping district blog

Updates clearfork1848.com/blog

Cowtown Angels blog

Connects entrepreneurs seeking early-stage funding with local investors. cowtownangels.org/blog

Downtown Fort Worth Inc. newsletter Updates dfwi.org/subscribe

Downtown Fort Worth Inc. blog

Updated quarterly dfwi.org/blog

Firestone & Robertson Distilling Co. newsletter Updates linktr.ee/TXWhiskey

Fort Worth City Credit Union blog Updates fwccu.org/blog

Go Time in Fort Worth with Mayor Mattie Parker Mattie Parker

Updates on the city and economic development All major podcast mediums.

Hargrave Law, PC blog

Family law, probate, real estate, personal injury news ehargravelaw.com/blog

Harris, Finley & Bogle Attorneys & Counselors blog

Oil and gas news hfblaw.com/blog

House of Light blog

Wedding photography houseoflightphotography.com/blog

Korrect General Contracting blog

Updates 2-3 monthly. korrect.net/blog/

The Proven Entrepreneur Show

Don Williams

Don Williams interviews “proven entrepreneurs,” who share their real-life success stories. provenentrepreneurshow.com/

Rahr & Sons Brewing Co. - Rahr Guard newsletter Updates rahrbrewing.com

Real Estate Council of Greater Fort Worth newsletter

Focused on the commercial real estate profession. recouncilgfw.com/sign-up

Reside Real Estate blog and podcast Weekly updates. residedfw.com/blog, residedfw/com/blog/ category/podcast

Salted Pages blog

Website copywriting, updated weekly. saltedpages.com/blog

Sinclair Digital blog

Creates energy-efficient building solutions. sinclair-digital.com/blog

Sparkyard blog

Cost-free platform connecting entrepreneurs and business owners to resources. sparkyard.co/category/blog

Susan Semmelmann Interiors blog Updates semmelmanninteriors.com/blog

TDIndustries blog

Site services and mechanical construction company. tdindustries.com/blog

TechFW newsletter Weekly updates. mailchi.mp/techfw/iwfr527w2s

Texas A&M School of Law blog

Updates on the Fort Worth campus blog.law.tamu.edu/blog

Texas’ Big City Mayors newsletter

Bipartisan coalition of mayors from the most populous cities, advocating for stronger communities and improved quality of life. texasbcm.substack.com/about

Weaver newsletter

Accounting and advisory topics include regulation and compliance updates, market and industry updates, Weaver news. info.weaver.com/newslettersignup

WilliamsTrew real estate blog

Residential property updates. williamstrew.com/blog/email-subscription

Ziglift Material Handling newsletter

Updates on storage solutions for all warehouse applications. Fort Worth center opened June 2023. ziglift.com/blog

CONNECTING PEOPLE TO THEIR DREAMS

From Playroom to Boardroom

Growing up, you always took make-believe to the next level. Today, you still pursue the full potential of each idea –finding advisors who relate to your intuition. We share that drive, because connecting people to their dreams is our true passion. Every great relationship has an Origin story. Start yours today at Origin.Bank/YourStory

FORT WORTH INC.

Thank you to the sponsors of the 2023 Best Companies to Work For Awards Luncheon held on August 17 at River Ranch Stockyards.

PLATINUM SPONSOR:

SILVER SPONSORS: Apex Capital

Balcom Agency

Burns & McDonnell

Byrne Construction Services

Cornerstone Staffing

Curnutt & Hafer LLP

D&M Leasing

Forvis

Franz Architects

HF Custom

Lena Pope

PSK LLP

Quorum Architects

Southside Bank

Trinity Real Estate

Investment Services

United Way of Tarrant County

Weaver LLP

Wier & Associates

Worthington Bank

TheRegistry Outsourced Services

Is it time to delegate those tedious or costly tasks? Outsourcing is an effective strategy to lower costs and save time in your business.

These tried-and-true outsourced professionals are here to help so you can get back to doing what you do. The information in this section is provided by advertisers and has not been independently verified by Fort Worth Inc.

IT Support and Services

Aeko Technologies

SERVICES: Full range of IT and cybersecurity services for the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Aeko also helps companies seamlessly integrate IT functions throughout mergers and acquisitions. MISSION STATEMENT: Aeko is the Hawaiian word for eagle, a bird with strength and exceptional vision. When you choose Aeko Technologies, you tap into the strength of our team’s experience and our ability to see what’s ahead. Our mission is to help you use the power of IT to realize your vision. GREATEST PROFESSIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Before starting Aeko in 2016, Brian Rodgers, CEO, spent 20 years overseeing large teams, including as an IT executive for an oil and gas company. His business-first approach to technology contributed to that company’s growth into a $12 billion, S&P 500 company. He also led organizations through complex changes during large-scale

mergers and acquisitions. Brian’s enthusiasm for helping people fix their IT problems, with a focus on providing a trouble-free environment, has been a key factor in Aeko’s increased portfolio of more than 50 clients to date. WHAT SETS THEM APART: Aeko Technologies takes a businessfirst approach to technology. We are the region’s only business-first IT services company led by a former IT director for a publicly traded company. The Aeko team understands what it takes for a business to grow.

PICTURED: Brian Rodgers and Hattie.

AEKO TECHNOLOGIES

1012 Winscott Road, Ste. 102 | Fort Worth, Texas 76126

817.923.2419 | info@aekotech.com | aekotech.com

IT Support and Services

OUTSOURCING SERVICES: Cybersecurity Assessment & Remediation; Network Design & Installation; Fractional CIO Advisory Service; Cloud Migration; Collaboration Technologies – VOIP, Teams Collaboration Software; Standard Managed Services – Monitoring, Maintenance, Support Desk, & Multi-Factor Technologies. MOTTO: Reliable and Secure IT Solutions. IT that just works – when, where, and how you want it. EDUCATION: Texas A&M University, BBA Accounting; TCU, Executive MBA; Certified Public Accountant; Multiple technical vendor certifications. COMPANY AWARDS: Entrepreneur of Excellence - Tech & E-Commerce, 2022; Inc. 5000 Award, 2020; Aggie 100, 2019; Greater Tarrant Business Ethics Award, 2013, Small Business of Year, 2001 and 2002. AFFILIATIONS:

TRIQUEST TECHNOLOGIES, INC. 2109 W. Broadway Ave. | Fort Worth, Texas 76102 817.882.8500 | info@triquesttech.com | triquesttech.com Gary Tonniges Jr., CPA, CEO

TXCPA-Fort Worth, president-elect, 2023; FW A&M Club. GREATEST PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS: TXCPA-Fort Worth, CPA of the Year, 2020; TXCPA, Outstanding Committee Chairman - Business & Industry Issues, 2020. WHAT MAKES THEM UNIQUE: With over 25 years of experience specializing in security awareness training and defense-in-depth, customers rely on us as a trusted advisor. FREE ADVICE: Cybersecurity protections are less expensive than recovering from an attack.

Finance

Whitley Penn

SERVICES: Client Accounting & Advisory Services. MISSION STATE -

MENT: The primary mission of Whitley Penn is to provide an unmatched level of high-quality service for clients. EDUCATION/CERTIFICATIONS: Ryan Bolton – B.B.A., M.B.A., Angelo State University; CPA. Sheri Hanner – B.S., University of North Texas; Certified ProAdvisor for QuickBooks, Intacct – Implementation & Fundamentals. Trina Dicketts – B.B.A., Southeastern Oklahoma State University; CPA. Glenn Hanner – B.B.A., UT at Arlington; CPA; CITP; CGMA; CVA. AWARDS/HONORS: INSIDE Public Accounting 2022 Best of the Best Firms, Fastest-Growing Firms, and Top 100 Firms; Best Place for Working Parents 2023; Blue Zones Project Approved Worksite. GREATEST PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVE -

MENTS: CAAS offers direct access to a team of professionals that handle the details of accounting, monthly accounting, payroll, and tax records on behalf of clients. UNIQUE SERVICES: Whitley Penn’s CAAS technology

team is focused on a seamless integration of technology with strategic initiatives by consulting with clients to assess their needs. Then, the CAAS team builds out the platform using best-in-class tools like Sage Intacct and has capabilities to build integrations to other systems. From there, Whitley Penn’s CAAS Data Analytics & Transformation Solutions practice spearheads technology consulting engagements focused on building data integrations and Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A) as a service for the CFO. PICTURED: Ryan Bolton, Sheri Hanner, Trina Dicketts, Glenn Hanner.

WHITLEY PENN

640 Taylor St., Ste. 2200 | Fort Worth, Texas 76102 817.259.9100 | whitley.penn@whitleypenn.com whitleypenn.com

Questions About My Roth IRA

WORDS BY WES SHANNON

Iwas having breakfast with a longtime friend and client this weekend, and he asked me, “Do I need to start putting money into my Roth IRA?”

While this is a simple question that I get asked regularly, the answer can be complicated. The IRS rules for Individual Retirement Accounts, both Traditional and Roth, have more moving parts than a marching band. So, I answered with a question: “Are you contributing the maximum to your 401(k) at work?”

He told me he was not and that gave me an easy out as his financial planner, and I told him, “When you get to maximum contribution to your 401(k) and still want to save more, then let’s talk.”

Here are the parts that support the short answer:

• The maximum amount that can be contributed to a 401(k) this year is $22,500 plus an additional “catch-up” of $7,500 for people age 50 and over. For this friend who is 57, the maximum is $30,000 per year. Most 401(k) plans today offer a Roth option (my friend’s plan does) so the opportunity of putting away $30,000 in a Roth 401(k) is much better than the individual Roth IRA maximum of $7500 for his age ($6,500 normal contribution plus $1,000 catch-up contribution).

• In addition to having a higher contribution limit, the 401(k) has employer matching. Even if the employer doesn’t match in the 401(k), it is a better way to save since it is taken directly from your paycheck. It is the best way to accomplish the goal of “Pay yourself first.”  When you know that your savings goal is done first, you experience the freedom of

spending the rest of the paycheck with the knowledge that you did save.

• Another advantage to the 401(k) Roth is that most plans will allow you access via a loan to the money. An individual Roth or Traditional IRA does not allow borrowing from the account, nor may it be used for collateral on a loan. The 401(k) Roth with loan provisions allow for a loan of 50% of the balance not to exceed $50,000. The interest on the loan is credited back to your account, so it is basically borrowing from yourself. During down market years like 2022, the interest earned on the loan balance could be the best performing investment in the 401(k) at the time.

• Another reason for taking the “easyout” for my answer is that Roth IRAs, unlike Traditional IRAs, are subject to an income limit. (Traditional IRAs only have an income limit if you have a work-sponsored retirement plan.) And the income limit is based upon “Modified Adjusted Gross Income. Here is the beginning of the moving parts I mentioned above.

“Modified Adjusted Gross Income” is calculated by the IRS like this:

• Take your Adjusted Gross Income (line 11 on the 2022 1040 tax return)

• Add back to this number the following:

• Deductions you took for an IRA contribution and taxable Social Security Payments

• Deductions you took for Student Loan interest

• Tuition and fees deductions

• Half of self-employment tax

• Excluded Foreign Income

• Interest from EE savings bonds used to pay education expenses

• Losses from a Partnership

• Passive Income or loss

• Rental losses

• The exclusion for Adoption expenses

• The sum of 1 and 2 above equals “Modified Adjusted Gross Income” which gets back close to gross income So, after figuring out your “Modified Adjusted Gross Income,” if it is more than $153,000 for an unmarried tax filer, or $228,000 for a married filing jointly tax filer, you cannot contribute to a Roth IRA. If a person is contributing 10% to a 401(k) and that is meeting the maximum contribution of $30,000, then they are making at least $300,000 and they would most likely put their “Modified Adjusted Gross Income” over the limit for a Roth IRA Contribution.

I hope this explains why the answer to the original question is, “When you get to maximum contribution to your 401(k) and still want to save more, then let’s talk.”

Wes Shannon is a Certified Financial Planning Professional for Brazos Wealth Advisors.

The Recipe for Success: Innovation + Two Cups Hospitality

Leaders are facing a thorny business landscape. We’re no longer just competing for customers; we’re also trying to get messages heard through increasingly fractured marketing channels while working hard to attract and retain

Chamber of Commerce

employees who are more distracted than ever before. But there is one winning formula that can help businesses rise up, stand out, and secure enviable loyalty and effort.

That formula is the combination of innovation and hospitality.

Innovation is essential for any enterprise that hopes for long-term viability. It is the fundamental tool that enables us to identify new opportunities and meet evolving needs. When we embrace innovation, we discover new ways to solve problems, streamline processes, and differentiate ourselves from the competition.

Hospitality places the customer at the center of a company’s operations and decision-making processes. It provides a meaningful human connection that goes beyond the transactional nature of business. By creating memorable experiences, hospitality builds trust and loyalty and leaves a lasting positive impression.

Earlier this year, we read Will Guidara’s inspirational book, Unreasonable Hospitality: The Remarkable Power of Giving People More Than They Expect, and were struck by the power of these two concepts working in tandem. When you combine innovation and hospitality — especially the “unreasonable” kind — you truly create something greater than the sum of its parts.

First, let’s break down what Guidara means by “unreasonable hospitality” and why it’s different from ordinary customer service. Customer service is about fulfilling an expected transaction. Great customer service is about fulfilling that transaction flawlessly. But unreasonable hospitality is something else. It’s about going above and beyond to imagine the very best way a customer might feel about a transaction and then making that happen, transforming the ordinary into the extraordinary.

When you combine innovation with that idea of unreasonable hospitality, you go beyond merely meeting evolving needs. Innovation + hospitality soars into the realm of dreams and aspirations. It pushes boundaries and goes over the top, again and again. It consistently strives

to exceed the imagined, surpass the anticipated, and fulfill even the wildest dreams of customers and clients, leaving them awe-inspired and eager for more. Innovation + hospitality does not ask, “What can I give in the status quo?” It upends the status quo and asks instead, “How big can I dream?”

Of course, Guidara comes from the world of ultra-high-end restaurants, where big dreams and over-the-top hospitality fit comfortably into the culture. But we encourage businesses in any industry, whether customer-facing or not, to consider the benefits of imagining lofty goals and tenaciously going after them.

Remember, every business has essential relationships. Some of those are with customers and clients, but some are with business partners — and many are with employees. When those employees understand that they aren’t just being asked to execute flawless transactions — they are being empowered to make dreams come true — you will be amazed at the success they will achieve and the loyalty you will earn.

As Guidara reminds us, “Hospitality is a selfish pleasure. It feels great to make other people feel good.”

Ashli Rosenthal Blumenfeld is co-president and Ben Rosenthal is co-president and CEO of Standard Meat Company, a multigenerational protein packaging and portioning company headquartered in Fort Worth since 1935.

The annual awards program showcases exceptional entrepreneurs in the Greater Fort Worth area through a competitive process. See the list of winners in Fort Worth Inc.’s Winter issue hitting newsstands November 22!

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He’s Got a Leg!

And Brian Happel certainly once knew how to use it as a college and pro kicker.

WORDS BY JOHN HENRY IMAGE BY CRYSTAL WISE

Before he embarked on a successful banking career that is in its 41st year, Brian Happel was a place-kicker for his alma mater, University of Texas at Arlington, which before shutting down its football program in 1985 sent some good players into the NFL.

Happel, who played on the Mavericks’ 1981 Southland Conference championship team, kicked the football around professionally between 1981-85 for seven teams in the NFL and USFL, beginning with the New York Jets.

“I got to play in Mile High Stadium and RFK and Shea Stadium,” says Happel. “I know this dates me, but I actually played at the Astrodome. I played in Lambeau Field. What a great experience. So, you know, it was neat.”

After being cut seven times, he decided banking would be a more dependable livelihood.

“I realized when the coach asked to see me and to bring my playbook, they actually had no interest in hearing my feedback” on strategy, he jokes.

Happel, a native of Bangor, Pennsylvania, today is the Fort Worth market president for Regions Bank. Happel is one of Fort Worth Inc.’s The 400 most influential people in the city.

He says the fundamental code by

which he lives — the concept of team, perseverance, discipline, resilience, and leadership — were all formed in those days on football fields.

Even an experience in Oklahoma. As a freshman punter, Happel was instructed by head coach Bud Elliott to go to Oklahoma for a scrimmage against the Sooners.

“‘Brian, I'm gonna send you up there with them. I want you to punt, but I want you to have a 40-yard average,’” Happel recalls Elliott telling him. “I said, ‘OK, well, that's no big deal.’”

His first two punts traveled 40 total

yards in 40 mph head winds. However, his last kick was with the wind. He remembers that the ball took off of his foot like a rocket.

“Well, one of the Oklahoma players comes in and wipes me out. Flips me up in the air, and I land straight on my back. I'm looking up and see the [referee] reaching for his pocket to pull the flag out. I said to him, ‘Please don't throw that flag. I need that punt.’”

If the victim doesn’t want to press charges, what is one to do? The ref held his flag, and Happel had his 40-yard average. And a great story to share.

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