Fort Worth Inc. - July-August 2019

Whitley Penn Understands Healthcare

Whitley Penn understands the challenges healthcare organizations face as our nation’s healthcare system continues to evolve. Our professionals provide services to multi-location healthcare systems, senior living groups, home health, hospice, surgical centers, physical therapy centers, durable medical equipment providers, dental groups as well as sole practitioners with growing practices. We have been embedded in the healthcare industry for decades and understand the business and economics of the industry.

Contents / THE 400

July / August 2019

10 / The New Fort Worth Way

New to this year’s 400 is an infusion of youthful entrepreneurs moving and shaking everything from arts to philanthropy. With a vision for a more diverse yet connected city, this next generation of influencers is rewriting the Fort Worth Way — they hope, for the better.

4 / Publisher’s Note

6 / Small but Mighty

Even the smallest businesses can make the biggest impact on a city. Take it from this local barbershop owner.

8 / Just Pick One

We asked our 400 to pick just one element of the city that they’d like to see change. Here’s what they said.

142 / The 400: Fun Facts

Interesting info about our honorees

144 / Index

16 / Arts and Leisure

Proponents of the city’s visual arts, music and theater scenes

20 / Banking and Finance

Investments, equity and all things finance

42 / Economic Development

Expanding the city’s reach in business and tourism

48 / Education

Shaping the next generation of Fort Worthians

56 / Government

Lawmakers and politicians in both the city and the state

64 / Health Care and Life Sciences

Leaders in medicine and medical research

72 / Industry From food and beverage to oil and gas

86 / Nonprofits and Philanthropy

Giving back to the community

94 / Professional Services

Influencers in marketing, human resources, law and other fields

108 / Real Estate

Builders and flippers, buyers and sellers

128 / Religion

Spiritual life in the city

132 / Sports

The true ballers

136 / Transportation Leaders in transit

The 400

A Fort Worth Inc. Special Issue

Feature

Featurettes & Misc.

Alec Jhangiani

Betsy Price

Kent Scribner

Leah King

Holland Sanders

Who Really Runs Cowtown?

The Most Powerful People in Fort Worth or the Most Influential?

That’s the question we asked ourselves last year when we put this wonderfully subjective list together. When originally creating the 400 list, my editor, Scott Nishimura, and I had numerous conversations, sometimes heated, over the decision to call our list the most influential people or the most powerful. We debated the definition of the words “power” and “influence” used as verbs and/or as nouns. We also discussed the words used as adjectives, i.e., influential versus powerful.

Merriam-Webster defines the noun “influence” as the power to direct the thinking or behavior of others usually indirectly. It defines the noun “power” as the right or means to command or control others. Synonyms for power, according to Webster, are command, control, mastery and authority. Synonyms for influence include clout, juice, pull and sway. As our company mission statement is to celebrate Fort Worth and make it better, we felt celebrating the individuals who have the most influence was the better way to go.

There are three kinds of people in the world: those that watch things happen, those that make things happen, and those that say, “What happened?” While you may not agree with every one of our top 400, you will not be able to credibly challenge that the individuals on this year’s list have significant clout, juice, pull and sway. They all have what it takes to incite change, to move our city forward in tangible (and intangible) ways, and to make our lives as Fort Worthians better.

The influence these leaders have isn’t

born solely of wealth, nor is it derived from a particular position. Rather, it comes from how they use it — and the multitude of ways might surprise you. This ranking of the most influential people in the Fort Worth area is not a popularity contest. Nor is the ranking scientific, but it is based on significant research, achievements and records.

There are some names you might expect to see who are not there, as there are only 300 of last year’s 400 that made the 2019 list. It’s not that these individuals necessarily lost influence; we simply deemed the 100 additions to be more influential in the past year.

The individuals on this list have the elusive combination of elements that allows them to get their way. They affect life in Greater Fort Worth on a grand scale. Others contribute in ways you might not notice but are truly influential. All of them made a difference.

Let us know what you think of this year’s list. If you have an opinion on who should make the list next year, let us know while it’s fresh on your mind.

Hal A. Brown owner/publisher

TX 76116. Postage Paid at Fort Worth, Texas. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Fort Worth Magazine, 6777 Camp Bowie Blvd, Suite 130, Fort Worth, TX 76116. Volume 5, Number 4, July/August 2019. Basic Subscription price: $19.95

or via email at snishimura@fwtexas.com.

It’s not in your best interest.

TRANSPARENCY MATTERS

At Whitebox, we maintain complete transparency throughout the process, so you always know where you stand and what to expect next. The result is the best deal for you and your needs.

Small but Mighty

Small businesses have more influence than one may think. Just ask the owner of Fort Worth Barber Shop.

BY JONATHAN MORRIS, OWNER,

FORT

WORTH BARBER SHOP

From Magnolia Avenue to The Foundry District, Cowtown in recent years has quickly turned into a hub for creative small businesses, with youthful entrepreneurs at the forefront of reshaping not just the city’s entrepreneurial landscape but also its overall culture. Jonathan Morris, owner of Fort Worth Barber Shop, is one of those entrepreneurs — here, talking about how influential a small business can be.

I’m not a barber. I’ve never cut anyone’s hair in my entire life, and I don’t foresee my administering a straight razor shave anytime soon. So, when I tell people that I own a barbershop in Fort Worth, Texas, I’m often met with a sense of bewilderment. I’m an entrepreneur. I love operating small businesses and the opportunities that come with it. You see, I’m driven and obsessed with building community and ultimately championing the people, places and ideas that I believe in. After five years of being a fulltime business owner, I’m convinced that a

barbershop can be the perfect backdrop for influencing the culture of a city.

We’re not just selling haircuts at Fort Worth Barber Shop. We’re instilling confidence. We’re bolstering self-esteem. We’re curating an experience that connects you to the people in your community. We’re selling a sense of belonging. Haircuts are the hook. I believe that if every week we can make hundreds of people across the 13th largest city in the nation look and feel better about themselves, we can send them back to the places they live, work and play as better, more complete versions of them-

selves. A sense of self-worth manifests itself in every aspect of life. When you look good, you feel good. And if my hypothesis is true, we can scale that positive energy across town. As lofty as it may sound, I’m bullish on my theory that we can do more than just be a place you go for a trim and shampoo. The regular trip to the barbershop can be a self-affirming experience that stitches those good vibes into the fabric of our community.

Since opening the shop in October 2014, we’ve had the pleasure of serving thousands of customers from all walks of life. We welcome dozens of Fort Worthians across a spectrum of ethnicities, nationalities, religious affiliations, sexual orientations and socioeconomic levels into the shop. I sought out to design a space and develop a team that not only was diverse, but also appealed to cross sections of our city. It’s one of the aspects of business ownership that I’m most proud of. I wanted to create an inclusive environment where strangers aren’t so strange and the things that make us different can be celebrated. That hasn’t happened by accident. In a social climate where there is no shortage of factors pulling people apart, it’s important to have places like the barbershop that bring us together. Our exposure and connection to those perspectives and cultures outside of our own makes us a more empathetic, compassionate and accepting community. That’s the Fort Worth that I want to live in. But that diversity only happens with intentionality.

Can a business as simple as a barbershop help shape the culture of a city? I believe so. A business is about people. Ours is a diverse team of professional barbers with big personalities. Ours is a cast of characters from different backgrounds that we call customers and friends. Ours is fellow small businesses that we call partners. It’s a small ecosystem that is more than just transactional. It’s relational. It’s community.

Read Jonathan Morris’ profile on page 84.

Just Pick One

One

burning question for our 400 honorees

If you could influence change in just one aspect of Fort Worth, what would that be?

“Make Fort Worth a hub for statewide, national and even international conversations regarding the most challenging issues of the day … Fort Worth is a natural ‘meeting place’ for those conversations, and universities such as Texas A&M are the most natural hosts to bring together the expertise — from academia, industry and the public sector — to engage them.”

-Robert B. Ahdieh, dean, Texas A&M School of Law

“Homelessness … I have seen the I-35 underpass on Lancaster become tent city, and it is getting worse daily. There is now a group camping out in front of the library downtown every night. I feel sorry for anyone that has become homeless. I know there are many services provided for the homeless, but the system is not working. I worry how this could affect future corporations moving to Fort Worth and future conventions visiting Fort Worth.”

-Becky Renfro Borbolla, vice president/co-owner, Renfro Foods

“Cultivate a more robust creative class. My livelihood depends on writers, graphic designers, web developers and other ‘creative’ types — but more importantly, artists, chefs, musicians and makers of all sorts add a vibrancy, selection of offerings and richer tapestry to our community. Programs like the Fort Worth Film Commission and events like MAIN ST. Fort Worth Arts Festival and Fortress Festival are a good start, but there is more to be done to become a more cosmo-

politan city.”

-Allen Wallach, CEO, PAVLOV

“The way our city addresses the issue of sex trafficking. I would ensure that sexually abused children don’t end up becoming the ones later exploited by sex traffickers. I would advocate for reform in how we treat sex trafficking victims, so they are viewed as victims to rehabilitate versus criminals to incarcerate. I hope to influence men in our city to not fuel and perpetuate the commercial sex trade (considering most do not ‘choose’ prostitution from a position of safety and equality) but instead would fight to protect sexually exploited women and girls.”

-Melissa Ice, CEO, The NET

“Our transportation system. We are geographically spread out more than many condensed large cities, making our use of mass transit not as easily accessible. An enjoyable pedestrian experience is important in many urban villages throughout the city; however, as those locations become more dense from a mix of uses, parking becomes problematic. One way to resolve the parking dilemma (instead of costly and large parking garages) is to provide cost-effective, clean and reliable transportation to and from those locations. Services like Fort Worth Bike Share, The Dash and TEXRail are good starts and should be expanded. New technologies such as high-speed rail and Hyperloop are potential

options that will allow Fort Worth to set itself apart from peer cities. By focusing on making our transportation infrastructure better, no doubt it will lead to better economic growth for the city.”

-Dak Hatfield, CEO, Hatfield Properties

“I would love to see Fort Worth become a more dog-friendly city … Of course, being a dog-friendly city would also require Fort Worth residents to take an active role in proper training and socialization (and clean up!).”

-Shelli Harveson, shareholder, Brown Pruitt Wambsganss Ferrill & Dean, P.C.

“If could change one thing about Fort Worth, it would be that we all roll up our sleeves and work together to make Fort Worth the greatest city — but doing so knowing there will be differences. There will be disagreements, and that’s okay. It doesn’t mean there is injustice; it doesn’t mean there is a hidden agenda; it doesn’t mean one part of our city is trying to keep another part from the table. It just means we are imperfect humans and trying the best we can to make our great city better. Fear begets fear, but love and understanding conquers all.”

-Michael Crain, philanthropy

“Sadly, I don’t think a lot of people make time for [theater], perhaps because they don’t think they will like a play or because they think they won’t be welcome. I am working to create a place at Amphibian Stage where all people come together and experience theatre, hear stories that move them and connect with one another.”

-Kathleen Anderson Culebro, artistic director, Amphibian Stage Productions

“Fort Worth is a diverse city, but I don’t believe our diversity is thriving. There’s work to be done in providing safe spaces for our diversity to intersect and learn from each other. I believe that the purposeful inclusion of all people expands our circles of solidarity and mutual respect. This statement is on the front door of every Craftwork location, and I’d like to ensure that we create a culture of inclusion and respect. Through this, I believe we can help our diverse city flourish together.”

-Riley Kiltz, CEO, Craftwork Coffee Co.

Fortress Presents’ Alec Jhangiani. "Alec is one of my kids," Mayor Betsy Price says.

The New Fort Worth Way

The 400 welcomes a new generation of leaders in its second year, reflecting Fort Worth’s growth and opening of opportunity to a more diverse community.

BY SCOTT NISHIMURA / PHOTOGRAPHY BY OLAF GROWALD

It’s no surprise that one member of the 2019 version of The 400: 400 ofThe Most Influential People in Fort Worth was carpooled to school as a kid by the city’s current mayor, Betsy Price. Alec Jhangiani, co-founder of Fortress Presents, in its third year of putting on the successful Fortress Festival with broad ambitions of becoming a prominent event promoter and provider of related B2B services, doesn’t remember many of the details. But the mayor does.

“Alec is one of my kids,” Price says, recalling carpools to middle and high schools in Fort Worth. Price has followed the 38-yearold Jhangiani, first for the Lone Star Film Society and then at Fortress Presents, where the festival drew thousands during its weekend run this year. “I love the fact that some of these young leaders that are

my childrens’ ages are really stepping up to the plate and trying to make things better,” Price says.

“All of us old fuddyduddies need to let go of some of that control and welcome that change.”

“We

feel very fortunate to be in Texas. There’s that entrepreneurial wildcatter feel.” – Alec Jhangiani, Fortress Presents

This year’s broadranging 400 — chosen by the magazine’s editorial staff from arts and culture; banking, finance and wealth management; economic development; education; government; health care and life sciences; industry; nonprofits and philanthropy; professional services; real estate; and transportation — introduces 100 newcomers to the list. Like Jhangiani, who co-founded Fortress with partner Ramtin Nikzad, the newcomers have successfully expanded

the leadership stage in Fort Worth, a city where prominent West Siders still heavily influence the big agenda. Community leaders say broadening of influence is inevitable with Fort Worth’s explosive growth that’s opened up opportunities in everything from entrepreneurship to volunteerism.

Price has encouraged greater public engagement since she was elected mayor eight years ago, with low voter turnout.

Newly elected mayor, Price organized the SteerFW group of young leaders and has held regular town halls on Twitter, on bicycle and foot, and over coffee.

Greater public engagement has caught the city by surprise on a few occasions. The

The 400: How We Did It Fort Worth Inc. sought to identify 400 of the most influential people in Fort Worth across a range of spheres, from arts and leisure to business, economic development, education, government, health care and life sciences, nonprofits and philanthropy, sports, and transportation. These reports were compiled by Executive Editor Scott Nishimura and Managing Editor Samantha Calimbahin, with research provided by interns Courtni Fields, Krista Simpson and Madelaine Woodhouse.

FORT WORTH’S MOST INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE 2019 THE

“I love the fact that some of these young leaders that are my childrens’ ages are really stepping up to the plate and trying to make things better.” – Mayor Betsy Price

ongoing dispute over the redevelopment of much of the historic Stockyards — owned by a partnership of Fort Worth’s Hickman family and Majestic Realty, a California firm brought in by the Hickmans to run the project — boiled over into the public while Price was trying to quietly mediate the dispute among Stockyards business owners and investors. A plan to redevelop the Glen Garden Country Club in east Fort Worth into a whiskey distillery and visitor attraction turned controversial neighborhood

leaders were on board with the project. The controversial police handling of an incident in 2017 exploded after years of racial tensions, prompting the city to create a race and culture task force that made recommendations in criminal justice, economic development, education, governance, health, housing and transportation.

“Not everything has to be controversial,” Price says, noting the Read Fort Worth community partnership led by the Fort Worth public schools, city, and business and civic leaders that’s trying to attack low literacy levels among Fort Worth third-graders.

Only 37 percent of the city’s public school third-graders are reading on level, significantly reducing the likelihood they’ll catch up and succeed, leaders of the partnership say. “It was the business community who said, yeah, we need to wake up here and help the city,” Price says. The partnership says it’s behind in its goal of having 100 percent of third-graders reading on level by 2025 and is stepping up efforts to recruit volunteers this fall.

If spheres of influence in Fort Worth have broadened, long-held tenets of succeeding in the city — like trust, respect and relationships — remain strongly in place, Price says.

“It’s a little hard to define the old Fort Worth Way,” she says. “The way I think of it is simply people come to the table and express their opinions; they compromise and get things done. There may be times, and there have been recently, where people are maybe a little more explosive about it, but basically, we get people to the table who can work together and try to work out our problems. It’s not a perfect solution always, but we do a much better job of doing it very civilly and not so much in the media than some cities our size. Nobody’s trying to hide behind that. We’re just trying to do it respectfully.”

Before Fortress’ Jhangiani and Nikzad left executive jobs at the Lone Star Film Festival in 2016 to start their company, Jhangiani recalls a conversation he had with a friend in real estate development. “Do you think something like this,” he says he asked, referring to the idea for Fortress, “could

Betsy Price

exist without involving certain people, main patrons of the arts?”

Jhangiani and Nikzad ultimately pushed forward in partnership with the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth. The two were able to quickly raise capital. Jhangiani, born in Boston and moved to Fort Worth with his family when he was a toddler, studied at the University of Texas and soon made his way to the Lone Star Film Society, where he was director. There, he met Nikzad, who was born in Iran and lived in Turkey and Italy before moving to the U.S. in fourth grade. “I didn’t speak any English; I just watched a lot of TV,” he says. Nikzad obtained undergraduate and graduate degrees at SMU and participated in the AFI Dallas International Film Festival before becoming managing director of the Lone Star society.

The Fortress Festival, whose two-day lineup this year included musician Leon Bridges and was described as a “Can’t Miss Music Festival” by Harper’s, drew a total 14,000 in attendance in partnership with the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth and an array of sponsors. That compared to attendance of about 8,000 the first year. Jhangiani and Nikzad envision a “cultural brand” that covers music, film and fashion, with the Fortress Festival, year-round events like concerts and shows, and business-to-business services spun off from what Fortress already does for its events.

“We feel very fortunate to be in Texas,” Jhangiani says. “There’s that entrepreneurial wildcatter feel. A lot of people come here looking for funding for films.”

Fort Worth’s education scene is one that’s rapidly become headed in recent years by outsiders who crossed paths in Phoenix, Arizona. Those include the Fort Worth schools superintendent Kent Scribner, who was a superintendent in Phoenix; the Tarrant County College chancellor Eugene Giovannini, who was president of a community college in Phoenix; Dr. Stuart Flynn, dean of the new TCU and UNTHSC School of Medicine, who was dean of The University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix; several of Flynn’s new deans in Fort Worth; and Anel Mercado, named last year to be the second executive director of the Read

Fort Worth third-grade literacy initiative. Mercado has restructured the program’s operations, and this summer announced stepped-up plans to recruit volunteer tutors.

The school district and Tarrant County College are collaborating on programs that make college more affordable and accessible, and the school district and School of Medicine on summer camps in certain Fort Worth public schools. Mercado, who ran a

Kent Scribner and several ex-Phoenix education executives now work in Fort Worth. Scribner “put Read Fort Worth on my radar.”

– Anel Mercado

Kent Scribner

“We all have so many things to offer, whether we know it or not.” – Leah King, chief operating officer, United Way Tarrant County

Worth public schools. Mercado, who ran a cradle-to-career program in Phoenix and worked with Scribner on a collective impact initiative in that city, spoke to the Fort Worth schools’ staff about collective impact after Read Fort Worth started at Scribner’s request. “He put Read Fort Worth on my radar,” she says. The Phoenix group is now jokingly referred to as the “Phoenix Mafia.” Mercado says Scribner is the only one of the group she knows.

Holland Sanders, founder of the HOLLAND collective brand marketing and public

relations firm in Fort Worth, is another fast riser, regarded as one of the few firms that’s broken out in the traditional space in recent years. The daughter of a plumber and stayat-home mom, Sanders, 37, grew up in South Arlington, graduated Bowie High School and obtained a degree public relations from the University of Texas at Arlington.

With few opportunities available in PR, Sanders got a job in media buying at the Concussion agency in Fort Worth. After two years, she jumped to the Fort Worth Opera as marketing coordinator. “I knew a lot of advertising and a little about marketing and was doing a lot of content creation” like email blasts and social media posts, she says. Later, she was promoted to marketing director.

Sanders also had been invited to serve on a marketing committee for the Fort Worth Convention and Visitors Bureau, now Visit Fort Worth. “We weren’t the CEO, but we were making some pretty big moves,” Sanders says. “We were all having conversations about where we wanted the city to go.”

After six years at the Opera, Sanders decided to look for a new job when a client hired her for a small freelance writing project. That done, he asked Sanders to do a second freelance writing job.

“I was going to get another job; I thought, why can’t I just do this for myself?” she says. In 2016, she left the Opera and started HOLLAND collective, with the Opera as her first client. The Salsa Limón restaurant company was another early client, having Sanders handle PR for the move of the company’s University Drive restaurant to the nascent River District in West Fort Worth.

It took Sanders a year to craft a strategy. In the interim, “I said yes to everything,” she says. “I didn’t know how to run a business. I think I disappointed a lot of people I really care about.” Today, her niche is big-thinking entrepreneurs, often startups, in lifestyle, art and food brands. Clients have included the Lone Star Film Festival and M2G Ventures, developer of The Foundry District off of the West Seventh corridor. Her firm’s services include PR, social media, marketing and influencer relations. “Our niche is someone who has a vision, who is dreaming big,” says

Leah King

Sanders, who has three full-time employees, two interns and three contractors she regularly works with.

To Sanders, the expansion of influence in Fort Worth is inevitable, with growth and more diverse and younger demographics. “The city was poised for growth, and it’s finally happening,” she says.

Influencers of her age in Fort Worth speak similarly when they talk about what they do, she says. “When we have these conversations, we never say this is what we’ve done. We say this is what we need to do. We are not here to make a ton of money. We are here to create a community we want to live in. That takes an ecosystem.”

Leah King’s path to influence in Fort Worth started as a member of RadioShack’s Answer Team for the company’s “You’ve Got Questions; We’ve Got Answers” campaign. A military brat, King was working at a RadioShack store in Jacksonville, North Carolina, home of the Marine Corps base Camp Lejeune, when she applied successfully to join RadioShack’s communications group as an Answer Team member.

King eventually moved into investor relations and then left RadioShack in 2005 after 15 years with the company. King’s career path then took her through headhunting in finance and accounting; Chesapeake Energy, where she worked six years in community relations and public affairs during the Barnett Shale’s neighborhood leasing boom around Fort Worth; Holland Services in Fort Worth, where she worked in marketing; and a bank for a short time, when TD Smyers, CEO of United Way Tarrant County, called to gauge her interest in an executive post. King had volunteered at United Way and met Smyers through that connection, and maintained it in a project Chesapeake did at the Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, where Smyers was commander. King agreed in 2016 to join Smyers as United Way’s senior vice president and chief development officer and today is executive vice president and chief operating officer. United Way Worldwide recently chose King to participate in its Advanced Leadership Program, and King is viewed in Fort Worth as a contender for Smyers’ job; Smyers announced

this spring that he would retire Dec. 31.

“Every position built upon the last and helped me leverage skills,” she says. “It was fun. I’ve constantly gotten to do something new.”

King advises people she mentors to give back to the community. “We all have so many things to offer, whether we know it or not,” she says. “Some folks may see it as a professional responsibility to advance their career, but that’s not how to connect with someone in a way that’s meaningful.”

“We are here to create a community we want to live in. That takes an ecosystem.” – Holland Sanders, HOLLAND

collective

Holland Sanders

Arts and Leisure

Kathleen Anderson Culebro Executive Artistic Director Amphibian Stage Productions

Kathleen Anderson Culebro has produced over 50 plays in Fort Worth and New York since 2000, including “Smart Pretty Funny,” “La Llorona” and “A Leopard Complains of Its Spots.” She is founding artistic director at Amphibian, which has stubbornly built a following in Fort Worth’s South Main Urban Village while waiting for growth to surround it.

MOST VALUABLE LESSON I’VE LEARNED:

“It's okay to be wrong, to make a mistake or not to know something. People will respect you more if you admit it than if you try to bluff your way through it.”

MOST FUN PLACE I’VE TRAVELED: “I got married under the oculus of the Pantheon in Rome. That was pretty fun. And romantic.”

I’D PAY TO SEE: “Idris Elba play any role whatsoever on my stage.”

Rambo Elliott Photographer Rambo Photography

It’s been more than a year since Rambo Elliott, the Fort Worth photographer whose images of musician Leon Bridges helped propel his career and hers, took a call from the founders of the M2G Ventures real estate firm: Would Rambo consider making a film about mental health awareness? The M2G partners — Jessica Miller and Susan Gruppi (see separate profiles) — had lost a loved one who battled mental health. In March, Rambo debuted the trailer for the film “The Bridge” at the South by Southwest festival in Austin. It’s a fictional story and 12-minute short film about a girl seen in the film over the course of 20 years in her life.

HOW I

GOT MY START:

“I got my start in art as most artists do; you just tumble on into it. One day, you're a normal person; the next, you're obsessed with creating. I picked up this odd machine called a camera and started pressing the button daily.”

Brad Barnes President/General Manager

Fort

Worth Stock Show and Rodeo

Brad Barnes had a legacy to live up to when he took over the Stock Show’s helm in 2010 from the legendary W.R. “Bob” Watt, Jr., who had run it since 1978. Barnes has presided over a slate of aggressive improvements to the Will Rogers Memorial Center, aimed at making it the country’s premier equestrian center. And he’s in the middle of the new Dickies Arena project, as vice president of Event Facilities Fort Worth, the Ed Bass-led nonprofit that’s footing more than half the cost of the new arena. The rodeo will move to the arena.

MOMENTS: “Although the Stock Show is Fort Worth’s oldest and largest event, we’re constantly striving to enhance the experience for our guests, exhibitors and contestants. We’re proud of our history and excited about our future.”

Ben Fortson Vice President and Chief Investments Officer

Kimbell Art Foundation

Oilman Ben Fortson has been vice president and chief investment officer of the Kimbell Art Foundation since 1975. Wife Kay Fortson (see separate profile), who became president of the foundation in 1975, gave up that post last year to the couple’s daughter, Kimbell Fortson Wynne (see separate profile). Ben Fortson has been CEO of Fortson Oil Company since 1986 and has 60 years in the oil and gas industry. He’s served on the Kimbell board since 1964. Fortson is a trustee emeritus of TCU, and he’s a director of Kimbell Royalty Co., general partner of Kimbell Royalty Partners, since December 2015. The foundation holds a stake in the partnership. Fortson is a member of the Exchange Club of Fort Worth and emeritus member of the All-American Wildcatters.

Leon Bridges

Musician

Influenced by sounds from the ’50s and ’60s, Fort Worth native Leon Bridges creates soulful music that has quickly climbed the charts. He debuted his first record, Coming Home, in 2015; its hit song, “Coming Home,” was a Top 10 viral track on Spotify. The same year, Bridges signed a record deal with Columbia Records. He returned this spring with a new album, Good Thing, released in May 2018. Bridges, a big part of the youthful Fort Worth image that the city is aggressively playing up to draw young creatives, is known for his iconic style and was named one of D Magazine’s Most Stylish People in 2017. In 2019, his song “Bet Ain’t Worth the Hand” won a Grammy for Traditional R&B Performance.

MOMENTS: “I can be in the same conversation as a Bruno [Mars] or an Anderson .Paak or Usher — but be myself.” - Esquire interview, May 2018

Kay Fortson

Chair

Art Foundation

The niece and sole heir of Kay Kimbell, benefactor of the Kimbell Art Museum, Fortson grew up around art and culture and has spent her adult life carrying out the mission of her uncle to create a world-class museum in Fort Worth. The resulting Louis Kahndesigned Kimbell Art Museum, new Renzo Piano Pavilion and acclaimed collection are recognized globally for their art and design. Fortson, who became president of the Kimbell Art Foundation in 1975, gave up that post last year to her daughter, Kimbell Fortson Wynne (see separate profile). Kay Fortson remains chair of the foundation, which owns and operates the museum. Her husband, the oilman Ben Fortson (see separate profile), remains a board member and has served as chief investments officer of the board since 1975.

Kimbell

Arts and Leisure

Karen Johnson Hixon President Amon Carter Museum of American Art Board of Trustees

Ruth Carter Stevenson founded the Amon Carter Museum, following the desire of her father, the oilman, philanthropist and newspaper publisher Amon Carter Sr. Stevenson died in 2013. Today, it’s Stevenson’s daughter, Karen Johnson Hixon, who has the helm of the museum, a noted repository of seminal American art. Hixon’s brother, Mark L. Johnson (see separate profile), a Luther King Capital Management principal, also serves on the board and is chairman of the TCU Board of Trustees.

MOMENTS: “Mother and Alice were great friends and shared an extraordinary love and knowledge of art — visionaries both. I am thankful for all she has taught me, and words cannot express my gratitude for this gift from the Walton Family Foundation in Mother’s honor.” - Acknowledging a $20 million gift from benefactor Alice Walton honoring Ruth Carter Stevenson

Eric M. Lee Director Kimbell Art Museum

North Carolina native

Eric Lee was appointed the fourth director of the Kimbell Art Museum in 2009. During his tenure, the Museum underwent design development and construction of its Renzo Piano Pavilion.

Acquisitions include Michelangelo’s “Torment of Saint Anthony,” the only painting by the artist in the Americas; Poussin’s “Ordination,” from the artist’s famed series of Seven Sacraments; and recently, Modigliani’s “Head,” a rare sculpture by the artist. Exhibitions hosted by the Kimbell include “Fiery Pool: The Maya and the Mythic Sea” (2010); “Caravaggio and His Followers in Rome” (2011–12); “Bernini: Sculpting in Clay” (2013); “The Age of Picasso and Matisse: Modern Masters from the Art Institute of Chicago” (2013-14); “Faces of Impressionism: Portraits from the Musee d’Orsay” (2014-2015); and “Monet: The Early Years” (2016-2017).

Alec Jhangiani Co-Founder Fortress Presents

Alec Jhangiani and Ramtin Nikzad co-founded Fortress Presents, a music festival that this spring finished its third year in Fort Worth’s Cultural District. Jhangiani, a filmmaker, has had award-winning films screened at the Los Angeles Film Festival and Southwest by Southwest, among others. Jhangiani, educated at the University of Texas at Austin, was a former director of the Lone Star Film Society.

WHAT'S NO. 1 ON YOUR BUCKET LIST?

“Start a bucket list.”

BEST PERSONAL OR BUSINESS LESSON YOU'VE LEARNED: “Work harder than you think you have to. And then harder than that. Keep finding new levels of ability and productivity. It doesn't mean you have to maintain that kind of effort all the time, forever. Find out what you're capable of. Then sleep hard.”

Jacques Marquis President and CEO

The Cliburn

A native of Montreal, Jacques Marquis originally came to The Van Cliburn Foundation as interim president and CEO before being promoted to the official role. Since his appointment in 2013, he’s expanded the program’s offerings with new concerts like the Cliburn Festival, the club series Cliburn Sessions and the free Cliburn in the Community concerts. He also launched a third quadrennial international competition — the Cliburn International Junior Piano Competition and Festival, for 13- to 17-year-olds.

WHAT'S NO. 1 ON YOUR BUCKET LIST?

“Egypt and Greece would be nice.”

EVERYONE'S TOP CORE VALUE SHOULD BE: “Honesty. Engagement. Hard work, always with a smile.”

I LOVE TO GIVE BACK BY: “Supporting arts organizations (I love auctions!) and coaching kids (hockey and soccer).”

Walter Kinzie CEO Encore Live

Walter Kinzie was a kid when he watched his dad run the entertainment for a county fair in Kansas. That’s when he told himself he wanted into the business. Eight years after launching his event planning and production company, Kinzie has some impressive milestones. He recruited The Eagles to play a private party at a ranch west of Fort Worth. He ran numerous events and parties for President Donald Trump’s inaugural. His company’s founded the Guitar Project, under which he donates guitars, autographed by celebs who perform at Encore Live events, to nonprofits.

WHAT’S NO. 1 ON YOUR BUCKET LIST?

“No. 1 on my bucket list is to produce the Opening Ceremonies at the Summer Olympics.”

BEST PERSONAL OR BUSINESS LESSON YOU’VE LEARNED: “That you must empower your employees to make great decisions.”

Chad Mathews Executive Director Lone Star Film Festival

Chad Mathews did some part-time modeling when he was in college at TCU, where he majored in film and TV. That led to TV commercial work, which led him to move to Los Angeles, where his acting turned into writing and producing films and creating the Hill Country Film Festival in 2010 in Fredericksburg. Mathews has produced several short films and written a number of feature-length scripts. His most recent shorts — “Love Sick Lonnie” and “Detention” — were produced in Texas and acquired for distribution. Mathews is now the executive director of Fort Worth’s Lone Star Film Festival.

WHAT’S NO. 1 ON YOUR BUCKET LIST? “I would really like to one day produce a feature film. I've worked on many films in the past but have never assembled a cast and crew of my own for a feature-length movie. I would love that challenge.”

Arts and Leisure

Marla Price Director Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth

The Modern’s stature has grown substantially in the quarter century since Price has been its director. Price, who earned degrees from Mary Washington College and the University of Virginia, joined The Modern in 1986 as chief curator She became acting director in 1991 and director in 1992 Price was instrumental on the committee that oversaw construction of The Modern's new building, designed by the architect Tadao Ando and completed in 2002. Price’s chief curator, Michael Auping, retired in 2017 after more than two decades in the position

Chris Vivion Founder Niles City Sound

Chris Vivion, Josh Block and Austin Jenkins — producers and writers — founded Niles City Sound in 2014 on South Main Street in Fort Worth. It’s the unfinished studio where Leon Bridges (see separate profile) recorded his album Coming Home and that finally got completed in 2016, with high ceilings and vintage equipment Outside Niles City Sound, Vivion has ventured into whiskey as owner and distiller of Tahwahkaro Distilling Company

Andrew Walker

Executive Director

Amon Carter Museum of American Art

Andrew Walker, who made his way to the Amon in 2010 from the Saint Louis Art Museum, has played a critical role in the museum’s transition after founder Ruth Carter Stevenson died in 2013

HOW I GOT MY START: “At Bowdoin College, my art history professor gave a moving lecture on Michelangelo’s fresco, ‘The Last Judgment.’ A fire burned that perhaps I could make a living inspired by the great bursts of creativity across time.” - Voyage Dallas interview

MOMENTS: “A renewed commitment to community impact required tough decisions … to build on the [Stevenson] legacy Much is different — today, you might see a yoga class on our front lawn or encounter an installation by a living Texas artist in our atrium — but we all remain committed to the value of excellence on which she insisted.”Voyage Dallas

Kimbell Fortson Wynne President Kimbell

Art Foundation

Kimbell Fortson Wynne was named president of the Kimbell Art Foundation in June 2017, which owns and operates the Kimbell Art Museum, after serving on its board for over 27 years Wynne is the oldest daughter of Kay Fortson — niece of Kimbell benefactor Kay Kimbell — and Ben Fortson (see separate profile) Wynne is a trustee of the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth and a former trustee of the Amon Carter Museum, The Cliburn, Texas Ballet Theater and Cook Children’s Health System She’s a current trustee of her alma mater, TCU.

MOMENTS: “During her tenure on the Kimbell’s board, she has played important leadership roles in the development of the new Piano Pavilion, countless exhibitions and acquisitions, and in the expansion of community programs and museum services She is an excellent leader.” - Eric Lee, Kimbell director, when Wynne became president

Interested in sponsoring the luncheon? Contact

Bill Buechele Managing Director, Business Development Capital CFO Partners

Bill Buechele, the new chairman of Fort Worth’s Cowtown Angels angel investing group, is a longtime business advisor with diverse industry experience, including private equity, energy, manufacturing, distribution, health care and technology entities, and international exposure. Buechele was formerly leader of Deloitte's Growth Enterprise Services practice in North Texas.

Carolyn Cason Investor

Dr. Carolyn Cason, one of the Cowtown Angels’ most active members, is a retired professor and associate dean for research at the University of Texas at Arlington. She has more than 30 years in undergraduate and graduate nursing teaching. In 1997, Cason joined the UTA College of Nursing, where she led creation of the research infrastructure needed to support the nursing PhD program, and was key in defining and implementing the program’s focus on care for culturally diverse and vulnerable populations. She developed the model for the SMART Hospital, a virtual hospital in which interactive mannequins serve as patients.

Tyler Head President Corbett Capital

Tyler Head in 2011 founded Corbett Capital, a closely held investment firm focused on growth capital investments in early-stage and lower middle market companies. Head served as an officer and F/A-18 pilot in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1998 through 2009, attaining the rank of major. He is a founding member of Fort Worth’s Cowtown Angels angel investing group and serves on the group’s steering council. Head also serves on the board of Elevate Credit, Inc., a provider of innovative online credit solutions for non-prime consumers. Head serves on the board of the TechFW incubator and accelerator.

BEST PERSONAL OR BUSINESS LESSON YOU’VE RECEIVED: “Integrity in everything you do.”

BEST THING YOU CAN DO FOR YOUR KIDS: “Raise them to be good, honest and independent people.”

Les Kreis Managing Partner, Co-Founder Bios Partners

Les Kreis is co-founder of Bios Partners with Stella Robertson (see separate profile), a sought-after voice on life-sciences angel-investing deals because of her extensive pharma experience. Kreis also is managing principal at Steelhead Capital Management and a founding member of the Cowtown Angels. He currently serves as a board member of Actuate Therapeutics, Stream Biomedical and Precision Global Alert. In 1994, Kreis received a Bachelor of Business Administration in finance at TCU.

BEST PERSONAL OR BUSINESS LESSON YOU'VE LEARNED: “Success is a function of helping create an environment of mutual benefit.” I LOVE TO GIVE BACK BY: “Helping develop and promote Fort Worth's entrepreneurial and educational ecosystem.”

Isaac Lee Software Engineer Lumension

Isaac Lee, active in the Cowtown Angels with his father Bill Lee, is the organization’s new chairman. Lee helps lead much of the Angels’ due diligence on companies that are under consideration for investment by angel members. He has a Bachelor of Science in software engineering from the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology.

HOW I GOT MY START: “I started with Lumension Technology's Dallas office on their risk management software; then I went to work for Accenture in Houston.”

BEST PERSONAL OR BUSINESS LESSON

YOU’VE LEARNED: “Pick what you are going to do, but do it 110 percent.”

WHAT’S NO. 1 ON YOUR BUCKET LIST: “Eat new types of food.”

WHAT SHOULD EVERYONE’S TOP CORE VALUE BE? “Be prepared.”

Dr.

Stella

Robertson Co-Founder Bios Partners

Stella Robertson, a partner of Les Kreis (see separate profile) at Bios Partners, is one of the Cowtown Angels’ most active and influential investors. She has more than 25 years’ experience in pharmaceutical research and development, including strategy, project management, clinical trials, regulatory filings, product launch, market support, translational medicine and medical communication. She is a co-founder of Bios and the owner of Arrochar Consulting. She formerly was a vice president in R&D at Alcon Laboratories. She received her PhD in biology and immunology from Johns Hopkins University.

Banking and Finance

Drew Wilson Investor

Drew Wilson, a member of the Cowtown Angels, also is an angel at the Capital Factory. He’s CEO and co-founder of Rockin’ Jump, which bills itself as the world’s largest owner, developer and operator of “extreme recreation parks” — now with 300 locations and more than 3,000 employees. He has a bachelor’s in finance from California State University, Chico.

Lori Baldock

Midtown Banking Center President Simmons Bank

Lori Baldock is Simmons Bank’s president for the Midtown Banking Center on Fort Worth’s Near Southside. She’s also chair of the Near Southside Inc. economic development organization. She’s a former senior vice president at Southwest Bank, which merged into Simmons.

Henry Borbolla III

Vice President-Commercial Banking Ciera Bank

Henry Borbolla III, vice president of commercial banking with Ciera Bank in Fort Worth, has 30 years in the financial industry. He has a lengthy civic resume: He serves on the DFW Airport board as secretary and was appointed by Mayor Betsy Price in 2015. He was appointed to the Trinity River Authority board by then-Gov. Rick Perry, the Fort Worth Charter Review Task Force by Price, and the Downtown Fort Worth Design Review Board. He’s also served the boards of Visit Fort Worth and the University of North Texas Health Science Center Foundation.

Eddie Broussard

Manager-Corporate Banking, Fort Worth Texas Capital Bank

Eddie Broussard left Texas once, and after a successful career in North Carolina, he moved back to the Lone Star State and a job at Texas Capital Bank as a senior vice president and commercial banking executive. Broussard previously served as president and vice president with Drillers Service in Hickory, North Carolina, from 2002 to 2013. He formerly was vice president with Preferred Pump & Equipment in Fort Worth, 1996-2002; senior vice president with Comerica Bank, 1992-1996; and vice president with JPMorgan Chase & Co., 1984-1992. At Texas Tech University, Broussard earned a bachelor’s in finance. He’s served organizations such as Downtown Fort Worth, Inc., Junior Achievement and the Union Gospel Mission.

Steven Colwick Fort Worth Market President Comerica Bank

Steven Colwick is the new Fort Worth market president of Comerica Bank, announced in May. He replaced previous president Cody Kiser, who is now managing one of Comerica’s largest middle market groups in Texas, the Dallas Central region. In addition to his current role, Colwick also serves as the middle market and business banking group manager for the market. He has been with Comerica for almost two decades, starting his career there as a credit analyst. In the community, Colwick serves as a board member for the Ronald McDonald House of Fort Worth and volunteers with Junior Achievement of Chisholm Trail, March of Dimes and the United Way of Tarrant County.

Mark Drennan

President - North Texas Region Southside Bank

In September 2017, Mark Drennan was promoted to new president of the North Texas region of Southside Bank. Drennan’s leadership posts: Leadership Fort Worth, Vision Fort Worth Advisory Council as part of the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, Texas Health Resources Research and Education Council, and Fort Worth Metropolitan YMCA.

BEST PIECE OF ADVICE I’VE RECEIVED: “Never give up. It's basic but always holds true.” WHAT I’D TELL PEOPLE JUST GETTING STARTED TODAY: “Focus on developing meaningful relationships; it’s the secret sauce to a successful future.” WHAT I DO FOR FUN: “Without question, coaching my kids’ youth sports teams. It’s been a fun ride.”

Congratulations to MARTIN NOTO for being named to Fort Worth Inc.’s 400 Most Influential People for 2019

Banking and Finance / Banking

Jim DuBose Chairman Colonial Savings

Jim DuBose took up the helm at the venerable Colonial Savings, following his father, Jimmy DuBose. Founded in 1952, Colonial is a national, multi-service financial institution and one of largest servicers of mortgage loans in the U.S., with a servicing portfolio of $26 billion. It is the parent of Colonial National Mortgage, a leading retail mortgage lender; CU Members Mortgage, which provides mortgage services to more than 1,000 credit unions nationwide; and Colonial Savings, a network of eight consumer/commercial banks located throughout North Central Texas. It is also affiliated with Colonial Life Insurance Company of Texas, DuBose & Associates Insurance and Colonial Lloyds.

Brian Happel

Fort Worth Market CEO BBVA

Brian Happel leads the Fort Worth market for BBVA, responsible for the consumer, commercial and commercial real estate team for Tarrant County. Happel serves on the Downtown Fort Worth Inc., University of Texas at Arlington College of Business, Sportsmen’s Club of Fort Worth, Young Life Fort Worth and The Art Station boards. He’s a member of the Fort Worth Executive Roundtable. He previously served the Arlington Citizens Budget Review Committee, Fort Worth Arts Council, University of Texas at Arlington Alumni Association, University of Texas at Arlington Athletics Alumni Association and River Legacy Foundation.

MOMENTS: Happel played football for the Washington Redskins, Baltimore Colts, New York Jets, Washington Federals, San Antonio Gunslingers and Green Bay Packers from 1983 through 1987.

Sarah Mayer Jackson Senior Vice PresidentCommercial Lending Amegy Bank

Sarah Jackson, a Fort Worth native and TCU graduate, came back home from Houston to help Amegy Bank build its market here. Jackson started her banking career in 2004. In 2009, she joined the Amegy Banking team in Houston and specializes in commercial real estate lending and syndications. She moved to Fort Worth to launch the bank’s new branch. Among her clients: Greystar, the multifamily developer that’s used Amegy's backing to build two apartment complexes in the West 7th corridor and one in the River District. The River District project connected Amegy Bank to that project’s developer, Chris Powers (see separate profile), now an Amegy client.

Grant James Fort Worth Market President Vista Bank

James is one of the latest Fort Worth banking executives to jump banks this year, moving to Vista Bank as its local market president from Origin Bank. James is actively involved in the Fort Worth community, serving on the board of Baylor All Saints Hospital in Fort Worth and as a member of the United Way Campaign Cabinet. James is a graduate of TCU, where he earned a bachelor’s in marketing.

Gary Hudson Region President Wells Fargo

Wells Fargo split up responsibility for its DFW region in fall 2017 after the longtime banker John Gavin retired. Wells Fargo named Gary Hudson new region president over the west side of the Metroplex. Hudson was already serving as area president for the west side, reporting to Gavin and responsible for 1,000 employees and nearly 80 branches. Gavin had been over the region since 1997. Scott Wallace took over the eastern half of the Metroplex from Gavin, responsible for 1,000 employees and nearly 90 branches.

Greg Morse CEO Worthington National Bank

Greg Morse has spent his entire career in the Fort Worth-Dallas area. He helped found Worthington National Bank in Arlington in 2001, which has since grown, adding two offices in Fort Worth and one in Colleyville. In the community, he serves on multiple boards. Morse and the bank are prominent supporters of Tarrant County Blue, which raises money to benefit families of police officers, particularly in time of loss.

BEST PIECE OF ADVICE I’VE RECEIVED: “Work harder than you are paid to.”

WHAT I’D TELL YOUNG PEOPLE JUST GETTING STARTED TODAY: “One can't drown in your own sweat.”

THE BEST WAY TO MEET NEW PEOPLE

HERE IS: “Get active in the community. Your volunteerism is your rent to society.”

Product shown: HAWORTH Collection

JANUS et Cie Forest Chair

Banking and Finance / Banking

Lonnie Nicholson CEO EECU

Lonnie Nicholson is a 36year credit union veteran who has held leadership positions with small and large credit unions in Florida and Texas. Nicholson chairs the Credit Union Coalition of Texas and is active with the Cornerstone Credit Union League. He also is chair of the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce and is a member of the Texas Business Lenders Group Board. He has an MBA from Nova Southeastern University.

Martin Noto Jr. Executive Vice President,

Chief

Administrative Officer

Inwood National Bank

Martin Noto has 35 years in banking, jumping to Inwood this year from First Financial, where he was Fort Worth market president. He formerly was a senior executive for Origin Bank and BBVA. He serves on the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce and Downtown Fort Worth, Inc. boards.

BEST PERSONAL OR BUSINESS LESSON

YOU'VE LEARNED: “Value your own time and the time of others. You value your time by prioritizing and focusing on what's important. You value others’ time by being on time for meetings.”

MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU CAN DO FOR YOUR KIDS IS: “Do not prepare the path for your child but rather prepare your child for the path. Let your children make their own mistakes; it is one of life's valuable lessons.”

Mike Pavell

Fort Worth Market President Bank of America

Mike Pavell serves as Fort Worth market president at Bank of America, as well as senior vice president of the bank’s private wealth management division, U.S. Trust. In the community, Pavell has been involved with organizations like the Neeley Executive Alumni Board at TCU, the Cook Children’s Healthcare Foundation and System and HeartGift Fort Worth. He is also active at his church, First Presbyterian Church of Fort Worth. He earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Texas Christian University and remains an avid Horned Frog sports fan.

Charles Powell President Ciera Bank

Charles Powell has served as president and CEO of Ciera Bank since 2015, following a 16-year stint as market president at Bank of Texas. An active member of the community, Powell has served in roles such as regional board chairman of the Make-A-Wish Foundation board of directors and member of the Texans Can Academy Regional Board.

I LOVE TO GIVE BACK BY: “Community service is and has always been rewarding to me. Hopefully, when my final resume is written, I will be remembered for service to others and making a positive impact in their lives.”

Mark Nurdin

President and CEO

Fort Worth-Bank of Texas

As CEO of Bank of Texas, Mark Nurdin is responsible for overseeing growth strategies in the Fort Worth region. He is also an active member of the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce and recently served a one-year term as chairman of the board.

WHAT'S NO. 1 ON YOUR BUCKET LIST?

“Travel to the Holy Land, which we have scheduled in 2020.”

BEST PERSONAL OR BUSINESS LESSON

YOU'VE LEARNED: “Your biggest competitor is your own thinking. To realize your potential, you must recondition your thinking to stretch beyond your comfort zone.”

MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU CAN DO FOR YOUR KIDS IS: “Introduce them to God and love them unconditionally.”

Terry Smith

Fort Worth/Dallas Regional Chairman Simmons Bank

Terry Smith was named president of the North Texas Division of Simmons Bank in 2017. He also continues to serve as regional chairman, a post he’s held since 2013. Smith has more than 35 years in DFW banking, with background in executive management, M&A, business unit management, board member, credit risk management, enterprise risk management and credit policy. He has a bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M and MBA in finance from the University of Texas.

Mark W. Warren Fort Worth Region Chairman PlainsCapital Bank

A graduate of the University of Texas at Arlington, where he earned a degree in finance, Mark W. Warren got his start in the Arlington Bank of Commerce in 1975. He eventually took senior roles at banks like JPMorgan Chase Bank, where he served as senior vice president and senior commercial relationship manager, and PlainsCapital Bank in Arlington, where he was president. Now Fort Worth region chairman, Warren is in charge of operations of PlainsCapital Bank branches in Fort Worth, Weatherford, Arlington, Colleyville and Mansfield. He is also responsible for bank management, business development and recruitment for the Fort Worth market.

Hadley Woerner President-Tarrant Region Frost Bank

Hadley Woerner oversees all Frost banking and financial services in the Tarrant County region. He got his start working evenings at a bank, sorting checks that had been processed during the day, while at the same time, studying to earn his degree in marketing from Howard Payne University. After graduating, he joined a Texas Hill Country Bank in Kerrville in 1983. Today, in addition to leading Frost Bank’s Tarrant region, he has also been involved with community organizations like Junior Achievement and United Way.

BEST

PIECE

OF

ADVICE I’VE RECEIVED: “Your integrity and character are one's most valuable assets.”

WHAT I DO FOR FUN: “Explore deserted and pristine beaches of remote Caribbean islands.”

Jeffrey Conner Managing Director, Senior Wealth Strategist Northern Trust

Jeff Conner, a senior wealth strategist, has been with Northern Trust since 2012, serving Fort Worth and West Texas. He helps individuals and families preserve and grow wealth through asset management, estate planning, trust administration and private banking. Before that, he worked 19 years in the Private Bank at JPMorgan Chase on business development and client acquisition in Fort Worth and West Texas. He serves as chair of Cook Children's Medical Center. He’s also a member of the Fort Worth Stock Show Syndicate and serves on the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo board. Conner earned his BBA in finance from Texas Tech University.

David Diesslin Chairman, Founder Diesslin Group

Dave Diesslin has been in business in Fort Worth since 1985, providing fee-only financial planning and wealth management services to individuals, corporations, closely held businesses, foundations and nonprofits. He is endorsed by Consumers’ Research Council of America as one of “America’s Top Financial Planners.” Diesslin is chairman of The Deena Jo Heide-Diesslin Foundation, a private charitable organization named in memory of his late wife, Deena Jo Heide-Diesslin.

EVERYONE’S TOP CORE VALUE SHOULD BE: “There are core values to look for, but there are no universal ‘shoulds’; there are many good core values that would be nice if we all tried to respect and understand those values and the different meanings we all ascribe to them.”

Daniel Berce President, CEO GM Financial

Berce hired onto GM Financial in 2010. He was formerly CEO of AmeriCredit Corp. from August 2005 to September 2010 and served before that as president and chief financial officer. Berce was an auditor with Coopers & Lybrand for 14 years and partner with the firm. He is a certified public accountant. GM Financial participates extensively in its communities, choosing philanthropic organizations each year as “Signature Events” and actively supporting those organizations with company-wide initiatives. This year’s U.S. Signature Events: March of Dimes, The Salvation Army and United Way. In addition to Signature Events, GM Financial and employees support dozens of nonprofit organizations across the U.S. and Canada.

J. Bryan King

Principal, Vice President, Portfolio Manager/ Analyst

Luther King Capital Management

J. Bryan King joined Luther King Capital Management in 1994 and is a managing partner of LKCM Private Discipline Management, L.P., LKCM Capital Group and LKCM Headwater Investments. King is active in the community, serving on the board of the Fort Worth Zoological Association. King graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in history from Princeton University and a Master of Business Administration from Harvard University Graduate School of Business.

With all they do, wonder what they talk about over breakfast?

The quality and depth of Beverly and Charlie Powell’s relationships have led to their success -for Beverly to become a commercial developer, serve as Burleson ISD School Board President, Chairman of the Texas Wesleyan University Board of Trustees, and now as Texas State Senator. District 10.

Charlie serves as Ciera Bank President/CEO, Board Chairman of the JPS Health Network and, for over 30 years, has held major leadership roles with numerous community organizations.

They would like to take this opportunity to say “Thank you” to everyone whose combined efforts allow them to serve throughout Fort Worth and Tarrant County.

Banking that’s true to Texas since 1890! Member FDIC

8 North Texas locations including Fort Worth and Aledo

Please call 817-348-1444

www.cierabank.com

Charlie and Beverly Powell

Banking and Finance / Financial Advisers

Jeff King Fort Worth Region President Northern Trust

Jeff King opened the Fort Worth office of Northern Trust in March 2013, moving from a post as managing director of the Fort Worth J.P. Morgan Private Bank. King is on the boards of Trinity Metro and the Fort Worth Zoological Association, and he’s chairman of The Cliburn. He’s a past chairman of the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce and past vice chairman of Cook Children’s Health Foundation.

BEST PIECE OF ADVICE I’VE RECEIVED: “Show up.”

BEST LESSON I’VE LEARNED: “Proofread.” WHAT I’D TELL YOUNG PEOPLE JUST GETTING STARTED TODAY: “Don't be afraid to start at the bottom and put in your time. One day, you'll wake up in charge of the whole darn thing.”

Luther King CEO Luther King Capital Management

Luther King has $16.2 billion in assets under management today, serving high net worth people, foundations, endowments, investment companies, pensions, profit-sharing plans and estates. Prior to founding Luther King Capital Management in 1979, King began his career in 1963 as a credit analyst at First National Bank of Fort Worth. He was honorably discharged from the U.S. Air Force and joined the Lionel D. Edie & Company as director and manager of the Dallas office. After that company was sold to Manufacturers Hanover Trust, King founded Luther King Capital Management. King has been awarded the Daniel J. Forrestal III Leadership Award for Professional Ethics and Standards of Investment Practice.

David Nolet

Managing Director,

Fort Worth Market

Manager

J.P. Morgan Private Bank

David Nolet teams with a group of specialists who work with clients and prospects to grow and manage their wealth across multiple generations. Nolet also represents the Private Bank on the Dallas-Fort Worth Market Leadership Team. He formerly was the regional banking practice lead for the Private Bank’s South and Southeast Regions, managing a $220 million revenue business over 15 offices. Nolet is vice chairman of the University of North Texas Health Science Center foundation board and vice chairman of All Saints Health Foundation. He also is treasurer on the executive committee and board of trustees for the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History. He graduated from Texas A&M University with a bachelor’s degree in accounting and master’s degree in finance.

Scott Orr

Vice President, Government Affairs

Fidelity Investments

Scott Orr joined Fidelity Investments in 2012 and is responsible for its legislative advocacy strategies and governmental relationships — local, state and federal — in the Texas region and Nebraska. Orr oversees Fidelity’s charitable initiatives, nonprofit partnerships and employee volunteerism for Fidelity’s 5,600 Texas employees. He’s chairman of the North Texas Commission and is development chair of The Cliburn. He grew up in Abilene and holds a bachelor’s degree from Abilene Christian University and an MBA from the Harvard Business School.

WHAT’S NO. 1 ON YOUR BUCKET LIST?

“Centre Court seats for Wimbledon finals.”

BEST BUSINESS OR PERSONAL LESSON:

“Concentrate on maximizing your strengths and allow others to use their strengths to fill in the gaps to create a high-performing team.”

Bob Semple

Chairman, Tarrant County; market executive, BOK Financial Private Wealth Bank of Texas

Bob Semple has worked in banking for years, including more than 10 with the former Bank One and later with Worth Bancorp, purchased by BOK in 2007. Semple, the Worth CEO, became chairman of BOK’s Bank of Texas Tarrant County banks in the deal. Semple also worked five years for the FDIC. He’s served on the Advisory Board of the TCU Neeley School of Business and numerous other boards, including Downtown Fort Worth Inc., All Saints Health System, Fort Worth Stock Show and Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award Foundation.

Scott Spiker Chairman of the Board, CEO First Command Financial Services

Scott Spiker is the CEO of First Command Financial Services, a firm that serves military servicemen and women and their families. Before his banking career, Spiker was a commissioned officer in the U.S. Navy, serving as the navigator aboard a frigate during a three-year tour of duty traveling to the Indian Ocean.

BEST PIECE OF ADVICE I’VE RECEIVED:

“If you want job security, find a good organization having problems and be a big part of the solution set.”

MOST VALUABLE LESSON I’VE LEARNED: “Everyone has a contribution they can and want to make. Help people find their spot before you judge them.”

MOST FUN PLACE I’VE TRAVELED: “Bhutan.”

Rooted in culture with the vision and resources to take you further

Through decades of diverse market cycles, BB&T Scott & Stringfellow clients have benefitted from the thought leadership that lives beyond Wall Street. The secret to our longevity is forward motion. We continue to expand our presence and grow our resources while never losing sight of the personal attention that has become our signature. See how heritage and innovation converge at the firm centered on your goals.

Banking

Sue Turnage

Tarrant County Market President Argent Trust

Turnage is the market president for Argent Trust in Fort Worth, managing the wealth strategy team. She opened Argent’s Fort Worth office in early 2018. She formerly was executive vice president for Frost Bank/Frost Wealth Advisors for 20 years, growing Fort Worth assets under management from $1 billion to over $9 billion while managing significant client relationships. Turnage also is active in many civic organizations in Fort Worth, including Kids Who Care. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree from the University of North Texas.

Douglas Bratton Founding Partner, Chief Investment Officer

Crestline Investors

Douglas Bratton has been an investment professional with organizations using alternative asset strategies since 1983. He has extensive experience in hedge fund management, credit strategies, private equity and venture capital. Since 1989, Bratton has managed portfolios using these strategies on behalf of organizations associated with Fort Worth’s Bass family. He’s also negotiated alternative asset related purchases and joint ventures for Bass and Crestline entities. Bratton received a Bachelor of Science from North Carolina State University in 1981 and went on to earn an MBA with Honors from Duke University in 1984. His Crestline Investors has $9.1 billion in assets under management as of October. Bratton serves on the Fort Worth Zoological Association board.

Clark Wen Director, Credit and Opportunistic Strategies

Crestline Investors

Clark Wen joined Crestline in 2016 as vice president in the Opportunistic Strategies Group. He formerly was an associate director in the Private Equity Group of Black Diamond Capital Management. In that role, Wen focused on special situation investments across industries such as chemicals, TV network and broadcast, telecommunications and forest products. Prior to that, he was a manager in the transaction advisory services of Ernst & Young, where he provided merger and acquisition evaluation and due diligence for several Fortune 500 companies in the media and entertainment industry. Wen received a B.S. in business management from the Stern School of Business of New York University, and he is a CPA.

Gus Stewart Bates

CEO

Gus Bates Insurance and Investments

Gus Stewart Bates received his degree at TCU before becoming the CEO of his own company. Since 1966, Gus Bates Insurance and Investments has been helping clients through insurance and investments. In 1990, Bates started building on his father’s legacy. It has evolved ever since.

WHAT'S NO. 1 ON YOUR BUCKET LIST?

“No. 1 on my bucket list is, as our business continues to grow, that we maintain our close-knit culture and continue to build on the values of trust, honesty, kindness, compassion and care.”

BEST PERSONAL OR BUSINESS LESSON YOU'VE LEARNED: “Build strong, lasting and personalized relationships with each person you come in contact with.”

EVERYONE'S TOP CORE VALUE SHOULD BE: “Always do the right thing.”

MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU CAN DO FOR YOUR KIDS IS: “Lead by example.”

Geoffrey Raynor Founding Partner Amalgamated Gadget, LP

Since 1994, Geoffrey Raynor has served as founding partner at Amalgamated Gadget, LP, a private equity firm doing business as Q Investments. Q Investments managed $1.39 billion in capital at the end of October 2017. Before taking his current role, Raynor was president at Scepter Holdings. He has also previously worked for the Bass family — with whom he assisted in investment operations, including public market securities trading, private equity transactions and venture capital investments — and Shearson Lehman Brothers. He has a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy from Princeton University, where he graduated magna cum laude.

Ken Fasola President, CEO HealthMarkets

Since 2010, Fasola has served as CEO and president of HealthMarkets, one of the largest distributors of individual and small group health insurance in the U.S. and one of the fastest growing underwriters of supplemental insurance like dental, vision and critical illness. The company’s new business sales exceed $1.6 billion annually. In the community, Fasola supports organizations like Toys for Tots and Music Camp International.

MOST VALUABLE LESSON I’VE LEARNED: “When you are explaining, you are losing.”

THE BEST WAY TO MEET NEW PEOPLE HERE IS: “Community service is a great way to get out and expand your personal and professional horizons.”

MOST FUN PLACE I’VE TRAVELED: “Love Italy!”

Banking and Finance / Insurance/Investments

Randy Meinen CEO Qualbe Marketing Group

Randy Meinen founded Qualbe in 1997. The company, on the Inc. 5000 list of America’s fastestgrowing companies in 2017 and 2018, began its growth by selling the 1Dental.com brand of insurance to consumers. The company’s since expanded its portfolio of digital marketing services. Qualbe has earned a reputation as a top workplace, this year ranking 17 on Fortune magazine’s Best Workplaces in Texas among small and medium companies.

NO. 1 ON MY BUCKET LIST: “I don’t really have a bucket list, but I would love to see my grandchildren become adults who follow God and bless others.”

BEST PERSONAL OR BUSINESS LESSON: “Be reachable.”

EVERYONE’S TOP CORE VALUE SHOULD BE: “Humility. C.S. Lewis defined it this way — ‘Humility is not thinking less of yourself; it's thinking of yourself less.’”

Lee Bass Investments

Lee M. Bass Inc.

Bass is the youngest of the four Bass Brothers (Ed, Robert, Sid), who were staked by their uncle Sid Richardson at a total $12 million when he died in 1959. Bass recently participated in the Bass family’s sale of oil and gas assets in the Permian Basin for up to $6.6 billion. He participates in the family’s real estate investments in downtown Fort Worth. He’s a backer of the Fort Worth Zoo and Fort Worth Zoological Association, his wife Ramona Bass’ (see separate profile) passion. The couple made the lead gift to the zoo’s recent $100 million capital campaign.

John Pergande CEO InsureZone

John Pergande is licensed to sell insurance in all 50 states. His InsureZone is used by 35,000 insurance agencies around the U.S. for insurance shopping and policy servicing. He supports organizations like the StarsScholarship Fund, Cristo Rey, Jordan Elizabeth Harris Foundation and Fort Worth Symphony.

HOW I GOT MY START: “I delivered a morning paper route for four years when I was in high school in Green Bay.”

MOST VALUABLE LESSON I’VE LEARNED: “Teamwork beats individual excellence in the long run.”

WHAT I’D TELL YOUNG PEOPLE JUST GETTING STARTED TODAY: “You have talents you do not appreciate or understand yet, but don't expect anyone to know what those are. That is up to you to find out and to leverage as you make your way in the world. Make mistakes. Take chances. Have fun.”

Ed Bass Investments

Ed Bass, longtime backer of the Fort Worth Stock Show and efforts to make Fort Worth the nation’s preeminent equestrian center, today is focused on construction of the new Dickies Arena. Bass’ Event Facilities Fort Worth nonprofit raised the money to pay for more than half the arena’s cost. Bass recently participated in the Bass family’s sale of oil and gas assets in the Permian Basin for up to $6.6 billion. He’s also led the family’s real estate investments in Sundance Square downtown.

Rusty Reid Chairman, CEO Higginbotham

In 1989, Rusty Reid became president and CEO of Higginbotham at age 27. He’s grown the company to become Texas’ largest independent insurance brokerage firm, with more than 30 offices and 1,000 employees in both the Texas, Oklahoma and Georgia. He supports multiple community organizations including All Saints’ Episcopal School, where he serves as trustee and chairman, and the Davey O’Brien Foundation, where he’s an executive board member.

BEST PERSONAL OR BUSINESS LESSON

YOU'VE LEARNED: “There’s always two sides to every story.”

EVERYONE'S TOP CORE VALUE SHOULD BE: “For me, I value God, family and friends above all. The key is to have core values that you live by, not just recite.”

Robert Bass Investments

Keystone Group LP

Bass participated in his family’s sale of oil and gas assets in the Permian Basin for up to $6.6 billion, as well as in the family’s real estate investments downtown. Separately, he’s expanded his fixed-based operation American Aero — selling fuel, hangar space and amenities to pilots and owners of private aircraft — at Fort Worth’s Meacham Airport, that’s challenging Meacham leader Texas Jet for market share. Bass, like his brothers, continues to participate in big ways on the city’s charitable scene. In recent years, he served on a task force that identified alternative sources of funding for the city’s financial commitment to the arts.

Marcus Morris President and CEO Fort Worth Region

Banking and Finance / Investments/Micro Lending/Private

Sid Bass Investments

Sid Bass personally negotiated 2017’s $6.6 billion sale of oil and gas assets to Exxon Mobil with Rex Tillerson, the departing CEO, Forbes reported. In 2015, Bass rescued Blue Bell Ice Cream after a listeria scare shut production down. He participates with his brothers in the family’s real estate investments in downtown’s Sundance Square.

Ardon Moore

President and CEO Lee M.

Bass Inc.

Along with serving as CEO of Lee M. Bass Inc., Lee Bass’ investment vehicle, Ardon Moore is an active member of the community, having served as a trustee of Cook Children’s Medical Center, president of the Fort Worth Zoological Association, and president of All Saints’ Episcopal School. He is also active with the University of Texas, where he serves as a member of the Austin Development Board, Dean’s Circle and McCombs School of Business. He is vice chairman of University of Texas Investment Management Company. In addition, he served as a trustee of the Texas Water Foundation.

Erika Hersh Regional Lending Manager, DFW PeopleFund

It might sound strange to have a regional lending manager mentioned among the 400 most influential people in Fort Worth, except that Hersh is regularly identified as a key local piece of the small business capital maze. With experience in lending, grant writing, community outreach, and business assistance and education, Hersh joined PeopleFund in 2012 and served as a communications and outreach coordinator before becoming the Fort Worth area loan officer in 2014. She’s an officer in the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce Cowtown Leads Exchange and the Burleson Chamber of Commerce Power of Heels committee.

EVERYONE'S TOP CORE VALUE SHOULD BE: “Authenticity.”

James Coulter Co-CEO TPG Group

James Coulter is cofounder, co-CEO, managing partner and founding partner of TPG, whose brand investments include Airbnb, Burger King, Chobani, Ducati, Hotwire, Lenovo, McAfee, Neiman Marcus, Norwegian Cruise Line and Petco. Coulter received an MBA from Stanford University. He’s a former adviser to investor Robert Bass (see separate profile), serving as a vice president for Bass’ Keystone Group, L.P. Coulter also has served on the Stanford and Dartmouth College boards. He’s the founder of Coulter IDEAPitch at New Orleans Entrepreneur Week. He’s served on the boards of SunEdison, Neiman Marcus Group, US Airways Group, and Gate Gourmet Switzerland.

Randy Eisenman Managing Partner Satori Capital

In 2008, Randy Eisenman and Sunny Vanderbeck (see separate profile) co-founded Satori Capital. He and Vanderbeck founded Satori on the bedrock of Conscious Capitalism, the principle that companies are most successful when they’re looking after the interests of all stakeholders. Eisenman previously spent 10 years at Q Investments, a private investment firm founded by former Bass family professionals. Eisenman launched the firm’s private equity business, including Handango, to capitalize on the emerging mobile apps market.

EVERYONE'S TOP CORE VALUE SHOULD BE: “I believe one's top core value depends on what one wants out of life. I think what's most important is that people take time to do the introspective work to determine their core values and then align their lives accordingly.”

Craig Kelly President Kelly Capital Partners

Lifelong Fort Worth resident Craig Kelly has spent more than 30 years in commercial real estate. He is the founder and president of Kelly Capital Partners, which since 2005 has raised over $200 million in private equity for various investment opportunities and invested in assets valued at over $600 million. In the community, Kelly, brother of Kelly Hart and Hallman lawyer Dee Kelly Jr. (see separate profile), has served on many boards including Trinity Bank, All Saints' Episcopal School, The Cliburn, and DFW Center for Autism.

WHAT I’D TELL YOUNG PEOPLE JUST GETTING STARTED TODAY: “Focus on what you do best. Don’t try to be everything to everybody.”

MOST RECENT BOOK I'VE READ: “The Election by Landon Wallace (Dee Kelly Jr.)”

provides an operationally-minded approach providing companies the neccessary tools to build market leaders with sustainable competitive advantages.

Sunny Vanderbeck Managing Partner Satori Capital

In 2008, Sunny Vanderbeck and Randy Eisenman (see separate profile) co-founded Satori Capital. Vanderbeck previously spent 11 years as CEO of a managed services and utility computing provider, Data Return, he co-founded; and that reached $50 million in revenue after three years. The company drew investment from Compaq, Level 3 and Microsoft and went public, achieving a market cap of more than $3 billion and making Vanderbeck one of the youngest CEOs of a NASDAQ-listed company.

MOST

VALUABLE

LESSON

I’VE LEARNED: “The top of the mountain isn't the end; it's a great place to see where you'll go next.”

James Stokes Executive Director Alliance Lending Corp.

James Stokes’ Alliance Lending Corp. helps fill a gap in Fort Worth’s small business lending ecosystem, offering long-term, low-interest SBA 504 loans for the purchase of assets like real estate and capital equipment, construction costs and related costs. Stokes was elected president of the North Texas Association of Government Guaranteed Lenders. He’s also served multiple roles in the National Association of Development Companies.

BEST PERSONAL OR BUSINESS LES-

SON YOU'VE LEARNED: “A saying from my parents: ‘Do a great job, and they will always invite you back.’ Also, from a classmate two years ahead of me in high school: ‘Your education is one thing that no one will ever be able to take away from you.’”

Congratulations

As a local Texas bank, we’re proud to provide exceptional financial services and guidance to the many folks who make Fort Worth such a remarkable place to live, work and raise a family.

Come visit us at our two locations:

Hulen Banking Center

2718 South Hulen St

Fort Worth, Texas 76109 817-928-5100

Fort Worth Headquarters

425 Houston St, Suite 200

Fort Worth, Texas 76102 817-928-5104

Economic Development

Hayden Blackburn Executive Director TechFW

A graduate of Texas Tech University’s Rawls College of Business, Hayden Blackburn got his start as a project specialist at the Lubbock Economic Development Alliance, where he provided support for all departments and worked in market and economic research analysis. He’d eventually find himself in Fort Worth, where he became instrumental in supporting the city’s entrepreneurs. He worked as a marketing and program consultant for the Fort Worth Business Assistance Center and later helped develop and establish IDEA Works FW, a small business incubator. Today, he works as director of investment group Cowtown Angels and executive director of TechFW, a nonprofit that provides support for entrepreneurs in the technology industry. Blackburn has also served as an organizer for entrepreneurship events, Startup Weekend and 1 Million Cups.

Jessica Christopherson Assistant Vice President of Marketing, Film Commissioner Visit Fort Worth

Before joining Visit Fort Worth, Jessica Christopherson worked extensively in broadcasting, holding various positions at FOX. In 2011, she came back home to Fort Worth-Dallas to work in marketing and public relations for Visit Fort Worth. Her background in TV came in handy in 2015 when she helped in the creation of Fort Worth’s first Film Commission, which assists filmmakers in tasks like location scouting, finding talent and obtaining necessary permits. Among the biggest projects she assisted with was the filming of “The Old Man and the Gun,” starring Robert Redford, which premiered in 2018.

WHAT'S NO. 1 ON YOUR BUCKET LIST?

“Write and publish a fiction book (eventually!) and to travel to as many places as possible with my son and husband.”

Darlene Boudreaux Coach TechFW

Darlene Boudreaux was retired when she joined TechFW in 2006 after selling a contract pharma manufacturing company she built. At the TechFW incubator, she’s nurtured numerous startups from Fort Worth’s budding life sciences scene, including Encore Vision, which sold last year for $465 million to Alcon. She founded the Cowtown Angels angel investing group. She retired as TechFW executive director in 2018 but continues to coach for the organization.

HOW I GOT MY START:

"I signed up for an interview for a job I wasn't at all qualified for — as an accountant at the biggest accounting firm in the world at that time. I'd only taken two courses in accounting and had no idea what accountants did. I got the job and then learned how to do it."

EVERYONE'S TOP CORE VALUE SHOULD BE: "Tell the truth, even when it hurts."

Brandom Gengelbach Executive Vice President of Economic Development Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce

Brandom Gengelbach heads the chamber’s economic development team that recently worked with the city to write a comprehensive plan that addressed Fort Worth’s branding issues and lack of cohesive approach for attracting and retaining highly desirable employers. The chamber’s Fortify plan, which was released along with one by the city, substantially increased the chamber’s economic development staff, including four senior people who will address business recruitment and retention; talent development, attraction and retention; small business and entrepreneur support; and government advocacy. After growing up in Houston, Gengelbach went to Samford University, where he received his Bachelor of Arts in journalism before attending the University of Southampton near London for his MBA.

Mike Brennan CEO Near Southside Inc.

Brennan, Near Southside’s planning director, replaced Paul Paine last year as CEO. Brennan, who received his master’s degree in urban planning from Harvard in 1999, is one of the city’s thought leaders in creating the sort of active, dense, transitserved interior-city neighborhoods and mixed-use districts that Fort Worth wants more of to attract and retain creatives. Brennan earned his certification from the American Institute of Certified Planners in 2002 before joining Near Southside Inc. in early 2006, after working for the City of Fort Worth’s Planning Department. Since working at Near Southside, Brennan has received the Driehaus Award from the Form-Based Codes Institute, presented at the Congress for the New Urbanism in 2008. He serves as chairman for Fort Worth Bike Sharing Inc.

Megan Henderson Director of Events and Communication Near Southside Inc.

Megan Henderson isn’t ashamed to admit to being a college dropout — still, despite not finishing a degree, she has worked her way up to become a prominent player in the Near Southside as Near Southside, Inc.’s director of events and communication. Henderson is the producer behind events like Friday on the Green, OpenStreets and ArtsGoggle. She also serves on Visit Fort Worth’s marketing committee and the Fort Worth Film Commission Advisory Board, among other organizations.

WHAT'S NO. 1 ON YOUR BUCKET LIST?

“I would like to travel widely with my daughter, Esme, and show her the world. It's corny, I know, but I want Esme to understand how expansive the world is.”

EVERYONE'S TOP CORE VALUE SHOULD BE: “Kindness.”

Economic Development

Matt Homan General Manager, President Dickies Arena

Matt Homan boasts more than a decade of experience in the management of large-scale event venues, having served as general manager of the Iowa Event Center in Des Moines and later the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia. In 2015, he found himself in Cowtown, working as executive vice president and general manager of Event Facilities Fort Worth. His latest gig — serving as general manager and president of the newly built Dickies Arena, which is set to host A-list acts like George Strait and Twenty One Pilots, as well as the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo and the first and second rounds of the 2022 NCAA men’s basketball championship. He has a degree in sports and entertainment management from the University of South Carolina.

Bob Jameson President, CEO Visit Fort Worth

Bob Jameson worked in the hospitality field for 36 years before becoming CEO of Visit Fort Worth (formerly the Fort Worth Convention & Visitors Bureau) in January 2013. The CVB rebranded itself Visit Fort Worth and, led by Jameson and senior Visit Fort Worth executive Mitch Whitten (see separate profile), hosted a house this spring at the annual South by Southwest techfest in Austin, presenting Fort Worth as a next-generation hip city. A West Coaster, Jameson was born in Long Beach and raised in Garden Grove. He graduated from the University of San Francisco in 1976 with a bachelor’s degree in history. He has a background in hotels, having served as Worthington Renaissance Fort Worth general manager before taking the job at the bureau. He’s a member of the Executive Committee of the board of Downtown Fort Worth, Inc. and board of The Cliburn.

Stacy Marshall President Southeast Fort Worth, Inc.

Stacy Marshall leads Southeast Fort Worth, Inc., an economic development organization responsible for helping revitalize the city’s southeast side. Since Marshall joined the group in 2015, Southeast Fort Worth Inc. has diversified and increased the number of members on the organization’s board, as well as increased its budget, dedicating more funding toward outreach, part-time staff and marketing. Marshall previously was president and CEO of the Lancaster Area Chamber of Commerce.

WHAT'S NO. 1 ON YOUR BUCKET LIST?

“Travel to England, particularly London.” EVERYONE'S TOP CORE VALUE SHOULD BE: “We all live in glasses house, so we must always respect and love ourselves first before you can do the same for others and receive the same as well.”

Judy McDonald Executive Director Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County

Judy McDonald has served as executive director at Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County since 1996, managing a $65 million budget and six full-service workforce centers in the area. Under McDonald, the organization has been recognized by the Texas Workforce Commission and National Association of Workforce Boards and has also begun a DFW Regional Workforce Leadership Council. McDonald serves on the board of the Workforce Development Council for the U.S. Conference of Mayors. She has been involved with organizations and committees like the Tarrant County College Employer Advisory Committee and the Arlington and Fort Worth chambers of commerce.

WHAT'S NO. 1 ON YOUR BUCKET LIST? “To get caught up!”

Anette Landeros CEO Fort Worth Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

Anette Landeros took over as head of the Fort Worth Hispanic Chamber effective July 15, succeeding John Hernandez. Landeros most recently was project manager for the Office of Inspector General for the federal Transportation Department. She also has served in various fundraising roles with the nonprofit Hispanic Women’s Network of Texas for more than a decade.

MOMENTS:

“I look forward to working alongside the FWHCC board of directors, Fort Worth business community and the City of Fort Worth to elevate our city’s economic standing to its maximum potential.”

Bob Ray Sanders Director of Communications

Fort Worth Metropolitan Black Chamber of Commerce

A native of Fort Worth, Bob Ray Sanders enjoyed a multifaceted career in print and broadcast journalism. He began his career with the Fort Worth Star-Telegram the day after he graduated from the University of North Texas in 1969. Sanders started as a courthouse reporter and political writer. At KERA, Sanders became host and producer of the award-winning show, “New Addition,” as well as vice president. Sanders retired from the Fort Worth Star-Telegram as a vice president and columnist. His columns rankled many readers, touching on everything from race to civil rights. Sanders is back as a blogger and communications director for the Fort Worth Metropolitan Black Chamber of Commerce. He's also one of the four co-chairs of Fort Worth's Race & Culture Task Force that looked into race relations in the city.

Economic Development

Robert Sturns Economic Development Director

City of Fort Worth

The son of former Fort Worth city manager and DFW Airport executive director Vernell Sturns, Robert Sturns leads the city’s economic development department and is partner to Fort Worth Chamber economic development director Brandom Gengelbach.

WHAT'S NO. 1 ON YOUR BUCKET LIST?

“I’ve recently completed my No. 1 bucket list item for the year and that was to finish my first full marathon at the Cowtown. I’m still looking for my next big challenge to conquer.”

BEST PERSONAL OR BUSINESS LESSON

YOU'VE LEARNED: “Spend zero percent of your energy on the things that don't matter.”

Andy Taft President Downtown Fort Worth, Inc.

Andy Taft, a Floridian, joined Downtown Fort Worth, Inc., as president in 2003. DFWI is Fort Worth’s downtown advocacy organization, and it manages the downtown planning and implementation process, two public improvement districts, the downtown Tax Increment Finance District, two city parks, the MAIN ST. Fort Worth Arts Festival and Parade of Lights.

WHAT

I’D

TELL YOUNG

PEOPLE JUST GETTING STARTED TODAY: “Pay your dues. Meet people; don't let technology get between you and others … be a person, not an email or text.”

THE BEST WAY TO MEET NEW PEOPLE

HERE IS: “Introduce yourself. Bashfulness isn't the Fort Worth way.”

MOST RECENT BOOK I'VE READ: “Overload by Tom Schieffer.”

Mitch Whitten Executive Vice President Visit Fort Worth

Mitch Whitten has spent most of his career in the Fort Worth-Dallas area, starting as a reporter for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram and moving on to become a marketing executive for his alma mater SMU. Today, he serves as executive vice president for marketing and strategy at Visit Fort Worth, responsible for executing projects like the Destination Master Plan, Fort Worth’s presence at South by Southwest and marketing the city’s film and music.

MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU CAN DO FOR YOUR KIDS IS: “Spend time together. When they were young, my two sons and I spent hours at the park. Today, I make breakfast for my teenager most mornings, and we talk about sports and school. More nights than not, we have family dinner together and, hopefully, laugh about the day.”

Bill

Thornton President, CEO Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce

Bill Thornton, an ex-football coach, tells a story of how he ended up at the chamber when he decided it was time to give up coaching. “There must be something for a guy who wears Spandex,” he says. Thornton, who was a coach at TCU, came on to the chamber as director of local business development in 1989. He was named vice president of economic development in 1992 and president and CEO in 2000. A native Texan, he graduated from Southwest Texas State University with bachelor’s and master’s degrees. He serves on the board of the Davey O’Brien Foundation and advisory board of The Cliburn.

Robert Ahdieh Dean Texas A&M School of Law

Bobby Ahdieh is the newly appointed dean of Texas A&M School of Law, joining the school in 2018 after serving as K.H. Gyr Professor of Private International Law and Director of the Center on Federalism and Intersystemic Governance at Emory University School of Law in Atlanta, Georgia. He has served as a law clerk to Judge James R. Browning of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and was selected for the Attorney General’s Honors Program of the Civil Division of the U.S. Department of Justice. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Princeton University and Juris Doctor from Yale.

HOW I GOT MY START:

“I took a year off between high school and college and expected to spend it in a desk job. I realized I'd probably learn more by doing something different, so instead, [I] spent the year volunteering as a janitor.”

Tim Carter Chairman Texas Wesleyan University Board of Trustees

Tim Carter became chairman of the Texas Wesleyan University Board of Trustees in 2017 after serving 19 years on the board. Among his priorities — execution of the school’s 2020 Vision strategic plan, which aims to enhance Texas Wesleyan’s reputation in academics, facilities, student experience and other aspects of the university. Outside Texas Wesleyan, Carter built a career in banking. As CEO and president of OmniAmerican Bank, he helped guide the bank’s merger with Southside Bank in 2014. He then became Southside Bank’s regional president of the North Texas region , and stepped down in 2017.. In the community, Carter has served as CEO and president of United Way of Metropolitan Tarrant County and the Harris Methodist Health Foundation.

Louise Appleman Former President Tarrant County College Board

Louise Appleman, who retired from the Tarrant County College Board of Trustees after the May election, has been a member of the board since 1988. Appleman’s lent her time and profile to numerous other local organizations, including the United Way Women’s Leadership Council, Junior League of Fort Worth, and the Arts Council of Fort Worth & Tarrant County. She also served as director of the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce. She runs her own company, Appleman & Associates, which helps businesses recruit and relocate employees to Fort Worth.

Victor Boschini Chancellor TCU

Affectionately known to students as “V Bo,” Victor Boschini has been chancellor at TCU since 2003. The university has experienced tremendous growth under Boschini, from massive facility renovations across campus (including the renovation of the BrownLupton University Union and Amon G. Carter Stadium) to athletic advancements (like joining the Big 12 Conference). Boschini has enjoyed TCU’s surge in profile, quality applicants and money since the Frogs won the Rose Bowl. Additionally, Boschini is a professor, teaching a freshman course each year in the College of Education. Boschini is a board member of the State Farm Company Mutual, the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, The Cliburn and Moncrief Cancer Institute.

Dominic Dottavio

President

Tarleton State University

Dominic Dottavio became 15th president of Tarleton State University in 2008, leading a university with six academic colleges, 1,100 faculty and staff and more than 13,000 students. He’s presiding over the university’s construction of an 80-acre Fort Worth campus in the Chisholm Trail corridor.

WHAT'S NO. 1 ON YOUR BUCKET LIST? “To visit North Dakota, home of Theodore Roosevelt National Park. North Dakota is the only state I have not visited, and Theodore Roosevelt has been a source of inspiration to my career and background in natural resource management and conservation.”

MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU CAN DO

FOR YOUR KIDS IS: “Teach them to think for themselves and to stand up for what is right, not for what is popular.”

Eugene Giovannini Chancellor Tarrant County College

Eugene Giovannini became TCC chancellor in 2016 following Erma Johnson Hadley’s death. At TCC, he oversees the country’s 16th largest institution serving nearly 100,000 students. Previously, he was founding president of Maricopa Corporate College in Arizona. He has been involved with boards like the National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship and the American Association of Community Colleges. Giovannini also led the creation of the Center for Entrepreneurial Innovation.

WHAT'S NO. 1 ON YOUR BUCKET LIST?

“Play a round of golf at St. Andrews.”

MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU CAN DO

FOR YOUR KIDS IS: “A foundation of love, support and access to education.”

I LOVE TO GIVE BACK BY: “Volunteering time and resources to the homeless community.”

Mark L. Johnson Chairman TCU Board of Trustees

The son of Ruth Carter Stevenson and grandson of Amon Carter Sr. is chairman of the TCU Board of Trustees and a director, with his sister Karen Johnson Hixon (see separate profile), of the Amon Carter Museum. Johnson is a principal at Luther King Capital Management. He joined the firm in 2002 and is a portfolio manager and fixed income analyst. Previously, Johnson was a principal and portfolio manager at GSB Investment Management. Johnson, a certified financial accountant, graduated from Duke University with a Bachelor of Arts.

Vistasp Karbhari President University of Texas at Arlington

Vistasp Karbhari oversees the advancement of the University of Texas at Arlington’s profile, research programs, faculty and staff and 58,000 students. He’s also an engineering professor.

BEST PIECE OF ADVICE I’VE RECEIVED:

“Never let others tell you that something cannot be done or that it’s impossible, and have faith in one’s abilities to move mountains through hard work.”

WHAT I’D TELL YOUNG PEOPLE JUST GETTING STARTED TODAY: “Believe that with effort you can make your dreams a reality.”

WHAT I DO FOR FUN: “Listen to music and play with dog Gabriella.”

MOST RECENT BOOK I'VE READ: “The Four by Scott Galloway.

I WOULD PAY TO SEE: “Mars.”

Molly Hyry Fort Worth ISD Volunteer

A certified secondary teacher, Molly Hyry taught English and English Second Language at Amon Carter-Riverside High School but has spent most of her career in various volunteer leadership positions at various educational organizations. She was appointed to serve on the Fort Worth ISD’s Capital Improvement Program Citizens’ Oversight Committee, established by the school board to maintain accountability and integrity in the capital program. Hyry is currently involved with the Junior League of Fort Worth, FWISD Council of PTAs and FWISD PTAs, where she’s served as president.

EVERYONE'S TOP CORE VALUE SHOULD BE: “Integrity.”

MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU CAN DO FOR YOUR KIDS IS: “Allow them to fail forward by providing a safe space to fail and encouraging them to try again.”

Pete Geren President

Sid Richardson Foundation

Pete Geren became CEO of the Sid Richardson Foundation in 2011. This foundation provides grants to nonprofit Texas organizations that offer innovative and inclusive education, health, human service and culture programs. Among its grants: $125,000 to enroll Fort Worth public school students from the Morningside program in educational programs at the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History. Before joining Sid Richardson, he was secretary of the Army, where he managed a $140 billion annual budget and 1.1 million active, Guard and Reserve soldiers. He was U.S. representative for Texas’ 12th Congressional District, serving four terms from 1989 to 1997. His brother is state Rep. Charlie Geren.

Fred

Slabach President Texas Wesleyan University

Fred Slabach has been president of Texas Wesleyan University since 2011, instrumental in implementing the university’s 2020 Vision — a strategic plan to improve the school’s facilities, student experience, finances and academic reputation. Under Slabach, Texas Wesleyan has made more than $50 million in capital improvements to the campus, seen an increase in enrollment and brought football back to the university after 75 years. Before joining Texas Wesleyan, Slabach was CEO of the Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation in Washington, D.C. In the community, Slabach is involved with the Development Corporation of Tarrant County, Southeast Fort Worth, Inc., and Fort Worth Sister Cities, among other organizations.

Executive Director

Read Fort Worth

Anel Mercado leads Read Fort Worth — a partnership founded in 2016 by Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price, Fort Worth ISD Superintendent Kent Scribner (see separate profile) and other city leaders with a goal to have 100 percent of third-graders reading on grade level by 2025 (known as the 100x25FWTX Initiative). Mercado came to Fort Worth from the Phoenix, Arizona, where she served as director of programs at Arizona Center for Youth Services. In addition, she directed the Thriving Together program, which connected community partners with schools to improve education in Phoenix.

WHAT'S NO. 1 ON YOUR BUCKET LIST?

“My No. 1 bucket list [item] would entail finding a remote cabin with no cell service and internet for a month to disconnect from our ever-busy lives and relax with my family.”

Anel Mercado

Paula Tyler Youth Programming Director

Fort Worth Public Library

Foundation

Paula Tyler, youth programming coordinator, is known broadly within Fort Worth for helping high schoolers hone their college application and financial aid stories. Launch Pad, one of the Library Foundation’s programs, provides free, individual and small-group counseling in Fort Worth Library locations. Launch Pad coordinators help applicants draw out insights in writing application essays and responses to questions on college applications. Students range from top 10-percenters to first-generation applicants.

Tad

Bird Head of School All Saints' Episcopal School

Tad Bird has been head of school at All Saints’ Episcopal School since 1998, overseeing day-to-day operations, strategic long-range planning, curriculum development and fundraising. Before All Saints’, he was headmaster of The Trinity School of Texas in Longview, head of upper school and dean of students for St. Stephen’s Episcopal School in Austin, and associate admission director for Christchurch School in Christchurch, Virginia. He serves as a board member for the Episcopal Church Foundation and HOPE Farm and is a lector and lay eucharist minister with All Saints' Episcopal School and Church. He has a doctorate of ministry in educational leadership from Virginia Theological Seminary.

Ian Craig Headmaster Trinity Valley School

Ian Craig in 2016 became head of Trinity Valley School, a K-12 coed independent college preparatory school. He has a bachelor’s degree from Syracuse University, a master’s degree from New York University, and also completed coursework at Harvard.

HOW I GOT MY START: “Both of my parents are educators, and it was a natural path for me.”

MOST VALUABLE LESSON I’VE LEARNED: “Patience is a virtue — when making important decisions, take your time and collect all of the pertinent information.”

WHAT I’D TELL YOUNG PEOPLE JUST GETTING STARTED TODAY: “Choose something you love to do as your path and embrace any relevant opportunities, regardless of how menial they may seem. You never know when an opportunity will arise.”

MOST FUN PLACE I’VE TRAVELED: “A sled dog ride in Aspen, Colorado.”

Eric Lombardi Head of School

Fort Worth Country Day School

Dallas native Eric Lombardi became the sixth head of school for Fort Worth Country Day in 2015. He has spent more than 30 years in education — prior to coming to Country Day, Lombardi served as head of middle school at St. John’s School in Houston.

HOW I GOT MY START: “Working at summer camps, getting real joy from helping people learn and improve.”

BEST PERSONAL OR BUSINESS LESSON YOU'VE LEARNED: “Embrace the gray area, but don’t get stuck there.

EVERYONE'S TOP CORE VALUE SHOULD BE: “Kindness.”

I LOVE TO GIVE BACK BY: “Giving time to kids (or to parents struggling with their kids).”

Tobi Jackson Trustee

Fort Worth Independent School District Board

Tobi Jackson, re-elected to the school board in May, grew up in East Fort Worth, attending Eastern Hills Elementary, Meadowbrook Middle School and Eastern Hills High School. This spring, she was succeeded as Fort Worth school board president by Jacinto Ramos, Jr. She has served in multiple other organizations, including the Tarrant County Cultural Facilities Finance Corporation and Vision East Lancaster. She and her husband, Bruce, helped initiate the adoption of Eastern Hills Park in 2012, as well as develop Mission Arlington’s Shoes to Share program.

Kent Scribner Superintendent

Fort Worth Independent School District

Kent Scribner joined the Fort Worth Independent School District in 2015 and oversees more than 86,000 students and 11,000 employees. With just 37 percent of Fort Worth ISD third-graders reading on level and public education considered a critical piece in the city’s ability to attract and keep high-paying jobs, Scribner, with Mayor Betsy Price and business leader Matt Rose (see separate profiles), launched the 100x25 initiative to have 100 percent of third-grade students reading at grade level by 2025. Voters approved a $750 million bond package in 2017. Other accomplishments: growth of college scholarship opportunities for students (by 80 percent to more than $102 million) and the groundbreaking of the I.M. Terrell Academy for STEM and Visual and Performing Arts.

BUILDING THE FUTURE OF TEXAS NOW

Congratulations to life-long educator, TCC Chancellor Eugene Giovannini, former TCC Board of Trustees President Louise Appleman, and their fellow honorees, as well as the 2,000+ TCC instructors dedicated to developing “everyday heroes” who make our region a better, safer and higher-quality place to live, learn, work and play.

Serving more than 100,000 students each year, TCC is one of the 20 largest higher education institutions in the United States. The two-year college offers a wide range of opportunities for learners of all ages and backgrounds, including traditional programs, such as Associate of Arts/Science degrees, Community Education & Engagement courses and customized training programs for area employers through Corporate Services. TCC has six campuses throughout Tarrant County including TCC Connect, with e-Learning and Weekend College.

HORNED FROGS.

Congratulations to the many TCU faculty, staff, alumni and supporters included in this year’s list of the “400 most influential people” in Fort Worth. Thank you for your leadership and commitment to being a force for the greater good.

Congratulationstothemany TCUfaculty

Gyna Bivens City Council Fort Worth

Gyna Bivens represents a swath of Fort Worth that stretches from Stop Six to Trinity Lakes in the HEB school district to CentrePort, south of DFW Airport. Challenges vary, from managing infrastructure projects around the growing Trinity Lakes to trying to spur redevelopment in Stop Six, where the city’s Cavile Place master plan has gone dead. Away from the council, Bivens is executive director of North Texas LEAD (North Texas Leaders and Executives Advocating Diversity), an organization that looks to find and develop diverse candidates and match them to jobs.

BEST PERSONAL OR BUSINESS LESSON YOU'VE LEARNED:

“‘What did I do to contribute to this unpleasant situation?’ That is the question I tell all to ask of themselves when they find themselves in uncomfortable situations. Blaming others accommodates a sense of victimhood. Lessons are learned when we examine our deeds.”

David Cooke City Manager Fort Worth

David Cooke has been serving as Fort Worth city manager since June 2014, in charge of implementing policies by the mayor and City Council, as well as managing the $1.9 billion city budget. Before taking on the role of city manager, Cooke worked as county manager for 13 1/2 years in Wake County, North Carolina. Cooke went to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for his undergraduate and graduate degrees in public administration. He spent 12 years with the City of Charlotte, North Carolina, before making his way to Texas.

Roy

C. Brooks

Precinct 1 Commissioner Tarrant County

Roy C. Brooks was elected commissioner and took office in January 2005, representing a big piece of Fort Worth. Brooks has led in many programs, including the Tarrant County Ex-Offender Re-Entry Program to reassimilate people just released from prisons; Nurse Family Partnership, a program for first-time mothers and their children; and a Blue Ribbon Task Force on Health Care for the Homeless. Brooks founded the Generation Hope Laptop Program, a college preparatory program targeting middle school children. Now under the Tarrant County College administration, the program provides student with laptops, STEM-based curriculum and college readiness sessions across Tarrant County.

Brian Byrd City Council Fort Worth

Brian Byrd didn’t take long after being elected to the City Council, serving part of the West Side, before trying to have an impact. He’s taken on the troubled Las Vegas Trail corridor, rife with crime and drugs and sacked by poverty, as his signature issue. Byrd, a physician, grew up in Fort Worth and graduated from Arlington Heights High School. Byrd and his wife, Stephanie, moved back to Fort Worth in 2001 after living in Waco, and Byrd opened his practice, Texas Family Health. Byrd, who is a former pastor and CEO of Texas Hospice, now is a volunteer executive pastor at Christ Fellowship Church in Fort Worth.

Gary Fickes Precinct 3 Commissioner Tarrant County

Gary Fickes has 30 years of community involvement under his belt. Today, he serves as county commissioner, overseeing Northeast Tarrant County’s Precinct 3, one of the fastest-growing precincts with a population approaching 500,000. Fickes graduated from Sam Houston State University in Huntsville in 1972 with a Bachelor of Science. Focused on health care, having served as chairman of Harris Methodist Hospital HEB and a trustee for the Harris Methodist Health Foundation, he has helped create three new school-based clinics in Precinct 3. Other priorities include transportation, seniors and economic development.

WHAT'S NO. 1 ON YOUR BUCKET LIST? “To ride the high-speed rail from DFW to Houston.” BEST PERSONAL OR BUSINESS LESSON YOU'VE LEARNED: “Pay attention to your customers and employees. Sweat the little stuff, and the big stuff will take care of itself.”

Carlos Flores City Council Fort Worth

A third-generation Fort Worthian, Carlos Flores was elected to the Fort Worth City Council in 2017, following the retirement of longtime councilman Sal Espino. Flores represents District 2, which covers the historic North Side and extends north of the Loop into the southern portion of the I-35 Corridor. Flores’ plate includes the controversial MajesticHickman redevelopment plan for much of the historic Stockyards property east of North Main Street and growth in the Alliance Corridor. Flores’ eventual run for the council was widely anticipated. He’d served on the Fort Worth Zoning Commission, Building Standards Commission and Stockyards Redevelopment Task Force.

Government

Charlie Geren State Representative State of Texas

Charlie Geren, a Republican representing Fort Worth’s District 99, has been a Texas House member since November 2000. Geren serves as chairman of the Committee on House Administration and is also a member of the Calendars, Licensing & Administrative Procedures and State Affairs committees. He has been named one of the “Top 10 Texas Legislators” twice by Texas Monthly magazine. He has served in the Fort Worth Stock Show and the boards of Ronald McDonald House, Fort Worth Zoological Association, Junior Achievement and TCU.

Craig Goldman

State Representative State of Texas

A fifth-generation Texan and fourth-generation Fort Worth native, Craig Goldman began his career in retail, working with his father at a gourmet food and fine wine store in Fort Worth. At the same, he helped in Republican election campaigns at the local, state and national levels. In 2012, he was elected to his first term as Texas State Representative. He represents House District 97, which encompasses south and southwest Tarrant County. He serves on committees including the Transportation Committee and the Select Committee on Texas Ports, Innovation and Infrastructure. He is also chairman of the Republican Caucus Policy Committee. Goldman has a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Texas at Austin.

JD

Granger

Executive Director Trinity River Visison Authority

JD Granger has his hands full managing the massive Panther Island riverfront redevelopment project in Fort Worth, whose federal funding for completion is in question. Granger has teamed with his mother, U.S. Rep. Kay Granger, (see separate profile) R-Fort Worth, to secure the federal funding. In addition to his work at Trinity River Vision, Granger serves on the boards of Texas Society of Architects, Greater Fort Worth Real Estate Council, Streams and Valleys, and Fort Worth Zoological Association. He is also an active member of the Urban Land Institute. Granger attended Texas A&M University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics before graduating from South Texas College of Law.

Kay Granger

U.S. Representative

Fort Worth

Kay Granger was elected into her 12th term in 2018, representing Fort Worth in Congress. With defense spending an important piece of the federal budget for Fort Worth, Granger, a Republican thrown in the House minority after the 2018 midterm congressional elections, is ranking member of the House Appropriations Committee. Granger was first woman mayor of Fort Worth. Granger was born in Greenville and raised in Fort Worth.

Kelly Allen Gray City Council Fort Worth

Kelly Allen Gray represents the city’s District 8, which includes Poly. Skeptical of developers, she’s frequently rejected project proposals for the development-hungry district, while supporting others. A graduate of Polytechnic High School and Texas A&MCommerce, she got her start serving District 8 when she once went door to door collecting money for the family of a neighbor who had died. Gray is also chair of the Trinity Habitat for Humanity Advisory Committee and a Texas Wesleyan University trustee.

Jungus Jordan City Council

Fort Worth

Jungus Jordan was elected to his first term on the City Council in June 2005. His District 6 covers the far south and southwest portions of Fort Worth, including Wedgwood and neighborhoods along the Chisholm Trail.

Jordan attended TCU for his undergraduate degree in economics. He earned his master’s degree in management from Webster University and graduated from the Management Executive Program at Cornell University and is a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel.

Jordan has been involved in numerous charitable organizations, including the American Red Cross, Senior Citizens Services and Rotary Club.

WHAT'S NO. 1 ON YOUR BUCKET LIST?

“Admiring my daughter’s, son’s, granddaughter’s and grandson’s continued accomplishments in life.”

EVERYONE'S TOP CORE VALUE SHOULD BE: “Romans 12 and Matthew 22:37.”

Jeff Law Chief Appraiser Tarrant Appraisal District

Jeff Law is easily the most second-guessed person on The 400, as chief appraiser of the Tarrant Appraisal District, the body responsible for setting the valuations that the region’s property taxes are based on annually.

EVERYONE'S TOP CORE VALUE SHOULD BE: “‘Love your neighbor as yourself’ (Mark 12:30-31). If we all could be more respectful of one another and follow the example that Christ has provided, our lives would be much better.”

MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU CAN DO FOR YOUR KIDS IS: “Teach our kids that every decision or choice they make will have a consequence associated with that choice. It can be a good consequence or a bad one. Choose wisely.”

G.K. Maenius

Country Administrator Tarrant County

The county administrator for Tarrant County — a position he’s held since 1988 — G.K. Maenius provides staff support to the Tarrant County Commissioners Court, as well as supervises operations of departments like Public Health and Transportation. Other groups he leads include the Fire Marshal’s Office and Agricultural Extension Service of Tarrant County. Prior to his role as county administrator, Maenius worked for the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce as group vice president of governmental affairs.

BEST PERSONAL OR BUSINESS LESSON

YOU'VE LEARNED: “Relationships are an extremely important element to accomplishing a task. Working together to solve a problem or accomplish a task will get you to the finish line quicker with a much better solution. It's important to remember that when partners become competitors, a partnership rarely continues to exist.”

Betsy Price Mayor Fort Worth

Betsy Price has put together a diverse coalition in her four terms as mayor. Worried that too few voters were turning out for local elections, Price launched Steer FW, a young leaders group, to engage new voters. The city’s post-recessionary budget returned to stability early on under Price’s tenure. Infrastructure needs and pension costs continue to put pressure on the city, which has tackled them under Price's tenure.

Dennis Shingleton City Council Fort Worth

Dennis Shingleton became a city resident and was spurred to pursue elected office after Fort Worth annexed his Lake Country neighborhood in northwest Tarrant County; Shingleton was president of the Lake Country Property Owners Association. He’s been a council member since July 2011. In 2016, council members elected him mayor pro tem. Shingleton’s odd-shaped district starts in the Cultural District and sweeps through west Fort Worth north of Interstate 30, around Loop 820 and up into the Alliance Corridor. Shingleton, a retired Army officer, served 32 years. He was a colonel and chief of staff for the 807th Medical Brigade. He graduated from Duquesne University with Bachelor and Master of Science degrees before receiving his MBA from TCU.

Cary Moon City Council Fort Worth

Cary Moon has served on the Fort Worth City Council since 2015, representing District 4, which stretches from Woodhaven to the east side of Interstate 35 and runs into the Alliance Corridor. Moon is a real estate investor and business operator, whose holdings include restaurants and the real estate underneath them, medical office and the Arlington Music Hall. His holdings include a strip of downtown Keller real estate and restaurants (Texas Bleu, Keller Tavern). Moon also is an ex-community bank CEO. Within the city government, Moon has served on multiple boards including the Fort Worth Tax Increment Finance Districts 7 and 13 and the Public Housing Finance Commission.

Marc Veasey

Representative U.S. House of Representatives

A Fort Worth native and graduate of Texas Wesleyan University, Marc Veasey was first elected to the Texas State House in 2004 before eventually representing Texas’ newly drawn Congressional District 33 in the U.S. House of Representatives. His accomplishments in Congress include the founding of the first Congressional Voting Rights Caucus, which addresses barriers and discrimination taking place at the polls. Together with Congressman Brendan Boyle, he also helped launch the Blue Collar Caucus, which addresses issues like wage stagnation, offshoring and job insecurity for those working in manufacturing and building. In the 116th Congress, he was appointed to serve on the Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Committee on Small Business.

Government

Sen. Beverly Volkman Powell

State Senator State of Texas

Sen. Beverly Volkman Powell, who defeated Konni Burton last year in the race to represent the sprawling Senate District 10 that’s been held by Republicans and Democrats, was born in Fort Worth and grew up in Burleson. A single mom, she returned to college at 39 to complete her bachelor’s degree at Texas Wesleyan, her parents’ alma mater. She put herself through school on Pell Grants and scholarships and later earned her MBA at Texas Wesleyan. Powell has worked for years in real estate and residential development. She continues to serve on the school's board of trustees.

EVERYONE'S TOP CORE VALUE SHOULD BE: “Grace and gratitude. There is no substitute for understanding just how relationships with your community change and impact your life.”

Roger Williams

U.S. Representative

Roger Williams has served Texas’ 25th congressional district since 2013, relegating responsibility for his Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep/Ram dealership to his wife and daughters. He is a former TCU baseball coach who played in the Atlanta Braves farm system. TCU’s baseball stadium is named after Charlie and Marie Lupton, in recognition of a $2 million gift from the Brown-Lupton Foundation. Its Williams-Reilly Field is named after Williams and business leader Michael Reilly. Williams — who lettered on the diamond for TCU from 1968-71 — was the Frogs’ head coach in 1976 before taking a position as chairman of the Lupton Stadium Capital Campaign.

Glen

Whitley Country Judge Tarrant County

Whitley attended Grand Prairie High School before graduating from the University of Texas at Arlington with a degree in accounting. After college, he served in the U.S. Naval Reserve and in 1983 co-founded the accounting firm Whitley Penn. He was elected Tarrant County judge in 2006 after being elected Tarrant County commissioner in 1996. Under Whitley, Tarrant County has implemented a transportation bond package, improved access to JPS Health Network and lowered its tax rate. Whitley serves as a member of the University of North Texas System Board of Regents.

Jeff Williams Mayor Arlington

Williams, elected mayor in 2015, is president of the Graham Associates engineering and planning firm. He has worked on a host of projects: AT&T Stadium, Interstate 30 Three Bridges Project, Globe Life Park, River Legacy Living Science Center, Parks Mall at Arlington, Viridian development and Richard Greene Linear Park. Williams has long served on numerous local boards and committees.

BEST LESSON I’VE LEARNED:

“Since a young age, I was always reminded to not lose sight of the big picture: to glorify the name of Jesus in all that I do and to always take care of my family.”

MOST VALUABLE LESSON I’VE LEARNED:

“As a student government officer in college, an administrator and close advisor once told me that I would be far more effective by asking questions rather than approaching situations with statements or demands.”

Sharen Wilson District Attorney Tarrant County

Sharen Wilson was elected Tarrant County’s first female criminal D.A. in 2014. She was Tarrant County’s judge of Criminal District Court No. 1 and was a former assistant district attorney. Wilson has been board certified in criminal law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization since 1986 and received her bachelor’s degree from Texas Tech University and her Doctor of Jurisprudence from the Texas Tech University School of Law.

BEST PERSONAL OR BUSINESS LESSON

YOU'VE LEARNED: “Seek and listen to others’ opinions, especially the differing ones.”

EVERYONE'S TOP CORE VALUE SHOULD BE: “Integrity — doing the right thing for the right reason.”

MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU CAN DO FOR YOUR KIDS IS: “To teach them to pray, to depend on God and to treat others with respect.”

Ann

Zadeh City Council Fort Worth

Ann Zadeh has lived in Fort Worth for more than 25 years. She served three terms on the Fort Worth Zoning Commission before being elected for the District 9 City Council seat in 2014. Zadeh is a member of The American Planning Association.

HOW I GOT MY START:

“My family lived on the 310-acre campus of [a Quaker boarding] school that included a farm and garden program and community work jobs everyone participated in to help the community function. Many of the community decisions were made through the Quaker process of coming to consensus. All of this was an excellent training ground for the work I do now as a public servant building community alongside the residents of District 9 and the entire City of Fort Worth.”

WHAT'S NO. 1 ON YOUR BUCKET LIST? “To return to Five Lakes Basin in the Sierra Mountains where I backpacked and camped as a child.”

Capt. Jonathan Townsend Commander

NAS Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base Carswell

Captain Jonathan Townsend is the 12th Commanding Officer of Naval Air Station Fort Joint Reserve Base, home to 11,000 active, reserve and civilian personnel. It generates $1.3 billion in annual impact to the local economy, according to estimates. Townsend is originally from New Woodstock, New York, and is a graduate of the Naval Academy with a Bachelor of Science degree in economics. He also has his Master of Arts degree in national security and strategic studies from the College of Command and Staff at the Naval War College. Townsend has served on several sea duty tours. He has been awarded the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal and the Navy and Joint Commendation Medals.

Discover Blaine Stone Lodge

Health Care and Life Sciences /

Stuart Flynn Founding Dean TCU and UNTHSC School of Medicine

Founding dean of Fort Worth’s new medical school, Stuart Flynn, is in charge of developing the school’s education model, which, in a departure from traditional medical education, will have students interacting with patients from year one. He previously served as founding dean of the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix, helping develop the curriculum and guide the school through the accreditation process. Before that, Flynn spent years in medical education. After earning his medical degree and residency training from the University of Michigan, he completed his fellowship in oncologic pathology at Stanford University. He later became a professor at the Yale University School of Medicine, teaching pathology and surgery.

Michael Williams President UNT Health Science Center

Dr. Michael Williams has been looking for ways to collaborate since he became interim president in 2012 and then won the permanent post in 2013. UNTHSC and Medical City Healthcare announced last year that Medical City has pledged to develop 500 new resident positions in 14 DFW hospitals over seven years to address the local shortage of residencies and physicians. UNTHSC and TCU teamed up to open the new medical school this fall offering Fort Worth's first M.D. program.

MOST VALUABLE LESSON I’VE LEARNED:

“Don’t waste your life playing small; instead, work to play a big game!”

MOST FUN PLACE I’VE TRAVELED: “Heli-Fly Fishing remote rivers in British Columbia, Canada.”

I’D PAY TO SEE: “The 1967 ‘Impossible Dream’ Boston Red Sox team play the 1961 New York Yankees at Fenway Park in Boston.”

Barclay Berdan CEO

Texas Health Resources

Health care has been moving to outpatient from hospital stays, but Texas Health Resources’ Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth is moving the other direction with a new $300 million tower to add 144 patient beds and 15 surgical suites, THR CEO Barclay Berdan announced last year. The move addresses demand for the beds and a modernized surgical center. The Jane & John Justin Foundation gave a lead gift of $10 million. Berdan became CEO of Texas Health Resources in 2014 after serving as senior executive vice president and chief operating officer the previous two years. Berdan has had THR investing in healthy communities, in hopes of keeping people out of hospitals, having the company take the lead in the Blue Zones Project Fort Worth well-being initiative.

Joseph DeLeon President

Texas Health Resources

Harris Methodist Hospital

THR executive Joseph DeLeon stepped into the presidency of THR Harris Methodist Fort Worth last year, replacing the retired Lillie Biggins. DeLeon served nearly five years as president of Texas Health Southwest, which achieved the Truven 100 Top Hospital distinction three years in a row and the Pinnacle of Excellence Award for Patient Experience from Press Ganey. The Texas Health Southwest team also worked to bring Texas Health Clearfork online, becoming a joint replacement destination. DeLeon served as chairman of Texas Rehabilitation Hospital and the Tarrant County March of Dimes.

EVERYONE'S TOP CORE VALUE SHOULD BE: “Humility.”

MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU CAN DO FOR YOUR KIDS IS: “Love their mother well and serve your community together as a family.”

Jerry Conatser Chairman, Board of Trustees Cook Children’s Foundation

The philanthropic interests of Jerry Conatser and wife Cheryl Conatser focus on children. The Conatsers support — financially and as volunteers — the Cook Children’s Health Care System, University Christian Church and Casa Mañana. Jerry Conatser is vice president of the Cook Children’s Health Foundation and a member of the Cook Children’s Health Care System board. The Conatsers support UCC ministries including the UCC Children’s Closet, which assists needy Fort Worth Independent Schools children with gifts of uniforms, shoes and other clothing and responds to year-round requests. The Conatsers also support UCC’s Prom Dress Boutique, which gives dresses and other items to girls who can’t afford them. The Conatsers made their living in construction services, including Conatser Construction and Conatser Site Services, a diversified construction business.

Robert Earley President, CEO JPS Health Network

Robert Earley has plenty on his plate in directing next moves for JPS, the county’s hospital and health network. Tarrant County voters, in a bond election, approved the findings of a citizens committee that examined needs and made several recommendations based on JPS’ outdated facilities: new patient tower on the main campus, consolidated mental health services, new community health centers and a new JPS Center for Cancer Care. Earley has been CEO since 2009. He’s known for making rounds at the hospital with a large entourage of executive staffers every Friday and making follow-up phone calls to recently discharged patients. Before being made CEO and president, Earley served as JPS’ senior vice president for community and governmental affairs from 2005-2008.

Health Care and Life Sciences / Hospitals/Life Sciences

Rick Merrill President, CEO Cook Children's Health Care System

Rick Merrill, CEO of Cook Children’s since 2007, has led the system through burgeoning growth, including an expansion that nearly doubled the size of its Fort Worth hospital campus, and addition of a clinic in the significantly underserved Southeast Fort Worth. Cook Children’s programs and physicians increasingly are drawing more patients from foreign countries. Before becoming Cook Children's CEO, Merrill served as president of Driscoll Health System, where he arranged the development of the fully integrated pediatric health system, physician organizations and the Driscoll Children's Health Plan. He also oversaw the opening of two Driscoll Children's Specialty Centers in Brownsville and McAllen, Texas. In January, Merrill became chair of the Children’s Hospital Association.

Mike Ball CEO Alcon Laboratories

Mike Ball began his career in health care in 1981, holding roles in marketing and sales at Syntex Corporation and Eli Lilly. In 2016, he was named CEO of the Alcon eye care giant, which has increasingly supplied the Fort Worth life sciences sector with spinoff entrepreneurs.

BEST PIECE OF ADVICE I’VE RECEIVED: “The main thing is to keep the main thing, the main thing. Whether in your personal or professional life, prioritize and spend time on what really matters most. This is critical to maintaining work-life balance.”

MOST FUN PLACE I’VE TRAVELED: “Safari in Africa.”

I’D PAY TO SEE: “The Stanley Cup Finals featuring my two favorite teams: the Montreal Canadiens and the Chicago Blackhawks.”

Mike Sanborn President Baylor All Saints Medical Center

Mike Sanborn served as president of Baylor Scott & White – Carrollton from 2011 until moving to his current position as Fort Worth hospital president in 2016. In 2017, Sanborn received the Citizen of the Year award from the cities of Carrollton, Addison and Farmers Branch. He has served on the national board for the American Society for Health System Pharmacists.

MOST VALUABLE LESSON I’VE LEARNED: “Understanding what motivates and excites your team is one of the most important things you can do as a leader.”

MOST FUN PLACE I’VE TRAVELED: “Greece for almost three weeks. A fantastic trip with the family. So much history there.”

WHAT I DO FOR FUN: “Road cycling all around Fort Worth with the Knuckleheads, family time and video games.”

Elyse Dickerson CEO and Co-founder Eosera,

Inc.

Elyse Dickerson leads Eosera, Inc., a fast-growing Fort Worth biotech company known for creating Earwax MD, a patent-pending topical drop that uses a dual-action technology to dissolve impacted earwax. After the launch of Earwax MD, Eosera has since created a complete line of ear care products available at CVS, Target and Amazon. Before co-founding Eosera, Dickerson was global director at Alcon, a Novartis company. She has spent more than 17 years in the health care and pharmaceutical industries, managing portfolios with annual revenues of $1.7 billion.

HOW I GOT MY START: “I started my first job at 16 years old as an usher at the Omni Theater. Who would have guessed that I'd be a CEO of a biotech company down the street from the Omni Theater decades later?”

Jyric Sims CEO Medical City

Fort Worth

Jyric Sims leads Medical City Fort Worth, a 320-bed medical facility that offers comprehensive diagnostic and treatment services. Before becoming CEO in 2017, Sims served as senior vice president and chief operating officer at Hospital Corporation of America’s (HCA) Tulane Health System, leading more than $50 million in construction and capital improvements in the course of two years. He has a master of health administration degree from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, starting his medical career as a certified nursing assistant. In 2018, he was named 2018 Young Healthcare Executive of the Year by the Dallas-Fort Worth Hospital Council.

Paul Dorman Chairman, CEO, Business Investor

DFB Pharmaceuticals

Paul Dorman runs DFB Pharmaceuticals, a long-successful Fort Worth pharma company. Today, he’s working in a consortium that’s developing a new delivery system for traditional chemo drugs: injection of nanoparticles made of chemo drugs into tumors, where they wedge themselves and, in ongoing trials, kill cancer cells.

In 2017, Dorman announced he would pay first-year tuition for the incoming class at the new TCU and UNTHSC School of Medicine.

MOST VALUABLE LESSON I’VE LEARNED:

“There is not, and never will be, a single list of leadership qualities that apply to all leaders or CEOs. At the end of the day, you are betting on people; and therefore, it is very important to build an organization of leaders around you.”

THE BEST WAY TO MEET NEW PEOPLE HERE IS: “Doing things you enjoy doing and inviting friends to join you.”

Health Care and Life Sciences / Life Sciences/Physicians

Miles Harrison President, General Manager

Nestle Skin Health, North America

Miles Harrison in 2016 became CEO of Galderma Laboratories, subsidiary of Nestlé, the Fort Worth-based unit of the big skincare products company. He joined the company two years earlier, as vice president and general manager of the Self-Medication Business Unit, which includes Galderma’s flagship Cetaphil brand. Under Harrison’s leadership, the unit grew significantly and launched several new overthe-counter brands, including Benzac Acne Solutions, Excipial Skin Solutions, Qilib Hair Regrowth + Revitalization System, and Cetaphil Men and Cetaphil Baby lines. Harrison also serves as GM of Galderma North America. Harrison held senior positions at Novartis. He is a British national and has worked and lived in several countries, including the U.S., U.K., Switzerland and Saudi Arabia.

Richard Johnston CEO and Chief Physician Officer USMD Health System

Following in his dad’s footsteps, Dr. Richard Johnston always knew he’d be a physician. He began his own practice in Dallas in 1978, and then in 2004, his group merged with Medical Clinic of North Texas. In 2006, Johnston became president of that group until the 2012 merger that created USMD Health System. He now serves as CEO and chief physician officer of USMD.

BEST PERSONAL OR BUSINESS LESSON

YOU'VE LEARNED: “Taking time to truly listen shows respect for others, and I believe it’s critical to being an effective leader.”

I LOVE TO GIVE BACK BY: “I’ve completed medical missions at One World Surgery and am working with leaders at the organization on plans to open a similar surgery center in the Dominican Republic and expand service offerings to include primary care services at both locations.”

Glenn Warner President U.S., Smith & Nephew

Glenn Warner joined Smith & Nephew in June 2014 with responsibility for the Advanced Wound Management’s global franchise strategy, marketing and product development, and U.S. commercial business. In January 2016, Warner became president of Smith & Nephew’s U.S. business. In May 2017, his role was expanded to include responsibility for Syncera in all established markets. He is based in Fort Worth. Smith & Nephew in 2012 significantly strengthened its position in wound care with the $782 million purchase of the Fort Worth-based Healthpoint Biotherapeutics from Paul Dorman’s (see separate profile) DFB Pharmaceuticals. Warner has a broad-based background in pharmaceuticals and medical products, including extensive international experience.

John Geesbreght CEO Emergency Medicine Consultants

John Geesbreght has over 35 years in emergency medicine. As well as CEO of Emergency Medicine Consultants, Geesbreght is emergency department medical director at Texas Health Harris Methodist Fort Worth, a role he has served in since 1974. He previously was president of Texas College of Emergency Physicians. He was the recipient of the RIT/USA Today Quality Cup for Customer Service & Process Improvement award. Geesbreght received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois - Chicago Circle, graduated from the Loyola-Stritch School of Medicine in 1969 and received his master’s degree in physiology from Loyola Graduate School. He studied at the Chicago Conservatory of Music for 10 years as a student of composition and piano.

Britt Nelson

President Cook Children's

Network

Britt Nelson has spent more than three decades in pediatric care, nearly two of decades at Cook Children’s. Nelson earned his bachelor’s degree from Baylor University, studying psychology at first. But he later became interested in pediatric care while studying at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. He eventually joined Cook Children’s in 1990 as medical director of pediatric critical care at Cook Children's Medical Center. He later joined the Cook Children’s Physician Network board of directors before becoming president. Nelson has served as a teacher and was assistant professor of pediatric critical care at Eastern Virginia Medical School.

Shawn Parsley President Texas Health Physicians Group

Shawn D. Parsley, D.O., was named president of Texas Health Physicians Group in 2013. Parsley has been a member of the group since 2011. Parsley’s role as president of Texas Health Physicians Group includes working closely with the Texas Health Resources chief clinical officer and senior executive vice president, as well as its zone leadership, to develop and implement the system’s physician-directed population health strategy. Board-certified in family medicine, he continues to practice medicine part time at Lake Worth Family Medicine in Fort Worth, where he has served patients for more than 16 years.

WHAT I’D TELL YOUNG PEOPLE JUST GETTING STARTED TODAY: “Medicine is a fantastic profession! View the changes you see occurring around you as opportunity to build on.” I’D PAY TO SEE: “Coldplay in concert.”

REAL RESULTS

We

Health Care and Life Sciences / Physicians

Jason Terk Pediatrician Cook Children's Health Care System

A former president of the Texas Pediatric Society, Dr. Jason Terk is a leading physician at Cook Children’s, known for his work in advocating the importance of vaccination. He frequently visits Austin to speak with state legislators on vaccine issues and serves on the Texas Medical Association (TMA) Council on Legislation and the American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Federal Government Affairs. He also works with TMA’s Be Wise –Immunize program, a public health initiative to improve vaccination rates in Texas. Terk earned his medical degree from the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston and completed his residency at Mayo Clinic.

David Winter Chairman of the Board HealthTexas Provider Network

Dr. David Winter has been a board-certified practicing physician for over 30 years. Winter received his medical degree from the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston and completed his internship and residency in internal medicine at Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas. In addition to serving as president of HealthTexas Provider Network, Winter also teaches as an attending physician in the Internal Medicine Department at Baylor University Medical Center. He leads a health care philanthropy organization, Discovery Foundation, where he is president.

MOST VALUABLE LESSON I’VE LEARNED:

“Listen long and speak softly.”

MOST FUN PLACE I’VE TRAVELED: “Mongolia, fly-fishing for giant taimen.”

Harnessing the Patient’s Own Immune System to Fight Cancer

Right here in Fort Worth, NanOlogy is on the forefront of cancer drug research. Led by CEO, H. Paul Dorman, our team of dedicated researchers is in clinical development of a technology that forms submicron particles of cancer agents for targeted delivery directly to the site of the tumor. Once there, the particles are designed to slowly release drug prolonging the tumor kill without the side effects normally associated with chemotherapy. We believe the enhanced direct tumor kill is also eliciting a pronounced antitumoral immune response potentially positioning our investigational drugs as ideal companions to boost other immunoncology therapy to fight metastatic disease. Upon successful completion of clinical development, NanOlogy hopes to gain FDA approval to bring our therapies to cancer patients.

L to R: Marc Iacobucci, Mark Mitchell, Paul Dorman, Gere diZerega, Gary Fuchs, Maxwell Lea.

Tom Durant President Classic Chevrolet

Tom Durant bought his first car dealership in 1976 — his father’s in Granbury. Durant, years later, bought 11 acres in Grapevine and established Classic Chevrolet. The store now sits on 40 acres, and he owns 20 more dealerships spanning Texas and Florida. Durant has been “GM Dealer of the Year” for the past 10 years and been first in Chevrolet dealership volume for the past eight years. He was elected chairman of the Texas Automobile Dealers Association in 2018.

AVOCATION: In 1987, Durant became involved in horse racing and now works with thoroughbreds on his ranch, Classic Racing Stables.

Jerry Durant CEO

Jerry Durant Auto Group

Jerry Durant Auto Group covers 50 acres of Weatherford with nine dealerships, selling Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, Hyundai and Toyota. Durant is “Mr. Weatherford,” donating 60 acres to Weatherford High School, serving on the Weatherford Independent School District and Weatherford College boards and receiving the 2012 Heroes for Children Award, Weatherford Citizen of the Year, James Doss Award and Weatherford College’s Carlos Hartnett Award.

HOBBY: Cutting horses, where he’s earned more than $2 million in competitions.

GOT INTO CARS: When he opened Jerry’s Chevrolet in Weatherford at age 22 after starting as a youth for his father’s wrecking yard and, later, Chevrolet dealership in Granbury.

Robert Howard President Don Davis Auto Group

Don Davis Auto Group has been under Robert Howard’s direction as president for 25 years. Howard began his Don Davis career when he graduated from the University of Texas at Arlington in 1985. UTA has since recognized Howard as a distinguished alumnus. Don Davis has four Tarrant County locations. For eight years, Don Davis has participated in the Santa’s Helpers Toy Drive, hosting drop-off centers and donating nearly $100,000 each season.

GOOD DEED: Robert Howard’s Don Davis encourages donations to Santa’s Helpers by offering a $1,000 raffle to members of the community who attend.

Michele Evans Executive Vice President Lockheed Martin Aeronautics

Michele Evans has worked in aerospace and defense for more than three decades, leading Lockheed programs like the A-10 weapons system and avionics programs on the C-130 and F-35. She now serves as executive vice president of aeronautics for Lockheed Martin — a more than $20 billion enterprise whose portfolio features fifth-generation tactical aircraft, air mobility, unmanned and intelligence/surveillance/reconnaissance platforms. The Fort Worth-based aeronautics unit makes the F-35, F-22 and F-16 fighters. She studied mechanical engineering at Clarkson University, where she graduated magna cum laude. Outside Lockheed Martin, she serves as a member of Clarkson’s Coulter School of Engineering Advisory Board and board of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. She also serves as the executive sponsor for the Women’s Impact Network and Leadership Forum.

Mike Hernandez CEO D&M Leasing

D&M Leasing is America’s largest consumer auto leasing company. D&M supports over 30 charities covering issues from cystic fibrosis to school sports. Hernandez, whose first job was in sales at D&M, has led efforts to revitalize his hometown, Brownsville, focusing on education, workforce training, quality of life and other needs, while ceding more operating control of D&M to his sons.

FIRST JOB: “I figured I’ll do this until I figure out what I’m going to do for the rest of my life.”

EARLY CAR: 1984 Olds Cutlass, leased from D&M

BECOMING PARTNER, 1990: Then-D&M owners Don Davis and David Moritz offered Hernandez, an employee, a 25 percent stake for $60,000, which he repaid over time. In 2002, he bought them out.

Eric Fox Senior Director, Government Relations Lockheed Martin Aeronautics

Lockheed Martin’s director of government relations for 20 years has a long history of working closely with government. He handled government issues for Ashland Inc.; served on the staffs of Sen. Conrad Burns of Montana, Gov. Don Sundquist of Tennessee and Congressman Henry Bonilla’s House Appropriations Committee; worked for the federal Department of Transportation; and sat on The Fund for American Studies Board of Regents. He currently serves on the North Texas Commission Board.

HOW I GOT MY START: “My parents owned a doughnut shop for 35 years. It taught me a work ethic and a sense of pride in the product you produce.”

BEST PIECE OF ADVICE I’VE RECEIVED: “Never wrestle with a pig. You get dirty, and the pig likes it.”

Raanan Horowitz CEO Elbit Systems of America

It says something that Raanan Horowitz’s Elbit was recognized by the Ethisphere Institute as one of the “World’s Most Ethical Companies” for the third time. Horowitz, a 28-year Elbit employee and its CEO since 2007, sells defense solutions globally. Horowitz, who’s been a U.S. Army Science Board consultant, serves on the National Defense Industry Association board, chairs the Texas Israel Science and Education Foundation and also previously served with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

WORLD-LEADING ETHICS: “Record levels of involvement with their stakeholders and communities around the world.” - Ethisphere WORLD-LEADING CULTURE: “This recognition underscores our employees’ continuous commitment to operate with integrity and do what’s right for our customers.” - Horowitz, on Ethisphere recognition

Greg Ulmer Vice President and F-35 General Manager Lockheed Martin Aeronautics

Ulmer took over Lockheed’s all-important F-35 in 2018. Ulmer has worked 22 years for Lockheed and was already in the F-35 program, his leadership cited in the delivery of 66 aircraft in 2017. He is a graduate of California Polytechnic University in San Luis Obispo.

ULMER'S PROMOTION: “Jeff and Greg are seasoned leaders, both uniquely qualified to lead our Skunk Works and F-35 programs through a time of rapid program growth. This key leadership transition allows Lockheed Martin to continue partnering with customers to help address the urgent needs of the world around us.” - Orlando Carvalho, then-EVP, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics

Mitch Snyder President, CEO Bell

Snyder joined Bell in 2004, where he led a number of the company’s most strategic initiatives, including overall direction of the V-22 Osprey program and over 7,000 employees. Before being named CEO in 2015, Snyder served as executive vice president of military business. Bell, under Snyder’s direction, is broadening its mission. It’s developing an “urban air taxi” in partnership with Uber. The company decided to drop “helicopter” from its name. Bell also recently became one of the largest employers to become Blue Zones-certified under the global well-being initiative’s Fort Worth demonstration project.

BECOMING JUST BELL: “When you look at where do we want to be? You have to drop the helicopter name. We’re going to be Bell.”Snyder, in 2018

Tom Head President Blackmon Mooring

& BMS Cat

Head in 2007 was named president of Blackmon Mooring and BMS Cat, an emergency cleaning and restoration company that specializes in damage related to fire, mold and water. In 1989, the company established BMS Cat, which responds worldwide to disasters. It’s responded, among others, to the Oklahoma City bombing, hurricanes Katrina and Sandy, and the so-called “Miracle on the Hudson” ditching of a crippled US Airways jet in New York’s Hudson River. Head directed the company’s move in recent years to new, larger quarters off of Airport Freeway, facilities that dramatically expanded its capacity to do restoration work.

NEW DOCUMENT FACILITY: “That allows us to do document jobs all over the world.”

Michael

Thacker Executive Vice President, Technology and Innovation Bell

Michael Thacker joined Bell Helicopter in 2017. As executive vice president for technology and innovation, Thacker leads Bell’s core engineering team, offering strategic direction for designing, developing and integrating technologies for use in Bell’s current and next generation products. Prior to Bell, Thacker worked at Textron Aviation, where he served as senior vice president of engineering.

WHAT'S NO. 1 ON YOUR BUCKET LIST? “I would like to see all of my children successfully launch into adult life.”

BEST PERSONAL OR BUSINESS LESSON YOU'VE LEARNED: “You can learn something from everyone around you. You may find things to emulate, sometimes you observe patterns to avoid, but there is always an opportunity to learn.”

CEO TTI

Paul Andrews in 1971 launched TTI, growing it into a leading global distributor of electronic components, with 5,400 employees and 100 locations worldwide, serving military, aerospace, consumer and industrial manufacturers. In 2007, Andrews sold TTI to Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway. Buffett in May praised Andrews for building a business requiring high volume sales of low-cost components. Andrews and his wife, Judy, are most visible these days for their philanthropy, providing the lead $10 million gift for the new Paul and Judy Andrews Women’s Hospital and Baylor Scott & White Medical Center and serving as major donors to a capital campaign for the Fort Worth Zoological Association.

Paul Andrews Jr.

Walt Reynolds President, CEO

The Reynolds Company

Reynolds brothers Walt and Donald (see separate profile) took the helm of the now-30-plusyear-old electric supply company from their founding father, Donald Reynolds, Sr. The company had 2017 revenue of about $650 million and 475 employees. It sold products for AT&T Stadium, Ballpark in Arlington and Amon Carter Stadium. Reynolds ranked 15th on the largest U.S. components distributors list. Reynolds completed a merger in 2017 with McNaughton-McKay, an ESOP. The merger made all employees owners in the ESOP. The two families make charitable gifts from their R4 Foundation.

BEST PERSONAL OR BUSINESS LESSON YOU'VE LEARNED: “Be kind, be sincere, be yourself, be gone.”

EVERYONE'S TOP CORE VALUE SHOULD BE: “Self-awareness.”

Ashli Rosenthal Blumenfeld Marketing Director Penrose Group, LLC

Blumenfeld was off to a strong start in fashion PR in New York when she came back to Fort Worth and joined her father Billy Rosenthal (see separate profile) and brother Ben Rosenthal in the family food businesses. At Penrose, she oversees creative and innovation for the family’s venerable Standard Meat Co. brand and Syracuse Sausage. Blumenfeld serves on the Fort Worth Zoo, Cook Children’s Health Foundation and Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra boards.

HOW I GOT MY START: “I was my dad's receptionist at his startup pepperoni business the summer of 1990 when I was 9 years old. My dad paid me in soft tacos from Chili's.”

WHAT'S NO. 1 ON YOUR BUCKET LIST? “Travel and eat my way through Asia.”

Donald Reynolds Jr. COO

The Reynolds Company

Reynolds brothers Donald and Walt (see separate profile) took the helm of the now-30-yearold electric supply company from their founding father, Donald Reynolds, Sr. The company had 2017 revenue of about $650 million and 475 employees. It sold products for AT&T Stadium, Ballpark in Arlington, and Amon Carter Stadium. Reynolds ranked 15th on the largest U.S. components distributors list. Reynolds completed a merger in 2017 with McNaughton-McKay, an ESOP. The merger made all employees owners in the ESOP. The two families direct substantial charitable giving from their R4 Foundation. Donald Reynolds, Jr. and his wife, Fantasy, are Fort Worth public-school advocates and benefactors.

Glenn Smith President, CEO Mouser Electronics

Glenn Smith started at Mouser in 1973 as a parttime warehouse employee, then moved up to technical sales representative, purchasing manager, product marketing director, information systems director, vice president of operations and general manager. Since Smith became president and CEO in 2004, Mouser has become one of the world’s largest electronic components distributors, with 27 offices worldwide and more than $1.9 billion in sales. Mouser sold to TTI in 2000, then became part of Berkshire Hathaway in 2007, with Berkshire’s purchase of TTI.

BEST PERSONAL OR BUSINESS LESSON YOU'VE LEARNED: “Make best-in-class customer service part of the company's culture.”

Jon Bonnell CEO Bonnell’s Restaurant Group

Chef, author and philanthropist Jon Bonnell opened his first restaurant, Bonnell’s Fine Texas Cuisine, in 2001, and, later, the seafood restaurant Waters Restaurant in 2013. He also co-owns Buffalo Bros at TCU, serving wings, subs and pizza. Buffalo Bros in July opened a new location at Sundance Square in downtown Fort Worth. Bonnell has appeared on numerous television shows, including “Good Morning America” and Food Network’s “BBQ with Bobby Flay.” Outside restaurants, Bonnell is an Ironman triathlete and serves on 16 boards. Nonprofit events built around cooking and local chefs are de rigueur in Fort Worth, and Bonnell regularly serves as emcee or celebrity judge at events.

WHAT I DO FOR FUN: "Triathlon." I'D PAY TO SEE: "Bigfoot."

Stephen Butt President Central Market

H-E-B began with Stephen Butt’s great-grandmother, Florence, who opened a grocery store in 1905. It expanded across Texas to include the specialty store Central Market in 1994. The Butt family ranks 23 on Forbes’ “America’s Richest Families” list, with $11 billion in estimated net worth. Stephen Butt, whose offices are in Dallas but lives in Fort Worth with his wife, Susan, has led Central Market’s expansion. Butt serves on the boards of the H.E. Butt Family Foundation ($412 million, 2016 assets), Amon Carter Museum and Baylor Health Care System Foundation.

JOINING AMON BOARD: “His ardent support of the museum, business acumen and civic responsibility make him a natural fit for the board.” - Karen Hixon, board president

Industry / Food and Beverage

Chris Carroll CEO Spring Creek Restaurants

Chris Carroll, a University of North Texas-educated accountant, became a successful CPA but decided to move into restaurants with his wife, Becky, in 1980. The company today operates more than 30 Spring Creek Barbecue, Mexican Inn Cafe, Casa Rita's Mexican Grill, and Shady Oak Barbeque & Grill restaurants in Texas. The company estimates it makes about $2 million annually in community gifts. It also gives generous bonuses to student employees for good grades, contributing to low turnover, a program developed by Becky Carroll, who died in 2012.

WHY THE BONUS PROGRAM: “I figured this was the only way I could compete with the white tablecloth restaurants, where they’d get big tips. I decided to pay a little more and offer the college program, and it works.” - D Magazine interview

Kari Crowe Seher CEO Melt Ice Creams

Having graduated with a studio art and photojournalism degree from Dallas Baptist University in 2006, Kari Crowe Seher started her career as a freelance photographer — until she came up with an idea to create her own ice cream company. Today, Melt Ice Creams has become one of Fort Worth’s most recognizable local brands, with a location on West Magnolia Avenue and a newly opened spot in Dallas. Melt in July opened its third location, a store at Sundance Square in downtown Fort Worth. Melt opened a corporate office and kitchen in the O.B. Macaroni building, which Seher says sets the company up for years of growth. In 2018, she participated in the James Beard Foundation Women’s Entrepreneurship Leadership program.

Sarah Castillo Founder, Managing Partner Taco Heads

Sarah Castillo’s taco joint, Taco Heads, began as a food trailer. After opening its first brick-and-mortar location in the Cultural District in 2016, the restaurant quickly became one of the most recognizable food brands in Fort Worth — branching out beyond its brick-and-mortar and selling tacos at other establishments like Craftwork Coffee Co. Taco Heads also opened a second location in Dallas on North Henderson Avenue. Castillo continues to be a prominent player in the local food scene, also opening Tinie’s, a Mexican rotisserie, in South Main Street’s SoMa development.

Jim Crawford Vice President and Plant Manager

MillerCoors Fort Worth

Jim Crawford spent the early part of his career at food production company Cargill, where he worked as plant manager. He became a business unit manager at MillerCoors in 2006 and later became brewing operations manager in 2009. After a brief stint at ASR Group, another food production company, where he served as production manager and later director of NRO operations, he returned to MillerCoors to become director of plant operations and, now, vice president and plant manager. He has experience managing both salaried and nonsalaried employees, as well as union and nonunion organizations. He earned his MBA from the University of Phoenix in 2009.

Leonard Firestone Partner

Firestone & Robertson Distillery and Whiskey Ranch

Before becoming one of the biggest names in Texas whiskey, Leonard Firestone worked in Washington, D.C., for a company that managed many of the country’s local TV stations. In 2009, Firestone and business partner-to-be Troy Robertson (see separate profile) met and learned they both wanted to open a distillery. The two opened a distillery on Fort Worth’s Near Southside. Then, in need of expansion, they launched the Whiskey Ranch distillery and event venue on the site of the former Glen Garden Country Club in Southeast Fort Worth in 2017.

FOOD & WINE ON WHISKEY RANCH: “A spectacle only possible in North Texas … A Texassized dream come true for the co-founders Leonard Firestone and Troy Robertson, they can now expand operations and increase production.”

John Howard Hallam

CEO

Ben E. Keith Co.

John Howard Hallam is the newly minted CEO of Ben E. Keith Co. — appointed to the position in July 2018 — and currently leads a company whose food division distributes to 15 states, and beverage division serves more than 62 Texas counties. Hallam became CEO after spending more than 28 years with the company — he spent five years as president and chief operating officer before the promotion. Throughout his career, he served in various divisions of Ben E. Keith, from food and beverage to corporate. Outside the company, he serves as a trustee at the Dallas Opera. He earned his MBA from Southern Methodist University and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Texas.

Howard Katz Partner Standard Meat Co.

Fort Worth native Howard Katz has worked in the food industry for nearly 40 years, first joining Standard Meat Company in 1978. Katz has been a Standard Meat partner since the company’s “rebirth” in 1995 and is vice president of business development. Katz and his wife, Joan, (see separate profile) are involved in multiple philanthropic organizations. In 1997, Katz created The Gladney Cup to raise money for the organization for the Gladney Center for Adoption. The biennial event has raised more than $9 million since its first event. The Katzes were awarded the 2007 Ketchum Cup for Outstanding Volunteer Fundraiser. Katz has served on The Gladney Center, University of Texas College of Liberal Arts, TCU Judaic Studies, Multi-Cultural Alliance and Tarrant County Frost Bank boards.

Riley Kiltz CEO Craftwork Coffee Co.

A TCU alum who graduated summa cum laude with a degree in business administration, Riley Kiltz worked in real estate for about five years before leaving the business to start Craftwork Coffee Co. — a coffee shop/ coworking space hybrid that began with one location on Camp Bowie Boulevard and quickly expanded to three locations in Fort Worth, as well as one in Austin.

WHAT'S NO. 1 ON

YOUR BUCKET LIST?

“I don't really keep bucket lists, but if I had to pick one far-fetched goal, it would be to perform in a musical, specifically ‘Hamilton.’ I believe that ‘Hamilton’ is the pinnacle of artistic performance and highlights social issues that our society needs to confront. It's a far-fetched bucket list item given that I cannot sing well and have never taken a theater class. However, I fully expect to go through a midlife crisis and find myself auditioning for the role of Aaron Burr.”

Tim Love CEO Tim Love Restaurants

Best known for his urban western cuisine, Tim Love owns several Fort Worth restaurants, including the newly opened Gemelle in West Fort Worth’s River District. His other restaurants: White Elephant Saloon, Love Shack, Woodshed Smokehouse and Lonesome Dove Western Bistro. He’s opening restaurants in Houston. Love, with his successful Woodshed, was first to challenge Fort Worth’s long-held reluctance to embrace opportunity presented by the Trinity River. Love has also signed on with Pilot Flying J to put healthy grab-and-go foods in the company’s truck stops. He’s a national spokesman for Hellmann’s Mayonnaise. This spring, he lent his heft to the gigantic South by Southwest festival in Austin, hosting a spice-making station where he collaborated with festivalgoers at the “Fort Worth house” and sent them home with custom spices.

Mike Micallef President Reata Restaurants

Inspired by the ranch, Reata, in the 1950s movie, “Giant,” Reata restaurant is known for its cowboy cuisine. After graduating from TCU with a degree in ranch management and finance, Micallef left a job at a hedge fund and joined Reata in 2005 with his father, founder Al Micallef. The son runs Reata’s restaurants and catering operation today. Micallef also runs the Fort Worth Food + Wine Festival with Russell Kirkpatrick, former Reata assistant general manager.

Joe Lancarte Principal

Joe T. Garcia's

Since its opening in 1935, Joe T. Garcia’s has been a Fort Worth institution. Joe Lancarte — grandson to founders Jessie and Joe T. Garcia — now runs the sprawling restaurant and patio with family members. An afternoon on one of the shaded patios is a Fort Worth bucket list item.

HOW JOE T.'S GOT ITS START:

“Between ’30 and ’32, they started with just a little grocery store. They used to serve a lot of people from the [Stockyards] packinghouse. They would come in and buy sandwich meats, and one of the packers asked if she could make her — him something to eat, if I’m correct. And then she started making little items, and my grandfather said, ‘Well, heck, if you want to do that, let’s just go ahead and open a restaurant.’” -Oral history, UT Austin

Macy Moore Co-owner, Founder HopFusion Ale Works

After serving in the U.S. Marine Corps at age 17 as a machine gunner — “because if you are going to pull triggers for a living, you might as well pull the biggest ones,” he says — Macy Moore worked for RadioShack Corporation, spending more than 20 years with the company in various roles from IT to ecommerce. Then, in 2015, he got into the beer business, starting what’s now one of Fort Worth’s most popular breweries, HopFusion Ale Works, with partner Matt Hill. The brewery now distributes to more than 1,500 locations around Texas.

EVERYONE'S TOP CORE VALUE SHOULD BE: “Contribution. What are you contributing to those around you, your city, your family, your business, your customers? If you aren't contributing, you are taking away from.”

Industry / Food and Beverage

Sean Murphy Vice President and GM, Fort Worth Sales Andrews Distributing Co.

Murphy, Andrews Fort Worth executive, has worked in beer for over 25 years and is responsible for sales operations in Fort Worth and Corpus Christi. During his career, he has successfully integrated two beer distributorships into the Andrews family.

BEST PIECE OF ADVICE I'VE RECEIVED:

“Do the right thing because it's the right thing to do. Don't expect anything in return.”

BEST WAY TO MEET NEW PEOPLE HERE:

“Never miss an opportunity to volunteer in the community. Become active in community and charitable organizations.”

WHAT I DO FOR FUN: “Camping, hiking, cycling and relaxing with family and friends.”

MOST RECENT BOOK I’VE READ: “Henry J. Evans, Winning With Accountability: The Secret Language of High-Performing Organizations.”

Jim Riscky CEO

Riscky's Restaurants

Since 1927, barbecue has been the Riscky family business. Jim Riscky’s grandparents, Joe and Mary, founded Riscky Brothers Grocery, where they would sell groceries with a meat market in the back. In 1952, Jim’s father, Pete Riscky, took over the family business. Jim Riscky now runs the company, which has eight restaurants and a catering business. Riscky designed his own smoke pits, which operate 24 hours a day.

I LOVE TO GIVE BACK BY: “Providing great food at fair prices. I am not in this business to get rich; if I were, I wouldn’t still be selling five chopped beef sandwiches for $5. I also am generous with supporting my church, Legacy Baptist Church, and other Christian ministries and missions, such as the Union Gospel Mission, Biblica — The International Bible Society, the Salvation Army and The Navigators.”

Fritz Rahr Owner Rahr & Sons Brewing

Over 100 years after William Rahr founded the family brewery in 1847, his greatgreat-grandson Frederick William “Fritz” Rahr opened Rahr & Sons Brewing Co. in 2004. Rahr, with help of wife Erin, has won multiple awards, helped drive growth of Fort Worth’s brewery scene and played a highly visible role in the community.

HOW I GOT MY START: “I was working the corporate world, and I was disheartened by my current situation without the ability to change my situation. Even with a future promotion to vice president of a major railroad in the works, I wanted out. When my wife asked me what I wanted to do, I was prepared to let her know all I wanted to do was to make beer. She said, ‘OK, let's go do it!’”

I'D PAY TO SEE: "My dad."

Troy Robertson Partner

Firestone & Robertson Distillery and Whiskey Ranch

Before becoming one of the biggest names in Texas whiskey, Troy Robertson spent 10 years in energy finance. In 2009, Robertson and business partner-to-be Leonard Firestone (see separate profile) met and learned they both wanted to open a distillery. The two opened a distillery on Fort Worth’s Near Southside. Then, in need of expansion, they launched the Whiskey Ranch distillery and event venue on the site of the former Glen Garden Country Club in Southeast Fort Worth in 2017.

FOOD & WINE ON WHISKEY RANCH: “A spectacle only possible in North Texas … A Texassized dream come true for the co-founders Leonard Firestone and Troy Robertson, they can now expand operations and increase production.”

Becky Renfro Borbolla Vice President, Coowner Renfro Foods

After eight years in oil, Renfro Borbolla joined the family business in 1985, taking on international sales. She serves on the Tarrant County College Foundation board and Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo board and is founder and president of Women Steering Business, which raises money to buy livestock annually from youth exhibitors at the Stock Show. In 2012, she received the Yellow Rose of Texas, the Governor’s highest honor given to a woman

WHAT'S NO. 1 ON YOUR BUCKET LIST?

“Travel to as many countries as I can” BEST PERSONAL OR BUSINESS LESSON YOU'VE LEARNED: “Stay true to yourself; don't allow anyone to change you.”

EVERYONE'S TOP CORE VALUE SHOULD BE: "Self-respect."

Billy Rosenthal Founder, Chairman Penrose Group, LLC

Billy Rosenthal started at age 14 in Standard Meat Company, founded by his grandfather Ben Rosenthal; became president; and retired 1989, six years after sale to Sara Lee. Rosenthal rebooted Standard in 1994 with deal from Outback Steakhouse. Today Rosenthal is chairman of Penrose Group, which manages Rosenthal’s family interests, including Standard, Syracuse Sausage and Bounty Minerals. In business with his son, Ben Rosenthal, and daughter, Ashli Blumenfeld (see separate profile). Billy Rosenthal and wife Rozanne Rosenthal support numerous organizations, including Cook Children’s, Fort Worth Zoological Association, Fort Worth Club, Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, TCU and Beth-El Congregation.

MOST VALUABLE LESSON I'VE LEARNED: “Kindness and thoughtfulness should guide all of your relationships.”

Dic Marxen President, CEO, Chairman

CCRA International, Inc.

In 2005, Dic Marxen was recruited by a friend into CCRA, an old travel agency with some assets. Marxen came in to take over operations; he ended up owning CCRA. CCRA has developed the first standalone hotel booking platform for travel agents. In 2009, it doubled its call centers. And in 2012, CCRA launched ccratravelagentblog.com, the No. 1-ranked travel agent blog by Google. Marxen lives in Fort Worth with his wife, Cheryl Hodge Marxen, a Fort Worth Zoological Association executive committee member.

HOW I GOT MY START: “I started my first company while in graduate school. Oooooops, forgot to complete my doctorate and built the company instead!”

Sean Menke President, CEO Sabre Corporation

Sean Menke, named CEO in 2016, leads a $3.4 billion organization with more than 10,000 employees who work in 65 countries. Menke was formerly CEO of Frontier Airlines and Pinnacle Airlines and a former senior executive at Air Canada, Hawaiian Airlines and IHS, a global IT company. Sabre Travel Network has won major new business, increased market share and secured position as leading global distribution system in three of its four major regions: North America, Latin America and Asia Pacific.

PERSPECTIVE, PERSPECTIVE: Menke’s experience as a former customer of Sabre played well in his advance up the ladder at the company, where he started in 2015 as executive vice president.

WHAT I DO FOR FUN: Marathons and ultramarathons, cycling, snow skiing and spending time with wife and three sons.

Greg Crouchley

President

Justin Brands

Justin Brands, longtime maker of Justin, Nocona, Chippewa, Tony Lama and Justin Original Workboots boot brands, turned up in Footwear News’ 2017 Power 100 list of “The Most Influential Designers, Influencers and Leaders in the Shoe Industry.” Justin is a unit of H.H. Brown Shoe Co., owned by the Berkshire Hathaway holding company. H.H. Brown’s CEO Jim Issler ranked 37 on the Power 100, and Crouchley earned a nod as a related “Power Player.”

Dennis Knautz

CEO

Acme Brick Co.

Dennis Knautz began working at Acme Brick Co. in 1982 as controller and became CEO in 2005. Acme Brick, another Fort Worth company owned by the Berkshire Hathaway holding company, is the largest brickmaker in America, with 26 brick plants and 70 sales offices across 17 states. Knautz has served on the board of the Birdville ISD Foundation for Educational Excellence and on the TCU Chancellor’s Advisory Council.

BEST PIECE OF ADVICE I'VE RECEIVED:

“Above all else, protect and grow your personal reputation. It will become your personal brand.” WHAT I'D TELL YOUNG PEOPLE JUST GETTING STARTED TODAY: “Find a specific discipline and get really good at it. Make it your core competency. Employers are more inclined to hire someone with a specialty than a generalist.”

Vince Puente President — Sales and Marketing Southwest Office Systems, Inc.

In 1964, Vince and Buddy Puente’s father founded SOS, selling typewriters and adding machines. Vince was 18 and Buddy was 20 when they joined in 1972. Today, SOS has become a premier office technology dealer. The company is in the top 3 percent of independent dealers and the largest Hispanicowned U.S. dealership, with more than $15 million in revenues. SOS is also debt-free.

WHAT'S NO. 1 ON YOUR BUCKET LIST?

“Personally meet President Trump and Vice President Pence.”

BEST PERSONAL OR BUSINESS LESSON YOU'VE LEARNED: “Do the most productive thing possible at any given moment, tied with operating debt-free.”

Phillip Williamson

CEO

Williamson-Dickie Manufacturing Co.

2017 was quite a year for the nearly 100-year-old Williamson-Dickie, maker of workwear and footwear. That April, the company agreed to put its Dickies brand name on Fort Worth’s new multipurpose arena under construction. Then a few months later, Williamson-Dickie announced it agreed to sell itself to VF Corp. for $820 million, setting off alarms in the offices of Fort Worth economic development executives, worried about losing any part of the company to consolidation. CEO Philip Williamson, who started with the company while in high school, will remain, VF said.

HOW I GOT MY START: “My first job was spreading bolts of fabric on long tables and then stapling patterns on top of the fabric for the cutters to follow.”

Richard Connor Publisher Fort Worth Business Press

Richard Connor was the president and publisher of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram from 1986 – 1997. He later invested in publications in the Northeast, where he became editor and publisher/owner of Wilkes-Barre Publishing in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania, as well as editor/president/publisher at Maine Media in Maine. In 2010, Connor became publisher of the Fort Worth Business Press, a weekly print publication covering local businesses, and also recently announced plans to launch the Fort Worth Press, a nonprofit newspaper.

Michael Fletcher CEO RIDE TV

Michael Fletcher in 2011 co-founded RIDE TV — a 24/7 TV network that showcases equestrian sports and lifestyle. RIDE TV is distributed in the U.S. by Comcast, Dish, Verizon, CenturyLink, Frontier, and many other cable and satellite operators. The network also has distribution in Canada and Latin America. Additionally, Fletcher is partner and cofounder of OST-I, a global security consulting and contracting firm.

WHAT'S NO. 1 ON YOUR BUCKET LIST?

“Play golf in Ireland with Rory McIlroy.” BEST PERSONAL OR BUSINESS LESSON YOU'VE LEARNED: “Be a sponge and learn everything. You will be surprised at how much you retained when life squeezes you.” EVERYONE'S TOP CORE VALUE SHOULD BE: "Loyalty."

Ryan Mote Publisher Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Ryan Mote is the newly hired publisher of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, replacing former publisher Sean Burke in November 2018. Prior to coming to Fort Worth, the California native — who has family in Texas — was vice president of strategic advertising for The Sacramento Bee and McClatchy’s Western region (McClatchy is Star-Telegram’s parent company). He also held leadership positions at Freedom Communications and Gannett, during which he was named “Gannett Executive of the Year” in 2012. In addition to his role at the Star-Telegram, he serves as vice president of strategic advertising for McClatchy’s Central region, serving its respective newspapers (The Kansas City Star, The Wichita Eagle and the Belleville News-Democrat).

Linda Pavlik President,

Founder Pavlik

& Associates

Linda Pavlik has more than 30 years in communications, reporting for the Dallas Times Herald and Fort Worth Star-Telegram, where editors nominated her twice for a Pulitzer. Started PR firm in 1983. Trying to start a local nonprofit paper, The News Tribune. Pavlik has competition: Fort Worth Business Press publisher Richard Connor (see separate profile).

WHAT'S NO. 1 ON YOUR BUCKET LIST?

“Well, I have earned my media credentials on the presidential campaign trail, which is a career dream for most journalists. I have backpacked across Europe, ridden a camel in Egypt, snorkeled in Tahiti and sat on the tarmac in Iceland wondering why there wasn’t any snow (remember, I’m from a small town in Oklahoma). I guess the top of my bucket list is more ‘local.’ No. 1 would be helping my grandchildren to understand working and playing are really the same; if one truly enjoys their work, they will be accomplished and happy.”

Bud Kennedy Columnist

Fort Worth Star-Telegram

With years of transition still ongoing at the Star-Telegram, columnist Bud Kennedy continues to hang out, breaking news on everything from food and beverage to politics. Kennedy’s insights into Fort Worth culture are insightful and incisive and generously touted in social media. Kennedy grew up in Fort Worth and began his career as a journalist at 16, covering high school football. He worked for the Fort Worth Press and for papers in Austin and Dallas, returning to Fort Worth in 1981.

Victoria Wise Founder Tanglewood Moms

TCU alumna Victoria Wise is known for starting Tanglewood Moms in 2011 — a Facebook group that has grown to become one of the city’s most vibrant online social communities. In 2017, she launched a print magazine, Madeworthy, as an extension of the group. She is a founding member of TCU’s Neeley School’s Women to the Power of 10 and holds board positions with the Lone Star Film Society and Connected Commerce Council.

BEST PERSONAL OR BUSINESS LESSON

YOU'VE LEARNED: “Don't build software that is dependent on another company's platform.”

MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU CAN DO FOR YOUR KIDS IS: “Love them. They will test you again and again, but always make sure they know you love them despite the difficult times.”

Rhett Bennett CEO Black Mountain Sand

Rhett Bennett has founded several businesses under the Black Mountain name. In 2015, Bennett partnered with Natural Gas Partners to form several businesses, including Black Mountain Oil and Gas, which they sold in 2017 to Marathon Oil for $700 million. Same year, Bennett founded Black Mountain Sand, a regional sand provider serving Permian Basin, and Black Mountain Oil and Gas II in E&P. Bennett estimates sand company is worth $1 billion-plus today, if publicly owned.

HOW I GOT MY START: “I came to Texas after graduating from the University of Georgia with my pickup truck loaded with clothes. I slept on a buddy’s couch until I found a job. I started learning about oil leases from friends and started flipping them.”

WHAT'S NO. 1 ON YOUR BUCKET LIST? “I look forward to the day when there is space tourism — it will be such an unreal experience!

William Butler

CFO

Brazos Midstream

One of four founding partners of Brazos Midstream (see Brad Iles, separate profile), CFO

William Butler has 17 years in developing and managing midstream assets. He estimates he’s led or participated in more than $19 billion in financial transactions in his energy career. At Brazos Midstream, Butler is responsible for capital-raising, financial analysis, and merger and acquisition transactions. Prior to Brazos, Butler was CFO for the Permian-focused Athlon Energy, where he led the finance function from the company’s IPO through its sale to Encana.

WHAT'S NO. 1 ON YOUR BUCKET LIST? "Fishing."

BEST PERSONAL OR BUSINESS LESSON YOU'VE LEARNED: "Stay liquid." MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU CAN DO FOR YOUR KIDS IS: “The gift of independence.”

Greg Bird CEO Jetta Operating Co.

Greg Bird co-founded Jetta Operating 28 years ago and, today, it operates over 1,000 wells in four prominent regions and provides 15,000 barrels of oil equivalent daily. The company has changed the downtown landscape with the construction of the new Frost Tower, named for anchor tenant Frost Bank. It’s also teamed up with the energy unit of the Blackstone private equity firm to acquire $1 billion of assets in the Permian Basin. Bird has worked in energy for over 35 years and serves on the boards of the TCU Energy Institute, Texas A&M University Petroleum Engineering Industry Board, and Longhorn Council - Boy Scouts of America Foundation.

Jon Brumley CEO Bounty Minerals

Jon Brumley’s became a prominent name since the 1980s when he helped merge Cook Children’s and the Fort Worth Children’s Hospital. Brumley is the founder of six companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange. He founded Bounty Minerals in 2012 to acquire minerals in Appalachia. Wife Becky, with her husband, launched a foundation that focuses on Fort Worth’s lowest-performing elementary schools and encourages parents to read aloud to their children.

MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU CAN DO FOR YOUR KIDS IS: “Teach them to get along, not to be afraid and to like people.”

I LOVE TO GIVE BACK BY: “Watching my wife give away children's books to families who might not be in a position to afford them. Also teaching and urging parents to read to their children.”

Cody Campbell Co-CEO

Double Eagle Development, LLC

In 2017, Cody Campbell and John Sellers (see separate profile), buddies from Texas Tech and co-founders of Double Eagle Development LLC, sold oil and gas assets in the Permian Basin to Parsley Energy for $2.8 billion. In 2014, Double Eagle sold Oklahoma assets for $250 million. Double Eagle’s principal business is oil and gas exploration, development and production in the Midland Basin. The company also acquires oil and gas leases, working interest, mineral rights and royalty interests. Campbell began his business career while a student at Texas Tech, where he and Sellers founded a commercial real estate development firm.

WHAT I DO FOR FUN: "Watch college football."

Hunter Enis President Four Sevens Oil Co.

After a career in pro football, including stints with the Denver Broncos and Oakland Raiders, Hunter Enis broke into the oil business. Enis wisely backed TCU wildcatter pal Dick Lowe when Lowe was busted, and the two hit it big in the Barnett Shale with two sales for $1 billion. Enis has served on the TCU Board of Trustees and TCU Energy Institute board of advisors and is a member of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists. In 2015, Enis founded the Hunter Enis Endowed Chair for Petroleum Geology at TCU.

BEST PIECE OF ADVICE I’VE RECEIVED:

“You have not lived until you have done something for someone who can never pay you back.”

I'D PAY TO SEE: “TCU winning a national championship.”

Industry / Oil and Gas

Jim Finley CEO, Owner Finley Resources

Jim Finley owns Finley Resources, an oil and gas company he started in 1997. The company is made up of three entities — Finley Resources, Finley Production and Lonesome Oil & Gas, LLC (collectively the "Finley Resources Group") — that own interests in approximately 3,000 wells in 13 states. In addition, he and his wife, Charlotte, own Mesa Well Servicing, LP, a company based in Hobbs, New Mexico. Finley owns substantial real estate on the edges of downtown Fort Worth. He's an active member of the community, serving on boards for organizations like Simmons Bank; Downtown Fort Worth, Inc.; Cooper Natural Resources, Texas Alliance of Energy Producers, Boys Scouts Longhorn Council, Fort Worth Museum of Science and History, and the Board of Visitors of the McDonald Observatory.

Brad Iles CEO Brazos Midstream

One of four founding partners of Brazos Midstream (see William Butler, separate profile), Brad Iles has almost two decades of years in midstream assets, with more than $4 billion in capital projects developed under his leadership. Those include gas gathering and processing, natural gas liquids, crude and condensate gathering and transportation, and mergers, acquisitions and joint ventures.

WHAT'S NO. 1 ON YOUR BUCKET LIST?

"Restore my 1974 Ford Bronco." BEST PERSONAL OR BUSINESS LESSON YOU'VE LEARNED: “Invest the time and energy early on in your career to learn the business from the bottom up, and don’t be afraid to ask questions. This will pay dividends for you down the road.”

I LOVE TO GIVE BACK BY: “Volunteering at the YMCA.”

Stephen Howard CEO Basin Oil & Gas

Stephen Howard, a fifthgeneration West Texan, founded Basin Oil & Gas in 2009. Basin operates in 10 states and has completed over $1 billion in asset transactions. Basin says its private funding provides the “ability to transact at their own discretion,” which has helped build a reputation for being a reliable acquirer. “The fund’s long-term, patient capital structure provides sellers access to liquidity at attractive valuations.”

WHAT I'M DOING TODAY: "Working for balance in my work and personal life."

BEST PIECE OF ADVICE I'VE EVER RECEIVED: "Everyone fails and makes mistakes; it's what you do afterward that counts." WHAT I DO FOR FUN: "Get outdoors; hunt and fish with family."

Hudson, son of the late oilman Edward Hudson Sr. and Josephine Hudson, is a retired Harvard-educated lawyer. Hudson serves on assorted key boards in Fort Worth, including the Burnett Foundation.

G. Malcom Louden President Walsh Holdings

G. Malcolm Louden serves as president of Walsh Holdings, representing Fort Worth’s Walsh family in charitable giving and in projects like the development of their massive 7,200-acre West Fort Worth ranch in partnership with Republic Property Group. He also serves as a TCU trustee and was a Worth National Bank director. Louden also makes his own gifts, in 2014 cutting the ribbon on the G. Malcolm Louden Player Development Center for Baseball at TCU.

Mary Ralph Lowe CEO Maralo, LLC

Mary Ralph Lowe has been CEO of Maralo, LLC, a private oil and gas exploration and production company and ranching operation, since 1973. Lowe with her mother, Erma Lowe, established the Lowe Foundation in 1988 to support preventative or rehabilitative programs that benefit the critical needs of at-risk women and children. Lowe has served on the boards of TCU, Performing Arts Center of Fort Worth, National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame, and Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth. Lowe previously served on the board of Apache Corporation, a large oil and gas exploration company, from 1996 to 2002.

Edward Hudson Jr. Oil investor

Jeffrey Miller CEO Vortus Investments

Jeffrey Miller has over 30 years of experience within his industry. Miller co-founded Vortus Investments in 2013, which targets privately negotiated lower-to-middle market transactions requiring $25 to $75 million of equity capital. Vortus recently closed an oversubscribed Vortus Investments II, L.P. fund at $500 million in capital commitments. Miller was former director of Upstream for Mercuria Energy, president of Moncrief Oil International and managing partner of Moncrief Minerals.

Bob Ravnaas CEO Kimbell Royalty Partners

In 2017, the father-son Ravnaas team (see son Davis Ravnaas, separate profile) and partners Ben Fortson and Mitch Wynne (see separate profiles) took their Kimbell Royalty Partners public. In 2018, Kimbell announced it was buying mineral and royalty interests held by Haymaker Minerals & Royalties for $404 million. That left Kimbell with 11.1 million gross acre position and 73 rigs, 7 percent of total active U.S. rigs. Kimbell Art Museum owns 17.5 percent; KRP’s total market value was $375 million in July. In February, Kimbell agreed to acquire certain oil and gas royalty assets from EnCap Investments L.P. for approximately $151.3 million in a 100 percent equity transaction.

Davis Ravnaas President Kimbell Royalty Partners

In 2017, the father-son Ravnaas team (see Bob Ravnaas, separate profile) and partners Ben Fortson and Mitch Wynne (see separate profiles) took their Kimbell Royalty Partners public. In 2018, Kimbell announced it was buying mineral and royalty interests held by Haymaker Minerals & Royalties for $404 million. That left Kimbell with 11.1 million gross acre position and 73 rigs, 7 percent of total active U.S. rigs. Kimbell Art Museum owns 17.5 percent; KRP’s total market value was $375 million in July. In February, Kimbell agreed to acquire certain oil and gas royalty assets from EnCap Investments L.P. for approximately $151.3 million in a 100 percent equity transaction.

John Sellers

Co-Founder, Co-CEO Double Eagle Development, LLC

In 2017, John Sellers and Cody Campbell (see separate profile), buddies from Texas Tech and co-founders of Double Eagle Development, LLC, sold oil and gas assets in the Permian Basin to Parsley Energy for $2.8 billion. In 2014, Double Eagle sold Oklahoma assets for $250 million.

HOW I GOT MY START: “I started working for my family's cattle company when I was young and then started my own business in college at Texas Tech.”

BEST PIECE OF ADVICE I’VE RECEIVED:

“It's hard to go broke taking a profit."

MOST VALUABLE LESSON I’VE LEARNED: “Good partners and business relationships are the most valuable commodity in any business.”

I'D PAY TO SEE: “A Texas Tech National Football Championship.”

Bob Simpson CEO MorningStar Partners

Bob Simpson is chairman of MorningStar Partners, manager of a 50/50 joint venture between ExxonMobil and MorningStar, and co-owner of the Texas Rangers. He founded the predecessor company to XTO Energy and sold XTO to ExxonMobil in 2010 for $41 billion, making his stake worth more than $350 million, plus a consulting contract. From 2005 through 2008, Simpson was named by Barron's as one of the "30 Most Respected CEOs in the World." Simpson also earned numerous accolades for buying and restoring historic buildings in downtown Fort Worth.

A BIT OF HISTORY: Beginning in the mid-‘90s when Simpson bought and fully restored the W.T. Waggoner building, his downtown projects have restored 886,000 square feet of historic buildings — almost 9 percent of all downtown office space, the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce estimates.

Jeffrey Ventura CEO, President Range Resources

Jeffrey Ventura joined Range Resources in 2003 and was named CEO in 2012. There, he leads the largest natural gas play in the U.S. Under Ventura, Range has grown net production to over 2 billions of cubic feet equivalent, making the company a top 10 natural gas producer and top three NGL producer in the U.S.

BEST PIECE OF ADVICE I'VE EVER RECEIVED: "Romans 10:9-10"

WHAT I'D TELL YOUNG PEOPLE JUST GETTING STARTED: “Pick a career that you really enjoy, decide where you would like to take it and then come up with a plan to get there.”

MOST FUN PLACE I'VE TRAVELED: “Israel — awesome Bible history, ancient world history and modern events, coupled with great food, great scenery and great people.”

Ryan Vinson CEO MineralWare

Ryan Vinson oversees all aspects of minerals management and advisory services at MineralWare, a fast-growing startup mineral/ royalty management software for individual and institutional mineral owners he founded with John Baum that’s quickly gained traction. Recently became largest tenant in the Fort Worth Club Tower. At 12 years old, Vinson started a business painting addresses on curbs and mowing lawns. When he started MineralWare, he and Baum bootstrapped the company for three years with a $40,000 loan.

BEST PERSONAL OR BUSINESS LESSON YOU'VE

LEARNED: “The most successful people are not always the smartest, but they always have the best attitudes.”

Richard Walsh Investments

Richard Walsh is one of the five children of oilman F. Howard Walsh and his wife, Mary D. Walsh. The Walsh family is redeveloping more than 2,000 acres of the Walsh Ranch in far West Fort Worth into residential, town center, mixed-use and commercial. The Walsh’s legacy of giving back to Fort Worth lies largely in the arts, education and medical, and in institutions like Bass Performance Hall, Fort Worth Academy of Fine Arts, Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital, Baylor All Saints Hospital, Cook Children’s Medical Center and the Northwest campus of Tarrant County College.

Mitch Wynne Investments

Mitch Wynne, with partners Ben Fortson, Bob Ravnaas (see separate profiles) and Brett Taylor, took their Kimbell Royalty Partners public recently, with mineral and royalty interests in 3.7 million acres, 44 percent in the Permian Basin. Kimbell Art Museum owns 17.5 percent of Kimbell Royalty Partners; KRP’s total market value was $375 million in July. Wynne, husband of Kimbell Art Museum president Kimbell Fortson Wynne (see separate profile), has been in oil and gas since 1980 and remains a director of Kimbell Royalty.

CONNECTED: Wynne is a director of the Kimbell Art Museum and has served on the boards of the Fort Worth Zoological Association, Union Gospel Mission and All Saints’ Episcopal School.

George M. Young Jr. CEO Pegasus Resources

George Young’s Pegasus secured a $300 million equity commitment from EnCap Investments to acquire and manage mineral and royalty properties in established and emerging resource plays, primarily the Permian Basin. Young has more than 35 years in energy. He recently served as general partner of Wolf Exploration, LP, where he assembled 115,000 acres in the Williston Basin. Young served on the board of the TCU Energy Institute, and he serves on several nonprofit boards including All Saints’ Episcopal School, Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth and Cook Children’s Health Foundation.

Arnie Gachman President Gamtex Industries

Gamtex Industries has been in Arnie Gachman’s family since 1913. Sixty years later, at age 27, Gachman became GM. Within five years, he became president. Gachman serves on the board of the Recycling Council of Texas. He’s served on the boards of the Sammons Transplant Institute at Baylor University Medical Center, Baylor Scott & White All Saints Medical Center-Fort Worth and Baylor Hospitals, Beth-El Congregation and Fort Worth Club. Gachman received the Person of Vision Award from UNTHSC in 2012 and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries in 2013.

Jonathan Morris says he’s been hooked on entrepreneurship since his days selling bookmarks in the fourth grade. His Fort Worth Barber Shop, started in 2014, has two locations — one of them is inside his retail shop, The Lathery. Morris is also venturing into real estate with a boutique hotel planned near Dickies Arena. He’s associated with the city’s shift toward small, creative businesses, often representing Fort Worth at showcases for events like South by Southwest.

WHAT'S NO. 1 ON YOUR BUCKET LIST? “I'd like a New York Times obit feature. I guess that's after I've kicked the bucket though? In that case, I just want to do the types of things in the meantime that would warrant a New York Times obit feature.”

BEST PERSONAL OR BUSINESS LESSON

YOU'VE LEARNED: “Don't let anyone turn your sky into a ceiling.”

Jonathan Morris Owner

Fort Worth Barber Shop

Rose Bradshaw President, CEO North Texas Community Foundation

Rose Bradshaw succeeded the retiring Nancy Jones in 2017 at the Fort Worth foundation, which serves wellheeled individuals, families and corporations in 11 counties by helping them achieve their charitable goals. Bradshaw was executive vice president of community investment since 2013. Throughout her time, she has raised 75 percent of ToolBox funding — Toolbox grants from the foundation are for capacity-building in local nonprofits — from 14 private foundations and 29 donor advisors, among other notable achievements.

WHAT'S NO. 1 ON YOUR BUCKET LIST? “African safari.”

EVERYONE'S TOP CORE VALUE SHOULD BE: “Not up to me. The beauty lies in our core values being self-determined.”

MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU CAN DO FOR YOUR KIDS IS: “Teach by example.”

Harriet Harral Executive Director Leadership Fort Worth

Since 1995, Harriet Harral has worked as executive director of Leadership Fort Worth, overseeing its programs, curriculum, staff, volunteers and relationships with the board. Additionally, she is principal and senior consultant of The Harral Group. She serves the Northern Seminary board of directors, Baptist News Global national board of directors, and the Baptist News Global Foundation board of directors. She is the recipient of Safe Haven’s 2018 Legacy of Women Award.

EVERYONE'S TOP CORE VALUE SHOULD BE: “Respect for others and for their inherent value as children of God.”

MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU CAN DO FOR YOUR KIDS IS: “Love them extravagantly and lead them to believe in themselves, care for others and work hard to achieve their goals.”

Wayne Carson CEO

ACH Child and Family

Services

Wayne Carson has been CEO of ACH Child and Family Services more than 18 years. ACH, former All Church Home, provides a range of services for abused, neglected and homeless children, including providing foster care services for children under conservatorship of the state. Carson holds degrees from the University of Missouri-Rolla and University of Texas at Arlington. A past president of Rotary Club of Fort Worth, he serves on the board of the Mental Health Connection of Tarrant County and is president of the Texas Alliance for Child and Family Services in Austin.

HOW I GOT MY START: “Delivering newspapers in San Rafael, California, when I was 9.”

BEST PERSONAL OR BUSINESS LESSON YOU'VE LEARNED: "Surround yourself with people smarter than you. Then work hard to keep up.”

Melissa Ice Founder, Executive Director The Net

Melissa Ice started The Net in 2010 when a group of TCU students started building relationships with people without homes. The Net serves the homeless via its day shelter and family meals; refugee youth by its afterschool program; and survivors of trafficking through its rehab and recovery program. Recently, The Net created a social enterprise, The Worthy Co, which employs survivors of trafficking and provides them with dignified employment.

WHAT'S NO. 1 ON YOUR BUCKET LIST?

“Writing a book!”

BEST PERSONAL OR BUSINESS LESSON

YOU'VE LEARNED: “That trying comes with failing. Every failure is the result of actually doing something. When you take action and get your hands dirty, you will inevitably fail, but you will fail at least having tried.”

Grant Coates President, CEO

The Miles Foundation

Grant Coates named CEO in 2011. Miles has provided $20 million-plus in grants since 1999 for early childhood education, family engagement, third-grade literacy, character and leadership development.

BEST PERSONAL OR BUSINESS LESSON

YOU'VE LEARNED: “I’ve learned that if you stay steady and true to what you believe in and surround yourself with the people you really care about, you can pretty much get through anything in life. Even in the most tragic of times, this outlook has helped me remember that we are resilient, and we can always overcome.”

EVERYONE'S TOP CORE VALUE SHOULD BE: “Gratitude.”

MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU CAN DO FOR YOUR KIDS IS: “Let them solve their own problems, tell them you love them and participate in their education.”

Leah King Executive

Vice President, COO

United Way of Tarrant County

Leah King serves as the executive vice president and COO of the United Way of Tarrant County. In 2017, King won election to the Tarrant Regional Water District board, which has been criticized for lack of transparency. She also serves on the Cook Children’s Medical Center board, Texas Wesleyan University President’s Advisory Board and Fort Worth Chapter of The Links, Inc.

WHAT'S NO. 1 ON YOUR BUCKET LIST?

“Writing a best-selling novel that will be made into a movie starring Kerry Washington (as me, LOL!).”

BEST PERSONAL OR BUSINESS LESSON YOU'VE LEARNED: “Faith without works is dead.”

Nonprofits and Philantropy / Nonprofits

Toby Owen CEO Presbyterian Night Shelter

Toby Owen keeps figuring out ways to serve the demand for homeless services, even if Fort Worth can’t agree on approach. As CEO since 2009, he says he’s “ultimately responsible for 700 guests per night, 300 guests in the True Worth Place day shelter, 100 guests in permanent housing and 149 employees."

WHAT'S NO. 1 ON YOUR BUCKET LIST?

“I have a list but not a No. 1. A few include attending the NCAA collegiate wrestling championships, attending the NFR and PBR Finals and visiting the John Steinbeck museum.”

BEST PERSONAL OR BUSINESS LESSON YOU'VE LEARNED: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord.” EVERYONE'S TOP CORE VALUE SHOULD BE: “Respect.”

Kelsey Patterson

Nonprofit Leader

Kelsey Patterson has a couple of passions she’s pursued as a volunteer leader: underserved children and pets. Her husband’s Gary Patterson Foundation — TCU football coach Gary Patterson (see separate profile) is its namesake — took on George C. Clarke Elementary School in Fort Worth as a project, led by Kelsey Patterson. The foundation’s programs at Clarke include college scholarships for fifth-graders, after-school Scrabble games, college field trips, college savings accounts and books. Through the initiatives, the school’s passing rate on the state exams has grown from 40 percent to 95 percent. Patterson also is a board member of the Saving Hope Foundation, which educates the public about the importance of spaying and neutering pets and fostering and adopting.

Kam Phillips-Sadler

Executive Dreamer

Dream Outside The Box

Kam Phillips-Sadler went outside the box with her Fort Worth nonprofit that encourages volunteerism from college students, while setting the beneficiaries down the same path of community service. Phillips-Sadler, who grew up in North Texas, launched the nonprofit in 2009 with a chapter at her alma mater, University of Missouri-Columbia. Under the model, college students charter a chapter, partner with a youth service organization in a “dream desert” and deliver programming to elementary school students. Children “pay” for the programming with service. The organization has 10 chapters so far, including TCU and the University of North Texas. It’s also drawn on the help of high-profile local public school advocates who serve on its board.

Todd Rainwater

Chairman Rainwater

Charitable Foundation

Todd Rainwater serves as the chair of the board of trustees for the Rainwater Charitable Foundation. Started by his father, Richard Rainwater, in the early 1990s, the Rainwater Charitable Foundation centers around helping children in the U.S., specifically those born into poverty. Currently, the organization is focusing on improving education for children from birth through 12th grade by concentrating their efforts on early childhood education and school leadership. The foundation also contributes to medical research in neuroscience. The Rainwater family has invested about $100 million in advancing eight treatments into human trials.

John Robinson Executive Vice President of Grant Administration

Amon G. Carter Foundation

John Robinson is a top staff person at the Amon Carter Foundation, which made $153.5 million in grants for the five years through 2018 in education, health and medicine, humanities and the arts, and social services. Robinson’s been on the staff since 1980; he was elevated to his current role in 1997.

MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU CAN DO FOR YOUR KIDS IS: “Be a consistent, daily example in how you live your life, love your spouse, treat others, fulfill commitments, and manage your time, talent and treasure.”

I LOVE TO GIVE BACK BY: “Going to work every day! My responsibility at the Amon Carter Foundation provides me with an opportunity to share advice, counsel (and funding) with many area nonprofit organizations.”

TD Smyers President, CEO

United Way of Tarrant County

TD Smyers was named CEO of United Way of Tarrant County in July 2017, promoted from chief operating officer. Smyers previously served four years as regional CEO for the American Red Cross North Texas Region. He retired in 2011 from the U.S. Navy after serving as commanding officer of the Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base. From 2012 through 2014, Smyers led the City of Fort Worth in the commissioning of USS Fort Worth. In April, Smyers announced he was retiring from United Way.

MOST VALUABLE LESSON I’VE LEARNED: “Helping others succeed is the best way to achieve success yourself.”

WHAT I’D TELL YOUNG PEOPLE JUST GETTING STARTED TODAY: “Fear nothing.” BEST WAY TO MEET NEW PEOPLE HERE TODAY IS: “Join lots of stuff by saying yes as much as possible.”

Bo Soderbergh Executive Director Tarrant Area Food Bank

Bo Soderbergh, a native of Sweden, was educated in Italy, Japan, England and the U. S., where he earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from TCU. He was named executive director of Tarrant Area Food Bank in 1997. Soderbergh is a member and past president of Feeding Texas, a statewide nonprofit working toward a hunger-free Texas. He is also a past president of the Rotary Club of Fort Worth. Soderbergh has broadened the food bank’s sourcing of food and development of partnerships within the food industry, providing food and resources through a network of 270 agencies serving the hungry in North Texas.

Neils

Agather

Executive Director, Vice President, Treasurer The Burnett Foundation

Neils Agather is executive director of Fort Worth’s Burnett Foundation, which makes grants in arts and humanities, education, community affairs, and health and human services, mostly in Fort Worth. The foundation also makes grants in New Mexico, chiefly in the arts. Foundation president Anne Marion (see separate profile), with a grant from the foundation, founded the Georgia O’Keefe Museum in Santa Fe. Agather serves on the foundation board with husband John Marion, retired CEO of the Sotheby’s auction house; Fort Worth civic leaders and philanthropists Kay and Ben Fortson (see separate profiles); and business Edward R. Hudson Jr. (see separate profile).

Larry Anfin Principal K&L Ventures

Larry Anfin and wife Karen Anfin are ubiquitous, serving on numerous boards and highly visible at Fort Worth events. Larry Anfin is grandson of the late John McMillan, who cofounded Coors Distributing Company of Fort Worth and ran it until he died in 2001. The Anfin family — Larry and his three brothers — sold to Andrews Distributing in 2014.

BEST PERSONAL OR BUSINESS LESSON YOU'VE LEARNED: “Change is good, but don't compromise your standards. Just because it is new doesn't mean it is better.”

EVERYONE'S TOP CORE VALUE SHOULD BE: “Make your community a better place to work and live.”

MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU CAN DO FOR YOUR KIDS IS: “Give them the opportunity to succeed.”

Kenneth Barr Principal Barr Consulting Group

Kenneth Barr, one of Fort Worth’s former mayors, won election to the Tarrant County College board in May. He’s a consultant on public affairs and governmental relations with the Barr Consulting Group. A Fort Worth native, Barr earned a BBA and masters degree in economics from Texas Christian University. His 50-year business career began when he joined his family’s commercial printing company as a high school freshman. He became president and CEO in 1975 and worked in that capacity until the business was sold in 2005. Barr served as Fort Worth mayor from 1996 to 2003. He was also a Fort Worth City Council member and chair of the Council’s Economic Development Committee. He is a member of the Executive Committee of the Van Cliburn Foundation and serves on the board of Medical City Fort Worth Hospital

Anne T. Bass Philanthropist

Anne T. Bass and husband Robert Bass (see separate profile) direct their philanthropy through their Anne T. and Robert M. Bass Foundation, focusing on education and youth and health and human services. The couple makes gifts to their alma maters, Stanford University and Duke University, where one of their children went to school. Their giving focuses on Fort Worth. Local gifts made by the foundation in one recent year, according to IRS documents: Aids Outreach Center; Boys & Girls Clubs; Center for Transforming Lives; Day Resource Center; Fort Worth Stock Show Syndicate; Gill Children’s Services; Goodwill Industries of Fort Worth; Happy Hill Farm Academy & Education Center; James L. West Alzheimer’s Center; Presbyterian Night Shelter; SafeHaven Tarrant County; Texas Ballet Theater; The Salvation Army; The Warm Place; The Women’s Center of Tarrant County; United Community Centers.

Mercedes Bass Philanthropist

Mercedes Bass, former-wife of Sid Bass, is chairman of the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra board. The Symphony has struggled in fundraising but announced recently that its “3 Steps to $3 million” campaign exceeded its goals, with the help of the Amon G. Carter Foundation. The symphony board is now engaged in a search for a new music director to replace Miguel Harth-Bedoya, who is entering his final season as music director..

Nonprofits and Philantropy / Philanthropy

Ramona Bass Philanthropist

The Fort Worth Zoo has been Ramona Bass’ passion since she and Lee Bass (see separate profile) married in the ‘80s. In 2014, the couple gave $30 million, the lead gift to the zoo’s $100 million A Wilder Vision capital campaign, and Ramona Bass took the lead in helping raise the remainder. The Zoological Association’s board, which Bass co-chairs with Kit Moncrief (see separate profile), is packed with prominent, active Fort Worth citizens. The Zoo in May announced it was named the nation’s No. 4 best zoo in the USA Today 10 Best Zoos ranking. Outside the zoo, the couple makes gifts through its Lee and Ramona Bass Foundation. Beneficiaries include All Saints’ Episcopal School of Fort Worth, an endowment for the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, and charities related to wildlife, such as the International Rhino Foundation.

Joan Katz Philanthropy

Joan Katz (husband Howard Katz, see separate profile) lives by a personal motto. “May I live on in good deeds that bless others’ lives and leave behind me a heritage of a good name,” she says. “These words were passed down in our family from my paternal great-grandfather.” Joan Katz co-founded the Tarrant County affiliate of Komen for the Cure and its Race for the Cure and continues to volunteer for the organization. Katz, a cancer survivor, co-chaired the campaign to fund and endow The Joan Katz Cancer Resource Center at Baylor Scott & White All Saints Medical Center in Fort Worth and serves on its executive committee. She’s secretary of the board of Jewel Charity, annually benefiting Cook Children’s. And she’s a board member of The Gladney Center for Adoption.

Kaydee Brown Bailey Philanthropy

Kaydee Brown Bailey — daughter of Dr. Bobby Brown of Fort Worth, the retired World Series champion New York Yankees baseball player, retired physician and former American League baseball commissioner — has carved out her own lengthy path in the community. She serves on the Fort Worth Zoological Association and Lena Pope boards and on the Advisory Council of The Cliburn.

Michael Crain Philanthropy

Michael Crain, who returned to Fort Worth after eight years as chief of staff at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing under President George W. Bush, has quickly established himself in Fort Worth as a connector and influencer. He and wife Joanna Crain founded the nonprofit Foodie Philanthropy that recruits restaurants that offer tables and set menus that Foodie sells in a once-a-year event to benefit a charity. He is District 3 administrator to Fort Worth City Councilman Brian Byrd (see separate profile) and is a Realtor for Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s International.

WHAT'S NO. 1 ON YOUR BUCKET LIST? “To fly in an F-16 (at least until the F-35 or other JSFs are made with two seats).”

BEST PERSONAL OR BUSINESS LESSON YOU'VE LEARNED: “I did not get to where I am today alone. Others opened doors for me, giving me opportunities, and it is my responsibility to do the same for others.”

Marsha Kleinheinz Philanthropy

Marsha Kleinheinz and husband John Kleinheinz (see separate profile) direct their giving through the Kleinheinz Family Foundation for the Arts and Education. The couple in 2015 gave $1 million for new learning programs to the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History. “We believe that without the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History, there would be a huge vacuum in the educational and cultural life of our city,” Marsha Kleinheinz said at the time. “It is our hope that others will also see the value of this exceptional institution and join us in support of this wonderful museum.” The Kleinheinz foundation in recent years also has made gifts to the Amon Carter Museum of American Art, SMU and Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra. The foundation had $122 million in assets at the end of 2017. Kleinheinz also is a director of Performing Arts Fort Worth.

Opal Lee Philanthropy

A lifelong philanthropist, Opal Lee helped to establish Citizens Concerned with Human Dignity, formed to assist the economically disadvantaged in finding Fort Worth homes. She was also a founding member of the Tarrant County Black Historical & Genealogical Society. Now 92, Lee remains active. She leads the Annual Fort Worth Juneteenth Celebration, commemorating June 19, 1865, when the Texas slaves discovered they were free. In February, she broke ground on her newest venture, the Opal’s Farm urban farming project dedicated to addressing the Tarrant County food desert.

WHAT'S NO. 1 ON YOUR BUCKET LIST?

“Making the property that I own at 1115 Evans Ave. a viable business. What I see is a three-story building with shop(s) on the first floor, businesses on the second and the Juneteenth museum on the third.”

Marty Leonard Philanthropy

Marty Leonard was introduced to golf at age 3 by her father, Marvin Leonard, founder of the Colonial and Shady Oaks country clubs. She enjoyed a lengthy amateur career, built and owns the Leonard Golf Links teaching facility in Fort Worth, and built the Nike Research and Development Building and Tech Center in the city. She’s a longtime supporter of the Lena Pope Home. Other current boards, committees and volunteer work: All Saints Health Foundation board, City of Fort Worth Conservation Advisory Committee, Fort Worth Junior Golf Association, Fort Worth Nature Center, Friends of the Nature Center, Historic Fort Worth, Junior League of Fort Worth, Kids Who Care, MD Anderson Cancer Center, National Audubon Society, Ryan Foundation and Komen for the Cure. Leonard was easily re-elected in May to another term on the Tarrant Regional Water District board.

Nicholas Martin Philanthropy

Nick and Louella Martin (see separate profile) are among Fort Worth’s most visible philanthropists, putting their names up on various buildings, including at Texas Wesleyan University, Baylor Scott & White All Saints Medical Center, and Fort Worth Country Day School. Nick Martin made his living in lumber, PVC, and siding in Michigan and Fort Worth, where he met Lou Martin. The couple made the lead gift for the Nick and Lou Martin University Center, opening July at Wesleyan. Nick Martin daughter Cynthia Adams (see separate profile) recently came off the All Saints Health Foundation board as chair.

WHAT'S NO. 1 ON YOUR BUCKET LIST?

"Heaven”

BEST PERSONAL OR BUSINESS LESSON YOU'VE LEARNED: “Honesty. ” MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU CAN DO FOR YOUR KIDS IS: “A good education and teach them to be independent.”

Anne Windfohr Marion Philanthropy

Anne Windfohr Marion — daughter of Anne Burnett Tandy — inherited ranching and oil interests, handed down from acquisitions made by her great-grandfather. Windfohr Marion, one of Fort Worth’s billionaires, as estimated by Forbes, is president of Burnett Ranches and chair of the Burnett Oil Co. She’s had a long interest in art. The Burnett Foundation, chaired by Windfohr Marion, supports numerous arts and other causes, including the major Fort Worth museums, performing arts organizations and Bass Hall. Windfohr Marion has been a longtime benefactor of the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth. She and her husband, John Marion, founded the Georgia O’Keefe Museum in Santa Fe. Windfohr Marion is a former director of the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum and was inducted into its Hall of Great Westerners in 2009.

Kit Moncrief Philanthropy

Kit Tennison Moncrief (grandfather C.A. Lupton), with husband Charlie Moncrief (see separate profile), are in ranching, oil and gas and other investments. They support numerous organizations. She’s National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame president, Fort Worth Zoological Association co-chair and TCU board of trustees vice chair. Other board memberships include: Moncrief Cancer Foundation, UT Southwestern Moncrief Cancer Institute, T.J. Brown and C.A. Lupton Foundation, Fort Worth Stock Show and Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth.

WHAT'S NO. 1 ON YOUR BUCKET LIST?

“Take all of my grandchildren to Africa.”

EVERYONE'S TOP CORE VALUE SHOULD BE: “Honesty, integrity, fairness.”

MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU CAN DO FOR YOUR KIDS IS: “Give them a good education and expose them to God.”

Louella Martin Philanthropy

Lou Martin and her husband Nicholas Martin (see separate profile) have put their names up on a lot of buildings in recent years (Baylor Scott & White All Saints Medical Center - Fort Worth, Fort Worth Country Day School, Texas Wesleyan University). Most recently, they made the lead gift for the construction of the Nick and Lou Martin University Center at Texas Wesleyan, which opens this summer. It will serve as the school's heart, anchoring renewal along the East Rosedale Street corridor. Martin, a Texas Wesleyan trustee, has long ties to the university. Her grandfather, James B. Baker, served on the board from 1895 to 1912.

BEST PERSONAL OR BUSINESS LESSON YOU'VE LEARNED: “Treat everyone you meet as a friend, listen and ask questions.”

EVERYONE'S TOP CORE VALUE SHOULD BE: “Kindness and recognizing your blessings.”

Charlie Moncrief Philanthropy

Charlie Moncrief, son of oilman W.A. “Tex” Moncrief, Jr. (see separate profile) and grandson of the legendary wildcatter W.A. “Monty” Moncrief, started in the business in 1972 as a landman and worked as production clerk, on rigs and as a company man before joining Moncrief Oil in 1980. He and his wife, Kit (see separate profile), remain in energy and ranching and support numerous organizations. Moncrief is a member of the Fort Worth Stock Show board and University of Texas Longhorn Foundation Advisory Council.

BEST PIECE OF ADVICE I’VE RECEIVED:

“Don’t lie, steal, cheat or ever create a false impression.”

WHAT I’D TELL YOUNG PEOPLE JUST GETTING STARTED TODAY: “See everything you can.” WHAT I DO FOR FUN: “Watch football, play gin rummy, go out to the ranch.”

I’D PAY TO SEE: “Antarctica, with Kit, part of which would be nuclear-powered submarine.”

Nonprofits and Philantropy / Philanthropy

Mike Moncrief

Philanthropy

Mike Moncrief has made his name in public service, serving in the Texas House of Representatives, Texas State Senate, Tarrant County Commissioners Court as county judge and, finally, as Fort Worth mayor. In what he calls his “retirement” with former Fort Worth first lady Rosie Moncrief (see separate profile), Moncrief tends to his oil and gas investments and other business interests and lends his time to special projects and committees, like TCU and police and fire causes.

BEST PERSONAL OR BUSINESS LESSON

YOU'VE LEARNED: “There are three life lessons I have learned, and I try to share them with the younger generation as early as possible: No. 1, you are only as good as the people you surround yourself with. No. 2, it is amazing what you can accomplish in life when you don't care who gets the credit for doing what. No. 3, never let ‘perfect’ become the enemy of ‘better.’”

Lisa Rose President The Gatehouse

Lisa Rose spent more than 20 years through various organizations “providing leadership and support for women to live life to their God-given potential.” Launched, with a team that includes businessman husband Matt Rose (see separate profile), The Gatehouse, a supportive living community in Grapevine where women and children in crisis “discover new paths for a permanent change.”

BEST PERSONAL OR BUSINESS LESSON YOU'VE LEARNED: “You don't have to be perfect.”

EVERYONE'S TOP CORE VALUE SHOULD BE: “Love.”

MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU CAN DO

FOR YOUR KIDS IS: “Empower them to be who they were meant to be by letting them both succeed and fail on their own.”

Rosie Moncrief Philanthropy

Rosie Moncrief, wife of former Fort Worth Mayor

Mike Moncrief (see separate profile), has long dedicated her time to community works, including issues concerning children, senior citizens, health care, and human trafficking. She started working retail after school at 14. In her 20s, she moved into property management in Houston, eventually taking a post with Club Corp. of America in Mississippi. Later, she transferred to Fort Worth. “Best move of my life!”

WHAT'S NO. 1 ON YOUR BUCKET LIST?

“Bucket list (yeah, right). Teach my husband the definition of ‘retirement.’ Meanwhile, enjoy every day of life as the gift that it truly is.”

HOW I GOT MY START: “My first job was when I was 14. I worked in a department store gift wrapping and running layaways. My mother was widowed when I was 12, and there were five of us kids. Everyone worked. Work ethic has never been an issue in my family.”

Ed Schollmaier Philanthropy

Ed and Rae Schollmaier’s philanthropic gifts around Fort Worth have been numerous. The couple made the $10 million lead gift for the renovation of TCU’s Daniel-Meyer Coliseum; TCU named the arena the Ed and Rae Schollmaier Arena in 2015, the year Rae Schollmaier died. They previously gave money for the Ed and Rae Schollmaier Basketball Complex. Schollmaier has been a TCU trustee since 1996. His Schollmaier Foundation has made gifts in health and welfare, arts, education and youth. A career Alcon Laboratories employee, he retired in 1997 as CEO. Schollmaier is a recipient of the Fort Worth Exchange Club’s prestigious Golden Deeds Award.

William A. "Tex" Moncrief Jr. Philanthropy

The oil and gas wildcatter Tex Moncrief made a $25 million gift to establish the UT Southwestern Monty and Tex Moncrief Medical Center at Fort Worth, UT Southwestern’s first named campus outside Dallas. Monty was Tex Moncrief’s father. Tex Moncrief is president of the William A. and Elizabeth B. Moncrief Foundation, which contributes to educational, health, civic and cultural organizations. Over the years, the Moncrief family has provided nearly $14 million from the William A. and Elizabeth B. Moncrief Foundation and from Tex Moncrief in direct support of UT Southwestern programs at its Dallas campus, as well as $75 million in funds given to the Moncrief Cancer Foundation in support of the UT Southwestern Moncrief Cancer Institute in Fort Worth.

The Walton Family Foundation — Walmart heiress Alice Walton is worth an estimated $44 billion — made a $20 million endowment over five years to the Amon Carter Museum of American Art in 2017. The gift honors the Amon Carter’s longtime board president, Ruth Carter Stevenson, who died in 2013. It is the largest in the museum’s history and establishes an endowment to support future exhibition and education initiatives. Walton served on the Amon Carter’s board from 2004 to 2015. “Mother and Alice were great friends and shared an extraordinary love and knowledge of art — visionaries both,” the Amon’s president Karen Johnson Hixon said at the time of the gift. “Alice has been an important part of the Amon Carter and its board for many years.”

Alice Walton Philanthropy

Larry Autrey CEO Whitley Penn

Larry Autrey graduated from Texas Tech University in 1984 with a bachelor’s degree in accounting and finance. He started his career working at Ernst & Young in the tax consulting and compliance department. In 1995, he started working at Whitley Penn, where he was a senior manager turned managing partner. Autrey sits on the board of Cook Children’s Health Foundation and is a board member for Texas Land Conservancy and Community Enrichment Center.

THE BEST WAY TO MEET NEW PEOPLE

HERE IS: “You want to meet people that enjoy the things that you enjoy; therefore, do what you enjoy and be helpful, friendly and open to meeting people, and it will happen.”

I’D PAY TO SEE: “‘Hamilton’ on Broadway as many times as I could get it!”

J.D. Angle

Partner

Angle Mastagni Matthews Political Strategies

Since 2009, J.D. Angle has worked as a partner at Angle Mastagni Matthews Political Strategies, a company he founded, which offers advanced political targeting and telephone communications consulting. Most of his work has been with candidates in the Democratic Party — notably, he’s worked with Wendy Davis as a consultant and helped her win seats in the Fort Worth City Council and the State Senate. Angle was active in this spring’s Fort Worth school board races. Angle was a vice president of the Fort Worth consulting firm Tyson Organization. He graduated from the University of Texas at Austin.

Robert Fernandez President Fernandez & Company

Robert Fernandez is a CPA and president of the Fernandez & Company accounting firm. Fernandez, a Vanderbilt grad, left a job as a PricewaterhouseCoopers consultant in 1987 to start his own firm. He’s served on numerous boards that focus on economic development, the arts and social service. He serves on the board of the Fort Worth Zoological Association and United Community Centers and is a former DFW Airport board member.

HOW I GOT MY START: “I took an Intro to Accounting class at TCC the summer after my freshman year at Vanderbilt and found my career.”

WHAT'S NO. 1 ON YOUR BUCKET LIST?

“Reduce work hours to invest more time helping local community and social service organizations.”

BEST PERSONAL OR BUSINESS LESSON YOU'VE LEARNED: “Do not cut corners in the interest of saving time.”

Stuart Balcom CEO Balcom Agency

Stuart Balcom likes to say he grew up watching his father “navigate the ‘Mad Men’ era.” Balcom’s dad worked in large agencies and helped grow small local ones. Stuart Balcom launched his agency in 1993 with one client, an art director, one account executive and a card table. It’s done work for Justin Boots, Motorola, Galderma, Cotton Bowl Athletic Association, Alcon, Texas Rangers and Harris Methodist Fort Worth.

MOST VALUABLE LESSON I’VE LEARNED:

“If they say, ‘Money is no problem,’ it’s a problem.” WHAT I DO FOR FUN: “Golf, fly-fishing, travel, wine, ski ... the usual stuff.”

John Mackel CEO Weaver

With nearly 20 years in public accounting, John Mackel is CEO and managing partner of Weaver. After graduating from Sam Houston State University, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration, Mackel began his career at a Big Four firm. Before being named CEO of Weaver, Mackel led the company’s industry practice groups for five years and served as partner-in-charge of the oil and gas practice. He has been on Weaver’s executive committee since June 2009.

BEST PIECE OF ADVICE I’VE RECEIVED: “To use all of the resources provided by the firm. As a senior manager or partner, you have to delegate to those working with you even when it would be faster to do it yourself. A strong team always wins.”

Matt Bowman President Thrive Internet Marketing

Matt Bowman is founder of Thrive Internet Marketing, an Arlington-based digital marketing agency and one of the nation’s fastest-growing companies. Thrive provides custom web design and full-service online marketing to organizations that are looking to broadcast their messages more effectively.

HOW I GOT

MY

START: “I grew up in a family of entrepreneurs. I am a fifth-generation business owner. When I graduated from college, someone asked me if I could build a website for them. I said, ‘No, but I’ll figure out how to.’ That’s how I got started.”

BEST PERSONAL OR BUSINESS LESSON YOU'VE LEARNED: “You always have time for the things you put first.”

EVERYONE'S TOP CORE VALUE SHOULD BE: “Relationships matter.”

Jeremy Cornfeldt CEO iProspect

Jeremy Cornfeldt has worked in marketing for more than two decades. As CEO of iProspect, a Fort Worth digital marketing agency with eight offices nationally and clients such as General Motors, Neiman Marcus and Hilton, he has led the strategy, product offerings and client services team. Before joining iProspect, Cornfeldt worked at The Forum Corporation, Carat and Dentsu Aegis Network. At Dentsu Aegis Network, he launched AMNET, the media trading desk in the U.S. market.

WHAT'S NO. 1 ON YOUR BUCKET LIST?

“Drive a 911 GT2 RS on the Circuit of the Americas.”

EVERYONE'S TOP CORE VALUE SHOULD BE: “Collaboration, because I always believe we are stronger together.”

MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU CAN DO FOR YOUR KIDS IS: “Listen without judgment.”

George Popstefanov CEO PMG

Originally from Macedonia, George Popstefanov now leads PMG, a Fort Worth digital advertising and marketing agency that’s been named in the Inc. 5000, Deloitte Technology Fast 500, and Entrepreneur 360’s list of fastest growing companies. He also speaks at industry events like the Google Executive Travel Summit.

BEST PIECE OF ADVICE I’VE RECEIVED:

“My dad was an entrepreneur, and being around him even as a young kid, I learned a lot about starting and running your own business — over-delivering on the expectations you set with customers/partners, leading by example and being ready to wear multiple hats were three of the biggest pieces I took away, and pieces I rely on every day.”

Chris Gavras CEO The CG Group, Inc.

With two decades in strategic communications advising in Tarrant County, Chris Gavras leads The CG Group, which advises Fortune 100 corporations, privately held companies, North Texas law firms, professional and trade associations, and community leaders. He recently worked as communications strategist for the Dickies Arena project in Fort Worth.

HOW I GOT MY START: “Watching Walter Cronkite as a child, I was always fascinated with communication. I learned from working in the press office of a national political campaign at a young age and then from Pete Geren, Tom Vandergriff, GK Maenius and other talented leaders. Without them, there is no start for me.”

WHAT I DO FOR FUN: “Cycle, golf, fish, read, attend Rangers games.”

Jeff Ireland Founder, CEO Enilon

Jeff Ireland founded Enilon, a Fort Worth digital marketing agency that has produced work for clients such as the MAIN ST. Fort Worth Arts Festival, Texas Boys Choir and Texas Health Resources. Enilon’s services include pay per click, social media, display, and programmatic and search engine optimization.

HOW I GOT MY START: “As a kid, I was always coming up with ways to make money. I started several hard labor businesses like a lot of kids do, but the most fun and lucrative was after I trained to be a unicycle riding, fire juggling clown and magician at 9 years old. I mostly did birthday parties for $50 an hour.”

WHAT'S NO. 1 ON YOUR BUCKET LIST?

“To live past 100 years old. That should give me plenty of time to knock off everything else on my bucket list.”

BEST PERSONAL OR BUSINESS LESSON YOU'VE LEARNED: “Marry carefully.”

Frost Prioleau CEO, Co-Founder Simpli.fi

Frost Prioleau is cofounder and CEO of Simpli. fi, a Fort Worth marketing and advertising agency he launched in 2010. Simpli.fi technology gives the power of programmatic advertising to local advertisers. Digital ads are auctioned off real-time while an app or webpage loads. Millions of auctions run every second from exchanges across Simpli. fi’s platform. What ads are finally presented to viewers are based on those viewers’ demonstrated preferences. The auctions factor in “whether there’s a match, whether we should bid, how much we should bid, probability of a result, a click or some other action.” Prioleau is a board member of the STAR Sponsorship Program, a children’s scholarship fund in Fort Worth.

Holland Sanders CEO HOLLAND collective

The founder and creative force behind the PR communications and marketing agency HOLLAND collective, Holland Sanders has propelled her clients to new levels of recognition on national platforms. Prior to starting her namesake company, she worked for the Fort Worth Opera, where she was promoted to director of marketing and PR, becoming the youngest senior level director in the company’s history.

BEST PERSONAL OR BUSINESS LESSON

YOU'VE

LEARNED:

“Ask for help … There is no room for ego when you build a business where people need you to always put their best interests first.”

I LOVE TO GIVE BACK BY: “Mentoring and working with young women aspiring to create change in their field! At HOLLAND collective, we have a mission of creating space and opportunity for ladies with vision to learn how to use their skills to make an impact.”

Red Sanders President Red Productions

The president, producer and “dreamer” of Red Productions, a Fort Worth-based production company with an office in L.A., Red Sanders has built his reputation as a major player in the Fort Worth film scene. He was influential in launching the Fort Worth Film Commission with Mayor Betsy Price and Visit Fort Worth film commissioner Jessica Christopherson. His company produces films, as well as advertising video for clients like the City of Fort Worth, Lay’s and Red Bull. He has also done video for his alma mater, TCU, from which he graduated with a degree in radio, television and film.

HOW I GOT MY START: “All my friends were moving to L.A. and New York to pursue careers in the industry. I felt we could grow something here.”

Ken

Schaefer

President, Owner Schaefer Advertising Co.

After working at companies like Procter and Gamble, Ogilvy & Mather and Justin Boot Company, Ken Schaefer created his own firm alongside Bobby and Jan Blanchard. Together, the three created Blanchard Schaefer Advertising, which became Schaefer Advertising Co. in 2011.

WHAT'S NO. 1 ON YOUR BUCKET LIST?

“Travel — anytime, anywhere.”

BEST PERSONAL OR BUSINESS LESSON YOU'VE LEARNED: “Seek God's will first; then surround yourself with good people and give them the space and support to be amazing.”

EVERYONE’S TOP CORE VALUE SHOULD BE: “Be humble.”

MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU CAN DO FOR YOUR KIDS IS: “Be a consistent reflection of the character and values you want them to embody.”

Bret Starr CEO The Starr Conspiracy

Bret Starr is the founder and CEO of The Starr Conspiracy — one of the largest integrated business-to-business marketing agencies in the area, sporting a clientele that includes big names like Sodexo, Oracle and Indeed. Starr also is an author and speaker.

HOW I GOT MY START: “A drunk software CEO hired me on the spot (I was his waiter that night).”

MOST VALUABLE LESSON I’VE LEARNED: “It’s smart to be the dumbest guy in the room.”

THE BEST WAY TO MEET NEW PEOPLE

HERE IS: “Drive around the rich neighborhoods and look for a party that has spilled out onto the lawn.”

I'D PAY TO SEE: “My head on Chris Hemsworth's body.”

Allen Wallach CEO PAVLOV Agency

TCU graduate Allen Wallach got his start taking unpaid internships during college, one of which was at the boutique agency Paul Lazzaro & Associates in Fort Worth. That opportunity opened doors for him in the advertising industry, which eventually led Wallach to found PAVLOV Agency, whose clientele includes big names like TCU Athletics, DFW Airport and Autobahn Motorcars.

WHAT'S NO. 1 ON YOUR BUCKET LIST? “I don't have one, but I do look forward to sharing our daughter's upcoming college experience at UT Austin. As more than one Longhorn dad has told me, ‘You'll have as much fun as she does!’”

BEST PERSONAL OR BUSINESS LESSON

YOU'VE LEARNED: “Don't go stale. Complacency and routine are bad both personally and professionally.”

Tom Stallings Founder Mosaic Strategy Partners

Tom Stallings was chief of staff for County Judge Glen Whitley and a chief of staff in the U.S. House of Representatives and senior policy advisor in the U.S. Senate. Stallings shifted career paths and co-founded the emerging Mosaic Strategy Partners communications firm, where he is the strategist. Stallings also is board president of Fort Worth’s Alliance For Children child advocacy nonprofit.

HOW I GOT MY START: “Started my first company at the age of 19, a bottled water company. Had no idea what I was doing but … was able to build the company and sell for a profit.”

BEST PIECE OF ADVICE I’VE RECEIVED: “Work really hard, but find a reasonable balance between professional and personal life. Preserve your reputation. Value others for the jobs they perform.”

I’D PAY TO SEE: “President Trump with a flat top.”

Julie H. Wilson Chairman The Reasons Group

Julie H. Wilson has packed in a career as an influencer in Fort Worth. She was CEO of the ad agency Regian & Wilson and signed on to become the controversial lightning rod, local PR executive for Chesapeake Energy during the peak of neighborhood gas leasing in the Barnett Shale. Wilson today is CEO of her agency, The Reasons Group. For a time, she also led the Blue Zones Project Fort Worth, the well-being initiative based on lessons learned from communities worldwide where people live the longest. She’s immediate past chairman of Visit Fort Worth. And she serves on the board of the North Texas Community Foundation. Wilson’s also owned multiple franchises including Supercuts, Pro-Cuts and Cold Stone Creamery.

Tony Ford Executive Coach, President Success Fort Worth

As executive coach and president at Success Fort Worth, Tony Ford helps company owners and leaders clarify their goals and create practical, realistic actions for achieving them. He’s been named an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year — Supporter of Entrepreneurship. Ford also helped launch RIDE TV, where he was founding CEO, and was founding executive director of the Fort Worth Business Assistance Center.

MOST VALUABLE LESSON I'VE LEARNED:

“Reaching our full potential requires the help of mentors and coaches at every step of our growth.”

WHAT I DO FOR FUN: "For forty years, my wife Jane and I have mentored young married couples using Biblical principles; helping them grow closer and experience life-long joy."

Breck Ray President Ray Partners

With more than 35 years of experience in executive search, Breck Ray serves as president of Ray Partners. Ray has worked in different industries, from family offices to private equity and energy. Before starting his own executive search firm, Ray worked as a managing partner for Ray & Berndtson, a global executive search firm founded by his father. Some of his firm's highest-profile recruits since 2000: Sundance Square executive Johnny Campbell, Blackmon Mooring’s Tom Head, James L. West Center Executive Director Susan Farris, Fort Worth Museum of Science and History director Van Romans, Performing Arts Fort Worth CEO Dionne Kennedy, Sid Richardson Foundation CEO Pete Geren, and new Dickies Arena GM Matt Homan.

Elliot

Goldman

Partner GL 2 Partners

Elliot Goldman is a partner at GL 2 Partners, a logistical and technology solutions company that offers services like website development, domestic web-based fulfillment solutions and marketing. Outside his company, Goldman is also the founder of ‘The Greatest Gift Catalog Ever,’ which he launched with his wife, Heather. The catalog annually features an assortment of local charities vetted by an independent board that people can give to around the holidays on behalf of friends and family, as a way to better direct their family’s giving. Goldman’s typically had any number of companies going at one time in his portfolio. He says he was going through holiday catalogs one year when it occurred to him he could launch a company behind a giving catalog. “Why not just throw a nonprofit company in there?” he told Fort Worth Inc. in an interview.

Whit Smith Founder

Whitney Smith Company

As founder and president of Whitney Smith Co., a human resources consulting firm he created in 1989 that specializes in services like audits, benefits and workplace safety, Smith serves as a consulting expert with regard to civil rights issues and tort claims. Smith is a former Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce chairman. He graduated from University of Texas at Austin with a degree in personnel management and marketing before attending Southern Methodist University’s Southwestern Graduate School of Banking.

HOW I GOT STARTED: “I was laid off during the Texas banking downturn that took place in the mid- to late-’80s. We then started The Whitney Smith Company.” - Fort Worth Chamber interview

Robert Mitchell

Executive Recruiter

Whitney Smith Company

As executive recruiter of Whitney Smith Company, Robert Mitchell finds people for senior-level posts. His duties span across interviewing candidates, reference checks and pre-employment assessments. In the community, he is a member of multiple boards for organizations, including the Botanic Research Institute of Texas and Boys & Girls Club of Fort Worth.

HOW I GOT MY START:

“Began lawn service/ snow shoveling business during high school.”

BEST PERSONAL OR BUSINESS LESSON YOU'VE LEARNED: “If it won't read well/be comfortable as a headline, steer clear.” EVERYONE'S TOP CORE VALUE SHOULD BE: “Make the world a better place for your having been here.”

John Allen Chalk Sr. Partner Whitaker Chalk

John Allen Chalk Sr. is Fort Worth’s top lawyer in alternative dispute resolution. Chalk has more than 40 years under his belt. He graduated from the University of Texas School of Law in 1973. A Blackstone award-winning lawyer, Chalk’s other practice areas are administrative law, corporate and business law, employment litigation, energy oil and gas, health care, real estate litigation and school law. Chalk has been president of Eldon B. Mahon Inn of Court, an association of judges, lawyers, law professors and law students in Tarrant County. He’s served as director, treasurer, vice president and president of the Tarrant County Bar Association. In 2019, he was named one of the The Best Lawyers in America by Best Lawyers and has been named a Texas Super Lawyer by Texas Monthly annually since 2003.

At Gus Bates Insurance, our clients rely on us to help guide them through the complex world of insurance and investments. But t before

Randy J. Hall Shareholder Decker Jones PC

The chairman of the Decker Jones litigation section, Randy J. Hall specializes in mediation, personal injury defense, commercial litigation and appeals. In his 40 years as an attorney, he’s tried over 200 cases to a verdict. He has admissions to the U.S. Supreme Court, U.S. Court of Appeals (5th and 11th Circuits) and U.S. District Court (Northern, Western, Eastern and Southern Districts of Texas). In the community, he’s served on the boards for VanZandt Southwest Family YMCA, Southwestern Diabetes Foundation and Immanual’s Healthcare, among others. He earned both his bachelor’s degree and juris doctor at Texas Tech.

Roland Johnson Partner

Harris, Finley & Bogle

Roland Johnson is a graduate of Baylor University and Baylor University School of Law, where he was associate editor of Baylor Law Review. He has professional licenses from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit and the U.S. Supreme Court. Before becoming a partner at Harris, Finley & Bogle, he served as president of the State Bar of Texas from 2009-2010. Johnson practices civil litigation with Harris, Finley & Bogle. He is a fellow of the College of Commercial Arbitrators, a member of American Board of Trial Advocates and a member of the American Law Institute, among other organizations.

BEST PIECE OF

ADVICE

I’VE RECEIVED: “Work like it depends on you; pray like it depends on God.”

I’D PAY TO SEE: “How Joe T.'s makes margaritas.”

David Keltner Partner

Kelly Hart and Hallman

David Keltner was honored by Texas Lawyer as the “Go To” appellate lawyer in the state. A former Texas appellate judge, he’s lead counsel in more than 300 appellate decisions, and his legal writings are cited, with approval, by Texas courts. Texas Super Lawyers selected him as one of the Top 10 Lawyers in Texas for the last 11 years. He was the "Top Point Getter" in Texas 2009-2011. The Texas Bar Foundation honored him with the inaugural Gregory S. Coleman Outstanding Appellate Lawyer Award, and he was named Best Lawyers 2016 and 2018 Appellate "Lawyer of the Year" for Dallas/Fort Worth. In 2017, Keltner received the Tarrant County Bar Association’s prestigious Blackstone Award.

Thomas Michel Partner

Griffith, Jay & Michel

Thomas Michel has been a Texas Board of Legal Specialization-certified lawyer in civil appellate law since 1997. He is partner and serves as the head of Griffith, Jay & Michel’s appellate practice group. He is also a Life Fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation and has argued cases in the U.S. Supreme Court, Texas Supreme Court and state and federal Courts of Appeals. Michel went to the University of Texas for both his undergraduate and law degrees and has worked as an adjunct professor of law at Texas Wesleyan School of Law. He has multi-year appearances on Texas Monthly’s list of Texas Super Lawyers.

Steven K. Hayes Principal Law Office of Steven K. Hayes

After graduating summa cum laude from Austin College, Steve Hayes went on to earn his law degree from Harvard Law School. He is now principal at his namesake law office with a specialty in appellate law. He has previously practiced in a range of other areas including mass torts, insurance coverage and litigation, premises liability, and wills and trusts. Hayes has been a member of the American Law Institute since 2005. Since 2009, Hayes has been consistently named one of Texas Monthly’s Texas Super Lawyers. He is also a mentor for the Tarrant County Young Lawyers’ Association and was named Mentor of the Year in 2010.

Ralph Duggins Partner Cantey Hanger

Alongside serving as chairman of highly visible Texas Parks & Wildlife agency, Ralph Duggins focuses on complex commercial litigation, working as an attorney for the Fort Worth law firm Cantey Hanger LLP. He’s a former director of Lena Pope Home and Cook Children’s Health Care System.

WHAT I

TELL YOUNG

PEOPLE STARTING TODAY: “Find a nonprofit organization with a mission you respect and like. Volunteer your time to help advance that mission. Also, don't send emails at night or that you have not read at least twice and determined you would be fine if a jury of 12 citizens read it.”

MOST FUN PLACE I’VE TRAVELED: “Probably the bush in Tanzania in 1999.”

Raymond Kelly III Shareholder Decker Jones

A shareholder at Decker Jones Law Firm, Raymond Kelly III specializes in oil and gas law. He has been practicing law for over 40 years with the same firm. Outside of law practice, Kelly’s community involvement includes working as an officer and director of the William Edrington Scott Foundation. He’s also served as a past president of Baylor All Saints Health Foundation and sat on the boards of the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History, Van Cliburn Foundation and Davey O’Brien Foundation. He earned his law degree from Southern Methodist University.

Dee J. Kelly, Jr. Partner

Kelly Hart and Hallman

Dee Kelly, Jr. has practiced law at Kelly Hart and Hallman for the past 30 years. In 2005, he was voted the firm’s managing partner and served in that position for 11 years before stepping down in 2016. While leading his firm, Kelly has also found time to serve his community through positions on a variety of nonprofit boards and community organizations. Kelly was recognized as Fort Worth’s distinguished citizen in 2014 by the Boy Scouts of America.

WHAT'S NO. 1 ON YOUR BUCKET LIST?

“Too many things, but I've not given up on any of them (other than becoming a PGA golfer).”

BEST PERSONAL OR BUSINESS LESSON

YOU'VE LEARNED: “My father loved saying, ‘If you hoot with the owls at night, you can't soar with the eagles at dawn.’ Still makes me laugh, but some truth in there as well.”

Marshall Searcy Partner

Kelly Hart and Hallman

Marshall Searcy is one of Fort Worth’s premier civil litigators, with more than 40 years in the law. He specializes in commercial litigation, legal malpractice defense and personal injury defense. In 2015, Searcy received the Tarrant County Bar Association’s most prestigious award, The Blackstone Award, given in recognition of a career that exemplifies professional aptitude, integrity and courage. Since 1997, he has been listed among Best Lawyers’ The Best Lawyers in America. Searcy was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1972 after graduating cum laude from the University of Texas School of Law. Searcy is a fellow in the Tarrant County Bar Foundation and associate of the American Board of Trial Advocates.

Joe

Tolbert

Partner

Brackett & Ellis

Working in law for nearly 30 years, Joe Tolbert specializes in litigation and construction law, serving as lead attorney in numerous mediations, trials and arbitrations related to business and construction disputes. He is board certified in construction law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, an accomplishment achieved by fewer than 100 practicing attorneys in the state. His bar admissions include the State of Texas, U.S. Supreme Court and U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit.

HOW I GOT MY START: “Money was wrongfully taken from my bank account, but the bank steadfastly refused to return it. Finally, an investigative television reporter scared the bank into returning the funds. I became fascinated with the legal arguments involved in that small matter and decided to go to law school to help others seek justice.”

George Muckleroy Partner

Sheats & Muckleroy

After serving as a captain in the U.S. Marine Corps, George Muckleroy went to Texas Tech University School of Law, where he was managing editor of Texas Tech Law Review, and graduated magna cum laude in 2003. He is now a partner at Sheats & Muckleroy, where he represents clients in construction, insurance, oil and gas, negligence and family law. He was also involved with the Eagle Scouts and Schola Cantorum of Texas.

BEST PIECE OF ADVICE I’VE RECEIVED:

“Have a song in your heart, a smile on your face and a pep in your step. My high school principal always said this over the PA every morning.”

MOST VALUABLE LESSON I’VE LEARNED:

“A good lawyer knows the law, but a great lawyer knows the judge.”

Jack Larson President Mellina & Larson, P.C.

Jack Larson and his law partner founded Mellina & Larson, P.C., in April 1997. Larson’s practice involves a wide range of business and commercial matters with special emphasis on real estate-related transactions. A TCU alum, Larson previously served as president of the TCU National Alumni Association and as a member of the TCU Board of Trustees. He serves on the Executive Committee of the AddRan College Board of Visitors, and as board president of Kids Who Care and board vice president of Ballet Concerto.

WHAT'S NO. 1 ON YOUR BUCKET LIST? “To visit every state in the U.S.”

BEST PERSONAL OR BUSINESS LESSON YOU'VE LEARNED: “Empathy is vital to achieving real success in life, whether it's in personal relationships or business. Great things happen if we take the time to understand each other and walk in each other's shoes.”

Janet Hahn Shareholder Decker Jones

Janet Hahn began working at Decker Jones as a legal secretary in the 1980s, attending night school to become a paralegal at the firm. Once she became a paralegal, Hahn continued night school to earn her undergraduate degree, so she could attend Baylor Law School. As a lawyer, she worked her way up at Decker Jones to become a shareholder. Hahn sits on the board of The Women’s Center of Tarrant County and the Tarrant County College Foundation.

BEST PERSONAL OR BUSINESS LESSON

YOU'VE LEARNED: “Focus on your passions and not just your skills. If you love what you do, you will do it well!”

EVERYONE'S TOP CORE VALUE SHOULD BE: “Integrity. You should always strive to do what is right in all circumstances — even when no one is watching.”

Andrea Palmer Director of Coverage and Litigation

Higginbotham

The in-house counsel for insurance broker Higginbotham, Andrea Palmer provides coverage analysis and escalated claims handling services for the firm’s commercial clients. She graduated cum laude in 2013 from Baylor Law School, which she attended on full scholarship. She serves as president-elect of the Tarrant County Young Lawyers Association and chair of the State Bar of Texas Aviation Section Council.

EVERYONE'S TOP CORE VALUE SHOULD BE: “Empathy.”

MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU CAN DO FOR YOUR KIDS IS: “Read to them.”

I LOVE TO GIVE BACK BY: “Supporting local organizations. Some of my favorites: Tarrant Area Food Bank, Taste Kitchen, TVAS (Tarrant County Volunteer Attorney Services), The Center for Transforming Lives.”

Andrew Rosell Shareholder Winstead, P.C.

Andrew Rosell is a shareholder of Winstead, P.C. He practices corporate law and leads the firm’s Investment Management and Private Funds Industry Group. Prior to joining Winstead, Rosell was a partner at Kelly Hart & Hallman, LLP, and general counsel and chief compliance officer of Kleinheinz Capital Partners, Inc. Beyond investment management, he regularly represents companies in the oil and gas, insurance and health care industries. His community involvement includes serving on the board of trustees of the Cook Children’s Medical Center Foundation and the Emerging Leaders Board of the Dedman School of Law at his alma mater, Southern Methodist University.

WHAT'S NO. 1 ON YOUR BUCKET LIST?

“Trips to all the continents.”

BEST PERSONAL OR BUSINESS LESSON YOU'VE LEARNED: “Every person is important.”

Jim Lane Partner

Law Office of Jim Lane

Jim Lane has practiced law for nearly 40 years, representing people with a wide range of legal issues including criminal defense, FAA enforcement and personal injury cases. He specializes in representing police officers, firemen, members of the military and pilots. A pilot, Lane formerly served as a captain in the U.S. Army’s Judge Advocate General Corp, and he continues to aid the members of the Army, Air Force, Navy and Marines when faced with military court martial. He currently works as the Aircraft Owner and Pilots Association’s Legal Plan Attorney. Lane earlier this spring won a contested re-election to the Tarrant Regional Water District board, whose critics have complained of a lack of transparency.

Andrew Lombardi

Senior Vice President, General Counsel Crescent Real Estate LLC

A former attorney with McDonald Sanders, P.C., Andrew Lombardi joined Crescent in March 2010 as asset management counsel and was eventually promoted to vice president, corporate counsel, in which he acted as sole legal counsel for the company. Now the senior vice president, general counsel, he heads Crescent’s entire legal function and has been instrumental in structuring equity and debt related to real estate transactions secured through the company’s GP Invitation Fund I (GPI Fund). The TCU alum has also served on the Chancellor’s Young Advisory Council and was an adjunct professor of management (business law). He earned his Juris Doctorate degree from Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law.

P. Micheal Schneider Partner

Schneider Law Firm

A graduate of Texas Wesleyan University School of Law, P. Micheal Schneider makes frequent appearances in Fort Worth Magazine’s Top Attorneys and Super Lawyers lists. He is a member of the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association and the State Bar of Texas – Family Law Division. His office has three locations in Fort Worth, Arlington and Keller/Alliance.

WHAT'S NO. 1 ON YOUR BUCKET LIST? “Be a good husband and father. If I fail at that, then no other awards or success matter.”

EVERYONE'S TOP CORE VALUE SHOULD BE: “Hustle. Don't let anyone outwork you.”

MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU CAN DO FOR YOUR KIDS IS: “Tell them how much you love them every day.”

John Thompson

Marianne Auld

Clark Rucker

Dee Kelly

Marshall Searcy

David Keltner

Professional Services /

Lori Spearman Partner Law Office of Lori A. Spearman

Originally from South Carolina, Lori Spearman is a family lawyer who started her own firm after working as an associate attorney at Franks & Spearman for 11 years. Spearman began her career in law as a paralegal for a family law attorney in Tarrant County while she studied at Texas Wesleyan University School of Law. She attended the University of South Carolina for her undergraduate degree and earned a degree from the College of Criminal Justice. She has been dedicated to family law since 1997 when she passed the Texas Bar. In 2007, she was sworn in as a member of the Bar of the U.S. Supreme Court.

Donald E. Teller, Jr. Founding Member Teller Law Firm PC

Donald E. Teller, Jr. worked as a family law attorney for a litigation firm before opening his own practice in 1998. Teller Law Firm, P.C., located in Northeast Tarrant County, specializes in divorce as well as other family law cases, including child custody, child support and property division. He is a fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation and Tarrant County Bar Foundation and has also taught as an adjunct professor at Texas Wesleyan University School of Law. He’s also been honored among Fort Worth Magazine’s Top Attorneys and Super Lawyers. Teller earned his Juris Doctorate and Master of Business Administration degrees from Southern Methodist University.

Marianne Auld Managing Partner Kelly Hart and Hallman

Marianne Auld graduated from Baylor University School of Law, where she served as a law clerk to federal judge Thomas Reavey. Auld helped build a robust appellate section at Kelly Hart and Hallman before she took over as managing partner in 2017 when Dee Kelly Jr. stepped down. Auld serves on boards for organizations like the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce and Fort Worth Museum of Science and History.

BEST PERSONAL OR BUSINESS LESSON YOU'VE LEARNED: “It is never the wrong thing to do the right thing.”

EVERYONE'S TOP CORE VALUE SHOULD BE: “Treat others the way you want to be treated. The time may come when you are the one in need of help.”

Brian Barnard Partner

Haynes and Boone

With more than 30 years of experience, Barnard specializes in corporate, capital markets and securities, corporate governance, mergers and acquisitions, public company transactions and private equity. He also served as chairman of the board of the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce and serves on the board of trustees of Cook Children’s Health Foundation. Barnard graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with honors and a degree in finance before attending Texas Tech University School of Law and graduating cum laude in 1981. In his securities practice, Barnard assists clients with a full range of corporate governance issues, including directors’ duties in making business decisions, overseeing the company’s affairs, protecting directors and officers against personal liability, and compliance with the federal Sarbanes-Oxley law.

Brian Newby Managing Partner Cantey Hanger

Brian Newby is new managing partner for Cantey Hanger, replacing Michael Appleman (see separate profile), who’s continuing his estates practice with the firm. Newby, who joined the firm in 1991 and became a partner in 1996, heads its public/regulatory practice and is well-traveled. Newby became Texas Governor Rick Perry’s general counsel in 2004 and was named chief of staff in 2007. He served as the director of the Division of Disaster Recovery and Renewal after Hurricane Ike struck Texas in 2008 and returned to Cantey Hanger in January 2009. Newby is a former vice chairman of the Board of Regents, Texas Tech University System. He is former State Sen. Wendy Davis’ former law partner.

Dawson Parrish

Hunter Parrish’s practice focuses on business, energy and construction. He has served as attorney in charge in over 150 commercial litigation cases in state district and county courts. Parrish graduated from Texas Tech University with a degree in political science before earning his law degree from the Texas A&M University School of Law. He serves as a board member for Trinity Habitat for Humanity.

HOW I GOT MY START: “I emailed over 300 attorneys seeking a legal internship in Fort Worth while working as a server at a burger joint during my first year of law school. I finally received around three ‘bites’ and was given the opportunity to work my way up from file clerk to intern to law clerk — while attending law school.”

MOST RECENT BOOK I’VE READ: “The Bible.”

Hunter Parrish Partner

Recognized as One of the 400 Most Influential People in Fort Worth

Coming Fall 2019

Pick up unique retail and travel essentials at the new Fort Worth Inc. airport store during your next trip.

Located at Gate C36

Professional Services / Law-Oil and Gas/Probate

Clark Rucker

Partner

Kelly Hart and Hallman

Clark Rucker practices oil, gas and energy litigation at Kelly Hart and Hallman. He’s also a member of the board of directors of CASA of Tarrant County and The First Tee of Fort Worth.

WHAT'S NO. 1 ON YOUR BUCKET LIST?

“It was to attend The Masters. I knocked that off the list in 2018, but it remains high on the list — I can't wait to go back. Now, it is to go to Maho Beach in St. Maarten so my wife can see the planes land as they approach just over the beach. She indulged me by going to The Masters — I owe her one!”

BEST PERSONAL OR BUSINESS LESSON YOU'VE LEARNED: “In the attorney world, there are stereotypes that sometimes become reality, such as overly aggressive, high-strung, arrogant and amoral. I learned early on that it is much easier to achieve good results for your clients by being collegial, professional and hard-working. It also helps to be nice and respectful to everyone.”

Marvin Blum Managing Partner

The Blum Firm

Marvin E. Blum founded

The Blum Firm, P.C. and is managing partner. He’s a leading expert in estate and business and succession planning. Blum graduated second in class from the University of Texas School of Law and first in class from the University of Texas at Austin with a degree in accounting. Blum is board certified in estate planning and probate law. Having been president of the board of trustees of Trinity Valley School from 1998 to 2003, he was awarded an Honorary Lifetime Membership to the board of trustees. He is treasurer of the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra and is in his 39th year on the board.

John Thompson III

Partner

Kelly Hart and Hallman

A partner in Kelly Hart and Hallman’s Oil and Gas/ Energy practice, John Thompson III represents clients in litigation involving oil and gas before state and federal courts at both the trial and appellate levels. He’s a fellow in the Texas Bar Foundation and the Tarrant County Bar Foundation and was also a past associate in the Eldon B. Mahon Innof Court. Thompson has been honored by Fort Worth Magazine and Thomson Reuters. He graduated from Vanderbilt University with a Bachelor of Science degree and earned his law degree from the University of Texas School of Law, where he was a member of the law journal, The Review of Litigation.

Michael

Appleman Partner Cantey Hanger

Michael Appleman is a partner at Cantey Hanger, focusing on estate planning, trust and estates and tax law. Brian Newby (see separate profile) succeeded Appleman earlier this year as managing partner. He is an active member of the Fort Worth community and has served on the board of the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, the North Texas Community Foundation and Trinity Valley School Alumni Association.

HOW I GOT MY START: “Nothing exciting — summer job with Cantey Hanger during law school. [I] was offered a full-time job upon graduation, accepted and have stuck around.”

BEST PIECE OF ADVICE I’VE RECEIVED: “You get out of it what you put into it.”

MOST VALUABLE LESSON I’VE LEARNED: “To always be on my best behavior.”

Tena Fox Partner

Leach Fox Law

In addition to being a partner at Leach Fox Law, a law firm specializing in estate planning, probate and estate tax, Fox is also a municipal court judge for the town of Lakeside, a position she’s held since 2006. She’s been named a top attorney by multiple entities including Fort Worth Magazine, Texas Monthly and Super Lawyers. Fox is also past president of both the Tarrant County Probate Bar Association and Northeast Tarrant County Bar Association.

MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU CAN DO FOR YOUR KIDS IS: "Lead by example." I LOVE TO GIVE BACK BY: “Volunteering to be the mission coordinator for my kids’ classrooms. This gives me the opportunity to set up mission projects that parents and kids can do together. I love seeing the kids excitement in learning the value of helping others.”

Shelli Harveson Shareholder

Brown Pruitt Wambsganss Ferrill & Dean, P.C.

Shelli Harveson practices estate planning, trust and probate law. She volunteers at Texas Lawyers for Texas Veterans, YMCA Texas Youth & Government Program and Tarrant County Volunteer Attorney Services. She has also served on the board of directors for the Society of Financial Service Professionals since 2011, among other organizations.

WHAT'S NO. 1 ON YOUR BUCKET LIST?

“Spend a month in the Maldives — with no electronics.”

MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU CAN DO FOR YOUR KIDS IS: “Pray that they develop a relationship with God which results in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”

I LOVE TO GIVE BACK BY: “Volunteering and doing legal work for those in need.”

Gary Moates Shareholder Decker Jones

Gary Moates is a shareholder at Decker Jones Law Firm. He was a member of the Fort Worth Zoning Commission, 1996-2003. Moates this spring lost a well-financed bid to win a seat on the Tarrant Regional Water District board.

HOW I GOT MY START: “My father's best friends, Jenkins Garrett and Bob Stahala, were in-house lawyers for the Leonard family, and they had great influence on me. In high school government class, I was the lead defense counsel in a mock retrial of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, and they were acquitted this time by a jury of my high school classmates.”

BEST PERSONAL OR BUSINESS LESSON YOU'VE LEARNED: “It ain't about me.” I LOVE TO GIVE BACK BY: “Counseling with people who have made or are making some of the same mistakes that I've made.”

Tom Buxton President, CEO Buxton

Before founding Buxton with David Glover in 1994, Tom Buxton spent two decades at the consumer electronics retailer Tandy Corporation, managing retail and real estate. He left to start his namesake customer analytics company, which has grown to become one of the most recognized in the industry. Buxton has worked with more than 5,000 organizations, ranging from restaurant and retail to health care and consumer packaged goods.

WHAT I’D TELL YOUNG PEOPLE JUST GETTING STARTED TODAY: “To look yourself in the mirror and be honest with yourself when it comes to what you're doing in business.”

MOST VALUABLE LESSON I’VE LEARNED: “Don't look back; we're not going that way.”

Michael Bennett CEO Bennett Benner Partners

A TCU music graduateturned-architect, Michael Bennett left the world of music theory and composition to become one of the city’s most-sought architects. Bennett’s projects include Frost Tower, Sundance Square Plaza, TCC Trinity River East Campus and MOLA at the Fort Worth Zoo. He serves on numerous boards, and he finds opportunities to play bass guitar.

THE MOST VALUABLE LESSON I’VE RECEIVED IS: “The value of strong relationships, both in your private life and your work life.”

WHAT I’D TELL YOUNG PEOPLE GETTING STARTED TODAY: “Be patient, search for your purpose and pursue that with all you have.”

THE BEST WAY TO MEET NEW PEOPLE TODAY IS: “I found that by getting involved in organizations that interest you and simply letting people know you're ready to help was a great way to meet people and get involved.”

Tom Galbreath CEO Dunaway Associates

Tom Galbreath got his start at Dunaway and worked his way up to become president of the engineering and landscape architecture firm, regularly in the middle of major development projects in Fort Worth for years. Galbreath is involved in numerous community organizations and committees, including the Fort Worth Stormwater Task Force, Blue Zones Fort Worth Built Environment and North Fort Worth Transportation Task Force.

MOST VALUABLE LESSON I’VE LEARNED:

“The problems of today are never as bad as they seemed when you look back on them tomorrow.”

WHAT I’D TELL YOUNG PEOPLE JUST GETTING STARTED TODAY: “Don't expect to get everything you want immediately; be willing to earn others’ respect.”

Matthijs Melchiors Principal

MEL/ARCH Architectural

Studio

MEL/ARCH is relatively new to the Fort Worth architectural scene (it started in 2013), but over the years, it has put its name toward some of the city’s most unique projects, such as the Connex shipping container office space it's developed in the Evans-Rosedale corridor development at 400 Bryan Ave. that houses Roots Coffeehouse and Criterion CoWorking. The guy behind the firm is Matthijs Melchiors, a licensed architect, whose inspiration comes from his experiences living in the Netherlands and spending time in China.

MOST VALUABLE LESSON I’VE LEARNED:

“The most important asset for the company is its employees. Make sure you take care of them like they are your family.”

WHAT I’D TELL YOUNG PEOPLE JUST GETTING STARTED TODAY: “Don't blindly follow what others are doing. Work hard to discover your own potential, and you will be unstoppable.”

Jason Eggenburger Owner, Project Architect

97w

Jason Eggenburger and business partner Steven Halliday are quickly building the architecture firm, 97w, they formed in 2013 that specializes in “sustainable, limitless and timeless architecture.” Projects have included renovations of buildings on West Magnolia Avenue for developers Will Churchill and Corrie Watson (see separate profiles) that brought in tenants like Melt Ice Creams and Heim Barbecue; the Taco Heads project that created a restaurant, bar and patio out of two small buildings; and a private residence on Fort Worth’s West Side made of shipping containers.

WHAT'S NO. 1 ON YOUR BUCKET LIST?

“Traveling to space for fun.”

EVERYONE'S TOP CORE VALUE SHOULD BE: “To be uncomfortable … It means you are exploring territories that you have never been, whether this is trying something new in business or traveling to a new place.”

Rosa Navejar President The Rios Group

Rosa Navejar has built a reputation as one of Fort Worth’s most respected leaders, working in banking 25 years and serving as Fort Worth Hispanic Chamber of Commerce president for 11. She founded The Rios Group engineering consulting company in 2012.

HOW I GOT MY START: “I worked in a clothing store and decided to take a bus to downtown Fort Worth and knock on every business door. First of Fort Worth hired me, and this started a 25-year banking career.”

BEST PIECE OF ADVICE I’VE RECEIVED:

“My father, Reynaldo Rios Sr., told me, ‘Con Ganes Puedes Hacer Todo.’ Translation: ‘If you have the will, you can do anything.’”

THE BEST WAY TO MEET NEW PEOPLE IS:

“Get involved with the city or your community. Work is done from 9 to 5; business is done from 5 to 9!”

Bob Pence Chairman Freese & Nichols

Bob Pence has been with Freese & Nichols since 1978. Before his time as chairman, Pence served as president and CEO, helping the company navigate a tough financial period after 9/11, adding 12 offices, advocating for professional education and receiving awards for high employee satisfaction. His work resulted in the company more than doubling its workforce and adding service lines in urban planning, oil and gas, and coastal engineering. The company also became the first engineering/architecture firm to receive the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. The graduate of Texas A&M University has also served the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce and Communities in Schools in Greater Tarrant County, among other leadership roles.

Alfred Saenz CEO Multatech Architects Engineers

Alfred Saenz has spent more than 30 years with Multatech. He joined the firm in 1988 and became CEO in 1999. His goal was to make Multatech a full-service architectural and engineering firm, and under his leadership, Multatech added architectural and civil services to its offerings. Saenz is a U.S. Army veteran and served two years during the Vietnam era. Saenz is active in the community, serving — or formerly served — on the boards of the Fort Worth Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, North Texas Community Foundation, United Community Center Foundation, City of Fort Worth Stockyards/Northside Tax Increment Finance District, and Texas Health Behavioral Health.

Brent Sparks Office Director, HKS Fort Worth

A lover of drawing and math, Brent Sparks spent time designing houses as a youth. In 2004, he joined HKS as Fort Worth director. HKS designed AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TCU’s Amon G. Carter Stadium renovation, College Park Center in Arlington and several Texas Health Harris Methodist projects. HKS is architect for Arlington’s new baseball park, Globe Life Field.

HOW I GOT MY START: “At 17, I started working at a small firm in my hometown, running errands and assisting the senior architectural staff.” BEST LESSON I’VE LEARNED: “I was raised by my parents to have a strong work ethic and the belief that hard work was the only way. I realize now that you also need to smartly plan your work and be smart enough to know when it's time to swallow your pride and change your plan.”

Todd Burnette Managing DirectorFort Worth JLL

Todd Burnette has been in the commercial real estate industry for more than 30 years and has negotiated over 30 million square feet of commercial property leases, acquisitions and dispositions. His clients include Tarrant County College, Bell, Lockheed Martin and various school districts, including Grand Prairie and Burleson. He’s served on a number of boards, including the Junior Achievement, Downtown Fort Worth, Inc. and Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce.

BEST PERSONAL OR BUSINESS LESSON YOU'VE LEARNED: “If you want to be successful, learn to do the simple things really well.” EVERYONE'S TOP CORE VALUE SHOULD BE: “Treat people the way you like to be treated.” MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU CAN DO FOR YOUR KIDS IS: “Be involved with them.”

David Schwarz Founder, Chairman David M. Schwarz Architects

The founder of namesake company David M. Schwarz Architects, David Schwarz has spent more than 40 years in architecture. Tarrant County has a rich chapter in his portfolio, which includes The Ballpark at Arlington in 1994, Bass Hall and other projects at Sundance Square downtown, Cook Children’s Medical Center and the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame. Schwarz has won the 2015 Driehaus Prize Laureate, 2014 Arthur Ross Award, and the President’s Award from the National Building Museum. A Yale man (he earned a master’s degree in architecture in 1974), Schwarz remains active in his alma mater. He is chairman of the Yale School of Architecture Dean’s Council and member of the Executive Committee of the Yale University Capital Campaign.

Jack Huff Principal Transwestern

Jack Huff’s clientele sports a slew of reputable names: PlainsCapital Bank, Worthington National Bank, Petroleum Club, Lockheed Martin. Since 1986, the principal at Transwestern has negotiated more than 1,150 transactions totaling more than $1 billion.

HOW I GOT MY START: “Drove up I-35 from Austin to Dallas, slept on a buddy's couch and knocked on doors of real estate companies until I was hired by the Swearingen Management Company.”

MOST VALUABLE LESSON I’VE RECEIVED: “My parents taught me work ethic and the Golden Rule — treat everyone the way you want to be treated.”

WHAT I’D TELL YOUNG PEOPLE JUST GETTING STARTED TODAY: “Find something that you love and are passionate about that doesn't feel like a job and work at it. If you find something you enjoy doing, you won't dread going to work; you will be excited.”

HAYNES FIRE PROTECTION

Haynes Fire has been in business since 1979 and provides 24/7 service. We are currently in Amarillo, Dallas/Fort Worth and Austin. We have Licensed Fire Protection Planners in addition to our trained service and installation technicians. We have technicians that have attended Oklahoma State University’s Fire Protection schools. At these schools they teach Wet, Dry, and Pre-Action Fire Sprinkler protection systems. In addition, two technicians have attended the fire pump school at Oklahoma State University. We are a Contractor in the Rapid Response Contractor Network, a division of Tyco Sprinklers.

Real Estate / Commercial Brokerage/Construction

Ryan Matthews Executive Vice President JLL

Ryan Matthews graduated from TCU and the Texas Wesleyan School of Law, where he earned his Juris Doctorate. Matthews’ specialty is office — his clients include Fortune 500 companies, and he’s done more than $500 million in transactions. Before coming to JLL, Matthews worked with Hillwood Properties’ Alliance Airport Development.

HOW I GOT MY START: “Intern at The Staubach Company 16 years ago. Still working for the same company (Staubach was purchased by JLL in 2008).”

WHAT'S NO. 1 ON YOUR BUCKET LIST?

“Helicopter skiing on a glacier in Iceland.” I LOVE TO GIVE BACK BY: “Serving on nonprofit boards such as Cook Children's Foundation and mentoring younger brokers at JLL.”

David Walters Senior Vice President CBRE

David Walters has been in real estate for more than two decades, behind transactions for companies like Chesapeake Energy, Cook Children’s and MillerCoors. In the last four years alone, Walters has negotiated more than 120 transactions, valued at more than $300 million. Among his specialties are government services, data centers and nonprofits. He has experience in acquisition and disposition, strategic and financial consulting, and site selection. A University of Texas at Austin grad, Walters remains involved with his alma mater as a member of The University of Texas Longhorn Foundation.

WHAT'S NO. 1 ON YOUR BUCKET LIST?

“Tour of Israel — completed spring 2019.” BEST PERSONAL OR BUSINESS LESSON YOU'VE LEARNED: “Never burn bridges.” I LOVE TO GIVE BACK BY: “Volunteering at my church.”

Will Northern Broker Northern Realty Group

The owner and broker of Northern Realty, Will Northern started his company in 2010. The agency does some of everything: residential, commercial, condo, property management, deals with tax incentives.

Mayor Betsy Price appointed Northern to the city Zoning Commission, of which he is chair. He’s also involved in organizations including Price’s Steer Fort Worth young leaders group and the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce’s Vision Fort Worth.

HOW I GOT MY START: “My father introduced me to real estate at a young age. My family owns several historic commercial buildings around the town square in San Saba that we manage.”

BEST PIECE OF ADVICE I’VE RECEIVED: “Get agreements in writing.” I’D PAY TO SEE: “A streetcar system brought back to Fort Worth.”

Gerald Alley CEO Con-Real

Gerald Alley founded Con-Real in 1979, growing the company into one of the largest minority-owned construction contractors in the nation. One of its biggest projects to date is the $250 million Texas Live! entertainment complex in Arlington, which Con-Real is building in partnership with Manhattan Construction Co.

HOW

I GOT MY START: “I began working at a young age, as my father owned a service station in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. I did everything from sweeping floors, assisting mechanics and helping with the accounting books. My father would always stress the importance of being humble enough to complete any task even if you are the owner.”

MOST VALUABLE LESSON I’VE LEARNED: “My mother always stressed the importance of having a good education. My father would always say, ‘Wake up early and stay late.’”

Bob Scully Senior Vice President CBRE

Nearly 30 years in the real estate industry has translated to big numbers for Bob Scully. His lease and sales transaction work for corporate, institutional and local owner and user clients reaches 75 million square feet. His industrial and office lease and sale transactions reach almost 4 million square feet (valued at more than $142 million). And his assignments in everything from corporate tenant representation to corporate consulting reach more than 1,200. Some of his most notable clients include Walmart, Intel, Nestlé Waters North America and Minyard Food Stores. He’s also a Horned Frog with a degree in business administration from TCU.

John Avila Chairman Byrne Construction Services

John Avila spent 32 years serving in the U.S. National Guard, retiring as a brigadier general. Today, he leads the board of directors at Byrne Construction Services, the largest construction firm based in Fort Worth — and largest Hispanic-owned construction firm. Avila is also heavily involved in the community, serving in roles like commissioner for the Texas Department of Parks and Wildlife, chairman of the Fort Worth Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and president of the Tarrant County Mental Health Foundation.

WHAT I’D TELL YOUNG PEOPLE JUST GETTING STARTED TODAY: “Build your network and seek mentors. It will consist of everybody you meet, and they will help you along your path.”

MOST FUN PLACE I’VE TRAVELED: “Riverboat cruise down the Rhine through three countries: Holland, Germany and Switzerland.”

Real

Bob Benda CEO Westwood Contractors

Westwood Contractors began in 1983; Bob Benda joined as CEO in 1987. Under Benda, Westwood became licensed or registered to work in 48 U.S. states and has worked with large companies like AT&T, Neiman Marcus and H&M.

THE BEST WAY TO MEET NEW PEOPLE

HERE IS: “Get engaged! Fort Worth is blessed with a powerful heritage of civic involvement and meaningful volunteerism. To fit in here, you need to carry your share of the workload to constantly improve our city.”

I’D PAY TO SEE: “Viable mass transit in North Texas in my lifetime.”

MOST RECENT BOOK READ: “Twelve Mighty Orphans: The Inspiring True Story of the Mighty Mites Who Ruled Texas Football, by Jim Dent.”

Scot Bennett Fort Worth Regional Director

The Beck Group

With over 20 years of experience in design and construction, Scot Bennett serves as regional director at The Beck Group’s Fort Worth office. Bennett is a graduate of Woodbury University, where he studied architecture, and Arizona State University, where he studied business. Outside Beck, he’s also involved with the Fort Worth Chamber, Real Estate Council, Cultural District Alliance and Urban Land Institute.

WHAT'S NO. 1 ON YOUR BUCKET LIST?

“I am not a great golfer, but the idea of visiting Augusta to attend the Masters was always high on my list. I was lucky enough to attend this past year with great friends, so I can scratch that one off the list. Next would be Wimbledon with my wife, Megan, and son, Oliver.”

Sandra McGlothlin Co-Founder Empire Roofing

Sandra McGlothlin cofounded Empire Roofing in 1982 and has since grown the company to become the largest commercial roofing company in the Southern U.S., with 12 locations, one being in Mexico. She has branched out to help start other companies with Empire’s name. One of them, Empire Texas Equities, Ltd., formed in 1990, handles investment and management matters. She also helped start Empire Disposal, Ltd. in 2000, which focuses on commercial and construction waste removal.

HOW I GOT MY START: “Sold our Trans Ams, prayed and worked really hard. We didn't know what we didn't know about starting a business, but at 22 years old, you think you can do everything! We were super naive, which probably helped us.”

BEST PERSONAL OR BUSINESS LESSON YOU'VE LEARNED: “There are no secrets to success — work hard, stay focused, treat people the way you want to be treated.”

Harold Muckleroy CEO

Muckleroy & Falls

In 1979, Harold Muckleroy founded Muckleroy Construction Co. before partnering with Max Falls to create Muckleroy & Falls. The company’s most recognizable developments include the WestBend Building B, home of Zoe’s Kitchen, and the Regions Bank-anchored building at West Seventh Street and University Drive. Muckleroy has served as chairman of the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial and of University Christian Church.

WHAT'S NO. 1 ON YOUR BUCKET LIST? “I have never played golf at Augusta National Golf Club, the home of The Masters. An opportunity to play there would certainly be very high on my bucket list.”

MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU CAN DO FOR YOUR KIDS IS: “Love them, teach them self-discipline and humility, and set a good example for them. Teach them to trust in God.”

Bob McCarthy

CEO

Cheyenne Construction Co.

Cheyenne Construction Co. does the concrete work behind some of the hottest new Fort Worth developments like Neiman Marcus at The Shops at Clearfork and Waterside, anchored by Whole Foods and REI, along with Interstate 35’s expansion. Bob McCarthy has served as CEO since 2011. Within five years of owning the company, McCarthy brought sales to $35 million annually from $4 million. Elsewhere, he’s invested in real estate on East Lancaster Street, where he moved his businesses and a nonprofit.

HOW I GOT MY START: “I began my career making custom cabinetry. I grew this from a cabinet shop that I ran out of my house into the company that I founded, Tarrant Interiors.”

WHAT I’D TELL YOUNG PEOPLE JUST GETTING STARTED TODAY: "If you want to get somewhere with your company, hire top talent. If you can’t make it with the best, you generally can’t make it."

CEO

Fort Worth native Ramon Romero Jr. became an entrepreneur at a young age with A-Fast Tile & Coping. In the ‘90s, his passion for public service grew when he got involved with the Fort Worth Independent School District. He then became the first Hispanic representative in Tarrant County’s history when he beat the 18-year incumbent at the 2014 Democratic Primary for the Texas House of Representatives.

WHAT'S NO. 1 ON YOUR BUCKET LIST?

“Visit every continent.”

BEST PERSONAL OR BUSINESS LESSON YOU'VE LEARNED: “Make a little money, spend it. Live broke, because when you’re broke, you never quit working. When you spend it, make sure it’s on something that gives you money back.”

Ramon Romero Jr.

Ramon Romero Corp.

Real Estate / Development

Happy Baggett Managing Partner Mason Heights, LP

Happy Baggett helped bring development and revitalization to a piece of Southeast Fort Worth, representing the developers of Renaissance Square, a 180-acre, mixed-use community off East Berry Street and U.S. Highway 287. It's the first new major retail development to Southeast Fort Worth in decades, anchored by Walmart, with a slew of other shops and restaurants. Baggett, a skeptic of public transit, serves on the Tarrant Transit Alliance board. He announced this spring he has terminal cancer and has continued to live his best life, sharing it on Facebook.

Mike Berry CEO Hillwood

Mike Berry is the key man behind AllianceTexas, the 26,000-acre, master-planned community that spurred growth since its launch in 1990. Berry has spent more than three decades at Hillwood, one of the largest development companies in the country, headed by Ross Perot Jr. (see separate profile0 Berry leads Hillwood Properties and Hillwood Urban. Hillwood is investing in next-generation transportation; it plans to develop “vertiports” throughout North Texas to help create infrastructure for helicopter air taxis proposed by Bell. Berry also heads the development of Frisco Station, a 242-acre, mixed-use project in Frisco. He’s received multiple honors for his work, including an induction into the North Texas Commercial Real Estate Hall of Fame in 2013.

Bill

Boecker President, CEO

Fine Line Diversified Development

Bill Boecker, former CEO of Sundance Square, is CEO these days of Fine Line Diversified, the development arm of Sundance Square. Boecker worked for some of the largest mall developers, like Rouse Company and Melvin Simon & Associates, before he came aboard Sundance Square. The graduate of Texas Technological University also holds leadership positions with Downtown Fort Worth, Inc., National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame and the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, among others. He’s also noted for his civic service on boards like the Fort Worth Tax Increment Financing District and Fort Worth Downtown Design Review.

Johnny Campbell CEO Sundance Square

Before becoming head of downtown Fort Worth’s entertainment hub, Johnny Campbell spent two decades with the Rouse Company of Columbia, Maryland, managing mixed-use urban properties like The Riverwalk in New Orleans; Harborplace and The Gallery in Baltimore; Pioneer Place in Portland, Oregon; Tabor Center in Denver; and Arizona Center in downtown Phoenix. In 2001, he came to Fort Worth to become CEO of Sundance Square, overseeing everything from leasing to property management, along with the 2013 redevelopment of the European piazza-styled Sundance Plaza. Campbell also serves on the Downtown Fort Worth, Inc. board and has served on the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce board.

Andrew Blake Founder, Managing Partner Presidio Interests

Andrew Blake started Presidio Interests in 2006 and has since developed more than 225,000 square feet of urban infill commercial and mixed-use properties, together valued at more than $50 million. Passionate about the arts, Blake has served on the boards of the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth and Lone Star Film Festival.

WHAT'S NO. 1 ON YOUR BUCKET LIST?

“Visit at least one new country each year (on average).”

BEST PERSONAL OR BUSINESS LESSON YOU'VE LEARNED: “Don't be afraid to ask questions and admit when you don't know all the answers.”

EVERYONE'S TOP CORE VALUE SHOULD BE: “To leave the world a better place than they found it.”

Will Churchill Co-Owner Frank Kent Enterprises

Will Churchill and Corrie Watson (see separate profile), twins and great-grandchildren of the Cadillac dealer Frank Kent, have built an impressive portfolio of businesses in autos, real estate and food. The two, using money they received from the sale of Frank Kent Honda and a piece of downtown real estate, invested in Near Southside commercial real estate and then pursued tenants they wanted in their buildings, helping break a logjam of restaurants that want onto the hot West Magnolia Avenue but couldn’t afford the rents. Churchill and Watson also are lead sponsors in the remake of the Trinity Park playground in Fort Worth into Dream Park, accessible to kids with disabilities and opened this spring.

Real Estate / Development

Stephen Coslik Chairman Woodmont Companies

Retail is Stephen Coslik’s specialty as head of The Woodmont Companies, the commercial developer and broker. Coslik founded the company in 1980 and has led the development of 67 retail centers totaling more than 10 million square feet. Coslik is also a member of the Urban Land Institute and a board member at the Fort Worth Academy. His prescient predictions at Fort Worth’s annual real estate forecast were a staple for years.

EVERYONE'S TOP CORE VALUE SHOULD BE: “Plain and simple — put the needs of your clients and customers first and foremost over yours.”

MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU CAN DO FOR YOUR KIDS IS: “Be consistent. Let them make mistakes and feel the discomfort of those mistakes and not feel the need to always save them.”

Susan Gruppi Co-Owner M2G Ventures

In five years, twins Susan Gruppi and Jessica Miller (see separate profile) and their M2G Ventures have ripped off impressive projects, including The Foundry District and O.B. Macaroni Building, all marked by trendy art and local tenants. The company has transacted $65 million in property since it was founded. M2G also launched an initiative to raise money for mental health research; part of the project includes a mental health film the company is producing with filmmakers Rambo Elliott and Red Sanders (see separate profiles).

BEST PERSONAL OR BUSINESS LESSON YOU'VE LEARNED: “Learn to love it, not just live through it (need to follow my own advice).” MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU CAN DO FOR YOUR KIDS IS: “To be present and play.”

Crawford Edwards President Cassco Land Co.

Crawford Edwards and Paxton Motheral (see separate profile) — cousins and descendants of the Fort Worth Edwards ranching family whose holdings ran along South Hulen Street from Bellaire Drive to Granbury Road — today, with other family members, run the burgeoning Clearfork development on the old ranch in the heart of the Chisholm Trail corridor and fronting the Trinity River. Clearfork’s centerpiece is the Neiman Marcus-anchored The Shops at Clearfork. Offices, apartments, the Trailhead, which includes the popular restaurant Press Cafe, and the Riverhills luxury neighborhood are pieces of the master plan. Edwards graduated from TCU with a degree in ranch management.

Richard Garvey CEO JaGee Holdings

Garvey is developer of Museum Place, the 11acre mixed-use property that runs along Camp Bowie Boulevard and West Seventh Street in the Cultural District. JaGee hit a roadblock recently, when its plan for a hotel overlooking the Kimbell Art Museum was successfully opposed by critics who said the planned building would aesthetically overwhelm the treasured museum. JaGee is a family-owned business — Garvey being the third generation to run the company alongside sister Carol Garvey Sweat. Throughout the Fort Worth-Dallas area, JaGee’s office, retail and industrial properties total more than 1 million square feet.

Dak Hatfield CEO Hatfield Properties

A TCU graduate with more than 20 years of experience in real estate, Dak Hatfield has built a name for himself in Fort Worth, primarily the Near Southside. His namesake company, started in 2005, has invested in projects like a new multi-story mixed use West Magnolia Avenue project home to a Salsa LimÓn; Magnolia-May Building (home of chef Ben Merritt’s FixtureKitchen and Social Lounge) and a number of developments on the up-and-coming South Main Street.

WHAT'S NO. 1 ON YOUR BUCKET LIST? “A trip into space — although I will have to go alone because my wife says she is not joining.”

I LOVE TO GIVE BACK BY: “Being a mentor and a coach. I enjoy seeing kids gain confidence from something I have taught them. I also give my time to organizations that need real estate and/or organizational expertise.”

Brad Hickman CEO Hickman Enterprises

The children of Fort Worth businessman Holt Hickman, Brad Hickman and sister Brenda Kostohryz lead Hickman Enterprises, partner in a Stockyards redevelopment with partner Majestic Realty. Holt Hickman acquired much of the historic district in the early ‘90s and began renovating the pieces, such as the Stockyard Station festival center, and adding others. Hickman family's choice of the outsider Majestic stirred up deep skepticism among a large number of Stockyards business owners and investors.

Real Estate / Development

Jamey Ice

Co-Founder 6th Ave Homes

Green River Ordinance

lead guitarist Jamey Ice has redirected much of his energy to renovating and selling old homes through his 6th Ave Homes, focusing on Fairmount and the Near Southside and getting him into hot water with Fairmount’s preservationists, who say his projects haven’t respected the neighborhood’s history. To date, the company has restored over 100 properties in Fort Worth’s South Side. He also helped start a restaurant (BREWED) and an event venue (The 4 Eleven), both with partners. He is married to Melissa Ice (see separate profile), founder and executive director of nonprofit The NET.

WHAT'S NO. 1 ON YOUR BUCKET LIST?

“Wrestle an alligator.”

MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU CAN DO FOR YOUR KIDS IS: “Being present. I take my girls to school every day and try to always be home by 5:30 p.m.”

I LOVE TO GIVE BACK BY:

“Supporting the work of The Net.”

Terry Montesi CEO Trademark Property Co.

Terry Montesi founded Trademark Property Company in 1992, and since then, the company has worked on more than 14.6 million square feet and $3.4 billion worth of property around the U.S. In Fort Worth, Trademark is behind developments like Alliance Town Center, Waterside and WestBend. Outside work, Montesi, a cancer survivor, has lent his name to local awareness efforts, and he supports Union Gospel Mission, Trinity Habitat for Humanity and Christ Chapel Bible Church.

BEST PERSONAL OR BUSINESS LESSON

YOU'VE LEARNED: “The Golden Rule. And, the more you give, the more you get.” I LOVE TO GIVE BACK BY: “My wife, Allison, and I established the Trademark Make a Difference Foundation in 2014. This foundation was started to engage the employees of Trademark Property Co. in philanthropy in their communities.”

West Miller President Centergy Retail

West Miller knows a thing or two about real estate — shopping centers, specifically — having spent three decades in the industry and developed 4 million square feet of retail. He founded Centergy Retail, the company behind developments like major retail on Dallas’ Knox Street. In Fort Worth, he’s willed Centergy’s Left Bank first-phase development of apartments, retail (Tom Thumb), apartments and restaurants to completion despite not being able to persuade the City of Fort Worth to grant incentives that offset his major infrastructure costs. In the next phases: a planned luxury hotel fronting the Trinity River levee. Before Centergy, Miller spent 12 years at Regency Centers as senior officer in operations and investments.

Jessica Miller Co-owner M2G Ventures

In five years, twins Jessica Miller and Susan Gruppi (see separate profile) and their M2G Ventures have ripped off impressive projects, including The Foundry District and O.B. Macaroni Building, all marked by trendy art and local tenants. The company has transacted $65 million in property since it was founded. M2G also launched an initiative to raise money for mental health research; part of the project includes a mental health film the company is producing with filmmakers Rambo Elliott and Red Sanders (see separate profiles).

HOW I GOT MY START:

“I grew up in an entrepreneurial household, and my parents had their own real estate investment company. I learned at a very young age you could take anything and make it better.”

EVERYONE'S TOP CORE VALUE SHOULD BE: “Dedication.”

Paxton Motheral Vice President Cassco Land

Co.

Paxton Motheral and Crawford Edwards (see separate profile) — cousins and descendants of the Fort Worth Edwards ranching family whose holdings ran along South Hulen Street from Bellaire Drive to Granbury Road — today, with other family members, run the burgeoning Clearfork development in the heart of the Chisholm Trail corridor and fronting the Trinity River. Clearfork’s centerpiece is the Neiman Marcus-anchored The Shops at Clearfork. Offices, apartments, the Trailhead, which includes the popular restaurant Press Cafe, and the Riverhills luxury neighborhood are pieces of the master plan. Motheral graduated from TCU and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology before returning home to Fort Worth.

Ken Newell has been involved in a number of projects around Fort Worth. He and his brother, David Newell, developed the Riverbend Business Park. In recent years, Newell is continuing development of a residential community not far from Riverbend — Trinity Lakes, 1,600-acre project he began in 1999. On tap today: Lakes of River Trails West addition and the Trinity Lakes mixeduse area, a form-based zoning district. Trinity Lakes is also getting a Trinity Railway Express stop on the line between Fort Worth and Dallas. Newell comes from a family of developers. His father, Jack, started developing industrial property in 1954. Newell supports the University of Texas at Arlington’s Automation and Advanced Robotics Research Institute, donating about 15 acres for its campus at the Riverbend Business Park.

Ken Newell Developer

Ross Perot Jr. Chairman Hillwood

Before founding Hillwood in 1988, Dallas native Ross Perot Jr. was a pilot — he completed the first helicopter flight around the world in 1982, traveling 26,000 miles in less than 30 days. The following year, he became a certified F-4 pilot and spent 8 1/2 years serving in the U.S. Air Force. Perot directs several of his family’s businesses, among them Hillwood, one of the top 10 residential developers in the country and developer of AllianceTexas. Hillwood is moving aggressively to position itself for next-generation urban air taxis. Outside Hillwood, Perot has served on multiple boards and organizations, including the EastWest Institute, Vanderbilt University, and the Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum, where his helicopter, The Spirit of Texas, is on permanent display. His father, Ross Perot Sr., died in early July.

Pretlow Riddick President, Principal Criterion Development

Pretlow Riddick is one of the latest Dallas guys to unearth value in Fort Worth. He’s pioneering the development of Race Street, where his company, Criterion Development, is bringing residential, office and retail space through projects like The Union at River East and The Scenic at River East. His passion for neighborhoods extends beyond just building them; he started A Better Neighborhood Foundation in 1999 to invest in faith-based developments in inner cities. Riddick has a lot of fans in Fort Worth so far; he’s also collected some critics who fear the multifamily he’s bringing to Riverside.

THE BEST WAY TO MEET NEW PEOPLE HERE IS: “Try to rezone a piece of real estate.” WHAT I DO FOR FUN: “Work on my ranch with my wife.”

Phillip Poole Owner TownSite Co.

Phillip Poole runs the TownSite Co., a real estate development firm that specializes in executing complex projects that often involve multiple requirements and stakeholders. The company acts as a consultant to real estate firms, property owners and other development groups. Notable projects he’s been involved with are Magnolia Green, Museum Place, Elan West 7th and the reconstruction of South Main Street. He is a member of the Founders Council of the Real Estate Council of Greater Fort Worth.

BEST PERSONAL OR BUSINESS LESSON

YOU'VE LEARNED: “Never give up. Persistence is the only path to success.”

EVERYONE'S TOP CORE VALUE SHOULD BE: “Honesty above all else.”

MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU CAN DO FOR YOUR KIDS IS: “Teach them to follow their passion.”

Ed Roski Chairman Majestic Realty

California-based Majestic Realty, and its respected chairman Ed Roski, is the partner Fort Worth’s Hickman family chose to team with on a $175 million Stockyards development. Despite a lengthy history of successful development, critics zeroed in on Majestic’s lack of experience in historic properties and worried the Hickmans wouldn’t do enough to hold Roski’s feet to the fire.

MOST VALUABLE LESSON I’VE LEARNED:

“To trust my gut.”

WHAT I’D TELL YOUNG PEOPLE JUST GETTING STARTED TODAY: “Do what you enjoy most and remain curious … and never underestimate the power of hard work. There are no shortcuts.”

MOST FUN PLACE I’VE TRAVELED: “Papua, New Guinea. I’m an avid collector of tribal art and find the culture fascinating.”

MOST RECENT BOOK I’VE READ: “Walter Isaacson’s Leonardo da Vinci.”

Chris Powers CEO, CIO Fort Capital

Chris Powers’ 14 years in real estate has resulted in more than $250 million in developments. He’s known for high-profile developments like the ongoing 267-acre River District, where he’s located his company’s new offices. The TCU graduate is a member of the Forbes Real Estate Council and Fort Worth YPO Chapter.

HOW I GOT MY START: “I bought my first property when I was 17 years old and never looked back. In 2004, financing was available to anyone, and I took advantage of the opportunity. It is harder today to get a loan than it was when I was 17 with no experience. Timing is everything.” I LOVE TO GIVE BACK BY: “Helping support Cook Children's hospital. My daughter was born at 26 weeks, and they saved her life.”

Paris Rutherford Principal Catalyst Urban Development

Paris Rutherford heads Catalyst Urban Development, a company responsible for more than $5 billion in mixed-use, urban housing and transitoriented projects. In Fort Worth, Catalyst is building the Burnett Lofts along Lancaster Avenue, expected to open in 2020.

WHAT I’D TELL YOUNG PEOPLE JUST GETTING STARTED TODAY: “North Texas is entering its Golden Age. With the growth coming our way, we can shape our future through sound public policy, hard work and enlightened investment. Work towards positively positioning this momentum, and you will be successful.”

MOST FUN PLACE I’VE TRAVELED: “I can't limit this to one answer. Places I love are rural Greece, New Zealand, Hawaii, Chile and Australia. But the best, most varied, most interesting and most fun place on earth is the United States.”

Eddie Vanston Developer

Eddie Vanston has made a virtual career out of redevelopment projects on Fort Worth’s Near Southside. With partners, he’s done the Markeen, Leuda-May, Miller Lofts, Sawyer Grocery and Supreme Golf Warehouse projects. He also worked on the Dickson-Jenkins Lofts and Plaza at 120 St. Louis Ave., with condos, commercial space and a green space, along with a book and tea shop. The Supreme Golf building houses Vanston’s bar, Shipping & Receiving, and the recording studio Niles City Sound, where Fort Worth soul singer Leon Bridges recorded his hit album, Coming Home. Vanston is among the growing chorus of voices who fear escalating valuations and property taxes are crowding creatives out of the Near Southside.

Jake Wagner Co-CEO Republic Property Group

Jake Wagner leads Republic Property Group with co-CEO Tony Ruggeri. The Dallas developer is in partnership with Fort Worth’s Walsh family, developing the sprawling Walsh Ranch in far West Fort Worth. Production homes and community amenities, like a market, co-working space and an Aledo ISD public elementary school, are part of the master-planned property. According to the neighborhood’s website, Walsh will also be the first community in the nation to offer an optional telehealth platform for residents. Republic is also beginning to develop Walsh’s custom home section.

THE BEST WAY TO MEET NEW PEOPLE

HERE IS: “Be as fortunate as I have to have formed a great relationship with (Walsh's) Malcolm Louden — he knows everyone!”

I'D PAY TO SEE: “All the money in the world couldn’t make it possible, but I would love to see Johnny Cash play a show one last time.”

Michael Dike CEO Village Homes

Shortly after graduating with a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Texas at Austin, Michael Dike stayed in the city to start his career in the homebuilding industry. In 1996, he headed to Fort Worth to co-found Village Homes with developer James R. Harris (see separate profile). Village Homes locked up a large number of lots in the Linwood neighborhood off of Fort Worth’s West Seventh Street and has been aggressively redeveloping them into townhomes. It’s also working Walsh and The Grove at the River District.

BEST PERSONAL OR BUSINESS LESSON

YOU'VE LEARNED: “Err on the side of action, persevere and pray.”

MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU CAN DO FOR YOUR KIDS IS: “Don't tell them; show them how to act.”

James R. Harris

Founding Partner

James R. Harris Properties

An Austin College and TCU graduate, Jim Harris started investing in, and developing real estate, in 1975. He founded James R. Harris Partners in 1979. Today, the firm’s Fort Worth-Dallas residential developments encompass more than 70,000 homesites valued at about $1 billion. He entered Austin in 1992. The residential developments of Harris & Straub, an affiliate, total more than 6,500 homesites valued at about $500 million. He’s also a co-founder and partner in Village Homes with Michael Dike (see separate profile) and co-founded V Fine Homes.

BEST PERSONAL OR BUSINESS LESSON

YOU'VE LEARNED: “As a survivor of the real estate crash in the ’80s, I learned to be wary of debt, and as a corollary, an old saying: ‘You can buy more land in an afternoon than you can sell in a lifetime.’ I also believe that if you can provide a quality product that’s affordable — which is difficult — you will always do well.”

Corrie Watson Co-owner Frank Kent Enterprises

Corrie Watson and Will Churchill (see separate profile), twins and great-grandchildren of the Cadillac dealer Frank Kent, have built an impressive portfolio of businesses in autos, real estate and food. The two, using money they received from the sale of Frank Kent Honda and a piece of downtown real estate, invested in Near Southside commercial real estate and then pursued tenants they wanted in their buildings, helping break a logjam of restaurants that want onto the hot West Magnolia Avenue but couldn’t afford the rents. Watson and Churchill also were lead sponsors in the remake of the Trinity Park playground in Fort Worth into Dream Park, accessible to kids with disabilities.

Flora Brewer President Paulos Properties

Business owner and community activist, Flora Alexandra Brewer has a passion for helping the homeless. Since starting Paulos Properties in 2000, Brewer has developed commercial properties, focusing on the East Lancaster Avenue corridor, where the city’s homeless shelters are the largest users. Brewer won accolades with her recent redevelopment of an apartment complex on Fort Worth’s Race Street into permanent supportive housing for people emerging from chronic homelessness.

BEST PERSONAL OR BUSINESS LESSON

YOU'VE LEARNED: “If you don't go away and you don't give up, you will make progress. A small business owner can be one of the most powerful people in the community. The best, free training in the world comes from sales people.”

EVERYONE'S TOP CORE VALUE SHOULD BE: “Generosity.”

UNIVERSITY BUILDING SPECIALTIES

Providing Hollow Metal Doors & Frames, Wood Doors, Door Hardware, and Toilet Partitions & Accessories. We pride ourselves on getting the job done quickly, correctly, and on budget. With an emphasis on quality service and technical expertise.

Thanks Fort Worth for 30+ Years of support!

Building a legacy in Fort Worth: Dickies Arena

Texas Motor Speedway

Kimbell Art Museum

Dorms & Greek Housing at TCU

Clearfork, Westfork, Cassidy (Buildings around Sundance Square)

Radio Shack/TCC Riverfront Campus

Fort Worth area restaurants

Huguley Hospital

Jack Clark President Red Oak Realty

Jack Clark been credited for over 350 lease transactions valued at over $350 million since 2001. He first joined Red Oak Realty in 2010 and served as director of leasing and operations before being promoted to president in 2011. The company’s portfolio includes properties like First on 7th, Burnett Plaza and Cantey Hanger Plaza. Aside from his role as president of Red Oak Realty, Clark has been involved with Fort Worth organizations like the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Fort Worth, Inc. and the Real Estate Council of Greater Fort Worth, among others. Clark and his family are also active members of White’s Chapel First United Methodist Church in Southlake.

Bruce Conti CEO Conti Warehouses

Real estate developer Bruce Conti has no shortage of specialties. After spending time in real estate and manufacturing, in 2014 he entered the hospitality market with Trinity River Distillery and Wild Acre Brewing. And after his son suffered a catastrophic brain injury, Conti found himself navigating the medical world. Conti created a neurological recovery program that has grown to be the largest neuro robotics program in the world. His 144,000-squarefoot Neurological Recovery Center in West Fort Worth is a high-tech rehab center.

WHAT'S NO. 1 ON YOUR BUCKET LIST? “To watch my son walk again.”

BEST PERSONAL OR BUSINESS LESSON YOU'VE LEARNED: “Business partners can be beneficial and fun if you are selective.”

EVERYONE'S TOP CORE VALUE SHOULD BE: “Kindness.”

Stacie McDavid CEO

McDavid Investments

Stacie McDavid was 22 when she launched a chain of franchise fitness centers, growing it to 32 locations in Texas and Florida. Today, she’s CEO of McDavid Investments Company with husband David McDavid, which has real estate, equine breeding and training, and other investments. McDavid, a competitive cutting horse rider, is vice president of the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame, and she serves on the boards of the Fort Worth Zoological Association and MD Anderson Cancer Center.

BEST

PERSONAL OR BUSINESS

LESSON

YOU'VE LEARNED: “Failure is essential for personal growth.”

EVERYONE'S TOP CORE VALUE SHOULD BE: “Integrity, compassion, solid work ethic.”

Whitney Hyder More Vice President The Hyder Companies

Whitney More represents the next generation of the Hyder family, daughter of the late Fort Worth philanthropists Elton Hyder Jr. and Martha Hyder. More serves on the board of the Fort Worth Zoological Association. The Hyder Companies holds real estate and oil and gas interests. In 2012, the Hyder family and their Hyder Foundation — Martha Hyder, More and her brother, Brent Hyder — gave more than a thousand pieces from their collection of art to the University of Texas Law School Foundation, which put them on permanent display at the school.

John Goff Chairman Crescent Real Estate Equities

Working with iconic Fort Worth billionaire Richard Rainwater, John Goff co-founded Crescent Real Estate Equities in the early 1990s. Goff was influential in the REIT’s sale to Morgan Stanley in 2007, which grew its IPO from $500 million to $6.5 billion. He eventually reacquired Crescent Real Estate in 2009 through his private investment firm Goff Capital and banking company Barclays Capital. He received two honors in 2014: an induction into the McCombs Business School Hall of Fame at the University of Texas at Austin and an EY Entrepreneur of the Year award for the Southwest Region in the real estate and construction category. He and wife Cami give back through The Goff Family Foundation, providing scholarships and other help to schools in need.

Steve Murrin has worked the Stockyards since the 1970s, influential in reviving Cowtown Coliseum. Murrin owns multiple properties, including River Ranch. Murrin leads skeptics of Majestic Realty-Hickman redevelopment.

WHAT’S NO. 1 ON YOUR BUCKET LIST?

“Staying active in business while enjoying friends and family, year-around and especially at my annual ‘Surprise (he made another one) Birthday Party’ at the West Fork Ranch.”

BEST PERSONAL OR BUSINESS LESSON

YOU’VE LEARNED: “Try to figure out what the other person is thinking before you try to pass on what you are thinking.”

MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU CAN DO FOR YOUR KIDS IS: “Do my best to keep the good name that I inherited. Provide happy, healthy, broad-based learning atmosphere. Maintain a home base in Fort Worth, Texas, for future generations.”

Steve Murrin Partner River Ranch

Bobby Patton CEO TCRG Properties

Fort Worth native Bobby Patton continues to accumulate real estate, four-legged assets and other investments. His investments run the gamut from oil and gas properties in Texas and Kansas to insurance, office buildings, ranches, cutting horses and a stake in the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team. Patton’s purchased a 343-acre Aledo ranch from investor Jon Winkelreid. When Walmart billionaire Alice Walton put 90 horses on the block, Patton pounced, buying many of them. Patton was tournament chairman of the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial Country Club. He’s a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, to which he donated $20 million to its College of Liberal Arts in 2016. The Liberal Arts Building was renamed Patton Hall in 2018.

Cynthia Adams CEO Martin Land & Investments

Along with serving as CEO of the real estate company Martin Land & Investments, founded by her grandfather, Adams is former board chair for the Baylor All Saints Health Foundation and board member for All Saints’ Episcopal School. Adams is daughter of Nicholas Martin (see separate profile), the hospital’s biggest benefactor, who’s made a number of gifts to the hospital, including the lead gift for a new women’s wing.

BEST PIECE OF ADVICE I’VE RECEIVED: “Always keep your integrity intact. Work hard, do your best and the rest will come.”

WHAT I’D TELL YOUNG PEOPLE JUST GETTING STARTED TODAY: “Do not be afraid of taking risks and follow your dream.”

WHAT I DO FOR FUN: “Play golf, piano and photography.”

Robbie Briggs CEO

Briggs Freeman Sotheby's International Realty

Robbie Briggs has led Briggs Freeman Sotheby's International Realty for 40 years, helping the company bring in more than $2 billion in annual sales volume. With 10 offices around the Fort Worth-Dallas area, the company specializes in the brokerage of homes, ranches and other developments. Briggs is also passionate about working with foreign investors — he and his family spent three years in Beijing, where Briggs served as chairman of the International School of Beijing. In Fort Worth, he is an active member of the community and has served on the boards for the Men of Nehemiah, the Presbyterian Hospital Foundation and the Hockaday School.

Mary Frances

Burleson President, CEO

Ebby Halliday Real Estate

Mary Frances Burleson got her start at Ebby Halliday in 1958 when she took a part-time job as receptionist. The company has grown to more than 1,700 agents and 310 offices from 35 agents and three offices. Today, annual sales reach nearly $8 billion. She has been influential in helping the company incorporate technology and mobile platforms.

BEST PIECE OF ADVICE I’VE RECEIVED:

“The best piece of advice I have received was from Ebby Halliday Acers: Do something for someone every day.”

MOST VALUABLE LESSON I’VE LEARNED:

“To be thankful for all the ‘God winks’ in my life.” WHAT I’D TELL YOUNG PEOPLE JUST GETTING STARTED TODAY: “Choose a career (based on) how much it will provide service and gratification for others and for you.”

Mike Flynn President Southland

A graduate of TCU’s M.J. Neeley School of Business, Mike Flynn is co-founder and president of Southland, a property tax consultant and active company in a time of rapidly rising property valuations in Tarrant County. Flynn is active in many community organizations, serving on the board of the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, Greater Fort Worth Fellowship of Christian Athletes, ESPN Armed Forces Bowl, and Meals on Wheels of Tarrant County, where he volunteers. Flynn is a member of the TCU Frog Club and former president of the TCU Lettermen's Association.

Rick Wegman Principal HGC Residential Development and Giordano, Wegman, Walsh & Associates

Rick Wegman, who graduated from TCU and has a doctorate in clinical psychology, has helped grow HGC Residential Development with partners including John Giordano into the area’s largest custom homebuilder, with annual sales of more than $20 million. Wegman is president of the construction company and co-founder of the residential brokerage. Wegman also owns an interior decorating firm, commercial construction company and property management firm. He specializes in business development and manages the residential brokerage, concentrating on agent support and recruitment.

– Mike McBride

BOB BENDA Chief Executive Officer

Westwood Contractors

John Zimmerman Realtor Compass

John Zimmerman is one of Fort Worth’s top producing agents, not short on accolades for his nearly three-decade career, closing more than $125 million annually. In 2016, the same year his group closed and put $150 million under agreement, The Wall Street Journal ranked him as the No. 138 Realtor (based on sales volume) in its REAL Trends 2016 rankings. Within Briggs Freeman Sotheby's International Realty, Zimmerman received the company’s Top Producing Team Award in 2014, 2015 and 2016. Outside real estate, Zimmerman supports numerous organizations including The American Cancer Society, Buckets & Boots and March of Dimes.

Jeff Davis Chairman - Fort Worth Division Republic Title

A graduate of Princeton University and the SMU School of Law, Jeff Davis has a passion for public service. A fan of public transit, he’s chair of the Tarrant Transit Alliance and a member of the Trinity Metro board. He was elected to the Fort Worth City Council at 27, and he’s active in the Real Estate Council of Greater Fort Worth, where he’sa chair, and Amphibian Stage Productions, where he serves on the board. Davis practiced commercial law for several years before he opened his own practice and title company in Fort Worth. He was president of Safeco Title before he joined Republic in 2004 as Fort Worth chairman.

Jack Rattikin Jr. Chairman Rattikin Title

Jack Rattikin Jr. is chairman of Rattikin, the only family-owned title company in Tarrant County and one of the largest independent title insurance agents in Texas. He previously served as president of multiple organizations, including the Texas Land and Title Association.

HOW I GOT MY START: “I grew up in the title business. When I was 12 years old, I was a delivery boy for the company and would walk back-and-forth from the courthouse delivering documents.”

WHAT I’D TELL YOUNG PEOPLE JUST GETTING STARTED TODAY: “Take an active part in the needs of others.”

MOST FUN PLACE I’VE TRAVELED: “Antarctica: My boys and I took a cruise down there a number of years ago, and it was one of the most memorable trips. We walked with the penguins.”

Andrew Bloom Rabbi Congregation Ahavath Sholom

Prior to becoming rabbi at Ahavath Sholom, Andrew Bloom was a rabbi in Jerusalem and England. He made aliyah at age 19 in Israel, where he spent 2 1/2 years serving in the Israeli Army as a combat medic. He is a member of Mayor Betsy Price’s Faith Leader Cabinet.

EVERYONE'S TOP CORE VALUE SHOULD BE: "Love thy neighbor as thyself." (Leviticus 19:18)

MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU CAN DO FOR YOUR KIDS IS: “Teach them morality, independence and the knowledge that we will always love them.”

BEST PERSONAL OR BUSINESS LESSON YOU'VE LEARNED: “‘It's better to be a text person than a textbook.’ In other words, leading by example is more important than being able to just quote out of a book. You must both ‘know’ and ‘live’ what you are trying to teach.”

Dr. Adam Greenway President Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

Dr. Adam Greenway was elected president of his alma mater in February 2019. He served as pastor in several churches across the country and as dean of the Billy Graham School of Missions, Evangelism and Ministry prior to his role as president. Greenway is a professional registered parliamentarian and serves as co-editor of two publications — The Great Commission Resurgence: Fulfilling God’s Mandate in Our Time and Evangelicals Engaging Emergent: A Discussion of the Emergent Church Movement. He earned his Master of Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and a doctorate in evangelism and apologetics from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Greenway and his wife, Carla, have two children.

Tim Bruster Senior Pastor First United Methodist Church Fort Worth

Before settling in at First United Methodist Church of Fort Worth, Tim Bruster served several stints as senior pastor at FUMC Georgetown and Houston. Bruster serves on the executive board for the Perkins School at SMU.

WHAT'S NO. 1 ON YOUR BUCKET LIST? “To be a published author.”

MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU CAN DO FOR YOUR KIDS IS: “Let them risk and try new things. Expose them to new ideas. Take them seriously. Pay close attention to who they are and what their gifts, talents, abilities and passions are and support them in pursuing those. Do all this within a consistent, structured, safe and loving environment. Teach them by word and example to be engaged and caring people.”

Bruce Datcher Pastor Ebenezer Baptist Church

Bruce Datcher was a young entrepreneur when he was called to preach the Gospel in 2001. Two years later, he answered the call to serve as interim pastor at Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church in Fort Worth’s Stop Six neighborhood. A year later, in 2004, he was installed as new pastor. Datcher developed programs that provided mentorship and college assistance to students with financial need. He led the planning and development of a 15,000-square-foot community center, home today to programs that alleviate senior isolation. Seniors receive hot meals, engage in social activities and participate in health and exercise programs. The community center also hosts programs under which children receive year-round services, including healthy meals, backpacks, school supplies, coats, shoes and holiday gifts. Datcher is a member of Mayor Betsy Price’s Faith Leader Cabinet.

Cody McQueen Lead

Pastor

Christ Chapel Bible Church

Cody McQueen has the proverbial big shoes to fill at Christ Chapel, where he’s taken over as lead pastor from Ted Kitchens, the church’s senior pastor for more than 35 years. McQueen came to Christ Chapel after he graduated from the Dallas Theological Seminary with a master of theology. A few years later, he returned to the seminary to complete a doctorate. During that time, he was Christ Chapel’s Life Stage 2 pastor, then became teaching pastor, and past of the West Campus in Aledo.

WHAT I DO FOR FUN: “In our free time, when we aren’t chasing the boys, Jen and I enjoy being outside, reading and spending time together. And when it comes to sports, although I went to Baylor and will always cheer on the Bears, I’ve found myself rooting for TCU.” - church site

Bishop Olson has become a lighting rod, with a petition drive mounting among Fort Worth parionishioners asking Pope Francis to remove Olson over his management of the diocese. Raised in Illinois, Olson was installed as fourth bishop of the Diocese in 2014.

MOST VALUABLE LESSON I’VE LEARNED: “Not deciding is itself a decision — usually the wrong decision.”

WHAT I’D TELL YOUNG PEOPLE JUST GETTING STARTED TODAY: “To pray to God for the gift of gratitude for their lives and to be of service to human dignity and the common good of the community.”

THE BEST WAY TO MEET NEW PEOPLE

HERE IS: “To become active and accountable in church and to become active in service to the poor, the vulnerable, as a shared mission of the common good.”

Michael F. Olson Bishop Catholic Diocese of Fort Worth

Religion

Russ Peterman Senior Minister University Christian Church

Russ Peterman, installed last year as senior minister, has served at churches from California to Georgia. His educational background is equally as varied: TCU undergraduate, San Francisco Theological Seminary master of divinity, and Columbia Theological Seminary doctor of ministry. Peterman was ordained in 1995, after serving as the seminary intern at a church in Lafayette, California.

EVERYONE'S TOP CORE VALUE SHOULD BE: “Curiosity … When we embrace life with a spirit of curiosity and lean into the wonder and mystery, our worship becomes deeper, our faith becomes richer, our lives become better, the world becomes more alive. Besides, interested people are interesting.”

Ryon Price

Senior Pastor

Broadway Baptist Church

Ryon Price began serving as senior pastor at Broadway Baptist Church in August 2017, the popular steeple church that pulled out of the Baptist General Convention of Texas in 2010 in a dispute over gay members. Before coming to Fort Worth, Price served as one of the senior pastors at Second B church in Lubbock beginning in 2010, where he attended church as an undergraduate student at Texas Tech University.

WHAT I’M DOING TODAY: “I'm preaching with my Bible in one hand and the newspaper in the other.”

WHAT I DO FOR FUN: “I travel for inspiration. I jog for sanity.”

I’D PAY TO SEE: “Prince Harry and Meghan Markle get married again.”

Karl Travis Pastor First Presbyterian Church Fort Worth

As pastor of First Presbyterian Church Fort Worth since 2003, Karl Travis’ ministry extends beyond the church doors to institutions like the Presbyterian Night Shelter, James L. West Presbyterian Alzheimer's Care Center and Trinity Terrace.

WHAT I’D TELL YOUNG PEOPLE JUST GETTING STARTED TODAY: “Play for the long game. Take a job. Finish what you were hired to do. Then, and only then, look for what's next.”

THE BEST WAY TO MEET NEW PEOPLE IS:

“Join a church. Seriously.”

MOST VALUABLE LESSON I’VE LEARNED: “People everywhere are good, given half a chance to be.”

I’D PAY TO SEE: “The U.S. Congress reach agreement on a budget, sensible gun control, a health care policy and an end to mindless, unreasoning, destructive partisanship.”

Brian Zimmerman Senior Rabbi Beth-El Congregation

Coming from a long line of rabbis, Brian Zimmerman is the 12th in his family. He was raised in New York City and pursued a degree in film and broadcasting from Boston University. After graduation, he moved to Los Angeles with the intent of breaking into the film industry until he realized his call to be a rabbi was much stronger. From there, he received a Master of Hebrew Letters from Hebrew Union College in Los Angeles and then was ordained at the Hebrew Union College in New York City in 1993. Prior to Beth-El Congregation, Zimmerman served as the regional and rabbinic director for the South District of the Union for Reform Judaism and also as rabbi to several congregations across the country.

Ray Davis Co-chairman Texas Rangers Baseball Club

Bob Simpson’s partner in the Texas Rangers, Ray Davis, is a longtime oil and gas man like Simpson. He’s chairman and CEO of Avatar Investments L.P., and he co-founded Energy Transfer in 1994 and was co-CEO and co-chairman until he retired in 2007. Davis was appointed to Major League Baseball's Executive Committee in 2015.

MOMENTS: “We’re no better than the players on the field and no better than the scouting and development and people in the office. There are no shortcuts in this business. People have tried to buy championships before without success. You win with people, you build from within and you try to keep as much payroll flexibility as you possibly can.” - Davis, speaking to a business meeting, D Magazine

Jerry Jones Owner Dallas Cowboys

Jerry Jones borrowed heavily to buy the Dallas Cowboys for $140 million in 1989. Today, he’s worth $5 billion, according to Forbes estimates. Jones has had a big role in increasing owners’ share of the NFL pie in everything from television contracts to establishing a model for revenue-generating stadiums. Jones was born in Los Angeles but soon moved to Arkansas, where he played football at the University of Arkansas and was a co-captain of the 1964 National Championship team. After several failed business venture attempts, Jones finally found success when he began an oil and gas exploration business, Jones Oil and Land Lease. He purchased the team in 1989 from H.R. Bright for a heavily leveraged $140 million. In 2017, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Jeremiah Donati Athletic Director TCU

Jeremiah Donati became TCU’s athletic director in 2017, succeeding Chris Del Conte, who left for the University of Texas. The fast-rising Donati was TCU’s deputy athletics director, playing a major role in facility improvements such as the $164 million rebuild of Amon G. Carter Stadium and $72 million renovation of the Ed and Rae Schollmaier Arena. He also oversaw donor support for the TCU Frog Club, helping the university raise its three highest totals in overall athletic giving. Before TCU, Donati worked as general counsel and director of player representation for Leigh Steinberg Sports and Entertainment. Donati was named the director of the Frog Club, the fundraising arm of TCU athletics, in 2011. He worked with Del Conte to help raise money for the Schollmaier Arena.

Eddie Gossage CEO

Texas Motor Speedway

Eddie Gossage takes any opportunity he can get to explain that Texas Motor Speedway is just as important to the region as the Dallas Cowboys, and he’s not short on numbers to make his case. Gossage has been the president of TMS since before the speedway stood, but officially, his tenure began when it opened in 1997. In the first 15 years since its opening, the speedway never drew less than 150,000 fans with the exception of weather-delayed events.

MOMENTS: "I don't know how to promote races other than to be almost the carnival barker. That kind of fits. Texans are big and loud and drive those big cars with bull horns on the front of 'em and cowboy hats on and shoot their sixshooters in the air and stuff like that.” - ESPN. com interview

Gary Patterson Head Football Coach TCU

Since Gary Patterson took over as head football coach of the Horned Frogs in 2000, the teams have seen some of their most successful seasons, and the university has enjoyed a jump in profile, quality applicants and fundraising. Patterson reigns as the Horned Frogs’ all-time winningest coach at 167, which includes six conference championships in three leagues. He has won 20 national coach of the year honors, and in 2011, he was named the nation’s top coach by Sports Illustrated and ESPN The Magazine. Patterson has spent 19 years at TCU, including his three years as defensive coordinator. He broke into coaching serving as a graduate assistant for his alma mater, Kansas State University, where he was a strong safety and linebacker for the Wildcats in 1980 and 1981.

Dennis Roberson serves as the tournament manager for the PGA Tour event at Colonial Country Club — a tournament that’s undergone several name and sponsorship changes in recent years, though most Fort Worthians simply refer to it as “Colonial” (this year, the event is formally titled “Charles Schwab Challenge”). Roberson handles marketing, media relations, volunteers and budget operations among other tasks for the tournament. In 2009, he received recognition by the PGA Tour with three “Best Of” awards and a runner-up nod in the “Best of Show” category amongst all PGA Tour events. Prior to his work as manager, he served as an account executive with Todd & Associates. He graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with degrees in journalism and public relations.

Dennis Roberson Tournament Manager Colonial Country Club

REMASTER your NIGHT

LaDainian Tomlinson

President Tomlinson’s Touching Lives Foundation

LaDainian Tomlinson uses his platform as a former college and professional football player to enrich the lives of young people in both the Dallas-Fort Worth area and San Diego. His Touching Lives Foundation’s mission is “enhancing the lives of deserving families by engaging in programs to promote education, social and cultural awareness, and positive self-esteem.” Tomlinson played football at TCU, 1997-2000, and was selected fifth overall in the 2001 NFL Draft by San Diego, where he played 11 seasons. As well as earning MVP during Tomlinson’s 2006 NFL season, he was given the Walter Payton Man of the Year award for charitable contributions to his communities. In 2017, Tomlinson was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He also has been inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame, TCU Hall of Fame and College Football Hall of Fame.

Doug Parker CEO American Airlines

Doug Parker, CEO of Fort Worth’s largest employer, has steered the carrier to continued strong results, launching plans this spring to team with its DFW Airport home base to build another terminal there for up to $3.5 billion. The company reported record firstquarter, pre-tax profit and revenue. Parker, American’s CEO since 2013, has fixated on improving historically bad labor relations at the airline. He’s maintained the strong link between his compensation and the company’s results, giving up the cash piece of his pay and being paid only in stock. Parker gave mid-contract pay raises to pilots and flight attendants. He implemented profit-sharing. Parker also ended his own contract, saying he would be an at-will employee with no guarantees. The airline has earned $15 billion in profit in the last five years. Parker earned about $12 million in compensation last year, almost all of it in stock.

Reed Pigman CEO Texas Jet

In 1939, Reed Pigman’s father began the flight school, American Flyers. Pigman himself purchased a small fledgling aircraft sales company in 1978 and changed the name to Texas Jet, which he has grown from two hangars in 1978 to 23 hangars and a total of 450,000 square feet today. Texas Jet is the largest independent fixed base operation at Fort Worth’s Meacham International Airport, selling fuel, hangar space and amenities to pilots and owners of private aircraft. It’s consistently been rated among the country’s top FBOs — second in the closely watched 2018 Professional Pilot PRASE Survey.

BEST PERSONAL OR BUSINESS LESSON YOU'VE LEARNED: “In the early years of Texas Jet, I learned that ‘happiness is a positive cash flow.’ I had to collect from customers who were past due, or else the business would not survive. Thankfully, Texas Jet is much ‘happier’ than it was back then!”

Sean Donohue CEO Dallas-Fort Worth Airport

DFW Airport continues its strong run under CEO Sean Donahue, announcing plans this spring to build a sixth terminal with partner American Airlines. As CEO of the world’s third-busiest airport, Donohue is responsible for its management, operation, strategy and development. He manages an organization of 1,800 employees with an annual budget of $900 million and a $3 billion capital improvement program. The Airports Council International named DFW the “Best Large Airport in North America” in 2017, based on customer satisfaction data. More than 65 million travelers pass through DFW annually, en route to 163 domestic and 55 international nonstop destinations. A Massachusetts native, Donohue graduated from Boston College with a Bachelor of Science degree in marketing and economics. He worked 28 years in airlines at United Airlines and then Virgin Australia, where he was COO.

Bob Baulsir President, CEO Trinity Metro

Bob Baulsir walked into a big job this spring when he became president and CEO of Trinity Metro, the Fort Worth transportation authority. Earlier this year, Trinity Metro launched the long-delayed TEXRail line connecting downtown Fort Worth and the Near Southside to DFW Airport’s Terminal B. Trinity Metro has submitted plans for its proposed next stage of TEXRail expansion to Fort Worth city officials. The proposed TEXRail expansion would go south toward the Chisholm Trail Corridor. The city and Trinity Metro are also examining options for first-mile/last-mile transit alternatives; and a public-private partnership, including the North Central Texas Council of Governments and Trinity Metro, is preparing in September to launch an electric downtown-Cultural District circulator called The Dash that could serve as a model for future circulators in areas such as the Near Southside.

Bill Meadows Chairman DFW Airport Board

Transportation advocate Bill Meadows, in his first term on the Dallas-Fort Worth Airport board, was named chairman last year. Meadows is chair of the North Texas HighSpeed Rail Commission, which has been seeking ways to expand high-speed rail in the region as a private group, Texas Central Partners, moves ahead with plans for a privately funded Dallas-Houston high-speed rail line. Meadows served four terms on the Fort Worth City Council. He also previously served on the Tarrant County Regional Water District Advisory Board and Texas Water Development Board. The Southwestern University graduate has two children with his wife, Patricia, a Fort Worth lawyer.

Scott Mahaffey Chairman Trinity Metro

Scott Mahaffey is the president and CEO of Cohn and Gregory Inc., a wholesale distributor of pipe valves and fittings. Since 2013, Mahaffey has served as chair of the Trinity Metro Board of Directors, tackling all kinds of transportation needs, including adding new services like the TEXRail commuter rail line. He also serves on the Casa Mañana and Colonial Country Club boards of directors.

HOW I GOT MY START: “Spent 10 years in the corporate world and wishing that I was working for myself. Took the chance and bought a small company, and with luck and hard work, it has become an industry leader.”

WHAT'S NO. 1 ON YOUR BUCKET LIST?

“Play Augusta National.”

Transportation / Railroads

Bill Davis CEO Fort Worth and Western Railroad

Bill Davis isn’t the easiest guy to get to know. The launch and expansion of TEXRail service in Tarrant County and its critical DFW Airport link, which finally opened earlier this year, was delayed in good part because Davis owns a lot of the right of way TEXRail would run along and has been reluctant to talk terms. TEXRail’s downtown/ Near Southside-DFW Airport line is the first leg. Trinity Metro has submitted plans to the City of Fort Worth for the next phase of TEXRail expansion, which could cut south from the Near Southside’s T&P Station to the Chisholm Trail Corridor along right of way that Davis’ Fort Worth and Western Railroad owns. Davis restored the 21-mile Tarantula train line that today links the Fort Worth Stockyards to downtown Grapevine.

Kevin Erasmus President, CEO Fort Worth and Western Railroad

A graduate of Verwoerdburg College and Damelin Business School in South Africa, Kevin Erasmus now serves as the president and CEO of Fort Worth and Western Railroad. Erasmus, whom transportation advocates say figures in conversations about allowing use of Fort Worth and Western Railroad right of way in expanding the TEXRail commuter rail service that launched its first leg between downtown/Near Southside and DFW Airport earlier this year, has been with the company since 2013. Before being promoted to his current position, he served as director of business development. Erasmus also worked for RailRunner and Dallas, Garland and Northeastern Railroad. Fluent in Afrikaans and English, Erasmus also spent several years of his career in South Africa, working in mechanical design. He also spent seven years as a sergeant in the South African Air Force.

Carl Ice CEO BNSF Railway

Carl Ice has served as CEO since 2014 and president since 2010 at BNSF, one of Fort Worth’s largest employers. Before becoming CEO, he had already spent more than three decades with the railroad, holding multiple leadership positions in the company, including chief operations officer and executive vice president. He’s a board member of the Salvation Army. A graduate of Kansas State University, where he earned his degree in engineering, he remains active with his alma mater, having served as a trustee for the Kansas State University Foundation and chairman of the Kansas State University College of Engineering Advisory Council.

John Kleinheinz Principal

Texas Central Partners

John Kleinheinz in 2015 became a lead investor in Texas Central Partners, which is working on launching high-speed rail service between Dallas and Houston. Outside the company, he and wife Marsha Kleinheinz are known for their philanthropic work, directing their giving through the Kleinheinz Family Foundation for the Arts and Education. The couple in 2015 gave $1 million for new learning programs to the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History. Their foundation in recent years also has made gifts to the Amon Carter Museum of American Art, SMU and Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra. John Kleinheinz spent years working in investment banking for Merrill Lynch before founding Kleinheinz Capital Partners. The firm built a successful hedge fund of about $2 billion in assets and liquidated and returned money to investors in 2012.

Katie Farmer

Executive Vice President, Operations BNSF Railway

Katie Farmer has spent more than 27 years with BNSF Railway — one of Fort Worth’s largest employers, with 4,500 employees — serving numerous roles, including vice president of service design and transportation support, group vice president of consumer products and vice president of industrial products. She’s served as executive vice president of operations since her promotion in 2018. Farmer graduated from Texas Christian University with both a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in business administration. She’s also served on numerous boards, including TCU, Cook Children’s Health Foundation and Intermodal Association of North America. She was president-elect of the National Freight Transportation Association.

Matt Rose

Executive Chairman BNSF Railway

Matt Rose became executive chairman of Burlington Northern Santa Fe after 13 years as CEO and 11 years as chairman. He has been mentioned as a possible eventual replacement for Warren Buffett, CEO of BNSF parent Berkshire Hathaway. Rose is a member of the executive committee of Read Fort Worth, an organization of city leaders working to have 100 percent of Fort Worth third-graders reading on grade level by 2025; city leaders have identified early literacy as a critical economic development issue. Rose was one of the city’s leaders who launched the program. He’s also helped his wife, Lisa Rose (see separate profile), build The Gatehouse, a nonprofit residential center in Grapevine where women and children can rebuild their lives through programs and counseling. Rose serves on the boards of AT&T, Fluor Corp., U.S. Chamber of Commerce and TCU.

Transportation

Michael Morris Director of Transportation

North Central Texas Council of Governments

The Dallas Observer just a few years ago called Michael Morris, the top transportation planner in the region, “The King of DFW Politics.” Morris has worked for COG since 1979. Since 1990, he has served as director of the Metropolitan Planning Organization, developing transportation plans, addressing transportation needs in the Fort Worth-Dallas area and distributing dollars accordingly. “You can forget about mayors and city councils and state legislators and sometimes even congresspersons,” The Observer opined. “Morris has way more stick than those guys.” He’s a registered professional engineer in Texas and has previously served on committees like the Transportation Research Board Executive Committee, where he was chair, and the National Academies of Science.

Alicia Winkelblech Senior Strategic Initiatives Officer City of Arlington

It’s not often Arlington gets a nod for public transportation — its residents have shown little sustained appetite for anything other than highways and cars. But Alicia Winkelblech’s office has been getting noticed for its pilot transportation programs that include the Via rideshare program, a network of on-demand shuttles that covers about one-quarter of the city, including the entertainment district. The strategic initiatives office also is collaborating on the test of a driverless shuttle named Milo that drives people around the entertainment district.

WHAT'S

NO. 1 ON YOUR BUCKET LIST? “A multi-week European trip with my husband.” BEST PERSONAL OR BUSINESS LESSON YOU'VE LEARNED: “Never miss a chance to learn something new.”

EASYRIDE is Trinity Metro’s corporate benefits program that provides transit discounts to Tarrant County businesses and their associates. This program saves your business money and provides your employees access to reliable public transportation.

Email easyride@ridetm.org to discuss how you can start saving today.

The 400: Fun Facts

311 honorees returning from last year

5

103 new honorees for 2019

People who said playing a round of golf at Augusta National was on their bucket list

(Scot Bennett, Scott Mahaffey, Harold Muckleroy, Chris Powers, John Robinson)

4 Phoenix transplants ... who are working together in Fort Worth (Kent Scribner, Eugene Giovannini, Anel Mercado, Stuart Flynn)

64

What’s No. 1 on your bucket list?

Our honorees’ wildest dreams

“Catching a trophy catfish so big I find a license plate in its belly.”

-Bret Starr, CEO, The Starr Conspiracy

“A trip into space — although I will have to go alone because my wife says she is not joining.”

-Dak Hatfield, CEO, Hatfield Properties

“Wrestle an alligator.”

-Jamey Ice, co-founder, 6th Ave Homes

“To live past 100 years old. That should give me plenty of time to knock off everything else on my bucket list.”

-Jeff Ireland, founder/CEO, Enilon

“To fly in an F-16 (at least until the F-35 or other JSFs are made with 2 seats).”

-Michael Crain, philanthropy

“Play gold in Ireland with Rory McIlroy.”

-Michael Fletcher, CEO, RIDE TV

SOUTHSIDE

HONOREES WITH AN OFFICE, PROPERTY OR LOCATION IN THE NEAR

13married couples on the list

(Ramona and Lee Bass, Anne T. and Robert Bass, Becky Renfro and Henry Borbolla, Kay and Ben Fortson, Melissa and Jamey Ice, Joan and Howard Katz, Louella and Nicholas Martin, Kit and Charlie Moncrief, Rosie and Mike Moncrief, Kelsey and Gary Patterson, Beverly and Charles Powell, Lisa and Matt Rose, Kimbell Fortson and Mitch Wynne)

“To perform in a musical, specifically ‘Hamilton.’ I cannot sing well and have never taken a theater class. However, I fully expect to go through a midlife crisis and find myself auditioning for the role of Aaron Burr.”

-Riley Kiltz, CEO, Craftwork Coffee Co.

“Start a bucket list.”

-Alec Jhangiani, co-founder, Fortress Presents

2018 Awards & Recognitions

U.S. Chamber of Commerce -

Minority-Owned Business Achievement Award

FW Inc -

FW Inc

Dallas Business Journal

North Texas’ 13th Largest Hispanic-Owned Businesses

ENX Magazine

Just a few of our 2017 Awards & Recognitions

Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce -

North Dallas Chamber of Commerce -

Fort Worth Business Press - Minority Leader

Dallas Business Journal - Minority Leader

Euless Award Program

Vistra Energy

SHARP

ENX Magazine

Adams, Cynthia 124

Agather, Neils 89

Ahdieh, Robert 49

Alley, Gerald 112

Anderson Culebro, Kathleen 17

Andrews Jr., Paul 74

Anfin, Larry 89

Angle, J.D. 95

Appleman, Louise 49

Appleman, Michael 106

Auld, Marianne 104

Autrey, Larry 95

Avila, John 112

Baggett, Happy 116

Balcom, Stuart 95

Baldock, Lori 22

Ball, Mike 66

Barnard, Brian 104

Barnes, Brad 17

Barr, Kenneth 89

Bass, Lee 34

Bass, Ed 34

Bass, Robert 34

Bass, Sid 36

Bass, Ramona 90

Bass, Mercedes 89

Bass, Anne T. 89

Bates, Gus S. 32

Baulsir, Bob 137

Benda, Bob 114

Bennett, Rhett 81

Bennett, Michael 109

Bennett, Scot 114

Berce, Daniel 28

Berdan, Barclay 65

Berry, Mike 116

Bird, Tad 52

Bird, Greg 81

Bivens, Gyna 57

Blackburn, Hayden 43

Blake, Andrew 116

Bloom, Andrew 129

Blum, Marvin 106

Blumenfeld, Ashli Rosenthal 75

Boecker, Bill 116

Bonnell, Jon 75

Borbolla III, Henry 22

Boschini, Victor 49

Boudreaux, Darlene 43

Bowman, Matt 95

Bradshaw, Rose 87

Bratton, Douglas 32

Brennan, Mike 43

Brewer, Flora 120

Bridges, Leon 17

Briggs, Robbie 124

Brooks, Roy C. 57

Broussard, Eddie 22

Brown Bailey, Kaydee 90

Brumley, Jon 81

Bruster, Tim 129

Buechele, Bill 21

Burleson, Mary Frances 124

Burnette, Todd 110

Butler, William 81

Butt, Stephen 75

Buxton, Tom 109

Byrd, Brian 57

Campbell, Cody 81

Campbell, Johnny 116

Carroll, Chris 76

Carson, Wayne 87

Carter, Tim 49

Cason, Carolyn 21

Castillo, Sarah 76

Chalk, John Allen 98

Christopherson, Jessica 43

Churchill, Will 116

Clark, Jack 122

Coates, Grant 87

Colwick, Steven 22

Conatser, Jerry 65

Conner, Jeffrey 28

Connor, Richard 80

Conti, Bruce 122

Cooke, David 57

Cornfeldt, Jeremy 96

Craig, Ian 52

Crain, Michael 90

Crawford, Jim 76

Crouchley, Greg 79

Crowe Seher, Kari 76

Datcher, Bruce 129

Davis, Jeff 126

Davis, Ray 133

Davis, Bill 138

DeLeon, Joseph 65

Dickerson, Elyse 66

Diesslin, David 28

Dike, Michael 120

Donati, Jeremiah 133

Donohue, Sean 137

Dorman, Paul 66

Dottavio, Dominic 49

Drennan, Mark 22

DuBose, Jim 24

Duggins, Ralph 100

Durant, Tom 73

Durant, Jerry 73

Earley, Robert 65

Edwards, Crawford 117

Eggenburger, Jason 109

Eisenman, Randy 36

Elliott, Rambo 17

Enis, Hunter 81

Erasmus, Kevin 138

Evans, Michele 73

Farmer, Katie 138

Fasola, Ken 32

Fernandez, Robert 95

Fickes, Gary 57

Finley, Jim 82

Firestone, Leonard 76

Fletcher, Michael 80

Flores, Carlos 57

Flynn, Stuart 65

Flynn, Mike 124

Ford, Tony 98

Fortson, Ben 17

Fortson, Kay 17

Fox, Eric 73

Fox, Tena 106

Gachman, Arnold 84

Galbreath, Tom 109

Garvey, Richard 117

Gavras, Chris 96

Geesbreght, John 68

Gengelbach, Brandom 43

Geren, Pete 50

Geren, Charlie 58

Giovannini, Eugene 49

Goff, John 122

Goldman, Craig 58

Goldman, Elliot 98

Gossage, Eddie 133

Granger, J.D. 58

Granger, Kay 58

Gray, Kelly Allen 58

Greenway, Adam 129

Gruppi, Susan 117

Hahn, Janet 102

Hall, Randy J. 100

Hallam, John Howard 76

Happel, Brian 24

Harral, Harriet 87

Harris, James R. 120

Harrison, Miles 68

Harveson, Shelli 106

Hatfield, Dak 117

Hayes, Steven 100

Head, Tyler 21

Head, Tom 74

Henderson, Megan 43

Hernandez, Mike 73

Hersh, Erika 36

Hickman, Brad 117

Hixon, Karen 18

Homan, Matt 44

Horowitz, Raanan 74

Howard, Robert 73

Howard, Stephen 82

Hudson, Gary 24

Hudson Jr., Edward 82

Huff, Jack 110

Ice, Jamey 118

Ice, Carl 138

Iles, Brad 82

Ireland, Jeff 96

Jackson, Sarah Mayer 24

Jackson, Tobi 52

James, Grant 24

Jameson, Bob 44

Jhangiani, Alec 18

Johnson, Mark L. 50

Johnson, Roland 100

Johnston, Richard 68

Jones, Jerry 133

Jordan, Jungus 58

Karbhari, Vistasp 50

Katz, Howard 77

Katz, Joan 90

Kelly, Craig 36

Kelly III, Raymond 101

Kelly Jr., Dee 101

Keltner, David 100

Kennedy, Bud 80

Kiltz, Riley 77

King, J. Bryan 28

King, Jeff 30

King, Luther 30

King, Leah 87

Kinzie, Walter 18

Kleinheinz, Marsha 90

Kleinheinz, John 138

Knautz, Dennis 79

Kreis, Les 21

Lancarte, Joe 77

Landeros, Anette 44

Lane, Jim 102

Larson, Jack 101

Law, Jeff 59

Lee, Eric 18

Lee, Isaac 21

Lee, Opal 90

Leonard, Marty 91

Lombardi, Eric 52

Lombardi, Andrew 102

Louden, G. Malcolm 82

Love, Tim 77

Lowe, Mary Ralph 82

Mackel, John 95

Maenius, G.K. 59

Mahaffey, Scott 137

Marion, Anne Windfohr 91

Marquis, Jacques 18

Marshall, Stacy 44

Martin, Louella 91

Martin, Nicholas 91

Marxen, Dic 79

Matthews, Chad 18

Matthews, Ryan 112

McCarthy, Bob 114

McDavid, Stacie 122

McDonald, Judy 44

McGlothlin, Sandra 114

McQueen, Cody 129

Meadows, Bill 137

Meinen, Randy 34

Melchiors, Matthijs 109

Menke, Sean 79

Mercado, Anel 50

Merrill, Rick 66

Micallef, Mike 77

Michel, Thomas 100

Miller, Jeffrey 83

Miller, West 118

Miller, Jessica 118

Mitchell, Robert 98

Moates, Gary 107

Moncrief, Kit 91

Moncrief, Charlie 91

Moncrief, Mike 92

Moncrief, Rosie 92

Moncrief Jr., William A. “Tex” 92

Montesi, Terry 118

Moon, Cary 59

Moore, Ardon 36

Moore, Macy 77

More, Whitney Hyder 122

Morris, Jonathan 84

Morris, Michael 140

Motheral, Paxton 118

Muckleroy, George 101

Muckleroy, Harold 114

Murphy, Sean 78

Murrin, Steve 122

Navejar, Rosa 109

Nelson, Britt 68

Newby, Brian 104

Newell, Ken 118

Nicholson, Lonnie 26

Nolet, David 30

Northern, Will 112

Noto Jr., Martin 26

Nurdin, Mark 26

Olson, Michael 129 Orr, Scott 30

Owen, Toby 88

Palmer, Andrea 102

Parker, Doug 137

Parrish, Hunter 104

Parsley, Shawn 68

Patterson, Kelsey 88

Patterson, Gary 133

Patton, Bobby 124

Pavell, Mike 26

Pavlik, Linda 80

Pence, Bob 110

Pergande, John 34

Perot Jr., Ross 119

Peterman, Russ 130

Phillips-Sadler, Kam 88 Pigman, Reed 137 Poole, Phillip 119

Popstefanov, George 96

Powell, Charles 26

Powers, Chris 119

Price, Marla 19

Price, Betsy 59

Price, Ryon 130

Prioleau, Frost 96

Puente, Vince 79

Rahr, Fritz 78

Rainwater, Todd 88

Rattikin Jr., Jack 126

Ravnaas, Bob 83

Ravnaas, Davis 83

Ray, Breck 98

Raynor, Geoffrey 32

Reid, Rusty 34

Renfro Borbolla, Becky 78

Reynolds, Walt 75

Reynolds Jr., Donald 75

Riddick, Pretlow 119

Riscky, Jim 78

Roberson, Dennis 133

Robertson, Stella 21

Robertson, Troy 78

Robinson, John 88

Romero Jr., Ramon 114

Rose, Lisa 92

Rose, Matt 138

Rosell, Andrew 102

Rosenthal, Billy 78

Roski, Ed 119

Rucker, Clark 106

Rutherford, Paris 119

Saenz, Alfred 110

Sanborn, Mike 66

Sanders, Bob Ray 44

Sanders, Holland 96

Sanders, Red 97

Schaefer, Ken 97

Schneider, P. Micheal 102

Schollmaier, Ed 92

Schwarz, David 110

Scribner, Kent 52

Scully, Bob 112

Searcy, Marshall 101

Sellers, John 83

Semple, Bob 30

Shingleton, Dennis 59

Simpson, Bob 83

Sims, Jyric 66

Slabach, Fred 50

Smith, Terry 26

Smith, Glenn 75

Smith, Whit 98

Soderbergh, Bo 89

Sparks, Brent 110

Spearman, Lori 104

Spiker, Scott 30

Stallings, Tom 97

Starr, Bret 97

Coslik, Stephen 117

Coulter, James 36

Hyry, Molly 50

Ice, Melissa 87

Morse, Greg 24

Mote, Ryan 80

Smyers, TD 88

Snyder, Mitch 74

Woerner, Hadley

Wynne, Kimbell Fortson 19 Wynne, Mitch 84 Young Jr., George M. 84

Ann

John

Brian 130

Richard C. Johnston, MD, FACP

Caring physician.