As a part of Global Entrepreneur Week, last month's Oval Table Series at the
Fort Worth Chamber
featured a panel of owners from three distinct businesses --
InterConnect Wiring, Basecom,
and
Alpha Industries
-- who shared their stories: how/why they got started, the challenges they've faced along the way and how they’ve had to pivot to find success.
Pictured (L to R):
Oscar Oaxaca,
Basecom;
Patsy Oaxaca,
Basecom;
Jason Scoggins,
Alpha Industries;
John Ashour,
InterConnect Wiring
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PRESS YOUR LUCK
Click on the links below to enter for prizes
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Or, try beef jerky:
Mr. B was doing a deep dive on
Chamber
Forte Award finalist
DPC Healthcare
when Dr. Nguyen turned the tables and decided to check B out. His body mass measured .0075; he has the strength of an infant ant. More protein, she said. Zero-to-hundred grams in three days, she ordered! So Mr. B checked in with GM Larry Auth at the
Omni Fort Worth Hotel
and asked about the protein opportunities at the
fabulous Cast Iron restaurant
within. Larry Auth was kind, even accommodating, but offered that food wasn’t sold by the protein count. Undaunted, Mr. B asked, “Could it? How about a non-denominational, layered Mr. B-named tower grilled rye sandwich with bacon, corned beef, avocado, bacon, corned beef and avocado, topped off with bacon? And a side dish of Thousand Island dressing mixed with vanilla protein power.” It could be done because the Cast Iron has everything you’d want to eat, three meals a day. Make sure you inquire about the Mr. B tower if you win this $50 gift certificate.
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Ho, ho, ho, hotel:
Holiday season, which started Aug. 6, is in full cheer … except, in-laws and outlaws are on the way. And you’re thinking NOT IN MY HOUSE! Fortunately, there is an escape plan and Kelly (is on the) Case. She’s part of the Raymond Team that manages
Homewood Suites by Hilton Fort Worth - Medical Center
.
Sweet suites.
Two rooms, comfy beds, complete breakfasts, happy hour and foodie light five nights a week. Free parking, fitness and business centers, outdoor pool and grill, even a putting green. This place screams greatness; perhaps you’ll leave the laws at home and staycation yourownself. Kelly has a room for two readers.
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Center stage:
Mr. B is still surfing the thousands of suggestions for leftover Thanksgiving meals and wondered, “Why not just serve them for Christmas?” Online, the two holidays’ promotional feast fotos look remarkably similar. If you go the 27-day leftovers route, please, please make sure you change out your centerpiece. You’d hate to have someone think this was
deja vu
all over again. Cheri Kirkman, GM of
B2B Insider
fav
Gordon Boswell Flowers,
is your go-to rose of the rescue. She has a
large centerpiece
or a
small centerpiece
to brighten your holiday. Mr. B suggestions? The
I Dream of Christmas, Thomas Kincade’s Festive Fire Station Bouquet, Deck the Holly Ornament, Snowy Woods or Silver Lining bouquets.
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Board-er patrolling:
Mr. B was at a meeting, a little bored, and struck up a conversation with next-door seat sitter Pam Cannell, also appearing bored. “You related to Stephen, the guy who wrote Rockford Files?” B asked. “No,” Pam replied, then added, “bored, no, but I’m always board.” Technically, yes. Pam is CEO of BoardBuild, which pairs “
robust governance, resource and leadership training with state-of-the-art matching of candidates with social sector board openings.” Want to be on a board of directors, be aware of expectations, the responsibilities? Or do you have a young employee that can take that extra step ahead and join a non-profit board? BoardBuild is the site to see. Pam has an online, on-demand training in the
Essentials of Non-Profit Board Governance
for two readers.
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Congratulations to the December 4th
Prize Winners:
- Trisha Harrell, Turnkey Project Services
- Sara Mitchell, Camp Fire First Texas
- Scott Engle, Simmons Bank
- Reagan Ferguson, Pressman Printing
- Carol Murray, Blue Zones Project, THR
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A WORD FROM OUR GOLD SPONSORS
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HE SAID, SHE SAID, THEY SAID
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Is there skateboarding?
When you own test kitchens for rent, you hear from quite a few food truck operators.
Locavore
co-founder Cortney Gumbleton listened; they need a place to park their trucks. So she and Chuck Bouligny took a lot near Vickery and S. Main and offered it for secure overnight parking. However … “The announcement received hundreds of likes, comments and shares," Cortney said. "I received requests for fans, misters, comfortable furniture, nice bathrooms and even a playground. I responded by clarifying that it's a parking lot and not a park. Somehow, people aren't as excited about a storage facility.”
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Tied up in knots:
Jerry Boonyaratanakornkit (that may be easy for you to spell) is a brilliant scientist and the research and development leader of
TechFW
client Exact Diagnostics. “I cannot tie a tie,” he admitted. “When I travel for business, my wife pre-ties all my ties.”
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He speaks frankly:
Mr. B once was bankrupt financially to correspond with his life of social bankruptcy. Thankfully, dealmaker Frank Iannelli taught him how to budget on the 39 cents an hour he gets from
Chamber
Boss Miserly Mistress. Frank just joined
Whitley Penn
as a Managing Director to start up its Strategic Consulting Services group, which will focus on assisting companies, investors, boards and management teams to improve operating and financial performance.
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Funster punsters:
They’re at it again. The
Chamber’s
Netty Matthews
offered that “Britain is a wet country because the Queen has had a long reign.” Punner-in-crime Joe McBride replied, “Her thoughts were clouded by the London fog.”
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Viaggio:
Next Monday is the
early-bird deadline
to save $100 on the
Chamber’s
fabulosa
2020 trip throughout Southern Italy. Nine days beginning April 26 during which the gentle breezes off the Mediterranean will allow you to be feted, fawned over and fed. Southern Italy is a treasure trove of art, enchanted landscapes, cathedrals, monuments and museums. To get on board and aboard, e-mail
ops@jetvacations.com
or call 1-855-538-0999.
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“It ain't like this in other places.”
--Glen Whitley, Tarrant County Judge
on the 'greatness' of Tarrant County
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Why not two?
Reed Pigman, owner of
Texas Jet,
a fixed-base operator at
Meacham Airport,
says there’s an easy way you can help this fellow
Chamber
member’s business. “If you don’t have a Lear jet, get one.”
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Unlocking dreams:
“
I visited a jail and it was awesome. Have you ever heard of the Prison Entrepreneurship Program?” Carlo Capua,
Owner/O
perator of
Z's Cafe and Catering
was at a prison in Venus, TX. “
One guy proposed a business re-formatting regular textbooks to Braille. Another a shop for mechanics … a trucking company … a class for inmates to learn sound system technology. It was really, really inspiring.” The PEP is
a non-profit organization dedicated to reducing recidivism; Carlo says the national recidivism rate is more than 60%, but just 7% for PEP graduates. Z’s Café has put 142 low-income men and women back to work.
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Action hero:
Ronnie De Manna,
Third Coast Bank,
has been selected to head the
Chamber’s
Action Ambassadors during 2020.
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A very public hire:
Michael E. Crum is the new Director of
Fort Worth’s
Public Events Department. This is no small crumb … or a crummy hire. This is big-time because Michael will leave Charlotte to oversee the re-development of the
Fort Worth Convention Center
, then fill it with exciting things. His department also oversees the operations of the
Will Rogers Memorial Center
.
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Cost-saving maneuver:
Because of a month-long Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday and Giving Tuesday, Mr. B has decided it would be less expensive to work seven days a week. Enjoy your holiday season.
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MARK YOUR CALENDARS
Click icons below for details and to register
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Impact Your Business
Dec. 11 - 11:30 a.m.
Joe T. Garcia's "La Puertita"
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Vision FW: December Meetup
Dec. 12 - 5:30 p.m.
Heim BBQ on the River
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Economic Development Update
Dec. 18 - 8:00 a.m.
Ridglea Country Club
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Forte Awards Night (Small Business of the Year)
Jan. 30 - 6:00 p.m.
The Ashton Depot
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SAVE THE DATE
State of the City
Feb. 28 - 11:15 a.m.
Fort Worth Convention Center
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Ribbon Cutting
(see events)
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The
Media Directory
is an annually updated publication that provides detailed contact information for more than 150 local media outlets in the Greater Fort Worth Area. $50 for members and $75 for nonmembers. Members must sign in to receive discount off the listed price.
For sponsorship inquiries in
B2B Insider
, contact
Beth Pulliam
or call (817) 338-3336.
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You are receiving the Fort Worth Chamber's Newz-E-Letter because you are subscribed on
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.
ensure delivery of this email.
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