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FACES & PLACES POW                                                                                  
First jobs, first Business After Hours for YPs Tyler Green (right), Catholic Charities of Fort Worth, and Barrett Boone (left), Jacobs. Barrett grew up in Grapevine and Tyler in Dawson, Texas, pop. 877. Ask him about the 18-wheeler that took out the town's only flashing red light. Meanwhile, more than 150 members noshed and networked at beautiful Mira Vista Country Club, which hosted the event last week. See who was there!

View photos from the event here. Click the gray arrows upper right to advance through all photos.

PRESS YOUR LUCKPrizes
Click on the links below to enter for prizes

Streetscapes: Way back in '86, Robert Bass and civic leaders envisioned an arts and music festival during the spring to enliven a darkened downtown. That first MAIN ST. Fort Worth Arts Festival was a three-day event with 140 artists, 60 performance groups and 80,000 attendees. As downtown, led by Downtown Fort Worth Initiatives, has bloomed -- the band is playing Petula Clark --  so has its arts festival. Nearly half a million people will attend the world-class street party April 9-12, a feast of food for all stomach sizes, a variety of music and a juried art show. Pavlov's Claire Bloxom Armstrong didn't let us down, getting "Art & Music Lovers" VIP packages for Saturday and Sunday. Each night includes admission for two to the VIP Skybox  -- hors d'oeuvres and cocktails included -- that overlooks the UT-Arlington MAIN Stage at 9th and Main. Poo Live Crew, Atlanta Rhythm Section and The Georgia Satellites perform Saturday and Latin Express and Havana NRG play Sunday.

 

The Wright Stuff: Hopefully, Brandon Wright won't dunk on our Dallas Mavericks too often during his return to Dallas with the Phoenix Suns April 8. High-flyin' Brandon really can get up. And Shari Fricke at EMR Elevator really can get you up ... or down. B2B Insider is waaaay down with this giveaway. Two readers will win tickets for two to the game. You'll need Shari's elevator, too, because you're in box seats SUITE-side. Shari, who wishes she could claim Janie Fricke lineage, says "We're in the business of lifting people up. If you want to be let down, try somebody else." 

 

Does not come with time off: Michael Tothe probably isn't home much the first four months of the year. January in California, February in Arizona, March in Florida and April at The Masters in Georgia. Someone has to follow the sun and the PGA Tour to get the greatest golfers in the world committed to come play the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial May 18-24. While the tournament director is away -- Bye, Bye Birdie -- the Bogey-men are at play. Our favorite tournament manager, media mashie and more, Dennis Roberson, managed to drive off with two admission passes for the ENTIRE week. From the kids clinic to pro-ams to the final putt, you can spend a sun-drenched seven days at Colonial Country Club
 
Board, not bored: Are you interested in volunteer service? If so, the United Way of Tarrant County will start its five-week Blueprint for Board Service certificate program April 7. You'll learn about the role of nonprofit boards in the community and build relationships with a diverse group of leaders. The United Way will help you find nonprofit board or committee volunteer positions that match your interests. The program runs from 5:30-8 p.m. successive Tuesdays through May. 5. The time commitment is there, but you'll be with those united in service. Tuition is $300 normally, but Felicia Cortez has one spot for a B2B Insider reader.

 

Congratulations to March 18 Prize Winners:

  • Ambra Cole, Express Employment Professionals
  • Glenda Moreno, Holcomb Moreno Consulting
  • Preston Wayman, Trans-Trade
  • Michelle Riffle, Casa Manana
  • Erika Downs, PeopleFund
  • Nathan DeWitt, Greater Fort Worth Association of Realtors
  • Darrell Samuelson, Glennscape
  • Mary Rusnak, AIDS Outreach Center
     

Winners will be announced weekly 

Thanks to our sponsors:


 
   
HE SAID, SHE SAID, THEY SAIDSoundBytes
Tortilla travels: Evelyn Grangeno, an executive assistant getting married this weekend, is the titan of tacos with her law firm breakfast barristers at Cantey Hanger. "I use to make tacos for the heck of bringing them to work, but then I asked for donations, which go into my preparation funds for my mission trip next year. Not sure where I'm going. Just know it's a country where they deal heavily with human trafficking issues."

Cooke-ing up fun: Fort Worth City Manager David Cooke, in his job about nine months, is "thankful I didn't get the Dallas job; I am lovin' Fort Worth," he said. "The City Council is a bit anxious, though. They don't think anyone should be having so much fun in this job."

Charles can! Former Fort Worth City Manager Charles Boswell is the first Director of Public Policy in the history of the Tarrant Area Food Bank. Now, when the public volunteers and doesn't understand policy on which cans go on which shelves, Charles is the answer man.

Probably no openings: Twelve companies have made Fortune magazine's Top 100 places to work every year since the list's inception in 1998. One is TDIndustries. Surely, TDI could use a newsletter writer and giveaways. 
 

Making a difference: Marilyn Sammons, the diva of development for Lena Pope Home, will retire at the end of 2015. Says her two greatest takeaway memories will be the Heart Gallery, "a photographic essay of children anxiously waiting and looking for families to nurture, love and care for them," and starting the Young Professional Advocates group that will give Lena Pope fund development a lasting future.  

    

Speedy recovery: To TCU's Karen Ferguson, who has sore shoulders from having to carry her husband, Reagan of Pressman Printing, for more than 35 years. Actually, Karen said it was more likely from elbowing Reagan all those years.  

 

Barry, barry quotable: Barry Davis, TCU grad and CEO of Enlink Midstream, spoke at last week's Neeley School of Business Tandy Speaker Series and had some observations worth sharing.
  • "Anything we've ever (accomplished) was because of people and relationships"
  • "The first step (of leadership) is to have a vision of your preferred future."
  • "Ideas are great. Without execution, they are just dreams."
  • "At these prices (for oil and gas), you won't see the investment necessary for alternative fuels."
  • On one of his recurring dreams: "I'm in a place like this (speaking) and I don't have any clothes on."

Idol Innovation: After 37 million audience votes, 18 more than Qaasim Middleton on American Idol, Panther Island was honored last week as the best "Next Big Idea" at the Urban Land Institute North Texas (ULI NT) Impact Awards' live vote. Trinity River Vision Authority Executive Director J.D. Granger presented the vision of the 800 acres directly adjacent to downtown Fort Worth. Audience members voted electronically and Panther Island beat out two other finalists.  

"Panther Island bridges ... there will be roundabouts. Roundabouts work if you follow the rules, people. YIELD!"
                                                -- Fort Worth councilman Sal Espino
Hitching a ride: THUMBTECHS celebrates its 20th anniversary during 2015 and now that it finally is holding a Chamber ribbon cutting (cost $50) with Am-Bass-Adorables, Mr. B is thinking George Fassett and Co. might be in the black. And when THUMBTECHS throws a party, it's a good one, by George. It's Thursday at 3:45. Next Tuesday at 4, the adorable ones are at the (Lionel) Hampton Inn and Suites DFW Airport South for a ribbon cutting, open house and sleepover.

Getting his own Lyft: Earlier this month, an occupied MedStar Mobile Healthcare ambulance was idling, minding its own business outside a local hospital when a male came to the driver's door, opened the door and told the driver he was taking the ambulance. The driver didn't initially respond so the male pulled a knife, pointed it at the driver, and repeated, "I'm taking your ambulance." The driver stepped out of the truck and let the male have it.  The male drove the truck for a few blocks at high speeds, crashed through a drainage ditch and through a fence into the parking lot, and eventually was apprehended. The ambulance most likely is totaled.

Electric speaker: Richard Casarez, VP for Fort Worth Customer Operations at Oncor Electric Delivery, charged up a group of Chamber Vision FW members during a recent Table of 10. Some life lessons from Richard:
  • Life is all about making a difference in the community.
  •  Always be flexible.
  • Be a good neighbor.
  • Do the best job at the job you have now.
     
All wined up: Well, Mr. B will NOT be in Tuscany wine country with Chamberites for his 65th birthday. Nor will he be taking the optional side trip to Rome. 50 travelers will take in sumptuous Montecatini, centrally located to access all that is Tuscany. There will be wine tastings, dining with wine, cooking classes with wine and a visit to the Mediterranean Coast, followed by wine. Wine don't you check out the Oct. 28-Nov. 5 trip here. Early bird deadline is April 24.

Taxing move: The former American Airlines maintenance hangar is now on the City of Fort Worth tax roll for 25 years with an approved lease at Alliance Airport to an aircraft modification enterprise based in San Antonio. The facilities have been owned by the city since Feb. 1.

Brick by brick: Residential and commercial construction using bricks is showing slow, steady growth in Texas since the recession. In most areas of the southeast U.S. that Acme Brick serves, growth hasn't kept pace with Texas.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS Calendar 

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NEW! 2015 GREATER FORT WORTH MEDIA DIRECTORY Resources

The only comprehensive news media directory for the greater Fort Worth area. It covers print media for the Fort Worth metro area (Tarrant, Johnson, Parker and Hood counties), as well as television and radio contacts for the DFW Metroplex. Online news and local blogs too. Listings include e-mail addresses, fax numbers, circulation figures and distribution areas. Available in PDF, Exel or combo (both PDF and Excel versions). Purchase it today! Prices begin at $30.00* 

Contact Christine Gores to purchase or for additional information.

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