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FACES & PLACES 
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 The Chamber board took an educated and learned approach in designating Tarrant County College its 2015 Spirit of Enterprise Award honoree during last week's Annual Meeting luncheon. Between on campus and online, TCC is preparing more than 50,000 students for a better future. Accepting the plaque from outgoing Chamber board chairman Robert Pence of Freese and Nichols is Chancellor Erma Johnson Hadley (center) and college Chair of the Board Louise Appleman. See more pictures from the event here. |
No place like Home: A huge shout out to Mary Ryglewicz of Homewood Suites Fort Worth/Medical Center. Last fall, Mary graciously donated 10 hotel night stays to be used occasionally for B2B Insider readers. Big Boss Bill used nine and we have one remaining. Mary is a smart business person. She knows Mr. B has her Homewood -- with free breakfast, happy hours, pool, putting green, cookout grill, summertime mister, WiFi and more -- as his No. 1 choice for retirement living. Why not secure that business? Here's the last night's staycation, good until Aug. 13. Make sure to thank Mary, who says her suites could be very sweet for those in transition for a day or two this summer while buying/selling a home.
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 Wet 'n Wild: Rockin' the River kicks off tomorrow night and with all the water it might be the River Rockin' You. Tube, paddle, kayak or just beach at Panther Island Pavilion on the Trinity River every Thursday through August. A weekly musical headliner plays on a stage on the Trinity with downtown Fort Worth as the backdrop. The After Party Band then plays until dark followed by a fireworks show. There's food and beer, too. Matt Oliver of Trinity River Vision Authority has a pair of free tubing passes for five readers, good for ANY Rockin' the River event this summer. Fort Worth has had its rain for the rest of the decade, but if it were to shower, the concert, the party, the food and the beer move indoors to The Shack at Panther Island Pavilion.
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A bad lesson learned from Dez: Mr. B is/was trying to re-negotiate his Chamber contract with Boss Miserly Mistress. She laughed. "I went to see ROBOTS at the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History Saturday and there's a reporter bot in the film named Biz-E-Body that writes cleaner copy and funnier lines," Miserly said haughtily. (Oops, B might be at the Homewood Suites sooner than he thought.) Innovators are taking robotics to the next level -- humanoid robots that can work, play, learn, and even look like us. This 40-minute IMAX film is narrated by RoboThespian, an android voiced by actor, comedian and filmmaker Simon Pegg, who introduces viewers to remarkable robots around the world. ROBOTS was produced in partnership with Lockheed Martin. Caroline at the museum did not leave B2B Insider Stranded ... four tickets for two readers.
It all comes out in the wash: One "light bulb" moment Mr. B had during college was that it was cheaper to buy more underwear and do laundry fewer times. It was a lesson for a lifetime as it has saved money and water, which needed saving until May 2015. Buy your father some underwear this Father's Day. Not just any underwear because (waist) size matters. Marcelle LeBlanc has your choice of the silkiest bikinis, briefs and boxers at any of her three The Velvet Box stores. A fourth store should be open in Lewisville by the end of July. Win one of these two $50 gift cards and you won't have to do laundry until Thanksgiving. Congratulations to June 3rd Prize Winners:
- Jeremy Byrd, Trinity Habitat for Humanity
- Elizabeth McGee, First Financial Bank
- Pamela Robinson, National Cutting Horse Association
- Paul Reuland, Quarles Lumber
Winners will be announced weekly
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HE SAID, SHE SAID, THEY SAID
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Crossing the ocean: Lynne Waters has been Veep for University Communications at the University of Texas Arlington about three months. She is back home (Highland Park/Baylor) after 30+ years in Hawaii. Yes Hawaii. "I should take a picture of the looks I get when I tell people that."
Question for Siri: After having listened to a talk about flood insurance, Robert Yarbrough of Tom's Mechanical was wondering aloud whether "atheists should be covered for acts of God."
 Get me Alicia Florrick: Some highlights if you missed the Business Assistance Center/Chamber panel discussion breakfast on employment law:
- "'At Will' is an illusion," said Monica Narvaez of Underwood Law Firm. She pointed out you still have to have written policies and procedures. Said Caroline Harrison of Cantey Hanger: "If you're not documenting employment issues, it can be an obstacle to terminating someone."
- Decker Jones attorney Leslie Hunt says she suggests ditching the 90-day probation. "It looks like you're guaranteeing a job for 90 days."
- You cannot prohibit employees from talking about salaries.
- The National Labor Relations Board website has listed suggested workplace social media policies.
- Don't allow employees access to your system off hours if you are not prepared to pay overtime.
 Veggie Tales: As an event coordinator for Healthways' Blue Zones Project, Jeka Sisco (center, blue shirt) sure is vegging out with some savory characters. How much do they get paid to dress like that?
Cleaning up after dad: Jarrod Sims is the new GM of restoration/clean-up Steamatic of Dallas/Fort Worth. Father Bill is Chairman. Standing O: Mr. B isn't paid enough for this to be a biased opinion. The Chamber's Annual Meeting was excellent, a credit to staffers that put it together and Ann Compton, an unexpectedly wonderful storyteller. She got a standing ovation, the first in Mr. B's (decreasing) memory. Some quotes:
- Outgoing Chamber chair and Texas Aggie Bob Pence of Freese and Nichols -- "Staff does all the work. We're just eye candy ...best job I've ever had."
- Incoming chair and Texas Longhorn Dee Kelly Jr. of Kelly Hart -- "Following an Aggie engineer ...to do anything will be daunting. Some big ol' Aggie War boots to fill."
- Tarrant County College Chancellor Erma Johnson Hadley, accepting Spirit of Enterprise Award for the college -- "I'm impressed by the previous companies that have won; this is great recognition for our college."
- Ann Compton was the first female White House correspondent and she covered seven Presidents during her 41 years. "The only time I got chills was during the Clinton impeachment process ... watching three branches of government handling a crisis and reminding us the system works."
Silly Gill: Very talented, but young, Gill Children's Services Executive Director Peyton Salavarria can take some ribbing. She said Gill board member David Drez "tells me that when he joined Gill's board, I had just gotten my driver's license."
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"Any regrets I carry with me are in the things I couldn't get done, but they pale in comparison to the full range of experiences I had along the way."
-- Star-Telegram columnist Bob Ray Sanders
in his May 31 retirement column
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One man's junk: Calling it "one of the cool things about my job," Junk King Fort Worth franchisee Cody Rodgers donated and delivered a truckload of gently used furniture he had picked up to the YWCA Resale Shop.
Not your father's junior college: Just in the past year, Tarrant County College profs and program providers have taken groups of students on trips to Paris, Salzburg and Italy.
 Franning the flames: Seems like a good time to ask franchise facilitator Sara Waskow at FranNet about a business that munches on mosquitoes.
Selling to sales guys: Tucker Mullins of Key Personnel says the best lead and close he ever got was at a Salesmastery/Sandler sales training event. Tucker must have learned well.
What's in your calendar? Monthologist John Fletcher, a media agency hisownself, chased down some major days for June -- (6) Drive-in movie and Yo-Yo; (8) Best friends (awww); (9) Donald Duck; (16) Fudge (yum!); (23) Let It Go (enough already); (25) The Beatles and (30) Social media (Isn't that every day?).
Running with scissors: Am-Bass-Adorables will be ribbon cutting the NextStep Women's Center at 3010 S.E. Loop 820 at 9:45 Friday morning. NextStep is a sibling to the Burleson center. Photos from many Chamber events can be seen here.
Monkeying around: 20-year-old historian Matt DeBilio, TCU junior-to-be, reports that the first zoo in Texas was Fort Worth's (1909).
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MARK YOUR CALENDARS
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SUMMER SALE: FORT WORTH: ENERGIZED FOR THE FUTURE COFFEE TABLE BOOK
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Chamber's 200-page coffee table book tells the story of our city's remarkable growth and opportunity. This hardcover book highlights Fort Worth's people, companies and diverse culture through richly photographed pages. Purchase it today for $25.00* Contact Christine Gores to purchase or for questions.
*Member price. Price excludes tax.
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