Author: Robyn Boren

DRC Member Spotlight: Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas

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Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas pays it forward: 95 days of community giving

For close to one hundred years, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX) has been more than just a health insurer in the Lone Star State – it’s been a friend and neighbor.

This year, as BCBSTX blows out 95 candles on its birthday cake, the company is celebrating in a special way. On Sept. 16, 2024, BCBSTX launched the “95 Days of Kindness” campaign, showing that its commitment to Texans goes beyond health insurance. It’s about being there for each other and making our communities healthier, happier places to live.

The “95 Days of Kindness” campaign further demonstrates BCBSTX’s dedication to community involvement. The company will partner with local nonprofits focused on sustainable improvements in health. This initiative, extending beyond traditional corporate social responsibility, showcases BCBSTX’s efforts to improve the lives of Texans.

“It’s a milestone birthday, making Texas shine brighter,” said James Springfield, BCBSTX President.

Realizing the mission

BCBSTX is committed to enhancing the health and well-being of Texans. It collaborates with a network of more than 168,000 health care professionals and 550 hospitals across Texas. Its wide-reaching network supports nearly 8 million members, providing them with access to quality, cost-effective health care.

A Texas tradition

What distinguishes BCBSTX is its legacy and member-centric structure. The company is member-owned. That means it makes long-term investments to benefit members, customers, providers, and communities, without worrying about short-term expectations of shareholders.

While BCBSTX serves all counties, it operates out of the Dallas Region with a vibrant business environment and a diverse population to serve. The company’s roots are in Dallas, where businessman Justin Ford Kimball pioneered the concept of “group hospitalization” in 1929.

That historical connection, combined with the region’s dynamic health care sector, makes it an ideal base for BCBSTX’s operations to ultimately serve the heart of Texas: its people.

A focus on care

BCBSTX is a trusted partner in health. Promoting healthy lifestyles, such as wellness initiatives and disease prevention screenings, helps reduce health care costs and improve overall outcomes.

BCBSTX’s highlights include:

    • Special Beginnings®: This expanded maternal and infant health initiative is focused on health outcomes by increasing access to care, reducing care gaps, and educating and engaging residents on a community level.
    • Blue ImpactSM Grants: Investing in and partnering with nonprofits that offer sustainable, measurable health programs.

Community engagement

BCBSTX’s approach to community engagement is multifaceted. The “95 Days of Kindness” brings this to life, involving employees from all 16 offices statewide in acts of kindness.

By partnering with local organizations, BCBSTX addresses diverse needs and brings communities together to uplift one another. Activities include:

The “95 Days of Kindness” campaign not only pays homage to the company’s long-standing history but also reaffirms its dedication to community service. The goal is clear: make a tangible difference in the lives of Texans.

Keep an eye out for more updates from BCBSTX and its community work at www.bcbstx.com, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

DRC promotes efforts to meet pediatric health needs

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By Catie George, Director, Communications & Storytelling

North Texas’ unprecedented growth presents the region with the challenge of addressing the growing and increasingly complex health care needs of our children, the number of which is expected to double by 2050. Children’s Health and UT Southwestern have joined forces to construct a state-of-the-art $5 billion new pediatric campus in Dallas.

On Thursday, Sept. 12, at the T. Boone Pickens Biomedical Building at UT Southwestern, the Dallas Regional Chamber (DRC) hosted the top leaders from Children’s Health and UT Southwestern to share more about the project. Below are some takeaways from their conversation.

The latest collaboration between two medical institutions

Christopher Durovich, Dr. Daniel Podolsky, and Steve Love discuss pediatric health care.

The new pediatric campus will not be the first collaboration between Children’s Health and UT Southwestern. This is only the latest development in their 60-plus-year relationship.

“We made the very sound decision to refresh [our] affiliation agreement in 2019,” said President and CEO of Children’s Health Christopher Durovich. “I’m personally delighted that not only were we able to accomplish that, but we got that done before the pandemic. That has given us the springboard to have the conversations that we’re having today as we jointly create the new children’s medical center here in Dallas.”

Collaboration and existing medical partnerships will be beneficial to the new center

The Dallas Region already has a well-established health care ecosystem that the new pediatric facility will draw on.

“Collaboration is important, as demonstrated by what Children’s Health and UT Southwestern are doing,” said Steve Love, President and CEO of the Dallas-Fort Worth Hospital Council. “We’re very blessed in this community that all the hospitals collaborate and work together. I only point to the pandemic to show you how they worked collectively, so they could serve the needs of the people of North Texas.”

A new type of pediatric facility

According to Durovich, the pediatric facility will be different from other medical institutions, and it will help set Dallas apart by reimagining what care can look like.

“We’re going to incorporate the most cutting-edge science and lay the groundwork to be sure we’ll continue to make the technology available for the children cared for there, state of the art,” said President of UT Southwestern Medical Facility Dr. Daniel K. Podolsky. “This is the opportunity to build a hospital and a facility differently, form following function. And that’s the real opportunity.”

DRC COO and CFO Angela Farley reflects on the program.

Children’s Health and UT Southwestern also collaborated on the new state behavioral health hospital

They also recently collaborated on UT Southwestern’s Texas Behavioral Health Center, Texas’ first state behavioral health hospital. Children’s Health provided more than 90 beds for youth psychiatric treatment via a $200 million donation.

The DRC also helped to secure funding in the 88th Texas Legislative Session for the Behavioral Health Center.

“We’re very proud to have been part of the coalition that worked for the last few legislative sessions to get funding for the UT Southwestern-operated Behavioral Health Hospital that will serve the Dallas Region,” said DRC COO and CFO Angela Farley. “One of our favorite things about living and working here in the region is these kinds of collaborations.”

To learn how to become a part of the DRC’s Executive Circle, email us at memberinfo@dallaschamber.org.

Career Management Partners’ Maryanne Piña: “Hispanic Heritage Month fills me with immense pride”

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By Chatashia Brown, Director, Diversity, Inclusion & Community Engagement

Hispanic Heritage Month offers Maryanne Piña, CEO of Career Management Partners, a moment to reflect on the rich culture she grew up with and the sacrifices her parents made to provide a better life for their family.

“Growing up, I saw the hard work and resilience it took for my family to build a new life in this country,” she said. “This month is about recognizing that journey, celebrating our roots, and sharing our heritage with others.”

Maryanne believes that celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month within her organization and the broader community is a responsibility and a privilege. Her team offers a series of free resources to help empower Latino professionals in their careers, including personalized career assessments and industry insights.

“We’re proud to offer these opportunities,” she said. “By investing in the growth of Latino talent, we’re helping to build a more inclusive workforce.”

Maryanne also believes that businesses have a pivotal role in advocating for Hispanic and Latino inclusion, and it starts with creating a workplace where employees feel safe to share their experiences.

“Psychological safety is key. If employees feel they can voice their ideas and concerns without fear, they’re more likely to be engaged,” she noted.

Maryanne’s work extends beyond the walls of her own organization. She encourages businesses to partner with Hispanic/Latino groups such as ALPFA Dallas, Prospanica Dallas, or the SMU Latino Leadership Institute. These partnerships can help companies raise awareness about the issues facing the Latino community and highlight significant contributions to the workforce.

Mentorship, according to Maryanne, is also essential to advancing Hispanic/Latino professionals and creating a more inclusive environment for talent to thrive.

“Mentorship offers guidance, support, and opportunities for career growth,” she explained. “Organizations can foster effective mentorship by thoughtfully pairing mentors and mentees, providing cultural competence training, and implementing structured programs with clear goals.”

Looking ahead, Maryanne is optimistic about the future of Hispanic/Latino representation in business and leadership roles in the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) region. She sees a growing number of skilled Hispanic/Latino professionals ready to take on leadership positions, fueled by the region’s increasing emphasis on inclusive practices.

“There is a strong push for more diversity in leadership, and I believe we’ll see more Hispanic/Latino entrepreneurs, executives, and community leaders shaping our economy and culture,” she said. “The DFW area is poised to become a hub for diverse leadership, reflecting the community’s rich cultural heritage and contributions.”

Her advice for young Hispanic/Latino professionals who aspire to be leaders is simple but powerful: “Pursue your core needs, think big, build your networks, and take that leap of faith—because there are no regrets in pursuing greatness.”

Through her leadership and advocacy, Maryanne is helping to create a future where more Hispanic/Latino professionals can succeed, thrive, and lead.

To learn more about Career Management Partners, visit their website.

To learn more about the work the DRC’s Diversity, Inclusion & Community Engagement team is doing, visit our website.

VisioTech’s CEO Tiffani Martin: it’s never too late to focus on accessibility

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By Nicole Ward, Data Journalist, Research & Innovation

In the Dallas Regional Chamber’s continuing celebration of National Disability Employment Awareness Month, Founder and CEO of VisioTech Tiffani Martin shared her experience as a blind entrepreneur.

She leads a social impact technology company focused on helping others address their accessibility needs.

“In simple terms, we help companies become more inclusive through AI and other technologies,” said Martin. “We ensure that everyone, regardless of ability, can access and enjoy digital experiences.”

VisioTech’s innovative approach is inspired by real life.

“Led by those who understand firsthand, we align our organization with the needs of our entire customer base, building deeper connections and making a lasting, positive impact,” said Martin.

Some companies believe that becoming more accessible will be too difficult and costly to offset the benefits. Martin shared that it is okay not to know exactly how to become more inclusive of the disability community – there are plenty of people and organizations that can help. It is the effort that matters.

“When I think about integrating accessibility into a business strategy, it is about embracing inclusion and equity. This means hiring decision-makers with disabilities in key roles to ensure diverse perspectives shape our decisions,” said Martin. “When businesses embrace accessibility, they are not just complying with laws—they are creating spaces where every person feels valued and included.”

While Martin’s company specializes in accessibility tools designed for a subsect of people, they are often a benefit to everyone. For example, video call captions enable people who are deaf or hard of hearing to follow along, but also benefit people who struggle to make sense of large amounts of spoken information.

“Some organizations have taken meaningful steps to hire more employees with disabilities and honor their rights and accommodations, creating a more inclusive culture,” she said. “However, in many cases, progress is slow, and there is still a gap between awareness and action.”

To learn more about VisioTech, visit their website.

To learn more about the DRC’s work in Diversity, Inclusion & Community Engagement, visit our website. Also, explore our Disability Inclusion Toolkit.

Takeaways from DRC’s State of Public Education: “The modern citizenship demands more from us”

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By Catie George, Director, Communications & Storytelling

The Dallas Regional Chamber (DRC) hosted its annual State of Public Education, presented by Toyota North America and The Commit Partnership, Wednesday, Sept. 17, at the Arts District Mansion. Subject matter experts discussed challenges and opportunities facing public education ahead of the 89th Texas Legislative Session in 2025. Below are some main points from their discussions.

Schools need high-quality instructional materials and educational initiatives

Commissioner Mike Morath and Commit Partnership President Miguel Solis.

In a modernizing economy, education must evolve to address post-graduation needs.

“With the rapid pace of evolution in our industry, and in all industries across the world, preparing the workforce for the jobs of tomorrow is our obligation. We can’t fail the next generations,” said Toyota Motor North America’s Director of Government Affairs Lori McMahon.

The more schools can prepare well-educated students, the more likely they will become financially independent and successful.

“All [post-secondary credentials] have been shown to command a significant wage premium,” said Commit Partnership President Miguel Solis. “That makes it more likely that those young people can support themselves and their families. The challenge is that currently, only a fraction of our K-12 students attain a post-secondary degree.”

Therefore, schools must receive quality educational materials to adequately prepare students for life after high school graduation.

“If school is going to be the great equalizer, we need make sure that every decision that we make is the most evidence-based and it equips the most of our kids for the journeys and rigors of modern America,” said Texas Education Agency Commissioner Mike Morath. “We’ve got to get high-quality instructional materials [into] the hands of our teachers… That’s exactly what’s happening in schools now in all of Texas because of something from [Representative] Brad Buckley: [he] passed a game-changing law to ensure that our teachers have access to the best curriculum resources possible.”

That begins with grade-level content. A study conducted by the Texas Education Agency found that fewer than 1 in 5 Texas classrooms were using lessons on or above grade level. A new state law approved by the Texas legislature in 2023 provides school districts with the option to utilize a pool of centralized curricula to ensure classroom materials meet grade-level rigor.

School performance should be measured

Representative Brad Buckley.

Yearly standardized testing helps show how students are shaping up against state standards and illustrates the impact of strategic state investments, including recent legislative funding for high-quality instructional materials. Results from the most recent standardized State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness, or STAAR, test show that roughly half of Texas students meet grade-level expectations on most critical benchmarks.

Notably, Texas has a 90% four-year high school graduation rate – among the ten highest graduation rates in the country. Yet six years later, only a third of Texas students have attained a postsecondary credential.

While outcomes are largely improving – especially compared to pandemic-era declines – they are insufficient to address workforce and economic needs.

“These numbers are as good as they’ve ever been,” said Morath. “[But] the modern citizenship demands more from us.”

Assessment data is critical to measuring the impact of public investments in education and informing future strategies based on what is known to improve student achievement.

“What is very clear when we spend $80 billion a year of public money on this enterprise is we have to be focused on whether it is working. This is what we morally owe our children,” said Morath. “It really does all start with making sure that all our children can read and read with high degrees of proficiency.”

Financing schools is an ongoing process

Public school finance is set to be a central topic in the upcoming state legislative session, which will start in January. Lawmakers are working to provide public schools with more funds, as the last increase in public school funding came in 2019.

“I’m working very hard on a school finance bill. I’ve had significant conversations with other leaders to make certain that we provide the resources necessary for our public schools,” said Representative and Texas House Public Education Committee Chairman Brad Buckley in a conversation with Courtney Collins, Senior Editor at KERA. “I look forward to advancing that conversation. And I think it’s also important to know that it is not simply me. Nearly every member that I speak with, regardless of party, wants to make sure that we bring those resources to our public schools.”

The importance of community engagement in schools

Speakers emphasized the importance of the business community getting involved in public schools and helping prepare students for the workforce with their expertise.

DRC President & CEO Dale Petroskey.

“There’s so much talent in this room. You have your talent and your time… Be generous with it,” said Chairman Buckley. “Engage with your local schools. If you’re a business owner… go introduce [students] to what you do.”

There was also an acknowledgment of how unique the Dallas Region’s business community’s involvement already is.

“The DRC is proud to advocate for our public schools every day,” said DRC President and CEO Dale Petroskey. “And we’re fortunate to have a business community that gets involved and leans into our public schools.”

Thank you to our co-presenting sponsors, Toyota North America and The Commit Partnership. Thank you to our silver sponsors, Oncor and West Coast University Texas.

To learn more about the work the DRC is doing in Education, Talent & Workforce, visit our website.

North Texas Disability Chamber’s Dylan Rafaty: moving from talk to action in Disability Inclusion

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By Nicole Ward, Data Journalist, Research & Innovation

Dylan Rafaty speaking at a DEIA summit.

The Dallas Regional Chamber (DRC) began researching the disability community in 2023 and launched our Disability Inclusion Toolkit in June of this year. One of the DRC’s partners in this work has been the North Texas Disability Chamber (NTXDC), founded by Dylan Rafaty.

Rafaty is the President and CEO of NTXDC, a nonprofit organization that seeks to unite people of all abilities and strengthen the disability community through strategic partnerships.

For Rafaty, disability inclusion is personal. He is deaf in his right ear and hard of hearing in his left. He also has spinal fusions in his back and neck.

In recognizing Disability Employment Awareness Month, Rafaty shared his insight and recommendations for the business community to improve disability inclusion.

Every business is on its own journey to support employees with disabilities. While disability is a vast topic that can seem intimidating, Rafaty offered three guiding principles that leaders of organizations can use to ground themselves:

      1. Ensure that opportunities for employment and advancement are readily available and accessible to employees with disabilities, and communicate this through multiple channels;
      2. Enable employees with disabilities at all levels of the organization to give feedback and input; and
      3. Partner with philanthropic organizations in the accessibility space for their expertise and assistance.

“You can also look to other companies for guidance,” said Rafaty. “I encourage corporate, business, and nonprofit leaders alike to observe, listen, learn, and adapt. There’s a lot of opportunity, and it’s work that cannot be done alone. The journey can be challenging, but to know that you created an environment where everyone feels valuable and can work to their full potential is incredibly rewarding.”

It’s essential to have leaders committed to disability inclusion not only because it looks good, but because disability inclusion is more than a public relations tactic.

“A lot of companies say they support including people with disabilities, but we need to move from talk to action, and that starts with commitment from the C-suite,” said Rafaty. “Leadership must pivot to an accessibility-first policy for both physical and digital landscapes. In other words, supporting employees with disabilities shouldn’t be an afterthought.”

While Disability Employment Awareness Month is officially recognized in October, Rafaty emphasized that this is a year-round issue the disability community faces.

“This work is ongoing and cannot be done alone,” he said.

To learn more about the North Texas Disability Chamber’s work, visit their website.

Visit the DRC’s website to learn more about our own Disability inclusion work.

DRC’s 19th Annual Congressional Forum: takeaways from the lively discussion

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By Catie George, Director, Communications & Storytelling

The Dallas Regional Chamber (DRC) hosted its 19th annual Congressional Forum, presented by Ryan LLC, Thursday, Aug. 29, at the Hyatt Regency Dallas. In a lively panel discussion, two Republicans and two Democrats shared the federal perspective on the future of Texas with an audience of more than 300 business and policy leaders.

Congresswoman Beth Van Duyne, Congressman Keith Self, Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett, and Congressman Marc Veasey discussed infrastructure, inflation, workforce, and North Texas’ growth.

Read the key points from the bipartisan discussion, hosted by Sewell Chan, Editor in Chief of the Texas Tribune, below.

The Dallas delegation is on the world stage.

Congressman Marc Veasey, Congresswoman Beth Van Duyne, Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett, and Congressman Keith Self in conversation with Sewell Chan.

Congresswoman Crockett’s appearance at the DRC’s event came fresh on the heels of her role at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago as the first Black female freshman member of Congress allotted a speaking spot during the convention. As the Forum concluded, Congresswoman Crockett was named national co-chair for Vice President Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign.

Shortly after the Forum, Congresswoman Van Duyne was selected by the Texas GOP as the 2024 Victory Chair.

The discussion centered around North Texas: our progress and our challenges.

In the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) Region, there has been record growth in recent years, with North Texas set to become the third-largest metropolitan area in the U.S. by 2028.

“In the nation, McKinney is the number one real estate market. Frisco is the number two real estate market. Allen is the number nine real estate market in the nation,” said Congressman Self, who represents Collin County.

While this growth is welcomed, it also causes some growing pains.

“We have this region that is one of the fastest growing in the entire country,” said Congressman Veasey. “But a lot of the challenges that we face around transportation, around affordable housing, around quality education, all of those are going to be very real, and we’re going to have to figure out how we want to rise to the occasion because I don’t think the work is going to stop anytime soon.”

Issues like the electric grid, transportation, and housing were all raised as areas to address.

“You continue to add people to the state who are demanding more energy on this broken grid that still is not fixed,” said Congresswoman Crockett. “That is actually a really big problem.”

Specifically, some of these issues were also discussed within the context of the high inflation people are experiencing, with Congressman Self stating that housing costs, both renting and buying, are “a reflection of the inflation.”

“My focus has been on economic development, providing opportunities for our residents and making sure people have the best opportunities for the future and the safest community possible,” said Congresswoman Van Duyne, adding that inflation “is crippling” North Texas businesses.

Amid an election season that national storylines have dominated, the conversation became animated at times when touching on topics such as immigration and spending as lawmakers sought to balance their party’s positions with the needs of their constituents. Immigration particularly sparked passionate exchanges, with stricter enforcement of the border and the need for comprehensive legal immigration reform to address labor shortages taking center stage.

“I don’t know anybody in this room who is not for immigration,” said Congresswoman Van Duyne. “What we don’t want is we don’t want to see illegal immigration, where we are putting a burden on communities that already cannot handle what they have.”

Congressman Veasey, Congresswoman Duyne, Congresswoman Crockett, Congressman Self, and Chan.

The Dallas Region is thriving in life sciences and CHIPS Manufacturing.

Positively, the panel discussed DFW’s many wins in the life sciences and biotech spheres, specifically regarding the ARPA-H’s selection of Texas for its Customer Experience Hub and the site’s physical location at Pegasus Park in Dallas, partially due to the DRC’s involvement in the process.

“Most people don’t fully understand the impact of [the hub],” said Congresswoman Crockett, whose district is home to Pegasus Park. “The reason that it matters is because… this is all about research and biomedical and engineering, all things vital… Almost the entire North Texas delegation, Democrats and Republicans, came together to make this happen. We are talking about jobs, and we are talking about increasing access to health care.”

Part of the reason Texas was awarded the ARPA-H Hub is because of regional talent.

“I think that what we’re seeing is that we have the knowledge base right here in North Texas that is integral to making sure that we can work specifically in these STEM spaces,” said Congresswoman Crockett.

Dallas was also chosen as the site of the Texoma Semiconductor Tech Hub. More recently, Texas Instruments (TI) was awarded a $1.6 billion CHIPS grant. TI and other Dallas-based companies are instrumental in the continued vitality of Dallas’ life sciences and CHIPS manufacturing industries.

Thank you to our Presenting Sponsor Ryan LLC, Media Sponsor KRLD, Gold Sponsor American Airlines, and Silver Sponsors Amazon, Southwest Airlines, and Lockheed Martin.

To read additional coverage of Congressional Forum, visit the recaps by NBC, WFAA, KRLD, and KERA.

To learn more about the work the DRC’s Public Policy team is doing, visit our website.

Life Sciences in DFW: Collaboration is key

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By Catie George, Director, Communications and Storytelling

The Dallas Regional Chamber (DRC) recently participated in a life sciences panel at the fourth annual Kaufman Economic Summit. The DRC’s Kelly Cloud and Kevin Shatley discussed the Dallas Region’s rising status as a powerhouse for life sciences and biotechnology innovation with Jennifer Dworak, electrical and computer engineering professor at Southern Methodist University.

“There are many key assets here, but because we have so many, people don’t realize that we’re so well suited for them,” said Cloud, the Vice President of Economic Development, Life Sciences. “It’s just taking that regional effort to operate and get all the connectivity and clear lines to the resources.”

Kevin Shatley, Jennifer Dworak, and Kelly Cloud.

The panel discussion focused on the region’s two major recent wins: The Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health’s (ARPA-H) announcement that Texas will be home to the Customer Experience Hub, with the hub site physically located at Dallas’ Pegasus Park, and the White House and the U.S. Department of Commerce designating Dallas as a tech hub, the only winning bid in Texas. Specifically, SMU was designated as the Texoma Semiconductor Tech Hub.

“The reason why we’re able to get the Texas Semiconductor Hub and ARPA-H is that it boils down to continued collaboration, and it’s not just Dallas. It’s the region as a whole,” said Dworak. “It’s connecting throughout the region of different aspects and different resources and having not only our industry diversity but the diversity of our people, of our population, of our expertise, and being willing to lean on each other and engage rather than standing in silos. That’s how we’ve benefited, and I think that’s how we keep getting these wins.”

Cloud’s role as the first industry-specific economic development specialist for the region, developed only last year, is to support the efforts of life sciences and biotech companies to expand to the Dallas Region.

“We are very lucky to land [ARPA-H] here, and we did that through collaboration throughout the state,” said Cloud. “We built a consortium similar to the Texoma Semiconductor Hub and worked throughout the state and nationally to show we understand this is a national program because it will affect the whole nation, and we have stakeholders throughout the nation. It’s very easy when you’re in the center of the United States; with the most direct flights in the country, you can get to either coast in under four hours. Where else are you going to scale something national?”

Collaboration makes the Dallas Region stand out and attracts more life sciences projects like these.

“The correspondence and the connections between biotech and semiconductors strengthen our region. If you look at our tech hub, we are a consortium. We started at this time last year, and we had about 41 members for our initial designation proposal,” said Dworak. “Since then, we’ve continued to grow, and we currently have 58 members. And these go all the way from industry, universities, community colleges, workforce development, economic development, corporations, to city governments. It’s all these different aspects that make our region so strong.”

The fourth annual Kaufman Economic Summit.

The DRC works directly with companies, location consultants, and local and state allies to ensure companies and talent enjoy an ecosystem that promotes innovation and helps them grow and prosper, serving as a single point of contact for those examining the Dallas Region.

“Kelly leads the life science industry outreach and support for the DRC, guiding companies through advanced resources and a diverse life science ecosystem in the Dallas Region,” said Shatley, Vice President of Economic Development for the DRC. “In Texas, Kelly collaborates with local, regional, and state economic development partners, life science ecosystem members, and organizations to partner and support life science companies. She is passionate about her mission to help companies and their employees find a home where they can thrive.”

To learn more about the Life Sciences work the DRC is doing, visit our website.

DRC Expert: Disability inclusion is good for your bottom line

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By Nicole Ward, Data Journalist, Research & Innovation

The Dallas Regional Chamber (DRC) is committed to creating a more prosperous future for all people.

That’s why we launched our Disability Inclusion Toolkit in June and continue championing this work.

Nicole Ward on the Leadership and Invisible Differences panel in Florida.

Starting conversations about disability inclusion

We started researching the disability community in 2023 and found that it is one of the most overlooked and undervalued groups of people globally.

According to the CDC, one in four people in the U.S. has a disability. Typically, when something impacts a large group of people, there’s a commensurate amount of attention given to it, but we found the opposite. Though there are some public and private examples of disability inclusion, an absence of conversation is the norm.

Disability inclusion is complicated; no one wants to say or do something wrong. Our goal with the DRC’s Disability Inclusion Toolkit and related blogs is to provide insights and resources to take some of the mystery and fear out of this topic.

Personal stories, common takeaways

I had the chance to bring the DRC to Florida in August when I joined two other panelists discussing the future of work and invisible differences at the Prosper Forum. We each articulated the experiences that shaped our points of view; I spoke about having a non-apparent disability.

“My deficits are like Swiss cheese,” I said onstage. “Through the years, the residual effects of my injury have appeared inconsistently and, sometimes, unpredictably.”

I shared how I constantly evaluate lighting, sound, and the activity around me against how it might impact my balance, cognition, and communication ability. No two situations are exactly alike.

Differences can take on many forms or not look like anything at all. Examples of differences spoken about included being part of the LGBTQ+ community, being married to someone of a different faith, and having children that reflect two or more cultures. These differences exist and persist, regardless of their visibility to others.

Disability inclusion in the workplace

Since launching the Disability Inclusion Toolkit, we have received positive feedback from organizations and individuals who tell us we’re on the right track and that there is a desire for more content.

While people with disabilities tend to be naturally creative and innovative, traits that organizations say they look for, we found that job opportunities come along less frequently and typically don’t pay as well.

But a 2023 Accenture study shows companies that prioritize disability inclusion typically see:

      • 1.6 times more revenue;
      • 2.6 times more net income;
      • two times more profit.

That makes disability inclusion not just a nice thing to do – but a must-do for any organization that wants to stay competitive in the future. The DRC is here to help.

To learn more about the work our Diversity, Inclusion & Community Engagement team is doing about disability inclusion, visit our website.

 

2024 Principal for a Day: An invitation to connect

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By Sara Medina, Director, Education & Workforce

Principal for a Day (PFAD), presented by Capital One, is a joint program by the Dallas Regional Chamber and Dallas Independent School District (Dallas ISD). PFAD provides business and community leaders an opportunity to step into the shoes of a Dallas ISD principal to understand the challenges they face and find new ways to work more closely with the school district.

This year’s PFAD is on Thursday, Oct. 3, across Dallas ISD schools, and will end with an After Class Reception, presented by Amazon. Here is what you can expect as a volunteer principal.

Experience a day in the life of a Dallas ISD principal

For a school principal, no two days are ever the same. From the moment they step through the doors, they’re met with a whirlwind of responsibilities that impact students, faculty, and staff. It is not uncommon for a principal to shift roles throughout the day – an administrator one moment to a counselor the next.

Jorge Calderon talking to students during 2023’s Principal for a Day.

Because every day is different for a principal, each PFAD participant will have a unique experience. Volunteer principals can expect to make announcements, visit classes, address students and staff about their industry or personal career journey, and shadow principals as they attend to the day’s unique challenges.

For participants who wish to expand their involvement with Dallas ISD, PFAD is more than a one-day event; it’s a launching point for future collaboration.

Taking Principal for a Day beyond the classroom

For PFAD sponsors Capital One and Amazon, their involvement with Dallas ISD doesn’t end after the day is done.

Capital One, in addition to their presenting sponsorship of PFAD, is a proud Pathways in Technology Early College High School (P-TECH) partner at Moisés E. Molina High School and North Dallas High School. As a P-TECH partner, Capital One helps students receive postsecondary credit in related industries – including business administration and information technology – at no cost. They also recently hosted a P-TECH Summit, connecting more than 160 Dallas ISD P-TECH students with critical job readiness skills and information about careers in technology.

“PFAD is only the beginning for many participants. Capital One has been able to establish a long-term relationship with Dallas ISD through PFAD and ongoing volunteerism,” said Jorge Calderon, Dallas Market President for Capital One. “Through this relationship, we’ve discovered innovative strategies to support Dallas ISD while addressing our own priorities, such as strengthening our workforce pipeline through internships and work-based learning initiatives.”

Capital One, in collaboration with the National Academy Foundation (NAF) and the University of Texas at Dallas, also supports Dallas-area students through the NAF Future Ready Labs, an innovative internship concept designed to extend meaningful, hands-on work experiences to high school students in industries like finance, technology, architecture, film, and more.

Similarly, Amazon sponsors the Amazon Future Engineer Program nationwide, a childhood-to-career initiative designed to inspire and educate millions of students each year from underrepresented and historically underserved communities to build life-changing skills that leverage computer science and coding.

Vickie Yakunin talking about the Amazon Future Engineer Program to students.

Through this initiative, Amazon has provided eight Dallas ISD students with $40,000 scholarships to pursue computer science or engineering degrees at the college or university of their choice. In addition to the $40,000 in scholarship funds, students also receive a paid internship at Amazon after their freshman year of college.

Amazon has also hosted career fairs at Dallas ISD’s Townview Magnet Center, bringing in Amazon leaders to discuss their career journeys in STEM and emphasizing the importance of computer science education.

“It is important to expose students of all ages to STEM education, including making investments in early childhood education, where impact is the most profound,” said Vickie Yakunin, Head of Community Affairs for Amazon in Texas. “It all starts with PFAD. You won’t know how to get involved until you take the first step.”

How to get involved

Interested in becoming Principal for a Day? Email education@dallaschamber.org to obtain the credentials to the password-protected Dallas ISD application portal.

Engaging with cultural holidays: September & October 2024

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By Chatashia Brown, Director, Diversity, Inclusion and Community Engagement 

Hispanic Heritage Month 

Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated annually in the United States from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15. Coinciding with the Independence Day celebrations of several Latin American countries, including El Salvador, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Mexico, and many others, this observance honors the culture, history, and contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans. Hispanic Heritage Month began as Hispanic Heritage Week and was later extended to a month-long celebration in 1988. This year, the National Hispanic Heritage Month Theme is “Pioneers of Change: Shaping the Future Together.” 

Best practices for celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month in the workplace: 

      • Feature employee stories and contributions. Create and provide opportunities for Hispanic and Latino employees to share their traditions, stories, and experiences. This can be achieved through company newsletters, social media highlights, or special events/meetings where employees can present aspects of their culture. 
      • Engage in community support initiatives. Encourage employees to support Hispanic-owned businesses through internal promotion or coordinated events. Further, consider volunteering or making a financial contribution to nonprofit organizations that empower Hispanic and Latino communities. 
      • Celebrate with cultural events. Host events that provide employees with an opportunity to experience Hispanic and Latino culture through partnerships with local Hispanic organizations to provide authentic experiences.  

Read, watch, and listen: 

Events: 

National Disability Employment Awareness Month  

National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) is observed annually in October in the United States to highlight and raise awareness about disability employment issues and celebrate the contributions of workers with disabilities. NDEAM began as a week-long event in 1945 and expanded into a month-long celebration in 1998. The U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy leads the observance each year with a theme to focus on specific aspects of disability employment. This year’s theme is “Access to Good Jobs for All.” 

Best practices for acknowledging national disability employment awareness month in the workplace: 

      • Participate in disability mentoring day. Hosted on the third Wednesday of October each year, Disability Mentoring Day promotes career development for youth with disabilities through mentorship, job shadowing, and hands-on programs.  
      • Review company policies. Ensure that your organization includes and implements policies that foster commitment to an inclusive workplace culture.  
      • Educate employees. To foster an inclusive workplace, you must have committed employees. You can provide employee education through brown bag lunch seminars or other informal events. Contact local disability organizations to partner and facilitate a training seminar or provide your employees with ready-to-use resources and videos for further education.  

Read and watch: 

Events: 

World Mental Health Day 

Initiated by the World Federation for Mental Health in 1992, World Mental Health Day is observed each year on Oct. 10, to promote mental health education, awareness, and advocacy. This year’s theme is “It’s Time to Promote Mental Health in the Workplace,” with the goal of championing mental health in the workplace and building best practices to foster a positive work culture and productive team.  

Best practices for acknowledging world mental health day in the workplace: 

      • Visit the World Federation for Mental Health website. This website is updated each year with toolkits, virtual courses, and resources to promote mental health awareness. With this year’s theme highlighting mental health in the workplace, be sure to visit the website for ready-to-use resources.  
      • Promote mental health resources. Provide employees or team members with information about available mental health resources in your workplace, including counseling services, mindfulness programs, or employee assistance programs.  
      • Encourage breaks. Encourage employees to take regular breaks and participate in relaxing activities. Organize a mindfulness session or take a brief walk outside with your team to reduce stress throughout the day.  

Read and watch: 

Events: 

DRC Expert: Our approach to international economic development work

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Senior Vice President of Economic Development Mike Rosa.

By Mike Rosa, Senior Vice President, Economic Development

This year has featured two international economic development missions for the Dallas Regional Chamber (DRC). Both January and July saw me join Governor Greg Abbott on week-long missions abroad, first to India, then to Taiwan, South Korea, and Japan.

These trips were each assembled by the Texas Economic Development Corporation (TxEDC), a privately funded marketing organization led by President and CEO Aaron Demerson, of which the DRC is a member—made possible by our Tomorrow Fund investors.

Governor Abbott and Secretary of State Jane Nelson led both the India mission and East Asia trip, during which we were joined by First Lady Cecilia Abbott. In India, we visited Mumbai and New Delhi. Our East Asia trek began in Taipei, then Seoul, before ending in Japan with stops in Nagoya and Tokyo. In East Asia, we were joined by DRC allies from Fort Worth, Irving, McKinney, and more. On both missions, we spent our days meeting with major companies and business organizations.

A snapshot of our travels.

The agenda for the East Asia mission in July was fully loaded and fast-paced. We would land in the country and shuttle straight to the first meeting while a herd of luggage took a different bus to the hotel to wait for us.

The trip’s theme was relationship-building. It featured the opening of the State of Texas office in Taiwan and meetings with significant companies and prominent business organizations, including those with new offices in our region.

I especially enjoyed visiting the home of Toyota in Nagoya. Ten years later, the announcement of Toyota’s North American headquarters move to Plano remains incredibly special to the DRC.

Gov. Abbott was remarkable in representing the State of Texas at every meeting, each time with remarks tailored to those present. As I headed for rest at the end of each long day, I knew the Governor was just beginning a double shift on Texas time to deal with issues back home.

Taking a selective approach to international missions.

Lately, when the DRC travels internationally, we’ve been joining TxEDC trips, including the two this year and a fall 2022 mission to Europe. The well-planned trips create opportunities for corporate location and expansion into our region. However, these are not our only forms of international effort.

Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) International Airport has led trips joined by the cities of Dallas and Fort Worth (the two co-owner cities of the airport), the DRC, and others focusing on air service development and incorporating economic development and tourism. Bombardier Recreational Products (makers of Ski-Doo, Sea-Doo, Can-Am, and other popular equipment) established its headquarters in Plano after first engaging the DRC on a DFW Airport mission to Canada.

The DRC has built its own trips, joined by regional communities and other strategic partners. On one, we met with Louis Vuitton in France, a decisive step before the company selected our region for a major new facility.

Less often, we attend international conferences or travel outside of the U.S. to meet one specific company actively considering our region.

Rosa with Gov. Abbott.

We are economic development-minded when traveling internationally and focus on one or more of these priorities:

      • Supporting new and existing international direct flights to open gateways to the world.
      • Developing international corporate location opportunities—we only join or build trips where we have an opportunity for success and where corporate or trade ties with DFW and Texas already exist. For example, the DRC has multiple active location projects with companies from each of the three countries visited on the July trip.
      • Representing the DFW region and the DRC’s brand – leading or showing up when DRC members, the Governor, or our state and regional allies need and expect us.
      • Supporting new and existing consulates and trade offices.

We do not join or build missions strictly for cultural exchange, tourism, or business-to-business matchmaking.

International trips help the DRC build its domestic agenda.

The two trips I’ve taken this year inspire some work ahead of the DRC. In 2025, we will update our data, information, and presentations on DFW’s international corporate base, global trade, and assets for international corporate locations.

We will also freshen a 2016 DRC internal study that used multiple variables to determine the countries and companies that offer the most opportunity for corporate locations in our region—in other words, where we go and who we meet.

In 2016, the United Kingdom, Japan, France, Canada, and Germany ranked in the top five. Much has changed in just eight years, so we will verify and reorder the countries where our energy is best spent in 2025 and beyond.

These updates will guide us to effectively join international missions and build DRC-led missions with our regional allies and partners in 2025 and beyond.

To learn more about the DRC’s work in Prosperity & Economic Development, visit our website.

DRC Member Spotlight: BrainXchange

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Emily Sitnikova, Partner & Head of Content at BrainXchange, tells us about the Augmented Enterprise Summit, the leading enterprise-focused extended reality (XR)/spatial computing conference and expo since 2015. This year, the summit will take place Oct. 15-17.

Tell us about BrainXChange.

BrainXchange is a business-to-business conference company dedicated to advancing emerging technologies like XR, digital twins, and artificial intelligence in enterprises. To that end, we host the Augmented Enterprise Summit, an annual event bringing together Fortune 1000 technology decision-makers to discuss the applications and challenges of XR at work. In addition to the comprehensive educational program featuring enterprise end users from the world’s biggest companies, we offer a curated expo of enterprise-grade spatial computing and related solutions.

What differentiates your company from others in your industry?

Augmented Enterprise is the original and still leading enterprise XR event. There’s no gaming or entertainment here, just real enterprises already using or interested in XR and related emerging tech for applications like remote work, training, collaboration, product design, asset management, marketing, and safety. Accordingly, the expo features solutions that are ready to be deployed in today’s work environments, including hardware and software from big names (like Meta and HTC) and rising startups, all catering to enterprises.

What is something upcoming at your company that you would like to share?

The 11th Augmented Enterprise Summit is coming up Oct. 15-17, 2024, at the Hyatt Regency Dallas. Speakers include innovators from American Airlines, BP, Coca-Cola, CVS Health, FedEx, General Motors, Lockheed Martin, Ryder, Ulta Beauty, and Walmart; while Meta, Qualcomm, HTC VIVE, Lenovo, Nokia, RealWear, XREAL, Zappar, and more are exhibiting. Learn more by visiting the website www.augmentedenterprisesummit.com.

How can regional businesses get engaged with your company?

Augmented Enterprise is a cross-industry event open to professionals at any stage of the XR adoption journey. Representatives from Dallas companies like Abbott, Balfour Beatty, ExxonMobil, Ericsson, Raytheon, JPMorgan Chase & Co., and 7-Eleven are already signed up to attend.

If you qualify as an enterprise end user and want to learn how XR can improve operations, support the workforce, and address new and legacy pain points for your business, apply for a guest pass. For other inquiries, contact us here.

What are some reasons to attend the upcoming Augmented Enterprise Summit?

 

      1. Over 95 speakers: Technology and transformation leaders from the world’s most well-known companies.
      2. Over 80 exhibitors with enterprise-tested XR and related emerging technology solutions, including prominent names like Meta and Lenovo and rising startups—all vetted by us.
      3. A timely program of informative, interactive panel discussions and exclusive, exemplary case studies.

DRC Expert: Delay of PK-12 ratings complicates school evaluations for parents, businesses

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Jarrad Toussant, Senior Vice President, Education & Workforce 

DRC Senior Vice President of Education and Workforce Jarrad Toussant.

Legal battles continue to disrupt the administration of Texas’ A-F Accountability Ratings, the statewide evaluation system for PK-12 schools. The complete ratings were last released in 2019, meaning parents and companies alike have not had a comprehensive look at school and district performance in five years.

The Dallas Regional Chamber (DRC) is advocating for a swift resolution to this latest legal challenge to restore this critical component of Texas’ public education system and transparency for stakeholders. The DRC applauds school districts, including Dallas ISD, Garland ISD, and Irving ISD in the Dallas Region that have demonstrated their commitment to transparency and accountability by proactively releasing their A-F ratings despite the pending legal challenge.

Here is what the business community needs to know about this developing situation—and indicators of school performance you can look to in the absence of A-F ratings.   

What’s happening? 

On Monday, Aug. 12, a Travis County District Judge issued a temporary restraining order against the Texas Education Agency (TEA), preventing the planned Thursday, Aug. 15 release of A-F ratings for campuses and districts from the 2023-24 school year. This lawsuit is the latest development in a legal dispute that began in October 2023, when a coalition of more than 100 school districts sued the TEA over changes to the accountability system’s structure. The latest lawsuit, filed by five school districts, alleges that assessment results – which inform A-F ratings – are flawed due to the use of an automated scoring system for students’ written responses.  

Several school districts, including Dallas ISD, Garland ISD, and Irving ISD in the Dallas Region, have released their own campus and district A-F ratings while legal proceedings unfold.

The state’s A-F Accountability System provides a tool to interpret school performance, synthesizing student outcome data into letter-grade ratings at both the campus and district level.  

Yet, because of disruptions from the pandemic and the 2023 lawsuit, the last full release of A-F ratings was in 2019. The TEA released partial A-F results in 2022, but COVID-19 heavily skewed the ratings.  

How are our schools performing? 

Dallas ISD, according to internal projections, is expected to receive a “C” rating – a 79 compared to a projected 76 from last school year. Notably, Dallas ISD reports that the number of high schools earning an “A” or “B” rating has almost doubled year-over-year, and that no Dallas ISD high school is expected to receive a failing grade. Garland ISD expects to receive a “B” rating, on par with its projected results from 2022-23. Irving ISD estimates a “C” overall rating this year, unchanged from its projected 2022-23 grade.

While proactive transparency and accountability from school districts is a good thing, statewide transparency will provide the best picture of how our Dallas Region schools are performing.

In the absence of statewide A-F ratings, results from the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness – or STAAR – provide some insights into student achievement trends.

Data from the 2023-24 STAAR administration shows students in the Dallas Region holding steady in reading proficiency and declining slightly in math, while running ahead of state averages across grades 3 through 12 in both subjects. In reading, Dallas Region students have fully recovered from the precipitous declines following the COVID-19 pandemic and now exceed pre-pandemic achievement. Conversely, math outcomes still lag pre-pandemic results but have rebounded significantly from post-pandemic lows.  

Despite improvements, absolute student achievement is still insufficient to meet the Dallas Region’s long-term workforce needs. In the 2023-24 school year, less than half of Dallas Region third through eighth graders met state standards in math. 

The DRC recognizes that the economic success of the Dallas Region is reliant on a robust talent pipeline, which requires a strong public school system. Looking ahead to the 89th Texas Legislative Session, the DRC will continue to advocate for strategic, evidence-based investments in public education. A robust and reliable accountability system is crucial to evaluating this investment and guiding future efforts to improve outcomes for all Dallas Region students.   

DRC Expert: Tips for engaging in the City of Dallas’ 2024 budget process

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By Travis Reynolds, Vice President, Public Policy

DRC Vice President of Public Policy Travis Reynolds.

By mid-September, the City of Dallas’ fiscal year 2024-25 budget will be finalized and adopted through extensive collaboration between members of the Dallas City Council, City of Dallas staff, our neighbors across the city, and numerous organizations like the DRC. This collaborative process provides an important opportunity for the business community to influence economic development in the core of our region while ensuring the city’s financial planning aligns with the needs and aspirations of our community.

If you plan to attend one of the upcoming town hall meetings or budget workshops, here are four points to remember.

The budget is our opportunity to shape the city’s economic priorities.

The annual budget process sets the city’s economic priorities and strategies. By actively participating, the DRC and business community can advocate for investments that spur economic growth, such as infrastructure improvements, workforce development programs, and business-friendly policies.

Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson sits on the DRC’s Board of Directors, a collaboration that allows us to help prioritize initiatives that enhance the city’s competitiveness, attract new businesses, and retain existing ones. This proactive involvement ensures the budget reflects a balanced approach to economic development, benefiting both the public and private sectors.

The city must become more efficient.

In recent years, the City of Dallas’ budget has seen significant increases, but the number of residents has not kept pace with this financial expansion. This discrepancy underscores the need for the city to become more efficient in allocating its resources.

Under Interim City Manager (ICM) Kimberly Bizor Tolbert, the city has made great strides to address some of its inefficiencies through combining departments, personnel changes, and a directive to all departments to present 6% in budget cuts. However, there is still more work to do.

The goal for the city should be to operate like a business—delivering great service to its customers (residents) at the least possible cost. By pushing for efficiency and effectiveness in the budget, we can help ensure taxpayer dollars are spent wisely and the city can achieve more with its existing resources. This focus on efficiency is crucial for maintaining fiscal health and providing high-quality services without overburdening residents and businesses with additional taxes or fees.

Addressing pension issues will be critical.

One of the significant financial challenges facing the City of Dallas is our unfunded pension obligations. The city’s pension funds, especially for police and firefighters, have experienced funding shortfalls over $4 billion, creating a strain on the overall budget. Addressing these pension issues is essential for the city’s long-term financial stability and the well-being of its public servants. By addressing the pension crisis today in a meaningful and sustainable manner, we can help ensure that the city can meet its obligations to public employees while maintaining fiscal health and avoiding excessive future tax burdens.

Local advocacy complements the DRC’s work in the upcoming 89th Legislative Session.

The Dallas Regional Chamber’s advocacy on the city budget aligns with and enhances its ongoing advocacy at the state level. By engaging in both arenas, the DRC ensures that local and state policies are cohesive and mutually reinforcing. For example:

      • Economic Development: At the state level, the DRC advocates for policies that create a favorable business environment in Texas. By aligning city budget priorities with these state-level goals, the DRC can ensure that local infrastructure and workforce development initiatives complement state efforts to attract and retain businesses.
      • Education and Workforce: The DRC’s advocacy for education funding and workforce training programs at the state level can be complemented in city budget priorities. Ensuring that local resources support state-funded initiatives without duplicating them enhances the overall impact on the workforce and economic growth.
      • Public Safety and Infrastructure: Local budget allocations prioritizing these areas can bolster state-level advocacy for transportation funding and public safety initiatives. This alignment ensures that city and state investments work together to create safer, more connected communities.
      • Fiscal Responsibility: The DRC’s push for efficient and effective use of resources at the state level can serve as a model for city budget practices. By advocating for similar principles locally, the DRC promotes a culture of fiscal responsibility across all levels of government.

The annual budget process is a pivotal moment for shaping the future of Dallas. To echo the words of Jack Lew, “The budget is not just a collection of numbers, but an expression of our values and aspirations.” For the DRC, that means improving the quality of life and well-being for all people in the Dallas Region by promoting policies that support economic growth, provide greater opportunity to all the region’s residents, and invest in our future.

“I met with ICM Tolbert on the budget and felt it was responsive to running a more efficient city government,” said Dallas City Council Member Gay Donnell Willis. “The voice of the business community during budgeting is critical to ensure that our core obligations of having a safe, clean city are fulfilled.”

Engaging in the city’s annual budget process is not just a civic duty but a strategic opportunity for the business community to help shape a thriving future. Visit the City of Dallas’ Budget Town Hall Schedule and plan to get involved.

To learn more about the DRC’s Public Policy work, visit our website.

DRC hosts the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives annual convention

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By Catie George, Director, Communications & Storytelling

DRC President and CEO Dale Petroskey opening the convention.

In July, the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE) hosted its annual convention in Dallas at the Kay Bailey Hutchinson Convention Center, with the Dallas Regional Chamber (DRC) hosting as a partner for the four-day convening of chamber professionals from across the country.

DRC President and CEO Dale Petroskey opened the convention with remarks for attendees.

“As chambers, we have a unique role in our community. We’re in the middle of the action, we’re at the intersection of the business community, the political community, the education community, and the non-profit community, and because of that, we get to connect the dots to make things happen,” said Petroskey. “Teddy Roosevelt said, ‘The greatest prize life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.’ If this isn’t work worth doing, I don’t know what is.”

Petroskey also shared some thoughts with the 2024 candidates for National Chamber of the Year, a prize the DRC took home in 2022 and still bears proudly.

“Whether or not you are named National Chamber of the Year tonight, your chamber—and your community—will be better off because you took the time and made the effort to go through the process,” said Petroskey. “I know we became a better chamber after looking at ourselves with some intensity—what we were doing, how we were doing it. It was fun to look back at our successes, but we also realized where we needed to improve. It forced us to get better, and I’m so glad we did it.”

The DRC also hosted the ACCE’s CEO dinner at the DRC offices to welcome various chamber’s CEOs to Dallas for the convention.

DRC Vice President of Public Policy Matt Garcia participated in a policy roundtable where he shared strategies for leveraging a chamber’s government relations activities to elevate its brand, engage its members, and showcase its impact.

“The DRC’s Public Policy team consistently engages with lawmakers at all levels of government through meetings and community- and DRC-led events to build meaningful working relationships.  It was great to be with chamber peers from across the country to highlight some events that the DRC is proud to champion, as well as share strategic best practices on issue management and driving member value,” said Garcia. “Policy that supports economic growth is one of the most important functions of a chamber, and the heart of public policy is relationships.”

Manager of Leadership Programs Annette Addo-Yobo gave a presentation about how to maximize community impact through inclusive leadership programs.

“[Inclusive leadership] ensures that all team members feel empowered, valued, and respected to facilitate their success when it comes to their professional growth,” said Addo-Yobo. “My belief is that our leadership programs need to align with the mission of our organization, of our chamber because if we’re going to build the next generation of leaders, we want to make sure that they are doing the work that we’re doing in our region as well.”

She discussed two of the DRC’s leadership programs, Young Professionals (YP) and LEAD YP.

“As an organization, we want everybody to be on the same team. Our CEO, Dale Petroskey, always says that we are on the winning team. And for everybody to be on the winning team, we all have to have a winning mindset. The only way we can do that is if we have an inclusive leadership environment,” said Addo-Yobo. “The reason that these programs are so essential to the growth of our workforce, the growth of our young professionals coming into the workforce for the first time, is to develop them into those leaders who then take over our companies, who are the next generation of CEOs, CFOs, and develop their own sense of a winning team.”

To hear more from the DRC’s team of experts on a variety of topics, visit our blog.

DRC Member Spotlight: Gresham Smith

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Gresham Smith is a top-ranked architecture, engineering, design, and consulting firm with $328 million in annual gross revenue and 26 offices across the United States, including Dallas, where they have had an office for 28 years. They provide full-service, innovative solutions for the built environment with a focus on aviation, building engineering, healthcare, industry, land planning, life and workplaces, transportation, and water and environment market sectors. Consistently ranked as a “Best Place to Work,” Gresham Smith is committed to creating a culture that fosters diversity of experience combined with a common goal of genuine care for each other, our partners, and the outcome of our work.

How does Gresham Smith help its clients build value?

We bring value to our clients through our commitment to their success. We’re dedicated to delivering excellence on every project, every time—providing solutions that address current needs and safeguard against future challenges. We also bring value to our people—a team of architects, consultants, engineers, and designers with a broad range of expertise who enable us to develop innovative solutions across a broad range of market sectors. Our expertise and experience also bring immeasurable value. Our client base includes state and local government agencies as well as publicly traded corporations and privately held organizations. Through our three pillars—Architectural Design, Project Delivery Excellence, and Innovation—we foster “best-of-the-best” thinking and apply genuine ingenuity to deliver above and beyond our clients’ expectations. As part of our offerings, our Sustainability and Resiliency Center serves as a hub of experienced practitioners to support individual projects and weave sustainable best practices throughout our operations.

What differentiates Gresham Smith within your industry?

Our culture is the cornerstone of who we are as a firm, and we strive to have the best culture of any firm in the architecture/engineering industry. Our core values of commitment, integrity, respect, and teamwork guide us and define who we are, what we stand for, and how we treat each other as well as those around us. At the heart of everything we do are our people, and we are committed to fostering a culture where our employees feel valued and connected and know that they belong and can thrive—both personally and professionally.

What benefits does Gresham Smith enjoy by doing business in the Dallas Region?

Dallas is a dynamic, world-class city that’s at the heart of the region’s rapid growth. For us, the region provides a great opportunity to connect with clients who are expanding or relocating here, and it provides us with access to an amazing pool of talent as we continue to grow locally.

Why did Gresham Smith become a DRC member?

We share in the DRC’s strategic plan to build tomorrow together. We have a long history of supporting multinational firms through site selection, planning, and workplace design as they bring new investments and jobs to major metro areas like Dallas. We also understand the challenges of a growing city and region, and we want to be a partner to the DRC and the city to help navigate that growth. We want to be an active DRC member and use our involvement to be good community partners and give back to the place we’ve called home for nearly 30 years.

How has Gresham Smith changed in the past five years?

The architecture, engineering, and construction landscapes are rapidly evolving, with emerging technologies and methodologies shaping our industry’s future. We are leading the charge towards a brighter, more efficient future. By embracing artificial intelligence, data analytics, and cloud-based solutions, we’re unlocking unprecedented levels of creativity, sustainability, and efficiency. Our dedication to staying ahead of the curve ensures that we’re not just ready for the future—we’re actively creating it.

We’ve also expanded our services to include consultancy. We leverage our design and engineering expertise to offer our clients a diverse portfolio of customized solutions to overcome their most complex challenges. Falling into four general practice areas—Strategy, Operations, Implementation, and Technology Solutions—we combine our industry-leading design approach with innovative technologies, specialized talent, and genuine leadership to help clients navigate a rapidly changing operating environment.

Identity and leadership: Thear Suzuki, Ernst & Young LLP

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By Catie George, Manager, Communications & Storytelling

As an Asian-American woman who emigrated from Cambodia when she was only eight years old, Thear Suzuki’s story is one of reckoning with her identity.

Suzuki and her children with Former President Bush.

“Feeling safe and being comfortable in my own skin has been a journey for me,” said Suzuki, now a Global Client Service Partner at Ernst & Young LLP (EY), Dallas Regional Chamber member company.

“My family came to Dallas as refugees after surviving four years of the Cambodian genocide and living two years in refugee camps, uncertain of what life would be like in our new home,” said Suzuki. “Growing up, I often felt lesser, and that other people were smarter and had more. I developed limiting beliefs that continued into my professional life. I saw my difference as a liability and not something to be proud of.”

Suzuki attended Southern Methodist University, served on various boards and committees, and was featured in George W. Bush’s “Out of Many, One: Portraits of America’s Immigrants.”

“President Bush painted 43 immigrants and shared our stories in his book, ‘Out of Many, One: Portraits of America’s Immigrants,’” said Suzuki. “Being one of the 43 included in his book, President Bush helped to elevate my voice and gave me a bigger platform to make a difference.”

Suzuki began her career at Accenture, where she spent 16 years before joining EY in 2012. Her sense of identity grew with her career.

“As I grew and matured in my professional development, I’ve learned the importance of embracing my unique identity and seeing my differences as a source of strength,” she said. “Sharing my story openly and learning about others allows me to build deeper connections.”

This increased sense of identity helped increase her confidence and leadership, too.

“As I became more comfortable with my unique identity and understood what was important to me, I started to lead more authentically and from a place of confidence and strength. I shifted from just going with the flow to making more intentional choices on where and how I would spend my time and energy.”

Her advice to young Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) professionals is to take every chance to actively engage.

“Actively engaging means showing up, participating, learning, asking good questions, collaborating with others, and contributing in every setting to the best of your ability. This was something I had to learn and change early in my career,” Suzuki said. “Being unsure of myself, I was often a passive bystander at work. During meetings, I was quiet and afraid to ask questions. I was seen as a good worker and a strong performer but not a leader.”

Suzuki with DRC President and CEO Dale Petroskey at a recent AANHPI Heritage Month event.

As Suzuki grew as a leader, she reflected on diversity within leadership.

“[It] drives a greater culture of belonging, inclusion, and psychological safety – which in turn positively impacts business outcomes,” she said. “Diversity and inclusive leadership are about inviting in, valuing, and capitalizing on different perspectives, which leads to more innovation, stronger customer/client service, more effective risk management, and better decision-making.”

One critical step of her leadership journey was helping to create the Orchid Giving Circle, a part of the Texas Women’s Foundation focused on supporting the Asian-American Community in North Texas.

“Upon joining the board of directors of the Dallas Women’s Foundation in 2013, I met a few other Asian leaders in the community. We asked ourselves, ‘Where are the Asian leaders and why do we not see more in the Dallas community?’ As we contemplated these questions, we also learned that less than 1% of philanthropic dollars go to support non-profit organizations and programs that support the Asian community.”

Today, the Orchid Giving Circle has raised over $2 million in grants, supported 40 non-profit organizations, and benefited over 150,000 individuals and families.

“Together we have strengthened our community, democratized philanthropy, and formed life-long friendships,” Suzuki said.

To learn more about the Diversity work the Dallas Regional Chamber is doing, visit our website.

DRC Expert: Showcasing Life Sciences in DFW at the BIO International Conference

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By: Kelly Cloud, Vice President, Economic Development – Life Sciences

The Dallas Regional Chamber’s (DRC) economic development team launched a campaign in early 2023 to expand its focus on recruiting more companies and jobs in the life science and biotech industries to Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW). DRC Vice President of Economic Development, Life Sciences Kelly Cloud has been coordinating this effort and shares her perspective on the DRC’s recent trip to the BIO International Convention and key takeaways.

Kelly Cloud at the BIO International Convention.

It has been a year since the DRC’s last visit to the BIO International Convention, and this year was bigger and busier than ever. BIO is the largest, comprehensive event for biotechnology, with over 20,000 participants from the United States and more than 30 other countries. With this being our second year in a row representing the DFW region with a presence in two exhibit booths—one with a “DFW Corner” at the Texas Pavilion and our own DRC booth—it was the ideal time to reflect on how much has been accomplished in DFW Life Sciences in one short year both as a region and at BIO itself.

The Texas Pavilion was supported by the Texas Healthcare and Bioscience Institute and included other State partners, such as the Texas Governor’s Office and the Cancer and Prevention Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT). In addition to the DRC, the DFW Corner of the Pavilion featured regional partners, including BioNTX and BioLabs at Pegasus Park.

The DRC’s booth featured our economic development partners from various cities across the region to promote Life Sciences and the specific assets of their unique communities . These collaborations of shared convention real estate are an opportunity I looked forward to, so I could catch up with and learn from our busy Regional and State partners. However, this year, we did not have much time to visit, and here are just a few reasons why:

Every year, BIO acts as a platform for companies to make announcements on a global stage, with 45% of attendees traveling internationally for the convention. Life Science companies are not the only ones to take advantage of this opportunity. Dallas-based CBRE released its U.S. Life Sciences Talent Trends 2024 with some exciting news for DFW Life Science Talent:

    • Dallas-Fort Worth’s talent is showcased, landing in the Top 25 category for talent in Research and Development, Life Science Manufacturing, and MedTech;
    • In the past five years, the number of biomedical sciences degrees completed in the region has grown by 29%.

With over 500 individual interactions through the DRC and its partners, the message was received: Life Science is converging in DFW. The convention was non-stop, and there was a distinct buzz of interest surrounding Texas and DFW. This does not surprise me. Since BIO 2023, the year has been packed with Life Science Announcements, including:

The Life Sciences booth at BIO.

BIO attendees were curious about Texas’ Life Science ecosystem last year. With this year’s data and series of announcements, it is clear to see why that curiosity gave way to genuine interest and fielding requests for information. The DRC is looking forward to the BIO International Convention in 2025, as we have already started a new list of exciting updates to share, most recently being Verily’s headquarters relocation to our region.

Thank you to all our partners who joined us at BIO: BioNTX and BioLabs at Pegasus Park, Texas Healthcare and Bioscience Institute (THBI), the Texas Governor’s Office, the Cancer and Prevention Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT), the City of Dallas, the DeSoto Development Corporation, the City of Fort Worth, the Frisco Economic Development Council, the Irving Economic Development Partnership, the City of Plano, and Midlothian Economic Development.

To learn more about the DRC’s Life Sciences and Biotech work, visit our Life Sciences website.

Five takeaways from the DRC’s State of Infrastructure

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By Catie George, Director, Communications & Storytelling

Dallas-Fort Worth is set to become the third-largest metropolitan area in the U.S. by 2028, meaning the region’s future economic competitiveness depends on its infrastructure, including reliable and affordable access to energy and water.

To help address this topic, the Dallas Regional Chamber (DRC) hosted its second annual State of Infrastructure, presented by Jacobs, Thursday, June 27, at the Eddie Bernice Johnson Union Station. The event featured ERCOT President & CEO Pablo Vegas plus a panel of experts and decision-makers on Texas’ water supply.

Here are five things to know from the DRC’s State of Infrastructure.

ERCOT CEO and President Pablo Vegas during his keynote presentation. (Photo by: Tom Fox from the Dallas Morning News)

Growth is driving demand and will only continue in years to come.

As the fastest-growing metropolitan area in the country, Dallas-Fort Worth added an average of 418 people per day in 2023.

“We need to keep up with that growth,” said Dale Petroskey, president and CEO of the Dallas Regional Chamber. “We need infrastructure—roads, bridges, water, electricity, broadband—to keep growing and prospering. We can’t afford to fall behind.”

In his keynote, Vegas said that the state’s projected energy demand is expected to nearly double in the next five to six years.

Innovative technologies are crucial to meeting the increasing need.

ERCOT has been innovating to meet needs. For example, they launched the ERCOT Contingency Reserve Service.

“We defined a set of generating resources that have to be able to turn on in 10 minutes and be able to serve power immediately for two hours, just in case we have a high-risk situation,” shared Vegas. “We also buy firm fuel supply, and we incentivize power plant operators to have their fuel stored on their site extra if they need to, just in case pipeline capacity gets constrained during the winters.”

Texas’ power grid is flexible to meet its unique needs.

Texas is the only state with its own power grid, which means it is autonomous when it comes to setting energy guidelines.

“The 49 other states have to look to [a] federal agency in order to change their power market rules,” said Vegas. “Here in Texas, one of those benefits of being an electric island is we just have to look to the Texas State Legislature.”

Texas’ lone wolf status allows the state to be nimble and adapt specifically to Texas’ needs, according to Vegas.

“In addition to that, we have really changed the posture on how we operate the grid,” he said. “We’re more conservative in our operations; we bring more resources on earlier if we think there’s going to be scarcity to make sure that there’s always enough cushion and we don’t get surprised by a sudden change in forecast.”

Texas’ future water supply needs attention.

In November, the DRC’s Good for Texans campaign helped pass Proposition 6, which created the Texas Water Fund to finance water infrastructure projects throughout Texas.

Various leaders from the region discuss water.

“It’s great that our reservoirs are filled, but water is critical infrastructure and is always at the forefront,” said Brooke T. Paup, Chairwoman of the Texas Water Development Board. “There’s no Texas miracle without Texas water.”

Though there have been improvements around water, there is still an issue remaining: attention.

“Water is key to everybody; we need to have that top of mind, and we need to make sure those conversations are happening,” said Abraham Tueme, Director of Sustainability at Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages.

Water may not be a sexy conversation, but CEO of the Texas Water Foundation Sarah Rountree Schlessinger says corporations and the Texas Legislature must keep their eyes on this issue.

The future is digital, and our infrastructure needs to be able to support that.

Vegas shared that the future of the economy is digital, whether you are talking about artificial intelligence, cryptocurrency, or e-commerce. Texas needs to have the assets to support those economies.

“I would love Texas to always be in a position to lead the economic growth, irrespective of what that economic growth is. If it’s digital, that’s represented by data centers and AI, then yes, I want us to be able to have our doors wide open and say, ‘If you’re going to build and you’re going to invest, here’s the place to do it,’ because we have the people, we have the talent, we’ve got the infrastructure, we have the electric,” said Vegas. “That needs to be Texas’s answer to these opportunities because we do have the resources here. We are plentiful in natural gas, we are plentiful in renewables, so we should take advantage of that, and we should really exploit that opportunity.”

To learn more about the DRC’s work in Public Policy, visit our website.

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