Chamber newsletter distributed through the Fort Worth Star-Telegram the first Tuesday of each month to approximately 120,000 subscribers as well as the entire membership.

Latest Edition - September 2005

• South Area Council Go Center
• Business Exec of the Year
• Stay in School
• President’s Column
• Newz-E-Letter
• Adopt-A-School Partners
• Eco Update
• Dateline
• Author Breakfast
• Golf Tournament
• Minding Your Business
• Action Ambassador
• Southwest Office Systems
• In Focus
• New Business Director
• Ribbon Cuttings
• FastTrack

South Area Council Go Centers

South Area Council Goes Back to School  

Education and a bright future go hand in hand, not only for students, but also for the communities in which they live. Educated citizens make for a competent, productive workforce, which attracts and retains jobs. One of the most difficult lessons to teach young people, however, is that decisions they make today will have a profound impact on their future. That goes for virtually all students, but it is especially true for those who must overcome language and financial barriers.

Currently, Fort Worth has one of the lowest rates of students pursuing college in the state, with many schools having less than 38 percent of their students go on to college. The goal of the Fort Worth Chamber’s Stay In School Initiative is to help reverse that situation by bringing community partners – parents, educators, civic and business leaders – together to help encourage students to graduate from high school and hopefully college through a variety of mentoring opportunities.

Each of the Chamber’s five area councils has become involved in the Stay In School Initiative, but the South Area Council has demonstrated a unique get-up-and-GO attitude. The SAC has adopted South Hills High School’s “Go Center” as its SIS project. Go Centers are clearinghouses located in high schools that provide students with information related to career exploration, higher education and financial aid. Go Centers also serve as a hub around which a number of college preparation-related programs connect in each school.

Last month, members of the South Area Council got a tour of South Hills High School from principal Glynna Torres and of the Go Center from school counselor Charleen McGilvray. During the coming school year, SAC board members will man the Go Center helping students explore their options after high school and make the right choices now to prepare.

Go Centers help families get ready their children for college by encouraging them to pursue the “recommended” high school program, take Advanced/AP/Dual Credit courses as well as the proper entry exams, including SAT and ACT.

That done, Go Center volunteers can help students and their families navigate the sometimes overwhelming application and admission process.

“Go Centers can help students have a competitive edge,” said Randy McGuffee, SAC board chair. “Working in the Go Centers is a great way for our board to really get involved in helping FWISD students graduate.”

The slogan for Go Centers is “Education. Go Get It.” But, according to Ashley Cash, the Chamber’s manager of education programs, many school counselors are so overwhelmed by the high student to counselor ratio, that they don’t have time to help every student find all the information they need. “Having the South Area Council board members volunteer their time helping students navigate the Go Center is a great help to school counselors and the students,” she said. “The tagline we use for outreach with students is ‘the more you learn, the more you earn.’”
For more information on Go Centers, the Stay In School Initiative or mentoring, contact Cynthia Fisher Miller at 817/336-2491, ext. 240 or Cash at ext. 233.

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Business Exec of the Year

	Leonard H. Roberts, Executive Chairman,   RadioShack

Roberts Honored as 2005 Outstanding Business Executive

RadioShack executive chairman Leonard Roberts will be honored as Fort Worth’s Business Executive of the Year at the 36th Annual Business Hall of Fame dinner on Thursday, Sept. 22. The event is sponsored by Texas Wesleyan University, the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce and the I.

The keynote speaker for the evening is Wes Turner, publisher of the Star-Telegram. Marvin Girouard, president and CEO of Pier 1 Imports will give the “Remarks of a Friend,” and Rice Tilley of Haynes & Boone, will emcee the festivities. All proceeds benefit the Wesleyan School of Business scholarship program.

• What: 36th Annual Business Hall of Fame Dinner
• When: Thursday, Sept. 22; reception begins at 6 p.m. in the Trinity Room. Dinner and program begin at 7 p.m. in the Horizon Room.
• Where: Fort Worth Club, 306 West Seventh St., 76102
• Cost: Tickets for the black tie optional event are $250 for individuals and tables of 10 are $2,500.

The Business Hall of Fame was founded in 1970 to honor the Business Executive of the Year, an individual who has made a profound impact on the business world. When Roberts joined Tandy Corporation's RadioShack operating unit as president in 1993, his one goal was to transform the retail giant into a vibrant retail service concept. Roberts realized that RadioShack had to move into uncharted territory to accelerate its growth to develop the company’s “anchor” strategy by creating an innovative opportunity – selling wireless phones and services. Today, the company sells 6 million units a year, for an estimated $1.6 billion in annual revenue from this one innovation.

Roberts became chairman, president and CEO in 1999, and kept RadioShack on track by expanding its market leadership position and continuing efforts to differentiate itself in the marketplace. In 2000, shareholders approved changing the name of RadioShack's parent company – Tandy Corporation – to RadioShack Corporation to focus attention on one company with one vision.

Roberts is a graduate of the University of Illinois where he earned degrees in marketing and chemistry. He also earned a law degree from De Paul University Law School and was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 1974.

Roberts has received many awards for his outstanding leadership and achievements. Also in 2004, the United Way System paid an unprecedented tribute to Roberts – recognizing his leadership as Chairman of United Way of America (2002-2004), as he led the transformation of the entire movement toward a new mission and vision built around creating powerful community impact.

The event will also recognize the recipient of the Thomas H. Law Scholarship, to be chosen at the beginning of the 2005-06 school year. Established in 1998, the scholarship was named in honor of the1987 recipient of the Business Executive of the Year. Thomas H. Law Scholarship recipients are chosen annually by Wesleyan’s business faculty.

Reservations are required as seating is limited. For more information on the event or to purchase tickets, contact Texas Wesleyan’s Office of the President at (817) 531-4401.

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Stay in School

Go Centers, Conference Focus on Value of Diploma

Fort Worth’s Stay-in-School Initiative is off to a fast start this year. Emphasizing in-depth business involvement with eight high schools through the Adopt-A-School program, the effort’s message is, “Graduate. It’s Your Future.”

Stay-in-School combines mentoring and structured group activities to encourage students to graduate and continue their education after high school. “Go Centers” have been established at each high school to serve as a central meeting place for students to work with mentors, gain awareness of diverse career options, and receive help with the practical steps and decisions involved in going to college. (see listing, page 2) Business partners note that high school graduation rates and a qualified workforce are key drivers to business success.

The Stay-in-School Initiative is co-chaired by John Avila, president/CEO of Thos. S. Byrne, representing the Fort Worth Hispanic Chamber; Bob Pence, president/CEO of Freese and Nichols, representing the Fort Worth Chamber; and Dr. Ernest L. Thomas, president of Tarrant County College’s South Campus, representing the Fort Worth Metropolitan Black Chamber.

“We want to challenge other businesses to get involved as Adopt-A-School partners and mentors,” said Pence. “It’s good business, and a real joy to know that your company and your employees are making a difference in the community.”

“Studies repeatedly show that children who have an adult mentor in their lives enjoy greater success in school and experience higher likelihood of graduating from high school and pursuing higher education,” added Dr. Thomas.

“It is absolutely imperative that we develop our future workforce to sustain a healthy economy and quality of life,” Avila noted.

The focus on high schools and their relevancy to students and future employers is also an interest of the Texas Lyceum Association. Founded 25 years ago, the Texas Lyceum is a non-partisan, non-advocacy forum that brings together the diverse opinions and expertise of emerging Texas leaders. On Friday, Oct. 7, the Texas Lyceum will hold its 20th annual public forum at the Fort Worth Convention Center. “The Texas High School Diploma: What is it Worth?” is the forum title and Texas Commissioner of Education, the Honorable Shirley Neeley will be featured.

According to Fort Worth-based lawyer and conference co-chairman Jay Rutherford, “The purpose of this year’s conference is to educate and engage the public on the major issues affecting high school education in Texas.”

“The public conference addresses two key elements of our advanced research on this topic,” added Texas Lyceum President Jordan Cowman.” First, high school course work must be relevant and support student’s future career aspirations. Further, the curriculum must be rigorous and credible to employers and higher education providers.”

Open to the public, the Texas Lyceum Association invites educators, business and industry representatives, parents, students and all others interested in this important topic to attend. Registration for the day long event is available at the early bird rate of $125 through Sept. 9. Register online at www.TexasLyceum.org/PublicConference or call (214) 891-0001.

Anyone interested in becoming involved in the Stay-in-School Initiative should contact Cynthia Miller at the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce at (817) 336-2491, ext. 240.

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President's Column

Thanks in no small part to the efforts of Sundance Square, the past decade has seen a renaissance in downtown Fort Worth. Recent projects including the rebuilding of I-30, the renovation of the Convention Center and the tornado-ravaged Tower as well as the soon to be built Convention Center hotel have transformed downtown Fort Worth into something few could have envisioned 20 years ago.

In July, the executive committee of the Fort Worth Chamber passed a resolution in support of the breathtaking Trinity Uptown plan, part of the Trinity River Vision Master Plan initiated by the joint efforts of the City of Fort Worth, Tarrant Regional Water District, Tarrant County, Streams and Valleys and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Thanks to the hard work of Congresswoman Kay Granger, this $435 million project is now endorsed by the U.S. Congress and has been approved for $110 million of federal funding for flood control which involves construction of a by-pass channel and an urban lake as well as an additional $16 million for transportation-related improvements included in the U.S. House’s Transportation Equity Act of the 21st Century.

The Trinity Uptown plan will have the added benefit of revitalizing an aging commercial and industrial area adjacent to downtown as well as providing a critical neighborhood link between downtown, the Cultural District and the Stockyards. The riverfront development is expected to result in a new mixed-use/mixed-income area that will essentially double the size of downtown Fort Worth. It is also expected to add over $2.1 billion to the local property tax base over a 50 year build-out period that will include parks, schools, transportation improvements, environmental restoration and other civic amenities.

That said, we also realize that there will be businesses and families displaced to make room for this project. We recall not long ago when similar circumstances affected south Fort Worth preceding the re-routing of I-30. The Chamber worked diligently with those being displaced to help them relocate, and in some cases expand, at new locations. And we are prepared again to partner in this process as the Trinity Uptown plan progresses. The Chamber recently hired a new local business development director, Melissa Glasgow. Part of her new duties here will be to meet with and work with those businesses being impacted by this project. It is imperative that we retain these businesses and facilitate their transition to new locations.

The Fort Worth Chamber wholeheartedly supports the Trinity Uptown plan as a community flood control project that additionally will help transform the Trinity River into a more integral part of our city’s future and create a potential economic development bonanza for the city.

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Newz-E-Letter

Newz E-Letter Hit with Members

The Fort Worth Chamber has launched a weekly e-mail newsletter exclusively for and about Chamber members. The Newz-E-Letter, with its casual, fun, tongue-in-cheek style, is now distributed weekly to all main, secondary and function reps for each member company, provided the Chamber has their e-mail address.

“The Membership Committee and Chamber staff wanted to provide an exclusive member benefit that would build excitement and a sense of community,” said Netty Matthews, vice president of membership.

Launched in May, Newz-E features local business news, member company news, personal ribbing and announcements about individual members and prize giveaways. Members click-through and enter their names to win prizes donated by other members, thus increasing member promotion and business-to-business connections.

Newz-E has already developed a devoted fan base. Ghost-written by Mr. B, a freelance, business-savvy news hound in tune with the Fort Worth scene, the e-mail is a quick read with graphics, stock photos, and the Picture of the Week from a Chamber event.

Presenting sponsor for the Newz-E is HireMax; Calendar of Events sponsor is North Texas Specialty Physicians; Picture of the Week sponsor is Southland Property Tax Consultants, Inc.; Gold sponsors are Legacy Medical Imaging and Project Partners; Silver sponsor is Weaver and Tidwell, L.L.P.

Members interested in being on the distribution list for Newz-E-Letter, sharing news, or donating prizes, may contact Andra Bennett, APR, director of communications, at abennett@fortworthchamber.comm.

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Adopt-A-School Partners

Part of the Stay In School Initiative

(Italics indicate new partners)

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Eco Update

Recap of Recent Economic Activity in Tarrant County

IN THE WORKS
The developer of Trinity Bluff has confirmed that a 20-story condo tower will be a part of its residential and retail development on the north end of downtown Fort Worth. Architects will soon begin designing the condo tower, which may have 274 units. It will be across Samuels Avenue from Pioneers Rest Cemetery. Star Telegram, July 18

The first eatery to announce plans to open in The Tower is Potbelly Sandwich Works, a Chicago-based restaurant chain that bills itself as "a unique and quirky sandwich joint." The restaurant has taken 2,500 square feet on the first floor with a customer entrance and outdoor dining on Throckmorton Street. Star Telegram, July 12

Texas Capital Bank has leased 3,500 square feet on the ground level of The Tower and 10,000 square feet for offices on the second level. Morgan Keegan brokerage has taken 5,000 square feet for offices. Star Telegram, July 12


Four Cornerstone LLC plans to open an office at 2120 Ridgmar Blvd. in September. The company specializes in enterprise technology software solutions. Fort Worth Business Press, July 25-31

Keith Van Meter opened Cartridge World Fort Worth on June 1 and is planning on having a grand opening for August 5-6. Fort Worth Business Press, July 25-31

EXPANSIONS AND MOVES
La Familia, a popular Mexican restaurant that has been at 2720 W. Seventh St. for eight years, will move to a 4,000-square-foot location in the nearby Foch Street Warehouse development, nearly doubling its size. Star Telegram, July 12

Greg Clifton, founder of Clifton Capital Partners, a financial planning firm, has moved to 2813 Hulen St., Suite 225, in the Stonegate Plaza office building. Star Telegram, July 18

Tommy's Hamburgers is returning to the Chicotsky's Shopping Center, 3431 W. Seventh St., where it once operated a grill in the late 1990s before heading downtown. Star Telegram, July 25

L.T. Barton Insurance Agency has renewed and expanded its office space and now has 9,000 square feet in the Summit Office Towers, 1200 Summit Ave. Star Telegram, July 25

ON THE DOTTED LINE
Stadium Technologies, an audio/video-design consulting firm based in Fort Worth, bought two buildings, 403 and 407 S. Main St., totaling 8,850 square feet and built in 1924. Star Telegram, July 11

Rosedale Land Holdings investment group bought 3016, 3114 and 3106 E. Rosedale St., single-story properties totaling about 12,300 square feet and built between 1910 and 1929. Star Telegram, July 11

Motheral Printing, which moved its printing company from South Main Street to the Centreport business park near Dallas/Fort Worth Airport in 2003, sold its plant to the Fort Worth ISD, which is considering reselling it. Star Telegram, July 11

The redevelopment of West Seventh Street will continue with Citizens National Bank of Fort Worth, which has bought a one-acre tract for a two-story headquarters and main banking center. Citizens National bought the land between Sixth and Seventh streets, midway between Carroll and Foch streets. Star Telegram, July 12

Spice Cafe has leased 2,650 square feet for a tapas-style restaurant in Stonegate Crossing Shopping Center, 2747 S. Hulen Drive. Star Telegram, July 4

Nortex Motors has signed a three-year lease for 10,000 square feet at 705 Galveston Ave. The five-year-old company buys used cars and refurbishes them for resale. Star Telegram, July 4

Apollo Playing Card Co., 3200 S. Jones St., has bought a 40,000-square-foot building at 3243 S. Jones St., where it plans to move in a couple of months. Star Telegram, July 11

The Riverbend Business Park on Loop 820 in east Fort Worth reports several new leases: Maxitech has taken 3,600 square feet at 7507 Pebble Drive; Infinity Contractors has expanded by 3,000 square feet at 7618 Sand St. giving it a total of 5,700 square feet; and America's Flags & Poles has added 2,000 square feet at 2656 Gravel Drive, bringing it to 4,000 square feet. Star Telegram, July 11

Wells Fargo Bank has leased 5,100 square feet in the Lovell Shopping Center, 6500 Camp Bowie Blvd., where it will operate a branch location with drive-through tellers. Star Telegram, July 11

Trotter Controls, a manufacturer of aviation parts, has bought a half-acre with two buildings totaling 8,000 square feet at 1808-1818 E. Daggett Ave. Star Telegram, July 11

Wake Up Beautiful Day Spa has leased 2,250 square feet at 2762 S.E. Loop 820, in the 820 Business Park. Star Telegram, July 18

Aero Parts Mart, a provider of aircraft parts and supplies, has leased 3,500 square feet at 4205 Stadium Drive, near its current location on Suffolk Drive. Star Telegram, July 18

Nextel, a wireless communications provider, has leased 1,900 square feet at the Beach and Western Center complex, Interstate 35W and Western Center Boulevard. Star Telegram, July 25

Casa Mañana has moved its corporate offices to the Lexington Place office building, 930 W. First St., where it has leased 4,029 square feet. Star Telegram, July 25

Wilcox Capital Partners has purchased Overton Centre office towers and data center located at International Plaza in southwest Fort Worth. The building has nearly 450,000 square feet of rentable space. Fort Worth Business Press, July 4-10


The BTWW Retail L.B. (dba Western Warehouse) will join other prominent businesses in the Ridgmar Town Square shopping center. The company signed a lease with the shopping plaza for a 20,000-square-foot lot. Fort Worth Business Press, July 18-24

OPENINGS
Jo-Ann Stores has opened a superstore in Fort Worth at Ridgmar Town Square, across from Ridgmar Mall. The store has about twice the space of a traditional Jo-Ann outlet and a wider selection of craft supplies, fabrics and home-decor merchandise. Star Telegram, July 11

A model home is ready at the The Neil P. at Burnett Park, a boutique condominium redevelopment of the 83-year-old former Neil P. Anderson office building at Seventh and Lamar streets in downtown Fort Worth. The developer recently unveiled the model to more than 300 potential buyers. Tours of a two-bedroom, two-bath, 1,790-square-foot unit with a park view are available by appointment. Star Telegram, July 18

Westwood College, which offers education programs in aviation, business, health care and other areas, has opened a location at Mercantile Tech Center 1, 4232 North Freeway. Star Telegram, July 18

The Frank Kent Hummer Dealership opened on West Loop 820 in Fort Worth. The 10,400-square-foot building has a showroom, an accessories store, customer waiting room and offices. Fort Worth Business Press, July 4-10

After the grand opening ceremony on July 22, Tarrant County’s new Family Law Center in downtown Fort Worth is officially open for business. The building, located at 200 E. Weatherford St., will serve as the law center for family court, including divorce and child custody hearing. Fort Worth Business Press, July 25-21

AROUND TOWN
Local businesses were honored for bridging the gap between Fort Worth and the world during the 2005 Mayor’s Global Business Awards program held at the Fort Worth Convention Center. Fort Worth Business Press, July 4-10

OUT OF TOWN REPORTING
Nationwide, Phoenix had the largest population increase from 2003 to 2004, and Los Angeles, San Antonio, Las Vegas and Fort Worth followed. However, in Texas, Fort Worth had the sharpest increase, growing 3.1 percent to 603,337 people. El Paso Times, June 30

“Lone Star Dinosaurs,” a new exhibit at the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History, gives visitors the chance to use the skills and tools of paleontology in an 8,000-square-foot space featuring a quarry-like field site, laser technology, computer laboratory, documentary videos and loads of bones and fossils from the Lone Star State. The Sunday Oklahoman , Oklahoma City, OK, July 17

Close to 20,000 sweat-drenched, fans happily descended upon Fort Worth for the 32nd Willie Nelson Fourth of July Picnic. The event was held in the Fort Worth Stockyards field adjacent to Billy Bob's Texas honky-tonk. Houston Press, July 21

DID YOU KNOW?
Domain XCIV, a Camp Bowie specialty home products store, was named one of 50 Retail Stars by trade magazine Home Accents Today. Fort Worth Business Press, July 18-24

Data provided by Strategic Insight Group, Intelligence Research Partner of the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce
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 Dateline

Dateline: Fort Worth...

Tourism in Fort Worth, Texas is booming, bringing approximately 8.7 million visitors and contributing nearly $1.2 billion in direct spending annually to the city’s economy, said Doug Harman, president and CEO of the Fort Worth Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB).

Major developments include new attractions, events, facilities and infrastructure improvements. “And, at the forefront of all the new and exciting things happening in Fort Worth is the addition of the new international terminal and Skylink at the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (D/FW) and the addition of a convention center hotel to complement the $75 million expansion to the center, which was completed in 2003.”

“The (Fort Worth) city council gave the final green light for construction of the $90 million, 600-room luxury Omni Fort Worth Hotel at the Convention Center, said Kirk Slaughter, director of public events for the Fort Worth Convention Center. “We’re proud to add the Omni Hotels flag to Fort Worth’s burgeoning downtown scene,” said Mike Deitemeyer, president of Omni Hotels. “The city of Fort Worth has been a bold, forward-thinking partner and, together, we can build upon the city’s growing reputation as a leading destination for meetings and conventions.”

The plans call for a 600-room hotel, located two blocks west of the convention center, with 48,000 square feet of meeting space, two restaurants, a pool, an exercise facility and an underground parking garage. According to hotel officials, Omni Hotels hopes to break ground on the project by the end of the year and to open the hotel in 2008.

Convention South
June 2005

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		Steve Kaplan

 Author Breakfast

Author Steve Kaplan Makes Elephant Hunting Easy

Everyone in business knows it’s a jungle out there. If you are hunting for bigger and better customers, then make tracks to hear celebrated businessman and author Steve Kaplan talk about his new book, “Bag the Elephant: How to Win and Keep Big Customers.” Specifically he’ll address winning large accounts.

• What: Author Breakfast Series featuring Steve Kaplan, “Bag the Elephant”

• When: Tuesday, Sept. 13, 7:30-9:30 a.m.

• Where: Holiday Inn – North, 2540 Meacham Blvd. at I-35W, 76106

• Cost is: Chamber members - $30; non-members - $40 (includes breakfast and copy of the book. )

Kaplan, president of The Difference Maker, Inc., will pack his talk with personal stories that really drive home the critical points of succeeding in elephant land featuring slides of Nellie the Hollywood elephant illustrating the key points behind the message.

Attendees will learn:

• That any company can get the big customer

• Who the big elephants are in your city

• How to determine which elephants in your area should be pursued

• What you need to know about how elephants work including the nuances to be found in elephant land

• How to speak elephant-ese

As an expert on marketing and entrepreneurship, Kaplan has been recognized by Inc. Magazine as a finalist for Entrepreneur of the Year and has won the Mercury Excellence Award in Employee Motivation. He has been the subject of many print interviews and profiles in such media as Advertising Age, Crain’s Business, Food & Beverage, Target Marketing and the Chicago Tribune. His business practices have also been featured in several college textbooks.
Register online or with Doris Becker at dbecker@fortworthchamber.com or 817/336-2491, ext. 288.

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 Golf Tournament

Chamber Golf Classic Tees Up

It’s time for the 19th Annual Fort Worth Chamber Classic Golf presented by XTO Energy. Get your foursomes together and plan to take a Monday afternoon to play golf or become an event sponsor.

This year, the Chamber Golf Classic will offer only afternoon play. The day will begin with a lunch of grilled hamburgers at noon at the Club and a 1 p.m. shotgun start. As always, play will take place at Ridglea Country Club. The day wraps up with an awards dinner at the Club.

• What: 19th Fort Worth Chamber Golf Classic
• Where: Ridglea Country Club, 3700 Bernie Anderson Ave. 76116
• When: Monday, Sept. 19 (Rain date: Sept. 26)
• Tee Times: Registration – 11:30 a.m.; Shotgun start - 1 p.m. – North and South course. Florida Scramble format.
• Cost: $800/team of four for afternoon tee times; $200/individual

The Fort Worth Chamber Golf Classic is recognized as one of the area’s best and is a fabulous networking opportunity. Be sure to get your company’s name in front of many of Fort Worth’s movers and shakers. Take advantage of terrific sponsorship opportunities. For more information, contact Becky Matson at 817/336-2491, ext. 243.

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 Minding Your Business

Smart Women Finish Rich

Do you want to start improving the quality of your financial life right away? Then make plans to attend the Chamber’s Minding Your Business – Mid-Morning, “Smart Women Finish Rich.”

• What: Minding Your Business-Mid- Morning, “Smart Women Finish Rich”
• When: Wednesday, Sept. 28, 9-11 a.m.
• Where: Residence Inn Marriott, 2500 Museum Way, across from Montgomery Plaza
• Cost – free to Chamber members only.

“Smart Women Finish Rich” is a fun and educational seminar designed specifically for women. Based on Bach’s best-seller, the seminar will arm attendees with seven simple steps to help in pursuit of financial security.

This MYOB will fill up fast so RSVP to Doris Becker at dbecker@fortworthchamber.com or 817/336-2491, ext. 288.

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 Action Ambassador

Action Ambassador for June 2005

Congratulations to Kelly Hein, the Fort Worth Chamber’s top Action Ambassador for June 2005. Hein has been an ambassador only since April 2005 and is the manager of Rylander, Clay and Opitz..
Action Ambassadors work on behalf of the Chamber calling on new members and serving as greeters at various Chamber functions. Currently, the program is recruiting new members, however, Ambassadors must be members of the Fort Worth Chamber. The Action Ambassador program is a great way to learn more about the Fort Worth Chamber and plug in to all of the programs it offers. It is also a great networking tool allowing ambassadors to contact Chamber members on the Chamber’s behalf. Contact Teresa Pearson at 817/336-2491, ext. 249 for information on becoming an Action Ambassador.

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 Southwest Office Systems

Southwest Office Systems: Sharp Company, Sharper Image

Founded as typewriter repair company in 1964 by Victor Puente, Sr., Southwest Office Systems, Inc. is today the largest minority-owned, independent office equipment dealer in the Southwest. And this spring the company was named as the Fort Worth Chamber’s Small Business of the Year winner in the 101-250 employee category.

Since the early Sixties, office equipment has taken quantum leaps from manual typewriters and adding machines to lightning fast computers, digital copiers and connectivity products that have revolutionized offices today. And Southwest Office Systems has progressed right along with office technology. The only vestiges of that manual age are a typewriter and adding machine in SOS’s 39,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art headquarters that Victor’s sons Vince and Buddy Puente keep around as reminders of the early days.

Vince and Buddy joined their dad at SOS in 1972 beginning career paths that lead management and eventually ownership. Today, Vince oversees the sales and marketing side of the business and Buddy, the administrative operation. Their careers have grown along with the business; in 1975, Sharp introduced its first plain paper copier. That evolution of technology marked the beginning of SOS’s expanded vision. In 1987, SOS became a Sharp facsimile dealer initiating their entry into digital products. And the rest is history. As technology has continued to progress, the Puentes have been right there for their customers providing products, service and customer support.

Vince and Buddy have formed something of a mutual admiration society, but it is clearly not empty praise. Vince credits Buddy with creating the infrastructure within the company that has allowed its phenomenal growth while Buddy notes that Vince’s handling of advertising and marketing have also been instrumental in the company’s success.

“Thanks to Buddy, we could double in size with no effort,” said Vince. “All the systems are in place.”

“Look at our advertising,” adds Buddy. “That comes from Vince and his attention to detail.”

The Puentes credit their business instinct to their dad and a lot of their good fortune in weathering the “technology storm” of the Eighties and Nineties to providence. “There was a jump in the office product business between typewriters and copiers,” said Vince adding that all of a sudden in the Eighties, typewriters were dead. “By God’s grace, we were already handling copiers.”

And as office technology has progressed from copiers to facsimiles to scanning and digital to “connectivity,” SOS has been right their in the vanguard keeping pace.

Today, Vince and Buddy’s management style reflects what they learned from their dad, that knowledgeable, well-trained people were the most important asset SOS offers their clients. They use this knowledge to get to know the clients and their needs. Then they can help advise clients on what technology and products best suit their businesses.

“Part of our mission statement is that we want to be a model business in our industry,” Vince said. And the accolades have come in. In addition to the SBOY award, recent awards have included the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Director’s Award, the Greater Dallas Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Q&E Entrepreneur of the Year Award and this year Vince was named the Texas Association of Mexican American Chamber of Commerce Businessman of the Year. “Our company has been blessed with many recognitions recently,” noted Buddy.

“The Chamber’s Small Business Award is a stamp of recognition for us and our employees,” said Vince. “It is important and humbling and it made Dad very proud.”

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 In Focus