Fort Worth Economic Development Partnership, a privately funded nonprofit focused on cultivating economic opportunities through business development and attraction, on Tuesday announced its inaugural board of directors.
The newly-assembled 11-person board is composed of a diverse selection of executives from national and multinational corporations based in Fort Worth.
The inaugural chairman of the board will be Mike Berry, president of Hillwood. In addition to Berry, the board’s members include:
- Elaine Agather, managing director, head of J.P. Morgan Private Bank in the Central US
- Lisa Atherton, president & CEO, Bell
- Marianne Auld, managing partner, Kelly Hart
- Dan Berce, president & CEO, GM Financial
- David Endicott, CEO, Alcon Laboratories
- Katie Farmer, CEO, BNSF Railway
- John Goff, CEO, Goff Capital
- Robert Isom, CEO, American Airlines
- Rusty Reid, chairman and CEO, Higginbotham
- Greg Ulmer, executive vice president, Lockheed Martin
“Our new board is a testament to the depth of commitment and strategic vision that exists within Fort Worth’s corporate community,” said FWEDP CEO Robert Allen in a statement. “These executives bring decades of experience and intimate knowledge of the city’s infrastructure, growth trajectory, and workforce potential. Most importantly, they have direct exposure to emerging industry trends in their respective areas of expertise, bringing invaluable insight and guidance as we work to solidify Fort Worth as a premier destination for business development and relocation.”
Biographies of each can be found here.
The formation of the FWEDP in March was announced by the executive board of the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, following a comprehensive benchmarking process of successful economic development programs around the country.
“The separation of economic development from traditional Chamber functions is a proven strategy in high growth cities like Fort Worth,” said Berry. “Fort Worth presents an unprecedented opportunity to attract a diverse range of businesses and high-paying jobs to Fort Worth, and this board will be instrumental in helping us realize that potential by providing industry insight and strategic direction.”
Said Allen: “The city's potential, augmented by the collective expertise and vision of this board, positions us to usher in a new era of innovative growth. As we move forward, the collective commitment of these leaders, in collaboration with the FWEDP, creates a tremendous opportunity to further develop a thriving future for businesses and the broader Fort Worth community.”