Event to include presentations of Chairman’s Spirit of Enterprise Award and Susan Halsey Executive Leadership Award
Legacy, leadership, and innovation will converge at the 144th Annual Meeting of the Fort Worth Chamber (FWC) from 3–6 p.m. on March 25 at Will Rogers Memorial Center, one of the city’s most iconic venues.
Reflecting this year’s theme, “The Modern Chamber: Legacy-Driven. Future-Focused.,” the Annual Meeting, presented by Frost Bank, will highlight how Fort Worth’s business community and its leaders continue to build on long-standing foundations while helping shape what comes next. The event will also debut FWC’s Centennial Club, recognizing businesses that have operated continuously in Fort Worth for a century or more.
Leaders from select Centennial Club companies will take part in a moderated conversation exploring how legacy organizations stay true to their roots while adapting to new realities. The discussion, moderated by local historian and Tarrant County Associate Probate Judge Quentin McGown, will include representatives from:
- Bob Pence, Chairman of the Board, Freese & Nichols, Inc.
- Michael Sweet, President, Ben E. Keith Foods
- Additional panelists to be announced
Additional Centennial Club businesses will be featured in a museum-style exhibit during the reception following the program. The landmark setting of Will Rogers Memorial Center adds another layer of history to this year’s Annual Meeting, marking 90 years since its opening and following a recent restoration.
“There’s something meaningful about convening in a venue that has stood at the center of Fort Worth for decades,” said FWC President and CEO Steve Montgomery. “Our business community is built on that same combination of strong foundations and the ability to evolve, and hearing how Fort Worth’s legacy companies continue to adapt offers important perspective as we look ahead.”
The program will also feature remarks from outgoing FWC Board Chair Brian Newby of Cantey Hanger LLP, who will reflect on the past year, and incoming Chair Mike Micallef, president of Reata Restaurant, who will share priorities for the year ahead. Among the event’s highlights are two prestigious honors: the Chairman’s Spirit of Enterprise Award and the Susan Halsey Executive Leadership Award.
CHAIRMAN’S SPIRIT OF ENTERPRISE AWARD The Fort Worth Chamber has named Crescent Real Estate LLC as this year’s recipient of the Chairman’s Spirit of Enterprise Award. Founded in Fort Worth more than 30 years ago and still headquartered here today, the firm is a real estate operating company and investment advisor with assets under management, development and investment capacity of more than $10 billion.
“Crescent has played a pivotal role in shaping the modern skyline and economic landscape of Fort Worth through high-profile developments that attract businesses, residents, and tourism,” Montgomery said. “By investing in large-scale mixed-use and commercial projects, the firm has helped drive job creation, increase property values, and strengthen the city’s position as a major economic hub.”
Crescent said Fort Worth has always been central to the firm’s identity and helped form the company it is today. Christopher Goff, senior managing director and head of capital formation, said, “Receiving the Spirit of Enterprise Award is a meaningful affirmation of Crescent’s deep roots in Fort Worth. It reflects our long-standing commitment to investing responsibly in the city we call home and the collective efforts of our team to help shape places where our community can live, work and play while still contributing meaningfully to Fort Worth’s long-term vitality and prosperity.”
“Being rooted here creates a strong sense of stewardship — one reinforced by the active involvement of our leadership and team in the community — and guides how we listen, collaborate and design places that reflect Fort Worth’s character and values,” added Andrew Lombardi, senior managing director and chief financial officer. “With each development, we take deep pride in contributing to the city’s identity, not just its skyline.”
Goff and Lombardi will accept the award on behalf of Crescent during the program. The award will be presented by Rusty Reid, president and chief executive officer of Higginbotham, whose firm received the Spirit of Enterprise Award last year.
Awarded by the four most recent chairs of the Fort Worth Chamber, the Chairman’s Spirit of Enterprise Award was initiated in 1975 to recognize local companies that have made significant contributions to the advancement and prosperity of the city, as well as their commitment to the preservation of the American private enterprise system. More information and a list of previous recipients are available at fortworthchamber.com/spirit-of-enterprise.
SUSAN HALSEY EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP AWARD
The recipient of the Susan Halsey Executive Leadership Award will be announced during the Annual Meeting. Presented by Jackson Walker LLP, the award recognizes presidents, principals or chief executive officers whose leadership strengthens and transforms the organizations they lead. Joel Heydenburk, partner at Jackson Walker, will present the award.
More information and a list of previous recipients are available at fortworthchamber.com/susan-halsey-award.
EVENT DETAILS Fort Worth Chamber 2026 Annual Meeting: “The Modern Chamber” The event is open to members and non-members of the Fort Worth Chamber. Date: Wednesday, March 25, 2026 Schedule:
- 3 p.m. – Check-in
- 3:30–4:45 p.m. – Program
- 4:45–6 p.m. – Reception
Location: Will Rogers Memorial Center, Auditorium
3401 W. Lancaster Ave., Fort Worth, TX 76107
Details and Registration: fortworthchamber.com/annualmeeting
ABOUT THE FORT WORTH CHAMBER
The Fort Worth Chamber, with more than 1,250 member businesses, serves as the leading voice of the business community in one of the fastest-growing cities in the nation. Through its core functions of leadership, engagement, and advocacy, the Chamber’s mission is to bring the Fort Worth region together to identify issues, solve problems and align resources, resulting in a stronger business climate and greater economic prosperity for all.
