Anthony Edwards, assistant professor and director of the Tarleton State University Global Campus, will join the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce May 14 as Senior Vice President of Talent Development, Retention, and Attraction, one of the four pillars of the Chamber’s new strategic plan, Fortify.
The plan is built on four pillars, or areas of strategic interest, for economic development.
The chamber announced Edwards’ hiring, the final of four positions under the reorganization, Monday, April 30.
Others pillar heads, all senior vice president positions, are: Rebecca Montgomery, previously vice president of External Affairs at the Fort Worth Transportation Authority, Advocacy; Jarred Howard, previously Regional Leader of Economic Development for the Southeastern United States at BNSF Railway, Small Business and Entrepreneur Support; and Chris Strayer, previously senior project manager for Business Development and Project Management at Columbus 2020 (Ohio), Business Attraction, Retention and Expansion.
“Anthony has broad experience in areas of education and workforce development,” Brandom Gengelbach, executive vice president of Economic Development for the chamber, said in a news release. “The education and workforce landscape is very complex and Tony is the ideal person to map services offerings in this segment and identify overlaps and gaps within the local system.”
Edwards spent five years as a science teacher in Fort Worth ISD, Granbury ISD and Huckabay ISD, located just north of Stephenville.
He also completed an administrative internship at Scott & White Memorial Hospital, Clinic, and Health Plan (now Baylor Scott & White).
Edwards earned a bachelor of science in biomedical science from Texas A&M University, a master of health administration from the Texas A&M Health Science Center, and a doctor of education in educational leadership and policy studies from Tarleton State University.
In his position at Tarleton, he oversaw academic advising, recruiting, and marketing of online programs for six years of the university’s global campus.
“I became interested in the position after reading Fortify, the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce Strategic Plan,” Edwards said in the news release. “I am eager to collaborate with local businesses and school districts, Workforce Solutions of Tarrant County, Tarrant County College, local universities, local governments, Visit Fort Worth, and nonprofits to develop, attract, and retain talent in Fort Worth.”
As head of Talent, Edwards’ four-year goals include a 5 percent increase in population age 25+ with a bachelor’s degree; a 5 percent increase in population with postsecondary degrees, licenses or certifications; and a 10 percent increase in targeted industries’ talent supply.
“Talent is a top concern of businesses of all sizes, so Anthony will be charged with communicating what is being done currently to help local employers understand existing community services that may address their particular needs, as well as learn what new services should be implemented,” Gengelbach said.
For more information on Fortify:
www.fortworthbusiness.com/news/wanted-rock-stars-chamber-plays-new-economic-development-tune/article_4f683c2c-fc8b-11e7-8a43-9b43648286d0.html