EVENT TO HONOR BUSINESS EXCELLENCE WITH SUSAN HALSEY EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP AWARD, SPIRIT OF ENTERPRISE AWARD
WHAT: The Fort Worth Chamber (FWC) will hold its 143rd Annual Meeting, presented by Frost Bank, from 3:30 to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, March 11 at TCU’s Sam Baugh Indoor Practice Facility and Cox Field.
Titled The Playbook, and leaning into the sports theme and event backdrop, this year’s high-energy reception will highlight the “teamwork, strategy, and winning moves that drive our city and business community forward.”
Hosted by Fort Worth Star-Telegram sports columnist Mac Engel, the event will feature sports-style commentary and interviews celebrating FWC’s 2024 highlights and unveiling its “playbook” initiatives for 2025. The event will also include the presentation of the Susan Halsey Executive Leadership Award and the Spirit of Enterprise Award.
WHO:
HOST: Mac Engel is a sports columnist with the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, where he has worked for more than 20 years. In 2023, Engel was named one of the top sports columnists in the country by the nation’s most prestigious sports journalism organization, the Associated Press Sports Editors. In 2022, he was named the top Sports Columnist in Texas by the Texas Associated Press Managing Editors (APME) in the largest category for a second consecutive year. He also finished second in the General Columnist category by the Texas APME in 2021. Engel, host of the podcast “The Engel Angle” and a former contributor to “The Fan” on KRLD, spent a decade as an adjunct professor at TCU’s Schieffer School of Journalism and held a similar role at SMU. He has also authored four books.
COMMENTATOR:
Chamber & Business Expert: Leah M. King serves as President of the JPS Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting the JPS Health Network as a regional and national leader in providing transformational healthcare services. King is also an elected official and serves as president of the board of directors of the Tarrant Regional Water District.
2024 HIGHLIGHTS: The FWC will be highlighting three success stories from 2024 that focus on the impact of their role in business retention and expansion of Fort Worth businesses. They include interviews with Renfro Foods, JPS, and DrinkPak.
THE HANDOFF: Charlie Campbell, 2024 FWC Board Chairman, will share a recap of last year’s successes before handing off to 2025 FWC Board Chairman Brian Newby, who will outline his goals for 2025.
THE PLAYBOOK: FWC President & CEO Steve Montgomery will share his vision and goals for 2025 and beyond.
SIDELINE STRATEGY: LEADING WITH VISION & PURPOSE: The program will conclude with a conversation featuring Montgomery and TCU President Daniel Pullin about the university’s recently released strategic vision.
SPIRIT OF ENTERPRISE AWARD: The FWC will present Higginbotham with the 2025 Spirit of Enterprise Award. Awarded by the four most recent chairs of the FWC, 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 its commitment to the preservation of the American private enterprise system. Visit fortworthchamber.com/spirit-of-enterprise for past award recipients.
SUSAN HALSEY EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP AWARD: Presented by the FWC and sponsored by Jackson Walker, the Susan Halsey Executive Leadership Award recognizes presidents, principals or chief executive officers who strengthen and transform the organization they lead. The winner will be selected later this week. Visit fortworthchamber.com/susan-halsey-award for more about the award and a list of previous winners.
WHEN: Tuesday, March 11, 2025
3:30 p.m. Check-in
4-5:15 p.m. Program
5:15-6 p.m. Reception “End Zone Experience”
WHERE: Sam Baugh Indoor Practice Facility and Cox Field, TCU
3000 Stadium Drive
Fort Worth 76109
WHY: FWC’s Annual Meeting is one of the organization’s largest events of the year. Get the “post-game summary report” on what the Chamber accomplished in 2024, and learn more about its playbook, vision and goals for the future of Fort Worth’s business community.
REGISTRATION CLOSES MARCH 4. VISIT FORT WORTH CHAMBER TO REGISTER.
