The DRC Blog Has Moved!

Content-specific blogs now live on the new and improved DallasChamber.org. From economic development activities to the 84th legislative session, networking events to education initiatives and leadership programs – 2015 will be chock-full of extraordinary opportunities at the DRC to help you and your business grow.

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10 Things You May Not Know About Dallas

How much do you know about the region? We’ve compiled a list of 10 things that you may not know about the Dallas region:

1. Dallas won Best International Skyline for the 2014 USA Today Readers’ Choice
2. Dallas is one of the top five cities for women in technology, beating the national average by almost 11 percent, according to RJ Metrics.
3. According to New Geography, Dallas lands in 12th place on the list of cities with the most “brainpower.” The region increased its college graduate population by 13 percent between 2007 and 2012.
4. DFW has added 113,100 jobs since May 2013, the most of any U.S. metropolitan area. Over 289,500 jobs have been added to the region since January 2011.
5. The Dallas region is the fourth most populous U.S. metro area, home to 6.7 million people.
6. On average, housing costs in the region are 50 percent less than in other major metropolitan areas such as Boston, Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco.
7. There are 18 Fortune 500 companies, 11 Forbes top private companies, and nearly 40 Fortune 1000 companies that call the Dallas region home.
8. Inc. released a list of the fastest-growing U.S. private companies in August, and 169 Dallas area companies made the cut.
9. DFW has the fifth largest concentration of high-tech workers, and it ranks fifth in the country with the most self-employed people in the U.S. (Inc.)
10. According to the Dallas Business Journal, Dallas boasts more than 130,000 jobs in foreign-owned establishments, up from about 84,000 in 1991.

Infographic of the Week: Attractions and Amenities

Looking for something to do? Do you like museums? Theme parks? Sports? The Dallas-Fort Worth region has so much to offer that there’s something for everyone. The metro area has numerous water parks, cultural districts, and sporting arenas. In Fort Worth you can spend the morning at the zoo, picnic at the Botanic Garden for lunch, and visit any number of art museums in the afternoon. In the evening, take a trip to Sundance Square for dinner and dance at Billy Bob’s Country and Western nightclub. Dallas offers attractions such as Klyde Warren Park, the new Perot Museum of Nature and Science, and several museums in the Arts District. Dallas-Fort Worth offers family-friendly amenities no matter what your interests are. See the map below for some of the area’s most popular destinations.

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The Cut: Frost Bank

Click here to learn more about Frost Bank. 

 

2014 Morocco Trade and Investment Forum

Texas is known around the globe for its thriving economy, which is why Morocco’s business community is ready to partner with the Lone Star State.

The 2014 Morocco Trade and Investment Forum will take place on Thursday, Oct. 16, from 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM at the Fairmont Dallas Hotel. The event will explain the benefits of working with Morocco, a strong business portal to Africa and Europe. DRC President & CEO Dale Petroskey will join Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings, His Excellency Rachad Bouhlal, and The Honorable Dwight L. Bush Sr. for the opening remarks.

Featured speakers include:

• His Excellency Moulay Hafid Elalamy, Minister of Industry, Trade, Investment and the Digital Economy, Kingdom of Morocco
• Miriem Bensalah-Chaqroun, CEO, Holmarcom Group, President of the General Confederation of Moroccan Companies
• Pamela H. Patsley, Chairman & CEO, MoneyGram International, Inc.
• Amina Benkhadra, CEO, Office of National Hydrocarbons and Mining
• His Excellency Rachad Bouhlal, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco to the U.S.
• The Honorable Dwight L. Bush, Sr.,S. Ambassador to the Kingdom of Morocco

In addition to these exceptional speakers, breakout sessions will examine Morocco’s energy sector, infrastructure and logistics, finance, and aeronautics and manufacturing. Corporate participants will also be offered the opportunity to have a 10-minute, private meeting with the ambassadors to discuss further business opportunities.

The DRC is proud to be a partner organization for this event. For registration and hotel reservations, visit https://www.dfwworld.org/MBC2014.

Children’s Health System of Texas Launched Today in North Texas

Congratulations to Children’s Health System, formerly known as Children’s Medical Center Dallas, for introducing its new brand identity and system structure.

The new name and logo were created to represent the organization’s mission and expanded scope. In addition to the new brand identity, Children’s Health is launching an advertising and marketing campaign.

“The mission of Children’s Health – to make life better for children – will not change. But changes in the health care environment present us with an opportunity to deliver health and wellness services through an expanded network that reaches more families closer to their homes,” said Christopher J. Durovich, President and CEO of Children’s Health System.

Read the full press release for more information.

Infographic of the Week: Non-Stop Flight Times from Dallas-Fort Worth

By: Ryan Tharp, Director of Research and Economic Development

Air connectivity is vital for a business to thrive. Dallas-Fort Worth is a booming economic powerhouse that utilizes global air connectivity to reach new markets. The Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and Dallas Love Field offer passengers direct, non-stop routes to over 200 destinations around the world. New international routes to Asia, Europe, and South America have opened in the last few years with dozens more to come in the next five years.

Next month the restrictions on long-haul flights from Love Field will expire, and new non-stop flights will be added to the growing list of destinations. Cities on either coast are accessible within a three-hour flight. For business professionals, this means that one could leave for a meeting in New York or Los Angeles in the morning and be back in time to pick up the kids from school. Businesses need this type of air connectivity to thrive, and Dallas-Fort Worth’s connections help facilitate that.

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DRC Members Participate in North Texas Giving Day

Today from 6:00 AM – midnight, thousands of individuals are participating in North Texas Giving Day, powered by the Communities Foundation of Texas (CFT) .

In 2013, 75,000 donations were made to 1,350 nonprofit organizations, totaling $25.2 million. This year, several DRC members are participating in the North Texas Giving Day. If you would like to support one of these organizations so that they receive bonus funds from CFT, please visit NorthTexasGivingDay.org.

See who is talking about this one-day event on Twitter by using #NTXGivingDay.

State of the District Draws Attention to the Future of Dallas ISD

With over 375 business professionals, media outlets, and elected officials, our 2014 State of the District was a big success in connecting industry directly with public education.

Dallas ISD Superintendent Mike Miles and Board of Trustees President Miguel Solis took the stage to present their plans and goals for the district. Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings, Dallas City Council members, state representatives, a state senator, Dallas ISD Trustees, area superintendents, and university representatives also attended the sold-out event in support of public education.

President Solis emphasized the importance of improving results at Dallas ISD because the District is a major provider of the area’s future workforce. He stressed the need for individuals in the business community to get directly involved with local schools.

Following President Solis, Superintendent Miles shared his focus on “thinking differently and acting courageously.” He provided specific examples associated with the new rigorous principal evaluation system. Superintendent Miles also highlighted the District’s improvements in recruiting and retaining teachers, stating that there were very few open teaching positions at the beginning of this school year.

Superintendent Miles answered questions from the audience regarding graduation rates, splitting the district, parent engagement, and potential legislative issues. The business community is now well-informed about Dallas ISD, and several executives agreed to serve as Principals for a Day (a DRC volunteer program) as a result of the meeting.

Career and Technical Education students and teachers from seven Dallas ISD schools showcased their programs to attendees before and after the luncheon. Superintendent Miles also recognized the District’s exemplary principals.

View photos of the event on our Facebook page.

Women’s Business Conference Keynote Speakers Announced

The Dallas Regional Chamber is pleased to announce the keynote speakers and business breakout seminars for the 19th Annual Women’s Business Conference presented by Jackson Walker L.L.P. The event will take place on Friday, Oct. 3 from 8:00 AM – 2:00 PM at the Hilton Anatole in Dallas.

The Women’s Business Conference is an annual event focused on providing professional development and networking for women executives at all levels of their career. Approximately 800 attendees come together for this half-day agenda with expert speakers including two keynotes and business breakout seminars.

The ATHENA Award® and Young Professional Leadership ATHENA Award® will also be presented during the event.

“Wells Fargo is excited to sponsor the ATHENA Award at the 2014 Women’s Business Conference,” said Laura MacNeil, Wells Fargo’s Executive Vice President, Division Manager, North Texas and Oklahoma. “This award recognizes an accomplished female leader who has gone above and beyond in her profession and in the community. This individual encourages others towards success and consistently strives to make a positive difference in our region.”