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.

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.

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.”

The Cut: Urban Mattress

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The first Urban Mattress store to open in Dallas at 4500 Lovers Lane carries high-quality, eco-friendly and organic products sourced from North America and Europe. The store’s selection caters to a range of customers from college students looking for natural alternatives to a standard mattress, to more established folks seeking high-end options. Urban Mattress stores are all locally owned and fit neatly between big box stores and tiny boutiques – big enough to have great selections, small enough to know their customers. The growing franchise is built on a commitment to never-pushy, personable sales and local community investment.

Dallas owner Jordan Glaeser, a city resident and Texas native, is excited to meld smart business with community care. His store supports four local nonprofits, including CitySquare, Dallas CASA, Mercy Street, and Young Life, with two percent of sales. Glaeser chose nonprofit partners based on personal familiarity and respect for their work. Customers have the option to choose which nonprofit their purchase will support. Connect with Jordan and his store on Facebook or come by and visit!

14th Annual State of Technology-Cyber Security Summit

By: Tara Vornkahl, Manager-Innovation

With cyber security being declared nationally as the “most serious economic and national security challenge we face as a nation,” the Dallas Regional Chamber (DRC) and the America’s Future Series have partnered to present the 14^th Annual State of Technology Cyber Security Summit.

Join the DRC and the America’s Future Series on Tuesday, Nov. 11, from 11:00 AM – 1:30 PM as they host Secretary Gordon England and other distinguished speakers for an in-depth discussion on the current state of cyber security, ways businesses can better protect themselves, and what the future holds.

DRC Members Spend Evening With North Texas Lawmakers at Power Hour

By: Erica Mulder, Director of Public Policy

Do your lawmakers know what’s important to you and your business?

DRC members had the opportunity to spend time with four North Texas legislators during the second DRC Power Hour last week. This series of evening receptions gives our members exclusive access to their representatives as they prepare to move legislation forward, vote on bills, and create laws that impact our community and businesses every day.

Methodist Health System Becomes Newest Member of Mayo Clinic Care Network

Methodist Health System and Mayo Clinic officials announced today that Methodist has been selected to join the Mayo Clinic Care Network. Members of the network share a goal of improving the delivery of health care in their communities through high-quality, collaborative medical care.