Mabrie Jackson

North Texas is once again home to the top company according to FORTUNE Magazine’s annual FORTUNE 500 list, Exxon Mobil. In addition to the oil and gas giant, today’s release of this iconic list revealed some familiar faces with AT&T, AMR, Fluor, Texas Instruments and Energy Future Holdings gracing the list again. And, while we may have dropped in rankings to the 6th most headquarters among the nation’s metro areas, we remain strong in the revenue generated by our FORTUNE 500 headquarter companies with a 16.6 percent increase to $782 billion.

Let’s take it a step further. What does it mean to have the number one listed company located in our region? Why is it important that our companies rank No. 2 in the nation in terms of revenue generated? The list doesn’t stop at these 18 companies. Many other major North Texas employers – Bank of America, Verizon and Lockheed Martin – have headquarters elsewhere in the country but fuel our economy as well.

Having companies as diverse as Exxon Mobil to Texas Instruments and Tenet Healthcare to American Airlines’ parent AMR based here keeps our economy diverse, our labor force of 3.5 million – the largest in the state – strong, and it keeps our growing small to mid-size businesses busy with a steady stream of customers to support.

We know there are many reasons to feel fortunate to live in North Texas, but this list reaffirms what we believe; business comes where invited but stays where appreciated.

Revenue for North Texas companies increases by $111 billion

With 18 Fortune 500 companies headquartered in the region, North Texas ranks sixth among metropolitan areas with the most companies, according to data compiled by the North Texas Commission following the May 7 release of the Fortune 500 list.

Total revenue for the 18 firms in North Texas topped $782 billion, an increase of more than $111 billion or 16.6 percent from last year’s total. North Texas ranked second in total revenue behind only the New York metropolitan area.

Irving-based Exxon Mobil ousted Wal-Mart as the top-ranked company. Exxon Mobil, an NTC member since 1991, posted nearly $453 billion in revenue in 2011. Other North Texas companies include AT&T ranked No. 11, American Airlines at No. 123, Fluor at No. 124, Texas Instruments at No. 200 and Energy Future Holdings at No. 357. For the complete list of Fortune 500 companies headquartered in North Texas, click here.

“The last few years have been rough for all businesses in our country and we’re proud of all the corporate citizens who are highlighted,” said Mabrie Jackson, president and CEO of the North Texas Commission. “It’s impressive to see that our Fortune 500 companies continue to make a significant contribution to our region’s economy.”

Richardson-based MetroPCS Communications is the lone newcomer on the list of North Texas companies. Last year, North Texas had 20 Fortune 500 companies.

New York led all metro areas with 68 Fortune 500 companies, followed by Chicago with 29, Houston (25), Washington D.C. (20), and Los Angeles (19). North Texas tied with Minneapolis at 18 companies.

Texas statewide is home to 52 Fortune 500 headquarters, up from 51 in 2011. Texas ranks second behind only California’s 53 companies. The Houston metro area and North Texas combined for 43 of the 52 Texas companies, while San Antonio had five and Austin had two. El Paso and Corpus Christie each had one company on the list.

Classified information popped up all across North Texas last week as the Save the Date cards began to hit the mailboxes of the movers and shakers of our region. Receiving one of these cards does not put you in possession of government secrets. Quite the opposite, it encourages you to join us for the North Texas Commission’s 41st Annual Members’ Luncheon on Thursday, September 20, at noon at the Irving Convention Center at Las Colinas to learn more about a very important asset and economic driver to our region.

Declassified information will be available in June, but in the meantime tickets and sponsorships are available. Sponsorships, tables and single tickets are available for purchase beginning at $125 for NTC members for single tickets and tables begin at $1,250. Sponsorships begin at $2,500. Click here for registration or more information.

The North Texas Commission will host a webinar on Wednesday, May 9, with attorney David Griggs as he discusses how Internet fraud can impact our North Texas economy. Griggs is a former civil prosecutor for the Federal Trade Commission, the nation’s consumer protection agency. During his 22-year career with the US government, he prosecuted numerous cases of business and consumer fraud and deceptive trade practices in federal courts around the country, and won millions of dollars in judgments of consumer redress for victims. He is currently in private practice with the Law Office of Wendel A. Withrow in Carrollton and a member of the Farmers Branch Chamber of Commerce.

Registration is free and open to the public. Click here to register.

Save the date for Wednesday, June 6, as Lewis McMahan, member of the Texas Water Development Board, leads a discussion on the State Water Plan and how conservation measures can be instrumental in our long-range water planning.

By Mabrie Jackson
This story appeared in the April 6, 2012 issue of Today’s Zaman, an English-language daily based in Turkey.

North Texas and Turkey – ask the average citizen of either and he or she will likely agree that the two areas are about as different from each other as they come.

One is known for oil derricks, cattle drives and J.R. Ewing, and the other for whirling dervishes, the Silk Road and opulent architecture.

Expectations are a funny thing, especially when one gets to experience it first-hand. Last August, I accompanied a group of my fellow Texans to Turkey, full of our own set of expectations that we had to let go of. We expected an ancient civilization with roots as deep as the foundation of Hagia Sophia; we found a vibrant economy as bustling as Taksim Square. We expected a unique culture steeped in the traditions of both the East and the West; we found a dynamic and progressive society on the cutting edge of innovation in technology and manufacturing. We expected a regional leader; we found an emerging powerhouse on the European stage with global ambitions. After only a few days, we realized that we needed to recalibrate our expectations.

Although Turkey’s many unfamiliar sights and experiences took our breath away, it was Turkey’s similarities to North Texas – the Dallas-Fort Worth region – that amazed us the most. Both North Texas and Turkey have large, robust and growing economies; indeed, if North Texas was its own country, its gross domestic product (GDP) would be 26th in the world, only a few spots behind Turkey’s rank of 17th. Just as Turkey is a gateway to Europe and Asia, we see Texas as a gateway to North America, from the snowy plains of Canada to the tropical forests of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. Like Turkey, we also have a highly educated work force – North Texas’s more than 30 higher education institutions are home to almost 350,000 students, and over 1.3 million of our 6.5 million residents have a bachelor’s degree or higher.

With so many similarities, it is a surprise that there are not more ties between our two economies. North Texas is home to 20 Fortune 500 companies eager to find new business opportunities in emerging markets like Turkey. Companies such as Lockheed Martin, Transatlantic and Texas Pacific Group are leading the way by establishing high-tech production facilities in Turkey; and we hope to see more Turkish companies with their US facilities based in North Texas.

So, why should North Texas businesses and Turkish executives partner together? Our similarities unite us and give both areas an opportunity to work together to mutually support each region’s rise towards its global potential. Both regions have proven economic stability and staying power, even while neighboring states and countries face challenges. And, Turkey and North Texas have taken on prominent roles in leading our respective regions out of recession by fostering vibrant markets and setting good examples of policies to encourage growth.

We boast the third-lowest distribution costs of any region, and are home to numerous intermodal transport options, allowing for the efficient transport of goods from all over the world. And, DFW International Airport – our region’s most important asset – connects us to 48 international destinations, including the Middle East through its addition of direct service to Dubai on Emirates.

An immediate opportunity for cooperation is in the energy field. Faced with your incredible growth opportunity, there will be a need to ensure that energy supply stays in lockstep with demand. Our state has a long and deep history in energy with expertise in fossil fuels, natural gas and alternative sources such as wind and solar. North Texas businesses should also take advantage of Turkey’s position as a “Gateway to the Middle East” and utilize your country as a major logistics hub.

North Texas is open for business, and we are eager to build a stronger relationship with Turkey. On our visit, we saw that Turkey and North Texas are not so different. We both hold in common the most important traits necessary to stand on the global stage: dynamic economies, central locations, highly educated workforces and, perhaps most importantly, the desire to cooperate for each other’s mutual benefit. Our customs and culture may be different, but when it comes to doing business, we both speak the same language.

We believe in Turkey. And, we hope Turkey believes in North Texas.

April 22 was Earth Day, and the North Texas Commission participated in a number of events across North Texas, including the “Fort Worth Smart Business Symposium” and “Earth Day Dallas.” It was great to see so many of our members and partners at these events, such as DART, TXU, NCTCOG, and DFW Airport (whose falconry program was a standout).

With April behind us, we can now turn our eyes toward the summer and ozone season. Indeed, ozone season hit North Texas early this year, with two high ozone days occurring in late March. The Clean Air Act stipulates that ozone levels must not exceed 85 parts-per-billion (ppb). Although air quality in North Texas has been steadily improving over the past decade, 10 counties in our region have ozone levels that are too high to pass EPA standards, leaving North Texas in “non-attainment.” Beyond ozone’s harmful impacts on public health, failure to achieve compliance in this area could lead to negative economic outcomes as well, including the loss of federal transportation funding and more stringent regulation of regional businesses and industries. Because of these disincentives and risks, many corporations will not locate in non-attainment areas. Clean air is not only important to our region’s health, it’s vital for our region’s continued economic prosperity as well.

Because of their large alternative-fuel vehicle fleet, Fort Worth’s transit authority The T has been on the front-lines of the ozone fight for many years. Beginning in 1989, The T began to convert its fleet to compressed natural gas (CNG), and today 98 percent of its 200 buses, vans, trolleys, and utility vehicles are CNG. Although great for air quality (CNG buses are on average twice as clean as conventional diesel engines), The T’s Assistant Vice President for Marketing, Richard Maxwell, notes another benefit – natural gas is about one dollar a gallon.

The T does not stop with CNG though, and works to reduce ozone in a variety of other ways as well. For example, all of their buses are outfitted with bicycle racks to allow commuters to easily extend their trip, and The T provides a regional transit pass to all staff. On May 18, The T is partnering with Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price to sponsor the annual “Bike to Work” day. They are even looking into launching a bicycle sharing program for downtown Fort Worth to complement the more than 40 miles of cycle-lanes in the city.

As we have mentioned previously, the North Texas Commission Foundation is rolling out a new ozone program called the “Clean Air Texas Initiative.” Born out of the merger of the “North Texas Clean Air Coalition” and “Texas Business for Clean Air,” this new group will work with the business community of North Texas to develop and implement voluntary and measurable strategies for improving air quality within our region. If you are interested in participating, please email Robert Kent, our Director of Environmental Programs, at robert@ntc-dfw.org, or submit your contact details on our website. Also, be sure to look for us on Facebook and Twitter.

The deadline to apply for next year’s class of Leadership North Texas presented by Chesapeake Energy is quickly approaching. Applications and endorsements are due Friday, June 8 to the North Texas Commission office or via email to Kimberly Walton. Leadership North Texas is a graduate-level, regional leadership program designed to recruit, develop and support leaders who have a commitment to civic engagement and to the North Texas region.

The program, completing its third year, has graduated nearly 90 individuals, including four mayors, six city council members, a Texas State Representative, representatives from the region’s higher education institutions, five city managers, business executives and non-profit leaders. Over a nine-month period, the class addresses and discusses topics such as the history of North Texas, regionalism, our economy, workforce and education, sustainable development, state government and a plan for civic engagement. They learn best practices in regional stewardship from experts and other regions, and explore how to collaborate to best address current regional issues.

Leadership North Texas offers the Dan S. Petty Regional Steward scholarship to provide tuition assistance for up to three non-profit executives from North Texas. The scholarship is named for the organization’s former President and CEO who passed away in January 2011.

The application deadline for Leadership North Texas Class 4 is noon, June 8, 2012. Applications are available online at www.leadershipnorthtexas.org or through the North Texas Commission office at 972-621-0400 ext. 110. Tuition for the program is $3,000.

Chesapeake has been the program’s Presenting Sponsor since its inception in 2008.

The inaugural event of the India Enterprise Forum will be held May 15 at the Naveen Jindal School of Management at the UT Dallas campus. The event will feature high-profile speakers from businesses, government agencies and public institutions, from across India and the United States. The University of Texas at Dallas is offering free registration to the India Enterprise Forum for the first 30 North Texas Commission members interested in attending. Please send an email to ief@utdallas.edu to take advantage of this generous opportunity.

“The forum is an initiative to create and share detailed knowledge on the Indian growth story and related business opportunities,” said Sumit K. Majumdar, Professor of Technology Strategy, University of Texas at Dallas, and President, India Enterprise Forum. “Indian business leaders can acquire similar knowledge about North Texas through this information sharing forum.”

The event is geared towards engendering relationships and knowledge provision for both business professionals and others interested in India’s economic miracle. The forum meeting will be particularly useful for people wanting to engage with the Indian industrial phenomenon as an investor, partner or employee. Business professionals can ascertain the numerous nuances of how to engage in the specific sectors of the Indian economy. Indian business professionals can acquire similar knowledge about the North Texas region and Dallas-Fort Worth business opportunities.

Speakers include:

• Ambassador Lakshmi Puri, Assistant Secretary General of the United Nations, will deliver the keynote address.
• State Representative Angie Chen Button, Texas Instruments, Richardson, TX
• Mr. Prakash Bedipudi, Executive Vice President and CTO, Lennox International, Richardson, TX
• Mr. L. Mansingh, the founding Chairman of India’s Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board,
• Mr. D. Sinha, Petro Consult, Oklahoma City, OK
• Mr. Abhay Paranjape, National Executive for India, Lockheed Martin, Marietta, GA.
• Mr. V. Balachandran, formerly of India’s Cabinet Secretariat,
• Mr. H. Brandon, of Smith Brandon International, and formerly of the FBI, and
• Mr. P. Kohli, CEO and founder, Mavenir, Richardson, TX.
• Mr. Y. Bhave, the founding Chairman of India’s Airport Economic Regulatory Authority.
• Phil Ritter, Executive Vice President, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport
• Angel Ruiz, CEO, Ericsson, Plano, TX.
• Sir Geoffrey Owen, former Editor of the Financial Times, London,
• Dr. David Daniel, President of the University of Texas at Dallas
• Ambassador Hardeep Singh Puri, India’s Ambassador to the United Nations, will deliver the closing address.

Registration is open, and those interested can visit the website http://ief.utdallas.edu.

Following the record-setting drought in North Texas, the mayors of four of the region’s largest cities – Dallas’ Mike Rawlings, Fort Worth’s Betsy Price, Arlington’s Robert Cluck and Irving’s Beth Van Duyne – purposed permanent twice-weekly water restrictions in their respective cities.

The North Texas Commission supported the collaboration effort of the four mayors for taking a leadership position within the region on the timely issue of North Texas’ long-range water supply.

The four mayors announced their intention to enact permanent water restrictions at a press conference April 11.

Most of the region is current under temporary, twice-a-week watering restrictions as a result on the recent record-setting drought that plagued the entire state. Many cities leaders are pushing to make the restrictions permanent.

When the Tarrant Regional Water District, which provides water to 98 percent of the residents of Tarrant County, limited watering to twice weekly in August, daily water consumption in the district fell by 8 percent.

By making the twice-weekly watering restrictions permanent, the cities create a lasting effect across North Texas for efficient water use.

Last fall, the North Texas Commission convened a sold out North Texas Water Summit bringing together water planning experts, state elected officials, corporate partners and city leaders. The result was overwhelmingly positive as these individuals came together to discuss water planning implementation and conservation on a regional level.

The North Texas Commission membership is comprised of municipalities, universities, non-profit organizations and more than 200 businesses overlaying the same geographic area as Region C.

More than a thousand volunteer greeters welcomed over 200 troops arriving into DFW International Airport on March 14, the final day of the “Welcome Home A Hero” program.

Following the troop arrival, the U.S. Army and DFW Airport paid tribute to the volunteers who turned the daily greeting into a nationally recognized community service project over the last eight years.

Jim Crites, DFW executive vice president for operations, saluted the greeters on hand for the final arrival.

“You, the Welcome Home A Hero volunteers made it your individual, personal, mission to extend a warm welcome to our military troops coming home through DFW,” Crites said. “You were able to see in the eyes of those you served someone who knew they were appreciated and loved. This was and is priceless.”

The U.S. Army Human Resources Command is ending the daily rest and recuperation (R&R) charter flights into DFW Airport and closing its Personnel Assistance Point (PAP) at the Airport, consolidating flights into Atlanta-Hartsfield Jackson International Airport as military deployment reductions continue overseas. There will be two more weeks of departures from DFW Airport, with the final outbound flight scheduled for March 30.

Salvatore Giunta, a retired U.S. Army Staff Sergeant who became the first Congressional Medal of Honor recipient in 40 years, told the crowd about his personal experiences coming through DFW Airport and experiencing the Welcome Home A Hero program on two occasions.

“I felt like a true hero walking through those doors,” Giunta said. “I felt that way because of the amount of support. People don’t just give up their jobs in the middle of the day to shake anyone’s hand, cheer for them and bake cookies and take time out of their busy lives. Here at this airport, this group of people, they do that every single day.”

The USO facility at DFW Airport will remain in operation serving troops, even after the end of scheduled R&R charter flights. Troops will continue transiting through DFW Airport individually or in small groups on their travels between the United States and the theater of operations in the Middle East, and will continue to receive enthusiastic support at DFW Airport.

“I know none of our volunteers did this for recognition or thanks, but instead out of love and respect for those that put their lives in harm’s way every day,” said Lt. General Donald Campbell, commander of III Corps and Fort Hood, Texas. “Please know that serving those who are truly in harm’s way is the most noble thing you can do, and we appreciate your support.”

The “Welcome Home a Hero” program has been nationally recognized as a model for civic participation and grew into one of the largest public service projects in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

“Welcome Home A Hero” program volunteers greeted more than 460,000 inbound soldiers transiting through DFW Airport on their way home for two weeks of rest and recuperation from active duty in Iraq and Afghanistan. Hundreds of local organizations and more than 10,000 individual volunteers have greeted about 2,700 incoming flights during the life of the program.

Counting a 10-week period of R&R flights that started in 2003, DFW Airport hosted R&R flights from the U.S. Army’s Human Resources Command for a grand total of 2847 days, or about eight years.