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NTX Culture & Commerce Summit Logo

​The North Texas Commission Foundation continues to expand on its successful conversations highlighting the significance of culture and commerce in shaping our region. The 2026 North Texas Culture & Commerce Summit focuses on strengthening the region’s economic future by elevating culture's role as a strategic driver of competitiveness, workforce success, and civic engagement. Throughout the program, leaders from business, government, and community organizations explore how cultural values, such as team-building, purpose-driven commerce, inclusivity, and community trust, directly shape our region’s economic vitality.

Presented By:

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April 10, 2026

8:00 AM to 2:00 PM

BNSF Railway

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS

PRESENTING SPONSOR

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GOLD SPONSOR

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SUMMIT SPONSORS

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Lennox
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AGENDA

8:00 AM 

Registration & Breakfast

8:30 AM 

Welcome Remarks: The Importance of Civic Engagement in the Diversified Economy of NTX

  • Chris Wallace, President and CEO, North Texas Commission 

  • Opal Mauldin-Jones, Board Chair, NTC | City Manager, City of Lancaster

8:45 AM 

Opening Keynote: Culture as a Competitive Advantage

  • Judy Carter, Senior Vice President & Chief Human Resources Officer, BNSF Railway

9:30 AM 

Panel: ‘Commerce with Character—Balancing Profit and Purpose'

  • Myrna Estrada, Senior Vice President and Field Executive, Liberty Mutual ​

  • Anette Landeros, Chief Strategy Officer, Trinity Metro

  • The Honorable Amir Omar, Mayor, City of Richardson

  • LaTonya Flournoy, Senior Employee Experience Partner, DFW International Airport

10:30 AM 

Culture at its Core, Candid Perspectives

  • Pete Havel, Author, The Arsonist in the Office

11:20 AM 

Lunch Buffet

11:50 AM 

Fireside Chat: When Culture and Commerce Collide: Conflict Resolution in 2026

  • Panelist 1: To Be Announced

  • Panelist 2: To Be Announced

  • Moderator: Winjie Miao, Senior Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer, Texas Health Resources

12:45 PM 

Panel: Building a Comprehensive Culture of Success: Navigating to Build Great Teams

  • Michelle Burgess, Director of HR Innovation and Inclusion Practices, Coca Cola Southwest Beverages

  • Claire Powell, City Manager, City of Lewisville

  • Steve Gandara, CEO of Excellent Cultures, Inc.

  • Moderator: Audra Leseckaite, Corporate HR and Head of Inclusion & Belonging, Lennox

1:35 PM 

Closing Remarks

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© 2026 The North Texas Commission, All Rights Reserved
8445 Freeport Parkway, Suite 640, Irving, TX 75063
972-621-0400

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