PRESS RELEASE
Contact: Andrea Coker
North Texas Commission Announces 2024 Regional Award Recipients
September 4, 2024
North Texas — The North Texas Commission will present the 2024 Regional Awards at its Annual Members Luncheon on September 19, 2024, at Live! At Loews, Arlington. Below are the award recipients for seven of the region’s most prestigious awards. The Dan Petty Regional Visionary Award recipients will be announced live at the luncheon.
“These seven awards recipients below and our Dan Petty Award winner represent the significance of our region’s public and private sector leaders and the importance of collaboration in North Texas. Each has embodied what the North Texas Commission strives for in our Metroplex- unity, diversity, and a commitment to regionalism. This year’s winners prove working together as one unified region to tackle our challenges and work on future growth opportunities is the best solution for North Texas. Please join us in congratulating our award recipients at our upcoming Annual Members Luncheon,” said Chris Wallace, NTC’s President and CEO. Register HERE.
Civic Leadership Award: Carter Holston, Director of Real Estate, NEC—Carter Holston is the recently retired Director of Real Estate for NEC Corporation of America in Irving, where managed their real estate operations in the U.S. Carter has served on many boards and councils, including Catch Up and Read Organization, Community Relations for NEC Foundation, Irving ISD Superintendent’s Business Advisory Council, Irving-Las Colinas Chamber of Commerce, Texas Association of Business and the NTC.
Corporate/Organization Leadership Award: Atmos Energy—Atmos Energy has shown unwavering commitment and partnership over the past decade in North Texas. Atmos has invested in job creation, infrastructure, emergency preparedness, and education. Their consistent focus on fostering local development and well-being has made a substantial effort and contribution to impacting communities in the Metroplex.
Diversity Leadership Award: City Council of the City of Richardson—The City of Richardson bridges the gap between its diverse stakeholders and residents by forming the Community Inclusion and Engagement Commission, CIEC. This commission advises the council on making the city inclusive and engaging for all residents. It has become a crucial pillar of the city’s values and is an expectation for all modern municipalities.
Education Leadership Award: Chancellor Dr. Elva LaBlanc, Tarrant Community College and Chancellor Dr. Justin Lonon, Dallas College— As leaders of their respective institutions, Chancellors LeBlanc and Lonon have partnered through an Interlocal Strategic Alliance Agreement collaboratively to ensure that even more North Texas residents can earn the credentials required for high-demand, well-paying jobs. Most recently, the colleges have partnered with the North Texas Semiconductor Institute, Penn State, and the SMU Semiconductor Tech Hub to pursue opportunities related to semiconductor technology and partnered on a U.S. Economic Development Administration grant to grow a biotechnology workforce in North Texas.
Elected Official Leadership Award: Hon. Oscar Trevino, Former Mayor, City of North Richland Hills—Oscar Trevino built his own business, O. Trevino Construction, before serving his community through public service. Mayor Trevino has impacted local government and the Metroplex for over a quarter century. His leadership at the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG), Regional Transportation Council (RTC), and Tarrant Regional Transportation Coalition (TRTC) has been able to help pave the way for the enormous growth in the DFW metropolitan area. During his tenure as North Richland Hills Mayor, he oversaw unprecedented growth in North Richland Hills in terms of population, physical infrastructure, and regional influence. Mayor Trevino's commitment to innovation, common sense and doing the right thing make him one of the outstanding North Texas public servants of his generation.
Social Impact Award: Texas Health Resources—Texas Health Resources invests in education and outreach, partnering with local leaders, businesses, and community-based groups to identify innovative ways to prevent and manage chronic disease and increase access to health and well-being services. With the growth of THR across 16 counties in the Metroplex, THR has made the financial and social investment to grow NTX resources for our communities' needs. In partnership with public and private institutions, governments, and companies, they have continued to increase their efforts to ensure THR is equipped to remain an exceptional resource for North Texas.
Rising Star Award: Andrew Fortune, Director of Policy and Government Relations, City of Plano—Andrew Fortune is an effective relationship builder who consistently fosters strong and positive connections with colleagues, clients, and stakeholders. His work ethic is unparalleled, demonstrating dedication, commitment, and a relentless pursuit of excellence in every task he undertakes. His contributions to the region include his visionary work in public transit and his exceptional ability to build strong coalitions. As a regionalist, he has advocated for innovative approaches to public transit, a more efficient, sustainable, and accessible transportation system that will benefit future generations. He is successfully bringing together diverse stakeholders, including government agencies, private sector partners, and community organizations, fostering collaboration and consensus around critical transit initiatives.
You can visit www.ntc-dfw.org/AML for tickets and sponsorship information.
Established in 1971, the North Texas Commission is a unique public-private partnership that drives large impactful projects and legislative issues benefiting a robust 13-county region and tackles the region’s greatest challenges with board and staff subject matter experts who provide resources to market the region and educate future leaders. The North Texas Commission also manages the region’s unified advocacy voice at the state and federal levels.
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