Total number of employees - 25
% of YP employees - 68%

Training and Empowerment:
Skill set training, Mentoring, Education reimbursement, PRSA/AAF Conferences, etc

Community and Quality of Life:
Match employee contributions, Flexible work schedule

Why they have the perfect vision
The Balcom Agency is a non-hierarchical culture, characterized by open communication and a diverse community of young professionals. Over 70% of our employees are members of Generation Y. These individuals come from a variety of backgrounds and tout varying skill sets. For instance, several of the agency's web developers, affectionally called our "computer geeks," have deep expertise in computer programming. Rather than being pigeon-holed in their areas of expertise, however, these employees take turns "DJ'ing" for the rest of us, showcasing their latest music preferences. Other young professionals at Balcom Agency serve as account executives, copywriter, advertising assistant, public relations coordinator, social media manager, and interns. In short, we have a great mix of individuals who learn from one another and enjoy each other's company. Balcom Agency's young employees also take advantage of the many seasoned professionals within the agency, working closely with them on client projects, picking their brains for ideas, and developing close relationships with them as friends and mentees. Flexible hours, a casual dress code, employee happy hours, agency events such as luncheons and awards galas, and opportunities for continued career development through organizations such as the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) and the American Advertising Federation (AAF) make the Balcom Agency an ideal place for a young professional to build his or her career, and enjoy life while doing so!

Total number of employees - 9
% of YP employees - 67%

Training and Empowerment:
Training and Empowerment: Leadership training, Computer training, Skill set training, Diversity/Sensitivity training, Customer relations training, Cross-training, Mentoring, Career assessment, Career development program, Education reimbursement

Community and Quality of Life:
Match employee contributions, Health club (on-site or discount), Flexible work schedule, Compressed work week, personal business leave

Why they have the perfect vision
Brown & Gay Engineers (BGE) has the perfect vision for young professionals exemplified by its commitment to develop leadership continuity. BGE offers a career development program that sets an Engineer on a single path developing technical and professional skills early in their career. BGE’s core purpose is to create engineering solutions for the communities we serve and to promote personal involvement in the community. BGE holds annual Christmas drives that include donations of blankets and clothing, as well as food drives for the First Street Methodist Mission in Fort Worth.

Total number of employees - 8
% of YP employees - 75%

Training and Empowerment:
Leadership training, Computer training, Skill set training, Diversity/Sensitivity training, Customer relations training, Cross-training, Mentoring, Career assessment, Team bonus, Education reimbursement, Sabbaticals, a 'fun committee' that plans social gatherings and birthday celebrations

Community and Quality of Life:
Time off for community service, Match employee contributions, Flexible work schedule

Why they have the perfect vision
PHPR has the perfect vision for young professionals because our old professionals remember so well what did contribute to and what would have made their early careers even more engaging, exciting, effective, rewarding, and fulfilling. Those 'what ifs' have been incorporated into the corporate culture and are constantly updated to the next generation of best approaches. Most importantly, PHPR have a tradition of contributing to the life of our community in Fort Worth. We have guided and gained from young professionals for over three decades, and we look forward to continuing this important focus. It benefits us as working PR counselors, our clients who depend on us, our vendors, and our friends and families.

Total number of employees - 82
% of YP employees - 67%

Training and Empowerment:
Leadership training, Career assessment, Career development program

Community and Quality of Life:
Match employee contributions, Health club (on-site or discount), Quarterly outings with week's worth of activities, Extremely flexible on the hours you work as long as you get your work done.

Why they have the perfect vision
Buxton was founded on the premise that while we work extremely hard, there is always time to be rewarded for that hard work. To start, Buxton's headquarters are completely open-office, there are no offices for the C-level executives (only our finance department - The Bank - has doors) to create a peer-to-peer environment for all employees. From the first day you go through orientation, you are taught that there are no ceilings here at Buxton and if you find that you've mastered your job position and would like to try a new position in another department, management is all for that. Our human resources department is continually putting on training sessions for various departments and we are all encouraged to get attend webinars and conferences in our related fields. In the community, we have been long-time partners with Campfire USA and Junior Achievement. Employees are not charged with time away from work when volunteering with one of these organizations.

Total number of employees - 153
% of YP employees - 29%

Training and Empowerment:
Leadership training, Computer training, Skill set training, Diversity/Sensitivity training, Customer relations training, Cross-training, Mentoring, Team bonus

Community and Quality of Life:
Match employee contributions, Health club (on-site or discount), Flexible work schedule

Why they have the perfect vision
For the same reason we have the perfect vision for our customers and other employees - our company CEO has fabulous vision. He's a charismatic leader that knows how to map out the direction of a company without being a micro-manager; and more importantly, he knows how to surround himself with the right people. His philosophy of hiring is this: "If you come across talent, hire it; even if we don't have a place for it yet." I've worked lots of places and that's a rare attitude (but a great one). Young Professionals can grow quicker in a small pond - and let's face it - our bank may be $450 in asset size and growing at a good ratio, but compared to some of the industry giants in Fort Worth, we're in a different category. In addition we are family owned, family oriented and family friendly. The community we live and serve in is a priority for our bank. It's important to note that the bank covers the cost of most civic organization(s) dues and encourages volunteering.

Total number of employees - 164
% of YP employees - 65%

Training and Empowerment:
Leadership training, Computer training, Diversity/Sensitivity training, Customer relations training, Mentoring, Career assessment, Career development program, International Assignment through Nexia International

Community and Quality of Life:
Match employee contributions, Health club (on-site or discount), Flexible work schedule

Why they have the perfect vision
Although the daily practice of our company culture comes naturally to us, we’ve worked very hard to implement and maintain a unique culture that is seldom found in public accounting. Put simply, our culture is based on people, and it is exhibited through the respect, encouragement and courtesy that we share. We want to help people be the best they can be and achieve all they desire. Therefore, we combine our professionals’ emotional investment and intellectual capital, along with the opportunities our firm and community have to offer, to ensure our professionals achieve success both on a personal and professional level. With the changing demographics of the accounting workforce, we promote and more importantly support, flexibility. We learn, innovate and succeed by sharing knowledge, embracing diversity and working together. We promote a healthy work environment because we know that too much work is counterproductive. We encourage all professionals to achieve a work/life balance that is conducive to personal and professional goals. We frequently engage in company activities, and we support community involvement. Time away from work to be with family or in the community is never discouraged. Balancing work and life is a challenge in any career and at any stage of a career, but our culture helps us make sure we keep our priorities straight. Our YPs are empowered to develop themselves as leaders while simultaneously fostering an environment that will present opportunities to mentor and serve others. We foster an enthusiasm for involvement so our YPs can be dutiful active citizens who can make a difference in our community and in the lives of others. We know that happy employees are healthy employees and our overall approach to provide development opportunities in both professional and personal arenas is why YPs choose to be a part of our team.

Policy decisions made in Washington, D.C. impact every Fort Worth business.  The Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce’s Summit gives our members direct access to the decision makers in our nations’s capitol.  The 2008 Summit gave Chamber members an invaluable opportunity to build relationships with our federal elected representatives and the business leaders that comprised the Fort Worth delegation.  It is always a historically interesting and enjoyable visit to Washington for around 30 of Fort Worth’s business leaders.  April 20-22, 2010.

Gold Sponsor - $4,000                    

• Receives recognition on all invitations, online calendar and event signage
• Recognition from the podium at each event
• Name on all collateral materials distributed to summit attendees and Washington, D.C. based associates invited to participate in events
• One complimentary registration fee for the 2010 Summit ( 1 - air fare comped)
• Recognition in the Chamberletter published in the Star-Telegram
• Transportation (one air fare per sponsor comped), lodging, food and beverage is included
• Receive a $200 discount (off the individual registration) on additional registrants
• 2 Nights accommodation at The Willard Hotel in Washington D.C.

 

Individual Registration - $2,000
Current registrants include representatives from these companies:  Fidelity Investments, Lockheed, Healthpoint, Integra Realty Resources, Cantey and Hanger and many more.

• (1) One registration fee for the 2010 Summit (air fare not included)
• 2 Nights accommodation at The Willard Hotel in Washington D.C.
• Recognition in the Chamberletter published in the Star-Telegram

Total number of employees - 240
% of YP employees - 53%

Training and Empowerment:
Leadership training, Computer training, Skill set training, Customer relations training, Cross-training, Mentoring, Career assessment, Career development program, Team bonus, Education reimbursement, Individual Performance Plan

Community and Quality of Life:
Time off for community service, Match employee contributions, Health club (on-site or discount)Flexible work schedule, Entry/team fees for charitable events, Use of meeting facilities to host committees, Webinars, Teleconferences

Why they have the perfect vision
Our corporate vision is: Be the firm of choice for clients and employees. Year after year, our focus groups and surveys indicate that first and second among priorities of our YPs are challenging work and opportunities for professional development. We provide those and more for YPs through our culture, professional challenges, professional development, and tangible, lasting rewards.

Total number of employees - 331
% of YP employees - 27%

Training and Empowerment:
Leadership training, Computer training, Skill set training, Diversity/sensitivity training, Customer relations training, Cross-training, Mentoring, Career assessment, Career development program, Team bonus, Education reimbursement, Sabbaticals

Community and Quality of Life:
Time off for community service, Match employee contributions, Personal concierge service for employees, Health club (on-site or discount), Flexible work schedule

Why they have the perfect vision
In 1989 when Rusty Reid became president/CEO of Higginbotham and brought in three colleagues to build the firm’s practice, they were only in their 20s. That began a tradition of recruiting and conditioning promising young professionals to drive the firm’s growth, which has helped make Higginbotham the 52nd largest independent insurance firm in the nation (Business Insurance, July 2009). Because they know firsthand what it takes to succeed as a young professional, Higginbotham’s leaders are committed to giving its young professionals the means to flourish—at work and in the community.
The firm developed an extensive two-year mentor program for its young professionals interested in joining Higginbotham’s sales team. They train under one of the firm’s senior sales producers, many of which started at Higginbotham early in their own careers. Because they learned the ropes while at Higginbotham, the mentors can relate to the burgeoning professionals and guide them with an appreciation for their challenges.

Higginbotham encourages engagement in the community by organizing charitable events throughout the year and allowing employees flexible schedules to serve the social service and trade organizations they support. This corporate backing allows its young professionals to pursue career-building and networking opportunities while also bettering the community. Participation in the community helped Higginbotham establish a presence in its earlier years, and so the firm promotes involvement by its young professionals to keep Higginbotham’s name relevant and to make a name for themselves.

Total number of employees - 382
% of YP employees - 67%

Training and Empowerment:
Leadership training, Computer training, Skill set training, Diversity/Sensitivity training, Cross-training, Mentoring, Career development program, reimbursement for CPA exam, pay for licensing fees, paid time off to study for exam, leadership training, women's initiative

Community and Quality of Life:
Time off for community service, Match employee contributions, Health club (on-site or discount), Flexible work schedule

Why they have the perfect vision
Weaver recognizes the importance of young professionals and is an advocate of their personal and professional growth. If young professionals are looking for a career path, recognition programs, communication from top leadership, continuing education, work-life balance, training opportunities, ability to participate in the community, rewards programs, leading technology and the opportunity to live in a city with flair, Weaver provides not only a perfect vision - but provides real success stories and examples to back that vision.