🍎Fort Worth ISD future starts with new Supt.; TCU gets $10M, and it's not for NIL; Lockheed shows off new defense products.

Fort Worth’s Elbit Systems of America presented its SIGMA mobile tactical cannon, the company’s offering for the U.S. Army’s Self-Propelled Howitzer Modernization program. SIGMA, made in South Carolina, is the only fielded wheeled self-propelled howitzer manufactured in the United States. The platform is designed to provide mobility, survivability and operational flexibility.

Dr. Peter Licata is the new Superintendent for Fort Worth ISD. Licata most recently served as the Superintendent and CEO of Broward County Public Schools in south Florida, the sixth-largest school district in the U.S. with more than 250,000 students and 32,000 staff members. Dr. Licata led that district to its first state “A” rating in more than 14 years and eliminated all “D” and “F” schools. Here is the press conference. Here is the list of Board Managers selected. 

TCU announced a $10-million commitment from The Roach Foundation of Fort Worth for a philanthropic investment that aligns with TCU’s Strategic Plan and strengthens the university’s growing research enterprise. The commitment supports collaboration among faculty and students working in areas such as engineering, data science, human performance and applied technology.

The Supreme Court appeared skeptical of state laws that allow the counting of late-arriving mail ballots. Justices heard arguments in a case from Mississippi that also could affect voters in 13 other states and the District of Columbia, and an additional 15 states that have forgiving deadlines for ballots from military and overseas voters. A ruling is expected by late June.

Grapevine-based GameStop Corp. reported fourth-quarter revenue fell 14.8% year-over-year to $1.10B. Hardware and accessories sales fell to 48.5% of total sales vs. 56.6%, and software sales fell to 18.4% from 22.3% last year. Collectibles revenue was up to 33.1% of the total vs. 21.1% a year ago. Adjusted operating income profit of $147.7M during the quarter vs. $84.4M a year ago and recorded net income of $127.9M. EPS was $0.49 for the quarter, vs. $0.30 a year ago. The company ended the quarter with $9.0 billion in cash, compared to $8.8 billion at the end of its third quarter.

The 1994 FIFA World Cup in Dallas, and across the United States, did more than introduce a global tournament to an emerging soccer market led by Dallas’ Hunt family. D Magazine looks at the local landscape 32 years later. 

For the 14th consecutive year, Texas has claimed Site Selection magazine's Governor's Cup for the state with the highest number of economic development projects. Texas landed more than 1,400 during 2025. 

Grapevine will celebrate Mayor William D. Tate's 50 years in office during May. He will become the longest-serving mayor in Texas and one of the longest serving in the U.S.

The Army received its first Black Hawk H-60Mx helicopter, which is modified to fly with or without a pilot. It will undergo "rigorous" testing the next few months. Lockheed Martin subsidiary Sikorsky is the manufacturer of the Black Hawk. 

Lockheed Martin, with the U.S. Department of War, the Missile Defense Agency and Japan’s Ministry of Defense, completed the first live target tracking exercise using the SPY-7 radar, which will be delivered to Japan for installation onto the first Aegis System Equipped Vessel.

Lockheed Martin completed an initial, live-fire test of its Grizzly launcher, which is designed to fire Hellfire missiles from a compact, transportable platform. It is the first integrated demonstration of vertical launch and live missile firing from the system, which is housed inside a 10-foot Tricon shipping container. Łockheed said the launcher successfully met key performance requirements.

A New York group has purchased 16 properties in 12 Texas cities, including Fort Worth, for $66 million. Tredway's additional portfolio contains 1,200 rental units, and the company said it would spend $10 million on upgrades. 

Palm Primary Care, affiliated with Florida-based Palm Medical Centers, acquired two primary care clinics in Azle from Texas Health Physicians Group. With the acquisitions, Palm has nine clinics in Tarrant and Dallas counties.

May 2, Fort Worth puts an $845-million bond package, and salary increases for Mayor and Council before voters. There are six propositions and nine charter amendments. Community engagement events starting tonight at Fort Worth City Hall through April 18 are scheduled throughout the city to provide information about items that will appear on the Bond & Charter Election ballots.

Avion Hospitality has been selected to manage the Hilton DFW Lakes Executive Conference Center in Grapevine. Avion manages approximately 40 hotels nationally. Hilton DFW Lakes recently was acquired by Highline Hospitality.

Fort Worth restaurant veteran Carlo Croci has re-opened Bella Italia West at 6115 Camp Bowie Boulevard. Since 1988, the popular west-side Italian restaurant known for wild game had been located one mile east.

A law affecting millions takes effect April 1 and prohibits Texas’ Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program recipients from using food stamps to purchase sweetened beverages and candy. Senate Bill 379 is one of three bills under Texas’ “Make America Healthy Again” initiative.

Rutledge Cancer Foundation is adding $101,000 to expand two programs it already has supported with $576,000 in partnership with Moncrief Cancer Center. The funds support the onco-fertility preservation and the AYA psychosocial programs. 

817 Biz invites you to a free, one-hour online AI Workshop for local business owners, executives and managers next Wednesday (April 1) at 2 pm. During the session, sales and marketing consultant Ryan Dohrn will walk through practical examples of how AI tools can be used. Find more information and a registration link here. 

Believe it or not: The original Segway prototype is up for auction. The high bid at press time was $10,000.

Daily digit: 37th = Texas’ national ranking for state park acreage per capita, according to Environment Texas, a research and policy center. In 2023, voters approved a $1-billion fund dedicated to new state parks.

Significant stat: 2.68 million = Number of federal workers in February, the lowest count in almost 60 years, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 

Snippets:

• Where were you watching the Oscars? Probably not as closely as Fort Worth’s Kwedar family. 

• Here is a glimpse as to how Fort Worth's Economic Development Partnership begins the process of potentially moving a company to the area.

• Today, the greatest Texas postal historical items are up for bid at Siegel Auctions in New York City.

• DoorDash is offering extra compensation to drivers as part of a temporary program to help offset rising gas prices.

• Dachshunds broke into America’s five most popular dog breeds for the first time in more than 20 years at No. 5. French bulldogs lost a bit of their lead, but remained No. 1, followed by Labrador retrievers, Golden retrievers and German shepherds.

Announcements:

• TCU: Names Bernard Rousseau the Dean of the Harris College of Nursing & Health Sciences. He has more than 20 years of leadership experience at three Top 100 research institutions – Vanderbilt, Pittsburgh and Saint Louis.

• Webb CFO: Hires CPA Rosie Dietz. 

• Harmony Bank: Promotes Kendra Gouge to Market President. 

• Vista Bank: Hires Paul Howell as President of Private Client & Sponsor Finance. Hires Michael Grace as Senior Vice President-Middle Market Banking Manager. 

• First Bank Texas: Chairman Zan Sharp West has been appointed to the boards of West Texas Rehabilitation Center and the Independent Bankers Association of Texas.

• Baird: Adds Bryan Vaughn as Director and Financial Advisor of its private wealth management office in Fort Worth.

• Deloitte: Hires Will Raymond as Production Producer. 

• City of Arlington: Takes interim off title and names Spenser Slider Chief Financial Officer. 

• Lockheed Martin: Selects Jenna McMullin as Senior Vice President and Chief Communications Officer.  

• Transwestern: Promotes Gavin Behr to Vice President. 

• Georgia Tech: Hires Scott Cross as men's head basketball coach. Cross coached at UT-Arlington from 2006 to 2018. He is the school's winningest coach with a 225-161 record and took the 2007-8 team to the NCAA Tournament.

• Make-A-Wish North Texas: Hires Tricia Clifton as the Director of Corporate & Community Partnerships.

• Medical City Alliance: Moves Neyaz Mohammadi to Chief Operating Officer at Medical City Alliance. She had been VP of Operations at Medical City Frisco.

• Texas Health Fort Worth: Hires Natalie Whitmer as Chief Operations Officer. 

• RGA: Names Jimmy Fechter Director of Business Development.

• Cars.com: Names D&M Leasing the Southwest Dealer of the Year and top leasing company in the U.S. 

• Construction Fund Managers: Launched by Stephanie Taylor.

• Walker Engineering: Hires Hayden Alexander as Assistant Project Manager.

• American Bar Association: Honors Nancy Welsh of Texas A&M School of Law with the 2026 Section of Dispute Resolution Award for Outstanding Scholarly Work.

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