☂️Up or down? Streams & Valleys loses leader; Welman feeling well after grant; Herd mentality needs $400k.

After nearly four hours in executive session, Angelica Ramsey's voluntary resignation as Fort Worth ISD Superintendent was accepted, 8-1, by the board last night. Only Roxanne Martinez voted yes.

Stacey Pierce, Executive Director of Streams & Valleys the past 11 years, has resigned and will join the Fort Worth Chamber as Vice President of Investor Relations. Streams & Valley has established a strategic planning committee and will have Quindigo, led by Karen Vermaire, continue with administrative and operational tasks.

Fort Worth-based Welman Project, which connects teachers and schools with surplus supplies, has received a $74,900 grant from ArtsHERE, the National Endowment for the Arts announced. The grant will help open its tool library and makerspace as part of the future Fred Rouse Center for Arts and Community Healing at 1012 N. Main St., which had once been a KKK auditorium.

Governor Greg Abbott's office announced a $1,272,322 grant awarded to Tarrant County College to support workforce training and help businesses upskill their new or incumbent workforce. Specifically, TCC will provide customized training for more than 630 employees of Cummings Electrical for high-demand occupations as electrical contractors.

Bridge Cap Partners sold four acres at 2525 Handley Ederville Road in Richland Hills to G-Catch, an entity tied to Fort Worth investor Andy Hickson, whose firm plans to leverage the site’s zoning to build a mix of retail and flex office. Younger Partners Michael Ytem brokered the sale.

Point Energy Partners, which is backed by Fort Worth-based Vortus Investments Advisors, has sold its assets to Vital Energy and Northern Oil and Gas for $1.1 billion. Point Energy Partners is an oil and gas company focused on the Texas Delaware Basin.

The longhorns known as the Fort Worth Herd that stroll down Exchange Ave. in the Stockyards twice daily need a $400,000 temporary upgrade. That is, until an already approved new phase of development will bring new facilities. The interim improvements to the Herd’s facilities would be paid for through a combination of private and public funds. City council will vote on providing the additional funding in November.

Distribution Solutions Group, a specialty distribution company, said its operating company, Gexpro Services signed an agreement to acquire Singapore-based Tech-Component Resources Pte, a Southeast Asian distributor of fasteners, mechanical components, and other industrial products serving OEM customers and related applications. Bryan King is CEO and Chairman of the Board of DSG.  

The Starr Conspiracy, a marketing agency, has re-branded to TSC and announced Ashley Bernard has been appointed CEO, a title she has shared with founder Bret Starr for more than a year. Starr will become Chief AI Officer. 

Correction: The new President and CEO of Nike is Elliott Hill, a TCU Board of Trustee since 2014. He earned a master's in sports administration from Ohio University, not Ohio State. 

Fort Worth-based Alpha Oil Tools has entered a strategic global alliance with Oilfield Service Professionals, a provider of oilfield technology and service solutions related to well construction, interventions and de-commissioning. The alliance provides global access to downhole drillable technology that facilitates greater operational efficiency and improved reliability.

Brazilian commercial jet manufacturer Embraer and Atlanta-based cold storage company Americold are looking to take space and hire more than 330 people, according to the Star-Telegram.

Grapevine-Colleyville Collegiate Academy at Tarrant County College Northeast is one of five north Texas schools and just 356 nationally that have been named National Blue Ribbon winners by the Department of Education.

Once again, all past and present members of the United States Armed Forces can receive up to four free tickets to this year's Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl. Ticket information can be found here.

Fort Worth, Frisco and McKinney, as part of the North Texas Innovation Alliance, will compete in an international pitch competition — the Smart Cities Global Startup Challenge. Startups will compete to win piloting and funding opportunities in the United States.

A survey of 1,300 global CEOs by KPMG found 83% expect to get fully back in the office within three years, a jump from 64% saying so last year. The older the CEO, the more likely they were to call for five days a week, and male CEOs are more likely than females to do so.

Attention Kmart shoppers: The last full-size Kmart in the mainland U.S. is closing. The blue light will be turned out at the Bridgehampton, N.Y. store October 20. Kmart merged with Sears in 2005, and both have been in decline since. During the last 15 years, Sears and Kmart closed more than 3,500 stores and cut about 250,000 jobs.

Breadsticks in bed? Once a holdout on offering delivery for the casual diner, Olive Garden is reversing course and will use Uber to deliver its food next May, pending a successful pilot.

Believe it or not:  After a so-called panda began barking and panting like a dog, a Chinese zoo admitted that its pandas were just painted pups.

Snippets:

• It's official: For the 24th consecutive season, there will not be a repeat World Series champion. The Texas Rangers, 2023 champs, have been eliminated from playoff contention. 

• Fast Company showcases Fort Worth and north Texas cities that want to preserve green space ... and continue development.

• Cathay Pacific will launch service April 24 next year between Hong Kong and D-FW. 

Announcements: 

• Buxton: Hires Heath MacArthur as Chief Revenue Officer.

• PGP Urban Air: Hires Rick Ivey as CFO. 

• FW Councilwoman Jeanette Martinez: Hires Tracy Cliburn as District Director.

• UNT College of Merchandising, Hospitality & Tourism: Hires Valerie Martinez as Professional in Residence.

• Tarrant Area Food Bank: Adds board members Karen Love, Cook Children's; Diana Gardner, ex-Walmart GM; Dr. Semi Ali, FW Academy board; Dr. S. Sean Madison, TCC-Trinity; and Scott McGonaghy, Fort Worth & Associates. 

• Project Partners: Adds Haily Summerford and Amber Zuckerman.

• National Center for Children’s Vision and Eye Health: Honors Alcon’s Children’s Vision Center as recipient of Bonnie Strickland Champion.

• Paychex: Adds Michael Outland Jr. as District Sales Manager. 

Poll results from the last issue: Would you consider the growth outlook in your industry/sector of the economy to be positive or negative during the next 12 months? Answers: Positive (45%), negative (55%).