Fort Worth, Tx Magazine
Women In Business Worth Knowing
When you glance across the business landscape of the Metroplex, many women who lead or run companies or organizations have great influence in the community. The following pages will highlight successful women in business, reflecting not only their philosophies and backgrounds, but also their ties to the community and professional accomplishments.
The information in this section is provided by the advertisers and has not been independently verified by Fort Worth, Texas magazine.
Portfolio: Women in Business Worth Knowing
Amy Yudiski
Shale Exploration, LLC
EDUCATION: B.S. in Mathematics, minor in Education. Many life lessons I learned from my parents because of growing up a Navy brat and the daughter of a teacher. CHARITY INVOLVEMENT: Sponsor of Mayfest; title sponsor of Big Brothers Big Sisters Clay Shoot; sponsor of Score a Goal in the Classroom; Make a Wish; as well as multiple charitable endeavors in Texas and Montana.
PHILOSOPHY OF MANAGEMENT: Shale’s pledge to be a good corporate neighbor is one we take seriously, and we look forward to growing this through initiatives like our support of children’s education, through community development, social services, health and medical causes and education. Shale Exploration Principals and I firmly believe that when you live in the best place in the world (Fort Worth, Texas), greatness is derived from the people. Giving back is not a chore; it is a privileged duty. The Shale management team works very hard to maintain the company success in order to be able to give and make a difference. OUTSIDE THE OFFICE: Taking Cook Children Medical Center’s patients to Justin Bieber; central committee for Mayfest; board for Big Brothers Big Sisters Clay Shoot; education board for the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History. GREATEST ACHIEVEMENTS: Going from a high school mathematics teacher to starting Shale Exploration LLC charitable programs; featuring different charitable organizations in local Fort Worth magazines such as Fort Worth, Texas magazine, 360 West, Indulge, Fort Worth Business Press, and the Fort Worth Star- Telegram. Shale’s Principals made me earn my stripes by first living in remote Montana, where we leased more than 500 thousand acres of oil and gas leaseholds for a Bakken Shale Project. ADVICE: Embrace leadership opportunities, and never give up on your dreams. Give back to your community. Fort Worth is comprised of many people who have been making it great for a long time; those stellar people are a wealth of information on advising how to make a difference. WHO WE ARE: Shale Exploration, LLC, “Shale,” is a privately held, Texas E&P company with a Fort Worth corporate office and offices in MT, ND and San Antonio. Shale holds more than 800 thousand acres of oil and gas properties and is drilling and scheduled to drill wells in N.D., Wyo., Texas, Mont., N.M. and La. Shale’s Wildcatter minded principals, Sam Tallis and Sid Greehey have extensive experience in oil and gas and have performed lecture series on the Bakken Shale.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
shaleexploration.com
Amy@shaleexploration.com
Melissa Goodroe
Designs for Living
EDUCATION/CERTIFICATION: Licensed broker in Georgia, Florida, Alabama and New York; Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) designation; Attended Columbus State University, Columbus, Georgia; Related coursework in real estate, graphic arts, video production and editing; 2009 Chamber Small Business of the Year; 2012 Best Home Remodeling Contractor. PHILOSOPHY OF MANAGEMENT: Designs for Living strives for excellence. We are dedicated to combining superior service with the best skills available, therefore ensuring a client’s full satisfaction. It’s the only way we do business. Because our clients are our most valued assets, we are committed to ensuring complete client satisfaction while emphasizing flexibility and innovation, allowing us to continually build on our quality reputation. OUTSIDE THE OFFICE: My heart for children’s health, their education and involvement in arts is huge. As a representative of Designs for Living, I am afforded the privilege of being extremely active in the community. ADVICE: Find a mentor you respect. Not just someone who has been in the industry longer than you, but rather someone who is a tremendous success and whose advice you consider invaluable. Then, go find someone to mentor yourself who has great potential, is hungry and passionate. It’s important to “pay it forward” and pass on what you have learned to him or her.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
101 S. Jennings Ave., Ste. 300. Fort Worth, Texas 76104
817. 731.3770. Fax 817.731.1250
designsforliving.com
mgoodroe@designsforliving.com
First United Methodist Church
EDUCATION: To be ordained in the United Methodist Church requires a master’s degree from an accredited seminary; all the above robed clergy are graduates of TCU’s Brite Divinity School or SMU’s Perkins Theological Seminary. Following completion of a master’s degree, each candidate must also complete an extensive mentoring program to be fully ordained. WOMEN IN CLERGY: Since 1982, FUMC has always had at least one ordained female on staff. Currently, of the seven full-time ordained clergy, four are women. PHILOSOPHY: Creating a variety of worship experiences that will be relevant and meaningful in today’s culture while staying true to our roots and traditions as a church continues to be an evolving challenge. ACCOMPLISHMENTS: In addition to preaching, traditional pastoral care and leading worship services, women in ministry at First United Methodist Church Fort Worth have been influential in developing and expanding: First Street Mission, Day Resource Center, Outreach Ministries, Congregational Care Ministries, Youth Ministries, Young Adult Ministries, Adult Lecture Series, Adult Education Academy. ADVICE: To work in the ministry has to be a calling. You have to be willing to be vulnerable and strong at the same time, and you must be open to continually learning and growing and changing. Positive support is essential. PICTURED: Rev. Linda McDermott; Rev. Gena Anderson; Rev. Phyllis McDougal; Rev. Page Hines; Casey Langley, Director of Youth Ministries; Nancy Tully, Director of Outreach Ministries.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
800. W. 5th St. Fort Worth, Texas 76102
817. 336.7277
fumcftw.org
Martha Neibling, Director of Marketing and Public Relations
Gaylord Texan Resort
EDUCATION: Bachelor’s Degree, Public Relations and Advertising, Texas Tech University. AWARDS: With Gaylord I have received the “Manager of the Month” award three times. I was also chosen as a Gaylord Values award winner for displaying the value of “Passion.”
PHILOSOPHY OF MANAGEMENT: At Gaylord Texan, we believe strongly in leading with our hearts. When we take care of our STARS (team members) first, we allow them to take the best possible care of our guests. I also believe that you are most successful when you truly love the work that you do. PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS: Each year, we host more than 750 media guests at our property. The majority of those come during the holiday season when the resort produces our annual Lone Star Christmas event featuring a giant snow tubing hill and awe-inspiring ICE sculpture attraction created with 2 million pounds of ice by Chinese artisans. For the special events, our marketing team also produces hundreds of collateral pieces, signs, videos and ads. ADVICE: The key to our success (and mine) here at the Texan is having a general manager and leadership team who lead by example and infuse our culture with creativity, care and respect. Don’t miss any opportunities to learn from great leaders you are fortunate enough to have along the way.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
1501 Gaylord Trail . Grapevine, Texas 76051
817. 778.1000
gaylordtexan.com
mneibling@gaylordhotels.com
Donna Dickinson – General Manager
Jerry Durant Auto Group Weatherford
EDUCATION: Weatherford College; Disney Institute of Management. BUSINESS RECOGNITIONS: GM Mark of Excellence. PHILOSOPHY OF MANAGEMENT: When a problem arises, it’s best to roll up your sleeves and just dig in. Listen to your people. Jerry Durant and Don Allen have taught me through the years to treat people like you want to be treated. OUTSIDE THE OFFICE: Weatherford Chamber of Commerce Executive Board, Board Member; Weatherford ISD Education Foundation Board Member, President Elect 2013; Friends of CASA; Parker County Animal Shelter; Careity Foundation. GREATEST PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT: My 29 years of service to Jerry’s GM. General Manager, 2012. ADVICE: Whatever work you do, do it with excellence. GREATEST PERSONAL ACHIEVEMENTS: My children: Son, Chance, 27 and Daughter, Taylor, 15.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
3118 Fort Worth Hwy.
Weatherford, Texas 76087
817.597.4452 Fax 817.597.4455
jerryschevytexas.com
ddickenson@jerrysweatherford.com
Melissa Nickelson
Personal Life Coach
MOTTO: “Choose Happy.” FOCUS: Melissa Nickelson is a Certified Mindset for Success Coach who specializes in working with those who are facing life-changing choices. Her clients include those who are encountering everything from divorce recovery to career change to figuring out what’s next. COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT: Melissa is on the board of the Inside Out Girls Conference in Fort Worth, serves as a regular guest speaker for Guide to Good Divorce, was recently named one of the Top Tarrant County Women Owned Businesses, is a member of the International Coaching Federation and is a member of the Tarrant County Family Bar Association, The Texas Family Law Foundation, the National Speakers Association (NSA) North Texas Chapter and the NSA Academy. GREATEST PERSONAL ACHIEVEMENT: Melissa’s greatest personal achievement is having a happy, healthy family. ADVICE: Her advice to clients, her children and any aspiring businesswoman includes: “Be yourself. Be who YOU are. Life may throw us curve balls, but happiness is a choice. Choose happy.”
CONTACT INFORMATION:
5201 West Freeway, Ste. 104.
Fort Worth, Texas 76107
817. 732.5267. Cell 817.965.1615 Fax 817. 332. 5064
melissanickelson.com
Stacy Furniture & Design
Dorian Stacy Sims
EDUCATION/CERTIFICATIONS: After graduating from Carroll High School, I obtained paralegal certification and worked in the legal field before returning to my family business. RECOGNITIONS/ AWARDS: Stacy Furniture & Design has won numerous awards for our participation in various home shows and design projects; however, our most prized award is the Small Family Business of the Year award from Baylor University in 1995. PHILOSOPHY OF MANAGEMENT: I hire and surround myself with amazing, talented people and always work to create a fun environment and a family mind-set. Over the years, as we’ve grown and hired more people, the most important things for me have been to find talented, strong people that want to contribute – not just a job. ACHIEVEMENTS: As a busy corporate mom, I feel I’m still working on my “achievements.” I’m fortunate to have come into a great family business, love the people I work with and to have built our business together. I have been married to my high school sweetheart for almost 22 years, and together we are raising three boys – my No. 1 achievement so far. ADVICE: Whether it is in the office or at home with family or friends, be the very best person you can be, and the success will fall into place.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
1900 S.Main St. . Fax Grapevine, Texas 76051
817. 424.8800. Fax 817.329.6705
stacyfurniture.com
Rev. Cyndy W. Twedell, Associate Minister
University Christian Church
PHILOSOPHY OF MINISTRY: Excite and encourage the vision and passion of others for community engagement and empower them to join together in the work to which God calls us. PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS: Working with the caring and creative people of UCC for more than 25 years, she’s been instrumental in inaugurating significant ministries. The Children’s Closet provides uniforms to Fort Worth ISD children. Room in the Inn offers hospitality and a safe place to sleep to homeless men during inclement weather. Kids Hope provides mentors at Rosemont Elementary. WILD Women Book Club reads great books and contributes to Heifer International. Cyndy coordinates work with Habitat for Humanity and plans and leads service trips to work in partnership with local disaster recovery and economic development efforts. Currently, she’s involved in transformation of our community garden into a cooperative learning space involving UCC Weekday School and TCU nutrition students. ADVICE: Trust the power within you, that divine spark gifted you by God. PICTURED: With Senior Minister, Rev. Larry Thomas, women play an important leadership role at UCC. (left to right) Rebecca Terry, Assoc. Minister; Rev. Ellen Lewis, Assoc. Minister; Kera Watts, Dir. Of Children’s Ministry; Kyla K. Rosenberger, Dir. Of Music/Sr. Organist; Rev. Cyndy W. Twedell, Assoc. Minister; Dr. Suzanne Castle, Assoc. Minister.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
2720 S. University Drive.
Fort Worth, Texas 76109
817. 926.6631 Fax 817. 926.9674
universitychristian.org
