Every Last Word

Dallas Innovates’ signature series capturing what leaders across North Texas are saying — in their own words — about innovation, impact, and what’s next.

Dallas-based Mynd Immersive, in collaboration with AT&T, HTC VIVE, and the CTA Foundation, has launched the 'Great American Elderverse' at CES 2024 in Las Vegas, a groundbreaking campaign poised to revolutionize the lives of millions of older adults across the nation.

The Last Word: Mynd Immersive’s Chris Brickler on Launching the ‘Great American Elderverse’ at CES 2024

by | Jan 12, 2024
This week at CES 2024 in Las Vegas, Dallas-based Mynd Immersive launched the "Great American Elderverse," a virtual destination filled “with love, care, and compassion for older adults,” with exercises and experiences to promote mental, physical, emotional, and cognitive health.
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The Last Word: The Trust for Public Land’s Robert Kent on the Dallas Greening Initiative
by | Jan 11, 2024
Today the Dallas City Council was set to learn the locations of the first five green spaces to be created through the mayor’s Dallas Greening Initiative, the DMN reported—with a new green space slated for all 14 city council districts over the next few years.
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The Last Word: Billionaire Richard Branson Speaking in Dallas on Starting Your Own Business
by | Jan 10, 2024
He's been flown into space on his own Virgin Galactic space plane. He's crossed the Atlantic and Pacific in a hot air balloon, and set a speed record for crossing the Atlantic in a powerboat. But billionaire Richard Branson's biggest daredevil acts have arguably been founding businesses—from Virgin Records to Virgin Atlantic to Virgin Mobile to Virgin Hotels and many, many more.
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The Dallas skyline, led by the illuminated Reunion Tower, shone in gold on Monday, January 8, as a tribute to the late Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson.
The Last Word: President Biden on the Life and Legacy of Eddie Bernice Johnson
by | Jan 9, 2024
Former longtime Dallas Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson died on New Year's Eve at the age of 89, and President Biden was one of those who paid their respects at a prayer service honoring her Monday night.
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The Last Word: Rob Upchurch on His Favorite ‘Innovate Fort Worth’ Podcast Guest of 2023

by | Dec 21, 2023
Cameron Cushman, Assistant VP of Innovation Ecosystems at HSC Fort Worth, is host of the "Innovate Fort Worth" podcast, Powered by UNT Health Science Center, the podcast shares the stories of the city’s leading innovators, entrepreneurs and investors—and highlights the resources available to bring ideas to market.
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The Last Word: Integrity Foundation’s Mary Elyse Farah on 26K-Plus Toys Donated To Children’s Health Patients
For the third year in a row, the employees of Dallas-based insurtech company Integrity have supported the “Integrity Gives Back” Toy Drive to replenish the stuffed animals, toys, games, and books that are given to children who are patients at Children’s Health in Dallas and Plano. This year, Integrity invited the public to join the toy drive. For every single toy donated, Integrity donors matched the donation with two additional toys for a total presentation of over 26,000 donated items.
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The Last Word: Allen EDC’s Dan Bowman on Planned Katy Trail Ice House Development in Allen
by | Dec 19, 2023
Some people think it's a drag to go to the office. But what if right outside your workplace there's a $10 million new Katy Trail Ice House on wooded grounds with three barbecue smokers, a ranch theme, and seating for 1,200 people? 
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The Last Word: Frisco Mayor Jeff Cheney on Leading Texas in Number of Roundabouts
by | Dec 18, 2023
Frisco is the No. 1 city in the Lone Star State and the No. 7 city in the U.S. in its number of roundabout intersections. That's according to a story by Susan McFarland in the Dallas Morning News. Citing data from Kittelson & Associates, the DMN says Frisco has 61 roundabouts, with four more under construction and 16 in the design phase.
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The Last Word: Skiles Group CEO Keyan Zandy On Quality Over Quantity

by | Dec 12, 2023
Zandy, who won a "Pioneer" award for lean construction in October, developed a crisis management tool for construction that's earned him two patents as well as awards from Constructech Vision and AGC. He shares his thoughts on redefining success for 2024 in an option piece on D CEO.
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The Last Word: Deedie Rose on Dallas’ $325M Harold Simmons Park Along the Trinity River
by | Dec 11, 2023
The Trinity Park Conservancy unveiled plans last week for the $325 million Harold Simmons Park—a 250-acre park along a stretch of the Trinity River close to downtown. Named after the late billionaire businessman whose wife, Annette Simmons, donated $50 million for the park in 2016—it will be located between the Margaret McDermott Bridge and Ronald Kirk Bridge just west of downtown Dallas.
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The Last Word: Gabe Madison on the Bonton Farms Wellness Center ‘Seed of Change’
by | Dec 8, 2023
Bonton Farms is "cultivating growth" in South Dallas with its urban farm, farmers market, and community-building efforts that include education, job training, housing, and more. Now the nonprofit has broken ground on a facility that will provide medical and wellness services to residents in the community.
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The Last Word: Allison Cook on How Farmers Branch Is Becoming a Restaurant Destination
by | Dec 6, 2023
Farmers Branch, the suburb on Dallas' northwest edge, has been many things since its founding as a community called Mustang Branch in the 1840s. One thing it hasn't been known for until now: a growing restaurant destination.
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The Last Word: BCG’s Liz Sparkman on How AI is Transforming Tasks—and People Can Adapt

by | Dec 4, 2023
BCG's Liz Sparkman spoke last month at the Dallas Regional Chamber's final Talent Attraction Talk of the year, focusing on the growing impact of technology—especially AI—on business and human resources.
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The Last Word: Fort Worth Mayor Pro Tem Gyna Bivens on Being Elected to the NLC Board
The National League of Cities elected Bivens to serve a one-year term on the NLC Board of Directors. Representing Council District 5 in Fort Worth, Bivens stepped into her new role at NLC’s 2023 City Summit in Atlanta, where the organization kicked off a year-long celebration of its centennial.
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The Last Word: Brooke Hart Jones on Getting Her HBCyoU Dolls Into Top Retailer Brands
by | Nov 30, 2023
After Brooke Hart Jones graduated from Dallas' Kimball High School, she became the third generation in her family to attend an historically black college or university (HBCU), getting a finance degree from Hampton University in Virginia. Now she's putting that degree to use—and inspiring a new generation of future HBCU hopefuls—with her line of HBCyoU Dolls.
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The Last Word: Art on Main’s Andrea Lamarsaude on Organizing an East Dallas Arts District
by | Nov 29, 2023
Lamarsaude says there are "60-plus" artists, galleries, and creative businesses in East and Old East Dallas. Now she's working to band them together to form an attraction all their own called the East Dallas Arts District.
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