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.

The Last Word: Walmart Tech Leader On Data Lakes, Modernization in Retail’s New Frontier

by | Jan 21, 2025
The signature Jam Vino gourmet wine-infused jam created by Keller-based Chef Lorius was one 92 brands to receive a Golden Ticket during the annual Walmart Open Call. Available online now at Walmart.com, it'll reach the discount giant's shelves in 2025. "Jam Vino combines the heart of the South with the elegance of wine country, and our partnership with Walmart allows us to fulfill our mission of providing Everyday Luxury for Everyday People," Chef Lorious (AKA Lori Rogers) said in a statement.
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The Last Word: On The Spark Makerspace at the University of North Texas
by | Jan 16, 2025
At the University of North Texas' Willis Library in Denton, you can find lots of books. But something else is getting checked out: The Spark, one of three makerspaces operated by the university. Open to all UNT students, faculty, and staff, The Spark offers a long list of high-tech tools that can be accessed after training—including 3D printers, laser cutters, a computer numerical control mill, sewing and embroidery machines, tools for science and pottery projects, and more. Audio-visual gear and power tools at The Spark can be borrowed as well.
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The Last Word: On Irving-Based Caterpillar Celebrating Its 100th Aniversary in 2025
by | Jan 15, 2025
Last week, Irving-based Caterpillar marked its 100th anniversary year with celebrations throughout the U.S. commemorating "a monumental moment" in the company's history. The company officially turns 100 on April 15, marking a century of "customer-centric innovation and industry-leading transformation"
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The Last Word: Rogers Healy on Dallas’ Rise as the ‘Ultimate Founders Hub’
by | Jan 7, 2025
From tech and finance to fashion and food, "Dallas is becoming a melting pot of industries—and that diversity is a recipe for innovation," Healy says in D CEO. "Dallas is where dreams become reality, period."
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The Last Word: Kendra Scott on the Launch of Yellow Rose in Dallas’ West Village

by | Dec 17, 2024
After launching in Austin in 2023, the Western lifestyle brand Yellow Rose by Kendra Scott opened Friday in Dallas' West Village retail and multifamily development at 3699 McKinney Avenue. Dallas Innovates first wrote about the expansion last month, sharing how the brand reimagines Western style with new product categories including hats, footwear, home goods, and apparel. 
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The Last Word: Fort Worth’s Robert Sturns on How ‘Full‑Contact’ Government Drives Innovation
by | Dec 16, 2024
Fort Worth's “explosive growth”—nearly 6% population growth since 2020—isn't happening by accident. It takes what Economic Development Director Robert Sturns calls "full-contact local government," a term once coined by the city manager to describe Fort Worth's unique approach to progress.
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The Last Word: On the Texas Monthly-New York Times ‘Y’all’ Flap
by | Dec 11, 2024
Fort Worth-based Ratliff is one of many North Texans who've weighed in on a recent Texas Monthly story titled In Defense of "Y'all," a Perfect Word. Writer Dan Solomon wrote the piece in response to a New York Times opinion column which pooh-poohed "y'all" as "much too slangy, regional or what you might even call ethnic to ever gain universal acceptance." 
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The Last Word: The Economist Asks, ‘Does Dallas Offer a Vision of America’s Future?’
by | Dec 10, 2024
A recent column in The Economist asks the question "Does Dallas offer a vision of America's future?" The answer in a nutshell: "In America Inc’s fever dreams, more cities turn Dallas-like in their pro-business temperament—and America as a whole transforms into a continent-size small-government Texas."
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Michael Gorton on data centers in space

The Last Word: Dallas Entrepreneur and Investor Michael Gorton on Moving Data Centers — to Space

by | Dec 4, 2024
Dallas-based innovator Michael Gorton, a 15-time entrepreneur and investor, points to a growing challenge: AI, blockchain, and cloud computing are consuming massive amounts of energy in traditional data centers. The terrestrial facilities—often spanning 6 million square feet—can use more power than medium-sized towns. Over the next decade, he notes, nearly a trillion dollars will be invested in power infrastructure improvements just to meet data center demands.
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The Last Word: On the Passing of Dallas Businessman and Philanthropist Pete Schenkel
by | Dec 3, 2024
Pete Schenkel—who owned Dallas-based Schepps Dairy before its sale to Suiza Foods in 2000—led a long, accomplished life of leadership in Dallas before his death Wednesday at age 89. But the former board chair of the State Fair of Texas, DFW Airport, and the Methodist Health System Foundation may be best known for preserving something truly valuable: keeping the Texas-OU game at the Cotton Bowl at least through 2036.
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The Last Word: State Rep. Capriglione on Y’all Street, Digital Assets, and a Texas Bitcoin Reserve
by | Nov 22, 2024

“It’s destined to happen somewhere. I’d rather it happen here first.”

Giovanni Capriglione
Texas State Representative
Chair, Pensions, Investments, and Financial Services Committee
…on the potential for Texas to create a Bitcoin strategic reserve ahead of federal initiatives, speaking at the Texas Blockchain Summit in Dallas this week....

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The Last Word: Gov. Greg Abbott on Texas’ Advanced Nuclear Energy Future
by | Nov 21, 2024
Earlier this week, Governor Abbott announced the release of the Texas Advanced Nuclear Reactor Working Group’s final report on Texas’ plan to build "a world-leading advanced nuclear power industry to enhance electric reliability and energy security, promote economic development, and unleash new opportunities for the growing Texas workforce."
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The Last Word: Chili’s Triple-Dips Its Way to a New ‘Sleep Collection’

by | Nov 19, 2024
Dallas-based Chili's says its Triple Dipper—a plate loaded with cheese pulls, burger bites, and sauced Chicken Crispers—went viral on TikTok this year, snagging "over 200 million views." Now the company's following that up with an eye-opening (uh, make that closing) marketing stunt.
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The Last Word: DFW’s ‘Fastest-Growing Company’ CEO on Being David in a Goliath Industry
by | Nov 18, 2024
McKinney-based Maverick Power tops both Dallas Business Journal's Fast 50 and SMU's Dallas 100 private company rankings with record-breaking recent growth.
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The Last Word: ‘Uber with Guns’ BlackWolf Founder on Expanding to Dallas
It's been called "Uber with guns." Now the Atlanta-based BlackWolf rideshare service—which features armed drivers with military or security backgrounds—is expanding to Dallas, Austin, and Houston, according to the Dallas Morning News' Sarah Bahari.
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The Last Word: John Goff on ‘Topping Out’ Texas A&M-Fort Worth’s Law and Education Building
by | Nov 13, 2024
Texas A&M is putting a major stamp on downtown Fort Worth, thanks to a $350 million research campus under construction in the Panther City. On Monday, a milestone was marked 250 feet above the future site of Texas A&M Fort Worth, which is slated to become a major hub for education, research, and innovation for years to come.
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