Mike Micallef, president of Reata Restaurant, has been named chair of the Fort Worth Chamber, leading the organization in 2026 as it sharpens its focus on engagement and advocacy for employers of all sizes and begins development of a new three-year strategic plan to address workforce, talent, and education challenges across the community.<\/p>\n
Micallef previously served as vice chair in 2025 and has been involved with the chamber over multiple periods. Reata has been a chamber member since the restaurant opened in Fort Worth in 1996. He said his focus as chair will be on strengthening member engagement and business advocacy across the full business community.<\/p>\n
\u201cRunning a restaurant keeps you grounded in what it means to be a small business,\u201d Micallef said. \u201cYou have to earn trust \u2014 and re-earn it every day \u2014 one customer at a time. That perspective matters for the Chamber because as important as our largest employers are, our city\u2019s strength also comes from the small businesses that build the day-to-day Fort Worth economy.\u201d<\/p>\n
The announcement came as part of the Fort Worth Chamber\u2019s broader release of its 2026 board of directors, which includes executive board officers, a new slate of executive board and at-large members, and committee and area board leadership for the year ahead.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re the advocates for the companies that call Fort Worth home,\u201d said Steve Montgomery, president and CEO of the chamber. \u201cThat means being a cheerleader for our community, but it also means rolling up our sleeves and helping solve problems for the employers operating here and now.\u201d<\/p>\n
Montgomery said the chamber has launched development of a new three-year strategic plan designed to clarify priorities and align resources around member needs.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe purpose is to ask ourselves some fundamental questions,\u201d Montgomery said. \u201cWhat is our value proposition, is it still valid, and what is it we\u2019re doing that resonates with our members? The goal is a clear, member-informed roadmap for how the chamber will focus its work and measure progress over the next three years \u2014 and beyond.\u201d<\/p>\n
The plan will be developed through a stakeholder-driven research process that includes a member survey, focus groups representing businesses of different sizes and sectors, and one-on-one interviews with key community partners. A midpoint update will be shared at the chamber\u2019s annual meeting on March 25, with the final strategic plan expected to be presented in June 2026.<\/p>\n
Montgomery said funding for the planning process is supported by a grant from Sid Richardson Foundation and a contribution from Texas Health Resources.<\/p>\n
Executive Board Officers<\/p>\n
Mike Micallef\u00a0(President, Reata Restaurant) as chair
\n\tMike Morton\u00a0(CEO, TTI Inc.) as vice chair
\n\tLaura Ivory\u00a0(Audit Partner, Deloitte) as treasurer, chair of finance
\n\tBrian C. Newby\u00a0(Managing Partner, Cantey Hanger LLP) as past chair
\n\tSteve Montgomery\u00a0as FWC president & CEO
<\/p>\n
Additional Executive Board Members<\/p>\n
Andrew Lombardi\u00a0(Crescent Real Estate LLC)
\n\tBecky Redman\u00a0(Lockheed Martin Aeronautics)
\n\tHadley Woerner\u00a0(Frost Bank)
\n\tHenry Hudson\u00a0(Danone)
\n\tKaren Denney\u00a0(Haynes and Boone LLP)
\n\tKen Randall\u00a0(Baird, Hampton & Brown Inc.)
\n\tLori Baldock\u00a0(Simmons Bank)
\n\tLucas Bathurst\u00a0(HDR Engineering Inc.)
\n\tMatt Homan\u00a0(Trail Drive Management Corp. \u2014 Dickies Arena)
\n\tTravis Clegg\u00a0(The Real Estate Council of Greater Fort Worth)
<\/p>\n
At-Large Board of Directors Members<\/p>\n
Alan Shipman\u00a0(ID Technology)
\n\tAndrew Fluty\u00a0(Pulliam Pools)
\n\tBen Robertson\u00a0(TEI Consulting LLC)
\n\tBrandon Bledsoe\u00a0(Amegy Bank)
\n\tChad Key\u00a0(Kelly Hart & Hallman LLP)
\n\tChristina Elbitar\u00a0(Chadra Mezza and Grill)\u00a0
\n\tDavid Campbell\u00a0(Huitt-Zollars Inc.)
\n\tDerrick Potter\u00a0(Firefighting\u2019s Finest Moving & Storage Inc.)
\n\tIsh Arebalos\u00a0(Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages)
\n\tJames Hurley\u00a0(Tarleton State University)
\n\tMatt Whip\u00a0(EY)
\n\tMike Coffey\u00a0(Imperative)\u00a0
\n\tTerry Smith\u00a0(InterBank)
\n\tToan Luong\u00a0(Ampersand)
\n\tHolly Schroeder\u00a0(DrinkPAK)
<\/p>\n
Additional FWC members have been tapped as new or continuing chairs for the following specialized committees and regional boards, dedicated to providing support for the city\u2019s diverse business community:<\/p>\n
Craig Harbuck\u00a0(Higginbotham) to chair the Membership Committee
\n\tFrank Shiels\u00a0(Frost Bank) to chair the Business Advocacy Committee
\n\tBrendan Harrington\u00a0(Autobahn Fort Worth) to chair the Automotive Task Force
\n\tErin Timberlake\u00a0(Comark Direct) to chair the Action Ambassadors
\n\tMia Moss\u00a0(Black Coffee) to chair the East Area Board
\n\tMike Coffey\u00a0(Imperative) to chair both the South Area Board and the Talent Committee
\n\tKen Randall\u00a0(Baird, Hampton & Brown Inc.) to chair the West Area Board
\n\tBen Johnson\u00a0(Frost Bank) to chair the North Area Board
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