ABOUT THE EVENT
Welcome to our 2026 Regional event in Fort Worth, Texas!
The theme for our 2026 YTexas event series is “Powering the Future of Texas” addressing the critical question: Why is Texas positioned to lead the nation in business expansion and relocations in 2026?
Now the 10th largest city in the nation, Fort Worth is the perfect launchpad for growth across any industry. With world-class educational institutions, cutting-edge research hubs producing a highly skilled workforce, enterprise level HQs, and a dynamic start-up ecosystem tackling the technology challenges of tomorrow, the city offers unparalleled opportunities for companies to thrive.
Meet top academic leaders, industry trailblazers, and government experts from across the state to discuss the future of workforce development and innovation as we move rapidly into the era of AI and automation.
FEATURED GUESTS
Mattie Parker
Mayor - City of Fort Worth
John C. Goff
President - Crescent Real Estate, LLC.
Robert Ahdieh
COO - Texas A&M University - Fort Worth
Andrew Dill
Lockheed Martin
Brad Williams
Vice Chancellor - Dallas College
Daniel Pullin
Chancellor - TCU
Tamara Brown
Provost - UT Arlington
Emily Messer
President - Texas Wesleyan University
Chris Ray
Provost - UNT Health Science Center
William Stigall
Chief Research Officer - Cook Children's Health Care System
Tom Wavering
Chief Strategy Officer - TCU
Cameron Cushman
Founder - Red Sage Innovation
AGENDA
8:00am – 8:30am: Registration
- Registration
- Coffee & Breakfast
- Networking
8:30am – 8:45am: Welcome from YTexas
- Presenting: YTexas 2026-2028: Building a Stronger, More Connected Texas
8:45am – 9:30am: Opening Keynote: Why Fort Worth
- Featuring: Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker
- John C. Goff, President of Crescent Real Estate, LLC
- Robert Ahdieh, Chief Operating Officer of Texas A&M – Fort Worth
9:30am – 9:45am: NETWORKING BREAK & PODCAST INTERVIEWS
9:45am – 10:25am: Industry Spotlight: Technology, Healthcare & Entrepreneurship
- Cook Children’s Health Care System: William Stigall, VP Chief Research Officer
- TCU: Dr. Daniel Pullin, Chancellor
- Texas A&M: Denise Canales, Executive Director, Innovation & Strategic Partnerships
- UNT Health Science Center: Christopher Ray, Provost
- Red Sage Innovation: Cameron Cushman, Founder
10:25am – 10:30am: NETWORKING BREAK & PODCAST INTERVIEWS
10:30am – 11:10am: Industry Spotlight: Manufacturing & Defense Innovation
- Lockheed Martin: Andrew Dill, Director of Government Relations
- UT Arlington: Dr. Tamara Brown, Provost
- Tarleton State University: Dr. Rupa Iyer, VP of Research Innovation
- Tarrant County College: Dr. Kirsten Jakowitsch, President TCC NE Campus
- TCU: Tom Wavering, Chief Strategy & Innovation Officer
11:10am – 11:20am: NETWORKING BREAK & PODCAST INTERVIEWS
11:20am – 12:00pm: Industry Spotlight: Artificial Intelligence, Capital & Finance
- Toyota: Texas Technology Executive, TBA
- MP Materials: Kadee Coffman Blair, Senior Director, Texas Corporate Affairs
- Dallas College: Dr. Brad Williams, Vice Chancellor
- Texas Wesleyan University: Dr. Emily Messer, President
- Texas A&M University: Arnold Castro, Professor of Practice, Artificial Intelligence
12:00pm – 2:00pm – Walking tour of Texas A&M Law School Building + Open lunch and tours of the Fort Worth Stockyards
JOIN THE YTEXAS NETWORK
