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$119.00 /ticket

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Speakers and Panels

Leading DFW's Next Chapter: A C-Suite Conversation

How North Texas Executives Are Navigating Growth, Talent, and the Region's Competitive Edge

Elaine Agather

Elaine Agather

Global Vice Chair

The Dallas Region for J.P. Morgan Chase & Co

Chris McLaughlin

Chris McLaughlin

CEO

DFW Airport

Jennifer Chandler

Jennifer Chandler

Managing Director, Head of Philanthropic Solutions

Bank of America

Zach Sams
Moderator

Zach Sams

EVP

Kensington Vanguard National Title

Elaine Agather

Global Vice Chair

The Dallas Region for J.P. Morgan Chase & Co

Elaine Agather is a Global Vice Chair at J.P. Morgan Private Bank and Chairman of the Dallas Region for

JPMorgan Chase & Co. Previously, she served as the Central Region Head for J.P. Morgan Private Bank.

Elaine joined Chemical Bank of New York in 1979, working in London, San Francisco, and New York until she

relocated to Dallas in 1984. After the 1986 merger of Chemical Bank and Texas Commerce Bank, Elaine was

promoted to Chairman of Texas Commerce Bank in Fort Worth in 1992 and joined the Private Bank to manage

client advisory groups across the state in 1997. In 1999, she was elected Chairman and CEO of Dallas.

Elaine is the Chairman of the Board of Directors for Performing Arts Fort Worth, serves as a Board Member for the

National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame, and is the Secretary of the Southwestern Exposition and Livestock

Show. She is a member of the Board of Trustees for the Dallas Citizens Council and serves on the University of

Texas McCombs School of Business Advisory Council. Additionally, she is a Strategic Advisor and a member of

the Texas Stock Exchange Listing Standards and Governance Advisory Council.

A native of Sherman, Texas, Elaine graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a B.A. in history and

economics and received her MBA from The University of Texas. She and her husband, Neils, have two daughters,

Bradley and Lorene, her son-in-law, Coley Means, and two grandsons, George and Hunter.

Jennifer Chandler

Managing Director, Head of Philanthropic Solutions

Bank of America

Jennifer Chandler is Managing Director, President of Bank America Dallas, and

Head of Philanthropic Solutions for Bank of America. As President, Jennifer

directs effective collaboration across multiple lines of business, advancing

purposeful engagement with client priorities. Deeply committed to corporate

stewardship, she serves on the Bank of America Foundation committee and

promotes a culture of volunteerism and community support.

As Head of Philanthropic Solutions, Jennifer oversees strategy development

and advisory/consulting services for non-profit institutions, corporate and

private foundations, and ultra-high-net-worth families. She directs a nationwide

team that offers a suite of integrated capabilities, including Outsourced Chief

Investment Office services, board governance and development, grant making,

high-impact philanthropy, and fiduciary administration. She also fosters the

effective use of cross-enterprise capabilities, resulting in a more unified and

directed client experience.

Jennifer joined Bank of America in 2001. She earned her B.A. in Government

from the University of Texas at Austin in two and a half years and her M.B.A.

from the University of Dallas, which honored her in 2018 as a College of

Business Hall of Fame inductee.

Born and raised in Dallas County, Jennifer is very active in the greater Dallas

community. She is a Leadership Dallas 2011 alumni, Women’s Exchange Sue

Haskoor honoree, and 2023 DCEO Corporate Leadership Excellence Award

recipient. Jennifer is also a Dallas Business Journal “40 under 40” and Women

in Business honoree. She currently serves on the Dallas Citizens Council, Dallas

Regional Chamber, Dallas Museum of Art, and Phoenix House Texas boards

and is also a member of the Crystal Charity Ball, Texas Lyceum, United Way

Women of Tocqueville, the Dallas Symphony League and the National Charity

League. Jennifer and her husband have 4 children and enjoy serving their local

community.

Zach Sams

EVP

Kensington Vanguard National Title

Zach Sams joined Kensington Vanguard in November of 2016 after serving as Vice President of Sales & Marketing for Fidelity National Title’s Dallas/Fort Worth division from 2012-2016. Zach is focused on expanding KV’s footprint in the D/FW, Texas, Arizona and National markets. From selling real estate for to business development roles at prominent local and national title insurance companies, Zach has been active in the in the real estate market since 2005.

Prior to the title industry, Zach attended The Golf Academy of America in San Diego, then spent two years playing professional golf on various mini tours in Southern California. Zach is a Veteran of the US Army. Zach lives in Argyle, TX with his wife Amber and their two boys 11&13. In his free time Zach enjoys playing competitive amateur golf and traveling with his wife and kids.

Why You Should Attend this DFW C-Suite Kickoff

What We'll Cover:

  • How DFW is positioning itself for the next phase of growth beyond 2026, including what's driving corporate relocations and expansions to the region, how infrastructure investment and policy shifts are shaping long-term competitiveness, and where the market's advantage over other gateway cities comes from.

  • How the region's top executives are leading their organizations through a period of rapid growth and change, from scaling teams and navigating talent retention to making high-stakes decisions in a shifting economic and capital environment.

  • What sets DFW apart from other high-growth U.S. markets, and how leaders across real estate, aviation, finance, and corporate sectors are thinking about the region's trajectory over the next decade.

  • How leadership philosophies are evolving among DFW's most influential executives, and what today's decision-makers are prioritizing differently than they did a decade ago.

  • The connective tissue between economic growth, corporate strategy, and civic leadership, and what it takes to keep DFW at the front of the pack nationally.

How You'll Do More Business: Join Bisnow for a conversation with two panels of DFW's top executives, one exploring what's fueling the region's growth beyond 2026, from corporate relocations to infrastructure and competitive positioning, and the other diving into how the region's C-suite is leading through change, scaling organizations, and managing talent in a dynamic market. This event connects the dots between macro growth drivers and the leadership decisions shaping them, bringing together voices from real estate, aviation, finance, sports, and corporate leadership to unpack what's next for North Texas.

Who You'll Meet:

  • CEOs, presidents, and chairmen of DFW's leading companies across real estate, aviation, finance, and corporate sectors

  • Executives overseeing growth, expansion, and relocation strategy for major employers

  • Civic and business leaders shaping the region's infrastructure and competitive positioning

  • Institutional investors, developers, and capital providers active in North Texas

  • Professionals tracking corporate relocation trends and executive leadership shifts

Why You Should Attend: Bisnow events convene the most influential leaders in North Texas to identify opportunities, build meaningful connections, and drive business growth across the region. With the largest audience of commercial real estate and business professionals in the world, Bisnow delivers unmatched access to the executives shaping DFW's future, from the forces driving corporate growth to the leadership decisions steering the region's biggest companies. Join us for a focused look at what's next for North Texas and the executives defining its path forward.

Agenda

Time Activity
8:00 AM
9:00 AM
Breakfast & Networking
9:00 AM
10:00 AM
Leading DFW's Next Chapter: A C-Suite Conversation

How North Texas Executives Are Navigating Growth, Talent, and the Region's Competitive Edge

10:00 AM
10:30 AM
Close & Networking

Sponsors

Questions about your ticket purchase or interested in sponsoring? Reach out to customerservice@bisnow.com for customer support.  

For venue/location questions or to request disability-related accommodations, please contact Claire Ahrens at claire.ahrens@bisnow.com no later than 7 business days before the event.

For recommendations for speakers or panel topics, or press inquiries please email our Texas event producer Carissa Batson at carissa.batson@bisnow.com.

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