Wednesday, August 19, 2025
By Judy Philips, Director of Communications
On August 6, 2025, DFW NACE members and guests gathered for our annual “Back to Basics: DFW NACE Town Hall” at Hall of Lights in Carrollton. The meeting began with registration and networking at 11:00 AM, followed by lunch and an engaging Town Hall discussion led by a panel of our Executive Board—an insightful way to realign with our mission and vision as a chapter. Moderated by Renee Pool, CPCE, the panel featured our chapter’s leadership and offered candid reflections on our goals, accomplishments, and direction. Attendees left with renewed clarity on how we move forward together.
A Major Milestone: New CPCEs
One of the biggest highlights of this year’s NACE Experience Conference was celebrating four of our very own who earned their Certified Professional in Catering and Events (CPCE) designation. Congratulations to Vanessa Alston, Tammy Loving, Ashley Scott, and Shamica Sweat on this incredible achievement. Your dedication and leadership continue to elevate our chapter, and we couldn’t be prouder!
Celebrating National Recognition
President Lauren Eck also shared a recap of the NACE Experience Conference, where our chapter proudly brought home two National Awards—Fundraiser of the Year and Program of the Year. In addition, Shamica Sweat, CPCE, was recognized nationally on the 2025 President’s List and honored as Emerging Member of the Year.
We also celebrated a truly special milestone for our community as Terry Shields, CPCE was inducted into the NACE National Hall of Fame, honoring his 25 years of passion, dedication, and service to the live events industry and to NACE. These accomplishments are a testament to the strength, creativity, and commitment of our DFW Chapter and its members.
Thank You to Our Sponsors
We’re deeply grateful to the sponsors who made today’s Town Hall possible. Hall of Lights graciously hosted the event, while Blue Fire Catering treated us to a delicious meal. Top Tier Event Rentals provided the gorgeous rentals that set the scene, and DFW360 Booths brought the fun with their interactive photo booth.
Diversified Media Production Group, led by Marshall and his team, once again answered the call by sponsoring both audio-visual and videography needs, ensuring everything ran seamlessly. KMG Creative Photography was on site capturing the details and energy of the day, while JPC Invites handled our event stationery with style.
We also enjoyed a calming tea station from MK Event Experiences, and the room was beautifully elevated with stunning centerpieces from Poppy Flowers. Speechless Music set the perfect soundtrack for networking and conversation, and AFR Furniture Rental completed the design with stylish lounge furniture for the stage.
Preparing for the Cowtown Hoedown!
One of the most exciting parts of today’s meeting was gearing up for our largest fundraiser of the year — the Cowtown Hoedown! Our Fundraising Chair, Jessica King, gave a quick update on everything that’s in store for next month, and trust us, you do not want to miss it.
Join us on Thursday, September 4, 2025, from 6–9 PM at TX Whiskey Ranch in Fort Worth for a night of incredible food, music, and community. This year’s event proudly benefits Cowtown Warriors, a nonprofit that directly supports veterans in North Texas.
A highlight of the night will be the Catering Competition, where some of the best chefs in the area will go head-to-head—and YOU will be serving as a judge. Get ready to taste the flavors of Fort Worth and help crown the champion caterer of the evening.
Register now for the Cowtown Hoedown and secure your spot for this rootin’-tootin’ good time!
Looking Ahead
DFW NACE continues to be a place for intentional connection, vision-setting, and celebration of our shared path forward. We loved having everyone there for this purposeful gathering—and we can’t wait to welcome you to our next event!