Dallas Regional Chamber

Dallas, TX (10/31/08)……Ten Dallas area companies were honored last night at the Dallas Regional Chamber Momentum Awards reception. The private event was held at Dallas’ Rosewood Crescent Court Hotel. The 2008 Momentum Awards were hosted by Frank Roby, CEO Holmes Murphy and Associates – Texas.

Awards were presented in the following categories:

The Corporate location award is presented to a company who has moved its headquarters or other significant corporate facility to the Dallas area.

Research In Motion (RIM), the makers of Blackberry, received the corporate location award. RIM designated Irving as its US headquarters earlier this year.

Niagara Bottling Company, LLC also received an award for corporate location. The California-based company located a manufacturing facility in Southern Dallas’ Mountain Creek Business Park.

The Employment growth award is presented to companies who have experienced an increase in their employment base on a local or national basis.

Employment growth winners are:

DAVACO, based in Dallas, is the nation’s leading provider of retail services. DAVACO increased their national employment numbers by 166.

e-Rewards Market Research, Inc. is the largest “by-invitation-only” online research panel, serving over 750 research firms. e-Rewards experienced a 56 percent spike in their national employment numbers.

Children’s Medical Center, one of the largest pediatric healthcare providers in the nation, added 636 new positions to the region.

Pursuit of Excellence, Inc., a Human Resources consulting firm, experienced an 86 percent increase in their employee numbers.

The Community Investor award honors a major project or investment that spurs additional growth and positive economic change.

Deloitte LLP received the Community Investor award for its new $300 million training facility in Westlake. The new facility will create 100 new full time positions and as many as 400 contract positions.

The Community Catalyst award honors a major investment that generates positive economic impact in the Metroplex.

The $134 million Methodist Mansfield Medical Center is the newest health care facility to serve the Mansfield area in 30 years. After being open for only 16 months, the hospital is undergoing a $34 million expansion. The new facility has a $46 million annual economic impact on the Mansfield economy.

The Workforce Catalyst award is a presented to a company or organization strengthening and preparing the workforce.

The University of Texas at Dallas is a lead advocate for the creation of more national research universities. UT Dallas has established the Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, and the Office of Technology Commercialization.

Technology Catalyst – This award is presented to a company or organization working to develop and encourage new technology that yields economic growth.

Texas Instruments, Inc. has placed high value on innovation through its research and development investments and contributions to local university programs. TI recently established Kilby Labs, a center for breakthrough semiconductor technology. The company also announced a $1 million gift to UT-Arlington endow a permanent chair in nanoelectronics research.

Momentum Award finalists include: American Marazzi Tile, Inc., Capital One Bank, Credit Solutions, Dallas Center for the Performing Arts, Duke Realty, Frisco Square, Great Wolf Lodge, Gulfstream Aerospace, Lockheed Martin, Lone Star New Markets LP, Pariveda Solutions, Rockwall Capital, Softlayer Technologies, Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children, Trademark Property Company dba Watters Creek, and Workforce Solutions Greater Dallas.

Established in 2003, the Momentum Awards celebrate companies that have made a positive impact on the economy through job growth and location and expansion activities. The award also honors companies that contribute to the vitality of the Dallas/Fort Worth region. Holmes Murphy and Associates and The Dallas Morning News served as sponsors for the event.

The Dallas Regional Chamber promotes prosperity through public policy, economic development and member engagement.

For more information about the Momentum Awards, please contact Kimberly Sims at 214-746-6728 or ksims@dallaschamber.org.