Traci was born in Fort Worth and grew up in the Como neighborhood. She graduated from Stephen F. Austin State University and soon realized she wanted to be an actress. She did not have formal training immediately, but that did not make a difference.

Within her first year of chasing that dream, she caught a break. She landed a Reliant Energy commercial, and shortly after, a letter arrived in her mailbox. It was an invitation to join the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA). This letter validated her dreams. She could be an actor. However, membership in SAG-AFTRA doesn’t guarantee a career. Traci has to grab every opportunity.

Traci invested in $300 professional headshots, then pitched herself to Dallas talent agencies for six months before finding representation. Like many actors, commercials provided were the first jobs on her resume. She booked ads for Main Event and Movie Tavern Date Night. The grind for people trying to break into acting is real. “I worked a twelve-hour day for $100 just to get experience to put on my resume,” Traci remembered.

Soon, Traci’s resume grew to include roles in the James Franco-produced series 11.22.63 and, most notably, the reboot of the ‘90s television classic, Walker, Texas Ranger.

Photo courtesy of Traci Burst

“To be cast in Walker meant so much to me,” Traci said. “Growing up, I loved Walker, Texas Ranger and watched it all the time. To be cast in this show meant so much to me. It shows all my hard work is paying off, all the late nights, early mornings, and rushing around.”

That hard work extends far beyond the screen. “It is a lot to balance a full-time job, motherhood, a startup company, and an acting career,” Traci admitted. “But if you truly care about something and have a strong support system, you make it work.”

Wait. Startup company?

Traci explained that during the pandemic, she launched an online retail store, Humanity4ever. The brand sells clothing with a mission, but building it while working full-time and pursuing acting has not been easy.

“I have to take care of what’s in front of me, right there in the moment, and not worry about things that haven’t happened or things I can’t change,” Traci said. “If things start to pile up, I make excuses, develop self-doubt, and stress about time I don’t have. I think most people do that. I’ve learned to move with purpose and a sense of urgency.”

When asked if she ever rests or gets time alone, Traci said she plays competitive volleyball, which is her release. It is her time to shut off her mind and enjoy her time on the court. “Everyone needs an outlet, and this is mine,” she said.

For Traci, chasing big goals comes down to courage and clarity. “Don’t let fear run you from your dreams.”

Traci has some tips for making your dreams come true.

• Act in the moment. Focus on what is in front of you instead of worrying about the past or future.
• Cut the excuses. When things pile up, self-doubt follows. Move with purpose and urgency.
• Do your homework. Research, ask questions, and connect with people who have been there before.
• Start, even if it is imperfect. “The worst thing that can happen is it doesn’t work out, and that’s better than the regret of not trying.”

Her online store is still a work in progress, but Traci views it as part of a bigger journey. “I invested a lot of money in merchandise, the license, the website, and it still isn’t where I want it to be. But I know it will get there. I had to at least start and stop being scared.”

Traci is currently booking commercials and sending audition tapes to directors and casting agents. While acting remains her passion, she hopes that one day she will have more time to pour into Humanity4ever.

No matter which role she is playing – mom, entrepreneur, or actress – Traci Burst will keep moving forward.

The post Juggling Hollywood, the Hustle, and Home first appeared on Tanglewood Moms.

Clement, who previously served as Director of Development, joined Camp Fire in January 2021. During her tenure, she has led major fundraising initiatives, strengthened donor relationships, and advanced corporate and foundation partnerships. As Vice President of Development, she will oversee philanthropic strategy and revenue diversification to ensure the organization’s long-term sustainability.

Mitchell, who joined Camp Fire in February 2007, most recently served as Director of Marketing and Communications. Over the past 18 years, she has directed brand strategy, public relations, digital engagement, and customer experience for the organization. In her new role as Vice President of Marketing and Communications, Mitchell will continue to elevate Camp Fire’s story across North Texas, aligning with the organization’s strategic focus on marketing and storytelling as drivers of transformation.

“Tamara and Sara have each demonstrated extraordinary leadership and vision in their respective areas,” said Brian Miller, President/CEO of Camp Fire First Texas. “Their promotions recognize the vital role development and marketing play in advancing our mission. With their expertise and passion, we are well-positioned to deepen our impact and ensure more youth, families, and educators benefit from Camp Fire programs.”

Clement said she is energized by the opportunity to expand the reach of Camp Fire’s mission through sustainable growth. “This role is about ensuring Camp Fire is positioned for long-term impact,” Clement said. “By building lasting relationships and diversifying our revenue, we are making it possible for more youth to discover their sparks and thrive, and for more educators to receive the support they need to succeed.”

Mitchell said she looks forward to advancing the organization’s visibility and community presence. “I believe in the power of storytelling to inspire action,” Mitchell said. “As we implement our strategic plan, our goal is to make sure every family, partner, and supporter understands the life-changing experiences Camp Fire provides. Marketing is not just about awareness—it’s about driving transformation and ensuring that the next generation has access to opportunities in nature, in learning, and in community.”

The post Camp Fire Promotes Two Leaders to VP Positions first appeared on Tanglewood Moms.

This is my six-year-old daughter Justice’s new favorite answer when asked what her dad does. She found out I was a lifeguard in high school and early college, and apparently that’s the coolest job I’ve ever had.

She’s latched onto this identity. Not the rock star thing. Not the marketing work or real estate or serial entrepreneur stuff. Dad is a lifeguard.

It’s sweet, and it got me thinking about identity and work. I’ve worn so many hats over the years. Lifeguarding is the only “real job” where I worked for other people. And it was a great one. You get tan. You meet girls – pretty solid gig for a teenager.

But I’ve been so many things. Musician. Restaurant owner. Real estate developer. Marketing agency founder. Podcast host. Luxury vacation rentals. Each chapter brings its challenges, failures, and unexpected lessons. But when people ask me what I do for a living, I panic.

What do I say?

Career ADHD? Serial entrepreneur? Professional hat collector?

“I’m a lifeguard” is simple. No follow-up questions needed.

The truth is, I’m someone who follows my curiosity. I start things. I dive into what interests me even when it doesn’t make sense on paper. I’ve has some of the most incredible adventures. And some spectacular failures.

I’m constantly asked, “Did you know you wanted to be an entrepreneur?” “How did you have the courage to pursue music?” “How did you make such big pivots?”

Here’s the honest answer: there was never a grand plan.

I have been guided by principles that have shaped my decisions and led to their outcomes. I’ve learned that it all comes down to what you believe about reality. About identity. About who’s really in control.

For me, this has crystallized into three principles that have been instrumental in my life:

• First, knowing your true identity frees you from the pressure of work defining your worth.
• Second, life is short, so pursue what makes you curious rather than what’s conventionally safe.
• And third, mistakes are not setbacks. They’re free education and springboards for growth.

I learned these principles the hard way – through making mistakes and figuring things out as I went. And while they led me to different careers, they all started with one very clear (and admittedly ridiculous) dream.

I wanted to be a rock star.

Green River Ordinance
Photo courtesy of Jamey Ice

When I was fifteen, my brother Geoff and I started a band called Green River Ordinance.

Of course, this goes against almost every piece of conventional wisdom you hear growing up. Go to college, get a degree, get a safe job. But I’d lie in my bed at night, staring at posters on my wall of my rock heroes – U2, The Beatles, Pearl Jam. And I’d think, “Why not me? What makes them so different?”

The band was my first real lesson in choosing curious over safe. Even at fifteen, something inside me said, “You get one chance at this life. When you find something that lights you up, something you could see yourself doing forever, why shouldn’t you pursue it?”

I went to TCU and became a philosophy major, but the band was still the dream. With only 18 hours left to graduate, I made the call.

I dropped out, and Green River Ordinance went on tour.

In those early days, we were poor. I mean poor. The poorest I’ve ever been, but we were living the dream. I also got married while on the road. Once again, everyone said I was crazy. The band still hadn’t officially taken off. I had nothing. It didn’t make logical sense. But I said, “I do,” and Melissa did, too.

Hamburger Helper and love became our specialty, and I learned something crucial. You can survive without money. Money doesn’t make you happy. Some of my richest memories come from that broke season.

Capitol Records called, and we spent the next eight years on the road with Green River Ordinance. We had Number One songs and Top 10 albums. We were living the dream we’d chased since we were teenagers.

But we also made a lot of mistakes. We didn’t manage our money well. We had to fire our booking agent, manager, lawyer, and accountant because of mismanagement of funds. We wound up leaving Capitol Records.

I was back at that precipice of “What do I do now?” I had to dig deep into what I really believed about taking risks and failure. And that brought me back to something that happened in college.

I was sitting in an existential philosophy class, listening to my professor talk about Sartre and Camus. Their argument was simple: Life has no predetermined meaning, so you can create your own meaning and live however you want. Ultimate freedom through meaninglessness. But I thought, “Well, that sounds kind of depressing.” My faith perspective gave me way more freedom.

I hold tight to the belief that God loves me, that He’s powerful, and that there’s nothing I can do to shake that. I can’t lose his love or my future.

So I raised my hand and asked, “What sounds like better freedom? Knowing that life is meaningless, so you’re free to live however you want, or knowing you have a lottery ticket in your pocket for a billion dollars; you can’t lose, and you can live however you want?”

The room got quiet.

For me, the faith story isn’t just better, it’s my guaranteed winning ticket. Whenever I face tough decisions, I ask, “What would I do if I were holding a winning lottery ticket in my pocket?”

The answer is always resoundingly clear: chase what you are curious about, there’s no need to play it safe. When you know the end is good, you can take swings that other people won’t. When your identity is rooted in something bigger than your career, failure isn’t that scary.

I took over as the band’s manager and booking agent. We wanted to release our music, and we needed to figure out how to do it. That was the moment I became a businessman.

We released “Dancing Shoes,” a song our label had hated because it was “too country.” It wound up becoming our biggest song to date. Our independent album sold substantially more than our major label album.

The lottery ticket had come through again.

Photo credit: Andrew Frazer

In 2011, I found myself in China. My wife, Melissa, took college students there every year, and we were sitting in this incredible coffee shop. The atmosphere and the community feel were unlike anything we had back home.

Someone said, “Man, I wish there was something like this in Fort Worth.”

Conversations continued back home. We’d stay up dreaming about what this hypothetical place could be. Eventually, dreaming turned into property searches.

We found an empty, ugly building on Magnolia Avenue. Back then, development hadn’t pushed nearly as far down Magnolia as it has now. People thought we were crazy. “Too close to Hemphill,” they said. “That building is way too rough.” We could see what others couldn’t. However, none of us had any coffee shop experience. No restaurant experience. No bar experience. But we had big dreams and a bigger vision.

BREWED opened in 2012. We designed something beautiful and interesting – warm, inviting, unlike anything Fort Worth had seen. I did the marketing like I’d done with the band, through stories, not sales pitches.

BREWED was a huge success and a complete disaster at the same time. We had no idea what we were doing. The service was horrible. Our menu was confusing and overly ambitious. But that third principle kicked in: mistakes aren’t setbacks. They’re education.

Every service disaster taught us something about operations. Every confused customer helped us simplify our menu. Every overwhelmed staff member showed us what systems we needed to build. We learned. We adapted. We got better. Eventually, we expanded to multiple locations.

As BREWED grew, we faced a gut-wrenching decision about Green River Ordinance. By 2016, three of us had kids, and touring suddenly felt unsustainable. We were coming off our best year with two Number One songs. But we’d never had that massive nationwide hit. We had success, but not the dream.

Stopping was the right decision. But emotionally, it was devastating. Walking away from Green River Ordinance – the dream I’d chased since I was fifteen – felt like losing part of myself.

Meanwhile, BREWED had grown. I loved being part of it. But 6th Avenue Homes was rapidly expanding, and I wanted to start a marketing company. I couldn’t do it all.

The decision to stop the band and to leave BREWED taught me that failure isn’t the opposite of success – it’s part of success. But I learned something equally important. Sometimes success means knowing when to walk away.

Photo courtesy of Jamey Ice

By 2014, my best friend and I had fallen into the same pattern – buy a fixer-upper, renovate it ourselves, live in it for a couple of years, sell, repeat.

Fort Worth’s oldest neighborhood, Fairmount, had a mix of neglected historic homes. Artists and young professionals were starting to breathe new life into the area. One day, a listing popped up on Hawthorne Avenue. Listed at $90,000, it was an absolute steal. There was just one problem: we had maybe $5000 between us. I was still a musician. He was a cop. And it was a foreclosure; foreclosures are cash-only.

When the agent asked if we had the cash, we stretched the truth.

We signed the paperwork, paid our $5,000 (nonrefundable), and panicked.

I found a local investor who agreed to lend us the money. We did all the work ourselves – late nights, weekends, learning on the fly. Ninety days later, we’d transformed that little house and sold it to a young family. We made some money and became completely hooked. Over the next few years, we bought, sold, or renovated over 120 properties in the Near Southside.

Something unexpected happened. I’d been posting our renovation projects on Instagram – not as marketing, just because I was excited about what we were doing. People started following our work. Then they started calling.

“Can you help us buy a house like this?” “We love what you’re doing. Can you help us find something?” We kept saying, “We’re not a real estate company. We just flip houses.”

But the market was telling us something different. There was a whole group of people who didn’t want cookie-cutter houses. They wanted something with character. The traditional real estate industry wasn’t serving them.

Neither of us had real estate licenses. But we created a one-stop shop to help people buy, sell, design, and renovate homes. We gave clients whiskey at closings. We threw house concerts instead of open houses. When families closed on their homes, we’d go and pray over the houses with them.

The company that started with a $5,000 stretched truth now has 70 employees and multiple locations.

Photo courtesy of Jamey Ice

By 2020, 6th Avenue Homes was thriving. I’d sold out of BREWED the year before to focus on the real estate company. Between all my businesses, I’d hired and fired more marketing companies than I could count. Each company could create a logo, build a website, and run some ads, but they always missed the point.

Social media was instrumental to our success. It’s what built the following for the band, packed BREWED with customers, and turned house flipping into a real estate company. But every time I tried to hand social media marketing off, it would fall flat.

The problem was simple: nobody took the time to understand our story.

I know that story is what sells. Pretty graphics matter; they make you feel something. But graphics don’t sell things. Stories do. Meanwhile, these agencies kept offering piecemeal solutions. “You need SEO.” “You need better ads.” “Here’s the magic bullet.”

But small businesses don’t need one thing. They need a comprehensive marketing plan. We started joking, “We should just start our own agency.”

Then COVID hit, and the world shut down. Everyone asked the same question: “How do we survive this?”

I had a choice. Play it safe, keep my head down, and wait for things to return to normal. Or follow what made me curious.

Every small business owner I knew was desperate for precisely what we’d been joking about building. They needed someone who understood their story, who could help them connect with customers when everything felt uncertain. So, in the middle of a global pandemic, I launched 6th Avenue Storytelling.

All those “mistakes” I had made before were my real education. The three principles that had guided every major decision were working again: my identity wasn’t tied to any single career, curiosity was trumping safety, and every failed agency hire had taught me something valuable.

We built something called The Storytelling Pathway, which is everything I’ve learned about marketing, organized it into a plan that works.

The marketing world is full of silver bullets—SEO, ads, branding, websites, funnels. Everyone’s selling a solution. But small businesses don’t need one thing. They need a tool belt. Over the past four years, we’ve helped hundreds of small businesses tell their stories and grow. I also launched a podcast called Stories with Soul – something I’d dreamed of doing for years but never tried.

Musician became restaurant owner became real estate developer became marketing consultant.

You don’t have to stay in one lane forever. Reinvention isn’t just possible. It’s powerful.

Photo courtesy of Jamey Ice

The question shouldn’t be, “What do I want to be when I grow up?” The question is, “What makes me curious right now?”

Whether you’re 22, panicking about picking the perfect career, or 45 and wondering if it’s too late to change course, you don’t need a master plan. You need the courage to take the next right step. You don’t need to have it all figured out. You need to know who you are when everything falls apart.

You’re already holding the winning lottery ticket.

I believe the God who created you loves you and has a plan for you. That means you can’t lose in any way that truly matters.

Chase what makes you curious. Bet on yourself. Treat mistakes as education, not verdicts. Your work doesn’t define you, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t matter. Do something that lights you up. Build things that make the world a little better.

And if all else fails, tell people you’re a lifeguard.

The post Reinvention Isn’t Just Possible, It’s Powerful first appeared on Tanglewood Moms.

Under his tenure, the Carter’s collections and endowment have expanded significantly, and the Museum’s internal galleries have been renovated and reimagined to improve visitor experience and to emphasize a thematic presentation that connects artists and works through time. He also expanded the Carter’s exhibition program to include site-specific installations by living American artists, and enhanced access to the Carter’s collection onsite and online, all of which have resulted in significant growth in community engagement and impact.

Photo courtesy of Amon Carter Museum of American Art

Walker’s last day at the Museum will be August 31, 2025. Scott Wilcox, the Museum’s Chief Operating Officer, has been named interim Executive Director. The Board will be launching a search for the Carter’s next Executive Director in the coming weeks.

“I have been honored to lead the Carter for the past fourteen years and watch it evolve into the impactful institution it is today,” said Andrew J. Walker. “I am exceptionally proud of all that we have accomplished, whether through our commitment to new scholarship on American art, our exceptional exhibition program, or our continued expansion of the Carter’s collection to include new voices and seminal works that tell the story of American creativity. A particular highlight for me has been our expanded engagement with the communities we serve, and the relationships we have built with our partners and supporters,” said Walker. “Given all that we have accomplished together, it feels like the right moment for me to depart and allow a new leader to take the helm as the Carter plans for its future.”

During Walker’s tenure, the Carter has continued to acquire important works of art by acclaimed American artists, with noted acquisitions of artwork by Ruth Asawa, George Bellows, Dawoud Bey, Mary Cassatt, Gabriel Dawe, Richard Hunt, Norman Lewis, Glenn Ligon, and John Singer Sargent, among many others. Walker also spearheaded the Museum’s collecting initiative dedicated to amplifying Indigenous artists’ contributions to American visual identity through the history of photography, which saw the addition of artwork by more than ten Indigenous photographers including Tom Jones, Shelley Niro, Cara Romero, Sarah Sense, and Hulleah Tsinhnahjinnie.

“Andrew Walker became director of the Amon Carter Museum of American Art before my mother Ruth Carter Stevenson passed away,” said Karen Hixon, President of the Board of Trustees. “Andrew came to understand her passion and vision and continued to ably lead the Museum through the transition years and beyond. We are grateful for all he has done to set the Carter on such a strong path for its future. I so appreciate his leadership, good counsel, and friendship over the last many years and wish him well in in this the next chapter of his life.”

Photo courtesy of Amon Carter Museum of American Art

In 2019, Walker stewarded the Carter through a major renovation that expanded and updated exhibition spaces to create wider galleries and better sightlines, while dedicating 7,000 square feet for special exhibitions. During this time, the Carter also unveiled a new website, dramatically increasing public access to the collection and the wealth of stories about American art that it possesses. The renovation also included an expansion of the Carter’s photography vaults with the latest advancements in climate control cold storage, allowing for the future growth of the collection and the continued preservation of the Museum’s holdings. Established at the same time thanks to generous gifts, the Gentling Study Center provides resources and support for ongoing scholarship on Scott and Stuart Gentling as well as other under-researched American artists.

Since Walker joined the Museum in 2011, the Carter expanded its exhibition program to include site-specific installations by living American artists, presentations of work by underrepresented artists, and organized major exhibitions that have toured the nation. Highlights include American Epics: Thomas Hart Benton and Hollywood (2015); Color: American Photography Transformed (2013); Emancipation: The Unfinished Project of Liberation (2023); Leonardo Drew: Number 235T (2023); Mythmakers: The Art of Winslow Homer and Frederic Remington (2020); The Perilous Texas Adventures of Mark Dion (2020); Navigating the West (2015): George Caleb Bingham and the River (2014); Speaking with Light: Contemporary Indigenous Photography (2022); Stephanie Syjuco: Double Vision (2022); Wild Spaces, Open Seasons: Hunting and Fishing in American Art (2017); and The World Outside: Louise Nevelson at Midcentury (2023).

As Executive Director, Walker was an active champion of the Museum’s community engagement and outreach initiatives, impacting the audiences the Carter serves both at the Museum and across North Texas. In 2018, Walker supported the launch of the Museum’s Carter Community Artists initiative dedicated to supporting and working with local artists, providing the public with access to collaborate and learn from artists working in the community. The Museum has also established a robust network of community partners to enhance engagement with visitors at the Carter and beyond the Museum walls.

The post Carter Executive Director to Leave After 14 Years first appeared on Tanglewood Moms.

The Legacy of Holt Hickman

The Hickman family has dedicated generations to preserving the history and infrastructure of Fort Worth. It all began with Holt Hickman’s deep love for the area.

About nine million people from all over the world visit the Stockyards every year. Visitors come to see the cattle drive, the historic Cowtown Coliseum, and the Cowboy Hall of Fame Museum. The Hickman family played a huge role in preserving every one of these.

From Rundown to Renowned Destination

The Stockyards had its beginnings with the arrival of the railroads in Fort Worth in 1876. The area quickly became a place where cattle, hogs, and sheep could be sold, slaughtered, and packed. Today, the Stockyards have turned into a booming tourist destination known around the world. The district is a significant contributor to Fort Worth’s tourism economy, which had an economic impact of over $3.5 billion in 2024, according to Visit Fort Worth.

But it was not always this way. Just decades ago, the area was falling into disrepair. In 1988, Billy Bob’s dance hall filed for bankruptcy and closed its doors. The streets were lined with deteriorating buildings, and few ventured to this side of town.

Where It All Started

Growing up, Holt lived with his mother in Weatherford, Texas. But when he would visit his father, Cecil, they would head to the Fort Worth Stockyards to buy and sell cattle.

Holt crossed the Metroplex to attend Southern Methodist University (SMU), where he swam for his fraternity, Kappa Sigma, in intramural sports. He was discovered by SMU Hall of Fame swimming coach Red Barr and was given a full-ride scholarship. In his junior and senior years, he was the fastest freestyle swimmer in the Southwest Conference.

In 1954, after graduating from SMU, Holt married his high school sweetheart, Jo Aycock. But Fort Worth had a hold on Holt. Holt and Jo’s daughter, Brenda Hickman Kostohryz, shared, “The Stockyards have always held a special place in my father’s heart. It was always the Stockyards and us.”

When Holt heard about Billy Bob’s closing down, he partnered with Don Jury, Steve Murrin, and Billy Minick to reopen the honkytonk.

“That’s where it all started,” Brenda recalls. “He started with reopening Billy Bob’s, then he invested in the revitalization of the Stockyards, and he helped bring the cattle drive to the Stockyards.”

Restoring the Past, Building the Future

Between the 1980s and the 1990s, Hickman began buying derelict buildings, including the Livestock Exchange Building and the Mule Alley warehouses. Holt’s goal was to preserve the Western heritage of the area while also making it economically sustainable.

He envisioned the Stockyards as a walkable, family-friendly district full of history, shopping, rodeos, and cowboy culture. In 2001, Holt and his wife Jo played a significant role in bringing the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame to the Fort Worth Stockyards. Recognizing the potential to enhance Fort Worth’s Western heritage tourism, they bought the museum. They moved it into the historic horse and mule barns on Exchange Avenue, which they had restored as part of their broader revitalization efforts.

A Legacy Carried On

More than ten years after his passing, Holt’s son and daughter continue to carry on his legacy. Brad Hickman and Brenda Hickman Kostohryz have worked for the family business since graduating from college.

Brenda worked in the real estate division for nearly 40 years before partially retiring. “It was always known that I would graduate and work on the real estate side of the business,” recalls Brenda. “He taught me to work hard and treat everyone equally.”

“Business and family were the most important things to my dad,” Brenda recalls. “He was always at all the grandkids sporting events and birthdays. He took me and my girlfriends to Vegas for my 21^st birthday. That’s just the kind of man he was.”

Brad, who graduated from college with a degree in business, initially ran the manufacturing division before transitioning to real estate. His son, Brad Jr., has since joined him.

“My dad loved my mom and the Stockyards,” Brenda recalls when thinking about her father’s legacy.

Photo courtesy of Brenda Hickman Kostohryz

Modern Development with Historic Roots

Holt established the Fort Worth Heritage Development Company before his death. This joint venture between Hickman Companies and Majestic Realty Co. was designed to preserve the area’s Western heritage while introducing modern amenities.

Brenda and Brad continued the partnership with Majestic Realty, building on their father’s efforts with a $175 million project that transformed the historic horse and mule barns into a vibrant district filled with shops, restaurants, and entertainment venues. In 2021, they opened Hotel Drover, a luxury boutique hotel that blends rustic charm with modern comfort, serving as a centerpiece of the Stockyards’ revitalization.

To preserve and honor their father’s legacy, Brad and Brenda are investing in the next chapter of the Stockyards story with a $630 million vision that blends Western tradition with modern hospitality. This next phase includes improvements to the Cowtown Coliseum, the Fort Worth Herd Facilities, and two below-ground parking garages. The plan will also add 300,000 square feet of commercial space, 500 hotel rooms, and about 300 apartments.

Shaping Fort Worth’s Future

This family business has not only shaped the Fort Worth of today; it continues to shape its future. With each project, the Hickmans honor their father’s memory, ensuring that the Fort Worth Stockyards remains a destination where the past is celebrated and the future is welcomed with a friendly “howdy.”

The post The Hickman Legacy: How One Family Saved the Stockyards first appeared on Tanglewood Moms.

Travis was recently recognized as one of the Top 3 Personal Injury Lawyers in Fort Worth by ThreeBestRated®.

ThreeBestRated®’s business analyst team conducts a rigorous 50-Point Inspection—reviewing everything from client feedback and firm history to ratings, trust, and overall excellence.

According to the website, ““W. Travis Patterson is the managing partner of Patterson Law Group. He obtained his business degree and law degree from The University of Texas at Austin. He provides effective representation while always keeping the best interests of his clients at the forefront… He is admitted to the State Bar of Texas and the U.S. District Court for the Northern, Southern, Eastern, and Western Districts of Texas. Patterson Law Group has unrivaled trial-experienced attorneys with over 80 years of combined experience in personal injury. They are always prepared to fight for your interests and ensure that you are adequately compensated for the loss and suffering you have experienced due to severe injuries and incidents. Their law office is open 24 hours and operates a no-win, no-fee policy. Contact their personal injury attorneys in San Antonio to schedule a free case review.”

Travis earned this honor thanks to the consistent, high-quality service he and the team at Patterson Law Group deliver every day. This recognition is more than a personal achievement—it’s a testament to the way Travis leads the firm: with compassion, excellence, and an unwavering commitment to fighting for his clients.

The post Travis Patterson Named One of Three Best Personal Injury Attorneys in Fort Worth first appeared on Tanglewood Moms.

A Fort Worth native with more than two decades of experience in nonprofit fundraising and community engagement, Deen has a strong track record of driving mission-focused impact across education, conservation, and public health sectors. Her appointment marks an exciting new chapter for Streams & Valleys as the organization continues to champion the Trinity River’s role as a natural and cultural asset for all residents.

Deen previously held leadership roles at Friends of the Katy Trail in Dallas, where she served as membership and marketing director and later director of operations. In that capacity, she managed the annual fundraising campaign, membership program, day-to-day trail operations, and the Katy 5K—the organization’s largest fundraising event. She also developed collaborative partnerships with businesses and the City of Dallas to support long-term sustainability and public access.

Most recently, Deen served as managing director of development for the Tarrant To and Through Partnership (T3) and chief advancement officer for Texas Center for Arts + Academics, where she helped drive organizational growth, strategic partnerships, and resource development to support youth success across Tarrant County.

“I’m honored to return to my roots and serve a mission so close to my heart,” said Deen. “The Trinity River is one of Fort Worth’s greatest treasures. I look forward to working alongside city leaders, partners, and community members to enhance and protect this vital resource for generations to come.”

Deen assumed her role in August and will lead Streams & Valleys in advancing its mission to steward, advocate for, and promote public use and enjoyment of the Trinity River and trail system.

Founded in 1969, Streams & Valleys has been a driving force behind the development and conservation of the Trinity River and trail system in Fort Worth. Through advocacy, fundraising, and community engagement, the organization works to ensure the Trinity River remains a thriving, accessible, and beloved feature of North Texas.

The post Lauren Deen Named Streams & Valleys’ Executive Director first appeared on Tanglewood Moms.

Each year, the Carter selects four local artists to assist with creating, planning, and leading experiences at the Carter and in the community. This yearlong opportunity invites selected artists to collaborate with the Museum’s education team on a wide variety of projects and events designed for audiences of all ages and abilities.

Applications will be open through Monday, September 8, 2025, and will be available online at cartermuseum.org/CCA. Selected artists will be announced in late fall 2025.

Carter Community Artists is an annual initiative dedicated to supporting and working with local artists. This initiative was launched in 2018 to enhance the Carter’s events, connect the North Texas community with practicing artists, and build a network among local artists.

2025 Carter Community Artists

Carter Community Artists are driven by a deep passion for the arts, a genuine love for our community, and a desire to create connections between audiences and the Museum through collaborative work with Carter staff. Their practices range across a variety of topics, media, and themes, each bringing a unique point of view to the program.

From January through December, our 2026 Carter Community Artists will bring their skills and perspectives to events and projects as they make connections to the Museum’s expansive collection, exhibitions, and rich history with the local community. Each artist is expected to contribute between 20 and 40 hours over the course of the year. Participation includes a $100/hour honorarium, with hours varying by project.

Follow the Carter on social media at @amoncarter for updates and more information.

The post Applications for 2026 Carter Community Artists Open August 1 first appeared on Tanglewood Moms.

How many people have heard like this? More than you think.

For nearly 140 years, the good people of the Gladney Center for Adoption have been helping to build families by honoring the legacy of one woman who almost single-handedly changed adoptions in the United States.

Edna Jones came to Fort Worth in 1904 to live with her aunt and uncle. She was not planning on staying in Texas long, but fortunately for so many children, she did. In 1906, an engaged Edna met Sam Gladney, and they eloped two days before Edna was supposed to marry her (now former) fiancé.

Photo courtesy of Gladney Center for Adoption

The Gladneys lived in Wolfe City for a couple of years before settling in Sherman. Sam bought a flour mill, and Edna went to work inspecting local markets and public facilities for cleanliness. During one inspection in rural Grayson County, Edna came across the Grayson County Poor Farm, a dumping ground for the unwanted: people with mental illnesses and disabilities, the physically disabled, the homeless, and unwanted children.

Horrified by the conditions at the Grayson County Poor Farm, Edna helped to remove the children to the Texas Children’s Home and Aid Society in Fort Worth, on whose board Edna served. She also established a free daycare for the children of women working as part of the war effort. It was one of the first daycares in Texas, and the City of Sherman continued to run it until 2008.

When Edna and Sam returned to Fort Worth in 1921, Edna continued to work with the Texas Children’s Home and Aid Society. She was named superintendent of the Texas Children’s Home and Aid Society, a position that she held until 1959. She was a tireless advocate for children and unwed mothers. Through her efforts, Texas led the way in adoption legislation.

Photo courtesy of Gladney Center for Adoption

In 1936, Texas removed the word “illegitimate” from adopted children’s birth certificates. In 1939, Texas passed a law that sealed an adopted child’s original birth certificate and issued a second birth certificate with the child’s name and the names of the adoptive parents. In 1951, adopted children were granted the same inheritance rights as biological children. None of this would have happened without Edna’s lobbying and advocacy.

The Texas Children’s Home and Aid Society bought the West Texas Maternity Hospital in 1950. Now known as the Edna Gladney Home, in recognition of Edna’s tenacity and love, the organization was able to provide pre- and post-natal care for birth mothers and their infants. Edna died in 1961, having changed the lives of countless families.

Photo courtesy of Gladney Center for Adoption

Fast forward half a century, and the Gladney Center for Adoption (the name was changed in 1991) continues to create families through domestic adoptions, international adoptions, and foster adoptions and continues to lead the way in memory of Edna Gladney.

Gladney is licensed in 12 states and 11 countries, and since 2000, has helped the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services place children waiting in the foster care system with loving, forever families.

“We’re in a big growth stage right now,” said Holly Yarborough, Gladney’s Marketing & Communications Manager. “This is such a special place, but so many people here are unaware of how many people Gladney has impacted over the years.”

Photo courtesy of Gladney Center for Adoption

Holly was excited to tell me about their new program for international adoptees. “Kids from domestic adoptions usually know about their birth family, but until now, it’s been hard for kids who were adopted from another country to find out anything about their birth families.”

To change this disparity, Gladney has created the Heritage Experience. Licensed counselors will accompany adopted children and their families to their country of birth. “Adopted children usually get really curious about their roots,” Holly said. “We’re the only adoption agency sending a licensed counselor along on these trips to support our families emotionally. This really is a labor of love, like everything we do here.”

In 2027, the Gladney Center for Adoption will celebrate 140 years of creating loving families. To celebrate, “Project 140” will share 140 stories to celebrate and honor everything that Gladney has accomplished. Adoption has come a long way since Edna Gladney began her life’s work, and Gladney continues to lead the way, ensuring that more children find their families.

Oh, that memory at the beginning? It’s my story.

The first photo ever taken of the author, taken on the way home from Gladney
Photo credit: Robert N. Virden (author’s dad)

The post Thank You, Mrs. Gladney first appeared on Tanglewood Moms.

Utah becomes the 45^th state in the Union. Athens hosts the first modern Olympic Games. Fannie Farmer publishes her first cookbook. Nicholas II and Alexandra Feodorovna are crowned Emperor and Empress of Russia. Gold is discovered in the Klondike. William McKinley becomes the 25th President of the United States of America.

And here in Fort Worth, Harry Keeton starts making brooms and selling mattress supplies.

It takes a lot for any neighborhood company to stay in business and in the family for 20 or 50 years, much less for 129 years. But that’s precisely what The Mattress Factory has done.

The Mattress Factory, 1931

Two years after he left Tennessee and settled in Fort Worth, Harry Keeton started what would eventually become The Mattress Factory, one of Fort Worth’s oldest businesses. Harry’s sons eventually stopped making brooms and expanded their mattress business from Fort Worth throughout Texas into Oklahoma, Arkansas, Arizona, California, and Florida. The company began shipping all over the world.

Today, Harry Keeton’s great-grandson, Peter Duncan, Jr., and great-great-grandson, Trey, run the company. Trey left his job at a local luxury auto dealer not long ago to help his dad. “We’re a family business,” Peter said. “We’re the fourth and fifth generations here, and we’re proud of that.”

So how does a family-owned company like The Mattress Factory stay in business for 129 years?

Well, if you’re The Mattress Factory, it’s by making mattresses to the customer’s specifications using quality materials in their factory on East Vickery, just around the corner from Harry Keeton’s original factory. It’s with friendly customer service that goes the extra mile. (Seriously, Trey has been known to leave the factory to help a customer put together a bed frame.) It’s by cutting out the middleman and selling mattresses directly to consumers at wholesale prices.

Do you prefer a high-count coil mattress, or would you rather snooze on a foam and latex mattress with a plush gel topper? Does your spouse snore so much that you need an adjustable frame to get a little uninterrupted sleep? Are your little ones clamoring for bunk beds, promising they’ll make their bed every single day without fail? The Mattress Factory has you covered.

“A lot of people now are buying these beds in a box they see online or getting mattresses from Amazon,” Peter said as we talked in the showroom. Mattresses were being made as we spoke, and Chance, the showroom dog, was sleeping on his special mattress. “Sure, [ordering a mattress online] is real easy and quick, but those beds don’t have the quality that lasts. Our customers get a well-made bed that they can watch being made that will last for years. And if you have a question or concern about your bed, all you have to do is call us, and we’ll make it right.”

In addition to selling mattresses, accessories, and frames directly to the public, The Mattress Factory provides mattresses for summer camps, inns, and bed and breakfasts.

Peter’s father, Peter Duncan, Sr., moved from South Africa to Oklahoma to take advantage of the University of Oklahoma’s internationally renowned swimming program. He represented South Africa in the 1952 Helsinki Olympics and the 1956 Melbourne Olympics before marrying Harry Keeton’s granddaughter, Doris, and joining the family business.

Harry Keeton’s children and grandchildren
Photo courtesy of Peter Duncan

Peter is proud that he and his son are carrying on the family business in Fort Worth. Their roots are here, and the love they have for their city is evident in everything they do. (In an interesting aside for the family issue of Madeworthy, Peter competed against my older brother-in-law in high school tennis.)

From employing local workers to raising money for Fort Worth nonprofits like The Gladney Center for Adoption – Trey and his sister are both Gladney Kids – the Duncans give back to their city as much as they receive from it. If you want to know the true depth of the Duncans’ love for our fair city, stop by The Mattress Factory showroom and check out the TCU fabric on one of their show mattresses. You, too, can support your team while you sleep. Go Frogs!

When you need a new mattress, let Peter and Trey help you design your perfect mattress while you give Chance scratches. Experience counts, and The Mattress Factory has 129 years of it.

The post 129 Years of Quality first appeared on Tanglewood Moms.