The Dallas Regional Chamber, the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth, and the U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council will convene senior American and Emirati leaders for a luncheon featuring keynote remarks by Mr. James Hogan, President & CEO of Etihad Airways, in Dallas/Fort Worth area, Texas. Following scene-setting remarks by the Honorable Betsy Price, Mayor of Fort Worth, and the Honorable Mike Rawlings, Mayor of Dallas, Mr. Hogan will deliver a keynote speech highlighting Etihad Airways’ expansion into the United States with non-stop service between Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH) and Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW). Mayor Price, Mayor Rawlings, and Mr. Hogan will be joined at the event by key American and Emirati stakeholders. For your reference, the honored speakers’ biographies as well as information about Etihad Airways, the Dallas Regional Chamber, the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth, and the U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council, can be found below.
The Honorable Betsy Price
Mayor
City of Fort Worth, Texas
Betsy Price, a Fort Worth native, was elected in 2011 as the 44th mayor of the City of Fort Worth. In 2013, Price ran unopposed and was re-elected to a second two-year term. As the 16th largest city in the United States, Fort Worth remains one of the fastest growing large cities in the country.
Along with her focus on promoting jobs, strengthening education, fighting crime and improving mobility, Price has made significant strides along the path toward her vision of a healthy, engaged and fiscally responsible city.
A Healthy Community
Instead of sitting in cars, on the couch or in the office, Price believes in a community that naturally promotes physical activity throughout the day.
During her first term, Price led a community effort to build a city that’s more fit, happy and productive. The result was FitWorth, a citywide initiative focused on promoting active lifestyles and healthy habits in both kids and adults. With an initial $250,000 grant from Oncor, FitWorth is working to stem the rising tide of obesity, especially in children. Thanks to FitWorth, employers, schools, hospitals, faith communities, non-profits and retailers are energized and actively promoting a more healthy and sustainable city.
Building a healthy community is much more than promoting exercise and good nutrition. It’s also about designing a city that gives residents the opportunity to leave the car at home, opting for alternate modes of transportation. Under her leadership, Fort Worth has become a foremost cycling community, adding miles of new bike lanes and trails. Promoting pedestrian-friendly urban villages has also remained a staple of Price’s vision for rebuilding the city’s urban core. Moreover, she continues to push her long-term goal of linking neighborhoods and job centers with a comprehensive and convenient commuter rail system.
The Honorable Michael S. Rawlings
Mayor
City of Dallas, Texas
Elected Mayor in June 2011, Mayor Mike Rawlings is working to improve the quality of life in Dallas. In his short time in office, Mayor Rawlings has introduced a development plan for southern Dallas, taken a hands-on approach to improving education and created new strategies for growing the arts. He has put Dallas in the spotlight nationally and internationally by taking a leading role with the United States Conference of Mayors.
With the launch of GrowSouth, Mayor Rawlings outlined a comprehensive strategy designed to boost the economic impact of southern Dallas. GrowSouth has already been a catalyst for new economic investment, job creation and public-private partnerships. The Dallas Morning News praised Mayor Rawlings saying “after only six months, Rawlings has accomplished more for southern Dallas than many of his predecessors managed in their entire terms.”
Mayor Rawlings believes in achieving academic excellence and thus has committed to improving Dallas ISD by adopting four southern Dallas schools located in areas prime for growth. He is also working closely with Commit!, an education collaborative for Dallas area schools. Mayor Rawlings was active involved in the recruitment of our new Dallas ISD Superintendent and in the election of new School Board Trustees, even though these decisions traditionally fall outside the scope of responsibility for the Mayor and city officials.
To leverage new assets in our Arts District, Mayor Rawlings formed the Mayor’s Business Arts Initiative to draw corporate participation in the largest urban arts district in the nation.
On top of focusing on economic growth and neighborhood enhancement strategies, Mayor Rawlings has worked to bring together our City Council to approve a budget that will improve infrastructure and basic services without increasing the tax burden on homeowners. He has presided over the passage of $600 million in new city bonds to fund streets, flood protection and economic development initiatives.
Mike Rawlings came to Dallas in 1976 with $200 dollars in his pocket and proved that Dallas truly is The City of Opportunity. He worked his way up from an entry-level position to become the CEO of Tracy-Locke, then the largest advertising agency in the South. Later, he took the helm of the world’s largest pizza company, Pizza Hut and grew it to record sales. Most recently, Mayor Rawlings served as Managing Partner of CIC Partners, where he provided business counsel and capital, helping to grow small and mid-sized businesses in Dallas, and across the U.S.
In addition, to running two of our region’s biggest companies, he also found time to fall in love and raise a family here in Dallas, he and his wife Micki live in North Dallas, and their two children, Michelle and Gunnar also live in Dallas.
Mr. James Hogan
President and Chief Executive Officer
Etihad Airways
James Hogan was appointed President and Chief Executive of Etihad Airways on 10 September 2006, bringing more than 30 years of travel industry expertise to the Abu Dhabi-based airline.
He has overseen rapid growth of the U.A.E.’s national airline, which now serves 108 passenger and cargo destinations in the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia and the Americas operating a fleet of 105 modern environmentally friendly aircraft.
In July 2008, he signed one of the largest aircraft orders in history for up to 205 aircraft worth approximately U.S.$43 billion at list prices, to meet the airline’s ambitious long-term growth plans. This was followed in November 2013 with an order for up to 199 aircraft worth U.S.$67 billion to make provision for the airline’s growth up to 2025.
CEO Middle East Magazine named him Aviation CEO of the Year in 2008 and Visionary of the Year in 2010. He won the CAPA Airline Executive of the Year 2012 Award at the Centre for Aviation’s global awards for excellence and leadership.
At the Airline Strategy Awards presented in London in July 2013, he received the Executive Leadership Award in recognition of his “influence on the aviation industry, outstanding strategic thinking, and innovative direction for growth.” In April 2014, he was inducted into The British Travel and Hospitality Industry Hall of Fame in honour of his “significant part in creating and developing the travel and tourism industry in Britain and globally”.
James started his career in 1975 at Ansett Airlines, and subsequently held senior positions with bmi, Hertz, Forte Hotels and Gulf Air.
At Hertz, his roles included directorships of the marketing, sales and operations divisions. In 1995, based in London, he joined the executive management committee as Vice President, Marketing & Sales for Europe, Middle East and Africa.
In 1997, James became service director for bmi British Midland, leaving in 1998 to join the Granada Group as worldwide sales director, where he sat on the board of Forte Hotels.
He returned to bmi in 1999 as chief operating officer. There he was responsible for flight and ground operations, sales and marketing, commercial, cargo, engineering and handling service companies, and was a member of the Board.
James moved back to his native Australia in 2001, where he was appointed chief executive of the Tesna consortium, which was created with the aim of acquiring Ansett Airlines from administration, before joining Gulf Air in 2002, where he served as chief executive for four years.
James is a fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society and a former non-executive director, and member of the Board’s Audit Committee, of Gallaher Plc and the UBS Industrial Board. In 2010, he served as the Chairman of the Aviation Travel and Tourism Governors at the World Economic Forum.
He currently serves as Vice Chairman on the Executive Committee of the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) and is a member of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Board of Governors. He serves as Vice Chairman on the Boards of equity partners, airberlin plc, and Jet Airways, and sits on the Board of Virgin Australia.
About Etihad Airways:
Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates made its first commercial flight in November 2003.
Since then, the Abu Dhabi-based airline has grown faster than any other in commercial aviation history, offering its award-winning services to 110 destinations in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, the Middle East and the Americas.
Etihad Airways operates a young and environmentally-efficient fleet of 105 Airbus and Boeing aircraft, and has more than 210 aircraft on firm order.
The airline’s network today reflects a combination of organic growth, growth through codeshare partnerships, and strategic minority investments, together creating a virtual network of more than 420 destinations.
Etihad Airways currently has 47 codeshare partnerships and equity stakes in six airlines: Virgin Australia – 21.24 per cent, airberlin – 29.2 per cent, Air Seychelles – 40 per cent, Aer Lingus – 4.99 per cent, Jet Airways – 24 per cent, Air Serbia – 49 per cent. The airline is in the process of formalising its equity investments in Swiss-based Etihad Regional and Alitalia.*
More than 20,000 employees from more than 140 nationalities offer the highest standards of service and comfort both on the ground and in the air. Customers can enjoy world-class cuisine, flat-beds and suites in its premium cabins and the widest seats in economy, as well as inflight wi-fi connectivity and more than 750 hours of on-demand in-flight entertainment.
International sports sponsorship plays a central role in Etihad Airways’ global brand strategy, as it seeks to develop its profile in markets across the world. The airline has signed several major international sponsorship deals, including agreements with Manchester City Football Club, the All Irish Hurling Championships, the Formula One Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, and Major League Soccer.
Etihad Airways has been named the World’s Leading Airline at the World Travel Awards for five consecutive years.
Etihad Airways operates flights between New York (JFK), Washington D.C. (IAD), Chicago (ORD), and from November 2014 will fly from San Francisco (SFO) and Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW). US flights are direct to Abu Dhabi with connections to destinations across Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.
*Operated by Darwin Airline
For more information, visit: http://www.etihad.com/en-us/.
About the Dallas Regional Chamber:
The Dallas Regional Chamber is the area’s leading membership-driven business organization committed to promoting economic prosperity by leading economic development, driving improvements in public education, influencing public policy, and catalyzing and advocating for regional partnerships. The Chamber works to ensure the Dallas region will become the most economically prosperous region – and the most desirable place to live and work – in the United States. The Chamber is a not-for-profit organization comprised of businesses, which represent all facets of the Dallas region’s business community.
For more information, visit: www.dallaschamber.org.
About the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth:
Founded in 1951, the nonprofit, nonpartisan World Affairs Council offers the public and its almost 3,500 members opportunities to learn firsthand from world leaders, policymakers, ambassadors, journalists and world affairs experts. It presents over 100 programs annually to enlighten and entertain North Texas. In addition to impacting more than 100,000 students each year through its International Education Program, the Council coordinates visits to North Texas of delegations and leaders from around the globe through the administration of its International Visitor Program and the City of Dallas Office of Protocol.
The mission of the World Affairs Council is to promote international awareness, understanding and connections through its multifaceted programs. The Council works to enhance the region’s global stature and to prepare North Texans to thrive in our complex world.
For more information, visit: www.dfwworld.org.
About the U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council:
The U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council is a progressive business advocacy organization solely committed to the advancement of the trade and commercial relationship between the United States and the United Arab Emirates. The Business Council actively works to ensure that the U.S. and U.A.E. remain attractive destinations for foreign direct investment by conducting effective policy advocacy, undertaking various trade promotion initiatives, providing ongoing updates on the business climate in both countries, and helping develop strategic relationships between U.S. and U.A.E. business and government officials.
For more information, visit: www.usuaebusiness.org.
