The third session of the Community Developers Roundtable Fort Worth cohort brought developers inside City Hall for direct access to the leaders and staff shaping development across Fort Worth, hosted by the City of Fort Worth.


Opening
• Jay Chapa, City Manager


City Leadership Panel
• Kacey Thomas – Neighborhood Services
• Ori Fernandez – Economic Development
• DJ Harrell – Development Services


City Staff & Program Experts
Zoning, housing programs, finance tools, incentives, revitalization, and partnerships were represented by cross-department leaders including Marybel Pena, Sarah Odle, Dyan Anderson, Joshua Hezlap, Lilia Escobedo, Martha Collins, and Phillip Michael Smart.


Lunch & Learn
• LaShondra Stringfellow – Legislative updates impacting development


This is exactly why the CDR exists: to give developers access to decision-makers, understanding of how systems connect, and confidence to move projects forward.

This is exactly why the CDR exists: to give developers access to decision-makers, understanding of how systems connect, and confidence to move projects forward.

To learn more about the CDR Cohort 3 (Fort Worth) participants, click here.

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This article written by Kamal Morgan originally appeared in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram on June 9, 2026

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Session 8 of the Fort Worth Community Developers Roundtable cohort was hosted by Jackson Walker Law and brought together legal expertise, strategic communications, and developer insight to help cohort members move their deals forward with clarity and confidence. Joel Haydenburk welcomed us at Jackson Walker and shared insights on commercial real estate transactions in Texas. Thanks to Asheya Warren of PRAXIS Strategic Consulting and Paul Carden of Brentwood Carden Equities who provided resource mapping and community engagement perspectives for advancing projects.
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