Cindy Morris: Leading the Way
What makes Texas such a strong business destination? Cindy Morris, chief operating officer of the Dallas Market Center, credits the state’s many economic advantages.
"The job pool is strong, the enterprise costs are low, opportunities are high, and the cost of living is dramatically efficient," she says.
Leveraging these attributes to handsome effect, the 5 million-square-foot Market Center hosts more than 50 trade events annually, along with specialized consumer shows and meetings. Welcoming some 400,000 manufacturers, retailers and buyers each year, the center generates more than $380 million in direct local spending.
"In the wholesale trade, where strong margins are the chapter and verse of success, Dallas is a national leader in economic stability," Morris says. "And our mid-America location offers efficient access from either coast or south of the border."
From major productions like the Dallas Boat Show to brand-name promotions, Market Center events exemplify the state’s business prowess. And as Morris notes, in a city (and state) dedicated to living and thinking large, "we always welcome entrepreneurs looking to launch the next big thing."