Global Chamber® International State of Metro Dallas 2021

How are we doing with international business in the region?

We didn't just talk about it, we evaluated it in a report card - special thanks to Jeff Pappas of esrp for his information and analysis, along with hosting the event at The Star in Frisco, Texas.

This year our special guest Mayor Jeff Cheney of Frisco.

Watch the first half of the program HERE.

This was our first in-person event since February, 2020... 14 months!

Join business and community leaders at this Global Chamber® signature event, all about international business, culture, education and more.

Congratulations to Mayor Cheney for receiving the global award this year, presented by Ashley Pace of Alliant Insurance.

Welcome to Frisco, Texas!

• Natalie Storrs - Business Development Manager at Advancial / Moderator
• Jeff Pappas - Exec VP of Site Selection & Brokerage at esrp / Int'l Report Card
• Harry C. Whalen - Director of Economic Development - Int'l at City of Frisco EDC
• Mayor Jeff Cheney - City of Frisco / International Remarks + Award Winner
• Special Award Announcement with Ashley Pace - SVP at Alliant Insurance
• Seth Waugh** - CEO at PGA of America**
• Nelson Olavarrieta - Executive Director at Global Chamber®

Speaker Bios

Natalie Storrs - Advancial Federal Credit Union - Natalie manages Business Development for Advancial, a credit union exclusively serving its partner organizations to provide financial wellness benefits to their employees or members - including expatriate employees. Before her move to Advancial in 2015, Natalie had a successful career in hospitality sales and service for nearly 20 years, where she planned and executed high level board meetings, weddings, conferences and galas. Her commitment to being a trusted client advocate and her warm, approachable style has gleaned her success in all roles she’s taken on. She believes building personal and authentic relationships is key to one’s legacy.

When not teaching her teenage son Noah how to drive, Natalie volunteers weekly at Mane Gait in McKinney, a therapeutic riding stable for handi-abled children and soldiers. She helps manage the barn and horses as well as work with the riders to reach beyond their boundaries. Natalie also serves on the regional advisory board for Global Chamber® Dallas and has been instrumental in organizing this event. Thank you, Natalie!

Mayor Jeff Cheney - City of Frisco, Texas.

Elected 2017, and the current term expires 2023.

Frisco City Council Member: 2007 - 2016 Occupation: Owner, The Cheney Group; Owner, Frisco-Online.com

Native Texan Jeff Cheney was elected Mayor of Frisco, Texas, in May 2017, and holds the distinction of being the youngest Mayor of Frisco. Since Mayor Cheney has taken office, Frisco has been recognized as the fastest growing city in America and the #1 Best Place to Live by Money Magazine. Mayor Cheney’s big initiatives are master planning the northern area of our city, keeping taxes low for our residents, developing Grand Park, working with the private sector to build a performing arts center, and dealing with density and congestion challenges with innovative mobility solutions. Previously, Cheney served on Frisco City Council 2007-2016.

Mayor Cheney and his wife, Dana, are the co-founders of The Cheney Group, a Frisco-based residential realty firm. The Cheney Group employs 14 Frisco residents, is the top residential real estate firm in Frisco and was recognized as the Frisco Small Business of the Year 2015. The Cheney Group joined forces with The Associates and offices at The Star. Professionally, Mayor Cheney has earned the distinction of Certified Public Accountant and a Registered Financial Advisor.

Mayor Cheney attended the University of Texas-Austin where he was recognized with Highest Honors for his Bachelors and Masters in Accounting.

Jeff Pappas - Executive Vice President of Site Selection at E. Smith Realty Partner (ESRP) . As Managing Director of E Smith Realty Partners, Jeff represents corporate clients on a local and national basis, managing their real estate requirements and lease negotiations. He specializes in negotiating multiple leases across the country for various clients in office, industrial, medical, and retail space. Over the last four years alone, Jeff has successfully completed lease transactions totaling over 5 million square feet of space, resulting in value-added savings of over $15 million for his clients. Jeff’s skills include implementing and developing property databases, evaluating national benchmarks to identify favorable demographics and negotiating economic incentives for a wide range of clients, particularly in the teleservices, telecom and high-tech industries. Jeff also services on the regional advisory board for Global Chamber® Dallas.

Seth Waugh - CEO at PGA of America. Seth Waugh, former CEO of Deutsche Bank Americas, joined the PGA of America as Chief Executive Officer in September 2018. Waugh guides the business and overall strategy of one of the world’s largest sports organizations, serving the Association’s nearly 29,000 PGA Professionals.

Since becoming CEO, the PGA announced a transformational $500 million partnership with Omni Stillwater Woods, the City of Frisco, its Economic and Community Development Corporations and the Frisco Independent School District to relocate PGA Headquarters to Frisco, Texas—site of 26 future PGA of America Championships. Cadillac was also named as the Official Vehicle of the PGA of America, PGA Championship, KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship and KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. Additionally, the PGA rolled out a partnership with Mission Hills Group and PacificPine Sports Group to launch three PGA Golf Academies in China. Waugh served a prior three-year term as an Independent Director on the PGA of America Board of Directors. Waugh also previously served as a Senior Advisor and then a Managing Director at Silver Lake, a global leader in technology investing. He continues on as a Senior Advisor to the firm.

In 2016, he was appointed Non-Executive Chairman‎ of Alex. Brown, following the sale of Deutsche Bank’s Private Client Services division to Raymond James. Waugh also served in the management of Florida East Coast Industries in 2014. He spent 13 years at Deutsche Bank, including 10 years as CEO of the Americas, overseeing an unprecedented time of growth for the bank in the region. Waugh also served as Chairman of the Deutsche Bank Americas Advisory Board, an external strategic advisory team conceived under his leadership. During this time, he worked with the PGA TOUR to create the former Deutsche Bank Championship (now the Dell Technologies Championship) in Boston.

Prior to joining Deutsche Bank, Waugh was CEO of Quantitative Financial Strategies (QFS). He also spent 11 years in various leadership roles at Merrill Lynch, culminating in serving as Co-Head of Global Debt Markets. Earlier in his career, Waugh managed the Corporate Bond and International Trading desks at Salomon Brothers. Waugh sits on the Board of Franklin Templeton Advisors and the Advisory Board of Workday, Inc. He also served on the FINRA Board of Governors until 2015. Waugh’s philanthropic endeavors have included serving on the boards of the World Trade Center Memorial Foundation; YMCA of Greater New York; Multiple Sclerosis Society of Greater New York; Executive Committee of Partnership for New York City; St. Vincent’s Services of Brooklyn; Local Initiatives Support Corporation; and Harlem Village Academies, as well as serving as President of the Board of the Lawrenceville School, and Trustee at Wake Forest University. For several years, he championed the Women on Wall Street Conference, which seeks to advance opportunities for women in the financial services sector.

Waugh holds a B.A. in Economics and English from Amherst College. Seth and his wife, Jane, reside in North Palm Beach, Florida. Together, they have five children, one of whom, Clancy, played golf at Wake Forest and SMU, and is now trying his hand in the professional game.

Ashley Pace - SVP at Alliant Insurance. Ashley Pace is in the business of passionately seeking and executing sustainable solutions for employers who are ready to reclaim control of their benefits spend and move toward a healthier population. Ashley joined Alliant Insurance Services in April of 2019 and has over 21 years of experience in the development and management of health and welfare programs. He has previously worked for national and regional firms including Lockton, USI, and Regions.

In addition, Ashley’s expertise in the managed care arena has provided a level of cost management unparalleled in his peer group. Ashley brings to his clients a vision that improved corporate well-being will positively impact a company’s bottom line. With a 99% client retention rate, Ashley excels in creative and custom benefit plan design, risk management strategy, compensation and retirement strategies to position organizations to defy trends and reduce insurance costs.

Ashley serves as a national thought leader and advisor for the Validation Institute Advisory Board, a Health Rosetta Certified Advisor, an inaugural member of the Masters in Health Benefits Design, Lynchburg University. Civically, Ashley has donated his time and talent to organizations such as the American Heart Association Board, the Regional One Foundation Annual Gala, and Nexus. He currently resides in Memphis, TN, with his wife and son.