Left to right: Patrick Alcorn, Steven Gonzalez, TD Smyers
Patrick E Alcorn served nine years in the United States Army, including time as a cadet at the United States Military Academy where he played Army Football while completing a Bachelor of Science Degree in Engineering Management. His military active duty role as a combat engineer included overseeing personnel services and operations for a 900-man unit consisting of 26 occupational specialties. Following active duty, Patrick moved to Texas. He began as a General Manager for a retail establishment generating more than 2 million dollars annually—while attending graduate school for his MBA. After graduate school, Patrick joined the adjunct faculty at Tarrant County Community College in support of the U.S. Small Business Administration and the Tarrant Small Business Development Center helping entrepreneurs learn what it takes to start a business. His diverse background includes service as a Deputy City Councilman for the largest district in Los Angeles, California; nine years as an award winning sales professional for Fortune 500 companies where he launched three new products generating more than 12 million dollars in annual sales. As a serial entrepreneur, Patrick launched a business as a training consultant empowering others to duplicate his success in sales. Prior to his current role as Director of the Veterans Business Outreach Center, Patrick served as a Veteran Business Consultant for the Texas Veterans Commission Veteran Entrepreneur Program where he was awarded the 2016 SBA Veteran Small Business Champion of the Year Award. Today, Patrick is a serial entrepreneur and small business owner, Series 7 and Series 66 licensed financial professional, certified GrowthWheel™ business advisor and certified John Maxwell Team teacher, speaker, and coach who utilizes his combination of the West Point experience, a Master in Business Administration and relevant real world knowledge of the small business startup process to help entrepreneurs start and grow profitable businesses. His diverse background enables him to empower others with action-oriented solutions for moving their business forward. Patrick is married to his wife Michelle of thirty years; together they have four children and eight grandchildren.
Steven Gonzalez leverages over 17 years of leadership experience in his current role as Business Services Director of Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County where he offers workforce development of comprehensive employment solutions for employers and job seekers in Tarrant County. His focus is on establishing an ecosystem of industry consortiums and community partnerships while providing business consulting and services in the form of developing career pathways, skill training, work-based learning, apprenticeships, internships, on-the-job training, and special projects. Prior to his current role, Steven served in senior management roles in the United States Marine Corps. During his time in the Marines, Steven served as Public Relations Director, Operations/Readiness Director, and Human Resource Director. Post military service, Steven worked as a Case Manager in Fort Worth and Program Coordinator in Dallas for a non-profit organization serving veterans, homeless individuals, and job seekers. He is actively involved in the community and serves on various boards and organizations throughout DFW. Steven currently holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in News and Media Studies, and currently pursuing an Executive MBA Degree all from Texas Christian University.
A native North Texan, TD Smyers considers it an honor and privilege to serve our North Texas communities as President and Chief Executive Officer of Tarrant County’s United Way. The unique perspective TD brings to United Way is rooted in his previous role as CEO of the North Texas Region of the American Red Cross, where he brought 12 Red Cross chapters together under one leadership structure, and his 31-year career in the United States Navy, from which he retired in 2011 after his tour as Commanding Officer of Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base. Prior to taking command of NAS Fort Worth JRB, TD’s uniformed service included tours as Director of Congressional Affairs/Legislative Liaison and Director of Collaborative Warfare for Navy Aviation at the Pentagon, as well as Command-at-Sea of a Maritime Patrol Squadron. Smyers earned a bachelor’s degree from the United States Naval Academy and a master’s degree from the National Defense University’s Eisenhower School. TD is Vice Chair of North Texas Leaders and Executives Advocating Diversity (LEAD); Governance Chair of our community’s Continuum of Care Board and is a founding director of the Tarrant Transit Alliance, the Las Vegas Trail Revitalization Project and Board Development Systems. He also serves on the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl Executive Council; the Fort Worth Blue Zones Project Advisory Council and the Fort Worth Executive Roundtable. From 2012-2014, Smyers led the commissioning of USS Fort Worth as Chair of the Commissioning Committee, then transitioned that body into an independent 501(c)3 non-profit organization, serving as its first President. Last month the Fort Worth Business Press recognized TD as Fort Worth’s Top Non-Profit CEO.