Connect Partnership Group, a Dallas-based sports and entertainment agency, has acquired HARLON, a Chicago-based sports, entertainment, and music firm. The acquisition will expand the company’s portfolio of property sales clients and add immersive entertainment experiences to its offerings.
Danielle Shuff, co-founder of Connect Partnership Group, told D CEO that the acquisition has “rounded out and diversified Connect’s current portfolio.”
HARLON is most known for its work with the Immersive Van Gogh Exhibit, which has sold more than 4.5 million tickets across 20 markets in North America and is one of Ticketmaster’s all-time best-selling exhibitions. (The experience did well during its 2021 run in Dallas, too.)
Since Connect was founded in 2015, the agency has worked with the Dallas Stars, Chicago Cubs, XFL, LA Chargers, Circuit of The Americas, VIRGIN FEST, Nokia, IBM, American Tower, and CommScope, among others. The agency has experienced continued growth and expects year-over-year revenue to double in 2022.
As part of the acquisition, HARLON founder Scott Howard will join Connect as executive vice president of property sales and work out of the company’s Chicago office. In addition to the acquisition, Connect is adding three new members to its sales and consulting teams.
“We look forward to that continued diversification and the continued growth, not only of clients but of our team members,” Shuff said.
Andes Coil Processors Expands to Fort Worth
Andes Coil Processors is expanding to Sylvania Industrial Park in Fort Worth. The manufacturing facility will bring a $5 million capital investment to the city and create up to 50 new jobs.
Sylvania Industrial Park was formerly the site of the American Manufacturing of Texas plant, which used to be a major hub with thousands of workers. Andes Coil Processors’ first delivery will mark the revival of the rail spur at Sylvania Industrial Park.
The property owner, CanTex Capital, worked with Andes Coil Processors to put the deal together.
“We are excited about our expansion into Fort Worth; it feels like we are coming home,” said Howard Pena, president of Andes Coil Processors. “[We have] experienced significant growth in the past 12 years in Lewisville, Dallas, and Grand Prairie, and Fort Worth now adds significantly to that continued growth. Fort Worth offered the ease of access (rail and interstate roadways), a strong workforce, and quality of life we wanted for our team members.”
Women-Owned Business Series to Kick Off in August
The Governor’s Commission for Women has announced details for its Women-Owned Business Series for 2022. It will include four virtual sessions on topics such as legal and accounting considerations, finance and supply chain, marketing, managing burnout and employee retention, and more. The series aims to make resources available to women-owned small businesses and entrepreneurs.
“I’m thrilled we are bringing back this concept of women lifting up other women and highlighting women-owned businesses, as well as providing resources through Beacon State Fund,” said Nathali Parker, chairwoman of the commission.
As part of the platform, female business leaders from each region of the state can enter a pitch competition to win a $7,000 award from the Beacon State Fund. There will also be a junior pitch competition, a partnership with Lemonade Day and the Beacon State Fund to promote entrepreneurship among young people in the state.
Established by executive order in 1967, the Governor’s Commission for Women has served as a resource for women in Texas for more than 50 years. The state is home to 3 million businesses, and 1.25 million of which are women-owned.
Earlier this year, Gov. Abbott added four new names to the slate of 10 women business and nonprofit leaders to help run the commission. The team includes three from North Texas: Ashlee Kleinert, founder of Ruthie’s Rolling Café and Ruthie’s Fueled by Café Momentum food trucks; Catherine Susser, a member of UT Southwestern’s president’s advisory board; and Patty Wesson, president and owner of Ellansa and Carriage Square Jewelers in Fort Worth.
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