Welcome to the 2024 edition of the Dallas 500. our take on the most powerful and influential business leaders in North Texas. This is our ninth book, and it just keeps getting better. Along with introducing you to under-the-radar executives, our mission is to tell you things you didn't know about some of the most recognizable names in business—and to show their human side. You can read about career paths on corporate bios, but where else can you learn about the food these leaders hate (liver, beets, fruitcake, Brussels sprouts, and black licorice) and their most embarrassing moments (a surprising number of the Dallas 500 have walked into glass doors; Tetra Pak's Seth Teply accidentally set a neighbor's boat on fire, and Newmark's Ran Holman somehow sunk his car in Lake Travis on Memorial Day). You'll also learn about prized possessions (for Celanese's Lori Ryerkerk, it's a Dutch hymnal brought to the U.S. by her great- grandmother) and guilty pleasures (Neiman Marcus' Ryan Ross isn't the only one who loves rom-coms; several admitted to being Hallmark holiday movie fans).

One of my favorite new questions this year is, "What's your go-to karaoke song?" A Dallas 500 karaoke night would feature Mark Cuban singing 'Why Can't We Be Friends' by the funk band War, Ron Kirk's rendition of The Temptations' 'Ain't Too Proud to Beg,' SMU's Maria Dixon belting out Pat Benatar 'Heartbreaker,' DART's Nadine Lee singing Madonna's 'Material Girl,' "Swiftie" Sam Romano crooning Taylor Swift's 'Picture to Burn,' and Megha and Nirav Tolia performing 'You're the One that I Want' from Grease. ("And we have the moves to go with it, too," Megha says.)

Inside these pages, you'll also find terrific restaurant, travel, podcast, and book recommendations, and pick up some insightful business strategies along the way. Reading the 2024 Dallas 500 will make you feel proud to live in such a vibrant market—and among leaders who are innovative, fascinating, and fun!

For more than six months, D CEO editors have been busy pulling together the 2024 edition of the Dallas 500. We extensively researched business data, conducted conversations with our sources, and asked the leaders from previous editions about their most admired and respected competitors and peers. This year, we read through a record 446 nomination forms. In various judging sessions, we were introduced to emerging leaders such as Gaurav Shekhar, the youngest dean in UTD history; established executives like Nick Jeffery, who just relocated his $6 billion Frontier Commu- nications to DFW; and under-the-radar leaders like Gabby Everett, who runs operations and strategy for the innovation hub BioLabs Pegasus Park.

All in all, our team is proud to introduce 171 fresh faces to the 2024 list, with 329 of the Dallas 500 returning from last year's edition. Together, these executives represent 444 dynamic and growing North Texas companies and organizations.

We're grateful that these influential— and busy—leaders took time to share their personal stories with us. Throughout 2024, we will publish full-length interviews in D CEO magazine and at our D CEO, real estate, and healthcare news sites. Be watching for those features in the months ahead. For now, though, sit back and enjoy our ninth edition of the Dallas 500!