Fort Worth Black Chamber's First Female CEO Recalls How Her Father Encouraged Her

Arlington TX

03 February, 2022

6:54 PM

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By Kristen Barton, Fort Worth Report February 3, 2022 Michelle Green-Ford was in seventh grade when she started learning how to write paychecks in the laundromat her father operated. She started learning leadership when she was a captain of her high school cheerleading team and junior class vice president. And she learned the benefits of the Fort Worth Metropolitan Black Chamber of Commerce 20 years ago when she walked in and met the late Devoyd Jennings. Now, Green-Ford is the president and CEO of the chamber, the first woman in the role. She succeeds Jennings, who served as the president and CEO for 31 years before he died in July at the age of 73. "It was really just a joy to receive the confirmation that I will be serving in this capacity," Green-Ford, 61, said. "I'm just overwhelmed with the amount of support and outreach already for the types of things we'll be doing, and I'm really honored." Glenda Thompson, chamber board member and part of the hiring committee, said Green-Ford was the "whole package." To read the full article, click here. Fort Worth Report is a nonpartisan, nonprofit news organization that produces factual, in-depth journalism about city and county government, schools, healthcare, business, and arts and culture in Tarrant County. Always free to read; subscribe to newsletters, read coverage or support our newsroom at fortworthreport.org.