Monday, January 30, 2023
  • Advertise
  • Submit Story Idea
  • Submit Event
  • Calendar
Arlington Today Magazine
  • Home
  • Categories
    • Arlington News
    • People
    • Community
    • Commentary
    • Business and Education
    • Featured
    • Wellness
    • Scene
    • Design and Interiors
    • Uncategorized
  • Digital Editions
  • Join the Newsletter
  • Subscribe
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Categories
    • Arlington News
    • People
    • Community
    • Commentary
    • Business and Education
    • Featured
    • Wellness
    • Scene
    • Design and Interiors
    • Uncategorized
  • Digital Editions
  • Join the Newsletter
  • Subscribe
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
Arlington Today Magazine

Coming Home

Kenneth Perkins by Kenneth Perkins
July 26, 2016
in Community, People
0 0
0
Coming Home
0
SHARES
144
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

March-Around-Town

You spend nearly 20 years

anywhere, and it’s a tough decision to simply jump ship. Michael Jacobson is no different. He enjoyed scaling the rungs of Intel, the well-respected and highly valued multinational technology outfit, where he toiled for some 19 years.

Related posts

January 3, 2023

January 2, 2023

  He crisscrossed the globe as point person for Intel’s hunt for potential investment and most recently ran the chipmaker’s corporate responsibility programs, philanthropic investments and governmental affairs.

  Jacobson lived in the suburban hamlet of Folsom, a stone’s throw outside the California state capitol, with the woman he met on the first day of freshman student orientation at Baylor and married before they even U-hauled it out of Waco.

  His son was off on his own educational pursuits, finishing up a master’s degree and jumping into real life.

  Life was good there.

  Yet now he’s here.

Jacobson is the new visionary

helming the Arlington Chamber of Commerce as president and CEO. He was so new to the job that when we meet on Day 4, nothing was on the office walls or shelves, except for photos of wife Kristen, his son, the family dog and this glorious cell phone shot of a golf hole along the watery cliffs of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. A bit more on that later.

  First, this: Jacobson is no California transplant eager for change. He was born and raised in North Richland Hills, the son of a physician dad who helped build what is now North Hills Hospital and an influential political fundraising mother with ties to Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush.

  He worked four years with the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce as chief business recruiter responsible with snagging new business and facilitating the sometimes-murky economic waters of meshing community leaders, government officials and real estate developers.

  Six of Jacobson’s siblings, 20 nephews and nieces and over 20 great nephews and nieces are all packed right here in Tarrant County.

  So this isn’t just coming for a job.

  It’s coming home.

Jacobson’s skills are apparent,

and they earned an enthusiastic thumbs up from interim president Kelly Curnutt, who held down the Chamber fort after Wes Jurey retired last August and they went on a hunt for a new chief.

  Chamber Board Chairman Bob Kembel calls Jacobson’s return a “perfect time” for him to lead the chamber due in part to his dizzying bulk of experience, starting with his years of economic development, public policy, stakeholder engagement and leadership which, by the way, was beginning to sharpen as early as 24 while a staffer in the Bush and Reagan administrations.

  If you think Curnutt and Kembel are pumped about Arlington’s future, listen to Jacobson. We’re in his office, in a seating area, and when the subject of Arlington comes up, his body language shifts.

  “There’s an energy in Arlington right now. You can feel it by just walking around and meeting with people. People are excited about what’s going on now and what the opportunities can be. When I started meeting with people – the mayor, the Convention and Visitors Bureau, UTA – you can just feel it.”

  He knows there are challenges – every city has them. Jacobson would rather talk about what can be done with the opportunities: world-class sports and entertainment venues, a top university and community college system, a thriving downtown.

  Which brings us to that golf pic. He snapped the photo of the third hole on the course in the popular resort city because of its picturesque setting. Thing is, what I saw in looking at the photo was something that was quite challenging. Getting that little ball on that green without it careening into the ocean.

  “I like it because I find it comforting,” says Jacobson, who actually got the ball on the green.

  Of course. For him, meeting the challenge is what makes it comforting.

Related Posts

  • Arlington Entrepreneurs

    A spotlight on Arlington business owners and what makes them unique.

  • Guide to Arlington Healthcare

    A guide to physicians and healthcare resources in and around Arlington...

  • From Arlington to the Amazon

    This UTA student is unconcerned with the naysayers. She's taking her anthropology degree and making…

Tags: Arlington Chamber of CommerceMichael Jacobson
Gracie Lane June 2020

Follow Us

  • But first   coffee    The Arlington Dunkin    located at 5801 Office Park Dr  today announced it will help keep the community running with a happy hour celebration offer throughout the remainder of August  Every day beginning now through Monday  August 31  guests can power through the rest of the month and receive a FREE  Medium Hot or Iced Coffee with any purchase from 2-6 PM   On behalf of local Arlington Dunkin    franchisee  Hiren Patel  Dunkin    is proud to keep Arlington running throughout the month of August
  • Nothing soothes the soul like a trip to the Majestic Smoky Mountains  Read all about the Greene family   s    COVID-cation    and travel safety in the link in our bio
  • Read the latest message from UTA   s interim president  Teik C  Lim  by clicking the link in our bio
  • The City of Arlington announces Unity Council  Read all about this positive way for the city in the link in our bio
  • Here   s to the All Stars  Click the link in our bio to find the complete list of Arlington Today   s 2020 All Star businesses in over 160 categories
  • Put DFW Restaurant week on YOUR calendar  Support your favorite Arlington and local DFW restaurants this August 31-September 6 during restaurant week    For more info and participating restaurants  click the link in our bio
  • This Arlington radio station is making movie magic   Read all about Crystal Vasquez and her upcoming documentary about local radio station     The Ticket     by clicking the link in our bio
  • With the school year starting soon  it   s important to know what   s going on  Read all about AISD and MISD   s back to school plans in the link in our bio
  • August is for the All Stars        Click the link in our bio to read our latest edition of Arlington Today and check out your local All  Star businesses
  • 12 Mighty Orphans: There’s a fascinating ‘story behind the story’ regarding this fine film

    12 Mighty Orphans: There’s a fascinating ‘story behind the story’ regarding this fine film

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • March Scene

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • The Visionary Who Didn’t Give Up

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Boot-scootin’ Boogie

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • In case of emergency: Mansfield Fire Department introduces the ‘Vial of Life’ initiative to keep residents on the ready

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
Arlington Today Magazine

Arlington Texas Area News and Events Magazine

Follow us on social media:

Recent News

  • (no title)
  • (no title)
  • (no title)

Category

  • Arlington News
  • Business and Education
  • Commentary
  • Community
  • Design and Interiors
  • Featured
  • People
  • Scene
  • Sports
  • Uncategorized
  • Wellness

Recent News

January 18, 2023

January 18, 2023
  • Advertise
  • Submit Story Idea
  • Submit Event
  • Calendar

© 2022 Arlington Today - Designed by Advent Trinity Marketing Agency Web Design

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Categories
    • Arlington News
    • Community
    • People
    • Commentary
    • Business and Education
    • Featured
    • Wellness
    • Scene
    • Design and Interiors
  • Digital Editions
  • Join the Newsletter
  • Contact Us

© 2022 Arlington Today - Designed by Advent Trinity Marketing Agency Web Design

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Fill the forms bellow to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add Arlington Today Magazine to your Homescreen!

Add