Local Leader

Steve Montgomery (’10 MBA) needed some help.

Back in the early 2000s, the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce president and chief executive officer was a vice president at OZ Systems, an Arlington software firm.

“I realized that I always volunteered to take on tasks and learned as I went along,” Montgomery says. “I was doing business development, human resources, management, finance, accounting. I finally decided to acquire some of those skills.”

Montgomery opted to enroll at UTA’s Fort Worth campus because of its location, ease of travel, and the program itself.

“The degree program featured learning cohorts, and I still keep in touch with some of the people from mine,” he says. “We did projects as a team, and that teaches you so much in the business world. Everything I worked on at UTA Fort Worth applied to the company I was working for at the time. I loved it because what was taught was directly applicable to business.”

After OZ, Montgomery served in various capacities in health care and public affairs, along with a stint as a legislative aide to state Sen. Mike Moncrief. Then, the Fort Worth Chamber position became available. Now, after a short time on the job, he says the Fort Worth Chamber feels like home.

“I truly believe that all of the experiences I’ve accumulated—including UTA Fort Worth—have prepared me for this specific job,” he says.