Dallas Is Becoming America's Fastest Growing Business Hub
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About this Episode
Ken Malcolmson is President Emeritus of the North Dallas Chamber of Commerce and one of the most connected people in Dallas. Over his eight-year tenure as President and CEO, the region landed 100+ corporate relocations and is on track to overtake Chicago as America's third largest metro area by 2030. Before the Chamber, Ken spent 40 years in corporate healthcare, culminating as CEO of Humana's $1.4 billion West Central Region.
Ken breaks down the hard advantages (DFW airport, central location, low taxes) and the soft advantages (Ross Perot's 'culture wins' framework) that are pulling Goldman Sachs, Scotia Bank, Wells Fargo, JP Morgan Chase, and Fidelity into the region. He explains why Dallas needs more density (not sprawl) to fix affordability, why the city's tax revenue is generated almost entirely from downtown, Uptown, and Preston Center, and how the 2019 tornado that destroyed the NDCC's 42-year home actually became a financial windfall. He also discusses Bob Buford's 'Halftime,' the book he read at three different life stages that shifted his trajectory from success to significance.
About Ken Malcolmson
Ken Malcolmson
President Emeritus, North Dallas Chamber of Commerce
Ken S. Malcolmson built a 40-year career in corporate healthcare across Humana, Cigna, Aetna, and Express Scripts, culminating as CEO of Humana's West Central Region overseeing a $1.4 billion commercial segment across Texas, Colorado, and Utah. Reading Bob Buford's 'Halftime: Moving from Success to Significance' at three different life stages reshaped his trajectory, leading him to become President and CEO of the North Dallas Chamber of Commerce for eight years (2017 to 2026). During his tenure, Dallas attracted 100+ corporate relocations and accelerated its trajectory to overtake Chicago as the nation's third largest metro by 2030. An SMU graduate, Ken is now President Emeritus of the NDCC, serves at the National Medal of Honor Museum, sits on nine boards (including Board Chair of the YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas and a mayoral appointee to Workforce Solutions of Greater Dallas), and lives his framework of 'informing, advocating, and connecting' across the Dallas civic landscape.
Ken Malcolmson in the News
Army veteran to take mantle as CEO for National Medal of Honor Museum
Army veteran Troy M. Bertram will lead the Arlington museum and its foundation, succeeding founding CEO Chris Cassidy, who stepped away at the end of 2025. Bertram was previously an executive managing director at Google Cloud and has worked at Amazon Web Services and Dell Technologies.
Arlington's National Medal of Honor Museum Named No. 1 New Museum in America
The National Medal of Honor Museum in Arlington, where Ken Malcolmson serves as Manager of Museum Membership and Community Relations, was named the No. 1 new museum in America.
Malcolmson Named North Dallas Chamber President & CEO
Ken S. Malcolmson, former CEO of Afferent Provider Solutions, appointed president and CEO of the North Dallas Chamber of Commerce.
