Today we’d like to introduce you to Samantha Renz.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I think an important part of my story is that our family home was struck by lightning when I was 15 years old. My parents were unemployed and our home was not insured and we found ourselves homeless. I dropped out of school and got a full-time job to help my family. I eventually got my GED. Fast forward a few years I met a gentleman named Mark Owens who said to me “You should be an Engineer – you really have a mind for it” he believed in me, and that sparked something in me. I worked full time while in school and received my Civil Engineering Degree from the University of Texas at Arlington.
I began my career at the City of Sanger, and spent the next 17 years in municipal government, shaping the policies and developments in Haltom City, The Colony, and Rowlett. In 2014, I joined Evolving Texas, and in 2018 became CEO and majority shareholder.
Because I know the impact that one person can have, I started our Evolving Cares program, which has resulted in Evolving employees tutoring the A&E Drafting class at Texans CAN Academy and helping kids who have struggled in a traditional high school environment.
I am also the founder and Chief Love Officer of Soul Tea, a mission-focused tea company that offers Second Chance Opportunities and Mentorship.
My personal mission is to make the world around me better one intentional action at a time.
Has it been a smooth road?
It has not been a smooth road, but every hurdle has been a growth opportunity. The lessons I have learned have made the journey worth it.
The hardest thing along this road, for me personally, has been finding my own path. For a long time, I thought I had to fit into a certain mold, do things the way others did and act like the other engineers and business owners around me. That was not my authentic self. I had to learn my own worth and recognize the unique value that I bring. I don’t fit in any box and when I stopped trying, I learned the best version of me was the authentic me.
I am blessed to have a business partner, John Cornelsen, who gave me the opportunity and the space to grow into the leadership role I am now in. We have had our challenges along the way particularly staffing and scaling growth with cash flow, but we tackle the challenges together, along with the rest of our team, and have learned to put it in God’s hands, and thus far He has always made away.
Please tell us about your work. What do you guys do? What do you specialize in? What sets you apart from competition?
Evolving Texas is a Civil Engineering firm. We strive for mutual, sustainable success with our clients by focusing on relationships, clear communication and doing what is right. We bring a variety of complementary strengths to the table. Our team has many years of experience in complex and multifaceted engineering projects.
Our specialty is Smart Design and Entitlements for Exceptional Development. In order to accomplish this we provide creative value-engineering, we are persistent, efficient, responsive and we have developed long-lasting relationships with approving agencies and influencers in Fort Worth and surrounding communities.
What I am most proud of is the well-aligned team we have built, and how involved they are in our outreach efforts. I am also very proud of the impact we have made on our community with our efficient and innovative designs.
What sets us apart: Evolving builds every project on the most important foundation – meaningful relationships with our clients. As a full-service engineering firm, we are strategic ADVOCATES who are committed to developing and delivering solutions that exceed the expectations of the most daunting challenges. With Evolving’s EXPERTISE and a focus on redefining “business as usual,” our team approaches each unique client project with upfront and transparent key principles. Top-of-the-line TECHNOLOGY, innovative ideas, and the meaningful rapport we maintain in our relationships shape the way we reach our client’s ultimate goal and propel them to success.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
I feel like Dallas and Fort Worth are great cities for professional services. Fort Worth has been a great place for Evolving Texas. The City is growing and last I heard is the 13th largest in the U.S. The opportunities here for businesses like ours are amazing. I would definitely recommend Fort Worth to any new business starting out.
Fort Worth has many resources for new business owners and encourages entrepreneurship. In fact, I was recently a part of the City of Fort Worth’s Busines Plan competition with the Business Assistance Center. This was an effort for Soul Tea, my mission-focused tea company. It was an amazing experience.
Contact Info:
- Address: 420 Throckmorton #620
Fort Worth, TX 76102 - Website: http://evolvingtexas.com/
- Phone: 817-529-2700
- Email: samantha@evolvingtexas.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EvolvingTexas/
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