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Dunaway celebrates Former CEO Tom Galbreath, a 39-year veteran of Dunaway, on his well-deserved retirement.

Tom Galbreath, ASLA, RLA, has significantly impacted Dunaway during his tenure. He began his career at Dunaway in 1986 and served as President and CEO in 2015 before transitioning to Chairman of the Advisory Board in 2021.

During his tenure as CEO from 2015 to 2021, Tom was instrumental in growing Dunaway’s capabilities by adding additional service lines and expanding to other cities in Texas. He successfully transitioned the leadership to Dunaway’s current CEO and Principal, Chris Wilde, PE, ensuring continued growth and stability.

(Left to Right) Tom Galbreath, Chris Wilde, and Jim Dunaway

Wilde, who began his career with Dunaway as a civil engineer 21 years ago, is now responsible for setting the company’s vision and putting the right leadership in place to make that vision a reality. This includes a five-year growth plan centered around a strategic blend of mergers and hiring while preserving the firm’s One Heart culture. “I am grateful for Tom’s leadership and thrilled about the bright future ahead for Dunaway,” said Wilde. “Our focus is to become the leading independent multi-discipline design firm in Texas. Over the past six years, Dunaway has experienced remarkable growth, and with our exceptional leaders and robust resources, we are poised to continue this upward trajectory.”

Tom’s legacy at Dunaway includes involvement and project management in mixed-use developments throughout the metroplex and in Fort Worth, as well as retail development across all of Texas. He has worked extensively as a chair and member of the Development Advisory Committee for the City of Fort Worth and as chair and executive board member of the Real Estate Council of Greater Fort Worth.

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Tom Galbreath’s 39 years of dedicated service at Dunaway have left an indelible mark on Fort Worth. His leadership, professionalism, and unwavering commitment to excellence have been instrumental in shaping countless projects that make Fort Worth the best city in the country.

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Betsy Price, Former Mayor of Fort Worth

Lasting Impact on Fort Worth

During his career, Tom Galbreath and the Former Mayor of Fort Worth, Betsy Price, were involved in several community projects, particularly focusing on enhancing Fort Worth’s public spaces and community well-being. “Tom Galbreath’s 39 years of dedicated service at Dunaway have left an indelible mark on Fort Worth. During my time as mayor, I had the privilege of working closely with Tom and witnessing firsthand his passion for building a stronger, more engaged, and business-friendly city,” Price recalls. “His leadership, professionalism, and unwavering commitment to excellence have been instrumental in shaping countless projects that make Fort Worth the best city in the country.”

As the former President of Dunaway, Tom Galbreath played a pivotal role in shaping Dunaway’s growth and success. Reflecting on the qualities that drive organizational excellence, Tom shared, “Leading a company is an endeavor that requires a clear vision, strategic planning, and team culture. Envisioning where the company will be in the future, distinctly in five years and roughly in ten years, is essential. Equally important is meeting the leadership and financial goals necessary to achieve that vision.” As Galbreath explained, “A thriving company culture is one where all employees feel they can advance based on their abilities by recognizing and rewarding talent, providing opportunities for professional development, ensuring transparent communication and feedback, and sharing financial information for the company. Dunaway’s achievements under Chris’ leadership exemplify the power of these principles in action.”

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A thriving company culture is one where all employees feel they can advance based on their abilities by recognizing and rewarding talent, providing opportunities for professional development, ensuring transparent communication and feedback, and sharing financial information for the company.

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Tom Galbreath, ASLA, RLA, Former Dunaway President and CEO

Looking Forward

As Chairman of the Advisory Board, Tom worked to establish and maintain Dunaway’s reputation, level of service, employee well-being, and overall financial security. He collaborated closely with the executive team and directors to ensure a sound strategic plan and company goals for the future.

Although he is stepping down from his role as Chairman of the Advisory Board upon retirement, Tom will remain on the board, continuing to advise the company on growth initiatives. His leadership and dedication have left a lasting impact on Dunaway, shaping the firm’s culture and ensuring its continued success.