Nearly 500 business executives, entrepreneurs and community leaders gathered at Dallas Union Station in Texas for the launch of the 2026 Dallas 500, an annual publication recognising influential figures shaping business, civic life and nonprofit leadership across North Texas.
Hosted by D CEO magazine on November 13, 2025, the event marked the unveiling of the publication’s 11th edition, which profiles leaders from across more than 50 industries and sectors. The latest edition reflects months of research, interviews and nominations aimed at identifying the people influencing the region’s economic and community development.
The 2026 Dallas 500 features 500 leaders representing 439 companies and organisations. Among them are established executives, emerging entrepreneurs and people whose work behind the scenes contributes to the growth of businesses and communities across the Dallas–Fort Worth region.
This year’s edition includes 186 new honourees, alongside 314 individuals returning from the previous year. The selection process involved hundreds of interviews, nearly 500 nomination forms and consultations with people familiar with the region’s business landscape.
The publication recognises leadership across a broad range of fields, including business, finance, healthcare, design, sports, education and social impact. Its approach extends beyond conventional corporate profiles, offering insights into the professional experiences, personal values and leadership philosophies of the people featured.
Seven leaders were unveiled as the cover stars of the 2026 edition: Esteban Abascal of La Moderna USA, Connie Babikian of The Pillow Bar, Victor Boutros of the Human Trafficking Institute, Odessa Jenkins of the Women’s National Football Conference, Sam Romano of Romano Enterprises, Taylor Toynes of For Oak Cliff and Caitlin Wilson of Caitlin Wilson Design.
Their inclusion reflects the diversity of leadership represented in the publication, spanning business enterprise, creative industries, sports and nonprofit work. Victor Boutros and Taylor Toynes, in particular, represent the role of organisations addressing social challenges alongside the commercial businesses driving the regional economy.
During the launch, D CEO editor Christine Perez and executive editor Ben Swanger spoke about the significance of the publication and its role in documenting the people shaping the region. Representatives of the event’s title sponsors also addressed attendees, highlighting the importance of recognising leadership and supporting the wider business community.
The reception provided an opportunity for honourees and guests to connect, exchange ideas and strengthen relationships across industries. Such gatherings can help create networks between established companies, emerging ventures and community organisations, encouraging collaboration beyond individual sectors.
The Dallas 500 is part of D CEO’s wider effort to connect senior executives and highlight the people influencing the future of North Texas. By combining established business figures with newer voices and less visible contributors, the publication offers a broader picture of how regional economies develop.
The annual recognition also highlights an important aspect of business leadership: influence is not limited to the executives running large corporations. Entrepreneurs building new ventures, nonprofit leaders responding to community needs and professionals developing innovative solutions all contribute to the economic and social direction of a region.
As the 2026 edition reaches readers, the publication provides a snapshot of the people and organisations helping shape Dallas–Fort Worth, while offering insights into the ambitions, decisions and experiences behind their leadership.
Source: D CEO Magazine — Scenes from the 2026 Dallas 500 Launch Party | D CEO — Release of the 11th Dallas 500 edition
