Tony’s Extended Biography

Tony Ford’s business career began as a General Manager for Steak & Ale Restaurants during a period of rapid national expansion in the late 1970′s. After leaving to pursue two years of graduate study, he became a founding member of the Flash Foto Company as General Manager/Partner responsible for operations management and new store development. Six years, and seven retail stores later, he began marketing high technology safety products to both national and international retail chain stores. In 1991 his new company, SIDELIGHTS, Inc. was selected SBA “Exporter of the Year” based on Tony’s successful penetration of the European and Australian Markets. In 1992 he was one of only 40 individuals worldwide to be chosen by the Japanese government to attend the JETRO conference on exporting to Japan. That same year he was selected by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce to serve as Vice Chairman of the District Export Council of North Texas.

From 1995 to 1997 Tony served as the Executive Director of the Fort Worth Business Assistance Center. This center was created to provide strategic business information to aspiring entrepreneurs in an easy to use one-stop-shop environment. During his 2-½ year tenure, the BAC served over 14,000 entrepreneurs, created over 4,000 new jobs, and facilitated more than $30 million dollars in business loans. The combined efforts of over 70 highly dedicated service providers resulted in the BAC being selected as “The National Model for Business Innovation” by the Clinton Administration, and receiving the 1998 “SBA Vision Award” for excellence.

Tony’s efforts in leading and motivating this highly innovative group of professionals were recognized when he received the “1997 Entrepreneur of the Year Award” from Ernst and Young.

From 1997 to 2001 Tony served as an Entrepreneur-In-Residence for the Kauffman Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership working to support the growth of small business throughout the United States. He has also testified before Congress in support of entrepreneurship as a member of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Small Business Counsel. In 2007 Tony and his wife Jane sold their 14 year old company; Salon Support, Inc. which had grown to become a major products/equipment distribution company in the health and beauty industry.

Today, Tony invests his time working as a “Turnaround” consultant for other business owners and top executives. He also provides one-on-one coaching and speaks to audiences on a variety of Transformational Leadership topics.

Click here for Tony’s biography & recognitions.