We’re thoroughly proud, but of course not surprised, to announce that our own David Canington was chosen as one of the nominees for Entrepreneur of Excellence for 2019. The contest, sponsored by Fort Worth Inc. Magazine, evaluates local visionaries and thinkers in categories such as integrity, financial performance, growth, risk, leadership, strategic direction, innovation, company values, key employee initiatives, and community involvement: every value you would hope to find in an entrepreneur and leader. As the ones who work with David day in and day out, we can confidently say we’ve seen him take the reins on all these aspects and more here at Ardent.

Of course, this is a great honor for David, but he’s the first to tell you that an “entrepreneurial spirit” isn’t just his responsibility as owner and “Boss Man” — but the job of our whole organization. David, and Ardent’s other Boss Man Brad, encourage every single Ardent team member to think of new ways to improve the company. Whether that’s a better idea for a branding campaign, a system for booking meeting spaces, or an all-company Family Feud tournament, David is all ears. Leading by example, we’ve seen him help to encourage and inspire new leadership at Ardent and, in the process, determine a stronger future for our company.

Photo by Olaf Growald | FW inc. Magazine

So how did he make Ardent what it is now? The journey was a long one with more than one detour. David’s feature in Fort Worth Magazine’s Fort Worth Inc. highlights just a couple of the ups and downs of his journey, including his very first advertising gig for a car dealership in DFW and a scrappy first year as a freelancer. We think (and after reading, you probably will, too) that it’s safe to say with David, the journey is never a boring one.

To read David’s feature and to see the rest of the featured entrepreneurs, browse the list of 2019 finalists here.