Brad Gorrondona

He likes the adrenaline rush - so says Fort Worth business leader Brad Gorrondona. Since acquiring an A.A.S. in Survey Technology from Tarrant County College in 1989, Gorrondona saw his career race as fast as his Viper racecar. Within a year of graduating, he opened his own land surveying business with a staff of three. 

"If people knew more about professional land surveying," said Gorrondona, "they'd be enticed to come in [to the career field]." 

He says the training, flex scheduling, quality teaching staff and professional contacts made TCC a good fit for him. And the convergence of creativity and math stimulated him. 

"The blending of trigonometry with art kept my brain involved," said Gorrondona. "It's like putting puzzles together." 

Not puzzling is the blur of his career. Continued growth of his business accompanies his new role as board chair of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce in Fort Worth. Gorrondona says he has stayed involved in educational pursuits and has served on the HCCFW board of directors for eight years to offer scholarships to Hispanic students. 

But he stresses TCC's foundational English and speech courses as the vital keys to his racecar of success. 

"Communication is the most important thing in business," he said. "Unless you can express yourself well and get to the subliminal intent below the conversations, the true potential isn't reached. It's a huge help in any field." 

- Jean Weaver