Crystal Alba’s job takes her out and about in the community. As TRWD’s Diverse Business Specialist, she’s involved in getting to know different people and learning about all the things they’re doing to make the community better. She helps them connect with TRWD and other organizations, sharing opportunities and resources that can help their businesses grow.
She’s so passionate about her job and community that’s she’s been recognized as a Rising Star by the Hispanic Women’s Network and was honored in September 2023 as one of 50 Fort Worth Emerging Latino Leaders by the Fort Worth Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. These honorees were celebrated at the Hispanic Chamber’s recent 50th anniversary event.
TRWD and the Fort Worth Hispanic Chamber are both committed to diversity, community involvement and service.
TRWD promotes full and equal opportunity for all businesses to supply the goods and services needed in support of the district’s mission and operations. The district encourages partnerships with certified historically underutilized and diverse business vendors for its different projects. These projects can involve everything from design and engineering work, construction, staffing, lawn and maintenance services, HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) service, truck and hauling services, and more.
Similarly, the Fort Worth Hispanic Chamber helps foster a vibrant economic environment for its members, individuals and the local area through inclusion and strategic partnerships and by helping Hispanic businesses start, expand and connect with other businesses, supporting an educated workforce and engaging and serving the community.
Crystal, who has been with TRWD for nearly six years, says her job is “very much about networking.” She connects with businesses of all sizes. She shares valuable advice with smaller businesses, or those just starting out, on ways of preparing a bid proposal and managing their growth and capacity.
A passion for helping others
After completing an economics degree from the University of North Texas, Crystal discovered that what she really wanted to do was find ways to benefit the community. She started working in the nonprofit arena, advising first-generation students on college readiness as they began their academic careers.
She then joined United Way of Tarrant County, managing development, fundraising campaigns, special events, volunteer training and more.
While there, Crystal learned about the community’s different needs – including those of local businesses – and she became interested in making an impact in that area. TRWD turned out to be the way to do that.
“I had no idea when I completed my degree that it would lead me in this direction,” Crystal said. “You start out with a passion for the areas you study in school, but sometimes your path, whether personally or professionally, brings things together in a different way.”
This is why Crystal has advised her daughter, who graduated in May 2022 with a criminal justice degree, about remaining flexible and open to where that path might take you.
Family values, role models
Crystal comes from a family of high achievers who have always been committed to serving and making their communities better.
Her father emigrated from Mexico and worked until his retirement as manager for the Texas Attorney General’s child support division in El Paso, where Crystal grew up.
Her mother is U.S. born and worked as a librarian and reading teacher until her retirement.
Both parents were the first in their families to graduate high school. Both were leaders in their fields, helping people when they needed it most.
Crystal has a sister who has followed in their mother’s footsteps as a teacher who “teaches the teachers” how to better help their students through curriculum, mental health and other areas of great importance in today’s world.
“People can benefit their families if they just know how to access resources, whether educational, medical or business related,” Crystal said.
“My father did an amazing job of helping families get child support or paternity funding. If divorced or separated families were split between Mexico and the U.S., he helped bridge the gap, meeting with fathers to assist in paperwork and using his bilingual skills to cross language barriers, making it easier to secure needed resources for children,” she explained.
“All of our family members have wanted to become as knowledgeable as possible and help pass on what we’ve learned to others,” Crystal said. “My parents were a great inspiration in that regard.”
“Sometimes one of the biggest hurdles for families and businesses involves language barriers, and I feel fortunate to be bilingual,” she noted.
Getting involved, serving others
The first organization Crystal joined after moving to North Texas was the Hispanic Women’s Network. She’s volunteered for organizations like Camp Fire Girls, the Girl Scouts and others, and along the way, she’s met many people in many different professions.
Today she serves on the board of the North Central Texas Regional Certification Agency, the certifying body for small, women- and minority-owned businesses. She’s also a Fort Worth Hispanic Chamber board member and serves on the corporate advisory council of the U.S. Pan Asian Chamber of Commerce.
Through these different agencies, she attends vendor expos and events, often conducting workshops and roundtable discussions to help businesses be more successful and connect with organizations like TRWD. She also advises on other governmental agencies that may have the same vendor needs as TRWD.
As the needs arise, Crystal is happy to meet one-on-one with businesses seeking special assistance.
Crystal feels that a large part of her success has to do with building a foundation of working with others and, in turn, helping them with whatever they need.
“I love accessing resources and showing others how to access those resources to help their business and family,” she said. “Assisting others in growing their economic and financial stability has always been important to me.”
Pride in community, pride in TRWD
Crystal says she is proud of everything TRWD does in the community, from water services to economic development.
“We’re still in the beginning stages what my department can do, and already we’re seeing the benefits and gaining momentum with vendors year by year,” she said. “It’s a win-win situation for both the water district and the vendors we engage.”
Crystal said she considers Fort Worth a great place to live because people are so committed to supporting each other.
She also noted that in all her years of professional work, she’s never been part of such a hardworking organization as TRWD.
“We have great people working in the district and in my department that help us all in doing the best job we can every day. I’ve never felt such a sense of family and teamwork. It’s inspiring and motivating,” she said.
