Cindy Morris Named Finalist for D CEO's Inaugural Leadership Excellence Awards
Cindy Morris Named Finalist for D CEO's Inaugural Leadership Excellence Awards
Tuesday, July 28, 2026
— Dallas Market Center president and CEO recognized in the Strategic Leadership category for her role leading the Stand With Main Street tariff advocacy campaign. —
Dallas Market Center (DMC) announced that its president and CEO, Cindy Morris, has been named a finalist forD CEO magazine's inaugural Leadership Excellence Awards in the Strategic Leadership category.
D CEO's new awards program honors North Texas executives who drive performance with purpose, recognizing leaders distinguished not only by business results but by intentional leadership, strong cultures, ethical decision-making, and long-term impact. The inaugural program drew more than 400 nominations spanning public and private companies, emerging businesses, nonprofits, and organizations of every size across the region.
Following multiple rounds of judging, D CEO's editors selected finalists across a dozen categories, from strategic leadership and operational excellence to culture, community impact, and visionary leadership.
Morris is among seven finalists for the Strategic Leadership Award, a group that includes the president of the Dallas Stars, the commissioner of the LPGA, and the CEO of an IT services company.
Morris' nomination cited DMC's strategic reinvestment in the marketplace and recent gains in market share, alongside her leadership of the Stand With Main Street campaign, launched to support retailers, sales reps, and manufacturers against the impact of tariffs.
Under her direction, DMC organized a grassroots petition, engaged in lobbying efforts, deepened relationships with advocacy organizations including the National Retail Federation, filed an amicus brief in the related federal lawsuit, and kept customers informed with timely updates on evolving tariff policy.
"Leading through disruption means showing up for the people who make this industry work — the retailers, reps, and manufacturers who depend on Market," said Morris. "This recognition belongs to the entire DMC team and to everyone who stood with us to protect Main Street."
All finalists will be featured in the September issue of D CEO, with winners revealed at an exclusive awards celebration that month.
ABOUT CINDY MORRIS Cindy Morris is president and CEO of Dallas Market Center, the global wholesale marketplace and tradeshow management company hosting dozens of business-to-business trade events each year inside its 5 million square foot campus. Morris joined the company in 1989, was named executive vice president of marketing in 1992, COO in 2002, and president and CEO in 2015.
Over the course of Morris' tenure, she has overseen strategic growth across key product categories, significant new business initiatives, and effective international partnerships in Europe and Asia. She has been instrumental in establishing and strengthening collaborative relationships with retailers, trade organizations, manufacturers, and sales representatives.
Under her guidance, DMC has attracted tens of thousands of new customers and maintained industry-leading loyalty from the more than 200,000 Dallas Market Center customers. Award-winning marketing programs and customer-focused communications have resulted in trade events and markets attended by more retail buyers and interior designers from across the U.S. and internationally.
Prior to joining DMC, Morris held positions in advertising and commercial real estate. She is a graduate of Texas A&M University and holds a B.B.A. in Marketing.
PLANNING AHEAD For information about all upcoming markets and events, visit the Dallas Market Center website and download the new, completely redesigned Dallas Market Center mobile app. Stay current by visiting Dallas Market Center on Facebook, Instagram, and the DMC Daily Dose blog.
About Dallas Market Center Dallas Market Center is a global business-to-business trade center and the leading wholesale marketplace in North America connecting retailers and interior designers with top manufacturers in gourmet and housewares, home décor, holiday/floral, gifts, lighting, and apparel. Inside its dynamic, 5 million-square-foot campus, nearly 200,000 customers from all 50 states and 85 countries seek industry trends, business education, and new products from exhibitors throughout the year via dominant trade events for gift, home décor, holiday, and floral; the nation’s most comprehensive apparel and accessories markets featuring the latest styles from East Coast and West Coast designers; the largest residential lighting trade event in North America; and the largest and most successful open-daily design center. To make plans for upcoming markets, visit the Dallas Market Center website and download the Dallas Market Center App.