Be A Maverick. The University of Texas at Arlington
Bettering the community
As UT Arlington students in the late 1980s, Zeb Strong and Blake Moorman were eager to make a difference in the world. In the two decades since they graduated, they’ve done just that.
For their professional achievements and contributions to society, Strong and Moorman are the 2009 recipients of UT Arlington’s Outstanding African-American Alumni Award. Each received his award Feb. 21 during the 20th annual African-American Alumni Banquet.
Strong received a bachelor’s degree in political science in 1988 and attended the prestigious Harvard University Management Development Program. He was an active student leader and a member of numerous campus organizations.
“My involvement in student government and student organizations provided invaluable opportunities to hone my leadership and communication skills,” he said.
Now UT Arlington’s director of recruitment initiatives, he manages the Human Resources Employment Office, helps recruit under-represented faculty and staff and works to enhance the University’s relationship with diverse community organizations.
Strong is a former director of Multicultural Affairs at UT Arlington and has worked for Marathon Oil Company and the Tarrant County College South Campus as director of student activities. He serves on the board of directors for the Arlington Life Shelter, NAACP Arlington chapter, Arlington African-American Chamber of Commerce, Tarrant County Housing Partnerships, Park South YMCA and UT Arlington African-American Alumni Chapter.
“I truly believe that no matter what your economic status is or how much education you have attained, you can still serve your community and make a difference,” he said.
In August 2001, Inroads/Dallas-Fort Worth awarded its MVP Award to Strong for his dedication to the organization, which selects minority students for Fortune 500 company internships. At the awards ceremony, Inroads renamed the honor the Zeb Strong MVP Award.
Moorman earned a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies (music theatre) in 1990. As a student, he was involved in Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia music fraternity, Order of Omega honor society, Black Student Association and Phi Theta Kappa honor society. He was a member of an a cappella choir that performed at Carnegie Hall on Easter Sunday 1989.
Now the national sales manager for the Fort Worth Convention Center, he is responsible for securing conventions, meetings, conferences, trade shows and other national events for the 395,000-square-foot facility. Previously, he was the center’s operations manager and public events coordinator.
“Convincing that meeting planner who is from another part of the country and not familiar with Fort Worth that their convention or event will be successful in Fort Worth and that their attendees will have a wonderful time is very rewarding,” Moorman said.
He has served on the Jubilee Theatre Board of Directors since 2004 and on several committees. Starting as a volunteer in 1985, he performed in more than 30 Jubilee productions and, in 1990, became the theatre’s first managing director.
His commitment to bettering the lives of those around him is evident in his work with the annual Alpha Phi Alpha Beautillion, which helps young men in the Arlington/Fort Worth area get college scholarships. He mentors the youth and offers advice on setting career goals, grooming, etiquette and culture.
“I can’t ignore the need to help when I see it,” Moorman said. “I’ve often tried to analyze it and have come to the conclusion that it is a learned behavior that my parents taught me.”