Category: 3. Business

Veterans and trainees’ approach ‘growth journey as a family’

At Minneapolis VA, health professions trainees are learning skills to advance their careers, and they’re also providing more access to care for Veterans in need.

Iida Jacobsen, a trainee in the Occupational Therapy Fellowship Program, is in her second year of training at VA. After getting her license, she chose to do her fellowship with VA since she had such great experience in her field work last summer.

The primary reason for choosing VA was her love of working with Veterans. “My grandpa was a Veteran, but I feel it goes more beyond that,” said Jacobsen. “I feel like I have a calling to work with Veterans. It’s a natural affinity that has driven me my whole life.”

Unique learning opportunities

Another reason Jacobsen was drawn to VA is it offered her an opportunity to train across multiple disciplines within the medical center—an experience she described as one of the unique advantages of VA training.

“The fact that I was able to shadow the pain clinic, inpatient mental health and spinal cord, was a really valuable experience and really speaks to the learning opportunities that VA provides for its students and trainees,” said Jacobsen.

More than 122,000 trainees in over 60 disciplines trained this year in VA medical centers across the nation, receiving these unique training opportunities. 

For Michelle Berg, a nurse practitioner resident at Minneapolis VA, the various features of the training programs are reassuring and help build confidence.

“In clinical, you might order tests, or you might order imaging, but you rarely saw the end result of those,” said Berg. “And so, entering into a residency gives kind of a safety net underneath, after starting to practice and have that additional support.”

Veterans enjoy working with trainees

VA trainees often say Veterans enjoy being a part of the learning experience. Jacobsen recalled multiple Veterans saying they hope they are helping her learn something.

“I really think it speaks to the Veteran population because they still have this definite, deep fulfillment of service to students, to civilians. I really felt a deep sense of gratitude that they still wanted to be a part of the next generation of trainees,” said Jacobsen.

Laurie Humiston, the Occupational Therapy Fellowship Coordinator for Jacobsen’s program, echoes those experiences in her daily work and believes it is the best part of her job.

“I get to connect trainees and Veterans through their growth journeys, gaining skills that help each other,” said Humiston. “The trainees become more advanced practice providers, and Veterans get to benefit from that teaching. They also get to see how that teaching happens, and so we all approach that growth journey as a family.”

Veterans benefit overall

Berg is thankful for the profound experience gained from working with VA as she transitions into practice as a nurse practitioner. She is glad that the skills she learned will help her to take better care of Veterans.

“Working with the Veterans and understanding their special needs has been something that no matter where my career takes me, I will now provide better care of Veterans overall,” said Berg.

For Jacobsen, her love of working with VA stretches beyond the high-quality training. She believes in VA’s mission of caring for those who have served in the nation’s military and encourages others to do so as well.

“I’m always a deep advocate for VA and for the Veteran population,” said Jacobsen. “So, I would say if this ever reaches any others who are wanting to give VA a shot—let this be a message to make that a reality. It’s an experience that you won’t regret, and VA really has a lot of opportunities and experiences that would aid in any student’s learning.”

VA partners with more than 1,450 academic institutions throughout the nation, making VA’s health professions education program the largest in the United States. These programs, overseen by the Office of Academic Affiliations, are shaping the next generation of health care professionals for VA and the nation.

by Bob Francis, Fort Worth Report
December 14, 2025

Companies and individuals with private jets will have a new spot to hang out at Fort Worth Meacham International Airport.

Private aviation real estate developer and operator Sky Harbour has signed a lease with the city of Fort Worth to operate a boutique dedicated airplane service location at the 100-year-old airport. 

The West Harrison, New York-based company said it plans to break ground in late 2026 on a $17 million complex consisting of a pair of 32,000-square-foot hangars capable of housing the latest ultra long-range business jets. The Meacham location is expected to create hundreds of local jobs, according to the company.

Unlike traditional fixed base operators, Sky Harbour offers home base operations, which means they are closed to transient traffic, providing tenants with security and more customized services.  Sky Harbour locations offer pilot lounges, private offices, briefing rooms and hospitality areas 

Sky Harbour is rapidly expanding its footprint across the U.S., building out high-end, boutique private hangar space for aircraft owners at key airports across the country. 

According to the city of Fort Worth, the annual revenue generated from the ground lease at Meacham is about $95,725. 

Sky Harbour has also leased space at Dallas Love Field Airport and Dallas Executive Airport. 

The company currently has deals or is operating at 23 airports in the U.S., with nine locations in operation and 14 under development.

Funding for Westside Village infrastructure 

On Dec. 8, the taxing district covering the Near West Side approved $45 million in infrastructure funds for the $1.7-billion Westside Village development.

The project, from FW Westside RE Investors, a partnership between Larkspur Capital and Keystone Group, will transform the 37 acres that once housed Fort Worth ISD’s former headquarters at 100 N. University Drive and other nearby sites, including the current Autobahn Fort Worth location. At full build-out, Westside Village will consist of 880,000 square feet of office space, 238,000 square feet of retail, a boutique hotel and 1,785 residential units. 

Fans of Fort Worth 

Lasko, a fan and heater manufacturer, has renewed and expanded its lease at 900 Terminal Road in Fort Worth. Lasko had been occupying 218,076 square feet of space at the location but has now expanded its footprint to 468,726 square feet.  Transwestern Real Estate Services brokered the renewal and expansion. 

Coffee, meet pie  

White Rhino Coffee, a Dallas-based specialty coffee company known for its community-driven cafes and craft-focused approach, has purchased Emporium Pies, a North Texas dessert destination, with a location at 411 S. Main St. in Fort Worth. White Rhino has a location in Arlington. 

Bagging it 

Bag Supply Co. has leased an 18,000-square-foot industrial building in Point 820 in East Fort Worth to expand and relocate its only distribution center outside its home state of Alabama.

The company is taking up residence at 5911 E. Rosedale St., where it gained roughly 8,000 square feet of extra operating space and has access to Loop 820. Bag Supply has relocated from nearby Everman in tandem with a lease expiration. 

“Bag Supply chose this project for the immediate freeway access and make-ready space, which was well-suited for its needs,” said Cade Navarro, broker associate in the Fort Worth office of Dallas-based Bradford Commercial Real Estate Services. Navarro represented the tenant, a division of Field Packaging Solutions in Moody, Alabama. 

The industrial structure was fully renovated in summer 2024 as part of a major upgrade at Point 820, a 31-building project totaling 587,725 square feet. Brett Carlton and Forrest Cook of Stream Realty Partners represented the Boston-based landlord, LRF3 Dal Rosedale.

 Do you have something for the Bob on Business column? Email Bob Francis, business editor for the Fort Worth Report, at bob.francis@fortworthreport.org.At the Fort Worth Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here.

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