Eric Tschetter ’92 knows that about 75 percent of all new restaurants fail, but that didn’t stop him from opening his own place. Tschetter figured if he created a place he would want to hang out, relax, talk with friendly people and eat great food, people would come.

They have. In droves. His downtown Fort Worth sports bar, The Pour House, has more than doubled in size and tripled the number of employees since it opening in 1995.

“We know our regular customers,” said Tschetter, 31. “They even come in and share their vacation photos.” His high-energy style earned recognition by fellow restaurateurs, who chose him to lead the Greater Fort Worth Restaurant Association as president, a term which ends in June.

As president, Tschetter leads monthly discussions on issues such as smoking sections, Texas Alcohol and Beverage Commission certification and using the Internet to train employees.

“The restaurant association is good for Fort Worth because it allows people in the industry to share what works and what doesn’t in a fun atmosphere, which ultimately improves the dining experience for everyone,” he said.