Craig Hall

Craig Hall is chairman and founder of Dallas-based HALL Group. Mr. Hall's career in business and as an author, civic leader and philanthropist reflects the highest qualities of entrepreneurship. He formed HALL Group in 1968 at age 18 with $4,000 saved from small ventures begun at age 10. Today, HALL Group's diversified business interests include active operations in commercial real estate ownership, development and management, structured financial lending, winemaking and early-stage investments in promising start-ups. Craig actively supports new entrepreneurs, nurtures young start-ups and often speaks publicly about the importance of encouraging entrepreneurship worldwide. Together with his wife Kathryn Hall, he funded the Fulbright – Kathryn and Craig Hall Distinguished Chair for Entrepreneurship to teach entrepreneurship in Eastern Europe. Craig also founded the Dallas Regional Office of NFTE (National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship). He is the author of six published books, including his most recent, A Perfect Score, a New York Times best-seller released on Sept. 13, 2016 which he co-authored with his wife. Craig consistently contributes time and resources at local, national and international levels to support a variety of community causes with an emphasis on art, education and entrepreneurship. He has served on the Board of Trustees of the American University in Bulgaria, the American-Austrian Fulbright Board and the Board of the Horatio Alger Association for Distinguished Americans. A lifelong art collector, Craig believes art nourishes the human spirit and can make a profound difference in people’s lives. Throughout his businesses, pieces from Craig’s personal art collection, the HALL Collection, are on display for the public’s enjoyment. Important works by artists from all over the world can be found at HALL Park in Frisco, Texas, at the HALL Arts development in the Dallas Arts District and at HALL St. Helena and HALL Rutherford, his two destination wineries in Napa Valley. Craig and his companies are often recognized for significant achievements and contributions. Craig received the 2002 Obelisk Award from the Dallas Business Committee for the Arts for his long-time support of Texas artists, and was named Real Estate Entrepreneur of the Year in 2002 by Ernst & Young. In 2006, he received the American Jewish Committee’s Institute of Human Relations Award and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Mortgage Bankers Association. In 2007, Craig was named a lifetime member of the prestigious Horatio Alger Association for Distinguished Americans, and was inducted into the North Texas Commercial Real Estate Hall of Fame and the Entrepreneurs Foundation of North Texas’ Ring of Honor. Most recently, he was named Dallas’ Real Estate Executive of the Year in 2013 and in 2016 was inducted into the Junior Achievement of Dallas Business Hall of Fame.