Mayor Eric Johnson announces members of Task Force on Innovation and Entrepreneurship
The corrected version below updates proper titles for Task Force members.
DALLAS — Mayor Eric Johnson on Tuesday announced the appointment of members of the Mayor's Task Force on Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
The Task Force primarily will focus on steps the City of Dallas can take to attract, retain, and support startup companies. The 15-member group will also explore the actions that other governmental agencies, higher education institutions, and private sector partners can take to improve the already burgeoning startup culture in Dallas.
Mayor Johnson selected the new members in consultation with Task Force co-chairs Trey Bowles, the co-founder and executive chairman of the DEC Network, and Mandy Price, the CEO and co-founder of Kanarys, Inc. The Task Force members represent investors, startup founders, education leaders, tech experts, and major employers in the region.
Here are the new members, listed alphabetically:
Kristin Battle - President/CEO, Strategic Focus, LLC, Strategic Focus Educational Services
Bryan Chambers - Vice President of Ventures, Capital Factory
Duane Dankesreiter - Senior Vice President of Research and Innovation, Dallas Regional Chamber
Michael J. De La Cruz - Senior Vice President of Business Development, Group O
Diana Flores - Immediate Past Chair, Dallas College Board of Trustees, and Vice President, Greater Dallas Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Angie Gaylord - Deputy Chief of the Office of Transformation & Innovation, Dallas ISD
Wanda Granier - CEO, BridgeWork Partners, and Past Chairman, Greater Dallas Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Robert C. Johnson - Venture investor and TeamSupport LLC founder
Aasem Khalil - Head of Southern Region Investment Banking, Goldman Sachs
Emily Ledet - Market Executive, Bank of America
Simon Mak - Executive Director and Professor of Practice, SMU Cox Caruth Institute for Entrepreneurship
Raamel Mitchell - Director, Corporate Citizenship and Market Development, Microsoft
Sanjiv Yajnik - President of Financial Services, CapitalOne
“As we distribute vaccines and begin our recovery from COVID-19, we must look toward building a better economic future for all of our communities in Dallas,” Mayor Johnson said. “The diverse and experienced membership of the Mayor's Task Force on Innovation and Entrepreneurship will allow us to decide how we can best help our existing startup companies and make our city a hub for innovation. I want to thank all the members for their participation, and I am excited to see their recommendations in a few months.”
The mayor has asked the Task Force to put their recommendations in the form of a report by April 30. The report will be presented to the mayor’s office and to the office of City Council Economic Development Committee Chairman Tennell Atkins.
“Dallas already has significant economic strengths, and I firmly believe that this diverse group of leaders will help us become a top city for entrepreneurs and startups,” Price said. "I am excited to get to work on this effort to welcome more innovators to our vibrant startup ecosystem."
“The innovation talent and potential in Dallas is tremendous. We have grown as a community that fosters startups," Bowles said. "There is more to do to build on that work and our reputation as a ‘startup-friendly city.' With the work of this distinguished group, I believe we have a tremendous opportunity to move our city forward for years to come.”
The Mayor’s Task Force on Innovation and Entrepreneurship will aim to emulate the success of the Mayor’s Task Force on Safe Communities, which received broad support from community leaders, the City Council, and the city manager for its recommendations on strategies to combat violent crime in Dallas. The 2020–2021 fiscal year budget allocated nearly $4.5 million to fund those strategies, and one Task Force recommendation also received funding from Dallas ISD.
To interview members of the Mayor's Task Force on Innovation and Entrepreneurship, contact Tristan Hallman at 469-785-1421 or tristan.hallman@dallascityhall.com.
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