Dallas Innovation Alliance Announces Senior Hire

Organization Names Co-Founder Jennifer Sanders as Executive Director

DALLAS, TX – March 29, 2016 – Today, the Dallas Innovation Alliance (DIA), a 501c(3) public-private partnership dedicated to the design and execution of a smart cities strategy for Dallas, announced the hiring of its first Executive Director, co-founder Jennifer Sanders.

Jen brings over 12 years of expertise across a broad array of industries, including energy, technology, economic development, nonprofit and finance, serving in functions including communications, stakeholder and community relations, strategic counsel and operations. She joins the Dallas Innovation Alliance from Perry Street Communications, a financial and strategic communications firm.

“I am honored to serve the Dallas Innovation Alliance as Executive Director, and continue to drive the organization’s mission to create technology and social infrastructures that drive sustainable economic development and improve quality of life for the citizens of Dallas,” commented Ms. Sanders. “There is tremendous energy and momentum surrounding DIA’s work from our partners, community organizations and citizens. I look forward to harnessing this enthusiasm and working with our partners to build out our projects in the West End and across the city.”

Trey Bowles, cofounder and Chairman of the DIA stated “We are thrilled to bring on Jen Sanders as our Executive Director of the Dallas Innovation Alliance. Her passion for creating sustainable cities combined with her experience and knowledge on how this has worked in other cities across the world make her the best possible choice for this role. We are excited to see Dallas become a leader in implementing Smart Cities solutions and showcasing the innovative spirit of our region.”

Jen actively serves the community through roles including President of the Mayor’s Star Council, a group of culturally and professionally diverse young leaders who are empowered to impact the city through its mission to learn, serve and connect. She serves on the board of the Suicide & Crisis Center of North Texas as well as the advisory board for Dallas startup Need Edition. She serves as an Ambassador for the Dallas Entrepreneur Center, working to advocate for and mentor those in the startup community, and regularly volunteers with community organizations including Hunger Busters, who provides food-insecure DISD students with a crucial third meal of the day, Capes 4 Kids, which makes superhero capes for critically ill children, and Feed the City. Jen received a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a minor concentration in economics from the University of Virginia.

The Dallas Innovation Alliance (DIA) is a coalition of stakeholders from the City of Dallas, corporations, civic and NGO organizations, academia and private individuals who are invested in Dallas’ continued evolution as a forward-thinking city where social and technological infrastructures and solutions facilitate and accelerate sustainable economic growth, resource efficiency, and importantly, improves the quality of life in the city for its citizens. Operating from a foundational vision that smart cities are about people – and not just technology – DIA is focused on the end user, and building a critical mass of the most highly-engaged citizens in the country.

Led by the Dallas Entrepreneur Center (The DEC), founding members of the Dallas Innovation Alliance include: Mayor Mike Rawlings and the City of Dallas, AECOM, AT&T, Cisco, Dallas 2030 District, Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART), Dallas Regional Chamber, Dallas Convention and Visitors Bureau, Deloitte, Downtown Dallas Inc., Ericsson, GE, IBM, Microsoft, Schneider Electric, Texas Research Alliance and The Real Estate Council (TREC).

For more information on the initiative and to get involved, please visit www.DallasInnovationAlliance.com.

About the Dallas Innovation Alliance

The Dallas Innovation Alliance (DIA) is a public-private partnership dedicated to the execution of a smart cities plan for the City of Dallas, defined as a city where social and technological infrastructures and solutions facilitate and accelerate sustainable economic growth, resource efficiency, and importantly, improves the quality of life in the city for its citizens. DIA’s overarching goal is to elevate Dallas as a city that is not only prepared for – but a driving force in shaping – the future of cities, and providing opportunities for prosperity for its citizens. Its mission is to develop a scalable smart cities model for the City of Dallas that leverages the region’s distinctive strengths and leaves a legacy of innovation, sustainability and collaboration for future generations. For more information please visit www.DallasInnovationAlliance.com.