Dallas Innovation Alliance
Leadership
Jennifer Sanders
Executive Director and Co-Founder
Jennifer Sanders is Cofounder and Executive Director of the Dallas Innovation Alliance (DIA) a 501c3 public-private partnership dedicated to supporting the design and execution of a smart cities plan for Dallas. She brings expertise across a broad array of industries including energy, technology, economic development, nonprofit and finance, serving in functions including communications, stakeholder relations, change management and operations. She is active with numerous civic organizations, serving as a Past President of the Mayor’s Star Council, Boards of Mastercard’s CityPossible, the Suicide & Crisis Center of North Texas, Better Block, Digital Texas, Southwestern Medical District Master Plan, among others. She graduated from the University of Virginia.
Jen@DallasInnovationAlliance.com
EA: Kelsey@dallasinnovationalliance.com
Trey Bowles
Cofounder and Chairman
Trey Bowles is a serial entrepreneur, social capitalist, and educator. He co-founded the Dallas Entrepreneur Center (The DEC), a central location for entrepreneurs to learn how to start, build, and grow businesses through training, education, mentorship, promotion, and capital investment. In an effort to get more young professionals engaged in the City of Dallas, Bowles cofounded The Mayor’s Star Council with Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings to find culturally diverse and civically minded emerging leaders that wanted to embrace and engage the city today rather than just inherit it in twenty years. Trey also serves as an Adjunct Professor at Southern Methodist University where he built and launched an entrepreneurship program in the Arts Entrepreneurship and Arts Management department in the Meadows School of the Arts.
Trey.Bowles@DallasInnovationAlliance.com
EA: Kelsey@dallasinnovationalliance.com
Marquesse Banks
Partner Engagement Manager
Marquesse Banks is a Public Health Advocate from Port Arthur, Texas. His passion lies in creating and managing sustainable programs that serve to empower individuals from marginalized communities to take an active role in their overall health. Marquesse has lived in the Dallas–Fort Worth area since 2014. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from the University of Texas at Arlington and a Master’s degree in Public Health from Lamar University. He is a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) and a Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM). His professional experience spans rapid re-housing, mental health support, outreach testing, program planning, social justice, and civic engagement. In his free time, he is active within Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., enjoys being a “plant dad,” and loves exploring new countries with friends.
Lucy Gomez
Marketing & Events Manager
Lucy was born and raised in Fort Lauderdale Florida but having lived more than half her life in Dallas Texas, her love for the city has made Dallas her forever home. It was during her past five years in marketing, combined with her passion for service that made joining the DIA a perfect step to blend expertise and passion for innovation and community engagement!
Lucero@DallasInnovationAlliance.com
Gissel Diaz
Community Support Coordinator
Gissel is our Community Support Coordinator, working with Alexa to plan and operate programming with the Digital Ambassadors working in the community! Gissel has been with DIA from for the past several years serving as a Site Guide with our Mobile Learning Lab program and Digital Ambassador, and we're so thrilled to have her in this new role!
Gissel@DallasInnovationAlliance.com