Our Staff

Denton Chamber
Economic Development Staff

Karen Dickson, CEcD
Vice President

Karen Dickson is Vice President of Economic Development for the Denton Chamber of Commerce since November 2005. She began her economic development career in 1999 with the Clear Lake Economic Development Foundation (CLAEDF), now called the Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership, in Clear Lake, Texas. Ms. Dickson serves on various committees of the Texas Economic Development Council (TEDC) and the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) and is a certified economic developer. She is a graduate of the Economic Development Institute (EDI) at the University of Oklahoma and holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Houston-Clear Lake.

Patti Temple
Economic Development Coordinator

As a life-long native of Denton County, Patti is well-versed in assisting and serving the public as Economic Development Coordinator. In the early 1980s, she began her career as a customer service representative for an international chemical company and served as customer care manager for Thermadyne Industries. In January 2004, Patti joined the Chamber of Commerce as Economic Development Coordinator.

Patti continues to enhance her career through targeted training. In 2006, she attended the Basic Economic Development Course in Austin, Texas. She continues to gain knowledge of local businesses as an active member of the North Texas Society for Human Resources Management and works closely with the Texas Workforce Commission and the City of Denton.

City of Denton
Economic Development Staff

Linda Ratliff
Director

Linda Ratliff joined the City of Denton Economic Development Department in 1990 and became director in 1996. Ms. Ratliff serves as vice president of the Denton Industrial Development Board and is a member of the Texas Economic Development Council. She is also a member of the North Texas Human Resources Group Board, Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) Board, and Kiwanis. Ms. Ratliff is a graduate of the Economic Development Institute (EDI) at the University of Oklahoma and holds a bachelor’s degree in Applied Technology, Training and Development from the University of North Texas.

Michelle Cunningham
Business Development Officer

Michelle Cunningham joined the City of Denton Economic Development Department in 1998. Ms. Cunningham serves on the boards of Denton Hispanic Chamber, Denton League of United Latin American Citizens, and AIDS Services of North Texas. She is also a member of Denton Black Chamber, NAACP, Denton ISD Seamless Education Advisory Committee, Partnership for Hispanic Success, and Rotary. Ms. Cunningham holds a bachelor's degree in business with majors in management and in labor relations. She is a graduate of the Economic Development Institute (EDI) at the University of Oklahoma.

Christina Davis
Administrative
Assistant III

Christina Davis joined the City of Denton Economic Development in September of 2006 as Administrative Secretary. Prior to working for the City of Denton, Ms. Davis worked eight years for the City of Modesto, CA as Administrative Office Assistant III in the Community & Economic Development, Business Development Division and the Modesto Redevelopment Agency. Ms. Davis holds an Associate’s degree in Accounting from Valley Commercial College and is a certified Paralegal.

Downtown Development Staff

Julie Glover
Economic Development Program Administrator

Julie Glover holds a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Journalism, and will receive her Masters of Business Administration in May of 2007 from Texas Woman’s University. In 2001, she earned her Professional Certification in Downtown Management from the National Trust for Historic Preservation. She is a past recipient of the Texas Historic Commission’s Anice B. Read Award of Excellence in Community Heritage Development and is serving as the Immediate Past President of the Texas Downtown Association. She serves on advisory boards for the Denton Convention and Visitor Bureau and the Texas Storytelling Festival, and is involved in numerous civic and community service organizations. She is the staff liaison for the Denton Main Street Association, the Historic Landmark Commission, and serves as the Historic Preservation Officer for the City of Denton.