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 the board of directors of the Texas Economic Development Council (TEDC) and on various committees of the International Economic Development Council (IEDC). Karen is an instructor for the Basic Economic Development Course and is a certified economic developer and graduate of the Economic Development Institute (EDI) at the University of Oklahoma. Ms. Dickson holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Houston-Clear Lake and Master's degree in Public Administration from the University of North Texas.

Contact Information:

Karen Dickson, CEcD

Vice President Economic Development

Denton Chamber of Commerce

414 Parkway

P.O. Box 1719

Denton, TX  76202-1719

Phone:  (940) 382-7151

Email:  vp@DentonEDP.com

 Tara Mills

 Economic Development

 Administrative Assistant

 Tara Mills joined the Denton  Chamber of Commerce Economic Development Partnership in December 2009 as an Administrative Assistant.  She has held various administrative positions in Denton in the past several years.  Tara has been an active member of the Denton community for over a decade participating in several local organizations.

Contact Information:

Tara Mills

Economic Development

Administrative Assistant
Denton Chamber of Commerce

414 Parkway

P.O. Box 1719

Denton, TX 76202-1719

Phone: (940) 382-7151

Email: edaa@dentonedp.com

 Jeremy Sander
  Economic Development 

 Assistant

 Jeremy Sander joined the  

 Chamber of Commerce’s  

 Economic Development Partnership in March 2009 as an Economic Development Assistant through the internship program with the University of North Texas.  He received his Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Miami University in 2004.  Jeremy is currently working on his Master’s in Public Administration at the University of North Texas and will graduate in December 2009.

Contact Information:

Jeremy Sander

Economic Development Assistant

Denton Chamber of Commerce

414 Parkway

PO Box 1719

Denton, TX 76202-1719

Ph: (940) 382-7151

Email: edintern@dentonedp.com

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.

Contact Information:

Linda Ratliff

Director, Economic Development

City of Denton

215 East McKinney

Denton, TX  76201

Phone:  (940) 349-7774

Email:  linda.ratliff@cityofdenton.com

Julie Glover
Economic Development Program Administrator

Julie Glover holds a Bachelor's of Science degree in journalism and a Master's in Business Administration 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 has served as President of the Texas Downtown Association. She has worked for the downtown revitalization program since 1994.

Julie serves on advisory boards for the Denton Convention and Visitor Bureau and the Denton Holiday Festival Association, and is involved in numerous civic and community service organizations. She is the staff liaison for the Downtown Task Force and Denton Main Street Association.

Contact Information:

Julie Glover

Economic Development Program Administrator

City of Denton

215 East McKinney

Denton, TX  76201

Phone:  (940) 349-7732

Email:  julie.glover@cityofdenton.com

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.

Contact Information:

Michelle Cunningham

Business Development Officer

City of Denton

215 East McKinney

Denton, TX  76201

Phone:  (940) 349-7775

Email: michelle.cunningham@cityofdenton.com

Erica Sullivan

Economic Development Analyst

Erica Sullivan joined the City of Denton’s Economic Development Department

in 2008.  Prior to her current position, Erica worked for the Heart of Texas Council of Governments for six years and most recently served as Director of Regional Services for the organization.  Erica earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Political Science from the University of Texas at El Paso. Upon graduation, Erica worked as an Americorps Volunteer for the Rio Grande Institute in Presidio, Texas.  Erica attended the International Economic Development Council’s (IEDC) Business Retention and Expansion course in August 2008 and is currently pursuing the IEDC’s Economic Development Certification at the University of Oklahoma. She attended the National Association of Development Organization’s Economic Development Finance Service Loan Fund Marketing Training session in August 2007 and completed the Texas Engineering Extension Service’s Basic Economic Development course in November 2005. She was a speaker at Texas Association of Appraisal District’s Centra-plex Chapter meeting in Waco, Texas in August 2007 and the Texas Environmental Trade Fair in Austin, Texas in May 2007.

Contact Information:

Erica Sullivan

Economic Development Analyst

City of Denton

215 East McKinney

Denton, TX  76201

Phone:  (940) 349-7731

Email:  erica.sullivan@cityofdenton.com

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.

Contact Information:

Christina Davis

Administrative Assistant III

City of Denton

215 East McKinney

Denton, TX  76201

Phone:  (940) 349-7776

Email:  christina.davis@cityofdenton.com