TIP STRATEGIES - Key Persons
Ajay has an MS in Applied Urban Science and Informatics from New York University. He specializes in machine learning, big data, and dashboard creation. Prior to joining TIP, he had experience as a data analyst in the insurance industry. Outside of his professional life, Ajay is passionate about the outdoors, often embarking on long runs and hikes.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Engagement Management Team
- SVP, Consulting
Alex has over 30 years of experience that includes economic development, management consulting, higher education, and legislative affairs. Since joining TIP in 1997, he has managed economic strategy projects for local, regional, state, and federal clients extending from Alaska to the US Virgin Islands. Alex began his career at TIP running the Invest in Texas Alliance, an international marketing consortium that generated dozens of foreign direct investment leads for Texas communities and utilities. Today, as a senior vice president of consulting services, Alex is responsible for both client engagement and managing TIP's team of consultants. Alex's areas of expertise include facilitating public-private partnerships for economic development, preparing economic development organizational plans, and tracking the aerospace and defense sector. He is a member of the Association of Defense Communities and has worked at the local and state levels on defense-related economic development projects. His other professional experience includes working as a public-sector management consultant with MGT of America and as Director of Research and Grants for the International Business Education Program at Texas Tech University's Rawls College of Business. Alex holds a Master of Public Affairs from the LBJ School of Public Affairs at University of Texas at Austin and a Bachelor of Arts from Texas Tech University. Alex lives in Austin with his son and dog, where he enjoys playing pickleball, hiking the city's trails, and smoking BBQ.
Brent earned a master's degree in urban planning from the University of Texas at Austin. He's spent more than 25 years working as a metropolitan analyst before joining TIP. When not at work, Brent is either digging in his garden or in the shelves of his local library.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Engagement Management Team
- Senior Consultant
Erica joined TIP in October 2023 after two years supporting economic development programs and partnerships in the Austin region and in other Texas metros. Her recent work includes finalizing an economic development strategic plan for the City of Georgetown, Texas, researching state-level and university technology transfer best practices for the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, and supporting organizational and workforce planning for Texas clients. Prior to joining the firm, she coordinated talent development programs and facilitated education partnerships at the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce through Opportunity Austin, an initiative aimed at fostering job-creating investment across the region. Raising regional postsecondary attainment levels through college access support initiatives was a central aim of this work. She also previously coordinated defense innovation partnerships at Capital Factory, an Austin-based venture capital firm and incubator. In this role, Erica supported government partnerships with military and defense clients investing non-dilutive capital in emergent technologies. She has a background in public policy and national security research with the Institute for the Study of War. Erica is Ukrainian-American, and she holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations and Global Studies and in History from the University of Texas at Austin.
Evan is a native Austinite with bachelor's degrees in economics, psychology, and mathematics from the University of Texas at Austin. In addition, he has completed certificates in applied statistical modeling, computer science, and business. Before joining TIP, he researched entrepreneurship, high-tech economies, and labor market polarization at UT's IC² Institute. Outside of work, Evan enjoys exploring Austin's outdoor spaces, eateries, and unwinding at home.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Leadership Team
- Senior Partner
Job Titles:
- Member of the Engagement Management Team
- Senior Consultant
Jenn brings nearly 20 years of experience leading transformational projects focused on creating more vibrant, resilient, and sustainable communities that prioritize people, place, and economy. As a TIP consultant, Jenn manages projects that utilize her knack for taking on complex challenges that require visioning, strategic planning, and relationship building to achieve creative solutions and actionable strategies. Prior to joining the firm, Jenn worked for the City of Austin as a principal planner where she helped lead a citywide land development code rewrite, small area plans, and a new organizational strategy for the department. She also spent time at the District of Columbia Government where she was part of community engagement and urban planning efforts that reimagined existing infrastructure and established the city's first sustainability plan. With the International Economic Development Council, she designed regional economic development strategies with a focus on disaster recovery, identified strategies for sustainable industry development, and was the lead author of the RestoreYourEconomy.Org website. Jenn holds a Master of Science in Community and Regional Planning from the University of Texas at Austin along with a Bachelor of Arts in History and a Bachelor of Business Administration in Management from the University of Georgia. She lives in Denver with her husband, dog, and cat, enjoying adventures in the mountains and riding her bike around town.
Job Titles:
- Managing Partner
- Member of the Leadership Team
Jon has focused on the role of innovation and technology in economic development since the 1980s. Upon joining TIP as a principal and managing partner in 2000, Jon helped transition the company from its Texas-based site selection practice to a national strategy firm. As managing partner, Jon plays an instrumental role in strategic goalsetting. He has also amassed an impressive portfolio that includes planning work from New York to California, with significant regional projects in the Mississippi Delta, Seattle's Puget Sound, and the Great Lakes area. Prior to joining the firm, Jon was the director of business development first for the State of Washington and then, under Governor Ann Richards, for the State of Texas. During the transition to Governor Bush's tenure, he helped restructure the state's economic development organization and then co-authored the new strategic plan for the State of Texas. Jon also has deep ties to the state of Oregon. He was vice-president with the Oregon Technology Fund and lead investor for the Hood River Brewing Company (Full Sail), managed two start-up technology companies (Fiberlite Composites and LifePort Inc.), and founded a mountain bike company in Portland, Oregon (Fat Tire Farm). He received a BA in philosophy and MA in political philosophy from the University of Hawaii and did post-graduate work towards his PhD at the University of Oregon. Born and raised in Germany, Jon now resides in Austin and spends his summers in Bend, Oregon.
Joni earned degrees in nursing, religion, and liberal arts, providing her a wealth of knowledge in various areas. Her editing experience spans more than thirty years and includes publishing houses, adult educational curriculum, businesses, and self-published authors. When not editing from her home in Missouri, she enjoys traveling (especially cruises).
A native of upstate New York, Karen holds degrees in sociology and urban planning. She spent over a decade in survey research and state government before joining TIP in 2000. Although she spends her free time on the coasts of Texas and Maine, she insists she's not really a beach person.
Luke joined TIP in January 2021 after seven years spent working in fields ranging from technology to small business development to education. As a consultant for the firm, Luke draws on his analytical expertise, diverse base of experience, and attention to detail. During his tenure with TIP, Luke has managed or contributed to a wide range of engagements, including economic development strategies and innovation plans, where he plays a critical role in facilitating stakeholder outreach, making client presentations, and preparing deliverables. He consistently demonstrates a keen aptitude for economic development and the ability to translate his core skills into significant added value for his clients. Before joining TIP, he worked as an early member of the risk analysis team at Facebook, where he critically evaluated financial transactions for potentially fraudulent activity and made recommendations for algorithmic adjustment. He then became the CEO and founder of a Dubai-based startup in the travel and hospitality space, successfully raising $25,000 in seed funding from an incubator. Transitioning to a role that utilized his writing skills, Luke worked as a content creator for an online learning platform targeted at small business owners. He also simultaneously worked for the leading test-preparation corporation, consistently producing significant SAT score gains for his students. He received a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Duke University, with an additional specialization in Markets & Management Studies.
Meredith studied photography at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and later the University of North Texas, graduating with honors. With over 20 years of experience, she oversees TIP's graphic design and brings a passion for creating beauty in all of her work. Outside TIP, Meredith gardens and pursues diverse creative hobbies.
Mishka has over 10 years of experience managing economic development technical assistance and research projects for regions, counties, and municipalities as well as facilitating peer learning opportunities. She has led engagements with economic development practitioners, consultants, subject matter experts, and other stakeholders in support of economic recovery projects. Prior to joining TIP, Mishka spent more than seven years in nonprofit sector research, programming, content development, and project management. At the International Economic Development Council (IEDC), she facilitated peer learning and supported professional development through various knowledge management activities to include webinars, workshops, and technical assistance projects. She received a Master of Public Administration from Washington Adventist University and Bachelor of Science in Marketing from the University of Maryland, College Park.
Job Titles:
- Senior Writer & Communications Strategist
Rachel Wise has almost 10 years of experience writing compelling proposals for a wide range of audiences, including academics, foundations, nonprofits, economic development organizations, and municipal governments.
Prior to joining TIP, Rachel earned her PhD in American Literature at the University of Texas at Austin. While completing her dissertation and postdoctoral work, she was awarded several prestigious research fellowships and a visiting scholar position at the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Rachel eventually returned to Austin to write grant proposals for a local affordable housing and supportive services nonprofit, Foundation Communities. Over the course of three years, she helped secure financial support from entities such as the US Department of the Treasury's Capital Magnet Fund and the JPMorgan Chase Foundation. Rachel also enjoys writing in her free time. She is a published poet and essayist.
Rebecca Deranian has more than a decade of professional experience writing and editing across a diverse set of fields. Before joining TIP Strategies, she worked as a legal writer preparing cases for artists and other professionals of extraordinary ability, with a specialization in film industry clients seeking work visas. Previously, Rebecca's background was in nonprofit development, and she has worked in major gifts stewardship on behalf of conservation science, human services, media, and performing arts organizations. She also spent time teaching English in Santiago, Chile. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In her spare time she enjoys hiking, exploring local coffee shops, and attempting chess puzzles.
Reece holds a master's degree in urban planning from Texas A&M University, as well as a bachelor's degree in geography from the University of Alabama. He has experience with land use planning, GIS mapping, and data visualization and analysis in the real estate field. When not at work, Reece enjoys playing disc golf and practicing the trombone.
Tina studied graphic design and photography at the University of North Texas and has worked as a web developer and graphic designer in Austin for over 20 years, focusing on solving accessibility issues in design. Tina enjoys running sound and lights for live theater, photography, and exploring all things that keep Austin weird.
Job Titles:
- CEO
- Founder
- Member of the Leadership Team
Tom brings more than 30 years of experience working with communities and businesses to identify collaborative strategies for achieving economic growth. As developer of TIP's model of Talent, Innovation, and Place, he has helped clients harness their energy and resources to focus on those factors that most impact their success.
Over the last decade, Tom's consulting work has increasingly concentrated on the role of talent and social equity in achieving a sustainable future. His client-facing work has engaged high-level executives from many of the nation's leading companies, including JPMorgan Chase, ExxonMobil, and AT&T, along with its largest defense contractors, including Raytheon, Triton Systems, and General Dynamics.
As CEO, he embodies TIP's commitment to getting it right.
Prior to founding the firm, Tom served as director of international business development and marketing for the State of Texas, where he assisted Texas companies looking to expand and locate in international markets. He also served as staff to the Texas Mexico Authority and as border development coordinator for the state. Tom received a Bachelor of Arts in Government from the University of Texas at Austin and studied at UT's Institute of Latin American Studies.
A Texas native, Tom spends his free time tinkering with mountain bikes and discussing life's big questions with his wife and four (mostly grown) children.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Leadership Team
- President
- Strategist With C - Suite
Tracye McDaniel, as president of TIP Strategies, Inc., brings a global perspective to local strategies. For more than three decades, she has been a trusted advisor to CEOs, nonprofits, public organizations, and private enterprises. Tracye has advised and supported five governors in all facets of economic development and has led marketing efforts in over 51 countries.
Prior to joining TIP, Tracye was the founder and CEO of McDaniel Strategy Ecosystems. She has served as president and chief executive officer of the Texas Economic Development Corporation and TexasOne, an independently funded and operated 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to marketing the state globally for business attraction, retention, and foreign direct investment.
Before that, Tracye was Founding CEO of Choose New Jersey, one of a few economic development organizations in the country wholly funded through private sources. While there, she shaped the state's brand for economic development marketing as well as its business retention and recruitment strategies. Tracye was also one of the founding creators of Opportunity Houston at the Greater Houston Partnership where she served in the role of Executive Vice President and COO. She also served on the Board of Regents of Texas Southern University, one of the nation's largest historically Black universities (HBCU).
Tracye is a widely recognized strategist with C-Suite level experience in all facets of organizational development, corporate engagement, economic development, and the travel marketing industry. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Communications from the University of Texas at Austin.
Tristin studied accounting and international business at Washington University in St. Louis. She gained over a decade of accounting experience in healthcare and manufacturing before landing at TIP in 2018. Some of her favorite things are chocolate, a zero-discrepancy bank reconciliation, and all travel receipts accounted for.
Victoria has over 10 years of experience applying her knowledge of data, research, and community engagement toward research and consulting projects. Through this work she has collaborated closely with community leaders and industry experts to develop and execute successful strategies to advance their policy goals. At TIP, she has managed economic development engagements at the city, county, and state levels focused on community outreach, organizational alignment, and fostering innovation. Her most recent work includes managing the economic development strategic planning process for Pinellas County, Florida, and the Town of Flower Mound, Texas, as well as supporting the delivery of state-wide strategic plans on behalf of the Delaware Business Roundtable and the Texas Association of Business. Prior to joining TIP Strategies in 2021, she worked in the affordable housing space, analyzing and developing policies that would increase the supply of affordable housing in Texas. Victoria also conducted transportation and international trade research for several years, during which she specialized in the impacts of trade flows and corridors on the communities they serve. As a native Spanish speaker, Victoria has extensive experience engaging stakeholders in Mexico and the US in the language, as well as translating written materials. She holds a Master of Public Affairs from the University of Texas at Austin and a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and German from Colgate University.