DI People: TechFW, Tricolor, Munck Wilson Mandala Make Moves

Across North Texas, companies are promoting and hiring people to take on leadership positions within their organizations.

Dallas Innovates covers prominent personnel moves in Dallas-Fort Worth businesses and nonprofits—from the newest startups to well-established companies. Here are the people moves tied to innovation and technology in the region.

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TechFW hires a new assistant director

Brandy O’Quinn

Fort Worth-based TechFW, a nonprofit that aims to help entrepreneurs bring innovative technologies to market, is bringing on Brandy O’Quinn as its new assistant director.

Described as an entrepreneur at heart, O’Quinn is an accomplished public affairs professional who has experience on the complex municipal networks within the North Texas region. TechFW credits her with decades of experience successfully delivering results through engagement with stakeholders across all platforms.

In her new role, O’Quinn will lead efforts to foster current and new relationships in the region, working closely with Executive Director Hayden Blackburn and the TechFW team to evaluate and increase program efficiencies, collaborate with communities, and implement long-range goals.

O’Quinn plans to continue at her consulting firm, Urban Strategies of Texas, to advance policy work for clients.

Tricolor adds to its Board of Directors

Beth Brooke

Dallas-based Tricolor, a used vehicle retailer and lender for the Hispanic consumer, has appointed Beth Brooke to its Board of Directors and chair of its Audit Committee.

Brooke, who has been named to Forbes’ list of the “100 Most Powerful Women in the World” eleven times, is a financial policy expert, advocate for purpose-driven corporations, and voice for social justice and equality. She had a 40-year career at EY, serving as a member of the Global Board, global vice chair of Public Policy, and global sponsor of Diversity and Inclusion during her time there. She was also in the office of Tax Policy in the U.S. Department of the Treasury during the Clinton Administration.

In addition to Tricolor, Brooke sits on the Boards of eHealth, Beta Bionics, and SHEEX.

“We are honored to welcome Beth to our Board of Directors,” Tricolor Founder and CEO Daniel Chu said in a statement. “Her impact in the world both personally and professionally has been profound. As we continue to grow our model for inclusion, her strategic insight and guidance will be invaluable towards expanding our thriving enterprise and lifting up the communities it serves.”

Munck Wilson Mandala adds litigation partner to its team

Carolyn Raines

Tech-focused law firm Munck Wilson Mandala has added Carolyn Raines to its complex litigation/dispute resolution group as a litigation partner.

Raines brings around three decades of legal experience to the firm, with past experience representing clients in state and federal courts, arbitrations, regulatory actions, and class actions. Most recently, she was a shareholder at Godwin Bowman PC in Dallas.

According to Munck Wilson, Raines has the ability to manage large volumes of cases and supervise teams of dozens of attorneys and paralegals. The firm calls her a “great fit” for its growing securities and enforcement practice.

“We take great pride in our securities litigation practice at MWM,” Litigation Partner Shain Khoshbin said in a statement. “Carolyn is knowledgeable, experienced, and tenacious. She is a valuable addition to our securities practice, as well as other practice areas, who will provide enhanced services for our clients.”

SpotSee CEO joins AIM Board of Directors

Tony Fonk

Tony Fonk, the CEO at SpotSee, a Dallas-based leader in supply chain temperature indicators that monitor test specimens in the SARS and H1N1 virus outbreaks, has been appointed to the Board of Directors at AIM.

Short for Advancing Identification Matters, AIM is an industry association that focuses on automatic identification and data capture technologies. As a member of the Board, Fonk will assist in managing and developing the association’s strategy, policies, and procedures. He will serve a two-year term.

Fonk joined SpotSee in 2015 with more than 17 years of experience in developing product, service and channel strategies. As CEO, he is tasked with directing the management team and supporting each member of the company.

“It is an honor to help advance and define the changing world of IoT in real-world business conditions,” Fonk said in a statement. “AIM is a great association where industry leaders collaborate to advance industry standards and adoption. We are proud that SpotSee has been chosen to participate alongside our industry peers.”

Axxess expands its senior leadership team

Patricia Drea

Dallas-based Axxess, a leading tech provider for care at home, has hired private duty home care expert Patricia Drea as a senior vice president.

Drea has a vast experience in the industry, serving as chair of the Board and COO at Visiting Angels and a past chair of the National Association for Home Care and Hospice’s Private Duty Home Care Association. She has also had stints at At Home Total Care as CEO, Home Care Services Tenet Hospital System’s Piedmont Medical Center as administrative director, and Provider Relations for Staff Builders as national director.

“Pat will be an invaluable resource for our home care clients,” John Olajide, founder and CEO of Axxess, said in a statement. “She has more than 30 years of experience in private duty and skilled nursing, including owning and managing home care organizations and working with franchises. Everywhere she has worked she has provided outstanding leadership in building organizational efficiencies to improve client care and grow business. She takes our ability to serve home care clients to the highest level.”

Taysha Gene Therapies adds to its leadership team

Greg Gara

Dallas-based Taysha Gene Therapies, a patient-centric gene therapy company that aims to eradicate monogenic CNS disease, has brought on Greg Gara and Kimberly Lee to its leadership team.

As senior vice president of manufacturing, Gara will use his technical expertise in AAV gene therapy manufacturing and his proven success in constructing several cGMP gene therapy facilities.

He has more than 25 years of experience in designing, constructing, and starting up large- and small-scale manufacturing facilities for biotech companies, most recently serving as VP of Pharmaceutical Engineering at Sarepta.

Kimberly Lee

Lee will serve as the senior vice president of Corporate Communications and Investor Relations at Taysha.

She brings more than two decades of experience to the company in capital markets, strategic corporate finance, and communications, previously serving roles as a biotech equity research analyst on Wall Street and corporate strategy, communications, and investor relations professional. She was most recently head of Corporate Strategy and Investor Relations at Lexicon Pharmaceuticals.