Meet the Staff and Board

Board of Directors

The Denison Development Alliance (DDA) is a public non-profit entity organized and empowered by the City of Denison to develop and implement a comprehensive economic development program.

Through an alliance with the Denison Development Foundation, the Denison Chamber of Commerce, and the City of Denison, a very strong pro-business climate has been established and maintained for several years.

Charlie Pool
Treasurer

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Jared Johnson
Chairman

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Mark Kuneman
Vice Chairman

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Teresa Adams
Secretary

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Tom Akins
Vice Chairman

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Our Team

Tony Kaai, CEcD
President

Email: tkaai@denisontx.org
Office: (903) 464-0883
Mobile: (903) 821-8088

About Tony

Tony has been in the economic development business for over 35 years. He attained “Certified Economic Developer” status in 1993. He spent 15 years in Oklahoma and the last 20 in Denison, TX. During his tenure in Oklahoma, he served as the President of the Oklahoma Economic Development Council. In 1994 he was recognized as the “Professional of the Year” by the OEDC. In Texas he has served on Board of Director of the Texas Economic Development Council. Denison Development Alliance was awarded “Community of the Year” in 2005 and 4 other awards over his tenure for outstanding programs by the TEDC. Tony has extensive experience in assisting/recruiting back office, manufacturing, retail, and entertainment businesses.

Tiffany Barney
Vice President of Operations

Email: tbarney@denisontx.org
Office: (903) 464-0883
Mobile: (903) 821-8028

About Tiffany

Tiffany recently moved to Denison, Texas after being a lifelong resident of Las Vegas, Nevada. The kindness of the Denison residents, its small-town feel - while still offering all of the amenities of her hometown, and her family in the area were the deciding factors in her decision to relocate. She loves the area and the charm of using “y’all” in a sentence. Tiffany graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in pre-medicine at Brigham Young University and a Juris Doctorate degree from the William S. Boyd School of Law at the University of Nevada Las Vegas. She practiced law in Las Vegas for over seventeen years and recently became licensed through the Texas State Bar. In Nevada, she primarily practiced and litigated cases in the areas of trusts, probate, and estates; business, real estate, and landlord/tenant law; homeowner’s association law; and guardianship and domestic relations law, representing clients of diverse histories and backgrounds. Now, she is excited to use her background and experience to help the city of Denison grow. Tiffany is the proud mother of one married daughter who recently gave birth to her first granddaughter in December 2022. If she is not spending time with family, Tiffany enjoys playing the piano and writing. She recently published her first book in November 2022.

Nichole Tucker
Economic Development and Workforce Coordinator

Email: ntucker@denisontx.org
Office: (903) 464-0883
Mobile: (580) 565-9818

About Nichole

Nichole was born and raised in Texas but moved to Oklahoma to attend Southeastern Oklahoma State University, where she received her undergraduate and graduate degrees. She spent eighteen years of service in the Durant Oklahoma school system before beginning a new adventure in Economic Development. She joined the city of Durant as their Economic Development Director while also serving as the Durant Industrial Authority Executive Director. During her time with the City of Durant, she served on several other boards, including the Main Street board as Economic Vitality Chair, Airport Advisory Board, Durant Chamber of Commerce Board and still serves on the J127 Board. Nichole and her husband Kyle own a plumbing company in Durant Oklahoma, this has established a true love for small business and how greatly they impact our communities. When she is not working she loves to travel, chase her kids around at sporting events and spend as much time with her husband, kids and two dogs as she can.

Shelle Cassell
Program Assistant

Email: scassell@denisontx.org
Office: (903) 464-0883

About Shelle

Shelle has been a community volunteer since returning to Denison after completing a Bachelor of Science in Journalism and Advertising Design from the University of North Texas. Her professional career included work within a full-service advertising agency, the healthcare industry, and 31 years as Director of Marketing and Public Information at Grayson College. After retirement from GC, she worked for the Denison Chamber of Commerce and Southeastern Oklahoma State University and she now enjoys being part of the Denison Development Alliance team. Her support of the community is illustrated through her service and appointments to many statewide and local civic, economic development, and public education boards and committees. Shelle is a member of the Denison ISD Board of Trustees and is currently serving, or has recently served, on the Denison Education Foundation (past President), Texoma Health Foundation, Denison Chamber of Commerce (past Chairman of the Board), and Denison Development Foundation (past Chairman of the Board).

Meetings

The Denison Development Alliance Board of Directors meets on the third (3rd) Thursday of each month.

If you would like to receive the DDA Board packets prior to the meeting, please contact the DDA office at (903) 464-0883.

Meeting Location

Denison Development Alliance Conference Room
311 W. Woodard Street
Denison, Texas 75020

Americans with Disabilities Act

Persons with disabilities who plan to attend these meetings and who may need assistance are requested to contact the office of the DDA VP of Operations two (2) working days prior to the meeting so that appropriate arrangements can be made.

Agendas

Minutes

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