The Dallas Economic Development Corporation (Dallas EDC), a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting economic growth in Dallas, announces the election of four board members to officer positions and as members of the Executive Committee of DEDC: 

• Gilbert Gerst, Chairman of the Board;
• Jimmy Tran, Vice Chairman of the Board;
• Ardo Fuentes, Treasurer; and
• Dania Duncan Moreno, Secretary.

 To view a complete list of the Dallas EDC Board members, click here.

 "It is an honor to be appointed as Chairman of the Board and to have the opportunity to focus more on the Dallas EDC," stated Gilbert Gerst, who has been a member of the Dallas EDC board since 2022. “I am eager to work alongside the new board officers, who bring diverse business backgrounds and represent various industries in our city. Together, we will enhance our efforts to support and promote Dallas."

Gilbert Gerst leads the community development group at BOK Financial Corporation, overseeing compliance, CRA examinations, and community development lending for Texas, Oklahoma, Colorado, Arizona, Arkansas, Kansas, and Missouri. He has been in the banking industry for over 39 years and has been actively engaged in community and economic development.   He specializes in real estate financing for low-income housing tax credit projects, providing construction financing, permanent financing, and equity investments. Gerst holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of North Texas and a master’s degree in real estate from the University of Texas at Arlington.

Jimmy J. Tran is the Market Director (North Texas) at Optima Mergers & Acquisitions, where he advises business owners, entrepreneurs, and operators on the sale of their businesses. He also founded Oaklawn Group LLC, an investment firm focused on real estate and income-producing assets. Jimmy successfully built and sold a multi-unit franchise in North Texas and serves on the Advisory Board of several real estate technology companies. Before his current roles, Jimmy led corporate strategy and mergers and acquisitions for a $10 billion+ segment at CBRE, where he managed over $2 billion in acquisitions and tripled earnings in eight years. He also worked as a management consultant for Bain & Company in Dallas, Hong Kong, and Singapore.

Ardo Fuentes began his investment career in 1999 and joined Stifel in 2021 as Senior Vice President of Investments. Before Stifel, he worked at Bank of America Merrill Lynch in New York City and Robertson Stephens in San Francisco. His focus is on helping individuals and family offices manage their financial needs, as well as assisting businesses with exit strategies and profitability improvement. Ardo holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Texas at El Paso and an MBA from the University of Notre Dame. He is involved in the community as a board member of Dallas CASA and on the advisory board of E-LEAD at UTEP’s College of Engineering, having previously served on the board of Uplift Education for nine years.

Dania Duncan Moreno is a Commercial Real Estate Partner at Bell Nunnally & Martin LLP. With legal training in both the United States and Mexico, she offers clients valuable cross-border expertise. Dania’s practice focuses on domestic and international real estate and corporate transactions, serving clients in the hospitality, retail, industrial, and residential sectors. Licensed in both Texas and Mexico, she represents companies in a wide range of commercial real estate transactions, including leases, purchase and sale agreements, development agreements, and due diligence. In addition to her real estate work, she advises on corporate matters, including mergers, acquisitions, and financing, across diverse industries.

About Dallas Economic Development Corporation

The City of Dallas Economic Development Corporation (“Dallas EDC”) is a non-profit corporation created by the City to drive the city’s economic growth and vitality. The Mission is to promote Dallas as a globally competitive business destination that fosters economic opportunities for all members of the city. The organization is guided by a vision of driving investment and economic growth through job creation, business development, and real estate development, and prioritizing actions and investments that create access to economic opportunity for all. Dallas is the epicenter of business, and the Dallas EDC showcases the unparalleled opportunities that Dallas offers. For additional information on Dallas EDC, click here.