Business Advisory Council

BUSINESS ENTREPRENEURSHIP - Patty Harris, Owner, A+ Academy Driving School

Patty Harris has lived in Grand Prairie since 2015 and her entire life in Texas.  She is a mother of four and has three grandchildren.

Patty demonstrates her entrepreneurial spirit as an owner of A+ Academy Driving School, with locations in Grand Prairie and Arlington.

As a certified Texas teacher and administrator, she has invested in the lives of thousands of students over her 20 years in education.  

While a DPS road tester and in-car instructor, she helps students continue to gain confidence in real-world skills, to become responsible, independent citizens.  

Motto:  We Help Save Lives Every Day!

Jeremiah 29:11 - "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD.  "Plans to prosper you and not to harm you.  Plans to give you hope and a future."

Cell:  (682) 313-6839 

Email:  aplusacademydriving@gmail.com

FINANCIAL PLANNING -  Rafia Zaman, Compliance Complaint Case Manager 

Wells Fargo Advisors

Cell- 682-716-9255

My passion and dedication to serve my clients made me an asset to the Financial Industry.

I am a committed and driven individual with the desire to learn about client’s needs and build personalized strategies to help reach their goals. I believe it’s important to invest my time to understand what Important to my client is. I strive to provide clear explanations of the solutions I recommend.

 I have my degrees in Economics and have series 7, 66, life and health insurance licenses. I have professional experience in: advisory, investment, banking, client complaint resolution, business development and customer service. 

I am a new resident in Grand Prairie and live in the Mira Lagos housing area with my husband and three kids. I am humbled to be a part of this diversified and supportive community. 

I believe that I can be a resource for the members of the Grand Prairie Chamber of Commerce to help them reach their financial goals and business developments. I am also eager to learn from other members and grow myself.

MARKETING - Jason Williams

Professionally, Jason is the Associate Vice President for Enrollment at Dallas Baptist University, and is also an Adjunct Professor in the fields of Marketing and Hospitality.  He holds a Bachelors and a Masters degree in Marketing.

As a marketing professional for almost 25 years, Jason understands how to grow business and the economy.

He has served as the Vice Chairman of the North Texas Collegiate Consortium and has also served on the Board of Directors for the HEB and Colleyville Area Chamber of Commerce where his institution was awarded “Business of the Year”.  He has also served on the Planning Board of the Dallas Ft Worth Area Tourism Council and has been a member of over 20 different professional organizations.

Jason has formerly served his hometown of Pantego as the Mayor, Mayor Pro Tem and Town Council member Place 4.  He has also previously served on the Pantego Economic Development Corporation as well as various other Boards.

Jason has also served on the Board of Directors for the Arlington Parks and Recreation Board, been a member of the Arlington High Cheer Booster Club, was a member of the Rotary Club, and has served on numerous committees for fundraising events.

As a marketing professional for almost 25 years, Jason understands how to grow the economy through a strong business environment.  His vision includes improvements to our current business community and infrastructure, through many sources including the wise use of tax-payer funds, which will lead to the retention of current businesses while also attracting the right new businesses.

LEADERSHIP - Malcolm R. Gage, Jr

Malcolm R. Gage, Jr, a native Texan from Beaumont, moved to the North Texas area to attend Southern Methodist University, where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Public Affairs & Corporate Communications, minoring in Ethics, Sociology, and Biology. His automotive career journey began 24 years ago in sales with a small Ford dealership in Lewisville, Texas and he is now General Manager of one of the fastest growing Mercedes-Benz dealerships in the country, Park Place Motorcars Arlington. His tenure with Park Place has led him to multiple leadership positions within the organization, working with world-class brands such as Volvo, Jaguar, Maserati, McLaren, Bentley, Karma, and Bugatti. During his role as Sales Director of Park Place Premier Collection, he led his team to global recognition as the Top McLaren retailer globally for two years consecutively, in addition to the North American Retailer of the Year for Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. His passion and focus for the brands also earned him the distinction of Rolls-Royce North American Sales Manager of the Year. This was the first year the award was bestowed to a RollsRoyce Sales Manager. He is also Co-Owner/Managing Partner of Ophelia’s New Soul, a modern soul food restaurant that competed during primetime television on Food Network’s “Food Court Wars” and emerged victorious, awarding him and his business partner a space in Collin Creek Mall located in Plano, Texas for one year rent free. The successful restaurant landed itself national and international acclaim for its soulful classics with a healthy and modern interpretation. In addition, he is adamantly focused on numerous civic and philanthropic organizations. He has been recognized by DIFFA Dallas as a Style Council Ambassador, a group comprised of the city’s top influencers. He was also recognized as a “Distinguished Alumni” from the Southern Methodist University, Black Alumni Association. His current focus is on numerous humanitarian and diversity initiatives such as the Suicide and Crisis Center of North Texas, Immigration Equality, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, Equality Texas, and several others. Recognition • Coach of the Year - Park Place Volvo & Park Place Premier Collection • DIFFA Dallas Style Council Ambassador • Southern Living Magazine – “Top 50 People in America Changing the South” • Distinguished Alumni Award – Black Alumni Association • City of Dallas CVB Ambassador • Fashion Stars for a Cause – Benefitting Suicide and Crisis Center of North Texas • Rolls-Royce Motor Cars North American Sales Manager of the Year • NADA Academy Graduate – (Summer 2021) Civic Involvement • National Gay and Lesbian Task Force • Immigration Equality • SMU Alumni Association • SMU Black Alumni Association • Equality Texas • Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Life Member

HUMAN RESOURCES - Jeanetta Dagley

Part Owner of Mr Electric of Grand Prairie- a residential and commercial service company providing electrical and lighting service to South Dallas and Ellis Counties, since 2014. 

My role at MR E GP includes operations, marketing and HR responsibilities. Prior to my role at MR E GP we were a general contractor with the government where we managed the Dallas Ft Worth area contracts. I am married  for 37 years to Gary, have 2 children and 2 grandchildren. I attend Trinity Church in Cedar Hill. 

BUSINESS INSURANCE - Adriana Cano Olavarrieta

17304 Preston Rd Suite 800, Dallas TX 75252 214-940-6332 
acanoinsuranceagency@gmail.com

Adriana is a bilingual commercial insurance agent who communicates objectively with business owners to explain the features and advantages of insurance policies help manage their risk and evaluate the best option for the Insurance.

She holds a Marketing and Business Management bachelors from Universidad Lisandro Alvarado Barquisimeto, Venezuela, Broker Diploma and License SUDASEG and English Links Foundation, Intensive English Program CUNY- NYU in Heights New York.

She is a licensed agent on Insurance licensed Life, Accident, Health, Property and Business, Insurance Broker from State Farm Insurance Agency.

She owns and operates Acano Agency LLC with state licenses in Texas, New York, Oklahoma, Florida, Utah, Philadelphia, New Jersey, Georgia.

Facebook @acanoagency
Instagram @acanoinsurance
www.acanoagency.com

BUSINESS FINANCE - William (Bill) Moser

Hard working, dedicated and community oriented marketing / sales professional, supported by a strong academic background, with an International Business MBA and an Economics BA. Thirty-Five plus years of experience in many aspects of financial services, real estate, sales, marketing, construction, and management.

EDUCATION
MBA UNIVERSITY OF DALLAS Irving, Texas 1983
General / International Business 

BA UNIVERSITY OF DALLAS Irving, Texas 1982

Married, lives in Grand Prairie and has six children.  A longtime Chamber member and particpant, Bill enjoys  amateur astronomy, rugby, archery, camping, highland games, heraldry, and shooting sports in his free time.

NON-PROFITS - Lynn McGinley

Lynn McGinley was raised in Houston Texas and educated at University of Texas at Austin, receiving her degree in Business Management and International Business from Northwood University in Cedar Hill with Highest Honors. She is married to Brian McGinley, of Bloomington, MN. And they have two boys, Matthew, and Andrew, and four grandchildren, Ana, Sophia, Sam, and Vincent.

She began her career at Southwestern Bell Telephone as the parent company, AT&T was facing divestiture. During her tenure at SWBT, she represented her company on the board of the Cedar Hill Chamber where she eventually served as the Chairman of the Board. Thus, began her love affair with non-profit work. After her retirement from the company then called, SBC where she served as an Executive Director in the wholesale market, she continued to volunteer. Lynn eventually served as President/CEO of both the Duncanville and the Grand Prairie Chamber over her tenure in Chamber work. She also served as President of the North Texas Chamber Executives in 2016 and as the Vice-chair of Governance on the Texas State Chamber of Commerce Executives Board of Directors until 2018.

Immediately upon her retirement from the Chamber of Commerce in 2017, Lynn was asked to join Asia Times Square as the Director of Operations and the President/CEO of the LOH Foundation. A few months later she was awarded a contract with Grand Prairie ISD to assist with business and community partnerships for Career Technical Education. This is when she formed LMconsulting, LLC. She currently balances these three positions. As if this is not enough, Lynn recently received her Master of Science Degree in Management and Leadership from Western Governors University graduating in the top 3% of her class.