Courtesy Dallas Mayor’s office
Dallas mayor Eric Johnson — out of quarantine after testing positive for COVID-19 at the end of October — says he has appointed Nina Vaca, founder and CEO of employment agency The Pinnacle Group, as the city’s first entrepreneur-in-residence, a position created by his Task Force on Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
According to the mayor, in the new role, Vaca will “promote Dallas to the world and provide advice and counsel on strategies the city can employ to become an inclusive and internationally recognized hub for startup leaders, innovators, and disruptors.”
He added that “Dallas is already a cutting-edge city that supports the dreams of entrepreneurs, but it’s time for the city to take its efforts to the next level. Nina will help with that.”
Johnson goes on to tell how Vaca built Pinnacle Group — an employment agency located on North Central Expressway in the Lake Highlands/Preston Hollow area — 25 years ago from inside her Dallas apartment. He noted that she’s been recognized as a top entrepreneur by Goldman Sachs, Ernst & Young and the White House.
The mayor noted that The Site Selectors Guild, which helps companies pick where to locate, is having its conference in Dallas and invited him to speak.
He says he plans to discuss Dallas’ growth even in the face of the pandemic. “And all of this growth is supported by the city’s actions — the city council in this year’s budget put public safety first, cut the property tax rate, invested in infrastructure, and improved its cultural and entertainment offerings,” he added.
The mayor noted that he will deliver his State of the City speech Wednesday, Nov. 17.
