Mayor Stimpson names Innovation Team leader
Mar 16th, 2015
MOBILE, Ala. - Mayor Sandy Stimpson today named Mobile native Joan Dunlap as executive director of the Mayor's Innovation Team following a robust nationwide search.Dunlap, a former business executive, will lead the City of Mobile's participation in the Innovation Team program sponsored by Bloomberg Philanthropies. She will begin the new job effective immediately.
"We received applications from across America and we were thrilled to find our top candidate right here in our local workforce," said Mayor Stimpson. "Joan Dunlap has an outstanding background as an entrepreneur and investor, and she has had impressive experience reviving economically depressed areas in Houston. We are excited to welcome her home again as we continue our efforts to transform Mobile."
Dunlap, born and raised in Mobile, comes to the City with 20 years of executive experience in energy, finance, real estate, technology and education. She is a graduate of Murphy High School, Tulane University, the Jones Graduate School of Management at Rice University and completed post-graduate studies at Harvard Business School.
Her primary experience is in the energy industry, where she served as a founding partner of Houston-based PetroHawk Energy Corp. Dunlap also served in the Real Estate Finance Group at JPMorganChase, where she worked with public and private officials to redevelop blighted areas of Houston.
Dunlap returned to the Mobile area in 2012 and has spent the past three years as an entrepreneur helping small, locally owned businesses expand their national footprint.
"I am honored that Mayor Stimpson has given me such a meaningful opportunity to serve this city," Dunlap said. "There is noticeable, positive momentum building in Mobile - momentum that is attracting nationwide attention. It is great to be home and to be part of the community's effort to revive neighborhoods and ignite economic development in lasting ways."
The Innovation Team is made possible with a three year, $1,650,000 grant from Bloomberg Philanthropies. The City of Mobile was one of 14 global cities selected in December 2014 as part of the Bloomberg Philanthropies' Innovation Teams program.
The program aims to improve the capacity of City Halls to effectively design and implement new approaches that improve citizens' lives. These teams function as in-house innovation consultants, moving from one mayoral priority to the next.
In Mobile, the innovation team's initial focus will be on developing innovative solutions to foster neighborhood revitalization in targeted areas.
The executive director position was widely advertised on the City of Mobile website, ICMA.org, AL.com, NOLA.com and Indeed.com. The city's selection committee reviewed more than 160 applications for the position.
About Bloomberg Philanthropies
Bloomberg Philanthropies' mission is to ensure better, longer lives for the greatest number of people. The organization focuses on five key areas for creating lasting change: Public Health, Environment, Education, Government Innovation and the Arts. Bloomberg Philanthropies encompasses all of Michael R. Bloomberg's charitable activities, including his foundation and his personal giving. In 2014, Bloomberg Philanthropies distributed $462 million. For more information on the philanthropy, please visit bloomberg.org or follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @BloombergDotOrg.
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Contact:
George Talbot
City of Mobile
251-208-7590
George.Talbot@CityofMobile.org