Joan Quintana directs the Economic Development and the Technology Commercialization Programs within TEEX’s Technology and Economic Development Division. Her areas of expertise include community development planning, marketing and business development, branding, technology commercialization and small business development and project management.

Before joining TEEX, Joan was a principal with AdventGX Corporation, a tourism and economic development consulting firm serving small communities throughout Texas and Mexico. She has managed large federal research programs, including the US Army Medical Research and Materiel Command’s Disaster Relief and Emergency Medical Services (DREAMS) program, a joint research and development program of Texas A&M University, the Texas Engineering Extension Service and the UT Health Science Center. She also managed the Advanced Law Enforcement and Response Technology (ALERT) project of the Texas Transportation Institute. She is the former Director of Communications for the Association of Former Students of Texas A&M University and former editor of Texas Aggie magazine.

979.458.6720 office | 979.458.6727 fax | Joan.Quintana@teexmail.tamu.edu

Sue Ann Palmore
Research and Planning Services Program Manager

Sue Ann Palmore works closely with communities, economic development organizations and industry clients to provide technical assistance for economic growth. She has sixteen years experience in project management, and several years experience in economic, workforce, and business development. She also has extensive experience in management and strategic planning.

Prior to joining TEEX, Sue Ann worked as director and trainer/consultant for a seven county workforce area, and prior to that as a program manager with Health and Human Services Commission. Her experience includes analysis and research projects, curriculum development, and facilitation. Sue Ann has a Bachelors Degree from Texas A&M University.

979.458.6723 office | 979.458.6727 fax | SueAnn.Palmore@teexmail.tamu.edu

Caleb Holt
Economic Development Project Specialist

Caleb Holt works closely with communities, economic development organizations and industry clients to provide technical assistance for economic and community development. A specialist in technology commercialization and market intelligence, Caleb is a graduate of Texas A&M University, where he is currently pursuing a graduate degree in AgriBusiness. His current focus is on economic catastrophe recovery.

979.458.6735 office | 979.458.6727 fax | Caleb.Holt@teexmail.tamu.edu

Michael West
Economic Development Project Manager

Michael West is currently an adjunct economic and workforce development project manager for TEEX, operating out of Austin, Texas. As a member of the Technology and Economic Development Division at TEEX, he works with mid-sized and rural communities to provide technical assistance in community assessments, workforce and market development and strategic planning. He is a former Business Research Manager in the Economic Development & Tourism division of the Office of the Governor of Texas, overseeing decision-support research for the agency’s mission to market Texas as a business location and tourism destination. With the Governor’s office, Michael also worked on the Texas Industry Cluster Initiative and planning activities for the state’s new Emerging Technology Fund Program.

Michael has worked with the state’s economic development agencies since 1989, serving previously as the director of strategic planning, as a liaison to the governor’s office and legislative budget board for budget and performance issues, and as director of the Market Texas Business and Economic Information Clearinghouse.

Michael is a graduate of the Economic Development Institute at the University of Oklahoma, winning the award for the most outstanding thesis for his essay “Matching Principles and Policies in Economic Development Programs.” He holds a B.A. and an M.A. in Economics from the University of Texas at Austin. He has traveled widely, serving in the U.S. Peace Corps in Chile and teaching economics and banking in Cyprus.

Michael.West@teexmail.tamu.edu

Randy Thomas
Economic Development Project Manager

Randy Thomas is responsible for providing business development and technical assistance to communities, economic development organizations, and industrial and retail clients. He brings to TEEX a seasoned economic developer with a consistent record of achievement at the community and regional levels. Randy provides over 20 years of experience as a city manager and CEO for several successful economic development organizations; working with communities to develop their economic and industrial potential. He has extensive experience in developing business retention, planning and attraction strategies. He holds Master of Business Administration and Master of Public Administration degrees from Angelo State University, and is a graduate of the Economic Development Institute at the University of Oklahoma.

Randy.Thomas@teexmail.tamu.edu

Anthony Trojan
Economic Development Adjunct

Anthony Trojan is responsible for research efforts and project support. He has a wide breadth of experience in research and writing, and prior to beginning his graduate studies worked as a reporter covering politics and agriculture in North Texas. He earned a Master of International Affairs degree at The Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University in 2009 and a Bachelor of Arts degree in politics at Regis University in Denver, Colorado in 2006.

979.458.6725 office | 979.458.6727 fax | Anthony.Trojan@teexmail.tamu.edu