Our People

Ronita Wade serves as the Chief Executive Officer for TAEO. She brings over 16 years of experience working in finance, economic development and entrepreneurship. Ronita started her career with MainStay Investments in New York before transitioning into development, including as project manager at the United Nations Democracy Fund.

She is passionate about aligning teams and stakeholders with organizational strategy while navigating a world of consistent change. Prior to TAEO, Ronita worked at the fintech company NerdWallet. Ronita received a B.A. in International Politics and Economics from NYU, and a MSc. in Globalization and Economic Development from the University of Manchester.

Gary Hamer currently serves as the Chief Strategy Officer (CSO) for TAEO, focusing on optimizing organizational revenues, assets, risk management, performance and strategic planning. Additionally, he oversees key outreach and capacity building initiatives within TAEO's Community Development team. Prior to joining TAEO, he served as the City of Tulsa's Capital Planning and Grants Manager, where he was responsible for the City's Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) and the oversight of the administration of the City’s annual Housing and Urban Development (HUD) entitlement funds.

He has served in a number of capacities during his 29 years in local government, including transportation planning, zoning and subdivision administration, and project management. He is committed to researching and implementing best practices, is fascinated by Legacy Cities, and believes strongly in the advocacy for equity.

With a decade of experience at the City of Tulsa, including roles as Senior Accountant and Accounting Manager, Linn brings exceptional expertise and dedication to her new role. Driven by her passion for Tulsa’s transformation and growth, Linn is committed to leveraging financial insights that will help propel TAEO’s mission of creating a thriving and inclusive community for all Tulsans. Her leadership will play a pivotal role in aligning our financial strategies with the city’s dynamic future.

Ericka Rivers serves as the Office Manager of TAEO, aiding the Executive Assistant in the overall operations of the organization. Prior to this role, Ericka spent 20 years in the manufacturing industry as an Accounts Payable Clerk, Payroll Accountant, and Compensation & Benefits Manager.

Michelle Barnett serves as the Senior Vice President of Economic and Workforce Development for TAEO, leading a team of professionals working on small business and entrepreneurship, business attraction, retention and expansion, and workforce development. Prior to this role, she served as Mayor G.T. Bynum's Deputy Chief of Economic Development. Before her work at the City, Michelle spent over ten years in operations management with Tulsa engineering firms. Michelle is energized by connecting people to work they love, helping businesses grow, and empowering communities to achieve economic resilience. She believes in TAEO’s mission to create jobs that increase individual economic mobility for all Tulsans.

Maria F. Almeida is a bilingual and bicultural small business strategist professional. She is from Quito, Ecuador, where she obtained her bachelor’s degree in financial engineering and a master’s degree in international relations, specializing in Economics and Finance. Her experience has been primarily working with small businesses both in Latin America and the US. She started her career as a Commercial Banker in her country. In the U.S., she worked for almost 10 years with a CDFI in Chicago as an underwriter, loan officer, team manager, and created a Latino Outreach Program. She also had the opportunity to direct a business pitch competition promoted by the State Department and USAID, which intended to connect small business owners in Latin America and the U.S.

She has been mentoring small business owners, providing technical assistance with the Women’s Business Development Center in Chicago and the Oklahoma Small Business Development Centers. She was also a VP Bilingual Financial Center Leader for Bank of Oklahoma and Operations Director for UMA Tulsa. In the Summer of 2025, she obtained her MBA in Entrepreneurship at Southeastern Oklahoma State University. Her passion is to help entrepreneurs start and grow their businesses and communities.

With an impressive track record of leadership and innovation, Jacob brings a wealth of experience to our team. As the former Executive Director at Modus and COO at the Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma, he spearheaded initiatives that boosted operational efficiency and made a meaningful impact.

Demauri is a Senior Business Services Manager at PartnerTulsa, Tulsa’s economic development authority, where his work spans business consulting, RFP management, placemaking, and developer engagement. He holds an MBA from the Harvey School of Business at Oklahoma Christian University and is a licensed real estate sales associate, bringing prior experience in philanthropy managing impact investments in underserved neighborhoods. Demauri is committed to driving economic growth and opportunity across Tulsa’s business community.

Mike Dickerson serves as the SVP of Incentives and Municipal Relations, leading the Incentives and Municipal Relations Department of TAEO. Prior to this role, he served as the Controller for TAEO and was the City of Tulsa’s Sr. Economist in the Mayor’s Office of Economic Development and a variety of other positions during his 18 years with the City of Tulsa. Mike is passionate about data and creating policies that are equitable, sustainable, and just.

Karyn serves as the Director of Economic Incentives. Leveraging her more than two decades of outstanding housing and development experience, she supervises the Economic Incentives Manager and oversees the TAEO’s use of public finance incentive tools and programs to assist development and redevelopment projects that drive value for the organization. With experience in both the private and non-profit sectors across three states, she brings a uniquely deep perspective. She is passionate about development in all its forms, and in the special role her work plays in community creation, stabilization, and growth.

John is the Economic Incentives Manager for Incentives and Municipal Relations. Prior to this role, he was Principal Planner with the Indian Nations Council of Governments (INCOG), splitting his time between the Transportation division and the Community & Economic Development division. He has also served as a Senior Planner for the Tulsa Planning Office, leading the development of the City of Tulsa’s Comprehensive Plan. In addition, John serves as an Adjunct Professor for the University of Oklahoma Urban Design Studio, teaching urban planning students Geographic Information Systems (GIS).

He has a Master’s Degree in Urban Planning and Design from the University of Georgia and a Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture from the Georgia Institute of Technology.

Gretchen Mudoga serves as the Senior Community Development Manager at TAEO. Prior to this role, she was the Neighborhood Revitalization Director at Growing Together, spent 10 years as Housing Operations Director for the Tulsa Housing Authority, and 10 years in various roles throughout the City of Tulsa. Gretchen has called Tulsa home for nearly 30 years and is passionate about creating equitable Housing and Economic opportunities for her community. She believes in the importance of being a catalyst for Housing and Economic growth and leaving behind a continued legacy of building generational wealth.

Inez Ramirez serves as a Community Development Specialist at TAEO, where she manages and supports initiatives that increase equitable development, expand community capacity building, and improve economic mobility across the City of Tulsa. Prior to her role, Inez spent years working in Youth Development, where she helped promote and develop effective after-school programming with the goal of helping youth fulfill their utmost potential.

Nia serves as Senior Vice President of Real Estate and Asset Management for TAEO, managing existing public assets, real estate, and resources to ensure they provide maximum economic impact and generate sustainable revenues to support organizational operations. Prior to this role, Nia spent over 13 years managing commercial and industrial properties at international commercial real estate firms. Nia is excited about helping to achieve TAEO’s mission to make Tulsa an extraordinary city for all its citizens. She works to remain abreast of current real estate industry trends and how they can support Tulsa’s advancement toward shared prosperity and racial equity.

Ashley Chaney serves as the Director of Real Estate Projects. Prior to her current role, she served as the Senior Real Estate Project Manager and previously as the Development Services Liaison in the Mayor's Office of Economic Development. Throughout her more than 10-year career with the City of Tulsa, she has held multiple positions focused on development, infrastructure, and improving the delivery of municipal services. Ashley is passionate about improving the developer community's experience working with the City of Tulsa and streamlining processes to make development and project delivery more efficient, accessible, and effective.

Billy serves as the Senior Real Estate and Asset Manager for TAEO, where he supports the organization’s asset management initiatives, single-family lot development, and Brownfields program. He joined TAEO in 2022 as an AmeriCorps member before transitioning to a full-time role in 2023. Prior to joining TAEO, Billy worked in operations management, overseeing staffing operations for a local event venue. He has a longstanding passion for real estate and economic development and enjoys staying informed about new developments shaping the Tulsa community. As a Tulsa native, Billy is proud to contribute to the city’s growth and is committed to creating a lasting, positive impact. Outside the office, he enjoys traveling, watching movies, and a good game of bowling.