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Urban Land Institute Dallas-Fort Worth announces new Executive Leadership
September 3, 2021
DALLAS (September 01, 2021) – The Dallas-Fort Worth District Council of the Urban Land Institute (ULIDFW) has announced that Tamela Thornton will be the organization’s new Executive Director, beginning in mid-September.
Thornton is a well-known leader in the North Texas commercial real estate community. Currently the President and CEO of E Smith Communities, LLC, she heads the firm’s social impact growth initiatives, including the 4315 Lancaster Innovation Center, a job training and job creation hub.
“We are incredibly excited to have Tamela Thornton as our incoming Executive Director” stated Steve Modory of Champion Partners, current District Council Chair for ULIDFW. “We were fortunate to have a number of highly qualified candidates, but Tamela’s experience as a strategic leader and her knowledge of the commercial real estate industry made her our top choice.”
Prior to her current role with E Smith Legacy, Thornton provided advisory leadership and evaluated investment opportunities for former Dallas Cowboy Emmitt Smith as he built a successful commercial real estate business that included E Smith Realty Partners and SmithCypress Partners. Thornton gained extensive experience in corporate real estate, working as a regional strategic leader for Starbucks Coffee Company, Yum! Restaurants International and Taco Bell. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, Thornton began her career in the Washington, DC, area as a consultant in economic development and feasibility analysis with the firm of Hammer, Siler, George Associates.
“I have a long history with ULI and understand how our members and resources support positive, transformational change in communities. This role gives me the opportunity to deepen the impact of ULIDFW as we engage with new constituents across the metroplex and I am excited to lead us in this next chapter “ says Ms. Thornton. “ULIDFW has an enormous opportunity ahead as it prepares to host ULI’s annual Fall Meeting in October of 2022, bringing over 7000 leaders in commercial real estate to this region” noted retiring Executive Director Pam Stein. “Tamela will have an exciting year as ULI returns to in-person events and grows its membership substantially in anticipation of the Fall Meeting.”