Dana Davis, President

Dana Davis was born in Logan, West Virginia, and currently serves as President and CEO of the Southlake Chamber of Commerce.  Davis received a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from West Virginia State University in 1977, and a Juris Doctor from the West Virginia University College of Law, Morgantown, West Virginia, in 1980.  He began his legal career with the West Virginia Attorney General’s Office as an Assistant Attorney General.  His first assignment was representing the West Virginia Department of Corrections at the State’s maximum security prison in Moundsville, West Virginia.  After a year of service “behind the walls” of the Penitentiary, Davis returned to Charleston where he continued to represent the Department of Corrections and several other agencies of state government.  Davis later served as Senior Assistant Attorney General, Deputy Attorney General, Senior Deputy Attorney General, and Chief Deputy Attorney General.  As Chief Deputy Attorney General he implemented changes that significantly reduced turnover and permitted a more consistent approach to the representation of state government agencies.

Davis left the Attorney General’s Office in 1991 and spent one session as Counsel to the West Virginia Senate Committees on Small Business and Banking and Insurance.  At the conclusion of the 1991 Legislative Session, Davis joined the staff of the Governor’s Office of Community and Industrial Development as Director, Research and Strategic Planning.  He was later promoted to the position of Deputy Director and served in that capacity or as Interim Director until leaving the office in 2000.   During his tenure in this position he was instrumental in developing the State’s first strategic plan for economic development, in establishing a targeted industry approach to the economic development efforts of the State, in the reorganization of the office into one that was under the direction of a public-private Board of Directors, and in lobbying the legislature on issues impacting the growth of the State.  Davis also oversaw the marketing and communication efforts of the office as well as a major technology upgrade that permitted the use and management of data in such a way that the economic impact of projects could be determined prior to the offering of an incentive package to client companies.  

Following a brief stint in the private sector with companies involved in natural gas exploration and production, Davis accepted a position as President & CEO of the Lawton Fort Sill Chamber of Commerce in Lawton, Oklahoma, where he served from 2004-2010.  He is married to the former Marcia Ann Michael of Paden City, West Virginia, and has three sons – Justin, a graduate of Cameron University, Blake, a graduate of the University of Oklahoma, and Ben, a junior-to-be at a Southlake area high school. 

 

Jill Johnson, Marketing Coordinator

Jill Johnson is a Kansas native and a 15-year veteran of the travel and tourism industry. She has a degree from Wichita State University, Wichita, Kansas. Jill began her career in the hospitality industry when she was hired by Marriot International in Atlanta, Georgia. She was promptly promoted as Director of Sales for the Residence Inn by Marriott in Shreveport/Bossier City, Louisiana.

Jill’s work experience also includes Director of the Convention and Visitors Bureau in Lenexa, Kansas and Executive Director of the Convention and Visitors Bureau in Jefferson City, Missouri. She has served on numerous national, state and local boards within the travel and tourism industry and is the recipient of numerous marketing awards.

Jill’s professional career has been driven in large part by her passion for community service, volunteerism, and in particular, her love for travel. Her move to Texas was the result of her desire to worship at The Potter’s House Church in Dallas.

In her role as Marketing Coordinator for the Southlake Chamber, she provides strategic planning and analysis for smart growth initiatives for the Chamber’s marketing and visitor’s interest. Jill is excited about her new position and says, “During a changing economy and business landscape, one thing stands sure, human capital is still the best investment in any organization”. 

 

Terri Carey, Office Coordinator

Terri Carey is a Georgia native who has lived in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex since 1988.  She spent 17 1/2 years with RadioShack Corporation, eventually working in nearly every part of their Product Support center. During this time, she acquired a wide range of administrative, technical and customer service experience. After leaving RadioShack is August of 2006, she spent three years as the owner/operator of TLC Media, which provided on-call administrative solutions to small to medium businesses. During this time, she was a member of the Southlake Chamber.  She joined Southlake Chamber as the Office Administrator in February 2010 as it provided an opportunity to gain additional experience and enhance her career objectives. Terri brings to the job an unmatched enthusiasm for organization and standardization. 

She is a self-described "geek girl" -- she got her first computer in 1984, wrote her first program soon after, and is regularly amazed by how much technology has changed and improved (even if she still doesn't have her rocket car). Other interests include fishing, football and science fiction. She has been married to Rick since 1989, and they have one six year old daughter, Dee.

Terri is dedicated to the belief that the proper technology along with the proper procedures can simplify and improve office work tremendously. Terri says "As a business owner, I appreciated all that the Chamber did for me and the other members. This position gives me the opportunity to use and enhance both my administrative and my people skills as part of a great team and a great community!"

 

Laura Copeland, Special Event Coordinator  

Laura Copeland is a native Texan who has lived in Southlake for ten years. She was previously with the Carroll Independent School District.  Laura has extensive involvement with the Southlake Women’s Club, having served on the Board for six years including a term as President.  She has also been active in the planning of the Southlake Women’s Club Art In The Square event as Chairperson for Food Vendors for the last three years.

 As Special Events Coordinator, Laura looks forward to continuing her involvement with the community of Southlake and the surrounding areas.  Her commitment to community service and the development of events that improve the business community will insure the continued growth of the Southlake Chamber of Commerce.

 

Laura has one son, Jesse, who is a sophomore at Carroll High School.  She enjoys reading, watching movies and attending Jesse’s baseball games.