Stacy Dukes Rhone

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BIOGRAPHY

Stacy Dukes Rhone is a dynamic and passionate community leader with a focus on economic empowerment, diversity, and workforce development. As the Chief Executive Officer of Business Investment Growth Inc. (BiG), she has played a crucial role in shaping the organization’s mission to support small and minority-owned businesses in Central Texas. Under her leadership, BiG has become a nationally recognized organization, particularly for its award-winning Women’s Business Center and microlending programs. Stacy has been instrumental in the redevelopment of East Austin, including the revitalization of East 11th Street and the transformation of the former Robert Mueller Airport site. Her tireless efforts to uplift underserved communities have had a profound impact on the local economy.

A fourth-generation native of Austin, Stacy brings a deep understanding of her community’s challenges and opportunities. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Economics from the University of North Texas and a Master of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin, where she laid the groundwork for her career in both business and public service. Stacy’s early career in the public sector included serving as the first African American female hired at the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), where she led diversity initiatives and worked to recruit minority engineers into the agency. Her time at the Texas Natural Resources Conservation Commission (TNRCC), now the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), further demonstrated her leadership in policy development, as she wrote the state’s first technical manual for water conservation.

Stacy’s leadership extended beyond government roles when she launched her own consulting career, where she worked on projects like the Martin Luther King Blvd Feasibility Study for TxDOT and helped develop the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program for the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority. These experiences solidified her expertise in infrastructure and business development, while also deepening her commitment to fostering economic opportunities for minority and women-owned businesses. She later expanded her consulting portfolio to include culturally significant initiatives, such as her work on the Austin Police Department’s African American Cultural Competency Training Program, which aimed to improve community relations and foster understanding between the police force and African American residents.

Under her leadership at BiG, Stacy has helped secure more than $35 million for the local economy, providing essential financial resources to small businesses. She has also forged partnerships with major corporations and organizations like Google, eBay, Hewlett Packard, and the City of Austin, creating opportunities for job creation, training, and business development. Her work has earned her numerous awards, including the Small Business Administration’s “Women’s Business Center of Excellence” award, and she has been recognized as a leading voice in the national discussion on diversity and economic empowerment.

Stacy is not only dedicated to her professional work but also committed to giving back to her community. She has served on various boards and task forces, including Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority and the City of Austin Advisory Board, and continues to advocate for issues related to diversity, environmental equity, and community development. A proud mother of four, Stacy’s personal interests include diversity advocacy, community outreach, and STEM education. Her extensive professional experience and dedication to public service have made her a transformative leader, with a lasting impact on the Austin community and beyond.

POSITIONS

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