It is our pleasure to announce the 2018 IGNITE Trailblazer Award Recipients that will be honored on Saturday, February 17th, at the 6th Annual Texas Young Women’s Political Leadership Conference.
These honorees were selected for their commitment and contributions to supporting young women’s political leadership ambitions.
Award Recipients
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![]() Jennifer Staubach Gates, Dallas City Councilmember, District 13Jennifer Staubach Gates is currently serving her third term as Dallas City Councilmember representing District 13. Councilmember Gates was elected to her first term as City Council Member in 2013, and reelected for a second term in 2015 and for a third term in 2017. In her role as Councilmember, Jennifer serves as the Chair of the Government Performance and Financial Management Committee and sits on the Public Safety as well as the Arts and Culture and Libraries. She is also the Co-Chair of the Visit Dallas Board of Directors. Jennifer also serves as the chair for the Domestic Violence Taskforce, and holds regular meetings that help to bridge communication between the Dallas Police Department, the District Attorney’s office, judges, and community partners. This collaboration aims to strengthen the forces that are fighting to end domestic violence in Dallas. A lifelong Dallasite, Jennifer attended Ursuline Academy, then went on to get her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Incarnate Word College in San Antonio, and she is still licensed as a Registered Nurse. Jennifer has been married to John Gates for more than 30 years. Their youngest daughter, Jordan, graduated with her Master Degree in social work from New York University in 2016, and their older daughter, Jessica, and her husband, Will, live in District 13. The Gates family attends St. Rita Catholic Church in District 13, where Jennifer also serves as a Eucharistic Minister. In her spare time Jennifer enjoys running, reading and traveling, and spending time with her grandsons Gambill and Gates. |
Chris E. Wallace, President of the Texas Association of BusinessChris E. Wallace, IOM, CCE is President of the Texas Association of Business, the chamber of commerce of Texas. In this role, he oversees TAB’s operations including membership, marketing, strategy, administration as well as board and chamber relations. Prior to joining the TAB team, Wallace was the President/CEO of the Greater Irving-Las Colinas Chamber, the third largest chamber in North Texas and the first national Five-Star Accredited Chamber in Texas. He also managed the Irving Economic Development Partnership. Wallace serves as a Trustee of the Institute for Organization Management as well as a Regent of Northeast Institute at Villanova University. He is among only 535 executives in the nation who have earned their CCE (Certified Chamber Executive) designation. Wallace is a past chairman of the Texas Chamber of Commerce Executives Association and also serves on the national board of the Business & Industry Political Action Committee (BIPAC). |
Judge Tina Yoo Clinton, Presiding Judge of Criminal Court 8, DallasJudge Tina Yoo Clinton is the presiding Judge of Criminal Court 8, elected in November 2010. She is a former Municipal Judge in Hutchins, from 2007 to 2010. She is a former Criminal Defense Attorney from 2006- to 2010. Former Associate Municipal Judge, City of Dallas, 2006-2007. Former Attorney Advisor for Small Business Administration, 2006. Former Prosecutor, Dallas County D.A.’s Office, 1995-2006. Law Degree from SMU School of Law, 1995. |