Stacy Dukes-Rhone 

Stacy Dukes-Rhone, Executive Director, earned a MS in Engineering and BS in Economics (UT Austin & UNT). She is responsible for the oversight of operations to ensure the delivery and success of programs and services.  She serves as the organization's liaison to private and public funding sources, financial institutions, community organizations, and the media. Mrs. Rhone has increased the number of partnerships and implemented new initiatives that will reinforce BiG position as the only single-source solution for entrepreneurial education, tailored business counseling and access to capital in Central Texas.

  Rhone has considerable experience in managing complex projects with numerous tasks.  She has worked extensively with school districts, government agencies, non-profits, and private organizations focusing on business management, project financing; disadvantaged business enterprises development; small, women and minority owned business development; special event planning and outreach initiative that require unique strategic planning skills.  She has a keen ability in developing positive working relationships and establishing and meeting goals and objectives, while optimizing the utilization and management of resources.  During her career, Rhone has designed, developed, implemented and obtained funding for various major projects throughout Texas, to effect positive change among the public and private sector organizations she has represented and managed.  Rhone is a leader in the Central Texas as it pertains to small and minority business outreach, and is currently a member of the Women’s Global Network (WGN), National Women’s Political Caucus (VP of Diversity) and the Association for Enterprise Opportunities (AEO), a national association that supports the development of strong and effective U.S. microenterprise programs.  As the previous owner of three small businesses her hands-on small business background at GBC, EnviroTrans Solutions, and the Austin & San Antonio Airport Business & Technology Centers, prepared her well for the responsibilities of managing the organization and the proposed project.