Jie Wu is the Interim Executive Director of the Harris County Department of Economic Equity and Opportunity (DEEO).

Jie has more than 15 years of experience in research and nonprofit management. Prior to joining DEEO, she oversaw data initiatives and a portfolio of research projects at Rice University’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research and has published a series of reports on survey findings, economic mobility, community resilience and urban inequality issues. Jie earned all but her dissertation towards a doctorate in economics and her M.A. in economics from Rice University.

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Leroy Morales is the Director Human Resources

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Amber R. Rangel, MBA is the Director of Communications and Stakeholder Engagement,. She leads communications, brand strategy, stakeholder engagement, and public information efforts. She advises executive leadership and oversees multi‑platform content to ensure clear, aligned, and accessible communication across the department.

Amber brings extensive experience in public‑sector communications and has led major branding, digital modernization, and outreach initiatives that strengthen transparency and support equitable economic opportunities countywide. She holds an Masters in Business Administration in Leadership, and holds a Certified Nonprofit Professional (CNP) credential, for professionals committed to mission‑driven, community‑centered work within nonprofit or governmental agencies. 

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Adrian Jackson-Bolden is the Assistant Director of Stakeholder Engagement and Strategic Partnerships. She oversees outreach, engagement, capacity-building programs, and court-approved policy initiatives designed to advance economic opportunity, transparency, and inclusive participation in County programs and contracting opportunities.

With more than fifteen years of public sector experience, Adrian has served in leadership and operational roles with Harris County, Houston Community College, Fort Bend ISD, and the Texas Department of Insurance. Her expertise spans public procurement, contract compliance, stakeholder engagement, and program management. Over the past several years, she has specialized in public procurement and supplier diversity, helping ensure compliance with contracting requirements, advancing equitable procurement practices, and supporting initiatives that increase access to government contracting opportunities.Adrian is experienced in fostering collaboration among government agencies, businesses, and community partners to advance organizational priorities and economic development goals.

Adrian holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in General Business from the University of Houston–Downtown. Outside of her professional responsibilities, she enjoys traveling, reading, and spending time with her two daughters.

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Bryonne (Bree) Cummings is the Assistant Director, Policy & Special Projects. Her responsibilities focus on driving equity and inclusive economic growth in communities that experience disparities and disinvestment in Harris County through policy. She is a skilled operations professional and is experienced in analyzing existing business processes and implementing improvements to simplify the experience and drive efficiencies.

Bree has served in entities championing employment work programs and has extensive experience in the Kansas City government, where she worked in both juvenile and adult diversion programs. As an Auditor for the Unified Government of Wyandotte County, she found her calling as an efficiency champion, ensuring compliance with guidelines and optimizing processes for organizational value. She began her tenure in Harris County managing a historic misdemeanor bail reform project in 2020.

Bree has a Master's in Organizational Development Psychology, a Graduate Project Management Certificate, and a Bachelor's in Psychology.

Dr. Paula Cecilia Pineda is the Assistant Director of ARPA Initiatives. In this role, she leads DEEO's efforts to optimize federal funding and provide inclusive economic development assistance via small business and workforce development strategies. A mission-minded, innovative, and strategic leader, Dr. Pineda is committed to extending economic opportunity to empower under-resourced communities and address inequality.

As a scholar of ethnic identity, ethnic conflict, and decentralization institutions, Dr. Pineda draws on her research background and interests to design programming and policy that addresses structural inequalities. An excellent communicator, Dr. Pineda has presented on identity, ethnicity, institutional design, and inclusive policy design across the US, UN-partnered initiatives, and abroad at the Hague, Iraq, Ecuador, and Turkey.

In her previous roles, Dr. Pineda led various workforce development and small business development efforts with the City of Houston, including work with partners such as Meta (Facebook) and federally-funded small business programming for Hurricane Harvey recovery.


Elizabeth Balderrama is the Interim Director of Economic Development for the Department of Economic Equity and Opportunity. With nearly a decade of economic development experience, Elizabeth has worked in economic development at Lone Star College and the Greater Houston Partnership. At Lone Star College, she worked with Harris County to provide resources and support to economic development allies in the north Houston area. She rose to become the Interim Director of the college’s North Houston Region Economic Development Center and head of the North Houston Economic Development Alliance with more than 40 members. At the Greater Houston Partnership, Elizabeth conducted demographic and economic development research. Rising to Senior Research Manager, she managed and contributed to numerous research publications. Elizabeth has served on the Board of the Houston Economics Club since 2019 and is currently the Vice President. She has a degree in Economics and a minor in Poverty Studies from the University of Notre Dame. She is a certified Professional Community and Economic Developer and Business Retention and Expansion Coordinator.

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Robert Mitchell Ballou is the Assistant Director of BusinessAssistance at the Harris County Department of Economic Equity and Opportunity(DEEO). A strategic leader with a Master of Science in Management specializingin Situational Leadership, Robert brings extensive expertise in bridgingtechnical compliance with high-impact community economic growth. 

He holds prestigiouscredentials as a Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM), CertifiedProfessional in Supplier Diversity (CPSD), and is a Project Management OfficeCertified Professional (PMI-PMOCP). This background reflects a career-long dedicationto equitable business development, procurement excellence, and structuredgovernance. Beyond his public service, Robert is a distinguished public speakerworking toward his Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM) designation and has beeninducted into the US Martial Arts Hall of Fame, honoring over 30 years ofmotivating and inspiring others. Driven by a passion for mentorship, he excelsat empowering local businesses and fostering resilient, inclusive economic ecosystems.

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Gary Grier is the Assistant Director, Worker & Community Protection for the Inclusive Procurements Division of DEEO. Gary recently served 3.5 years as the Senior Program Manager- HUD Section 3 since January 13, 2020.  Gary’s current focus is on regulatory compliance including Davis Bacon & Related Acts (DBRA), Prevailing Wage, and creating economic opportunity for low-income workers and businesses through HUD Section 3 requirements.

Previously, Gary served ten years in leadership with the Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County. While with the Coalition, Gary helped create an innovative employment program called Income Now. “Income Now” leveraged the public workforce and employment assistance programs focused on ending homelessness to create coordinated access to housing and income. Gary was frequently a national presenter, particularly at the Annual and Texas Conferences on Ending Homelessness. Additionally, Gary served 14 years with AIDS Foundation Houston, most recently as the Director of Programs and Services. Gary is a proud University of Houston alumnus.

Dr. Christopher J. Darville, Ed.D, PMP | Interim Director, ECI