Dallas Market Center Announces Leasing Leadership Changes

June 7, 2016  by in Business Strategy, Industry   

Her new title is Vice President, leasing & business development.

Additionally, Dee Gratz Jones has been promoted to Vice President, leasing for apparel & accessories. She will be responsible for all permanent showrooms at Dallas Market Center’s one million square foot fashion marketplace including World Trade Center floors 7, 8, 13, 14 and 15.

Cole joined Dallas Market Center’s Retail Relations team in 2005 and joined the Leasing division in 2008. Over the past eight years, Stephanie and her team have met with great success expanding the fashion resources across multiple categories. Stephanie’s background in product development and management includes positions with JC Penney, Federated and Jones NY.

 Dee joined Dallas Market Center last year as director of business development and has been leasing the 13th floor and creating new avenues for the fashion accessories business. Dee’s broad experience in the fashion industry includes roles with companies like The Doneger Group (NYC) followed by more than a decade of leadership with tradeshows both in Chicago (MMPI) and New York City (BJI, Inc).

Both positions report to Eva Walsh, EVP Leasing and Marketing. 

“These seasoned industry leaders will help create new business opportunities for exhibitors and deliver new resources for our loyal buyers,” said Cindy Morris, President and CEO of Dallas Market Center. “Stephanie and Dee are innovative thinkers, passionate about delivering inspiring new companies into a marketplace welcoming more buyers from the middle of the country and more new buyers from around the world. They are also supported by a team that values customer service like no other organization.”

Over the past several years Dallas Market Center has increased the merchandising and marketing of high-demand categories including contemporary apparel, shoes and fashion accessories, luxury gift, handmade and artisan wares, American Made, globally-inspired home, and housewares. Permanent showrooms are currently more than 90% leased, and apparel and accessories temporary shows sell out consistently. 

At the same time, the geographic region served by Dallas Market Center continues to experience increased economic expansion. More than 500,000 people moved to Texas in the last 18 months making it the top state for new retail customers; retail sales have outpaced the national average by more than 10 percent over the last decade; and Dallas is the number one housing market in the U.S., the number one office leasing market, and the number two warehouse market.