Dallas S. Jones is an entrepreneur, political commentator, and community activist. He currently serves as President and CEO of ELITE Change, Inc. and Managing Principal of Jones Group International, LLC.
Since 2006, ELITE Change has grown to be a nationally/internationally recognized firm in the areas of Public Affairs, Strategic Communications and Business Development. The organization boasts clients on the international, national, state and local levels with offices in Houston, Washington D.C., Dallas, Jackson, and Baton Rouge. In 2014, ELITE Change, Inc. was recognized with the prestigious Pinnacle Award from the Greater Houston Black Chamber of Commerce.
After over ten years of working politically on the local, state, and federal levels of public policy and on campaigns, in 2016 Mr. Jones embarked on a journey to form Jones Group International, LLC. (JGI), focused on bringing transformational change to populations across our globe. With a focus on governance, transportation, technology, and infrastructure, JGI is unique in its ability to recognize the importance of addressing fundamental social and economic development problems in some of the most vulnerable populations across our world.
Prior to forming ELITE Change, Mr. Jones worked on every level of government including Special Assistant to U. S. Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, and for Texas State Representative Garnet Coleman as a policy analyst and later District Director. He also served as District Director for Texas State Senator Rodney Ellis.
After leaving the public sector, Mr. Jones joined the National Staff of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) where he served as a Regional Youth Field Director for the Southwestern Region covering the states of Texas, New Mexico, Arkansas, and Louisiana. Mr. Jones later served as National Youth Outreach Director for the NAACP National Voter Fund, focusing on increasing the registration and turn out of African Americans throughout the United States during the 2008 Presidential Election. In the corporate sector he was named Deputy Director of Public Affairs for AT&T where he was responsible for the public affairs efforts for the company throughout a twelve state western region.
Mr. Jones has been the recipient of numerous awards. The NAACP, at the Congressional Black Caucus Annual Legislative Summit, named Mr. Jones as one of the 40 power leaders under 40 in the country. Houston Business Journal named Mr. Jones as one of the 40 young business leaders under 40 in Houston, TX. Mr. Jones, an alumnus of Sam Houston State University, has traveled the country as a national speaker and trainer. Mr. Jones is also a well-known commentator on television and radio; regularly appearing as a political analyst on Houston’s FOX affiliate channel. His works have been published in a number of publications across the country around the areas of African American Engagement, Economic Development, and Education Reform.
Jones is very active in the community where he serves as First Vice President of the Houston NAACP, Vice-Chair of the Fourth Ward Redevelopment Authority, and is a Commissioner of the Houston Land Assemblage and Redevelopment Authority. He is a member of the American Association of Political Consultants, Malachi Masonic Lodge #6 AF&AM, The 100 Black Men of Metropolitan Houston, and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. He is a graduate of Leadership Houston Class XXX and the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University Global Emerging Leaders Program. He resides in Houston, TX with his wife Dr. Angela Jones and daughter Zoë.
Awards
- NAACP Power 40 Under 40 Award (2010)
- Houston Business Journal 40 Under 40 Award (2011)
- Pillar of the Community Award (2011)
- Malachi Masonic Lodge #6 Humanitarian Award (2011)
- Houston Area Association for the Education of Young Children (HAAEYC) Child Advocate Of The Year Award (2012)
- Who's Who in Black Houston
- 5th edition (2012)
- Who's Who in Black Houston
- 6th edition (2013)
- Fountain of Praise Men Who Make a Difference " Local Hero of the year Award" (2013)
- Greater Houston Black Chamber Pinnacle Award (2014)
- Who's Who in Black Houston
- 7th edition (2014)
- Who's Who in Black Houston
- 8th edition (2015)
- Who's Who in Black Houston
- 9th edition (2016)
- D-Mars Top 50 Black Professionals & Entrepreneurs Award (2017)
- 100 Black Men Of America and Black Enterprise’s Made Man Top 50 Celebrities/Influencers in Houston Award (2017)
- Houston Lawyers Association Mission Ally Honoree (2017)
- Houston International Trade Development Council’s International Rising Star Award (2017)
