TOM STELLMAN, president and CEO of TIP Strategies, Inc., has a broad base of experience in economic development. As president of TIP, Mr. Stellman developed and launched the highly successful Invest in Texas Alliance marketing program. This marketing alliance targeted both domestic and international growth companies through a unique mix of direct marketing and networking. The Alliance generated over $3 billion in investment leads and facilitated the location of 15 companies.

Since founding TIP, Mr. Stellman has led economic development consulting projects in Texas and throughout the United States, including work for the Carolinas Gateway Partnership, the Deep East Texas Council of Governments, Plano, Texas, Brownsville, Texas, and Greene County, Tennessee.

Prior to establishing TIP, Mr. Stellman was director of the Office of International Business for the Texas Department of Commerce. There, he led the 10-person staff charged with promoting the state's exports, marketing the state to foreign investors, and facilitating communication between foreign investors and economic development organizations statewide. Previously at Commerce, Mr. Stellman was deputy director of the Office of Industry Recruitment where he assisted in the oversight of the state's primary economic development marketing efforts.

Mr. Stellman is a member of the board of directors for the Texas Economic Development Council, an advisory board member for the Community Development Institute, a board member for the Center for International Business and Economic Research at the University of Texas at Austin, and has been an instructor at the Basic Economic Development Course in College Station and San Antonio. Tom Stellman holds a B.A. degree in government from the University of Texas at Austin.