Tamara Payne

Tamara Payne is the Chief Ecosystem Officer at Sparkyard, a collaborative platform designed to support entrepreneurs and small business owners in the Fort Worth area. She took on this role following a transition from the UNT Health Science Center, which originally operated Sparkyard. This change aims to allow the platform to grow more effectively under entrepreneurial leadership.14

Professional Background

• Co-founder and CEO of Ensemble Coworking: Payne has been instrumental in fostering a collaborative business community for entrepreneurs and freelancers in Fort Worth. Ensemble Coworking focuses on creating supportive environments for small businesses.31
• Principal Consultant at Payne Free Consulting: In this role, she assists small businesses in identifying growth opportunities and achieving sustainable success.3
• Community Engagement: Tamara is also an active member of her community, serving as a city councilwoman in Burleson and an adjunct professor at Tarrant County College, where she teaches courses related to small business and entrepreneurship.31

Vision for Sparkyard

Payne's vision for Sparkyard emphasizes connecting local entrepreneurs with essential resources to help them thrive. She has expressed her commitment to enhancing the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Fort Worth, believing that it is crucial for economic growth.12 Her extensive experience as both an entrepreneur and a resource provider positions her uniquely to understand the needs of local business owners.1

Personal Attributes

Tamara is recognized for her empathetic leadership style and dedication to mentoring others, particularly women, in their professional journeys. Her background in marketing and public speaking further enables her to empower business owners to leverage these skills for growth.31

Overall, Tamara Payne's leadership at Sparkyard is expected to drive significant advancements in supporting the local entrepreneurial community.