Ron Natinsky served on the Dallas City Council from 2005 – 2011. As
Councilman, he served as Chair of the Council’s Economic Development and
International Committee and as a member of the Council’s Budget, Finance and
Audit; Legislative; Public Safety; and Transportation and Environment
Committees.
A transportation advocate, Natinsky also served as Chairman of the
Regional Transportation Council (RTC) and was a member of the Executive
Committee of the Dallas Regional Mobility Coalition (DRMC). Natinsky also
served on the Board of Directors for the National League of Cities, having
served on its ITC and Transportation and Infrastructure Committees. He was a member of the Management Committee for Vision North Texas, the task force that developed the region’s “game book.” Additionally,
he represented Dallas on the Texas Municipal League’s Resolution
Committee and served on the Board of the North Dallas Chamber.
Globally, he played a leading
role in numerous City of Dallas trade missions, drawing from the deep
relationships built and experiences leveraged during his 30-plus years of
extensive business travels throughout Asia, China, Europe and South America. He not only had businesses in the US, but in Switzerland and Mexico.
As chair of the city's Economic Development Committee, Natinsky
helped attract to Dallas the world headquarters of AT&T, Comerica Bank and
Tenet Healthcare; played a key role in persuading more than 30 international
companies to site new offices/operations in Dallas; marketed worldwide the
International Inland Port of Dallas in Southeast Dallas; and led the
revitalization of downtown through redevelopment of numerous historic
buildings.
During his tenure as a Councilmember, his accomplishments included the
reduction of crime in Dallas, thanks in part to the Council’s funding of
additional officers and crucial equipment every year along with a focus on neighborhood policing. For two consecutive
years, Natinsky led the Council in adopting a “no-tax-increase” city budget.
During the Wright Amendment discussions, Natinsky proposed a key inclusion that
the City of Dallas completely renovate Love Field and that the renovation
(later determined to be more than $600 million) be funded, not by Dallas
taxpayers, but by those who use Love Field. He also helped develop the City’s
2006 Bond program.
In addition to having served on the board of the Dallas Convention and
Visitors Bureau (DCVB), he is a member of ULI (Urban Land Institute), the North Dallas Chamber of Commerce,
the Greater Dallas Planning Council, the World Affairs Council, along with
other business, civic and volunteer organizations. He served on the Board of Directors of the Trinity Commons Foundation and the Dallas Marinetime Museum Foundation. Natinsky has served as
president of his homeowners association and as president of several business
organizations.
During the 25 years prior to being elected to Council, Natinsky served the City
of Dallas on a long list of boards and commissions. His leadership roles
included chair of the Board of Adjustment, vice chair of the Dallas Citizens
Police Review Board, and president of the Cable Access TV Board. Other
appointments included the Mayor's Neighborhood Advisory Committee, License and
Permit Appeal Board, Sign and Billboard Task Force, Planning Policy Papers
Committee, and Urban Design Task Force.
Raised in Dallas, Natinsky’s first job was working part time at
his neighborhood M.E. Moses store while attending Dallas ISD’s Hillcrest High
School. He then scooped ice cream at the legendary Goff’s Hamburgers on Lovers
Lane before heading to the University of North Texas (then known as North Texas
State University).
Driven by a strong work ethic from an early age, Natinsky launched
his first business venture while in college – selling and installing four-track
tape decks into cars at two Dallas locations – that kicked off several decades
of “serial entrepreneurship.” Over a 37-year period, Natinsky formed a wide
variety of businesses in industries ranging from retail to electronics
distributor, manufacturing for the electronics and auto parts industry, plastic
molding, promotional products, production of convention/trade shows and internet
technology including information services, databases and website-development
services. He has served as a speaker at conventions and business meetings and
has published numerous articles concerning technology and business management.
Since leaving the Council, Natinsky has started a consulting
business, Tirgo LLC (www.tirgo.com). He is also involved in several commercial development projects and continues to be involved in the transportation and infrastructure arenas. He is involved in several international ventures along with several technology start ups. Natinsky has been married to his wife Nancy for 50 years and they have two adult sons.
Updated Sept 1, 2018
