PORT ARTHUR, Texas. Dana Espinal, a Cherokee Nation citizen and director of the Lamar State College Port Arthur Small Business Development Center, has been named a Distinguished Woman of Southeast Texas.
The Better Business Bureau Education Foundation of Southeast Texas honored Espinal at its annual Professional Women’s Conference, recognizing decades of leadership and community impact across the region.
Espinal has spent more than 30 years mentoring entrepreneurs, creating jobs and launching new businesses through her work with the SBDC. The University of Houston Texas Gulf Coast SBDC Network has recognized her as a top performer for securing capital grants and retaining local jobs for the businesses she serves.
Her civic work extends into Rotary leadership. Espinal has more than 18 years of Rotary membership and has served as club president in each of the three districts where she has held membership: Jefferson City West, Missouri, in District 6080; Tahlequah-Cherokee County, Oklahoma, in District 6110; and Port Arthur in District 5910. District 5910 has named her its 2027-28 District Governor, and she currently serves as Immediate Past President of the Rotary Club of Port Arthur.
“My goal is to ensure that every Rotarian feels connected, valued, and empowered to take action, whether through hands-on service or financial contributions to global causes like the Rotary Foundation’s Annual Fund,” Espinal said.
Espinal’s career spans more than three decades in business expansion, startup consulting and project management. Before joining the SBDC, she owned and operated a minority woman-owned design retail company for 10 years. Her professional background also includes work in planning and development at the Cherokee Nation, where she served as director of planning and development from 2007 to 2012.
Espinal holds a Master of Business Administration from Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling, beach life and volunteering on community planning and development projects.
Wado.
Cara Cowan Watts writes for Cherokee411.com, an independent news source covering Cherokee Nation and Indian Country.
Sources:
- BBB Education Foundation of Southeast Texas, Facebook
- 12NewsNow, “BBB announces Women of Integrity honorees for Professional Women’s Conference”
- Rotary Club of Port Arthur, Facebook
- Rotary District 5910, “Dana Espinal Named 2027-28 District Governor”
- Lamar State College Port Arthur, Dana Espinal staff directory
- University of Houston Texas Gulf Coast SBDC Network, staff bio
- LSCPA news release on Espinal, 2026
- Rotary Club of Port Arthur event flyer, Facebook
