Frances Smith-Dean

Frances Smith-Dean serves as Executive Director of the Zan Wesley Holmes Jr. Community Outreach Center. She is also a financial educator, and an adjunct professor of economics for Richland College. Her leadership of operations of the ZWHJCOC has led the nonprofit organization in creating more than 5000 jobs for low-income individuals since March 2019. The Center provided technical assistance to 46 small minority businesses and organizations during COVID-19 and helped them to receive $900,000+ from the Small Business Administration’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program and the Paycheck Protection Program. She is the developer and creator of the Zan W. Holmes, Jr. Community Outreach Juneteenth Economic Forum which hosts several speakers annually who provide information and discuss how to positively impact Dallas' Southern sector economy-from organizational budgeting and using the digital economy, to financing small businesses and looking at health barriers that impact economic development.

Throughout her professional career she has maintained a presence as a successful economist, political activist and community leader. She is the owner of Financial Educator where she coaches and trains clients throughout the nation in financial literacy. She has used her vast knowledge for more than 20 years as a financial consultant, both nationally and internationally, working with business leaders around the world on foreign exchange trade opportunities.

Because of her leadership, internationally Frances was instrumental in establishing a foreign exchange trade business trip between the U.S.-China Business Council, Southern University A&M of Baton Rouge and The City of Baker Louisiana in 2012.  The City of Baker signed a Friendship City Agreement with China and Southern University Agricultural Center signed a partnership agreement with Dr. Walter Chen, who is one of the most influential Chinese American Economist for the top 100 businesses in China. 

In 2010 Frances visited United Arab Emirates Cities: Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah with Leadership America exploring how the UAE manages Economic, Education and Healthcare systems.  During this visit, the UAE Chief Economist explained the role of the Sovereign Wealth Funds and the impact of Sharia Law in business.  The American University Chancellor provided an in-depth view on the role education and health systems.  

In 2007 and 2008, Frances was invited to speak at Freedom Fest Libertarian Think Tank Conference by Columbia University Professor and Former Chief Economist of the CIA, Mark Skousen, where she discussed Reforming Urban Education and Creating Fair Markets within a Free Market Enterprise System. Frances noted the seven stages of an Empire and how she developed and implemented the New Orleans Public Schools Money Matter$ curriculum and program throughout many of the lowest-performing schools.  Frances also served as Kaufman Business Advisor to the University of New Orleans Small Business Development Center where she trained and advised more than 200 small business owners in the City of New Orleans.  The New Orleans Federal Reserve in1997 credited the Money Matter$ Program with the 2 percent growth in the savings rate in New Orleans while the national rate was declining.  

Before Hurricane Katrina, Frances worked in the healthcare industry as a financial consultant which led to the implementation and expansion of healthcare facilities throughout Louisiana and California.  She was the lead consultant to Good Will Hospice, Louisiana Wellness and Rehabilitation Centers, and Metropolitan Hospital. Frances assisted companies with financing their projects.  During this time, Frances also was a registered investment advisor for Nationwide insurance where she managed 1000+ employees with the City of New Orleans, Regional Transit Authority, and seven other municipalities within the New Orleans River Region’s Public Employee Deferred Compensation plans.  

Frances has been actively involved in community activities most of her life.  Her motto is “ordinary people have the power to do extraordinary things.”

She has served on the boards of many state and faith-based organizations.  She is a board member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.  Politically, Frances served as an at-large delegate in 2004 at the National Republican Convention for Former President George W. Bush, and State Central Committee Member District 100 and District E Members in Louisiana for District 100 for the Republican Party and Louisiana Exploratory Committee for the Mitt Romney Presidential Campaign.

 Education continues to be at the forefront of all she does, whether teaching college students or clients at the ZWHJCOC. As owner of The Financial Educator, LLC, Frances maintains her clients through coaching and training sessions in Arkansas, California, Illinois, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and Texas.  She has developed coaching curriculum entitled:  How to Maneuver in Any Economy, Accumulation, Acceleration, and the Six-figure Sister.  She is working on her Educational Doctorate in Higher Education in Leadership from Trident University.  She holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer Science from Xavier University, New Orleans, and a Master of Science in Teaching Mathematics from the Loyola University, Louisiana. 

 Frances is a native of New Orleans, Louisiana, and currently resides in Richardson, Texas.  She is the wife of Darryl Charles Dean and mother of Charles, Derrick, Frances and Darrylynn Dean.