Jerel Booker

Jerel is a strategic operations executive, growth architect, and talent strategist with over 20 years of experience leading complex organizations across sectors. As the Associate Managing Partner and Chief Operating Officer at TM2 Executive Search, he oversees enterprise operations with a focus on aligning people, processes, and performance to accelerate organizational growth. His leadership spans core operational domains including finance, human capital, technology, contracts, marketing, and enterprise risk management.

With a strong command of organizational design and execution, Jerel has led enterprise-wide transformation efforts that improve operational efficiency, enhance profitability, and scale mission-aligned impact. Jerel brings a proven track record of building high-performing teams, streamlining operations, and delivering measurable growth across complex enterprises. His leadership spans senior roles in state government, higher education, and national nonprofits—where he managed large budgets, oversaw cross-functional initiatives, and developed talent strategies that supported strategic pivots, organizational restructuring, and sustained success.

Before joining TM², Jerel held senior executive roles in government, education, and nonprofit leadership, where he managed multimillion-dollar budgets, negotiated high-stakes contracts, and built cross-functional teams that delivered results in highly regulated environments. His most recent public-sector role was Assistant Deputy Commissioner at the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, where he oversaw internal division operations, staffing, and institutional statutory compliance within core functions, ensuring alignment with agency priorities, strategic objectives, and legislative requirements. He also led efforts in academic program compliance, strategic planning, and innovation, while overseeing the Texas HBCU Initiative, demonstrating a long-standing commitment to strengthening these vital institutions and advancing their role in educational excellence.

A seasoned professional in identifying and placing senior-level talent and leadership development, Jerel has led the placement of over 50 senior executive leaders across sectors. His commitment to building high-performance teams has had a direct impact on board governance, organizational culture, and operational effectiveness for clients including state agencies, school districts, foundations, and nonprofit organizations.

Jerel is also a seasoned entrepreneur, having founded and grown multiple small businesses, which gives him a founder’s mindset and a deep appreciation for agility, cost control, and customer-centric strategy. His ability to operate in both early-stage ventures and large bureaucracies gives him unique versatility as an operational leader.

He holds a Bachelor’s in Journalism/Public Relations from the University of Texas at Austin, a Master of Science in Criminology from the University of Baltimore, and a Juris Doctorate from Howard University School of Law. His multidisciplinary background fuels his strategic approach to business challenges—balancing analytical rigor, policy insight, and entrepreneurial execution.