A Texan has been picked to lead a group to promote New Jersey across the world, Gov. Chris Christie said on Thursday. Tracye McDaniel, who worked in Houston and for the state of Texas in economic development and tourism roles, will be CEO of Choose New Jersey, an organization assigned to promote New Jersey to businesses. The nonprofit, created in June, is financed with private corporate pledges of $450,000 over three years for a starting annual budget of about $2.25 million, said Dennis Bone, the group's chairman and CEO of Verizon. He would not disclose Ms. McDaniel's salary. In making the announcement, Mr. Christie criticized his predecessor, former Gov. Jon Corzine, for not putting enough effort into contacting heads of companies and bringing them to New Jersey. Ms. McDaniel is originally from Waco, according to information from the website of her former employer, Greater Houston Partnership