Tarrance served as a member of the Board of Directors of The Gallup Organization (1987-1992), and first Managing Director and President of Gallup China in Beijing (1993-1995), and as a President and Founder of Tarrance & Associates, a Houston-based national survey research company (1977-1992).
Tarrance also served as managing director to Burson-Marsteller Public Affairs Practice in Washington D.C. Named one of the 150 people in the country influencing national government by National Journal, Tarrance has provided commentary in the New York Times, the CBS Morning News, ABC's Nightline, NBC's Today and FOX News.