Jerald has worked in the Economic Development field for 18 years in various roles, most recently serving as the Vice President of Economic Development at the Atlanta BeltLine, Inc., Director of Innovation at the Savannah Economic Development Authority, and Regional Project Manager at the Georgia Department of Economic Development. In these roles he’s gained experience in business attraction, retention, entrepreneurism, redevelopment, infrastructure, and placemaking.

Prior to his Economic Development and Chamber of Commerce roles, he got firsthand technology and innovation experience through his more than 10-year career in the communications industry with Comcast/NBC Universal and Time Warner where he primarily managed the operational transition of newly acquired assets and executed new product launches.

He holds an Executive MBA in International Business from the Georgia Institute of Technology, a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Georgia Southern (Savannah campus) and continues to serve through various boards: Chairman of Leadership Georgia, Georgia Department of Community Affairs Board Member, Past Vice Chair of the Georgia Public Telecommunications Commission (GPB) and Foundation, Georgia Chamber of Commerce Board of Governors, and the Georgia Workforce Investment Board.