Robert Lann is director of Community, Policy, and Research Services, a unit of Georgia Tech’s Enterprise Innovation Institute.  He has 29 years of experience in economic, simulation, public policy, energy, and technology transfer research.  Current research areas include fiscal and economic impact analysis, technology-based economic development, and industry cluster analysis.  He is a co-developer of the LOCI software (now a Web-based tool called WebLOCI), a nationally recognized model for evaluating the fiscal and economic impact of new or expanding businesses.  Mr. Lann also is co-developer of a new Web-based software tool (WebFIT) that estimates fiscal impact of future land use plans and near-term redevelopment and greenfield projects.  From 1987 to 2000, he managed the Economic Development Research Program, which researched diverse topics to promote Georgia’s economic development.

Enterprise Innovation Institute
Georgia Institute of Technology
760 Spring Street, N.W., Suite 230
Atlanta, Georgia 30332-0640

Phone: (404) 894-3475
Fax: (404) 894-1447
E-mail: robert.lann@innovate.gatech.edu

Jason Chernock is an economic development associate within the Community Policy and Research Services division.  As an integral member of the community innovation services team, Jason works to help communities identify and implement creative approaches for economic development.  Among others, his interests include community economic development, workforce development and strategies for creating affordable housing. 

Prior to joining Georgia Tech, Jason worked at Market Street Services, an economic development consulting firm, where he produced demographic profiles, economic and workforce development strategies, and strategic implementation plans for communities in Georgia, Tennessee, North Carolina, and Texas.  Mr. Chernock’s prior experience also includes managing 15,000 annual volunteers for the Atlanta Community Food Bank.  He holds a bachelor’s degree in anthropology from the University of Massachusetts and a master’s degree in city and regional planning from Georgia Tech.
      
Enterprise Innovation Institute
Georgia Institute of Technology
760 Spring Street, NW, Suite 230
Atlanta, Georgia 30332-0640

Phone: (404) 385-0829
Fax: (404) 894-1447
E-mail: jason.chernock@innovate.gatech.edu

Andrea Fernández-Ribas is senior research associate with Georgia Tech’s Enterprise Innovation Institute (Community Policy and Research Services) and the program in Science, Technology and Innovation Policy (STIP). Her research focuses on regional innovation, emerging technologies, and science and technology policy. Currently, she is studying how firms in Georgia combine technological and non-technological practices to achieve high innovation performance. Other research projects include collaboration patterns in innovation by Georgian firms and invention activities in nanotechnology developed at home and abroad by U.S.-owned companies. Her research has been published in leading scholarly journals, including Research Policy, the Journal of Technology Transfer, and the International Journal of Technology Management. Dr. Fernández-Ribas teaches courses in economics of innovation in Georgia Tech’s School of Public Policy. 

She earned her Ph.D and M.S. in Economics from Autonomous University of Barcelona. Prior to coming to the United States as a Fulbright Scholar, she worked for the Austrian Institute of Economic Research. 

Enterprise Innovation Institute
Georgia Institute of Technology
760 Spring Street, NW, Suite 230
Atlanta, Georgia 30332-0640

Mobile: (404) 388.0250
Fax: (404) 894-1447
E-mail: andrea.ribas@innovate.gatech.edu

Terry Gandy is a program associate with the Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy program, a joint effort of the Enterprise Innovation Institute and Georgia Tech’s School of Public Policy.  His primary responsibilities are to research and develop public policies related to technology-based economic development and to assist colleagues with issues involving state government interactions and policies.

Prior to joining Georgia Tech, Mr. Gandy worked for the Georgia Governor’s Office of Planning and Budget for 27 years, focusing mainly on economic development and higher education issues, policies, legislation, and budgets.

He holds a B.A. in political science from the University of Florida, a master’s degree in political science from Vanderbilt University, and a master’s degree in city planning from Georgia Tech.

Enterprise Innovation Institute
Georgia Institute of Technology
760 Spring Street, N.W., Suite 230
Atlanta, Georgia 30332-0640

Phone: (404) 894-2268
Fax: (404) 894-1447
E-mail: terry.gandy@innovate.gatech.edu

Leigh Hopkins is an associate project manager within the Community Policy and Research Services division of the Enterprise Innovation Institute (EI2) where she helps to create competitive, sustainable, and quality climates for Georgia communities and businesses to grow and thrive. Prior to joining EI2, Leigh worked as a consultant in environmental and planning-related services. Most recently, she worked as a senior urban planner for the City of Atlanta with a focus on zoning-compliance issues.  

Leigh holds a bachelor's degree in forest resources from the University of Georgia and a master's degree from Georgia Tech in city and regional planning. Her interests include using GIS to study the impact of zoning regulations and urban design on community growth, sustainability, and economic redevelopment.
      
Enterprise Innovation Institute
Georgia Institute of Technology
760 Spring Street, NW, Suite 230
Atlanta, Georgia 30332-0640

Phone: (404) 894-0933
Fax: (404) 894-1447
E-mail: leigh.hopkins@innovate.gatech.edu

Hortense Jackson is a project director in the community innovation services group at Georgia Tech’s Enterprise Innovation Institute, and is responsible for delivery of the Institute’s services to communities in south Georgia.  Since joining Georgia Tech, she has worked with various rural Georgia communities to assist them with economic development planning, strategic planning, coaching and facilitation, and implementation of strategic plans.  Her interests include community and regional innovation, human creativity and innovation, and sustainable economic development.

Community Innovation Services
Enterprise Innovation Institute
Georgia Institute of Technology
125 Pine Avenue, Suite 220
Albany, Georgia 31701

Mobile: (229) 255-6396
Fax: (229) 430-4200
E-mail: hortense.jackson@innovate.gatech.edu

Dana King is a project manager in the Community Policy and Research Services division.  As an integral member of the community innovation services team, she works with Georgia communities to develop and help guide the implementation of economic development initiatives.  Interests include identifying innovative approaches to sustainable economic development and addressing workforce development needs.

Previously, she worked for Market Street Services, an Atlanta-based consulting firm devising economic and workforce development strategies for communities across the Southeast.  Her experience also includes rental housing development in the Atlanta area and legislative work for a congressional office.  King holds a bachelor’s degree in public policy from Duke University and a master’s degree in city and regional planning from Georgia Tech.

Community Innovation Services
Enterprise Innovation Institute
Georgia Institute of Technology
760 Spring St. NW
Atlanta, Georgia 30332

Phone: (404) 894-0094
Fax: (404) 894-1447
E-mail: dana.king@innovate.gatech.edu

Greg Laudeman develops and delivers technology-oriented economic development solutions as member of the Center for Policy and Research Services in Georgia Tech’s Enterprise Innovation Institute. Greg has a Master of Science Degree in Public Policy from Georgia Tech, with concentrations in Information Technology Policy and Economic Development Policy. Prior to attending Tech he worked for BellSouth Business Systems (BBS) as a liaison between the CIO and end-users, and as a Systems Designer, developing telecommunication solutions for major customers. Greg has also worked as a Technical Consultant for MCI, and as a Telecommunication and Wide-Area Network Specialist for Intelligent Systems and Networking in Chattanooga. He has a Master of Arts degree in Information and Telecommunications Systems from Michigan State University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Electronic Media from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. With additional professional experience in electronic media, graphic arts, computer support and training, and as an entrepreneur, Greg is uniquely qualified to link technology and community economic development. Paralleling his professional experience Greg has worked as an organizer, facilitator, and member of various voluntary groups focused on bicycle advocacy, amateur athletics, and community networking. He serves communities all over Georgia, but concentrates his efforts in north Georgia, and resides in Chattanooga, Tennessee, with his wife, Lynn, and children Annabelle and Forest.

Community Innovation Services
Enterprise Innovation Institute
Georgia Institute of Technology
5 Public Square, Suite 104
Cartersville, Georgia 30120

Phone: (706) 271-5521
Fax: (770) 387-4001
E-mail: greg.laudeman@innovate.gatech.edu

Ed Lindsey directs the EDA University Center Program, the Enterprise Innovation Institute’s oldest federal partnership.  His 30-year career with Georgia Tech includes management positions in both Atlanta-based and field operations.  Lindsey’s experience encompasses market research, financial analysis and feasibility, strategic planning, and economic development, and he has been active in several professional organizations. 

Prior to Georgia Tech, he worked in other industries, including banking, construction, and executive placement.  He graduated magna cum laude from Georgia Tech and received his MBA from the Colgate Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia.

EDA University Center
Enterprise Innovation Institute
Georgia Institute of Technology
116 Worthing Road
Saint Simons Island, Georgia 31522-1927

Phone: (912) 634-4860
E-mail: ed.lindsey@innovate.gatech.edu

Ann O’Neill provides innovative business-to-business and consumer marketing research and consulting services to manufacturers and economic development organizations across Georgia.  Her 22 years of experience in these fields offer clients valuable insights and actionable recommendations in support of critical business decisions.  She has particular expertise in market profiling and segmentation, competitive analysis, marketing feasibility studies, and survey research design.  Recent clients have included Georgia Power Company, Shaw Industries, the Georgia Department of Economic Development, and the U.S. Department of Commerce.

EDA University Center
Enterprise Innovation Institute
Georgia Institute of Technology
760 Spring Street, N.W., Suite 230
Atlanta, Georgia 30332-0640

Phone: (404) 894-3113
Fax: (404) 894-1447
E-mail: ann.oneill@innovate.gatech.edu

Elisabeth Shields, Ph.D., delivers business information services to clients and staff of Georgia Tech’s Enterprise Innovation Institute.  She is research librarian, search consultant, and trainer.  She has special interests in improving information usage, personal information management, and the role of information and knowledge management systems in organizational learning and performance improvement.

Before joining Georgia Tech, Dr. Shields managed training programs in institutional development in numerous developing countries, specializing in strategic planning for developing-country nonprofit organizations.  She has earned degrees from the University of Michigan, Ohio University, American University, and the University of Maryland.

Research Services
Enterprise Innovation Institute
Georgia Institute of Technology
760 Spring Street, N.W., Suite 230
Atlanta, Georgia 30332-0640

Phone: (404) 385-2687
Fax: (404) 894-1447
E-mail: elisabeth.shields@innovate.gatech.edu

Hazel Taylor is the office manager for Community Policy and Research Services (CPRS), a division of Georgia Tech’s Enterprise Innovation Institute.  In this capacity, she provides CPRS staff with administrative, reporting, communications, and marketing research assistance. 

Previously, she served as assistant to the chief medical officer/chief of medicine at Emory University’s Division of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology.  She managed office operations and coordinated activities associated with the Fellowship program, managing and supervising recruitment and implementing training programs for new hires.

Community Policy & Research Services
Enterprise Innovation Institute
Georgia Institute of Technology
760 Spring Street, NW, Suite 230
Atlanta, Georgia 30332-0640

Phone: (404) 894-0730
Fax: (404) 894-1447
E-mail: hazel.taylor@innovate.gatech.edu

Joy Wilkins manages the community innovation services group at Georgia Tech’s Enterprise Innovation Institute and oversees the development and delivery of the Institute’s services for economic developers, local government officials, and other leaders representing cities, counties, and regions. She directs teams to advise communities on various strategic issues, and has also led research initiatives for state and federal sponsors.

She is a frequent public speaker and instructor on economic development, strategic planning, and quality management topics, and has authored several articles appearing in journals, newsletters, and other publications. Prior to Georgia Tech, she held roles serving economic development and real estate interests.  A Certified Economic Developer, she has a master’s degree in city planning from Georgia Tech and a bachelor’s degree, with sociology and political science majors, from the State University of New York at Fredonia.

She is a frequent public speaker and instructor on economic development, strategic planning, and quality management topics, and has authored several articles appearing in journals, newsletters, and other publications.

Community Innovation Services
Enterprise Innovation Institute
Georgia Institute of Technology
2300 Bethelview Road, Suite 110
Cumming, Georgia 30040-9475

Mobile: (404) 895-6115
Fax: (404) 894-1447
E-mail: joy.wilkins@innovate.gatech.edu

Jan L. Youtie, Ph.D., is manager of policy services in Community, Policy, and Research Services, a unit of Georgia Tech’s Enterprise Innovation Institute.  She also is an adjunct associate professor in Georgia Tech’s School of Public Policy and co-founder of the program in Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy.  Dr. Youtie’s research focuses on manufacturing competitiveness, technology-based economic development, emerging-technology assessment, and innovation and knowledge measurement.  She has been principal investigator in studies sponsored by the U.S. Department of Commerce, National Science Foundation, European Commission, U.N. Development Program, Aspen Institute, and Southern Technology Council, among others.  Her research received the Lang Rosen Gold Award for best article by the Journal of Technology Transfer, and it also has appeared in Research Policy, Economic Development Quarterly, Technovation, and many other journals.

Enterprise Innovation Institute
Georgia Institute of Technology
760 Spring Street, NW, Suite 230
Atlanta, Georgia 30332-0640

Mobile: (404) 894-6111
Fax: (404) 894-1447
E-mail: jan.youtie@innovate.gatech.edu