Careers
The economic development specialization prepares students to work effectively when harnessing
public and private resources to design, test, implement, and evaluate effective economic development
strategies and to do so in widely varying development organizations.  Students focusing in economic
development find responsible and challenging careers in many different settings and locations.  
Graduates are employed by local and state economic development agencies, community development
corporations (CDCs) and other nonprofit community-based organizations, quasi-public economic
development corporations and authorities, public utility corporation, private businesses engaged in
development finance, and private economic and planning consulting firms.

Year after year, our graduates successfully compete for challenging positions in all regions of the
United States and internationally.  Examples of positions attained by recent graduates are listed
below, accompanied by detailed alumni profiles.  A number of our alumni have risen to high, senior
positions in both public and private economic development organizations and non-profit agencies.

The faculty is actively involved in helping students secure academic year internships, summer
internships, and career positions in development planning organizations.  Often these contacts
are made through the several courses that have clients, and through the Institute for Economic
Development.  Our graduates form a valuable network that enables graduating students to develop
contacts, find their first jobs, and access mentorship and advice.

Examples of early to mid-career positions taken by recent graduates include

Eric Forman (MRP 1999), Regional Technology Strategies, Carrboro, NC

Sara Hinkley (MRP 1999), Senior Analyst, Good Jobs First, Washington, DC

Jessica Leveen (MRP 1999), Bank of America, Knoxville, TN

Matt Hull (MRP 1998), Corporation for Enterprise Development, Durham, NC

Rob Inerfeld (MRP 1998), Neighborhood Design Center, Baltimore, MD

Patrick Byker (MRP 1994), Vice President for Government Relations,
Durham Chamber of Commerce, Durham, NC

Charles Teller (MRP 1993), Economic and Planning Systems, Berkeley, CA

Susan Gibbs (MRP 1991), Hammer, Siler, & George Associates, Silver Spring, Md.

Eliza Berlow (MRP 1988), Development Specialist, Pennsylvania Avenue Development
Corporation, Washington, DC

Jeanine Jacokes (MRP 1988), Chief Policy Officer, Community Development Financial
Institutions Fund Transition Team, Washington, DC

Gerald Birkelbach (MRP 1987), Executive Director, Montgomery County Industrial
Development Authority, Montgomery County, PA.

Career profiles of select DCRP alumni:

Rick Carlisle (MRP 1980), North Carolina Secretary of Commerce, Raleigh, NC

Kathleen Heady (MRP 1985), Area Developments Manager, Wisconsin Department of
Commerce, Madison, WI

Linda Hoke (MRP 1982), Senior Program Manager, Southern Growth Policies Board,
Research Triangle Park, NC

Jeannie Jacokes (1988), Program Manager, United States Department of Treasury,
Communty Development Financial Institutions Fund, Washington, DC

Theo Noell (MRP 1997), Housing and Community Development Analyst, Federal Home
Loan Bank of Boston, Boston, MA

Bob Schall (MRP 1978), Director of Commercial Lending Programs, Center for Community
Self-Help Ventures Fund, Durham, NC

Dave Stebbins (MRP 1989), Vice President for Economic Development, Buffalo Economic
Renaissance Corporation, Buffalo, NY

Deborah Warren (MRP 1974), Executive Director, Southern Rural Development Initiative,
Raleigh, NC