As a Certified Economic Developer (CEcD), Jason Hester draws on 25 years of economic development experience to encourage communities and regions to utilize collaborative and data-driven efforts to support business recruitment, local expansions, and capital investments that create jobs for residents and build communities that people enjoy. He is an annual guest speaker at the Indiana Economic Development Academy and has been a featured panelist at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, the Economic Future Forum hosted by the International Economic Development Council, and at multiple other state & regional events speaking on Business Attraction, Expansion, and Foreign Direct Investment best practices. As of June 2025, Hester now leads regional economic development efforts for the 10-county Indy Partnership region, as Chief Economic Development Officer of the Indy Chamber. Previously, he served 15 years as head of Greater Columbus (Indiana) EDC, and prior leadership roles were held with the Indiana Economic Development Corporation, City of Kokomo, and City of Elwood, Indiana. Over his career, collaborative efforts have to date secured commitments for over $7.5 Billion in capital investments and over 44,000 new jobs.