Community Development & FEMA Program Leadership

JONATHAN LUPO, MPA

****.********@*****.*** ● 770-***-****

QUALIFICATIONS SUMMARY

Results-oriented and strategic leader with extensive experience in accomplishing remarkable outcomes in economic and community development. Dedicated to building communities through partnerships while facilitating change in a community to support organizational objectives. Strong background in relationship management, analysis and problem-solving, research, and general business acumen. Highly skilled in:

Community Development / Workforce Development / Infrastructure and Design / International Relations and Business / Data Analysis / Project Management / Regulatory Programs / CRM Integration / Economic Development

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Augusta, GA

IRC CA Community Planning Expert Specialist January 2025 – November 2025

Community Planning & Program Delivery – Leveraging FEMA’s core functions of facilitating recovery partnerships, conducting disaster impact assessments, and supporting stakeholder engagement. Within this capacity, I organized two key initiatives: Grants Workshops (with Augusta Technical College and USDA) to help local governments access federal and private funding; and Gravesite Repair Workshops (with NPS-NCPTT, DOI-OEPC-ERR, Georgia Historic Preservation Division, and GEMA/HS) to provide hands-on training in cemetery conservation, post-disaster recovery, hazard assessment, and documentation.

Technical & Administrative Support – Created outreach and marketing materials using Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Publisher, Outlook, PowerPoint), and tracked participant data, workshop logistics, and reporting through Max-Trax CRM to support FEMA’s documentation and community engagement efforts.

Program Manager to multiple FEMA projects not limited to – Mental Health First Aid education for employees of two Georgia counties to tackle a rise in suicide and mental health issue post Hurricane Helene. Grant Writing Education for government workers to help Georgia counties utilize federal, state, and private funding opportunities. The grant writing workshop connected GA Department of Community Affairs (DCA) and United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) points of contact to those local applicants to help grant walk through. Management of these and other projects started from the beginning and were carried out to the end. From project inception, project timeline, project budgeting, logistics, and so forth all by me.

Development Authority of Burke County Waynesboro, GA

Executive Director March 2022 – May 2023

Began and carried out the Development Authority of Burke County’s (DABC) first search for a strategic master plan to help develop target industries and a consistent road map for what the Authority considers success.

In Year One began and worked 32 plus active projects amounting to over 9,394 New Jobs and $13.3 B in possible investment.

By the end of Year One had won four new projects and facilitated four new business locations in Waynesboro amounting to 300 possible new jobs, without any tax abatement provided.

In one year have been a part of the Red-Carpet Tour and the Masters inviting State Project Managers, Utility Partners, National Consultants, and local industries to the CSRA to participate in daily activities fostering lasting professional relationships.

Currently partnering with Augusta Technical College to provide 15 outgoing seniors with initial job training through the Manufacturing Mobile Lab. This initial training will allow graduated seniors with no plans of going to college to have multiple certifications that will increase their value to hiring manufacturers.

Creating the DABC’s vision for the future of local industries and where to locate them; working to bring horizontal infrastructure to possible industrial sites as well as working to negotiate possible sale and purchase of sites for the future.

Invested in a new database for all industrial sites (CoStar), moved all records to a new CRM (Salesforce) allowing for a more streamlined way to present all records and a better system all together, and moved all email and programs to Microsoft365 saving the authority funds in the process.

Waycross-Ware County Development Authority Waycross, GA

President and Chief Executive Officer May 2021 – February 2022

Manage and supervise all projects to include new investment and existing industry; have more than doubled the project pipeline from the beginning of tenure to the current.

Direct and facilitate inclusive and strategic economic development initiatives to grow and maintain jobs and increase the tax base of Waycross and Ware County.

Lead and guide the WWDA staff and board of directors; oversee daily operations; and, in collaboration with the community, develop and implement a strategic plan on an annual basis.

Liaise with Georgia EMC, the board, and other community stakeholders to come together to create the first WWDA Strategic Master Plan to help guide the authority by naming target industries and other concrete goals as a community.

Collaborate with Ware County Superintendent and Coastal Pines Technical College to re-create “Ware Worx,” a workforce training program designed to assure 11th graders opportunities to meet and tour industrial park companies for potential career opportunities absent post-secondary education.

Draft and submit grant applications for 2021 ARPA Funds for State approval to address underserved areas countywide to include a Master Plan covering Ware County and Phase One investment totaling 22 miles and $16M worth of fiber; draft grant application for OneGeorgia Grant to bring needed infrastructure into WWDA Corporate Park; specifically, a water pump station, over 3,000 feet of water line, and 200 acres of cut timber.

Install new and updated administrative tools to document all work activity including Salesforce CRM and new cloud management systems.

Partner with retail consultants to address needs and develop community vibrancy including rejuvenation of the Waycross Mall and reinvestment to increase occupancy from 30% to 100%.

Elevate Douglas Douglasville, GA

Director, Business Recruitment September 2018 – January 2021

Recruited and assisted new businesses looking to locate and invest in Douglas County, and more than doubled project pipeline from 2019 to 2020.

Represented the Development Authority as point-of-contact for all new business projects coming from state economic development, consultants, state utilities, and/or company representatives.

Coordinated all project site visits for incoming prospective companies providing information on community, workforce training, local utilities, and general business development.

Assisted in obtaining city and county approval for future CBD investment and industrial companies looking to develop business parks; and spearheaded community development for companies with easement permitting, multi-use developments, future land use maps, and possible rezoning.

Most Notable New Business Wins: Stitch Fix (E-Logistics Facility) – 1.3m SF facility, 981 net new jobs; BANG Energy (Manufacturing/Distribution) – 644k sf facility, $600m investment, 600 jobs, $25 average wage; Hyperscale Data Center (Microsoft) – up to five 250k sf buildings, $800m investment on each building.

Presented to Economic Development Authority Board on key Business Recruitment issues including year-end annual reports.

Created incentive packages to include property tax abatements, workforce development grants, discretionary grants, and expedited permitting for target sector projects.

Louisiana Economic Development Baton Rouge, LA

International Project Manager January 2015 – September 2018

Organized international investment opportunities to key global markets generating 50+ leads per market and converting 2-3 leads in each market to active projects.

Provided key workforce development coordination assistance for international companies as well as educating said companies on workforce training opportunities within the state of Louisiana.

Represented the state of Louisiana on a Tri-City SelectUSA investment tour in Taiwan presenting to company executives and government management.

Managed ten plus, in the last year, FDI projects from lead to decision-making; including answering RFPs, organizing site visits, and liaising with decision makers.

Led a multi-team move from various CRMs to Salesforce, integrating new users, coordinating training, and creating metric reports for the Secretary of State.

Recruited a new India representative for the state, drafted Request for Proposal (RFP), scored all proposals, and coordinated India mission and interviews.

Georgia Department of Economic Development Atlanta, GA

International Trade Policy and Special Projects Manager July 2011 – December 2014

Supported Governor’s missions to Turkey, China, Japan, and Korea, managing registration and “Why Georgia” events and educating potential investors.

Created metrics including monthly and fiscal year-end reports measuring outcomes for all international offices and in-state trade managers, as well as led monthly staff meetings with 11 overseas offices.

Proposed new trade offices and possible new markets for Georgia companies, interviewed, scored, and hired new Colombia and Mexico contractors.

Briefed senior leadership on current federal trade policy issues such as Trade Promotions Authority, Export-Import Bank, and all FTAs (TPP, TTIP, etc.).

Measured how FTAs impact the state of Georgia with total trade imports and exports and established baseline expectations once new FTAs signed into force.

EDUCATION

Georgia College, Milledgeville, GA

Master of Public Administration

University Program Abroad: Studied the European Nation and NATO

Bachelor of Science: Political Science

AFFILIATIONS AND CERTIFICATIONS

Mental Health First Aid, Multiple Federal Certifications, Leadership Augusta, Georgia Chamber, Fort Gordon Alliance, University of Oklahoma Economic Development Institute (OUEDI), Georgia Insurance, International Economic Development Council (IEDC), Southern Economic Development Council (SEDC), Georgia Economic Development Association (GEDA), State International Development Organization (SIDO), National Association of Chinese Americans (NACA), Professional Tennis Registry (PTR)

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