The Indianapolis-based Indy Chamber appointed Jason Hester as Chief Economic Development Officer. Hester brings 25 years of experience in economic and community development to the region’s business leadership organization.
In this executive role, Hester will lead the Indy Partnership and drive regional business attraction strategy across Central Indiana. He will also support and collaborate with local economic development offices on best-in-class business expansion efforts.
Hester, who will start in the new role on June 2, currently serves as President of the Greater Columbus Economic Development Corporation, where he advanced the area’s leadership in advanced manufacturing and foreign direct investment on initiatives that yielded more than $1.8 Billion in new investment and thousands of new jobs within Columbus, Edinburgh, and Bartholomew County, Indiana.
Throughout his career, including key roles with the Indiana Economic Development Corporation and local governments, Hester has been a champion of partnership-driven approaches that align regional strengths with global market opportunities. Those collective efforts have to date secured over $7.5 billion in direct capital investment and over 44,000 new jobs in Indiana.
As CEDO, Hester will serve on the Indy Chamber’s executive leadership team and guide strategic initiatives that position the region to compete globally and thrive locally. His work will focus on aligning assets across the Central Indiana region, building relationships with key stakeholders, and telling the story of Indy as a dynamic place for business and talent.
A Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) and native Hoosier, Hester holds an MBA from Indiana Wesleyan University and a degree in International Community Development from Oral Roberts University. He is a frequent speaker at national and regional events and advocates for data-informed, inclusive economic strategies.
