CHEROKEE COUNTY, GA | (January 28, 2025) | The Cherokee Office of Economic Development names Heath Tippens as the new president of the organization.
After serving the Cherokee Office of Economic Development (COED) for over 15 years, Cherokee County native Heath Tippens will take the lead role. Heath began his career at COED as Project Manager in 2009 after two years with Wells Real Estate Funds as Investor Relations Specialist. He advanced to Senior Project Manager and has been serving as Vice President since 2018. Tippens has been intricately involved in real estate transactions, including much of the development work at Cherokee 75 Corporate Park, The Bluffs and the future Canton Corporate Park. He has also served in a leadership role at COED with the management of existing industry programs as well as the comprehensive initiatives under Cherokee By Choice, Inc.
Tippens is a graduate of the University of Georgia with a Bachelor of Science in Family & Consumer Sciences in Housing. He is also a graduate of the Executive Leadership Program for Non-Profit Organizations (ELPNO) through UGA’s J.W. Fanning Institute for Leadership Development, as well as the Georgia Academy for Economic Development and Georgia Tech’s Basic Economic Development Course. Heath is a member of the International Economic Development Council and is currently serving on the Board of Directors for the Georgia Economic Developers Association (GEDA). Prior to serving on the GEDA board, he was a committee chair for two years and was named Committee Chair of the Year in 2023.
Heath was recognized as one of Cherokee’s Top 10 in 10 Young Professionals and was a Georgia Trend 40 Under 40 honoree. He is an active member of the Atlanta Regional Marketing Alliance and is a 2019 Graduate of the Atlanta Regional Commission’s Regional Leadership Institute (RLI). Heath is a graduate of Leadership Cherokee, where he was awarded the Crystal Stancil Leadership Award, and served as Chair 2017.
“Heath has been a valued employee for over 15 years and has earned this promotion,” stated Marshall Day, Chairman. “We look forward to continued success under his leadership.”
“I am excited for this opportunity and am committed to executing COED’s strategic vision,” said Heath Tippens, newly elected President of COED. “I look forward to working with our boards and staff as we continue to shape the future and build on Cherokee’s legacy of success.”
Tippens will begin his new role as President of the Cherokee Office of Economic Development on February 12, 2025.
