Ben Andrews has been named statewide program manager of Georgia Tech’s Advanced Technology Development Center, effective immediately.

In this role, Andrews will oversee the ATDC @ initiative, which takes the incubator’s education, resources, and programming to various cities across the state. He will work with ATDC’s catalysts in current ATDC @cities, which include Athens, Augusta, Peachtree Corners, and Savannah.

Andrews joined ATDC in 2017 as community engagement coordinator, where he managed relationships with the incubator’s sponsors and external partners.

“Ben has a deep bench of knowledge in economic development and has a strong network in Georgia,” said ATDC Director John Avery. “As we look for opportunities to expand ATDC’s programming across the state, his background and experience will be a great asset.”

Andrews began his career working for the Community and Economic Development Department for the city of Americus. While working for the city, he earned his MBA from Georgia Southwestern State University. In 2013 he was promoted to department director, becoming the youngest senior staff member in the city’s modern history.

In that position, he oversaw a variety of boards and authorities, and worked with recruiting, retaining, and assisting small businesses. He was regularly invited to speak at various conferences about the work he and his team accomplished in Americus. 

In 2016 he returned to Atlanta to work for the American Cancer Society in the role of Senior Market Manager for Community Engagement. There he worked with various verticals within the Atlanta market, ranging from fundraising to mission delivery.

Andrews received a bachelor’s in business management from the Georgia Institute of Technology’s Scheller College of Business.

“I’m really excited to be taking on this new role with ATDC,” Andrews said. “There are some great things going on in cities across Georgia, and I’m looking forward to bringing ATDC’s resources to startups across the state.”

Outside of work Ben is active in his community. He has served as a board member for several non-profit organizations and has worked to address issues ranging from affordable housing and childhood literacy, to transportation infrastructure and cyclist and pedestrian safety.

He has also managed capital campaigns for various charitable organizations. Currently, he is a board member of GeorgiaForward, a non-partisan think tank focused on policy issues across the state.

He also is chairman of alumni engagement for GeorgiaForward’s Young Gamechanger program. In September 2014, Rural Leader Magazine named him one of the top four selections for its inaugural “40 Under 40” publication.