Our Office of Economic & Community Development is proud to announce that two of our outstanding team members, Morgan Ferguson, our Research Analyst, and Jon McBrayer, our Community Development Senior Coordinator, have been selected by GeorgiaForward for the 2025 Young Gamechangers (YG) program. 

This leadership initiative brings together innovative professionals from across the state to work on the persistent challenges of one Georgia community. Over the next eight months, Morgan and Jon will collaborate with 47 other Gamechangers to develop actionable solutions for Athens-Clarke County, addressing critical issues such as economic disparity, regional growth, and community impact. Their selection highlights ECG’s commitment to fostering leadership and driving meaningful change in Georgia’s communities.

Each year, Young Gamechangers brings together the best and brightest of Georgia’s professionals under 40, presenting four key “Challenge Questions” focused on economic disparity, regional growth, community impact, and the town-grown relationship between the city and the University of Georgia. Over the course of eight months, they will work collaboratively to develop actionable solutions for this year’s host community, Athens-Clark County, and present their recommendations in November 2025.

What This Means for ECG and Georgia’s Communities

At ECG, we know that leadership goes beyond the workplace—it’s about making a real impact in our communities. Jon and Morgan’s participation in Young Gamechangers is a testament to our commitment to economic development, civic engagement, and problem-solving that benefits communities across the state. Their insights and contributions will not only support Athens-Clarke County but will also enhance ECG’s ability to drive meaningful change in cities throughout Georgia.

“I’m honored to be part of the Young Gamechangers 2025 cohort and eager to work alongside such a talented and diverse group of professionals,” said Jon McBrayer. “I’m excited to contribute fresh ideas and innovative solutions.”

Morgan echoed the sentiments, stating, “Being selected as a Young Gamechanger is an incredible opportunity to collaborate with leaders from across Georgia. I look forward to diving into the challenges Athens faces and helping develop impactful strategies for economic and community growth.”

A Legacy of Leadership

Young Gamechangers has a strong track record of making a lasting impact, with previous host communities including Douglasville-Douglas County, LaGrange-Troup County, Albany-Dougherty County, Monroe-Walton County, Dalton-Whitfield County, Columbus-Muscogee County, Milledgeville-Baldwin County, Augusta-Richmond County, Americus-Sumter County, Dublin-Laurens County, and Valdosta-Lowndes County. The program is known for generating real solutions that local leaders implement to drive progress.

As ECG continues to champion economic development and business growth across the state, we are proud to see our team members stepping into leadership roles that create long-term, sustainable change for Georgia’s communities. We look forward to seeing the results of Morgan and Jon’s work with Young Gamechangers and the innovative ideas they will bring back to ECG.

About GeorgiaForward

GeorgiaForward engages young professionals with leaders in civics, industry, government, academia, and the media to find a common vision for Georgia. The nonprofit organization, which is administered by the Georgia Municipal Association, accomplishes this by creating an environment in which vision and pragmatism can overcome political deadlock, fostering communication and goodwill among Georgia’s stakeholders, and seeking innovative solutions to Georgia’s biggest challenges.

To learn more about GeorgiaForward and the Young Gamechangers program, visit georgiaforward.org.