Chris Chammoun

Chris Chammoun
Division Director for Rural Georgia Initiatives
Georgia Department of Economic Development

Chris Chammoun is the Division Director for the Rural Georgia Initiatives division at the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD). The division’s mission, led by Deputy Commissioner Amy Carter, is to help rural Georgia communities become more competitive for economic development projects and identify new strategies for attracting jobs and investment.

Chammoun previously served as the Director of the Center of Innovation for Agribusiness, a program of the Georgia Department of Economic Development. The Center of Innovation for Agribusiness provided the technical industry expertise, collaborative research and partnerships to help the state’s #1 industry connect, compete and grow globally. With focus areas in emerging and novel crops, food business development, and precision agriculture, the Center supported Georgia’s agriculture industry and enabled companies to access high-growth opportunities for increased success.

Prior to joining GDEcD, Chammoun served as Director of Public Affairs for the Georgia Cotton Commission. In this role he coordinated the Commission efforts to better communicate with cotton producers and cotton consumers in the areas of research, promotion, and education.

Chammoun is a native of Adel, Georgia and received a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Economics from the University of Georgia. Prior to graduation from UGA, he worked as a Congressional Agricultural Fellow for United States Senator Johnny Isakson assisting with agricultural legislation. After graduation, Chammoun worked as a Research Technician on the UGA Tifton Campus conducting tobacco and vegetable experiments. In 2010, he started his graduate studies at Texas A&M University where he completed his Master of Science in Agricultural Economics in 2012. His thesis focused on consumer demand and producer profitability of growing and marketing both native and improved varieties of pecans.