Minority Professional Network (MPN) National Black MBA Association Atlanta Chapter Vernon Jones Dekalb County Georgia CEO

DeKalb County CEO Vernon Jones speaks at Atlanta NBMBAA meeting

By Tomi Morris Johnson

Reprinted with permission from Tomi Morris Johnson.

January 28, 2002, Atlanta, GA…Strategically marketing himself and the county he represents, Vernon Jones, CEO of DeKalb County, was the keynote speaker at the National Black MBA Association, Inc. – Atlanta Chapter’s first monthly meeting of the year. The hosting organization, whose motto is “Leading in the creation of economic and intellectual wealth,” has a membership of MBA degreed and non-MBA entrepreneurs and professionals.

Speaking to a crowd of approximately 300 onlookers he categorized as “powerful and influential”, Jones’s address in the Georgia Power Auditorium centered on the topic “The Business of Public Service: Opportunities for Business Professionals in Public Service.”

“If you are politically educated, you can fend for yourself,” he quipped laughingly while thanking listeners for coming to hear him speak instead of attending the Luther Vandross concert in downtown Atlanta. The earthy Jones latter apologized for candidly stating, “Saying we can’t do something because of our race – that’s just bull----,” which was received with thunderous applause.

Jones added his name to the growing list of African American professionals who have made it despite tremendous odds. “I was country before it was cool,” he said. Born in rural North Carolina the son of uneducated parents, Jones graduated with a business degree from North Carolina Central University in 1983 and later completed Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government’s Executive Program. Jones is the first CEO of DeKalb County, GA to have a college degree. “It’s due to amazing grace,” he remarked of his success.

While Jones was working for telecommunications and information systems companies, “I learned about the glass ceiling… but I was not going to sit on the sideline. I was determined to make it up the corporate ladder. Now my responsibilities are vast, and I have sheer, raw authority and power. As DeKalb County goes, so goes the state.”

“I first started to hone my (leadership) craft in corporate America…I was trained to think outside the box,” Jones said of his journey in the private sector. Then came his try at politics. “Julian Bond had already inspired me to public service by being a pioneer legislator.” The next thing on his agenda was running for public office.

After a stint in the Georgia legislature where he sponsored or co-sponsored over 60 bills, Jones centered his eyes on morphing DeKalb County from “Mayberry RFD, dairy producing, bedroom community” status to “dynamic DeKalb.” After a runoff, he garnered 67% of the vote to become the county’s CEO.

“Black female voters take voting seriously,” Jones added, himself single and a recent standout in Jezebel Magazine as one of the 50 most beautiful people in Atlanta. Jones says he’s kept his nose clean by dealing with a higher level of ethics during his campaign and making sure that his senior employees and their wives disclose any outside interests which may conflict with their government positions.

When asked about what he was going to do to bridge the economic gap between the races in metro Atlanta, Jones said, “I’m not David Copperfield. I’m fighting 180 years of history, unreasonable fears from Whites, and unreasonable expectations from Blacks. My job is to compete.”

Jones poses with former classmate Naomi K. McLaurin, Esq. of Emory’s School of Law at MBMBAA event.

“I’ve only been on the job one year and have a lot of work to do,” Jones said. Already Jones has established mandatory customer service training for his 7,400+ employees, secured 1,000 acres for a green space project, appointed a homeland security director, streamlined operations and raised property taxes to prevent shortfalls.

“DeKalb County is a diamond in the rough...poised for greatness,” he boasted, saying that he envisions raising the quality of life of citizens by adding entertainment venues, a new hospital, online services, revitalizing enterprise zones, trimming fat and creating a premier employment center.

“I had good training to do my job effectively,” he added. “Economic development is the cornerstone of my next years in office. My goal is to leave DeKalb County better than where I found it,” Jones said.

National Society of Hispanic MBAs (NSHMBA) representative Zaida Pericas (l), W. Chuck Menchion, Director of Corporate Affairs for NBMBAA(m), and WingcomLtd Writer Tomi Johnson (r) attended the general meeting.

Jones urged people interested in doing business with DeKalb County government to become educated about the process and register for bids. For more information, contact David E. Seamon, Sr., Director, Office of Economic Development, 404-687-2730, or visit the DeKalb County website at http://www.co.dekalb.ga.us/.

Atlanta NBMBAA President C. J. Bland gives Jones an award.

Function attendees discuss business.

Atlanta Tribune Circulation Manager Richard Parham explained scholarship program at meeting.

Pictured are members of the NBMBAA – Atlanta Chapter executive board and officers.

“Planning to succeed” are (l to r) Marrion Heflin, Prestige Design Group, Inc.; Tomi Johnson, WingcomLtd; Creed Pannell, Jr., Atlanta Business Journal; Carl Brown, Georgia Pacific; and Kokayi Olushola, Georgia Minority Business Awards.

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