Joel G. Thomas

Joel G. Thomas serves as Regional Director of the U.S. Economic Development Administration’s Atlanta Regional Office, where he leads EDA’s economic development activities across the Southeast.

Joel has more than 20 years of experience in economic and workforce development, government, and business. Prior to joining EDA, he served as Regional Director for the U.S. Department of Labor’s Job Corps program, leading workforce development efforts and strategic partnerships across a multi-state region. He previously served in leadership roles with the U.S. Small Business Administration and the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, as well as the Urban Resource Institute, Rutgers University, and SourceAmerica. He also spent several years in the private sector working with federal agencies as a government contractor. His background includes economic development, workforce development, entrepreneurship, federal contracting, and industry partnerships.

Joel holds a Master of Arts from American University’s School of International Service and a Bachelor of Arts from Bradford College. Earlier in his career, he lived and worked in Japan through the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program.