Member Economic Luncheon, May 2025

Join the Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce for our first Member Economic Luncheon of the year with guest speaker, Cal Wray, President of the Augusta Economic Development Authority.

Cal Wray, EDFP, President of the Augusta Economic Development Authority

Cal Wray began serving as the President of the Augusta Economic Development Authority in January 2018. The Augusta EDA works to recruit new manufacturing, distribution, assembly, and related industrial facilities to Augusta, Georgia as well as retail, commercial, and other developments that will create jobs and bring investment to all of Richmond County, Georgia. Since his arrival, the Development Authority has announced 55+ new, expanding, and retail projects encompassing $4 Billion in new capital investment and 4,245 new and retained jobs. Prior to arriving in Richmond County, Cal served as the Executive Director of the Clarksville‐Montgomery County Economic Development Council (EDC) and the Aspire Clarksville Foundation (Aspire) from March 2014 until January 2018. During his tenure, the team recruited more than $960 million in capital investment and more than 1,000 jobs.

Cal received a Bachelor of Arts with Honors in Russian, European Studies, and Economics from Vanderbilt University, a Master’s of Science degree in International Affairs from the Georgia Institute of Technology and is a certified Economic Development Finance Professional (EDFP) by the National Development Council (NDC). In 2015, 2021, and 2022 he was named one of North America’s Top 50 Economic Developers by Consultant Connect. In 2018, Cal completed the inaugural class of the Advanced Economic Development Leadership Program and received the Master Practitioner Designation. Cal is active in the Georgia Economic Developer’s Association (GEDA) and serves as Vice Chairman on its board of directors, Southern Economic Development Council (SEDC), International Economic Development Council (IEDC), Industrial Asset Management Council (IAMC), and multiple state, regional, and local endeavors. Cal and his wife, Leigh, have three sons, Garrett, Camden, and Weston, and three daughters, Eliza, Rynne, and Whitney. Inspiring their children’s imagination and desire for learning has become their passion.