Jon Maynard holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Northwestern State University of Louisiana. He is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma Economic Development Institute.

 

He has been in economic development for over 25 years. He began his economic development career as a volunteer in Natchitoches, Louisiana. He served as a volunteer for a community that did not have the formal capacity to hire a full-time economic developer. This is the foundation from which Jon started his career and ultimately led him to understand the needs of smaller communities and the tools they need for success.

 

Following more than 10 years as a volunteer in Natchitoches, Jon moved to Minden, LA, working for the Northwest Louisiana Economic Development Foundation (now NLEP) in 2006. He was recruited to move to Starkville, MS, in 2008 and then to Oxford, MS, in 2012. His 10+ years in Oxford, Mississippi gave him the opportunity to implement his theory of "people-based economic development." This is what brought Oxford their incredible success. This success was noted by various research organizations such as Heartland Forward, the Research Triangle Institute, and even Dartmouth College.

 

This form of growth can be scaled to fit any community of any size. Jon also brings to the table a vast network of subject matter experts who can help with nearly every facet of a sophisticated economic development program.

 

Before he launched into a professional economic development career, Jon's employment background includes running a small movie theater business, being a bank officer, and working in sales and marketing for a small business.

 

Born into a military family, he has lived in Georgia, Texas, Kansas, Alabama, Florida, and Louisiana before moving to Mississippi in 2008.

 

Jon is a licensed pilot, a former scuba instructor, and a classically trained percussionist and professional musician. He most recently played drums in a popular party band in Louisiana called Johnny Earthquake and the Moondogs.