David Nuckolls is the Executive Director of the Georgia Center of Innovation at the Georgia Department of Economic Development. In this role, he oversees six statewide industry-facing teams that help businesses clear the path to innovation and growth through expert advice and navigation to the right resources, sparking inspired solutions to challenges.
Since David stepped into his current role in 2020, the Center has added a new industry focus area, AgTech, and expanded the IT team to include Creative Technology, a burgeoning industry in Georgia. Under David’s leadership, the former Centers of Innovation were consolidated into one Center to expand the team’s reach and support more types of businesses, and he has worked to streamline the Center by bringing more of the Center’s staff in-house at GDEcD. David’s previous roles at GDEcD include Associate Director for the Center as well as a role on the Marketing team. His experience also includes roles in economic development, public relations, communications, and marketing with organizations including the Rome Floyd Chamber of Commerce, local nonprofit groups, and a digital agency.
David serves on the Board of Directors for the Georgia Intellectual Property Alliance and is an active member of the University IP Alliance. In addition, he is a member of Georgia Southern University’s Allen E. Paulson College of Engineering and Computing’s Corporate Advisory Council and the Georgia Tech K-12 InVenture Challenge Advisory Committee. In 2023, he was appointed by the State Board of Education to the Board of Directors for the Georgia Foundation for Public Education. He also serves in an Advisory capacity with Georgia FLEX, entrepreneurship program for high school students that engages them in the business world through experiences and mentorships.
David is a third-generation graduate of Berry College, a 2014 graduate of the Georgia Academy for Economic Development, and a 2019 Graduate of the Zell Miller Leadership Institute. He was named on Georgia Trend Magazine’s Inaugural Georgia 500 list in 2022 and again named to the list in 2023. He was also named one of their “Most Notable Georgians” in 2022 as well as in 2023.
David and his wife Anna are raising their two children in Newnan, Georgia, where they have two dogs, he coaches youth baseball, and the family are active members of Crossroads Church.