From The Ground Up: feat. Michael Chrobak of Choose New Jersey

Michael Chrobak

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Michael Chrobak Michael Chrobak is the Chief Economic Development Officer for Choose New Jersey, Inc., an independently funded and operated 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to encourage and nurture economic growth throughout the state of New Jersey, including a focus on making New Jersey’s most distressed cities engines for growth and opportunity.

Choose New Jersey, Inc. is one of three interconnected and highly focused organizations that comprise the New Jersey Partnership for Action, which is the centerpiece of the Christie-Guadagno administration’s economic development agenda. Michael is responsible for the business development and prospect management for Choose New Jersey and assists companies seeking to create jobs and make new capital investment in the global marketplace.

Prior to assuming his current post, Michael served as the chief financial officer for the Economic Development & Tourism division within the Office of Governor Rick Perry. He also served as the director of the Texas Economic Development Bank, where he created and developed the financial due diligence practices for economic development programs in the state of Texas.

Previously, Michael was the Founder and Managing Partner of C&L Advisors, a management strategy and education consulting services business. He has served in prior leadership positions as Senior Director of Dell Ventures; as director of corporate development, computer products and Internet services for Compaq Computer; and as Manager, Product Development and International Business Development for Texas Instruments.

Michael serves as a board member for First Southwest Securities US Treasury New Markets Tax Credits Program and contributing judge for Moot Court business plan competition at UT Austin McCombs School. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering from New Jersey Institute of Technology, a Master of Business Administration from Texas Tech University and a Master of Arts in economics from Southern Methodist University.

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From The Ground Up: feat. Cal Wray of Clarksville Montgomery County EDC

Cal Wray

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Cal WrayCal Wray has over 10 years of experience in economic development. Cal is a Certified Economic Development Finance Professional with experience in organization management, industrial recruitment, business retention and expansion, workforce development, project management, land and building management, and incentive negotiation, analysis and implementation. Cal’s experience is primarily in Alabama and Georgia with additional expertise in the Southeastern United States and Europe (primarily Germany and Russia). Cal is now growing his experience in the Tennessee and Kentucky Area. His goals are to improve the quality of life in the Clarksville, Montgomery County Area by partnering with the Industrial Development Board, Chamber of Commerce and Convention and Visitors Bureau. This includes partnerships to attract good corporate citizens that will increase the job opportunities available to citizens with a strong focus on opportunities for soldiers transitioning from Fort Campbell Army Post.

Cal previously served as president at the Dublin Laurens County Development Authority and has been awarded the Economic Development Finance Professional (EDFP) designation from the National Development Council.

He received his Bachelor of Arts in economics, European studies and Russian from Vanderbilt University and his Master of Science in international affairs from Georgia Institute of Technology.

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