DeKalb County has hired a former manager from the Atlanta Development Authority to oversee its economic development office.

Charles Whatley also worked for 15 years as a consultant specializing in business models, strategic and marketing plans and market forecasts.

Whatley has an undgraduate degree in economics from Yale University and a master’s in economics from Georgia Tech. He will make $168,700 in his new post.

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Inventor Lonnie Johnson stands with his Super Soaker water guns at JTEC Energy on Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025, in Atlanta. Johnson, a former NASA engineer, is currently working on a new energy technology through his company’s JTEC device that turns thermal heat into usable energy. (Natrice Miller/AJC)