Ted Abernathy serves as the Managing Partner of Economic Leadership. Economic Leadership,

based in Shallotte, NC, works with companies, foundations, and business organizations to

analyze competitiveness and reimagine the future. Over the past twelve years, the team has

worked on about 200 projects in 30 states and internationally. He currently serves as economic

advisor to the Council of State Chambers and previously held a similar position to the Southern

Governor’s Association.

In his 45-year career, Ted has led city, county, and regional economic development

organizations and an economic policy think tank. Born in Dallas, North Carolina, Ted received

his bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, and his master’s from

Johns Hopkins University, is a graduate of the Economic Development Institute and is an

Eisenhower Fellow for global economics.

He and his wife live in Shallotte, a small town on the North Carolina coast and share their

backyard with hundreds of sea birds and quite a few alligators.