Odessa Archibald

Odessa M. Archibald is an Area Manager for Georgia Power where she provides service, strategies and solutions in business and economic development, customer experience, community development, philanthropy, operations and civic engagement for a Metro Atlanta market. Odessa began her career with Georgia Power’s award winning Community and Economic Development department in 2003. She worked as a regional community and economic development manager for Metro Atlanta supporting local communities with business development, retention and expansion initiatives, leadership development, and strategic planning. Prior to joining Georgia Power she held several positions in economic development at Central Atlanta Progress, the Georgia Department of Economic Development and The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Preceding her involvement in economic development, Odessa worked in the public policy arena, including several years as a legislative aide in the United States Congress and as the public affairs officer for the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, a Washington, D.C. think tank. She is a member of the International Economic Development Council and the Atlanta District Chapter of the Urban Land Institute. Her current civic involvement includes service on the board of directors of the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute and the Douglas County Chamber of Commerce. She has previously served on the boards of the Fulton County Boys and Girls Club, United Way South Fulton Advisory, Georgia Downtown Association, Georgia Economic Development Association, the Fayette County Chamber of Commerce and the Paulding County Chamber of Commerce. In 2015, Governor Nathan Deal appointed her as a commissioner on the Georgia Commission on Equal Opportunity.She is also a graduate of the Regional Leadership Institute, Leadership Georgia, Leadership Douglas, the Urban Land Institute Center for Leadership, and the Arts Leaders of Metro Atlanta. Ms. Archibald holds degrees from Howard University and Rutgers University. She holds the Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) certification from the International Economic Development Council and the Certified Economic Development Financial Professional (EDFP) certification from the National Development Council.