Staff

Areas of Expertise:

Dennis M. English, M.P.A., serves as coordinator at the Center for Strategic Economic Growth, part of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Frank Hawkins Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise. He facilitates strategic economic development for the center, focusing in particular on eastern North Carolina.

English implements several economic development initiatives that leverage relationships with a diverse group of stakeholders, including North Carolina’s councils of government, N.C. Department of Commerce and regional economic development commissions. His work includes identifying and cultivating support for high-growth and early-stage entrepreneurs, implementing economic development projects, developing businesses retention and expansion programs, and facilitating economic impact and feasibility studies for counties in North Carolina’s Eastern Plains Region.

English’s career has included experience in business development and consulting. His expertise in business development allows him to leverage relationships between the public and private sectors and implement strategies to achieve economic growth.

He worked for Johnson Controls Inc., developing strategic business relationships with state and local government administrators and elected officials to offer energy-efficiency solutions that reduced carbon footprints and captured energy savings. He served as a consultant for several nonprofit and small business owners, advising on business development and helping them to secure large contributions and develop alliances with high net worth individuals and large corporations. His international experience includes developing a strategic economic development plan for business recruitment while working for the Liberia National Investment Commission in West Africa.

English earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Saint Augustine’s College and a masters of public administration from North Carolina Central University.