Who we are

Civic Enhancement Strategies, LLC, or as we refer to it, CES, is a consulting firm that specializes in assisting government agencies, non-profit organizations, and small businesses in providing all the tools they need in their toolbox to achieve their goals. Don’t know what your goals are? We can help you discover them!

CES is a small firm that was formed in February 2023 after the founder and principal consultant saw how neighboring communities struggled to get things done because they didn’t have the right framework in place, nor the resources to create it (she also got a little push from God and a couple of friends).

We work with clients throughout the state of Georgia, Western North Carolina, Upstate South Carolina, and Eastern to Middle Tennessee.

MEET THE TEAM

MEET JESSIE OWENSBY, MPA, CPM, GCED, CDM, CZI

FOUNDER AND PRINCIPAL CONSULTANT

MEET MIKE OWENSBY, MAT

RESEARCH ANALYST AND

FACILITATION SPECIALIST

meeting, facilitation, planning, community engagement, strategy, downtown development, leadership, economic development, grant writing, community engagement, public input, civic engagement, civic services, zoning administration, city planning, small business development, capital projects, public financing, rural cities and counties, nonprofit organizations, appalachian development, northeast georgia consulting, consulting services, main street consulting, public processes, ordinance revision, public administration, public training, board development, leadership strategies, rural municipalities, policy compliance, succession planning, exit strategy, rural towns, georgia municipalities, georgia municipal association, georgia main street, georgia department of economic development, georgia association of zoning administrators, georgia economic development association, housing research, commercial development, residential development, northeast georgia public services, northeast georgia public administration, georgia rural development, habersham chamber of commerce, cornelia community development, georgia community development, zoning procedure law, city administrators, city manager, community development director, economic development director, planning director, zoning administrator, planning commission, historic preservation, downtown revitalization

MEET JAKE & SAVANA

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANTS/INTERNS

Jessie Owensby is the founder and principal consultant of Civic Enhancement Strategies, LLC and a community and economic development executive in Northeast Georgia. Her experience spans zoning administration, ordinance modernization, municipal capital projects, downtown revitalization, housing initiatives, historic preservation and strategic planning.

Jessie has served in broad community-development leadership roles. She has worked as a local project manager for an amphitheater initiative and project administrator for public improvement and streetscape projects. She has a documented track record for housing-program organization, historic preservation processes and downtown partnerships.

Through CES, she has produced municipal zoning materials, community and employee survey analyses, facilitated planning retreats and implementation-focused work plans for rural municipalities.

Jessie holds a Master of Public Administration and an undergraduate degree in Mass Communications. She is also a Certifed Public Manager, Georgia Certified Economic Developer, Georgia Downtown Development Professional, and a Certified Zoning Inspector. Her professional work reflects a commitment to helping communities balance economic opportunity, predictable regulation, public participation and local identity.

Jessie is a firm believer in public input, civic and community engagement, and making the most of taxpayer dollars.

Mike, Jake, and Savana are the team. They support the work, the mission, and Jessie.

Mike is the Research Analyst and Facilitation Specialist for the firm. He holds a Master of Art in Teaching and an undergraduate degree in Biology. He brings his love of Science and Education to the field of government and non-profit consulting in a unique way that makes him perfect for the job.

Mike does the research, analysis, comparisons, data collection, and gathering of evidence-based best practices. Using his skills from years in the classroom, he leverages those traits to plan engaging, productive meetings and retreats, and he helps make sure they run smoothly every time.

Mike is also a long-time community volunteer. He has served on the County Recreation Board, coached various high school and recreational sports teams, and served as an event volunteer for his city for over a decade.

Jake and Savana are the Assistants/Interns. They contribute to the business by running errands, helping with IT issues, shopping for supplies, helping with design work, brainstorming ideas that will be engaging, and anything else they are asked to do.

Without this team, there is no company.

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