John Rees serves as a senior policy adviser on the Atlanta Fed’s Community and Economic Development team. He is engaged in research and partnerships to identify barriers to economic mobility and mitigation strategies that can improve economic security for families and meet the talent needs of businesses for a healthy economy. Rees has 15 years of experience in economic development. Before joining the Atlanta Fed, he served as director of research for EY’s Economic Development Advisory Services practice where he conducted economic and demographic analyses for public, private, and philanthropic organizations throughout the United States. He has a master’s degree from Georgia Institute of Technology’s School of City and Regional Planning and holds undergraduate degrees in journalism and psychology from the University of Georgia.