Hi, I’m Jessica Ruderman, communications manager for the Charlotte region’s primary economic development organization. I help shape how our region’s story gets told, working closely with our leadership team and community partners to show businesses and talent why the Charlotte region is the place to be.

I spent six years working in local news in Charlotte, making sure accurate information made it online and on air. I led digital strategy for the newsroom as I covered local news for the No. 1 television station in the market. I was humbled to have my work recognized in 2024 when I won an Emmy as my station’s lead digital content producer.

I moved to the Charlotte area in 2011, and years of telling this city’s stories have made me deeply invested in its future. As a journalist, I got to spotlight people making a difference in their neighborhoods, connect residents with the resources they needed most, and bring difficult conversations to the forefront. Now, I get to tell a different side of Charlotte’s story: the growth and opportunity shaping its future.

I was born and raised in Maryland, but North Carolina has become my second home. I earned my bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina’s journalism school — Go Heels!

Outside of work, you’ll usually find me traveling, hiking with my husband, trying new foods, or out in the garden.

Thanks for stopping by!