Jean Davis

Jean Davis is president and CEO of MCNC, the technology nonprofit that builds, owns, and operates the North Carolina Research and Education Network (NCREN). This 2,600 miles of high speed fiber runs through 82 North Carolina counties and serves community anchor institutions in all 100 counties. Her love for technology and passion for economic development helps ensure MCNC provides the highest level of broadband connectivity and network services for North Carolina’s research, education, non-profit health care, and other community institutions. 

 Jean’s areas of expertise include global operations management, strategic planning, mergers and acquisitions, and technology-led economic development. She joined MCNC from the N.C. Department of Commerce where served as Assistant Secretary, COO and Executive Director of Business, Industry and Trade, directing efforts toward the creation and retention of high-quality jobs by attracting new businesses and supporting existing ones all over the state. Prior to joining Commerce, Jean was a partner at Empire Properties, the co-owner of Serentec, Inc., and held progressive international positions at IBM, Computer Digest Magazine and McGraw Hill. Jean spent eight years living and working in Europe and has extensive experience in building business operations in Asia, Europe and South America.

 Jean is a 2005 Eisenhower Fellow and 2009 Henry Toll Fellow. She received her undergraduate honors degree in Political Science and Business Administration at New England College in Arundel, England and her Master’s degree from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University in Boston.