Dwayne A. Gathers
President

From Harlem to Hancock Park, from NYC public schools to the Ivy League, Dwayne A. Gathers has lived in cities in the U.S., France and South Africa. His varied life equips him with insight, understanding and a global vision.

He founded Gathers Strategies in 2008, following three decades of diverse professional experiences and relationships in the private, public and not-for-profit sectors, both domestically and internationally.

Previously, Gathers was Regional Director at the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC). He assisted companies and investors on a wide range of issues affecting their ability to expand and succeed, including land use, site selection, economic development incentives, navigating governmental agencies, access to capital, business taxes, workforce development and training resources. 

Civically engaged, Gathers has served on the following:

  • Executive Committee, Los Angeles County Economic Development Corp.
  • The Mayor’s Global Export Council
  • Community Redevelopment Agency, Board of Commissioners
  • Business Tax Advisory Committee 
  • Small Business Advisory Committee 
  • Workforce Investment Board

Gathers knows how to get things done in Los Angeles.

Before finding his way to the City of Angels, Gathers’ career included serving as first-ever Director of the State of California’s Office of Trade and Investment in Johannesburg, South Africa and Special Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, U.S. State Department in Washington, D.C. His economic development experience started in the Office of Community Planning & Development, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in Washington, D.C.  Gathers began his career as a banker in the Energy & Minerals Division of Chemical Bank, in NYC.

Dwayne A. Gathers

EDUCATION

  • Dartmouth College, A.B. Economics & Government
  • Deerfield Academy (where he later served on its Board of Trustees)

PERSONAL
Gathers isn’t all business, all the time.  As a patron of the arts, he has served on the board of The Broad Stage in Santa Monica and is a regular at the Hollywood Bowl.  Engaged in the community, Gathers supports as Senior Vice Chair of the board of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce and as President of the Board of Trustees of Hollywood United Methodist Church.  And, as the saying goes, one can’t have an office in Hollywood without “going Hollywood.”  Gathers exercises his creative side through voiceover work and more. 

Check out Dwayne’s podcast on civic life in Los Angeles CivitasLA.com and his personal voiceover site dwaynegathers.com.