Aubrey Thagard Neighborhood Planning Coordinator - Ward 8 Aubrey obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication from Mississippi Valley State University and Master of Arts degree in Urban and Regional Planning from Jackson State University. Mr. Thagard has served as director of economic development for the Downtown Business Improvement District (BID) in Jackson, Mississippi and then later as deputy director for the Community Works Help Desk, a statewide economic and community development technical assistance program. Prior to joining the Office of Planning, Aubrey worked in Savannah, Georgia as a program manager for Savannah Development and Renewal Authority, managing planning and economic development activities for the Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard/Montgomery Street Corridor a 52-block area encompassing parts of downtown Savannah. Mr. Thagard will coordinate the development of neighborhood strategic plans so that they reflect the vision and priorities of the citizens in Ward 8.