Deputy Mayor of Economic Development, City of Indianapolis
In January 2016, Angela Smith Jones was sworn in as Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett’s first Deputy Mayor for Economic Development. Under her purview, Smith Jones oversees Develop Indy, the city’s economic development organization; Employ Indy, the city’s workforce improvement board; The Office of Minority and Women Business Development; and works closely with the Office of International and Latino Affairs. Leading these organizations, Smith Jones directs the strategies of business retention and expansion, attraction of new companies, job growth, and the development of a strong workforce pipeline for the city of Indianapolis. She also ensures that entrepreneurs of diverse backgrounds are supported and given opportunity. Smith Jones has led the attraction and expansion of Dow-DuPont, Salesforce, and Infosys and has fostered the growth of Indianapolis’ marketing tech sector with targeted initiatives.
Prior to assuming the role of Deputy Mayor, Smith Jones served as General Counsel and Director of Policy and Legislative Affairs with the Indy Chamber.
As an Indy Chamber lobbyist, Angela advocated for both state and local legislative bodies on issues impacting the business community. Specifically, Smith Jones led efforts to impact legislation focused on a pro-growth, pro-talent economy, including advocating on behalf of immigration and non-discrimination policies, supporting the 2016 Marion County transit referendum and championing the expansion of early childhood education funding.
Through her leadership role at the Indy Chamber, Angela worked with the Indianapolis Mayor’s office, City-County Council and the State Legislature to represent the Indy Chamber as decisions were made impacting business in the Indianapolis region. Angela also served as the staff liaison to several Indy Chamber councils and committees to develop policies and positions of the Indy Chamber, as well as create the legislative agenda. Before working with the Indy Chamber, Angela was a Director with the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency (IPLA) where she worked with several boards in creating policy and regulating their professions. Prior to the merger of IPLA and the Health Professions Bureau, Angela served as the Deputy Director of the Health Professions Bureau and the Director of the Medical Licensing Board of Indiana.
Angela Smith Jones, a native of Indianapolis, is a graduate of DePaul University College of Law in Chicago, Illinois where she earned her Doctor of Jurisprudence. Prior to law school, Smith Jones completed her undergraduate studies at Miami University, in Oxford, Ohio, with a degree in Broadcast/Journalism.
Angela Smith Jones serves on the boards of Employ Indy, 16 Tech Community Corporation and Innovation District, the IUPUI Board of Advisors and the Stanley K. Lacy Advisory Board.