Jennifer Groce is the Executive Director of Re:New DeKalb, Inc.(a not-for-profit economic development corporation) and a Research Associate at the Center for Governmental Studies at Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois, USA . Jennifer specializes in community and economic development and has extensive project development and project management experience within various governmental entities. Jennifer also assists with the coordination of PASCAL communications and project development and at the Northern Illinois University Center. Jennifer is an active economic development professional currently overseeing a multi- million dollar comprehensive downtown revitalization project in DeKalb, Illinois USA. Groce has extensive experience in organizational management, business development, downtown revitalization, public and private strategic redevelopment planning, and community development. Groce works collaboratively with various governmental agencies and community organizations on policy development to enhance economic and business development opportunities. Jennifer provides practitioner-oriented analysis of public/private community development needs and challenges.