Joel Cowan grew up in Cartersville, Georgia, graduating from Georgia Tech in 1958. He owns Habersham & Cowan, Inc., an investment company based in Atlanta.
His past major business interests have been in real estate development. He is the founder of Georgia's new town of Peachtree City serving as its first Mayor beginning in 1959. He was also the chief executive of its development company through 1976. Peachtree City is widely known for its innovative lifestyle features such as 80 miles of paved cart paths, 20% open space, and an effectively administered sign and land use ordinance.
Mr. Cowan has also developed such projects as Phipps Plaza, Snapfinger Woods and Palmetto Dunes in addition to Peachtree City.
For the last twenty years his primary interests have been international. This involves both for profit and non-profit work in the The Netherlands and the emerging economies of Central Asia, Eastern Europe, Russia, and China. These activities focus on trade, technology transfer, and merchant banking. Education and leadership training are the focus of his non-profit activities.
He is now a director of World Air Holdings, Inc. (WLDA). He was formerly a director of Continental Airlines (NYSE) and Interstate General Company (ASE) and IRT Property Company (IRT).
He currently is Adjunct Professor and holder of the Chair of Servant Leadership at Georgia Tech. He is a director of the EastWest Institute (New York) and International Center for Democratic Transition (Budapest).
He was the founding Chairman of Georgia Regional Transportation Authority (GRTA) and the Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District. He is a former at large member of the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia. He was former Governor Joe Frank Harris' campaign chairman in his two elections and served as Honorary Chief of Staff throughout his two terms. He served in various unpaid capacities for Governor Harris including serving as Chairman of the Governor's Growth Strategies Commission and Chairman of the Board of the Department of Community Affairs.
He is a trustee emeritus of the Georgia Tech Foundation; former trustee of The Community Foundation of Greater Atlanta and Chairman of the Community Foundation of Fayette County. He is a member of the board of EastWest Institute of New York. He is Former Chairman of the Board of Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School.
Mr. Cowan is a Presbyterian, has three grown children and five grandchildren. He and his wife have lived in Peachtree City since 1959.
