May 14, 2026
Beaufort Digital Corridor Names Arthur “AJ” Jackson III as New Executive Director
BEAUFORT, S.C. – The Beaufort Digital Corridor (BDC) announced today the appointment of Arthur "AJ" Jackson III as its new executive director, effective May 11, 2026. Jackson, a former tech startup co-founder, joins BDC with a track record of entrepreneurial leadership, strategic sales, and community building.
Jackson steps into the role as BDC enters an active period of growth, executing its 2025–2028 Strategic Plan, expanding programming, and strengthening relationships with key regional partners. He succeeds Jessica O'Brien, who served as Executive Director from May 2021 through February 2026 and built much of the organizational foundation AJ now inherits.
"We conducted a thorough search, and AJ stood out from the start," said Rich Conte, BDC Board Chairman. "He brings exactly the combination we were looking for, entrepreneurial hustle, a genuine passion for community, and the kind of drive that can accelerate what BDC is building. He's not a caretaker. He's a builder. And that's exactly what this moment calls for."
– Rich Conte, Board Chairman, Beaufort Digital Corridor
Jackson is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he double-majored in Management & Society and Sports Administration, with a Minor in Entrepreneurship. While at Chapel Hill, he co-founded Ice Box Technologies, Inc., a technology-enabled concessions platform, where he served as Co-Chief Executive Officer. He led the company's commercialization strategy, built investor materials that supported a $5.6 million pre-seed valuation discussion, and established partnerships with five ACC and SEC universities.
Most recently, Jackson served as a Sales Development Representative at Oracle in Nashville, Tennessee, where he engaged C-suite and VP-level executives on technology strategy and consistently exceeded performance benchmarks. He also serves as a Founding Advisory Board Member of the Shuford Program in Entrepreneurship at UNC, where he advises on curriculum and startup best practices. An Eagle Scout, Jackson brings a long history of community leadership and service to his new role.
"Beaufort is a community with real momentum and so much potential. I believe the BDC is at the center of that story," said Jackson. "I've seen firsthand what it takes to build something from the ground up, and I'm excited to bring that perspective to this role. BASEcamp is an incredible resource, the programs BDC runs make a tangible difference, and I can't wait to get to work with the team and the community to take it to the next level."
– Arthur "AJ" Jackson III, Executive Director, Beaufort Digital Corridor
Jackson joins BDC at a time of significant programmatic activity. Current initiatives include the Google Career Certificates program (500 scholarships, six workforce tracks), the CINEMA Youth Program launched in partnership with Edify and USCB, an in-progress Community Podcast Studio at BASEcamp, the Launch Beaufort entrepreneurship education cohort, and monthly community programs including TechConnect, Coffee Convos, and A.I. Office Hours. BDC's BASEcamp facility at 500 Carteret Street serves as a coworking and incubation hub for Beaufort's growing innovation community.
As Executive Director, Jackson will lead day-to-day operations of BDC's dual-entity structure, the 501(c)(6) trade association and the 501(c)(3) foundation, and will be responsible for executing BDC's strategic plan, growing membership and earned revenue, managing key partner relationships, and expanding BDC's impact across the Lowcountry.
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