Building the Future: CDH Partners Welcomes Jarrette Burckhalter as Chief Operating Officer
We are excited to announce that Jarrette Burckhalter has joined CDH Partners as our new Chief Operating Officer.
As we enter a pivotal season of growth in Atlanta and Savannah, Jarrette brings a reputation for turning bold visions into disciplined, scalable reality. Known for building high-trust, high-performing cultures, he is the perfect fit to lead our operations.
“Jarrette’s commitment to community and servant leadership is a perfect match for our mission-driven culture,” says Melissa Cantrell, President & CEO.
Why Jarrette?
Operational Excellence: He specializes in aligning strategy with accountability to help great visions flourish.
Mission-Aligned: Jarrette chose CDH because of our focus on “serving those who serve others,” a value he lives out daily.
Community-Driven: A native Atlantan and Leadership Cobb alum, Jarrette serves on boards for The Center for Family Resources and Kiwanis of Marietta.
Looking Ahead
Jarrette’s arrival ensures that as we grow, our foundation remains stronger than ever. His expertise allows us to focus on what we do best: creating architecture that drives positive, generational change.
Join us in welcoming Jarrette to the team! We look forward to the incredible impact he will have on our firm and the communities we serve.
The Press Release
Learn more about our ranking and the list in the official press release below.
CDH Partners Announces Jarrette Burckhalter as Chief Operating Officer
(ATLANTA/SAVANNAH, GA) CDH Partners has announced the appointment of Jarrette Burckhalter as chief operating officer. Burckhalter is a strategic operations executive known for translating vision into disciplined execution and scalable growth. Throughout his career, he has partnered with founders and leadership teams to strengthen operational performance, align strategy with accountability, and build high-trust, high-performing cultures.
“We are thrilled to welcome Jarrette to our leadership team during this pivotal season of growth,” said Melissa Cantrell, CEO of CDH Partners. “His ability to bridge the gap between visionary strategy and disciplined execution is exactly what we need to elevate our operations. More importantly, Jarrette’s commitment to community and servant leadership is a perfect match for our mission-driven culture at CDH.”
Burckhalter brings a broad business, financial and operational perspective to executive leadership and board environments and believes that “strong operations create the foundation that allow great visions to flourish.”
“I wanted to apply my experience and tools to an organization whose work creates positive, generational change,” Burckhalter said. “Joining CDH is the realization of that goal. The firm’s focus on serving those who serve others is a direct reflection of my professional and personal values.”
A native Atlantan with deep roots in the community, Burckhalter believes leadership begins with service. He and his wife, Amber, are celebrating 25 years of marriage this year. They have one son, Jack, a high school senior preparing for college. An avid traveler, Burckhalter has explored North America, Central America, the United Kingdom and much of Europe, with future travel goals that include the Middle East and Asia.
Burckhalter is actively engaged in civic and community leadership. He currently serves on the boards of The Center for Family Resources, the Honorary Commanders Alumni Association, and Kiwanis of Marietta, where he is Chair of the Sponsored Youth Leadership Program. He is also a member of the Leadership Cobb Alumni Association, serves on its Armed Services Committee, and is a mentor with Mentoring for Leadership.
His previous service includes board roles with Communities in Schools of Georgia (Marietta/Cobb), Horses for Heroes, My Heroes, St. Benedict’s School, and The Walker School Wolverine Club. He is a graduate of Leadership Cobb, Class of 2018, and a member of the Honorary Commanders Class of 2024. Burckhalter is a graduate of Georgia State University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Business and Psychology, and has completed numerous executive education and professional development programs focused on leadership, mentoring, people and culture, conflict resolution, diversity and inclusion, and governance.
About CDH Partners
For nearly 50 years, CDH Partners has been an award-winning, women-owned architecture and interior design firm. The firm specializes in creating innovative and impactful environments, offering comprehensive services including architectural design, interior design, planning, and project management for sectors such as healthcare, education, corporate, community, worship, laboratory, and light industrial facilities. CDH Partners has contributed significantly to the architectural landscape of Georgia and the Southeast and is committed to client-focused design and long-term community partnership. For more information, please visit cdhpartners.com.