Ted vonCannon served as President of Metropolitan Development Board from 1988 to 2009.  The prime purpose of MDB was to create more and better paying jobs in the Birmingham region. This was achieved by attracting new businesses to the central Alabama area. The service area includes Birmingham with a population of more than 1.1 million.  During his tenure, the level of private support for MDB has increased more than 400 percent.  Concurrently investment in the Birmingham area has increased annually by 300 percent.  While Presiden,t during his tenure, Mercedes and Honda chose the Birmingham Region as their new home in the U.S. He retired from MDB in 2009.

That year, vonCannon provided consulting services for marketing, strategic planning and governmental affairs.  His clients included Brasfield & Gorrie General Contractors, Goodwyn Mills & Cawood Engineera, and Norfok Southern Railway.  In February of 2012 was selected to become the Executive Director of the Jefferson County Economic and Industrial Development Authority. As chief executive officer, he is responsible the development, maintenance and marketing of business and industrial parks and sites in Jefferson County. Currently, over twenty-five companies are operating in JCEIDA Parks and lands, employing over 3,500 workers.

Ted vonCannon retired end of 2022.