ERIC COCHLING

As Chief Program Officer and General Counsel, Eric is responsible for managing GCO’s success sequence-focused programs and public policy efforts, while providing legal guidance to the organization. He also represents GCO in professional forums, conferences, legislative hearings and public speeches.

Eric is a licensed attorney in the State of Georgia and received his bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Georgia where he graduated magna cum laude. He also received his juris doctorate and master’s degree in public administration from Georgia State University. Prior to joining GCO, he was in private practice for eight years with a focus on business formation, real estate, contract negotiations, estate planning, and civil disputes.

Prior to going into private practice, Eric worked for a short time at a Washington, DC think tank and as a legislative aide to a former minority leader in the Georgia State House of Representatives.

Eric has served as co-chair of the Individual Rights Section of the State Bar of Georgia and his legal analysis of the Georgia Charter Schools Commission law was published in the John Marshall Law Review. Eric has been interviewed by most of the major news outlets in Georgia on a wide range of issues and his opinion pieces have appeared widely in Georgia and beyond.

For nearly four years, Eric served on the board of the Georgia Cyber Academy, a charter school serving students across the state. Eric currently works on two initiatives in Gwinnett (ReCast – Lawrenceville and Crisis to Career) that are focused on helping the unemployed find stability and gainful employment.

Eric is active in his church, serving on the Student Ministry Council with his wife and teaching Sunday school to high school students. He was also active with his son (now an Eagle Scout) in the Boy Scouts, having served as a Cub Master, a Den Leader, and Patrol Advisor.

In his spare time, Eric enjoys adventure racing and is active in his local F3 location – a free workout and leadership development group for men.

Eric is a proud native Georgian. He and his wife, Laura, have three children and live in Lawrenceville.