Heartland Forward Announces Strategic Leadership Changes and $500 Million Economic Impact Goal by 2030

Leading think-and-do tank, Heartland Forward announced Executive Vice President Angie Cooper has been named president and chief operating officer, and Ross DeVol, who has led Heartland Forward as president and CEO since its inception, will assume the role of chairman of the board while remaining CEO. These leadership changes come as Heartland Forward pursues a new goal of generating a $500 million economic impact by 2030. Driven by innovative policy proposals, impactful programs and cutting-edge research across the 20 states comprising the heartland, this goal will focus on four key economic drivers: innovation and entrepreneurship, human capital and workforce development, health and wellness and regional competitiveness. As part of this goal, Heartland Forward is launching a new initiative, Pulse of the Heartland to track, communicate and lead, on-the-ground economic data, insights and research in the middle of the country.