Angie Cooper, who once served as the president and chief operating officer of Heartland Forward, will now take lead of the nonprofit, which works to accelerate economic growth in the middle of the U.S.
“It’s an honor to lead Heartland Forward at such a defining moment for both our region and our nation,” Cooper said.
Ross DeVol, who has led the organization since 2019, will transition to a chairman emeritus. In this position, he will continue to provide strategic guidance and support through the end of the year, according to a press release.
“Leading Heartland Forward has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my career,” DeVol said. “Together, we’ve built a first-of-its-kind organization that not only conducts rigorous research focused on America’s heartland, but also implements actionable solutions to drive economic growth. “
Heartland Forward has set a goal to generate $500 million in economic impact across the heartland by 2030, and new leadership will lead the charge. The organization will continue to focus on its core impact areas, which include elevating regional competitiveness, harnessing the power of artificial intelligence and technology, building a talent pipeline and convening leaders from different sectors and industries.
“Ross played a critical role in establishing and scaling Heartland Forward to become an impactful organization in improving the economic and health prospects for the center of the country, and I am confident Angie will expand the organization’s impact in the future,” Heartland Forward Founder Jim Walton said.
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