Angie Cooper leads Heartland Forward’s mission to accelerate economic growth and help change the narrative about the middle of the country. She is driving a bold goal: to generate $500 million in economic impact across the 20-state heartland region — the third-largest economy in the world.

As president, Angie leads Heartland Forward’s strategy, research, programming, advocacy, convenings and flagship event — the Heartland Summit. She is focused on turning insights into impact by serving as a strategic resource to states and communities, forging bold public-private partnerships, and driving innovative solutions that deliver real results.

Before joining Heartland Forward, Angie spent more than 16 years at Walmart Stores, Inc., where she held leadership roles across merchandising, public affairs, state and local government relations and the Walmart Foundation. Prior to joining Heartland Forward, Angie led global public policy for the company.

In 2023, Angie received the Charles Benton Digital Emerging Leader Award from the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society for her leadership in expanding access to high-speed internet — the #1 economic issue of our time. She was named one of Arkansas’s Top 100 Women of Impact, and in 2024, was appointed to the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Artificial Intelligence Advisory Committee (NAIAC). Most recently, she joined the Emerging Prairie board, an organization committed to energizing heartland communities through innovation, entrepreneurship and technology.

A proud Oklahoma native, Angie is a graduate of Oklahoma State University.