Bentonville, Ark.– Heartland Forward, a non-profit, policy think-and-do tank working to accelerate economic growth in the middle of the country, today announced Ross DeVol, who has led the organization since 2019, will transition to serve as chairman emeritus and distinguished fellow, and Angie Cooper, who has served as president and chief operating officer, will lead the organization.

“It is an honor to lead Heartland Forward at such a defining moment for both our region and our nation,” said Cooper. “Our mission — to accelerate economic growth and reshape the narrative of the heartland — has never been more urgent. Together with our exceptional team and partners, we will strengthen public-private partnerships, expand workforce development, improve community health and harness the power of innovation — especially in this era of artificial intelligence. These aren’t just goals, they form the foundation for positioning the American heartland as a defining force of the twenty-first century.”

As chairman emeritus and distinguished fellow, DeVol will continue to provide strategic guidance and support to the organization through the end of the year, ensuring a seamless transition and continued momentum across all of Heartland Forward’s critical initiatives.

“Leading Heartland Forward has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my career,” said DeVol. “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. We received multiple awards from our support of entrepreneurs to expanding access to high-speed internet. Our work has been cited in a variety of national and local print media and TV. Our research has been highlighted in quarterly earnings calls of Fortune 10 companies. We have secured millions of dollars of financial support from co-investors for our important work. Angie’s leadership has been instrumental in our progress, and I am confident she will continue to propel the mission forward.”

“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”, said Jim Walton, Heartland Forward Founder.  

This transition marks a significant milestone in Heartland Forward’s mission to accelerate economic growth in states and local communities by enhancing regional competitiveness, building the talent pipeline and creating healthy communities across the 20-states that comprise America’s heartland. As a think-and-do tank, the organization has set a bold goal to generate $500 million in economic impact across the heartland by 2030 through cutting edge research, community-based programs and smart policy recommendations.

Under Cooper’s leadership, Heartland Forward will continue to focus on its core impact areas all driven by applied research, programs, policy and convenings:

• Elevating Regional Competitiveness in the middle of the country, which includes Connecting the Heartland to high-speed internet and harnessing the power of AI.
• Harnessing the power of Artificial Intelligence + Technology to ensure the heartland is not only set to succeed but to lead the nation through the next technological revolution. 
• Building a strong Talent Pipeline through innovation, entrepreneurship, human capital, education and workforce development.
• Investing in Health and Wellness by supporting the Heartland Health Caucus and launching the Maternal & Child Health Center for Policy & Practice.
• Advancing the Pulse of the Heartland initiative, providing real-time economic data and insights to inform policy and drive action across the region.
• Convening leaders from across sectors and industries to discuss and collaborate on solving our biggest challenges
• Hosting the Heartland Summit, the organization’s flagship event which brings together leaders from across the region, nation and world to Meet in the Middle. 

For more information about Heartland Forward and its work to build thriving, resilient communities across the American heartland, please visit heartlandforward.org.

About Heartland Forward

Heartland Forward is a non-profit, policy think-and-do tank that turns ideas into action for states and local communities. Our mission is to accelerate economic growth, change the narrative about the middle of the country and generate $500 million of economic impact to the heartland by 2030. We do this through applied research, community-driven programs, policy and convenings—focusing on regional competitiveness, talent pipeline and health and wellness.