Podcast appearances and mentions of ross devol

In this episode of the American Dream Factory: Ross Devol of Heartland Forward: https://heartlandforward.org/ Nick Smoot of Aesop Industries: https://www.aesopindustries.com/ Ross Devol is the president and CEO of Heartland Forward, a “think and do” tank based in Bentonville, Ark. Heartland Forward's goal is to promote regional innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystems that foster job creation, wage gains and economic growth for the American Heartland. Its mission through independent, data-driven research, action-oriented convenings, such as the Heartland Summit, and impactful policy recommendations. It works with universities, colleges, the business community, public policy leaders and philanthropy to analyze resources supporting the startup community and identify workforce and talent gaps.DeVol is former chief research officer for the Milken Institute where he spent nearly 20 years, an economic think tank headquartered in California. He oversaw research on international, national and comparative regional growth performance; access to capital and its role in economic growth and job creation; and health-related topics.He has been ranked among the “Superstars of Think Tank Scholars” by International Economy magazine. Nick Smoot is a seasoned leader with 20+ years of experience driving community and economic transformation across 15 states and 7 countries. Specializing in solving complex issues in social sciences and economics, Nick has guided the development and adaptive reuse of 8 real estate campuses. Notably, he transformed a challenging campus into the highest-priced per square foot for commercial use. His passion is turning human flourishing into a core amenity in every city, company, and real estate campus. This passion has fueled the creation of award-winning systems and programs recognized by Bloomberg, the Milken Institute, SXSW, and others. Nick's unique economic model and custom programs prioritize people while delivering exceptional returns. In one city, Nick's work resulted in 350+ patents, 5 new schools, 740+ jobs, and over $360 million in funding for new companies. His initiatives led to a 160.77% increase in rent prices, a 19.1% reduction in poverty rates, and a significant rise in the city's ranking for best-performing cities. If you have questions about the American Dream Factory and Aesop Industries, please email us at info@AesopIndustries.com. We are on a mission to reignite the American Dream and get culture back on track!

This week on the podcast, Matt sits down with Heartland Forward's President and CEO Ross DeVol and Chief Communications and Development Officer Blake Woolsey. They begin with Ross explaining what Heartland Forward does and their goal of focusing on improving economic performance in the American Heartland. They then dive into how Ross and Blake became involved in Heartland Forward and where their passions for economic development in the Heartland comes from. They close out by discussing how Heartland Forward supports and encourages entrepreneurs to experiment and grow their ideas through their Community Growth Program.

Underrepresented communities and emerging ecosystems are vital to the venture world, but often struggle to unlock significant capital. In this episode, we explore how a recently reinstated federal program called the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI)  gives these groups  greater access to significant capital for VC investment. Think and Do Tank Heartland Forward's President and CEO Ross Devol gives us a view into the challenges entrepreneurs face in Heartland states and shares how Heartland Forward is dedicated to improving economic performances in America's Heartland. NVCA's Manager of Government Affairs Jonas Murphy gives us the rundown on how SSBCIworks, why VCs should care about it, and potential challenges managers should keep in mind when considering applying.Ray Leach, founding CEO of non-profit venture development organization Jumpstart, shares advice for emerging managers who are applying for funds with the SSBCI, explains how the SSBCI will differ from state to state, and how the program accelerates startup ecosystems across the country. Managing Director of New York Ventures at Empire State Development Jennifer Tegan shares success stories of SSBCI 1.0 and tells us what SSBCI 2.0 will do better. We also announce an exciting new NVCA event for VC investors to take action and learn insight to enhance effectiveness inside the boardroom of portfolio companies.To register for our events, or to learn more about the National Venture Capital Association (NVCA) visit our website.

Heartland Forward isn't just a think tank, it's a think and do tank! After spending 20 years as Chief Research Officer at the Milken Institute, today's guest, Ross DeVol, is Heartland Forward's president and CEO. During this episode, Ross explains the mission of Heartland forward, its four focal areas, and some of the key players who are involved. Ross also shares an overview of the most recent research they have conducted around technology transfer achievements in universities across the United States, and his thoughts on how he believes these metrics can be improved!    In This Episode: [00:53] Introducing today's guest, Ross DeVol. [02:08] Ross shares the non-traditional journey that led him to his current role as the President and CEO of Heartland Forward.  [04:40] The mission of Heartland Forward (a “think and do” tank). [05:21] Four areas where Heartland Forward focuses its efforts.  [05:44] Some of the key members of Heartland Forward.  [08:27] An overview of Heartland Forward's most recent research report, ‘Research to Renewal: Advancing University Technology Transfer.' [11:19] Universities that ranked highly in the research report.   [15:58] Ross's thoughts on how universities can improve their technology transfer metrics.  [16:41] How governments can take the Bayh-Dole Act further. [19:11] What universities can do to boost economic development in their regions. [20:56] Goals for the future of Heartland Forward.    Find Ross: Email  Heartland Forward

Who met in the middle for this episode? Maryann Feldman, Ross DeVol and Daniel Goetzel share the stage in this podcast talking about a report Heartland Forward released at the 2022 Heartland Summit called Research to Renewal as well as discussing the National Science Foundation's announcement of a new program called Regional Innovation Engines. Maryann Feldman is at the School of Public Affairs as the Watts Endowed Professor of Public Affairs at Arizona State University and is also a senior fellow with Heartland Forward. She was the lead author of the report. Daniel Goetzel was recently announced as the entrepreneurial lead in newly-created Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships Directorate at National Science Foundation. Ross DeVol is the President and CEO of Heartland Forward. Situational Awareness: Creating new knowledge to infuse into private industry to yield an economic return on an investment is important to regions and our nation overall. Facing global competition for talent and leadership, the U.S. must expand its innovation capacity by leveraging resources, creativity and ingenuity that exists across all geographic regions of the country. What's the connection? The Research to Renewal report and the announcement of the bold, new U.S. NSF initiative both acknowledge that robust partnerships rooted in scientific and technological innovation to positively impact the economy within a geographic region are critical, especially to address societal challenges and keep us competitive nationally. Drilling down to top performers: If you are curious and want to see an index of the top performing universities at tech transfer and commercialization by research expenditure, region, private v. public institution and medical school presence, a map can be found here.

Three hundred and fifty business and thought leaders came together in Bentonville, Arkansas for the 2022 Heartland Summit to learn from each other and take back new ideas to their cities to build resilient communities.  Ross DeVol is the President & CEO of Heartland Forward and he joins me to talk about innovation happening between the coasts, and why it's important for the rest of the country.

Three hundred and fifty business and thought leaders came together in Bentonville, Arkansas for the 2022 Heartland Summit to learn from each other and take back new ideas to their cities to build resilient communities.  Ross DeVol is the President & CEO of Heartland Forward and he joins me to talk about innovation happening between the coasts, and why it's important for the rest of the country.

What a great conversation between Ross DeVol and Richard Florida about Richard's latest report on heartland talent. Specifically, they discuss how heartland metropolitans are changing the map of talent in the U.S. When you listen, you'll hear the friendship and respect between these two gentlemen that spans decades. Enjoy! About Richard Florida, Senior Fellow, Heartland Forward, and University Professor, University of Toronto Richard Florida is one of the world's leading urbanists. He is a researcher and professor, serving as University Professor at University of Toronto's School of Cities and Rotman School of Management and a Distinguished Fellow at NYU and Florida International University. He is a writer and journalist, having penned several global bestsellers, including the award-winning The Rise of the Creative Class and his most recent book, The New Urban Crisis published in April 2017. He serves as senior editor for The Atlantic, where he co-founded and serves as Editor-at-Large for CityLab. He is an entrepreneur, as founder of the Creative Class Group which works closely with companies and governments worldwide. www.creativeclass.com Publications: The New Urban Crisis: How Our Cities are Increasing Inequality, Deepening Segregation and Failing the Middle Class - and What We Can Do About It. (2017) The Great Reset: How New Ways of Living and Working Drive Post-Crash Prosperity, (2010) Who's Your City? (2008) The Fight of the Creative Class. The New Global Competition for Talent (2005) Cities and the Creative Class (2005) The Rise of the Creative Class. And How It's Transforming Work, Leisure and Everyday Life (2002) About the Ross DeVol, President and CEO of Heartland Forward Since joining Heartland Forward in 2019, DeVol has raised the profile of Heartland Forward through media engagement with quotes in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, the Economist and Axios and op-eds in the Dallas Morning News, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Chicago Tribune and Des Moines Register as well as TV appearances throughout the heartland. DeVol is a former chief research officer for the Milken Institute where he spent nearly 20 years, an economic think tank headquartered in California. He oversaw research on international, national and comparative regional growth performance, access to capital and its role in economic growth and job creation and health-related topics. He has been ranked among the “Superstars of Think Tank Scholars” by International Economy magazine. www.heartlandfoward.org

We talk a lot about how Austin is transforming into the next great innovation powerhouse, but how do you define a growing innovation powerhouse. What do the academics say are the right ways to measure an ecosystem's growth and how does Austin stack up. In this episode, we speak with Ross Devol, President and CEO of Heartland Forward. We talk about his latest research, where Austin ranks, and what trends are creating both headwinds and tailwinds for our community. Understanding the data helps us understand…What's Next Austin? Podcast Production Services by NCC Audio Our music is “Tech Talk” by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons 4.0 License 

A new report argues the Midwest is much more welcoming to certain types of immigrants than stereotypes -- or political rhetoric -- suggests. Heartland Forward, an Arkansas-based think tank, says demographic shifts will soon turn the heartland, which the organization defines as the 20 states between the Rockies and the Appalachians, into a truly global place with a mix of cultures.“Some might refer to it as a flyover country,” Heartland's CEO Ross DeVol said, “but if it were a separate country it would be the third largest economy in the world.”

A new report argues the Midwest is much more welcoming to certain types of immigrants than stereotypes -- or political rhetoric -- suggests. Heartland Forward, an Arkansas-based think tank, says demographic shifts will soon turn the heartland, which the organization defines as the 20 states between the Rockies and the Appalachians, into a truly global place with a mix of cultures.“Some might refer to it as a flyover country,” Heartland's CEO Ross DeVol said, “but if it were a separate country it would be the third largest economy in the world.”

The Jeffs chat with Ross DeVol, President & CEO of Heartland Forward. Check out what they have to say about:The role of university talent & technology commercialization in research & innovationBest innovation practices for applied & teaching universitiesHow university leaders can begin workforce development & commercialization tech transfer growthFollow Us on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter Get in touch InnovationJunkie.com Heartland Forward

On April 1, Business Forward hosted a briefing on manufacturing in the Heartland. White House Associate Director of Public Engagement Will McIntee joined for introductory remarks on how the Biden Administration’s American Jobs Plan will impact the Heartland. After these remarks, Mayor Nan Whaley of Dayton, Ohio moderated a discussion between CEO of Heartland Forward Ross DeVol and CEO of Heath-Newark-Licking County Port Authority Rick Platt on manufacturing in the Heartland, answering questions from business leaders on entrepreneurship, reshoring jobs, and how climate concerns affect electric vehicle suppliers and the manufacturing sector, overall. 01:12 - Will McIntee's remarks 13:47 - Ross DeVol's opening remarks 18:22 - Rick Platt's opening remarks 20:35 - Q&A moderated by Mayor Nan Whaley

Ross DeVol, President and CEO of Heartland Forward, a new ‘think and do’ think tank devoted to improving economic performance in the middle of the country, talks about how former factory towns and rural areas can revitalize their economies. He also discusses how to promote small business retention and growth, entrepreneurialism, globalization and tech.

Ross DeVol is the CEO and president of Heartland Forward, a company with a goal of promoting regional innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystems that foster job creation, wage gains, and economic growth for the American Heartland. He is the former Chief Research Officer for the Milken Institute, an economic think tank headquartered in California. DeVol has been influential in authoring the Northwest Arkansas Economic Recovery Strategy, a report that will assist the region in recovery post-COVID-19. This 100-page report contains a detailed analysis of the NWA region’s strengths, challenges, and opportunities. To download the NWA Economic Recovery Strategy report, follow this link: https://heartlandforward.org/northwest-arkansas-economic-recovery-strategy

Ross DeVol is a Walton Fellow, focusing on research on policies related to economic vitality of Northwest Arkansas and the American heartland. Ross is the former chief research officer at the Milken Institute, where he was responsible for overseeing research on international, national and subnational growth performance; access to capital and its role in economic growth and job creation; and health-related topics. While at the Institute, he put his group in the national limelight with groundbreaking research on innovation and its economic impact as well as the economic and human consequences of chronic disease. Ross previously served as SVP of IHS Global Insight Inc., director of economic planning at CSX, economist at Chase Econometrics and economic analyst at Union Pacific. He was ranked among the “Superstars of Think Tank Scholars” by International Economy magazine.

There has been a lot of reason for the past decade to count middle America out of the economic and technological future of the country. But a new study from Heartland Forward tells a different story, showing that the "Heartland" is doing better at attracting and retaining members of the Millennial cohort in recent years. Ross DeVol, president and CEO of Heartland Forward, joins Underscored to discuss why that is. We're also joined by Jacob Bruggeman of Young Voices for a preliminary discussion on this. He’s a policy writer with a focus on the heartland of America whose work can be found in the Des Moines Register, Cincinnati Enquirer, Columbus Dispatch and more. Read the new report here: http://heartlandforward.org/millennals-find-new-hope-in-the-heartland

There has been a lot of reason for the past decade to count middle America out of the economic and technological future of the country. But a new study from Heartland Forward tells a different story, showing that the "Heartland" is doing better at attracting and retaining members of the Millennial cohort in recent years. Ross DeVol, president and CEO of Heartland Forward, joins Underscored to discuss why that is.  We're also joined by Jacob Bruggeman of Young Voices for a preliminary discussion on this. He’s a policy writer with a focus on the heartland of America whose work can be found in the Des Moines Register, Cincinnati Enquirer, Columbus Dispatch and more. Read the new report here: http://heartlandforward.org/millennals-find-new-hope-in-the-heartland

This week, Tony, John, and Brendan were joined by special guest Ross DeVol, President & CEO of Heartland Forward, a new "think and do" tank focused on economic renewal in the American Heartland. They discussed the nuances of recent U.S.-China trade talks and how the pressures of globalization and trade are impacting markets and American communities. Ross shared his insights on how entrepreneurship, innovation, and young firms are impacting the Heartland in the changing economy, and the team took a look ahead at next week's economic data.Learn more about Heartland Forward: https://heartlandforward.org/Learn more about Heartland Forward: https://heartlandforward.org/

Ross DeVol is a Walton Fellow, focusing on research on policies related to economic vitality of Northwest Arkansas and the American heartland. Ross is the former chief research officer at the Milken Institute, where he was responsible for overseeing research on international, national and subnational growth performance; access to capital and its role in economic growth and job creation; and health-related topics. While at the Institute, he put his group in the national limelight with groundbreaking research on innovation and its economic impact as well as the economic and human consequences of chronic disease. Ross previously served as SVP of IHS Global Insight Inc., director of economic planning at CSX, economist at Chase Econometrics and economic analyst at Union Pacific. He was ranked among the “Superstars of Think Tank Scholars” by International Economy magazine.

The Milken Institute's annual index of Best-Performing Cities shows that technology and energy are the biggest forces behind America's booming metros. This year's best-performing metro area is Austin, Texas. Other cities that scored high included: Provo, Utah (No. 2, up from seventh place last year); San Francisco (No. 3, up from No. 36); San Jose (No. 4, down from No.1) and Salt Lake City (No. 5, up from No. 6). "Some of the leading tech metros were successful despite being high-cost, high regulation locations," says Ross DeVol, chief research officer of the Milken Institute and one of the report's authors. "Cities like San Francisco, San Jose, and Cambridge have developed R&D assets and infrastructure that makes it easier to innovate there than in lower-cost locations." Other cities in the top tier show how the surging U.S. energy sector is lighting up local economies. The shale oil and gas boom thrust nine metros into the Top 25, including Houston, San Antonio and Corpus Christi in Texas, as well as Bakersfield, Calif. In North Dakota, oil production has increased by more than 400 percent in the last five years, helping place both Fargo and Bismarck in the Top 5 small cities. The Best-Performing Cities index shows where jobs are being created and sustained in metros across the U.S. The index includes measures of job, wage, and technology performance to rank the nation's 200 large metropolitan areas and 179 smaller metros. Unlike other "best places" rankings, it does not use quality-of-life metrics, such as commute times or housing costs. In the Institute's index, employment growth is weighted most heavily due to its critical importance to community vitality. Wage and salary growth measures the quality of jobs created and sustained. See our interactive site for data rankings, social media highlights, interactive maps and highlights from the report: Best Performing Cities Index 2013

The Milken Institute's annual index of Best-Performing Cities shows that technology and energy are the biggest forces behind America's booming metros. This year's best-performing metro area is Austin, Texas. Other cities that scored high included: Provo, Utah (No. 2, up from seventh place last year); San Francisco (No. 3, up from No. 36); San Jose (No. 4, down from No.1) and Salt Lake City (No. 5, up from No. 6). "Some of the leading tech metros were successful despite being high-cost, high regulation locations," says Ross DeVol, chief research officer of the Milken Institute and one of the report's authors. "Cities like San Francisco, San Jose, and Cambridge have developed R&D assets and infrastructure that makes it easier to innovate there than in lower-cost locations." Other cities in the top tier show how the surging U.S. energy sector is lighting up local economies. The shale oil and gas boom thrust nine metros into the Top 25, including Houston, San Antonio and Corpus Christi in Texas, as well as Bakersfield, Calif. In North Dakota, oil production has increased by more than 400 percent in the last five years, helping place both Fargo and Bismarck in the Top 5 small cities. The Best-Performing Cities index shows where jobs are being created and sustained in metros across the U.S. The index includes measures of job, wage, and technology performance to rank the nation's 200 large metropolitan areas and 179 smaller metros. Unlike other "best places" rankings, it does not use quality-of-life metrics, such as commute times or housing costs. In the Institute's index, employment growth is weighted most heavily due to its critical importance to community vitality. Wage and salary growth measures the quality of jobs created and sustained. See our interactive site for data rankings, social media highlights, interactive maps and highlights from the report: Best Performing Cities Index 2013

When it comes to education, a rising tide really does lift all boats. That's one of the conclusions of this sweeping research report. Ross DeVol, chief research officer and one of the report authors, explains: "Our research makes a compelling case that for America's communities, the returns to investment from higher education have never been greater. We pinpoint the value regional economies gain by adding better-educated workers and show that, as those around you obtain more education, their wages rise – and yours do, too." While it's intuitive that an educated population, good jobs, and prosperity go hand-in-hand, this study proves the strong relationship between education and a region's economic performance. Institute economists created a unique data set linking educational attainment and occupational trends over time and by region. The report and the accompanying data site not only provide a blueprint for policy makers and leaders to boost education: they can help career seekers figure out where they can get the most bang from their educational buck. Key findings of the study include: • Education increases regional prosperity. Adding one year to the average years of schooling among the employed in a metropolitan area is associated with an increase of real GDP per capita of more than ten percent, and an increase in real wages per worker of more than eight percent. • Better educated = bigger benefits. The better educated the worker, the greater the benefit of additional schooling, to both the worker and the region. Add one year of college to a region's workforce, for instance, and GDP per capita jumps 17.4 percent. • Clusters count. In metros with clusters of high-skilled occupations, the share of workers holding at least a master's degree is much higher than in metros without significant clusters, perhaps because of the intense competition for employment. The implications of "A Matter of Degrees" for policy makers, community leaders, and educators are extensive. The findings provide a compelling argument for strategic investments in higher education to enhance regional economic competitiveness – and by extension, U.S. competitiveness overall. The report's key policy recommendations for governments, educational institutions, and businesses include: make higher education more affordable and accessible; increase higher-education graduation rates; and strengthen coordination between industries and higher-education institutions.

When it comes to education, a rising tide really does lift all boats. That's one of the conclusions of this sweeping research report. Ross DeVol, chief research officer and one of the report authors, explains: "Our research makes a compelling case that for America's communities, the returns to investment from higher education have never been greater. We pinpoint the value regional economies gain by adding better-educated workers and show that, as those around you obtain more education, their wages rise – and yours do, too." While it's intuitive that an educated population, good jobs, and prosperity go hand-in-hand, this study proves the strong relationship between education and a region's economic performance. Institute economists created a unique data set linking educational attainment and occupational trends over time and by region. The report and the accompanying data site not only provide a blueprint for policy makers and leaders to boost education: they can help career seekers figure out where they can get the most bang from their educational buck. Key findings of the study include: • Education increases regional prosperity. Adding one year to the average years of schooling among the employed in a metropolitan area is associated with an increase of real GDP per capita of more than ten percent, and an increase in real wages per worker of more than eight percent. • Better educated = bigger benefits. The better educated the worker, the greater the benefit of additional schooling, to both the worker and the region. Add one year of college to a region's workforce, for instance, and GDP per capita jumps 17.4 percent. • Clusters count. In metros with clusters of high-skilled occupations, the share of workers holding at least a master's degree is much higher than in metros without significant clusters, perhaps because of the intense competition for employment. The implications of "A Matter of Degrees" for policy makers, community leaders, and educators are extensive. The findings provide a compelling argument for strategic investments in higher education to enhance regional economic competitiveness – and by extension, U.S. competitiveness overall. The report's key policy recommendations for governments, educational institutions, and businesses include: make higher education more affordable and accessible; increase higher-education graduation rates; and strengthen coordination between industries and higher-education institutions.

The Milken Institute's annual index of Best-Performing Cities indicates that tech is back, especially in the world's best-known hub of innovation. The United States' best-performing metro area is San Jose, the capital of Silicon Valley. Other cities with strong exposure to technological innovation scored high in the new ranking: Austin, Texas (No. 2, up from fourth place); Raleigh, N.C. (No. 3, up from No. 14); the Washington, D.C., metro (No. 5 from No. 17); and Cambridge, Mass. (No. 8 from No. 12). San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, Calif., vaulted 50 spots from last year to No. 1, a position it last held on the index in 2001. San Jose's recovery has spread through the region's economy: For each job added in the tech sector, five jobs are created in other industries. For example, Apple has an estimated 34,000 employees in the metro area but is responsible for another 170,000 jobs in the region. "People expect tech to be one of the most dynamic sectors of the economy, and it was," says Ross DeVol, chief research officer of the Milken Institute and one of the report's authors. "A perhaps less expected highlight of this year's rankings is how the national resurgence in manufacturing is reflected in the greatly improved fortune of local economies, especially in the upper Midwest." Among this year's biggest gainers in large metros is Holland-Grand Haven, Mich., leaping 108 places to No. 40. Other Midwestern hotspots include Minneapolis-St. Paul; Gary, Ind.; Warren, Mich.; and Indianapolis. Each city moved up at least 70 spots in this year's index. The Best-Performing Cities index includes measures of job, wage, and technology performance to rank the nation's 200 large metropolitan areas and 179 smaller metros. Unlike other "best places" rankings, it does not use quality-of-life metrics, such as commute times or housing costs. In the Institute's index, employment growth is weighted most heavily due to its critical importance to community vitality. Wage and salary growth measures the quality of jobs created and sustained.

Speakers: Ross DeVol, Chief Research Officer, Milken Institute. Rob Lapsley, President, California Business Roundtable. Where does California's recovery stand? And what are our prospects for growth in the months ahead? Ross DeVol, the Institute's chief research officer, offers an insightful look at the latest data.