Spotlight Series - NWA Progress

In-Person Event | $15 Registration Fee

Northwest Arkansas (NWA) is a place that’s known for its high quality of life. Compared to other fast-growing regions of the country, NWA enjoys robust employment, affordable housing, shorter commute times and a rich tradition of entrepreneurial success. It’s a place where you can have a real impact – Life Works Here.  It is also consistently ranking as one of the “Best Places” to live and work in the nation. Join us November 11 in Rogers for the Q4 Spotlight Series: NWA PROGRESS as we explore why NWA receives such high accolades as a region from a true outsider’s perspective.

What are the drivers behind the region’s successful growth and quality of life? What reputation does NWA have across the nation? How will the region sustain its success?

Join the Rogers-Lowell Area Chamber of Commerce and expert panelists from Heartland Forward, a nonpartisan, nonprofit “think and do tank” focused on improving economic performance in the center of the United States, on November 11 for an exploration of how NWA has become one of the best places to live and do business. Ross DeVol, President and CEO of Heartland Forward, will lead a panel of international experts spotlighting NWA’s progress and way forward.

This is the fourth program in the new quarterly Spotlight Series designed to bring the right people together at the right time to spark innovation, inspire ideas and align our community around common goals. Each quarter features a different theme to spotlight progress and illuminate issues that are opportunities for growing business, activating high-impact leaders and building a strong and diverse place to visit, live, invest, work and play. 

About the Speakers:

Ross DeVol, President and CEO of Heartland Forward: Heartland Forward works with universities, colleges, the business community, economic development officials, public policy leaders and philanthropy to analyze resources supporting the startup community and identify workforce and talent gaps. Ross has raised the profile of Heartland Forward through media engagement with quotes in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Economist and Axios, and op-eds in the Dallas Morning News, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and Des Moines Register as well as TV appearances throughout the heartland.

He was the former chief research officer for the Milken Institute, an economic think tank headquartered in California, where he spent nearly 20 years. 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. Ross has been ranked among the “Superstars of Think Tank Scholars” by International Economy magazine.

Richard Florida, Senior Fellow of Heartland Forward & University of Toronto Professor: Richard is University Professor at The University of Toronto’s School of Cities and Rotman School of Management, and an award-winning author of the book The Rise of the Creative Class and his most recent book, The New Urban Crisis. He is co-founder of CityLab, the leading publication devoted to cities and urbanism. He is also an entrepreneur, as Founder of the Creative Class Group which works closely with companies and governments worldwide.

Mark Muro, Senior Fellow and Policy Director - Metropolitan Policy Program at The Brookings Institution: Mark is a Senior Fellow and Policy Director at the Brookings Metropolitan Policy Program, focusing on the interplay of technology, people, and place as they are altered by disruptions.

His most recent work has focused on the geography of the digital economy, including how it has been affected by the COVID recession, and involves the diverging fortunes of “superstar” cities and “places left behind.” Current work from Mark is exploring tech inclusion, concerning both people and places, building on earlier reports such as: "The geography of AI, “Automation and Artificial Intelligence: How machines are affecting people and places,” and “The Case for Growth Centers: How to Spread Tech Innovation Across America.”

Parking Instructions - When you arrive at the building, pull into the parking garage between Ruth's Chris and 1st National Bank, and follow it up to the top floor. You can enter the building through the rooftop of the parking garage.

To safeguard against community spread, all Chamber events currently scheduled are subject to being postponed and/or cancelled with new dates and times to be announced later. #KeepRogersSafe

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