Power of Place
The Power of Place conference explores how the major forces reshaping the American economy—technology, trade, finance, demography, and policy—are playing out across local landscapes. Each panel zooms in on a key pillar of this transformation, offering a place-based lens on the challenges and opportunities ahead. Together, these conversations aim to surface practical insights for building a more resilient, inclusive, and dynamic economic future.
Location
Ritz-Carlton Georgetown
3100 S St NW, Washington, DC 20007
3100 S St NW, Washington, DC 20007
Date & Time
October 30, 2025
8:15 AM - 6:00 PM
8:15 AM - 6:00 PM
Speakers
John Lettieri
President
& CEO,
Economic Innovation Group
& CEO,
Economic Innovation Group
Angie Cooper
President,
Heartland Forward
Heartland Forward
Donna Gambrell
President
& CEO,
Appalachian Community Capital
& CEO,
Appalachian Community Capital
Gonzalo Schwarz
President
& CEO,
Archbridge Institute
& CEO,
Archbridge Institute
Rohan Sandhu
Co-founder,
Reimagining the Economy initiative, Harvard Kennedy School
Reimagining the Economy initiative, Harvard Kennedy School
Derek Kilmer
Senior Vice President,
US Program and Policy, The Rockefeller Foundation
US Program and Policy, The Rockefeller Foundation
Adam Ozimek
Chief Economist,
Economic Innovation Group
Economic Innovation Group
Reihan Salam
President,
Manhattan Institute
Manhattan Institute
Andrew
Van Dam
Van Dam
Columnist,
Department of Data, The Washington Post
Department of Data, The Washington Post
Gary Winslett
Associate Professor and Director of the International Politics and Economics Program, Middlebury College
Glenn Barklie
Head of Economic Analysis and Insights,
FT Locations
FT Locations
Mark DiPlacido
Policy Advisor, American Compass
Nikia Clarke
Chief Strategy Officer,
San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation
San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation
Joseph Briggs
Managing Director, Goldman Sachs
Mark Muro
Senior Fellow, Brookings Metro
Nathan Goldschlag
Director of Research, Economic Innovation Group
Jason Furman
Aetna Professor of the Practice of Economic Policy, Harvard Kennedy School and the Dept. of Economics, Harvard University
Abi Olvera
Research Director, Golden Gate Institute for AI
Kenan Fikri
Senior Fellow, Economic Innovation Group
Matthew Yglesias
Founder and Author,
Slow Boring
Slow Boring
Cardiff Garcia
Editorial Director, Economic Innovation Group
Neil Irwin
Chief Economic Correspondent,
Axios Media Inc.
Axios Media Inc.
Ben Miller
Co-founder
& CEO,
Fundrise
& CEO,
Fundrise
Schedule
Wednesday, October 29th
6:00 - 8:00 PM
Welcome Reception
Please join us for a welcome reception at Degrees Bistro in the Ritz-Carlton Georgetown.
Thursday, October 30th
8:15 - 9:15 am
Networking Breakfast
9:15 - 9:30 am
Welcoming Remarks
John Lettieri, President & CEO, Economic Innovation Group
9:30 - 10:40 am
After the Bill: Where Place-Based Policy Goes from Here
Angie Cooper, President, Heartland Forward
Donna Gambrell, President & CEO, Appalachian Community Capital
Gonzalo Schwarz, President & CEO, Archbridge Institute
Rohan Sandhu, Co-founder, Reimagining the Economy initiative, Harvard Kennedy School
Moderator: Derek Kilmer, Senior Vice President, US Program and Policy, The Rockefeller Foundation
Donna Gambrell, President & CEO, Appalachian Community Capital
Gonzalo Schwarz, President & CEO, Archbridge Institute
Rohan Sandhu, Co-founder, Reimagining the Economy initiative, Harvard Kennedy School
Moderator: Derek Kilmer, Senior Vice President, US Program and Policy, The Rockefeller Foundation
10:40 - 11:40 am
Conservatism and the New Economic Geography
Adam Ozimek, Chief Economist, Economic Innovation Group
Reihan Salam, President, Manhattan Institute
Reihan Salam, President, Manhattan Institute
11:40 am - 12:15 pm
Luncheon and Networking
12:15 - 12:45 PM
Flash Presentations: Maps Mania
Moderator: Andrew Van Dam, Columnist, Department of Data, The Washington Post
12:45 - 1:30 pm
Do Economists have a Place for Place?
Jason Furman, Aetna Professor of the Practice of Economic Policy, Harvard Kennedy School and the Department of Economics, Harvard University
Moderator: John Lettieri, President & CEO, Economic Innovation Group
Moderator: John Lettieri, President & CEO, Economic Innovation Group
1:30 - 2:30 pm
Global Flows, Local Stakes: Trade and Investment in Transition
Gary Winslett, Associate Professor, Middlebury College, Political Science Director, International Politics and Economics Program
Glenn Barklie, Head of Economic Analysis and Insights, FT Locations
Mark DiPlacido, Policy Adviser, American Compass
Nikia Clarke, Chief Strategy Officer, San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation
Moderator: Neil Irwin, Chief Economic Correspondent, Axios Media Inc.
Glenn Barklie, Head of Economic Analysis and Insights, FT Locations
Mark DiPlacido, Policy Adviser, American Compass
Nikia Clarke, Chief Strategy Officer, San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation
Moderator: Neil Irwin, Chief Economic Correspondent, Axios Media Inc.
2:30 - 2:45 pm
Break
2:45 - 3:45 pm
From Hype to Impact: AI, Automation, and the
American Workforce
American Workforce
Joseph Briggs, Managing Director, Goldman Sachs
Mark Muro, Senior Fellow, Brookings Metro
Nathan Goldschlag, Director of Research, Economic Innovation Group
Ben Miller, Co-founder & CEO, Fundrise
Moderator: Abi Olvera, Non-Resident Fellow, Council on Strategic Risks
Mark Muro, Senior Fellow, Brookings Metro
Nathan Goldschlag, Director of Research, Economic Innovation Group
Ben Miller, Co-founder & CEO, Fundrise
Moderator: Abi Olvera, Non-Resident Fellow, Council on Strategic Risks
3:45 - 4:45 pm
Live Podcast Recording of The New Bazaar
Matthew Yglesias, Founder and Author, Slow Boring
Cardiff Garcia, Editorial Director, Economic Innovation Group
Cardiff Garcia, Editorial Director, Economic Innovation Group
4:45 - 5:00 pm
Closing Remarks
Kenan Fikri, Senior Fellow, Economic Innovation Group
5:00 - 6:00 pm
Closing Reception
Please join us for a closing reception at Degrees Bistro in the Ritz-Carlton Georgetown.
Location
The Ritz-Carlton Georgetown,
Washington, DC
Washington, DC
3100 South Street Northwest, Washington, DC
About EIG
The Economic Innovation Group (EIG) is a bipartisan public policy organization dedicated to forging a more dynamic and inclusive American economy. EIG produces nationally-recognized research and works with policymakers to develop ideas that empower workers, entrepreneurs, and communities.
www.eig.org
www.eig.org
