Weissbourd Robert

Robert Weissbourd

President, RW Ventures, LLC

Robert Weissbourd manages RW Ventures, LLC, an economic development firm specializing in comprehensive analysis of urban assets and markets, and in creating the products and enterprises necessary to inclusively grow urban and regional economies. He was a lead developer of the Southland Development Authority (for which he served as interim CEO), the New Growth Innovation Network (NGIN), Chicagoland Food and Beverage Network, Chicago TREND, Greater Chatham Initiative, the Center for Financial Services Innovation and the Metropolitan Business Planning Initiative (co-managed with the Brookings Institution). He previously served for ten years in executive positions at Shorebank Corporation, designing, delivering and managing comprehensive development finance initiatives to invest in distressed communities. He serves or has served as a nonresident Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution Metropolitan Policy Center, an adjunct professor at the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy, Chair of the Obama Campaign Urban Policy Committee, on the Obama Transition HUD Agency Review Team, and as President of the Boards of City Colleges of Chicago and Elevate Energy, as well as on the Executive Committee of mHub. Bob brings over thirty years of experience leading economic development work in dozens of cities and scores of neighborhoods, is a frequent author and public speaker, and has testified before federal, state and local legislatures.