Kip Bergstrom is the Executive Director of the Rhode Island Economic Policy Council, a 25-member board of business, government, labor, higher education and community representatives which brings a focus on quality of place and innovation to Rhode Island's economic development efforts. In addition to strategy development, Policy Council members serve as champions to mobilize the initiatives, which have included the resources to implement key initiatives, which have included the Slater Centers (commercialization of university research), the Providence Creative Economy Initiative, the restructuring and expansion of the state's workforce development and adult education systems, the strengthening of the state's research infrastructure, and the reform of the state's tax structure to encourage innovation and entrepreneurship. Kip has 30 years of experience in the private and public sectors, in both planning and management roles. Kip has a Master's in City and Regional Planning from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, where he was the first student to specialize in economic development. link: www.ripolicy.org