Ross Berlin joined Fourth Economy + Steer in 2022 after earning his Masters of Public Administration from Tulane University. While completing his degree, he worked in various economic development roles in Southeastern Louisiana.
We asked Ross a few questions about his current role, what he has learned about economic development from his hometown of Atlanta and adopted city of New Orleans, and what he’s excited to accomplish at Fourth Economy. An enthusiastic golfer, we also asked Ross to share his dream project if given the opportunity to develop a golf course.
You are a Consultant for Fourth Economy. What does that entail? What does your work look like on any given day?
Great question… one my parents and close friends ask me often as they try to figure out what I actually do for a living. As a Consultant at Fourth Economy, I get to work with economic development offices, agencies, and organizations across the country to help them better understand their problems, opportunities, and potential solutions for creating stronger communities and economies. To put it more succinctly, I help civic leaders craft programs and policies that make their communities better places to live and work.
Accomplishing this requires a good amount of research, conversations with local leaders, and writing, something I’ve loved my whole life (my sister is a journalist, it runs in the family!). In 2.5 years with Fourth Economy, I’ve worked on 25 projects in 16 different states, learning something new every day. I also do a good amount of business development – something I get a real thrill out of. This work involves writing proposals, interviewing with potential clients, and getting our brand name out there as often as possible.
You earned both undergraduate and graduate degrees from Tulane University. Although two decades have passed since Hurricane Katrina forced the city to rebuild, is New Orleans still a useful learning laboratory for students of economic and community development?
New Orleans is a constant case study for community and economic development. The education system, built environment, and growth strategy of the region has been completely overhauled in the last two decades. The city has an incredibly unique culture and vibe, something that must be preserved at all costs. It's the friendliest place you’ll ever go, but also suffers from immense racial inequities and income inequality across different demographics and neighborhoods. All this to say that there’s really no place like NOLA.
I find myself using the lessons I’ve learned in this city every day. Living in New Orleans has taught me to explore contexts such as equity, history, and vibrancy in every project we work on. Working in the city’s economic development ecosystem prior to joining Fourth Economy, I learned about the complex web of funding and relationships that is needed to drive positive, lasting change in any place. And, more than anything, New Orleans’ unique nature has taught me to implore our clients to think about how THEY can stand out in their economic competitiveness, standard of living, and quality of place.
You grew up in Atlanta, Georgia, and last year you had the opportunity to work on a comprehensive plan for Gwinnett County, which is part of that city’s greater metropolitan area. How did your knowledge of the city, as a former resident, inform your approach to the work, and what did you learn about your hometown from working on the project?
I grew up right in the middle of the city and have always been quick to let people know that, especially those who claim to be from Atlanta but are actually from suburban counties like Gwinnett, Cobb, Clayton, and Forsyth. In that sense, I think working on Gwinnett’s 2045 Unified Plan really helped me appreciate just how regional my home city is. Atlanta is great as an urban area – Midtown, Downtown, and the Beltline are hubs for commerce, recreation, retail, and entertainment that people visit from across the globe. But, none of this activity is possible without counties like Gwinnett, where over 1 million people – almost 20% of the region’s population – reside. These counties provide employment offerings, housing, quality of life amenities, and educational opportunities that are a critical backbone of regional activity. Gwinnett is also the region’s most ethnically diverse county, which importantly brings various cultures, races, and backgrounds together in the melting pot of a big city like Atlanta.
What do you hope to accomplish with Fourth Economy this year?
One of the most intriguing things about joining Fourth Economy is that the work we win, do, and celebrate is all of our own making – if a team member wants to pursue a project in a certain topic or geography, you can get the support you need to pursue it. I’ve never lived anywhere but the Southeast, and being from the South is a core part of my identity. I’m really excited to be focusing most of my business development activities on growing Fourth Economy’s presence in the Southeastern US. This includes work across my home state of Georgia, my adopted home of Louisiana, and places like North Carolina, Kentucky, Missouri, Virginia, and more. On top of this, I’ve gotten increasingly involved with the Southern Economic Development Council and International Economic Development Council – attending conferences, building my network, serving on committees, and exploring some continued education, such as the Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) program. These experiences contribute to Fourth Economy’s growth, as well as my own expertise and acumen for the work we do nationwide.
As a teenager, you worked as a golf caddy, and in college had the opportunity to intern for the PGA Tour. If you could do an economic or community development project centered around a golf course, where would it be and what would you hope to accomplish?
Oh boy, I’ve been waiting my whole life for someone to ask me this question. One of my best pals and I grew up playing golf together and still try to play whenever we see each other. Many of our high school rounds were at Candler Park Golf Course, a municipally-owned 9-hole course in Atlanta’s Candler Park neighborhood, adjacent to where we went to school. It's $10 to walk on and an eclectic spot to say the least – a lot of t-shirts, old guys (including some of our school teachers!), and people of all backgrounds, many sneaking a few beers onto the course. The grass is perpetually overgrown or beaten up, which is pretty typical for a city-owned spot!
My friend and I have said for years that if money was no issue, we would buy this course off the city, inject some capital into it, and create a well-kept, compelling 9-hole course that still attracted the same golfers and unique neighborhood vibes for a low price. Nothing hoity-toity. Just a place to hang with friends, see an old acquaintance, hit some golf shots, and enjoy a walk in the park.