PDA Q&A: Simone Ross

The E-Interview: Simone Ross // Co-founder, Techonomy
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Simone Ross

DB: Where are you?

SR: I’m in from New York, visiting Detroit for three days as we prepare for Techonomy (at Wayne State University on Sept. 16). We’re in our third year, and we continue to focus on how technology can contribute to U.S. job growth and urban revival. Just coming back year after year, you can visibly see the improvements in Midtown, downtown Detroit, Wayne State, and TechTown.

DB: What’s on your agenda?

SR: I’m heading over to Detroit Aircraft Corp. (at the Coleman A. Young International Airport) — where they’re building UAVs, or drones — which is not what you think when someone mentions Detroit. We want to introduce our attendees to new things that they might not know about Detroit. The conference is about highlighting the impact of technology on productivity and progress, social and economic progress, and tech as a driver of positive change. We also focus on jobs, competitiveness, and urban revival.

DB: Who else have you called on?

SR: I visited the Kresge Foundation (in Troy), and I was surprised to see they operate from a historic farmhouse with outdoor gardens. It was very spiritual in a way. Rick Rapson, president and CEO of the Kresge Foundation, will be on one of our panelists. I also will be meeting with Beth Niblock, Detroit’s CIO. The role everyone is playing in revitalizing Detroit is rather inspirational. It’s like everyone is working from the same page.

DB: What will be the takeaways from the conference?

SR: We bring together great entrepreneurs and great leaders to look at the big picture and show how those things can be applied here. There are more and more people doing amazing things in the digital space in Detroit — especially downtown — with all of the (startup business) incubators, the growing companies, and the new initiatives.