Rob Cleveland is the President and CEO of the Grow NELA; the regional economic development authority representing 10 parishes in Northeast Louisiana. Grow NELA is devoted to creating economic prosperity in the form of new and better job opportunities, expansion of the tax base and the creation of wealth for nearly 300,000 people in Northeast Louisiana. He is a Certified Economic Development Professional (CEcD) by the International Economic Development Council (IEDC).
Prior to joining Grow NELA, Cleveland ran regional and local economic development organizations in multiple states, as well as the Director of Economic Development and Community Affairs at Indiana Michigan Power, a division of American Electric Power.
Cleveland spent nearly a decade working in professional sports; first with the Indiana Pacers and Indiana Fever, followed by five seasons with Andretti Global. Cleveland and his wife, Susan, reside in Monroe, Louisiana, with their youngest son, Isaac.