Fort Wayne, Indiana — NEI (the Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership) today announced that Ryan Twiss, Vice President of Regional Initiatives, will be departing the organization after 15 years of service.
“Leaving an organization that I grew up in is one of the hardest choices I’ve ever made. I’m incredibly grateful for the work, the relationships, and the initiatives that I’ve led or supported along the way that have contributed to making our region a place that my wife and I are proud to raise our daughters in. I’m leaving to pursue one of those initiatives that has turned into a passion of mine,” Twiss said.
“It just so happens NEI won’t have to pay me for it anymore,” he joked.
Throughout his tenure, Twiss has played a critical role in shaping Northeast Indiana’s regional identity and advancing key community, workforce, and economic development initiatives. His leadership has helped position Northeast Indiana as a model for regional collaboration across the state. Notable achievements include launching the Northeast Indiana Talent Initiative, founding the Northeast Indiana Colleges and Universities Network, and leading efforts to secure and deploy $95 million in READI 1.0 and READI 2.0 funding to support real estate and infrastructure investments.
Additionally, he played a key role in securing and deploying $30 million through the Strategic Development Commission, enabling projects such as expanding access to early childhood education, housing down payment assistance, “Planner on Demand” services, and talent attraction initiatives.
“In his time with NEI, Ryan has led efforts across a variety of verticals, including some that have changed the literal landscape of the region,” said Stéphane Frijia, President & CEO of NEI. “It’s always hard to lose a key leader of your organization, but as an economic developer, I’m excited to see Ryan dive deep into addressing the housing shortage that’s inhibiting the region’s growth potential. As his friend, I’m happy that this new venture will keep him in the region.”
Twiss will transition to focus on the launch of Mission: B.U.I.L.D., a truly one-of-its-kind venture dedicated to addressing the housing crisis in rural and middle-American communities. Mission: B.U.I.L.D.—which stands for Bringing Unprecedented Innovation to Land Development—is a joint venture incorporating Club 720 Solution’s proprietary FinTech platform and Housing Optimization through Market Empowerment (HOME) Method with Pure Construction’s revolutionary construction technologies. The initiative aims to deliver cost-effective housing development and workforce development opportunities in partnership with local communities.
Heather Presley-Cowen, founder and CEO of Club 720 Solutions, said, “We could not be more excited to have Ryan take this leap to help launch Mission: B.U.I.L.D. His unique experience and perspective will be invaluable as we continue to innovate how communities achieve housing goals, and we are so thankful for Stéphane and the whole NEI family for sharing him with us.”
Twiss’s last day with NEI will be February 14, 2025.
For more information about Mission: B.U.I.L.D., visit www.missionbuild.co. To learn more about the Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership, visit www.neindiana.com.
