Andrew Woods is a problem solver with a proven track record in economic development and policy. Out of college and living in Washington, D.C., he started his career working in politics with the goal of bringing change to underserved communities. He eventually ended up in Carson City working for the Nevada State Treasurer, where he was involved in several interest projects, ballot initiatives and was able to start his own company to help elect candidates to public office.
“That success turned into opportunities to work on economic development and tax policy at the local and state level. I went back to school in the evenings at the University of Chicago, while running my business, and I received my master’s degree in public policy with a focus in transportation and economic development,” Woods said. From there, he was selected as the director of the UNLV Center for Business and Economic Research (CBER) at the Lee Business School.
He describes his current role at CBER as the perfect fit for him, working with a team whose goal is to improve the state and create framework for more forward progress. One of Woods’ proudest accomplishments was modeling a pathway for economic diversification called Roadmap 2040 that is now being used by the Governor’s Office of Economic Development and the Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance.