Biography John Ross Senior Advisor and Director, Office of Economic Development Finance John Ross was named senior advisor and director of the Office of Economic Development Finance in fall 2003. He advises the Chief Financial Officer on all major public-private economic development projects, including tax increment and PILOT financing projects. Such projects include the proposed Convention Center hotel, the recently completed baseball stadium, and several other hotels, mixed-use developments, theaters and sports facilities. Ross represents the Office of the Chief Financial Officer on the boards of the Washington Convention Center Authority, the District of Columbia Sports and Entertainment Committee, and Destination DC. Prior to joining the District government, Ross was director of the Division of Economic Development and Public Finance for the US Department of Housing and Urban Development. Ross has also taught economics and urban policy at Central Michigan, Virginia Tech, the University of Maryland and American University. He has written six books and more than 20 professional articles. He was the United States Delegate to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development. Ross holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Maryland and a doctorate in economics from the Maxwell School at Syracuse University.