In her role with the Destination Medical Center initiative, Pam Wheelock is focused on building Rochester’s economy by attracting private investment to the city to complement the talent within the city’s broader health economy. Mayo is spending more than $5 billion on expansion and innovation. Wheelock’s board recently allocated $8 million for spaces to support early-stage biotech companies; the BioLabs Rochester facility will open in 2026. She’s also dealing with workforce development and housing initiatives, plus projects to make Rochester a good place to live. Wheelock says she’ll be overseeing progress of key public infrastructure projects, including Link bus rapid transit and the construction of a new multi-modal bridge over the Zumbro River.