The first day of Wisconsin Economic Summit III features several workshops during which business and community leaders from around the state will share expertise about specific economic development issues.
The following summary includes topics and contacts for each workshop to assist you with possible coverage before and during the summit.
The workshops run concurrently and will start at 1 p.m., 2:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 14. Wisconsin Economic Summit III runs through Oct. 16 at the Midwest Express Center in Milwaukee.
For a complete list of panelists-some of whom may represent your coverage area-and a full agenda, visit wisconsin.edu/summit/.
CONCURRENT WORKSHOPS
Economic Development Practices & Measures of Success: Learn how Wisconsin economic development practitioners and partners measure success and manage initiatives.
CONTACT: Jan Alf, Forward Wisconsin, Inc., and WEDA President-elect, (608) 255-5666
Capturing More Federal Procurement Dollars: Understand the training, resources and opportunities Wisconsin firms can use to attract federal business.
CONTACT: Denise Kornetzke, Director of the Business Procurement Assistance Center, Madison Area Technical College, (608) 258-2350
Technology Paths to Economic Development in Wisconsin: Experts will examine the basic tenets of technology development and present a new strategy to enliven and guide technology innovation for new economic development.
CONTACT: Bill Bryant, Crossroadsaccess, (414) 559-0578
Community Development Venture Capital: Panelists will present an overview of an emerging industry called “community development venture capital.”
CONTACT: William Beckett, President and CEO, CHRYSPAC, (414) 744-8550
The Economic Development Roles of Nonprofit Corporations: Four experts will present how nonprofit organizations stimulate economic development in Wisconsin communities.
CONTACT: Stephen L. Percy, Chancellor’s Deputy for the Milwaukee Idea and Director, Center for Urban Initiatives and Research, UW-Milwaukee, (414) 229-5916
Homeland Security: Panel discussion of homeland security issues and strategies in which Wisconsin must engage to maintain the highest level of safety for citizens.
CONTACT: Jonathan Barry, President, Wisconsin Technical College System Board, (608) 527-2026
“Agriculture
It’s Not The Back 40 Anymore”: Learn how the structural relationships and diversity of Wisconsin’s modern agricultural base makes it one of the most valuable sectors of the state’s economy.
CONTACT: Jim Harsdorf, Secretary, Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade & Consumer Protection, (608) 224-5012
Momentum Chippewa Valley – Wisconsin’s B.E.S.T. Working Together: Learn how cooperative public and private partnerships are developed among Chippewa Valley communities by coordinating regional economic development efforts through Business, Education, Service, Technology and Tourism.
CONTACT: Darcy Way, Director, Momentum Chippewa Valley, (715) 833-6276
Helping Small Businesses Move Innovation and Technology to Market: Learn how small business can use the Small Business Innovation Research program to compete for federal R&D funds.
CONTACT: Erica Kauten, State Director, Small Business Development Center, UW-Extension, (608) 263-7794
Building Angel Networks in Wisconsin: Learn about “angel investing” from members of angel networks that are planning, forming and actively investing.
CONTACT: David J. Ward, President, NorthStar Economics, Inc., and member of Origin Investment Group, La Crosse, (608) 279-3393
Workforce Development is Economic Development!: Workforce availability and preparedness is top priority for businesses. Hear unique examples of how workforce development professionals put both resources and leadership into play.
CONTACT: Ron Hunt, Deputy Division Administrator, Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development, (608) 266-2687
Competing in a Global Environment: Panelists will discuss how Wisconsin companies can expand their sales with exports and succeed in a world economy even as global competition becomes increasingly fierce.
CONTACT: Roger Axtell, UW System Board of Regents and former Vice President, Worldwide Marketing, Parker Pen Corporation, (608) 757-2666
Tourism’s Contribution to Wisconsin’s Economy and Quality of Life: Wisconsin’s tourism industry is integral to Wisconsin’s economic health, providing financial stability and cultural and recreational infrastructure that makes Wisconsin an attractive place to live, work and play.
CONTACT: William J. Otto, President and COO, Marcus Hotels and Resorts, (414) 905-1200
Education as an Economic Cluster: Learn how education is an “economic cluster” essential to Wisconsin’s future as the principal producer of resources essential for the knowledge economy: innovative ideas and “brainworkers.”
CONTACT: Dr. Rolf Wegenke, President, Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, (608) 256-7761
A Market-Based Approach to Urban Revitalization: Explore how economic strategies that emphasize private, for-profit business growth and job development, along with nonprofit social entrepreneurship, can create a sustainable economic base in the inner city.
CONTACT: Mike Morgan, Program Related Investments Officer, Helen Bader Foundation, (414) 224-6470
With a Long Enough Lever: Leveraging the OEM-supplier relationship to build a world-class manufacturing cluster in Wisconsin: Panelists will discuss “leveraging” inter-firm relationships to ensure the continued viability of high-road manufacturing clusters in Wisconsin.
CONTACT: Jonathan Zeitlin, Senior Fellow, Center for World Affairs and the Global Economy (WAGE), Professor of Sociology, Industrial Relations, and History, UW-Madison, (608) 265-2523
New County Economic Development Models: Three southeastern Wisconsin counties present new economic development models used to reflect their unique local community needs.
CONTACT: Penny Scheuerman, WE Energies, (414) 221-3018
eCommerce & eBusiness: Strengthening Wisconsin Companies and Industry Clusters: Senior executives will describe how e-commerce and e-business provide competitive advantages for their companies and value chain members, including customers, suppliers and distributors.
CONTACT: Dr. Raj Veeramani, Director, Consortium for Global E-Commerce, UW-Madison, (608) 262-0861
Regional Training Partnerships: This workshop will demonstrate the advantages of nationally recognized partnerships between companies, unions and communities for economic and workforce development policies.
CONTACT: Earl Buford, Director, BIG STEP, (414) 342-1339
The Northern EDGE: Economic Development & Growing the Economy: For the economic base of Wisconsin’s northern counties to grow, a strategy must be developed to infuse new-economy ideas into the existing economic base and grow incomes in the traditional economic sectors, while expanding into new higher wage areas of economic growth. This workshop will discuss strategies for the 29 Northern EDGE counties.
CONTACT: Al Anderson, Director, Center for Community Economic Development, UW-Extension, (608) 265-8256
Organizing Services to Meet Industry Cluster Needs: Wisconsin’s key industries are embracing the industry cluster concept for growth. This session will present exciting examples and discuss some best practices of how organizations can refocus planning and resources to service the cluster construct.
CONTACT: Sue Gleason, Local Workforce Planning Coordinator, Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development, (608) 266-0522
Leveraging Intellectual Property for a Competitive Edge in the 21st Century: This workshop will focus on Intellectual Property (IP) as a tool to: 1) provide a competitive edge for businesses large and small, and 2) grow market share and thus stimulate economic development.
CONTACT: Michael J. Gratz, Registered Patent Attorney, Chair of the State Bar of Wisconsin’s Intellectual Property Section, and Shareholder of Boyle, Fredrickson, Newholm, Stein & Gratz, S.C., (414) 225-1666
The Missing Link in Economic Development: Thriving Families: The offspring of struggling families account for 26% of state and 45% of county expenditures. This workshop will identify feasible ways to strengthen families, the state’s economy and capitalize on Wisconsin’s image as a family-friendly state.
CONTACT: Jack DeWitt, LL.B., Director, Wisconsin Cares, Inc., (608) 238-0858
Wisconsin’s Groundwater: Who gets to use it? Who does not?: Conservationists, farming, business interests and University of Wisconsin System scientists have together asked: How do we protect this great resource while maintaining the economy depending upon it?
CONTACT: John DuPlissis, Forestry Outreach Specialist, UW-Stevens Point, (715) 346-4128