WEDA Fall 2002 Conference

Thursday, September 26
8:00 a.m. - 8:45 a.m.	Registration, Coffee and Networking
8:45 a.m. - 9:15 a.m.	Opening Remarks: James Schneider, President, Wisconsin Economic Development Association Welcome to Milwaukee: John M. Norquist, Mayor, City of Milwaukee
9:15 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.	Keynote: Jay Smith, Member, Board of Regents, University of Wisconsin System. Known to the public since 1995 as a member and President of the Board of Regents, University of Wisconsin System, Jay is also a very successful businessman. He is president and chief executive officer of JLS Investment Group - founded in 1992. Jay has been the creator and driving force behind the University of Wisconsin sponsored Economic Summits I and II. He continues to be a leader in fostering alliances between the University and other partners in economic development. He will speak about how the University system and economic development professionals throughout the state can work more effectively together
10:00 a.m. - 10:45 a.m.	"A Framework for Regional Economic Development" Tim Sheehy, President, Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce Geographical boundaries have become blurred as the internet changes how we do business and transmit knowledge. Recognizing the importance of regional collaboration, over forty government, business, education, labor and economic development. Leaders in the seven county southeast Wisconsin region have formed a committee to discuss future visions for the area. Tim Sheehy co-chairs this committee, the Alliance for Regional Prosperity, and will share his perspective on its mission and opportunities.
10:45 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.	Break
11:00 a.m. - Noon	"Plan, Deliver and Manage Your Message… Successfully" Evan N. Zeppos, APR, President, Zeppos & Associates, Inc. Evan Zeppos is recognized as a leading expert in public relations. He brings a unique blend of experiences at the national, state and local level in the areas of issues management (what is issues management?), public relations and government affairs. A recent Milwaukee Magazine survey ranked him as "the top communications professional in the metropolitan Milwaukee area." Evan will discuss the need for economic development professionals to be strategic in their communications. Strategic communications involves three key skills: analyzing the audience, developing the key message and effectively delivering that message. Evan's address will include anecdotal examples.
Noon - 1:15 p.m.	Lunch
1:15 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.	"Accelerating Entrepreneurship Through Education and Development" Patrick Von Bargen, Executive Director, National Commission on Entrepreneurship (NCOE) Entrepreneurs create 600,000 to 800,000 new businesses each year in the United States. Executive Director Von Bargen of the NCOE will discuss the importance of entrepreneurial communities and the information and tools needed to support the entrepreneurial process. NCOE's work is to foster entrepreneurship with original research and consultation. www.ncoe.org
2:15 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.	Break
2:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.	Panel: "Supporting Entrepreneurship" Moderator: Ron Luskin, HGA Architects. This session will discuss entrepreneurship from a variety of different education and support resources. Entrepreneur Studies in Natural Science Program, Dr. Douglas Arion, Carthage College Start Smart, Sheena Carey, Wisconsin Women's Business Initiative Corporation FastTrac, Andy Clark, Program Manager, SBDC, UW-Whitewater Technology Entrepreneurship, Scott Zielske, Partner, TechStar Weinert Center for Entrepreneurship, Ramone Aldag, Executive Director
5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.	Reception and Tours: American Society for Quality (ASQ) Center (2nd Floor) 611 E. Wisconsin Ave, Three blocks east of the Hilton, through the Grand Ave mall. The newly renovated ASQ Center, formerly the Marshall Field's building, is the largest mixed-use development in downtown Milwaukee. Transforming the building from a department store to a hotel and offices required vision and an ability to maintain the design elements that made it great. It is expected to bring over 1600 people to downtown Milwaukee daily, resulting in a substantial increase in assessed property value and stimulate additional downtown projects. Key to financing the $60 million dollar project was the building's certification as a national historic landmark.
8:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.	Rock with Vic Grassman's band, "X Amount" in the Miller Time Pub X Amount has been together for seven years playing rock and roll from the 1970's and 1980's. Come and dance or, if you prefer, just listen to the tunes from your younger years. Check out their original music CD, "Persistence of Vision", on www.notlame.com