Thursday, September 23

8:00 - 8:45

Registration, Coffee and Networking

8:45 - 9:00

Opening Remarks and Introductions

Barb Fleisner, WEDA President

David Ross, Mayor of Superio

Tom Cotruvo, Manager of Business Development, City of Duluth

9:00 - 9:30

Coalition Building and Public Policy -
Capitalizing on our Connections

Jim Haney, President, Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce

Jim will highlight recent legislative successes to stimulate economic development, talk about cooperation between WMC and WEDA, and outline opportunities for further collaboration.

9:30 - 10:00

Break / View Exhibits

10:00 - 11:30

Collaborative Solutions to Rail Transportation Challenges

David Miller, Economic Development Director, Barron County Economic Development Corporation

Pat Oman, Executive Director, Chippewa County Economic Development Corporation

Tim Eklund, Vice President Corporate Development, Progressive Rail

Frank Huntington, Chief, Rail Property and Management Section, WDOT

Michael Johns, Vice-President Industrial Development, Progressive Rail Inc.

Dave Ziarnik, Production Manager, Automated Building Components, Inc (ABC)

Panelists will present a case study in cross-jurisdictional economic development from Barron and Chippewa Counties in solving complex rail transportation challenges.

11:30 - 1:00

Lunch - Department of Commerce

Secretary Cory Nettles (Invited)

1:00 - 2:30

Creative & Cooperative Timber Strategies

Dave Wallin, Executive Director, Forest Management Systems

Butch Johnson, President, Johnson Timber

Timber and wood products are major industry sectors of the Wisconsin economy. Environmental and market changes on both the domestic and international levels have meant that businesses in these sectors must find creative strategies to survive and thrive. The panelists will discuss how their specific businesses have triumphed in a changing environment.

2:30 - 3:00

Break / View Exhibits

3:00 - 4:30

Research, Application and Cooperation Across State Lines

Dr. Mike Lalich, Director, Natural Resources Research Institute - University of Minnesota-Duluth

Dr. Richard Stewart, Director, Center for Transportation & Logistics - University of Wisconsin-Superior

University research is not limited to the main universities in Madison and the Twin Cities. In the Twin Ports of Superior-Duluth, the local campuses of the University of Minnesota and University of Wisconsin provide research directly aimed at supporting key industries on both sides of the border. Dr. Mike Lalich will discuss the research and development being conducted by the Natural Resources Research Institute. Dr. Richard Stewart will discuss how the Center for Transportation and Logistics Research serves the transportation industry and the needs of regional businesses.

4:30 - 5:30

Networking / View Exhibits

5:30 - 7:00

WEDA Reception - Vista Fleet Cruise

Experience Lake Superior and the Duluth/Superior Harbor aboard the Vista Fleet! A wonderful cocktail and hors d'oeuvres reception cruise will be leaving Barkers Island Inn & Conference Center at 5:30 pm and returning at 7:00 pm. Join us for a relaxing cruise and network with colleagues. Visit www.vistafleet.com.