Speakers
Robert D. Atkinson, PhD
President
The Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF)
Washington, DC
 Dr. Robert D. Atkinson is one of the country's foremost thinkers on innovation economics. With has an extensive background in technology policy, he has conducted ground-breaking research projects on technology and innovation, is a valued adviser to state and national policy makers, and a popular speaker on innovation policy nationally and internationally. He is the author of The Race for Global Innovation Advantage and Why the U.S. is Falling Behind (Yale, forthcoming) and The Past and Future of America's Economy: Long Waves of Innovation That Power Cycles of Growth (Edward Elgar, 2005). Before coming to ITIF, Atkinson was Vice President of the Progressive Policy Institute and Director of PPI's Technology & New Economy Project. Ars Technica listed Atkinson as one of 2009's Tech Policy People to Watch. He has testified before a number of committees in Congress and has appeared in various media outlets including CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, NPR, and NBC Nightly News. He received his Ph.D. in City and Regional Planning from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1989.
Darrell Auterson
President & CEO
York County Economic Alliance
York, PA
 Darrell Auterson has been in the economic development profession for over 30 years. His background includes positions in county and city governments as well as various non-profit corporations. He has accumulated knowledge and expertise in numerous areas of economic development endeavor. As a community visionary and innovator, he has created and led numerous successful economic and community development initiatives, including the recent merger of the York County Economic Development Corporation with the York County Chamber of Commerce to form the York County Economic Alliance.
In addition to his current role, Mr. Auterson has held positions in Indianapolis, IN, Champaign-Urbana, IL, Warrick County, IN, Rockingham County, NC, Long Beach, CA, and Terre Haute, IN.
Mr. Auterson is a Certified Economic Developer through the International Economic Development Council and an active member of the Economic Development Research Partners. He also holds certification as an Economic Development Finance Professional through the National Development Council and is a Certified Professional Supervisor through the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He served on the Board of Directors of the American Economic Development Council in 1999-2000. He serves on numerous local, regional and state boards and committees. He is a graduate of Indiana State University with a BS degree in Urban Regional Studies and a specialization in economic development.
Tom Bartkoski
Director of International Business Development
World Business Chicago
Chicago, IL
 As Director of International Business Development for nonprofit World Business Chicago, Tom is responsible for attraction of foreign direct investment (FDI), and general business development. He assists foreign-based companies and works closely with the large foreign-based business, Consular and foreign economic development communities in Chicago.
Tom’s previous experience included economic development and business location consulting nationally and internationally with Grubb & Ellis, Deloitte & Touche, and Fantus Consulting. Prior to that Tom was with the cities of Dallas and Wichita Falls, Texas.
Tom has been involved in some headline projects, including the Boeing Company move to Chicago in 2001, MillerCoors in 2007, Goldwind in 2010 and Hu Jintao’s 2011 Chicago visit. International projects have included numerous business and foreign government operations. Tom secured Chicago’s recognition as City of the Future for foreign direct investment from fDi magazine, a Financial Times publication, on multiple occasions.
Tom has a B.A. in Urban Affairs from the University of Missouri-Kansas City, and a master’s degree in Urban Planning from the University of Kansas. Tom has 25 years of public, private and nonprofit experience in the field, and has been a Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) since 1989.
Judy Bradt
Chief Executive Officer
Summit Insight
Alexandria, VA
 Judy Bradt is one of America's top champions for savvy business owners who want government contracts. (Just ask the Small Business Administration, who chose her as a 2011 Women in Business Champion!) For over 23 years, she's counselled more than 6,000 clients on their road to over $300 million in government business success.
Judy's CEO of Summit Insight in Washington DC, and author of the new practical guide, "Government Contracts Made Easier" (that's because "...Easy" would be fiction). As expert speaker and consultant, she brings her clients, readers and audiences no-nonsense insight on winning government business. Her Seven Steps to Success just helped one client close contracts worth nearly $500,000, and another become a vendor on the Navy's prestigious Seaport-E Contract!
Prior to founding Summit Insight, Judy was Trade Commissioner at the Canadian Embassy in Washington. While she specialized in the U.S. federal market, her responsibilities also included trade and economic development and investment attraction for Canada.
Ms Bradt has been covered by national media including Business Week, Fortune Small Business, Washington Business Journal, Smart CEO Magazine, Financial Post, Enterprising Woman, and Entrepreneur Magazine.
Aaron Seth Brickman
Deputy Executive Director, SelectUSA
US Department of Commerce
Washington, DC
 Aaron Brickman serves as the Deputy Executive Director of SelectUSA within the U.S. Department of Commerce. Established in June 2011 by Executive Order of the President, SelectUSA is a government-wide initiative to promote business investment by both domestic and foreign firms in the United States. Mr. Brickman guides the strategy and implementation of SelectUSA.
Immediately prior to founding SelectUSA, Mr. Brickman launched and managed Invest in America, the lead U.S. government effort to promote and support foreign direct investment (FDI) into the United States. His responsibilities included global management and coordination of investment promotion, counseling state and local economic development organizations on FDI efforts, advising global firms on U.S. market entry, undertaking outreach to the international investment community, and acting as FDI ombudsman.
Before joining Commerce, Mr. Brickman worked in international economic consulting and strategy, dealing extensively with private sector expansion mechanisms, trade policy, and focused primarily on international trade and investment promotion.
Mr. Brickman is a recognized expert on FDI and is frequently asked to comment on investment issues related to the United States, appearing in numerous print and broadcast media.
Mr. Brickman holds a Master's degree in International Relations from the University of Chicago and a Bachelor's degree from American University in Washington, DC.
Judith A. Canales
Administrator, Rural Business & Cooperative Programs
USDA Rural Development
Washington, DC
 On June 9, 2009, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the appointment of Judith Canales as Administrator for Rural Business and Cooperative programs in USDA's Rural Development agency.
Most recently, Canales served as the Executive Director of the Maverick County Development Corporation in Eagle Pass, Texas, and for the past seven years as an adjunct faculty member for Southwest Texas Junior College.
In 1996, Former President Bill Clinton appointed Canales as Deputy State Director for Texas Rural Development. She worked as the Acting Associate Administrator for Rural Business and Cooperative Service in Washington, D.C. She served as the Legislative Representative for the Department of Housing and Urban Development. She also served as the Executive Director of the International Hispanic Network, a national membership organization of Hispanic city managers, which promotes professional excellence among Hispanic executives and public managers in local government. She served as the Assistant City Manager for the City of Eagle Pass.
Canales received a Master of Public Administration degree from Harvard University John F. Kennedy School of Government. She received a Master of Arts degree in Urban Studies from Trinity University in San Antonio, a Bachelor of Journalism degree from the University of Texas at Austin and an Associate of Arts degree from Southwest Texas Junior College. Canales is a native of Uvalde, Texas, and most recently lived in Eagle Pass, Texas.
 Michael A. Chodos
Associate Administrator
Office of Entrepreneurial Development, US Small Business Administration.
Washington DC
Dennis G. Coleman, CEcD, FM
President & CEO
St. Louis County Economic Council
St. Louis, MO
 Dennis G. (Denny) Coleman is the president & CEO of St. Louis County Economic Council. Prior to his present position, Coleman was director of development for the City of St. Louis, being in charge of the city's neighborhood, housing and economic development efforts. He also has served as vice-president for community development at Mercantile Bank when the bank's community development corporation won national Fair Housing awards and a Private Sector Initiatives Award from the White House. He also was the founding director of the DeSales Housing Corporation, a non-profit, neighborhood-based organization. St. Louis County Economic Council is a not-for-profit economic development organization responsible for creating high quality business and employment opportunities for long-term diversified growth throughout St. Louis County and the St. Louis region. Mr. Coleman has a master's degree in urban and regional planning from the University of Wisconsin and a bachelor's degree in urban geography from St. Louis University. He also has completed the Senior Executives Program at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University and serves on the national board of directors of the International Economic Development Council.
James C. Collard, PhD
Director of Planning and Economic Development
Citizen Potawatomi Nation
Shawnee, OK
 Dr. Collard currently serves as Director of Planning and Economic Development for the Citizen Potawatomi Nation and as a member of the Oklahoma Indian Affairs Commission Advisory Committee. Currently developing rail-anchored industrial park on tribal trust land, evaluating and facilitating numerous business development proposals and tribal franchise opportunities and implementing tribal strategic economic development plan. Chaired the Morgan County, CO Economic Development Corporation and served on the Executive Committee of the St. Charles County, MO Economic Development Corporation. Facilitated and packaged numerous economic development projects and agreements. Guided the development of a community-based Fiscal Impact Tool and a Computable General Equilibrium Model. Accompanied Missouri Governor on a trade mission to Asia. Traveled extensively internationally on business and as part of two Citizen Ambassador delegations. Currently serve on the Oklahoma Governor's International Team. Previous experience includes seventeen years in city management and five years as an executive in the environmental services industry.
Paul J. Corson
Deputy Director, Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Economic Development Administration, US Department of Commerce
Washington, DC
 Paul J. Corson is the acting director of the U.S. Department of Commerce's Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, where he promotes policies and programs to support high-growth entrepreneurship, the acceleration of technology commercialization, and the development of regional innovation ecosystems. Among his responsibilities, Paul manages Secretary Locke's National Advisory Council on Innovation and Entrepreneurship, runs the i6 competitive grants competitions, developed the Taskforce on Space Industry Work Force and Economic Development report to the President, and led Departmental efforts to co-host the Presidential Summit on Entrepreneurship.
Prior to joining the Department, Paul held senior management positions for entrepreneurial firms and start-ups in the United States, the Caucasus, and Central Asia. He holds an MA in International Relations from The George Washington University and a BA in Political Economies from Franklin and Marshall College.
Earline K.P. Dowell
Lead Technical Marketing and Training Consultant, Longitudinal-Employer Household Dynamics Program
Center for Economic Studies, U.S. Census Bureau
Washington, DC
 Earlene Dowell is the Lead Technical Marketing and Training Consultant, for the Longitudinal-Employer Household Dynamics Program for the Center for Economic Studies of the U.S. Census Bureau. Earlene travels around the nation promoting and training people on LEHD products. These products include the Quarterly Workforce Indicator and OnTheMap.
Earlene also teaches communication courses at the College of Southern Maryland. She received her master's degree is in communication and a bachelor's degree in public relations from Hawaii Pacific University.
Prior to joining the LEHD Program Earlene played a key role during the 2010 Census in the public information office.
Connie Evans
President & CEO
Association for Enterprise Opportunity
Washington, D.C.
 Connie Evans is the President and CEO of the Association for Enterprise Opportunity (AEO), the national nonprofit organization and business trade association representing the U.S. microenterprise development industry. AEO has nearly 400 member organizations that provide training, technical assistance and resources to entrepreneurs across the United States.
Connie's joining of AEO in March 2009 was a logical next step in her career as a visionary leader, strategist, activist, and social entrepreneur who has founded three organizations. In 1986 she was the founding president of the award-winning Women's Self-Employment Project, the first and largest urban microenterprise development organization in the U.S. and the first adaptation of the Grameen Bank model to a U.S. urban setting. Evans also pioneered one of the first matched-savings program -- Individual Development Accounts -- in the country. In 2000 she founded WSEP Ventures, a social enterprise-hybrid organization developed to serve as a catalyst for social change, economic development and community empowerment. At WSEP Ventures, Evans launched Capital Bridge C3, a fellowship program supporting emerging social entrepreneurs. And in 2007, Evans founded CSolutions Consulting, an advisory boutique specializing in solutions that address social change.
An international development consultant, with over 25 years experience, she has been recognized and utilized by such groups as the World Bank, the Clinton Administration, a host of local government and private and independent sector organizations. With international experience spanning 43 countries, Evans draws on her expertise in developing and implementing strategies to further economic development, health and social change in communities.
Evans started her career in community mental health as a master-level psychologist. Her commitment to improving the health and life options for disadvantaged women and their families moved her to "harness the marketplace" for solutions. As the Assistant Director of a Hull House Association affiliate in Chicago, Evans became the Project Director for the first resident managed public housing site in the city. She helped low-income women to organize, develop leadership skills, and learn business to take control over a multi-million dollar enterprise.
Evans has lectured in universities throughout the United States and is a frequent panelist and key note speaker at conferences around the globe. She has many distinguished awards. A sampling includes being named the Inaugural Twink Frey Social Activist in 2006; the 1996 Chicagoan of the Year by Chicago Magazine who recognized her contributions in making Chicago a better place to live. Her leadership and commitment to community service and social change has also been recognized with the first Teknion Humanitarian Award in 1999; Gloria Steinem Woman of Vision Award; 1998 Community Leader of the Year presented by the African American MBA Association at the University of Chicago; and the Chicago Community Service Fellowship Award by the Chicago Community Trust.
Evans' broad experiences across the worlds of business and finance compliments her skills in development finance. She served two elected terms on the Board of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, and was the first African American woman to hold such a position. Evans was appointed by President Clinton to the CDFI Advisory Board, a fund in the Department of the Treasury. She also received appointments from President Clinton to the U.S. Delegation to preparatory meetings for the Summit of the Americas, to the U.S. Delegation to preparatory meetings for the United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, and again for Beijing Plus Five.
A strong advocate of good governance in nonprofits, Evans has nearly 20 years of service on philanthropic foundation boards, and serves on a number of national and international boards including the Social Venture Network. She is also the Chair of the Chicago Committee for the African Women's Development Fund, based in Ghana.
Honorable John Fernandez
US Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development
US Department of Commerce
Economic Development Administration
Washington, DC
 John Fernandez was appointed by President Obama to serve as the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development and sworn into office on September 14, 2009.
As the Administrator of the U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration (EDA), Fernandez is charged with leading the federal economic development agenda by promoting innovation and competitiveness, preparing American regions for growth and success in the global economy.
With over thirteen years of executive experience, Fernandez has earned a reputation as a strategic thinker, creative problem solver and effective manager. Prior to his appointment, Fernandez led the new development and acquisition team at First Capital Group, an Indiana-based real estate investment firm. Fernandez played a critical role in expanding the firm's regional and national investment footprint.
Fernandez also served as Of Counsel for Krieg Devault, an Indianapolis-based law firm, where he advised private and governmental organizations on economic development, public finance and policy issues.
Fernandez served as Bloomington, Indiana's mayor from 1996 to 2003. With his leadership, Bloomington's economy thrived despite facing significant changes arising from the new global economy. Fernandez worked with business and Indiana University leaders to launch Bloomington's Life Sciences Partnership, securing more than $243 million in private investments and creating more than 3,700 jobs. He also developed an aggressive downtown revitalization plan resulting in more than $100 million in new investments.
A first generation American, Fernandez received a Doctor of Law (J.D.) from Indiana University. He also earned a Master of Public Affairs (M.P.A.) and Bachelor of Science (B.S.) from Indiana University's School of Public and Environmental Affairs.
Jeffrey A. Finkle, CEcD
President & CEO
International Economic Development Council
Washington, DC
 Jeffrey Finkle has been a leader in economic development for more than 20 years. In August, 2001 he became the president and CEO of the International Economic Development Council, following IEDC's birth through the merger of the Council for Urban Economic Development (CUED) with the American Economic Development Council (AEDC). Prior to the merger, Finkle served for 15 years as president and CEO of CUED. During that time, he oversaw the vast expansion of that organization's membership and influence, as well as strengthening its financial footing.
Before assuming leadership of CUED, Finkle was the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) Deputy Assistant Secretary of Community Planning and Development for program management. From 1981-86, he supervised the Urban Development Action Grant Program, the Community Development Block Grant Program and the Housing Rehabilitation program.
Jeffrey Finkle received a Bachelor of Science degree in communications from Ohio University in Athens. He then pursued graduate studies in business administration at Ohio State University. As President of IEDC, he also serves as CEO of the Association of Defense Communities, a membership organization that provides information, training and networking opportunities to assist communities in the economic development, conversion and reuse of military real estate. In addition, he heads the Bollinger Foundation, a non-profit organization he founded that provides support to children who have lost one or both parents who worked in the economic development profession.
Gerald L. Gordon, PhD, FM, HLM
President & CEO
Fairfax County Economic Development Authority
Vienna, VA
 Dr. Gordon is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Economic Development Authority in Fairfax County, Virginia, one of the largest office space markets in the United States. He has been with the FCEDA since late 1983. In that time, office space in the county grew from 32 million square feet to more than 115 million square feet and jobs in the county grew from 243,000 to more than 600,000. As a result, the real estate tax rate has decreased from $1.47 to $1.07.
Dr. Gordon has also worked for Arlington County, Virginia and the United States Department of Labor. Dr. Gordon was instrumental in creating the Emerging Business Forum and bringing the 1998 World Congress on Information Technology to Fairfax County. In 2005, the FCEDA was named by Site Selection Magazine as one of the Top Ten Economic Development organizations in North America. In 2007, Time magazine called Fairfax County "one of the great economic success stories of our time."
Dr. Gordon has taught at the Catholic University of America, the University of Maryland, George Mason University, and Virginia Commonwealth University. He has consulted with numerous city and state governments throughout the United States and around the world, as well as the governments of the Republic of Poland, the island of Vieques in Puerto Rico, and the Federated States of Micronesia. He has also served as a consultant to various government agencies, the United States Navy, businesses, non-profit organizations, associations, colleges and universities, and the United Nations.
Dr. Gordon holds a Bachelor's Degree from The Citadel, a Master's Degree from George Washington University, and a Doctorate in International Economics from the Catholic University of America. He is the author of eleven books and numerous articles on strategic planning, economic development, leadership styles, and other management topics. Dr. Gordon is the 2003 recipient of the prestigious Israel Freedom Award of the Israel Bonds organization. In 2006, Dr. Gordon became the first American to address the All-Parliamentary Exports Group in the British House of Commons. In 2007, Dr. Gordon was accepted for inclusion on the roster of Fulbright Senior Scholars. In 2007, Dr. Gordon was named a Fellow of the International Economic Development Council, and in 2010, he received the James Rees Award from the Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce.
Matthew James
President & CEO
Peninsula Council for Workforce Development
Newport News, VA
 Mr. Matthew James currently holds the position of President & CEO for the Peninsula Council for Workforce Development (Council). The Council is a Virginia Peninsula-based regional economic development organization focused on workforce development. In this role, he provides leadership for the Councils' non-federal and federal divisions including business and industry development, employer cluster activities, educational initiatives, Workforce Investment Board management and oversight for the Peninsula Worklink One Stop Career Centers. Mr. James comes to the Council from the Peninsula Alliance for Economic Development, where he held the positions of Executive Vice President and Vice President for Workforce Development. In addition, he has held the positions of Director of Economic Development for the City of Portsmouth, VA as well as several staff positions in economic development with the City of Chesapeake, VA. Prior to his economic development career, he held positions in brand management with Kraft Foods and positions with First National Bank of Chicago.
Mr. James holds a Master of Business Administration from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and a Bachelor of Arts in Economic from Hampton University. He is active in the community serving on numerous Boards and Commissions including the Virginia Peninsula Chamber of Commerce Executive Committee, BB &T Bank, Bon Secours –Mary Immaculate Hospital Board of Directors and Past President of the Board of Directors for the Virginia Economic Developers Association. Mr. James is married to Karen Scott James, Esq. of Chicago, Illinois and has two daughters.
Mr. James was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates in 2010 to serve as representative for the citizens of the 80th district which includes parts of the cities of Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk and Chesapeake. Mr. James is a member of the House Agriculture, Chesapeake Bay and Natural Resources, General Laws, and Militia, Police and Public Safety Committees. He is also a Member of the Economic Development & Jobs Creation Commission and Member of the Joint Commission on Administrative Rules.
Gary K. Jones
Washington DC Representative
Federal Laboratory Consortium for Technology Transfer
Washington, DC
 Gary Jones is the Washington DC Representative for the Federal Laboratory Consortium for Technology Transfer (FLC), a position he has held since 2005. As the DC Representative, Mr. Jones is responsible for providing FLC coordination in the DC area with Federal Agencies and their laboratories, Congressional staff, and other organizations. He brings over twenty-three years of experience to his current position, including seven years in academia and over sixteen years in industry and government. Most recently, Mr. Jones was on the faculty of American University's Washington Semester Program, where he served as an Academic Director for International Business & Trade. He has lectured on global R&D management in George Washington University's graduate business program, and served as an adjunct at University of Maryland University College, Graduate School of Management & Technology. Prior to his academic experience, Mr. Jones' career included work as an exploration geophysicist in the energy industry, a policy analyst supporting the U.S. Department of Energy, and a researcher with the Virginia Department of Economic Development. He holds an M.B.A from University of Richmond and a B.S. in Geophysics from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.
Michael W. Krajovic
President
Fay-Penn Economic Development Council
Uniontown, PA
 Mike Krajovic is president and CEO of the Fay-Penn Economic Development Council, a non-profit organization located in Uniontown, PA. Under his leadership, the organization and its affiliates grew from a start-up in 1992 to having over $55 million in assets. With over 25 years of experience in community and economic development, Mike has helped attract over $1 billion in new investment in the Pittsburgh region. As a social entrepreneur, he is a champion for improving public education[Michael W. Krajovic] , monetary policy and other aspects of society including belief systems, tourism, the environment, economics, land use, agriculture[Michael W. Krajovic] and local economy initiatives. He is an expert in strategic visioning and planning with the ability to creatively analyze and breakdown complex issues into implementable strategies. He has served on numerous boards throughout the region and the state.
Mike is a Certified Economic Development professional and an engineering degree from Bucknell University, a Masters in Business Administration from the University of Pittsburgh, a Masters in Social Artistry from the Graduate Theological Foundation in Southbend, Indiana and has attended additional education and training courses at Harvard and Carnegie Mellon Universities.
Ray T. Leach
Chief Executive Officer
JumpStart, Inc.
Cleveland, OH
 Ray has been the CEO of JumpStart since its founding in 2003, and leads the organization's Northeast Ohio and national efforts to build public, private, and philanthropic partnerships which develop and grow entrepreneurial ecosystems and transform regional economies.
He began his career at IBM before founding and bootstrapping two startup companies. Both were sold to Multigraphics Inc. in 1997, after which Ray became Vice President of Sales. In 2000, he founded Capella Investments, Inc., an investment and management consulting firm focused on startup IT companies. Prior to his work at JumpStart, Ray served as an Entrepreneur-in-Residence for CommonAngels, Boston's largest angel investor organization, while teaching at MIT's Sloan School of Management.
Ray is a member of the U.S. Commerce Department's National Advisory Council on Innovation and Entrepreneurship (NACIE), which supports the nation's innovation strategy by developing policies that foster entrepreneurship. He also serves on the board of the National Venture Capital Association (NVCA) which serves as the voice of the venture capital community and advocates for policies that encourage innovation and reward long-term investment. Ray earned his MBA from MIT as a Sloan Fellow, and also earned a BA in Finance from the University of Akron.
Mark O'Connell
Chief Executive Officer
OCO Global
 Mark O'Connell is Chief Executive Officer and founder of OCO, the leading authority on foreign direct investment (FDI). Mark directly advises CEOs on corporate location decisions and the Boards of EDOs such as UK Trade and Investment, Invest Sweden Agency, Enterprise Ireland, Invest in Italy, New Pennsylvania and Enterprise Florida.
Since 2001, OCO, under Mark's leadership, has evolved to become a recognised source of intelligence and advisory services on foreign investment, and Mark is regularly quoted as an expert FDI commentator by FT, WSJ, Economist, Bloomberg, BBC and Reuters.
OCO employs over 40 professional staff across 6 offices in 3 continents and covers all major FDI markets and sectors. In April 2008, the Financial Times acquired two of OCO's monitoring and benchmarking tools -OCO Monitor and OCO Assess – a testament to the credibility of OCO and its products in the global marketplace.
Mark has worked extensively in investment attraction in North America, Europe and Asia and has cultivated in-depth networks, and knowledge of doing business in these areas. His strategic consulting in the global FDI market has included inward investment, market entry, acquisition support, distributor searches, corporate location and offshore investment evaluation.
Erik R. Pages, PhD
President
EntreWorks Consulting
Arlington, VA
 Erik R. Pages is President and Founder of EntreWorks Consulting (www.entreworks.net), an economic development consulting and policy development firm focused on helping communities and organizations achieve their entrepreneurial potential. EntreWorks works with a diverse base of clients including state and local governments, Chambers of Commerce, business leaders, educational institutions, and non-profits. These customers all share a commitment to innovative economic development strategies that build wealth and build communities. Since its founding, EntreWorks has worked with customers in forty states and overseas.
He previously served as Policy Director for the National Commission on Entrepreneurship (NCOE), where he directed the Commission's research and policy operations. Dr. Pages has also held senior positions at the U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration (EDA), where he helped lead efforts to assist communities affected by military base closings and defense plant shutdowns. He has worked on Capitol Hill, and was an official advisor to the 1995 White House Conference on Small Business. He is a Senior Fellow at the Center for Regional Economic Competitiveness, the RUPRI Center for Rural Entrepreneurship, and serves on the Arlington County (VA) Economic Development Commission, and the Alexandria/Arlington Workforce Investment Board.
He received his Ph.D. from Georgetown University, where he has served as an Adjunct Professor. He also holds degrees from Dickinson College (Phi Beta Kappa) and the University of Pittsburgh. He has written and published widely on business trends, economic development, technology policy, and national security policy. His work has been featured in national and international media outlets including The Wall Street Journal, The Economist, Inc. Magazine, Entrepreneur Magazine, USA Today, and National Public Radio. A native of Reading, PA, he now resides with his family in Arlington, VA.
Diane Palmintera
President
Innovation Associates
Reston, VA
 Diane Palmintera is founder and President of Innovation Associates. For more than 25 years she has been a national leader in technology-based economic development, and is best known for leveraging universities and national labs to stimulate economic competitiveness. She has guided state and local leaders, academic institutions, federal labs, and international organizations in technology transfer, commercialization, public-private partnerships, seed capital formation, incubation, research parks, entrepreneurship, and federal-state-local relations.
Ms. Palmintera also is a well-known author. Endorsed by national leaders and featured in Business Week, Technology Transfer and Commercialization Partnerships provides a roadmap for academic institutions to launch technology startups and transfer technologies. She is the author of other nationally recognized work: Accelerating Economic Development through University Technology Transfer, Developing High-Technology Communities: San Diego, and Partners on a Mission: Federal Laboratories Contributing to Economic Development.
Prior to founding IA, Ms. Palmintera held senior positions with the U.S. Conference of Mayors, National Governors Association, and National Alliance of Business, and was an Associate of the Urban Institute. She frequently is quoted in the news media and appears as a speaker at national and international conferences. She is Co-Chair of IEDC's Public Policy Advisory Committee.
John Provo, PhD
Director-Office of Economic Development
Virginia Tech University
Blacksburg, VA
 Dr. John Provo is Director of Virginia Tech's Office of Economic Development. John provides leadership for the office in the design and implementation of applied research and technical assistance projects that link university and community resources to address the economic development needs of the Commonwealth. He builds program partnerships and secures funding as a major point of contact between the office, academic departments within the University, federal, state, and local governments, as well as other public and private sector leaders.
Provo develops and manages projects with communities, agencies, and companies around Virginia, on a range of topics. He has developed partnerships between Virginia Tech and entities in the public, private and non-profit sectors to address economic development needs of communities around the Commonwealth. Recent accomplishments include securing more than $10 million in three large federal grants for western Virginia in green jobs and health IT training and curricular development and engineering technical assistance for transportation manufacturing equipment firms.
John received his Ph.D. from the School of Urban Studies and Planning at Portland State University. He received a master's degree in Urban and Regional Planning from Virginia Commonwealth University in 1999 and a bachelor's degree in government from the College of William and Mary in 1989. While in Richmond, he worked for Virginia's Secretary of Commerce and Trade on implementation of revisions to the state's workforce development system. John presents regularly before scholarly and professional associations, and maintains affiliations with the American Planning Association, Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning, University Economic Development Association, and Virginia Economic Developers Association.
Neil Reddy
Executive Director
Manufacturing Skill Standards Council
Alexandria, VA
Dorothy Robyn, PhD
Deputy Under Secretary for Installations and Environment
Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics
Washington DC
 As the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Installations & Environment, Dorothy Robyn provides Department-wide oversight of U.S. military bases worldwide. Department of Defense installations cover 28 million acres of land and include 300,000 buildings and other structures valued at more than $800 billion. Her responsibilities include policy, programs and budgets related to the management of the physical infrastructure as well as environmental cleanup, conservation and stewardship. Dr. Robyn also leads the Department's effort to improve the energy security of its bases, through reduced demand for traditional energy, development of renewable sources on-base, and use of the installations as a test bed for next-generation energy technologies. Prior to joining DoD in 2009, she was a principal with The Brattle Group, an economic consulting firm. From 1993-2001, she was Special Assistant to the President for Economic Policy and senior staff member of the White House National Economic Council. From 1983-1987, she was an assistant professor at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government.
Leslie Scott
Director, Institute for Rural Entrepreneurship
NC Rural Economic Development Center, Inc.
Raleigh, NC
 Ms. Leslie Scott has served as director of the Institute for Rural Entrepreneurship at the N.C. Rural Economic Development Center since early 2004. She oversees the Growing America Through Entrepreneurship (GATE) program in North Carolina -- for dislocated workers starting self-employment businesses. Now Ms. Scott also directs the New Generation Ventures program for rural entrepreneurs ages 18 to 30. From 2005 to 2008 Ms. Scott directed one of six Rural Entrepreneur Development Systems projects funded by the Kellogg Foundation. She helped launch the now-annual North Carolina Entrepreneurship Summit in 2006 and was program chair in 2007 and 2011.
Before joining the Rural Center, Ms. Scott (formerly Stewart) worked at RTI International (13 years) and UNC-Chapel Hill's Office of Economic Development (5 years).
Ms. Scott's education includes a bachelor's degree in economics from Colgate University; a Masters in Public Administration from UNC-Chapel Hill; and a certificate from the University of Oklahoma's Economic Development Institute.
Ms. Scott currently serves on three boards: the N.C Indian Economic Development Initiative; the Kerr Tar Regional Economic Development Corp.; and the national Center for Rural Entrepreneurship. From 2001 to 2004 she was a board member of the N.C. Economic Developers Association.
William M. Shobe, PhD
Director
Center for Economic and Policy Studies
University of Virginia
Charlottesville, VA
 Dr. Shobe is Professor of Public Policy in the Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy at U.Va. and directs the Center for Economic and Policy Studies. Before joining U.Va., he served as Associate Director for Economic & Regulatory Analysis with the Virginia Department of Planning & Budget where he coordinated state expenditure forecasts and the economic analysis of state regulations. In 2000, he received a Fulbright Fellowship in environmental economics and policy in the Czech Republic. At DPB, he developed the Virginia Regulatory Town Hall website, the first-of-its-kind website for managing changes to state regulations. The site unified regulatory data from more than 100 state agencies into a single online tool for management of and public access to the state regulatory approval process.
In 2007, his current research includes auction design for emission trading programs, environmental federalism, and improving the design of early childhood literacy programs using direct in-home measurements of parent-child interactions. Bill has served on a number of advisory panels including the National Research Council and Virginia's Joint Advisory Board of Economists.
He earned his Ph.D. in economics from the University of Minnesota and a J.D. from Lewis & Clark Law School.
Phillip A. Singerman, PhD
Associate Director for Innovation and Industry Services
Office of the Director, National Institute of Standards and Technology
US Department of Commerce
Gaithersburg, MD
 Phillip Singerman serves as Associate Director for Innovation and Industry Services at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). In this capacity he is responsible for the NIST suite of external partnership programs, including the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership, the Technology Innovation Program, the Baldrige Performance Excellence Program, and NIST technology transfer and small business innovation research awards.
The position of Associate Director was established in October 2010 as part of the first major realignment of NIST programs in 20 years; Mr. Singerman was appointed to this position in January 2011. Immediately prior to joining NIST, he was a Senior Vice President at B&D Consulting, a DC-based firm providing strategic advice and technical assistance on federal economic development programs to non-profit organizations, local governments, and universities.
Mr. Singerman has more than 30 years of experience in tech based economic development; he was the first chief executive of two of the best known regional organizations, the Ben Franklin Technology Center of Southeastern Pennsylvania and the Maryland Technology Development Corporation. During the Clinton Administration he served as U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development, a Presidential appointment requiring Senate confirmation.
Mr. Singerman has participated on scores of local, state, and national advisory boards and associations, including the State Science and Technology Institute, the Technology Council of Maryland, the International Economic Development Council, NGA's Advisory Committee on Entrepreneurial Policy, NSF's Small Business Advisory Committee, the Pennsylvania Biotechnology Association, the Strengthening America's Communities Initiative Advisory Committee, and the Editorial Board of the Economic Development Quarterly.
Mr. Singerman received his bachelors degree from Oberlin College and holds a doctorate from Yale University. He has taught at Yale College, Barnard College (Columbia University), and the Fels Institute of Government (University of Pennsylvania). After graduating from college he served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Colombia, South America, working in rural community development projects.
Mr. Singerman is a co-author of "Beyond Recovery: Moving the Gulf Coast Toward a Sustainable Future" (February 2011), published by the Center for American Progress and Oxfam America, and the "Handbook on Climate Prosperity" (May 2009), published by the International Economic Development Council.
Jay Timmons
President and CEO
National Association of Manufacturers
Washington, DC
 Jay Timmons is president and CEO of the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), the largest manufacturing association in the United States representing small and large manufacturers in every industrial sector. He became NAM president in January 2011.
Mr. Timmons is a leading advocate for the nearly 12 million Americans employed directly in manufacturing, educating the public and policymakers on issues that affect this critical sector of the U.S. economy. He promotes a broad-based "Manufacturing Means Jobs!" agenda for maintaining U.S. competitiveness by lifting unnecessary burdens on manufacturing, including excessive taxation and regulation, the high cost of health care, expensive litigation and soaring energy costs.
He is driven by the principles instilled in him by his roots in the manufacturing town of Chillicothe, Ohio, where his grandfather worked at a Mead plant for nearly four decades and where he witnessed manufacturing's ability to raise the quality of life for families and communities. Mr. Timmons' knowledge and expertise is valued and respected by influential policymakers on both sides of the aisle in Congress and the Administration. He knows how to navigate the complexities of the policymaking process in the nation's capital and brings with him an exceptional understanding of manufacturing issues.
Prior to his appointment as NAM president, Mr. Timmons was executive vice president beginning in 2008. In 2005, he joined the NAM as senior vice president of policy and government relations. His previous experience includes serving as chief of staff to Congressman, Governor and Senator George Allen (R-VA) from 1991 to 2002, and a term as executive director of the National Republican Senatorial Committee during the 2004 election cycle. When he first came to Washington in the 1980s, he served as press secretary to Congressman Jim Martin (R-NC) and later Alex McMillan (R-NC).
A passionate advocate for the adoption of companion animals, Mr. Timmons is a member of the Washington Humane Society Board of Directors and served as its chairman from 2006 to 2010. He is also a member of the Business Industry Political Action Committee (BIPAC) Executive Committee and the Board of Directors of Local Finance Solutions, Inc. He attended The Ohio State University and resides in McLean, Va.
Mark A. Troppe
Manager, Strategic Partnerships and State Relations
NIST Manufacturing Extension Partnership
US Department of Commerce
Gaithersburg, MD
 Mark is the Manager of Strategic Partnerships at the US Department of Commerce's NIST Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program (MEP). He is currently assigned to work with the White House Council on Automotive Communities and Workers as a point of contact for MEP and the Commerce Department. His role is to ensure that the resources and expertise of DOC agencies are fully deployed to support the transitions of communities, suppliers, and workers in regions impacted by the restructuring of the auto industry.
At NIST MEP, Mark is primarily responsible for State Relations, working to ensure that MEP centers are well-integrated into states' economic development strategies. He facilitates MEP's collaborations with other federal and state programs and non-governmental organizations to provide leverage for transforming small manufacturers and aligning with state strategies. In addition, Mark helps to shape MEP centers' workforce development and renewable energy/sustainability activities to address to address manufacturers' needs through partnerships with other organizations. Mark has worked and written extensively over the last 20 years on workforce and economic development issues, serving as Director of Economic and Workforce Development for the Workforce Strategies Group at the National Center on Education and the Economy, and 15 years prior in the US Departments of Labor and Commerce.
Tom Tveidt
Research Economist
SYNEVA Economics LLC
Asheville, NC
 SYNEVA Economics LLC is led by Tom Tveidt. Mr. Tveidt is a research economist who has more than 15 years experience in providing objective and clear regional analysis for public and private decision makers. He is an actively practicing consultant with expertise in regional economic assessment, economic impact analyses, industry targeting and industrial site selection. Tom regularly speaks before business groups, government organizations and public groups, detailing regional economic trends and issues. Mr. Tveidt is frequently quoted in newspapers, business journals, and TV news programs.
Mr Tveidt has been an invited instructor for the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER), the National Association of Workforce Boards (NAWB) and the International Economic Development Council (IEDC). Currently Mr. Tveidt sits on the Executive Board and is chair-elect of C2ER and the Editorial Review Board for the journal Applied Research in Economic Development, published by Southern Mississippi University. Tom is also an active member of the National Association of Business Economics.
Mr. Tveidt has a BA in Economics from the University of California, Santa Barbara, California and an MBA in Finance from California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks, California.
Rep. Pete Visclosky
First Congressional District of Indiana
West Lafayette, IN
Pete Visclosky proudly represents the First Congressional District of Indiana,which includes Lake, Porter, Newton, Jasper, and Benton Counties. Throughout his time in office, Pete has worked to improve the quality of life for everyone in Northwest Indiana by creating new job opportunities and attracting economic development to the region.
Pete has been a leading advocate for major economic development projects in Northwest Indiana, including the extension of the South Shore Rail Line, the Gary/Chicago International Airport, and the Marquette Plan, his lakeshore investment strategy.
Pete is a member of the powerful Appropriations Committee and serves as Ranking Member of its Energy & Water Development Subcommittee, where he has worked to boost investments in new energy technologies that will help confront the energy crisis and reduce our dependence on foreign oil. Pete also sits on the Defense Subcommittee, the Financial Services Subcommittee, and is the Vice Chairman of the Congressional Steel Caucus.
Pete was born in Gary and graduated from Andrean High School in Merrillville. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Indiana University Northwest, a J.D. from the University of Notre Dame, and a Masters in International and Comparative Law from Georgetown University. Pete is married to Joanne Royce, and has two sons, John and Tim.
Jay Williams
Director
Office of Recovery for Auto Communities & Workers
Washington, DC
 On August 8, 2011, Jay Williams became the executive director of the Office of Recovery for Auto Communities and Workers. ORACW works directly with state and local stakeholders in areas affected by the changing American automotive industry to ensure that they receive the federal support necessary that, when in conjunction with state and local efforts, will help these communities return to a better economic condition.
Williams served as the Mayor of Youngstown, Ohio from 2006 to August 1, 2011. During his tenure as Mayor of Youngstown, Williams led efforts that have a direct impact on improving the quality of life for the citizens of Youngstown.
Williams is the recipient of the 2007 John F. Kennedy New Frontier Award. The JFK Library Foundation, in conjunction with the Harvard University Institute of Politics, annually recognizes two exceptional young Americans, under the age of 40, whose contributions in elective office, community service or advocacy demonstrate the impact and value of public service in the spirit of President John F. Kennedy.
Prior to being elected, Williams spent five years as the Director of Community Development for the city. Before transitioning into public service, Williams enjoyed a distinguished career in banking, which included stints at the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland and First Place Bank, as a vice president.
Mayor Williams was born and raised in Youngstown. He graduated from Youngstown State University with a B.S.B.A., majoring in finance.
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