New Features, More Meat in Governor's 2010 Economic Summit

The Governor's 4th Annual Utah Economic Summit promises to be the most unique economic summit ever conducted in the state.

Set for March 29 from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. (registration begins at 7 a.m.) at the Grand America Hotel in Salt Lake City, the summit should be of special interest to EDCUtah's public and private investors -- especially those in economic development or leadership positions within city and county governments. In an arrangement much like the popular "Dating Game" TV shows of the 60s and 70s, three pre-selected Utah communities will vie for the attention of a single "bachelor" during one of the afternoon breakout sessions.

The Dating Game will be hosted by Andy Levine, president of Development Counselors International (DCI), a leading economic development marketing company and location advisor in New York.

"The game's stakes are high, as the 'bachelor' actually represents a real business site selector who is considering Utah as a possible location for a business expansion," says Spencer Eccles, executive director of the Governor's Office of Economic Development. "As the three Utah communities compete to win a ‘date' (in this case a one-day site visit), city and county leaders and economic developers will learn how to make presentations to site selectors, how to focus on a community's strengths and capabilities, and how to compete for economic development projects."

Eccles says the Dating Game breakout session is one example of how this year's summit will engage the state's leading thinkers and do-ers in new ways. "The summit's format has been modified in a variety of ways to bring value to every attendee," he adds.

Solid Growth Today and Tomorrow
Themed "Solid Growth Today and Tomorrow," Eccles says the summit will address the foundation and forecast of Utah's economy in 2010 and beyond, as respected leaders from across the state and nationally recognized experts from around the county discuss the challenges and opportunities across Utah's economic landscape.

The event kicks off with an economist report from Kelly Matthews, chief economist (retired) for Wells Fargo Bank. Matthews is a highly respected economist and will offer timely insights into Utah's economic outlook for today and tomorrow. His report will be followed by a morning keynote address given by Randal Quarles, managing director of the Carlyle Group and former under secretary of the U.S. Treasury for Domestic Finance.

Breakout Session #1
Following the economist report and morning keynote address, attendees will choose between one of two tracks in a breakout session. Track A will be presented by Pam Perlich, senior research economist at the University of Utah. She will focus on Utah's changing demographics and the effect it is having on the state's culture, educational system, and economy. Track B will be presented by David Chen, founder and managing director of Equilibrium Capital Group, LLC and a member of the Oregon Innovation Council. His session will focus on economic growth and how to build on a region's strengths, with segments devoted to clean energy, entrepreneurship, and international development.

"Pam and David are major presenters and each will focus on the broad scope of economic issues facing Utah now and in the coming years," says Eccles.

Breakout Session #2
Following the first breakout session, summit attendees may choose to attend one of five smaller tracks that were designed to drill further into the economic issues highlighted in the previous two sessions. Session choices are:

Track A: The Future of Energy; A National and Utah Perspective
Track B: Preparing the Workforce of Tomorrow, Today
Track C: Venture Capital Session; More Opportunity & More Reward
Track D: 10 Smart Ideas in Economic Development Marketing
Track E: Growing Business in Your Community

"We hope there will be a natural selection for the many interests of attendees, based upon their primary responsibilities," Eccles says. "And since there are so many structural components of the economy, it may well be worth sending multiple attendees from an organization to the summit, in order to take full advantage of the breadth of information provided."

Governor's Address
Following the five breakout sessions, attendees will gather for an address by Governor Gary R. Herbert. Eccles says Governor Herbert will focus on the just-concluded legislative session and his focus on economic development, education and energy that will catalyze business in a way that will move the state's economy forward.

After the Governor's remarks the following three awards will be presented in recognition of service in economic development:

The Economic Visionary - Citizen Award
The Economic Pacesetter - Corporate Award
Lifetime Achievement Award

Says Eccles: "Not only businesses, but individuals can make a difference regarding economic development in their communities and the awards aim to highlight such efforts." Going forward, the awards will be a regular feature of each year's summit.

Breakout Session #3
Following lunch, summit attendees will attend a third breakout session, with the following five tracks logically following the morning's tracks:

Track A: The Dating Game
Track B: Winning Strategies in International Business; The Utah Experience
Track C: Entrepreneurship; The engine for economic change
Track D: Legislative Review 2010
Track C: Financing Your Project; Innovative tools in today's economy

At 3 p.m. summit attendees will gather for a closing reception and networking session hosted by the Utah Film Commission. The reception will feature a brief "What's Right in Utah" presentation from a major leader from the film industry, who will speak on the impact and involvement of Hollywood in doing business in Utah. After the brief presentation all attendees will be able to visit and network with presenters and other attendees.

Bottom Line
"The Utah economy is poised for renewed growth. The state has weathered the economic storm better than most of the country and because of that we are poised to rebound quickly," Eccles adds. "Over the past decade, Utah has consistently been one of the top states for growth in business and proven to have tremendous economic vitality. The Governor's Annual Economic Summit, in its new format, will be a catalyst from which we hope to propel the state's economy forward for many years to come."