Economic Summit 2015 – SUCCEEDING IN THE AGE OF INNOVATION
PRESS RELEASE
Contact: DougBrownSV@gmail.com
208-309-0187
Release: September 1, 2015
Economic Summit 2015 – SUCCEEDING IN THE AGE OF INNOVATION:
New Strategies for Local Challenges
Keynote Presenter: Gordon Jones, Boise State College of Innovation & Design
Wednesday, October 7, 8am- 2pm Sun Valley Resort Limelight Room
Sun Valley Economic Development is privileged to have Gordon Jones, Founding Dean of Boise State College of Innovation & Design, be the keynote speaker at its Fourth Annual Economic Summit. He is working on identifying new pathways of learning that will provide students across public higher education with skills that meet emerging workplace demands.
Prior to his role at Boise State, Gordon served as the Evans Family Foundation Managing Director of the Harvard Innovation Lab. Hired as the Inaugural Director in 2011, Gordon has led the Harvard i-lab from launch to maturity with 600 ventures incubated and $250MM raised in professional funding since opening.
Gordon has 20 years of experience in senior roles with startups, mid-sized, and Fortune 500 companies across multiple industries. Gordon also brings a deep passion for education at both the undergraduate and graduate levels and a proven commitment to mentoring the next generation of entrepreneurial oriented leaders. He has previously served as an Adjunct Lecturer at Bentley University, teaching marketing to MBA and undergraduate students. Organizations with whom he has worked include: American Biophysics (purchased by Woodstream), Universal Pest Solutions (licensing deal with ServiceMaster/Terminix), Gillette, Proctor & Gamble, General Mills, PepsiCo, and The Orme School. He graduated from Brown University (BA) and earned an MBA from the Stanford University Graduate School of Business.
“We are hoping to build on Gordon Jones’ message of preparing for an age of innovation to our own local economy, where we see many persistent challenges in need of new strategies,” said SVED event organizer Doug Brown.
Following a brief update on our 2015 economy by SVED Executive Director Harry Griffith, three panels with local presenters and audience input will seek to identify strategies that will help us move forward:
- Building Our Business Start-Up Ecosystem
- Innovation in our Cultural & Recreational Tourism Sectors
- Breaking through Housing & Land Use Obstacles
Then, over a working lunch, we will move into facilitated breakout groups to solicit ideas and strategies about how innovation can improve our economy and quality of place. Post-conference, SVED will consolidate the Summit’s output and provide feedback to the community.
“Earlier Summits have drawn up to 250 business, non-profit, and government leaders to network, engage in important dialogue, and come away with new insights and strategies,” said Brown.
Participants will have two attendance options. Those interested only in the Keynote Address will be able to buy a $50 ticket, while those who want the entire program (including lunch) will be able to attend for $100.
Coffee and networking starts at 8am. Our keynote speaker Gordon Jones will kick off promptly at 9:10 am. The rest of the program begins at 10:15 am and will conclude by 2pm.
Tickets for this fundraising event will only be available in advance on our Website: www.SunValleyEconomy.org starting September 1; click on ECONOMIC SUMMIT and pick your preferred package.
SVED is a 501 c 6 non-profit organization with a who’s who list of over 130 business members, a 13 member voting board of directors from the private sector, a 6 member local government representative board component and the Idaho Department of Commerce.
Our mission is promoting economic vitality, diversity and quality of place throughout the communities of Blaine County, Idaho.
DougBrownSV@gmail.com for Membership info.
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