Fall Conference Agenda

8:00 a.m. Registration Opens

9:00 a.m. Making Michigan Thrive in 2025
Bold collaboration is key in today’s economic development environment. From strategy and program updates to legislative priorities, learn what MEDA members need to know to be an effective part of Team Michigan moving into 2025.
Tupac A. Hunter, Senior Vice President, Legislative & External Affairs, Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC)
Quentin L. Messer, Jr., President and CEO, MEDC

9:45 a.m. Networking Break

10:00 a.m. A Partnership for Environmental and Economic Prosperity
Working side-by-side with local, regional, state, and federal partners, the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) safeguards our state's environment while supporting the economic growth and development crucial for Michigan's future. A year into his role, after taking feedback on working with economic developers, join the director of EGLE as he shares the department’s plan to protect Michigan’s resources while aiding economic growth.
Phillip Roos, Director, Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE)

10:30 a.m. REO Town Re-Do
Like many core urban manufacturing areas, REO Town fell into disrepair and abandonment during WWII, as did the surrounding neighborhoods from the 1970s onward. General abandonment of factories, contamination, declining neighborhood values, the discontinuation of Oldsmobile as a GM product, vacancy on its small main street, violent crime, and so forth overwhelmed the area for decades. Starting in 2006, a concerted economic development team effort has brought REO Town back to life today.
Harrison Lefel-Jones, Vice President of Small Business and Innovation, Lansing Economic Area Partnership (LEAP)
Reuben Levinson, Building Owner and Entrepreneur in REO Town
Bob Trezise, President and CEO, LEAP

11:30 a.m. Lunch and Membership Meeting

12:30 p.m. Driving a Competitive Advantage for Michigan’s University-Supported Industries
Michigan’s University Research Corridor (URC) universities make significant contributions to four areas that are very important to Michigan’s prosperity – sustainability, advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence, and life and health sciences – and the URC is focused on making sure you have the messages that you need to grow those industries with the data to back it up. Comprehensive industry profiles will summarize why Michigan is a critically important place for economic activity in these areas, making Michigan a strategic choice for companies seeking a competitive advantage when deciding where to locate or grow their businesses.
Moderator: Jeff Smith, Director, Research Parks, MSU Research Foundation
Panelists: Britany Affolter-Caine, Executive Director, Michigan’s University Research Corridor
Lisa Katz, Founder, In the Mix and Consultant to the URC
Vince Nystrom, Founder, Superior Innovaatio and Consultant to the URC

1:30 p.m. Networking Break

1:40 p.m. Community Capital is the Answer
Community capital, or investment broadly sourced from all community members, has begun to empower and democratize local economies nationwide. Energized by the JOBS Act of 2012, this movement has resulted in over 2 billion dollars of investments over the last decade. Communities are empowered by allowing citizen investors to decide what kinds of businesses and the kind of entrepreneurs they want in their communities, and the resulting new/expanding businesses are helping to recirculate capital and build wealth.
Chris Miller, Chair and Founding Board Member, National Coalition for Community Capital (NC3)
David Palmer, Chief Executive Officer, Kite and Key Partners

2:30 p.m. Networking Break

2:40 p.m. Cutting through the Noise: The Critical Role Communications Plays in Successful Economic Development
Despite the value of economic development projects, developers across the state face stiff opposition from local communities. Alexis Wiley and Mark Fisk are skilled communicators who have worked on projects in Michigan, building communications campaigns that eliminate misinformation and gain public buy-in. During this presentation, they’ll share lessons that you can take from projects across Michigan and give you an inside look at what it takes to drive a successful messaging effort.
Mark Fisk, CEO and Partner, Byrum & Fisk
Alexis Wiley, Founder and CEO, Moment Strategies

3:30 p.m. Adjourn