ESU Partners with Community for Economic Outlook Summit – September 5, 2014

Posted by: admin on September 3, 2014, No Comments

Marcia G. Welsh, Ph.D., president of East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania (ESU), will host the ESU Economic Outlook Summit on Friday, September 5, 2014, from 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Innovation Center, 562 Independence Road, East Stroudsburg. The summit is open to the general public for $35 per person, payable to East Stroudsburg University. Seating for the summit is limited and will be reserved on a first-come, first-served basis. The summit will feature two keynote speakers, David Rusk and David R. Kolzow, Ph.D.

david_kolzowDavid Rusk, former mayor of Albuquerque, N.M., combines strong analytical skills with practical political experience. He is a leading American regionalist whose articles have appeared in numerous publications including the New York Times, the Washington Post, and Newsday. His most extensive piece is called Renewing Our Community: The Rusk Report on the Future of Greater York.  He has also written three books: “Cities Without Suburbs,” which the Congressional Quarterly calls “the Bible of the regionalism movement;” “Inside Game/Outside Game” and “Baltimore Unbound.” In addition to lecturing around the United States, Rusk has presented in cities such as Amsterdam, Toronto, Delft, Frankfurt, and Berlin. He works across the globe as a consultant of urban policy.

Rusk asserts that for five decades two factors have shaped urban America’s development patterns – sprawl and race. He advocates new state laws to require regional land use planning, regional revenue sharing, and regional “fair share” affordable houses to counter the decline of inelastic central cities and many older, inner suburbs.

The second keynote speaker is Dr. David R. Kolzow, president of Team Kolzow, an economic development consulting firm located in Franklin, Tenn. He has held many titles over the years including Executive Director of the Tennessee Leadership Center, chair of the Department of Economic Development and Planning at the University of Mississippi, Principal at Lockwood Greene Consulting in Greer, S.C., and Principal in charge of Economic Development for Fluor Daniel Consulting. Dr. Kolzow was on the faculty at DePaul University, Northeastern Illinois University, and the University of Arizona.

Kolzow has close to 40 years of consulting experience in site selection, real estate development planning, and community economic development.  In addition to numerous articles, Kolzow’s books include “Managing for Excellence: Outcome-Based Performance for the Economic Development Organization,” “A Strategic Approach to Economic Development,” and “Leadership: The Key Issue in Economic Development.”

Other highlights of the Economic Outlook Summit will be: the presentation and discussion of a first-ever regional economic scorecard for Monroe County, developed by prepared by East Stroudsburg University’s Business and Economic Research Group (BERG) and a panel discussion about the future of Monroe County, featuring: Marcia Welsh, Ph.D., president, East Stroudsburg University; Jeff Snyder, president and CEO, Pocono Health System;

Richard Mutchler, president, Biospectra, Inc.; Steve Somers, president, Vigon International; Carl Wilgus, president and CEO, Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau; and, Chuck Leonard, executive director, Pocono Mountains Economic Development Corporation.

ESU Economic Outlook Summit Agenda

7:30 a.m. Registration and Networking Breakfast

8:00 a.m. Welcome by Marcia Welsh, Ph.D., president, East Stroudsburg University

8:10 a.m. John Moyer, Ph.D., chair, Monroe County Commissioners

8:30 a.m. Keynote Speaker: David Rusk

9:45 a.m. Networking Break

10:00 a.m. Monroe County Regional Economic Scorecard — Presentation and Questions

  • Todd Behr, economics department, Business and Economics Research Group, East Stroudsburg University

11:00 a.m. Panel Discussion – Monroe County – Vision for the Future

Facilitator: Alan Young, Esq.

Community Panelists:

  • Marcia Welsh, Ph.D., president, East Stroudsburg University
  • Jeff Snyder, president and CEO, Pocono Health System
  • Richard Mutchler, president, BioSpectra, Inc.
  • Steve Somers, president, Vigon International
  • Carl Wilgus, president and CEO, Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau
  • Chuck Leonard, executive director, Pocono Mountains Economic Development Corporation

Noon – Lunch

Keynote Speaker: David R. Kolzow, Ph.D.

1:25 p.m. – Closing Remarks by President Welsh

1:30 p.m. – Departure

To register for the 2014 ESU Economic Outlook Summit, contact ESU’s Office of Research and Economic Development at 570-422-7920.