8th Summit on Regional Competitiveness

Thank you to those that attended the 8th Summit on Regional Competitiveness: Regional Development Opportunities Following a Global Pandemic! This Summit took place virtually Monday, October 18 through Friday, October 22, 2021.

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Keynote Remarks from Tony Evers

Special Presentations from Lori Lightfoot and J.B. Pritzker

Summit Speakers and Panelists Include

8th Annual Summit on Regional Competitiveness Daily Agenda and Themes

Monday, October 18:  Midwest Opportunities in a Global Economy

An economic analysis of how the pandemic reshaped the global, national, state, and local economies. Guest speakers will include top economists and senior representatives of the private, public, and academic sectors.

Tuesday, October 19:  The Future of the Workplace

An examination of how the workplace will change in the long-term, and a discussion about how employers can to adapt to the new structure, including both policies and office designs. While professional office environments will be a significant focus, other workplaces such as manufacturing, healthcare, and transportation will be included.

Wednesday, October 20:  Innovation in Manufacturing

With dramatic technological and cultural changes affecting the manufacturing sector, a review of the manufacturing industry, and how it can embrace innovation to continue to grow will be led by industry experts.

Thursday, October 21:  Regional Leadership Perspectives

State and local leaders will provide a review of government economic reactions to the pandemic and a look forward to economic development opportunities in the future.

Friday, October 22:  Infrastructure

A major federal infrastructure bill was passed by the U.S. Senate earlier this summer and there are discussions about even larger investments in additional legislation. Infrastructure experts will discuss the up-to-the-minute status of the legislation and the regional impact that’s possible.

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Erin Aleman brings more than a decade of accomplishments in developing transportation and land use policies to CMAP as it embarks on implementation of ON TO 2050, the region’s new long-term comprehensive plan to help the seven counties and 284 municipalities of northeastern Illinois improve quality of life using strategies that address transportation, housing, economic development, open space, the environment, and more.

Haven Allen, CEO and Co-founder of mHUB and Managing Partner of the Product Impact Fund, is an entrepreneur and technology strategist who most recently concentrated on growing the manufacturing industry and strengthening its community throughout Chicagoland. As an economic development strategist at World Business Chicago, he directed the Advisory Council for Chicagoland Manufacturing through which he established and led the implementation of an economic development agenda to support growth and job creation in the manufacturing sector.

Chandra Brown is the CEO of MxD. Chandra uses her passion and her more than 25 years of experience in manufacturing to help American manufacturers seize the potential offered by new and emerging digital technologies. In her role at MxD, Chandra oversees all technology investment, partner relationships and project execution for the more than $90 million dollar portfolio of advanced manufacturing technology, cybersecurity and workforce development research, development, and demonstration.

Michael Fassnacht serves Chicago in dual roles, as both the President and CEO of World Business Chicago and as Chief Marketing Officer for the city of Chicago. A seasoned advertising executive, Fassnacht was previously the President and CEO of ad agency FCB Chicago.

Gordon Gill FAIA, is one of the world’s foremost exponents of performance based architecture. Ranging from the world’s tallest buildings to sustainable communities, his work is driven by his philosophy that there is a purposeful relationship between formal design and performance; and that there is a Language of Performance, which is the basis of his practice: Form Follows Performance.

Sandee Kastrul is president and co-founder of i.c.stars, an innovative nonprofit leadership and technology training program founded in 1999 to prepare inner-city adults for technology careers and community leadership. Prior to i.c.stars, Sandee’s experience as an educator, diversity trainer, educational consultant and a performing artist drew her creative talents to the forefront.

Thomas L. Keon, Ph.D. has been Chancellor of Purdue University Northwest since its formation in July 2016, having successfully led the complicated merger of the two Purdue system campuses in Hammond and Westville, Ind. As Chancellor, Dr. Keon’s leadership centers on positioning the university as a key player in Northwest Indiana’s economic development, educational advancement, environmental sustainability and cultural enhancement.

Niaz Latif, Ph.D. serves as the Dean of the College of Technology at Purdue University Northwest. Dr. Latif has played several important leadership roles at Purdue University Northwest (PNW), most recently as the Interim Dean of the College of Engineering and Sciences.

Rick Mattoon is Vice President and Regional Executive, Detroit Branch, in the economic research department of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. Mattoon’s primary research focuses on issues that face the Midwest regional economy.

Jamie Merisotis is a globally recognized leader in philanthropy, education, and public policy. Since 2008, he has served as President and CEO of Lumina Foundation, an independent, private foundation that is committed to making opportunities for learning beyond high school available to all.

Kevin Muhs has served as the Executive Director of the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission (SWRPC) since 2019. Prior to that, Muhs has served in various roles at SWRPC, starting as a Planner/Engineer in 2012 and most recently serving as Deputy Director in 2017 and 2018.

Sarah Oppenhuizen, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, WELL AP, is the Director of Interiors for HOK’s Chicago studio. In that role, Sarah guides design teams and clients through all phases of project delivery. Her career includes design and management for complex domestic and international projects, including corporate workplaces, science and technology facilities, medical centers, government facilities and airports.

Alberto Ortega is Director of Talent & Workforce Strategy at World Business Chicago, where he coordinates the implementation of a new workforce development strategy across City of Chicago departments and Sister Agencies, in collaboration with Cook County and other key stakeholders, including the business community. Prior to joining World Business Chicago in January 2020, Ortega founded the Workforce Employer Resource Collaborative (WERC).

Farzin Parang was appointed Executive Director of the Building Owners and Managers Association of Chicago in July 2020. Previously, Parang served in the Office of the Mayor in the administrations of Richard M. Daley and Rahm Emanuel, as well as on the board of the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, and as chair on the City’s Zoning Board of Appeals.

George J. Powers became the Chief Human Resources Officer at Rexnord in January 2015. Prior to joining Rexnord, Powers served in various positions since 1993 with Schneider Electric, a global energy management company, most recently as Senior Vice President, Human Resources – Global Solutions Division.

Eric Sedler is a Managing Partner at Kivvit. Under Eric’s leadership, Kivvit has become one of the largest and fastest growing independent public strategy and communications firms in the country. He regularly provides counsel on corporate reputation management, organizational communications, public affairs, corporate transactions, public-private partnerships and crisis management.

Erica Swinney Staley has over 20 years’ experience working in and with low-income, Black and Latinx communities on a variety of environmental, community, youth and workforce development programs and initiatives. Since 2008, Erica has worked for Manufacturing Renaissance (MR) and now serves as its Executive Director. MR advances sustainable development anchored in manufacturing. Through MR, Erica developed and directed the Manufacturing Connect and Young Manufacturers Association programs to expose, inspire, prepare, and support Black and Latinx youth and young adults to pursue career pathways in manufacturing.

Tommy Thompson is the President of the University of Wisconsin System. After earning a double major in History and Political Science from UW-Madison and a J.D. from the UW Law School, Thompson went on to serve in the Wisconsin General Assembly (1967-1987), as the longest-serving governor in Wisconsin history (1987-2001), and as the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (2001-2005).

Marie Trzupek Lynch, a passionate leader for advancing economic mobility for Chicagoland residents, is the founding President and CEO of Skills for Chicagoland’s Future. Skills, a nonprofit, creates demand-driven solutions for employers to get unemployed and underemployed Chicagoland residents back to work.

Ty Warner has served as Executive Director of the Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission since 2013. Previously Warner has served as the Planning Director of the Will County Land Use Department in Joliet, Illinois and as the Director of Planning for the Northeastern Illinois Planning Commission, which was subsequently merged into the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning.

Matthew Wells is the Director of External Engagement & Partnerships at Purdue University Northwest, where he serves as the university’s primary business development executive and liaison to the public and private sectors. Matt recently helped organize a bistate, multistakeholder coalition around a master development vision for the greater south shore of Lake Michigan, with initial funding from the Mansueto Foundation, and project leadership from Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill and the Neighborhood Capital Institute, housed at Purdue Northwest.

Kevin Wheeler is the Chairman, President & CEO of A.O. Smith Corporation, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of residential and commercial water heaters and boilers. Wheeler joined A.O. Smith in 1994 as a regional sales manager, and throughout his career has overseen operations in North America, China, India and Europe. Wheeler is a member of the Manufacturers Alliance for Productivity & Innovation (MAPI) Division Leadership Council.