Press Relase: Distinguished group of panelists to discuss Western North Carolina's new economy
Date Posted: 3/16/2010
(ASHEVILLE, N.C.) March 15, 2010 – Registration is now open for an upcoming event that features a panel of experts presenting a broad range of views on economic and business issues in North Carolina.
Organized by AdvantageWest, the regional economic development commission serving the 23 counties in Western North Carolina, “The AdvantageWest Economic Summit: Pathways to a New Economy,” takes place Monday, March 29 at Diana Wortham Theatre, inside Pack Place, at 2 S. Pack Square, in downtown Asheville.
The evening starts with a networking reception, beginning at 5:30 p.m., which provides an opportunity to meet and interact with regional, state and federal business leaders, entrepreneurs, economic development professionals and others with a vested interest in business and economic conditions in Western North Carolina.
The panel discussion takes place 7:15 – 8:45 p.m., with retired lawyer, politician, and university administrator D. G. Martin, now a newspaper columnist and UNC-TV host, serving as moderator. Confirmed panelists include:
• NC Commerce Secretary Keith Crisco, who in addition to the perspective of his current role will also address questions regarding the NC STEM Community Collaborative, exploring-near term business issues and longer-term education and curricular issues with regard to science, technology, engineering and math education.
• Mike Fulenwider, president and CEO of Fulenwider Enterprises Inc., in Morganton, who will speak about business issues specifically relating to small businesses and start-ups.
• Martin Lancaster, former president of the North Carolina Community College System, who also served as a US Representative from North Carolina from 1987 to 1995. He will address the relationship between education and economic development.
• Senator Martin Nesbitt of the NC General Assembly, who will speak about business issues as they relate to political challenges in the state.
• Nelson Schwab III, managing partner at Carousel Capital, a private equity firm in Charlotte specializing in small leveraged buyouts and recapitalization transactions, will address finance/capital, entrepreneurialism, and broad business issues that are critical in North Carolina.
Tickets for the AdvantageWest Economic Summit are $50. Registration is available at the AdvantageWest website, www.advantagewest.com, or call Amanda Baranski at (828) 687-7234 for more information. Attendees can submit questions for the panelists in advance via advantagewesteconomicsummit@gmail.com.
Sponsorships are also available. Contact Pam Lewis at plewis@awnc.org for details.
About AdvantageWest
AdvantageWest is a nonprofit, public-private partnership chartered by the state General Assembly in 1994, and serves the 23 counties of Western North Carolina. AdvantageWest’s program of work includes the following: Blue Ridge Advanced Manufacturing Initiative; entrepreneurial development activities such as Blue Ridge Entrepreneurial Council (BREC) and the Certified Entrepreneurial Community(SM); Blue Ridge Food Ventures, a food business and natural products incubator and commercial kitchen; and the green-collar jobs initiative, AdvantageGreen. AdvantageWest also maintains the WNC Film Commission. Visit www.advantagewest.com for more information or call (828) 687-7234.
###
MEDIA CONTACT
Kathi Petersen
828-712-1286
kpetersen@awnc.org
Back
|
Testimonial
In an effort to respond to the diverse economic development needs of North Carolina, then State Representative Martin Nesbitt introduced legislation creating the regional economic development partnerships. It was this extraordinary insight that allowed AdvantageWest to become one of the most innovative and nimble economic development programs in the state.
Gordon S. Myers
Founding Chair
AdvantageWest Board of Directors
Amanda Baranski
, Executive Assistant & Assistant Corporate Secretary
AdvantageWest
134 Wright Brothers Way
Fletcher, NC 28732
ph. 828-687-7234
fx. 828-687-7552
Email Amanda Baranski
|
