Synergy Conference
October 5, 2010

Hosted by:

The Univeristy of Eau Claire

 Consortium Partners:

UW-Stout, UW-River Falls, UW-Barron County, Chippewa Valley Technical College, Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College

Registration:  http://www3.uwstout.edu/profed/synergy/reg.cfm 

The Synergy Conference aligns stakeholders who seek to build sustainable economic growth through a collaborative approach. The annual conference has become the culminating platform that supports regional dialogue pertinent to the issues, opportunities and needs facing West Central Wisconsin.

The last several years have been extremely challenging from an economic perspective. For this reason, it is vital for business and industry to grow not only regionally but also to think and act globally. In rebuilding the economy, relationships need to be strengthened and new partnerships, private and public, must be formed. This year’s conference will emphasize the importance of building relationships. Through networking with leaders in business, higher education, economic and workforce development, collaborative partnerships will be developed.

The conference kicks off with Richard C. Longworth, Senior Fellow of The Chicago Council on Global Affairs. The author of “Caught in the Middle: America’s  Heartland in the Age of Globalism,” Longworth will present the new realities of life in the heartland, discuss the Midwest's precarious economic, political and social condition and offer a prescription for how it must change economically — if it is to survive and prosper.

Longworth has spent relentless hours traveling through the Midwest uncovering what these changes mean for the region — and the country. He continues his research daily. You can follow his journey by visiting his blog at  http://globalmidwest.typepad.com/

The second keynote speaker, John Monson, vice president of Rural Capital Markets, AgStar Financial Services, will focus on finding opportunities for collaboration between public and private interests leading to the advancement of economic development in our region.

Monson was instrumental in the Southern Minnesota Regional Competitiveness Project,  a partnership of organizations, businesses and government agencies working together to create a strategic economic development plan for southern Minnesota. The Rural Policy Research Institute, based at the University of Missouri, Columbia, created the Center for Regional Competitiveness as a research institute for regional competitiveness and regional development policy. Working together across southern Minnesota, these partners aim to craft a coherent strategy to bring promising new economic opportunities to the region.

Center for Rural Policy and Development’s website:
http://www.mnsu.edu/ruralmn/regcomp.html

Registration and Fees

Online registration is available.

Printable registration (pdf) is also available.

Fee includes conference sessions, breaks, and conference materials.

Program changes and cancellation: The university reserves the right to make changes in programs and speakers or to cancel programs if enrollment criteria are not met or when conditions beyond its control prevail.  Every effort will be made to contact each enrollee if a program is not held for any reason.  The university's liability is limited to the refund of the program fee.

Attendee cancellations: A full refund will be granted upon written notification on or before the early registration date. Refunds requested after that date will be assessed a $30 processing fee. No refunds will be made after the start of the program. Substitutions may be made at any time.

Accessibility/special needs: If you need disability-related accommodations or have any special needs for this program, please notify Professional Education Programs and Services by September 27.