Opportunity for All: Strategies for Inclusive Economic Development

Date: December 13, 2016

Time:  2:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. ET

Price:  $95 for IEDC members, $135 for Nonmembers

Registration Deadline: December 13 at 11:00 a.m. ET

Though the Great Recession has long been in the rearview mirror, many workers have not benefited from the subsequent recovery. In fact, in many communities, economic opportunities for the least-skilled have declined or become more difficult to access. IEDC's Economic Development Research Partners has undertaken a paper to study the issue of economic opportunity and identify what economic developers can do to create an inclusive economy. Attend this session to hear key findings from the paper, as well as case studies from communities that have undertaken successful initiatives to ensure broad-based prosperity.

Speakers:

Allison J.H. Thompson, CEcD, EDFP

Director of Economic Development and Tourism

City of Cedar Hill

Cedar Hill, TX

Allison Thompson has been in economic development for over 17 years and has worked with the City of Cedar Hill, Texas since April of 2007. Currently she is Director of Economic Development and Tourism for the City as well as Executive Director for the Cedar Hill Economic Development Corporation. Allison has earned professional certifications from both the International Economic Development Council (CEcD) and the National Development Council (EDFP). A graduate of the Economic Development Institute of the University of Oklahoma (OU/EDI), she also holds an MA in Urban Affairs from the University of Texas of Arlington and a BS in Criminal Justice from Texas Christian University. Ms. Thompson sits on the Board of Directors of the International Economic Development Council and is the current Chair of the Economic Development Research Partners (EDRP). See full bio.

Dennis G. Coleman, CEcD, FM, HLM

Co-Founder and President

Community and Economic Development Solutions

St. Louis, MO

Denny Coleman recently retired as CEO of St. Louis Economic Development Partnership. Since 1982, Coleman has overseen a multitude of economic development initiatives that have earned St. Louis national recognition for outstanding progress in the areas of community revitalization, business development and job creation. Prior to the Economic Development Partnership, Coleman was director of development for both St. Louis County and St. Louis City and managed neighborhood, housing, and economic development efforts. He also served as vice president for community development at Mercantile Bank (now U.S. Bank) when the bank’s community development corporation received the National Fair Housing Award and a Private Sector Initiatives Award from the White House. Coleman is a past chair for the International Economic Development Council (IEDC). See full bio.

Michael A. Finney

President and CEO

Community Ventures Resources Inc.

Ann Arbor, MI

Michael A. Finney is an entrepreneurial executive with an extensive track record of success in leading private sector and non-profit organizations. Mike recently founded Community Ventures Resources, Inc. (CVR), where he serves as President and CEO. CVR is a "social impact" consulting team that assists communities with development and execution of strategic plans designed to create a pathway out of poverty for populations who are disconnected from employment resources.

Prior to his current role, Mike served Governor Rick Snyder as Senior Advisor for Economic Growth and President & CEO of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC). His responsibilities at MEDC included serving as Governor Rick Snyder's Economic Growth Group Executive and as President and Chairman of the Michigan Strategic Fund. Under Mike's leadership, the MEDC moved to the forefront of U.S. economic development organizations with innovative new initiatives, including Pure Michigan Business Connect, Community Ventures, and the revitalized "Pure Michigan" tourism campaign and Michigan Export programs. See full bio.