Statewide Economic Development Summit presented by Entergy

Mark Zandi, Chief Economist and Co-founder of Moody's Economy.com

The economy’s prospects for next year will be dominated by the COVID-19 pandemic and the policy response by the Federal Reserve and the next President and Congress. Post-pandemic the economy faces a number of significant challenges, but also opportunities. In his speech, Dr. Zandi will weigh all of these economic cross-currents.

Anatalio Ubalde, CEO & Founder of SizeUp and Co-founder/Managing Director of GIS Planning Inc.

New ideas, strategies, and solutions in economic development are rare. Solving information poverty is an authentically new practice that effective economic developers must implement to succeed. Today, the currency of the information economy is information, which is accessed through high speed internet on desktop and mobile devices. The communities that have the most information access will have an extreme competitive advantage; communities that are information have-nots risk being left behind. Information poverty in Louisiana is impacted though its rural, urban, economic, racial, and educational characteristics. In this session you will learn 1) how economic inclusion can be achieved by reducing information poverty and 2) practical strategies economic developers can implement in their communities.

Dr. Nika White, President & CEO of Nika White Consulting and Senior Advisor to the Greenville Chamber's Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Initiative

Viewing diversity and inclusion as a leadership function is vital for well- functioning organizations. Years of experience have taught us that a diverse, inclusive workplace and society do not just happen. Yet, as we look to the future, we recognize that huge demographic shifts are happening that impact society, requiring strategic diversity and intentional inclusion be practiced at every level to optimize performance. Learning how to become effective allies and strengthen team engagement requires operating as Intentional Inclusionists®. Dr. Nika White, the author of The Intentional Inclusionist®, will share principles for becoming an inclusion-minded leader and lead through sensitivity training with focus on intercultural difference and unconscious bias.

State Senator Beth Mizell and State Representative Daryl Deshotel

Reliable access to broadband is considered critical infrastructure in the modern era, and yet an alarming portion of the population - mostly in rural areas - lack it. State Senator Beth Mizell and State Representative Daryl Deshotel have been leading legislation to bridge the digital divide, and will discuss what's coming and how the business community and economic developers can engage to advance the effort.

Panel: Jen Bonnet, Savannah Tech Workforce Incentive; Mackenzie Cottles, Remote Shoals; Barbara Stapleton, Choose Topeka; Ben Stewart, Tulsa Remote

Due to COVID-induced shifts in America’s work habits, professionals across the country are seeking out new jobs, new places to live, and new ways to organize their lives. Technological advances have made it possible for many people to work from home while they sheltered in place away from the virus, and companies are offering employees the choice to work remotely on a permanent basis. Even before the pandemic struck, a handful of forward-thinking economic development entities launched remote work incentive programs to attract more talent to their communities. Hear from panelists representing Remote Shoals, Choose Topeka, the Savannah Technology Workforce Incentive, and Tulsa Remote on creative incentive programs and their economic impacts.

Panel: John Boyd, The Boyd Company; Rosemary Coates, Reshoring Institute; John Henry Jackson, U.S. Department of Commerce

The unprecedented disruption to global supply chains amidst the COVID-19 pandemic has driven speculation among businesses and governments of massive reshoring of manufacturing operations back to the United States. The advantages of reshoring are well documented: balanced trade deficits, job creation, IP protection, and reduced domestic costs, among others. But does the reshoring buzz have legs? Join us for a live panel conversation with three subject matter experts to discuss the trends, data and resources available for advancing reshoring in Louisiana.

Bradley Migdal, senior managing director, Cushman & Wakefield

The industrial market has sustained record growth. How will the pandemic change its trajectory for tomorrow? Bradley will openly examine historical industrial trends and delve into what is happening now in industrial site selection.

KC Conway, chief economist of CCIM and principal of Red Shoe Economics; Jay Olshonsky, president and CEO of NAI Global

From influencing where people want to live to how and where they work, the pandemic has fundamentally shifted the real estate market. CCIM Chief Economist KC Conway will unpack national trends and what they mean at the local level, including the current realities of CRE debt, capital failures, and the ripple effect of tourism’s hardships on local economies, and forecast what to expect going into next year.

Panel: Marty Mayer, president and CEO of Stirling Properties; Aimee Quirk, CEO of innovationOchsner

It is clear that the COVID-19 pandemic exposed and exacerbated industry weaknesses and inefficiencies, and vastly accelerated technology evolution across every sector. As a result, we are seeing the early stages of rapidly shifting and emerging industry trends – with many industries poised to thrive in the new normal of today. This session will highlight a few of the major shifts influencing economies across the nation.