2006 Rural Partners Forum
Agenda
Wednesday, September 13
- 1:00 Registration Opens, Reading Corner Opens
- Grand Ballroom Prefunction Area
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2:00 RURAL AMERICA IN THE GLOBAL ECONOMY
- Grand Ballrooms 1-5
- Welcome & Introductions
- Tom Lambeth, Chairman, Rural Center Board of Directors
- 2:15 New Competitive Advantage for Rural Regions
- Introduction: Alton Thompson, Dean of the School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, N.C. Agricultural and Technical State University
- Address: Mark R. Drabenstott, Director of the Center for Regional Competitiveness, Rural Policy Research Institute, University of Missouri-Columbia
- Question & Answer Session
- 3:15 Redefining Life & Work in the New Economy
- MODERATOR: Katherine Thomas, Manager, Economic Development, Progress Energy
- FOOD SUPPLY
Larry Wooten, President, N.C. Farm Bureau - WATER SUPPLY
Bill Holman, Executive Director, N.C. Clean Water Management Trust Fund - ENERGY SUPPLY
Norris Tolson, Secretary, Department of Revenue - TECHNOLOGY
Paula Brown Stafford, Executive VP for Global Management, Quintiles - Question & Answer Session
- 5:00 Reception
- Grand Ballroom Prefunction Area
- 6:30 Rural Partners Banquet
- Grand Ballrooms 1-5
- Blessing in Song
- Leadership Team from the Town of Bolton
- The Future of Agriculture in North Carolina
Special Presentation: N.C. Senator Charlie Albertson - Competing in the Global Marketplace: The University’s Role
- Keynote Address: President of the University of North Carolina Erskine Bowles
- 8:00 Kick-back with the Speakers
- Grand Ballroom Prefunction Area
The Rural Center board of directors is hosting a time of informal conversation with forum speakers and other participants in a relaxing atmosphere. Light refreshments and music provided.
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 14
- 7:30 Country Breakfast Buffet
- Grand Ballroom Prefunction Area, Seating in Ballrooms 1- 2
- Registration Opens, Reading Corner Opens
- Grand Ballroom Prefunction Area
-
NORTH CAROLINA RESPONDS: INNOVATION, INVESTMENTS & NEW DIRECTIONS
Grand Ballrooms 3-5- 8:30 Welcome Globalization and Rural North Carolina: The Impact on Jobs, Trade & Workers
- 8:30 Welcome Globalization and Rural North Carolina: The Impact on Jobs, Trade & Workers
- Billy Ray Hall, President, N.C. Rural Center
- 9:00 Reaching Beyond the Boundaries – Bold Beginnings
- MODERATOR: Valeria Lee, President, Golden LEAF Foundation
- THE BIOTECH INDUSTRY
- Video Short: The Dole Foods Biotechnology Research Center
- Bird’s-Eye View: Leslie Alexandre, President & CEO, N.C. Center for Biotechnology
- ADVANCED MANUFACTURING
- Video Short: Martin Marietta Composites; Louisiana Pacific; Smith's Aerospace
- Bird’s-Eye View: Grant Godwin, VP & General Manager, Martin Marietta Composites
- BIOFUELS PRODUCTION & USE
- Video Short: Piedmont Biofuels Industrial
- Bird’s-Eye View: Anne Tazewell, Alternative Fuels Program Manager, NCSU Solar Center
- THE NEW TOURISM
- Video Short: Carolina Crossroads Music & Entertainment District
- Bird’s-Eye View: Lynn Minges, Director, Division of Tourism, Film and Sports Development, N.C. Department of Commerce
- 10:45 Break
- 11:00 New Policy Directions, Insights & Opportunities in Rural Development
- 11:00 New Policy Directions, Insights & Opportunities in Rural Development
- THE NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY: IMPACT OF 2006 SESSION, PROSPECTS FOR 2007
- N.C. Senator John Kerr, N.C. Senator Walter Dalton, N.C. Rep. Edith Warren, and N.C. Rep. Bill Owens
- Lieutenant Governor Beverly Perdue
- Video tribute to North Carolina’s small towns
- Billy Ray Hall
- 12:00 Buffet Lunch and Networking
- Grand Ballroom Prefunction Area, Seating in Ballrooms 1- 2
Panel Discussion Led by Moderator
Question & Answer Session
CELEBRATION OF NORTH CAROLINA’S SMALL TOWNS: N.C. STEP PROGRAM
REPORT FROM THE RURAL CENTER: INITIATIVES, GRANTS, NEW REPORTS
