WAVE CONFLUENCE
MEETING AT COLUMBUS BELMONT PARK
MONDAY, OCTOBER 24
11 AM-Noon: REGISTRATION
Lunch provided by the Hickman County Economic Development Authority; Slide show of River County region highlights
Noon-1PM: CONFERENCE BEGINS
Program convened by WAVE Chair, Carlisle County Judge Executive Greg Terry
Opening Prayer: Rev. Rodney Hill, Pastor, Fairview Baptist Chuch, La Center
Presentation of Colors: U.S. Coast Guard, MSO Paducah (invited)
Pledge of Allegiance: Fulton County Judge Executive Jim Martin
Headline Speech: The Honorable Matt Bevin, Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, introduced by Charlie Martin, Secretary, West Kentucky Regional Riverport Authority
Presentation of new WAVE Logo by Governor Bevin and winning student designer
Welcoming Remarks by WAVE Co-chairs: County Judge-Executives Greg Terry, Vicki Viniard, Kenny Wilson and Jim Martin
Remarks by Paul N. Jaenichen, Sr, Administrator, U.S. Maritime Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation (finalizing participation)
1-4 PM: PLENARY SESSION - WORKFORCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN THE RIVER COUNTIES
Keynote Speech: The Honorable Hal Heiner, Secretary of the Education and Workforce Development Cabinet. Introduction by the Honorable Robbie Rudolph, former Executive Secretary of Governor Ernie Fletcher's Cabinet.
INTERACTIVE PANELS (60 minutes each)
· Workforce Needs on the River: The Panama Canal expansion and the development of the West Kentucky Regional Port Authority could portend an increase in river traffic and development of new local industries. What are the prospects of economic development in the region and what will be the workforce training needs?
o Panelists:
§ Roger Beck, Market Director, HDR Engineering
§ Bob Blocker, Senior Vice President, American Commercial Barge Lines
§ Mike Toohey, President, U.S. Waterways Development Council (tentative)
§ John Eckstein, President, Marquette Transportation (tentative)
§ Jim Morris, Executive Vice President, Banterra Bank
§ Baxter Southern, Executive Vice President, McGriff, Seibels & Williams
§ Moderated by Bobby Miller, the Miller Law Firm, Paducah
· Educating a 21st Century Workforce: The prospects for river-related economic development can only be realized with a properly trained and educated workforce. What are the degrees and job skills needed for this workforce, and how should the region best address them? How can higher education and our public schools best fit into the new public-private partnership model being embraced by Kentucky policymakers?
o Panelists:
§ Robert Davies, President, Murray State University
§ Sheila Clark, Executive Director, West Kentucky Workforce Board
§ Steve Freeman, Vice President, West Kentucky Community and Technical College
§ Billy Harper, former Chair, Kentucky Board of Education
§ Brian Mitchell, President Emeritus, Drexell University
§ Mike Nemes, Deputy Secretary, Kentucky Labor Cabinet
§ Bob Smith, Paducah Program Manager, Fluor
§ River County School Superintendents
§ Moderated by Tim Todd, Dean, Arthur J. Bauernfeind College of Business, Murray State University
· Agriculture Technology and New Opportunities for River Exports: Early economic projections suggest that the best short term opportunities for increased river traffic will emerge from agriculture exports, specifically shipping Kentucky products down the Mississippi. What are the transportation and logistics needs of agri-industry, and how should the region develop its plans to best promote opportunity for local farmers?
o Panelists:
§ Tony Brannon, Dean, Hutson School of Agriculture, Murray State University
§ Mark Fletcher, Co-Owner, Ceres Consulting
§ Dan Mecklenborg, Senior Vice President, Ingram
§ Bill Miller, Executive Director, Paducah-McCracken County Riverport Authority,
§ Keith Rogers, Chief of Staff, Kentucky Department of Agriculture
§ Ryan Thurston, Regional Manager, ADM
§ Brandon Wilson, Kentucky Farm Bureau
4-5 PM Potential First Day Closing Speech
5 PM-Night Tourism and Lunch Options - List in Registration Packets
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25
9:00-11:00 AM SECOND DAY PLENARY OPENS
Convened by Hickman County Judge Kenny Wilson
Opening Prayer: David Gallagher, Chairman of West Kentucky Regional Riverport Authority, former Fulton County Judge Executive
Pledge of Allegiance: Ballard County Judge Executive Vicki Viniard
LEGISLATIVE PANEL
Prospects for 2017 Kentucky General Assembly session and the next U.S. Congress; regional infrastructure needs, public/private partnerships, federal grant funding for port terminals and other priorities.
o Panelists:
§ State Senator Danny Carroll
§ State Senator Stan Humphries
§ State Representative Steven Rudy
§ Rachel McCubbin, Deputy State Director for U.S. Senator Rand Paul
§ Moderated by Bill Bartleman, McCracken County Commissioner, former Paducah Sun reporter
SMALL BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP PANEL
As demonstrated in the Eastern KY SOAR initiative, rural economic development has been spurred by small business and entrepreneurial innovation, augmented by access to high speed broadband. How can the River region develop and nurture small business under this new model?
o Panelists:
§ John Y. Brown, III, former Kentucky Secretary of State
§ Loretta Daniels, Director, Kentucky Innovation Office, Murray State University
§ Rod Jetton, former Missouri Speaker of the House
§ Tony Watkins, Executive Director, Community Foundation of West Kentucky
§ Local Entrepreneurs share success stories and challenges, including:
· Brian Harper, Harper Hams
· Megan Koch, Rusted Roots Boutique
· Angie Yu, Two Rivers Fishery
§ Moderated by Chris Wooldridge, District Director, Kentucky Small Business Development Center, Arthur J. Bauernfeind College of Business, Murray State University
11:00-11:30 Potential Closing Speech
11:30-12:30 Tourism Boot Camp led by Kristen Branscum, Commissioner, Kentucky Tourism Department
12:30 PM- Tourism and Lunch Options - List in Registration Packets |
