New North Inc.: Edward E. Gordon is keynote for 2013 New North Summit

Workforce development expert to report on progress made in meeting skills gap

NEW NORTH, November 7, 2013 – New North, Inc., has announced that jobs expert and author Edward E. Gordon will be the keynote speaker for the 10th annual New North Summit, sponsored by BMO Harris, which is scheduled for Friday, December 6, at the Radisson Hotel & Conference Center in Green Bay. Gordon, who presented at the 2007 Summit in Sheboygan, returns to report on New North’s progress relative to the national struggle in meeting the skills gap in employment.

Gordon is internationally recognized as an authority on how talent discovery, career planning and training relate to business and economic development. He has consulted with leaders in business, education, government and non-profits for over 40 years. Among his hundreds of clients, he has helped Fortune 500 companies as well as others like Microsoft, PricewaterhouseCoopers, the Federal Reserve and Motorola.

“Ed was well liked when he spoke at the Summit in 2007,” says Jerry Murphy, executive director of New North, Inc. “His expertise in workforce development should be an excellent fit with our audience and this year’s Summit programming theme of ‘closing the skills gap.’ On top of that, he has a strong familiarity with New North and the Northeast Wisconsin Manufacturing Alliance, along with their roles in driving regional economic development.”

Gordon is the author or co-author of 18 books, including his latest work, Future Jobs: Solving the Employment & Skills Crisis. He also has been an educator for 20 years at several Chicago-area universities and often is utilized by national media outlets as a thought leader on workforce issues.

New North Live! Summit 2013 offers a full-day event and features speakers and breakout sessions, highlighting workforce, entrepreneurship and education stories in the New North region. An overview of economic development in the region and state over the past year will be presented, along with a look forward to the coming year.

Early-bird registration for the 2013 New North Summit at the discounted rate of $75 ends this week. Registration can be done online at http://www.newnorthsummit.com. After November 8 the registration fee increases to $90, with the cost being $100 at the door on the day of the event. Student tickets are available for $15.

The event begins at 7 a.m. with networking, followed by the start of the day’s program at 8 a.m. The midday ‘Taste of the New North’ luncheon presents an additional networking opportunity with the 800-plus attendees. The 2014 Northeast Wisconsin Manufacturing Vitality Index Study, presented by the NEW Manufacturing Alliance, concludes the day. A full agenda is available at http://www.newnorthsummit.com and will be updated as other elements of the program are confirmed.

As part of the registration process, attendees will be asked to select their breakout session preference. Five breakout sessions will be offered at this year’s summit:

* 2013 First Business Economic Forum: presented by First Business Bank
Get a summary of the 2013 First Business Economic Survey results and listen to a panel discussion with local business leaders on Northeast Wisconsin economic trends

* Fast Forward 2.0: Accelerate Your Fast Growth Firm
Hear in-depth interviews with the leading fast-growth firms in the New North region; learn their secrets and how to turn a good idea into a profitable company

* New North Global: Connect to Global Markets
Learn from global experts about action steps to promote export operations in the New North and how your company can start reaching customers worldwide

* Business Gains in Sustainability: Partnerships for Profits
Hear how area college students and faculty are working to build awareness in lean practices, to achieve new cost savings and to strategically enable long-term sustainability programs

* Tap into Talent: New Workforce Tools for Your Talent Needs
DWD Secretary Reggie Newson and DET Administrator Scott Jansen will outline a variety of workforce innovations, including Wisconsin Fast Forward

WHERE: Radisson Hotel & Conference Center

2040 Airport Drive; Green Bay, Wis.

WHEN: December 6, 2013

7:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.