Come together… listen to featured business experts and exchange ideas with other local businesses to strengthen your own bottom line.


BUSINESS TOPICS . FEATURED SPEAKERS . WORKSHOPS
MOTIVATING DISCUSSION . SHOWCASE OF RICHMOND BUSINESSES

Get ready for the 2nd Annual Economic Summit Conference. The purpose of this annual summit is to bring together the small to medium sized business community, city government, capacity building leaders and Richmond residents and students for an economic development discussion, best practices and value-added learning to promote Richmond, California.

We will take this opportunity to highlight how economic development is the engine for business growth and jobs creation and how Richmond’s 5-year strategy aligns with this focus. At this year’s summit, we will also follow up on what was produced from last years event. We will see you at the summit!

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KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Dr. Christopher Thornberg

Dr. Christopher Thornberg  is a founding Partner of Beacon Economics, LLC and widely considered to be one of California’s leading economic forecasters. An expert in economic forecasting, regional development, real estate dynamics, and labor markets, he was one of the earliest and most adamant predictors of the housing market crash and of the economic recession that has followed. Read Dr. Thornberg’s full biography.

BEACON ECONOMICS, LLC is an independent economic research and consulting firm with offices in Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area. Our economic and data analysis helps our clients make informed, strategic decisions about investment, growth, revenue, policy, and other critical economic and financial issues. Our core areas of expertise include economic and revenue forecasting, market and industry analysis, economic impact studies, economic policy analysis, and international trade analysis.

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AFTERNOON SPEAKER: Sunne Wright McPeak

Sunne Wright McPeak is the President and CEO of the California Emerging Technology Fund (CETF), a statewide non-profit organization whose mission is to close the Digital Divide by accelerating the deployment and adoption of broadband. She assumed the position as the CETF first chief executive in December 2006 after serving for three years as Secretary of the California Business, Transportation and Housing Agency for Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. With McPeak’s vision and drive, CETF has positioned California as a national leader in closing the Digital Divide, initiating many groundbreaking applications. Read Sunne Wright McPeak’s full biography.

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WORKSHOP OPTIONS:

SESSION #1

  • Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) and You – Facilitated by Kerry O’Banion. Hear how to capture and create business opportunities at the possible second campus of LBNL.
  • Effective Marketing and Communication Including the Future In Technology – Facilitated by Jan Brown. Four diverse Richmond enterprises share insights and best practices on cultivating audiences and staying relevant.
  • Education and the Future of Employment – Facilitated by Dr. Bruce Harter . Transforming Today’s Education for Tomorrow’s Economy.
  • Accessing Scarce Capital In a Tough Economy: The ABC’s of SBA Loans – Facilitated by Erwin Reeves. After a presentation of multiple credit avenues you’ll hear first hand the ins & outs of borrowing in this changing environment.

SESSION #2

  • Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) and You – Facilitated by Kerry O’Banion. Hear how to capture and create business opportunities at the possible second campus of LBNL.
  • Retail In Richmond: Trends and Forecast – Facilitated by Christine Firstenberg. Get all your questions answered about retail in Richmond and how it compares regionally and nationally.
  • Why Locate Your Business In Richmond: A Real Estate/Developers Viewpoint on the Richmond Advantage – Facilitated by Josh Genser and Jeff Leenhouts. Explore the advantages, opportunities and challenges of development in Richmond, of bringing a new business to Richmond, and of sustaining a business in Richmond  
  • New Opportunities In Richmond with UCB/UCSF Procurement – Facilitated by Thomas Mills. Learn firsthand the new ‘nuts and bolts’ of how to do business with/through the University of California (Berkeley and San Francisco) and the City of Richmond.