Ten at the Top announces breakout session speakers for 2016 Upstate Regional Summit

Ten at the Top has announced the presenters for the breakout sessions of the Upstate Regional Summit presented by BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina, to be held September 13 at the TD Convention Center. A total of 18 Upstate leaders will highlight initiatives that are helping make the region a leading place to live, learn, do business and raise a family. Five of the sessions will focus specifically on initiatives within one of the driver areas for the Our Upstate Vision (Community Vibrancy, Economic & Entrepreneurial Vitality, Human Potential, Natural Beauty & Resources, and Sustainable Growth), and one session will specifically focus on successful collaborative partnership initiatives.

During each 45-minute breakout session, three Upstate leaders will share details about their initiative, followed by a moderated panel discussion. Summit registrants will be able to select two sessions to attend. The following initiatives will be featured:

 

SESSION ONE

Community Vibrancy

Moderated by Torance Inman and R.P. Rama, and commentated by Abe Goldberg

Featured initiatives:

• Taylors Town Square presented by Alex Reynolds, President, Taylors Town Square
• Laurens Finally Friday presented by Jonathan Irick, Main Street Coordinator, City of Laurens
• Culture Counts presented by Jennifer Evins, President/CEO, Chapman Cultural Center

 

Natural Beauty & Resources: Time to Environmentally “Grow-up”

Moderated by Dyke Spencer

Featured initiatives:

• ReWa Reedy River Quality Initiative presented by Graham Rich, CEO, ReWa
• Breathe Better No-Idling School Program presented by Sandra Yudice, Ph.D., Assistant to the Greenville County Administrator
• Human Impact on Natural Resources presented by Rebecca West, Chief Operations Officer, Greenville Water

 

Collaboration is the New Competition

Moderated by John Lummus

Featured initiatives:

• Spartanburg Northside Development presented by Bill Barnet, Chairman, Spartanburg Northside Development Group
• Bosch of Anderson Workforce Development Partnership presented by Randy Bunch, Director of Human Resources, Bosch-Anderson
• Greenville Health System Clinical University presented by Dr. Brenda Thames, Vice President of Academic & Faculty Affairs, Greenville Health System

 

SESSION TWO

Economic & Entrepreneurial Vitality

Moderated by Jim Price and Erin Ouzts, and commentated by Jordana Megonigal

Featured initiatives:

• Community Works Financial Stability Program presented by Deborah McKetty, Executive Director, Community Works
• SC Fire Fighters Youth Program presented by Bryan Riebe, Recruitment & Retention Coordinator, SC Fire Fighters Association
• City of Simpsonville Entrepreneurial Friendly Tool Kit Program presented by Allison McGarity, President/CEO, Simpsonville Chamber of Commerce

 

Human Potential

Moderated by Paul Corbeil and Karen Burgess

Featured initiatives:

• Greenville County Schools Graduation Plus presented by Burke Royster, Superintendent, Greenville County Schools
• Aid Joy Ask Directions Initiative presented by Jonathan Shanin, Executive Director, AidJoy
• Warrior Fellowship Academy presented by Charlie Hall, Executive Director, Upstate Warrior Solution

 

Sustainable Growth

Moderated by Phil Lindler and Michael Forman

Featured initiatives:

• American Red Cross Home Fire Preparedness Program presented by Ann Wright, Executive Director, Red Cross of the Upstate
• Shaping Our Future Scenario Planning Initiative presented by Lisa Hallo, Sustainable Growth Director, Upstate Forever
• Glendale Shoals Complete Streets and Connectivity Project presented by Sherry Dull, Senior Transportation Planner, SPATS

 

Centered on the theme “Creating a Leading Region,” the 2016 Upstate Regional Summit will provide a unique opportunity for business, community and civic leaders to share ideas and discuss how to work collaboratively to ensure the Upstate continues to be a leading region. The Summit will begin with a continental breakfast courtesy of GSA Business Report, B2B Expo sponsored by ScanSource, and morning Upstate Leadership Panel discussion sponsored by Converse College, followed by the breakout sessions. The half-day event will culminate over lunch with a keynote address sponsored by Clemson University, featuring award-winning thinker, author, broadcaster and speaker Geoff Colvin, who serves as Senior Editor-at-Large of Fortune Magazine.

There are a limited number of table sponsorships and tickets available for the Summit. Early bird ticket pricing is available through July 31. For more information, please visit www.tenatthetop.org or call 864.283.2317.

 

About Ten at the Top

Formed in 2009, Ten at the Top envisions an Upstate region where collaboration, coordination and cooperation across communities and business sectors are hallmarks. It fosters partnerships and cooperation amongst the ten counties that form South Carolina’s Upstate, and encourages these diverse communities to work together to enhance the Upstate’s economic vitality and quality of life. To date, Ten at the Top has hosted more than 575 meetings, programs, workshops and forums that have informed and engaged 28,000+ participants. To learn more, visit www.tenatthetop.org.