“Winning the Future” theme will infuse Opening Session, Workshops, and Keynote Address
GREENVILLE, S.C.— Winning the Future, the 2018 Upstate Summit hosted by Ten at the Top and presented by BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina, has confirmed more than three dozen regional leaders to speak, representing a vibrant cross-section of the Upstate’s corporate and civic community. The 2018 Regional Summit is scheduled for Tuesday, September 25 at the TD Convention Center, from 7:30 am to 1:30 pm. Tickets are available via Eventbrite via tenatthetop.org for $65 per person (corporate) and $45 per person (non-profit). Registration ends September 14, 2018.
“The 2018 Upstate Summit will provide a unique opportunity for business, community and civic leaders, as well as interested stakeholders from across the region, to share ideas and discuss how to work collaboratively to ensure our region continues to enhance the economic vitality and quality of life for all residents,” said Dean Hybl, Executive Director of Ten at the Top. “We expect between 800 and 900 to attend, and are looking forward to a great event.”
Doors open at 7:30 am with the Summit’s B2B Expo sponsored by ScanSource, providing networking and continental breakfast until the Opening Session begins at 9:00 am.
Opening Session Panel
The Opening Session of the 2018 Upstate Regional Summit, presented by BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina, is entitled “Is South Carolina and the Upstate Well Positioned to ‘Win the Future’ in Economic Development and Job Creation?” Speakers are set to include:
- Frank Davis, Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd
- Beth Land, Site Selection Group
- Nelson Lindsay, South Carolina Department of Commerce
- Trey Pennington, CBRE
- Moderators: Amy Wood, WSPA-TV; and John Lummus, Upstate SC Alliance
Breakout Sessions
The Summit will continue with breakout sessions involving presentations by and discussions with Upstate leaders through the lens of Ten at the Top’s five Regional Driver areas: Winning the Future Around Education and Workforce Development; Winning the Future Around Mobility and Connectivity; Winning the Future Around Innovation and Technology; and Winning the Future Around Creating Vibrant Communities. Each Summit participant chooses two of the four breakout sessions. Each breakout sessions lasts 45 minutes with a short break in between.
Winning the Future Around Innovation and Technology
Speakers are set to include:
- Susan Brami, Spectrum
- Glen McManus, ReWa
- Lelia King, Build Carolina & Carolina Code School
- Moderator: Rob Krulac, CU-ICAR
Winning the Future Around Creating Vibrant Communities
Speakers are set to include:
- Phil Hughes, Hughes Investments
- Jil Littlejohn, Greenville City Council & the Urban League of the Upstate
- Blake Sanders, City of Easley and Town of West Pelzer
- Nancy Whitworth, City of Greenville
- Moderator: Jennifer Evins, Chapman Cultural Center
Winning the Future Around Mobility and Connectivity
Speakers are set to include:
- David Bruemmer, Adaptive Motion Group
- Leesa Owens, Michelin North America
- Nick Rigas, CU-ICAR
- Moderator: Doug Webster, Carolinas Alliance 4 Innovation
Winning the Future Around Education and Workforce Development
Speakers are set to include:
- Joanne Avery, Anderson School District Four
- Ronnie Booth, Tri-County Technical College
- Brendan Kelly, USC Upstate
- Carlos Phillips, Greater Greenville Chamber of Commerce
- Moderator: Ansel Sanders, Public Education Partners
Connections Corner
New to the Summit experience this year, participants may visit Connections Corner during the Breakout period. Connections Corner, sponsored by GSA Business Report and Limestone College, allows Summit participants to engage in conversation with community leaders around specific topics of interest, as a way of cultivating more and deeper connections and collaborations among those who share areas of passion, interest, or industry.
During Session One, the topics and confirmed conversationalists in Connections Corner are as follows:
Future of K-12 Education
Dr. Burke Royster, Greenville County School District
Dr. Richard Rosenberger, Anderson County School District 2
Role of Technical Colleges in Reducing the “Skills Gap” for Manufacturing
Henry Giles, Spartanburg Community College
Dr. Jermaine Whirl, Greenville Technical College
Importance of Higher Education and Advanced Degrees for Future Workforce
Dr. George Petersen, Clemson University College of Education
Dr. Paul LeFrancois, Limestone College
Promoting Multi-Modal Transportation and Mobility in the Upstate
Keith Brockington, Greenville Pickens Area Transportation Study
Ty Houck, Greenville County Trails Director
How can we promote Sustainable Growth in the Upstate?
Sue Schneider, Spartanburg Water
Lisa Hallo, Upstate Forever
During Session Two, the topics and confirmed conversationalists in Connections Corner are as follows:
Providing for the Needs of Our Growing Senior Population
Catriona Carlisle, Meals on Wheels of Greenville
James Bennett, Upstate Home Health
Creating an Ecosystem to Support Entrepreneurs and Small Businesses in Your Community
Erin Ouzts, Spartanburg Angel Network
Dave Eldridge, Tri-County Entrepreneurial Development Corp
What is on the Horizon for Economic Development in the Upstate?
Heather Jones, Greenwood Partnership Alliance
Patty Bock, City of Spartanburg
Development Trends and Challenges in the Upstate
David Feild, Colliers International
Todd Horne, Clayton Construction
How do we recruit future talent to the Upstate?
John Lummus, Upstate SC Alliance
Allen Smith, Spartanburg Chamber of Commerce
Keynote Address
The Summit will culminate with the Summit Keynote Address sponsored by Greenville Business Magazine. Ten at The Top is excited to welcome Polly LaBarre as the 2018 Upstate Summit Keynote Speaker. Polly LaBarre is the Co-author of Mavericks at Work, Co-founder of Management Lab and Founding Writer at Fast Company. For more than 20 years, LaBarre has used her writing, business consulting, and speaking to help organizations unleash and organize human potential in ever more powerful ways.
More than 70 organizations across the Upstate support the 2018 Upstate Summit as sponsors and make the event possible, including BlueCrossBlueShield of South Carolina, Spartanburg Water, Fluor, WSPA-TV, Greenville Business Magazine, Skyline Exhibits & Design, Palmetto Technology Group, USC Upstate, Piedmont Natural Gas, ScanSource, GSA Business Report, Limestone College, Upstate Business Journal, Hughes Investments and In the Know Upstate.
About Ten at the Top
Comprised of public, private and civic leaders from across the ten-county Upstate South Carolina Region, Ten at the Top was created to connect and encourage regional collaboration through data-driven research and regular convening of leaders and citizens to address key issues facing the region. Ten at the Top works with regional partners to foster collaboration and strategic planning to enhance the economic vitality and quality of life for Upstate residents both today and as the region continues to grow. For more information, visit www.tenatthetop.org.