October 15, 1999
Contact: Cheri Woolsey, Institute for Public Policy and Business Research, (785) 864-3124, or Todd Cohen, University Relations (785) 864-8858.
MEDIA ADVISORY: Press welcome to attend all events. Please register upon arrival at the Kansas Union. For advance information, contact Todd Cohen, University Relations (785) 864-8858.
LAWRENCE -- Finding new ways to keep Kansas competitive as technology rapidly changes and as global markets expand will be the focus of discussion as Gov. Bill Graves hosts the first annual Governor's Economic Innovation Summit on the University of Kansas campus.
Kansas business leaders will join the president of Sprint and eight other chief executive officers from some of the most successful corporations in the state, as well as the governor and two university leaders, at the daylong conference. The summit starts at 8 a.m., on Friday Oct. 22, in the Kansas Union.
The conference is a forum for representatives of higher education, government and the business community to examine issues affecting economic development in the state. All participants -- registration is still available -- from industry, government and academia will take part in a survey about key issues for Kansas industry.
Participants also can expect to learn about initiatives by major Kansas industries and how Kansas businesses can position themselves to take advantage of new opportunities.
Among the panelists and speakers scheduled to appear are Ronald T. LeMay, president and CEO of Sprint, Westwood; Jim Imbler, president of Koch Petroleum Group Inc.; John Robinson Jr., vice chairman and chief development officer of Black & Veatch, and Charles Johnson, president of Cessna Aircraft. KU Chancellor Robert Hemenway and Kansas State University President Jon Wefald also will participate.
John N. Yochelson, president of the national Council on Competitiveness, which issues the annual Innovation Index, will deliver the keynote address. The index identifies critical resources and policies that drive innovation, such as funding for research and development, as well as the nation's ability to turn ideas into new products.
Conference participants also will get a more local assessment of the current situation through a delivery of the "Kansas Innovation Index," which is published by the Kansas Technology Enterprise Corporation in Topeka and KU's Institute for Public Policy and Business Research.
Panelists will discuss emerging markets for Kansas as well as the forces that drive the state's economic performance. Question and answer sessions will be included in each of these sessions.
David M. Jones, a chief economist and vice chairman for Aubrey G. Lanston, a New York securities company, will present a forecast for the 2000 international and national economy. Jones also is known for his frequent appearances on national financial TV network shows.
Likewise, Norman Clifford, director of forecasting for KU's Institute for Public Policy and Business Research, will present his annual Kansas economic forecast.
Although KU and its Institute for Public Policy and Business Research has offered an annual economic outlook conference for the state for the last 23 years, this year marks the first time that the governor has lent his sponsorship and involvement to the event.
Registration for the conference is still available at a cost of $95, which includes parking, lunch and conference materials. For more information, contact Pat Flory at (785) 864-4790, or see the Web site at http://www.ippbr.ukans.edu.