Regional Leaders Discuss Economic Competitiveness at PlanET Symposium

A maximum-capacity crowd of 250 registrants joined business, government and economic development leaders last week to discuss the region's future competitiveness at ETcompetes!, a symposium hosted by PlanETand Knoxville-Oak Ridge Innovation Valley, Inc.

Held at the East Tennessee History Center on January 9, the event was moderated by Ted Abernathy, executive director of the Southern Growth Policies Board. Attendees and panelists engaged in a candid discussion of how East Tennessee can best position itself to compete in a global marketplace.

Responding to questions submitted by attendees, panelists shared their insights on topics ranging from preparing the region's workforce to capitalizing on East Tennessee's quality-of-life assets that are essential to attracting and keeping talent and industry.

"This event proved exceptionally valuable as we seek to establish a shared understanding and direction about where our region stands now, what its assets are, and how East Tennessee can position itself to be competitive long-term at a global level," said Tom Beehan, PlanET Board of Mayors Chairman.

The featured panelists included senior management of several major companies in the region, as well as government officials and community leaders. Among them were Kevin Anton, corporate chief sustainability officer of Alcoa, Inc.; Bob Booker, senior manager at DENSO Manufacturing; Carol Evans, executive director of Legacy Parks Foundation and Outdoor Knoxville; David Mansouri, director of advocacy and communications for the State Collaborative on Reforming Education (SCORE); Dr. Thom Mason, laboratory director of Oak Ridge National Laboratory; Matt Murray, director of the Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy; and, Ted Wampler, Jr., president of Wampler's Farm Sausage. A complete list of panelists is available on the PlanET website.

In addition to hosts PlanET and Knoxville-Oak Ridge Innovation Valley, Inc., both ARCADISand Red Chair Architectssponsored the symposium.

A video of the entire event is available online at www.planeasttn.org/ETcompetes.