Conference Agenda

Registration

8:00 AM - 8:30 AM

Opening Remarks and Overview of Making Place Matter Process

8:30 AM - 9:30 AM
Dr. Larry Minks

Innovative Economy

9:00 AM - 9:50 AM
Community and Economic Development, Workforce Enhancement, Business Retention and Expansion.
Texoma Regional Consortium-Leveraging the Power of Partnerships
Tony Kaai, President, Denison Development
Kerry Manning, Director, Southern Workforce Board
Bob Rhoden, Director of External Relations, Workforce Solutions Texoma
Kathy Hendrick, Director, Southeastern Center for Regional Economic Development

Break

9:50 AM - 10:00 AM

Social Inclusion

10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Education, Civic Involvement, Career Technology, Rural Environments, Demographic Issues
Dr. Larry Minks, President, Southeastern Oklahoma State University
Dr. Jeanie Hardin, Vice- President, Instructional Services, Grayson County College
Dr. Jason Simeroth, Superintendent Durant ISD
Dr. Henry Scott, Superintendent Denison ISD

Lunch served buffet style

11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
State of the Region
Dave Lopez
Secretary of Commerce
Chad Wilkerson
Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City Vice-President and Oklahoma Branch Executive

Break

1:00 PM - 1:15 PM

Collaborative Governance

1:15 PM - 2:00 PM
Public/Private Partnerships, Regional Collaborations, Refine Boundaries and Regional Alliances, Strengthen Native American Tribal Relationships, Tapping Governmental (local, state, national) Resources
Matt Gregory, Director of Economic Development, Choctaw Nation
Chickasaw Nation (Invited)
Dr. Susan Thomas, Executive Director Texoma Council of Governments
Wes Bowman, Executive Director, Southern Oklahoma Development Agency

Just the Facts!

2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Deidre Myers, Oklahoma Department of Commerce

Livable Community

3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Quality of Life Matters, Community Revitalization, Accessible Transportation, Business Friendly Environment for Small Businesses, Entrepreneurs & Industry, Cultural and Tourism Opportunities, Planning and Zoning
Katy Cummins, Project Manager-Tourism Branding Initiative and Manager of Community and Economic Development, Texoma Council of Governments
Jerry Tomlinson, Mayor of Durant, OK, Regional Economic and Tourism Development
Dr. Bill Carter, Director, Oklahoma Small Business Development Center
Dr. Aaron Adair, Asst. Dean, Reach Higher, Southeastern Oklahoma State University

Closing remarks and Next Steps

4:00 PM
Dr. Larry Minks and Kathy Hendrick