Springfield, Missouri The Official Economic Development Site for the Springfield Metro Region

8th Annual
Economic Outlook Conference

September 15, 2011
Ramada Oasis Convention Center

The annual Economic Outlook Conference informed more than 200 members of the Springfield business and professional community about emerging economic trends, the impact they have in our area, and what local business and civic leaders are doing to ensure the Springfield region positions itself to capitalize on future opportunities. 

Click here to download a copy of the keynote presentation

Click here to view coverage from the SBDC Investor Brief newsletter
Click here to view coverage from the Springfield Business Journal (locked)
Click here to view coverage from the Springfield News-Leader

Keynote Address: Global Trends and Competing for Economic Success
Ted Abernathy, Executive Director
Southern Growth Policies Board

A native of Dallas, N.C., Ted Abernathy has spent the last 31 years working in economic development for cities, counties, regions and in the private sector.  Ted most recently served as Executive Vice President and COO for the Research Triangle Regional Partnership, developing and implementing national award-winning strategic plans focused on collaboration models and innovative cluster development.

For the past three years, Ted has been Executive Director of the Southern Growth Policy Board, a 40 year-old public policy think tank that provides economic development research and advice for 13 Southern states.  Southern Growth specializes in the areas of technology and innovation, globalization, talent, civic engagement, alternative energy, and leadership.

Ted received his bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, his Master’s degree from Johns Hopkins University, is a graduate of the Economic Development Institute, and is an Eisenhower Fellow for Global Economics.  With a passion for all things international, Ted has traversed treetops on rope bridges in the Malaysian rainforest, sailed in the out-islands of the Bahamas, spelunked in the caves of Middle Caicos, and four-wheeled in Mongolia. 

Development Community Panel
Moderator: Virginia Fry, Husch Blackwell LLP
Jeff Childs, Sperry Van Ness/Rankin Company, LLC
Jan Baumgartner, Springfield First Community Bank
Larry Snyder, Larry Snyder & Co.




Targeted Industries Panel
Moderator – John Wanamaker, BKD, LLP
Manufacturing: Tim Roth, SRC Electrical, LLC
Technological Innovation: Keela Davis, Mercy Research & Development
Corporate Services: Steven E. Smith, Expedia, Inc.



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