It's my job every year to develop the program for our Building the Broadband Economy Summit and recruit the speakers and panelists. I get invaluable advice and support from my colleagues, of course, but it's my baby. And like any proud parent, I have favorites, though I am not supposed to admit it. If you are attending BBE09 or taking advantage of our Online Option, which gives you 12 months of access to all the video coverage, here's my biased view of what to look for:
* We will have two panels focusing on how local communities can grow in a global economic downturn. "The Resilient Economy" at 11:00 on May 15 features the elected and administrative leaders of award-winning communities, while "Building Your Community's 'Economic Fitness''at 13:30 involves the audience in discussion with thought leaders from Europe, Canada and the US.
* "Getting Ahead of the Curve: Communities Online vs. Online Communities" at 16:30 on the 15th will explore how communities leaders can deal with the negative impact on community dialogue of blogs, texting and other Web-based tools - while also taking advantage of their benefits. Former CNN correspondent and Levin Institute president Garrick Utley will lead a discussion of community leaders from Europe and the US with Shirley Brady, Community Editor of BusinessWeek.
* "The Top Seven Conversations" will put the elected or administrative leaders of our Top Seven Intelligent Communities on stage to explain why their communities made the 2009 list. Mixing video and conversation, the Conversations take place throughout the two days of the Summit.
* "Can This Community Be Saved?" on May 16 at 9:45 will focus on New York City. The meltdown of the US financial sector had an impact around the planet but it also challenges New York to retool its economy and technology to make it less vulnerable to systemic shocks. Polytechnic Institute's Mel Horwitch leads a panel of city officials and nonprofit executives.
And then there is our special address by the 2009 Visionary of the Year, Mayor Andre Santini of Issy-les-Moulineax, the opening keynote by my friend Dr. Norman Jacknis of Cicso, presentation of the Intelligent Community Awards on May 16...
Okay, I confess. That's pretty much the whole program, which is why next week will be a very good week for me. I hope you can join us in person or, after the fact, online.
* We will have two panels focusing on how local communities can grow in a global economic downturn. "The Resilient Economy" at 11:00 on May 15 features the elected and administrative leaders of award-winning communities, while "Building Your Community's 'Economic Fitness''at 13:30 involves the audience in discussion with thought leaders from Europe, Canada and the US.
* "Getting Ahead of the Curve: Communities Online vs. Online Communities" at 16:30 on the 15th will explore how communities leaders can deal with the negative impact on community dialogue of blogs, texting and other Web-based tools - while also taking advantage of their benefits. Former CNN correspondent and Levin Institute president Garrick Utley will lead a discussion of community leaders from Europe and the US with Shirley Brady, Community Editor of BusinessWeek.* "The Top Seven Conversations" will put the elected or administrative leaders of our Top Seven Intelligent Communities on stage to explain why their communities made the 2009 list. Mixing video and conversation, the Conversations take place throughout the two days of the Summit.
* "Can This Community Be Saved?" on May 16 at 9:45 will focus on New York City. The meltdown of the US financial sector had an impact around the planet but it also challenges New York to retool its economy and technology to make it less vulnerable to systemic shocks. Polytechnic Institute's Mel Horwitch leads a panel of city officials and nonprofit executives.
And then there is our special address by the 2009 Visionary of the Year, Mayor Andre Santini of Issy-les-Moulineax, the opening keynote by my friend Dr. Norman Jacknis of Cicso, presentation of the Intelligent Community Awards on May 16...
Okay, I confess. That's pretty much the whole program, which is why next week will be a very good week for me. I hope you can join us in person or, after the fact, online.
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