Sessions & Schedules

Time	Event	Description	Location	Participants
6:00pm -8:00pm	Business Opening Reception & Conference Kick-off	Project Summary Overviews - Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport Modernization, Rail Road Reservation Project, Fair Park Revitalization, BJCC Expansion and more... Entertainment: Alabama Symphony Orchestra (ASO) Quartet	Alabama Power Company Headquarters - Atrium & Auditorium	Guest Speaker: Dalton Smith, President and CEO, Birmingham Business Alliance

Time	Event	Description	Location	Participants
9:00am - 9:10am	Welcome / Greetings		BJCC South Meeting Rooms
9:10am - 9:30am	The State of the Economy			Dr. M. Keivan Deravi, Chief Economist, Alabama Governor’s Office & Professor of Economics, Auburn University - Montgomery
9:30am - 9:50am	Collaborative Strategies in a Rebound Economy	Tying together Alabama's resources to effect a positive rebound in today's economy is a strategy for collaborative success. Learn of state-wide plans and efforts from key stakeholders in the Governor's Office.		Linda Swann, Assistant Director, Alabama Development Office
9:50am - 10:00am	Q & A
10:00am - 11:20am	Concurrent Sessions
Track I Real Estate Development	Office Market Analysis	Office jobs are critical to Birmingham's economy. Learn about the state of Birmingham's office market and opportunities for growth and revitalization of office properties.	BJCC - Room	Moderator: Jim Searcy, Birmingham Business Alliance Panelists: Robert Simon, President, Corporate Realty; Leigh Ferguson, Senior Developer, Bayer Properties
Track II Education & Workforce Development	Coordinating Workforce Development		BJCC - Room	This session delves into the need to build and maintain new and existing energy infrastructure as the demand for energy and environmental stewardship continues to escalate. To meet this workforce challenge, energy and construction industries, along with public education and service providers, have formed a consortium to leverage their resources. Presenter: Steven T. Marlowe Ed. D., Workforce Development Coordinator, Alabama Power Company
Track III Business & Industry Development	How to do Business with Alabama Power Company	Alabama Power Company will provide an overview of the Supply Chain Organization and the various component organizations, including Supplier Relations & Diversity, Purchasing & Inventory Management, Contracts, and Investment Recovery. In addition, learn how to do business with Alabama Power Company as a vendor/supplier.	BJCC - Room	Audrey Vaughn, Manager, Supplier Relations & Diversity, Alabama Power Company - Supply Chain Management
Track IV Sustainability	Access to Capital	Delve into issues Birmingham companies face in accessing capital in light of our national & local economies. Learn about products & services available, what barriers must be overcome, & where to go for assistance.	BJCC - Room	Moderator: Bob Dickerson, Executive Director, Birmingham Business Resource Center Panelists: Tom Todt, AL District Director, Small Business Association Roddy Clark, Redmont Venture Partners Ivan Holloway and Local Banking Executive (TBD)
Track V Construction	Project Delivery Options "Current and New Program Management Systems”		BJCC - Room	HOAR Project Management, Mike Kemp and Mike Lanier
11:30am - 12:45pm	LUNCH		BJCC - Room
	Introduction of Speaker
	Keynote Speaker			Jay Grinney, President & CEO HealthSouth Corporation
1:00pm - 2:20pm	Concurrent Sessions
Track I Real Estate Development	Retail Development Trends and Opportunities	Where is retail growth occurring in our area and how can we re-invent retail opportunities during a down economy? This session will explore ways to re-use and reposition struggling retail areas.	BJCC - Room	Moderator: David Fleming, Executive Director, Mainstreet Birmingham Panelists: Bryan Holt, Retail Specialist; Hugo Isom, The Shopping Center Group
Track II Education & Workforce Development	Understanding Workforce Resources	A detailed view of how the area’s workforce development programs work. We will discuss the Jefferson County program and what’s going on at the regional and state levels.	BJCC - Room	Moderator: Keith Strother, Economic Development Manager, Jefferson County Commission Panelists: Ed Gardner, Jr. Vice President - Economic Development & Workforce, Birmingham Business Alliance; Yvette Fields, Manager, Birmingham Career Center
Track III Business & Industry Development	How to do Business with Birmingham Water Works Board	Learn the qualifications and processes involved in doing business with the state's largest water provider. Presentations will include purchasing, engineering, and construction activities as well as information on laws that govern the bid process.	BJCC - Room
Track IV Sustainability	BJCTA In Town Transit Project & the Federal TIGER Grant	An overview of the ITA project and the possible contracting and development opportunities associated with this much needed system improvement.	BJCC - Room	William Copling, Executive Director, Birmingham Jefferson County Transit Authority; and Birmingham Regional Planning Commission
Track V Construction	Birmingham Airport Authority	Updates on the Birmingham Airport Authority Land Redevelopment, Terminal Modernization Program, and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program	BJCC - Room	Moderator: Toni Herrera-Bast, P. R. & Marketing Manager, Birmingham Airport Authority Panelists: Al Denson, President and CEO, Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport; Jim Payne, Director of Operations and Planning, Birmingham Airport Authority; Starla Ardoin, DBE Liaison Officer, Birmingham Airport Authority
2:30pm - 4:00pm	Concurrent Sessions		BJCC - Room
Track I Real Estate Development	Industrial Trends	For a strong economic market, keep an eye on industrial sector development. This session will convey an overview of current industrial trends, business recruitment, & retention efforts.	BJCC - Room	Moderator: Griffin Lassiter Panelists: Patrick Murphy, Senior Vice President Economic Development, Birmingham Business Alliance; Sonny Culp, Senior Vice President, Graham and Company; & Carma Jude, Jefferson County Development Authority
Track II Education & Workforce Development	Jefferson County Workforce Development Training Providers	An ideal opportunity to hear from training providers about the success of their programs. They will share types of training conducted for WIA and positive employment results after training.	BJCC - Room	Moderator: Panelists: Mike Fitzgerald, Account Executive, New Horizon Computer Learning Center; Sonja Banks, Director of Community Service and Outreach, St. Vincent / Jeremiah’s Hope; Dr. Kristi Rankin, WIA Coordinator, Lawson State Community College
Track III Business & Industry Development	How to do Business with Birmingham Water Works Board II	Part II: Learn the qualifications and processes involved in doing business with the state's largest water provider. Presentations will include purchasing, engineering, and construction activities as well as information on laws that govern the bid process.	BJCC - Room
Track IV Sustainability	Faith-based Economic Empowerment		BJCC - Room	Reverend Vanable H. Moody, II, Senior Pastor, The Worship Center Christian Church
Track V Construction	Why Build Green? The Future of the Construction Industry	If you plan to build a building, this session will convey how LEED impacts the construction process from start to finish.	BJCC - Room	Charlie Logan, Senior Project Manager, Brasfield and Gorrie, LLC

Time	Event	Description	Location	Participants
9:00am - 9:10am	Welcome / Greetings		BJCC
9:10am - 9:30am	Creating a Healthy Community	Guest Speaker: Dr. Max Michael	BJCC	Dr. Max Michael, Dean, UAB Department of Public Health
9:30am - 9:50am	Impact of Environmental Policies On Economic Development	Guest Speaker: Gil Rogers	BJCC	Gil Rogers, Senior Attorney, Southern Environmental Law Center of Georgia Expert on clean water law and policy Lead attorney for law and policy work in Alabama. Georgia Water Conservationist of the Year. Educated at Princeton University; Harvard Law School; Harvard Environmental Law Review.
9:50am - 10:00am	Q & A
10:00am - 11:20am	Concurrent Sessions
Track I Real Estate Development	Understanding Disparity Issues in Birmingham and in Comparable Cities	This session will include a local disparity study update along with insight on efforts by other municipalities across the country.	BJCC - Room	Moderator: Michael Bell, Executive Director, BCIA
Track II Education & Workforce Development	ROAD MAP TO CAREER SUCCESS: Career Planning and Beyond	With SUCCESS, Alabama is making sure its students are prepared to face the workforce challenges of the future. Through career guides that are provided to all 8th grade students and counselors, students are able to begin mapping their success. We know that with an education and career plan in place, students are more likely to transition successfully into postsecondary options. Join us to get practical application ideas on utilizing proven, print and online solutions in the classroom that will carry into postsecondary education and a successful career.	BJCC - Room	Moderator: Fred Braswell, Director, Career & Technical Education, Birmingham City Schools Panelists: Dr. Phillip Cleveland, Dean, Career & Technical Education, Wallace State Community College Sallie Lawrence, Career Development Coordinator, Birmingham City Schools
Track III Business & Industry Development	Tourism: Identifying Unique Local and State Opportunities		BJCC - Room	Sara Hamlin, VP, Tourism, Greater Birmingham Convention & Visitors Bureau; Lee Sentell, Tourism Director, State of Alabama
Track IV Sustainability	Arts and Entertainment as Economic Development	Learn how culture, arts, and entertainment fuels economic growth and community revitalization.	BJCC - Room	Moderator: Atticus Rominger Panelists: Henry Panion Keith Cromwell, Executive Director, Red Mountain Theatre Company Mark Stricklin, Alabama Film Commission
Track V Construction	The Evolution of Local Zoning - Past Practices, Present Challenges, Future Solutions		BJCC - Room	Donald Blankenship, Esq.
11:30am - 12:45pm	LUNCH		BJCC - Room
	Introduction of Speaker
	Keynote Speaker: Donna James "Leadership Development – An Economic Development Strategy"	Donna James will explore the connection between economic and leader development, and provide an example of an innovative approach and experiment underway for leadership development in the Columbus, Ohio community called the African American Leadership Academy (AALA).		Donna James, Managing Director, Lardon & Associates LLC, a business and executive advisory services firm. Donna James attended college as a single mother, joined Nationwide Insurance, headed the company's Human Resources Division, and elected president of Nationwide Strategic Investments. She serves on numerous boards of Fortune 500 companies today.
1:00pm - 2:20pm	Concurrent Sessions
Track I Real Estate Development	Form-based Zoning for Neighborhoods - Highland Park Master Plan	The City’s Planning Commission is developing a new zoning overlay that would impact forms of development. Learn about the newly adopted Highland Neighborhood Plan, the first of this new overlay, and how it can benefit other neighborhoods.	BJCC - Room	Moderator: Commissioner Elizabeth Barbaree-Tasker, City of Birmingham Planning Commission Panelists: Tom McGee, Senior Planner, City of Birmingham John Houghton, Senior Planner, Gresham Smith and Partners
Track II Education & Workforce Development	TRAINING TOMORROW'S WORKFORCE: Secondary and Postsecondary Options	Closely aligned with local, regional, and national workforce demands are a variety of training programs beginning at grade 10 in the secondary schools and continuing at postsecondary institutions. An explanation and description of these comprehensive program options for training the workforce will be fully discussed throughout this informative session.	BJCC - Room	Moderator: Sallie Lawrence, Career Development Coordinator, Birmingham City Schools Panelists: Dr. Charles Murray, Associate Dean, Career Technologies, Lawson State Community College Mr. Donald Sledge, Assistant Dean, Vocational/ Technical Division, Lawson State Community College
Track III Business & Industry Development	Green Industry Trends and Initiatives	Hear about current trends in the green building industry, including workforce development, manufacturing opportunities, and federal opportunities and incentives.	BJCC - Room	Don Baylor, Owner, EnviroSource
Track IV Sustainability	Preservation Impact - Rehabilitation and Urban Renewal	Opportunities to rehabilitate historic buildings for community renewal abound in Birmingham. See some models at work here and the impact of preservation on economic development.	BJCC - Room	Moderator: David Fleming, Executive Director, Mainstreet Birmingham Panelists: Jamie Cawood, Community Property Development Scott Montgomery, Missions Pastor, Church of the Highlands
Track V Construction	Storm Water Management - Protocols for Construction and Development	Learn guidelines and helpful tools when considering developments that have storm water considerations.	BJCC - Room	Panelists: Brian Ruggs, Malcolm Pirnie, Inc. Edwin Revell, Floodplain Administrator, City of Birmingham
2:30pm - 4:00pm	Concurrent Sessions		BJCC - Room
Track I Real Estate Development	Brownfield Redevelopment		BJCC - Room	Moderator: Tracey Morant-Adams, Director, Office of Economic Development, City of Birmingham Panelists: (Vaneatria has this information
Track II Education & Workforce Development	EDUCATION IMPACTING THE WORKFORCE: Dream or Reality?	Alabama's success in recruiting 21st Century Jobs in manufacturing and technology require that our citizens achieve greater skills sets. In Alabama, over half the jobs held by workers are middle-skilled jobs requiring more than a high-school diploma but less than a four-year degree. Many Alabamians lack the skills and training to meet the needs of the state’s industries and employers. Can public education in Alabama meet and sustain workforce demands generated by the growing number of large manufacturers currently relocating to the state? This and other questions will be addressed between local school superintendents and college presidents.	BJCC - Room	Moderator: Erskine Faush, Jr., BET nContrast Invited Panelists: Mrs. Barbara Allen, Interim Superintendent, Birmingham City Schools, Mr. John A. Dedrick, Director of Special Programs, Homewood City Schools , Dr. Perry Ward, President, Lawson State Community College, Mr. Gene Fuller, CEO REMTECH, inc., Mr. Melvin G. Grindberg, BSEd, RRT, CRT, Director of Respiratory Care and Noninvasive Cardiology Trinity Medical Center, Mr. Thomas D. HughleyCertified Public Accountant
Track III Business & Industry Development	Technology Commercia lization, Research & Development	A discussion about the technology commercia lization process and the Birmingham ecosystem for developing technologies, including idea generation technology licensing, raising capital, and attracting talent.	BJCC - Room	Moderator: Devon Laney, Chief Operating Officer, Innovation Depot, Inc. Panelists: Dr. David Winwood, CEO, UAB Research Foundation; Glenn Kinstler, Director, Alabama Launchpad; Dr. Erik Schwiebert, Founder and CEO, Discovery BioMed; Victor Brown, Director, Workforce Development, Birmingham Business Alliance
Track IV Sustainability	Neighborhood Commercial Districts - Trends and Challenges	Get the latest news from businesses in neighborhood commercial districts and hear a discussion of benefits and challenges for small businesses in urban neighborhoods.	BJCC - Room	Moderator: James Little, Merchant Liaison, Main Street Birmingham Panelists: Shannon Riley, President of One-Stop Environmental and President, Woodlawn Business Association; Martin Moorer, Owner, Efficient Medical, Inc. (West End); Karen Burt, Owner, After-hours Tech and President, Eastlake Merchants' Association; Merrilee Challiss, Owner, Bottletree Cafe and Secretary, Avondale Business Association
Track V Construction	State Bid Laws and Licensing Requirements	All public works projects in the state of Alabama are governed and regulated in some manner by statutory or common law. Alabama's competitive bid laws are defined in Title 39 of the Alabama Code. We will review the myriad of issues associated with the public works procurement process, different contracting options and the commensurate documentation required. We will convey an overview of the licensing requirements for the bidding of such projects.	BJCC - Room	Panelists: HB Brantley, Owner, Brantley Visioneering Dr. Kimberly Leslie - Patton, Owner, Leslie – Patton and Associates Nolanda H. Bearden, Owner, NHB Group