News release from the Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership:
Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership Hosts Luncheon with Global Economic Development Expert
(May 10, 2013) – The Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership hosted a luncheon today with keynote speaker Dr. Mark Drabenstott, a Northeast Indiana native; global expert on business collaboration and innovation; and renowned thought leader on regional development. Business and community leaders from throughout Northeast Indiana were in attendance.
Dr. Drabenstott’s presentation was titled The Way to Win: Northeast Indiana in the Global Economic Race. He discussed the best strategies for regional collaboration, drawing on his experiences in Southern Minnesota, at the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and around the world. He also referenced findings from his book Past Silos & Smokestacks, Transforming the Economic in the Rural Midwest, which was published for the Chicago Council on Global Affairs.
“Embracing the concept of regionalism is crucial for the economic future of Northeast Indiana,” said Drabenstott. “Globalization means that communities can no longer afford to compete with the neighboring county seat. Instead, they must craft a region-wide strategy that prioritizes public and private investment in what the region does best. Such collaboration is the very cornerstone for creating the kind of innovation the region must marshal to compete globally.”
A native of Markle, Indiana, Dr. Drabenstott spent 25 years at the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, where he served as vice president, led the creation of the Fed’s Center for the Study of Rural America, and provided monetary policy advice to the Federal Open Market Committee. He has also served as chairman of the Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development’s (OECD) Territorial Development Policy Committee (TDPC). Most recently, Dr. Drabenstott served as Secretary General of the Global Coalition for Efficient Logistics, where he led an initiative to drive down the cost of trade and maximize its economic benefit. He currently is chairman of The Global Trust for Regional Innovation & Investment.
A researcher on leading economic and policy issues, Dr. Drabenstott has written more than 165 articles and 11 books and been invited to share his policy insights with Congress on more than 20 occasions.
“The Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership is pleased to have the opportunity to welcome one of Northeast Indiana’s own,” said John Sampson, the Partnership’s President and CEO. “We are fortunate to have Dr. Drabenstott visit the region and learn from his experiences as a global leader on economic development and regional collaboration.”
About the Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership
The Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership was formed in 2006 to help build a globally competitive economy in Northeast Indiana. It is a public-private partnership focused on generating business leads and building regional capacity through product development and effective regional collaboration. The Northeast Indiana Fund (Fund) was created in 2005 to operate as a supporting organization of the Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership, focused specifically on product development and regional collaboration. In 2010, the Partnership launched Vision 2020 to bring the region together around five key areas for economic growth: 21st Century Talent, Competitive Business Climate, Entrepreneurship, Infrastructure and Quality of Life. Through its combined efforts in business development and capacity building, the Partnership supports its 10 member counties: Adams, Allen, DeKalb, Huntington, LaGrange, Noble, Steuben, Wabash, Wells and Whitley counties. For more information, visit www.NEIndiana.com.
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