young, smart and local

April 9 & 10, 2019

Philadelphia, PA

Networking

A TALENT CONFERENCE

organized by Campus Philly and Action Greensboro

Young, Smart and Local
Young, Smart and Local

April 9 & 10, 2019

Philadelphia, PA

REGISTER NOW

CONFERENCE

Across the nation, cities are realizing that talent will drive their ability to grow.

Small, mid-size, and large metropolitan areas have developed different strategies for building their talent pipelines: from focusing on college access and completion to engaging and retaining students studying at local institutions.

Young, Smart and Local is a two-day conference designed to inform and engage leaders from higher education, business, government, economic development, and community organizations on best practices around talent growth and attraction.

Campus Philly, the nationally-known talent retention initiative in Philadelphia, and Action Greensboro, national-model for collaborative philanthropic investment in economic development, are hosting this conference in Philadelphia on April 9 & 10, 2019.
Keynote addresses and break-out sessions will focus on:
  • City as campus: strategies and tactics to leverage city assets as part of college students’ educational experience
  • Best practices for connecting college talent to job opportunity in your region
  • National trends and forecasts regarding talent development, alignment and retention
  • Benchmarking and measuring the impact of talent retention
  • Diversity and equity in growing cities
  • Building partnerships and infrastructure among higher education, employers and economic development organizations to drive talent growth

ATTENDEES

Representatives from cities and metro regions that are committed to talent growth.

The conference will attract:
  • Human resource and recruiting leads from major employers
  • Economic development professionals from city, state and local governments and NGOs
  • Higher education leaders
  • Chamber of commerce leaders focused on talent and business growth
  • Destination marketing leaders who focus on attracting new businesses to a region
Invited cities include, but are not limited to:
  • Akron, OH
  • Asheville, NC
  • Austin, TX
  • Baltimore, MD
  • Boston, MA
  • Brooklyn, NY
  • Chicago, IL
  • Cleveland, OH
  • Denver, CO
  • Detroit, MI
  • Gainesville, FL
  • Kansas City, MO
  • Knoxville, TN
  • Lakeland, FL
  • Memphis, TN
  • Miami, FL
  • Milwaukee, WI
  • Nashville, TN
  • New Orleans, LA
  • Norfolk, VA
  • Pittsburgh, PA
  • Providence, RI
  • Richmond, VA
  • Riverside, CA
  • Rochester, NY
  • St. Louis, MO
  • Tallahassee, FL
  • Waco, TX

AGENDA

Tentative Program

Tuesday, April 9, 2019

9:00 am

Optional morning pre-conference walking tour in Philadelphia

NOON – 2:00 pm

Conference check-in

2:00 – 2:45 pm

Welcome & Steal This Idea

Brief lightning talks from 5 cities showcasing a successful initiative, kicking off the conference with inspiring stories from across the country.
3:00 – 3:30 pm

Networking break

3:30 – 4:30 pm

Meet Your Match

Small, mid, and large cities each meet and engage in facilitated conversations around the economics of a young city of their size
5:00 – 7:00 pm

Mayor’s Reception
presented by Saxbys

Mayor Jim Kenney of Philadelphia joins other mayors including Mayor Nancy Vaughan of Greensboro, NC and Mayor Levar Stoney of Richmond, VA in discussing college student engagement as a growth strategy for their cities.
7:00 pm

Dinner on your own or with conference guests

Wednesday, April 10, 2019

8:00 am

Breakfast and networking

9:00 – 9:50 am

Breakout Sessions

Measuring and Benchmarking Talent Retention
Confirmed Panelists:
  • Ben Christensen, Handshake
  • Lee Huang, Econsult Solutions Inc.
  • Josh Wright, EMSI
Removing Search Friction: How to Connect On-campus Talent With Employers and Opportunity
Moderated by: Lizzy Tahsuda, Campus Greensboro
Confirmed Panelist:
  • Michelle Ahn, Campus Philly
How Talent Drives Infrastructure Development and Place-making
Confirmed Panelists:
  • Dan Biederman, Biederman Redevelopment Group
  • Ben Donsky, Biederman Redevelopment Group
  • Bob Geolas, HR&A
10:00 – 10:50 am

Breakout Sessions

Growth and Equity: How Driving Economic Growth Impacts Equity and Inclusion
Confirmed Panelists:
  • Alan Berube, Brookings Institution
  • Rodney Foxworth, BALLE (Business Alliance for Local Living Economies)
  • Ashley Putnam, Federal Reserve of Philadelphia
Workplace Learning and Success Skills Development as a Tool for Upward Economic Mobility
Moderated by: Sarah Miller, CAEL (Council for Adult and Experiential Learning)
Confirmed Panelists:
  • Shayne Evans, The Academy Group
  • Kate Mulvey, USLI
  • Jean Rattigan-Rohr, PhD, Elon University Odyssey Scholars
Falling in Love With Place: What Helps Students Feel Attached
Confirmed Panelists:
  • Sarah Craft, Text a Detroiter
  • Brittnie Knight, Knight Foundation, Civic Commons
10:50 – 11:15 am

Networking break

11:15am – NOON

Breakout Sessions

Cities As Campus: Programs That Leverage the City
Confirmed Panelist:
  • Calista Cleary, Bryn Mawr College
Organizational Infrastructure for Talent Retention Strategies
Confirmed Panelists:
  • Kirsten Brinlee, Collegetown Baltimore
  • Deborah Diamond, Campus Philly
  • Sheila Ireland, ReBuild Philadelphia
  • Cecelia Thompson, Campus Greensboro
Internship Programs as Retention Strategies
Moderated by: Matthew Brink, NACE
Confirmed Panelists:
  • Lizzy Tahsuda, Action Greensboro
  • Nicole Wormley, Daneher
NOON

Lunch and closing session

LOCATION

Convene CityView

This year’s conference is taking place in Center City Philadelphia and will be held at Convene, located at 30 S. 17th St, Philadelphia, PA 19103. Centrally located near Rittenhouse Square, this venue is walking distance from Suburban Station, one subway stop away from 30th Street Station and a short cab ride from the airport. The venue features state of the art amenities and breathtaking city views.

Sonesta Hotel

Conference guests can reserve a room at the Sonesta Hotel. There is a hotel block available for Tuesday and/or Wednesday evening at a discounted rate of $229 per night. The hotel block rate is available until March 19, 2019. To make reservations, click here.

Conference guest amenities include: Complimentary wireless internet, complimentary access to 8th Floor Fitness Center, complimentary access to Philadelphia Sports Club at the Bellevue for all overnight guests and 25% off valet parking.

Philly

We are excited to show off our city of Philadelphia! Make sure to check out Campus Philly’s Insider Guide to help you explore on your own. Once registered for the conference, attendees will receive additional guides on dining, history, arts and culture, and more.
REGISTER NOW

SPONSORS

FOUNDATION SUPPORT

KNIGHT FOUNDATION
Lumina Foundation

MAYOR’S RECEPTION SPONSOR

SAXBYS

BREAKOUT SPONSOR

Econsult Solutions, Inc.

CITY & HIGHER ED PARTNERS

Community College of Philadelphia
THE CHAMBER of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia
Drexel University LeBow College of Business
Greensboro Chamber of Commerce
Piedmont Triad Partnership
UNC Greensboro
University of Pennsylvania
WELLS FARGO
If you are interested in sponsorship, read about opportunities here or contact Jen Devor