2021 WESTMARC Economic Development Summit
Date and Time
Tuesday May 11, 2021
8:00 AM - 1:00 PM MST
Location
Hybrid Event - Virtual and Limited In-Person options
In-Person location: Peoria Sports Complex (Colonnade) - 16101 N 83rd Ave, Peoria, AZ 85382
Fees/Admission
In-Person attendance: SOLD OUT - please register to join virtually. Virtual Attendance - $65
Contact Information
Marcus Braithwaite
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Description
WESTMARC hosts the Economic Development Summit each year. This year the title is: 2021 - A Year of Transition - What's on the Horizon for the West Valley?
Is that a light at the end of a long, confusing tunnel I see? Or is it the beginning of new ways of doing business and managing work teams?
Join us for the Annual WESTMARC Economic Development Summit and learn from expert speakers on how to manage your workforce in this new and unknown environment and prepare for changes in West Valley industries. You will also learn about great existing spaces for smart re-use and new projects horizon to provide employment opportunities close to home, while enriching the quality of life and investment in local communities.
Keynote Speaker: Xavier Gutierrez - President and CEO, Arizona Coyotes
Lunch Speaker: George Getz - CEO, Globe Corporation
Panel 1 - Returning to Work Post Pandemic
As we prepare to return to the office productivity, communication and collaboration is on at the forefront of every manager’s mind. But what do employees want upon return? What, is needed from a management perspective?
Reduced commutes have positively impacted work/life balance. Additionally, there has been an economic impact from keeping employees in the West Valley.
Learn from this panel of human resources experts how they are guiding a safe return and advising leadership on techniques to ensure a best business practices’.
Panelists:
- Lindsey Duncan, Finance Director - City of Avondale
- Julie Karins, City Manager - City of Goodyear
- George Forristall, Director of Real Estate Development at Mortenson
- Christine Gannon, CEO - Brightworks Consulting
Moderator: Rick Buss - City of Peoria
Panel 2 - Trends in Employment and Growing West Valley Industries
Throughout the pandemic, the West Valley has continued to attract new companies to our employment profile. While many small businesses were impacted, larger companies in healthcare, manufacturing and logistics increased their investments to meet changing consumer behaviors. Join this discussion to hear about the trends in employment and the balance of industries that have supported the diversity, resiliency, and growth in the West Valley.
Panelists:
- Christine Mackay, Community and Economic Development Director - City of Phoenix
- Melissa Libhart - Director Southwest State and Local Government at Microsoft
Moderator: Craig Randock, Principal - Corgan Phoenix
Panel 3 - West Valley Opportunities: Readily Available Sites for Your
COVID-19 changed the face of the office environment and locations in 2020. As employees return to work, they do not want to return to long commutes. The West Valley has a strong and talented workforce with 36% of Healthcare, 32% of Advance Business, and 34% of Manufacturing workers residing in this region. This presents many options for satellite offices in existing, re-use or new spaces. E-commerce has seen a tremendous increase in online purchasing due to consumer behavior changes. Learn about these great opportunities from well versed real estate professionals in office, healthcare, and manufacturing.
Panelists:
- Shelley Bade, Franchise Owner at Office Evolution
- Bobbie Mastracci, Designated Broker/Principal, Phoenix West Commercial, LLC
- Marc Hertzberg, Senior Managing Director-JLL
- Melissa Marks, Sales Associate-Colliers International
Moderator: Chris Camacho, Greater Phoenix Economic Council
