ANNUALBREAKFAST ANNUALBREAKFAST ANNUALBREAKFAST
$40
TUESDAY, MARCH 21ST
Hilton Garden Inn, 2200 Gateway Court, Fairfield, CA
8am – 8:30am: Registration & Networking
8:30am – 10am: Plated Breakfast & Program
PANELISTS:
WHEREISSOLANOHEADING? WHEREISSOLANOHEADING? WHEREISSOLANOHEADING? Presented By:
Chris Rico President & CEO of Solano EDC
BeforeassumingtheroleofPresident/CEOoftheSolanoEDC,ChrisfoundedLevelUP,asocial enterprisewithauniquevisiontoprovidestudios,networks,andcreativeagencieswithafully formed,diversetalentpipelinewithcandidateswhohavebothcreativeandemotional competency.ChrishasabreadthanddiversityofexperienceacrossEconomicDevelopment, Entertainment,Education,Politics,andPhilanthropy.
PriortofoundingLevelUP,ChrisledtheCenterforInnovationattheLosAngelesCounty EconomicDevelopmentCorporation(LAEDC),aprivatenonprofitwhosemissionistheadvance opportunityandprosperityforallAngelenos ChrisbuiltInnovateLA,amulti-week,countywide innovationfestivalwithover150eventsonthecalendar.InnovateLAwhichtellsthestoryofLos Angeles,aplacewhereyoucancometoinnovateanything InnovateLAwasrecognizedasthe GrandPrizeWinnerforaneconomicdevelopmentprogrambyCALED,(CaliforniaAssociationfor LocalEconomicDevelopment-thestate’sleadingprofessionaldevelopmentorganizationfor thoseworkingtoincreasewidelysharedeconomicprosperity)
WhileattheLAEDC,ChrisalsocreatedandledtheLAEDC’sindustryclusterdevelopmentefforts inDigitalMediaandEntertainment(DME)whereheworkedwithbothindustryandacademic institutionstobuildcareerpathwaysthatbestrepresentthediverseLosAngelespopulation.
PriortohistenureatLAEDCChrisranadigitalmediamarketingcampaignforActivateED-a collaborationofTheBroadCenter,EducationPioneers,andtheStrategicDataProjectat Harvard threetopeducationorganizationsthatallhavemissionstotransformeducation outsidetheclassroombyidentifying,training,andsupportingtopleaders,managers,and analysts.
ActivateEDrecruitedtoptalentandprovidedthemwiththesupport,toolsandtrainingthey needtohaveatransformativeimpactonschoolsandstudents Aspartofthatcampaign,Chris createdandreleasedaseriesofEducation'sRockStarVideos
Previously,Chrisworkedinmultipleexecutiverolesinfilmandtelevisiondevelopmentand productioninHollywood Hispassionforprogressivevaluesandsocialchangepromptedhimto takethoseskillsintothepoliticalarenawhereheworkedwithAriannaHuffingtonasastate organizer,Moveon.orgasaleadorganizer,andcampaigndirectorforalocalballotinitiativeto promotewaterconservationandsustainabilityinSanFrancisco Withadesiretobetter understandpovertyandeducationinAmericaonthefrontlines,Chrisbecamealicensed specialneedseducatorandworkedwithlowincomestudentsatbothJohnnyCochranMiddle SchoolinSouthLAandanopportunityyouthfocusedcharterschoolintheBayArea
RobertHessisaPracticeLeaderandSeniorPrincipalfor Newmark’sGlobalConsultingandStrategySolutions Group,responsibleforstrategydevelopment,business development,marketoutreachandclientservice.Hessis apreeminent,sought-afterserviceproviderand respectedleaderincorporatelocationstrategy,site selectionandincentivenegotiations.Hehasconducted approximately300assignmentsglobally,acrossavariety ofindustriesandassettypes,includingmega-facility projectsinAsia,EuropeandMexico.
Hesshasledover30majoreconomicdevelopment strategydevelopmentinitiatives,includingstates,regions, utilitiesandprivatesectordevelopers.Hehasledthe strategicplacementandboardroomlevelbusinesscase supportofover100MSFofoperations(allassettypes) acrosstheU.S.andmanyglobalmarketsandhelped secureover$3.0Binbottomlinecostreductionand financialincentivestosupporttheseefforts.
Dr. Robert Eyler President of Economic Forensics and Analytics, Inc.
Dr.RobertEyler,founderandpresidentofEFA,isinterimAssociateVice PresidentofGovernmentRelationsandProfessorofEconomicsat SonomaStateUniversity,wherehehasbeenteachingsince1995.He earnedaPh.D.fromtheUniversityofCalifornia,Davisin1998.Heearned aB.A.inEconomicsatCSU,Chicoin1992.Dr.Eyleralsoservesonthe boardofdirectorsofRedwoodCreditUnion,a$9billionnonprofit financialcooperative.Roberthasbeenavisitingscholaratboththe UniversityofBolognaandStanfordUniversity.Hisfamilyhavebeen sheepandcattleranchersinMarinandSonomacountiessince1910.
Dr.Eyleristheauthoroftwobooksandseveralacademicarticles concerningeconomicsanctions,theeconomicsofthewineindustry, andmonetaryeconomics.Heisoftencalledupbythemediaforhis expertinputintotheeconomicclimate,actedasanexpertwitnessin interstatetradelitigation,andasaforensiceconomist.Dr.Eylerhasalso actedastheCEOofMarinEconomicForumfrom2009to2015.Healso provideseconomicimpactanalysesforbothprivatefirmsandpublic entitiestohelpguidepublicpolicyatthelocalandstatelevelandhas beenavisitingscholaratboththeUniversityofBolognaandStanford University.Heismarriedandhasonedaughter,Luciana,andisanative ofSonomaCounty,California.Hisfamilyhavebeensheepandcattle ranchersinMarinandSonomacountiessince1910.
GabrielDionisaManagingDirectorinNewmark’sGlobalCorporateServices andConsultingpracticewithabackgroundineconomicdevelopment includingforeigndirectinvestment,consultingandprojectmanagement Inhiseconomicdevelopmentcareer,hehasledmultiplegreenfieldand reinvestmentprojects,representingmorethan$500millionincapital investmentandoverathousandjobsinindustriessuchasVideoGaming, SoftwareDevelopment,FoodProcessing,AdvancedManufacturingandLife Sciences Healsohelpedlaunchtheleadgenerationactivitiesforamajor economicdevelopmentorganizationinCanada In2014,hereceiveda YoungProfessionalScholarshipfromtheInternationalEconomic DevelopmentCouncil(IEDC)
Apartfromhisexperienceineconomicdevelopment,Mr Dionworkedfora private-publicresearchcenteronsmartcitieswhereheoversawbusiness development,strategyandprojectmanagementofinitiativesinvolving academicresearchers,SMEsandstartups,andgovernmentservices
PriortojoiningNewmark,Mr DionwasaProjectAnalystforaninnovation consultingagencyinSanFranciscowherehehelpedclientsinmobility, insuranceandretaildevelopnewwaystoconnectwiththeircustomersand integratenewtechnologiesfromstartupsandresearchersintotheirprocess
