| Rural Clusters Track |
Day/Time |
Session |
Speaker |
Wednesday, Oct 10
10:45 am–12 pm |
Clusters & Commodities
From Tanzania, Ethiopia, and the Catalonia region of Spain come success stories using classic cluster methodologies. Hear how small traditional producers of leather, coffee and other commodities use technology, marketing, branding and other tools to improve the quality of their products and secure higher pricing. A blueprint for creating rural cluster that triumph in the global economy. |
Teshome Kebede
David Griswold |
Wednesday, Oct 10
1:30–3 pm
|
Higher Education as a Secret Weapon in Rural Clusters
Cluster organizations place workforce issues among their highest priorities and they often look to post secondary educational institutions to support and help grow clusters. This panel will describe the various ways that post secondary education works with and aligns itself with clusters. This includes the programs they offer, services they deliver, advice they give and seek, and company they keep.
|
Brian Bender
Steve VanAusdle
Rauli Sorvari |
Wednesday, Oct 10
3:30–5 pm |
Rural Hot Spots
Some of the most interesting cluster development work going on today is taking place in some of the world's most remote locations. What lessons can be learned from cluster development efforts in the Patagonia region of South America and the Outback of Australia? |
Facilitator: Kathryn Studwell
Mike Crowe
Ines Sagrario
Connie Ireland |
Thursday, Oct 11
10:15 am–12 pm
|
Value-added Agriculture and Forestry
Historically, agriculture and forestry have been the underpinnings of economies around the world. As timber and produce become commoditized, and concerns about resource conservation grow, these clusters have been forced to reinvent themselves. Stories from the forest, ranch and farm in Oregon, California and New Zealand will be presented. |
Doc and Connie Hatfield
Jim Jungwirth
Ifor Ffowcs-Williams |
Thursday, Oct 11
1:30–3 pm |
The Role of Infrastructure in Rural Cluster Development
Rural clusters need soft infrastructure (training capacity, an organization to communicate with the outside world, access to financing) and hard infrastructure (physical and technological). The right investments can promote cluster growth. How do rural areas identify, prioritize and finance rural cluster infrastructure? |
Lynn Jungwirth
Anne Berblinger
Joe Poire |
Thursday, Oct 11
3:30–5 pm |
Impact of Entrepreneurship on Cluster Development
How do entrepreneurs contribute to the development of rural clusters? How do rural clusters help (or hinder) entrepreneurial enterprise? How do different business models foster and support both entrepreneurship and cluster development in rural communities? This panel discussion will highlight
examples and lessons learned in the development of three rural clusters including Forest Products, Crafts and Agriculture. |
Klaus Wurpts
Garry Powers
Ryan Temple
Diane Gasaway |
