7:30 am

Registration

8:30 am

Welcome
Jonathan Ortmans, The Public Forum Institute

8:40 am

A New Vision for Central New Jersey
Congressman Rush Holt

9:00 am

A Newcomer's Perspective: Utilizing Our Regional Assets and Building Public-Private Partnerships

Paul Gaffney, President of Monmouth University

9:15 am

Entrepreneurship: Initiative, Innovation and Jobs
Erik Pages, President, EntreWorks

9:45 am

Concurrent Workshops: Session 1
Participants select one of two (2) breakout sessions to discuss potential development areas. Workshop topics include:

• Strengthening Central New Jersey’s R&D Advantage

Chair: Ralph Izzo, Vice President, Public Service Electric & Gas

Panelists:

• Vice Admiral Paul G. Gaffney II, President of Monmouth University

• Ms. Debbie Hart, President, Biotechnology Council of New Jersey

• Mr. Neal Masia, Assistant Director of Economic Policy for Pfizer, Inc.

- or -

• Preparing the Workforce of the Future

Chair: Laurence Downes, CEO of New Jersey Resources & Chair of New Jersey Higher Education Commission

Panelists:

• Dr. Carl Van Horn, Director of the John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development

• Dr. John Bakum, President of Middlesex County College

• Mr. Adam Pechter, President and CEO of Prosperity New Jersey

• Mr. Kevin McCabe, Deputy Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Labor

• Mr. Charles Wowkanech, President, New Jersey AFL-CIO

11:15 am

Workshop Transition

11:30 am

Concurrent Workshops: Session 2
Participants select one of two (2) breakout sessions to discuss potential development areas. Workshop topics include:

• Supporting Small Business & Encouraging Entrepreneurship

Chair: Greg Olsen, CEO of Sensors, Inc.

Panelists:

• Mr. Robert F. Johnston, President of Johnston Associates, Inc. in Princeton, leading venture capitalist in NJ

• Ms. Bernadette Tiernan, Associate State Director, New Jersey Small Business Development Centers

• Mr. Art Maurice, Executive with NJ Business and Industry Association

or

• Promoting Livable Communities & Sustainable Development

Chair: Gail O'Reilly, O'Reilly Associates

Panelists:

• Mr. David Ausherman, Senior Associate, Fregonese Calthorpe Associates

• Dr. Martin Robins, Director of the Voorhees Transportation Center at Rutgers University and the Transportation Policy Institute

• Mr. Bill Watson, President of Trent Towne Group, LLC , and Associate of the Watson Institute at Thomas Edison Community College

• Mr. Marty Johnson, President & Founder, Isles, Inc.

• Mr. Martin Bierbaum, Executive Director of the  Land Use Municipal Resource Center

• Carlos Macedo Rodrigues, PP, AICP Manager, Plan Implementation, New Jersey Office of Smart Growth

• Barbara L. Lawrence, Executive Director, New Jersey Future

• Tracy Challenger, President, The Agora Coalition

1:00 pm

Lunch

1:45 pm

Workshop Reports, eFORUM & Discussion: 
Determining Action Steps
Moderator: Ms. Ingrid Reed, Eagleton Institute of Politics, Rutgers University

Representatives from each breakout session present brief summaries of their discussions. All summit attendees use electronic polling technology to vote on the viability, value, and scope of each development prospect.

3:30 pm

Scenario Planning and Attainment of a Regional Vision
David Ausherman, Senior Associate, Fregonese Calthorpe Associates

4:00 pm

Summary and Call to Action
Congressman Rush Holt