Succeeding in the global economy: Exploring the opportunities and challenges for Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky businesses of participating in the global marketplace

Thursday, September 29, 2011 - Friday, September 30, 2011    
6:00 pm - 2:30 pm

September 29

Private salon dinner for speakers and sponsors
featuring University of Cincinnati President Greg Williams and former Governor Bob Taft

Reception at 6:00pm, Dinner and informal remarks/conversation at 7:00pm

September 30

 8:30 – 9:00 a.m.

Breakfast and registration                                                            

9:00 – 9:30 a.m.

Introductory Remarks                                                                                        

Bill Reinsch, President, National Foreign Trade Council

Gary Conley, President & CEO, TechSolve

James Min, Vice President, DHL Americas

9:30 – 11:00 a.m.

Discussion about the role of foreign trade, investment flows and innovation in the American economy with:                                                  

Dale Carlson, Executive for Advanced Engine Systems, GE Aviation

Jonathan Rothwell, Senior Research Analyst, The Brookings Institution

Terry Segerberg, CEO, Mesa Industries

David Thomas, Director, Public Policy, Business Roundtable

Trade has become a difficult political issue over the past several years, but the reality is that the U.S. economy relies extensively on foreign commerce, investment and entrepreneurs.   Foreign investments in the U.S. economy create millions of U.S. jobs; global competition has encouraged lower prices and higher quality for everything from flat-panel televisions to automobiles; U.S. manufacturers rely on foreign-made inputs for many American-made products; and a host of American start-ups such as eBay and Google were founded by foreign-born individuals.  Going forward, the rapid growth of emerging countries such as China and India will create new opportunities to tap into foreign markets, investment and expertise.  Experts and company representatives will lead a discussion about the role of global markets in the success of American companies and workers.

11:15 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. Discussion about where value is created along global supply chains

Gregory Kenny, President & CEO, General Cable

Richard Ketron, President, Mag South America

Robert Koopman, Chief Economist, U.S. International Trade Commission

Scott Miller, Director, Global Trade Policy, Procter & Gamble

A revolution in communications and demographics has led to new business models that rely on complex global-supply chains integrated with fast-emerging countries such as Brazil, China and India.  Yet United States and other countries continue to rely on an increasingly-outdated scorecard that does not reflect the reality of the 21st Century economy.  The United States has not established a mechanism to capture the trade of services or electronic commerce or the innovation contained in products that can be best-described as “Made in the world.”  Economic experts and companies will discuss the emergence of modern global supply chains and efforts to provide more accurate information to help drive policy decisions and contribute to a better public understanding about the role of American workers and companies in the global economy.

1:00-2:30 p.m. 

Lunch with senior U.S. Government officials: How the United States can encourage job growth and remain the world’s innovation leader, featuring

U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown

Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Manufacturing Peter Perez

Senior U.S. officials will kick off a discussion about ways federal and state public policies can help the United States better compete for the global demand, investment, and talent that will ensure that America remains the world’s innovation leader in the 21st Century.