Description

 Each fall, Traverse Connect presents the Annual Economic Summit to highlight trends, speak to issues affecting the economy, and garner wisdom from economic experts to look ahead at the emerging business climate. This year, we are excited to expand this day to include networking, economic outlook discussions, and business showcase.
 

Quick Connect:
9:30 - 11:00 AM

Start the day connecting and networking with businesses across the Grand Traverse Region! Quick Connect is incorporating intentional B2B networking, encouraging movement over the course of two hours. Make new connections with business and community leaders to help build your network. This event is free to attend with the purchase of an Economic Outlook Luncheon ticket.

Economic Outlook Luncheon:
11:45 AM - 1:30 PM 

Our traditional longstanding program is back by popular demand, bigger and better than ever! We are very excited to welcome Jeff Guilfoyle, Chief Deputy Treasurer with the Michigan Department of Treasury, to provide economic insight from a national and state level, and to aid conversation about immigration reform. We will also have a panel discussion to focus more specifically on the Grand Traverse region, featuring panelists from the U.S. Chamber, Michigan Chamber, Fifth Third Bank, and Crystal Mountain. Traverse Connect investors/members have the option to purchase reserved tables of eight for $500 or individual tickets for $40 each. Non-Investors/members can purchase individual tickets for $65.
We are also honored to have Fifth Third Bank back as our Presenting Sponsor for the luncheon. 

Find Your Next New Hire Within One of Our Northern Explorers!

Traverse Connect and Michigan's Creative Coast are pleased to welcome 10 individuals from outside the Grand Traverse Region to attend the Annual Economic Summit as our 'Northern Explorers.' These individuals are looking to make the Grand Traverse region their home, and they are looking for their next career! If you are actively recruiting, don't miss out on an opportunity to connect with the explorers. 
 

Jeff Guilfoyle is Chief Deputy Treasurer for the Michigan Department of Treasury. Prior to this role, Jeff was a vice president at Public Sector Consultants where he helped clients find answers to difficult policy questions. Jeff has worked extensively on early childhood policy issues, school finance, tax policy, intergovernmental fiscal relations, and issues pertaining to Michigan's economy and the state budget. Jeff is a past president of the Citizens Research Council of Michigan (CRC), an independent nonpartisan public policy research institution. As president of CRC, he developed CRC's research agenda and edited all of CRC's research. He also frequently presented CRC's research to a wide variety of audiences and stakeholders. Jeff also served as the director of the Office of Revenue and Tax Analysis in the Michigan Department of Treasury. His responsibilities included forecasting and tracking state tax receipts, estimating the impact of legislation on state tax revenues, and providing economic research support to the state treasurer.

Jeff has a BA in Economics from the University of Michigan and an MA and PhD in Economics from Michigan State University. 

Learn More about our Economic Outlook Luncheon Panelists Here.

 

The link to Justine's bio can be found Here.


Business Showcase & Buying a Table (Sold Out)
9:30 AM - 11:45 PM
(Set up begins 8:00am - Available for purchase until November 4th) 

In addition to the luncheon, we will also be including a Business Showcase in the exhibition hall leading into the Economic Outlook Luncheon. Open exclusively to Economic Outlook Summit attendees, the Business Showcase will highlight 20 businesses. The Business Showcase will be a great opportunity for businesses within the Grand Traverse Region to highlight who they are and what they do. Booths for the Business Showcase are open to Traverse Connect Investors/Members only for $450. 

The showcase includes one six-foot table with black drape, two chairs, and two tickets to attend our Economic Outlook Luncheon. Please note, these tickets may not be applied to a table purchase.
 

Check out sponsorship opportunities HERE, or contact Molly MacGirr, Director of Events & Programs: molly.macgirr@traverseconnect.com