WCU to host regional leaders summit – Oct. 20th

September 15, 2015


Register now for LEAD:WNC-Enhancing the Quality of Life.
ENHANCING THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA
Tuesday, October 20, 10am-5pm
Western Carolina University Campus
Register by October 2 to receive a reduced rate of $69.
Registration after October 2 will be $109.
This event will include a special keynote presentation on  
The State of Healthcare and Its Affect on the Quality of Life.
Speakers Include:
  • Jeff Seraphine, President, Eastern Group of Lifepoint Health
  • Harry R. Phillips, MD, Chief Medical Officer, Duke Lifepoint
  • Steve Heatherly, CEO, Harris Regional Hospital and Swain Community Hospital
Breakout Sessions to Include:
The Environment and Quality of Life
Western North Carolina’s natural environment is a key factor affecting our health and well-being. 
The panel discussing these issues will include:
  • Dr. Peter Bates, Executive Director of Forest Stewards and Director of WCU’s Natural Resource Conservation and Management Program
  • Brent Martin, Southern Appalachia Regional Director of The Wilderness Society
  • Julie Mayfield, Co-Director of Mountain True
  • Sharon Fouts Taylor, Executive Director of the Land Trust for the Little Tennessee
  • Bob Wagner, Co-Director of Mountain True
  • Moderated by Dr. Jay Gerlach, Director of WCU’s Masters of Public Affairs Program
Tourism and the Quality of Life
Tourism not only adds to the economy and quality of life in WNC, but is also playing an important role in economic development and attracting the next “creative class” of entrepreneurs, talented workers, and business owners. Find out how chambers of commerce and economic development officials are leveraging western NC’s strong tourism assets to recruit and retain the next generation of talented business owners and employees, and how tourism is creating an unmatched competitive advantage for economic development in WNC. 
Panelists include:
  • Stephanie Brown, Executive Director, Asheville Convention & Visitors Bureau
  • Chris Cavanaugh, President, Magellan Strategy Group
  • Betty Huskins, Executive Director, Smoky Mountain Host
  • Tommy Jenkins, Executive Director, Macon Co. Economic Development Commission
  • Ed Phillips, Executive Director, Burke Co. Tourism Development Authority
  • Ryan Sherby, Executive Director, Southwestern Commission
  • Moderated by Dr. Steve Morse, Economist and Director, WCU’s Hospitality and Tourism Program
PLUS, BREAKOUT SESSIONS ON: Creative Arts,Innovation & Technology, Education, and Healthcare and the Affect on Quality of Life
Sponsored by: