The City of Highland Park issued the following release:
The City of Highland Park hosted its first Business Summit on October 2, 2013. More than 200 local and regional business owners, property owners, real estate professionals and interested Highland Park residents attended the all-day Summit at the Highland Park County Club. Attendees learned about the City’s Economic Development Strategic Plan and discussed targeted industries and traditional growth sectors, and listened to the ideas and insights of their peers, business leaders and community stakeholders on the next steps towards continued economic excellence in Highland Park.
“The Summit was a unique opportunity to bring the public and private sectors, residents and stakeholders together to have an open dialogue about business. What we learned from each other and our speakers was tremendous,” Mayor Nancy R. Rotering said. “The Summit will serve as a catalyst for on-going conversation and initiatives.”
Featured speakers included Howard Tullman, Chairman of Tribeca Flashpoint Media Arts Academy and Managing Partner of G2T3V, LLC., as well as Dan Seals, representing the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity. Mr. Tullman captivated guests with a presentation about social media and technology and how it is changing the world. Mr. Seals opened the Summit with a presentation about the state of the Illinois economy and provided information about economic tools available with the State.
Event sponsors included: Tribeca Flashpoint Media Academy, Media House LLC, Greaves Travel Management Company, Craftwood Lumber & Hardware, Owner’s Choice Auto Body, Highland Park Hospital, Ravinia Music Festival, Mesirow Financial, Downtown Highland Park, First Bank of Highland Park, Marriott Courtyard, Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, Impact Energy, Lake County Partners, Menoni & Mecogni Inc., Body Evolve Studios, Michael’s Chicago Style Red Hots, Uropartners, Renaissance Place, The Art Center and Small Business Advocacy Council.
“The insights gathered at the Summit will be used to formulate future economic development strategies and help guide the City and stakeholders in reaching continued economic excellence within Highland Park,” Councilman and former Business and Economic Development Commission Chair Alyssa Knobel said.
A full report of summaries from the sessions for the four targeted industries and four traditional growth sectors as well as presentations by featured speakers will be posted on the City’s website by November 1, 2013.
For more information on the Summit, please visit www.cityhpil.com/BusinessSummit or call the City Manager’s Office at (847) 926-1000.