2017 Impact Ohio Akron Conference

Thursday, October 26
8:00 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Quaker Station at the University of Akron

In 2017, Impact Ohio held its first regional conferences. At the Impact Ohio 2017 Akron Conference, key government officials, business leaders, and community members discussed issues important to the city.

At the conference, attendees heard first-hand from government leaders, political analysts, pundits, and policy experts on issues that affect their community.

8:00 AM - 8:30 AM	Registration, Continental Breakfast & Networking
8:30 AM - 8:45 AM	Conference Welcome Ilene Shapiro, County Executive, Summit County Jennifer Flatter, Chief Executive Officer, Impact Ohio Richard Rebadow, Executive Vice President, Greater Akron Chamber of Commerce
8:45 AM - 9:45 AM	Observations from the Fourth Estate Moderator Bruce Winges, Retired Editor, Akron Beacon Journal Panelists Michael Douglas, Editorial Page Editor, Akron Beacon Journal Ed Esposito, Vice President, Information Media for the Rubber City Radio Group, WAKR Radio Akron Doug Livingston, Reporter, Akron Beacon Journal M.L. Schultze, Digital Editor, Reporter/Producer, WKSU Public Radio, Kent
9:45 AM - 10:00 AM	Coffee Break
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM	Opiates: New Solutions for Attacking the Epidemic Moderator Judge Joy Malek Oldfield, Summit County Court of Common Pleas Panelists Jerry Craig, Executive Director, County of Summit ADM Board Lori Criss, Chief Executive Officer, The Ohio Council of Behavioral Health & Family Services Providers Representative Ryan Smith, Chair, Ohio House Finance Committee The Honorable Emilia Strong Sykes, Minority Leader, Ohio House of Representatives
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM	Emerging Smart Cities & Opportunities for the Region Moderator Kyle Kutuchief, Community and National Initiatives Program Director, Knight Foundation Panelists Shannon Hardin, Councilmember, City of Columbus Dan Horrigan, Mayor, City of Akron Senator Frank LaRose, Chair, Ohio Senate Transportation Committee Jamie Sullivan, Digital Infrastructure Specialist, Internet of Things, AT&T
12:15 PM - 1:30 PM	Keynote Luncheon: Political Insight Remarks from Senate President Larry Obhof Luncheon Address: Political Insight Moderator Dr. John Green, Director Emeritus, Ray C. Bliss Institute of Applied Politics Panelists David Pepper, Chairman, Ohio Democratic Party Bryan Williams, Vice Chairman, Ohio Republican Party