Southeastern NEWS
                                                       Southeastern Louisiana University
                                           Public Information Office
                                           SLU 10880, Hammond, LA 70402
                                           985-549-2341/fax 985-549-2061
                                           
    Date: 04/18/01
      Contact:                           Angey Saucier       119

SOUTHEASTERN TO HOLD ECONOMIC SUMMIT MAY 3-4
     HAMMOND   A faculty of national and regional experts will highlight the annual
Southeast Louisiana Regional Economic Summit to held at Southeastern Louisiana University's
University Center May 3-4.
     The summit will focus on a variety of topics during the two-day program, including the
impact of e-commerce on local economic development, business problems and opportunities
associated with the Internet, eco-tourism, and trends in the food processing industry.
     Featured as an Economic Summit speaker is Dennis J. Donnovan, Senior Managing
Director of the Wadley-Donovan Group. Donavan has advised numerous corporations on
location/relocation of office and industrial relocation projects. He is a frequent speaker and
author on the subject as well as teaching economic development courses at the University of
South Florida and the University of Kentucky. Donovan is an member of the advisory board for
the University of Mississippi's economic development curriculum.
     Also speaking at the summit is Thomas Strauss, Director of Operations for the
Commercial Service's Office of Domestic Operations.  In his current position, Strauss oversees
export counseling and programmatic activities of over 105 Export Assistance Centers
nationwide.  He also ensures that export centers provide small and medium-sized U.S. companies
with information and services necessary to successfully enter international markets.
     Other summit speakers include Don J. Hutchinson, Louisiana Secretary of Economic
Development; Jack C. Sieffenen, Executive Director of the Louisiana Furnishings Industry
Association; Darryl Burrows, Executive Director of the New Orleans Job Initiative; Steve Ennen,
Managing Editor/Senior Plant Operations Editor; Charles D'Agostino, founder and Executive
Director of the Louisiana Business & Technology Center; and Vic Johnson, Manager of the
Louisiana Technology Transfer Office of John C. Stennis Space Center;
     Also participating are A.M.M. Jamal, Southeastern Professor of Management; Joe Burns,
Southeastern Assistant Professor of Communications; Josie Walker, Southeastern Associate
Professor of Business;  David C. Wyld, Southeastern Associate Professor of Management; Paul
Keddy, Edward Schlieder Chair in Environmental Studies at Southeastern. Loren C. Scott,
Louisiana State University Professor of Economics; and David R. Kolzow, chair of University of
Southern Mississippi's Economic Development program.
     Sessions involving a panel of area parish presidents discussing regional concerns and a
panel of consuls focusing on international issues are also scheduled during the two day summit. 
     Summit activities, coordinated by Southeastern's Small Business Development Center in
cooperation with regional sponsors, will take place 7 a.m. to 6:40 p.m. May 3 and 8 a.m. to 2
p.m. May 4.  
     Fees are $100 for the two day registration and $25 for Friday lunch and luncheon
speakers.  Registration must be received by April 27.  For additional information , contact the
Small Business Development Center at 985-549-3831 or by visiting the Economic Summit web
page at www.selu.edu/summit.

                            - SLU -
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       www.selu.edu/NewsEvents/PublicInfoOffice/newsp01.htm