The Urban League of Greater Madison and the Madison Region Economic Partnership are excited to celebrate the 10th anniversary of our collaboration to host the region's premiere gathering of business and community leaders committed to advancing workplace and economic inclusion. We'll gather on May 10, 2023 for the annual Madison Region Economic Development and Diversity Summit at Monona Terrace Convention Center in downtown Madison. We look forward to an exceptional day of speakers, ideas , networking, and collaboration that you will not want to miss! 

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Event Schedule


8:00 AMRegistration Opens

Registration, Continental Breakfast & Networking


8:30 AMWelcome & Opening Session

Wisconsin Economy’s & What it Means for our Workforce Laura Dresser
Opening Keynote Presentation Jason Thompson


10:35 AMBREAK


10:45 AMMorning Breakout Sessions

Pathways from Youth to Adult Apprenticeship: Examining UW Health as a Local Model
MODERATOR: Bridgett Willey, PhD, Director of Allied Health Education and Career Pathways, UW Health

Embracing Neurodiversity in the Workplace
PRESENTER: Haley Moss, Attorney & Expert on Neurodiversity, Autism & Inclusion

Improving Quality of Life—Not Just Business—is the Best Path to Midwestern Rejuvenation
Presenter Amanda Weinstein Associate Professor in the Department of Economics, University of Akron

What is talent really looking for?
MODERATOR: Mark Richardson, Founder & CEO, Unfinished Business
PANELISTS: Clara Tavarez, Talent Acquisition Specialist, Promega; Angela Arrington, Corporate Counsel, Manager, Alliant Energy; Erin Hillson Chief Human Resources Officer, City of Madison; Grace Fernando, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Manager, UW Credit Union


12:00 PMBREAK


12:15 PMLunch & Afternoon Plenary Session

Luncheon Keynote Presentation Troy A. LeMaile-Stovall
Closing Keynote Presentation - Lela Lee


3:00 PM10th Anniversary Celebration


Plenary & Keynote Speakers

Jason R. Thompson Vice President, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at WGU, DE&I Executive Coach, Author

Jason R. Thompson is the author of Diversity and Inclusion Matters: Tactics and Tools to Inspire Equity and Game-Changing Performance. Jason has been building and managing DE&I programs for more than 25 years. He has built DEI programs from the ground up in over four industries. From creating the DE&I program for sport organizations like the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee to innovative tech companies like Techstars, he has enabled the companies he has been a part of to achieve on DE&I.


Lela Lee Actress/Creator of the “Angry Little Asian Girl”

Lela Lee is a cartoonist, writer and actress whose experiences as a woman of color and as a child of immigrants in America intersect to create an identity that is layered by race, gender, culture, and traditions old and new. Her work often investigates where a collective culture creates contradictions with the new generation who want to individuate but still belong. Her weekly comic strip "Angry Little Girls" has become the umbrella name the highly successful "Angry Little Girls" book series which has been published and translated into multiple languages sold all over the US and abroad.


Troy A. LeMaile-Stovall CEO, TEDCO (Maryland Technology Development Corporation)

As the CEO of TEDCO—Maryland’s economic engine for technology companies—Troy leads the organization’s mission to support economic development through the cultivation of an inclusive entrepreneurial innovation ecosystem. He brings to bear more than 25 years of experience in investment management, higher education, telecommunications, information/communication technology, and management consulting in this leadership role.


Laura Dresser, MSW, PhD Associate Director of COWS and Clinical Associate Professor at the Sandra Rosenbaum School of Social Work at UW Madison

A labor economist and expert on workforce development systems, Laura has written about ways to build stronger labor market systems and worked extensively with labor, business, and community leaders in building them. She has written about low-wage jobs and organizing strategies to improve jobs, care work, inequality and labor market reform. She has co-authored every edition The State of Working Wisconsin and many other reports on the Wisconsin economy and racial inequality in it.


And Many Other Compelling Speakers and Sessions To Be Announced Soon!

All registrations include continental breakfast and lunch along with access to a morning and afternoon plenary session and your choice of concurrent breakout sessions on a wide variety of topics. The day will also feature ample opportunities to network with other business, government, nonprofit, and community leaders from across the eight-county Madison region.


Click here to learn about other partnership and sponsorship packages. Sponsorship is a great opportunity to gain visibility for your company PLUS your sponsorship is tax deductible. Click here for more info.


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