Conference Agenda
& PowerPoint Presentations

Friday, April 30

Morning Session: Policy

Stimulus Presentation: "Emerging" States and the Role of Small Business Development ~ William Dennis, Jr., Senior Research Fellow, National Federation of Independent Business

Afternoon Session Part I: Networking

Concurrent sessions with international representatives describing business opportunities in their respective countries

• Argentina ~ Dr. Alejandro Maglione
• Bulgaria ~ Mr. Evgeni Ivanov
• China ~ Mr. Yao Ming
• Czech Republic ~ Mr. Jiri Kulis
• Hungary ~ Dr. Marton Vadasz
• Mexico ~ Dr. Alejandro Gonzalez
• Poland ~ Mr. Zbigniew Sebastian
• Romania ~ Dr. Ovidiu Nicolescu
• Slovakia ~ Dr. Jan Bajanek
• Vietnam ~ Mr. Yevgen Burkat
• Apache Nation ~ Larry Snake
• Ottawa Nation ~ Larry Angelo
• Alabama/Quassarte Nation ~ Dr. Charles Gourd

Afternoon Session Part II: Oklahoma’s Presentation to the Conference Participants

Concurrent affinity sessions:

• Rural Medicine and Healthcare ~ Val Schott, Director, Oklahoma Office of Rural Health
• Internet and digitization ~ James Deaton, Chief Technology Officer, Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education - OneNet
• Weather ~ Jeff Kimpel, Director, National Severe Storms Laboratory
• Petroleum and Energy ~ Mickey Thompson, President, Oklahoma Independent Petroleum Association
• Automotive parts, services, manufacturing ~ Ron Holmes, Manufacturing Extension Agent, Oklahoma Alliance for Manufacturing Excellence
• Tourism and transportation ~ Robb Gray, Chief of Staff, Oklahoma Tourism & Recreation Department
• Agriculture ~ Larry Pulliam, Executive Vice President, the Noble Foundation
• Aviation and aerospace ~ Jeff Davis, Acorn Grove Development

After Dinner Address - The policy/advocacy aspect of national and state government support for small business enterprise ~ John Hewko, Partner, Baker & McKenzie International Law Firm

Saturday, May 1

Morning Session: Product Day

Stimulus panel presentation: Information and Technical Assistance for Small Business Enterprises ~ Karla Graham, Quality Jobs Program Director and Incentives Specialist, Oklahoma Department of Commerce; Kaleb Bennett, Telemedicine Coordinator, OSU Office of Rural Health; and Dorothy Overal, Director, Oklahoma City District Office, Small Business Administration

Luncheon Address: The Facilitative Aspects of Partnerships-The Cluster Concept of Economic Development ~ William Tucker, Chairman, Tucker & Associates