18th ERIE Conference
Unleashing Erie’s Economic Potential:
Harnessing the Region’s Strengths through Project RESOLVE
Tuesday, July 25, 2023
Samuel P. “Pat” Black III Conference Center
Jack Burke Research and Economic Development Center
Penn State Erie, The Behrend College
8:00 – 8:30 Registration and Continental Breakfast
8:30 – 9:00 Welcome
- Dr. Ralph Ford, Chancellor and Dean, Penn State Behrend
- Dr. Alicyn Rhoades, Vice Chancellor and Associate Dean for Research & Graduate Studies, Penn State Behrend
- Dr. Ozgun Demirag, Interim Director, Black School of Business, Penn State Behrend
9:00 – 9:05 Introduction and Overview of the Conference
- Dr. Kenneth Louie, Director, ERIE, Black School of Business, Penn State Behrend
9:05 – 9:30 The Erie Economy in 2023: Recent Trends and Future Prospects
The Potential Economic Impact of Project Resolve on the NWPA Region
- Dr. Kenneth Louie, Director, ERIE, Black School of Business, Penn State Behrend
9:30 – 10:00 Project Resolve: A Comprehensive Regional Economic Development Strategy
- Dr. Amy Bridger, Senior Director, Corporate Strategy and External Engagement, Penn State Behrend
- Joseph E. Sinnott, Director of Economic Development, Erie County
10:00 – 10:30 Phases 1 & 2: The Center for Manufacturing Competitiveness
- Dr. Paul Lynch, Associate Professor of Industrial Engineering, Industrial Engineering and MMM programs
- Dr. Gamini Mendis, Assistant Professor of Engineering, Plastics Engineering Technology and Polymer Engineering and Science programs, Penn State Behrend
10:30 – 10:45 Networking Break (with refreshments)
10:45 – 11:30 Phase 3: Lake Erie Data Collection and Transfer – Measuring the Effects of Lake Erie Water and Air Quality on a Year-Round Basis
- Dr. Xaoshi Zhang, Researcher, Plastics Engineering Technology
- Dr. Sherri A. “Sam” Mason, Director of Sustainability, Penn State Behrend
- Dr. Varun Kasaraneni, Associate Professor of Environmental Science & Engineering, Gannon University
11:30 – 12:00 Phase 4: Regional Growth Cluster Placemaking
- Charles Eurydice Gray, Director, Impact Corry
12:00 – 12:30 Phase 5: NWPA Innovation Beehive Network
- Jacob Marsh, Industry Relations Coordinator, Penn State Behrend
12:30 – 1:30 Lunch
Keynote Panel: The Importance of Public/Private/Academic Collaboration to Foster Regional
Economic Development
- Dr. Ralph Ford, Chancellor and Dean, Penn State Behrend
- Joseph E. Sinnott, Director of Economic Development, Erie County
1:30 – 2:30 Panel Discussion and Q & A with Audience: Integrating the Various Phases of Project Resolve and Envisioning Erie’s Economic Future
- Dr. Amy Bridger, Senior Director, Corporate Strategy and External Engagement, Penn State Behrend
- Charles Eurydice Gray, Director, Impact Corry
2:30 Wrap-Up and Adjournment