State of the Region Conference
About the Conference
The State of the Region Conference is the premier economic development gathering in Northwest Ohio. The conference brings elected officials, economic developers, business leaders, and other regional stakeholders together to discuss issues critical to the future vitality of our region and its people.
Workforce Innovation: Creating a Collaborative Regional Ecosystem to Support an Inclusive Economy
When
March 27, 2025
8 a.m. to Noon
Doors open at 7:30 p.m.
Where
BGSU Lenhart Grand Ballroom
1001 E. Wooster Street
Bowling Green, OH 43403
Agenda
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7:30 – 8:15 a.m.
Check-in, Networking Breakfast, & Seating
8:15 – 8:30 a.m.
Welcome & Opening Remarks
Opening Sponsor | Charter Communications
Rodney K. Rodgers, Ph.D. | President of Bowling Green State University
Representative Josh Williams | Ohio House of Representatives District 44
8:30 – 9:15 a.m.
State of the Region Address: Economic Conditions, Workforce, and Innovation in Northwest and Central Ohio
Nichole M. Fifer, Ph.D. | Director of the BGSU Center for Regional Development
9:15 – 10:00 a.m.
Keynote Address: Workforce Innovation, Advanced Manufacturing, and AI
Dr. Donna M. Ennis | Associate Vice President, Community-based Engagement of Georgia Tech Enterprise Innovation Institute (EI2)
10:00 – 10:15 a.m.
Networking Break
10:15 – 11:00 a.m.
Regional Partnership Spotlight: Northwest Ohio Innovation Consortium
Matthew Kirian | Owens Illinois, NOIC Board Assistant Secretary
Roger Smith | NOIC Regional Innovation Officer & President
Kyle Sword | NSG Pilkington North America, NOIC Board Member
Lou Trippel | First Solar, NOIC Board Secretary
11:00 – 11:15 a.m.
Transition Break
11:15 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Panel Discussion: Workforce Innovation in Northwest Ohio
Keith Instone | OhioX, BGSU Faculty
Chris Singerling | Ottawa CIC, Northwest Ohio Workforce Coalition
Sara Swisher | Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce, NOMA
Tricia Valasek | Raise the Bar Findlay Hancock County
12:00 p.m.
Main Conference Closing
12:00 – 12:15 p.m.
Networking & Room Transition
12:15 – 2:00 p.m.
Lunch & Engagement Session: Ecosystem Building with Northwest Ohio Workforce Macro-Coalition
Multipurpose Room 228 BTSU | Learn more about the macro-coalition and the workforce strategy | Understand the work of ongoing engagement and collaboration and the effort to build out sectoral working groups for strategy implementation | Identify ways to get involved in the work, collaborate, and engage with the coalition | Help identify areas of regional ecosystem weakness, opportunities for growth, and potential strategic action items for 2025-2030.
Speakers & Panelists
Donna M. Ennis provides leadership across all EI2 units to develop collaborative funding opportunities and provide support and services to ensure the integration of all communities into programs and services. She oversees the Center for Economic Development Research and the Partnership for Inclusive Innovation and co-directs the Georgia Artificial Intelligence in Manufacturing (Georgia AIM) project funded by the U.S. Economic Development Administration. She is also leading the establishment of EI2’s Workforce Center of Excellence, a new initiative to harness the best practices, research, and technical assistance in workforce development. Georgia AIM leverages a statewide network of over 100 partners for the development and deployment of talent and innovation in AI for all manufacturing sectors. Ennis is Georgia AIM’s Director of Community-based Engagement, ensuring that the project impacts all of Georgia. Through innovation, collaboration, education, and participation, Georgia AIM is providing the tools and knowledge to empower all communities to fully participate in a robust AI manufacturing workforce. To date, Georgia AIM has served nearly 1,000 small and medium manufacturers, connected more than 7,000 Georgia K-12 students to STEM programs, and sparked AI-focused outreach and innovations in more than 100 Georgia communities. Ennis also serves as the operator representative for the Georgia Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) Business Center, providing strategic direction and operational oversight to this 22-year-old program. Under Ennis’ leadership, MBDA programs have helped companies generate over $6.4 billion in contracts, financing, and sales, and create or retain more than 7,000 jobs.
Keith Instone is a user experience consultant and Director of Community Experiences for OhioX, a statewide trade association for tech. This semester, he is also an Adjunct Faculty member in Computer Science. Keith has been a long-time advocate for building a regional technology ecosystem to support economic and community development.
Sara Swisher joined the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce as Director of EPIC Toledo in March 2013. In her role as EPIC Toledo Director, Sara was responsible for attracting and retaining talent of young professionals to the Toledo Region, building and maintaining relationships with Individual and Corporate Members, and helping them to receive the greatest value from their memberships.
In December 2019, Sara Swisher was promoted to Vice President of Talent and Workforce. In this role, she provides oversight for the Toledo Region Talent Alignment Strategy, workforce development initiatives and industry sector partnerships including the Northwest Ohio Manufacturing Alliance.
Sara completed her IOM through Midwest Institute, a program of the US Chamber of Commerce in June 2018, and was awarded the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives 2019 “Forty Under 40”. She was honored as a 20 Under 40 Toledo in 2022. Sara serves as a member of the Northwest Ohio Workforce Coalition and is a current board member of Junior Achievement and ProMedica Metro Hospitals.
Our Sponsors
Updated: 03/18/2025 03:39PM