News Articles

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 13, 2014

Matthew Felan, (804) 347-6840
[email protected]

GREAT LAKES BAY REGIONAL ALLIANCE STEM SUMMIT SPEAKERS ANNOUNCED

 
Brian Kelly, Editor & Chief Content Officer, U.S. News & World Report to Keynote

Six Regional University & College Presidents Headline Luncheon Panel

(Freeland, MI) - The Great Lakes Bay Regional Alliance announced today that Brian Kelly, Editor and Chief Content Officer for U.S. News and World Report, will keynote the November 13^th STEM Impact Initiative Summit at Central Michigan University.

Mr. Kelly is the chairman of U.S. News STEM Solutions, a national forum that brings together corporations, educators and policymakers working to help the U.S. fill jobs by creating a more skilled and competitive workforce.

“We are ecstatic that Brian Kelly will be keynoting our STEM Impact Initiative Summit,” said Matthew Felan, President and CEO of Great Lakes Bay Regional Alliance.

“Brian brings tremendous experience and knowledge about successful STEM programming from across the nation. This will be a unique opportunity for educators and business leaders in the region to learn firsthand from one of the country’s premier STEM experts.”

Lunch will feature a panel of university and college Presidents from across the Great Lakes Bay Region discussing STEM programs and K-12 education. The following Presidents will be participating in the luncheon panel: Dr. George Ross (Central Michigan University), Dr. Donald Bachand (Saginaw Valley State University), Keith Pretty (Northwood University), Dr. Jeff Abernathy (Alma College), Dr. Jean Goodnow (Delta College), and Dr. Christine Hammond (Mid Michigan Community College).

“The Great Lakes Bay Region is fortunate to be home to a vast array of higher education from 4 year institutions to our extraordinary community colleges,” said Felan. “This will serve as the ideal setting for our university and college Presidents to discuss STEM education and their extensive STEM offerings in the region.”

In May, leaders from business and education joined forces under the leadership of the Great Lakes Bay Regional Alliance to launch the STEM Impact Initiative. The long-term goal of the Initiative is to increase the number of students who are interested in and prepared to pursue STEM-related careers in the region. Researchers from Accenture and Innovate+Educate have been working diligently to conduct research and make recommendations for areas of focus. Those recommendations will be based in part on data gathered from similar communities across the country, as well as from estimates of the future needs of the region’s major employers.

Cost of the STEM Impact Initiative Summit is $50 per person and $25 per person for educators. More details can be found by contacting the Great Lakes Bay Regional Alliance by phone at (989) 695-6100 or on the web at www.greatlakesbay.org.

Great Lakes Bay Regional Alliance
The mission of the Great Lakes Bay Regional Alliance is to encourage, support and celebrate regional collaboration and initiatives that will improve the economic vitality and quality of life in the Great Lakes Bay Region. The Great Lakes Bay Regional Alliance is comprised of 48 Board Members who represent Bay, Isabella, Midland and Saginaw counties. www.greatlakesbay.com