More than 150 people – including Gov. John deJongh Jr., Delegate Donna M. Christensen and a host of V.I. business leaders – will gather Friday in the nation’s capitol for the U.S. Virgin Islands Economic Development Summit, “U.S. Virgin Islands…Your Destination for Business.” And the territory’s residents will be able to watch the proceedings online through a live stream video.
The event will features interactive panel discussions, keynote addresses and presentations that will bring together industry leaders, government delegations and associated partners to exchange ideas and educate attendees on operating, conducting and sustaining business in the territory.
The summit will take place from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Friday at the Washington Navy Yard Conference Center in Washington, D.C. A welcome reception will be held Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m.
The summit is being hosted by the USVI Alliance with the support of the 340 Group LLC. The Alliance is a collaboration of Virgin Islanders with supporting economic and community-based initiatives. The team is based in D.C., New York City and St. Thomas.
Friday’s meeting will bring together academia, industry, government and Virgin Islanders on the mainland and is intended to identify ways in which the broader V.I. diaspora can reconnect and contribute their technical skills and talents to benefit the community, even if remotely.
The event will be available live online through the live web and audio streams provided by St. Croix’s Kalalloo Network. The conference proceedings will be broadcast via online news channels www.theeconomy.tv and www.watchnews.tv. Listeners and viewers will be able to submit questions to the panel and moderator by sending email to info@usvieds.com.
The summit will feature the following panels and presentations:
– An overview of the economic backdrop from a local, national, and global perspective presented by Christensen;
– Best Practices in Economic Development, sharing our success, supporting our small businesses, EDC beneficiaries, revitalizing our economic development tools;
– Role of Academia in Economic Development;
– Keynote address by deJongh;
– Innovation and Growth: Doing Business with us Today, Tomorrow, and in the Future;
– Exploring USVI Opportunities;
– Connecting the Dots: Next Steps;
– and closing remarks by Lt. Gov. Gregory R. Francis.
Three Virgin Islanders who have distinguished careers on the mainland will moderate the summit. They are:
– Lead summit moderator Charmaine L. Slack, a partner at Jones Day law firm, where she advises senior management, boards of directors and compensation committees of public and private entities on a wide variety of executive compensation and equity arrangements, compensation issues, and other fund investments in a broad range of industries. Originally from St. Thomas, Slack is a 1987 graduate of Charlotte Amalie High School and alumna of Pace University, Harvard Law School and New York University School of Law;
– Panel moderator Mark Oliver was appointed senior advisor for partnership at the U.S. Department of the Interior in February, covering education, community and volunteerism for secretary. Originally from St. Croix, Oliver is a 1980 graduate of St. Croix Central High School and an alumnus of Morgan State University and Southeastern University;
– Panel moderator Adrianne Todman is executive director at the District of Columbia Housing Authority, the largest affordable housing provider in D.C. Todman is vice-president of the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities and the recipient of both the federal Distinguished Service Award and the Hammer Award from former Vice President Al Gore. Originally from St. Thomas, Todman is a 1988 graduate of Sts. Peter and Paul High School and an alumna of Smith College.
Thursday’s pre-summit reception will feature performances by Virgin Islands-born artists such as the Capitol Quadrille Dancers and Reginald Cyntje Jazz Ensemble. Virgin Islands delicacies such as Vienna cakes and tarts by Afrilasia Joseph-Phipps, originally from St. Croix, will be served.
The summit was the outgrowth of a meeting held by the USVI Alliance earlier this year with deJongh and Christensen. USVI Alliance members include Lo’an Sewer, Bernard Joseph, Roland Riviere and Zenzilé Hodge.
The summit is sponsored by the U.S. Virgin Islands Economic Development Authority, West Indian Company Ltd., the Buccaneer Hotel, Orbitel, International Capital and Management Company, Beam Inc., Diageo PLC, Jefferies LLC, Bostonia Partners LLC, Southland Gaming of the Virgin Islands and Rice Financial Products Company. The Metropolitan Washington, D.C., Virgin Islands Association also supports this event.
Further information about the summit agenda and participants can be found at www.usvieds.com.
