Issue link: http://www.insightdigital.biz/i/51202
INDEVELOPMENT FEATURED SPEAKERS Tony Nelessen Principal, A. Nelessen Associates, Inc. Anton "Tony" Nelessen has been the visionary, planning and urban design consultant on numerous Smart Growth projects and urban revitalization plans nationwide. He has been a consultant to major cities, including Atlanta, Milwaukee, Austin's Riverside Drive, Santa Fe, Saint Paul and Oshkosh and has also consulted on projects and developments in Belgium, South Africa and The Netherlands. Nelessen's Visual Preference Survey (VPS) is considered a major tool to facilitate public participation in urban planning. His best-selling book, Visions for a New American Dream, was published by the American Planning Association. He is currently completing his next book, What People Want. Nelessen has been teaching urban design first at Harvard University and currently at Rutgers University for the past 39 years. A native of Little Chute, Wis., he is principal of A. Nelessen Associates, Inc. of Belle Mead, N.J. Paul F. Jadin CEO and Secretary, Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation Paul Jadin is the chief executive officer and secretary for the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation. He was appointed by Gov. Scott Walker in January 2011. Prior to the WEDC, Jadin was president and CEO of the Green Bay Area Chamber of Commerce. He oversaw economic development, government affairs, member services, and education functions. Jadin was mayor of Green Bay from 1995-2003 where he led economic development efforts. Prior to his terms in office, Jadin spent 14 years in human resources management for Portage County and the City of Green Bay. The WEDC was established by 2011 Wisconsin Act 7 as a public-private corporation to replace the state Department of Commerce. The bill removed non-business Commerce responsibilities from WEDC and eliminated program mandates in favor of a larger, more flexible Economic Development Fund. Brenda Hicks-Sorensen Vice President, Economic & Community Development, Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation Brenda Hicks-Sorensen is the vice president of Economic and Community Development for the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC). Prior to joining WEDC, Hicks-Sorensen was the president of the Fond du Lac County Economic Development Corporation from 2006-2011. She had been with the FCEDC since 2004 as director of client services, vice president and interim president. Prior to that, she was also the economic development coordinator with Washington County. She has received several awards, including Outstanding Young Alumni from UW- Oshkosh and Outstanding New Economic Developer of the Year from the International Economic Development Council. Hicks-Sorensen serves on the WEDC Board of Directors and has served on various economic and workforce development boards and committees, including as president of the Northeast Wisconsin Regional Economic Partnership. 34 | INSIGHT • Januar y 2012 www. insightonbusiness .com