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CONNECTIONS BY NIKKI KALLIO Elevating growth New North Summit 2012 aims to promote innovation, ideas on Dec. 7 at Radisson Paper Valley in Appleton develop new ideas and adapt to change. This year's New North Summit theme, "Innovate to Elevate, T he difference between companies that survive and thrive and those that don't oſten comes down to the way they brings in top experts to share their experiences using innovative ideas and collaboration to foster growth in the New North. "If you are not innovating, you are not moving forward," says Ann " when we know where we're at, or where we're going, several areas of innovation. Speakers include Melanie Cosgrove Holmes, vice president at ManpowerGroup of Milwaukee, who will speak about the teachable fit system to bridge the skills gap, and Christine Mau, global design director at Kimberly Clark. More speakers will be announced as they are confirmed. Other breakout sessions include The CEO panel will highlight Duginske, research and development project manager of New North. "This year (the conference) is going to capture a lot of that excitement that innovation brings." The summit, to be held Dec. 7 at the Radisson Paper Valley Hotel in Appleton, starts at 7 a.m. with networking and continental breakfast and features a CEO panel, breakout sessions and an address by Gov. Scott Walker. Also shared at the summit will be information on Fast Forward 1.0, a program to find and accelerate fast- growth entrepreneurs in the region; best practices in sustainability; expanding export opportunities; and collaboration between business and education. In the end, the summit is about its participants, Duginske says. "In the past, we had spoken more the results of the Northeast Economic Survey by First Business Bank, which had previously been presented at a separate event, and the NEW Manufacturing Alliance Vitality Index. "I think we always learn better 22 | INSIGHT • November 2012 says. "But this year, we're really trying to connect with our audience and attendees and be able to offer education. Because in the end people want to go to the summit to learn something. to the business community and last year focused on (industry) clusters, and that was an important theory we wanted to communicate, " Duginske Joey Reader, summit coordinator " " Duginske says. ON THE WEB » www.newnorthsummit.com » Twitter: #nnsummit12 and owner of A-Mazing Events in Little Chute, says one of the big draws of the summit is simply its networking opportunities. "We did a word-cloud analysis from last year of the responses from the post-event survey, "and networking jumps out as one of the most important things as far as what people liked best about the summit. opportunities occurs during the popular Taste of New North, during which culinary entrepreneurs and restaurateurs set up their wares during the lunch period. The summit is still accepting applications for the Taste. The event is for anyone involved One of the best networking " in regional growth and economic development, such as small business owners, education professionals, manufacturing company executives or government and chamber of commerce leaders. Insight Publications, which produces the New North Report to the Community, is one of the sponsors. www.insightonbusiness .com " Reader says, U PFR O N T