Directions 2003 expects record attendance

More than 1,000 people are expected

to attend Directions 2003 which bills

itself as the region's largest economic

forum on Jan. 14.

The forum will run from 7 a.m. to

noon at the Grand Ballroom of the Reno

Hilton.

Speakers will include:

* Rick L.Weddle, president and chief

executive officer of the Greater Phoenix

Economic Council and chairman of the

International Economic Development

Council. He'll discuss the challenges and

successes he's encountered while assisting

companies that are relocating or expanding

in the Phoenix area.

* Mason Bishop, deputy assistant secretary

of employment and training

administration for the U.S. Department

of Labor, will address community workforce

strategies.

* Phil Satre, chairman of the board of

Harrah's Entertainment, and Jeff

Beckelman, president and chief executive

officer of the Reno Sparks Convention

and Visitors Authority, will discuss

national competition for the gaming

industry and strategies for re-branding

the region.

* Steven High, executive director of

the Nevada Museum of Art, will analyze

the region's cultural assets and how they

can be used to build the region's economic

future.

Directions 2003 is hosted by the

Economic Development Authority of

Western Nevada and the Reno-Sparks

Chamber of Commerce.

The event was launched in 1992 as a

way for local developers and city officials

to discuss current projects. In its 11-year

history, the Directions series has posted a

10-fold gain in attendance.

Chairs of Directions 2003 are Tom

Baker, president and CEO of IGT, and

Valerie Glenn, president of the

Rose/Glenn Group.

Prices are $50 per ticket or $45 each

when five or more are purchased in

advance. Tickets at the door are $60. To

order tickets, call 337-3039 or at one of

these Web sites: reno.sparkschamber.org

or edawn.org.