GOVERNING Michigan: A Leadership Forum – 2012

8:30 am    
Registration

9:15 am   
Keynote – A Conversation with Governor Rick Snyder

The Honorable Rick Snyder, Governor, State of Michigan
Interviewer: Jonathan Walters, Executive Editor, GOVERNING
Rick Snyder is a political newcomer and a proven reformer. He has demonstrated a collaborative, creative approach to delivering efficient and effective government. In this opening conversation, you will hear how Michigan is undergoing a “culture change” that focuses on results rather than taking credit or placing blame. He will discuss Michigan’s blueprint for once again becoming a national leader in innovation and success.

10:00 am  
Break

10:30 am   
Concurrent Tracks
Discussion 1: 10:30 – 11:15 am
Discussion 2: 11:15 – 12:00 pm

Livable Communities/Economic Development
Discussion Moderator: Erin Waters, GOVERNING Publisher

Discussion 1:
Regional Cooperation: Working Together in New Ways

Proponents of regionalism say that strengthening a region's governing bodies and political powers within a larger community would create efficiencies of scale to the region, develop a more rational allocation of the region's resources for benefit of the local populations, raise competitiveness levels among the regions and ultimately the whole country, and save taxpayers money. What are new ways of using the resources available and developing creative partnerships to better serve citizens?

Speakers:
Ben Kohrman, Assistant Deputy Director, Double Up Food Bucks, Marketing Coordinator, No Kid Hungry Coordinator, Bureau of Community Services Michigan Department of Human Services
Andy Dillon, State Treasurer, Michigan

Discussion 2:
A Community for All Ages

As our population ages, creating communities that accommodate multiple generations becomes increasingly important. This discussion will cover some of the factors in creating cities for all ages.

Speakers:  
Jacqueline Morrison, State Director, AARP Michigan
Suzanne Schulz, AICP. Planning Director, City of Grand Rapids Development Center, Michigan

Finance
Discussion Moderator: Mark Funkhouser, Ph.D., Director, the GOVERNING Institute, former mayor of Kansas City, Missouri
 

Discussion 1:
Pensions and Benefits: Plans for the Future

In the past, generous pensions and other benefits were a major attractor for government employees. Now, the costs of these benefits are a threat to the fiscal stability of state and local governments. Most agree that something needs to be done, but agreeing on what exactly can and should be done is much more complex. What actions is Michigan taking to address this problem? What are ideas from other jurisdictions?

Speakers:  
Keith Brainard, Research Director, National Association of State Retirement Administrators (NASRA)
John Nixon, CPA, State Budget Director, Department of Technology, Management and Budget, Michigan

Discussion 2:
Turning the Corner: Creating Cities that Thrive

Is it possible for a city come back from the brink of financial ruin and become a thriving community?  In this interactive session you will hear examples of cities that have done just that, and learn what worked and what didn’t.

Speaker:  
Natwar Gandhi, Ph.D., Chief Financial Officer, Washington D.C.
Dayne Walling, Mayor, Flint, Michigan
Gerry Vernon, City Manager, Junction City, Kansas

Transportation and Infrastructure
Discussion Moderator: Ryan Holywell, Staff Writer, GOVERNING

Discussion 1:
The National Landscape: Transportation Strategies to Keep Michigan Competitive

This conversation will address some of the leading transportation ideas and strategies from around the nation.

Speakers:
Shelley J. Row, Associate Administrator and Director, Intelligent Transportation Systems Joint Program Office, U.S. Department of Transportation Research and Innovative Technology Administration  
Kirk Steudle, Director, Michigan Department of Transportation

Discussion 2:
Getting the Most of What We Have: Innovations in Transportation

A conversation on national and local programs, including intelligent transportation systems, that are aimed at moving traffic more effectively on the existing system. These programs may have impacts on community planners and transportation departments at every level of Michigan government.

Speakers: 
Carmine Palombo, P.E., Director, Transportation Programs, Southeast Michigan Council of Governments
Shelley J. Row, Associate Administrator and Director, Intelligent Transportation Systems Joint Program Office, U.S. Department of Transportation Research and Innovative Technology Administration  
 

High Performance Government

Discussion 1:
Governing for Results – It’s about Performance

Michigan is leading the way performance management. Yet even in Michigan there are questions about the best way to measure success of critical services. This session will examine the important issues of defining success and measuring performance in government.

Moderator:  
Liz Wallendorf, National Program Director, GOVERNING

Speaker:  
Marv Weinder, CEO and Chairman, Weidner Consulting

Discussion 2: 
Putting Data to Work – Analytics in Government

Exploring the next step in performance measurement, and how to use data to drive decisions.

Moderator:  
Cathilea Robinett, Executive Vice President, eRepublic

Speakers: 
Amy Baumer, Director, Office of Enterprise Development, Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget, State of Michigan
Michelle Cole, Workforce Management Consultant, Public Sector, Kronos Inc.
Marv Weinder, CEO and Chairman, Weidner Consulting

Health/Human Services
Discussion Moderator: Jonathan Walters, Executive Editor, GOVERNING

Discussion 1:
Empowering Health, Controlling Costs

This session will discuss ideas for creating healthy habits and safe communities to help relieve the growing burden of health care costs on state and local governments.

Discussion 2:
Bending the Curve on Inter-Generational Poverty – Successful Welfare-To-Work Programs

Breaking the cycle of poverty is one of the most difficult tasks facing human services agencies. This session will explore ideas on how to transition citizens from welfare tojobs that pay a livable wage, and other ideas on "bending the curve".

Speakers:
Stacy Dickert-Conlin, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Economics, Department of Economics, Michigan State University
Katy Gaul, Deputy Commissioner for Employment and Contracts, Human Resources Administration, City of New York

12:15 pm
Lunch and Keynote

Alan Ehrenhalt, Author, The Great Inversion

Alan Ehrenhalt believes that American cities are undergoing fundamental shifts, with the wealthy moving to the city center, and immigrants and poor settling on the periphery. Our cities are becoming more like European cities and like those that have existed in the western world for most of the last millennium. What does this mean for creating strong communities today? How does this shift impact community planning, economic development, transit plans, and other important aspects of building sustainable cities?

2:15 pm
Break

2:30 pm
Concurrent Tracks
Discussion 3:  2:30 – 3:15 pm
Discussion 4:  3:15 – 4:00 pm

Livable Communities/Economic Development

Discussion 3:
Jobs for Tomorrow

A conversation about the economic drivers for Michigan’s economy of the future, and ideas from around the nation on how to grow jobs.

Moderator: Erin Waters, Publisher, GOVERNING

Speakers: 
Elliot Forsyth, Chief Operating Officer, Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC)
Robert Sherer, Manufacturing Talent Director, Michigan Workforce Development Agency

Discussion 4:
A Conversation with Alan Ehrenhalt

An opportunity to explore thoughts on the structure, make-up and role of cities in the 21st century with Alan Ehrenhalt.

Moderator: Jonathan Walters, Executive Editor, GOVERNING

Finance
Discussion Moderator: Mark Funkhouser, Ph.D., Director, the GOVERNING Institute, former mayor of Kansas City, Missouri

Discussion 3:
Rethinking Government Finances: When All-Cuts Budgeting Doesn’t Get It Done

The pressures on budgets today call for a new approach to setting priorities and allocating limited resources. In the past several years, governments have cut entire programs and made straight percentage cuts across the entire organization in an attempt to balance the budget. Is there a better way? How can a government go about setting priorities? How can we rethink government finances to pay for the government we need? This session will explore options and tools that can be used now, and ideas for the systemic improvements that are needed for the future.

Speakers: 
Robert J. Daddow, Deputy Oakland County Executive, Oakland County, Michigan
Natwar Gandhi, Ph.D., Chief Financial Officer, District of Columbia

Discussion 4:
Taxes, Fees, Services: How to Communicate with Citizens

In these days of vocal citizen frustration with government, it is more important than ever to communicate with the community about the services government provides and the costs of those services.

Transportation and Infrastructure
Moderator: Liz Wallendorf, National Program Director, GOVERNING

Discussion 3:
Leadership and Innovation in Smarter Government - Looking Ahead and Planning Accordingly

Governments at all levels must fulfill the mandate from its citizens to provide quality services. In an era of ever increasing technological advancement and unprecedented economic austerity the challenge to do so has never been greater. Governments must take advantage of what assets they currently have, deploy them wisely and maintain them prudently whih results in better project/department visibility and lower cost. they must also learn to exploit new technologies and capabilities o become ever more effective and efficient. In other workds, become a Smarter Government. This session will talk about ideas to do just that.

Speaker:
Mike Gosey, Enterprise Asset Management Lead for Smarter Government, IBM

High Performance Government

Discussion 3:
Working Together to Build a Better Tomorrow

The recession may be ending, but those in government realize the revenue contractions that have taken place over the last several years aren’t going to reverse. It is more important than ever to work together and share resources.

Moderator:  
Cathilea Robinett, Executive Vice President, eRepublic

Speakers:  
David B. Behen, CIO, State of Michigan
Phil Bertolini, Deputy County Executive/CIO, Oakland County, Michigan
John Nixon, CPA, State budget Director, Department of Technology, Management and Budget, Michigan
Dan Rainey, Director, Information Technology, City of Ann Arbor, Michigan
               
Discussion 4:
Taxes, Fees, Services: How to Communicate with Citizens

In these days of vocal citizen frustration with government, it is more important than ever to communicate with the community about the services government provides and the costs of those services.

Moderator: Mark Funkhouser, Ph.D., Director, the GOVERNING Institute, former mayor of Kansas City, Missouri

Health/Human Services
Discussion Moderator: Jonathan Walters, Executive Editor, GOVERNING

Discussion 3:
Emerging Practices in Managing Health and Human Services

The session will explore ideas for changing how health and human services are managed and delivered, not just at the state level, but at all levels of govenment and non-profit care.

Speaker:
Stanley Stewart, Deputy Chief of Staff, Texas Health and Human Services Commission

Discussion 4:
A Conversation with Alan Ehrenhalt

An opportunity to explore thoughts on the structure, make-up and role of cities in the 21st century with Alan Ehrenhalt.

4:00 pm
Networking Reception

• Overview
• Agenda
• Location / Hotels
• Advisory Board
• Sponsorships

Sponsorship Opportunities are Available:

For more information, contact:
Erin Waters, Publisher
GOVERNING
E-mail: ewaters@governing.com

For conference registration and general assistance contact:

Shayna Mayen, Registration Coordinator
GOVERNING
Phone: (800) 917-7732 ext. 1314 or (916) 932-1314
E-mail: smayen@GOVERNING.com