Smart Rural Seminars - Agenda
Please note this agenda is subject to change. The agendas are the same for both dates, with speakers and session topics slightly different. Get each session description's here.
Agenda-At-A-Glance
Coffee, lunch, light snacks and refreshments will be served throughout the day.
8:00 a.m.
Networking & Coffee
Welcome & Opening Remarks
Tom Pagel, City of Grand Rapids
Investing in Rural
Commissioner Ida Rukavina, Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation
8:50 a.m.
Session 1: Driving Equity in Rural Communities
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Accessible Transportation in Rural - Mary Magnuson, Blandin Foundation; Frank Douma, University of Minnesota; Myrna Peterson, Mobility Mania
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goMARTI - Minnesota’s Autonomous Rural Transit Initiative - Thomas Johnson-Kaiser, MNDOT
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AV Microtransit Insights and On the Ground Learnings from Deployments - Daisy Wall, May Mobility; Mychael Mulhern, May Mobility
10:40 a.m.
Session 2: Workforce Innovations in Rural
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Career and Technical Education in Rural and connecting goMARTI to MN North - Jessalyn Sabin, Minnesota North
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Customized Training at Minnesota North - Trent Janezich, Minnesota North
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AspireNorth - Claire Peterlin, Minnesota North
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Central Lakes College: Electrifying and Connecting the Next Generation of Power Sports Technicians - Rebekah Kent, Central Lakes College
11:35 a.m.
Lunch & Networking
12:35 p.m.
Session 3: Future-Proofing Your Rural Community
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Opportunity Thinking - Tammy Meehan-Russell, The PLUM Catalyst
1:00 p.m.
Session 4: Rural Transportation Innovations - Natalie Villwock-Witte, Western Transportation Institute (WTI) at Montana State University (MSU)
1:20 p.m.
Session 5: Resources for Rural Transportation
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Catalyzing Development through Transportation: Resources for Your Local Transit Agency Partners - Erich Lange, Community Transportation Association of America; Andrew Carpenter, National Center for Applied Transit Technology
2:05 p.m.
Session 6: Creating Technology Ecosystems
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IRRR - The Fourth T - Whitney Ridlon, IRRR
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The Role of Supportive and Welcoming Communities - Amber Lewis, Northspan; Julie Hawker, Outsource Training Associates
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Broadband Partnerships - Amanda Othoudt, Benton Economic Partnerships, Inc
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Workforce Partnerships MNTCC Overview - Morgan Fritzinger, Minnesota Tribal Contractors Council
3:00 p.m.
Session 7: Electrifying & Rural Recharge
Rural Charging Forward: EV Charging and Workforce Development
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Jon Sullivan, Minnesota Power
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Robert Blake, Native Sun
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Justin Johnson, The PLUM Catalyst
4:30 - 6:30 p.m.
Social Hour & Meet the Speakers