2017 Economic Summit

Join us for the third Annual Economic Summit,
the premier business and economic event of the year complete with expert speakers along with great networking - an event unmatched in our region.

Featured speaker: Dr. Stephen J. Farnsworth, Professor of Political Science and International Affairs and Dir. of the Center for Leadership and Media Studies at the University of Mary Washington.

Topic: The New Virginia Economy:  How Political Results Could Impact Economic Decisions  
The Democratic gains in the 2017 Virginia elections are part of long-term trends shaping the future of a more diverse Old Dominion.

• How will the changes in the House & Senate reshape the debate over a wide variety of legislation?
• What are the potential ramifications on issues impacting our economy including a renewed push for Medicaid expansion, greater public expenditures for K-12 and higher education, and pressure for an increased minimum wage?
• How will Virginia progress and be competitive globally? 
• What might decisions in Richmond mean for our Region?

Come to the Summit to hear insights on these questions and economic indicators shaping our future. This event is a celebration of the economic vitality of our region and will sell out fast.  Cost to attend is $25 per person.  Reserved tables for 8 are $500.  Please RSVP by Noon, December 11 by calling (434) 845-5966, emailing info@lynchburgregion.org or online.
 
About the Speaker:
Stephen J. Farnsworth is Professor of Political Science and International Affairs and Director of the Center for Leadership and Media Studies at the University of Mary Washington. He is the author or co-author of five books and is a 2017 recipient of the Virginia Outstanding Faculty Award from the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia.
His five books include: The Global President: International Media and the U.S. Government; The Nightly News Nightmare: Media Coverage of U.S. Presidential Elections, 1988-2008; Spinner in Chief: How Presidents Sell Their Policies and Themselves; The Mediated Presidency: Television News and Presidential Governance; and Political Support in a Frustrated America. He is also author or coauthor of dozens of scholarly articles on the presidency, the mass media, U.S. public opinion and Virginia politics. His political commentary has appeared in a wide range of media outlets, including the New York Times, Washington Post, PBS NewsHour, Politico, C-SPAN and BBC World.
Dr. Farnsworth is a former Canada-U.S. Fulbright Research Chair in Public Policy at McGill University in Montreal and a former chair of the political communication section of the American Political Science Association. He received a Ph.D. and an M.A. in government from Georgetown University, a B.A. in history from the University of Missouri-Kansas City, and a B.A. in government from Dartmouth College. Dr. Farnsworth, who worked for 10 years as a newspaper journalist before becoming a professor, has lectured widely on the news media, the presidency and elections before US and international audiences. In addition, he has led reporter training seminars in India, the Philippines, Ukraine, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Lithuania, Latvia, Armenia and Estonia through programs funded by the U.S. government.
In addition to the 2017 statewide teaching award, Dr. Farnsworth has won three campus-wide teaching awards at Mary Washington: the Alumni Association Outstanding Young Faculty Member Award, the Mary W. Pinschmidt Teaching Award and the Richard Palmieri Outstanding Professor Award. Dr. Farnsworth, who is also Affiliated Faculty in American Studies at UMW, has taught courses in political science, journalism and political communication at Georgetown, McGill and George Mason universities.
For more information you can contact Dr. Farnsworth here.