2025 Mid-Year Economic Forum Agenda
7:30 am – 8 am
Booth Setup
8 – 9 am
Registration, Interactive Exhibit Area, Networking and Continental Breakfast
9 – 9:05 am
Welcome Remarks – Jeff Nuttall, BizWest
9:05 – 9:30 am
UNC as an Economic Driver – Andy Feinstein, President, University of Northern Colorado
9:30 – 10 am
The Future of Higher Education – Colleges and universities face enormous challenges due to changes in demographics and federal funding priorities. How are Northern Colorado’s institutions navigating these changes, and what opportunities exist for them to further drive the region’s economy?
Moderator: Ann Hutchison, President & CEO, Fort Collins Chamber of Commerce. Panelists: Abe Harraf, Professor of Management and former Provost, UNC Monfort College of Business; Kyle Henley, VP of Marketing & Communications, CSU; Alana Olschwang, VP of Strategy & Innovation, Front Range Community College; and Russ Rothamer, EVP, Aims Community College.
10 – 10:35 am
Fueling Entrepreneurship in Targeted Industries — Northern Colorado boasts a diverse mix of industries, but which ones will drive the economy in the next decade? We’ll hear from industry leaders in aerospace, data centers, laser fusion and life sciences about how their companies and sectors will influence the evolution of the region’s economy.
Moderator: Rich Werner, President & CEO, Upstate Colorado. Panelists: Lyndsey Linke, CEO and founder, SiVEC Biotechnologies Inc.; Amber Krummel, director of deep tech initiatives, Colorado State University; and Nick Doucette, chief operating officer, Ursa Major Technologies Inc.
10:35 – 10:45 am
Intermission
10:45 – 11:30 am
The State of Northern Colorado’s Economy — You’ve heard the annual forecasts, but where does the Colorado and Northern Colorado economy stand at mid-year? From tariffs to interest rates, inflation to supply chains, federal budget cuts to lackluster consumer demand, determining the direction of the economy can be a monumental task, with a multitude of forces shaping policy and economic performance. Phyllis Resnick will provide a critical update to where the region’s economy stands today — and where it’s headed.
Speaker: Phyllis Resnick, Executive Director and Lead Economist, Colorado Futures Center
11:35 am
Closing Remarks and Summary
Event sponsorship, vendor booths and tickets are available.
For more information, contact your account executive or Jeff Nuttall, jnuttall@bizwest.com.
