“Hippie Dreams for the 21st Century”
Charles Lawton, Chief Economist,
Planning Decisions, Inc.
clawton@planningdecisions.com
Optimistic Economics! As a BIG thinker, that is Chuck Lawton’s paradigm, philosophy and practice! What does that mean for all of us? A lot!
Chuck sees far beyond the issues of the moment to solutions that will create lasting social, cultural and economic health. He doesn’t see “skill gaps,” he sees teaching people how to learn. He doesn’t see “brain drain,” he sees opportunity to make Maine a desirable place that attracts highly educated, skilled people to live and work. How does he “get there?” By applying his uncommonly accurate knack for analyzing past trends and events providing a compelling guide to future actions by government and the private sector.
He will talk about Maine’s next economic era, looking beyond the next quarter. Globalization and the “Great Recession” have radically altered (some would say destroyed) the Maine economy as we knew it for most of the 20th century. Is our future a dystopia of gray-haired old-timers hanging on in depopulating villages and young brains draining to high-tech centers? Or, does Maine have an alternate future? What will Maine’s next economic era be?
Chuck is chief economist at Planning Decisions. He specializes in economic policy, fiscal impact studies, smart growth and economic development studies. He has worked in private business, in state government and was a professor at the University of Maine at Farmington. Chuck is also a member of the Maine Center for Creativity board. He holds a Ph.D. degree from The Fletcher School at Tufts University and writes a weekly column on the Maine economy for the Maine Sunday Telegram. He is the author of the book “Maine’s Bottom Line: Facing the 21st Century.”
Planning Decisions, Inc. is a 30-year-old Maine research and planning firm. Their clients include the public, private, and independent sectors. They regularly work with municipalities, school districts, and state agencies throughout Northern New England. PDI works with the development community, private businesses and industry associations in Maine and the greater New England area on questions related to market feasibility, economic and fiscal impacts, and public policy. Planning Decisions has won numerous awards from the Maine Association of Planners and the Northern New England Regional Planning Association.
Roundtable
Takes place from 9:45 to 10:30 after the regular meeting and is optional
Models for Successful Strategic Planning
Clay Atkinson will lead this discussion by presenting a handful of simple models for evaluating and developing successful strategic plans applicable for-profit and non-profit organizations, as well as for product and service organizations. All participants will receive a handout containing the essential models discussed with plenty of room for notes from the rich discussion.
Clay Atkinson is a principal at Ericson Mitchell Marketing and Communications in Portland, Maine which provides strategic insights and plans to businesses. Years of experience collaborating with 150 clients in 30 different industries is the basis for analyses of primary and secondary customer/client research. With a focus on broad strategic direction from a market perspective, Ericson Mitchell helps companies introduce new products, new positionings and roll out new revitalized brands. A long proven record of providing strong strategic insights translates into streetwise solutions for numerous satisfied clients.
With a Master's Degree from UCLA Anderson School of Business, Clay has taught graduate marketing management courses. He is also on several boards, including the Association for Consulting Expertise, has worked with street kids, and has been a mentor in Menttium, a program for women executives. He has lived in Germany and traveled in Europe, Russia, Egypt, Mexico, Canada and most of the U.S. He is also a fine art photographer whose work has been published, shown…some even sold. Besides being a photographer he enjoys traveling, walking, reading and writing.
Visit the company website at www.EricsonMitchell.com
The A.C.E. regular meeting has networking, a buffet breakfast and a speaker. Guests are welcome.
Registrations are required by March 12, 2013. If you want to be included on the registration list at the meeting then you need to register by the due date.
You can pay online by credit card (Visa, MasterCard or Discover NOT AMERICAN EXPRESS!) or mail a check to:
A.C.E.
110 Marginal Way #142
Portland ME 04101
If you are mailing a check, please register here so the system can track the registrants for us. Thanks!
Members: the $22 fee only works if you pay in advance. At the door, it is $28.
