Press Room
Workplace experts will speak at the 2007 National Conference on the Creative Economy
Watson and DeLong join Florida, Friedman, Toffler and Fisher at the October 24-25 conference in Fairfax County, Virginia
Fairfax County, Virginia USA, June 8, 2007—The Fairfax County Economic Development Authority today announced that Joe Watson, noted author and CEO of the management consultancies Without Excuses and StrategicHire, and David DeLong, MIT AgeLab research fellow, author and president of DeLong & Associates, will speak at the 2007 National Conference on the Creative Economy, set for October 24-25, 2007, at the Hilton McLean Tysons Corner.
Watson specializes in locating and placing diverse middle and senior-level managers across a wide range of industries. His book, Without Excuses, addresses the issues surrounding recruiting for diversity in the corporate workplace. He has appeared on Today, CNN, and Fox News Network, and been interviewed in the New York Times, Fast Company and the Wall Street Journal. Watson also provides a broad array of executive training and development programs through his consultancy. He co-founded The Exchange, an African American CEO council and served under Virginia Gov. Mark Warner in 2001 as director of personnel for the transition team.
DeLong is an expert in the field of changing workforce demographics,
particularly aging, and the loss of knowledge in the workplace.
His research and consulting firm, David DeLong & Associates,
helps organizations solve performance and staffing problems
caused by an aging workforce, skills shortages, and increased
mid-career turnover. In addition to his role as a research
fellow at the MIT AgeLab, he serves as adjunct professor at
Babson College.
Sponsored in part by FORTUNE magazine, the National Conference
on the Creative Economy (www.creativeeconomies.org) will
examine the role that a strong, creative workforce plays
in the growth and success of businesses and communities in
an information-based economy.
The 2007 National Conference on the Creative Economy will address topics such as:
- Attracting and retaining the creative class
- Creating a culture of creativity in the workplace to improve the bottom line
- Using diversity to promote creativity
- Harnessing the power of an aging workforce
- Boosting creativity in defense and homeland security industries
- Improving communities and the economy through creative companies
“We are delighted to be adding engaging workplace experts such as Joe Watson and David DeLong to an already compelling list of keynote speakers: Richard Florida of George Mason University, Thomas Friedman of The New York Times and Future Shock author Alvin Toffler,” said Gerald L. Gordon, Ph.D., president and CEO of the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority (FCEDA).
In addition, FORTUNE columnist Anne Fisher will moderate two panels: one on the magazine’s annual “Best Companies to Work for” list, and another on how emerging firms can compete with large companies to attract and retain creative talent.
To date, sponsors of the 2007 National Conference on the Creative Economy are the Fairfax County government, the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority, FORTUNE magazine, The Push Group LLC, Siddall and the International City/County Management Association. Sponsorship information is available at www.creativeeconomy.org.
Members of the press are encouraged to register now for the conference, being held at the Hilton McLean Tysons Center on October 24-25. To register for the conference, contact Alan Fogg, vice president of communications for the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority at 703-790-0600 or by emailing afogg@fceda.org. For more information on a schedule of events or the keynote speakers, visit www.creativeeconomy.org.
The Fairfax County Economic Development Authority promotes Fairfax County as a business and technology center. The FCEDA maintains marketing offices in Silicon Valley, Bangalore, Frankfurt, London, Seoul and Tel Aviv.
