A best-selling author, mechanic, philosopher and fellow at the Institute for Advanced Studies in Culture at the University of Virginia will be the keynote speaker for the Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce’s eleventh annual economic conference.
“Economic Summit XI: Reinventing Workforce Development in an Uncertain Economy” will delve into strategies for building a strong, adaptable workforce in the region. The event will be held on Thursday, May 22, from 7:30 to 11:30 AM at the Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center.
Matthew B. Crawford, Ph.D., author of the New York Times bestseller Shop Class as Soulcraft: An Inquiry into the Value of Work, will discuss his reappraisal of the merits of skilled labor in today’s employment market. According to Francis Fukuyama’s New York Times book review, “Shop Class as Soulcraft is a beautiful little book about human excellence and the way it is undervalued in contemporary America.”
Other economic summit speakers include Alice L. Kassens, Ph.D., the John S. Shannon Professor of Economics at Roanoke College; Bonz Hart, CEO of Meridium; and a panel discussion on workforce development challenges and opportunities.
The summit includes a continental breakfast and is $49 for Chamber members or $65 for non-members. For more information or to register, contact Judy Chambliss at 540.983.0700 x100, [email protected] or visit www.roanokechamber.org.
The Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce was established in 1889 and has approximately 1,200 members in 42 localities.
