Economic Conference Packs Them In

Cory Donovan (at podium) on stage with Robert Sandel (sitting left) and Greg Feldmann.^

Sen. Mark Warner speaks via video. Among those listening were Mark Lawrence (left) of Carilion and Doug Densmore (center) of Woods Rogers.^

The Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce's Economic Summit VII played before a nearly full house at the Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center this morning with a concentration on "Creating Our Future: Putting the Entrepreneurial Puzzle Together."

Small business and startups were the focus of a conference featuring a video talk by Sen. Mark Warner, whose topic was "A Model for the Future." Moderator Sam English, NCTC Director Cory Donovan, StellarOne CEO Greg Feldmann and Virginia Western Community College President Robert Sandel made the primary presentation, concentrating their efforts on small businesses.

One of the light features of the conference was a "Why Change?" skit from Big Lick Conspiracy, a performance group. Additionally, English, who is with CIE Partners, Pete Eshelman, Roanoke's director of outdoor branding for the Roanoke Regional Economic Development Partnership, spoke about "Existing Business Infrastructure--Where Are We Investing?"