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Annual rural development conference focuses on helping communities, business in challenging times.
The 14th Annual Rural Development Conference, “Winning in a Turbulent Economy,” is set for April 1 and 2 at Tennessee Technological University. The conference is sponsored by USDA Rural Development, TTU’s College of Business Administration and Tennessee Valley Authority.
The plenary session speaker is Carol Johnson, a proven sales expert who is founder of Continuous Dialog, a professional consulting company specializing in sales training. Private and public organizations have realized tremendous success and return on investment from the Continuous Dialog proven methods, practical skills and commitment to application. Johnson founded the company in 1995 and initially focused on developing the sales skills and sales management success of Fortune 500 companies. Since 1999 Continuous Dialog has customized proven and competitive market sales skills to create the first Economic Development Sales Training Classes.
While employed with General Foods and MCI, Johnson won awards for new products that contributed millions to the bottom line as well as top sales honors in every sales leadership position she held. She earned a BA in marketing from Florida State University and an MBA in finance from Indiana University.
LaDonna Gatlin will speak at the luncheon. She is a member of the famous Gatlin family of entertainers. As children, she and her brothers Larry, Steve and Rudy began performing on stage and television as the Gatlin Quartet. Gatlin left the entertainment business when she grew up and got married. She raised a family and also found a new career as an inspirational speaker and author. A member of the National Speakers Association, she has earned its highest professional designation.
Gatlin is one of fewer than 200 speakers worldwide to be honored with a Speaker Hall of Fame lifetime award for speaking excellence and professionalism. She is a contributing author to the bestselling book series Chicken Soup for the Soul and has recorded four solo CDs that contain some of her original songs.
Conference workshops include:
• “When the News Isn’t Good: How to Communicate in a Crisis or Difficult
Situation” and “Telling Your Community’s Story in a Tough Economy: How to
Speak with Confidence and Credibility”
Mimi Bliss, Bliss Communications, Nashville
• “Changes, Challenges, and Opportunities in Today’s Retirement Market”
Dave Robertson, RPI Media, Wilmington, N.C.
• “Emotional Preparedness: How Changing the Way You ‘Feel’ About Business
Recruitment Can Impact Your Success”
Bill Adams, Target Marketing Specialist, TVA, Brandon, Miss.
• “Biofuels Buzz – What it Means for Your Community”
Dr. Kelly Tiller, Director of External Operations, Office of Bioenergy Programs,
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
• “Universities and Community Colleges as an Economic Development Tool”
Dr. Robert Bell, President, Tennessee Technological University
Dr. Karen Bowyer, President, Dyersburg State Community College
• “Eight Challenges Facing Community Leaders and Ten Ideas for Recruiting
New Leaders” and “Six Myths About the Future of Small Towns and 20
Clues to Rural Community Survival”
Kurt Mantonya, Heartland Center for Leadership Development, Lincoln, Neb.
• “Making Effective Presentations to Prospects”
Carol Johnson, Continuous Dialog, Atlanta
• “Rural Entrepreneurship: Opportunities for Main Street”
Valecia Crisafulli, National Trust for Historic Preservation, Washington, D.C.
• “Industrial Site Development: Best Practices”
David Smith, DBS and Associates, Clarksville
• “Workforce Certifications for Communities”
Wil Hammond, Grants Program Manager, Tennessee Department of Labor and
Workforce Development, Nashville
The conference begins with registration and continental breakfast on April 1 at 7:30 p.m. Opening remarks by conference sponsors commence at 8:30 a.m. The final session begins at 2:45 p.m.
The conference brochure and schedule is available for download. Register online at www.tntech.edu/cob/rdc or call 931-372-3643.