Business, government and academic leaders will gather Thursday in Chicago for the 2008 National Summit on American Competitiveness, sponsored by the Department of Commerce.
The event will address what steps the public and private sectors can take to secure America’s position as the most competitive economy in the 21st Century and beyond. It will feature discussions on how to bolster the business climate, link entrepreneurship with economic prosperity, and utilize free-trade agreements.
Hosted by Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez, the event is co-chaired by Mayor Richard M. Daley and Ronald Gidwitz, former chief executive of Helene Curtis. Participants include Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour, Intel Chairman Craig Barrett, Secretary of the Treasury Henry Paulson and CNBC anchor Maria Bartiromo. Other confirmed attendees are Steve Chen, co-founder and chief technology officer of YouTube; Jim Owens, chairman and CEO of Caterpillar Inc.; James McNerney, chairman, CEO and president of Boeing; John Engler, president of the National Association of Manufacturers; John Koten, CEO and editor in chief of Mansueto Ventures; and Steve Odland, chairman and CEO of Office Depot.
The summit will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the Fairmont Chicago Hotel, 200 N. Columbus Drive.
The cost to attend is $25 for students and $150 for all others. For information and registration, visit www.americancompetitiveness.com.
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