Press Releases

For Immediate Release

July 11, 2006
Contact: Sally Muller
608-442-7557

Lake Superior Technology Conference to focus on economic strengths of northwest Wisconsin

(Madison) A conference aimed at building upon the existing economic foundations of northwest Wisconsin will be held Thursday, Aug. 10, at the Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College campus in Ashland.

The first Lake Superior Region Technology Conference is being produced by the Wisconsin Technology Council along with a number of partners and sponsors, including the Wisconsin Innovation Network-Lake Superior chapter in Ashland.

To register for the conference, which will include a pre-conference boat tour of Chequamegon Bay, go to www.wisconsintechnologycouncil.com and click on the conference title under “Mark Your Calendar.” The cost is $35. Speakers confirmed for the one-day conference include:

Mark Bugher, chairman of the Tech Council and director of University Research Park in Madison.
Lorrie Keating Heinemann, secretary of the state Department of Financial Institutions.
Maliyakal John, general manager of the WiSys Technology Foundation, which serves University of Wisconsin campuses outside of Madison.
Matt Wagner, director of the Center for Advanced Technology and Innovation, Madison.
Kris Andrews, UW System assistant vice president for federal relations.
Joe Kremer, director of the Wisconsin Angel Network
Dave Hollenwerk, director of the UW-Green Bay Paper Technology Transfer Center
UW-Green Bay professor John Katers, chair of the UW System Solid Waste Research Council and assistant director of the Paper Technology Transfer Center

“The goal of the conference is to promote technology as a significant contributor to the economy of the Lake Superior region,” Tech Council President Tom Still said. The conference is built around four workshops: forest products, bioenergy, agriculture and aquaculture, and advanced manufacturing. Each are existing strengths that could be leveraged through technology.

Partners in the conference include the Chequamegon Bay UW Alumni Group, WiSys, WIN, Indianhead Tech College and the Tech Council. Leading sponsors so far include the city of Ashland, the Ashland School District and the national law firm of Quarles and Brady, as well as a number of regional sponsors. Additional panelists and sponsors will be announced soon.