DCA AND HMFA ANNOUNCE KEYNOTE SPEAKER FOR 2012 NJ GOVERNOR’S
CONFERENCE FOR HOUSING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Richard Florida, Bestselling Author and World-Renowned Urban Theorist, Headlines Conference

TRENTON, NJ – New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) Commissioner Richard E. Constable, III today announced that Richard Florida, who is one of the world’s most sought after speakers on global trends, economics, prosperity, competitiveness and growth, will headline the 2012 NJ Governor’s Conference for Housing and Economic Development. The conference is slated for Tuesday, October 16 and Wednesday, October 17 at the Atlantic City Convention Center.

“Richard Florida is an authoritative and entertaining though-leader on the global economy, and has been described as an ‘intellectual rock star’ by Fast Company magazine,” said Commissioner Constable. “He believes that every single person is creative and, when inspired, is capable of achieving great things for their community. His optimism embodies the spirit of this annual conference and will undoubtedly empower and energize all of our attendees.”

The theme of the 2012 NJ Governor’s Conference for Housing and Economic Development is “Leading the Way Back Home… the Key to Economic Growth.” In an effort to engage participants in how best to create innovative economic development strategies and develop sustainable communities and housing projects, conference organizers turned to Richard Florida, the founder of Creative Class® Group, a consulting firm that has worked on redeveloping downtown Las Vegas, assisted BMW on its recent “Idea Class” ad campaign, and advised Starwood Hotels and Resorts on how to attract consumers, among many other projects.

Richard Florida is author of the global bestsellers Who’s Your City? and The Rise of the Creative Class. His new book, The Great Reset, explains how new ways of living and working will drive prosperity after the Great Recession. Florida is senior editor for The Atlantic and a regular CNN contributor. He has written for The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, The Economist, and The Harvard Business Review. He has been featured as an expert on MSNBC, BBC, NPR and CBS, to name just a few.

Florida is Director of the Martin Prosperity Institute at the Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto. Previously, he has held professorships at George Mason University and Carnegie Mellon University and taught as a visiting professor at Harvard and MIT.

The Economist recently said that Florida was “as close to a household name as it is possible for an urban theorist to be in America,” and Esquire has included him on its annual list of “The Best and the Brightest” alongside such people as Bill Clinton and Jeffrey Sachs.

Aside from Florida’s keynote address, the conference features 25 sessions led by some of the state’s most distinguished business, economic development and housing professionals. There will be an Atlantic City bus tour on October 16 during which participants will tour the City’s innovative community development projects and learn how they are key to economic growth. Also, the conference will host an Excellence in Housing and Economic Development Awards Luncheon on October 17 where the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency and New Jersey Economic Development Authority will honor organizations and individuals for outstanding housing and economic development.

Other conference highlights include a networking reception and a trade show featuring products and services from businesses and organizations that serve the housing and property management community.

The NJ Governor’s Conference for Housing and Economic Development is hosted by the Department of Community Affairs, the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency and the New Jersey Economic Development Authority. The conference is self-sustaining, funded entirely through sponsorship opportunities and registration fees.

Registration is now open for the 2012 Governor’s Conference for Housing and Economic Development. For more information or to register, log on to http://www.state.nj.us/dca/hmfa/home/conference/index.htm.


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