Bob Trezise’s Remarks at the 2019 MIHEART Talent Summit
The below remarks were given at the Michigan Higher Education Attainment Roundtable (MIHEART) Talent Summit on Jan. 24, 2019 at 11:30 a.m. by Lansing Economic Area Partnership (LEAP) President/CEO, Bob Trezise.
Thank you to the organizers and participants of this most critical coalition, MIHEART. Welcome to Lansing!
You may think of Lansing in terms of “Legislative Lansing” or perhaps “GM Lansing,” but let me invite you to think about “Economic Development Lansing” for a moment, because we are most symbolic of the rapid transformations taking place in a global economy, just like you all.
Economic Development Lansing is the particle accelerator capital of North America, home to the number one-ranked nuclear physics program at MSU — beating MIT! — and home to the second greatest human machine ever built, the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB). We are also the state’s leading insurance hub and the largest orthopedic manufacturing hub in the world. GDP for high tech companies here rose nationally from #98 to #21, according to Business Leaders for Michigan (BLM), Lansing is #1 in state for growing population between 25-34, for educational attainment between 25-64 and for labor force growth over the last five years.
Much of our success is due to deep strategies in labor local talent development tactics, public and private. But we need more, better, creative and diverse talent, like all of you. Just like here in Lansing, the economy for everyone is radically changing across the world, the country and in this beautiful and boundless state.
The creation of coalitions like MIHEART is key to advocate and invent smart investment strategies in both people and place, develop the best talent ecosystem — one that is effective in its inclusiveness for all people to participate — and infrastructure to compete with anyplace in the world so that our amazing businesses will be able to retain and attract the top talent.
In my judgment, understanding not just the here and now needs, but the industry of the future, one least likely to be automated and most likely to grow very good jobs, is an imperative connection to the all-important, what-will-be necessary degrees and certifications. If we do this, Michigan will be restored to #1 in all growth categories in the United States. Thanks for being here today and let’s get to work.
Category: Talent and Workforce