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MPL[W8] seeks to galvanize business, education and community leaders to accelerate “transformer” opportunities intended to grow the economy in Ward 8. It is the launch pad for stakeholder led economic development projects in support of small business development, jobs and job training.

Collaborate
MPL[W8]’s projects are viewed as “joint ventures” between organizations and private and public partners. These projects will be conceived, launched and where possible completed within a 100-day project period.

Innovate
MPL[W8] is a “lab” environment where new ideas, new solutions and new thinking is encouraged and celebrated. This “lab” will tap the talents of some of the best thinkers in the business and academic realm to solve problems and create new opportunities where none exist now.

Reinvest
The goal of MPL[W8] is to catalyze new investment of resources, community support and human capital in specific projects in DC in Ward 8.

OPENING REMARKS Mayor Vincent Gray

CLOSING REMARKS Councilmember Marion Barry

	Catherine Buell is an attorney with Patton Boggs LLP where she counsels institutional investors seeking to make investments in real estate assets and private equity funds in the United States, China, South America and Europe. Ms. Buell is also the Chair of the District of Columbia’s Historic Preservation Review Board (HPRB), which is responsible for preserving Washington D.C.’s historic and cultural resources.
	Doug Guthrie is Dean of The George Washington University School of Business and Professor of International Business and Professor of Management at GW. He is an expert in the fields of economic reform in China, leadership and corporate governance, and corporate social responsibility. Dr. Guthrie has authored, co-authored, and edited numerous books, articles, and reports and is currently working on the third edition of his book, China and Globalization.
	Tony Hollinger graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy and he served meritoriously as a Marine Officer in Operation Desert Storm. Mr. Hollinger’s post-military career includes work with Merrill Lynch, the Walt Disney Co., and Comcast Cable. Most recently he consulted with top-tier universities and federal agencies on innovative programs to leverage the capabilities of persons affiliated with the U.S. Military.
	Susan Jones is a professor of clinical law and director of the Small Business and Community Economic Development Clinic at The George Washington University Law School.  An expert in community economic development and microenterprise; her research interests include the legal aspects of entrepreneurship and social entrepreneurship, nonprofit organizations and the creative economy.
	Steve Moore serves as the president and CEO for the Washington, DC Economic Partnership, a non-profit organization that works to promote business and retail opportunities in the District of Columbia. Steve’s background is in urban development, strategic planning, marketing, communications, event planning and retail merchandising.
	Scott Osman is global director of corporate social responsibility based in the New York office of Landor Associates, responsible for the citizenship branding practice. He has been a marketing professional for a broad spectrum of corporate and consumer brands in industries ranging from publishing to automotive to technology.
	Scheherazade Rehman is the Director of the European Union Research Center and Professor of International Finance/Business at the School of Business at The George Washington University. Dr. Rehman is an expert on global financial crisis management and regularly guests on PBS Newshour, BBC World News, CNBC, Voice of America, Colbert Report, and C-Span Washington Journal.
	Liesl Riddle is the Associate Dean for MBA Programs and Associate Professor of International Business and International Affairs at The George Washington University. Dr. Riddle also is the co-director of the Diaspora Program within GW’s Elliott School for International Affairs’ Institute for Global Studies.
	Sudhir Venkatesh is William B. Ransford Professor of Sociology at Columbia University in the City of New York. He is a researcher and writer on urban neighborhoods in the U.S. His most recent book,Gang Leader for a Day, was published in 2008 and received a Best Book award from The Economist.
	Stan Voudrie is a principal of Four Points LLC, a Ward 8-based real estate development group focused on sustainable in-fill development opportunities in DC’s emerging neighborhoods. He is a founding board member of the Anacostia BID and also serves on the Board of Directors for both ARCH and the Anacostia Economic Development Corporation.

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