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The Bottom Line of Disabilities: Investing in Social Change

Date: Friday, April 1, 2016 - Saturday, April 2, 2016
Columbus Community Center, Salt Lake City, UT

Event Detail

The Bottom Line of Disabilities: Investing in Social Change

View resources from the first series installment (July 2014)

View resources from the second series installment (January 2015)

View resources from the third series installment (January 2016)

Featuring Temple Grandin, Ph.D. 

ABOUT THIS EVENT

This symposium convenes expert panelists, corporate and civic leaders, advocates, and industry professionals to discuss the impact disabilities have in our communities. It is an opportunity to have candid conversations about the innovative ways we can tackle the pressing social, financial, and economic issues related to disabilities. One in five individuals in the general population has a disability. Public policy and traditional funding sources have created safety nets, provided opportunity for community integration, and given a voice to some of the most vulnerable in our communities.  However, the social, financial, and personal costs of disabilities can be staggering. Panelists will include a cross section of business and community leaders and the role that governmental entities, entrepreneurs, philanthropists, researchers, businesses, and the nonprofit sector play in facilitating and advancing opportunities for individuals with disabilities.

Special Opportunity for Guests

We have been offered a special opportunity for our guests visiting Salt Lake City to register for an outdoor recreational experience on April 2, 2016. Click here for the exclusive offer from Fins and Feathers Club. More details to come!

 

SCHEDULE – April 1, 2016

7:30 a.m. to 8 a.m. Registration and continental breakfast

8:00 a.m. to 8:10 a.m.  Welcome

8:10 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. Opening Remarks

  • Michael Drury, Chief Economist, McVean Trading and Investments and GIC Chairman
  • Stephanie Mackay, Chief Innovation Officer, Columbus Community Center

SESSIONS

The Employment Odyssey—A Candid Conversation about Government and Corporate Social Responsibility

8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.

Individuals with disabilities face the highest unemployment rate, highest poverty rate, and the greatest isolation of any demographic group. The role of state government is critical in responding to the needs unique to their communities and citizens. Utah is being recognized for its strong economy, business-friendly climate, low unemployment rate, and innovate social impact investing initiatives. Government leaders will share their thoughts on the obstacles and opportunities of public/private partnerships that can serve as model to finding meaningful ways to employ individuals with disabilities.

  • Moderator: Natalie Gochnour, Director, Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute at the Unversity of Utah
  • Darin Brush, Executive Director, Utah State Office of Rehabilitation
  • Q. Val Hale, Executive Director, Governor’s Office of Economic Development
  • Paul Smith, Executive Director, Utah Division of Services for Persons with Disabilities
  • Stephanie Mackay, Chief Innovation Officer, Columbus Community Center and GIC Board Member

The Role of Federal Reserve Bank: Policy, Research, Practices, and Collaboration that Impact our Communities

9:45 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.

The Federal Reserve’s mission is to promote low inflation, full employment and financial stability, and provide services to financial institutions and the Treasury. We see the headlines about interest rates and unemployment, but all of the Federal Reserve regions have dedicated resources that focus on issues related to economic mobility for lower-income individuals. Individuals with disabilities are disproportionately impacted by unemployment and poverty. The Federal Reserve’s Community Development and Research departments provide research and best practices about education, healthy communities, workforce development, affordable housing, and financial stability. In this session, you will hear about the work that the Federal Reserve does to develop and connect best practices and emerging ideas to make meaningful change in our communities.

  • Moderator: David Kotok, CIO, Cumberland Advisors and GIC Board Member
  • David Altig, Executive Vice President and Director of Research, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta and GIC Board Member
  • Ian Galloway, Senior Research Associate, Community Development, Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco
  • Joselyn Cousins, Regional Manager, Community Development, Arizona, Nevada and Utah, Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco

Building Intentional Communities—The Hub of Opportunity

11 a.m. to Noon

An intentional community is a planned residential community designed from the start to have a high degree of social cohesion and teamwork. The concept is gaining momentum as a way to provide affordable housing and integration for some of the most vulnerable individuals in our communities. Building on this notion, Columbus Community Center is working with stakeholders to develop “The Hub of Opportunity.” This project is a transit-oriented, mixed-use real estate development that maximizes the benefits of transit-oriented, affordable housing; job opportunities; and business development. In this session, stakeholders in this project will discuss how they have leveraged public/private partnerships, philanthropy, and traditional financial products to create a model intentional community in the heart of Salt Lake County.

  • Moderator:  Monica Rafferty, Columbus Board Member and Vice President, Coldwell Banker Commercial
  • Palmer DePaulis, Community Advocate and past Salt Lake City Mayor
  • Kristy Chambers, Executive Director, Columbus Community Center
  • Safia Keller, Parent Representative
  • Todd Brashear, Executive Director, McCarthey Family Foundation
  • JaLynn Prince, President and Co-Founder, Madison House Autism Foundation

Keynote Address and Lunch

12:15 to 1:00 p.m.

HELPING DIFFERENT KINDS OF MINDS BECOME SUCCESSFUL

Temple Grandin, PhD – Biologist, Writer, Educator

Defying expectations that autism would prevent her from living a productive life, Dr. Temple Grandin has enjoyed an amazing and inspiring life, which has been featured in major media programs and an HBO movie. She has revolutionized perceptions of autism and Asperger’s Syndrome. At two-years-old, Dr. Grandin had no speech and all the signs of severe autism which, at the time, was deemed a form of brain damage. Fortunately, her mother defied the advice of doctors and kept her out of an institution. Many hours of speech therapy, and intensive teaching enabled Dr. Grandin to learn speech. As a teen, life was hard with constant teasing and struggles in school and social situations. Mentoring by her high school science teacher and her aunt on her Arizona ranch motivated Dr. Grandin to study and pursue a career as a scientist and livestock equipment designer.  She earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology, a master’s and PhD in animal science. Professor Grandin has taught courses and consulted on livestock behavior and facility design. Her designs are found in livestock facilities throughout the US, Canada, Europe, Mexico, Australia and New Zealand.

1:00 p.m.-1:30 p.m. A Roundtable Discussion with the Autism Experts: A Q&A Session with Dr. Temple Grandin and Dr. William McMahon

Moderator: Michael McKee, Radio Host and Economics Editor, Bloomberg Television

1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Dr. Grandin will be available to sign books. King’s English Booksellers will be available to sell Dr. Grandin’s books.

1:45 p.m. to 2:30—Breakout sessions (participants choose to attend one session)

Breakout Session 1. Turning the Light on Disabilities: A Roundtable Discussion with Employers That Have Found Innovative Ways to Employ Individuals with Disabilities

Breakout Session 2. Creating a Safety Net for Young Adults: A Q and A with Parents, Advocates, and Service Providers

 

About our program partner:

Columbus (www.columbusserves.org) is a highly respected nonprofit agency that provides services for individuals with disabilities. Columbus has a 48-year history of pursuing entrepreneurial opportunity to employ individuals with developmental and physical disabilities.

 

Click here for a list of recommended hotels. 

 

View the final program

Event Location

Date: Friday, April 1, 2016 - Saturday, April 2, 2016 Time: 8:00 AM City: Salt Lake City Columbus Community Center Download iCal

Speakers

Temple Grandin, Ph.D.

Temple Grandin, Ph.D.

Professor of Animal Science, Colorado State University

Temple Grandin is a professor of animal science at Colorado State University, and she has been a pioneer in improving the handling and welfare of farm animals.

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David E. Altig, Ph.D.

David E. Altig, Ph.D.

Executive Vice President and Chief Economic Adviser, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta

David E. Altig is executive vice president and chief economic adviser at the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta. He serves on the executive leadership team for the Bank's economic mobility and resilience strategic priority, is an executive cosponsor of the Working Families Employee Resource Network, and is an adviser to the executive leadership committee.

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Todd Brashear

Todd Brashear

Chief Financial Officer, McCarthey Family Office

Todd F. Brashear is a graduate of the University of Utah (BA-Accounting 84’) and the American Graduate School of International Management (MIM-Finance 90’). Mr. Brashear is a licensed Certified Public Accountant in the state of Utah and has been practicing such for over thirty-two years. Mr. Brashear also holds a certificate as an Economic Development Finance Professional. Areas of expertise include estate and trust tax planning; individual, corporate, and business entity tax consulting; investment portfolio development and management. Mr. Brashear has held executive level financial management positions with private and publicly traded corporations as well as non-profits and governmental agencies. Mr. Brashear is an active member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Utah Association of Certified Public Accountants. Mr. Brashear served as Finance Manager/Deputy Director for the Housing Authority of Salt Lake City where he substantially increased the Authority’s inventory of affordable housing by utilizing low-income housing tax credits in combination with public and private financing. Mr. Brashear is currently serving as Chief Financial Officer for the McCarthey Family Office as well as Executive Director of its largest charitable foundation, the McCarthey Family Foundation.

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Darin Brush

Darin Brush

Executive Director, Utah State Office of Rehabilitation

Darin Brush was appointed as the Executive Director of the Utah State Office of Rehabilitation (USOR) in July 2015. Darin is passionate about the mission of USOR and has a deep commitment to the clients whom USOR serves.

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Joselyn Cousins

Joselyn Cousins

Regional Manager, Community Development Arizona, Nevada and Utah, Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco

Joselyn Cousins joined the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco in April 2013 as a regional manager in the Community Development Department covering Arizona, Nevada and Utah. In this role she partners with financial institutions, community- based organizations and government agencies to address pressing community development needs impacting low-income neighborhoods and households.

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Palmer DePaulis

Palmer DePaulis

Former Mayor of Salt Lake City

Palmer DePaulis received a Bachelor of the Arts in 1967 from Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit, Michigan. In 1971 he received a Masters of Arts from Wayne State University also in Detroit. He taught school in Michigan and Utah until 1974 when he joined the Allstate Insurance Company in Salt Lake City. In 1983, he went to work for Salt Lake City Corporation as public works director.

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Michael Drury

Michael Drury

Chief Economist, McVean Trading & Investments

Michael Drury is the chief economist for McVean Trading & Investments, LLC. He joined the firm in 1992, after serving for five years as senior economist with Allen Sinai at Shearson Lehman Brothers and its successor firms. Michael began his career in New York in 1982 as senior economist at A. Gary Shilling and Company. He received his B.S. in economics from the Georgia Institute of Technology and did his graduate work at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

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Ian Galloway

Ian Galloway

Senior Research Associate, Community Development, Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco

Ian Galloway is a senior research associate and Oregon state community development field manager at the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco. Ian researches and presents regularly on a variety of community development topics including crowdfunding, investment tax credits, the social determinants of health, impact investing, and Pay for Success financing (Social Impact Bonds).

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Natalie Gochnour

Natalie Gochnour

Director of the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute at the University of Utah

Natalie Gochnour serves as an associate dean in the David Eccles School of Business and director of the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute at the University of Utah. She also serves as the chief economist for the Salt Lake Chamber. In these roles she helps connect the Eccles School with the broader business community and shares applied economic and business research. Gochnour’s experience includes a diverse mix of public service and business experience. From 2006 to 2013 she guided the public policy work of the Salt Lake Chamber, Utah’s largest business association, representing 7,700 member businesses. She helped create and lead the Downtown Rising movement, helped pass a ballot initiative to secure funds for the expansion of Utah’s TRAX light rail and FrontRunner commuter rail service, and assisted with the drafting and promotion of The Utah Compact.

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Val Hale

Val Hale

Executive Director, Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Development

Val Hale is the executive director of the Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED), which promotes state growth in business, tourism and film. Hale was appointed to the position in 2014 by Gov. Gary R. Herbert.

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Safia Keller

Safia Keller

Chief Employment Development Officer, Columbus Community Center

Safia comes to Columbus with 10 years of experience in fundraising and 11 years of experience in sales and program creation. She worked at Westminster College as director of corporate relations for 10 years and prior to that was the group and corporate sales director for 14 cities for Broadway Across America for 11 years.

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David Kotok

David Kotok

Chief Investment Officer of Cumberland Advisors

David Kotok co-founded Cumberland Advisors in 1973 and has been its Chief Investment Officer since inception. David’s articles and financial market commentaries have appeared in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, Barron’s, and other publications. He is a frequent contributor to Bloomberg TV and Bloomberg Radio, Yahoo Finance TV, and other media.

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Stephanie Mackay

Stephanie Mackay

Board Director, Switchpoint Community Resource Center

Stephanie has spent the last two decades in the nonprofit sector working as a social entrepreneur and nonprofit leader where she brings a strong voice to the table to promote solutions for the most vulnerable citizens in our communities.

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Michael McKee

Michael McKee

International Economics and Politics Correspondent, Bloomberg Radio/TV

Michael McKee is the International Economics and Policy Correspondent for Bloomberg TV and Radio, covering market and political developments, economic trends and central banks in the United States and around the globe.

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William McMahon

William McMahon

Chair, Department of Psychiatry, University of Utah

As chairman of the psychiatry department since 2007, Dr. William McMahon has worked to build excellent clinical services and systems of care at the University of Utah. He is board certified in adult psychiatry and in the sub-specialty of child and adolescent psychiatry.

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JaLynn Prince

JaLynn Prince

President and Founder, Madison House Autism Foundation (MHAF)

JaLynn Prince is the president and founder of Madison House Autism Foundation (MHAF), a national organization focused on the needs of adults on the autism spectrum. She and her husband, Dr. Gregory A. Prince, began MHAF in 2006 to foster a comprehensive and holistic approach in addressing the needs of this population. As the mother of Madison, an adult with Autism Spectrum Disorder, JaLynn brings personal experience and compassion in working alongside individuals, families and communities. Among her leadership and collaborative efforts, she was instrumental in the creating of Advancing Futures with Adults with Autism (AFAA) and the Coalition for Community Choice.

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Monica Rafferty, CCIM

Monica Rafferty, CCIM

V.P. Commercial Sales & Leasing, Coldwell Banker Commercial Advisors

Monica Rafferty is vice president of Commercial Sales and Leasing at Coldwell Banker Commercial. She has more than 20 years of experience in investments, and works with clients to map out a strategy for using commercial real estate to achieve business goals and increase the bottom line. She specializes in negotiating “added value” transactions by analyzing properties and identifying their unique opportunities.

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Paul Smith

Paul Smith

Executive Director, State of Utah Department of Services for People with Disabilities

Paul Smith has been the Director of Services for People with Disabilities since 2011. Paul began his career in the private sector doing information technology work. Eleven years ago he moved to Utah and, after running his own business for 18 months, applied for a job with the division. He was hired to oversee Quality […]

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Partners

Columbus Community Center