Fireworks on Lake Coeur d'Alene - Thanks to the Coeur d'Alene Resort for the fantastic display and for the surprise trip to "The North Pole!"  

Thank you so much for helping to make the 23rd Annual Economic Leadership Forum a success! More than 120 legislators, business and government leaders gathered together to address key issues affecting the regional economy in the Pacific Northwest states and Western Canada Nov. 14-17, in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. 

The meeting produced very specific action items that we will be working on over the next six months. These action items which were approved by the Executive Committee, can be viewed at http://bit.ly/pnwerID. Presentations may be viewed at www.pnwer.org/2012wintermeeting/Presentations. Event photos may be viewed and downloaded for your use from our Facebook page. 

PNWER especially wants to thank the Coeur d'Alene Resort for the surprise trip to the "North Pole," and a beautiful fireworks display over the lake that was done just for us. We also want to thank Sunshine Minting Inc. and Ground Force Worldwide for giving us a look behind-the-scenes of key manufacturing sites, as well as a wonderful reception; and the Kootenai Technical Education Campus for showing a best practice that could be replicated in other parts of the region.

Don't forget to mark your calendar for the 2013 Annual Summit in Alaska, July 14 - 18, 2013.  For more information, visit www.pnwer.org/2013summit and plan on bringing your family for an incredible vacation to Alaska! 

Sincerely,

Matt Morrison
PNWER Executive Director

Professor Max Mendez and the North Idaho College choir gave a moving rendition of the U.S. and Canada national anthems at the Coeur d'Alene Resort, Nov. 15, 2012. 

Laura Dawson, President, Dawson Strategic and Barry Penner, Davis LLP (BC) speak on a luncheon plenary, "Assessing Foreign Takeover Bids for Key Natural Resource Assets in the Region" moderated by Jeff Morris, Director of PNWER's Energy Horizon Program at the Coeur d'Alene Resort, Nov. 15, 2012. 

The PNWER delegation got a very special visit to "The North Pole" on Lake Coeur d'Alene, courtesy of the Coeur d'Alene Resort, Nov. 15, 2012. Santa thanked the generous engineers and geoscientists of APEGA, APEGS and APEGBC, who provided the reception at the Hagadone Event Center. He greeted his "neighbors from the south," including Northwest Territories, Yukon and Alaska. 

Ron Nilson, President and CEO of Ground Force Worldwide and Tom Power, President and CEO, Sunshine Minting (center) at the final Economic Leadership Forum reception held at Ground Force. The PNWER delegation had the privilege of touring these key manufacturing sites in North Idaho, in addition to Kootenai Technical Education Campus.

 From left: PNWER Executive Director Matt Morrison; Minister Dave Ramsay of the Northwest Territories; Egils Milbergs, Executive Director of the Washington Economic Development Commission and Idaho Sen. Curt McKenzie at the Executive Committee Meeting, Nov. 17, 2012.