Over the past weeks we have been sharing information about Governor Snyder's efforts regarding talent based economic development.  In this issue, we will review the Talent Summit Speakers and Program.

Eric Thomas - Keynote Speaker

development and education summits in March and April.

At the age of 16, defiant and hardheaded, Eric decided to leave home and drop out of school, choosing to live on the streets of Detroit. By divine intervention at age 17, Eric met a pastor who saw him a young man with tremendous unrealized potential. As a result, their mentoring relationship was born which led Eric to complete his GED and to prepare for college. Determined not to be "another statistic", Eric enrolled at Oakwood University where he began reading everything he could his hands on, especially the Bible. Understanding the struggle of the streets, he realized what his purpose in life was to become, so he reached back to his fellow drug dealers and helped many of them get their GED's, go to college and incorporate the strategies and self-improvement exercises he learned in order to assist them in developing their own life plans. In so doing, he provided them with a much needed positive option to the life of crime and illiteracy they then led.

While in college Eric started Break The Cycle I Dare You, (BTC) a non profit youth development and special event organization that focuses on developing programs for youth who have made bad choices and most often have had family, social, and academic struggles along with the lack of a father figure in their lives.

Today BTC -has developed and produced many supportive community-based programs and conferences all over world.They provide youth and teachers alike with activities, self-improvement exercises and motivational strategies to help them reach their highest potential in life. Eric now serves as the Chairman of the Organization.

He is currently pursuing his PhD in Education Administration at Michigan State and serves as Senior Pastor of A Place of Change Ministries, Lansing Michigan. He also serves as an Academic Adviser at Michigan State in the Office of Supportive Services where he has developed The Advantage, an undergraduate retention program targeting academically at-risk students.

Eric's representation of the merits of higher education coupled with his knowledge of the pains of the street inspires young people to break bad habits and reach for new levels of personal and spiritual achievement.

Michael Flanagan - State Superintendent  

State Superintendent Michael Flanagan will share his perspectives on many aspects of the educational system in Michigan including the Michigan Merit Curriculum, Career and Technical Education and connecting students with future education and training choices.

Lunch will feature esteemed award winners such as the Government Contractor of the Year and the Michigan 50 Companies to Watch winners.

Time will be spent with legislators from each district in our region so constituents can discuss with them items related to talent, education and employment/hiring needs in the region.

The full group will finish the day by prioritizing items from three sub-regional SWOT analyses so that the talent district members and all stakeholders across the region can set action items, timelines and measurements to address talent related issues throughout the following twelve months.