Be sure and register today for the  fourth and final TATT/Our Upstate Vision Forum of 2013, which will be held on Tuesday, November 19th from 3-5 pm (reception to follow) at the Embassy Suites in Greenville. The forum will focus on celebrating some of the successes and great things happening across the Upstate. 

While it is critical to look at areas where we must continue to work to make the Upstate an even better place for generations to come, it is also important that we take opportunities to recognize and understand some of the great things from our past and that are happening today in our region.

The November 19th forum will highlight some of the people, organizations and businesses that are making the Upstate a great place to live, learn, do business and raise a family.

The featured speaker will be former South Carolina Speaker of the House and U.S. Ambassador to Canada David Wilkins. He is currently the Chairman of the Board at Clemson University and will be speaking about the important role that Clemson is playing in growing the economic vitality and quality of life in the Upstate.

In September, Ten at the Top conducted the 300th regional engagement (presentations, forums, meetings, surveys) since the organization began its current phase in January 2010. The activities have included more than 18,500 participants from across the Upstate region.

Ranging from issue-based task force meetings to presentations for community organizations or gatherings of hundreds of elected officials, community & business leaders and Upstate residents discussing key issues around the economic vitality or quality of life in the Upstate, each session has helped grow the spirit of collaboration and partnerships across the Upstate region.

The issues on which TATT has convened regional meetings and encouraged collaboration focus around the five driver areas of the Our Upstate Vision (which TATT developed through feedback from more than 10,000 Upstate residents). The specific topics on which TATT has convened meetings and forums include the value of education, developing entrepreneurial friendly communities, senior issues, air quality attainment, water planning, transportation & infrastructure, workforce & skill development, community vibrancy and preventive health care.

Ten at the Top was originally formed under the name Upstate Together in 2005 as an ad hoc regional committee with the goal of encouraging regional discussions on cross-jurisdictional issues. In 2009, the group hosted the Upstate Reality Check event that brought together more than 400 leaders from across the region. It was at that point that the name of the organization was changed to Ten at the Top and it was incorporated as a non-profit.

The current work plan of community activities, meetings, forums and presentations began in 2010 following the hiring of Dean Hybl as executive director. Irv Welling served as the chair of Ten at the Top through 2011 when he was succeeded by Neal Workman. The board of directors includes more than 60 leaders from across the ten counties of the Upstate region.