Texas Rural Challenge

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Texas Rural Challenge

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3rd Annual Teaxas Rural Challenge

June 13-14,2012
San Marcos, Texas

The University of Texas Institute for Economic Development's Rural Business Program will host the third annual Texas Rural Challenge conference in San Marcos, Texas, June 13-14, 2012. The conference will focus on the challenges facing rural Texans. The goal of this event is to spur small business and ecnomic growth in rural communities across Texas by providing leaders with practical and proven approaches to rural development.   This is a state-wide conference hosted by the Governor's Office, Texas Economic Development Council, Texas Department of Agriculture, USDA-Rural Development, Texas Association of Rural Councils and the UTSA Institute for Economic Development Rural Business Program.  

Registration will open in April for this event.

Preliminary program outline (check back for updated schedule)

Invited Speakers: Hope Andrade, Texas Secretary of State; Denise Trauth, President, Texas State University; Daniel Guerrero, Mayor, City of San Marcos; Aaron Farmer, Vice President, The Retail Coach; Graham Weston, Chairman & CEO, Rackspace; Bryan Daniel, Chief Administrator, Texas Department of Agriculture; Rick Rhodes, Assistant Commissioner for Rural Economic Development, Texas Department of Agriculture; Brian Dobson, President & CEO, RUPRI.  

June 13, 2012
7:30 am: Exhibitor Setup;
8 am: Registration, Exhibits and Networking
9 am: Welcome and Opening Remarks
9:45 am: Special Presentation by the Texas Workforce Commission
10:30 am: Keynote address followed by luncheon
1:30–5 pm: Session Tracks and Networking Break
5–7 pm: Reception

 June 14, 2012 
8 am: Breakfast, Exhibits and Networking 
9 am: Keynote Speaker
10 am: Roundtable sessions
11 am: Session Tracks and Networking Break
 12 noon: Keynote address and luncheon
1:45 pm: Closing Comments