Author and community development expert will speak at Annual Conference

Our opening keynote speaker will set the tone for our conference theme by highlighting the keys to create a desirable place to live, work, and play. Peter Kageyama will share ways to identify assets and maximize the partnerships in your community. Our conference keynote is an internationally recognized expert on community development and grassroots engagement.  Peter has traveled the world learning and speaking about issues of local community development, talent attraction and retention, and creative industries development.  He will share with us why economy alone will not attract investment to your city or town and why place and community-making is essential for rural, urban and suburban communities to thrive. Peter is the author of For the Love of Cities: The Love Affair Between People and Their Places and the follow up, Love Where You Live: Creating Emotionally Engaging Places.  He will be available to sign copies of his books following his keynote and throughout the day.