Special to the Times
Innovation in Alabama will take center stage during the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama’s 2017 “imerge” event on Aug. 23 at the Alabama Theatre.
Thomas L. Friedman, a Pulitzer Prize winning New York Times columnist and an author of six bestselling books, including The World is Flat: A Brief History of the Twenty-first Century, is the keynote speaker. In his latest book, Thank You for Being Late: An Optimist’s Guide to Thriving in the Age of Accelerations, Friedman notes that innovation is coming faster than the ability of most people to keep up, which creates a need for lifelong relearning to hold jobs.
Friedman will speak at 4 p.m., and a networking reception follows at 5 p.m. The EDPA’s 2017 Innovation Awards celebration is at 6 p.m. Among those to be honored is the Lifetime Achievement in Innovation recipient, Jim Hudson, who is co-founder of the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology in Huntsville and has been credited with helping to change the face of Huntsville in areas as divergent as downtown redevelopment, biotechnology and the arts.
The “imerge” event will continue into the evening with “Celebrate Alabama,” beginning at 7 p.m., which offers a taste of Alabama, with delicious food, and live music and entertainment “after parties” at the Alabama Theatre and the adjoining Hill Event Center.
For six years, EDPA has held an annual conference to celebrate and recognize how important innovation, entrepreneurs and startups are to economic development in Alabama. This year, “imerge” represents a rebrand for the event.
“We are excited to have Mr. Friedman as our keynote speaker as we celebrate Alabama’s rich history and contemplate our bright future in innovation-based economic development,” said EDPA President Steve Spencer. “His observations on innovation and his worldview will drive discussion on handling the rapidly accelerating advances occurring in our economy.”
Tickets to “imerge” are available at Ticketmaster. For more information on “imerge” and sponsorship opportunities, please visit: http://alabamalaunchpad.com/imerge/
About EDPA: Now in its 26th year, the non-profit Partnership represents the private sector’s contribution to economic development in Alabama. EDPA is supported by more than 60 partners from across the state and works to attract, retain and grow jobs in Alabama, while also encouraging innovation through its Alabama Launchpad program.
