Agenda 2026
Localizing Impact: Communities and The Future
Friday, february 20, 2026
Hosted by the Yale School of Management’s Economic Development Club, the Symposium brings together students, practitioners, policymakers, and private-sector leaders to discuss how localized action can drive national progress.
8:30 AM - 9:30 AM
Registration & Breakfast - Arrival, check-in, and informal networking over breakfast
9:30 AM - 10:20 AM
Welcome and Keynote Address
Opening remarks framing the Symposium theme of Localizing Impact: Communities and the Future, followed by a keynote address on how locally driven economic development is evolving amid global uncertainty, shifting funding landscapes, and technological change.
Keynotes:
Cristina Killingsworth (Co-Founder, Start. Grow. Remain | former Acting Asst. Secretary of Commerce, EDA)
Eric Smith (Co-Founder, Start. Grow. Remain | former founding director of the Tech Hubs program, EDA)
10:25 AM - 11:35 Am
Panel 1: The Future of Municipal Bonds
This panel examines how municipal bonds, the backbone of U.S. public infrastructure finance, are evolving under pressures from climate risk, demographic change, federal uncertainty, and rising long-term liabilities. Panelists discuss whether the muni market can continue to support essential public projects while adapting to blended finance models, new investor demands, and impact-oriented capital strategies.
Speakers:
Eric Kim (Senior Director and Head of US State Ratings, USPF, Fitch Ratings)
Michael Gaughan (Executive Director, Vermont Bond Bank)
Triet Nguyen (Vice President, Strategic Data Operations, DPC DATA)
Moderator: William Glasgall (Public Finance Advisor, The Volcker Alliance; Fellow, Penn Institute for Urban Research)
11:45 Am - 12:55 PM
Student Economic Development Lightning Talks
A fast-paced session highlighting place-based economic development projects from current students and recent graduates. Each talk addresses a real-world challenge and what implementation would require.
Speakers:
Sahar Ibrahim (Harvard Business School)
Teni Tayo (Duke Fuqua School of Business)
Stephanie Tsopanidis and Ivi Lewis (Hunter CUNY)
Matias Bertranou, Liliana Jelu Reyes, and Dorsa Norouzi (MIT Sloan School of Business)
Moderator: Kate Cooney, Senior Lecturer in Social Enterprise and Management and Founding Director of the Inclusive Economic Development Lab
1:00 PM - 1:55 PM
Lunch and Networking
2:00 PM - 3:10 PM
Panel 2: The New Downtown
This panel explores how cities, tribes, and states are rebuilding economic growth amid technological disruption, post-pandemic shifts, remote work, and changing civic expectations. The discussion examines emerging industries, cultural anchors, and cross-sector partnerships that are reshaping downtowns and driving inclusive, sustainable development, drawing on both U.S. and international examples.
Speakers:
Karen Brooks Hopkins (Former CEO, Brooklyn Academy of Music)
George McCarthy (President & CEO, Lincoln Institute of Land Policy)
Arlene Martinez (Deputy Executive Director, Good Jobs First)
Tracy Hadden Loh (Fellow, Brookings Metro)
Moderator: Judith A. Chevalier, William S. Beinecke Professor of Finance and Economics and Faculty Director for the Program on Social Enterprise, Innovation, and Impact
3:15 PM - 3:45 PM
Spotlight Fireside Chat: QuantumCT
A discussion of CT’s NSF’s QuantumCT initiative, highlighting how state-level innovation ecosystems link applied research, workforce development, and commercialization through university–government–industry collaboration.
Speakers:
Albert Green (President & CEO of QuantumCT)
Moderator: Garrett Sheehan (President of the Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce and Executive Director of the Regional Leadership Council
3:45 PM - 4:00 PM
Closing Remarks
(Please note that the agenda and speaker lineup is subject to change without notice)