DES MOINES, Iowa, July 11, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- A roster of nationally acclaimed experts weighs in on the future and fortunes of North Dakota and South Dakota at a major conference in Sioux Falls, August 8 - 9, 2006.
Sponsored by the Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines (the Dakotas are in its District), "Capitalizing on Rural America -- the Dakotas" is designed to introduce local leaders and community bankers to new models for everything from economic development to capital formation.
Headliners include:
Ben Stein, comedian, lawyer, actor, professor, and finance guru best known for his nerdy role in "Ferris Bueller's Day Off," and as host of Comedy Central's "Win Ben Stein's Money." As conference keynoter, Stein applies his talent and background to issues facing rural America.
Bill Kurtis, distinguished journalist, Emmy Award-winning producer of A&E's "Cold Case Files" and "Investigative Reports," and angel investor in the small town of Sedan, Kansas. Kurtis facilitates a town meeting with panelists from North Dakota and South Dakota and the audience on the states' future. Panelists:
John Boehle, CEO, founder of Point2Point Airways, Grand
Forks, North Dakota
Mary Erman, SVP and COO, Starion Financial, Bismarck, North
Dakota
Rick Killion, editor, Prairie Business magazine, Grand Forks,
North Dakota
Marty Shukert, partner in RDG Planning & Design, specialist
in small-town revitalization
Rod Fouberg, CEO, Dacotah Bank, Aberdeen, South Dakota
Sheila Hoffman, CEO, founder, Golden Pond Software, Milbank,
South Dakota
Additional speakers include:
Tom Walker, creator of the national model to develop an entrepreneurial economy on how to turn innovation into a business. He is CEO of i2E in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Jack Schultz, author of "Boomtown USA: The 7 1/2 Keys to Big Success in Small Towns." Schultz is CEO of Agracel in Effingham, Illinois.
Andrew Skadberg, chief knowledge officer of AdventGX in College Station, Texas, focuses on tourism as an economic development strategy.
There is no charge to attend the conference and it is open to the public, but registration is required. To register online, go to www.fhlbdm.com.
"Capitalizing on Rural America -- the Dakotas" will be held at the Sheraton Sioux Falls & Convention Center. For more information, contact Angie Richards at 800.544.3452, ext. 1014 or arichards@fhlbdm.com.
The Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines is a $50 billion wholesale bank with more than 1,200 members which include commercial banks, saving institutions, credit unions and insurance companies. The Bank is owned by its members and receives no taxpayer funding. The Des Moines-based Bank serves Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota, and is one of 12 regional banks that make up the Federal Home Loan Bank System.