It’s sponsored by the Office of Economic Development.
Frederick, Md (KM) A business forum is scheduled for Friday, January 5th at the Frederick Health Village,, 1 Frederick Health Way in Frederick. It’s sponsored by the County’s Office of Economic Development. “We are very excited to have a number of great speakers sharing about the Frederick County economy,” says Lara Fritts, the Director of the Division of Economic Opportunity.
She says one of the speakers is Tom Kleinhenzl, President and CEO of Frederick Health Hospital, who will talk about what’s going on at the hospital. Fritts says she will also be speaking to the audience about the status of the local economy.
Another speaker will be John Hickman. “John is the Director of the Beacon Center which is at the Purdue School of Business at Salisbury University,” says Fritts. “They worked with us to create a business sentiment survey where we surveyed our local business community on things that are going well, and things that could be improved upon in Frederick County. And he will be sharing out some of the results during the event.”
Fritts says the keynote speaker is Tom Barkin, the President and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, and he will discuss the national economy. “Tom Barkin covers the five-state area: North Carolina, South Carolina. Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia,” she says.
Rounding out the speakers will be County Executive Jessica Fitzwater. who will share her vision for 2024,
Fritts says forums such as these can benefit local businesses. “Hearing the business sentiments, I think they’re valuable in understanding how those sentiments are going to play into the work we do in economic development; hearing the work that has been done in economic development, and how businesses are benefiting from the work we’re doing,” she says.
All seats for this Friday’s business insight forum are filled, but Fritts says OED will be holding other events throughout 2024 for business people to attend.
By Kevin McManus