Exciting Southern Oregon Business Conference | January 29, 2015

2015 Southern Oregon Business Conference Featured Milken Institute Speaker and Three Local “Southern Oregon Edge High-Tech” Leaders

MEDFORD, OR – Thursday, January 29th, the 12th annual Southern Oregon Business Conference featured an industry-inspired theme titled “High Tech – Southern Oregon’s Edge.” This year’s conference focused on the importance of the high-tech sector to the region and highlighted the economic research of Minoli Ratnatunga, Economist from the world famous Milken Institute and co-author of Best Performing Cities 2014. Hosted by SOREDI and held at the Inn at the Commons from 2pm to 5pm (Door opened at 1:30), this year’s annual event also included a distinguished panel of local high-tech guest speakers from a few of Southern Oregon’s most prominent technology firms.

“The high-tech industry is making a serious impact on Southern Oregon, and because of that, we want to take advantage of increased opportunities for insight and economic growth,” says Ron Fox, Executive Director of Southern Oregon Regional Economic Development. “This year’s conference was not only informative, but motivational as local leaders continue to identify and focus on what gives Southern Oregon the edge!”

Ratnatunga is the co-author of the Milken Institute’s annual “Best Performing Cities” report. She’s got great news to share at the conference, including Southern Oregon’s ranking in the top twenty among more than 179 metro areas in the United States for the growth of our high-tech sector business. Three local high-tech leaders who share responsibility for such a ranking will join the strategic conversation, including Carestream Site Manager Mike Tylutki, Coding Zeal Founder Adam Cuppy and Linx Technologies President Tolga Latif.

To round out the panel and provide data confirming Oregon’s economic rebound in 2014 and beyond is Dr. Tim Duy, adjunct professor of economics at the University of Oregon and director of the Oregon Economic Forum, Dr. Duy also authors the quarterly Regional Economic Index which he provides on behalf of KeyBank, the Business Conference’s Presenting Sponsor.

The Milken Institute is among the top “think tanks” in America which conduct in-depth research, hosts conferences, and publishes strategic studies. Coding Zeal is a global web and mobile app development firm, Carestream is a international provider of medical and dental imaging systems and IT solutions and Linx Technologies develops and manufactures wireless products. SOREDI (Southern Oregon Regional Economic Development Inc.) is a non-profit organization dedicated to increasing the long-term prosperity of Jackson and Josephine Counties. Serving 13 incorporated cities including Ashland, Butte Falls, Cave Junction, Central Point, Eagle Point, Gold Hill, Grants Pass, Jacksonville, Medford, Phoenix, Rogue River, Talent, and Shady Cove.

Speaker Information:

Minoli Ratnatunga, Economist | Milken Institute
Minoli Ratnatunga is an economist at the Milken Institute focused on regional economic development and regional competitiveness. Before joining the Institute, she worked for eight years at the Allegheny Conference on Community Development, a regional economic development organization focused on improving the competitiveness and quality of life in the Pittsburgh region. At the Allegheny Conference, Ratnatunga focused her research on energy policy, transportation and infrastructure funding, and state tax competitiveness, working with civic and business leaders to help key decision-makers make better policy choices. She also led the economic impact study practice, managing the production of research reports that captured the importance of strategic industries and projects to the Pennsylvania economy. Minoli has a master’s degree in public policy and management from Carnegie Mellon University, and a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and economics from the London School of Economics.

Dr. Tim Duy, Economist | University of Oregon
Professor Duy received his B.A. in Economics in 1991 from the University of Puget Sound, and his M.S. and Ph.D. in Economics in 1998 from the University of Oregon. Following graduate school, Tim worked in Washington, D.C. for the United States Department of Treasury as an economist in the International Affairs division and later with the G7 Group, a political and economic consultancy for clients in the financial industry. In the latter position, he was responsible for monitoring the activities of the Federal Reserve and currency markets. Tim returned to the University of Oregon in 2002. He is the Senior Director of the Oregon Economic Forum and the author of the University of Oregon Statewide Economic Indicators, Regional Economic Indicators, and the Central Oregon Business Index. Tim has published in the Journal of Economics and Business and is currently a member of the Oregon Governor’s Council of Economic Advisors and the State Debt Policy Advisory Commission