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Conference Speakers
Dr. Timothy Wojan, a regional economist with Resource and Rural Economics Division, USDA Economic Research Service, studies the roles that creativity and innovation play in rural development. Recent research on the rural creative class and rural artists has been published in professional journals such as the Journal of Economic Geography and Regional Studies, and presented at a variety of venues, including state arts councils, the Harvard Business School, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, and the Appalachian Leadership Summit. Tim currently leads a major survey of rural establishments to assess conditions conducive to business innovativeness. He has a PhD from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Dr. David McGranahan collaborates with Tim in research on the rural creativity. Other research has included the importance of attractive landscapes and pleasant climates both for attracting people, including the creative class, to rural areas and for rural health. In addition to journal publications, this work has been the subject of pieces in Scientific American, American Demography, and other outlets. David has a PhD in sociology from UW-Madison. He is a past-president of the Southern Regional Science Association.
Tina C. Lund, AICP, an Associate Principal, joined Urbanomics in 1996 as a research assistant. Focusing on comprehensive development strategies and impacts assessments, representative projects include an assessment of the economic impacts of creative and technology industries in the Brooklyn Tech Triangle, the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy for Bridgeport, CT., and a geospatial distribution of forecasted school children for the Town of Plymouth, Mass. Ms. Lund co-developed and taught the Applied Demography course for the Pratt Institute’s Programs for Planning and Sustainable Development and has lectured on socioeconomic data collection and analysis at NYU’s Wagner Graduate School of Public Service and Princeton’s Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs. In addition, she is the Vice President of the NY Metro Chapter of the American Planning Association. She holds a BA from Grinnell College in Grinnell, IA.
Robert Donnan is an independent community and economic development consultant who focuses upon creative economy and community economic development initiatives in both metropolitan and rural locations. He conducts creative economy assessments, develops strategic frameworks, researches comparative case studies, facilitates community meetings, and advises community--based initiatives. Robert also works directly with communities to help local and regional leaders—as well as organizations—translate strategic recommendations into action and accomplishment.
