The goal of the Janus Forum is to advance the economic development profession and professional. With this in mind, the format of the forum allows participants to identify specific topics that they would like to discuss at each Forum. In addition, invited site selectors and industry executives contribute to the forum through one-on-one conversations and breakout sessions, which are led by the Forum participants. The 6th Annual Rabun Janus Forum, held in February of this year, featured some dynamic topics that generated highly engaging conversation. The survey results from the February Forum reinforce the benefit that participants find in this participant-set interactive format.
Among the results:
- 100% of those surveyed rated the session with Beth Osborne, Transportation for America, who discussed proposed federal policy changes in transportation and the impact that it could have on the economic development profession, as good, very good or exceptional.
- 94% of those surveyed found the participant led discussion session with site consultant & corporate executive including: Jeff Troan, Lockheed; Raymond Ocasio, Gulfstream; Jonathan Sangster, Georgia Power; and Kate McEnroe, Kate McEnroe Consulting to be beneficial rating it as good, very good or exceptional.
- Participant selected discussion topic National Target Industries received mixed results with 75% of those surveyed rating this topic as good, very good or exceptional however, some participants voiced their desire to focus conversation on higher level more in-depth discussion in the future.
- 94% of those surveyed rated the participant selected discussion topic, Product Development as good, very good, or exceptional.
- 100% of those surveyed rated the state economic development directors panel as good, very good, or exceptional. State Directors from Iowa, Kentucky, and Michigan shared the results of their director’s forum with Janus Forum participants during a lunch panel, which received high marks with it as good, very good, or exceptional.
- 93% of those surveyed rated the participant led Q&A session with Kate McEnroe, Kate McEnroe Consulting; Jonathan Sangster, Georgia Power; Jeff Troan, Lockheed Martin as very good or exceptional.
When asked what they found “most beneficial about the Forum”, participants unanimously reported networking with peers, site consultants and industry executives as a large benefit at the Forum.
Survey comments include:
“ Networking- talking with peers and sharing ideas/solutions is invaluable”
“ Good sessions, great networking, and opportunity for directed and informal discussion are great benefits of the Janus Forum”
“I found the opportunity for networking with peers and direct access to site consultants and real estate executives to be extremely valuable ”
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