People living in cities became anxious during COVID and remain that way in its aftermath. Cities are frayed and at a tipping point. There is a significant ongoing debate about the advantages of density. The ability of broadband connectivity to offer rural and small communities adequate online services and the opportunity to be part of a global economy is transformative and able to truly deliver the promise that the “middle of nowhere is no more.”

Is this the moment rural and small communities have been waiting for?

Will the exodus to the countryside rebalance the human social experience? Maybe. But is the rural ecosystem ready, able or even willing to take on the potential flow out of cities? Broadband is where we start, but it is not ONLY about broadband or smart technologies. Preparing the rural community for a new era demands a more holistic approach. Will rural healthcare, education and services be up to the task?

We explore this issue with Intelligent Communities from the rural sector, experts and providers of connectivity.

Click here to register: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_sYp5Ak2FSuuXIQZlrLollw

Speakers include:

• Dan Circelli, President, Connecting Windsor-Essex
• Bill Coleman, Founder, Community Technology Advisors
• Wendy Dupley, Director of Economic Development, Maple Ridge, BC, Canada
• Dave Rehbehn, Vice President, International Division, Hughes Network Systems, LLC
• John G. Jung, Co-Founder, Intelligent Community Forum
• Lou Zacharilla, Co-Founder, Intelligent Community Forum (Moderator)

Dan Circelli is the President of Connecting Windsor-Essex, a non-profit organization comprised of a Board of Directors, a Board Executive, and a consortium of over 40 member companies, associations, councils and other organizations in Windsor-Essex. His experiences include Software Application Developer/Trainer, IT Manager, Corporate Training Manager, Director of Educational & Technical services and Product/Project Manager. His past responsibilities provide Dan with a rich set of tools he relies on to create collaborative teams that implement and advocate Intelligent Community Initiatives for the Windsor-Essex region.

Bill Coleman helps communities make the connection between telecommunications and economic development. As principal in Community Technology Advisors since 2000, he assists clients develop and implement programs of broadband infrastructure investment and technology promotion and training. Coleman believes that both are required for community technology and economic vitality. Prior to forming Community Technology Advisors, Bill managed Onvoy’s (now Zayo) Integrated Community Network (ICN) rural market development efforts. ICN, a Nortel Networks sales process, was a superb market development strategy to link a community’s economic development planning to telecom providers’ broadband infrastructure business planning, creating a win-win environment for providers and communities. Earlier, Bill staffed the MN Department of Trade and Economic Development Star City and Business Retention and Expansion Programs, working with local community teams to vision, strategize and implement local economic development programs. Bill is a current board member of PCs for People, a non-profit dedicated to getting computers into the hands of those without. He is a former board member of the Economic Development Association of Minnesota and the Midwest Institute for Telecommuting Education.

Wendy Dupley is the Director of Economic Development for the City of Maple Ridge, British Columbia, Canada. She is a strategic, visionary and creative leader with global experience in both private and public sector environments. Talented in building strong partnerships and working collaboratively with a wide range of domestic and international stakeholders, Wendy’s specialty areas include identifying key domestic and international economic indicators, as well as workforce strategies to support business development.

Dave Rehbehn, vice president, at Hughes Network Systems, LLC (HUGHES), leads the company’s global marketing of broadband products as well as business development for services. In this capacity, he develops Hughes international market strategy and guides the strategic direction of the Hughes international sales force. Mr. Rehbehn works closely with end users and service operators to track market trends, emerging applications and business developments in global communications and networking. A recognized thought leader in the industry, Mr. Rehbehn speaks frequently on satellite solutions for bridging the digital divide. Throughout his career, Mr. Rehbehn has worked across the Hughes business from engineering, to consumer internet service to international enterprise and operator markets. Prior to his current role, Mr. Rehbehn was responsible for enterprise sales for the southeast region of the United States and worked closely with many U.S.-based Fortune 1000 companies to develop network solutions tailored to their needs. Previously, he supported the engineering development of wideband time division multiple access (TDMA), packet networks, and TDMA very small aperture terminal (VSAT) satellite network projects. Mr. Rehbehn holds a Computer Science degree from the University of Maryland, USA.

ICF co-founder John G. Jung originated the Intelligent Community concept and continues to serve as the Forum's leading visionary. Formerly President and CEO of the Greater Toronto Marketing Alliance and Calgary Economic Development Authority, he is a registered professional urban planner, urban designer and economic developer. He leads regular international business missions to US, European, Asian, Indian and Australian cities, and originated the ICF Immersion Lab program. John is a regular speaker at universities and conferences and serves as an advisor to regional and national leaders on Intelligent Community development. More

Louis Zacharilla helped found the Intelligent Community movement. He is the developer of the Top7 and Intelligent Community of the Year Awards programs. He helps the New York-based think tank communicate the importance of developing viable and innovative communities and cities audiences worldwide and oversees the new Institutes of the Intelligent Community Forum around the world. He is a frequent keynote speaker and a moderator at conferences and events. He appears regularly in the media to discuss the impact of broadband and access technologies on the rebirth of the world’s communities. More

Click here to register for this webinar: 
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_sYp5Ak2FSuuXIQZlrLollw