Radically Rural: Full Schedule

7:30am EDT

Registration Opens

Thursday September 27, 2018 7:30am - 8:30am EDT
The Colonial Theatre, Keene NH 95 Main St, Keene, NH 03431, USA

8:30am EDT

Keynote Kickoff

Join us from 8:30-9:30am in the Colonial Theatre on September 27th for the Keynote Kickoff of Radically Rural 2018! Our keynote speakers include Mary Ann Kristiansen, Executive Director of the Hannah Grimes Center, Terrence Williams, President of the Keene Sentinel, Taylor Caswell, Commissioner of the NH Department of Business and Economic Affairs, and George Hansel, City Councilor for the City of Keene.

Speakers

George Hansel

City Councilor, City of Keene

Mary Ann Kristiansen

Executive Director, The Hannah Grimes Center

Mary Ann Kristiansen was born and raised in Minnesota. She received a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications from Gustavus Adolphus College in Minnesota. After college, she moved to New York and worked for J. Walter Thompson Advertising and Merrill Lynch. While she was there, she earned... Read More →

Panelists

Terrence Williams

President, The Keene Sentinel

Terrence Williams is president and chief operating officer for Keene Publishing Corp., the publisher of The Keene Sentinel.He leads The Sentinel’s niche publication, digital media, circulation, sales, graphics and print shop divisions. He’s also in charge of the company’s business... Read More →

Thursday September 27, 2018 8:30am - 9:30am EDT
The Colonial Theatre, Keene NH 95 Main St, Keene, NH 03431, USA

10:00am EDT

Artists and Creative Placemaking

Limited Capacity seats available

The emerging field of creative place-making unites the arts with community initiatives that increase the well-being of a place. Serving any "place", from a neighborhood to an entire region, creative place-making utilizes creative projects to foster economic development, civic engagement, community pride, and education. Many funders are supporting initiatives to create meaningful art and help communities thrive.

Speakers

Chris Archer

New Hampshire Institute of Art

Chris Archer is an art maker, art educator, art administrator, and arts advocate. His studio practice consists of functional pottery, sculptural forms, arrangements, site-specific installations and collaborative events. Through these different “delivery systems”, he investigates... Read More →

Panelists

Matthew Glassman

Matthew Glassman began working with Double Edge Theatre in 2000. He most recently co-created and performed as the Shadow in Leonora and Alejandro: La Maga y el Maestro, which premiered in March 2018 at Peak Performances at Montclair State University. He also co-created Once a ... Read More →

Melissa Richmond

When Melissa Richmond returned to Claremont after completing her music degree, she mentioned that people shouldn’t have to travel to experience the arts, and she wished she could bring quality artistic opportunities to her own community. Shortly thereafter her church offered space... Read More →

Sponsors

Arts Alive!

Arts Alive! is a 501(c)3 nonprofit that enhances quality of life by advancing arts & culture in the Monadnock region. We want the Monadnock region to have a flourishing cultural community that values arts and culture and provides community support to facilitate success.

Putnam Foundation

Thursday September 27, 2018 10:00am - 12:00pm EDT
MoCo Arts

Arts & Culture Track, Session 1

10:00am EDT

Crazy Good

Limited Capacity seats available

Crazy Good business practices aggregate into a Crazy Good community – a community with a competitive edge. Small communities are filled with entrepreneurs that care deeply about their communities and their businesses. This session will outline a framework that views the distinctive economic activity of rural communities in three categories: those that bring activity to a community, those that create distinctive activity in a region and export it, and those who work to keep economic activity and everyday life in a community finely tuned. This will be followed by a panel that Crazy Good people that have gained an edge for their businesses and their community.

Speakers

Rich Grogan

Executive Director, Community Capital of VT

Rich Grogan is currently the Executive Director of Community Capital of Vermont, a CDFI and certified SBA Microlender with a statewide presence in Vermont. Rich has spent nearly all of his professional life working with and for small businesses, wearing hats as diverse as banking... Read More →

Panelists

Emily Schwerin-Whyte

Family Owner & VP of Sales and Marketing, W.S. Badger

A second-generation family owner and collaborative executive officer, Emily Schwerin-Whyte co-leads Badger’s strategic visioning and oversees its sales and marketing. Emily has been a part of Badger since its founding, helping to pack boxes while in high school, and after graduating... Read More →

Kim E. Bergeron

Kim Bergeron is the owner of K.E. Bergeron Mechanical Systems, LLC located at 216 Marlboro Street, Keene, NH which designs, installs and services heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) in residential, commercial and industrial applications. He is also a partner in an eight-apartment... Read More →

Marty Parichand

Owner, Outdoor New England | ONE

ONE is a for profit company that specializes in getting people outside, with a focus on whitewater paddlesports. At ONE, you can go whitewater rafting, shop at our retail store, receive on the water lessons, rent Onewheels, kayaks, rafts and stand up paddleboards. However, that is... Read More →

Peter Robinson

Owner, Roy's Market

In 2004, Peter Robinson purchased Roy's Market and Roy's II in Peterborough, New Hampshire, from his uncle, Albert Roy, and his wife. Roy's Market, a staple of the community, has been in the same location on Main Street since 1938. Long-term employees Noel LaFortune (54 years... Read More →

Tedd Benson

Founder and CEO, Bensonwood

Author, Building Pioneer, Founder, and CEO of Bensonwood & Unity Homes Tedd, founder of Bensonwood (1973) and Unity Homes (2012), has devoted his life to developing a better way to build. Realizing in his youth the undeniable benefits of timber construction, Tedd was a crucial figure... Read More →

Tracy Ostler

GMHA is the oldest continuously operating horse organization in the nation. It draws people from all over New England and beyond with educational, competitive and recreational events in Dressage, Eventing, Driving, Hunter/Jumpers and Competitive, Endurance and Pleasure Trail Riding... Read More →

Sponsors

TD Bank Charitable Foundation

Thursday September 27, 2018 10:00am - 12:00pm EDT
Hannah Grimes Center 25 Roxbury St, Keene, NH 03431, USA

Entrepreneurship Track, Session 1

10:00am EDT

Tactical Innovation for Small and Rural Towns

Limited Capacity seats available

In this engaging session Deb will illustrate how other communities are using Innovative Rural Business Models to bring more businesses to their community. She will share about the Empty Building Tour and how one town used The Tour to fill 10 of 12 empty buildings. You’ll learn how to gather your crowd, to build connections and take small steps to implement your big ideas in your small towns. This session with national small town and rural expert Deb Brown, will energize you to go home and get right to work!

Speakers

Deb Brown

Co-Founder, SaveYour.Town

Deb grew up on a farm outside of Geneva, Iowa, population 141. Her first entrepreneurial venture was raising a hog. You’d find her either with her nose in a history book or out exploring abandoned houses and buildings. Funny, things haven’t changed much, she’s still working... Read More →

Sponsors

Monadnock Food Co-op

Prime Roast Coffee Company

Thursday September 27, 2018 10:00am - 12:00pm EDT
The Old Courthouse: Cheshire County Hall

Main Street Track, Session 1

10:00am EDT

Fake News - Keeping News Real in Rural America

Limited Capacity seats available

President Donald Trump's labeling of certain news as fake and journalists as the enemy of the people has raised doubts about the veracity and accuracy of news reporting. This has created a national narrative. How is journalism perceived in rural America? Are levels of trust higher or lower? What can local journalists and small-town community leaders do to maintain integrity and build trust in local journalism?

Speakers

Kathrine Aydelott

Information Literacy and Instruction Librarian, The University Library, University of New Hampshire

Kathrine lists her interests and skills in the areas of library instruction, information literacy, research, information literacy assessment, "fake news" and genealogy.She has a Masters from Simmons College, a PhD from the University of Connecticut, a master’s degree from UConn... Read More →

Kathy Kiely

Lee Hills Chair in Free-Press Studies, Missouri School of Journalism, University of Missouri

Kathy Kiely, the National Press Club Journalism Institute Press Freedom Fellow, is the Lee Hills Chair in Free-Press Studies at the Missouri School of Journalism.A veteran journalist, Kiely's reporting and editing career has included work with WAMU-FM, Bill Moyers, Bloomberg Politics... Read More →

Panelists

Ben Boyington

Vice President, Action Coalition for Media Education

Ben is an educator and education activist based in New Hampshire. He teaches media, English, film, and history at the high school and college levels. Outside the classroom, he is vice president of the Action Coalition for Media Education and coordinator of ConnectED/Global Crit... Read More →

James Rousmaniere Jr.

Retired Executive Editor, President, The Keene Sentinel

Following graduation from Harvard, Jim spent two years surveying irrigation canals in southern India as a Peace Corps Volunteer. In 1970 he joined The Keene Sentinel as a reporter, and two years later joined The Baltimore Sun, eventually reporting on economics in the paper's Washington... Read More →

Kristen Nevious

Director, Marlin Fitzwater Center, Franklin Pierce University

Kristen became director of the Marlin Fitzwater Center for Communication in 2004. Alongside her three degrees in journalism, her professional experience has been in public relations for non-profit organizations, and she has taught journalism, public relations, advertising, photography... Read More →

Paul Miller

Executive Editor, The Keene Sentinel

Paul Miller, executive editor, manages the daily operations of the newsroom and SentinelSource.com, the paper’s online version, and is responsible for the direction, standards and policies of the news operation, as well as their implementation. The Sentinel is the nation’s fifth-oldest continuously published newspaper. He is a board member for the New England Society of Newspap... Read More →

Sponsors

Filtrine

Thursday September 27, 2018 10:00am - 12:00pm EDT
Centennial Alumni Hall

Rural Media Track, Session 1

10:00am EDT

Live the New Forest Future

Limited Capacity seats available

Across the Northern Forest of northern New England and New York, economic transition is well underway. Traditional uses of forests—pulp and paper production—have largely given way to outdoor recreation, biomass energy production, and small-scale manufacturing. While significant challenges exist, the Northern Forest Center is an innovation and investment partner that is advancing the transformative potential of our most abundant resource—forests—to spur a new era of opportunity across the region. This session will highlight trends, opportunities, and case studies of communities on the rise.

Speakers

Joe Short

Vice President, Northern Forest Center

Joe directs public policy, automated wood heat, and regional strategy initiatives at the Northern Forest Center and oversees core operations including finance and budget, organizational planning and management, and board support. Joe first came to the Center in 2003 as a Doris... Read More →

Sponsors

Badger

Cheshire County Conservation District

About UsThe Cheshire County Conservation District (CCCD) was created in 1945 as a governmental sub-division of the state to provide local leadership and decision-making for the protection of the land and water resources of the county. In other words, the CCCD represents the conservation... Read More →

Monadnock Conservancy

MissionTo work with communities and landowners to conserve the natural resources, wild and working lands, rural character, and scenic beauty of the Monadnock region. We care for our conservation lands, and we engage people in ways that strengthen their communities and their connections... Read More →

Thursday September 27, 2018 10:00am - 12:00pm EDT
Hannah Grimes Center 25 Roxbury St, Keene, NH 03431, USA

Working Lands Track, Session 1

12:30pm EDT

Lunch with NEFA (New England Foundation for the Arts)

Join Dee Schneidman, Program Director of Research & Creative Economy at New England Foundation for the Arts, to hear about their programs and ask questions! A very informal lunch conversation for those interested in what New England-wide resources might help rural artists and arts communities - from funding and research to networking and online promotion.
**Lunch is not included, this extra session takes place at Luca's Mediterranean Cafe - view their menu here.

Panelists

Dee Schneidman

Program Director for Research and Creative Economy, New England Foundation for the Arts

Thursday September 27, 2018 12:30pm - 1:30pm EDT
Luca's Mediterranean Restaurant

Extra Sessions!

2:00pm EDT

Evolving Business Models for Rural Arts

Limited Capacity seats available

With so many pathways for developing revenue streams, sales, fundraising, communication, promotion, and scale, developing a business model these days is a dream and a nightmare. What direction is best for you? Hear from artists and organizations making new technology and trends work for them utilizing everything from maker-spaces, co-ops, and green energy, to online sales, public art, and beyond.

Speakers

Sarah Benning

Sarah K. Benning is an American fiber artist with a nomadic studio practice (primarily splitting her time between the U.S. and Spain). Originally from Baltimore, she attended the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and received her BFA in Fiber and Material Studies. Shortly after... Read More →

Panelists

Keith Stephens

Keith Stevens (Managing Director) marks his twenty-first season as Managing Director of the Peterborough Players in 2016. Under his leadership, the Players has reached a record number of subscribers, greatly expanded its season, increased its budget, established a cash reserve, successfully... Read More →

Sponsors

Arts Alive!

Putnam Foundation

Thursday September 27, 2018 2:00pm - 4:00pm EDT
MoCo Arts

Arts & Culture Track, Session 2

2:00pm EDT

PitchFork Challenge

Limited Capacity seats available

The Hannah Grimes Center for Entrepreneurship has offered a quarterly “PitchFork – Local Investing Monadnock Style” for two years. PitchFork connects local investors with local entrepreneurs in a fun, informal networking pitch venue. This Radically Rural PitchFork will offer a $10,000 cash prize for one talented entrepreneur as well as a $1,000 prize for a best idea. Join in on the excitement and we will share the “operating manual” on how to run one in your community. Winners will be announced at the CONNECT event in the evening.

Finalists are...
Business Track: Mill Hollow Works, Elm City Compost Initiative, NH Tap, Machina Arts, Frisky Cow Farm Products, and Butcher Pete's Mobile Meat

Idea Track: Juan Rsario, John Anderson, Brenna Morris, and Katherine & Kim O'Neill

Speakers

Clay Adams

President, Mascoma Bank

Clayton Adams became President and CEO of Mascoma Bank in January 2017. Prior to becoming President, Mr. Adams was a member of the Bank’s Board of Directors for five years. In this capacity he served on several committees, including serving as Chair of the Strategic Planning and... Read More →

Panelists

Andrea O'Brien

Director, Business Sustainability Program & Business Advisor, NH Small Business Development Center

Andrea O’Brien has been with the NH SBDC since 1998 as both the Manchester business advisor and director of the statewide Business Sustainability Program. Andrea works with Manchester region clients on management assistance. She also helps NH SBDC clients across the state form stronger... Read More →

Jim Verzino

Director and Entrepreneur-in-Residence, Windham Grows

Jim is the Director and Entrepreneur in Residence of Windham Grows, a business accelerator that was created by the Strolling of the Heifers and is designed to nurture the next generation of innovative food and agriculture entrepreneurs in southern Vermont. Prior to running Windham... Read More →

Laurel Adams

President, Regional Economic Development Center

Laurel Adams has been the President of REDC, a non-profit economicdevelopment agency and alternative lender serving Southern NH since2009. Under her leadership REDC has tripled in size, and currently hasmore than seventy loans in the portfolio, and over 2000 jobs createdand retained... Read More →

Patrick Knittle

CFO, Against The Grain Gourmet

Patrick Knittle has been a Keene resident since 2002 and is a native of Alexandria, Virginia. He is currently the CFO at Against The Grain Gourmet in Brattleboro, Vermont.His career has spanned a wide-range of experiences, including working for companies such as C&S Wholesale Grocers... Read More →

Peter Hansel

Born in Cranford, NJ but grew up in Riverside, CT. Received a BA from Princeton University in 1972 witha major in Environmental Studies under the Geology Department. Worked briefly as a ResearchAssistant for the Pennsylvania Environmental Council before joining Filtrine Mfg. Co. in... Read More →

Sponsors

TD Bank Charitable Foundation

Thursday September 27, 2018 2:00pm - 4:00pm EDT
Hannah Grimes Center 25 Roxbury St, Keene, NH 03431, USA

Entrepreneurship Track, Session 2

2:00pm EDT

Community Driven Main Street Events with Lasting Economic Results

Limited Capacity seats available

How can one event, one festival, create lasting positive effects on a town serving the larger rural community? In this session, panelists will discuss specific models proving the importance of community driven events that enhance a town far beyond a few days. Events and festivals discussed will provide ideas and inspiration to invigorate rural downtowns in your area and beyond. We are calling this the Main Street Renaissance!

Speakers

Jay Robert Allen

Jay Robert Allen is the owner and President of ShawCraft Sign Co., Inc. in Machesney Park, IL. In the sign business since 1983, he and his company have been the recipients of numerous international awards for design excellence n the art of sign making and fine art murals.Jay is also... Read More →

Panelists

Jen Risley

Jen served as an early organizer of the Monadnock Food Co-op in 2007 and was a founding board member in 2010. She currently is the Marketing Manger of the Co-op. Jen has played an integral part in the vibrancy of our communities Buy Local movement, being the founding member of... Read More →

Paul Shea

Executive Director, Great American Downtown

Paul Shea hails from Nashua, NH, where he serves as the Executive Director of Great American Downtown, a non-profit organization with a mission centered around economic and cultural vibrancy in Downtown Nashua. Shea also serves as a director for the Peacock Players, as a member of... Read More →

Ron Redmond

Since 1998, Ron Redmond has served as executive director of the Church Street Marketplace District in Burlington, VT, a pedestrian mall recognized by the American Planning Association as one of America’s Great Public Spaces. Ron has worked with established and emerging downtowns... Read More →

Sponsors

Monadnock Food Co-op

Prime Roast Coffee Company

Thursday September 27, 2018 2:00pm - 4:00pm EDT
The Old Courthouse: Cheshire County Hall

Main Street Track, Session 2

2:00pm EDT

Energizing and Growing Rural Journalism

Limited Capacity seats available

Small town newspapers, challenged by evaporating advertising revenues, mergers and declining circulation, struggle to sustain themselves. What can be done to keep local journalism strong, relevant, necessary and avoid news deserts?
Speakers: Al Cross, director Institute for Rural Journalism, University of Kentucky
Panel discussion: Mark Guerringue, publisher The Daily Sun, Conway, NH; Keith Gentili, Editor and Publisher, The New Boston Beacon; Paul Miller, executive editor, The Keene Sentinel

Speakers

Al Cross

Director, Institute for Rural Journalism, University of Kentucky

As director of the Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues, Al helps rural news media define the public agenda in their communities and report on broader issues that have local impact but few local sources. Cross helped organize the Institute, which has academic partners... Read More →

Kevin Slimp

Director, University of Tennessee Newspaper Institute

From developing publishing practices, to founding the Institute of Newspaper Technology in 1997, to founding NewspaperAcademy.com and Market Square Books, Kevin continually develops programs and methods for an industry, which too many people call "dead." Tell that to his thousands... Read More →

Panelists

Jim Welch

Projects Editor, VT Digger

Jim Welch is projects editor at VTDigger and a former Montpelier bureau chief and executive editor at the Burlington Free Press. He also was deputy managing editor at USA Today and a speechwriter for the president of the American Bar Association. He has a degree in government from... Read More →

Keith Gentili

Editor and Publisher, New Boston Beacon

Keith is the editor and publisher of The New Boston Beacon, a new monthly newspaper launched in January 2018 serving his small town and surrounding area. Gentili's career includes two distinct halves: the first spent entirely in publishing, including years with weekly and daily newspapers... Read More →

Mark Guerringue

Publisher, The Daily Sun Newspapers

Mark is co-founder of The Conway Daily Sun and The Laconia Daily Sun, the only free-daily community newspapers east of the Rockies. He is also publisher and co-founder of a twice-weekly in Berlin, and publisher of the Portland Phoenix, a free, alternative weekly covering arts, culture... Read More →

Phil Kincade

Executive Director, New Hampshire Press Association

Phil is the retired editor of The Telegraph of Nashua, NH, where he led a 30-person newsroom for the daily, four weeklies and the associated websites. He is currently leading the state’s press association.He was managing editor for online news and content at Foster’s Daily Democrat... Read More →

Sponsors

Filtrine

Thursday September 27, 2018 2:00pm - 4:00pm EDT
Centennial Alumni Hall

Rural Media Track, Session 2

2:00pm EDT

Changes on Tap: Challenges and Opportunities to Growing Rural Food Businesses

Limited Capacity seats available

Farm and forest entrepreneurs are at the heart of rural landscape and an integral part of what makes those regions a quality place to live. The panelists include farmers and food and beverage entrepreneurs who are growing to scale to expand their markets, utilizing the natural resource base of our region to serve local markets as well as urban markets where there is a greater population and potential for customers. Radically Rural communities require pushing the envelope of exporting food and importing dollars to grow our region's farm economy while remaining committed to the land and the community. The innovative entrepreneurs on this panel will share how they have identified opportunities and overcome challenges to grow their businesses and expand their markets.

Speakers

Richard Berkfield

Executive Director, Food Connects

Richard is the co-founder and Executive Director of Food Connects. He has been leading food system development work in the Windham County area for the past eight years. He is a member of the Vermont Farm to Plate Steering Committee as well as the Vermont Farm to School Steering C... Read More →

Panelists

Courtney Hodge

Leigh Harding

National Account Manager, Jasper Hill Farm

Jasper Hill is a working dairy farm with an on-site creamery in Greensboro, VT. An underground aging facility maximizes the potential of cheeses made by the creamery, as well as those made by other local producers. Jasper Hill's mission is to make the highest possible quality... Read More →

Nicole Carrier

Nicole is our Marketing Guru, Chief Realist, and card-carrying M.B.A, handling marketing, social media, technology, and business strategy. Besides collaborating with both the brewers and the kitchen team about new recipe ideas (especially sausage recipes!), Nicole’s favorite aspect... Read More →

Rob Hausslein

Sugar Bob’s Finest Kind is run by Rob Hausslein, of Londonderry, Vermont, and Andrea Ogden, of Landgrove, Vermont. They, along with their respective families, have been sugaring together for years and are originators of their own flagship product, Smoked Maple Syrup.

Sponsors

Badger

Cheshire County Conservation District

Monadnock Conservancy

Thursday September 27, 2018 2:00pm - 4:00pm EDT
Hannah Grimes Center 25 Roxbury St, Keene, NH 03431, USA

Working Lands Track, Session 2

5:00pm EDT

CONNECT2018: The Rural Advantage

Limited Capacity seats available

Put aside everything you know about typical networking events and join us on September 27th for CONNECT 2018: The Rural Advantage! from 5 pm - 9 pm in the Mable Brown Room at Keene State College.

The inaugural Radically Rural summit includes our highly attended annual networking event, CONNECT2018 – an annual gathering of more than 500 engaged, locally focused community members celebrating and fostering the advantages and opportunities of rural living.

Join us from 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm for a unique networking opportunity and amazing local food by CC&D’s Kitchen Market. From 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm, join us for music featuring the Gas Light Tinkers and dancing under Machina Arts’ and UpStream Sound’s impressive light and sound displays!

This year CONNECT will showcase 14 local artists with a sculpture garden curated by Machina Arts! This is an event you do not want to miss!

Thursday September 27, 2018 5:00pm - 9:00pm EDT
Mabel Brown Room

CONNECT2018: The Rural Advantage

8:00am EDT

Building Today's Newspaper - You be the Editor!

Limited Capacity seats available

You may be surprised to learn that newspaper audiences are larger today than ever due to myriad platforms on which news is published – print, websites, online newsletters, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, video and more. What would you do as an editor for a day? What would your coverage and story assignments be? What would you publish in print, online and in social media? What would your front page look like? An engaging interactive event with live video and a press run.

Panelists

Paul Miller

Executive Editor, The Keene Sentinel

Terrence Williams

President, The Keene Sentinel

Sponsors

Filtrine

Friday September 28, 2018 8:00am - 11:00am EDT
Centennial Alumni Hall

Rural Media Track, Session 3

8:30am EDT

The Ethics of Community-Based Arts

Limited Capacity seats available

Since the dawn of human history, the arts have been used to excite, engage, educate, advocate, and move communities forward. How will you contribute? What will our give-back be? This session will feature the stories of two artists utilizing their work for social change in their communities. We'll also feature a discussion on the tools and processes for effective art for social change.

Speakers

Arlene Goldbard

Arlene Goldbard is a writer, social activist and consultant whose focus is the intersection of culture, politics, and spirituality. She is best known as an advocate for cultural democracy and a creator of cultural critique and new cultural policy proposals.Arlene was born in New York, but grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area. After extended sojourns in Sacramento, Washington DC, Baltimore, Mendocino County, Seattle, and the San Francisco Bay Area, she now resides in Lamy, NM, with her husband, the sculptor Rick Yoshimoto.Arlene... Read More →

Sponsors

Arts Alive!

Putnam Foundation

Friday September 28, 2018 8:30am - 10:30am EDT
MoCo Arts

Arts & Culture Track, Session 3

8:30am EDT

Rural Renaissance and Digital Parity

Limited Capacity seats available

The digital age can eliminate density and geographic proximity requirements that were so critical during the industrial age. The digital age will make it possible for a rural community to maintain its “rural” feel and continue to leverage its natural amenities while taking advantage of what only dense urban areas enjoyed last century. Things like access to funding (crowdfunding), worldwide markets (e-commerce), savvy employees (teleworkers) and real-time information; collaboration and innovation (videoconferencing and soon mixed reality); certain level of healthcare (telehealth); and educational opportunities (massive open online courses, online certifications). So, what is in our way to achieve #Rural2.0? Ultra-fast internet connectivity and digital skills quickly come to mind, but the most serious challenge is that the traditional 20th century mindset still exists in rural communities. This session will help you better understand the implications of the digital age and help your rural community transition to, plan for and prosper in the digital age.

Speakers

Matt Dunne

Founder, Executive Director, Center on Rural Innovation

Matt Dunne is the Founder and Executive Director of the Center on Rural Innovation, a non-profit "action-tank" dedicated to fostering digital economies in rural Americathrough research, thought leadership, and on-the-ground programming. His recent op-ed in WIRED explains how small town ingenuity has enabled the proliferation of fiber broadband across rural areas.Previously, Matt served 11 years in the Vermont House and Senate, enacting the state’s first broadband grants, brownfields revitalization funding, and downtown redevelopment... Read More →

Roberto Gallardo

Assistant Director of the Purdue Center for Regional Development and a Purdue Extension Community & Regional Economics Specialist, Purdue University

Roberto Gallardo is Assistant Director of the Purdue Center for Regional Development and a Purdue Extension Community & Regional Economics Specialist. He holds an electronics engineering undergraduate degree, a master's in economic development, and a Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration... Read More →

Katy Easterly Martey

Executive Director, Community Development Finance Authority

Katy Easterly Marty has been with CDFA since 2011, in November 2017 she was appointed CDFA’s Executive Director. As CDFA’s, Chief Program Officer, she provided leadership and strategic direction across CDFA’s programs, guiding program management, policy direction and partnership... Read More →

Sponsors

TD Bank Charitable Foundation

Friday September 28, 2018 8:30am - 10:30am EDT
Hannah Grimes Center 25 Roxbury St, Keene, NH 03431, USA

Entrepreneurship Track, Session 3

8:30am EDT

Historic Buildings as a Catalyst for Downtown Vibrancy

Limited Capacity seats available

Why is it so important to save and use historical buildings in rural downtown/ village centers? Attendees in this session will learn from real life examples of rural communities that have taken historical buildings that act as the brand and foundation of their community's economic well-being, having spent the time and energy to save, help, and or use their historic buildings to bring vibrancy and character to their town. Paul Bruhn will share the importance of determining what is right for your community while maintaining a vibrant downtown and intentionally securing places that serve the entire population. There is no one size fits all - bring your downtown building problems to this session!

Speakers

Paul Bruhn

Executive Director, Preservation Trust of Vermont

Panelists

Bob Stevens

President, Stevens & Associates Engineering

Robert Stevens, P.E., is the founder and president of Stevens & Associates, P.C. and principal for M&S Development. Bob has over 25 years of experience as a professional engineer designing projects, as well as, planning, urban design, public bond campaigns and project finance & development... Read More →

Gretchen Havreluk

Economic Development Consultant, Town of Wilmington

Gretchen Havreluk is currently contracted three days per week as the Economic Development Specialist. She is currently working on several projects including: Facade Improvement Grants for local business properties, Bi-Town Economic Development Committee work, consulting with the... Read More →

Lyssa Papazian

Project Manager, Putney General Store

Architectural historian Lyssa Papazian, M.S. has been working professionally in the field of historic preservation for the past twenty-two years, first as a Senior Architectural Historian in the New Jersey State Historic Preservation Office and for the past sixteen years as an independent... Read More →

Sponsors

Monadnock Food Co-op

Prime Roast Coffee Company

Friday September 28, 2018 8:30am - 10:30am EDT
The Old Courthouse: Cheshire County Hall

Main Street Track, Session 3

8:30am EDT

The New England Food Vision

Limited Capacity seats available

Molly Anderson, William R. Kenan, Jr. Professor of Food Studies at Middlebury College in Vermont, will tell us about “A New England Food Vision”, which details how the region can feasibly provide half of its food needs by the year 2060 while also preserving forested land and our oceans, improving the environmental footprint of agriculture, restoring rural communities, and ensuring that everyone has plenty of healthy food to eat. Molly was a member of the writing team and works on food system planning from the local to the international scales.

Speakers

Molly Anderson

Professor of Food Studies, Middlebury College

Molly Anderson is the William R. Kenan, Jr. Professor of Food Studies at Middlebury College in Vermont, where she teaches about hunger and food security, fixing food systems, and sustainability. She is especially interested in multi-actor collaborations for sustainable food systems... Read More →

Sponsors

Badger

Cheshire County Conservation District

Monadnock Conservancy

Friday September 28, 2018 8:30am - 10:30am EDT
Hannah Grimes Center 25 Roxbury St, Keene, NH 03431, USA

Working Lands Track, Session 3

11:00am EDT

Radically Rural Keynote Wrap Up

The National Rural Assembly is a movement of people and organizations devoted to building a stronger, more vibrant rural America for children, families, and communities. Participants include more than 500 local, regional, and national organizations based in 47 states and the District of Columbia. The goal of the National Rural Assembly is to make the country stronger by improving the outlook for rural communities.

The guiding principle is that an inclusive, prospering, and sustainable rural America improves prospects for us all.

Speakers

Whitney Kimball Coe

Director of National Programs, Center for Rural Strategies

Whitney Kimball Coe is director of National Programs for the Center for Rural Strategies. She began working with the Center as a consultant to the Community Philanthropy Initiative and now focuses on national strategies for strengthening and amplifying the work of rural advocates... Read More →

Friday September 28, 2018 11:00am - 12:00pm EDT
The Colonial Theatre, Keene NH 95 Main St, Keene, NH 03431, USA

FREE Keynote Wrap Up

2:00pm EDT

NH Creative Communities Network Meeting

Limited Capacity seats available

*** Register for this extra session here; 30 seats only***

What is NH Creative Community Network?
This network is a statewide, cross-sector consortium of organizations and municipal agencies working together to educate community leaders/members and those working in other sectors about the creative economy, and how arts and culture and the creative industries that comprise it enrich our New Hampshire communities.

Agenda:
Arlene will teach and facilitate the "Story Circle" exercise. This has two great outcomes - Attendees will learn a great new model to collect feedback and develop vision with their communities. Attendees will share stories and reflections on those stories with the Commissioner to enhance her ability to represent our sector and understand our challenges and successes.
After the story circle exercise, Commissioner Stewart will have the opportunity to respond and share her thoughts and vision for her role as the leader of Natural and Cultural resources in the state.

Speakers

Arlene Goldbard

Sarah Stewart

Commissioner, NH Department of Natural and Cultural Resources

Prior to her appointment as Commissioner of the NH Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR), Sarah was co-founder of b-fresh consulting, a national, full service project management and public relations firm in Concord, NH. She previously served on the Arts Council for the NH State Council on the Arts and on several boards of directors, including New Hampshire Citi... Read More →

Friday September 28, 2018 2:00pm - 4:00pm EDT
Hannah Grimes Center 25 Roxbury St, Keene, NH 03431, USA

Extra Sessions!

5:00pm EDT

Walldogs - Pick the Murals

Calling all community members! The Magical History Tour team needs YOUR help. Join us at the Walldog headquarters (84 Main St), on September 28th / October 5th and cast your VOTE!
Here’s how the events will work:
The events will be open house style- so pop in at any time.
Each community member will be given a number of stickers corresponding to the number of murals to be painted- and each sticker counts as a vote.
Each potential theme will be presented with descriptions and pictures.
Magical History Tour team members will be on hand to answer any questions you may have about the potential themes.

Friday September 28, 2018 5:00pm - 8:00pm EDT
Walldogs in Keene 84 Main Street

Extra Sessions!