Wilson Forward Annual Meeting
Thursday, May 19th, 2022
9am-11:30am
Keynote Presentation:
Dr. James Johnson Jr.
The Wilson Forward annual meeting will focus on the economic impact of demographic changes in Wilson. Dr. Johnson will discuss ways that our culture and commerce will be influenced by the most recent trends of aging, color, regionalism, and gender. In his presentation, he will share his research and ideas to inform decisions and plans for Wilson’s future.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ABOUT DR. JAMES JOHNSON JR.

Registration is Closed for the
Wilson Forward Annual Meeting
Please Contact our team to be added to the waiting list as additional seating is made available
ANNUAL MEETINGS
Each year, Wilson Forward hosts an Annual Meeting for local partners and community members. This meeting is designed to focus on specific challenges and opportunities presented to the Wilson community while also highlighting the work of many existing partnerships and collaborative efforts dedicated to making Wilson a great place to work and live.
Registration is offered first to our community partners and then made available to other interested parties as space is available. The event is free of charge due to the support of many community partners.
2020
#ReCONNECT Differently
Presenters:
Mr. Leslie Boney
Director, Institute of Emerging Issues
Vice Provost, Outreach and Engagement, NC State University
Dr. Lane Mills
Superintendent, Wilson County Schools
Mr. Dante Pittman
Hometown Fellow - Lead for North Carolina
City Government of Wilson, NC
UNC School of Government
Presentation Link:
#ReCONNECTDifferently
2019
#CONNECTFORWARD
Presenters:
Mr. Tom Looney
Chief Strategy Officer, Trill AI
Retired, VP & General Manager of Lenovo North America
Dr. Katherine Loflin
Principal & Founding Partner, Amazing Place Productions
Strategic Partnerships, UNC’s Social Innovation & Entrepreneurship Lab
Presentation Link:
#CONNECTFORWARD

2018

#ForwardThinking
Presenters:
Mr. Frank E. Emory Jr.
Chairman, Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina, Partner, Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP
Dr. Elizabeth Tilson
State Health Director & Chief Medical Officer, NC Department of Health & Human Services
Presentation Link:
#ForwardThinking
2017
Partnerships with Innovative Solutions for
Unemployment & Workforce Development
Presenters:
Mr. Kip Blakely
Vp Of Industry And Government Relations, Haeco Americas
Mr. Ben David
District Attorney: Fifth Judicial District, New Hanover And Pender Counties
Presentation Link:
Partnerships With Innovative Solutions for Unemployment & Workforce Development
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2016

Creating Wilson’s Future
with Innovative Solutions
Presenters:
Dr. Anita Brown-Graham
Executive Director of the Institute for Emerging Issues, NC State University
Presentation Link:
Creating Wilson’s Future With Innovative Solutions
2015
Disruptive Demographics and the Future
Competitiveness of Wilson County, NC
Presenters:
Dr. James H. Johnson, Jr
Willian Rand Kenan, Jr. Distinguished Professor of Entrepreneurship & Strategy Director
Kenan-Flagler Business School, Director, Urban Investment Strategies Center, UNC Chapel Hill
Presentation Link:
Disruptive Demographics and the Future Competitiveness of Wilson County, NC
