Lineup of speakers set for Directions 2004

An economist who four years ago advised businesspeople in the Truckee Meadows to seek economic diversification returns to speak at Directions 2004 on Jan.

20.

The business forecasting event sponsored by the Reno-Sparks Chamber of Commerce and the Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada runs from the Reno Hilton from 7:30 a.m.

to noon at the Reno Hilton.

William H.

Fruth, president of Policom Corp., will return after four years to report on efforts to diversify the local economy.

Fruth has evaluated more than 600 local economies in the United States, created more than 150 economic and community studies and has consulted with 30 states on the health of their respective economies since 1998.

Other speakers will include:

* Douglas M.

Kronenberg, chief strategy officer of Lumenos, on consumerdriven health care.

* Mary Lindenstein Walshok, associate vice chancellor for public programs and dean of the university extension at the University of California San Diego, on regional strategies for building a knowledge economy.

* Scott Harriman, a senior urban planner with the City of Walnut Creek, Calif., on strategies for a thriving downtown * Charles McNeely, Reno City manager; Shaun Carey, Sparks city manager and CEO of the Sparks Redevelopment Agency; Joe McCarthy, Carson City economic development/redevelopment manager; and Harriman will serve on a panel discussing downtown projects.

Tickets for Directions 2004 are $50 per ticket or $45 each when purchasing five or more tickets in advance; tickets are available at the door for $60 per person.

For more information on Directions 2004, or to order tickets for the event, call 337.3039 or register online at www.reno-sparkschamber.org or www.edawn.org.