Description

The 2023 Wilkes-Barre Connect Conference will take place on Wednesday, October 25^th at Wilkes-Barre’s THINK Center. Featuring a theme of "Creative Solutions, Sustainable Impact," the Wilkes-Barre Connect Conference will demonstrate the power of our creative, innovative, and entrepreneurial spirit in Northeastern PA. 

We want our attendees to grow both personally and professionally from the conference content, become more educated on the tremendous innovation and creativity in Northeast PA, and have an opportunity to participate in building solutions to solve social and economic challenges in our region. 

With this conference centering around entrepreneurship, innovation, and economic development, there will be breakout tracks dedicated to both entrepreneurial content and community-centric workshops and roundtables focused on many of the regional social and economic challenges we address in our work, such as: workforce career pathways and exploration, barriers to entrepreneurship experienced by minority-owned businesses, housing, community engagement and quality of life, and more. The conference will also feature our Spotlight speaker series, highlighting an innovator or entrepreneur making an impact in the region, as well as a PITCH Showcase, highlighting the ventures of several entrepreneurs across the Greater Wyoming Valley. 

About Our Keynote:

Dennis joined the Microsoft TechSpark initiative as the Wyoming Community Engagement Manager in 2017.  He also leads Microsoft’s domestic field team for disaster relief. He came to Microsoft from a public relations firm he founded, Ellis Public Affairs, where he consulted for clients such as Wal-Mart, Google, Denver Children’s Hospital, US Chamber, Johnson & Johnson and Anadarko.  

Prior to his return to Wyoming, Dennis served as Deputy Attorney General in the Colorado Attorney General’s Office and in Governor Bill Owens’ cabinet as Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, the organization tasked with protecting the environment and public health of Colorado.  Ellis also served as Legislative Director and Counsel for United States Representative Barbara Cubin (R-WY). 

Ellis is a Wyoming native, where his family has owned a sheep and cattle ranch for over 110 years.  He is married to Wyoming State Senator Affie Ellis, and is the father of Marlo (15), Archer (14) and Linden (10).  He holds undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Wyoming and attended leadership courses at the Kellogg School and Kennedy School of Government.  Ellis serves on the Steering Committee of the Wyoming Business Alliance, is past President of Wyoming Ag in the Classroom, past Vice President of the Petroleum Association of Wyoming and served two terms as a Wyoming’s Mixed Martial Art Commissioner.

For more information on Wilkes-Barre Connect click here!