>La Grande Observer | Union and Wallowa Counties' News Leader

PORTLAND — Oregon's education system as it relates to business and the economy will be a focus of the Fourth Annual Oregon Leadership Summit Jan. 9 at the Oregon Convention Center.

The afternoon session will zero in on Oregon education, from pre-kindergarten to college. Tom Vander Ark, executive director for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation's education initiatives, will be the keynote speaker.

Vander Ark is responsible for the development and administration of the foundation's education grant programs and scholarship programs. He is considered one of the world's leading experts on education reform.

The Gates Foundation has partnered with communities in nearly every region of the country to increase the number of students, particularly low-income blacks and Hispanics, who graduate from high school ready for college, work and citizenship.

A broad range of issues related to the Oregon Business Plan are aired at the yearly summit.

The business plan is a comprehensive approach to the state's economic issues and is considered a key component of Gov. Ted Kulongoskis's economic agenda.

Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., who chairs the Oregon Business Plan Committee, came up with the idea of a leadership summit in 2002.

Wyden is a member of the Oregon Business Plan Leadership Committee, as are U.S. Sen. Gordon Smith, R-Ore., Kulongoski, Oregon Senate President Peter Courtney and Oregon House Speaker Karen Minnis.

All those individuals will be participants in this year's conference.

Wyden led an Oregon Business Plan committee on a statewide information gathering tour in August 2004.

Bill Thorndike, chair of the business plan steering committee, was also part of the group.

The tour stopped in La Grande, meeting with business and community leaders in a forum at Eastern Oregon University.

Issues brought up during that conference included a need for strengthening the state and local education system, emphasis on the region's agriculture and timber resources, telecommunications, and more.

Wyden said at the time that the input gathered during the tour will be plugged into the plan.

Another speaker at this year's summit will be Michael E. Porter, the Bishop William Lawrence University Professor at Harvard Business School.

Porter is the author of 17 books and more than 125 articles, including the seminal books "Competitive Strategy" and "The Competitive Advantage of Nations."

Porter, one of the world's most influential thinkers on competitiveness, will speak to the conference via satellite during the morning's plenary session. His talk will include observations on the Oregon Business Plan.

Following his remarks, participants will have a chance to learn more about Oregon's strengths, opportunities and challenges.

Ten breakout sessions, divided by industry sector, will include stories from some of the state's most dynamic business clusters and companies.

An Eastern Oregon Region planning breakfast is a part of activities on tap during the summit.

Key leaders from east of the Cascades will attend the breakfast at 7:30 a.m. at the Oregon Convention Center.

Union County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Judy Loudermilk said she has tentative plans to attend.

"I haven't consulted with the board yet, but I really would like to go," Loudermilk said. "I think it's a good idea for the area to be represented."

Those wishing to attend the summit can register online at http://www.oregonbusinessplan.org.