AGENDA

Virtual Summit Meeting Link

11am – 11:15am ET – Opening Remarks

• Speaker: Scott Andes, Recompete Program Director, U.S. Economic Development 

Administration

11:15am – 12:15pm ET – Discussion with Past EDA National Competition Coalitions

• Session Overview: We will convene four coalitions that have successfully participated 

in EDA’s previous national competitions – specifically, the $500 million Good Jobs 

Challenge and $1 billion Build Back Better Regional Challenge. This session will provide 

open dialogue on lessons learned, tips and tricks, and other challenges experienced 

during the competition period. The session will close out with 30 minutes of open Q&A – 

please bring any and all questions!

• Sample Discussion Questions: 

o What’s one thing that worked, and one thing that didn’t, in developing your 

application?

o Did you have any stakeholder disagreements on your plan or projects, and what 

recommendations do you have for navigating those?

o What can Finalists use the competition period for that will be beneficial

regardless of implementation decision?

• Speakers: 

o Brandon Dennison, Founder and CEO of Coalfield Development (West Virginia)

o Chandra Briggman, CEO of Activation Capital and President/CEO of Virginia 

BioTechnology Research Park

o Christopher Zeitz, Vice President of Workforce Development at Fresno County 

Economic Development Corporation

o Stacey Johnson, Director of Workforce Development, Office of Entrepreneurship 

and Innovation Partnerships, at Binghamton University State University of New 

York

• Moderator: Rachael Sun, Recompete Deputy Director, U.S. Economic Development 

Administration

12:15pm – 12:45pm ET – Executing on Equity

• Session Overview: As with Phase 1, Phase 2 Finalists will be evaluated on equity as 

one of the core criteria. This session will provide a deep dive into ways Finalists might 

embed equity across their Phase 2 planning, implementation, and outcomes. 

Specifically, speakers will address considerations for management teams and 

governance, metrics, and example practices for shifting power structures and achieving 

meaningful community engagement. 

• Sample Discussion Questions:

o What metrics might help drive accountability for equitable processes and 

outcomes? 
o What can Finalists do to engage residents who face barriers to participation? 

How can we ensure that people aren’t just at the table, but that they’re supported 

to engage and participate in the discussion?

o How might Finalists think about balancing meaningful engagement in application 

development/implementation with community fatigue and/or competing interests?

• Speakers:

o Armando Moritz-Chapelliquen, Senior Program Officer, Economic Development 

at Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC)

o Destiny Allen Mitchell, Senior Program Officer, Economic Development at LISC

o Stephanie Tyree, Executive Director at West Virginia Community Development 

Hub

• Moderator: Sathiyan Sivakumaran, Recompete Program Officer, U.S. Economic 

Development Administration

12:45pm – 1pm ET – BREAK

1pm – 1:30pm ET – Workforce Development Design and Programming

• Session Overview: We will hear from Patrick Bourke about how regions can build 

employer-driven regional workforce systems and how Recompete Finalists can apply 

these practices to their implementation plans. He will share best practices in topics such 

as employer engagement, wraparound services, and metrics—along with examples and 

lessons learned from Good Jobs Challenge grantees. 

• Sample Discussion Questions:

o What is an employer-driven regional workforce system?

o How can employers meaningfully commit to a workforce development proposal?

o How can grantees effectively integrate wraparound services? 

o What are potential key indicators of success? 

• Speakers: Patrick Bourke, Director of the Good Jobs Challenge at U.S. Economic 

Development Administration

• Moderator: Leopold Spohngellert, Recompete Program Officer, U.S. Economic 

Development Administration

1:30pm – 2pm ET – Childcare Investments

• Session Overview: In Phase 1 of the Recompete program, nearly all Finalists 

requested funding for childcare as a wraparound service, in addition to other carerelated investments. This session will explore the economic constraints and structural

barriers that keep the childcare sector from scaling and meeting market demand, and 

examples of how applicants can consider ways to address those barriers (e.g., employer 

driven programming). Liat Krawczyk will discuss how Finalists can strategically navigate 

these challenges and address the ecosystem of care in their target regions by taking a 

comprehensive approach.

• Sample Discussion Questions:

o What are some examples of communities that have begun to address their 

childcare needs through policy changes, strategic plans, or employer driven 

care?
o How can Recompete Finalists effectively partner with employers to increase 

access to child care for their communities?

• Speakers: Liat Krawczyk, Senior Advisor for Workforce and Childcare Strategy at U.S.

Department of Commerce (U.S. DOC) CHIPS Program Office

• Moderator: Asia King, Recompete Program Officer, U.S. Economic Development 

Administration

2pm – 2:30pm ET – Small-Business & Entrepreneurship

• Session Overview: This session will explore different models to support the growth of 

local entrepreneurs and small businesses. In a Q&A with Dr. Tiffany Bussey, we will 

discuss her learnings from serving as the Founding Director of the Morehouse 

Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center (MIEC), a global model for higher education 

and industry collaborations focused on helping Black businesses grow and thrive.

• Sample Discussion Questions:

o What are the different types of programming your center offers, specifically to 

support people of color? Are there different things that work in different areas 

(e.g. neighborhoods vs. business centers)?

o What are some of the specific barriers faced by your participants that you are 

working on dismantling through this work?

o How can small business organizations partner with workforce training programs?

• Speakers: Dr. Tiffany Bussey, DBA, MSc., MBA, PMP, Founding Director at the 

Morehouse Innovation & Entrepreneurship Center

• Moderator: Scott Andes, Recompete Program Director, U.S. Economic Development 

Administration

2:30pm – 3pm ET – Public Benefits and their Role in Recompete

• Session Overview: Recompete’s goal is to increase economic mobility among primeage residents.workers. This can be accomplished in part through increasing access to 

public benefits and making sure financial planning integrates benefits and benefits cliffs.

Trooper Sanders will outline actionable steps that distressed areas can take to ensure 

target populations have access to the benefits they’re entitled to and the multiplier 

effects that benefits access can have on economic mobility. 

• Sample Discussion Questions:

o How can Recompete Finalists integrate benefits access into workforce 

development and other components of their strategy? 

o How can Recompete Finalists partner with relevant local/state agencies to 

ensure benefits reach target populations?

o What are some examples of how communities successfully pursued benefits 

access strategies? 

• Speakers: Trooper Sanders, Chief Executive Officer at Benefits Data Trust 

• Moderator: Leopold Spohngellert, Recompete Program Officer, U.S. Economic 

Development Administration

3pm – 3:15pm ET – BREAK
3:15pm – 3:45pm ET – Governance Models for Implementation (UPDATED TIME) 

• Session Overview: Governance captures key functions that are critical to the success 

of each Recompete effort but may not naturally be filled by any one member. This 

session will facilitate a discussion about the types of real-world challenges coalitions 

may face in the implementation of a Recompete award, and how Finalists can prepare a 

governance structure to address them. 

• Sample Discussion Questions:

o How does the coalition collectively make decisions, especially when assumptions 

or prior strategic choices need to change? 

o How do members across the coalition coordinate activities and identify 

opportunities for collaboration? 

o How are coalitions structured to maximize top talent while being resilient over the 

long-term? 

• Speakers: Alex Jones, Director of the Build Back Better Regional Challenge, U.S. 

Economic Development Administration

• Moderator: Rachael Sun, Recompete Deputy Director, U.S. Economic Development 

Administration

3:45pm – 4:15pm ET – OPTION A: Urban Breakout Discussion* (UPDATED TIME)

• Session Overview: Density, proximity, race-based policies like redlining, and other 

urban realities make addressing economic distress in cities unique. From how to think 

about partnerships to braiding funding sources, this session will focus on common 

hurdles when approaching development in cities and examples of things that have 

worked in the past.

• Sample Discussion Questions:

o How can Recompete Plans best align, and take advantage of, existing economic 

planning efforts within the city? How can Finalists ensure there aren’t duplicative 

efforts?

o Some of the most distressed neighborhoods in a city are geographically 

proximate to job opportunities. And yet, accessing those jobs can be a huge 

hurdle. How can Recompete efforts think about the full suite of urban activities 

(e.g. transportation, housing, etc.)?

• Speakers: Marisa Lago, former Director of the New York City Department of City 

Planning and Chair, City Planning Commission; current Under Secretary of Commerce 

for International Trade at the U.S. Department of Commerce

• Moderator: Scott Andes, Recompete Program Director, U.S. Economic Development 

Administration

3:45pm – 4:15pm ET – OPTION B: Rural Breakout Discussion* (UPDATED TIME)

• Session Overview: Recompete Finalists proposed a variety of economic strategies – a 

third of the 22 coalitions focus on supporting rural and Tribal communities in particular.

This session will facilitate a conversation on barriers unique to these communities as 

well as innovative practices for Finalists to consider as they plan for implementation.

• Sample Discussion Questions:
o How do distress and assets show up differently in rural and Tribal communities? 

Are there innovative ways in which communities can leverage legacy assets as 

they transition their economic development strategies?

o Given the coalition-based nature of the Recompete program, what best practices 

might rural and Tribal communities consider with regards to partnership building?

• Speakers:

o Christine Sorenson, Rural Partners Network Lead at U.S. Department of 

Agriculture Rural Development

o Tony Skrelunas, Founder of Navajo Power PB and CEO of Tribe Awaken

• Moderator: Sathiyan Sivakumaran, Recompete Program Officer, U.S. Economic 

Development Administration

*We recognize that not all Finalists will have a purely urban focus or a purely rural focus – we’d 

encourage Finalists to attend where it makes sense for each coalition.

4:15pm – 4:45pm ET – Working with Elected Officials

• Session Overview: Buy-in from local elected officials can add significant benefit to the 

Recompete strategy, but mayors have to prioritize what their administration focuses on, 

and what they don’t. We will facilitate a conversation with three current and former 

mayors to discuss how to best align efforts with local elected officials and support 

Finalists in gaining high value commitments to action from local government. 

• Sample Discussion Questions:

o A mayor is only as good as team—but navigating the Mayor’s Office can be 

complicated. What’s the best way to identify the right champion in the Mayor’s 

office (outside of the Mayor herself)?

o What are some things the Recompete team should be doing to prepare, or 

should know, about efforts underway at City Hall, in order to better partner with 

local elected officials?

o For applicants that represent City Offices—how can you ensure the right nongovernmental team is at the table and sharing responsibilities?

• Speakers:

o Betsy Hodges, Former Mayor of Minneapolis, Minnesota

o Danene Sorace, Mayor of Lancaster, PA

o Paige Cognetti, Mayor of Scranton, Pennsylvania

• Moderator: Scott Andes, Recompete Program Director, U.S. Economic Development 

Administration

4:45pm – 5pm ET – Building the Narrative, Takeaways, and Closeout

• Speaker: Scott Andes, Recompete Program Director, U.S. Economic Development 

Administration
SPEAKER BIOGRAPHIES

Brandon Dennison is the Founder and CEO of Coalfield Development 

Corporation. This award-winning social enterprise takes an innovative 

approach to breaking the cycle of generational poverty in Appalachia with 

their proven 33-6-3 model. Brandon is Ashley Dennison’s husband and 

father to their boys: Owen and Will. Born and raised in West Virginia, 

Dennison graduated from Shepherd University with a B.A. in History. He 

holds a Master of Public Affairs from Indiana University. In 2017, Brandon 

was named West Virginian of the Year by WV Living Magazine. He is winner of the JMK Social 

Innovation Prize, is a DRK Entrepreneur, and is an Ashoka Fellow. In 2019, Brandon was 

awarded the Heinz Award for Economy and Employment.

Chandra Briggman is the President and CEO of the Virginia Biotechnology 

Research Partnership Authority and the Virginia Biotech Park Corporation, 

dba Activation Capital. Before being named the CEO in May 2020, Chandra 

was Director of Venture Café Foundation located in Cambridge, MA, and 

was responsible for the strategy and operations of the global network’s 

flagship Venture Café Cambridge innovation hub. She played a key role in 

helping expand the revenue and the footprint in New England. Before her 

work in ecosystem development in Massachusetts, she held innovation 

roles with the United States Postal Service in Washington, D.C., culminating with her work as 

the Director of Digital Platforms and the Innovation Lab. Her prior experience comprised 

leadership roles with multiple startups, including Founder as a serial entrepreneur.

Christopher Zeitz is the Vice President of Workforce Development at the 

Fresno County Economic Development Corporation, and plays a key role 

leading the implementation of the $23 million Good Jobs Challenge grant 

awarded through EDA in 2022. Chris previously served as a Sergeant with 

the U.S. Army, Product Manager & Research Analyst at AIRINC, and a 

Data & Continuous Improvement Analyst with Reading and Beyond. 

Stacey Johnson is the Director of Workforce Development, Office of 

Entrepreneurship and Innovation Partnerships at Binghamton University,

State University of New York. Stacey previously served as Vice President of 

the Wisconsin Paper Council and Regional Economy Development Director 

for the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, where she 

spearheaded the Build Back Better Regional Challenge effort that secured 

over $30 million in co-investment from different funders.
Armando Moritz Chapelliquen is an Economic Development Program 

Officer at the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC). Armando is a 

formally and informally trained organizer, facilitator, and capacity builder. He 

is energized by empowering communities and building transformative 

relationships with his peers. Having established and led industrial land use 

and commercial tenant advocacy campaigns while working with the 

Association for Neighborhood & Housing Development in New York, he is 

passionate about coalition building, economic justice, and creating robust 

policy foundations for equitable economic development. As an alum of the Center for 

Community Leadership and the Forefront Fellow of the Urban Design Forum, Armando is most 

comfortable when blending the complexities of program and policy design with the immediate 

needs of marginalized populations.

Destiny Allen Mitchell is an Economic Development Program Officer at 

the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC). In her role, Destiny is 

responsible for supporting a wide range of small business and business 

development organizations support initiatives; focusing on helping partners 

strengthen their services to support Black, Indigenous and People of Color, 

women, and veteran entrepreneurs and building inclusive small business 

ecosystems in communities across the country. Prior to joining LISC, 

Destiny worked as an Economic Development Specialist in Southern 

Maryland supporting economic development, business engagement, community development 

and entrepreneurial ecosystem building initiatives. Destiny is passionate about relationship 

building and being a community convener and connector. 

Stephanie Tyree is the Executive Director of the West Virginia Community 

Development Hub. With over fifteen years of experience in policy, 

community development and community organizing, she has dedicated her 

career to advancing community-based, systemic solutions for rural, coalimpacted communities in Central Appalachia. Her primary area of expertise 

has centered around developing tools to drive community collaboration, 

leadership engagement, and community-driven change to build resilient 

rural communities. Stephanie has an undergraduate degree from the 

University of Pittsburgh and a law degree from NYU School of Law. She currently serves on the 

WV Community Development Advisory Boards for Wesbanco and Truist banks. Additionally, she 

is a member of the Fayette County West Virginia Library Board, the Mary Reynolds Babcock 

Foundation Board of Directors, and is the Chair of the Board of Directors for Invest Appalachia.

Patrick Bourke Patrick Bourke [pron. Burk] serves as the Program Lead 

for the U.S. Economic Development Administration’s American Rescue 

Plan Good Jobs Challenge (GJC). He is responsible for oversight and 

management of the 32 grantees across 31 states and Puerto Rico who 

received $500 million in funds through GJC. Prior to EDA, Patrick served 

as a Program Officer at ECMC Foundation and supported a portfolio that 

focused on postsecondary career and technical education. He got his start 

at The Posse Foundation, where he supported cohorts of historically 

underrepresented students through top tier colleges and universities. Patrick holds an MA in 

higher education from UCLA, and a BA from Oberlin College, where he was a Posse Scholar.
Liat Krawcyzk is a Senior Advisor for Workforce and Child Care Strategy 

at the U.S. DOC CHIPS Program Office. Previously, Liat was a VP at the 

NYC Economic Development Corporation, where she headed its Economic 

Mobility portfolio, including emerging tech, green economy and life science 

industry workforce strategy. There, she also founded the Childcare 

Innovation Lab, which led city efforts to research childcare as economic 

infrastructure and catalyzed public and private sector care economy 

innovations, including by developing the FamTech sector.

Dr. Tiffany Bussey, DBA, MSc., MBA, PMP, is the Founding Director at 

the Morehouse Innovation & Entrepreneurship Center, a global model for 

providing minority serving institutions contract support in the areas of 

process improvement, and organizational management infrastructure 

development. Dr. Bussey has over twenty years of experience in various 

aspects of business management for corporate, small business, 

educational and nonprofit organizations. As Director of the Morehouse 

Innovation & Entrepreneurship Center, Dr. Bussey manages strategic 

teams of faculty, staff and consultants to achieve the goals of the Center, which is to assist in 

the development of minority entrepreneurship through scholarly research, training and 

consulting services. Dr. Bussey is also an adjunct professor of entrepreneurship at Morehouse 

College.

Trooper Sanders is CEO of Benefits Data Trust, a national nonprofit that 

uses data, technology, policy change, and direct service to strengthen the 

nation’s social safety net to ensure everyone quickly and easily receives the 

critical assistance they are eligible for when they need it. Trooper brings 

over 20 years of experience working at the crossroads of business, 

government, and the nonprofit sector. Before joining BDT, Trooper was a 

Rockefeller Foundation fellow and worked on the social and economic 

implications of the global rise of artificial intelligence. For eight years, 

Trooper ran Wise Whisper, a strategic advisory practice to financial technology startups, 

philanthropic initiatives, and business leaders. He has also held White House policy staff 

positions during two administrations. In the nonprofit sector, he led the creation of ventures 

addressing issues such as the childhood obesity epidemic in the United States, the economic 

fallout of disasters, and the private sector's role in international development.

Alex Jones is Program Director for the Build Back Better Regional 

Challenge, a $1 billion regional economic development competition at the 

Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration. Prior to 

joining EDA, he was an Officer with the Pew Charitable Trusts’ Philadelphia 

Research and Policy Initiative where he led economic policy engagement 

with the city of Philadelphia. Earlier in his career, Alex worked on regional 

innovation and economic growth at the National League of Cities and the 

Brookings Institution’s Metropolitan Policy Program. Alex holds a Bachelor 

of Arts in Policy Economy and English from Georgetown University.
Marisa Lago is the Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade. 

She leads the federal government’s efforts to assist American businesses 

entering or expanding into international markets, enforce fair trade policies, 

promote travel and tourism to the United States and U.S. products and 

services overseas, provide in-depth trade analyses, develop strategies that 

will shape the future of international trade, and engage in commercial 

diplomacy across the globe. Under Secretary Lago has a distinguished 

career in public service and has led a career focused on expanding 

economic opportunity. Lago has previously served as Director of the New York City Department 

of City Planning and Chair of the City Planning Commission, Assistant Secretary of the Treasury 

for International Markets and Development, Director of the Boston Redevelopment Authority and 

Chief Economic Development Officer for the City of Boston, President and CEO of the Empire 

State Development Corporation, and Director of the Office of International Affairs for the U.S. 

Securities and Exchange Commission.

Christine Sorenson is the Lead Management & Policy Analyst for the U.S. 

Department of Agriculture Rural Development Rural Partners Network. 

Christine has been a member of the team designing and implementing the 

federal interagency collaborative network, Rural Partners Network, from its 

inception. As part of her work, she has been assisting with the design of the 

program, community selection process (both Tribal and within the states), 

community engagement, communications, and strategy development. 

Christine’s previous work has included roles as a small rural economic 

development director, regional CDFI chief loan officer, state and regional rural development 

coordinator, and national program coordinator for USDA RD initiatives such as Stronger 

Economies Together and the Rural Economic Development Innovation. She has a passion for 

rural policy and community driven assistance and capacity building support for underserved 

rural communities and regions.

Tony Skrelunas is the CEO of Tribe Awaken, founder/partner in Navajo 

Power PBC, Vice President at Navajo Shopping Centers Inc, Trustee at 

Prescott College, and Awakening Wholeness. Tony advises tribal 

energy/retail/tourism efforts. He is a former Director of the Navajo Nation 

Economic Development and Government Development Divisions noted for 

founding the Local Governance Act, alternative forms of governance, and 

securing federal delegation of business site leasing. He lectures and writes 

about improving retail, tribal health, retaining traditional knowledge 

systems, and management using traditional tools.

Betsy Hodges was the 47th mayor of Minneapolis (2014 – 2018). Among 

key accomplishments of her administration were: creating a Zero Waste 

Minneapolis, her Cradle to K Cabinet, improving police-community 

relations, helping small businesses thrive, and launching the city’s 

successful efforts to raise the minimum wage and mandate sick leave for 

all workers. Some of Mayor Hodges' key initiatives included: creating a 

Zero Waste Minneapolis, improving police-community relations, and 

helping small businesses thrive, and launching the city’s successful efforts 

to raise the minimum wage and mandate sick leave for all workers.
Danene Sorace: Mayor Sorace was sworn in as Mayor of Lancaster in 

2018 and is the second woman to serve in the role. Mayor Sorace brings 

her experience as a non-profit leader, environmental advocate, and time on 

City Council chairing the finance committee to the role of mayor. Under her 

leadership, the City of Lancaster is focused on four strategic priorities: 

strong neighborhoods, safe places, sustainable economy, and sound 

government. Mayor Sorace has taken on statewide and national roles to 

ensure Lancaster has the tools it needs to thrive. She is the immediate past 

president of the Pennsylvania Municipal League, serves on the U.S. Conference of Mayors 

Water Council, and was selected to join the Mayors Innovation Project Institute on Pedestrian 

Safety. In her time as Mayor, the City of Lancaster launched the Department of Neighborhood 

Engagement to elevate neighborhoods and empower residents, secured record grant funding to 

remediate lead and promote safe streets, received the Welcoming City designation, and made 

historic investments in affordable housing.

Paige Cognetti: Mayor Cognetti was sworn in as Mayor of Scranton, PA on 

January 6, 2020. Prior to becoming Mayor, she advised the Pennsylvania 

Auditor General on oversight of public school districts and care for older 

adults. Mayor Cognetti previously served as a director on the Scranton 

School Board. Mayor Cognetti served in the Obama administration as a 

senior advisor to the Under Secretary for International Affairs at the U.S. 

Treasury Department. She was a fundraiser and project director on 

numerous political campaigns. She also worked as an investment advisor 

in New York City.