In the Community

Thursday, April 17th, 2008, 12-2 PM at the Doyle Conservation Center:

"Entrepreneurial Spirit: The Pulse of the New Economy"

Robert Ansin founded MassInnovation in 1997 in order to pioneer a new concept in mixed-use, residential and lifestyle centers that embody sustainable development principles. At this final session of this year's series, we will be discussing his model as well as what it takes to make an entrepreneurial idea succeed.

Our presenter:

Robert D. Ansin, CEO MassInnovation LLC

MassInnovation's first major project was the conversion of the Anwelt Factory in Fitchburg into the signature MassInnovation Center. The mixed-use conversion features the largest residential solar installation in Massachusetts.  The company is currently introducing Anwelt Heritage Apartments, an 86 unit project in Fitchburg that has been described as the first eco-friendly senior housing development in New England.  Anwelt and the MassInnovation Center are heated and cooled by geothermal exchange instead of conventional fossil fuel systems.

Ansin has served on a number of corporate, charitable, cultural and economic development boards. He was recently appointed by Governor Deval Patrick as a commissioner of Commonwealth Corps. He is currently a member of the Executive Committee of the Merrimack Valley Economic Development Council, commissioner of the Essex National Heritage Commission, and a member of the governing board of the Lawrence Boys & Girls Club.

Ansin, the firm, and his projects have been featured extensively in national news and regional trade outlets including the Boston Business Journal, Commonwealth Magazine, Boston Globe, BusinessWeek, CNN/Money, Comcast News Network, Forbes,  NPR, Wall Street Journal Radio,-and Real Estate Weekly.

Ansin holds a B.A. from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.

Lunch will be provided courtesy of the Center for Democracy and Humanity

REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED

TO REGISTER FOR THE APRIL 17th EVENT, SEND US AN EMAIL

OR CALL (978) 630-9163

The 2007-2008 speaker series, now in it's fourth year, focuses on Embracing the New Economy and the many areas of our lives that are impacted by growth. We will be looking at economic development from a statewide and local perspective, and also taking an in-depth look at how certain industries affect development: health care and the biomedical industries, the creative cluster, housing, transportation, municipal growth, ecotourism and local farming. This year's series is brought to you in partnership with the Trustees of Reservations, the Twin Cities Latino Coalition and the North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation.

CLICK HERE FOR INFORMATION ON THE MARCH 20th SESSION ON IMMIGRATION WITH PETER CRETICOS

Every facet of American life—health care, education, finances, community, housing, public safety, culture, you name it—is changing. It's overwhelming and bewildering. The What's Next Speaker Series goal is to help make sense of it all.

Born out of a plan to bring notable leaders in the field of social change under a single theme, the What's Next Speaker Series has blossomed into a forum that introduces students, residents, community leaders and decision-makers in North Central Massachusetts to innovative thinkers and doers from around the country and world. The goal is:

• to show change is possible
• to spark creative problem-solving
• to inspire action.

The main criteria for the selection of the speakers: Do they have a “What's Next” idea to offer? Have they taken a creative approach to a social problem? Can their work inspire action elsewhere? For additional information, send an e-mail expressing your interest in the speaker series, or call Fagan Forhan at (978) 630-9595