Event Summary
From May 6-8, 2019, the Council of the Great Lakes Region hosted its fifth Great Lakes Economic Forum in Cleveland, Ohio. Keynote speakers included UN Environment North America Director Barbara Hendrie, US Coast Guard Rear Admiral Joanna Nunan, Congressman Dave Joyce, Ohio State Senator Larry Obhof, US Small Business Administration Regional Administrator for the Great Lakes Robert Scott, US Economic Development Administration Area Director Dennis Foldenauer, Ontario’s Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade Todd Smith, Astronaut and Canada’s Minister of Transport Marc Garneau, Canada’s Consul General in Detroit Joe Comartin, and US Consul General in Toronto Greg Stanford. Topics discussed included the state of the Great Lakes Economy, regulatory reform, regional farming and food systems, the future of the Great Lakes auto sector, the health economy, inter-tribal trade and investment, travel and tourism, moving trade and transportation, disruption in the Great Lakes energy sector, smart and sustainable cities.
Speakers

Minister of Transport
Government of Canada

Commander, Ninth Coast Guard District
U.S. Coast Guard

Regional Administrator, Great Lakes
U.S. Small Business Administration

Director
UN Environment North America