Workers’ perceptions of a city’s quality of life and quality of place are critical to their decisions about where to work and for whom. Recent graduates and young professionals in particular often select where they want to live and then secure employment.
In an ever-tightening labor market, many CEOs find that running their company from a creative and socially conscious location provides a major competitive advantage in attracting and retaining tomorrow’s skilled, mobile workforce. Millennials want to live and work someplace that offers the whole package. Besides economic opportunity, they desire a sophisticated transportation infrastructure, proximity to other business hubs, and easy access to shops, restaurants, art and music. A Nielsen study found that most millennials want to live in mixed-use communities in urban centers: “Millennials prefer cities to suburbs, subways to driveways,” it concluded.
Livable and affordable, Providence is one such location. More than a quarter of Rhode Island’s population is comprised of millennials ages 15 to 34, and almost 40 percent of these residents call the state’s capital home. Not only is Providence a quick train ride away from Boston and New York, but it’s home to 88,000 college students from top institutions like Brown University, the University of Rhode Island and the Rhode Island School of Design. The city’s knowledge economy is further fueled by companies such as Hasbro and Fidelity, which have major operations in Providence, and by Virgin Pulse, Johnson and Johnson, and GE Digital, which have recently opened operations in Rhode Island.
Rhode Island also has managed to squeeze over 400 miles of scenic coastline into its small footprint, inviting residents to enjoy sailing, beaches and resorts. And Providence, which is famed for its food scene, has been called “America’s coolest city” by GQ.
Today, Rhode Island’s location presents a more compelling proposition than it ever has because of the steps that its governor, Gina Raimondo, has taken in recent years to make the Ocean State the best place in New England to start, grow or locate a business. This includes rolling out a suite of economic development incentives and initiatives, investing in innovation and workforce training, and creating opportunities for R&D and partnership within industries, between industry sectors, and between academia and commerce. Some of the state’s incentives have been engineered to retain talent. For example, the Wavemaker Fellowship defrays student loan payments for qualifying graduates pursuing a career or starting a business in Rhode Island, while others—like the Qualified Jobs Incentive Tax Credit—reward employers for creating new jobs in the state.
Most CEOs agree that human capital is their most valuable asset. In Providence, as in other top markets for millennials, it’s as simple as this: Great companies thrive because of great people, and great people want to live in great places.
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Chief Executive Group exists to improve the performance of U.S. CEOs, senior executives and public-company directors, helping you grow your companies, build your communities and strengthen society. Learn more at chiefexecutivegroup.com.
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1:00 - 5:00 pm
Over 70% of Executives Surveyed Agree: Many Strategic Planning Efforts Lack Systematic Approach Tips for Enhancing Your Strategic Planning Process
Executives expressed frustration with their current strategic planning process. Issues include:
Steve Rutan and Denise Harrison have put together an afternoon workshop that will provide the tools you need to address these concerns. They have worked with hundreds of executives to develop a systematic approach that will enable your team to make better decisions during strategic planning. Steve and Denise will walk you through exercises for prioritizing your lists and steps that will reset and reinvigorate your process. This will be a hands-on workshop that will enable you to think about your business as you use the tools that are being presented. If you are ready for a Strategic Planning tune-up, select this workshop in your registration form. The additional fee of $695 will be added to your total.
2:00 - 5:00 pm
Female leaders face the same issues all leaders do, but they often face additional challenges too. In this peer session, we will facilitate a discussion of best practices and how to overcome common barriers to help women leaders be more effective within and outside their organizations.
Limited space available.
10:30 - 5:00 pm
General’s Retreat at Hermitage Golf Course
Sponsored by UBS
General’s Retreat, built in 1986 with architect Gary Roger Baird, has been voted the “Best Golf Course in Nashville” and is a “must play” when visiting the Nashville, Tennessee area. With the beautiful setting along the Cumberland River, golfers of all capabilities will thoroughly enjoy the golf, scenery and hospitality.
The golf outing fee includes transportation to and from the hotel, greens/cart fees, use of practice facilities, and boxed lunch. The bus will leave the hotel at 10:30 am for a noon shotgun start and return to the hotel after the cocktail reception following the completion of the round.
