June 28, 2001 — As a step in Sen. Adelbert Bryan’s plan to revive the territory’s economic health, a gathering he is calling the Virgin Islands Economic Development Summit is set for July 24 on St. Thomas and July 25 on St. Croix.
Topics the sessions will address include education, development banking, the social infrastructure of development, financial markets and venture capital, and the potential for a St. Croix business district. The program is being sponsored by Bryan's office and the Senate Economic Development, Agriculture and Consumer Protection Committee, which he chairs.
Bryan unveiled his economic plan in May. Its purpose, he said, is to spur dialogue and action for developing the territory’s ailing economy. The draft action plan makes recommendations for sustainable growth, including coordination, education, technology and quality of life in the territory.
Four sections of the plan -– subtitled analysis, vision, action plan and evaluation — constitute his Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy. They can be viewed, along with the entire document, on Bryan’s website . An additional section focuses on funding.
Scheduled to take part in the July program are Emmit J. McHenry, founder and CEO of Netcom Solutions International; Andy Ruppanner, founder and CEO of Ruppanner Associates International; Justin L. Moorehead, president and managing director of Seslia and Company and VI Capital Resources on St. Thomas.
Auguste Rimpel, retired senior partner of PricewaterhouseCoopers and chair of the University of the Virgin Islands Board of Trustees, has expressed an interest and his availability to attend, and it is expected that he will be confirmed at a latter date, according to Bryan’s office.
McHenry has been featured regularly in Black Enterprise Magazine. He recently appeared in the "B.E. 100s" listings, thanks to Netcom Solutions’ $262 million in sales for the year 2000. McHenry initially founded Network Solutions, which is an Internet domain name service provider.
Ruppanner, a former IBM executive, is a motivational speaker who will be presenting his thoughts on technology and telecommunication in the territory.
Also scheduled to appear are Amadeo Francis, director of finance and administration for the Public Finance Authority; and Gervese Warner, a partner with McKinsey & Company, an internationally recognized management consulting firm noted for major strategic initiatives in both the public and private sectors.
Further details on the summit locations, times and confirmed speakers will be provided by early July, according to Bryan's office. For more information on St. Croix, contact Hortense Rowe at 712-2223; on St. Thomas, call Angela Ramos-Michael at 693-3566 or Julius Jessup at 693-3534.
Faxes can be sent to (340) 712-2372 on St. Croix and (340) 693-3647 on St. Thomas.
