The Greater North Dakota Chamber (GNDC) will bring nationally recognized experts and thought leaders to North Dakota on June 10 for Future Forum, a statewide event focused on the trends reshaping business, workforce, innovation, and economic growth.
Held at Minnkota Power Cooperative in Grand Forks, Future Forum convenes business leaders, policymakers, educators, and industry professionals for forward-looking conversations about North Dakota’s long-term competitiveness and future opportunities.
This year’s event features nationally recognized experts Dave Clayton of Strada Education Foundation and economist and author Dr. Marian Tupy, bringing perspectives on two issues at the center of today’s business discussions: the future of the workforce and the long-term drivers of economic growth and innovation.
Clayton, Senior Vice President of Research at Strada Education Foundation, will open the session Evolving Education & the Talent Pipeline with insights from Strada’s State Opportunity Index, examining how effectively states connect education, workforce preparation, and economic mobility. His presentation will set the stage for a discussion with North Dakota higher education leaders Dr. Dan Leingang, Vice President of Academic Affairs at Bismarck State College, and Scott Molander, President of Dickinson State University, focused on how institutions are adapting to changing workforce demands and strengthening pathways from education to employment.
Future Forum will also feature Population Growth and Innovation, hosted by Dr. John Bitzan, Menard Family Director of the Sheila and Robert Challey Institute for Global Innovation and Growth at North Dakota State University. The keynote features internationally recognized economist and author Dr. Marian Tupy, founder and editor of HumanProgress.org and senior fellow at the Cato Institute’s Center for Global Liberty and Prosperity.
In the keynote, Tupy will challenge conventional thinking around population growth and resource constraints, presenting a data-driven case that innovation, free markets, and expanding knowledge continue to increase prosperity and opportunity.
“A common belief is that population growth drains the world’s resources and destroys the planet,” said John Bitzan, Menard Family Director of the Challey Institute for Global Innovation and Growth at NDSU. “Marian Tupy will show why that narrative is wrong, and how it is an expansion of population and freedom that will enable us to expand resource availability and solve important problems.”
Additional discussions throughout the day will explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping business operations across industries, the connection between business success and community investment, and leadership perspectives on North Dakota’s economic outlook, innovation, and long-term growth opportunities.
“North Dakota’s long-term success depends on a strong business community willing to lead, innovate, and invest in the future,” said Arik Spencer, president and CEO of GNDC. “Future Forum brings together leaders and ideas that will help drive the next chapter of growth for our state.”
Registration for Future Forum is open, though seating is limited. Additional agenda details and registration information are available at ndchamber.com.
