Leaders in Academia and Journalism Will Speak at the 2007 National Conference on the Creative Economy.

Wheelan, Dale, Kahn and Sesno Join Lineup at the October 24-25 Conference in Fairfax County, Virginia 

FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va. -- Belle Wheelan, president of the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and former secretary of education for Virginia, will be part of a panel about education, workforce training and creativity at the 2007 National Conference on the Creative Economy set for October 24-25. Jack D. Dale, superintendent of Fairfax County Public Schools, and Robert Kahn, the CEO, chairman and president of the Corporation for National Research Initiatives and a "Father of the Internet," will be on the panel with Wheelan.

Additionally, Frank Sesno, CNN correspondent and professor of public policy and communication at George Mason University, will lead the Town Hall discussion on the last day of the conference (www.creativeeconomies.org).

Register now to attend. Early Bird rate is in effect!

The conference will address topics such as:

* Attracting and retaining the creative class

* Creating a culture of creativity in the workplace to improve the bottom line

* Using diversity to promote creativity

* Harnessing the power of an aging workforce

* Boosting creativity in defense and homeland security industries

* Improving communities and the economy through creative companies

The conference will feature compelling keynote speakers: George Mason University Professor Richard Florida, author of "The Rise of the Creative Class" and "The Flight of the Creative Class;" Pulitzer Prize winner, New York Times columnist Thomas L. Friedman, author of "The World is Flat;" and Alvin Toffler, author of "Future Shock," "The Third Wave" and "Revolutionary Wealth."

FORTUNE columnist Anne Fisher will moderate two panels: one on the magazine's annual "Best Companies to Work for" list, and another on competing for creative talent.

Sponsors of the 2007 National Conference on the Creative Economy are the Fairfax County government, the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority, FORTUNE magazine, The Push Group LLC, Siddall, the International City/County Management Association, and SkillSource. Sponsorship information is available at www.creativeeconomies.org.

The Fairfax County Economic Development Authority (www.FairfaxCountyEDA.org) promotes Fairfax County as a business and technology center. The FCEDA maintains marketing offices in Silicon Valley, Bangalore, Frankfurt, London, Seoul and Tel Aviv.