Southeast Entrepreneurship and Economic Development Symposium (SEEDS)

Description

The Cape Chamber and Southeast Missouri State University's Harrison College of Business & Computing invite you to attend the 2026 SEED Symposium. This distinguished event will unite prominent business and community leaders for remarkable presentations about the current and future trends of the southeast Missouri economy. Don't miss this opportunity: register now.

9:00 am - Doors Open - Networking 

9:30 am - Opening Keynote Presentation - Cape Girardeau: Knowledge Town

Dr. David J. Staley, Associate Professor of History, Design, and Educational Studies, The Ohio State University

What makes a city a place where talent wants to live, work, create, and stay? Drawing on Knowledge Towns: Colleges and Universities as Talent Magnets, this talk explores how Cape Girardeau, Missouri, embodies the principles of a Knowledge Town, and how it might develop them further. From Southeast Missouri State University and its connections to local entrepreneurship to the historic downtown, riverfront, arts, and cultural life, Cape Girardeau already possesses important assets. How might the city build on these strengths to attract and retain talent, foster innovation, strengthen town-gown partnerships, and create a more vibrant, knowledge-driven local economy? The talk invites residents, educators, business leaders, and civic partners to imagine Cape Girardeau’s future as a place where talent wants to live, work, and stay.

10:45 AM – Moderated Discussion: Higher Education as a Catalyst for Regional Growth

Panelist: Dr. Brad Hodson, President SEMO, Dr. Joe Gilgour, President MAC, Dr. David J. Staley

Building directly upon the concepts of the Knowledge Town keynote, this moderated panel shifts the lens to executive leadership and strategic cross-institutional partnership. Dr. Brad Hodson and Dr. Joe Gilgour join Dr. David J. Staley to discuss the pivotal roles that universities and community colleges play in regional economic development. The discussion will examine active pipelines for attracting and retaining regional talent, aligning institutional programs with workforce demands, and identifying new opportunities to expand town-gown collaboration in growth strategies across Southeast Missouri.

11:45 AM - Lunch & Networking Break

12:30 PM - Closing Keynote - Regional and National Economic Outlook

Charles Gascon, Economist and Asst. Vice President Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

As communities look toward the future, understanding macroeconomic headwinds and local economic indicators is essential for strategic planning. Charles Gascon provides a comprehensive economic outlook examining current trends at both the national and regional levels. This session will analyze labor markets, inflation, regional growth dynamics, and key indicators to watch in 2027, offering business and civic leaders' valuable data-driven perspectives to inform their strategic decisions.

1:45 pm - Symposium Wrap - Up & Closing Remarks