NEW BEGINNINGS: Voices of Impact
AURP Spring Training 2025 Agenda
February 24 - 27, 2025 in Tempe, Arizona
Monday, February 24th
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9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
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AURP Board of Directors Meeting
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10:00 AM - 3:30 PM
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Registration Desk Open
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1:00 - 2:30 PM
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Women of AURP
Building on the theme of Voices of Impact, this engaging, interactive session will give participants the opportunity to reflect on and share the stories of their own career journeys. The program kicks off with a panel discussion with women AURP members who will share the stories of their career journeys and as well as basic storytelling building blocks and tips. An interactive section will follow giving participants the chance to identify and hone their stories. During a brief wrap up, panelists will discuss how to apply lessons learned to research park messaging.
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3:00 - 3:15 PM
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Opening Remarks
 
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3:15 - 4:30 PM
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Spring Training Welcome
New Beginnings: Voices of Impact - Fireside Chat
Each research park and innovation district is the product of a distinctive combination of values, place, opportunities, and people. The “voice” of each park is its unique impact. This session will lay out the process of achieving impact – beginning with value proposition, identifying audience and constituency, assessing funding and resource opportunities, creating a framework for connection, and crafting a roadmap for execution.
Following a high-level overview, Erin Koshut will join us for a fireside chat to discuss the broad application of this process at Cummings Research Park.
  
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4:30 - 4:45 PM
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Spotlight Series - West Virginia Regional Technology Park
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6:00 - 8:30 PM
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AURP Board of Directors Sponsor Appreciation Dinner
Sponsored by Stiletto: Make A Point
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Tuesday, February 25th
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6:30 - 7:30 AM
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Journey Up 'A' Mountain
Huddle up in the courtyard with your AURP friends before the journey of a lifetime up A Mountain. Whether meditating, engaging with your colleagues, or walking up A Mountain, being mindful of your body and surroundings, is important at every level of engagement each day and every moment. (Sunrise 6:57 am)
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8:00 - 8:15 AM
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Day Ahead Intro
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8:15 - 8:45 AM
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Placemaking: Knowledge Community
Kick off the day and highlight the importance of placemaking within your knowledge community. Tom will showcase new projects such as 4MLK and the importance of revitalizing and engaging with your local community.
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8:45 - 9:15 AM
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AURP MVP
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9:15 - 10:15 AM
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Value Proposition: The Foundation of Impact
The first step in creating long-term impact through a park or district is identifying a clear value proposition. This session will dive into an identify-based discovery of the ingredients for value – relationships, placemaking, and opportunity. Benchmarking and metrics will support and define a research park’s or innovation district’s unique value proposition.
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Moderator:
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10:15 - 10:45 AM
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Networking Break
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10:45 - 11:45 AM
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Data Driven Engagement: The Momentum of Impact
Engaging an audience and establishing a constituency is a critical component of harnessing the power of people toward impact. Join a panel of marketing professionals as they showcase innovative ways to use hard data and statistics to craft compelling campaigns that resonate with target audiences. Learn how creative storytelling combined with strategic analytics can drive engagement, highlight success, and amplify your message in the innovation district and research park landscape.
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Moderator:
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11:45 AM - 1:00 PM
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Group Lunch - Roundtable Discussions
Sponsored by: Port San Antonio
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1:00 - 3:00 PM
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Diverse Finance and Governance Models: The Leverage of Impact
Establishing funding streams and resource channels . Join us for an in-depth exploration of the diverse financial and governance models utilized by research parks located across North America. Discover how the models were established, the strategies they have implemented for growth and expansion, and the challenges they have overcome. Hear firsthand from park leaders on how these models have enabled them to be economic engines for the communities they serve.
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Moderator:
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3:00 - 3:30 PM
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Networking Break
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3:30 - 5:00 PM
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Unlocking Funding Opportunities for Research Parks
Strategies for Finding Grants, Writing Proposals, and Leveraging Private, Corporate, and State Funding
In this interactive session, participants will learn about how to unlock potential funding opportunities – looking at a variety of options at various levels of government, as well as the engagement of industry partners. As the landscape of funding continues to evolve in the coming months, this session is intended to provide participants will tools and practical tactics to continue to build momentum for park and district development.
Facilitators:
 
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5:00 - 6:00 PM
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Margarita Happy Hour |
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6:30 PM
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Informal Group Dinners
Tonight’s the night! Meet up with new colleagues at our peer group dinners. Attendees are encouraged to create new groups and choose a new restaurant of your own.
Meet in the lobby at 6:30PM to depart for restaurants
All fees and expenses are at individual expense.
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Wednesday, February 26th
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6:30 - 7:30 AM
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Hike Up 'A' Mountain
Ready for round 2? Your AURP friends are there to support you as you clear out the cobwebs and set out for Day 2 up A Mountain. The beautiful Arizona sunrise will refresh your heart, mind and body for another day of deep thought and learning. (Sunrise 6:56 am)
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7:30 - 8:30 AM
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Roundtable Discussion Breakfast
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9:00 - 9:45 AM
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AURP MVP
Community Driven Impact: Visioning a Community
Keynote Speaker:
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9:45 - 10:45 AM
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Frameworks for Connection: Growing Impact
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Moderator:
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10:45 - 11:15 AM
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Networking Break
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11:15 AM - 12:00 PM
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RAIN (Rural Autonomous Innovation Network)
Moderator:
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12:00 - 1:30 PM
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Lunch
Sponsored by: Research Triangle Park
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1:30 - 1:45 PM
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AURP Event Promotions
BIO Health Caucus - Boston, MA | June 15-16
2025 International Conference - Las Vegas, NV
2026 Spring Training - Tempe, AZ
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1:45 - 2:45 PM
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Master Planning: Executing on Impact
Case Studies
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2:45 - 3:15 PM
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Networking Break
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3:15 - 3:45 PM
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DIY Master Plan Workshop
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4:00 - 4:30 PM
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Master Plan - Final Thoughts
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4:30 - 5:30 PM
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Happy Hour - Closing Remarks
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6:00 PM
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Informal Group Dinners
In our final night of our informal group dinners, remember to connect with your comrades and collaborate on the discussions from the day.
Meet in the lobby at 6:00PM to depart for restaurants
All fees and expenses are at individual expense.
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Thursday, February 27th
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8:00 - 11:00 AM
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Optional Tour
Maricopa Community Colleges: Semiconductor Manufacturing and Quick State Technician Training
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1:05 PM
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Baseball!
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