TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

Monday, February 24th

9:00 AM - 12:00 PM

AURP Board of Directors Meeting

12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

Lunch on your Own
Take a stroll down Mill Avenue to see the sites and grab a quick bite before the start of Spring Training.

1:00 PM - 2:30 PM

Sun Devil Ballroom

Women of AURP: Finding Your Voice and Telling Your Story
The Women of AURP is a member opportunity open to all attendees of Spring Training
Building on the theme of Voices of Impact, this interactive session will give participants the tools to find their voices and tell their stories. Through storytelling exercises, participants will have the opportunity to reflect on and share the stories of their own career journeys as they learn techniques to breathe life into their tales. A panel of four women members of AURP from different industry sectors will demonstrate/model the exercises as they share their own stories. During a brief wrap up, the group will discuss how to apply lessons learned to research park messaging.

3:00 PM - 3:15 PM

Sun Devil Ballroom

Spring Training Welcome

3:15 PM - 4:30 PM

Sun Devil Ballroom

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.

4:30 PM - 4:45 PM

Sun Devil Ballroom

Spotlight Series - Maricopa County Community College District 

4:45 PM - 5:00 PM

Sun Devil Ballroom

Spotlight Series - West Virginia Regional Technology Park

6:00 PM - 8:30 PM

Lucero – Omni Rooftop

AURP Board of Directors Sponsor Appreciation Dinner
Casual attire appropriate – the group will meet on the rooftop of the Omni and enjoy the beautiful sights of Tempe
All attendees are welcome to attend this valuable networking dinner as we toast our sponsors of AURP Spring Training 2025.

Sponsored by Stiletto: Make A Point

Tuesday, February 25th

6:15 AM - 7:30 AM

Journey Up 'A' Mountain
ASU’s A Mountain may be a bit of a distance but worth it for our speedy walkers/climbers. Plan to depart the hotel lobby at 6:15 in walking collectives, whether up the mountain or on the many paved paths through the ASU campus and community.

7:00 AM - 8:00 AM

Breakfast On Your Own
The Library Rules offers light continental options and Neighborhod Services offers a full breakfast menu.

8:00 AM - 8:15 AM

Sun Devil Ballroom

Spring Training Welcome Remarks

8:15 AM - 8:45 AM

Sun Devil Ballroom

Spring Training MVP
Placemaking: Knowledge Community
Emphasizing the significance of placemaking within your knowledge community, Tom Osha will impart Wexford’s Knowledge Community of purposeful, engaging spaces to foster collaboration, innovation, and connection. Highlighting the grand opening of 4MLK at UMB BioPark’s campus in West Baltimore, through thoughtful placemaking, this addition will enhance interactions, inspire creativity, and build a strong sense of identity, ultimately contributing to the success and cohesion of this community of innovation.

8:45 AM - 9:15 AM

Sun Devil Ballroom

Spring Training MVP
It's All About the People
Successful placemaking begins with a careful understanding of the people who will bring the spaces we create to life. As a critical ingredient of the real estate development recipe, we will discuss how the understanding of end users and their interests and preferences should play a prominent role in planning the future of your research park and the core principles from which it competes.

9:15 AM - 10:15 AM

Sun Devil Ballroom

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.

Speaker:

Moderator: 

10:15 AM - 10:45 AM 

Networking Break - Sun Devil Patio

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Sun Devil Ballroom

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 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.

Speakers:

Moderator:

11:45 AM - 1:00 PM

Sun Devil Patio

Group Lunch - Roundtable Discussions
Step outside for lunch alfresco, where you can chat and collaborate with your colleagues in the sunshine. Don’t forget your sunglasses—because why not soak up some rays while picking up right where the morning’s conversation left off?

Sponsored by: Port San Antonio

1:00 PM - 3:00 PM

Sun Devil Ballroom

Diverse Finance and Governance Models: The Leverage of Impact
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.

Speakers:

Moderator:

3:00 PM - 3:30 PM

Networking Break - Sun Devil Patio

3:30 PM - 5:00 PM

Sun Devil Ballroom

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.

Speakers:

5:00 PM - 5:30 PM

6:00 PM

Informal Group Dinners
SIGN-UP BY 1:00PM EACH DAY
NEW THIS YEAR, USE THE SIGN-UP APP to see the variety of restaurants by day, plus those already signed up.

Wednesday, February 26th

6:30 AM - 7:30 AM

Hike Up 'A' Mountain
Gear up for Day 2 and experience a good challenge. Choose your own path around ASU campus or head to A Mountain to refresh your mind and body for another full day of though and learning. Plan to depart the hotel lobby at 6:15 with your walking group.

7:30 AM - 8:30 AM

Sun Devil Ballroom

Roundtable Breakfast - Navigating the New Administration
Led by Michael Ledford, this breakfast roundtable will offer the latest updates from Washington, D.C., while guiding a discussion on strategies to engage with and educate the new Administration, highlighting the collective impact of our community of innovation.

Speaker:

9:00 AM - 9:45 AM

Sun Devil Ballroom

Spring Training MVP
Community Driven Impact: Visioning a Community
Rural Communities across America are facing significant challenges in their local economies that make it difficult for their citizens to find jobs and to help local businesses thrive. Setting the stage for the day, Catherine Armstrong will discuss the empowering work being done in the community of Morgantown, North Carolina. Learn how a new vision for community has helped support the efforts taken to produce a new Rural Wealth Blueprint.

Speaker:

9:45 AM - 10:45 AM

Sun Devil Ballroom

Frameworks for Connection: Growing Impact
Numerous AURP members actively participate or are integral parts of consortia seeking federal funding to bolster place-based economic development. We will delve into the successes and challenges encountered in these efforts, focusing on identifying effective strategies, lessons learned from past experiences, and recommendations to prepare for upcoming opportunities. Our panelists will explore tactics for engaging with regional communities, establishing partnerships, and cultivating innovation communities while leveraging support from the federal, state, and private sectors

Speakers:

Moderator:

10:45 AM - 11:15 AM

Networking Break - Sun Devil Patio

11:15 AM - 12:00 PM

Sun Devil Ballroom

Revving Up Rural Innovation: AI and the "RAIN"storm of Autonomous Possibilities

Speakers:

Moderator:

12:00 PM - 1:30 PM

Group Luncheon
We're back outside for lunch today to dine, continue conversations and collaborate with your colleagues. Water and sunscreen are a must for this perfect setting to recharge and dive right back into the discussions.

Sponsored by: Research Triangle Park

1:30 PM - 1:45 PM

AURP: The Year Ahead
Insights Into Research Parks - Ames, IA | April 28-29
BIO Health Caucus - Boston, MA | June 15-16
Insights Into Research Parks - Huntsville, AL | September 22-23
2025 International Conference - Las Vegas, NV | November 11-15
2026 Spring Training - Tempe, AZ

1:45 PM - 2:45 PM

Sun Devil Ballroom

Master Planning: Executing on Impact
You heard from the experts! Now apply all lessons learned into this interactive workshop with our friends from UNLV. Building on the fundamentals and providing new ideas that you can take back to your community to help it thrive.

Moderators:

2:45 PM - 3:15 PM

Coffee Break - Sun Devil Patio

3:15 PM - 3:45 PM

Sun Devil Ballroom

DIY Master Plan Workshop
You heard from the experts! Now apply all lessons learned into this interactive workshop with our friends from UNLV. Building on the fundamentals and providing new ideas that you can take back to your community to help it thrive.

Moderators:

4:00 PM - 4:30 PM

Sun Devil Ballroom

Wrapping Up the Vision and Process

Speaker:

4:30 PM - 5:30 PM

Sips & Dips: Sangria and Queso Time - Sun Devil Ballroom

6:00 PM

Informal Group Dinners
SIGN-UP BY 1:00PM EACH DAY
NEW THIS YEAR, USE THE SIGN-UP APP to see the variety of restaurants by day, plus those already signed up.

Thursday, February 27th

8:00 AM - 11:00 AM

Optional Tour
Maricopa Community Colleges: Semiconductor Manufacturing and Quick State Technician Training 
Group to depart hotel lobby at 8:30 am.
Transportation is not provided. Uber/Lyft is recommended.

1:05 PM

Baseball!
Grab your friends and take in a ballgame at one of the many local ballparks.
Chicago Cubs vs Los Angeles Angels (Sloan Park)
Athletics vs San Diego Padres (Hohokam Park)