U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp (TN-3) announced an impressive line-up of keynote speakers for the upcoming Tennessee Valley Corridor Regional Economic Summit to be held May 28-30 in Washington, DC. Wamp and his congressional colleagues from the Tennessee Valley Science and Technology Corridor are hosting the event to highlight the Tennessee Valley's key science and technology resources and to focus on issues of importance to regional economic development and job creation.

"For the past six years, our region has come together and established a better understanding of our shared strengths, opportunities and values," said Congressman Wamp. "Now it's time for us to go to the next level and present our findings to the world. By holding this year's summit in Washington, we have the opportunity to present the many assets of our region to the new administration and key leaders in the Congress and to explore ways we can partner for the good of the nation and our region."

Confirmed speakers who will join Wamp as hosts at the Washington, DC event already include fellow Tennessee Congressmen Bob Clement (TN-5), Jimmy Duncan (TN-2), and Van Hilleary (TN-4)

The 2001 Summit, themed "National Leadership through Regional Cooperation" is designed to explore specific opportunities, recommendations and initiatives on how the Tennessee Valley Corridor can best partner with the Congress and the new administration to modernize, mobilize and maximize the Tennessee Valley's unique scientific and technological resources.

Other federal speakers confirmed for the Summit include:

• General John Gordon, administrator of the new National Nuclear Security Administration;
• Sam Venneri, NASA associate administrator for aerospace technology;
• Jesse White, federal co-chairman of the Appalachian Regional Commission;
• Kyle McSlarrow, chief of staff, U.S. Department of Energy;
• Susan Bodine, senior counsel, House sub-committee on Water Resources and Environment;
• Andrew Lundquist, executive director of the Bush administration's National Energy Policy task force;
• Richard Russell, executive director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy;
• Dr. Joseph Bordogna, deputy director of the National Science Foundation;
• Jim Decker, director, Office of Science, U.S. Department of Energy;

Several additional top-level speakers from the Washington D.C area are expected, but not yet confirmed.

Among the representatives from the Tennessee Valley who will travel to Washington with more than 200 regional leaders to address these officials are:

• Art Stephenson, director, NASA/Marshall Space Flight Center;
• Janet Herrin, TVA senior vice president for river operations;
• Dr. Bill Madia, director, Oak Ridge National Laboratory;
• Michael Tollefson, superintendent, Great Smoky Mountains National Park;
• Major General Al Sullivan, commanding general, U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command
• Claude Ramsey, county executive, Hamilton County, TN;
• Dr. Dwayne McCay, vice president for research, The University of Tennessee;
• Dr. Ron Franks, vice president for health affairs, East Tennessee State University;
• Sandy Coleman, National Space Science and Transportation Center;
• Alex Fischer, commissioner, Tennessee Department of Economic Development;
• John Powell, executive director, Electric Transit Vehicle Institute;
• Colonel Vince Albert, U.S. Air Force, Arnold Engineering Development Center;
• Dr. Michael Browder, general manager of the Bristol Electric System;
• Dr. George Garrison, University of Tennessee Space Institute;
• Frank Akers, ORNL/Y-12 Advanced Technologies;
• Dr. Ron Greenwood, vice president for research, University of Alabama in Huntsville.

"It's a tribute to this region that we've been able to attract such an outstanding line-up of speakers and participants," Wamp said. "This is truly an important Summit meeting for the future of our region. Every business, political, education or civic leader in the Tennessee Valley should attend this important event."

The Tennessee Valley Corridor strategically links Southwest Virginia, Tennessee and Northern Alabama. Previous summits have been held in Oak Ridge, Chattanooga, Tri-Cities, TN/VA, Knoxville-Oak Ridge, Huntsville/North Alabama and Tullahoma/Franklin & Coffee counties. Under the leadership of the Tennessee Valley's congressional delegation, the Corridor Summit Board, and regionally based Summit coordinating committees, an annual "Summit" has become the vehicle for establishing and monitoring the Valley's regional economic development goals.

For more information on how to register for the Tennessee Valley Corridor Summit, visit the event?s web site at www.tennvalleycorridor.org or call 615-637-0251.