Description

Commonwealth Conversations is a 5-part Chamber speaker series that will be held every other month. Colonial Williamsburg Foundation is the Series Sponsor, and the President of Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, Cliff Fleet, will lead in-depth discussions with trailblazers and thought leaders of our time.

Sponsorship and Series Tickets (Individual & Tables of 8) now available!

September 6th at 8:30 AM
Jason El Koubi, Virginia Economic Development Partnership

November 1st at 8:30 AM
Carly Fiorina, Carly Fiorina Enterprises

January 10th at 8:30 AM
BK Fulton, Soulidifly Productions

March 6th at 8:30 AM
Tom Barkin, Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond

May 1st at 8:30 AM
To Be Announced

Enjoy breakfast and insightful conversation in the 1st of this 5 part Chamber Speaker Series.  Our first guest is Jason El Koubi.

Mr. Jason El Koubi, President and CEO
Virginia Economic Development Partnership

Working with a wide variety of partners and stakeholders, Jason leads the development and implementation of an ambitious, multi-year strategic plan for economic development of the Commonwealth that encompasses activities across state government. Among other transformational goals, the plan aims to position Virginia as an economic growth leader among

U.S. states over the next 10 years while ensuring all regions of the state participate in that growth. As part of this work, Jason serves on the project management team for transformational projects, including Virginia’s successful bid for Amazon’s HQ2.

He was previously President and CEO of One Acadiana, a regional economic development organization based in Lafayette, Louisiana. Under his leadership, the organization developed and successfully launched one of the most successful capital campaigns of its kind in the nation to deliver a new, nationally competitive economic development program for the nine- parish region, including substantial new activities in public policy and advocacy; business attraction, retention, and expansion; and urban revitalization.

Prior to One Acadiana, Jason served as assistant secretary of Louisiana Economic Development (LED) where he led initiatives that helped secure projects that created more than 63,000 new jobs along with more than $28 billion in new capital investment, while dramatically improving Louisiana’s position in virtually every state business climate ranking. Additionally, he managed LED’s programs related to state economic competitiveness, business intelligence, community development, small business development, emergency response and recovery, and entertainment industry development.

He previously served as policy director of the Baton Rouge Area Chamber, where he directed policy and research operations during the response and recovery from Hurricane Katrina.  Under his leadership, BRAC's policy research team won the top economic development research award in the nation for two consecutive years.  

Jason is an outdoor enthusiast and has focused his volunteer service on education and the arts. He has lived, worked, or traveled in more than 40 countries, was selected for the French- American Foundation’s Young Leaders program, the British-American Project, and term membership in the Council on Foreign Relations.

Mr. Cliff Fleet, President and CEO
The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation

Named The Colin G. and Nancy N. Campbell Distinguished Presidential Chair in January 2020, Mr. Fleet is a corporate executive, teacher, community volunteer, board member and consultant.

Previously, Mr. Fleet was the president and CEO of the biotechnology firm, 22nd Century Group (where he remains on the Board).  He continues to serve as an adjunct business professor at the College of William & Mary.

Mr. Fleet retired as the president and CEO of Philip Morris USA in 2017, after 21 years at Altria Group, where he held senior leadership roles in marketing, business development, strategy, operations, investor relations and sales.  After leaving PM USA, he advised numerous businesses and nonprofits as a managing partner at SIR, a strategic management consultancy based in Richmond, Virginia.

Mr. Fleet currently serves as a board member for the Growth4VA (former Vice Chair), founded by the Virginia Business Higher Education Council, Chair of the William and Mary Foundation, and a board member for The Omohundro Institute.  He also is a member of the Virginia 250 Commission.

Previously, he served on the board for the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation (Chair, 2014-2019), the Virginia Repertory Theatre, and the Virginia Business Higher Education Council.

Enhanced Continental Breakfast Buffet:

• Seasonal Sliced Fruits, Assorted Cereals
• Breakfast Pastries, Muffins, Sweet Butter and Jams
• Scrambled Eggs, Virginia Bacon
• Country-Fried Potatoes

Single Ticket: Open Seating 

• Members: $55 
• Prospective Members: $80

Tables of 8: Reservation: Eight Reserved Seats with Company Logo

•  Members: $500
•  Prospective Members: $700

TICKETS FOR THE ENTIRE SERIES ARE AVAILABLE

Series Tickets:

     Open Seating for each of the breakfasts

• Members:  $250
• Prospective Members:  $350

Series Tables:

      Eight Reserved Seats with Company Logo on the Table at each of the breakfasts

•  Members: $2300
•  Prospective Members: $3400

Become a sponsor of Commonwealth Conversations: View available sponsorships here, and register online to secure your investment today!

Gold Sponsors

Bronze Sponsors

SCORE Williamsburg

Media Partner

Disclaimer:  At this event, photos and videos may be recorded.  By attending this event you may be included in these photos and videos.   Your attendance at this event grants your permission to be in these photos or videos, which may be used for marketing and promotional purposes.  

Tickets are non-refundable.