Michael Nutter and Tom Wolf Are Coming to ThinkFest. Are You?
Quick show of hands: Is Philadelphia moving in the right direction? In the wrong direction? In circles?
Broadly speaking, that’s the question we’ll be asking this Friday as Philly Mag presents ThinkFest 2015, our fourth annual ideas conference. This is a one-day event featuring some of the most powerful, intriguing and entertaining people in Philly and beyond — from politicos like Governor Tom Wolf and Mayor Michael Nutter to creative forces like Jennifer Weiner, Buzz Bissinger and Abbi Jacobson.
Actually, that’s just scratching the surface on this year’s stellar lineup. Among the other people who’ll appear:
* La Colombe founder Todd Carmichael on being an entrepreneur in Philadelphia
* School Reform Commission member Farah Jimenez on rethinking our approach to social problems
* Media executive Brigitte Daniel on diversity in Philly’s tech and start-up scene
* Warby Parker co-CEO Neil Blumenthal on his company’s birth at Wharton and its growth into one of America’s hottest lifestyle startups
* Inga Saffron, Jay McCalla, Beth McConnell and Calvin Gladney on urbanism and gentrification
* Comcast’s Sam Schwartz on how Philadelphia continues to innovate
* Conrad Benner, Cory J. Popp, and Emma Fried-Cassorla on Philly’s new age of digital storytelling
* Penn researcher Jean Bennett, M.D. on work being done here to reverse blindness
* Live entertainment curated by Fringe Arts
Mayor Nutter will talk about the lessons he’s learned in his eight years in office and where he sees Philadelphia headed, while Governor Wolf will address the role education plays in building a 21st-century economy.
Check out the full roster of presenters and complete schedule.
To reserve your ticket, click here. Last year’s event sold out early, and no tickets will be sold at the door.
