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Home About Us B2B Club Breaking News Contact Donate Events / Programs Feedback Ideas Incubator Industry Clusters Links / Resources Progess Funds Progress Teams Public Art / Murals Publications		Breaking News June 22, 2005 - Analyst provides glimpse of future By Angelica Herrera, Daily Tribune Staff Central Wisconsin residents could catch a glimpse of the future Thursday. Futurist David Zach is the scheduled speaker at the latest installment of the Community Progress Initiative's New Ideas Speakers series, scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Performing Arts Center in Wisconsin Rapids. Futurists aren't exactly fortune-tellers: They study trends and interpret what they mean, analyzing the short- and long-term impacts on people's work, life and community. Zach's presentations at several leadership and economic development conferences persuaded Connie Loden, executive director at the Heart of Wisconsin Business & Economic Alliance, to bring him to Wisconsin Rapids. "He has information that makes you think of trends of the future - whether it's planning your own life or not," Loden said. "He also has additional information to help move the community forward, giving a sense on where trends are going in the nation and in the world." Born in Monroe, Zach attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison for his undergraduate studies before getting his master's degree in Studies of the Future from the University of Houston. He's one of the few professionally trained futurists in the United States. "One of the important things he brings is the opportunity to step outside of our everyday lives and get a fresh look at what we may already have and take advantage of something not explored before," Loden said. His speeches, Loden said, are intended for people at the junior high school level and up. "Really, anyone who has the ability to sit for an hour and a half and maintain a good attention span," she said. But more importantly, Zach's speech is intended to help Wood County residents. "One of the things (to listen for) are the new business opportunities and new ideas on how to expand existing businesses and begin entrepreneurship," Loden said. "But the only way to make that happen is if people take advantage (of these tips)." "It's the responsibility of everyone to care about what happens in their community because it impacts their own future," she said. "The insights he offers will benefit all who live here."
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