I developed and delivered customized training and workshop experiences for the Business Retention and Expansion International's 2007 conference on the topics of the Experience Economy and using culture for economic development.

I designed and led an all day workshop that explored how towns and cities can use creativity, the arts and culture for economic development for the Business Retention and Expansion International 2007 conference in Saskatchewan, Canada. To bring the subject alive and to give attendees a deep and engaging learning experience, I took 22 economic development practitioners on an all-day expedition to the city of Moose Jaw. This town of 34,000 has experienced a resurgence in economic development due to its long-range plan of cultural programming, historic preservation, citizen engagement and imaginative marketing. We visited seven sites, including the amazing Tunnels of Moose Jaw, had lunch with the Mayor and ended up at a wine tasting in a restored rail station that has been converted to one of the province’s largest liquor stores! The participants raved about the experience and I'm in conversation with the local economic development office to make this an annual event. The Expedition was covered in the local paper.

• Download a PDF summary.
• Download the PowerPoint, "Introduction to the Experience Economy"
• Download the PowerPoint on "Using Creativity and the Arts for Local Economic Development"
• Download the PowerPoint of the "Swift Current presentation on the Creating the Creative Community"

The conference organizer said this about Tom's work, "The conference producing team in Regina set ourselves an unusual challenge: we set out to build the greatest, one-day, hands-on, experiential, world-class training event of all time. Seems like an impossible task, right? Through on-going brainstorming and ground-level meetings with stakeholders, Tom inspired our team to think-outside-the-box and truly produce and deliver on this goal. We built the workshop "Building the Ultimate Experience Economy -- Little Chicago on the Prairies: How the City of Moose Jaw Builds the Ultimate Experience to Create Growth". This was a full-day highly facilitated and immersive expedition to the city of Moose Jaw, which has used creativity, the arts and WOW! experiences to anchor their development program. Tom designed and led the expedition, which visited seven sites and included tours, interviews with local leaders, including the mayor, behind-the-scenes analysis a wine tasting and an thorough introduction to set it up and debrief to provide closure. Participants were not only blown-away with the quality and professionalism of the workshop and the facilitator Tom Tresser, they also expressed that it truly was the best workshop they had ever participated in." Read the full letter of recommendation. Can I build a world-class learning experience for you?

I designed and facilitated a two-day program for the CEO of a $9 billion financial services firm and his 30 direct reports at the Gettysburg National Battlefield.

I devised and branded a program that has placed grassroots technology centers in 21 Chicago neighborhoods.