Innovation in Action at AC&E: Register Today

Those who have read Josh Linkner's book, The Road to Reinvention, are familiar with the story of a design student at Detroit's College for Creative Studies who took to the streets for research that led to the development of a sleeping bag coat for the homeless.

Fast forward and that same young lady, Veronika Scott, will be serving as a keynote speaker at the MCUL/CUSG 2017 Annual Convention & Exposition, (AC&E) June 7-10 in Grand Rapids. On June 8, Scott will share her journey from being on track to becoming a top product designer, to dedicating her life to the empowerment of others through her own non-profit organization, The Empowerment Plan.

Veronika has been named one of CNN’s Ten Visionary Women in the World and named a 2015 Forbes 30 Under 30 Social Entrepreneur. She is the youngest recipient of the John F. Kennedy New Frontier Award from the JFK Library Foundation and Harvard University. She has received an IDEA Gold Award from the Industrial Design Society of America, as well as an honorary Ph.D. of Humane Letters from Johnson State College.

The Empowerment Plan story of breaking the cycle of homelessness by employing women and training them with skills to produce these unique coats, has been told across the world and shared at events such as the World Summit on Innovation and Entrepreneurship, and the Forbes 400 Philanthropy Summit.

Online registration for the AC&E is now available. The popular event features a tremendous lineup of training, industry experts from across the country and an exposition hall packed with product/service vendors. Hotel rooms may be booked online at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel, by first registering for the conference.