| Tuesday, November 11th |
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9:00am - 12:00pm
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AURP Board of Directors Meeting
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2:00pm - 3:00pm
Durango Hotel
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Registration Check In
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3:00pm - 4:30pm
Durango Hotel
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Communities of Innovation 101: Meet the Leader Networking Reception (ADDITIONAL FEE)
Chair:
Kate Engel, Executive Director, Nebraska Innovation Campus
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6:00pm - 9:00pm
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AURP Board of Directors’ Sponsor Appreciation Dinner
By Invitation Only!
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| Wednesday, November 12th |
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7:30am - 8:30am
Durango Hotel
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New Member and First Time Attendee Breakfast
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9:00am - 10:30am
Durango Hotel - Transportation Provided to Las Vegas Convention Center Following Session
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Leadership Roundtable (ADDITIONAL FEE)
Chair:
Erin Koshut, Executive Director, Cummings Research Park
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10:00am - 11:00am
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Transportation to Las Vegas Convention Center
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11:00am - 12:00pm
Las Vegas Convention Center
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Group Luncheon |
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12:00pm - 12:30pm
Las Vegas Convention Center
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Welcome
Speakers: 
Allison Madden, Chief Operating Officer & Corporate Secretary, University of South Florida Research Foundation; AURP President
Zach Miles, Interim Vice President for Economic Development & Executive Director, UNLV Research Foundation
Mayor Shelley Berkley
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12:30pm - 1:00pm
Las Vegas Convention Center
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Presentation of Innovation Award Nominees
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1:00pm - 1:30pm
Las Vegas Convention Center
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Icons of Las Vegas
Speakers: 
Guy Martin, President, Martin-Harris Construction
Don Snyder, Immediate Past President, UNLV
Jan Jones Blackhurst, Executive Director UNLV Black Fire Leadership Initiatives
Betsy Fretwell, Interim Chief Executive Officer, Las Vegas Economic Global Alliance 
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1:30pm - 2:30pm
Las Vegas Convention Center
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Future of Innovation Districts
Speakers: 
Shani Coleman, Director Community & Economic Development, Clark County Office of Community & Economic Development
Jared Luke, Sr. Director of Government Affairs and Economic Development, City of North Las Vegas
Zach Miles, Interim Vice President for Economic Development & Executive Director, UNLV Research Foundation
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2:30pm - 3:00pm
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Break
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3:00pm - 3:45pm
Las Vegas Convention Center
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D.C. Download: What's Coming Up for Your Campus
Speaker:
Leslee Gilbert, JD, Vice President, Van Scoyoc Associates
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3:45pm - 4:15pm
Las Vegas Convention Center
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Biotechnology as a National Security
Speaker:
Monique Mansoura, PhD, MBA, Global Health Security & Biotechnology, Strategic Advisor (invited)
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4:15pm - 4:45pm
Las Vegas Convention Center
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The New Frontier - Leveraging Texas HB112
Speakers: 
Harold Strong, Executive Director, STAR Park, Texas State University
Larry Peterson, Executive Director, Texas Foundation for Innovative Communities
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4:45pm - 5:30pm
Las Vegas Convention Center
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Opening Reception |
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5:30pm
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Transportation to Durango Hotel |
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Evening
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Sponsor Hospitalities & Receptions
All events hosted and organized by sponsors (approval required by AURP)
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| Thursday, November 13th |
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Morning
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Breakfast on Your Own
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8:00am - 8:45am
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Transportation to Las Vegas Convention Center
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9:00am - 9:15am
Las Vegas Convention Center
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Morning Welcome
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9:15am - 10:30am
Las Vegas Convention Center
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Main Stage Presentations
Rapid Fire | Scaling University-Industry Partnerships Through Innovation
Speaker:
Zoë Gibson, Head of Ecosystems, Halo
Rapid Fire | Research Park: The Tip of the Spear for Campus/Corporate Engagement 
Speakers:
Allison Doyle, Associate Director, Iowa State University Research Park; Director of Corporate Engagement, Iowa State
University
Stacy Dreyer, Associate Director of Corporate Engagement, Iowa State University Research Park
Heather Bray, Corporate Engagement Specialist, Iowa State University Research Park
Rapid Fire | AI-Powered Corporate Engagement: Aligning Industry with Campus Strengths
Speaker:
Chase Bonhag, MBA, CEO & Co-Founder, FirstIgnite
Main Stage | Master Planning: Fireside Chat
Speakers:
Aaron Olver, Managing Director, University Research Park, University of Wisconsin - Madison
Erin Koshut, Immediate Past President, AURP; Executive Director, Cummings Research Park
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10:30am - 11:00am
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Break
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11:00am - 11:30am
Las Vegas Convention Center
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Concurrent Breakout Sessions | Funding & Resources Track
Power of Place: Leveraging University-Industry Partnerships through Co-Location and Core Facilities
Speakers:
Merry Hunter Caudle, CEcD, Associate Director, Economic Development Office of Institute Relations, Georgia Institute of Technology
Tracy Shickel, Associate Vice President, Corporate Engagement, University of Delaware
Jeffery Smith, Director, Research Parks, Michigan State University Research Foundation
  
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Concurrent Breakout Sessions | Programming Track
Quantum Computing: Why You Should Prepare for a Quantum-Inspired Future
Speakers:
Laura Appenzeller, Assistant Vice Chancellor of Innovation, Research Park Executive Director, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
John Sawyer, Executive Director, Mid-Atlantic Quantum Alliance; Director, Strategic Research Initiatives, University of Maryland
Zachary Yerushalmi, CEO and Regional Innovation Officer, Elevate Quantum Tech Hub
Moderator: Brian Darmody, Chief Strategy Officer, AURP
   
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11:45am - 12:15pm
Las Vegas Convention Center
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Concurrent Breakout Sessions | Funding & Resources Track
Fueling Innovation Districts in Times of Change
Speakers:
Amy Adams, Executive Director, Institute for Biohealth Innovation, George Mason University
Thomas Flynn, CEcD, Economic Development Advisor, Prince William County Economic Development and Tourism
Sarah Sheppard, Director, Office of Talent and Workforce, Division of Innovation and Growth, Maryland Department of Commerce
Moderator: Laura O’Blenis, President & CEO, Stiletto: Make A Point
   
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Concurrent Breakout Sessions | Programming Track
Bridging the Valley of Death: Funding Strategies for Tech Transfer
Speakers:
Bruce Hunter, JD, MBA, Chief innovation Officer, University of Utah
Zach Miles, JD, MBA, Interim Vice President for Economic Development, UNLV; Executive Director, UNLV Research Foundation
Katie Pettinger, MBA, Chief Innovation Officer, SWSIE / Arizona State University
Moderator: Maggie Bachenberg, Consultant, Franklin Advisory
  
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12:15pm - 1:30pm
Las Vegas Convention Center
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Group Luncheon
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1:30pm - 2:00pm
Las Vegas Convention Center
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Concurrent Breakout Sessions | Funding & Resources Track
Implementing Research Security Best Practices in Research Parks, Innovation Districts and Hubs
Speaker:
Allen Phelps, CPP, PCI, CISSP, CISA, Founder & CEO, IPTalons, Inc.
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Concurrent Breakout Sessions | Programming Track
Research Parks Partnering with DOD and Intel Community: What You Need to Know
Speakers:
Rod McSherry, Associate VP for Innovation and Economic Development, University of Texas at San Antonio
Tom Sadowski, Executive Director, Maryland Economic Development Corporation
Mark Sharpe, Executive Director, Montana State University Innovation Campus
Moderator: Brian Darmody, Chief Strategy Officer, AURP
  
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2:15pm - 2:45pm
Las Vegas Convention Center
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Concurrent Breakout Sessions | Funding & Resources Track
Real Estate Developments: Factors that Impact Project Feasibility
Speaker:
David Tyndall, Founder & CEO, Collaborative Real Estate
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Concurrent Breakout Sessions | Programming Track
The Bioscience Collaborative – An Innovative Approach to Building Biotech
Speakers:
Len Jessup, Managing Director, Desert Forge Ventures
Ray Liu, CEO & Co-Founder, Vena Vitals
Jeffery Talbot, Vice President for Research, Roseman University of Health Sciences
  
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3:15pm - 3:45pm
Las Vegas Convention Center
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Concurrent Breakout Sessions | Funding & Resources Track
The Community-led Innovation Community: A Conversation with Three County Leaders
Speakers:
Shani Coleman, Director of Community & Economic Development, Clark County Office of Community & Economic Development
Amanda Clavijo, MPA, Assistant County Manager, Osceola County Government, Florida
Neil Schneider, MPA, Director, Churchill Technology & Business Park Jefferson Parish Economic Development Commission, Louisiana
Stephen Coulston, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, Principal, Perkins&Will
  
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Concurrent Breakout Sessions | Programming Track
What’s Next? Reimagining and Reinventing in Real Time
Speakers:
Randal Froebelius, Project Executive and Senior Advisor, MaRS Discovery District
Greg King, CEcD, Associate Vice President, Economic Development, Georgia Institute of Technology
Laura O’Blenis, President & CEO, Stiletto: Make A Point
Carol Stewart, Vice President, Tech Parks Arizona, University of Arizona
  
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4:00pm - 5:00pm
Las Vegas Convention Center
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Main Stage Presentations
Rapid Fire | Upcoming Programming and Topics in 2026
Speaker:
Vickie Palmer, CEO, AURP
Main Stage | The Blooper Reel
Speaker:
Jordan Peterson, Chief Operations Officer, Collaborative Real Estate
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5:00pm - 6:00pm
Las Vegas Convention Center
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AURP 29th Annual Awards of Excellence in Innovation
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6:00pm - 6:15pm
Las Vegas Convention Center
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Closing Remarks
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6:15pm
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Transportation to Durango Hotel
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| Evening |
Sponsor Hospitalities & Receptions
All events hosted and organized by sponsors (approval required by AURP)
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| Friday, November 14th |
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8:00am - 12:00pm
Harry Reid Research and Technology Park
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Clean Tech Caucus (ADDITIONAL FEE)
Chair:
Brian Darmody, Chief Strategy Officer, AURP
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9:00am - 12:00pm
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Optional Tours (Included in Full Registration Fee)
Transportation Provided
Switch Datacenter
Kirk Kekorian School of Medicine
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