The Future of Textiles in South Carolina — sponsored by Columbia, S.C.-based New Carolina: South
Carolina Council on Competitiveness — will be held Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2008, from 1:30 to 6:00 p.m.
at the Spartanburg Marriott, Spartanburg. Admission is free, and those planning to attend are asked
to RSVP to Felicia Wright (803) 760-1408 or
office@newcarolina.org.
The schedule is as follows:
1:30 p.m. Welcome and Purpose of Meeting
Rob Chapman, Textile Cluster Chair, Inman Mills
1:35 p.m. Clustering as an Economic Engine
George Fletcher, Executive Director, New Carolina
Introduction of Speakers
Mark Henry, David L. Barkley and Daniel Eades, Clemson University
Presentation of Reports
• The Contribution of the Textile and Apparel Cluster to the South Carolina
Economy
• South Carolina’s Textile and Apparel Industries: An Analysis of Trends in
Traditional and Emerging Sectors
2:15 p.m. Introduction of North Carolina State University (NCSU) Team
Jim Rogers, Upstate Change Agent, New Carolina
Presentation of Report
• Improving Global Market Competitiveness of the Textile Industry Cluster
in South Carolina
Unveiling of SCTextileConnect
Nancy Cassill/Shawn Dunning, NCSU
Textile Organizations in Raleigh, N.C.
Nancy Cassill, NCSU
3:00 p.m. Break
3:15 p.m. Introduction of Keynote Speaker
Bill Barnet, mayor of Spartanburg
Keynote: The Future of Textiles
Allen E. Gant Jr., Glen Raven Inc.
3:45 p.m. Panel Discussion
Ashley Allen, Milliken & Company
Gilbert O’Neal, Institute of Textile Technology (ITT)
Abida Siddiqi, The National Association for the Sewn Products Industry, (SEAMS)
Allen Gant, Glen Raven
Dr. Trevor Little, NCSU College of Textiles
Lewis Gossett, South Carolina Manufacturers Alliance (SCMA), moderator
4:15 p.m. Open Discussion
4:50 p.m. Today’s Key Messages and Wrap-Up
5:00 p.m. Adjourn to Reception
October 28, 2008