HCPED Industrial Executives Forum

April 5, 2017

We are pleased to announce that Brent Graves, President and CEO of Cane Creek Cycling Components, will be just one of our esteemed speakers for this year’s Industrial Executives Forum held on May 18th.

Brent is no stranger to innovation. He has been in the bicycle industry since 1991 and has worked for manufacturers, distributors and retailers. However, the majority of his career has been focused on product development. In 2001, Brent designed a part that received a US Patent, and it is on thousands of bikes to date. In 2016, Brent joined the team at Cane Creek Cycling Components. Like most folks at Cane Creek, he is an avid cyclist who rides 5-6 times a week, a sport he has enjoyed since age 12. The industry has allowed him the opportunity to live in six different cities and two different countries over the past 15 years. He, his wife and five dogs are proud to now call Western North Carolina home. When Brent is not at work, he enjoys anything with wheels that goes fast and has been pleasantly surprised by the local wineries. Brent will share how Cane Creek has adapted from the 1970s Dia-Compe USA to the company they are today in an ever-evolving industry.

The Industrial Executives Forum will take place at the Bo Thomas Auditorium on the campus of Blue Ridge Community College. Please find the event agenda below; stay tuned as we continue to reveal the event speakers. RSVP to [email protected] no later than Thursday, May 11th.

8:00 to 8:50 am Networking Breakfast
8:55 to 9:00 am Welcome
9:00 to 9:20 am Speaker 1- To Be Announced!
9:20 to 9:35 am SPARK! Session
9:35 to 9:55 am Brent Graves, Cane Creek Cycling Components
9:55 to 10: 10 am SPARK! Session
10:10 to 10:30 am Speaker 3- To Be Announced!

In addition to our formal speakers, we are inviting attendees to participate in SPARK! Sessions. A SPARK! Session provides companies with a platform to share how they are adapting to change or overcoming challenges. For five minutes, you can have the floor to encourage your peers and help generate great ideas. These sessions are lightning round style; no slides or PowerPoints, just great discussion from one company to another. And when the buzzer sounds, your time is up. We know great things happen when our community connects and share ideas; so we are opening the floor up to six HCPED members and/or participating industries to share their SPARK! Interested in participating in a SPARK! or have questions to determine if your presentation is a fit, email [email protected] for more information. Registration for SPARK! closes on April 21st.

Our Forum is possible for HCPED Members and Henderson County Manufactures at no cost because of our Patron Sponsors: Asheville Savings Bank, Blue Ridge Community College, Continental, Cooper Construction Co., Duke Energy, Ferncliff Park, First Citizens Bank, Friday Staffing, Lassonde Pappas, Morrow Insurance Agency, Morris Broadband, Pardee Hospital, PSNC Energy, SMARTRAC, & The Van Winkle Law Firm. Additional support provided by AT&T and Carolina Specialties Construction.