February 18, 9:00 – 10:30 a.m.
Session Description
In this opening session, ROI will share stories of success, highlighting innovative strategies driving sector growth and outcomes in education, workforce, and quality of place across the region. A panel will also share their perspectives on national trends and opportunities in talent and workforce impacting the Indiana Uplands and beyond.
Session Presenters

Tina Peterson is the President and CEO of Regional Opportunity Initiatives (ROI), a position she has held since the organization’s founding in 2015. In her role, Tina works collaboratively with regional, state, and national organizations to advance economic and community prosperity across the Indiana Uplands, an 11-county region in southwest central Indiana. Through regionally relevant and demand-driven initiatives, ROI focuses on industry cluster strategies, education, workforce, and quality of place as essential determinants for regional success.
Since 2011, Tina Peterson has also served as President and CEO of the Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County, an organization powered by giving and committed to addressing the community’s most pressing challenges and compelling opportunities. In addition to serving as a reputable and innovative grantmaker, the Community Foundation works with its partners to incubate and accelerate forward-looking strategies for community development. Recent examples include Heading Home, CDFI Friendly Bloomington, Impact Investing, and Monroe Smart Start.
Tina currently serves as a member or an advisor on several state and national boards, including the Applied Research Institute, Inc., the Uplands Science and Technology Foundation, the Community Advisory Board for the St. Louis Federal Reserve Bank, Radius Indiana, White River Military Coordination Alliance, Crane Regional Defense Group, Indiana Philanthropy Alliance, and Indiana University Ventures, among others.

Tim George is the CEO and Founder of Pathemy Strategies, a management and strategy consulting firm empowering organizations to grow their vision and impact. With leadership experience in public, private, nonprofit, and education organizations, Pathemy specializes in economic development, education, workforce, strategic investments, organizational leadership, restructuring, public policy, strategic planning, project management, research, and external engagement.
Previously, Tim advanced Indiana’s economic growth as the Executive Vice President for Innovation & Collaboration at the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership (CICP). He also served as Director of Policy for Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb, where he shaped legislative and administrative agendas, led the Indiana Office of Energy Development, and spearheaded initiatives like the Teacher Compensation Commission, resulting in historic education funding increases and innovative policy reforms. Tim’s earlier roles include practicing law at Alston & Bird LLP, advising private equity firms and banks, and consulting for the University of Texas at Austin on higher education policy.
Tim holds a law degree from the University of Texas School of Law, where he was Editor in Chief of the Texas Review of Law & Politics, and a bachelor’s degree from Wheaton College.

Dennis Trinkle, Ph.D., is the Senior Vice President for Talent, Strategy & Partnerships at TechPoint. Trinkle is a renowned thought leader on advanced tech issues, including Artificial Intelligence. He has authored 17 books and over 50 articles, focusing on entrepreneurship, technology, leadership, teaching, learning, and history.
Prior to TechPoint, Trinkle served as Ball State University’s Director of the nationally ranked Center for Information and Communication Sciences (CICS), Director of the Applied Research Institute, and Professor of Information Sciences and Communication. Trinkle also served as the system chief executive, provost, and chief academic officer for Harrison College. He has served leading institutions across the higher education, corporate, and government sectors, including serving as the chief executive officer of the Indiana Higher Education Telecommunication System, chief information officer, associate vice president for academic affairs, and Tenzer Professor of Information Technology for DePauw University, and president, chief executive officer, and board chair for many companies and non-profit organizations.

Todd Hurst, Ph.D., is the Sr. Vice President of Strategic Partnerships & Impact at the Indiana Chamber of Commerce.
Previously, Todd served as a senior consultant for the Indianapolis-based consulting firm, Resultant, where he led workforce strategy development and program oversight for the organization’s public sector clients.
Hurst holds a Ph.D. in educational studies from the University of Kentucky, a Master of Arts in curriculum and instruction from the University of Indianapolis, and an undergraduate degree from Ball State University.