On Tuesday evening November 14 Glen Hiemstra, founder of Futurist.com in Seattle, will speak about longer-term trends shaping the future of the region and the role that transportation plays in community vitality. Glen’s presentation will offer a sweeping and entertaining overview of the key trend areas shaping the next two decades and beyond: demographics, technology, the knowledge-based economy, environment, and the next energy revolution. The predictable but often surprising nature of the future will be explored and those who attend will be challenged to wake up to the future and to be proactive in the creation of a preferred future. Specific developments that are noted will include the “Internet of things,” driverless vehicles and drones, nanotechnology, 3D communication and entertainment, the disruptive future of energy, aging and youth demographic trends, confronting the great divides in society, environmental challenges and green business opportunities, and biotech advances that offer the hope of longer and healthier lives. Glen offers a hopeful vision for the rest of the 21st century that, if anticipated and dealt with creatively, can create opportunity in our community for the longer term.
The event is free and open to the public, but seating is limited. Doors open at 5:30 and the presentation will begin at 6:00pm.
On November 15 Glen be joining the Port of Hood River staff and Commissioners for a day explore the long-range future, looking ten to twenty years ahead. The purpose is the explore the trends and opportunities that may shape this region, discussing the possible impact on the Port and on the community, so that when we are making shorter term decisions we have this long-term view in mind.
Glen Hiemstra is the Founder and CEO of Futurist.com, based in Seattle, Washington.  An international expert on long range trends and processes for creating the preferred future, Glen has advised professional, business, and governmental organizations for more than two decades and served as a technical advisor for futuristic television programs.  He is the co-author of Millennial City: How a new generation can save the future, author of Turning the Future into Revenue: What Businesses and Individuals Need to Know to Shape Their Future, and co-author of Strategic Leadership. Futurist.com is regularly visited by people from over 120 nations. Glen has helped enterprises around the world look as far as 100 years into the future to search for strategic opportunities and preferred futures, including industries as diverse as energy, aerospace, transportation, pharmaceuticals and financial services.  Glen grew up in the Gorge during his elementary school to high school days, not far from the Vista House in Corbett Oregon. He spent college summers as a lifeguard and state parks maintenance worker at Rooster Rock State Park, including occasional maintenance work up the Gorge at other state parks.