Des Moines: A City of International Influence?

Please find the Friday Guest Blog below, this was written by Shawn Harrington

Who would’ve thought our city could be such a big host this week?  Actually, none of us should be too surprised; within a 3 week span we’ve had many of the world’s best golfers, international athletes competing in the top triathlon and then there’s this weekend’s Indy Corn 250.  Aside from what these events have brought to Iowa in the month of June, Des Moines has been able to step it up even more in between a couple of these weekend’s as host of the 2010 NASCO Conference.

The NASCO Conference unites leaders from Canada, Mexico and the U.S. to bridge together private and public sectors playing critical roles in international trade, transportation and security.  Ok, maybe that does not sound as exciting as Danica Patrick whipping around a track in Newton at 190 mph, however the significance of this can not be lost.  Within the 21 member States and 5 Provinces, Des Moines was able to step up and host the hundreds of influencial leaders as their decisions will effect our industries on both a local and national level.

This year’s conference is running from June 15-17th:

The 2010 NASCO Conference: Moving North America Forward enters its sixth year with a dynamic overview of the most pressing trade and transportation concerns. It also shall feature insights on some of the brightest opportunities to reignite cross-border trade and streamlined freight transport between the three North American nations allied in commerce on the NASCO Corridor”.

There’s guaranteed to be plenty of local hands involved this week at our busy hotels and venues.  The conference will be held at the Civic Center concluding tonight.  Could taking responsibility of hosting this event be a sweat for Des Moines?  Even though it kicked off Monday, I bet most of us hardly knew what it was before today.  If that is the case, then I’d say just one more opportunity where Des Moines gets to show off!