What to Expect
Over three days, attendees will engage in dynamic discussions, hands-on workshops, and insightful presentations from industry leaders.
Whether you’re a developer, designer, planner, policymaker, or community advocate, the Place Summit offers fresh ideas, actionable insights, and meaningful connections to help create more vibrant, resilient, and inclusive places.
Past Speakers
Eric Klinenberg
Klinenberg is a lively presence on stage, with a knack for finding humor and spontaneous insight. He has appeared on TV programs and podcasts (like This American Life) and has written for The Guardian, Rolling Stone, The New York Times Magazine, and The Wall Street Journal, among others. In his much-discussed New Yorker article, which appeared after Hurricane Sandy, Klinenberg looked at how to “climate-proof” cities, and explored the importance of communities and social networks during disasters. NPR named Palaces for the People as one of its Best Books of 2018. He earned his BA from Brown, and his master’s and PhD from University of California, Berkely.
Majora Carter
Majora Carter is a real estate developer, urban revitalization strategy consultant, MacArthur Fellow and Peabody Award winning broadcaster. She's responsible for the creation of numerous economic development, technology inclusion & green-infrastructure projects, policies and job training & placement systems. She is also a lecturer at Princeton University's Keller Center. Majora is quoted on the walls of the Smithsonian Museum of African-American History and Culture in DC: "Nobody should have to move out of their neighborhood to live in a better one” - which is also the subtitle of her 2022 book, Reclaiming Your Community. Carter applies corporate talent-retention consulting practice to reduce Brain Drain in American low-status communities.
Wes Marshall
Wes Marshall, PhD, PE, is professor of Civil Engineering with a joint appointment in Urban and Regional Planning at the University of Colorado Denver. He is also the director of the CU Denver Transportation Research Center and co-director of the Active Communities/Transportation (ACT) research group. He received his Professional Engineering license in 2003 and focuses on transportation teaching and research dedicated to creating a more sustainable and resilient world, particularly in terms of road safety. Having spent time in the private sector, Wes has been working on these issues for more than 25 years. With over 80 peer-reviewed publications, Wes was also the winner of the Campus-wide University of Colorado Denver Outstanding Faculty in Research Award.
FAQs
The NWA Place Summit will take place on November 12-14, 2025 in Fayetteville, AR. The main venue is The Fayetteville Town Center.
Check-in opens at 8:00 AM. We recommend arriving 30 minutes early to park, grab coffee, and get settled.
Parking is available at The Town Center Parking Deck – Parking is free. Overflow parking is available along the streets for a small fee. We will have signage to guide you.
Yes. If you have specific needs or require assistance onsite, please let us know in advance at [email protected].
Nope! We’ll have your name at check-in.
No, due to the size and seating restrictions we cannot accommodate day of registrations.
Tickets are non-refundable, but they are transferable. If you need to send someone in your place, just email us a[email protected]. All tickets must be transferred one week prior to the event.
Yes. We’ll email all registered attendees a digital recap, including presentation slides (when available) and key takeaways.
Check back closer to the event for confirmed CEU hours.
Absolutely. Most sessions include dedicated Q&A time. We’ll have handheld mics available for audience questions.
Yes! Your registration includes tons of coffee, breakfast, snacks, lunch, afternoon refreshments and some light apps during receptions.