Friday, December 1, 2023 | Omni Tempe Hotel at ASU
The Avenues to Opportunity (A2O) Conference is a one-day policy conference focusing on how
to remove the barriers entrepreneurs face and provide a context for thinking about policy reform
to advance human betterment and contribute to the understanding of which regulatory
environments can produce the best economic outcomes for the largest number of people.
The conference is rooted on the idea of our Doing Business North America (DBNA) report which
provides objective measures of business regulations in the United States across 83 cities in all
50 states, Puerto Rico, and Washington, DC. The 4th edition 2022 report was released in April
2022 and comprises over 7,700 datapoints and uses 93 variables to create 30 data indicators
spread over six categories to score and rank cities in regard to how easy it is to set up, operate,
and shut down a business.
This conference is supported by a gift from The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation through the School of Civic and Economic Thought and Leadership.
Registration
Thank you for your interest in the Avenues to Opportunity (A2O) Conference.
Conference registration for the A2O Conference will not be confirmed until the registration process has been completed and the full payment has been received and processed.
We encourage attendees to register online so that they can receive the best registration rate and expedited check-in experience. Photo IDs will be checked to check-in.
| Attendee Category | Early Bird Rate | Regular Rate | On-Site Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ends Oct 20 | Oct 21–Nov 24* | Dec 1 | |
| General Public | $79 | $99 | $149 |
| ASU Faculty/Staff | $79 | $99 | $149 |
| ASU Student** | $25 | $30 | $35 |
*Registration will close on Friday, November 24. Registration will reopen on-site on Friday, December 1.
**Individuals that register as an ASU Student will have their enrollment confirmed to ensure registrants have selected the most appropriate registration option. Payment amount may be adjusted to reflect the correct registration type and rate associated.
Registrations canceled prior to 11:59 PM AZ MST November 1, 2023 are subject to a $10 cancellation fee. Registrations are non-refundable after 11:59 PM AZ MST November 1, 2023.
To cancel your registration, email CSELConference@asu.edu. A refund will be manually issued based on the policy above. Please allow 2–5 business days to process depending on the respective bank.
Agenda
Agenda is tentative and subject to change.
| 7:30 a.m. | Check-in and Registration |
|---|---|
| 8:00 a.m. | Breakfast and Opening Keynote |
| 9:00 a.m. | Session 1 — Doing Business North America: History of Economic Freedom Indices |
| 10:30 a.m. | Session 2 — Parking Minimums: Regulation that Reduces Efficiency and Unnecessarily Increases Costs for Entrepreneurs |
| Noon | Lunch and Session 3 — Light Beer Dark Money LIVE Podcast Show |
| 2:00 p.m. | Session 4 — Starting a Business: Opportunities to Bolster Minority Business Ownership |
| 3:30 p.m. | Session 5 — Economic Competitiveness: Unleashing the Power of Free Enterprise |
| 5:00 p.m. | Closing Keynote |
Confirmed Speakers
Keynotes
David R. Henderson, Research Fellow
Hoover Institute
Doug Ducey, CEO and 23rd Governor of Arizona
Citizens for Free Enterprise
Panelists
Stephen Moore, Distinguished Fellow in Economics
The Heritage Foundation
Glenn Hamer, President and CEO
Texas Association of Business
William Carter, Vice President, Local Government Advocacy and Engagement
The Chamber of Commerce of Greater Philadelphia
Danny Seiden, President and CEO
Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Jorge L. Rodriguez, Founder and CEO
Puerto Rico Institute for Economic Liberty
Robert Lawson, Director
Bridwell Institute for Economic Freedom
Chris Clements and Sean Noble, Podcast Hosts
Light Beer Dark Money
Alicia Plemmons, Assistant Professor
West Virginia University
Joseph M. Guzman, Associate Superintendent
Arizona Department of Education
Jose-Benito Rosales Chavez, Assistant Professor
Arizona State University
David King, Associate Professor
Arizona State University
Tony Jordan, President
Parking Reform Network
Yassamin Ansari, Vice Mayor
City of Phoenix
Stephen Slivinski, Deputy Director of Strategic Research
Pacific Legal Foundation
Teniqua Broughton, Executive Director
The State of Black Arizona
Additional speakers will be added as they are confirmed.
Hotel
The Avenues to Opportunity Conference will be hosted at the Omni Tempe Hotel at ASU.
Omni Tempe Hotel at ASU is located in the heart of downtown Tempe, on the north part of Arizona State University campus. The physical address is 7 East University Drive, Tempe, Arizona 85281.
Book your Preferred ASU Rate and receive the following benefits:
- Destination Fee Waived ($25 per night value) which includes:
- Deluxe Guestroom WI-FI
- Hydration Stations Available on all Guestroom Floors
- Complimentary Digital Version of Wall Street Journal Daily
- Access to 24-Hour Health and Fitness Center with Amenities
- Restful Sleep Kit Amenities (Upon Request)
- Complimentary Notary Services
FAQs
What is the Avenues to Opportunity Conference?
The Avenues to Opportunity (A2O) Conference is a one-day policy conference focusing on how to remove the barriers entrepreneurs face and provide a context for thinking about policy reform to advance human betterment and contribute to the understanding of which regulatory environments can produce the best economic outcomes for the largest number of people.
The conference is rooted on the idea of our Doing Business North America (DBNA) report which provides objective measures of business regulations in the United States across 83 cities in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and Washington, DC. The 4th edition 2022 report was released in April 2022 and comprises over 7,700 datapoints and uses 93 variables to create 30 data indicators spread over six categories to score and rank cities in regard to how easy it is to set up, operate, and shut down a business.
Who can attend the conference?
We welcome everyone! The conference is geared towards entrepreneurs, grassroot advocates, policymakers, students and community members.
When and where is the conference?
The A2O conference will be held on Friday, December 1, 2023 from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the Omni Tempe Hotel at ASU.
Do I have to register to attend?
Yes, registration is required.
How much is registration?
The regular rate is $99 ($30 for ASU Students). The early bird rate is $79 ($25 for ASU Students) and ends Friday, October 20, 2023.
What is included in my registration?
All events, sessions, and meals listed in the agenda, except for any event listed as “invitation only.”
Will I be able to register on-site?
Yes, but you will pay the full regular rate plus a $50 on-site registration fee. We encourage attendees to register online so that they can receive the best registration rate and expedited check-in experience.
What is the cancelation and refund policy?
Registrations cancelled prior to 11:59 PM AZ MST November 1, 2023 are subject to a $10 cancellation fee. Registrations are non-refundable after 11:59 PM AZ MST November 1, 2023.
To cancel your registration, email CSELConference@asu.edu. A refund will be manually issued based on the policy above. Please allow 2–5 business days to process depending on the respective bank.
Will the conference be recorded?
Yes. After the conference, the keynote and session recordings will be posted to our YouTube channel.
Where can I park and how much is parking?
Attendees will be able to park at the new Mill Avenue Parking Structure. The parking at the Mill Avenue Parking Structure is $4 per hour up to $20 daily rate.
Parking will be validated for individuals with confirmed registrations.
Are there sponsorship opportunities?
Yes, please email CSELConference@asu.edu.
I have more questions!
For any additional questions, email CSELConference@asu.edu.