MKM Principal, Zach Benedict, to present keynote session at the Great Lakes Main Street Conference.

Zach Benedict, AIA, LEED AP, Principal at MKM architecture + design, will provide the keynote address at the inaugural Great Lakes Main Street Conference in South Bend on August 19 at 9:00 a.m. His session, entitled “The Power of Place,” will discuss how engagement, happiness, and attachment will shape the future of midwestern cities.

Organized by the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs, Oakland County Michigan Main Street Program, and Downtown South Bend, the conference gives leaders from all over the Great Lakes region the opportunity to hone their skills and make connections focused on community and economic development.

Benedict’s presentation will kick off the conference’s educational sessions and examine the role Main Street organizations can play in providing transformational strategies for meaningful economic development. In looking at the future trends facing many of these localized economies (with topics ranging from aging populations to rising opioid addiction), Benedict will discuss the value of communal cooperation and the need for a more strategic understanding surrounding the connection between people and places.