(September 16, 2024) — The Cape Cod Commission will host the 10th annual OneCape Summit on September 18 and 19, 2024 at the Wychmere Beach Club in Harwich, Massachusetts.
The OneCape Summit is a regional forum for information, collaboration, and innovation across major policy issues and areas. The Summit brings together local and national leaders, practitioners, and subject matter experts to inspire informed action on the most pressing issues related to Cape Cod’s unique environment and economy.
OneCape features speakers from within the region and across the country who share their unique perspectives and transferable strategies that can drive positive change to support a vibrant and resilient region. Topics for OneCape 2024 will be cross-cutting for both days of the summit and include sustainable and equitable development, increasing housing opportunities, natural and water resources protection, climate action, and community resilience. Sessions will highlight successful initiatives, focus on innovation and application, and invite attendees to explore topics with hands-on experiences.
“At this tenth OneCape Summit, we will collaborate on strategies to meet the region’s greatest needs.” says Kristy Senatori, Cape Cod Commission Executive Director. “As we gather once again, we reflect on our shared successes and look ahead toward building a stronger, more vibrant Cape Cod for the future.”
The Commission is pleased to welcome state and nationally recognized speakers to this year’s event.
Massachusetts Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll will address attendees on September 18th. Since taking office, Lieutenant Governor Driscoll has spearheaded several administration priorities and initiatives, including significant involvement in the state’s affordable housing production, economic development, improvements to the public education system, and serving as liaison to cities and towns across Massachusetts.
“As an administration, we are committed to meeting the unique needs of each of our regions,” said Lieutenant Governor Driscoll. “I’m excited for the opportunity to share with the OneCape Summit attendees the ways in which we are working to support Cape communities, from expanding our climate resiliency programs, to passing the seasonal communities designation to support the development of affordable housing, to investing in our tourism economy and beyond.”
Additional speakers include:
• Yvonne Hao, Secretary of the Massachusetts Office of Economic Development. Secretary Hao prioritizes economic opportunity for residents, collaborative leadership in communities, and an environment that supports job creation and business growth in Massachusetts.
• Julian Cyr, Massachusetts State Senator, Cape and Islands District. Senator Cyr’s legislative priorities are primarily
informed by the unique needs of the Cape and Islands district and his perspective as a member of the LGBTQ community. He has championed policies related to housing, water quality, the climate crisis, harm reduction, and criminal justice reform.
• Emily Reichert, Chief Executive Officer, Massachusetts Clean Energy Center. Dr. Emily Reichert leads MassCEC’s efforts to build a robust, internationally competitive clean energy and climate tech economy in Massachusetts.
• Charles Marohn, Founder and President Strong Towns. Charles “Chuck” Marohn is a land use planner and civil engineer seeking to develop financially strong, resilient, safe, livable, and inviting communities.
• Michael Jung, Government Affairs and Public Policy at Modern Hydrogen. Jung draws upon nearly three decades of experience across the energy industry, public service, and clean technology sectors. His career has reached across both investor-owned and consumer-owned utilities. He most recently served as the founding Executive Director of the ICF Climate Center.
• Allison Thurmond Quinlan, Principal, Flintlock LAB. Quinlan is an architect, landscape architect, and infill development advocate. She works on building environmentally, socially, and economically vibrant places that protect productive landscapes from sprawl.
• Eric Kronberg, Principal, Kronberg Urbanists and Architects. Kronberg specializes in breaking down and demystifying regulations to find ways to make great projects possible while helping others navigate the redevelopment maze.
• Tony Jordan, President, Parking Reform Network. After successfully organizing for local parking and land use reforms, Jordan co-founded the Parking Reform Network to help people everywhere understand the impact of parking policy on climate change, equity, housing, and traffic.
Quotes from OneCape speakers:
Kristy Senatori, Cape Cod Commission Executive Director
“At this tenth OneCape Summit, we will collaborate on strategies to meet the region’s greatest needs.” says Kristy Senatori, Cape Cod Commission Executive Director. “As we gather once again, we reflect on our shared successes and look ahead toward building a stronger, more vibrant Cape Cod for the future.”
Massachusetts Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll
“As an administration, we are committed to meeting the unique needs of each of our regions,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “I’m excited for the opportunity to share with the OneCape Summit attendees the ways in which we are working to support Cape communities, from our expanding our climate resiliency programs, to passing the seasonal communities designation to support the development of affordable housing, to investing in our tourism economy and beyond.”
Yvonne Hao, Secretary of the Massachusetts Office of Economic Development
“Our state thrives when we come together to tackle the challenges that stand in the way of economic opportunity,” said Secretary of Economic Development Yvonne Hao. “I’m excited to speak at the OneCape Summit and share how Team Massachusetts is advancing efforts to support the Cape and Islands. We’re working to strengthen the blue economy, improve infrastructure, and uplift small businesses in the region.”
Julian Cyr, Massachusetts State Senator, Cape and Islands District
“The housing crisis has caused Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard, and Nantucket to become profoundly unaffordable,” says Senator Julian Cyr. “Fortunately, the Affordable Homes Act is a huge step forward in our long-sought efforts to provide relief to Cape Codders and Islanders struggling to afford year-round housing. The realization of a seasonal communities designation and the accompanying tools are a game changer in our efforts to salvage our year-round economy and community in the face of a daunting housing market.”
Emily Reichert, Chief Executive Officer, Massachusetts Clean Energy Center
“We’re working to make Massachusetts the global hub for climatetech, a sector that has the potential to generate billions of dollars for our economy and create thousands of jobs,” said Massachusetts
Clean Energy Center CEO Dr. Emily Reichert.
“I’m looking forward to meeting with local leaders at the OneCape Summit and sharing how Cape Cod and the South Coast region’s unique strengths will help us achieve this goal.”
Charles Marohn, Founder and President Strong Towns
“The Suburban Experiment’s 80-year reign has left us with a feast-and-famine cycle of quick cash projects, crumbling roads, and looming infrastructural challenges, Cape Cod included,” said Strong
Towns Founder and President Charles Marohn.
“We need a paradigm shift and a new approach. The bottom-up movement is about sparking local change for lasting prosperity. I’m thrilled to share this approach with the courageous local leaders at the OneCape Summit.”
Michael Jung, Government Affairs and Public Policy at Modern Hydrogen
“Cape Cod’s commitment to climate resilience and the energy transition is inspiring. At the OneCape Summit, I’ll be sharing how decarbonization innovations, including Modern Hydrogen’s methane pyrolysis technologies, can help the region address key challenges such as accelerating the reduction of climate pollution and protecting critical infrastructure from the growing impacts of climate change,” says Michael Jung, Government Affairs and Public Policy at Modern Hydrogen. “Our
approach aligns with Cape Cod’s Climate Action Plan, which prioritizes cleaner energy and resilient infrastructure to mitigate the effects of rising sea levels and severe weather events. We’re excited to learn from and contribute to Cape Cod’s journey towards a climate-compatible and energy-abundant future.”
Eric Kronberg, Principal, Kronberg Urbanists and Architects
“I’m thrilled to participate in OneCape to share our thoughts on making vibrant, inclusive places. I’m more excited to listen and learn about the specific nuances that make the Cape such a wonderful place to begin with,” said Eric Kronberg, Principal, Kronberg Urbanists and Architects.
Tony Jordan, President, Parking Reform Network
“Reforming parking regulations is one of the simplest, most profound things a community can do to free up precious land and use it in ways that enhance the vitality, economic strength and resilience of the community,” said Tony Jordan, Parking Reform Network President. “At the Parking Reform Network, we’re helping to build a fast-growing nationwide movement to curb excess parking and manage parking more thoughtfully, and I’m greatly looking forward to bringing that message to
OneCape.”
The agenda, including the full list of speakers, can be found by visiting onecape.capecodcommission.org.
Event Details
• Event: 2024 OneCape Summit
• Day One: September 18, 2024 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
• Day Two: September 19, 2024 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
• Location: Wychmere Beach Club, 23 Snow Inn Road, Harwich, MA
• Event website: onecape.capecodcommission.org
Press Information
If you are interested in attending to cover the event, please contact Sarah Colvin, Cape Cod Commission Communications
Manager by email: sarah.colvin@capecodcommission.org or phone: 508-744-1271.
