National Convening Program Books 2015 YEO National Convening Program Book | Page 32

Detailed Agenda
SATURDAY | JULY 25, 2015

INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT
Hermitage Room

Municipal governments are developing ways to invest in building America’s
infrastructure for the future. In this framework the country’s investment in
broadband deployment in cities has been powered by private investment and
public-private partnerships. This session will focus on how public-private
partnerships can help expand access to broadband technology and tech
employment.
Bret Perkins
Comcast

Bret Perkins serves as vice president of external and government
affairs for Comcast Corporation. In this role he is responsible for the
headquarters’ government affairs team in Philadelphia, as well as the
company’s outreach efforts to third-party groups. Perkins joined Comcast
in 2001 and has managed local government affairs while the company
grew from operating in 2,500 communities to 6,000 communities. His
responsibilities have included implementing the company’s regulatory and
legislative initiatives at the local level, managing relationships with state
and local intergovernmental associations, developing political strategy, and
grassroots communications.

3:00 PM–4:00 PM
DEFENDING WORKERS AND FAMILIES
CREATING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL
Grand Ballroom

This panel will address threats to working families, including growing income
gaps and deteriorating benefits and rights. The discussion will center on reforms
to create shared prosperity in a 21st century workforce, looking at basic wages,
protections, and innovative benefits.
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Peter Colavito

Service Employees International Union
Peter Colavito has served as the government relations director for the
Service Employees International Union (SEIU) since January 2011. From
2004 through 2010, he was at 32BJ SEIU, first as political director and later
as chief of staff. 32BJ represents 120,000 property service workers in New
York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, Virginia,
Florida, and the District of Columbia. He previously served as chief of staff
to Brooklyn City Councilmember Bill de Blasio. In 2003, he was campaign
manager for Vote No on 3, the effort that defeated a ballot initiative to end
party primaries in New York City. Colavito was political director for New