One small step for Gov. Matt Mead.  One giant leap for Wyoming.

Perhaps this paraphrased of all famous phrases has some hyperbole in it, but to me, it correctly describes what our governor accomplished during his first Governor’s Economic Forum, which concluded in Cheyenne a week ago.

         Perhaps only a governor with close ties to Jackson Hole could pull off what Mead did – inviting four of the most powerful business people in America (all with strong Wyoming connections) to travel the full length of the state from one corner to the other to tell 500 Wyoming leaders their thoughts on how to improve our state.

         It was heady.

         Not sure most of the audience could appreciate just how influential these folks are.

         The conference also featured dozens of our wonderful homegrown state leaders, plus 21 success stories by successful men and women.

 But the importance of having internationally famous and respected world leaders offering their best advice was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

         As a columnist limited to 750 words, there is no way I can do justice to the messages presented. But here are some highlights:

         • Former President of the World Bank James Wolfensen preached ardently about the need for America to get more involved in China and India.

         He said there are 1.1 million Chinese studying in America today and just 1,600 Americans studying in China. He urged students today to learn the Mandarin language.

         Wolfensen has had a home in Jackson Hole for 20 years and annually hosts an impressive economic conference in that valley with international leaders.

         • Foster Friess, a longtime Jackson resident, was founder of the famous and super successful Brandywine Fund. He and his wife Lynn have been active in both statewide and Jackson Hole projects.

         He said that Wyoming could use its small population to its advantage. “Wyoming can be a beacon for the rest of the country when it comes to solving education and healthcare problems. “

He said there is a cultural war in America between the Tea Party folks and the Occupy Wall Street folks. “Here in Wyoming, we can show them how to solve our problems.”

         • Herb Allen has a ranch in Cody and said he had voted for and given money to President Barack Obama’s 2008 campaign. “But like the old Texas saying, the second kick in the head by a mule is not instructive, he said.” 

He predicts a big hit of inflation that is coming as the only solution to solving our national economy’s problems. Allen hosts a conference of business leaders every summer in Sun Valley that features folks like Bill Gates and Warren Buffet.

         “In the USA, we used to be all about manufacturing. Now we are all about service. Manufacturing is being done better and cheaper overseas. Get used to it.

         He predicted inflation would have to come along to solve the debt crisis. “We are in a lull now because we have to pay off the communal national mortgage. When inflation comes, places with raw materials like Wyoming could benefit. It is the only way out of this mess.”

• Hank McKinnell may have been the most impressive of all.

         He has lived in Jackson and for six years was CEO of the pharmaceutical giant Pfizer.

         He laid out a 10-point plan for Wyoming that included: 10. Think small. 9. Think big. 8. Think global. 7. Improve Internet access across the state. 6. Invest in preventative health systems. “We have a sick-care system in this country, not a health-care system,” he says.

         His points 5 through 1 were all about schooling. He railed on the need for better education. His main points were:

         5. Start early.

         4. Emphasize math and science.

         2. Higher education for everyone.

1. Have some BHAGs (Big Hairy Audacious Goals),

         All four of these speakers were impressive but perhaps McKinnell was the most impressive, if for no other reason, he stayed for the entire conference and made a real effort to know folks across the state, not just from his corner of the state.

The conference was the 29^th annual conference staged by the Wyoming Business Alliance but the first tied in with a governor in awhile.

         Gov. Mead said that when he was campaigning for the job, McKinnell told him to “pay attention to the business people.” This conference looked like a good example of the new guy listening to some pretty good advice and putting it into action.