Nantucket Project Debuts in Autumn With Celebrated Roster of Speakers

NANTUCKET, MA - The Nantucket Project is a new 'ideas conference' that has a refreshing take on the inspirational concept. The inaugural Nantucket Project conference will take place at the White Elephant hotel on Nantucket Island Friday, September 30 through Sunday, October 2nd, and will feature a unique format designed to promote heightened engagement.

The Nantucket Project's inaugural theme is Re-Think. Over the course of the weekend 350 participants will be encouraged to re-think the status quo and explore change through talks led by eminent and accomplished visionaries, thinkers, business leaders and innovators. Topics will span from economics and medical science to sustainability and globalism.

A distinguishing hallmark of the Nantucket Project is the program's dedication to creating an intimate participant experience. All participants will experience the exact same program, with scheduling designed to eliminate competing presentations in favor of fostering a cohesive collective conversation. Innovative hospitality, entertainment and creative performances will keep participants engaged and leave them inspired. Weekend passes start at $3200 per person, and include access to all Nantucket Project sessions and event meals. Special nightly rates at the White Elephant start at $365 per night for Nantucket Project ticket holders.

Created in partnership with Big Think, a global knowledge forum that creates significant, relevant and actionable content from its over 3000 leading experts, the Nantucket Project intends to become an annual event on Nantucket with the goal of expanding into a permanent Institute based on Nantucket.

Over 20 presenters will explore and expand on a range of topics during the first Nantucket Project program weekend. Presenters speaking include:

Rebecca Costa Socio-biologist
Ed Crane Founder & President, Cato Institute
Stephen DeBerry Founder Bronze Investments, Partner at Kapor Capital
Thomas DeLong Professor, Harvard University Business School
Peter Diamandis Chairman & CEO, X Prize
Rahm Emanuel Mayor, Chicago, Illinois
Deborah Fallows Author
James Fallows Journalist
Henry Louis Gates Professor, Harvard University
Mellody Hobson President, Ariel Investments
Dean Kamen Inventor
Sarah Kay Performance Poet
Eddie Lampert Founder, ESL Investments
Jim Lasko Artistic Director, Redmoon
Richard Marcinko Former Navy SEAL, Author
William McDonough Architect, Author
Casey Neistat Filmmaker
Jay Parkinson MD Founder, Hello Health & The Future Well
Kenneth Roman Former Chairman & CEO of Ogilvy & Mather
Deb Roy Co-Founder, Bluefin Labs
Eric Schmidt Executive Chairman, Google
Larry Summers Professor, Harvard University
Julie Taymor Director
Krista Tippett Author, Broadcaster & Journalist
Craig Venter Founder, Celera Genomics & the Institute for Genomic Research and the J. Craig Venter Institute
Bob Wright Former Chairman & CEO NBC Universal, Founder, Autism Speaks

Nantucket Island, one of the most storied destinations in the United States, is the home of the Nantucket Project. The White Elephant hotel, set on Nantucket's Brant Point and steps from historic downtown, will serve as the epicenter of programming and hospitality for the Nantucket Project during the event weekend. Special nightly rates at the White Elephant Hotel range from $365 per night for a guestroom to $990 per night for a three-bedroom cottage. The rate is valid for stays from September 30 - October 2 and a two-night minimum stay is required.

Several individuals concerned about diversifying and sustaining Nantucket's economy and offerings year-round came together to create the Nantucket Project. Limited to just 350 participants, individuals attending the Nantucket Project will bring a variety of perspectives to bear on the issues raised as the group's make up ranges from entrepreneurs to corporate executives to educators to leaders of companies and of non-profit organizations. Individuals who have registered during the Project's advance registration period are designated Founding Participants, which affords them priority participation status for future Nantucket Project events.

The Nantucket Project Fellows program has been created to help subsidize attendance and participation in the event for individuals who could not otherwise financially afford to participate. Several organizations and individuals have endowed fellowship positions including the Inquirer & Mirror, Judy Seinfeld, Bob & Jennifer Diamond, Tim & Alicia Cannon Mullen and Tom & Emily Scott.

Event partners and sponsors for the inaugural year include Bing, Bloomberg media, Inquirer & Mirror, Nantucket Today, Plum media and the White Elephant Hotel/Nantucket Island Resorts.

Detailed information on the event, including registration and program schedules is available at www.nantucketproject.com.

Based on Nantucket, Massachusetts, the Nantucket Project is the Island's first ideas conference. Several years in the making, the event is co-founded by Tom Scott & Kate Brosnan. Launching in September is the Nantucket Project's first program weekend at the White Elephant Hotel from Friday September 30 to Sunday October 2nd.

For more information about the Nantucket Project, visit www.nantucketproject.com .