Day One of the National Conference on the Creative Economy was one of high-energy presentations, insightful, thoughtful panel discussions and long lines at the floor microphones as enthusiastic participants queued for questions. The Hilton McLean Tysons Corner offered an elegant and hospitable backdrop for the nearly 400 attendees who gathered in the Grand Ballroom.

Highlights of the first day were Richard Florida’s morning presentation on the key principles of an emerging creative economy, David DeLong’s much-praised presentation on an aging workforce and Thomas Friedman’s luncheon keynote presentation, during which he shared his three most important “flatteners” in the world economy, taken from his recently re-released book “The World is Flat.”