Global summit

Every year the Global Summit brings internationally renowned speakers who share their expertise on a variety of timely subjects. In 2025, we welcomed 23 speakers, three moderators, and over 15,711 attendees across 17 events. Our largest Global Summit so far!

Global Summit XVII kicked off with the single largest indoor event in the history of Erie with a powerful conversation between Erie's own Steve Scully and the 44th President of the United States, Barack H. Obama. Legendary quaterback Jim Kelly discussed his “Journey of Perseverance”, while Astrophysicist Neil DeGrass Tyson took us on a journey through the cosmos. The series featured a diverse lineup of distinguished speakers and concluded with an evening with Henry Louis Gates Jr. of "Finding Your Roots".

Planning for Global Summit XVII is already well underway. Thanks to the experience of the Jefferson that speakers have, they become strong allies in helping secure future Global Summit speakers. The JES team is building on relationships built during Global Summit’s past to bring more world-class programming to Erie. 2026 promises to be another incredible year to think global, learn local!