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Meet the Consultants - The #AmericanSouth Site Selection Summit

Meet the Consultants - The #AmericanSouth Site Selection Summit

Monday, May 8, 2023 to Tuesday, May 9, 2023

* Registration open until 5/1/23 at 12:00 PM (EDT)

Event Details

The Southern Economic Development Council, North America's oldest and largest regional economic development association, has announced a major conference set for May 8 - 9 in Atlanta. Economic developers, business leaders, site selectors, and policy-makers will convene at "Meet the Consultants: #AmericanSouth Site Selection Summit" to promote new economic development and to discuss future-focused strategies to accelerate progress in the #AmericanSouth.

The Summit agenda will feature globally active site selectors and the Council's expert members. As the Summit nears, SEDC will continually release updates to the speaking lineup. Today, the Council is proud to share the latest confirmations of site selection and economic development experts. Stay tuned for additional updates and the full agenda. 

Member Pricing - $445
Non-member Pricing - $745

Preliminary Schedule - Subject to Change

Monday, May 8th

8:00 - 9:00       Breakfast

9:00 - 9:15       Welcome Ceremony

9:15 - 10:00     Global Site Selection Trends & Perspectives
Iconic brands that have defined global commerce and emerging industries that super-charge new markets call the #AmericanSouth home. As the world’s third-largest economy, the south is rooted in iconic tradition and poised for accelerated growth. In this session, leading experts share the latest global trends, expectations, and perspectives on site selection. Don’t miss an opportunity to capitalize on current economic development conditions and opportunities.

Panelists:
Darin Buelow
, Global Location Strategy Leader, Deloitte
Matt Jackson, Managing Director, Brokerage, JLL
Courtney Dunbar, Director – Site Selection, Burns & McDonnell
Thane Hutcheson, Director, Baker Tilly
Moderator: Raul Peralta, Senior Vice President, ECS

10:00 - 10:15   Networking Break

10:15 - 11:00   Product Development: Preparing for Your Community to Win
Quick, risk-free site selection experiences and fast operationalizations are critical to economic development success. The #AmericanSouth has an incredible “speed-to-market” global advantage as communities and partners in the SEDC footprint are investing in product development unlike ever before. In this session, learn how to enhance the quantity and quality of your sites to win.   

Panelists:
Kim Davis, Director, Quest Site Solutions
Joe Hines, Senior Principal & Director of Economic Dev, Timmons
Heidi Smith, Director of Global Business, TVA
Moderator: Scott Poag, Senior Industrial Development Manager, W&A Engineering

11:00 - 12:00   #AmericanSouth Site Selection Part 1
Last year, the #AmericanSouth developed almost 200 billion in new corporate investment that will create a quarter million new jobs. The south is America’s economic development hot spot and a global economic development powerhouse. In this session, leading Site Selection Consultants will break down the #AmericanSouth economic momentum and ongoing opportunity and will share strategies to accelerate our worldwide economic advantage.

Panelists:
Monty Turner, Senior Vice President, Site Selections Services, Colliers
Tess Fay, Principal, Global Location Strategies
John Longshore, Senior Managing Director, Newmark
Matt Poreba, Director, Location Consulting, The Austin Company
Moderator: Mike Grim, Director Central Region, Norfolk Southern

12:00 - 1:15      Luncheon Program
Gather with the #AmericanSouth economic development community for an unparalleled networking opportunity and to hear from a special guest Keynote speaker.

1:15 - 1:30        Networking Break

1:30 - 2:15        Supply Chain & Logistics: #AmericanSouth Advantage
The #AmericanSouth enterprise moves products through our infrastructure and across the world overnight. As the supply chain continues to inform site selection decisions, the south’s logistic advantages position SEDC states and communities for success. In this session, learn from industry experts how to best leverage logistics, strategies to enhance supply chains, and methods to further develop your community.

Panelists:
Steve Schellenberg, Sr. VP, Logistics and Business Development, IMS Worldwide
Stacy Watson, Director, Economic & Industrial Development, Georgia Ports 
Dr. Robert Martinez, Senior Advisor, Moffat & Nichol
Moderator: Kellen Riley, Director – Business Development, CSX

2:15 - 3:00        Leveraging Technology to Accelerate Economic Development
Economic development partners are deploying game-changing technology services, and #AmericanSouth communities and states are leveraging data unlike ever before. In this session, leading technology experts break down the current state of ED tech and relay strategies to better utilize modern practices to accelerate economic development success.

Panelists:
Ron Bertasi, CEO, GIS Web Tech
Susan Donkers, VP OF STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT, Global Location Strategies
Linda Mosley, CEO/Publisher, 365 Degree Total Marketing
Evan Stair, Managing Director, Vista Site Selection
Ray Methvin, CEO / Creative Director, Insyteful
Moderator: Karen Dickson, Economic Development Manager, Lower Colorado River Authority

3:00 - 3:15        Networking Break

3:15 - 4:00        People Power: Preparing a Winning Workforce
The #AmericanSouth is globally advantaged relative to workforce availability and participation, and communities throughout the SEDC footprint are leading the nation in further development and talent attraction. In this session, experts holistically break down elements and partnerships crucial to developing and sustaining a workforce aligned with existing industry and target markets. 

Panelists:
Don Pierson, Secretary, Louisiana Economic Development
Taylor Murray, MANAGER, LOCATION ANALYSIS, AND INCENTIVES, Maxis Advisors
Jay Garner, President & Founder, Garner Economics
Matt Niehoff, Consulting Analyst, Cushman & Wakefield
Moderator: Chris Masingill, CEO, St. Tammany Corp

4:00 - 4:45        Here's the Deal: A Comparison of State & Local Incentive Tools
The #AmericanSouth’s intrinsic advantages are matched by those manufactured as SEDC states and communities have a toolbox full of innovative, attractive, and barrier-breaking economic incentives that fast-track success. In this session, leading economic development attorneys highlight game-changing incentives deployed throughout the south, which assist in perpetuating the SEDC footprint as a global attraction leader and the world’s third-largest economy. This session is a must-see for state leaders and Site Selection Consultants.

Panelists:
David Cabrales, Of Counsel, Foley & Lardner LLP
Hon. R. Brian Ball, Of Counsel, Williams Mullen
Allison Dyer, Partner, Holland & Knight
Moderator: Will Johnson, Shareholder, Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd

5:00 - 6:00        VIP Reception

6:00 - 8:00        #AmericanSouth Reception

Tuesday, May 9th

8:00 - 9:00        Breakfast

9:00 - 9:45        FDI: Finally Decoding It
This session will focus on FDI, and we are Finally Decoding It with experts in the field.  Through FDI, international companies bring billions of dollars each year in industrial projects to the United States – yet landing these types of projects can be challenging. In this session, we’re taking a closer look at what companies are looking for and how to prepare your community for foreign business recruitment. Attendees will hear from experts who have developed relationships while continuing to foster and grow partnerships with foreign companies with an
interest in the U.S. market.

Panelists:
W. Ford Graham, Partner, McGuireWoods
Jim Blair, Founder & Managing Director, Navigator Consulting
David Denison, Manager, Site Selection and Incentives Advisory, Kroll
James Chavez, President & CEO, SC Power Team
Moderator: Uconda Dunn, VP, Business Development, Greenville-ENC Alliance

9:45 - 10:30      Designing & Building the #AmericanSouth
As project activity and investment soars throughout the SEDC footprint, #AmericanSouth-partner design & build firms are critical to planning, engineering, and constructing success! In this session, industry leaders and experts will discuss the state of the industry, strategies to prepare to win, and provide quick, risk-free operationalization and collaborative methods to “build” impactful relationships.

Panelists:
Tim Weston, Vice President of Business Development, JESCO
Bill Quemonen, CEO, Denham Blythe
Jason Vaughn, Director of Development, Southeast Region, Agracel
Marcus Taylor, VP of Business Development, Gray Construction
Moderator: Ben Temple, VP/Principal, ECS

10:30 - 11:15    Differentiating Your Community to Win the Deal
#AmericanSouth communities are welcoming multi-billion-dollar mega projects, super-charging the future of transportation, and setting the global standard in economic development practice and success. In this session, experts will share winning tips to recruit projects, and practitioners will highlight strategies and practices that landed transformative deals. This session is a can’t miss primer on #AmericanSouth economic development from marketing to deal closing.

Panelists:
Rick Games, President & COO, Elizabethtown-Hardin County
Jeff Ruble, Director, Richland County Economic Development
Colleen Walton, Brand Coach, Brand Acceleration
Jana Dyke, President & CEO, Albany-Dougherty Economic Development 
Moderator: Jessica Breaux, Senior Manager, Economic Development, Amazon.com

11:15 - 12:15    #AmericanSouth Site Selection Part 2
Last year, the #AmericanSouth developed almost 200 billion in new corporate investment that will create a quarter million new jobs. The south is America’s economic development hot spot and a global economic development powerhouse. In this session, leading Site Selection Consultants will break down the #AmericanSouth economic momentum and on-going opportunity and will share strategies to accelerate our worldwide economic advantage.

Panelists:
Chris Lloyd, Senior Vice President and Director, McGuireWoods Consulting 
David MacNamara, Director, Advisory, KPMG
Amy Gerber, Executive Managing Director, Cushman & Wakefield
Gary Yates, Principal, Hickey & Associates
Chuck Sexton, President & CEO, One East Kentucky
Moderator: Courtland Robinson, Business Recruitment, Duke Energy

12:15 - 12:30    Closing Ceremony

Sponsor Meet the Consultants

Click the image below to download the sponsor guide.

Signature Investors
Cornerstone Investors

Silver Sponsor

Bronze Sponsor

Exhibitors

Dress Code

Business Casual - No ties for Men are necessary.

Hotel & Conference Host

The Intercontinental Atlanta Buckhead
3315 Peachtree Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30326

Click here to book your room.


Acknowledgment of Enhanced Safety and Health Measures for All Attendees:
Registration and attendance at, or participation in, SEDC's in-person events constitutes an agreement by the registrant to abide by SEDC's and the host property's efforts to comply with current CDC recommendations related to COVID-19 (and any state of Texas requirements) and to engage in certain health-and-safety-beneficial conduct while attending the event as requested by SEDC (e.g., wearing a mask, engaging in appropriate physical distancing, not attending the event if feeling sick or showing certain symptoms).  You agree not to hold SEDC, Intercontinental Hotels, or any of their directors, officers, employees, or volunteers liable for any illness or injury.

Special Needs:
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), conference management will make all reasonable efforts to accommodate persons with disabilities at its meetings. If you need assistance or have dietary restrictions, please indicate this on your registration form or call the SEDC Office at (404) 523-3030.

Registration Fees:
Member and non-member registration fees include all conference sessions, Monday reception, breakfast, and lunch. Tuesday sessions and breakfast.

All cancellations must be received in writing at the SEDC office to obtain a refund by April 1st. All cancellations will have a $50.00 administrative charge up until this date. Cancellations received after will have a $150.00 cancellation fee. Any registrant who does not submit cancellation correspondence by April 30th and does not attend the meeting must pay the balance in full. Registrants may substitute attendees without penalty.

However, appropriate member/ non-member rates will apply to substitute attendees.

Consent for the use of Photographic Images:
Registration and attendance at, or participation in, SEDC meetings and other activities constitute an agreement by the registrant to SEDC’s use and distribution (now and in the future) of the registrant or attendee’s image or voice in photograph productions and audiotapes of such events and activities.

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