The Site Selectors Guild, the only association of the world’s foremost professional site selection consultants, announced the five recipients of its Robert M. Ady Professional Scholarship Program. The scholarship is awarded to deserving economic development professionals at organizations with limited financial resources.
The five scholarship recipients in 2025 are:
- Katie Newman, Executive Director, Yorktown Economic Development Corporation (Yorktown, TX, USA)
- Cole Massie, Director of Economic Development, University of Rio Grande & Gallia County Economic Development (Rio Grande, OH, USA)
- Robert Cate, Executive Director, TCDA (Perry, FL, USA)
- Kelly Forbes, Executive Director, Communication, MHCEDC (Madisonville, KY, USA)
- Ruth Buchanan, Director, FloridaMakes (Orlando, FL, USA)
Scholarship recipients receive complimentary registration to the Guild’s 2025 Annual Conference being held in Orlando, FL, USA, from March 12-14. The conference is the largest gathering in the world of professional site selection consultants, making it a leading professional development and networking opportunity for more than 400 economic development professionals in attendance.
Applications for the scholarship program are evaluated by a committee of Guild members based on financial need, accomplishments in economic development and a demonstrated desire to engage with site selection professionals. Candidates from communities typically underrepresented in economic development receive priority.
“The Site Selectors Guild is proud to support the professional growth of economic development leaders through the Ady Scholarship,” said Seth Martindale, Site Selectors Guild board chair and senior managing director at CBRE, Inc. “This year’s recipients exemplify dedication and excellence in their field, and their participation not only enhances their own careers but also contributes to the broader economic development community.”
The scholarship program is named after Robert M. Ady, founder of the Site Selectors Guild. Ady rose through the ranks of Fantus Consulting, the first leading site selection firm, before starting his own firms and becoming a lifelong champion of the economic development and site selection industries and professions. After Ady’s passing in 2012, the Guild established the scholarship program to honor his influence on the industry and the professional paths he helped carve for future economic development practitioners.
Learn more about the Robert M. Ady Professional Scholarships Program at https://siteselectorsguild.com/events/about-annual-conference/scholarship/.
About the Site Selectors Guild
The Site Selectors Guild is the only association of the world’s foremost professional site selection consultants. Guild members provide location strategy to corporations across the globe and for every industry, sector, and function. Founded in 2010, the Site Selectors Guild is dedicated to advancing the profession of international corporate site selection by promoting integrity, objectivity, and professional development. Members are peer-nominated, vetted, and must demonstrate significant professional location advisory experience. In 2024, Guild members facilitated the committed or announced creation of approximately 111,000 jobs and $141 billion in capital investment by corporate clients, which required location analysis across 90 countries. Guild membership is the highest standard in the site selection industry. For more information, visit siteselectorsguild.com or follow Site Selectors Guild on LinkedIn.
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