Site Selectors Guild Annual Conference
Network at the Guild’s Most Popular Event
Each year, the Guild holds its marquee Annual Conference event with all global Guild members in attendance. The cornerstone of the Annual Conference is knowledge sharing, an interactive exchange of ideas and networking between Guild members and economic developers and investment promotion professionals from around the world.
At the conference, the ratio of Guild members to economic development organization (EDO) participants is eight to one (eight attendees for every one Guild member). Members plan all conference content, serve on panels and participate in interactive breakout sessions with conference attendees for the purpose of sharing insights and fostering discussion. Additionally, our awards program for the Annual Conference gives EDOs, their partners and communities the opportunity to be recognized within the industry and receive complimentary registration.
See below for general registration, sponsorship opportunities, agenda and other information.
Event details
Date & Time
March 29-31, 2023
Location
San Antonio, TX
Venue
Grand Hyatt San Antonio River Walk
- Agenda
- General Registration
- Sponsorships
- General Information
- Upcoming Annual Conferences
- Past Annual Conferences
Agenda
All events are located on the fourth floor of the Grand Hyatt San Antonio hotel unless otherwise noted. Event locations, times and participation assignments are subject to change.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 29, 2023
9:00 AM – Conference Badge Pick-Up
Fourth Floor | Texas Ballroom Foyer
12:00 PM – 12:45 PM – New Attendee Orientation
Fourth Floor | Seguin AB
3:00 PM – 5:30 PM – Presenting Sponsor event
(private event for Presenting sponsor & Guild members only!)
Off-site
6:00 PM – 7:00 PM – Guild Partner Reception
(Private reception for Guild Partners and Guild members only!)
Fifth Floor | Terrace
7:00 PM – 9:00 PM – Welcome Reception
Fourth Floor | Texas Ballroom Foyer
THURSDAY, MARCH 30, 2023
7:00 AM – 8:00 AM – Breakfast
Fourth Floor | Texas DEF Ballroom
8:05 AM – 9:30 AM – Welcome, Ady Scholarship Recognition, ED Award Recognition, Keynote Speaker Presentation: Russell Gold, followed by Q&A
Fourth Floor | Texas ABC Ballroom
9:30 AM – 10:00 AM – Break
Fourth Floor | Texas Ballroom Foyer
10:00 AM – 10:20 AM – Wayne Peacock
Fourth Floor | Texas ABC Ballroom
10:30 AM – 11:30 AM – Table Talk – Round 1
Fourth Floor | Texas ABC Ballroom
11:30 AM – 12:45 PM – Lunch
Fourth Floor | Texas DEF Ballroom
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM – Breakout Sessions – block 1
Panelists subject to change
Breakout 1: The Great Debate
Session Lead: Julie Curtin, DCI
Topic 1: Desktop vs. Fieldwork: Which Research is More Valuable in Site Selection?
Debaters: Didi Caldwell and Mike Mullis
Topic 2: Does Location Matter Anymore for Office Projects?
Debaters: Scott Redabaugh and Phil Schneider
Fourth Floor | Republic B
Breakout 2: “A” for Effort: Extraordinary Steps Communities Have Taken to Win Projects
Guild members reflect on the most creative approaches that communities have taken to engaging with prspective investors. Site visits, RFI responses, incentive negotiations and overcoming unique challenges…what’s worked? A panel of consultants share approaches that have caught the attention of their clients
Session Lead: Michelle Comerford
Panelists: Robert Boehringer, Seth Martindale, Denise Mullis, Don Schjeldahl and Rajeev Thakur
Fourth Floor | Crockett B
Breakout 3: The Elevator Pitch: Consultants Offer Candid Feedback on EDO Presentations
Can you describe your community and it’s unique assets in 90 seconds? Here’s an opportunity to test your “elevator pitch” and receive candid feedback from a panel of Guild members. Economic developers will be randomly selected and then given their pitch opportunity. Or you can just observe how others make their pitch. The Guild members will provide immediate feedback on the pluses and minuses of each pitch as well as summary thoughts at the conclusion of the session.
Session Lead: Leslie Wagner
Panelists: Dennis Donovan, Courtney Dunbar, Jay Garner, Matt Highfield, Jerry Szatan and Matt Szuhaj
Fourth Floor | Crockett C
Breakout 4: Federal Incentives: Consultant Views on CHIPS, Infrastructure & Inflation Reduction Acts
State incentives get all the attention. But what about recent incentive programs from the Federal Government? Guild members will reveal how these programs are impacting company behavior and site selection.
Session Lead: Bob Hess
Panelists: Greg Burkart and Chris Lloyd
Fourth Floor | Crockett D
Breakout 5: The Solution Room
Back by popular demand, these sessions are designed to provide peer-supported advice on conference attendees most pressing problems. Each room will be divided into tables by topic (see listing below). Each table will consist of 2-3 Guild members and 5-7 economic developers. At the start of each session, economic developers will be asked to complete a 3×5 notecard briefly describing a challenge they are facing within their community.
Session Lead: Kim Williams Davis
Panelists: Angelos Angelou, Ron Crum, Jeannette Goldsmith, Taylor Gravois, Jason Hickey, Brad Lindquist, Larry Moretti, John Rocca, John Sisson, Matthijs Weeink and Sarah White
Fourth Floor | Seguin A
Breakout 6: The Solution Room
Same description as above
Session Lead: John Longshore
Panelists: Olaf Babinet, Tracey Hyatt Bosman, Will Hearn, Kim Moore, Sarah Raehl, Jim Renzas, Alexandra Segers, Andy Shapiro, Thomas Stringer, Chad Sweeney and Mark Williams
Fourth Floor | Seguin B
Breakout 7: FDI and America: Countries & Companies to Watch in 2023 and Beyond
A panel of the Guild’s international members share their insights on countries and companies they believe will be ramping up their investments in the next three years.
Session Lead: Dennis Meseroll
Panelists: René Buck, Andreas Dressler, Wolfgang Riedel and
Elias van Herwaarden
Fourth Floor | Republic A
Breakout 8: The Young & The Restless: An Open Forum With the Next Generation
A panel of young professional Guild members will kick-off the session with an open discussion of shared challenges in their work environments. Utilizing a “fishbowl format,” economic developers will be encouraged to take an open chair in the circle and join the discussion. All ages are welcome to attend and participate in this first-ever session for the Guild.
Session Lead: Tess Fay
Panelists: David Dera, Tara Nicholson, Monty Turner and Carter Wood
Fourth Floor | Crockett A
2:00 PM – 2:30 PM – Break
Fourth Floor | Texas Ballroom Foyer
2:45 PM – 3:45 PM – Breakout Sessions – block 2
Same topic and Guild members as previous sessions.
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM – Silver Sponsor Reception
(private reception for Silver sponsors & Guild members only!)
Fourth Floor | Texas D Ballroom
5:00 PM – 6:00 PM – Happy Hour
Fourth Floor | Texas Ballroom Foyer
6:00 PM – 8:30 PM – Gold Sponsor Dinners
(private dinners for Gold sponsor & Guild members only!)
Off-site
FRIDAY, MARCH 31, 2023
7:45 AM – 8:45 AM – Breakfast
Fourth Floor | Texas DEF Ballroom
8:45 AM – 9:45 AM – Table Talk – round 2
Fourth Floor | Texas ABC Ballroom
9:45 AM – 10:15 AM – Break
Fourth Floor | Texas Ballroom Foyer
10:15 AM – 11:15 AM – Tale of a Mega Project
Moderator: Darin Buelow
Panelists: Scott Gatzemeier, Ryan McMahon and Kevin Younis
Fourth Floor | Texas ABC Ballroom
11:15 AM – 11:30 AM – Conference Conclusion
Fourth Floor | Texas ABC Ballroom
General Registration
Click on the button below to be added to the waiting list for the 2023 Annual Conference.
Sponsorships
Click on the button below for information about sponsorship opportunities and benefits and to secure a sponsorship.
General Information
Location
The 2023 Annual Conference will be held at the Grand Hyatt San Antonio River Walk hotel in San Antonio, TX March 29-31, 2023.
Registration Fee
The 2023 registration fee is $2,300 (excluding hotel and/or travel accommodations) and is non-transferrable between other Guild events such as the Annual Conference and/or Fall Forum and can only be transferred to another attendee within the same organization.
Registration Deadlines
The last day for registration refunds is January 27, 2023.
The last day for registration name changes is February 24, 2023. The registration fee is non-transferable between events such as the Annual Conference and/or Fall Forum and can only be transferred to another attendee within the same organization.
Eligibility
To be eligible to attend the Annual Conference, you must be a practicing professional from a local, regional, state or national economic development organization in the U.S. or abroad. Each registration will be vetted for eligibility before attendance is confirmed. Once eligibility is confirmed, you will receive notification of your acceptance and provided information in regards to payment.U.S. or abroad. Each registration will be vetted for eligibility before attendance is confirmed. Once eligibility is confirmed, you will receive notification of your acceptance and provided information in regards to payment and the hotel link.
Upcoming Annual Conferences
Dates & Locations
Join our mailing list to be notified when registration is open for our next event.
Past Annual Conferences
Previous Dates & Locations
2022 | San Diego, CA | March 2-4
2021 | Orlando, FL | June 10-12
2020 | Atlanta, GA | March 9-11
2019 | Salt Lake City, UT | March 25-27
2018 | Cincinnati, OH | March 19-21
2017 | Tucson, AZ | March 13-15
Thank You 2023 Annual Conference Sponsors!
Testimonials
Explore All Events
The Site Selectors Guild hosts several events throughout the year. Explore all of our events and start planning the year ahead.
Latest News & Media
Site Selectors Guild Announces 2024 and 2025 Fall Forum Host Cities
- Author: Rachel Barvi
Site Selectors Guild Awards Ady Scholarship to Five Economic Developers
- Author: NickReshan