Site Selectors Guild Spring Conference

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Join us in Atlanta for the 2026 Guild Spring Conference!

Mark your calendar and prepare for an unparalleled experience at the 2026 Guild Spring Conference with 50 top site selection consultants and members of the Site Selectors Guild taking place March 23-25, 2026 in the vibrant heart of Atlanta, Georgia! With a ratio of eight EDO attendees to one Guild member, this is your exclusive opportunity to connect directly with the world’s top location strategy experts and economic developers from across the US and abroad who are all shaping the future of site selection and global investment. The 2026 Guild Spring Conference will bring together the brightest minds in the industry for dynamic panel discussions, interactive roundtables, and high-impact networking sessions—all designed to spark new ideas, foster meaningful connections, and drive real results. Whether you are looking to showcase your community, understand the latest trends, or build relationships that matter, there is no better place to do it than at the Guild Spring Conference.

See below for more information on general registration, sponsorship opportunities, agenda, and other information.

REGISTRATION OPENS November 24^th for Guild Partners, and December 3^rd for all.

Register and pay by January 9^th for a chance to participate in The Dialogue Series, a fast-paced, focused networking block that allows attendees to meet directly with multiple Guild members in a single hour. There are a limited number of slots available.

For even more direct networking opportunities with the Site Selectors Guild members, consider a sponsorship with many enhanced benefits – Download more info here.

The VIP Guild Partner only Event will be held at the Woodruff Arts Center on March 23, 2026 from 2:30-4:30 PM. Register here to attend this event if you are an active Guild Partner.

Hope to see you in Atlanta!

Thank you to the Presenting Sponsor Metro Atlanta Partners!

View the Spring Conference Sponsor Deck

Event details

Date & Time

March 23-25 2026

Location

Atlanta, GA

Venue

Grand Hyatt Atlanta in Buckhead
3300 Peachtree Road NE
Atlanta, GA 30305

AGENDA
SPONSORSHIPS
REGISTRATION
HOTEL REGISTRATION
UPCOMING SPRING CONFERENCES
PAST ANNUAL CONFERENCES

AGENDA

The Spring Conference is held at the Grand Hyatt Atlanta in Buckhead Hotel

Monday, March 23, 2026

11:00 AM – 2:00 PM | Presenting Sponsor event
(Private event for Presenting Sponsor & Guild Members)

1:00 PM – 5:00 PM | Conference Badge Pick-Up

2:30 PM – 4:30 PM | Guild Partner Event
(Private event for Guild Partners & Guild Members)

7:00 PM – 9:00 PM | Welcome Reception Grand Ballroom at the Grand Hyatt Atlanta in Buckhead Hotel

Tuesday, March 24, 2026

7:15 AM | Conference Badge Pick-Up

7:30 AM – 8:30 AM | Breakfast

8:35 AM – 9:00 AM | Conference Welcome

9:00 AM – 10:00 AM | General Session

Blue Skies or Black Swan? Events That Could Transform Economic Development in 2026 Moderator: Seth Martindale with Panelists: Jason Hickey, Courtney Dunbar, Christopher Lloyd and Philip Schneider

10:00 AM – 10:30 AM | Networking Break

10:30 AM – 11:30 AM | Breakout Sessions & Dialogue Series (Block A)

The FDI Playbook: What’s Driving Global Investment Featuring Andrew Ratchford, Mario Schade, Alexandra Segers, and Monty Turner
A Pulse Check on the State of Site Selection Featuring Jay Garner, Jeannette Goldsmith, Jerry Szatan, and Gregg Wassmansdorf
Delivering White Glove Experiences: Site Visits & Client Interactions Featuring Matt Highfield, John Longshore, Denise Mullis, and Gary Yates
Industry Deep Dives “By the Fire”: Aerospace & Defense with Mike Mullis, John Rocca, and Gray Swoope
Dialogue Series (By Appointment)

11:30 AM – 1:00 PM | Lunch & Meet the Guild

1:00 PM – 1:30 PM | Recess

1:30 PM – 2:30 PM | Breakout Sessions & Dialogue Series (Block B)

Can NIMBYs Kill Your Project? Featuring Ron Crum, Ford Graham, Andrew Shapiro, and Sarah White
The Current State of Office: Return, Reinvention, and Realities Featuring Dennis Donovan, Sarah Raehl, Scott Redabaugh, and Rajeev Thakur
Industry Deep Dives “By the Fire”: Life Sciences with René Buck, Michelle Comerford, and Matt Szuhaj
Inside the Board Room: The Real Dynamics of Corporate Decision‑Making Featuring Darin Buelow, Tess Fay, Bob Hess, and Larry Moretti
Dialogue Series (By Appointment)

2:30 PM – 3:00 PM | Networking Break

3:00 PM – 4:00 PM | Breakout Sessions & Dialogue Series (Block A)

4:30 PM – 5:30 PM | Silver Sponsor Reception
(Private reception for Silver Sponsors & Guild Members)

6:00 PM – 8:00 PM | Gold Sponsor Dinners
(Private dinners for Gold Sponsors & Guild Members)

7:30 PM – 9:30 PM | After Hours Highland Ballroom at the Grand Hyatt Atlanta in Buckhead Hotel

Wednesday, March 25, 2026

7:30 AM – 8:00 AM | Breakfast

8:00 AM – 8:15 AM | Welcome & REDI Sites Announcements

8:15 AM – 9:05 AM | Table Talk

9:15 AM – 10:15 AM | Breakout Sessions & Dialogue Series (Block B)

10:15 AM – 10:45 AM | Networking Break

10:45 AM – 11:45 AM | General Session

From Flatline to Finishline: Projects that almost Died Moderator: Larry Gigerich with Panelists: Brad Lindquist, Didi Caldwell and Mark Williams

11:45 AM – 12:00 PM | Conference Conclusion

*times subject to change

SPONSORSHIPS

Become a Spring Conference Sponsor today!

Connect with 50 top site selectors and 400+ economic development leaders in an intimate, high-impact setting. The Guild Spring Conference sponsorship provides premium visibility, exclusive networking opportunities, and direct access to the industry’s most influential voices. Download the 2026 Guild Spring Conference Sponsorship Deck here.

Each sponsorship will be vetted for eligibility. If your organization is found ineligible for sponsorship, you will be notified.

Sponsor Registration

REGISTRATION

Registration Fee

The 2026 registration fee is $2,500. The registration fee is per attendee and is non-transferrable between other Guild events such as the Fall Forum or a future Spring Conference and may only be transferred to another attendee within the same organization.

Eligibility

To be eligible to attend the Guild Spring Conference, you must be a practicing professional from a local, regional, state or national economic development organization in the U.S. or abroad.

Scholarship Application

The Robert M. Ady Professional Development Scholarship awards five deserving economic developers with complimentary registration to an upcoming Guild Annual Conference, a premier event that brings together leading site selection consultants and economic developers for networking and professional development. Application Link

Deadlines

The last day to request registration refunds is February 7th, 2026. The last day for registration transfers (to another attendee from the same organization for the 2026 Guild Spring Conference) is February 21, 2026. Registrations are non-transferable between other Guild events, such as the Annual Conference and/or Fall Forum.