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
April 3-5, 2024
Location
Nashville, TN
Venue
Grand Hyatt Nashville
General Registration
Complete the form below to register for the 2024 Annual Conference.
Registration Fee
The 2024 registration fee is $2,450 per attendee 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.
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.
Deadlines
The last day for registration refunds is February 23, 2024. The last day for registration transfers is March 15, 2024. Transfers can only be made to another attendee within the same organization and are non-transferrable between Guild events such as the Annual Conference and/or Fall Forum.
Sponsorships
Sponsorships for the 2024 Annual Conference are now open! Click on the button below to review benefits and sign up!
Agenda
All events are located at the Grand Hyatt Nashville hotel unless otherwise noted. Event locations, times and participation assignments are subject to change.
WEDNESDAY, April 3, 2024
11:00 AM – 5:00 PM | Conference Badge Pick-Up
Location TBA
11:00 AM – 1:00 PM | Presenting Sponsor event
(Private event for Presenting Sponsor & Guild Members)
Off-site
2:00 PM – 4:00 PM | Guild Partner Event
(Private reception for Guild Partners and Guild Members)
Ole Red (Off-site)
5:00 PM – 7:00 PM | Gold Sponsor Dinners
(Private dinners for Gold Sponsors and Guild Members)
Off-site
7:00 PM – 9:30 PM | Welcome Reception
Ole Red (Off-site)
THURSDAY, April 4, 2024
7:00 AM – 8:00 AM | Breakfast
Grand Hall DE
8:05 AM – 9:00 AM | Welcome & Meet the Guild Members
Grand Hall DE
9:00 AM – 10:00 AM | Table Talk
Grand Hall DE
10:00 AM – 10:30 AM | Break
Grand Hall Foyer
10:30 AM – 11:30M | Breakout Sessions – block 1
- Navigating the Energy Landscape in 2024
Panelists: Tracey Hyatt Bosman, Didi Caldwell, Will Hearn and Phil Schneider (Session Lead)
Interchange - The Power of Second: Turning a “Near-Win” Into a Competitive Advantage
Panelists: Alex Ash, Jeannette Goldsmith, Chad Sweeney and Gregg Wassmansdorf (Session Lead)
Crescent - Investment Insomnia: FDI Issues Keeping Global Executives Up at Night
Panelists: Andreas Dressler, Spencer Schobert, Matthijs Weeink and Dennis Meseroll (Session Lead)
Diplomat C - Pitch Perfect: Real-Time Feedback on EDO Collateral
Panelists: Johan Beukema, Monty Turner, Leslie Wagner and Kim Moore (Session Lead)
Brickyard B - The Great Debate
Debaters: Courtney Dunbar, Ford Graham, Seth Martindale and Gray Swoope
Grand Hall C - Navigating Scarcity: How EDOs Can Approach Talent, Site and Energy Shortages
Panelists: David Dera, Dennis Donovan, Don Schjeldahl and Sarah White (Session Lead)
Diplomat A - Lightning Round: The Six Top Topics in 60 Minutes
Panelists: Natalie Lynch, John Rocca, Thomas Stringer, Matt Szuhaj, Mike Mullis (Session Lead) and Patsy Van Hove
Grand Hall B
- Leading Forward: Recommended Traits for Next Gen ED Leadership
Panelists: Sydney August, Elias van Herwaarden, Bob Hess (Session Lead) and Andrew Ratchford
Brickyard A
11:30 AM – 12:45 PM | Lunch, Ady Scholarship & ED Award Presentations and Meet the Guild Members
Grand Hall DE
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM | Breakout Sessions – block 2
Same Guild Members & locations as previous block
2:15 PM – 3:15 PM | Case Study Panel
Grand Hall DE
3:15 PM – 3:45 PM | Break
Grand Hall Foyer
3:45 PM – 4:45 PM | Table Talk
Grand Hall DE
5:00 PM – 6:00 PM | Silver Sponsor Reception
(Private reception for Silver Sponsors & Guild Members)
Grand Hall A
6:00 PM – 7:30 PM | Happy Hour
Grand Hall Foyer
FRIDAY, April 5, 2024
7:45 AM – 8:45 AM | Breakfast
Grand Hall DE
8:45 AM – 9:45 AM | Ask Anything Breakout Rooms
- Region 1: NY, OH, MI, PA, CT, DE, MD, NJ
Guild Members: Sydney August, Dennis Donovan, Jeannette Goldsmith, Dennis Meseroll, Scott Redabaugh (Session Lead), Spencer Schubert, Matt Szuhaj and Sarah White
Diplomat A - Region 2: CA, CO, ID, MT, OR, UT, WA, WY, AZ, NM
Guild Members: Johan Beukema, Andreas Dressler, Ford Graham, Kim Moore, Jim Renzas (Session Lead), Alexandra Segers, Monty Turner and Mark Williams
Diplomat C - Region 3: KY, NC, SC, VA, WV
Guild Members: Robert Boehringer (Session Lead), Courtney Dunbar, Chris Loyd, Larry Moretti, John Rocca, Thomas Stringer, Patsy Van Hove and Gary Yates
Brickyard B - Region 4: AL, FL, GA, MS, TN
Guild Members: Michelle Comerford, Tess Fay, John Longshore, Denise Mullis, Chad Sweeney, Leslie Wagner and Wolfgang Riedel (Session Lead)
Brickyard A - Region 5: IA, IL, IN, KS, MN, MO, ND, NE, SD, WI
Guild Members: Kim Williams Davis, Jay Garner, Natalie Lynch, Sarah Raehl, Matt Ryder (Session Lead), Gray Swoope and Gregg Wassmansdorf
Grand Hall B - Region 6: TX, OK, LA, AR
Guild Members: Jan Desmaretz (Session Lead), Larry Gigerich, Seth Martindale, Andrew Ratchford, Don Schjeldahl, Jerry Szatan and Matthijs Weeink
Grand Hall C - International
Guild Members: Alex Ash, Rene Buck, David Dera, Elias van Herwaarden, Bob Hess, Jason Hickey (Session Lead) and Carter Wood
Crescent - Utility
Guild Members: Tracey Hyatt Bosman, Didi Caldwell, Taylor Gravois (Session Lead), Will Hearn, Mike Mullis, Phil Schneider and Rajeev Thakur
Interchange
9:45 AM – 10:15 AM | Break
Grand Hall Foyer
10:15 AM – 11:15 AM | State of Site Selection Panel
Grand Hall DE
11:15 AM – 11:30 AM | Conference Conclusion
Grand Hall DE
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
2023 | San Antonio, TX | March 29-31
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 2024 Annual Conference Sponsors!
Participating Guild Members
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 Seeks Program Director for New Site Readiness Initiative
- Author: Carrie Kelly
The Potential and Limitations of AI in Site Selection
- Author: Rachel Barvi