2021 Fall Forum

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Join Us for the 2021 Fall Forum

The 2021 Fall Forum will be an in-person event on November 8 – 10. The event provides unique opportunities for economic developers and Guild members to network and connect.

Originally scheduled to be held in New Orleans, the Fall Forum is being relocated in the wake of Hurricane Ida. We ask you continue to keep the state of Louisiana in your thoughts as they recover, and we will announce the new location soon.

The Site Selectors Guild will implement and adhere to all governmental mandates during the entirety of the event.

Event details

Date & Time

November 8-10, 2021

Location

Dallas, TX

Venue

Hyatt Regency - Downtown Dallas

Event Details
Sponsorship and Marketing Materials

Event Details

What to Expect

Monday, November 8
7:00 PM – 10:00 PM – Welcome Reception – Theme: Mardi Gras – wear your green, gold or purple (or all three). The theme was continued as a tribute to our friends and colleagues in Louisiana as they continue to recover from Hurricane Ida.

Tuesday, November 9
7:00 AM – 5:00 PM – Registration
7:00 AM – 8:30 AM – Breakfast
8:45 AM – 9:00 AM – Welcome
9:00 AM – 10:30 AM – The Great Debate

Moderator: Julie Curtin
- Topic 1: Marketing or Product Improvement: What’s the Best Use of a Community’s Limited Economic Development Resources?
  - Debaters: Michelle Comerford (Marketing) and Jeannette Goldsmith (Product)
- Topic 2: Communities With Development Ready Sites Have a Dramatic Advantage in Winning Deals
  - Debaters: Mike Mullis (con) and Matt Szuhaj (pro)

10:30 AM – 11:00 AM – Break
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM – Table Talk – round 1
12:00 PM – 1:30 PM – Lunch
1:30 PM – 2:30 PM – Breakout Sessions – set 1

Breakout 1 – What a Consultant Expect From an EDO (And What an EDO Can Expect From a Consultants
- Panelists: Jeannette Goldsmith, Will Hearn, Denise Mott, Phil Schneider and John Sisson
Breakout 2: Lean In: Site Selection Style
- Panelists: Michelle Comerford, Alexandra Segers, Leslie Wagner and Sarah White
Breakout 3: Making the Short List in a Virtual World: A Dozen Tips for Showing Off your Community Online
- Panelists: Ron Crum, Chris Lloyd, John Longshore and Monty Turner
Breakout 4: An Inside Look at Consumer-Facing Companies and Site Selection
- Panelists: Taylor Gravois, Seth Martindale, John Rocca and Gregg Wassmansdorf

2:30 PM – 3:00 PM – Break
3:00 PM – 4:00 PM – Breakout Sessions – set 2 (repeat – same panelists as previous session)
4:30 PM – 6:00 PM – Happy Hour
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM – Consultant Dinners (private dinners for Consultant Dinner sponsors and Guild members only!)

Wednesday, November 10
7:30 AM – 8:15 AM – Breakfast
8:15 AM – 9:15 AM – Ask the Consultants Anything Panel

Moderator: Charlie Jewell
Panelists: Jay Garner, Chris Lloyd, Seth Martindale and Kim Moore

9:15 AM – 9:45 AM – Break
9:45 AM – 11:30 AM – Closing & Table Talk – round 2

Attendees should plan for business casual attire, unless otherwise stated.

Sponsorship and Marketing Materials

Increase Your Visibility

Fall Forum sponsorship presents a unique opportunity for organizations seeking more visibility with attendees. Marketing materials are limited only to sponsors (excluding business cards), and sponsors receive special recognition on our site.