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Dear [[fname]],
 The jury may still be out on the six degrees of separation concept, but one thing's for sure, relationships play a critical part in our ability to realize success. Attending the IEDC 2016 Annual Conference will provide you with access to your peers across the profession - all in one place at the same time. Next month is when it all happens, and there's still time for you to be there. Take time to register. It's a short and simple process which offers long-term benefits you'll draw upon for years to come. Check out some of the highlights of this year's conference, from speakers to workshops to special events and outings. You won't want to miss Annual Conference 2016. Register now.
You'll cover content in the following areas:
1. Reinvesting in your physical, social and economic assets
2. The creative class and its contribution to innovation, arts and culture
3. Economic diversification as a cornerstone to reinvention and long-term stability
Content Area Spotlight
Key Connections in the Public, Private and Nonprofit Sectors
A community truly comes to life through the artists who call it home. Sessions in this track will highlight best practices and strategies from communities around the globe in making communities exciting locations to live, work and play.
Developing City-to-City Partnerships
Monday | 1:45 p.m. - 3:15 p.m.
Keynote Speaker Spotlight
 Angela Glover Blackwell
President and Chief Executive Officer
PolicyLink
Oakland, CA
Angela Glover Blackwell, President and Chief Executive Officer, started PolicyLink in 1999 and continues to drive its mission of advancing economic and social equity. Under Blackwell's leadership, PolicyLink has become a leading voice in the movement to use public policy to improve access and opportunity for all low-income people and communities of color, particularly in the areas of health, housing, transportation, education, and infrastructure.
Prior to founding PolicyLink, Blackwell served as Senior Vice President at the Rockefeller Foundation, where she oversaw the foundation's Domestic and Cultural divisions. A lawyer by training, she gained national recognition as founder of the Oakland (CA) Urban Strategies Council, where she pioneered new approaches to neighborhood revitalization. From 1977 to 1987, Blackwell was a partner at Public Advocates, a nationally known public interest law firm.
See her full bio.
Concurrent Session Spotlight
Reinvesting and Repurposing Space for Retail Uses
Tuesday, September 27 | 2:15 p.m. - 3:45 p.m.
Retail is a critical component of a community's overall economic health and an asset that can help drive corporate relocation. Yet many cities struggle to attract retail with their existing building stock. Historic buildings (iconic, even) on key commercial corridors and corners often do not fit the typical profile retailers seek. However, with a little imagination and hard work, retailers and restaurants can thrive in repurposed buildings. This session will bring together a panel of retailers, retail consultants and economic development officials to discuss how they attracted retailers to older and seemingly obsolete buildings in your community.
What you'll learn:
- Retailer site selection requirements and protocol
- Financing and incentives available to support retail investment and reuse
- Imaginative solutions for older buildings
Speakers:
 Emerick Corsi
Principal
Fairmount
Cleveland, OH
Emerick joined Fairmount after 38 years at Forest City Enterprises, where he started out in Commercial Leasing and advanced through a series of positions, increasing responsibility and leadership roles. He has been responsible for over 17 million square feet of shopping center development including Victoria Gardens (Rancho Cucamonga, California), Short Pump Town Center (Richmond, Virginia), and Tower City Center (Cleveland, Ohio). In addition, he has been involved with many of Forest City's New York properties as well as Central Station in downtown Chicago.
 Karl R. Dorshimer, EDFP
Director of Business Development
Lansing Economic Development Corporation
Lansing, MI
Karl Dorshimer - Currently Director of Business Development for the Lansing Economic Area Partnership (LEAP) has 20 years of experience in economic development at both the regional and local level. He has been directly involved in many economic projects from small micro-enterprise start-ups to major redevelopment projects including the GM Grand River and Lansing Delta assembly plants and the Accident Fund's new world headquarters.
 Catherine Timko
Principal/CEO
The Riddle Company
Washington, DC
Catherine has more than 25 years of experience in economic and real estate marketing. More than just promises of success, Catherine delivers demonstrated success in positioning communities and local economies to effectively compete. Her work is transformative, influencing the restructuring of community economies, consumer and market perception and resulting in significant new investment. She has developed a reputation for her analytical approach and ability to connect communities, capital and companies.
Educational Tour Spotlight
Early Bird Downtown Walking Tour
Friday, September 23 | 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Price: Free, but registration is required
Downtown Cleveland has seen a revitalization over the past five years with billions of investment that includes the conversion of vacant office towers to exquisite mixed use development projects that are 100% occupied; construction of a new convention center, beautiful parks, waterfront development while getting an opportunity to see Cleveland's food scene by visiting the locally-owned restaurants and cafés. The tour will explore these new and repurposed gems while providing the opportunity for attendees to get familiar with Downtown Cleveland prior to the start of the annual conference! Great start to add steps to your Fitbit!
Special Events Spotlight
Women's Mentoring Luncheon
Sunday, September 25 | 11:15 a.m. - 1:45 p.m.
Price: $30
In the spirit of leadership development, this women's mentoring luncheon is designed to help women in the economic development field understand best practices, current trends and receive support for their career development. This luncheon will seek to foster mentoring relationships between attendees, and the women will hear economic development leaders deliver thoughtful yet brief speeches on issues pertinent to women in economic development. We invite you to attend this luncheon in order to build relationships and support female professionals in the economic development industry.
Welcoming Remarks: Jennifer Syx, President, InSITE Advisory Group, Fairlawn, OH
Master of Ceremonies: Tracey A. Nichols, Director, Economic Development, City of Cleveland, Department of Economic Development, Cleveland, OH
Speakers:
 JoAnn Crary, CEcD, FM, HLM
President
Saginaw Future, Inc.
Saginaw, MI
JoAnn Crary is the President of Saginaw Future, a non-profit economic development organization. She has held that position since 1993 and has been in economic development since the mid 1980's. Crary completed her undergraduate degree from Ferris State University and has a Masters degree from Central Michigan University. She is a Certified Economic Developer (CEcD), a graduate of the University of Oklahoma's Economic Development Institute and is a certified Economic Development Finance Professional.
 Mel McGee
Founder and CEO
We Can Code It
Cleveland, OH
As the founder and CEO of We Can Code IT, a Crain's Cleveland 2014 Woman of Note, author, software engineer with nearly 20 years of professional experience, and educator, I am humbled to have the opportunity to give back to the community and shepherd new, diverse, programmers into tech careers.
 Teresa Metcalf Beasley
Partner
Calfee, Halter & Griswold LLP
Cleveland, OH
Teresa's practice focuses on public finance, real estate development and financing, new markets tax credits, economic development incentives and tax increment financing. She also counsels clients regarding government relations and legislation and public private partnerships.
Teresa is experienced in bond transactions and has served as bond, underwriter's, borrower's as well as placement agent counsel, joint economic development zones and joint economic development districts, project labor agreements and diversity plans. She has represented private entities and local and county governmental agencies, including municipalities, port authorities, healthcare entities and library systems on business, real estate matters, construction and government relations.
Great Cleveland Beer Challenge
Sunday, September 25 | 5:15 p.m.
Price: $95 to enter plus the cost of two pony kegs of selected beer
Show off the best of your community with the Great Cleveland Beer Challenge. Enter the best beer produced in your community and a panel of judges will do a blind taste test to determine three winners. Deadline to enter is August 16th.
Learning Labs Spotlight
Mega Marketing: Kicking Your Advertising Strategy into High Gear
Monday, September 26 | 7:30 a.m. - 8:30 a.m.
Marketing in today's world means relying less on traditional advertising strategies and more on engaging an audience through a variety of channels. In this session, economic development marketing experts will present the latest and greatest in marketing strategies and in new tools and technologies. Attend this session to be the first to hear how you can move your EDO's marketing to the next level.
What you'll learn:
- Integrating your messaging throughout a variety of platforms
- Creating a message that draws in your audience
- How video marketing campaigns will change the way you are seen
Speakers:
Michael Mogill, President, CRISP Video Group, Atlanta, GA
 Peter Tokar, III, MBA
Economic Development Director
City of Alpharetta
Alpharetta, GA
Peter Tokar III is the Economic Development Director for the City of Alpharetta, one of Georgia's prominent cities in North Fulton County. He began his work in Economic Development in 2006 after completing his Master's degree. His natural leadership, aptitude and work ethic has catapulted him into leadership positions within the industry at an early age, being recruited to his first Director level position in economic development for Broward County Florida, where he managed projects for a county of 31 municipalities and over 2 million people.
 Your e-Brochure is ready to be downloaded.
Register today, and book your hotel room as well.
Click on the e-brochure cover to see the full program, speakers, and accommodations information.
Register now.
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