Exhibitors
Accrisoft Corporation provides a finely tuned blend of technology and services that empower your economic development organization to accomplish your goals and better serve investors. Accrisoft Freedom™ is a comprehensive software solution that spans across your organization's operations, finance, marketing, and sales departments, allowing your entire team to work together harmoniously on a single platform. (Booths 410, 412)
ACT Work Ready Communities helps locations integrate and align resources and leadership for a competitive workforce that meets employer needs and generates regional prosperity. (Booth 518)
Avalanche Consulting is the nation’s premier economic and workforce development strategist. Since 2005, we have served more than 150 communities, including high performing regions such as Atlanta, Charleston, Charlotte, Chattanooga, Cincinnati, Columbus, Houston, Jacksonville, and Miami, to name a few. Our mission and passion are to make communities more vibrant, prosperous places. We are driven to make a positive impact on the world and seek clients who are equally energized to improve their economies. (Booth 134)
The Bureau of Economic Analysis is the world's trusted, impartial source of comprehensive data about the U.S. economy. BEA's economic statistics, free and accessible to all, inform decision making by businesses, entrepreneurs, consumers and governments. (Booth 212)
Business Facilities is the leading full-service media brand specializing in the site selection marketplace. In print, online, and face-to-face, Business Facilities has created a dynamic community that connects corporate site selectors with economic development organizations from across North America and around the world.
Business Facilities magazine is read by 40,000 C-level executives, corporate real estate executives and other site selection decision-makers. Published six times a year, each issue profiles state, regional and international locations. In addition, the full range of the site selection experience is covered, from "how-to" information on comparing the financial incentives offered by different communities around the world, to profiles of the latest relocations undertaken by major corporations.
BusinessFacilities.com is the share of market leader among all site selection websites, providing up-to-the-minute site selection news and industry-specific features. Resources for site selectors include a 50-state Incentives Guide, the Online Site Seekers' Guide directory, Location Spotlights and more.
Business Facilities LiveXchange is an invitation-only matchmaking event that connects corporate executives and site consultants that have active projects with economic development organizations from across North America. Representatives from Fortune 500 and mid-sized growth companies, plus leading site consultants meet with EDOs to discuss their relocation or expansion projects in prescheduled and confidential one-on-one meetings. (Booths 209, 211)
For 23 years, Business Xpansion Journal magazine has delivered insightful, educational and other useful information to assist companies and their legal representatives with the expansion and relocation process. This process is complicated with so many variables, tangibles and intangibles. BXJ offers comprehensive tools to help understand incentives, workforce development, real estate, education, job training, transportation and much more. Each issue of the print and digital magazine, newsletter and complementing social media tackles geography state by state, industry by industry, along with the myriad of tax, legal and intellectual property issues that follow these decisions. Its editors get to the heart of economic development coverage and understand the categories of information and insight executives need in making informed relocation decisions. For more information please go to www.bxjmag.com. Business Xpansion Journal is published by Latitude3 Media Group headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama. (Booth 533)
Nationally recognized economic development consulting firm Camoin Associates, Inc. and lead generation firm 310 Ltd. will be merging operations to provide complementary and expansive services to support the growth strategies of their clients. The merger creates a strategic network benefiting clients from both firms. Camoin clients will gain access to first-hand, real-time industry intelligence directly from business leaders. 310 Ltd.’s clients will benefit from greater industry-intelligence about their prospects. Additionally, the companies will offer comprehensive business retention and expansion (BRE) services from program design to implementation support, to call coaching, and direct business outreach. We invite you to stop by our table at the conference to learn more. (Booths 414, 416)
Are companies in your area struggling to find and retain talent? We have the systems and products to help employees and employers find each other. CEO Chris Czarnik is the international expert on job search, talent acquisition, engagement, retention and outplacement. Our books, trainings, customized workshops and digital products will help companies in YOUR area compete and win during the talent shortage (which continues for the next eight years).
Whether in groups or individually, Chris utilizes a company’s strengths and competitive advantages to create easy, simple and low/no cost solutions that don’t involve raising wages or benefits.
Need more credibility? Chris is an SME for Pearson Publishing, Vistage and an international expert for Roofing, Building and Manufacturing Associations. His products are used at universities, colleges and even Congress! His recent book, Winning the War for Talent will be re-published in late 2019 with a second edition coming out in 2020! (Booths 527)
Carmel is a fast-growing, economically-thriving city located just north of Indianapolis. Consistently honored as one of the Best Places to Live in America by CNN Money Magazine (No. 1 in 2012) and other surveys, Carmel is home to more than 120 corporate headquarters and 95,170 residents. During the past two decades, this traditional suburban community has been transformed under the leadership of Mayor Jim Brainard. His strategy to pursue redevelopment of the City’s central core, rather than allow continued suburban sprawl, has led to the making of a vibrant city that is sustainable, walkable and bike-friendly with nearly 200 miles of trails and bike-lanes. Carmel is also home to the Center for the Performing Arts and Palladium, the premier concert hall in the Midwest. With our 122 roundabouts, more than any city in America, Carmel is on track to eliminate every traffic signal (except one) within the next few years, which has decreased accidents with injury by 80 percent. (Booth 318)
Chmura Economics & Analytics is an applied economic consulting firm specializing in delivering advanced economic analysis. Our core competencies include economic consulting, economic development, workforce development, economic impact studies, custom publications, and data and software solutions. Chmura has the experience and expertise to transform data into information that drives effective strategy and business solutions. Our premier technology platforms - JobsEQ®, and LaborEQ® - are in widespread use across the United States. Headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, Chmura was founded in 1999 and operates regional offices in Cleveland, Ohio and Spokane, Washington. (Booths 409, 411)
CIDEP is recognized as a leader in FDI prospection solutions. We provide best in class FDI attraction services with a boutique consulting approach, answering the very specific requirements of our clients. Our team is composed of economic development professionals possessing between 5 and 10 years of experience in delivering FDI services, they all have a strong motivation of ‘’going the extra mile’’ for our clients. For more than a decade, CIDEP has been serving North American & European Economic Development Organizations, at the Country, State, and Municipal levels, through long and short term FDI attraction programs. (Booth 130)
Coastal Cloud, a Salesforce.com Platinum Level Partner, is a disruptive IT consulting company that delivers innovative business solutions built upon leading edge cloud computing technologies. Our team of experienced business technology consultants are 100% Salesforce Certified and 100% On-Shore. We have enjoyed significant market success from our headquarters in Palm Coast, Florida and are embarking on our next US expansion with new solution centers serving the country from Louisville, Kentucky and Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Our focus on nimble, innovative, citizen-focused technology solutions for state & local government organizations could help you accelerate your Economic Development success immediately. Please contact our team to learn more about our Economic Development Customer Relationship Management Quickstart Platform today. See us at www.coastalcloud.us. (Booth 213)
The Community Economics Laboratory (CELab) applies principles of design thinking to invent new approaches for economic and workforce development by seeking solutions to complex structural problems that will have the biggest impact over the long term. Our areas of focus include economic and workforce development, poverty reduction, entrepreneurial ecosystems and a better system for planning and management of economies. Our team represents decades of experience in economic development, strategic planning, entrepreneurship, poverty reduction and other related pursuits. We maintain that the creation of new enterprise is contingent on an ecosystem focused on the bottom line of growing the economy faster than the population, bringing all aspects of the economy under a design/management framework. (Booths 314, 316)
Convergent Nonprofit Solutions is a national fundraising consulting firm that specializes in managing feasibility studies and capital campaigns for chambers, economic development organizations, community colleges, and other nonprofits. Capital campaigns can play a key role in community development efforts, including those related to both business and talent retention and attraction. Thanks to our extensive background in chamber, economic development, and workforce development fundraising throughout the country, we are able to provide your organization with valuable insights and customized solutions as to how a capital campaign can help you reach your goals. (Booth 332)
Conway is the world's only full-service agency in the global corporate investment and FDI industries. Conway has published the award-winning Site Selection magazine since 1954, and through offices all over the world we maintain an industry-best network of corporate expansion planners. Our suite of services includes:
LEAD GENERATION – connecting clients with decision-makers responsible for hundreds of billions in new investment projects each year
EVENTS – Conway has managed events across the globe, including the annual World Forum for Foreign Direct Management
FDI TRAINING SEMINARS – Site Consultants and corporate leaders teach economic developers the best strategies for connecting with their target audience
CONWAY ANALYTICS – a web portal and monthly reports featuring global project announcements and exclusive Lead Signals
PR & MARKETING – from brand development to media placement, we deliver your message to the world
CUSTOM CONTENT – Creating editorial excellence for more than 200 global clients
IAMC – Conway has managed the Industrial Asset Management Council since its inception.
(Booths 126, 128, 225, 227)
Pro Dart from Cyrtene is the comprehensive software platform for managing your Economic Development Organizations. Pro Dart is built on the world’s leading cloud platform, Salesforce.com by Cyrtene (a certified Salesforce partner)". With Pro Dart you will empower your organization to become stronger, more co-operative and smarter like never before.
Pro Dart helps economic development organizations manage programs, members, contacts, BRE Surveys events coordination, and much more. With the most intuitive user interface design, you will automate business processes, and seamlessly connect and share data for advanced analytics and insights using Einstein Analytics.
Visit us at Booth #434 to discuss how we can arrange a free consultation. (Booth 434)
DCI is "The Leader in Marketing Places." Since 1960, we have worked with more than 450 cities, regions, states, provinces and countries, helping them to attract investors, visitors, and talent. We specialize exclusively in all phases of economic development and tourism marketing including websites, branding, public relations, social/digital media, talent attraction, research, prospect development, travel trade, and special events. Current clients include a range of states (Texas, Michigan, New Hampshire, Vermont, South Dakota, and New Jersey), cities/regions (Charleston, Chattanooga, Cincinnati, Columbus, Houston, Research Triangle Region, and Birmingham) and countries (Netherlands, Thailand, Costa Rica and Japan), to name a few. DCI is headquartered in New York City, with offices in Denver, Los Angeles and Toronto. (Booths 526, 528)
Recruiting the next workforce, filling the skills gap, Industry 4.0 and emerging technologies, instilling soft skills… Whether it’s in a boardroom, classroom, parking lot, or on the shop floor, everyone is talking about the challenges surrounding workforce development. Edge Factor empowers communities with cinematic, story-driven tools and a customizable platform to tackle workforce development, inspire students, reach parents, and build relationships between local schools, families, and businesses. Community leaders like Economic Development Associations and Chambers of Commerce partner with Edge Factor on strategic workforce development initiatives to equip local students, parents, educators, industry leaders, and job-seekers with tools to discover and promote the amazing career and training opportunities offered in their community. (Booths 529)
EDsuite specializes in marketing cities for economic development. We are driven by a passion to help economic developers clarify their message and tell the unique stories of their communities to the right audience. For over 13 years, our experienced team of storytellers and problem solvers have partnered with cities to shape their message and digital presence in a way that connects with people and attracts investors. We bring a broad range of experience and services to the table including strategic marketing, branding and identity, websites, ED specific web tools including available property search solutions, digital marketing, videography, photography, graphic design, and PR. (Booth 217)
Emsi is a one-stop shop for labor market data, helping economic development organizations fuel community success with data-driven decisions. With detailed data and expert analysts, Emsi is a must-have for economic developers. We are trusted by 300+ organizations in the U.S., powering 60% of state EDOs and ranked as the #1 information resource by C2ER. Our data, software, and consulting services help economic development professionals understand and communicate their communities’ workforce strengths, quickly respond to business inquiries, benchmark their regions against their peers, and boost their business retention and expansion efforts. (Booth 418)
Expansion Solutions (ES) is a leading media outlet for world-class content, key industry-related trends and breaking economic development news. As a full-service agency with a complete suite of tools available for branding, marketing, public relations, and business recruitment assistance, ES provides a full spectrum of services and assists in facilitating connections between government agencies seeking to attract investment and corporate decision makers.
Published bi-monthly, ES provides an essential forum for economic developers to reach high-value prospects with targeted campaigns through print, web and comprehensive digital media campaigns. Offering custom content, ES delivers your message to a wide audience of site selection and industry professionals, corporate and commercial real estate brokers and C-level executives.
The highly successful and unique LeadGen program has generated proven results for clients, accelerating and optimizing ongoing business recruitment efforts and driving investment to their locations. This value-added service provides incomparable ground intelligence regarding expansion and/or relocation plans of companies across a wide variety of industries.
For more information, please visit our website at ExpansionSolutionsMagazine.com. (Booth 516)
fDi Intelligence is a specialist service from the Financial Times established to provide industry leading insight into globalization with a portfolio of world-class products, services and business tools that allow organizations such as economic development organizations, companies, services providers and academic institutions to make informed decisions regarding FDI and associated activities. The partnership of fDi Intelligence and GIS Planning makes us the world’s leading online economic development service, with the most powerful and comprehensive portfolio of online products and services to help you to drive investment into your location. To find out how these services could be of benefit, contact us at econdev@ft.com. (Booth 309)
FLOR Group is a full-service business attraction firm with expertise in providing effective services to the worldwide economic development community. Established in 2000, the company has worked with countless businesses, states, regions, counties, and cities to help them build and grow. We are your business expansion and relocation experts. We know businesses - who is relocating and who is expanding. We help position you as the ideal location for your target industries and connect you with businesses within those target industries interested in relocating or expanding to your area. Services include: Branding, Target Industry Studies, Digital Marketing, Foreign Direct Investment & Lead Generation. (Booth 232)
Geographic Solutions is the leading provider of integrated software for state and local workforce agencies in over 30 states and U.S. territories. The company’s online solutions effectively manage all federally-funded partner programs under WIOA, labor exchange, job aggregation, labor market information, service and fund tracking, and unemployment insurance benefits. (Booth 334)
The inventor of online GIS data tools for economic development organizations, GIS Planning’s technology is recognized as the industry standard, currently serving 6 out of 10 Americans (including 28 statewide economic development organizations), Canada, Switzerland, several counties in the UK, Murcia (Spain), Bordeaux (France), Dusseldorf (Germany), Gothenburg (Sweden), Kyiv (Ukraine) and more. Economic developers choose ZoomProspector Enterprise (GIS site selection software) and our six stand-alone Intelligence Components for the outstanding range and depth of current data, analytical tools, ease of use, mobile optimization, and seamless integration with organizational websites. Our clients enjoy exposure on the free U.S. national site selection portal, ZoomProspector.com, as well as exceptional client services and marketing support. A service from the Financial Times, GIS Planning provides best-in-class corporate site selection technology and on-going innovation. (Booth 311)
GIS WebTech provides the most advanced technology solutions available for for economic development and site selection. The company’s technology helps economic development organizations attract, retain, and expand businesses within their communities and helps corporate site selectors identify and analyze ideal locations. GIS WebTech is the fastest-growing provider in the market, and serves economic development organizations of all sizes, from small, rural communities to large states. GIS WebTech’s solutions are built natively on the Esri ArcGIS platform, the world’s most powerful mapping software, and include the most accurate demographic and workforce data available. For more information, please see www.giswebtech.com. (Booth 530)
Golden Shovel Agency brings creative energy to the work of economic development. Everything we do connects businesses and talent with communities they’ll thrive in. We've empowered economic developers in more than 150 communities across North America to shape and tell their stories in order to strengthen the vitality of their regional economies. Our core services include branding, marketing, web development, and virtual reality. More than that, we are a true partner to our clients. (Booth 512)
GrowthWheel is a visual toolbox and online platform used by business advisors, incubators, and entrepreneurship educators to help businesses make decisions and take action. It helps startup and growth companies build their businesses through a simple action oriented process - one that stays true to the way most entrepreneurs think and work. For the business advisor, the absolute flexibility of the toolbox means that it can be fully adapted to existing advisory tools and client needs, and it can even be used by clients themselves, thereby saving time for the advisor. (Booth 127)
Harvard Kennedy School Executive Education is an invaluable educational opportunity for senior leaders from every sector of society who seek to optimize their effectiveness, accelerate their impact, and connect with other visionary leaders to build an international network of peers. Our programs bring together practitioners, a renowned faculty, and a dynamic curriculum to develop innovative, workable solutions. Over 35 programs - most one week or less - address critical subjects from economic development and decision making to policy design and collaborative governance. All Executive Education programs are led by full-time Harvard faculty members who design programs that engage and challenge participants in every aspect of public leadership. Our participants leave Harvard with much more than knowledge. They gain new insights, a new and vibrant network of connections, and a renewed sense of purpose that strengthens their ability to serve the public interest. Three HKS Executive Education programs are recognized by the IEDC as a professional development event that counts towards the recertification of Certified Economic Developers (CEcDs). (Booth 531)
HMC is a global marketing services company with over 25 years’ experience and offices in London, Brussels, Boston, Shanghai and Manila. We have worked with a range of organisations to design and execute effective B2B marketing programs. Working with our talented inside sales teams, clients leverage our sales experience and sector knowledge to win new business.
We work with some of the largest US economic development agencies to deliver FDI and trade programmes across the world. We focus on outputs, not inputs, and work with each client to create real value for their stakeholders.
Our team of sales professionals will help you to:
• Compete for and secure new, high-quality FDI
• Substantially reduce cost-per-sale
• Deliver high-quality trade missions for your local SMEs
• Develop integrated sales and marketing campaigns
• Maximise your digital presence
• Transform your sales processes
To learn more contact us at john.haran@hmcglobal.co.uk. (Booth 234)
Hunden Strategic Partners is a full service real estate development advisory practice. Our professionals provide a variety of services for all stages of destination development. Market and financial feasibility studies, economic impact analyses, RFP processes and owner’s representation, mixed-use and destination districts, hotels, and convention and conference centers are some of the primary areas in which we specialize. Over eighty percent of our clients are public entities empowered to conduct real estate, economic development, and tourism activities. (Booth 430)
Established in 1993, Impact DataSource is an Austin, Texas-based economic consulting firm. Impact DataSource provides high-quality economic research, specializing in economic and fiscal impact analyses. Our firm is highly focused on supporting economic development professionals and organizations through consulting services and software. Impact DataSource has conducted thousands of economic impact analyses of new businesses, retention and expansion projects, developments, and activities in all industry groups throughout the U.S. Impact DataSource developed and supports the only impact software built for economic developers, Impact DashBoard. Impact DashBoard is the result of our 25+ years of experience helping economic developers change their communities. (Booth 413)
IMPLAN is a company of applied economists and data scientists that celebrates the work of teachers and researchers, outreach educators, public and private analysts, and many others who are stretching the bounds of economic science.
To support this innovative community, we provide advanced modeling technology that is the culmination of nearly 30 years of listening to and actively engaging with the economics science community, taking a long look in the mirror at legacy economic modeling applications, and employing the latest in computing power.
We want to extend to you a free trial of the latest version of our economic modeling application and help you find the best tool for analyzing and understanding economies across the country. Learn more by visiting IMPLAN.com. (Booth 312)
The Indy Chamber serves as a voice of progress and improvement in the region, uniting business and community to maintain a strong economy and quality of life. Our advocacy efforts, networking events, economic development initiatives, and other member benefits position members, business leaders and the community for success. Indy has what it takes to be a world-class region, where innovation meets performance. The Indy Chamber is here to realize that potential to its fullest. (Booth 510)
Livability Media is a full-service media and content marketing company and a recognized authority in talent attraction and best places to live. We work with economic development organizations, chambers of commerce and governments around the U.S. to tell their stories of why they are outstanding places to locate to, live in, work in and invest in. Best of all, we leverage the power of Livability.com, with 11 million annual users, to help attract talent, business investment and visitors. Livability Media combines outstanding content and compelling design with targeted distribution and extensive promotion to reach the audiences that matter most to you. (Booths 431, 433)
LiveStories is a U.S.-based company that provides an integrated civic data hub. Local health departments, school districts, businesses, and governments throughout the United States and around the world use LiveStories to discover, analyze, and publish civic data.
With LiveStories, experts and non-experts alike can discover insights about health care, poverty, crime, and education in their communities, and publish those insights as interactive data stories. Our solution includes thousands of verified indicators and interactive visualizations, with more added every week.
With the ability to compare cities, counties, and states on various indicators, decision-makers can identify and elevate areas of concern. And just as importantly, LiveStories is a tool for collaboration between internal and external teams, so everyone can share information and work together to build healthier, safer, and smarter communities. (Booth 132)
Plugging Localintel’s award-winning economic development tools into your website is the easiest, most affordable way to promote local opportunities, engage business and drive economic development. In early 2016 co-founders Dave Parsell and Mehdi Amoui observed that most communities lacked the time and budget to harness the power of the internet to support business attraction, expansion and retention. They set out to change this. Using cutting edge technology, they created a first of its kind catalog of tools that is now being used by communities across the United States and Canada. Through hard work and constantly listening to needs of communities and business, Localintel has become one of the most innovative and fastest growing government technology companies in the world. (Booth 331)
LOIS is a national online location analysis tool designed for communities and economic development organizations to promote available site and building inventory. With its integrated GIS component, the tool uses customizable layers with market information, demographics, workforce, infrastructure, housing, business and industry. A simple LOIS search can yield a quick directory of properties matching specified location preferences with a list of up-to-date site contacts for easy deal flow facilitation. Users can also filter sites and buildings by industry, or even demographic indicators. For economic developers, LOIS seamlessly prepares site and building data for easy RFP aggregation. LOIS easily plugs into subscriber websites and is mobile friendly, so users have complete access to all features and functionality on any device, including smartphones. Set your sites higher with LOIS. (Booth 515)
The Manufacturing Skill Standards Council (MSSC) is an industry-led training, assessment and certification organization focused on the core technical competencies needed by the nation’s front-line production and material handling workers. The nationwide MSSC certifications, based upon industry-defined and federally-endorsed national standards, offer both entry-level and incumbent workers the opportunity to demonstrate that they have acquired the knowledge and skills increasingly needed in the technology-intensive jobs of the 21st century. (Booth 231)
National Community Development Services (NCDS) has conducted over 700 campaigns for community and economic development organizations in 46 states, raising over $1.7 billion. More than 100 of these campaigns have been return engagements to generate fresh capital to renew previous programs. NCDS is known as a fast track campaign company, specializing in on-time, over goal campaigns. The firm introduced the strategic initiative concept to economic development organizations in 1977, which enabled hundreds of communities to gain major funding increases for new multi-year development programs, especially from the private sector. (Booth 315)
Neon Cloud Productions has led the Economic Development Video Marketing industry by producing over 500+ videos focusing on economic development in the past 5 years. Our products range from drone filmography, animation, storytelling, interviews, photography, customized marketing video collateral, motion graphics, 360 video, 360 photo and content marketing. Neon Cloud Productions can do it all. The Neon Cloud Productions team is made up of passionate individuals who see creativity as a means to production so that storytelling can be exciting, compelling and innovative. At Neon Cloud Productions, we are passionate about doing business well and taking care of people. This passion is evident considering our growth each year since our open and we plan to continue on that path. (Booth 218)
The Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership’s mission is to build, market and sell Northeast Indiana to increase business investment. Founded in 2006, the public-private partnership strives to build a globally competitive region. The Partnership’s Vision 2030 framework supports collaborative regional efforts to increase per capita income, population growth and educational attainment by focusing on business attraction, talent attraction and talent development. The Northeast Indiana region includes 11 counties: Adams, Allen, DeKalb, Huntington, Kosciusko, LaGrange, Noble, Steuben, Wabash, Wells and Whitley. The Regional Partnership recently unveiled the Make It Your Own brand to attract talent to live and work in the region. Make It Your Own is designed to assist regional employers in their recruitment efforts as they tell Northeast Indiana’s compelling story. The brand authentically positions Northeast Indiana as a community that offers unparalleled opportunity, affordability and quality of life. For more information, visit www.neindiana.com. (Booth 233)
Northwest Indiana Forum, the second largest economy in the State of Indiana, is comprised of urban, suburban and rural communities boasting a $35 billion plus economy. Anchored by the beautiful shores of Lake Michigan and Indiana Dunes National Park, the modern industrial core blends to the farming and agricultural areas, all welcoming development opportunities. Global and domestic companies choose Northwest Indiana for its proximity to major markets--only minutes away from Chicago, superior infrastructure, affordable sites with the friendly tax/business climate of Indiana, and available skilled/quality workforce. A thriving population of over 846,000, Northwest Indiana offers the ideal setting to grow and expand operations with exceptional housing, experiences and amenities. From existing buildings to green space build to suit, Northwest Indiana is seven counties strong: Lake, Porter, LaPorte, Starke, Jasper, Newton, and Pulaski. For more information, visit www.nwiforum.org. (Booth 133)
OCO is a specialist Foreign Direct Investment, business attraction and retention and Trade consulting company. Headquartered in Belfast and with offices in key international locations including Dublin, London, Frankfurt, Paris, New York, Los Angeles, Dubai, Shanghai, Tokyo and Bogota, we have over 80 full time consultants specialising in strategy, organizational development and lead generation services.
Since 2001, OCO has worked with many world-leading international investment promotion agencies, providing advice and support in building and executing successful plans to attract international investment. We have successfully delivered hundreds of business attraction assignments for organisations such as Select USA, JETRO, SAGIA, DIT, Enterprise Florida, JobsOhio and Missouri DED, to name a few.
Our economic development services have helped Economic Development Organisations to define their economic policy, strategy and sector value propositions. We have also actively supported agencies in the implementation of strategy through provision of training, business intelligence and investor targeting services.
Through our Trade advisory services, we have extensive experience in advising SMEs and multi-national corporations in assessing, entering and growing in new markets, helping them to realise their international growth ambitions. (Booth 517)
Passageways is the leading provider of secure enterprise collaboration software. Our board management solution, OnBoard, is a complete board governance solution that improves meeting outcomes by empowering directors and administrators with the tools they need to focus on strategy during their next meeting. It is the world’s most intuitive multiplatform digital boardroom solution. Visit Passageways.com/board-portal for more information. (Booth 333)
PDDG is a national marketing communications agency with over 40 years of experience working with municipalities of all sizes across the U.S., including long-standing client partnerships with economic development, tourism, workforce development, transportation, and related organizations. PDDG offers a wide range of services including branding, creative, graphic design, website design, marketing strategy, content creation, social media, and event planning. (Booth 317)
PitchBook is a financial technology company that provides data on the capital markets to help professionals discover and execute opportunities with confidence and efficiency. We collect and analyze detailed data on the entire venture capital, private equity and M&A landscape—including public and private companies, investors, funds, investments, exits and people. Our data and analysis are available through our suite of products (the PitchBook Platform), industry news and in-depth reports. (Booth 415)
The race is on...for jobs, talent and capital investment. Is your organization ready? We can help. Founded in 2010, POWER 10 is a national capital campaign management firm specializing in campaigns to fund economic and community development programs at the city, county, region, and state levels. Our staff has managed more than 100 campaigns coast to coast and raised hundreds of millions of dollars. We are equally adept at managing first-time campaigns and "renewal" campaigns to fund second and subsequent programs. Founder and CEO Sean Mikula leads the firm together with Executive Vice President Amity Farrar, Vice President of Operations Laura Lilly, and a team of professional Development Directors and Planners. We play the role of "quarterback" in the capital campaigns we manage, provide on-site management of day-to-day campaign operations, and "make the Ask." What distinguishes POWER 10 in the marketplace? It is the talent and tenacity of our team, the consistent quality of our services, and the fresh ideas we bring to each client. We do not rent out campaign directors, we do not "pop in" to our clients’ offices once per month and dispense counsel - we are "hands on," all in and focused on WINNING. (Booth 525)
ProTRACKPlus is a cloud-based software and mobile application designed exclusively to help economic development organizations and their staffs be more successful. This all new system automates Transparency, Relevance, Accountability, Credibility and converts Data to Knowledge (TRACK) to meet the increasing stakeholder-demand for better reporting. Using ProTRACKPlus all day every day maximizes automation to minimize your time and keeps your leadership better informed. ProTRACKPlus is "Six Apps in One" created to be the most intuitive and powerful tool available for making you and your organization more successful in the new era of economic development. ProTRACKPlus will:
1. Manage contacts and companies
2. Track projects from RFI to completion
3. Manage your BRE program including customer surveys
4. Forecast and follow-up for incentives
5. Organize large data sets
6. Customize reporting to stakeholders in real time
(Booth 229)
Proven is a platform that helps investors to choose your region, based on the kinds of companies that exist in your area. Proven works by showcasing the best companies that have decided to invest in your region, which proves that your region is an investor ready region. Companies that are looking for the next place best to invest are looking for high quality partners to work with, from real estate firms, recruiters, attorneys, contractors and many other firms.
Our platform is used by the best Economic Development agencies in the world, including Singapore. Investors such as Intel Capital also use it to find the highest quality providers. (Booth 513)
Research Consultants International is the global leader in lead generation and qualification services for economic development organizations. Through our global partnerships we cover the globe with our network of 75 economic development consultants in over 20 countries. Our consultants speak over 15 languages and can work with your region to attract inward investments within the U.S., Canada, Latin America, Europe and Asia. Founded in 2010 our company has contacts in over 43 countries around the world and can connect you with the decision makers that are making the investment decisions for their companies.
FDI365 a proprietary tool launched in 2017 and developed to answer the needs of our clients that were searching for a targeted lead generation software. FDI365 combines the newest technologies along with human curated business intelligence to provide customized profiles of companies that match your region’s criteria and that we believe to be poised for an expansion project. (Booths 509, 511)
ROI Research on Investment is an award-winning global authority on lead generation and investment attraction for economic development organizations. Since 2003, ROI has worked with over 350 clients worldwide to attract job-creating, capital intensive, expansion projects. ROI's core areas of expertise include benchmarking/target industry analysis, lead generation, BR&E strategies, representation services, and customized training covering best practices in modern BR&E and investment attraction.
ROI recently launched Gazelle.ai; the first application designed to use AI and big data to solve many challenges faced by economic development, investment attraction and trade professionals. Gazelle.ai is a powerful one-stop business intelligence platform deploying machine-learning algorithms, human curated intelligence and big data to forecast company growth. This unique platform profiles millions of companies and features over 900 industry profiles that include heat maps illustrating 14 economic indicators at the State and County levels, including: establishment and employment growth, revenues, gross profit, average salary growth, etc. (Booths 426, 428)
In a highly competitive global economy, SelectUSA makes it easier for companies to choose the United States as the location to grow their investment by supporting business investors and economic development organizations at each stage of the decision-making process. SelectUSA is the first point of contact at the national level for companies looking to start or grow operations in the United States. We work one-on-one with business investors to offer tools, data, and other information; identify relevant federal programs; demystify federal rules and regulations; and link businesses with partners and resources. SelectUSA partners with state, local, and regional economic development organizations to successfully attract and win investment. We provide an unrivalled global marketing platform, support around the federal regulatory environment, and high-level advocacy when U.S. communities are competing directly with foreign locations for investment. (Booth 215)
SizeUp helps economic development organizations better serve small businesses through big data. SizeUp is industry and geographic specific and completely DIY for SMB's through your website. (Booth 514)
Sound Diplomacy are the leading advisors helping governments and businesses achieve their social, cultural and economic goals, using music as a tool. As global experts, Sound Diplomacy uses data-driven methodology to advise governments and companies worldwide on how to harness the full value of music. We advise governments in Cuba (on behalf of the UN), cities including Vancouver, Brisbane, Cardiff and San Francisco, and have founded the leading series of conferences on music and cities. Our work drives economic growth, tourism and the sustainability and vibrancy of cities. Sound Diplomacy is the leader of the Music Cities movement, which sees culture built into the urban environment through policy. We assess the value of a music in cities and places, across tourism and urban development. We identify growth areas, engage stakeholders and communities, and produce strategies to unlock all the benefits of a strong music economy. (Booth 210)
As a division of Tourism Strategies, LLC, Sports Strategies helps communities develop and execute winning approaches to drive sports tourism as a source of economic development. Sports Strategies goes beyond the conventional role of consultant and steps in to guide communities through the process of identifying, leveraging and developing their existing assets to create unique sports events and economic development opportunities. Whether stakeholders want their community to become a preeminent destination for sports tourism, a more attractive place to live or the host of an annual, legacy event that showcases their town, Sports Strategies has the winning formula for success. (Booth 534)
At Startup Space, we amplify entrepreneurial ecosystems by giving them the next generation of tools for meaningful connections, mentorship and data analytics to show impact created in local communities. (Booth 532)
Strada Education Network is a national social impact organization dedicated to connecting today’s learners to the jobs of tomorrow. Our mission is to improve lives by forging clearer and more purposeful pathways between education and employment. We do this in three ways: Through research that yields fresh insights into how postsecondary education can best adapt to meet the demands of consumers and address evolving workforce needs. Through philanthropy that seeds promising, scalable, evidence-based strategies to give people, especially those from low-income backgrounds, the knowledge and experiences they need to have fulfilling careers. Through a network of seven affiliate organizations developing on-the-ground solutions to the needs of students and colleges, from providing better information on career options to serving adult learners more effectively. Learn more at StradaEducation.org. (Booth 417)
What if your entire team shaped the future for your organization and/or community? That’s what we help you do! We invite everyone to participate in a well-designed process that is playful, yet with purpose, that not only empowers you, it empowers all involved for meaningful action. Working with TadZo, you will experience how much fun (and extremely effective) it is to be inventive together through a focused approach that moves quickly from chatter to matter. Offerings: Strategy Development for organizations, communities/regions and businesses/entrepreneurs; Group Empowerment for everything from working on a specific project or initiative to innovation and ingenuity and so much more; Event Design & Facilitation; In-person & Virtual Workshops; and other Technical Services (i.e. community asset evaluation, target industry analysis, benchmarking, organizational planning, messaging, disaster preparedness and recovery, data and tools). Interested in on-the-spot consulting? Let’s Troika! Check it out at our booth, along with daily crowdsourcing of a new topic/question each day of the conference. (Booth 125)
Terracon Consultants, Inc. offers site selection and economic development assistance to site selectors, economic development agencies, and development firms. Terracon is a nationwide, employee-owned consulting firm with 150 offices and 4,900 engineers, scientists and technicians specializing in environmental, geotechnical, facilities, and construction testing and special inspections for commercial, industrial, distribution, manufacturing, and energy projects. Regionally Terracon has offices in Indianapolis, Chicago, Saint Louis, Louisville, Lexington, Cincinnati, Columbus, Cleveland, Detroit and Niles, Michigan. Especially relevant for site selection, Terracon’s ‘Stage1 GeoReport’ provides initial desktop-level geotechnical site information early in the development process by mining Terracon’s extensive drilling and exploration history with publicly-available geospatial data, and local geotechnical expertise. Terracon’s Phase I Environmental Site Assessment, site investigation, remediation and extensive local knowledge of environmental issues, and local regulatory concerns, complement your site selection evaluation. (Booth 432)
Trade & Industry Development serves executives within specific vertical industries. Our mission is to help companies perpetuate success by providing clear and crucial insight into the challenge of site selection and facility planning. By working with thought leaders and experts in various fields, Trade & Industry Development provides actionable content that is both innovative and forward-looking. We are committed to being a valuable and trusted partner for C-suite executives, corporate real estate professionals and site consultants, enabling them to make the best possible decisions - for themselves, their companies and their shareholders. (Booth 131)
With a passion for creating jobs and prosperity for communities, UNDERPINNED works to make connections between growing companies and economic development organizations responsible for attracting inward investment. UNDERPINNED provides marketing and communication services to government economic development and investment promotion organizations in any market, worldwide. We work with our clients to help them compete for FDI in a crowded global market, where over 15,000 other investment promotion agencies are competing for an estimated 13,000 FDI projects each year. We develop and deliver strategic, yet realistic and practical marketing-communication programs that support the strategic objectives of their organizations. (Booth 214)
Established in 1962, The University of Oklahoma's Economic Development Institute (OU EDI) provides the latest tools and knowledge to be successful as an economic development professional. You may complete all courses in-person or a portion online. This provides significant budget savings, schedule flexibility, and speeds completion of coursework. OU EDI is fully accredited by the IEDC and meets the education requirements to sit for the CEcD Exam. OU EDI offers the only open enrollment CEcD Exam Prep course. By graduating from the comprehensive program, you also earn the OU EDI certificate which is widely recognized in the profession. Admission is based on completion of the IEDC BEDC “Basic” course, or two-years of industry experience. Contact us at 405-325-3136, edi@ou.edu, or visit pacs.ou.edu/edi/ for more information. (Booth 310)
WHIN serves 10 counties in North Central Indiana to develop the region into the global epicenter for digital agriculture and next-generation manufacturing empowered by data-science and Internet-enabled sensors of all types. In addition, the organization’s regional cultivation initiative is designed to increase the vitality, education and connectivity of the Wabash Heartland region. (Booth 216)
WAVTEQ provides Lead Generation Services to EDOs with key focus on helping EDOs attract FDI from Asia and Europe. WAVTEQ’s team of over 80 FDI experts located in our 16 offices globally have attracted over $10 billion of greenfield FDI projects to the US and Canada since 2014. We specialize in lead generation, road shows, trade shows, seminars, events, and in-market representation. WAVTEQ also provides the leading North America database of incentives deals (IncentivesMonitor), corporate location advisors (FDI Professionals), as well as custom CRM systems (EDO CRM) for EDOs to track inward investment and measure ROI and e-learning and FDI certification platforms (FDI Certification). Visit www.wavteq.com. Access WAVTEQ’s special report series at www.wavteq.com/publications/. (Booth 313)
Is your ED group searching for a cost-effective way to get in front of active projects? With over 24 years of experience working with companies, WEDA is your direct link to companies on the move. WEDA offers a variety of programs that can align with your specific needs. We develop branding, attraction and retention programs and materials like: email campaigns, website facelifts, case study videos, literature, contact lists and more to help a community get on a site selector's radar. WEDA works with communities to help grow their awareness with targeted industries and increase business investment in their areas. We facilitate critical connections with key site location decision makers to facilitate new jobs and increase economic investment. When WEDA professionals join your team, you’ll see have increased time, energy and money in creating jobs for your community! (Booth 129)