GEDA Spring Workshop

May 9-11, 2018

Theme GEDA presents Real World Economic Development

LocationThe Westin Jekyll Island and Jekyll Island Convention Center (JICC)

Wednesday, May 9, 2018

9 – 5 PMRegistration (Jekyll Island Convention Center [JICC] Lobby)

10 – 11:30 AMGEDA Board of Directors Meeting (JICC Ben G. Porter Oceanside Salon)

11 – 11:45 AMGEDA 101 – New Member Orientation (Westin Sapelo) (RSVP required)

11:45 - 12:45 PMNew Member Luncheon (Westin Cumberland Ballroom) (RSVP required)

1:00 PM – 2:00 PMBreakout Sessions

  1. Survey Says: Expert panel speaks entrepreneurship and small business best practices (JICC Beachside Meeting Room 1,2,3)
  • Moderator: Ryan Waldrep, Asst. Dir. GDEcD Entrepreneur & Small Business
  • Panelists: Mary Ellen McClanahan, Director, GDEcD Entrepreneur & Small Business

Donna Armstrong Lackey, Senior VP, Carroll Tomorrow

Mark Lytle, Consultant, The Chason Group

  1. Speed Dating with Seasoned Developers – Ask anything approach to roundtable discussions – our seasoned professionals will answer your most pressing questions about economic development. Moderated by Ashley Morris Varnum (JICC Beachside Meeting Room 4)
  2. Showmanship 101 – Putting the WOW factor in your prospect visits. Moderated by Brittany Holtzclaw (JICC Beachside Meeting Room 5)

2:00 PM – 2:30 PMBreak with Sponsors (JICC Prefunction)

2:30 PM – 3:30 PM Breakout Sessions

  1. Georgia Centers of Innovation moderated by Steve Justice (JICC Beachside Meeting Room 1,2,3)
  2. Speed Dating with Seasoned Developers – Ask anything approach to roundtable discussions – our seasoned professionals will answer your most pressing questions about economic development. Moderated by Ashley Morris Varnum (JICC Beachside Meeting Room 4)
  3. Showmanship 101 – Putting the WOW factor in your prospect visits. Moderated by Brittany Holtzclaw (JICC Beachside Meeting Room 5)

3:30 PM – 4:45 PMKeynote Speaker – Ron Kitchens – Preeminence: Create your competitive advantage through sustained excellence (JICC Grand Ballroom A)

5:30 PM - 7:00 PMWelcome Reception with cocktails & hors d’oeuvres (Westin Courtyard)

DINNER ON YOUR OWN

Thursday, May 10, 2018

7:00 AM – 8:30 AMFull Breakfast Buffet (JICC Beachside Prefunction)

7:00 AM – 8:30 AMDevelopment Authority Breakfast (Westin Blythe) (RSVP required)

8:00 AM – 12:00 PMRegistration Open (JICC Lobby)

8:30 AM – 8:40 AMDoor Prizes; Welcome and Opening Remarks (JICC Grand Ballroom A)

8:40 AM - 9:40 AM Christine Chmura, Ph.D. – Chmura Economics & Analytics – TEDTalk style presentation on labor market data (JICC Grand Ballroom A)

9:40 AM – 10:15 AM Tommy Talley – tommysTV – Learn how to tell the economic development story thru reality television (JICC Grand Ballroom A)

10:15 AM - 10:45 AMBreak with Sponsors (JICC Beachside Prefunction)

10:45 AM – 12:00 PMDoor Prizes; Jeff Shinabarger, Founder and Executive Director of Plywood People (JICC Grand Ballroom A)

12:00 PMDoor Prizes; Adjourn for Afternoon Activities

  • UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant Tour
  • Golf at the Jekyll Island Golf Club
  • Georgia Ports Authority and Car Processing Facility Bus Tour

5:00 PM – 6:00 PMVIP Sponsor Reception with cocktails & hors d’oeuvres (invited guests only) (Westin Observation Bar)

6:00 PM – 7:00 PMCocktails & Conversation (with hors d’oeuvres) (JICC Ben G. Porter Oceanside Salon)

DINNER ON YOUR OWN

9:00 PM – 11:59 PMHospitality Suite (Westin Grand Ballroom)

Friday, May 11, 2018

7:00 AM – 8:30 AMFull Breakfast Buffet (JICC Beachside Prefunction)

8:00 AM – 12:00 PMRegistration Open

8:30 AM – 8:45 AMDoor Prizes & Golf Awards (JICC Grand Ballroom A)

GDEcD Update: Bert Brantley, COO, GDEcD

GRAD site presentations: Mike Grundmann, Director, Automotive, Aerospace & Advanced Manufacturing Team, GDEcD Global Commerce

Georgia Certified Economic Developer certificates: Dr. Laura Meadows, Director, CVIOG, UGA

8:45 AM – 9:30 AM Confessions of an out of state economic developer (JICC Grand Ballroom A)

  • Moderator To Be Determined
  • Panelists: Cal Wray, President, Augusta Economic Development Authority

Brad Lofton, President, Dublin Laurens County Development Authority

Lynn Pitts – Retired Economic Developer

9:30 AM – 10:30 AMPublic Policy update and interactive discussion (JICC Grand Ballroom A)

  • Camila Knowles, Senior Vice President & Counsel, and Jeff Hamling, Senior Vice President, Cornerstone Government Affairs

10:30 AM – 10:50 AMBreak with Sponsors (JICC Beachside Prefunction)

10:50 AM – 11:00 AMDoor Prizes (JICC Grand Ballroom A)

11:00 AM – 11:45 AMNavigating the Environmental Process (JICC Grand Ballroom A)

  • Moderator: Ralph Forbes, Vice President/Regional Director, Thomas & Hutton Engineering Company
  • Panelists: Kimberly L. Garvey – Acting Chief, Regulatory Branch Savannah District, United States Army Corps of Engineers

Bert Brantley – Chief Operating Officer, Georgia Department of Economic Development

Alton Brown – Resources and Land Consultants

Trip Tollison – President & CEO, Savannah Economic Development Authority

11:45 AM – 12:00 PMDoor Prizes

Final Comments

Adjourn