Menu
Log in

Opportunities for Networking and Learning 


Engaging Events

The Great Lakes Economic Development Council plans a broad range of opportunities to collaborate, network, learn, and grow professionally. The GLEDC brings together economic development, business, governmental and academic leaders, speakers, and training instructors for engaging growth opportunities.

Be Greater! - Monthly digital learning series

Upcoming events

    • 7 Mar 2025
    • 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
    • Zoom meeting - https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83298008774?pwd=Zo18MXkrQkbO5jKx11hrgx4K8jX6RM.1
    • 83
    Register


    March 7, 2025

    Join Us for an Exclusive StateBook Webinar
    for the Great Lakes Economic Development Council! 

    Today's increasingly competitive and politically uncertain world amplifies the need for economic development organizations (EDOs) to access actionable, trusted, current, and historical data. The Great Lakes Economic Development Council has negotiated with StateBook to provide a suite of complimentary economic data that Great Lakes EDO members can access and add to their websites – enhancing their ability to showcase regional strengths and drive investment.

    With AI-powered analytics, geospatial mapping, and seamless API integration, StateBook delivers the tools EDOs need to showcase their region's competitive advantages to secure funding, strengthen stakeholder engagement, and drive regional prosperity. Now featuring comprehensive infrastructure, energy, health, and risk data, StateBook's hyper-local intelligence empowers EDOs to attract corporations and jobs needed to stay ahead in an increasingly competitive economic landscape

    With a focus on successful economic development case studies, join StateBook on March 7, 2025, at 1 PM ET for an exclusive webinar tailored for members of the Great Lakes Economic Development Council

    Our Presenter:

    Calandra Cruickshank is founder and CEO of StateBook International®, the first nationwide online marketplace for economic development and corporate site selection headquartered in NY. Calandra specializes in designing and implementing creative campaigns using sustainable and socially responsible programs and strategic alliances between for-profit and non-profit companies and government agencies. She has created and consulted for internet and mobile companies for the past 10 years.

    Calandra previously co-founded and served as president and on the board of directors for CommonKindness.com, an online coupon hosting platform that benefits nonprofits while saving consumers money and driving traffic and sales to brands and retailers. Calandra also co-founded and served as senior vice president for Good Deed Foundation, a national branding and licensing company that leveraged existing supermarket products to support non-profit organizations benefitting climate change and women and families in poverty.

    Calandra is a member of the International Economic Development Council, the University Economic Development Association, and Council of Development Finance Agencies.

    Calandra graduated with a BS in journalism from the University of Colorado at Boulder. She now splits her time between Manhattan, and the Catskill Mountains in NY.

    • 27 Mar 2025
    • 7:30 AM - 3:30 PM
    • Drummondville QC

    The APDEQ Spring Forum is a must-attend event for economic development professionals who want to address strategic issues and collaborate on developing innovative solutions. This day of discussions, hosted using the participatory Fishbowl method, offers you a unique opportunity to express yourself, interact directly with experts, and actively contribute to the discussions.

    This year, under the theme “Prosperity: synonymous with sobriety?”, the forum will explore key questions related to governance, environmental issues and the place of humans in the economy. The objective is to rethink our practices to better align our actions with the economic and societal realities of tomorrow.

    The Fishbowl format guarantees each participant the opportunity to get involved in the discussions and bring their vision to imagine concrete solutions. The Spring Forum 2025 is a privileged space to reflect on new practices in governance, ecology and human development.

    Register Here: https://apdeq.qc.ca/evenements/forum-2025-de-lapdeq/

    • 13 Aug 2025
    • 15 Aug 2025
    • Indianapolis, IN

    Check the Indiana Economic Development Association website for more details. https://ieda.org/ 

Annual Events
GLEDC
Leadership Camp
The GLEDC Leadership Camp focuses on issues  impacting organizational performance, innovation and growth. It helps staff leaders be better managers, leaders and communicators.
Conference attendance is anticipated to be 150+
Targeted Attendees: Senior and mid-level economic development staff, and Certified Economic Developers (CEcDs, Ec.D.s) 
Annual
Conference
The Annual Conference is the premier GLEDC event covering the latest trends in economic development and including educational tours, networking events, and an exhibitor area.

Anticipated Annual Conference attendance is 250+ 

Targeted Attendees: Senior and mid-level economic development staff, and Certified Economic Developers (CEcDs, Ec.D.s), government employees, service providers, chambers of commerce, tourism officials, and other economic development intermediaries.  


Great Lakes Rising
An Economic Summit

The Summit is a forward-looking conference that explores public policy and other issues needed to grow, attract, retain, and expand companies to the Great Lakes.
Summit attendance is anticipated to be 250+ 
Targeted Attendees: Federal, state, provincial, and elected officials, corporate real estate executives and C-suite leaders, site selection consultants, state/provincial/local managers, economic developers, Chambers of commerce, and other economic development intermediaries.  

Chapter/regional luncheons are held across the Great Lakes to provide members small in-person networking opportunities. Anticipated attendance is 25 at each event