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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

    • 20 Feb 2025
    • 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
    • Zoom meeting - link to be shared
    • 100
    Register


    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 February 20, 2025, at 1 PM ET for an exclusive webinar tailored for members of the Great Lakes Economic Development Council

    Our Presenters:

    Jim Robey is Principal of Robey Analytics, LLC, a firm specializing in economic development, workforce development, and site selection services. Jim is an applied economist, economic developer, and site selection consultant, with more than 30 years’ experience . He has worked with corporate, nonprofit, units of government, economic development and workforce development organizations in problem solving, strategy, and policy decision making from the local to the national levels. His expertise includes industry studies, occupational analysis, economic impact analysis and modeling, economic and workforce development research and analysis, and site selection assistance. Prior experience includes positions in directing regional research initiatives, economic development, and site selection at both nonprofit and for-profit entities. Jim earned his PhD in Urban Studies, with an emphasis in Economic Development, and his master’s degree in Public Administration from Cleveland State University’s Levin College of Urban Affairs.


    Dennis Burnside has a 30-plus year resume of serving large and small corporate organizations, the economic development community, and the commercial real estate service and investment industry. His experience and commitment to excellence enable him to deliver a superior level of service to his clients. Dennis specializes in site consultancy, real estate advisory, transactions and portfolio management services. His client list reflects a diverse range of industries and client size with local, regional and international presence. Dennis’ Economic Development expertise includes business attraction programs, industry cluster and economic impact studies, and community positioning, as well as acting as ad hoc director and advisor for all aspects of the economic development process. Prior to joining Vestian, Dennis was the president of Juniper Solutions, which provided site selection and economic development consultancy. Before founding Juniper, he was a partner with Mohr Partners Inc. overseeing the Cleveland office for five plus years.

    • 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