WEDA 2025 Governor's Conference on Economic Development

Select the Use button to add a tag to the body of your email. You may also use tags in the subject of your email by copying and pasting them directly in.

{FIRST_NAME}	Adds the recipients First Name.	Use
{LAST_NAME}	Adds the recipients Last Name.	Use
{COMPANY_NAME}	Adds the Company Name.	Use
{PORTAL_NAME}	Adds the application portals name.	Use
{MEMBER_NAME}	Adds the Recipients Membership name.	Use
{SIGNATURE_OPT_IN}	Adds the Opt-in link.	Use
{SIGNATURE_OPT_OUT}	Add the opt-out link.	Use
%signature%	Adds your preferred signature block.	Use
{Event_Start_Date}	Adds the Event's Start Date.(Events Only)	Use
{Event_End_Date}	Adds the Event's End Date.(Events Only)	Use
{Event_Name}	Adds the Event's Name.(Events Only)	Use
{Event_Description}	Adds the Event's Description.(Events Only)	Use
{Online_Training_Description}	Adds the Online Training Description.(Online Training Only)	Use
{Event_Specific_Dates}	Adds the Event's specific dates.(Events Only)	Use
{member_number}	Adds the Membership Number.	Use
{MemberSince}	Adds the Member Since Date.	Use
{CONTACTEMAIL}	Adds the Contact's Email Address.	Use
{CERTIFICATE_NUMBER}	Adds the Contact's Certificate Number	Use
{EVENTLOCATION}	Adds the Event's Location.	Use
{TOTALEVENTCREDITS}	The total number of credits that the contact has earned through the event tickets and workshops.	Use
{ASAPPEARSONBADGE}	Display the text of as appears field in the event setup.	Use
{contact_organization}	Displays the organization name of the contact.	Use
{RENEWALDATE}	Adds the Member Renewal Date in (yyyy-mm-dd).	Use
{MEMBERSHIP_YEAR}	Adds the Member's Membership Year	Use
{RENEWALDATE_MM-DD-YYYY}	Adds the Member Renewal Date in (mm-dd-yyyy).	Use
{LMS_CREDIT}	The number of credits the LMS course is worth for Continuing Education	Use
{COLLECTION_PERIOD_END-DATE_YYYY_MM_DD}	The end date of the CE collection period end date	Use
{LMS_COURSE_COMPLETION_DATE}	The completion date of the LMS course	Use
{INCEPTION_DATE}	Adds the Member Inception Date in (yyyy-mm-dd).	Use
{EVENT_END-DATE_MONTH_YYYY}	Adds Event End Date in Full Month Name and Year Format.(Events Only)	Use
{EVENT_END-DATE_MONTH_YYYY_ADD3}	Adds Event End Date in Full Month Name and Year Format Plus 3 Years.(Events Only)	Use

2025 Governor's Conference on Economic Development

About the Governor’s Conference

The 2025 WEDA Governor’s Conference on Economic Development will be one for the books as we kick off WEDA’s 50th Anniversary celebration and commemorate the 50th anniversary of Tax Increment Financing in Wisconsin. With these major milestones, sessions featuring industry thought leaders and practitioners will reflect the incredible growth and impact of economic development across the state. The Governor’s Conference is WEDA’s largest educational and networking event of the year. The packed agenda has something for everyone as we focus on talent attraction, strengthening our communities, and advancing economic growth in rural and urban Wisconsin. We look forward to having you join us!

Featured Speaker

Opening Address: Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers (Invited)

WEDA is pleased to welcome Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers as a featured conference speaker. The 46^th governor of Wisconsin has been invited to open the conference with remarks on what his administration is working on to drive economic growth and prosperity across the state. During his time in office, Governor Evers has been committed to advancing key economic development policies and programs, including rural broadband expansion, small business economic recovery, and affordable housing expansion.

Conference Agenda: View Here!

Conference Award – Frederick C. Pierce Award

The Frederick C. Pearce Award was established in 1985 to recognize individuals who have made significant contributions to the field of economic development in Wisconsin. Pearce award recipients all have a long-standing commitment to economic development; exceptional contributions to the field of economic development; leadership; response to adversity; and strong WEDA involvement

Conference Lodging

Hyatt Regency, 333 West Kilbourn, Milwaukee, WI

Special WEDA Conference Rates: $103/Sgl or Dbl | $123 – Triple | $143 – Quad

Reservations must be made by JANUARY 17, 2025, to secure this discounted rate.

Call 888-421-1442 or click here to reserve a room online. Reference WEDA 2025 Governor’s Conference when making your reservation.

Check-in: 3 pm | Check-out: 12 noon

Parking: Valet Parking: $35/night; Self-park in attached garage $30/night

Exhibit Tables Available

Take advantage of this unique opportunity to share your products and services. Exhibit information can be found HERE and on the conference registration site or by contacting Kathy Davies, conference planner – kdavies@weda.org | 715.344.2457

Exhibit spaces are $150 (electricity is additional) for WEDA members and $250 for non-members.

Conference Sponsorships Available – Sponsorship Opportunity Guide HERE.

Conference sponsors make this programming possible. In return, your organization will be recognized across Wisconsin!

Conference Attire is business casual.

This conference is approved for IEDC credits.

REGISTRATION:

Early Bird Registration --- Register by JANUARY 6, 2025 for the best rate AND a Chance to WIN! Rates go up on January 7, 2025 by $50.00 for all registrants (see chart below).

EARLY BIRD DRAWING - SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY! Register by January 6 and be entered into a drawing to receive a special Wisconsin Products Gift Box! Three lucky winners will enjoy products from across the state.

Second Chance Discount - Register by January 20, 2025 to save an additional $50.00.

ALL REGISTRATIONS JANUARY 21 TO FEBRUARY 7, 2025 WILL GO UP AN ADDITIONAL $100 FROM THE ORIGINAL CONFERENCE RATE (see chart below).

Full Conference Registration includes Wednesday evening reception; Thursday morning continental breakfast & breaks, lunch and evening reception; Friday morning breakfast and am break. An optional fee required to participate in the Wednesday, Feb. 5 Academy program, there is a separate registration page for the Academy.

Registration Fees	Dec 1, 24 to Jan 6, 25		Jan 7 to Jan 22, 25		Jan 23 to Feb 7, 25
Event	Member	Non-Member	Member	Non-Member	Member	Non-Member
Full Conference	$ 379.00	$ 499.00	$ 429.00	$ 549.00	$ 479.00	$ 599.00
Thursday Only	$ 279.00	$ 399.00	$ 329.00	$ 449.00	$ 379.00	$ 499.00
Friday Only	$ 129.00	$ 249.00	$ 179.00	$ 299.00	$ 229.00	$ 349.00

Wed. Academy Workshop $ 0 $ 99

---REGISTRATION OPENS December 5, 2024 ---

Separate registration is needed for CRA Networking Listening Session and WEDA Academy.

CRA Networking Listening - Register Here!

WEDA Academy - Register Here!

CANCELATION POLICY: Registrations may be canceled for a fee of $100 until January 20, 25, you may transfer your registration to another participant for free. After January 20, 2025 only transfers of registration will be allowed.

2025 Conference Planning Team:

Kristen Fish-Peterson, Redevelopment Resources
Beth Haskovec, Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation
Melissa Hunt, Ayres Associates
Ashley Lucas, Associated Bank
Gary Mejchar, First American Capital Corporation
Katie Mendenhall, MK7
Robbie Oldenburg, J.H. Findorff
James Otterstein, Rock County Economic Development Corporation
Heidi Price, Bear Construction
Kathleen Schilling, Ozaukee Economic Development
Dale Shaver, Waukesha County
Jenny Trick, Racine County Economic Development Corporation
Neil White, Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation
Jess Wildes, City of West Bend
Zach Zabel, WI Veterans Chamber of Commerce

Watch this website for updated information as conference dates near.

WEDA 2025 Governor's Conference on Economic Development

February 5 - 7, 2025
333 W. Kilbourn Avenue
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
United States
53203

Upcoming Events

Wisconsin CRA Networ... February 5
Milwaukee, Wisconsin

WEDA Academy: Buildi... February 5
Milwaukee, Wisconsin

2025 WEDA Legislativ... March 26
Madison, Wisconsin