Wisconsin Economic Development Academy Update: Kathy Heady, Academy Manager
It is hard to believe that we have already completed half of the 2021 WEDA Academy programs. Programming has continued to be all virtual, but we are looking forward to seeing everyone in person at the WEDA Best Practices Conference and pre-conference Academy program in Appleton in late September.
On May 26, the Academy held its second webinar of 2021 – Business Attraction: Selling Your Community Assets. The course equipped participants with the fundamental tools to employ successful business attraction efforts. A big thank you to our instructors – Robert Hess, Vice Chairman and Kim L. Moore, CEcD, EDFP, EDMP, Senior Managing Director, Consulting with NEWMARK; and Coleman J. Peiffer, AICP, Senior Business Attraction Manager, Alliant Energy.
On August 4 from 1:30 – 3:00 p.m., the Academy will be hosting a webinar, Managing Economic Development Organizations. The course will be led by two very experienced economic developer leaders – Barb LaMue, CEcD, EDFP, President & CEO, New North Inc. and Ed White, EDFP, Executive Director, Sauk County Development Corporation. Topics will include developing a strategy and measuring success, building community and investor support, creating an effective team (staff, partners and board) and budgets and funding approaches. This will be a great course for those who are considering a leadership role in an EDO, are new to managing an EDO or those interested in learning approaches from other organizations. This could also be a great course for your board and partner organizations. Registration should be open in the next few weeks.
The Academy will be hosting a comprehensive program, Workforce Development: Overcoming Barriers – Building Opportunities, on September 29 just prior to the WEDA Best Practices Conference. Workforce development has always been one of my passions, and I am busy planning a course that will provide participants with ideas and approaches to address barriers and to build opportunities in their communities. The final program of the year, Placemaking: Creating Your Quality Place, will be a webinar, held on November 10.
I hope that you will be able to join us for one or more of these exciting and affordable educational opportunities. As a reminder, be sure to look for approved credits/points for continuing education/recertification on the course registration information. Please reach out to me at kheady@weda.org if you have any program ideas or recommendations, or if you are interested in serving as an instructor.
