Overview

2025 NADO & DDAA Washington Conference

March 9-12, 2025
(Sunday to Wednesday)

Crystal Gateway Marriott
1700 Richmond Highway
Arlington, VA 22202

Join the National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) and the Development District Association of Appalachia (DDAA) for a multitude of sessions focused on regional development, the federal landscape, and the programs and policies that matter most to Regional Development Organizations (RDOs) and their stakeholders. 

When to Arrive

Conference content will begin on the morning of Sunday, March 9 for NADO Executive Committee members, NADO Board of Directors members, NADO Research Foundation Advisory Committee members, and DDAA Board members.

On the evening of Sunday, March 9, an opening reception will be held for all conference attendees, as well as a dinner for DDAA members.

Conference plenary and breakout sessions begin at 9:00 a.m. on Monday, March 10 and continue through 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, March 12

 
NADO’s Code of Conduct/Anti-harassment Policy (PDF)

When to Arrive

Conference content will begin on the morning of Sunday, March 9 for NADO Executive Committee members, NADO Board of Directors members, NADO Research Foundation Advisory Committee members, and DDAA Board members.

On the evening of Sunday, March 9, an opening reception will be held for all conference attendees, as well as a dinner for DDAA members.

Conference plenary and breakout sessions begin at 9:00 a.m. on Monday, March 10 and continue through 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, March 12

Registration

Registration for the 2025 NADO & DDAA Washington Conference will open 11/13/24.
Registrant 2025 Rate
DDAA Member
$510
DDAA Spouse/Guest
$220
NADO Member (Non-DDAA) [Associate, General]
$605
NADO Member (non-DDAA) [All other upgraded levels]
$535
NADO Member Spouse/Guest
$230
Non-Member
$755
Non-Member Spouse/Guest
$230
First-time Attendee (NADO or DDAA)

**Please Contact Karron Grant

**For first-time attendees, a discounted rate is available. Please email Karron Grant ([email protected]) to register as a first-time attendee.

Cancellation Policy

Registrants who cancel their registrations by March 1, 2025 will receive a refund minus a $150 administrative fee.

Accommodations

Crystal Gateway Marriott
1700 Richmond Highway
Arlington, VA 22202
Crystal Gateway Marriott is one mile from Reagan National Airport (DCA), two miles to Washington, DC and directly connected to the Crystal City Metro station providing the perfect home base for your visit to the Washington, D.C. area. Ideally located in Arlington, this Crystal City hotel is steps to the exciting new National Landing development and Pentagon City; as well as a quick and convenient Metro ride to downtown Washington D.C. and Old Town Alexandria. 
 
Tel: (703) 920-3230
Check-in: 4:00 pm | Check-out: 12:00 pm
 
On-Site Self Parking – Hourly: $20.00 | Daily: $47.00
*Garage Vehicle Height Clearance is 6′
Valet – Daily: $53.00
 
Booking: Use the button to make hotel reservations online, or call (703) 920-3230 to book via telephone.
 
Reservations should be made by: Friday, February 7, 2025
Room Rates:

03/07-03/09 (Weekend Rate/Standard Room): $205.00

03/08-03/14 (Weekday Rate/Standard Room): $286.00
 
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) is two miles from conference hotel.
There is a complimentary Marriott Airport Shuttle that runs 5 am to midnight every 30 min. Last hotel departure at 11:30 pm.
Hotel Cancellation Policy:
An individual may cancel their reservation up until 6 pm on the day of arrival without a cancellation fee. Should an individual cancel their room reservation after 6 pm on the day of arrival, the hotel will charge one night’s room and tax to that individual’s credit card or deduct it from their deposit. There is no penalty for individual early departures.

Airport & Transportation

Getting to Crystal Gateway Marriott

Airports

When flying to Washington (WAS), there are (3) main airports:

Complimentary Hotel Airport Shuttle: Marriott airport shuttle service runs 5:00 am to midnight every 30 mins. Last hotel departure is at 11:30 pm. Be sure to get off at the Crystal Gateway Marriott stop (conference hotel).

Bus Station

Subway (Metro) Stations

Sponsors and Exhibitor Information

MAKE AN IMPACT.

SPONSOR NADO & DDAA’S 2025 WASHINGTON CONFERENCE MARCH 9-12.

PROMOTE YOUR BUSINESS AT THE WASHINGTON CONFERENCE. 

We are seeking potential sponsors and exhibitors to help support and elevate the NADO & DDAA Washington Conference!

Take advantage of this opportunity to get your company’s name and message in front of our conference attendees from organizations across the country that collectively assist thousands of cities and counties with community development, economic development, regional planning, and providing various public services to their communities. 

The Washington Conference is NADO’s policy meeting which overlaps with DDAA’s Annual Conference and brings in an expected audience size of roughly 400 attendees, including many federal government officials. These decision makers could be the perfect audience to provide information to and about your company’s products and services.

Conference Agenda

This draft agenda is subject to change.

Sunday, March 9, 2025

  • NADO and DDAA board members and advisory committee members are asked to participate in pre-conference meetings throughout the day on Sunday, March 10.
  • All conference attendees are encouraged to attend the opening reception on Sunday evening beginning at 5:30 p.m. ET.
  • DDAA members are invited to attend the DDAA Dinner Banquet that follows at 6:30 p.m. ET.

10:00 a.m.  – 5:30 p.m.
Registration

10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
NADO Research Foundation Advisory Committee Meeting
NADO Research Foundation Advisory Committee members

12:00 – 2:00 p.m.
NADO Executive Committee Meeting
NADO Executive Committee members

1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
DDAA Board of Directors Meeting
DDAA Board of Directors                                            

3:30 – 5:30 p.m.
NADO Board of Directors Meeting
NADO Board of Directors                                          

5:30 – 6:30 p.m.
Opening Reception
All attendees

6:30 – 8:00 p.m.
DDAA Dinner Banquet
DDAA members                                                                             

Monday, March 10 2025

  • Concurrent breakout sessions on Monday are open to all participants, including both NADO and DDAA members.
  • The “NADO track,” “DDAA track,” and “Joint track” labels denote which attendees may find the session content most relevant, but all attendees are welcome.

7:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Registration

7:45 – 9:00 a.m.
DDAA Breakfast and Annual Business Meeting
DDAA members

9:15 – 10:30 a.m.
Opening Plenary Session
All attendees

10:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Concurrent Breakout Sessions (A, B, C, D)

  • Breakout (A): NADO track                                                                      
  • Breakout (B): NADO track                                                    
  • Breakout (C): DDAA track
  • Breakout (D): Joint track 

12:15 – 1:30 p.m.
Plenary Luncheon
All attendees

1:45 – 3:00 p.m.
Concurrent Breakout Sessions (A, B, C, D)

  • Breakout (A): NADO track                                                                      
  • Breakout (B): NADO track                                                    
  • Breakout (C): DDAA track
  • Breakout (D): Joint track 

3:30 – 4:30 p.m.
NADO Regional Chapter Meetings (Central, East, Midwest, Southeast, Southwest, West)
NADO and DDAA members

4:30 – 6:00 p.m.
Federal Stakeholders Networking Reception
All attendees                                                        

  • This reception provides an opportunity for federal agency staff and leadership and other national stakeholder organizations to interact with NADO and DDAA members.

Tuesday, March 11, 2025

  • NADO member attendees are encouraged to participate in meetings on Capitol Hill on Tuesday, March 11.
  • For those attendees who do not plan to attend Hill meetings, additional conference content is offered at the conference venue throughout the day.

7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Registration

8:00 – 9:00 a.m.
DDAA Breakfast
DDAA members                                                                                                  

9:15 – 10:15 a.m.
Plenary Session
All attendees                                                                                                       

10:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Capitol Hill Meetings (on your own) – NADO track

  • Attendees are encouraged to spend this open block of time on Capitol Hill educating your members of Congress about your work.
  • Hill meetings are self-directed. If you need help securing contact information for Hill staffers and schedulers, please contact Jamie McCormick at [email protected].

10:30 – 11:45 a.m.
Concurrent Breakout Sessions (A and B)

  • Breakout (A): DDAA track 
  • Breakout (B): DDAA track 

11:45 a.m. – 1:15 p.m.
Lunch on your own

1:30 – 2:45 p.m.
Concurrent Breakout Sessions (A and B)

  • Breakout (A): DDAA track                                                                           
  • Breakout (B): DDAA track   

4:30 – 6:00 p.m.
Reception
All attendees

Wednesday, March 12, 2025

  • Conference content for the NADO & DDAA joint conference concludes at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, March 12.
  • Following the conference, there is a special post-conference training for the Economic Development District (EDD) Community of Practice (CoP). This post-conference training session is free, but separate registration is required.

8:00 – 10:00 a.m.
Registration

8:30 – 9:45 a.m.
Plenary Breakfast
All attendees                                                                                                          

10:00 – 11:00 a.m.
Closing Plenary Session
All attendees                                                                                                     

11:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
An Afternoon with the Districts — Post-conference training.
Separate registration required.

Search NADO.org

Haley Schultheis joined NADO in November 2024 coming from a background in association management and small nonprofit development. Haley completed her master’s in community development at the University of Detroit Mercy in 2022, where she specialized in human and organizational development practices. She earned her bachelor’s in behavioral healthcare from the University of South Florida as a way to explore her interest in human behavior and anthropology. 
 
Haley recently began training to become a certified “The Narrative Method” facilitator, using group storytelling as a method to connect. In her free time, she enjoys drawing, walking, and eating! Check out Haley’s cartoon series on Instagram @mydadisart!
Dan Deutsch joined the NADO team as a Research Fellow in 2024. With over a decade of experience in nonprofit communications with particular emphasis on arts and culture institutions, and over 25 years of participating in the performing arts, his interests sit at the crux of placemaking/placekeeping, arts and culture, community engagement, and economic development. Dan holds a dual bachelor’s in communications & culture and theatre arts, and a master’s in professional communications from Clark University.
 
Before joining NADO, Dan had just graduated with a master’s in regional planning from UMass Amherst after living and working in the Greater Hartford region as a communications professional. Dan resides in Washington D.C., where he enjoys trying new restaurants, recreational photography, and staying involved in the local music scene as both a musician and supporter.
Olivia holds a bachelor’s degree in urban studies from the University of Pennsylvania and is currently pursuing her master’s in public administration at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs.
 
Prior to beginning her graduate studies, Olivia worked for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ Executive Office for Administration and Finance. She first joined the office as a member of the state’s budget team, where she worked on housing, economic development, and education finance, and later served as the agency’s Chief Financial Officer. She relocated to Boston from Washington D.C., where she had worked on legal and regulatory research as an analyst for Mintz Levin and its consulting affiliate M.L. Strategies.
 
Olivia has lived in each of the cities featured in the National Treasure movie and is currently located in New York City, where she spends her time running in Central Park and cleaning up things her cat Franklin knocks over.

Contact Haley Schultheis

Contact Daniel Deutsch

Contact Olivia Graham

Contact Joe D'Antonio

Regional Development Researcher Andrew Coker joined the NADO team in March of 2023 after spending two and a half years as the Regional Economic Resiliency Coordinator at West Central Arkansas Planning and Development District. Andrew holds a bachelor’s degree from Hendrix College and a master’s degree from the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service.

At NADO, Andrew conducts research on the newest economic and community development best practices from Economic Development Districts across the country. He helps produce easily digestible information on complex regional issues through case studies, tip sheets, and research reports. Andrew also hosts training and professional development opportunities including conference sessions and virtual webinars for member regional development organizations.

Andrew is one of our Missouri-based team members and enjoys reading and training for his next triathlon.

Jack Morgan came to the NADO team in 2022 after seven years with the National Association of Counties (NACo) as a Program and Senior Program Manager. Prior to NACo, Jack was a Policy Analyst for Friends of Southwest Virginia. Jack holds a bachelor’s in geography from Emory & Henry College and a master’s in geography from Appalachian State University.

As a NADO Senior Program Manager, Jack leads capacity-building and peer-learning work supporting energy communities in economic transition, regional resilience, and recreation economies. He also helps with the EDA-Austin training program Emerging Leaders.

Jack is certified by the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) and is a member of the American Planning Association (APA) in the Regional & Intergovernmental Planning division. He also serves on the Emory & Henry College Alumni Board.

Taking road trips, reading non-fiction, and indulging in top-notch barbecue and coffee round out Jack’s days. He loves maps, mountains, and of course, all things sports.

Karron Grant joined the NADO team in 2023 as Administrative Specialist and is the first face (or voice) you’ll see or hear when reaching out to NADO. As Administrative Specialist, Karron manages our database and coordinates NADO event operations. He ensures members’ needs are met, contact information stays current, and NADO’s office is running efficiently.

Karron came to NADO after four years in the classroom teaching at The New Century School and Old Mill Middle North where he received the Patriot of the Year award. He attended Towson University and the University of Maryland Global Campus and holds a bachelor’s in international studies and humanities.

Visiting art galleries and museums, playing basketball and bowling, and taking in movies and music are some of Karron’s interests and hobbies.

Deputy Executive Director Laurie Thompson has been with NADO for 25 years. Laurie helps keep the NADO and NADO Research Foundation wheels turning through management of the daily operations of the Research Foundation, securing financial resources and overseeing grants management, and helping execute NADO’s Annual Training Conference each year.

Laurie holds a bachelor’s in public affairs and government from Mount Vernon College and a master’s in health services administration from The George Washington University. Prior to NADO, Laurie spent time as a Field Specialist and an Eagle Staff Fund Director at First Nations Development Institute.

When she’s taking a rare reprieve from her NADO work, Laurie enjoys traveling domestically and internationally to visit friends and family.

Jamie McCormick joined the NADO team as a Policy Fellow first in 2019, then moved into her current role as Legislative Associate in 2021. As Legislative Associate, Jamie keeps NADO members apprised of any policy and regulatory issues and communicates NADO’s policy priorities to federal stakeholders and partner organizations. She is also the first stop for members with inquiries on policy issues. The planning and execution of NADO & DDAA’s annual Washington Conference is also managed by Jamie.

Jamie holds a dual bachelor’s in political science and international relations from The State University of New York College at Geneseo and a master’s in international development studies from The George Washington University. In addition to her roles at NADO, Jamie also worked as a Legislative Assistant for the Northeastern Retail Lumber Association.

Outside of her NADO work, Jamie is an active volunteer with the VOLO Kids Foundation and a fundraiser for YMCA youth programs. She is also NADO’s resident baker regularly providing treats for those in NADO’s D.C. office. Traveling, taking her pup on walks, and hiking in the northeast keep Jamie busy. 

Brett Schwartz began at NADO in 2012 as a Research Fellow after earning his J.D. from the University of Baltimore School of Law. The following year, he was promoted to Program Manager and has now been leading as an Associate Director since 2018. Brett is responsible for managing NADO’s Economic Development District Community of Practice (EDD CoP), as well as researching and monitoring the latest trends in regional economic development and resilience, including best practices for the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS). With more than a decade of experience on the NADO team, Brett is a dynamic relationship builder helping connect and build capacity among the national network of regional development organizations.

Brett also holds a bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University and a master’s from Trinity College Dublin, as well as a certificate in mediation training. He’s a member of Catalyst Grantmakers of San Diego and Imperial Counties and was a participant in the 2021-22 Field Trips to the Future Cohort.

Brett is one of NADO’s West Coast team members residing in San Diego, CA where he enjoys spending time outdoors, attending concerts and festivals, and soaking up life as a parent of two young children.  

Communications Manager Katie Allison joined the team in 2023 to lead the strategic communication efforts of NADO. Katie creates and develops print and online materials, communicates NADO’s updates to members via weekly emails, and maintains content for nado.org and NADO’s social media channels. She also works with different departments to generate new ideas and strategies to effectively describe and promote the important work NADO is doing for EDDs and RDOs across the country.

An experienced nonprofit communications professional, Katie has worked for organizations in western North Carolina for nearly a decade. She holds a bachelor’s in communications from Wingate University where she was a four-year student athlete. Katie has also completed Vision Henderson County, a comprehensive leadership development program that promotes informed and committed civic volunteerism.

Katie stays busy trying to keep up with her two young sons whom she enjoys exploring the Blue Ridge Mountains with. Traveling to new and favorite places and cheering on the Atlanta Braves are some of her family’s favorite pastimes.

Senior Program Manager Ciara Ristig has been a member of the NADO team since 2021, and helps with NADO’s EDD Community of Practice, EDD staff capacity building and other grants on a range of subjects, including equity and solar energy. Before NADO, Ciara worked as a Planner for the County of Santa Barbara and an Assistant Project Manager for REM Consult. Ciara holds a bachelor’s in urban studies and French from Bryn Mawr and a master’s in urban studies from Ecole d’Urbanisme de Paris.

When she’s not traveling, you can find her outrigger paddling and serving on the board of the Blue Sky Center in New Cuyama, CA, near her home base of Santa Barbara.

Carrie Kissel has been a member of the NADO team since 2005 when she began as a Research Fellow. She later moved into the roles of Program Manager in 2006, and then Associate Director in 2011. Carrie holds a bachelor’s in anthropology from Ball State University and a master’s in public anthropology from American University. As Associate Director, Carrie oversees NADO’s work in rural transportation and rural wealth creation. She provides technical assistance and support to rural regions on transportation and economic development issues and develops training and peer exchange events on transportation issues and rural wealth creation as an economic development strategy.

Carrie is a member of the Transportation Research Board (TRB) and secretary of TRB’s Rural Transportation Issues Coordinating Council. She is also a member of the American Anthropological Association and the National Association for the Practice of Anthropology.

Reading, gardening, hiking, and kayaking are a few of Carrie’s hobbies, and she organizes and facilitates a DEI/social justice-focused book club in her community.

Melissa Levy has worked at NADO as a Regional Development Researcher since February 2023 and is the Principal Consultant at her own firm specializing in wealth-based economic development consulting. With a career spanning nearly 30 years, Melissa brings a breadth of knowledge to her role as a Regional Development Researcher. Melissa provides in-depth research, coaching, and training on regional economic resilience, rural wealth creation strategies, and economic development.

Melissa is a North American Food Systems Network trained AgriCluster Resilience and Expansion (ACRE) facilitator and a WealthWorks coach, facilitator, and trainer. In addition to her professional work, Melissa serves on the Vermont Urban and Community Forestry Council, on the board of the Hinesburg Community Resource Center, and on the Hinesburg Economic Development Committee.

A true outdoorswoman, Melissa enjoys cross country and downhill skiing, paddleboarding, hiking, biking, and kayaking, as well as yoga, and teaching Tai Chi.

Program Manager Krishna Kunapareddy began her role with NADO in February of 2023 after 14 years of service at Boonslick Regional Planning Commission in Missouri. Krishna manages NADO Research Foundation’s Planning and Environmental Linkages and Center for Environmental Excellence projects. In addition to researching and writing, Krishna also conducts virtual workshops on innovative tools and techniques related to transportation planning.

She holds an undergraduate degree from Andhra University and a master’s from JNT University in India, as well as a master’s in city and regional planning from the University of Texas at Arlington. Krishna is also a certified Smart Cities Academy Practitioner and holds the Location Advantage certificate from geographic information system software company ESRI.

In her spare time, Krishna volunteers with Mentors4College helping high schoolers better plan for their post-high school paths. She is also a dedicated advocate for documented H4 Dreamers.

Krystal DeLeon joined the NADO team in October of 2020 as Database & Grants Manger, but in January of 2022 transitioned to her current role as Operations Manager. Krystal keeps NADO running through behind the scenes work of invoicing, solving any database issues that may arise, producing membership reports, and much more. Her organizational skills and thorough knowledge help the NADO team operate more efficiently across all departments.

Prior to NADO, Krystal was the Conference Services Coordinator for State Services Organization. She is a Certified Meeting Professional (CMP), a licensed realtor, and holds a bachelor’s in psychology from Liberty University. When she’s not keeping NADO’s operations in order, Krystal enjoys running and rock climbing, and adventuring with her husband and son.

Senior Program Manager Bret Allphin joined NADO in April of 2022 bringing with him a wealth of knowledge after a 20-year career with Buckeye Hills Regional Council in Marietta, Ohio. In addition to his bachelor’s in political science and master’s in public affairs, Bret is licensed Geographical Information Systems Professional (GISP). He is NADO’s go-to team member for all things mapping while also supporting members with transportation and economic development technical assistance services.

An avid sports aficionado and former collegiate athlete, Bret enjoys cheering on his Cincinnati Reds, hitting the trails on his mountain bike, and improving his golf game whenever possible. Bret is an involved community member in Marietta dedicating much of his spare time to serving on local nonprofit boards.

Contact Karron Grant

Applications cannot be saved and returned to at a later time. It is recommended you compile all of your information in advance in a word processor and cut and paste into the application below.

2023 Impact Awards

The primary applicant must be a NADO member. Project partners, both NADO and non-members, can be recognized under "Project Partners" below.

Primary Project Contact:
This person will be the designated point of contact for all future awards-related correspondence.

Organization Address

Project Location (if different from Organization Address)

Executive Director

Additional Organizational Information
Please upload your organization's logo which will be included on the winning project award certificate.

Project Information
This title will be printed on the award certificate for winning projects and in all 2022 NADO Impact Award materials and cannot be changed.

Project Summary & Questions
Please craft clear, thoughtful, and engaging responses to the following questions. Use the following sections to tell us how your project has made an impact, such as its use of creative funding mechanisms, efforts to create efficiencies or reduce costs, unique partnership models, and emphasis on building resilience and/or enhancing your region's quality of life.

For award-winning projects, the information provided below may be used verbatim to inform project descriptions that will be published in the 2023 NADO Impact Awards materials and included on the NADO website.

Please submit at least one photo showing your project in action. Please keep file size to a minimum (<2Mb) and use JPEG format. If uploading multiple files, ZIP files prior to submitting. If you have trouble uploading images they can be directly emailed to Brett Schwartz at [email protected]. Include the project title they correspond to in the subject line of your email.

Note: Submitted photos may be used in NADO Impact Awards materials and in other NADO published materials with credit to your organization. Please also consider submitting photos for NADO's 2023 Photo Contest, which will be held this summer.


CLICK THE LINK BELOW TO SUBMIT THE APPLICATION - PLEASE BE PATIENT! IF YOU DO NOT SEE A CONFIRMATION, YOUR APPLICATION WAS NOT RECEIVED.
Your application is not submitted until you are directed to a confirmation page. If you have any questions or are unsure if your application has been submitted, please contact Brett Schwartz at [email protected]

Contact Melissa Levy

Contact Krishna Kunapareddy

Contact Andrew Coker

Contact Lara Gale

Contact Katie Allison

Contact Jack Morgan

Content Questions Form

Registration Questions Form

Hotel Questions Form

New Speaker Inquiry

Job Listing Inquiry

Joe McKinney serves as Executive Director of the National Association of Development Organizations (NADO). Headquartered in Washington DC, NADO provides advocacy, education, research, and training for the nation’s 500+ regional planning and development organizations.

Joe has thirty-one years of experience having served in city, county, regional, national association, and government management since 1991. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Public Policy Analysis from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and is a candidate for a master’s degree in Public Administration from UNC-Chapel Hill.

McKinney has provided congressional testimony on numerous occasions regarding the importance of regional development organizations in helping shape the nation’s economic growth. He is nationally recognized for promoting innovative solutions in areas such as planning and economic development, workforce development, transportation and transit, and aging services.

Contact Danny Tomares

Contact Dion Thompson-Davoli

Contact Ciara Ristig

Contact Bret Allphin

Contact Brett Schwartz

Contact Carrie Kissel

Contact Scott Brown

Contact Jamie McCormick

Contact Joe McKinney

Contact Krystal De Leon

Contact Brittany Salazar

Contact Laurie Thompson

Contact Mirielle Burgoyne