Overview

2018 Annual Training Conference
Charlotte, North Carolina | October 13 - 16, 2018
Westin Charlotte

Click here to explore the conference program (PDF)
Click here to request AICP Certification Maintenance credits from APA
10 Reasons Why You Should Attend the ATC
#10. Location, location, location! Located in downtown Charlotte, which is really called Uptown, the Westin is in the perfect location for a conference in the Queen City. Tour the NASCAR Hall of Fame, just a 10 minute walk from the hotel. Check out locally sourced food and drink, gifts and art at the 7th Street Public Market. Buy a Levine Center for the Arts Pass and have easy access to three of Charlotte’s stunning museums! And, treat your culinary fancy at any of the many new and exciting eateries located in Uptown and the surrounding area.
#9. Make new connections. Whether you are a newly minted NADO or seasoned member, there are always chances for new connections! NADO’s ATC is the leading annual event for regional development organizations that serve rural and small metro regions, so there will be plenty of opportunities to re-connect with old friends or make new friends engaged in similar work from across the nation.
#8. Topics for everyone. Whether you are an executive director, senior staff, program manager, or local official serving on the board, the ATC offers sessions that will be of interest to you. And, we offer learning opportunities in different platforms, from roll-up-your-sleeves learning labs, to conversation cafés that foster in-depth peer-to-peer information and idea exchanges, to thought-provoking plenary sessions, to mobile workshops that take attendees out of the hotel to learn—there is really, truly something for everyone. We promise.
#7. Aha! Moments. You will have a few. The ATC environment fosters information sharing and idea exchange, and attendees learn as much from their peers lessons learned as they do from a professional trainer. No matter the source, every year attendees tell us they truly learned something unexpected.
#6. The future of regions…and implications for NADO. Learn about critical emerging trends that will likely shape regional development over the coming decades. Regional development, urbanization, climate change, food and agriculture, manufacturing and sustainability will all have a direct impact on how development organizations may need to adapt and operate in the not so distant future. Find out how these macro trends may affect NADO, what to anticipate, and how you can be ready.
#5. Get credit. As always, we work with the Kentucky Department for Local Government to get our sessions approved for credits for local officials attending from the state, and we have applied for AICP credits for 17 sessions, mobile workshops, conversation cafés, learning labs and mobile workshops.
#4. Inspiration. Get inspired to try new approaches as you hear about new ideas and initiatives that your peers across the country are trying.
#3. Connections with EDA leadership. All six EDA Regional Directors are scheduled to attend the conference, as is Deputy Assistant Secretary for Regional Affairs Dennis Alvord.
#2. Peer networking. Over the course of the four day conference, there will be a lot of networking opportunities—during sessions, at the Innovation Award Roundtable and Opening receptions, during the mobile workshops and coffee breaks, not to mention during the off-hours after the conference programming ends each day.
And, the # 1 reason to attend the ATC: Professional development. With almost 40 learning opportunities via mobile workshops, learning labs, conversation cafés, plenaries, concurrent sessions and learning labs, you will have ample opportunities to broaden your knowledge base and become even more valuable to your organization and your stakeholders.
Now that We’ve Grabbed Your Attention
Some quick things to know as you register and plan your conference experience:
- The early bird registration deadline has been extended until Monday, October 1st. Register today by clicking the Registration button on the left side of this page.
- We have submitted 17 of the learning labs, plenaries, concurrent sessions, mobile workshops and conversation cafés to the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP), the American Planning Association's professional institute, for Certification Maintenance (CM) credits. Check out which sessions by clicking here.
- There are still seats for the Learning Labs (Saturday and Sunday, October 13th and 14th); they offer in-depth training on increasing your public speaking skills; getting a handle on cybersecurity issues RDOs face; enhancing your public relations strategies; running an effective RDO (for new and emerging executive directors); brownfields redevelopment; diversity, equity, and inclusion; the roles of libraries and museums to boost community vitality; staff management in the uncharted territories of today’s workplace and workforce; and how small-scale manufacturing can support community development.
- Our mobile workshops are filling up fast! They include a visit to the small city of Shelby to explore the community’s vibrant downtown and meet with staff from the Uptown Shelby Association; a walking tour of Charlotte’s exciting Uptown and SouthEnd neighborhoods to learn about pedestrian/bike/trails infrastructure, transit-oriented development, and retrofitting auto-friendly roads into shared spaces; a ride on the Light Rail to UNCC to learn how the transit system has evolved in partnership with the university; and a visit to the Riverwalk, a master planned community located along the banks of the Catawba River in Rock Hill, SC to learn how a former chemical plant and manufacturing facility were transformed into a world class sports area.
- The conference will occur at the Westin Charlotte, 601 South College Street, Charlotte, NC; 866.837.4148
- Questions? Contact Ian Schramm for help with registering for the conference ([email protected]); Vicki Glass for help with hotel room reservations ([email protected]); or Laurie Thompson if you have questions about the conference content ([email protected]).
Comments from some of the attendees from the 2017 ATC in Anchorage:
“NADO appears to be a top notch organization with great resources for support. As a new director I appreciated the information and networking opportunity.”
“This has always been the single best source of information and best practices available to us. Thank you, NADO!”
“NADO staff does a stellar job with the conferences and their hard-work is appreciated!”
“Shared sense of purpose and camaraderie is inspiring and uplifting. Dedication of role models and learning from their experience is very beneficial.”
“NADO conferences are extremely valuable in providing new information and best practices, as well as providing networking opportunities. They provide an annual "tune-up" in motivation, competency and adaptability. They also encourage us to look within our organizations to determine how we can make what we do more relevant and how we can innovate.”
“Attending NADO Conferences have always been a positive experience for me, not only because of the sessions/workshops, but also because of the peer networking and interaction with NADO staff. It is always one of the highlights of my job!”
“NADO conferences are a great place to network. Through networking and training Executive Directors can build confidence, glean new ideas, and be educated in working more efficiently with congressional members, legislators, and local elected officials. NADO advocacy is essential in keeping RDOs viable, respected, and prosperous.”
Questions?: Contact Laurie Thompson, Deputy Executive Director at 202.624.5948 or [email protected]
Registration

Registration for the 2018 Annual Training Conference will begin on August 3, 2018
Registration for this event started on August 03, 2018 and is currently
Closed.
Registration fees for the 2018 Annual Training Conference are:
Early bird rate (deadline just extended until is Monday, October 1, 2018; after that rates will increase)
- $595 – Associate and General
- $570 – Sustaining and Sustaining Associate
- $545 – Platinum and Platinum Plus
- $735 – Non-member
- $220 – Spouses
- $100 – Student
Regular rate (register before Monday, October 1, 2018 and save on your registration fee!)
- $615 – Associate and General
- $590 – Sustaining and Sustaining Associate
- $565 – Platinum and Platinum Plus
- $755 – Non-member
- $240 – Spouses
- $100 – Student
To register online, click the green button below. To register by mail or email, please download and complete this PDF form and either mail it to the address below or email it to Ian Schramm at [email protected].
If you wish to pay by check, please mail your payment to:
NADO
400 North Capitol St NW Suite 388
Washington, DC 20001
PLEASE NOTE: You must be registered for the conference to attend a mobile workshop or learning lab.
Agenda & Presentations

Click here to explore the conference agenda
Click here to request AICP Certification Maintenance credits from APA
Presentation Slides
Saturday, October 13
Running an Effective RDO: Strategies for New (or soon to be) Executive Directors
Russ Cowley, Six County Association of Governments, Richfield, UT
Sasha Grist, Western Arkansas PDD, Fort Smith, AR
Robert Hiett, Upper Coastal Plain Council of Governments, Wilson, NC
Laura Lewis Marchino, Region 9 EDD of Southwest Colorado, Durango, CO
Sunday, October 14
The Brownfields Redevelopment Journey: Partners, Resources, and Funding
David Biss, Eisenstein Malanchuk LLP, Washington, DC
Beth Gray, Wells Fargo-RETECHS, Charlotte, NC
Cindy Nolan, U.S. EPA, Atlanta, GA
Colette Santasieri, NJ Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ (second presentation)
Andrew Seth, Sustainable Strategies DC, Washington, DC
Finding Catalysts in Your Community: Harnessing the Potential of Libraries and Museums
Dr. Kathryn Matthew, Institute of Museum and Library Services, Washington, DC
Scenario Planning as an Inclusive Decision-making Tool for RDOs
Janae Futrell, Consortium for Scenario Planning, Atlanta, GA
Monday, October 15
The Future of Regions and Implications for NADO
David Beurle, Future iQ, Minneapolis, MN
What You Need to Know about Small Drinking Water Systems
Glenn Barnes, Environmental Finance Center at UNC-Chapel Hill, NC
Being an Effective Board Member
John Metcalf, Workforce Systems Associates, Charlotte, NC
Applying Systems Thinking to Multidisciplinary Planning
Janae Futrell, Consortium for Scenario Planning, Atlanta, GA
International Engagement Ready Communities Initiative
Marke Troppe, Center for Regional Economic Competitiveness, Arlington, VA
Applying the Wealth Creation Framework to the CEDS
Erica Anderson, Land of Sky Regional Council, Asheville, NC
Dawn Espe, Region Five Development Commission, Staples, MN
Carrie Kissel, NADO Research Foundation, Washington, DC
Brett Schwartz, NADO Research Foundation, Washington, DC
Census Solutions Workshop
Haley Ashcom, U.S. Census Bureau, Suitland, MD
Coping with Federal Grant Oversight: Monitors and Auditors
Bob Lloyd, Robert M. Lloyd Consulting Services, Greenville, SC
Opioid Crisis in Rural America: What is the RDO Role?
Charlie Baker, Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission, Winooski, VT
Rick Hindman, Buckeye Hills Regional Council, Marietta, OH
Lisa Cooper, Northern Kentucky Area Development District, Florence, KY
Broadband Planning to Support Economic Development
Sarah Kackar, Touchpoint Consultants, Fairfax, VA
Lloyd Frasier, Northwest Georgia Regional Planning Commission, Rome, GA
Justin Hembree, Land of Sky Regional Council, Asheville, NC
Purchasing with Federal Grant Funds: The Future is Now
Bob Lloyd, Robert M. Lloyd Consulting Services, Greenville, SC
Tuesday, October 16
Incorporating the Creative Sector in Rural Economic Development Strategies
Kelly Barsdate, National Assembly of State Arts Agencies, Washington, DC
Sally Rood, National Governors Association Center for Best Practices, Washington, DC
Kevin Byrd, New River Valley Regional Commission, Radford, VA
Current Issues in Aging
Autumn Campbell, National Association of Area Agencies on Aging, Washington, DC
New Developments in Cybersecurity and Technology for RDOs
Joe Howland, VC3, Raleigh, NC
Regional Resilience Roundtable
Brett Schwartz, NADO Research Foundation, Washington, DC
New Opportunities to Grow Your Region's Workforce
Ashley Garris, Western Arkansas PDD, Ft. Smith, AR
Laura Mathis, Middle Georgia Regional Commission, Macon, GA
Better Outreach for Better Planning
Kyle Ingham, Panhandle Regional Planning Commission, Amarillo, TX
Pat Steed, Executive Director, Central Florida Regional Planning Council, Bartow, FL
Sarah Thompson, Southwestern Commission Council of Governments, Sylva, NC
Connected and Autonomous Vehicle Readiness for Rural and Metro Areas
Robert Cook, Charlotte Regional Transportation Planning Organization, Charlotte, NC
Michelle Nance, Centralina Council of Governments, Charlotte, NC
Dana Stoogenke, Rocky River Rural Planning Organization, Albemarle, NC
Straightening Manufacturers, Connecting Partners, and Scaling to Meet Opportunity: North Carolina's New Textile Industry
Sara Chester, Carolina Textile District, Morganton, NC
Olivia Collier, NC Department of Commerce, Raleigh, NC
Andrew Crosson, Rural Support Partners, Asheville, NC
Travel & Venue
Westin Charlotte
601 South College Street
Charlotte, NC 28202
(866) 837-4148
Room Rate: $199 Single/Double
Room block deadline: September 17
Click here for reservations
The Westin Charlotte offers a relaxed hotel retreat in the heart of the city's bustling uptown district. The Westin's aim is for you to leave feeling healthier and more invigorated than when you arrived.
Conveniently located in uptown Charlotte, the hotel places you just steps from the NASCAR Hall of Fame, as well as the Charlotte Convention Center. You can also explore the city's many attractions by boarding the LYNX Light Rail stop, right outside the hotel door.
ATC hotel room block sold out! Here is what you need to do.
NADO has been notified that our block of rooms for the 2018 Annual Training Conference at the Westin Hotel in Charlotte, North Carolina is sold out. We have started a wait list and as we work on resolving this problem, we have three requests for you:
First: If you have a room or rooms that you no longer need, please do not cancel them with the hotel. Instead, please contact Vicki Glass at [email protected] and release the rooms to her so she can give them to folks on the wait list.
Second: If you wish to stay at the conference hotel, please email Vicki Glass at [email protected] and let her know how many rooms you will need; the name or names of the attendee(s), including the arrival and departure dates. She will add you to the wait list in the order that she receives the requests. As rooms become available, she will give them to people on the wait list in the order they were placed on the list.
Third: We suggest that you book a room at another hotel with the possibility of cancelling that reservation should a room become available at the Westin. If you book a room at another location, make sure they have a cancellation policy that allows you to cancel without penalty. While we do not have an arrangement with any hotel to address the overflow issue, here are a few hotel options for you to consider:
- Hyatt Place, 222 S. Caldwell St., 704.227.0500
- Hilton Garden Inn Uptown, 508 E. Martin Luther Blvd., 704.347.5972
- Hampton Inn Charlotte Uptown, 530 E. Martin Luther King Blvd., 704.373.0917
- Hyatt House Charlotte, NC, 435 E. Trade, 704.373.9700
- Courtyard by Marriott Charlotte City Center, 237 S. Tyron St., 704.926.5800
~ Some or all of this information was provided by the hotel/venue ~
Taxi: Approximately $25 from the airport to The Westin Charlotte
Hotel Parking: Valet and self-parking from $25-$30 per day
Driving Directions:
From Charlotte Douglas International Airport
- Travel east on Airport Loop Road toward Airport Parking Drive
- Bear right, then turn right on Old Dowd Road
- Turn left onto Harlee Avenue
- Turn right at US Highway 74 East/Wilkinson Boulevard, following for 3.7 miles
- Continue onto Interstate 277 North for one-half mile
- Take Exit 1E to merge onto South College Street toward the Bobcats Arena
- The hotel will be on your right
From Interstate 77 (North)
- Take Interstate 77 South to John Belk Freeway Exit 9B
- Take the College Street Exit 1E
- Proceed to the hotel which is located ahead on the right
From East
- Take Interstate 40 West to Interstate 85 South
- Continue on I-85 South to Interstate 77 South
- Proceed on I-77 to the John Belk Freeway (Exit 9B)
- Take the College Street Exit
- Proceed to the hotel located on the right
From Independence Boulevard (East)
- Take US Highway 74 West
- Take the Stonewall Street Exit 1E
- Turn right on South Boulevard
- Turn left onto Stonewall Street
- After passing the second stop light, turn into the parking center (please note, this is not the main entrance to the hotel)
From Asheville (West)
- Take Interstate 240 West to Interstate 26 East
- Continue on I-26 East to County Road 74 East
- Then proceed to Interstate 85 East
- Continue on I-85 to Interstate 77 South
- Exit onto John Belk Freeway (Exit 9B)
- Proceed to the College Street Exit
- Exit onto College Street
- Proceed to the hotel located on the right
From Interstate 85 (South)
- Take Interstate 85 North to Freedom Drive (Exit 34)
- From Freedom Drive, merge onto Interstate 277 North via the ramp on the left
- Then take the College Street Exit towards downtown
- The hotel is located on the right
From Interstate 77 (South)
- Take Interstate 77 North to John Belk Freeway Exit 9B
- Take the College Street Exit 1E
- Proceed to the hotel which is located ahead on the right
From Interstate 85 (North)
- Take Interstate 85 South
- Take Exit 38 to Interstate 77 South
- Continue on I-77 South to John Belk Freeway (Exit 9B)
- Take the College Street Exit 1E
- Proceed to the hotel which is the first building on the right