2026 WINTER

CONFERENCE

JANUARY 26-28, 2026

RENAISSANCE MONTGOMERY HOTEL & SPA

201 TALLAPOOSA STREET, MONTGOMERY, AL 36104

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION OF ALABAMA

2 North Jackson Street, Suite 302, Montgomery, AL 36104

Phone: (334) 676-2085

edaa.org

2026 WINTER CONFERENCE

AGENDA

PASSWORD

EDAA2026

MONDAY, JAN 26

EXHIBITOR SETUP

Location

10:00 – 11:00

REGISTRATION

Location

11:00 – 5:00

BOARD MEETING

11:00 – 1:00

YOUNG PROFESSIONALS NETWORK LUNCHEON

Bibb Street Pizza Company

11:30–1:00

WELCOME

Jamie Troutman, EDAA President
MPAC

1:30 – 2:00

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Jimmy Yeary

2:00 – 3:00

DOOR PRIZES AND BREAK

3:00 – 3:25

SELLING ALABAMA – PANEL OF ALABAMA-BASED SITE SELECTORS

DISCUSSING WHAT SETS ALABAMA APART BESIDES WORKFORCE AND INCENTIVES

Cedric Colbert, Senior Consultant, Global Location Strategies
Alex Leath, Partner, Bradley
Abbey Merrill, Consultant, Global Location Strategies
Griffin O’Connor, Economic Development Coordinator
Southeast Gas, Moderator

MPAC

3:30 – 4:30

MAKING THE CASE: EQUIPPING DEVELOPERS TO CHAMPION TAX CREDIT OPPORTUNITIES

Lauren Hyde, Executive Director, Alabama Business Intelligence Center
Jason Isbell, Senior Vice President of State Government Affairs and Economic Development, Regions Bank
Jonathan Schroder, Manager of Economic Development, Spire Inc., Moderator

4:30 – 5:15

RECEPTION

Concourse

Sponsored by: Agracel, City of Montgomery

5:30 – 6:30

TUESDAY, JAN 27

BREAKFAST

Alabama Ballroom

Sponsored by: PowerSouth Energy Cooperative

7:00 – 8:00

AN UPDATE AND OVERVIEW FROM ELLEN MCNAIR

Ellen McNair, Secretary, Alabama Department of Commerce
MPAC

Sponsored by: TVA

8:15–9:00

STATE OF THE STATE UPDATES FROM ALABAMA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT LEADERSHIP

9:00 – 9:20: Ed Castile, Deputy Secretary / AIDT Director
9:20 – 9:40: Miller Girvin, President, EDPA
9:40 – 10:00: Cynthia Crutchfield, CEO, Innovate Alabama
10:00 – 10:20: Kenneth Boswell, Director, ADECA

9:00 – 10:20

DOOR PRIZES AND BREAK

10:20 – 10:45

GOVERNOR’S LUNCHEON

Governor Kay Ivey

Alabama Ballroom

Sponsored by: Energy Southeast

11:00–1:00

BREAKOUTS (THE THREE R’S)

RURAL ROADMAP Garlan Gudger, Alabama Senate Pro Tem

RETAIL Susan Eller, Cullman Economic Development Agency

REGIONALISM Melody Lee, Grow Southeast Alabama;
Kelley Pearce, One East Alabama

1:15 – 2:00

RURAL ROADMAP Garlan Gudger, Alabama Senate Pro Tem

RETAIL Susan Eller, Cullman Economic Development Agency

REGIONALISM Melody Lee, Grow Southeast Alabama;
Kelley Pearce, One East Alabama

2:05 – 2:50

BREAK

2:50 – 3:10

BREAKOUTS (TARGET SECTORS)

AUTOMOTIVE Hollie Pegg, Alabama Department of Commerce

FORESTRY Nick Shaver, Alabama Department of Commerce

AEROSPACE, DEFENSE, AND DATA CENTERS Veronica Crock & Bob Smith, Alabama Department of Commerce

3:15 – 4:00

AUTOMOTIVE Hollie Pegg, Alabama Department of Commerce

FORESTRY Nick Shaver, Alabama Department of Commerce

AEROSPACE, DEFENSE, AND DATA CENTERS Veronica Crock & Bob Smith, Alabama Department of Commerce

4:05 – 4:50

LEGISLATIVE RECEPTION

5:00 – 7:00

WEDNESDAY, JAN 28

BREAKFAST

Location

7:30–8:30

INNOVATING THE TALENT PIPELINE: UNIQUE CTE MODELS

Lori Denton, Director, CREATE
Christina Helmich, Industry Engagement Director,
Baldwin Preparatory Academy

8:15 – 9:00

LEVERAGING AIRPORT PARTNERSHIPS FOR REGIONAL SUCCESS

Ben Harrison, President, The Aviation Council of Alabama

9:00 – 9:30

CONNECTING ALABAMA: FIBER’S ROLE IN ECONOMIC GROWTH

Terry Metze, the CEO of the Alabama Fiber Network

9:30 – 10:00

EDAA BUSINESS SESSION AND BOARD ELECTIONS

10:00 – 10:30

CLOSING REMARKS, DOOR PRIZES, ADJOURN

10:30 – 10:45

CONFERENCE SPONSORS

EVENT SPONSORS

Aracel
AIDT
Bradley
Central Alabama Electric Cooperative
City of Montgomery
Energy Southeast
Southeast Gas

BREAKFAST SPONSORS

Spire

SESSION SPONSORS

TVA

EXHIBITORS

Alabama Higher Education Partnership
Alabama Technology Network
Bailey Harris Construction
Dunn Building
ECS Southeast, LLC
Fite Building Company
INCO
Lathan McKee Associates Architects, P.C.
Pinchin, LLC
Robins & Morton
Sain Associates
SS&L Architects
The Westmoreland Company
Terracon Consultants, Inc. TTL, Inc.

LANYARD SPONSOR

Goodwyn Mills and Cawood

DIAMOND SPONSORS

City of Prattville
Robotics Technology Park
Spire
University of West Alabama

PLATINUM SPONSORS

Alabama Fiber Network
Alabama SBDC Network
Alabama State Port Authority
ARCO
Burr Forman
City of Auburn Industrial
Development Board
City of Opelika
North Central Alabama Regional
Council of Government
Opelika Industrial Development Authority
Ozark-Dale County Economic
Development Corporation
Regions Bank
Vulcan Materials Company

GOLD SPONSORS

58, Inc.
Alabama Mountain Lakes
Tourist Associaiton
Birmingham Business Alliance
Brasfield & Gorrie
Dunn Building Company
Elmore County Economic
Development Authority
Goodgame Company, Inc.
Marengo County Economic
Development Association
Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce
University of Alabama, Office of
Research & Economic Development
University of South Alabama

SILVER SPONSORS

Carrol Daniel Construction
Chambers County Development Authority
Chilton County Industrial
Development Board
CSX

Doster Construction
Dothan Chamber of Commerce
Evergreen Siteworks
Hoar Program Management
Jasper Industrial Development Board
Lowndes County Economic
Development Commission
Maritime Training Center
Monroeville/Monroe County
Economic Development Authority
North Alabama Industrial
Development Association
Northwest Alabama Economic
Development Authority
Port of Huntsville
Prattville Area Chamber of Commerce
S&ME, Inc.
South Alabama Electric Cooperative
SS&L Architects
SSOE, Inc.
Stifel
Valor Strategies
Volkert

BREAK SPONSORS

Baldwin County Economic
Development Alliance
CMC Gas
DeKalb County Economic
Development Authority
Evans General Contractors
JESCO, Inc.
Lathan McKee Associates Architects, P.C.
Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce
Morgan County Economic
Development Association
St. Clair Economic Development

BREAK SPONSORS

Bullock County Development Authority
Byard Associates, LLC
Centerfire Economic
Cherokee County Industrial
Development Authority
City of Anniston
City of Millbrook
Covington County Economic Development
Crenshaw County Economic and
Industrial Development Authority
Cullman Economic Development Agency
Franklin County Economic Development
InSpring, LLC
Jackson County Economic Development
Lake Martin Area Economic
Development Alliance
Lawrence County Industrial
Development Board
Limestone County Economic
Development Association
Macon County Economic Development
Marshall County Economic
Development Council
Scottsboro Industrial Development
Shoals Economic Development
Scottsboro Industrial Development
Walker County Development Authority
Wiregrass Economic Development
Wiregrass Electric Cooperative

EVENT SPONSORS

Aracel
AIDT
Bradley
Central Alabama Electric Cooperative
City of Montgomery
Energy Southeast
Southeast Gas

BREAKFAST SPONSORS

Spire

SESSION SPONSORS

TVA

EXHIBITORS

LANYARD SPONSOR

Goodwyn Mills and Cawood

DIAMOND SPONSORS

City of Prattville
Robotics Technology Park
Spire
University of West Alabama

PLATINUM SPONSORS

GOLD SPONSORS

SILVER SPONSORS

Carrol Daniel Construction
Chambers County Development Authority
Chilton County Industrial
Development Board
CSX

BREAK SPONSORS

MARK YOUR CALENDARS

2026 SUMMER CONFERENCE

July 19 – 22, 2026
The Grand Hotel Golf Resort & Spa

2027 WINTER CONFERENCE

January 25 – 27, 2027
Renaissance Hotel & Spa at the Convention Center

2027 SUMMER CONFERENCE

August 15 – 18, 2027
The Grand Hotel Golf Resort & Spa

2028 WINTER CONFERENCE

January 24 – 26, 2028
Renaissance Hotel & Spa at
the Convention Center

2026 WINTER CONFERENCE COMMITTEE

Hole Smith

Conference Chair

Jonathan Schniper
Conference Co-Chair

Jacquie Allen
Whitney Barlow
Brooks Bennett
Jamie Christian
Madison Hadley
Laurel Harp
Stefania Jones
Chris Mayfield
Angie Miller

Bakari Miller
Griffin O’Connor
Bryan Parker
Frank Robinson
Karen Suggs
Brad Whisenant
Lori Williams

2025–2026 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Jamie Troutman – President
Melody Whitten – First Vice President
Shane Kearney – Second Vice President
Lee Johnson – Secretary/Treasurer
Angela Smith – Immediate Past President

Chris Busby
Lee Johnson
Lisa Miller
Vince Perez
David Padgett

Kevin Jackson
Penny Townson
Justice Smyth
Bakari Miller

Continuing Sponsors

LEGACY

Alabama Power Company

ADVOCATE

Alabama Department of Commerce
Southeast Gas
Spire

MENTOR

ADECA
CMC Gas

PARTNER

Alabama Community College System
Alabama League of Municipalities
Alabama State Port Authority
Birmingham Business Alliance
Central Alabama Electric Cooperative
EDPA
Huntsville/Madison County Chamber
Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce
Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce
North Alabama Industrial

Development Association

PRINCIPAL

58, Inc. | Shelby County Economic

Development Council
Alabama SBDC Network
Chambers County Development Authority
City of Auburn/Auburn Industrial

Development Board
Cullman Economic Development Agency

Dothan Area Chamber of Commerce
Energy Southeast
Energy Systems Group
Jefferson County Economic and Industrial Development Authority
LaBella Associates
Morgan County Economic Development Association
Norfolk Southern
Opelika Industrial Development Authority
Prattville Area Chamber of Commerce
Talladega County Economic Development Authority
The Aviation Council of Alabama
Tuscaloosa County Industrial

Development Authority
TVA
Walker County Development Authority

SUSTAINING

City of Hoover
Covington County Economic

Development Commission
Elmore County Economic

Development Authority
Gadsden Etowah County Industrial

Development Authority
Marshall County Economic

Development Council
St. Clair County Economic

Development Council

The Industrial Development

Board of Lawrence County
UB Community Development, LLC