Haley Waxman, WCED’s Senior Strategic Marketing Manager, traveled to NYC to attend Development Counsellors International’s (DCI), 13^th annual Marketing Summit. The summit convened more than two dozen economic development marketers to learn about the industry’s most pressing challenges, best practices, trends and more.

The conference kicked off with a fireside chat with Jason Hickey of Hickey & Associates, a global leader in site selection and location strategy. Jason stressed the importance of maintaining a comprehensive economic development website, as only about 50% of projects have a site selection consultant at the start of their location search. AI tools like ChatGPT are also aiding preliminary searches, underscoring the need to have a well-organized website. This key takeaway is well aligned with WCED’s marketing strategy, having just launched a new data-driven website last month.

The sessions continued with important lessons on the evolving landscape of AI, the importance of building third-party credibility, and strategies for building an engaged LinkedIn audience.

Finally, Haley participated in a live panel recording of DCI’s Talent Wars Podcast. Talent Wars is the industry’s first podcast that goes inside the global battle for talent and what cities, states, regions and countries are doing to attract and retain the workforce we need. The discussion dives into the unique talent attraction programs in the Triangle, Jacksonville, Florida, and Des Moines, Iowa.

Haley shared why Work in the Triangle, one of the longest-running talent attraction programs in the country, continues to invest in proactive strategies despite the Triangle’s highly educated workforce.

Listen to the podcast here:

Haley’s participation in the summit highlights WCED’s commitment to staying ahead of industry trends and embracing innovative strategies in economic development marketing. From leveraging AI and enhancing digital platforms to amplifying talent attraction efforts, the summit reinforced the importance of adaptability and collaboration in a rapidly evolving landscape. As WCED continues to refine its approach, insights gained from this event will play a pivotal role in shaping future initiatives and strengthening Wake County’s position as a top destination for talent and investment.