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  • Conway Events is the world's leading events firm on foreign direct investment FDI and global corporate location trends.
  • Conway has organized events in more than 100 cities in more than 30 countries, connecting businesses and governments around the world.
  • Our conferences, forums and seminars are about why and where in the world companies in all sectors are locating their facilities.
With more than 70 employees, Conway’s various divisions work closely together to provide clients with an integrated approach that addresses all of their investment attraction and promotion requirements.

Adam Jones Kelley

Adam Jones-Kelley

President

Adam Jones-Kelley is President of Conway, Inc., having worked with the firm for 17 years. Prior to becoming President of Conway Adam managed the award-winning international publication Site Selection magazine. Adam has broad experience in publishing and event management, and has been a featured panelist at events around the world. Adam grew up in Atlanta, Georgia and Auckland, New Zealand. Adam is married to renowned photographer Soo Jones-Kelley, and the two reside in Atlanta where they’re raising a pair of rambunctious kittens. Adam is a published writer and avid adventure-sport enthusiast who regularly tries to get himself killed during ill-conceived escapades.
Debbie Porter, Chief Financial Officer
Debbie Porter
Chief Financial Officer
Sean Laughlin

Sean Laughlin

Chief Operating Officer

Sean Laughlin has served as Chief Operating Officer for Conway and on Conway's board of directors for two years. Prior to joining Conway Sean served with distinction for five years in Business Development for Starbucks Coffee Co., driving growth that produced one of the company's most explosive emerging markets. Sean has an extensive Business, Marketing and Strategic Planning background which includes a solid foundation of Fortune 500 leadership experience. Sean was born and raised in Trinidad W.I., moved to the USA in his early twenties and now resides in Atlanta, GA where he enjoys working with charities and traveling. He is also an avid motorcycle & classic car enthusiast.
 

Ron Starner

Ron Starner

Executive Vice President

Ron Starner is Executive Vice President of Conway Inc. and Site Selection magazine, an international corporate real estate publication based in Atlanta. The official publication of the Industrial Asset Management Council (IAMC) and the Global Foreign Direct Investment Association, Site Selection reaches 48,000 high-level decision-makers six times a year with timely news, analysis and perspective on key events and trends impacting corporate real estate and economic development. The magazine also publishes SiteSelection.com, the online Web portal for corporate real estate and economic development news and data, and six email newsletters – Site Selection Dispatch, Site Selection Impact Report, The Site Selection Life Sciences Report, The Site Selection Aerospace Report, Site Selection International and The Site Selection Energy Report.
Shirar O'Connor

Shirar O'Connor

Principal
PR & Marketing Services

Shirar is a Principal at CONWAY PR & Marketing. She is the founder of The PONT Group, which was acquired by CONWAY in 2012 to form CONWAY’s PR and marketing division. Shirar is a veteran in the foreign direct investment industry. She has 26 years of experience providing strategic integrated marketing communications counsel to public and private sector organizations. Her area of expertise is in cross-border business with specialization in economic development/investment promotion. Her business-to-business experience includes a position as the Americas Marketing Manager for global serviced office provider, Regus and as European Manager of IDRC Europe (now known as CoreNet Global). Shirar has also worked for New York based public relations firms Spring O’Brien, and Ruder Finn. Over the course of her career she has worked as a consultant to over 130 economic promotion agencies from all parts of the world. Shirar is a graduate of the University of Florida, Gainesville. She has lived and worked extensively overseas. She was born in South Africa, and has lived in India, Thailand, Portugal, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and now resides in New York.
Andreas Dressler

Andreas Dressler

Managing Director
Advisory Services

Andreas Dressler has been active in foreign direct investment (FDI) for 17 years. He assists companies from different industries to develop international expansion strategies, select the bestlocations for their operations, and negotiate favorable conditions for their investments. He also works with countries, regions and cities to implement investment promotion and attraction strategies and secure new FDI projects. Andreas’ areas of expertise include location analysisand site selection, investment incentives, location benchmarking, and investment attraction and promotion. In 2009, Andreas established Terrain, an independent consulting firm providing services to companies and investment promotion agencies worldwide. Terrain has grown quickly to become one of the leading and most respected consulting firms in foreign direct investment. In 2013, Terrain became part of Conway. Andreas assumed responsibility for Conway’s overall range of advisory activities, which represent the world’s most comprehensive offering of servicesrelated to foreign direct investment.
 

J. Tate Godfrey, CEcD

J. Tate Godfrey, CEcD

Executive Director
Industrial Asset Management Council (IAMC)

After over 25 years in state, regional and local economic development, Tate joined the IAMC team as executive director in August of 2014. A Certified Economic Developer and a graduate of the Economic Development Institute in Oklahoma, Tate has extensive experience in both the private and public sectors. Previous positions include: CEO of the North Alabama Industrial Development Association in Decatur, Alabama; Senior Vice President for Group VI Corporation in Georgia; Director of Office and Industrial Sales for Peachtree City Development Corporation in Peachtree City, Georgia; and Economic Development Specialist for Oglethorpe Power Corporation in Atlanta..
Charles FitzGibbon

Charles FitzGibbon

Vice President of Sales

Charles FitzGibbon joined Conway in April of 2013 to launch the Custom Content Division. Charles has over 9 years of experience crafting marketing programs for local, regional, and state level economic development organizations. Since 2006, he has personally developed over 50 new projects in 13 states. Charles is a graduate of Georgia State University where he earned his BBA in Finance from the J. Mack Robinson College of Business. He Currently resides in Nashville, TN with his wife of 15 years and his 3 children.
Mark Arend

Mark Arend

Editor in Chief
Site Selection Magazine

Mark Arend is editor in chief of Site Selection magazine. He also edits four online newsletters: the Site Selection Energy Report, the Site Selection Life Sciences Report, The Site Selection Aerospace Report and Site Selection International. Mark has been editor in chief since 2001. Prior to joining the editorial staff in 1997, Mark worked for 10 years in New York City at Wall Street Computer Review, ABA Banking Journal and Global Investment Technology. At Site Selection, he leads a team of journalists who have won dozens of awards in recent years for excellence in print and online editorial and design. Under his leadership, Site Selection has become a leading authority on airport-related economic development and producer of investment profiles of areas throughout the world. Mark graduated from the University of Hartford in 1985 and lives near Atlanta, Georgia.
 

Adam Bruns

Adam Bruns

Managing Editor
Site Selection Magazine

Adam Bruns has served as managing editor of Site Selection magazine since February 2002. He has reported hundreds of stories on global territories, industries and topics, while also overseeing reporting and production of the magazine and Site Selection's insightful Online Insider, Energy Report and Life Sciences Report e-newsletters. His reporting work and speaking engagements have taken him around the US and the world, including Canada, Turkey, Malaysia, Germany, Belgium, Costa Rica and the UK. Before joining Site Selection, Adam lived for a decade in Lexington, Kentucky, where, in addition to freelance work as a golf writer, he wrote and edited for Thoroughbred Times, seminar company Lessons in Leadership, Kentucky business magazine The Lane Report and Louisville magazine (where his work won an award from the Society of Professional Journalists). Adam is a St. Louis native who grew up in the Kansas City suburb of Prairie Village, Kansas. He is an alumnus of Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois, where he studied writing, theatre and languages.
Neilia Stephens

Neilia Stephens

Principal
PR & Marketing Services

Neilia has specialized in economic development public relations and marketing for more than fifteen years. She has created and implemented strategic communications programs for national and international economic development agencies focused on increasing brand awareness and securing investment opportunities. Neilia earned a reputation for delivering solid media placements in The Wall Street Journal; New York Times; Bloomberg News; Dow Jones; Washington Post; Financial Times; CNN; CNBC; Fox News Channel and countless international, regional, and target trade outlets. She has designed digital and social media campaigns, and organized intimate and large-scale events in every major U.S. market and in international locations. Previous to PONT, Neilia was with New York based economic development public relations firm, Development Counsellors International (DCI), where she led the media training program and worked on many of the firm’s key accounts.
Crystal Medler, Managing Director, Custom Content
Crystal Medler
Managing Director, Custom Content
 

David Soden, Director of IT
David Soden
Director of IT
 Kitty Wicker,  Head of Global Events
Kitty Wicker
Head of Global Events
Camilla Sharp, Vice President of Events
Camilla Sharp
Vice President of Events
 

Lauren Eubank, Director of Marketing
Lauren Eubank
Director of Marketing
 Ben Yawn, Webmaster
Ben Yawn
Webmaster
Scott Larsen, Art Director
Scott Larsen
Art Director
 

Soo Jones-Kelley, Lead Photographer
Soo Jones-Kelley
Lead Photographer
Catherine McFarland, Regional Director, Site Selection Magazine
Catherine McFarland
Regional Director, Site Selection Magazine
Paul Newman, Regional Director, Site Selection Magazine
Paul Newman
Regional Director, Site Selection Magazine
 

Anne Hardy, Director of International Operations
Anne Hardy
Director of International Operations
Justin Faltot, Director of Business Development
Justin Faltot
Director of Business Development
Steve Jabon, Regional Director, Site Selection Magazine
Steve Jabon
Regional Director, Site Selection Magazine
 

Mike Glennon, Regional Director, Site Selection Magazine
Mike Glennon
Regional Director, Site Selection Magazine

The Difference

Conway Events is a world-renowned organizer of conferences and events for foreign investors and the Investment Promotion Agencies (IPAs) and Economic Development Organizations (EDOs) that serve them.

We work closely with our extensive and diverse network of expert FDI consultants and draw on our own market-led research to design and develop relevant and forward-thinking programs. Staying current on FDI trends is at the heart of what we do. Conway connects world locations with corporate investors through events.

Holistic Approach

Our holistic approach means we manage the event itself, taking care of all logistical and organizational elements, leaving you free to make the most of the business development opportunities. Every event is the perfect occasion for you to meet with corporate investors, peers, and counterparts from across the globe to further your business.

Strategy

We approach each event with your larger business goals in mind.

  • Asking the critical questions upfront to get the right answers from a business strategy perspective
  • Developing a unique agenda, relevant content and tailored format to your organization’s core business
  • Creating an overall concept that will attract your target audience

Design

We will create a seamless, world-class event design concept based on proven methods and new industry trends.

  • Creating an innovative design based on your specific region by our award winning graphic design team
  • Developing a single-day or multi-day format that will draw your audience
  • Featuring your specific region by incorporating monuments and attractions into the overall aesthetics
  • Using technology and current trends to enhance audience experience  

Venue selection & negotiations

Selecting the right venue in the right location is a critical decision that determines overall success. We will ensure you get the right venue for the right price.

  • Leveraging established relationships to get the best venue for the best price
  • Conducting familiarization trips to determine the best venues to feature your region
  • Protecting your rights by requiring venues to adhere to contractual terms and obligations

Content

FDI insights direct from corporate investors shape our cutting-edge events. Our sessions speak to some of the most critical topics in the world today. We will secure world class speakers through our vast network.

  • Developing tailor-made content around critical issues experienced in region
  • Selecting the right speaker line-up for your audience
  • Intertwining your region’s unique story and messaging throughout the content

Lead Generation

We will identify new markets and sectors while utilizing our proven methodologies to get you in front of decisionmakers from expanding companies.

  • Conducting extensive market research to identify your target audience.
  • Cultivating a pipeline of potential customers that align with business goals

Marketing

We design a custom marketing strategy that encompasses that aligned in with corporate objectives to obtain your desired audience.

  • Developing a custom online event and registration website
  • Copywriting for all online content and printed promotional materials
  • Launching attention-catching social media campaigns
  • Distributing a targeted email campaigns

Management

We oversee and execute every pre-event, onsite, and post-event details to ensure a flawless execution.

  • Choosing exciting and appropriate food and beverage
  • Liaising with the venue staff and run the coordination of rooming requirements
  • Sourcing and managing the various suppliers
  • Overseeing onsite registration

Production

Envisioning and producing great general sessions can be the single most impactful statement you can make to your attendees.

  • Careful design of the full event run-of-show on on-stage production
  • Guiding the panel conversations to be candid and compelling
  • Taking advantage of the audio-visual capabilities to provide a “shock and awe” affect.
  • Conducting trusting relationship with speakers to instill confidence throughout the process
  • Coordinating the use of teleprompters, videographers and photographers
  • Acting as the onsite session producer

We expertly combine each of these aspects to produce conferences, exhibitions, receptions, networking opportunities, training, and lead generation events that result in experiences and connections that cannot be matched elsewhere.

  • “The seminar was very useful from a number of perspectives. Firstly the opportunity to benchmark Virginia's lead generation methods with those of other agencies, secondly, it was helpful to hear from site selection consultants the importance of developing a carefully scripted value proposition, and finally, to listen to a company's perspective regarding how they work with IPA's on a particular site selection.”

    John Elink-Schuurman
    Managing Director - Europe, Virginia Economic Development Partnership, United States
  • “Conway Events did an amazing job with the venue, content, schedule and overall flow. I look forward to engaging with you again in the future.”

    George Do
    Director of Global Information Security, Equinix
  • “You and your colleagues did a great job to put such an event together, and also related activities such as site visiting and networking. I enjoyed the time in Shanghai, talking at the conference, and understanding the recent trends and issues on FDI. It was also great to meet and know more people working in different fields from various countries.”

    Jinlong Ma
    Principal Consultant, DNV Kema

Experience

The WORLD FORUM for Foreign Direct Investment
Philadelphia

  The WORLD FORUM for Foreign Direct Investment, Philadelphia

FDI International Training Seminar 2013
Panel Discussion

  FDI International Training Seminar 2013 Panel Discussion

FDI International Training Seminar 2013
Presentation by Roel Spee

  FDI International Training Seminar 2013 - Roel Spee