More than 200 local government professionals registered to attend the 2019 ICMA Southeast Regional Conference in Greenville, South Carolina. In a pre-conference survey, powered by PublicInput.com, results showed that 52 percent of attendees were attending because of the innovation content being offered. The event's new format offered 10+ sessions on the topic of innovation and offered numerous networking opportunities for local government professionals to reconnect and create new working relationships. Here are highlights from the two-and-a-half day event:
Peggy Merriss, retired city manager of Decatur, Georgia and Former ICMA President opened the Southeast Regional Conference with 'Connection before Content,' a highly interactive session where participants began their connection capacity and enhanced their regional conference experience.
Connection before Content - it’s time to enhance the Regional Conference experience! #ICMAReady pic.twitter.com/amJQGG0mOl
— ICMA EVENTS (@ICMAevents) February 27, 2019
On Thursday morning, Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evette of South Carolina made a surprise visit to speak with attendees about the importance of success in our communities.
We kicked off the morning with #innovation showcases and SURPRISE: Lieutenant Governor @PamelaEvette of South Carolina has made an appearance - speaking about success in the #community. Let’s grow! Let’s be prosperous! #ICMAReady pic.twitter.com/VgjaPhb2K1
— ICMA EVENTS (@ICMAevents) February 28, 2019
Xavier Hughes, ICMA's Chief Technology and Innovation Officer and keynote speaker discussed how local governments can establish effective command and control structures to manage the onslaught in a manner that works best for their constituents.
“Data. It can’t solve everyone’s problems but if you embrace it, you need to own up to the results that the #data tells you.” Keynote Speaker @Xavier_Hughes #ICMAReady #localgov pic.twitter.com/U8wMc8fGxr
— ICMA EVENTS (@ICMAevents) February 28, 2019
Oh yeah, there were branded apples.
How do you like them apples? #ICMAReady pic.twitter.com/divzhq6H14
— Damema Mann (@mdz224) February 28, 2019
The Southeast Regional Conference is also where ICMA kicked off the discussion for expanding and diversifying ICMA Membership.
The conversation begins on #EnvisionICMA: members take part in a journey to explore the future of expanding and diversifying membership. #ICMAReady pic.twitter.com/PbP6WMHMov
— ICMA EVENTS (@ICMAevents) February 28, 2019
ICMA announced another surprise later in the afternoon, President Karen Pinkos presented Former ICMA President Peggy Merriss with an ICMA Life Member designation.
It’s just a day of surprises here in the SE Regional Conference: Peggy Merriss, ICMA’s first female president, has been designated an @ICMA Life Member! Congratulations, Peggy! #ICMAReady #ICMAProud pic.twitter.com/BGhqgiqPXl
— ICMA EVENTS (@ICMAevents) February 28, 2019
ICMA Ethics Director, Martha Perego, held an ethics discussion on Tenets 5 and 6.
Can’t have a Regional Conference event without an #ethics discussion with Martha Perego, @ICMA Ethics Director. Attendees sit in on the #ICMA Code of Ethics Review Tenets 5 and 6. @localgovethics #ICMAReady pic.twitter.com/0IY2JXRBd2
— ICMA EVENTS (@ICMAevents) February 28, 2019
Attendees closed out Thursday by connecting at a local brewery.
200+ SE Regional Conference attendees have filled up Barley’s in #Greenville. Time to make those #localgov connections! pic.twitter.com/GOBNZrSdUZ
— ICMA EVENTS (@ICMAevents) March 1, 2019
On Friday morning, ICMA and the Center for Public Safety Excellence (CPSE) formed a roundtable to discuss thoughts about innovation and the sustainability of local fire and rescue services.
#ICMA and @CtrPubSafExc are developing a white paper on the future of local #fire and #rescue services. SE Region attendees provide their thoughts about #innovation & the #sustainability of this function of #localgov. #ICMAReady pic.twitter.com/yH3oDP4QCV
— ICMA EVENTS (@ICMAevents) March 1, 2019
There is still time to participate in other Regional Conference events. Click here for locations, dates, and details.
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