CONTACT:  Michele Frisby, Director, Public Information, mfrisby@icma.org; 202-962-3658

WASHINGTON, D.C.—More than 3,500 key local government decision makers, exhibitors, and guests from cities, towns, counties, related entities, and private-sector firms throughout the world will convene in San Antonio, Texas, October 22-25, to attend the 103rd Annual Conference of ICMA, the International City/County Management Association.

“San Antonio provides an excellent backdrop for the ICMA Annual Conference,” said Lee Feldman, city manager, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and 2016-17 ICMA President. “This year’s theme, “Building Bridges: Serving Our Whole Community,” along with the cadre of excellent keynote and featured speakers and educational sessions will provide a tremendous opportunity for ICMA members and colleagues from communities around the world to engage and learn together.”

The 2017 ICMA Annual Conference offers solutions to the growing challenges—such as contemporary law enforcement; diversity, inclusivity, and social justice; emerging technology; preparing for and managing 21^st-century threats; and the National Divide—that professional city, town, and county managers face now and in the years ahead. These issues serve as conference theme tracks around which the 2017 ICMA Annual Conference program was developed.

“We believe the ICMA Annual Conference is an excellent way for local government managers to come together to discuss current trends and take advantage of a wide variety of professional development opportunities,” said Bob Schultze, president and CEO of ICMA-RC. “As principal sponsor for the ICMA Annual Conference, we value the role the conference plays in the well-being of the communities that local governments serve.”

Media representatives also receive complimentary registration to attend any ICMA conference educational, special, keynote, or featured speaker session or field demonstration (must provide own transportation). To cover the ICMA Annual Conference or schedule interviews with ICMA member experts on a variety of topics, contact Michele Frisby at mfrisby@icma.org or at 202-962-3658 (by or before October 18) or 301-646-1918 after October 18. Or bring your press credentials and register onsite at the ICMA conference registration area located in Exhibit Hall 3, Street Level, of the Henry B. González Convention Center.

Members of the media should also mark their calendars for a special telephonic media call, “Immigration Issues: Local Government Challenges and Successes,” featuring key local government leaders and experts on Tuesday, October 24, from 12:00-1:00 p.m. ET/11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. CT/10:00-11:00 a.m. MT/9:00-10:00 a.m. PT. Details, including instructions on how to access the call, will be available in mid-October. Contact Michele Frisby at mfrisby@icma.org if you are interested in participating in the call.

Conference keynote speakers will address topics from a range of perspectives:

• Sunday, October 22, 3:00-5:00 p.m.—ICMA’s Conference Opening General Session will feature an inspirational presentation by Rabia Siddique, a former war crimes and terrorism prosecutor, international humanitarian, retired British Army officer, hostage survivor, and mother of triplets. Having battled abuse, discrimination, chronic health problems, and trauma, she is a fighter, trailblazer, and eternal optimist. Her story will inspire and motivate attendees and empower them to display courage under fire.
                               

• Monday, October 23, 8:30-9:30 a.m.—In recent years, the young, educated, and affluent have surged back into our cities, reversing decades of suburban flight and urban decline. One of the first scholars to anticipate this movement in his groundbreaking book The Rise of the Creative Class, Richard Florida now believes that the same forces that power the growth of the world's superstar cities also generate their vexing challenges: gentrification, unaffordability, segregation, and inequality. Meanwhile, other cities still stagnate, and middle-class neighborhoods are disappearing. In his latest book, The New Urban Crisis, Richard offers a compelling diagnosis of our economic ills and a bold prescription for more inclusive cities capable of ensuring growth and prosperity for all.
   
• Tuesday, October 24, 8:30-9:30 a.m.—In 2016, Anna Maria Chávez was named by Fortune magazine as one of the World’s 50 Greatest Leaders. Propelled by a lifelong desire to transform the world through servant leadership, Anna’s career of public service led her to become CEO of Girl Scouts of the USA. The first woman of color to hold the Girl Scouts’ top leadership position, she was cited for her vision and creativity in working to revitalize the organization’s brand for a new century. With a message centered on true moral leadership, Anna examines what it takes to empower women and girls to advance into leadership positions.
   
• Wednesday, October 25, 8:30-10:30 a.m.—In addition to the induction of ICMA’s incoming Executive Board and recognition of the organization’s 2017 award recipients, ICMA’s Celebration of Service to the Profession culminates with a presentation by leadership catalyst Simon T. Bailey, former leader of the Disney Institute and founder of the Brilliance Institute, Inc. Simon’s expertise equips leaders with tools and techniques to unleash the potential in their organizations’ most important asset: people. Simon will share core principles for acquiring a forward-looking mindset and discovering the insight needed to be a leader for the future.

In addition to an outstanding program of educational sessions, featured speakers, and ICMA University forums and workshops, the 1034rd ICMA Annual Conference will also feature a series of field demonstrations that highlight the City of San Antonio’s continued success as a professionally managed, council-manager community.

For detailed information, visit the ICMA Annual Conference website at https://icma.org/icma-annual-conference.

About ICMA
ICMA, the International City/County Management Association, advances professional local government worldwide through leadership, management, innovation, and ethics. ICMA provides member support, publications, data and information, peer and results-oriented assistance, and training and professional development to more than 11,000 appointed city, town, and county leaders and other individuals and organizations throughout the world. The management decisions made by ICMA's members affect millions of individuals living in thousands of communities throughout the world, from small villages and towns to large metropolitan areas.