Make organizational excellence a practical plan for the year ahead.

The quality of an economic development organization shapes how well it can serve businesses and communities. Join Dennis Fraise for an applied learning lab exploring the practices behind high-performing EDOs, drawing on examples from IEDC Economic Development Organization of the Year recipients. Examine leadership, culture, strategic focus, partnerships, and performance measurement through the lens of your own organization. Identify improvements that fit your team’s resources and translate them into a roadmap for sustained progress.

Inside the learning lab

Complete an organizational self-assessment, examine examples from recognized EDOs, and compare challenges with peers. Use guided planning exercises to set priorities, assign responsibilities, and select measures that help you communicate value.

What you will gain

• Assess organizational strengths and gaps using the characteristics of high-performing EDOs.
• Connect leadership and team practices to strategic priorities and community goals.
• Strengthen stakeholder engagement and the communication of organizational value.
• Build an improvement roadmap with responsibilities, timelines, and measures of progress.

What you will take back

A high-performing EDO self-assessment, Organizational Excellence Roadmap, action planning template, sample performance metrics, and examples to support continued improvement.

Who should join:

EDO executives, managers, and emerging leaders responsible for organizational performance, team development, or strategy.

Bring your priorities for the coming year and build a roadmap for a stronger organization.

Registration (Opens December 2026)

Professional Development Credits

Attendance and participation during all sessions of the training course is required by a registrant to obtain the following credits. 

• Certified Economic Developer (CEcD)
  • Exam = Core Requirement
  • Recertification = (3) Level-1 Points
    
    
• Entrepreneurship Development Professional (EDP)
  • Exam = Elective Requirement
  • Recertification = (3) Level-1 Points

Note: IEDC will send a registrant an electronic certificate of completion after the course for their records.

Questions

If you have any questions, please email [email protected] or call (202) 223-7800.

Policies

Please read the following policies carefully prior to registering for the training course.

Materials

The materials provided by IEDC are intended for use only by the registrant of the training course. A registrant should not share the training course materials with anyone else.

A registrant found in violation of this policy will be removed from the training course immediately and will not receive a refund for it.

Payment

A registrant will not receive the materials for the training course until IEDC receives the full amount owed for their registration.

Substitution

A registrant is not allowed to substitute a colleague in their place for any IEDC training course.

Cancellation

Please review our cancellation policy here.

No Show

A registrant is considered a “No Show” if they fail to send a cancellation email and/or do not attend the training course. A “No Show” registrant will forfeit any monies paid to IEDC for the training course.