IDA’s 2022 Emerging Leader Fellowship Program Attracts Top Urban Champions

The International Downtown Association (IDA) selected 30 of the industry’s brightest professionals for the 2022 Emerging Leader Fellowship (ELF) program. These senior staff members hail from 3 countries and 20 provinces or states including Newcastle upon Tyne, UK; San Francisco, CA; Cheyenne, WY; London, ON; Wilmington, DE; Memphis, TN; Corpus Christi, TX; Charlotte, NC; and Vancouver, BC. Alumni of the IDA Emerging Leader Fellowship program, launched in 2016, are fast becoming sought-after leaders for the future of city building worldwide. 

“The success of our Fellowship program underscores how critical this training is to our growing industry,” said David Downey, President and CEO of IDA. “This is the only program of its kind created specifically for urban place management professionals. IDA is looking to further illustrate the importance of our industry by elevating leaders with the necessary skills to champion inclusive city building. Professional development remains a hallmark of IDA.” 

The Emerging Leader Fellowship is a week-long experiential program bringing together a cohort of IDA professionals from within the urban district management industry. The fellows learn essential leadership and place management skills and gain practical tools in the areas of place-based economic development, the live-work-play experience, and public-private partnerships. 

“The Emerging Leader Fellowship was a fantastic experience!” shared Nicole Roberts, Community Engagement Manager for the St. Petersburg Downtown Partnership and graduate of this year’s program, “Not only did I get to meet amazing placemaking professionals from around the world that I can now call on to share their best-thinking, but I also learned many leadership skills and ideas for better placemaking efforts that I would love to implement back home in St. Pete!”

“The International Downtown Association is looking to build the future of our industry, and these accomplished executives are the rising stars of our profession,” said Downey. “With this program, we’re educating and inspiring the next generation of leaders.” 

The program took place June 5-10, 2022 in New York City featuring intensive instruction delivered by IDA partners at Coro New York Leadership Center. Professionals from several place management organizations across the city provide technical in-the-field training. The event takes place at various locations throughout Manhattan with field visits provided by several local BID leaders.   

Congratulations to the 2022 Emerging Leader Fellowship cohort! For more information about this year’s cohort, visit IDA’s website.

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