IEDC Lifetime Achievement Award - Gary Conley

This award is given in honor of Edward deLuca who is credited as one of the true leaders of the field of urban economic development. He was one of the
founding members of Council for Urban Economic Development (CUED), a predecessor of IEDC, and served as its first chair. He also served as the Director of Economic Development for the cities of Baltimore and Pittsburgh.
Every year IEDC looks specifically for an individual who has demonstrated consistent, exemplary performance
in the economic development profession,
leading the execution of projects that have a significant impact on revitalizing communities, and playing
a major role in shaping and improving the practice of economic development.

The Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes an individual who has demonstrated consistent, exemplary
performance in the economic development profession, leading the execution of projects that have a
significant impact on revitalizing communities, and playing a major role in shaping and improving the
practice of economic development.
Mr. Conley has been working in the field of economic development for over 40 years. During his career, Garys work in economic development has spanned from real estate development to job creation and brought him from Ohio to California. Throughout this
time, Gary consistently used innovative economic development
tools and was able to stay at the forefront of the field. Mr. Conley has been a leader in economic development in many cities. He has taken charge of economic development programs in Dayton, Cleveland,
Los Angeles and Cincinnati and delivered impressive results. He has made large strides in business retention and attraction in these cities and has created thousands of jobs and developed affordable housing,
technology centers and museums.
Mr. Conley is also a very successful writer, having composed numerous technical papers, guide books
and publications on economic development. As an expert in the field, organizations such as the U.S.
Department of Housing and Urban Development, the U.S. Conference of Mayors and the National Community
Development Association have all come to Gary in search of his vast knowledge of economic development
and his ability to compose intelligent and informative publications.
Mr. Conley has gathered great respect in the economic development community. Gary was selected in 1984 by his peers in the field to be Chairman of the
Council for Urban Economic Development, a forerunner to the International Economic Development
Council.

During his career, Mr. Conley has made it a point to encourage others in the field, including newcomers. He has recruited several highly talented young professionals that have advanced in the economic development
profession and are today prominent practitioners.

Gary takes pride in passing along his knowledge and skills to a new generation of economic developers
with hopes that they will continue along the path to excellence that he has followed.

Today, and for the last thirteen years, Mr. Conley has been president of TechSolve. TechSolve is a National
Institute of Standards and Technology Manufacturing Extension Partnership Center. During Mr. Conelys
tenure, TechSolves clients report that the organization has enabled them to undertake a great deal of
new investment which has led to the creation and retention of thousands of jobs.

Because of his tremendous, lifelong work in economic development, the International Economic Development
Council is proud to award Gary Conley with the 2008 Lifetime Achievement Award for Excellence in Economic Development in Honor of Edward DeLuca.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• IEDC
• Ed DeLuca
• Gary Conley
• TechSolve