While states remain critical to location decisions, the lure of a bustling metro area can inspire choices CEOs might not have made based on state data alone.
In Chief Executive’s February 2017 CEO Confidence Index, 72 percent of respondents rated metro areas as somewhat or very important to location decisions.
There are more than 50 metro areas in the U.S. with more than 1 million residents, according to the Census Bureau. Among the fastest growing are San Antonio-New Braunfels and Austin-Round Rock in top-ranked Texas. But even in states viewed as less hospitable for business, having a strong talent pool in a specific sector can be a draw for businesses, as with finance in New York and technology for California.
In fact, a Brookings Institution analysis ranked two California cities among the top 10 best-performing metro areas in the country, with San Jose taking the top spot. Los Angeles County also remains a powerhouse. And the recent IPO of Snap has been hailed as a game changer that could spur further tech growth in “Silicon Beach.”
You have a lot of creative collisions, where these industries overlap, that drive new industries, new business concepts and growth.
Lawren Markle, director of public relations for the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation, says large metro areas offer scale, talent infrastructure industrial companies crave.
“You have a lot of creative collisions, where these industries overlap, that drive new industries, new business concepts and growth,” he said.
Maryland ranked 41st on the list but that hasn’t stopped Under Armour CEO Kevin Plank from reaffirming his commitment to Baltimore with a $5 billion urban development project and new headquarters at Port Covington.
And while Massachusetts came in at No. 45, GE is just one of many companies choosing to flee a less urban locale for Boston. Software company Acquia, sneaker manufacturer Converse and marketing firms like Racepoint and Allen & Gerritson all chose to relocate from more sedate settings to the Boston area in recent years.
At the same time, the pricey real estate and congestion in top metro areas drive some CEOs to seek smaller cities. While Arkansas ranked 23rd overall in the rankings, Northwest Arkansas was recognized as one of the top 25 growing metro areas in the country by population. Bentonville, home to the headquarters of Walmart, has seen increased investment in recent years from supply and tech companies.
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1:00 - 5:00 pm
Over 70% of Executives Surveyed Agree: Many Strategic Planning Efforts Lack Systematic Approach Tips for Enhancing Your Strategic Planning Process
Executives expressed frustration with their current strategic planning process. Issues include:
Steve Rutan and Denise Harrison have put together an afternoon workshop that will provide the tools you need to address these concerns. They have worked with hundreds of executives to develop a systematic approach that will enable your team to make better decisions during strategic planning. Steve and Denise will walk you through exercises for prioritizing your lists and steps that will reset and reinvigorate your process. This will be a hands-on workshop that will enable you to think about your business as you use the tools that are being presented. If you are ready for a Strategic Planning tune-up, select this workshop in your registration form. The additional fee of $695 will be added to your total.
2:00 - 5:00 pm
Female leaders face the same issues all leaders do, but they often face additional challenges too. In this peer session, we will facilitate a discussion of best practices and how to overcome common barriers to help women leaders be more effective within and outside their organizations.
Limited space available.
10:30 - 5:00 pm
General’s Retreat at Hermitage Golf Course
Sponsored by UBS
General’s Retreat, built in 1986 with architect Gary Roger Baird, has been voted the “Best Golf Course in Nashville” and is a “must play” when visiting the Nashville, Tennessee area. With the beautiful setting along the Cumberland River, golfers of all capabilities will thoroughly enjoy the golf, scenery and hospitality.
The golf outing fee includes transportation to and from the hotel, greens/cart fees, use of practice facilities, and boxed lunch. The bus will leave the hotel at 10:30 am for a noon shotgun start and return to the hotel after the cocktail reception following the completion of the round.
