IDA’s 2024 Emerging Leaders Fellowship Program Attracts Top Urban Champions
April 30, 2024 — The International Downtown Association (IDA) selected 30 of the industry’s brightest professionals for the 2024 Emerging Leader Fellowship (ELF) program. These senior staff members hail from 25 cities from around North America including Tulsa, OK; Los Angeles, CA; Toronto, ON; Dallas, TX; Kansas City, MO; Fairfax, VA; Decatur, GA; Denver, CO; and Winnipeg, MB. 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 & 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.
“I am honored to be among a small group of urban place management professionals selected to dive deeper into leadership and place management skills, said Morgan Phillips, DTP’s Director of Marketing & Events.” I look forward to learning from some of the best in our industry and bringing that knowledge back to inform my work making Downtown Tulsa a center of culture, commerce and community.”
DTP’s CEO/President Brian Kurtz added: “I’m elated and not the least bit surprised that Morgan was one of 30 emerging industry leaders chosen for this immersive program. In her two years with DTP, Morgan has proven herself to be an effective collaborator, thought leader, and producer of award-winning programs and campaigns. As an alumnus of the inaugural ELF program, I know she will gain greater knowledge and experience from this fellowship and will come back with additional industry-specific skills to propel our Downtown and organization to the next level.”
The program takes place June 2-7, 2024 in New York City. 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 business improvement district (BID) leaders.“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.”
For more information about this year’s cohort, visit IDA’s website.
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About Downtown Tulsa Partnership
Downtown Tulsa Partnership is the nonprofit management organization representing the interests of property owners in Downtown Tulsa. With a mission to champion a prosperous, vibrant and inclusive Downtown, DTP has an agreement with the City of Tulsa to provide enhanced maintenance, beautification and livability services; mobility and public realm planning; and marketing and place enhancement initiatives — all to benefit Downtown businesses, residents, workers and visitors. DTP is an award-winning member of the International Downtown Association, the premier organization for urban place professionals who are shaping and activating dynamic city center districts. For more information about Downtown Tulsa Partnership, visit DowntownTulsa.com.
About the International Downtown Association
The International Downtown Association is the premier organization for urban place professionals who are shaping and activating dynamic city center districts. Our members are downtown champions who bring urban centers to life, bridging the gap between the public and private sectors. We represent an industry of more than 2,500 place management organizations, employing 100,000 people throughout North America and growing rapidly around the world. Founded in 1954, IDA is a resource center for ideas and innovative best practices in urban place management. For more information, visit www.downtown.org.