It is a pleasure to invite you and your family to Baltimore, Maryland, and ICMA’s 104th Annual Conference, the go-to event for leaders of cities, towns, and counties of all sizes around the world. ICMA is the premier association of professional local government leaders, and our conference is an indispensable forum for colleagues to interact as we pursue our common task of building sustainable communities and improving the lives of people worldwide. This year’s conference will include a special focus on creating smart communities that last and where people of all ages can live and thrive together.

In addition to stimulating keynote speakers, the conference program features a vast variety of educational opportunities, including many sessions with international relevance and colleagues from around the world sharing their best practices. The exhibit hall offers a panoply of products and services, including the Solutions Track theaters featuring programs by our corporate partners. Add a full calendar of social, networking, and recreational activities, and you can see that the conference will offer more opportunities for professional development and personal rejuvenation than the four days will allow!

The conference also takes advantage of Baltimore’s numerous attractions for you and your family. Be sure to arrive early for the Saturday evening event at the Maryland Science Center and stay for the closing social event on Tuesday evening at the B&O Railway Museum. In addition, Baltimore is only a one-hour drive from Washington, D.C, which offers the Smithsonian Museum and many other attractions.

When we are not in sessions, the ICMA conference provides the chance to see old friends, make new friends, and learn from colleagues and guests from around the world. My travel to international and U.S. regional conferences on behalf of ICMA has been a constant reminder of the value that professional management brings to each of our communities. Our laws, forms of government, and challenges may differ, but the spirit of professional local government management thrives and is demonstrated by our members everywhere.

I thank you for your commitment to this profession and to the ethics we embody, and I invite you to be a part of this year’s conference in Baltimore, where you will benefit from the greatest forum for local government leaders.

David Johnstone

ICMA President

Outgoing City Manager, Candiac, Quebec, Canada