This registration page may not work well in Internet Explorer. Please use a different browser to complete your registration.

2026 Emerging Executives Forum, presented by ECS Southeast and Lenoir County Development Alliance

February 4, 2026 - February 5, 2026

Description

Join us February 4-5 in Kinston for two energizing days designed to help you grow your economic development network and sharpen your professional toolkit! This year’s agenda is packed with engaging, practical sessions that will benefit emerging leaders at every stage.

You’ll hear from seasoned professionals on how to build stronger partnerships and collaborations, gain insight into what your role looks like during site visits, and explore key strategies to help you step confidently into future leadership positions. We’ll also dive into international business etiquette and wrap up with interactive roundtables where you can deepen your understanding of North Carolina’s incentive funding programs.

Come learn, connect, and elevate your career alongside peers from across the state!


FORUM DETAILS

The meeting locations and general schedule are posted below for planning purposes, and the agenda will be posted in January. Attire for the full event is business casual.


Wednesday, February 4
(Note: The optional activities are complimentary, but you’ll need to sign up separately so we can plan accurately. Be sure to check the “Additional Items” section to add them to your registration!)

  • Optional Lunch at Farmer and the Dail (Snow Hill • noon - 1:30 pm)
  • Optional Tour at Simply Natural Creamery (Snow Hill • 2 - 3 pm)
  • Optional NC Global TransPark Tour (Kinston • 3:30 - 4:30 pm)
  • Welcoming Reception (5:30 - 7 pm)

Thursday, February 5

  • Breakfast (8 - 9 am)
  • Forum General Session (9 am – 12:45 pm)
  • Luncheon (12:45 – 2 pm)

LODGING DETAILS

NCEDA has secured a group block at the Mother Earth Motor Lodge for the night of February 4 (reservation deadline is January 20). Call the Lodge to make your reservation and request the NCEDA Block: 252.520.2000.

The discounted group rates are listed below:

  • King Room - $98.10/night++
  • Two Doubles or King with Desk Room - $107.10/night++
  • Two Doubles or King Suite - $125.10/night++

SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNTIES!

We would love to have you support as a Forum sponsor. Opportunities to sponsor are available at the Gold Level ($1,000) and Program Level ($500). Please contact Liz Dobbins-Smith for more details!

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!


Location

Base Hotel: Mother Earth Motor Lodge (501 North Heritage Street – Kinston, NC 28501)

Welcoming Reception: Mother Earth Brewing Tap Room (311 North Heritage Street – Kinston, NC 28501)

Forum General Session: Community Council for the Arts (400 North Queen Street – Kinston, NC 28501)

Pricing

Member Registration Fee: $150

Non-Member Registration Fee: $225

Student Member Registration: $25

Contact Information

NCEDA
Name: Torsha Eubanks
Phone: 888.246.2332
Email: torsha@nceda.org

Click on the "See More" link above to view all conference details, including the schedule of events, lodging options, conference sponsors, and sponsorship opportunities! 

To register, please enter your email address below and click the "Go" button to the right of the email address box. If you are a member of NCEDA, this will allow you to select one of the member registration options, and all of your contact information will auto-populate to make the registration process easier.

If you are a colleague of an NCEDA member and are registering them for the event, be sure to enter THEIR email address. This is the only way our system will recognize the membership and allow you to select the discounted member registration option.

We're sorry. No registrations are currently available. You may wish to contact the event organizer for assistance.
{{ vm.EventInfo.ErrorMessage }}

Select Registration Options

Edit
{{vm.regWarningMessage}}
{{vm.regAlertMessage}}

Exhibitor Opportunities

Name Price Att Qty
{{ et.Name }}
{{ et.IncludedAttendeesCount }} {{ et.AttendeeRegType.RemainingPerType }} Remaining {{ et.AttendeeRegType.RemainingPerType * -1 }} on Waiting List {{ et.AttendeeRegType.RemainingPerType * -1 }} Over Limit
{{ et.Remaining }} Remaining
Sold out

Attendee Registration Options Total Remaining: {{ vm.EventInfo.VacantSpotsPerEvent }}

Waiting List Available
{{ vm.stats.totalAttendeesCount }} Registered , {{ vm.OverallOverAmount() }} on Waiting List , {{ vm.OverallOverAmount() }} Over Limit
Name Price Qty
{{ rt.Name }}
{{ rt.IsMemberOnly ? ' (Members Only)' : '' }}
Limit: {{ rt.LimitPerPurchase }}
Included Attendees: {{ rt.AttendeesCountPerOneRegistration }}
{{rt.Price | currency }} {{rt.PriceAfterDiscount | currency }} {{ rt.Price | currency }}
{{ rt.RemainingPerType }} Remaining
{{ rt.RemainingPerType * -1 }} on Waiting List
{{ rt.RemainingPerType * -1 }} Over Limit

{{'[[Sponsorship]] Opportunities' | localizeString:'['}}

Name Price Att Qty
{{ st.Name }}
{{ st.IncludedAttendeesCount }} {{ st.AttendeeRegType.RemainingPerType }} Remaining {{ st.AttendeeRegType.RemainingPerType * -1 }} on Waiting List {{ st.AttendeeRegType.RemainingPerType * -1 }} Over Limit
{{ st.Remaining }} Remaining
Sold out
Continue

Registration Information

Edit

Exhibitor - {{er.Name}}

Exhibitor #{{ $index + 1 }}

Total: {{exhibitor.TotalPrice | currency}} {{ exhibitor.IsBenefit ? "- Included as a Benefit" : exhibitor.IsDiscounted ? "- Discounts have been applied" : ""}}
Exhibitor Directory
Primary Contact
Booth Information
Additional Information
Additional Items

Attendee - {{er.Name}}

{{ att.getAttendeeTerm(vm.EventSettings.AdditionalAttendeesTerm, $index) }} #{{ att.getAttendeeIndexDisplay(vm.EventSettings.AdditionalAttendeesTerm, $index) }}

Total: {{att.TotalPrice | currency}} {{att.DiscountMessage | localizeString:'['}}
A No Show fee is being assessed for {{fee.EventName}} on {{fee.EventStartLocalTimeString}}.

Address


Phone

Additional Information
Event Sessions

{{slot.Name}}

{{$select.selected.SessionName}}
(full)
{{slot.SelectedSession.SessionDescription + (slot.HasFees ? " (Price: " + (slot.PriceTotal | currency) +")" : "")}}

Additional Items

{{'[[Sponsorship+]]' | localizeString:'['}} - {{er.Name}}

{{'[[Sponsor]]' | localizeString:'['}} #{{ $index + 1 }}

Total: {{sponsor.Price | currency}}
Continue

Additional Items

Edit

{{(vm.EventInfo.Terms.Donation || "Fundraising") + " Opportunities"}}

Campaign Name Item Description Amount
{{item.CampaignName}} {{item.Description + (item.ShowMinimumPrice && item.MinimumPrice ? " (Min: " + item.MinimumPrice + ")" : "")}}
Continue

Complete Registration

Edit

Terms & Conditions

No Show Policy

{{ vm.EventInfo.EventSettings.NoShowPolicy }}

Enter Promo Code

Billing Contact

Registration Protection

This event is synced to a webinar so no confirmation email will be sent from GrowthZone.

Thank you to our {{'[[Sponsor+]]' | localizeString:'['}}