Julie Curtin

About Julie Curtin

I am a strategist and trusted advisor in destination marketing and economic development.For more than 25 years, I have helped cities, regions, states, and countries strengthen their positioning by aligning leadership, narrative, and industry-facing strategy. My work sits at the intersection of place branding, economic development, and talent attraction—connecting decision-makers, storytellers, and community assets with site selectors, media, investors, and industry peers to drive long-term economic competitiveness.As a Partner at Development Counsellors International (DCI), I have played a sustained leadership role in advancing the tools, talent, and strategies that have established DCI as the global leader in marketing places. I work closely with senior public- and private-sector leaders to translate complex regional strengths into compelling, impactful stories.Recognizing the need for senior-level economic development marketing leaders to learn from one another, I founded and launched the DCI Marketing Summit—an invitation-only, peer-led annual convening of 25 of the industry’s most experienced practitioners. The Summit has become a trusted forum for collaboration, candid exchange, and forward-looking thinking on place marketing at the city, regional, provincial, and state levels.Beyond my work at DCI, I serve on the Board of Directors of the International Economic Development Council (IEDC). In partnership with IEDC, I proposed and launched the Diversity & Equity Fellowship in 2022 to expand pathways into the economic development profession and strengthen the future talent pipeline through paid, hands-on experience for young professionals of color.By invitation of Joel Kotkin, Presidential Fellow at Chapman University, I co-teach “Marketing Cities,” a graduate-level course exploring the evolving practice of city branding, positioning, and promotion, with a focus on real-world application and emerging trends.I hold a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of Kansas and am a proud Jayhawk.I am based in Denver, Colorado.

Experience

1. President, Economic Development

   Development Counsellors International

   Jan 2018 — Present · US

Education

• The University of Kansas

  Bachelor's degree, Journalism

  1987 — 1991

Skills

• Government Relations
• Economic Development
• Special Events
• Public Relations
• Social Marketing
• Marketing Strategy