Oskaloosa Plays Host to Leadership Iowa Dec. 5-7
Oskaloosa, Iowa – It’s a lot more than a crash course. It’s a year-long commitment from 40 leaders across the state enrolled in the Iowa Association of Business and Industry Leadership Iowa (LI) program, (www.leadershipiowa.com). The class of 2012-13 will gather in Oskaloosa, Wednesday-Friday, Dec. 5-7 to explore the topics of Economic Development – Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Technology.
Leadership Iowa serves as an annual issues awareness program to develop, educate and motivate leaders of Iowa. Individuals are selected based on their professional standing and skills, community involvement and commitment to the issues impacting Iowa. Each Leadership Iowa class represents a diverse mix of individuals representing business, education, government, non-profit and community-based organizations. Many LI graduates serve in elected and civic leadership positions.
“We are very pleased to be hosting Leadership Iowa,” said Mayor Dave Krutzfeldt. “The class members are here to learn about the topic of economic development, but they also spend time learning about the community and things we are doing well.”
“Our investments in innovation and technology as well as education, healthcare and recreation have contributed to our stability and growth,” Krutzfeldt said. “We are excited to share these successes.”
“Over 24 individuals from around the area are graduates of Leadership Iowa and are giving back to the area as business owners, corporate managers, school board and city council involvement and in non-profit endeavors,” he said.
Candida Crasto from Cargill Eddyville and Mike Gipple from Musco are participating in this year’s class.
The Oskaloosa session will provide participants with an understanding of the role entrepreneurship, innovation and technology play in building a local and statewide economy. The class will experience:
o Economic Development 101•
o Tours of Mahaska Communications Group and William Penn Technology Center
o Discussion on sustainable communities
o A networking reception with Mahaska YP, Mahaska Leadership Institute, Leadership Iowa alumni and community leaders
o Roundtable discussion on global markets, supporting entrepreneurs, and challenges/advantages of doing business in Iowa
The presenters who are generously providing their insights are:
Senator Tom Rielly
Oskaloosa Mayor Dave Krutzfeldt •
Drew Conrad, UNI Institute for Decision-Making
Frank Hansen, Mahaska Communications Group
Mark Falck, Mahaska Communications Group
Tony Rivera, Mahaska Communications Group
Joe Crookham, Musco Lighting
Jeff Rogers, Musco Lighting
Jim Drost, William Penn University
Jim Hoeksema, William Penn University
Tami Weincek, Communication Research Institute of WPU
Debi Durham, Iowa Economic Development Authority
Jay Byers, Greater Des Moines Partnership
Myron Linn, Pella Windows
Kaye DeLange, Cargill
Bob Wersen, Interpower
A representative from Vermeer
Sandy Ehrig, Iowa Farm Bureau Federation
Individuals participating in LI 2012-13 Class are:
Andrew Allen, Principal Financial Group
Scott Bailey, In the Black – Ink Co.
Katherine Barton, Iowa National Guard
Dan Beenken, Small Business Development Center
Marc Beltrame, Brown Winick Law firm
Kjrsten Bobb, Klingner & Assoc. P.C.
Samantha Boyd, ZAO525
Sara Brown, Focus OneSource
David Button, Iowa Dept. of Public Safety
Joe Conover, Northwest Bank
Candida Crasto, Cargill
Scott Dahl, Iowa State University Alumni Association
Justin DeVore, North Iowa Online Communications
Lorin Ditzler, RDG Planning & Design
Kurt Erickson, Erickson Machine Tools
Mike Gipple, Musco
Jason Gordon, Community Health Charities Iowa/City of Davenport
Alan Gross, Bankers Trust
Jason Gross, Nationwide Mutual Insurance
Brad Haas, A.Y. McDonald Mfg. Co.
Jess Held, Lessing-Flynn Advertising
Janelle Holmgren, Fisher Controls International, LLC
Clarence Hobson, Iowa sports Foundation
David Jacobsen, Spencer Insurance Services
Ashley Jared, Iowa finance Authority
Alan Johnson, IL/Norplex, Inc.
Brent Matthias, Waverly Area Economic Development
Seth Miller, Cambridge Investment Research, Inc.
Amy Mohr, UNI Alumni Association
James Nally, BCC Advisers
Anne, Rierson, Rockwell Collins
Jonathan Sargent, Todd & Sargent, Inc.
Kay Snyder, Iowa Area Development Group
Scott Snyder, John Deere Intelligent Solutions Grouop
Krista Tanner, Alliant Energy
Amanda Taylor, Iowa Corn Growers Association
Grant Taylor, JE Dunn Construction
Anthony Timm, Central Iowa Shelter & Services
Tara Walter, Spindustry Training
Kirk Yung, Great Western Bank.
Leadership Iowa alumni from the area have taken a role in planning the Oskaloosa session. They include: Rob Taylor with Interpower, Linda Crookham-Hansen, Shelly Herr and Beth Danowsky with Musco.
Oskaloosa session sponsors include: Bank Iowa, Cargill, C.L. Barnhouse Company, Clow Valve, George Daily Auditorium, Grate Expectations, HyVee, Interpower, Jaarsma Bakery, Mahaska Bottling, Musco, Oskaloosa Area Chamber and Development, Oskaloosa Food Products, The Peppertree, Smokey Row, Tasos Steakhouse, Tassell Ridge Winery, and William Penn University.
Leadership Iowa’s eight educational sessions include topics related to Agriculture, Community Vitality, Economic Development, Government, Manufacturing and Workforce.
“ABI and the ABI Foundation proudly present the Leadership Iowa program because each year of the past 28 years, we’ve identified many of our state’s best leaders and helped to equip them with the knowledge and tools to make a difference in our state,” says Michael Ralston (Leadership Iowa Alumni 1998-99), President, Iowa Association of Business and Industry.
Leadership Iowa gives participants the opportunity to enhance their knowledge on issues impacting their communities and Iowa and the opportunity to gain insights on how to address and manage those issues from leaders from across Iowa,” says Drew Conrad, Institute for Decision Making, the University of Northern Iowa, chair of the Leadership Iowa Board of Governors.
Please contact Kay Neumann-Thomas at (515) 235-0564 or kthomas@IOWAABI.org to arrange for an interview or photo opportunity with local Leadership Iowa participants, session speakers or to learn more about the Oskaloosa session schedule. To nominate someone for Leadership Iowa, visit www.leadershipiowa.com.
