Forty Iowa leaders, including Shea Greiner from Greater Ottumwa Partners in Progress, have completed their journey as part of Leadership Iowa 2023-24, Iowa’s premier issues-awareness program offered through the Iowa Association of Business and Industry (ABI) Foundation.
A formal graduation ceremony took place on June 6 during the 2024 ABI Taking Care of Business Conference in Davenport.
Beginning last October and concluding in June, the 42nd Leadership Iowa class traveled to the following Iowa communities for a series of two-day monthly sessions: Winterset (opening retreat), Carroll County (Agriculture & Renewable Resources), Fairfield (Manufacturing), Des Moines (Government), Dubuque (Healthcare), Grinnell (Education), and Forest City (Workforce & Economic Development). Each session provided participants with a first-hand look at essential topics as they relate to Iowa and our communities. Sessions included discussions with subject-matter experts, interactive experiences, industry tours and more.
“Leadership Iowa fosters interconnectedness across all communities and industries by uniting motivated Iowans around all that’s happening right now in our state,” said Jessi McQuerrey, ABI Foundation director of programs. “The program not only highlights many aspects that we have to be proud of as Iowans, but also ways in which we can continue to grow and implement innovative solutions together. Leadership Iowa is an annual showcase of Iowans supporting Iowans, and we have more than 200 individuals across our state to thank for lending their time and support to make this experience possible this year.”
Leadership Iowa exists to educate, inspire, and grow a network of informed leaders and to encourage their ongoing local and statewide engagement to create a better future for Iowans. Since Leadership Iowa’s inception in 1982, more than 1,400 Iowans have completed the program. Forty participants are selected annually, and participants represent all regions of the state, a variety of industries, companies, and backgrounds.
Presenting sponsors of this year’s program included EMC Insurance and Grinnell Mutual. Additional annual sponsors included: Central Iowa Power Cooperative, Community State Bank, Emerson, the Iowa Soybean Association, BrownWinick Law, Farm Bureau Federation, MidAmerican Energy Company, Musco Lighting, Neumann, Pella Corporation, Principal, Winger Companies, and Winnebago Industries.
More information about Leadership Iowa, including a list of 2023-24 participants and photos/videos from this year’s program, is available online at www.LeadershipIowa.com.
