A thank you for the community’s hospitality
Leadership Iowa, the state’s premier issues awareness program, held its economic development and manufacturing session in Greene county in November. More than 40 current and emerging leaders were selected for the class which, over the course of three days, toured Greene County businesses and manufacturing facilities including John Deere-Paton, Bauer Built/Concrete Machinery, American Athletic, Power Lift, and Scranton Manufacturing/New Way Trucks.
In addition, the class held meetings at RVP~1875 and the Wild Rose Resorts and visited local attractions including Deal’s Orchard and the Mahanay Memorial Carillon Tower. A wide range of statewide, regional and local leaders were speakers on economic development and manufacturing trends including Debi Durham, director of the Iowa Economic Development Authority.
Local sponsors included Home State Bank, Midland Power Cooperative, Peckumn Consulting, Rotary Club of Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Gardens, Mahanay Bell Tower Foundation, Deal’s Orchard and a grant from the city of Jefferson.
As a gesture of thanks to the county community for its hospitality, individual contributions from class members were combined into a monetary gift for a local non-profit. The Greene County Early Learning Center (GCELC) was chosen as the recipient of the $591 donation because of the importance of quality childcare to economic vitality in communities. The presentation was made in late December.
President of the GCELC board, Cindi Daubendiek, accompanied by son Phillip, center of the photo with the class members, received the presentation on behalf of GCELC from class member Tiffany Tauscheck.
Planning for the Greene County session was led by Leadership Iowa alumni from the area including Carole Custer (LI 1984-85), Jacque Andrew (LI 1989-90), Nicole Peckumn (LI 2015-16) and Chris Deal (LI 2016-17).
Participants for the Leadership Iowa program, sponsored by the Iowa Association of Business and Industry Foundation, are selected annually and travel to eight communities during the year to learn about the issues facing Iowa to gain a better understanding of the role they can play in addressing those challenges. ~by Jacque Andrew for Leadership Iowa
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