Gov. Branstad, Lt. Gov. Reynolds announce IPEP, Iowa Innovation Corporation members
Gov. Branstad today announced the appointment of 18 Iowa business leaders to the newly-created Iowa Partnership for Economic Progress (IPEP) and Iowa Innovation Corporation boards. The new boards are part of the restructured strategy for delivering comprehensive economic development services in the state.
“Today we are taking another step towards reaching our goals of creating 200,000 new jobs and increasing the wealth of Iowa families by 25 percent,” said Governor Branstad. “I am pleased that some of the most admired business leaders in our state have agreed to serve Iowa in this capacity.”
“Governor Branstad and I have long discussed the importance of a public-private partnership to spur job creation,” said Reynolds. “I am proud to be here as these very capable Iowans are named to the Iowa Partnership for Economic Progress and the Iowa Innovation Corporation. Governor Branstad and I are confident that these board members will work tirelessly to promote Iowa and its workforce.”
The IPEP board, created last week by the Governor with Executive Order 75, will serve as the umbrella organization for the public-private partnership that was developed by the Governor and legislature last session to enhance Iowa’s approach to job and wealth creation. The Governor appointed business leaders across Iowa’s major industries to this board. It is tasked with developing a comprehensive economic development strategy that will be carried out jointly by the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) and the Iowa Innovation Corporation.
The members of the IPEP board include:
Bill Fehrman, President and CEO, MidAmerican Energy Company
Paul Schickler III, President, Pioneer Hi-Bred, a DuPont business
Larry Zimpleman, CEO, Principal Financial Group
John Smith, Chairman of the Board, CRST International Inc.
Toby Shine, President, Shine Brothers Corporation
Mary Andringa, President and CEO, Vermeer Corporation
Marti Rodamaker, Banker, First Citizens National Bank
Ken Lockard, Chairman, Lockard Companies
Tom Aller, President, Interstate Power and Light, Alliant Energy
Roger Underwood, Co-founder, Becker-Underwood
Clay Jones, Chairman, President and CEO, Rockwell Collins
The IPEP board will be co-chaired by the Governor and Lt. Governor and will also include the director of the Iowa Economic Development Authority, the chair of the IEDA board and the chair of the Iowa Innovation Corporation.
The Governor also named the members of the Iowa Innovation Corporation board, the non-profit corporation that was established by the IEDA (as required by House File 590), that will serve as Iowa’s innovation intermediary. The Corporation will operate independently with funding from the private sector and Federal grants.
The members of the Iowa Innovation Corporation board include:
Robert Riley, Jr., President and CEO, Feed Energy Co.
Jamie Zanios, Vice President, North Iowa Area Community College
Peter Hempken, retired, DuPont
Scott Norvell, President and CEO, Master Builders of Iowa
Cara Heiden, retired, Wells Fargo Home Mortgage
Sarah Hasken, Vice President and Corporate Secretary, AY McDonald Manufacturing Company
Chris Nelson, President and CEO, Kemin Industries Inc.
For more information, please visit www.Governor.Iowa.gov.
For more information please visit governor.iowa.gov.
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