Sophia Ahmad

Vice President of Public Relations, Greater Des Moines Partnership

Des Moines, Iowa

Commissioner David Allen

Third Ward, City of Grand Rapids

Grand Rapids, Michigan

Ashley Allison

Executive Director, Waco Foundation

Waco, Texas

Keira Amstutz

President/CEO, Indiana Humanities

Indianapolis, Indiana

Andy Anderson

Partner, Faegre Baker Daniels

Des Moines, Iowa

Mayor Robert Andeweg

City of Urbandale, Iowa

Urbandale, Iowa

Todd Ashby, AICP

Executive Director, Des Moines Area Metropolitan Planning Organization

Des Moines, Iowa

Robert Babcock

Regional Manager, Community Relations, ONE Gas

Tulsa, Oklahoma

Marlena Bandurski

Research Manager for Economic Development, Greater Des Moines Partnership

Des Moines, Iowa

Charles Bantz

Chancellor Emeritus, Indiana University Purdue University

Indianapolis, Indiana

Tammie Barney

President & CEO, TeenWorks

Indianapolis, Indiana

Tara Barney

President & CEO, Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce

Moline, Illinois

Perry Beeman

Senior Staff Writer, The Business Record

Des Moines, Iowa

Christine Bell

Professional Recruiter, BGT Recruiting & Consulting

Knoxville, Tennessee

Lindsay Below

Executive Assistant, Board of Lucas County Commissioners

Toledo, Ohio

Courtney Bengtson

Director of Strategic Initiatives, Wichita Community Foundation

Wichita, Kansas

Malik Benjamin

Senior Instructor, Florida International University, Dept. of Architecture

Miami, Florida

Debbie Berry

VP of Planning & Real Estate, University Circle Inc

Cleveland, Ohio

Melissa Bilancini, LSW

COO, CEOs for Cities

Cleveland, Ohio

Wayne Blasius

Executive Director, East Tennessee Community Design Center

Knoxville, Tennessee

Mary Bontrager

Executive Vice President, Workforce Dev./Education, Greater Des Moines Partnership

Des Moines, Iowa

Michelle Book

CEO, Food Bank of Iowa

Des Moines, Iowa

Neil Britto

Executive Director, The Intersector Project

New York, New York

Elisabeth Buck

Chief Community Impact Officer, United Way of Central Iowa

Des Moines, Iowa

Eric Burmeister

Executive Director, Polk County Housing Trust Fund

Des Moines, Iowa

Noel Burt

Executive Vice President, People & Corporate Services, Cone Health

Greensboro, North Carolina

Joseph Burton

CEO, See Planning

Greenville, South Carolina

Jay Byers

CEO, Greater Des Moines Partnership

Des Moines, Iowa

Stephanie Cameron

Community Affairs Director, APSCO Manufacturing

Tulsa, Oklahoma

Grace Cammarn

City Fellow, CEOs for Cities

Cleveland, Ohio

Majora Carter

Urban Revitalization Strategy Consultant; Real Estate Developer; Peabody Award Winning Broadcaster

Bronx, New York

Matt Carter

Vice President of Destination Development, Visit Indy

Indianapolis, Indiana

Amy Celep

CEO, Community Wealth Partners

Washington, DC

Ben Champ

Assistant City Manager/Community Development Director, City of Pleasant Hill

Pleasant Hill, Iowa

Patrick Chapin

President & CEO, Business High Point, Inc.

High Point, North Carolina

Molly Chavers

Executive Director, Indyhub

Indianapolis, Indiana

David Chivers

President, Register Media

Des Moines, Iowa

Jeff Chelesvig

President & CEO, Des Moines Performing Arts

Des Moines, Iowa

Tate Christensen

Board Chair, Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce

Waco, Texas

Rachel Ciomcia

Director of Cleveland Bridge Builders & Alumni Engagement, Cleveland Leadership Center

Cleveland, Ohio

Chris Coleman

Chair, Des Moines Area Metropolitan Planning Organization

Des Moines, Iowa

Kris Collins

Senior Vice President of Economic Development, Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce

Waco, Texas

Tom Colvin

Executive Director, Animal Rescue League of Iowa

Des Moines, Iowa

Chris Conetzkey

Editor, The Business Record

Des Moines, Iowa

Steve Cooke

Deputy Mayor, City of Noblesville

Noblesville, Indiana

Chris Costa

Executive Vice President & COO, Knapp Properties

West Des Moines, Iowa

Chip Crawford, FASLA

Senior Principal, Forum Studio

St. Louis, Missouri

Marianne Crosley

President and CEO, Cleveland Leadership Center

Cleveland, Ohio

Dustin Curzon

Executive Director, 36N

Tulsa Oklahoma

Thomas Dapp

Chairman & CEO, Gradex, Inc.

Carmel, Indiana

Diane Deaver

Member, Board of Directors, Advance Waco

Waco, Texas

Mayor Kyle Deaver

City of Waco

Waco, Texas

Niki De Phillips

Senior Vice President of Store Development, Kum & Go

West Des Moines, Iowa

David Derong

Digital Media Specialist, Greater Des Moines Partnership

Des Moines, Iowa

Angie Dethlefs-Trettin

Chief Community Impact Officer, Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines

Des Moines, Iowa

Sally Dix

Executive Director, Bravo Greater Des Moines

Des Moines, Iowa

Nick Doctor

Vice President of Government Affairs, Tulsa Regional Chamber

Tulsa, Oklahoma

Jesse Dougherty

Communications Manager, Strategic Elements

West Des Moines, Iowa

Rachel Downey

President, Studio Graphique & PlaceHolder

Cleveland, Ohio

Daniel Drees

City Fellow, CEOs for Cities

Cleveland, Ohio

Phil Driscoll

Member, Advisory Board of Directors, High Point Chamber of Commerce

High Point, North Carolina

Chris Dunbar

President & COO, Blue Ridge Companies

High Point, North Carolina

Malcolm Duncan

Mayor, 2025 - 2025, City of Waco

Waco, Texas

Sunny Eighmy

Director of College Relations, Central College

Pela, Iowa

Patrick Eikenberry

President & CEO, Missman, Inc.

Rock Island, Illinois

Ben Epperson

Director of Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities, Knox County Health Dept.

Knoxville, Tennessee

Annelise Escher

Greater Des Moines Partnership

Des Moines, Iowa

Brett Esrock

President & CEO, Providence Healthcare Network

Waco, Texas

Cassie Evers

Economic Development Intern, Greater Des Moines Partnership

Carroll, Iowa

Cassie Evers

Economic Development Intern, Greater Des Moines Partnership

Carroll, Iowa

John Mark Feilmeyer

Executive Director, ArtForceIowa

Des Moines, Iowa

Greg Fennig

Vice President Public Affairs, Indianapolis Power & Light Company (IPL)

Indianapolis, Indiana

Wifredo Fernandez

Innovation & Economic Development, Florida International University

Miami, Florida

Lee Fisher

Senior Advisor, CEOs for Cities

Cleveland, Ohio

Jeff Fluhr

President, Wichita Downtown Development Corporation

Wichita, Kansas

Cynthia Garcia

Assistant City Manager, City of Waco

Waco, Texas

Michael Gartner

Former President, NBC News

Des Moines, Iowa

David Ginsburg

President and Chief Executive Officer, Downtown Cincinnati Inc.

Cincinnati, Ohio

Ryan Gravel

Founder, Sixpitch

Atlanta, Georgia

Kelley Griesmer, J.D.

Director of Special Projects, The Columbus Foundation

Columbus, Ohio

Greg Hall

President, Century 3, Inc.

Greer, South Carolina

Cyndi Harmeyer Fisher

Executive Director of EDGE, Greater Des Moines Partnership

Des Moines, Iowa

Amos Harris

Principal, Spinnaker St. Louis

St. Louis, Missouri

Matthew Harris

Iowa Arts Council Administrator, Iowa Dept. of Cultural Affairs

Des Moines, Iowa

Lisa Harris, M.D.

CEO, Eskenazi Health

Indianapolis, Indiana

Josh Hellyer

Policy & Communications Coordinator, Polk County Housing Trust Fund

Des Moines, Iowa

Randy Hermann

Assistant City Manager, City of High Point

High Point, South Carolina

Sarah Hempstead

Principal, Schmidt Associates

Indianapolis, Indiana

Councilwoman Chris Hensley

Ward III, City of Des Moines

Des Moines, Iowa

Katie Hernandez

Project Manager of Regional Business Development, Greater Des Moines Partnership

Des Moines, Iowa

John Hirschman

President & CEO, Browning Investments

Indianapolis, Indiana

Janet Holston

Director, Office of University Affairs, Arizona State University

Tempe, Arizona

Michael Hostad

Executive Director, Innovation in Milwaukee(MIKE)

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Jared Husmann

Commercial Real Estate, Keller Williams Greater Des Moines

Des Moines, Iowa

Courtney Hutchins

Engagement Coordinator, Leadership Knoxville, Inc.

Knoxville, Tennessee

Kirk Irwin

Chief Administrative Officer, Greater Des Moines Partnership

Des Moines, Iowa

Saif Ishoof

Vice President for Engagement, Florida International University

Miami, Florida

Larry James

Attorney, Faegre Baker Daniels

Des Moines, Iowa

Stephen Jenkins

Relationship Manager, Capital Bank

Knoxville, Tennessee

Amy Jennings

Executive Director, Greater Des Moines Leadership Institute

Des Moines, Iowa

Stephanie Jutila

President & CEO, Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden

Des Moines, Iowa

Mark Kesling

CEO, The DaVinci Pursuit

Indianapolis, Indiana

Tim Kinter

Executive Vice President, Regional Banking Markets & Community Relations, Bankers Trust

Des Moines, Iowa

Linda Kirby

President/CEO, Leadership Indianapolis

Indianapolis, Indiana

Ellen Kleto

Office Manager, Leadership Knoxville, Inc.

Knoxville, Tennessee

Susan Kloewer

State Historical Society of Iowa Administrator, Iowa Dept. of Cultural Affairs

Des Moines Iowa

Jason Kloth

Executive Director for Regional Workforce Development, Central Indiana Corporate Partnership

Indianapolis, Indiana

Kristi Knous

President, Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines

Urbandale, Iowa

Laurel Knox

Executive Director, Ballet Des Moines

West Des Moines, Iowa

Chris Kramer

Deputy Director, Iowa Dept. of Cultural Affairs

Clive, Iowa

Kent Kramer

President & CEO, Goodwill Industries of Central Indiana, Inc.

Indianapolis, Indiana

Holly Landon

Director of Philanthropic Services, Wichita Community Foundation

Wichita, Kansas

Greg Laposa

Vice President Education Strategies, St. Louis Regional Chamber

Wichita, Kansas

Caryn Lavernia

Assistant Vice President for Engagement, Florida International University

Miami, Florida

Tim Leach

Senior Vice President of Downtown Development, Greater Des Moines Partnership

Des Moines, Iowa

Deborah Lee

Chicago, Illinois

Shane Legleiter

AVP, Data Management Strategy, Lincoln Financial Group

Greensboro, North Carolina

Dennis Lower

President & CEO, Cortex Innovation Community

St. Louis, Missouri

David Maahs

Executive Vice President, Greater Des Moines Partnership

Des Moines, Iowa

Danicia Malone

Development Specialist & Communications Manager, Indianapolis Neighborhood Resource Center

Indianapolis, Indiana

Justin Mandlebaum

Principal, Mandelbaum Properties

West Des Moines Iowa

Zack Mannheimer

Vice President for Creative Placemaking, Iowa Business Growth

Johnston, Iowa

Rosa Mar

CEO, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of East Tennessee

Knoxville, Tennessee

Shauta Marsh

Executive Director, Catalog of Fantastic Things

Indianapolis, Indiana

Jessica Martin

Grants & Scholarships Coordinator, Greater Salina Community Foundation

Salina, Kansas

Zack Matheny

President & CEO, Downtown Greensboro, Inc.

Greensboro, North Carolina

Donovan McKnight

Co-Director, Ethnosh

Greensboro, North Carolina

Justin McLaughlin

COO, Tulsa Regional Chamber

Tulsa, Oklahoma

Judge Lawrence McSwain

Board Member, Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro

Greensboro, North Carolina

Tiffani Mensch

Director of Membership, Alliance for Better Nonprofits

Knoxville, Tennessee

Mo Merhoff

President, OneZone

Fishers, Indiana

Corrie Meyer

President, Innovative Planning

Carmel, Indiana

Gene Meyer

President, Greater Des Moines Partnership

Des Moines, Iowa

Robert Milbourne

Board Chair, CEOs for Cities; Chairman, RMH Advisors

New Albany, Ohio

Kristyn Miller

Program Director, CampusTown Waco Initiative, Prosper Waco

Waco, Texas

Molli Miller

Administrative Assistant of Regional Business Development & Regional Workforce Development/Education, Greater Des Moines Partnership

Des Moines, Iowa

Jessica Monroe

Owner, Greer Trading Post

Greer, South Carolina

Steve Moore

Managing Director, Degrees Matter, University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Greensboro, North Carolina

Rachel Moss Gauldin

COO, High Point Chamber of Commerce

High Point, North Carolina

Dylan Mullenix

Assistant Director, Des Moines Area Metropolitan Planning Organization

Des Moines, Iowa

Brenda Myers

President & CEO, Hamilton County Tourism

Carmel, Indiana

Debbie Nadzam

Healthiest Cities & Counties Challenge Director, CEOs for Cities

Cleveland, Ohio

Susan Neal

Vice President, Public Affairs, Research & Economic Development, The University of Tulsa

Tulsa, Oklahoma

Phyllis Nichols

President & CEO Knoxville Area Urban League, Knoxville Area Urban League

Knoxville, Tennessee

Jackie Nickolaus

Commercial Development Manager, Kum & Go

West Des Moines, Iowa

Kyle Oppenhuizen

Communications Director, Greater Des Moines Partnership

Des Moines, Iowa

Elaine Ostrowski

Board Member, Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro

Greensboro, North Carolina

Gary Palmer

Treasurer, Replacements Ltd. PAC

Greensboro, North Carolina

Joshua Palmer

Architect, OPN Architects

Des Moines, Iowa

Robert Palmer

Government Affairs & Legislative Counsel, Iowa League of Cities

Des Moines, Iowa

David Parrish

Assistant City Manager, City of Greensboro

Greensboro, North Carolina

Valerie E Patton

Vice President, Economic Inclusion and Talent Attraction and Executive Director-St. Louis Business Diversity Initiative, St. Louis Regional Chamber

St. Louis, Missouri

Brian Payne

Vice-Chair, CEOs for Cities; President and CEO, Central Indiana Community Foundation

Indianapolis, Indiana

Alex Pearlstein

Vice President, Market Street

Des Moines, Iowa

Meredith Peebles

COO, Lobeck Taylor Family Foundation

Owasso, Oklahoma

Megan Peiffer

General Counsel & Senior Account Executive, Strategic Elements

West Des Moines, Iowa

Emiy Peters

Strategic Elements

West Des Moines, Iowa

Sara Pilling

Graduate Student, University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Greensboro, North Carolina

Kim Poam Logan

Executive Director, Metro Arts Alliance

Des Moines, Iowa

Joe Poeschl

The Commons

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Matthew Polk

Executive Director, Prosper Waco

Waco, Texas

Andrew Pompa

Director of AkermanIN, Akerman

Miami, Florida

Elizabeth Presutti

General Manager, Des Moines Area Regional Transit

Des Moines, Iowa

Shelly Prichard

President & CEO, Wichita Community Foundation

Wichita, Kansas

Angela Prosser

Director of Public Information & Events, City of Greenville

Greenville, South Carolina

Mark Putnam

President, Central College

Pella, Iowa

Karen Radcliff

Vice President & CSO, Hamilton County Tourism, Inc.

Carmel, Indiana

Denise Reid

Executive Director, Mosaic & Workforce, Tulsa Regional Chamber

Tulsa, Oklahoma

Neil Reid

Professor, University of Toledo

Toledo, Ohio

Kristine Reeves

Director of Marketing, Greater Des Moines Partnership

Des Moines, Iowa

Elizabeth Reynoso

Assistant Director of Public Sector Innovation, Living Cities

New York, New York

Claire Richmond

Healthy Homes Des Moines Project Manager, Polk County Housing Trust Fund

Des Moines, Iowa

Sherry Ristau

President & CEO, Community Foundation of the Great River Bend

Bettendorf, Iowa

Julia Roach

Marketing & Communications Coordinator, Downtown Greensboro Inc.

Greensboro, North Carolina

Chris Ronayne

President, University Circle Inc.

Cleveland, Ohio

Ralph Rosado

Lecturer, Florida International University

Miami, Florida

Sarah Roy

COO, United Way of Central Iowa

Des Moines, Iowa

Jeff Russell

CEO, Delta Dental of Iowa

Des Moines, Iowa

Wayne Rutherford

President, Redell Brown Enterprises, Inc.

High Point, North Carolina

Kris Saddoris

Vice President of Development, Hubbell Realty Co.

West Des Moines, Iowa

Walker Sanders

President, Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro

Greensboro, North Carolina

Brittany Scheckelhoff

Creative Director, CEOs for Cities

Cleveland, Ohio

Mary Anne Schmitt-Carey

President, Say Yes to Education

New York, New York

Meg Schneider

Senior Vice President, Regional Business Development, Greater Des Moines Partnership

Des Moines, Iowa

Mary Sellers

President, United Way of Central Iowa

Des Moines, Iowa

Dan Sharpe

Community Research & Grants Management Officer, The Columbus Foundation

Columbus, Ohio

Kristopher Smith

Director of Leadership Development, The Funders’ Network

Coral Gables, Florida

Kyle Smith

Business Service Manager, Grant Associates, Inc.

Tulsa, Oklahoma

Tommy Smith

Vice President of Marketing Strategy, Akermann

Aimee Staudt

Vice President & Director of Development, Knapp Properties

West Des Moines, Iowa