Leadership Iowa 2025-26 Participants & Community Hosts Announced

Forty leaders from across the state have been selected to participate in the 2025-26 program of Leadership Iowa, Iowa's premier issues-awareness program offered by the Iowa Association of Business and Industry (ABI) Foundation. See the Leadership Iowa 2025-26 participant list here.

Since its founding in 1982, more than 1,500 Iowans have participated in the program, representing every corner of the state as well as a wide range of industries, companies, and backgrounds. Leadership Iowa's mission is to educate, inspire, and connect a network of informed leaders while fostering their continued engagement at the local and statewide levels.

"The 2025-26 Leadership Iowa class reflects leaders who are committed to the future of our state and who are eager to learn and collaborate," said Nicole Crain, ABI President, "When forty top business, education and community leaders from all corners of the state come together, this experience will undoubtedly make a lasting impact on their communities and beyond."

The 2025-26 class will travel to communities throughout Iowa for a series of two-day monthly sessions beginning in October and concluding in June. Each session allows participants to explore important topics related to our state through discussions with subject-matter experts, interactive experiences, industry tours and more.

Session topics and hosts change annually. The following communities and topics will be represented this year:

• Indianola - Opening Retreat (October)
• Fort Dodge - Agriculture & Renewable Resources (November)
• Cedar Valley - Workforce & Economic Development (December)
• Des Moines - Government (January)
• Muscatine - Manufacturing (March)
• Decatur County - Education (April)
• Perry - Rural Vitality (May)

The class will graduate at ABI's annual conference next June in Iowa City/Coralville.

The Presenting Sponsors of the 2025-26 Leadership Iowa program include EMC Insurance and John Deere.