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Brenda Dryer, Shannon Latham and Mayor Robert Perry have joined the North Iowa Area Community College John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center Advisory Board.

The JPEC and the NIACC JPEC Business Incubator advisory boards have now merged.  Members of the combined board include: Gary Christiansen, Dr. Debra Derr, Maureen Elbert, Mayor Jim Erb, Neil Fell, Carolyn Frakes, Pat Galasso, Paul Gold, Tom Jolas, Bob Klocke, Curtis Lewerke, Tom Lundeen, John Pappajohn, Allan Powell, Ronnie Pitzen, Paul Stevenson, Ken Vande Berg, Ted Vosburg, Steve Weiss, Rick Whalen and Terry Wisner. 

Dryer, executive director for the Mitchell County Economic Development Commission, has worked in economic development for the last 15 years. Prior to coming to Mitchell County, she worked as the first executive director for the Iowa Great Lakes Corridor of Opportunity.  She also worked for the Buchanan County Economic Development Commission and Iowa Lakes Electric Cooperative in the development field.  Dryer received her BS from Iowa State University with a major in adult education and a minor in communications. She lives in St. Ansgar with her husband, Scott, who serves as the secondary principal for St. Ansgar Community Schools, and their three children, Michael, Katie and Matthew.

Latham serves as vice president of marketing for Latham Hi-Tech Hybrids in Sheffield.  She is co-owner with husband, John, and brother-in-law, Chris, of the hybrid seed corn company. Shannon received her MBA from the University of Iowa, BS from Iowa State University with a double major in agricultural journalism and public service & administration in agriculture.  Shannon makes her home in Sheffield with John; daughter, Elizabeth; and son, Ian.

Perry, of Northwood, is a retired educator.  He worked as a high school teacher and coach for 40 years.  Perry has his Bachelors and Masters degrees plus twenty additional hours of education.  Perry was on the city council from 1978-1990 and has been Mayor since 2000.  He and his wife, Verla, have three children and eight grandchildren. 

The John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center is located on the North Iowa Area Community College campus in Mason City, Iowa and provides college level courses and degree programs in entrepreneurship, as well as consulting services for business start-ups and existing industries in the North Iowa region.  The Center also provides FastTrac ® training programs both for beginning companies and existing companies.  For more information, contact the NIACC JPEC at 641-422-4342.

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