Mason City Hosts Leadership Iowa Session

DES MOINES – Over forty leaders from across the state of Iowa will gather in Mason City on April 7^th and 8^th, 2005 for a Leadership Iowa session on the topic of Entrepreneurship and Venture Capital. Experts on many different aspects of the topic will join the class for presentations and panel discussions during the two-day conference. The session was coordinated by Leadership Iowa alumni from the area led by Tim Putnam, Associate Director of NIACC’s Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center and a 2004 graduate of Leadership Iowa. Many area businesses are also contributing to make the session a success, including: Curries, Mercy Medical Center – North Iowa, North Central Iowa Growth Partnership, Sukup Manufacturing, US Bank, and the NIACC John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center. On Wednesday evening, April 6, early arrivals will be treated to a trolley tour of Mason City, courtesy of David Collins, Executive Director of Clear Lake Economic Development and a 2003 graduate of Leadership Iowa.

Thursday’s session will include a panel of entrepreneurs, a presentation on creating an E-Community, a venture capital panel and an investment road show, highlighted by a lunch with John Pappajohn. Thursday’s session takes place at MacNider Art Museum. On Thursday evening, North Iowa business leaders and Leadership Iowa alumni will join the class for a reception. On Friday, the class will meet at First Citizens National Bank where they will learn about entrepreneurial support systems and entrepreneurship education at the John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Centers state-wide. The session will conclude on Friday afternoon.

The Leadership Iowa program is sponsored by the Iowa Association of Business and Industry Foundation. Leadership Iowa serves as an issues-awareness program to develop, educate and motivate leaders of Iowa. Forty leaders from across Iowa were selected this year based on exhibited leadership skills, community involvement and commitment to the issues impacting Iowa. Each Leadership Iowa class represents a diverse mix of individuals representing business, education, government, non-profit and community-based organizations.

The Leadership Iowa class meets once a month and travels throughout the state from October through June, hosted by various communities. Each session focuses on a single topic impacting Iowa, and features interaction with subject matter experts, small group activities and leadership development.

"Each year Leadership Iowa selects dynamic individuals who seek not only to know Iowa better, but also to serve the state and their community in positions of responsibility," says Kay Neumann-Thomas, ABI Foundation Vice President, Programs.

For more information about Leadership Iowa, contact Kay Neumann-Thomas, Vice President, Programs, at 800/383-4224 ext. 564 or visit www.leadershipiowa.com.