Leah Barton is the Associate Director for the Center for Industrial Research and Service (CIRAS) at Iowa State University. With a focus on optimizing the center’s operations and outreach efforts, Leah ensures that CIRAS excels in its mission of helping Iowa’s businesses thrive. 

Director - Iowa Waste Reduction Center - University of Northern Iowa

Joe provides leadership and direction for the IWRC and its programming. Joe graduated from UNI in 2004 with a bachelor's degree in marketing, and has been involved with the center since his time as a student intern. Over the years, he has taken on different roles and responsibilities including developing formal painter-training courses for the US Air Force, co-inventing virtual-reality simulators used to train painters and abrasive blasters, hosting two Midwest Food Recovery Summits, leading the marketing and communications efforts for the organization, producing several cooking competitions featuring culinary students using food scraps as ingredients, launching and growing the Iowa Green Brewery Certification program, and working with countless businesses and organizations to minimize their environmental impact. Joe has a master's degree in communication and leadership studies from Gonzaga University and also serves as President of the Des Moines Chapter of the Chemical Coaters Association, Ex-Officio Board Member of the Iowa Recycling Association, Board Member and Liaison of the Iowa Composting Council, and Board Treasurer of the National Pollution Prevention Roundtable.

Drew Conrad is the Director of the Institute for Decision Making at the University of Northern Iowa.  Drew has over 30 years of experience in statewide economic development planning and research. Drew facilitates strategic planning and regional economic research for communities and economic development organizations. Applied research projects he has undertaken include the development of the laborshed methodology now used by Iowa Workforce Development (IWD). Drew has worked on collaborative projects with Iowa Workforce Development, Iowa Economic Development Authority, Iowa Department of Education, the U.S. Economic Development Administration, the Center for Regional Economic Competitiveness, the Council for Community and Economic Research and the Labor Market Information Institute. Drew is a Certified Economic Developer (CEcD), a Certified Economic Research Professional (CERP), a graduate of the Economic Development Institute (EDI) at the University of Oklahoma and holds a Market Research Certification (EGcMR) from the National Economic Gardening Institute.  He holds a BA in American History/Pre-Law and a Master’s in Public Policy (MPP). He is a Past Chair of the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) and is a Past-President of Professional Developers of Iowa.

Nick Glew is Vice President of Lending at Community Savings Bank in Cedar Rapids where he works alongside developers and business owners to help them achieve their financial goals. Prior to CSB, Nick served as President of Marion Economic Development Corporation where he supported more than $375 million of new investment into the community and the creation of 2500 new jobs. In 2013, he worked alongside community and chamber leaders to establish the Main Street program in Marion, IA and served as its founding director.

He is a Corridor Business Journal Forty Under Forty Honoree, a graduate of ABI’s Leadership Iowa, Cedar Rapids Leadership for Five Seasons, the Oklahoma University Economic Development Institute, and the University of Northern Iowa. Nick is a board member for the Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance, Marion Cares, and was recently appointed by Governor Reynolds to serve on the Iowa Workforce Development Board. Nick is Vice-President for PDI and has served as a faculty member for Heartland Economic Development over the past four years. 

Nick has been repeatedly recognized as one of the top 250 most influential leaders in the Iowa City/Cedar Rapids Corridor. 

BRE Academy - Team Captain

James Hoelscher is the Senior Program Manager at UNI's Institute for Decision Making. James provides consultation to rural/urban community and economic development organizations undertaking strategic planning related to business retention, industry recruitment, community-wide planning, entrepreneurship, marketing, tourism, and organizational structure. He coordinates UNI’s Economic Development Administration University Center and is the Director of the Heartland Economic Development Course.  

James is a Certified Economic Developer (CEcD), is a member of the International Economic Development Council, and holds a Master’s Degree in Public Policy.  James serves leadership roles in the Governor's Empower Rural Iowa, Iowa Rural Development Council, Professional Developers of Iowa, and the Iowa Manufacturing 4.0 Consortium.

Jayne Kielman is the Business Development Manager at the UNI Family Business Center and works to connect Iowa family businesses to education, resources, and peer family businesses from around the state. Previously, Kielman worked with Advance Iowa on identifying and assisting small to medium sized business with succession planning, Value Builder assessments, and peer group formation.  Her background is in sales, client relationships/development, and marketing.  Kielman is passionate about family businesses and their importance in communities throughout Iowa. Helping family businesses with next generation development and succession are priorities that drive each day. When Kielman is not thinking about family business she enjoys reading, planning camping trips with her husband and mini-GoldenDoodles and spending time with family. 

Niki Litzel is a business engagement consultant (BEC) team lead for Iowa Workforce Development as part of the Waterloo IowaWORKS center. She brings a myriad of experiences with a background in journalism, marketing, and non-profit work.  As BEC, Niki is focused on uniting businesses with workforce resources in the state and the community. She loves to collaborate on teams to make great things happen. 

Dan is the Director of Existing Business for the Greater Dubuque Development Corporation in Dubuque, Iowa. In this capacity, he oversees a nationally recognized and award-winning program dedicated to existing business retention and expansion. Greater Dubuque Development’s InfoAction program under Dan's leadership has garnered prestigious accolades from state, national, and international economic development associations. By invitation, Dan continually shares his expertise through presentations and has previously served as an instructor for economic development coursework, engaging with groups across Iowa and the United States.

Prior to joining the Greater Dubuque Development team in 2001, Dan held the position of Director of Government and Business Affairs at the Dubuque Area Chamber of Commerce, a role that was informed by his valuable experience in political campaign organization, specifically in U.S. House and U.S. Senate campaigns. Dan is an honors graduate from Loras College, where he earned a bachelor's degree in political science. He has gone on to continue his education and professional development prestigious programs such as Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management (Utility Economic Development Association), the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Institute for Organizational Management at both the University of Colorado and Colorado College, and Business Retention & Expansion International (BREI)’s professional certification.

Karla Organist is a Senior Project Manager for the Institute for Decision Making (IDM) at the University of Northern Iowa. In her role, Karla assists communities, economic development organizations, and other nonprofits with strategic planning at varying levels of focus such as community-wide planning, organizational planning and workforce planning. Karla has previous work experience in economic development; comprehensive, housing, hazard mitigation and transportation planning; entrepreneurship; and business consultant and financial trainer for childcare businesses. Karla is a Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) and holds a Master’s Degree in Community Development. She is a member of Professional Developers of Iowa (PDI), the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) and is currently 2nd Vice President for the National Rural Economic Developers Association (NREDA). She also serves as a board member for the Northeast Iowa Workforce Development Board.

Clark Smith has been a member of the Professional Developers of Iowa since 1985.  Clark has gone through all the officer chairs at PDI including being a past president.  Clark started his economic development career as the Executive Director of the Hampton Chamber and Economic Development organizations.  He then went to work for the Iowa Development Commission as a Regional rep and then as the Manager of Business Retention and Expansion.  After IDED he was the Director of Economic Development for Peoples Natural Gas (Iowa) now Black Hill Energy for 15 years.  In 2005 he joined Smart Solutions Group and is a partner.  Smart Solutions Group does strategic planning, executive searches and Clark developed EDC Forge which is now in over thirty states.  Smart Solutions Group also does a little site selection work for small companies.  During this time Clark also owned and operated Butler House on Grand Bed and Breakfast for 19 years.  Clark now resides in Clive with two daughters in college and one daughter that is an Occupational Therapist that is moving back to Des Moines to teach at Des Moines University!  This daughter also is bringing Clark’s only grandbaby with her, which is most exciting for Clark and his wife, Jen.  

Derek Thompson is an experienced manufacturing manager with a background in both low volume/high mix and high volume/low mix production as it relates to all aspects of manufacturing. A background in logistics, design, sales, materials management, cell manufacturing, and Lean allows him to better understand the challenges of operating a manufacturing facility. Derek has worked in the foundry and fenestration industries, providing broad exposure to many different aspects and types of manufacturing facilities. As a Strategic Advisor for the Center for Industrial Research and Service (CIRAS) at Iowa State University, Derek works with Iowa companies to help identify the available resources to assist with economic growth and profitability.

David Vollmar has been a senior account manager for Alliant Energy for over fourteen years.  Working with companies to reduce their energy usage and assisting communities in economic development.   For four years, he was the Executive Vice-President of the Home Builders Association of Greater Des Moines, while there, Vollmar added a full-time Governmental Affairs Department, started a new sponsorship program.  For thirteen years, Vollmar was the Executive Director for the Pella Chamber of Commerce and Pella Area Development Corporation.  While with the Chamber, Vollmar added a Convention and Visitors Bureau and a first of its kind newcomer service program called Positively Pella.  

Vollmar is a graduate of the US Chamber of Commerce Institute for Organization Management program.  He also received his Certified Chamber Executive degree in 2000, making him one of only three certified chamber executives in Iowa.

Vollmar spent ten years in the newspaper industry in the promotion and public affairs arena prior to entering the Chamber field, most of the time with the Cedar Rapids Company.  He has served on the Executive Officers Council for the National Association of Home Builders and is the past-President of the Iowa Chamber of Commerce Executives and was named the organization’s Volunteer of the Year in 1999.  Vollmar has been the President of the Iowa Group Travel Association, and the Central Iowa Tourism Association.  

Lisa has been Executive Director of the Buchanan County Economic Development Commission (BCEDC) since 2020.  Her previous professional positions included being the initial director of both Main Street Hampton and Win-Worth BETCO.  Her ability to stay connected with businesses and industries earned BCEDC an Excellence Award from the BEST of Iowa Program in 2020.  Lisa works in collaboration with her communities and partner organizations for the growth of the county.  Since beginning her position, the BCEDC and its partners have secured several Catalyst Grants, a Downtown Upper Story Housing grant and two CDBG Downtown Revitalization grants, as well as grants for childcare, leadership and housing.  In addition to staying connected with businesses and industries throughout the county she has worked on workforce housing, tourism, business development, and industry retention and recruitment to name a few areas of her range of duties.  

When she is not working, she enjoys spending time with her husband of 32 years and her 6 children and 3 grandchildren.