2025 Iowa Leadership Exchange

Join us in Indianola on October 28-29, 2025 for the Leadership Exchange event! The Iowa Leadership Exchange is an educational event held to bolster existing leadership programs, support a statewide network of leaders, and empower communities to grow local leaders.

If we want our communities to survive and thrive, it will take strong local leadership. Many communities across the state have created effective leadership programs, as have various Iowa industries. Leveraging these efforts as examples and partners, this initiative works to bring together those lessons learned and best practices for an annual gathering.

Hosted by the Iowa Rural Development Council in partnership with the Center for Rural Revitalization at the Iowa Economic Development Authority and Leadership Iowa, the event is designed for a wide range of participants. It welcomes current leadership program directors and managers from across the state, communities and organizations interested in launching new programs, and anyone passionate about developing the next generation of leaders.

Event Highlights Include:

• Keynote Presentation from Sinikka Waugh on "Empowering Changemakers, One Day At A Time"
• Breakout Sessions on navigating conflict, leveraging AI, and cultivating servant leadership, just to name a few!
• Lunch Training from Lexi Marek Beeler on "How to Get More Time in Your Day"
• Networking Reception at West Hill Brewing Company on Indianola Main Street

Registration covers participation for both days, lunch and breakfast on October 29, and appetizers during the reception.

Lodging is available for attendees at Hotel Pommier - use promo code LEADERS or call 515-961-0551. Block closes on October 20.

Thank you to the Iowa Rural Development Council's Leadership Exchange Planning Committee:

• Chair - Liesl Seabert, UNI Institute for Decision Making
• Vice Chair - Himar Hernandez, ISU Extension & Outreach
• Stacy Besch, Entrepreneur
• Robin Bostrom, IEDA
• Rachel Gocken, Warren County Development
• Deb Lucht, Rural Advocate
• Jessi McQuerrey, Leadership Iowa, ABI Foundation
• Bill Menner, Iowa Rural Development Council
• John Palmer, Grimes Leadership
• Mark Reinig, ISU Extension & Outreach
• Jenae Sikkink, Des Moines Partnership
• Mindy Stalker, UC Lead
• Jim Thompson, IEDA
• Sarah Thompson, Johnson County
• Sacha Wise, Empower Rural Iowa, IEDA

Host or Publisher Iowa Rural Development Council