Annual Meeting Excitement

The Economic Alliance Annual Meeting, presented by U.S. Bank , is on January 18, bringing together the business community for an afternoon of celebration. From speakers to the more than 1,000 individuals that will be in attendance, we are excited to celebrate the successes from 2023 and share the goals prepared for 2024.

Doors for the event will open at 11:00AM, which will kickoff the half hour networking time. The program will start promptly at 11:30AM, so we ask that attendees arrive at a timely manner to connect with other members, and allot themselves time to find their seat prior to the program kicking off. We have a jam-packed 90 minutes planned, so starting on time is of utmost importance!

This event not only brings our membership all together under one roof to network, celebrate, reflect and learn, but is also an opportunity to get inspired by keynote speakers and hear from area leaders.

Celebrating our Howard Hall 2023 Recipient

The Economic Alliance is thrilled that Lura McBride, President & CEO of Van Meter Inc., has been named the recipient of the prestigious 2023 Howard Hall Excellence in Business Award!

Lura, with 15 years at Van Meter Inc. and 8 years as President & CEO, has been instrumental in building strong teams and fostering a high-performance culture. Her commitment to creating lasting value for customers, supplier partners, communities, and employee-owners is truly commendable.

But that's not all! Lura's philanthropic spirit has left an indelible mark on numerous non-profit organizations in the community, showcasing her passion for making a positive impact beyond the business realm.

Let's come together to celebrate Lura McBride and the embodiment of excellence in business. We can't wait to hear her acceptance words on January 18 - Congratulations, Lura!

A Keynote's Perspective on What Makes Our City Unique

We're thrilled to introduce our keynote speaker for the Annual Meeting, Alex Baker from Maxis Advisors! Alex is an Atlanta-based consultant with Maxis Advisors and was the lead site selector on the most recent business attraction win for this region, Sub-Zero. His expertise includes location strategy and economic development incentives analysis and negotiation for office and industrial clients. Using a data-driven approach, Alex advises clients through site selection, labor market analytics, and helps them pursue federal, state, and local incentives. In the past 5 years, Alex has provided support on projects resulting in over $1.5 billion investment and more than 2000 jobs. He has secured over $25 million in direct incentives value for clients.

Alex has worked with a diverse range of industries including healthcare, technology, automotive, food services, cold storage, and manufacturing.

Alex will share some unique perspective on Cedar Rapids, it's opportunities and challenges for businesses looking to expand in our area, and help us see the unique attraction of our area.

A Decade of Support from Our Presenting Sponsor

This important event would not be possible without the support of our Presenting Sponsor, U.S. Bank . U.S. Bank is proud to be the event's Presenting Sponsor, and we're proud that our partnership of this event dates all the way back to 2012. It’s a natural fit because, like the Economic Alliance, they are focused on serving the community, growing the economy, and helping businesses and people succeed. The event will share much on the goals, priorities and optimism for 2024, and U.S. Bank shares that outlook. Thank you to the team at U.S. Bank for over a decade of support.

We also are extremely appreciative of the support of all of our sponsors for this event, including out supporting sponsors CRST The Transportation Solution, Inc. , Riverside Casino & Golf Resort? , and TrueNorth Companies, L.C. . We are thankful to have the support of these member businesses as they support this event, but beyond that support the Economic Alliance in their vision and their mission.

The Annual Meeting will bring us all together into one space, an event that only happens but once a year. It is a time for us to connect, to celebrate and to build on the excitement for the upcoming year. Let's take advantage of this time we have together, and take that momentum in what is promising to be a growth driven 2024. We look forward to seeing you on January 18!