Rise to the Occasion Thought Leadership in Economic Development

2017 PDI Fall Conference
September 27-29, 2017
Doubletree by Hilton Cedar Rapids Convention Complex, Cedar Rapids, Iowa

“Rise to the Occasion – Thought Leadership in Economic Development”

Conference Schedule

Wednesday, September 27, 2017

11:00 am – 4:00 pmPDI’s Annual Golf Outing

Hunter’s Ridge Golf Course

Sponsored By: Blane Canada

12:30 pm – 4:00 pmPDI’s Annual Trap Shoot

Otter Creek Sportsman’s Club

Sponsored By: Interstate Companies

2:00 pm – 6:00 pmPDI Registration Desk Opens / Exhibitor Set-Up

Convention Center Atrium

2:00 pm – 4:00 pmEducational Session: Site Development Case Studies

Rm. Taft BEd Raber, Washington Economic Development Group, Washington, IA

Janelle Krieling, Clinton Regional Development Corp, Clinton, IA

Rick Dickinson, Greater Dubuque Development Corporation, Dubuque, IA

Linda Wunsch, CEcD, Greater Dallas County Development Alliance, WDM, IA
David Maahs, Greater Des Moines Partnership, Des Moines, IA
Brian Crowe, Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance, Cedar Rapids, Moderator

5:00 pm– 5:45 pmNew Member/First Time Attendees Orientation

Rm. Taft BPDI Officers & Membership Co-Chairs

6:00 pm – 8:00 pmWelcome Reception at the Cedar Rapids Public Library

450 5th Avenue SE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Living Learning Roof

(The library is within walking distance – three blocks away; hotel shuttle availablefor those needing transportation)

Food and Venue Sponsored By: Alliant Energy

Thursday, September 28, 2017

7:00 am- 5:00 pmPDI Registration Desk Open / Exhibits Open

Convention Center Atrium

7:30 am – 8:30 amBreakfast Buffett / PDI Committee Meetings

Rm. Exhibit Hall A(Legislative Committee will meet in Room: Taft B)

Sponsored By: MidAmerican Energy

8:30 am – 9:00 amGeneral Session: Opening Announcements and Welcome

Rm. Exhibit Hall B&CThe Honorable Ron Corbett, City of Cedar Rapids Mayor

Jeanine Penticoff, Alliant Energy, Cedar Rapids, IA

PDI President Mark Reinig, ISU-CIRAS, Ames, IA

9:00 am – 10:15 amGeneral Session: Community Growth

Rm. Exhibit Hall B&CRon Kitchens, Southwest Michigan First, Kalamazoo, MI

Sponsored By: Iowa Economic Development Authority

10:15 am – 10:30 amNetworking Break

Convention Center Atrium Sponsored By: Black Hills Energy

10:30 am – 11:45 amGeneral Session: Entrepreneurship & Technology Panel
Rm. Exhibit Hall B&CEric Engelmann, Executive Director, NewBoCo., Geonetric,

Scrum Alliance, Cedar Rapids, IA

David Hensley, Tippie Business Center, John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial
Center, Iowa City, IA

Curt Nelson, Iowa Entrepreneurial Development Center, Cedar Rapids, IA

Brian Waller, Technology Association of Iowa, Des Moines, IA (Moderator)

Sponsored By: Iowa Workforce Development

11:45 am– 1:00 pmLunch & Annual Meeting with BEST of Iowa Awards

Rm. Exhibit Hall ASponsored By: Iowa Area Development Group and Member Coops

1:30 pm – 2:30 pmConcurrent Sessions:

Rm. Exhibit Hall A1A: Board Recruitment, Engagement & Leadership
Lois Buntz, Cedar Rapids, IA

Rm. Exhibit Hall B&C1B: Organizational Excellence

Ron Kitchens, Southwest Michigan First, Kalamazoo, MI

2:30 pm – 3:00 pmNetworking Break

Convention Center Atrium Sponsored By: University of Northern Iowa-Institute for Decision Making

3:00 pm – 4:00 pmConcurrent Sessions:

Rm. Exhibit Hall A2A: Bringing Talent to Iowa
Seth Wear, Rockwell Collins, Cedar Rapids, IA

Kaly Etten,Rockwell Collins, Cedar Rapids, IA

Rm. Exhibit Hall B&C2B: A C-Level Career Conversation for ED Professionals

Deb Galbraith, Waverly Partners, LLC, Lawrence, KS

Clark Smith, Smart Solutions Group, Des Moines, IA, Moderator

4:00 pm - 4:15 pmNetworking Break (Silent Auction bidding closed at 4:15 pm)

Convention Center Atrium

4:15 pm – 4:45 pmGeneral Session

Rm. Exhibit Hall B&CMark Nolte, Iowa City Development Group Inc., Iowa City, IA

4:45 pm – 5:00 pmAnnouncement of Silent Auction Winners

Rm. Exhibit Hall B&C

5:00 pm - 5:30 pmPDI Board Meeting

Rm. Taft B

6:00 pm - 8:00 pmReception at NewBo City Market

1100 3rd Street SE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa

(Catch the Trolley & Shuttle Bus starting at 5:45 pm in hotel lobby)

Sponsored By: Alliant Energy, Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance, Central Iowa Power Cooperative, City of Cedar Rapids, Iowa City Area Development Group, Inc., ITC Midwest, Marion Economic Development Corporation

8:00 pm – 11:00 pmTrolley will be Available for Trips Back & Forth in Downtown Area

(On your own for transportation after 11:00 pm)

Friday, September 29, 2017

7:00 am – 11:00 amPDI Reception Desk/Exhibits Open

Atrium(Silent Auction: Pick up and Payment at PDI Registration Desk)

7:00 am – 8:00 amBreakfast Buffet

Rm. Exhibit Hall AGolf & Trap Prizes and Committee Announcements

Sponsored By: Kossuth/Palo Alto County Economic Development

8:00 am – 8:30 amGeneral Session: Panel Discussion

Rm. Exhibit Hall B&CIowa Economic Development Authority,Des Moines, IA

8:30 am – 9:30 amGeneral Session: Tax Reform/Tax Credits/TIF Discussion

Rm. Exhibit Hall B&CDan Culhane, CEcD, Ames Economic Development Commission, Ames, IA
Chad Schreck, North Ia. Corridor Economic Development Corp., Mason City, IA

Jason Hutcheson, CEcD, Greater Burlington Partnership, Burlington, IA
Doug Neumann, Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance, Cedar Rapids, IA