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| Iowa Business Summit | |
|---|---|
| Name | Iowa Business Summit |
| Type | Nonprofit |
| Founded | 2001 |
| Headquarters | Des Moines, Iowa |
| Region served | Iowa |
Iowa Business Summit The Iowa Business Summit is an annual convening that brings together corporate executives, political leaders, academic figures, and nonprofit organizers to discuss strategic development in Des Moines, Iowa and the Midwestern United States. Founded in the early 21st century, the event attracts participants from across sectors including finance, agriculture, technology, manufacturing, and healthcare. The Summit functions as a forum linking leaders from institutions such as John Deere, Principal Financial Group, Wells Fargo, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and universities like Iowa State University and University of Iowa.
The Summit positions itself at the intersection of policy and commerce, hosting panels that include executives from Target Corporation, Hy-Vee, KPMG, Deloitte, and PwC alongside elected officials from the Iowa General Assembly, delegations from the United States Congress, and representatives from agencies such as the Department of Commerce (United States). Academic partners have included faculty from Harvard University, Stanford University, University of Chicago, and the University of Minnesota. Corporate sponsors and partners have ranged from Cargill to DuPont to regional firms like Ruan Transportation and Principal Financial Group affiliates. International trade delegations have involved embassies such as the Embassy of Canada and missions from the European Union.
The Summit traces origins to initiatives modeled on gatherings like the World Economic Forum and the Milken Institute Global Conference, seeking to create a Midwestern analog drawing leaders from Chicago, Illinois, Minneapolis, Minnesota, Omaha, Nebraska, and Kansas City, Missouri. Early years featured keynote addresses by figures from General Electric, IBM, and agricultural giants including Monsanto and Bayer. Notable historical sessions paralleled topics addressed at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago and reflected regional shifts following events like the 2008 financial crisis and the Great Recession (2007–2009). The Summit adapted formats in response to public health guidance during the COVID-19 pandemic with virtual panels featuring speakers from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention briefings and executives from Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson.
The Summit is organized by a nonprofit board comprising executives from entities such as Principal Financial Group, Agribusiness Council of Iowa, Iowa Farm Bureau Federation, and regional chambers like the Greater Des Moines Partnership. Governance documents align with practices seen in organizations including Business Roundtable and National Association of Manufacturers. Advisory committees have included deans from Iowa State University College of Business, leaders from University of Iowa Tippie College of Business, and representatives from think tanks such as the Brookings Institution and Heritage Foundation for policy panels. Financial oversight has involved audit partners from Ernst & Young and legal counsel with ties to firms like Faegre Baker Daniels.
Typical programming mirrors conferences like SXSW and CES with plenaries, breakout sessions, and roundtables. Sessions have featured supply chain discussions involving FedEx, UPS, and Union Pacific Railroad; agricultural technology panels with representatives from ADM (company), Bunge Limited, and Syngenta; and healthcare forums with speakers from Mayo Clinic, UnityPoint Health, and Mercy Medical Center. Workshops have included entrepreneurship labs with Techstars, venture capital panels hosting firms like Sequoia Capital and Andreesen Horowitz, and workforce development sessions with Iowa Department of Workforce Development comparisons to models from the National Skills Coalition. Annual awards have evoked programs similar to the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year.
The Summit has hosted a range of high-profile individuals: corporate executives from Walmart, Costco Wholesale Corporation, and Procter & Gamble; political figures including members of the Iowa Governor's Office, former United States Secretary of Agriculture, and U.S. Senators from Iowa and neighboring states; academics such as economists from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Princeton University, and Columbia University; and media personalities from outlets like The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Bloomberg L.P., and CNBC. International participants have included trade ministers from Mexico, Germany, and Japan and delegations from organizations like the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development.
Analyses presented at the Summit often cite metrics from institutions such as the Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Census Bureau, and Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis to evaluate regional growth, referencing case studies involving John Deere, Rockwell Collins, and Pella Corporation. Economic development initiatives promoted at the Summit have been compared to projects supported by the Economic Development Administration and state incentives analogous to programs run by the Iowa Economic Development Authority. Workforce pipeline programs highlighted partnerships with Iowa Workforce Development, community colleges like Des Moines Area Community College, and apprenticeship frameworks similar to those advocated by the National Governors Association.
Coverage of the Summit appears in regional outlets such as the Des Moines Register, Iowa Public Radio, and national business media including Forbes, Fortune (magazine), and The Economist. Commentary often situates the Summit alongside events like the Iowa State Fair in terms of regional prominence and links discussions to electoral cycles involving the Iowa caucuses. Public perception narratives have been shaped by reporting from investigative outlets such as ProPublica and editorial boards including The Wall Street Journal Editorial Board, reflecting debates about corporate influence similar to critiques leveled at gatherings like the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting.
Category:Organizations based in Des Moines, Iowa