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Dear Members of the Ankeny Business & Industry Collaborative,
As we begin 2026, I am honored to step into the role of Board Chair for the Ankeny Business and Industry Collaborative. It is a privilege to serve this organization and to work alongside such a dedicated group of business and community leaders who care deeply about Ankeny’s success. ABIC plays a vital role in strengthening our local business environment through advocacy, engagement, and learning. In a time of continued change and opportunity, our mission remains clear: to support our investor businesses and help ensure Ankeny remains a vibrant, prosperous place to live and work. As Board Chair, my focus will be on listening to our members, fostering meaningful connections, and helping deliver relevant, practical value through our programs and events. Your input and participation are essential to ABIC’s continued impact, and I encourage you to stay engaged by attending meetings and sharing your perspectives. I would also like to extend my sincere thanks to our past leadership for their dedication and service, and to our members for your continued support. I look forward to working with you in the year ahead as we continue to strengthen Ankeny’s business community together. Warm regards, Ellen Hames Attorney, BrownWinick Board Chair | Ankeny Business and Industry Collaborative |
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Friday, February 20, 2026 | 11:30AM - 1:00PM
Host and Lunch Sponsor: Manatt's, Inc. 610 SE Creekview Drive, Ankeny IA 50021 Please join us for the first Member Meeting of 2026, featuring updates from our local legislators and community leaders. Senator Mike Bousselot (Iowa Senate District 21), Representatives Heather Matson (Iowa House District 42), and Ryan Weldon (Iowa House District 41), Polk County Supervisor Mark Holm, and Ankeny Mayor Bobbi Bentz will share what they are working on this year, what they are most excited about, and will be available to answer your questions. This is a great opportunity to hear about key initiatives and engage in meaningful discussion. Our thanks to Manatt's, Inc. for hosting our meeting and sponsoring lunch for members! |
Host & Lunch Sponsor
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Please join us in welcoming Patrick Rice and Cody Stoltenberg with Edged US. New to Ankeny, Edged US is a major technology infrastructure company making a significant investment in our community through the development of a state-of-the-art data center known as Edged Des Moines. This facility, currently under construction on a 17.5-acre site in the southeast part of the city, is being built to deliver approximately 13.2 MW of critical capacity to support high-density artificial intelligence (AI) workloads and cloud computing operations.
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Please join us in welcoming Jaden Moody with MHC Kenworth, a full-service commercial truck dealership serving the greater Des Moines area. The Ankeny location offers new Kenworth truck sales, a wide selection of used trucks, and a comprehensive parts and service department equipped to support Class 6–8 vehicles with certified engine and drivetrain service. Opened in late 2025, this nearly 95,000-square-foot facility brings sales, parts, and 24/7 service operations together under one roof and features a temperature-controlled service area, dozens of service bays, and mobile maintenance support—making it a valuable resource for local trucking businesses and owner-operators alike.
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Please join us in welcoming Matt Davis and Josh Braby with Neumann Brothers, a leading Midwest commercial construction company with a strong presence in Central Iowa. Neumann Brothers specializes in design-build and general contracting services for industrial, commercial, and mission-critical projects. Their experienced team is known for delivering high-quality projects through collaboration, innovation, and a commitment to safety—making them a trusted partner for businesses and communities alike.
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Please join us in welcoming Eric Summers with TeamLogic IT, a managed IT services provider serving Ankeny and the greater Des Moines area who helps local businesses stay secure and efficient with technology solutions including managed IT services, cybersecurity, cloud services, data backup, and help desk support. Their local team is dedicated to keeping operations running smoothly while aligning technology with each business’s goals.
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Ankeny Business & Industry Collaborative thanks Jenna Kimberley, CEO of Kimberely Development Corporation, for her service on the Board of Directors and for serving as 2024 ABIC Chair! Jenna plans to stay involved and attend ABIC meetings and events, so we'll see her soon! |
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We are pleased to welcome Job VanBruggen to the Ankeny Business & Industry Collaborative Board of Directors. Jon serves as CEO of Taylored Expressions, a design and manufacturing company situated in the craft industry that he and his wife Taylor started in 2008. His family of five is active in the youth sports and special needs communities, seeking to inspire joy and creativity wherever they go. That mission guides Jon's work in, through, and beyond Taylored Expressions in the hope of helping Ankeny and the surrounding communities flourish.
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Please join us in congratulating Mike Schrock, who has been named the new City Manager of Ankeny, Iowa. Mike brings more than two decades of experience in public administration and has already played a major role in Ankeny’s growth through his previous work as interim city manager and assistant city manager. Known for strong leadership and practical problem-solving, he’ll be responsible for guiding day-to-day city operations and helping the community continue to expand while staying focused on the needs of residents and businesses. We’re excited to see what he’ll accomplish in this next chapter for Ankeny.
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The Ankeny Community School District is excited to invite you to participate in our annual High School Career Showcases this spring. These events are designed to highlight a wide range of career fields and the many pathways students can pursue within them. Ankeny Community School District is welcoming professionals from diverse industries to help our 11th-grade students better understand the opportunities available in your career field and the steps they can take to get there.
At the Career Showcase, you can expect to: · Engage with students who are eager to learn about your profession. · Share hands-on tools, equipment, or interactive demonstrations (if applicable). · Describe day-to-day responsibilities and what a “day in the life” looks like. · Discuss the training, education, and pathways that lead to success in your career. · Offer insights into your own journey and professional story. Important Update: This year’s format has changed a little bit. Career professionals will be grouped by career cluster rather than by company. Our goal is to help students explore industries and career paths, not to promote individual organizations or recruitment. We encourage professionals with genuine passion for their field and a desire to guide students. We encourage multiple people from the same company to participate; however, you may be placed in different career cluster groups depending on your specific career. REGISTRATION · Registration Deadline: February 13, 2026 · REGISTRATION LINK. You may sign up for multiple slots and both dates! EVENT DATES · Ankeny High School: Thursday, February 26, 2026 · Ankeny Centennial High School: Tuesday, March 10, 2026 EVENT DETAILS AND VOLUNTEER EXPECTATIONS Format: Students rotate in groups of approximately 80 every 30 minutes. Volunteer Shifts: You may sign up for one or multiple time slots. Each Career Cluster requires at least eight professionals per session. · 7:50 AM – 10:00 AM · 9:45 AM – 12:00 PM · 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM (Lunch provided) If you have questions or need assistance with registration, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Amy Steenhoek. Feel free to share this invitation with others in your organization; we hope to represent as many career fields as possible for our students to explore! |
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The Ankeny Chamber of Commerce is celebrating 75 years with a sold-out Diamond Jubilee Annual Dinner on Thursday, February 5, at the FFA Enrichment Center!
Then, on Friday, February 6 at 11:00 AM, join the Ankeny Chamber for the first of three Legislative Updates at the Ankeny Kirkendall Public Library. The event begins with updates from Polk County, the City of Ankeny, and the School Board from 11:15–11:30 AM, followed by the Legislative Update from 11:30 AM–12:30 PM. On Tuesday, February 10 at 4:00 PM, the 2026 Ankeny SummerFest Theme Reveal Party will take place at the Ankeny Chamber office. Can’t attend in person? Watch it LIVE on Facebook. Mark your calendar for this exciting announcement! Finally, the February Business After Hours, sponsored by Barb Wiedenman & Associates, will be held on Thursday, February 12 from 4:00–5:30 PM at the Ankeny Golf & Country Club. |
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Crowd favorite, Derek Lord, Director of Economic Development with the City of Ankeny provided the latest updates on economic development in Ankeny! Derek's presentation is below.
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