April 2026 Member Meeting

Date: Thursday, April 16, 2026
Time: 11:30AM - 1:00PM
Location: ​Team Room at North End of Ankeny Football Stadium, West of Northview Middle School (1302 N Ankeny Blvd.)

We listened to you! Member feedback helped shape our April Member Meeting, which will focus on Workforce Development. We are pleased to welcome these panelists who will discuss innovative approaches to building and strengthening the workforce:​

• Kathy Anderson, Iowa Workforce Development
• Krista Van Hooser-Perin, Greater Des Moines Partnership
• Stephanie Gott, Kinzler Corporation 

Our thanks to Ankeny Sanitation for sponsoring lunch for members and the Ankeny School District for hosting our meeting.

LUNCH SPONSOR

CLICK TO REGISTER

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Members in the News

Baker Group plans to begin construction on a 37,500 square-foot expansion of its campus in Ankeny this summer, a project that will allow the multi-discipline company to continue to create jobs to meet growing client demand.

The Ankeny City Council approved a development agreement for Baker Group’s expansion at its meeting on Monday. According to the development agreement, Baker will invest about $11 million with the city providing a property tax rebate equal to 90% of the Tax Increment Financing eligible amount of property taxes paid on the value of the improvements, not to exceed $650,000 over 6½ years. Baker Group also will add 100 jobs that will be paid $48.44 per hour or more. The expansion will be on the east side of the company’s building at 1600 Corporate Woods Drive. Construction is expected to be complete in 2027.

Baker Group built its Ankeny campus in 2016. The current building consists of about 60,000 square feet of office space and 80,000 square feet of manufacturing space. 

Baker Group currently employs more than 1,300 people with 500 employees at its main campus in Ankeny. The company also has offices in Cedar Rapids, Fort Dodge, Davenport, Louisville, Ky., and Kansas City, Mo.

The Baker expansion further strengthens Ankeny’s position as a “regional business center,” attracting more employees to the community for jobs than people leaving Ankeny for jobs, he said.

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​KINZLER CORPORATION NAMES CORY WITTY AS CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER

Kinzler Corporation announced the appointment of Cory Witty as Chief Information Officer (CIO), effective March 2. The addition of this new executive position reflects the company’s continued growth and its commitment to aligning technology strategy with long-term business objectives.

Witty brings more than 30 years of technology leadership experience, with a strong background in building and scaling technology organizations, leading ERP modernization initiatives, and supporting complex mergers and integrations. Most recently, he served as Senior Vice President and Head of Corporate Technology at Global Atlantic Financial Group, where he built a global corporate technology organization and partnered closely with executive leadership to translate strategic priorities into operational execution.

“As Kinzler continues to expand our capabilities and integrate new companies, technology plays an increasingly critical role in how we serve customers and operate efficiently,” said Tanner Kinzler, President and CEO of Kinzler Corporation. “Cory’s experience leading large-scale technology initiatives and aligning systems with business strategy will help ensure we are well positioned for sustainable, long-term growth.

"In his new role, Witty will oversee Kinzler’s enterprise technology strategy, including data, security, infrastructure, and business applications. He will provide strategic leadership for the company’s continued investment in its custom ERP platform, BIDSS 2.0, a next-generation system designed to support operations across the organization and enhance scalability as the company grows.

“Kinzler has built an impressive, employee-owned organization with a strong culture and a clear vision for the future,” said Witty. “I’m excited to partner with teams across the company to ensure our technology environment not only supports today’s operations but also enables the next phase of growth. When technology is aligned with business strategy and built around the needs of the people using it, it becomes a true competitive advantage.”

​Kinzler Corporation has experienced significant expansion in recent years, including geographic growth and the integration of new companies. The creation of the CIO position strengthens the company’s ability to evaluate, integrate, and optimize technology environments across its operating divisions.

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Murphy Enterprizes has office and warehouse space is available in SE Ankeny at 1014 SE Lorenz Dr. (former CJM building), offering a versatile opportunity for various users. The property includes up to 5,500 square feet of flexible office space and 2,500 square feet of temperature-controlled warehouse space, along with on-site outdoor storage options. Conveniently located just off a main thoroughfare, the site provides quick and easy access to Interstate 35. For additional information or leasing details, please contact Jimmy Becker.  His email is [email protected] and his phone number is 515.371.2951.

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Local Option Sales Tax

On December 15, 2025, the Ankeny City Council approved placing the Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) on the ballot for a special election in September 2026. Mayor Bob Bentz expressed support, along with Council Members Joe Ruddy, Matt Davis, and Todd Shafer.

The Local Option Sales Tax is a voter-approved, one percent sales tax that Iowa communities can use to fund local priorities such as infrastructure, public safety, and property tax relief. If approved, the tax is projected to generate approximately $12 million annually and would be paid not only by residents but also by visitors shopping and dining in the community.

Currently, Ankeny is one of the few communities in Polk County without a local option sales tax, meaning residents already pay the additional tax when making purchases in neighboring cities. Supporters note that the measure could help diversify revenue and reduce reliance on property taxes.

The City plans to launch an educational campaign in the months leading up to the vote to help business leaders and residents better understand the proposal. This effort will outline how the tax works, including exemptions such as groceries and gas, the allocation of funds, with 50% designated for property tax relief, and the role of non-resident contributions. It will also provide transparency around projected revenue and community impact.

At the February 2026 ABIC Member Meeting, 85% of surveyed attendees indicated support for the Local Option Sales Tax. ABIC will continue to keep members informed as additional details become available.

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Update from Our Community Partners

The Ankeny Community School District officially named its new secondary facility, Ankeny Innovation Hub (The Hub): Where learning connects to what’s next, at its February 17, 2026, Board of Directors’ meeting. The facility is one of the General Obligation Bond projects passed by Ankeny voters last November.
 
The name was selected following a community-driven process designed to reflect innovation, future-focused learning, and community pride. Input was gathered from the community and staff members on action teams, students, and nearly 3,000 community responses to the final name options. “Ankeny Innovation Hub” emerged as the clear preference.
 
The Ankeny Innovation Hub reflects language already familiar to our community from the bond planning process and captures the center’s role as a place of connection, collaboration, and applied learning. The Hub extends and supports the learning at our two comprehensive high schools by providing additional pathways, experiences, and partnerships that prepare students for what comes next.
 
The Ankeny Innovation Hub will expand access to specialized programming and hands-on learning experiences, complementing the comprehensive high school model and strengthening post-secondary readiness for Ankeny students.

Is your company interested in starting the conversation to get involved with this project? View this flier for more information on how to become a partner of the Ankeny Innovation Hub.  

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The Ankeny Area Chamber of Commerce is hosting a Legislative Updates at the Ankeny Kirkendall Public Library on Friday, April 10. Chamber members and the community are invited to join the Iowa State Senators, Iowa House Representatives, Polk County Supervisor, City of Ankeny Mayor, and the School Board in timely updates. There is no registration required for this event. Legislative Update schedule is:  Polk County, City of Ankeny, and School Board updates from 11:15 - 11:30 am and Legislative updates from 11:30AM - 12:30PM.
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​Good news! Tour Ankeny is back! On Wednesday, May 6, the Chamber is excited to visit the incredible facility at Kreg Tool Company for a behind-the-scenes look at one of our community’s standout businesses. Enjoy coffee and a light breakfast while connecting with fellow attendees, hearing from local speakers, and taking part in a fun and informative tour of the Kreg Tool facility. Members and non-members alike are welcome to join this engaging community event—we can’t wait to see you there!
Register at Tour Ankeny.

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Did You Miss the February 2026 Member Meeting?

We kicked off our first ABIC Member Meeting of 2026 with a bit of unexpected winter weather, as more than six inches of snow fell the night before. Despite the conditions, the sun came out, the roads cleared, and thanks to the incredible team at Manatt’s for preparing their lot, we were able to welcome 60 members for a strong start to the year!

Our Legislative Panel featured Mike Bousselot, Heather Matson, Ryan Weldon, Mark Holm, and Bobbi Bentz, who shared valuable insights and engaged in thoughtful discussion.
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The panel covered a range of timely topics impacting our business community, including how local employers are competing for a limited workforce, the ongoing conversation around property taxes, affordability for businesses in Iowa, and key issues such as water quality and infrastructure. Members had the opportunity to hear directly from elected officials about the challenges and opportunities ahead.

It was a great example of the strong engagement and collaboration that makes ABIC meetings so valuable, even in the middle of an Iowa winter.

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HAVE NEWS TO SHARE?

​​​​If your company has exciting news or accomplishments to share, we’d love to hear about it! Please send your updates to Kim Schaaf for inclusion in our bi-monthly newsletter. As a reminder, the newsletter is published yearly January, March, May, July, September, and November.

​We look forward to showcasing the great work happening for our members in the business community!