2026 - May Newsletter - Ankeny Business & Industry Collaborative

May 2026 Member Meeting

Thursday, June 18, 2026
11:30AM - 1:00PM
Ankeny Community School District Administrative Office
306 SW School Street, Ankeny

Many of you expressed interest in hearing from someone at John Deere through our On-the-Spot survey. We are pleased to share that Brad Russman, John Deere Des Moines Works Factory Manager, will be the guest speaker at our June meeting.

Brad will provide an update on John Deere, share insights from his career with the company, and offer his perspective on doing business in Ankeny. We hope you will join us for what promises to be an informative and engaging discussion.

Our thanks to John Deere Des Moines Works for sponsoring lunch for members and the Ankeny Community School District for hosting our meeting!

Lunch Sponsor

CLICK TO REGISTER

Salute to Industry Nominations Now Open

The nomination process is now open for ABIC’s annual Salute to Industry awards, recognizing outstanding businesses and leaders making a significant impact in the Ankeny community.

Nominations, including self-nominations, are now open. If you know an individual or company that meets the award criteria, or if you wish to nominate yourself or your organization, please follow the link below to complete the appropriate online nomination form.

As a reminder the awards are:

Commercial Investment
Commercial Reinvestment
Innovative Company of the Year
Community Impact of the Year
Environmental Impact of the Year
Public/Private Partnership
CEO of the Year
Emerging Leader of the Year - NEW THIS YEAR

2026 Nominations will close at 5:00PM on Friday, July 31, 2026.

SALUTE TO INDUSTRY NOMINATIONS

Members in the News

After a distinguished career in banking and community leadership, Tom Friedman will retire from First National Bank on June 5. Throughout his time with the bank, Tom has been a strong supporter of the Ankeny business community and has built lasting relationships across the region.

Tom served as ABIC Chair in 2003 and 2004, helping guide the organization and support its continued growth.

Friends, colleagues, and community members are invited to celebrate Tom’s career and wish him well at an open house on May 27 from 1:00 - 4:00 PM at First National Bank.

We thank Tom for his many contributions to ABIC and the broader community, and we wish him and his wife, Joann, all the best as they begin this exciting new chapter.

Des Moines Area Community College recently announced Dr. Lori Suddick as its next president.
Dr. Suddick will officially join DMACC on June 15, 2026, bringing with her more than two decades of higher education leadership experience and a strong commitment to workforce development and student success.

Dr. Suddick has been widely recognized for building collaborative partnerships between education, business, and community organizations, an approach that aligns closely with the needs of Central Iowa’s growing workforce. Her leadership will play an important role in strengthening the talent pipeline and supporting the continued growth of businesses throughout the region.

ABIC welcomes Dr. Suddick to Central Iowa, and we look forward to meeting her at future ABIC member meetings and partnering together to support our business community.

The City of Ankeny has announced the hiring of Brent Hinson as its new Assistant City Manager, with his official start date set for June 22, 2026.

Hinson brings more than two decades of local government leadership experience, most recently serving as Deputy City Administrator in Mason City. In his new role, he will work closely with the City Manager and City Council to support daily operations, advance major city initiatives, and help guide long-term planning as Ankeny continues to grow.

City leaders noted that his extensive experience and collaborative leadership style will be an asset in supporting the city’s continued success and service delivery to the community.

ABIC welcomes Brent to Ankeny, and we look forward to meeting him at future ABIC member meetings!

Local Option Sales Tax

As mentioned in the March newsletter, the City of Ankeny staff are available to provide on-site presentations for local businesses and their employees regarding the Local Option Sales Tax Special Election on Sept. 8, 2026.

The presentation will explain what Local Option Sales Tax means for Ankeny, how the tax would work if approved, and the potential impacts for the community and local businesses. Organizations interested in scheduling a presentation are encouraged to contact Lindsay Fox at [email protected]. Additional information about Local Option Sales Tax is available on the City’s website at www.ankenyiowa.gov/salestax.

Update from Our Community Partners

City of Ankeny Departmental Changes
The City of Ankeny has announced departmental updates designed to strengthen both development services and long-range community planning efforts. The former Community Development Department is now the Development Services Department, which will continue overseeing planning and building functions under the leadership of Eric Jensen. The Economic Development Department has been renamed the Community & Economic Development Department and, under the leadership of Derek Lord, will now lead long-range planning initiatives in addition to economic development efforts.\

As part of this transition, the City has reassigned an existing staff member from Development Services into a dedicated long-range planner role. While no new staff positions are being added, this change creates a dedicated resource focused on strategic planning and economic growth initiatives. The position will support long-range planning and economic development efforts through research and analysis, policy development, targeted growth strategies, and implementation planning, while also coordinating with community members, stakeholders, and City departments to help advance Ankeny’s future growth objectives.

Ankeny’s Hospital Feasibility Study

As Ankeny continues to grow, this city is exploring the feasibility of bringing expanded healthcare services to the area. A hospital feasibility study, expected to begin this summer, would evaluate whether Ankeny and the surrounding region could support a new hospital offering 24/7 emergency care, limited inpatient stays, and other specialty and acute care services.

The study will assess community need and market viability, with the goal of using the findings to help attract a healthcare operator to Ankeny. Expanded local healthcare access could improve emergency response efficiency, enhance quality of life for residents, and support continued economic development by attracting related medical and professional services. Community leaders view this effort as a potential first step toward establishing a broader medical campus serving both Ankeny and the surrounding region. The feasibility study is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

The last hospital to open in the Des Moines metro was Methodist West in 2009, even as the metro population has increased by roughly 200,000 residents since that time. If the study confirms sufficient demand, the City will use the findings to engage potential healthcare providers interested in establishing services in Ankeny.

Ankeny Area Chamber of Commerce offers a full calendar of programming designed to support networking, education, and community connection. Key upcoming events include a “6 Steps to Your Business Owner Playbook” workshop on May 15, followed by Profit Academy on May 18 and Speed Networking on May 19, providing members with valuable opportunities to strengthen business skills and relationships.

June continues with additional member engagement opportunities, including Business After Hours, Lattes and Leads, and recurring educational programming.

In July, the Ankeny Chamber SummerFest returns July 10–12 at The District at Prairie Trail, bringing together thousands for live music, entertainment, parades, fireworks, and community celebration. The month also features ongoing Chamber learning sessions and networking events, ensuring consistent opportunities for members to stay engaged and connected throughout the summer.

Following a great conversation around workforce development in April, the Ankeny Community School District (ACSD) wants to share how your business can get involved. They are inviting forward-thinking corporate partners to help shape the next generation of talent while strengthening their own workforce pipeline. Your investment supports hands-on learning experiences that mirror today’s industries and tomorrow’s opportunities.

Build early connections with future employees
Help students develop industry-relevant skills
Support career pathways aligned to regional workforce needs
Demonstrate your company’s commitment to education and community

Ways to Support:
Expertise - Please complete this form to express your interest in engaging in Career Connected Learning, such as internships, mentorships, and more.
High School Programming/Ankeny Innovation Hub (Financial Contributions, Equipment Donations, or In-Kind Supplies):

Corporate donations provide flexible support for learning spaces, equipment, curriculum, and student experiences.
Donating large equipment allows us to create authentic, industry-grade learning environments.
Consumable and reusable supplies are essential for daily, hands-on instruction across multiple career pathways. Examples include sheet metal, wood, sewing and textile supplies, medical supplies such as IVs and needles, and any other industry-specific materials.
Full equipment or in-kind supply needs list are provided upon request.

Every contribution helps students gain confidence, skills, and clarity about their future. Together, we can create a talent pipeline that benefits students, employers, and our entire community. To discuss partnership opportunities or request our full donation lists, please contact: Samantha Aukes, Chief of Communications, [email protected]

Polk County is developing its new Strategic Plan to help guide future priorities, investments, and decision-making across the region, and ABIC members are encouraged to participate in this important effort. As key stakeholders in the Ankeny business community, your feedback is valuable in ensuring the plan reflects workforce needs, infrastructure priorities, and economic development opportunities that support continued growth. Members can learn more and take the survey by scanning the QR code below to share their perspectives and help shape the county’s long-term direction.

Leadership Class Opportunity

The Ankeny Leadership Institute is now accepting applications for the 2026–2027 class, and ABIC members are encouraged to consider nominating team members or emerging leaders within their organizations.

This highly regarded program is designed to develop and connect current and future leaders in the Ankeny community through hands-on learning, leadership development, and deeper engagement with local government, education, and business.

The experience is guided by two professional leadership coaches who help participants strengthen their skills, expand their perspectives, and apply leadership concepts in real-world settings. Scholarship opportunities are also available to help ensure the program is accessible to a diverse range of participants. Class participants gain valuable insight into the inner workings of the community while building strong professional networks across sectors. Applications are now open, and interested individuals are encouraged to apply and take advantage of this unique opportunity to grow as leaders in Ankeny.

Ready to join the next class? Apply online at www.ankenyleadership.org.

DMACC Offers AI Training

At the April Member Meeting, Whitney Riggs, Business Solutions Consultant at DMACC, shared information about AI trainings offered. The AI training includes:

A practical introduction to using large language models (LLMs), such as ChatGPT, in everyday work, with a focus on more intentional and productive use.

A high-level overview of how large language models work, including what they do well, where they fall short, and how to collaborate with them to achieve clearer, more useful results.

Through guided exercises, participants learn how to:

Structure prompts using role, task, input, and output

Shape voice, tone, and perspective

Iterate and refine outputs rather than settling for first responses

Recognize appropriate and inappropriate uses of AI at work

Explore AI and create a clear, actionable framework centered on three key questions:

What do you never want to do again?

What must always be done by a human?

What was previously impossible but is now within reach?

If you would like more information about when the training will be offered again or to explore a customized version tailed to your business need, please contact Whitney Riggs.

Did You Miss the April 2026 Member Meeting?

Our most recent ABIC Member Meeting brought together business and community leaders for a timely and engaging discussion centered on workforce development, one of the most important priorities impacting employers across our region.

A special thank you to our panelists, Kathy Anderson with Iowa Workforce Development, Krista Van Hooser-Perin, PhD with the Greater Des Moines Partnership, and Stephanie Gott with Kinzler Corporation, for sharing their expertise, real-world experiences, and practical strategies for attracting, developing, and retaining talent. Their perspectives helped spark a thoughtful and engaging discussion that provided valuable takeaways for all who attended.

We appreciate everyone who took time to attend and participate in the conversation. The engagement and shared ideas around workforce challenges continue to highlight the importance of collaboration between employers, education partners, and community leaders as we work together to strengthen the regional talent pipeline.

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!

May 2026 Newsletter 05/14/2026 | Issue 3