Timeline
Our Journey
Today, ADVANCE IOWA serves as a trusted strategic ally for Iowa businesses navigating growth, change, and transition. Backed by the University of Northern Iowa Business & Community Services and the Wilson College of Business, we help business owners, leadership teams, and communities build clarity, strengthen resilience, and confidently prepare for what's next.
As Iowa's business landscape continues to evolve, so has ADVANCE IOWA. What began as a resource for business assistance has grown into a statewide initiative focused on two critical pathways: Business Growth and Business Transition. Through strategic consultation, educational programming, peer learning opportunities, and transition planning support, we help organizations create long-term value and lasting impact.
Our work strengthens not only individual businesses but also the communities, workforce, and local economies that depend on them. Together, we are helping Iowa businesses grow, adapt, and lead with confidence while continuing to build a stronger future for the state.
2026 Highlights & Milestones
Business Growth
ADVANCE IOWA continues to expand its strategic growth resources designed to help organizations navigate change and unlock new opportunities. Through structured planning, leadership development, and practical business tools, we help leaders align teams, clarify priorities, and turn ideas into measurable results.
Our growth solutions are designed to support businesses at every stage, equipping leaders with the confidence and direction needed to make informed decisions and achieve sustainable success.
Business Transition
Employee ownership and succession planning remain powerful strategies for preserving Iowa businesses, retaining local jobs, and creating long-term shared prosperity. In a widely viewed TEDx University of Northern Iowa presentation, retired Dean Leslie Wilson of the Wilson College of Business explored how employee ownership can transform the future of work, wealth creation, and business sustainability while strengthening communities across the state.
Save the Date: Join business owners, advisors, economic developers, and community leaders at the 5th Annual IA-CEO Employee Ownership Conference, where participants will explore practical strategies for succession planning, employee ownership, and preserving Iowa businesses for future generations. Learn from industry experts, connect with peers, and discover innovative approaches to building stronger companies and communities.
October 7, 2027
8:00am - 4:00pm
FFA Enrichment Center1055 SW Prairie Trail Pkwy in Ankeny, IA
Outreach & Community Impact
Strong businesses require strong connections. ADVANCE IOWA's outreach efforts bring together business owners, economic development professionals, and community leaders to share knowledge, build networks, and access practical resources.
Through educational events, peer learning opportunities, strategic partnerships, and communications initiatives, we help organizations tell their stories, strengthen stakeholder engagement, and position themselves for long-term impact across Iowa's communities.
ADVANCE IOWA has grown from a single economic gardening initiative into a statewide leader in business growth, transition planning, and innovation support. This timeline highlights the milestones, partnerships, and programs that have shaped our journey. Each year reflects our commitment to strengthening Iowa’s small and midsize businesses through strategic guidance, education, and community impact.
2012
The Economic Gardening Program launches and the initiative later grew into ADVANCE IOWA, expanding its mission to provide small and midsize businesses with comprehensive outreach and consulting services.
2015
The Center for Business Growth & Innovation (CBGI) unfolds, fusing the RBC, SBDC, IASourceLink, and ADVANCE IOWA brands efforts into one. CBGI publishes the 2015 Iowa Small Business Report is published.
Business Transition: Our team begins work with Business Ownership Transition and related services around it which led to providing succession planning services as early as 2016.
2018
CBGI launches the Family Business Forum which provided panels for multigenerational family businesses.
Business Transition | Our team initiates conversations with ESOP representatives for need of an Employee Ownership Center in Iowa.
2020
ADVANCE IOWA joined the #Building a Better Iowa bandwagon!
Business Transition | Received Heartland Challenge Grant from the Kauffman Foundation to identify and promote Employee Ownership in Iowa.
2022
ADVANCE IOWA & CBGI | The two centers continue to move forward in parallel, united by the same vision and mission, while focusing on different geographic areas. While the Family Business Center spins off of CBGI to became an official center under the UNI BCS umbrella with support from the Iowa Board of Regents.
Growth | CBGI: The Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) and the National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining (NCDMM) joined forces with two universities, the University of Northern Iowa (UNI), and Youngstown State University (YSU). This FOUNDRY 4.0 Partnership aims to provide American based foundries with the competitive edge in technology while optimizing productivity, output, and product quality, catapulting American-based foundries forward.
Business Transition | A grant was received from the Invest Taskforce within Empower Rural Iowa to continue Employee Ownership Cooperative work with the support of the Iowa Rural Development Council. In 2022, the Central Standards Grant was received from the Kauffman Foundation. Established partnerships with IRDC, Drake Law, Buena Vista University, and local communities. ADVANCE IOWA announced the launch of the Iowa Center for Employee Ownership (IA-CEO), aimed at supporting and promoting employee ownership as the 21st state in the nation.
2023
Ford Foundation grant recipient was awarded to: UNI, the Wilson College of Business, and the IA-CEO. The IA-CEO launches the first annual IA-CEO conference is held May 11th in Newton, Iowa.
CBGI: FOUNDRY 4.0 Partnership continues to move forward, assisting foundries and their supply chain to reduce costs, shorten deadlines, and deploy excellence in quality and customer satisfaction for a sustainable, resilient future.
2024
Iowa Center for Employee Ownership (IA-CEO) is officially established as an independent center, managed by ADVANCE IOWA. Ford Foundation awards a grant to UNI, the Wilson College of Business and the IA-CEO. In October, employee ownership month, the second annual IA-CEO conference is held on October 16th in Ankeny, Iowa.
Growth | CBGI: FOUNDRY 4.0 Partnership launches the Steps to Success Workshop series kicks-off at Donsco, Inc. on January 10 & 11, 2024 and at Lodge Manufacturing on January 24 & 25, 2024. In September, the DLA project scope of work is completed, however, ADVANCE IOWA continues with the next steps that bridge the skills and opportunity gap of Industry and Foundry 4.0. One step involves the Last Tactical Mile Impact 2.0, which began in the fall of 2024. The focus is on additive manufacturing for metal casting and the workshop series plans to raise the bar on high-impact education and networking for foundries and their supply chain partners.
2025-26
Conducted 31 networking, educational and business assistant workshops & events.
Business Transition | IA-CEO: Record‑Setting results at this year’s Iowa Center for Employee Ownership (IA‑CEO) Employee Ownership Annual Conference which reached a new milestone with record attendance from 10 states across the country. The event also awarded over 25 students conference scholarships annually, reinforcing our commitment to expanding higher-education opportunities in employee ownership and strengthening its presence within business school curricula.
Expanded and continued to grow national partnerships in higher education through the University Consortium on Employee Share Ownership, an international academic network dedicated to fostering collaboration among university-based initiatives that advance the study and practice of employee share ownership.
Showcased Employee Ownership on the 2025 TEDx Stage featuring Dean Leslie Wilson of the David W. Wilson College of Business delivered a compelling TEDx UNI talk, illustrating how employee ownership strengthens rural communities. Her message highlighted real examples of employee-owned companies that boost economic resilience, reduce turnover, and keep local wealth rooted where it’s created.
2026 | A Year of Growth & Accomplishment
Milestones that shaped ADVANCE IOWA
Expanded Our Impact by continuing to support Iowa business owners, leadership teams, and community partners through strategic growth and transition solutions. ADVANCE IOWA strengthened its role as a trusted resource for businesses navigating succession, growth, workforce challenges, and long-term sustainability.
Hosted and Supported Educational Programs & Events that connected business leaders with practical tools, peer learning opportunities, and expert guidance. Through workshops, presentations, conferences, and outreach initiatives, we continued helping Iowa businesses prepare for what’s next while building stronger communities and local economies.
Business Transition | 4th Annual IA-CEO Employee Ownership Conference (October 1, 2026) achieved another record-breaking year of attendance, bringing together business owners, advisors, economic developers, educators, and employee ownership advocates from across the region. A new Academic Track, led by Dr. Atul Mitra, was a standout addition to the conference, generating strong engagement and discussion among faculty, students, and researchers interested in advancing employee ownership education and scholarship. The success of this new breakout series further strengthened the conference’s role as a bridge between business practice and higher education.
Advanced Higher Education Partnerships through continued collaboration with universities, researchers, and national leaders dedicated to expanding awareness and understanding of employee ownership. These partnerships help build the next generation of business leaders while elevating Iowa’s reputation as a leader in employee ownership education and outreach.
Showcased Employee Ownership on the TEDx Stage as Dean Leslie Wilson of the Wilson College of Business amplified the conversation around employee ownership, succession planning, and shared prosperity. Her TEDx University of Northern Iowa presentation with over 74,480 views highlighted how employee-owned companies strengthen communities, create wealth-building opportunities for employees, and help keep businesses locally rooted for generations to come.
Looking Ahead
As Iowa businesses face new opportunities and challenges, ADVANCE IOWA remains committed to providing the guidance, education, and support leaders need to move forward with purpose. Whether the goal is growth, succession, innovation, or transition, we are helping organizations prepare for what's next and continue #BuildingABetterIowa.
This version removes the dated event-specific language and creates a more evergreen "journey/timeline" narrative that better matches the current ADVANCE IOWA brand voice and messaging.
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8120 Jennings Drive | Cedar Falls, IA 50614
319-273-4692 | info@advanceiowa.com LinkedIn AdvanceIowa
Todd.Hutcheson@uni.edu LinkedIn
Janell.Crow@uni.edu
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