Partnership Announces 2nd Annual Business Summit for Education Excellence

The Greater Des Moines Partnership, in conjunction with Iowa Chamber Alliance, ABI, and the Iowa Business Council, have announced the second annual Business Summit for Education Excellence. The summit will take place January 16, 2014 from noon – 4:30 p.m. at the Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center at 833 Fifth Ave., in Downtown Des Moines. Nearly 300 business, education, and community leaders from across the state attended last year’s Business Summit on Education Excellence, demonstrating business leaders’ strong belief that education plays a critical role in the success of economic development. The Summit resulted in a strong and united business voice that provided leadership and advocacy for transformative reform in education.

"We greatly appreciate the continued partnership between educators and the business community as we work together to help Iowa's schools meet the challenges and needs of our students and community," said Dr. Tom Narak, Director of Government Relations for the School Administrators of Iowa.

The purpose of the Summit is to create a strong and united business voice from across Iowa and to take a leadership role in advocating for transformative reform in education. The summit will feature national and local experts who have successfully created business coalitions that are achieving results through improved education systems. House File 215, known as the Education Reform Bill, was passed by the Iowa Legislature during the last session and signed into law by Governor Terry Branstad on June 3, 2013. This landmark legislation marks the start of a commitment by Iowa to return to a position of national leadership in education excellence. With the 2014 session about to convene, business leaders attending this important summit of their peers will be best prepared to once again take an active and informed role in advancing Iowa’s education system.

“A future where Iowa business effectively competes in the world marketplace has its foundation in the quality of leadership within our education system,” said Elliott G. Smith, Executive Director of the Iowa Business Council. “Swift and thorough implementation of the Iowa Core standards and educator leadership development measures recently signed into law will give pre K-12 students the best opportunity to achieve their career goals, excel with the employers for which they work, and succeed at the highest levels within the global workforce.”

FEATURED SPEAKERS & PANELISTS:

Brad Buck - Director, Iowa Department of Education 
Joe Crozier – Chief Administrator, Grant Wood AEA 
Rob Denson – President, DMACC 
Deron Durflinger – Superintendent/6-12 Secondary Principal, Van Meter School District 
Michelle Hosp – Director, Iowa Reading Research Center 
Tim Sheehy – President, Metro Milwaukee Association of Commerce 
Jason Weedon – SVP of Corporate Relations & Strategic Partnerships, Achieve 
Dave Wilkerson – Superintendent, Waukee School District

Registration for the summit is available at dsmpartnership.com/calendars/partnership-events. Cost to attend is $35 and includes lunch. For more information, contact the Greater Des Moines Partnership at (515) 286-4950. Media inquiries should be directed to Susan Ramsey at (515) 286-4954 or sramsey@dsmpartnership.com.