Keynote Speaker Announced For 2025 Greater Des Moines Regional Summit
GREATER DES MOINES, IA (July 16, 2025) — The Greater Des Moines Partnership has announced that James Chung, President of Reach Advisors, will serve as the keynote speaker for the 2025 Greater Des Moines Regional Summit, taking place on Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025, at the Iowa Events Center.
Chung will deliver a data-driven keynote that builds on his prior analyses of Greater Des Moines’ (DSM’s) rise as a standout mid-sized metro in the U.S. His previous presentations in 2018 and 2020 identified the underlying drivers behind DSM’s growth and vibrancy. At the 2025 Summit, Chung will revisit those findings and share what’s shifted, what still holds true and which focus areas are key to sustaining the region’s momentum through the rest of the decade.
“We are excited to welcome James Chung back to Greater Des Moines to help us spark new conversations and data-based ideas centered around radical cooperation throughout our region as a key differentiator,” said Tiffany Tauscheck, President & CEO of The Partnership. “His expertise in economic analysis, innovation and place-based strategy is sure to help inspire additional momentum for the future of Greater Des Moines.”
Chung is President of Reach Advisors, a Boston-based strategy and predictive analytics firm. His work focuses on building community, serving some of the nation’s leading organizations involved in economic development, real estate development, community philanthropy and cultural investment. He also co-founded a machine learning startup spun out of Reach Advisors to generate localized economic forecasting, which was acquired by the world’s largest commercial real estate valuations firm. He continues to innovate as a co-founder of a reading-focused tech startup based in Paris. He is particularly interested in topics such as how the era of tech advancement and machine learning impacts (positively and negatively) the advancement of organizations and cities and how the expansion of educational and cultural capital builds and strengthens communities.
About the Regional Summit
The Regional Summit convenes public, private and nonprofit leaders from across the 12-county DSM region to connect, learn and collaborate on forward-thinking solutions to shared challenges. Programming includes keynote remarks, breakout sessions, panel discussions and networking designed to strengthen regional alignment and support DSM’s continued rise as a national leader in economic competitiveness and talent development.
Attendees are invited to attend The Partnership’s annual Economic Impact Awards during lunch at the Regional Summit. A 40-year tradition, these awards honor companies that have made significant contributions to the economic and community vitality of DSM.
Last year’s inaugural Regional Summit welcomed hundreds of regional leaders and helped elevate cross-sector, cross-community collaboration. The 2025 event builds on that momentum, providing a platform for new ideas, stronger partnerships and shared regional success.
Register and learn more about the event by visiting The Partnership website.
The Regional Summit is sponsored by Platinum Sponsor Prairie Meadows, Gold Sponsors Musco Lighting, Google Fiber and Estes Construction, Silver Sponsor Meta and Bronze Sponsors, NCMIC and Grinnell College. Additional sponsorship opportunities are still available by contacting Kathryn Smith, Director of Community Engagement at The Partnership, at (515) 286-4914 or ksmith@DSMpartnership.com for more information.
About the Greater Des Moines Partnership
The Greater Des Moines Partnership is the economic and community development organization that serves 12 counties in Greater Des Moines (DSM), Iowa: Adair, Clarke, Dallas, Guthrie, Jasper, Madison, Mahaska, Marion, Marshall, Polk, Poweshiek and Warren. Together with more than 400 Investors and an Affiliate Chamber of Commerce network of more than 7,200 Regional Business Members, The Partnership drives economic growth and talent development to advance quality of life in DSM with one voice, one mission and as one region. Through innovation, strategic planning and global collaboration, The Partnership grows opportunity, helps create jobs and promotes DSM as the best place to build a business, a career and a future. Learn more at DSMpartnership.com.