GREATER DES MOINES, IA (Oct. 3, 2018) – The Greater Des Moines Partnership has announced that its 2019 Annual Dinner will feature J.D. Vance as the headline speaker. The Partnership’s 130th Annual Dinner program will take place on Thursday, Jan. 17, 2019 at the Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center.
J.D. Vance is a venture capitalist, commentator, and author of the #1 New York Times best seller “Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis,” described by the National Review as a “brilliant book” and by The Economist as “one of the most important” reads of 2016. He regularly discusses politics and public policy, having appeared on ABC, CBS, and FOX News, and is currently serving as a contributor on CNN.
Vance is a principal at the leading Silicon Valley venture capital firm Mithril Capital, cofounded by Peter Thiel and Ajay Royan. As an investor, Vance has taken a special interest in the biotechnology industry and other transformative sectors of the economy. In early 2017, Vance joined as a partner in AOL founder Steve Case’s venture capital company, Revolution LLC, which concentrates on bolstering entrepreneurship and disruptive, high-growth companies outside of the sphere of Silicon Valley. He also returned home to Ohio to found Our Ohio Renewal, a nonprofit organization dedicated to addressing the state’s opioid crisis and bringing high-quality employment and educational opportunities to Ohioans.
“J.D. Vance will share valuable knowledge and insights for Partnership Investors and Members,” said Dan Houston, chairman, president and CEO of Principal and The Partnership’s Board Chair. “His perspectives both as a political thought leader and a venture capitalist will help us advance conversations in Greater Des Moines as we build on our region’s momentum in 2019.”
The Partnership’s Annual Dinner is the Greater Des Moines business community’s celebration of the past year’s economic and community development successes. The dinner includes a social hour beginning at 5 p.m., with the keynote and dinner beginning at 6:30 p.m. The program includes a presentation of The Partnership’s Annual Report, summarizing the accomplishments of the organization’s work in 2018. Reservations are being accepted online at DSMpartnership.com/annualdinner. Center stage seating is $175 per person or $1,750 per table, and general seating is $150 per person or $1,500 per table. A table seats 10 people.
Members of the media are asked to contact Sam Hoyle, Media Relations Manager at The Partnership at (515) 286-4919 or shoyle@dsmpartnership.com.
About the Greater Des Moines Partnership
The Greater Des Moines Partnership is the economic and community development organization that serves Greater Des Moines (DSM), Iowa. Together with 24 Affiliate Chambers of Commerce, more than 6,400 Regional Business Members and more than 340 Investors, The Partnership drives economic growth 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.