The AE Party Dip is ready!

We began this year by celebrating the wonderful achievements of 2024, a result of strong leadership and vision on every level of the Greater Des Moines Partnership team and board. The 2025 Partnership Annual Dinner even took on a celebratory tone, along with some mentions of AE Party Dip (thank you for that!).

Now looking back, I would describe this year as one that required a level of tenacity and personal commitment from our Greater Des Moines Partnership team that I had not anticipated. It also revealed to me what they are capable of.

Partnership Successes in 2025

The economic, political and business environments heavily influence The Partnership scorecard goals and variables in these areas exposed themselves at a rapid pace throughout the year. We experienced manufacturer downsizing and international trade volatility along with employee layoffs, to name a few. Yet through it all, the Partnership team carefully mobilized their resources, listening, learning and exploring new ways to stay on track. In fact, this team was responsible for generating 140 economic development project leads (the most in many years), conducting more than 500 industry, entrepreneurial and main street meetings and assisting 28 business location and expansion projects. They also managed to better many of their goals in our community this year, while increasing the number of Partnership Regional Chamber Members overall. The Partnership is now the 2nd-largest regional chamber in the country with more than 7,200 Regional chamber Members and 12 counties. In these last weeks, I had the opportunity to visit Fort Collins, Colorado, with a small team made up of Partnership and Des Moines city leaders. During our time together, one official shared how challenging it was to create a compelling case showing that business growth could fuel and support the social and environmental priorities of their city. I was immediately thankful for the invested business leaders across Greater Des Moines who work side-by-side with our Partnership team to reach our highest potential together. True to form, there is already over one billion dollars of development activity planned for Downtown Des Moines.

There is actually inspiration everywhere this year. Just look at the new “TimePiece by Oyoram” installation on The Fitch Building or even the new federal Interstate system designations of Highways 5 and 65 (a 20-year lesson in patience). Even the Downtown Farmers’ Market celebrated its 50th season well, with additional vendors, visitors and city blocks!

In 2025, The Partnership served Investors, Affiliates, Regional Chamber Members and the Greater Des Moines region with uncompromising standards of excellence, a commitment we at our almost century-old family business, AE Dairy, understand and know well. That kind of standard reaches deep into the personal areas of who we are. It is in its most simple form, an enduring promise to be more than average. I would also point out that it is neither easy or convenient most of the time, but it truly makes a difference.

I read recently that friendship, kindness and genuine connection feed the part of life that achievement can never reach. And also, that life is richer when you lead with heart. That might be the best way to describe what I observed while serving in my role with The Partnership. What a wonderful journey it has been.