Timeline
ADVANCE IOWA over time.
Today, ADVANCE IOWA has evolved and provides holistic outreach and consulting solutions that scale with small and medium‑sized businesses across the state. Our team assists companies through growth, transition, and innovation by offering guidance, resources, and programs tailored to their shifting needs.
Our solutions and programs create lasting impact that strengthen leadership and the businesses and communities where they reside. We have listed some events and recent accomplishments in 2026. Please, click the links provided to find out more!
Business Transition | During a TEDx University of Northern Iowa talk published on YouTube in January of 2026, Dean Leslie Wilson explored how expanding employee ownership can transform the way we think about work, wealth, and shared success. Listen and watch her talk that has reached over 74,000 views by clicking the button below.
Join us for the IA-CEO Employee Ownership Annual Conference
Thu, Oct 01 2026
8:00am - 4:00pm
FFA Enrichment Center1055 SW Prairie Trail Pkwy in Ankeny, IA
Business Growth | Stay tuned for the release of Tier 1 of our exclusive Applied Business Strategy Leadership Program, a guided framework that helps organizations build strategic plans, align teams, and move ideas to measurable results. It empowers leaders to move forward with clarity and confidence through each business lifecycle stage.
Discover the 2026 Foundry Industry 4.0 Conference where Todd Hutcheson, Director of ADVANCE IOWA will be speaking.
Industry 4.0 is no longer just about the future. Smart, proactive manufacturers are using innovation and technology to improve productivity, profitability, and worker safety. Evaluating and implementing technology today is the key to remaining competitive and sustainable into your tomorrow.
Starting Tuesday, July 28 – 29, 2026
Breakfast:7:00am – 8:00am
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Bloomington - Minneapolis South, Minneapolis, MN
Business Outreach | Economic development communication isn’t like traditional marketing — it requires clarity, credibility, and a deep understanding of how communities grow. ADVANCE IMPACT Communication is our newest program that brings that kind of expertise to every project, helping organizations tell their story in ways that resonate with stakeholders, prospects, and partners.
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
Hosted and supported 32 educational and business‑assistance events designed specifically for SMBs by expanding our outreach efforts to deepen engagement with businesses and communities throughout the state. This included offering numerous in‑person and virtual learning opportunities focused on business strategy, planning, and leadership development.
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 28 student scholarships, 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 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.
Let's talk.
8120 Jennings Drive | Cedar Falls, IA 50614
319-273-4692 | info@advanceiowa.com LinkedIn AdvanceIowa
Todd.Hutcheson@uni.edu LinkedIn
Janell.Crow@uni.edu
CONNECT WITH US!
