Fairfield’s Laraby selected for Leadership Iowa

Joshua Laraby, Fairfield Economic Development Association Executive Director, announced that he has been selected to participate in the Iowa Association of Business & Industry’s Leadership Iowa program for 2022-2023.

“I’m honored to have been accepted and I am looking forward to the personal and professional development along with making connections to fellow leaders and innovative communities across the state,” Laraby said, “then bringing those connections and resources back to Fairfield and Jefferson County. I thank the FEDA Board of Directors for their support in participating in this program.”

Matt Doty, Chief Operation Office at Weaton Companies in Fairfield, is a past participant of Leadership Iowa, having completed it earlier this year. He is serving as co-chair of Leadership Iowa this year, and said the program was one of the greatest personal growth experiences of his life.

“This program allowed me the opportunity to really get to know people with vastly different life experiences than my own, and in the process, learn about important issues facing our great state,” he said. “These individuals have developed me into a better person.”

Laraby will be one of 40 people from across the state to participate in Leadership Iowa. According to a news release from the ABI, more than 1,300 Iowans have taken part in the program since it began in 1982. Participants represent all regions of the state and a variety of industries, companies and backgrounds.

“Leadership Iowa exists to educate, inspire, and grow a network of informed leaders, and to encourage their ongoing engagement on local and statewide levels,” the news release stated.

“We’re thrilled to host another great cohort of Iowa leaders in the 41st Leadership Iowa program,” said ABI President, Mike Ralston. “This experience not only provides first-hand exposure to opportunities and challenges across the state, it also fosters a strong network of problem-solvers equipped to effect positive change in Iowa communities therefore creating a better future for Iowa.”

The 2022-23 class will travel to communities throughout Iowa for a series of two-day monthly sessions beginning in October and concluding in June. Each session allows participants to delve into an important topic as it relates to the state by way of discussions with subject-matter experts, interactive experiences, industry tours and more.

Session topics and hosts change annually. The following communities and topics will be represented this year:

Jefferson – Opening Retreat (October)

Red Oak and Stanton – Agriculture and Renewable Resources (November)

Ames – Innovation and Technology (December)

Des Moines – Government (January)

Sioux City – Economic Development and Workforce (March)

Waverly – Education (April)

Burlington – Manufacturing and Transportation (May)

The class will graduate at ABI’s annual conference next June in Cedar Rapids.