One of the things I am most proud of about the Ames Regional Economic Alliance is the way our team continues to show up.
Our staff is engaged in conversations, organizations, initiatives and projects across our region, and they continue to find new ways to lead and contribute. That commitment was on display again this month. One of our team members was accepted into Leadership Iowa, marking the third consecutive year the Alliance has had a representative in this statewide leadership program. Another was recently appointed to the board of directors of a national economic development organization, while another completed an economic development certification.
These accomplishments reflect the quality of our staff, but they also reflect something bigger: the culture of the Alliance and the community we represent. I believe in giving our team the trust and autonomy to make decisions, take ownership, and pursue opportunities that challenge them. That creates professional growth, but it also creates people who are personally invested in the success of our community and the Alliance.
In fact, we recently took a closer look at our team’s involvement in local organizations and counted more than 40 nonprofits, boards, committees, and community organizations where Alliance staff are engaged. We know that is not a complete list, and it does not include the organizations that we lead under the Alliance umbrella.
That level of engagement is important because community and economic development is not something that happens from behind a desk. It happens by building relationships, understanding our community, listening to people, and participating in conversations. It also means giving our staff opportunities to lead, make decisions and grow through those experiences.
A career at the Alliance is more than a job. It is a lifestyle built around being invested in the place we call home. When our staff serve on a board, volunteer at an event, participate in a community initiative, or take on a leadership role, they are not simply representing themselves. They are representing the Alliance. That is where I believe the strength of our organization truly comes from.
The Alliance only has the ability to do that work because of the incredible support we receive from businesses and community partners across our region. The companies and organizations that invest financially in the Alliance are making a direct investment in our ability to create opportunities, build relationships, advocate for our region, and move important initiatives forward.
You all believe in what we are doing, and the investment gives our team the resources and the credibility to keep moving the needle.The success of the Alliance is a shared effort, and I want to recognize the businesses and community partners who make that work possible. It is built on people who are willing to show up, get involved and invest in the future of our region.