IBC Elects 2025-2026 Officers and Announces Legislative Priorities

December 10, 2024

IBC Elects New Officers and Announces Legislative Priorities
 

Des Moines, IA –

The Iowa Business Council (IBC) elected its slate of 2025 – 2026 officers at its final board meeting of 2024. The IBC serves as a catalyst for economic growth throughout Iowa while driving innovative policy solutions to enhance opportunity for every Iowan. The newly elected officers include:

  • Chair: Gage Kent, Chairman and CEO, KENT Corporation (Muscatine)
  • Vice Chair: Raj Kalathur, President John Deere Financial and CIO, Deere & Co. (Bettendorf)
  • Treasurer: Jill Klindt, EVP and CFO, Workiva (Ames)
  • Secretary: Joe Murphy, President, Iowa Business Council (Des Moines)

“I am pleased to be elected chair of the Iowa Business Council,” stated Gage Kent, Chairman & CEO of KENT® Corporation. “Forty years ago, amidst the farm crisis, Richard C. Kautz, then chairman of our company, served as a founding board member of the Iowa Business Council.  To this day, the IBC remains committed to our mission to serve as a catalyst for diversified economic growth in Iowa. I am honored and excited to continue to work with the membership, and allied stakeholders, in pursuit of a strong business climate in Iowa."

Mr. Kent takes over the chair position from Cedar Rapids based Phil Jasper, President of Raytheon, who remains on the IBC board. “For the past two years, Phil’s thoughtful leadership has been integral to the success of the Iowa Business Council. His focus on collaboration and commitment to excellence has set a solid foundation for the future achievement of our organization,” added Gage Kent.

The IBC also announced its legislative priorities for the 2025 legislative session. The organization remains committed to advocating for policies that enhance Iowa’s competitiveness while growing the state’s workforce.

The IBC 2025 public policy priorities include:

Competitive tax policy:

The IBC will focus on maximizing the recent efforts to make Iowa’s holistic tax system more competitive for individuals and businesses. Long-term, achieving a top-15 most competitive state ranking in the individual, corporate, and property tax climate will help create jobs, expand business opportunities, and drive innovation.

At the federal level, 2025 further presents an opportunity for the IBC to engage on federal tax policy with the pending expiration of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. The IBC will be focused on preserving the reductions to the individual and corporate income tax rates, expensing of research and development investments, and the extension of bonus depreciation.

Workforce initiatives:

The availability of a talented pipeline is critical for long-term economic prosperity in Iowa. The IBC will continue to advocate for initiatives that grow Iowa’s workforce including work-based learning programs, child care, and housing for all. The IBC will also continue its support for Iowa’s mental health systems. By partnering with a broad coalition of stakeholders, the IBC will work towards increasing the supply of mental health professionals while also exploring increasing public funding mechanisms.

IBC also supports federal immigration reform and modernization as an effective tool to bolster economic development and population growth. Increasing visa caps, expediting processing, and providing efficient opportunities to retain foreign born talent who were educated throughout Iowa’s higher educational system are all commonsense approaches that will enhance Iowa’s workforce.

“The IBC looks forward to working with the Iowa General Assembly and Governor Reynolds to advance policies that strengthen Iowa's businesses and communities, driving growth and opportunity for all,” said Joe Murphy, President of the Iowa Business Council.

To learn more, visit www.IowaBusinessCouncil.org.

###

About the Iowa Business Council

The Iowa Business Council (IBC) is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization whose 21 members are the chief decision makers of major Iowa employers. Employing over 150,000 Iowans, IBC member companies have invested billions of dollars of capital in Iowa's commercial infrastructure; lead the way in technology innovation, R&D, and grants procured; and are often the driving financial and volunteer forces behind philanthropic efforts all over the state.
 

IBC member companies include: Alliant Energy; Atlantic Coca-Cola Bottling Company; Casey’s General Stores, Inc.; Collins Aerospace; Corteva Agriscience; Deere & Company; Fareway; HNI Corporation; Hy-Vee, Inc., Iowa Bankers Association; Kent Corporation; MercyOne; MidAmerican Energy Company; Pella Corporation; Principal; Ruan Transportation Management Systems; The Weitz Company; UnityPoint Health; Vermeer Corporation; Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield of Iowa; and Workiva.

 

Return to News