Thursday, March 30, 2017 – 3:30 – 5:30 PM
JEDCO Update
City of Johnston Update
Brent Willett – Cultivation Corridor
Bethany Wilcoxon – Capital Crossroads
Formal Presentations – 3:30 – 5:30 PM
Networking Reception to Follow
Meet Our Keynote Speakers
Brent Willett
Cultivation Corridor
Brent Willett, CEcD is Executive Director of the Cultivation Corridor, a public-private regional economic development and innovation acceleration organization focused on growing Central Iowa’s agriculture and bioscience sectors, and attracting investment, jobs and talent to the state.
Prior to his role at the Cultivation Corridor, Willett served as President & CEO of the North Iowa Corridor Economic Development Corporation, a regional economic development group in North Central Iowa headquartered in Mason City, Iowa. Preceding his role at the North Iowa Corridor, Willett was Executive Director of the Fairfield Economic Development Association and Fairfield Area Chamber of Commerce in Fairfield, Iowa.
Willett currently serves on the Leadership Iowa Board of Governors; Iowa Chamber Alliance Board of Directors; Iowa State University CIRAS Advisory Board; University of Northern Iowa Institute for Decision Making Advisory Board; and in advisory positions with several organizations.
A native of Davenport, Iowa, Willett, his wife Emily and their daughter live in Ankeny, Iowa.
Bethany Wilcoxon
Capital Crossroads
As Capital Crossroads Director, Bethany Wilcoxon oversees implementation of the regional vision strategy. She spent several years serving Iowa Great Places, a grant program of the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs, and then leading the development of The Tomorrow Plan, a $3.1 million regional initiative to advance sustainability in Greater Des Moines. Her accomplishments include the Business Record’s Forty Under 40 (2016), Leadership Iowa (Class of 2015-2016), Global Shapers Des Moines Founding Curator (2015), ISU STATEment Maker (2012), Next American Vanguard (2010), and Greater Des Moines Leadership Institute (Class of 2011-2012).
Outside of her professional work, Bethany serves on the Great Outdoors Foundation Board and the Jester Park Nature Center Capital Campaign Team, and is the US Green Building Council ADVANCE Ambassador for the State of Iowa. She has led Des Moines’ Urban Ambassadors as President, served on the Board of the Drake Neighborhood Association, and has volunteered for Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (2014 Woman of the Year Candidate), Big Brothers Big Sisters, ULI Iowa, the Des Moines Symphony, and the Des Moines Metro Opera.