Future Leadership Team Explores Entrepreneurship and Innovation

Members of the Future Leadership Team gathered on Wednesday, March 4 for a session focused on entrepreneurship, centered around a 1 Million Cups event hosted at Collins Community Credit Union in Dubuque.

The session began with an overview of regional entrepreneurial resources, including an introduction to 1 Million Cups by Jason White. Jessica Pfohl Paisley shared insights on Kiva microlending, and Jay Wickham of the Northeast Iowa Community College Small Business Development Center highlighted available technical assistance and mentoring opportunities for small businesses.

Attendees then joined the 1 Million Cups program, featuring a presentation by Molly Knuth of The Restoration Project and a collaborative discussion with participants.

More than 70 people attended the event, creating a strong environment for connection and idea-sharing. Feedback from participants highlighted the value of engaging directly with the local entrepreneurial community.

The 30 members of the Future Leadership Team serve staggered 24-month terms and provide feedback to the board of directors and management team on annual and long-range strategies to achieve the objectives of the Greater Dubuque Development Corporation. One member of the Future Leadership Team serves as a voting member of the Greater Dubuque Development Board of Directors. For the 2025–2026 term, that member is Antonio Mouzon, Community Impact Director with the City of Dubuque.

The next scheduled quarterly meeting is Wednesday, June 3, 2026.

View a list of Future Leadership Team members.

For more information about the Future Leadership Team, contact Nic Hockenberry, Director of Workforce Programming, at nicholash@greaterdubuque.org or Mandi Dolson, Director of Workforce Recruitment & Retention, at mandid@greaterdubuque.org. Both can be reached at 563-557-9049.