Future Leadership Team Looks Ahead: What Would You Do?

What would you change about the Greater Dubuque region if you had 10 years to help shape its future? Greater Dubuque Development put that question to its 2026–2027 Future Leadership Team at its September meeting.

After an introduction to regional economic development and Greater Dubuque Development’s 2025–2030 strategic goals, members worked in groups to identify opportunities that could make the region stronger for the people and businesses who call it home. Their discussion surfaced several priorities:

• Housing: More affordable, move-in-ready homes and quality rental options.
• Families and schools: Stable schools and more amenities that help attract and retain families.
• Quality of life: More recreation and entertainment, stronger tourism, and better use of existing community spaces.
• Talent retention: Clearer connections between college students, internships, and local careers so more graduates choose to stay.
• Economic growth: New investment alongside continued support for existing businesses, the workforce, and community assets.

The discussion also emphasized that regional growth takes collaboration. Employers, schools and colleges, community organizations, local governments, investors, and economic development partners all have a role in moving these ideas forward. Members also considered how to measure progress, pointing to population growth, housing availability, school enrollment, internship-to-employment outcomes, workforce participation, tourism, and business growth. Overall the discussion reinforced many of the priorities already identified in the Strategic Plan and provides a valuable perspective from the region's emerging leaders.

The September meeting also welcomed welcomed newly appointed Future Leadership Team members including: Karen Cavanagh (Premier Bank), Irving Duran (HODGE), Brett Gioimo (Black Hills Energy), Amy Henson (Northeast Iowa Community College), John Hickie (McCoy Group), Brian Howes (Dubuque Community School District), Nathan McGlaughlin (Alliant Energy), Zach Miller (Medical Associates Clinic), David Moore (MercyOne Dubuque Medical Center), Jacob Mozena (Gronen), Bill Neal (Nicolet National Bank), Robin Reed (McGraw Hill Higher Education), Zachary Rigdon (Clarke University), Jill Schweikert (Dupaco Community Credit Union), and Scott Schwinghamer (Diamond Jo Dubuque).

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 Greater Dubuque Development. One member of the Future Leadership Team serves as a voting member of the Greater Dubuque Development Board of Directors. For the 2026-2027 term, that member is Jennie Weber, Director for the Center for Experiential Learning at Loras College. The next scheduled quarterly meeting is Wednesday, December 2, 2026.

View a list of Future Leadership Team members.

To learn more about the Future Leadership Team, contact Mandi Dolson, Director of Workforce Solutions, at mandid@greaterdubuque.org or 563-557-9049.