Future Leadership Team Tackles Population Growth Strategies

On Wednesday, September 3, 2025, Greater Dubuque Development’s Future Leadership Team convened to focus on one of the organization’s most pressing strategic pillars: population growth.

As part of the Greater Dubuque 2025–2030 Strategic Plan, growing the region’s population is essential to strengthening the workforce, prosperity, and quality of life. The Future Leadership Team, made up of emerging leaders from Dubuque’s major employers and institutions, played a critical role by providing feedback that will go directly to the Greater Dubuque Development Board of Directors.

In small-group discussions, members discussed four separate focus areas under the Population Growth pillar of the strategic plan:

• Workforce Attraction & Retention
• College Enrollment & Retention
• Quality of Life Gaps
• Housing & Infrastructure

The insights generated are not theoretical, they will inform the Board’s deliberations and help shape future initiatives to ensure that the Greater Dubuque region is not only competitive, but magnetic, in attracting and retaining talent. By tapping into the creativity and lived experiences of developing leaders, Greater Dubuque Development is ensuring that the voices of the region’s next generation are embedded in the strategies that will define the region’s future.

The September meeting also welcomed newly appointed Future Leadership Team members including: Mike Ackerman (John Deere Worldwide Construction & Forestry Division), Adam Bardell (Progressive Processing/Hormel Foods), Blythe Bruner (Cottingham & Butler), Jessica Ehrlich (Dubuque Bank & Trust, a division of UMB Bank, n.a.), Michael Flood (University of Dubuque), Andy Kamentz (TH Media), Mike Kane (UnityPoint Health-Finley Hospital), Caitlin Miller (Eide Bailly, LLP), Diana Schulz (Q Casino + Resort), Rod Schumacher (Conlon Construction Co.), Samantha Torrey (MedOne Pharmacy Benefit Solutions), Jennie Weber (Loras College), Jaime Wisor (U.S. Bank), and Melanie Zakrzewski (Kendall Hunt Publishing).

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 2025-2026 term, that member is Antonio Mouzon, Community Impact Director with the City of Dubuque. The next scheduled quarterly meeting is Wednesday, December 3, 2025.

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 by phone at 563-557-9049.