The Ames Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the City of Ames Human Relations Commission and Iowa State University Division of Diversity and Inclusion, are pleased to announce the 2020 Symposium on Building Inclusive Organizations will be held virtually November 12 and 13.

The Symposium on Building Inclusive Organizations was designed for leaders and influencers in central Iowa, particularly those who impact hiring and decision-making in the workplace and who impact organizational culture and environment. Attendees will learn practical strategies towards building more inclusive workplaces.

This year’s speakers include:

• Isaiah McGee is a leading partner with Equity and Justice Consulting LLC, a consulting, training, and coaching firm focused on professionals, organizations, and businesses searching for resources, pathways, and solutions that will lead to growth, engagement, and functionality around issues of social justice and systems equity. McGee’s sessions will cover Creating a Culture of Dignity.
• Reyma McCoy McDied, MA, CESP, is the Executive Director of Central Iowa Center for Independent Living. Her vocation is supporting fellow individuals on the Autism spectrum to live independent and fulfilling lives. McCoy McDied will cover Implicit Bias in a Work Setting.
• Luana Nelson Brown is the Executive Director of the Iowa Coalition for Collective Change, an organization that provides training and technical assistance to culturally specific anti-violence organizations, homicide response programs, and organizations and corporations wishing to adopt and implement anti-racist policies and procedures in an effort to end violence. She has over twenty-five years of experience in victim advocacy, activism and systems change. Nelson Brown’s presentation is entitled Inclusion Matters: How to Achieve True Inclusion After Your Diversify.
• Renee Hardman is the CEO for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Iowa. She is also the owner of her own consulting firm, Hardman Consulting, LLC in which she specializes in facilitating workshops on implicit bias, privilege and diversity & inclusion. Hardman’s presentation is yet to be entitled, but it will look toward the future and focus on taking the tools learned from the other presentations and implementing them in everyday life.

“Although we’ve had to pivot and host the event virtually this year, I am confident the annual Symposium will still be as engaging and thought-provoking as ever before,” said Dan Culhane, President and CEO of the Ames Chamber of Commerce. “As we work together to create an inclusive environment for all, events like this Symposium will help us refocus and prioritize next steps. Attendees will walk away equipped with new tools and ideas to employ in their organizations and throughout the community. I cannot wait to sit in on this year’s event.”

The Symposium on Building Inclusive Organizations was held in 2018 and 2019 with tremendous results. The momentum going into this year’s event is evident by the strong showing of support from local sponsors. Gold Sponsors are Barilla America, Inc., Mary Greeley Medical Center and Workiva; Silver Sponsors include the NAACP Ames Branch, the Cyclone Chapter of SHRM, and McFarland Clinic; Bronze Sponsors include Burke Corporation, First National Bank, the ISU Foundation and VisionBank, with creative support from Rippke Design.

Registration for the virtual symposium is $45 per person. This event will be held Thursday, November 12 from 12:00 noon-5:00 pm, and Friday, November 13 from 8:00am - 12:00 noon. To register or learn more, visit www.AmesChamber.com or call 515-232-2310.

The Ames Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Commission is pleased to welcome Nick Sorensen to the team as a Director, Community & Economic Development Outreach

“Nick’s prior experience, educational background, and passion for community make him an exceptional fit,” says Dan Culhane, President and CEO of the Ames Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Commission. “Our team continues to evolve and Nick aligns well with an outstanding group of people we have assembled to help Ames and Story County continue to prosper.”

As the Director of Community & Economic Development Outreach, Sorensen serves as the liaison between the Ames Economic Development Commission and the rural communities outside of Ames. In this role he will focus on the development of “small” or new business start-ups in the retail, commercial, and industrial sectors.

“My passion is for the rural areas of a county,” says Sorensen. “I am extremely excited to be a part of the Ames Chamber and Story County team to continue to move things forward, whether that be downtown revitalization, housing, or business recruitment. I can’t wait to jump in and support the towns!”

Sorensen hails from Exira, Iowa, a small town of about 750 residents. He has worked in Jefferson, Iowa as a building inspector, zoning official, code enforcement and special projects coordinator, and currently serves on the Empower Rural Iowa Invest task force and is a member of the Iowa Rural Development Council.
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Sorensen began his position on September 28 and can be contacted at nick@ameschamber.com.

The Ames Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Commission is pleased to welcome Gerry Alt to the team as a Business Development Coordinator.

Alt is a senior at Iowa State University, studying Management Information Systems in the Ivy College of Business. Alt was hired on as a marketing and support intern for the summer and offered a part-time position when his internship ended.

“I am very grateful for the opportunity to continue working for such an outstanding organization,” says Alt. “There is something truly special going on here in Ames and I look forward to assisting the team in promoting our community.”
As the Business Development Coordinator, Alt will be supporting the research activities of the Ames Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Commission related to marketing. This position also manages the economic development programming by tracking and maintaining data on sites, buildings, and other information that supports the marketing and existing industry programs of the AEDC.

“We are very excited to keep Gerry on our team,” says Dan Culhane, President & CEO of the Ames Chamber of Commerce. “Gerry was an outstanding intern for us and has so far done incredibly well as the Business Development Coordinator. We are excited to see where this new role will lead.”
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Alt began his position on August 10 and can be contacted at gerry@ameschamber.com.