December 13, 2021 (Ames, IA) - The Ames Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce that the 2022 Economic Outlook Breakfast will be held at the Gateway Hotel & Conference Center on Tuesday, January 11, 2022, presented by Keen Project Solutions.

The Economic Outlook Breakfast will focus on forecasting the local, state and regional opportunities, challenges, and economic trends, and how they affect the Ames and Story County business community.

The Ames Chamber of Commerce is excited to welcome Anna Paulson, Director of Economic Research from the Chicago Federal Reserve as the keynote speaker. Paulson is an expert on financial markets and institutions, with particular expertise on the insurance industry. Her research investigates how households and firms adapt to incomplete financial markets and how household financial decision-making is influenced by exposure to institutions and economic events, including financial crises. Paulson’s research has been published in leading scholarly journals, including the Journal of Political Economy, Review of Economics and Statistics, and Review of Financial Studies. She is a past member of the American Economic Association’s Committee on the Status of Women in the Economics Profession and a past board member of the Western Economic Association International.
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This event will be held Tuesday, January 11 from 7:30am - 9:00am. To register for the event, visit ameschamber.com/events or by clicking here. For any additional questions or information, you can reach the Ames Chamber of Commerce at 515-232-2310.

The Ames Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the participants who have been selected to participate in Leadership Ames Class XXXV:

• Bonnie Brown, South Story Bank & Trust
• Tanner Fjelstad, Todd & Sargent
• Pat Jackson, Bankers Trust
• Joni Kellen, Northwest Bank
• Megan Klein-Hewett, Ames Public Library
• Courtney Kort, City of Ames
• Jessica Krupicka, Renewable Energy Group
• Dustin Lucht, Fareway
• Aaron Melton-Clardy, First National Bank
• Abigail Miller, OEI, Inc.
• Emily Olson, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, Iowa State University
• Sarah Pauket, Ag Leader Technology
• Veronica Phillips, AgCertain
• Kyla Piercy, Sigler Companies
• Grant Reimers, Woodruff Construction
• Abbie Schaffer, US Bank
• Beeta Siwik, Iowa State University
• Jessica Walker, Green Hills Retirement Community
• Alicia Wilkinson, 10Fold Architecture + Engineering
• Justin Witek, Great Western Bank

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Leadership Ames is a program of the Ames Chamber of Commerce that offers the opportunity for participants to gain experience in civic leadership responsibilities and cultivate relationships with other local leaders and community members.

Co-Chairs for Leadership Ames Class XXXV are  Kate Reynolds, ChildServe (XXXIII) and Tom Mortice, South Story Bank & Trust (XXXIV).  Participants in this year’s class will participate in twelve day-long sessions designed to develop informed, involved and concerned leaders.

"We are thrilled to announce the 35th Leadership Ames Class,” says Dan Culhane, President & CEO of Ames Chamber of Commerce. “This longstanding program has a history of empowering local leaders and being a catalyst for connections and contributions to the Ames community. I am excited for Class XXXV to take their skills to the next level.”

Classmates will hear presentations on important topics, debate issues, participate in class activities, visit with area leaders, tour facilities and get to know other individuals representing a broad cross-section of the community. Session begin in January 2022.
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For more information on the Leadership Ames program, visit AmesChamber.com.

(December 8, 2021) - The Ames Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Commission is pleased to welcome Greg Piklapp to the team as the Director of Community & Economic Development Outreach.

“We are thrilled to have Greg joining our team," said Dan Culhane, President & CEO of the Ames Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Commission. “His knowledge and appreciation for both economic and community development will be highly useful as he tackles the important work of engaging with the various communities in Story County. His considerable tenure as a local elected official also lends itself to understanding the wide array of needs within a community and that every community is different. I am confident he will thrive in this important role.”

As the Director of Community & Economic Development Outreach, Piklapp will serve 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.

"I am thrilled to be joining the Ames Chamber and Economic Development team," said Piklapp. "I was born and raised in rural Iowa and am eager to help local leaders tap this unprecedented time of investment opportunities for their communities. Doesn't matter if it is building new or renovating the historic, all are pieces of the puzzle to building their hometowns stronger and better."

Piklapp previously worked at Simplified Benefit Solutions as the Vice President of Sales before accepting his new role with the Ames Chamber of Commerce. He also serves as an elected city councilmember for the City of Boone, a position he has held for 12 years. As a Boone City Councilmember, Piklapp has served as Chair on the City Economic Development Committee the past 6 years, while also serving on the Policy & Administration Committee.
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Piklapp began his position on December 6 and be contacted at greg@ameschamber.com.

(December 1, 2021) - The Ames Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Commission is excited to welcome Dylan Kline to the team as the new Director of Business Development.

“Dylan's strong passion for community makes him a great fit for what we do," said Dan Culhane, President & CEO of the Ames Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Commission. “Couple this with his past project management experience and I think that he will hit the ground running as he engages companies looking at the Ames MSA for investment opportunities.”

As the Director of Business Development, Kline will support the ongoing implementation of our economic development strategies, to provide timely customer service and follow up to prospective clients that have expressed interest in the Ames/Story County area. He will also serve as a representative on the City of Ames Development Review Committee and as a liaison to Story City.

"I love being apart of the Ames community and the amazing things that are happening here and in central Iowa," said Kline. "Having an opportunity to be a part of the continued improvement of this community is something that I am excited about in this role."

Kline has spent the past nine years working as a Project Manager for Integrity Construction overseeing their new home projects.

Kline began his position on November 29 and be contacted at dylan@ameschamber.com.