Leadership Unplugged!

Join us as we chat with the team at Marion Chamber of Commerce and Uptown Marion Mainstreet as they share how they're leading and making a difference in our community. You might even get to know what they wish their super powers were if given a choice!

Rapids Wholesale Foodservice Equipment & Supplies is your "one stop shop" for all things food related. If you serve food - they've got you! From their full lineup of commercial cooking equipment and refrigeration products to the plates and tables you serve your culinary masterpieces on, they've got it!Listen in as the Rapids team shares their story, where they've been and where they're going!

MEDCO’s Startup Spotlight hosted a conversation with Lesley Vossenkemper of Scale-Up Strategies. Lesley is the first woman in the Cedar Rapids, Marion, and Iowa City area to earn the Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA) designation. An individual who earns the CEPA credential assists business owners with the development of a strategy and plan for business succession.  In a release from the CBJ in early September 2023, Lesley had the following to share, “As the daughter and granddaughter of local entrepreneurs, I have a special place in my heart for business owners and want to help them proactively plan and successfully leave their legacy. Combining this specialized training with my experience leading high-growth businesses makes me uniquely equipped to educate others on the proven methodologies to enhance business value and bring a forward-thinking, holistic approach to succession planning. I’m grateful to be the local expert to assist our local business owners in achieving their goals for their businesses and their lives."Startup Spotlight is MEDCO’s intentional commitment to supporting new businesses and entrepreneurs seeking to scale and gain awareness in the Marion community and surrounding area. 

The Marion Independent School Board candidates are uncontested. This portion of the recording was an open house where candidates shared their thoughts and plans for the coming term. Candidates include Denise Allison (Incumbent), Jon Fitch (Incumbent), Carl Lantermans (Incumbent), and Michelle Rains.Please remember to vote in the upcoming election on Tuesday, November 7th and enjoy listening to these individuals as they share updates and progress about the district!

This forum featured Linn-Mar School Board candidates. Candidates include Barry Buchholz (Incumbent), Justin Foss, Katie Lowe Lancaster, Tom Law, Brittania Morey (Incumbent), Kevin Slaman, Laura Steffeck, and Jodi Treharne. This forum followed a question and answer format of predetermined questions.Please remember to vote in the upcoming election on Tuesday, November 7th and enjoy listening to these individuals as they share their perspectives and thoughts on the district. 

Listen to the live recording of the 2023 City Council and Mayoral Forum. The Marion City Council and Mayoral races are uncontested. This portion of the event featured an open house where candidates shared their thoughts and plans for the coming term and answer questions from residents and business leaders. Candidates running for reelection are: Mayor, Nicolas AbouAssaly; At Large, Steve Jensen; Ward 1, Gage Miskimen; Ward 2, Grant Harper; Ward 3, Will Brandt.

Listen to the live recording of The Story of Farmers State Bank featuring  FSB’s President and CEO Gene Neighbor, current FSB Chairman Kent Neighbor, current FSB Vice Chairman Doug Neighbor, and current Executive Vice President Steve Neighbor as they recount the family history of the bank.

Listen in to a live recording of our quarterly Startup Spotlight featuring Ben Davis. Together with his wife Katy, Ben owns the Marion Chocolate Shop in Marion, IA. He purchased the business two years ago after a twenty-year career in the National Guard.Ben shares his entrepreneurial journey and keys to his small business success.

In 1964, Wayne and Shirley Engle, started a small electrical contracting business in their Marion home. By the 1970s, ESCO had grown into one of the most successful electrical companies in the Midwest, working on both residential and commercial projects. Through multiple generations of family leadership, the ESCO Group has now grown to serve industrial markets across the United States including a client list of Fortune 500 companies. Marion Economic Development Corporation welcomes ESCO’s founder Wayne Engle alongside current CEO Ray Brown for "The Story of The ESCO Group."

Hey Marion! Get ready to meet Cowork 1107, the newest coworking space opening November 1 in Uptown Marion.Check us out at www.cowork1107.org

Would you consider your organization healthy? Maybe not in the physical sense, but do your team members understand their unique gifts, know how to apply them as part of your team, and then work cohesively to achieve true organizational health?Chad Greenlee with BerganKDV joins us to preview a cutting edge training series that launches April 14th powered by Marion Economic Development Corporation leveraging the curriculum of Patrick Lencioni and The Table Group.Registration is now open at www.medcoiowa.org

Hosted 10/20/21 by Marion Economic Development Corporation and Marion Chamber of Commerce.

Hosted 10/20/21 by Marion Economic Development Corporation and the Marion Chamber of Commerce. 

Hosted 10/20/21 by Marion Economic Development Corporation & the Marion Chamber of Commerce.

It's Economic Development Week in the U.S. We're inviting the entire Marion Economic Development team to the microphone to provide a glimpse into the broad areas we influence as a community economic development organization.

We welcome Senator Liz Mathis to the podcast as she shares some of her leadership principles, the roots of her leadership style, and some fun stories around the importance of investing in the next generation of leaders.

Lee Eilers, President & CEO of Marion Process Solutions shares some of his timeless leadership principles. Grab a pen and get ready to take notes on some easily applicable ideas that will influence your own personal leadership.

Nick AbouAssaly, Mayor of the City of Marion, IA provides an inspiring perspective of true leadership through community crisis.

The team at Marion Economic Development Corporation in Marion, IA opens up about both the challenges and silver-linings of supporting a local business community while navigating the complexities of new routines from home.

Listen in on our conversation with Lee Ulrich, the owner and operator of Iowa Coffee Roasters located on the east side of Marion. Lee has been roasting coffee for almost 20 years now and has grown a following of customers who he loves to share his passion and his coffee with. Lee shares his entrepreneurial journey as well as his lessons of small business ownership.