The Greater Cedar Valley Alliance is a regional economic and community development corporation working to increase economic vitality and quality job creation in the Waterloo/Cedar Falls area and surrounding economic region.
Our Role
Cedar Valley area business and community leaders created the Alliance to align economic development efforts and increase the region’s competitiveness in the global economy.
One Mission One Focus One Voice is our motto.
The Alliance is comprised of nine organizations leading various facets of our growth agenda. The Alliance is organized to promote Commercial & Industrial Development, Convention & Tourism, Downtowns, Tech Works Campus, and community development and quality of life through our Chamber of Commerce.
The Alliance also promotes the Cedar Valley with One Voice through Government Relations, Strategic Communications & Branding, and Information & Research services.
Alliance Staff
Shared Services
Steven J. Dust CEcD
Alliance President & CEO
319-232-1156
email Steve
Diane Caley
Controller & Admin Mgr.
319-232-1156
email Diane
Kim Schleisman
Chamber/Alliance Accounting & Finance
319-266-3593
email Kim
Steve Firman
Director – Government Relations
319-277-7540
email Steve
Erin Freeseman
Alliance/Chamber Communications Specialist
319-233-8431
email Erin
Judy Cain
Executive Assistant
319-232-1156
email Judy
Commercial & Industrial Development
Cedar Valley Marketing Partnership
Linda Laylin
Director – Business Services
Workforce Recruitment
Labor-Management Committee
319-232-1156
email Linda
Lisa Skubal CEcD
Director – Marketing and Staff Support
Waterloo Industrial Development Association
319-232-1156
email Lisa
TechWorks Campus
Cary Darrah
General Manager
319-232-1156
email Cary
Terry Johnston
Marketing Specialist
319-287-8149
email Terry
Downtowns/Cultural Districts
Sindee Kleckner
Executive Director-Main Street Waterloo
319-291-2038
email Sindee
MaraBeth Soneson
Executive Director – Cedar Falls Community Main Street
319-277-0213
email MaraBeth
Steven Lind
Executive Director –Waterloo Development Corporation
319-235-3233
email Steve
Convention & Tourism
Kim Burger
Executive Director – Cedar Falls TVB
319-268-4266
email Kim
Aaron Buzza
Executive Director – Waterloo CVB
319-233-8350
email Aaron
Chamber of Commerce/ Community Development
Bob Justis IOM
Chamber President
Alliance Strategic Communications
319-266-3593 (CF) or 319-233-8431 (W)
email Bob
Molly Brown
Chamber/Alliance Investor Relations
319-266-3593
email Molly
Bette Wubbena
Chamber/Alliance Investor Retention
319-233-8431
email Bette
Jay Stoddard
Director - My Waterloo Days
319-233-8431
email Jay
Alliance Board of Directors
Ken Lockard
Chair
Lockard Companies
Alliance Role: Chair
Jean Trainor
President & CEO
Veridian Credit Union
Alliance Role: Vice Chair, Chair – Org. Development Committee
Kris Hansen
Vice President
Western Home Communities
Alliance Role: Treasurer, Chair – Finance & Compliance Committee
Dr. Ross Christensen
Christensen & Bigelow, DDS, PC
Alliance Role: Past Chair, Chair – Nominations Committee
Steven Dust CEcD
Greater Cedar Valley Alliance
Alliance Role: President & CEO, Chair – Leadership Council
Dr. Ben Allen
President
University of Northern Iowa
Alliance Role: Board of Directors, Executive Committee
Stephanie Bardal
Alliance Role: Designee – Community Main Street
Darin Beck
President & CEO
Barmuda Corporation
Alliance Role: Board of Directors, Executive Committee
Dave Braton
Publisher
The Courier
Alliance Role: Board of Directors, Executive Committee
Bryan Burton
Sales Consultant
ACES
Alliance Role: Designee – Greater Cedar Valley Chamber of Commerce, Executive Committee
Jon Crews
Mayor
City of Cedar Falls
Alliance Role: Board of Directors, Executive Committee
Chad Deutsch
Mayor
City of Evansdale
Alliance Role: Board of Directors, Executive Committee
Dick Donnelly
Senior Executive Vice President
Warren Transport
Alliance Role: Board of Directors
Jack Dusenbery
President & CEO
Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare
Alliance Role: Board of Directors
Amy Dutton
Director of Operations
Northeast Iowa Food Bank
Alliance Role: Designee – Cedar Falls Tourism and Visitors Bureau, Executive Committee
Hugh Field
Attorney
Beecher Law Firm
Alliance Role: Designee – WIDA, Executive Committee
Kathy Flynn
Vice President Institutional Advancement
Hawkeye Community College
Designee – Greater Cedar Valley Chamber of Commerce, Executive Committee
Mason Fromm
Sales Consultant
Signs and Designs
Alliance Role: Board of Directors
Tim Hurley
Mayor
City of Waterloo
Alliance Role: Board of Directors, Executive Committee
Gil Irey
CEO
Cedar Valley Medical Specialists
Alliance Role: Board of Directors
Mark Kittrell
President
TEAM Propoerties
Alliance Role: Designee – Cedar Valley TechWorks, Executive Committee
Reid Koenig
Vice President
CUNA Mutual Group
Alliance Role: Board of Directors
Jim Krieg
General Manager
Cedar Falls Utilities
Alliance Role: Board of Directors
Kathryn Kunert
Vice President Community Relations and Economic Development
MidAmerican Energy
Alliance Role: Board of Directors
David LeCompte
President
Shorts Travel Service
Alliance Role: Board of Directors, Executive Committee
Gene Leonhart
President
Cardinal Construction
Alliance Role: Board of Directors
Rose Lorenz
President
University Book and Supply
Alliance Role: Board of Directors, Executive Committee
Frank Magsamen
Black Hawk County Board of Supervisors
Alliance Role: Board of Directors
Mike Mallaro
Chief Financial Officer and Chief Information Officer
VGM Group, Inc.
Alliance Role: Board of Directors
Melissa McKean
Owner
Classic Kitchen and Bath
Alliance Role: Designee – Main Street Waterloo, Executive Committee
Tom Penaluna
President
The CBE Group
Alliance Role: Board of Directors, Executive Committee
Bob Petersen
President
Northland Products
Alliance Role: Designee – Waterloo Development Corp., Executive Committee
Heather Prendergast
Attorney
Roberts, Stevens & Prendergast, P.L.C.
Alliance Role: Designee – Waterloo Convention and Visitors Bureau, Executive Committee
John Rathjen
President
Liberty Bank
Alliance Role: Board of Directors
Bari Richter
General Manager
Isle Casino Hotel Waterloo
Alliance Role: Board of Directors
Rev. Mary Robinson
Pastor
All Nations Community Church
Alliance Role: Board of Directors
Dave Rodger
Global Director – Large Tractor Products
John Deere Co.
Alliance Role: Board of Directors, Executive Committee
Dr. Greg Schmitz
President
Hawkeye Community College
Alliance Role: Board of Directors, Executive Committee
Al Schneider
Council Member
City of Hudson
Alliance Role: Board of Directors
Steve Tscherter
President
Lincoln Savings Bank Corp.
Alliance Role: Board of Directors
Dee Vandeventer
President
ME&V
Alliance Role: Board of Directors, Executive Committee
Russ Wasendorf, Sr.
CEO
Peregrine Financial Group
Alliance Role: Board of Directors
Rick Young
President
Young Plumbing & Heating
Alliance Role: Board of Directors, Executive Committee
Alliance Programs & Projects
Economic Development Committee – The EDC is comprised of volunteers who are involved in various aspects of economic development process. The committee works with the Commercial & Industrial Development staff to ensure that the collective expertise of the Cedar Valley is available to be applied to business expansion and recruitment projects. The committee members also provide valuable feedback on opportunities in the Cedar Valley economy. Click on Economic Development tab to learn more.
Cedar Valley Workforce – Workforce development and recruitment takes on new importance with expanding existing businesses and demographic shifts. In partnership with Hawkeye Community College, Iowa Workforce Development and our Cedar Valley regional partners in economic development, the Alliance is leading the creation of a comprehensive workforce development strategy to ensure a skilled workforce for jobs of the future. The Alliance is also developing a workforce recruitment strategy to recruit qualified candidates for current job openings and professional opportunities in the Cedar Valley.
Air Service Committee- Air Service works to retain current commercial passenger air lines, pursue new commercial passenger and cargo air service providers for Cedar Valley passengers and shippers, maintain customer service levels at Waterloo Regional Airport, and create a regional governance and operation platform for the airport. The committee is comprised of volunteers from throughout the Cedar Valley and staff involved in development, the travel industry and tourism, customer service, general aviation, and cargo.
TechWorks Campus
TechWorks operates a 43 acre riverfront campus that is focused on developing the Cedar Valley’s bio-products economy, along with complementary advanced manufacturing and information technologies operations. TechWorks opens in early 2009 as the National Ag Based Lubricants Center opens its new laboratory. Click on TechWorks Campus to learn more.
Green Cedar Valley
This initiative will work with Cedar Valley businesses and partners to increase energy efficiency, encourage the use of green technologies and products in construction and operations, and pursue alternative energy production and options for consumption in business operations. This initiative will be launched in September 2008 with a symposium on energy efficient commercial building design and construction.
Shared Services
Integration Committee – The Integration Committee is comprised of volunteer and staff representatives of the Alliance organizations. The mission is to prioritize and implement cooperative projects in administrative areas, such as human resources policies and programs, benefits, information technologies, and organizational design. This committee is chaired by the Alliance Vice Chair.
Finance Committee – Finance maintains the financial integrity and capital structure of the Alliance. Comprised of volunteer financial professionals and staff, the committee also oversees relationships with auditors and financial institution relationships. The Finance Committee is also the Alliance Compliance Committee and reviews proposed compliance policies. The Alliance Treasurer serves as chair of this committee.
Strategic Communications Committee – This volunteer committee guides the coordination of the strategic message of the Alliance to increase affinity of current Cedar Valley residents and businesses, and increase the positive image of the Cedar Valley to external businesses and influencers. The committee provides input on the selection and utilization of communications consultants.
Government Relations – Volunteers and staff work together to advance the priorities of the Cedar Valley business community in the local, state, and federal governments. Click on Government Relations/Action Network to learn more.
Information & Research – The Alliance publishes a quarterly Cedar Valley Economic Indicators and an annual Community Fact Sheet. These are available by clicking on News & Events, or Economic Development. The Alliance also updates cost of living, census, and other important economic base data.
Investor Relations – The Alliance provides special opportunities for investors to be involved in projects that literally change the landscape of the Cedar Valley and add to the economic vitality of the economic area. Investors have input into Alliance programming and receive updates on the programs underway. Special investor events are sponsored, such as the recent two-day session with Richard Longworth, author of Caught in the Middle – America’s Heartland in the Age of Globalism.
Be Part of Something Greater
The Cedar Valley of Iowa
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