The Decatur County Development Corporation hosted its first Annual Meeting and Fundraising Gala on Friday, April 20, 2018. With over 70 guests in attendance, the group celebrated Economic Development and business successes from 2017 and 2018, and looked forward to upcoming projects to bring new business to the county and expand existing businesses. Deb Brown, the founder of Building Possibility and co-founder of SaveYour.Town provided the keynote addresses to highlight opportunities in Decatur County to implement innovative and creative business solutions. Executive Director, Shannon Erb thanked volunteers and honored Freedom Racing Tool and Auto as the DCDC Business of the Year for 2017. Former Congressman Leonard Boswell was also recognized as the first recipient of the Decatur County Development Corporation Distinguished Service Award, which was presented earlier this year. Erb also recognized board members who have served DCDC for 5 and 10 years, including:
- Jim Fulton – 5 years
- Ron Gibson – 5 years
- Robert Omer – 5 years
- Shane Akers – 6 years
- John Henderson – 6 years
- JR Cornett – 6 years
- Leon Kessel – 6 years
- Larry McAlpin – 6 years
- Lynn Milnes (Deceased) – 6 years
- Michael Jordison – 7 years
- Alan Elefson – 7 years
- John Sellars – 7 years
- Bob Templeton – 7 years
- Emil Segebart – 8 years
- JoBeth Smith – 9 years
- Marcia Stephens – 9 years
- John Dunsdon – 9 years
- Randy Smith – 10 years
- Terry Geiger – 11 years
- Stephanie Mendenhall – 11 years
- Bill Morain – 14 years
Presentations from the event are available below:
For all questions, contact Executive Director Shannon Erb via email at serb@dcdciowa.org or via phone at 641-442-6511. Follow the DCDC Facebook page at www.facebook.come/dcdciowa for updates on economic development and business news in Decatur County.
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| Over 60 attendees at the DCDC Annual Meeting and Fundraising Gala on April 20, 2018 held at The Cave Bar and Grill in Leon | Tad Whittom accepts the 2017 DCDC Business of the Year Award for Freedom Racing Tool and Auto | Dr. Jesse Bolinger, AmeriCorps VISTA with DCDC thanks Julia Wilkerson for her volunteer work on the new DCDC Resource Directory |
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| Shane Akers accepts an award for service as a DCDC Board Member | John Henderson accepts an award for service as a DCDC Board Member | Michael Jordison accepts an award for service as a DCDC Board Member |
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| Deb Brown provided the keynote address based her week |
Thank you to the following businesses, organizations and individuals who helped make the first annual DCDC Annual Meeting and Fundraising Gala a success!
- Thank you to everyone who attended to show support of Economic Development in Decatur County.
- Thank you to all of DCDC’s public, business and individual donors who contribute annually to help with our continued growth.
- Thank you to DCDC Board Members for your support.
- Thank you to Curtis Manchester and Decatur County Hospital for catering the meal. And thanks to Bobby Reum for helping with set up and service.
- Thank you to The Cave Bar and Grill for creating an event space and allowing us to rent it for our meeting.
- Thank you to the Leon Journal-Reporter and Fusion Studios for use of tables and chairs.
- Thank you to the Gala planning committee – Shelley Bickel, Jesse Bolinger, Chris Coffelt, Tammy Heintz and Sue Kelly.
- Thank you to Deb Brown for an immersive county exercise creating meaningful, motivating conversations all week; and for providing our keynote. And thank you to the following sponsors for contributing toward Deb’s speaking fee: City of Lamoni, Lamoni Chamber of Commerce, Lamoni Development Corporation, City of Leon, Leon Chamber of Commerce, Leon Community Development Corporation.
- Thank you to Laura and Monte Beemer at Little River Inn Motel for upgrading Deb Brown to the guest house at no additional cost.
- Thank you to all those who donated a silent auction or raffle item: From the Ground, Leon Lions Club, Mormon Trail Schools, Community Health Centers of Southern Iowa, Leon’s New Horizons, Inc., Fusion Studios, Decatur County Public Health, BTC Bank, Jordan Omstead, Lamoni Schools, Central Decatur Schools, Decatur County Conservation Board, SCIT Theatre, Lamoni Hy-Vee, Later Gator Children’s Consignment Boutique, Graceland University, Larry Phillips, Main Street Brickhouse, Lamoni Lions Club, Lockdown Fitness, Farmers Bank of Northern Missouri, Cobblestone Inn & Suites, Coliseum Theatre, Riverbank Bar and Grill, Invinci Graphics II and Invinci Store, IowaWorks, Southwestern Community College.
- Thank you to Alysha Van Laar and American State Bank for purchasing and creating our centerpieces with flowers from Yutze’s Greenhouse.