Community Leadership Program (CLP) Announces 2026-27 Cohort

Posted August 26, 2026

Greater Iowa City, Inc.’s premier leadership program was created in 1990 to foster informed, well-equipped, invested leaders. Through the program’s life, more than 800 current and future leaders have gained insight into the issues, opportunities, strengths, and challenges within our community. Greater IC is proud to announce the 2026-27 CLP cohort and launch another year of leadership development.

Jordan Altenhofen

Bio

Jordon Altenhofen has 13 years of experience in the water industry and currently serves as Water Superintendent for the City of Coralville, Iowa.

He began his career with a small community near Des Moines and worked his way through the industry, earning Iowa Grade IV Water Treatment and Distribution certifications as well as a Grade III Wastewater certification.

Jordon holds a bachelor’s degree in Earth Science from the University of Northern Iowa and an associate degree from DMACC’s Water Environmental Technology program.

Outside of work, he enjoys spending time outdoors with his family, including his two daughters and their dog, Lotus.

Matthew Barron

Bio

Matthew Barron is a Structural Engineer with over 20 years of experience and currently serves as Managing Director of Shive-Hattery's Iowa City office. An Iowa City native, Matt returned to the community in 2015 with his wife and is now raising their three children here.

He is passionate about supporting the continued growth and success of the Greater Iowa City area and looks forward to connecting with fellow community leaders through the program.

Adam Bird

Bio

Adam Bird is Vice President of Operations at Watts Group, where he enjoys building strong teams, improving systems, and finding practical ways to help organizations grow and operate better.

He and his family moved to the Iowa City area in June 2026, and he and his wife of 21 years have five kids ranging in age from 7 to 17.

While Adam enjoys the occasional round of golf, his favorite role is being a dad—encouraging his kids and watching them crush their goals in academics, sports, and whatever else they decide to pursue.

As a newcomer to the area, Adam is excited about the Community Leadership Program and the opportunity to better understand, connect with, and contribute to the community his family now calls home.

Alexandra Bright

Bio

Alex Bright spent part of her childhood in the Iowa City area before several family moves brought her to Europe and the East Coast.

After attending law school in Chicago and working at a Chicago-based law firm, Alex returned to Iowa in 2025 and joined the City Attorney’s Office for the City of Iowa City.

In her free time, Alex enjoys reading, yoga, and spending time with her family.

Jenn Brummond

Bio

Jenn Brummond is the Executive Director of Alumni Engagement at the University of Iowa Center for Advancement, where she collaborates with campus partners and volunteers to strengthen connections between alumni, friends, and the university.

Prior to her current role, she held various positions in higher education and marketing, building expertise in relationship management, communications, and engagement.

A lifelong Hawkeye and Iowa City native, Jenn earned both her BBA and MBA from the University of Iowa. Outside of work, Jenn enjoys spending time with her family, cooking, and exploring new destinations, both near and far.

Anne Casey

Bio

Anne Casey is the Foundation Engagement Manager at Oaknoll Retirement Residence,

where she leads philanthropic and community engagement initiatives that enhance the

lives of residents and staff while advancing Oaknoll's mission.

With more than 20 years of experience in nonprofit leadership, fundraising, community

outreach, and volunteer engagement, she is passionate about building meaningful

relationships that inspire generosity, connect people to purpose, and create lasting impact.

Prior to joining Oaknoll, Anne held leadership roles with Iowa Donor Network and the

American Heart Association.

A Southern California native, Anne has called North Liberty home since 2012. Outside of

work, she enjoys traveling, getting lost in a good book, and making memories with her

family. During basketball season, she and her husband can be found cheering on their two daughters from the sidelines.

Jordan Colton

Bio

Jordan Colton is the Business Support Program Manager at Greater Iowa City, Inc., where she works with local businesses and entrepreneurs through programming, resources, and community connections.

She oversees the Business Resource Center and leads 1 Million Cups Iowa City, helping connect entrepreneurs and small businesses with the people, resources, and support they need to grow and thrive.

Jordan earned her BBA in Marketing Management from the University of Iowa Tippie College of Business, where she was selected for the Marketing Institute, a competitive, multi-semester program that pairs students with real-world clients on marketing consulting projects.

After graduation, she spent three years with Women Lead Change, where she led events and marketing initiatives focused on leadership development across Iowa.

Andrew Evans

Bio

Raised in western Iowa as the middle of five brothers, Andrew Evans earned his architecture degree from Iowa State University before joining Neumann Monson Architects in Iowa City.

As an architect, his work spans projects of varying scales across the residential, commercial, recreation, religious, and education sectors throughout Iowa.

Through this work, Andrew helps shape local communities through thoughtful design, sustainable strategies, and maximizing value within project budgets.

He stays active in his community by volunteering with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Johnson County, AIA Iowa, Workplace Learning Connection, and Junior Achievement.

Outside of work, Andrew enjoys staying active, spending time with family, traveling, and cheering on the Cyclones.

Kathleen Finley

Bio

Kathleen Finley is the Regional Operations Manager at ChildServe, where she oversees clinic operations and community-based programs in Eastern Iowa.

She serves on the Board of Directors for The Iowa Children's Museum, is a grant reviewer for the Community Foundation of Johnson County, participates on Johnson County Public Health's Healthcare Access Committee, and is a graduate of the Greater Iowa City Board Leadership Program.

Kathleen is currently completing her MBA at the University of Iowa's Tippie College of Business with certificates in Strategy and Business Analytics.

Outside of work and community involvement, you'll usually find her outdoors with her husband, Beau, and daughter, Ophelia, and almost always with an afternoon latte in hand.

Samantha Fordyce

Bio

Sam Fordyce has lived and worked in Johnson County since coming here for college in 2005. She graduated in 2009 from the University of Iowa with a BA in French and an International Business Certificate.

She began working for MidWestOne Bank after graduation and just celebrated her 17th work anniversary! On August 10th, MidWestOne Bank will become Nicolet National Bank. She will continue in her current role as AVP Retail Market Manager in North Liberty.

Sam currently serves on the Iowa Bankers Association Emerging Leader board, the 100+Women Who Care Hawkeye Chapter board, the North Liberty Community Pantry board, and she is the board president for the Friends of the North Liberty Library board.

Sam is an emeritus Greater IC Inc Ambassador and enjoys attending many of the professional and social events our community has to offer. She lives in Tiffin with her husband Ben, their 3 year old son, Luca, and their cat Bugsy.

Jeff Gingerich

Bio

Jeff Gingerich has 22 years of experience in law enforcement, including the past 17 years with the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office. He currently serves as a Sergeant in the Investigations Division and as Team Commander of the Special Emergency Response Team (SERT).

A lifelong Iowan, Jeff grew up in Kalona and graduated from Mid-Prairie High School. He earned degrees in Criminal Justice and Sociology from Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa.

Outside of his professional responsibilities, Jeff enjoys spending time with his wife and three children. Their family time often takes them to ball games, the fairgrounds, show choir performances, and baton-twirling competitions.

Sharon Grice

Bio

Sharon Grice has spent her entire career in higher education with experience in Admission, Operations, and Financial Assistance.

Most recently, she accepted a position at Kirkwood Community College as the Director of the Kirkwood Regional Center at the University of Iowa where her primary focus is working with the College Credit in High School program.

She earned her BA degree from Central College and her MA degree from the University of Northern Iowa. Sharon has also been an adjunct at Kirkwood teaching for over 20 years.

Sharon recently moved to Solon where she resides with her husband enjoying the trails, lake, and lots of biking.

Scott Hawes

Bio

Scott Hawes is the Executive Director of Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity.

He started with IVHFH in 2016 as an AmeriCorps Service member and served several roles prior to being named Executive Director in 2022.

In previous phases of his life, he was a teacher, Peace Corps volunteer, and able to run very fast as a youngster.

Currently, he is a baseball enthusiast, travel bum wannabe, and enjoys going to bed early.

Angie Jordan

Bio

Angie Jordan lives in the South District Neighborhood and is an Iowa City native with a background in psychology, social work, advocacy, and community & economic development.

She works at Think Iowa City, the region's Tourism Bureau and Destination Marketing Organization, to help increase engagement and awareness of local happenings to folks in the area.

These days, Angie enjoys time with her friends and family playing cards, knitting, or watching WNBA games. She can also be found unwinding from the day, contently listening to Iowa City Council work sessions & meetings while hanging out with her backyard chickens.

Currently, she's a proud mama of two sweet & spicey teenagers and the life partner to a hunky Iowa City Firefighter.

Jackie Jollay

Bio

Jackie Jollay is the Director of Events at the Iowa City Downtown District, a Hawkeye alum, and a live music enthusiast.

She has worked many iconic Iowa concert scenes, such as Hancher Auditorium, Hinterland Music Festival, the Englert Theatre, and Mission Creek!

Her work includes planning and executing the 35+ events that the Iowa City Downtown District hosts every year. She is excited to further the Iowa City Downtown District's mission to create a vibrant, welcoming community for all.

Jessica Lang

Bio

Jessica Lang grew West Branch, but has been a resident of North Liberty for over 30 years (wow that really ages me, haha). She has four children Madison, Jackson, Emerson, and Haddon and also has two precious grandsons, Bowen and Thomas.

Jessica is the Community Violence Intervention (CVI) Coordinator for Johnson County (Co. Attorney Office), working directly with individuals at high risk for gun violence. The organization’s goal is to build meaningful relationships and connect individuals to support, resources, and opportunities that create successful pathways away from violence.

Her work centers on building safer, stronger communities through prevention, and collaboration while working alongside community members, law enforcement, and local partners to address the root causes of violence while strengthening trust.

Jessica is also passionate about community building - creating opportunities for people to come together through events, engagement, and positive connections.

Crystal Lewis

Bio

Crystal Lewis serves as Associate Director of Career Development & Strategic Partnerships at the Pomerantz Career Center, University of Iowa. With more than 17 years of experience in higher education, including roles in instruction, academic advising, and career services, her work has centered on supporting students as they navigate college, understand their options, and make informed decisions about what comes next.

She is especially interested in making opportunities and resources more visible, helping students connect what they are learning with their goals, and building partnerships that expand what is possible across the university and beyond.

Crystal brings a curious and relationship-centered approach to her work and values opportunities to learn from the experiences and perspectives of others.

Outside of work, she enjoys word and logic puzzles, reading, movies, popular culture, following her curiosity wherever it leads, and conversations that help her better understand people and communities.

Angela McConville

Bio

Angie McConville (she/her) serves as Special Projects Coordinator for the City of North Liberty; over the past nine years, she has worked on myriad City initiatives, including internal training programs, transit (including NLTAP & The Bus), animal control/Red Fern Dog Park, older adult programming, sustainability, budget & CIP planning, and childcare advocacy.

Angie lives in Oxford with her partner Matt, where they raised Nick, Max, and Viola alongside their cats.

Her hobbies include thrifting mid-century items for her grandmacore home, quilting, tap dancing, home improvement projects, Jeeping, and performing in community theatre.

Drew Mills

Bio

Drew Mills serves as Vice President of Operations at TrueNorth Companies.

He grew up in the Iowa City area and attended Hills Elementary School, Regina High School, and Kirkwood Community College. Drew and his wife, Kate, reside in North Liberty with their two children, Brynn (7) and Jase (5).

They are active members of the community and support organizations including Big Brothers Big Sisters of Johnson County, the North Liberty Community Pantry, and Penn Elementary School.

Jack O'Rourke

Bio

Jack O'Rourke grew up in the farming community of North English, Iowa, before attending the University of Iowa, where he graduated from the Tippie College of Business in 2010.

He began his career with Hills Bank in 2009 while still in college and has advanced through a variety of roles within the organization.

Jack resides in Tiffin with his wife and three children and enjoys golfing (when time allows) and supporting his children in their activities. He is actively involved in the community, serving on the Iowa City Advisory Board for the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Corridor and as President of the Clear Creek Amana Community School District Foundation.

Mallory Petsche

Bio

Mallory Petsche currently serves as the Program Director of the TRIO Student Support Services-ESL Program at Kirkwood Community College.

The program provides academic support, social engagement, and career planning for students who are language learners, first-generation college students, low-income, or have a documented disability.

Mallory has served alongside newcomer communities in Iowa for over a decade. Her work centers on building innovative, cross-sector partnerships that eliminate barriers and create space for strategic, community-based solutions in education.

Nicki Ross

Bio

Nicki Ross is a nonprofit leader with a passion for connecting people and organizations around shared goals.

As Executive Director of Table to Table, she has expanded the organization’s capacity while strengthening the partnerships that make greater community impact possible.

Her work has also helped shape regional and national food access coalitions.

To nurture her creative spirit, Nicki illustrates whimsical coloring books that become something new in collaboration with each person who colors them.

Kristie Wetjen

Bio

Kristie Wetjen manages the day-to-day operations and marketing of the Iowa River Landing.

Her background in small business development, property management, real estate, and destination marketing makes her uniquely qualified to navigate the needs of both local and national businesses, the community and the residents of the IRL.

Wetjen enjoys meeting new people, exploring unique places and spending time with family and friends.

Isaac Sirinana

Bio

Isaac Sarinana is an attorney at Shuttleworth & Ingersoll P.L.C. whose practice focuses on corporate and employment law.

In this role, Isaac has had the privilege of working on small and large scale acquisitions, has successfully defended employers from charges of discrimination, and has advised businesses on a variety of matters.

Isaac is on the board of the NewBo City Market, a non-profit small business incubator located in Cedar Rapids.

Kassie Woodard

Bio

Kassie Woodard has been a Buyer II at CIVCO Medical Solutions since 2022.

In addition to her role as a Buyer, she leads CIVCO’s IncluCIVity committee, which focuses on diversity, equity, and inclusion and building a positive workplace culture.

Kassie enjoys bringing people together, encouraging different perspectives, and creating an environment where everyone feels valued.

She is excited to continue growing as a leader, learning from others, and bringing those experiences back to her team and community at CIVCO.

Maggie Tietjen

Bio

Maggie Tietjen is a Client Services Specialist at Midwestern Financial Group, where she enjoys working with individuals and supporting them as they make decisions and navigate the next steps in their lives.

She holds her ACC credential from the International Coaching Federation, which strengthens her ability to communicate clearly, listen thoughtfully, and help others move toward their goals.

Outside of work, Maggie is an avid reader, enjoys working out, hiking with her dogs, and, most of all, she values spending time with her husband and daughter.

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