Iowa’s Premier Economic Development Conference
DEV25 (Utility Forward: Development in a Transformative Era) will be held May 14th at Prairie Meadows in Altoona!
A Pre-Conference Reception will be held the evening before, May 13th, at Prairie Meadows from 5-7PM.
Register now!
The Iowa Utility Association will once again bring elected officials from all levels of government together with public and private economic development professionals in support of existing business and opportunities for all Iowans. You won't want to miss it!
Book your room
A block of rooms have been held at the Prairie Meadows Hotel for DEV25 attendees.
Prairie Meadows - 1 Prairie Meadows Dr, Altoona, IA | 515-967-1000
If you have questions about DEV25, please contact Chaz Allen.
The 2025 Keynote
We’re proud to announce our keynote speaker, John McElligott, the World’s First “Frontier Futurist.”
Think of this keynote as being visited by two different versions of the future: one where you serve AI and the other where AI serves you. That’s precisely what Ancient Wisdom in the Age of Artificial Intelligence delivers.
John demystifies the expansive capabilities of AI and robotics, revealing the blessings and challenges that come when these technologies redefine human labor, intellectual effort, and the fabric of rural communities. For Iowa’s leaders in economic development, agribusiness, and manufacturing, this spells a unique challenge and an even bigger opportunity: How do we secure our place at the forefront of America’s next major transformation, rather than wait for coastal tech hubs to hand us the script?
Learn more here.
John McElligott
John McElligott is a visionary builder and doer committed to preparing individuals and organizations for the seismic shifts of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Over the past two decades, he has been at the forefront of AI and robotics innovation in York, Pennsylvania, where he led transformative efforts, including over $30 million in real-estate development to revitalize the city. This work reflects his ethos of combining strategic vision with tangible action for lasting impact.
A serial entrepreneur, John co-founded a licensed college to train the first generation of robot mechanics and secured over $40 million to fund disruptive projects that challenge the status quo. He has participated in events for two U.S. Presidential Administrations, counseled leaders from governors and Fortune 500 CEOs to royalty, and draws on the mission-focused tenacity he developed as a U.S. Marine.
In 2024, John embarked on a global mission to interview the most brilliant minds in quantum physics, AI, religion, neuroscience, education, government, and defense for his PBS show AI: Unpacking the Black Box. Through these deep-dive conversations, he has uncovered hidden patterns that could shape humanity’s future in profound ways. The show captures the breathtaking pace of AI evolution, literally demonstrating the technology “growing up” from episode to episode.
Plenary Speaker
Shelby Zaricor - Sr. Consultant @ GLS
Topic: Positioning Iowa to stand out in US site readiness
Hear from Shelby Zaricor as she walks through what GLS sees in site readiness efforts across the US, and how attendees can implement these strategies to better position themselves to site selectors and companies.
As a senior site selection consultant, Shelby advises companies on making informed location strategy decisions that drive growth and success. She takes the time to learn the client’s process, key drivers, preferences, and risks to address their location, logistics, workforce, and incentive needs and, ultimately, reach their goals. Shelby is a Certified Economic Developer through IEDC and a graduate of the Economic Development Institute at Oklahoma University.
New Speakers Announced for Breakout Sessions!
Dr. Nick Street & Dr. Kishlay Jha
University of Iowa
AI and Competitive Advantage - Join two experts from the University of Iowa, Dr. Nick Street and Dr. Kishlay Jha as they offer actionable insights to help organizations in Iowa leverage the power of artificial intelligence, machine learning and data science.
Emily Blaylock
President & Owner - Untamed Equity
It was never Emily’s intent to become an Entrepreneur, but now she is the sole owner of a specialized lending platform to fuel economic development. Emily grew up in Iowa and pursued her MBA in accounting at Indiana University. After college she spent many successful years in accounting and then transitioned to the banking industry. In 2012 Emily moved back to Iowa and continued her banking career as a Business Banker for Wells Fargo and then became Market President for Great Southern Bank. In 2016, she went to Northwest Bank & Trust Company to run the commercial lending department. She served on the executive team and created the Economic Development Division to generate TIF loans in 2019 after graduating from the Wharton School of Banking. The portfolio grew large enough that in July 2022, Untamed Equity was created to monetize TIF loans across the US.
About the DEV Conference
Formerly known as the SMART Conference, this newly reimagined forum is dedicated to addressing development from a variety of fresh perspectives. Iowa’s business, community, industry and education leaders will gather to talk about economic development but also community and personal development through such themes as
- Workforce development
- TIF taxes and financing
- Infrastructure development
- Policy development
- Placemaking
- Higher education innovations
- Transportation
- Energy development