The Iowa Association of Business and Industry (ABI) has found its next leader right in its midst. ABI announced today, Oct. 1, that ABI Executive Vice President Nicole Crain will be its next president.
Ms. Crain, who has been with ABI for more than 16 years and in her current role since 2019, will take the reins from Mike Ralston. The longtime ABI president is retiring at the end of the year after nearly two decades in the role.
In a news release Tuesday, ABI said it began the search for a new president in July following Ralston’s retirement announcement. The organization’s board of directors met with both internal and external candidates in its search to fill the position before offering the role to Ms. Crain.
“Nicole’s outstanding professionalism, track record for success and incredible work ethic rose to the top during our search,” Chad Reece, ABI’s board of directors’ chair, said in the release.
“She has a strategic plan for the future of ABI that strongly aligns with the board’s vision for the organization. That combined with her unwavering commitment to and passion for the organization and its members, deep knowledge of our business, and understanding of our mission make her the right fit for the future,” he added.
During her ABI tenure, Ms. Crain has worked closely with ABI members and the board on important initiatives involving organization finance and operations, membership, a partnership with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation on child care issues, and public policy advocacy. In her more than 16 years with ABI, she has time spent as senior vice president of public policy and director of government relations.
‘An exemplary steward’
“Nicole has been an exemplary steward of ABI’s mission to serve as the champion for Iowa businesses for more than a decade,” Mr. Ralston said in the release. “Her work for ABI and our members has been pivotal in driving organizational growth and visibility. She is a natural fit for the role of president, and I have profound confidence in her leading ABI forward.”
Since 1903, ABI has been the voice of Iowa business. Its mission is to provide a strong, unified voice to business and industry on issues affecting Iowa employers. ABI is composed of member companies representing all industries and sizes in Iowa’s 99 counties. ABI members employ more than 330,000 Iowans.
“It is an honor to be trusted with such an important position,” Ms. Crain said in the release. “I have a strong vision for the future of ABI — one that encourages more member and partner engagement, growth of our membership, and additional opportunities to educate all Iowans about the importance of business to the state’s success. I will continue to fulfill our mission to advocate, collaborate, educate and motivate to move Iowa forward. I’m excited to get started in 2025.”
Deep business roots
She also brings experience as president of the Iowa Taxpayers Association, where her focus was on steering statewide business tax policies. She also was director of government affairs for the Associated Builders and Contractors of Iowa, where she worked with the national association to engage Iowans in the fight to defend the state’s right-to-work law.
According to the release, Ms. Crain also spent time in Washington, D.C., working with an agricultural and trade-focused lobbying group on behalf of global agri-business companies on federal issues. She brings a wealth of board experience and is a magna cum laude graduate of Simpson College in Indianola, Indiana. That’s an experience she says she is forever grateful for and a school she is passionate about supporting as an alumna.
