Featured guest, Bettendorf City Administrator, Decker Ploehn, told the crowd
the community needs to celebrate its successes more. Mr. Ploehn was named the QCBJ’s 2024 Most Influential Leader. PHOTO CREDIT TODD WELVAERT
Brad Nielsen enjoyed meeting dozens of business and community leaders Thursday night, March 6, at the Quad Cities Regional Business Journal’s Regional Leaders Reception. That event, held on the first floor of the IH Mississippi Valley Credit Union corporate headquarters building at 2500 River Drive, Moline, celebrated and honored those local leaders recently profiled in […]
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Brad Nielsen enjoyed meeting dozens of business and community leaders Thursday night, March 6, at the Quad Cities Regional Business Journal’s Regional Leaders Reception.That event, held on the first floor of the IH Mississippi Valley Credit Union corporate headquarters building at 2500 River Drive, Moline, celebrated and honored those local leaders recently profiled in the QCBJ’s Regional Leaders publication. (For information on purchasing the publication, visit here.)IHMVCU was the reception’s Platinum Sponsor.Mr. Nielsen, president of Iowa American Water and one of the leaders featured in the publication, called the reception a great chance to gather with other leaders in the community.“We’re all stronger together. The more conversations we can have with these folks, the better,” he added.That “strong together” theme was apparent throughout much of the evening's reception. More than 100 business and community leaders gathered for the two-hour event to share stories, catch up with colleagues and make new connections.The event also was a celebration and recognition of some of the Quad Cities’ top and most influential leaders.John Lohman, CEO and president of Corridor Media Group, based in North Liberty, Iowa, which publishes the Quad Cities Regional Business Journal and the Corridor Business Journal, welcomed the many leaders to the event. During a brief program, he said it is vital to recognize the people who make many improvements to the community.“We’re here tonight to recognize some of the Quad Cities’ most influential leaders that have been published in our Regional Leaders magazine. We are extremely proud to share this publication with you,” said Mr. Lohman, adding the Regional Leaders publication was a year-long initiative by the QBCJ newsroom.The 150-some people featured in the Regional Leaders publication were seen – via TV screens – throughout the reception. Four large screens scrolled through the names and photos of the business and community leaders throughout the event.In addition to looking over the leaders, guests heard several challenges from speakers. For instance, Brian Laufenberg, the chief executive officer of IHMVCU, asked the crowd to be proud of the Quad Cities and always promote the community. “Sometimes, we just don’t tell our story enough,” he added.One of the night’s featured guests – Bettendorf City Administrator Decker Ploehn – also made that point, telling the crowd that the community needs to celebrate its successes more.“We are a great, giving community. … We should be proud of who we are,” said Mr. Ploehn, who also was named late last year as the QCBJ’s 2024 Most Influential Leader.During Thursday’s reception, Mr. Ploehn said he was humbled by that honor, adding that the honor and being in the room filled with other community leaders made him “feel like a jackass at the Kentucky Derby.”Mr. Ploehn also issued a challenge to the crowd of leaders. He said the people at the reception should always be leaders with integrity, and to always keep advancing the Quad Cities.“You should always be moving forward. … These are the people who are making things happen for the rest of the community,” he added.
