The Alliance Connection

Jenn Becker and Elizabeth Stanek join us to discuss childcare in the Fort Dodge, Iowa area. We discuss Linking Families and Communities, the Fort Dodge Play & Learn Center, Sprouts Early Education and Development School, the importance of interaction with children, different ways the community can help, and more! 🔗 Follow Fort Dodge Play & Learn Center: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/...

Lindsay Laufersweiler is the Community Engagement Director for the Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance. We discuss her journey to the Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance, her first few months on the job, how she is implementing her vision for community engagement, and more! ⛳️ Sing Up For the 57th Annual GFDGA Golf Outing: https://www.greaterfortdodge.com/57th-annual-gfdga-golf-outing/ 🛑 Special T...

Lydia Schuur and Janet Johnson stop by from One Vision to discuss the upcoming One Vision Color Run in Fort Dodge, Iowa, how to sign up, how to make donations, what will take place at the Color Run, and more! 🔗 Follow One Vision: Website: https://www.onevision.org Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/onevisioniowa Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onevisioniowa/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.co...

Jen Lane (Director of Engagement) and Julie Thorson (President/CEO) of Friendship Haven in Fort Dodge, Iowa, stop by to discuss the upcoming Havenpalooza 2026. 🔗 Follow Friendship Haven: Website: https://www.friendshiphaven.org Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FriendshipHavenFortDodge/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/friendshiphavenfd/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/friendship-...

Brenda Clark Hamilton is a dynamic keynote speaker and workplace trainer known for her high-energy presentations on leadership, communication, and personal resilience. Based in Iowa, she has built a nationally recognized speaking career since 2005, delivering engaging and practical presentations at nearly 100 events each year across a wide range of industries. With a background in education and pr...

Phil Gunderson is the recipient of the 2026 Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance Catalyst Award. We discuss his involvement in the community, the trees he planted with Gunderson Funeral Home, the impact the community has had on his family, and more! 🛑 Special Thanks to Our Sponsors: Spin Markket + Digital: https://www.spinmarkket.com Becker Florist: https://www.beckerflorist.com/ 🗓️ Check Out the G...

Matt Johnson is the recipient of the 2026 Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance Volunteer of the Year Award. We sit down with him to discuss what volunteering means to him, his support for the community, his favorite GFDGA events, and more! 🛑 Special Thanks to Our Sponsors: Spin Markket + Digital: https://www.spinmarkket.com Becker Florist: https://www.beckerflorist.com/ 🗓️ Check Out the GFDGA Commu...

Luke Hugghins is the recipient of the 2026 Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance Emerging Leader Award. We sit down with him to discuss his past endeavors, what leadership means to him, his upcoming projects, and more! 🛑 Special Thanks to Our Sponsors: Spin Markket + Digital: https://www.spinmarkket.com Becker Florist: https://www.beckerflorist.com/ 🗓️ Check Out the GFDGA Community Calendar: https:/...

Sarah Rustvold is the Director of the Fort Dodge Regional Airport. We discuss recent improvements at the airport, upcoming changes, the simplicity of flying out of a small town, recently added flights to Denver, and more! 🔗 Follow Fort Dodge Regional Airport: Website: https://fortdodgeregionalairport.com Website: https://www.fortdodgeiowa.org/airport/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fdairport/...

Cameron Nelson & Sarah Shelton join us from GreenState Credit Union as the top sponsor of the Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance Annual Dinner. We discuss credit unions vs. banks, what lines of business GreenState Credit Union offers, their community involvement, Cameron and Sarah's favorite Growth Alliance events, and more! 🔗 Follow the GreenState Credit Union: Website: https://www.greenstat...

Chad Schaeffer is the Chief Development Officer for the City of Fort Dodge, Iowa. We discuss recent and upcoming changes to the riverfront area, recently completed projects, upcoming agendas, the Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance Dinner, and more! 🔗 Follow the City of Fort Dodge: Website: https://www.fortdodgeiowa.org Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fortdodgeiowa/ Instagram: https://www.insta...

Joey Coleman is a speaker and a Fort Dodge native. We discuss his ties to the Fort Dodge area, his experience with business and customer service, his books "Never Lose a Customer Again" & "Never Lose an Employee Again", his upcoming speaking arrangement at the GFDGA banquet, and more! 🔗 Follow Joey Coleman: Website: https://joeycoleman.com 📖 Get Joey Coleman's Books: Website: https://joeycol...

Jen Fitzgerald and Macy Johnson join us from Five Points Events to discuss how they became involved in event planning, the services they offer, recent and upcoming events, their favorite parts about planning events, and more! 🔗 Follow Five Points Events: Website: https://www.fivepointsevents.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61581137170240 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/...

Andy Reed and Brian Pederson discuss how Lights at Kennedy got started, the behind-the-scenes work involved in this event every year, some of their favorite displays, and more! 🔗 Follow Lights At Kennedy: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LightsatKennedy/ 🛑 Special Thanks to Our Sponsors: Spin Markket + Digital: https://www.spinmarkket.com Becker Florist: https://www.beckerflorist.com/ 🗓️ Check...

Astra sits down with Chris Cournoyer, the Lieutenant Governor of the State of Iowa, to discuss the economic progress of the state of Iowa, Iowa's "America 250" initiative, how individuals can get involved, and more! 🔗 Follow Iowa's America 250: Website: https://governor.iowa.gov/america-250/ 🛑 Special Thanks to Our Sponsors: Spin Markket + Digital: https://www.spinmarkket.com Becker Florist: htt...

Shelby Fleming is the Administrative Assistant at Koch Fertilizer. We discuss the operations at Koch, opportunities for interns, how Koch impacts the local community, and more! 🔗 Follow Koch: Website: https://kochfertilizer.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KochFertilizer/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KochFertilizerFortDodge/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/kochagandenergy/...

Vickie Reeck and Paige Wheeler join us this week to discuss the City of Fort Dodge's recent housing progress, upcoming items on the agenda, how people can help out, and more! 🔗 Follow The City of Fort Dodge: Website: https://www.fortdodgeiowa.org Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fortdodgeiowa/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fortdodgeia X: https://www.twitter.com/FDCITY LinkedIn: https://w...

Jean Bral and Laura Todd from Buena Vista University join Astra and Katy this week to discuss how BVU is involved in the Fort Dodge area and beyond. They discuss updates to the BVU campus, strategic partnerships with businesses, local companies participating in BVU's programs, and more! 🔗 Follow Buena Vista University: Website: https://www.bvu.edu Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/buenavistauniv...

Astra and Katy sit down with Dr. Jesse Ulrich and Brady O'Brien from Iowa Central Community College. They discuss upcoming events at Decker Auditorium, how ICCC shapes the Fort Dodge community, the upcoming November 4th vote, and more! 🔗 Follow Iowa Central Community College: Website: https://www.iowacentral.edu Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iowacentral/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/...

Katy sits down with Corey Jansen this week to discuss the arrival of Baker Group to Fort Dodge, their upcoming ribbon cutting, their involvement with GFDGA, and more! 🔗 Follow The Baker Group: Website: https://www.thebakergroup.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bakergroup63/ Instagram: https://www.linkedin.com/company/baker-group X: https://www.twitter.com/bakergroup63 Vimeo: https://vimeo.c...

Matt Johnson and Todd McCubbin of the Better Way Project stop by to discuss what the Better Way Project is, how it formed, how it aims to help our community, and much more! 🔗 Follow The Better Way Project: Website: https://www.betterwayproject.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheBetterWayProject Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/TheBetterWayProject X: https://www.twitter.com/TheBetterWay...

Matt Johnson joins Astra and Kamisha to discuss the 2025 Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance Golf Outing, how the event has changed over the years, the networking opportunities available, fun games to play, prizes to be won, and more! 🛑 Special Thanks to Our Sponsors: Buena Vista University: https://www.bvu.edu/ Becker Florist: https://www.beckerflorist.com/ 🗓️ Check Out the GFDGA Community Calend...

Craig Schlienz sits on the Shellabration board that organizes the annual Downtown Country Jam. We discuss how the first Downtown Country Jam came to be, the HUGE response for this year's concert, possible upcoming changes to the Downtown Country Jam, and more! 🗓️ Downtown Country Jam - Saturday, August 9th, 2025: Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/1146199760326825 🎙️ Follow Shellabration Inc.:...

Leah Glasgo is the President and CEO of UnityPoint in Fort Dodge, Iowa. We discuss her journey to becoming the President and CEO of UnityPoint, the services UnityPoint provides, being one of the region's largest employers, how UnityPoint stays up-to-date with changes in healthcare, and more! 🔗 Follow UnityPoint: Website: https://www.facebook.com/UnityPointHealth/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.co...

Debi Durham, Iowa's Director of Economic Development Authority and Iowa's Finance Authority, stops by to discuss her journey, how Fort Dodge was recently named a Thriving Community, workforce attraction, targeted industries, and more! 🔗 Follow Iowa's Economic Development Authority: Website: https://opportunityiowa.gov/about/iowa-economic-development-authority Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/io...