GPC President Jimmy Kent Participates in Iowa Association of Business and Industry’s ‘Leadership Iowa’
April 24, 2024 (MUSCATINE, IOWA) – Grain Processing Corporation (GPC) President Jimmy Kent is the latest KENT® Corporation employee to participate in Leadership Iowa, a statewide leadership program from the Iowa Association of Business and Industry (ABI) designed to expose Iowa professionals to new businesses, communities, resources and people for the betterment of Iowa’s future.
Since its start in 1982, Leadership Iowa has encouraged more than 1,400 Iowans from across the state to use the tools and experiences gained through the program to create positive chance in their workplaces and communities.
Kent says one of his favorite parts about the program is getting to see other portions of the state he might not have visited otherwise.
“It is great to see what folks are doing around the State,” said Kent. “We can take those ideas and bring them back to the communities in which our company operates. At times you can think only a small amount are trying to improve the State, but really, there are so many who are working on projects to do just that.”
In addition to traveling once/month for a weekend-long class, Leadership Iowa provides an opportunity for participants to network and learn about Iowa’s economy. A vast amount of Iowa’s industries are represented in the 42nd Leadership Iowa class, such as: healthcare, banking, manufacturing, government, non-profits and more.
Leadership Iowa includes various Linkage Groups, which are responsible for teaching the rest of the cohort about a particular industry. Focus topics range from economic development workforce to agriculture and renewable resources.
Kent’s Linkage Group prepared talking points about the Ag industry and Carroll, Iowa. They also conducted a 45-minute interactive activity for the class of nearly 40 people.
“It is fun to work through [assignments] with the group – you learn the value everyone brings. You really have to rely on your team; the process forces you to collaborate and utilize resources,” said Kent.
Kent said he appreciates the program’s ability to push classmates out of their comfort zone and think outside the box, while teaming up on ways to learn from other businesses and companies across Iowa.
In the past, KENT’s Carol Reynolds, John Kuhl and Rich Dwyer have participated in Leadership Iowa. It is just one way ABI provides value to companies and individuals across the state. KENT has been a proud member of ABI since 1944.
About The Iowa Association of Business and Industry (ABI)
Established in 1903, The Iowa Association of Business and Industry (ABI) stands as the unified voice for businesses across the state. Its mission is to nurture a favorable business, economic, governmental and social climate within the state of Iowa so our citizens can have the opportunity to enjoy the highest possible quality of life. ABI is Iowa’s largest statewide business organization with more than 1,500 member companies representing 330,000 working Iowans.
About KENT Corporation
With origins in the livestock feed business, today KENT Corporation is a diversified, family-owned company headquartered in Muscatine, Iowa (USA) with operating subsidiaries involved in corn wet milling, the production of animal feeds, and the manufacture of food, beverage, and pet products. KENT is led by third generation family member, Gage A. Kent. KENT serves customers across the world and employs approximately two thousand people in 40 locations across 20 states and seven countries.