A panel of business and industry leaders in the Algona area will be the feature of Algona’s Business and Community Forum. This free event will be held on Thursday, April 16 from 7:30 to 9 a.m. at the Tietz Entrepreneurial Center on the Algona campus of Iowa Lakes Community College.
The four-person panel includes:
- Aaron Pearce, President and CEO of Pharmacists Mutual Insurance Group
- Dar Elbert, CEO of Kossuth Regional Health Center
- Nick Gilliland, Midwest General Manager of Smithfield Foods
- Betsy Barglof, Business Manager of Kinetic Technologies.
Participants will discuss challenges and changes impacting the local workforce.
“Since we began offering this event in 2024, it has provided an opportunity to share information about local economic development initiatives and hear from the members of our local business community. Algona is fortunate to have a diverse economy that includes advanced manufacturing, insurance, health care, food and agriculture, retail and other industries. We are looking forward to an engaging discussion with our business panel representing some of these industries at the upcoming forum,” said John Bilsten, General Manager of Algona Municipal Utilities and President of the Algona Area Economic Development Corporation.
The Business and Community Forum is aimed at local business leaders, owners and representatives, managers, administrators, human resources or marketing professionals. Members of the public are welcome to attend. Coffee and light refreshments will be provided.
The forum is a collaborative initiative hosted by the City of Algona, Algona Area Economic Development Corporation, Algona Municipal Utilities, Algona Area Chamber of Commerce, Kossuth/Palo Alto County Economic Development and the Tietz Entrepreneurial Center.
To learn more about the event, please contact the Algona Area Chamber of Commerce at 515-295-7201 or email info@algona.org.