Business Recognition Luncheon Will Bring the Region’s Employers Together on January 28

Each year, the Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation convenes business leaders, investors, and partners to take stock of the region’s economic progress. The Business Recognition Luncheon does more than mark a date on the calendar. It provides a working forum where relationships form, results get acknowledged, and the year ahead comes into focus.

On January 28, nearly 300 attendees will gather in Spencer for the 15th Annual Luncheon to recognize local achievement and review priorities shaping northwest Iowa’s economy.

The event runs from 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM at the Clay County Regional Events Center. There is no cost to attend, which reflects the organization’s focus on access and participation across the business community.

A Room Built For Connections And Shared Context

Attendance spans small businesses, major employers, development partners, and prospective investors. For economic development professionals and site selectors, the luncheon offers direct access to the people driving local decisions. For community leaders, it creates a shared reference point for ongoing projects and future needs.

The program will recognize business excellence and success across several categories. Awards will include:

• Small Business Excellence for firms with fewer than 30 employees
• Large Business Excellence for firms with 30 or more employees
• Entrepreneur of the Year
• Young Professional of the Year
• Housing Champion
• Partner of the Year

Each category reflects a different part of the regional economy, from housing supply to workforce leadership.

Keynote Focuses on Possibility and Mental Resilience

This year’s keynote speaker is Devin Henderson, an experienced presenter with a background in comedy, magic, and keynote speaking. His address, titled “What Else Is Possible,” centers on how individuals and teams reassess limits created by stress, self-doubt, and routine pressures.

Henderson’s session focuses on practical ideas tied to resilience and collaboration. Attendees will hear approaches for addressing fear and challenge, sustaining effort toward difficult goals, and working more effectively as a team. The talk aligns with the luncheon’s audience, many of whom manage change, uncertainty, and long planning horizons in their daily work.

The keynote is designed to fit within a business audience’s expectations. It emphasizes reflection and shared experience rather than performance alone.

Annual Report Review Grounds the Conversation

The luncheon also includes a review of the Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation’s 2025 annual report. This portion of the agenda connects recognition and inspiration to measurable activity. Attendees gain insight into recent work, partnerships, and outcomes across the region.

For investors and site selectors, the annual report review offers context on capacity, priorities, and momentum. For local businesses and partners, it clarifies how projects and programs align with regional goals. Together, the awards, keynote, and report review create a balanced program that reflects both people and performance.

RSVP for the Business Recognition Luncheon

The Business Recognition Luncheon takes place January 28 from 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM at the Clay County Regional Events Center, 800 W 18th St, Spencer, Iowa. Attendance is free. Advance registration is encouraged to plan seating and logistics. Visit the Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation website to RSVP and confirm your spot.