The CBJ’s Most Influential list recognizes the people who have made the biggest mark on the Corridor within the past year, whether through their leadership, business accomplishments or philanthropic efforts. The CBJ asked readers in October to cast their votes for the Corridor’s most influential business leaders, and then tallied those votes to build our final list of the top 25.
- James Klein – President, Cedar Rapids Bank & Trust
- Nick AbouAssaly – Mayor, City of Marion
- Tiffany O’Donnell – Mayor, City of Cedar Rapids
- Jeff Pomeranz – City Manager, City of Cedar Rapids
- Ryan Waller – City Manager, City of Marion
- Jason Smith – Chief Executive Officer, TrueNorth
- Doug Neumann – Executive Director, Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance
- Lisa Bluder – Head Coach, Women’s Basketball, University of Iowa
- Marty Lenss – Airport Director, Eastern Iowa Airport
- Abby Ochs – Chief Executive Officer, Gró Consulting, ZenLord Pro
- Caitlin Clark – Student, University of Iowa Tippie College of Business
- Lura McBride – President & Chief Executive Officer, Van Meter
- Willie Ray Fairley – Owner, Willie Ray’s Q Shack
- Nancy Bird – Chief Executive Officer, Greater Iowa City Inc.
- Nate Kaeding – Entrepreneur, Gold Cap, Build to Suit
- Duane Smith – Executive Chairman, TrueNorth
- Joe Ahmann – Owner, Ahmann Companies
- John Smith – Chairman, CRST International
- Kim Downs – Deputy City Manager, City of Marion
- Mike Gannon – Group President, CRST International
- Amy Reasner – Owner, Lynch Dallas, P.C.
- Evette Creighton – Director of Talent, Inclusion, and Diversity, Transamerica
- Hugh Ekberg – President & Chief Executive Officer, CRST International
- Josh Schamberger – President, Think Iowa City
- Okpara Rice – Chief Executive Officer, Tanager Place
James Klein named CBJ’s Most Influential for the second consecutive year