Juliet Abdel has been named the next president and chief executive officer of the Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance (CRMEA), the organization’s Policy Board announced June 30.
Ms. Abdel will assume the role July 28. She succeeds Doug Neumann, who is stepping down after 19 years with the CRMEA, including the past nine as executive director.
In her new role, Ms. Abdel will oversee all administrative and management functions and lead efforts to grow the region’s economy, workforce and population, while supporting local businesses.
Ms. Abdel has served as president of the Greater Topeka Chamber of Commerce and senior vice president of the Greater Topeka Partnership, a Kansas-based umbrella group that includes the chamber, economic development and tourism organizations, since November 2023, according to the Topeka Capital-Journal.
She brings more than 15 years of executive and staff leadership experience to the Cedar Rapids position. Her previous roles include president and CEO of the Westminster Chamber of Commerce in Colorado and chief operating officer of the Oklahoma Trucking Association.
She also served as senior vice president and chief operations officer of the Stillwater Chamber of Commerce in Oklahoma and worked as a legislative aide in the Oklahoma Legislature.
Ms. Abdel holds a master’s degree in international studies and a bachelor’s degree in business administration, both from Oklahoma State University. She has earned the Certified Chamber Executive designation from the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives and is a graduate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Institute for Organization Management.
Anne Parmley, chair of the CRMEA Policy Board, credited the appointment to a collaborative process.
“We are deeply grateful to the search committee and key stakeholders for their dedication and thoughtful engagement throughout this process,” Ms. Parmley said. “Their commitment ensured a thorough and inclusive search, and we are thrilled to have reached a unanimous decision in welcoming Juliet to lead the Economic Alliance.”
In a release, Ms. Abdel expressed her excitement about the new role.
“I am excited and honored to join the Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance,” she said. “Cedar Rapids is the second largest city in Iowa with regional partners and unlimited potential.”
The search process was led by executive search firm Waverly Partners and Patti Seda of Seda Consulting, in collaboration with a board-appointed committee chaired by Ms. Parmley.
