Two of Iowa’s most influential business advocates are retiring later this month after nearly half a century of combined statewide leadership.
Mike Ralston is retiring Dec. 31 as president of the Iowa Association of Business and Industry (ABI) after nearly 20 years leading Iowa’s oldest and largest business advocacy organization, and John Sorenson is retiring at the end of the year as president and CEO of the Iowa Bankers Association (IBA), which represents Iowa banks and savings institutions. He has led that organization since 1997.
Combine their tenure with the rich and long history of both organizations, and you have an amazing amount of influence which they have wielded to help their organizations and improve the state’s overall business climate.
IBA has been serving banking interests for over 135 years.
Mr. Ralston is widely known for his principle-driven leadership and political acumen, which is important for any leader of an organization that is 121 years old.
“It has been an absolute privilege to lead ABI for the final decades of my career and help advance the organization’s mission to advocate for a productive business climate, encourage our state’s businesses to work together, and to provide education and training to Iowa businesses,” he said in a news release. “I am proud to leave ABI in a position where it can continue to build on our previous successes and help businesses in our great state flourish.”
Mr. Ralston has previously written that “no statewide organization has a better record of supporting pro-business candidates (of BOTH parties) than ABI.”
We agree.
According to IBA’s website, under Mr. Sorensen’s leadership, the IBA grew into the largest state banking association in the U.S. With a team of more than 200 professional staff, the IBA provides advocacy, workforce development and community bank solutions in insurance, mortgage and regulatory compliance. The IBA has 265 member banks with a presence in nearly every Iowa community. Ninety-eight percent of Iowa banks and many of their industry-related service providers are IBA members.
Filling the shoes of these two business icons will be challenging, but both organizations have hired proven leaders to keep the momentum from slowing. ABI Executive Vice President Nicole Crain, who has been at ABI for more than a decade, will succeed Mr. Ralston with what is bound to be a seamless transition. She has been serving as Mr. Ralston’s No. 2 since 2019.
And former Iowa Lieutenant Governor Adam Gregg unexpectedly left state government to succeed Mr. Sorensen as president and CEO. Being able to attract Mr. Gregg from the No. 2 spot in Iowa government underscores the importance of this position in Iowa.
We wish Mr. Ralston and Mr. Sorensen well in retirement and look forward to Ms. Crain and Mr. Gregg’s success in leading these two important organizations.
