Jodi Schafer has been hired as the new Talent Attraction Director for the area’s Collaborative Growth Initiative.
Ms. Schafer will officially begin her new position Jan. 13, 2025.
In this new director-level position at the Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance, Ms. Schafer will lead efforts to grow the area’s workforce population by leveraging and coordinating public and private sector resources.
The Collaborative Growth Initiative began in August 2023 as a partnership among the cities of Cedar Rapids, Hiawatha and Marion, particularly as a leadership initiative of the mayors of those cities. The mayors, in a public-private partnership with the Economic Alliance, committed to funding a wide-ranging report on demographics, perceptions and strategies for growth.
A report from that group, available at https://www.cedarrapids.org/workforce/collaborative-growth-initiative-plan/, stressed the need to create a position to focus full-time on implementation of growth strategies.
““The Greater Cedar Rapids region is fortunate to have so many vibrant communities with a strong, collective vision for growth, Cedar Rapids Mayor Tiffany O’Donnell said in a release. “With Jodi on board, our talent-attraction efforts will accelerate, reaching individuals who have the exact skills our region needs. While we expect some quick results, this is a long-game strategy. Jodi’s addition to the Economic Alliance shows our partners’ commitment to expanding our growth.”
Ms. Schafer brings years of experience and talent to the new role as Talent Acquisition Director for the Collective Growth Initiative. She has nearly 20 years of combined experience in director and talent attraction positions, including experience in executive level recruitment, internal consulting, strategic planning and leadership development.
She worked and led teams at the University of Iowa’s MBA department for more than 10 years, and gained further experience as the Director of Talent Management at CIVCO Medical Solutions, before heading back to the higher education sector as the Senior Director, Berry Institute and Special Assistant to the Provost at Cornell College.
“With Jodi at the helm, we’re taking a huge first step toward achieving our collaborative goals,” Marion Mayor Nick AbouAssaly. “Each city in the region will play a role in leading specific strategies, but with her guidance, we’re confident we’ll see great results. This is an incredible opportunity to work together as a region and move forward with purpose.”
“This is an exciting time for our region as we come together to build on progress,” Hiawatha Mayor Steve Dodson added. “With Jodi now part of the team, we’re positioned to harness that momentum and take our efforts even further. It’s a great step forward for all of us.”
Ms. Schafer will help coordinate the local initiative with the “This is Iowa” statewide growth initiative, and also will leverage community leadership through a new Workforce Innovation Council of area stakeholders to help bring public, private and non-sector expertise to the effort.
