Nicole Crain has been selected as the next president of the Iowa Association of Business and industry, the ABI announced Oct. 1.
Ms.Crain, who has served as ABI’s executive vice president since 2019, will take the reins from Mike Ralston, longtime ABI president who is set to retire at the end of the year after nearly two decades in the role.
The ABI began its search for a new president in July following Ralston’s retirement announcement. The organization’s board of directors met with both internal and external candidates in its search to fill the position before offering the role to Ms. Crain.
“Nicole’s outstanding professionalism, track record for success and incredible work ethic rose to the top during our search,” ABI board of directors chair Chad Reece said in a release. “She has a strategic plan for the future of ABI that strongly aligns with the board’s vision for the organization. That, combined with her unwavering commitment to and passion for the organization and its members, deep knowledge of our business, and understanding of our mission, make her the right fit for the future.”
In her tenure with ABI, Ms. Crain has worked closely with the organization’s members and the board on important initiatives involving finance and operations, membership, a partnership with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation on child care issues, and public policy advocacy.
Ms. Crain has more than 16 years of service at ABI, including time spent as senior vice president of public policy and director of government relations.
“Nicole has been an exemplary steward of ABI’s mission to serve as the champion for Iowa businesses for more than a decade,” Mr. Ralston said. “Her work for ABI and our members has been pivotal in driving organizational growth and visibility. She is a natural fit for the role of president, and I have profound confidence in her leading ABI forward.”
Ms. Crain has also served as president of the Iowa Taxpayers Association, where her focus was on steering statewide business tax policies, and as director of government affairs for the Associated Builders and Contractors of Iowa, where she worked with the national association to defend the state’s right-to-work law. She’s also spent time in Washington, D.C., working with an agricultural and trade-focused lobbying group on behalf of global agri-business companies on federal issues.
She has a wealth of board experience and is a magna cum laude graduate of Simpson College.
“It is an honor to be trusted with such an important position,” Ms. Crain said. “I have a strong vision for the future of ABI — one that encourages more member and partner engagement, growth of our membership, and additional opportunities to educate all Iowans about the importance of business to the state’s success. I will continue to fulfill our mission to advocate, collaborate, educate and motivate to move Iowa forward. I’m excited to get started in 2025.”
