With tariffs, Eastern Iowa manufacturers only certain of uncertainty

Situation is a chance to lean into regionalism, panelists say

By: Annie Smith Barkalow|September 2, 2025

Responding to Tariffs panel, from left: Moderator Jen Neumann, CEO of de novo; Nicole Crain, president of ABI; Carl Kirpes, president of KT Pacer; Loras Schaul, owner of Douglas Machine and Engineering LLC; and Todd Shores, virtual CFO of Creative Planning. The panel took place at The Hotel at Kirkwood Center Aug 24 as part of Corridor Media’s 2025 Manufacturing Conference. CREDIT ANNIE SMITH BARKALOW

As the tariff situation in the U.S. continues to fluctuate, manufacturing customers are postponing orders and companies are having to make operational adjustments.

Still, the purgatory of uncertainty that manufacturers find themselves in is a chance to lean into regionalism, said panelists at Corridor Media Group’s 2025 Manufacturing Conference Aug. 28, held at The Hotel at Kirkwood in Cedar Rapids.

President of the Iowa Association of Business and Industry (ABI)…

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With tariffs, Eastern Iowa manufacturers only certain of uncertainty

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