We are pleased to announce the arrival of Sue Cosner to the IADG staff team. Sue will be staffing a new partnership between IADG and Iowa Network Services (INS) – a joint initiative strategically intended to utilize the rural economic development expertise and experience of IADG in order to serve and attend to the business and community development needs of INS member systems – independent telephone companies (ITC’s). From a strategic planning perspective, the partnership is also tactical in that the respective members of both organizations share common territory and customers whose future is vested in a vibrant rural economy.  The administrative and program costs of this partnership will be paid by INS.

Sue came to us from Washington, DC where she worked for the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) as the Director of ICMA’s CityLinks program – an international program that provides technical assistance to local government practitioners in decentralizing countries around the world. Sue is a former city administrator (Panora, IA) with over 26 years of local government experience. Her career achievements include general city management, various economic development and redevelopment capacities in both large and small communities, rural and urban planning, and association management.  

Specific career highlights include:

• Redevelopment and economic development programs including extensive experience in public-private development partnerships leveraging multi-million dollar public investments by the City of San Jose, CA Redevelopment Agency;
• The long-range strategic planning program for Des Moines Water Works, Iowa’s largest regional municipal water supplier;
• The economic development program for the city of Panora, Iowa – a vibrant lakeside community, and
• Association experience with the Iowa League of Cities

Sue has also served as adjunct faculty in the department of Community & Regional Planning in the College of Design at Iowa State University. She has taught graduate and undergraduate classes in Small Town Planning, Growth Management, Regional & State Planning, and Metropolitan Forces. Sue is serving her 13th year of a gubernatorial appointment to the City Development Board – the statewide board that considers the annexation/growth proposals of Iowa cities.

The INS business platform is dependent on the health and vitality of rural Iowa. Its nearly 150 member systems will come to rely on Sue and the IADG team to enhance and strengthen their interest, commitment, and involvement in business and community development throughout the state. You may see Sue in your communities as she begins her field visits in early November to identify specific program and project assistance needs of INS members.

Please welcome Sue and do let us know if you have any questions we may address concerning our new IADG/INS partnership.