Melissa is an exceptional partner in regional economic development. Her ability to coordinate seamlessly with Alliant Energy ensures that Winnebago and Worth counties are always positioned for growth. She is proactive, deeply knowledgeable, and highly collaborative- bringing her into a project early is a guarantee that things will move forward efficiently and successfully.
— Chad Hansen , Alliant Energy
ABI Announces 2026 Legends in Manufacturing Honorees
17 Sep 2026
News
The Iowa Association of Business and Industry (ABI) and Elevate Iowa Manufacturing will honor four Iowa manufacturing leaders as the 2026 Legends in Manufacturing Award recipients on October 13 at the Iowa Manufacturing Conference at Prairie Meadows in Altoona. Presented by Nyemaster Goode P.C., the awards recognize leaders whose contributions have strengthened Iowa’s manufacturing industry through leadership, innovation and service. The 2026 Legends in Manufacturing Award recipients are:
- Under 100 Employees: Steve Anderson, Merrill Manufacturing (Storm Lake)
- 100-300 Employees: Lori Schaefer-Weaton, Agri-Industrial Plastics Company (Fairfield)
- 300+ Employees: Pat Weiler, Weiler (Knoxville)
- Manufacturing Champion: The Honorable Terry Branstad, Former Governor of Iowa and Ambassador to China
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