PDI Elects Joe Raso to Secretary/Treasurer

(Burlington, Iowa):  At the Annual Business Meeting of the Professional Developers of Iowa (PDI), the membership elected Joe Raso, President, Iowa City Area Development Group, Iowa City, Iowa, as the Secretary/Treasurer of the Association beginning December 1st.

Raso will serve a one-year term.

According to Lynn Harkin, PDI Executive Director, “As an organization, PDI fosters cooperation among its members to produce the best results for Iowa. As individuals, every PDI member makes his or her community a better place to live and work. Our board is committed to taking the organization to the next level.” 

Raso is a native Iowan and has lived in multiple metro areas around the state including the Quad Cities, Des Moines, Waterloo/Cedar Falls, and now the Iowa City/Cedar Rapids Corridor.  Just prior to joining the Iowa City Area Development Group in November 2000, Raso was director of economic development for Delaware County where he was honored by Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack for the county’s comprehensive workforce development and value-added agriculture programs. Raso was also director of the national, award-winning Cedar Falls Mainstreet Program from 1995-1997.

During his tenure as President of ICAD Group, the organization has assisted more than seventy-nine primary sector businesses with expansions and relocations that have created more than 6,000 jobs for the area economy. 

Raso is a member of the Iowa City Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, the University of Iowa Research Park Board, Going Global in Iowa Board and the State Safeguard Iowa Board.  He frequently reports to numerous economic development groups and committees serving the state of Iowa and has presented on workforce development and existing industry programs at national conferences.

Raso received a bachelor’s degree in political science and a master’s degree in public policy from the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls. His advanced studies and post graduate work focused on economic development with an emphasis on state and local government.

Raso and wife, Kim, have two children, Payton and Bailey. They live in North Liberty.

Founded in 1973, with current membership of over 310, PDI is an organization dedicated to advancing the professionalism of its members through a wide range of programs and services.  As an association, PDI provides professional training that helps its members do a better job for their community.  PDI creates an atmosphere of support and offers an instant network of seasoned experts for local professionals to seek advice and support.

Professional Developers of Iowa are headquartered in the offices of Association Management, Ltd. (AML), a Central Iowa-based association management company providing full-service management to non-profit trade associations and professional society associations since 1976.