2026 Employee Ownership Annual Conference

Thanks for Attending the 
2026 IA-CEO Employee Ownership Annual Conference!

We look forward to seeing you again on October 7, 2027!

Chris Cournoyer is the 48th Lieutenant Governor of Iowa, appointed by Governor Kim Reynolds in December 2024. Before taking on this role, she served in the Iowa State Senate, representing Clinton, Jackson, and Scott counties. Elected in 2018, she chaired the newly formed Technology Committee, where she played a key role in crafting legislation that made Iowa the sixth state in the country to establish consumer data protection laws.

Lt. Governor Cournoyer has a strong background in technology, particularly in artificial intelligence, and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Computer Science from the University of Texas. She began her professional career as a senior consultant in the Technology Division at Andersen Consulting, a Fortune 500 company that eventually became Accenture. Deeply committed to advancing STEM education, Lt. Governor Cournoyer has worked to create opportunities for underserved children through work-based learning initiatives. She has served on the Governor's STEM Advisory Council and was previously a member of the Quad Cities Engineering and Science Council. Raised by an engineer and a teacher, she is passionate about expanding access to STEM opportunities for young people across Iowa.  Full Bio

Celina Peerman, Ph.D., SHRM-SCP, CSP is an organizational psychologist with over 30 years of experience helping leaders and teams thrive. She has worked across industries, from frontline operations to senior leadership, bringing a deep understanding of workplace behavior and organizational health. Dr. Celina is a strategist with a sense of humor and a love for building capacity in organizations. A dynamic speaker, strategist, and storyteller, Dr. Celina has presented at more than 250 events annually, engaging audiences at local, state, and national levels, as well as internationally in Asia, Canada, Central, and South America. She is a two-time TEDx presenter, podcast host, and author of three upcoming books in 2025. 

Dr. Celina holds a Ph.D. in Psychology, a master’s degree in business, and undergraduate degrees in psychology and international studies. She has earned the Certified Speaking Professional (CSP) designation from the National Speakers Association—one of the highest honors in the field. Known for her humor, insight, and practical approach, she challenges leaders to rethink how they communicate, adapt, and lead for lasting impact. Full bio

2026 Student Scholarship Recipients

The Iowa Center for Employee Ownership is committed to introducing the next generation of leaders to the opportunities and impact of employee ownership. Through our Student Scholarship Program, college students receive complimentary admission to the 2026 IA-CEO Employee Ownership Annual Conference, where they can learn from business leaders, explore career pathways, build professional connections, and gain firsthand insight into employee ownership. We are proud to recognize this year's scholarship recipients and look forward to welcoming them to a day of learning, networking, and discovering what’s possible through employee ownership.

 Our 2026 Conference Sponsors

A sincere THANK YOU to our generous sponsors of the IA-CEO Annual Conference. Your support makes this event possible and directly strengthens our ability to expand awareness of employee ownership as a business transition strategy across Iowa.

Because of your partnership, we are able to bring together business leaders, employee owners, and professionals to share knowledge and practical tools that help companies consider and implement employee ownership. Your investment also helps us continue building statewide outreach efforts that support business succession, preserve local ownership, and keep companies rooted in Iowa’s rural and urban communities.

We are grateful for your commitment to strengthening Iowa’s businesses and advancing employee ownership for the long term.

Company Sponsors

 individual sponsors

Deb Giarusso
Mary Pech
Jerry Ripperger

A Special Thanks

We’re grateful to Digital Matters and Carley Kintzle Photography for providing professional audio, video and photography to help bring the 2026 IA-CEO Employee Ownership Annual Conference to life.