Brad Hartkopf

Brad is the Senior Director of Public Policy for the Iowa Association of Business and Industry (ABI). ABI is comprised of more than 1,500 Iowa businesses employing over 330,000 Iowans. ABI was established in 1903 and serves as the state’s oldest and largest business organization.

Brad has been with ABI since 2017. His primary role is to lobby on behalf of ABI members before the Legislative and Executive Branches. Prior to working for ABI, he was a Deputy Finance Director on the successful re-election campaign of Senator Charles Grassley in 2016.

Brad is a native of Atlantic. He graduated from Iowa Western Community College Bellevue University.

Governor Kim Reynolds appointed him to the State Judicial Nominating Commission in August 2022. The Iowa Senate confirmed his appointment in April 2023. Governor Reynolds also appointed Hartkopf to the District 5C Judicial Nominating Commission in February 2024.

Brad lives in Ankeny with his wife Brooke, who is a pharmacist for Hy-Vee.

Derek Rusher, IOM

Derek Rusher has been the President/CEO of the Kearney Area Chamber of Commerce since January 2018. He
holds a Master's degree in Education Administration and earned the Institute for Organization Management (IOM) designation in January.

He serves as the Chair for the State Chamber’s Small Business Policy Council and is an Ex-Officio Board Member for the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce & Industry. Derek is also a graduate of Leadership Kearney, Class 22, and Leadership Nebraska, Class 12.

Outside of the Chamber, Derek is the Founder and President of Impact Art, a nonprofit organization recognized for creating large-scale murals in the Kearney area.

In 2022, Derek was elected to the Nebraska Public Power District Board of Directors and is currently serving a six-year term. Derek's favorite motto, "Do Right," is a guiding principle he learned from his father.

He and his wife, Meggie, continue to pass this teaching on to their five daughters.

Matt Doty

Matt is the Head of Operations at Bartlett Instrument Company in Fort Madison, Iowa.  Matt joined the organization in December 2024 after being privileged to serve as the Executive Vice President, Chief Operations Officer of Weaton Companies in Fairfield, Iowa where he started at the beginning of 2020 following the completion of a military career in the Iowa National Guard, where he held several senior leadership positions including Command Sergeant Major and First Sergeant assignments.

Armed with a Master of Business Administration in Strategic Leadership from TUI University and a Bachelor of Business in Management and Finance from Western Illinois University, Matt is also a proud graduate of the U.S. Army Sergeant’s Major Academy and Leadership Iowa, where he now chairs the Board of Governors

Matt is happily married and a dedicated father to three wonderful young adults.  When he’s not at work, Matt loves giving back to the community through various associations, volunteerism, and charitable organizations.  He currently serves on the school board for his local district, on the Lee County Veterans Affairs Commission, and stays active in his kids’ various pursuits.

In addition to his role at Bartlett Instrument Company, Matt owns PTL Consulting, LLC where he shares his leadership insights and champions the hiring of Veterans.

Ryan Moon, IOM

Sarah Kurovski

Sara is passionate about those that she serves. In 2013 she became the first female mayor for the city of Pleasant Hill, Iowa. That journey was a result of her career starting out at a local government agency, Metro Waste Authority, and obtaining her master’s in public administration; while serving on local boards such as the Board of Adjustment, Plan and Zoning, and Polk County Conservation. Sara’s story landed her on the Lean In website and then in the second edition of Lean In: for Graduates by Sheryl Sandberg.

While Sara’s service to Pleasant Hill grew (re-elected for her third term in 2021) her mayoral role also landed her on numerous boards such as Bravo, D.A.R.T., Metropolitan Planning Organization, Convention and Visitors Bureau, Metropolitan Advisory Council, Iowa Municipal Worker’s Compensation Association and Wastewater Reclamation Authority.  Sara’s career path evolved as well during this time. She worked as a sustainability manager for Kum & Go Corporate and then transitioned to the non-profit world in the role of the Tocqueville Society Director for United Way of Central Iowa.

Sara’s passion and leadership in both worlds resulted in the joining of the Business Record’s 40 Under 40 class of 2015 and the Business Record Emerging Woman of Influence in the same year. Then in 2016 Sara was selected by the American Council of Young Political Leaders (ACYPL) to take part of a seven-member delegation to Israel and the Palestinian territories. Through strong participation and leadership on that delegation, Sara was selected to lead a delegation for ACYPL to SE Asia in March of 2018. Global impact, translating to the local connection is an area of interest for Sara, which resulted in her being nominated to the Abshire-Inamori Leadership Academy Spring Fellowship in spring of 2018 at the Center for Strategy and International Studies in Washington DC. Sara is a member of the 2022 -2023 Leadership Iowa Class and was honored by Truman State as a member of the inaugural class of ECHO 25 under 40 leaders in 2022.

In Spring of 2021, Sara set her sight on a career transition that would be a blend of heart and strategy; to become the next President and CEO for Make-A-Wish Iowa. She now leads the team to strengthen their statewide efforts and ensure that every eligible child fighting a critical illness, in the state of Iowa, can receive their wish. Since joining the team at MAW IA, they have received the largest donation in the organization’s history ($3.5 million from the Gerdin Family) and have had record breaking years for granting wishes but also finding eligible children to receive a wish. Sara often travels many days of the week across Iowa to meet with volunteers, donors, wish families and companies who want to ensure that children can receive a life changing wish.

Outside of Sara’s public service and career, she has a lot of fun with family and friends. She is married to her high school sweetheart, Todd; they met at Catholic Youth Camp. The two of them are raising two boys who love to keep them very busy. Sara especially loves to continue global travel adventures, reading, enjoying music, a good movie night, and family time. Sara received her undergraduate degree from Truman State University and was a member of the ultimate frisbee team, Alpha Gamma Delta, and marching band in her college years