Friends of NewBoCo,
I wanted to share some personal news with you all that I will be stepping down as Executive Director on April 30th, 2023 to take a new position as Chief Information Officer with Benchmark, Inc, a national roof and pavement consulting firm based in Cedar Rapids.
I am excited about this opportunity because it will utilize my strengths in IT Leadership, and I’m looking forward to helping them build on their already innovative technology. Benchmark, much like NewBoCo, has a great entrepreneurial culture and commitment to the community.
It’s hard to put into words what NewBoCo has meant to me over the past decade. The path from Board Member to Executive Director was an amazing professional progression that challenged me further every step of the way. It has been a fantastic fit with my passion for entrepreneurship and tech education. Not to mention the amazing people at NewBoCo that share that passion and make such a huge impact on people’s lives and our communities across Iowa. I’ve made lifelong friendships here and I appreciate every one of them!
Our Board of Directors will begin a search for the next Executive Director in the next few weeks. Effective May 1st, the Executive Director role will be filled on an interim basis by current Chief Operating Officer Jill Wilkins. Jill is an exceptional leader who joined the NewBoCo team in 2016 and has been serving as the Chief Operating Officer since 2020.
I have thoroughly enjoyed the personal and professional relationships that we’ve developed over the years and I look forward to continuing those as I support and cheer on NewBoCo’s efforts for years to come. The future is incredibly bright for NewBoCo. As Community Partnerships continue to expand, NewBoCo will be there to support the growth of entrepreneurial and tech ecosystems across Iowa. More K-12 students, more adult career changers, more entrepreneurs, and more innovators will be impacted across the state as NewBoCo works with an increasing number of economic developers and educational organizations. Our goal with NewBoCo has always been to see the state of Iowa “be known for making big things happen” and NewBoCo is positioned to do exactly that.
This is an exciting time for change and growth for NewBoCo. As always, thank you for your ongoing support in making a positive impact for entrepreneurship and tech education in Iowa.
With Appreciation,
Aaron Horn