Description

The Childcare Solutions CEO/HR Leadership Summit is a gathering of business leaders, HR professionals, and community partners focused on the intersection of childcare access, workforce retention, and economic growth in Johnson County.

Organized by Greater Iowa City, Inc. in collaboration with the Childcare Solutions Coalition, this event will spotlight how the Johnson County Childcare Solutions Fund and its Wage Enhancement Program (WEP) are stabilizing childcare centers, supporting working parents, and helping employers retain their workforce. Since launching in 2023, the program has supported wage boosts at 10 licensed centers, and interest continues to grow. A special thank you goes out to GreenState Credit Union and the University of Iowa as Sustaining Investors in the Fund, each committing $25,000 the last two years to support local centers and to strengthen the local workforce.

Registration is encouraged. Space is limited.

The program will feature two moderated panels highlighting the lived experiences and ripple effects of the fund’s impact:

Program (4:00–5:00 PM)

Panel 1 – Childcare as a Shared Workforce Concern

CEOs and HR leaders will come together to exchange perspectives on how childcare challenges show up across different industries. This session focuses on shared concerns, practical experiences, and the growing recognition that childcare is essential to a stable and reliable workforce.

Panel 2 – Directors, Parents & Board Leaders

Center directors, board members, and parents will speak to the broader organizational and community outcomes: from fuller classrooms and improved operations to greater peace of mind for working families.

Confirmed Speakers Include:

• Megan Alter, City Councilor, City of Iowa City; Director of English Language Arts, Measurement Research Development, ACT, Inc.
• Austin Korns, Associate Director of Economic Development, University of Iowa Office of Innovation, Parent
• Ashley Cooney, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics, University of Iowa, Parent
• (More to be announced)

The event will begin with a cocktail welcome at 3:30 PM, and conclude with a networking happy hour until 6:00 PM.