About Us
Looking for something?
- Officers / Executive Board
- Board Members
- Advisory Board
- Business Investment Members
- Mission Statement
- Vision Statement
- Board Meetings Schedule 2020
Board of Directors
Executive Director

Jill Kramer
Executive Director
Jill has been executive director of Hancock County Economic Development since 2015. Jill's previous experience has been human resourses, risk management, business management, marketing, sales and is a licensed real estate agent in Iowa. Jill is a North Iowa native and lives with her family in Garner, Iowa. Jill was named outstanding Young Iowan in 2001 by Iowa Jacyees.
Officers

Jerry Tlach
President of Hancock County Economic Development
Jerry is Hancock County Supervisor serving his 5th-4 year term, Grain and livestock farmer, DeKalf Dealer, past president of Hancock County Pork Producer and Hancock County Farm Bureau.

Jim Hasty
Vice President of Hancock County Economic Development
30 years of business development and manufacturing experience. Previously Jim worked with Stanley Works (now Stanley Black and Decker) as well as Wasbash Corporation in various leaderships roles.

Eric Newton
Treasurer of Hancock County Economic Development
Eric has 30 years of banking and finance where he has had role as President and CEO of three community banks. Eric is also very active in Britt Industrial Development Group Corporation (BIDCO).

Laura Zwiefel
CEO/Administrator of Hancock County Health System
Zwiefel has been with HCHS for 28 years, the last 21 years as Chief Nursing Officer and Assistant Administrator.
Board Members

Ryan Arndorfer
Mayor of Britt
Ryan has been the Mayor of Britt since 2015. Ryan serves on several boards and committees; Iowa Bankers Association Marketing Committee, Wright the Park, Britt Hobo Days and Habitat for Humanity.

Todd Foss
Key Account/Economic Development Director for Prairie Energy
Todd graduated from Northwest Iowa Technical College has worked for Prairie Energy since 1985. Todd currently serves on several boards and very active in Iowa Area Development Corporation.

Sharon Hankins
Corwith City Council Member
Sharon has had 26 years of working in school districts, 13 years owning and working in a trucking business with her husband.

Dennis Busta
President-CEO of Manufactures Bank and Trust
Dennis has been working in several aspects of banking since the late 1980’s. Dennis is very active in Economic Development with strengths in finance and housing.

Jay Hiscocks
Owner and Agent of the State Farm Agency in Britt
Previously he worked for Astra Zeneca Pharmaceuticals as a Regional Territory Manager and Pharmacists Mutual Insurance Companies and an underwriter. Jay is also assistant Basketball coach as West Hancock.

Randy Yeakel
President / CEO of Communications 1 Network, Inc.
34 years of experience in the communications industry. Served on the Kanawha City Council, Iowa Telecommunications Association Board and currently serves on the Goldfield Telephone Company Board, Southern Minnesota Broadband Board and the Hancock County Economic Board. He also serves on the Kanawha Fire Department for the past 28 years and is the Treasurer.

Dave Boehnke
Iowa State Graduate with a BS in Agronomy
Dave has nearly twenty years’ experience as a rep with Pioneer Hi-bred International. Dave is also a partner in a farm operation raising corn, soybeans, and contract hog finishing.

Scott Folkers
Senior Council at Winnebago Industries
He previously held the VP position.

Ken Blank
Mayor of Klemme
Ken is currently the serving his 18th year as Mayor of Klemme. He grow up in rural Hancock County and graduated from Britt School. He has been a General contractor in this area for over 40 years.

Don Heidemann
Chief Financial Officer at Stellar Industries
Prior to Stellar he was employed at Winnebago Industries, where he had been employed since August 2007. His most recent role has been serving as the treasurer and director of finance. He will be provide financial leadership and oversee the IT department. Heidemann is a graduate of Wartburg College, has passed Series 7 & 63 Securities Licensing exams, and is an inactive Certified Treasury Professional. He lives in Forest City with his wife and two sons.
Advisory Board

Mike Bahnsen
Vice President, Ag/Business Banking, Garner Office Manager
Mike Bahnsen is Vice President Commercial/Ag Banking and manages the Garner Office. Bahnsen was raised on a farm in southern Cerro Gordo County. He has 13 years of banking experience. Bahnsen holds a BS degree in Agricultural Business from Iowa State University, and is a graduate of Iowa School of Banking and Commercial Lending Institute. Mike is a member of the Hancock County Economic Development group, serves as Garner Parks and Recreation Chairman and is the treasurer for the Garner Rotary Club.

David Fox
HCEDC Advisory Board Member
David is the current Britt Industrial Development Group Corporation (BIDCO) board president. Dave is currently an Ag and Commercial loan officer with Farms Trust and Savings Bank in Britt. He is actively involved in Britt Lyons club, Britt Chamber. Dave also is involved in his family’s crop and livestock operation.

David Kingland
HCEDC Advisory Board Member/Previous HCEDC Board Member
Retired Bank President and worked in commercial banking for 47 yrs., working with farmers and agribusinesses and other commercial projects from small to large enterprises. Dave sits on Boards of Directors, including venture capital funds.

Blake Norman
Hancock County Attorney
As Executive Director I see the HCEDC board as partners, mentors and keys to the overall success to Hancock County Economic Development. I would say HCEDC has a “Passion Approach” to economic Development with our board member all having a passion for this organization. Hancock County could not ask for a better well rounded board to lead Hancock County to stronger Economic Health.

Dave Backus
HCEDC Advisory Board Member
Dave Backus-Retired is currently retired and was the CFO for the previous 12 years for Stellar Industries, Inc., Garner, Iowa. He has led several companies in the acquisition of strategic firms and participated in the initial public offering of a then Fortune 500 company. He also worked with an investment banking firm assisting in the preparation and guidance of private companies for sale. He is currently on the working as a consultant and enjoying family.
Business Investment Members
A - D
- 3M
- Alliant Energy
- Athletico Physical Therapy
- Bergland & Cram
- Black Hills Energy
- Britt Auto Service
- Britt Veterinary Clinic
- COMM 1
- Christensen Farms
- City of Britt
- City of Corwith
- City of Crystal Lake
- City of Garner
- City of Kanawha
- City of Klemme
- Cleaning Solutions
- Clear Lake Bank & Trust
- Coloff Media
- Concord Care Center
- Cornbelt Power
- Corwith Farm Services
- Crown Point
- DK Arndt, P.C.
- Dave Boehnke - Pioneer Seed Representative
- Dean Snyder Construction
- Diemer Realty
- Dornbier Trucking
F - K
- Family Eye Care
- Farm Bureau
- Farmers Trust & Savings Bank
- First Citizens National Bank
- First State Bank
- Forest City Economic Development Corp. - Forest City
- Garland & Rodriguez
- Garner Chamber
- Garner Chiropractic
- Garner Inn & Suites
- Garner Vet Clinic
- Gifts Sew Sweet
- Hancock County Co-op Oil
- Hancock County Community Foundation
- Hancock County Health System
- Hankins Trucking
- Hawkeye Pride
- Henkel Construction
- Holland Contracting
- Hueneman Farms LC
- Iowa Mold Tooling Co., Inc.
- Iowa Northern Railway
- Iowa Specialty
- Iowa State Bank
- Jaspersen Insurance & Real Estate Ltd.
- John K. and Luise Hanson Foundation
- Kingland Construction
- Kramer Hardware
L - Z
- Larson Contracting
- Marting MFG of Iowa, INC.
- MaxYield
- Michael Foods
- Miller & Sons Golf Cars
- Neil Fell
- Ollenburg Motors
- Orginal Saw
- PMC Advantage
- Plas-Tech Tooling
- Prairie Energy
- Pritchard Auto
- Randy and Luann Lansing
- Reliance State Bank
- Scott and Dana Folkers
- Smidley MFG. INC
- Sparboe
- State Farm Ins-Jay Hiscocks
- Stellar Industries
- Storey Kenworthy
- Tesene, Maurer & Maurer Dental
- The Leader
- Titonka Savings Bank
- Weiland Farms
- Winnebago Industries
- Yohn Co.
- Zinpro
Mission Statement
Vision Statement
Schedule of Board Meetings for 2020
- JANUARY 15
- MARCH 18
- APRIL 16th - 4:30 Annual Meeting and Board Meeting
- MAY - No Meeting
- JUNE 17
- JULY - No Meeting
- AUGUST 19
- SEPTEMBER - No Meeting
- OCTOBER 15 - Planning/Budgets
- NOVEMBER 18 - Goals/Budget
- DECEMBER - No Meeting