The growth of Iowa-based Sukup Manufacturing Co. has always been tied to farmers and the land, and ever-increasing crop yields over the past couple of decades have fueled rising demand for grain handling and storage products. That need — and the imperative for innovation — has driven the growth of the family-owned company that’s now firmly planted in its third generation.   When he was a young farmer in 1962,

Manufacturers ranging from recreational vehicle makers to distilleries and injection-mold companies — as well as companies outside the manufacturing industry — rapidly shifted their organizations’ talents toward producing critically needed personal protective equipment for front-line health care workers in their communities across Iowa.  Among the largest manufacturers that jumped into making PPE items was Deere & Co. The global farm and construction equipment maker committed to make at least 225,000

At Drake University, associate professor Alanah Mitchell saw students with an interest in artificial intelligence combining a computer science major with classes in philosophy. At the tech education nonprofit Pi515, founder Nancy Mwirotsi saw a chance for her students, who come mostly from immigrant or low-income households, to dip their toes into a growing career field and expand the data sets used in autonomous development.  Artificial intelligence is gaining ground

Weld, executive director of the Governor’s STEM Advisory Council, has been a driving force behind developing a successful and thriving science, technology, engineering and math program in Iowa.  Through his leadership and guidance, STEM has emerged from the depths of obscurity in Iowa to play a prominent role in Iowa’s education system and advancing talent development efforts for a number of major employers throughout the state.  In his current role,

Sharon Jaeschke knows that the more students are exposed to science, technology, engineering and mathematics, the more likely they are to pursue a STEM-related career. This can be a challenge in rural communities where there are fewer major industries represented.  But if Jaeschke, a math teacher and robotics coach at Southeast Valley High School, has anything to say about it, rural students will not only be exposed to STEM, but

James Gruening is the co-founder and senior vice president of Mechdyne Corp., a virtual reality and technology company. Based in Marshalltown, Mechdyne was founded in 1996 by Gruening, Chris Clover and Kurt Hoffmeister, who had all recently graduated from Iowa State University. Mechdyne’s very first project focused on creating a virtual reality firefighting simulator for the U.S. Navy. Today, the company creates immersive technology solutions for companies around the world. 

In Altoona, one of the widest-reaching corporations in daily life relies on a team of about 400 to keep basic functions of the Facebook social media empire running.  “Anywhere in the world that you are that you wish to engage and connect with family and friends, this is where it actually happens,” said Brice Towns, director of site operations in Altoona. “This is where you are coming to, whether that’s