The Professional Developers of Iowa (PDI) has announced that Katie Milton Jordan, a leading authority on AI execution for economic development organizations, will be a featured speaker at the 2026 PDI Fall Conference. The event, themed “Flowing at the Speed of Change: Economic Development, AI, and Community Readiness,” is scheduled for September 23-25 in Burlington, Iowa. Jordan's participation underscores the conference's focus on how artificial intelligence is reshaping local economies and the practical steps communities must take to adapt.
Jordan, founder and CEO of SimpleEDO.ai, will deliver a keynote address and moderate a panel discussion aimed at helping mission-driven organizations move beyond AI experimentation. Her work emphasizes building governed workflows that enhance decision-making and produce measurable outcomes, while preserving the human relationships essential to economic development. This approach is particularly relevant as communities across the country grapple with adopting new technologies without losing local judgment and institutional knowledge.
The conference agenda covers a range of topics critical to economic developers, including downtown redevelopment, AI's impact on economic development, disaster preparedness, data-center growth, childcare solutions, legislative updates, and community readiness. Jordan's insights will be shared alongside professionals who are confronting similar challenges, making her session a valuable opportunity for attendees to learn how to turn change into community advantage.
In a statement, Jordan emphasized that the most important AI conversations are about readiness—whether leaders have the systems, judgment, and shared language to harness change effectively. This perspective aligns with the conference's goal of equipping Iowa's economic development professionals with the tools and knowledge needed to thrive in an era of rapid technological advancement.
The event will take place in Burlington, Iowa, providing a platform for networking and professional development. More information about the conference can be found at pdiowa.com. For additional details on Jordan's work, interested parties can visit katiemiltonjordan.com.
Jordan's background includes experience as a former economic development executive, Certified Business Intermediary, and Certified Exit Planning Advisor. Her company, SimpleEDO.ai, focuses on helping economic development organizations, chambers, and regional partnerships implement AI in ways that are governed and human-accountable, ensuring that technology serves the broader goals of community growth and resilience.
