Katie Milton Jordan to Bring AI and Economic Development Thought Leadership to PDI Fall Conference
The AI transformation expert will keynote and moderate a panel at the Professional Developers of Iowa's September conference in Burlington
Burlington, Iowa (Newsworthy.ai) Friday Sep 4, 2026 @ 2:00 PM EDT
Katie Milton Jordan delivers a keynote address at a VentureFest conference, sharing insights with attendees as part of her personal brand's speaking engagements.
"Economic development has always been about helping communities see what is possible and then build the capacity to make it real. AI changes the tools available to us, but it does not change the need for thoughtful leadership, local context, and people who are willing to do the work." — Katie Milton Jordan
Katie Milton Jordan will deliver a keynote and moderate a panel at the 2026 PDI Fall Conference, hosted by the Professional Developers of Iowa September 23-25 in Burlington, Iowa. The conference theme, “Flowing at the Speed of Change: Economic Development, AI, and Community Readiness,” brings together Iowa economic-development professionals to examine the forces reshaping local economies and the practical work required to prepare communities for what comes next.
Jordan's appearance will center on thought leadership at the intersection of artificial intelligence, economic development, and human-centered execution. Her work focuses on helping mission-driven organizations move beyond AI experimentation and build governed workflows that support better decisions, stronger teams, and measurable results.
Katie Milton Jordan delivers a keynote address at a VentureFest conference, sharing insights with attendees as part of her personal brand's speaking engagements.
"Economic development has always been about helping communities see what is possible and then build the capacity to make it real. AI changes the tools available to us, but it does not change the need for thoughtful leadership, local context, and people who are willing to do the work." — Katie Milton Jordan
The PDI conference agenda addresses downtown redevelopment, AI's impact on economic development, disaster preparedness, data-center growth, childcare solutions, legislative updates, and community readiness. Jordan's participation places her in conversation with professionals working through the same questions facing communities across the country: how to adopt new technology without losing local judgment, institutional knowledge, or the human relationships that make development work.
"The most important AI conversations are not really about software. They are about readiness - whether leaders have the systems, judgment, and shared language to turn change into community advantage." - Katie Milton Jordan
The conference takes place in Burlington, Iowa, September 23-25, 2026. More information is available at pdiowa.com. Learn more about Jordan's work at katiemiltonjordan.com.
About Katie Milton Jordan
Katie Milton Jordan, MBA, CBI, CEPA is the Founder and CEO of SimpleEDO.ai and an authority on AI execution for economic development organizations, chambers, regional partnerships, and other mission-driven teams operating under real public, budget, and capacity constraints. A former economic development executive, Certified Business Intermediary, and Certified Exit Planning Advisor, Katie helps leaders move beyond AI theater into governed, human-accountable workflows that produce measurable results.
katiemiltonjordan.com
Frequently Asked Questions
- What role will Katie Milton Jordan play at the 2026 PDI Fall Conference?
- Katie Milton Jordan will deliver a keynote and moderate a panel at the 2026 PDI Fall Conference, focusing on AI and economic development. The conference, held in Burlington, Iowa from September 23-25, 2026, will explore themes such as economic development, AI, and community readiness.
- What are the main topics discussed at the 2026 PDI Fall Conference?
- The 2026 PDI Fall Conference will cover themes like downtown redevelopment, AI's impact on economic development, disaster preparedness, data-center growth, childcare solutions, legislative updates, and community readiness. The overarching theme is 'Flowing at the Speed of Change: Economic Development, AI, and Community Readiness.'
- How does Katie Milton Jordan contribute to AI in economic development?
- Katie Milton Jordan focuses on helping organizations move beyond AI experimentation to develop governed workflows that enhance decision-making and measurable results. Her work aims to integrate AI into economic development while preserving community values and human relationships.
- What is the PDI Fall Conference?
- The 2026 PDI Fall Conference is the Professional Developers of Iowa's statewide conference for economic-development professionals. It takes place September 23–25 in Burlington, Iowa.
- What topics will the conference address?
- The published conference theme covers economic development, AI, and community readiness, with programming that includes downtown redevelopment, disaster preparedness, data-center growth, childcare, legislative updates, and related community issues.
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