Celebrating 20 Years of Leadership: Erin Kurt

Author: Cathy Essick
Corporate Responsibility
Published: Tuesday, 03 Jun 2025

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Image caption: Erin Kurt, Executive Vice President at Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa, celebrates 20 years of service—two decades of leadership, innovation, and unwavering commitment to empowering students across Eastern Iowa.

On May 16th, we proudly celebrated a major milestone—Erin Kurt’s 20th anniversary with Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa! Since 2005, Erin has been a driving force behind the growth and evolution of JAEI, serving in numerous leadership capacities and currently holding the role of Executive Vice President.

A Career Built on Connection

Erin’s journey to JA began, fittingly, over lunch. After five years in Admissions at Mount Mercy College, a former boss tipped her off to an opportunity at Junior Achievement. One lunch at the Irish Democrat with JAEI President Christine Landa sealed the deal—cheese wontons and all.

From day one, Erin dove into her role, bringing her passion for development and her knack for streamlining infrastructure and technology. Over the past two decades, she has helped shape JA’s foundation while always keeping her focus on the people—our students, our team, our board, and our volunteers.

"Erin is the kind of leader every organization hopes for—steady, organized, and deeply committed to our mission," said Christine Landa, President of Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa. "For 20 years, she has helped guide JAEI through growth and change, always with the students at the heart of her work. Her impact is woven into every part of this organization, and we are beyond grateful for her dedication."

Making a Difference, One Student at a Time

While Erin has made a tremendous impact behind the scenes, one experience stands out as a personal reminder of JA’s mission. After teaching an 8th-grade JA Economics for Success® class, Erin received a thank-you note from a student who said the program inspired her to become the first in her family to graduate high school—and to pursue post-secondary training.

Moments like that are why Erin shows up every day with purpose and passion.

A Leader in the Office and in the Community

With degrees from both the University of Iowa and Mount Mercy University, plus executive training through Penn State and the Carlson School of Management, Erin brings a wealth of knowledge to her role. She’s also a proud graduate of Leadership for Five Seasons and a member of Downtown Rotary, continually giving back to the Cedar Rapids community she calls home.

When she’s not leading development strategy or improving JA’s infrastructure, you can find Erin gardening, baking, tackling home improvement projects, or joking about her homesteading ambitions.

Thank you, Erin, for 20 incredible years of leadership, dedication, and heart. JAEI wouldn’t be what it is today without you. Here’s to all you’ve accomplished—and all that’s still to come.