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Employee Spotlight: Kristi Brown — Turning Purpose Into Progress
By Cathy Essick
Community Involvement
Kristi Brown, Stewardship Director at Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa, has spent over a decade turning her passion for education and community impact into meaningful work. After leaving a corporate sales role, Kristi found purpose at JA—where she now leads grant writing and donor stewardship efforts. In her spotlight, she shares what keeps her inspired: watching students engage deeply in...
Join Our Team: Now Hiring an Education Coordinator!
By Cathy Essick
Community Involvement
Are you passionate about education, community engagement, and helping young people succeed? Do you thrive in a role that blends relationship-building with purpose-driven work? Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa is hiring a part-time Education Coordinator—and we’re looking for someone who’s ready to make an...
Where Vision Meets Impact: 2025 Board Celebration Recap
By Cathy Essick
Corporate Responsibility
On Tuesday, June 24th, Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa (JAEI) welcomed 48 board members, who are comprised of superintendents and community leaders, to Cedar Ridge Winery & Distillery in Swisher for our 2025 Regional Board Celebration. The setting was perfect for a collaborative afternoon of reflection, recognition, and forward-looking discussion on how JAEI continues to empower students across...
2025 Future Bound by Junior Achievement
Blog from JA USA
By Elizabeth Stepanek
Entrepreneurship
From June 8–11, the brightest young minds in entrepreneurship gathered in Atlanta, Georgia, for the inaugural Future BoundTM by Junior Achievement. This dynamic event brought together high school students from across the United States to showcase their innovative projects, demonstrate business acumen, and compete for national recognition for their outstanding achievements. A true celebration of...
Staff Spotlight: Heather Henning – Bringing Career Exploration to Life
By Cathy Essick
Work Readiness
Heather Henning, Regional Experiential Learning Coordinator at JAEI, brings over 20 years of youth development experience to her role, leading impactful career readiness programs like JA Career Inspire®. With a global background and a passion for hands-on learning, Heather works year-round to connect students with real-world opportunities. Outside of work, she enjoys life on her family’s acreage...
Educator Spotlight: Becca Carrothers – Creating Classrooms Kids Can't Wait to Enter
By Cathy Essick
Financial Literacy
In this Educator Spotlight, we meet Becca Carrothers, a 6th-grade teacher at Alburnett Community Schools and proud JA alum. Becca shares how Junior Achievement programs like JA BizTown® Mobile and JA It’s My Future® have helped her students build real-world skills, form meaningful peer connections, and grow in confidence. With a passion for creating memorable learning experiences, Becca is shaping...
Celebrating 20 Years of Leadership: Erin Kurt
By Cathy Essick
Corporate Responsibility
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...
A First for Iowa: The JA Dream Accelerator™ Coming to Iowa City Community School District
By Cathy Essick
Work Readiness
The Iowa City Community School District is preparing to launch the JA Dream Accelerator™—the first of its kind in Iowa and only the second in the nation. This hands-on, career exploration experience will empower 9th-grade students to discover their strengths, explore real-world career paths, and develop a vision for their futures. Integrated directly into the school curriculum, the Dream...
Celebrating Business Excellence: 2025 Corridor & Cedar Valley Business Hall of Fame Honorees Announced
By Cathy Essick
Corporate Responsibility
Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa is proud to announce the 2025 Corridor and Cedar Valley Business Hall of Fame honorees—celebrating distinguished leaders who have shaped the economic and social fabric of Eastern Iowa. These annual black-tie events spotlight laureates and entrepreneurs whose integrity, innovation, and community commitment continue to inspire the next generation.
The Corridor...
Finish Strong: Help Us Empower the Next Generation
By Cathy Essick
Community Involvement
Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa is celebrating a year of impact, having reached over 41,000 students with hands-on programs in financial literacy, career readiness, and entrepreneurship. With 3,100 students still unfunded, the blog highlights how community support—just $72.06 per student—can ensure continued access to these real-world learning...
