The Professional Developers of Iowa (PDI) has announced that Katie Milton Jordan, an authority on AI execution for economic development organizations, will deliver a keynote and moderate a panel 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, and will gather economic development professionals from across the state to examine how emerging forces are reshaping local economies.
Jordan’s participation underscores the growing importance of artificial intelligence in the field. Her work focuses on helping mission-driven organizations move beyond AI experimentation and establish governed workflows that support better decision-making and measurable results. As a former economic development executive, she brings practical insight into how communities can adopt new technologies without sacrificing local judgment or institutional knowledge.
The conference agenda includes sessions on downtown redevelopment, AI’s impact on economic development, disaster preparedness, data-center growth, childcare solutions, legislative updates, and community readiness. Jordan’s keynote will address the human-centered aspects of technological change, emphasizing that the most critical AI conversations are not about software but about readiness—whether leaders have the systems, judgment, and shared language to turn change into community advantage.
Her appearance places her in direct dialogue with professionals who are grappling with the same questions facing communities nationwide: how to integrate new technology while preserving the human relationships that are essential to development work. According to Jordan, the key is to embed AI into workflows in a way that enhances, rather than replaces, human accountability.
Jordan is the founder and CEO of SimpleEDO.ai, a platform designed to help economic development organizations, chambers, and regional partnerships implement AI in a governed and responsible manner. She holds an MBA and certifications as a Certified Business Intermediary and Certified Exit Planning Advisor. Her expertise is particularly relevant for organizations that operate under real public, budget, and capacity constraints.
The conference will be held in Burlington, Iowa, and more details are available at pdiowa.com. Jordan’s work can be explored further at katiemiltonjordan.com.
This event arrives at a pivotal time when many communities are seeking to integrate AI into their economic development strategies. By focusing on community readiness and human-centered execution, the conference aims to equip professionals with the tools they need to navigate the complexities of technological change. Jordan’s keynote is expected to provide actionable insights for leaders looking to move from AI experimentation to practical, results-driven implementation.
