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HER Stories: Nancy Bird builds strong community as president and CEO of Greater Iowa City, Inc.
Herky may be a prominent figure around the Iowa City community. But there’s another bird in town who has made, and will continue to make, a lasting impact.
Nancy Bird currently serves as the president and CEO of the newly formed Greater Iowa City. She was named CEO after the Iowa City Area Development and Iowa City Business Partnership merged last May.
All joking aside, for more than a decade, Bird has been creating positive community improvements, particularly related to economic development growth in Johnson County.
“Greater Iowa City Inc. is a new organization, so a lot of my day to day currently is continuing to set up an organization for future impact,” she said. “I was hired to help support the merger of two nonprofits working on community improvement … I think one of the things that attracted me to the role was the opportunity to really join forces and bring them together and see if we can establish a path towards working together on very collaborative projects for greater community impact.”
While she’s had a big hand in community development over the last several years, Bird also has new goals and initiatives for the future of Iowa City, a big part of which involves community gathering and listening, particularly through Innovation Councils that have been developed.
“It’s a lot of problem solving, but it’s also learning through listening to other really respected voices that have really strong skill sets in the work we do,” she added. “Sometimes I think the best thing I can do is hire really talented people. And when I hear good ideas I help give them voice.”
Bird said part of her work now is moving into a new approach to economic development post pandemic and what people are missing from pre-2020.
“We are listening for what we should go back to and what we need to find a new path for. There’s a lot more to come,” she said.
Bird spends much of her time walking community members through a planning process and helping people understand what this new organization does now, bringing together private sector leadership and public sector leadership to help collectively grow the county.
“We want to build relationships and bring in new people that haven’t been part of traditional system,” Bird said.
Bird grew up in the Iowa City area but moved to Seattle, Washington, for a number of years before returning to the area in 2012.
“I was attracted to this one job that I saw that my mom sent to me the newspaper clip of,” she said, noting that her mother did that often as a way to encourage her to move back to Iowa. “That role was really to help establish a new business improvement district. I had done that work in Seattle. I knew what it looked like to set them up, but I had never actually managed one before.”
And of course she knew Iowa was a wonderful place to live.
“Seattle is a wonderful place to visit. But I think this is the area that you want to live and grow your family because there is a wonderful quality of life. I think this area of the state is amazing. I moved back also to be closer to my family and kind of one of the traditional stories you hear of why people move back. Certainly that’s the case for me, and it was a great decision.”
Bird said her background in working on the private side of community planning continues to serve her today.
“Collaborative work and how people organize has always been very interesting to me,” she said. “I think if there is something to say about that kind of work and women in economic development or community development, I would say a big part of my career was just growing in confidence whether or not, you know, my inner voice is leading us in the right direction. There's not one perfect way to do any of this work. It's really capitalizing and working with and building relationships with people that want to do good things and moving forward together in some framework, because there's so many different ways to collaborate.”
“Speaking up is so important because it does change the trajectory of comments in the room. It’s so important to find your inner confidence,” she added. “And then make sure that you're helping other women and young leaders along the way and validate their points. We're doing this together. I think that's what people have done that for me and I've appreciated it.”
From left: Nancy Bird poses for a photo with her colleagues Mark Nolte, Kim Casko, University of Iowa President Barb Wilson, Josh Schamberger and Kate Moreland. (Submitted photo)
Nancy Bird and her family. Pictured from left are Bird’s daughter Kate, Bird, husband Steve, daughter Elizabeth and son Joe. (Submitted photo)
Nancy Bird speaks to Iowa City Mayor Bruce Teague, Iowa Lt. Gov. Adam Gregg, Cedar Rapids Mayor Tiffany O’Donnell and other constituents. (Submitted photo)
Those who have had the opportunity to work with Bird on projects admire her ability to create change collaboratively. Josh Schamberger, president of THINK IOWA CITY, was on the hiring committing that originally recruited Bird to return to Iowa as director of the newly formed Iowa City Downtown District.
“Since her very first day on the job I have been inspired by her passion, creativity and inclusivity,” he said. “I look up to her and consider her a mentor. Nancy Bird builds community and does it with an infectious personality.”
“One doesn’t have to look very far to see evidence of Nancy’s impact on our community,” Schamberger added. “Just look back 10-12 years ago at downtown Iowa City versus what it is today. Her deft hand is behind the majority of infrastructure, programming and general quality of life improvements. But her reach extends far beyond downtown Iowa City. Certainly this will be more evident in her new role as president and CEO of Greater Iowa City Area, Inc., but there are already countless examples of her reach.”
He noted her role in the successful school bond passage from a few years ago and her work as founding member and leader of the Better Together 2030 All In Vision Plan. He also noted her important leadership in the creation of the South of 6 SSMID efforts.
Angie Jordan said she’s proof of Bird’s impact on the community. Jordan was hired as the executive director of the newly formed South of 6 Business District, and said Bird has been a trusted colleague and mentor for the past four years.
“Nancy is able to share her experience and wisdom in ways that empower others to learn and grow,” Jordan said. “She is such a present person, showing up to advocate and support efforts from board, committee or council meetings to being there at pilot events and traditions. She has an ability to see beyond what currently is to options of what could be and builds teams and energy around action to bring the future into reality. I have appreciated the way she's able to make connections to challenges that pull from local resources and talent that create solutions that are inclusive and meaningful.”
“Nancy has helped me be brave, to continue speaking up and out because people like her are listening and are ready and willing to create action,” Jordan added. “She's encouraged me time and time again to trust my own intuition and to value my experience and perspective. Nancy Bird has helped the south side of town move mountains.”
Of course, Bird spends her time in the spotlight shining it on others.
“I would just make sure and highlight all the wonderful mentors and women that are working in the field today in our area that have been such great support to me,” Bird said. “I think it's important that we continue to take time for one another making sure that people feel supported in those roles that they're in because if we're not encouraging one another along, you hear a lot about burn out, stress and all those things. It's a great relief to be doing your work, whatever that work is in your community, and that you're having an outlet for sharing ideas or frustrations or whatever it is. I've benefited heavily from that, and I'm very appreciative of those who have helped me along this journey.”
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