Katie Milton Jordan to Keynote at PDI Fall Conference on AI and Economic Development

The Professional Developers of Iowa (PDI) has announced that Katie Milton Jordan will deliver a keynote and moderate a panel at the 2026 PDI Fall Conference, scheduled for September 23-25 in Burlington, Iowa. The conference theme, “Flowing at the Speed of Change: Economic Development, AI, and Community Readiness,” will bring together Iowa's economic development professionals to discuss the forces shaping local economies and the practical steps needed to prepare communities for future challenges.

Jordan, founder and CEO of SimpleEDO.ai, is recognized for her expertise in AI execution for mission-driven organizations. Her work focuses on moving beyond AI experimentation to implement governed workflows that enhance decision-making, strengthen teams, and deliver measurable outcomes. Her participation at the conference highlights the growing importance of integrating artificial intelligence into economic development strategies while preserving the human elements that are crucial to success.

The conference agenda covers a broad range of topics, including downtown redevelopment, AI's impact on economic development, disaster preparedness, data-center growth, childcare solutions, legislative updates, and community readiness. Jordan's sessions will address how leaders can adopt new technologies without sacrificing local judgment, institutional knowledge, or the relationships that underpin development work. As she notes, “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.”

Jordan's background includes roles as a former economic development executive, Certified Business Intermediary, and Certified Exit Planning Advisor. Her insights are particularly relevant for professionals operating under real public, budget, and capacity constraints, offering a practical framework for leveraging AI responsibly. The conference provides a platform for sharing these ideas with a regional audience, but the implications extend nationally as communities across the country grapple with similar questions about technology adoption and community resilience.

By emphasizing human-accountable workflows and readiness, Jordan's message is timely. As AI becomes more pervasive, the ability to integrate it thoughtfully into economic development practice will be a key differentiator for communities. The PDI Fall Conference represents an opportunity for Iowa's professionals to learn from Jordan and each other, fostering a shared understanding of how to navigate change effectively. For more information about the event, visit pdiowa.com. Additional details about Jordan's work are available at katiemiltonjordan.com.