I’m always inspired by the eagerness students bring when they have the chance to connect classroom learning with real-world experience. The recent Wilson in the Valley: Business, Community & Purpose “Career Crawl” with UNI students from the Wilson College of Business, in collaboration with Grow Cedar Valley, was a perfect example of that energy in action. The one-day experience brought students off campus and into the heart of the Cedar Valley to explore local career pathways, community engagement, and professional growth opportunities. 

The day kicked off at the Curris Business Building, where students boarded the bus for a guided tour through downtown Cedar Falls before heading to their first stop: CPM Manufacturing. For many, it was their first-ever tour of a manufacturing facility—an eye-opening opportunity to see innovation, production, and problem-solving happening on the floor of a global company right here in the Cedar Valley. Students learned how engineering, business, and innovation come together to support industries worldwide. 

The next stop brought the group to the TechWorks Campus, home to Grow Cedar Valley and the Volunteer Center of the Cedar Valley, where we led students through a hands-on problem-solving exercise. Together, we tackled a real-life challenge around engaging UNI students more deeply in the community—brainstorming barriers, ideas, and strategies. Hearing their perspectives was both fascinating and affirming, as this kind of collaborative thinking mirrors what we do every day at Grow Cedar Valley: identifying and leveraging opportunities that strategically drive meaningful community impact. 

Over lunch at SingleSpeed Brewing Co., we hosted a Cedar Valley Young Professionals (CVYP) panel where four local YPs shared their career journeys, lessons learned, and advice for students preparing to enter the workforce. We also heard from Dave Morgan, founder of SingleSpeed, who shared the inspiring story behind transforming the historic Wonder Bread building into one of the region’s most beloved gathering spaces. 

The bus tour between stops offered another layer of connection—a moving classroom through downtown Cedar Falls and Waterloo. I had the chance to share historical insights, community highlights, and business context to help students see the Cedar Valley as the vibrant ecosystem of opportunity that it is. 

The afternoon featured visits to VGM Group, where students experienced the culture of an employee-owned company centered on giving and employee engagement, and SciPlay, which rounded out the day by showcasing creativity and technology in action within both local and global business landscapes. 

At every stop, students asked thoughtful questions, engaged with professionals, and saw the diversity of industries that make up the Cedar Valley. This experience—initiated by UNI Professor Alicia Rosburg, in collaboration with Grow Cedar Valley—exemplifies how education and industry can work hand in hand to build a stronger, more connected talent pipeline. 

Through partnerships like this, we’re helping students bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-world application—opening their eyes to the many opportunities available right here in the Cedar Valley and inspiring them to lead, contribute, and create impact wherever their careers take them. 

The Wilson in the Valley event was made possible through funding provided by the Robert J. Waller Professorship in Economics. 

Dr. Waller, a UNI alumnus and the first dean of UNI’s independent business college, was also a best-selling author known for The Bridges of Madison County. Dr. Waller established a culture of excellence at UNI, and it is through his generosity that the Wilson in the Valley event was made possible.  

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