Curated News
By: NewsRamp Editorial Staff
September 04, 2026
AI Expert Katie Milton Jordan to Headline PDI Fall Conference 2026
TLDR
- Katie Milton Jordan's keynote at the 2026 PDI Fall Conference offers economic developers a competitive edge by leveraging AI for measurable results.
- Jordan will demonstrate how to build governed AI workflows that integrate human judgment and institutional knowledge for better decisions.
- The conference emphasizes community readiness and human-centered AI, ensuring technology adoption strengthens local economies and relationships.
- At the PDI conference, learn how AI, data centers, and childcare solutions intersect to reshape Iowa's economic development landscape.
Impact - Why it Matters
This news matters because it signals a growing recognition that AI adoption in economic development is not just about technology, but about leadership and community readiness. For professionals in Iowa and beyond, Jordan's insights offer a roadmap to harness AI responsibly while preserving the human elements that drive successful development. As communities across the country grapple with rapid change, this conference provides a platform to share strategies that can help turn disruption into opportunity, ensuring that economic growth is both innovative and inclusive.
Summary
Katie Milton Jordan, CEO of SimpleEDO.ai, is set to deliver a keynote and moderate a panel at the 2026 PDI Fall Conference, hosted by the Professional Developers of Iowa (PDI). The conference, themed 'Flowing at the Speed of Change: Economic Development, AI, and Community Readiness,' will take place September 23-25 in Burlington, Iowa. It brings together Iowa's economic development professionals to explore how AI and other forces are reshaping local economies, with a focus on practical steps for community readiness.
Jordan's session will highlight her expertise in AI execution for mission-driven organizations, emphasizing the need to move beyond experimentation and implement governed workflows that lead to better decisions and measurable outcomes. Her keynote will address the intersection of AI, economic development, and human-centered execution, stressing that the most important AI conversations are about readiness—having the systems, judgment, and shared language to turn change into community advantage.
The conference agenda includes sessions on downtown redevelopment, AI's impact, disaster preparedness, data-center growth, childcare solutions, legislative updates, and community readiness. Jordan's participation places her in dialogue with professionals facing similar challenges nationwide: adopting new technology without losing local judgment and human relationships. For more details, visit pdiowa.com and katiemiltonjordan.com.
Source Statement
This curated news summary relied on content distributed by Newsworthy.ai. Read the original source here, AI Expert Katie Milton Jordan to Headline PDI Fall Conference 2026
