The Legacy Foundation announces the appointment of Steven Dust to President/CEO effective June 25, 2018. Dust was recruited from a national search and replaces Brad Little, who was the first President of the Foundation and left in December after 7 years with the organization.
“Our search for a new CEO yielded a number of very impressive candidates,” said Board Chair Eldon Hunsicker. “Steve immediately rose to the top in terms of his experience and match to ORLF’s mission and strategic priorities. We are excited to welcome him and his wife Donita to the community.”
Steve Dust received his B.S. in Public Services Administration from the University of Central Missouri and an MBA Degree from the University of Iowa. Dust has been in the practice of Economic Development since 1976 and has held the Certified Economic Developer designation since 1982. His 42-year career spreads across private, public and non-profit sectors and includes professional positions in Missouri and Kansas, as well as Iowa, in local and state government, industrial/commercial real estate and construction, and investor-owned utilities.
During the last 14 years, Dust served as the first CEO of the Greater Cedar Valley Alliance in Waterloo/Cedar Falls. In the Cedar Valley, Dust’s charter was to establish the Alliance, which soon included the Metro’s largest redevelopment project known as TechWorks Campus, a 43 acre former manufacturing plant site which was ultimately transformed into an urban advanced manufacturing technology, commercial and entertainment district. Dust’s team also led initiatives to expand broadband speeds and availability, develop employability skills in K-12 students, and retain and attract talented workforce and businesses in the Cedar Valley economic area.
“I’m ready to get started, said incoming CEO, Steve Dust. I’m thrilled and humbled at the same time with the confidence expressed by Board Chair Eldon Hunsicker and the Selection Committee. I see a terrific fit of my experience and skills with the strategic elements of our work. My career has been all about economic growth, so the Foundation’s focus on quality job creation, downtown redevelopment and revitalization, housing development and revitalization, and education, all to raise the economic vitality and wealth of everyone in Ottumwa, is the primary reason that I submitted my name for consideration. The more I’ve seen of Ottumwa and the important, impressive work already accomplished and started by the Foundation, the more enthused I am about getting started with the Foundation’s talented team and our many partners in development.”
A welcome reception, including wine and hors d’oeuvres, has been planned for June 27 from 4-6 p.m. at the Legacy Foundation offices, located in the Bookin Innovation Center at 111 E. Main Street. The public is invited and encouraged to attend.
