The Iowa Association of Business and Industry announced today Nicole Crain will be the organization’s next president.

Crain will succeed Mike Ralston, who is retiring at the end of the year after serving in the role for nearly 20 years.

Crain joined the statewide business association as director of government relations in 2007, serving until 2011. After a year as president of the Iowa Taxpayers Association, she returned to ABI in 2012 as senior vice president of public policy and vice president of government relations. She was promoted to executive vice president in 2019. She is an alumna of Simpson College.

In her roles with ABI, she has worked closely with its members and the board on initiatives involving organization finance and operations, membership, a partnership with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation on child care issues, and public policy advocacy.

The search for ABI’s new president started in July after Ralston’s retirement announcement and included internal and external candidates, a news release said.

“Nicole’s outstanding professionalism, track record for success and incredible work ethic rose to the top during our search,” Chad Reece, chair of ABI’s board of directors, said in a prepared statement. “She has a strategic plan for the future of ABI that strongly aligns with the board’s vision for the organization. That combined with her unwavering commitment to and passion for the organization and its members, deep knowledge of our business, and understanding of our mission make her the right fit for the future.”

Other previous roles include serving as director of government affairs for the Associated Builders and Contractors of Iowa and working in Washington, D.C., with an agricultural and trade-focused lobbying group on behalf of global agribusiness companies.

“It is an honor to be trusted with such an important position,” Crain said in a prepared statement. “I have a strong vision for the future of ABI — one that encourages more member and partner engagement, growth of our membership, and additional opportunities to educate all Iowans about the importance of business to the state’s success. I will continue to fulfill our mission to advocate, collaborate, educate and motivate to move Iowa forward.”