We have some exciting news to share with the community. We have hired Lawrence Cunningham to join Business Publications Corp. in the newly created position of chief growth officer, effective Oct. 1.

As I assume the president role as part of our previously announced transition plan, Lawrence is joining our BPC executive leadership team and will be an integral leader as our chief growth officer. He will oversee strategic growth initiatives, lead our sales team with a customer-centric focus, and work in close collaboration with me to identify products and solutions that anticipate and meet the evolving needs of readers, advertisers and community partners.

Lawrence, a 2013 Business Record Forty Under 40 honoree, is an experienced senior-level executive with past media and sales leadership, marketing experience, and a proven track record of helping businesses grow. Lawrence brings unparalleled energy and a dynamic, forward-thinking mindset that embraces change, coupled with a deep passion for local media. His strong community ties and visionary approach to business growth will be invaluable in driving BPC’s mission forward.

Lawrence joins us from Keen Project Solutions, a modern, engineering and construction firm based in Ankeny, where, as director of business development and marketing, he was instrumental in driving revenue growth, expanding market presence, and scaling systems to support the company’s rapid growth.

Before joining Keen, Lawrence served as president and CEO of the Iowa State Daily Media Group for seven years, where he helped reimagine the publication’s business model, launched a student-led creative services agency called Model Farm and led a professional staff of 14 responsible for mentoring and guiding more than 100 students.

In addition, he has extensive experience in the Des Moines market from his previous roles at Mittera Group, Sigler Cos. and Learfield Sports.

Beyond his professional achievements, Lawrence has been deeply engaged in the community. As a proud Iowa State University alum, he served as board chair for the Iowa State University Alumni Association. His leadership extended to roles as board chair for the Ames Regional Economic Alliance, the Iowa Association of Business and Industry’s Leadership Iowa Board of Governors, and the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Board for Sigma Alpha Epsilon National Fraternity. Additionally, he was appointed by the governor to the Iowa Civil Rights Commission and co-chaired the Science Center of Iowa’s annual fundraising event.

Lawrence’s commitment to community engagement and positive impact is evident in his extensive volunteer leadership roles. His dedication to fostering growth and innovation within Greater Des Moines aligns perfectly with BPC’s values, making him not just a great fit, but a true catalyst for our next chapter. I’m excited for you to meet, or reconnect, with Lawrence and hope you’ll give him a warm welcome to BPC. You can connect with him via LinkedIn or email at lawrencecunningham@bpcdm.com.