Katie Milton Jordan, founder and CEO of SimpleEDO.ai, will deliver a keynote and moderate a panel at the 2026 PDI Fall Conference, hosted by the Professional Developers of Iowa. The event is scheduled for September 23-25 in Burlington, Iowa, under the theme “Flowing at the Speed of Change: Economic Development, AI, and Community Readiness.”
Jordan's participation highlights a growing focus on artificial intelligence within economic development. Her work centers on helping mission-driven organizations move beyond AI experimentation to implement governed workflows that support better decisions, stronger teams, and measurable results. A former economic development executive, Jordan is a Certified Business Intermediary and Certified Exit Planning Advisor, bringing practical experience to her thought leadership.
The conference agenda will address downtown redevelopment, AI's impact on economic development, disaster preparedness, data-center growth, childcare solutions, legislative updates, and community readiness. Jordan's sessions will place her in conversation with professionals tackling the same questions facing communities nationwide: how to adopt new technology without losing local judgment, institutional knowledge, or the human relationships that make development work.
“The most important AI conversations are not really about software. They are about readiness—whether leaders have the systems, judgment, and shared language to turn change into community advantage,” Jordan said.
Her keynote and panel are expected to provide attendees with frameworks for integrating AI while maintaining human accountability. This is particularly relevant as economic development organizations operate under public, budget, and capacity constraints, requiring practical approaches to technology adoption.
The conference will take place in Burlington, Iowa, from September 23-25, 2026. More information is available at pdiowa.com. Learn more about Jordan's work at katiemiltonjordan.com.
This event underscores the increasing importance of AI in economic development, as communities seek to balance innovation with the preservation of local expertise and relationships. Jordan's insights are poised to guide professionals in building resilient, future-ready communities.
